Story & Lesson Highlights with Alycia Asai, MA of N.A

We recently had the chance to connect with Alycia Asai, MA and have shared our conversation below.

Good morning Alycia, it’s such a great way to kick off the day – I think our readers will love hearing your stories, experiences and about how you think about life and work. Let’s jump right in? What are you most proud of building — that nobody sees?
There is a tremendous amount of work that goes into every episode of Civics & Coffee: A History Podcast that goes unseen and unnoticed by listeners. From organizing the topic calendar and choosing which stories to tell to finding appropriate research materials, there are many hours of work that goes into each episode.

I am proud of what Civics & Coffee has become and the work has paid off. Listeners frequently contact me to share their excitement about an episode or to tell me they learned something new. My goal with this podcast has always been to make history accessible, enjoyable, and a little fun for those busy adults who are short on time but long on curiosity.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Alycia and I am a historian trained in United States history. My research interests are women and labor, specifically the role of women in government bureaucracy. I bring my training to my show, Civics & Coffee: A History Podcast where each week I dive into the known (and unknown) parts of America’s past – all in the time it takes to drink a cup of coffee. I also sit down with historians and authors to discuss their latest projects and explore how their work helps us understand our present moment. My pitch for anyone reading this is that with Civics & Coffee you get to enjoy a history lesson in an engaging, informative way, all in the time it takes you to drink your morning cup of coffee (or tea).

Okay, so here’s a deep one: What’s a moment that really shaped how you see the world?
I am lucky enough to have traveled overseas and I think seeing the world is truly the best way to understand it. You learn that most people, regardless of language, ethnicity, or religion, want the same things in life. Seeing the world highlights just how young the United States is and how much there is to learn.

When did you last change your mind about something important?
Pursuing my master’s degree in History was something that I had always wanted to do, but was not sure I could. I was not convinced I could keep up with the reading, write a thesis, and defend it successfully so I put off even applying for several years. Then, the global Covid-19 pandemic hit in 2020 and I decided to launch a podcast all about history for busy adults. I quickly found that I was reading and writing a massive amount of history and that I enjoyed doing it. Hosting and producing Civics & Coffee gave me the confidence to apply to a graduate program and it was one of the best decisions I ever made.

Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. What’s a belief or project you’re committed to, no matter how long it takes?
My goal behind launching Civics & Coffee was to make history fun and accessible for those too busy to read massive tombs or spend hours listening to a podcast dedicated to a single topic. I understand people are busy and have dozens of demands on their time. My hope is that Civics & Coffee is a place of education and fun and that it inspires listeners – whether they are still in school or in retirement – to lean into learning about American history. In the end, if someone tells me they enjoyed an episode or were inspired by an episode to look into something further then I feel like I’ve done my job.

Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. Are you doing what you were born to do—or what you were told to do?
I am in a unique situation where I am doing both. Hosting a history podcast and living and breathing America’s past is something I truly believe I was born to do. I am an absolute super fan of American history – warts and all. In my opinion, the best way to understand the current moment is to study the past. There are so many lessons we can learn from the people who came before us and I feel incredibly lucky to have a place (however small) within the historical community.
Yet, being a history podcaster isn’t exactly a money maker. You have to reach some pretty impressive metrics for any podcast to be a full-time career and thus, I also have a full time career outside of the podcasting space. I am someone who is very lucky in that my career allows time for me to pursue my passion.

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Image Credits
Headshot: Alison Renee

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