Greek Like Me

Join us for an intriguing conversation with Thaao Penghlis about the quest for Priam’s treasure, the Lion Gate at Mycenae and the lost tomb of Alexander the Great. We’ll talk about his travels, and his podcast, Thaao Penghlis’s The Lost Treasures, where he follows the path of 19th century Homer fanboy Heinrich Schliemann in his hunt to prove the people and places of the Illiad were real.

Thaao Penghlis's The Lost Treasures Episode 1

Parthenon by Costa-Gavras

Greek Firewalkers have been accused of paganism, even satanism.  But nothing will shake the dedication of these devout Orthodox Christians to the seven hundred year old tradition of the Anastenária.

Glimpses of an Ancient Fire-Walking Ritual in Northern Greece

Demetrios Ioannou Instragram

Demetrios Ioannou website

GREECE: THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE GATHER TO WATCH INTERNATIONAL FIREWALKING CEREMONY.

FIREWALKING

Over 80% of Greek Jews were annihilated during the Holocaust.  Renée Benmeleh joins us to share the stories of her fierce Yiayia who survived the Nazi machine against tremendous odds with tenacity, spirit, and a love of life

Visit Renée’s Website:

Sound Nourishment - Renée Benmeleh

Explore testimonies of Holocaust survivors:

USC Shoah Foundation

Why Orthodox call Easter Pascha, the spiritual symbolism of red Easter eggs - and how Greeks square off in an egg cracking competition that will leave one egg standing.

Closing music: Holy Thursday Hymn Simeron kremate epi xilou featuring Iro Saia

Greek Easter Egg Fight

Ukrainian Easter Egg Decorating Kit

Fresco of Mary Magdalene presenting red egg to Tiberius

Rescues, betrayal, and assassination: a civil war in the middle of the Greek Revolution resulted in Greeks killing Greeks, nearly derailing the fight for Independence. Bouboulina’s heroic feats couldn’t save her.

The Brave Stepped Back: The Life and Times of Laskarina Bouboulina Documentary film by April Kalogeropoulos Householder

The Bouboulina Museum

Kolokotronis and Bouboulina become wax figures in Kavala

Bouboulina rebels: Patriarchy, secret plots and the Ottoman Empire. A preamble to the Greek Revolution

An Introduction to a Heroine of the Greek Revolution and Her Context

What Americans mean by “white,” Greek allies, and how a Greek Orthodox Archbishop rallied his flock to step up for Civil Rights at a time when conforming was the only way to succeed in America.

Black Children Arrested & Assaulted in Birmingham/The Children's Crusade

The Bombing of the 16th Street Baptist Church

Hellenism and the Civil Rights Movement

Archbishop Iakovos Reflects on Joining Dr. King on Selma March

Apokries means Carnival Season in Greece, and Patras Carnival is the biggest. Inspired by Dionysus, influenced by Venice and France, it has a nearly two hundred year history of Masquerade balls, parades, a near-diplomatic crisis, arson, and treasure hunts. Καλές Απόκριες!

Patras Carnival 2019

Patras Carnival 2023 - TV spot

Carnival in Naoussa / Apokries Naoussas

APOKRIES IN ATHENS

Patras Carnival website

απόκριες thessaloniki

Jews have been in Greece since classical times. After thousands of years, these Greek citizens were nearly wiped out during the Holocaust. Join us in honoring the Greek Jews. Never forget.

My People Official Trailer

The Secret of Ereikoussa/The Greek Island that Hid Jews from Nazis

Holocaust Survivor Testimonies: Deportation from Greece

Once, the Twelve Days of Christmas didn’t mean turtledoves and gold rings to the Greeks, but hordes of vicious goblins causing mayhem. We’ll explore the history of the kalikántzaroi, and how to protect yourself during the most wonderful - and scariest - time of the year.

Greek Christmas Trolls: Kallikántzaroi

Λάχανα και Χάχανα - Καλικάντζαροι | Official Music Video

Καλικάντζαροι

Closing music: Kalikantzari (feat. Pediki Horodia Spirou Lambrou), from Hristougenniatika Lahana Ke Hahana; Hahana Kids & Tassos Ioannides