The Partial Historians

Dr. Fiona Radford (Dr Rad) and Dr. Peta Greenfield (Dr G) are two Australian historians who genuinely enjoy arguing about ancient Rome, and it shows. The Partial Historians follows Roman history chronologically, year by year, starting from the traditional founding date of 753 BCE. An ambitious scope, and they have been at it since 2013 with over 200 episodes. The format bounces between their main chronological series and standalone episodes where they interview other academics. Dr Rad specializes in how Rome appears in film, so you get fascinating detours into movies like the 1963 Cleopatra or Gladiator. Dr G focuses on Vestal Virgins and the roles of women in the late Republic -- an area most Roman history podcasts barely touch. Their multi-part series on the Gallic Sack of Rome is a standout, breaking down one of the most traumatic events in early Roman memory with the kind of detail that shows how much we actually do not know about it. They are upfront about gaps in the historical record, which is refreshing. Too many history podcasts present ancient sources as settled fact. The tone is conversational and frequently funny. These two clearly enjoy working together, and their disagreements about interpretation feel authentic rather than performative. Monthly episodes mean you will not be overwhelmed, and each one runs about 45-60 minutes. If you want Roman history that takes the experiences of women seriously and does not just focus on generals and battles, The Partial Historians fills a real gap. The 4.5-star rating across 160 reviews reflects a loyal, engaged audience.