Civics & Coffee: A History Podcast

Elizabeth Cady Stanton is one of the most well known suffragists of the 19th century and spent her life advocating for women's rights - yet most only know the highlights. Join me this week as I begin my exploration of the life and legacy of Elizabeth Cady Stanton including her early childhood, how she got involved in activism, and the early days of her friendship with Susan B. Anthony. 

And when you are done with this episode, ...

American politics feels like it is increasingly polarized with no end in sight - how exactly did we get here, and is there a way out? Joining me this week is Dr. Maya Kornberg, author of Stuck: How Money, Media, and Violence Prevent Change in Congress. In this episode we explore the history, challenges, and reforms of Congress of the past 50 years and what lessons we can learn from prior freshman classes in pushing future chan...

This week's episode comes to you thanks to Jeremy, a longtime listener who wanted me to dive into the history of computers. Join me as I explore how the personal computer evolved from the oversized mega machines of the 1940s and 1950s to the handheld devices to know and love today. And don't forget - you too can submit your episode requests via the website at www.civicsandcoffee.com. 

When you are done with this episode, be sur...

The largest and most influential union of the nineteenth century, the Knights of Labor began as a secret fraternal organization in Philadelphia in 1869. Responding to the ongoing labor unrest with events like the Great Railroad Strike of 1877, the Knights enjoyed a brief but significant moment of influence and power, but were ultimately unable to live up to its altruistic claims. Tune in this week as I dive into the rise - and fall...

Join me as I welcome Dr. Gautham Rao to discuss the evolution of policing and its slave and white supremacy origins as expertly outlined in his book White Power: Policing American Slavery. Our conversation explores the legalization and deputization of whiteness, how pivotal the Prigg v. Pennsylvania court case was, how class tensions impacted the enforcement of the Posse Comitatus doctrine, and more!

To learn more about Dr. Rao's am...

Have you ever heard about the Ladies Land League? 

Tune in this week to learn how Irish American women joined a land reform movement for their countrymen across the Atlantic and used their platform to challenge gender norms and enter the public sphere - all while maintaining respectability and femininity. Learn about League Leaders Fanny and Anna Parnell and their efforts at mobilizing women throughout the United States and Ire...

Sitting down with me this week is Dr. Nancy Bernhard. She is a historian who recently published her first historical novel The Double Standard Sporting House which explores the women of a high class brothel in Gilded Age New York - and one woman in particular who decides to take on the Tammany Hall criminal syndicate. Join us as we discuss what motivated the story, how women have consistently fought against the limitations of socie...

Join me as I sit down with Dr. Robert May to discuss his latest book Debunking the Yule Log Myth: The Disturbing History of a Plantation Legend. In this episode we discuss Dr. May's approach to history, his decision to tackle the Yule Log myth , including how it originated and the reasons it persists in American culture. Learn more about how myths are created, spread, and believed - and how you can become a better consumer of histo...

An obscure, little known gun fight over land speculation in central California in May 1880 helped shaped local residents opinions about the railroad industry for a generation. Tune in this week as I dive into the story of the Mussel Slough Tragedy and explore how the fight between local settlers and the Southern Pacific Railroad highlights the conflicts over land, resources, and corporate power during the Gilded Age.

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Activists fighting for female suffrage faced a series of hurdles during their decades-long battle before they achieved victory. Suffrage was a campaign that had many starts and stops and was filled with tensions over race and class. Join me this week as I dive into a bit of this history: where did female suffrage stand after Reconstruction? Why did the movement splinter? And where did it end up in the Gilded Age? Find out all of th...

Join me as I sit down with Dr. Austin McCoy to explore the cultural and musical evolution of De La Soul, highlighting their innovative contributions to hip hop from the 1980s to today. Discover how their work challenged norms, expanded definitions of black masculinity, and influenced future artists, all woven with personal insights and historical context.

To learn more about Dr. McCoy visit his website here. 

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Industrialists of the Gilded Age were addicted to consumption. While some spent vast sums of money on public projects, several dedicated their time and energy into building palatial estates to demonstrate just how rich and powerful they had become. Competing for the attention and respect of the classic elites, the newly elite built mansions that emulated their European neighbors. Tune in as I explore the opulence and cultural signi...

Sitting down with me this week is author Shannon McKenna Schmidt to discuss her book You Can't Catch Us: Lady Bird Johnson's Trailblazing 1964 Campaign Train and the Women Who Rode with Her. Our conversation covers the preparation and significance of Johnson's tour, Lady Bird's unique style compared to her husband LBJ, her role as a trailblazer for women, and the security challenges faced during the tour. Tune in to learn abou...

Charles Guiteau is infamous for his role in the assassination of President James Garfield. A man who believed he was destined for greatness and who thought he was on a mission from God, Guiteau was a complicated figure that deserves more analysis. Join me this week as I start to explore the life of the troubled Charles Guiteau - learn about his childhood and time in the Oneida community, as well as how he became a lawyer. Be sure t...

In this conversation, Dr. Elizabeth Block discusses her book Gilded Age Fashion: More Than 50 Iconic Looks and the Stories Behind Them exploring the intricate relationship between women's fashion and social dynamics during the late 19th century. She highlights how the social calendar dictated fashion choices and the significance of material culture in understanding the era. Dr. Block also delves into the communication aspect of fas...