Civics & Coffee: A History Podcast

There has been a lot of talk lately about fascism, communism, and authoritarianism in U.S. politics, but what does the history tell us? Join me as I welcome historian Jackson von Uden to discuss his research on authoritarianism and its long thread through American history. Discover the distinctions between authoritarianism, fascism, and communism, and how these concepts manifest in various politic...

Was Alfred Packer a crazed maniac or a desperate man seeking a way to survive? Join me as I launch Civics & Coffee's annual spooky season with a look into the life of the would-be prospector known as the Colorado Cannibal. Learn how the thirst for gold drove Packer and twenty others into the treacherous Colorado mountains in the dead of winter and why his story of abandonment and panic fa...

Does the United States really have free and fair elections? In this conversation, voting rights attorney David Walbert discusses his book Stealing Elections American Style , which explores America's contentious electoral history. He highlights the ongoing issues of voter suppression and the historical context of the 1876 election, illustrating how political structures have perpetuated racial...

If you grew up taping posters of your favorite celebrities on your wall or consider yourself a Swiftie, you can thank Vaudeville. Tune in this week as I explore the early quintessential American mass entertainment medium and its lasting impact on modern culture. Discover how vaudeville shaped celebrity culture, influenced entertainment accessibility, and laid the groundwork for future media. Suppo...

Lillian Smith was a best-selling author whose courageous decision to stand for civil rights in the Jim Crow south led to her erasure from discussions about influential leaders of the movement. Join me as I sit down with historian Keri Leigh Merritt whose insightful biography seeks to pull Smith from the shadows and highlight the ways Smith challenged societal norms and contributed to the early fig...

Labor Day was first celebrated during the Gilded Age - amid a growing labor movement seeking recognition. Join me this week as I explore the origins, evolution, and current perceptions of Labor Day in the United States. Learn how  Labor Day has transformed from a day of militant labor demonstrations to a more consumer-focused holiday, reflecting broader societal changes and the decline of organize...

Join me as I sit down with author Stan Haynes to discuss his latest book  And Slavery No More - a work of historical fiction that explores the mystery of General Lee's lost order and President Lincoln's evolution on slavery. Tune in to learn about how Haynes came to write historical fiction, the value to reading both fiction and nonfiction, and how he approaches blending creative element...

In 1882, President Chester A Arthur signed legislation barring Chinese laborers from entering the United States for a period of ten years. It went on to become known as the Chinese Exclusion Act, but is that an accurate framing? Join me this week as I explore Chinese immigration and why some historians refer to the 1882 law as the Chinese Restriction Act.  Support the show

John Adams and Thomas Jefferson are two of the most notable men of the founding era - as is their complicated and occasionally fraught relationship. Join me as I sit down with Jim Rasenberger to discuss his latest book A Perfect Coincidence which explores their friendship, political differences, and what lessons we can learn from their reconciliation.  To learn more about Jim, check out his websit...

The gunfight at the OK Corral remains one of the most iconic moments of the American West, a whirlwind of chaos that lasted less than a minute but has echoed through history. Learn what led to the fight, why Wyatt Earp and Doc Holliday were in Tombstone to begin with, and how the battle scarred Earp for the remainder of his days. If all you know about the shootout is what Hollywood showed you, lis...

How many of us make time? Join me as I sit with Jason Green to discuss his book Too Precious to Lose, which intertwines memoir and oral history to explore the rich history of a Black community in Maryland. He shares the importance of community, the richness uncovered in oral histories, and how preserving history is a collective responsibility. Green reflects on pivotal moments in his family's...

James "Wild Bill" Hickok is a figure who embodies the spirit of the American frontier. His adventures, often dramatized in tales and folk songs, paint a vivid picture of a man who was both a hero and an outlaw. Tune in this week to learn about the man behind the legend and join me as I explore the life of Wild Bill Hickok; from his early days in Illinois to his rise as a frontier icon an...

Most know that the fire at the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory in 1911 swept in massive labor reforms and highlighted the need for workplace safety laws. Yet, this is only part of the story. Join me as I sit down with Dr. David Conrad-Pérez to discuss his book Fire in the Heart of the City which explores the deeper implications of the fire with the rise of modern charity. Learn how critical the New Yo...

One of the most iconic individuals of the American West, Billy the Kid has dominated pop culture for over a century. Stories about his life are filled with fanciful details and he is described as one of the most dangerous, yet affable outlaws of the frontier. How did a gunslinging youngster from the wrong side of the tracks rise to such fame? And how much of his story is based in reality? Tune in...

Healthcare in the United States has a long, complex history. Join me as I sit down with John McDonough, a Harvard professor and healthcare policy expert, to explore the history of the U.S. healthcare system, its intersection with neoliberalism, and potential paths forward. To learn more about this history, be sure to check out McDonough's latest book, America's Wrong Turn .  Learn more a...

What did it mean to assert dignity in the former confederate south? For Black washerwomen in Atlanta, it was the act of going on strike. Join me this week as I explore the 1881 Washerwomen Strike and share the motivations behind the strike, how the women organized, and what the end results were. Learn why women who were already in economic precarious positions chose to risk their livelihoods - and...

How do you capture the complex nuances of the American story? And what can a multi-part online series told through America's birthplace tell us about our democratic experiment? In this episode, Andrew Ferrett and Nathaniel Popkin discuss their documentary series 'In Pursuit,' which explores 400 years of American history through the lens of Philadelphia. They delve into the series&ap...

Entering the White House under less than ideal circumstances, Chester A. Arthur had a lot on his plate - including who would run the mansion's social calendar. Arthur was a man who enjoyed the DC social scene but as Commander in Chief, he knew he would have little time to dedicate to planning the fine details. Still grieving the loss of his wife, Arthur was at a crossroads: who, exactly, shou...

Joining me this week is author Amy Nathan where we explore the inspiring story of Sarah Keys Evans, a civil rights hero who fought against segregation in transportation. Learn how her legacy sheds light on the long struggle for racial equality in America and why her story isn't better known.  To learn more about Amy, check out her website www.amaynathanbooks.com Be sure to grab a copy of Ridi...

No one voted for Chester A. Arthur to become president of the United States. When James Garfield was shot in July 1881 many doubted whether Arthur could perform the duties of the job well - including Arthur. A man who made his career by playing politics, it was unknown whether Vice President Arthur could stand alone or be an extension of longtime ally Roscoe Conkling. Yet when the time came, Arthu...

How did the United States Supreme Court go from the Roe v. Wade in 1973 to Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization decision in 2022? Join me as I sit down with Amy Littlefield to discuss her book Killers of Roe which seeks to answer that question and more. In this conversation we explore the history of abortion rights in the U.S., the impact of policies like the Hyde Amendment, and the politi...

In 1877 the nation came to a virtual standstill as labor united against the exploitive railroad companies. As workers protested unfair business practices in the east, racial animosity in California mixed with economic precarity led workers down a very different path. Join me as I explore the rise and fall of the Workingmen's Party of California and its impact on anti-Chinese sentiment and fed...

In the final episode the special summer series, I sit down with Dr. James O'Neil Spady to discuss his book Take Freedom , a nuanced history of the 1822 uprising in Charleston, South Carolina. Using new evidence and focused on Black agency, community networks, and resistance, Dr. Spady places the story of the uprising in a new light challenging prior interpretations and powerfully argues just...

Join me this week as I sit down with Dr. Tim Galsworthy as we explore the influence of Civil War memory on Republican Party identity during the pivotal 1960s and how a political strategy remade the party for generations. Learn how and why the Civil War featured so prominently in campaign rhetoric throughout the 1960s and 1970s - the same era of the Civil Rights Movement and the nations bicentennia...

Ordinary women can do extraordinary things - that is one of the messages historian and author Dr. Elizabeth De Wolfe hopes readers take away from her book, Alias Agnes: The Notorious Tale of a Gilded Age Spy . Join us as we discuss the societal limitations facing women during the Gilded Age and how one court case over breach of promise exposed those double standards.  Learn more about Dr. De Wolfe...