Civics & Coffee: A History Podcast

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  Complex Founders: Jim Rasenberger on A Perfect Coincidence 15.09.2026 27dk

  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 website: jimrasenberger.com To grab your copy of A Perfect Coincidence, consider shopping at my af...
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  Lawless Legends: Wyatt Earp, Doc Holliday & the Shootout at the OK Corral 12.09.2026 18dk

  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, listen up - you're in for a wild ride. Support the show
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  Community History: Jason Green on Too Precious to Lose 08.09.2026 30dk

  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 history and how these experiences connect to broader themes of hope, responsibility, and the signific...
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  The American Westerner: Wild Bill Hickok 05.09.2026 18dk

  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 and his tragic end in Deadwood. Discover how his story shaped the myth of the American West and the truths be...
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  From Tragedy to Charity: Dr. David Conrad Pérez on Fire in the Heart of the City 01.09.2026 48dk

  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 York Times was in shaping public opinion and how it used its platform redirect the narrative after ...
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  Larger than Life: The Mystery of Billy the Kid 29.08.2026 17dk

  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 this week to find out. Support the show
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  Healthcare History: John McDonough on America's Wrong Turn 25.08.2026 53dk

  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 about John McDonough's scholarship and research here. Save 30% with code HTWN at Johns Hopkins Uni...
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  Demanding Dignity: The 1881 Atlanta Washerwomen Strike 22.08.2026 16dk

  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 their freedom - to demand recognition of their worth. Support the show
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  Visualizing The Past: In Pursuit with Nathaniel Popkin and Andrew Ferrett 18.08.2026 46dk

  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' approach to storytelling, periodization, and its relevance to understanding America's past and present. Stream av...
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  A White House Without a First Lady: Nell Arthur & Mary McElroy 15.08.2026 12dk

  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, should fill the role? Tune in this week to learn about Arthur's wife, Ellen Arthur and the woman he eventu...
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  'The Army's Rosa Parks': Amy Nathan on Sarah Keys Evans and Riding Into History 11.08.2026 37dk

  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 Riding into History wherever fine books are sold, or via my bookshop affiliate storefront here. ...
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  ‘Making a man President cannot change him’? The Life of Chester A. Arthur 08.08.2026 19dk

  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, Arthur surprised them all. Tune in to learn about the life and administration of Chester A. Arthur.&nb...
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  Understanding the Opposition: Amy Littlefield on Killers of Roe 04.08.2026 55dk

  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 political strategies behind anti-abortion movements as well as using the past to inform future activism...
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  The Chinese Must Go: The California Workingmen’s Party & Chinese Exclusion 01.08.2026 19dk

  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 federal policy in the late 19th century. Support the show
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  Resistance & Community: Dr. Spady on Take Freedom 25.07.2026 51dk

  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 how close Denmark Vesey and others came to overthrowing their enslavers. When you are finished wi...
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  Civil War Memory & Politics: Dr. Tim Galsworthy on The Republican House Divided 18.07.2026 44dk

  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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  Gilded Age Espionage: Alias Agnes with Dr. Elizabeth DeWolfe 11.07.2026 29dk

  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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  America at 250: Revolution & Memory with Ethan Healey Pt. 2 07.07.2026 44dk

  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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  America at 250: Revolution & Memory with Ethan Healey Pt. 1 04.07.2026 47dk

  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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  The Weary, Imperfect Warrior: Elizabeth Cady Stanton Part Two 27.06.2026 18dk

  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