August 13, 2025 • 47 mins
What happens when glamour meets scandal, and resilience triumphs over adversity? Join us as we sit down with Countess Ilene Medecin, the former First Lady of Nice, France, in Episode 253 of Late Boomers. Discover her electrifying journey from a family in Beverly Hills with roots stemming from legends in organized crime and the Hollywood makeup industry to the aristocratic circles of the French Riviera. Uncover the dramatic tales from her memoir, "Arrested," featuring political controversies, jail time, and high-society scandals. Tune in for a tale of strength, survival, and hope that will leave you inspired. Don't miss this captivating episode!
Countess Ilene Medecin's Bio:
Ilene Médecin’s life is a tapestry of glamour, intrigue, and resilience. As the only American, aside from Princess Grace Kelly, to attain the esteemed position of First Lady of Nice and the French Riviera, Ilene’s story is both unique and captivating. Born and raised in the heart of Beverly Hills, California, with two famous uncles—Max Factor, the iconic cosmetic mogul, and Jake the Barber, a pivotal figure in the rise of Las Vegas—Ilene’s path to prominence seemed almost destined.
“Arrested” is a riveting memoir that takes you through Ilene’s extraordinary journey, from her star-studded upbringing to her glamorous and, at times, perilous life on the French Riviera. Marrying Jacques Médecin, a Medici Count affectionately known as “King Jacquou,” Ilene found herself at the center of a century-old political dynasty. Together, they mingled with royals, celebrities, and politicians, sharing their social circle with the likes of Princess Grace Kelly and Prince Rainier.
Ilene’s life, akin to a storybook Camelot, saw her at the pinnacle of a fantasy existence. However, this enchanting narrative took a dramatic turn, leading her from the heights of societal acclaim to the depths of a French prison cell. Amidst trysts and scandals, Ilene was unprepared for the fall of a prominent political family and her eventual arrest for her husband’s alleged misdeeds. Jacques’s career ended in a puzzling political exile in Uruguay, a stark contrast to his previous stature as Mayor of Nice, President of Alpes-Maritimes, French Minister of Tourism, and Member of Parliament.
Connect with Ilene:
Website: https://countessilenemedecin.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/countessilenemedecin/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/countessilenemedecin
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@countessilenemedecin
Thank you for listening. Please check out @lateboomers on Instagram and our website lateboomers.us. If you enjoyed this podcast and would like to watch it or listen to more of our episodes, you will find Late Boomers on your favorite podcast platform and on our new YouTube Late Boomers Podcast Channel. We hope we have inspired you and we look forward to your becoming a member of our Late Boomers family of subscribers.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Merry (00:01):
This is the EWN Podcast Network.
Cathy (00:14):
Welcome to late boomers, our podcast guide to creating
your third act with style,power, and impact. Hi. I'm Cathy
Worthington.
Merry (00:24):
And I'm Merry Elkins. Join us as we bring you
conversations with successfulentrepreneurs, entertainers, and
people with vision who aremaking a difference in the
world.
Cathy (00:34):
Everyone has a story, and we'll take you along for the
ride on each interview,recounting the journey our
guests have taken to get wherethey are, inspiring you to
create your own path to success.Let's get started. Hello, and
welcome to Lake Boomers. I'mKathy Worthington, and I'm here
(00:56):
with my cohost, Mary Elkins. Andwe are welcoming a new guest to
our show today, Countess AileenMedecin, the former first lady
of Nice, France, and the FrenchRiviera.
Merry (01:09):
And I'm Merry Elkins. Aileen lived the life that
little girls dream of, of glitzand glamour of the French
Riviera, rubbing shoulders withroyals and celebrities. Now
she's written a memoir titledArrested about her exciting
times there. Welcome, Eileen.We're looking forward to hearing
about your book and about yourstory.
Countess Ilene Medecin (01:31):
Well, thank you so much for having me.
It's really wonderful to be onyour podcast, and thank you
about helping me to promote mybook.
Merry (01:42):
It's called know that it needs that much promotion, but
we'll get into that later.
Countess Ilene Medecin (01:47):
I want you
Merry (01:47):
to tell us all about it.
Cathy (01:49):
But first, Eileen, where did you grow up, And did you
ever dream about what you wantedto do in life? And did you ever
imagine you'd have this lifeyou've lived?
Countess Ilene Medecin (01:59):
You know something? I grew up with Disney
movies. So, of course and thisis in Beverly Hills. And then
when I was two and a half, wemoved to Vancouver, British
Columbia, and that's kind ofsignificant because my father
was washing the money for myuncle who was a well known
gangster, and we opened up Wow.And so he was legitimizing the
(02:26):
money, and so we were there forfour years and then came back to
Beverly Hills and then moved outactually to Encino for four
years and then came back toBeverly Hills and that's where I
grew up.
Mhmm.
Cathy (02:42):
Wow. Did you envision what could ever happen going to
be
Countess Ilene Medecin (02:48):
in I've always lived in romance in my
mind from the time I wascognizant. And I've always loved
Europe and I thought, oh god, itwould be wonderful if I could
marry somebody eventually inEngland, because at that time I
didn't speak anything butEnglish, and, you know, and and
(03:09):
be over there and have just thisreally, you know, incredible
romantic British life overthere. That didn't happen. And
something else happened which Iwasn't quite it wasn't in my
bucket list.
Merry (03:27):
And Should I ask you how you met your husband Jacques
Medecin? Because he was one ofthose people. He was the mayor
of Nice, he was the president ofthe French Riviera, and he was a
member of the Italian Gemedicfamily,
Countess Ilene Medecin (03:42):
which is royal, isn't it? Yes. They were
aristocrats in Italy, theMedicis, and they were, you
know, known actually for a lotof debauchery and a lot of which
my husband actually, you know, adescendant, I must say he was
(04:06):
quite wild.
Merry (04:09):
Well, talk about how you met him and what happened when
you first first met him.
Countess Ilene Medecin (04:15):
I was actually having lunch with a
friend of mine at the BrightonCafe in Beverly Hills, and I was
eating I'll never forget thisbecause I was eating their
famous sandwich. I had ameatloaf sandwich on rye and the
male nurse of my uncle who wasMax Factor and he was the
(04:38):
cosmetic magnet, was passing bythe window and saw me, we used
to party together, and he camein and he says, you know, Aye, I
haven't seen you, you know, inlike, you know, a few months,
what's going on? And he says,Oh, by the way, this is Jacques
Medsin, this is Max's niece,Eileen. And I stood up and I
(04:59):
looked at him and I've alwaysbeen crazy about Rosano Bronzi.
So he looked like Rosano
Merry (05:06):
Tell our the type he was.
Countess Ilene Medecin (05:11):
Tall. He was about six two at the time
because everybody had beenshrinking. He had this beautiful
mustache. He had, you know, grayhair and a personality mean, you
could just tell that he waspowerful. I mean, when he came
in and I stood up and we shookhands, there was an electrical
(05:35):
current that went through ourarms.
And I'm telling you, we lookedat each other and as he said
later, he said it was the coupde foudre, which was the
lightning bolt, and we justlooked at each other and he said
please come shopping with me.And so I said to the man I was
with, I said I'm sorry but Ihave to leave. And I said but
(05:58):
I'm gonna pay for my sandwichbecause I'm leaving you. So we
went up to we were walking upRodeo Drive because he was in
Canada. He was minister at thetime and he had a lot of
appointments with the differentmayors and the different
ministers and they all got stuckin the airport because of an
(06:20):
electrical failure.
And he decided that he washolding too many positions in
the country and he was having anervous breakdown and a physical
breakdown. And he says I gottaget out of here just for a few
days because we finished all ourbusiness. So he called his press
secretary in Paris who actuallywas having an affair with
(06:40):
Dooney, who was the male nurseof my Uncle Max Factor. Anyway,
so that's how we met and we wentup to Mr. Guy's, which was a
male store, which was like thestore, one of the stores for
men, in Beverly Hills on Rodeo.
And I stood next to him as hewas getting some summer clothes,
(07:05):
because he only had winterclothes for Canada. And we stood
next to each other and he leanedinto me and my knees buckled.
And I've never had any kind ofreaction or emotion like that
ever And I just was fascinatedby him and I was wondering if he
felt the same thing. Well, hewas. So we'll take it off from
(07:27):
there.
So when would that have been?That year? 09/23/1976.
Merry (07:36):
Wow.
Cathy (07:39):
Good memory. Oh, sure. Never forget that date. Changed
my life. Well, tell us tell usabout what life was like for you
in France.
Was it hard for you to learn tospeak French?
Countess Ilene Medecin (07:54):
Well Excuse me. Sorry. Go ahead.
Sorry.
Cathy (07:57):
No. That's fine.
Countess Ilene Medecin (07:58):
Okay. Jack had said to me, you know,
Americans, they never learnother languages. And he was
very, very jealous andprotective because I was almost
21 years younger. And he wantedto make sure that he was like
constantly with me and so hewould translate for me
everything. And he said I willtranslate for you, my darling,
(08:20):
for the rest of our lives.
Well, I don't like to hear that.Saying that, you know, you don't
have to speak French, you'llnever speak French. So I decided
that I was gonna speak French ifI'm in France, you know. So we
hired actually a British Frenchteacher and she taught me a few
things to say. I had maybe sixlessons from her and then I was
(08:43):
thrown in the public.
So basically, I learned Frenchby just being in the public and
speaking with people
Merry (08:53):
Making mistakes like we all make.
Countess Ilene Medecin (08:56):
Mistakes I made were so funny. I was It
was funny. I was actually thegodmother of this new fireboat
and it was named Aileen. Oh. Iwas supposed to like take a
bottle of champagne and crackand crack and crack.
Okay? Must have done it 20times, it didn't crack. So
(09:17):
Jacques took it from me and hecracked it and I went and he
gave me the mic and I had justlearned a little French and I
said, Je suis le marend dupompier, which I was trying to
say I was the godmother of thefireboat. But pompier also means
giving a blow job. So I said, Iam the queen of head.
(09:40):
And all the press and all thepeople were hysterical, and they
were looking at me and grabs amic and he says, my my wife is
learning French and she meant tosay she's the godmother of the
fireboat and thank you verymuch. So I made some gasps.
Believe me.
Cathy (09:58):
Oh, that's a great story though. You wouldn't take it
back. It's fabulous.
Countess Ilene Medecin (10:05):
The saddle.
Merry (10:07):
So what were some of your duties there though as the first
lady of Nice?
Countess Ilene Medecin (10:14):
I would say like any first lady, I was
the President of Honor of allthe different clubs, especially
the American club, the Britishclub, the Australian club, all
the English speaking clubs, andobviously all the French. And I
was also honored to be thepresident of honor for the
(10:36):
Jewish Jewish club over there,and they were so happy to have
me, you know. So that was great.So and I cut ribbons and I
inaugurated hospitals andeverything. We were sister
cities with 22 cities around theworld.
And so I got an education thatwas unreal because we were
(10:57):
sister cities with somecommunist cities, some socialist
cities, Western cities, just allover the globe. And I had an
incredible, incredible educationfirst hand and that will be with
me the rest of my life. I meaneverything has formed who I am
today from all of myexperiences. And they were
(11:19):
absolutely incredible at thetop, but they were also
incredible at the bottom. Andthe only thing
Merry (11:26):
Well, we wanna know about that. But but first, tell us
tell us a little bit about yourbook, your memoir. Okay.
Countess Ilene Medecin (11:33):
I'm gonna just do it's called
Arrested because I was arrestedand put in jail.
Merry (11:39):
Well, tell me. Is that the meaning of the title there?
I mean
Countess Ilene Medecin (11:43):
Yes. I was arrested.
Merry (11:46):
What happened? Happened?
Countess Ilene Medecin (11:48):
Oh, my God, it's such a long story. But
I'm just going to read you thisquickly. This is the
introduction.
Merry (11:56):
Show our YouTube people the can you hold it higher?
Yeah. There it is. Good. That'sthe book.
Countess Ilene Medecin (12:05):
Okay. That's the book. Okay. As I
found myself lying on the topbunk in the cell of the toughest
women's prison in all of France,I knew I was in big trouble. I
looked down at the three otherwomen in their beds, the French
prostitute, the Muslim drugdealer, and the young Muslim
girl who bit off her mother inlaw's finger.
I was thinking this wouldcertainly make interesting
(12:26):
dinner conversations someday ifI ever get out of here. Many
years have now passed sincethese traumatic events occurred.
While the memories remain vivid,I also bear the scars of falling
off of a wild ride. Fortunately,I was able to recover enough and
stand up to lead my life down avery different treasured path.
That's the introduction.
(12:48):
Wow. That's good.
Cathy (12:49):
Because I
Countess Ilene Medecin (12:50):
was in jail and let me tell you
something. I was actually injail for five days. It was
totally unexpected becauseJacques had been arrested
before, but he got out of jail,But he went he escaped through
Italy and went back to Uruguaybecause we were in political
(13:13):
exile living in Uruguay.
Cathy (13:16):
And Were you were you ever told what the charges were?
Countess Ilene Medecin (13:20):
It was it's always about money. And so
said that the Nice opera wasgiving money to a certain head
that, head of the opera thatJacques had chosen and there
(13:41):
were millions and millions andmillions of dollars that were
missing. But socialists were inand they wanted Jacques, you
know, they wanted to do anythingto him because he was the king
of the French Riviera and wasalways swinging boats. So,
excuse me, he was arrested forthat and in France, under
(14:03):
Napoleonic law, the spouse isresponsible for anything that
the spouse does. So I didn'trealize that I was on an
international list to bearrested and put in jail.
Cathy (14:17):
So I
Countess Ilene Medecin (14:18):
went to visit some friends, my friends
which I used to visit every yearbut I would fly from England
where my friend Trevor Moundwas. He was the British
ambassador to France and webecame very close. So I would
visit him because he had retiredand then I would fly down to
Italy and my friends would comeacross the border. Well, when
(14:40):
Jacques was released and wentback to Uruguay, I thought
everything was okay. So fromEngland, from London, I flew
into Nice and they arrested meimmediately at the airport.
And Oh, man. They reallytortured me. It was it was bad
because they wanted to make anexample of me.
Merry (14:57):
And Oh, my gosh.
Cathy (14:59):
So do you cover do you cover a lot of that in the book?
Cover
Countess Ilene Medecin: everything in great detail. (15:03):
undefined
Cathy (15:05):
Well, how difficult was it for
Countess Ilene Medecin (15:07):
you to write this memoir then? You
know, it was very interestingbecause when I first came back,
there were projects that weresupposed to be done. They
contacted me, there was supposedto be a movie done, we started
to get going with it and theproducer had a heart attack and
died. I mean there were lots ofthings didn't come through.
(15:27):
Every time there was a book dealor there was this or movie or a
documentary, everything fellthrough because of either
illness or it was too how can Isay it was so scandalous that
the French at the time didn'twant to get involved?
I knew that whatever I wrote,whatever was written about me, I
(15:50):
would never get any royaltiesfrom anything because it would
all be confiscated by the Frenchgovernment. So writing this book
for me, it was easy and it wasvery emotional and there were
parts where I was writing whereI was hysterical crying because
(16:12):
my daughter, with everythingthat had happened, she came down
with breast cancer and so Idescribed everything with that
and her plight, you know, shewas like kidnapped from me. I
mean there was so much going onand it's just amazing that I'm
I'm alive.
Merry (16:32):
Yeah, well you got very sick too, didn't you?
Countess Ilene Medecin (16:35):
I got very sick because Jacques
There's a place in Switzerlandcalled La Prairie and they were
having youth shots and theywould take these placentas of
lambs and veals and they wouldmake a serum out of it and you
would have seven shots, theywould shoot it into your body
and it was supposed to makeeverything stronger. Ronald
(16:58):
Reagan and Nancy went there toget the youth shots and so
Jacques said, Well, you know,let's go do this. And I was 40
at the time, so that was theyoungest I could be to get these
shots. Well, these shots were sohorrendous. Even Jacques, who
used to get his teeth done withno Novocaine, okay?
(17:20):
It was writhing around in thebed. Was absolutely writhing
around. Was horrendous. When Icame back I started getting sick
weren't Back quite sure
Merry (17:30):
to United States.
Countess Ilene Medecin (17:31):
We got back to news after the
treatments and I started gettingsick and I didn't know why. And
I found out, we found out thatmy lamb, my veal, whatever it
was, had some sort of a bacteriain it and I ended up with a
staph infection that destroyedall of my mucus lining from my
(17:53):
esophagus through my stomach allthe way through my bladder and
out. And I almost died and itwas horrendous, but you have to
read the book to find outbecause I describe everything in
detail, everything.
Merry (18:09):
Well, we do know that you survived it.
Countess Ilene Medecin (18:12):
Yes, I survived it. And I found
actually a fantastic doctor, hisname was Doctor. Fred Kite and
he was experimenting with aserum that he had made up and he
funneled it down my throatthrough my stomach and funneled
it up and it destroyed all ofthe inflamed mucus lining from
(18:35):
the golden staph infection. AndI was able to regenerate new
mucus lining and they said that,you know, I would not probably
regenerate more than 75% if Iwas lucky and I'm very lucky
because I don't live with thatkind of pain today. But I am
(18:56):
susceptible because my mucuslining is damaged but it's much,
you know, like it's healthierthan it obviously was, that I
just, in my mind, I have to becareful.
I mean, I can eat what I want,I'm lucky, and at that point
also, I almost lost my feet, Iwas in the mountains,
Merry (19:20):
They have to read the book to find all that out.
Countess Ilene Medecin (19:22):
I mean, it goes on and on and on. It
doesn't stop. And the
Merry (19:26):
doesn't. Chapters The book is great fun. I read it.
But I want veer back to talkingabout life in France with your
husband Jacques. Because he was,according to the book, you both
were very close friends, orJacques was a friend of Prince
Rainier of Monaco.
(19:47):
And when you were introduced toPrincess Grace and Rainier, you
Yes. What was the protocol? Whatdid you have to do?
Countess Ilene Medecin (19:55):
Well, I met Rainier first. Jacques and
my relationship was such ascandal. They said that it they
hadn't had a scandal like thatin over a hundred years. Oh. You
know, I was an American, I was ayoung girl.
And here I am becoming the firstlady of Nice France in the
French Riviera, a MediciCountess. Did I know? I didn't
(20:20):
know. So I was the only otherAmerican on the Riviera other
than Grace. So and Jacques waswas was very close.
I mean, they were like bestfriends with Prince Rainier
because whatever Prince Rainierwanted to do construction wise
out of Monaco, which would be onour territory, he would have to
(20:42):
have Jack's approval. And sowhen it was time for me to meet
Grace because she didn't want tomeet me because, as I said, it
was a scandal and then PrincessCaroline was marrying Geno and
they got divorced. So finally, Iwas allowed, you know, to come
to
Cathy (20:59):
Wouldn't Grace have been considered an equal scandal? Was
American and all that. Right.But
Countess Ilene Medecin (21:09):
Rene didn't divorce for her. Jacques
divorced for me. And it was allit was all over every place. I
mean, was in England, Italy. Oh,that's
Cathy (21:19):
what that's what made the difference.
Countess Ilene Medecin (21:22):
That was a good difference. And so when I
had when I it was time for me tomeet Grace, it was at the Grand
Prix, the dinner, and it was adinner in Monaco at the palace.
And so Jack said to me, Well,you're going have to learn how
to curtsy and kiss her hand. AndI went, What? Kiss her hand.
I said, I'm an American. Said,We don't do that, you know? I
(21:43):
mean, she's an American. Hesaid, If you don't do it, you're
going to cause a big scandal. Isaid, Okay.
I had to take curtsy lessons,bend all the way to the floor,
take her hand and kiss her handand say I am very honored to
meet you, your royal highness. Iwas so nervous but I did it. I
(22:04):
did it and I learned my lessonsand I can't get down now because
I'm older. Can't get down on myknees now. But that was an
experience and when she cameinto the room, it was Rainier,
Jacques, myself and thenbodyguards.
She came in, I hate to say it,her hair was askew, her crown
(22:25):
was toppled like this, she wasvery, very chunky. She was drunk
and I was like very surprised.But funny thing is Christian
Dior made me a dress out of thisfabulous material and they made
(22:47):
her a dress out of the samematerial but it was different.
And so when I saw her in thedress, going I don't believe it,
that looks like my dress. Thankgoodness I wasn't wearing that.
But
Cathy (22:56):
Oh, good.
Countess Ilene Medecin (22:57):
I had to That's how I met Grace. Then I
Cathy (23:01):
was Eileen, I have to tell you, I was at one time with
my husband presented to Ranierand Grace in a receiving line in
Monaco when we were visitingthere with Kenny Rogers. They
wanted to meet Kenny Rogers, thesinger. Right. And somehow,
that's how we got invited to thepalace. I think it was outside
(23:24):
in the palace grounds.
Uh-huh. But I I wasn't toldabout curtsying or anything, so
I guess I didn't do the protocolprotocol.
Countess Ilene Medecin (23:32):
Yeah. Probably because I was in France
and I was holding a position.
Cathy (23:37):
You had He
Countess Ilene Medecin (23:38):
needed me to bow to her. And I
understand that because I alwaysUh-huh. She was I always liked
her as an actress, I thought shewas a beautiful woman. Gorgeous.
Yeah.
She had one time she wasgorgeous. Yeah, her whole life
with Rainier was
Merry (23:56):
Difficult. Quite
Countess Ilene Medecin: difficult. Very difficult. As a (23:57):
undefined
matter of Was that, yeah. Lateron, Rainier was having an affair
with this beautiful woman andshe was so sweet. I don't
mention any names, but we usedto have dinner with them so he
could be away, you know, and dohis thing.
(24:17):
And Jacques was always hisbeard. And I became their beard.
So Wow. That's tough.
Cathy (24:27):
Well, you had mentioned about Nice being a sister city
to 22 other cities. Mhmm. So canyou tell us some experiences
that you had while visitingthose cities? Like, what stands
out or what was funny or whatwas awful or what whatever.
Countess Ilene Medecin (24:44):
Okay. One of the cities was in
Hungary, Szeged. I will neverforget this. First of all, it
was during the communist timeand they were still behind the
curtain. So we were doing allthese incredible sites and doing
things and we were on this itwas like a wagon and we would
(25:08):
drive with these Hungarian, youknow, gauchos and we would drive
to a restaurant and we would beserved, you know, incredible
meals and dah dah dah dah andmet all the dignitaries.
I get to the we get to theairport and we're ready to leave
and I go to the bathroom andthis young girl, as I'm coming
(25:30):
out of the stall, comes and saysto me, Madame Metzen, I just
wanted to speak English withyou. I heard that you were an
American and that you were anice person and I hitchhiked all
the way from the other side ofHungary and so I said to her, I
said, are you okay? And shegoes, well, not really. She
says, I learned English, Iwanted to learn English and I
just wanted to speak Englishwith you. And so I said, how
(25:54):
unhappy are you?
And she went into detail abouthow unhappy she was there. And I
said, I'm gonna help you. I'mgonna help you defect. And when
I gave her all my money, we hada code. I got her telephone
number and the code that wewould talk about it, but it was
like we were talking about ourcat.
Is your cat ready to come? Andso I talked to her back and we
(26:18):
got her out and she came to Niceand then we got her fiance out
and they're both doctors. Andthey're living in Nice and that
was very very special to me. Hername was Dora. Pictures and the
description is in the book.
(26:38):
That's beautiful.
Merry (26:40):
It is.
Cathy (26:41):
Is there anything kind of funny that happened in one of
the cities or something that youlook back on joyfully? Can I
read you something?
Countess Ilene Medecin (26:50):
Sure. You're not gonna believe this.
Okey dokey. Okay. So we were inNew York City with Dubai.
Okay. My glasses on here becauseyou're gonna love this one.
Okay. There was a sheikh. Wewere in Dubai because they
wanted to build on the FrenchRiviera, so you had to go
(27:13):
through Jacques.
So they were winding us anddining us and I was the only
woman there. And we had ourpress secretary and a bodyguard.
We were invited to a dinner withall of the sheikhs in the area
and there was one sheikh thatwas missing. So we started the
dinner without him and thenduring half the meal he came in
(27:35):
and he told us this story.Adjacent to his land was another
sheikh who had a slightlysmaller fiefdom and a daughter.
The two sheikhs agreed theywould unite their states by the
first sheikh with a largerfiefdom marrying the daughter of
the second sheikh with a smallerfiefdom. The first sheikh would
give the wedding party in hisgrand dining hall. The
ceremonies proceeded. The entirefamily of the new bride had been
(27:58):
invited to this grand event andrewind and dine to excess. At
the end of the extravagant meal,the sheik had his personal
assassin swoop in and cut offall their heads, except for his
new bride.
He said to her, you are eitherwith me or you are with your
family. All the land is mine,it's your choice. You can lay
with them or be my wife. Shedecided to remain his life. Now
(28:21):
I heard this when this man camein, this she came in, first
hand, and all of the hair on myarms were standing up and I have
a very expressive face if youhaven't noticed that now.
And Jack had his hand on mythigh and he says, Do not say a
thing, do not react, do not haveone of your faces. And that's
(28:45):
something that I'll neverforget. And it I I describe it
even more so in detail in thebook. Mhmm.
Cathy (28:54):
Good story.
Countess Ilene Medecin (28:55):
Hello.
Cathy (28:56):
It's But you must have kind of a story for every city.
Countess Ilene Medecin (28:59):
Every city. Every city. You know, and
I can go on other things that
Merry (29:08):
Oh, god. Well, actually
Cathy (29:09):
Are there is niece sister cities with anybody in The
United States?
Countess Ilene Medecin (29:14):
Beverly Hills, right? No. That was we
were gonna be sister cities withCarmel. We had met with Clint
Eastwood. And we were becauseCannes got to they wanted to be
with Beverly Hills.
Cathy (29:29):
Yeah. I knew that Cannes was. Yeah.
Countess Ilene Medecin (29:31):
Yeah. And so we became we were
becoming sister cities withCarmel, but that's also before
we were escaping. I mean, wasyou know, so I don't think it
went through.
Cathy (29:43):
Oh, it didn't happen.
Countess Ilene Medecin (29:44):
Didn't go through. So
Cathy (29:46):
But nothing on the East Coast or anything like that?
Countess Ilene Medecin (29:51):
We were sister cities with Dallas on the
East Coast. Oh. Oh. Oh. That's
Cathy (29:57):
interesting. Dallas. Dallas. Yeah.
Merry (30:03):
You spent time there?
Countess Ilene Medecin (30:06):
That's when I decided that Jack and I,
we loved each other. I mean, hewas after me. Loved it, you
know. I mean, he really cameafter me, he wouldn't let me go.
On our way to Dallas, and thiswas in the very beginning and
we're on the plane going thereand he says to me, well, I've
(30:29):
made up my mind, I'm going toquit politics, divorce my wife
and marry you and live in bliss.
Well, Jacques was never gonnaquit his political life, believe
me. So that's when we went and Isay it in the book and I
regurgitate cheese and crackersthat I had in my mouth I was so
(30:51):
shocked. And then when we got toTahiti, this was another because
we were also Sister Cidji wasYes. And so that's when I
realized that I was in love withhim. I'd never been in love
before and I I just it was likeso clear.
(31:14):
We were on this yacht that hehad rented and he was standing
at the back of the bow and wealmost we hit a wave and I
thought he was gonna go overand, you know, be eaten by the
rudders or whatever, okay? AndI've never had anything so clear
in my life. It was like boom, ifthis man goes over, I will lose
(31:34):
the love of my life. And so helooked at me and he said, Are
you okay? And I said, I'll tellyou when we get back to our
little grass shack in Tahiti.
And I said to him, what you sawwas me realizing for the first
time in my life I'm in love andI will marry you. Well, he
starts to cry, then I'm crying,he bends me back, he's kissing
(31:57):
me, and from that point on, westarted making plans. It was a
two year, absolutely scandalous,scandalous time before we
finally got married.
Merry (32:11):
We want to hear more about that. Because everyone
gets
Countess Ilene Medecin (32:14):
to listen to the book, it's all
written out and it's all thetruth and I'm gonna read you one
more thing which is gonna reallyreally surprise you. We have so
many people always wanting togive us dinners and give us
money for campaigns. So we wereinvited to Paris one night to
(32:34):
this couple who were giving alot of money for the campaigns
and they were giving us adinner. So, I'm not gonna go I
mean, I described the dinner andeverything, but as soon as the
waiters cleared the dessertdishes, two butlers appeared and
let us down a long hallway toanother room where they opened
two large double carved woodendoors. Holy Maird!
(32:58):
Surprise is not the word.Absolutely shocking might be
better and we were the guests ofhonor. There on a huge bed in
the middle of the room withbrass posts reaching towards a
black painted ceiling were ourtwo hosts, husband and wife. The
husband was standing on the bedand had handcuffed his wife to
the brass bed posts. He waswhipping her with a black snake
(33:22):
whip.
They were quite naked, thegorgeous gown had disappeared,
the snappy tuxedo had vanished.Underwear and intimate apparel
were no longer necessary either.To my surprise, the other diners
were not alarmed. Sounds anddeep groans began emerging from
the crowd. People were swayingon their feet amazed and
mesmerized and obviouslyapproving.
(33:43):
The seemed to coincide with eachpop of the whip on the wife's
hindquarters. There was a kindof rhythm going on and the lady
was smiling. She clenched teeth.Her hubby standing behind her
was sweating and grinning. Therest of the crowd started
stripping and doing things toeach other that were equally
kinky and weird.
Everyone wanted to participatein the action. They tore off
(34:03):
their expensive garments asquickly as possible and
everybody was naked and rawexcept for Jax and myself.
People were too busy to noticethat Jax and I were standing
there with clothes on observing.Was there fine print on the
invitation that we missed? Therewere more whips and articles
made of leather, glass, metalhanging from the wall, everyone
seemed to know exactly whichinstrument to use for each
(34:25):
purpose.
So I was fascinated and Jacquesjust he he stood there and he
just took my hand and he's moreout of here. But it goes into
detail, even more detail. So Ihave unusual experiences around
the world.
Merry (34:40):
Yes, you have. And I have to interject here that Aileen
and I have known each other fora very long time. She's No, told
me I don't say how long.
Cathy (34:54):
You were in school together. Right?
Merry (34:55):
Thank you, Kathy. We were. We were in high together.
Yes, sir. Which was, you know,twenty years ago.
My god. Anyway, she's she's toldme a lot of these stories, and I
continue to be fascinated bythem, even though I've heard
some of them before. But talkabout I think you've mentioned
(35:17):
some of this already, but canyou tell us a few more of the
highs and maybe some of the lowsthat you haven't talked about?
Countess Ilene Medecin (35:25):
Well, the highs were incredible. I
mean, I grateful and privy tomeet royalty. All of the Italian
actors in cinema and Americansand the French because we
sponsored the Italian FilmFestival for a while. And there
(35:49):
was Jean Maraud who was myfavorite French actress who had
she was the first French actressI guess to do a movie that was I
saw in, you know, in The States,in LA. And so she was coming and
was an interesting one.
(36:09):
So I was taking care of her andI heard from my girlfriends, you
have to be careful with Janbecause she doesn't really like
women, she can be very rude andeverything. So the minute she
got into my car I said to her, Iam a big fan of yours from
America. And I said, I saw yourmovie when I was like, what, 15
years old? I said, Incredible.So she started warming up to me
(36:30):
right away and She eventually Wewent to lunch, we had dinner, we
talked, she invited me to Paristo have an affair with her.
That was an interestinghighlight. I sort of mentioned
it in the book, but I never gotthere because I was busy and she
(36:54):
was busy and we could nevercoordinate. Who knows what it
would have happened? Never know,really.
Cathy (37:00):
Don't know.
Merry (37:03):
Bet you were a bit curious, but
Countess Ilene Medecin (37:06):
Yeah. Well, you know, and also I was
became close to Sergio Leone.Mhmm. And I was gonna have an
affair with him, and I wasalmost on my way to Rome but he
had gone down to the SouthernItaly and unfortunately he died
before we got together. But, no,there's it's very scandalous,
(37:30):
lots of affairs in there.
Mhmm. And Well then You
Merry (37:37):
could say that you should write a book about this, but you
have.
Countess Ilene Medecin (37:41):
Right? Mhmm. Yeah. Well, people are not
you should
Cathy (37:44):
write told you that.
Countess Ilene Medecin (37:45):
Yeah. I'm not writing I a
Cathy (37:48):
mean, what was it like then to come back to The US
after all that you'd beenthrough?
Countess Ilene Medecin (37:53):
With everything and also being
deathly ill and finally gettingover that and everything. My
whole you know, it's like you'rea different person. I mean, my
experience is nobody can handlethose experiences so I didn't
talk about them too much exceptfor, you know, a couple of close
friends. Was difficult because Iwas completely, you know, my
(38:18):
mindset was different, I hadlearned things that you don't
learn just because you'retraveling around the world and
you're seeing museums andrestaurants, you know, and going
to shops and stuff. I mean, Iwas I was, you know, really in
the belly of it.
And so, I mean, the people Italked to and it just, you know,
(38:39):
these things don't leave yourmind. I live with a little PTSD
and every once in a while I'llhave a meltdown and be in my
closet in the fetal position andthen I'm okay. So thank goodness
it doesn't happen too often.
Merry (38:52):
It's Well, happens with your daughter? Talk about that a
little bit because when you cameback here
Countess Ilene Medecin (38:58):
Yeah. That was horrendous. Well, was
living in Uruguay and going backand forth for about three and a
half years, and I wanted her tocome back with me. She was
completely brainwashed byJacques, and he was very abusive
with her and I didn't know anyabout all this. But she ended up
(39:21):
when she finally came back to mebecause he was murdered, thank
you very much.
That was the only way I wasgonna get her back, I can tell
you. I mean, he was escapinginto the Pampas, I mean, in
Uruguay, I mean, it's unreal.And she ended up having breast
cancer and that absolutelydestroyed us. I mean, when I
(39:44):
talk about this, I'm sorrybecause I get very emotional,
it's hard for me to talk aboutit, what we went through. Mhmm.
And thank goodness, you know,thank goodness, you know, she's
in remission today. But shelives with tremendous PTSD
because she was tortured by him.Was a point why where she was
washing her hair and theelectric electricity would
(40:07):
always go off because theydidn't have a good grid there.
And so she would come out of theshower and she had run out of
conditioner for her hair. And sohe had burst into the room and
he said, What's going on?
And she says, Well, you know,Daddy, do you think you could
get me some conditioner? And hepicked her up by her hair and
(40:31):
threw her across the room. Nowif I would have known what was
going on with him and this washappening because she was too
afraid to tell me, I I wouldhave I probably would have been
in jail for killing him. Mhmm.Our daughter is is extremely
she's a good person.
She's a sweet girl. Extremely,extremely damaged.
Cathy (40:57):
What country was she born in?
Countess Ilene Medecin (40:59):
I made sure when I was seven months
pregnant to come back to TheStates. I wanted her to be an
American citizen. Mhmm. Becauseat that time, you couldn't have
a dual or triple passport. Andso but eventually, she was
she'll always be an Americancitizen.
She had a French passport andthen she had a Uruguayan
passport. But she doesn't haveanything to do with those those
(41:21):
anymore because she Mhmm. LovesAmerica. Oh,
Merry (41:25):
that's one of your doggies. Right?
Countess Ilene Medecin (41:27):
I'm supposed to take care of her.
I'm sorry. That was Rosie. Getthat Rosie. Get the poopy out.
No more barking. So sorry.
Merry (41:42):
That that livens up the conversation a bit to give more
positivity on it.
Countess Ilene Medecin (41:50):
Yeah. Now, it's interesting because
the audio is being done. Andthis woman, her name is Laura
Lockwood, she's done a Why lot
Merry (41:59):
don't you talk about what's happening with your book
now, how it's doing as long asyou veered into that.
Countess Ilene Medecin (42:06):
Oh, okay. I'm really surprised. It's
I have been getting royaltychecks and I have been selling.
Amazon has been back ordered andwon't have orders in that people
are waiting for until September.Can't keep the book.
Nice. I'm amazed. Nice. Youknow? And my publisher is just
(42:30):
loving it and it's selling.
So that's why I needed to haveit translated which is finished
now, it's gonna be published inFrench. That should be a big
audience, it better be. Andit'll also be sent to Uruguay,
it'll be sent to England, Andthen as I said, audio is being
(42:51):
done and I've listened to overhalfway through the book. Who's
joined the audio? LauraLockwood.
And I've been sent thesechapters listening to them and
I'm like, that was my life? Thatwas me? I mean, a little
(43:12):
frightening there. Oh, god. Soyeah, there were chapters that I
I had to stop because I wascrying.
And No. Understandable. Tryingto get emotional because I'm I'm
remembering those chapters.
Cathy (43:26):
Right. Yeah. Eileen, what would you like our audience to
have as a takeaway today?
Countess Ilene Medecin (43:35):
I'm gonna read you something. Okay.
This is the end of the bookbecause I wasn't gonna do this,
but it says, at this point in mylife, I choose not to waste my
energy with toxic people. Thereare so many things I wish I
could reveal at this time, butit wouldn't be wise. Too many
(43:55):
people have allegedlydisappeared because of the
things I was privy to as Jack'swife.
Even though most of thedangerous people have died, I
won't take chances byconsciously putting myself in
harm's way. Well, that'spolitics for you. And what I
have written is the truth, thewhole truth, and nothing but the
truth, which is racing up forthis memoir. Regarding my untold
stories, there may be a moreappropriate time post mortem for
(44:17):
them to be published. I am verygrateful to share these chapters
of my life with hope thatreaders can fathom my first hand
experiences.
It would make me happy if mystory serves as an inspiration
for others to seek and fulfilltheir own true dreams. I have
always pushed my life to thefullest to accomplish my goals
and as harrowing as it's been, Inow believe I have succeeded in
(44:41):
finding the correct path. Sowhen India becomes safe for
travel again, will plan my nexttrip to Udaipur. I shall pay
homage and thank Ganesh for hisloving guidance and support. I'm
just waiting for the word go toget on that plane.
Until then, I wish you allNamaste. Because I spent a lot
India, I've got over 77 picturesin the book. Mhmm. And it proves
(45:08):
what I'm saying. Because I knowwhen I'm reading a memoir, if I
don't see pictures, I'm going,okay, is that really what
happened?
You know, I've got pictures toprove everything. I've got
pictures of me in jail. Right.You know Oh, wow. Of Good.
Yeah.
Merry (45:30):
Well, that's that's very it's heartwarming to hear that
and that you've recovered sowell from all those crazy,
insane, fun, and horribleexperiences, and to hear that
your daughter Joy is doing sowell.
Countess Ilene Medecin (45:46):
Yes. She's doing well.
Merry (45:48):
You, my friend.
Countess Ilene Medecin (45:49):
Oh, thank you both so much. I really
appreciate you wanting to hearme. Yeah. This has been a real
honor for me. Thank you so much.
Merry (46:01):
Well, our guest today on Late Boomers has been Countess
Aileen Medecin, the former FirstLady of Nice, France, and the
French Riviera. If you wouldlike to learn more about the
Countess's life and you've heardsome here, but there's so much
more or you'd like to purchaseher book, you can contact her
via her website,countessaileenmedecin.com. And
(46:28):
you can purchase her book,Arrested, on Amazon or through
her publisher, Book Baby. Thankyou.
Cathy (46:35):
And thank you for listening to our Late Boomers
podcast and subscribing to ourLate Boomers podcast channel on
YouTube. Listen in next weekwhen you'll meet another
exciting guest. You can listento Late Boomers on any podcast
platform and look at our newwebsite, lateboomers.us, where
you can find all our episodesand descriptions. Please follow
(46:58):
us on InstagramIamKathyWarthington and
IamMaryAlkins and LateBoomers.Thanks again, Countess Aileen
Medcen.
Merry (47:09):
Thank you. Namaste.
Cathy (47:20):
Thank you for joining us on late boomers, the podcast
that is your guide to creating athird act with style, power, and
impact. Please visit our websiteand get in touch with us
@lateboomers.us. If you wouldlike to listen to or download
other episodes of late boomers,go to ewnpodcastnetwork.com.
Merry (47:44):
This podcast is also available on Spotify, Apple
Podcast, and most other majorpodcast sites. We hope you make
use of the wisdom you've gainedhere and that you enjoy a
successful third act with yourown style, power, and impact.
This is the EWN Podcast Network.
Cathy (00:14):
Welcome to late boomers, our podcast guide to creating
your third act with style,power, and impact. Hi. I'm Cathy
Worthington.
Merry (00:24):
And I'm Merry Elkins. Join us as we bring you
conversations with successfulentrepreneurs, entertainers, and
people with vision who aremaking a difference in the
world.
Cathy (00:34):
Everyone has a story, and we'll take you along for the
ride on each interview,recounting the journey our
guests have taken to get wherethey are, inspiring you to
create your own path to success.Let's get started. Hello, and
welcome to Lake Boomers. I'mKathy Worthington, and I'm here
(00:56):
with my cohost, Mary Elkins. Andwe are welcoming a new guest to
our show today, Countess AileenMedecin, the former first lady
of Nice, France, and the FrenchRiviera.
Merry (01:09):
And I'm Merry Elkins. Aileen lived the life that
little girls dream of, of glitzand glamour of the French
Riviera, rubbing shoulders withroyals and celebrities. Now
she's written a memoir titledArrested about her exciting
times there. Welcome, Eileen.We're looking forward to hearing
about your book and about yourstory.
Countess Ilene Medecin (01:31):
Well, thank you so much for having me.
It's really wonderful to be onyour podcast, and thank you
about helping me to promote mybook.
Merry (01:42):
It's called know that it needs that much promotion, but
we'll get into that later.
Countess Ilene Medecin (01:47):
I want you
Merry (01:47):
to tell us all about it.
Cathy (01:49):
But first, Eileen, where did you grow up, And did you
ever dream about what you wantedto do in life? And did you ever
imagine you'd have this lifeyou've lived?
Countess Ilene Medecin (01:59):
You know something? I grew up with Disney
movies. So, of course and thisis in Beverly Hills. And then
when I was two and a half, wemoved to Vancouver, British
Columbia, and that's kind ofsignificant because my father
was washing the money for myuncle who was a well known
gangster, and we opened up Wow.And so he was legitimizing the
(02:26):
money, and so we were there forfour years and then came back to
Beverly Hills and then moved outactually to Encino for four
years and then came back toBeverly Hills and that's where I
grew up.
Mhmm.
Cathy (02:42):
Wow. Did you envision what could ever happen going to
be
Countess Ilene Medecin (02:48):
in I've always lived in romance in my
mind from the time I wascognizant. And I've always loved
Europe and I thought, oh god, itwould be wonderful if I could
marry somebody eventually inEngland, because at that time I
didn't speak anything butEnglish, and, you know, and and
(03:09):
be over there and have just thisreally, you know, incredible
romantic British life overthere. That didn't happen. And
something else happened which Iwasn't quite it wasn't in my
bucket list.
Merry (03:27):
And Should I ask you how you met your husband Jacques
Medecin? Because he was one ofthose people. He was the mayor
of Nice, he was the president ofthe French Riviera, and he was a
member of the Italian Gemedicfamily,
Countess Ilene Medecin (03:42):
which is royal, isn't it? Yes. They were
aristocrats in Italy, theMedicis, and they were, you
know, known actually for a lotof debauchery and a lot of which
my husband actually, you know, adescendant, I must say he was
(04:06):
quite wild.
Merry (04:09):
Well, talk about how you met him and what happened when
you first first met him.
Countess Ilene Medecin (04:15):
I was actually having lunch with a
friend of mine at the BrightonCafe in Beverly Hills, and I was
eating I'll never forget thisbecause I was eating their
famous sandwich. I had ameatloaf sandwich on rye and the
male nurse of my uncle who wasMax Factor and he was the
(04:38):
cosmetic magnet, was passing bythe window and saw me, we used
to party together, and he camein and he says, you know, Aye, I
haven't seen you, you know, inlike, you know, a few months,
what's going on? And he says,Oh, by the way, this is Jacques
Medsin, this is Max's niece,Eileen. And I stood up and I
(04:59):
looked at him and I've alwaysbeen crazy about Rosano Bronzi.
So he looked like Rosano
Merry (05:06):
Tell our the type he was.
Countess Ilene Medecin (05:11):
Tall. He was about six two at the time
because everybody had beenshrinking. He had this beautiful
mustache. He had, you know, grayhair and a personality mean, you
could just tell that he waspowerful. I mean, when he came
in and I stood up and we shookhands, there was an electrical
(05:35):
current that went through ourarms.
And I'm telling you, we lookedat each other and as he said
later, he said it was the coupde foudre, which was the
lightning bolt, and we justlooked at each other and he said
please come shopping with me.And so I said to the man I was
with, I said I'm sorry but Ihave to leave. And I said but
(05:58):
I'm gonna pay for my sandwichbecause I'm leaving you. So we
went up to we were walking upRodeo Drive because he was in
Canada. He was minister at thetime and he had a lot of
appointments with the differentmayors and the different
ministers and they all got stuckin the airport because of an
(06:20):
electrical failure.
And he decided that he washolding too many positions in
the country and he was having anervous breakdown and a physical
breakdown. And he says I gottaget out of here just for a few
days because we finished all ourbusiness. So he called his press
secretary in Paris who actuallywas having an affair with
(06:40):
Dooney, who was the male nurseof my Uncle Max Factor. Anyway,
so that's how we met and we wentup to Mr. Guy's, which was a
male store, which was like thestore, one of the stores for
men, in Beverly Hills on Rodeo.
And I stood next to him as hewas getting some summer clothes,
(07:05):
because he only had winterclothes for Canada. And we stood
next to each other and he leanedinto me and my knees buckled.
And I've never had any kind ofreaction or emotion like that
ever And I just was fascinatedby him and I was wondering if he
felt the same thing. Well, hewas. So we'll take it off from
(07:27):
there.
So when would that have been?That year? 09/23/1976.
Merry (07:36):
Wow.
Cathy (07:39):
Good memory. Oh, sure. Never forget that date. Changed
my life. Well, tell us tell usabout what life was like for you
in France.
Was it hard for you to learn tospeak French?
Countess Ilene Medecin (07:54):
Well Excuse me. Sorry. Go ahead.
Sorry.
Cathy (07:57):
No. That's fine.
Countess Ilene Medecin (07:58):
Okay. Jack had said to me, you know,
Americans, they never learnother languages. And he was
very, very jealous andprotective because I was almost
21 years younger. And he wantedto make sure that he was like
constantly with me and so hewould translate for me
everything. And he said I willtranslate for you, my darling,
(08:20):
for the rest of our lives.
Well, I don't like to hear that.Saying that, you know, you don't
have to speak French, you'llnever speak French. So I decided
that I was gonna speak French ifI'm in France, you know. So we
hired actually a British Frenchteacher and she taught me a few
things to say. I had maybe sixlessons from her and then I was
(08:43):
thrown in the public.
So basically, I learned Frenchby just being in the public and
speaking with people
Merry (08:53):
Making mistakes like we all make.
Countess Ilene Medecin (08:56):
Mistakes I made were so funny. I was It
was funny. I was actually thegodmother of this new fireboat
and it was named Aileen. Oh. Iwas supposed to like take a
bottle of champagne and crackand crack and crack.
Okay? Must have done it 20times, it didn't crack. So
(09:17):
Jacques took it from me and hecracked it and I went and he
gave me the mic and I had justlearned a little French and I
said, Je suis le marend dupompier, which I was trying to
say I was the godmother of thefireboat. But pompier also means
giving a blow job. So I said, Iam the queen of head.
(09:40):
And all the press and all thepeople were hysterical, and they
were looking at me and grabs amic and he says, my my wife is
learning French and she meant tosay she's the godmother of the
fireboat and thank you verymuch. So I made some gasps.
Believe me.
Cathy (09:58):
Oh, that's a great story though. You wouldn't take it
back. It's fabulous.
Countess Ilene Medecin (10:05):
The saddle.
Merry (10:07):
So what were some of your duties there though as the first
lady of Nice?
Countess Ilene Medecin (10:14):
I would say like any first lady, I was
the President of Honor of allthe different clubs, especially
the American club, the Britishclub, the Australian club, all
the English speaking clubs, andobviously all the French. And I
was also honored to be thepresident of honor for the
(10:36):
Jewish Jewish club over there,and they were so happy to have
me, you know. So that was great.So and I cut ribbons and I
inaugurated hospitals andeverything. We were sister
cities with 22 cities around theworld.
And so I got an education thatwas unreal because we were
(10:57):
sister cities with somecommunist cities, some socialist
cities, Western cities, just allover the globe. And I had an
incredible, incredible educationfirst hand and that will be with
me the rest of my life. I meaneverything has formed who I am
today from all of myexperiences. And they were
(11:19):
absolutely incredible at thetop, but they were also
incredible at the bottom. Andthe only thing
Merry (11:26):
Well, we wanna know about that. But but first, tell us
tell us a little bit about yourbook, your memoir. Okay.
Countess Ilene Medecin (11:33):
I'm gonna just do it's called
Arrested because I was arrestedand put in jail.
Merry (11:39):
Well, tell me. Is that the meaning of the title there?
I mean
Countess Ilene Medecin (11:43):
Yes. I was arrested.
Merry (11:46):
What happened? Happened?
Countess Ilene Medecin (11:48):
Oh, my God, it's such a long story. But
I'm just going to read you thisquickly. This is the
introduction.
Merry (11:56):
Show our YouTube people the can you hold it higher?
Yeah. There it is. Good. That'sthe book.
Countess Ilene Medecin (12:05):
Okay. That's the book. Okay. As I
found myself lying on the topbunk in the cell of the toughest
women's prison in all of France,I knew I was in big trouble. I
looked down at the three otherwomen in their beds, the French
prostitute, the Muslim drugdealer, and the young Muslim
girl who bit off her mother inlaw's finger.
I was thinking this wouldcertainly make interesting
(12:26):
dinner conversations someday ifI ever get out of here. Many
years have now passed sincethese traumatic events occurred.
While the memories remain vivid,I also bear the scars of falling
off of a wild ride. Fortunately,I was able to recover enough and
stand up to lead my life down avery different treasured path.
That's the introduction.
(12:48):
Wow. That's good.
Cathy (12:49):
Because I
Countess Ilene Medecin (12:50):
was in jail and let me tell you
something. I was actually injail for five days. It was
totally unexpected becauseJacques had been arrested
before, but he got out of jail,But he went he escaped through
Italy and went back to Uruguaybecause we were in political
(13:13):
exile living in Uruguay.
Cathy (13:16):
And Were you were you ever told what the charges were?
Countess Ilene Medecin (13:20):
It was it's always about money. And so
said that the Nice opera wasgiving money to a certain head
that, head of the opera thatJacques had chosen and there
(13:41):
were millions and millions andmillions of dollars that were
missing. But socialists were inand they wanted Jacques, you
know, they wanted to do anythingto him because he was the king
of the French Riviera and wasalways swinging boats. So,
excuse me, he was arrested forthat and in France, under
(14:03):
Napoleonic law, the spouse isresponsible for anything that
the spouse does. So I didn'trealize that I was on an
international list to bearrested and put in jail.
Cathy (14:17):
So I
Countess Ilene Medecin (14:18):
went to visit some friends, my friends
which I used to visit every yearbut I would fly from England
where my friend Trevor Moundwas. He was the British
ambassador to France and webecame very close. So I would
visit him because he had retiredand then I would fly down to
Italy and my friends would comeacross the border. Well, when
(14:40):
Jacques was released and wentback to Uruguay, I thought
everything was okay. So fromEngland, from London, I flew
into Nice and they arrested meimmediately at the airport.
And Oh, man. They reallytortured me. It was it was bad
because they wanted to make anexample of me.
Merry (14:57):
And Oh, my gosh.
Cathy (14:59):
So do you cover do you cover a lot of that in the book?
Cover
Countess Ilene Medecin: everything in great detail. (15:03):
undefined
Cathy (15:05):
Well, how difficult was it for
Countess Ilene Medecin (15:07):
you to write this memoir then? You
know, it was very interestingbecause when I first came back,
there were projects that weresupposed to be done. They
contacted me, there was supposedto be a movie done, we started
to get going with it and theproducer had a heart attack and
died. I mean there were lots ofthings didn't come through.
(15:27):
Every time there was a book dealor there was this or movie or a
documentary, everything fellthrough because of either
illness or it was too how can Isay it was so scandalous that
the French at the time didn'twant to get involved?
I knew that whatever I wrote,whatever was written about me, I
(15:50):
would never get any royaltiesfrom anything because it would
all be confiscated by the Frenchgovernment. So writing this book
for me, it was easy and it wasvery emotional and there were
parts where I was writing whereI was hysterical crying because
(16:12):
my daughter, with everythingthat had happened, she came down
with breast cancer and so Idescribed everything with that
and her plight, you know, shewas like kidnapped from me. I
mean there was so much going onand it's just amazing that I'm
I'm alive.
Merry (16:32):
Yeah, well you got very sick too, didn't you?
Countess Ilene Medecin (16:35):
I got very sick because Jacques
There's a place in Switzerlandcalled La Prairie and they were
having youth shots and theywould take these placentas of
lambs and veals and they wouldmake a serum out of it and you
would have seven shots, theywould shoot it into your body
and it was supposed to makeeverything stronger. Ronald
(16:58):
Reagan and Nancy went there toget the youth shots and so
Jacques said, Well, you know,let's go do this. And I was 40
at the time, so that was theyoungest I could be to get these
shots. Well, these shots were sohorrendous. Even Jacques, who
used to get his teeth done withno Novocaine, okay?
(17:20):
It was writhing around in thebed. Was absolutely writhing
around. Was horrendous. When Icame back I started getting sick
weren't Back quite sure
Merry (17:30):
to United States.
Countess Ilene Medecin (17:31):
We got back to news after the
treatments and I started gettingsick and I didn't know why. And
I found out, we found out thatmy lamb, my veal, whatever it
was, had some sort of a bacteriain it and I ended up with a
staph infection that destroyedall of my mucus lining from my
(17:53):
esophagus through my stomach allthe way through my bladder and
out. And I almost died and itwas horrendous, but you have to
read the book to find outbecause I describe everything in
detail, everything.
Merry (18:09):
Well, we do know that you survived it.
Countess Ilene Medecin (18:12):
Yes, I survived it. And I found
actually a fantastic doctor, hisname was Doctor. Fred Kite and
he was experimenting with aserum that he had made up and he
funneled it down my throatthrough my stomach and funneled
it up and it destroyed all ofthe inflamed mucus lining from
(18:35):
the golden staph infection. AndI was able to regenerate new
mucus lining and they said that,you know, I would not probably
regenerate more than 75% if Iwas lucky and I'm very lucky
because I don't live with thatkind of pain today. But I am
(18:56):
susceptible because my mucuslining is damaged but it's much,
you know, like it's healthierthan it obviously was, that I
just, in my mind, I have to becareful.
I mean, I can eat what I want,I'm lucky, and at that point
also, I almost lost my feet, Iwas in the mountains,
Merry (19:20):
They have to read the book to find all that out.
Countess Ilene Medecin (19:22):
I mean, it goes on and on and on. It
doesn't stop. And the
Merry (19:26):
doesn't. Chapters The book is great fun. I read it.
But I want veer back to talkingabout life in France with your
husband Jacques. Because he was,according to the book, you both
were very close friends, orJacques was a friend of Prince
Rainier of Monaco.
(19:47):
And when you were introduced toPrincess Grace and Rainier, you
Yes. What was the protocol? Whatdid you have to do?
Countess Ilene Medecin (19:55):
Well, I met Rainier first. Jacques and
my relationship was such ascandal. They said that it they
hadn't had a scandal like thatin over a hundred years. Oh. You
know, I was an American, I was ayoung girl.
And here I am becoming the firstlady of Nice France in the
French Riviera, a MediciCountess. Did I know? I didn't
(20:20):
know. So I was the only otherAmerican on the Riviera other
than Grace. So and Jacques waswas was very close.
I mean, they were like bestfriends with Prince Rainier
because whatever Prince Rainierwanted to do construction wise
out of Monaco, which would be onour territory, he would have to
(20:42):
have Jack's approval. And sowhen it was time for me to meet
Grace because she didn't want tomeet me because, as I said, it
was a scandal and then PrincessCaroline was marrying Geno and
they got divorced. So finally, Iwas allowed, you know, to come
to
Cathy (20:59):
Wouldn't Grace have been considered an equal scandal? Was
American and all that. Right.But
Countess Ilene Medecin (21:09):
Rene didn't divorce for her. Jacques
divorced for me. And it was allit was all over every place. I
mean, was in England, Italy. Oh,that's
Cathy (21:19):
what that's what made the difference.
Countess Ilene Medecin (21:22):
That was a good difference. And so when I
had when I it was time for me tomeet Grace, it was at the Grand
Prix, the dinner, and it was adinner in Monaco at the palace.
And so Jack said to me, Well,you're going have to learn how
to curtsy and kiss her hand. AndI went, What? Kiss her hand.
I said, I'm an American. Said,We don't do that, you know? I
(21:43):
mean, she's an American. Hesaid, If you don't do it, you're
going to cause a big scandal. Isaid, Okay.
I had to take curtsy lessons,bend all the way to the floor,
take her hand and kiss her handand say I am very honored to
meet you, your royal highness. Iwas so nervous but I did it. I
(22:04):
did it and I learned my lessonsand I can't get down now because
I'm older. Can't get down on myknees now. But that was an
experience and when she cameinto the room, it was Rainier,
Jacques, myself and thenbodyguards.
She came in, I hate to say it,her hair was askew, her crown
(22:25):
was toppled like this, she wasvery, very chunky. She was drunk
and I was like very surprised.But funny thing is Christian
Dior made me a dress out of thisfabulous material and they made
(22:47):
her a dress out of the samematerial but it was different.
And so when I saw her in thedress, going I don't believe it,
that looks like my dress. Thankgoodness I wasn't wearing that.
But
Cathy (22:56):
Oh, good.
Countess Ilene Medecin (22:57):
I had to That's how I met Grace. Then I
Cathy (23:01):
was Eileen, I have to tell you, I was at one time with
my husband presented to Ranierand Grace in a receiving line in
Monaco when we were visitingthere with Kenny Rogers. They
wanted to meet Kenny Rogers, thesinger. Right. And somehow,
that's how we got invited to thepalace. I think it was outside
(23:24):
in the palace grounds.
Uh-huh. But I I wasn't toldabout curtsying or anything, so
I guess I didn't do the protocolprotocol.
Countess Ilene Medecin (23:32):
Yeah. Probably because I was in France
and I was holding a position.
Cathy (23:37):
You had He
Countess Ilene Medecin (23:38):
needed me to bow to her. And I
understand that because I alwaysUh-huh. She was I always liked
her as an actress, I thought shewas a beautiful woman. Gorgeous.
Yeah.
She had one time she wasgorgeous. Yeah, her whole life
with Rainier was
Merry (23:56):
Difficult. Quite
Countess Ilene Medecin: difficult. Very difficult. As a (23:57):
undefined
matter of Was that, yeah. Lateron, Rainier was having an affair
with this beautiful woman andshe was so sweet. I don't
mention any names, but we usedto have dinner with them so he
could be away, you know, and dohis thing.
(24:17):
And Jacques was always hisbeard. And I became their beard.
So Wow. That's tough.
Cathy (24:27):
Well, you had mentioned about Nice being a sister city
to 22 other cities. Mhmm. So canyou tell us some experiences
that you had while visitingthose cities? Like, what stands
out or what was funny or whatwas awful or what whatever.
Countess Ilene Medecin (24:44):
Okay. One of the cities was in
Hungary, Szeged. I will neverforget this. First of all, it
was during the communist timeand they were still behind the
curtain. So we were doing allthese incredible sites and doing
things and we were on this itwas like a wagon and we would
(25:08):
drive with these Hungarian, youknow, gauchos and we would drive
to a restaurant and we would beserved, you know, incredible
meals and dah dah dah dah andmet all the dignitaries.
I get to the we get to theairport and we're ready to leave
and I go to the bathroom andthis young girl, as I'm coming
(25:30):
out of the stall, comes and saysto me, Madame Metzen, I just
wanted to speak English withyou. I heard that you were an
American and that you were anice person and I hitchhiked all
the way from the other side ofHungary and so I said to her, I
said, are you okay? And shegoes, well, not really. She
says, I learned English, Iwanted to learn English and I
just wanted to speak Englishwith you. And so I said, how
(25:54):
unhappy are you?
And she went into detail abouthow unhappy she was there. And I
said, I'm gonna help you. I'mgonna help you defect. And when
I gave her all my money, we hada code. I got her telephone
number and the code that wewould talk about it, but it was
like we were talking about ourcat.
Is your cat ready to come? Andso I talked to her back and we
(26:18):
got her out and she came to Niceand then we got her fiance out
and they're both doctors. Andthey're living in Nice and that
was very very special to me. Hername was Dora. Pictures and the
description is in the book.
(26:38):
That's beautiful.
Merry (26:40):
It is.
Cathy (26:41):
Is there anything kind of funny that happened in one of
the cities or something that youlook back on joyfully? Can I
read you something?
Countess Ilene Medecin (26:50):
Sure. You're not gonna believe this.
Okey dokey. Okay. So we were inNew York City with Dubai.
Okay. My glasses on here becauseyou're gonna love this one.
Okay. There was a sheikh. Wewere in Dubai because they
wanted to build on the FrenchRiviera, so you had to go
(27:13):
through Jacques.
So they were winding us anddining us and I was the only
woman there. And we had ourpress secretary and a bodyguard.
We were invited to a dinner withall of the sheikhs in the area
and there was one sheikh thatwas missing. So we started the
dinner without him and thenduring half the meal he came in
(27:35):
and he told us this story.Adjacent to his land was another
sheikh who had a slightlysmaller fiefdom and a daughter.
The two sheikhs agreed theywould unite their states by the
first sheikh with a largerfiefdom marrying the daughter of
the second sheikh with a smallerfiefdom. The first sheikh would
give the wedding party in hisgrand dining hall. The
ceremonies proceeded. The entirefamily of the new bride had been
(27:58):
invited to this grand event andrewind and dine to excess. At
the end of the extravagant meal,the sheik had his personal
assassin swoop in and cut offall their heads, except for his
new bride.
He said to her, you are eitherwith me or you are with your
family. All the land is mine,it's your choice. You can lay
with them or be my wife. Shedecided to remain his life. Now
(28:21):
I heard this when this man camein, this she came in, first
hand, and all of the hair on myarms were standing up and I have
a very expressive face if youhaven't noticed that now.
And Jack had his hand on mythigh and he says, Do not say a
thing, do not react, do not haveone of your faces. And that's
(28:45):
something that I'll neverforget. And it I I describe it
even more so in detail in thebook. Mhmm.
Cathy (28:54):
Good story.
Countess Ilene Medecin (28:55):
Hello.
Cathy (28:56):
It's But you must have kind of a story for every city.
Countess Ilene Medecin (28:59):
Every city. Every city. You know, and
I can go on other things that
Merry (29:08):
Oh, god. Well, actually
Cathy (29:09):
Are there is niece sister cities with anybody in The
United States?
Countess Ilene Medecin (29:14):
Beverly Hills, right? No. That was we
were gonna be sister cities withCarmel. We had met with Clint
Eastwood. And we were becauseCannes got to they wanted to be
with Beverly Hills.
Cathy (29:29):
Yeah. I knew that Cannes was. Yeah.
Countess Ilene Medecin (29:31):
Yeah. And so we became we were
becoming sister cities withCarmel, but that's also before
we were escaping. I mean, wasyou know, so I don't think it
went through.
Cathy (29:43):
Oh, it didn't happen.
Countess Ilene Medecin (29:44):
Didn't go through. So
Cathy (29:46):
But nothing on the East Coast or anything like that?
Countess Ilene Medecin (29:51):
We were sister cities with Dallas on the
East Coast. Oh. Oh. Oh. That's
Cathy (29:57):
interesting. Dallas. Dallas. Yeah.
Merry (30:03):
You spent time there?
Countess Ilene Medecin (30:06):
That's when I decided that Jack and I,
we loved each other. I mean, hewas after me. Loved it, you
know. I mean, he really cameafter me, he wouldn't let me go.
On our way to Dallas, and thiswas in the very beginning and
we're on the plane going thereand he says to me, well, I've
(30:29):
made up my mind, I'm going toquit politics, divorce my wife
and marry you and live in bliss.
Well, Jacques was never gonnaquit his political life, believe
me. So that's when we went and Isay it in the book and I
regurgitate cheese and crackersthat I had in my mouth I was so
(30:51):
shocked. And then when we got toTahiti, this was another because
we were also Sister Cidji wasYes. And so that's when I
realized that I was in love withhim. I'd never been in love
before and I I just it was likeso clear.
(31:14):
We were on this yacht that hehad rented and he was standing
at the back of the bow and wealmost we hit a wave and I
thought he was gonna go overand, you know, be eaten by the
rudders or whatever, okay? AndI've never had anything so clear
in my life. It was like boom, ifthis man goes over, I will lose
(31:34):
the love of my life. And so helooked at me and he said, Are
you okay? And I said, I'll tellyou when we get back to our
little grass shack in Tahiti.
And I said to him, what you sawwas me realizing for the first
time in my life I'm in love andI will marry you. Well, he
starts to cry, then I'm crying,he bends me back, he's kissing
(31:57):
me, and from that point on, westarted making plans. It was a
two year, absolutely scandalous,scandalous time before we
finally got married.
Merry (32:11):
We want to hear more about that. Because everyone
gets
Countess Ilene Medecin (32:14):
to listen to the book, it's all
written out and it's all thetruth and I'm gonna read you one
more thing which is gonna reallyreally surprise you. We have so
many people always wanting togive us dinners and give us
money for campaigns. So we wereinvited to Paris one night to
(32:34):
this couple who were giving alot of money for the campaigns
and they were giving us adinner. So, I'm not gonna go I
mean, I described the dinner andeverything, but as soon as the
waiters cleared the dessertdishes, two butlers appeared and
let us down a long hallway toanother room where they opened
two large double carved woodendoors. Holy Maird!
(32:58):
Surprise is not the word.Absolutely shocking might be
better and we were the guests ofhonor. There on a huge bed in
the middle of the room withbrass posts reaching towards a
black painted ceiling were ourtwo hosts, husband and wife. The
husband was standing on the bedand had handcuffed his wife to
the brass bed posts. He waswhipping her with a black snake
(33:22):
whip.
They were quite naked, thegorgeous gown had disappeared,
the snappy tuxedo had vanished.Underwear and intimate apparel
were no longer necessary either.To my surprise, the other diners
were not alarmed. Sounds anddeep groans began emerging from
the crowd. People were swayingon their feet amazed and
mesmerized and obviouslyapproving.
(33:43):
The seemed to coincide with eachpop of the whip on the wife's
hindquarters. There was a kindof rhythm going on and the lady
was smiling. She clenched teeth.Her hubby standing behind her
was sweating and grinning. Therest of the crowd started
stripping and doing things toeach other that were equally
kinky and weird.
Everyone wanted to participatein the action. They tore off
(34:03):
their expensive garments asquickly as possible and
everybody was naked and rawexcept for Jax and myself.
People were too busy to noticethat Jax and I were standing
there with clothes on observing.Was there fine print on the
invitation that we missed? Therewere more whips and articles
made of leather, glass, metalhanging from the wall, everyone
seemed to know exactly whichinstrument to use for each
(34:25):
purpose.
So I was fascinated and Jacquesjust he he stood there and he
just took my hand and he's moreout of here. But it goes into
detail, even more detail. So Ihave unusual experiences around
the world.
Merry (34:40):
Yes, you have. And I have to interject here that Aileen
and I have known each other fora very long time. She's No, told
me I don't say how long.
Cathy (34:54):
You were in school together. Right?
Merry (34:55):
Thank you, Kathy. We were. We were in high together.
Yes, sir. Which was, you know,twenty years ago.
My god. Anyway, she's she's toldme a lot of these stories, and I
continue to be fascinated bythem, even though I've heard
some of them before. But talkabout I think you've mentioned
(35:17):
some of this already, but canyou tell us a few more of the
highs and maybe some of the lowsthat you haven't talked about?
Countess Ilene Medecin (35:25):
Well, the highs were incredible. I
mean, I grateful and privy tomeet royalty. All of the Italian
actors in cinema and Americansand the French because we
sponsored the Italian FilmFestival for a while. And there
(35:49):
was Jean Maraud who was myfavorite French actress who had
she was the first French actressI guess to do a movie that was I
saw in, you know, in The States,in LA. And so she was coming and
was an interesting one.
(36:09):
So I was taking care of her andI heard from my girlfriends, you
have to be careful with Janbecause she doesn't really like
women, she can be very rude andeverything. So the minute she
got into my car I said to her, Iam a big fan of yours from
America. And I said, I saw yourmovie when I was like, what, 15
years old? I said, Incredible.So she started warming up to me
(36:30):
right away and She eventually Wewent to lunch, we had dinner, we
talked, she invited me to Paristo have an affair with her.
That was an interestinghighlight. I sort of mentioned
it in the book, but I never gotthere because I was busy and she
(36:54):
was busy and we could nevercoordinate. Who knows what it
would have happened? Never know,really.
Cathy (37:00):
Don't know.
Merry (37:03):
Bet you were a bit curious, but
Countess Ilene Medecin (37:06):
Yeah. Well, you know, and also I was
became close to Sergio Leone.Mhmm. And I was gonna have an
affair with him, and I wasalmost on my way to Rome but he
had gone down to the SouthernItaly and unfortunately he died
before we got together. But, no,there's it's very scandalous,
(37:30):
lots of affairs in there.
Mhmm. And Well then You
Merry (37:37):
could say that you should write a book about this, but you
have.
Countess Ilene Medecin (37:41):
Right? Mhmm. Yeah. Well, people are not
you should
Cathy (37:44):
write told you that.
Countess Ilene Medecin (37:45):
Yeah. I'm not writing I a
Cathy (37:48):
mean, what was it like then to come back to The US
after all that you'd beenthrough?
Countess Ilene Medecin (37:53):
With everything and also being
deathly ill and finally gettingover that and everything. My
whole you know, it's like you'rea different person. I mean, my
experience is nobody can handlethose experiences so I didn't
talk about them too much exceptfor, you know, a couple of close
friends. Was difficult because Iwas completely, you know, my
(38:18):
mindset was different, I hadlearned things that you don't
learn just because you'retraveling around the world and
you're seeing museums andrestaurants, you know, and going
to shops and stuff. I mean, Iwas I was, you know, really in
the belly of it.
And so, I mean, the people Italked to and it just, you know,
(38:39):
these things don't leave yourmind. I live with a little PTSD
and every once in a while I'llhave a meltdown and be in my
closet in the fetal position andthen I'm okay. So thank goodness
it doesn't happen too often.
Merry (38:52):
It's Well, happens with your daughter? Talk about that a
little bit because when you cameback here
Countess Ilene Medecin (38:58):
Yeah. That was horrendous. Well, was
living in Uruguay and going backand forth for about three and a
half years, and I wanted her tocome back with me. She was
completely brainwashed byJacques, and he was very abusive
with her and I didn't know anyabout all this. But she ended up
(39:21):
when she finally came back to mebecause he was murdered, thank
you very much.
That was the only way I wasgonna get her back, I can tell
you. I mean, he was escapinginto the Pampas, I mean, in
Uruguay, I mean, it's unreal.And she ended up having breast
cancer and that absolutelydestroyed us. I mean, when I
(39:44):
talk about this, I'm sorrybecause I get very emotional,
it's hard for me to talk aboutit, what we went through. Mhmm.
And thank goodness, you know,thank goodness, you know, she's
in remission today. But shelives with tremendous PTSD
because she was tortured by him.Was a point why where she was
washing her hair and theelectric electricity would
(40:07):
always go off because theydidn't have a good grid there.
And so she would come out of theshower and she had run out of
conditioner for her hair. And sohe had burst into the room and
he said, What's going on?
And she says, Well, you know,Daddy, do you think you could
get me some conditioner? And hepicked her up by her hair and
(40:31):
threw her across the room. Nowif I would have known what was
going on with him and this washappening because she was too
afraid to tell me, I I wouldhave I probably would have been
in jail for killing him. Mhmm.Our daughter is is extremely
she's a good person.
She's a sweet girl. Extremely,extremely damaged.
Cathy (40:57):
What country was she born in?
Countess Ilene Medecin (40:59):
I made sure when I was seven months
pregnant to come back to TheStates. I wanted her to be an
American citizen. Mhmm. Becauseat that time, you couldn't have
a dual or triple passport. Andso but eventually, she was
she'll always be an Americancitizen.
She had a French passport andthen she had a Uruguayan
passport. But she doesn't haveanything to do with those those
(41:21):
anymore because she Mhmm. LovesAmerica. Oh,
Merry (41:25):
that's one of your doggies. Right?
Countess Ilene Medecin (41:27):
I'm supposed to take care of her.
I'm sorry. That was Rosie. Getthat Rosie. Get the poopy out.
No more barking. So sorry.
Merry (41:42):
That that livens up the conversation a bit to give more
positivity on it.
Countess Ilene Medecin (41:50):
Yeah. Now, it's interesting because
the audio is being done. Andthis woman, her name is Laura
Lockwood, she's done a Why lot
Merry (41:59):
don't you talk about what's happening with your book
now, how it's doing as long asyou veered into that.
Countess Ilene Medecin (42:06):
Oh, okay. I'm really surprised. It's
I have been getting royaltychecks and I have been selling.
Amazon has been back ordered andwon't have orders in that people
are waiting for until September.Can't keep the book.
Nice. I'm amazed. Nice. Youknow? And my publisher is just
(42:30):
loving it and it's selling.
So that's why I needed to haveit translated which is finished
now, it's gonna be published inFrench. That should be a big
audience, it better be. Andit'll also be sent to Uruguay,
it'll be sent to England, Andthen as I said, audio is being
(42:51):
done and I've listened to overhalfway through the book. Who's
joined the audio? LauraLockwood.
And I've been sent thesechapters listening to them and
I'm like, that was my life? Thatwas me? I mean, a little
(43:12):
frightening there. Oh, god. Soyeah, there were chapters that I
I had to stop because I wascrying.
And No. Understandable. Tryingto get emotional because I'm I'm
remembering those chapters.
Cathy (43:26):
Right. Yeah. Eileen, what would you like our audience to
have as a takeaway today?
Countess Ilene Medecin (43:35):
I'm gonna read you something. Okay.
This is the end of the bookbecause I wasn't gonna do this,
but it says, at this point in mylife, I choose not to waste my
energy with toxic people. Thereare so many things I wish I
could reveal at this time, butit wouldn't be wise. Too many
(43:55):
people have allegedlydisappeared because of the
things I was privy to as Jack'swife.
Even though most of thedangerous people have died, I
won't take chances byconsciously putting myself in
harm's way. Well, that'spolitics for you. And what I
have written is the truth, thewhole truth, and nothing but the
truth, which is racing up forthis memoir. Regarding my untold
stories, there may be a moreappropriate time post mortem for
(44:17):
them to be published. I am verygrateful to share these chapters
of my life with hope thatreaders can fathom my first hand
experiences.
It would make me happy if mystory serves as an inspiration
for others to seek and fulfilltheir own true dreams. I have
always pushed my life to thefullest to accomplish my goals
and as harrowing as it's been, Inow believe I have succeeded in
(44:41):
finding the correct path. Sowhen India becomes safe for
travel again, will plan my nexttrip to Udaipur. I shall pay
homage and thank Ganesh for hisloving guidance and support. I'm
just waiting for the word go toget on that plane.
Until then, I wish you allNamaste. Because I spent a lot
India, I've got over 77 picturesin the book. Mhmm. And it proves
(45:08):
what I'm saying. Because I knowwhen I'm reading a memoir, if I
don't see pictures, I'm going,okay, is that really what
happened?
You know, I've got pictures toprove everything. I've got
pictures of me in jail. Right.You know Oh, wow. Of Good.
Yeah.
Merry (45:30):
Well, that's that's very it's heartwarming to hear that
and that you've recovered sowell from all those crazy,
insane, fun, and horribleexperiences, and to hear that
your daughter Joy is doing sowell.
Countess Ilene Medecin (45:46):
Yes. She's doing well.
Merry (45:48):
You, my friend.
Countess Ilene Medecin (45:49):
Oh, thank you both so much. I really
appreciate you wanting to hearme. Yeah. This has been a real
honor for me. Thank you so much.
Merry (46:01):
Well, our guest today on Late Boomers has been Countess
Aileen Medecin, the former FirstLady of Nice, France, and the
French Riviera. If you wouldlike to learn more about the
Countess's life and you've heardsome here, but there's so much
more or you'd like to purchaseher book, you can contact her
via her website,countessaileenmedecin.com. And
(46:28):
you can purchase her book,Arrested, on Amazon or through
her publisher, Book Baby. Thankyou.
Cathy (46:35):
And thank you for listening to our Late Boomers
podcast and subscribing to ourLate Boomers podcast channel on
YouTube. Listen in next weekwhen you'll meet another
exciting guest. You can listento Late Boomers on any podcast
platform and look at our newwebsite, lateboomers.us, where
you can find all our episodesand descriptions. Please follow
(46:58):
us on InstagramIamKathyWarthington and
IamMaryAlkins and LateBoomers.Thanks again, Countess Aileen
Medcen.
Merry (47:09):
Thank you. Namaste.
Cathy (47:20):
Thank you for joining us on late boomers, the podcast
that is your guide to creating athird act with style, power, and
impact. Please visit our websiteand get in touch with us
@lateboomers.us. If you wouldlike to listen to or download
other episodes of late boomers,go to ewnpodcastnetwork.com.
Merry (47:44):
This podcast is also available on Spotify, Apple
Podcast, and most other majorpodcast sites. We hope you make
use of the wisdom you've gainedhere and that you enjoy a
successful third act with yourown style, power, and impact.
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