Podcast Summary: Conspiracy Theories
Episode Title: My Roman Empire: The Death of Nero
Host: Carter Roy (Spotify Studios)
Date: December 3, 2025
Episode Overview
In this episode, host Carter Roy delves into the popular and controversial legacy of Emperor Nero, one of ancient Rome’s most infamous rulers. The show explores not only the “official” stories of his cruelty and downfall but also digs into conspiracy theories challenging the mainstream narrative of Nero’s death, the circumstances surrounding it, and even his enduring legend as a possible Antichrist. Through vivid retelling, historical analysis, and examination of alternate theories, Carter probes the question: who really killed Nero — and did history deliberately demonize him?
Key Discussion Points & Insights
The ‘Roman Empire’ Internet Meme and Nero’s Pop Culture Presence
- [00:00–04:31]
- Carter begins by referencing a 2022 viral meme: "How often do you think about the Roman Empire?" revealing the Roman Empire’s persistent allure, especially for men.
- He introduces Nero as a classic example of Roman excess and monstrosity, noting popular stories of Nero setting fire to Rome and his notorious reign.
- Sets up the episode's central question: Is the narrative about Nero—and especially his death—reliable, or is it “my Roman Empire,” a tale riddled with conspiracy?
The Great Fire of Rome and Nero’s Atrocities
-
[04:31–11:00]
- Describes the Great Fire of 64 AD: 10 districts burned over 9 days, with mysterious figures inhibiting firefighting efforts.
- Points to Nero’s alleged role: setting the fire for his Golden House (a luxurious palace), enjoying the spectacle, and scapegoating Christians, leading to mass tortures and executions—including St. Peter.
- Details Nero's personal brutality: murdering his mother, wives, and castrating and marrying the young boy Sporus.
“Elated by the fire’s beauty, he played the fiddle and sang an indulgent celebration... because he’d had it set. So Nero had big plans for after the fire: cleared land to build his golden house.”
— Carter Roy [05:10] -
Depicts Nero as both a sadistic tyrant and a failed leader longing to be an artist, not a ruler.
The Fall of Nero: Official Story vs. Conspiracy
-
[11:00–16:01]
- The Senate turns against Nero: food shortages, executions of advisors (including Seneca), and loss of Praetorian Guard loyalty.
- Nero is declared an enemy of the state, flees with only a few allies, and—trapped and fearing torture—orders his secretary Epaphroditus to help him die by suicide.
“What an artist dies in me.”
— Attributed to Nero’s last words [13:53]- The official version: Nero’s suicide marks a turning point, sparking the civil war known as the "Year of Four Emperors" and inaugurating the Flavian dynasty—who, Carter notes, wrote the histories that defined Nero’s reputation.
Theories Challenging the Official Narrative
- [16:01–31:52]
- Raises the idea that Nero’s “suicide” may have been a cover-up for assassination, given the political climate and multiple failed plots against him.
The Piso Conspiracy:
-
[16:01–23:00]
- Details a failed plot involving senators, guards, and the freedwoman Epicharis, who bravely resists torture and does not betray co-conspirators.
- Describes the botched plans and betrayals that result in widespread arrests and executions, further stirring unrest and paranoia.
“Piso, however, refused [to kill Nero at his house], saying it’d be improper to assassinate a guest. Kill the man, sure, but be a bad host. A bridge too far.”
— Carter Roy [20:36]- Some, like Epaphroditus (Nero’s secretary), and the Praetorian Guard, are later considered as possible agents in a covered-up assassination.
- [25:40] Points out that Epaphroditus is executed decades later for “killing a past emperor,” raising suspicions about what truly happened.
Alternative Suspects:
- Discusses the Praetorian Guard’s habit of killing emperors and being easily bribed by would-be successors.
- Suggests a possible coordinated murder to cover up a coup.
The “Nero Redivivus” Legend: Nero Never Died
-
[31:52–38:30]
- Explores stories that Nero faked his death and would rise again, citing public affection for Nero among the lower classes.
- Recounts incidents of imposters claiming to be Nero returning to reclaim his empire, fueling rumors that he survived.
- Considers the possibility that much of the monstrous narrative about Nero was Flavian propaganda (“vituperatio”—smear campaigns).
“According to British Museum curator Thorsten Opper, everything we know about Nero could be the product of a 2,000-year-old smear campaign.”
— Carter Roy [32:30]
Nero as the Antichrist: Legacy in Christian Lore
-
[38:30–44:30]
- Describes Christian interpretations tying Nero to the Book of Revelation’s Antichrist, including the numerical cipher of 666 matching Nero’s name in Hebrew and the association with Rome’s seven hills.
- Notes that Revelation’s coded language may have been survival strategy for persecuted early Christians.
“First, the Bible states the Antichrist will wage war on God’s people... which, by persecuting them for the fire, Nero already had done... What does Nero calculate to in Gematria? You guessed it. Six. Six. Six. Always wondered where that came from.”
— Carter Roy [41:40]
What Really Happened to Nero?
-
[44:30–End]
- Highlights modern historical debates about the true nature of Nero’s death.
- Suggests the Roman elite may have orchestrated his demise through direct action or psychological pressure, with Carter quoting scholar John F. Drinkwater for emphasis:
“The whole course of events smells of treachery, and the Senate pushed Nero in the direction they wanted him to take… Even if the senators didn’t kill him physically, they ultimately caused his death. After all, history is written by those in power, those with an agenda, the victors. And however he died, Nero was not a victor.”
— Carter Roy [45:40; quoting Drinkwater]
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
-
On Roman masculinity and historical obsession:
“It’s understandable why men are enthralled by the Roman Empire. It’s a story of war, conquest, power, and other stereotypically manly things.”
— Carter Roy [00:38] -
On the mythic and artistic ironies of Nero’s death:
“He was quoting Homer’s Iliad, a theater kid till the bitter end… What an artist dies in me.”
— Carter Roy [13:50] -
On ancient historical smear campaigns:
“They had a term for it: vituperatio… you can really invent all manner of things just to malign that character.”
— Carter Roy [33:28] -
On coded Christian prophecies and the Antichrist:
“The hope was that Nero somehow escaped... And then, one last coincidence. Revelation also calls the beast seven heads, seven mountains. Back in Nero’s day, Rome was called the city on seven hills.”
— Carter Roy [42:45]
Important Segments & Timestamps
- [04:31] – Retelling of the Great Fire and Nero’s infamous crimes
- [11:00] – The Senate’s plot, Nero’s flight, and official account of his death
- [16:01] – Examination of conspiracies and failed assassination plots
- [25:40] – Suspicion on Epaphroditus and Praetorian Guard involvement
- [31:52] – Legends about Nero’s survival and subsequent imposters
- [38:30] – Nero’s legacy in Christian apocalyptic prophecy and numerology
- [44:30] – Carter’s concluding reflections on the politics of historical narrative
Tone and Language
Carter Roy’s narration blends sharp wit, skepticism, and vivid storytelling, weaving in dark humor and modern analogies to make ancient events relatable:
- "Apparently they didn’t have a stop button on naming people back then." [04:50]
- “Kill the man, sure, but be a bad host. A bridge too far.” [20:36]
- "Glad I don’t work for these guys." [26:39]
Takeaways
- The traditional account of Nero’s suicide is based on questionable, partisan histories.
- Multiple plausible suspects and motives exist for assassination or cover-up.
- Later regimes benefited from painting Nero as a monstrous figure, possibly exaggerating or inventing some of his worst traits.
- The legend of Nero as a returning tyrant—and even as the Antichrist—reflects his impact on both Roman politics and later Christian tradition.
- The episode underscores how history is shaped by power, propaganda, and the agendas of victors.
Final Reflection
“The truth isn’t always the best story, and the official story isn’t always the truth.”
— Carter Roy [45:52]
For listeners fascinated by history, power, and the ever-present question “who shapes the narrative—and why?”, this episode offers a gripping, skeptical, and at times darkly funny investigation into one of Rome’s most notorious rulers and the stories left in his wake.