J is for Josephine Baker. Who was she? What was it that made her so iconic? And how can you follow her footsteps in Paris?

Today on the show it's Brian Scott Bagley, the founder of the Musée Joséphine Baker et des Afro-Descendants de Paris. Brian comes from a career in the performing arts, and is now a cultural historian working to promote the legacy of Josephine Baker.

Find out more about Brian and book one of his walking tour experiences here: https://www.airbnb.com/users/profile/1463191761672391353

Meanwhile: The Earful Tower exists thanks to support from its members. For just $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.

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An ancient Gallic wall was recently unearthed, after being buried for two millennia beneath the Hôtel-Dieu hospital, on the Île de la Cité.

I managed to talk my way in and sit down with Julien Avinain, chief of Paris's archaeological city council department, for an exclusive tour and interview. What he showed me rewritten the history of Paris itself - a stone and wood fortification built by the Parisii tribe, the physical proof archaeologists have been searching for of where this city truly began.

The wall won't survive - it has to come down for the hospital construction to continue - but researchers are racing to preserve every detail through 3D mapping before it disappears forever.

Julius Caesar wrote about these people and this city. Now we've found where it started.

This episode brought to you by The Earful Tower Tours. Come join us in the Marais, Montmartre, or the Latin Quarter. Our Walking Tours are exceptionally highly rated online and are the best way to experience this podcast in real life.

The Earful Tower exists thanks to support from its members. For just $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

Here's the story of how tried to get my French driving permit in a world-record time. I'm joined by Lina, who hangs around for some listener questions about fashion in Paris at the end.

This episode is brought to you by an exciting antique sale: At Home with Patricia Wells, Volume III, the final catalogue from Chez Pluie. Find more here: https://catalog.chezpluie.com/at-home-with-patricia-wells-volume-iii

The music in this episode is from Pres Maxson.

Why not check out our walking tours at The Earful Tower Tours. Come join us in the Marais, Montmartre, or the Latin Quarter. Our Walking Tours are exceptionally highly rated online and are the best way to experience this podcast in real life.

The Earful Tower exists thanks to support from its members. For just $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