On the Friday, 25 July 2025 episode of “Take Your Time”, we began with a review of the day’s headlines from the internet and newspapers, followed by commentary on current events and international news with Ivana Djordjevic.
Our first guest was Dr. Panagiotis Sampatakakis, hydrogeologist (PhD, University of Bologna) and member of the International Association of Hydrogeologists, with whom we discussed the critical issue of water scarcity and resource management, in light of recent government announcements.
In the second half of the program, we spoke with Mr. Konstantinos Christodoulakis, a Greek IT and information management specialist based in Brussels. With a career spanning major companies in Greece, including a stint at the National Bank, he has been working since 2020 at the Single Resolution Board (SRB). He shared insights on learning from past mistakes and the importance of strategic data management.
Later, we had the pleasure of hosting Ioanna Stamatopoulou, goalkeeper of the Greek Women’s National Water Polo Team. Just back in Greece, she shared her experiences from the World Championship, explaining how the team bounced back from an early defeat by Hungary to claim the gold. She described the dedication required to reach the top level, spoke of the sacrifices—being away from friends, family, and even part of one’s childhood—and gave heartfelt advice to young girls dreaming of following in her footsteps.
Before the sports news, we turned to the upcoming 16th Global Gathering of Thessalians, taking place in the municipality of Tempi on the weekend of 26–27 July. Mr. Diamantis Gkikas, President of the World Confederation of Thessalians “Asklepios”, told us about the event, which is organized in collaboration with the municipality of Tempi, supported by the Region of Thessaly and the Union of Municipalities of Thessaly, and held under the auspices of the General Secretariat for Greeks Abroad and Public Diplomacy.