The Earful Tower: Paris

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.  For more from the Earful Tower, here are some handy links: Website  Weekly newsletter  Walking Tours 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.  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  Weekly newsletter  Walking Tours 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.  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  Weekly newsletter  Walking Tours 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.  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  Weekly newsletter  Walking Tours

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.  1. Musée Rodin 2. Musée des Archives Nationales 3. Maison de Balzac 4. Musée de la Chasse et de la Nature  5. Musée Yves Saint Laurent Paris (currently closed) 6. 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.  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  Weekly newsletter  Walking Tours

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.  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  Weekly newsletter  Walking Tours

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.  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  Weekly newsletter  Walking Tours

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.  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  Weekly newsletter  Walking Tours

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/ *********** 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  Weekly newsletter  Walking Tours

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.  For more from the Earful Tower, here are some handy links: Website  Weekly newsletter  Walking Tours

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.  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  Weekly newsletter  Walking Tours

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.  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  Weekly newsletter  Walking Tours

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.  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  Weekly newsletter  Walking Tours

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.  For more from the Earful Tower, here are some handy links: Website  Weekly newsletter  Walking Tours

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.  For more from the Earful Tower, here are some handy links: Website  Weekly newsletter  Walking Tours

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.  For more from the Earful Tower, here are some handy links: Website  Weekly newsletter  Walking Tours

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.  For more from the Earful Tower, here are some handy links: Website  Weekly newsletter  Walking Tours

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.  For more from the Earful Tower, here are some handy links: Website  Weekly newsletter  Walking Tours

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.  For more from the Earful Tower, here are some handy links: Website  Weekly newsletter  Walking Tours

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.  For more from the Earful Tower, here are some handy links: Website  Weekly newsletter  Walking Tours

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.  For more from the Earful Tower, here are some handy links: Website  Weekly newsletter  Walking Tours

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.  For more from the Earful Tower, here are some handy links: Website  Weekly newsletter  Walking Tours

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.  For more from the Earful Tower, here are some handy links: Website  Weekly newsletter  Walking Tours

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.  For more from the Earful Tower, here are some handy links: Website  Weekly newsletter  Walking Tours

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.  For more from the Earful Tower, here are some handy links: Website  Weekly newsletter  Walking Tours

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.  Find the video version of this chat (in short and long form) on this link soon: 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.  For more from the Earful Tower, here are some handy links: Website  Weekly newsletter  Walking Tours

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: Website  Weekly newsletter 

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: Website  Weekly newsletter 

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: Website  Weekly newsletter 

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: Website  Weekly newsletter  Instagram - Facebook - TikTok  Find our books  Book a walking tour Patreon membership 

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  Weekly newsletter   

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  Weekly newsletter 

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: Website  Weekly newsletter     

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 will be on our official website very soon: www.theearfultower.com  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 podcast we're talking about Notre Dame, which had its grand reopening ceremony over the weekend.  I talk to the local mayor, Ariel Weil, about what he has already seen inside, and then what's next for Notre Dame.  Then, for a visitor's perspective going forward, I talked to Bertrand d'Aleman, the co-founder of My Private Paris about what tourists visiting Paris can expect from the cathedral over the next year or so. Both of these interviews were recorded not far from the Notre Dame itself. We recorded both on camera, you can see the video on YouTube 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. 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.