What started as a simple podcast deal soon turned into a major controversy at Ohio State University. A new report reveals that a woman linked to former president Ted Carter had a financial agreement with the school and owes them a five-figure amount, raising fresh questions about the situation and how it was handled.

The relationship was reportedly brought to the board’s attention by an outside source, leading to an emergency executive session where Carter offered to step down. Carter told the board that he had an “inappropriate relationship” with the podcast host, Krisanthe Vlachos. She is the host of The Callout Podcast, a veterans-focused show. She also described Carter as a “dear friend and mentor” on social media. Carter admitted that he allowed Vlachos to use public university resources to help her business and podcast. Because of this situation, Carter stepped down from his job as president of Ohio State University.

Ted Carter’s resignation in March was a direct consequence of his admission of allowing improper access to university resources. Ohio State has not officially made any mention of Vlachos in its public statements, but her media company remains central to the ongoing investigation by the university with regard to the misuse of these public assets. Vlachos registered her business, Vet Earn USA LLC, using the physical address of WOSU Public Media, a university-owned building. She also had a contract to produce 50 podcast episodes using WOSU studios.

The public records that could be gathered included official details regarding their financial arrangement. The production contract required Vlachos to pay around $94,000 for rental use of the university’s media facilities. This explicitly outlined her obligation to cover studio sessions of two hours, which validated reports regarding the massive five-figure debt tied to this controversy.

Their services included several things needed to make the show. The five-figure sum granted Vlachos access to the professional recording suites, multiple camera setups, and post-production editing software.

The contract was supposed to last one year, starting June 30, 2025, and ending July 31, 2026. During that time, Vlachos planned to record episodes of “The Callout.” Later, the podcast was removed from YouTube and other social media platforms. The main aim of the podcast was to help people who served in the military find jobs in the utility industry. It also planned to use artificial intelligence to help connect veterans with job opportunities.

Ted Carter’s decorated military background, including graduating from the U.S. Naval Academy was a key promotional element for the podcast, where he appeared as a guest multiple times before severing ties with the program. He even allegedly facilitated a live demo of Vlachos’ AI-powered app, “Connect to Power,” in his university office for state leaders.

Now, it all comes down to the amount Vlachos owes to OSU. As per their contract, either side can end the agreement if they give 30 days’ written notice to the other side. It also says that if the contract ends and any money is still owed, the client must pay that money within 30 days.

Right now, it is not clear how many podcast episodes she actually recorded at WOSU. So, whatever the case, Vlachos had to pay OSU for each episode within 30 days after they sent her a bill. But they are not the only ones trying to get their money back from Vlachos.

Ted Carter’s move puts another organization at risk

JobsOhio is a nonprofit group that works to create jobs and grow businesses in Ohio. The group agreed to sponsor “The Callout” podcast. The plan was to pay $15,000 for each episode and support four episodes in total. However, it did not work out as expected, as only one episode was actually recorded and released, and that episode has now been removed from the internet.

Because the other episodes were never produced, JobsOhio said it is trying to get back the $60,000 it invested in the project. JobsOhio later explained that Ted Carter introduced the organization to Krisanthe Vlachos and her podcast. The group believed the show could reach military members and veterans in Ohio and help connect them with job opportunities in the state.

Ted Carter’s sudden exit exacerbates a pattern of leadership instability at the university, following the early departure of his predecessor, Kristina Johnson. With two consecutive presidents failing to complete their contracts, the Board of Trustees now faces heightened scrutiny over its leadership decisions.

For now, the university has appointed Ravi Bellamkonda as the new president, but many people say they will wait and see how the university handles the situation going forward. Bellamkonda was Ohio State’s executive vice president and provost, and had spent only a year at Columbus as provost before becoming their 18th president. But whatever doubts might rest with the trustees, Ryan Day wants to start a fresh chapter with optimism.

“Ravi and I spoke last night,” Day said at Bellamkonda’s introductory press conference. “He shared to me how important athletics is to our student experience and all Buckeyes across the globe. As we know, excellence is the standard here at Ohio State. That includes the classroom, health care, research and winning championships on the field…I’m looking forward to working with Ravi, to continue our excellence, as we take it to new levels.”

Bellamkonda is the first president in over a century to be elevated directly from within the university’s internal leadership.