Civics & Coffee: A History Podcast

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 hearta…

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 c…

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 bec…

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…

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 begi…

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 mu…

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 …

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 s…

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 a…

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 c…

The single most devastating military conflict in United States history, the Civil War took hundreds of thousands of American lives and permanently maimed many others. However the sheer volume of pati…

Join me this week as I speak with Professor of Literature and historical novelist Piper Hugely as we discuss her book By Her Own Design.

The novel tells a fictionalized account of the black fashion d…

The American Historical Association Conference was held last month in San Francisco. One of the largest conferences around, it attracts historians from all over to discuss and debate various historic…

Known as the founder of the American Red Cross, Clara Barton lived several lifetimes in her 90 years on earth. She was a nurse, abolitionist, and activist, always challenging norms and pushing the en…

Joining me this week is Dr. Katlyn Carter who recently published her first book, Democracy in Darkness: Secrecy and Transparency in the Age of Revolutions. The book traces the history of the origins …

Depicted in the 1989 Hollywood feature film "Glory" the Massachusetts 54th was the first all black regiment to fight in the Civil War. Established in the aftermath of the Emancipation Proclamation, t…

Collecting intelligence against ones enemy has been a longstanding military practice. Commanders have long sought to ensure they have the most accurate information before heading to battle to maximiz…

The election of Abraham Lincoln as the sixteenth president of the United States prompted states throughout the south to announce their desire to leave. Trying to maintain federal authority where it c…

Joining me this week is Professor of Law and History, Dr. Dylan Penningroth. He recently wrote a book, Before the Movement, which traces how Black Americans used the legal system throughout the ninet…

Happy Holidays!

I could think of no better time to dive into the history of one of the most beloved entertainers in America. Longtime listener and friend Shaydra requested I cover Dolly early in my po…