Podcasts about French

In 1599, a young French woman's demonic possession became history's first scientifically debunked exorcism — but the truth behind her supernatural feats might be even stranger than fiction.*No AI Voices Are Used In The Narration Of This Podcast*Take the Weird Darkness Survey: https://weirddarkness.com/surveyIN THIS EPISODE: Young Marthe was a troubled young girl already, but her life took a dark, evil turn when she became possessed by a demon. But the strangest part of her story isn't the possession – but the exorcism. (The Exorcism of Martha Brossier) *** Barbara Forrest and Mary Ashford lived in different centuries, but they died in chillingly similar ways. (The Erdington Murders) *** At more than 1,000 miles from civilization in all directions, Point Nemo is unlike any other place in the world – and in very strange ways. (Eerie Facts About Point Nemo) *** Is it possible to anger a ghost to the point they'll follow you home to taunt you? (The Green Man) *** In 1921, the term “one-way ride” came into existence – after a man named Stevie was “disappeared” thanks to the Chicago Mob. (The One Way Ride) *** Was the woman found dead in a wych elm tree in wartime England a Nazi spy? (The Hagley Woods Mystery) *** The crew of 309 aboard the USS Cyclops disappeared without a trace – and now, 100 years later, we're still left with more questions than answers. (The Bermuda Triangle Vanishing of the USS Cyclops) *** Mickey was arrested and charged with slicing the throat of one of his best friends, and he had good reason. After all, his friend owed him thirty-five dollars. (The Confessions of Mickey Sliney) *** A grandfather tells his grandson about the time he lived in a haunted house. (A Strange Haunted Incident in Lincolnshire) *** Wander around one particular U.S. park and you may come across a soldier who lost his head to a cannonball. (The Legend Of Green Eyes) *** Strange dreams happen to us all – but what does it mean if you dream about spiders? (8-Legged Nightmares) *** Police respond to a 9-1-1 call, but they arrive a few years too late. (Ghost 911 Call) *** Vegetable Men, Space Fairies… how bizarre can alien encounters get? (Truly Bizarre Alien Encounters)CHAPTERS & TIME STAMPS (All Times Approximate)…00:00:00.000 = The Foreboding00:01:27.722 = Show Open00:04:16.836 = The Exorcism of Marthe Brossier00:12:27.520 = The Hagley Woods Mystery ***00:27:05.667 = The Erdington Murders00:31:12.846 = The “One Way Ride”00:39:12.063 = The Green Man ***00:41:42.547 = Eerie Facts About Point Nemo00:46:53.135 = Vegetable Men, Space Fairies, and Other Bizarre Aliens01:09:38.340 = The Confessions of Mickey Sliney ***01:17:41.102 = Ghost 911 Call01:19:06.115 = Eight-Legged Nightmares01:25:11.308 = A Strange Haunted Incident at Lincolnshire01:29:37.460 = The Legend of Green Eyes ***01:39:35.490 = The Bermuda Triangle Vanishing of the USS Cyclops01:45:08.928 = Show Close*** = Begins immediately after inserted ad breakHELPFUL LINKS & RESOURCES…https://WeirdDarkness.com/MUSIC = Songs and Videos by our Weird Darkness punk band, #DarkWeirdnesshttps://WeirdDarkness.com/STORE = Tees, Mugs, Socks, Hoodies, Totes, Hats, Kidswear & Morehttps://WeirdDarkness.com/HOPE = Hope For Depression or Thoughts of Self-Harmhttps://WeirdDarkness.com/NEWSLETTER = In-Depth Articles, Memes, Weird DarkNEWS, Videos & Morehttps://WeirdDarkness.com/AUDIOBOOKS = FREE Audiobooks Narrated By Darren Marlar SOURCES and RESOURCES:“Eerie Facts About Point Nemo” by Gina Dimuro for All That's Interesting: https://tinyurl.com/yc258yf8“The Exorcism of Marthe Brossier” by Mark Oliver for Ancient Origins: https://tinyurl.com/rlvzjpy“The Erdington Murders” posted at The Line Up: https://tinyurl.com/vyocutf“The Green Man” by Goth237 at YourGhostStories.com: https://tinyurl.com/sper8ua“The One Way Ride” by Troy Taylor: https://tinyurl.com/wsqod6d“The Hagley Woods Mystery” posted at The Unredacted: https://tinyurl.com/wtxqr7l“The Bermuda Triangle Vanishing of the USS Cyclops” by Joel Stice for All That's Interesting: https://tinyurl.com/sksdgpc“The Confessions of Mickey Sliney” by Robert Wilhelm for Murder By Gaslight: https://tinyurl.com/y8o6dehp“The Legend of Green Eyes” by Kevin Cumming for the Rome News-Tribune: https://tinyurl.com/wanmrm6“Eight-Legged Nightmares” posted at Message To Eagle: https://tinyurl.com/vu72y9u“A Strange Haunted Incident in Lincolnshire” by James at MyHauntedLifeToo.com: https://tinyurl.com/smff6z6“Ghost 911 Call” by an unknown author (website no longer exists)“Vegetable Men, Space Fairies, and Other Bizarre Aliens” by Brent Swancer for Mysterious Universe:https://tinyurl.com/wu5k6b6=====(Over time links may become invalid, disappear, or have different content. I always make sure to give authors credit for the material I use whenever possible. If I somehow overlooked doing so for a story, or if a credit is incorrect, please let me know and I will rectify it in these show notes immediately. Some links included above may benefit me financially through qualifying purchases.)= = = = ="I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness." — John 12:46= = = = =WeirdDarkness® is a registered trademark. Copyright ©2026, Weird Darkness.=====Originally aired: September 04, 2018SOURCES PAGE: https://weirddarkness.com/MartheBrossierABOUT WEIRD DARKNESS: #WeirdDarkness is a true crime and paranormal podcast narrated by professional award-winning voice actor, Darren Marlar. Seven days per week, Weird Darkness focuses on all things strange and macabre such as haunted locations, unsolved mysteries, true ghost stories, supernatural manifestations, urban legends, unsolved or cold cases, conspiracy theories, and more. Weird Darkness has been named one of the “20 Best Storytellers in Podcasting” by Podcast Business Journal. Listeners have described the show as a blend of “Coast to Coast AM”, “The Twilight Zone”, “Unsolved Mysteries”, and “In Search Of”.DISCLAIMER: Stories and content in Weird Darkness can be disturbing for some listeners and intended for mature audiences only. Parental discretion is strongly advised.

In the mid-1800s, long before the Soviet Union or Maoist China, a French political dreamer named Étienne Cabet tried to build a communist utopia... in the heart of America. What followed was a bizarre, ambitious, and often comically disastrous experiment involving disease, deception, authoritarian hypocrisy, failed frontier settlements, buying an abandoned Mormon town, and one of the strangest forgotten social movements in U.S. history. For Merch and everything else Bad Magic related, head to: https://www.badmagicproductions.com Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In the late 1960s, Serge Gainsbourg carried out an illicit affair with Brigitte Bardot, not only the world's preeminent sex symbol at the time, but a sex symbol with a powerful millionaire for a husband. Her love inspired Serge to a creative breakthrough, transforming French pop music and the music of the world while their passionate fling was busy barreling toward a doomed ending - an ending as doomed and as shocking as the end of the two outlaws they modeled their romance and their music on. To see the full list of contributors, see the show notes at ⁠www.disgracelandpod.com⁠. This episode was originally published on January 16, 2024. Sign up for our newsletter and get the inside dirt on events, merch and other awesomeness - ⁠GET THE NEWSLETTER⁠ Follow Jake and DISGRACELAND: ⁠Instagram⁠ ⁠YouTube⁠ ⁠X⁠ (formerly Twitter)  ⁠Facebook Fan Group⁠ ⁠TikTok To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

MeidasTouch host Ben reports on Donald Trump losing it as the war takes another dark with a large US plane going down and separately a French military base getting by Iranian Drones and Meiselas speaks with Rep. Gomez about this awful and unlawful war. Visit https://meidasplus.com for more! Remember to subscribe to ALL the MeidasTouch Network Podcasts: MeidasTouch: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/meidastouch-podcast Legal AF: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/legal-af MissTrial: https://meidasnews.com/tag/miss-trial The PoliticsGirl Podcast: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/the-politicsgirl-podcast Cult Conversations: The Influence Continuum with Dr. Steve Hassan: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/the-influence-continuum-with-dr-steven-hassan The Weekend Show: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/the-weekend-show The Ken Harbaugh Show: https://meidasnews.com/tag/the-ken-harbaugh-show Majority 54: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/majority-54 On Democracy with FP Wellman: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/on-democracy-with-fpwellman Uncovered: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/maga-uncovered Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

MeidasTouch host Ben Meiselas reports on Donald Trump spiraling as his war against Iran had now resulted in a the death of a French soldier and Meiselas breaks down all the latest developments in his disastrous war. Visit https://meidasplus.com for more! Remember to subscribe to ALL the MeidasTouch Network Podcasts: MeidasTouch: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/meidastouch-podcast Legal AF: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/legal-af MissTrial: https://meidasnews.com/tag/miss-trial The PoliticsGirl Podcast: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/the-politicsgirl-podcast Cult Conversations: The Influence Continuum with Dr. Steve Hassan: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/the-influence-continuum-with-dr-steven-hassan The Weekend Show: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/the-weekend-show The Ken Harbaugh Show: https://meidasnews.com/tag/the-ken-harbaugh-show Majority 54: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/majority-54 On Democracy with FP Wellman: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/on-democracy-with-fpwellman Uncovered: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/maga-uncovered Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Spencer Martin and Johan Bruyneel break down the last week of cycling action, from Jonas Vingegaard's dominance at Paris-Nice to Isaac del Toro's impressive control of the GC field at Tirreno–Adriatico, and discuss what Mathieu van der Poel and Wout van Aert's form is telling us about the upcoming Spring Classics. They debate Vingegaard's prospects at the Giro and Tour based on his recent form, and what salary teen French star Paul Seixas, who is out of contract at the end of 2027, will command when he comes on the market.   Become a WEDŪ Member Today to Unlock VIP Access & Benefits: https://access.wedu.team   Mint Mobile: Ready to stop paying more than you have to? New customers can make the switch today and for a limited time, get unlimited premium wireless for just $15 per month. Switch now at https://MINTMOBILE.com/THEMOVE   Hims: For simple, online access to personalized and affordable care for Hair Loss, ED, Weight Loss, and more, visit https://Hims.com/THEMOVE   Gusto: Try Gusto today at https://gusto.com/themove, and get three months free when you run your first payroll. That's three months of free payroll at https://gusto.com/themove    

This week we're covering a lot of ground: French house vs. British rap, Mon buying her wedding dress, and a Providence mobsters-and-pasta food tour. Maura finally gets her Birkin from Rob (and we're not feeling bad about it), we react to the hype around the Survivor 50 premiere and the new Harry Styles album, and realize our Daylist algorithms know us a little too well.

Dans cet épisode du OVNIs Podcast, enregistré à Berlin lors d'un off-site de l'équipe d'OVNI Capital, Thomas Renaudin reçoit Victoria Beck, investisseuse spécialisée en deep tech. Ensemble, ils explorent l'évolution récente de cet écosystème en Europe, en particulier les dynamiques entre la France et l'Allemagne, deux marchés proches mais aux cultures entrepreneuriales distinctes. Victoria partage son regard sur la montée en puissance de la deep tech depuis 2021 et sur la convergence progressive des fonds et des talents entre ces deux hubs technologiques majeurs.Au fil de la conversation, Victoria revient également sur son parcours international — entre l'Allemagne, la France, Israël et Berlin — et sur son expérience chez Earlybird, où elle s'est concentrée sur les investissements deep tech et le marché français. L'épisode offre ainsi un éclairage précieux sur les différences culturelles dans l'investissement, la construction des écosystèmes technologiques européens et les opportunités émergentes pour les fondateurs et les investisseurs.[00:00:00] Introduction et enregistrement à Berlin avec l'équipe OVNI[00:01:18] Le parcours international de Victoria Beck[00:03:05] Pourquoi la Deep Tech est devenue un sujet majeur depuis 2021[00:06:12] Différences entre les écosystèmes français et allemand[00:09:48] Comment les fonds européens évaluent les startups Deep Tech[00:13:27] Les qualités que Victoria recherche chez les fondateurs[00:17:02] La convergence des écosystèmes tech en Europe[00:20:41] Berlin comme hub pour startups et investisseurs[00:24:08] Les grandes opportunités pour la Deep Tech européenne[00:27:43] Conseils aux fondateurs et conclusion

Rowan Deacon, director of the three-part Apple TV+ docuseries Twisted Yoga, follows a group of young yoga students from around the world who are drawn to the ancient practice in search of peace and purpose, only to fall under the influence of reclusive Romanian guru Gregorian Bivolaru, leader of an international network of tantric yoga schools. As some begin to fear they've joined a cult, they uncover Bivolaru's troubling past, including allegations that he summoned select female students to his Paris apartment for private “initiations.” Now facing charges in France, including human trafficking, kidnapping, and rape, which he denies, Bivolaru is the subject of a growing case as several women work with French authorities to bring him to justice. Reality Life with Kate Casey What to Watch List: https://katecasey.substack.com Patreon: http://www.patreon.com/katecasey Twitter: https://twitter.com/katecasey Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/katecaseyca Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@itskatecasey?lang=en Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/113157919338245 Amazon List: https://www.amazon.com/shop/katecasey Like it to Know It: https://www.shopltk.com/explore/katecaseySee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In 1976, nine French wine judges did the unthinkable: they blindly selected two California wines over France's most elite vintages in what became known as the Judgment of Paris. This shocking upset sent shockwaves through the wine world and forever changed the global industry. French wine had dominated for centuries, built on a rigid classification system and prestigious terroir, but California winemakers like Warren Winiarski of Stag's Leap and Mike Grgich of Chateau Montelena proved that world-class wines could be produced anywhere with the right combination of climate, soil, and expertise. The tasting was organized by British expat Steven Spurrier, who ran a Paris wine shop and saw the American Bicentennial as a perfect marketing opportunity—but neither he nor the lone reporter in attendance, George Taber of Time magazine, expected California to actually win. Today's guest is Kevin Ferguson, author and grandson of legendary winemaker Mario Gemello, who ran the Gemello Winery in Mountain View, California for nearly half a century. Ferguson shares the immigrant roots of California's wine industry, including how a $190 loan from the Beltramo family allowed his great-grandfather to bring his family from Piedmont, Italy to America. He discusses the legacy of working-class winemakers like his grandfather, whose 1970 Cabernet finished first in the 25th anniversary re-enactment of the Judgment of Paris, and explores how wineries like Ridge—founded by retired SRI engineers—brought scientific precision to the Santa Cruz Mountains. As we approach the 50th anniversary events in 2026, Ferguson reveals how this single tasting transformed California from an upstart curiosity into a world-class wine region that continues to rival the best of France.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The race heads to Cap Tourmente National Wildlife Area in Quebec, where the stakes just got real: at least one racer is going home today. Olivia must navigate a "choose your own path" adventure through a stunning wildlife area – solo, after the group splits up one by one. There are cryptic clues, a surprise moose encounter, endangered monarch butterflies, a very confusing bilingual trail marker, and a hill that nearly destroys her legs.Can Olivia trust her instincts – and her so-so French – to get to the finish line first?If you're a kid who loves learning science and animal facts, you'll love Earth Rangers! Visit earthrangers.com to learn more!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

For Charles Messier, star clusters were a nuisance. The French astronomer was mainly interested in comets. In the 18th century, finding a comet could bring fame and fortune – kings sometimes awarded medals and fat stipends for their discovery. Through a telescope, star clusters could resemble comets. Messier and others might spend time following a cluster, only to find out that it wasn’t the prize. So Messier compiled a catalog of clusters and similar nuisances – a list of objects to ignore. Four of the clusters follow a narrow path near Canis Major, the big dog: M46, 47, 48, and 50 – a Messier “highway.” Although they’re close together in our sky, the clusters are not close together in space. Their distances range from about 1600 light-years to more than five thousand. So there’s no relationship among them. They appear close together because they all lie along the Milky Way – the glowing outline of the disk of the Milky Way Galaxy. In that direction, we’re looking into the most densely populated region of the galaxy, so we see many more stars and star clusters – including the “pesky” clusters cataloged by Charles Messier. The clusters are in the southeastern quadrant of the sky as night falls. Look for Sirius, the brightest star in the night sky, due south. The clusters spread out to the left and upper left of Sirius. All of them are easy targets for binoculars. Script by Damond Benningfield

That's the real-world question Sandy McIlree and Tricia dig into as they unpack a major rideshare update: Uber's nationwide feature that lets women riders match with women drivers—including options to reserve ahead or set it as a default preference. It's a conversation rooted in everyday reality, safety, and the uncomfortable truth that women often have to stay “on high alert” in situations men may never think twice about. And yes—Tricia delivers one of the most unforgettable (and strangely empowering) lines of the episode: “Practice your throat punch… Nobody ever expects a throat punch.”

The governing party in Quebec, the CAQ, continues its death spasms with yet another project no one asked for and everybody hates: a new constitution for Quebec, decided on with no mandate and written without any popular consultation. In Episode 91 Jay sits down with Christopher Curtis, founder of independent journalism outlet The Rover, to unravel the insane tangle of arrogance, corruption and stupidity that is the Quebec political class. Plus: Chris reveals the secret behind Montreal's comically (some might say criminally) bad roads.Show NotesChristopher Curtis on InstagramThe RoverBill 1 (Québec Constitution Act 2025)The CAQ (Coalition Avenir Quebec)The PQ (Parti Québécois)Laïcité (French secularism)Pierre Elliott TrudeauPatriationLinksInstagramMerchfuckingcancelled.comclementinemorrigan.comjaylesoleil.comTheme songFucking Cancelled has no ads and is a supported by our listeners. To help us continue our work, consider subscribing. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.fuckingcancelled.com/subscribe

Baking can be intimidating, but what if there was a recipe that was so easy, it was virtually impossible to have it not to have it turn out incredible? In this bite-sized episode, we share delicious moments about the best things we ate this week to inspire each other – and you!By the end of this episode, you'll want to make a classic French yogurt snacking cake that's foolproof for beginner bakers of all ages, and a roasted cabbage rice bowl that's a fridge-cleanout dinner and is packed with protein, flavored with tangy lime juice and salty-rich peanuts. Tune in for a quick dose of home cooking inspiration!***For more recipes and cooking inspiration, sign up for our free Substack here. And join us on our live monthly calls by upgrading your subscription to paid!***Links: “No Measure” French Yogurt Cake from our SubstackRoasted Cabbage Salad with Spicy Lime Dressing by Kristina Felix for NYT Cooking Kari topped her salad with kimchi ground turkey from this lettuce wrap recipe by Alexa Weibel via NYT Cooking***Got a cooking question? Leave us a message on our hotline at: 323-452-9084For more recipes and cooking inspiration, sign up for our Substack here.Are you a local to Portland or planning a visit? You can now book a private farmers' market tour with Sonya through Airbnb Experiences! Or order Sonya's cookbook Braids for more Food Friends recipes!

Learn how to use the English expression, "come to grips"Explore the full lesson & practice using today's expression: https://plainenglish.com/expressions/come-to-grips--Plain English helps you improve your English:Learn about the world and improve your EnglishClear, natural English at a speed you can understandNew stories every weekLearn even more at PlainEnglish.comMentioned in this episode:Hard words? No problemNever be confused by difficult words in Plain English again! See translations of the hardest words and phrases from English to your language. Each episode transcript includes built-in translations into Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese, German, French, Italian, Japanese, Polish, and Turkish. Sign up for a free 14-day trial at PlainEnglish.com

The Grand Vision of Our Vedic Texts Dr Anuradha Choudry is a scholar and eloquent speaker specialising in Sanskrit, Indian psychology, French, and the history of science and technology in ancient India. She serves as a Coordinator for the Indian Knowledge Systems Division of the Ministry of Education, Government of India, at AICTE, New Delhi, and is also a faculty member in the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences at the Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur.She was one of the distinguished guest speakers at the 2nd Global Vedic Conference held at Prasanthi Nilayam in January 2026. Later she visited the Sri Sathya Sai Media Centre, where she shared powerful insights on the multidimensional glory of Sanskrit and the grand vision of life as elucidated in the Vedas.

James Check, widely known as "Checkmatey" is a prominent Bitcoin on-chain analyst, and educator at checkonchain.com, specializing in interpreting raw blockchain data into market insights› https://x.com/_checkmatey_PARTNERS

Një emision ku si asnjëherë më parë mendimet dhe fjalët vijnë si në jetë, të pacensuruara…Mirë, ndoshta pak të censuruara. “Pardon my French” nga Jonida Aliçkolli dhe Lei Kraja, ku e vetmja gjë që nuk dinë të bëjnë është të flasin frengjisht! Një gjë është e sigurtë, të qeshurat dhe surprizat janë të garantuara. Nuk do të mungojnë të ftuarit në studio, diskutimet mbi tema të ndryshme në mënyrën më të ‘zhveshur', si dhe muzikën më bukur të momentit. “Pardon My French” çdo të mërkurë në orën 18:00, me të ftuar special dhe intervista ekskluzive.

Një emision ku si asnjëherë më parë mendimet dhe fjalët vijnë si në jetë, të pacensuruara…Mirë, ndoshta pak të censuruara. “Pardon my French” nga Jonida Aliçkolli dhe Lei Kraja, ku e vetmja gjë që nuk dinë të bëjnë është të flasin frengjisht! Një gjë është e sigurtë, të qeshurat dhe surprizat janë të garantuara. Nuk do të mungojnë të ftuarit në studio, diskutimet mbi tema të ndryshme në mënyrën më të ‘zhveshur', si dhe muzikën më bukur të momentit. “Pardon My French” çdo të mërkurë në orën 18:00, me të ftuar special dhe intervista ekskluzive.

When Madame Bovary was written in the 1850s, it fell under the accusing eye of the French government for its perceived immorality. Flaubert recognized that the trial would only stoke interest, and that it would set the tone for his career. Research: Barzun, Jacques. “Gustave Flaubert.” Encylopedia Brittanica. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Gustave-Flaubert Blakemore, Erin. “What Madame Bovary Revealed About the Freedom of the Press.” JSTOR Daily. Dec. 16, 2016. https://daily.jstor.org/what-madame-bovary-revealed-about-the-freedom-of-the-press/ Brown, Frederick. “Flaubert: A Biography.” Harvard University Press. 2007. CREASY, MATTHEW. “INVERTED VOLUMES AND FANTASTIC LIBRARIES: ‘ULYSSES’ AND ‘BOUVARD ET PÉCUCHET.’” European Joyce Studies, vol. 19, 2011, pp. 112–27. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/44871308 Flaubert, Gustave, and Christopher Moncrieff, tr. “Madame Bovary: Newly Translated and Annotated.” Alma Classics. 2010. Haynes, Christine. “The Politics of Publishing During The Second Empire: The Trial of Madame Bovary Revisited.” French Politics, Culture & Society. Oxford Journals. June 1, 2005. https://doi.org/10.3167/153763705780980083 LaCapra, Dominick. “Madame Bovary on Trial.” Cornell University Press. 1982. “The Public vs. M. Gustave Flaubert.” Project Gutenberg. https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/10666/pg10666.txt Steegmuller, Francis. “Flaubert and Madame Bovary: A Double Portrait.” New York Review of Books. 1966. Steegmuller, Francis. “The Letters of Gustave Flaubert.” New York Review of Books. 1980. Thurman, Judith. “A Unsimple Heart.” The New Yorker. April 29, 2002. https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2002/05/06/an-unsimple-heart?_sp=0c026da2-f3c5-4709-9ac8-8214e0cc3278.1772403467294 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hello hello, we are here. We are swamped with things, crazed, and late on our episode, but we are here and doing the best we can. What's been going on with us? We get into all of it. Plus, our thoughts on what we've been watching - Love Story, more weekly Timothee Chalamet commentary, debating whether or not we want to go to the Elton John Oscars After Party, the goodness of French onion soup, and lots more from the Port-Rosenman Kitchen Table Chronicles. PS. Timmy has 24 Hours to let me know if you want to come to the Elton John After Party with me. Thank you for being here with us!This episode is brought to you by HERS and Sam Edelman. It's time you get the support that actually reflects your needs. Start your free intake at ForHers.comTime to refresh for spring, visit samedelman.com to explore everything you need for spring and get 15% off with code WITHWHIT15This episode may contain paid endorsements and advertisements for products and services. Individuals on the show may have a direct, or indirect financial interest in products, or services referred to in this episode.Produced by Dear Media See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

French_Notes

Lucie Franc de Ferriere is the owner and head baker at From Lucie, a small bakery in the East Village known for its whimsical baked goods adorned with fresh flowers. Born and raised in Southern France, Lucie grew up baking cakes with her mother at the family's farm and bed-and-breakfast in their 165-year-old chateau. After moving to New York, she began to bake at café pop-ups and eventually opened her own bakery—and now she's sharing her recipes in a beautiful debut cookbook, Cake From Lucie. Today on the show, we talk about the French techniques and ingredients that shape her food, and  what it's like running a bakery in NYC. Subscribe to This Is TASTE: ⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠, ⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠, ⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

All plants are toxic to varying degrees. I haven't changed my mind on that. But recently our oldest daughter came up with a business idea: – making salves from plantain leaves infused in beeswax and olive oil for their antibacterial properties — and it got me thinking about the role plants actually play in our household despite the fact that we're very much an animal-based, meat-centric family. The truth is, we do eat plants. We always have. The foundation hasn't changed — meat, organs, eggs, dairy and bone broth make up the vast majority of our calories, and comparing the nutrient content of beef liver to kale isn't a close fight. But adhering to an animal-based dietary framework doesn't mean plants are the enemy in every context. The oldest use case is medicinal. Aspirin comes from willow bark, metformin from the French lilac, morphine from poppies. I'm not eating willow bark for lunch, but if I have a headache, it makes perfect sense. Turmeric targets inflammatory pathways, ginger helps with nausea, and oregano oil has been one of our go-to remedies for respiratory and gut infections for years.  These aren't calories or micronutrients — we get those from animals. But for targeted medicinal use, plants have earned their place. Then there's flavor and the cultural connection that comes with food. Rosemary on a lamb roast, fresh basil on sourdough pizza, the smell of garlic roasting in a pan — those things make food better.  Food is family connection, tradition, and cultural identity. My wife is Costa Rican, I'm from Europe, and we grew up with certain meals that bring the family together. Some of those include plant-based ingredients, and the value of sharing that meal can override the marginal downsides. The real nuance is preparation. Fermenting, sprouting, soaking, peeling cooking — these methods can meaningfully reduce anti-nutrients like lectins and phytic acid.  We peel, slice, and ferment sweet potatoes in a saline solution for three days, which lowers the glycemic index and breaks down a lot of the problematic compounds.  We soak rice overnight and cook it in fresh water.  None of this turns plants into superfoods, but it makes them significantly more compatible with a species-appropriate diet – especially if you're sourcing organic or growing them yourself. The practical framework is straightforward: 80 to 90% quality animal foods, 10 to 20% well-chosen, well-prepared plants. If you're already eating nose to tail and building around nutrient density, you've won the big battle. The plant question is just fine-tuning. Learn More: My Animal-Based Food List (Free Download): https://michaelkummer.com/food-list/ MEAT vs. PLANTS (What's Better for Your Health?): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GqKzO_PkD-k&utm Plants vs. Meat: Why I Stopped Eating Veggies: https://michaelkummer.com/plants-vs-meat 99: Plants vs Animals: Why Meat Beats Plants for Nutrition: https://www.primalshiftpodcast.com/99-plants-vs-animals-why-meat-beats-plants-for-nutrition 49: From Almonds to Spinach: Dr. Schindler on Avoiding Common Dietary Traps: https://www.primalshiftpodcast.com/49-from-almonds-to-spinach-dr-schindler-on-avoiding-common-dietary-traps/  Thank you to this episode's sponsor, Apollo Neuro! Apollo is a wearable that delivers gentle vibrations to calm your nervous system and help your body stay in a restful state through the night. I've been wearing it for years and still notice a measurable difference — higher HRV and a lower resting heart rate on nights I use it. That's not placebo. That's my nervous system responding differently. If your sleep issues feel stress-related — and honestly, most of them are — Apollo is worth trying. To learn more, visit apolloneuro.com/michaelkummer and use code PRIMALSHIFT for $60 off. In this episode: 00:00 Intro  02:47 Animal-Based foundation 03:35 Plants as medicine 06:54 Flavor and food culture 10:34 Fermentation and prep 15:04 Plant tiers and avoids 16:42 Final thoughts Find me on social media for more health and wellness content: Website: https://michaelkummer.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MichaelKummer Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/primalshiftpodcast/ Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/michaelkummer/ Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/mkummer82 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/realmichaelkummer/ [Medical Disclaimer] The information shared on this video is for educational purposes only, is not a substitute for the advice of medical doctors or registered dietitians (which I am not) and should not be used to prevent, diagnose, or treat any condition. Consult with a physician before starting a fitness regimen, adding supplements to your diet, or making other changes that may affect your medications, treatment plan, or overall health. [Affiliate Disclaimer] I earn affiliate commissions from some of the brands and products I review on this channel. While that doesn't change my editorial integrity, it helps make this channel happen. If you'd like to support me, please use my affiliate links or discount code.

Two friends are crafting a European tradition with a California vibe.We're stepping into that delicious moment before dinner, when the day loosens its tie. We take a breath and we ease into the evening. It's the perfect time for an apéritif. Can America have an apéritif or aperitivo culture just as the French and Italians do? Rue de Rêve Apéritifs founders Jennifer Kimpe and Jeanne-Marie Hebert say, pourquoi pas, perché no or why not? You can sip the classic drinks - bitters like Aperol or Campari, bubbles and botanicals, Vermouth, et cetera - but there's room for a new style of apéritifs, created by our guests today. Jennifer and Jeanne-Marie always say that apéritif isn't something you drink, it's something you do. After three years of research and recipe development, these friends are on their way to realizing their dream of a modern apéritif culture in the U.S.

This week's episode explores the impact of social media and technology on youth mental health, attention span, and human connection. Through a deep dive into a quote by French philosopher Blaise Pascal and insights from guests, Jarvis, Tr33, and Bully, we examine how being alone and digital connectivity shape our lives.Chapters:00:00 - The Value of Solitude and Reflection09:20 - Exploring Solutions for Humanity09:53 - The Impact of Social Media on Youth12:18 - The Dual Nature of Technology15:43 - Attention Span and Connection18:46 - AI's Role in Human Interaction20:19 - The Counterclaim: Is Connection Always Good?31:53 - Defining True Aloneness35:44 - The Creator's Perspective on TechnologyImage Source: Gérard Edelinck, CC BY 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons 

French conversation for jet-setters: the verb OUVRIR (to open) au passé composé:j'ai ouverttu as ouvertil a ouvertnous avons ouvertvous avez ouvertils ont ouvertBecome fluent at ConfidentConversationClub.com

0:00-0:50 – Show Open0:50-5:00 – Vide of 61-year-old man who sees color for first time5:00-14:00 – National Ranch Day14:00-22:00 – The Irish Goodbye22:00-27:00 – Old driver crashed into barber shop27:00-30:00 – Video of car crashing into restaurant and hitting person30:00-33:00 – Guy gets trapped under car in parking lot after his jack failed33:00-40:00 – Sheriff was drinking Four Loko before work and got DUI40:00-43:00 – Department of Homeland Security shutdown leads to TSA shortage43:00-51:00 – Amazon driver gets hit stepping out of truck51:00-1:00:00 – Rumors of Jessica Alba dating Joe Burrow1:00:00-1:02:00 – Travis Kelce returning to Kansas City Chiefs1:02:00-1:03:00 – Donna Kelce's home renovation1:03:00-1:07:00 – Atlanta Hawks strip club promotion canceled1:07:00-1:10:00 – Wrestler who throws pizza dough1:10:00-1:14:00 – 81-year-old hopes to join Savannah Bananas1:14:00-1:20:00 – Learning more about the woman accused of shooting Rihanna's house1:20:00-1:23:00 – Arnold and Sly sign on for sequel roles1:23:00-1:25:00 – Tommy DeCarlo of Boston died1:25:00-1:28:00 – Live Nation monopoly suit1:28:00-1:38:00 – Hair dresser pulled gun on woman over payment dispute1:38:00-1:46:00 – Woman killed 76-year-old roommate1:46:00-1:54:00 – Woman caught driving 136mph saying she had stomach issues1:54:00-2:04:00 – Urologist performed sex acts on patients and Jason's upcoming appointment2:04:00-2:07:00 – Naked boater pushes captain off boat during rescue2:07:00-2:10:00 – Criminal died after jumping off apartment balcony running from police2:10:00-2:17:00 – Tornado ripped through Menard's2:17:00-2:21:00 – Woman terrorized by raccoon that kept returning to apartment2:21:00-2:23:00 – Pigs move into a neighborhood2:23:00-2:28:00 – 600 tubs of French onion dip shows up at business2:28:00-2:32:00 – Couple who got engaged at Chili's will have honeymoon paid for by Chili's2:32:00-2:35:00 – Video of a YouTuber's speeding arrest2:35:00-2:38:00 – Guy who changed his name to Literally Anybody Else now running for mayor2:38:00-2:42:00 – Woman pulled 8lb baby out of herself while on the road2:42:00-2:44:00 – Teens left bag of weed and money at charity event by mistake2:44:00-2:48:00 – Teen became nurse at age 182:48:00-2:50:00 – Couple uncover strange foot prints from Roman Empire in Scotland2:50:00-End – Russian man comes home to find pigeons in apartmentSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

On March 17, 1776, the British evacuated Boston, driven out by cannon hauled 300 miles through winter wilderness from a crumbling fort in upstate New York. Join Matthew Keagle, Curator at Fort Ticonderoga, as we trace the fort's dramatic history from its French origins in the Seven Years' War, its chaotic capture by Ethan Allen and Benedict Arnold in May 1775, and Henry Knox's legendary expedition to move nearly 60 tons of artillery to George Washington's army. Discover the logistics, rivalries, and resourcefulness behind one of the Revolution's most remarkable feats. Show Notes: https://www.benfranklinsworld.com/436 EPISODE OUTLINE00:00:00  Introduction00:06:26 British Withdrawl from Boston00:07:55 Fort Ticonderoga's Origins00:25:05 British Capture of Fort Ticonderoga, 175600:28:04 British Improvements to Fort Ticonderoga00:32:44 American Capture of Fort Ticonderoga, 177500:49:06 Henry Knox's Expedition01:04:46 Cannon on Dorchester Heights01:10:36 British Evacuation of Boston01:13:43 Legacy of Knox's Noble Train of Artillery01:17:36 Visiting Fort Ticonderoga01:24:65 ConclusionRECOMMENDED NEXT EPISODES

Crusading in the 13th century was brutal, chaotic and transformative. Dr. Eleanor Janega is joined by historian Dr. Tom Smith to uncover failed campaigns, papal ambition, the sack of Constantinople, and Frederick II's extraordinary treaty for Jerusalem.Expect extraordinary battles, medieval flamethrowers, nunchucks and too much French wine – revealing a crusading movement tearing itself apart.MOREEmperor Frederick II: The Scourge of the PapacyListen on Apple Listen on SpotifyThe Rise of ConstantinopleListen on AppleListen on SpotifyGone Medieval is presented by Dr. Eleanor Janega. Audio editor is Amy Haddow, the producer is Joseph Knight. The senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff.All music used is courtesy of Epidemic Sounds.Gone Medieval is a History Hit podcast.Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We are wrapping up the Carson Kressley mini-series with a bang! For his grand finale, Carson invites his dear friend and the "grand dame" of Charleston, Patricia Altschul—star of Bravo's hit show Southern Charm. Carson and Miss Pat discuss her fascinating background as an elite art advisor in the 1980s and 90s, her long-standing collaboration with the legendary decorator Mario Buatta (the "Prince of Chintz"), and the history of her stunning 1853 Greek Revival home in Charleston. She also shares her expert tips for navigating online auctions, the secret to a perfect martini, and why classic English country design never goes out of style. Quick Decorating Takeaways: Do Your Homework Before Buying Art: Pat recommends visiting museums, galleries, and auction houses just to look before you start buying. Once you find your style, always check the condition of a piece—she suggests investing in a portable blacklight to spot any repairs, cracks, or in-painting on antique art. Shop the Apps for Hidden Gems: You don't have to spend a fortune to get great pieces. Pat swears by local auctions and the LiveAuctioneers app to find everything from French porcelain to vintage jewelry. She also highly recommends Stair Galleries for scoring incredible upholstered pieces from the estates of famous decorators. The Timelessness of Mario Buatta: Pat worked with Mario Buatta on four homes over 30 years. She notes that his rooms stand the test of time because he adopted the English country style—focusing on classic floor plans, the right scale, and high-quality, comfortable upholstered pieces that look even better when they are a little faded and lived-in. What You'll Hear on This Episode: 00:00 Welcome to the final episode of the Carson Kressley Takeover! 01:30 Meet Patricia Altschul: Art advisor, author, and star of Southern Charm 04:30 Growing up in Richmond, Virginia with an eclectic mix of French antiques and Chinese rugs 07:00 Pat's career as an art advisor in the 80s and 90s (and flying the Concorde) 10:30 How to start collecting art and why you need a portable blacklight 13:00 The best auction sites: Stair Galleries and the LiveAuctioneers app 16:30 The history of Pat's Charleston home: The 1853 Isaac Jenkins Mikell House 19:00 Working with legendary decorator Mario Buatta over 30 years 23:00 Why Mario's classic "English country" rooms still look fresh today 32:30 Pat's former home on Oyster Bay in Long Island 38:00 How Pat ended up on Southern Charm 40:00 Charleston must-dos and the city's incredible food scene 44:00 The secret to the perfect Southern martini 47:30 Entertaining in New York City in the 1990s 51:30 Pat's collection of Ballard Designs crystal lanterns Also Mentioned: Pat's Book (referred to by Carson as Eat, Drink, and Remarry) LiveAuctioneers App Stair Galleries Shop the Carson Kressley Collection at Ballard Designs Please send in your questions so we can answer them on our next episode! And of course, subscribe to the podcast in Apple Podcasts so you never miss an episode. You can always check back here to see new episodes, but if you subscribe, it'll automatically download to your phone. Happy Decorating! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Chelsea stumbled past Wrexham 4-2 in an FA Cup display that was far more uncomfortable than the scoreline suggests, with a heavily rotated side looking disjointed, leaky at the back, and nowhere near the clinical edge of the Villa performance. Four goals should mean smiles. It does not.Simon is back solo and in full rant mode, tearing into a defensive performance that had no business being that sloppy against Championship opposition. Tosin and Benoit Badiashile were the particular targets of Simon's fury — two players who had every opportunity to make a case for selection and instead raised serious questions about the depth of this squad when the first team is rested.The silver lining? Port Vale await in the next round, and with a kind draw presenting Chelsea with arguably their best route to silverware this season, Simon asks whether this squad has the focus and consistency to take that opportunity seriously. A trophy is there for the taking — if Chelsea can be bothered to show up properly.But the FA Cup conversation quickly takes a backseat to the biggest game on the horizon — Chelsea vs PSG in the Champions League. Simon previews what promises to be an electric European night and asks the question every Blue is thinking: can Chelsea channel the spirit of the Club World Cup final and deliver a performance to remember against the French giants?

Alexander Griggs was a trader who used flatboats to transport goods to Canada. In the fall of 1870, he set out too late and became stuck at a French trading post when the river froze. He spent the winter in a cabin he built and began to realize he had found an excellent location for a new settlement.

The Voice Of GO(r)D podcast is very happy to bring you a great history lesson which addresses the question of what a Canadian is, given the destruction of Canadian identity we see after decades of caustic acid poured on the country by the Trudeau Dynasty and their ‘Post Nationalist State' nonsense.Lance Audette is a multi generational cattle rancher and can trace the history of his own family as far back as 1663, who eventually moved from Québec to Saskatchewan, and has connections to the construction of the Canadian Pacific Railway. The man is as Canadian as it gets, and you want to hear his oral history as delivered to me.You can find Lance on Twitter - https://x.com/LaserAudWe mention our online colleague Fortissax; this is a great essay by him about French history in Canada. Fortissax often discusses Le Filles du Roi, of whom Lance is also a direct descendant.https://fortissax.substack.com/p/what-canada-can-learn-from-quebecFor my American and international listeners who might not know why there appears to be so much discontent in Canada at the moment, another writer here on Substack whom I am a big fan of, John Carter, gives us a status update on the joint.https://barsoom.substack.com/p/the-state-of-canadaIn the show we also reference this interview between Candace Malcolm and Daniel Tyrie, the maestro of the Dominion Society of Canada -https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vcb_wRy_5xMLance and I also discussed the Humboldt Tragedy, which looms large as a turning point in recent Canadian history and politics. Just this past weekend, former guest of this show Mocha Bezirgan, The Last Journalist in Canada, released a truly infuriating and deeply moving interview with Chris Joseph, the father of one of the boys killed in that completely unnecessary collision. Mr Joseph tells us how the media have been twisting and omitting the words of many families who have suffered great loss from this incident, and how the government campaign to keep Jaskirat Singh Sidhu in Canada is an affront to the entire country, misses out on what a contemptible figure Mr Sidhu is, and will remove any accountability from the trucking industry when the next tragedy like this takes place. And there will be more, especially from the folks sent here by Narendra Modi for his Profit through Emigration program.Please watch Mocha's interview here -https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zKjkFW84SXAAs always, thanks for listening, pass this around to interested parties, especially any friends or family members still caught under the spell of the CBC, and if you have any questions, comments, suggestions, corrections or Hate Mail, send them directly -gordilocks@protonmail.comIf you haven't already, please check out my book and consider ordering yourself a copy here -https://creedandculture.com/books/end-of-the-road-inside-the-war-on-truckers/Listeners in Canada should order it at Indigo and avoid the expense and hassle of my publisher having to deal with Canada Customs.https://www.indigo.ca/en-ca/end-of-the-road-inside-the-war-on-truckers/9781967613021.htmlOutside of North America, consult with your local book store until I find out more about international distribution from my publisher.

Welcome back to Chez Nico - our charming French café, where the aroma of fresh coffee lingers, conversations flow, and life unfolds around every table. In this immersive series, we follow a compelling story set in a local café and help you build your language skills naturally through storytelling. The café regulars never miss an opportunity for a friendly comment and today there is something new to talk about.
Dans ce huitième chapitre, Jérôme commence sa tournée de facteur et raconte ses premières impressions. Jacques et Dominique réfléchissent à l'hiver qui approche.Scenes Season 2 Chapter 8 is now available. Prenez votre café et profitez de l'histoire.Want to take your learning further? Click here to access support materials and get more out of each chapter. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Last time we spoke about the end of the battle of khalkin gol. In the summer of 1939, the Nomonhan Incident escalated into a major border conflict between Soviet-Mongolian forces and Japan's Kwantung Army along the Halha River. Despite Japanese successes in July, Zhukov launched a decisive offensive on August 20. Under cover of darkness, Soviet troops crossed the river, unleashing over 200 bombers and intense artillery barrages that devastated Japanese positions. Zhukov's northern, central, and southern forces encircled General Komatsubara's 23rd Division, supported by Manchukuoan units. Fierce fighting ensued: the southern flank collapsed under Colonel Potapov's armor, while the northern Fui Heights held briefly before falling to relentless assaults, including flame-throwing tanks. Failed Japanese counterattacks on August 24 resulted in heavy losses, with regiments shattered by superior Soviet firepower and tactics. By August 25, encircled pockets were systematically eliminated, leading to the annihilation of the Japanese 6th Army. The defeat, coinciding with the Hitler-Stalin Pact, forced Japan to negotiate a ceasefire on September 15-16, redrawing borders. Zhukov's victory exposed Japanese weaknesses in mechanized warfare, influencing future strategies and deterring further northern expansion.   #192 The Soviet–Japanese Neutrality Pact Welcome to the Fall and Rise of China Podcast, I am your dutiful host Craig Watson. But, before we start I want to also remind you this podcast is only made possible through the efforts of Kings and Generals over at Youtube. Perhaps you want to learn more about the history of Asia? Kings and Generals have an assortment of episodes on history of asia and much more  so go give them a look over on Youtube. So please subscribe to Kings and Generals over at Youtube and to continue helping us produce this content please check out www.patreon.com/kingsandgenerals. If you are still hungry for some more history related content, over on my channel, the Pacific War Channel where I cover the history of China and Japan from the 19th century until the end of the Pacific War. Despite the fact this technically will go into future events, I thought it was important we talk about a key moment in Sino history. Even though the battle of changkufeng and khalkin gol were not part of the second sino-Japanese war, their outcomes certainly would affect it.  Policymaking by the Soviet Union alone was not the primary factor in ending Moscow's diplomatic isolation in the late 1930s. After the Munich Conference signaled the failure of the popular front/united front approach, Neville Chamberlain, Adolf Hitler, and Poland's Józef Beck unintentionally strengthened Joseph Stalin's position in early 1939. Once the strategic cards were in his hands, Stalin capitalized on them. His handling of negotiations with Britain and France, as well as with Germany, from April to August was deft and effective. The spring and summer negotiations among the European powers are well documented and have been examined from many angles. In May 1939, while Stalin seemed to have the upper hand in Europe, yet before Hitler had signaled that a German–Soviet agreement might be possible, the Nomonhan incident erupted, a conflict initiated and escalated by the Kwantung Army. For a few months, the prospect of a Soviet–Japanese war revived concerns in Moscow about a two-front conflict. Reviewing Soviet talks with Britain, France, and Germany in the spring and summer of 1939 from an East Asian perspective sheds fresh light on the events that led to the German–Soviet Nonaggression Pact and, more broadly, to the outbreak of World War II. The second week of May marked the start of fighting at Nomonhan, during which negotiations between Germany and the USSR barely advanced beyond mutual scrutiny. Moscow signaled that an understanding with Nazi Germany might be possible. Notably, on May 4, the removal of Maksim Litvinov as foreign commissar and his replacement by Vyacheslav Molotov suggested a shift in approach. Litvinov, an urbane diplomat of Jewish origin and married to an Englishwoman, had been the leading Soviet proponent of the united-front policy and a steadfast critic of Nazi Germany. If a settlement with Hitler was sought, Litvinov was an unsuitable figure to lead the effort. Molotov, though with limited international experience, carried weight as chairman of the Council of Ministers and, more importantly, as one of Stalin's closest lieutenants. This personnel change seemed to accomplish its aim in Berlin, where the press was instructed on May 5 to halt polemical attacks on the Soviet Union and Bolshevism. On the same day, Karl Schnurre, head of the German Foreign Ministry's East European trade section, told Soviet chargé d'affaires Georgi Astakhov that Skoda, the German-controlled Czech arms manufacturer, would honor existing arms contracts with Russia. Astakhov asked whether, with Litvinov's departure, Germany might resume negotiations for a trade treaty Berlin had halted months earlier. By May 17, during discussions with Schnurre, Astakhov asserted that "there were no conflicts in foreign policy between Germany and the Soviet Union and that there was no reason for enmity between the two countries," and that Britain and France's negotiations appeared unpromising. The next day, Ribbentrop personally instructed Schulenburg to green-light trade talks. Molotov, however, insisted that a "political basis" for economic negotiations had to be established first. Suspicion remained high on both sides. Stalin feared Berlin might use reports of German–Soviet talks to destabilize a potential triple alliance with Britain and France; Hitler feared Stalin might use such reports to entice Tokyo away from an anti-German pact. The attempt to form a tripartite military alliance among Germany, Italy, and Japan foundered over divergent aims: Berlin targeted Britain and France; Tokyo aimed at the Soviet Union. Yet talks persisted through August 1939, with Japanese efforts to draw Germany into an anti-Soviet alignment continually reported to Moscow by Richard Sorge. Hitler and Mussolini, frustrated by Japanese objections, first concluded the bilateral Pact of Steel on May 22. The next day, Hitler, addressing his generals, stressed the inevitability of war with Poland and warned that opposition from Britain would be crushed militarily. He then hinted that Russia might "prove disinterested in the destruction of Poland," suggesting closer ties with Japan if Moscow opposed Germany. The exchange was quickly leaked to the press. Five days later, the first pitched battle of the Nomonhan campaign began. Although Hitler's timing with the Yamagata detachment's foray was coincidental, Moscow may have found the coincidence ominous. Despite the inducement of Molotov's call for a political basis before economic talks, Hitler and Ribbentrop did not immediately respond. On June 14, Astakhov signaled to Parvan Draganov, Bulgaria's ambassador in Berlin, that the USSR faced three options: ally with Britain and France, continue inconclusive talks with them, or align with Germany, the latter being closest to Soviet desires. Draganov relayed to the German Foreign Ministry that Moscow preferred a non-aggression agreement if Germany would pledge not to attack the Soviet Union. Two days later, Schulenburg told Astakhov that Germany recognized the link between economic and political relations and was prepared for far-reaching talks, a view echoed by Ribbentrop. The situation remained tangled: the Soviets pursued overt talks with Britain and France, while Stalin sought to maximize Soviet leverage. Chamberlain's stance toward Moscow remained wary but recognized a "psychological value" to an Anglo–Soviet rapprochement, tempered by his insistence on a hard bargain. American ambassador William C. Bullitt urged London to avoid the appearance of pursuing the Soviets, a view that resonated with Chamberlain's own distrust. Public confidence in a real Anglo–Soviet alliance remained low. By July 19, cabinet minutes show Chamberlain could not quite believe a genuine Russia–Germany alliance was possible, though he recognized the necessity of negotiations with Moscow to deter Hitler and to mollify an increasingly skeptical British public. Despite reservations, both sides kept the talks alive. Stalin's own bargaining style, with swift Soviet replies but frequent questions and demands, often produced delays. Molotov pressed on questions such as whether Britain and France would pledge to defend the Baltic states, intervene if Japan attacked the USSR, or join in opposing Germany if Hitler pressured Poland or Romania. These considerations were not trivial; they produced extended deliberations. On July 23, Molotov demanded that plans for coordinated military action among the three powers be fleshed out before a political pact. Britain and France accepted most political terms, and an Anglo-French military mission arrived in Moscow on August 11. The British commander, Admiral Sir Reginald Plunket-Ernle-Erle-Drax, conducted staff talks but could not conclude a military agreement. The French counterpart, General Joseph Doumenc, could sign but not bind his government. By then, Hitler had set August 26 as the date for war with Poland. With that looming, Hitler pressed for Soviet neutrality, or closer cooperation. In July and August, secret German–Soviet negotiations favored the Germans, who pressed for a rapid settlement and made most concessions. Yet Stalin benefited from keeping the British and French engaged, creating leverage against Hitler and safeguarding a potential Anglo–Soviet option as a fallback. To lengthen the talks and avoid immediate resolution, Moscow emphasized the Polish issue. Voroshilov demanded the Red Army be allowed to operate through Polish territory to defend Poland, a demand Warsaw would never accept. Moscow even floated a provocative plan: if Britain and France could compel Poland to permit Baltic State naval operations, the Western fleets would occupy Baltic ports, an idea that would have been militarily perilous and diplomatically explosive. Despite this, Stalin sought an agreement with Germany. Through Richard Sorge's intelligence, Moscow knew Tokyo aimed to avoid large-scale war with the USSR, and Moscow pressed for a German–Soviet settlement, including a nonaggression pact and measures to influence Japan to ease Sino–Japanese tensions. On August 16, Ribbentrop instructed Schulenburg to urge Molotov and Stalin toward a nonaggression pact and to coordinate with Japan. Stalin signaled willingness, and August 23–24 saw the drafting of the pact and the collapse of the Soviet and Japanese resistance elsewhere. That night, in a memorandum of Ribbentrop's staff, seven topics were summarized, with Soviet–Japanese relations and Molotov's insistence that Berlin demonstrate good faith standing out. Ribbentrop reiterated his willingness to influence Japan for a more favorable Soviet–Japanese relationship, and Stalin's reply indicated a path toward a détente in the East alongside the European agreement: "M. Stalin replied that the Soviet Union indeed desired an improvement in its relations with Japan, but that there were limits to its patience with regard to Japanese provocations. If Japan desired war she could have it. The Soviet Union was not afraid of it and was prepared for it. If Japan desired peace—so much the better! M. Stalin considered the assistance of Germany in bringing about an improvement in Soviet-Japanese relations as useful, but he did not want the Japanese to get the impression that the initiative in this direction had been taken by the Soviet Union."  Second, the assertion that the Soviet Union was prepared for and unafraid of war with Japan is an overstatement, though Stalin certainly had grounds for optimism regarding the battlefield situation and the broader East Asian strategic balance. It is notable that, despite the USSR's immediate diplomatic and military gains against Japan, Stalin remained anxious to conceal from Tokyo any peace initiative that originated in Moscow. That stance suggests that Tokyo or Hsinking might read such openness as a sign of Soviet weakness or confidence overextended. The Japanese danger, it would seem, did not disappear from Stalin's mind. Even at the height of his diplomatic coup, Stalin was determined not to burn bridges prematurely. On August 21, while he urged Hitler to send Ribbentrop to Moscow, he did not sever talks with Britain and France. Voroshilov requested a temporary postponement on the grounds that Soviet delegation officers were needed for autumn maneuvers. It was not until August 25, after Britain reiterated its resolve to stand by Poland despite the German–Soviet pact, that Stalin sent the Anglo–French military mission home. Fortified by the nonaggression pact, which he hoped would deter Britain and France from action, Hitler unleashed his army on Poland on September 1. Two days later, as Zhukov's First Army Group was completing its operations at Nomonhan, Hitler faced a setback when Britain and France declared war. Hitler had hoped to finish Poland quickly in 1939 and avoid fighting Britain and France until 1940. World War II in Europe had begun. The Soviet–Japanese conflict at Nomonhan was not the sole, nor even the principal, factor prompting Stalin to conclude an alliance with Hitler. Standing aside from a European war that could fracture the major capitalist powers might have been reason enough. Yet the conflict with Japan in the East was also a factor in Stalin's calculations, a dimension that has received relatively little attention in standard accounts of the outbreak of the war. This East Asian focus seeks to clarify the record without proposing a revolutionary reinterpretation of Soviet foreign policy; rather, it adds an important piece often overlooked in the "origins of the Second World War" puzzle, helping to reduce the overall confusion. The German–Soviet agreement provided for the Soviet occupation of the eastern half of Poland soon after Germany's invasion. On September 3, just forty-eight hours after the invasion and on the day Britain and France declared war, Ribbentrop urged Moscow to invade Poland from the east. Yet, for two more weeks, Poland's eastern frontier remained inviolate; Soviet divisions waited at the border, as most Polish forces were engaged against Germany. The German inquiries about the timing of the Soviet invasion continued, but the Red Army did not move. This inactivity is often attributed to Stalin's caution and suspicion, but that caution extended beyond Europe. Throughout early September, sporadic ground and air combat continued at Nomonhan, including significant activity by Kwantung Army forces on September 8–9, and large-scale air engagements on September 1–2, 4–5, and 14–15. Not until September 15 was the Molotov–Togo cease-fire arrangement finalized, to take effect on September 16. The very next morning, September 17, the Red Army crossed the Polish frontier into a country collapsed at its feet. It appears that Stalin wanted to ensure that fighting on his eastern flank had concluded before engaging in Western battles, avoiding a two-front war. Through such policies, Stalin avoided the disaster of a two-front war. Each principal in the 1939 diplomatic maneuvering pursued distinct objectives. The British sought an arrangement with the USSR that would deter Hitler from attacking Poland and, if deterred, bind Moscow to the Anglo–French alliance. Hitler sought an alliance with the USSR to deter Britain and France from aiding Poland and, if they did aid Poland, to secure Soviet neutrality. Japan sought a military alliance with Germany against the USSR, or failing that, stronger Anti-Comintern ties. Stalin aimed for an outcome in which Germany would fight the Western democracies, leaving him freedom to operate in both the West and East; failing that, he sought military reassurance from Britain and France in case he had to confront Germany. Of the four, only Stalin achieved his primary objective. Hitler secured his secondary objective; the British and Japanese failed to realize theirs. Stalin won the diplomatic contest in 1939. Yet, as diplomats gave way to generals, the display of German military power in Poland and in Western Europe soon eclipsed Stalin's diplomatic triumph. By playing Germany against Britain and France, Stalin gained leverage and a potential fallback, but at the cost of unleashing a devastating European war. As with the aftermath of the Portsmouth Treaty in 1905, Russo-Japanese relations improved rapidly after hostilities ceased at Nomonhan. The Molotov–Togo agreement of September 15 and the local truces arranged around Nomonhan on September 19 were observed scrupulously by both sides. On October 27, the two nations settled another long-standing dispute by agreeing to mutual release of fishing boats detained on charges of illegal fishing in each other's territorial waters. On November 6, the USSR appointed Konstantin Smetanin as ambassador to Tokyo, replacing the previous fourteen-month tenure of a chargé d'affaires. Smetanin's first meeting with the new Japanese foreign minister, Nomura Kichisaburö, in November 1939 attracted broad, favorable coverage in the Japanese press. In a break with routine diplomatic practice, Nomura delivered a draft proposal for a new fisheries agreement and a memo outlining the functioning of the joint border commission to be established in the Nomonhan area before Smetanin presented his credentials. On December 31, an agreement finalizing Manchukuo's payment to the USSR for the sale of the Chinese Eastern Railway was reached, and the Soviet–Japanese Fisheries Convention was renewed for 1940. In due course, the boundary near Nomonhan was formally redefined. A November 1939 agreement between Molotov and Togo established a mixed border commission representing the four parties to the dispute. After protracted negotiations, the border commission completed its redemarcation on June 14, 1941, with new border markers erected in August 1941. The resulting boundary largely followed the Soviet–MPR position, lying ten to twelve miles east of the Halha River. With that, the Nomonhan incident was officially closed.  Kwantung Army and Red Army leaders alike sought to "teach a lesson" to their foe at Nomonhan. The refrain recurs in documents and memoirs from both sides, "we must teach them a lesson." The incident provided lessons for both sides, but not all were well learned. For the Red Army, the lessons of Nomonhan intertwined with the laurels of victory, gratifying but sometimes distracting. Georgy Zhukov grasped the experience of modern warfare that summer, gaining more than a raised profile: command experience, confidence, and a set of hallmarks he would employ later. He demonstrated the ability to grasp complex strategic problems quickly, decisive crisis leadership, meticulous attention to logistics and deception, patience in building superior strength before striking at the enemy's weakest point, and the coordination of massed artillery, tanks, mechanized infantry, and tactical air power in large-scale double envelopment. These capabilities informed his actions at Moscow, Stalingrad, Kursk, and ultimately Berlin. It is tempting to wonder how Zhukov might have fared in the crucial autumn and winter of 1941 without Nomonhan, or whether he would have been entrusted with the Moscow front in 1941 had he not distinguished himself at Nomonhan. Yet the Soviet High Command overlooked an important lesson. Despite Zhukov's successes with independent tank formations and mechanized infantry, the command misapplied Spanish Civil War-era experience by disbanding armored divisions and redistributing tanks to infantry units to serve as support. It was not until after Germany demonstrated tank warfare in 1940 that the Soviets began reconstituting armored divisions and corps, a process still incomplete when the 1941 invasion began. The Red Army's performance at Nomonhan went largely unseen in the West. Western intelligence and military establishments largely believed the Red Army was fundamentally rotten, a view reinforced by the battlefield's remoteness and by both sides' reluctance to publicize the defeat. The Polish crisis and the outbreak of war in Europe drew attention away from Nomonhan, and the later Finnish Winter War reinforced negative Western judgments of Soviet military capability. U.S. military attaché Raymond Faymonville observed that the Soviets, anticipating a quick victory over Finland, relied on hastily summoned reserves ill-suited for winter fighting—an assessment that led some to judge the Red Army by its performance at Nomonhan. Even in Washington, this view persisted; Hitler reportedly called the Red Army "a paralytic on crutches" after Finland and then ordered invasion planning in 1941. Defeat can be a stronger teacher than victory. Because Nomonhan was a limited war, Japan's defeat was likewise limited, and its impact on Tokyo did not immediately recalibrate Japanese assessments. Yet Nomonhan did force Japan to revise its estimation of Soviet strength: the Imperial Army abandoned its strategic Plan Eight-B and adopted a more defensive posture toward the Soviet Union. An official inquiry into the debacle, submitted November 29, 1939, recognized Soviet superiority in materiel and firepower and urged Japan to bolster its own capabilities. The Kwantung Army's leadership, chastened, returned to the frontier with a more realistic sense of capability, even as the Army Ministry and AGS failed to translate lessons into policy. The enduring tendency toward gekokujo, the dominance of local and mid-level officers over central authority, remained persistent, and Tokyo did not fully purge it after Nomonhan. The Kwantung Army's operatives who helped drive the Nomonhan episode resurfaced in key posts at Imperial General Headquarters, contributing to Japan's 1941 decision to go to war. The defeat of the Kwantung Army at Nomonhan, together with the Stalin–Hitler pact and the outbreak of war in Europe, triggered a reorientation of Japanese strategy and foreign policy. The new government, led by the politically inexperienced and cautious General Abe Nobuyuki, pursued a conservative foreign policy. Chiang Kai-shek's retreat to Chongqing left the Chinese war at a stalemate: the Japanese Expeditionary Army could still inflict defeats on Chinese nationalist forces, but it had no viable path to a decisive victory. China remained Japan's principal focus. Still, the option of cutting Soviet aid to China and of moving north into Outer Mongolia and Siberia was discredited in Tokyo by the August 1939 double defeat. Northward expansion never again regained its ascendancy, though it briefly resurfaced in mid-1941 after Germany's invasion of the Soviet Union. Germany's alliance with the USSR during Nomonhan was viewed by Tokyo as a betrayal, cooling German–Japanese relations. Japan also stepped back from its confrontation with Britain over Tientsin. Tokyo recognized that the European war represented a momentous development that could reshape East Asia, as World War I had reshaped it before. The short-lived Abe government (September–December 1939) and its successor under Admiral Yonai Mitsumasa (December 1939–July 1940) adopted a cautious wait-and-see attitude toward the European war. That stance shifted in the summer of 1940, however, after Germany's successes in the West. With Germany's conquest of France and the Low Countries and Britain's fight for survival, Tokyo reassessed the global balance of power. Less than a year after Zhukov had effectively blocked further Japanese expansion northward, Hitler's victories seemed to open a southern expansion path. The prospect of seizing the resource-rich colonies in Southeast Asia, Dutch, French, and British and, more importantly, resolving the China problem in Japan's favor, tempted many in Tokyo. If Western aid to Chiang Kai-shek, channeled through Hong Kong, French Indochina, and Burma could be cut off, some in Tokyo believed Chiang might abandon resistance. If not, Japan could launch new operations against Chiang from Indochina and Burma, effectively turning China's southern flank. To facilitate a southward advance, Japan sought closer alignment with Germany and the USSR. Foreign Minister Yosuke Matsuoka brought Japan into the Tripartite Pact with Germany and Italy, in the hope of neutralizing the United States, and concluded a neutrality pact with the Soviet Union to secure calm in the north. Because of the European military situation, only the United States could check Japan's southward expansion. President Franklin D. Roosevelt appeared determined to do so and confident that he could. If the Manchurian incident and the Stimson Doctrine strained U.S.–Japanese relations, and the China War and U.S. aid to Chiang Kai-shek deepened mutual resentment, it was Japan's decision to press south against French, British, and Dutch colonies, and Roosevelt's resolve to prevent such a move, that put the two nations on a collision course. The dust had barely settled on the Mongolian plains following the Nomonhan ceasefire when the ripples of that distant conflict began to reshape the broader theater of the Second Sino-Japanese War. The defeat at Nomonhan in August 1939, coupled with the shocking revelation of the German-Soviet Nonaggression Pact, delivered a profound strategic blow to Japan's imperial ambitions. No longer could Tokyo entertain serious notions of a "northern advance" into Soviet territory, a strategy that had long tantalized military planners as a means to secure resources and buffer against communism. Instead, the Kwantung Army's humiliation exposed glaring deficiencies in Japanese mechanized warfare, logistics, and intelligence, forcing a pivot southward. This reorientation not only cooled tensions with the Soviet Union but also allowed Japan to redirect its military focus toward the protracted stalemate in China. As we transition from the border clashes of the north to the heartland tensions in central China, it's essential to trace how these events propelled Japan toward the brink of a major offensive in Hunan Province, setting the stage for what would become a critical confrontation. In the immediate aftermath of Nomonhan, Japan's military high command grappled with the implications of their setback. The Kwantung Army, once a symbol of unchecked aggression, was compelled to adopt a defensive posture along the Manchurian-Soviet border. The ceasefire agreement, formalized on September 15-16, 1939, effectively neutralized the northern front, freeing up significant resources and manpower that had been tied down in the escalating border skirmishes. This was no small relief; the Nomonhan campaign had drained Japanese forces, with estimates of over 18,000 casualties and the near-total annihilation of the 23rd Division. The psychological impact was equally severe, shattering the myth of Japanese invincibility against a modern, mechanized opponent. Georgy Zhukov's masterful use of combined arms—tanks, artillery, and air power—highlighted Japan's vulnerabilities, prompting internal reviews that urged reforms in tank production, artillery doctrine, and supply chains. Yet, these lessons were slow to implement, and in the short term, the primary benefit was the opportunity to consolidate efforts elsewhere. For Japan, "elsewhere" meant China, where the war had devolved into a grinding attrition since the fall of Wuhan in October 1938. The capture of Wuhan, a major transportation hub and temporary capital of the Nationalist government under Chiang Kai-shek, had been hailed as a turning point. Japanese forces, under the command of General Shunroku Hata, had pushed deep into central China, aiming to decapitate Chinese resistance. However, Chiang's strategic retreat to Chongqing transformed the conflict into a war of endurance. Nationalist forces, bolstered by guerrilla tactics and international aid, harassed Japanese supply lines and prevented a decisive knockout blow. By mid-1939, Japan controlled vast swaths of eastern and northern China, including key cities like Beijing, Shanghai, and Nanjing, but the cost was immense: stretched logistics, mounting casualties, and an inability to fully pacify occupied territories. The Nomonhan defeat exacerbated these issues by underscoring the limits of Japan's military overextension. With the northern threat abated, Tokyo's Army General Staff saw an opening to intensify operations in China, hoping to force Chiang to the negotiating table before global events further complicated the picture. The diplomatic fallout from Nomonhan and the Hitler-Stalin Pact further influenced this shift. Japan's betrayal by Germany, its nominal ally under the Anti-Comintern Pact—fostered distrust and isolation. Tokyo's flirtations with a full Axis alliance stalled, as the pact with Moscow revealed Hitler's willingness to prioritize European gains over Asian solidarity. This isolation prompted Japan to reassess its priorities, emphasizing self-reliance in China while eyeing opportunistic expansions elsewhere. Domestically, the Hiranuma cabinet collapsed in August 1939 amid the diplomatic shock, paving the way for the more cautious Abe Nobuyuki government. Abe's administration, though short-lived, signaled a temporary de-escalation in aggressive posturing, but the underlying imperative to resolve the "China Incident" persisted. Japanese strategists believed that capturing additional strategic points in central China could sever Chiang's lifelines, particularly the routes funneling aid from the Soviet Union and the West via Burma and Indochina. The seismic shifts triggered by Nomonhan compelled Japan to fundamentally readjust its China policy and war plans, marking a pivotal transition from overambitious northern dreams to a more focused, albeit desperate, campaign in the south. With the Kwantung Army's defeat fresh in mind, Tokyo's Imperial General Headquarters initiated a comprehensive strategic review in late August 1939. The once-dominant "Northern Advance" doctrine, which envisioned rapid conquests into Siberia for resources like oil and minerals, was officially shelved. In its place emerged a "Southern Advance" framework, prioritizing the consolidation of gains in China and potential expansions into Southeast Asia. This pivot was not merely tactical; it reflected a profound policy recalibration aimed at ending the quagmire in China, where two years of war had yielded territorial control but no decisive victory over Chiang Kai-shek's Nationalists. Central to this readjustment was a renewed emphasis on economic and military self-sufficiency. The Nomonhan debacle had exposed Japan's vulnerabilities in mechanized warfare, leading to urgent reforms in industrial production. Tank manufacturing was ramped up, with designs influenced by observed Soviet models, and artillery stockpiles were bolstered to match the firepower discrepancies seen on the Mongolian steppes. Logistically, the Army General Staff prioritized streamlining supply lines in China, recognizing that prolonged engagements demanded better resource allocation. Politically, the Abe Nobuyuki cabinet, installed in September 1939, adopted a "wait-and-see" approach toward Europe but aggressively pursued diplomatic maneuvers to isolate China. Efforts to negotiate with Wang Jingwei's puppet regime in Nanjing intensified, aiming to undermine Chiang's legitimacy and splinter Chinese resistance. Japan also pressured Vichy France for concessions in Indochina, seeking to choke off aid routes to Chongqing. War plans evolved accordingly, shifting from broad-front offensives to targeted strikes designed to disrupt Chinese command and supply networks. The China Expeditionary Army, under General Yasuji Okamura, was restructured to emphasize mobility and combined arms operations, drawing partial lessons from Zhukov's tactics. Intelligence operations were enhanced, with greater focus on infiltrating Nationalist strongholds in central provinces. By early September, plans coalesced around a major push into Hunan Province, a vital crossroads linking northern and southern China. Hunan's river systems and rail lines made it a linchpin for Chinese logistics, funneling men and materiel to the front lines. Japanese strategists identified key urban centers in the region as critical objectives, believing their capture could sever Chiang's western supply corridors and force a strategic retreat. This readjustment was not without internal friction. Hardliners in the military lamented the abandonment of northern ambitions, but the reality of Soviet strength—and the neutrality pacts that followed—left little room for debate. Economically, Japan ramped up exploitation of occupied Chinese territories, extracting coal, iron, and rice to fuel the war machine. Diplomatically, Tokyo sought to mend fences with the Soviets through the 1941 Neutrality Pact, ensuring northern security while eyes turned south. Yet, these changes brewed tension with the United States, whose embargoes on scrap metal and oil threatened to cripple Japan's ambitions. As autumn approached, the stage was set for a bold gambit in central China. Japanese divisions massed along the Yangtze River, poised to strike at the heart of Hunan's defenses. Intelligence reports hinted at Chinese preparations, with Xue Yue's forces fortifying positions around a major provincial hub. The air thickened with anticipation of a clash that could tip the balance in the interminable war—a test of Japan's revamped strategies against a resilient foe determined to hold the line. What unfolded would reveal whether Tokyo's post-Nomonhan pivot could deliver the breakthrough so desperately needed, or if it would merely prolong the bloody stalemate. I would like to take this time to remind you all that this podcast is only made possible through the efforts of Kings and Generals over at Youtube. Please go subscribe to Kings and Generals over at Youtube and to continue helping us produce this content please check out www.patreon.com/kingsandgenerals. If you are still hungry after that, give my personal channel a look over at The Pacific War Channel at Youtube, it would mean a lot to me. In 1939, the Nomonhan Incident saw Soviet forces under Georgy Zhukov decisively defeat Japan's Kwantung Army at Khalkin Gol, exposing Japanese weaknesses in mechanized warfare. This setback, coupled with the Hitler-Stalin Nonaggression Pact, shattered Japan's northern expansion plans and prompted a strategic pivot southward. Diplomatic maneuvers involving Stalin, Hitler, Britain, France, and Japan reshaped alliances, leading to the Soviet-Japanese Neutrality Pact in 1941. Japan refocused on China, intensifying operations in Hunan Province to isolate Chiang Kai-shek.   

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Les librairies sont des lieux de rencontre : avec des livres, avec des écrivains ou encore avec de vraies personnes. Et échanger une histoire ou quelques mots sympathiques, eh bien, ça fait du bien ! Dans cet épisode, je vous raconte une rencontre que nous avons faite dans la librairie L'usage du papier à Trouville-sur-mer.  Il y a un peu de vocabulaire familier autour d'une "bonne blague".  Ce sera l'occasion d'une histoire autour de la lecture et d'une mystérieuse fiancée qui attendait sa tasse !  www.onethinginafrenchday.com  

Politics keeps offering us drama in place of design. We sat down with Nicholas D. Vairo to chart how the post-liberal moment slid from grand promises into a Bonapartist reality: a leader-first spectacle with no plan to build or maintain the institutions that make a society work. The core insight isn't just about ideology; it's about capacity. Professional elites still run what functions, for better and worse, because no competing class has figured out how to reproduce competence at scale.We unpack why Yarvin-style CEO fantasies and Deneen's mixed-constitution nostalgia mirror historical dead ends. The French parallels are illuminating: attempts to jury-rig monarchs and blended constitutions collapsed into Bonapartism, not renewal. That's where we are now—big talk, weak statecraft, and a movement that confuses obedience with order. Meanwhile, liberalism struggles with the deeper wound: a crisis of socialization. Without strong civil society—churches, associations, unions, schools that do more than sort—people can't generate shared meaning or stable norms. That vacuum breeds nihilism and brittle politics.We also go material. Neoliberal underinvestment hollowed America's productive base, leaving the U.S. with high labor productivity but low capital intensity and a long productivity slump ahead. Tariffs and culture war won't fix a capacity gap that took decades to create. China offers a counterexample—not as a model to copy, but as proof that disciplined investment and state competence matter more than performative revolt. On technology, we challenge fatalism: AI can de-skill or empower depending on the incentives and institutions wrapped around it. Design education for mastery and collaboration, and the tools raise the floor; design it for compliance and shortcuts, and skills atrophy.Where does that leave the left? With work to do. We argue for pro-factional, member-driven organizations that build beyond elections, tie back into unions and tenant power, and actually teach people to run things. Less content, more construction. If post-liberalism's disillusion teaches anything, it's that there's no substitute for institutions that build meaning and capacity together.If this resonates, subscribe, share with a friend who's wrestling with these questions, and leave a review telling us which institution you think we must rebuild first.Send a text Musis by Bitterlake, Used with Permission, all rights to BitterlakeSupport the showCrew:Host: C. Derick VarnIntro and Outro Music by Bitter Lake.Intro Video Design: Jason MylesArt Design: Corn and C. Derick VarnLinks and Social Media:twitter: @varnvlogblue sky: @varnvlog.bsky.socialYou can find the additional streams on YoutubeCurrent Patreon at the Sponsor Tier: Jordan Sheldon, Mark J. Matthews, Lindsay Kimbrough, RedWolf, DRV, Kenneth McKee, JY Chan, Matthew Monahan, Parzival, Adriel Mixon, Buddy Roark, Daniel Petrovic,Julian

A shirtless tourist tries to kidnap a flamingo from a Las Vegas casino and somehow that's only the beginning. This week the gals dive into the absolute animal chaos of Vegas: the bizarre story of the Flamingo Hotel heist, the shocking truth behind a famous Vegas show featuring dancing orangutans, and Elvis Presley's pet chimp who developed a taste for whiskey and started attacking guests at Graceland. Meanwhile Cassie brings the darkness with the horrifying story of a French doctor who preyed on Jewish people trying to escape during WWII. Flamingos, primates, Vegas madness and wartime monsters... just another normal week on The Creep Dive.

The introduction of the principle of women's reproductive liberty in France, tentatively by the family planning movement after 1960 and explicitly by the women's liberation movement after 1970, marked a deep shift, transforming public discourses. Yet this principle remained fiercely contested, and moderate and conservative actors responded by foregrounding notions of 'reproductive responsibility', or the expectation that individuals perform the 'right' sexual and family-making behaviour, benefiting not only themselves and their families, but the nation at large. Such responsibilisation underpinned the legal reforms of the 1960s-70s, framing a notion of reproductive citizenship based on a tension between individual rights and social norms. Reproductive Rights in Modern France: Feminism, Contraception, and Abortion, 1950-1980 (Oxford UP, 2025) breaks new ground by taking an intersectional approach to the defining moments of this period: the legalisation of contraception (the laws of 1967 and 1974) and the liberalisation of abortion (1975, 1979). Drawing on a wide range of sources and actors - including feminist and family planning movements, government actors, demographers, medical-professional organisations, disability rights groups, and key actors in the overseas departments - Maud Bracke demonstrates how the discourse of responsibilisation allowed actors to distinguish between citizens 'worthy' of reproductive rights and those seen as less worthy. Bracke analyses the distinct regulations regarding contraception in the overseas departments of Guadeloupe and Martinique, framed by racialised anti-natalism. The book also demonstrates that disability rights organisations contributed to the discrediting of the notion of 'eugenic abortion', used among experts and policy-makers until the early 1970s. Furthermore, Bracke goes on to highlight the silence in the feminist movement around both disability rights and race as part of its universalisation of women's conditions of oppression, and analyses the emergence of Black Feminism in late-1970s France. In so doing, the book offers a major contribution to the history of sex, gender, family life, healthcare, demography, and political debate in post-war France, and more generally. Guest Dr. Maud Bracke is Professor of Modern European History at the University of Glasgow, and is also the author of Which Socialism? Whose Detente? West European Communism and the Czechoslovak Crisis of 1968 in 2007 and Women and the Reinvention of the Political: Feminism in Italy (1968-1983) in 2014, as well as the co-editor of Translating Feminism: Interdisciplinary Approaches to Text, Place and Agency in 2021. In addition to authoring numerous journal articles and book chapters and co-editing several special issues of academic journalsb she is also an editor at the Journal of Modern European History and sits on various other editorial boards.  Host Gina Stamm is Associate Professor of French at The University of Alabama, with research concentrated on the environmental humanities and speculative literatures of the 20th and 21st centuries, from Surrealism to contemporary science fiction and feminist utopias, in Metropolitan France and the francophone Caribbean, with a book manuscript in progress on posthumanist ecological engagement in the surrealist movement. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

Melissa Krueger, CEO of Classic Vacations, has dedicated 30+ years to the travel industry. Serendipitously, her very first job in travel was with a French hotel group, where she regularly worked with travel advisors. Krueger quickly recognized that personal connections were far more important than product, and she brought that line of thinking to future roles in wholesale travel before moving to Classic Vacations. In this episode of Humans of Travel, Krueger reflects on the lessons that have shaped her as a leader, including building the right inner circle, being the kind of champion for others that you’d want for yourself and learning from the “scripts,” or examples, of others. Krueger also outlines Classic’s cultural pillars and discusses making career advancement moves to fit life stages. She also explains Classic’s ownership evolution, up to its recent acquisition by TBO, and previews the company’s continued digital transformation. Even with forward motion on the tech side, Krueger says that “trust, time and humanity” are and will remain foundational to Classic and the travel advisors it serves. This episode is sponsored by AmaWaterways. RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE Classic Vacations From TravelAge West: Classic Vacations to Be Acquired by TBO, an Indian Tech CompanyContact Krueger: officeoftheceo@classicvacations.com ABOUT YOUR HOST Emma Weissmann is the Executive Editor of TravelAge West, a print magazine and website for travel advisors based in the Western U.S. She is also the co-host of Trade Secrets, a podcast created with sister publication Travel Weekly, and the Editor-in-Chief of print publication AGENTatHOME.TravelAge West also produces events including Future Leaders in Travel, Global Travel Marketplace West, the WAVE Awards gala ad the Napa Valley Leadership Forum. ABOUT THE SHOW TravelAge West’s award-winning podcast, “Humans of Travel,” features conversations with exceptional people who have compelling stories to tell. Listeners will hear from the travel industry’s notable authorities, high-profile executives, travel advisors and rising stars as they share the highs and lows that make them human.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The introduction of the principle of women's reproductive liberty in France, tentatively by the family planning movement after 1960 and explicitly by the women's liberation movement after 1970, marked a deep shift, transforming public discourses. Yet this principle remained fiercely contested, and moderate and conservative actors responded by foregrounding notions of 'reproductive responsibility', or the expectation that individuals perform the 'right' sexual and family-making behaviour, benefiting not only themselves and their families, but the nation at large. Such responsibilisation underpinned the legal reforms of the 1960s-70s, framing a notion of reproductive citizenship based on a tension between individual rights and social norms. Reproductive Rights in Modern France: Feminism, Contraception, and Abortion, 1950-1980 (Oxford UP, 2025) breaks new ground by taking an intersectional approach to the defining moments of this period: the legalisation of contraception (the laws of 1967 and 1974) and the liberalisation of abortion (1975, 1979). Drawing on a wide range of sources and actors - including feminist and family planning movements, government actors, demographers, medical-professional organisations, disability rights groups, and key actors in the overseas departments - Maud Bracke demonstrates how the discourse of responsibilisation allowed actors to distinguish between citizens 'worthy' of reproductive rights and those seen as less worthy. Bracke analyses the distinct regulations regarding contraception in the overseas departments of Guadeloupe and Martinique, framed by racialised anti-natalism. The book also demonstrates that disability rights organisations contributed to the discrediting of the notion of 'eugenic abortion', used among experts and policy-makers until the early 1970s. Furthermore, Bracke goes on to highlight the silence in the feminist movement around both disability rights and race as part of its universalisation of women's conditions of oppression, and analyses the emergence of Black Feminism in late-1970s France. In so doing, the book offers a major contribution to the history of sex, gender, family life, healthcare, demography, and political debate in post-war France, and more generally. Guest Dr. Maud Bracke is Professor of Modern European History at the University of Glasgow, and is also the author of Which Socialism? Whose Detente? West European Communism and the Czechoslovak Crisis of 1968 in 2007 and Women and the Reinvention of the Political: Feminism in Italy (1968-1983) in 2014, as well as the co-editor of Translating Feminism: Interdisciplinary Approaches to Text, Place and Agency in 2021. In addition to authoring numerous journal articles and book chapters and co-editing several special issues of academic journalsb she is also an editor at the Journal of Modern European History and sits on various other editorial boards.  Host Gina Stamm is Associate Professor of French at The University of Alabama, with research concentrated on the environmental humanities and speculative literatures of the 20th and 21st centuries, from Surrealism to contemporary science fiction and feminist utopias, in Metropolitan France and the francophone Caribbean, with a book manuscript in progress on posthumanist ecological engagement in the surrealist movement. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/history

Jean-Luc Brunel, a French modeling agent and longtime associate of Jeffrey Epstein, was accused by multiple women of helping facilitate a trafficking pipeline that brought young women and underage girls into Epstein's orbit. Brunel built a powerful career in the international modeling industry and later helped create MC2 Model Management with Epstein's financial backing. Several accusers alleged that Brunel used his agencies and industry connections to recruit vulnerable girls from Europe and elsewhere under the promise of modeling opportunities, only for some of them to end up being exploited by Epstein and other wealthy men. Survivors described Brunel as a key figure who helped identify and transport girls into the network, effectively serving as a recruiter who operated through the fashion industry.French authorities eventually opened a criminal investigation into Brunel after Epstein's arrest in 2019, as several women came forward accusing him of rape and trafficking of minors. Investigators in France viewed him as a central link between Epstein and a broader European network of alleged exploitation tied to the modeling world. Brunel was arrested in Paris in 2020 while reportedly preparing to leave the country and was later charged with rape of a minor and sexual harassment. The case, however, never went to trial. In February 2022 Brunel was found dead in his cell at La Santé prison in Paris, ending the prosecution and leaving many of the allegations about the alleged French branch of Epstein's network unresolved.to contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.comsource:Epstein Files Reveal French Castles Used as Sex Trafficking Sites While Underage Models Sent to US for Exploitation | IBTimes UKBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-epstein-chronicles--5003294/support.

In this episode of the Feel Free Again podcast, grief recovery specialist Joe Dubowski shares his transformative journey from tech professional to marriage and family therapist. After experiencing the unimaginable loss of his daughter in a shooting, Joe turned to grief recovery methods, which not only helped him process his emotions but also led him to dedicate his life to helping others navigate grief. With over 15 years of experience, Joe offers valuable insights into the often overlooked stages of grief and how we can find healing through focused emotional work. During the conversation, Joe reveals how retirement can be a powerful grief event that often goes unaddressed, leaving people with unresolved emotions. He shares his own personal experience in approaching this life transition with the tools of grief recovery, showing how completing emotional work allowed him to retire on his terms, with peace and clarity. This episode is an eye-opening discussion for anyone facing a major life change, whether it be retirement, loss, or other significant life shifts. Tune in as Joe emphasizes the importance of recognizing grief in all aspects of life, even in places where society doesn't typically acknowledge it. From career changes to personal losses, Joe's story highlights how grief recovery tools can help individuals complete unfinished emotional business and embrace new chapters in life. If you're ready to dive deeper into your own grief and learn how to process it effectively, this episode is a must-listen. ⏱️ Chapters: 00:04 - Introduction to Joe Dowski and His Background 02:52 - Joe Reflects on the Loss of His Daughter 06:37 - Transition from Tech to Grief Recovery and Therapy 09:03 - The Impact of Losing a Child and Joe's Grief Journey 12:11 - How Joe Discovered the Grief Recovery Handbook 15:09 - Joe's First Experience with the Grief Recovery Method 18:22 - Joe's Transition into Grief Recovery Work as a Profession 21:48 - Recognizing Grief Beyond the Obvious Losses 25:31 - Joe Talks About Retirement as a Grief Event 28:44 - The Role of Grief in Retirement and Life Transitions 32:15 - How Grief Recovery Tools Helped Joe Complete His Career 36:01 - The Importance of Getting Complete with Past Grief 49:21 - Final Thoughts on Grief, Transition, and the Power of Emotional Healing About the Host: Cole James, President of the Grief Recovery Institute, shares about the Power of Grief Recovery! Cole is dedicating his life to help people with grief. Now, grief is much more than just losing someone. Did you know that? You've probably heard of the Five Stages of Grief, right? Well, this goes much deeper than you think. Let me explain. Everyone has some type of grief in their lives, some haven't yet, but it's part of life. We can't escape it, BUT we can work through it. And you don't have to do it alone. Let's talk about it. We have trained Grief Recovery Method Specialists, who help heartbroken people, in Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, the Middle East, Central America, South America, and North America. The Grief Recovery Method Certification Program is taught and available in multiple languages including: English, Spanish, Swedish, Hungarian, Ukrainian, and Russian. Our home office is in the United States and serves English-speaking nations and populations around the world, such as the United Kingdom, Canada, and the Commonwealth Nations. In addition, we have international affiliate offices in Sweden, Australia, Mexico, and Hungary. Our goal is to help as many people as possible, which is why our books have been translated into over 30 languages including: Spanish, French, Dutch, Portuguese, Japanese, Ukrainian, Russian, and many more. For more information visit: https://www.griefrecoverymethod.com/ 

The introduction of the principle of women's reproductive liberty in France, tentatively by the family planning movement after 1960 and explicitly by the women's liberation movement after 1970, marked a deep shift, transforming public discourses. Yet this principle remained fiercely contested, and moderate and conservative actors responded by foregrounding notions of 'reproductive responsibility', or the expectation that individuals perform the 'right' sexual and family-making behaviour, benefiting not only themselves and their families, but the nation at large. Such responsibilisation underpinned the legal reforms of the 1960s-70s, framing a notion of reproductive citizenship based on a tension between individual rights and social norms. Reproductive Rights in Modern France: Feminism, Contraception, and Abortion, 1950-1980 (Oxford UP, 2025) breaks new ground by taking an intersectional approach to the defining moments of this period: the legalisation of contraception (the laws of 1967 and 1974) and the liberalisation of abortion (1975, 1979). Drawing on a wide range of sources and actors - including feminist and family planning movements, government actors, demographers, medical-professional organisations, disability rights groups, and key actors in the overseas departments - Maud Bracke demonstrates how the discourse of responsibilisation allowed actors to distinguish between citizens 'worthy' of reproductive rights and those seen as less worthy. Bracke analyses the distinct regulations regarding contraception in the overseas departments of Guadeloupe and Martinique, framed by racialised anti-natalism. The book also demonstrates that disability rights organisations contributed to the discrediting of the notion of 'eugenic abortion', used among experts and policy-makers until the early 1970s. Furthermore, Bracke goes on to highlight the silence in the feminist movement around both disability rights and race as part of its universalisation of women's conditions of oppression, and analyses the emergence of Black Feminism in late-1970s France. In so doing, the book offers a major contribution to the history of sex, gender, family life, healthcare, demography, and political debate in post-war France, and more generally. Guest Dr. Maud Bracke is Professor of Modern European History at the University of Glasgow, and is also the author of Which Socialism? Whose Detente? West European Communism and the Czechoslovak Crisis of 1968 in 2007 and Women and the Reinvention of the Political: Feminism in Italy (1968-1983) in 2014, as well as the co-editor of Translating Feminism: Interdisciplinary Approaches to Text, Place and Agency in 2021. In addition to authoring numerous journal articles and book chapters and co-editing several special issues of academic journalsb she is also an editor at the Journal of Modern European History and sits on various other editorial boards.  Host Gina Stamm is Associate Professor of French at The University of Alabama, with research concentrated on the environmental humanities and speculative literatures of the 20th and 21st centuries, from Surrealism to contemporary science fiction and feminist utopias, in Metropolitan France and the francophone Caribbean, with a book manuscript in progress on posthumanist ecological engagement in the surrealist movement. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/gender-studies

In the episode "The Guédelon Project: A Modern Take on Medieval Construction," Annie Sargent and Elyse Rivin explore the fascinating world of the Guédelon Project. They discuss how a team of builders, artisans, and historians are constructing a real medieval castle using only 13th-century techniques and tools. Listen to this episode ad-free Annie and Elyse delve into the history of the Guédelon Project. They explain how it all started with a small team of enthusiasts led by Michel Guyot. The goal was to build a castle from scratch using only medieval methods. The site is located in the heart of France, near the city of Auxerre in Burgundy. The conversation covers the challenges faced by the team at Guédelon. They had to learn how to cut stone without modern tools. They also had to make their own iron from local resources. The project has faced numerous challenges, from finding the right materials to mastering ancient techniques. Annie and Elyse highlight the educational and touristic aspects of the Guédelon Project. Visitors can see firsthand how medieval castles were built. The site offers workshops and demonstrations that make history come alive. The episode provides a captivating look into the Guédelon Project. Annie and Elyse share insights and stories that bring the medieval era to life. They discuss the unique blend of archaeology, architecture, history, and tourism that makes this project so special. Listen to this episode to learn more about the Guédelon Project. Discover how a medieval castle is being built using traditional methods and materials. Subscribe to the podcast for more fascinating conversations about France, its history, and its culture. The Guédelon Project is a must-visit for anyone interested in medieval history and architecture. Don't miss this episode and subscribe to the podcast for more captivating conversations. Table of Contents for this Episode Today on the podcast Podcast supporters Magazine segment Next week on the podcast Guédelon with Elyse Why Build a Castle? Why build instead of renovate? Origins of the Project Finding the Forest Site Quarry Stone and Castle Scale Tools Forge and Water Crew Apprentices and Volunteers Safety and Problem Solving Visiting Tips and Workshops Food Gardens and Herbalist Medieval Herbal Medicine Watermill Flour Experiments Measuring by Twelve Masons Marks and Lifting Tech Trusses and Problem Solving Oeuvriers and Visitor Tips Guédelon Timeline and Crafts Modern Logistics and Lasting Builds Why You Should Visit Final Reflections and Goodbye Copyright More episodes about French history

Linktree: ⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/Analytic⁠⁠Join The Normandy For Ad-Free NME, Additional Bonus Audio And Visual Content For All Things Nme+! Join Here:⁠⁠ ⁠⁠https://ow.ly/msoH50WCu0K⁠⁠In the latest segment of Notorious Mass Effect, Analytic Dreamz breaks down Harry Styles' explosive new music video for “American Girls,” released March 6, 2026, alongside his fourth studio album Kiss All the Time. Disco, Occasionally.Directed by James Mackel, the video casts Styles as a casual action hero on a film set, featuring high-octane stunts like cross-country motorcycle rides, driving under a stalled semi-truck, desert runs with explosions, and a dramatic sunset flip—all achieved with green screen tech and professional stunt doubles. Behind-the-scenes glimpses show Styles relaxing between takes, snacking, and watching the real risk-takers get dirty and bruised, adding a self-aware, humorous contrast to the cinematic chaos.The track itself is a reflective mid-tempo groove where Styles observes his closest friends falling for American girls and getting married, prompting introspection on love, vulnerability, loneliness, and his own desires for fulfillment, strong relationships, and family. As he shared in his Zane Lowe Apple Music interview, it's “quite a lonely song in a lot of ways,” inspired by watching friends take emotional risks.The album—his first in four years since Harry's House—blends playful Italo disco, French house, funk, and soul across 12 tracks, executive produced by Kid Harpoon and Tyler Johnson. Lead single “Aperture” hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. Promotion ramps up with the one-night-only Manchester concert at Co-op Live Arena (over 23,000 fans, full album performance), streaming as Harry Styles: One Night in Manchester on Netflix starting March 8, 2026. Styles hosts and performs on Saturday Night Live March 14, with the Together, Together Tour launching May 16 in Amsterdam and a major Madison Square Garden residency from August 26.Analytic Dreamz explores how the video's meta filmmaking style and emotional depth fuel massive YouTube buzz amid competition from top acts.Hosted by Analytic Dreamz on Notorious Mass Effect.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/analytic-dreamz-notorious-mass-effect/exclusive-contentPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy