OPA Ora

Episode 8: Debrief from our FIRST Greek Fest of 2025

In this spontaneous and chaotic kitchen-table conversation, Foti and Fotini recap their local Greek festivals. Hear about topics ranging from awkward ice cream scooping shifts to the rise and fall of festival food expectations. Between stories about school finals, questionable lamb gyros, GOYA gossip, and volunteer job flops, they somehow tie it all together with laughs, opinions, and an accidental PSA about Chipotle’s BOGO day. 

NOTE: Hi! Just a quick heads-up before you listen: this episode is a little all over the place. It’s less structured and more spontaneous. Think of it as a long voice note you didn’t know you needed. We still hope you enjoy it, but if you're new here, maybe start with another episode. 

No Q&A for today's episode😊

Episode 7: Greek Festival Season

Opa! In this lively and chaotic episode, your favorite co-hosts Foti and Fotini dive into Greek Festival Season. From overpriced gyros and chaotic frappe orders (that Fotini wishes she could fulfill) to the magic of Greek dance performances, they cover it all. Expect tangents about gas stations in Greece, basketball rants (yes, Kyrie’s HUGE toe makes an appearance), and nostalgic moments that tie it all together. Plus, they share their Rose-Bud-Thorn of fest season and dream up their ideal Greek fest jobs. If you’ve ever been to a Greek festival or wondered what all the hype is about, this is your episode.

Q&A to answer in the comments:

What’s your Rose, Bud, and Thorn from a Greek festival? HINT: Listen to the episode to figure out how in the world to answer this!

Episode 6: Pascha 2025 and Greek Easter

In this episode, Foti and Fotini explore their experiences with Greek Easter 2025 (Pascha), from the festive church services to the midnight magiritsa soup. They share how Orthodox Easter overlapped with Catholic Easter this year, talked about traditions like the red eggs, lamb on a skewer, and their favorite Greek Easter foods. They also covered their spring break activities (as it coincided with Holy Week), AP exam stress, and even a dramatic bike ride accident just before filming that left Foti’s pinky in serious pain!

Q&A to answer in the comments:

What is your favorite Easter tradition? Did you do anything different for Easter this year?

Episode 5: Intro to Greek Media & Entertainment

In this episode, Foti and Fotini get a little carried away (in the best way!) talking about all things music and media in Greek culture, from their favorite Greek pop and trap songs, to unforgettable concerts in New York City, and even a bit about Greek dance and film. This is one of the new series that will be running on the OPA Ora Podcast, with this episode serving as an introduction to media culture - stay tuned! They share stories from Greek concerts they’ve been to, the lively scenes at Greek beach bars, and how Greek music and shows have shaped their social lives. They also touch on the global influence of Greek artists, and why Greek representation in mainstream media is still missing.

Q&A to answer in the comments:

Have you ever watched a movie from another culture? Did you enjoy reading The Iliad & The Odyssey, and are you excited about the new film adaptation? IF APPLICABLE: What’s your favorite Greek artist or song, and what song would you Shazam at a beach bar in Greece?

Episode 4: Intro to Greek Food & Culture

Join Foti and Fotini in the delicious (and rather divisive) world of Greek cuisine! This is one of the new series that will be running on the OPA Ora Podcast, with this episode serving as an introduction to food culture - stay tuned! From discussing dips like tzatziki and hummus to ranking their favorite dishes (and least favorites, like the controversial halva), this episode is a rollercoaster of food takes. They play "Kiss, Marry, Kill" with Greek foods, reminisce about summer eats in Greece, and somehow manage to sneak in some McDonald's obsession confessions. Plus, don’t miss the baklava origin debate—Turkish or Greek? Let us know your favorite Greek dish in the comments!

Q&A to answer in the comments:

What's your favorite Greek food, or have you yet to try Greek cuisine? Let us know in the comments! Also, what’s the most famous dish from your culture? Share your background and food picks–we’re curious!

Episode 3: Greek Camps, Friendships, and Nostalgia

Welcome back to The OPA Ora Podcast for our third episode! This time, we're diving into the world of Greek camps and exploring how they help foster lifelong Greek-American friendships. We kick things off with a fun discussion about the iconic Ionian Village and Camp St. Paul, reflecting on the experiences and bonds created through these camps. From the nostalgia of childhood camps to the unique connections we build with people from all over the country, we talk about how these friendships last beyond the campgrounds. The Greek 'network' is very big - a little too big at times.

As Foti mentioned at the start, this episode was recorded in June, so some summer references may feel a bit outdated—but we’re excited to keep pushing out new content! Stay with us as we catch up with all the episodes we’ve recorded since then.

Q&A IN COMMENTS:

Did you attend a camp growing up, and are you still friends with people you met there? What brought you together—your shared culture, faith, or just a love for the same activities?

Episode 2: Greece and Summer Traditions

In this episode of our podcast, we dive into the joys of spending summers in Greece, discussing everything from traditions and celebrations to the unique experience of living abroad for a QUARTER of the year. We share our personal itineraries, talk about Greek islands, and even touch on the excitement of senior trip plans. We compared American holidays like the Fourth of July with different Greek cultural experiences. We can't wait to keep bringing you more content, so stay tuned for the next episode!

Q&A IN COMMENTS:

During the episode, we asked listeners whether you resonate more with your cultural background or the culture you were brought up in (like the United States). We also ask how often you visit their home country or city and how long you usually stay there. Leave your answers in the comments if you’re on Spotify!

Episode 1: Growing up Greek American

KALO MINA and welcome to the first OFFICIAL episode! In this episode, we dive into our cultural background and identity, exploring what it means to grow up Greek American. We share our experiences attending Greek school, the challenges of balancing cultural traditions with school life (with heaps of relatable anecdotes), and the unique social dynamics within our community. We also discuss the significance of Greek Orthodox Holy Week and the impact of our heritage on our daily lives. Keep up with OPA Ora for more episodes as we continue to share our stories and connect with our listeners. Don't forget to respond to the Q&A in the comments (Spotify)!

Q&A: Do you feel your heritage was represented in your school community growing up, and how about in postsecondary educational settings if you're there yet?

Episode 0: Welcome to OPA Ora

In this episode, Foti and Fotini introduce themselves, (briefly) describe how the podcast came to be, their intentions, and how they know each other. Whether or not you are Greek, get ready to climb aboard and listen to the most relatable, comical, and entertaining conversations right here on OPA Ora!