To honor the beginning of Women’s History Month, Heather and Joanne tell the stories of three women who changed the American legal tapestry: Martha Bradstreet and her fight against coverture, Josephine Goldmark and her quest for labor justice, and Rosa Parks and her battle to to find accountability for victims of rape and sexual assault. Join CAFE Insider to listen to “Backstage,” where Heather and Joanne chat each week about the anecdotes and ideas that formed the episode. Head to: cafe.com/his...
Mar 01, 2023•54 min
With the recent spate of UFO shootdowns by the U.S. Air Force, Heather and Joanne discuss America’s historical fascination with aerial mysteries, from John Winthrop and Increase Mather’s colonial reports of sightings, to the 1890s “Mystery Airship” craze, to the 1942 “Battle of Los Angeles," to the 1970s pop cultural UFO moment. What can UFOs tell us about American hopes and fears? Join CAFE Insider to listen to “Backstage,” where Heather and Joanne chat each week about the anecdotes and ideas t...
Feb 22, 2023•56 min
In light of the new Republican House majority’s denial of committee seats to Representatives Ilhan Omar, Eric Swalwell, and Adam Schiff, Heather and Joanne discuss the history and functioning of committees, from early debates over committee secrecy, to the role of the crucial 1890s role of the House Committee on Ways and Means, to the development of the Ethics and Intelligence Committees. How can congressional committees help us to understand the politics and culture of Washington? Join CAFE Ins...
Feb 15, 2023•53 min
In the aftermath of two mass shootings involving AAPI populations, Mary Lui, a professor of History and American Studies at Yale, joins Heather and Joanne to discuss the influence of Asian Americans on the nation’s trajectory, from the origins of the “Old China Trade,” to the 1882 Chinese Exclusion Act, to the 1960s protest movements that fought for Asian American rights in the academy and beyond. Join CAFE Insider to listen to “Backstage,” where Heather and Joanne chat each week about the anecd...
Feb 08, 2023•50 min
Following the announcement that Chief of Staff Ron Klain is leaving his position and Jeff Zients is taking over, Heather and Joanne look back at the history of unelected and unconfirmed presidential advisors, from Andrew Jackson’s Kitchen Cabinet, to the transformative work of early 1900s White House mainstay George B. Cortelyou, to the rise and fall of Eisenhower Chief of Staff Sherman Adams. How have these figures communicated with the chief executive over the course of American history? How h...
Feb 01, 2023•52 min
Why are some American sheriffs resisting government policies, including gun safety laws and even the peaceful transition of presidential power, while claiming constitutional authority? And how has the role of the sheriff impacted our national life? Heather and Joanne discuss how sheriffs have enforced and defied laws throughout U.S. history, from the emergence of the office in colonial America, to the frontier violence of the 1892 Johnson County War, to 1960s standoffs with segregationist sherif...
Jan 25, 2023•1 hr 2 min
How have animals influenced the American economy over the course of the nation’s history? And why have we seen such a sizable pandemic pet boom? Heather and Joanne discuss three moments where animals shaped national culture and financial health: the rise of the frontier cat in the mid-1800s, the decline of the urban horse in the early 1900s, and the brief craze in backyard chicken coops that accompanied both World Wars. Now & Then has won the inaugural Signal Award for Best History Podcast! ...
Jan 18, 2023•46 min
Could the arrival of a new Congress and the more hopeful national tone be the start of a new era in American life? Heather and Joanne discuss past transitions between national epochs, from the advent of the Era of Good Feelings, to the rise of the Progressive Era, to the sea change triggered by the 1964 arrival of The Beatles. Now & Then has won the inaugural Gold and Listener's Choice Signal Awards for Best History Podcast! Thank you so much for voting for us! Join CAFE Insider to listen to...
Jan 11, 2023•56 min
How do board games reflect America? How do debates over politics and identity show up in popular games? And how have these games shifted along with the nation? In this holiday encore presentation of an August episode, Heather and Joanne discuss the development of the American board game, from the influence of the Game of the Goose in Early America, to the pre-Civil War origins of the Checkered Game of Life, to several impactful 1960s games. Join CAFE Insider to listen to “Backstage,” where Heath...
Dec 28, 2022•53 min
How have marginalized Georgians fought for voting rights and equality over the course of the state’s history? Emory University African American Studies Professor Carol Anderson joins Heather and Joanne for a special year-end episode to discuss the pain and promise of the quest for equality in Georgia, from the 1868 Camilla Massacre, to the 1966 struggle to seat Black state legislator Julian Bond, to Senator Rafael Warnock’s recent victory. Vote for Now & Then in the Best History Podcast cate...
Dec 21, 2022•56 min
Former President Trump has called for the termination of the Constitution and the overturning of the 2020 election. What makes Trump’s comments so dangerous? When has the Constitution been under siege before? And how can we protect the document that undergirds our democracy? Heather and Joanne discuss early constitutional debates, the rocky passage of the Fourteenth Amendment, and the 1970s rise of “originalism” as a theory of constitutional interpretation. Vote for Now & Then in the Best Hi...
Dec 14, 2022•55 min
Following the collapse of the cryptocurrency exchange FTX and the undoing of its CEO, Sam Bankman-Fried, Heather and Joanne discuss the businesspeople and money-makers who have fallen hardest throughout American history. How do we find the line between the “con man” and the capitalist? Heather and Joanne talk about the mid-1800s origins of the “con man,” the loss of belief in financiers during the Great Depression, and the Keating Five scandal of the late 1980s. Vote for Now & Then in the Be...
Dec 07, 2022•54 min
How did the Speaker of the House become such a crucial role in Washington? How do Speakers balance control with collaboration? And how can iconic Speakers from the past help to contextualize Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s tenure? On this encore presentation of an October 2021 episode of Now & Then, Heather and Joanne discuss significant Speakers of the House, from Henry Clay, to Thomas Brackett Reed, to Tip O’Neill. They also offer new insight on the significance and success of Pelosi’s speakership....
Nov 30, 2022•1 hr
Now & Then presents a conversation between Heather and Joanne from last Thursday, November 17th, recorded live at the Massachusetts Historical Society in Boston. Heather and Joanne highlighted five objects in the Society’s collection that shed light on unsung brave Americans who made a difference with their art and activism–from an intrepid cheese engineer, to a group of imprisoned indigenous illustrators, to a defiant Harlem Renaissance sculptor. The talk was in conjunction with Heather and...
Nov 23, 2022•50 min
How did the youth impact last week’s midterm elections? And how have young people fought for representative democracy in American history? Heather and Joanne discuss the history of the youth vote in America, from the 1860 “Wide Awake” movement, to the “virgin vote,” to the long quest for the 26th Amendment. Join CAFE Insider to listen to “Backstage,” where Heather and Joanne chat each week about the anecdotes and ideas that formed the episode. Head to: cafe.com/history and get 50% off a CAFE Ins...
Nov 16, 2022•51 min
What should we make of political polls? Are they to be trusted? And why are Americans so interested in measuring public opinion? This week on Now & Then, Heather and Joanne discuss the history of polling in the United States, from the informal tavern visits by allies of Washington and Hamilton, to the rise of George Gallup, to the current polling discourse surrounding the midterm elections. Join CAFE Insider to listen to “Backstage,” where Heather and Joanne chat each week about the anecdote...
Nov 08, 2022•47 min
The term 'fascism' is often invoked these days from voices on both the Left and the Right. Heather and Joanne start by defining the term and and have a conversation firmly rooted in history, from the proto-fascism of Southern enslavement, to the fascist playbooks established by Mussolini and Hitler, to the current risks for the normalization of fascist ideology and tropes in the United States. Join CAFE Insider to listen to “Backstage,” where Heather and Joanne chat each week about the anecdotes...
Nov 02, 2022•51 min
Why is there so much dark money in politics? How have political funders concealed their identities and motivations? And how does this sleight of hand damage American democracy? This week on Now & Then, Heather and Joanne discuss the role of capital in political maneuvering, from Thomas Jefferson’s 1791 funding of an anti-Federalist newspaper, to department store magnate John Wanamaker’s 1888 herding of Republican businessmen, to Richard Viguerie’s 1970s direct mail campaigns. Join CAFE Insid...
Oct 26, 2022•49 min
How did college become so expensive? Why is higher education the subject of so much political and cultural division? And how can we restore a sense of equality to learning? This week on Now & Then, Philadelphia Inquirer national columnist Will Bunch joins Heather and Joanne to discuss the history of higher education and his new book, After the Ivory Tower Falls: How College Broke the American Dream and Blew Up Our Politics―and How to Fix It. Join CAFE Insider to listen to “Backstage,” where ...
Oct 19, 2022•52 min
What can American instruments teach us about democracy? What does the controversy over Lizzo’s playing of James Madison’s crystal flute tell us about racism, representation, and the roots of our current cultural moment? Heather and Joanne discuss the evolution of the banjo, the popularity of the steel drum, and the 1970s development of hip-hop and rap production. NOTE: Starting this week, Now & Then will be releasing new episodes on Wednesday mornings. Join CAFE Insider to listen to “Backsta...
Oct 12, 2022•53 min
How has Puerto Rico shaped American history? How does the national response to Hurricane Fiona reflect the complex relationship between Puerto Rico and the rest of the United States? Heather and Joanne discuss Puerto Rico’s historical trajectory, from Spanish colonization, to the 1900s Insular Cases, to the cultural impact of Rafael Hernández Marín’s music and West Side Story. Join CAFE Insider to listen to “Backstage,” where Heather and Joanne chat each week about the anecdotes and ideas that f...
Oct 04, 2022•50 min
How has American immigration policy shifted over our national history? What can these changes show about how the U.S. defines “us” and “them”? Heather and Joanne discuss the politics and prejudices surrounding the two 1790s Naturalization Laws, the Immigration Act of 1924, the 1965 Hart-Celler Act, and the current Republican rhetoric about migrants at the Southern border. Join CAFE Insider to listen to “Backstage,” where Heather and Joanne chat each week about the anecdotes and ideas that formed...
Sep 27, 2022•47 min
How do Americans view the British monarchy? What role have England’s Kings and Queens played in helping to define democracy in the United States? And what can the stateside reaction to Queen Elizabeth II’s death tell us about America and the United Kingdom today? Heather and Joanne discuss moments from the reigns of the three longest-serving British monarchs: King George III, Queen Victoria, and Queen Elizabeth II. Join CAFE Insider to listen to “Backstage,” where Heather and Joanne chat each we...
Sep 20, 2022•51 min
When have American leaders confronted particularly hostile political opposition? How can fighting back against an unjust party help the nation? And what might the history of these back-and-forths say about the recent vibe shift in the Democratic Party? Heather and Joanne discuss other moments where politicians pushed back, from Massachusetts Representative Anson Burlingame’s willingness to duel South Carolina's Preston Brooks after the caning of Charles Sumner in 1856, to FDR’s 1936 “I Welcome T...
Sep 13, 2022•51 min
How have Americans viewed personal debt over the course of history? What can the morality and functionality of debt tell us about the debate over President Bident’s student loan forgiveness program? Heather and Joanne discuss the history of debtors’ prisons in early America, the rise of bankruptcy laws after the Civil War, and the Cold War origins of federal student loans. Join CAFE Insider to listen to “Backstage,” where Heather and Joanne chat each week about the anecdotes and ideas that forme...
Sep 06, 2022•45 min
Who gets to decide the future of reproductive rights? In this encore presentation of a Now & Then episode originally broadcast in September 2021, Heather and Joanne discuss the history of abortion from the colonial period to the present: the surprising availability of abortion until the mid-19th century, the physician-led campaign to ban abortion, and the GOP’s decision in the early 1970s to embrace the “pro-life” movement. Join CAFE Insider to listen to “Backstage,” where Heather and Joanne...
Aug 30, 2022•46 min
How have vacations shaped American democracy? What can travel reveal about identity and national culture? And how does the history of tourism reflect the uncertainty of travel today? Heather and Joanne discuss the Grand Tour in early America, the rise of the post-Civil War “See America First” movement, and the efforts by Black motorists to remain safe during the mid-20th century. Join CAFE Insider to listen to “Backstage,” where Heather and Joanne chat each week about the anecdotes and ideas tha...
Aug 23, 2022•49 min
How do board games reflect America? How do debates over politics and identity show up in popular games? And how have these games shifted along with the nation? Heather and Joanne discuss the development of the American board game, from the influence of the Game of the Goose in Early America, to the pre-Civil War origins of the Checkered Game of Life, to several impactful 1960s games. Join CAFE Insider to listen to “Backstage,” where Heather and Joanne chat each week about the anecdotes and ideas...
Aug 16, 2022•51 min
How do Americans respond to taxation? What do trends around taxation say about American culture and values? And how can the history of tax policy help us to understand the recently-passed Inflation Reduction Act? Heather and Joanne discuss the legacies of the 1765 Stamp Act, the introduction of the income tax during the Civil War, and the tax-slashing ideology of 1920s Treasury Secretary Andrew Mellon. Join CAFE Insider to listen to “Backstage,” where Heather and Joanne chat each week about the ...
Aug 09, 2022•52 min
What happens when there are gaps in the historical records of some of America’s most seismic political events? How do historians try to piece together those mysteries? And how might these question marks help to contextualize the missing Secret Service texts from January 6th? Heather and Joanne discuss the mysteries surrounding the 1804 Burr-Hamilton Duel, the 1865 Hampton Roads Conference, and the 1920 Wall Street bombing. Join CAFE Insider to listen to “Backstage,” where Heather and Joanne chat...
Aug 02, 2022•50 min
