Civics & Coffee: A History Podcast

Host: Alycia Asai
Episode: Introducing: Civics & Cocktails
Release Date: August 28, 2024

Overview of the Episode

This special bonus episode marks a turning point for the Civics & Coffee podcast, as host Alycia Asai announces the launch of a Patreon page and debuts an exciting new series: Civics & Cocktails. This “after-dark” edition aims to blend engaging, adult-leaning historical topics with spirited conversation—both figuratively and literally—featuring guests and historical cocktails. The inaugural Civics & Cocktails episode offers a cheeky preview by exploring the unexpected prevalence of erotica during the U.S. Civil War.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Patreon Launch & New Series Introduction

Timestamp: 00:05 – 01:48

• Alycia announces the creation of the Civics & Coffee Patreon, providing supporters with extra content and helping the main show remain ad-free.
• The flagship bonus feature on Patreon is Civics & Cocktails, described as the “grown-up sibling of Civics and Coffee.”
• Alycia underscores the family-friendly focus of the main podcast, making this new series a chance to explore mature themes:

  “When you sign up for the Patreon, you will get what I am calling the Civics and Coffee After Dark version. Civics and Cocktails.” (Alycia, 00:52)

2. Format of Civics & Cocktails

Timestamp: 01:48 – 02:23

• Each month, Alycia plans to discuss a history topic with one or more guests over a thematic cocktail.
• Listeners get “the same great history, just with an adult twist."
• She promises candid conversation, a relaxed atmosphere, and community input on Patreon topics.

3. Setting the Scene: Civil War-Era Erotica

Timestamp: 02:23 – 04:53

• Alycia is joined by friends Shadra and Val for a lively discussion.
• The group recognizes common Civil War associations like “soldiers, gangrene, Gettysburg” before pivoting to the rarely discussed topic of wartime erotica.
• Alycia surprises her guests with insights on the role of erotica in Civil War soldier culture:

  “Ironically enough, erotica became a force to be reckoned with. Men who were far from home and entrenched in the grim reality of battle frequently sought solace in the illicit allure of porn. They became tools of camaraderie shared among soldiers to forge bonds in the face of death.” (Alycia, 02:43)

• Attempts to regulate these materials failed until the crusading Anthony Comstock entered the scene.

4. The Cocktail Connection: Old Fashioned

Timestamp: 03:47 – 05:10

• Shadra selects the Old Fashioned as their drink of the episode, tying its “old-timey” character to the historic subject matter.
• Light banter ensues over alternative options (“Naked and Famous”) and the challenge of using mezcal.
• Conversation on the Old Fashioned’s history—traced back to the 1830s—and its status as a “classic” cocktail:

  “Classic is defined as a drink that was popular immediately and has remained popular, which the Old Fashioned has...” (Shadra, 04:25)

5. A Lighthearted, Candid Tone

Timestamp: 05:08 – 10:39

• Alycia admits her trepidation as a non-bourbon drinker but toasts the spirit of the series:

  “To getting historically hydrated.” (Alycia, 05:10)

• The hosts dive into the evolution of porn in America, tracing its European roots and the blurry line between art and obscenity.
• Early American erotica:
  • Initially imported from Europe, notably France and Italy, until U.S. customs law banned “lewd material” in 1842.
  • Debates about criteria for what was truly “erotica” or “art.”
  • Bans fueled the rise of homegrown American erotica, typically under pseudonyms to avoid prosecution.
• On the material’s production and distribution:
  • Printed on cheap yellow paper, openly sold at newsstands, railroad stations, and docks.
  • Despite secrecy around authorship, public distribution was commonplace—leading to humorous contrasts:

    “Just the secrecy around writing it versus, like, distributing it and publishing it. That's interesting.” (Val, 08:10)

• Restrictive laws drove distribution via mail by 1851—though mail carriers were sometimes accused of “confiscating” risqué materials for their own pleasure.

6. Social Context: Soldiers & Smut

Timestamp: 10:20 – 10:39

• Among Civil War soldiers, possessing erotica was not sanctioned, but rarely got them in trouble unless combined with other offenses.
• Alycia wraps with a teaser, hinting at more risqué stories and community engagement to come for Patreon supporters.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the “After Dark” Concept:
  “With Civics and Cocktails, you still get the same great history, just with an adult twist.” (Alycia, 00:54)

• On the Social Power of Erotica in War:
  “They became tools of camaraderie shared among soldiers to forge bonds in the face of death.” (Alycia, 02:43)

• Shadra’s Cocktail Justification:
  “Old Fashioned feels old timey, kind of like the porn we're going to talk about.” (Shadra, 03:47)

• On Censorship & Distribution:
  “Original attempts at curbing the dissemination of porn date back to 1842, when the U.S. customs law banned importation of what they considered, quote, unquote, lewd material.” (Alycia, 06:13)

• Humor in Historical Context:
  “I just keep going to Leo and Titanic like, you know, draw me like one of your French girls.” (Shadra, 06:17)

• On Mail Distribution:
  “Mail, though, it was not necessarily a secure and guaranteed way that that material would arrive, as there were several complaints about carriers, quote, unquote, confiscating the lewd material, some even claiming that it was for the carrier's own personal enjoyment.” (Alycia, 09:38)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:05 – Patreon and Civics & Cocktails Announcement
• 02:23 – The Civil War and Unexpected Topics: Erotica
• 03:47 – Historical Cocktails: The Old Fashioned
• 05:10 – The Origin and Spread of American Erotica
• 06:13 – Censorship Laws and the Gray Area Between Art and Porn
• 08:10 – Publishing, Secrecy, and Distribution
• 09:38 – Mailing Erotica and Postal Confiscations
• 10:20 – Soldiers, Porn, and Military Discipline

Tone & Atmosphere

• The episode is friendly, candid, and humorous, reflecting the relaxed spirit of the Civics & Cocktails spinoff. The historical discussion is peppered with banter and pop culture references (Leo in Titanic!), making adult history approachable without sacrificing substance.

Summary Takeaways

• Civics & Cocktails marks a bold, fun expansion for Civics & Coffee, offering adult-themed, in-depth explorations of overlooked history—starting with the peculiar story of Civil War–era erotica and its surprising role in American culture.
• Listeners interested in lively, uncensored dives into U.S. history—cocktail in hand—are encouraged to join the Patreon community for the full experience.

For history fans “ready to get historically hydrated” and enjoy a saucy side of the past, Civics & Cocktails is set to deliver both brains and bravado—with a twist.