John Adams once said, ”There’s never been a democracy yet that didn’t die by suicide.” To which we ask, or was it... murder?
If regicide is the murder of Kings, homicide is the murder of people, and herbicide is the murder of plants, then democricide is the murder of democracies.
In each season of Democricide, sibling hosts Kenny and Heather will look at a different historical democracy and ask the question, who killed it?
After Sulla "saved the republic," (his words, not ours), a new generation of Roman leaders rose who thought, hey, if Sulla could become dictator for life, why not me?
Before long, they were all killing each other and pushing the republic toward the brink.
Sources:
Caesar: Life of a Colossus, Adrian Goldsworthy
History of Rome podcast, Mike Duncan
5 Oct 2026
Who Killed the Roman Republic, Episode 4
Best friends become best frenemies as Marius and Sulla come to blows and a whole lot of Romans get caught in the middle. Can the republic survive?
Sources:
Storm Before the Storm, Mike Duncan
Caesar: Life of a Colossus, Adrian Goldsworthy
History of Rome podcast, Mike Duncan
28 Sept 2026
Who Killed the Roman Republic, Episode 3
The Gracchi are dead and the Roman senate has reasserted its power, which is to say, everything is for sale and bribery is rampant. When a Numidian prince exposes the rot within the system, an unlikely pair rise to oppose him, and accumulate unprecedented power in the process.
Sources:
Storm Before the Storm, Mike Duncan
History of Rome podcast, Mike Duncan
21 Sept 2026
Who Killed the Roman Republic, Episode 2
What if I told you the collapse of the Roman Republic began with a housing crisis, 2nd century BC style? Expansion will bring economic pain for the poor, and the Gracchi brothers will try to help them, or die trying.
Sources:
Storm Before the Storm, Mike Duncan
History of Rome podcast, Mike Duncan
14 Sept 2026
Who Killed the Roman Republic, Episode 1
The founders of Rome were raised by wolves. Or were they survivors of Troy? Or 7 tyrant kings? Whatever the mythical origins, they eventually founded a Democratic Republic of checks, balances, and traditions designed to prevent any one man from ever accumulating too much power. Rome would never be ruled by a King again.
Sources:
The Constitution of the Roman Republic: A Political Economy Perspective (https://chicagounbound.uchicago.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1300&context=public_law_and_legal_theory)
Storm before the storm, Mike Duncan
History of Rome podcast, Mike Duncan
24 Nov 2025
2025 Friendsgiving Podcast Spectacular
Kenny Austin here - Season 2 of Democricide is still in production, but I do have something to share with you this holiday season, the fourth annual Friendsgiving Podcast Spectacular.
Folks who have listened to my Abridged Presidential History podcast will be familiar to this tradition. For everyone else, It'll be something new! Four compelling podcast hosts sit down for a round table where each host gets to ask 1 question of each other host. Questions like:
On the eve of the United States' 250th birthday, what ideas or facts from the revolution could use more emphasis today?
Is there anyone from history your opinion pulled a 180 on as you learned more about them?
If you could take any one president and swap their place with any other president, who would you swap and why?
Join me for a merry discussion with 3 of the best U.S. / Presidential History podcasters you'll find:
Howard Dorre, Plodding through the Presidents
Jerry Landry, Presidencies of the United States
Alycia, Civics & Coffee
14 Jun 2025
Who Killed Athenian Democracy, Episode 4
This episode of "Democricide" examines how internal treason and oligarchic ambitions undermined Athenian democracy during its protracted war with Sparta.
14 Jun 2025
Who Killed Athenian Democracy, Episode 3
This episode of "Democricide" examines how envy and jealousy from a rival Greek city-state threatened Athens' democratic system after its victory over the Persian empire.
14 Jun 2025
Who Killed Athenian Democracy, Episode 2
This episode explores the establishment of Athenian democracy and the key figures who defended it against the backdrop of the powerful Persian empire.
14 Jun 2025
Who Killed Athenian Democracy, Episode 1
This episode explores how a tyrant's misstep and a revolutionary's proposal led to the birth of Athenian democracy, transforming the Greek world.
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
3 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
5 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 13 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
13
Social presence
0
YouTube
0
Engagement
32
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