WRP's monthly best of

On this episode of Turning Points, Patricia Killeen spoke with John McLachlan, an Irish composer. John was born in Dublin and is currently residing in Donegal.  He studied music at the Royal Irish Academy of Music and Trinity College Dublin, where he earned a PhD in musicology, focusing on the compositional techniques of Boulez, Xenakis, Lutoslawski, and Carter. His composition teachers include William York, Robert Hanson, and Kevin Volans. John's works have been performed internationally across Europe, Asia, the Americas, and Africa, and by many prominent ensembles and soloists. He has received commissions from major organizations including RTÉ NSO, New Music Dublin, Music Network, and the National Concert Hall. His music is featured on several recordings and anthologies, and his pedagogical piano works have been published in the Royal Irish Academy of Music syllabus. Notable releases include First and Drinking the Stars, both on Farpoint Recordings. In 2022, he edited and published two books by his mother, writer Leland Bardwell, and organized a literary festival in her honor. He also created a Leland Bardwell website. He is an active writer and broadcaster on contemporary music, and has contributed to the promotion of Irish music through his roles in the Association of Irish Composers and the Irish Composition Summer School. His music is available through the Contemporary Music Centre.   Paris has played a significant role in John's work. During a month spent in the CCI (Centre Culturel Irlandais) in 2023, he created a piece called: Le Dernier Bourgeon de L'avenir. Patricia met up with him the day before he returned to Ireland after spending another month in the CCI.

What better time than summer to dive into a great book? In this special episode of World Radio Paris Presents, host Héloïse sits down with producer ARBL Murray to share a curated list of French books — from literary giants like Dumas and Camus to contemporary voices like Leïla Slimani and Gaël Faye. These are the books we're reading this summer, all available in English. Whether you're stretched out on the beach, killing time in a café, or just curious about French culture, this episode is packed with titles that will help you see France in a whole new light!

In this Episode of Lost in Frenchlation we talk to Laura Piani, the writer and director of 'Jane Austen Wrecked My Life,' a new romantic comedy about a woman who lives between the pages and struggles to finish her own story. Laura shares with us why she decided to direct, what inspired this story, and how she chose to show the work of Jane Austen in a new light.   We delve into some of the autobiographical elements of the film: The main character works at the famed Shakespeare and Co. as did Laura herself-- and discuss the male archetypes in the films wonderfully funny love triangle, and the best book Laura ever read.    For more information on Lost in Frenchlation, the cinema club click here: https://lostinfrenchlation.com/   The hosts for this episode are Manon Kerjean and ARBL Murray. This episode was recorded and produced by World Radio Paris. 

On this Episode of Parentalité, Joelle Benoliel visits the wonderful, magical, anglophone bookshop for kids and talks with the owner and founder, Penelope Fletcher. Just adjacent to Jardin du Luxembourg, The Red Balloon is the kid focused section of The Red Wheelbarrow and is a haven for little readers and their parents to come, learn, pick out books, and build community.  Penelope raised her children in Paris while opening and maintaining the Red Wheelbarrow. She shares her beautiful story of love, difficulty, children, and books in the city of Paris. She also gives her 3 current favorites for young readers.    For more information on The Redwheelbarrow and The Red Balloon please visit their website: https://theredwheelbarrowbookstore.com/   If you like the work we do at World Radio Paris please consider donating: https://worldradioparis.org/donate/   PARENTALITÉ is a produced in collaboration with Message Paris, an association of anglophone caretakers and parents in the Paris Region.  This episode of Parentalité was Produced by ARBL Murray for World Radio Paris and Message Paris with Host Joelle Benoliel on Location, in Paris, at The Red Balloon Bookstore.       

Think Paris is all croissants and coq au vin? Think again. In this episode of World Radio Paris Presents, host Heloise Daniel talks with award-winning British food writer Chris Newens about his new book, Moveable Feasts: Paris in Twenty Meals. Chris takes us on a delicious journey through every arrondissement of Paris, uncovering the multicultural dishes and personal food stories that define modern Parisian cuisine.

What does the world look like through Agnès Varda's eyes? In this episode, host Héloïse Daniel speaks with Anne de Mondenard, curator of the exhibition Le Paris d'Agnès Varda, de-ci, de-là, currently on view at the Musée Carnavalet. The show celebrates the life and work of one of France's most original and beloved filmmakers. Anne explains how the exhibition came together and what it reveals about Varda's universe—from her focus on women and working-class lives to iconic films like Cléo from 5 to 7 and Vagabond. With film clips, photographs, and playful installations, the exhibition traces Varda's artistic journey and her deep connection to Paris.

On this episode of Turning Points, Patricia Killeen welcomed Úna Ní Cheallaigh, an award-winning poet. Úna hails from Dublin, Ireland. Educated at St Patrick's College (DCU), University College and Trinity College Dublin, she had a varied career in teaching, including Special Education, Home School Community Liaison and Drama in Education. Úna also holds an M.Phil in Theatre Studies from the University of Glasgow and a Master's in Creative Writing from University College Cork.  She has been involved in drama and writers' groups and is currently a member of Poetry Circle at the Irish Writers Centre. She has enjoyed many opportunities to travel, and time to write in Ferrazze, Italy, was organised by the Irish Writers Centre. Úna describes her writing journey and presents her collection of poetry entitled ‘The Colour of Time', described by poet James Harpur as an ‘elegy touched with beauty'.  She spent a month at the Centre Culturel Irlandais in Paris in 2018, and revisiting the Camille Claudel salon in the Rodin Museum would lead her to pen a sequence at the very heart of ‘The Colour of Time', giving voice to the sculptor, Camille Claudel. Many of us know that Claudel was committed to an asylum (in 1913) after destroying some of her artworks. Claudel died in 1943, after spending 30 years in the Montedevergues insane asylum and the 'Mémoire de Montedevergues' sequence in ‘The Colour of Time' gives the incarcerated Camille Claudel a soul-touching, poetic, and finally, unforgettable voice. ‘The Colour of Time', by Úna Ní Cheallaigh, published by Arlen House https://thesalmonbookshop.com/products/the-colour-of-time-poems-by-una-ni-cheallaigh Musée Rodin: https://www.musee-rodin.fr/en Musée Camille Claudel : https://www.museecamilleclaudel.fr/ 

This mix by Samad, Heloise and Astrid, some of our team members, is a selection of a variety of short features and tips that we bring you each day on WRP.

This episode was hosted and produced by Héloïse Daniel and recorded at the Sciences Po campus by the volunteers of World Radio Paris. How is France reckoning with the legacy of its colonial past—and why does it remain such a polarizing topic today? Host Héloïse Daniel sits down with Jakob Vogel, historian and professor of 19th and 20th-century European history at Sciences Po, to explore how colonialism has shaped modern France, from its institutions to its national memory and why it's harder to talk about today than it was a decade ago. Jakob Vogel spearheaded an important exhibit specifically examining Sciences Po and other elite educational institutions of France on how they trained and taught about colonialism during France's colonial expansion.  Discover the online version of the exhibit SciencesPo, a Colonial History here | Find the English edition of the book Europa - Notre histoire here

Groove Xanadu released their eponymous debut album, showcasing the group's signature sound live on Turning Points. In this episode of Turning Points, Patricia Killeen welcomed singer-songwriter Michael D. Amitin and vocalist Cerenia Capouix to the studio. In the winter of 2023–2024, Michael, an American expat in Paris, began exploring new musical ideas with fresh collaborators. Serendipity played its part, bringing together a talented lineup: keyboardist Paul Sany, guitarist Guillaume Perrin, bassist Emmanuel Sunnee, and drummer Baptist Castets. Their country-blues foundation soon evolved into a rich, multicultural blend of jazz, funk, and soul. A magical, distinctive vocal harmony melded between Michael and Cerenia, and Cerenia's shining, "angel like"; vocals soon took the lead on several tracks. With good vibes and creative chemistry, Groove Xanadu recorded their debut at QDS Studio with engineer Michael Buyens, and then overdubs ensued at Submarine Studios with Isaackito. The result: Groove Xanadu, the eponymous first album by the newly formed group. The album premiered on Turning Points, with Michael and Cerenia performing two tracks live ‘Her Mother Drank Black Coffee', and ‘Food for the Angels' to the pure delight of Patricia and Aliosha in the studio. The group is now gearing up for the album release party at the Sunset Club on September 30 with more events on the horizon. You can find Groove Xanadu on: Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/people/Groove-Xanadu/61573031236354/) Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/groovexanadu?igsh=d3ltZnVwdzExNDMx ) Bandcamp (https://groovexanadu.bandcamp.com/album/groove-xanadu)

Created and recorded by Wafa Jawad for World Radio Paris. In this episode of Cups and Dishes, we're getting a little emotional… in the best way. Wafa dives into the magic of food and memory—how just one bite can take you back in time. From the Proustian moment to a few personal stories, this episode explores the times where food becomes something more: a memory, a feeling, a connection. Episode produced by ARBL Murray and Héloïse Daniel

It's that time of year again! The Cannes Film Festival wrap up! There were anarchists sabotaging electrical systems and fainting spells during the screenings but was it also an exciting year for cinema? Our guest Youri Rebeko helps us unpack it all and shares his top picks and biggest disappointments this year.  Youri is a screenwriter, composer, and one of the hosts of the popular French cinema podcast La Perche. This episode is produced and hosted by Manon Kerjean and ARBL Murray and recorded in the 20th arrondissement of Paris.    Notes on Episode: Youri's Picks Sirat  Left Handed Girl  A Simple Accident Manon's Picks Des Preuves d'Amour La Petite Dernière  

In This episode of New Arrivals, Eliza Lorenço walks us through a guide to renting an apartment in Paris!  "Paris has a bad reputation when it comes to finding a place to live. Advice can also vary widely. It's important to stay informed and get the facts straight.  I'd heard that finding a rental was difficult, so when I moved to Paris from Sydney, Australia, I made it a top priority to find accommodation before I had even stepped foot in the country. There's really no such thing as being too prepared when it comes to moving overseas.  This is easier said than done. The problem with renting in Paris isn't necessarily having a lack of money to pay the rent itself; rather, it can be hard as a foreigner to meet requirements. I know first-hand how important it can be to know your rights as a tenant in Paris. It can save you time, stress, and money. For example, I used the tools in the section below on rental controls to negotiate a rent decrease on my studio, something that is practically unheard of in my hometown." To read the blog go to our website: https://worldradioparis.org/2025/02/07/

In this episode of Parentalité Joelle, Meg, and Rachelle, talk with Christine Siler about Menopause. Christine (Tina) is a menopause policy advocate and is changing the way women, men, doctors, and families see menopause.  In some cultures it was regarded as a sacred time when a women transitioned into a wiser peaceful keeper of the community, now many fear and dread it. Tina is working to change the policy and medical care around menopause so that the women in our lives can move into this phase with dignity. Tina is producing a screening of 'The M Factor' an important and controversial documentary about menopause medical policy and a panel discussion afterward on June 4th 2025, 19:00-21:30 at the historic Luminor Theater in the Marais.  Our crew talks candidly about how, with the appropriate support both emotional and medical, this can be something to look forward to. A huge part of the discussion is around access to medication and research and bringing those things to the medical system in France. How and when to start advocating for yourself.  To buy tickets and more info about the M Factor screening in Paris visit: https://www.messageparis.org/event-details/the-m-factor-in-paris   For more information on Christine Siler visit: https://www.christinesiler.com/ Christine's Linkdin   Parentalité is produced by ARBL Murray for World Radio Paris and recorded at their studio.   

Learn what King of France Philippe Auguste achieved during rule, around the year 1200. Among his constructions, the protection wall of Paris, the Sorbonne University, the Sewer system, and he established Paris as the Capital of France. Learn a lot more by listening to Dr Gary Girod.

 In this Episode of Lost in Frenchlatin we talk with Global Cinema expert Dina Iordanova about her 2016 book Cinemas of Paris.  We talk about how Paris is a "never ending film festival," and why movie going in the city of light is unlike anywhere else.  We talk about the wealth of movie theaters and why they are all different. How some have gone to extreme lengths to keep these cinemas open and some have been saved by the city itself.  Dina Iordanova is Emeritus Professor in Global Cinema at the University of St Andrews in Scotland. A native of Bulgaria, she has worked around the world for more than three decades. She is a film historian of transnational cinema and has particular interest in the study of film festivals and global film circulation. In this Episode We Discuss: Cinemas:  Le Brady, Cinema La Clef, La Pagode, Espace Saint-Michel and many others.  You can read more of Dina's Work here: The Complicated History of Women at Cannes Film Festival (2021) Cannes Is Not A Film Festival: It Is a Club for Insiders (2018) For more information about Lost in Frenchlation and to buy tickets go to: https://lostinfrenchlation.com

In this episode of Turning Points, Patricia Killeen speaks with husband-and-wife team Jonathan Ruppin and Emma Claire Sweeney, who run the Ruppin Agency Writers' Studio. Their retreats in Paris (https://www.ruppinagency.com/paris/) and North Wales, along with their mentoring programmes, have become sought-after experiences for writers. Their upcoming Paris retreat (18–23 May), hosted by the Véranda Association Culturelle, will take place in a stunning house in the 15th arrondissement, often featured in architectural publications. Emma Claire Sweeney is an award-winning author and senior lecturer at the Open University. Her novel Owl Song at Dawn was named Nudge Book of the Year    (literary category), and her co-authored biography A Secret Sisterhood received praise from Margaret Atwood for its contributions to literary history. Emma's work has appeared in The Paris Review, TIME, and The Washington Post, and she has won the Society of Authors, Arts Council England, and the Royal Literary Fund awards. Jonathan Ruppin is an editor and former literary agent with over 30 years of industry experience. He led the Ruppin Agency from 2016 to 2024, where every novel sold was award-nominated, with wins including the Portico Prize and the Somerset Maugham Award. He has collaborated with English PEN, the Booker Prize Foundation, and New Books in German, and served as a judge for the Costa Novel Award, Guardian First Book Award, and the RNA Awards. Check out Emma and Jonathan's site: ruppinagency.com or contact Emma and Jonathan by email at studio@ruppinagency.com to book a retreat or for literary mentoring.

What happens when war is fought from behind a screen? In this episode, host ARBL Murray speaks with Canadian writer and Afghan war veteran Matt Jones about his new novel, Predators, Reapers, and Deadlier Creatures. Set in Kandahar in 2010, the book follows a drone operator wrestling with the moral and psychological weight of remote warfare. Now based in Paris, where he teaches creative writing at SciencesPo, Jones explores the challenge of writing about war for divided audiences—drawing on his journey from soldier to storyteller. Discover more about the author | Buy the book in France | Buy the book in the USA  

In this Episode of Lost in Frenchlatin we talk with lauded French filmmaker and screenwriter Arnaud Desplechin about his new film ‘Spectateurs!' (Filmlovers!)    His film screened at the beautiful Jeu de Paume in the Tuileries Gardens, during the Lost in Frenchlation event. Manon Kerjean and ARBL Murray were able to chat with Arnaud about his films, his inspiration, and what it was like to put together his own personal ode to cinema. Arnaud tells us why he used the mixed forms of narrative and documentary, what his earliest interactions with art were and why Pretty Woman occupies his thoughts from time to time.    In this Episode We Discuss: Films of Arnaud Desplechin   Philosopher: Stanley Cavell   Films: Shoah by Claude Lanzmann Killer of Sheep by Charles Burnett The Exiled by Johnnie To Pretty Woman by Garry Marshall   Arnoud's must see recommendation for recent films: Souleymane's Story by Boris Lojkine   Listen to Arnaud give a talk about why he loves the film Pretty Woman (In French) LISTEN HERE ON APPLE PODCASTS    For more information about Lost in Frenchlation and to buy tickets go to: https://lostinfrenchlation.com

In this episode of Cups and Dishes Wafa Jawad shares with us the meaning of Ramadan and some of her favorite foods to break the fast each day.     

On this episode of Parentalité we talk about the French way of reading and storytelling with children. First, Meg Gerner chats with Oliver Gee and Lina Nordin Gee, the parent duo responsible for the popular podcast The Earful Tower, about their series of children's books which all feature precocious animal characters who galavant around Paris. Lena talks about being a creative mom with a toddler and a newborn and Oliver gives us insight into their reading habits with three languages in the household.  Later in the Episode Joelle Benoliel and Rachelle Chapman talk about reading culture with kids in France from the huge influence of Bond Dessiners (graphic novels or comic style books) to the prevalence of libraries in the lives of French children. We talk about our favorite books growing up, and the favorite books of our children growing up in France.    Recommendations From This Episode Check out The children's books by Oliver and Lina Nordin Gee set in Paris for kids of all ages.  https://theearfultower.com/shop/   Our Favorite Books When We Were Young Joelle: Stormy with a chance of Meatballs, U.S.A Lena: Pippi Longstocking , Sweden  Lena: A Sunday Doll (en söndagsdocka), Sweden  Rachelle: The Giving Tree, Saul Silverstien, U.S.A   New Kids Books in English Joelle recommends, Halibut Jackson  Oliver Gee recommends, The Gruffalo and all the Julia Donaldson books.    Current French Books for Our Francophone Kids Roule Galette (young) A classic tale about a Galette Roi (King Cake) who escapes those who wish to eat her. Ana, Ana (young) Les trots petits cochons Three little pigs as architects by Steven GUARNACCIA. (Young) Les Cahiers d'Esther (Notebooks of Esther) 9 - 12 years  L'Arabe du Future (Arab of the future) Teenagers and adults   

In this Episode of Lost in Frenchlatin we continue our series on the Cinemas of Paris. Manon Kerjean and ARBL Murray chat with Camille Labé, the new Owner of L'épée de Bois. L'épée de Bois is a small cinema on Rue Mouffetard, one of the most iconic streets of Paris. The cinema opened in 1971 and has changed hands several times. Camille is the most recent owner having taken ownership in February of 2024. Camille tells us what it's like to run a cinema with a focus on community and classic cinema.  Camille is a big fan of classic comedy and she recommends checking out: The films of Louis de Funès Les aventures de Rabbi Jacob L'aile ou la cuisse Oscar

Welcome to Cups and Dishes: Valentine's Day with BONESHAKER Doughnuts in Paris! Valentine day is here and Wafa Jawad wanted to share the love ❤️ with you all especially her love for doughnuts

In this episode of This is not a Poem, Sabine Huynh and EK Bartlett explore the great women writers who shaped Sabine Huynh's writing, notably Anne Sexton, and how translation shapes our practice as writers.   A book shouldn't be judged by its cover, but it was indeed the cover of Anne Sexton's collected poems and her sandaled feet, that captured Sabine's attention in a little bookstore in Harvard Square in 1999. Now, 25 years later, Sabine has translated nearly all of this iconic American poet's work.  Sabine is a Saigon-born French poet, novelist and literary translator Sabine Huynh grew up in Lyon, France, holds a Ph.D. in Linguistics and is the author of a dozen books, and of many translations. Notably, she has translated Anne Sexton, Ada Limón, Gwendolyn Brooks, Diane Seuss and Ilya Kaminsky. Winner of the 2023 Jean-Jacques-Rousseau award, and the 2023 Des racines et des mots Prize for Exile Literature, among others, she is working on her third novel. 

On this episode of Lost in Frenchlation, Manon Kerjean and ARBL Murray talk to the crew at the Luminor Cinema, one of the oldest movie houses in Paris, about what it's like to run an art-house theater. From the Paris projectionist shortage to the regulations for film distribution, the story of the Luminor touches all facets of film culture in Paris and, more broadly, France.  Andy Sellitto is the cinema manager, and Anna Dichio coordinates events as well as heads the awareness campaign to Save The Luminor. They reveal for us what it's like to run this place, in one of the most famous neighborhoods in the world (The Marais), while fighting for the attention of cinema-goers and dodging building owners who want to shut it all down. 

For the first episode of Cups and Dishes Wafa Jawad visits O Coffee int he 15th arrondissement of Paris and chats with owner Matthew Sloane about the origins of the shop, the coffee, the decor, and the delicious banana bread.    Wafa Jawad is a Baghdadi born Londoner living in Paris! in Cups and Dishes she shares her adventures through local Parisian cafes and snack culture.

The classic Charles Dickens Christmas story comes to life in this rendition for radio produced by The Atlantic Theater Arts and World Radio Paris. We are so happy to bring this wonderful story to life! A Christmas Carol is the story of Ebenezer Scrooge, an elderly greedy man, lacking in empathy. He is visited by three ghosts on Christmas Eve to deliver him three very important messages. First published in 1843 the story has become a definitive morality tale associated with the holiday around the world.  Adapted for Radio by Adam Alexandra, Produced by Robert Quinn of WRP Actors: Millie Ahern, Adam Alexander, Ciaran Creswell, and Louis Huster  For More Information about the theater company check out: atlatntictheatrearts.com

On this episode of PARENTALITÉ, we meet Joelle Benoliel, an American mom living in the heart of Paris. She is a communications coach and talks with Rachelle Chapman and ARBL Murray about navigating the cultural differences between French and American lifestyles. We talk about old French Christmas traditions, Hanukah, and French holiday cinema.  Episode Notes and Recommendations: Films: Santa Claus is a Stinker (Le père Noël est une ordure) 1982 AND it's American remake Mixed Nuts! FOR ADULTS French Fried Vacation 2: The Bronzes go Skiing (Les Bronzés font du ski) 1979! FOR ADULTS Santa & Cie (2017) FOR KIDS   Paris Playgrounds for meeting up with parents and other kids - Jardin Villemin & Jardin Nelson Mandela In The News:  Anne Hidalgo announced an "urban forest" planting scheme for the Place de l'Hotel de Ville Paris & IDF Holiday Lists: Ice Skating at les Grand Palais  Holiday Markets: Tuileries,. Vincennes, Chantilly  

This episode of Don't Tell Comedy on World Radio Paris took place at Iremmo (institute of research and studies Mediteranean moyen-orient) in the 5th arrondissement, on November 8.

Leo Zelada is the literary pseudonym of Braulio Rubén Tupaj Amaru Grajeda Fuentes, poet and writer. He studied philosophy at the Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos (Peru). He was the founder of the Néon poetry group. From 1983 to 1997, he traveled from Lima to Los Angeles by public transport and on foot, crossing the Andes, the Amazon, the Darien jungle, the Caribbean and Chiapas. He has published the poetry books Delirium Tremens, A Cyberpunk's diary, Nosferatu's opuscule at the Dawn, The dragon's Path, Minimal Poetics and Transpoétique, as well as two novels, American Death of Life and El Último Nómada. His work has been translated into English, Italian, Portuguese, Romanian, Greek, Arabic and other languages. He has won several literary prizes, amongst which the Poets of Other Worlds Prize, awarded by the International Poetic Fund of Spain in 2016. Two documentaries have been made about him: the first in 2013 and the second in 2021.   In 2022, his book Transpoétique was translated into French and presented at the Maison de l'Amérique Latine in Paris. In 2024, his second book was published in French: La Traversée de l'Innommable, which he presented and signed at the Maison de l'Amérique Latine and the Marché de la Poésie in Paris, and several of whose poems were featured in the prestigious contemporary art magazine Souffle Inédit. He has a blog, Dragon's Journal, with over 300,000 views.

On this episode of Flaneur, phototographer Denzil Jacobs is joined by Philadelphia based television and media personality, Jen Su who talks about her experience at Paris Fashion Week 2024 (Womenswear) which took place in October. She tells us about the shows, fashion trends she spotted, and celebrity guests she rubbed shoulders with and even shares tips for spring fashionistas curious about attending this prestigious fashion event. Photography by Denzil Jacobs

Jessica Taggart Rose, a poet based in Margate, UK, speaks about her debut pamphlet, The river has no colour, published in a bilingual version by The New Menard Press. (https://www.thenewmenardpress.com/) The poems paint Paris through the seasons, through the rain and the canicular sun, posing questions about the ecological problems the city faces. EK asks Jessica about her poetic process and the collaboration between herself and Claire Durand-Gasslin, who did the French translation. Jessica Taggart Rose is a poet and performer concerned with humanity, nature and how they interact. Her poems have been published widely. She is a founding member of Poets for the Planet (https://poetsfortheplanet.org.uk/), an Artful Scribe Creative Writer Against Coastal Waste and one half of the Promenade duo. Website for Jessica https://jessicataggartrose.com/

For this holiday episode we are delving into cinema history with renowned cinephile, David Honnorat,  and talking all bout French comedy film. Our focus is Santa Claus is a Stinker (Le père Noël est une ordure) 1982, and French Fried Vacation 2: The Bronzes go Skiing (Les Bronzés font du ski) 1979. Both Films are Screening at 8pm on December 10th 2024 at L'Epée de Bois, 100 Rue Mouffetard, 75005 Paris. GET TICKETS HERE    David is a renowned cinephile and video essayist. He runs a successful youtube channel called Calmos named after another film of the time by Bertrand Blier. He also wrote a movie guide and a Movieland map.    David unpacks the cultural influences that made this era of comedy so unique and gives us some background on the Parisian theater company (Le Splendid) that created the movement.    There are two of David's videos with English subtitles on his channel Calmos The essay on  Kitchen with Apartment (1993) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nj5aedz2iso   And OSS 117: Cairo, Nest of Spies (2006) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H0fURk7ykLI   Show Hosts are ARBL Murray and Manon Kerjean   Show Notes: We love giving our audience a little homework. Here are David's recommendations for getting started with French Comedy:   OSS 117: Cairo, Nest of Spies (2006) Spy comedy https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OSS_117:_Cairo,_Nest_of_Spies   La Grande Vadrouille (1966) French civilians help a stranded British Royal Air Force crew navigate Nazi Occupied France to safety.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Grande_Vadrouille   Other French Comedy and Film Comedians mentioned in this episode: Le splendid  - Theater Troupe https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Le_Splendid   Coluche - A French stage comedian https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coluche   Ettore Scola's Ugly, dirty and nasty (Affreux, sales et méchants) A dark Italian comedy about life in the outskirts of Rome.  https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Affreux,_sales_et_méchants   For More Information Go to Lostinfrenchlation.com

On this episode of Flaneur, host, photographer, Denzil Jacobs sits down with French Pastry Chef, Sébastien Gaudard at his Le Grand Café boutique located on rue Faubourg Poissonnière in Paris to talk about his family owned business and his journey and passion for the art of creating delicious and indulgent French style pastries at his 3 locations in Paris.    Photography and Artwork by Denzil Jacobs.

For the inaugural episode of FLÂNEUR, Denzil Jacobs, Photographer and show host, interviews South African singer Belinda Davids during her French Tour of her global live show “The Greatest Love of All” produced by Showtime Australia.  

In this episode ARBL Murray and Manon Kerjean talk to director Simon Bouisson about his latest film DRONE, his past work as an interactive filmmaker, building stories around the many layers of truth behind emerging technologies, the male gaze, making electronic music with composer Paul Saban, and using Artificial Intelligence in cinema. We also find out about what it was like to work with the drone racing community and the famous drone pilot, Benoit Finck.    Drone is the story of Émilie, a young woman who has been accepted into an elite architecture program at one of Paris' top schools. To support herself and her education she works as a cam girl on the side. She enters into a strange relationship with a drone that watches her from her window at night. At first the drone seems to be a protector and friend but soon things turn very sinister and she has to uncover the truth about where this mysterious drone comes from and who is behind it.    Simon Bouisson is a graduate of the prestigious La Fémis film school in Paris. After graduating he directed documentaries while exploring the possibilities of interactive filmmaking. His first feature narrative “Wei or Die” allowed the audience to switch between many points of view running simultaneously from a cell phone to a police body cam. Then he made "République," a film about a terrorist attack. With an app the viewer could slide through three running narratives as single points of view or in split screen. He went on to work with the idea of "slow TV" n a 9 hour experience for France 4 in which a man walks forward around a reversed Tokyo with all its inhabitants moving backward. In 2020 he started  directing a more linear type of series called STALK playing with the themes that are also present in DRONE: the digital world, its opportunities, its dangers, and how human nature can become warped by being so "online." Most recently he has been working on a feature film utilizing AI technology. You can read about it here (in French).     

Ceangal – unique well-being experiences in the Cognac region On this episode of Turning Points, Patricia Killeen chatted with Olive Towey and Charlie Ganly. Olive and Charlie have created Ceangal, a concept that offers unique retreats in beautiful settings across the Cognac region of France. Ceangal is an Irish word meaning ‘connect'. This is Olive and Charlie's second time at Turning Points because we believe what they offer is the ‘real deal'. Their mindfulness, yoga, art, cookery and food and wine getaways are unforgettable experiences, each imbued with the Ceangal ethos of “making space for meaningful connection”.. Olive and Charlie filled Patricia in, on what they've been up to over the past year, and they also spoke about their upcoming events, including their French Food and Wine Tasting Experience at the end of November. Upcoming Ceangal experiences: Food and Wine Tasting Experience – 20-24 NOVEMBER (see here for two special offers still available) Spring Revival weekend 15 – 18 May 2025 Lots more on www.ceangal.eu

Paris-based writer and translator Carrie Chapell is back on This is Not a Poem, once again discussing 20th-century French writer Hélène Bessette with host Elliott K.B. Carrie Chapell shares her translations and insights on the complexities of the poetic novel Garance Rose, diving into a passage that challenges readers to question what it truly means to live within a "Republic" — an idea that Bessette explores with both satire and scepticism. 

On this episode Manon Kerjean and ARBL Murray sit down with director Nicolas Peduzzi to talk about his latest documentary film Etat Limité or "On the Edge."  The Film follows a young psychiatrist Jamal during his daily rounds at the well-known Hospital Beaujon on the edge of Paris. Jamal has to navigate time constraints and budgetary restrictions whilst trying to care for his patients as best he can. Shot over the corse of 3 years, Etat Limité is an incredible portrait of the compassion of a young doctor and limitations of the healthcare system.  Nicolas Peduzzi is a French actor and director. He studied theater and cinema in Italy and New York. His first feature documentary, Southern Belle, a portrait of real-life 26 year-old Texan Taelor Ranzau, was released in 2018, and won the Grand Prix of the FID Marseille in 2019. In 2021. His next film Ghost Song portrayed young people in Houston living on the "fringes" and fighting for survival. Etat Limité is his latest documentary.  You can find him on instagram @nicolaspeduzzi Film Recommendations from this episode: On the Adamant: (Sur L'Adamant) 2023 by Nicolas Philibert - Follows patients and caregivers at a psychiatric centre with a unique floating structure located in the middle of the Seine river in central Paris. Ětra Là: 2012 by Régis Sauder. A story about the psychiatrists, nurses or occupational therapists at the Baumettes detention center in Marseille who receive inmates and help them with their mental illness. The work is hard and thankless but for these workers it is a necessity to participate in the helping of those who suffer. Opening Song in the Film: Evile Grimace: Pour Mes Gens This episode was recorded at L'Epée de Bois   

Parentalité is a new show about raising kids in France, the French parenting style, and how to balance it while still holding on to our anglophone traditions.  The show is produced by both Message Paris , an association for English speaking parents and caregivers based in Paris and Île-de-France, and World Radio Paris.  This episode is all about HALLOWEEN! We talk about French traditions, the Invasion of American Halloween. We talk about the best spooky French movies. Adam Levy tells a scary ghost story set in the Tuileries Gardens of Paris, and we interview Trick or Treaters at Message Paris' annual Spooktackular event.  In the past 30 years or so, as more English speaking people settle in France, Late-20th-century Halloween traditions have invaded France and are changing the way the autumn season is typically enjoyed. The French traditionally celebrate All Saint's Day on November 1st after generally a two week school break- this holiday is known as “Toussaint," and is a somber observance during which many French families remember their loved ones who have passed on. Some families visit graves. It is a day to remember all saints, both known and unknown.  Our hosts are Meg Gerner, Rachelle Chapman, and ARBL Murray (Alex Brook Lynn)    Recommendations for a great Halloween in France: Music Playlist: "peur du noir:" An all-French mix for Halloween from Spiked Candy   Films for young kids: A Monster in Paris, Dilili in Paris Films for older teens: City of Lost Children, Delicatessen Films for Adults: Raw (Grave), Titane    

In this episode E.K. talks with Chiara Maxia, an actress and writer originally from Sardinia. Chiara reads from her recently published collection "The Fire Within," and we hear about some of the inspiration for this work.  Chiara has lived in different places, including England, Moscow and Paris, where she graduated in Film Acting. She now lives between France and Italy. Her work has appeared in numerous literary journals, including The Opiate, Tint Journal, The Argyle, Paris Lit Up, OpenDoor and Our Verse.   For more information, visit https://theopiatebooks.com/chiara-maxia/ and look for @misschiaramaxia on social media platforms.   Chiara's reading list for those interested in Italian authors: For novelists: Alberto Moravia & Viola Di Grado, For poets: Patrizia Cavalli & Alda Merini.

Patricia interviews South-African photographer living in Paris.  

Paris is the birthplace of Cinema culture and one of the most filmed cities in the world. On this episode of Lost in Frenchlation we talk about the history of films shot in Paris and the directors who love to shoot the city of light. Juliette Dubois​​ is a cinema historian who gives intricate guided tours of Paris based on the films that have been set there. Her company is Ciné-Balade, and has been operating since 2011. She recently came out with her first cinema guide book "Paris ciné-balades: 15 parcours fléchés pour les amoureux du 7e art" or "Paris cinema walks: 15 signposted routes for lovers of the 7th art"  Juliette talks with ARBL Murray and Manon Kerjean about the history of French cinema, the history of film shot in Paris, and the different cinematic movements in Paris throughout the last century-and-a-half. Juliette also gives us a comprehensive "must-see" list of Parisian cinema in the episode.  To Book a Tour with Juliette Dubois​​ for to Ciné-Balade.com Notes from this Episode: Must Know Directors Alice Guy, the prolific and under known first female director. (Be Natural: The Untold Story of Alice Guy-Blache/ A documentary by Jodie Foster) Agnes Varda made films in the 50's, 60's, and 70's she was part of but still distinct from the New Wave movement. Must-See Agnes Varda Films: Faces Places, Cleo from 5-7  François Truffaut Part of the French New Wave. Made his most well-known film about his boyhood in the 9th arrondissement of Paris. Must-See Films: 400 Blows with actor Antoine Doinel.  Cédric Klapisch Contemporary. A man who loves to film Paris.  Must-See Films: Encore Paris Films Featuring the METRO Le Samouraï: 1967 Directed by Jean-Pierre Melville, with actor    Alain Delon Fear Over the City (French: Peur sur la ville) 1975 Directed by Henri Verneuil and starring Jean-Paul Belmondo DIVA: 1981 Directed by Jean-Jacques Beineix Subway: 1985 Directed by Luc Besson and starring Isabelle Adjani and Christopher Lambert.  Pickpocket: 1959 Directed by Robert Bresson. It stars Martin LaSalle, Les Passagers de la nuit: 2021 Directed by Mikhaël Hers.   

Yannick Champion-Osselin interviews Holly from Don't Tell Comedy - Paris' famous stand-up comedy club - and her upcoming comedians about the new season starting in Paris on Friday Sept 6. 

In this episode of World Radio Paris Presents, Yannick Champion-Osselin speaks about the alchemy of a stand-up events with three comics, Charley Lanyon and Jennifer Marsala -  producers of the comedy collective Laughing Stock - as well as Holly Hudson, co-host of Don't Tell Comedy Paris.  Having just arrived in Paris, Laughing Stock discuss their experiences on their UK tour, the challenges and rewards of hosting comedy shows, and their disillusionment with the LA comedy scene, which led them to create a more welcoming and supportive community through Laughing Stock. They also talk about their potential involvement in an upcoming Don't Tell Comedy Paris event in Paris, set to take place on September 6th in the 13th arrondissement. The episode captures the spirit of a group that thrives on creating warm, inclusive spaces for comedy in a world that could use a laugh, so tune in for a range of recommendations for English-language comedy in Paris and beyond!

Yseult Williams - editorial director, journalist, award-winning author, and an “Empress of Fashion.” In this episode of Turning Points, Patricia Killeen welcomed Yseult Williams. Yseult's father, Patrick, was English, and her mother, Darina, is Irish. She studied at the Sorbonne and Lille University and had an Erasmus year in Italy. At the end of her studies, she picked up her bags and headed for the City of Light. Being trilingual (English-French-Italian), she initially worked as a translator briefly. She subsequently approached magazines with ideas for articles and freelanced in the competitive arena of French feminine and news magazines, including Elle and VSD. In 2002, she was made deputy editor-in-chief at Femme Actual and was subsequently recruited by Tina Kieffer as editor-in-chief of Marie Claire. In 2005, the Marie Claire group entrusted her with managing Marie France, a responsibility she held until 2008, when she was recruited by Mondadori, the Italian publishing house, to launch the French version of the weekly magazine Grazia.   In 2013, she relaunched the mythical Lui magazine as chief editor with Frédéric Beigbeder.   During her career, she has also worked for the BBC and various French TV channels. In 2015, she was appointed chief editor of Le Grand Journal, the former renowned daily show on Canal+ TV. After years at the helm of the French press and TV, Yseult decided to use her pen to write books. She has published three books in French; in Impératrices de la mode (Empresses of Fashion) La Martinière, 2015, she painted the portrait of six great historical editors of women's magazines, women who had much in common with herself and were often faced with similar choices. Her second book, La Splendeur des Brunhoff (The Splendor of the Brunhoffs), Fayard 2018, won the Readers' Prize for Pocket Book in 2020. It is dedicated to the Brunhoff family, which launched Vogue France and Vu magazines. Jean de Brunhoff also created the character Babar. With her third book, On l'appelle Maïco (She was called Maïco), Grasset 2021, dedicated to Marie-Claude Vaillant-Couturier, she won the prestigious Simone-Veil 2022 literary prize. She is now writing a book devoted to Hélène Lazareff, who founded Elle magazine in 1945, which Grasset will publish.   In 2021, she joined Alma Studio (founded by Martin Solveig) as Editorial Director, where she is currently working. Alma Studio produces original stories and music written and composed for audio for children aged 3 to 10. Yseult's English podcast for Alma Studio will be launched next year.   Looking forward to Yseult's books being published in English and to seeing her fascinating characters on the big screen.

Just a Couple of Days (Quelques Jours Pas Plus) is a recent film by Julie Navarro which focuses on the plight of refugees in Paris as a romantic comedy unfolds in the background. A music journalist is assigned to cover "hard news" and ends up at a protest to keep the doors open at a refugee resource center. He meets the passionate Matilde, who he likes, and who convinces him to house a refuge for... "just a couple of days." The main character is played by Amruallah Safi. The actor was an Afghani asylum seeker who had never acted nor seen a film on the big screen. Manon Kerjean and ARBL Murray talk with Julie and Amruallah about how they managed to cross language barriers and make this film with an incredible cast including French cinema heavyweights Camille Cottin, and Benjamin Biolay.  Julie Navarro is a seasoned Assistant director and Casting director, and this is her first feature film as Director. 

Petite Frite is in an Olympic shape.

Everything you need to know about the Paris Olympics with Yannick Champion-Osselin on World Radio Paris. France shone in the Paris 2024 Olympics in the last week, with Félix Lebrun's historic bronze in table tennis, podium finishes in cycling, and Kauli Vaast securing the first French gold in surfing. Angèle Hug took silver in kayak cross, while Cyrian Ravet won bronze in taekwondo. The French women's handball team set a world attendance record, advancing to the semifinals. Breakdancing debuted at La Concorde, and as the Games near their end, marathon events and 39 final gold medals take centre stage. Find more great shows on worldradio.fr

Episode two of The Inkprints dives into the life of Gertrude Stein, the American author, playwright, and art collector. Through the vibrant lens of 1920s and 30s Paris, we begin to explore the extensive and subversive modernism movement in literature, and how this self-proclaimed genius became one of the most well-known social figures of her time.