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Explaining Greece

ΤΟ ΒΗΜΑ

Explaining Greece

Κοινωνία & Πολιτισμός Πολιτική Σχολιασμός Ειδήσεων

Explaining Greece by To Vima unpacks the complexities of modern Greece, one story at a time. In every episode, journalists and experts shed light on the country’s most pressing issues, offering deep insight and fresh perspectives. Hosted by Charis Tzanis.

επεισόδια	25
διάρκεια	9 ώρες
συχνότητα	εβδομαδιαία
επεισόδιο	πριν 6 ημέρες
ηλικία	9 μήνες
προσθήκη	πριν 8 μήνες

The Incomparable Dionysis Savvopoulos: 1944-2025

One of post-war Greece’s best known and beloved music makers, Dionysis Savvopoulos, passed away last month (October 2025) at the age of 81, leaving behind a musical and cultural legacy that can’t easily fit into neatly defined genres or generational monikers. Savvopoulos was hugely consequential in Greece and with Greek-speaking fans yet remains more-or-less unknown beyond the “Hellenosphere”,...

Ban on Protests in Front of Tomb of Unknown Soldier Sparks Political Row

A political “tempest in a teapot”, a mere diversion from other, more pressing issues, a necessary move to better protect a revered site for Hellenism, or, a “discount” on freedom of assembly and free speech?An amendment tabled by the center-right government in the latter half of October transferring jurisdiction of the Tomb of the Uknown Soldier monument and the commons in front of the memorial...

Electricity and ‘Green Transition’: Is Greece's Future Nuclear?

Greece will need to at least triple its power production capacity - today at roughly 50 TWh - by 2050 and produce cheaper electricity, according to Purdue professor of nuclear engineering Lefteri Tsoukalas.Noted professor Tsoukalas stresses that the future use of nuclear reactors, possibly along the design of small modular ones (SMRs), is “imperative” for the east Mediterranean country. At the...

The Classic Grecian Street Food: Souvlaki

For hundreds of millions of people from around the world that have visited Greece over the past decades one thing that more-or-less comes to mind when recalling their “food experiences” in the east Mediterranean country is the humble but filling souvlaki – essentially “meat on the stick” that’s often packed and folded into a type of pita bread with other ingredients, usually tomatoes, onions,...

Two views on ‘overtourism’, STRs and … trendy Grecian holidays

By all accounts, 2025 will be another banner year for Greece’s all-important tourism and holiday industry, a sector that attracts tens of millions of people from around the world every year and annually pumps more than 20 billion euros into the local economy.The substantial economic benefits that tourism generates for Greece is a result of the east Mediterranean nation’s surging global...

How Dominant is Orthodox Christianity in Modern Greek Society; What’s the Faith’s Relationship with the Faithful

In the latest episode of “Explaining Greece”, we speak with Effie Foka, a senior fellow at the Athens-based Hellenic Foundation for European & Foreign Policy (ELIAMEP), as well as a research associate for the London School of Economics – Hellenic Observatory. Prof. Fokas also teaches politics at the American College of Greece – Deree.On the occasion of a major Aug. 15 religious holiday in...

Why is Athens irked over a Turkey-Libya deal to draw maritime zones in the Med?

In this week’s episode of “Explaining Greece”, we speak with Maria Gavouneli, a professor of International Law at the National & Kapodistrian University of Athens, and the director general of the Athens-based Hellenic Foundation for European & Foreign Policy (ELIAMEP), regarding an issue that since 2019 has soured relations between Greece and the fractured and still unstable North African...

From COP30 to Greek Kilowatts: A Climate Reality Check

This episode of Explaining Greece takes listeners on a journey from high-stakes international climate negotiations to the everyday forces driving up electricity prices in Greece—offering a comprehensive look at global climate diplomacy, emissions trends, and the real-life impacts of the climate crisis, from heatwaves and floods to rising energy bills. In conversation with Dimitris Tsekeris,...

The Existential Threat to Mt. Sinai Monastery

In this episode, we speak with Archimandrite Fr. Porphyrios Frangakis, the venerable Sinai Monastery’s spokesman in Greece, as well as Dr. Ronald Meinardus, a journalist, political analyst and commentator with extensive experience in both Egypt and Greece, where he’s lived and worked for many years. The abrupt emergence of an existential threat to the continued existence of the St. Catherine...

Breaking Down the ReArm Initiative and Last Week’s SAFE Regulation; Greece’s Concerns Clarified

In this episode, we speak with Prof. Spyros Blavoukos, a professor of international and European economic studies at the Athens University of Economics and Business. Prof. Blavoukos is also a senior research fellow at the Athens-based Hellenic Foundation for European & Foreign Policy (ELIAMEP).One focus of the podcast is the recently adopted, by the EU Council, 150-billion-euro financial...

Exhibiting the Every Day of the African Diaspora in Greece

On display at the Benaki Museum until May 25, Africa Amongst Us is a multi-medium exhibition showcasing archival objects from Nigeria, Cameroon, and Kenya, alongside stories, artifacts, and art from the African diaspora in Greece. The exhibition illuminates the histories of the diaspora, presenting a timeline that braids together traditional and everyday items to highlight how African...

Photographing Athens' Favorite Flea Market

Whatever you are shopping for, you can likely find it at Eleonas Flea Market-- bed frames, motorcycle parts, hiking boots, silver earrings, canned fish, posters from the 2004 Olympics, icons of Saint George, magazines from former Yugoslavia, film for polaroid cameras, or hand-carved backgammon sets. This flea market, hosted every weekend, offers a bewildering plethora of options, a collection...

The Legal History of Surrogacy

Surrogacy has been legal in Greece for two decades. But surrogate pregnancies, the protections for surrogates, and the access to surrogacy have been all over Greek headlines as of late. Specifically, in April, a legal provision underlined again that gay couples and single men cannot access surrogate reproduction techniques. To understand why, we spoke with Marianna Vassiliou, a lawyer at the...

U.S. Tariffs and the Greek Economy

Will the U.S. tariffs impact the Greek olive oil business? Will market volatility drag Greece toward more financial instability?In the first 100 days of his presidency, U.S. President Donald Trump threatened, implemented, and then paused sweeping tariffs on imports into the United States. Greece was subject to the tariffs levied against the European Union. Exporters worried about the olives,...

Athens' Housing Crisis and History

Athens is in a housing crisis. Athenians are less and less able to afford buying a house, unable to pay their ever-increasing rents, and slowly are being pushed out of the center of the city. Greek households face the highest housing cost burden in the EU. But it wasn't always this way-- In 2005 nearly 85% of Greeks owned their own home. So how did we get here, and what is the history of...

Translating Folk Songs into Poetry

To state the obvious, Greek poetry didn’t begin and end with Homer. There is a vast and rich body of modern Greek poetry, much of which has been translated into English for wider appreciation. In this episode of Explaining Greece, we explore some of that poetry—its ties to Greek folk music, and the complexities of translation.Joshua Barley, a translator of modern Greek literature and poetry,...

Inside the Ancient Agora

In the center of Athens, tucked amidst tavernas and the metro line, lies a sprawling archaeological site—the Athenian Agora—once the center of political and economic life in the city. It was here that the ancient democracy held trials, passed legislation, and, at times, decided whom to ostracize. Excavations at the Agora have been underway for well over 100 years, and they continue today. This...

The Mediterranean Diet: Tradition, Health, Modern Society

The Mediterranean diet is widely recognized for its numerous health benefits, including heart protection, anti-inflammatory properties, and its role in promoting longevity. Beyond its nutritional advantages, it is deeply intertwined with tradition, culture, and family life. In a recent podcast episode, Elena Paravantes, a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist and leading expert on the Mediterranean...

The Future of Greek Armed Forces: Challenges, Innovation, Reform

In an era of increasing geopolitical instability, modernizing and reforming the Greek Armed Forces has become an urgent priority. With conflicts unfolding in Ukraine and Gaza, and with the return of Donald Trump to the White House signaling potential shifts in U.S. foreign policy, Greece must assess how its military can adapt to emerging security challenges. In the latest episode of our...

Greek Music and Diaspora: The Soundscape of Displacement and Identity

Music has always been deeply intertwined with human migration, displacement, and identity. Across history, communities forced to leave their homelands have carried their musical traditions with them, allowing these sounds to evolve and merge with new cultural influences. In our latest episode of Explaining Greece, we explore how Greek music has flourished in times of mass displacement and...