The System | 4

Summary

Podcast Summary: The Mystic and The Mayor – Episode 4: "The System"

Podcast: The Mystic and The Mayor
Episode: 4 - The System
Date: August 5, 2025
Host/Presenters: Anna Richardson and Leo Schick
Producer: Audio Always

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Episode Overview

This episode digs into the hidden power structures and personal dynamics that roil a seemingly idyllic French coastal town. Investigative journalist Leo Schick and presenter Anna Richardson unravel the complex bond between the charismatic mayor, Gilles d’Ettore, and mystic healer Sophia Martinez. The episode probes whether Gilles used his considerable influence to benefit Sophia—and what role Sophia played in leveraging her proximity to power. As the façade of tranquility crumbles, the hosts question who is truly in control and how vulnerability can be exploited or transformed into strength.

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Introducing Gilles d’Ettore – The Mayor's Persona

• Charisma and Popularity: Gilles is described as warm, well-liked, and deeply connected to the town he’s led for over two decades.
• Personal Motivations: His profound grief over his deceased father is highlighted as a driving force behind some of his vulnerabilities and choices.
  • “He has been mayor for over 20 years, which has been a lifelong dream of his. And also his deceased...dad, who he misses terribly.” – Anna Richardson [01:06]
• People-Pleaser Nature: Leo observes that Gilles' core trait might be people-pleasing, necessary for his role but potentially a vulnerability.
  • "I think his core trait is that he's a people pleaser." – Leo Schick [01:32]

2. The Unique Politics of Agde – The "D’Ettore System"

• A Town of Contrasts: Agde deals with massive seasonal influxes—from families to swingers—underscoring the managerial complexity Gilles faced (permanent population: 20,000; peak summer: up to 350,000).
  • “A mixture of those who come to swim, those who come to swing at sex parties, and those who come to lounge au naturel on the nudist beach.” – Leo Schick [02:55]
• Centralized Power Structure: Locals and political opponents describe a system dubbed “the D’Ettore System”—a network of personal loyalties, little transparency, and a ‘clan’ mentality.
  • “This D’Ettore system is like a clan system. It has no transparency, and I am against it.” – Dr. Thierry Nadal [04:11]
• Absence of Accountability: Gilles has vertically stacked power, holding multiple influential roles, drawing comparisons to a ‘local prince’.

3. The Darker Side – Aggression Beneath the Charm

• Allegations of Intimidation: While Gilles is publicly charming, political rivals describe him as cutting, mocking, and unwilling to tolerate dissent during council meetings.
  • “He could be cutting in his responses...use levers to destabilize the person in front of you.” – Fabrice Mour [06:57]
  • “He's someone who doesn't think twice about interrupting others...he can then be very harsh and become argumentative, let's say very aggressive.” – Thierry Nadal [07:53]
• Lack of Democratic Debate: Opponents note that while not outright insulting, Gilles’ style leaves little room for constructive disagreement.

4. Gilles, Sophia, and The Use of Power

• Favors for Sophia: Gilles is accused of repeatedly pressuring a local civil engineering company (via its director Thiel) to build a veranda for Sophia, concealing the cost within another invoice.
  • “He started to call Thiel every two days to see if he'd made up his mind about building the veranda for Sophia. Until finally Thiel agrees.” – Leo Schick [10:22-10:45]
• Potential Quid Pro Quo: The hosts discuss whether businesses comply because of subtle payback expectations or fear of angering Gilles.
  • “Let's just keep the mayor on side because he's going to look favourably on us further into the future. Let's just keep him happy.” – Anna Richardson [10:48]
• Claims of Harassment: Thiel’s lawyer characterizes Gilles’ actions as a form of harassment, asserting Thiel received no benefit.
  • “He was the victim of a form of harassment by Mr. Gilles de Torch, and there was no personal benefit to him...” – Statement from Thiel’s lawyer [11:44]

5. The Sophia Question – Manipulator or Survivor?

• Who Holds the Power? The hosts debate whether Sophia is manipulating Gilles or if he’s inclined to abuse his power independently—"a little bit chicken and egg."
  • “Did Sophia pressurize Gilles into doing these things for her, or is Gilles just the kind of man who abuses his power anyway?” – Anna Richardson [12:14]
• Sophia’s Charisma and Identity: Sophia’s ability to get what she wants, her change of name after moving to Agde, and what this says about her self-presentation are explored.
  • “She knew exactly how to manipulate situations in order to get what she wanted...So this is a woman who absolutely somehow knew how to play this system and got right into the heart of power.” – Anna Richardson [12:53]
  • “When she moved in [Agde] suddenly, she was going by the name of Sophia...she said, 'Actually, my real name is Sophia and it was a mistake.’” – Louise Colcombe, Le Parisien [13:47]

6. Vulnerability & Power – Who Abuses Whom?

• Reflections on Agency: The episode closes with the unresolved question of whether Sophia’s behavior represents the first abuse of her own power.
  • "Is this the first time that Sophia has abused her power?" – Anna Richardson [14:35]
• Teaser for Next Episode: A new voice hints at the pain and vulnerability that might have left him open to Sophia’s influence.
  • “I opened my eyes, but it was too late. I had become fragile and vulnerable.” – Anonymous male [15:19]

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Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments

• “Gilles’ core trait is that he’s a people pleaser.” – Leo Schick [01:32]
• “This D’Ettore system is like a clan system. It has no transparency, and I am against it.” – Dr. Thierry Nadal [04:11]
• “But that comes from behaving like a career politician—having this aim to leave very little room for those to contradict you and what you do.” – Fabrice Mour [07:48]
• “He was the victim of a form of harassment by Mr. Gilles de Torch, and there was no personal benefit to him.” – Statement from Thiel’s lawyer [11:44]
• “Did Sophia pressurize Gilles into doing these things for her, or is Gilles just the kind of man who abuses his power anyway?” – Anna Richardson [12:14]
• “She knew exactly how to manipulate situations in order to get what she wanted.” – Anna Richardson [12:53]
• “Her name was Sophia. And then I was kind of struck because...I would find not Sophia, but Sophie.” – Louise Colcombe [13:47]

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Important Timestamps

• 01:06 – Discussion of Gilles’ personal story and people-pleasing nature
• 04:11 – 05:00 – Dr. Thierry Nadal explains the “D’Ettore System”
• 06:57 – 08:27 – Political opponents describe Gilles’ aggressive side
• 10:19 – 11:44 – The veranda story: Gilles’ pressure on local builders for Sophia
• 12:14 – 13:20 – Debating the dynamic between Gilles and Sophia
• 13:47 – 14:27 – Journalist Louise Colcombe on Sophia’s name change
• 15:19 – Preview of next episode with a victim’s perspective on vulnerability

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Tone and Style

The hosts maintain a probing, investigative tone—balancing skepticism, compassion, and journalistic curiosity. Candid soundbites from locals and opponents help paint a vivid picture of political intrigue and psychological complexity. There’s an undercurrent of suspense as the story inches closer to revealing how individual vulnerabilities and ambition can upend a whole community.

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Closing Remarks

This episode leaves listeners with more questions than answers: Who is pulling the strings in Agde—the seasoned mayor with unchecked powers, or the enigmatic mystic with a knack for influence? As Anna notes, “it’s a little bit chicken and egg.” The investigation continues, promising deeper insights into manipulation, vulnerability, and the blurry lines between help and harm.

Transcript

[A]

This is the story of a picture perfect coastal town, the home to two powerful figures. Sophia Martinez is a mystic, a captivating woman with a troubled past, who became a trusted healer to those in agd. And the mayor, Gilles de Tor, a warm and charismatic leader who's won over the constituents of the town he grew up in and calls home. But how well do you need to know someone to really know them?

[B]

I'm Anna Richardson.

[A]

And I'm Leo Chic. And for the past year, I've been investigating the town of AGD and all that lies beneath the surface. This is the mystic and the Mare. Episode 4 okay, so, Anna, with everything we know so far, I really want to know, what do you think of Gilles de Torch?

[B]

Well, do you know, the impression I get about this guy is that he's hugely respected and admired. He's obviously at the heart of his community. He has been mayor for over 20 years, which has been a lifelong dream of his. And also his deceased daughter, dad, who he misses terribly. So, you know, from what I've heard, he seems like a really nice guy. But what about you? I mean, what do you make of him?

[A]

I think his core trait is that he's a people pleaser.

[B]

Okay, because you've obviously been investigating him. So you're saying I think this guy is a people pleaser, He's a good guy? Well, that would make sense. I mean, he is the mayor.

[A]

Yeah, I guess people pleasing is kind of his job. He has to make sure people are happy. And when I visited agd, a lot of people I spoke to referenced how charming he is.

[B]

Oh, really? Well, I mean, he certainly seems that way.

[A]

Here's Thierry Nadal. He's a local doctor, an ag resident of 36 years, and a leader of the opposition in agd. So gillespolitical rival.

[C]

He's a charismatic person, otherwise he wouldn't have won the election the way he did. He's someone who I think has empathy for people. Of course, we don't know other people's inner thoughts, but in 2008, when I met him, he was someone who was appealing due to his charisma.

[A]

The more people I spoke to while I was there, the more this image formed of Gilles as someone who's very generous and a mayor who's really looking out for the people in his town. And not just the people in the town, the businesses too.

[B]

I mean, it kind of sounds like Gilles has a really strong sense of his civic duty here, to be honest. And, you know, he sounds like, yeah, he's a nice guy. He's a politician.

[A]

That's right. And it takes an interesting kind of leader to run a place like AGD. The town is home to 20,000 permanent residents who live through gray and rainy winters. But in the summer, it stretches to fit up to 350,000 people at a time. A mixture of those who come to swim, those who come to swing at sex parties, and those who come to lounge au naturel on the nudist beach. It's Gilles job as mayor to keep the town running smoothly for its loyal residents and the hundreds of thousands of people who flock to it each year.

[B]

I mean, it sounds like a sort of typical seasonal tourist town, albeit with naked people everywhere. I mean, it's not the easiest thing for Gilles, but I kind of feel like there's a reason why you're telling me this, Leo.

[A]

Yeah. First of all, I want to remind you that Gilles has been running this town, with its unique uses, for over 20 years. And bear with me, because I'm going to get into local politics, because the way that he's managed his role has been fascinating. People call it the detour system. Detour as in Gilles de Tour. It's so synonymous with him, it literally takes his name. Here's Thierry again to tell us more.

[C]

This dettore system is like a clan system. It has no transparency, and I am against it. A clan is when a local baron controls everything, has appointed almost all of the members of his team or the administrators, and has personal relationship with a huge number of professional stakeholders. After a while, this clan, this restricted community, will operate in a closed circuit. And that's where the safeguards no longer exist, because everyone is in debt to the leader for something, and people no longer say anything because they are afraid of falling from grace. And it's easy to see that this is to the detriment of the town and its residents.

[B]

This is interesting, Leo, because it sounds like there's a lot of fear going on here and that this is almost a sort of autocratic system, that Gilles potentially has placed himself at the top, and he's ensured that that he's gonna stay at the top a little bit, you know, through ruling through fear. Possibly. That's my interpretation.

[A]

I don't know if I would call it autocratic. And this is one political opponent. You know, for any functioning democracy, you need checks and balances.

[B]

Absolutely.

[A]

You need things like people being able to say no to the person in power. And it does sound like he's created a system where it's kind of his way or the highway. What Gilles has done this detour system is really interesting. During his time in power, he at one point held three different positions in three different areas that all encompass act. In UK terms, it's like being a local councillor, an MP of a constituency and in charge of a county, all at the same time. So he stacked up his roles vertically from small town to wider region, giving him far reaching powers. I even spoke to someone who compared it to being governed by a prince.

[B]

So he's. He's just free to do pretty much what he wants. Shiel?

[A]

Yeah. In terms of decision making, what was being told to me was, you know, he was getting his way a lot of the time.

[B]

Well, it sounds like it, doesn't it, that he's constructed the detour system, which is that there's very little accountability and that he can pretty much do what he wants and stay in power.

[A]

When you have that much power, who can challenge you? To the residents of Agues, Gilles appeared friendly and warm. He answered whenever they called. He supported their small businesses and smiled at them in the street. But behind government doors, some saw a different side to him. I spoke to Fabrice Mour, who is another political opponent of Gilles.

[D]

When we had the council meetings, there were unpleasant moments because he could be cutting in his responses in the phrases he'd use that would aim to belittle his opponent in terms that were not very flattering. So it was not enriching. We could have had democratic debates, disagree on projects, or even take positive aspects from the other side's argument. But this is not how Gilles de Torre was. It did not go as far as insults, but you do not need to insult someone to be hurtful, to use available levers to destabilize the person in front of you. But that comes from behaving like a career politician, having this aim to leave very little room for those to contradict you and what you do.

[A]

Thierry had similar experiences to Fabrice.

[C]

In municipal council meetings. He's someone who doesn't think twice about interrupting others and he uses irony and he mocks and disparages his opponents. He is not the same type of person when he is out in the street in the municipal council. When we contradict him or we show him that on certain things, well, what he is saying is not the truth. He can then be very harsh and become argumentative, let's say very aggressive.

[B]

I mean, this is a whole different side, isn't it, to Gilles de Tours that we're hearing here that, you know, on the face of it, for the last, however, Many episodes we've heard about a guy who's charming, you know, that perhaps he was conned by Sophia. That may be a little bit gullible, actually, but no, what we're hearing is a man who, behind closed doors on the political circuit, he's actually quite aggressive and at times quite unpleasant. And a highly skilled, very powerful politician. That's a who. Different story.

[A]

We approached Gilles de Tours lawyer to ask him about these allegations. He did not reply. Gilles political style meant he had a firm grip on the town and also meant he could use his power in many different ways. So he was perhaps uniquely placed to help Sophia when the Archangel called and asked him for favours, to help her, to protect her. Tirsuet, a man in his 50s, answers the phone. He's on site at a construction job. He works as the regional director of a civil engineering company. They're a large firm and they're responsible for a lot of major works in and around act. Calling him is the mayor of aigues, Gilles de Tart. He has a favor to ask Thill. According to what Till told the local paper, Midi Libre, Gilles asks him to build a veranda for a woman named Sophia. Gilles says she's a healer, that she's had a very difficult childhood and that he'd like to take care of her. The company Till works for is in high demand and he. He's very busy. He told the mayor he'd think about it.

[C]

Je se pas.

[A]

But Gilles calls again and again. Thiel tells Midi Liebe that Gilles becomes insistent and an anonymous source tells the paper that the mayor started to call Thiel every two days to see if he'd made up his mind about building the veranda for Sophia. Until finally Thiel agrees.

[C]

Okay. Okay, good.

[B]

I've got you. So basically, Gilles is potentially saying to these companies, can you do me a favour? It's for this woman called Sophia. And they're not necessarily questioning it, they're just going, let's just keep the mayor on side because he's going to look favourably on us further into the future. Let's just keep him happy.

[A]

Yeah. And when I was in agda, I actually peered over the wall by Sophia's house to get a glimpse of this Vera. It's definitely there. Thiel's lawyer told Midi Lieb that he agreed to build it for Sophia and to hide the cost of the job in a bill for another job.

[B]

There is a quid pro quo going on here, isn't there? That Gilles is putting a lot of pressure on local businesses. In this case, to this guy Thiel, to say, I want you to build Sophia a veranda. This woman needs a veranda. She's had a tough time. I want you to do this. Really, really pressurizes him to do it. Thiel says, ultimately, ok, I'll do it.

[A]

That's the insinuation. We got in touch with Tilzoet's lawyer, Marc Galx, about this, and he did get back to us, saying, in response to your email, I am informing you that I don't have any specific observations to share on the topic of my client in this case. I simply would like to stress the fact that he was the victim of a form of harassment by Mr. Gilles de Torch, and there was no personal benefit to him agreeing to participate in the construction of a veranda for. For Mrs. Sofia Martinez.

[B]

I have a really big question at this point, and the question is this, did Sophia pressurize Gilles into doing these things for her, or is Gilles just the kind of man who abuses his power anyway, and he was just wielding his sword anyway with people within the community, it's a little bit chicken and egg this, isn't it?

[A]

Since I started looking into just turning in circles, going around, biting my own tail on it, it's really, really hard to work that out, trying to find out who holds the power in that relationship.

[B]

We've heard, haven't we, in earlier episodes, that Sophia was a very charismatic young woman. She knew exactly how to manipulate situations in order to get what she wanted. And I think somebody had said that, you know, she was a warrior, she knew what she wanted, and by God, she got it. So this is a woman who absolutely somehow knew how to play this system and got right into the heart of power.

[A]

Yeah. I wondered, you know, did she stumble across it? And then she thought, this is too good to be true. I have to. I can't let this go.

[B]

I know how to manipulate this situation and get what I want.

[A]

Yeah, There is just one small additional thing.

[B]

Oh, man. What else?

[A]

So apparently, before she moved to ag, she went by the name Sophie. And after she moves, she changes her name to Sophia. Here's Louise Colcombe, a journalist from Le Parisien, talking about it.

[E]

Her name was Sophia. And then I was kind of struck because here and there I would find not Sophia, but Sophie. So I was a bit funny. And when I got some friends on the phone, she told me after a while, but are you talking about something Sophia or Sophie? Because I know her as Sophie and she told me that when they were friends in school, she was Called Sophie. And when she moved in act suddenly, she was going by the name of Sophia. And she asked her what happened and she said no. Yeah, it was just. Actually, my real name is Sophia and it was a mistake.

[B]

I mean, there's a lot of questions you've got to ask yourself, isn't there? When somebody starts to change their name, what is that all about?

[A]

Well, I changed my name. So I used to have a nickname.

[B]

Right. So. So who are you?

[A]

Everyone used to call me Lily. And I just realized I hated that name and I changed it. So my birth name is Leonor and I just changed it to Leo as my nickname.

[B]

Right.

[A]

Okay. So I get the inclination.

[B]

This is. Hold on, Leah. This is all information, new information for me. Okay, I hear you that some people want to change their name, especially if they're moving to something that just suits them better. So let's give her the benefit of the doubt on that. But I still a little bit dodge, but this is the first time I've thought about this, actually. But is this the first time that Sophia has abused her power?

[A]

Well, in the next episode, this man's story will answer that very question.

[D]

I opened my eyes, but it was too late. I was going through a very difficult period of unhappiness due to the death of my mother. I had become fragile and vulnerable.

[B]

The mystic and the Mayor was presented by me, Anna Richardson and presented, researched.

[A]

And produced by me, Leo Sheikh.

[B]

The series was written and produced by Palama Kaufman. Our executive producers are Kelly Windsorbergin and Elsa Rochester.

[A]

Sound design is by Craig Edmondson.

[B]

The mystic and the Mayor is a co production between Audio or Always and Bite your tongue Productions.

[A]

I made multiple attempts to contact Gilles de Torre and Sophia Martinez through their lawyers, but they did not wish to speak on the record. The invitation to speak remains open to both of them. Gilles and Sophia and all defendants in the current investigation are presumed innocent until judgment.