Thaao Penghlis: 44 Years on Days of Our Lives and The Great Escape Podcast Journey Through Egypt's Sacred Spaces

Thaao Penghlis, the beloved actor with an incredible 44-year tenure on Days of Our Lives, joins the show to discuss his latest passion project—a three-part podcast series called "The Great Escape" available on Spotify and Amazon. Drawing from his nine journeys to Egypt over the years, Thaao shares the profound spiritual experiences that inspired this immersive audio drama about the Holy Family's escape into Egypt and the journey of the three wise men from Persia. The conversation delves into his transformative climb up Mount Sinai, where a monk living in a small church at the summit told him something that changed his perspective forever: "When you walk the path, you keep it alive." This philosophy has guided Thaao's approach to storytelling and his dedication to bringing historical and spiritual narratives to life through his work.Thaao reveals the meticulous research behind the podcast, including his two-week journey visiting eight sacred spaces throughout Egypt and staying overnight at each location to truly absorb their significance. He uncovers fascinating historical details that challenge common assumptions about the nativity story—such as why Herod's massacre of the innocents targeted children under two years old (because the wise men didn't arrive until Christ was nearly two). The actor discusses how Christianity came to Egypt through the Coptic religion, his discovery of the Church of the Palm (named for Christ child's handprint, not palm trees), and recently excavated areas of ancient Heliopolis featured in National Geographic. Beyond the podcast, Thaao reflects on his extraordinary longevity in the entertainment industry, the importance of chemistry on set, playing two characters on Days of Our Lives to keep his work multidimensional, and his life philosophy centered on "the gift of giving" rather than hoarding—a mindset that has brought him riches in life experiences and fulfillment.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-neil-haley-show--6503396/support.