Best Hellenic Leaders Podcasts (2024)

1
50 years later, are efforts to solve the Cyprus problem at a critical juncture? 13:56

2h ago13:56

13:56

In a recent interview with Politico, President Christodoulides said “We cannot afford to wait for a new effort, a new initiative,” when talking about the Cyprus issue. At the same time, on the 50th anniversary of the Turkish invasion of Cyprus, Turkish President Erdogan and Turkish Cypriot leader Tatar doubled down on their hardline position in fav…

1
The US election and the stakes for Greece 11:22

39m ago11:22

11:22

A few weeks ago it looked like former President Donald Trump was in the driver’s seat of the presidential election. In the last 10 days, however, President Biden dropped out of the race and Vice President Kamala Harris essentially locked up the nomination. William Antholis, the director and CEO of the University of Virginia’s Miller Center of Publi…

1
Erdogan's u-turn on Syria's Assad 13:06

1h ago13:06

13:06

Over the past month we’ve seen reports that after more than a decade of trying to overthrow the Assad regime in Syria, Turkey’s President Erdogan is now open to resetting relations with President Bashar al-Assad. Henri Barkey, the Cohen Professor of International Relations at Lehigh University and Adjunct Senior Fellow for Middle East Studies at th…

1
40 hours of crisis in the Aegean 13:46

31m ago13:46

13:46

Last week, for approximately 40 hours, tensions in the Aegean hit heights we had not seen in over a year and a half as Greek and Turkish ships faced off in an area south of the Greek islands of Kassos and Karpathos. Turkish warships had deployed just outside Greece’s territorial waters in an effort to prevent an Italian research vessel from carryin…

1
Foiled terror plot highlights Ankara's enabling of Hamas 15:08

3h ago15:08

15:08

In an escalation of rhetoric that is raising the temperature in the broader region, the last few days have seen Turkey’s President Erdogan threaten to intervene in Israel on behalf of the Palestinians, noting military interventions Turkey has made in the past in other countries. These statements came about a week after reports that Israel had foile…

1
255 If you’re thinking of a side hustle listen to this first… 22:37

3d ago22:37

22:37

Should you mix salon ownership with coaching, teaching, podcasting, session work, course creating, etc? These are all things that I have done or are currently doing… And they all provide reward, both in terms of personal fulfillment and the potential for financial gain. And they are right for some people, and definitely not right for others. In thi…

1
Greece and Cyprus eyeing key roles at the European level 9:24

3h ago9:24

9:24

With Ursula von der Leyen securing another term as European Commission President, EU members are now vying for the top positions in the new Commission. In what Politico called a show of his growing political strength, Prime Minister Mitsotakis stressed that Greece must get an important portfolio, one that reflects the country’s economic comeback an…

1
Greeks turn their attention to the Paris Olympics 14:41

1d ago14:41

14:41

The Paris Olympics opening ceremony on Friday night will see more than 8,000 of the world’s top athletes - led by Greece - sail along the Seine River in a one of a kind spectacle. Aside from the excitement around the opening ceremony, where Greece and Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo will carry the Greek flag, there are also high expectat…

1
Turkey ramps up tensions in the Aegean 11:17

5d ago11:17

11:17

This week saw tensions between Greece and Turkey reach levels we have not seen since 2022 in the Aegean as Turkey sent its warships into an area south of the Greek islands of Kassos and Karpathos. The ratcheting up of tensions followed Turkish President Erdogan’s hardline statements on Cyprus this weekend and his calls for Prime Minister Mitsotakis…

1
Armenia rocked by protests over concessions to Azerbaijan and Turkey 14:30

2h ago14:30

14:30

A few months ago, thousands of Armenians took to the streets in anti-government protests calling on Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan to resign. Protesters, led by Archbishop Galstanyan, have blasted Pashinyan for what they see as endless concessions being made to Azerbaijan and Turkey with nothing to show for it in return. Amberin Zaman, Al-…

1
254 Overcoming Adversity: A Personal and Professional Transformation with Tracey Woodward 48:54

7h ago48:54

48:54

Today's episode is Part 2 which follows on from last week’s episode with Tracey Woodward. In today’s episode we delve into Tracey's career journey, starting from her transition into the hairdressing industry, her impactful time at Aveda and Urban Retreat, and the various roles she undertook. Tracey opens up about overcoming personal challenges, imp…

1
The rise of the Athens Riviera 11:17

3h ago11:17

11:17

The Athens Riviera - a 60 kilometer shoreline spanning from Piraeus to Sounio - is currently undergoing a major rejuvenation, attracting both local and foreign investors. This transformation includes mega-projects like the Ellinikon at the former Athens airport which is touted as the largest real estate project in Europe and promises to be a “smart…

1
The 50 year occupation of Cyprus and the US failure to call a spade a spade 13:09

4h ago13:09

13:09

50 years ago, Turkey launched its invasion of Cyprus. Since then, tens of thousands of Turkish troops have occupied over one third of the island. Unfortunately, the US still fails to use the word “occupation” to describe this ongoing violation of international law in Cyprus. Endy Zemenides, the Executive Director of the Hellenic American Leadership…

1
50 years later: Turkey's invasion and occupation of Cyprus remains an open wound 12:36

3h ago12:36

12:36

On July 20th, 1974, Turkey launched its first invasion of Cyprus. 50 years later, tens of thousands of Turkish troops continue to illegally occupy the northern part of Cyprus, splitting the island in two. Alexis Papachelas, the editor in chief of Kathimerini, joins Thanos Davelis to discuss this dark anniversary, the importance of revisiting this m…

1
Greek support for Ukraine, a new military aid deal, and Russian anger 11:41

15d ago11:41

11:41

Since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Greece has stood by Ukraine, a decision that angered Moscow. Athens and Kyiv are now negotiating a 10-year assistance agreement. John Psaropoulos, an independent journalist based in Athens and Al Jazeera’s Southeast Europe correspondent, joins Thanos Davelis to look into the deal Athen…

1
From the Baltic to the Aegean: Discovering coastal ecosystems in Europe 10:09

2h ago10:09

10:09

The Tara Ocean Foundation has come to be known worldwide as a leader when it comes to promoting the well-being of our oceans, and its ship, the Tara, is currently docked in Greece, wrapping up a scientific expedition to better understand the biodiversity and ecosystems along Europe’s coastlines. Thanos Davelis was able to tour the ship and see its …

1
North Macedonia’s compliance with Prespa in the spotlight (Replay) 15:49

5h ago15:49

15:49

Last week HALC sounded the alarm over North Macedonia’s adherence to the Prespa Agreement, launching a letter and petition to the State Department urging it to remind Skopje that international agreements are binding - not optional - and that there will be consequences. North Macedonia’s newly elected leaders have repeatedly referred to their countr…

1
253 Survival. Your past doesn’t equal your future with Tracey Woodward 49:17

6d ago49:17

49:17

Our lives are a journey, and like every journey, where you start out and where you end up is what makes life so interesting. My guest on this episode is Tracey Woodward, who, like many people, didn't have the easiest start in life. However, unlike many people, she didn't let her past define her future. Tracey shares her life story, starting with be…

1
US targets Turkey's nuclear ties to Russia 9:14

7h ago9:14

9:14

The United States and Turkey are reportedly discussing the possibility of US companies building nuclear reactors in Turkey. This is seen as part of an effort to help Ankara move away from Russia, at the same time as Russia’s state-owned nuclear monopoly, Rosatom, is building a nuclear energy plant in Turkey at Akkuyu. While Washington looks like it…

1
From Alexandria to Athens: Discovering Cavafy 12:05

21d ago12:05

12:05

On a narrow street in the old Greek quarter of Alexandria, the world renowned poet and writer Constantine Cavafy created some of the masterpieces that still inspire people across the world today. As of this past May, this home in Alexandria is now open to the public. Together with the Cavafy Archive in Athens, which is home to over 2,000 digitized …

1
Is the Greek summer out of reach for young Greeks? 11:54

25d ago11:54

11:54

With Greece deep into its tourism season, issues of over-tourism and sustainability have largely dominated the headlines. A recent article in Kathimerini took a slightly different look at tourism, exploring how it impacts young Greeks. With the quintessential Greek summer increasingly out of reach for many in the country as they are priced out of c…

1
The UK elections and the Parthenon Sculptures 10:25

3d ago10:25

10:25

Last week Keir Starmer led Britain’s center-left Labour Party to a historic win over the Conservative Party. Prior to the elections, in November, Starmer had indicated that if Labour won the general election he would not prevent an agreement for the return of the Parthenon Sculptures. Ioannes Chountis, an adviser in the House of Lords and a council…

1
Orban's ties with Putin and Erdogan a cause for concern in Greece, Cyprus, EU and NATO 12:23

4d ago12:23

12:23

While Hungary’s Victor Orban - who currently holds the rotating presidency of the EU - is bidding to become the dominant hard-right force in the EU, he’s also raising eyebrows on the international level. His latest meeting with Russia’s President Putin and his decision to attend a meeting of the Organisation of Turkic States in Azerbaijan - which i…

1
252 What Does it Take to Create a Luxury Salon Brand with Hellen Ward 56:06

17d ago56:06

56:06

My guest today is Hellen Ward who as well as being a wife, mother, author, lecturer, educator, and managing director, is also the co-founder along with her husband Richard of the Richard Ward hair and Metro Spa located in the heart of London’s Chelsea. Hellen is highly regarded in the industry for not just having built a great business that is undo…

1
Greece and Albania: From the Beleri case to people to people ties 13:26

18d ago13:26

13:26

The case of Fredi Beleri, the convicted mayor elect of Himare who belongs to Albania’s Greek minority, has heightened tensions between Greece and Albania over the past year. A recent poll exploring Greek attitudes toward bilateral relations and their views on Albanians who have made Greece their home shows that while attitudes toward Albanian immig…

1
Athens and the dangers of heat 13:29

14d ago13:29

13:29

Last month was the hottest June ever experienced in Athens, at least since records began over 150 years ago. In fact, eight of the hottest 10 Junes ever recorded in Athens were during the last 20 years and four of those were in the last decade alone. This is having clear consequences for the city and its inhabitants, as rising temperatures and prot…

1
Mitsotakis under fire as criticism within the party mounts 12:57

10d ago12:57

12:57

This week kicked off with two former prime ministers and leaders of New Democracy - Antonis Samaras and Konstantinos Karamanlis - launching maybe the most severe criticism of Prime Minister Mitsotakis and his leadership that we’ve heard so far, touching on foreign and domestic policy. Their criticism comes amid broader political uncertainty among G…

1
251 What Do Your Salon and Your Country Have in Common? 9:36

11d ago9:36

9:36

What does your salon and your country have in common? That’s not a trick question! This year, there are elections in many countries, and as always, politicians are making lots of promises about how they’re going to make our lives better by spending more money on the things that matter. But here’s the problem: Your government, my government, or any …

1
Turkey’s goal in the ongoing Lebanon crisis 11:16

11d ago11:16

11:16

With the US in the midst of an intense diplomatic push to prevent a war between Israel and Hezbollah forces in Lebanon, Turkey has also waded into the mix. While it’s still unclear what Turkey is looking to achieve should a conflict erupt, it looks like a policy is taking shape, especially after Ankara followed up on Hezbollah’s threats to Cyprus w…

1
Uncertain times for Greece's political leaders 13:12

14d ago13:12

13:12

With SYRIZA on the brink of civil war, PASOK facing a new leadership fight, and New Democracy still reeling from the aftermath of the European elections, it seems like a period of uncertainty has set in among Greece’s top political parties. Tom Ellis, the editor in chief of Kathimerini’s English Edition, joins Thanos Davelis to look at the challeng…

1
Turkey gets Ecumenical Patriarch removed from Ukraine Peace Summit statement 9:29

26d ago9:29

9:29

Earlier this month, the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew - along with many other countries and organizations - attended the Ukraine Peace Summit. Nearly 80 countries issued a statement calling for the “territorial integrity” of Ukraine to be the basis for any peace agreement to end Russia’s two-year war. The Ecumenical Patriarch’s signature was ori…

1
A new six-day workweek in Greece? 11:25

17d ago11:25

11:25

Greece is moving toward a six-day workweek, with regulations coming into effect on July 1 that make this possible for certain industries. The government hopes this move, which comes as other Western countries and companies are considering shorter office hours, will help deal with a labor shortage and, among other things, fight black market labor. D…

1
Over-tourism and its impacts on Greek society 12:09

1M ago12:09

12:09

With another summer tourism season in full swing, the question of over-tourism and sustainability - particularly in tourist hotspots like Athens and the Cyclades islands - is once again at the forefront. It seems the government is also beginning to address these concerns, with Prime Minister Mitsotakis announcing plans to limit the number of cruise…

1
North Macedonia's mixed signals about the Prespa agreement 15:45

1M ago15:45

15:45

All eyes in Athens were on North Macedonia this weekend, as its new government and prime minister were sworn in. While Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski referred to his country as “North Macedonia” when taking his oath, his statements regarding the Prespa Agreement have not been reassuring, and Greece has warned that the a la carte implementation o…

1
250 Exploring Creativity with Eugene Souleiman 54:03

1M ago54:03

54:03

There are only a very small number of hairdressers who at any one time influence hairdressing all over the world. I have been fortunate to have had the opportunity to interview some of them on the podcast, and I always relish the chance to find out what it is that separates their ability from others. My guest on today’s Podcast is returning guest E…

1
Greece's mission in the Red Sea 11:59

1M ago11:59

11:59

Greece sent its frigate “Psara” to the Red Sea this week to join Operation Aspides, the EU’s mission in the Red Sea to protect merchant ships from Houthi attacks. The Psara is replacing the Hydra, which completed a three month deployment in the Red Sea, at a time when the Houthis are escalating their campaign. Vassilis Nedos, Kathimerini’s diplomat…

1
From problem to solution: Cyprus in the middle of the world’s crises 14:10

1M ago14:10

14:10

Days after the US and Cyprus announced the launch of a strategic dialogue, a historic step that takes the bilateral relationship to a new level and highlights Cyprus’s strategic role in the region, Hezbollah’s leader issued a threat against Cyprus amid rising tensions with Israel. Endy Zemenides, the Executive Director of the Hellenic American Lead…

1
Greece's shores at risk amid rising sea levels and coastal erosion 12:20

1M ago12:20

12:20

Over the past 30 years, Greece has lost some 250 square kilometers of its beaches. This is expected to rise as climate change and rising temperatures continue to push up sea levels. Experts warn Greece is in the “red zone” because measures to stabilize the country’s beaches are long overdue. Costas Synolakis, a professor of civil and environmental …

1
The ongoing crisis in Greece's center left 11:54

1M ago11:54

11:54

The aftershocks of the European elections are still being felt in Greece, as none of the big three parties reached their stated goals. The country’s attention has turned to the center left, particularly PASOK, where several party officials are calling for a leadership change. At the same time, there are growing internal discussions in PASOK and SYR…

1
Kavala: The Greek port city where West meets East 15:22

2M ago15:22

15:22

In the northern Greek port city of Kavala, an ultra-luxury Greek hotel owned by Egypt and built by Mohammad Ali Pasha has become a base to not only explore Kavala, but also Greece’s historic ties to the Balkans, the Eastern Mediterranean, and the broader Middle East. Sean Mathews, a Greece-based journalist covering the broader region, joins Thanos …

1
249 The key to being a great educator with DJ Muldoon 47:14

27d ago47:14

47:14

The role and opportunities for hairdressing education has changed dramatically over the last few years through social media and the various online learning platforms. That has led to the rise of the independent educator. Today’s guest is DJ Muldoon, who has made a great name for himself both in the online world and face-to-face for being a fantasti…

1
Greece deals with first blistering heat wave of the summer 14:04

2M ago14:04

14:04

Greece and the whole region have been hit by an unseasonably early - and intense - heat wave, prompting warnings, fire hazards, closures of schools and archaeological sites, and even leading to deaths. In the meantime, with a number of tourists reported either missing or found dead after hiking in the heat, experts have expressed fears that tourist…

1
Why Turkey's occupation of Cyprus is a threat to the US and EU 12:27

2M ago12:27

12:27

In a month we’ll be commemorating the 50th anniversary of Turkey’s invasion of Cyprus. For five decades, Turkish troops have occupied the northern part of the island. With this dark anniversary on the horizon, Michael Rubin, the director of policy analysis at the Middle East Forum and a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, joins Than…

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