I've recently been listening to Dan Carlin's Hardcore History podcasts (can definitely recommend them, even if it is a bit biased at times) and what I really like about them is how he paints a picture of the Roman psyche for example. In both Punic Nightmares and Death Throes of the Republic, he manages to give life to the Roman culture in a way that you feel like you know how these people think. What their ambitions are, why they do what they do etc.

I'm looking for something similar for the events leading up to and the early days of the Holy Roman Empire (pre-1400). I don't just want to know what happened, I want to get a sense of what Germany and the German people were like back then, in terms of culture, society, economics etc. I don't care if it's moderately biased (such as Carlin's stuff), as long as it gives me a good feel of the era and its people. It can be books, podcasts,documentaries etc.

Any advice is much appreciated!

TL;DR looking for a history of the late dark ages/early medieval period of the Holy Roman Empire, preferably with a focus on the people and culture, in the style of Dan Carlin's Hardcore History