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 Haussmannian Paris tour here ). Do you like this podcast? Become a Patreon member of The Earful Tower ...
Aug 14, 2023•42 min•Season 14Ep. 9
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 answered in this episode, with help from tour guide Boris Petrovic from Paris in Person ( find his Art N...
Aug 07, 2023•38 min•Season 14Ep. 8
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 Patreon member of The Earful Tower here to support this show and get extras. The music in this episode is f...
Jul 31, 2023•29 min•Season 14Ep. 7
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 music in this episode is from Pres Maxson. Click here for our walking tours of Paris ....
Jul 24, 2023•26 min•Season 14Ep. 6
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 museum Les Franciscaines . Become a Patreon member of The Earful Tower here to support this show and get ...
Jul 17, 2023•49 min•Season 14Ep. 5
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 that uses crowdfunding to buy and preserve French castles. Here are a few links for more information : L...
Jul 10, 2023•45 min•Season 14Ep. 4
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 to watch the Bievre walk replay (and to get invites to similar walks in the future). The episode in th...
Jul 02, 2023•41 min•Season 14Ep. 3
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 community manager of the Observatoire de Paris. He showed me around this incredible 17th century institution, ...
Jun 26, 2023•36 min•Season 15Ep. 2
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
Jun 19, 2023•6 min•Season 15Ep. 1
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://cornichewatches.com/rolling-stones-exile-ville-nellcote/ Music by Pres Maxson. Happy travelling! (Find m...
Jun 12, 2023•36 min•Season 14Ep. 4
After month in the French Riviera, here is the Earful Tower's tips for places we recommend in the area, from big famous towns to tiny and lovely villages. Mentioned in this episode: Antibes, Juan-Les-Pins, Nice, La Turbie, Monaco, Biot, Cannes, Villa Kerylos, Villefranche-sur-Mer, and Eze. Music by Pres Maxson. Become a member of The Earful Tower here: www.patreon.com/theearfultower Happy travelling! (Find more here: www.theearfultower.com/riviera )...
Jun 05, 2023•43 min•Season 14Ep. 3
Author John Baxter is back - this time discussing literature from the French Riviera. We tackle a lot, with a bigger focus on F Scott Fitzgerald and Marina Picasso (and her tell-all book). Book a walking tour with John and find his books here . Support The Earful Tower on Patreon and get the second half of this conversation. Find more from this French Riviera miniseries here . Things we mentioned (to help you with spelling and searching...) First ten mins John tasted bouillabaisse in Sète John's...
May 29, 2023•40 min•Season 14Ep. 2
We've spent a month in the French Riviera. Here is The Earful Tower's introduction to the area via five golden rules for your own visit. Mentioned in this episode: Bigger towns: Cannes, Antibes, Nice Much smaller spots: Villa Kerylos, Biot, La Turbie Book list to come, but Lina talked about Bonjour Tristesse by Francoise Sagan. Music by Pres Maxson. Become a member of The Earful Tower here: www.patreon.com/theearfultower More in the weeks to come, happy travelling!...
May 22, 2023•28 min•Season 14Ep. 1
Here's a poem I wrote to say goodbye to my little red scooter. Inspired by the great Australian bush poet Banjo Paterson. Farewell, Little Red, thanks for all the memories.
May 01, 2023•10 min•Season 13Ep. 27
Welcome to the Earful Tower, the podcast that explores the hidden gems and secret spots of Paris. In this episode, the season finale, the whole team is on a private boat on the Seine River sharing our favourite secrets. The boat: Corto from Le Bateau Francais . Secrets from Earful Tour guide Charlotte Pleasants, Louvre guide Amber Minogue, Artist Lina Nordin Gee, Photographer Augusta Sagnelli, host Oliver Gee, and captain Clement. And a big thank you to all our Patreon supporters for making this...
Apr 17, 2023•19 min•Season 13Ep. 26
A quick episode today where Lina and I reveal our new Paris neighbourhood and our first thoughts. Get all the extras on Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/theearfultower And book an Earful Tower walking tour here: https://theearfultower.com/tours
Apr 10, 2023•16 min•Season 13Ep. 25
Welcome to the Earful Tower, the podcast that explores the hidden gems and secret spots of Paris. In this episode, we're taking a stroll through the bustling marché Beauvau in the 12th arrondissement with our special guest, Joseph Loughney, owner of the Early Bird Cafe. As we walk through the market, Joseph shares his passion for coffee and talks us through how he ended up in Paris as he introduces us to some of his favorite vendors. We also discuss the 12th arrondissment and how it compares to ...
Apr 03, 2023•27 min•Season 13Ep. 24
Join Oliver Gee on The Earful Tower as he explores the world of gin with special guest Quentin de Montgolfier, the founder of Distillerie du Gin. In this episode, you'll learn about the history of gin in France, the process of making gin, and how Quentin's passion for the spirit led him to open his own distillery in Paris in the Viaduc des Arts. This new distillery is one of the many hidden gems along the Viaduc des Arts, which is a former railway viaduct turned artisanal hub. Here comes a livel...
Mar 27, 2023•32 min•Season 13Ep. 23
Welcome to the latest episode of The Earful Tower podcast. In this episode, we're joined by Marielle Bourat from the artisanal chocolate shop Atelier C , located on Avenue Dausmenil in Paris. Marielle shares her passion for chocolate-making, which has formed over three generations, and she shares the story of Atelier C and its location in the charming Viaduc des Arts. From the sourcing of the finest ingredients to the creation of unique and delicious flavors, Marielle gives us an inside look at ...
Mar 20, 2023•35 min•Season 13Ep. 22
We revisit a chat with writer John Baxter about Paris and its compendium of history. We especially dig into the Left Bank and its classic restaurants, which are listed below. Le Select Address : 99 Bd du Montparnasse, 75006 Paris Lapérouse Address : 51 Quai des Grands Augustins, 75006 Paris Tour d’Argent Address: 19 Quai de la Tournelle, 75005 Paris Charivari Address : 143 Bd Raspail, 75006 Paris Le Balzar Address : 49 Rue des Écoles, 75005 Paris La Méditerranée Address : 2 Pl. de l'Odéon, 75...
Mar 13, 2023•28 min•Season 13Ep. 22
I just found some French antiques in the trash can. A listener tipped me off, I went and grabbed them, then had them appraised. There are lots of twists and turns in this story, enjoy! Remember: upcoming live video stream for Patreon members in the near future. You can get your invite soon by checking your Patreon account, or, by signing up today here . SOCIAL MEDIA: Check out The Earful Tower on Instagram , TikTok , Facebook , and YouTube . More from the Earful Tower on the homepage here , and ...
Mar 06, 2023•41 min•Season 13Ep. 21
In this podcast episode, you'll hear me and Lina walking along a stunning Parisian street called rue Cler. But it's a bittersweet walk, as it's the last time we will take the walk as residents If you don't know the street, it's a market street in the seventh arrondissement. We walked from the intersection of rue de Grenelle at the Bleu Olive Cafe all the way to the end of the street on the south side (so north to south). We talk about things we see (in real time), our favourite and least favouri...
Feb 27, 2023•25 min•Season 13Ep. 20
In this podcast episode, you'll hear me and Veronique Savoye walking along a stunning Parisian street called rue Montorgueil. It's a market street in the first and second arrondissement. We walked from the corner of rue Tiquetonne all the way to the Sentier Metro station (so south to north). We talk about things we see (in real time), how this market street has been changing, and also about Paris, France, the city of Tours, Emily in Paris, and McDonald's and its influence on France. We also talk...
Feb 20, 2023•25 min•Season 13Ep. 19
Meet Chloe Jantzen, a French antique dealer specialing in canes (as in, walking sticks). You can find her shop at 18 rue de Beaune in the 7th arrondissement. You can find her website here , and follow her on Instagram here . If you want to see more of these canes, check out our Instagram , TikTok , Facebook , and YouTube channel this week. More from the Earful Tower on the homepage here , and support the show on Patreon here ....
Feb 13, 2023•39 min•Season 13Ep. 18
Meet Sarah Donnelly, an American stand up comedienne in Paris. She joins the show to discuss the comedy of living in Paris, her popular new show, and her infatuation with France's handsome president. You can find her tickets for "The Only American in Paris" here, and follow Sarah on Instagram here or search @sarahdcomedy on social media. Her official website is here . Her upcoming shows are at the Théâtre Bo Saint Martin on March 9th and March 30th at 21h30. More from the Earful Tower on the hom...
Feb 06, 2023•37 min•Season 13Ep. 17
Susannah and Hugh Cameron are two Australian antique curators based in the sunny fields of Provence. Their initial interest of street brocantes and finding the perfect French decor for their home soon turned into a passionate search for the most exquisite French antiques and the creation of their online boutique, Chez Pluie. You can discover their entire French antique collection on their website and keep up to date with them on their Instagram @chezpluie . More from the Earful Tower on the home...
Jan 30, 2023•38 min•Season 13Ep. 16
So you’re coming to Paris for the third time? How exciting! But what should you do? After we tackled the FIRST and SECOND trips in recent weeks, it's time to get a little more off the beaten path - and in this episode Earful teammate Charlotte Pleasants is on the show too. Good luck with the trip and keep an eye on the website where we’ll be blogging about tips for your third, fourth, and fifth trips too… Here's the website, theearfultower.com . And join the members on Patreon here. Paris trip c...
Jan 23, 2023•34 min•Season 13Ep. 15
So you’re coming to Paris for the second time? How exciting! But what should you do? After we tackled the FIRST trip last week, it's time to get a little off the beaten path - and in this episode Earful teammate Paris Kay is on the show too. Good luck with the trip and keep an eye on the website where we’ll be blogging about tips for your third, fourth, and fifth trips too… Here's the website, theearfultower.com . And join the members on Patreon here. Paris trip checklists: Your FIRST trip Your ...
Jan 16, 2023•34 min•Season 13Ep. 14
So you’re coming to Paris for the first time? How exciting! But what should you do? Despite doing six years of this Paris podcast, I’ve never focused on a tourist's first Paris trip - so here are my tips, including a checklist of monuments and a smattering of cultural suggestions. Good luck with the trip and keep an eye on my website where I’ll be blogging about tips for your first, second, and third trips too… Here's my website, theearfultower.com . And join the members on Patreon here. Paris t...
Jan 09, 2023•32 min•Season 13Ep. 13
IT'S BACK AGAIN! Today's guest is the reigning champ of The Earful Tower Bucket List, Oliver Gee. That's right, me! I'm joined by the Stockholm Sting aka my wife Lina, who also has her finger firmly on the pulse of things to do in Paris. We share our top five things that we want to do this year in Paris - and we also share the lists of some prominent Parisians including Australian Ambassador Gillian Bird, France expert Véronique Savoye, the eternal Comte de Saint Germain, baker Molly Wilkinson, ...
Jan 02, 2023•34 min•Season 13Ep. 12
