The Earful Tower: Paris

Bonus episode!! This week I had the honour of speaking as an author at the American Library in Paris. I also had the honour of interviewing myself for the first time! Here's the full chat, which I hope you will even enjoy if you've read the book and heard my story. I slipped in a lot of new stuff :) To get my memoir: https://theearfultower.com/memoir/ To get the children's https://theearfultower.c...

As Paris goes into lockdown again, here's how I spent my last day of freedom.  You'll hear a lot of extra voices in this episode, and plenty of locations.  Including: Papilles Coffeehouse: 77 Rue de Rochechouart, 75009 Paris Boneshaker Donuts: 77 Rue d'Aboukir, 75002 Paris Le Peloton Cafe: 17 Rue du Pont Louis-Philippe, 75004 Paris Find way more information about these places, and plenty of bonus...

This weekend we escaped Paris for a weekend in Burgundy. We stayed at the magnificent Chateau de Missery, which has been in the command of the British Hawkes family for decades. On the way to the chateau, Lina and I discovered the architectural wonder of the Chateau de Guedelon - and also the nearby Colette Museum.  This entire episode was filmed on the go - we hope you feel like you're right ther...

We've made a children's book! We are so proud to finally announce the launch of Kylie The Crocodile in Paris. A project we've been working on behind the scenes for months, Lina did all the illustrations, and I wrote the words. And it's a tale I'm sure you will all recognize! To pre-order a copy and back the project check out our Kickstarter page: http://kck.st/3o3TBUy There you can find everything...

I scored the phone number to legendary French singer Edith Piaf via a dream and an apparent time portal.  Here's what happened when I dialled the number.  At the end of the episode, I also chatted with tour guide Edith de Belleville, who you can find here: https://en.edithdebelleville.com/ If you enjoy The Earful Tower, want to see it thrive, and want the bonus content, sign up on Patreon here: ww...

Property consultant Adrian Leeds joins me to discuss daily life in Paris and how it has changed since the pandemic.  Recorded in the heart of Montmartre in the Farfelu cafe, we discussed everything from face masks and lockdown to the new Netflix show Emily in Paris.  Adrian also answers whether now is a good time to buy in Paris.  For more from Adrian Leeds, click here: www.adrianleeds.com   For m...

This week I have friend of the podcast, and world famous author Cara Black back in studio. We talked Hitler in Paris and Cara's new book. Inspired by a mysterious footnote, Cara went down a rabbit hole of dates, times and events - leading her to write Three Hours In Paris. More on Cara and her books  here on her official website . Become a Patron of The Earful Tower here to get the Scroll for this...

This week I'm joined by Boris Petrovic aka Boris the Brain to discuss the history (and future) of walking in Paris.  We discussed the Haussmannian origins of Paris's wide streets, tales of man-eating wolves invading the city, pulling teeth on the Pont Neuf, and the plans for the future of the city. Also, a special side note, it's my birthday! And to celebrate I wanted to give YOU a present. The bo...

Last week, I pitched a question to the Earful Tower Members; What is the first thing you will do once you can get back to Paris?  I had an amazing response and for this episode I've pulled a selection of my favourite answers to discuss with none other then my wife, Lovely Lina. The idea: To try and determine just what it is that makes Paris such a popular destination.  Become a Patron of The Earfu...

Yes, yes, this is a podcast about Paris and France, but I decided to cast the net wider for this episode and take a closer look at Sweden. Why? Well, today's guest is Swedish, we're both in Sweden right now, and as you might remember, I spent about five years in Sweden before Paris. So with about 10 years of observing the very fascinating Swedes under my belt, I pitched to Lina the ten most unusua...

This week on the show it's Kobus Botha talking about braai, being 2 meters tall, and catering for 6,000 people. Kobus is the BBQ King of France with his enormous touring barbecues, we discuss his work and some of the exciting catering gigs he's had across France Become a Patron of The Earful Tower here to get the Scroll for this episode (and much more):  https://www.patreon.com/theearfultower

This week on the show it's Jacqueline Ngo Mpii talking about La Goutte d'Or, a neighborhood beside Montmartre.  But while millions and millions of tourists flock to Montmartre next door, few venture to the east to see Little Africa - not least after it was labelled a "no-go zone" in international media.  Jacqueline explains how she is working to change that, and details how you too can help to cro...

Throughout my time in Paris I've come across many an untranslatable word in the French language. I've talked about these before, even discussed them in my memoir, but for this episode I've rounded up my ten favourites. Or the ten best, if you will. The rule to be classed as untranslatable: That it doesn't exist in a single word in the English word. Enjoy the episode :)  If you want more about Fren...

Meet Katrina Lawrence a beauty journalist and certified Francophile. She first fell in love with Paris at the age of five, and since then her roads have continually led her back to Paris.  We talk about her book Paris Dreaming, which chronicles her love for the French and how the city has inspired her. Find Katrina on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/parisfordreamers/?hl=en Find her websi...

The Notre Dame Cathedral caught fire on April 15 2019.  So - where are we now? Well, French author Agnes Poirier has just written a book on the topic called "Notre Dame: The Soul of France" so I sat down to chat about the cathedral's past and present.  This episode also features the voice of Ariel Weil, the mayor of Paris Centre, to talk about the future of the cathedral.  A few links that are rel...

Meet Jane Webster, an Australian woman who has just spent lockdown in a 72-room chateau in Normandy.  She is the woman behind Chateau de Bosguet, which you can find more about on the links below.  We chat about chateau life, Paris, having a one-hectare vegetable garden, and much more! By the way, the covered passage in Paris that Jane discussed was the Passage Choiseul. Find Jane on Instagram here...

I visited the Palace of Versailles to see what it looked like during the pandemic.  Hoping for empty rooms, I must admit I was a little disappointed to see the crowds, but it was a grand experience as always.  Here's the visit in podcast form, with my wife Lina as a special guest, and with background music from Mozart, Bizet, and Handel. Enjoy! Want to be part of the gang? Sign up on Patreon: http...

With many countries still on the "don't visit list" for France, the city of Paris is strangely empty. Sure, there are a lot of French people about... and quite a few Europeans. But all the main tourist groups have vanished, and it makes for an interesting time in the City of Lights.  My wife Lina and I discuss how the city has changed and what that means for us locals.  Want to be part of a live r...

Janet Hulstrand is back on the show! Janet is the editor of my book, Paris On Air, and we discuss what it takes to make a memoir.  If you need a book editor, check her out, she is wonderful! Find more from Janet here: Her blog: https://janethulstrand. com/ Some articles mentioned in the episode:    Is My Book Idea Worth Pursuing?  https:// janethulstrand.com/2011/11/05/ is-my-book-idea-worth- purs...

Meet Casey Laulala, a Samoan rugby player turned Paris restauranteur. He talks about how his life in the sports world taught him how to run a Paris restaurant.  Find his restaurant Itacoa on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/itacoa_paris/ Find the restaurant website here: http://www.itacoa.paris/ And find Casey on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/casey_laulala/?hl=en Want more fro...

"Jazz is a compressed history of the modern world." So says Alex Freiman, a jazz musician from Paris who also works as a bookseller at Shakespeare and Company.  We sat down in the Square René Viviani park beside the bookshop, where Alex had just finished a live set in front of a crowd.  We talked about the vibrant jazz scene in Paris, great musicians to get you into the jazz world, and how Alex is...

I'm gobsmacked at how impressively this community has flexed its collective muscle.  At the time of recording we have raised over $9,000 for an important charity.  If you're quick, you can join in too:  https://charity.gofundme.com/o/en/campaign/paris-fans-lets-make-a-difference Links mentioned in this show: YouTube video of "Intro to Black Paris": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iKR7xS1ksTo YouTu...

It's a different episode today, a look into Black Lives Matter from a Paris perspective. But it's also an investigation into what I can do as a podcaster to diversify and to amplify black voices.  Let's make a change folks, I've already started and you'll notice it in the show going forward. Not just in the upcoming episodes, but I mean in the upcoming months, years, and decades. Some upcoming gue...

We all know it's important to say "bonjour" no matter where you are in France. That's hardly a secret.  But let me tell you, there's no better way to get a conversation going than to ask "ca va?" directly afterwards.  French people will disagree with me, but ignore them: this is a foreigner hack that absolutely works. The tone, accent, and body language are all important too... but believe me, thi...

You might know the Shakespeare and Company bookshop from popular films like Midnight in Paris or Before Sunset. You might know it from your last visit to Paris... You might have even bought a book here. But what really goes on at the iconic and mysterious Shakespeare and Company? Is it true that they let writers sleep here for free? (Yes) Is it true they're removing the roof and renovating its ins...