Over the past several months, I have been listening to Mike Duncan's The History of Rome podcast on my commute to work. I've really enjoyed. While it seems to me (layman who primarily knows Rome through the HBO show, I, Claudius, and whatever public school taught me) that Mike Duncan goes through a lot of work to explain some of his sources and where historians disagree. How well is it regarded by actual historians? Well, or is it primarily for a layman audience?
Bonus question: As I mentioned, I'm almost done listening to the podcast as it ends with the fall of the Western Empire. If I wanted to "keep going," as it were, where could I go? Not necessarily with the Eastern Empire, specifically, but the European region in general. Just as I primarily started listening to the HoR podcast because there seems to be little no casual coverage of the beginning and end of the empire (everything always seems to focus on the Julio-Claudian dynasty), I also have never really seen anything regarding the transition from the Roman Empire to medieval Europe. It doesn't necessarily have to a podcast (or one "thing"). Just something fairly accessible, but detailed, for someone casually interested in the "story" of history.
Edit: Thanks for the recommendations! I'll definitely have to check these out. I never even thought about listening to lectures posted online.
The History of Byzantium is a podcast whose explicit goal is going from where Mike Duncan's podcast left off and continuing till the fall of the Empire to the Ottomans. So far he's up to the end of the 7th century. As a layman, it seems pretty good, but I wonder if any of the flaired users have an opinion?
**edited because I cannot into spelling or format
Funny enough, I love his "Revolutions" podcast and had no idea he had one focused on Rome. I love Roman history so this is a most definite must-have for me... I cannot really testify on the virtues of a podcast I just discovered (Rome) but he is rather good with his insights and accuracy regarding the French revolution so far.
Bonus Answer (further podcasts):
12 Byzantine Rulers by Lars Brownworth is simply amazing, although a lot shorter and more focused than Mike.
The transition is a lot harder but I think The History of England might scratch that itch. It's in a very similar style to the History of Rome and I have been enjoying it immensely lately.
I also have never really seen anything regarding the transition from the Roman Empire to medieval Europe. It doesn't necessarily have to a podcast (or one "thing"). Just something fairly accessible, but detailed, for someone casually interested in the "story" of history.
There is an Early Middle Ages iTunes University or Podcaste that seams to cover this period. Its on my "Listening" List.
After finishing The History of Rome, I enjoyed Dr. Paul Freedman's Yale class online, "The Early Middle Ages 284-1000."
It's "only" 22 classes but was very well done and is also on iTunes U. Where the periods overlapped with THOR, I found it complementary and engaging.
http://oyc.yale.edu/history/hist-210
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL77A337915A76F660&feature=view_all