Foul Play: A Historical True Crime Podcast · Shane L. Waters, Wendy Cee, Gemma Hoskins
Roman Empire: History's First Serial Killer
June 5, 2025·22 min
As heard by us
A Roman poisoner turns court protection into a stark study of power, pattern, and hidden death.
Locusta comes through as a poisoner whose real danger was not just skill, but proximity to power. The episode follows her place in Nero's Rome, from the death of Emperor Claudius through the killing of Britannicus and into the darker routines of palace life.
Why you'd press play
You want ancient Rome where dinner can become a political weapon.
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