Boston Greeks Podcast: Recent Episodes
Ari Kalos
A podcast dedicated to the Greek community of Boston and beyond! With great guests, hottest music, events, news, and everything Greek, we aim to entertain and inform our community!
We sat down with Paul Tsitsopoulos, the president of the Alpha Omega Council. The Alpha Omega Council is an organization dedicated to promote Hellenism. Their mission statement is as follows:
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Unite Americans of Hellenic ancestry in order to promote and encourage loyalty and patriotism to the United States of America.
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Cultivate the ideals of Hellenism. Strive toward maintaining positive Greek-American relations.
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Recognize the achievements of those individuals or groups who have excelled in their professions or fields of endeavor.
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Help alleviate the wants of the poor and needy. Establish, maintain, and aid religious, charitable, scientific, literary and educational activities.
Learn more at the Alpha Omega Council website.
See more on the free GreekAF app.
We sat down with the amazing Kalomira to catch up and chat about her awesome new single, "Rolling" amongst other things going on in her life. Join us in hanging out with Kalomira!
"Rolling" music video
See more on the free GreekAF app
We welcome Father Alex Orphanos to the Boston Greeks Podcast! Fr. Alex serves as the Presiding Priest of the Saint George Greek Orthodox Church in Lynn, MA. He assumed this role on October 23, 2022. In his first year as the Proistamenos, he has focused on the ministries of the church and has built up new youth, young adult, and faith-based educational ministries. Working with the Parish Council and community leaders, Saint George has seen an increase in stewardship showing that the church is in a time of growth. The future is bright at Saint George.
Fr. Alex Orphanos served as Presiding Priest at the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church in Woburn, MA from 2021-2022. A native of Westwood, MA, Fr. Alex grew up in the Metropolis of Boston and attended the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral of New England. He was active in the church's ministries and credits his love for youth ministry to his experience as a counselor and camper at the Metropolis of Boston Camp.
Previously, he served as an Assistant Priest at Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church in Northridge, CA. He was ordained to the Holy Diaconate by His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America at the Cathedral of Saint Paul in Hempstead, NY, on August 25, 2019, and to the Holy Priesthood by His Eminence Metropolitan Gerasimos of San Francisco at Saint Nicholas on October 6, 2019. Before being ordained, Fr. Alex served as a Pastoral Assistant at the Cathedral of Saint Paul in Long Island, NY from 2016 to 2019.
Fr. Alex graduated from Hellenic College in 2011 and received his Master of Divinity from Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology in 2016.
During his undergraduate and graduate studies, he served as Youth Director at Holy Transfiguration in Lowell from 2014 to 2016 and volunteered at several parishes including Saint Catherine in Braintree and the Annunciation Cathedral.
See more on the Boston Greeks app and the GreekAFRadio app!
We welcome the amazing Georgia Balafas to the podcast! Georgia is a REALTOR and Associate Broker helping sellers, buyers, investors and developers in real estate transactions. After earning two degrees from Boston University — a B.S. in Communications with a concentration in Advertising and a Master in Multinational Commerce — and gaining a decade of business experience in advertising and marketing, Georgia began working full-time in the real estate industry in 2010.
Join us in getting to know Georgia a little bit more and listen to her insight on the market today. You can learn more at her website: https://georgiabalafas.com/
Say hello to the multi-talented Chris Kaos. Born and raised in Boston, MA. Chris had spent his childhood life performing and competing as a Breakdancer. After years of dancing to the same old music, he decided to start producing his own music that he and his team could dance to. After a friend convinced him to play his music live at his High School dance (circa 2008), he then immediately grew fond of the art of DJing. Fast forward to today, and he still is tearing up dance floors. This time, from behind the DJ booth.
Website: https://www.chriskaos.com
Spotify: https://spotify.link/VvN3Cl3O0Db
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chriskaosmusic/
Download the free Boston Greeks app: https://bostongreeks.com/
Download the free GreekAFRadio app: https://www.greekradio.app/
We welcome Panayiota Asimacos to the podcast! Read her bio below:
Growing up as a Greek American was by far the most rewarding experience. At a young age, I realized that my parents were providing my sister and I with the best of both worlds. Being raised in Belmont, Massachusetts and attending the Public School System, while simultaneously going to Greek School and Sunday School at the Taxiarchae Church in Watertown, Massachusetts was magical.
I must admit that I had always sensed a stronger connection with my Greek heritage. I attribute this to the powerful bond my family had with Greece and our Orthodox Faith. Although I was baptized at the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral of Boston (where my father served as a board member), I was raised in the Taxiarchae Church under the loving guidance of the beloved Father Metaxas.
Father Metaxas was unequivocally one of the most prominent figures in my life. I viewed this great man not only as my spiritual Father, but also as my adopted father, when my own suddenly passed during my sophomore year at Boston College. Father Metaxas supported my family and I during our darkest hours and brought us solace through our Faith. His empathy and love for my family was like no other.
Upon my graduation from Boston College, the plan was to attend BC Law School. However, I chose to work at a firm prior to attending law school, in order to confirm my career choice. Law was of interest to me; however, it brought no joy to me. It was during this time period that I discovered my true calling was to be an educator.
My love for children began at the Taxiarchae Church, under the guidance of Father Metaxas. I served as a Sunday School teacher with a true love for educating young children. It was a memorable time for my sister and I as we co-taught our Faith to little angels on Earth, and I am grateful for having had the opportunity.
Soon after my epiphany, I attended Boston University. I was fortunate to graduate with honors, while obtaining a master’s degree in education. Since then, I have been teaching English as a Second Language. I have had the honor of working with children both in Greece as well as the United States, specifically Peabody High School.
To date, my bond with Orthodoxy and the Taxiarchae Church is priceless. I am truly blessed to have my son share this connection, as he serves God in the Altar of our church. I realize that my faith in God and His ways have lightened every path for me thus far in life, and I will surely continue to have blind faith in God.
Visit the HBBU site: https://www.hbbu.org/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hbbu.boston/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hellenic.boston.businesses.uniteDownload the free app: https://www.greekradio.app/
Nik Tsoukales founded REALTOP after spending more than 15 years growing multiple sales teams, call centers, and businesses using digital marketing. In his career, he’s been awarded multiple INC. 5000 Awards for fastest-growing private companies in the United States, been responsible for multiple business turnarounds in the financial space resulting in millions of dollars in revenue recovered as well as organically growing multiple companies online dominating organic SEO, Google PPC, and Social Media. Nik and his team of digital marketing experts are responsible for more than 89k actual clients acquired using online marketing and counting with a diverse range of business types including financial services, dental, medical, legal, real estate, and more.
Check out his company: https://www.realtop.com/
See more on Boston Greeks: https://bostongreeks.com/
See more on GreekAFRadio: https://www.greekradio.app/
We would like to welcome beverage director extraordinaire - Lou Charbonneau to the podcast!
As a teenager, Lou encountered an alien intelligence one night in the woods. He cannot recall their exact conversation, but there was one bit about the possible end of the world and how cocktails could save it. Not having a pen on him at the time, the exact details and wording are now a bit hazy, but he is reasonably confident that it had something to do with getting a job as a bartender to save humanity. After that point, he set out to make his way in hospitality. He dove in headfirst, leaving Worcester to work on Nantucket, where he attended the adult summer camp landing his first bartending gig. He eventually made his home in Boston 12 years ago to continue his cosmic errand and… go to school. He has studied in the fields of metalwork and anthropology over the years. He created and ran bar programs in Bangkok, Boston, and his hometown, pronounced ‘Wistah’ in the local dialect. He has gotten many humans to drink cocktails in the last decade while preparing the new generations of aspiring barkeeps on how to make them and be passionate about the craft.
Go visit Lou at Hecate and Xenia Greek Hospitality's other amazing concepts. https://xeniagreekhospitality.com/
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Join us for a wonderful chat with the amazing Maria Behrakis. Maria is a first generation Greek American community activist focused on education and Greek-American philanthropy. A mother of three children, Maria, along with her husband, Drake, is active with the National Hellenic Society which is dedicated to perpetuating, celebrating and passing on our Hellenic heritage. She is also a member of Leadership 100, a Greek-American service organization committed to preserving Hellenism and Orthodoxy in America. Maria and Drake are active supporters of the Behrakis Family Endowment at Boston College which was founded in 2001 for the advancement of Hellenic Studies and the promotion of travel abroad to Greece.
Maria has served on the Board of Trustees of Anatolia College in Thessaloniki Greece since 2012. She is passionate about mental wellness efforts in school communities and instilling a focus on the whole student… mind, body and soul, and is actively involved in developing such a comprehensive program for the Anatolia community at all school levels.
In her previous professional career, she was with Putnam Investments and Fidelity Investments (1990- 1997). Maria received a B.A in Economics with a minor in Computer Science from Brandeis University (1990). Maria enjoys playing tennis, spending time with friends and family, and traveling, especially to Greece!
Learn more about Anatolia College and the amazing programs it offers or contact Maria with any questions.
We talk all things mental health with our esteemed guest Dr. Christoforos Iraklis Giakoumatos. He is an addiction psychiatrist at Massachusetts General Hospital and an Instructor in Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School. He is also the Medical Director at BrightView Massachusetts. Dr. Giakoumatos completed his addiction psychiatry fellowship in the Mass General Brigham System (Massachusetts General, McLean, and Brigham & Women’s Hospitals) and his adult psychiatric training at the Harvard South Shore Psychiatry Residency Training Program (HSS). Prior to joining HSS, he attended the Medical School at the University of Athens, Greece. After graduating from medical school and before joining HSS, he conducted research at the Massachusetts Mental Health Center/Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in the area of psychosis and brain imaging. Dr. Giakoumatos published peer-reviewed articles, has given oral presentations and presented posters in local, national and international meetings. He has also served as an assistant editor at the Harvard Review of Psychiatry.
Learn more about the amazing Dr. Christoforos Iraklis Giakoumatos.
You can also watch & listen on the free Boston Greeks app!
Evan Turner, sommelier and wine director at Krasi Meze and Wine in Boston’s Back Bay, leads the largest all Greek wine list in the country. He is now leading the way in introducing New England to Greek wine.
Evan has recently been published in outlets such as Vinepair, Wine Enthusiast, USA Today 10 Best, Wine & Spirits, and Estiator. And Krasi has recently been listed as: one of the top 50 restaurants in Boston from Boston magazine (#16), one of the best wine bars in the Boston area from Eater Boston, one of 25 of the best restaurants in Boston right now from Time Out Boston, one of the best restaurants in Boston from Thrillist and was Time Out Boston's 2021 Love Local award winner which was the fan favorite pick of the city.
Evan describes himself as “just a guy who was very lucky to live around the world, thanks to my stepfather who teaches English as a second language. We lived in Greece for about seven years and the nation captivated me immediately. I remember the very first meal I had in Greece down to who sat where. I ‘took to Greece like a duck to water,’ as my mom used to say.”
Turner worked in the restaurant business for several years as a bartender before becoming a sommelier. In 2005, he moved to Houston and worked his way up the Court of Master Sommeliers “until about 2008,” he says, when he decided Greek wine was it. He conceived and opened the popular Helen Greek Food and Wine — a James Beard semi-finalist — in Houston in 2015 before being offered the opportunity to run the wine program at Krasi. “I could not resist, so here I am,” he says.
Evan is the most Greek non-Greek in the hospitality industry, extolling the virtues of Greek history and wine with the city of Boston and beyond. His Symposium Wednesday wine series at Krasi are always sold out and he is now deemed the Dionysus of Boston’s Back Bay. He says, “Greece created nearly everything we take for granted when it comes to winemaking and wine culture. Shoot, my job exists because of the Greeks. So, to promote and drink their wines is to wrap yourself in history and a part of our culture that is as important as any we hold dear.”
krasiboston.com
You can also watch and listen on the Boston Greeks & GreekAFRadio apps!
Join us for a wonderful interview with a talented group of friends and business partners that are truly making waves in Boston. Demetri Tsolakis, Stefanos Oungrinis, and Brendan Pelley of Xenia Greek Hospitality sit with us to discuss how they came to be, where they are today, and what the future holds for this team that has created and is continually creating a fantastic Greek scene in Boston, and hopefully beyond!
Learn more: xeniagreekhospitality.com
You can also watch/listen on the free Boston Greeks app or GreekAFRadio!
We hang out with restauranteur extraordinaire Spiro Pappadopoulos. Spiro grew up in Andover working in his family's restaurant while attending Andover High School. After attending Boston College, Spiro moved to New York City and dove into the restaurant business for seven years before moving back to Massachusetts.
For the past ten years he has focused his energies on Essex Street in Andover where his restaurant Andolini's has operated for over twelve years, Sauce Burgers and Wings is approaching its 10th anniversary, and 15sx Cocktail bar has built a craft cocktail culture for the past 6 years.
Spiro is now excited to bring Greek culinary flavors and tradition to life in Andover with a modern and creative flair that honors both Greek tradition and local New England seafood and produce with Daxi.
daxigreek.com
Join us in learning about the incredible journey of Theia Brands founders Peter & Despina Sarianides. Their goal is to set the bar for a healthier, cleaner lifestyle. Their products are made with fresh, natural ingredients and they believe that their customers deserve a product that they can enjoy and feel good about serving to their families.
http://theiayummyfoods.com/
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We talk all things health and fitness with WBFF Pro competitor Stephania Tsimikas. We learn about her past, her life, her motivations, and how she became a pro athlete in the highly competitive world of strength training. Join us in getting to know Stephania!
instagram.com/stephaniatsimikas_wbffpro
We had the pleasure of catching up with the amazing Demetri Tsolakis. For those that don't know, his footprint in Boston began with Committee Ouzeri + Bar and has extended to fast-casual Greco, and, most recently, Krasi Meze & Wine. Except for the fact that each concept is rooted in Greek culture, they are all very distinct from one another, with almost zero menu overlap. If that link to Greek culture forms the fabric of the restaurants, it’s Tsolakis’s deft touch as a restaurateur along with his creativity and his passion for all things Greek that are the threads tying them all together.
Grab a glass of your favorite Greek wine and join us!
https://krasiboston.com/
https://grecotrulygreek.com/
https://committeeboston.com/
Download the free Boston Greeks app!
We loved chatting with the one and only Eleni Vidalis! Eleni is a Greek-American television host, producer, director, activist, and comedian. She is best known for hosting The Greek Program for 25 years, heading the Federation of Hellenic American Societies of New England, and hosting Boston's Greek Independence Day Parade. We discuss her journey and where she is today, so please join us in spending time with Eleni Vidalis!
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We got to catch up with an old friend and a pioneer of the Greek music scene that arose from Boston in the late 90s/early 00s - DJ THRILLA! Thrilla has had an interesting and diverse journey in music and we got to hear all about it on this episode of the Boston Greeks podcast. Join us!
djthrilla.com
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We had the privilege of chatting with long time news anchor, broadcaster, journalist, and media consultant Mike Nikitas. His history leading up to today has been truly fascinating, and the integrity, self-awareness, and knowledge he brings to the table is greatly appreciated! Join us as we get to know a little more about Mike Nikitas!
Mike's official website
Also, download the free Boston Greeks app!
We had a great talk with Maria Lappas & Fay Katsanou, the founders and administrators of the wonderful Olive Tree Greek Education & Cultural Center. We learned more about the amazing program they are running for youth to learn about their culture, history, and language. Join us as we chat with Maria & Fay!
theolivetreegecc.com
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We hung out with the one and only Alex "NRG" Nirgianakis to discuss his journey from hip hop fanboy to current "FIRST CLASS" Greek rap superstar! Join us on this journey with Alex!
Teaser
instagram.com/nrg_boston
We hung out with one of the original kings of Boston nightlife - the one and only Frankie Stavrianopoulos! We discuss how he started out, the journey he took along the way, and what he's up to today. Join us as we chat with Frankie!
instagram.com/frankiestav
wichcraftboston.com
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We sat down with the one and only DJ Dimitri Soteropoulos. As one of the most in-demand wedding DJs around, we discussed the ins and outs of what goes into creating a successful wedding event, with tips and recommendations on how to make sure you are asking the right questions and hiring the right people. Although he is a DJ, he has wonderful insight into the entire process and offers great advice. Join us!
djdimitrisot.com
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Join us as we chat with Elaine Setas, founder of Taste and Art of Greece. Elaine runs the USA side of Taste and Art of Greece, also known as TAG. She started this business with her dear friend Stratis Vougioukas who was born and raised and still lives on the island of Lesvos where they met many years ago. With the support of their families they have built this business on love, friendship, and a desire to share all the wonderful things about Greece and Greek culture with the world!
http://www.tasteandartofgreece.com
Download the free Boston Greeks app!
We had the pleasure of chatting with a truly inspiring figure - the Alpha Omega Council President Costa Sideridis. Costa shared with us some great insight into the Alpha Omega Council and why it is such an important tool for our Hellenic community. We are absolute fans of Alpha Omega and this interview will inspire you to learn more about it! Yasou Costa!
Learn more and get involved: http://www.alphaomegacouncil.org/
Download the free Boston Greeks app!
We had a great chat with a truly amazing woman - Theo Skeadas. Theo is running for Cambridge City Council and we couldn't be happier to support her in everything she does. She has the mind, motivation, and outlook that Cambridge needs for true change. Visit her site below to learn even more about her: votetheo.com
Download the free Boston Greeks app!
We had a wonderful talk with Ismini Soteropoulos, MS, RDN, who is a dietician and nutritionist, about good habits to develop for health and wellness. We chat about proper diet, fasting, and of course wine, which is a topic close to our hearts! Join us in learning some great diet and health tips by the wonderful Ismini!
https://www.instagram.com/dietsbyismini/
https://www.dietsbyismini.com/
LISTEN OR WATCH ON THE FREE BOSTON GREEKS APP
We sit down for round 2 (or as we like to call it, "Greek DJs Unite 2 Electric Boogaloo!") of our Boston Greek DJ series and get a little more in depth with the history and stories that make up our panel of DJs - Peter Souhleris, Chris Paragios, John Speridakos, Arthur Markos, Dimitri Soteropoulos, and George Kotzamanis. It was an absolute pleasure to catch up with these guys and we think you will enjoy it as much as we did! Sit back, get your favorite mix queued up, and join us on episode 2 of our Greek DJ series on the Boston Greeks Podcast!
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One of the most exciting episodes we ever put out! The Boston Greek DJs from mid-90s to today! These guys put Boston on the map as a Greek night hot spot through some of the greatest times our community ever saw! Join Ari & Foti as they hang out with Peter Souhleris, Kosta Blathras, Chris Paragios, John Speridakos, Arthur Markos, George Kotzamanis, & Dimitri Soteropoulos!
Manny is the son of the founder of Costas Provisions, the largest privately-owned food distribution company in the northeast. Growing up in Westwood, MA, he spent summers and weekends learning every aspect of the business. As a member of the purchasing department, he specialized in following the oil markets and predicting market trends.
This interest in global markets and commodities trading led Manny to pursue a B.A. in Finance at Bryant University. After graduating, he began his career in wealth management at Morgan Stanley as an Assistant Financial Advisor, where he applied his financial expertise to working with family-owned businesses and high net worth individuals. In 2014, he co-founded Twelve Points, a Registered Investment Advisor (RIA) firm that assumes fiduciary responsibility. In February 2015, Manny became an Accredited Investment Fiduciary® designee, considered the gold standard for fiduciary care in the financial services industry. This enables him to put his clients’ needs first and create financial plans based on their own unique needs and values.
Independent-minded yet conservative, Manny believes you find the best value where others aren’t necessarily looking, and applies this to his work. He provides wealth advice to small business owners as the financial reporter for the Grecian Echoes radio program and has written for Restaurant Report, Restaurant Hospitality and Foodservice East.
In his spare time, he enjoys golfing, cooking, and spending time with friends and his big, loud Greek family. Manny is on the planning committee for the Community Servings annual Lifesavor Gala and is an avid supporter of the Best Buddies program, his alma mater and the football program at Bryant University. He currently resides in Boston.
Twelve Points Wealth Management
Tony Kariotis is a true renaissance man and he loves his work, which mostly revolves around his love of Greece and his pride in his Greek heritage. He is well known as the director of the Teddy K Classic, the largest Greek-American basketball tournament ever. Founded along with his family and named in honor of his late father, Teddy Kariotis, the tournament each year awards a scholarship from its proceeds to a deserving student. Tony is also the founder of Greece Media, a platform promoting Greece through various media, including film and photography produced by Kariotis himself.
Greece Media
Greece (@greece)
tony kariotis (@iamgreece)
We had the absolute pleasure of speaking with the Consul General of Greece in Boston - Stratos Efthymiou. Stratos' prior roles as the spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Athens and as diplomat at the Greek Embassies in Ankara and Moscow have solidified his comprehensive perspective on international affairs and Greece’s role within it. He is an impressive individual, but still very down to earth and takes the Greek community of Boston very seriously. Please join us as we get to know a little more about Stratos Efthymiou!
Facebook Page
Consulate Website
We had a great chat with the one and only Eric Papachristos of Trade, Porto, & Saloniki fame, among many other accomplishments. If you don't know, Eric is a self-made restaurateur whose interest in the hospitality industry formed at an early age. Although born in Boston, he spent the first nine years of his life in Thessaloniki, Greece—a formative experience that fostered his affinity for Mediterranean cuisine and his desire to bring people together over a good meal. Kick back and listen in as we chat with Eric Papachristos!
Saloniki Greek
Trade
Porto
We have been part of the Boston Greek cultural scene for a loooong time. We've introduced most most Greeks in Boston and New England to the internet and social networking. Now we're back to make the Greek scene in Boston cool again! Check out our welcome episode to learn more about what we have in store for all you Greeks in the Boston and New England area!
Boston Greeks Website
Boston Greeks App
We've been around the Greek scene of Boston for a long time. We were the first Greek social network, the first Greek app, the first Greek a lot of things! Now we're back to bring you a fun and entertaining streaming show all about the Greek community of Boston and beyond! Guests, music, events, and talk for our Greek community. There's been something missing and we're trying to bring it back - bring the Greekness back! Join us!