Hello everyone,

My name is Robin Pierson. I live in London in the UK and I currently have two jobs. I work full time for my father who is an actor and for the past four years I have been working part time as a TV critic. I set up my own site at thetvcritic.org so I could share my passion for American television shows.

Since then I’ve produced a number of podcasts both alone and with co-hosts.  I’ve also become a huge fan of podcasts themselves and regularly listen to over a dozen each week. One of my favourites as you’ve probably guessed is Mike Duncan’s “The History of Rome.” Though I also thoroughly recommend Dan Carlin’s “Hardcore History.”

I’ve always had an interest in Ancient History and studied classics at school. I’ve read Roman history books on and off since university but my passion for the subject was really ignited in the last few years. Partly through a trip to Italy and partly through “The History of Rome” podcast.

I liked pretty much everything about “The History of Rome” podcast. I liked the simplification and explanation of the Roman story. I liked the half an hour length. I liked Mike’s sense of humour and timing. I liked his neutral tone which never felt like it was providing an overbearing opinion on the narrative. When Mike announced he would be stopping with the fall of the West in 476 I considered whether I could possibly take on the task of continuing the story.

As I have the podcasting equipment and experience at my fingertips and I so want to learn more about what happened to the Romans, now that Rome has fallen, I decided I would. My aim is to continue in the same vein as “The History of Rome.” I aim to present the narrative story of what happened to the Roman Empire from 476 onwards in half hourly installments. I’m no expert on the subject but I have studied it before and aim to communicate it in as clear and entertaining a fashion as possible.

Initially at least I hope to emulate Mike’s style. I want to keep the rough structure and neutral tone established on “The History of Rome” because I think so highly of it. I hope you won’t see it as simply an imitation and doubtless over time my own style will emerge.

I can only commit to taking the story on another century (to the end of Justinian’s reign) for now. If I have enough support I hope to keep going all the way to 1453. Let me know what you think of the podcast either here on the blog, on facebook or on Itunes.

Robin Pierson, May 2012