The Earful Tower: Paris

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

Transcribed - Published: 21 July 2025

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 

Transcribed - Published: 7 July 2025

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 

Transcribed - Published: 23 June 2025

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 

Transcribed - Published: 16 June 2025

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 

Transcribed - Published: 16 June 2025

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 

Transcribed - Published: 2 June 2025

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   

Transcribed - Published: 19 May 2025

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.  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 

Transcribed - Published: 12 May 2025

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     

Transcribed - Published: 5 May 2025

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.    

Transcribed - Published: 14 April 2025

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.

Transcribed - Published: 31 March 2025

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.

Transcribed - Published: 24 March 2025

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.

Transcribed - Published: 17 March 2025

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.

Transcribed - Published: 10 March 2025

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.

Transcribed - Published: 3 March 2025

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.

Transcribed - Published: 24 February 2025

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. 

Transcribed - Published: 17 February 2025

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.          

Transcribed - Published: 10 February 2025

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. 

Transcribed - Published: 3 February 2025

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. 

Transcribed - Published: 3 February 2025

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.    

Transcribed - Published: 27 January 2025

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.

Transcribed - Published: 20 January 2025

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.

Transcribed - Published: 13 January 2025

IT'S BACK AGAIN!  Every year we make a bucket list of things we want to try for the first time in Paris. In this episode, you'll hear Oliver and Lina sharing their top five things they want to do this year in Paris. Why not write your own list and join us? The full list is on our official website here. This season of The Earful Tower is brought to you by the award-winning travel company My Private Paris, which specializes in tours in Paris, day trips outside Paris, and travel itineraries. See what they offer here.  Get more from The Earful Tower by becoming a Patreon member, or a Substack member, or exploring the official site here.   

Transcribed - Published: 6 January 2025

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.   

Transcribed - Published: 30 December 2024

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.   

Transcribed - Published: 23 December 2024

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.

Transcribed - Published: 16 December 2024

  This Week on The Earful Tower: Notre Dame's Grand Reopening In this special episode, we dive into Notre Dame's grand reopening after the fire that shook the world. I speak with Ariel Weil, the mayor of Paris' central arrondissements, about his firsthand experience inside the newly restored cathedral, and what’s next for this iconic monument. Then, for a visitor's perspective, I chat with Bertrand d'Aleman, co-founder of My Private Paris, about what tourists can expect when they visit Notre Dame in the coming year. Both interviews were recorded just steps away from Notre Dame itself — and you can watch the video on YouTube! This episode is brought to you by My Private Paris, the award-winning travel company offering private tours in Paris, day trips around France, and custom travel itineraries. Marie Segura, co-founder of My Private Paris, also shares insider tips about the Passage des Panoramas. Become a member of The Earful Tower on Patreon or Substack for bonus content, early access, and invites to exclusive events.

Transcribed - Published: 9 December 2024

This week on the podcast we are chatting about gin with Charlotte Buisson Dackow from La Distillerie de l’Arbre Sec. This cool, new micro-distillery is located on a quiet street, with a macabre history, mere steps from the Louvre museum in the 1st arrondissement. We visited their stunning workshop and listened as Charlotte explained the evolution of the gin culture in France. Offering excellent quality gin, as well as tastings and workshops, it’s clear that Charlotte and her colleagues take gin seriously. Of course, wine is the dominant beverage here, but, as Charlotte explains, things are changing. “I think gin is taking over the world! Often French people are set in their ways, so we are a little behind everywhere else, but it’s starting here in France. I think it’s really exciting.” This craft-distillery is such an exciting addition to the Paris mixology scene, comfortably co-existing alongside the more traditional emblems. As Charlotte says “wine will always be there, but we’re just making the drink culture richer.” We couldn’t agree more. La Distillerie de l’Arbre Sec address: 52 Rue de l’Arbre Sec, 75001 This season of The Earful Tower is brought to you by the award-winning travel company My Private Paris, which specializes in tours in Paris, day trips outside Paris, and travel itineraries. See what they offer here. In this episode, the company's co-founder Marie Segura talks about the Passage des Panoramas. Get more from The Earful Tower by becoming a Patreon member, or a Substack member, or exploring the official site here. Members already have their invite to our Christmas party at the distillery here.

Transcribed - Published: 2 December 2024

It's time for a day trip to Versailles! This week, I'll show you a great way to visit the town of Versailles with the help of Bertrand d’Aleman from award-winning travel company My Private Paris. We took the train from Paris, then spent a day exploring the town, but never stepped foot inside the palace or the palace grounds. My Private Paris is a local deluxe agency, crafting itineraries for tours in Paris and beyond (including, of course, Champagne). See what they offer here. Here is their full-day trip to Versailles. Music: Pres Maxson.   

Transcribed - Published: 25 November 2024

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.  

Transcribed - Published: 18 November 2024

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.

Transcribed - Published: 11 November 2024

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.

Transcribed - Published: 4 November 2024

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.

Transcribed - Published: 28 October 2024

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.

Transcribed - Published: 21 October 2024

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.

Transcribed - Published: 14 October 2024

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.

Transcribed - Published: 7 October 2024

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. 

Transcribed - Published: 30 September 2024

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 

Transcribed - Published: 23 September 2024

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 

Transcribed - Published: 16 September 2024

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 

Transcribed - Published: 9 September 2024

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 

Transcribed - Published: 12 August 2024

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 

Transcribed - Published: 5 August 2024

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 

Transcribed - Published: 29 July 2024

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 

Transcribed - Published: 22 July 2024

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 

Transcribed - Published: 15 July 2024

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 

Transcribed - Published: 8 July 2024

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 

Transcribed - Published: 1 July 2024

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 

Transcribed - Published: 24 June 2024

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 

Transcribed - Published: 17 June 2024