Ask AI: questions to ask Dr. James Howard-Johnston about his academic career in Byzantine Studies during a podcast interview

1. Dr. Howard-Johnston, can you please tell us about your journey towards specializing in Byzantine Studies? What drew you to this field? 2. Can you provide an overview of your academic career? What were some of the pivotal moments throughout your career that have shaped your understanding of Byzantine history? 3. What specific areas within Byzantine Studies have you primarily focused on in your research and why? 4. Could you tell us about a few key publications you’ve contributed to the field of Byzantine Studies? What impact do you feel these works have had on the field? 5. What were some challenges you faced while pursuing Byzantine Studies and how did you overcome them? 6. Can you share with us some of the most interesting discoveries or insights you've come across throughout your career in Byzantine Studies? 7. Dr. Howard-Johnston, how has your teaching career influenced your research and vice versa? 8. Could you discuss some of the classes you have taught and the student response to learning about Byzantine history? 9. Who were the greatest influences in your academic career? How did they shape your approach to the studies? 10. If you were to advise young academics looking to enter Byzantine Studies, what would your key pieces of advice be? 11. How have Byzantine Studies evolved over the course of your career? What shifts or trends have you noticed? 12. How do you feel about the current state of Byzantine Studies, and where do you see it heading in the future? 13. Which of your peers in Byzantine Studies do you admire and why? 14. How does your study of the Byzantine period inform your understanding of the current world socio-political climate? 15. Finally, are there any new projects that you are currently working on that you would like to share with us?

1. What inspired you to pursue a career in Byzantine Studies? 2. What are some of the most rewarding aspects of being an expert in the field? 3. How have your academic accomplishments in the field of Byzantine Studies been recognized? 4. What advice would you give to someone considering pursuing a career in Byzantine Studies? 5. What have been some of the most interesting projects of your career? 6. What challenges have you faced while researching and teaching Byzantine Studies? 7. What has been the most influential book or article that you've read in your research? 8. What are some of the most important areas of study in Byzantine Studies today? 9. What do you consider to be the greatest discovery you have made during your career? 10. What would you like to see happen next in the world of Byzantine Studies?