Emperors of Rome

Emperors of Rome comes out of La Trobe University in Melbourne, and it is one of those academic podcasts that never feels stuffy. Hosted by Dr. Rhiannon Evans, a Roman historian, and Matt Smith, who plays the curious non-specialist, the show works through the rulers of the Roman Empire with genuine enthusiasm. Rhiannon brings the scholarly depth while Matt asks the questions you would actually want answered, and their chemistry makes even the driest political maneuvering feel engaging. With over 260 episodes and counting, the podcast has expanded well beyond just emperors. You will find episodes on Roman festivals, funerary customs, trade networks, and the roles of women in Roman society. They regularly bring on guest scholars who add fresh perspectives, and the show is not afraid to spend time on figures most people have never heard of alongside the Caesars and Augustuses. What sets this apart from other Roman history shows is how it handles primary sources. Rhiannon does not just summarize ancient texts -- she interrogates them, pointing out biases in writers like Tacitus or Cassius Dio. The episodes on the Diocletian tetrarchy and the crisis of the third century are particularly strong, turning what could be a confusing period into something comprehensible. New episodes land roughly every two months, so it is not a weekly commitment. The back catalog is massive though, and it rewards listening in order. If you have already burned through the History of Rome by Mike Duncan and want something with more academic rigor but the same accessibility, this is your next stop. Rated 4.8 stars from over 1,500 ratings, which tells you the audience agrees.