Stories, Controversy & Band-aids

Sylvia & Michel swap travel chaos for candid memories. Sylvia recalls being teased at her Swiss boarding school, embarrassed by her mother’s custom green Beetle, and reconnecting with a nanny who still had a childhood photo of her. The conversation bounces from Medy Roc to the realities of making a documentary—how stories shift in ways scripted films never can—and the skepticism they face when family history includes spies, secrets, and near-unbelievable twists. They also open up about persistence and doubt: when the universe throws obstacles in your way, is it a sign to stop—or a test to keep going?

After opening the season in New York, Sylvia and Michel continue from Delaware with a house full of chaos, candor, and revelations. They reflect on why some people resist women telling their own family stories—especially when secrets, adoption, and espionage are at the center. With research stretching across Europe and beyond, the investigation has become both global and deeply personal, as they reflect on memory, resistance, and reclaiming the right to speak.

In this follow-up episode, Sylvia, Michel, and guests continue their journey through memories of glamour, secrecy, and extraordinary lives on the Riviera. From kitchens lined with Picasso plates, to quiet stories of resistance heroes, concentration camp survivors, and neighbors such as novelist Harold Robbins, the conversation brings the past vividly to life. Alongside tales of champagne-fueled parties at Medy Roc and moonlit walks by the sea, Samantha Haywood shares family memories that connect art, history, and espionage in unexpected ways.

Sylvia and Michel return to New York with comedian/actor Mark Riccadonna and family friend Samantha Haywood. Together they revisit a world of glamour and secrets—from the Hôtel du Cap after World War II to Samantha’s memories of her parents’ ties with Sylvia’s and Hollywood. Along the way come whispered stories of adoption, secret clinics, British resistance fighters, German officers, glittering Riviera parties, and even a panther in the woods.

In the final podcast of their European journey, Sylvia and Michel reflect on their trip's challenges, joys, and discoveries—from endless rain and Sylvia’s frizz-proof hair to emotional revelations about her mother’s mysterious past. They delve into family secrets involving a nobleman, a gangster romance, and conflicting accounts from CIA and Beaverbrook papers. Old photographs and ties to the Thyssen family deepen the intrigue, while the emotional impact of Sylvia’s adoption secrecy looms large. With gratitude for their small but devoted crew, they celebrate cultural contrasts and the beauty of spontaneous moments as they wrap the season, open to wherever the story leads next.

Sylvia and Michel kick off the episode from San Sebastian, Spain, reflecting on their exhausting journey, unexpected Airbnb passport checks, and broader concerns about privacy and surveillance. They dive into their documentary work, recounting a chaotic but revealing interview, a relative who recognized a person in an old photo and mentioned a nobleman named Von Trotha. Later, they speak with “Jura”, a former KGB intelligence officer, who contrasts traditional espionage with modern surveillance. The episode delves into the challenges of filming, language barriers, and high-profile connections, revealing how Medy Roc was more than a social hub—it was a crossroads of power, politics, and espionage.

The duo revisit Sylvia’s childhood memories while in San Sebastian uncovering new layers of her mother Maria’s mysterious past. From a poignant boat trip to Medy Roc to an eye-opening interview with Pierre Rayon, son of a French Resistance hero, they delve into Maria’s ties to war, espionage, and high society. Unexpected revelations—like monogrammed towels from a former German officer is balanced with humorous nostalgia, indulging in French desserts and lively encounters. 

Sylvia and Michel continue their journey in San Sebastian, reflecting on their latest interviews and experiences while traveling through France. They discuss their meetings in Cannes to speak with Sylvia’s mother’s friends, Nicole and Jean-Claude. The conversation explores Jean-Claude’s helicopter company, his adventures with Sylvia’s mother, and the extravagant lifestyle of high society in the South of France. Personal anecdotes about travel habits, sunglasses as a form of identity, and Sylvia’s mother’s legendary presence are also topics. 

Michel and Sylvia’s latest episode finds the duo recounting their travels through Switzerland, Italy, and France. Their journey is packed with unexpected twists, from cultural mix-ups about muscle cramps to navigating scenic yet chaotic coastal roads. They share amusing anecdotes, like dodging a seagull attack on their drone, making unplanned stops at lavish villas, and Sylvia’s frantic search for her missing wallet. Their adventure takes a dramatic turn in France, where GPS failures lead to frustrating detours, and a fiery toll booth protest causes massive delays en route to Monaco. In Antibes, they uncover more of Sylvia’s mother’s glamorous past, meeting Victoria Haggerty, a former opera singer and family friend, who shares intriguing stories of high-society parties and unexpected celebrity encounters.

In this episode, Sylvia and Michel check in from San Sebastián, Spain, reflecting on their whirlwind journey through Paris, Switzerland, and the south of France while filming. They recount unexpected travel challenges—like navigating a French taxi strike—and dive into their latest discoveries about Sylvia’s mother, confirming long-held suspicions of her espionage past. With insights from historian Irene Pimentel and psychologist Jan Gizzi, they explore the hidden world of female spies, classified documents, and the psychological toll of secrecy. From Swiss bunkers turned fondue restaurants to secret hotel tunnels used by intelligence operatives, this episode uncovers new layers of intrigue while hinting at even more revelations to come.  

This week’s episode highlights the process of uncovering the life and motivations of Sylvia's mother, Elsa, and her transformation into Maria. They discuss the significance of photos, documents, and interviews collected during their journey. Sylvia and her collaborators speculate on Elsa’s connections to espionage, her intelligence, multilingual abilities, and the circumstances that may have led to her involvement and whether her actions were intentional, opportunistic, or coincidental, questioning whether she was officially recruited or an Agent de liaison. They recount intriguing stories of Sylvia’s parents’ connections, secretive meetings, and international dealings, emphasizing the era’s post-war optimism and rebuilding. Their journey continues as they piece together a web of secrets, transformations, untold history and a certain diamond necklace. 

Join the filmmakers in Paris as they uncover espionage secrets linked to Sylvia's father, explore Josephine Baker's former residence, and delve into Paris's rich diplomatic history. From navigating travel hurdles, such as securing international driver’s licenses, to discovering clues in Montparnasse Cemetery and preparing for pivotal interviews with filmmaker Patrick Spica, journalist Alain Ammar, and a mystery insider, the team uncovers connections to French intelligence and Sylvia’s father’s hidden past. The journey continues with ties to the May 1968 civil unrest, hidden bunkers in Switzerland, and lighthearted moments with the crew’s canine mascots, Zoie and Lola. Tune in for behind-the-scenes insights into the making of their complex, globe-spanning documentary.

The hosts reflect on the cultural diversity of Switzerland, childhood memories, and the challenges of working in the film industry. Sylvia shares her upbringing on the Swiss-German side, as she recalls her boarding school days in Switzerland, where skiing was part of daily life, and contrasts this with American childhood games like "tag" and "dodgeball," which she had never encountered.

The duo reminisces about their childhood pets, Sylvia talks about her chinchilla and Korean squirrels to an octopus named Octavio who mysteriously followed her during Mediterranean swims, forging an unforgettable bond. The episode delves into the comforting and steadfast presence of animals in their lives, contrasting the reliability of pets with the complexities of human relationships. Sylvia also opens up about her time at Swiss boarding schools, these prestigious schools, attended by royalty and celebrities, shaped her development and even inspired her book Ela Green and the Kingdom of Abud.

The team dives into Robert Greif’s business activities, which appear linked to international intrigue. They explore his involvement in infrastructure projects across Latin America, connections to a Dominican coup, CIA entanglements, and his role as a middleman in high-stakes deals, as evidenced by Swiss diplomatic documents. The conversation shifts to Maria and uncovering her tragic history of illegal abortions in the 1950s, her inability to conceive afterward, and Sylvia’s subsequent adoption.Looking ahead, the team outlines their plans for an international journey to France, Switzerland, Spain, and potentially Portugal. The episode ends with anticipation for future revelations, including interviews with eyewitnesses and deeper dives into Sylvia’s family’s mysterious legacy.

Sylvia and Michel delve into the complexities of writing a historically accurate script about Sylvia's mother's role in World War II-era espionage. They explore the fine line between creativity and historical truth, using events like the 1938 Evian Conference as a case study. The conversation turns to the societal constraints women faced in the 1930s, including limitations on work and pay, and how these factors shape the characters' actions and appearances in the script. They also discuss the evolution of women’s rights and gender equality in modern times, while acknowledging ongoing challenges.The hosts share personal stories about Sylvia’s mother’s rebellious spirit, and independent character, describing her as a "badass" figure in history. The discussion shifts to how her highly organized and disciplined Swiss upbringing, makes it difficult for Sylvia to imagine her mother stepping outside these boundaries. They explore the theme of love and relationships in the context of espionage, focusing on the romantic letters between Sylvia's mother and Thilo Von Trotha, a German soldier. While Sylvia initially struggled with the intimacy of the letters, she eventually reflected on the profound connection between Thilo and her mother, concluding that there was genuine love, even though their relationship did not have a fairytale ending.

This episode unravels Sylvia’s father’s complex legacy, blending business, espionage, and personal history in the geopolitical landscape of the 1950s. Michel and Sylvia explore his pivotal role in a multimillion-dollar deal to bring 75,000 phone lines to Venezuela under dictator Marcos Pérez Jiménez, raising questions about his ties to controversial regimes like Franco’s Spain. They reflect on how trauma and survival instincts might lead to ethically ambiguous choices, highlighting the difficulty of piecing together the truth from limited records and conflicting narratives. The discussion delves into Sylvia’s family’s connections with global figures like Peru’s President Manuel Prado, the Shah of Iran, and the 1953 CIA-backed coup. Intriguing anecdotes, such as Sylvia’s mother’s horror at cultural customs in Iran and a mysterious family murder, further deepen the intrigue. Sylvia’s parents’ presence in South American high society and their links to political upheavals add layers to their story. The hosts acknowledge the challenges of uncovering hidden truths, with every answer raising new questions. Despite possessing artifacts and documents, many mysteries remain unresolved, with every answer prompting new questions and pledging to continue their investigation.

The duo begins unraveling intriguing connections between Sylvia's father and Venezuela's 1948 coup, raising questions about the ethics behind his pivotal role in introducing telecommunications to South America. As they navigate the interplay of politics, business, and activism, they explore themes of moral complexity and the transformative power of storytelling to address societal challenges. The episode takes a deeply personal turn as Sylvia reflects on her father’s mysterious past, fragmented childhood memories, and the profound influence these unresolved questions have on her documentary work.

Michel and Sylvia delve deeper into Sylvia's adoptive parents' enigmatic past, uncovering connections to WWII espionage and figures like Reinhard Gehlen and Wilhelm Canaris. They navigate the emotional challenges of unearthing family secrets, confronting skepticism from friends, and speculating on Sylvia’s mother’s shifting wartime allegiances and mysterious wealth. Balancing the gravity of their discoveries with moments of levity, they share lighthearted anecdotes, including Sylvia’s trip to Walmart. The episode wraps with a preview of upcoming topics, including propaganda, perception, and Sylvia’s mother’s surprising ties to South America.

Michel and Sylvia share a candid update from Miami, where an unexpected detour has them diving deeper into Sylvia’s family history. Originally planning to head straight to Europe, they opted for Miami after discovering intriguing arrival and departure records tied to Sylvia's parents, revealing new, puzzling details about her father’s changing nationality during WWII. The duo explores theories about her parents' potential involvement in espionage and their travels under mysterious circumstances, even uncovering an unusual record linking her mother to notable figures on a wartime flight. Between digging into classified documents, dealing with challenges in sourcing information, and addressing cultural biases, Michel and Sylvia confront the complexities and mysteries around Sylvia’s parents' lives—and the lasting impact these discoveries have on her family’s legacy.