Comedian and Pt. Male Escort Explains How Laughter Heals the Mind with Peter Kypri, the Cypriot Smurf | EP 18

How Deep is the Link Between Humor and Your Mental Health?

We dive into the world of Peter Kypri, also known as Cypriot Smurf, a stand-up comedian and part-time male escort who turns life's quirks into laughter. But what's the story behind the man who makes us chuckle?

Peter, with his effortless charm and wit, shares the journey of finding his comedic voice. It's a tale of self-discovery, from creating his alter ego, Souvlakis, to navigating the uncertainties of performing live. 

Chapters:

06:08 - How TikTok Shaped the Souvlaki Persona

14:27 - Life Lessons During a Trip to India

23:09 - Laughter as Therapy

25:44 - Finding Peace Away From Smartphone Screens

29:45 - From Loneliness to Laughter

Peter reveals the intricacies of this dual existence, offering a glimpse into the life of a performer whose job is to bring joy to others. He candidly discusses how humor became his refuge during tough times, a therapeutic tool more powerful than any medication. 

But it's not just about making others laugh; it's about connection, understanding, and sometimes, a gentle reminder not to take life too seriously.

This episode is an insightful exploration of the human experience through the lens of comedy. We explore how Peter finds inspiration in the quirks of everyday life, offering insights that you might find surprisingly relatable.

Join us on a journey that's as hilarious as it is heartwarming. A lesson in finding the humor in our humanity.

Ready to laugh and learn?

Press play and let the magic of comedy uplift you!

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Chapters

• 6:08 How TikTok Shaped the Souvlaki Persona
• 14:27 Life Lessons During a Trip to India
• 23:09 Laughter as Therapy
• 25:44 Finding Peace Away From Smartphone Screens
• 29:45 From Loneliness to Laughter

Transcript

Hélène Ioannides [00:00:00]:

Welcome to Health Pod, your self development hub

Dr. Stephanos Ioannou [00:00:02]:

on mental health, psychology, and spirituality.

Hélène Ioannides [00:00:05]:

I feel like I know more about sub leggings than I do myself.

Peter Kypri [00:00:08]:

My character is like my persona, my alter ego. But me, whenever I'm me, I am me. I'm never this person that You'll see, and then you meet in person, and it's totally different. I went through something, and they put me on antidepressants. When I get on stage, I usually forget everything. But then when I get that one laugh, everything just keep comes back. And then I just I I don't know. I just feel like that's where I wanna be.

Hélène Ioannides [00:00:43]:

Welcome, everybody. Welcome to Health Pod. Welcome to another episode on here. Today, we are here with Peter. I didn't catch your surname.

Peter Kypri [00:00:50]:

Kypri.

Hélène Ioannides [00:00:51]:

Peter Gebri, also known as Souvlakia. Souvlakis? Peter is a stand up comedian, and he has made me laugh several times. If you haven't watched his videos, you Have to

Dr. Stephanos Ioannou [00:01:09]:

Oh, yes.

Hélène Ioannides [00:01:09]:

Watch him. So welcome, Peter.

Peter Kypri [00:01:12]:

Welcome. Thank you for having me. I was gonna say welcome as well, but, like, it's your house. So thank you for having me.

Dr. Stephanos Ioannou [00:01:19]:

So, look, I I get the, the nickname Souvlakis Yeah. For your persona. But why Cypriot Smurf? Why Smurf?

Peter Kypri [00:01:28]:

Okay. Straight into it. I like it. Even before I started doing comedy, I I was, Sure. So,

Peter Kypri [00:01:39]:

I went to live in England,and my cousin actually gave me the nickname Cypriots Smurf because I needed to make a username for some phone network. And as a joke, he just wrote Cypriot Smurf because, obviously, I'm Cypriot even though I don't look it when I go to live in England or try to live in England. I'm, like, fresh off the boat. And, Smurf because I'm short. So secret Smurf. And then he was trying to make fun of me, but it stuck. And now it's my thing, and he wants, Royalties. I thought I don't make nothing, so you royalties is 0.

Peter Kypri [00:02:09]:

So it's fine. Yeah. So that's how I got the name Cypriotsman.

Dr. Stephanos Ioannou [00:02:12]:

Cool. From

Peter Kypri [00:02:12]:

my cousin making fun of me.

Dr. Stephanos Ioannou [00:02:13]:

Cool. Now let me ask you. What made you go into comedy?

Peter Kypri [00:02:18]:

I've always loved comedy. Comedy was always my go to whenever I was down or upset or angry. I'll just go home and just put on Only Fools and Horses, if you know Mhmm. Yeah. Yes. And just, like, cook and do whatever I was doing, just listening to Del Boy and Rodney and the granddad, the uncle, and Just laughing, and it just, like, made me always feel better. So I always wanted to make people feel that way as well. So that's why I started doing comedy.

Hélène Ioannides [00:02:43]:

Was there a moment that you realized, oh, shit, I can actually do this personally?

Peter Kypri [00:02:49]:

I started making videos, and My stepmom said to me at one point, write down things that you want, your goals, your dreams, put it on your fridge. And whenever you go to open your fridge, which is a lot of the time, you would always remember them and it'll push you to do it. So it was I wanted to go to India. I wanted a MacBook. And I wanted to make the world laugh. And I went to India. I got a MacBook. And I'm I'm hopefully, doing a good job at making the world laugh.

Peter Kypri [00:03:18]:

So yes. So You are.

Hélène Ioannides [00:03:20]:

You are.

Peter Kypri [00:03:21]:

And that was before I had done stand up as well. So stand up was quite lucky. It wasn't lucky. I am lucky. I'm very lucky. Because of my character, it helped me get the audience for stand up. Where a lot of stand ups that begin, They start from, you know, from 0. And so I'm very lucky that I had the character that sort of, like, boosted that.

Peter Kypri [00:03:43]:

And, peep because and at the same time, it made me a bit worried because people found me funny online and in videos. So then when they saw me in, like, stand up, it wasn't a video. I couldn't press stop and do it again. Mhmm. As much as I wanted to be a stand up comedian, I knew I want really wanted to do it. At the same time, it was A bit nervous. I was nervous. I was worried.

Peter Kypri [00:04:03]:

And would I be funny on stage? And thankfully, I You are. That was. You are. You are. I am.

Hélène Ioannides [00:04:12]:

I got to hear you through your videos of representing Greeks, Cypriots, like taking the Mickey out of us and and yeah. Just putting it online. And you've got a persona, don't you? Where you wear

Peter Kypri [00:04:26]:

Yeah. Souvlakis.

Hélène Ioannides [00:04:27]:

Souvlakis. And you got the head

Peter Kypri [00:04:30]:

The treasures.

Hélène Ioannides [00:04:30]:

Coming out your,

Peter Kypri [00:04:32]:

It was an accident. I didn't even make accident. I didn't even make him to make him. I'd, I needed to to be 2 different people in a video. So I just went to the shop and bought whatever I thought I know Gabriel would wear, like, literally my uncle the week before. And, so I just went and got whatever I thought he he would wear. And I sat in my car park, And I just made the video. I think it was like, how Cypriots roll part 1.

Peter Kypri [00:04:59]:

And it was like before you leave, you make frabeh. It was very stereotypical. It was years ago. And people enjoyed it, and people liked it. And my uncle my uncle Theo, he's a stuntman in America. Mhmm. And he's in the industry. And he saw the video, and he was like, you have something with this character.

Peter Kypri [00:05:17]:

And I was very, I wanna be the comedian. I wanna be the main point of, You know, the video, I want to be the funny. And because and saying that, you know, sort of put me down because I didn't want my alter ego To be funnier than me, even though it was me. I'm jealous of myself. So That

Hélène Ioannides [00:05:37]:

is it.

Peter Kypri [00:05:38]:

Yeah. So, he says you have something. You've got to give him a name. You've got to create more videos through him. And, it was either Souvlakis or Cleftigagos. Lift it. And we went with Souvlakis. And from there, just carried on making videos.

Peter Kypri [00:05:53]:

And, yeah, It was stereotypical. I've done all this stereotypical stuff before TikTok and everything like that. Then TikTok came out. I I just don't stop talking, by the way. I will I'll be on a different subject in about 2 seconds.

Hélène Ioannides [00:06:06]:

That's alright. That's all we need to do. Talk.

Peter Kypri [00:06:08]:

So, I started making the videos. And then on TikTok, people started making stereotypical Videos as well, but I didn't wanna, like, redo my stuff. So I sort of wanna stay on my sort of, avenue. And I wanted to build up Suvail Aggies, and everyone loves him. And I love him as well. At one point, I wanted to kill him and just do stand up. But then, especially going to Australia this time, you know, I I made a lot of people smile through Souvlakis, and I really enjoyed, all the improv I was doing as the character when I came out on stage. So, I want Souvlakis to be the Greek, the Cypriot, Bora.

Hélène Ioannides [00:06:41]:

Where'd you get your inspiration for From as Sublakis, like, you said that you do a lot of improv.

Dr. Stephanos Ioannou [00:06:47]:

Look around you.

Peter Kypri [00:06:47]:

No. Yeah. It's like, literally, like because I used to help my friend build his house with his. And his father-in-law is, like, doesn't know English, doesn't know anything. He try he knows cat, dog, door, and stuff like this. And, just little things that he does. He's like a kind, Cypriot man. He's like, when I think of a Cypriot man, hospitality, Idis only wants health and care for his kids.

Peter Kypri [00:07:12]:

Like, he was, like, the perfect example of Surbulegis. So about silly things that he does or mistakes that he does in English and everything Gives me comedy, you know. I know it's gonna sound really horrible. It's not gonna sound horrible, but like little things. Like, I was talking to a friend the other day. And, I'm gonna say, yeah, it's not a bad thing. But I said I went on a date, and I went And he's he's a Cypriot guy. I was like, I went on a date with a girl.

Peter Kypri [00:07:39]:

She is a widow. And he went, Widow widow. Oh my god. And I couldn't stop laughing. For me, that's comedy, and that's something would say. Do you know? So it's like little things like that. And if you're if she's watching, I'm sorry. But thank you.

Peter Kypri [00:07:58]:

And you're a beautiful person. Because she might watch and give prayer. So, yeah.

Hélène Ioannides [00:08:05]:

Ask if you're gonna go and date with her again.

Peter Kypri [00:08:07]:

I'll doubt it after this.

Hélène Ioannides [00:08:12]:

So you spend a lot of time observing people.

Peter Kypri [00:08:14]:

Yeah. I love it.

Hélène Ioannides [00:08:16]:

And that gives you a lot of inspiration for your For your shows, for your for your videos. Do you find that you've spent a lot of time doing that with yourself as well?

Peter Kypri [00:08:30]:

Well, as me as me. Mhmm. I feel

Hélène Ioannides [00:08:32]:

like I know more about Sub Leggings than I do myself. Mhmm. Because you mentioned, obviously, that you went through this process of feeling like The other person

Peter Kypri [00:08:40]:

I feel

Hélène Ioannides [00:08:41]:

competing with youth Yeah. With Leggings?

Peter Kypri [00:08:43]:

I feel I feel I've learned a lot about myself as well. Mhmm. And where I wanna be, what I wanna do. Even with, like, social media, I used to be, like, oh my god. I haven't posted for a day. I haven't posted this. I haven't posted this. People are gonna forget me.

Peter Kypri [00:08:56]:

I'm worried. And now I'm just, like, really chilled and calm and cool. And, you know, just I'm just riding the wave now. And I enjoy it. And I've learned a lot about myself that, you know you know, health mainly. And, just being, like, in the moment like, my brother's a personal trainer, and he oh, he like, he just shouts at me. If there's no you, there's nothing else. If you don't look after your health, there's nothing else and all of this.

Peter Kypri [00:09:24]:

So I do at one point, I was just like, shut up. You know, I'm just gonna do me. But now I sort of agree. So I've through the years, I've learned a lot about myself. I've never been someone to, like, just, You know, go off and do belares and stuff. I do pilates, but, like, nothing illegal, I don't think. Or nothing crazy. You know? I've whatever I do, I do it with respect.

Dr. Stephanos Ioannou [00:09:51]:

Hello, everyone. Thank you for Watching and listening. This episode is sponsored today by Limassol Psychological Well-being Center, where we specialize on corporate seminars and events For your company to have a healthy ecosystem, I have today for you a free resource, a free webinar where you could all subscribe to learn What we do with c level executives and how, as an employee, you can increase your productivity and reduce stress. If you're this type of person, then Do not forget to subscribe on our free webinar, and I cannot wait to see you there.

Peter Kypri [00:10:24]:

Even when I make fun of Cypriots and Greeks, like, I look at it, and they're like, I'm not Really making fun. I'm just

Hélène Ioannides [00:10:31]:

You're stating the obvious.

Peter Kypri [00:10:32]:

Yeah. What most people don't

Hélène Ioannides [00:10:34]:

dare to do.

Peter Kypri [00:10:35]:

But I do it like A nice throwback. There's, like, kindness behind it.

Dr. Stephanos Ioannou [00:10:38]:

I have a question for you. And then

Peter Kypri [00:10:40]:

12 inches.

Dr. Stephanos Ioannou [00:10:41]:

Oh. And Okay.

Peter Kypri [00:10:43]:

Not that one. My height. That was my height. It's my Let's go. So

Dr. Stephanos Ioannou [00:10:52]:

has a a specific persona. Right? And All of us, we kind of have that part of souvlaki within us. And thank you for representing that For all of us, because in a way, you're reminding us from where we started, as a as a culture. Mhmm. If you were gonna name the positive personality traits of souvlaki, Which were those gonna be? And if you were gonna name the negative traits of that persona, What were those gonna be?

Peter Kypri [00:11:31]:

So the positive, like, words would be, respect, family and just love, really. And the negative ones were just I don't think there is negative ones. It's just he's stupid. He like, he's stupid, but he's also not on purpose. So, like

Hélène Ioannides [00:11:53]:

It's naive.

Dr. Stephanos Ioannou [00:11:54]:

Yeah. Naive and innocent, maybe. You know what I'm saying?

Peter Kypri [00:11:57]:

I wouldn't say like, he does it obliviously, like, obliviously. Is that the word? Yeah. I can. So he doesn't know he does it. So he thinks he's modern. He thinks he's in with the crowd, but really, He isn't. And if he does something with disrespect, it's not intentional. It was meant it's because, again, He is, oblivious about it.

Peter Kypri [00:12:18]:

Like, he doesn't understand what he actually done. So, I don't think there isn't any negative about him. And if there is, it's not intentional.

Dr. Stephanos Ioannou [00:12:28]:

Do we live It

Peter Kypri [00:12:29]:

is intentional because I'm actually doing it. But it's not intentional. Is that how do I know?

Dr. Stephanos Ioannou [00:12:34]:

Do we live up to those positive traits of, of souvlaki as a modern culture?

Peter Kypri [00:12:44]:

Do you know, like, a lot of the traits that souvlaki has? It's like something you said before. Is, The way I remember us as Cypriots back in the day, like, Cypriot hospitality was the biggest thing that we had. Yes. And, so It used to be, like, you walk past somewhere, This is from me. This is from me. God's no money. All of this. So That's I feel like he's still living in them times.

Peter Kypri [00:13:10]:

So when he connects with something that's, you know, more modern and a different way of doing things, That's where the comedy is.

Hélène Ioannides [00:13:17]:

Sounds like you're challenging something through. Yeah.

Dr. Stephanos Ioannou [00:13:20]:

Is it like a wish through you That is being portrayed through your act as helping us Remember our values. And I'm gonna mention something here in regards to hospitality. Zeus was the god of hospitality. And whenever you were not kind to your guest, you would commit a sin, and you would eventually get punished. Are we committing a sin nowadays? Are we as hospitable as we used to be?

Peter Kypri [00:13:59]:

I don't think personally, I don't think we can put everyone under under the same umbrella because, a lot of people still hospitable. A lot of people are still loving, caring. And I think it's like back in the day, we didn't have a problem with money and Things being so expensive. And so I feel like it's hard to, compare the past with The present because of, obviously, the way the way we live now.

Dr. Stephanos Ioannou [00:14:27]:

Have changed.

Peter Kypri [00:14:27]:

Yeah. Conditions have changed a lot. And I like that what you said about Zeus as well. I went to when I did go to India because of the fridge, I stayed with someone I work with, and I imagine they were a couple, and they gave me their bed. And because they're in, like, The Hindu faith, they said their guest is God. So they had to treat the guest like a god. And, I was like, why didn't you get me a 5 star hotel

Hélène Ioannides [00:14:55]:

Why did you go to India? Was it a spiritual journey? Or

Peter Kypri [00:14:58]:

No. Nothing. I work with someone there. Okay. He's like my brother now. His family is like my family, and I wanted to visit. Okay.

Hélène Ioannides [00:15:06]:

You work with him for comedy? Or

Peter Kypri [00:15:08]:

No. It, just to explore. And, they took me to Jaipur, Agra, and New Delhi. And it was just nice. It was cool. What was

Hélène Ioannides [00:15:16]:

the experience in India?

Peter Kypri [00:15:18]:

Made me appreciate Things more here, and, it was great, you know. Just it grounded me a little bit.

Hélène Ioannides [00:15:26]:

Yeah.

Peter Kypri [00:15:27]:

When you come back and let someone's like, you asked for a cocktail, they're like, and you're like, bro. You're like, my boss are you? Can rent an apartment in India for a month? You know? But, again, it's like we're not in India and the way everyone you know, circumstances. Yeah. That's all I can say, Really?

Hélène Ioannides [00:15:46]:

Is comedy your full time job?

Peter Kypri [00:15:49]:

No. I'm also a Male escort. No. Like, don't get any business at the minute. So I am also doing web development and design, family business.

Dr. Stephanos Ioannou [00:16:04]:

I fell for

Peter Kypri [00:16:08]:

it. But if if if this gets good Comments and love They might not. Yes. Sorry. Yeah. If

Dr. Stephanos Ioannou [00:16:13]:

you're Kiss. Kiss. Ed

Hélène Ioannides [00:16:15]:

Kiss. Coming on dates. So

Dr. Stephanos Ioannou [00:16:17]:

He's 12 inches. Tall. Tall.

Peter Kypri [00:16:21]:

That's what I hate about Tinder. I I used to be on Tinder. I've deleted everything now because they started putting their height. And if you're under this height, like, literally, I'm too short for Tinder. You know? That's what I worked out. So web design development, family business, been around since 2000, I think. So that's my full time job. Comedy, me as well, is my full time job.

Peter Kypri [00:16:47]:

Both are my full time. You know, I give as much effort to both. And I'm very lucky for my, You know, family that have been supportive and, give me the time sometimes just to disappear to Australia, disappear to South Africa in September. Got a in

Hélène Ioannides [00:17:03]:

September, don't you?

Peter Kypri [00:17:04]:

I don't like saying disappear to South Africa because that's a dangerous place. I don't wanna disappear. I I want to come back from South Africa.

Hélène Ioannides [00:17:12]:

Have you got you got a show on in Australia, and you have a show

Peter Kypri [00:17:15]:

Australia is done. I've done 2019, and I I just came back now in June. And it went really well. Met a guy, a 102 years old. Great guy. Played Tavili. He beat me. I would say

Dr. Stephanos Ioannou [00:17:29]:

we're living

Hélène Ioannides [00:17:30]:

it long

Peter Kypri [00:17:31]:

Yeah. We actually we went to the show, And, he I invited him to my show, come to my show, be an honor. He came. I organized, a cake for him. And when I went to get the cake, I said to the lady, can I have some numbers or what numbers do you want? I was like, 1, 0, and 2. She was like, there and I was like, She was like, you know, Leyson. You know? Like, how like, he's really old. So, he came to my show.

Peter Kypri [00:17:59]:

We sang happy birthday to him, everyone, which is great. And someone came up to me after and said, that must have been the highlight of his life. And then I replied to them. I was like, if someone dressed up in a mustache singing him happy birthday At a show was the highlight of his life. He had a really bad life. Mhmm. You know? Because that no way can that be a highlight of your life when you're a 102 years old. Do you know what I mean? So, it's just a

Hélène Ioannides [00:18:26]:

That brings me to a really, really important, topic, Mental health and comedy.

Peter Kypri [00:18:33]:

Yeah. You must say we're a little bit.

Hélène Ioannides [00:18:34]:

You know? Yeah. We're we're all a bit nuts. Yeah. We are.

Peter Kypri [00:18:36]:

Everyone is. Yeah. Yeah.

Hélène Ioannides [00:18:38]:

Do you find that Through your craft, you you've seen like, initially, did you start it off with an intention of perhaps lifting Anyone's spirit, like, within your family?

Peter Kypri [00:18:51]:

Within my family.

Dr. Stephanos Ioannou [00:18:53]:

And here, let's make a reference to Jim Carrey Because he was saying that his dad was depressive, and he was trying to lift his spirit up. Mhmm. So he used to Makeup jokes or think of something that would make his dad laugh. Or were you trying to keep the peace within your home because because there were a lot of fights.

Hélène Ioannides [00:19:15]:

A therapy session.

Dr. Stephanos Ioannou [00:19:16]:

Yeah. So Yeah.

Peter Kypri [00:19:16]:

Oh, I scanned. What what is it? Scan. Deep. Do you know what? Little I will, You know, entertain a little bit. Parents divorced at 10. Mhmm. We left, came to Cyprus. Dad basically kidnapped Tas.

Peter Kypri [00:19:32]:

We thought we were coming on holiday. We got here. We're not going back.

Dr. Stephanos Ioannou [00:19:37]:

Yeah.

Peter Kypri [00:19:37]:

It's it's Maybe I don't know. Maybe I'm still on holiday. You know? So, But that was the best thing that's ever happened. You know? Little issues within the family and everything. But I think comedy my dad was an entertainer. My dad used to sing, do karaoke. He made a music video when he was 21, thought it disappeared. It didn't.

Peter Kypri [00:20:02]:

We got it. Put it on YouTube. So he always used to love to sing and everything. My cousin's a singer. My uncle's a stuntman. I feel like entertainment has always been in my family. My brother was always the singer and everything as a as a kid. I had a very good upbringing.

Peter Kypri [00:20:21]:

Had a very good life. I have nothing you know, there were some divorces and this, that, and the other, but I wouldn't say it ever affected anything. I think comedy was just something I felt like I felt like I was born to do. Even though my parents or my dad and my brother, the ones doing all the entertainment when I was younger, And I wasn't sort of doing it. I always felt like it was in me somewhere. And then Snapchat came out. So before that, I didn't have a way of you know, I was too scared to go and do, like, anything on stage when we didn't really have that sort of sting back in the day. So when Snapchat came out, I found you know, start doing videos on Snapchat, making, like, videos funny, blah blah blah, jokes.

Peter Kypri [00:21:05]:

Other people are using Snapchat for other reasons, like sending nudes. Mhmm. I've done that as well, But I also said a joke while sending my nude, or maybe sending the nude was the joke. And, someone followed me. Someone shared me. I've got a bit more of a following. And, from that, Then Instagram started making videos and then YouTube. And then I just thought I'll do it on a bigger scale.

Peter Kypri [00:21:33]:

So it wasn't through I don't think it was through any trauma. If anything, I just felt like comedy was my go to, and I wanted to be someone else's go to.

Hélène Ioannides [00:21:46]:

Is that because you wanted someone to make you laugh?

Peter Kypri [00:21:50]:

I, yeah, I wanted to make others laugh.

Hélène Ioannides [00:21:52]:

You wanted to make others laugh?

Peter Kypri [00:21:53]:

When people make me laugh, I love it. But also also, like, through doing all of this, you make videos, you make people laugh. Sometimes it does well. Sometimes it doesn't. But sometimes you get messages, like, from people that say you've helped me through depression. I was suicidal, and you've got me through this. And it's amazing. Like, I make good connections with people that follow me.

Peter Kypri [00:22:13]:

There's a woman named England, has a son called Harry, who, you know, he didn't grow up or get big like other people, and he gets bullied. And she always gives me Day on his life and how he's doing and everything, and I try to inspire and encourage him and everything like that. So, I do Comedy, I make people laugh. I try to make people feel good. And people that message me or talk to me or see me out and about, they I am who I am on Camera as well. And I give everyone the time of day, and I could I would really like, you know, try and encourage and push and inspire Others as well. Oh.

Hélène Ioannides [00:22:47]:

I see you watching. I see you watching. I'm really enjoying this episode. So if you're this far Through the episode, make sure that you like and subscribe. It really helps our channel. Thank you.

Dr. Stephanos Ioannou [00:22:58]:

Now hearing, Peter speak, I, he's such a beautiful soul, by the way.

Hélène Ioannides [00:23:05]:

And I picked them online, and it's It's like, oh, you you've been great for him.

Dr. Stephanos Ioannou [00:23:09]:

He is it's like you're doing therapy, but on a bigger scale. Because Through your acts or through you enacting a specific role, it's like you're holding a mirror up for people to see their Their ego. And you're breaking down that ego, and you're kind of helping people understand that they should not take themselves too seriously. Because One of the greatest enemies that we're facing is this superego that we have or how we wanna be perceived or, And it doesn't really allow us to see ourself in our rawest form, in a in a vulnerable way, in a funny way That we're playing this role, and we think that, oh, we're fashionable like souvlakis or we're cool with Our hand hanging off the window and with, worry beads turning in our hand, and we're trying to hit on a girl. And In a way, it's a it's a reflection of who we we we truly are in a way, And you're putting that out for people to see themselves. You're you're holding up a mirror. So you're actually in therapy, and I consider satire The highest form of therapy. And this is why people used to go to theaters in the in the past to to observe comedy.

Peter Kypri [00:24:32]:

I've saved a lot of money than doing it myself, ain't

Dr. Stephanos Ioannou [00:24:36]:

it? For sure. For sure. What I I would like in my life is, to have a peer in my life, to keep reminding me to come back to my My human terms, not to take myself too seriously. Yeah. Because every day, I have to wear this mask. Especially after prolonged hours of therapy, I try to keep a straight face because people are sharing their life story. You cannot actually start making jokes

Peter Kypri [00:25:06]:

Yeah.

Dr. Stephanos Ioannou [00:25:07]:

On on their life. But maybe if they're Willingly paying for a ticket to go and laugh for a topic that they need healing, then That's the the right place to do it.

Peter Kypri [00:25:20]:

Yeah. Of course. Comedy is like, for me, like, when I was growing up, when I was down, comedy was my Medicine, let's say. So I think med it'll be good for a lot of people. And I think a lot of people nowadays are really sucked into social media. Mhmm. Like I said to you before, I don't Care about posting, from I haven't posted for a week or anything like that. Because sometimes a lot of people are doing things off of the camera, off of social media.

Peter Kypri [00:25:44]:

And sometimes people are just not doing anything, can just try and relax and get out into nature and, stuff like that. So my getaway is going for a swim, Kayaking and just getting away. People I used to feel like if I didn't put something out there, people would think I'm gone and I've, like, gotten lost and I'm not around anymore. Some people do that are always on social media, but a lot of people don't. And, I really want you know, like the greats, they didn't need social media to get where they were. They just needed to be good at their their craft. And that's why I wanna push stand up a bit more and doing live shows because One day, so there's no social media. There's just newspapers again.

Peter Kypri [00:26:23]:

And you see Cypriot Smurf is coming to your town, they're gonna wanna see me because they know what I'm like live. So that's sort of my Goal. Don't depend on Instagram, Facebook, and, stuff like that.

Hélène Ioannides [00:26:34]:

I think what's beautiful to know is that we wanted you on the show because of, Yeah. When we laugh, we feel so much better with ourselves. And to also not take ourselves so seriously It's something that is so important within mental health, and this is what most Cypriots are struggling with.

Dr. Stephanos Ioannou [00:26:53]:

Yeah.

Hélène Ioannides [00:26:54]:

Today, most people, even on social media, like, you put From this persona where you want people to per perceive you in a specific way, but How confident are you truly within yourself? Yeah. And, yeah, to not just to not take yourself so seriously.

Peter Kypri [00:27:12]:

My character is, like, my persona, my alter ego. But me, whenever I'm on that's another thing as well, a good message. Whenever I'm me, I am me. I'm never this person that you would see and then you meet in person, and he's totally different. So I am exactly who us People online, be who you are, be yourself. And, you know, because some people put on this they do have their own personas online, But it's not some but that they're trying to show that they are themselves when really they're not their selves. They're just what they want they think people wanna see.

Hélène Ioannides [00:27:47]:

And that leads to depression and stress and obesity and anxiety. Because at the end of the day, if you're not being true to you, then Who are you? And at

Peter Kypri [00:27:55]:

the same time, I might have began I began my stand up like that. I was always myself on online, But at the same time, it's, it's a bit tiring as well. And then you're you're constantly trying to be someone that you're not. And then, yeah, it could cause a lot of problems. So just be you. And, regarding my I was you know, regarding I won't say a lot about mental health because, You know, everyone I feel like everyone is different. Everyone has their own individual issue, but my when my What I went through, I went through something not, when I was, like, 25. I was a bit depressed.

Dr. Stephanos Ioannou [00:28:34]:

I

Peter Kypri [00:28:34]:

wouldn't say I was depressed, but, you know? But the only way I felt better was just getting out there. What did

Hélène Ioannides [00:28:45]:

you feel when you say you were a bit depressed?

Peter Kypri [00:28:47]:

I went through something, and they put me on antidepressants. Mhmm. But back then, if you had a problem with your foot, Ella antidepressant. You know what I mean? So, like, I was like

Dr. Stephanos Ioannou [00:28:58]:

Irrelevant for everything.

Peter Kypri [00:28:59]:

When he gave me antidepressants, I was like, you know, that's strange. And I, you know, I took them, And I had no like, my dad was stressed at work. And without being rude, you know, for about a month, I wasn't horny at all. Mhmm. That's not like me.

Hélène Ioannides [00:29:14]:

You You know

Peter Kypri [00:29:14]:

what I mean? Usually, I can't last a minute. So so I realized that, oh, shit. These these things are numbing me. So I just called my doctor, said I'm getting off of them. He's like, no. We need to slowly get off of them.

Hélène Ioannides [00:29:28]:

I was like, oh, no. Amazing that you realized that. Yeah. You know? You had that awareness to say, no.

Peter Kypri [00:29:32]:

Because I didn't need them. Mhmm. And it made me feel like if these are numbing me and making me feel like I'm okay, really, I am okay. So I told him I'm getting off of them. He told me to slow down. I told him no. Blocked him. And then I just got off of them.

Peter Kypri [00:29:45]:

For a month, I was very on edge, you know, getting used to being off of them. And then I just, you know, Joined a gym class, met new people, started going out more, because I used to keep myself inside, going to the beach, and just doing things on my own. You know? And Then I just felt better. And if I, you know and it made me but again, that was me. A lot of people are much different. A lot of people do have, You know, medical conditions, but so I'm not gonna say anything. I don't wanna say general, this is what I think. I can just tell you what When you've been through it.

Peter Kypri [00:30:16]:

What I've been through. And maybe a lot of people, if they step back away from social media and everything, can just live their lives in the moment, it could be it could help. At least try it before you go down the other route road. You know what I mean?

Dr. Stephanos Ioannou [00:30:29]:

Thank you. Yeah. Thank you, Peter, for saying that, and I hope that many people are gonna hear your message loud and clear.

Peter Kypri [00:30:37]:

Okay.

Dr. Stephanos Ioannou [00:30:37]:

So thank you all very much for joining us on this episode. Don't forget to subscribe on our channel. Subscribe. Don't forget to

Hélène Ioannides [00:30:45]:

Follow.

Dr. Stephanos Ioannou [00:30:46]:

Follow our guest on social media. Sign up to his newsletter in regards to any shows that are coming up. He's a fantastic person and also a fantastic comedian.

Peter Kypri [00:30:58]:

Thank you so much.

Dr. Stephanos Ioannou [00:30:59]:

Thank you. Thank

Hélène Ioannides [00:30:59]:

you so much, sir.

Dr. Stephanos Ioannou [00:30:59]:

Thank you. Here.

Hélène Ioannides [00:31:00]:

Thank you. Thank you.

Peter Kypri [00:31:03]:

Oh, I loved it. Bravo. Bravo.

Hélène Ioannides [00:31:05]:

Thank you so much for watching this episode. It's been an absolute pleasure filming it for you guys. If you like the work that we are putting out into the world, Please make sure you like this video and you subscribe to our channel. It really helps the work that we do.

Dr. Stephanos Ioannou [00:31:19]:

And if you would like to follow our journey On our IG account as well as learn more about our services, we provide everything for you in the description below. Thanks for watching.