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PODCAST

Civics & Coffee: A History Podcast

Civics & Coffee delivers bite-sized U.S. history with clear, engaging storytelling — all in the time it takes to drink your morning cup of coffee. Host Alycia brings America’s past to life with well-researched episodes that are approachable, human, and impossible to forget.In 2026, Civics & Coffee dives into the Gilded Age - a transformative era of booming industry, powerful presidents, labor uprisings, immigration waves, inequality, and social reformers. From national crises like the Great

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All Episodes

51:38

Resistance & Community: Dr. Spady on Take Freedom

Civics & Coffee: A History Podcast ·

2026/07/25

In the final episode the special summer series, I sit down with Dr. James O'Neil Spadey 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. Spadey places the story of the uprising in a new light challenging prior interpretations and powerfully argues just how close Denmark Vesey and others came to overthrowing their enslavers. When you are finished ...

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44:56

Civil War Memory & Politics: Dr. Tim Galsworthy on...

Civics & Coffee: A History Podcast ·

2026/07/18

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 bicentennial - and how it impacts today's political climate. Dr. Galsworthy is a historian and the aut...

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29:59

Gilded Age Espionage: Alias Agnes with Dr. Elizabeth...

Civics & Coffee: A History Podcast ·

2026/07/11

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 at her website: www.elizabethdewolfe.com Be sure to pick up a copy of Alias Agnes wherever f...

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44:29

America at 250: Revolution & Memory with Ethan Healey...

Civics & Coffee: A History Podcast ·

2026/07/07

Join me for the conclusion of my conversation with educator and Early America expert Ethan Healey as we discuss the power of public history, the importance of critically evaluating consumed media, why there can be value in even the flimsiest of historical media, and of course - more books! If want to check out any of the books we discussed during our conversation, head over to my bookshop storefront where I have curated a special list just for this conversation. To learn more abou...

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47:43

America at 250: Revolution & Memory with Ethan Healey...

Civics & Coffee: A History Podcast ·

2026/07/04

Happy July 4th, peeps! 2026 marks 250 years since the founders signed the Declaration of Independence and announced their decision to separate from the crown to establish a new nation - and historians haven't stopped talking about it since! Why does the American Revolution still carry such importance in the historical conversation? And what does it mean to commemorate the revolution during the nation's semiquincentennial? Early American historian and educator Ethan Healey joins me for a...

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18:01

The Weary, Imperfect Warrior: Elizabeth Cady Stanton...

Civics & Coffee: A History Podcast ·

2026/06/27

Sit down with me this week as I wrap up my coverage of Elizabeth Cady Stanton. Learn about her and Susan B Anthony's efforts to expand political rights amid the drum beats of war and how they collaborated to establish the American Equal Rights Association. Tune in as I discuss Stanton's exploration of religion and the motivation behind creating the Woman's Bible, and how her complex activism laid the groundwork for the eventual passage of the 19th Amendment. Support the show

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18:58

The Weary, Imperfect Warrior: Elizabeth Cady Stanton...

Civics & Coffee: A History Podcast ·

2026/06/20

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, be sure to check out my previous episode about the Seneca Fal...

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34:33

Unsticking Congress: Stuck with Dr. Maya Kornberg

Civics & Coffee: A History Podcast ·

2026/06/16

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 changes. Our conversation also covers the rise in political violen...

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20:24

Technology Revolution: The History of the PC

Civics & Coffee: A History Podcast ·

2026/06/13

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 sure to check out my prior episode: Hidden Computers: Women in T...

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18:24

The (Almost) Noble Order: The Knights of Labor

Civics & Coffee: A History Podcast ·

2026/06/06

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 - of the Knights of Labor. Support the show

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38:56

Fear-Based Law & Order: White Power with Dr. Gautham Rao

Civics & Coffee: A History Podcast ·

2026/06/02

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 amazing scholarship, check out his website: https://gauthamrao....

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19:59

From Famine to Femme Fatale: The Irish Ladies Land...

Civics & Coffee: A History Podcast ·

2026/05/30

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 Ireland - and why we do not know more about these trailblazers.&...

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19:49

The Master of Capitalism: Cornelius Vanderbilt Pt. 2

Civics & Coffee: A History Podcast ·

2026/05/23

Join me this week as I conclude my coverage of the Commodore and Railroad King, Cornelius Vanderbilt. Learn how Vanderbilt aided the Union during the Civil War by offering his steamships and how he got into the industry that sear his name into the minds of Americans for generations: the railroad. Support the show

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34:45

Women's Secrets: The Double Standard Sporting House...

Civics & Coffee: A History Podcast ·

2026/05/19

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 society, and why a work of fiction about the Gilded Age resonates i...

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17:53

The Master of Capitalism: Cornelius Vanderbilt - Part...

Civics & Coffee: A History Podcast ·

2026/05/16

Known as the Commodore and the King of the Rail, Cornelius Vanderbilt is one of the most famous men in American history. Born of meager means, Vanderbilt built several empires, mastering the sea and the rail. Join me as I start exploring the life and impacts of one of the titans of the Gilded Age. Support the show

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57:18

History Detective: Debunking the Yule Log Myth with...

Civics & Coffee: A History Podcast ·

2026/05/12

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 history. Support the show

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17:54

David v. Goliath: The Mussel Slough Tragedy

Civics & Coffee: A History Podcast ·

2026/05/09

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. Support the show

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18:59

The Long March: Women's Fight For The Vote

Civics & Coffee: A History Podcast ·

2026/05/02

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 this and more! Support the show

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69:28

Revolutionary Sound: Dr. Austin McCoy on Living in a...

Civics & Coffee: A History Podcast ·

2026/04/28

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. You get your copy of the book, consider visiting my affiliate shop through book...

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17:22

American Opulence: The Gilded Age Mansion

Civics & Coffee: A History Podcast ·

2026/04/25

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 significance of Gilded Age mansions, their architectural styles, an...

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