Join us in our chat with Nicholas Syris of Lavida Habana Cigars. Nick started his professional life as a very successful audio video electronics specialist. Thankfully, it was his passion for good cigars that won him over and also led him to a side career on a radio talk program, “Smooth Draws” a weekly program dedicated to Cigars and the Cigar Lifestyle. It was also his love of cigars that opened the door, back in the mid-90s, to Saudi Arabian Royalty and subsequently the creation of the first of a several Lavida Habana Cigar Lounges. “The cigar is the great equalizer, where people from all walks of life, different cultures and various socioeconomic backgrounds can all bond over the experience of enjoying a cigar,” says Nicholas. And despite the anti-smoking hysteria that has befallen on the US and other parts οφ the world, “we are strong in our convictions and our desires to enjoy the pleasures that we derive from smoking premium cigars!” Kick back with a cigar and listen!
Learn more: https://lhcigars.com
Watch more: https://www.greekradio.app
We welcome the awesome Bill Pantazis to the show! Bill is a George Michael impersonator so convincing that many struggle to tell him apart from the original artist, an effect heightened when viewed face-to-face. In addition to their strikingly similar facial features and eyes, Pantazis and the late singer also share Greek heritage and the same Zodiac sign. Pantazis's uncanny physical resemblance is matched by his stage presence, as he has mastered George Michael's signature moves for his performances. Beyond his tribute act, Bill Pantazis also performs as a vocalist with the Luisa Marshall Band. Join us!
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We welcome the awesome and inspiring Yianni Kioussis to the show! "Asperger Dynamo" is the wrestling persona of Yianni, who has Asperger's Syndrome. Yianni uses the name to represent his wrestling persona, which embodies the underdog and aims to inspire those with disabilities. He embraces his social difficulties, such as a lack of filter and social cue issues, as part of his wrestling character, finding the ring a place where he can express himself authentically. Join us!Learn more about Yianni >Hear more on GreekAF >
We welcome the fascinating Stelios Maltepes to the show! Raised by Greek immigrants, Stelios is the only one of his siblings born in America. Destined to be the golden child, he drops out of high school, ends up hustling on the streets, and falls in love with a Puerto Rican girl from the Badlands. From professional sports bettor to marijuana trafficker, Stelios has ties to the NBA betting scandal, the Philly and New York Mob, and the Mexican Cartel-all while raising his own interracial family. Despite the odds, Stelios navigates his way to becoming one of the biggest marijuana dealers in America. However, this rags-to-riches story comes to a crossroads when Stelios Maltepes places the biggest bet of his life, with everything on the line. Can Stelios Maltepes defy the odds once again? Watch our interview with Stelios!
See more on the Connecting Greeks channel on GreekAF!
We welcome the awesome Chris Mustakas to the show! Chris is a Canadian author, storyteller, and proud father of two. Born in Waterloo, Ontario and now living in Ottawa, he balances family life, endless creative projects, and a career rooted in marketing, communication, and leadership.
Professionally, Chris is the Chief Marketing Officer for Ferrari & Associates Insurance and Financial Services, a boutique brokerage known for bespoke solutions and high-touch service. He holds an Honours Arts degree in Speech Communication with a minor in Human Resources from the University of Waterloo, as well as an MBA and a Master of Recreation Administration from the University of New Brunswick.
After grad school, Chris spent over five years working for a professional hockey team—doing everything except hoisting a Stanley Cup. His time there was both formative and bittersweet, laying the groundwork for many of the themes explored in his writing.
Though this novel marks his official debut, Chris is no stranger to the written word. He’s contributed to newspapers, ghostwritten speeches, and helped others find their voice through storytelling. His work often explores resilience, mental health, identity, and the humor found in unexpected places.
Check out his amazing book: https://thesalespit.com/
https://www.instagram.com/thesalespit
Watch more on GreekAF: https://www.greekradio.app/
Follow Greek brands & organizations: https://www.hellenicsocial.com/
We welcome the inspiring Leon Logothetis to the show! In today's increasingly polarized, digitized world, human connection and empathy seem to be drying up. Stress, animosity, and disillusionment are on the rise in many workplaces. Leaders face a "kindness crisis" - their people are craving more compassion, belonging, and purpose.
Before becoming a renowned motivational figure, Leon Logothetis lived an unfulfilling life as a broker in London. Though seemingly successful, he felt depressed and disconnected. Seeking meaning, Leon gave up his career to travel the globe fueled only by human kindness.
His profound adventures transformed his perspective, showing how compassion unites us.
Today, Leon inspires leaders and organizations to strengthen bonds, elevate performance, and rehumanize work by embracing the transformative power of kindness. Join us as we chat with Leon!
- Watch "The Kindness Within: A Journey To Freedom" on Amazon Prime: https://www.primevideo.com/detail/The-Kindness-Within-A-Journey-To-Freedom/0LE06T0F88HC3CTKRRGBGWNR9K
- Learn more on https://www.leonlogothetis.com/
More Connecting Greeks on GreekAF: https://www.greekradio.app/podcast
We welcome family man and social media superstar Jimmy "the Greek" Ntebekos to the show! Jimmy is a father of two, Georgie and Yioanna, who share the spotlight with him on his many viral videos. Let's get to know this awesome Greek!
Follow Jimmy on
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jimmythegreek7
Instagram: https://instagram.com/jimmythegreek7
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCifi6Kj9mbro0_xw_OCRhUw
More of us on GreekAF: https://www.greekradio.app/
We welcome the fantastic Christina Mavronas to the show! Christina is everyone's Greek Brooklynite friend! 🤌 She's an actress, creator, writer, and comedian and we had so much fun chatting with her! Join us!
instagram.com/christinamavronas/
WTTNPod >
See & hear more on GreekAF >
We welcome the awesome Aristotelis Rigas to the show! Aris is a writer, director, actor, and standup comedian. He is also a musician, and has written music for theater and has participated as a musical actor in theatrical performances. His first solo performance entitled "musicomedy" was presented for the first time at the 1st comedy festival of the theater "Avaton". He has participated in "standup for U", is a founding member of the "Gazi Comedy Club" at theater 104, and numerous performances in Athens, all over Greece, and Europe. Join us!
See more on GreekAF >
We welcome Alexandros & Christophoros to the show! They are the founders of To Kinima Tou Ethnous, a Greek Diaspora organization that seeks to leverage Greece's greatest natural resource, its people, to influence Greek politics and involve the diaspora in the political process of Greece.
Alexandros is a leading voice of Greek Diaspora politics and a practicing Orthodox Christian. He studies political science and Russian language at Southern Methodist University. He has always been politically minded and excels at public speaking and Greek Diaspora outreach, regularly attending Greek heritage and church events in Dallas, TX and in his hometown of Seattle, WA. Benis founded KTE in January 2024 in response to the massive political and cultural upheaval being experienced in Greece and hopes to bring his project to willing and able Greeks living abroad to return the nation of his ancestors to its once and future glory.
Christophoros is a former editor-in-chief of his college newspaper and studied Greek history and language at Loyola Marymount University before taking over all media responsibilities for KTE in the summer of 2024. Despite being Alexandros’ older brother, Christophoros believes Alexandros is a greater thinker and public speaker for what KTE intends to achieve, which is a return to traditionalism and Orthodox spirituality for the betterment of Greek society. Christophoros currently runs KTE’s social media channels and edits all articles and press releases seen on the website.
Check out their website: https://www.kinimatouethnous.com/
See more on GreekAF!
We welcome Maria C. Miles to the show! Maria is an attorney and the founder of an entertainment law practice with offices in New York. Her practice focuses on all areas of entertainment law, including film, music, literary publishing, and new media. She is the president of the board of the Hellenic Film Society USA and previously served on the board of New York Women in Film and Television (NYWIFT). She is Adjunct Professor of Entertainment Law at the School of Visual Arts, the Feirstein Graduate School for Cinema and NYU Tisch School of the Arts.
The annual New York Greek Film Expo, a Greek film festival for all New Yorkers, will be held October 3-13 in theaters in the New York metro area. In addition to the latest Greek films this year’s program includes meet & greets and Q&As with visiting directors. This year's event is hosted by Award-winning Actor, Director, and Screenwriter Thanos Tokakis.
Movies will also be shown at Village East Theater in Manhattan; the Barrymore Film Center in Fort Lee, NJ; and at the prestigious Museum of the Moving Image (MoMI) in Astoria.
All films in Greek with English subtitles.
For tickets, schedules, and more info please visit: http://www.hellenicfilmusa.org/
We welcome Demetri Thomas to the show! Demetri Thomas grew up in beautiful sunny Los Angeles, but you won’t mistake his songs for breezy summertime fare. Demetri writes from the point of view of a hard working Country Music artist, bringing a new perspective and incisive wit to his tales of relationships gone wrong as well as the joys of being in love. With an easy listening Greek voice trained on the classics, he combines vintage sound with modern country and crossover material to thrilling effect. Kick back and join us!
Website: https://www.demetrithomasmusic.com/
Youtube: https://youtube.com/@demetrithomasmusic5857?si=Rjf-oYLyjvFNygrT
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/7A9Y1WwT5uk6M9sEpRkxnx?si=wVMbPO1iTneU4e3Gk-W6uQ
We catch up with the incredible Evangelia to chat about all things, especially her new US tour that is kicking off this summer!
Evangelia is a Greek-American artist born in the US, and raised between the island of Crete and New Jersey. Known for her effortless blend of modern pop music with Greek elements, she has captivated sold-out audiences around the world. With multi-platinum hits in Greece, a recent signing to Epic Records in the US, and a die-hard international social media following, Evangelia continues to honor her heritage through her artistry while forging her own legacy.
Check out Evangelia's website: evangeliamusic.com
See more on the GreekAF app.
We welcome Dimitra of Dimitra's Dishes to the show! Dimitra grew up in a traditional Greek family in New York. All of their meals were homemade and every happy gathering took place around a table full of delicious food that was shared with loved ones. Her summers were spent visiting family on the beautiful island of Crete and are filled with memories of getting together with grandparents, cousins, aunts, and uncles in a laid-back happy setting, again, sharing homemade food while creating memories and traditions that now she now gets to pass down to her children.
These experiences filled her heart with a deep love of cooking and appreciation of sharing meals with friends and family. The more the merrier! All while keeping it simple and laid back.
Check out her website - Dimitra's Dishes.
See more on the GreekAF app.
We welcome Stella to the show! Stella is a proud mother of 2 boys, a wife, and a mom to her puppy Chloé! She is a banking executive, with over 30 years of experience, where her passion is to inspire the will to win & reach new heights!
Leading by example & embracing a diversity of ideas is key! She's extremely passionate about the employee experience, business development, optimizing partner relations & brand presence! She's a mentor & coach both on a professional & personal front! More specifically, how to effectively network, build & strengthen your personal brand, knowing how to strategically achieve success in the corporate environment, how to reach new levels in all roles & helping to develop leadership skills - laterally and upwards.
As a forward thinker, she knows how we can all achieve bigger and greater things on a larger level - both in business & in life! All while optimizing a work life balance! She takes tremendous pride in community involvement - supporting an array of causes throughout the years. Most recently, in her very own Hellenic community of Montreal. Hence, her passion behind being the founder of @stellinides_united!
As founder of Stellinides United, she wants to create a Greek Female Led Empowerment Sisterhood! A sisterhood that welcomes all Greek women of all ages and walks of life - a first of its kind for the Greek Females in the Montreal community! A sisterhood that also embraces women from all ethnicities & backgrounds!
Learn more at stellinidesunited.com
More Connecting Greeks
We sat down with acclaimed photographer Nick Bourdo to discuss his life, his work, and what the Hellenic culture means to him. Through his amazing artistic photographic eye, Nick is one of the great promoters of Hellenism and we were happy to discuss all things Greek with him. Join us!
See & hear more on the GreekAF app.
We welcome the very funny Peter Kypri to the show. Peter, also known as Cypriot Smurf, has a unique background and upbringing have had a profound influence on his perspective and creative endeavors. Born in London to a Greek Cypriot father and an Italian mother, he grew up in a multicultural household that was steeped in a rich tapestry of traditions, languages, and idiosyncrasies. However, it was at the age of 11 that his life took a significant turn as he moved to Cyprus, a move that would shape his sense of humor and artistic expression.
In addition to his unique upbringing and the cultural influences from his time in Cyprus, Peter has taken his creative endeavors across the globe. He has performed his stand-up comedy in three continents, namely Australia, South Africa, United Kingdom & Cyprus. This global exposure has allowed him to further refine his comedic style and share his insights and humor with diverse audiences around the world, adding an international dimension to his already rich tapestry of experiences and inspirations.
YouTube: /cypriotsmurf
Facebook: /cypriotsmurf
Instagram: /cypriotsmurf
Twitter/X: /cypriotsmurf
Website: https://cypriotsmurf.com
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We welcome the super cool Peter Nikkos to the show! Peter currently resides in Los Angeles with his lovely wife, RID Certified American Sign Language (ASL) Interpreter, Eva Tingley. Born in the small village of Karyes, near Sparta, Greece, he immigrated with family to Chicago and was educated in the Windy City's public school system attending Lane Technical High School and James Monroe Elementary School. The first in a family of five to graduate from college, he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from North Park University while receiving professional consideration following an exemplary college soccer career. Strong theatre, improv and on-camera training brought him to the west coast, where significant onscreen work includes DESERT DAWN (Al Bravo Films), RUTHLESS (Premiere), FIRE BORN (Independent), BLACK WARRANT (Premiere), BLOWBACK (Premiere), ENCOUNTER (Amazon), AMERICAN CRIME STORY: VERSACE (FX), THE LAST SHIP (TNT) and TIME TRAVELING BONG (Comedy Central). Los Angeles stages have seen him inhabit roles for WOMEN OF ZALONGO, IN THE BALANCE, THE MERCHANT OF VENICE, THE CHERRY ORCHARD, as well as THE REAL HOUSEKEEPERS OF STUDIO CITY (2013 Best-of-Fringe). An avid animal lover and change advocate, he lends his heart, time and support to several charities including Women's March LA, The Special Olympics, March for Our Lives, Penny Lane Centers, Star Paws Animal Rescue and Shriners Hospital for Crippled Children. The personal mantra of "Living a life so good, it can hurt!" demands that one must risk well to live truly. He is managed by BAC Talent and represented theatrically and commercially by the AQUA Talent Agency.
Learn more: http://www.peternikkos.com
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Zafirios Georgilas is a writer, musician, voiceover artist, and content creator born in Vancouver, Canada, who spent part of his childhood in his father’s northern Greek village. He later moved to London, England, but returned to Vancouver in between sojourns in New York and Montreal. Georgilas has a BA in English Literature (with additional studies in Classical Greek and Latin) from the University of British Columbia and an MA in Publishing from the University of the Arts London.
Georgilas is also the singer, songwriter, and guitarist of the Vancouver band Zafirios. Their debut album, Summer Sand, was released in 2022 and the band regularly performs live at venues around Vancouver.
Download our free app: https://www.greekradio.app
We welcome Instagram superstar Yannis Dimoulis to the podcast. Yanni was born and raised in Chicago as a first generation Greek American.He studied Mechanical Engineering and went to grad school for Product Design / Design Research. While his 54thirty profile was started as a novelty t-shirt side hustle, he started making memes as a way to advertise the novelty shirts and eventually the comedy began to overtake the merchandise. He says, "I didn't really feel like the Greek comedy scene on the internet really reflected my experience as a Greek American and so I started to try to fill that void from early on. I love 54thirty as a tool for connecting to people (both personally, and helping others connect to one another). I also love to elevate talented Greeks who don't get the shine I feel they deserve."
