Episodes
Transatlantic Commuter: A Conversation about James Baldwin with Ethan Healey
James Baldwin was a writer, activist, and world traveler who dedicated his life to understanding his identity and how it fit within American society. His writing deftly explore these topics and sheds a light on the Black experience in the twentieth century. Joining me for this bonus episode is past guest Ethan Healey. Healey shares his research about Baldwin's search for identity, how it influenced his activism, and why Baldwin's work still resonates today.
Abraham Lincoln with Jerry Landry
Joining me as I wrap up my coverage of sixteenth president Abraham Lincoln is Jerry Landry. Jerry is a presidential history expert and is the host and lead researcher behind the incredible Presidencies of the United States podcast. Jerry lends his insight, expertise, and analysis on Lincoln's administration, how his cabinet helped him be successful during the Civil War, and what current politicians could learn about Lincoln's leadership.
Abraham Lincoln: Part Two
Join me this week for the second chapter of Lincoln's life and legacy. Tune in as I discuss Lincoln's early political career, his debates with Stephen Douglas, and how he surprised everyone to become the 16th President of the United States. And be sure to come back next week for a special guest as I wrap up my coverage of Abraham Lincoln.
From Beans to Brews: Coffee in America
Join me this week as I dive into the latest listener request: the history of coffee in the United States. Coffee has long been associated with American culture. But how did we get here? Learn how a little revolution altered the drinking habits of colonists and how brewers sought to make the perfect coffee blend. Why was the coffee house considered the home of revolution? And who launched the first commercial coffee company? Tune in to find out.
Behind Everest with Kate Nicholson
In this episode I am joined by historian and author Kate Nicholson who recently published Behind Everest: Ruth Mallory's Story which details the life of Ruth Mallory, wife to famed British mountaineer George Mallory. We chat about how she discovered Ruth and what motivated her to tell Mallory's story.
The First: Mary Eliza Mahoney
Mary Eliza Mahoney broke the gender and racial barrier when she became the first Black woman to earn her nursing license in 1879. Although Black women had long been performing the work of nurses, Mahoney's successful completion of a rigorous licensing programming demonstrated that African American women were capable of succeeding in medicine. But just who was Mary Eliza Mahoney? Tune in to find out.
The First Queen of Drag
Not much is known about the first recorded drag queen in the United States, William Dorsey Swann. A man who was born into slavery in Maryland just ahead of the Civil War, Swann eventually moved to Washington, D.C. where he held parties celebrating a different form of expression. Tune in this week as I chat about William Dorsey Swann and how his actions are considered by some to be the origins of the LGBTQ rights movement.
Freeman's Challenge with Dr. Robin Bernstein
Joining me this week is Dr. Robin Bernstein. She is a historian, professor, and author whose latest book Freeman's Challenge: The Murder That Shook America's Original Prison for Profit investigates the origins of penal capitalism.
No Experience Required: Women In the Federal Workforce
In the nineteenth century, social norms dictated that proper ladies stayed in the domestic space, leaving the home for waged work only under desperate circumstances. As the federal government expanded during the Civil War, the need for labor intensified and administrators quickly realized they had an untapped source: women. Join me this episode as I dive into the history of women working for the federal service.
Charlotte Forten Grimke
Born to a wealthy Black family, Charlotte Forten enjoyed a level of privilege uncommon for Black Americans of the period. She spent her life dedicated to the uplift of her fellow countrymen by pursuing a teaching career. So just who was Charlotte Forten Grimke? Tune in to find out.
The Dakota 38 (Listener Request)
In the midst of the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln authorized the execution of 38 Dakota warriors. His decision to execute, and the reasons used to justify the action remain a black mark on Lincoln's legacy. Join me this week as I dive into the latest listener request and explore what prompted the mass execution of Indigenous Americans and why it is one of the most troubling aspects to Lincoln's administration.
"Madam Elizabeth": Elizabeth Keckly
Born into slavery in 1818, Elizabeth Keckly learned a trade that would lead to her freedom and place her into the upper echelons of white society: sewing. Join me as I dive into the life of the woman who was known as "Madam Elizabeth" by her famous employers. Where did Elizabeth learn how to sew? How did she buy her freedom? And what caused her rift with First Lady Mary Todd Lincoln?
Lemuria with Justin McHenry
Joining me this week is historian and author Justin McHenry. In this episode we discuss his latest effort, Lemuria: A True Story of a Fake Place, which tells the story of the fictional Lemuria. Justin dives into how Lemuria is tied to Atlantis, how Mt. Shasta is involved, and what it tells us about alternative narratives.
Civil War Home Fronts
One of the topics you all wanted me to cover was the impact of the war on the home front. Join me this week as I cover the impacts of a "total war" on local residents and how home front experiences changed depending on race, location, and economic status.
Edwin Stanton
Edwin Stanton is perhaps best known as the man who oversaw the hunt for President Abraham Lincoln's assassin, John Wilkes Booth. The lawyer turned Secretary of War dealt with his fair share of heartache and uncertainty, but as I will cover in this episode, he was the right man at the right time.
How to Start a War with Michael Trapani
Joining me this week is fellow podcast host and new audiobook author, Michael Trapani. He is the host (and author) of How to Start a War and sat down with me to discuss both his project and what we can learn from studying the bad actors in history. To learn more about Michael, head over to his website at www.howtostartawar.com
420: Cannabis in the United States
If you follow pop culture, then you may be aware that April 20th signifies a celebration of sorts by a certain portion of the population. Join me this week as I dive into the story behind how 420 became a cannabis smoker's holiday and how access and the legality of the drug has evolved in the United States throughout history. Listener discretion advised.
Mary Todd Lincoln: Part Two
Join me this week as I wrap up the life of Mary Todd Lincoln. In this episode, I review her time as First Lady, her friendship with dressmaker Elizabeth Keckly, and why she was committed to an asylum.
Mary Todd Lincoln: Part One
The wife of 16th President Abraham Lincoln, Mary Todd Lincoln is generally known for her eccentric personality. However, there is so much more sitting beneath the surface. Join me this week as I begin the life and times of Mary Todd Lincoln.
The Bishop and the Butterfly with Michael Wolraich
Joining me this week is Michael Wolraich. We discuss his latest book, The Bishop and the Butterfly: Murder, Politics, and the End of the Jazz Age, including what went into the research and how the murder of a woman rocked New York City politics.
Indigenous Americans in the Civil War
The Civil War touched every corner of the United States and the people residing within its borders. Native Americans were no exception. As the country tore itself in two, Indigenous Americans had to determine the best course of action for their community. Should they side with the Union? The Confederacy? Or stay neutral? Tune in this week to learn about Native Americans in the Civil War.
Gettysburg
The bloodiest battle of the Civil War, Gettysburg was the fatal blow to Robert E. Lee's quest to invade the north and force a surrender. Tune in as I describe how thousands of Union and Confederate soldiers overtook a small, rural community in southern Pennsylvania and how the battlefield became a public history site.
Public Assistance in California (Request)
I am back with another listener request! Longtime listener Arthur asked that I talk about the history of public assistance in the United States. Tune in this week to learn why that is quite the ask and why I decided to focus on the history of welfare in California instead.
Jefferson Davis
Join me this week as I dive into the life of Jefferson Davis. A military man and southern politician, Jefferson Davis was the one and only president of the Confederate States of America. Why was he chosen? And what happened to him after the war? Tune in to find out.