Was Rome Always Like This? (With Mike Duncan)

Ancient History Fangirl

History, Society & Culture

4.5 • 518 Ratings

🗓️ 23 April 2026

⏱️ 84 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Help keep our podcast going by contributing to our Patreon! When we look at the demise of Roman democracy, we think of the time of Augustus—and maybe Caesar before him. But in reality, the seeds of the republic’s destruction were planted at the time of its birth. It’s probably not too far out on a limb to say that Caesar couldn’t have grabbed so much power if there hadn’t been a Sulla, or a Marius, or the Gracchi brothers, or innumerable revolutionaries and power players of centuries before. That is the subject of The Storm Before the Storm, the New York Times bestselling book by author and podcaster Mike Duncan. This week, Mike takes us back to the beginning—to show us the faultlines built into the very foundation of democracy. Sponsors and Advertising This podcast is a member of Airwave Media podcast network. Want to advertise on our show? Please direct advertising inquiries to advertising@airwavemedia.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	You're listening to an Airwave Media podcast.
0:04.4	Hi, I'm Mike Troy, host of the American Revolution podcast on the Airwave Media Network.
0:10.4	This podcast is the origin story of the United States, how we went from colonies ruled by a king to the Democratic Republic that we have today.
0:18.7	The American Revolution podcast tells the story of the
0:22.5	revolution from beginning to end. Please subscribe for free. We're available on all major podcast platforms.
0:30.1	I hope you will join me today on the American Revolution podcast. This episode is brought to you
0:36.5	by our Patreon members.
0:38.0	Thank you so much.
0:39.7	Join our Patreon for extra episodes, interviews,
0:43.0	extra content, and to help support the podcast
0:45.1	and help us continue to do the work we do.
0:47.3	Go to patreon.com slash ancient history
0:50.1	fan girl to learn more.
0:52.7	The Italians didn't fucking wreck the Republic, man.
0:55.4	The fucking Romans did.
1:09.6	I'm Jenny Williamson.
1:11.3	And I'm Jen McMenemy.
1:13.0	And this is Ancient History Fan Girl.
1:15.4	We are so thrilled to welcome a special guest today, Mike Duncan, the host of the award-winning
1:21.0	The History of Rome and Revolution's podcast, author of the New York Times bestselling books,
1:25.6	The Storm Before the Storm, and Hero of Two Worlds, the Marquis de Lafayette in the Age of Revolution.
1:31.6	Welcome, Mike.
	...

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