A Conversation with Olga Thompson
Healing through humour and the power in reaching out for help
In this episode, I share an everyday burnout conversation with the phenomenal Olga Thompson a.k.a Big Fat Greek Mother.
Olga is a comedian, actor, singer, anti-bullying campaigner, mental health advocate and mum to three boys or 'meaty Zorbas', as she affectionately calls them.
You may know Olga from her incredibly uplifting, funny and heartwarming Big Fat Greek Mother Instagram feed - which never fails to hit the spot for sharing the comedy, kindness and compassion we all need when scrolling social media.
Back in the summer, I absolutely adored watching Olga's brilliant debut Edinburgh Fringe show, El Greco of Hornsey. She gave her audience such a lovely trip down 80's memory lane with the privilege of peeking behind the curtain of life growing up in a immigrant Cypriot family running a North London hair salon.
Luckily for us, Olga is bringing the El Greco of Hornsey show to London in February 2022. I cannot recommend this show more highly and fingers crossed, she's making it available to stream for those fans living across the pond or unable to make it to London.
Olga is a true gift to the world. Having read English at York University, she trained and worked as a stage actor before moving onto community theatre performing in prisons and young offenders units across the UK. This led her to travel doing missionary work in the middle east, where she taught in orphanages and schools.
Olga is one of those women that you feel like you've known for years and instantly feel connected to. In this heartwarming, honest, funny yet vulnerable chat, Olga unpacks some of her experiences, sharing her journey and heart's desires with us.
We get to hear some of the stories and creative processes behind her comedy and fabulous characters - as well as hearing about the difficult times when Olga battled with bullying as a child and navigated past trauma and post-natal depression as a young mum.
This conversation is as joyful as they come and left me with aching sides from laughing whilst grinning from ear to ear. It’s packed full of encouragement for those currently navigating struggles as well as wisdom for those dealing with overwhelm, exhaustion and burnout.
Oh, and at the end, I’m still not sure I’ve successfully convinced Olga I was recording this from Canada and not from a Greggs in Sheffield.
I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!
Listen to the podcast episode here or wherever you tune into your fave podcasts.
Find Olga at @big_fat_greekmother
El Greco of Hornsey tickets available here
Also mentioned in this episode:
Kidscape click here to get help with bullying.
@grace_to_restore helping young women to find emotional stability.
Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott
Olga's podcast chat with Helen Perry on the Just Bloody Do It Podcast
Fancy a little more burnout chat?
Find me on Instagram and Facebook @flictaylorwrites
Find me on Twitter @flictaylor
Check out my blog at www.flictaylor.com
Please note, this podcast is not intended as medical advice. If you're having a tough time or concerned that you're experiencing burnout, please reach out to your doctor or mental health professional for support and guidance.
Please like, comment and subscribe to the podcast wherever you listen. I truly appreciate your feedback and support, as it helps these fab conversations reach a little further.
