Fall of Civilizations - what can I say about this podcast? Well, let us start with the production – it’s very good, from the choice of music and sound effects adding subtle layers to the quality of the voice acting it’s top notch. The host, Paul M.M. Cooper, has an enviable voice – it is clear and authoritative, you listen to his words and trust what he is saying. Educated with a PhD in the cultural and literary significance of ruins and the author of two novels you can be sure he knows how to research and how to write. That’s just as well as the podcast episodes can reach the three hour mark but here the pause button is your friend, dip in and out as you need. Due to their length and the considerable detailed research put into each show the release schedule isn’t fastest but when a new episode lands you know you’re in for a treat. Each episode examines a different civilisation such as the Maya, Easter Island, the Khmer Empire or the Songhai Empire - you might not have heard of all of those and that’s great, you’ll be learning history you’ve not come across before. As the name suggests the podcast centres around the decline and fall of the said civilisations but has the depth to put them in context and give you and understanding of their importance. You then learn what tumultuous event happened, what led to their demise. Everything is told with sparing but superb use of voice actors, quoting passages and really bringing them to life, alongside Paul’s excellently paced narrative. If you’re a fan of the big history shows or just after something with a little more depth than your usual 30 minute show then Fall of Civilizations is an excellent choice.