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 Railroad Strike of 1877 to personal stories of figures such as Rutherford B. Hayes, Lucy Webb Hayes, and the Exodusters, each episode uncovers the people, tensions, and turning points that shaped modern America.
Whether you’re a longtime history lover or just history-curious, Civics & Coffee offers context without the homework and storytelling without the fluff. Grab your mug and join the conversation, one cup at a time.
Episodes
342 episodes
Women's Secrets: The Double Standard Sporting House with Dr. Nancy Bernhard
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...
The Master of Capitalism: Cornelius Vanderbilt - Part One
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 li...
History Detective: Debunking the Yule Log Myth with Dr. Robert May
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 ...
David v. Goliath: The Mussel Slough Tragedy
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 Trag...
The Long March: Women's Fight For The Vote
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 thi...
Revolutionary Sound: Dr. Austin McCoy on Living in a D.A.I.S.Y. Age
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 definiti...
American Opulence: The Gilded Age Mansion
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 bec...
The Vanishing First Lady: Lucretia Garfield
Lucretia "Crete" Garfield outlived her president husband by almost forty years, yet most only know her as the widowed First Lady from the Gilded Age. Join me this week as I explore the life and legacy of Lucretia Garfield - including her early ...
The Whistle Stop: Shannon McKenna Schmidt on You Can't Catch Us
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...
Delusions of Grandeur: Charles Guiteau Part Two
Settle in as I wrap up my coverage of Charles Guiteau - the infamous presidential assassin of James Garfield. In this episode, I dive into how Guiteau came to the decision that the only way to fix the country's political problems was through mu...
Delusions of Grandeur: Charles Guiteau Part One
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 analys...
The Power of the Dress: Dr. Elizabeth Block on Gilded Age Fashion
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 19t...
A President Forgotten: James Garfield Part Two
Join me for the concluding chapter of President James Garfield. After spending nearly two decades in Congress, James Garfield became the dark horse candidate for the 1880 presidential election. Yet, he would serve only a few months before being...
Misplaced Rage: Fear and Fury with Heather Ann Thompson
How did a New York City subway shooting in 1984 normalize white rage and create a media ecosystem that celebrates greed? Join me as I sit down with historian Heather Ann Thompson to discuss her latest book, Fear and Fury: The Reagan Eight...
Past, Present & Future: Rosie the Riveter Reporting for Duty
The Rosie the Riveter World War II Home Front National Historic Park is a small but mighty public history site dedicated to honoring the sacrifices and telling the stories of the women on the World War II Homefront. Situated along the Richmond ...
Complicated Legacies: Thy Will Be Done with John Garrison Marks
Tune in as I sit down with historian John Garrison Marks to discuss his upcoming book Thy Will Be Done: George Washington's Legacy of Slavery and the Fight for American Memory. We explore the complex legacy of George Washington's relationship w...
A President Forgotten: James Garfield Part One
Elected in 1880 in one of the closest contests in American history, twentieth president James Garfield sadly died before he could leave a lasting executive legacy. Largely remembered for how he died, Garfield had an extensive political career, ...
Grief, Love, and Connection: The Missing Pages with Alyson Richman
Joining me this week is author Alyson Richman to discuss her latest novel The Missing Pages. Tune in to learn all about what went into developing the world of Titanic victim Harry Elkins Widener, the power of historical fiction in conn...
Indian Boarding Schools in America: The Carlisle Indian Industrial School
In 1879, Richard Henry Pratt founded the Carlisle Indian Industrial School, the first federally supported off-reservation boarding school for Native American children. Designed to promote assimilation into American society, Carlisle became the ...
History Makers: Presidential Seclusion with Charles Ferguson
Join me as I sit down with author and historian Charles Ferguson to discuss his book Presidential Seclusion: The Power of Camp David, which explores the history of the presidential retreat and the men who've shaped it. Learn ...
Titans or Crooks: The Men Who Built Industrial America
The Gilded Age was marked by the rise of powerful industrialists - but four men in particular are known for the power they wielded and the complex legacies they left behind. John D. Rockefeller transformed oil. Andrew Carnegie's steel empire wa...
The Exodusters: The Great Migration You Haven’t Heard About
Before the Great Migration, there was a smaller, yet just as important emigration of Black Americans out of the South. For several months in 1879, thousands of freedmen and their families headed for Kansas, hoping to create a better life for th...
Selling Out Santa: A Deep Dive into Post-War Cinema with Dr. Vaughn Joy
Join me as I welcome historian and media literacy expert Dr. Vaughn Joy to discuss her book Selling Out Santa: Hollywood Christmas Films in the Age of McCarthy. The book explores the evolution of Christmas films during the post-war era, paying ...
The Posse Comitatus Act Explained
Why the U.S. military isn’t supposed to enforce civilian law — and when that rule breaks down.Passed in 1878, the Posse Comitatus Act was designed to limit the federal government’s use of the U.S. military in domestic law enforcement. Th...
Run to Freedom: The Nez Perce War
Over the span of four months, several small bands of Nez Perce tried in vain to escape the clutches of the United States government. Traveling over a one thousand miles, hundreds of Nez Perce outmaneuvered the military, only to be forced into s...
