The Fall of Rome Podcast

Patrick Wyman has a PhD in history and it shows -- but in the best possible way. The Fall of Rome Podcast takes one of the most debated periods in Western history and approaches it with tools most history podcasters never touch: genetics, climate science, forensic analysis, and economic network modeling. The result is a show that feels genuinely modern in its scholarship while remaining completely accessible to anyone without a history degree. Wyman has a talent for translating complex academic arguments into plain, conversational English. Each episode runs about 40 to 55 minutes and the series is structured as a chronological journey through the Western Roman Empire's collapse, with regional deep dives into places like Britain, Gaul, and North Africa. At only 35 episodes, this is a tightly focused series rather than an open-ended project, and that discipline works in its favor. Nothing feels like filler. The 4.8 star rating from over 2,000 reviews reflects how well the show lands with listeners, many of whom describe it as feeling like a college-level course without the tuition bill. Wyman went on to create Tides of History, which covers a much broader historical sweep, but this original series remains his tightest and most focused work. If you have ever wondered what actually happened when Rome fell -- not the simplified version but the messy, complicated, region-by-region reality -- this is the podcast that answers that question with real rigor.