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PODCAST

Stories, Controversy & Band-aids

Michel Grey & Sylvia Greif

American filmmaker Michel Grey and Swiss artist Sylvia Greif dive into the chaotic world of film and television production with their distinctive, offbeat style. In their first season, they explore their latest project—a documentary and screenplay unraveling Sylvia's family's hidden secrets. As they delve into a tale of international espionage, elite society, and political coups in South America, they expose the raw struggles, triumphs, and compromises behind producing powerful media

tv & film film interviews

All Episodes

29:22

From Swiss Slopes to Hollywood Hustle

Stories, Controversy & Band-aids ·

2024/12/31

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.

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29:10

Pets, Privilege & Royal Encounters

Stories, Controversy & Band-aids ·

2024/12/24

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

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29:04

History Repeats Itself

Stories, Controversy & Band-aids ·

2024/12/17

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

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27:25

Badass Women & Secrets of the Past

Stories, Controversy & Band-aids ·

2024/12/10

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

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31:49

Coups & Contracts

Stories, Controversy & Band-aids ·

2024/12/03

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

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29:45

Shady Business & Activism or Propaganda?

Stories, Controversy & Band-aids ·

2024/11/26

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,

en-US

30:45

Espionage, Secrets, and Chic in Walmart

Stories, Controversy & Band-aids ·

2024/11/19

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

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26:20

The Atlantic Clipper Mystery

Stories, Controversy & Band-aids ·

2024/11/12

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

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31:07

Allies, Espionage, and Betrayal

Stories, Controversy & Band-aids ·

2024/10/29

Sylvia and Michel dive into a trove of letters from the 1940s that Sylvia uncovered, hinting at a hidden history linking her family to espionage, political intrigue, and complex allegiances. The letters reveal a web involving Sylvia’s mother, an enigmatic figure named Thilo in Ethiopia, and two controversial men: Wilhelm Roloff, a reputed anti-Nazi with ties to German intelligence, and Emil Bürle, a Swiss art collector entangled with Nazi associations. As Sylvia and Michel explore these cryptic

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31:27

No Permits, No Limits: Filming Espionage at the Plaza...

Stories, Controversy & Band-aids ·

2024/10/22

Their production crew joins Sylvia and Michel at New York’s Plaza Hotel as they continue to work on their documentary. They introduce key team members—Ken Farrington, Line Producer; Anthony Berenato Jr, Director of Photography; Lucy Pratt, Production Assistant; and Zoie, the crew's mascot. The group reflects on their filming week, discussing the intriguing spy elements of the story, which uncovers classified documents and historical espionage. The conversation touches on the challenges of

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32:04

When The Sun Goes To Sleep

Stories, Controversy & Band-aids ·

2024/10/15

Sylvia and Michel debate American versus Swiss chocolate while the group which includes guest, Producer Ken Farrington reflects on the evolving and ever-changing film industry for indie filmmakers. They discuss Sylvia's superpower ability to sleep, her hikes, and finding peace while contrasting the serenity of nature with the fast-paced world. They share personal stories of near burnout, but also of perseverance and the importance of surrounding oneself with positive collaborators, highlighting

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28:44

South of France Glamour & Mysteries

Stories, Controversy & Band-aids ·

2024/10/08

This episode finds Sylvia and Michel exploring Sylvia's family history, the luxurious experiences at their South of France estate, Medy Roc, and the emotional journey of uncovering family secrets. Sylvia recalls her family's extravagant life, including lavish parties attended by celebrities like David Niven, and famous films such as Diamonds Are Forever being shot at their property. They discuss the privacy and discretion of that era compared to today’s social media-driven world, while also

en-US

30:31

She Wanted Me Dead

Stories, Controversy & Band-aids ·

2024/10/01

In this podcast episode, Sylvia shares revelations about her father's mysterious past during WWII, including his imprisonment in Austria and possible escape from a camp. She uncovers a troubling letter from her father to his biological daughter, a Jewish woman who collaborated with the Gestapo, betraying Jews and committing atrocities. Despite her actions, Sylvia's father continued to support her financially. Sylvia also reveals that this woman harbored hatred toward her, even hiring a

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27:40

Who is Bobby?

Stories, Controversy & Band-aids ·

2024/09/24

The duo delves into Sylvia’s fragmented memories of her enigmatic adoptive father, pieced together from sparse recollections, photos, and her mother’s cryptic stories. She recalls unusual childhood moments, such as having exotic pets in France and being found by military men after wandering off in a Swiss village. They explore her father’s shadowy past as a businessman linked to South American projects and intelligence operations. The conversation touches on his multilingual skills, Jewish heritage,

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20:29

Propaganda & The Sympathizers

Stories, Controversy & Band-aids ·

2024/09/17

Sylvia and Michel dive deeper into Sylvia's family history, uncovering secrets of World War II espionage, mysterious connections, and potential ties between Sylvia’s mother, Nazi officers, American spies, and international figures like William Randolph Hearst. They also unearth cryptic details about her family’s wartime dealings with corporations like Nestlé. Amid the intrigue, the hosts navigate gaps in the historical record, wrestling with questions of neutrality, politics, and identity.

en-US

28:01

The Beaverbrook Papers

Stories, Controversy & Band-aids ·

2024/09/10

In this podcast episode, Sylvia and Michel introduce their show from New York City, where they’ve been retracing the steps of one of their main characters, Sylvia’s mother, from the 1930s to the 1980s. They share discoveries from classified documents, including telegrams linking Sylvia’s mother to powerful figures like Lord Beaverbrook, who worked closely with Winston Churchill and had people spy on her. They discuss how her mother traveled extensively during WWII and was monitored, leading to

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32:48

Red Alert & The Gangster's Darling

Stories, Controversy & Band-aids ·

2024/09/03

This week's episode introduces Rob Read, the UK Chief Operating Officer of Paul Watson's Foundation. Rob discusses the foundation's efforts in marine conservation, including campaigns against the killing of whales and dolphins in the Faroe Islands. He also touches on the arrest of Paul Watson, the founder of Sea Shepherd, who faces extradition to Japan for his anti-whaling activities.Additionally, Sylvia and Michel discuss working on the documentary film tracing Sylvia's mother's

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28:51

Spies & Family Secrets

Stories, Controversy & Band-aids ·

2024/08/27

Sylvia, originally from Switzerland, and now in New York, introduces the podcast "Stories, Controversy, and Band-Aids." Alongside her co-host, Michel, Sylvia recounts the discovery of classified documents related to her adoptive parents, revealing they were spies. This revelation led them on a journey to uncover her mother's mysterious past. Sylvia shares how this discovery deeply impacted her, particularly because it shattered her previously safe and secure worldview, leading to anxiety

en-US

38 results

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