We’ll Always Have Athens is a new English-language podcast series which tells fascinating stories about Athens’ about art, history and urban culture.
The fortnightly podcast takes a fresh look at some of the tales that have shaped the city’s story — those both famous and less well-known.
Born during the lockdown, the six-part series aims to bring people from all around the world closer to Athens, even while many still can't visit. Each episode features a different host who knows and loves Athens — from actors and musicians to authors and urban explorers. Introduced by journalist Daphne Karnezis, the series is produced by The Greek Podcast Project for This is Athens, the official visitors guide to the Greek capital.
We’ll Always Have Athens’ famous hosts take listeners on an audio odyssey to meet mythical heroes, modern-day flâneurs, explore kafeneio culture, get lost in literature, mull over the perfect melitzanosalata and much more.
The series launched with actor, writer and comedian Stephen Fry sharing his three favourite myths about Athens. As author of the book “Mythos,” Fry knows his Theseus from his Prometheus, his Medea from his Medusa, and has a knack for making listeners feel that the myths are still alive and kicking in the city’s old temples, winding streets and hills.
In episode two, celebrated Greek fashion designer Mary Katrantzou shared the story behind her a once-in-a-lifetime fashion show at the ancient Temple of Poseidon, Wisdom Begins in Wonder. Katrantzou gives a vivid retelling of what she calls the biggest challenge of her career, and how she draws inspiration from the many faces of Athens.
Episode three is hosted by Kathimerini journalist and urban explorer Nikos Vatopoulos. The self-declared flâneur has made it his mission to walk the whole city – one neighbourhood at a time. Vatopoulos weaves together his reflections on the city’s complex layers of history and its urban culture of today.
British author Victoria Hislop, whose novel The Island was adapted for a huge series on Greek TV, hosts episode four. Hislop has been visiting Athens regularly since 1977 and credits the city as a major source of inspiration for her work. In her episode, she takes us on a journey back to 20th-century Athens through her latest book, Those Who Are Loved, and talks about how the city continues to inspire her to this day.
Find out more about We’ll Always Have Athens and subscribe to make sure you don’t miss any of the forthcoming episodes, featuring celebrated American photographer Robert McCabe and experimental Greek theatre director Elli Papakonstantinou.
The We’ll Always Have Athens podcast is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Pocket Casts and all other podcast platforms.