The Earful Tower: Paris: Recent Episodes
Oliver Gee
The Earful Tower is a weekly podcast all about Paris, hosted by Australian expat Oliver Gee. With a huge variety of guests - from cooks and comedians to TV hosts and tour guides - this show will transport you to the City of Lights and make you feel like you've met the characters that make it shine.
Welcome back to "The 20 Kingdoms" season, where I'll visit each kingdom and introduce you to someone who truly loves it.
In this episode for the 15th arrondissement, it's content creator Gaby Hafner who lives in the district and absolutely loves it.
Mentioned in this episode:
- Sang Bong Lo: 8 Rue Viala, 75015 Paris Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ssang_bong_lo/?hl=en
- Café du Commerce: 51 Rue du Commerce, 75015 Paris Website: https://www.lecafeducommerce.com/
- Marché Grenelle: Boulevard de Grenelle (between Dupleix and La Motte-Picquet Metro stations)
- Rue du Commerce: A major shopping street with boutiques and a Sunday flea market.
- Beaugrenelle: A large shopping mall near the Seine with a cinema.
Gaby Hafner's Socials * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gabyhafner/ * TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@gabyhafner/
This episode brought to you by The Earful Tower Tours. Come join us in the Marais, Montmartre, or the Latin Quarter. Our Walking Tours are exceptionally highly rated online and are the best way to experience this podcast in real life.
The Earful Tower exists thanks to support from its members. For just $10 a month you can unlock almost endless extras including bonus podcast episodes, live video replays, special event invites, and our annually updated PDF guide to Paris.
Membership takes only a minute to set up on Patreon, or Substack. Thank you for keeping this channel independent.
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Music: Pres Maxson
Welcome back to "The 20 Kingdoms" season. As you probably know, there are 20 districts in Paris, known as arrondissements. They may as well be kingdoms, at least for this podcast season, where I'll visit each kingdom and introduce you to someone who truly loves it.
In this episode, it's YouTuber Jay Swanson who has lived in the 16th for over a decade. I met him in the Passy Cemetery, here's what he had to say.
Mentioned in this episode:
Museums & Culture * Passy Cemetery * Trocadéro * Cité de l'Architecture et du Patrimoine * Musée d'Art Moderne de Paris * Palais de Tokyo * Palais Galliera * Musée Marmottan Monet * Musée Clemenceau * Point Éphémère
Parks & Outdoor Spaces * Bois de Boulogne * Fondation Louis Vuitton * Jardin d'Acclimatation * Jardin du Ranelagh * Hippodrome de ParisLongchamp
Neighborhoods & Landmarks * Rue de Belles Feuilles * The Golden Triangle * Élysée Palace
Also Mentioned * Jay Swanson's books: Sea of the Unknown and Desert of the New
This episode brought to you by The Earful Tower Tours. Come join us in the Marais, Montmartre, or the Latin Quarter. Our Walking Tours are exceptionally highly rated online and are the best way to experience this podcast in real life.
The Earful Tower exists thanks to support from its members. For just $10 a month you can unlock almost endless extras including bonus podcast episodes, live video replays, special event invites, and our annually updated PDF guide to Paris.
Membership takes only a minute to set up on Patreon, or Substack. Thank you for keeping this channel independent.
For more from the Earful Tower, here are some handy links:
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Music: Pres Maxson
G is for Grand Palais. In this episode, we present eight facts (well, nine) about the magnificent Grand Palais. This is a mixture of entertaining, informative, and practical facts, so you'll certainly get something out of it!
The music is from Pres Maxson.
This episode brought to you by The Earful Tower Tours. Come join us in the Marais, Montmartre, or the Latin Quarter. Our Walking Tours are exceptionally highly rated online and are the best way to experience this podcast in real life.
The Earful Tower exists thanks to support from its members. For just $10 a month you can unlock almost endless extras including bonus podcast episodes, live video replays, special event invites, and our annually updated PDF guide to Paris.
Membership takes only a minute to set up on Patreon, or Substack. Thank you for keeping this channel independent.
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We've been exploring Provence this week and here we share some good tips with you.
Mentioned in this episode:
- The Pont du Gard, a 2,000-year-old Roman acqueduct
- Robion, a sleepy village that's perfect for a glass of Ricard
- L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue, where we bought our house and recorded this episode
- Fontaine de Vaucluse, aka Rivendell from Lord of the Rings
- The Sénanque Abbey with its monks and lavendar
The music in this episode is from Pres Maxson.
This episode brought to you by The Earful Tower Tours. Come join us in the Marais, Montmartre, or the Latin Quarter. Our Walking Tours are exceptionally highly rated online and are the best way to experience this podcast in real life.
The Earful Tower exists thanks to support from its members. For just $10 a month you can unlock almost endless extras including bonus podcast episodes, live video replays, special event invites, and our annually updated PDF guide to Paris.
Membership takes only a minute to set up on Patreon, or Substack. Thank you for keeping this channel independent.
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F is for Fringe Festival. In this episode, I talk with Australian clown and actor Jasper Foley about how he (and his team) are bringing the famed international theatre and performing arts festival back to the City of Light. Paris.
Also:
What's life like as a trained clown in Paris? What happens at the famed Ground Control in Paris? And how can you support the arts in Paris, even if you're not here?
- Here's the link to donate and support the upcoming Fringe Festival: https://whydonate.com/fundraising/paris-fringe-festival-fundraiser
- Here's the link to get tickets to the show, Sep 9th to 13th, 2026: https://www.parisfringe.fr/
- Here's the link to the episode of Spilling the Beans where I was the guest: https://open.spotify.com/episode/39Us4GtDIFjyn6jCHHAAwU?si=ZkiFrcaeSsqxXus3SFaXVA&nd=1&dlsi=4774773ed9ee413c
The music is from Pres Maxson.
This episode brought to you by The Earful Tower Tours. Come join us in the Marais, Montmartre, or the Latin Quarter. Our Walking Tours are exceptionally highly rated online and are the best way to experience this podcast in real life.
The Earful Tower exists thanks to support from its members. For just $10 a month you can unlock almost endless extras including bonus podcast episodes, live video replays, special event invites, and our annually updated PDF guide to Paris.
Membership takes only a minute to set up on Patreon, or Substack. Thank you for keeping this channel independent.
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E is for Embassy. And in this case, I'm talking about the US Embassy's Garden Party to mark 250 years of Independence with a capital I. And guess what: I was there! So this podcast is just me, Oliver Gee, talking about my night among the Americans for their Fourth of July bash.
And here's the video from INSIDE the US ambassadorial residence that I mentioned in the show, from a year ago: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ygYRLRg--70
The music is from Pres Maxson.
This episode brought to you by The Earful Tower Tours. Come join us in the Marais, Montmartre, or the Latin Quarter. Our Walking Tours are exceptionally highly rated online and are the best way to experience this podcast in real life.
The Earful Tower exists thanks to support from its members. For just $10 a month you can unlock almost endless extras including bonus podcast episodes, live video replays, special event invites, and our annually updated PDF guide to Paris.
Membership takes only a minute to set up on Patreon, or Substack. Thank you for keeping this channel independent.
For more from the Earful Tower, here are some handy links:
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It's sweltering in Paris right now and life is unbearable for many. Not least for those who live under the zinc rooftops. The whole city comes to a standstill in these heatwaves, but those in the rooftops suffer the most, perhaps.
So, while The Earful Tower puts business as usual aside like everyone else, we figured we could take a look back at an episode about another rooftop: The domed cupolas of Paris.
Today's episode is a segment from an episode in early 2022, where I interviewed an American woman called Sarah who lived in such a dome. Here's the chat. And here are some dome pics from outside and inside.
This episode is brought to you by The Earful Tower Tours. Come join us in Montmartre, the Marais, or the Latin Quarter. Our Walking Tours are now award winning, and are the best way to experience this podcast in real life.
The Earful Tower exists thanks to support from its members. For just $10 a month you can unlock almost endless extras including bonus podcast episodes, live video replays, special event invites, and our annually updated PDF guide to Paris.
Membership takes only a minute to set up on Patreon, or Substack. Thank you for keeping this channel independent.
For more from the Earful Tower, here are some handy links:
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Music: Pres Maxson
Every year or so, Lina and I make a children's book. Sophie in Paris is the fifth. And every time, once the books arrive, we hit the streets of Paris to deliver them ourselves. Bookshops, museums, all of it. This episode is about that part. Not the writing, not the illustrating, but the launching - which we find to be one of the most enjoyable bits. The envelopes, the deliveries, the doors we knock on.
So, for our second new episode this week, we're focusing on D for Deliveries.
Five books in, the operation has grown. This new book, Sophie in Paris, has been our biggest yet, and Lina and I sit down to talk through what that actually looks like from the inside.
Get Sophie in Paris: theearfultower.com/shop
Find the book in a shop near you: Where to buy our children's books in Paris
D is for Delon, Alain Delon. Author Edward Chisholm is back on the podcast, this time talking about his new book Murder in Paris '68.
We recorded this one on location - sitting on the quai by the Seine, directly beneath the Quai des Orfèvres, the famous Paris police headquarters that has watched over the city's darkest crimes for centuries. Fitting, then, that we were there to talk about one of France's most explosive unsolved murders.
In 1968, a body was discovered on the outskirts of Paris and identified as Stevan Marković, the former bodyguard and close associate of the enigmatic film star Alain Delon. What began as a simple murder case quickly spiralled into a full-blown political scandal, drawing in actresses, gangsters, and high-level politicians.
British author Edward Chisholm, the author of the bestselling memoir A Waiter in Paris, has written the definitive account of the affair. His new book takes us into the heart of an era and into the inner world of Alain Delon himself, a world of gangsters, violence, and underworld Parisian conspiracies, where everyone possessed their own cold elegance and charisma.
We talked about the book, the Marković Affair, and of course... Alain Delon.
The music is from Pres Maxson.
This episode brought to you by The Earful Tower Tours. Come join us in the Marais, Montmartre, or the Latin Quarter. Our Walking Tours are exceptionally highly rated online and are the best way to experience this podcast in real life.
The Earful Tower exists thanks to support from its members. For just $10 a month you can unlock almost endless extras including bonus podcast episodes, live video replays, special event invites, and our annually updated PDF guide to Paris.
Membership takes only a minute to set up on Patreon, or Substack. Thank you for keeping this channel independent.
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New episode: Let's take a deeper dive into the 17th arrondissement of Paris. You've hopefully already heard the previous episode, where Tom Vickers shared his thoughts on the 17th Kingdom.
In this brand new episode, I kept exploring the 17th with my wife (and our new intern Victoria Hughes).
Relevant places to find:
Musée national Jean-Jacques Henner 43 avenue de Villiers, 75017 A beautiful 19th-century townhouse museum dedicated to the dreamy, atmospheric paintings of Alsatian artist Jean-Jacques Henner (1829–1905), tucked into the elegant Plaine Monceau neighbourhood. www.musee-henner.fr
Claude Debussy & the 17th Debussy lived in the 17th for many years and composed some of his most celebrated works here, including Pelléas et Mélisande and Clair de Lune. The neighbourhood honoured him with both a street and a conservatoire bearing his name.
25 Rue de Chazelles: Where the Statue of Liberty Was Built The workshop where Bartholdi and Eiffel assembled the Statue of Liberty before shipping it to New York. 25 rue de Chazelles, 75017
Inform Café A top specialty coffee shop and brunch spot with two locations in the 17th, one of them inside the striking Cité de l'Économie building (11 bis rue Georges Berger, 75017), and the original at 25 rue des Acacias. www.informcafe.com
Square des Batignolles A classic Haussmann-era English-style garden with a grotto, waterfall and pond, it's the heart of the village-y Batignolles neighbourhood. 11 place Charles-Fillion, 75017
Parc Martin Luther King (Parc Clichy-Batignolles) A vast, modern 10-hectare park built on former railway land, full of biodiversity, cherry trees. 147 rue Cardinet, 75017
Station Service Batignolles A tiny, warm neighbourhood coffee shop serving specialty coffee, fresh juices and homemade cakes - a perfect local gem. 3 rue Brochant, 75017
This episode is brought to you by The Earful Tower Tours. Come join us in Montmartre, the Marais, or the Latin Quarter. Our Walking Tours are now award winning, and are the best way to experience this podcast in real life.
The Earful Tower exists thanks to support from its members. For just $10 a month you can unlock almost endless extras including bonus podcast episodes, live video replays, special event invites, and our annually updated PDF guide to Paris.
Membership takes only a minute to set up on Patreon, or Substack. Thank you for keeping this channel independent.
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Music: Pres Maxson's take on Debussy's Claire de Lune.
Welcome back to "The 20 Kingdoms" season. As you probably know, there are 20 districts in Paris, known as arrondissements. They may as well be kingdoms, at least for this podcast season, where I'll visit each kingdom and introduce you to someone who truly loves it.
In this episode, it's Australian chef Tom Vickers. He runs a couple of cafes in the 17th, a district he defines as being a fusion of its neighbouring districts (specifically the 18th and 16th). I met him at his flagship spot, the Inform Cafe, here's what he had to say.
Mentioned in this episode:
Inform Café - the original
25 Rue des Acacias, 75017 Paris
Flagship mentioned in the episode: 11 bis Rue Georges Berger, 75017 Paris
With its high ceilings and view of an Italian-German architecture tower, this location offers more of a restaurant experience, with some additions to the menu, like a short wine list.
Great streets: Rue des Dames, Rue de Lévis
Canadian Embassy Pub: With a dark wood interior and a list of draft beers, here you can get a traditional Canadian Pub experience.
Address: 71 Bd Gouvion-Saint-Cyr, 75017 Paris
This episode brought to you by The Earful Tower Tours. Come join us in the Marais, Montmartre, or the Latin Quarter. Our Walking Tours are exceptionally highly rated online and are the best way to experience this podcast in real life.
The Earful Tower exists thanks to support from its members. For just $10 a month you can unlock almost endless extras including bonus podcast episodes, live video replays, special event invites, and our annually updated PDF guide to Paris.
Membership takes only a minute to set up on Patreon, or Substack. Thank you for keeping this channel independent.
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Music: Pres Maxson
Updated Re-Release: This episode originally aired a few years ago and has since become one of The Earful Tower's most beloved classics. We're bringing it back today because some things are simply too good - and too instructive - to stay buried in the archives.
It started with a photo. A single, damning image shared on The Earful Tower's social media: an 18-month-old Comté, massacred at a Parisian dinner party by the hand of a newly arrived American. The picture went viral inside the Earful community almost instantly, and the culprit, Will Weaver, a Texan fresh off the plane, became the talk of the group. So we did what any responsible France-based podcast would do: we launched a full investigation.
In this episode, you'll hear from genuinely mortified cheesemongers, some committed dramatic performances from Earful VIPs, and crucially the full account from Will Weaver himself, the man holding the knife that fateful evening. Yes, we find out exactly what he did, why he did it, and whether he has shown any remorse whatsoever. We also get into the real, legitimate, no-nonsense guide to how you are actually supposed to cut a Comté — because this is a safe space for learning, not just judgement.
A word of warning before you dive in: a lot of this episode is firmly tongue-in-cheek, so take the drama with a generous pinch of salt. The cheese-cutting advice, however, is completely genuine. If the episode sends you running to the nearest fromagerie, the spots mentioned in the show is worth a visit: Griffon Fromager in Paris's 7th arrondissement (23 bis Av. de la Motte-Picquet, 75007 Paris) and we also recorded at bar of the legendary Le Bristol Paris (112 Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré, 75008 Paris). Both are excellent.
The music is from Pres Maxson.
This episode is brought to you by The Earful Tower Tours. Whether you're exploring the Marais, scaling Montmartre, or wandering the Latin Quarter, our walking tours are among the highest-rated in Paris — and the best possible way to experience this podcast in the flesh.
The Earful Tower stays independent thanks to its members. For just $10 a month, you'll unlock a growing vault of extras: bonus episodes, live video replays, special event invites, and an annually updated PDF guide to Paris that's worth its weight in Comté. You can get started in under a minute via Patreon or Substack — and if you're already a member, thank you. You're the reason this exists.
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C is for Carnavalet. Or should that be Kernevenoy??
In this episode, we dive into one of Paris's most overlooked treasures - the Carnavalet Museum, the only museum in the world dedicated entirely to the history of Paris. I share, for the first time, the story of visiting the newly renovated museum before it opened to the public - completely alone - while waiting for the birth of my first son. Plus: the strange story behind the museum's bizarre name, and the remarkable woman history forgot.
The Carnavalet Museum: 23 rue de Sévigné (also entered from 16 rue des Francs-Bourgeois), 75003
Open Tuesday to Sunday, 10am–6pm. Closed Mondays. Permanent collection is free. Metro: Saint-Paul (line 1) Official website: carnavalet.paris.fr
Mentioned in this episode:
- The €56 million renovation that closed the museum for four and a half years before reopening in May 2021
- Françoise de La Baume — the twice-widowed aristocrat who actually owned the building and whose husband's unpronounceable Breton name gave the museum its peculiar title
- Marcel Proust's cork-lined bedroom, Napoleon's death mask, and a 6,000-year-old canoe pulled from the Seine
The music is from Pres Maxson.
This episode brought to you by The Earful Tower Tours. Come join us in the Marais, Montmartre, or the Latin Quarter. Our Walking Tours are exceptionally highly rated online and are the best way to experience this podcast in real life.
The Earful Tower exists thanks to support from its members. For just $10 a month you can unlock almost endless extras including bonus podcast episodes, live video replays, special event invites, and our annually updated PDF guide to Paris.
Membership takes only a minute to set up on Patreon, or Substack. Thank you for keeping this channel independent.
For more from the Earful Tower, here are some handy links:
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New episode: Let's take a deeper dive into the 18th arrondissement of Paris. You've hopefully already heard the previous episode, where Sutanya Dacres shared her thoughts on the 18th Kingdom.
In this brand new episode, I re-visited the 18th and did some exploring with my wife, and with Earful Tower's senior tour guide Hannah Coyle, who regularly walks the streets of Montmartre. Hannah shared her thoughts on everything from gentrification to rue des Abbesses, my old favourite street.
This episode brought to you by The Earful Tower Tours. Come join us in Montmartre (!!) or Marais, or the Latin Quarter. Our Walking Tours are now award winning, and are the best way to experience this podcast in real life. Why not meet Hannah in Montmartre!
The Earful Tower exists thanks to support from its members. For just $10 a month you can unlock almost endless extras including bonus podcast episodes, live video replays, special event invites, and our annually updated PDF guide to Paris.
Membership takes only a minute to set up on Patreon, or Substack. Thank you for keeping this channel independent.
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Walking Tours Music: Pres Maxson
Welcome back to "The 20 Kingdoms", a new season of The Earful Tower podcast. As you probably know, there are 20 districts in Paris, known as arrondissements. They may as well be kingdoms, at least for this podcast season, where I'll visit each kingdom and introduce you to someone who truly loves it.
In this episode, it's Sutanya Dacres, podcaster and author of Dinner For One. She has called the 18th home since 2013 and truly loves it. I met her at the Pirates de Montmartre seafood restaurant over an oyster or two. Here's what she had to say.
Mentioned in this episode:
Les Pirates De Montmartre (seafood restaurant)
Address: 63 Rue Duhesme, 75018 Paris
Au Rêve (cafe),
Address: 89 Rue Caulaincourt, 75018 Paris
This episode brought to you by The Earful Tower Tours. Come join us in the Marais, Montmartre, or the Latin Quarter. Our Walking Tours are exceptionally highly rated online and are the best way to experience this podcast in real life.
The Earful Tower exists thanks to support from its members. For just $10 a month you can unlock almost endless extras including bonus podcast episodes, live video replays, special event invites, and our annually updated PDF guide to Paris.
Membership takes only a minute to set up on Patreon, or Substack. Thank you for keeping this channel independent.
For more from the Earful Tower, here are some handy links:
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Music: Pres Maxson
This podcast episode features host Oliver Gee and his co-host Lina exploring the history and physical traces of the Bièvre, a lost river in Paris. Once a vital waterway that flowed into the Seine, the river was entirely buried and built over by 1912 due to industrial pollution.
In this updated re-release, we lead a "scavenger hunt" with a group of enthusiasts to find medallions, plaques, and architectural clues that reveal the river's hidden path through the 13th and 5th arrondissements. A highlight of the journey includes visiting a perfectly preserved medieval arch located deep beneath a modern post office. Oliver also ventures outside city limits with a colorful character named the "Comte de Saint-Germain" to wade through a restored section of the water. Finally, the discussion touches on future urban projects that aim to uncover parts of the Bièvre to help the city combat climate change.
The music is from Pres Maxson.
This episode brought to you by The Earful Tower Tours. Come join us in the Marais, Montmartre, or the Latin Quarter. Our Walking Tours are exceptionally highly rated online and are the best way to experience this podcast in real life.
The Earful Tower exists thanks to support from its members. For just $10 a month you can unlock almost endless extras including bonus podcast episodes, live video replays, special event invites, and our annually updated PDF guide to Paris.
Membership takes only a minute to set up on Patreon, or Substack. Thank you for keeping this channel independent.
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B is for Brocantes! This podcast episode features an interview with Sharon Santoni, a long-time expert on French lifestyle and author of the book "The Art of Antiquing in France."
She discusses the nuances of the "brocante", which she defines as accessible antiques that possess a unique history and patina.
The conversation explores the cultural importance of repurposing vintage items and provides practical advice for navigating famous markets like the Puces de Saint-Ouen in Paris and fairs in Provence.
Sharon shares her personal journey from starting a blog in 2010 to building a community centered on French country aesthetics. Additionally, she shares tips for international travelers on how to identify quality pieces, negotiate prices, and transport treasures home.
Key Links and Websites
Sharon Santoni's Official Website: www.myfrenchcountryhome.com
This is the primary hub for her blog (started in 2010), her My French Country Home magazine, and her boutique.
The Book: "The Art of Antiquing in France" – Published by Flammarion, this book serves as both a reference and a coffee table book and is fully illustrated with photographs by Sharon Santoni, Franck Schmitt, and Joanna Maclennan.
Books are available worldwide from your favorite local bookseller and signed editions can be purchased directly via her website on this link. Antique Fair Locator: Sharon mentions the website, www.brocabrac.fr, which is a helpful resource for finding fairs happening across France on any given weekend Places Mentioned
The episode covers several iconic and local spots for antiquing and living in France:
In Paris: Les Puces de Saint-Ouen: Located on the northern perimeter of Paris, Sharon describes it as a unique place in the world with over 500 vendors and specialized knowledge in everything from paintings to textiles Marché aux Puces de la Porte de Vanves: A weekend morning market Sharon and Oliver both enjoy for its "authentic vibe." It is known for its urgency, as dealers unpack from cars at 8:00 AM and pack up by 12:30 PM Foire de Châtou: A large, prestigious 10-day antique fair held just outside of Paris In Provence and Southern France:
L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue: This town is famous for its antique dealers and weekend markets. Villeneuve-lès-Avignon: A "wonderful" fair mentioned by Sharon Carpentras: Another "fantastic" fair located in the south In Normandy and Northern France:
The Eure Valley (Val de l'Eure): Sharon lives in the Normandy countryside, roughly halfway between Paris and Deauville, near the famous village of Giverny Amiens: A northern city (noted as the home of Emmanuel Macron) that hosts a spectacular fair where selling starts as early as midnight Lille: Known for its massive fair, though Sharon notes it is so large it can be "scary" because it includes items beyond just antiques Notable Details for Antiquing
Brocante vs. Antiques: Sharon defines brocante as "relaxed antiques", a mix of items with patina and repurposed pieces, whereas the "antique world" typically involves highly polished furniture and higher price points The "Hand Rule": Sharon advises that if you are interested in an item, keep your hand on it; if you take your hand off and step away, someone else can jump in Suitcase Treasures: For travelers, she suggests looking for paintings, vintage postcards, or palettes that can easily fit into a suitcase
One tip she shares from her travelers is to "ship home their dirty laundry" to make room for their antique treasures in their luggage.
__________________________________________________________
A reminder: For this new season, we're doing a new take on the A to Z of Paris. This time, B stands for Brocantes, following from A which stood for Arc de Triomphe.
This episode brought to you by The Earful Tower Tours. Come join us in the Marais, Montmartre, or the Latin Quarter. Our Walking Tours are exceptionally highly rated online and are the best way to experience this podcast in real life.
The Earful Tower exists thanks to support from its members. For just $10 a month you can unlock almost endless extras including bonus podcast episodes, live video replays, special event invites, and our annually updated PDF guide to Paris.
Membership takes only a minute to set up on Patreon, or Substack. Thank you for keeping this channel independent.
For more from the Earful Tower, here are some handy links:
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Walking Tours
New episode: Let's take a deeper dive into the 19th arrondissement of Paris. You've hopefully already heard the previous episode, where Ben McPartland shared his thoughts on the 19th Kingdom.
In this brand new episode, we visited some of the places he recommended, plus more. And we report back to you! (Scroll down for the spelling/websites of each place mentioned).
This episode brought to you by The Earful Tower Tours. Come join us in the Marais, Montmartre, or the Latin Quarter. Our Walking Tours are exceptionally highly rated online and are the best way to experience this podcast in real life.
The Earful Tower exists thanks to support from its members. For just $10 a month you can unlock almost endless extras including bonus podcast episodes, live video replays, special event invites, and our annually updated PDF guide to Paris.
Membership takes only a minute to set up on Patreon, or Substack. Thank you for keeping this channel independent.
For more from the Earful Tower, here are some handy links:
Website
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Food and Drink
L'Atalante A spacious bar on the canal known for IPAs and dishes like roasted cauliflower with peanut butter sauce. 26 Quai de la Marne, 75019 Paris www.latalante.fr
Combat A lively cocktail bar near the border of the 19th and 20th arrondissements, recommended for high-quality cocktails. 63 Rue de Belleville, 75019 Paris www.combat.paris
Lao Siam A long-running Southeast Asian restaurant recognized by the Michelin Guide, known for dishes like "Crying Tiger" beef. 49 Rue de Belleville, 75019 Paris www.laosiam.fr
Cheval d'Or A highly praised restaurant with an understated exterior. 21 Rue de la Villette, 75019 Paris www.chevaldorparis.com
Paname Brewing Company A brewery on the canal serving craft beer and food. 41 Quai de la Loire, 75019 Paris www.panamebrewingcompany.com
Le Passage à Niveau A restaurant on the Petite Ceinture with its own herb garden and mushroom cultivation. 2 bis Rue de l'Ourcq, 75019 Paris https://www.instagram.com/lepassageaniveau/
Coffee Shops & Bakeries
Mardi A café known for excellent coffee and Swedish-style cinnamon buns. 29 Rue de la Villette, 75019 Paris www.instagram.com/mardi_cafe_paris
Buna Bet A specialty coffee shop and roastery known for single-origin coffee, pastries, and a warm neighborhood atmosphere. 102 Rue de Meaux, 75019 Paris www.bunabet.fr
Parks & Culture
Parc des Buttes-Chaumont A dramatic park built on an old quarry with steep hills, a lake, and a hilltop temple. 1–7 Rue Botzaris, 75019 Paris
Parc de la Villette A large contemporary park with playgrounds, museums, and entertainment venues. 211 Av. Jean Jaurès, 75019 Paris www.lavillette.com
Philharmonie de Paris A major concert hall located inside Parc de la Villette. 221 Av. Jean Jaurès, 75019 Paris www.philharmoniedeparis.fr
L'Eau et les Rêves A botanical bookshop on a moored boat along the canal. 9 Quai de l'Oise, 75019 Paris https://www.penichelibrairie.com/
Belleville Market A busy outdoor food market near Rue de Belleville. Boulevard de Belleville, 75019 Paris
Nordic Bookshop (La Librairie Nordique) A specialized bookstore focused on Nordic and northern literature. 5 Rue de la Villette, 75019 Paris www.lalibrairienordique.fr
Welcome back to "The 20 Kingdoms", a new season of The Earful Tower podcast. As you probably know, there are 20 districts in Paris, known as arrondissements. They may as well be kingdoms, at least for this podcast season, where I'll visit each kingdom and introduce you to someone who truly loves it.
That's the whole concept. This isn't me recommending cafes or restaurants in different parts of town. This is true locals telling us about the soul of their kingdom and what they like to do there. The goal is to give you a very real look at each of these districts from a local's perspective.
And for the 19th Kingdom, the second episode of the season, you'll meet Ben McPartland, the presenter and producer of the Talking France podcast, which is made by The Local France news website here in Paris.
He loves this "genuine neighbourhood" of an arrondissement, and I met him at the edge of the Bassin de la Villette for a pint of beer, which he also loves. Here's what he had to say.
Mentioned in this episode:
Drinks, Food & Canal Hangouts
Paname Brewing Company
A floating brewery on the Bassin de la Villette with an easygoing, almost London-style pub atmosphere. Great beers, lively crowds, and one of the best sunset views over the canal.
41 Quai de la Loire, 75019 panamebrewingcompany.com
L'Atalante
Just up the Canal de l'Ourcq from Paname Brewing, this spot is known for its strong craft beer selection and excellent IPAs.
26 Quai de la Marne, 75019 latalante-paris.com
La Rotonde
Historic circular building at Stalingrad with restaurants, terraces, and drinks right on the edge of the canal basin. Ideal meeting point before exploring the neighborhood.
6–8 Place de la Bataille de Stalingrad, 75019
Bars Inside Buttes-Chaumont
In summer, the park fills with tiny outdoor bars and terraces tucked among the hills and pathways — perfect for an afternoon drink after wandering the park.
Music, Film & Culture Philharmonie de Paris
One of Paris's great modern concert halls, famous for its dramatic silver architecture and panoramic rooftop terrace overlooking the city.
221 Avenue Jean Jaurès, 75019 philharmoniedeparis.fr
Le Zénith
Large live music venue inside Parc de la Villette hosting major touring artists and rock concerts.
211 Avenue Jean Jaurès, 75019 le-zenith.com
MK2 Cinemas
Twin cinemas facing each other across the canal. A favorite local spot for late-night screenings and films in original English versions.
7 Quai de la Loire & 14 Quai de la Seine, 75019 mk2.com
Cité des Sciences et de l'Industrie
Massive science and industry museum loved by Parisian families, with exhibitions, immersive installations, and huge open spaces.
30 Avenue Corentin Cariou, 75019 cite-sciences.fr
On the Water Akwa electric boats
Rent small electric boats and cruise the Canal de l'Ourcq yourself — especially beautiful from spring through early autumn.
37 Quai de la Seine, 75019
https://akwa-experience.com/en/
Kayaks & Rowboats
Locals can often access free kayaking and rowing sessions around the Bassin de la Villette on weekends during warmer months.
Summer Canal Swimming
Every summer, sections of the Bassin de la Villette transform into open-air swimming areas, with races, floating pools, and seasonal events.
Parks & Walks Parc des Buttes-Chaumont
Wild, cinematic, and hilly — often called the most beautiful park in Paris. Expect cliffs, bridges, waterfalls, a lake, and incredible Sacré-Cœur views.
Parc de la Villette
Huge contemporary park blending architecture, green space, music venues, museums, and canal life into one sprawling cultural district.
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Music: Pres Maxson
Let's take a deep dive into the Paris Rose Line. This is an updated re-release of the time I did another A to Z season, where A was for Arago, the name of the scientist who helped map out the Paris meridian line (François Arago (1786-1853)).
In this episode, I explored the "Rose Line" (as it was called in the Da Vinci Code), sought out the bronze medallions along the streets of Paris, through the Louvre, and into the Paris Observatory.
Featured is the voice of Nicolas Lesté-Lasserre, a science historian and the community manager of the Observatoire de Paris. He showed me around this incredible 17th century institution, which is usually closed to the public.
Find more, including beautiful pictures of the observatory, on The Earful Tower's website.
The episode in this music is from Pres Maxson, featuring an original song called Le Meridien de Paris.
This episode brought to you by The Earful Tower Tours. Come join us in the Marais, Montmartre, or the Latin Quarter. Our Walking Tours are exceptionally highly rated online and are the best way to experience this podcast in real life.
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It's another new season - and we're doing a new take on the A to Z of Paris. This time, A stands for Arc de Triomphe. A big thanks to the team at the Arch, who opened this majestic monument just for me! I had the whole thing to myself, did an interview on top - and then made this episode.
You'll hear my wife Lina as my sidekick as I share about 10-15 cool things about the Arch, at least five of which you definitely didn't know.
Find the video we mentioned on my YouTube page here: https://www.youtube.com/theearfultower
This episode brought to you by The Earful Tower Tours. Come join us in the Marais, Montmartre, or the Latin Quarter. Our Walking Tours are exceptionally highly rated online and are the best way to experience this podcast in real life.
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Let's take a deeper dive into the 20th arrondissement of Paris. This is an updated re-release of the time we visited the 20th arrondissement as part of our Paris Countdown season.
You'll hear dinnertime singalongs, a cemetery visit, and more about the best pizza in Europe. There is even an interview with a Polish singer called Gosia who had just finished leading an Edith Piaf show at a local restaurant. (She sings on the episode, too, her fave Edith song, which was J'm'en fous pas mal).
You can find everything we mention on this post:
This episode brought to you by The Earful Tower Tours. Come join us in the Marais, Montmartre, or the Latin Quarter. Our Walking Tours are exceptionally highly rated online and are the best way to experience this podcast in real life.
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If you're in a rush, here is a narrative distillation of the episode (meaning, essentially, that you're reading about 10 percent of what happens).
Oliver: Let me take you back to December 19th, 1915, in Paris, where a baby girl named Edith Piaf was born on the cold streets of Belleville. She became the soul of Paris and, more specifically, the soul of the district we are sharing with you today in the far east of the city. To get there, we are taking a car, and I'm joined by my wife and confidant, Lina,.
Lina: Yes, I am ready. Welcome to a new season.
Oliver: I'm very excited. I've described my role this season as the Robin to your Batman.
Lina: And usually, I am the Batman, of course.
Oliver: We want to give everyone a glimpse into this interesting neighborhood where Edith Piaf served as the muse,. Upon arrival in Belleville, we stayed at the Babel Belleville hotel. It was immediately clear that this is a different version of Paris than the one people expect with berets and the Eiffel Tower.
Lina: Especially since we arrived on market day.
Oliver: The market was busy, bustling, and colorful, with more people than I've ever seen in a Paris market. We were in full tourist mode, talking to street sellers and eating what seemed like an Algerian Korean crepe,. The area is very diverse and immersive,. We also noticed that as time passed, there were far fewer tourists than in areas like the Marais.
Lina: The shops aren't catered to tourists either; many were residential or even closed down,. It's a real, unpolished neighborhood.
Oliver: Our plan was to explore for the day and then attend a show at Le Vieux Belleville. The 20th is a large district, so we did a lot of walking. We set our sights on Peppe's Pizza, which is ranked the best pizza in Europe. On the way, we passed the Père Lachaise Cemetery, which is essentially the only major tourist attraction in the district.
Lina: I used to live in the 20th and had visited the cemetery a few times years ago, but it is just so big.
Oliver: No one should miss it because entering those gates feels like entering a different world. However, it is not wheelchair or push-chair friendly due to the huge cobblestones,. While the most famous grave is often cited as Jim Morrison, I went looking for the ultimate hit: Edith Piaf,. Her grave is somewhat unassuming, much like her famous little black dress. After the cemetery, we finally had that pizza, which lived up to the hype with its unique toppings like cheese and marmalade,.
Lina: It was delicious.
Oliver: Next, we looked for La Campagne à Paris, the "countryside of Paris". It's a remote area with cottage-style houses built on top of old quarries, which is why the buildings are so low,. Our cab driver even gossiped that the previous president, François Hollande, lives up there.
Lina: It was lovely, though since it's winter, there were more sticks than greenery. It's a great spot for a 15-minute walk and an Instagram photo.
Oliver: That evening, we went to Le Vieux Belleville. We were worried it might be cheesy or touristy, but we ended up staying for three hours,. I managed to warm up the owner by telling him he looked like George Clooney,. Every Tuesday is Edith Piaf night, featuring an accordionist and a wonderful Polish singer named Gosia,.
Lina: The vibe felt like crashing a French family's dinner party,.
Oliver: We were the only foreigners there, but everyone was dancing and singing together. It was an utterly surprising amount of fun. Afterward, I stepped outside to interview the singer, Gosia,.
Oliver: Gosia, that was a wonderful performance. How did a Polish woman end up singing Edith Piaf in Belleville,?
Gosia: I started learning French by singing her songs. I adore the "gut" emotion in her singing; she comes from the streets. Piaf is an icon, but not many people really listen to her music anymore.
Oliver: What makes a good crowd for you?
Gosia: A crowd that realizes they actually can sing along. I know the evening worked if people are exchanging phone numbers and talking to their neighbors by the end. It's more of a ritual than a concert.
Oliver: What is your favorite Piaf song?
Gosia: My favorite is "J'm'en fous pas mal".
Oliver: You also mentioned this is the best district in Paris.
Gosia: It is getting gentrified, but it's a lovely, mixed, working-class area where Piaf was born. It has the real life of the neighborhood and an original Parisian feel,. We need to enjoy it while it lasts.
Oliver: Le Vieux Belleville really captured the vibe of the neighborhood. My only complaint was that the lighting was a bit too bright,. Afterward, we walked down to Rue de Belleville and visited a bar called Aux Folies where Piaf used to perform,.
Lina: That bar has a great "old Paris but young vibe" with neon lights. It's very picturesque, but don't expect fancy cocktails—it's all about cheap drinks and fun.
Oliver: We stayed at the Babel Belleville, which has an international, "multi-culti" vibe that represents the 20th well,. The next day, we visited a brand-new cafe called The Dancing Goat, run by a young British guy,.
Lina: The cafe was beautiful and fresh. Regarding the street art, it was cool but perhaps not as much as I had hoped for.
Oliver: I think the 13th arrondissement might be better for street art, though Rue Dénoyez had some huge murals,. Finally, we decided to rank the district based on five categories: Strollability, Affordability, Sharability, Touristability, and Accessibility,.
The Scores:
- Strollability: Oliver (4), Lina (3) — It's too big and has too many hills.
- Affordability: Oliver (10), Lina (10) — Probably the cheapest in Paris.
- Sharability: Oliver (5), Lina (4).
- Touristability: Oliver (3), Lina (5) — Lina liked the views and the bars,.
- Accessibility: Oliver (3), Lina (2) — It's quite far from the rest of Paris.
Oliver: My total was 23, and Lina's was 26, giving the district a 49 out of 100,.
Lina: It failed!
Oliver: It's not a fail, it's just a very residential district. I probably wouldn't stay here on a first trip to Paris, but it's a great experience if you've been here before. Join us next week as we head to the canals of the 19th Arrondissement.
Oliver and Lina: Bye-bye!
Welcome to "The 20 Kingdoms", a new season of The Earful Tower podcast.
As you probably know, there are 20 districts in Paris, known in French as arrondissements. But my brother once referred to them as kingdoms and I liked it. It's true, each of the districts has its own soul, quite separate from the next. They may as well be kingdoms. At least for a podcast season.
In this 20-episode season of the podcast, I'm going to visit each kingdom and introduce you to someone who truly loves that particular district. Maybe they work there, maybe they live there, or maybe they just love it.
That's the whole concept. This isn't me recommending cafes or restaurants in different parts of town. This is true locals telling us about the soul of their kingdom and what they like to do there. The goal is to give you a very real look at each of these districts from a local's perspective.
And for the 20th Kingdom, the first episode of the season, you'll meet Abiola, a social worker who looks after kids in the north western side of the district. He loves cafes, good food, football and the 20th arrondissement of Paris. Here's what he had to say.
Mentioned in this episode:
Restaurant
Paloma
Website: https://www.instagram.com/paloma.belleville/
Address: 93 Rue Julien Lacroix, 75020 Paris
Bar
Combat
Website: https://www.instagram.com/combat.belleville/?hl=en
Address: 63 Rue de Belleville, 75019 Paris
Cafes
Candle Kids
Website: https://www.instagram.com/candlekidscoffee/ Address: 107 rue des couronnes, Paris, France 75020
Miliki Coffee
Website: https://milikicafe.com/
Address: 8 rue Levert, 75020 Paris
Bambin
Website: https://bambin-coffeeshop.fr/
Address: 40 Rue de Tourtille, 75020 Paris
Best thing to do
Parc de Belleville
Best street
Rue Saint Blaise
This episode brought to you by The Earful Tower Tours. Come join us in the Marais, Montmartre, or the Latin Quarter. Our Walking Tours are exceptionally highly rated online and are the best way to experience this podcast in real life.
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Music: Pres Maxson
Have you ever heard of Rungis? It's the world's largest wholesale food market, it provides all the Paris markets and restaurants with their fresh produce, and you can find it near the Orly Airport.
Or can you?
This place may as well be top secret. Only the vendors and restauranteurs can access it - yet it's as big as a village. Every night, at around 2am, produce sellers (like fishermen and cheesemongers) open their doors to the eager buyers, who charge in and negotiate prices for the goods.
And even though it's closed to the public, I got an invite to make this episode. My invite came from April Pett who runs April in Paris tours, check her out here: https://www.aprilinparistours.com/
Big shout out to market vendor Jaad who took us around and whose laughter echoed through the halls of Rungis all night.
You can find more about the market here (but remember, it isn't open to visit to the public). https://www.rungisinternational.com/
Here's the replay of the short live video we made: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AeiII9gqlZo
And the rest of our pictures are on social media, the rest of my videos will be for the members, only. Links below.
The Earful Tower exists thanks to support from its members. For just $10 a month you can unlock almost endless extras including bonus podcast episodes, live video replays, special event invites, and our annually updated PDF guide to Paris.
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Music: Pres Maxson
I speak English with our two children (soon to be 2 and 5 years old). My wife speaks Swedish with them. The outside world is in French. (Note: We all speak all three languages too).
Here's a glimpse at how that works, with special guests Otis and Astrid. Hope you find it as fascinating as I do!
This episode is brought to you by the members, who get the new 2026 PDF guide to Paris for free. For everyeone else, you can support this show by buying the guide here: https://theearfultower.com/product/guide-book/
The Earful Tower exists thanks to support from its members. For just $10 a month you can unlock almost endless extras including bonus podcast episodes, live video replays, special event invites, and our annually updated PDF guide to Paris.
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Music: Pres Maxson (his take on Douce France, by Charles Trenet)
Paris has a new mayor! That's right, after 12 years at the helm, Anne Hidalgo has stepped down. Parisians voted for a new mayor, and taking her place will be Emmanuel Grégoire.
But who is Emmanuel Grégoire? What does a Paris mayor actually do? And what will be the legacy of Anne Hidalgo?
This week's guest is Paris-based reporter Katy Lee, the co-host of the podcast The Europeans, and the woman behind the Millefeuille Substack page, which she calls the "newsletter for Parisians who are bad at local news".
Follow Katy to find out more:
- The Millefeuille newsletter
- The Europeans
The Earful Tower exists thanks to support from its members. For just $10 a month you can unlock almost endless extras including bonus podcast episodes, live video replays, special event invites, and our annually updated PDF guide to Paris.
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Music: Pres Maxson (his take on Sous le ciel de Paris, by Edith Piaf)
We bought a house in the charming Provence town of l'Isle sur la Sorgue! That's right: the Pearl of Provence, the Venice of the South, the same place we recorded the Christmas episode last year. And while we'll still live in Paris and do business as usual, this exciting news will surely add a new scent of lavender to everything we do.
So: Why did we buy this house? How? What next? Are we leaving Paris? (no). We answer all these questions and more in this week's episode.
I'll share pics and videos along the way, be sure you're following our social media channels.
The Earful Tower exists thanks to support from its members. For just $10 a month you can unlock almost endless extras including bonus podcast episodes, live video replays, special event invites, and our annually updated PDF guide to Paris.
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Music: Pres Maxson (his take on Douce France, by Charles Trenet)
Almost like a sacred ritual in France, the apéro is much more than just a drink with friends.
Véronique Savoye from France With Véro explains more.
And be sure your membership is up to date to see Vero and I answer your questions about Paris in mid March 2026.
This is an episode from The Earful Tower archives.
The Earful Tower exists thanks to support from its members. For just $10 a month you can unlock almost endless extras including bonus podcast episodes, live video replays, special event invites, and our annually updated PDF guide to Paris.
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Music by Pres Maxson.
I took my wife on a bohemian date in Montmartre - we called this episode "Bohemia on wheels". Join us as we take you through Montmartre in a 2CV with three nostalgic and bohemian stops along the way. Earful members can get 15 percent off your own unforgettable 2CV experience in Paris.
The experience: 2 CV with Cedric's Paris
Website: https://cedricsparis.com/en/home/
This episode was recently released as a member's only episode. You can unlock the other ten episodes from the season on Patreon or Substack.
Membership takes only a minute to set up on Patreon, or Substack. Thank you for keeping this channel independent.
The Earful Tower exists thanks to support from its members. For just $10 a month you can unlock almost endless extras including bonus podcast episodes, live video replays, special event invites, and our annually updated PDF guide to Paris.
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Music by Pres Maxson.
Last week we introduced you to Sophie, the newest character in our world of children's books.
Today, we're checking in - with a huge thank you - halfway through the Kickstarter campaign.
As you may have seen, we hit the target in 15 minutes. Now, as the campaign continues, we're donating books to local schools, hosting Online Salons, and giving you two last chances to be in the book... if you're quick.
The project will end on Friday February 6th. You can get your own copy here.
Thanks to all who've contributed so far - merci mille fois.
The Earful Tower exists thanks to support from its members. For just $10 a month you can unlock almost endless extras including bonus podcast episodes, live video replays, special event invites, and our annually updated PDF guide to Paris.
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Music by Pres Maxson.
Here she is: Sophie in Paris.
Meet Sophie, the newest character in our world of children's books.
She's a clever little girl who lives in a tiny attic by the Eiffel Tower. And when a problem appears on the tower itself, Sophie takes it upon herself to save the day.
Sophie is a brave, curious, capable girl who reminds us that even the biggest problems can be solved by one person with the courage to try.
And in this episode of the podcast, Lina and I describe how we made the book, how you can get it, and how (if you're quick), you can get your name on the Eiffel Tower.
The project will launch on Kickstart on Jan 30. You can follow the pre-launch page here and be the first in line.
The Earful Tower exists thanks to support from its members. For just $10 a month you can unlock almost endless extras including bonus podcast episodes, live video replays, special event invites, and our annually updated PDF guide to Paris.
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Music by Pres Maxson.
I did it! I climbed the south tower of the Notre Dame cathedral and it was every bit as wonderful as I had dreamed.
I brought the microphone up there with me, join me for the full experience.
The Earful Tower exists thanks to support from its members. For just $10 a month you can unlock almost endless extras including bonus podcast episodes, live video replays, special event invites, and our annually updated PDF guide to Paris.
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Music by Pres Maxson.
A personal guide from us - smaller, quieter museums we genuinely love, chosen for their intimacy and character rather than hype. None of these are in the top 15 most-visited museums in Paris.
PS: The music from this episode is an original from Pres Maxson called Guimard's Abbesses.
Here's the list of museums mentioned in the episode. For the full list with addresses, details, websites, etc, check out my website and Substack.
-
- Musée Rodin
-
- Musée des Archives Nationales
-
- Maison de Balzac
-
- Musée de la Chasse et de la Nature
-
- Musée Yves Saint Laurent Paris (currently closed)
-
- Musée Nissim de Camondo (currently closed)
-
Future Bonus: Musée Hector Guimard (opening 2027ish)
The Earful Tower exists thanks to support from its members. For just $10 a month you can unlock almost endless extras including bonus podcast episodes, live video replays, special event invites, and our annually updated PDF guide to Paris.
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IT'S BACK AGAIN!
Every year we make a bucket list of things we want to try for the first time in Paris. In this episode, you'll hear Oliver and Lina sharing their top five things they want to do this year in Paris.
Why not write your own list and join us?
The full list will be on our official website and Substack shortly.
The Earful Tower exists thanks to support from its members. For just $10 a month you can unlock almost endless extras including bonus podcast episodes, live video replays, special event invites, and our annually updated PDF guide to Paris.
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Let's take a look back at 2025. Here's a good episode for the fans who might be curious to know what was the most popular, and for new listeners to get a good idea of where to start.
Thanks to all for listening, watching, and reading in 2025.
The Earful Tower exists thanks to support from its members. For just $10 a month you can unlock almost endless extras including bonus podcast episodes, live video replays, special event invites, and our annually updated PDF guide to Paris.
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For the first time ever, I'm in France for Christmas. Specifically, I'm in the charming Provence town of l'Isle sur la Sorgue. But what do the French eat on the big day? I have no idea.
I walked around this beautiful town, the Pearl of Provence, the Venice of the South, and I asked the locals.
You'll hear from Nathalie at Maison Moga and Aluna from Maison Jouvaud, both excellent stop-offs if you're looking for local food treats.
I'll share pics and videos along the way, be sure you're following our social media channels!
The Earful Tower exists thanks to support from its members. For just $10 a month you can unlock almost endless extras including bonus podcast episodes, live video replays, special event invites, and our annually updated PDF guide to Paris.
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Have you seen Lupin? Or Emily in Paris? What about The Bureau? Or Call My Agent? Maybe you've seen all four of them, perhaps more.
It's undeniable, French TV (and even movies) are having their moment right now, and in the post-Olympic Paris glow, people are even more fascinated with France. Let's talk about it with an expert, Lucille Béfort, who runs the French Vibes Club.
Her very popular Instagram account breaks down French culture and the "art de vivre" in France (as in: the art of living well).
As a French woman raised in the American university system, she has a pretty firm finger on the pulse of both cultures. And she is especially interested in how French culture, including the likes of these TV shows, is affecting people's perception of Paris in a whole new way. Is it escapism? Digital media redefining cultural diplomacy? Or something different entirely?
Let's find out. And a reminder: This chat was streamed live on YouTube for Earful Tower members, and included a Q&A with Lucille after. Watch the replay and get future invites by becoming an Earful member.
More from Lucille Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/frenchvibesclub Website: https://frenchvibesclub.com/
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This week it's The Earful Tower's musician Pres Maxson. We talk about his new novel, how he came to work on The Earful Tower, and French music in general.
This chat was streamed live for Earful Tower members, join the crowd and meet cool people in Paris (Membership takes only a minute to set up on Patreon, or Substack.
As for Pres, find his new book, Chinatown Troubadour: https://www.amazon.fr/Chinatown-Troubadour-Story-Pres-Maxson/dp/B0DY7Y8Z4Q
Find Pres on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/presmaxson/?hl=en Find Pres on Substack: https://presmaxson.substack.com/ The story of Pres Maxson's first record in ten years, produced by The Earful Tower: https://presmaxson.substack.com/p/my-first-record-in-10-years
The Earful Tower exists thanks to support from its members. For just $10 a month you can unlock almost endless extras including bonus podcast episodes, live video replays, special event invites, and our annually updated PDF guide to Paris.
Membership takes only a minute to set up on Patreon, or Substack. Thank you for keeping this channel independent.
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Paris by night. So many possibilities. Sure, it's easy to create magical memories with a stroll along the Seine or a cobblestoned Marais street.
But there are also more than 5,000 restaurants, over 2,000 bars, and hundreds of shows every night.
So where to begin?
If you've only got a few nights in the city, you simply can't afford to get it wrong.
We talk you through how to do it best. We also are excited to announce the launch of our new PDF guide to Evenings Out in Paris, which you can buy on this link for 14.99 euros.
The music in this episode is Pres Maxson's take on Nuit d'Hiver.
The Earful Tower exists thanks to support from its members. For just $10 a month you can unlock almost endless extras including bonus podcast episodes, live video replays, special event invites, and our annually updated PDF guide to Paris.
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Let's talk theatre.
This week on the show is Irish actor/playwright Hannah Coyle (who is also one of the Earful Tower tour guides!)
Hannah talks about the theatre scene in Paris, especially the English-language scene,
She also talks about Alchemy Theatre's forthcoming production of Three Sisters, which she personally reimagined from Chekhov's classic play. It runs at Théâtre de l'Opprimé (78 Rue du Charolais, 75012 Paris) from 9–14 December.
The Earful Tower exists thanks to support from its members. For the past 92 months and counting it has cost just $10 a month to unlock almost endless extras including bonus podcast episodes, live video replays, special event invites, and our annually updated PDF guide to Paris.
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Meet Penelope Fletcher, who runs two Paris bookshops, side by side near the Luxembourg Gardens.
The shops: The Red Wheelbarrow and The Red Balloon
The Red Balloon is just for children's books, and is almost certainly the most likely of all shops in Paris to have all our own children's books.
Addresses: 9-11 Rue de Médicis, 75006.
This episode is from The Earful Tower podcast archives.
Here are all the books that Penelope mentioned, in order:
Books for adults
Stories from the Magic Canoe of Wa'xaid, by Cecil Paul.
A Moveable Feast, by Ernest Hemingway.
Selected Letters, by Madame De Sevigne.
The Autobiography of Alice B. Toklas, by Gertrude Stein.
The Flight Portfolio, by Julie Orringer.
Almost French, by Sarah Turnbull.
Circe, by Madeline Miller.
Walking on the Ceiling, by Aysegül Savas.
Demystifying the French, by Janet Hulstrand.
Books for children
Paris Chien, Adventures of an Expat Dog, by Jackie Clark.
Marielle in Paris, by Maxine Schur.
I'm sure you can find these and more at The Red Wheelbarrow. Check out the site here.
Music in the episode was from Pres Maxson, his take on the classic Charles Aznavour song Hier encore.
The Earful Tower exists thanks to support from its members. For the past 92 months and counting it has cost just $10 a month to unlock almost endless extras including bonus podcast episodes, live video replays, special event invites, and our annually updated PDF guide to Paris.
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Meet Loïc Estimbre, a Parisian entrepreneur who is behind four different eateries on just one street in the 12th arrondissement. That street: rue Emilio Castelar. In this podcast episode, we talk food in Paris, the 12th district in general, and the challenges of funding four separate spots. As for Loic, I met him when he was behind the counter at the Magic Carpet cafe and was surprised to see him literally building a new eatery down the road. Imagine my surprise to learn that he leading a team that was behind half the places on this little street. His spots: * The restaurant: Le Singe à Paris * The café: Magic Carpet * For beer and whisky: Chinaski * The sandwich spot: Johnny Dwich
The music in this episode is from Pres Maxson.
The Earful Tower exists thanks to support from its members. For the past 92 months and counting it has cost just $10 a month to unlock almost endless extras including bonus podcast episodes, live video replays, special event invites, and our annually updated PDF guide to Paris.
Membership takes only a minute to set up on Patreon, or Substack. Thank you for keeping this channel independent.
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This week on the show it's Guy Griffin, the owner of Cafe Mericourt in the 11th arrondissement. He talks about the current explosion of speciality coffee shops across Paris and whether it is sustainable. He also takes us behind the beans... er, scenes... about the change in tipping culture, the challenges of being an entrepreneur in France, and the cost of hiring people in France compared to the US or Australia. As for you - why not go in for lunch as a savvy diner. Look at his ever-changing menu here. * Address: 22 Rue de la Folie Méricourt, 75011 Paris * Find Cafe Mericourt on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/cafemericourt/ * Explore the website here: https://www.cafemericourt.com/menu
The music in this episode is from Pres Maxson.
The Earful Tower exists thanks to support from its members. For the past 92 months and counting it has cost just $10 a month to unlock almost endless extras including bonus podcast episodes, live video replays, special event invites, and our annually updated PDF guide to Paris.
Membership takes only a minute to set up on Patreon, or Substack. Thank you for keeping this channel independent.
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This week on The Earful Tower podcast it's Jake and Holly Barker, two American tourists who were actually inside the Louvre's Apollo Gallery when it was broken into on Sunday. I met them in the Marais to record their dramatic story. "When we heard the saws, we both knew that something serious had happened." It's reported that nine items from the crown jewel collection were taken from the Louvre. Also featured in this episode was Amber Minogue, our Louvre tour guide. Please get in touch to book a tour with her. The music in this episode was from Pres Maxson, rather fittingly his take on Elton John's "Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters". *****
The Earful Tower exists thanks to support from its members. For the past 92 months and counting it has cost just $10 a month to unlock almost endless extras including bonus podcast episodes, live video replays, special event invites, and our annually updated PDF guide to Paris.
Membership takes only a minute to set up on Patreon, or Substack. Thank you for keeping this channel independent.
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This week on the show it's Cléophée Poli - aka Cléo - a Parisienne interior designer. She talks about typical Paris apartments and what she likes about them, how you can make your home more Parisian, and the small touches to improve the feeling of any home. And of course, we talk about a lot more. Follow her on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/cleointeriordesign/ Explore her website here: https://www.cleointeriordesign.com The music in this episode is from Pres Maxson.
The Earful Tower exists thanks to support from its members. From $10 a month you can unlock almost endless extras including bonus podcast episodes, live video replays, special event invites, and our annually updated PDF guide to Paris.
Membership takes only a minute to set up on Patreon, or Substack. Thank you for keeping this channel independent.
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We're making our fifth children's book, and it's the most Parisian one yet. In fact, there are some major changes to this one, so we decided to open the curtain and show you how we do them. Lina talks about her illustrating process and I talk about how I wrote this one - and why I changed the whole style. You can find our other four children's books in all the Anglophone bookshops of Paris, but also in le Peloton cafe, the Ile Aux Fees boutique, the Bon Marché department store, and Messy Nessy's cabinet of curiosities. Also the Louvre museum and the musée d'Orsay. The music in this episode is from Pres Maxson, an original called Walk a Giraffe.
The Earful Tower exists thanks to support from its members. From $10 a month you can unlock almost endless extras including bonus podcast episodes, live video replays, special event invites, and our annually updated PDF guide to Paris.
Membership takes only a minute to set up on Patreon, or Substack. Thank you for keeping this channel independent.
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Meet Charles Pappas - Mr World Fair. Charles likes nothing more in the world than a Universal Exhibition, especially if it's one of the seven that were hosted in Paris. In fact, he's written the book on the topic.
I met him on a road-side terrace at Harvest cafe in the 11th arrondissement to talk Paris, Haussmann, coffee, and of course, World Fairs.
His new book is: Nobody Sits Like the French: Exploring Paris Through Its World Expos, a historical guidebook on how these World Expos, held between 1855-1937, transformed the city of Paris forever. The music in this episode is from Pres Maxson.
The Earful Tower exists thanks to support from its members. From $10 a month you can unlock almost endless extras including bonus podcast episodes, live video replays, special event invites, and our annually updated PDF guide to Paris.
Membership takes only a minute to set up on Patreon, or Substack. Thank you for keeping this channel independent.
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After an eventful visit to the Aligre markets in the 12th arrondissement, I came home to share my love of the French food markets with my wife Lina.
Here's an energetic, honest, and in-the-moment recount of what happened when I went shopping for dinner ingredients.
The music in this episode is from Pres Maxson, his take on the classic Sous le ciel de Paris.
The Earful Tower exists thanks to support from its members. From $10 a month you can unlock almost endless extras including bonus podcast episodes, live video replays, special event invites, and our annually updated PDF guide to Paris.
Membership takes only a minute to set up on Patreon, or Substack. Thank you for keeping this channel independent.
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Meet Jane Bertch, a Chicagoan who has called Paris home since 2005. She started her life here as a banker, but made the unusual pivot to running a cooking class (which is now the hugely popular La Cuisine Paris). And now, she has written a memoir about it all: The French Ingredient.
She joined me in the studio to talk about the book, how to make a croissant, and even how to make a croissant class (plus a whole lot more).
- Follow La Cuisine on Instagram and follow Jane herself here.
- Book a cooking class at La Cuisine in Paris
- And follow the La Cuisine newsletter
- And of course, find the book: The French Ingredient
The music in this episode is from Pres Maxson, his take on the classic Sous le ciel de Paris.
The Earful Tower exists thanks to support from its members. From $10 a month you can unlock almost endless extras including bonus podcast episodes, live video replays, special event invites, and our annually updated PDF guide to Paris.
Membership takes only a minute to set up on Patreon, or Substack. Thank you for keeping this channel independent.
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This summer, the city of Paris announced plans to open a museum to showcase the work of architect Hector Guimard. He is the man behind the iconic Paris Metro entrances, several Art Nouveau buildings in Paris, and some very beautiful furniture and decorations in museum displays around the world.
And better still: The museum will be housed in one of the very few buildings remaining in Paris that Guimard designed himself (The Hotel Mezzara in the 16th arrondissement).
I've been a fan of Guimard and Art Nouveau for years, so let's take a deeper dive into the topic in general, with the help of this 2023 episode.
What is Art Nouveau? Who was Guimard, really, and why was his work so important? Where can you find it in Paris? And what's his legacy?
All those questions are answered in this episode, with help from tour guide Boris Petrovic from Paris in Person (find his Art Nouveau tour here) and from Paris head auctioneer Christophe Lucien.
Do you like this podcast? Become a Patreon member of The Earful Tower here to support this show and get extras.
The music in this episode is from Pres Maxson.
The Earful Tower exists thanks to support from its members. From $10 a month you can unlock almost endless extras including bonus podcast episodes, live video replays, special event invites, and our annually updated PDF guide to Paris.
Membership takes only a minute to set up on Patreon, or Substack. Thank you for keeping this channel independent.
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I jumped in the Seine river - an activity that's legal again for the first time in 100 years. Here's what happened.
Want to do it too? You have until August 31st, here's more info (in English). Music: Sunset on the Seine, an original by Pres Maxson.
The Earful Tower exists thanks to support from its members. From $10 a month you can unlock almost endless extras including bonus podcast episodes, live video replays, special event invites, and our annually updated PDF guide to Paris.
Membership takes only a minute to set up on Patreon, or Substack. Thank you for keeping this channel independent.
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So what is the best-known street in Paris? And if that seems obvious, then what's number two? And three?
After last week's pod with Parisians Abiola and Margaux sharing their take on popular Paris streets, we surveyed our audience for an official answer.
Here it is, presented by Oliver and Lina. Thanks to all who participated. Read some more of the comments here on Substack.
Fitting music this week, again, is from Pres Maxson.
Thanks
The Earful Tower exists thanks to support from its members. From $10 a month you can unlock almost endless extras including bonus podcast episodes, live video replays, special event invites, and our annually updated PDF guide to Paris.
Membership takes only a minute to set up on Patreon, or Substack. Thank you for keeping this channel independent.
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Before you listen too far, make a mental note of what you think are the three most popular streets in Paris.
Then listen to two typical Parisians as they take on this unusual question.
Of course, most people would agree on number one... but where do we go from there. Fitting music this week is from Pres Maxson. Thanks to Abiola and Margaux for their voices.
The Earful Tower exists thanks to support from its members. From $10 a month you can unlock almost endless extras including bonus podcast episodes, live video replays, special event invites, and our annually updated PDF guide to Paris.
Membership takes only a minute to set up on Patreon, or Substack. Thank you for keeping this channel independent.
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This week we scale the Eiffel Tower with its managing director Patrick Branco-Ruivo.
What are his tips for visiting? His favourite view? And what would he ask if he had Gustave Eiffel himself on the telephone?
Join us on this exciting opportunity to explore one of the world's most iconic landmarks with the maestro behind it all. And hang around - we'll get some exclusive access to the underground section at the end.
Videos:
- 10-minute video on YouTube here
- 45-minute video on this link
https://www.youtube.com/c/TheEarfulTower
Music by Pres Maxson.
The Earful Tower exists thanks to support from its members. From $10 a month you can unlock almost endless extras including bonus podcast episodes, live video replays, special event invites, and our annually updated PDF guide to Paris.
Membership takes only a minute to set up on Patreon, or Substack. Thank you for keeping this channel independent.
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I'm not proud to say it, but we got scammed pretty hard. Here's the full story.
Mentioned at the end of the episode: Our walking tours of Paris: http://www.theearfultower.com/tours
Music by Pres Maxson.
The Earful Tower exists thanks to support from its members. From $10 a month you can unlock almost endless extras including bonus podcast episodes, live video replays, special event invites, and our annually updated PDF guide to Paris.
Membership takes only a minute to set up on Patreon, or Substack. Thank you for keeping this channel independent.
For more from the Earful Tower, here are some handy links:
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This week on the podcast, it's The Earful's two interns Thomas Farnham and Genevieve Victoria Gorain. And it's time to hear how they went with their bucket lists after their two-month internship is over.
Here's the post with all ten ideas they mentioned in the episode.
Also mentioned in this episode:
- The Earful Everywhere podcast (currently in Italy): https://theearfultower.substack.com/p/its-here-the-official-launch-of-the
- Our walking tours of Paris: http://www.theearfultower.com/tours
Music by Pres Maxson.
The Earful Tower exists thanks to support from its members. From $10 a month you can unlock almost endless extras including bonus podcast episodes, live video replays, special event invites, and our annually updated PDF guide to Paris.
Membership takes only a minute to set up on Patreon, or Substack. Thank you for keeping this channel independent.
For more from the Earful Tower, here are some handy links:
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Meet Corinne Menegaux, the managing director of the Paris tourism board (Paris je t’aime).
We discuss Paris, the legacy of the Olympic Games, and what's coming next. We also talk about her Paris, her job, and how she'd spend her last day in this city.
Find more about Paris je t'aime here: https://parisjetaime.com/eng/
Also mentioned in this episode:
- The Earful Everywhere podcast (currently in Italy): https://theearfultower.com/2025/05/15/lets-explore-italy-with-the-earful-everywhere/
- Our walking tours of Paris: http://www.theearfultower.com/tours
Music by Pres Maxson.
The Earful Tower exists thanks to support from its members. From $10 a month you can unlock almost endless extras including bonus podcast episodes, live video replays, special event invites, and our annually updated PDF guide to Paris.
Membership takes only a minute to set up on Patreon, or Substack. Thank you for keeping this channel independent.
For more from the Earful Tower, here are some handy links:
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This week it's Caroline de Maigret, supermodel and author of How to Be Parisian Wherever You Are.
Her appearance on this podcast in April 2019 changed the direction and dynamic of the show. While we're between seasons, I take a look back at this episode and explain why it made a difference to The Earful Tower.
In the episode, Caroline talks about being a Parisian woman, the freedom of Paris, and how pleasure is a key element of life in the French capital.
If you want to find more from Caroline, check out her Instagram page here.
The Earful Tower exists thanks to support from its Patreon and Substack members. From $10 a month you can unlock almost endless extras including bonus podcast episodes, live video replays, special event invites, and our annually updated PDF guide to Paris.
Membership takes only a minute to set up, on Patreon or on Substack. Thank you for keeping this channel independent.
For more from the Earful Tower, here are some handy links:
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Author Cara Black is back on the podcast!
She is a friend of the show, and has been appearing on it since 2019!
We chat about writing mysteries set in Paris (she has penned over 20 of them), we talk about her upcoming book (which you can pre-order below), and we talk about Paris, of course.
Helpful links for Cara:
- Cara Black's official site: https://carablack.com/
- Cara Black's Susbtack: https://carablack.substack.com/
- Preorder her book Huguette here: https://www.amazon.fr/Huguette-Cara-Black/dp/1641294493
Also mentioned in this episode:
- The Earful Everywhere podcast (currently in Italy): https://theearfultower.com/2025/05/15/lets-explore-italy-with-the-earful-everywhere/
- Our walking tours of Paris: http://www.theearfultower.com/tours
Music by Pres Maxson.
The Earful Tower exists thanks to support from its members. From $10 a month you can unlock almost endless extras including bonus podcast episodes, live video replays, special event invites, and our annually updated PDF guide to Paris.
Membership takes only a minute to set up on Patreon, or Substack. Thank you for keeping this channel independent.
For more from the Earful Tower, here are some handy links:
Website
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This week on the podcast, it's The Earful's two new interns Thomas Farnham and Genevieve Victoria Gorain. They share their bucket lists for Paris for their two-month stay in Paris.
I found it quite interesting to hear the perspectives of American university students on the City of Light, not least because my typical guests are a bit older.
We'll check back in on them in a couple months to see how they fared.
Here's the post with all ten ideas they mentioned in the episode.
Also mentioned in this episode:
- The Earful Everywhere podcast (currently in Italy): https://theearfultower.substack.com/p/its-here-the-official-launch-of-the
- Our walking tours of Paris: http://www.theearfultower.com/tours
Music by Pres Maxson.
The Earful Tower exists thanks to support from its members. From $10 a month you can unlock almost endless extras including bonus podcast episodes, live video replays, special event invites, and our annually updated PDF guide to Paris.
Membership takes only a minute to set up on Patreon, or Substack. Thank you for keeping this channel independent.
For more from the Earful Tower, here are some handy links:
Website
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This week on the podcast, I invite my three-year-old son Otis to talk about language. He has been doing a stellar job learning English, French, and Swedish at the same time, and I was curious to pick his brain about it.
You'll hear him tell me how I'm no good at rolling my Rs in French, why he speaks Swedish with his mother, and what he thought about Italy. Well... I mean... he's three years old, so he doesn't really get too deep into anything, but it's still a fascinating conversation for anyone interested in language, the human brain, and international life for families with young children.
This episode is a follow-up to an episode from over a year ago in Season 15, Episode 9 called "How we're raising a trilingual child in Paris". That was my wife Lina and I discussing the same topic. But now it was Otis's chance to take the mic for the first time.
Also mentioned in this episode:
- The Earful Everywhere podcast (currently in Italy): https://theearfultower.substack.com/p/its-here-the-official-launch-of-the
- Our walking tours of Paris: http://www.theearfultower.com/tours
Music by Pres Maxson, his take on Douce France.
The Earful Tower exists thanks to support from its members. From $10 a month you can unlock almost endless extras including bonus podcast episodes, live video replays, special event invites, and our annually updated PDF guide to Paris.
Membership takes only a minute to set up on Patreon, or Substack. Thank you for keeping this channel independent.
For more from the Earful Tower, here are some handy links:
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Let's go deep on the Notre Dame cathedral.
Our guest: Boris Petrovic, who has just published a series of historical essays on Notre Dame.
His books are a series of seven, which you can buy one by one or in a heavyweight tome, all the information is here.
You can also book Boris for a walking tour of Notre Dame here.
Enjoying what we’re doing here at The Earful Tower and keen to see more? Become a Patreon member here or a Substack member here to support it and to discover our exciting extras.
Music: Pres Maxson.
For this season finale, we’re on a private boat on the Seine River with Marie and Bertrand from My Private Paris.
They explain how best to plan a visit to the big five, the Louvre, Notre Dame, the Musee d’Orsay, the Eiffel Tower, and the Seine.
My Private Paris is a local deluxe agency, crafting itineraries for tours in Paris and beyond. See what they offer here. They've been the sponsor for this podcast all season!
Enjoying what we’re doing here at The Earful Tower and keen to see more? Become a Patreon member here to support it and to discover our exciting extras.
Music: Pres Maxson.
We're nearing the end of this podcast season, so here is a look behind the curtain at five exciting things that have happened... and that are about to happen.
This whole season of The Earful Tower is brought to you by My Private Paris, which is an award-winning travel company creating deluxe itineraries for Paris and beyond. See what they offer here and be sure to let them know that you came from The Earful Tower.
Enjoying what we’re doing here at The Earful Tower and keen to see more? Become a Patreon member here to support it and to discover our exciting extras.
This week we talk about fun workshops in Paris that we've done recently, specifically stone carving and hat making. The guest: Lina Nordin Gee.
The details: Stonemasonry classes are with last week's guest Grégory Philippe in his atelier in the Marais. If you want to find his studio and book one of his stone-carving sessions, you can find it online here (Address: 12 Rue du Prévôt, 75004).
For the hatmaking, seek out MiniMe Land (Address: 25 R. de Turbigo, 75002 Paris)
At the end of the episode, Marie Segura from My Private Paris is in the studio discussing how best to visit Giverny and Auvers-sur-Oise, once home to Monet and Van Gogh, respectively.
In fact, this whole season of The Earful Tower is brought to you by My Private Paris, which is an award-winning travel company creating deluxe itineraries for Paris and beyond. See what they offer here and be sure to let them know that you came from The Earful Tower.
Enjoying what we’re doing here at The Earful Tower and keen to see more? Become a Patreon member here to support it and to discover our exciting extras.
This week we chat to stonemason Grégory Philippe in his atelier in the Marais. He reveals the world of limestone, the most important stone in the city.
If you want to find his studio and book one of his stone-carving sessions, you can find it in the heart of the Marais or online here (Address: 12 Rue du Prévôt, 75004).
At the end of the episode, Marie Segura from My Private Paris is in the studio discussing how best to visit her favourite Paris flea market, the Saint Ouen.
In fact, this whole season of The Earful Tower is brought to you by My Private Paris, which is an award-winning travel company creating deluxe itineraries for Paris and beyond. See what they offer here and be sure to let them know that you came from The Earful Tower.
Enjoying what we’re doing here at The Earful Tower and keen to see more? Become a Patreon member here to support it and to discover our exciting extras.
Let's take a closer look at the Père Lachaise cemetery of Paris, the most visited necropolis on earth.
All kinds of famous and interesting people are buried here including Jim Morrison, Edith Piaf, Oscar Wilde… and about a million more. Some 3.5 million people check it out annually.
In this episode you'll hear from author Joe Start, who wrote a book on Père Lachaise called The Chairfather - a literal translation of the cemetery’s French name. This part of the episode is taken from the Earful archives.
Joe visited the tombstones countless times to research the book and interview the dead, and today on The Earful Tower he shares his tips on which graves to find, what to avoid, and how not to act if you’re a tourist there.
And if you like what you hear, you can find the Chairfather book here or on ebook here.
At the end of the episode, Marie Segura from My Private Paris talks more about the cemetery.
In fact, this whole season of The Earful Tower is brought to you by My Private Paris, which is an award-winning travel company creating deluxe itineraries for Paris and beyond. See what they offer here and be sure to let them know that you came from The Earful Tower.
Enjoying what we’re doing here at The Earful Tower and keen to see more? Become a Patreon member here to support it and to discover our exciting extras.
After ten years in Paris, my wife Lina and I couldn't be happier. We have two little Parisian children, we have a small business, and we pinch ourselves to call Paris home.
BUT... we are also square pegs in rounds holes. Being a Swede and an Australian with a podcast company, while speaking questionable French, raises eyebrows.
Here are a handful of things that have become frustrating for us as a result, so you can hopefully use it as a warning if you’re thinking to do the same, or perhaps as a cultural insight into the French mentality.
Featured: Language blunders, tips on where to focus your own language learning, how paper is on a pedestal, and being conflict averse in a "convince me" country.
A fun extra the end of the episode, Marie Segura from My Private Paris tells us about a touring the Musée d'Orsay when it's not open to the public.
In fact, this whole season of The Earful Tower is brought to you by My Private Paris, which is an award-winning travel company creating deluxe itineraries for Paris and beyond. See what they offer here and be sure to let them know that you came from The Earful Tower.
Enjoying what we’re doing here at The Earful Tower and keen to see more? Become a Patreon member here to support it and to discover our exciting extras.
Today we take a list of ten very popular things to do in Paris. And then Marie Segura, the co-founder of the My Private Paris tour agency, breaks them down into underrated or overrated. (And you can read it all here)
Hope this helps you to plan your next trip. Enjoy!
My Private Paris is a local deluxe agency, crafting itineraries for tours in Paris and beyond. See what they offer here.
Enjoying what we’re doing here at The Earful Tower and keen to see more? Become a Patreon member here to support it and to discover our exciting extras.
Music: Pres Maxson.
Let's visit the Louvre with author Elaine Sciolino. Today, we chat about her upcoming book Adventures in the Louvre: How to Fall in Love with the World’s Greatest Museum. The book pulls back the curtain on a building many think they know, but which still contains endless secrets and untold stories.
And if you think you recognise Elaine’s name and voice, perhaps you heard her on the pod before! Elaine, the former Paris bureau chief for The New York Times, has featured The Earful Tower in the past discussing her books about the Seine River and the Rue des Martyrs. In fact, she was the second-ever guest on the show, back in 2017.
Elaine used her extensive experience as a reporter to influence how she wrote this book. She decided the best approach was to explain the Louvre museum “through the prism of someone who’s not an art historian and who’s not a tour guide. I decided to just report the Louvre and talk to everybody that I possibly could.”
And, my goodness, the surprises Elaine uncovered will knock your socks off: spending the day with the museum’s permanent on-site fire fighters, a secret World War Two bunker and long-forgotten graffiti inscribed by the builders of the Philippe Auguste wall.
For Louvre novices who are in danger of having an exhausting and frustrating experience trying to see and do everything, Elaine offers this advice “Find your Louvre identity, find what kind of a visitor you are… And once you decide that it makes it a lot easier, because you forgive yourself for not being perfect…You go each time with a different identity, like you go each time and discover a different work of art.”
Elaine confesses that she wasn’t always the biggest fan of the museum, “the Louvre is a challenge, it’s too big…it’s too crowded, it’s an impossible museum. You have to find your way in. So that’s what I tried to do.” Having visited the building hundreds of times in the course of writing the book, I wondered if Elaine was all Louvre-d out or did she intend to go back? “Oh no, I have to go back. I have to keep going back.”
Adventures in the Louvre: How to Fall in Love with the World’s Greatest Museum is released on 1 April 2025. You can pre-order it here.
A fun extra the end of the episode, Bertrand d’Aleman from My Private Paris tells us about a current exhibition at the museum: The Louvre Couture. This is an exploration of how the vast breadth of decorative art contained within the walls of the museum has informed the world of high fashion. The Louvre Couture exhibition runs from 24 January - 21 July. Book your tickets here.
Artwork mentioned in this episode: Mona Lisa (also known as La Joconde) by Leonardo da Vinci; Man with a glove by Titian, Portrait of a Man (also known as La Condottiere) by Antonello da Messina; The death of Marat by Jacques-Louis David. Thanks to Hannah Coyle for additional reporting.
Enjoying what we’re doing here at The Earful Tower and keen to see more? Become a Patreon member here to support it and to discover our exciting extras.
This season of The Earful Tower is brought to you by My Private Paris, an award-winning travel company creating deluxe itineraries for Paris and beyond. See what they offer here and be sure to let them know that you came from The Earful Tower.
It's time for a day of stained glass windows and gothic churches, featuring a visit to three key churches and cathedrals.
We begin this day trip with Chartres, a little town to the south west of Paris. Trusty tour guide Bertrand d’Aleman, from award-winning travel company My Private Paris, explains how we're in the midst of a gothic church (and stained glass window) revival.
We took the train to Chartres, then spent half a day exploring the cathedral and the town. Then we headed back to Paris for a skip-the-line look at Sainte Chapelle and lastly Notre Dame.
My Private Paris is a local deluxe agency, crafting itineraries for tours in Paris and beyond (including, of course, Champagne). See what they offer here. Here is their full-day trip to Chartres, though this particular excursion was unique to us.
Music: Pres Maxson.
This week The Earful Tower is going to the opera. To prepare, I talked to superstar Australian soprano Siobhan Stagg, who is in Paris to perform in Orlando at the Théâtre du Châtelet.
She helped me to demystify the opera.
Find Siobhan Stagg on Instagram to follow her artistic adventures - and find her on Spotify here.
Want more from The Earful Tower? Become a Patreon member here to support it and to unlock extras.
This season of The Earful Tower is brought to you by the award-winning travel company My Private Paris, which specializes in tours in Paris, day trips outside Paris, and travel itineraries. See what they offer here. This week's fun bonus included a chat with Bertrand about his favourite Paris view.
Get more from The Earful Tower by becoming a Patreon member, or a Substack member, or exploring the official site here.
We filmed a "viral" video with the US ambassador to France, Denise Bauer, in her official residence in Paris.
This episode is a behind-the-scenes from the video, plus a general chat about what has been going on here at The Earful Tower.
Mentioned in this episode:
- Our YouTube video
- The fascinating Pamela Harriman
- Lina's "Scoop du jour" column (read it on Patreon here, Substack here)
- Le Dali restaurant at Le Meurice
This season of The Earful Tower is brought to you by the award-winning travel company My Private Paris, which specializes in tours in Paris, day trips outside Paris, and travel itineraries. See what they offer here. This week's fun bonus included a chat about a stunning church in central Paris that never has a queue out the front.
Get more from The Earful Tower by becoming a Patreon member, or a Substack member, or exploring the official site here.
This week has been full of reflections as I celebrated my ten year anniversary of moving to Paris. Life has changed dramatically in those ten years and building the Earful Tower has been a major part of that.
Little did I know, all those years ago, how much I had to learn about this beautiful, complicated city. It felt only right to contemplate upon what I have learnt over this decade and, to be completely honest, not all of it is totally positive. Acting as your "eyes and ears" in Paris has had its ups and down and now feels like the right time to share some of that on this week’s podcast.
This season of The Earful Tower is brought to you by the award-winning travel company My Private Paris, which specializes in tours in Paris, day trips outside Paris, and travel itineraries. See what they offer here. This week's fun bonus included a chat about the most expensive street in Paris on the Monopoly board game.
Get more from The Earful Tower by becoming a Patreon member, or a Substack member, or exploring the official site here.
IT'S BACK AGAIN!
Every year we make a bucket list of things we want to try for the first time in Paris. In this episode, you'll hear Oliver and Lina sharing their top five things they want to do this year in Paris.
Why not write your own list and join us?
The full list is on our official website here.
This season of The Earful Tower is brought to you by the award-winning travel company My Private Paris, which specializes in tours in Paris, day trips outside Paris, and travel itineraries. See what they offer here.
Get more from The Earful Tower by becoming a Patreon member, or a Substack member, or exploring the official site here.
Short answer: yes. Paris is worth visiting in the winter months.
In this episode, Oliver and Lina explain why, based on their combined 22 winters in Paris.
Mentioned in this episode:
- Ice Skating at the Grand Palais
- A chat with Chef Tony Xu from Shang Palace (see our video here)
- The Petit Palais museum
At the end you'll hear from Marie Segura from My Private Paris talking about the Phantom of the Opera and at the Palais Garnier, which is incidentally a lovely way to while away a winter day.
This season of The Earful Tower is brought to you by the award-winning travel company My Private Paris, which specializes in tours in Paris, day trips outside Paris, and travel itineraries. See what they offer here.
Get more from The Earful Tower by becoming a Patreon member, or a Substack member, or exploring the official site here.
It's time for a day trip to Vaux-le-Vicomte!
This week, I'll show you how to visit the magnificent chateau Vaux-le-Vicomte with Bertrand d’Aleman from award-winning travel company My Private Paris.
We took a private van from Paris, then spent half a day exploring the chateau and its grounds. This was a family-friendly visit (two families on board!) but the episode is aimed at everyone and anyone.
My Private Paris is a local deluxe agency, crafting itineraries for tours in Paris and beyond (including, of course, Champagne). See what they offer here. Here is their full-day trip to Vaux le Vicomte plus Fontainebleau.
Music: Pres Maxson.
Paris is home to over 100 museums, from world-renowned art galleries to quirky, hidden gems. In this episode, we highlight 5 underrated museums you won’t want to miss, each offering a unique glimpse into Parisian history and culture.
Discover the Bibliothèque Nationale Richelieu, where centuries of knowledge await. This historic library houses treasures like a rare Gutenberg Bible and an original manuscript of Les Misérables. Then, explore the newly renovated Musée Carnavalet, a free museum dedicated to the history of Paris, complete with a beautiful Art Nouveau shop and a charming courtyard café.
Next, step into the elegant Musée Jacquemart André, an aristocratic mansion on Boulevard Haussmann that showcases Italian art and a stunning fresco. For something truly unique, visit the Musée des Moulages, a museum of dermatological casts housed in one of Paris’ oldest hospitals. Finally, don’t miss Musée de Montmartre, where iconic artists like Renoir once worked, and the beautiful gardens are just as impressive as the exhibits.
This episode is brought to you by My Private Paris, the award-winning travel company offering private tours in Paris, day trips around France, and custom travel itineraries.
Become a member of The Earful Tower on Patreon or Substack for bonus content, early access, and invites to exclusive events. Members can read the full "Top 20" list of our tips for Best Museums in Paris, one for every arrondissement.
This Week on The Earful Tower: Notre Dame's Grand Reopening
In this special episode, we dive into Notre Dame's grand reopening after the fire that shook the world. I speak with Ariel Weil, the mayor of Paris' central arrondissements, about his firsthand experience inside the newly restored cathedral, and what’s next for this iconic monument.
Then, for a visitor's perspective, I chat with Bertrand d'Aleman, co-founder of My Private Paris, about what tourists can expect when they visit Notre Dame in the coming year.
Both interviews were recorded just steps away from Notre Dame itself — and you can watch the video on YouTube!
This episode is brought to you by My Private Paris, the award-winning travel company offering private tours in Paris, day trips around France, and custom travel itineraries. Marie Segura, co-founder of My Private Paris, also shares insider tips about the Passage des Panoramas.
Become a member of The Earful Tower on Patreon or Substack for bonus content, early access, and invites to exclusive events.
This week on the podcast we are chatting about gin with Charlotte Buisson Dackow from La Distillerie de l’Arbre Sec.
This cool, new micro-distillery is located on a quiet street, with a macabre history, mere steps from the Louvre museum in the 1st arrondissement. We visited their stunning workshop and listened as Charlotte explained the evolution of the gin culture in France.
Offering excellent quality gin, as well as tastings and workshops, it’s clear that Charlotte and her colleagues take gin seriously. Of course, wine is the dominant beverage here, but, as Charlotte explains, things are changing.
“I think gin is taking over the world! Often French people are set in their ways, so we are a little behind everywhere else, but it’s starting here in France. I think it’s really exciting.”
This craft-distillery is such an exciting addition to the Paris mixology scene, comfortably co-existing alongside the more traditional emblems. As Charlotte says “wine will always be there, but we’re just making the drink culture richer.” We couldn’t agree more.
La Distillerie de l’Arbre Sec address: 52 Rue de l’Arbre Sec, 75001
This season of The Earful Tower is brought to you by the award-winning travel company My Private Paris, which specializes in tours in Paris, day trips outside Paris, and travel itineraries. See what they offer here. In this episode, the company's co-founder Marie Segura talks about the Passage des Panoramas.
Get more from The Earful Tower by becoming a Patreon member, or a Substack member, or exploring the official site here. Members already have their invite to our Christmas party at the distillery here.
It's time for a day trip to Versailles!
This week, I'll show you a great way to visit the town of Versailles with the help of Bertrand d’Aleman from award-winning travel company My Private Paris.
We took the train from Paris, then spent a day exploring the town, but never stepped foot inside the palace or the palace grounds.
My Private Paris is a local deluxe agency, crafting itineraries for tours in Paris and beyond (including, of course, Champagne). See what they offer here. Here is their full-day trip to Versailles.
Music: Pres Maxson.
This week, Lina and Oliver discuss how to entertain children in Paris.
Even if you're not visiting with kids, you'll find some good tips in this episode. As usual, everything is written in full, with links and more details, on the website here. Below is a short version.
This season of The Earful Tower is brought to you by the award-winning travel company My Private Paris, which specializes in tours in Paris, day trips outside Paris, and travel itineraries. See what they offer here.
Get more from The Earful Tower by becoming a Patreon member, or a Substack member, or exploring the official site here.
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Atelier des Lumières – an art gallery, housed in a large industrial space, where paintings by famous painters (such as Van Gogh, Chagall and Monet) are projected on the floor, walls and ceiling. It feels like you’re inside the artworks.
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Palais de Tokyo – an expansive art museum, near the Eiffel Tower, with plenty of space and lots of interesting exhibitions.
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Aquarium – an aquarium in central Paris? It doesn’t get much more fun that that.
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Musée de la Chasse et de la Nature – a fun, adventurous museum which you might not initially consider, but there’s a full-size stuffed polar bear. What more could you ask for?
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Deyrolle – technically a shop, but you are welcome to visit. It’s off the beaten path and stuffed full of fascinating creatures.
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Natural History Museum – nothing short of stunning. An exceptional interior and captivating exhibits.
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Zoo – across the park from the Natural History Museum, this is a compact zoo, which has been entertaining families for over 150 years.
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Greenhouses – five tropical greenhouses with plants from across the world.
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Maze – yes, you read that right, a maze in central Paris. Amazing.
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Natural Science Museum – weird and wonderful. The displays will leave you spell-bound.
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Bateaux Mouches – avoid walking too much and getting tired. The most thrilling and beautiful way to see the best of Paris.
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Pony Riding – in Parc Monceau, Luxembourg Gardens and the Champ de Mars, which also offers go-karting.
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Jardin d’Acclimatation – not a garden, but an amusement park. Fairground rides and rollercoasters galore.
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Big Zoo – in the heart of the Bois de Vincennes. Exceptionally good, for a city zoo.
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Ice skating at the Grand Palais – returning after a long closure. Is there a more beautiful place to ice skate in the world?
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Ground Control – not especially central, but worth the commute. A huge abandoned train depot that houses diverse food stands, with interesting shops and games.
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Comptoir Général – a roomy, buzzing canal-side club by night and restaurant by day. Keep your eyes peeled for the pirate ship.
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Crèpes on the go – if in doubt, pick up a crèpe and go.
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Pain d’Épices – a charming, independent toyshop in one of the most beautiful passages in Paris.
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Red Wheelbarrow – three connected bookshops, next to the Luxembourg Gardens, including a shop for children’s books only. You’re sure to find our books there.
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Le Bonmarché – an iconic, Left Bank department store which sells children’s books, toys and clothes. What makes this place different is it offers a babysitting service.
Here are the main mistakes to avoid if you're visiting Paris, according to this week's guest, writer and social media star Anna Kloots.
Anna has lived in Paris for five years - and I've been here for 10 - so this list is based on 15 years of Paris experience.
For more from Anna, find her on Instagram here and Substack here.
This season of The Earful Tower is brought to you by the award-winning travel company My Private Paris, which specializes in tours in Paris, day trips outside Paris, and travel itineraries. See what they offer here.
Get more from The Earful Tower by becoming a Patreon member, or a Substack member, or exploring the official site here.
What's a baguette? A long loaf of bread, surely. WRONG! A baguette can be one of 15 different things. Here's how I found out - and a few baguette-related language facts to impress your French friends.
Featuring, ever-so-briefly, the voice of Véronique from France with Véro. And here's the full French dictionary listing for 'baguette'.
This season of The Earful Tower is brought to you by the award-winning travel company My Private Paris, which specializes in tours in Paris, day trips outside Paris, and travel itineraries. See what they offer here.
Get more from The Earful Tower by becoming a Patreon member, or a Substack member, or exploring the official site here.
Here are our six golden rules for visiting Provence, based on over a decade of visiting the region.
In fact, we just got back to Paris after another visit to the sun-soaked region and now it's time to share what we've learned.
In this episode, you'll hear Lina and I walking in a quiet and beautiful part of Paris, while discussing Provence. You can watch the video on our YouTube channel.
After our chat, Marie Segura from My Private Paris talks about the upcoming reopening of the Notre Dame Cathedral.
This season of The Earful Tower is brought to you by the award-winning travel company My Private Paris, which specializes in tours in Paris, day trips outside Paris, and travel itineraries. See what they offer here.
Get more from The Earful Tower by becoming a Patreon member, or a Substack member, or exploring the official site here.
Meet Céline Flores-Tavukcuoglu. She is a Texan in Paris who runs Céline Concierge, a private concierge service that specializes in Paris.
She shares her five golden rules for if you're thinking to move to Paris (or indeed, France). And even if you're not thinking to make the move, this conversation will shine a light on life in the French capital.
Follow Celine on YouTube here and explore her website here.
After Celine, Marie Segura from My Private Paris talks about the upcoming closure of the Pompidou Center.
This season of The Earful Tower is brought to you by the award-winning travel company My Private Paris, which specializes in tours in Paris, day trips outside Paris, and travel itineraries. See what they offer here.
Get more from The Earful Tower by becoming a Patreon member, or a Substack member, or exploring the official site here.
It's time for a day trip to the Champagne region!
This week, I'll show you a great way to visit the Champagne region with the help of Bertrand d’Aleman from award-winning travel company My Private Paris.
We took the train to Reims, then hired a car to get to the Pommery house, followed by smaller Pierre Paillard house, which has been in the same family for eight generations.
My Private Paris is a local deluxe agency, crafting itineraries for tours in Paris and beyond (including, of course, Champagne). See what they offer here.
Music: Pres Maxson.
Become an Earful Tower Patreon member to unlock the replay of the live stream we filmed at Pierre Paillard.
Meet Romu Oudeyer, a top private chef in Paris. We talk about cooking for celebrities in Paris, France's relationship with food, and how to find good restaurants in Paris.
Follow him on Instagram here and explore his website here. To read the full menu from the home-cooked lunch we discussed, click here.
This season of The Earful Tower is brought to you by the award-winning travel company My Private Paris, which specializes in tours in Paris, day trips outside Paris, and travel itineraries. See what they offer here.
Get more from The Earful Tower by becoming a Patreon member, or a Substack member, or exploring the official site here.
What’s the most “fitting” thing to find in each of the 20 Paris districts? Something – a bar, a cafe, a street, a park… something that’s representative of its neighbourhood?
For example… the eighth arrondissement is something of a business district that’s affluent and beautiful. What site matches that energy? (Spoiler alert: a private art museum).
We posed the challenge to Bertrand d’Aleman from award-winning travel company My Private Paris. Here’s what he suggested.
My Private Paris is a local deluxe agency, crafting Paris itineraries. See what they offer here.
This week I finally got into the Hotel de Beauvais, the 400-year-old aristocratic mansion in the Marais. Here's how I did it, and how you can too!
Address: 68 Rue François Miron, 75004 Paris
More info on the Heritage Days: https://journeesdupatrimoine.culture.gouv.fr/en/
Become a member! For $10 a month you can join the other Patreon members and unlock almost endless extras including bonus podcast episodes, live video replays, special event invites, and our annually updated PDF guide to Paris.
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A mysterious email from Will asked for the ideal itinerary for a 12-hour layover in Paris.
Hosts Oliver and Lina went head-to-head suggesting their own versions of the perfect one-day plan.
But who is Will? Could he really be a Wall Street hound with expensive taste? Or a med student who prefers cheap lunches and riding bikes?
We have no idea - but we tried to help!
Find Oliver’s economical itinerary here.
Find Lina’s luxury itinerary here.
This episode was released early to The Earful Tower's Patreon members, who voted on their favourite itinerary and who chose the winning plan.
For $10 a month you can join them and unlock almost endless extras including bonus podcast episodes, live video replays, special event invites, and our annually updated PDF guide to Paris.
Membership takes only a minute to set up. Thank you for keeping this channel independent.
For more from the Earful Tower, here are some handy links:
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This week on the podcast it's author Scott Carpenter, whose new book is called Paris Lost and Found.
To kick off this "Paris if..." season of the show, he shares his thoughts on how to "roll with it" and see Paris like a local.
You can find him on Instagram here (https://www.instagram.com/frenchlikemoi) and find his book in all good bookshops and online. More from Scott on his website here.
The Earful Tower exists thanks to support from its Patreon members. From $10 a month you can unlock almost endless extras including bonus podcast episodes, live video replays, special event invites, and our annually updated PDF guide to Paris.
Membership takes only a minute to set up. Thank you for keeping this channel independent.
For more from the Earful Tower, here are some handy links:
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Here are my final thoughts on the Paris Olympic Games. In this episode, it's just me, your host Oliver Gee, sharing a few pros and cons of the Olympics.
The Earful Tower exists thanks to support from its Patreon members. From $10 a month you can unlock almost endless extras including bonus podcast episodes, live video replays, special event invites, and our annually updated PDF guide to Paris.
Membership takes only a minute to set up. Thank you for keeping this channel independent.
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Meet Anne Carminati and James Wesolowski, the authors of 111 Museums in Paris You Shouldn't Miss.
We chat about the museum scene in Paris, the pros and cons of large and small museums, and a few good ones to find.
Their official website: https://www.111places.com/111-museums-in-paris
The Earful Tower exists thanks to support from its Patreon members. From $10 a month you can unlock almost endless extras including bonus podcast episodes, live video replays, special event invites, and our annually updated PDF guide to Paris.
Membership takes only a minute to set up. Thank you for keeping this channel independent.
For more from the Earful Tower, here are some handy links:
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Meet Alexandre Durand and Tom Carles - also known as Alex and Tom - but better known as AT Frenchies, a social media duo that has captivated millions with their take on France and the French language.
Their official website: https://www.atfrenchies.com/
Here's the specific clip they were talking about at the end of the episode: https://www.tiktok.com/@atfrenchies/video/6868369465080417542?lang=en
The Earful Tower exists thanks to support from its Patreon members. From $10 a month you can unlock almost endless extras including bonus podcast episodes, live video replays, special event invites, and our annually updated PDF guide to Paris.
Membership takes only a minute to set up. Thank you for keeping this channel independent.
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Here's a chat with Ariel Weil, the mayor of Paris Centre (arrondissements 1-4). He talks about the challenges of hosting the Olympics, especially security hassles that have come with the openening Ceremony on the Seine River.
The Opening Ceremony, perhaps the most ambitious part of the whole games, has turned Ariel's districts into what he compares to a warzone.
Meanwhile, Ariel and some of his fellow mayors in Paris just took a historic dip in the Seine river, which is now clean enough to host the Triatholon swimming! It was all part of giving the river back to the Parisians, he explains.
He also chats about the future of Paris after these "once in a lifetime" Olympics.
The Earful Tower exists thanks to support from its Patreon members. From $10 a month you can unlock almost endless extras including bonus podcast episodes, live video replays, special event invites, and our annually updated PDF guide to Paris.
Membership takes only a minute to set up. Thank you for keeping this channel independent.
For more from the Earful Tower, here are some handy links:
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Meet Tanisha Townsend, a Chicago native who became a wine expert in Paris. She gives us a general info to wine and Paris wine bars, plus her take on wine tastings in the French capital.
Find more about Tanisha (aka Girl Meets Glass) via her website here and her Instagram page here. And here's the link to book a wine tasting with her.
The Earful Tower exists thanks to support from its Patreon members. From $10 a month you can unlock almost endless extras including bonus podcast episodes, live video replays, special event invites, and our annually updated PDF guide to Paris.
Membership takes only a minute to set up. Thank you for keeping this channel independent.
For more from the Earful Tower, here are some handy links:
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This week we're talking about the Latin Quarter. The guest is Earful Tower tour guide Hannah Coyle, discussing one of her favourite neighbourhoods.
The discovery tour of the Latin Quarter is our newest walking tour, you can book a private or semi-private walk, and we're rolling it out on Tuesday afternoons to start. Find more here.
The Earful Tower exists thanks to support from its Patreon members. From $10 a month you can unlock almost endless extras including bonus podcast episodes, live video replays, special event invites, and our annually updated PDF guide to Paris.
Membership takes only a minute to set up. Thank you for keeping this channel independent.
For more from the Earful Tower, here are some handy links:
Website
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Did you know there are 8 Statues of Liberty in Paris. Maybe more. And this week, I'll find them all and show you.
This episode gives you the facts and the history.
Here's the blog link to go with the eight (plus!) statues: https://theearfultower.com/2018/07/04/did-you-know-there-are-five-statue-of-liberty-replicas-in-paris/
And here's the YouTube link for the 4th of July video: https://www.youtube.com/live/KIF9xgReAx8?si=aVifY1e70-gBtQ-9
The Earful Tower exists thanks to support from its Patreon members. From $10 a month you can unlock almost endless extras including bonus podcast episodes, live video replays, special event invites, and our annually updated PDF guide to Paris.
Membership takes only a minute to set up. Thank you for keeping this channel independent.
For more from the Earful Tower, here are some handy links:
Website
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Vanessa Graal, aka Messy Nessy Chic, is selling the Seine. Or at least, little bottles of it, from her new boutique Messy Nessy's Cabinet, in the fifth arrondissement.
She is this week's guest on The Earful Tower, talking about her boutique, her viral idea for selling the Seine, and her wildly popular channel Messy Nessy Chic.
Find more about Vanessa on her website here. You can find her Boutique at 19 Rue de Bievre and you can read more about it here.
You can find the shop at 19 Rue de Bièvre, 75005 Paris * Monday - Friday: 11 AM - 7 PM * Saturday: 2 PM - 7 PM * Sunday: Closed
The Earful Tower exists thanks to support from its Patreon members. From $10 a month you can unlock almost endless extras including bonus podcast episodes, live video replays, special event invites, and our annually updated PDF guide to Paris.
Membership takes only a minute to set up. Thank you for keeping this channel independent.
For more from the Earful Tower, here are some handy links:
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Auctioneer Christophe Lucien is on The Earful Tower, talking about his incredible sales of Paris memorabilia.
His current sale (June 17 and 18, 2024) include everything from a Hector Guimard art nouveau bench to an actual bouquiniste stand by the Seine. The main drawcard, as pointed out by Christophe, are the chandeliers in the Grand Hôtel of the Palais d'Orsay.
Find more about the two auctions for the 2024 Paris mon amour here and here.
This week's episode is a remastered version of an episode from the Earful Tower archives, re-released in time for the current "Paris mon amour" auction happening right now. Find out more about Christophe here at Lucien Paris.
The Earful Tower exists thanks to support from its Patreon members. From $10 a month you can unlock almost endless extras including bonus podcast episodes, live video replays, special event invites, and our annually updated PDF guide to Paris.
Membership takes only a minute to set up. Thank you for keeping this channel independent.
For more from the Earful Tower, here are some handy links:
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So you've seen all the main Paris sights, and maybe even a few of the offbeat ones. But let's go deeper. Here are 20 truly hidden gems, one from every arrondissement, according to podcast host Oliver Gee.
See pictures, and links, and more, here: https://theearfultower.com/2024/06/10/the-best-hidden-gem-in-every-paris-arrondissement/
The Earful Tower exists thanks to support from its Patreon members. From $10 a month you can unlock almost endless extras including bonus podcast episodes, live video replays, special event invites, and our annually updated PDF guide to Paris.
Membership takes only a minute to set up. Thank you for keeping this channel independent.
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Our new children's book, The Animal Games in Paris, left us with some unusual questions.
Does meter rhyme with cheetah? Apparently not, according to some.
And if not, should we keep it in the book? And on that note, should we spell it meter, or metre? Or both?
And that's just a few of the text-based questions from Oliver, who wrote the book.
As for the illustrations by Lina... should Notre Dame be seen as under construction, given that's what it looks like right now? Or should it seem perfect and complete?
What about drawing Olympic Games related stuff? Should the opening ceremony really be on the River Seine, given the plan might be scrapped?
Hosts Oliver and Lina discuss some of the talking points that went into making their fourth children's book, The Animal Games in Paris, which you can find only via The Earful Tower's online shop here.
And a super shoutout to Janet Hulstrand who has edited all five books from Earful Tower Publishing, and who certainly doesn't speak with the atrocious accent that Oliver did in this episode. Find Janet here for her own books and editing services.
The Earful Tower exists thanks to support from its Patreon members. From $10 a month you can unlock almost endless extras including bonus podcast episodes, live video replays, special event invites, and our annually updated PDF guide to Paris.
Membership takes only a minute to set up. Thank you for keeping this channel independent.
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Meet Morgan Walesh, an American in Paris who specializes in the hidden underbelly of the city.
She talks of her love for the catacombs, the "history of the streets", and how she tried to talk her way into an infamous Paris apartment...
Find out more about Morgan and her work on "Paris History of our Streets" via her website here, Instagram here, and Facebook here.
The Earful Tower exists thanks to support from its Patreon members. From $10 a month you can unlock almost endless extras including bonus podcast episodes, live video replays, special event invites, and our annually updated PDF guide to Paris.
Membership takes only a minute to set up. Thank you for keeping this channel independent.
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Meet Parisian woman Virginie Dubost. In 2018, she became a paraplegic after a surfing accident.
Now, she is an accessibility advocate and has made headlines in Paris for drawing attention to accessibility issues in the city.
She joined us in the lovely Square Santiago-du-Chili in the 7th arrondissement to talk about Paris, its low level of accessibility, and how it can be improved. Here's the viral video she featured in, which we talked about in the show (4 million hits on Instagram!)
Find out more about Virginie via her Instagram page here.
The Earful Tower exists thanks to support from its Patreon members. From $10 a month you can unlock almost endless extras including bonus podcast episodes, live video replays, special event invites, and our annually updated PDF guide to Paris.
Membership takes only a minute to set up. Thank you for keeping this channel independent.
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Meet Daniel Christensen, an avid boulderer in Paris.
He talks of how the trend of climbing - aka bouldering - is captivating people's attention in Paris, and how the worldwide sport actually started near Paris in Fontainebleau. Even if you're not a climber, this makes for an interesting chat about Paris and how sports/hobbies/pastimes are changing. There's even a climbing hall INSIDE a church!
Find out more about Daniel on his Instagram page here.
The Earful Tower exists thanks to support from its Patreon members. From $10 a month you can unlock almost endless extras including bonus podcast episodes, live video replays, special event invites, and our annually updated PDF guide to Paris.
Membership takes only a minute to set up. Thank you for keeping this channel independent.
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Meet Simon Kuper, a British (and naturalized French) journalist in Paris.
He talks of how the changing face of Paris and its suburbs - and his new book Impossible City: Paris in the Twenty-First Century.
Find out more about Simon and his work on his Twitter profile here.
The Earful Tower exists thanks to support from its Patreon members. From $10 a month you can unlock almost endless extras including bonus podcast episodes, live video replays, special event invites, and our annually updated PDF guide to Paris.
Membership takes only a minute to set up. Thank you for keeping this channel independent.
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If you've been to a Paris cemetery, you might have seen curious collections of unusual objects on certain gravestones (especially celebrities like Jim Morrisson and Oscar Wilde). You can find potatoes, chewing gum, Metro tickets, apples... and much more. In this episode, Ana Gimena from LivTours breaks down some of the main offerings you can find on gravestones at Pere Lachaise and Montparnasse cemetery. Book a walking tour of Pere Lachaise with LivTours here. LivTours offer more than 30 experiences in and around Paris (and hundreds more across Europe). Their tour groups are small - max 6 people - or private and include everything from Pere Lachaise Cemetery and the Catacombs, to day trips in Versailles, Giverny, and Champagne. They also do food tours of the Marais, small group and private visits to the Louvre, and TukTuk tours of Paris. Find out more here about LivTours here.
Meet Frank Adrian Barron, an American baker in Paris (better know as Cake Boy Paris).
He talks of how he made it as a baker in the city, sharing his sweet treats on social media, and his book Sweet Paris.
Find out more about Frank and his work via his Instagram page here, his website here, and his book here.
The Earful Tower exists thanks to support from its Patreon members. From $10 a month you can unlock almost endless extras including bonus podcast episodes, live video replays, special event invites, and our annually updated PDF guide to Paris.
Membership takes only a minute to set up. Thank you for keeping this channel independent.
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Meet Scott Hillier, an Australian movie director in Paris, who runs the European Independant Film Festival (the ÉCU).
He talks of the iconic light in the city of Paris, his film festival, and his exploits around the world as a director and war photographer.
Find out more about the annual Film Festival here, 2024 marks the 19th festival, and it runs on April 19th, 20th, and 21st in Montparnasse.
The Earful Tower exists thanks to support from its Patreon members. From $10 a month you can unlock almost endless extras including bonus podcast episodes, live video replays, special event invites, and our annually updated PDF guide to Paris.
Membership takes only a minute to set up. Thank you for keeping this channel independent.
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Meet Allie Goodbun, a Canadian dancer at the iconic Moulin Rouge in Paris.
She talks of how she got the job, her life in Montmartre, and her love for the City of Light.
Want to join the fun on Allie's social media? You can find her on TikTok here and Instagram here - and here's the link to her new clothing brand for Ready Freddie dancewear.
Here's a snippet of this very podcast episode on her Tik Tok channel.
The Earful Tower exists thanks to support from its Patreon members. From $10 a month you can unlock almost endless extras including bonus podcast episodes, live video replays, special event invites, and our annually updated PDF guide to Paris.
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This week it's food critic and cookbook author Patricia Wells. Originally from the US, she moved to Paris in 1980 where she worked as a restaurant critic for the International Herald Tribune and later the French weekly newspaper L’Express.
Along the way she has published 15 books and made a home in Paris and Chanteduc, in Provence.
We also talk of how Patricia is selling her collection of antiques and furniture via antique's dealer Chez Pluie. You can find the collection: At Home with Patricia Wells by following this link.
The Earful Tower exists thanks to support from its Patreon members. From $10 a month you can unlock almost endless extras including bonus podcast episodes, live video replays, special event invites, and our annually updated PDF guide to Paris.
Membership takes only a minute to set up. Thank you for keeping this channel independent.
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This week on the show we make mille-feuilles - the "thousand layer pastry" to celebrate 1,000 reviews of The Earful Tower podcast. Thanks to all who've left reviews over the years.
You might know a mille-feuille as a Napoleon, a custard slice, or a vanilla slice. But we all know it as delicious, especially when it's freshly baked.
For this episode, you'll join our team as we prepare this iconic dessert at Cook’n With Class, complete with some pastry and chocolate tips from the chef.
Please click here to book a class with Cook'n With Class, and write "The Earful Tower" at checkout so they know I sent you. If you book before the end of March 2024 I'll send you my PDF guide to Paris for free as a thanks!
Their English-speaking cooking classes are a delightful blend of fun, education, and gastronomy. Designed for culinary enthusiasts of all levels, they offer a unique opportunity to explore French cuisine through hands-on experiences in a welcoming atmosphere.
The Earful Tower exists thanks to support from its Patreon members. From $10 a month you can unlock almost endless extras including bonus podcast episodes, live video replays, special event invites, and our annually updated PDF guide to Paris.
Membership takes only a minute to set up. Thank you for keeping this channel independent.
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This week on the show we welcome back Diederick de Jongh, the owner of Flora Magnifica, which sells the finest faux flowers in France.
He was last on the show in 2021, but since then he has changed locations of his shop to be further north in the Marais by a famous bistro.
We chatted about business, Paris, and his new project supplying flowers to cultural heritage institutions around France. We also talk about what happens to a small shop in the Marais after it features on The Earful Tower podcast!
How to visit Flora Magnifica Address: 58 rue des Tournelles, 75003 Paris Hours: Open Tuesday – Sundays For more information visit their website here and follow them on Instagram here
This episode was brought to you by Cook'n With Class, click here to book a class with them.
The Earful Tower exists thanks to support from its Patreon members. From $10 a month you can unlock almost endless extras including bonus podcast episodes, live video replays, special event invites, and our annually updated PDF guide to Paris.
Membership takes only a minute to set up. Thank you for keeping this channel independent.
For more from the Earful Tower, here are some handy links:
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Is Paris a safe city? The truth is, it's probably about as safe as any other big city.
In other words, you need to be smart when you're here.
And this week on the podcast, American content creator in Paris Amanda Rollins shares her tips and tricks for being street smart in the City of Light.
Amanda has made a name for herself on her wildly popular social media accounts as American Fille, where she shares how to stay out of trouble in Paris (and many, many other things).
Find her on TikTok here (over a million followers!) and Instagram here.
The chat spans lot of other topics too!
This episode was brought to you by Cook'n With Class, click here to book a class with them. I did the sauce-making class and LOVED it.
The Earful Tower exists thanks to support from its Patreon members. From $10 a month you can unlock almost endless extras including bonus podcast episodes, live video replays, special event invites, and our annually updated PDF guide to Paris.
Membership takes only a minute to set up. Thank you for keeping this channel independent.
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If the words "French Revolution" seem daunting to you, then you're not alone.
It would take a whole series of podcast episodes to truly understand it all - and luckily for us - podcaster Mike Duncan has done exactly that. His Revolutions Podcast is world renowned.
In this episode of The Earful Tower, he breaks down the French Revolution to its simplest essence. You could call it "The French Revolution For Idiots", where I, your humble host, play the part of the idiot and ask all the questions you are too shy to ask.
As for Mike, a self-confessed "complete history geek", you can find more of his work via his Twitter page here.
This episode was first aired on The Earful Tower in 2019.
This episode was brought to you by Cook'n With Class, click here to book a class with them. I did the sauce-making class and LOVED it.
The Earful Tower exists thanks to support from its Patreon members. From $10 a month you can unlock almost endless extras including bonus podcast episodes, live video replays, special event invites, and our annually updated PDF guide to Paris.
Membership takes only a minute to set up. Thank you for keeping this channel independent.
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Lina and I discuss how circumstance has led to us raising our nearly three-year-old son in French, Swedish, and English.
This episode was brought to you by Cook'n With Class, click here to book a class with them. I did the sauce-making class and LOVED it.
The Earful Tower exists thanks to support from its Patreon members. From $10 a month you can unlock almost endless extras including bonus podcast episodes, live video replays, special event invites, and our annually updated PDF guide to Paris.
Membership takes only a minute to set up. Thank you for keeping this channel independent.
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Buying property in Paris (and France, in general) isn't easy.
Aside from the dreaded French admin, there is a whole world of traps and tricks to consider. Omissions in the property listing, negotiating prices, and why you shouldn't share a notary with the seller....
This week, lawyer and buyer's agent Christine Bacoup-Tidas explains some of the key pitfalls to avoid in the process. She also chats about property in Paris in general, and her previous life as a ballet dancer and then lawter in New York City.
Find her and her website Tomette Paris here to get help buying your own place: www.tometteparis.com
The Earful Tower exists thanks to support from its Patreon members. From $10 a month you can unlock almost endless extras including bonus podcast episodes, live video replays, special event invites, and our annually updated PDF guide to Paris.
Membership takes only a minute to set up. Thank you for keeping this channel independent.
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There's a lot of talk right now about the iconic booksellers by the Seine, aka the bouquinistes.
In recent months, the Paris Town Hall officials threatened to remove the stalls to make way for the Olympic Games, but President Macron overturned the decision this week.
The book stalls are here to stay.
I figured many Earful Tower listeners might want to know more about these mysterious bouquinistes, so let's revisit my chat with Sydney Zekley, who ran one of the stalls not too far from the Tour d'Argent restaurant.
The music in this episode is an original tune from Pres Maxson, fittingly titled Sunset on the Seine.
The original chat with Sydney was from July, 2019 (season 6, episode 9). This week's version has been updated, remastered, and edited accordingly.
The Earful Tower exists thanks to support from its Patreon members. From $10 a month you can unlock almost endless extras including bonus podcast episodes, live video replays, special event invites, and our annually updated PDF guide to Paris.
Membership takes only a minute to set up. Thank you for keeping this channel independent.
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Chef David Lebovitz is back on the show to talk about the Aligre Market (le marché d'Aligre) in the 12th arrondissement of Paris.
Follow David here for his newsletter on Substack.
Music in this episode is from Pres Maxson.
The Earful Tower exists thanks to support from its Patreon members. From $10 a month you can unlock almost endless extras including bonus podcast episodes, live video replays, special event invites, and our annually updated PDF guide to Paris.
Membership takes only a minute to set up. Thank you for keeping this channel independent.
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Author Samuel Lopez-Barrantes is on the show talking about being a writer in Paris. Perhaps it's not as romantic and lovely as it might sound. Or perhaps it is!
Sam has just published his new book, The Requisitions, which you can find here.
Follow Sam on Substack here for his page "If Not, Paris" which offers "fiction, essays & music from Paris".
Music in this episode is from Pres Maxson.
The Earful Tower exists thanks to support from its Patreon members. From $10 a month you can unlock almost endless extras including bonus podcast episodes, live video replays, special event invites, and our annually updated PDF guide to Paris.
Membership takes only a minute to set up. Thank you for keeping this channel independent.
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This week, Australian Sam Davies is on the show talking about bars in Paris. He has grown an online following by asking bartenders in Paris (and around the world) to recommend other bars.
He talks about the Paris bar scene and how it is evolving, and also lists ten bars worth visiting.
In the list is everything from places to get fancy to places to bring your mates. There's something for everyone here.
Click here to read the full list, with all the addresses.
As for Sam Davies, find his Instagram Great Place To here.
Music in this episode is from Pres Maxson.
The Earful Tower exists thanks to support from its Patreon members. From $10 a month you can unlock almost endless extras including bonus podcast episodes, live video replays, special event invites, and our annually updated PDF guide to Paris.
Membership takes only a minute to set up. Thank you for keeping this channel independent.
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I love the French language. I feel like I could make an episode like this every year. The ten words and words like I like, that make me smile, or that have some kind of a fun story to them.
You can hear me describing them and pronouncing them in greater detail in this week's podcast episode, or click here to read the blog and see the spelling.
Music in this episode is from Pres Maxson.
The Earful Tower exists thanks to support from its Patreon members. From $10 a month you can unlock almost endless extras including bonus podcast episodes, live video replays, special event invites, and our annually updated PDF guide to Paris.
Membership takes only a minute to set up. Thank you for keeping this channel independent.
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This week I recap my recent three-hour checkup at the Parisian doctors.
Whether you've been to the doctor in France a million times or never before, I'm sure you'll learn something from my experiences and observations :)
The Earful Tower exists thanks to support from its Patreon members. From $10 a month you can unlock almost endless extras including bonus podcast episodes, live video replays, special event invites, and our annually updated PDF guide to Paris.
Membership takes only a minute to set up. Thank you for keeping this channel independent.
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IT'S BACK AGAIN!
Every year we make a bucket list of things we want to try for the first time in Paris. In this episode, you'll hear Oliver and Lina sharing their top five things they want to do this year in Paris - and we also share the lists of everyone on the Earful Tower team.
Why not write your own list and join us?
The full list will be on our official website very soon: www.theearfultower.com
The season is over, the year is over. It's time for a little reflection. In this episode I answer 15 audience questions about our epic ABCson.
All the questions come from the Patreon members. Join them here. https://www.patreon.com/theearfultower
The music in this episode is from Pres Maxson, find his Substack here.
Click here for our walking tours of Paris.
Z is for Zinc.
In this season finale episode, we tackle the topic of zinc, which is used to make 75 percent of the Paris rooftops.
I chat with Constance Allard, who runs the zinc workshop Les toits Parisiens. I also climbed onto a zinc roofing construction site in the 1st arrondissement, and chatted with roofer Frederic Cordier from the roofing company La Louisane.
You can see some amazing pictures from our rooftop escapades here on the official website.
Do you like this podcast? Become a Patreon member of The Earful Tower here to support this show and get extras.
The music in this episode is from Pres Maxson, find his Substack here.
Click here for our walking tours of Paris.
Y is for Yesteryear.
In this episode, I chat with two long-time Paris residents about their first impressions of the city.
First, you'll hear from American music journalist Valli about life in Paris in the early 1980s. (Valli was first on the Earful Tower in 2019: "Famous in France: Meet American singer Valli")
Then it's Englishman Jim Bane who first came to Paris in 1963. (Jim was first on the Earful Tower in 2017: "Paris expat for 50 years".)
Do you like this podcast? Become a Patreon member of The Earful Tower here to support this show and get extras.
The music in this episode is from Pres Maxson, find his Substack here.
Click here for our walking tours of Paris.
X is for Xmas, obviously.
In this episode, we share what happened on our eXciting and eXhausting and eXhilarating Christmas walk around the Pantheon.
This is, more specifically, a recap of our 2023 Christmas party, when I took 35 people on an evening stroll, while bumping into five famous characters from the past 1500 years of French history.
For the full experience, listen to the interactive version of the show as a Patreon member. You can hear the audio from the big night and even answer the questions. Find it here.
Do you like this podcast? Become a Patreon member of The Earful Tower here to support this show and get extras.
The music in this episode is from Pres Maxson, find his Substack here.
Click here for our walking tours of Paris.
W is for Wall. In this episode, I take you for an exciting and historic walk through the Left Bank of Paris to discover hidden vestiges of the Philippe Auguste Wall.
This episode marks the end of my wall trilogy. The first part of the trilogy covered the right bank of Paris, the second part was the 5th arrondissement.
Today, we're focused on the sixth arrondissement and I'll take you into libraries, restaurants, hotels, offices, and car parks in search of this elusive 800-year-old wall.
You'll hear the voice of Florian-Élie Vaz from the Officine Universelle Buly (the perfume place featuring the tower). Find their perfume emporium online here.
Do you like this podcast? Become a Patreon member of The Earful Tower here to support this show and get extras.
The music in this episode is from Pres Maxson, find his Substack here.
Click here for our walking tours of Paris.
V is for Vegan. In this episode, we talk to Amanda Bankert, the owner of Boneshaker Donuts, who has just released a book called Voilà Vegan (double V!).
In the book, she reveals that this famed donut shop has been secretly vegan for years!!
As a vegan herself, Amanda shares her insights into the city's vegan scene and how it has developed over the years.
Mentioned in this episode:
- Voila Vegan (remember to leave reviews on Amazon!)
- Boneshaker Donuts & Coffee
Do you like this podcast? Become a Patreon member of The Earful Tower here to support this show and get extras.
The music in this episode is from Pres Maxson, find his Substack here.
Click here for our walking tours of Paris.
U is for Underground. In this episode, we take you below Paris: On the Metro, through the sewers, and into the (illegal) catacombs.
Mentioned in this episode:
- Luke's English podcast
- Amber's Paname Podcast
- The Comte de Saint Germain who does audio walks of Paris
Do you like this podcast? Become a Patreon member of The Earful Tower here to support this show and get extras.
The music in this episode is from Pres Maxson, find his Substack here.
Click here for our walking tours of Paris.
T is for Tour d'Argent. In this episode, we take you inside the famed Tour d'Argent restaurant on the Left Bank of Paris, and you'll hear from me and my wife Lina Nordin Gee as we dine.
We also discuss our thoughts on the renovation job from 2022/2023, which has made for one of the most stunning dining experiences in France. And as for the food: Wow.
Mentioned in this episode:
- The Tour d'Argent restaurant. Book a table here.
- Tour d'Argent address: 15 Quai de la Tournelle, 75005 Paris
Do you like this podcast? Become a Patreon member of The Earful Tower here to support this show and get extras.
The music in this episode is from Pres Maxson, find his Substack here.
Click here for our walking tours of Paris.
S is for Sainte-Chapelle. In this episode, I'll take you inside this ancient royal chapel with its incredible stained glass windows.
You'll hear from tour guide and Paris expert Amber Minogue, who gives us some insight into the 13th century chapel.
You'll also hear my own thoughts about visiting the Sainte-Chapelle on a VIP tour when it was completely empty. Those tickets are unavailable for the foreseeable future, but you can book their Sainte-Chapelle skip-the-line tour on this link.)
Mentioned in this episode:
- Skip-the-line Sainte-Chapelle & Marie Antoinette’s Prison Medieval Tour. Book here.
- Sainte-Chapelle address: 10 Bd du Palais, 75001 Paris.
- Amber Minogue's podcast: Paname Podcast
Do you like this podcast? Become a Patreon member of The Earful Tower here to support this show and get extras.
The music in this episode is from Pres Maxson, find his Substack here.
Click here for our walking tours of Paris.
R is for Richelieu. In this episode, we'll take you inside the newly renovated Richelieu Library, and then its incredible upstairs museum.
This episode is co-hosted by Lina Nordin Gee.
Featured in the episode:
- Find the library and museum here.
- Address: 5 Rue Vivienne, 75002 Pariss
- The app we mentioned is called BNF Richelieu
- The museum room I loved was the La Galerie Mazarin
Do you like this podcast? Become a Patreon member of The Earful Tower here to support this show and get extras.
The music in this episode is from Pres Maxson, find his Substack here.
Click here for our walking tours of Paris.
Q is for Queer. In this episode, I'll give you an insight into Gay Paris. And by gay I mean LGBTQIA+.
Where is the gay quarter... or perhaps a better question.... what's happened to the gay quarter now that gentrifcation has hit the Marais?
Also: What's a gay bookshop? What do they sell and to whom?
Featured in this episode: Bryan Pirolli from The Gay Locals, Boris from Le Ju' cafe, and Nicolas Wanstok from Les Mots à la Bouche bookshop.
- Find more from The Gay Locals here.
- Find the bookshop Les Mots à la Bouche here: Address - 37 Rue Saint-Ambroise, 75011 Paris
- Find the bar with the rainbow umbrellas, Le Ju' cafe, here: 16 Rue des Archives, 75004 Paris
Do you like this podcast? Become a Patreon member of The Earful Tower here to support this show and get extras.
The music in this episode is from Pres Maxson, find his Substack here.
Click here for our walking tours of Paris.
P is for Provence. In this episode, you'll hear some thoughts on the lovely southern French region, with the help of some great guests.
First, you'll hear from Suzannah and Hugh Cameron from the antique shop Chez Pluie Provence, sharing some practical travel advice.
Then it's my own mother, her first time on the pod, sharing her Provence ponderings.
Then it's Lina aka Parisian Postcards discussing her thoughts on her week in Provence.
Five towns/villages mentioned in this podcast episode:
- Avignon
- Isle-sur-la-Sorgue
- Oppède Le Vieux
- Menerbes
- Saint-Rémy-de-Provence
Do you like this podcast? Become a Patreon member of The Earful Tower here to support this show and get extras.
The music in this episode is from Pres Maxson, find his Substack here.
Click here for our walking tours of Paris.
O is for the Olympic Games. In this episode, you'll hear my first look ahead to the 2024 summer Olympics.
Given it is still so far away, this is more of a light intro to the topic, with the help of some great guests.
First, you'll hear from the American Ambassador to France, Denise Campbell Bauer, talking about Americans and their connection to Paris, then sharing some practical travel advice.
Then it's Coutume cafe owner Tom Clark, an Australian in Paris, who gives his thoughts on the Games from a business and local perspective.
Do you like this podcast? Become a Patreon member of The Earful Tower here to support this show and get extras.
The music in this episode is from Pres Maxson, find his Substack here.
Click here for our walking tours of Paris.
N is for the Notre Dame. In this episode, you'll hear about where we're at with the restoration of the Notre Dame cathedral.
Short answer: It will reopen December 2024.
Long answer: I chat to one of the carpenters involved in the restoration project, I visit the new Virtual Reality exhibition (which is exceptional), and I take a look in the crypt.
Do you like this podcast? Become a Patreon member of The Earful Tower here to support this show and get extras.
The music in this episode is from Pres Maxson, find his Substack with specific show notes to this episode here.
Click here for our walking tours of Paris.
M is for the Marais. In this episode, you'll hear my thoughts on how I'd spend a perfect last day in the Marais district of Paris (in other words, the third and fourth arrondissements).
You'll also hear from Paul Barron, co-owner of Le Peloton Cafe and Bike About Tours, and then from tour guide Amber Minogue!
Mentioned in this episode:
Musée Carnavalet
Musée de la chasse et de la Nature
Musée des archives
Hotel de Sully
Place des Vosges
Miznon restaurant
A whole lot more
Do you like this podcast? Become a Patreon member of The Earful Tower here to support this show and get extras.
The music in this episode is from Pres M is for Maxson.
Click here for our walking tours of Paris.
A bit of reflection as we reach the halfway point of this AB-Season.
As I said in the episode, a big thanks to musician Pres Maxson, photographer Augusta Sagnelli, editor Eddie Gee, and occasional co-host Lina Nordin-Gee.
L is for Lyon. In this episode, you'll hear about my experiences after spending 48 hours in Lyon with Lovely Lina.
There's also some local insights from Caroline Connor, who does wine tastings in Lyon, and runs the website and social media accounts by the name of Wine Dine Caroline.
You can find more from her here: https://www.winedinecaroline.com/
Do you like this podcast? Become a Patreon member of The Earful Tower here to support this show and get extras.
The music in this episode is from Pres Maxson.
K is for Kylie the Crocodile in Paris. In this episode, you'll hear a brand new twist in the story of Kylie the Crocodile.
This episode was taken from a live show at Spilling the Beans.
You can find more from them here: https://www.spillingthebeans.fr/
To buy a copy of our childdren's book, Kylie the Crocodile in Paris, click here: https://theearfultower.com/product/kylie-the-crocodile-hardback/
Do you like this podcast? Become a Patreon member of The Earful Tower here to support this show and get extras.
The music in this episode is from Pres Maxson.
J is for Jewish Paris. In this episode, I take you walking through the Jewish quarter of Paris to try to understand what's going on there.
Edith de Belleville, a licensed tour guide, author, and expert on Jewish history, writes me an itinerary of what to find, including:
- The Shoah Memorial
- The Museum of Jewish Art and History
- The As du Fallafel restaurant
During my cultural an culinary explorations, I bump into Jewish history guide Karen Reb Rudel who explains more about Jews in Paris.
Then I track down the head honcho at L'As du Fallafel, Yomi Peretz, to understand how his restaurant got so popular.
Do you like this podcast? Become a Patreon member of The Earful Tower here to support this show and get extras.
The music in this episode is from Pres Maxson.
I is for Ile Saint-Louis - an island in the Seine. As far as I'm concerned, it features the most beautiful walk in Paris.
In this episode, I take you walking along the best bits of the island and share my favourite haunts. I also share my ideal route so you can do the same.
Do you like this podcast? Become a Patreon member of The Earful Tower here to support this show and get extras, including a video walk of this very route.
The music in this episode is from Pres Maxson.
H is for Haussmann - Baron Haussmann that is. He was the urban planner behind the redesign of Paris under Napoleon III.
But what is a Haussmannian building? Who was Haussmann, really, and why was his work so important? Where can you find it in Paris? And what's his legacy?
All those questions are answered in this episode, with help from tour guide Boris Petrovic from Paris in Person (find his Haussmannian Paris tour here).
Do you like this podcast? Become a Patreon member of The Earful Tower here to support this show and get extras.
The music in this episode is from Pres Maxson.
G is for Guimard - Hector Guimard that is. He is the architect behind the iconic Paris Metro entrances, several Art Nouveau buildings in Paris, and some very beautiful furniture and decorations in museum displays around the world.
But what is Art Nouveau? Who was Guimard, really, and why was his work so important? Where can you find it in Paris? And what's his legacy?
All those questions are answered in this episode, with help from tour guide Boris Petrovic from Paris in Person (find his Art Nouveau tour here), from Paris head auctioneer Chrisophe Lucien, and from Julie Treumann of the Driehaus Museum in Chicago.
Do you like this podcast? Become a Patreon member of The Earful Tower here to support this show and get extras.
The music in this episode is from Pres Maxson.
Lastly, book a walking tour of Paris, or indeed the Louvre, via our official website The Earful Tower.
F is for Floods - that is, the floods of the Seine River in Paris. And today we're paying particular attention to the game-changing Great Flood of 1910.
Featured is the voice of Jeffrey Jackson, Professor of History at Rhodes College, and the author of "Paris Under Water: How the City of Light Survived the Great Flood of 1910". You can find more about Jeffrey on his website here.
Become a Patreon member of The Earful Tower here to support this show and get extras.
The music in this episode is from Pres Maxson.
Lastly, book a walking tour of Paris, or indeed the Louvre, via our official website The Earful Tower.
E is for the Eiffel Tower, the most iconic landmark in France, probably Europe, and maybe the world.
This podcast episode features 10 facts about the tower, but you're going to have to try and guess them first. There are 10 points at stake, good luck.
Featured is the voice two people very dear to me.
Become a Patreon member of The Earful Tower here to support this show and get extras.
The music in this episode is from Pres Maxson.
Lastly, book a walking tour of Paris, or indeed the Louvre, via our official website The Earful Tower.
D is for Deauville, a small town north of Paris on the coast of Normandy that has captured the attention of film-buffs, gamblers, beach lovers, and horse racing fans since the 1800s.
We visited with the help of the local tourism board for this episode.
Featured is the voice of horse-related storyteller and journalist Fanny Hubart-Salmon and then Annie Madet-Vache who is Director of the local museum Les Franciscaines.
Become a Patreon member of The Earful Tower here to support this show and get extras.
The music in this episode is from Pres Maxson.
Lastly, book a walking tour of Paris, or indeed the Louvre, via our official website The Earful Tower.
C is for Chateaux - of which there are 45,000 in France. I've always been quite fascinated by French castles, and this episode takes a closer look at how they're financed.
We all know they're expensive to buy and to run, so I looked into some exciting modern ways people are making French chateaux work.
Featured is the voice Emily Jane Boeuf, the communications head of Dartagnans, a startup that uses crowdfunding to buy and preserve French castles.
Here are a few links for more information : Link to the official site Link to Dartagnans instagram page Link to the Mothe Chandeniers instagram page Later in the episode is Australian Jane Webster, who runs the Chateau de Bosgouet in Normandy.
Her website is here and Instagram here.
Become a Patreon member of The Earful Tower here to support this show and get extras - and to hear the bonus crocodile episoe.
The music in this episode is from Pres Maxson.
Lastly, book a walking tour of Paris, or indeed the Louvre, via our official website The Earful Tower.
B is for Bievre, the river that once ran through Paris. This episode is about our pilgrimmage to track it, how I walked through it with an immortal count, and a word on the exciting future of the river.
Featured is the voice of Lina Nordin Gee and the Comte de Saint Germain, who showed me the river in the suburb of Gentilly.
Become a Patreon member here to support this show and get extras - and to watch the Bievre walk replay (and to get invites to similar walks in the future).
The episode in this music is from Pres Maxson.
Get in touch to book a walking tour of Paris, or indeed the Louvre, via the contact form on The Earful Tower.
A is for Arago, the name of the scientist who helped map out the Paris meridian line (François Arago (1786-1853)).
In this episode, I explore the "Rose Line" (as it was called in the Da Vinci Code), seeking out the bronze medallions along the streets of Paris, through the Louvre, and into the Paris Observatory.
Featured is the voice of Nicolas Lesté-Lasserre, a science historian and the community manager of the Observatoire de Paris. He showed me around this incredible 17th century institution, which is usually closed to the public.
Find more, including beautiful pictures of the observatory, on The Earful Tower's website.
Become a Patreon member here to support this show and get extras.
The episode in this music is from Pres Maxson, featuring an original song called Le Meridien de Paris.
Get in touch to book a walking tour of Paris, or indeed the Louvre, via the contact form on The Earful Tower.
Welcome to the ABCeason... or the AB Season... or the ABC-son. Haven't quite figured the spelling yet, but you get the idea, I hope.
Now you know what the next 26 episodes will hold.
Support this show on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/theearfultower
It's our series finale on the French Riviera. This time, we're looking at art, especially through the lens of cinema (and the Cannes Film Festival) - and via the paintbrush of the impressionists.
This episode features author Edward Chisholm (Instagram here) and artist Johan Patricny (Instagram here). Cohosted by Lina Nordin Gee (Instagram video of the art here).
Rolling Stone link: https://cornichewatches.com/rolling-stones-exile-ville-nellcote/
Music by Pres Maxson.
Become a member of The Earful Tower here: www.patreon.com/theearfultower
Happy travelling! (Find more here: www.theearfultower.com/riviera)
After month in the French Riviera, here is the Earful Tower's tips for places we recommend in the area, from big famous towns to tiny and lovely villages.
Mentioned in this episode:
Antibes, Juan-Les-Pins, Nice, La Turbie, Monaco, Biot, Cannes, Villa Kerylos, Villefranche-sur-Mer, and Eze.
Music by Pres Maxson.
Become a member of The Earful Tower here: www.patreon.com/theearfultower
Happy travelling! (Find more here: www.theearfultower.com/riviera)
Author John Baxter is back - this time discussing literature from the French Riviera. We tackle a lot, with a bigger focus on F Scott Fitzgerald and Marina Picasso (and her tell-all book).
Book a walking tour with John and find his books here.
Support The Earful Tower on Patreon and get the second half of this conversation.
Find more from this French Riviera miniseries here.
Things we mentioned (to help you with spelling and searching...)
First ten mins
- John tasted bouillabaisse in Sète
- John's friend was in the town of Cabris
- The Villa Noailles in Hyères for the work of architect Robert Mallet-Stevens
- French Riviera and its Artists: Book by John Baxter
- Menton as the notorious place to die (tales of Yates, Beardsley, de Maupassant)
10mins to 20mins
- Cole Porter and his wife, their friends Gerald and Sara Murphy
- Hotel du Cap and the Fitzgeralds
- Le Train Bleu with gamblers and prostitutes (now a restaurant, saved by Georges André Malraux)
- Le Balzar restaurant in Paris
- Cafe de Flore, Le Coupole, Les Deux Magots restaurants in Paris
- Hotel Belles Rives where F Scott Fitzgerald stayed (in Juan-les-Pins, Antibes) - and he also stayed in the nearby town of Saint-Raphaël
- Tender is the Night: Dedicated "To Gerald and Sara—Many Fêtes"
20 mins onwards
- Sophia Antipolis where Super-Cannes is set (a book by J. G. Ballard)
- Zelda Fitzgerald's book: Save Me the Waltz
- Marina Picasso and and her tell-all book "Picasso, My Grandfather"
- La California - Picasso's summer shack/chateau/palace (featuring Matisse and Balthus too)
- Picasso's Portait of Olga in an Armchair
- Colombe D'Or in Saint Paul de Vence
- Carlton Hotel in Cannes
- Hotel Belles Rives
We've spent a month in the French Riviera. Here is The Earful Tower's introduction to the area via five golden rules for your own visit.
Mentioned in this episode:
Bigger towns: Cannes, Antibes, Nice
Much smaller spots: Villa Kerylos, Biot, La Turbie
Book list to come, but Lina talked about Bonjour Tristesse by Francoise Sagan.
Music by Pres Maxson.
Become a member of The Earful Tower here: www.patreon.com/theearfultower
More in the weeks to come, happy travelling!
Here's a poem I wrote to say goodbye to my little red scooter.
Inspired by the great Australian bush poet Banjo Paterson.
Farewell, Little Red, thanks for all the memories.
Welcome to the Earful Tower, the podcast that explores the hidden gems and secret spots of Paris. In this episode, the season finale, the whole team is on a private boat on the Seine River sharing our favourite secrets.
The boat: Corto from Le Bateau Francais.
Secrets from Earful Tour guide Charlotte Pleasants, Louvre guide Amber Minogue, Artist Lina Nordin Gee, Photographer Augusta Sagnelli, host Oliver Gee, and captain Clement.
And a big thank you to all our Patreon supporters for making this podcast possible. Your contributions help us continue to bring you the best stories and insights about Paris. If you'd like to support the Earful Tower and get access to exclusive content, visit our Patreon page at www.patreon.com/theearfultower.
A quick episode today where Lina and I reveal our new Paris neighbourhood and our first thoughts.
Get all the extras on Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/theearfultower
And book an Earful Tower walking tour here: https://theearfultower.com/tours
Welcome to the Earful Tower, the podcast that explores the hidden gems and secret spots of Paris. In this episode, we're taking a stroll through the bustling marché Beauvau in the 12th arrondissement with our special guest, Joseph Loughney, owner of the Early Bird Cafe.
As we walk through the market, Joseph shares his passion for coffee and talks us through how he ended up in Paris as he introduces us to some of his favorite vendors. We also discuss the 12th arrondissment and how it compares to the rest of Paris.
If you're a foodie or just love discovering new markets and culinary delights, this episode is not to be missed. Be sure to check out the Early Bird Cafe website at https://earlybirdcoffee.fr/ to learn more about their delicious menu and location.
And a big thank you to all our Patreon supporters for making this podcast possible. Your contributions help us continue to bring you the best stories and insights about Paris. If you'd like to support the Earful Tower and get access to exclusive content, visit our Patreon page at www.patreon.com/theearfultower.
Join Oliver Gee on The Earful Tower as he explores the world of gin with special guest Quentin de Montgolfier, the founder of Distillerie du Gin.
In this episode, you'll learn about the history of gin in France, the process of making gin, and how Quentin's passion for the spirit led him to open his own distillery in Paris in the Viaduc des Arts.
This new distillery is one of the many hidden gems along the Viaduc des Arts, which is a former railway viaduct turned artisanal hub. Here comes a lively and informative conversation about Parisian culture, craftsmanship, and spirits.
Links:
- Distillerie du Gin: https://www.distilleriedugin.com/
- Viaduc des Arts: https://viaducdesarts.com/
Support The Earful Tower on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/theearfultower
Make sure to subscribe to The Earful Tower on your favorite podcast app and leave a review!
Keywords: The Earful Tower, Paris, gin, Distillerie du Gin, Quentin de Montgolfier, Viaduc des Arts, artisanal hub, Parisian culture, craftsmanship, spirits, podcast, Patreon.
Welcome to the latest episode of The Earful Tower podcast. In this episode, we're joined by Marielle Bourat from the artisanal chocolate shop Atelier C, located on Avenue Dausmenil in Paris.
Marielle shares her passion for chocolate-making, which has formed over three generations, and she shares the story of Atelier C and its location in the charming Viaduc des Arts.
From the sourcing of the finest ingredients to the creation of unique and delicious flavors, Marielle gives us an inside look at the world of artisanal chocolate.
Listeners can find Atelier C at 123 Avenue Dausmenil, 75012 Paris. Be sure to stop by and try some of their amazing chocolate creations and to learn how to make it "From bean to bar".
As always, if you enjoy this episode, please consider supporting The Earful Tower on Patreon. Your support helps us continue to bring you more great episodes and guests. Click the link below to become a patron today!
Link to Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/theearfultower
Thank you for listening, and enjoy the episode.
We revisit a chat with writer John Baxter about Paris and its compenium of history. We especially dig into the Left Bank and its classic restaurants, which are listed below.
Le Select Address: 99 Bd du Montparnasse, 75006 Paris
Lapérouse Address: 51 Quai des Grands Augustins, 75006 Paris
Tour d’Argent Address: 19 Quai de la Tournelle, 75005 Paris
Charivari Address: 143 Bd Raspail, 75006 Paris
Le Balzar Address: 49 Rue des Écoles, 75005 Paris
La Méditerranée Address: 2 Pl. de l'Odéon, 75006 Paris
This epsiode was orginally released for Patreon members, and each question was sent in from members. As such, we talk about a lot more than just restaurants, and John also mentions La philharmonie de Paris (Address: 221 avenue Jean Jaurès - 75019 Paris), the poet Hart Crane, French actress and courtesan Liane de Pougy, and actress Kitty Carlisle Hart.
Find John's books and his literary tours here.
Support The Earful Tower podcast on Patreon here, where I'll release more members-only episodes in the future.
SOCIAL MEDIA: Check out The Earful Tower on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube.
More from the Earful Tower on the homepage here, and thanks to Pres Maxson for the music throughout.
I just found some French antiques in the trash can.
A listener tipped me off, I went and grabbed them, then had them appraised. There are lots of twists and turns in this story, enjoy!
Remember: upcoming live video stream for Patreon members in the near future. You can get your invite soon by checking your Patreon account, or, by signing up today here.
SOCIAL MEDIA: Check out The Earful Tower on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube.
More from the Earful Tower on the homepage here, and don't forget to support the show on Patreon here. Thanks to Pres Maxson for the music throughout.
In this podcast episode, you'll hear me and Lina walking along a stunning Parisian street called rue Cler. But it's a bittersweet walk, as it's the last time we will take the walk as residents
If you don't know the street, it's a market street in the seventh arrondissement. We walked from the intersection of rue de Grenelle at the Bleu Olive Cafe all the way to the end of the street on the south side (so north to south).
We talk about things we see (in real time), our favourite and least favourite cafes, restaurants, shops, and so on.
We will also do a live video stream for Patreon members in teh near future. You can get your invite soon by checking your Patreon account, or, by signing up today here.
If you want to see more from this walk, we have beautiful professional photos on the way, please check out The Earful Tower on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube.
More from the Earful Tower on the homepage here, and don't forget to support the show on Patreon here. Thanks to Pres Maxson for the music throughout.
In this podcast episode, you'll hear me and Veronique Savoye walking along a stunning Parisian street called rue Montorgueil.
It's a market street in the first and second arrondissement. We walked from the corner of rue Tiquetonne all the way to the Sentier Metro station (so south to north).
We talk about things we see (in real time), how this market street has been changing, and also about Paris, France, the city of Tours, Emily in Paris, and McDonald's and its influence on France.
We also talk about Vero and her work, which you can find by searching France With Vero anywhere, more specifically: on Facebook and Instagram and YouTube and Patreon.
Before we recorded the podcast, we did a live video stream for Patreon members. You can watch the replay by checking your Patreon account and clicking on the top post, or, by signing up today here.
If you want to see more from this walk, we have beautiful professional photos on the way, please check out The Earful Tower on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube.
More from the Earful Tower on the homepage here, and don't forget to support the show on Patreon here. Thanks to Pres Maxson for the music at the end!!
Meet Chloe Jantzen, a French antique dealer specialing in canes (as in, walking sticks).
You can find her shop at 18 rue de Beaune in the 7th arrondissement.
You can find her website here, and follow her on Instagram here.
If you want to see more of these canes, check out our Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube channel this week.
More from the Earful Tower on the homepage here, and support the show on Patreon here.
Meet Sarah Donnelly, an American stand up comedienne in Paris. She joins the show to discuss the comedy of living in Paris, her popular new show, and her infatuation with France's handsome president.
You can find her tickets for "The Only American in Paris" here, and follow Sarah on Instagram here or search @sarahdcomedy on social media. Her official website is here.
Her upcoming shows are at the Théâtre Bo Saint Martin on March 9th and March 30th at 21h30.
More from the Earful Tower on the homepage here, and support the show on Patreon here.
Susannah and Hugh Cameron are two Australian antique curators based in the sunny fields of Provence.
Their initial interest of street brocantes and finding the perfect French decor for their home soon turned into a passionate search for the most exquisite French antiques and the creation of their online boutique, Chez Pluie.
You can discover their entire French antique collection on their website and keep up to date with them on their Instagram @chezpluie.
More from the Earful Tower on the homepage here, and support the show on Patreon here.
So you’re coming to Paris for the third time? How exciting!
But what should you do? After we tackled the FIRST and SECOND trips in recent weeks, it's time to get a little more off the beaten path - and in this episode Earful teammate Charlotte Pleasants is on the show too.
Good luck with the trip and keep an eye on the website where we’ll be blogging about tips for your third, fourth, and fifth trips too…
Here's the website, theearfultower.com.
And join the members on Patreon here.
So you’re coming to Paris for the second time? How exciting!
But what should you do? After we tackled the FIRST trip last week, it's time to get a little off the beaten path - and in this episode Earful teammate Paris Kay is on the show too.
Good luck with the trip and keep an eye on the website where we’ll be blogging about tips for your third, fourth, and fifth trips too…
Here's the website, theearfultower.com.
And join the members on Patreon here.
So you’re coming to Paris for the first time? How exciting!
But what should you do?
Despite doing six years of this Paris podcast, I’ve never focused on a tourist's first Paris trip - so here are my tips, including a checklist of monuments and a smattering of cultural suggestions.
Good luck with the trip and keep an eye on my website where I’ll be blogging about tips for your first, second, and third trips too…
Here's my website, theearfultower.com.
And join the members on Patreon here.
IT'S BACK AGAIN!
Today's guest is the reigning champ of The Earful Tower Bucket List, Oliver Gee. That's right, me! I'm joined by the Stockholm Sting aka my wife Lina, who also has her finger firmly on the pulse of things to do in Paris.
We share our top five things that we want to do this year in Paris - and we also share the lists of some prominent Parisians including Australian Ambassador Gillian Bird, France expert Véronique Savoye, the eternal Comte de Saint Germain, baker Molly Wilkinson, and blogger Shannon Pratuch.
Why not write your own list and join us?
The full list will be on the website very soon: www.theearfultower.com
Become a Patreon supporter here.
Oliver breaks down the top blogs posts and podcasts episodes of 2022.
All this information with helpful links is on this post here.
Become a Patreon supporter here.
Oliver and Lina take a stroll through the Tuileries Christmas Market. They also took a microphone.
Here's what they found - from German food to mulled wine, ghost rides to disgruntled employees.
Ho ho ho, here we go!
Become a member on Patreon here: www.patreon.com/theearfultower
All music by Pres Maxson, including his newest song: Noel a Paris.
Australian author Jayne Tuttle almost died after an elevator accident in Paris.
She retells the harrowing story and explains how her excellent memoir series helped her with the recovery process.
Her books: Paris Or Die and My Sweet Guillotine.
http://www.jaynetuttle.com/
https://www.instagram.com/jaynetuttle/?hl=en
If you enjoy the Earful Tower, become the newest Patreon supporter today: https://www.patreon.com/theearfultower
Is French difficult to learn?
I asked polyglot and YouTube superstar Nathaniel Drew.
Find more from him here:
https://www.nathanieldrew.com/
Become a member of The Earful Tower here:
https://www.patreon.com/theearfultower
Meet Alex Freiman, a Parisian jazz musician.
In this episode, we discus the vibrant jazz scene in Paris and how Alex is bringing live jazz to Paris (most recently via the Blitz Society - a chess/jazz club).
We also talked about how jazz music can lead to life as an outcast, the trouble with how La La Land depicted the Paris jazz scene, and the day the Notre Dame burned down.
We recorded this podcast in the Square René Viviani park beside the Shakespeare and Company bookshop, where Alex works as a bookseller. You'll hear people in the background, the occasional church bell, siren, and the crunch of Parisian gravel under people's feet as they walk past.
Click below to get Alex's album, Play It Gentle, from Shakespeare and Company.
https://shakespeareandcompany.com/d/3341348159997/play-it-gentle
While you're at it, why not add our new children's book to the bundle as well :)
https://www.shakespeareandcompany.com/product/7898281/grace-the-giraffe-in-paris
If you're a Patreon supporter, check out this episode's transcription in The Earful Gazette, out now! www.patreon.com/theeearfultower
This week we shared a picture on social media of a cheese massacre at a Parisian dinner party. The culprit? A newly arrived American in France. The victim? An innocent 18-month-old Comté slice.
After the picture went viral in the Earful community, we took a much deeper look at what happened. Here comes an interview with some mortified cheesemongers, some first-class acting from Earful VIPs, and the full story from the knife-wielding Texan.
I'm sure I don't really need to say it, but a lot of this episode is tongue-in-cheek, so don't take anything too seriously. Though the info about how to actually cut Comté is legitimate.
If you're a Patreon supporter, check out our very first transcription in The Earful Gazette, out now! www.patreon.com/theeearfultower
To celebrate the launch of our new book, Grace the Giraffe in Paris, we've put together a little pub quiz for you all.
Ten questions, getting progressively harder.
The rules: Answer out loud. If you're right, you get the points. That's it.
Good luck.
Find our book here: www.theearfultower.com/grace or browse the whole shop here: www.theearfultower.com/shop
Become a Patron here: www.patreon.com/theearfultower
Today on the pod it's Australian author Sarah Turnbull, the woman behind the 2010 smash hit memoir Almost French.
But she isn't in Paris anymore, no no! She is in Sydney, which couldn't be more different. So with all these years gone by, what does Sarah miss about Paris?
Of course, this is but one part of a sprawling conversation we had at Frenchy's cafe in Mosman. We also touched on how Australia "does" French things and we get an exclusive insight into Sarah's new book!!!
You can find Sarah’s books “Almost French” and “All Good Things” online (and in bookshops!) and you can encourage her to keep going on Instagram here: @sarahturnbullauthor
If you're enjoying The Earful Tower, tell your friends! Then become a Patron for all the bonuses: https://www.patreon.com/theearfultower
Edward Chisholm joins The Earful Tower to talk about his new hit book "A Waiter in Paris: Adventures in the Dark Heart of the City".
He also gives his thoughts on how much to tip a French waiter, the truth behind the service industry, and what goes on behind closed kitchen doors.
We recorded the chat inside the lavish Belle Époque brasserie Bofinger in the 4th arrondissement, so with the background noise you might just feel like you're sitting there with us.
Edward's official website: https://www.edwardchisholm.com/
Edward's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/edward_chisholm_/?hl=en
In Earful Tower news, find more about the Australian book tour here: https://theearfultower.com/2022/10/08/the-earful-tour-how-to-find-us-in-australia/
Become a Patron here: https://www.patreon.com/theearfultower
Music by Pres Maxson.
Let's explore the Cimetiere du Calvaire, which is the oldest cemetery in Paris and surely the hardest to get inside.
How did we get in? Well, today's guest Eric Lejoindre - the Mayor of Montmartre - happens to have a key. Or at least, he knows the man with the key, father Alexandre Denis, who also features in this "on the go" episode.
All three of us visited the cemetery for the first time as part of this Earful Tower podcast episode - hope you enjoy it as much as we did!
Find more about the Australian book tour here: https://theearfultower.com/2022/10/08/the-earful-tour-how-to-find-us-in-australia/
Become a Patron here: https://www.patreon.com/theearfultower
Music by Pres Maxson.
Oliver, Lina, and Eddie discuss how three small French words created a tempest of opinions in Earful Tower circles this month...
They also discuss communication between cultures and languages, the risks of "dumbing down" a children's book, and their book tour that's CURRENTLY HAPPENING in Australia.
Get your copy of Grace the Giraffe here: https://theearfultower.com/grace
Find more about the Australian book tour here: https://theearfultower.com/2022/10/08/the-earful-tour-how-to-find-us-in-australia/
Become a Patron here: https://www.patreon.com/theearfultower
Music by Pres Maxson.
We’ve just made 20 podcast episodes and 20 short videos around Paris, one for every arrondissement. And Pres Maxson made all of the music. He chats with host Oliver Gee about the soundtrack that went with it all, and how he made it (and chose it!) This chat was recorded in front of a live online audience and was followed by an interactive Q&A with Patreon members from around the world (you can watch the replay on Patreon here).
Find more from Pres on his Instagram here, and his books are on Amazon here. To watch these chats and take part live, sign up on Patreon now: www.patreon.com/theearfultower To watch the YouTube videos: https://www.youtube.com/theearfultower
We’ve just done 20 photo shoots around Paris, one in every arrondissement. Photographer Augusta Sagnelli chats with host Oliver Gee about how the process of taking the photos. They also chat about how the city changes with every neighborhood, how to photograph Paris, and the challenges of capturing the spirit of each district. This chat was recorded in front of a live online audience and was followed by an interactive Q&A with Patreon members from around the world. We will host similar conversations with other team members in the coming weeks, including our musician, and co-host Lina one more time. To watch these chats and take part live, sign up on Patreon now: www.patreon.com/theearfultower More from Augusta: Official Website - Substack - Instagram.
We’ve just filmed 20 short videos around Paris, one in every arrondissement. Videographer Eddie Gee chats with host Oliver Gee about how the process of making the movies. They also chat about how the city changes with every neighborhood, how to film and edit videos about Paris, and the challenges of collaborating on this project from two different corners of the world. This chat was recorded in front of a live online audience and was followed by an interactive Q&A with Patreon members from around the world. We will host similar conversations with other team members in the coming weeks, including our musician, photographer, and co-host Lina one more time. To watch these chats and take part live, sign up on Patreon now: www.patreon.com/theearfultower To watch the YouTube videos: www.youtube.com/theearfultower
This week we reveal the story of the giraffe that walked to Paris in 1827 and made everyone go bananas. This story, especially the bit about Parisians going berserk for giraffes, is the subject of our new children's book: Grace the Giraffe in Paris.
A bit of background: The giraffe walked from Marseille to Paris in 1827, a gift to the King Charles X of France from Egypt.
This true story is fascinating. A giraffe hadn't been in France for 300 years, so practically no one had ever seen one. The arrival of this creature, which we've named Grace, caused a huge sense of excitement and curiosity, fashion trends, wild hairstyles, and general pandemonium. Especially in Paris.
We figured this was an ideal story to turn into a book... so we did it.
So, meet Grace the Giraffe in Paris.
In this podcast episode you'll hear me and Lina re-telling the true part of this story in detail, then explaining how and why we turned it into our new children's book.
And as with our other books, we're going to self-publish this one, and we'll launch it on Kickstarter to cover our printing and distribution costs. In short: We don't want to pay for 2,000 books unless we know people want them.
So, when this link goes live (it doesn't work yet), we'd really love it if you bought a copy or two. Who knows, maybe you want to get your name on the map at the back where we'll rename Paris streets. Boulevard Gee indeed!
This is where you will soon be able to order the book. (theearfultower.com/grace)
The 1st arrondissement is this week's focus on the podcast. Here's what we found after spending a full day there.
Mentioned in this show
- Louvre Museum
- Jardin des Tuileries
- Square du Vert-Galant
- Place Dauphine
- Place Vendôme
- Pont Neuf
- Domaine National du Palais-Royal
- Samaritaine
- Costes Bar
- Restaurant Le Dalí
- Bonjour Cafe
- Café le Nemours
This podcast episode includes our final ranking on the district out of 100 and a mid-tour interview or two with Amber Minogue in the Louvre.
This episode also features music by Pres Maxson, including his take on Paris by Edith Piaf and more.
We’ll share our visit, in video format, on our YouTube channel in the coming days. We have been making one of these travel vlogs every week, so be sure to subscribe (you can do it in one click via this link).
Read our full guide with all the pictures on the Earful Tower website here.
A big thanks to the Patreon members who make all this possible. Join them here.
The 2nd arrondissement is this week's focus on the podcast. Here's what we found after spending a full day there.
Mentioned in this show
- Zouzou cafe
- Boneshaker's donuts and brownies
- Rue Montorgueil
- Stohrer Bakery
- Covered Passages: Grand Cerf, Vivienne, Panoramas
- The beautiful Starbucks on Boulevard Capucines
- Tour Jean Sans Peur
- La Fontaine Gaillon restaurant
- Le Grand Colbert restaurant
- Harry’s New York bar
This podcast episode includes our final ranking on the district out of 100 and an interview with Oliver Woodhead from the restaurant L'Entente.
This episode also features music by Pres Maxson, including his take on "J'ai Deux Amours" by Josephine Baker.
We’ll share our visit, in video format, on our YouTube channel in the coming days. We’ll be making one of these travel vlogs every week, so be sure to subscribe (you can do it in one click via this link).
Read our full guide with all the pictures on the Earful Tower website here.
A big thanks to the Patreon members who make all this possible. Join them here.
The 3rd arrondissement is this week's focus on the podcast. Here's what we found after spending a full day there.
Mentioned in this show
- 46th and 3rd
- National Archives
- Fringe Cafe
- Musée National Picasso
- Marché des Enfants Rouges
- Musee Carnavalet
- Le Mary Celeste
- Le Progrès
- The Cambridge Public House
This podcast episode includes our final ranking on the district out of 100.
This episode also features music by Pres Maxson, including his take on "Libre Comme Picasso" by Pascal Obispo.
We’ll share our visit, in video format, on our YouTube channel in the coming days. We’ll be making one of these travel vlogs every week, so be sure to subscribe (you can do it in one click via this link).
Read our full guide with all the pictures on the Earful Tower website here.
A big thanks to the Patreon members who make all this possible. Join them here.
The 4th arrondissement is this week's focus on the podcast. Here's what we found after spending a full day there.
Mentioned in this show
- Saint Regis
- Ile Saint Louis
- Notre dame
- Le Peloton Cafe
- Miznon restaurant
- Philippe Auguste Wall
- Place des Vosges
- Victor Hugo museum
- Carette cafe
- Centre Pompidou museum
- Maria Loca rum bar
- Bofinger restaurant
- Bar 1905
This podcast episode includes a brief interview with Paul Barron, the owner of the Peloton Cafe, and our final ranking on the district out of 100.
This episode features music by Pres Maxson, including his take on Notre Dame de Paris by Edith Piaf.
We’ll share our visit, in video format, on our YouTube channel in the coming days. We’ll be making one of these travel vlogs every week, so be sure to subscribe (you can do it in one click via this link).
Read our full guide with all the pictures on the Earful Tower website here.
A big thanks to the Patreon members who make all this possible. Join them here.
The 5th arrondissement is this week's focus on the podcast. Here's what we found after spending a full day there.
Mentioned in this show
- Le LouLou cafe
- Musée de Cluny
- Pantheon
- Bibliotheque Saint-Genevieve
- Jardin des plantes
- Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle
- Grande Mosquée de Paris
- Rue Mouffetard
- Le Contrescarpe
- Maison de Verlaine
- Caveau de la huchette
This podcast episode includes a brief interview with jazz singer Matthieu Boré and writer Sam Barrantes, and our final ranking on the district out of 100.
This podcast episode features music by Pres Maxson, including his take on "Place de la Contrescarpe," by Jacques Brel
We’ll share our visit, in video format, on our YouTube channel in the coming days. We’ll be making one of these travel vlogs every week, so be sure to subscribe (you can do it in one click via this link).
Read our full guide with all the pictures on the Earful Tower website here.
A big thanks to the Patreon members who make all this possible. Join them here.
The 6th arrondissement is this week's focus on the podcast. Here's what we found after spending a full day there.
Mentioned in this show
Breakfast at Cafe Flore
Musee Delacroix/Square Furstenburg
Buly perfumerie
La Palette Cafe
Luxembourg Gardens
Treize au Jardin cafe
Ladurée confectionary store
The church: L'abbaye Saint-Germain-des-Prés
The bouquiniste bookshops by the Seine
Le Select bar
Brasserie Lipp
Prescription cocktail bar
Lapérouse (for dessert)
Including an interview with renowned author John Baxter.
The Earful Tower podcast episode This podcast episode features music by Pres Maxson, including his take on "Jardin du Luxembourg" by LAURA.
Video guide to the 6th arrondissement We’ll share our visit, in video format, on our YouTube channel in the coming days. We’ll be making one of these travel vlogs every week, so be sure to subscribe (you can do it in one click via this link).
The Earful Tower’s guide to the 6th arrondissement Read our full guide with all the pictures on the Earful Tower website here.
A big thanks to the Patreon members who make all this possible. Join them here.
The 7th arrondissement is this week's focus on the podcast. Here's what we found after spending a full day there.
Mentioned in this show
Coutume Cafe
Park Catherine Labourée
Deyrolle taxidermy shop
Eiffel Tower
Rue Cler
Musée Rodin
Musée d’Orsay
Les Ombres restaurant and bar (with the Eiffel Tower views)
Including an interview with Francine Campa, the head of the Deyrolle taxidermy shop and museum.
The Earful Tower podcast episode This podcast episode features music by Pres Maxson, including his take on "La Tour Eiffel est Toujours Là" by Mistinguett, and "The Girl Who Stole the Eiffel Tower," by Frank Sinatra.
Video guide to the 7th arrondissement We’ll share our visit, in video format, on our YouTube channel in the coming days. We’ll be making one of these travel vlogs every week, so be sure to subscribe (you can do it in one click via this link).
The Earful Tower’s guide to the 7th arrondissement Read our full guide with all the pictures on the Earful Tower website here.
A big thanks to the Patreon members who make all this possible. Join them here.
The 8th arrondissement is this week's focus on the podcast. Here's what we found after spending a full day there.
Mentioned in this show, in order of mention
Bridge: Pont Alexandre III
The Champs-Elysées
(Send a postcard to:
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34 Ave des Champs Elysees
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Iwi Coffee shop
Galeries Lafayette
Église Saint-Philippe-du-Roule
Petit Palais
American Cathedral
Parc Monceau
Pagoda of Paris
Musée Nissim de Camondo
Plaza Athenee
Maxims restaurant
Buddha bar
Bugsy’s
Including interviews with Gabriel from Iwi Coffee and Nat Katz, the canon of the American Cathedral in Paris.
The Earful Tower podcast episode This podcast episode features music by Pres Maxson, including his take on the Joe Dassin classic Les Champs-Elysées.
Video guide to the 8th arrondissement We’ll share our visit, in video format, on our YouTube channel in the coming days. We’ll be making one of these travel vlogs every week, so be sure to subscribe (you can do it in one click via this link).
The Earful Tower’s guide to the 8th arrondissement Read our full guide with all the pictures on the Earful Tower website here.
A big thanks to the Patreon members who make all this possible. Join them here.
The 9th arrondissement made for the first time we felt like tourists in Paris, while visiting the breathtaking Opera Garnier. But there's a lot more to it all than that, with the famed department stores, the cool Pigalle neighbourhood, and the famed rue des Martyrs. Here's what we found. The Earful Tower podcast episode This podcast episode features music by Pres Maxson, including his take on the classic Maurice Chevalier hit Place Pigalle.
Video guide to the 9th arrondissement We’ll share our visit, in video format, on our YouTube channel in the coming days. We’ll be making one of these travel vlogs every week, so be sure to subscribe (you can do it in one click via this link).
The Earful Tower’s guide to the 9th arrondissement To be uploaded on the Earful Tower website here.
So you're coming to Paris and you want to maximise your time and spend your money wisely. But how to do it?
Here are some suggestions from your hosts Oliver and Lina, based on our deep explorations of the city as part of our Paris Countdown series (from which we're currently on a two-week intermission).
So here they are: Ten expert tips for planning your Paris trip.
A thank you to Pres Maxson for the original soundtrack to the episode.
For the tips written out with lovely pics, click here: https://theearfultower.com/2022/05/23/ten-expert-tips-for-planning-your-paris-trip/
To become a Patreon member and get all the extra good stuff, click here: https://www.patreon.com/theearfultower
The 10th arrondissement feels like the centre of everything. People spill into the streets from the Gare du Nord station, one of the busiest rail terminals in the world, and mingle into a melting pot of old Paris, new Paris, and cultural offerings from around the world.
The district also features an intriguing museum of handheld fans, a delightful art nouveau restaurant, and the authentic Paris picnic spot: the Canal Saint-Martin.
The Earful Tower podcast episode This podcast episode on the 10th district of Paris includes an interview with Nico Alary who runs the ever-popular Holybelly restaurants, and Alex Toledano, the art consultant who literally wrote the book on the 10th… and our final ranking on the district out of 100.
Video guide to the 10th arrondissement We’ll share our visit, in video format, on our YouTube channel in the coming days. We’ll be making one of these travel vlogs every week, so be sure to subscribe (you can do it in one click via this link).
The Earful Tower’s guide to the 11th arrondissement Restaurants:
Bouillon Julien @bouillinjulienparis
Address: 16 Rue du Faubourg Saint-Denis, 75010
Holybelly @holybellycafe
Address: 5 Rue Lucien Sampaix, 75010
Bakeries:
Du Pain et des Idées @dupainetdesidees
Address: 34 Rue Yves Toudic, 75010
Sain Boulangerie @sain_boulangerie
Address: 15 Rue Marie et Louise, 75010
DonAntónia Pastelaria @donantonia_pastelaria
Address: 8 Rue de la Grange aux Belles, 75010
Drinks/Bars:
Le Syndicat @lesyndicat
Address: 51 Rue du Faubourg Saint-Denis, 75010
Chez Jeanette @chezjeannette
Address: 47 Rue du Faubourg Saint-Denis, 75010
Divine @bar_divine
Address: 61 Rue d'Hauteville, 75010
Coffee:
Ten Belles - Paris 10 @tenbelles
Address: 10 Rue de la Grange aux Belles, 75010
More things to find in the 10th:
Explore the canal area, have a picnic.
Canal Saint Martin
Musée de l'Éventail (Fan Museum) @museedeleventail
Address: 2 Bd de Strasbourg, 75010
Porte Saint-Denis
Address: Boulevard St Denis, 75010
Porte Saint Martin
Address: 18 Bd Saint-Martin, 75010
Music: A Pres Maxson version of "Canal Saint Martin" by Maria Remusat.
The 11th arrondissement is undoubtedly the cool part of town. Some call it the trendiest Paris district. It’s where you might find an eco-friendly garden hotel, a 1920s themed speakeasy bar, and a restaurant that’s so cool you can’t even find its name on the facade.
We found all those places, plus took a more traditional exploration through the old alleyways that were once thriving artisanal passages. Here’s everything we discovered during our 24 hours in the 11th arrondissement.
This podcast episode on the 11th district of Paris includes an interview with Guy Griffin from Cafe Mericourt and our final ranking on the district out of 100.
Video guide to the 11th arrondissement We’ll share our visit, in video format, on our YouTube channel in the coming days. We’ll be making one of these travel vlogs every week, so be sure to subscribe (you can do it in one click via this link).
The Earful Tower’s guide to the 11th arrondissement Where to stay? Eden Lodge: This hotel offers eco-friendly and sustainable living at the back of a miraculously quiet and green garden. If you need some zen-like escape from the bustle of Paris, this is the place for you. Our room had a large balcony and a very comfortable bed, the breakfast was lovely, and the common rooms were tastefully designed. Cat lovers: There are at least two wondering around this hotel and they’re very friendly. @edenlodgeparis Address: 175 Rue de Charonne, 75011
The best cafe Cafe Mericourt: There are loads of cafes in this neighbourhood but none match Cafe Mericourt, run by Guy Griffin. This place is an Earful Tower favourite, we have been coming here since before it opened. In fact, one of the first ever live videos was Guy showing us the facade of this cafe the same day he got the keys to it five years ago. Killer coffee and brunch options in a beautiful setting. @cafemericourt Address: 22 Rue de la Folie Méricourt, 75011
The best restaurants Chambre Noir: This is the place that didn’t have a name on the facade. We didn’t even know if we’d come to the right place, but hipster whispers by the Canal Saint-Martin had insisted this was the place for dinner. A large wine menu and tapas for dinner, try the cheesy asparagus for a good time. @chambrenoireparisAddress: 137, Rue Saint-Maur, 75011
Best place for a drink Mobster Bar: We love a good gimmick and this one was fun. Pick up the phone out the front of this 1920s themed bar and a voice will ask you a prohibition-themed trivia question. You’ll have to type the correct combination into the keypad to get in, where you’ll be met with smartly dressed bartenders serving cocktails to customers in darkened rooms.@mobster_bar Address: 8 Rue de Crussol, 75011
More things to find in the 11th arrondissement Ateliers des Lumières: Opened in 2018, this is one of the newest museums in Paris and it’s well worth a visit. You can see classical works of art from the likes of Dali, Van Gogh and Cezanne projected on the expansive industrial museum walls . You’ve not experienced a museum like this before! @ateliersdeslumieres Address: 38 Rue Saint-Maur, 75011
Marché Bastille Every arrondissement in Paris has its own market – and often more than one at that. But, the Bastille market has something special about it, whether you’re interested in purchasing some produce, or just want to soak up the atmosphere, it’s the ideal market. Our advice: start at the end furthest from the Bastille, the quality is better this side. Open Thursdays and Sundays 8:30AM – 1:30PM. Address: 2018 Bd Richard-Lenoir, 75011
Explore the hidden passageways of the 11th arrondissement The 11th is full of old alleyways which were once teeming with artisans. Furniture makers, frame fixers, handymen and more. Nowadays, the passages are still there, but it’s often residents or office workers inside the buildings. If you know where to look, you’ll find stunning oases of calm and sometimes an artisan from today plying their trade. A good one to start at is Passage de l’Homme… but we visited about ten of them, and we’ll share our full findings and many more pictures in the coming days on this site.
That will do for now! I hope you enjoyed episode ten for this new season.
A big thanks to Augusta Sagnelli for the photos, Charlotte Pleasants for the additional reporting, and to the Patreon members who make all this possible. Join them here.
It's the Paris Countdown! Here comes an-depth guide to the 12th arrondissement of Paris after we spent 24 hours there.
The blog post is here with all the pictures.
A big thank you to the Patreon supporters, without whom we wouldn't be making this season. Join them here.
Music: A Pres Maxson interpretation of Plus Bleu Que Tes Yeux (A Blue Like the Blue of Your Eyes) by Charles Aznavour
Below are all the places we mentioned.
Where to stay? Mk2 Hotel Paradiso @mk2hotelparadiso
Address: 135 Bd Diderot, 75012
The best restaurants Le Train Bleu @restaurantletrainbleu
Address: Pl. Louis-Armand, 75012
Ground control Address: 81 Rue du Charolais, 75012
Best place for a drink Le Baron Rouge
Address: 1 Rue Théophile Roussel, 75012
Le Calbar @lecalbar
Address: 82 Rue de Charenton, 75012
lads in their undies
The Best Cafe Cafe CC @cafecc_paris
Address: 6 Rue Théophile Roussel, 75012 Paris
Curiosity: The fairground museum
Musée des Arts Forains @museedesartsforains
Address: 53 Av. des Terroirs de France, 75012
More things to find Marché d’Aligre
Promenade Plantée
Bois de Vincennes
Jardin du Bassin de l’Arsenal - Charming beginning of the canal, lovely spot for a picnic, a stroll, or entertain the kids in the play areas.
Opera Bastille
That's it for this week, back with the 11th arrondissement on Monday.
It's the Paris Countdown! Here comes an-depth guide to the 13th arrondissement of Paris after we spent 24 hours there.
The blog post is here with all the pictures.
A big thank you to the Patreon supporters, without whom we wouldn't be making this season. Join them here.
Music: A Pres Maxson interpretation of La mer, by Charles Trenet.
Below are all the places we mentioned.
Where to stay? / An unusual hotel OFF Paris Seine
Address: 86 Quai d'Austerlitz, 75013 @offparisseine
The best restaurants Eat in Chinatown:
Impérial Choisy @imperialchoisy
Address: 32 Av. de Choisy, 75013
Best place for a drink Evening drink on a boat
Bateau El Alamein @bateauelalamein
Address: 10 Port de la Gare, 75013
Terrace drink:
Les Tanneurs de la Butte @lestanneursdelabutte
Address: 22 Rue de la Butte aux Cailles, 75013
The best cafe Bob’s Cafe in MK2 Bibliothèque
Address: MK2 Bibliothèque, 128-162 Av. de France, 75013
More things to find Stroll through the Butte-aux-Cailles
Visit the antique map shop
Librairie Loeb Larocque - maps & books @librarie.loeb.larocque
Address: 31 Rue de Tolbiac, 75013
Track down traces of the Bievre river
Find the magnificent globes
François-Mitterrand Library - The Globes of Coronelli or Globes of Marly are a pair of globes (terrestrial and celestial) of large size (about 4 meters in diameter) made by Vincenzo Coronelli and offered to Louis XIV at the end of the 17th century.
Address: Quai François Mauriac, 75706
It's the Paris Countdown! Here comes an-depth guide to the 14th arrondissement of Paris after we spent 24 hours there. The blog post is here with all the pictures.
A big thank you to the Patreon supporters, without whom we wouldn't be making this season. Join them here.
Music: A Pres Maxson interpretation of Le poinçonneur des Lilas, by Serge Gainsbourg.
Below are all the places we mentioned.
Where to stay? Hotel Cabane @hotelcabane Address: 76 Rue Raymond Losserand, 75014
Great eateries:
La Belle Ronde Address: 19 Rue Daguerre, 75014 Paris
Le Dôme @ledomemontparnasse Address: 108 Bd du Montparnasse, 75014
Land & Monkeys Address: 85 Rue Raymond Losserand, 75014
Best places for a drink
Le Tournesol @cafetournesol Address: 9 Rue de la Gaité, 75014
Rosebud. Address: 11 Rue Delambre, 75014
La Coupole @la_coupole_paris Address: 102 Bd du Montparnasse, 75014 The best cafe
Hexagone Café @hexagonecafe Address: 121 Rue du Château, 75014
Things to find
Église Notre-Dame-du-Travail Address: 59 Rue Vercingétorix, 75014
Comédie-Italienne Address: 17 Rue de la Gaité, 75014
Montparnasse Cemetery Address: 3 Bd Edgar Quinet, 75014
Musée de la Libération de Paris Address: 4 Av. du Colonel Henri Rol-Tanguy, 75014
The Catacombs of Paris Address: 1 Av. du Colonel Henri Rol-Tanguy, 75014
Rue des Thermopyles
Aussi curiosity shop Address: 119 Rue du Château, 75014
Vanves Flea market Address: 5 Av. de la Porte de Vanves, 75014
Stroll: Rue de la Gaîté
It's Season 12 of The Earful Tower, The Paris Countdown: Here comes an-depth guide to the Paris arrondissements after we've spent 24 hours in each of them. This week it's the 15th arrondissement of Paris. The blog post is here with all the pictures. A big thank you to the Patreon supporters, without whom we wouldn't be making this season. Join them here.
Music: A Pres Maxson interpretation of Le vent nous portera, by Noir Désir.
Below are all the places we mentioned.
Where to stay? Relais 12bis
Address: 12 Bis Rue Desaix, 75015
The best restaurants Cafe du Commerce @lecafeducommerce.1921
Address: 51 Rue du Commerce, 75015
Best place for a drink Le Ciel de Paris Restaurant
Address: Tour Maine Montparnasse, 56ème, Av. du Maine, 75015
The best cafe Good News Coffee Shop @good_news_coffeeshop
Address: 27 bis Rue Mademoiselle, 75015 Paris
More things to find in the 15th Poilâne Tour Eiffel @poilane
Address: 49 Bd de Grenelle, 75015
Île aux Cygnes
Address: Île aux Cygnes, 75015
Ballon de Paris
Address: Parc André Citroën, 75015
Musée Bourdelle
Address: 18 Rue Antoine Bourdelle, 75015
Additional: Parc Georges Brassens
Address: 2 Pl. Jacques Marette, 75015 Paris
La Ruche
Address: 2 Pass. de Dantzig, 75015 Paris
It's Season 12 of The Earful Tower, The Paris Countdown: Here comes an-depth guide to the Paris arrondissements after we've spent 24 hours in each of them. This week it's the 16th arrondissement of Paris. The YouTube video that goes with this episode will be here, and the blog post is here with all the pictures.
A big thank you to the Patreon supporters, without whom we wouldn't be making this season. Join them here.
Below are all the places we mentioned.
Where did we stay? Sourire Hotel @souriredepassy
Address: 29 Rue des Marronniers, 75016
The best restaurants Andia @andia_paris
Address: 19 Chau. de la Muette, 75016 Paris
La Rotonde @larotondedelamuette
Address: 12 Chau. de la Muette, 75016 Paris
Best place for a drink Cravan bar @cravanparis
Address: 17 Rue Jean de la Fontaine, 75016 Paris
Shangri-La @shangrilaparis
Address: 10 Av. d'Iéna, 75116 Paris
The best cafe Coutume Passy @coutumecafeAddress: 78 Rue de Passy, 75016 Paris More things to find in the 16th Maison de Balzac
Address: 47 Rue Raynouard, 75016 Paris
Palais de Tokyo
Address: 13 Av. du Président Wilson, 75116 Paris @palaisdetokyo
Musée du Vin
Address: 5 Sq. Charles Dickens, 75016 Paris
Musée Clemenceau
Address: 8 Rue Benjamin Franklin, 75116
Hunt for Hector. Spend an afternoon finding all the buildings in the district designed by “the pope of art nouveau” Hector Guimard.
Music: Pres Maxson's interpretation of "Douce France", by Charles Trenet.
It's Season 12 of The Earful Tower, The Paris Countdown: Here comes an-depth guide to the Paris arrondissements after we've spent 24 hours in each of them. This week it's the 17th arrondissement of Paris. The YouTube video that goes with this episode will be here, and the blog post will be here with all the pictures.
A big thank you to the Patreon supporters, without whom we wouldn't be making this season. Join them here.
Below are all the places we mentioned.
Where we stayed Villa Alessandra @villa_alessandra_paris
Address: 9 Pl. Boulnois, 75017 Paris
The restaurants Le Dada @ledada_paris
Address: 12 Av. des Ternes, 75017
Mamma Primi @bigmammagroup
Address: 18 Rue Boursault, 75017 Paris
Where we had a drink L’Ambre Bar @ambrebar
Address: 29 Rue Brunel, 75017 Paris
Les Caves Populaire @lescavespopulaires
Address: 22 Rue des Dames, 75017 Paris
The cafe Dose Café @dose.paris
Address: 82 Place du Dr Félix Lobligeois, 75017 Paris
More things to find in the 17th Cité de l’Économie money museum
Address: 1 Pl. du Général Catroux, 75017 Paris
Boulevard Pereire park for a walk or cycle
Square des Batignolles
Address: 144 bis Rue Cardinet, 75017 Paris
It's Season 12 of The Earful Tower, The Paris Countdown: Here comes an-depth guide to the Paris arrondissements after we've spent 24 hours in each of them. This week it's the 18th arrondissement, with a strong focus on Montmartre. The YouTube video that goes with this episode will be here, and the blog post will be here with all the pictures.
A big thank you to the Patreon supporters, without whom we wouldn't be making this season. Join them here.
Below are all the places we mentioned.
All the details:
Hotel:Terrass” Hotel
Address: 12-14 Rue Joseph de Maistre, 75018 @terrasshotel
Sites:
Place du Tertre (artists' square)
Address: Pl. du Tertre, 75018 Paris
Restaurant:
Le Moulin de la Galette
@lemoulindelagaletteofficiel
Address: 83 Rue Lepic, 75018 Paris
Drinks:
Terrass Rooftop Bar
Address: 12 Rue Joseph de Maistre, 75018 Paris
Chez Camille@bar_chez_camille
Address: 8 Rue Ravignan, 75018 Paris
Coffee shops:
La Main Noire
@la.main.noire
Address: 12 Rue Cavallotti, 75018 Paris
Les 5 Marches
@les.5.marches
Address: 12 Rue Girardon, 75018 Paris
It's Season 12 of The Earful Tower, The Paris Countdown: Here comes an-depth guide to the Paris arrondissements after we've spent 24 hours in each of them. This week it's the 19th arrondissement, with a strong focus on the canals that run through the neighbourhood.
The YouTube video that goes with this episode will be here, and the blog post will be here with all the pictures.
A big thank you to the Patreon supporters, without whom we wouldn't be making this season. Join them here.
Below are all the places we mentioned.
Hotel:
Holiday Inn Express Paris - Canal de la Villette
68 Quai de la Seine, 75019
Lunch:
Paname Brewing Company
41 bis Quai de la Loire, 75019
Sites:
Philharmonie de Paris
221 Av. Jean Jaurès, 75019
Curiosities:
Péniche L'Eau Et Les Rêves (Péniche Librairie) 9 Quai de l'Oise, 75019
Lunch: La Rotonde Stalingrad
6-8 Pl. de la Bataille de Stalingrad, 75019
Drinks:
Péniche Antipode - Abricadabra
55 Quai de la Seine, 75019
Café Mama Kin
Address: 13 Rue de Thionville, 75019
@cafe.mamakin
Coffee shops:
Le Pavillon des Canaux
39 Quai de la Loire, 75019
Kaffebar 19
26B Rue de l'Ourcq, 75019
Here we are: Season 12, The Paris Countdown. For the next 20 weeks, you'll be hearing an in-depth guide to the Paris arrondissements after we've spent 24 hours in each of them. We're starting at the 20th arrondissement, with a strong focus on Edith Piaf. The YouTube video that goes with this episode is here, and here is the blog post with all the pictures.
A big thank you to the Patreon supporters, without whom we wouldn't be making this season. Join them here.
Below are all the places we mentioned.
Hotel:
Babel Belleville
3 Rue Lemon, 75020
Lunch:
Peppe Pizzeria
2 Pl. Saint-Blaise, 75020 Paris
Sites:
Campagne à Paris
210 Rue des Pyrénées, 75020 Paris
Père-Lachaise Cemetery
16 Rue du Repos, 75020 Paris
Edith Piaf’s birthplace
72 Rue de Belleville
Market:
Boulevard de Belleville, Tuesdays and Fridays
Dinner and Edith singing:
Le Vieux Belleville
12 Rue des Envierges, 75020
Drink:
Aux Folies
8 Rue de Belleville, 75020 Paris
Coffee shop:
The Dancing Goat
117 Av. Gambetta, 75020 Paris
Street art street:
Rue du Retrait
Next week the new season of The Earful Tower begins. Here's what you can expect :)
Become a member here on Patreon.
Here's the story of how Lina and I got our two childen's books in the gift shop of the Louvre Museum.
To become a Patreon member of The Earful Tower, click here.
You can find our books all over Paris, or buy them directly from our online shop here.
Are Parisian men all well-dressed? Or is it a myth? And while we're at it, what should YOU wear on your visit to Paris?
All these questions and much more are answered this week by Frenchman Fabien Renault, the managing director France's arm of the luxury fashion company Joseph.
And the idiot in this show, of course, is me. Enjoy the episode and subscribe for more of the same every single week.
My father-in-law Jakob is on the show, recounting the tale of how he got VIP treatment at a Paris fashion house in the 1980s.
It's part of a bigger theme of 'My First Trip To Paris' that Patreon members have been sharing, join them here.
Mentioned in this episode:
Charles Aznavour songs:
Non je n'ai rien oublié
and
Emmenez moi
The song played in the intro and outro was Sous le ciel de Paris.
And the fashion house was Carven, which still exists at 6 Rdpt des Champs-Élysées Marcel-Dassault, 75008.
See you next week with another new episode.
Do you want a peek behind the scenes of artist life on the Left Bank of Paris? Well it's your lucky day! Today on the podcast it's renowned artist Alex Hillkurtz, who shares a little about his method, from inside his Left Bank chambre de bonne studio.
I first met Alex when his work was on exhibit at the Orangerie in the Luxembourg Gardens and I'm already planning my visit to see his work in the Grand Palais this year.
You can find more about Alex on his website here, in advance, or join his nearly 100,000 Instagram followers here.
If you're a Patreon member, I hope you've already seen our tour of his workplace and his view over the sixth arrondissement of Paris. If not, watch the replay by signing up here.
IT'S BACK!
Today's guest is the reigning champ of The Earful Tower Bucket List, Shelly. She is a Paris art consultant, a personal friend of mine, and has her finger firmly on the pulse of things to do in Paris.
We share our top five things to do this year in Paris. Why not write your own list and join us?
The full list will be on the website later today: www.theearfultower.com
My Dad worked on Paris peniche, moored on the Seine, in 1976.
I didn't know much about the story, so asked him how it came to be.
His tale included hitch-hiking, thievery, a police station in Arles, and finally a boat in Paris.
Here it is in full :)
This episode, and all the others, were brought to you thanks to the Patreon members. Join them here.
Oliver looks back at the most popular episodes of 2021 in a countdown of the top five top episodes of the year. Below are links to the episodes that made the cut:
https://theearfultower.com/2021/08/31/ten-tourist-mistakes-to-avoid-in-paris/
https://theearfultower.com/2021/02/08/a-guide-to-the-french-tradition-of-the-apero/
https://theearfultower.com/2021/01/04/paris-bucket-list-2021-ten-fun-things-i-want-to-do/
https://theearfultower.com/2021/09/20/an-idiots-guide-to-fashion-in-paris/
https://theearfultower.com/2021/07/02/paris-on-air-heres-my-audio-book-for-free/
Lina and Oliver share their stories of how Paris landed on their radars.
What's your own version? Leave a comment on social media!
Become a Patreon supporter of The Earful Tower here.
It's cocktail queen Forest Collins from 52 Martinis, sharing ten new speakeasy hidden bars in Paris.
Find more from Forest here.
Become a Patreon supporter of The Earful Tower here.
Find the full list of speakeasies from the show right here.
To celebrate five years of The Earful Tower podcast and 2 millions downloads, I explain the ten decisions that shaped this show.
By my side: The Stockholm Sting aka Lovely Lina.
As I say in the episode, this is NOT a good episode if you're new around here, this one is for the fans.
To become a member, click here.
Meet Amaury Bouhours, Executive Chef at Le Meurice.
We chatted at the chef's table about running a restaurant with two Michelin stars, his cooking background, and French food in general.
Halfway through, we stepped into the kitchen to taste some food as it was being cooked!
Check out the link for the restaurant here: https://www.alainducasse-meurice.com/en/experience
Become a Patreon member of The Earful Tower here: https://www.patreon.com/theearfultower
And check my site for pictures from this episode: https://theearfultower.com/
We stayed a night in Le Meurice, the iconic Parisian palace in the centre of town.
In this episode, Lina and I explain why we booked it, how we got lucky with an upgrade, and what you could expect if you stayed in their heritage suite.
For more on Le Meurice: https://www.dorchestercollection.com/en/paris/le-meurice/
To see the Heritage Suite: https://www.dorchestercollection.com/en/paris/le-meurice/rooms-suites/heritage-suite/
To buy my 2022 guide to Paris: https://theearfultower.com/guide
To become a Patreon member: https://www.patreon.com/theearfultower
I've always had a lot of questions about France's obsession with dubbing films, so I sat down with Jean-Pierre Michael, who is the French voice of Brad Pitt and Keanu Reeves, to find out more.
He explains whether he voices each actor differently, if he gets recognized in daily life, and what happens if another actor were to voice Brad Pitt (it happened once, it wasn't pretty!)
Follow Jean-Pierre on Instagram for a glimpse into the life of a French actor in Paris: https://www.instagram.com/jpmofficiel/?hl=en
And if you want a whole lot more from The Earful Tower podcast, become a member right here on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/theearfultower
Happy Halloween everyone!
For today's episode, Lina and I tell the story of our recent attempt to solve a Paris murder mystery.
But with neither of us speaking perfect French, could we possibly manage to muster up some "interrogative, detective, murder-solving French"?
The short answer is no. But we had a lot of fun.
The experience was one of those games in a beautiful town house in the 16th arrondissement, and it's called "Murder Mystery".
If you want to find out more, here's the link: https://feverup.com/m/81013
As it's a new month, it's the perfect time to become a Patreon member for The Earful Tower. That is literally how we manage to buy tickets to these murder mysteries - you're helping make the show better. Here's the sign up link: https://www.patreon.com/theearfultower
Join me on my first ever descent into the illegal part of the Paris catacombs.
Do not try this without expert help.
Thanks to my guides Codex and the Comte de Saint Germain.
Find them on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/codexurbanus/ and https://www.instagram.com/walk.paris/
More on the catacombs: https://www.catacombes.paris.fr/en/history/site-history
Check out my YouTube channel for the footage from this trip: https://www.youtube.com/theearfultower
And to become a member, click here: https://www.patreon.com/theearfultower
Canadian Etheliya Hananova, from the restaurant Comice, talks about how she ended up recommending wine in her family-owned Michelin-starred restaurant in Paris.
Find the restaurant at 31 avenue de Versailles, and explore their website here: https://comice.paris/
To become a Patreon member of The Earful Tower, click here: https://www.patreon.com/theearfultower
Here are ten French words that I really love, right now.
This list changes all the time. I guarantee if you use some of these words, French people will be impressed :) They'll at least smile.
Get a copy of our new book here: www.theearfultower.com/shop
Become a Patreon member here: www.patreon.com/theearfultower
This week I grabbed a rod and followed Fred Miessner out for a fishing adventure from the bridges of the Seine River.
Did we catch the big one? The monster catfish in the murky depths?
Find Fred by searching French Touch Fishing, or click here to follow him on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/frenchtouchfishing/
Acclaimed restaurant critic Alec Lobrano is back on the show, this time talking about the French food revolution (which is happening now!)
The American writer also talked about his new book: "My Place at the Table: A Recipe for a Delicious Life in Paris".
We recorded the episode in a suite in the Plaza Athenee hotel.
Find out more about Alec on his website here: https://www.alexanderlobrano.com/
And remember: He will be signing books on September 30th at the Red Wheelbarrow book shop in Paris.
What's the deal with Paris Fashion Week? And what should you wear on your visit to Paris? And how do Parisian women get their hair to look like that?
All these questions and much more are answered this week by Monica de La Villardière. She is a Canadian in Paris, who works as a fashion and culture journalist. She is the co-host of the fashion podcast Fashion no Filter, and runs the hugely popular Instagram account @monicaainleydlv.
And the idiot in this show, of course, is me. Enjoy the episode and subscribe for more of the same every single week.
Oh yes, here's the article about Emily in Paris mentioned in the show.
Thanks to Treize au Jardin for hosting us for this chat.
And yes, I added our limerick to a new TikTok account, here's where you can follow: https://www.tiktok.com/@theearfultower?
Lina and Oliver are two creatives in Paris. They may hate the word, but you can't deny that there's something creative going on there.
In this episode, they talk about their newest venture, a children's book called Roger the Liger in Paris - and how they made it.
To get the book, go to this link: www.theearfultower.com/roger
Today it's Valerie Nicolas on the podcast, speaking before she leaves France to lead the Alliance Francaise in Australia.
Considering she is someone who has lived in many, many countries with this work over the years, I was curious to hear her story, but also to hear about what she misses most from France when she is away.
Some of the answers will surely surprise you :)
If you enjoyed this show, subscribe, tell a friend, and perhaps consider becoming a Patreon supporter: www.patreon.com/theearfultower
So you're coming to Paris! Amazing!
Now just make sure you don't do these ten things.
Special guest: Lina Nordin Gee. Find her on Instagram here: www.instagram.com/parisianpostcards
Become a Patreon member here: www.patreon.com/theearfultower
Buy our books here: www.theearfultower.com/shop
Leave the right emoji on my Instagram here: www.instagram.com/theearfultower
There's maybe never been a harder time to open a restaurant, but that's what Justin Kent has just done.
He opened Milagro at 85 avenue de Bosquet two months ago and business is booming. I met him to chat about his new restaurant, Parisian waiters, and how his work at the acclaimed Arpege restaurant shaped him as a chef.
Links:
Milagro: https://www.milagroparis.com/
Zia: https://www.ziaparis.com/
Become a member to watch my extras: https://www.patreon.com/theearfultower
I'm back in Paris and I'm fully vaccinated. In this episode I answer all your questions about daily life in the French capital.
To join the conversation, be sure you're following on Facebook, Instagram, and that you're subscribed on the newsletter and Patreon. Here are the links:
www.facebook.com/theearfultower
www.instagram.com/theearfultower
www.theearfultower.com/newsletter
www.patreon.com/theearfultower
Here are my tips and tricks for improving your level of spoken French. From haircuts, to faking Swedish citizenship, to ignoring your grandma... it's all there (and it'll all make sense as you listen).
Enjoy the episode, thanks to the Patrons who contributed their words and wisdom. Join them here: www.patreon.com/theearfultower
There'll be a blog post that goes with this episode on my site, check here: www.theearfultower.com
Happy French speaking!
Have you heard of Goussainville? It's an abandoned village right next to the Charles de Gaulle airport and it has quite the unusual back story. I paid a visit with a film crew to find out more. What's actually there and why is it abandoned? Does it live up to the romanticized hype of bloggers and urban explorers? And the ultimate question: is it worth visiting? Find out all the answers to these questions in this week's episode, with special guest Lovely Lina. To unlock the mega scroll that goes with this episode, become a Patreon Member here: www.patreon.com/theearfultower You'll also unlock our photos and videos from inside the Chateau de Lorge, which featured in the second half of today’s podcast episode. Enjoy!
Welcome to season ten! Today I chat with Nico, a French friend of mine who recently became a dad too.
We share notes on what it's like to have a baby in Paris, what French men think of the country's new paternity leave system, and how to deal with unsolicited advice from other Parisians.
To join the other members for this show, here's the Patreon link: www.patreon.com/theearfultower
Here's the NY Times article I mentioned: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/24/world/europe/france-paternity-leave.html
Here's the final chapter of my 2020 memoir, Paris On Air. To go behind the scenes, become a member to unlock the guide to this book, made for Patreon members. Sign up here: https://www.patreon.com/theearfultower
Why not buy a paperback copy of this book, or indeed the entire audio experience? Full shop here: https://theearfultower.com/shop
Here's chapter eight of my 2020 memoir, Paris On Air. To go behind the scenes, become a member to unlock the guide to this book, made for Patreon members. Sign up here: https://www.patreon.com/theearfultower
Why not buy a paperback copy of this book, or indeed the entire audio experience? Full shop here: https://theearfultower.com/shop
Here's chapter seven of my 2020 memoir, Paris On Air. Welcome to the audio experience.
To go behind the scenes, become a member to unlock the guide to this book, made for Patreon members. Sign up here: https://www.patreon.com/theearfultower
Why not buy a paperback copy of this book, or indeed the entire audio experience? Full shop here: https://theearfultower.com/shop
Here's chapter six of my 2020 memoir, Paris On Air. Welcome to the audio experience.
To go behind the scenes, become a member to unlock the guide to this book, made for Patreon members. Sign up here: https://www.patreon.com/theearfultower
Why not buy a paperback copy of this book, or indeed the entire audio experience? Full shop here: https://theearfultower.com/shop
Here's chapter five of my 2020 memoir, Paris On Air. Welcome to the audio experience.
To go behind the scenes, become a member to unlock the guide to this book, made for Patreon members. Sign up here: https://www.patreon.com/theearfultower
Why not buy a paperback copy of this book, or indeed the entire audio experience? Full shop here: https://theearfultower.com/shop
Here's chapter four of my 2020 memoir, Paris On Air. Welcome to the audio experience.
To go behind the scenes, become a member to unlock the guide to this book, made for Patreon members. Sign up here: https://www.patreon.com/theearfultower
Why not buy a paperback copy of this book, or indeed the entire audio experience? Full shop here: https://theearfultower.com/shop
Here's chapter three of my 2020 memoir, Paris On Air. Welcome to the audio experience.
To go behind the scenes, become a member to unlock the guide to this book, made for Patreon members. Sign up here: https://www.patreon.com/theearfultower
Why not buy a paperback copy of this book, or indeed the entire audio experience? Full shop here: https://theearfultower.com/shop
Here's chapter two of my 2020 memoir, Paris On Air. Welcome to the audio experience.
To go behind the scenes, become a member to unlock the guide to this book, made for Patreon members. Sign up here: https://www.patreon.com/theearfultower
Why not buy a paperback copy of this book, or indeed the entire audio experience? Full shop here: https://theearfultower.com/shop
Here's chapter one of my 2020 memoir, Paris On Air. Welcome to the audio experience.
To go behind the scenes, become a member to unlock the guide to this book, made for Patreon members. Sign up here: https://www.patreon.com/theearfultower
Why not buy a paperback copy of this book, or indeed the entire audio experience? Full shop here: https://theearfultower.com/shop
For the season finale, my special guest is a very pregnant, and very lovely Lina. We give you the inside scoop on the ins and outs of being pregnant in Paris (in a pandemic). Reflecting on the last nine months and what we learned along the way.
For all episodes of The EarfulTower: www.theearfultower.com/episodes
For all my books and more:
www.theearfultower.com/shop
Find me on instagram here:
www.instagram.com/theearfultower
And to become a fully-fledged member, join us on Patreon here: www.patreon.com/theearfultower
This week I chat with Gérard Chavaroc, who runs the 1900s pharmacy on avenue de la Bourdonnais.
We talk about how get got it, what's inside, and what will happen to it when he soon retires.
Find the pharmacy:
54 Avenue de la Bourdonnais
For all episodes of The EarfulTower: www.theearfultower.com/episodes
For all my books and more:
www.theearfultower.com/shop
Find me on instagram here:
www.instagram.com/theearfultower
And to become a fully-fledged member, join us on Patreon here: www.patreon.com/theearfultower
Molly Wilkinson joins the show to talk about how she's made a business in France as an online baker.
Check her out:
On Instagram here: instagram.com/mollyjwilk/
Her website here: mollyjwilk.com
Her new book here: mollyjwilk.com/pre-order-my-cookbook/
And to watch Molly and Olly baking together in the near future, become a Patreon member of The Earful Tower here:
patreon.com/theearfultower
Note: That membership will unlock this episode's 10-page in-depth Scroll!
This week Lina and I drove out of Paris to visit the Château Vaux-Le-Vicomte. Owner Jean Charles de Vogüé took us on a private tour while it was closed to the public.
Find the château online here:
https://vaux-le-vicomte.com/
Become an international friend of the chateau here:
For all episodes of The Earful Tower: www.theearfultower.com/episodes
For all my books and more:
www.theearfultower.com/shop
Find me on instagram here:
www.instagram.com/theearfultower
And to become a fully-fledged member, join us on Patreon here: www.patreon.com/theearfultower
This week I was joined by Amber Minogue of Paname podcast, and together we visited the Paris Pet Cemetery - aka Le Cimetière des Chiens et Autres Animaux Domestiques.
Find Paname, Amber's podcast here:
panamepodcast.com
For all episodes of The EarfulTower: www.theearfultower.com/episodes
For all my books and more:
www.theearfultower.com/shop
Find me on instagram here:
www.instagram.com/theearfultower
And to become a fully-fledged member, join us on Patreon here: www.patreon.com/theearfultower
Today it's Delphine Briere sharing her tips for the 16th arrondissement, a neighbourhood I once called boring.
Find more from our guest here: https://myparistouch.com/
Become an Earful member on Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/theearfultower
We've moved to the seventh arrondissement! Here are my tips (and Lina's tips!) for how best to visit the district.
To see the scroll that goes with this episode, become a member here: www.patreon.com/theearfultower
For the Boston event mentioned in the show: https://afusa.org/event/from-podcast-to-page-oliver-gee-and-lina-nordin-gee-on-their-newest-book/
In this episode I share five cool secrets from Paris that I've picked up over the years.
This was originally performed for the Alliance Francaise in the USA.
For all the pictures and links mentioned in the show, go to this link: www.theearfultower.com/secrets
Remember to subscribe to my YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/theearfultower?sub_confirmation=1
This week I take you behind the scenes of my recent visit to the mysterious Montmartre Vineyard.
To watch the YouTube Video of the visit, click here: https://youtu.be/oO5BpG8IZZQ
To find the Secret Journeys visit, click here: https://www.secretjourneys.travel/journey/le-clos-montmartre-vineyard
To become a member and unlock the Scroll for this episode, click here: https://www.patreon.com/theearfultower
And to get a copy of Kylie the Crocodile, click here: https://theearfultower.com/product/kylie-the-crocodile-hardback/
This week I'm joined by best-selling author Pamela Druckerman. You might know her from her newspaper columns or her brilliant book Bringing up Bébé (aka French Children Don't Throw Food).
We discussed her work, the beauty of the Place de Vosges and even had the luck to talk our way into another Paris courtyard.
Find Pamela's website here:
www.pameladruckerman.com/
To sign up to my newsletter: www.theearfultower.com/newsletter
For all episodes of The EarfulTower: www.theearfultower.com/episodes
For all my books and more:
www.theearfultower.com/shop
Find me on instagram here:
www.instagram.com/theearfultower
And to become a fully-fledged member, join us on Patreon here: www.patreon.com/theearfultower
This week is another adventurous episode, recorded from above the streets, sitting on a Paris rooftop. I'm joined by 27-year-old Frenchman Raphael Metivet, a photographer capturing Paris from a new perspective.
We discussed our 360 degree view, urban exploration across Paris, and Raphael explains some tips and tricks around how he gets his winning shots.
Find Raphael on Instagram here:
www.instagram.com/raphaelmetivet
For all episodes of The Earful Tower: www.theearfultower.com/episodes
For all my books and more:
www.theearfultower.com/shop
Find me on instagram here:
www.instagram.com/theearfultower
And to become a fully-fledged member, join us on Patreon here: www.patreon.com/theearfultower
An adventure episode.
Here's the story of host Oliver Gee tracking the 800-year-old Philippe Auguste Wall on the Left Bank.
To see the replay of the live video he made, become a Patreon member here: www.patreon.com/theearfultower
This week's guest came through a chance encounter. I found myself talking with a man called Diederick from the Netherlands outside the Peloton Cafe. It turned out he owned a shop full of silk flowers around the corner on Rue de Turenne … so I went to visit to understand more.
This episode covers Paris through the eyes of this Dutchman, the evolving bicycle culture within the city, and of course, everything floral.
For all episodes of The Earful Tower: www.theearfultower.com/episodes
For all my books and more:
www.theearfultower.com/shop
Find me on instagram here:
www.instagram.com/theearfultower
And to become a fully-fledged member, join us on Patreon here: www.patreon.com/theearfultower
Welcome to The Earful Tower Paris - I'm Oliver Gee. This is something I should have said four years ago.
Yes, after 200+ episodes and 1.5 million + downloads, it's time for a proper insight into what's going on here.
With the help of my occasional co-host and wife Lina, and my brother and editor Eddie, this is the episode you should listen to first (or indeed share with your friends).
A few links we mentioned:
For Lina's art: www.theearfultower.com/art
For all the episodes ever on your desktop: www.theearfultower.com/episodes
For all my books and more: www.theearfultower.com/shop
To leave a very specific comment on Instagram, find me here: www.instagram.com/theearfultower
And to become a fully-fledged member, join us on Patreon here: www.patreon.com/theearfultower
Almost like a sacred ritual in France, the apéro is much more than just a drink with friends.
Véronique Savoye from France With Véro explains more.
To become an Earful Tower member click here: https://www.patreon.com/theearfultower
When the Seine River is flooding in Paris, you can almost certainly find me somewhere along the riverbank watching. I find it extraordinarily fascinating.
And it's so close to flooding now that I figured I'd make an episode about it all - including some fun and interesting facts about the Great Flood of 1910.
For more info, check this link: www.theearfultower.com/flood
If that link doesn't work yet, check it again in a few hours :)
To become a fully-fledged Patreon member and get the guide to Paris, here's the link: www.patreon.com/theearfultower
We're heading back to Paris this week... and here's where we'll be living.
Featuring special guest Lina aka Lovely Lina.
Thanks for making the 1.5 million downloads a reality!!!
As always, join the Patreon club here: https://www.patreon.com/theearfultower
I've travelled around France an awful lot, so here are 30 things I recommend... and 20 that I really want to do.
I made this list with the help of a few members of The Earful's distribution team.
Find the full list on my website: https://theearfultower.com/
Here's the bundle discount for Paris On Air and Kylie: https://theearfultower.com/bundle
Become a Patreon member: https://www.patreon.com/theearfultower
I asked about your Paris plans and you sent in hundreds! Here's a chat with three listeners who share their Paris plans, and I talk about the Top 100 List that goes with this episode.
Find the full list on my website: https://theearfultower.com/2021/01/11/the-francophiles-bucket-list-100-things-to-do-in-paris-in-2021/
Become a Patreon member: https://www.patreon.com/theearfultower
Hear ye, hear ye: I officially challenge you to join our 2021 Paris Bucket List challenge.
The rules are simple: Find five things you've never done before in Paris, rank them in ascending order of difficulty, then do them all before the year ends.
This will work even if you are just visiting for a week.
Today's episode is Lina and I talking through our respective lists.
Join us!
Become a member here: https://www.patreon.com/theearfultower
Follow The Earful on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theearfultower/
Follow Lina on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/parisianpostcards/
It's the top ten episodes from 2020, counting down from number 10 to number one.
Which episode was the most downloaded? Which celebrities made the top ten? How many have you heard?
All will be answered in this end-of-year episode from your host, Oliver Gee.
Thanks for listening in 2020.
To get the beautiful scroll from this episode and to support the show at the same time, become a Patreon member here: https://www.patreon.com/theearfultower
PS: The Earful has been selected as the number one France Travel and Culture Podcast on the web. Check it out:
https://blog.feedspot.com/france_travel_and_culture_podcasts/
This week I'm joined, by author, Stephen Clarke. We discussed being a writer in Lockdown, WWII in Paris, and British spies. As well as his brand new book The Spy Who Inspired Me.
This interview was held via Zoom to an audience of Patreon members, you can watch the replay on the link below if you're a member.
https://www.patreon.com/theearfultower
We are leaving Montmartre!
It's been a wonderful two years in our little apartment overlooking Paris, but this chapter is now over.
To mark the occasion, Lina and I took one last walk around our old neighbourhood, with microphone in hand.
If you close your eyes, you can probably imagine that you're walking the cobbled streets with us.
Where in Paris will we be next? Well, you'll have to keep listening :)
Loads of extras to go with this episode if you're a Patreon member: https://www.patreon.com/theearfultower
And our neighbourhood in Montmartre was the setting for the final chapter in my book, Paris On Air. You can order a copy here: https://theearfultower.com/memoir
Traditions, meals, markets, and music... Camille from French Today explains how the French celebrate Christmas.
Find out more about Christmas in France with stories from Camille.
The Legend of Saint Nicolas - bilingual story
10 ways to wish Merry Christmas (with audio)
French Christmas traditions
100 French Christmas terms with audio
Authentic French Christmas Dialogue (bilingual + audio enunciated and spoken modern French recordings
Christmas Meal
If you want to watch episodes like this being recorded live, join The Earful Tower's members today: https://www.patreon.com/theearfultower
Big news: The Earful Tower is now officially a company. Here's a little explainer from me and the company's first lady, Lina.
Our book, Kylie The Crocodile, is available here: https://theearfultower.com/croc
Thanks to all the Patreon supporters who got me this far. Join them here: https://www.patreon.com/theearfultower
Montmartre. A hotspot for tourists and Parisians alike. But what happens when such a district goes through two lockdowns in one year?
This week I'm joined by Lily Heise, a 17-year resident of Montmartre, to answer that very question. We also discussed her new book There's Only One Paris.Follow the link below to order a copy!
For Lily's new book, find it on Amazon here:
https://amzn.to/2V20jgL
For more from Lily, find her website here:
http://jetaimemeneither.com/
For more content from The Earful Tower, support it and guarantee its improvement on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/theearfultower
Meet Anna Kloots, a writer, a créatrice, and a traveller who moved to Paris in 2020.
But rather than lament the fact she perhaps picked the worst year of all to move to Paris, she has grabbed the city by the horns and made the most of every minute, sharing her adventures with her hundreds of thousands of fans online.
We chat about life in Paris from a terrace in Pigalle, enjoy the episode.
For more from Anna, find her on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/annakloots/
For more content from The Earful Tower, support it and guarantee its improvement on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/theearfultower
Today's episode is Roni Amelan, a man I met recently whilst sipping a flat white outside Le Peloton cafe. Within 2 minutes I invited him onto the pod, and today's bonus episode is the result!
We discuss what I've deemed to be The Pearl of Paris, the island in the Seine called the Île Saint-Louis! Roni has lived on the island for 20 years so who better than him to tell me everything there is to know about the small island in the Seine called the ile Saint Louis.
For more content from The Earful Tower, support it and guarantee its improvement on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/theearfultower
This week, Oliver shares an honest look at the second lockdown in Paris. It began on October 30th and has been scheduled to run for four weeks.
Mentioned in this episode: Stohrer Bakery, Le Bombardier pub, Saint-Ètienne-du-Mont church, Boulangerie Vandermeersch for the Kugelhopf, the park called Square Roger-Stéphane, and monsieur Segas for the canes.
Here are the pictures from Empty Paris in the first lockdown:
https://theearfultower.com/2020/04/20/scenes-from-paris-in-lockdown/
Listen to me sharing my Top 5 Paris Secrets in the last episode:
https://theearfultower.libsyn.com/my-five-best-paris-secrets
To get a lot more, sign up as a Patreon supporter here: https://www.patreon.com/theearfultower
To get my memoir: https://theearfultower.com/memoir/
To get the children's book: https://theearfultower.com/croc/
Find me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theearfultower
A bonus episode! Here's a presentation of my five best Paris secrets. Hidden gardens, speakeasies, secret cafes... they're all here.
And more importantly, I've included the fun stories of how I found them all.
Enjoy the episode, and if you want the Scroll for free, here's the link to get it: https://theearfultower.com/scroll-top-5-secrets/
For more content from The Earful Tower, support it and guarantee its improvement on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/theearfultower
With the new lockdown in Paris, we're only allowed to stray one kilometre from home. And luckily for me, they've kept the parks and cemeteries open this time - meaning my daily wanderings can now include the Montmartre Cemetery.
Here, you can find dozens of friendly stray cats and hundreds of wonderful gravestones. Here's my episode from inside the cemetery, enjoy!
To get my memoir: https://theearfultower.com/memoir/
To get the children's book: https://theearfultower.com/croc/
To become an Earful member and see all the pics from this episode: https://www.patreon.com/theearfultower
Bonus episode!! This week I had the honour of speaking as an author at the American Library in Paris. I also had the honour of interviewing myself for the first time!
Here's the full chat, which I hope you will even enjoy if you've read the book and heard my story. I slipped in a lot of new stuff :)
To get my memoir: https://theearfultower.com/memoir/
To get the children's https://theearfultower.com/croc/
To become an Earful member: https://www.patreon.com/theearfultower
As Paris goes into lockdown again, here's how I spent my last day of freedom.
You'll hear a lot of extra voices in this episode, and plenty of locations.
Including:
Papilles Coffeehouse: 77 Rue de Rochechouart, 75009 Paris
Boneshaker Donuts: 77 Rue d'Aboukir, 75002 Paris
Le Peloton Cafe: 17 Rue du Pont Louis-Philippe, 75004 Paris
Find way more information about these places, and plenty of bonus content, by becoming a member here: https://www.patreon.com/theearfultower
This weekend we escaped Paris for a weekend in Burgundy. We stayed at the magnificent Chateau de Missery, which has been in the command of the British Hawkes family for decades.
On the way to the chateau, Lina and I discovered the architectural wonder of the Chateau de Guedelon - and also the nearby Colette Museum.
This entire episode was filmed on the go - we hope you feel like you're right there with us.
For much much more on this episode and beyond, become a Patreon supporter here: https://www.patreon.com/theearfultower
And to get a copy of our new children's book, click here: https://theearfultower.com/kylie
Find the Chateau de Missery here: http://www.chateaudemissery.com/
We've made a children's book! We are so proud to finally announce the launch of Kylie The Crocodile in Paris. A project we've been working on behind the scenes for months, Lina did all the illustrations, and I wrote the words. And it's a tale I'm sure you will all recognize!
To pre-order a copy and back the project check out our Kickstarter page: http://kck.st/3o3TBUy There you can find everything you need to know about the story, how to order a copy, and even how you can get your name in the book!
I scored the phone number to legendary French singer Edith Piaf via a dream and an apparent time portal.
Here's what happened when I dialled the number.
At the end of the episode, I also chatted with tour guide Edith de Belleville, who you can find here: https://en.edithdebelleville.com/
If you enjoy The Earful Tower, want to see it thrive, and want the bonus content, sign up on Patreon here: www.patreon.com/theearfultower
Property consultant Adrian Leeds joins me to discuss daily life in Paris and how it has changed since the pandemic.
Recorded in the heart of Montmartre in the Farfelu cafe, we discussed everything from face masks and lockdown to the new Netflix show Emily in Paris.
Adrian also answers whether now is a good time to buy in Paris.
For more from Adrian Leeds, click here: www.adrianleeds.com
For much more from this episode and beyond, become a Patreon supporter: www.patreon.com/theearfultower
This week I have friend of the podcast, and world famous author Cara Black back in studio.
We talked Hitler in Paris and Cara's new book. Inspired by a mysterious footnote, Cara went down a rabbit hole of dates, times and events - leading her to write Three Hours In Paris.
More on Cara and her books here on her official website.
Become a Patron of The Earful Tower here to get the Scroll for this episode and to join the community: https://www.patreon.com/theearfultower
This week I'm joined by Boris Petrovic aka Boris the Brain to discuss the history (and future) of walking in Paris.
We discussed the Haussmannian origins of Paris's wide streets, tales of man-eating wolves invading the city, pulling teeth on the Pont Neuf, and the plans for the future of the city.
Also, a special side note, it's my birthday! And to celebrate I wanted to give YOU a present. The book and audio package for just 20 euros. https://theearfultower.com/birthday
Become a Patron of The Earful Tower here to get the Scroll for this episode and to join the community: https://www.patreon.com/theearfultower
Last week, I pitched a question to the Earful Tower Members; What is the first thing you will do once you can get back to Paris?
I had an amazing response and for this episode I've pulled a selection of my favourite answers to discuss with none other then my wife, Lovely Lina.
The idea: To try and determine just what it is that makes Paris such a popular destination.
Become a Patron of The Earful Tower here to get the Scroll for this episode (and to join the community discussions like this one): https://www.patreon.com/theearfultower
Yes, yes, this is a podcast about Paris and France, but I decided to cast the net wider for this episode and take a closer look at Sweden.
Why? Well, today's guest is Swedish, we're both in Sweden right now, and as you might remember, I spent about five years in Sweden before Paris.
So with about 10 years of observing the very fascinating Swedes under my belt, I pitched to Lina the ten most unusual things I've noticed about Swedes to see what she thought.
Here's that conversation.
Become a Patron of The Earful Tower here to get the Scroll for this episode (and much more): https://www.patreon.com/theearfultower
This week on the show it's Kobus Botha talking about braai, being 2 meters tall, and catering for 6,000 people.
Kobus is the BBQ King of France with his enormous touring barbecues, we discuss his work and some of the exciting catering gigs he's had across France
Become a Patron of The Earful Tower here to get the Scroll for this episode (and much more): https://www.patreon.com/theearfultower
This week on the show it's Jacqueline Ngo Mpii talking about La Goutte d'Or, a neighborhood beside Montmartre.
But while millions and millions of tourists flock to Montmartre next door, few venture to the east to see Little Africa - not least after it was labelled a "no-go zone" in international media.
Jacqueline explains how she is working to change that, and details how you too can help to crowdfund a cool cultural centre in the heart of the village.
Check out the crowdfunding details here: https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/little-africa-2-0-a-parisian-village
Become a Patron of The Earful Tower here to get the Scroll for this episode (and much more): https://www.patreon.com/theearfultower
Throughout my time in Paris I've come across many an untranslatable word in the French language. I've talked about these before, even discussed them in my memoir, but for this episode I've rounded up my ten favourites. Or the ten best, if you will.
The rule to be classed as untranslatable: That it doesn't exist in a single word in the English word.
Enjoy the episode :)
If you want more about French words and France and Paris, grab a copy of my book here: https://theearfultower.com/memoir/
Become an Earful Tower member here: https://www.patreon.com/theearfultower
And subscribe to my weekly newsletter here: http://eepurl.com/gzMRhT
Meet Katrina Lawrence a beauty journalist and certified Francophile. She first fell in love with Paris at the age of five, and since then her roads have continually led her back to Paris.
We talk about her book Paris Dreaming, which chronicles her love for the French and how the city has inspired her.
Find Katrina on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/parisfordreamers/?hl=en
Find her website here: https://parisfordreamers.com/
And help me make this show better by becoming a Patreon member today: https://www.patreon.com/theearfultower
The Notre Dame Cathedral caught fire on April 15 2019.
So - where are we now?
Well, French author Agnes Poirier has just written a book on the topic called "Notre Dame: The Soul of France" so I sat down to chat about the cathedral's past and present.
This episode also features the voice of Ariel Weil, the mayor of Paris Centre, to talk about the future of the cathedral.
A few links that are relevant:
Find Agnes's book here and my Book Club here.
Meanwhile, Ariel Weil was also on this podcast in Season 6 episode 40.
The night of the fire, I went live on Facebook here. For a shorter version, with the Parisians singing hymns, click here.
For more about the fire, here is a link to a post I wrote shortly after the incident.
Support The Earful Tower on Patreon here.
Meet Jane Webster, an Australian woman who has just spent lockdown in a 72-room chateau in Normandy.
She is the woman behind Chateau de Bosguet, which you can find more about on the links below.
We chat about chateau life, Paris, having a one-hectare vegetable garden, and much more!
By the way, the covered passage in Paris that Jane discussed was the Passage Choiseul.
Find Jane on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/janewebsterthefrenchtable/
Find her website and chateau here: https://www.thefrenchtable.com.au/
And help me make this show better by becoming a Patreon member today: https://www.patreon.com/theearfultower
I visited the Palace of Versailles to see what it looked like during the pandemic.
Hoping for empty rooms, I must admit I was a little disappointed to see the crowds, but it was a grand experience as always.
Here's the visit in podcast form, with my wife Lina as a special guest, and with background music from Mozart, Bizet, and Handel. Enjoy!
Want to be part of the gang? Sign up on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/theearfultower
Wanna see some pics from the trip? Check the blog soon or Instagram now: @theearfultower and @parisianpostcards
With many countries still on the "don't visit list" for France, the city of Paris is strangely empty.
Sure, there are a lot of French people about... and quite a few Europeans. But all the main tourist groups have vanished, and it makes for an interesting time in the City of Lights.
My wife Lina and I discuss how the city has changed and what that means for us locals.
Want to be part of a live recording of an episode? Sign up on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/theearfultower
Janet Hulstrand is back on the show! Janet is the editor of my book, Paris On Air, and we discuss what it takes to make a memoir.
If you need a book editor, check her out, she is wonderful!
Find more from Janet here:
Her blog: https://janethulstrand.com/
Some articles mentioned in the episode: Is My Book Idea Worth Pursuing? https://janethulstrand.com/2011/11/05/is-my-book-idea-worth-pursuing/ Hulstrand's Five Golden Rules of Editing https://janethulstrand.com/2010/09/26/hulstrands-five-golden-rules-of-editing/ Posts About Writing from the Heart https://janethulstrand.com/category/about-writing-from-the-heart/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/JJHWriter/ and https://www.facebook.com/DemystifyingTheFrench/ Janet on Twitter: https://twitter.com/janetjoy Lastly, if you want to become an Earful Tower member, here's the link to Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/theearfultower And here's the link to preorder a copy of my book: https://theearfultower.com/preorder
Meet Casey Laulala, a Samoan rugby player turned Paris restauranteur. He talks about how his life in the sports world taught him how to run a Paris restaurant.
Find his restaurant Itacoa on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/itacoa_paris/
Find the restaurant website here: http://www.itacoa.paris/
And find Casey on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/casey_laulala/?hl=en
Want more from The Earful Tower? Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/theearfultower
"Jazz is a compressed history of the modern world."
So says Alex Freiman, a jazz musician from Paris who also works as a bookseller at Shakespeare and Company.
We sat down in the Square René Viviani park beside the bookshop, where Alex had just finished a live set in front of a crowd.
We talked about the vibrant jazz scene in Paris, great musicians to get you into the jazz world, and how Alex is bringing live music to the streets of Paris.
We also talked about how jazz music can lead to life as an outcast, the trouble with how the movie La La Land depicted the Paris jazz scene, and the day the Notre Dame burned down.
You'll hear people in the background, the occasional church bell, siren, and the crunch of Parisian gravel under people's feet as they walk past.
To get Alex's album, Play It Gentle, from Shakespeare and Co, click below.
https://shakespeareandcompany.com/d/3341348159997/play-it-gentle
While you're at it, why not add my book to the bundle as well :)
https://shakespeareandcompany.com/d/9781098301996/paris-on-air
If you're enjoying The Earful Tower, become a member here:
https://www.patreon.com/theearfultower
I'm gobsmacked at how impressively this community has flexed its collective muscle.
At the time of recording we have raised over $9,000 for an important charity.
If you're quick, you can join in too:
https://charity.gofundme.com/o/en/campaign/paris-fans-lets-make-a-difference
Links mentioned in this show:
YouTube video of "Intro to Black Paris": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iKR7xS1ksTo
YouTube video of wine tasting with Tanisha: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=17-1XQbrcBM
The podcast I mentioned is Wine School Dropout: https://www.girlmeetsglass.com/podcast
It's a different episode today, a look into Black Lives Matter from a Paris perspective. But it's also an investigation into what I can do as a podcaster to diversify and to amplify black voices.
Let's make a change folks, I've already started and you'll notice it in the show going forward. Not just in the upcoming episodes, but I mean in the upcoming months, years, and decades.
Some upcoming guests on the show who'll share their Paris include these guys, go and follow them all.
Sutanya from the amazing podcast Paris for One: https://www.instagram.com/dinnerfor.one/?hl=en
Yannique from the awesome community My Parisian Life: https://www.instagram.com/myparisianlife/?hl=en
Jim the excellent lifestyle photographer: https://www.instagram.com/thatguyyoujustmet/?hl=en
Danielle who is the kindly voice of Le Peloton Cafe: https://www.instagram.com/tribe_a_team/?hl=en
We all know it's important to say "bonjour" no matter where you are in France. That's hardly a secret.
But let me tell you, there's no better way to get a conversation going than to ask "ca va?" directly afterwards.
French people will disagree with me, but ignore them: this is a foreigner hack that absolutely works.
The tone, accent, and body language are all important too... but believe me, this works.
This episode is me explaining perhaps the one part of my new book that people keep asking me about - and that has apparently changed the life of one French follower. Imagine that.
Grab a copy of my book here if you're in the US or France: https://theearfultower.com/us
And here if you're anywhere else: https://theearfultower.com/memoir/
Become an Earful Tower member here: https://www.patreon.com/theearfultower
You might know the Shakespeare and Company bookshop from popular films like Midnight in Paris or Before Sunset.
You might know it from your last visit to Paris... You might have even bought a book here.
But what really goes on at the iconic and mysterious Shakespeare and Company?
Is it true that they let writers sleep here for free? (Yes) Is it true they're removing the roof and renovating its insides? (Well, yes and no). And can you get a copy of my new memoir there? (Amazingly, yes!)
Together with Events Manager Adam Biles, I sat down inside the upstairs reading library, which features George Whitman's private collection. Adam has lived in Paris for 15 years and worked at the book store for over three years, and we chatted books, Tumbleweeds, and lockdown.
Here's the chat, and below are some important names and links we mentioned in the show.
Naomi Klein is a Canadian author, social activist, and filmmaker known for her political analyses and criticism of corporate globalization and of capitalism.
John Peter Berger was an English art critic, novelist, painter and poet.
Rachel Cusk is a Canadian-born novelist and writer who lives and works in England.
George Saunders is an American writer of short stories, essays, novellas, children's books, and novels.
Valeria Luiselli is a Mexican author living in the United States.
Louis Sebastian Theroux is a British-American documentary filmmaker, journalist, broadcaster, and author.
Buy the Notre Dame Poetry book Adam mentioned here for €6
https://shakespeareandcompany.com/d/9791096101016/poems-for-notre-dame
Grab my book Paris On Air €20
https://shakespeareandcompany.com/d/9781098301996/paris-on-air
And visit their website here:
https://shakespeareandcompany.com/
Lastly, if you're enjoying The Earful Tower, become a member here and catch my upcoming walks from around the Eiffel Tower: https://www.patreon.com/theearfultower
I didn't know the 7th district of Paris very well until this week.
Thanks to the mysterious Goddess of Fortune (aka Leah Walker from Paris Perfect rentals), Lina and I have landed in a luxury apartment by the Eiffel Tower for two weeks.
Leah, who runs the social media for Paris Perfect, joined me for a chat about the 7th district, what it's like without the tourist (France's borders are still closed), and she also talks about how apartment rental companies like hers have had 100 percent cancellations. (Which is how I ended up here!).
As promised, here's the spelling of all the street names we mentioned.
Avenue Junot, which in Montmartre is the only street not on the Left Bank (the rest are).
Rue Jacob
Rue de l’Université
Avenue de Bourdonnais (where the apartment is)
Her fave street was Rue Saint Dominique
And the neighbourhood is called the Quartier du Gros-Caillou (big stone or pebble)
Find Leah on Instagram @LeahTravels (https://www.instagram.com/leahtravels/)
Find Paris Perfect here: https://www.instagram.com/parisperfectrentals/
And here is the apartment we're in, the "Bergerac".
That's it for now, thanks for listening!
The vast majority of restaurants in Paris are still closed due to the lockdown. Those that have opened their doors are only offering takeaway.
So what does an acclaimed restaurant critic like Alec Lobrano do instead?
I chatted with the American writer about all things food, his life under lockdown, and how every Paris restaurant is like a theatre.
We also talk about the future of the Paris restaurant industry, what happens when someone spots him buying frozen pizza, and where he'd go for his last meal in Paris.
Spoiler alert: He chose Le bon Georges which you can find at 45 Rue Saint-Georges, 75009 Paris.
Find out more about Alec on his website here: https://www.alexanderlobrano.com/
The lockdown is lifted. We can go out without permission, without a reason, and for as long as we wish.
I chatted with Ariel Weil, the mayor of the Marais, about what will happen now. About how the city will change. About what a mayor does in lockdown. And much more.
Thanks for listening - and thanks for helping me reach a million downloads! Merci!
Become a member here: www.patreon.com/theearfultower
Today it's an excerpt from the audio experience for my new memoir, Paris On Air.
It's Eddie Gee, my little brother, reading his lines with me as we retell the story of our first trip to Paris.
If you enjoy it, please buy the full audio experience for just €20. The first five chapters are ready to go.
Want each segment as it's recorded? Join Patreon for $10 a month and become a member for more like this every day!!
Here are the links:
Audio experience: https://theearfultower.com/memoir/
Become a member: https://www.patreon.com/theearfultower
Guy Griffin from Cafe Oberkampf and Cafe Mericourt joins the show to talk about the restaurant industry in Paris and how it'll cope during the lockdown... and then what'll come next.
He discusses his rethinking of the hospitality industry, the government's "chômage partiel" for staff members (part-time unemployment), and his plans to reopen.
And he says the days of sitting in a Paris cafe all day with one coffee and a cake may be over...
For the facts: The government has given May 11th as the end of lockdown, but that doesn't apply for cafes and restaurants, many of which have already been reworking their strategies for home delivery and click and collect options.
Oh yes, and a tromp-l'oeil is an art technique that uses realistic imagery to create an optical illusion.
As Guy said, a coffee on him if you can be the first to guess which character he played in my audiobook, which you can listen to every day on Patreon here. We're halfway through! www.patreon.com/theearfultower My site: www.theearfultower.com Find the cafes on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cafeoberkampf/ https://www.instagram.com/cafemericourt
Paris has been closed down for about six weeks now and everyone's life has changed. Last week I checked in on friends of the show to hear about how the city looks different.
This week I'm talking with three Paris influential online personalities to hear how the Paris lockdown has affected their respective businesses.
Here are the links to the guests, how you can find them online, and where you can hear them in this slightly longer episode.
(From 2.40) Carin Olsson from Paris In Four Months, talking about how being an Instagram influencer and photographer means work has totally dried up for the foreseeable future. Her Instagram is here: https://www.instagram.com/parisinfourmonths/
(From 18.20) Lindsey Tramuta from Lost In Cheeseland talking about how her new book "The New Parisienne" has had a delayed publication. Her Instagram is here: https://www.instagram.com/lostncheeseland/
(From 35.50) Sophie Nadeau talking about how her popular travel blog Solo Sophie has seen the statistics nosedive. Her Instagram is here: https://www.instagram.com/sophieannenadeau/
That's it! I've got pictures from all the guests, I'm adding them to The Earful Tower site now.
Become an Earful Tower member on Patreon here: www.patreon.com/theearfultower
More episodes every Monday, as always
Paris has been closed down for over a month now. Me, I'm confined to a radius of 1km in peaceful Montmartre... but was wondering what the rest of the city looks like.
This episode features chats with five friends of the show, sharing their lockdown observations from their respective corners of Paris.
Here are the links to the guests and what they mentioned, in order of appearance.
(From 3.55) Veronique from French Girl in Seattle (who's on Patreon too), talking about Vincennes and the "petite couronne" in the suburbs)
(From 17.58) Jay Swanson from YouTube (who's also on Patreon), talking about Trocadero and the Arc de Triomphe.
(From 24.10) Adrian Leeds from House Hunters International (visit her site here), talking about the Marais.
(From 35.05) Author John Baxter (find his site here), talking about the Left Bank and the Jardin du Luxembourg.
(From 43.50) Boris Petrovic from Paris in Person (find his app Notre Dame Fiat Lux anywhere you find apps - link to Apple here), talking about the 7th, the Eiffel Tower, and the Seine.
That's it! I've got pictures from all the guests, I'm adding them to The Earful Tower site now.
Become an Earful Tower member on Patreon here: www.patreon.com/theearfultower
More episodes every Monday, as always
Lina Nordin Gee aka @parisianpostcards on Instagram has been painting a watercolour every day about Paris, France, and famous French faces.
She's the guest on today's podcast, sharing the stories behind her paintings, what it's like to have your real job put on hold, and what it's like to host a Paris-themed quiz night every weekend.
Links:
Lina's paintings on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/parisianpostcards/
Lina's prints to buy here: https://www.etsy.com/shop/parisianpostcards
Lina's shoes and handbags here: https://www.deuxiemestudios.com/
Support The Earful Tower on Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/theearfultower
Get my memoir here: https://theearfultower.com/memoir/
Subscribe on YouTube for pub quizzes here: https://www.youtube.com/theearfultower
When the lockdown hit Paris, all non essential work was forbidden. So a local film crew didn't have time to remove a huge set on rue Androuet in Montmarte.
I've been visiting the street since they started building, here's the strange and slightly eerie story, with the help of an American whose home was taken over by the film, and one of the actors.
There are 100+ pictures on my site: https://theearfultower.com/
Support my work on Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/theearfultower
Buy my memoir here: https://theearfultower.com/memoir
Unbelievable. After a strange dream, I found myself with a direct phone number for Ernest Hemingway in 1925. I called the number... here's what happened.
Afterwards, I spoke with Sam Lopez-Barrantes who gives Hemingway tours. Here he is on Twitter if you wanna book one of his tours when things get back to normal.
Support The Earful on Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/theearfultower
It has been two weeks and we're keeping busy to keep sane.
Pub quizzes, puzzles, and daily sketches - here's how we're keeping busy while staying home.
Also... The books arrived! Get yours here: https://theearfultower.com/memoir/
Italy is about a week ahead of France when it comes to the coronavirus. Italy is the worst affected country in the world with 7,500 deaths as of March 25th.
I chatted with an Australian freelance journalist, Josephine McKenna, who has been living in Italy for 12 years, for her take on the scene.
While this is a podcast about Paris, I thought it would be informative and interesting to learn what we in France (and indeed what you around the world) might be in for.
Jo shared her tips for quarantine, a glimpse into life in Italian lockdown, and a few insights into regular life in Rome (which I admit I don't know much about).
Why not send some kind words to Jo on Instagram? Her account is: https://www.instagram.com/josephine.mckenna/
Support The Earful Tower on Patreon here: www.patreon.com/theearfultower
A friend of mine, 45-year-old David, has been in quarantine after coming down with the virus that's bringing the world to a standstill.
When he told me the news, and told me what he had to do to keep his girlfriend and unborn child safe, I asked if he'd share the story with us all.
So here's that story. David, a Breton "stuck in Paris", tells of how he caught the virus, what it did to him, and how he got through quarantine.
He also talks about French healthcare and the French response, how he is staying healthy, and he shares an impressive imitation of bagpipes.
Support The Earful Tower on patreon here: www.patreon.com/theearfultower
Get my memoir here: www.theearfultower.com/memoir
Day four of the lockdown. Police have given out 18,000 fines to people caught outside without their note.
Me and my wife Lina are in our 30 sqm apartment in Montmartre (322sq feet) watching life from the balcony.
We talk about the guilt in going out for exercise, the Rear Window life, and visits to the bakery.
Find Lina's stuff on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/parisianpostcards/
Buy her prints here: https://www.etsy.com/shop/parisianpostcards
Buy my memoir here: https://theearfultower.com/memoir/
Please support me on Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/theearfultower
Paul from Le Peloton cafe already had a lot on his plate. He co-runs a cafe in the Marais and a popular bike tour company (Bike About Tours)... not to mention he's a father of three!
So as you can imagine, it was a kick in the shins to learn that he had 100 percent cancellations for the bike tours, then had to close down the cafe. He's today's guest on The Earful, sharing his story via telephone.
As we mention in the episode, Paul was one of the very first guests on this show about three years ago, talking about the best streets to cycle down in Paris.
Find Bike About Tours on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/bikeabouttours/
Find Le Peloton Cafe here on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lepelotoncafe/
Why not show them some love!
Meanwhile, find my memoir here: www.theearfultower.com/memoir
And support this podcast on Patreon here: www.patreon.com/theearfultower
Paris is on lockdown. We've been told to stay home, only to leave for a very good reason (and with a note to prove it to police).
My journalistic instincts have kicked in, so it's time to take a break from the regular show and focus on Paris during this historic time.
Expect more regular episodes shining a light (and hopefully some positivity) on this unusual time.
Expect interviews with people affected across Paris (by phone of course, the studio is closed).
And if you want me to keep going, please become a member on Patreon. www.patreon.com/theearfultower
My book: www.theearfultower.com/memoir
It's chef and blogging superstar David Lebovitz talking about his new book, Drinking French.
We also talk about the 11th arrondissement,
His book is available now and it's called Drinking French: The Iconic Cocktails, Apéritifs, and Café Traditions of France, with 160 Recipes.
Find out more on www.davidlebovitz.com
After David it's tour guide Bertrand from My Private Paris talking about the courtyards of the eleventh district, how to walk into them, and what you might find.
My Private Paris is the boutique tour agency sponsoring this podcast season. Find out more about My Private Paris here (and tell them I sent you!)
If you want to find more about The Earful Tower, here's the website, here's the Patreon link, and here's my Instagram. Get a copy of my new book here.
What's the latest with the Coronavirus in France and Paris? Should you cancel your trip? How is daily life affected?
I asked these questions to Ben McPartland, the editor of The Local, Europe's News in English.
The Local Europe, especially The Local France, has loads of practical information and advice about what's going on with the Coronavirus. Keep an eye on them for further updates.
www.thelocal.fr
www.thelocal.it
A chat with Nico, the owner of Holybelly, which is the hippest and most happening cafe restaurant in Paris. Maybe even France.
We talk about the secret to success, how Holybelly has gone beyond the hype and turned into an institution, and the time basketball superstar LeBron James came for breakfast.
We also talk about what to order if you find yourself in a terrible Paris restaurant, a few tips for the 10th district, and how exactly to order a steak in French.
Find Holybelly at: 5 AND 19 Rue Lucien Sampaix, 75010 Paris
Nico's new podcast: That Restaurant Thing
After our chat, it's tour guide Bertrand from My Private Paris talking about the fascinating history of the tenth district.
My Private Paris is the boutique tour agency sponsoring this podcast season. Find out more about My Private Paris here (and tell them I sent you!)
If you want to find more about The Earful Tower, here's the website, here's the Patreon link, and here's my Instagram. Get a copy of my new book here.
Today's chat is with model Caroline de Maigret, who has just published a book about ageing called Older But Better, But Older. She's the ultimate Parisienne, if you ask me.
If you want to find more from Caroline, check out her Instagram page here.
After the chat, it's tour guide Bertrand from My Private Paris talking about the fascinating history of the ninth district.
My Private Paris is the boutique tour agency sponsoring this podcast season. Find out more about My Private Paris here (and tell them I sent you!)
If you want to find more about The Earful Tower, here's the website, here's the Patreon link, and here's my Instagram. Get a copy of my new book here.
Oh yes, and here's the YouTube video from when Caroline showed us her neighbourhood: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kmREkrfUPbY
Today's chat is an on-the-go episode co-hosted by my wife Lina. We visit all kinds of amazing spots, including the Champs-Elysées, the Petit Palais, Ladurée and more. Find the full details and my full guide to Paris by becoming a Patreon member.
After the chat, it's tour guide Marie from My Private Paris talking about the fascinating burial spot of Louis the 16th and Marie Antoinette, which was also in the 8th.
My Private Paris is the boutique tour agency sponsoring this podcast season. Find out more about My Private Paris here (and tell them I sent you!)
Support The Earful Tower on Patreon here.
Get a copy of my new book here.
Today's chat is with tour guides Marie and Bertrand from My Private Paris. They share what they consider to be the seven wonders of the district.
I'll add all this to a blog post soon, be sure to check it out!
My Private Paris is the boutique tour agency sponsoring this podcast season. Find out more about My Private Paris here (and tell them I sent you!)
Support The Earful Tower on Patreon here to get invites to future events like the cheese tasting mentioned in the show.
Get a copy of my new book here.
Hello everyone!
It's a bonus episode today, co-starring my little brother Eddie.
We're talking about your impressions from your first trip to Paris. Me and Eddie went through a wild ordeal ourselves about 13 years ago, and we share that story too.
But we mostly focus on the best stories from you listeners. We sifted through hundreds of responses and share the top ones.
During Eddie's visit to Paris, we also took the chance to record some scenes for the audio experience of my new memoir, Paris On Air.
Find out more about it, and pre-order a copy of it here: https://theearfultower.com/audio
Support The Earful Tower on Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/theearfultower
Meanwhile, if you're not following on Facebook or Instagram you're missing out on getting your stories shared!
Hello everyone!
It's season seven of The Earful Tower, and I'm exploring each of the 20 arrondissements in order. Seeming we're in the sixth week of the year, it's over to the sixth arrondissement.
Today's chat is with Laurel and Kaysa from Treize au jardin, a bakery and cafe (and much more) on rue de Medicis, right by the Luxembourg gardens. We talk about surviving the Paris strikes, how to make a cafe a home for all, and good spots to find on the Left Bank.
After the chat, it's tour guide Marie from My Private Paris talking about a fascinating historical street in the sixth you simply must find.
My Private Paris is the boutique tour agency sponsoring this podcast season. Find out more about My Private Paris here (and tell them I sent you!)
Support The Earful Tower on Patreon here.
Get a copy of my new book here.
Today it's tour guide Marie from My Private Paris. She claims to know every cobblestone in the fifth, and shares her best tips. We talk about ancient walls, churches to find, the Sorbonne, and some amazing viewpoints.
My Private Paris is the boutique tour agency sponsoring this podcast season. Find out more about My Private Paris here (and tell them I sent you!)
Support The Earful Tower on Patreon here.
Get a copy of my new book here.
Today it's a stroll along the most romantic river in the world, The Seine, with author Elaine Sciolino.
Her book, The Seine, The River That Made Paris has been the book club choice for January.
Join the club for free here!
After that, it was a new voice, Marie from My Private Paris, the boutique tour agency which is the sponsor of this new podcast season.
She spoke about the bars on boats moored along the river and a good one to track down by the Pont Alexandre III.
Find out more about My Private Paris here (and tell them I sent you!)
Support The Earful Tower on Patreon here.
Get a copy of my new book here.
Here's a chat with Ariel Weil, the mayor of the fourth arrondissement. We talk about ancient walls, churches in the Marais, and the district in general.
After that, it was Bertrand from My Private Paris, the boutique tour agency which is the sponsor of this new podcast season.
He spoke about the mysterious pig-related death of a Paris prince centuries ago.
Find out more about My Private Paris here (and tell them I sent you!)
Support The Earful Tower on Patreon here.
Get a copy of my new book here.
Here's a chat with Emilia Philippot, the curator of the Picasso Museum. We talk about Picasso himself, the museum, and the district in general.
After that, it was Bertrand from My Private Paris, the boutique tour agency which is the sponsor of this new podcast season.
He spoke about the "Chez ma tante" pawn shop, find out more about it at 55 Rue des Francs Bourgeois, Paris
Find out more about My Private Paris here (and tell them I sent you!)
Support The Earful Tower on Patreon here.
Get a copy of my new book here.
Today it's Amanda from Boneshaker Doughnuts!
She's a repeat guest so no need for more introductions, but find her shop at 77 Rue d'Aboukir or here online.
After that, it was Bertrand from My Private Paris, the boutique tour agency which is the sponsor of this new podcast season.
Find out more about My Private Paris here (and tell them I sent you!)
Support The Earful Tower on Patreon here.
Get a copy of my new book here.
Hello everyone!
We did it! We've passed the target on the Kickstarter stretch goal and that means I am coming to the US on a book tour. In May, 2020 no less.
Australia afterwards.
Here are the details of the tour and how you can be part of it.
And it's not too late to get the book (or to get your name in it!).
www.theearfultower.com/book
Thanks to Lovely Lina for being a guest out on this episode. She'll be on the tour too, find her on Instagram here: www.instagram.com/parisianpostcards
Lastly, become an Earful member on Patreon here: www.patreon.com/theearfultower
Thanks a million, see you all soon I hope.
Hello everyone!
It's a brand new season of The Earful Tower, where I'll be exploring each of the 20 arrondissements in order.
So naturally, we will start in the first and we'll start with a bang!
I went for an explore of the Louvre museum when it was closed to the public. With me, Maria Pasca from My Private Paris, a boutique tour agency which is the sponsor of this new podcast season.
The museum was inaugurating the room that features the famed Mona Lisa painting, and had opened it just for Louvre members.
Hope you enjoy this episode!
The music in this episode included "Invitation to the Castle Ball" by Doug Maxwell.
Support The Earful Tower on Patreon here.
Find out more about My Private Paris here (and tell them I sent you!)
Get a copy of my new book here.
Hello everyone!
To round out 2019 we have a live French lesson with Camille from French Today!
In it, we have a little chat, speak French for about six minutes (skip it if you're a total beginner, but I think you might be ok) and then a language lesson or two about some common difficulties that students have in French.
If you the French Today audiobooks, click here.
Sign up on Patreon here and get a copy of my new book here.
Hello everyone!
It's the end of the year so it's time to escape Paris and head to a chateau in the French countryside.
Meet Julie Huh, a well-known Korean author and Instagrammer who lives in the Mayenne department of France.
She talks about being the only Asian in her village, how she renovated a chateau, and how countryside renovations in France can be a headache indeed.
Find her website here and her Instagram here.
Buy a copy of my new book here, support this show on Patreon here, and follow the show on Instagram here.
Get the further ten percent off French Today audiobooks here.
Talk soon!
Hello everyone!
Today I am joined by Aaron Lopez-Barrantes, from local Paris band Slim and the Beast.
We're talking about how to create an audio experience for my upcoming memoir. Now, I'm not just going to read out the book. I'm going to have ambient sound, background music, and some kind of original score.
Aaron brought his acoustic guitar into the studio to help me plan it out.
Be sure to support the kickstarter for my new book Paris on Air to grab your copy today!
Get a further 10 percent off French Today audiobooks here
Sign up on Patreon here to get a whole lot more from The Earful Tower.
And the band on Instagram here and Facebook here.
Hello everyone!
Today I am joined by guest Mike Duncan, titan of the history podcasting world and host of Revolutions Podcast. Mike explained the French Revolution to me in the simplest terms possible to demystify this major historical event.
You can find Mike on Twitter @mikeduncan
Be sure to support the kickstarter for my new book Paris on Air to grab your copy today!
Get a further 10 percent off French Today audiobooks here
Sign up on Patreon here
Hello everyone!
On Wednesday I launched my Kickstarter campaign to fund the initial print run of my Paris memoir, Paris on Air. I sat down with friend and podcaster, John Clarke to talk about the highs and lows of the night as well the Kickstarter itself.
You can find the kickstarter here
Be sure to watch the Kickstarter launch on YouTube for a sneak peek at the first two pages of the book.
Sign up on Patreon to help support the show
John Clarke can be found on Instagram @the_john_clarke
Hello everyone!
Something a little different today - I'm the guest on my own podcast. Yes, lovely Lina takes the reins to interview me about my new memoir, Paris On Air.
In this episode I answer a lot of questions from you guys, but also explain what I've written and how you can secure your copy.
On Wednesday Dec 11 at 7:30 PM Paris Time you can watch the Kickstarter Event Livestream on YouTube here. I'll be reading from the book and launching the campaign. This is the Kickstarter link.
Please support the Earful Tower on Patreon here.
Get a further 10 percent off French Today audiobooks here
Hello everyone!
It's a bonus podcast episode from The Earful Extra podcast! Starring Lovely Lina and introducing my friend Shelly Bittler, this is a discussion about a new project I've been working on: The Paris Burn List.
What's that? Well, when the Notre Dame burned I was disappointed I never climbed to the top because “it was always there”. So I realized there were things in Paris I wanted to do before it was too late, for whatever reason.
I got 12 friends together and got them to pick five things they had never done before, and list them in order of difficulty. The goal was to do all five on our own lists before the end of the year.
Here's a chat about the idea, how it's progressing, and a look into what 13 Parisians pick as things to do in their own city.
If you want to hear more episodes like this, sign up for just $5 a month to get access to the extra podcasts on Patreon. (Or sign up at $10 a month and become a full member!)
Hello everyone!
In April 2019, the world watched in horror as the Notre Dame burned.
But that was seven months ago - where are we now?
I met with the Mayor of the Marais, Ariel Weil to discuss where he was on the night of the fire and the progress of the restoration.
A few links mentioned in the show:
The night of the fire, I went live on Facebook here. For a shorter version, with the Parisians singing hymns, click here.
For more about the fire, here is a link to a post I wrote shortly after the incident.
Click here for the discount on French Today audiobooks.
Support The Earful Tower on Patreon here.
Hello everyone!
Today it's an episode with Camille from French Today and we're talking about the whole idea of asking French people to "correct you" when you're speaking French with them.
Apparently, it's not always a good idea, says Camille.
Click here for the discount on French Today audiobooks.
Read more about this topic from Camille’s blog here.
Support The Earful Tower on Patreon here.
Forest Collins describes a hidden cocktail bar hidden in a taqueria on Season 3 Episode 10
The former Mayor of 4th Christophe Girard reveals a secret passage in the Marais on Season 2 Episode 14
Supermodel and ultimate Parisienne Caroline de Maigret shares her secrets about how to be Parisian on Season 5 Episode 23
Author David Downie traces the Philip Augustus Wall on Season 6 Episode 31
Emma Jacobs shares her favorite unique, small museum in Paris on Season 6 Episode 2
David Smith, a courier, tells you where to find a piece of Harry Potter in Paris on Season 6 Episode 26
The Mayor of the Montmartre Eric Lejoindre shares his favorite streets in the 18th on Season 6 Episode 27
Oliver and a guest discuss a mystery lurking in the Canal St. Martin on Season 2 Episode 23
Get the discount on French Today: www.frenchtoday.com/earful12
Support The Earful on Patreon here to automatically grab your copy of the Earful Tower Guide to Paris which features Paris food tips like these and more: https://www.patreon.com/theearfultower
Hello everyone!
Today is a bonus episode of The Earful Tower. In this show, you'll hear snippets from past episodes sharing top tips and stories related to sweet spots in Paris for food! The guests:
-April Pett, who talks about macarons from Pierre Herme
-David Lebovitz talks about his favourite food market in Paris
-Michael Huffman shares his top chocolate spots in Paris
-Amanda from Boneshaker Donuts discusses how the French view donuts
-Tal Spiegel discusses how he started to match his shoes with pastries
-Clotilde Dusoulier shares her top tips about how to shop at a French Market
Get the discount on French Today: www.frenchtoday.com/earful12
Support The Earful on Patreon here to automatically grab your copy of the Earful Tower Guide to Paris which features Paris food tips like these and more: https://www.patreon.com/theearfultower
Hello everyone!
Today is a very special episode of the Earful Tower–it's the season 6 finale! This episode is the first ever LIVE talk show I have done, recorded at the Australian Ambassador's Residence in Paris.
In this show, we celebrate Australians making their mark in Paris.
Guests: His Excellency Brendan Berne, presenter Ruby Boukabou, author John Baxter, and Moulin Rouge Dancer Amanda Chapman.
Get the discount on French Today: www.frenchtoday.com/earful12
Support The Earful on Patreon here, and you'll get the first invites to events like this one: https://www.patreon.com/theearfultower
You'll also get access to bonus podcasts, including a behind the scenes look at the embassy event.
Hello everyone!
We’ve all heard the mysteries about the Parisian woman, but what about the Parisian man? Today’s episode features guest Greg Pouy, host of the popular French podcast Vlan. Greg and I chatted about the Parisian man, Vlan and the podcast scene in France, his upcoming book, why he loves the 15th arrondissement, and more.
More info on Greg via his website:
http://www.gregorypouy.fr/vlan-le-podcast/
Get the discount on French Today: www.frenchtoday.com/earful12
Support The Earful on Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/theearfultower
Hello everyone!
Sometimes the most frustrating thing when learning French is when local shopkeepers and waiters to respond to you in English!
In this episode with Camille from French Today we talk all it, why French people do it, and how you can respond to it.
Get the discount on French Today: www.frenchtoday.com/earful12
Read a whole lot more of Camille's tips on this subject here.
Support The Earful on Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/theearfultower
Hello everyone!
Today's guest is Claudine Hemingway, a relative of famed American writer Ernest Hemingway. Claudine and I met at Bar Hemingway at the Ritz Hotel where we chatted about the bar, Hemingway’s life in Paris, and Claudine’s "Paris with Hemingway" tours.
More info on Claudine and her tours via her official website and Instagram:
https://www.claudinehemingway.com/about
@claudinebleublonderouge
Get the discount on French Today: www.frenchtoday.com/earful12
Support The Earful on Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/theearfultower
And lastly, the music in the background of this episode is called Invitation to the Castle Ball by Doug Maxwell.
Hello everyone!
Today's guest is Michael Kennedy from Paname Brewing Company, a brewery and tap house in the 19th arrondissement. Michael shares his stories about starting bars in Paris, what makes Paname Brewing Company's beer special, his thoughts on the up and coming neighborhood of Pantin, and more.
More info on Paname Brewing Company via the official site here:
http://www.panamebrewingcompany.com/en
Get the discount on French Today: www.frenchtoday.com/earful12
Support The Earful on Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/theearfultower
Hello everyone!
Today's guest Geoffrey Finch from Paris Wine Walks shares the history of wine in the French capital and his tips on how find the hidden vineyards.
More info on Paris Wine Walks via his official site and social media here:
https://www.paris-wine-walks.com
@pariswinewalks (Instagram)
Get the discount on French Today: www.frenchtoday.com/earful12
Support The Earful on Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/theearfultower
Hello everyone!
Today special guest Lina Nordin Gee, head of Deuxieme Studios, shares her top tips for where to shop in Paris, from the Grands Magasins, vintage shops, flea markets, and more.
More info on Deuxieme Studios via her official site and social media here: https://www.deuxiemestudios.com
@deuxiemestudios
@parisianpostcards
Get the discount on French Today: www.frenchtoday.com/earful12
Support The Earful on Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/theearfultower
Hello everyone!
This week it's a chat with distinguished author David Downie.
I met him in Jardin des Rosiers in the Marais, in the shade of a fig tree.
More info on David's work via his official site here: http://www.davidddownie.com/David_D._Downie/
Buy Paris, Paris here: https://amzn.to/2Lv1iSF
Support The Earful on Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/theearfultower
Hello everyone!
The two most important French words, as far as I'm concerned, are tu and vous (which both mean "you").
In this episode with Camille from French Today we talk all about these words, how to use them, when to use them, and how to make the switch to the less formal version.
This episode was first released as a bonus episode for Patreon supporters. Sign up today: www.patreon.com/theearfultower
Get the discount on French Today: www.frenchtoday.com/earful12
Hello everyone!
This week it's a chat with distinguished author John Baxter.
I met him in his apartment on the Left Bank.
We talked about his tips for the Latin Quarter, why it's called the Latin Quarter, and of course about his books.
Thanks for having me John! More info on John's work via his official site here: https://www.johnbaxterparis.com/
Thanks also to French Today for sponsoring the episode. Get an extra ten percent off their audiobooks via this link: www.frenchtoday.com/earful12
Support The Earful on Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/theearfultower
The red light district of Paris, Pigalle, has been undergoing a pretty serious facelift. And Nico, the guy behind the popular cafe KB, has been watching it happen for the last ten years.
Here's his take on the changing face of Pigalle, plus cafe culture, Place des Vosges, and more.
My list of best coffee in every arrondissement.
Addresses:
KB coffeeshop: 53 Avenue Trudaine, 75009 Paris
Back in Black cafe: 25 Rue Amelot, 75011 Paris
Thanks to the Patreon supporters for making all this possible.
www.patreon.com/theearfultower
Hello everyone!
This week it's a chat with the Mayor of the 18th arrondissement, Eric Lejoindre.
I met him in his office at the Town Hall at Jules Joffrin, a stunning building in itself.
We talked about his tips for Montmartre, the "no-go zones" around the district, and how tourists and locals mingle in the village of Paris.
Thanks to the Town Hall for having me.
Thanks also to French Today for sponsoring the episode. Get an extra ten percent off their audiobooks via this link: www.frenchtoday.com/earful12
Meet David Smith, a British man who claims to know all the streets of Paris. His job? A delivery man, a courier, who gets from A to B by bike.
He doesn't have a book to sell or a blog to promote, but he sure has a different life to most expats in France.
He sits down in Earful Tower HQ for a chat about cycling, secret courtyards, and celebrity deliveries.
This episode was brought to you by Fat Tire Tours. Don't forget to mention "earful" at the checkout to save 10 percent.
This show is also brought to you by the Patreon supporters. More details on Patreon here.
Hello everyone!
Here are addresses mentioned in the show, in order.
1. Terrass Hotel: Address: 12-14 Rue Joseph de Maistre, 75018 Paris
2. Tour Saint Jacques: Address: Square de la Tour Saint-Jacques, 75004 Paris
3. Perruche: Address: Printemps de l'Homme, 2 Rue du Havre, 75008 Paris
4. Le Perchoir: Address: 14 Rue Crespin du Gast, 75011 Paris
5. Cafe Oz: Address: 34 Quai d'Austerlitz, 75013 Paris
Video from the Tour Saint Jacques: https://youtu.be/_68_tvCZhP8
Support the Earful Tower on Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/theearfultower
And to get that additional ten percent off from French Today, go via www.frenchtoday.com/earful12
Hello everyone! Today it's Ann Mah, author of the new bestseller The Lost Vintage.
We chat about her book, food in France, and Julia Child (plus much, more).
This episode was brought to you by Fat Tire Tours. Book the same tour on the Eiffel Tower that I did, here.
This show is also brought to you by the Patreon supporters, who can enter the draw to win one of the five copies of The Lost Vintage that Ann gave me.
The draw will be held at the end of August. More details on Patreon here.
Hello everyone!
It's time for your monthly dose of French chat with French Today, except this time it's with Camille's husband Olivier.
Olivier speaks four languages and talks about his own upbringing, and how he raised an bilingual daughter in the US and France.
Get the discount on French Today: www.frenchtoday.com/earful12
Support The Earful Tower on Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/theearfultower
Paris is a beautiful city, that much is for sure. But how on earth are you supposed to capture it?
Adele, from the hit Facebook page Paris Adele, has done a great job of capturing the city through photos and stories and she is in the studio to talk about it.
Find her Facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/missparisadele/
Thanks to Fat Tire Tours for sponsoring this show, don't forget you get a 10 percent discount on their worldwide tours if you mention the word earful at the checkout.
Support The Earful Tower on Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/theearfultower
Hello everyone!
Today's guest is Anne Ditmeyer - the woman behind Pret-a-Voyager.
We're chatting about Paris in August
Find out more about Anne and her work with these links that we mentioned in the show:
What living in France has taught me about burnout:
http://www.pret-a-voyager.com/2018/07/what-living-in-france-has-taught-me-about-burnout/
Closed signs in Paris for the holidays:
http://www.pret-a-voyager.com/2011/08/ferme-closed-august-in-paris/
http://www.pret-a-voyager.com/2011/08/bonnes-vacances/
Anne's new project:
http://www.navigateparisonline.com
Her sites:
http://www.pret-a-voyager.com
http://www.navigateparis.com
http://www.anneditmeyer.com
Support the Earful Tower on Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/theearfultower
And to get that additional ten percent off from French Today, go via www.frenchtoday.com/earful12
Hello everyone,
This week I went out to Versailles and was blown away by the hamlet of Marie Antoinette.
Here's an episode with some of my thoughts.
To book the same tour I did, here's the link:
https://www.fattiretours.com/paris/tours/vip-versailles-bike-tour
Remember, 10 percent off if you mention the word earful at the checkout!
Support The Earful Tower on Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/theearfultower
Hello everyone!
Today it's a walk down the beautiful Rue des Abbesses in the 18th district of Montmartre.
Co-host is Lovely Lina aka @parisianpodcards on Instagram.
Support the Earful Tower on Patreon here.
Get the discount on French Today: www.frenchtoday.com/earful12
So you come to Paris and you realize that you're not in Kansas anymore. Or not in Virginia anymore, as the case is for today's guest.
Yes, it's psychologist John Clarke, who is still in his first year in Paris and who has a razor sharp eye for those little culture shocks that still leave him scratching his head.
Check out John's podcast: Private Practice Workshop.
Check out the Fat Tire Tours for that ten percent discount (more info here)
And support The Earful Tower on Patreon here.
Hello everyone!
Today's guest is YouTube superstar Jay Swanson.
We share some tips for what you should never do in Paris.
As promised here are the links mentioned in the episode:
The guy who jumped over the Tour de France:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uY76LUrYs6g
Jay’s YouTube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHwVc_PxdiCnfXhsLw2zplQ
Jay’s video about the Louvre:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PNjuSMSy9MU
Jay’s guide to Paris:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7nxKhx1PO_U
Support the Earful Tower on Patreon here.
Get the discount on French Today: www.frenchtoday.com/earful12
Hello everyone!
This week it's Penelope Fletcher, who runs The Red Wheelbarrow Bookshop in Paris.
If you want to find the shop, it's at 9 Rue de Médicis, 75006.
Here are all the books that Penelope mentioned, in order:
Books for adults
Stories from the Magic Canoe of Wa'xaid, by Cecil Paul.
A Moveable Feast, by Ernest Hemingway.
Selected Letters, by Madame De Sevigne.
The Autobiography of Alice B. Toklas, by Gertrude Stein.
The Flight Portfolio, by Julie Orringer.
Almost French, by Sarah Turnbull.
Circe, by Madeline Miller.
Walking on the Ceiling, by Aysegül Savas.
Demystifying the French, by Janet Hulstrand.
Books for children
Paris Chien, Adventures of an Expat Dog, by Jackie Clark.
Marielle in Paris, by Maxine Schur.
I'm sure you can find these and more at The Red Wheelbarrow. Check out the site here.
Support the Earful Tower on Patreon here for more info on events like the coffee tasting mentioned in today's episode.
And a grand merci to Fat Tire Tours, who are offering a ten percent discount on worldwide tours if you use the code word Earful at the checkout. Find out more here.
Hello everyone!
It's time for your monthly dose of French chat with Camille from French Today.
As always, use this link if you want that additional ten percent off the audiobooks.
Hello everyone!
Today's guest is French theatre actress Audrey Mikondo.
She talks about theatre in Paris, Shakespeare in English, and when French and expat worlds mix.
Find tickets to their performance of Twelfth Night here, performed at the Arena de Montmartre, where I filmed this live walk show on Facebook.
Support the Earful on Patreon here.
And here's the Montmartre walking tour I did via Fat Tire Tours.
Hello everyone!
Today's guest is podcaster Oliver Gee who runs The Earful Tower.
He shares his 12 tips for how to enjoy Paris "like a local", whatever that means.
Support the Earful on Patreon here.
And to get that additional ten percent off from French Today, go via this link.
Hello everyone
What do the Bastille, the Moulin Rouge, the Arc de Triomphe, and the Paris Zoo all have in common?
Yes, that's right! They all have amazing elephant stories that you probably never heard about before.
In this jumbo episode of The Earful Tower you'll hear all about them.
Thanks to my cohost Lina, my sponsor Fat Tire Tours, and my Patreon supporters.
Here's the exact link to the Segway Tour I did recently. Ten percent off when using code word Earful.
Here's a link to all the pictures mentioned in this episode.
Hello everyone!
Today's episode is a chat with Australian expat Sam Davies who recently took the plunge and became a French citizen.
It's pretty fascinating to hear just how tricky the journey is for some people, including tough quizzes, endless paperwork, and surprising twists.
This recording is from the Jardin Villemin, a park in the 10th arrondissement by the Canal Saint-Martin.
Hang around at the end of the episode for some info on things to do around the canal area.
Support the Earful on Patreon here.
And to get that additional ten percent off from French Today, go via this link.
Hello everyone!
Ever been to Versailles?
I headed out to the chateau to explore the gardens on bike, to walk through the castle on a semi-private visit, and stayed around for the fireworks show.
Check it out!
The episode was brought to you by Fat Tire Tours. Book the same trip I did right here, but be sure to add the code word earful at the checkout for a ten percent discount.f
The music in the background is (rather fittingly) called Invitation to the Castle Ball by Doug Maxwell.
Hello!
After a listener emailed in wanting more information about the iconic "bouquinistes" of Paris, I decided to go and find out more.
I stumbled upon Sydney Zekley, who hails from Los Angeles, but spends her days selling books along the Seine River.
Here is our chat, plus a lot more about the bouquinistes of Paris.
Support the Earful on Patreon here.
And to get that additional ten percent off from French Today, go via this link.
Hello everyone!
Here comes Amanda, who runs Boneshaker Doughnuts, the first donut joint in Paris.
We chatted about how Amanda studied pastry and ended up making donuts, about how she had to convince Parisians that donuts and pastry aren't so different after all, and about how a lot of us expats in Paris have complicated back stories.
Her shop: Boneshaker Doughnuts, 77 rue d'Aboukir 75002.
Support The Earful Tower on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/theearfultower
Direct link to the video from our walk show (member only link).
Get ten percent off Fat Tire Tours by using the code word Earful at the checkout. Here is the specific Fat Tire Tour that I did.
Hello everyone!
It's time for your monthly dose of French chat with Camille from French Today.
As always, use this link if you want that additional ten percent off the audiobooks.
Hello everyone!
This episode is all about Paris and its antiques. Listen as Christophe Lucien walks us through how to buy them, what to look out for, and where to find the treasures.
Find out more about his work here at Lucien Paris.
The video that we did earlier this year can be found here (free to watch on Facebook), with a lot extra for Patreon supporters via this link (will only work if you're a member).
Sign up on Patreon here to see all the videos and more.
Get ten percent off Fat Tire tours at the checkout with the code word "Earful" on this site: Fat Tire Tours
Hello everyone!
Meet George Eddy, a man who has been the voice of basketball in France for 34 years.
He's only really known in France. Back home in the States, he can walk the streets uninterrupted. Fancy that!
I met him on the outskirts of Paris to discuss basketball, smiling in Paris, and how he considers France to be the ideal country.
Support the Earful on Patreon here.
And to get that additional ten percent off from French Today, go via this link.
Hello everyone!
I've just been to Giverny, where the famed Impressionist Claude Monet had his house and gardens.
With my wife, Lina, by my side, I went to check out these gardens and I took my recorder with me. This episode is the whole day summed up in 30 minutes.
There's picnics, cheese shops, walking, cycling, and exploring, all recorded on the scene.
Now, I left a little bit of French in there without translating - it's from the cheese shop in Vernon. The gist of the conversation is that she is talking about the Comté cheese and how it's aged 10 or 24 months. I went with the 24-month option. The rest is just small talk :)
If you've never been to Giverny I highly recommend it, this was my first time and I thought it was fantastic.
In case you want to book the same trip I did in this episode, it was the "Monet's Gardens Bike Tour" via Fat Tire Tours. You can find it here. They do the same tour without bicycles here.
Remember, you can get ten percent off this tour and all other Fat Tire tours in ten cities by entering the coupon code earful at the checkout, right before you pay.
And if you're a more visual person, here's the Walk Show I did with tour guide Kit on Facebook. The rest of the walk is for Patreon members only :)
Happy travelling!
Oh yes, and I spliced a whole song of music in here called Et Voila by Chris Haugen.
Hello everyone!
Meet Valli, a woman who sang in France's first ever rap song in 1982.
The song - Chacun fait (c'qui lui plaît) - went on to sell 2.5 million copies and made Valli so popular that she still gets stopped on the street to this day.
But she's only really known in France. Back home in the States, she can walk the streets uninterrupted. Fancy that!
I met her in her home in the 12th arrondissement to discuss fame, music, and how answering machines and American cowboy boots were hot property in France in the eighties.
I highly recommend you check out her song, by Chagrin d'amour, which you can find on YouTube here.
Someone has translated the song into English here.
Pictures from our chat will be on social media and the site very soon.
Support the Earful on Patreon here.
And to get that additional ten percent off from French Today, go via this link.
Hello everyone! Today we have Emma Jacobs in the studio talking about her brand new book "The Little(r) Museums in Paris".
She lists six smaller museums you should check out in this city, while also discussing her lovely illustrated book.
Now, I'll write all this up in a blog post very soon, but if you're looking for the spelling of these six museums, voila:
Musée de la chasse et de la Nature
Address: 62 Rue des Archives, 75003 Paris
Musée Nissim de Camondo
Address: 63 Rue de Monceau, 75008 Paris
Musée Jacquemart-André
Address: 158 Boulevard Haussmann, 75008 Paris
Musée d'Ennery
Address: 59 Avenue Foch, 75116 Paris
Musée Gustave Moreau
Address: 14 Rue de la Rochefoucauld, 75009 Paris
Appartements de Nélie Jacquemart
Address: Chaalis Abbey 60300 Fontaine-Chaalis
You can find Emma's book online here.
You will also notice that the show has a new sponsor - Fat Tire Tours - so simply enter the word "earful" while booking any of their tours around the world and you'll get ten percent off!
Enter the code at the checkout, right before you pay. Here's the link to their Paris page - and this week I specifically took the night time ride around Paris and the sunset river cruise. You might have seen it on my Instagram stories.
Hi everyone!
France has a fascinating history and there aren't many people who appreciate it as much as today's guest, Diana from The Land of Desire Podcast.
She shares some of her favourite stories, tips, and hidden Paris treasures that she has picked up while making her amazing show.
And, as promised, here's a link with more information about the "undercover restorers" who fixed a landmark clock in Paris.
Here's a link to the official website of The Land of Desire.
Support the Earful on Patreon here.
And to get that additional ten percent off from French Today, go via this link.
This week's episode features Janet Hulstrand, an American in France who has just written a book called Demystifying the French.
Of course, we talk about a lot more than just rudeness, but it kinda all boils down to one big question: Are the French rude - or is it the Americans?
Have a listen and let me know what you think.
Here is Janet's home page to find out more about her work. Her book is called Demystifying the French, How to Love Them, and Make Them Love You.
Support the Earful on Patreon here.
And to get that additional ten percent off from French Today, go via this link.
Bonus episode!
It's Camille from French Today talking about how to learn French quickly and efficiently.
One of the big takeaways is that everyone is different: Some want to learn French simply to pass an exam, others want to move to France, while some are just learning for the pleasure of being able to read a book or order a coffee.
If you're interested in learning French via her method and her audiobooks, here is a link to get you a further ten percent off your audiobook purchase. Click here.
PS: The YouTube video of Eddie Izzard that Camille mentioned is here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x1sQkEfAdfY
Hello!
This week it's Cara Black, author of the Murder in Paris series - 19 books about fictional detective Aimee Leduc. Her newest one is out June 4th, Murder in Bel Air, and her first one, Murder in the Marais has been the subject of the Book Club this month.
Here we chat about her books, how Cara would dispose of my body if she were to murder me in the studio, and a little about Paris in general.
She also shares a few writing tips and we planned our afternoon walk in the Marais, finding some scenes from her first book.
If you were a Patreon member of this show you could have watched it live - but hey, sign up now and you can see the replay.
More on Cara and her books here on her official website.
Support the Earful on Patreon here.
And to get that additional ten percent off from French Today, go via this link.
Hello!
This week I was off gallivanting around Stockholm and I was very intrigued to see some serious links between France and Sweden.
Whether it's the French general who became a Swedish king, the Swedish count who was perhaps the lover of Marie Antoinette, or the ways the Vikings changed the scope of the French language forever.... that's what today's episode is about.
As promised in the episode, here's a link to read more about that Swedish king.
And to get that additional ten percent off from French Today, go via this link.
This week’s podcast guest is American Matt Kepnes from the hit travel website Nomadic Matt. And believe it or not, he’s recently moved to Paris.
I invited him into the studio to discuss some of the things he has struggled with in his first few months in the French capital.
We discuss the difficulties of joining gyms, making French friends, and much more.
Find out more about Matt and his work on his official site here.
And to get that additional ten percent off from French Today, go via this link.
And lastly, if you’re a Patreon supporter, be ready on Saturday afternoon for a walk through one of the most beautiful parts of Stockholm. Click here to get more information.
See you then, I hope.
Hello everyone,
It's an episode with Camille, the voice behind French Today, and we're talking about the different registers people use when speaking French.
A register is a level of formality - you don't speak the same way in a job interview and a barbecue with friends, do you?
In English, the register you use is reflected in the vocabulary. But in French, sure, the vocab changes, but it also affects the sentence structure and pronunciation. Camille explains it all in this episode.
We also talk about the importance of leaving your comfort zone, how to efficiently expand your long-term vocabulary, and how learning French in France can actually be trickier than learning it abroad.
Also, Camille has written in great detail about two of the things we talked about in this episode.
Learning French While Living In France Is Easy. Wrong!
French Language Registers – Street, Slang, Modern, Literary…
And lastly, get an additional ten percent off audiobooks at French today simply by clicking this link.
The Notre Dame Cathedral caught fire on Monday and one week on continues to make international headlines.
So what now?
Today's guest Philippe Hertzberg runs a tour company called Secret Journeys that does very close work with the cathedral. In fact, he was at the cathedral when it caught fire.
Philippe talks about the fire, the history of the cathedral, and its future - explaining how renovation, restoration, and rebirth have long been themes of this iconic Parisian landmark.
Find out more about Secret Journeys here (they do tours of a lot more than just Notre Dame, of course, including Versailles very soon).
If you want to find more about The Earful Tower, here's the website, here's the Patreon link, and here's my Instagram.
And to get that additional ten percent off from French Today, go via this link.
This week's guest is Rebecca Plotnick from the hit website Everyday Parisian.
We chat all about how to capture the beautiful city of Paris on your camera (or indeed your smartphone). We also talk about life in Paris (and abroad), the mysterious blue hour, where to position yourself to get the best shot of the Seine River at sunrise, and much more.
Find out more about Rebecca's Everyday Parisian site here and more on her photography here.
If you want to find more about The Earful Tower, here's the website, here's the Patreon link, and here's my Instagram.
And to get that additional ten percent off from French Today, go via this link.
Hello everyone!
Meet Felix and Joris, two young Frenchmen who've created what I think is the most fun immersive experience in Paris.
These two guys spent two years writing the creepiest detective story they could imagine, then they turned it into a two-hour immersive experience in the north of Paris.
It's called Live Thriller and will see you running around Paris while getting the heck scared out of you.
This isn't the typical Earful episode, nor is it the typical Paris experience, but I highly recommend it to you if you're looking for a fun and frightful experience to remember.
More on Live Thriller here.
If you want to find more about The Earful Tower, here's the website, here's the Patreon link, and here's my Instagram.
And to get that additional ten percent off from French Today, go via this link.
Hello everyone!
This week it's Caroline de Maigret, the author of How to Be Parisian Wherever You Are, the model, the music producer - and the ultimate Parisienne, if you ask me.
I saw her walking down the street in central Paris and I stopped her to ask if she would like to be on my show. She said "Yes, let's do it right now".
So we recorded the episode on my phone in a cafe in the ninth arrondissement. That will explain the background noise, the waiter interrupting, the coffee machine somewhere in the distance... in other words, the ambient sounds of Paris.
Hopefully you'll feel like you're sitting right there with us.
Caroline talks about being a Parisian woman, the freedom of Paris, and how pleasure is a key element of life in the French capital.
If you want to find more from Caroline, check out her Instagram page here.
If you want to find more about The Earful Tower, here's the website, here's the Patreon link, and here's my Instagram.
And to get that additional ten percent off from French Today, go via this link.
Hello everyone,
What is it about Paris that makes it so synonymous with a good walk?
A historian might suggest that the city was built for walking – ever since the Pont Neuf rolled out some of Europe’s first pedestrian sidewalks 400 years ago.
A resident might say that walking is more practical than the Metro in what is a (relatively) small world city.
A flaneur (or flaneuse) – someone who likes to wander aimlessly – probably wouldn't even answer because they're off lost in their thoughts somewhere on the Left Bank.
But who better to ask than Jessie Kanelos Weiner, a Chicago native who has lived in Paris for the past decade?
She is the co-author and illustrator of "Paris in Stride" and we also talked about what makes Paris so perfect for walking, her favourite place for a stroll in the city…. and she gave us the exclusive on the subject of her upcoming book!
While we’re on the subject of walking, you might be aware that I’m a big fan of walking too. Every week (and sometimes several times a week) I go on a walk around Paris with one of my podcast guests.
And I stream the whole thing live for my Patreon supporters. In fact, you may have seen the walk I did around the Marché d’Aligre with Jessie last year. Heck, maybe you saw the live event I did with her at a bookshop on the Left Bank too!
Enjoy your stroll, wherever you may be having it, and even more so if you’ve got The Earful Tower plugged into your ears
Oliver
Important links:
Get Jessie’s book, Paris in Stride, here. Visit her blog here and her website here. Subscribe to The Earful Tower on Patreon here.
And to get that additional ten percent off from French Today, go via this link.
Hello everyone,
It's a bonus episode from Camille, the voice behind French Today, answering the age old question: How should I learn French?
More specifically, I asked her about the order to do it in, how to be efficient in learning the language, and what the other teachers are doing incorrectly.
I share some tales of woe in my own French learning, and pose a few day-to-day questions that I've been storing up, and Camille also teaches me what I've been doing wrong when I try to say "bow-tie" in French, or "noeud papillon".
Also, Camille has written in great detail about the best method for learning French, so if you want some great extra reading content then simply follow this link.
And to get that additional ten percent off from French Today, go via this link.
We've come full circle! The very first guests on this podcast, two years ago, were the Paris band Slim & the Beast. They're the guys who wrote the original jingle, the honeymoon theme, and they've done several live videos with me before.
Now, they're back in the studio and they're armed with a few new songs and a particularly good cover of a Neil Young classic.
They also talk about how to find good live music in Paris, how Parisian crowds differ from other international audiences, and their upcoming EP.
Enjoy!
If you wanna go straight to the songs (or wanna re-listen, here's where you can find them exactly)
Go for a Ride: 10:54
What it is: 21:50
Neil Young’s Harvest Moon: 33:04
Find the band on Instagram here and Facebook here.
And to get that additional ten percent off from French Today, go via this link.
Paris offers the creme-de-la-creme when it comes to museums but it can be quite daunting to decide which ones to see.
It’s even daunting for Parisians. I’ve lived here for years now and I still don’t know where to go.
But the city offers what it calls “The Museum Pass” where you buy a ticket that gives you access to 60 museums - and you can often skip the queue.
Full disclosure: I got my passes for free from Parisinfo.com, but they cost 62 euros.
Anyway, I decided to spent four days in a row visiting some of the museums and this episode is my recap of it all.
You'll hear that I talk a lot about the Instagram videos I did about the museums, and I've archived them on my Instagram home page. Click here to see them (They're at the top, labelled Museums 1, 2, 3, and 4).
My guest Lina, who is incidentally also my wife, is frequently mentioned in the stories and you can find her on Instagram here @parisianpostcards.
Now, there is a full recap of the museums plus some pictures and practical information on the official site here, but below is the list of the museums we visited. They're listed in the order that we visited them, and in the order that they're mentioned in the episode.
Day 1:
La Conciergerie
Sainte Chapelle
The Crypte Archéologique
Bonus: Hotel de Ville
Day 2:
Nissim de Camondo
The Orangerie
The Louvre
Day 3:
Musee Gustave Moreau
Rodin Museum
Napoleon’s Tomb
Musee d’Orsay
Day 4:
Musee de Cluny
Delacroix Museum
Pantheon
That's it! Here's more info on how to buy the Paris Museum Pass.
And to get that additional ten percent off from French Today, go via this link.
Support my work and get bonuses on Patreon here.
This week's guest is podcasting titan Annie Sargent from the popular Join us in France show.
She explains why, of course, there is a lot more to France than just Paris. And who better to showcase the country than the woman who's released over 200 podcast episodes promoting it?
Check out Annie's show here.
Join me on Patreon here for the book club otherwise just find it on Facebook for free here.
And to get that additional ten percent off from French Today, go via this link.
This week’s guest is Annabel Simms, a British woman who explored the surrounds of Paris perhaps more than anyone!
She has written two books on the subject: An Hour From Paris and Half an Hour From Paris, both of which you can find on her site here.
We also discuss the trail sign posts that you'll find while walking around France, here is her blog post on the topic.
Wanna join my book club? Go find more information on Patreon and perhaps see you for the live video with David Lebovitz on Tuesday afternoon.
And to get that additional ten percent off from French Today, go via this link.
This week it's Antoine Litaise from Voulez Vous Diner, a French company that's kind of like Airbnb but for dinner. You find a chef online, book a dinner at their home, then go and eat it.
These guys are in 120 countries, but it started in France, so the head of the company, an avid cook named Antoine, joined me in the studio to help me out with French etiquette tips before I went and tried the concept for myself.
Here's the link in case you want to try the same experience that I did.
And here's the link to my YouTube channel if you want to check out the videos I was describing.
And to get that additional ten percent off from French Today, go via this link.
This week it's my favourite language teacher, Camille from French Today.
And seeming it's Valentine's Day we took the opportunity to discuss all the French language you'll need to impress someone when it comes to matters of love.
We cover: Love nicknames, how to tell someone you love them (and how to get it wrong), and exactly how to pronounce La Tour Eiffel in French, which I very clearly cannot do.
If you're unsure of the spelling of any of these words and phrases, then here are links to Camille's site French Today where she has covered it much better than I ever could.
Love nicknames are here, a look at French dating is here, and Camille's own guide to Valentine's Day is here.
And to get that additional ten percent off from French Today, go via this link.
“Paris is a city made for spending money, there’s temptation around every corner.” That’s a quote from Leah Walker, this week’s guest, a luxury travel writer who knows Paris inside out.
She joins me in the studio to explain how to have an extravagant trip in Paris. But, even if you’re not in a position to go all in (join the club), then there are still a few good tips in there for how to splurge without spending too much.
Of course, as always, listen to the podcast episode for the full picture. We also talk about Shakespeare, Texas, and basketball. But if you’re in a hurry to get to Paris and spend your money then here are three of the main tips to get you going:
Shop during the sales You can save mega euros by waiting until the twice-a-year government regulated sales (or soldes), which take place in July-August and January- February. The savings can be beyond 50 percent, even at the big department stores. And if you’re not living in the EU, you can get the VAT refunded (12 percent) if you spend more than 175 euros in one day. More info on that here, via Galeries Lafayette
Eat lunch (not dinner) at a good restaurant A fancy dinner at a Michelin-starred restaurant in Paris with have you salivating, but it might it might also leave you in tears if you look at the prices. Leah recommends that you stop in for lunch instead, when it’s typically less crowded and a lot cheaper. Look out for the set menus in the low season, like January and February, and you’ll find some great savings.
Go to a Palace Hotel for a cocktail
Yes, you can go to the Ritz Hotel for just 30 euros. I mean, you won’t be staying the night, but you’ll be in a very luxurious setting with a great cocktail for a few hours. Some of the hotels mentioned in the episode: Georges V, the Ritz, Le Meurice. Four Seasons, Shangri-La, the Bristol.
They’re the tips. Listen to the show for the full story and be sure to follow Leah on her site Leah Travels here.
Now, at the end of the episode you will hear Leah and I agreeing to do a live video at the Place Dauphine in Paris. Good news – it’s going to happen! We will be strolling the charming square then seeing it from above from the terrace of a beautiful apartment from rental company Paris Perfect, where Leah also works.
The Monbazillac apartment via Paris Perfect. More info here.
Please join us for the walk on Monday 11th of February at 230pm, Paris time. Click the play button below, it’ll take you to the YouTube page, where you’ll be able to comment and interact if you time it right! And heck, why not subscribe to the channel so you can watch the other six videos this week!?
And to get that additional ten percent off from French Today, go via this link. Thanks for listening!
This week’s guest is Bryan Pirolli, an author, marathon runner, and a tour guide around Gay Paris.
He explains a little about the city's gay history, its present and its future. He also shares his thoughts on just how gay friendly the city is.
And of course, we have a good old chat about Paris and tour guiding in general.
And he ends with a few tips for good gay bars to check out.
Oh yes, and here's the pic of Princess Palatine that Bryan mentioned.
Find out more about Bryan’s new book about travel journalism here, and book a tour of Gay Paris here.
Support The Earful Tower podcast on Patreon here - why not unlock the replay of when Bryan and I walked down what he called the gayest street in Paris?
And to get that additional ten percent off from French Today, go via this link.
This week it’s off to the Moulin Rouge - the number one cabaret show in the universe (and one of the top attractions in Paris).
Luckily for me, I got to go backstage after the show to meet one of the lead dancers, Amanda Chapman, who has been a staple feature of the show for the past 12 years.
She explains how she landed the gig as a showgirl as an 18-year-old in Australia, where the snakes are stored, and why dancing topless is like a badge of honour among the dancers.
If you want to find out more about the Moulin Rouge, visit the official site here.
Otherwise, see more pics from the show here on The Earful Tower's official site here.
And to get that additional ten percent off from French Today, go via this link.
So you're coming to France. Statistically, you're probably coming to Paris. And you don't know much beyond bonjour and merci.
This bonus episode is Camille from French Today explaining the mistakes you're probably making and teaching us how to get it right.
There's a lot of extra stuff in there too - like how you should actually tell someone you don't understand what's going on - and a little look at slang and how French is developing as a language.
Camille has been a French teacher for decades now - and it's through her audiobooks that I'm improving my own French.
If not, I recommend listening to this podcast in a quiet spot because it's most enjoyable if you repeat, repeat, repeat all the things she says.
And to get that additional ten percent off from French Today, go via this link.
Good luck!
Meet Boris from Paris in Person. He is a tour guide who knows Paris inside out. He shares the most interesting thing that you can find in every one of Paris's 20 arrondissements. In case you're unsure of the spelling from his list, I've added the places to the notes below.
See all the pictures plus a little more on the official Earful Tower website here.
The list!
1st. The Saint Germain Auxerois church: Enjoy the difference between the medieval and classical styles - and keep an eye out for the flamboyant gothic features.
2nd. Place des Victoires. Check out the lovely houses built around this roundabout that were the inspiration for the Haussmannian reconstruction of Paris. Transport yourself to the 17th and 18th century.
3rd. Find the Library of City Archives on rue Pavée, a beautiful collection of books and a stunning building too.
4th. The oldest house in Paris is at 11 rue François Miron. It's a 14th century building that’ll make you feel like you're walking in the Paris of yesteryear.
5th. Arene de Lutèce, a Roman arena from 2,000 years ago right in the centre of Paris.
6th. Beaux Arts with the first museum in the world opened in the former church of St Augustin.
7th. Square Rapp for the art nouveau architecture, and find the beautiful buildings all stacked together. At 29 Avenue Rapp you’ll find one of the most stunning facades in the city.
8th. Go and find the Chapelle Expiatoire tomb of Louis XVI at the site of the former mass graveyard of the French revolution.
9th. The Quartier Drouot is a great collection of stores for buying second hand goods. Feel free to haggle for better prices, but the shop owners are very experienced at the game - so good luck.
10th. Rue Faubourg Saint Denis, once a dodgy area, now the hottest street in the city. It’s authentic, you’ll find Parisians there, and it’s quickly becoming the new Marais.
11th. Take a stroll between Square Trousseau and the Bastille and pop into the smaller side streets, it’s like stepping into the rural 19th century.
12th. Musée des Arts Forains - or the museum of circus art - is collections of circus paraphernalia from the late 19th century. It’s a bit spooky - if you’re scared of clowns don’t go!
13th. Check out what the locals call Petite Alsace on Rue Daviel, little villas, overgrown gardens, it’s the cutest countryside setting you’ll find in Paris.
14th. Parc Montsouris, designed by Mr Haussmann himself, right on the edge of the district and a fantastic place for running (considering the steep slopes).
15th. Go to the top of the Tour Montparnasse, it’s easily the most hated building in Paris, but it’s not so bad when you’re inside. Check out the restaurant and the viewing deck on the top.
16th. The forest known as the Bois de Bologne houses the Louis Vuitton foundation, which is brilliant to even look at from the outside. The exhibitions inside are always worth the price of entry too!
17th. Walk along the charming Rue des Lévis then find the museum of Banque de France cité de l'economie et de la monnaie (museum of coins and economy). The building has recently been renovated, looks medieval, but it’s from the second half of the 19th century.
18th. Walk around the residential section of Montmartre and find the Kosak chocolate shop at 106 rue Caulaincourt. They’re highly specialized and good quality - perfect for the foodie who wants world class chocolate.
19th. Visit the Parc des Buttes Chaumont, which is very hilly but a good getaway from the tourist sites. Find the artificial lake in the middle and climb to the canopy at the top, and enjoy the amazing view from the top.
20th. Find the ever-changing street art on rue Denoyez and flaneur through the surrounding streets to find even more of the city's newest art craze.
Well that's it. Check out the official site on Tuesday for this full list with pictures. Book a tour with Boris at Paris in Person.
And to get that additional ten percent off from French Today, go via this link.
This week's guest is Beckett Graham of The History Chicks podcast. It's her first time in Paris and I was curious to know what a history buff like her seeks out in a city like this.
For addresses and more info, simply scroll down, or check the site here for even more information.
Lay a potato at the grave of Parmentier Antoine Parmentier brought the humble potato to Paris and as a thanks, Parisians leave potatoes at his grave. You can find it in section 39 of Pere Lachaise cemetery. Address: 16 Rue du Repos, 75020
Visit the Princess Diana memorial Did you know there's an unofficial memorial for Princess Diana above the tunnel where she died? It's right by the scaled replica of the flame of the Statue of Liberty. Address: 7 Place de l'Alma, 75008
Statue(s) of Liberty Did you know there are at least five statues of Liberty in Paris? Besides the flame mentioned above, you can find the biggest replica of them all on the man-made island called Île aux Cygnes, not far from the Eiffel Tower.
Find all five of the statues here.
Visit the Marie Antoinette's hamlet Most people head to Versailles for the palace. Maybe even the gardens. But did you know you can go and find the hamlet made by Marie Antoinette? It's basically a village that the queen made so she could play at being a peasant. You can read more about "The Queen's Hamlet" on the official Versailles website here.
Find Joan of Arc's statue Many people will head into the Notre Dame Cathedral without even noticing there's a statue of Joan of Arc just inside. In fact, despite the hoards of tourists, you might just find her standing by herself without anyone around.
Find the grave of the saxophone inventor Belgian born Adolphe Sax, who created the saxophone, is buried in the Montmartre cemetery. Pay your respects by heading to section five of the cemetery where you'll find his memorial. Look for the bronze saxophone. (And consider bringing some cat food for the local cat population).
Find Mary Cassatt's house Find the home of painter Mary Cassatt, an American who defied her parents and came to Paris to pursue her art. You can't go in, but find it at 13 Avenue Trudaine in the ninth arrondissement.
Find the remnants of guillotine If you want a real chill, head to the 11th arrondissement and find the traces of the guillotine where 200 people had their heads chopped off. The remnants are hard to find and you'll need to use your imagination, but there's a vide below to help you out. Find it at: 13-15 Rue de la Croix Faubin, 75011
That's it!
See me and Beckett on a Patreon-only live video by signing up here.
And to get that additional ten percent off from French Today, go via this link.
This week's guest is Carin Olsson, the Swede behind the hit website Paris in Four Months.
Almost a million people follow her on Instagram - so she sure knows what she's doing.
We talk about what it's like to be an "influencer", the man who walks his pig on the Ile Saint Louis, and the best cafes, restaurants, and bars in Paris.
Find Carin's website here and her Instagram here.
Support The Earful Tower on Patreon here
And to get that additional ten percent off from French Today, go via this link.
Hello everyone and Happy new year!
As I prepare for an enormous and exciting 2019, I thought we could do a flashback episode to the number one most downloaded episode of 2018.
Which one was it?
Well have a listen and find out :)
Don't like surprises? Well here's the link for all the information from the episode, which was originally published earlier this year.
And to get that additional ten percent off from French Today, go via this link.
It's Christmas in Paris. Well, it's Christmas elsewhere too, but today we're keeping it France-related.
So how do the French celebrate Christmas? And what should you go and see if you find yourself in Paris during the festive season? Where are the best Christmas lights?
All these questions and more are answered in this episode. You'll hear the (slightly croaky) voice of myself, plus Lovely Lina, coming at you from the studio in Sweden (where we're going to celebrate Christmas).
You'll also hear the voice of Fabien the Breton, who's made previous appearances on The Earful Tower, most notably teaching us al how to make galettes in a live video for Patreon supporters during the honeymoon season.
We also made reference to the 20 consecutive live videos I did around Paris, one for each arrondissement, which you can watch if you subscribe for $10 a month on Patreon here.
We also talked about the scooter video down the Champs-Elysées, which you can find on YouTube on my official channel here (subscribe).
This week it’s Rosie McCarthy from the hit YouTube channel Not Even French
She shares a few observations about the French people that she has picked up over the past five years in Paris.
What's the deal with how they shower, how they dress the bed, and how they give you the bill in a restaurant??
Check out her channel here, and here's the link to when I made an appearance on Rosie's channel.
To see all the extras from The Earful Tower, check out my Patreon page here.
This week it’s the 100th episode of The Earful Tower! To celebrate, here’s a chat with celebrity chef and author David Lebovitz, who has just written a new book called L’Appart.
We chat about Christmas in Paris, the lack of a future tense in Sicily, and the blog he has been running since 2009.
We also talk about Barbara Streisand and the testicles of Simon and Garfunkel - so if you only came for food recipes then you will be sorely disappointed :)
Remember, David will be on the book club in February, so sign up on Patreon for that and for much, much, much more.
Why do all the tour guides focus on the men in French history?
What about the women?!
This is a question that haunted Heidi Evans - so much so that she launched a company called Women of Paris that specifically focuses on revealing the neglected gender in France's historical pages.
She talks about her company, some French women you may never have heard about, and (what she calls) an X-rated fact about Marie Antoinette.
We also did a live Walk Show on Facebook if you want to know more about Heidi and her tours. The first five minutes are free, watch on Facebook here. The other 30 minutes is behind the Patreon paywall for those who pay $10 a month. Go take the tour and sign up here.
Find more info about the 20 Days of Christmas Walk Shows - a walk through each of the 20 arrondissements in twenty consecutive days.
Finding a rental property in Paris can be like finding a needle in a haystack.
But imagine there are hundreds of other people looking for that needle too. And now imagine that when you find the needle, the needle's owner is very likely to ask you for a large amount of money and documents before you'll be allowed to have it.
You need to prepared, and I mean really prepared.
For this week's podcast episode, you'll hear about how gruelling the whole affair can be from the perspective of a man who had his own tricky journey, Australian entrepreneur Mitch Pascoe.
He sent in 150 applications and was once asked for three years' rent up front before he finally secured a home.
And check in on the website here for the golden rules of renting from property consultant Adrian Leeds.
Choosing between the Left and Right Banks of Paris is like picking a favourite child. Tough, but often necessary.
But of course, there's no real answer. There's no scientific equation, no data mining, no possible way to find the "best".
Or is there?
I've spent this week talking to experts, surveying Earful Tower followers, and churning through stats to figure out which side of the river is "officially" the best. And I have an answer.
I discuss the topic with two authors, Right Banker Lindsey Tramuta and Left Banker John Baxter.
There's a much deeper look at the stats on the website here.
Support on Patreon here to watch the video with John Baxter.
So what should you pack for a trip to Paris? Paris-based shoe designer Lina Nordin Gee, co-star of The Honeymoon Season, shares her top tips for if you really want to blend in with the locals.
Here are the tips in brief in case you need a cheat sheet.
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Pack smaller accessories
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Bring a big(ish) handbag
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Pack for the rain
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Focus on matching neutrals
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Don’t forget your red lipstick
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Leave your hairbrush at home
Read the full story here.
Also mentioned in this episode: Bill Cunningham (the New York photographer whose name I forgot), The Earful Tower Book Club, and Lina's shoe brand, Deuxieme Studios.
Hello listeners!
France is a massive country with wildly diverse landscapes and breathtaking monuments. There's A LOT more to see than just Paris and Provence.
With this in mind, I've come up with ten things you should absolutely visit on your next trip, all taken from our recent honeymoon trip around the country.
This list is about landmarks, specific things to see, rather than beautiful towns (Annecy!) or pretty villages (Menerbes!).
I was going to list out the ten places right here, but I think it might be nicer to get a surprise by what crops up.
The full list is here on the website with extra info and pictures. And as I mentioned in the episode, if you want to see a 7-minute video version of this list, check it out on YouTube and subscribe for more footage from France.
And as always, if you like what you see, read, and hear, please consider signing up on Patreon to get even more and to support the show at the same time!
This week we’re talking all about a memoir, A Year in Provence, a book that may not have changed the face of the French village of Ménerbes, but apparently changed the rest.
It sold 6 million + copies over the past 30 years and was translated into 40 languages, sending tourists from all over the world to find out exactly what was so charming about the little village.
The memoir was the subject for The Earful Tower’s Book Club for October and I, too, stopped into the village to take a look around and speak to the locals about how it changed life in the village.
Referenced in this podcast is this obituary from The Telegraph, and this article from the Washington Post.
Join the book club if you’re on Facebook and you like books. It’s free to join, but I recommend you sign up at $5 a month on Patreon to support it and secure its future. Find it on Facebook here.
November’s book? Suite Francaise by Irene Nemirovsky.
It's the honeymoon season finale, more or less, as we've made it back to Paris.
Yep, 4,000 kilometres (2,500 miles) at 45 km an hour (30 miles) on one little red scooter.
Here we answer some of the frequently asked questions from you listeners, we share the ups and downs, and give a few tips for places you should visit if you ever need a new spot to see in France.
Oh, and we also discuss how the scooter is allegedly a stolen vehicle...
Season five on the way, subscribe on Patreon if you want twice the fun.
In 218 BC, war general Hannibal famously crossed the French Alps with 37 elephants.
In 2018 AD, we crossed the same Alps on a little red scooter.
Here's our story, plus some info on what we absolutely consider to be the most beautiful town in France, Annecy.
Support this show and get a lot more on Patreon.
Imagine you had seven days to spend in Provence but didn't know what to see.
Never fear, we've done the research for you. We just scooted through the region and can recommend the following.
The Roman arena in Arles.
The Camargues national Park
The cathedral overlooking Marseille
Getting lost in the old town of Aix en Provence
Chanelling your inner travel writer in Ménerbes (where A Year in Provence was set)
Taking in the Sunday market in L’Isle sur la Sorgue
Dancing on the Pont d'Avignon
That's it! Support the show on Patreon here and find way more information on The Official Website here.
Hello from Carcassonne in south western France, a town that’s easily the most interesting that I’ve seen in France.
This episode will explain why - and will introduce you to my new hero - Eugene Viollet Le Duc - the man who changed the face of France.
Read a whole lot more about my thoughts on Carcassonne on the blog here. Help me make better podcasts by supporting on Patreon here. And find more about the T-Shirts we mentions here.
Imagine your own child is more French than you are.
Well that's a reality for Catherine, an American in Carcassonne, who's today's guest on The Earful Tower podcast.
Catherine, who writes the Taste of France blog, talks about bringing up a bilingual child, the differences between French and American schooling, and the difficulties of parenting between two cultures.
Check out Catherine's blog, Taste of France, here.
PS: Did you see there are now Earful Tower T-shirts? Limited edition honeymoon versions, available for ten days! Find out more here!
Hi guys,
It was such a busy week on the road that I decided to just share it all. Here are ten tales, a mix of anecdotes, tourist tips, and marvels to find - all in the space of 35 minutes.
Mentioned in this episode:
The Cognac Tour of Otard.
The Cité du Vin museum in Bordeaux
The Grosse Cloche in Bordeaux
The town of Cadillac
The town of Saint-André-du-Bois
The town of Sauveterre de Guyenne
The tiny town of Castelmoron-d'Albret (or <)
The town of Puymirol
The restaurant of Michel Trama
The old town of Carcassonne.
Sign up on Patreon for more from The Earful Tower, including the Bordeaux walk tour, and the Toulouse Market tour.
Here's the link to the new Facebook page for the Book Club.
This time it's a chat with Mike Foster, who runs Le Map Bordeaux, a city guide to one of France's most famous cities.
His tips are in the form of things you should do, and things you shouldn't -- aka the Bordeauxs and Bordeauxn'ts. It makes sense when you hear it... sort of.
Anyway, enjoy the episode, I'm off to enjoy my birthday.
Until Monday!
PS: Support The Earful Tower here on Patreon.
Hi guys from a chateau in cosy Cognac
This is episode seven of the Earful Tower Honeymoon season today it's:
Three tips for life in a small French village
A mad weekend of vintage cars in the city of comic books, Angouleme
And why you need to visit Cognac - and it’s not just because of my new doorway obsession.
Support this show and find out more about the new Book Club via Patreon. Go on, now's the time to finally sign up. Click here.
This week I met with Kev Hay, a Brit who moved to the French countryside ten years ago for his retirement.
What's retired life like in rural France? Was it difficult to do? What are the obstacles?
Listen to Kev as he walks us through his journey.
And as usual, there's a lot more on Patreon. Kev hung around for a live video to answer questions from subscribers. Join the fun here.
This episode of the Earful Tower's honeymoon season has three segments:
First, it's our look at the beautiful town of La Rochelle and the stunning island Ile de Ré.
Second, we tell the tale of how the scooter broke down and how we were rescued by two kindly French farmers.
Third, we tell the story of Verteuil-sur-Charente and the woman who was married to both the king of France and the king of England. Imagine that.
Sign up on Patreon to support this show (and read the stories and watch the videos).
This episode was brought to you by The Earful Tower's Instagram account - @theearfultower. Please follow it here.
This episode has three segments:
First, it's our look at five interesting habits of the Bretons.
Second, we review the stunning town of Vannes, Brittany.
Third, we tell the story of getting chased by what may have been a wolf through a small Breton village.
Sign up on Patreon to support this show (and read the stories and watch the videos).
Hello, we’re two weeks into the honeymoon season of The Earful Tower and my wife and I are currently in the small village of Plédran in Brittany.
We’ve driven 800 kilometres on the scooter and we’ve seen more than we can remember. Since the last episode, we've stayed near Deauville, on Normandy farms, and near D-Day beaches, before passing through the top half of Brittany.
Now that our time in the north west is coming to an end, here's our list of the ten things you absolutely must do before you die.
Press play below to hear the 30-minute podcast episode and scroll down for the list. Subscribe to the podcast on Apple here and Google here.
1. Walk the top of the old city walls in Saint Malo at sunset
It's really as magical as it sounds, the old fortified walls will leave you gobsmacked. Prepare for wind!
2. See the tapestry of Bayeux
We'd heard about this museum, but nothing compares to walking along the 70m tapestry and taking it in yourself. Be sure to check out the local cathedral too, well worth a visit!
3. Walk through the old town of Bernay
Ever heard of Bernay? Neither had we. But it's absolutely a hidden gem of the north west - stop there on the way to Deauville, perhaps?
4. Explore the pink granite rocks at Ploumanac'h
Not only is this place one of the prettiest villages in the country (it won an award for it in recent years), but the seaside is mesmerising.
5. Try local delicacies such as cider, galettes, crepes, and Kouign-amann
Avoid your typical restaurant choices at all costs - go with the flow. Even if you can't pronounce it. Ten points if you can pronounce Koign-amann. I still can't.
6. Check out the Mont Saint Michel at low tide
Write a message in the sand and see it from the monastery above!
7. Visit the charming village of Dinan
Another pearl in Brittany, be sure to add it to your itinerary. Why not have a cider by the water while you're there?
8. Find a museum along the D-Day Beaches
We went to the Juno Beach centre, which was a good one, but there are plenty more to choose from.
9. Stay in a farm-house with a French family
We found a few via Airbnb and they were excellent. I suppose you never know what you're going to get, but a good French family will take you in and treat you like their own. Good luck!
10. Take the back roads and find the small villages
Can't stress this one enough - get off the highways and you'll be amazed at what you find!
That's it for now. If you wanna see all the bonus footage and support this show at the same time then sign up on Patreon today and unlock it all.
See you on the other side, I hope!
Hello, we’re one week into the honeymoon season of The Earful Tower and my wife and I are currently in the small coastal village of Courcelles-sur-Mer in Normandy.
We’ve driven 400 kilometres on the scooter and we’ve seen a lot, staying in Chantilly, Pacy-sur-Eure, Bernay, and Saint Hymer before arriving on these northern beaches.
Here’s what we’ve learned so far about the French countryside and the French people living there (compared to Paris and the Parisians we’ve lived among for the past few years).
1. People are friendly
In fact, they’re very friendly. They’ve been going out of their way to be helpful too. Anyone who says that French people are all rude have clearly never travelled in the French countryside. We've literally had someone running after us in the street to correct their travel directions.
2. Waiters are slow, but they care
Parisian waiters are excellent and attentive. They get you in and out before you even know what’s happened. But it's not so in the countryside, where they take their time and help you pick what they consider to be the best food for you.
3. People aren’t obsessed with how they look
People in Paris wouldn’t be seen dead in their sports clothes outside the gym. They’re slim, chic, and always on trend. But it's not like that in the countryside. People don’t tend to put on airs, they’re simply themselves - and it’s sometimes quite refreshing.
4. There are many hidden gems
It’s amazing how many villages that are just a name on the map turn out to be outstandingly beautiful spots. Case in point: Bernay in Normandy. If you’re a Patreon supporter, go and watch our live walk through Bernay - it’s like a fairytale setting.
5. There’s actually a lot of info in English
In Paris, you’d be lucky to find a tourist sign that’s translated in English, at least one with any interesting information. But not so in many countryside spots. Even small villages (like Bernay, for example) sometimes have translations for us English-speaking tourists about the history of buildings and so on.
6. There’s a list of the most beautiful villages
Here the link to find the prettiest French villages, officially. Good to bookmark this page if you’re travelling too :) We checked out La Roche Guyon and it was fantastic (did a live Patreon walk there too!).
7. Things can be very pricey
Nine euros for ice cream in Chantilly, 20 euros for a cocktail in Deauville… it’s not just Paris that’s expensive in France. Beware: Touristy traps come with the price tag. But don't worry, everything else is pretty cheap.
8. People have more time for you
There’s simply a slower pace in the French countryside. We’ve ended up in conversations in bakeries and pharmacies with the other customers - something that rarely happens in Paris - if ever. And it’s been happening a lot.
9. People are proud of their villages
It’s very easy to see that French villagers love their villages. There are colourful flower displays on every corner, often no graffiti at all, and everything is exceptionally clean. People are proud of their homes - and it’s not always the same vibe in the French capital.
10. People don’t switch to English (even if they can)
In Paris, you may have tried to speak French with a waiter only to hear them respond in English. It can be frustrating at best. But in the countryside, people are very encouraging and patient, and happy to help you along with your French - even if it’s not perfect.
That’s it for now - we’ve got a lot more road to travel. Send in your tips, as usual, and sign up on Patreon for US$10 a month to REALLY follow this trip and watch the live videos.
It's Monday, it's (still) Paris, and the honeymoon is about to begin!
Welcome to season four of The Earful Tower, here's an episode laying it all out, playing brand new music from Slim and the Beast (written specifically for this honeymoon trip), and explaining the exciting details for the first leg of the trip.
If you want to support the trip, get in touch, and consider signing up on Patreon where you'll bet a much more interactive behind-the-scenes than you could imagine.
Sign up here: www.patreon.com/theearfultower
The song in the episode was Go For a Ride by Slim and the Beast, to stream and purchase the band's music, check this out. To know their gig, dates, and news: instagram @slimandthebeast.
Hi guys, it's the off-season here and I'm off getting ready to be married, so I'm looking back to the most popular episode ever from The Earful Tower.
You'll hear the voice of myself and my old co-host James as we tackle the best of the best French words with the help of 24 guests!
Enjoy.
And read the full list here.
Support The Earful Tower on Patreon here.
It’s the season three finale so I figured we’d get a little introspective.
So, I’ve brought back the star of last season's Finding Mary episode - Eddie Gee my little brother.
He co-hosts our chat about the past, present, and the future of this very podcast, and there’s a surprise guest at the end.
Who could it be?
Wanna support this show? Sign up on Patreon here.
This week it's comedian Sebastian Marx, discussing the French language, performing comedy in French (even though he's an American), and of course, Paris.
Join us for the 30-minute chat, and consider signing up as a flaneur on Patreon to see our 50-minute Walk Show on the Grands Boulevards of Paris (where we ended up on the stage of a local theatre).
And last, but not least, Happy Birthday Seb!!
Here's more on his new show, The French Language Explained by an American.
Hello!
This week it's Michael Huffman in the studio talking about chocolate.
He's the brains and the tastebuds behind the Paris Chocolate Guru, a group that does chocolate walking and tasting tours in Paris.
We discuss where to find the best chocolate in Paris, what kind of chocolate to bring to a French dinner party, and Michael gets into detail about why chocolate is just as interesting as coffee and wine -- and just as important :)
Be sure to join the $10/Month group on Patreon to see our Walk Show video live on Thursday... it should be pretty sweet indeed.
The list of the top ten things to see in Paris, according to the city’s Official Visitors Bureau, is fantastic…. but it’s a bit obvious. The Louvre, the Opera Garnier etc etc. Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Sure, it’s an iconic list of things to see. But for your second trip to Paris (or maybe your third), here are somereal pearls that you should look for instead.
Today's guest: Amber Minogue, whose new theatre show Becoming Mamam is drawing crowds each week - and restarts in September 2018.
Here's the basic list of what we talk about, in case you want to find some of these treasures yourself.
Become a member on Patreon here for all the good stuff mentioned in the episode.
Hi guys,
Today’s episode is an interview with The Reverend Michelle Wahila, a New Yorker who has called Paris home for six years.
Perhaps better known by the moniker Ruffled By Grace, she whips around Paris in lace and Converse sneakers giving blessings to people who want to live out their dreams of a wedding in the City of Light.
She was in The Earful Tower studio to discuss just why people are obsessed with Paris - and also the best practices for if YOU want to get married here. And of course, we talk a whole lot about Paris too, as always.
Check out Michelle’s website here.
And if you want to support The Earful Tower, here’s how to get a lot more from this show.
Or get all the good stuff for free for the rest of this month by entering the code word on the secret Facebook group...
Did you know Paris is home to a massive cemetery called Pere Lachaise, where all kinds of famous and interesting people are buried?
Jim Morrison, Edith Piaf, Oscar Wilde… and about a million more. And it's the most visited cemetery in the world with 3.5 million people checking it out annually.
Anyway, today’s guest, Joe Start, has written a book on Père Lachaise and it’s called The Chairfather - a literal translation of the cemetery’s French name.
Joe visited the tombstones countless times to research the book and interview the dead, and today on The Earful Tower he shares his tips on which graves to find, what to avoid, and how not to act if you’re a tourist there.
And if you like what you hear, you can find the Chairfather book here or on ebook here. Joe’s audio tours can be found here and here.
Are you a Patreon supporter of The Earful Tower? Well today’s your lucky day, you get one of the cemetery audio tours FOR FREE! Yes, Joe hung around for a chat about Oscar Wilde's tomb stone, and you can find the link to get your free tour there right now.
This week, I'm going to take you on a journey around my newest obsession in Paris - The Philippe Auguste Wall.
This wall circled the city 800 years ago, and was gradually torn down, built over, and swallowed up by Paris as the city expanded upwards and outwards - with the wall never to be seen again.
Or was it…
Unbelievably, some relics, some vestiges of this ancient wall have remained intact, many of them hidden for centuries and only revealed in fairly recent renovations.
And you can still find these traces of it in the most unlikely places in the city.
This episode is my journey to find those remnants - plus my search for what one historian said were the potentially unfound parts of the wall.
Meanwhile, if you want to find the pieces of the wall yourself, look here on The Earful Tower's official site for loads of pictures from the trip.
That's it, good luck hunting the wall down, and get in touch with me if you want me to show it to you personally.
Meanwhile, this episode took a lot of work, so if you like it, consider becoming a supporter on Patreon to allow me to continue with similar episodes!
There's never been a better month to join than now, June 2018. Look at this lineup.
This week’s podcast episode is with YouTube superstar Geraldine from Comme Une Francaise.
We discuss over 30 minutes the following five points, not to mention a little about where she lives in Grenoble, why she calls her channel Comme Une Francaise, and I retell the story about how I accidentally called all the French guys “My darling” when I moved to France.
Here are the mistakes you’re probably making.
Falling for false friends
If you want to talk about preservatives, don’t just say the same word in a French accent. That means “condoms” (preservatifs).
Translating literally from English
Don’t translate literally. If you want to say “Well done”, don’t say “bien fait”, that means something completely different.
Pronouncing the French words incorrectly (sometimes to hilarious effect)
Be careful of your pronunciation. For example: The French word canard means duck, but the worryingly similar word connard means bastard. You’ll surely make your waiter laugh.
Falling for the cultural faux pas
Never hug a French person, they might have a heart attack, says Geraldine. You’ve gotta know when to kiss cheeks (always), and it’s good to know
Making subtle mistakes that will embarrass you later
You've gotta master tu and vous, for example, and you need to know when to avoid swearing. And if you're at a more advanced level, you need understand textbook French, otherwise it might harm your chances of getting a job.
Now, these are the five tips in brief. There are much more in-depth explanations in the chat, which you can also listen to below.
As for Geraldine, she has featured in a few Patreon-only Walk Shows.
Sign up as a flaneur on Patreon to watch the 30-minute versions of these walks (and to see the upcoming ones live!)
And buy my new guide book here.
This week it’s award-winning author Cara Black, best known for her “Murder in…” Paris series. There's Murder in the Marais, Murder in Belleville… and murders in all but two of the other arrondissements.
Anyway, in this podcast episode we spoke about everything from how Cara meets with cops in Paris for research, to why paying in euros ‘isn’t sexy’, and to what Julius Caesar’s Paris blog would be about.
And Cara was an excellent sport and hung around for two videos.
First, here's when we traced the route between the home and office of her fictional detective, Aimee Leduc. And if you like that video, please subscribe on YouTube :)
Cara also did a 30-minute live walk show with me as well, starting on Rue de Paradis (where she set the book Murder on the Rue de Paradis).
Please consider supporting The Earful Tower on Patreon to unlock access to the full video and much more.
Cara’s new book is Murder on the Left Bank and it’s coming in June. Find out more here.
And lastly, a deep and sincere thank you to the lovely Patrons who keep this show going. You guys would be the heroes if I ever wrote a Paris detective novel.
Oliver
Hi guys,
It's quite the episode today - we've got Stefanie Kouatchet from the city hunt company Paris in Action revealing some of her favourite stories about Paris.
Each of these places are linked to a place in Paris you may have walked past a million times without ever knowing the stories behind them.
Featuring:
The 'Spiderman' who stole five paintings from the Museum of Modern Art
The Paris Meridian line and how to find it
France's answer to Romeo and Juliet - Heloise and Abelard
The palace that burned down in the very middle of Paris
Plus plenty of extra pics on The Earful Tower's website here.
And remember, one lucky Patreon supporter will win a free city hunt from Paris in Action. Winner announced next week.
Become a Patron subscriber to The Earful Tower to enter the draw.
This week we have Ben and Adeline, the brains behind a new French-learning company called Ilini, and they share some truly interesting things about the French language.
This is an episode for you language lovers and language learners out there.
Oh yes, and Ilini is a website that helps you learn real life French via videos that are a mix of entertainment and news. Check it out if you want to improve your real-life French skills.
The 19 observations:
Small talk
1. You can respond to "how are you" ('ca va') with "The peach".
Yes, if someone asks how you are and you're in good form, you can respond with “La peche”. It means you’re feeing good. Try it.
2. … You can also respond with "the potato".
How are you? The potato. Yep, you can also say "la patate" if things are going well.
3. If you’re having a good time, you’ve "got the banana"
Yep, if you’ve got a big smile on the face, you’ve got the banana. Why? Well, it’s the same shape as your smile.
4. You can answer "how are you" with "always".
Oui, if someone says “ca va”, you can respond with “toujours” meaning that things are always good. It’s quite a pleasant response, give it a shot.
5. Or you can respond by just saying ca va in response.
In fact, you can even have a whole conversation using ca va six times in a row. More on that in point five in this list.
6. And it's not uncommon to say 'meh' in response
Or, in French, it's just 'bof'. And apparently it's a totally acceptable response to ca va.
Complaining
7. If you want to complain, you can say you’re bowl is full.
If you have le ras le bol, you’re saying your bowl is full, and you’ve had enough. There’s not really a good translation for it in English - but the French use it all the time.
8. You can complain by saying “it makes me defecate myself”.
In French: Ca me fait chier
9. And in the same style, the French don’t "piss you off", they "shit you off".
In French: Faire chier quelqu’un
Funny French expressions
10. If someone’s lying, they’re “Telling salads”.
Or as the French say: Tu me racontes des salades
11. If you’ve got the blues, you’ve “got the cockroach”.
Or as the French say: Jai le cafard
12. If someone’s annoying you, they’re “breaking your feet”
Or as the French say: Tu mes casses les pieds
English Words that don’t exist in French
Yep, lastly, here are seven common English words that don’t have a good, single word translation into French.
13. Healthy
14. Cheap
15. Hug
16. Siblings
17. Successful
18. Sleepy
19. Abroad
That's the list. Listen to the full episode if you want to hear these ideas explained a bit more. And once again, sign up for Ilini here. It’s free to get a taste.
Support this podcast on Patreon here.
This week we’re talking all about music and the guest is Bonnie Brown, an Australian concert pianist based in Paris.
We talk about everything from life with a piano in your Paris apartment, to how French pupils study classical music in France.
We also take about Bonnie’s upcoming (free!) concert at the Australian embassy on June 3rd.
And at the end, we have Lina in the studio talking about the developments in the Honeymoon season 4 of the Earful Tower, the love heart scooter journey around France.
While I say "studio", I really mean Lina's Grandma's living room, so excuse us if the sound is a bit echo-y for the last few minutes.
Anyway, enjoy the episode!
Support on Patreon if you like The Earful!
What is France’s place in Europe?
This week I’ve got fellow podcasters Katy and Dominic from The Europeans Podcast and we’re talking about France’s place in Europe.
So how does the rest of Europe look at France? How important is France? And what have we got to look forward to in France?
We also, of course, talk about their podcast.
At the end of the episode, Lina is back in the studio to talk about the latest in the plans for the Honeymoon Season 4 of The Earful Tower.
I say studio, it’s more of a cupboard in my Grandma’s countryside home in the UK, hence why my voice is a little quiet (Grandma was asleep after all, bless her).
Here’s how you can find the Europeans Podcast. Tune in to their show in time for my own guest appearance on Tuesday.
And if you want to support The Earful, here’s a link to buy my new tote bags, as modelled on The Earful Tower's website by the guys from The Europeans Podcast.
Imagine travelling around the entire country of France on the back of a scooter for your honeymoon.
Crazy, huh.
That's what today's guests plan to do in August this year - to ride around France in a big love-heart shape to celebrate their honeymoon.
Oh yes, and the guests are me, your host, and my soon-to-be-wife Lina.
Here's what you can expect for season four of The Earful Tower - the Honeymoon Season. Coming this summer.
And please, get in touch if you have any feedback, ideas, tips, suggestions, or empty chateaux in the French countryside.
Oliver
PS: If you're in Paris, come to the live show about Why Invest in Paris with Adrian Leeds on Wednesday 18th April. More info here, and tickets here.
Hi guys,
Here's the first ever LIVE podcast episode for The Earful Tower.
Here's what you missed if you didn't tune in on Facebook or the radio station for the actual live event.
And here are all the links you need below for more info on the guests.
The guests:
- Amber and Sarah on raising French kids and their new comedy Becoming Maman.
- Tour guide April Pett talking about a crazy animal-related story from Paris's history
- Sam Barrantes on music, jingles, and having his book in Shakespeare and Co.
- Adrian Leeds talking about House Hunters International and our upcoming event
- Mystery Guest revealing the wild, wild plans for Season 4 of The Earful Tower
If you're not following on Facebook, now is the time to do it if you want to watch live next time.
Lastly, email me for tickets to the live show with Adrian Leeds on Wednesday 18th April - oliver@theearfultower.com
And support the show on Patreon if you love live videos like this - I do one every week!
Hi guys!
Let's get something straight. I have no idea why you'd want to annoy a French person. I wouldn't. I love French people.
But perhaps you want to know how to avoid annoying them. In that case, here are a few of the things you shouldn't say if you meet a French person, according to Veronique from the hit blog French Girl in Seattle.
Enjoy the episode, and please consider supporting The Earful Tower on Patreon here.
Follow French Girl in Seattle on Facebook here - or follow her site here.
Earful Tower listeners!
Thanks for a record-breaking month in March - why not celebrate with a cocktail or ten?
Here are the ten best speakeasies in Paris according to cocktail queen and return guest Forest Collins.
If you're only here for info and no discussion, skip straight to the nine-minute mark, or just check the full list of bars on The Earful Tower's website here.
And email me at oliver@theearfultower.com for tickets to the live show on April 18th. 10 euros per ticket to be there, or join Patreon at $5 a month to see it streamed live.
This week we've got Guy Griffin in the studio talking about hipsters, coffee, and Paris.
He's the man behind Cafe Oberkampf and Cafe Mericourt in the trendy 11th arrondissement. Check those coffee shops out right now.
Some may say Guy is a hipster himself, so who better to discuss hipsters and how they're changing Paris?
Guy hung around for a Walk Show after the episode, which you can watch if you become a Patreon member here.
Lastly, if you want tickets to the next live show - with Adrian Leeds at Cafe Mericourt on April 18th -- message me now to reserve a spot (oliver@theearfultower.com). Tickets €10 - and the show will be streamed live for Patreon members.
If you've not heard of His Excellence the Australian Ambassador Brendan Berne (or 'Bernie' to his mates), you missed him going viral in December.
Yes, his proposal to his partner was the talk of the town and made headlines around the world (watch it here).
Now, three months on, The Earful Tower heads to the scene of the video - the ambassador's residence on top of the embassy - to talk about the video, how to get Australian delicacies in Paris, and just what exactly an ambassador in Paris does.
Here's the podcast interview.
After the interview, we did a Walk Show around his incredible residence. Here's the short version on The Earful Tower's brand new YouTube page, please consider signing up on Patreon to see the whole thing.
Thanks for listening. Follow on Facebook for a whole lot more, and unlock all the bonus content by becoming a paid subscriber on Patreon here.
And you'll here from me again on Monday, as always.
How well do you speak French? If you're anything like me, you could probably use some improvement.
This week’s guest is Camille Chevalier-Karfis, the founder of the French Today website, which teaches both traditional and modern French.
She talks about some simple tricks for how to improve your French speaking. In fact, she gives five simple tips.
Regular listeners might remember Camille from Season Two, where she talked me through the ten hardest French words to pronounce.
This time around, she’s in the studio talking about the French language in general, as well as a chat about how she learned English and a bit about how I learned French.
If, like me, you want to improve your French, here’s how to find the audiobooks at French Today - which I use and which I think are great.
Camille hung around for a bonus chat for Patreon subscribers at the $1 level and above. If you’re keen to hear it, find all the details here.
And if you haven’t subscribed to The Earful Tower’s new YouTube channel, now is the perfect time to do it!
We have the empress of Paris real estate - Adrian Leeds - in the studio today talking about property in Paris. You might recognize her from the hit TV show House Hunters International.
She suggests good places in Paris to buy an apartment, she discusses the difficulties of buying a place as a foreigner, and how it might not be as tricky as you think to start a new life in Paris.
If you want to buy a place with her, check her site out here.
If you want tickets to my show with Adrian on Wednesday April 18th, get in touch now to reserve places.
Not a supporter of The Earful Tower on Patreon? Now's the time to join! Here's the link - plenty of bonus content out there already!
See you next Monday!
Paris is home to some of the most famed classical art in the history of the world. The Mona Lisa in the Louvre. Rodin's sculpture of The Thinker. Monet's game-changing forays into Impressionism.
But there's one Paris art movement that's getting a lot of people very excited - and it's right beneath our noses, by our shoulders, and above our heads.
Yes, I'm talking about the mosaic-tiled works of urban artist Invader, a man whose identity remains unknown but whose work has sold for up to €200,000.
He has put up 1,341 pieces across Paris and you've maybe seen them without even realizing.
But who is Invader? And why is he putting art around Paris? And why are people going around with their phones and "collecting" them?
For today's episode, we have the insights of Jay Swanson, a YouTuber in Paris, who is a "Flash Invader" - someone who goes around collecting photos of the art as part of a popular app by the same name. He tells us all there is to know about Invader.
And Jay is followed by a second guest, journalist David Chazan, who once found an Invader mosaic in his own home. Unfortunately, that one ends as a tale of woe - but it's a great story.
Oh yes, and welcome to Camille from French Today, who joins us at the end to teach me a French lesson in one minute, this time how to pronounce a word related to Invader and his work.
Now, enjoy the episode, buy one of my tote bags before they run out, and be sure to leave an iTunes review for me to read out next week. Oh yes, and become a Patron here.
All photos used on The Earful Tower site on this story were taken from the official Space Invaders website - check it out for more cool pics.
Talk next week!
Today's episode is a top-20 bonanza! I had tour guide extraordinaire April Pett in the studio to take me on a virtual walk through Paris. She gives her favourite street in each of the 20 Paris arrondissements.
I like her list because it's not just streets, there are bridges, alleyways, elevated walkways and more, and she recommends them for different reasons. One street has the city's only baguette vending machine, for instance.
Book a tour to see the streets of Paris with April here, at April in Paris tours, and be sure to drop my name.
Now, before we get to the list, I've started taking my video camera and walking down these streets as a true Parisian flaneur. If you're a Patreon member in the brand new "Flaneur Club", I'll invite you to a closed Facebook page where I will take you down all 20 streets over the course of the coming months (and a lot more). I did the first one today in the 7th arrondissement by the Eiffel Tower. Thanks to those who joined live! Sign up today, your crowdfunding helps me make the show better!
Anyway, enjoy the episode, here's the list of streets so you can mark them down for yourselves. Pictures to follow shortly on The Earful Tower.
1. Pont Neuf
Sure, it’s a bridge, but it’s also a street and it’s a great one. You can see the Eiffel Tower in the distance and you can peer over into the beautiful little Square du Vert-Galant park.
2. Rue des Petit Champs
This street is the access way to all the hidden passages of the 2nd arrondissement, some aren’t very visibly marked so just walk along this street . These passages are a glimpse into yesteryear, says April.
3. Rue de Franc Bourgeois
In the heart of the Marais, you’ll find people flocking here, but don’t worry. It’s one of the best shopping streets in the city. On Sundays, in front of the Carnavalet museum, there’s a cute little jazz band of elderly musicians. It’s like an open-air concert, says April Pett. There’s Place des Vosges at one end too!
4. Rue des Barres
Great for an afternoon glass of Rosé on a sunny day - and there are very colourful facades too!
5. Rue Mouffetard
A lively, beautiful market street. April calls it a sensation for all of the sense. Plenty of cobblestones. Cheese, pastry, crepe, wine… it’s a foodie haven on any given day. There’s a great tart restaurant - La Maison des tarts. Get a tart to go for 2.50.
6. Cour du commerce Saint-Andre
A combination of a small medieval cobblestones streets - don’t wear your high heels on this street! The Cafe Procope (see below) has been whipping out java since 1686.
7. Rue de Monttessuy
Perhaps the best street for a view of the Iron Lady - get there in the evening if you want to see her sparkle, says April.
8. Avenue Montaigne
It's full of luxury shops. If you’re lucky enough to see it at Christmas, you’ll understand why Paris deserves the moniker of City of Light.
9. Rue des Faubourg Montmartre
Access to more hidden passages and the home to the oldest chocolate shop, A la Mere de la family, a chocolate shop from 1761. Bouillon Chartier, a legendary institution, 1896 and the prices are from 1896 too. It’s a big dining hall. You’ll feel like you’re at the halls of Oktoberfest.
10. Quai des Jemappes
When the sun is shining, everyone goes down to the canal and has a glass of Rosé.
11. Passage Turquetil
A beautiful little place with framed art along the sides of the buildings, not to mention the old shoes they’ve made into plant pots.
12. Coulee vert
The elevated walkway, a great view of the 12th arrondissement. Get away from the hustle and bustle of the city.
13. Avenue des Choisy
Restaurants, shops, and a great look into the Asian community of Paris. And it’s where you’ll find Pho 14 too, see below.
14. Square Montsouris
It feels like an extension of the nearby Parc Montsouris, it’s townhouses, and it’s very green, says April. It’s a pocket of village inside bustling Paris.
15. Rue Paul-Barruel
The only street in town with a baguette vending machine. The bread is partially cooked before it’s put in the machine. You put in a euro and it gets you a warm, freshly cooked baguette.
16. Rue de Passy
Great place for boutique shopping, including the covered market of Passy. Check out the oyster and wine bar in the market, says April.
17. Rue des Dames
Just north of Place de Clichy. It’s a nice place for an evening out, try the Cave Populaire wine bar - 7 euros for a bottle of wine. And 8 euros for a charcuterie board. And it’s not touristy at all compared to the nearby Montmartre.
18. Rue des Montcenis
On the backside of Montmartre, these are the legendary stairs leading up to the Sacré-Coeur. You'll never feel more Parisian than when you're scaling these stairs.
19. Rue de la Villette
A small street north of Parc de Belleville and leading to Buttes Chaumont, check out the restaurant there called Escargot (if you like things like snail, frogs’ legs, and kangaroos), says April.
20. Rue Denoyez
This place is an open canvas for street artists to lay out their masterpieces, says April. Check out the bar Aux Folies at one end, where it feels like Happy Hour every hour (and where Edith Piaf began her career as a cabaret singer).
That's it! All 20. Now, all these excellent tips have been added to my ever-growing Ultimate Guide to Paris (170 tips now!). The guide is hidden for Patreon members who are in the Friends of the Show club.
Lastly, if you can't justify becoming a Patron of the show but want to show your support, please leave a review on iTunes and I may just read it out on air!
And don't forget if you want a friend in Paris, book a tour with April in Paris Tours.
So what's the big difference between France and Paris? Are they the same? Or are they wildly different?
We have Janine Marsh - the woman behind The Good Life France website - in the studio to chat about it all, and also her new book My Good Life in France. Find out more here.
Referenced in this episode:
My one-million hit Facebook video about How to Fake French.
Janine's book My Good Life in France
Bike About Tours where Christian works - and Le Peloton cafe where we recorded the last bit of the episode. Oh yes, and book the specific bike tour he talks about here.
And lastly, buy my tote bag here or become a Patreon member here. Or do both. Why not?
New episode, as always, on Monday.
The best way to understand a country is to understand the person running it. That's my theory at least.
And with that in mind, we've got Adam Plowright in the studio. Now, Adam may not be the person running France, but he is the man who wrote the first book in English about France's President Emmanuel Macron
He explains the "Macron handshake", the president's fascinating rise to power, and how he dreams of Macron after following him around for a year.
He also gives us a few tips on how to become successful, from what he's observed from Macron.
Find Adam's book - The French Exception: Emmanuel Macron – The Extraordinary Rise and Risk - here.
After Adam, we have a new voice on the show, April Pett who runs the April in Paris tours. Due to a hilarious miscommunication, she didn't come with a story about Macron - but about macarons, the sweet meringue-based confection.
Why not book a tour with April, your friend in Paris? Tell her The Earful sent you and you'll get a free tote bag on me :)
If you want to support The Earful Tower, here's a link to buy a tote bag, and here's the link to the Patreon page I mentioned in the show. Thanks in advance, and maybe see you in Paris?
We're back! Season three already!
We're starting off with a bang, talking to Clotilde Dusoulier, the brains behind the hit website Chocolate & Zucchini.
In case you don't know her, she was the first ever French food blogger - and she does it in English! She explains how to tackle French food markets, how to find the perfect baguette, and how to write a recipe.
Here are a few links to things mentioned in the show.
Clotilde's new book: Tasting Paris: 100 Recipes to Eat Like a Local.
Pre-order the book here and claim the pre-order bonus here.
And here is Clotilde's website Chocolate & Zucchini and her "Change ma vie" podcast.
Meanwhile, the tour guide at the end was Richard Nahem. Book one of his tours here (and be sure to mention The Earful Tower when you book and the tote bag is on me). Lastly, if you enjoy The Earful Tower podcast, consider signing up on Patreon to unlock a world of bonuses, including our Ultimate Guide to Paris which features all the best tips from all the guests from the show.
Until next Monday!
Merry Christmas Earful Tower listeners... here's a little hello from me and Corey Frye, plus a bit of news about the show.
And, if you value the show we're putting out here, check out this crowdfunding page we've set up:
Support The Earful Tower here. (www.patreon.com/theearfultower)
PS: The wolf wall we talked about is at the corner of Rue de la Fontaine au Roi and Rue Saint Maur in the 11th arrondissement.
Happy holidays
Earful Tower listeners - here's the season 2 finale.
I'm purposely going to go light on the details here, but recommend you get comfortable for this story - I can guarantee it's one you've never heard before.
Thanks to Josh Vardey who stepped in for the editing on this one.
This episode was performed live in Paris on December 13th, 2017. Patreon members can watch the video from the show here.
If you want to support the show, there is loads of bonus content plus an ever-updating Guide to Paris over on Patreon.
It's a very different episode of The Earful Tower this time around.
Meet Eddie Gee, my little brother, who has just been in Paris trying to help me solve a ten-year-old mystery.
In short, we're tracking down Mary, a woman who saved both of our skins on our first trip to Paris a decade ago.
Along the way, we see loads of Paris and meet a few interesting characters too. But can we find Mary?
Images from this episode are here.
If you want to support the show, there is loads of bonus content plus an ever-updating Guide to Paris over on Patreon.
Forget the studio this week, we're heading into the Metro system.
Yes, I'm joined by podcaster Luke Thompson from Luke's English Podcast to take Line 2 around town while recording an episode about the subway system itself.
And did we time it right so Corey Frye gets on the train as Luke gets off? Listen in to find out.
To answer some of the unanswered questions from the episode:
- Colonel Fabien is named after Pierre Georges, one of the two members of the French Communist Party who perpetrated the first assassinations of German personnel during the Occupation of France during the Second World War.
2. The fire at the Couronnes station was in 1903, and killed 84 people.
- The link to our previous story on the Metro - 30 things about the Paris Metro that even Parisians don't know.
Lastly, if you enjoy The Earful Tower podcast, consider signing up on Patreon to unlock a world of bonuses, including our Ultimate Guide to Paris which features all the best tips from all the guests from the show.
Meet Jennifer Greco, better known online as the woman behind the Chez LouLou blog, and a cheese and wine tour guide extraordinaire.
And we're talking cheese. Specifically, the mistake people make while eating it!
Here are some of the points so you can remember, but please listen below (and hang around for a story at the end from Corey Frye - also related to cheese and France's history).
Mistake 1: Taking the cheese straight out of the fridge - get it to room temperature first (at least an hour)
Mistake 2: Cutting the nose off the Brie (don't cut the pointy tip off - it's like taking the heart of the cheese)
Mistake 3: Pre-slicing the cheese (it loses its moisture).
Mistake 4: Serving it as an appetizer (it's more of a separate course before dessert).
Mistake 5: Storing it near other smelly food in the fridge (you should keep it in the drawer). Oh, and don't wrap it in plastic.
Lastly, if you enjoy The Earful Tower podcast, consider signing up on Patreon to unlock a world of bonuses, including our Ultimate Guide to Paris which features all the best tips from all the guests from the show.
Today I've got a Frenchwoman who teaches French at French Today to teach me French pronunciation today.
Still following?
Good. Here comes Camille Chevalier-Karfis, who runs the French Today website, and she sets me straight on how to pronounce the following ten words.
(Plus we have a good old chat, with me in the studio and her at home in Paimpol, Brittany).
Here are the words:
Brouilly (a wine, and a place in France)
Reims (a place in France)
Caen (a place in France)
Rouen (a place in France)
Buoux (a place in France)
Grenouille (a frog)
Serrurerie (a locksmiths)
Bouilloire (a kettle)
Ecureuil (a squirrel)
Vadrouille (a wander about)
Hang around for a story from Corey Frye, this time about language too. Book one of his tours here, and find more from Camille here.
PS: The movie Camille refers to is called La Grande Vadrouille.
Yep, this time we have Julie Collard in the studio to talk about her one-woman stand-up show “Oh My God she is a Parisienne”.
But what IS a Parisian woman, and are any of the myths actually true? Apparently they’re all myths, at least according to Julie.
Hang around at the end of the episode for another story from Corey Frye, tour guide extraordinaire, who has a theatre-related Paris story. This time we’re talking Moliere and how he died. It’s a good one.
Lastly, find more about Julie’s show here and Corey’s tours here.
This week we head to the American Library in Paris to talk to Grant Rosenberg all about books, Paris, and working by the Eiffel Tower.
And Corey Frye, tour guide extraordinaire, somehow ties it all together at the end with a Paris story related to libraries too!
Did you know there's a sewer museum in Paris?
In case you're put off by the thought of even stepping foot inside it - don't worry, I've done it for you.
Yes, I teamed up with past guest Amber Minogue (hear her last appearance here) and we went underground to check out the Musée des égouts.
And Corey Frye the tour guide ties it all together with a story about the Paris catacombs.
Find Amber's podcast, Paname, here. Find Corey's tours, at A French Frye in Paris, here.
You can find pics from the sewer trip on www.theearfultower.com and you can find more info about the museum here.
For those of you who couldn't make it to our live show on November 15th - don't fret - it was recorded.
Here's what it sounds like to do an episode to a sell-out crowd.
The episode itself was recorded just like a normal one, featuring the inimitable author John Baxter, a story from tour guide Corey Frye, and a few words from Abby, who runs Set in Paris where the event was hosted.
Plenty of pics from the event over at www.theearfultower.com
Here come Elin and Charles, a Swedish/French couple taking a new look at Paris via the medium of embroidery.
We talked about their workshops, their embroidery, and a new language I invented.
Check out their work at Le Kadre via this link, and scroll down for a quick look.
And hang around at the end of the episode for a story from Corey (A French Frye in Paris) - amazingly linked to embroidery too. Quite spooky too, if you ask me.
Happy embroidering!
"It's fully part of France, but it's completely detached".
That's how this week's guest describes her island home Guadeloupe, which is 100 percent French even though it's in the Caribbean.
Yes, here comes Laura K Lawless, an American teacher of the French language who lives 6,750km from Paris in what's known as a DomTom.
We talk about about the island, the French language, and I go through the spin cycle on a few of her tongue twisters.
You can read along here:
- Le ver vert va vers le verre vert.
- As-tu été à Tahiti?
- Un chasseur sachant chasser chasse sans son chien.
Language lovers should hang around at the end for a classic Corey Story, where he reveals how a very French-sounding word came from.......... THE RUSSIANS!
Here comes Tal Spiegel, the man with over 200 pairs of colourful shoes to go with his colourful pastry.
If you've never heard of him, check out Desserted in Paris on Instagram and inject some serious colour into your life.
Here's our chat, followed by a story from Corey as usual.
The Left Bank, or, as the French say, the Rive Gauche. What is it? Where is it? Or who is it? And what's the live event we're doing on November 15th?
All these questions are answered with the help of author John Baxter, Set in Paris's Abigail de Bruyne, Coutume's Tom Clark, tour guide Corey Frye - and a full day whizzing around Paris on the red scooter.
It's Halloween, so here's a spooky story from the Paris Whisperer, Corey Frye.
Happy Halloweening.
I got an amazing gift for my birthday - a Paris guide book from 1911.
So, I decided to get the Paris whisperer, Corey Frye, to come in and look through it with me. Of course, he had no idea what he was in for until the last second.
Here's our chat about it, check out https://theearfultower.com/ for a few pictures of the pages we talked about.
I meet with Jim, a 71-year-old Brit who has been in Paris since 1965.
This isn’t a typical episode - it’s a little more laid back, (but we still did a quick-fire round), and it's a little more conversational.
We talk about the advantages of being a foreigner in France, the differences between French and English people, and how you should never “learn” French.
Then we have a Corey Story, this time about another Brit, Sir Richard Wallace, who brought those lovely green fountains to Paris.
This week it's American journalist, Heidi Moore, who LOVES Paris. While she doesn't live here, she's probably visited more than most tourists ever will, so we had her into the studio to talk about the city.
Specifically, she explains how NOT to be an American in Paris. If you're not American, you can still learn from this, I promise.
I've typed out the subheadings she brought up, but you'll have to listen in to hear her justify it all. And at the end, tour guide Corey Frye tells us a eyebrow raising story about an American woman who LOOOOVES the Eiffel Tower. His weirdest one yet.
Heidi's tips to blending in:
1: Learn the importance of saying bonjour
2: Don't choose comfort over style.
3: Don’t smile so much.
4: Don’t waste all your time on the monuments
5: Watch your manners at all times - regardless of your French fluency
Amber Minogue, the woman behind the Paname podcast, comes into the studio and clears up how Paris got its nickname.
She also talks about her Paris podcast, the cafe that charges five euros for a cup of milk, and how to spot a movie set in Paris.
And hang around for Corey’s Story at the end, this time he’s talking about the ultimate scam in the history of Paris.
This week we have the one of the cofounders of HolyBelly, the hippest breakfast place in Paris.
The team has opened a second location, just down the road from the first one, so I headed down to check it out.
Nico talks about the restaurant, how he is coming to terms with the word brunch (begrudgingly), and what happened when Macaulay Culkin came in for breakfast.
After Nico, we have another story from tour guide Corey Frye, this time about the oldest cafe in Paris.
Find HolyBelly here, find Corey here, and see all our past episodes here.
Here's how to live in Paris on the cheap.
Everything mentioned on the show is written out, with addresses, on our website here. Happy saving!
This week we're joined by Adam Roberts from the Invisible Paris blog.
It's thanks to Adam that I learned about chasses roues (pictured below), which I blogged about before here.
He's also the guy who inspired me to head out to the "human zoo" at the eastern edge of Paris. More on this over the weekend.
And in case you're wondering, here's the link to the blog post he wrote after he found the "pont neuf postcard".
Adam blogs all about Paris here, and has just published a book about the city, "Paris, Cityscopes".
If you want to follow Corey too, he's the guy behind A French Frye in Paris and he often publishes collections of photos about how he has seen Paris lately. Lovely pics.
As for us here at The Earful Tower, follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and subscribe on iTunes here for way more episodes like this one.
Big news next week - stay tuned.
This week we're joined in the studio by Paris guru Lindsey Tramuta - the woman behind The New Paris and the Lost in Cheeseland blog.
She recommends the top restaurant experiences in every arrondissement of the right bank of Paris. Plus we talk about everything from her new podcast to Scarlett Johansson's popcorn shop in Paris.
Afterwards, we have Corey Frye from A French Frye in Paris sharing a story about when the Paris food scene featured elephant soup.
Listen here, and see the restaurants Lindsey chose (together with amazing foodie pics) over on the Earful Tower website.
This time, you're gonna hear how an American fan of our show suggested a guest and an episode topic for us - and the next thing he knew, he was in the studio, co-hosting a show and meeting his favourite Paris author. Yes, we had Colby Fox (whose pictures we just published) in the studio meeting Aussie writer John Baxter.
The moral of this story? Send us fan mail and we will have you on the show.
But seriously, here comes what I found to be a fascinating chat with Mr Baxter, an author who's been based in Paris since 1989. He's written a list of books as long as your arm (here's his Amazon page) and his newest ones are Eating Eternity and Montmartre: Paris's Village of Art and Sin.
And lastly, as usual, we're joined by tour guide Corey Frye at the end of the episode with a chilling tale from yesteryear in Paris, about how flaneurs in Paris were murdered in a grisly fashion indeed.
And the address he mentions, in case you want to visit, is 2 rue Courtalon in the 1st arrondissement. I went there this week... video coming soon.
Want to book a walking tour with Corey Frye from a French Frye in Paris? Click here.
Want way more cool episodes from us? Stay tuned, they’re on the way.
Earful Tower listeners!
In the studio this week is Stephen Clarke, the author behind all those Merde books and the man who is behind a new play hitting Paris this month.
Be sure to check out the video excerpt from our chat on Facebook too!
Here's Stephen Clarke talking about his play, swearing, and how he gets his observational comedy into his books.
As usual, the show ends with a story from Corey Frye, tour guide extraordinaire, and this time you get two stories for the price of one. The first is about the hunchback of Notre Dame (could he have been a real person....?) and the second is about the Eiffel Tower.
Want to book a tour with Corey Frye from a French Frye in Paris? Click here.
Over 500,000 people have seen his one-man show - How to Become Parisian in One Hour - and he's still going strong.
Frenchman Olivier Giraud joins us in the studio to talk about Parisians, how he came to dominate the Paris theatre scene, and to give us a lesson on how to make the French "I don't care" noise.
Find out more about his show here.
And for our first "Story from Corey", we hear about the most "creative" and blood-curdling execution Paris has ever seen.
For more from Corey Frye and his French Frye in Paris tours, click here.
As for us, we will be back very soon with author Stephen Clarke talking about his new project. Subscribe on iTunes here or sign up to this blog by clicking the little box in the bottom right corner.
And if you're not following on Facebook, you're missing out on a whole lot more. Join the group here.
It's the season finale, so we tackled Corey Frye's top 20 tips in Paris in one day! Or at least we tried to.
Listen to episode seven for the background, or join us on a scooter ride around Paris and against time.
Beep beep.
Check into the site, www.theearfultower.wordpress.com for pictures and more.
We are joined by Lina, the illustrator behind Instagram's @parisianpostcards, to discuss French politeness, the whole tu and vous thing, and whether or not French people are rude.
You might recognize Lina's work from our logo, by the way.
Here is the audio from the chat.
Head over to our website or Facebook for more from this episode.
Here's the audio from when Oliver met with Guy from Cafe Oberkampf in April and went for a walk around Paris.
Their final stop was the cafe that Guy was about to open, Cafe Mericourt, which ha opened its doors to the public this week.
Find out all about the coffee scene in Paris, the 11th arrondissement of Paris, and the mysterious signature dish of the cafe - shakshuka.
And of course, get the most out of this episode by watching it as a video on Facebook.
With Luke Thompson from Luke's English podcast.
We tackle the topic of French people and their English talents, with one of the biggest podcasters in town.
To celebrate our 21st episode, we’re treating it like a 21st birthday and we’re having a drink. Or 20.
We’re joined in the studio by Forest Collins, the absolute expert when it comes to Paris bars (and the woman behind 52 Martinis), who presents the top watering hole in every arrondissement of the French capital.
Below is the full list of bars with addresses.
And watch this space… we can feel a pub crawl coming along.
Hemingway at the Ritz Hotel, 15 Place Vendôme
Mabel, 58 Rue d'Aboukir
Les Bains, 7 Rue du Bourg l'Abbé
Maria Loca, 31 Boulevard Henri IV
Lucha Libre, 10 Rue de la Montagne Sainte Geneviève
La Robe & La Mousse, 3 Rue Monsieur le Prince
Fitzgerald, 54 Boulevard de la Tour-Maubourg
Minipalais, 3 Avenue Winston Churchill,
Lulu White, 12 Rue Frochot
Copperbay, 5 Rue Bouchardon
Le Red House, bis, 1 Rue de la Forge Royale
Le Calbar, 82 Rue de Charenton
Bateau El Alamein, Quai François Mauriac
Rosebud, 11 Rue Delambre
Novotel Lounge Bar, 257 Rue de Vaugirard
Hotel Saint James, 43 Avenue Bugeaud
Lush Bar, 16 Rue des Dames
Le Kremlin, 6 Rue André Antoine
Pavillon des Canaux, 39 Quai de la Loire
La Commune, 80 boulevard de Belleville
Shhhhh!
Yes, it's our 20th episode so we're celebrating by revealing ten of the top secrets about Paris.
If you want to see pics and more info from the places and people mentioned in the episode, head over to www.theearfultower.wordpress.com
Happy exploring
Episode 19: We talk to Pauline and Charlotte from the Paris Fringe festival about "the new Hemingways"... or in other words, today's arty types in the City of Light.
Who are they, where do they hang out... and is the Shakespeare and Company bookshop still as popular among writers as it was in the days of Ernest Hemingway?
We asked listeners for their most embarrassing mistakes when trying to speak French.
Important background:
Jouer means "to play", jouir means "to orgasm".
J'ai chaud means "I'm hot", je suis chaud means "I'm horny".
Un baiser is "a kiss", baiser is "to f$$k"
The rest are pretty self explanatory.
Thanks to Lily Heise, the author who co-hosted the episode. Check out the site for more info about where you can find her work.
Oh, and if you're easily offended, do not listen to this episode.
We asked for your least favourite French words (after we did your favourite words in episode 15.
And so, here are the worst words in the French language.
- Serrurerie (locksmiths) says Kevin Knight of Expatriates Magazine Paris.
"I just can't get my mouth around it and on the rare occasion I need to use it my mouth goes into gymnastics and I look ridiculous," he says.
- Aurore, the name, says Diane who runs Oui in France.
"It is so difficult! It comes out more like horreur if I'm not paying attention," she says.
- Blogguese (a female blogger), says Clothilde from Chocolate and Zuccini.
"The sound of it is very ugly, so I always say I write a blog instead."
- Furure (fur) says Maggie Kim of Les Lolos.
"Impossible to pronounce, I try and avoid the word. I just say it in English."
- Putain (whore), says Gail of Perfectly Paris.
"I get so sick of hearing this word, everyone is using it every five seconds."
- Bah oui, a filler word, says author Lauren Collins
"I can't stand it. It's my least favourite filler word in the French language," she says.
- Ben, bon (more filler words), says author Lindsey Tramuta.
"They're just drawn out words that don't sound much like French," she says.
- Interdit (forbidden), says Veronique from French Girl in Seattle.
"When you grow up in France, you see the word everywhere! The word is so final and unpleasant, and it typically comes with that horrid bright red sign, in case you are too daft to understand."
- Grenouille (frog), says Guy Griffin of Café Oberkampf
"When I got to France all the kids teased me and made me say it, it took about 2 years before I could say it," he says.
- Huit/Huitre (eight/oyster), says author Emily Monaco.
"I hate the words because they sound the same," she says.
- Acceuil (welcome) says Lina, our graphic designer.
"It sounds like a dying war cry," she says.
- Bourgueil (a place and a wine), says Jennifer from Chez loulou
"It's not because I don't like the town or the wine, quite the opposite in fact, but because I can NEVER pronounce it correctly," she says.
- Bouilloire (kettle), Lily from Paris je t'aime.
"It has all the horrible letters and it's impossible for anglophones to pronounce."
- Rentrée (back from holidays), says Corey Frye the tour guide.
"It's all about hurtling back to reality, like a spaceship coming back into the atmosphere."
- Ecureuil says Frank from Cake boy Paris.
"I've had more than a few embarrassing moments trying to pronounce my dog's favourite fixation. This word makes me so squirrelly!"
- Animateur, says translator Jann.
It can mean anything from a party clown to an MC, there are too many definitions of it.
- Truc (thingy) says Sarah the interpreter.
"It's overused, too much meaning crammed into a tiny word."
- Crouttes (crust or scab), says producer James.
"Mixing food and scabs is never great," he says.
- En haut (upstairs), says host Oliver.
"I can't pronounce it and it gets me mixed up."
Lost in Frenchlation, a company that puts English subtitles on French movies in Paris, joins us on the terrace of Les Deux Moulins (the cafe from Amelie).
They share what they consider to be the five best movies set in Paris.
]What’s your favourite word? We asked 24 listeners, past guests, and even each other for the “best” French word in existence. From dragonflies to hardware shops, here’s the full list from the show, as well as a few links to check out the blogs and pages we mentioned.
Check your spelling here:
1. Pamplemousse (grapefruit), saysVeronique who runs French Girl in Seattle. “It appeals to all my senses: I love the way the word sounds, the taste, and the appearance of a grapefruit… and I love the very distinctive scent,” she says.
2. Bof (a disinterested sound people make), says tour guide Corey Frye. “The three most important letters in French,” he says. Hear his top tip for each Paris arrondissement here.
3. En fait (actually).”You just chuck it on the end of everything and it works,” says Matt from movie masters in Paris Lost in Frenchlation.
4. Formidable (excellent):”It has a finesse to it, and makes me think of the Stromae song,” says author Lindsey Tramuta, whose book The New Paris hits shelves worldwide on April 18th.
5. Menilmontant, a place in Paris that means a lot to Samuel Barrantes of Slim and the Beast (hear him in the pilot episode here). Here’s the song he was talking about.
6. Rabibocher, meaning “to get together” especially after a break-up, says listener Carolyn.
7. Aspirateur, meaning vacuum, “It just sounds so much more interesting than vacuum”, says listener Shelly
8. Couilles, says comedianPaul Taylor. This word means “balls” (as in testicles). Why does Paul like the word? “Because no anglophone can pronounce it properly,” he says. No surprises that Paul likes a good swear word – his TV show is called What the Fuck France? (We had him in the studio too for a warm beer and a chat).
9. Merde (meaning shit), says authorStephen Clarke. Stephen’s numerous novels have the word merde (shit) in the title, so it’s no surprise he likes this word. We had Stephen on the Earful too to talk about the French. Here’s his episode.
10. Vachement, meaning really really, says writer Lisa Anselmo. “In France, a country famous for its cheese, it’s not terribly surprising a word like “cowly” would creep in,” she says. Listen to her full episode on the Earful here.
11. Trottoir (footpath), says Kate Goodbody, who runs the More Native than the Natives blog (and who just won our giveaway on Facebook for a signed Stephen Clarke book). “I love the idea of people trotting down the street,” she says.
12. Papillon, says regular listenerDingo Mike. “It means butterfly and bow-tie, two beautiful things and a beautiful word,” he says.
13. Pompette, a pleasant word for “tipsy”, says lovely Lina. “It sounds like the name of a poodle.”
14. Rouflaquettes, meaning “sideburns”,says Sam Davies, though the jury is still out on if this is a real word. Sam was also on the Earful, getting creative with language.
15. Libellule, says Jennifer who writes the blog Chez Loulou. “For the fact that I love dragonflies and it’s a great word to say,” she says.
16. Truc, meaning “thing”, says Gail of PerfectlyParis. “It covers everything, it’s vague, indirect and can refer to anything.” Isabelle in Sweden adds: “Best word ever for someone who wants to believe she sounds more French than she does.”
17. Grenouille (frog), says Coutume cafe’s Tom Clark. “If you can pronounce it, you can speak French.” Hear his episode on the Earful here.
18. Dégueulasse (disgusting), says Ben McPartland, the editor of The Local France. “Sounds like a character from Lord of the Rings,” he says.
19. Ancre/Encre (anchor/ink), says Breton sailor Fabien. The words both mean a lot to me, he says, literature and travel.
20. Quincaillerie, a hardware shop, says Joey Yanity on Facebook. “It’s pretty fun to say.” We agree!
21. Flâneur, an aimless walker, says Tami Tamir-Shaughnessey. “It’s my favourite thing to do in Paris.”
22. Déchetterie (a dump, a tip), says Jim Carmichael. “I like the way it rolls off the tongue,” he says.
23. Croutte, says producer James. “It’s actually my least favourite French word, it means crust and scab. Revolting.”
24. Inoubliable (unforgettable), says host Oliver. “I like the sound of the word, it sounds like a foreigner imitating a French person…”
If you want to see more like this, then join our Facebook followers here. Click the link below to hear the full episode of this list.
Christophe Girard, the mayor of the 4th arrondissement.
We met him in the town hall to talk about the newly pedestrianized right bank of the River Seine (see pic above), the secrets of his district, and the best coffee in town.
We also talked about what a mayor actually does and how to tackle a littering Parisian (not literally tackle, mind you).
By the way, below is a pic of his recommendation for a good wine, Chez Julien.
Just down the road from here you can find the boys from Le Peloton café. The mayor seems to like these lads a lot, and they’ve been guests on The Earful Tower before. Get an earful yourself here.
Hey, it’s not just the lighter side of France on this show – sometimes we tackle some more serious issues.
This time, for example, we talk to Annette Young who fronts the France 24 show “The 51 percent” – which is all about women shaping our world.
We talk about being a woman in France, the single mother-of -three Marine Le Pen, and the word Mademoiselle and whether it should be banished.
OK, OK, we also put Annette on the spot to name her favourite cafe and bar etc at the end.
From bustling boulevards to Sunday promenades, grab a Vélib bike and discover Paris on two wheels.
Our guests for this week are two entrepreneurs who know Paris very well indeed: Paul and Christian from Bike About Tours. They also run a funky coffee shop in the Marais, just off the river Seine, called Le Peloton Cafe.
Stephen Clarke has been writing books about France for almost 15 years.
His first novel A Year in the Merde has become a point of reference for anyone who wants to get an entertaining view of life in Paris. The sequel, Merde Actually, even topped Harry Potter in the UK charts.
He’s here on the Earful Tower to tell us about how it all started and we discuss his latest book Merde in Europe.
We challenged professional cook David Lebovitz to the A-Z of French food – in other words, we put each letter to a food then asked him about it. Where is the best M for market? The best B for baguette in Paris? And what’s the deal with F for foie gras.
He did really well!
He’s English, but lives in France, and has been proudly mocking the French for months on French TV and on YouTube.
Paul Taylor joined us in the studio to talk all about the French, his new show, and life in Paris.
Lindsey Tramuta is the woman behind the Lost in Cheeseland blog and Instagram page – and she has just written a book called “The New Paris” (on Amazon here).
She joins us in the studio for a hot cappuccino and shares her tips on Instagramming Paris, explains how the city is changing, and reveals more about her new book.
She also convinced us to get an Instagram account for the show — which WE HAVE DONE!
If you thought you knew Paris well, think again.
Corey Frye, aka the Paris Whisperer, is an American tour guide who knows every nook and cranny of the city. We put him to the test to name the unmissable spot in each of the 20 arrondissements.
This list of cafés, restaurants and hidden landmarks will guarantee an amazing time to anyone either visiting or living in the capital.
So what is Franglais Wordplay?
Basically – it’s mixing a French word and an English word together to help explain France.
For example: What’s the name for the unwritten rules of breaking bread with the French? Baguettiquette, of course.
Expect laughs, groans, and creativity as three journalists present five new examples of “Franglais wordplay” that they’ve made up.
And we even have judges to determine the winner… what’s your favourite?
A chat with three fully bilingual guests. These guys didn’t learn English and French at school, but by growing up in cross-cultural families.
They can switch from one to another without even realising it, and create a language only they can understand: “Franglais”.
What’s it like to write a memoir about Paris – and what makes Lisa’s different?
She joined us in the studio to talk about it, read from the book itself, and have a good old laugh about some of the stranger French habits
Lisa also co-founded No Love Locks to stop the wave of love-locking tourists who were destroying the bridges of Paris. And it has been pretty successful so far… just don’t let her ever catch you hanging a padlock on the Pont des Arts!
Check out Lisa’s website here.
If you want to know about the how Paris is moving away from the typical cafes and into the new wave of coffee shops, then Tom Clark is your man.
He takes us behind the beans of the coffee world, and admittedly catches us out in our blind taste test.
In the second part of the show, we discuss driving in Paris, which is a lot less pleasant of an experience than a coffee in Coutume!
Find the Coutume coffee shops in Paris via the official site here, and be sure to check out the brand new location on Rue Martel in the tenth.
If you want to find a book in English in Paris, head to the Shakespeare and Company bookshop – which is also where we found journalist-turned-author Elaine Sciolino.
She talks all about her new book The Only Street in Paris, Life on the Rue des Martyrs.
Rue des Martyrs, in northern Paris, is well worth a visit if you’re up that way. Our tip: Take in a coffee at KB at the top of the hill (thought it’s far too hipster for Elaine, she says).
Find out more about Elaine via her website here, where you can also pick up her book.
Local folk band Slim & the Beast, who have just launched their first EP, bring their gear into the studio for a jam.
We also talked to the lads about the French “backwards” slang known as Verlan. If you wanna know more about it then this link will help you out.
As for the band, check out their videos here, and follow them on Facebook.