The Earful Tower: Paris

V is for Vegan. In this episode, we talk to Amanda Bankert, the owner of Boneshaker Donuts, who has just released a book called Voilà Vegan (double V!). In the book, she reveals that this famed donut shop has been secretly vegan for years!! As a vegan herself, Amanda shares her insights into the city's vegan scene and how it has developed over the years. Mentioned in this episode: Voila Vegan (rem...

U is for Underground. In this episode, we take you below Paris: On the Metro, through the sewers, and into the (illegal) catacombs. Mentioned in this episode: Luke's English podcast Amber's Paname Podcast The Comte de Saint Germain who does audio walks of Paris Do you like this podcast? Become a Patreon member of The Earful Tower  here to support this show and get extras. The music in this episode...

T is for Tour d'Argent. In this episode, we take you inside the famed Tour d'Argent restaurant on the Left Bank of Paris, and y ou'll hear from me and my wife Lina Nordin Gee as we dine. We also discuss our thoughts on the renovation job from 2022/2023, which has made for one of the most stunning dining experiences in France. And as for the food: Wow. Mentioned in this episode: The Tour d'Argent r...

S is for Sainte-Chapelle. In this episode, I'll take you inside this ancient royal chapel with its incredible stained glass windows. You'll hear from tour guide and Paris expert Amber Minogue, who gives us some insight into the 13th century chapel. You'll also hear my own thoughts about visiting the Sainte-Chapelle on a VIP tour when it was completely empty. Those tickets are unavailable for the f...

R is for Richelieu. In this episode, we'll take you inside the newly renovated Richelieu Library, and then its incredible upstairs museum.  This episode is co-hosted by Lina Nordin Gee. Featured in the episode: Find the library and museum here. Address :  5 Rue Vivienne, 75002 Pariss The app we mentioned is called BNF Richelieu The museum room I loved was the La Galerie Mazarin Do you like this po...

Q is for Queer. In this episode, I'll give you an insight into Gay Paris. And by gay I mean LGBTQIA+. Where is the gay quarter... or perhaps a better question.... what's happened to the gay quarter now that gentrifcation has hit the Marais?  Also: What's a gay bookshop? What do they sell and to whom? Featured in this episode: Bryan Pirolli from The Gay Locals , Boris from Le Ju' cafe, and Nicolas...

P is for Provence. In this episode, you'll hear some thoughts on the lovely southern French region , with the help of some great guests.  First, you'll hear from Suzannah and Hugh Cameron from the antique shop Chez Pluie Provence , sharing some practical travel advice.  Then it's my own mother, her first time on the pod, sharing her Provence ponderings.  Then it's Lina aka Parisian Postcards discu...

O is for the Olympic Games. In this episode, you'll hear my first look ahead to the 2024 summer Olympics.  Given it is still so far away, this is more of a light intro to the topic, with the help of some great guests.  First, you'll hear from the American Ambassador to France, Denise Campbell Bauer, talking about Americans and their connection to Paris, then sharing some practical travel advice. ...

N is for the Notre Dame. In this episode, you'll hear about where we're at with the restoration of the Notre Dame cathedral. Short answer: It will reopen December 2024.  Long answer: I chat to one of the carpenters involved in the restoration project, I visit the new Virtual Reality exhibition (which is exceptional), and I take a look in the crypt. Do you like this podcast? Become a Patreon member...

M is for the Marais. In this episode, you'll hear my thoughts on how I'd spend a perfect last day in the Marais district of Paris (in other words, the third and fourth arrondissements).  You'll also hear from Paul Barron, co-owner of Le Peloton Cafe and Bike About Tours, and then from tour guide Amber Minogue! Mentioned in this episode: Musée Carnavalet Musée de la chasse et de la Nature Musée des...

A bit of reflection as we reach the halfway point of this AB-Season. As I said in the episode, a big thanks to musician Pres Maxson , photographer Augusta Sagnelli , editor Eddie Gee, and occasional co-host Lina Nordin-Gee.  

L is for Lyon. In this episode, you'll hear about my experiences after spending 48 hours in Lyon with Lovely Lina.  There's also some local insights from Caroline Connor, who does wine tastings in Lyon, and runs the website and social media accounts by the name of Wine Dine Caroline. You can find more from her here. Do you like this podcast? Become a Patreon member of The Earful Tower  here  to su...

K is for Kylie the Crocodile in Paris. In this episode, you'll hear a brand new twist in the story of Kylie the Crocodile.  This episode was taken from a live show at Spilling the Beans.  To buy a copy of our children's book, Kylie the Crocodile in Paris, click here. Do you like this podcast? Become a Patreon member of The Earful Tower  here  to support this show and get extras. The music in this...

J is for Jewish Paris. In this episode, I take you walking through the Jewish quarter of Paris to try to understand what's going on there. Edith de Belleville, a licensed tour guide, author, and expert on Jewish history, writes me an itinerary of what to find, including: The Shoah Memorial The Museum of Jewish Art and History The As du Fallafel restaurant You can find more from Edith here. During...

I is for Ile Saint-Louis - an island in the Seine. As far as I'm concerned, it features the most beautiful walk in Paris.  In this episode, I take you walking along the best bits of the island and share my favourite haunts. I also share my ideal route so you can do the same.  Do you like this podcast? Become a Patreon member of The Earful Tower  here to support this show and get extras, including...

H is for Haussmann - Baron Haussmann that is. He was the urban planner behind the redesign of Paris under Napoleon III.  But what is a Haussmannian building? Who was Haussmann, really , and why was his work so important? Where can you find it in Paris? And what's his legacy? All those questions are answered in this episode, with help from tour guide Boris Petrovic from Paris in Person ( find his H...

G is for Guimard - Hector Guimard that is. He is the architect behind the iconic Paris Metro entrances, several Art Nouveau buildings in Paris, and some very beautiful furniture and decorations in museum displays around the world.  But what is Art Nouveau? Who was Guimard, really , and why was his work so important? Where can you find it in Paris? And what's his legacy? All those questions are ans...

F is for Floods - that is, the floods of the Seine River in Paris. And today we're paying particular attention to the game-changing Great Flood of 1910.  Featured is the voice of Jeffrey Jackson, Professor of History at Rhodes College, and the author of "Paris Under Water:  How the City of Light Survived the Great Flood of 1910". You can find more about Jeffrey on his website here . Become a Patre...

E is for the Eiffel Tower, the most iconic landmark in France, probably Europe, and maybe the world.  This podcast episode features 10 facts about the tower, but you're going to have to try and guess them first. There are 10 points at stake, good luck. Featured is the voice two people very dear to me.  Become a Patreon member of The Earful Tower  here  to support this show and get extras. The musi...

D is for Deauville, a small town north of Paris on the coast of Normandy that has captured the attention of film-buffs, gamblers, beach lovers, and horse racing fans since the 1800s. We visited with the help of the local tourism board for this episode. Featured is the voice of horse-related storyteller and journalist Fanny Hubart-Salmon and then Annie Madet-Vache who is Director of the local museu...

C is for Chateaux - of which there are 45,000 in France. I've always been quite fascinated by French castles, and this episode takes a closer look at how they're financed.  We all know they're expensive to buy and to run, so I looked into some exciting modern ways people are making French chateaux work. Featured is the voice of Emily Jane Boeuf, the communications head of Dartagnans, a startup tha...

B is for Bievre, the river that once ran through Paris. This episode is about our pilgrimmage to track it, how I walked through it with an immortal count, and a word on the exciting future of the river.  Featured is the voice of Lina Nordin Gee and the Comte de Saint Germain, who showed me the river in the suburb of Gentilly.  Become a Patreon member  here to support this show and get extras - and...

A is for Arago, the name of the scientist who helped map out the Paris meridian line (François Arago (1786-1853)).  In this episode, I explore the "Rose Line" (as it was called in the Da Vinci Code), seeking out the bronze medallions along the streets of Paris, through the Louvre, and into the Paris Observatory.  Featured is the voice of Nicolas Lesté-Lasserre, a science historian and the communit...

Welcome to the ABCeason... or the AB Season... or the ABC-son. Haven't quite figured the spelling yet, but you get the idea, I hope.  Now you know what the next 26 episodes will hold. Support this show on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/theearfultower

It's our series finale on the French Riviera. This time, we're looking at art, especially through the lens of cinema (and the Cannes Film Festival) - and via the paintbrush of the impressionists.  This episode features author Edward Chisholm (Instagram here ) and artist Johan Patricny (Instagram here ). Cohosted by Lina Nordin Gee (Instagram video of the art here ). Rolling Stone link: https://cor...