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
373 episodes
Courageous Art: Dr. Keri Leigh Merritt on An Inconvenient Woman
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 Mer...
From Marchers to Consumers: The Origins of Labor Day
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 Da...
Bringing Civil War History to Life: Stan Haynes on And Slavery No More
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 i...
Exclusion or Restriction? The Chinese Exclusion Act
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 we...
Complex Founders: Jim Rasenberger on A Perfect Coincidence
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...
Lawless Legends: Wyatt Earp, Doc Holliday & the Shootout at the OK Corral
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 ...
Community History: Jason Green on Too Precious to Lose
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 American Westerner: Wild Bill Hickok
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 ...
From Tragedy to Charity: Dr. David Conrad Pérez on Fire in the Heart of the City
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 disc...
Larger than Life: The Mystery of Billy the Kid
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 o...
Healthcare History: John McDonough on America's Wrong Turn
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,...
Demanding Dignity: The 1881 Atlanta Washerwomen Strike
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...
Visualizing The Past: In Pursuit with Nathaniel Popkin and Andrew Ferrett
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 ...
A White House Without a First Lady: Nell Arthur & Mary McElroy
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 ...
'The Army's Rosa Parks': Amy Nathan on Sarah Keys Evans and Riding Into History
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 ...
‘Making a man President cannot change him’? The Life of Chester A. Arthur
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...
Understanding the Opposition: Amy Littlefield on Killers of Roe
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 answ...
The Chinese Must Go: The California Workingmen’s Party & Chinese Exclusion
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...
Resistance & Community: Dr. Spady on Take Freedom
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 agen...
Civil War Memory & Politics: Dr. Tim Galsworthy on The Republican House Divided
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 C...
Gilded Age Espionage: Alias Agnes with Dr. Elizabeth DeWolfe
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 ...
America at 250: Revolution & Memory with Ethan Healey Pt. 2
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...
America at 250: Revolution & Memory with Ethan Healey Pt. 1
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 i...
The Weary, Imperfect Warrior: Elizabeth Cady Stanton Part Two
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 ...
The Weary, Imperfect Warrior: Elizabeth Cady Stanton Part One
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 Eli...
