Life of Caesar Podcast

11/12/2025

What I see on TikTok. Every. Damn. Day.

30/11/2025

This episode picks up the Roman story on two fronts at once: Cameron and Ray debate Schrodinger’s cat, Minecraft physics and the metaphysics of Tylenol, before steering the ship back into Tacitus’ account of the Batavian revolt. The Rhine frontier is in chaos, the Batavians are dancing across marshes, Roman legions sink into swamps, and the wonderfully named rebel leader Julius Civilis continues to torment the Flavian regime. We follow Tacticus through legionary humiliations, swamp warfare, surprise rear attacks, desertions, rainstorms and burnt camps, and the eventual fading of Civilis from history altogether. The second half of the episode dives deep into the mystery of Tacitus’ missing books: how we lost so much of his writing, why early Christians disliked him, how the Renaissance rediscovered him, and how Machiavelli weaponised him. It’s a mix of history, profanity, swamp fights, lost manuscripts, and one last goodbye to the old curmudgeon himself.

This episode picks up the Roman story on two fronts at once: Cameron and Ray debate Schrodinger’s cat, Minecraft physics and the metaphysics of Tylenol, before steering the ship back into Tacitus’ account of the Batavian revolt. The Rhine frontier is in chaos, the Batavians are dancing across ma...

11/11/2025

Our new theme song.

Adam Ant · Friend Or Foe · Song · 1982

28/10/2025

Oh well, I guess they better listen to the original series this time!

24/10/2025

In this special Life of Caesar episode, Cameron and Ray step out of their usual Roman timeline to talk with Matthew and Matteo Storm from The Lost Roman Heroes Podcast about Emperor Gallienus — one of the most underrated rulers of the Roman Empire. Together, they explore the chaos of the third-century crisis, when the empire faced simultaneous invasions, economic collapse, plagues, and political chaos. The conversation dives into Gallienus’s overlooked brilliance as a reformer — his creation of Rome’s first mobile cavalry corps, his pragmatic religious tolerance, his restructuring of the military and Senate, and his remarkable 15-year effort to hold the empire together while surrounded by enemies on every front. The guests make a compelling case for Gallienus as the emperor who bought Rome the time it needed to survive. Expect equal parts history, humour, and heresy as the gang compares the late Roman world to modern America, unpacks the political spin of ancient sources, and riffs on everything from Nero to Napoleon to Tupac.

In this special Life of Caesar episode, Cameron and Ray step out of their usual Roman timeline to talk with Matthew and Matteo Storm from The Lost Roman Heroes Podcast about Emperor Gallienus — one of the most underrated rulers of the Roman Empire. Together, they explore the chaos of the third-cen...

07/10/2025

In this episode, Cameron and Ray explore Vespasian’s campaign in Judea — a bloody and chaotic chapter that reshaped both Judaism and Christianity. Cameron recounts the revolt’s absurd beginnings — a land dispute, a sacrificed bird on a chamber pot — and follows it through to the Roman siege of Jerusalem. The pair unpack the complex characters of Josephus, Tacitus, and Vespasian, teasing apart propaganda, prophecy, and power — and how a Jewish general ended up calling a Roman emperor the Messiah. It’s a wild blend of theology, dark humour, and historical storytelling, with a few Game of Thrones and Succession riffs thrown in for good measure.

In this episode, Cameron and Ray explore Vespasian’s campaign in Judea — a bloody and chaotic chapter that reshaped both Judaism and Christianity. Cameron recounts the revolt’s absurd beginnings — a land dispute, a sacrificed bird on a chamber pot — and follows it through to the Roman sieg...

24/09/2025

Oh 179 episodes, how cute.

22/09/2025

Happy Birthday, Emperor Ray! May you have a stable of young boys to come behind you.

22/09/2025

In this episode, Cameron and Ray continue their exploration of Tacitus’ account of the Jews and the Dead Sea. They riff on bitumen bubbling up from the “Asphalt Lake,” how vinegar and menstrual blood supposedly affect it, and why the ancients found this both useful and bizarre. The conversation drifts through Roman building materials, paradoxographical stories, Salt Lake City smells, the destruction of cities around the Dead Sea, S***m and Gomorrah legends, and Tacitus’ blend of skepticism and superstition. The back half of the discussion dives into Jewish history under Hellenistic, Maccabean, and Roman rule, the destruction of the Second Temple, Tacitus’ sources and biases, and the survival of Judaism thanks to “the book.” Along the way, there are musical detours, Trump-and-tanks-in-DC anecdotes, and irreverent takes on gods, genocide, and history’s ability to spin a narrative.

In this episode, Cameron and Ray continue their exploration of Tacitus’ account of the Jews and the Dead Sea. They riff on bitumen bubbling up from the “Asphalt Lake,” how vinegar and menstrual blood supposedly affect it, and why the ancients found this both useful and bizarre. The conversatio...

05/09/2025

In this episode of *Life of Caesar*, Cameron and Ray dive deep into Tacitus’ *Histories* and his account of the Jews during the First Jewish-Roman War. The conversation explores the cultural, religious, and political context surrounding the Jewish people at the time of Vespasian and Titus’ campaigns in Judea. They dissect Tacitus’ often hostile and distorted accounts of Jewish origins, customs, and religious practices, unpacking the ways in which Roman writers justified conquest through propaganda. Along the way, the hosts discuss syncretism in ancient religions, the evolution of monotheism, circumcision, Sabbath traditions, burial practices, and Tacitus’ fascination with the geography of Judea, including the Dead Sea and balsam groves. With their usual mix of historical detail and irreverent banter, Cameron and Ray highlight both the absurdities of Roman prejudices and the broader historical forces that shaped Jewish identity in the Roman Empire.

In this episode of *Life of Caesar*, Cameron and Ray dive deep into Tacitus’ *Histories* and his account of the Jews during the First Jewish-Roman War. The conversation explores the cultural, religious, and political context surrounding the Jewish people at the time of Vespasian and Titus’ campa...

05/09/2025

In this episode of The Cold War, Cameron and Ray take us to Havana in 1952, when Fulgencio Batista staged a meticulously planned coup d’état. They walk through the midnight maneuvers at Camp Columbia, the arrest of generals, the swift control of communication hubs, and the apathy of the Cuban people after years of corruption. We see how Batista positioned himself as “the man” while suspending civil liberties, dissolving Congress, and reassuring both the Americans and local elites. Alongside this, Fidel Castro makes his first serious moves as a revolutionary—drafting a proclamation condemning Batista’s coup and beginning the trajectory that would define his life. The conversation ties Batista’s actions to lessons from Rome, Mussolini, and even contemporary American politics, blending history, irony, and sharp commentary.

Cold War #292 – Batista’s Bloodless Coup: Havana 1952 (Cuban Revolution #17) Sep 5, 2025 | Free, Podcast, Premium | 0 comments In this episode of The Cold War, Cameron and Ray take us to Havana in 1952, when Fulgencio Batista staged a meticulously planned coup d’état. They walk through the mi...

18/08/2025

In this episode, Cameron is joined by historian and author **Marc Hyden** to explore the life and times of Emperor **Titus Flavius Vespasianus**. They trace the rise of the Flavian dynasty, the chaos of the Year of the Four Emperors, the Jewish-Roman War, and Titus’ surprising path to the imperial throne. The discussion dives deep into Roman religion, Jewish resistance, the messy politics of succession, and the curious parallels between Roman messianic propaganda and the early Christian gospels. It’s a lively mix of scholarship, humour, and speculation on one of Rome’s often-overlooked emperors.

In this episode, Cameron is joined by historian and author **Marc Hyden** to explore the life and times of Emperor **Titus Flavius Vespasianus**. They trace the rise of the Flavian dynasty, the chaos of the Year of the Four Emperors, the Jewish-Roman War, and Titus’ surprising path to the imperial...