I have personally met with Professor Kaldellis, and I really respect him for his contributions to the field. His expansion of Byzantine studies to wider audiences through new mediums has greatly influenced both me and countless others interested in the subject. As a result, I predictably became invested in Byzantium and Friends and have been listening for quite a while now.
Unfortunately, I have come to realize that Kaldellis’ podcast represents a larger issue present in contemporary academia. The innate left-wing biases of both the professor and his guests underly practically every episode and subject of discussion. I understand that podcasts are meant to be more personal and subjective, but the recurring leftist allusions and suggestive commentary has left me feeling tired and alienated. If not for this aspect, this podcast could be a fantastic conduit for academic learning and discussion.
Despite my reservations, I still think this podcast is important. It is certainly reaching people who otherwise would never be interested in Byzantium, and for that alone it is valuable. However, I personally cannot continue listening. I will still read and appreciate Kaldellis’ books, even if I take issue with his podcast.
