Podcasts about Aegean

Welcome back to Greek News Global for 4 September 2026, with legendary Greek-Australian journalist, John Mangos. In this bulletin; legendary Greek singer Mazonakis dead at 54. Money laundering ring busted by authorities. Counterfeit money discovered in Crete. And the first Greek set to go into space.Send us Fan MailSupport the showEmail us at ouzotalk@outlook.comSubscribe to our Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@OuzoTalkFollow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OuzoTalkFollow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ouzo_talk/

Philip and Jodi review Christopher Nolan and Universal Pictures' The Odyssey. This 2026 adaptation of the ancient Greek epic poem seeks to put Homer's work onscreen in blockbuster fashion, and the results are indeed epic. This film, shot entirely in IMAX, may not be the most faithful adaptation according to literary stalwarts, but director Christopher Nolan brings his signature grand-scale ambition to the just-shy-of-three-hour project. The perils of the high seas and the treachery of wartime politics keep audiences glued for a fun ride, one filled with more stars than the Aegean night sky. Follow The ThawedCast: Conversations About Animation: twitter.com/thawedcast and instagram.com/thawedcast. instagram.com/philipehlke. Visit thawedcast.com

Jon Herold kicks off Friday with a quick look at OpenAI's new ARC AGI 3 benchmark results before digging into a newly posted DHS letter from Secretary Mark Wayne Mullen to AG Todd Blanche, walking through referrals on QR code voting machines and the ERIC voter data sharing controversy in detail. Ghost joins midway through for a wide ranging geopolitical breakdown, mapping out a theory that Israel is quietly building alliances with Greece and Ukraine as a possible path to open a new front against Turkey, tied into a $3.5 billion Israeli air defense deal in the Aegean. Ghost also digs into the upcoming Israeli election and a controversial Satmar Hasidic community story. Jon rounds out the show with Trump's election map fight in Missouri, strong August jobs numbers, and a Guardian opinion piece arguing Trump may be secretly sabotaging his own party's midterm chances. Sponsor reads, Vegas conference details, and a lighthearted "decode" bit round out a newsy Friday show.

Ghost is back live for the first time in a while, kids tucked in, wife out of town, and a full month of news to catch up on. He starts with the fallout from the Mecca agreement, the Saudi Turkey Pakistan defense pact he had been mapping out since February, and why he thinks Egypt, Iran and Syria will all eventually join. From there he digs into a resurfaced 1962 interview where Israel's first prime minister laid out a vision that sounds a lot like modern globalism, then walks through the new three billion dollar Israel Greece defense deal, complete with laser interceptors he expects to see tested in the Aegean. He also covers a suspicious ferry sinking near Cyprus, a wild historical detour involving yogurt and the Armenian genocide, and a leadership shakeup inside Iran's IRGC that has him questioning whether the organization even still exists.

A man famous for being “just” helps design the money machine that keeps a war fleet at sea, and that tension sits at the heart of this Patreon bonus for August 2026. We stay with the Delian League, but instead of treating it as an abstract institution, we follow the life and reputation of Aristides and ask why so many Greeks trusted him at the exact moment a new alliance had to be built.We pick up after the Greek victories that loosen Persian control on the Anatolian coast and across the Aegean. Newly independent cities need lasting security, Sparta hesitates to stay committed offshore, and Athens sees both duty and advantage in leading. From Aristides' early role in Athenian politics to the rivalry with Themistocles, his ostracism, and his recall during Xerxes' invasion, we track how his credibility gets forged at Marathon, Salamis, and Plataea, including the way he handles disputes and even an internal conspiracy without sparking wider chaos.Then we move to Delos in 478 BC, where the Delian League is organized with clear aims, shared friends and enemies, and a symbolic oath meant to signal permanence. We break down the practical choices that make the league function: who provides ships, who pays cash, why Aristides assesses contributions toward a massive annual target, and how governance is split between a synod of members, Athens as military hegemon, and a treasury kept on Delos. We also tee up the big historical question we'll tackle next: did Aristides build a noble alliance that later generations warped, or did the foundations of the Athenian Empire exist from day one?If you enjoy deep dives into the Greco-Persian Wars, Athenian history, and how the Delian League evolves into empire, subscribe, share this bonus episode, and leave a review with your take on Aristides' intentions.Support the show

Seventy thousand people build a city in the desert, survive on almost nothing they didn't bring themselves, and take it all down again — with no trash cans and no cleanup crew. This conversation was filmed live on the Aegean coast in Kaplankaya, Turkey, at Harvest Series, an annual thought leadership gathering where Jeff served as this year's MC. Jeff sits down with Marian Goodell, CEO of Burning Man, to unpack how radical self-reliance and communal effort somehow produce cooperation at a scale almost nothing else in modern life does. Why Burning Man works with no rubbish bins, no vendors, and no one enforcing cleanup The origin story: a beach bonfire 40 years ago that became Black Rock City How the 10 principles balance self-reliance against gifting and communal effort Why adversity — rain, dust storms, scarcity — is part of what bonds the community The global expansion into regional burns across 80+ countries Marian's own path to leading Burning Man, and why she wants more young people there This episode is for anyone curious about Burning Man beyond the headlines, and anyone interested in how large groups actually build trust and cooperate at scale.Video courtesy of Harvest Series — with thanks to the Harvest team for having us out there and making this conversation possible. This episode was made possible by: Stripes: Visit stripesbeauty.com and use the code COMMUNE20 for 20% off our entire product line. Vivobarefoot: Try Vivobarefoot risk-free with a 100-day return guarantee, and get 20% off your order at vivobarefoot.com/commune.Stemregen: Get 20% off your first order at stemregen.co/commune with the code COMMUNEPOD LMNT: Get a free 8-count Sample Pack of LMNT's most popular drink mix flavors with any purchase at drinklmnt.com/commune. CocoaVia: Use code COMMUNE2026 for 25% off at CocoaVia.com

Sparta can't beat Athens at sea without money, and Persia can't claw back Ionia without Greek help. That single, uncomfortable truth kicks off the Ionian War, and it turns the late Peloponnesian War into something colder and more transactional than ever. We pick the narrative back up right as Persian influence returns to the Aegean not with armies, but with silver.We start with the post-Sicily landscape: Athens is wounded, its allies are restless, and Sparta finally senses a path to cracking the Athenian Empire by encouraging revolts. Thucydides shows how messy that plan becomes in practice. Earthquakes, festivals, and competing priorities stall the Peloponnesian fleet, and Athens uses the breathing room to investigate Chios, shadow enemy movements, and even score a demoralizing Spartan setback near Corinth that proves Athens is still dangerous on the water.Then Alcibiades steps into the gap. From inside Sparta, he keeps the Chios operation alive, manipulates rival power centers, and rides with a tiny squadron that helps flip one of Athens' strongest naval allies. Once Chios goes, defections spread across the Anatolian coast and the stakes jump again when Miletus joins the revolt. That opens the door for Tissaphernes to negotiate the first Sparta-Persia treaty under Darius II, a vague agreement whose irony is impossible to miss: Sparta, once the face of Greek resistance, now helps Persia reassert claims over Greek cities.We close with Athens' counterpunch: securing Samos as a vital naval base, checking revolt on Lesbos, tightening pressure on Chios, and winning outside Miletus before wisely withdrawing when major reinforcements arrive, including Syracusan crews fresh from the destruction of the Sicilian Expedition. The result is an uneasy balance at the end of 412 BC, and a set of big questions that drive everything next: can Persian gold become lasting Spartan sea power, and can Athens hold the line with a thinning fleet?If you're enjoying Casting Through Ancient Greece, subscribe, share the show with a friend, and leave a review so more listeners can find the series. Support the show

Welcome back to Greek News Global for 28 August 2026, with Tom Skolarikis. In this bulletin; A 21-year-old Greek Australian dies in a motorcycle crash on Kalymnos. Tensions between Greece and Turkey escalate. Greece moves closer to celebrating citizens abroad. And the Greek Australian joining a top flight Greek basketball club.Send us Fan MailSupport the showEmail us at ouzotalk@outlook.comSubscribe to our Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@OuzoTalkFollow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OuzoTalkFollow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ouzo_talk/

Twelve people, a yacht, the Aegean, Santorini at sunset. And me, someone who could not unplug for four hours, fully present for the first time in years. This one is part recap, part love letter to my team, and part argument for something most business owners get wrong: rest is not a reward, it is a strategy. In this episode, Ashley breaks down: ✨ Why she takes her whole team on company trips (and why it is a statement, not a vacation) ✨ The trip itself: Athens, Santorini, Mykonos, and the moments that mattered ✨ How twelve people spent a week together with zero conflict, and the psychology behind it ✨ The "Invested, Rested, Connected" framework and what it means for clients ✨ Why rested, connected teams make better decisions and protect your account You'll walk away asking your own version of the question: what is my version of Greece, and what would happen if I gave my team something to work toward?

Listen to Daily Global #News from Grecian Echoes WNTN 1550 AM. Washington has shifted from bombs to blockades, US - Canada trade talks collapse. Turkey has declared two new marine parks stretching deep into disputed Aegean waters

Listen to Daily Global #News from Grecian Echoes WNTN 1550 AM. Washington has shifted from bombs to blockades, US - Canada trade talks collapse. Turkey has declared two new marine parks stretching deep into disputed Aegean waters

Starting this week, Shipwrecks and Sea Dogs adds a new regular segment: This Week in Shipwrecks. Every Friday Rich will surface the latest headlines from the world of maritime history including fresh shipwreck discoveries, updates on famous wrecks, and other news from the deep — delivered in quick, repackaged nuggets. Roman shipwreck off Sicily — spearfishers find a 2,000-year-old cargo ship loaded with amphorae Classical Greek merchant wreck off Andros — 600+ amphorae recovered near the Aegean island Deepest shipwreck in French waters — 16th-century vessel found by accident off Saint-Tropez, ~2,567m down Shackleton's Quest & Scott's Terra Nova surveyed — Woods Hole/Alvin expedition documents both polar wrecks, warns of accelerating decay Two Swedish warships off Rügen — artifacts recovered from Postillion and Cecilie, lost in winter 1714–1715 The Falken identified off Finland — 50-year-old mystery wreck confirmed as the Vasa's "little sister" Global Mercy launches new mission — hospital ship begins 10-month field service in Ghana All episodes, show notes, and transcripts can be found at shipwrecksandseadogs.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Published 16 August 2026Finally, we chat to the owner of a top ocean racing campaign. Our guest the week is Jon Desmond the owner of the PAC 52 Final Final which is the blue boat that has been campaigning in the Caribbean and Europe, including the Admirals Cup and most recently the Aegean 600. Jon grew up as part of a multi-generational sailing family, has been sailing all his life and with his family is passionate for the sport. We spoke to him as he had just come off the water from sailing his M32. It was a privilege to chat with him. Enjoy.#finalfinalracing #disrupta_ #vaikobi #vaikobisail #radixnutrition #barkarate #sailingpodcast  #barkarateconversations #worldsailingofficial #sailing #boat #ocean #sport #voile #sail #sea #offshore #sailors #sailingworld #extremesailing #foils #yacht #yachts #saillife #instayacht #sailingblog #instasail

VOV1 - Ngày 9/8, trong bối cảnh diễn biến thời tiết nắng nóng bất thường và những nguy cơ hỏa hoạn lan rộng khắp cả nước, giới chức Hy Lạp ban hành cảnh báo nhiều khu vực rộng lớn của nước này trong tình trạng báo động đỏ, yêu cầu người dân và du khách cẩn trọngCảnh báo cấp độ 4, mức độ rủi ro rất cao, chỉ thấp hơn một bậc so với tình trạng khẩn cấp màu đỏ, đã được ban hành ở nhiều khu vực và các đảo của Hy Lạp như Attica, Crete, một phần của Peloponnese và một số đảo Aegean.Bộ Khủng hoảng Khí hậu và Bảo vệ Dân sự kêu gọi người dân và du khách tránh các hoạt động có thể gây ra hỏa hoạn bao gồm đốt cỏ khô, cành cây hoặc các loại rác thải khác.Trong khi đó, ngày 9/8, lực lượng cứu hỏa, máy bay và trực thăng vẫn đang tiếp tục chiến đấu với hỏa hoạn sau khi ghi nhận một vụ cháy rừng bùng phát ở Koropi, Attica trong bối cảnh những đợt nắng nóng kéo dài nhiều ngày ở khu vực này.Trước đó, ngày 8/8, số liệu từ Đài quan sát Quốc gia Athens cho thấy hơn 44.500 ha đất đã bị thiêu rụi trong các vụ cháy rừng trên khắp vùng Attica của Hy Lạp từ ngày 31 tháng 7 đến ngày 4 tháng 8. Hy Lạp đang phải vật lộn với các vụ cháy rừng giữa những đợt nắng nóng kéo dài khắp châu Âu. Theo thống kê của Liên minh châu Âu, tổng cộng hơn 500.000 ha đã bị thiêu rụi trên toàn lục địa kể từ đầu năm. Dữ liệu từ Hệ thống Thông tin Cháy rừng Châu Âu cũng cho thấy tính đến ngày 6 tháng 8, đã có hơn 1.500 vụ cháy được phát hiện trên khắp châu Âu kể từ đầu năm nay./.Hải Đăng/VOV SÉCẢnh minh họa

Renowned Caucasus correspondent Alexander Thatcher joins Gladio Free Europe from the land Anatolia for the first of several episodes examining the historic bronze-age context of Homer's Iliad and Odyssey. Written in the 8th or 7th century BC but set a half-millennium before, the Greek epic cycle recounts events that were ancient even to an Iron Age audience. While the historicity of the mythic Trojan War cannot be proven, scholars from the days of Schliemann onward have proven that the city of Troy really existed. In its heyday, this archaeological site in Anatolia was closely involved with the affairs of the early Mycenaean Greeks as well as the great empire of the Hittites.Identified shortly after the discovery of Troy, the Hittites were a civilization previously only known to western culture due to a few references in the Hebrew Bible. Not attested in any of the chronicles of the Greeks or Romans, the Hittites would be the first great civilization known primarily through archaeology. The decipherment of Hittite texts at the turn of the 20th century led to two shocking revelations: that these Hittites led an empire stretching from the Aegean down to Canaan, the greatest power in the Bronze Age Mediterranean after the New Kingdom of Egypt. Second, it was proven that their language was Indo-European. These discoveries would reorient the western understanding of the ancient past, and cause some Europeans to project their own image onto the Ancient Near East. Alexander Thatcher helps Liam and Russian Sam contrast the various nationalist and mythological narratives of the Bronze Age with what we actually know about the Hittites and their fascinating society. Recent breakthroughs in archaeogenetics and completing linguistic models provide fascinating insight into how the Hittites emerged in the deep past, and to what extent they were related to the Greeks of the west and the Semitic peoples of the east. Also discussed are the mysterious disappearance of one Hittite prince, the existence of an obscure Levantine kingdom of apparently Indian origin, and of course, the infamous Hittite legal code with its very specific attitudes toward certain interactions with horses.While the Hittites are not mentioned once in Homer, their fall around 1177 BC may be the most dramatic episode of the famous Bronze Age collapse. This episode and its follow-up look at what the Iliad and the Odyssey can tell us about the folk memory of this catastrophic event, and to what extent the Greeks themselves were implicated. 

This week the crew hits the floating Aegean island city running with a whole bunch of super duper tactical heist shit. They might even resemble competent professionals in this episode, which is great because if I know anything about Team Meatbag, it's that they're about to pull off a 100% flawless mission with absolutely no unexpected and near catastrophic failures.Cast ListStardaddy: StanGrace/Hopper: GeoffCommodore Macdonald (Mackie) --burn: ColinDr. Hildegarde Hypatia Cade (Hilde)/ C. B. : KristenAugustus Novus (Auggie): ChrisIf you enjoy the mildly unhinged antics of Stardaddy and his band of merry madpersons, be sure to subscribe on your favorite podcast platform. New episodes hit the feed at midnight west Tennessee time every Wednesday. Want even more from Team Meatbag? Check us out online at www.astronomicapodcast.com.  Here you'll find links to all of our social media plus an open invite to our Discord server. Questions, comments, or details on how exactly Connect works? Email them to astronomicapodcast@gmail.com and we'll definitely get back to you sometime this month. And finally, if you just absolutely love us and wish to provide support in a monetary manner, you can find us at patreon.com/AstronomicaPodcast. Not only will you enjoy the warm fuzzy feeling of helping us foot production costs, you'll also find a number of fantastic extra perks plus get bragging rights with all your nerdiest friends. Thanks as always for listening and we'll see ya next week!Send us a message through this weird thing that didn't exist before but exists now.Support the show

John Diorio, vice president and managing director of business development for North America for Celestyal, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report about his boutique cruise line's new itineraries in the Western Med during the winter season. With two ships now cruising the Aegean, Adriatic and Alboran Seas, Celestyal now delivers a complete Mediterranean experience. New value pricing also makes the cruise line one of the most affordable in the market. For more information, visit www.celestyalcruises.com.  All our Insider Travel Report video interviews are archived and available on our Youtube channel  (youtube.com/insidertravelreport), and as podcasts with the same title on: Spotify, Pandora, Stitcher, PlayerFM, Listen Notes, Podchaser, TuneIn + Alexa, Podbean,  iHeartRadio,  Google, Amazon Music/Audible, Deezer, Podcast Addict, and iTunes Apple Podcasts, which supports Overcast, Pocket Cast, Castro and Castbox. 

This is a teaser of the bonus episode, "A League by Choice?" found over on Patreon.A voluntary alliance can feel like freedom right up until the day you try to leave. After the Greek victory over Persia in 479 BC, more than a hundred islands and coastal city-states align themselves with Athens in what becomes the Delian League. We walk through why that choice makes sense at the time and why it isn't as simple as “Athens forced an empire on unwilling allies.” We start with the road not taken: Sparta. Even with its wartime prestige, Sparta's priorities stay anchored in the Peloponnese, its naval capacity is limited, and the helot system makes long overseas commitments dangerous. Add the reputational blow of Pausanias in Byzantium, and the eastern Aegean has every reason to look elsewhere for steady leadership. Athens, newly empowered by a fleet funded through the Laurean silver mines and proven in the Persian Wars, can actually patrol the Aegean Sea, protect trade routes, deter Persian interference, and speak to a shared Ionian identity many communities recognize. Then we track how the league's mechanics reshape its politics. Contributions shift from ships and crews to tribute, and what looks like a convenient budget choice slowly centralizes force, money, and decision-making in Athenian hands. The revolts of Naxos and Thasos show the turning point: joining may be voluntary, but withdrawal becomes a trigger for siege, disarmament, and lost autonomy. Even so, many allies stay because the benefits remain real and rebellion is costly and uncertain. If you care about ancient Greece history, the Delian League, and how security pacts evolve into empires, you'll find plenty to argue with here. Subscribe, share the episode with a friend, and leave a review with your answer: when does an alliance stop being a choice?Support the show

The heat of the day is fading on the Greek island of Paros. A narrow path leads to a secluded rocky cove where the clear waters of the Aegean Sea meet the shore. You lay out your towel on the warm stones, breathe in the salty evening air, and listen as small waves roll onto the beach. In the distance, the soft chorus of cicadas becomes part of the landscape as daylight slowly slips into dusk. This immersive 8-hour soundscape recreates the quiet beauty of a summer evening by the Aegean. The natural rhythm of water lapping over the rocks, accompanied by distant cicadas, creates a soothing backdrop for deep sleep, relaxation, meditation, reading, study, or simply taking a moment to slow down. Download the Your Sleep Guru™ app for exclusive guided meditations, sleep stories, nature soundscapes, courses, and bonus episodes, all in one ad-free place. Creating these sleep stories and soundscapes is truly a labour of love. If you'd like to support the podcast with a donation, you can do so here: https://www.paypal.com/ncp/payment/S9D8B33QVSJJU Your kindness helps me continue creating new episodes and bringing more peaceful places from around the world to your ears. If you enjoy the podcast, please consider following, rating, reviewing, or sharing an episode with someone who could use a better night's sleep. Every bit of support helps this independent podcast reach more listeners. Thank you so much for listening! Sweet dreams.

In conjunction with the ILRN conference, which starts later this week in Athens, I am hosting a limited series I'm calling "Immersive Learning in the Cradle of Western Civilization."  I'll be talking with educators, developers, business leaders, museum leaders, and others from across Greece to highlight all of the amazing things that are happening in immersive learning in and around Greece.  In this episode, I speak with Vlasios Kasapakis about his work with cultural heritage and storytelling, along with his work with the XR Lab at the University of the Aegean.

US President Donald Trump made headlines this week at the Nato summit in Ankara by declaring an end to all sanctions against Turkey, paving the way for the sale of the F-35 stealth fighter jet to the alarm of Greece and Israel. 'We are going to be taking the sanctions off; it's time to do that, OK. We don't want to sanction friends; it's very simple,' declared Trump to the international media, sitting next to his host, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Trump lifts Turkey sanctions Trump was referencing the sanctions imposed on Turkey after Ankara acquired the Russian S-400 missile defence system. This move led to Turkey being barred from purchasing the American F-35 stealth fighter. Washington argued the deal jeopardised sensitive technology. However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned any sale of F-35 jets to Turkey, warning it would adversely affect the balance of power in the region. Summit host Turkey eyes major weapons deals with NATO allies 'We are in a crisis between Israel and Turkey,' warns Gallia Lindenstrauss of Tel Aviv's Institute for National Security Studies. 'I still would not characterise them as enemy states,' added Lindenstrauss, 'But the threat perception in both countries is growing, and there's a security dilemma evolving between the two countries. What each one thinks it's only doing for its defence is perceived by the other country as offensive.' Turkey is pushing hard for the immediate delivery of six F-35s it has already paid for. Yet despite Trump's promises, the shadow of Turkey's S-400 missile system purchase still looms large: 'This is not a political decision; that is actually a legal question,' claims Ozgur Unluhisarcikli, head of the Ankara office of the German Marshall Fund. Unluhisarcikli is referring to the US National Defense Authorization Act, which prohibits the sale of the F-35 until Turkey relinquishes 'possession' of the S-400. 'He (Trump) will, one way or another, need Congress's approval, and this is what Israel and Greece are trying to prevent,' said Unluhisarcikli. However, Turkish and international media reported on Friday that Ankara will sell the S-400s to the United Arab Emirates. Moscow, which reportedly has a veto on any resale of the missile, has reacted cautiously. Kremlin spokesman Dmitri Peskov described the issue as 'extremely sensitive' and said they were in talks with Ankara. F-35 sale faces resistance If Ankara manages to sell the S-400, it still faces headwinds in securing the F-35 jet. Netanyahu is reportedly preparing to visit Washington this month, where he's expected to ramp up his campaign against any F-35 sale to Turkey. The Israeli ambassador in Washington has also been in talks with Greek and Cypriot counterparts, forging a united front against Ankara. Greece and Cyprus share Israel's concerns, having their own disputes with Turkey. Aaron Stein, president of the Foreign Policy Research Institute, a US think tank, predicts a tough fight for Ankara. 'This is about politics, and the politics of Turkey in the US Congress remains sour and not very good,' warns Stein. 'There are vested interest groups — the Israelis, the Greeks and others — who don't want to see an F-35 sale to Turkey and are pushing hard against it.' Turkey's mediator role in the Ukraine war faces growing US pressure Time is also an enemy of Ankara, warns Stein, with looming November Congressional midterm elections. 'Even if you get some movement on this (sale of F-35s), you will probably see a change of power in Congress, with the new government seated in January. So there is no pathway, in my opinion, for the F-35 to get through,' predicts Stein. Before departing the Nato summit, Trump seemed to soften his stance on the F-35 sale, saying he was inclined to sanction the sale but hadn't totally made up his mind. However, Ankara might be content with Trump's symbolic backing. 'I don't believe that these are mere empty words; they are expressions of political will to find a solution to the S-400 problem and to bring Turkey to the very centre of the transatlantic alliance,' claims analyst Unluhisarcikli. 'In a matter of a couple of years, Turkey moved from its position as being basically contained by both the United States and the European Union, to becoming a key ally for NATO and for Europe's security,' he added. Greece and Turkey look to revive rapprochement amid Aegean tensions Erdogan may well savour this symbolic victory, especially since even if the F-35 sale moves forward, experts predict it would take years for the jets to be ready for action due to the need for pilot training and support infrastructure. By that time, Turkey hopes to have its own stealth jet, the Kaan, soaring through the skies.

In conjunction with the ILRN conference, which starts later this week in Athens, I am hosting a limited series I'm calling "Immersive Learning in the Cradle of Western Civilization."  I'll be talking with educators, developers, business leaders, museum leaders, and others from across Greece to highlight all of the amazing things that are happening in immersive learning in and around Greece.  In this episode, I speak with Despoina Tsiafaki about her work on THRACE-CONNECT (Full Title: Unraveling Connections between Aegean and inland Thrace via the Rhodope mountains, through archaeological exploration and spatial technology, can be found at https://thraceconnect.athenarc.gr/en/main-page/).  This project is implemented in the framework of H.F.R.I call “3rd Call for H.F.R.I.'s Research Projects to Support Faculty Members & Researchers” (H.F.R.I. Project Number: 23755).” To connect with the project, its LinkedIn is https://www.linkedin.com/company/thrace-connect

Welcome back to the Dirt Diaries! We are staying in the realm of mythology, meeting reality as we talk about the famed Nike of Samothrace. This goddess announced victory in the past, but which battle was immortalized in marble on the Aegean island of Samothrace? We're diving in! Be sure to bring your chisels to get the drapery just right, as we talk about the Hellenistic masterpiece also known as the Winged Victory. -Stay curiousTravel with me, my socials, and more!https://beacons.ai/dirtdiaries.tenn

Athens wins at Salamis, but what happens when the man most associated with that victory becomes politically untouchable? We close out our Themistocles series by following the messy aftermath of the Persian Wars, where glory fades fast and the real fight becomes reputation, alliances, and survival inside Athenian democracy.We walk through Themistocles' return to power and his vision for rebuilding Athens with the future in mind, especially the push for fortifications and the long shadow of Spartan rivalry. The centerpiece is the diplomatic gamble that defines his style: stalling and misleading Sparta just long enough for Athens to complete its walls, turning a disputed plan into an irreversible fact. From there we track the next phase of Athenian maritime strategy, including the Piraeus as the key harbor and the drive to keep the trireme fleet growing, the foundation of Athenian naval power in the Aegean.Then the floor drops out. Political enemies capitalize on stories of arrogance, rule-bending, and alleged Persian connections tied to the Pausanias affair. We follow the ostracism, the escape across Greece, and the moment Themistocles chooses the unthinkable path: seeking refuge in the Persian Empire. At Artaxerxes' court he remakes himself again, earns favor, and governs Magnesia, before the story ends with competing accounts of his death and a lingering legacy that reaches back to Athens and forward through his descendants.If you enjoyed this deep dive into Themistocles, Athenian politics, and Greek history after the Persian Wars, subscribe, share the episode with a friend, and leave a review. What part of his rise and fall feels most familiar today?Support the show

Rev. Walt Marcum

Rev. Walt Marcum

Turkey's main opposition says its Western allies are failing to respond as a widening crackdown by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's government targets its leaders and elected mayors. The latest arrests this week followed a court decision to remove Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Ozgur Ozel and reinstate former leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu in an unprecedented move that was widely condemned by Turkish and international human rights groups. The European Union's response has been far more restrained. "There are some visits, there are some letters sent to us," said Ilhan Uzgel, the CHP's former deputy chair. "There are some public statements regarding the situation in Turkey, but the wording and language used is quite mild. [There's] no action." The CHP has faced more than a year of arrests targeting its mayors on corruption charges. This week, two more were detained, adding to a list that already includes jailed Istanbul mayor and presidential candidate Ekrem Imamoglu. HRW denounces Turkey arrests ahead of NATO summit Strategic partner Uzgel said the European Union can no longer stand by and should take a firmer stance. "Mr Erdogan has to be told, 'you're destroying democracy and what you're doing is against the rule of law,'" said Uzgel. "There could be some kind of a diplomatic isolation," he added. "So whenever Mr Erdogan meets a foreign leader, he's selling it to his own audience, the Turkish public, that he's a world leader. At least this opportunity could be taken from his hand." Yet Erdogan is expected to reinforce his international standing at next month's Nato summit in Ankara. "The two big allies of Turkey have decided not to make human rights an issue in the bilateral relationship," said Asli Aydintasbas, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution in Washington. She notes that the EU and Washington have found rare common ground over Turkey. "For President Trump, this comes naturally; he doesn't care about human rights advancement globally," she said. "But now Europeans are also looking for some type of functional relationship with Turkey and wanting to disregard human rights as an impediment to bilateral relations." Turkey steps up as Europe's indispensable and uncomfortable defence partner Federico Donelli, an international relations expert at the University of Trieste, said the European Union's restrained response reflected Turkey's growing strategic importance. "The restraint of EU reaction is closely linked to an increase in recognition of Turkey's structural importance for European security." With Nato's second-largest army and a rapidly expanding defence industry, Turkey is increasingly seen as an important security partner as Europe faces the threat from Russia and uncertainty over the United States' long-term commitment. "The US is definitely less stable than in the past, so in this context Turkey is increasingly seen less as a [EU] candidate country and more as a strategic partner," said Donelli. Pressure on Greece and Cyprus Donelli said this shift could increase pressure on Greece and Cyprus, which have long used their vetoes to slow closer EU defence ties with Turkey because of disputes in the Aegean and eastern Mediterranean. "We know how much the two countries have conditioned EU-Turkey relations for many years," said Donelli. "These two countries cannot constrain broader EU strategic choices in the next few years, in the next decade." Amid the Russian threat and uncertainty over America's resolve, Turkey's opposition worries it is being sacrificed in the name of Europe's security.  "Historically, Turkish EU relations were working for the democratisation of Turkey, but the equation has been reversed. The EU-Turkey ties have been working against Turkey's democratisation," said Uzgel. "The closer Mr Erdogan gets to the EU, [the more] we are losing democracy in Turkey." He nonetheless warned that Europe's approach is short-sighted and could have wider consequences. "Turkey is a country of 86 million, so if democracy fails here, it has to have some implications for other countries as well."

Luca Bombardieri, Associate Professor in Aegean and Cypriot Archaeology at the University of Siena in Italy and the scientific director at the Erimi Archaeological Project in Cyprus, explores what it really means to direct an archaeological excavation. He highlights his unique philosophy of living on-site at Erimi and walks listeners through the complex, behind-the-scenes work that goes far beyond digging -- surveying, soil sampling, conservation, documentation, and required coordination with institutions like the Cyprus Museum. He also tackles major challenges such as looting, the race to secure discoveries before the season ends, and growing development pressures that threaten even protected sites. 

Rev. Walt Marcum

Rev. Walt Marcum

rWotD Episode 3328: Ottoman conquest of Lesbos Welcome to random Wiki of the Day, your journey through Wikipedia's vast and varied content, one random article at a time.The random article for Sunday, 14 June 2026, is Ottoman conquest of Lesbos.The Ottoman conquest of Lesbos took place in September 1462. The Ottoman Empire, under Sultan Mehmed II, laid siege to the island's capital, Mytilene. After its surrender, the other forts of the island surrendered as well. The event put an end to the semi-independent Genoese lordship that the Gattilusio family had established in the northeastern Aegean since the mid-14th century, and heralded the beginning of the First Ottoman–Venetian War in the following year.In the mid-14th century, the Gattilusio family had established an autonomous lordship under Byzantine suzerainty on Lesbos. By 1453, the Gattilusio domains had come to include most of the islands in the northeastern Aegean. In the aftermath of the fall of the Byzantine Empire in 1453, however, Mehmed II began reducing the Gattilusio holdings. By the end of 1456, only Lesbos remained in Gattilusio hands, in exchange for an annual tribute to the Sultan. In 1458 Niccolò Gattilusio seized control of the island from his brother, and began preparing for an eventual Ottoman attack. Despite his appeals, however, no help was forthcoming from other Western powers. Mehmed II began his campaign against Lesbos in August 1462, and the Ottomans landed on the island on 1 September. After a few days of skirmishing, the Ottomans brought up their artillery and began bombarding the Castle of Mytilene. By the eighth day, the Ottomans had captured the harbour fortifications, and two days later, they seized the lower town of Melanoudion. At this point, panic set in among the defenders, and their will to continue resisting collapsed.Niccolò Gattilusio surrendered the castle and the rest of the island on 15 September, on promises of receiving estates of equivalent value. He was taken to Constantinople, where he was soon strangled. Despite promises, many of the defenders were executed, and a large part of the inhabitants were carried off for slavery in the Ottoman Empire, as servants in the Sultan's palace, or to help repopulate Constantinople. Ottoman rule on Lesbos lasted, with minor interruptions, until 1912.This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 00:58 UTC on Sunday, 14 June 2026.For the full current version of the article, see Ottoman conquest of Lesbos on Wikipedia.This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.Follow us on Bluesky at @wikioftheday.com.Also check out Curmudgeon's Corner, a current events podcast.Until next time, I'm standard Justin.

Gavin landed back in Australia just the day before recording, and he and Ken settle in for a full debrief on WDC 2026 in Athens. From the venues and the social activities to all four of Gavin's games and the top board, this one covers it all. Intro Ken sets up the episode – this one is going to be almost entirely about WDC 2026 Athens, because Gavin was there and has only just landed back in Australia (as at the time of recording) (15 secs) He notes the DBN coverage gave a strong account of the boards and Ed's player interviews, but plenty of the magic from Spyros Dovas and his organising team didn't make it to the stream (45 secs) Drinks are introduced: Ken is on one of his home-brew lagers with a kick, and Gavin is working through a leftover Sicilian Nero d'Avola that has turned a little sour – a fitting metaphor, he suggests, for how his first round went (1 min 45 secs) The tournament in aggregate Ken asks Gavin to give a broad overview – location, numbers, facilities, atmosphere (2 mins 45 secs) Around 106 players registered, though some didn't show due to last-minute issues. Approximately 5 Australian players couldn't attend because their original flights were routed through the Middle East (3 mins 30 secs) The geopolitical context: as of recording, the Middle East airspace situation was in week nine of its shutdown, forcing Australian travellers to reroute via Singapore, Hong Kong, or Malaysia. Some also baulked at the US transit option due to the documentation requirements (4 mins 30 secs) Despite the drop-outs, the turnout was excellent and genuinely representative – a heavy European component split between the UK and the rest of Europe, a strong French contingent, players from the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Poland, and Norway, a good number of Americans and a couple of Canadians (including Chris Brand), around 10 Australians, and a couple of Kiwis (Dominick Stephens and Craig Purcell). The local Greek contingent, given the Athens club had only been running for about 18 months, was especially impressive (3 mins 30 secs) Tournament format: three regular rounds followed by a fourth round of tiered top boards. Rather than a single top board, the format featured seven simultaneous top boards – the top 7 players went to the premier board, players 8–14 played the second tier, 15–21 the third, and so on down through the field. Crucially, players who volunteered to sit out for round four to help with numbers kept their ranking position (7 mins) Ken and Gavin discuss how the tiered format means the fourth round is never a dead rubber – every board is still competing for something meaningful (8 mins 15 secs) Discussion of the central clock arrangement: effectively federation-based rather than a literal single clock, with the two main venues coordinating their start times by communication (9 mins 30 secs) The venues The main venue was the upstairs function space of a beachside restaurant operation – excellent location right on the waterfront, but somewhat cramped for negotiations once all the boards were in (9 mins 45 secs) As a result, boards were redistributed to the secondary venue: the Anchor bar, about 150–200 metres down the road. Gavin played two games in each location and considered the Anchor the better play space – more open, well ventilated, and with a large covered outdoor area next to a (drained) pool (11 mins) The colour-coded sash system made it easy to identify players by country but created the amusing challenge of locating your specific Italy in a room full of Italys from different boards (13 mins) The third venue – an outdoor shaded area – was reserved for the premier top board. Unlike Milan's car park, this one had good shade and plenty of room for spectators around the giant shadow board (13 mins 30 secs) Pre-tournament social activities Gavin outlines the structure: you could do as much or as little as you liked. He landed well due to a useful 5.5-hour Singapore layover that helped reset his body clock, and flew over on the same flight as tournament director Jamal Blakkarly (16 mins) They were met at Athens airport by Spyros, his wife, and daughter, who drove them to breakfast at a beautiful harbour-side restaurant in one of the small inlet bays east of Piraeus (18 mins 15 secs) Pre-tournament island stay: Gavin spent two days on Serifos, the island Spyros recommended and which has personal significance to his family (his grandfather was christened there). Spyros provided a detailed Google Map of the best spots. With the tourist season barely starting, Gavin got excellent last-minute accommodation at a family-run hotel and had the beaches almost entirely to himself (18 mins 45 secs) The island was so off-season that locals were literally still painting their furniture and kerbs in preparation. Gavin did the recommended hikes and swims, and the hotel gifted him a dry-bag left behind by a previous guest (20 mins 30 secs) Back in Athens overnight, Gavin caught up with a multinational squad of players including Shane, Brandon, Max, Zoe, Justin Law, Bradley Grace, and Karthik. They had dinner at an Italian restaurant with the Acropolis lit up above them (22 mins 30 secs) Hydra day trip (Wednesday): players caught the fast ferry from Piraeus out to Hydra (about 1.5 hrs). The island has a refined Venetian-Greek port feel, with rustic paths and rock beaches beyond. The group visited the Museum of the 1821 Greek Revolution, full of local history and artefacts. Gavin wore one of his Diplomacy shirts and ended up being an ambassador for the hobby to an American grandmother and her debate-champion granddaughter from North Carolina – and pointed them towards David Hood and the local hobby there (24 mins 15 secs) The water temperature at the beach was about 4–5 degrees colder than Australia, which meant the Europeans loved it and Gavin did not go in (26 mins 30 secs) Acropolis and Athens tour (Thursday): guided tour of the Acropolis by what Spyros described as the best guides operating there, followed by a walk through the Plaka and past the Panathenaic Stadium (venue of the first modern Olympics in 1896), then a seafood lunch at a beautiful harbourside restaurant (30 mins) Temple of Poseidon (Thursday evening): the most popular activity – the bus was packed. About halfway there, Spyros took everyone on an unannounced detour to a beach bar where they had the place to themselves, a wonderful surprise. The Temple itself sits on a peninsula with 270-degree sea views. Spyros told the story of how the Aegean got its name from that location, and a huge group photo was taken (31 mins 15 secs) Tournament production values Gavin describes the production as setting new high-water marks for tournament organisation – high enough that the Chicago 2027 organising team would be wondering how to match it. Every player had a colour-coded sash matching their country, a branded WDC Athens notepad in their country colour, and a matching pen for every round (33 mins) The awards were 3D-printed Greek god statues for the podium finishers, complemented by a full suite of themed awards for the top players in each country and for notable gameplay (34 min) Special awards included: the Ajax Award for 8th place overall (the brilliant fighter who just missed out); the Archimedes Award for the most innovative play; the Leonidas Award for the player who fought on against insurmountable odds; and professionally screen-printed awards for best performance as each of the seven Great Powers (35 mins 45 secs) Gavin's games Round 1 – France – Board: Agkystri (View game) Gavin introduces his first game and the board composition: he played France, with Danae Stamataki (Austria-Hungary, local Greek player who topped the board on 10 supply centres and won best Austria), Sabrina Ahuja "Sabi" as England, Brian Ecton as Germany, Jean-Louis Delattre as Italy, Teo Ananiadis as Russia, and Frank Oosterom from the Netherlands as Turkey (37 mins 15 secs) The plan was a Western Triple working with England and Germany, with the goal of neutralising a strong-looking Italy early. It didn't come together as intended (37 mins 45 secs) The infamous mis-order: Gavin had two builds and intended fleet Brest plus a second build. Instead he built fleet Brest and placed the build directly in MAO, effectively waiving his second build. The DBN commentators interpreted this as a genius strategic waive; Ken's interpretation was somewhat more grounded. Gavin confirms Ken was correct (39 mins) The other players on the board didn't share DBN's generous reading of the situation. Germany immediately moved into Burgundy and kept flipping between fronts as his position allowed. Italy kept pressing France throughout. Gavin found himself squeezed down to a single unit in the English Channel (40 mins 30 secs) Final turn plan: England agreed to convoy an army across to Picardy to support Gavin back into Brest. Instead, Sabi walked into an open Paris. Gavin ended the game with zero supply centres and was eliminated (42 mins 15 secs) Gavin notes he made his disappointment known professionally, and that he subsequently had a drink with Sabi – but not that night (44 mins 15 secs) Round 2 – England – Board: Lemnos Not covered by DBN. Gavin played England; the board included Dominick Stephens (New Zealand) as Germany, Chris Brand (Canada) as Russia, Ruben Sanchez as Italy, Roberto Perego (Italy) as France, Robert Schuppe as Turkey, and Anastasia "Nastja" Styles as Austria-Hungary (46 mins) The plan was a Northern Alliance of England, Germany, and Russia. It unravelled immediately when Chris opened Moscow to Livonia and Dominick interpreted it as aggressive – resulting in a Germany-Russia war from the outset (46 mins 15 secs) Gavin adapted: knowing Germany was occupied in the east, he gave Russia some space and opened into Belgium, with Dominick and Chris both honouring his request to take Norway unopposed via fleet (46 mins 45 secs) Dominick and Gavin worked to grind down Roberto Perego's France, who ground out a hard-fought game staying alive on 2 centres. Ruben Sanchez's Italy played a deft game, flipping between alliances with Turkey and Austria (49 mins 15 secs) Dominick topped the board on 10; Ruben came in at 9; Gavin finished at 7. The game was meant to run to 1909 but drew earlier when the position stabilised. Gavin reflects he may have drawn too early, with both Dominick and Ruben suggesting he had room to push for another two centres (50 mins) Round 3 – Germany – Board: Symi (View game) Gavin played Germany. The board included Shane Armstrong (Australia) as France, Mikalis Kamaritis as Italy, Alex Maslow (USA) as Russia, Steven Hogue (USA) as Austria, Alex Lebedev (Russia) as England, and Jack Johns as Turkey (51 mins 15 secs) The strategic context: only Mikalis Kamaritis and Alex Lebedev were realistically in contention for the top board from this game. Shane and Gavin identified this early and committed to supporting the player they believed deserved to be there (52 mins 45 secs) Shane and Gavin opened with a Sealion against England, while Gavin also walked a careful line with Alex Lebedev, who initially felt more threatened by France than Germany. Austria was eliminated in 1903, and England in 1904 (53 mins 45 secs) A notable moment: Gavin slipped an army from the North Sea into an unoccupied London – a move he acknowledged was unnecessary, created friction with Alex Lebedev, and which he would not make again. He apologised on the day (56 mins 15 secs) Mikalis told Gavin and Shane to wait until 1905 – and delivered. He launched from his eastern position, took two dots off Russia and one off Turkey in a single year, then steamrolled from there. Alex Maslow was a strong and enjoyable player who nearly flipped the alliance but ultimately couldn't (56 mins 15 secs) The game agreed to a draw of 10-10-14 (Shane-Gavin-Mikalis), which the three felt would get Mikalis comfortably onto the top board. In the final adjudication Mikalis took one extra dot away from Shane, making the final scores 15-10-9 (58 mins 15 secs) Round 4 – Austria – Board: Myconos (View game) Gavin made it onto the fourth round, placed into the 6th top board. The board featured Shane Armstrong again as Turkey, Emmett Wainwright as England, Patrick Jacobson as France, Nathan Lester as Germany, Cameron Taylor as Italy, and Richard Bolton as Russia (59 mins 30 secs) The standout introduction: Nathan Lester, son of Dan Lester (who Gavin played against at Bangkok WDC). Same voice, same playing style, same persuasive meta-game arguments – but with a mullet and dressed like he's in an 80s rock video, and without the beard-stroking (1 hr 0 mins 45 secs) Gavin and Shane, having just played together in Round 3, ended up as Austria and Turkey respectively – not a natural alliance. Gavin didn't trust it but it held. Italy and France both kept fighting hard throughout (59 mins 45 secs) The game drew in 1906, with Shane and Emmett both finishing on 8, Gavin on 6 as Austria. Everyone then rushed across the road to watch the top board (1 hr 3 mins 45 secs) The top board Ken asks about Mikalis's diplomatic style. Gavin: exceptional situational awareness, communicates clearly and directly, asked and answered the "what do you want from this game?" question in a way that built immediate trust, and was good to his word on timing (1 hr 4 mins) Gavin arrived at the top board mid-1906 (his own game had just drawn). The top board was played outdoors under a well-shaded tree with plenty of room for negotiations, guarded by two or three people ensuring other players and passing members of the public couldn't crowd the board (1 hr 5 mins) The giant shadow board: a massive life-size replica board was set up nearby so all spectators could follow the game without approaching the real board. Andrew Goff read out the orders and the shadow board was updated after each adjudication – the same setup used at Milan WDC (1 hr 7 mins 45 secs) When Gavin arrived, he felt Bradley Grace had the game. The shift came late – Mikalis made a decisive move in the endgame that separated him from a closely matched France/Germany contest (1 hr 9 mins) Congratulations to Mikalis Kamaritis – well deserved, Gavin says. And to Bradley Grace: so close, but it will happen (1 hr 9 mins) The awards ceremony included Mikalis receiving both the championship belt and a traditional olive laurel wreath – a detail that was not captured in the DBN stream. Ken flags this as something future broadcasts should consider covering (1 hr 11 mins 15 secs) A Best Shane Cubis Award was also created – won by a Greek player who loudly lobbied Spyros for an award on the basis of how much he'd helped out. An AI-generated image of Shane Cubis in 1901 attire featured on the award, to the complete bafflement of the European and American contingents (1 hr 12 mins 50 secs) Game hobby and future WDCs The Chicago Windy City Weasels delivered a presentation promoting WDC 2027, enthusiastically received by the assembled players (1 hr 13 mins 15 secs) The 2028 bid: Melbourne was the only bid, and it was unanimously approved. Andrew Goff (Goffy) presented it. WDC 2028 Melbourne will be held at the MCG – the Melbourne Cricket Ground – with the conference rooms used for regular play, and the premier top board played on the MCG wicket itself. The countdown timer will run on the MCG scoreboard. Notionally scheduled for the last weekend of February 2028 – the weekend after the Formula One Grand Prix and the weekend before the first AFL round (1 hr 14 mins 30 secs) For international context: roughly equivalent to playing at Yankee Stadium, Madison Square Garden, the Camp Nou, or Bayern Munich's Allianz Arena. English players will recognise the MCG as where English cricket hopes traditionally come to die (1 hr 15 mins 15 secs) Also at the game hobby: a unanimous vote to amend and modernise the WDC charter, which dates from around 2000–2001 and doesn't reflect current online play, email communication, or the organisational structures of the Asia-Pacific and European hobbies. Four representatives (from NADF, the Asia-Pacific Diplomacy Association, and the European and UK hobbies) will draft amendments to be presented at WDC 2027 Chicago, with ratification at WDC 2028 Melbourne (1 hr 18 mins) Wrap up Gavin acknowledges the full organising effort: approximately 10 people working behind the scenes alongside Spyros and Jamal to make everything run. The Greek hobby and Athens Diplomacy Club can be enormously proud (1 hr 20 mins 30 secs) The Armistice Party: held between rounds three and four in the venue near the pool area. A DJ with a custom app allowed all attending players to nominate up to 10 songs each, with the crowd then voting in real time from four options for what came next. Gavin describes it as stunningly well thought through (1 hr 22 mins) Ken summarises: meticulously planned, wonderful venue, brilliant location, great games, fantastic people. Gavin: you got it in one. Thank you to Spyros, Jamal, and everyone they played with (1 hr 23 mins) Addendum – recorded one week later Ken and Gavin explain the addendum: a few things were either forgotten or lost in the original recording, so they've caught up a week later to cover them (1 hr 25 mins 45 secs) The Cane Toad The Cane Toad tournament will not run in 2026 – Gavin has made the decision to rest it for the year and bring it back bigger and better in 2027 (1 hr 26 mins 30 secs) Reasons: Gavin no longer lives in Brisbane where the tournament has historically been based, and several attempts to get a local game going have been completely unsuccessful. He feels it would be unfair to interstate players to travel to Queensland only to play mostly other interstate players rather than a meaningful proportion of locals (1 hr 27 mins 30 secs) He also flags cost-of-living pressures and fuel costs as factors, noting that the fuel excise which had been removed is about to be reinstated (1 hr 28 mins 45 secs) Ken and Gavin have a brief riff on whether cane toads actually hibernate, and whether the tournament might one day move to a different Queensland location (1 hr 28 mins 45 secs) Gavin shares a long-held dream of running the Cane Toad on the beach under a sun-safe setup. Council regulations require public liability insurance – but the Asia Pacific Diplomacy Association is in the process of organising exactly that for tournament directors, which may open the door in future (1 hr 29 mins 15 secs) Tournament news The Sydney Cup is on the weekend of 4–5 July. Gavin would love to go but has used up his diplomacy credits between Greece and starting a new job – it'll have to stay in the bank for now (1 hr 30 mins 45 secs) A New Zealand tournament is being discussed for the week before WDC 2028 Melbourne (late February 2028). Three New Zealand players who attended WDC 2026 in Athens have flagged interest in hosting something, on the logic that if you're travelling all the way from Europe or the US, a short hop across the Tasman to New Zealand is well worth building into the itinerary (1 hr 32 mins) Ken enthusiastically endorses the idea and encourages anyone planning for WDC 2028 Melbourne to factor in a week in New Zealand beforehand (1 hr 33 mins 30 secs) Challenge for next episode Over his birthday lunch, Gavin's son surprised him with an accurate recall of his WDC result. This leads Gavin to issue a challenge for the next episode: both Ken and Gavin will do some homework and come back with three or four online diplomacy resources that people may not know about, to raise awareness of what the community has put together over the years (1 hr 34 mins 45 secs) Around the grounds VDiplomacy gets an introduction for any listeners who aren't familiar: a sibling platform to WebDiplomacy, it hosts classic games but is particularly known for its range of variants (1 hr 36 mins 30 secs) The Dionysus Reimagined game recap – the ancient Greece variant Ken and Gavin set up in the lead-up to WDC Athens. Ken soloed, eliminating Gavin in the final year. Gavin notes that technically his last dot was taken so late that his result registers as a survive rather than an elimination (1 hr 38 mins 45 secs) Gavin played Athens and found himself defending on all fronts from early on: Sparta (who built only armies and had nowhere to go but north), the Macedonians pressing from the north, Byzantium late in the game, and Rhodes. Ken played Byzantium and credits his early token luck as a key advantage, picking up all his bid supply centres including one he expected to bounce – giving him fleet dominance in the Aegean from the start (1 hr 40 mins) The bid mechanics are recapped for any listeners unfamiliar with the variant: each player has 4 tokens to bid on non-core supply centres; outbid or bounce and you don't get the build. Ken's fortunate opening bids gave him a decisive early position (1 hr 40 mins 30 secs) A practical tip for vDiplomacy players: always open the large map after adjudication. The small map can omit orders that didn't go through, making moves look different from what was actually played. Ken noted several instances in the Dionysus game where support orders that failed simply weren't visible on the small map (1 hr 45 mins 45 secs) Ken congratulates himself on the win and notes the ratings gap between the two has now closed to around 100 points (1 hr 47 mins 30 secs) New game announced: Gavin has set up a Pirates game titled Ahoy Mateys on vDiplomacy. Gunboat, 2-day 2-hour phase length. Ken explains the extra 2 hours: it gradually shifts the adjudication time back toward Australian time zones in games where everyone readies up early (1 hr 48 mins) Pirates variant overview: a 13-player variant set in the golden age of piracy in the Caribbean, created by Gavin in collaboration with Ollie (the vDiplomacy site administrator). The 13 players are broken into three factions (1 hr 51 mins 45 secs): Europeans – Spain, England, France, and Holland, who nominally control supply centres across the map but must capture them to make them count Pirates – five pirates, four historical (Montbas, Brasiliano, de la Cueva, and Johnson) and one fictitious: El Guapo, borrowed from the movie The Three Amigos Privateers – one per European power, operating as private navies with letters patent. They can attack anyone except their sponsoring power (and vice versa). The Dunkirkers serve Spain, Henry Morgan serves England, François Le Jones serves France, and the Rocherson serves Holland Unit rules: all units are fleets, but there are two types – Clippers (move up to two spaces, standard attack strength) and Frigates (move one space, attack at 1.5x strength). A single clipper cannot defend against an attacking frigate, but a clipper supported by another clipper can. Five marked spots on the board allow transformation between unit types (1 hr 57 mins 45 secs) Special rules: a voodoo witch's hut in Cuba allows a fleet on the north coast to teleport to the south coast and vice versa. And a 14th non-playing character – a Hurricane – spins up each storm season in a random sea territory, moves randomly in the fall turn, and destroys anything in its path with an effectively unstoppable attack strength, also resetting any supply centre it passes through to neutral (1 hr 59 mins) Ken commits to reading the full rules before play begins, notes Pirates has a genuine following on vDiplomacy with games regularly in progress, and suspects he may get slaughtered (2 hr 1 min 15 secs) Gavin and Ken wrap up the show (2 hr 2 mins 15 secs) Venue: At home Drinks for the interview: Ken: One of his home brews – a lager with a bit of a kick Gavin: A Baliamo Nero d'Avola from Sicily – opened two weeks prior, which he noted had become a little sour and bitter compared to its fresh opening, much like his first round at the tournament Just a reminder you can support the show by giving it 5 stars on iTunes or Stitcher. And don't forget if you want to help pay off the audio equipment… or get the guys more drunk, you can also donate at Patreon, plus you get extra podcast episodes! Lastly, don't forget to subscribe so you get the latest Diplomacy Games episodes straight to your phone. Thanks as always to Dr Dan aka "The General" for his rockin' intro tune.

Rev. Walt Marcum

Rev. Walt Marcum

Welcome to Greek News Global for 4 June 2026, with legendary Greek-Australian journalist, John Mangos. In this bulletin; the EU and Israel weigh in on Turkey's Blue Homeland. Turkey dealt a blow on their Turkaegean campaign. Greek tensions with Albania escalate. And heavy metal causes an earthquake in AthensSend us Fan MailSupport the showEmail us at ouzotalk@outlook.comSubscribe to our Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@OuzoTalkFollow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OuzoTalkFollow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ouzo_talk/

£25 for a 14-hour sleeper train with beds, a sink, and power points. £6.50 for a seven-hour scenic ride across central Türkiye. If you've ever assumed Türkiye is a fly-and-spend destination, this episode is here to change that picture entirely.Tracy is joined by Sinead, a York-based travel blogger and passionate train traveller, to walk through her family's 12-day loop: Istanbul, down to the Aegean coast and the ruins of Ephesus, overnight to Konya, across to Cappadocia, up to Kayseri, into Ankara, and back to Istanbul. Mostly by train, on a real budget, with honest advice on what it actually costs.✅ Building a Türkiye itinerary around each person's must-sees ✅ Booking Turkish rail through TCDD, sleeper availability, and mid-route delays ✅ What train travel is actually like, from sleepers to high-speed first class ✅ Visiting Ephesus and why the scale and preservation stand out ✅ Hiking in Cappadocia, finding cave churches, and watching balloons at sunrise for free ✅ A low-cost mosaic lamp workshop that turned out to be a trip highlight ✅ Eating well for less and saving money on flights with a reverse search strategy ✅ Packing light, carrying lira, using Revolut or Wise, and choosing an eSIMIf this episode has got you thinking about your own adventure, our free workbook, Plan Your Dream Trip with Ease, is a brilliant place to start.If you enjoyed the show, leaving a review on your favourite podcast app helps more travel lovers find us.Guest - Sinead Camplin from Map Made Memories and York Travel ExpertShow notes - Episode 97Support the show 

Rev. Walt Marcum

Rev. Walt Marcum

Welcome back to the Dirt Diaries! It is finally the time you all have been asking for: we are delving into the era of ancient Greek heroes and examining the helmets and shields available to Bronze Age warriors in the Aegean. And now that the full trailer is out, it's time we chatted about what we could have had. From me to you, I wish you all could see how incredible this time period is, and maybe one day we will get the epic armor we deserve. So what shields did they have? Do we have any surviving armor, and, more importantly, does it even offer protection?Grab your translations of Homer's work and get ready to be a warrior of the mind because we're talking about dressing a Bronze Age hero. -Stay curiousTravel with me, my socials, and more!https://beacons.ai/dirtdiaries.tenn

Allen covers NextEra’s potential $400 billion buy of Dominion Energy, US developers racing the July tax credit deadline, Ming Yang scouting Spain for a factory, Turkey opening its first offshore wind tender, and Hornsea 3’s first foundation going in. Sign up now for Uptime Tech News, our weekly email update on all things wind technology. This episode is sponsored by Weather Guard Lightning Tech. Learn more about Weather Guard’s StrikeTape Wind Turbine LPS retrofit. Follow the show on Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, Linkedin and visit Weather Guard on the web. And subscribe to Rosemary Barnes’ YouTube channel here. Have a question we can answer on the show? Email us! Allen Hall 2025: Good morning, everyone. The world is racing at the minute, and let’s start with the biggest race of all. NextEra Energy, the largest utility in America by market value, is in talks to buy Dominion Energy of Virginia. The price? It’s about $76 a share, roughly $66 billion. With debt, the combined company would be valued at about $400 billion. That would make it the largest power deal on record. A mostly stock transaction, at least that’s what’s being reported, and a deal could come as soon as this week. Pretty shocking. Now, why does this matter to wind? NextEra is [00:01:00] not just a utility. It is one of the largest renewable energy developers on the planet. And Dominion sits on top of Northern Virginia’s data center alley, the biggest concentration of data centers in the country. Dominion expects its peak demand to double by the end of the twenty-thirties, American power consumption hit a second straight record in twenty-twenty-five, and it’s still climbing. So the company that builds more wind and solar than almost anyone wants to merge with the company that serves the hungriest grid in America. That is a race to the top. But down on the ground, developers are running a very different kind of race. Wind projects under construction in the United States are up 60% since the start of twenty-twenty-five. Solar is up about 50%. Why the surge? Well, the clock is ticking. Tax credits for wind and solar were gutted in the one big beautiful bill. Projects must begin construction by July 4th [00:02:00] and prove they are building continuously to qualify. Under the Inflation Reduction Act, those credits were supposed to phase out at the end of twenty-thirty-three. Now that deadline is just a couple of weeks away. Developers are pushing hard on projects that can make it and abandoning the ones that cannot. One solar executive put it plainly: “A lot of the projects are going to die on the vine.” And that’s a real shame. Labor is short. Of course, electricians are in demand. Transformer lead times have stretched to 18 months because data centers are buying them too. Even permits are hard to get. Projects that touch federal land, of course, that once took a month to approve are now waiting up to a year. So while NextEra races to buy the grid, developers are racing to build before the door shuts. Now, across the Atlantic, there’s a different kind of race going on. Chinese turbine manufacturer MingYang [00:03:00] Smart Energy is looking for a new home, and quick. Back in March, Britain blocked the company’s plans for a one-and-a-half billion pound factory in Scotland, mostly based on security grounds. MingYang’s European chief, Horatio Evers, says the company is now talking to Spain and scouting other locations on the continent. He says MingYang wants to build turbines in Europe with a European workforce. And this is the part I don’t understand, ’cause European workforce tend to be more expensive. However, uh, MingYang wants to build that factory, but there’s a condition. They need a guarantee that their turbines will be allowed into the market, and so far that hasn’t happened. The European Commission launched a review of Chinese manufacturers back in 2024. Those findings are still unpublished. So MingYang is racing to find a country willing to say “Yes.” Further east, Turkey is entering the offshore wind [00:04:00] race for the first time. The government has defined four areas along its western coast, all on the Aegean, for its first ever offshore wind tender. Turkey’s energy minister says Turkey aims for five gigawatts of offshore wind by 2035. The country has committed $30 billion to transmission infrastructure. And Turkey already has 15 gigawatts of onshore wind spinning today. Turkey is, of course, a NATO ally, and it straddles Europe and Asia, and now it’s stepping into offshore wind. And finally, up in the North Sea, off the coast of Norfolk, England, 75 miles from shore, Cadeler of Copenhagen just installed the first monopile foundation at Hornsea 3. When complete, Hornsea 3 will be the single largest offshore wind farm on the planet. 2.9 gigawatts, 197 foundations, enough power for 3.3 [00:05:00] million British homes. The project is owned by Danish giant Ørsted and will bring 5,000 construction jobs to the region. Hornsea 1 and 2 are already spinning, and of course, Hornsea 4 is on the drawing board. So here’s the picture. America’s two biggest utilities are racing toward a $400 billion merger. Developers are sprinting to break ground before the Fourth of July. A Chinese turbine maker is searching Europe for a factory, and Turkey is marking out its first offshore wind zones. And over in Britain, they just planted the first foundation at the world’s largest wind farm. Everyone is racing. The only question is, who gets there first? And that’s the state of the wind industry for the 18th of May, 2026. Join us tomorrow for the Uptime Wind Energy podcast

Turkey is once again raising tensions in the Aegean and Eastern Mediterranean, this time putting countries in the region on alert as it prepares a “Blue Homeland” piece of legislation that would essentially enshrine Ankara's maritime claims into domestic law. The move has Athens on alert, and the question everyone is wondering is whether Turkey is now turning its back on maintaining calm in the region - something that was agreed in Athens a few years ago. Beyond the Aegean and its maritime claims, Turkey is also looking to flex its muscles on the commercial side. This proposed bill comes as Ankara has been looking to send a message that it intends to have the final say on projects being developed in the region. We've seen this in Turkey's interference with projects like the Great Sea Interconnector, while Ankara is now positioning itself as a direct rival to the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), a project backed by the US and the EU. While tensions simmer in the Aegean and the East Med, another story has been developing in the Ionian Sea, on the other side of Greece, where a suspected Ukrainian naval drone was discovered off the island of Lefkada. The news dominated headlines in Greece, and is raising concerns about the war in Ukraine spreading to the Mediterranean. Kostas Ifantis, Ryan Gingeras, Endy Zemenides, Sinan Ciddi, and Vassilis Nedos join Thanos Davelis this week as we explore what's at stake in the Aegean and the Eastern Mediterranean should Turkey move forward with its provocative “Blue Homeland” legislation, and what the discovery of a Ukrainian naval drone in Greek waters means for Greece and the region. A little more info on our guests: Kostas Ifantis is a Professor of International Relations at Panteion University of Athens who has previously served as Director for Research at the Policy Planning Center of the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Ryan Gingeras is a professor in the Department of National Security Affairs at the Naval Postgraduate School and an expert on Turkish, Balkan, and Middle East history. Endy Zemenides is HALC's Executive Director. Sinan Ciddi is a senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and director of its Turkey program. Vassilis Nedos is Kathimerini's diplomatic and defense editor. You can support The Greek Current by joining HALC as a member here.

"Saint Irene was the daughter of a princelet called Licinius; named Penelope by her parents, through a divine revelation she was brought to faith in Christ and at Baptism was renamed Irene. In her zeal for piety she broke in pieces all the idols of her father, who commanded that she be trampled underfoot by horses. But while she remained unharmed, one of the horses rose up and cast down her father, killing him. By her prayer she raised him to life again, and he believed and was baptized. Afterwards, in many journeyings, Saint Irene suffered torments and punishments for her faith, but was preserved by the power of God, while working dread miracles and converting many thousands of souls. At last she came to Ephesus, where she fell asleep in peace, in the first half of the fourth century. Two days after her death, her gravestone was found lifted off, and her grave empty. At least two churches were dedicated to St Irene in Constantinople, and she is the patroness of the Aegean island of Thera, which is commonly called Santorini, a corruption of "Saint Irene." (Great Horologion)   Note: The most famous Agia Irene church in Constantinople is not named after her, but for the Holy Peace (Greek Irene) of God, which is Christ.   The Prologue's account differs in several details. St Nikolai places St Irene in the Balkans in the town of Magedon, in apostolic times rather than the 3rd-4th century. In his account Irene learned the Christian faith from her teacher, Appelianus, and was baptised by the Apostle Timothy himself. He attributes the anger of Irene's father to her refusal to marry rather than her smashing the family idols (though of course she might have done both).

Send us Fan MailIn 604 BCE, a Philistine king wrote a desperate letter to the pharaoh of Egypt. It was written not in his ancestors' Aegean tongue, but in Aramaic. The letter made it to Egypt. The help never came. Within weeks, Nebuchadnezzar turned Ashkelon into a heap of ruins — a phrase we can verify because the Babylonian Chronicle and the destruction layer match down to the month. But the Philistines didn't really die that winter. They'd been disappearing for centuries, and the latest scholarship reveals a far stranger story than simple conquest. Why did the Philistines increase their ethnic markers for 200 years before suddenly abandoning them? Why did two neighboring cities have opposite relationships with pork? And why, when the Babylonians deported both Philistines and Judahites, did one people survive exile and the other vanish forever?NEW PODCAST: American Evangelicals - A History PodcastA thoughtful, deep dive into one of the most talked-about movements in American history.Support the show

After our 100th ruler, have a peek behind the curtain into our Patreon! We'll tell you about the extra episodes that await you there and, to entice you further, here is the first half of our special episode on Alcibiades.  The most chaotic man of Ancient Athens is ready to hop between every available faction, break the balance of power in the Aegean, and have a good time doing it   Join our Patreon here! www.patreon.com/soyouthinkyoucanrulepersia  

In about 50 A.D., twenty years after Jesus Death Resurrection and Ascension Paul of Tarsus, one sent with authority by Jesus the Lord, to preach the Good News to the nations arrived in the City of Corinth, a prominent city of the Roman empire located on the trade route connecting the Aegean and Ionian seas.  He immediately began announcing the Good News: "The Crucified Jesus is the True Lord of the world."  Those believing the message were shepherded into house churches.  Then Paul preached, taught and pastored in Corinth for 18 months before moving on to other cities of the empire. See Acts 18  In 53 A.D. Paul, now in Ephesus, receives letters from the Church at Corinth and from the household of a woman named Chloe, a leader in the church.  These letters revealed alarming divisions, cliques, sexual immorality, lawsuits against fellow members, abuse of the Lord's supper, unbelief in the resurrection of Jesus, and much more within the Corinthian church.  Making things worse, Paul was being mocked as a phony apostle by members of the church in Corinth.   Paul writes the 1st letter to Corinth from Ephesus in 53 A.D. to address the beliefs and behaviors of this charismatic, but grossly immature and divided church.  Those today who seek to build "new creation" churches within the American empire will be blessed by this great letter.  We will make a special point of discerning in 1 Corinthians the character of wisdom and foolishness, freedom and license, as well as spiritual and childish.  Come join us in this series of Podcasts on "Freedom and the Corinthians" as we "eat Corinthians" together, growing in maturity in Christ together.

Send us Fan Mail Every kingdom in the ancient Near East had a king. The Philistines said no thanks. Instead, they brought something from the Aegean: five cities, five lords, collective rule. Their rulers weren't called kings. They were called seranim, a word linguists connect to the Greek tyrannos. They met in council, argued, voted, and overruled each other. When the people of Ekron disagreed with their king's pro-Assyrian policy, they put him in chains and mailed him to Jerusalem. When a commoner whose name literally meant "the Greek" seized the throne of Ashdod through popular uprising, the old Aegean identity was still alive after five centuries. But that happened even though their DNA had become completely local. We explore the paradox. NEW PODCAST: American Evangelicals - A History PodcastA thoughtful, deep dive into one of the most talked-about movements in American history.Support the show

In about 50 A.D., twenty years after Jesus Death Resurrection and Ascension Paul of Tarsus, one sent with authority by Jesus the Lord, to preach the Good News to the nations arrived in the City of Corinth, a prominent city of the Roman empire located on the trade route connecting the Aegean and Ionian seas. He immediately began announcing the Good News: "The Crucified Jesus is the True Lord of the world."  Those believing the message were shepherded into house churches.  Then Paul preached, taught and pastored in Corinth for 18 months before moving on to other cities of the empire. See Acts 18 In 53 A.D. Paul, now in Ephesus, receives letters from the Church at Corinth and from the household of a woman named Chloe, a leader in the church.  These letters revealed alarming divisions, cliques, sexual immorality, lawsuits against fellow members, abuse of the Lord's supper, unbelief in the resurrection of Jesus, and much more within the Corinthian church.  Making things worse, Paul was being mocked as a phony apostle by members of the church in Corinth. Paul writes the 1st letter to Corinth from Ephesus in 53 A.D. to address the beliefs and behaviors of this charismatic, but grossly immature and divided church. Those today who seek to build "new creation" churches within the American empire will be blessed by this great letter.  We will make a special point of discerning in 1 Corinthians the character of wisdom and foolishness, freedom and license, as well as spiritual and childish. Come join us in this series of Podcasts on "Freedom and the Corinthians" as we "eat Corinthians" together, growing in maturity in Christ together.

In the immediate aftermath of the Battle of Salamis (480 BC), both the Greek city-states and the Persian Empire are left facing a critical question: what comes next?In this episode, we explore the tense and uncertain months that followed one of the most decisive naval battles in ancient history. While the Athenians celebrate their victory, they must also confront the reality that the war is far from over. Themistocles, ever the strategist, takes to the Aegean—seeking to punish those accused of medizing and to strengthen Athens' position among the Greek world.Meanwhile, the Persian king Xerxes I withdraws, leaving behind a powerful army under his cousin and general Mardonius. From central Greece, Mardonius prepares for the next phase of the conflict, as a fragile Hellenic coalition gathers at the Isthmus of Corinth—determined to defend the Peloponnese at all costs.But beneath the surface, political tensions, rivalries, and strategic disagreements threaten to fracture the Greek alliance.Will the Persians strike again?Or will they wait for Xerxes to return with an even greater force?*Contents:*00:00 Xerxes' Decision11:59 Themistocles the Cunning23:06  The Long and Deadly March Home30:27 Mardonius' Grand Strategy for Greece39:28 An Achaemenid-Athenian Alliance?!?55:45 Mardonius Marches on Athens Again01:00:55 The Honorable Men of Sparta!01:10:03 Thank You and PatronsSpecial thanks to *Farya Faraji* for the following musical compositions featured throughout the program: "Rise of Arsaces""Achaemenes""Mater""To Phrygia""Under Iranian Stars""In Pythagoras' Mind""Fratres""Aima""Legends of Sparta"Check out more of his work that spans across many countries, cultures and time periods: https://www.youtube.com/@faryafaraji.and.worldmusiciansYou can also find them on the albums:*Songs of Old Iran Vols. I & II**Voices of the Ancients Vols. I & II* Additional Music:Epidemic Sound"Pepper Seeds""Interstate 895" "A Glimmer of Hope""Can I Reach You""On the Lookout""Keeping up with the Tarahumaras""The Trustee""Zero Remorse""Dark Premonitions""Where Kings Walk""Checkmate""Deer Hunt"Support the show

2. Ptolemy I: The Architect of a Hybrid Greco-Egyptian EmpirePtolemy I, a general and scholar educated by Aristotle, emerged as the visionary founder of Egypt's final dynasty. Recognizing the strength of Egyptian civilization, he avoided treating the land as a mere conquest, instead blending Greek and Pharaonic cultures into a unique hybrid. Ptolemy expanded his empire to include Cyprus, parts of Turkey, and the Aegean islands, securing Egypt's status as a Mediterranean powerhouse. To unify his diverse subjects, he introduced the god Serapis, combining Greek imagery with Egyptian religious roots, establishing a legacy of cultural integration and administrative genius. (2)MINOAN

Lara and Carey discuss their electrifying and herstory-making cameo in the new TLC docuseries about Mary Cosby. They also break down Bradley Cooper possibly addressing those bleph rumors.Then on the penultimate episode of RHOSLC, the ladies continue their residency on the Aegean. Angie starts off the morning with a karmic collision, leading to flying glass and a cut lip. Angie arranges for the ladies to have a photo shoot while donning flowy Grecian goddess gowns; Whitney, Mary and Bronwyn talk Meredith's wobbly aura at lunch while the rest of the women head to the spa. Britani enrages Lisa, Meredith and Angie, once again, with an ill-advised water splash, Lisa divulges her psychic relationship with trees while Bronwyn dodges a helping Muzzy move. The anti-Britani campaign continues at dinner as Heather finally takes a stand for her beleaguered pal, to the shock and dismay of all. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.