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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.
Top tips for visiting Paris with kids
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. 1. 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. 2. Palais de Tokyo – an expansive art museum, near the Eiffel Tower, with plenty of space and lots of interesting exhibitions. 3. Aquarium – an aquarium in central Paris? It doesn’t get much more fun that that. 4. 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? 5. Deyrolle – technically a shop, but you are welcome to visit. It’s off the beaten path and stuffed full of fascinating creatures. 6. Natural History Museum – nothing short of stunning. An exceptional interior and captivating exhibits. 7. Zoo – across the park from the Natural History Museum, this is a compact zoo, which has been entertaining families for over 150 years. 8. Greenhouses – five tropical greenhouses with plants from across the world. 9. Maze – yes, you read that right, a maze in central Paris. Amazing. 10. Natural Science Museum – weird and wonderful. The displays will leave you spell-bound. 11. Bateaux Mouches – avoid walking too much and getting tired. The most thrilling and beautiful way to see the best of Paris. 12. Pony Riding – in Parc Monceau, Luxembourg Gardens and the Champ de Mars, which also offers go-karting. 13. Jardin d’Acclimatation – not a garden, but an amusement park. Fairground rides and rollercoasters galore. 14. Big Zoo – in the heart of the Bois de Vincennes. Exceptionally good, for a city zoo. 15. Ice skating at the Grand Palais – returning after a long closure. Is there a more beautiful place to ice skate in the world? 16. Ground Control – not especially central, but worth the commute. A huge abandoned train depot that houses diverse food stands, with interesting shops and games. 17. Comptoir Général – a roomy, buzzing canal-side club by night and restaurant by day. Keep your eyes peeled for the pirate ship. 18. Crèpes on the go – if in doubt, pick up a crèpe and go. 19. Pain d’Épices – a charming, independent toyshop in one of the most beautiful passages in Paris. 20. 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. 21. 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.
28:5718/11/2024
Five mistakes to avoid when visiting Paris
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. Watch the YouTube version of this chat, filmed on the streets of Paris, right here. 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.
31:4911/11/2024
Ten things (besides bread) that the French call a 'baguette'
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.
07:5004/11/2024
Six golden rules for visiting Provence
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.
29:5428/10/2024
Five golden rules for moving to Paris
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.
33:5321/10/2024
How to spend a day in Champagne
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.
31:4414/10/2024
Paris if you're a top private chef
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.
32:0507/10/2024
The most 'fitting' thing to see in each Paris arrondissement
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.
39:1930/09/2024
Paris if you like getting into private buildings
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. 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 Weekly newsletter
20:2223/09/2024
Paris if you need the perfect one-day itinerary
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: Website Weekly newsletter
34:3916/09/2024
Paris if you want to see it like a local
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: Website Weekly newsletter
32:0309/09/2024
My final thoughts on the Paris Olympic Games
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. For more from the Earful Tower, here are some handy links: Website Weekly newsletter
22:3912/08/2024
Paris museums (by the people who wrote the book on the topic)
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: Website Weekly newsletter
33:2405/08/2024
Teaching French and French culture to millions: AT Frenchies
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, via TikTok. ******* 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 Weekly newsletter
39:2829/07/2024
The challenges of hosting The Olympic Games in Paris, with the mayor of Paris Centre
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: Website Weekly newsletter
30:1522/07/2024
The inside word on French wine and Paris wine bars
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: Website Weekly newsletter
32:1415/07/2024
How to visit the Latin Quarter of Paris
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 Weekly newsletter
33:4608/07/2024
The hunt for ALL the Paris Statues of Liberty
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 Weekly newsletter
17:2601/07/2024
Meet the woman selling the Seine river
Vanessa Grall, 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: Website Weekly newsletter
31:0124/06/2024
Paris history is on sale: Meet the man selling it
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: Website Weekly newsletter
35:2417/06/2024
The best hidden gem in every Paris arrondissement
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. An important note: the secret for the 10th arrondissement has now closed for good! 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. For more from the Earful Tower, here are some handy links: Website Weekly newsletter
21:2010/06/2024
Does 'meter' rhyme with 'cheetah'? (And more from our new Paris kids' book)
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. For more from the Earful Tower, here are some handy links: Website Weekly newsletter
19:0903/06/2024
A look at the underbelly of Paris
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. For more from the Earful Tower, here are some handy links: Website Weekly newsletter
33:0127/05/2024
Why is Paris so inaccessible?
Meet Parisian woman Virginie Dubost. In 2018, she became a quadriplegic 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. For more from the Earful Tower, here are some handy links: Website Weekly newsletter
28:1420/05/2024
The fastest climbing trend in Paris...
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. For more from the Earful Tower, here are some handy links: Website Weekly newsletter
31:0113/05/2024
The changing face of Paris and its suburbs
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. For more from the Earful Tower, here are some handy links: Website Weekly newsletter
31:0106/05/2024
Why do Parisians leave unusual objects at gravestones?
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. See our full blog post with all the addresses here. 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.
30:3629/04/2024
Sweet Paris: A life of cakes and pastries
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. For more from the Earful Tower, here are some handy links: Website Weekly newsletter
32:0522/04/2024
Paris through the lens of a movie director
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. For more from the Earful Tower, here are some handy links: Website Weekly newsletter
29:4115/04/2024
Life in Paris as a Moulin Rouge dancer
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. 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 Weekly newsletter
32:0108/04/2024
Wining and dining in France with Patricia Wells
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. For more from the Earful Tower, here are some handy links: Website Weekly newsletter
34:2901/04/2024
Making French dessert: A mille-feuille celebration for 1,000 reviews
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. For more from the Earful Tower, here are some handy links: Website Weekly newsletter
21:3327/03/2024
The man selling the finest faux flowers in France
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: Website Weekly newsletter
29:4225/03/2024
How to stay safe in Paris, with Amanda Rollins
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. For more from the Earful Tower, here are some handy links: Website Weekly newsletter
36:3118/03/2024
The French Revolution: A beginner's guide
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. For more from the Earful Tower, here are some handy links: Website Weekly newsletter
42:3011/03/2024
How we're raising a trilingual child in Paris
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. For more from the Earful Tower, here are some handy links: Website Weekly newsletter
28:5004/03/2024
Buying a home in Paris: Five mistakes to avoid
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. For more from the Earful Tower, here are some handy links: Website Weekly newsletter
35:1626/02/2024
The Seine booksellers are here to stay: let's meet one!
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. For more from the Earful Tower, here are some handy links: Website Weekly newsletter
24:4519/02/2024
David Lebovitz on the Paris food market: the Marché d'Aligre
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. For more from the Earful Tower, here are some handy links: Website Weekly newsletter
37:2312/02/2024
What's life REALLY like for a contemporary Paris writer?
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. For more from the Earful Tower, here are some handy links: Website Weekly newsletter
33:1805/02/2024
Best bars in Paris: Here’s a bar for every occasion
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. For more from the Earful Tower, here are some handy links: Website Weekly newsletter
33:4229/01/2024
Ten fun French words that I really love
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. For more from the Earful Tower, here are some handy links: Website Weekly newsletter
32:2822/01/2024
Visiting the doctors in France: Five things I've noticed
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. For more from the Earful Tower, here are some handy links: Website Weekly newsletter
25:2415/01/2024
Paris Bucket List: Things to do in 2024
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
26:0408/01/2024
ABC review: Answering 15 questions from YOU
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.
25:1501/01/2024
Zinc: A close-up on the iconic Paris rooftops
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.
35:4625/12/2023
Yesteryear: Paris impressions from the 1980s, 70s, and 60s
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.
44:0818/12/2023
Xmas party: Our epic Christmas walking tour 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.
20:5411/12/2023
Wall of Paris: New finds along the ancient Philippe Auguste Wall
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.
31:2604/12/2023
Vegan Paris: How well does Paris do vegan food?
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.
31:1127/11/2023