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. 

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.

To buy yourself a copy of the Freeman's Challenge, be sure to head over to the University of Chicago Press' website here. And to learn more about Dr. Bernstein, be sure to check out her website here. 

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 week as I dive into the history of women working for the federal service. 

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.

To subscribe to the newly launched newsletter, be sure to head over to civicsandcoffee.substack.com 

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 remains one of the most troubling aspects to Lincoln's administration. 

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?

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. To learn more about Justin, be sure to check out his website at www.justinmchenry.com. 

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.

For show notes, source material, and ways you can support the show, visit the website at www.civicsandcoffee.com

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.

For show notes, source material, or ways you can support the show, head over to the website at www.civicsandcoffee.com

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 

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.