Today, I am bringing you a story that is unfolding on a small Greek island - SYROS, where author and economist Oana Aristide has renovated a run-down, neo-classical villa into a jewel box of a hotel of just 9 suites, called Hotel Aristide.

Oana’s personal story is a dramatic one. She grew up in Soviet-occupied Romania in her grandmother’s care, when her parents and sister defected - without her - to Sweden. She trained formally as an economist, a role which took her into the halls of presidential power in Bucharest, before a career in economic advisory in London and Europe. On any reckoning, in economics Oana had built the foundation of a solid professional career.

But she was busy after hours as well, writing and editing a first novel, Under the Blue, which, with some prescience, describes an epic road journey during a devastating global pandemic, brought on by the unanticipated effects of climate change. This is a classic Unpaused episode; enjoy. 

// Hosted by Judy Stewart // Produced by Leonie Marsh // Sound Engineers: Lana Kristensen and Jason Millhouse // Research Assistant: Claudia Cameron // Instagram: @_unpaused // Website: www.unpaused.net