Podcast
Civics & Coffee: A History Podcast
Hosted by Alycia Asai · EN
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.
59episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
'The Army's Rosa Parks': Amy Nathan on Sarah Keys Evans and Riding Into History
Yesterday00:37:55Summary readyJoining 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 in America and why her story isn't better known. To learn more about Amy, check out her website www.amaynathanbooks.comBe sure to grab a copy of Riding into History wherever fine books are sold, or via my bookshop affiliate storefront here. Support the show
Summary
‘Making a man President cannot change him’? The Life of Chester A. Arthur
4d ago00:19:39Summary readyNo 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 politics, it was unknown whether Vice President Arthur could stand alone or be an extension of longtime ally Roscoe Conkling. Yet when the time came, Arthur surprised them all. Tune in to learn about the life and administration of Chester A. Arthur. Support the show
Summary
Understanding the Opposition: Amy Littlefield on Killers of Roe
1w ago00:55:08Summary readyHow 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 answer that question and more. In this conversation we explore the history of abortion rights in the U.S., the impact of policies like the Hyde Amendment, and the political strategies behind anti-abortion movements as well as using the past to inform future activism and policy change.To learn more about Amy's work, check out her website: amylittlefield.comAnd to buy your copy of the book, visit any fine bookstore, or check out my affiliate shop on bookshop.org here. Support the show
Summary
The Chinese Must Go: The California Workingmen’s Party & Chinese Exclusion
2w ago00:19:15Summary readyIn 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 a very different path. Join me as I explore the rise and fall of the Workingmen's Party of California and its impact on anti-Chinese sentiment and federal policy in the late 19th century. Support the show
Summary
Resistance & Community: Dr. Spady on Take Freedom
3w ago00:51:38Summary readyIn 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 agency, community networks, and resistance, Dr. Spady places the story of the uprising in a new light challenging prior interpretations and powerfully argues just how close Denmark Vesey and others came to overthrowing their enslavers. When you are finished with the conversation, be sure grab a copy of the book here. To learn more about the mapping project mentioned in the episode, visit mappingblackcharleston.org Learn more about Dr. Spady here. Support the show
Summary
Civil War Memory & Politics: Dr. Tim Galsworthy on The Republican House Divided
4w ago00:44:56Summary readyJoin 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 Civil War featured so prominently in campaign rhetoric throughout the 1960s and 1970s - the same era of the Civil Rights Movement and the nations bicentennial - and how it impacts today's political climate. Dr. Galsworthy is a historian and the author of The Republican House Divided which traces the GOP's evolution from the party of Lincoln to the racially Conservative Party of the twenty-first century. Be sure to buy your copy here. Learn more about Dr. Galsworthy here. Support the show
Summary
Gilded Age Espionage: Alias Agnes with Dr. Elizabeth DeWolfe
Jul 1100:29:59Summary readyOrdinary 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 societal limitations facing women during the Gilded Age and how one court case over breach of promise exposed those double standards. Learn more about Dr. De Wolfe at her website: www.elizabethdewolfe.comBe sure to pick up a copy of Alias Agnes wherever fine books are sold - or through my bookshop affiliate link here. Support the show
Summary
America at 250: Revolution & Memory with Ethan Healey Pt. 2
Jul 700:44:29Summary readyJoin 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 historical media, and of course - more books! If want to check out any of the books we discussed during our conversation, head over to my bookshop storefront where I have curated a special list just for this conversation. To learn more about Ethan, head over to ethanhealey.comSupport the show
Summary
America at 250: Revolution & Memory with Ethan Healey Pt. 1
Jul 400:47:43Summary readyHappy 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 it since! Why does the American Revolution still carry such importance in the historical conversation? And what does it mean to commemorate the revolution during the nation's semiquincentennial? Early American historian and educator Ethan Healey joins me for a wide-ranging discussion that dives into this and more! Tune in to hear us discuss how perspectives on this pivotal event have evolved and what it means for contemporary understanding, the complexities of American history, the importance of diverse perspectives, and how public history shapes our understanding of the past. Patreon members can access the full conversation by signing up for any paid tier, join today by visiting: https://www.patreon.com/c/civicsandcoffee/membershipSupport the show
Summary
The Weary, Imperfect Warrior: Elizabeth Cady Stanton Part Two
Jun 2700:18:01Summary readySit 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 Association. Tune in as I discuss Stanton's exploration of religion and the motivation behind creating the Woman's Bible, and how her complex activism laid the groundwork for the eventual passage of the 19th Amendment. Support the show
Summary