Episodes
The Memphis Massacre
For a period of three days in May of 1866, the city of Memphis was plagues with violence as racial tensions exploded. The first race riot to happen after the Civil War, the massacre demonstrated how ineffective local governme...
Radical Reconstruction
After President Andrew Johnson's initial attempts at "reconstruction" demonstrated his hostility toward Black Americans, Republican members of Congress focused their energies on forging a new path for reconstruction. Join me ...
Pearl Harbor
Join me on the 83rd anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor where I dive into why Japan attacked, how the United States responded, and what the legacy the attack left behind.
Alien Soil with Dr. Katie Singer
Joining me this week is Dr. Katie Singer who recently wrote Alien Soil: Oral Histories of Great Migration Newark. Our conversation covers everything from the importance of oral history to the lived experiences of Black Americans in Newark. When you are finished with the episode, be sure to pick up a copy for you and your friends.
Andrew Johnson's Presidential Reconstruction
At the end of the Civil War, Andrew Johnson faced quite the task in assessing how to reunite the country after years of bloody conflict. A man not known for his political acumen, Johnson moved quickly in establishing his vision for reconstruction. Tune in this week to learn about what Johnson did and why it led to a showdown with Congress.
Third Annual Friendsgiving
The boys and I are back again with another Friendsgiving Spectacular! Tune in as Jerry, Kenny, Howard, and I ask each other questions and dive into the weird and unusual story of the American past.
Union Leagues, Reconstruction, and the KKK: The Rise and Fall of Black Political Power
Join me this week as I dive into how Black Americans entered the political arena in the years immediately after the Civil War. In this episode, I discuss the history of Union Leagues, Black Codes, and what role the Ku Klux Klan played in diminishing African American political participation.
Robert Smalls (Listener Request)
Robert Smalls was one of millions of Black American born into slavery in 1839. With the outbreak of the Civil War, Smalls embarked on one of the most daring escapes imaginable by commandeering a confederate transport ship. Join me this week as I dive into the life of Robert Smalls.
Black Woman on Board with Dr. Donna Nicol
Joining me this week is Dr. Donna Nichol to discuss her latest book Black Woman on Board: Claudia Hampton, the California State University, and the Fight to Save Affirmative Action. Her work traces this life and legacy of the first Black woman to serve on the California State University Board of Trustees, Dr. Claudia Hampton. Tune in to learn about Dr. Hampton and how her work left tangible impacts for California students.
Alfred Hitchcock's The Birds
Alfred Hitchcock's The Birds is one of the most iconic horror movies in the history of cinema. Filmed in Bodega Bay, California in the 1960s, the terrifying story was plagued with production issues and questionable behavior from its director. Tune in this week as I dive into the history of making The Birds.
Murderess: Belle Gunness
Join me this week as I dive into the mysterious story of America's first female serial killer, Belle Gunness. Learn how her meager beginnings in Norway motivated her to seek prosperity in the United States, why she took in children, and how she managed to escape punishment for her crimes.
Witch Hunt with Andrea Balis and Elizabeth Levy
Join me this week as I sit down with authors Andrea Balis and Elizabeth Levy to discuss their new book, With Hunt: The Cold War, Joe McCarthy, and the Red Scare.
Hiram Revels: The First Black Senator
In the earliest months of Reconstruction, several Black Americans were elected to political offices throughout the south. The first man to serve in the Senate, Hiram Revels, hailed from the state of Mississippi. Join me this week as I dive into the life of Hiram Revels.
The Freedmen's Bureau
What was the Freedmen's Bureau, and how did it shape the post-Civil War South? Join me this week as I dive into the triumphs and trials of this historic agency. Learn how the Freedmen's Bureau worked to provide support and equality for newly freed African Americans and learn about its pivotal role in education, attempted land distribution, and legal assistance.
Reconstruction: An Introduction
As the dust settled in the aftermath of the Civil War, the United States had several challenges to address. How should formerly seceded states be reintroduced to the Union? What punishment, if any, should former Confederate officials face? And what did freedom for Black Americans mean? Reconstruction is a complicated, nuanced period in American history. Join me this week as I introduce Reconstruction and what you all can expect over the next several weeks.
The Incorruptibles with Dan Slater
Joining me this week is Dan Slater. He is an author whose work has appeared in the Wall Street Journal, The Atlantic, and GQ. Slater recently wrote the book The Incorruptibles: A True Story of Kingpins, Crime Busters, and the Birth of the American Underworld which tells the story of the origins of the Jewish criminal underworld in the early twentieth century.
The Sultana Disaster
As news of end of the Civil War spread, officials made arrangements to get former POWs home. For union men, this meant traveling via steamship. A frequent method of travel, steamships had a reputation for bad accidents. A reputation that would prove true with the Sultana. Join me this week as I dive into one of the most devastating maritime disasters in U.S. history: the sinking of the Sultana. Overloaded and plagued by a critical flaw, this steamboat’s final voyage ended in catastrophic ex…
Surrender: Appomattox
As the Union continued to secure military victories deep in Confederate territory, there was a sense the end of the war was near. Despite hopeful sentiments, Abraham Lincoln remained stoic and cautious in his second inaugural address in early March. Little did anyone know that surrender would be in hand just over a month later when General Robert E. Lee requested to speak with General Ulysses S. Grant. What happened during their conversation? Tune in to find out.
Introducing: Civics & Cocktails
For the final bonus episode in celebration of FOUR YEARS of Civics & Coffee, I am so excited to share a preview of a NEW bonus show I am hosting on Patreon: Civics & Cocktails! By joining the Civics & Coffee Patreon on commun...
New Deal Law & Order with Dr. Anthony Gregory
Joining me this week is historian and author Dr. Anthony Gregory. Dr. Gregory specializes in the intersection of liberal political theory and carceral studies. In this episode, we discuss his latest book, New Deal Law and Order: How the War on Crime Built the Modern Liberal State.
Voice of Change: Barbara Jordan
The first Black woman to represent the state of Texas since Reconstruction, Barbara Jordan was a thoughtful, pragmatic politician. She rose to national prominence during the 1974 impeachment hearings of President Richard Nixon when her remarks outlined in stark detail the reasons for pursuing impeachment. Join me on this bonus episode as I dive into the life and career of Barbara Jordan. And if you need a refresher about the Watergate Scandal, be sure to check out the episode I did with the…
The 1968 Democratic National Convention
In the late summer of 1968, thousands of protestors joined politicians, party leaders, and the media in Chicago to attend the Democratic National Convention. The convention is known as one of the most chaotic and violent conventions in history and led to significant changes in the party nominating process. Tune in as I dive into what happened and why so many are comparing 1968 to 2024.
"Justifying" Slavery with Kristin Kessinger
Joining me this week is educator and historian Kristin Kessinger. In this episode, we discuss her scholarship analyzing the southern paternalistic justifications for slavery in Missouri and how important it is to understand our past.
Slavery No More: The 13th Amendment
In the final months of the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln focused his attention on securing the passage of a constitutional amendment banning slavery. But why, if he issued the Emancipation Proclamation, was an amendment necessary? Tune in this week to find out.