I am not a history nerd by any history nerds estimation, but I do enjoy learning about certain areas of history and plan on getting into history more. Up until this point one of my major historical blindspots has been Rome. What are some good documentaries, podcast episodes, and books that can help me learn about the subject. Ideally I'd like them to be comprehensive but not overly long.
Hiya, definitely check out our Books and Resources list for some suggestions which should be helpful. I have personally very much enjoyed Mary Beard's SPQR as a ratther entertaining read (me being quite uninformed in matters of ancient Rome, so I can't speak to its accuracy).
So, for Roman military history, Adrian Goldsworthy is such a great writer. Specifically In the Name of Rome: The Men Who Won the Roman Empire each chapter is about a different battle and how Rome and her armies changed over time, so it's easy to pick up and read whenever you feel like it.
Caesar wrote memoirs of his campaigns, there's the Gallic War Commentaries and the Civil War Commentaries. They were self serving books to enhance his prestige with the Roman people, which makes them very entertaining.
Also, yeah. SPQR is great, it's only fault is coming to an end in the early third century, before Late Antiquity. But you'll leave with a great understanding of the Roman Republic and the Roman Empire of Early Antiquity.