The Earful Tower: Paris

A glimpse at life in our trilingual family

30 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

I speak English with our two children (soon to be 2 and 5 years old). My wife speaks Swedish with them. The outside world is in French. (Note: We all ...

Paris got a new mayor: But who is he? (And what will be Anne Hidalgo's legacy?)

24 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Paris has a new mayor! That's right, after 12 years at the helm, Anne Hidalgo has stepped down. Parisians voted for a new mayor, and taking her place ...

We just bought a house in Provence

23 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

We bought a house in the charming Provence town of l'Isle sur la Sorgue! That's right: the Pearl of Provence, the Venice of the South, the same place...

A guide to the French tradition of the apéro

16 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Almost like a sacred ritual in France, the apéro is much more than just a drink with friends.  Véronique Savoye from France With Véro explains m...

How to spend a magical and bohemian evening in Montmartre

09 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

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 ...

Checking in from Paris: Sophie, schools, and one wild launch

02 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

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 - h...

Sophie in Paris: Our new children's book is ready

26 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

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 att...

I climbed Notre Dame in Paris: Join me for the full experience

19 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

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 ther...

Six small museums we truly love in Paris

12 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

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 ...

Paris Bucket List: Things to do in 2026

05 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

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...

The top episodes, guests, and moments for The Earful Tower in 2025

31 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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 ge...

What do the French eat for Christmas?

22 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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...

How Paris-based TV shows are reshaping the France fascination

15 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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, Fr...

Music and Paris with The Earful maestro Pres Maxson

08 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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 gene...

How to make the most of your EVENINGS in Paris

01 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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 t...

Theatre in Paris: The thrills of being on stage in the City of Light

24 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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 ab...

The best books about Paris... according to a beloved bookseller in Paris

18 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Meet Penelope Fletcher, who runs two Paris bookshops, side by side near the Luxembourg Gardens. The shops: The Red Wheelbarrow and The Red Balloon ...

This man turned one Paris street into a food and drink hub

03 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Meet Loïc Estimbre, a Parisian entrepreneur who is behind four different eateries on just one street in the 12th arrondissement.    That street: ru...

Paris's specialty coffee boom: Can it last?

27 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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 cof...

Louvre robbery: We were inside the Apollo Gallery for the break-in

20 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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 w...

Interior design: How to add Paris flair to your home

13 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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 a...

We're making a new children's book: Here's how we do it

29 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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 t...

Bistros to boulevards: How Paris was shaped by its World Fairs

22 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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 wer...

My love letter to the Parisian food markets

15 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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. ...

Meet the woman behind the top cooking classes in Paris

02 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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 coo...

New Paris museum to open in iconic setting

25 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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 Par...

I swam in the Seine: Here's what happened

18 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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 unti...

So THIS is the most popular street in Paris (Part Two)

11 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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 a...

Which is the most popular street in Paris? (Part One)

04 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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...

In charge of an icon: A chat with the Eiffel Tower's director

21 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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 wo...

After 10 years in Paris, we finally got SCAMMED

07 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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: h...

Flea markets, football, and the Louvre: The Earful interns are back!

23 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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 b...

Behind the Scenes of Paris with the Queen of Tourism

16 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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...

The time a Parisian supermodel changed this whole show

02 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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 change...

Writing Paris mystery books with Cara Black

19 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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 ...

Ten top ideas for college kids in Paris

12 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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 ...

My three-year-old on learning 3 languages at once

05 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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 Sw...

A very deep dive into Notre Dame

14 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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 ...

How to plan a trip to Paris: tips for seeing "The Big Five"

31 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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 visi...

Five exciting things for The Earful Tower right now

24 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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...

Made in Paris: Some great workshops in the city of light

17 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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 ...

Carving Paris: How limestone built this city

10 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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 cit...

Père Lachaise: The most visited cemetery in the world

03 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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 a...

French Frustrations: The pitfalls of being outsiders in Paris

24 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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 ourselv...

Underrated or overrated? A Paris expert's top ten

17 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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 the...

A very deep dive into the Louvre museum

10 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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 Wo...

Stained-glass windows and France's gothic churches

03 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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 ...

Demystifying opera in Paris with a soprano superstar

27 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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 Or...

Saying goodbye to the US ambassador to France

20 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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 fro...

Ten things I've learnt from my 10 years in Paris

13 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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 an...

Paris Bucket List: Things to do in 2025

06 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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...

Should you visit Paris in the winter?

30 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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...

Visiting the Vaux-le-Vicomte chateau

23 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 fro...

Hidden Gems: 5 Underrated Museums in Paris

16 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 wo...

Inside Notre Dame After the Fire: New Colours, New Light, and What's Changed

09 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

  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 ...

Gin in Paris: Inside a cool new distillery workshop

02 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 ...

How to spend a full day in Versailles (besides the Palace)

25 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 ...

Top tips for visiting Paris with kids

18 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 epi...

Five mistakes to avoid when visiting Paris

11 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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...

Ten things (besides bread) that the French call a 'baguette'

04 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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-rela...

Six golden rules for visiting Provence

28 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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...

Five golden rules for moving to Paris

21 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Meet Céline Flores-Tavukcuoglu. She is a Texan in Paris who runs Céline Concierge, a private concierge service that specializes in Paris.  She shar...

How to spend a day in Champagne

14 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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'Alema...

Paris if you're a top private chef

07 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 ...

The most 'fitting' thing to see in each Paris arrondissement

30 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 represen...

Paris if you like getting into private buildings

23 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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! Add...

Paris if you need the perfect one-day itinerary

16 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 ...

Paris if you want to see it like a local

09 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 sh...

My final thoughts on the Paris Olympic Games

12 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 Olympic...

Paris museums (by the people who wrote the book on the topic)

05 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 an...

Teaching French and French culture to millions: AT Frenchies

29 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 ...

The challenges of hosting The Olympic Games in Paris, with the mayor of Paris Centre

22 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 secu...

The inside word on French wine and Paris wine bars

15 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 w...

How to visit the Latin Quarter of Paris

08 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 hunt for ALL the Paris Statues of Liberty

01 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 a...

Meet the woman selling the Seine river

24 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 fift...

Paris history is on sale: Meet the man selling it

17 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Auctioneer Christophe Lucien is on The Earful Tower, talking about his incredible sales of Paris memorabilia.  His current sale (June 17 and 18, 2024...

The best hidden gem in every Paris arrondissement

10 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

So you've seen all the main Paris sights, and maybe even a few of the offbeat ones. But let's go deeper. Here are 20 truly hidden gems, one from every...

Does 'meter' rhyme with 'cheetah'? (And more from our new Paris kids' book)

03 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Our new children's book, The Animal Games in Paris, left us with some unusual questions.  Does meter rhyme with cheetah? Apparently not, according to...

A look at the underbelly of Paris

27 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Meet Morgan Walesh, an American in Paris who specializes in the hidden underbelly of the city. She talks of her love for the catacombs, the "history o...

Why is Paris so inaccessible?

20 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Meet Parisian woman Virginie Dubost. In 2018, she became a quadriplegic after a surfing accident.  Now, she is an accessibility advocate and has made...

The fastest climbing trend in Paris...

13 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Meet Daniel Christensen, an avid boulderer in Paris. He talks of how the trend of climbing - aka bouldering - is captivating people's attention in Par...

The changing face of Paris and its suburbs

06 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Meet Simon Kuper, a British (and naturalized French) journalist in Paris.  He talks of how the changing face of Paris and its suburbs - and his new b...

Why do Parisians leave unusual objects at gravestones?

29 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

If you've been to a Paris cemetery, you might have seen curious collections of unusual objects on certain gravestones (especially celebrities like Jim...

Sweet Paris: A life of cakes and pastries

22 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Meet Frank Adrian Barron, an American baker in Paris (better know as Cake Boy Paris). He talks of how he made it as a baker in the city, sharing his s...

Paris through the lens of a movie director

15 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Meet Scott Hillier, an Australian movie director in Paris, who runs the European Independant Film Festival (the ÉCU). He talks of the iconic light i...

Life in Paris as a Moulin Rouge dancer

08 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Meet Allie Goodbun, a Canadian dancer at the iconic Moulin Rouge in Paris.  She talks of how she got the job, her life in Montmartre, and her love fo...

Wining and dining in France with Patricia Wells

01 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This week it's food critic and cookbook author Patricia Wells. Originally from the US, she moved to Paris in 1980 where she worked as a restaurant cri...

Making French dessert: A mille-feuille celebration for 1,000 reviews

27 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This week on the show we make mille-feuilles - the "thousand layer pastry" to celebrate 1,000 reviews of The Earful Tower podcast. Thanks to all who'v...

The man selling the finest faux flowers in France

25 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This week on the show we welcome back Diederick de Jongh, the owner of Flora Magnifica, which sells the finest faux flowers in France. He was last on ...

How to stay safe in Paris, with Amanda Rollins

18 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Is Paris a safe city? The truth is, it's probably about as safe as any other big city.  In other words, you need to be smart when you're here. And th...

The French Revolution: A beginner's guide

11 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

If the words "French Revolution" seem daunting to you, then you're not alone. It would take a whole series of podcast episodes to truly understand it ...

How we're raising a trilingual child in Paris

04 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Lina and I discuss how circumstance has led to us raising our nearly three-year-old son in French, Swedish, and English.  This episode was brought to...

Buying a home in Paris: Five mistakes to avoid

26 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Buying property in Paris (and France, in general) isn't easy.  Aside from the dreaded French admin, there is a whole world of traps and tricks to con...

The Seine booksellers are here to stay: let's meet one!

19 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

There's a lot of talk right now about the iconic booksellers by the Seine, aka the bouquinistes.  In recent months, the Paris Town Hall officials th...

David Lebovitz on the Paris food market: the Marché d'Aligre

12 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Chef David Lebovitz is back on the show to talk about the Aligre Market (le marché d'Aligre) in the 12th arrondissement of Paris. Follow David here ...

What's life REALLY like for a contemporary Paris writer?

05 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Author Samuel Lopez-Barrantes is on the show talking about being a writer in Paris. Perhaps it's not as romantic and lovely as it might sound. Or perh...

Best bars in Paris: Here's a bar for every occasion

29 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Australian Sam Davies is on the show talking about bars in Paris. He has grown an online following by asking bartenders in Paris (and aroun...

Ten fun French words that I really love

22 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

I love the French language. I feel like I could make an episode like this every year. The ten words and words like I like, that make me smile, or tha...

Visiting the doctors in France: Five things I've noticed

15 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This week I recap my recent three-hour checkup at the Parisian doctors.  Whether you've been to the doctor in France a million times or never before,...