Civics & Coffee: A History Podcast
Jun 13, 2026 · 20 min · 10 segments
This week's episode comes to you thanks to Jeremy, a longtime listener who wanted me to dive into the history of computers. Join me as I explore how the personal computer evolved from the oversized…
Welcome to Civics & Coffee, a history podcast, the show all about United States history, delivered to you in the time it takes to enjoy your morning cup of coffee.
I'm your host, Alicia, a historian trained in United States history with a passion for telling both the known and unknown parts of America's past.
So grab your coffee and get ready for some bite-sized history.
Hey, everyone.
Welcome back.
Computers are ubiquitous.
Tablets, laptops, desktops, even our cell phones these days are basically handheld computers built with the power and technology to do some pretty amazing things.
When considering the impact of computer technology, it is amazing to think that some of these companies are barely 50 years old.
How is it that something so powerful, so influential, and for some, so time consuming, has come to dominate our lives in such a short span of time? A while back, a longtime listener, Jeremy, asked that I dive into the history of computers.
And while covering the entire history of computers would be quite extensive and extend beyond the United States, I hope you all don't mind our minor detour from the Gilded Age to take a look into our recent past and discover our history with the personal computer.
When did they first arrive? How did they become such household necessities? And how did they alter the American business and educational landscape? Grab your cup of coffee, peeps.
Let's do this.
So before I dive into this background, I do want to plug an earlier episode I did a few years back that focused on women and technology, specifically their work around computers.
I have linked it in the show notes for this episode.
So if you haven't listened to it yet, consider listening to it when you are done with this episode as I explore more about the early days of the supercomputer.
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Welcome to Civics & Coffee, a history podcast, the show all about United States history, delivered to you in the time it takes to enjoy your morning cup of coffee.
I'm your host, Alicia, a historian trained in United States history with a passion for telling both the known and unknown parts of America's past.
So grab your coffee and get ready for some bite-sized history.
Hey, everyone.
Welcome back.
Computers are ubiquitous.
Tablets, laptops, desktops, even our cell phones these days are basically handheld computers built with the power and technology to do some pretty amazing things.
When considering the impact of computer technology, it is amazing to think that some of these companies are barely 50 years old.
How is it that something so powerful, so influential, and for some, so time consuming, has come to dominate our lives in such a short span of time? A while back, a longtime listener, Jeremy, asked that I dive into the history of computers.
And while covering the entire history of computers would be quite extensive and extend beyond the United States, I hope you all don't mind our minor detour from the Gilded Age to take a look into our recent past and discover our history with the personal computer.
When did they first arrive? How did they become such household necessities? And how did they alter the American business and educational landscape? Grab your cup of coffee, peeps.
Let's do this.
So before I dive into this background, I do want to plug an earlier episode I did a few years back that focused on women and technology, specifically their work around computers.
I have linked it in the show notes for this episode.
So if you haven't listened to it yet, consider listening to it when you are done with this episode as I explore more about the early days of the supercomputer.