Podcasts about Parisian

Further reading: https://elephantartgallery.com/blogs/meet Desmond Morris with his favorite Congo painting: Peter/Pierre Brassau and some of his paintings: The so-called donkey painting, and I described it wrong in the episode: Pockets at work: Show transcript: Welcome to Strange Animals Podcast. I'm your host, Kate Shaw. Back in the early days of the podcast I did an episode about animal musicians, which for a long time was my favorite episode. Today let's visit a similar topic, animals who are visual artists. Back in the 1950s through the 60s, researchers studying how humans make art studied monkeys and apes who were taught how to use a brush and paints. The studies caught the public's fancy and it became something of a fad to own a piece of art created by an animal—whether it was a monkey or ape, an elephant, or some other animal. One of the earliest big name animal artists was a chimpanzee named Congo. Zoologist Desmond Morris, who was studying creativity in apes and humans, and who was also an artist himself, offered Congo a pencil and paper when he was two years old in 1956. Congo enjoyed drawing and especially liked to draw circles. When Morris eventually gave the chimp paints, Congo was even more enthusiastic. But while he was considered a novelty, he only had one art exhibition while he was alive, a 1957 event arranged by Morris. It wasn't until 2005 that the remaining paintings were exhibited, along with the art of some other apes, and some of them sold for thousands of dollars. A new exhibit appeared in December of 2019 in the Mayor Gallery in London. One interesting thing is that Morris worked with several apes to see how they drew and painted, but only Congo showed enthusiasm and skill for art. Congo died of tuberculosis in 1964 when he was only ten years old. Also in 1964, a French avant-garde artist named Pierre Brassau exhibited four of his paintings at an art show in Sweden. No one knew who Brassau was, but his paintings were critically acclaimed—except for one critic who wrote, “Only an ape could have done this.” Ahem, yes. That is correct. The artist turned out to be a West African chimpanzee named Peter who lived in a zoo in Sweden. The whole thing started with a Swedish journalist who apparently wasn't much of a fan of modern art. The journalist persuaded a zookeeper to give Peter a canvas, paints, and brush. At first Peter just ate the paint, but eventually he started making marks on the canvas. The journalist ultimately chose four of the paintings and submitted them to the exhibition under the name Pierre Brassau. One of the paintings sold for the equivalent of about $750 today. But animal artists making modern art isn't limited to the 1950s and 60s. In 1905 a painting by an unknown artist, J.R. Boronali, went on display in a Parisian salon. It didn't cause any kind of stir, though, because it was nothing special, until 1910 when word got out that the painting had been made by a donkey. According to the story, an art critic tied a paintbrush to the donkey's tail and fed the donkey carrots, which made it wag its tail, which dabbed paint on a canvas. I've seen the painting, though, and it seems clear that a human artist prepped the canvas by slapping a coat of background paint on it that resembles a red sea and blue sky. There are some dabs and blobs of paint over that in yellow and red, presumably from the donkey. In this case, of course, the donkey wasn't trying to paint a picture and didn't even know what was going on behind it, just that it was getting lots of carrots. An avant-garde Russian school of art named itself The Donkey's Tail in 1912 as a result, though, so that's pretty neat. More recently, a capuchin monkey named Pockets has become a big-name artist in the animal world. Pockets was donated to a Canadian animal sanctuary after his owner finally realized that capuchin monkeys are wild animals and don't actually make very good pets. One of the volunteers at the sanctuary gave Pockets the nickname Warhol because of his white hair, which reminded her of the artist Andy Warhol. That gave her the idea to give Pockets some paints and see what he would do with them. It turns out that Pockets really likes to paint. In 2011 the sanctuary held an exhibit of his paintings to help raise money, and since then his paintings have been exhibited in art shows around the world. He's collaborated with a human artist, who basically paints something and then gives the canvas to Pockets to add to it. His art recently appeared on the cover of an album released by a member of Depeche Mode too. Not all animal artists are apes or monkeys, though. Bini the Bunny stars in a lot of videos where he plays basketball, dances, plays the guitar, and does a lot of other things you would not expect a bunny to do. He also paints. Bini, of course, has been trained to make certain movements, including picking up a paintbrush in his mouth and moving it upward with the paint-covered bristles sometimes touching a canvas, but sometimes not. Bini isn't choosing what paint colors to use and doesn't even really look at the canvas while he's working. He's cute, but he's not making art spontaneously the way Pockets and his predecessors do. Elephants also make art, holding a paintbrush with the tip of the trunk. The most famous elephant artist was named Ruby, an Asian elephant who lived at the Phoenix Zoo in Arizona in the United States, although she was born in Thailand in 1973. When her keepers saw her using a stick to draw in the dirt, they gave her painting supplies to see what she would do with them. Ruby enjoyed painting, choosing her colors carefully, and some of her paintings sold for as much as $25,000. Ruby died from complications of a failed pregnancy in 1998, sadly. So many artists die young. Sometimes you'll see videos of elephants painting a picture of an elephant, but these aren't spontaneously created. The elephant has always been taught to make the same brush strokes, and sometimes the training is cruel. An authentic elephant painting looks abstract, with lines and dots that the elephant places in a shape it finds pleasing, not to resemble something specific. This is the same with ape and monkey artists too. If you listened to the episode about animal musicians, you will probably remember the Thai Elephant Orchestra. Well, the same conservation center that hosts the elephant orchestra also has some elephant artists. The Elephant Art Gallery sells paintings made by various of the elephants who live in the sanctuary. They're allowed to choose their own paints and decide if they want to paint at all that day. Elephants who don't show interest in learning to paint don't have to try, and instead get to do different activities. The main difference between human art and art made by non-human animals is that humans naturally create representational art without being taught. Little kids draw wobbly stick people with big smiles and no one has to show them how. Humans can make abstract art, of course, but a skilled abstract artist chooses colors, textures, and patterns carefully to invoke a feeling in the people who look at the finished painting. This is different from a little kid finger-painting who is just having fun making a mess, although of course you can make art with finger paints too. Animals never create representational art spontaneously, and we can't know if their choice of colors, textures, and patterns is intended to invoke a particular feeling because we can't ask them. (I mean, we can ask them but they wouldn't understand the question and we wouldn't get an answer.) But it does seem obvious that animals who enjoy painting and who make deliberate marks on paper or canvas are taking pleasure from the process of creation. And when you come right down to it, that's the most important thing about making art. Finally, you may remember the court case about the monkey selfie from 2014. Nature photographer David Slater was taking pictures in a nature reserve in Indonesia when he stepped away from his camera, which was set up on a tripod. A Celebes crested macaque monkey investigated the camera and ended up taking a number of photos, one of which was a selfie that became almost instantly famous online. Slater tried to claim copyright to get paid for the photograph as it became more and more popular. In August of 2014 the United States Copyright Office decided that the owner of camera equipment can't claim copyright for a photo taken by an animal. Neither can the owner of an animal who takes a photograph or otherwise produces artwork. Only a human can hold copyright, but if the human doesn't actually create the art, they don't get the copyright. Hey, this would be a great day to make a drawing or a painting! Thanks for your support, and thanks for listening!

Welcome to Mysteries to Die For and this Toe Tag.I am TG Wolff and am here with Jack, my piano player and producer. This is normally a podcast where we combine storytelling with original music to put you at the heart of mystery. Today is a bonus episode we call a Toe Tag. It is the first chapter from a fresh release in the mystery, crime, and thriller genre.Today's featured release is Relentless by Michael MaloofRelentless is thriller. Kate Preacher is an ex-CIA analyst turned law firm investigator. When terrorists attack a Parisian café, Kate's life instantly changes. An unwitting player in a high stakes game involving cyber criminals and geopolitical masterminds, she has to get her feet under her fast to survive in a world where it's eat … or be eaten.Bottom line: Relentless is for you if you like your action physical and your thrills embedded in computer codeRelentless is promoted by Partners In Crime Tours and is available from online book retailers.https://pictbooks.tours/gRW6sBygAbout Michael MaloofMichael Maloof is the author of the Kate Preacher Thriller Series—Relentless, Unstoppable, and Defiant—known for its global scope, emotional intensity, and hard-won authenticity. A lifelong adventurer, Michael has traveled to more than forty countries across six continents, experiences that deeply inform his writing. His real-world pursuits have ranged from gold dredging in Honduras and artifact hunting in Guatemala to acquiring uncut diamonds in Liberia and surviving an elephant charge in Kenya. He has also trained alongside Navy SEALs, Marine Raiders, Army Rangers, Green Berets, and the CIA—firsthand insights that lend his fiction uncommon realism and respect for the craft of service.Catch Up With Michael Maloof: www.MichaelMaloof.comInstagram – @MichaelGoWriteFacebook – @MichaelGoWrite

D is for Delon, Alain Delon. Author Edward Chisholm is back on the podcast, this time talking about his new book Murder in Paris '68. We recorded this one on location - sitting on the quai by the Seine, directly beneath the Quai des Orfèvres, the famous Paris police headquarters that has watched over the city's darkest crimes for centuries. Fitting, then, that we were there to talk about one of France's most explosive unsolved murders. In 1968, a body was discovered on the outskirts of Paris and identified as Stevan Marković, the former bodyguard and close associate of the enigmatic film star Alain Delon. What began as a simple murder case quickly spiralled into a full-blown political scandal, drawing in actresses, gangsters, and high-level politicians.  British author Edward Chisholm, the author of the bestselling memoir A Waiter in Paris, has written the definitive account of the affair. His new book takes us into the heart of an era and into the inner world of Alain Delon himself, a world of gangsters, violence, and underworld Parisian conspiracies, where everyone possessed their own cold elegance and charisma.  We talked about the book, the Marković Affair, and of course... Alain Delon. The music is from Pres Maxson.  This episode brought to you by The Earful Tower Tours. Come join us in the Marais, Montmartre, or the Latin Quarter. Our Walking Tours are exceptionally highly rated online and are the best way to experience this podcast in real life. The Earful Tower exists thanks to support from its members. For just $10 a month you can unlock almost endless extras including bonus podcast episodes, live video replays, special event invites, and our annually updated PDF guide to Paris.  Membership takes only a minute to set up on Patreon, or Substack. Thank you for keeping this channel independent.  For more from the Earful Tower, here are some handy links: Website  Weekly newsletter  Walking Tours

Chiara Benedetto came to live in Paris with an internship in a science field and has now built a life there. Growing up in a simple Italian town, Chiara always felt connected to French culture and language, so it felt a natural progression to head to a Francophone country like Canada, Belgium or France for her work. In this Loulabelle's chat, I was fascinated to hear about Chiara's work, as well as her Parisian life - from the practicalities of sharing in university accommodation, to her own apartment, to having a "melting-pot" group of friends coming to live in Paris from all around the globe.Chiara helps others now with the paperwork required when migrating to France. Her assistance is not based just on her own experience, but on the needs of each individual, as everyone's situation can be different. Chiara doesn't sugar coat the immigrant experience in Paris, but she describes how those who move and stay in France develop a "grit that no filter can capture".Tune into this chat and escape to France with us xx**Louise Prichard is the host of the Loulabelle's FrancoFiles podcast.**Other Loulabelle's links:FrancoFile Fix on YouTubeLoulabelle's FrancoFiles Spotify Playlist Loulabelle's FrancoFiles InstagramLoulabelle's FrancoFiles website

Fluent Fiction - French: Love in Lights: A Parisian Adventure Unfolds Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/fr/episode/2026-06-12-22-34-01-fr Story Transcript:Fr: Les rues de Paris étaient animées en cette soirée d'été.En: The streets of Paris were lively on this summer evening.Fr: Le 14 juillet transformait la ville en un kaléidoscope de couleurs et de rires.En: July 14th transformed the city into a kaleidoscope of colors and laughter.Fr: La Tour Eiffel, majestueuse, s'élevait au-dessus des foules, ses lumières scintillant dans le ciel sombre.En: The Eiffel Tower, majestic, rose above the crowds, its lights shimmering in the dark sky.Fr: Luc, un comptable méthodique où les chiffres dominaient, déambulait parmi les gens.En: Luc, a methodical accountant where numbers reigned, wandered among the people.Fr: Mais ce soir, il n'était pas là pour les chiffres.En: But tonight, he wasn't there for the numbers.Fr: Il cherchait quelqu'un spécial.En: He was searching for someone special.Fr: Chloé, blogueuse de voyage à l'esprit libre, explorait la fête avec un appareil photo en main.En: Chloé, a free-spirited travel blogger, explored the festivity with a camera in hand.Fr: Elle aimait capturer l'essence des moments, mais cette fois-ci, elle cherchait plus que cela.En: She loved capturing the essence of moments, but this time, she sought more than that.Fr: Elle avait soif d'une connexion plus profonde, quelque chose qui lui donnerait un nouveau sens.En: She craved a deeper connection, something that would give her new meaning.Fr: Dans la foule, leurs chemins se croisèrent.En: In the crowd, their paths crossed.Fr: "Luc ? C'est bien toi ?!" s'écria Chloé, surprise.En: "Luc? Is that you?!" exclaimed Chloé, surprised.Fr: Luc se retourna, reconnaissant immédiatement le sourire de son amie d'enfance.En: Luc turned around, immediately recognizing the smile of his childhood friend.Fr: "Chloé ! Quelle surprise !"En: "Chloé! What a surprise!"Fr: Leur étreinte était chaleureuse, emplie de souvenirs partagés.En: Their embrace was warm, filled with shared memories.Fr: Au milieu des célébrations de la Fête Nationale, les feux d'artifice commencèrent à illuminer le ciel.En: Amidst the celebrations of the Bastille Day, fireworks began to illuminate the sky.Fr: Luc se souvint de ses sentiments longtemps cachés.En: Luc remembered his long-hidden feelings.Fr: Il devait en parler, aujourd'hui ou jamais.En: He had to speak about them, now or never.Fr: Mais le bruit et la foule rendaient chaque tentative difficile.En: But the noise and the crowd made every attempt difficult.Fr: Alors, il prit une décision.En: So, he made a decision.Fr: "Viens, montons. La vue d'en haut est calme et belle."En: "Come, let's go up. The view from above is calm and beautiful."Fr: Chloé hésita un instant.En: Chloé hesitated for a moment.Fr: Elle aimait son indépendance, mais il y avait quelque chose dans la voix de Luc, une tendresse qu'elle ne pouvait ignorer.En: She loved her independence, but there was something in Luc's voice, a tenderness she couldn't ignore.Fr: Elle acquiesça, curieuse de savoir où cela la mènerait.En: She agreed, curious to see where this would lead her.Fr: En haut de la Tour Eiffel, les lumières de Paris brillaient comme des étoiles.En: At the top of the Eiffel Tower, the lights of Paris shone like stars.Fr: C'était vraiment magique.En: It was truly magical.Fr: Luc, nerveux mais déterminé, prit une grande inspiration.En: Luc, nervous but determined, took a deep breath.Fr: "Chloé, il y a quelque chose que je dois te dire... depuis des années."En: "Chloé, there's something I've wanted to tell you... for years."Fr: Les feux d'artifice explosaient derrière eux, peignant le ciel de couleurs vives.En: The fireworks exploded behind them, painting the sky with vibrant colors.Fr: Chloé, les yeux rivés sur la scène, sentit son cœur battre plus vite.En: Chloé, her eyes fixed on the scene, felt her heart beat faster.Fr: Elle leva son appareil photo, capturant le moment, mais c'était les mots de Luc qui ancrèrent cet instant dans sa mémoire.En: She raised her camera, capturing the moment, but it was Luc's words that anchored this instant in her memory.Fr: "Je t'aime, Chloé. Je t'aime depuis l'enfance."En: "I love you, Chloé. I've loved you since childhood."Fr: La surprise éclaira le visage de Chloé.En: Surprise lit up Chloé's face.Fr: Elle n'avait jamais pensé que sous le comptable se cachait un artiste du cœur.En: She had never thought that beneath the accountant hid a heart's artist.Fr: Elle prit la main de Luc, un simple geste, mais plein de promesse.En: She took Luc's hand, a simple gesture, but full of promise.Fr: "Explorons cela ensemble, Luc. Peut-être que l'aventure la plus riche est juste ici."En: "Let's explore this together, Luc. Maybe the richest adventure is right here."Fr: Main dans la main, ils observèrent ensemble les dernières explosions de lumière.En: Hand in hand, they watched the last bursts of light together.Fr: Paris, avec son romantisme éternel, devenait le témoin d'une nouvelle histoire.En: Paris, with its eternal romance, became the witness of a new story.Fr: Dans cette ville de lumières, Luc découvrit la force de l'expression, tandis que Chloé entrevit l'amour comme une aventure aussi précieuse que la liberté.En: In this city of lights, Luc discovered the power of expression, while Chloé glimpsed love as an adventure as precious as freedom.Fr: Ensemble, ils se tenaient prêts à écrire un nouveau chapitre.En: Together, they stood ready to write a new chapter. Vocabulary Words:the streets: les ruessummer evening: la soirée d'ététransformed: transformaitkaleidoscope: kaléidoscopemajestic: majestueusethe crowds: les foulesmethodical: méthodiquewandered: déambulaitspecial: spécialfree-spirited: à l'esprit librecapturing: capturerthe essence: l'essencesought: cherchaitdeeper: plus profondeconnection: la connexionpaths crossed: chemins se croisèrentembrace: l'étreintememories: les souvenirsamidst: au milieuilluminate: illuminercalm: calmehesitated: hésitaindependence: l'indépendancetenderness: la tendresseinstantly: immédiatementanchored: ancrèrentsurprise: la surprisegesture: le gestepromise: la promessewitness: le témoin

Fluent Fiction - French: Heartbeats in the City of Lights: A Parisian Art Awakening Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/fr/episode/2026-06-12-07-38-19-fr Story Transcript:Fr: Le soleil se couchait doucement sur Paris.En: The sun was gently setting over Paris.Fr: L'air frais de printemps portait avec lui une promesse de renouveau, prêt à éclore dans les cœurs et les esprits.En: The cool spring air carried with it a promise of renewal, ready to bloom in hearts and minds.Fr: À cette heure douce, l'Eiffel se dressait majestueusement, sa structure métallique illuminée d'une lumière dorée.En: At this gentle hour, the Eiffel stood majestically, its metal structure illuminated with a golden light.Fr: Élodie, les yeux brillants d'espoir, monta doucement les escaliers vers le dîner exclusif organisé ce soir-là sur la célèbre tour.En: Élodie, her eyes shining with hope, slowly climbed the stairs to the exclusive dinner organized that evening on the famous tower.Fr: Artiste passionnée, elle avait quitté sa petite ville avec un désir ardent d'inspiration.En: A passionate artist, she had left her small town with a burning desire for inspiration.Fr: Elle espérait que le charme de Paris réveillerait sa créativité.En: She hoped that the charm of Paris would awaken her creativity.Fr: De l'autre côté de la salle, Baptiste observait les convives avec une lassitude perceptible.En: On the other side of the room, Baptiste observed the guests with noticeable weariness.Fr: Critique d'art renommé, il se retrouvait souvent à ces événements, entouré d'œuvres qui ne parvenaient plus à le toucher.En: A renowned art critic, he often found himself at these events, surrounded by works that no longer moved him.Fr: Mais ce soir, quelque chose dans l'air semblait différent, comme si une note invisible résonnait, attendant d'être entendue.En: But tonight, something in the air seemed different, as if an invisible note resonated, waiting to be heard.Fr: Légèrement intimidée, Élodie prit place à une table où le destin avait aussi placé Baptiste.En: Slightly intimidated, Élodie took a seat at a table where fate had also placed Baptiste.Fr: Au départ réservé, Baptiste ne put s'empêcher d'entamer la conversation avec elle.En: Initially reserved, Baptiste couldn't help but start a conversation with her.Fr: Ils parlèrent des lumières de Paris, des artistes qu'ils aimaient et de l'importance de voir le monde autrement.En: They talked about the lights of Paris, the artists they loved, and the importance of seeing the world differently.Fr: "Pour moi," dit Élodie en regardant par la fenêtre, "l'art, c'est la beauté des petites choses.En: "For me," said Élodie looking out the window, "art is the beauty of small things.Fr: Les ombres qui dansent sur la Seine, le rire d'un enfant.En: The shadows dancing on the Seine, a child's laughter.Fr: C'est là que je puise mes idées."En: That's where I find my ideas."Fr: Baptiste écouta, surpris par la simplicité et la passion dans sa voix.En: Baptiste listened, surprised by the simplicity and passion in her voice.Fr: Pour la première fois depuis longtemps, il ressentit un frisson d'excitation.En: For the first time in a long while, he felt a thrill of excitement.Fr: Élodie voyait l'art là où lui ne voyait que des objets.En: Élodie saw art where he only saw objects.Fr: Inspirée, Élodie parla longtemps de son rêve de capturer Paris dans ses peintures, non pas comme une ville mais comme une mélodie.En: Inspired, Élodie spoke at length about her dream to capture Paris in her paintings, not as a city but as a melody.Fr: Baptiste sourit, trouvant dans ses mots une vérité qu'il avait oubliée.En: Baptiste smiled, finding in her words a truth he had forgotten.Fr: Alors que la soirée s'avançait, tous deux sentirent une transformation.En: As the evening advanced, they both felt a transformation.Fr: Pour Élodie, les lumières de la ville devinrent soudainement un tableau vivant, vibrant de couleurs et d'histoires à raconter.En: For Élodie, the city lights suddenly became a living painting, vibrant with colors and stories to tell.Fr: Pour Baptiste, chaque mot de la jeune artiste était une révélation.En: For Baptiste, every word from the young artist was a revelation.Fr: Il réalisa que l'art, c'était l'émotion transmise, le cœur mis à nu.En: He realized that art was the emotion conveyed, the heart laid bare.Fr: En quittant la tour, l'air printanier semblait plus doux, les étoiles plus proches.En: Leaving the tower, the spring air felt softer, the stars closer.Fr: Élodie, pleine d'une énergie créative renouvelée, avait trouvé ce qu'elle était venue chercher.En: Élodie, full of renewed creative energy, had found what she had come for.Fr: Baptiste, quant à lui, ressentit un désir profond de partager enfin ses impressions avec le monde, à travers des mots qui n'étaient plus creux.En: Baptiste, for his part, felt a deep desire to finally share his impressions with the world, through words that were no longer hollow.Fr: Ainsi, ce soir-là, Élodie et Baptiste quittèrent la tour Eiffel, les yeux pleins de rêves et les cœurs débordant d'une toute nouvelle lumière.En: Thus, that evening, Élodie and Baptiste left the Eiffel Tower, their eyes full of dreams and their hearts overflowing with a brand-new light.Fr: Leur rencontre fortuite, flottant entre ciel et terre, leur avait offert bien plus qu'une simple soirée parisienne : une redécouverte de l'essence du vrai art.En: Their chance encounter, floating between sky and earth, had offered them much more than just a Parisian evening: a rediscovery of the essence of true art. Vocabulary Words:the setting: le coucherthe renewal: le renouveauthe structure: la structurethe desire: le désirthe inspiration: l'inspirationthe charm: le charmethe weariness: la lassitudethe critic: le critiquethe works: les œuvresthe guest: le convivethe thrill: le frissonthe excitement: l'excitationthe melody: la mélodiethe transformation: la transformationthe revelation: la révélationthe thrill: le frissonthe emotion: l'émotionthe desire: le désirthe impression: l'impressionhollow: creuxthe encounter: la rencontrethe essence: l'essencethe shadow: l'ombreto capture: capturerthe city: la villethe painting: la peintureto climb: monterto observe: observerintimidated: intimidéeto smile: sourire

Nothing unusual in hearing the plaintive song of a busker on the Parisian metro, and this one has a nice voice. What strikes us as we leave the carriage is how even buskers now give out their Instagram and TikTok handles at the end of songs. Tag us on social or it didn't happen. Recorded in Paris, France in February 2026 by Cities and Memory. 

"I listened to the busker a lot here and loved his energy. It then made me think about how much I travel to and from work on the train daily and how attached I am to train travel, the same sounds and words I hear every day. The comfort of it. So I wanted to give it a quiet eulogy. I brought the busker in to help."Parisian metro busker reimagined by Dermot Fitzsimons. 

There's something magical about the Vestaboard: it's a physical, split-flap display connected to the internet that displays missives and useful information with a charm that we love. The Vestaboard in our kitchen greets our family with the family schedule for the day, riddles, updates from our favorite sports teams, and the best/worst dad jokes. Everyone who visits our house is amazed by it. Vestaboard is the vision of Dorrian Porter, and has its origin story in a Parisian train station. A few years ago, we had Dorrian Porter on the show to tell us about Vestaboard, and since then, we've become even bigger fans of the product. We keep spotting them in the wild, from coffee shops in Savannah to airport storefronts in Minneapolis. Dorrian is back to tell us about the Vestaboard Note, a smaller, more affordable, and more versatile version of the original that went from basic prototype to Red Dot Award winner in about a year — a story that starts, believe it or not, with tariffs. We talk about what it's like to build a hardware company through supply chain disruptions and trade wars, why Dorrian keeps betting on the consumer market when the easier path might be B2B, and how Vestaboard is finding its way into classrooms, baseball stadiums, and a bar in Northern California born out of a community recovering from wildfire. We also dig into the tension between nostalgia and innovation — Dorrian's honest about the fact that split-flap displays attract people who love vintage and transportation, but his ambition goes further than retro. He wants to build products that pull meaningful content out of our phones and into the physical spaces where we actually live together. This is a special sponsored episode of Design Better, and we're happy to share it because Vestaboard is a brand we truly love. Their mission to inspire and connect people resonates with us, and we think it will with you, too. *** There's currently a waitlist for the Vestaboard Note. But as a Design Better listener, you can head over to vestaboard.com/designbetter to skip the waitlist and receive a special offer. Claim your special offer Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Send us a text! We love hearing from listeners. If you'd like a response, please include your email. In the previous episode of the Ordinary Extraordinary Cemetery podcast (#281), Dianne and Jennie explored Forest Hills Cemetery in Boston, Massachusetts and some of its most visited monuments including one often called, "The Boy in the Boat" which marks the grave of little Louis Mieusset. We shared the common story that Louis died as a result of being drowned, but while that story continues to be perpetuated, his death was the result of disease, a common occurrence for thousands of Victorian children; so how did his story become so changed? In this episode, Jennie and Dianne delve into the story of the Mieusset family, which begins with two brothers from France who brought Parisian fine dining to Boston. One became the city's most celebrated restaurateur, the other would fade into obscurity, lost to time after the death of his young son. Need an Ordinary Extraordinary Cemetery Podcast tee, hoodie or mug? Find all our taphophile-fun much here: https://oecemetery.etsy.comFamily Tales: A free printable, is now available! Gather 'round the table and dig into your roots! This interactive family history game is perfect for holidays, reunions, or just because. Ask, listen, and laugh your way through generations of stories and secrets. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1UT_R56qEwNTIxIBrTy8KFyVmGnFOe7g8/view?usp=sharingResources used to research this episode include various digitized records found on Ancestry.com and FamilySearch.com as well as various historical newspaper articles and advertisements found on newspapers.com.Support the show

Monocle’s Fernando Augusto Pacheco meets Chloé Bouscatel, co-founder of Sant Roch, Paris’s newest and largest sauna. Plus: Fernando chats champagne and magazines with the CEO of Publicisdrugstore, a Parisian institution on the Champs-Élysées.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fluent Fiction - French: Élodie's Parisian Market Confidence: A Journey of Courage Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/fr/episode/2026-06-08-07-38-19-fr Story Transcript:Fr: Le marché de Paris était en effervescence.En: The marché de Paris was buzzing with activity.Fr: Le soleil de printemps réchauffait doucement l'air, tandis que l'arôme des fruits frais embaumait les étals colorés.En: The spring sun gently warmed the air, while the aroma of fresh fruits filled the colorful stalls.Fr: Entre les rires des touristes et la musique des artistes de rue, on pouvait entendre l'agitation des élèves se préparant pour leurs présentations scolaires.En: Among the laughter of tourists and the music from street performers, one could hear the excitement of students preparing for their school presentations.Fr: Élodie, avec son sac à dos plein de notes, se tenait nerveusement devant une petite estrade.En: Élodie, with her backpack full of notes, stood nervously in front of a small platform.Fr: Elle était là pour parler de l'histoire de Paris.En: She was there to talk about the history of Paris.Fr: Passionnée par le sujet, elle avait passé des semaines à préparer son discours.En: Passionate about the subject, she had spent weeks preparing her speech.Fr: Pourtant, l'idée de parler devant les autres la terrifiait.En: Yet, the idea of speaking in front of others terrified her.Fr: Mathieu et Léa, ses camarades confiants, semblaient détendus.En: Mathieu and Léa, her confident classmates, seemed relaxed.Fr: Mathieu, plein d'entrain, discutait avec les passants pour les inviter à écouter.En: Mathieu, full of energy, was chatting with passersby to invite them to listen.Fr: Léa aidait à disposer les affiches.En: Léa was helping to arrange the posters.Fr: Tous deux étaient enthousiastes.En: Both were enthusiastic.Fr: Élodie, elle, sentait son cœur battre si fort qu'elle avait peur qu'il s'entende.En: Élodie, on the other hand, felt her heart pounding so hard she feared it could be heard.Fr: Pourtant, elle savait qu'elle devait surmonter sa peur.En: Nevertheless, she knew she had to overcome her fear.Fr: Elle avait décidé de pratiquer ici, au marché, où personne ne la connaissait.En: She had decided to practice here, at the market, where no one knew her.Fr: Avant la grande présentation, elle se dirigea vers un coin animé, près des fleurs et des épices colorées.En: Before the big presentation, she headed to a lively corner, near the colorful flowers and spices.Fr: "Bonjour, mesdames et messieurs," commença-t-elle timidement à un groupe de touristes curieux.En: "Hello, ladies and gentlemen," she began timidly to a group of curious tourists.Fr: Sa voix tremblait un peu, mais elle continua.En: Her voice trembled a bit, but she continued.Fr: Petit à petit, elle sentit ses mots prendre vie.En: Gradually, she felt her words come to life.Fr: Les visages souriants la rassuraient.En: The smiling faces reassured her.Fr: À l'heure de la présentation officielle, une petite foule s'était formée.En: By the time of the official presentation, a small crowd had gathered.Fr: Élodie monta sur l'estrade, son cœur battant toujours, mais plus calmement cette fois.En: Élodie stepped onto the platform, her heart still pounding, but more calmly this time.Fr: Elle croisa le regard de Mathieu et Léa, qui lui firent un signe encourageant.En: She met the gaze of Mathieu and Léa, who gave her an encouraging nod.Fr: Elle inspira profondément.En: She took a deep breath.Fr: "Paris, notre belle ville, a une histoire fascinante," commença-t-elle.En: "Paris, our beautiful city, has a fascinating history," she began.Fr: Ses phrases s'enchaînaient naturellement.En: Her sentences flowed naturally.Fr: Elle parlait avec clarté, décrivant les événements historiques qui avaient forgé Paris.En: She spoke clearly, describing the historical events that shaped Paris.Fr: À chaque sourire et à chaque hochement de tête du public, sa confiance grandissait.En: With each smile and nod from the audience, her confidence grew.Fr: Lorsqu'elle termina, le marché éclata en applaudissements.En: When she finished, the market erupted in applause.Fr: Élodie avait réussi.En: Élodie had succeeded.Fr: Elle avait partagé sa passion avec authenticité et assurance.En: She had shared her passion with authenticity and confidence.Fr: Ses camarades vinrent la féliciter chaleureusement.En: Her classmates warmly congratulated her.Fr: En quittant l'estrade, Élodie se sentit légère, comme si un poids s'était envolé.En: As she left the platform, Élodie felt light, as if a weight had lifted.Fr: Elle savait maintenant que sa passion pour l'histoire pouvait l'aider à dépasser toutes ses peurs.En: She now knew that her passion for history could help her overcome all her fears.Fr: Avec un sourire, elle regarda le marché, ce lieu où elle avait trouvé sa voix.En: With a smile, she looked at the market, the place where she had found her voice. Vocabulary Words:the market: le marchéthe spring: le printempsthe aroma: l'arômethe stalls: les étalsthe laughter: les riresthe street performers: les artistes de ruethe students: les élèvesthe backpack: le sac à dosthe platform: la petite estradethe subject: le sujetthe classmates: les camaradesthe posters: les affichesthe heart: le cœurthe fear: la peurthe corner: le cointhe flowers: les fleursthe spices: les épicesthe tourists: les touristesthe faces: les visagesthe crowd: la foulethe gaze: le regardthe breath: l'inspirationthe history: l'histoirethe sentences: les phrasesthe events: les événementsthe audience: le publicthe applause: les applaudissementsthe weight: le poidsthe smile: le sourirethe voice: la voix

Robert the Devil is a supernatural medieval legend that inspired a 19th-century French opera, which incorporates key elements from a seminal Gothic novel.  The opera and legend are substantially different but both interesting. We begin with Giacomo Meyerbeer’s 1831 opera, Robert le diable, which gained notoriety for a ballet sequence in Act III, which portrays an attempted seduction of the hero, Robert, Duke of Normandy, by the ghosts of corrupted nuns, freshly risen from their crypts. The scene is not found in the original legend, but as we learn, was borrowed from a particularly sensationalistic early Gothic novel,The Monk, written by Matthew Gregory Lewis in 1764.   We also learn that Meyerbeer's chief librettist, Eugène Scribe later went on to crib another storyline from Lewis’ The Monk for the 1854 opera by composer Charles Gounod, La nonne sanglante (“the bloody nun”). Rendering of cloister set for Paris Opera premiere. Along the way, we learn how Robert le diable helped save the financially imperiled Paris Opera after its royal subsidy had been withdrawn following the July Revolution of 1830.  Along with public curiosity about the scandalous ballet, ticket sales owed much to the 19th-century equivalent of special effects — flashy and innovative stagecraft (new gaslight design, trapdoors, floating will-o-the-wisps, etc.) and a spectacular set replicating a ruined gothic monastery. Hans Christian Andersen, George Sand and Frédéric Chopin lavishly praised the production. Honoré de Balzac and Alexander Dumas worked mentions of the opera into their novels. Edgar Degas painted not one but two renderings of the Ballet of the Nuns. Edgar Degas’ rendering of the “Ballet of the Nins” The opera also gave birth to a new style of ballet, one linked to Romanticism's interest in the supernatural: ballet blanc, “white ballet” named for the innovative long, flowing skirts that lent themselves to wafting movements suggestive of misty wisps moving in the darkness. The opera’s 1847  London premiere was attended by Queen Victoria and featured superstar soprano Jenny Lind as Robert’s sister.  Traffic came to a standstill as unruly spectators mobbed the streets hoping for  glimpse of either celebrity. The second half of our episode tells the original story of Robert the Devil.  It first appeared around 1250, sketched out in short form by the Dominican monk, Étienne de Bourbon, in a collection of exempla, or moral tales intended to be used by priests in their homilies.  A couple decades later, details were filled out in a longer, anonymous  poem, preserved in France's National Library. Then by the late 14th century, it was rendered as a miracle play in “Forty Miracles of Our Lady,” commissioned by a guild of Parisian goldsmiths. By 1500, the story had arrived in Britain. That year, Wynkyn de Worde, assistant to pioneering London printshop owner Thomas Caxton, issued a chapbook prose translation hewing close to the French 14th-century poem. I found the Wynkyn de Worde text reproduced in a handsome 1904 volume complete with line illustrations, decorative initials, and borders reminiscent of the Arts and Crafts books of William Morris.  As promised in the episode, here is the link to that book: Robert_the_Deuyll.pdf.  (Visit the show notes on the Bone and Sickle website if you can’t click link). As for the  story itself, it’s best you enjoy it without spoilers as told by Mrs. Karswell.  It’s full of demonic wrath, battles, court intrigue, miracles, pathos, and a very and prolonged peculiar penance.  All told in charming 16th-century language with all the little sound-design extras you’ve come to expect from Bone and Sickle.

Fluent Fiction - French: Fear, Friendship, and Flickering Light in a Parisian Library Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/fr/episode/2026-06-06-07-38-19-fr Story Transcript:Fr: Dans le cœur de Paris se dressait une ancienne bibliothèque.En: In the heart of Paris stood an ancient library.Fr: Ses murs chargés d'histoire abritaient des milliers de livres.En: Its history-laden walls housed thousands of books.Fr: L'air était imprégné de l'odeur des pages jaunies.En: The air was steeped in the smell of yellowed pages.Fr: À l'intérieur, Julien s'asseyait chaque jour à sa table préférée, sous une grande fenêtre qui laissait passer la douce lumière du printemps.En: Inside, Julien sat every day at his favorite table, under a large window that let in the gentle spring light.Fr: Il était un élève studieux mais doutait toujours de ses capacités.En: He was a studious student but always doubted his abilities.Fr: Chaque page qu'il tournait semblait être un défi.En: Every page he turned seemed to be a challenge.Fr: Pourtant, cette fois-ci, les enjeux étaient élevés.En: Yet this time, the stakes were high.Fr: Il rêvait d'obtenir une bourse pour l'université.En: He dreamed of obtaining a scholarship for university.Fr: Mais ses doutes menaçaient ses chances de réussite.En: But his doubts threatened his chances of success.Fr: Élodie, elle, était souvent à la table voisine.En: Élodie, on the other hand, was often at the neighboring table.Fr: Brillante et insouciante, elle attirait les regards.En: Brilliant and carefree, she attracted attention.Fr: Mais derrière son sourire, elle s'inquiétait pour l'avenir.En: But behind her smile, she worried about the future.Fr: Le monde semblait offrir tant de choix, mais chacun d'eux avait aussi ses incertitudes.En: The world seemed to offer so many choices, but each also had its uncertainties.Fr: Un après-midi, alors que Julien relisait la même phrase sans cesse, il leva les yeux et vit Élodie.En: One afternoon, as Julien was rereading the same sentence over and over, he looked up and saw Élodie.Fr: Il prit une profonde inspiration.En: He took a deep breath.Fr: Peut-être pouvait-elle l'aider.En: Maybe she could help him.Fr: "Élodie, pourrais-tu m'aider avec ces révisions?"En: "Élodie, could you help me with these revisions?"Fr: demanda timidement Julien.En: Julien asked timidly.Fr: Élodie hésita un instant.En: Élodie hesitated for a moment.Fr: Elle avait ses propres préoccupations, mais l'air sincère de Julien la toucha.En: She had her own concerns, but Julien's sincere demeanor touched her.Fr: "Bien sûr, je t'aiderai," répondit-elle avec un sourire franc.En: "Of course, I'll help you," she replied with a genuine smile.Fr: Ils commencèrent à étudier ensemble, les livres ouverts et les esprits concentrés.En: They began to study together, books open and minds focused.Fr: Mais soudain, une coupure d'électricité plongea la salle dans l'obscurité.En: But suddenly, a power outage plunged the room into darkness.Fr: Un murmure d'anxiété se répandit parmi les quelques étudiants restants.En: A murmur of anxiety spread among the few remaining students.Fr: Julien et Élodie se regardèrent, surpris.En: Julien and Élodie looked at each other, surprised.Fr: Dans le silence, le bruit des gouttes de pluie sur les fenêtres se fit plus fort.En: In the silence, the sound of raindrops on the windows became louder.Fr: Élodie alluma une petite bougie qu'elle avait dans son sac.En: Élodie lit a small candle she had in her bag.Fr: La lumière tremblotante donna à la bibliothèque un air magique.En: The flickering light gave the library a magical air.Fr: "Nos peurs sont comme cette obscurité," dit-elle doucement.En: "Our fears are like this darkness," she said softly.Fr: "On se laisse souvent guider par elles."En: "We often let ourselves be guided by them."Fr: Julien hocha la tête, touché par la vérité de ses mots.En: Julien nodded, touched by the truth in her words.Fr: Dans cette lumière vacillante, Julien sentit ses doutes s'effacer lentement.En: In this wavering light, Julien felt his doubts slowly fade away.Fr: "Je vais y arriver," dit-il avec conviction.En: "I can do it," he said with conviction.Fr: Élodie soupira, décidant finalement de se confier.En: Élodie sighed, finally deciding to confide.Fr: "Tu sais, l'avenir me fait peur aussi."En: "You know, the future scares me too."Fr: Julien lui prit la main.En: Julien took her hand.Fr: "On y arrivera ensemble."En: "We'll get through it together."Fr: La lumière revint, mais pour Julien et Élodie, un peu de leur peur avait disparu.En: The lights came back on, but for Julien and Élodie, a bit of their fear had disappeared.Fr: Avec le soutien d'Élodie, Julien retrouva confiance en lui.En: With Élodie's support, Julien regained confidence in himself.Fr: Élodie, elle, découvrit que partager ses craintes apportait réconfort et espoir.En: Élodie, in turn, discovered that sharing her fears brought comfort and hope.Fr: Dans cette bibliothèque ancienne, ils avaient appris plus que des leçons de livres.En: In this ancient library, they had learned more than just lessons from books.Fr: C'étaient des leçons de vie.En: They were lessons in life. Vocabulary Words:the heart: le cœurancient: anciennelibrary: la bibliothèqueladen: chargéssteeped: imprégnéyellowed: jauniesstudious: studieuxabilities: les capacitésstakes: les enjeuxto threaten: menacerbrilliant: brillantecarefree: insoucianteto attract: attireruncertainties: les incertitudesto hesitate: hésitersincere: sincèregenuine: francpower outage: la coupure d'électricitédarkness: l'obscuritémurmur: le murmureto spread: se répandreremaining: restantsraindrops: les gouttes de pluieto flicker: trembloterwavering: vacillanteto sigh: soupirerto confide: se confiersupport: le soutienfear: la peurhope: l'espoir

Updated Re-Release: This episode originally aired a few years ago and has since become one of The Earful Tower's most beloved classics. We're bringing it back today because some things are simply too good - and too instructive - to stay buried in the archives. It started with a photo. A single, damning image shared on The Earful Tower's social media: an 18-month-old Comté, massacred at a Parisian dinner party by the hand of a newly arrived American. The picture went viral inside the Earful community almost instantly, and the culprit, Will Weaver, a Texan fresh off the plane, became the talk of the group. So we did what any responsible France-based podcast would do: we launched a full investigation. In this episode, you'll hear from genuinely mortified cheesemongers, some committed dramatic performances from Earful VIPs, and crucially the full account from Will Weaver himself, the man holding the knife that fateful evening. Yes, we find out exactly what he did, why he did it, and whether he has shown any remorse whatsoever. We also get into the real, legitimate, no-nonsense guide to how you are actually supposed to cut a Comté — because this is a safe space for learning, not just judgement.  A word of warning before you dive in: a lot of this episode is firmly tongue-in-cheek, so take the drama with a generous pinch of salt. The cheese-cutting advice, however, is completely genuine. If the episode sends you running to the nearest fromagerie, the spots mentioned in the show is worth a visit: Griffon Fromager in Paris's 7th arrondissement (23 bis Av. de la Motte-Picquet, 75007 Paris) and we also recorded at bar of the legendary Le Bristol Paris (112 Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré, 75008 Paris). Both are excellent.  The music is from Pres Maxson.  This episode is brought to you by The Earful Tower Tours. Whether you're exploring the Marais, scaling Montmartre, or wandering the Latin Quarter, our walking tours are among the highest-rated in Paris — and the best possible way to experience this podcast in the flesh. The Earful Tower stays independent thanks to its members. For just $10 a month, you'll unlock a growing vault of extras: bonus episodes, live video replays, special event invites, and an annually updated PDF guide to Paris that's worth its weight in Comté. You can get started in under a minute via Patreon or Substack — and if you're already a member, thank you. You're the reason this exists. More from The Earful Tower: Website · Weekly Newsletter · Walking Tours

We're turning the spotlight on Julia and learning more about her new print magazine! Also changing careers (from finance to a variety of creative pursuits), she describes her move from NYC to Paris and rediscovering her creative passions. Julia's journey spans from writing poetry daily to becoming a magazine editor during her masters program and now building a creative business from the ground up. We focus on her latest news: the launch of Paris Untapped! Julia shares about growing on Substack, immersing herself in Parisian culture, and working with local artists to build this debut magazine.Paris Untapped is accessible for English speakers and readers all over the world who are interested in Parisian arts, culture, and gastronomy.

A road trip so good, it's forgettable. A family road trip is the perfect way to make lasting memories. And in today's Odd News PAC story, a Parisian man certainly made some, although perhaps not the kind his family was hoping for. When a quick pit stop turns into a five-hour ball of confusion, we can only hope the rest of their trip went better. Listen for all the hilarious details. This is just one of many strange-but-true stories we're bringing you this month. Plus, we're celebrating the platinum anniversary of comedy4cast, or PAC for short, by capping off each episode with a classic clip. In this edition, we'll take you back to 2011, where Derrick and Rory discuss Android phones and a whole lot more. It will leave you questioning everything you know about technology. Whether you're curious about a road trip from hell or how many things can fall between other things, this episode has it all. So don't be left behind. Get on board, and let's go!

The season finale is here! Hector Flores and Edward Robles close out the year with a jam-packed episode recapping all the drama and triumphs from the world of football. The duo breaks down PSG's back-to-back Champions League titles, diving into what sets this team apart and why Luis Enrique's leadership has transformed the Parisian giants into Europe's most complete squad. We also revisit the chaotic Champions League final, Arsenal's defensive tactics, fan delusion, and THAT parade. Plus, a whirlwind recap of the Power 5 leagues: who rose, who crashed, and which storylines defined the Bundesliga, Serie A, La Liga, Ligue 1, and the Premier League. As a bonus, don't miss Hector Flores's impromptu World Cup preview—with off-the-cuff group predictions and favorites you might not expect. It's parade, pain, and a whole lot of PSG reign to wrap up the 2025-26 season. Follow us into the off-season, and get ready for another year of bold takes, wild laughs, and unapologetic fandom.

Fluent Fiction - French: Cheese and Art: A Parisian Mix-Up Ignites New Perspectives Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/fr/episode/2026-06-04-22-34-02-fr Story Transcript:Fr: Dans une galerie d'art nichée au cœur de Paris, l'air à peine saturé de l'odeur de peinture fraîche, une étrange confusion se prépare.En: In an galerie d'art nestled in the heart of Paris, the air barely saturated with the smell of fresh paint, a strange confusion is brewing.Fr: Olivier, un passionné d'art qui prend toujours son rôle très au sérieux, vagabonde d'une pièce à l'autre avec une expression concentrée.En: Olivier, an art enthusiast who always takes his role very seriously, wanders from room to room with a focused expression.Fr: Les murs blancs du lieu, épurés et lumineux, abritent des œuvres contemporaines.En: The white walls of the place, pure and bright, house contemporary works.Fr: Olivier, espérant gagner l'estime des amateurs d'art autour de lui, cherche l'œuvre maîtresse de l'exposition.En: Olivier, hoping to gain the esteem of the art lovers around him, searches for the masterpiece of the exhibition.Fr: Ses pas le mènent près d'une installation qu'il ne reconnaît pas.En: His steps lead him to an installation he does not recognize.Fr: Une petite foule se rassemble, intriguée par l'objet exposé au sol.En: A small crowd gathers, intrigued by the object displayed on the floor.Fr: C'est un fromage, rond et odorant, à moitié caché par une serviette en soie.En: It's a cheese, round and odorous, half-hidden by a silk napkin.Fr: Mais pour Olivier, cela ne fait aucun doute : il s'agit d'une œuvre sublime.En: But for Olivier, there's no doubt: it is a sublime work.Fr: Avec une confiance inébranlable, Olivier commence une improvisation passionnée.En: With unwavering confidence, Olivier begins a passionate improvisation.Fr: « Mesdames et Messieurs, admirez cet exemple brillant de l'art moderne !En: "Ladies and Gentlemen, admire this brilliant example of modern art!Fr: Notez la texture, sentez l'arôme, ressentez le contraste entre la tradition et l'avant-garde !En: Note the texture, smell the aroma, feel the contrast between tradition and avant-garde!"Fr: » Quelques curieux hochent la tête, certains prennent des notes, et Marcel, un visiteur détendu, observe en silence, intrigué.En: A few curious individuals nod, some take notes, and Marcel, a relaxed visitor, observes in silence, intrigued.Fr: Pendant ce temps, Elodie, l'artiste espiègle, vient de terminer une conversation à l'autre bout de la salle.En: Meanwhile, Élodie, the mischievous artist, has just finished a conversation at the other end of the room.Fr: En entendant l'ardeur d'Olivier, elle s'approche, un sourire au coin des lèvres.En: Hearing Olivier's fervor, she approaches, a smile at the corner of her lips.Fr: Elle comprend immédiatement qu'il y a eu méprise.En: She immediately understands there has been a misunderstanding.Fr: « Excusez-moi, » dit-elle en riant doucement, « mais ce n'est qu'un morceau de fromage oublié ici.En: "Excuse me," she says, laughing softly, "but this is just a piece of cheese forgotten here."Fr: » Un rire éclate parmi la foule.En: Laughter erupts among the crowd.Fr: Olivier se fige d'abord, puis rit de bon cœur.En: Olivier freezes at first, then laughs heartily.Fr: « Eh bien », dit-il, en souriant à Elodie.En: "Well," he says, smiling at Élodie.Fr: « Vous m'avez bien eu.En: "You certainly got me.Fr: Je crois que j'ai besoin d'élargir mes horizons.En: I believe I need to broaden my horizons.Fr: Merci pour cette leçon !En: Thank you for this lesson!"Fr: » L'atmosphère se détend.En: The atmosphere relaxes.Fr: Olivier, dépouillé de sa rigidité habituelle, trouve Elodie pour lui proposer un café.En: Olivier, stripped of his usual rigidity, finds Élodie to propose a coffee.Fr: Ensemble, ils discutent des visions de l'art, riant de ce quiproquo improbable.En: Together, they discuss visions of art, laughing about this improbable mix-up.Fr: Cette rencontre, inattendue mais significative, change Olivier.En: This meeting, unexpected but significant, changes Olivier.Fr: Il ne regarde plus l'art du même œil, découvrant qu'humour et légèreté ont aussi leur place dans le monde de la créativité.En: He no longer looks at art in the same way, discovering that humor and lightness also have their place in the world of creativity.Fr: Le printemps à Paris s'achève sous un nouveau ciel, où les perspectives s'élargissent pour lui, avec un sourire aux lèvres et un esprit ouvert.En: Spring in Paris ends under a new sky, where perspectives widen for him, with a smile on his lips and an open mind. Vocabulary Words:the gallery: la galerieto nestle: nicherthe heart: le cœursaturated: saturé(e)the confusion: la confusionto brew: se préparerto wander: vagabonderfocused: concentré(e)the walls: les murspure: épuré(e)the masterpiece: l'œuvre maîtressethe installation: l'installationthe crowd: la fouleodorous: odorant(e)unwavering: inébranlablethe aroma: l'arômethe contrast: le contrastethe tradition: la traditionthe avant-garde: l'avant-gardethe artist: l'artistemischievous: espiègleto laugh: rirethe misunderstanding: la mépriseto broaden: élargirthe horizon: l'horizonto propose: proposerunexpected: inattendu(e)to discover: découvrirthe humor: l'humourthe creativity: la créativité

If you've ever been passed over for something you really wanted, congratulations — you and Moon have something in common.In this episode of The Rizzuto Show, Moon discovers the shocking truth behind why he lost his shot at riding with the Blue Angels. After weeks of paperwork, physicals, anticipation, and what can only be described as aviation-level excitement, the dream gets grounded. The replacement? Not a celebrity. Not a war hero. Not even a local legend. The reveal sends the entire show spiraling into a hilarious investigation that somehow turns into a full-scale interrogation.Meanwhile, the gang debates who would have been an acceptable replacement. Jon Hamm? Sure. Steve Templeton? Absolutely. A famous dog? Fine. A tax mascot dancing on the side of the road? Honestly, still acceptable.Elsewhere in the chaos, the crew reacts to the bizarre vandalism targeting Steve's Hot Dogs in St. Louis. Why would someone repeatedly smash windows at one of the city's most beloved local spots? The theories get weirder, the outrage gets louder, and everyone agrees Steve deserves better.Lern takes the conversation in an unexpectedly heartfelt direction when she shares the story of a memorial bench dedicated to her late father in West Frankfort, Illinois. What starts as a conversation about hometown drama turns into one of the sweetest moments of the episode — before the show immediately ruins the sincerity by discussing wedding brawls, biker bars, and memorial statues people apparently grind on for fertility.Speaking of that...The crew somehow ends up deep in a discussion about a famous Paris cemetery statue that has become a tourist attraction for reasons no travel brochure would ever properly explain. This naturally leads to debates about Rizz's upcoming trip to France, whether the Eiffel Tower is overrated, and what kind of monument each member of the show would want after they're gone. Some answers are touching. Some answers should probably be reviewed by legal.The gang also tackles an internet debate that has parents everywhere arguing: are you raising a living-room kid or a bedroom kid? The conversation turns surprisingly relatable as everyone reflects on childhood habits, family dynamics, and why hiding in your room sometimes felt like the greatest life strategy ever invented.From Blue Angels drama and local weird news to family memories, Parisian oddities, and classic Rizz Show derailments, this episode is packed with exactly the kind of unpredictable nonsense that makes this a daily comedy show listeners love.Whether you're here for the laughs, the St. Louis stories, or the ongoing mission to find out how Moon keeps getting robbed of cool experiences, buckle up.Because no matter where the conversation starts, it never stays there.This daily comedy show delivers everything you'd expect: ridiculous debates, unexpected emotional moments, questionable travel planning, and enough side quests to make GPS systems quit.If you're looking for a daily comedy show that can go from aviation disappointment to cemetery fertility statues in under ten minutes, congratulations — you've found it.Follow The Rizzuto Show → https://linktr.ee/rizzshow for more from your favorite daily comedy show.Connect with The Rizzuto Show Comedy Podcast online → https://1057thepoint.com/RizzShow.Hear The Rizz Show daily on the radio at 105.7 The Point | Hubbard Radio in St. Louis, MO.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Paris Saint-Germain have done it again! It's back to back Champions League victories for Luis Enrique and his post-Mbappé project, so how long can they keep it up for?Lars Sivertsen joins Andy to dissect the game and explore the options PSG have going into the off-season. Can they resist the temptation of returning to the superstars? Will they reach further into the talent bank that is the city of Paris? And might we see these two finalists again next year?Ask us a question on X, Instagram and TikTok, and email us here: otc@footballramble.com.For ad-free shows, head over to our Patreon and subscribe: patreon.com/footballramble.***Please take the time to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your pods. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!*** On The Continent is your definitive podcast for European football. Subscribe for new podcasts every single week and throughout the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Katie Smith, Russell Fuller and Grand Slam winning doubles coach Dan Kiernan react to world number one Aryna Sabalenka booking her place in the quarterfinals with victory of Naomi Osaka in the night match. Plus, we hear from Matteo Berrettini who is back in the last 8 of a Slam after years of injury troubles.TIMECODES01'10: The first women's night match at Roland‑Garros for three years08'12: Will Sabalenka go all the way?11'11: Quarter‑final lineup12'04: Berrettini the oldest remaining man in the draw13'16: Berrettini post‑injury discussion

Fluent Fiction - French: Discovering Love's True Pages in Parisian Bookstore Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/fr/episode/2026-06-01-07-38-19-fr Story Transcript:Fr: Le soleil de printemps illuminait les rues de Paris.En: The spring sun illuminated the streets of Paris.Fr: Élise marchait lentement, les pensées tourbillonnant dans sa tête.En: Élise walked slowly, thoughts swirling in her head.Fr: Son compagnon, Julien, partait bientôt pour un emploi à l'étranger.En: Her companion, Julien, would soon be leaving for a job abroad.Fr: Son cœur était lourd, mais elle savait qu'elle devait lui offrir un cadeau d'adieu spécial.En: Her heart was heavy, but she knew she had to give him a special farewell gift.Fr: Elle a appelé son ami Luc pour l'accompagner dans cette quête.En: She called her friend Luc to accompany her on this quest.Fr: Ils entraient tous les deux dans la librairie "Les Pages d'Or", située à deux pas de la Seine.En: They both entered the bookstore "Les Pages d'Or," located just a short walk from the Seine.Fr: La petite boutique était cosy, remplie de l'odeur douce des vieux livres.En: The little shop was cozy, filled with the sweet smell of old books.Fr: Les clients flânaient, feuilletant les ouvrages sous les lumières tamisées.En: Customers strolled, leafing through the books under the dim lights.Fr: C'était l'endroit préféré d'Élise et Julien.En: It was Élise and Julien's favorite place.Fr: Ils y passaient des heures ensemble à discuter de leur amour pour la littérature.En: They spent hours there together discussing their love for literature.Fr: "Élise, tu trouveras sûrement quelque chose ici," dit Luc, avec un sourire encourageant.En: "Élise, you'll surely find something here," said Luc, with an encouraging smile.Fr: Élise hochait la tête, bien qu'elle se sentît toujours indécise.En: Élise nodded, although she still felt undecided.Fr: Les étagères débordaient de livres, et le murmure des pages tournées était apaisant.En: The shelves overflowed with books, and the murmur of pages turning was soothing.Fr: Élise parcourait les rayonnages, cherchant un livre qui serait digne de leurs souvenirs partagés.En: Élise perused the shelves, searching for a book that would be worthy of their shared memories.Fr: Chaque livre évoquait des moments passés ensemble, mais rien ne semblait parfait.En: Each book evoked past moments together, but nothing seemed perfect.Fr: Puis, ses yeux s'arrêtèrent sur un livre rare, que Julien avait mentionné lors d'une de leurs premières rencontres.En: Then, her eyes stopped on a rare book that Julien had mentioned during one of their first meetings.Fr: Ses pages étaient usées, témoignage de son histoire.En: Its pages were worn, a testament to its history.Fr: Pour Élise, c'était comme si le livre l'appelait.En: For Élise, it was as if the book was calling out to her.Fr: Elle savait à cet instant qu'elle avait trouvé le cadeau idéal.En: She knew at that moment that she had found the ideal gift.Fr: "Regarde, Luc," dit-elle, ses yeux brillant d'une nouvelle détermination.En: "Look, Luc," she said, her eyes shining with newfound determination.Fr: "C'est celui-là.En: "This is the one.Fr: C'est parfait."En: It's perfect."Fr: Le jour du départ de Julien arriva.En: The day of Julien's departure arrived.Fr: À l'aéroport, Élise tenait fermement le livre emballé dans du papier bleu.En: At the airport, Élise held the book wrapped in blue paper tightly.Fr: Ses doigts tremblaient légèrement, mais elle se sentait plus assurée.En: Her fingers trembled slightly, but she felt more assured.Fr: Quand elle remit le livre à Julien, elle vit ses yeux s'illuminer de reconnaissance et d'amour.En: When she handed the book to Julien, she saw his eyes light up with gratitude and love.Fr: "Merci, Élise," murmura Julien, touché.En: "Thank you, Élise," murmured Julien, touched.Fr: "Je penserai à toi chaque fois que je l'ouvrirai."En: "I will think of you every time I open it."Fr: Ils se prirent dans les bras, le monde autour d'eux disparaissant pendant un moment.En: They embraced, the world around them disappearing for a moment.Fr: "Nous allons réussir," chuchota Élise contre son épaule, sa voix pleine de confiance retrouvée.En: "We will make it," Élise whispered against his shoulder, her voice full of regained confidence.Fr: Alors que Julien s'éloignait, Élise se sentit apaisée.En: As Julien walked away, Élise felt at peace.Fr: Elle savait, malgré la distance, que leur amour résisterait.En: She knew, despite the distance, that their love would endure.Fr: Le printemps continuait d'éveiller Paris, et avec chaque bourgeon, Élise sentait son espoir refleurir.En: The spring continued to awaken Paris, and with each bud, Élise felt her hope bloom anew. Vocabulary Words:the spring: le printempsthe streets: les ruesto swirl: tourbillonnerthe heart: le cœurto depart: partirthe companion: le compagnonthe gift: le cadeauthe quest: la quêtethe bookstore: la librairiethe shop: la boutiqueto stroll: flânerthe murmur: le murmurethe shelf: l'étagèreto peruse: parcourirthe bud: le bourgeonto endure: résisterto bloom: refleurirthe determination: la déterminationthe encounter: la rencontrethe airport: l'aéroportthe fingers: les doigtswrapped: emballéto embrace: se prendre dans les brasthe hope: l'espoirthe goodbye: l'adieuto whisper: chuchoterthe shoulder: l'épauleassured: assuréto illuminate: illuminerthe light: la lumière

A Night in Paris: Where Every Secret has a Heartbeat by Victor Sage https://www.amazon.com/Night-Paris-Where-Secret-Heartbeat/dp/1965555667 In the glow of a Parisian night, chance meetings are never accidental. Tony arrives in Paris carrying more than jet lag he carries a past carefully buried beneath discipline, silence, and control. Alice Rose moves through the city with effortless elegance, her beauty masking a mind trained to see patterns others miss. When their paths cross in a quiet hotel bar, the attraction is immediate, magnetic, and unsettling. What begins as an intimate connection between two strangers slowly reveals something darker beneath the romance. Secrets surface. Histories collide. And the city of lights becomes a maze of mirrors, where nothing is quite what it seems and every choice carries a cost. As desire deepens and trust fractures, Tony and Alice must decide whether they are players in a dangerous game… or pieces already placed on the board. A Night in Paris is a seductive blend of romance and suspense a story about power, vulnerability, and what it truly takes to begin again when the past refuses to stay buried.

In this episode of the world's wackiest news… Find out why people in China are arguing over one of their favourite foods – dumplings – yes, we're talking about the dim sum debate. Staying in Asia, we have a report on the futuristic cafés in South Korea where food and drink are only half the attraction. And how would you like a piece of Parisian history? Well, a chunk of France's Eiffel Tower is being auctioned, or sold, off. Find out which bit and for how much. And just to make you feel warm and fuzzy about the world – we have two Kindness Corner stories – one featuring some heroic school kids in the US and a runaway bus. Finally, a silly and pretty gross prank that lands a French teenager in serious trouble in Singapore – you gotta listen to the end to find out why this is THE LAST STRAW!

We speak with Parisian restaurateurs Laetitia and Arthur Cohen, owners of Bar Omi and Ojii, among others. We hear about their expansion plans and great Japanese food.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From exploding kings to civil wars, Britain's royals were never respectable.Comedy legend, author and podcast host Charlie Higson joins History Rage to dismantle the myth that today's monarchy is uniquely scandalous. From William the Conqueror's warring sons to murderous Plantagenets, abusive Hanoverians and Edward VII's infamous Parisian “sex chair”, Charlie argues the Royal Family has always been gloriously dysfunctional.Drawing from his brilliant new book Willy, Willy, Harry, Stee, Charlie takes Paul Bavill on a whirlwind tour through a thousand years of royal chaos, revealing why modern headlines about Harry, Meghan and Prince Andrew are tame compared to the behaviour of their ancestors.Expect exploding corpses, imprisoned wives, civil wars, royal affairs, fathers and sons at war, and the astonishing truth behind Britain's longest-running soap opera.In this episode:Why William the Conqueror's family immediately descended into violence The endless cycle of Plantagenet betrayal and civil war Why Edward II may have been too normal to be king The shocking dysfunction of the Georgian monarchy The real story behind George IV and Queen Caroline Edward VII's scandalous private life and surprising political successes Why the monarchy survives despite centuries of scandal Charlie also explains why Britain remains fascinated by royalty — and why countries that abolished monarchies still recreate them through celebrity dynasties and political families.Charlie Higson will be appearing at the Chalke History Festival on Sunday 28th June. Tickets available here: https://www.chalkefestival.com/Buy Charlie's book here: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/10120/9780008741051Follow Charlie Higson:https://x.com/monstroso Follow and support History Rage:https://historyrage.com/ https://www.patreon.com/historyrage https://www.facebook.com/historyragepodcast https://www.instagram.com/historyragepodcast/ https://x.com/historyrage If you enjoy sharp historical debate, outrageous true stories and irreverent takes on Britain's past, subscribe now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on Crime Wave: In MURDER MOST DELICIOUS by Danielle Postel-Vinay, a disgraced American sommelier arrives in Paris hoping to rebuild her life after losing her sense of taste—and thus her career—to COVID. But when a celebrated chef drops dead during her comeback job interview, she suddenly finds herself the prime suspect in his poisoning. Teaming up with an eccentric neighborhood watch group led by a brilliant, housebound sleuth, she dives into the secrets of a cozy Parisian quartier filled with wine, pastries, and intrigue. Warm, witty, and richly atmospheric, the novel blends culinary charm with classic amateur-detective mystery. #podcast #author #interview #authors #CrimeWavePodcast #authorsontheair #podcast #podcaster #authors #authorsofig #authorsofinstagram #authorinterview #writingcommunity #suspensebooks #authorssupportingauthors #thrillerbooks #suspense #wip #writers #bookrecommendations #bookaddict #bookaddicted #bookaddiction #bibliophile #read #amreading #lovetoread #BonnarSpring #BonnarSpringBooks #bookouture #thrillers #DaniellePostel-Vinay #MurderMostDelicious Connect with DaniellePostel-Vinay: https://danielletrussoni.com/

Une rue parisienne peut-elle être une destination pour une journée entière? Anne-Laure et moi faisons le pari de passer une journée entière rue Notre-Dame de Nazareth.  Après un premier épisode au début de la rue avec une façade historique et une galerie d'art contemporain, nous continuons notre chemin. Nous nous arrêtons prendre un café chez Anne Caron (Meilleure Ouvrier de France torrefactrice), nous déjeunons chez Erev où nous rencontrons Thomas un admirateur de Bel-Ami, puis entrons chez Erev Concept-store et là, nous faisons la connaissance de la pétillante Frédérique. Une rencontre qui réserve de jolies surprises !  Expression du temps :  Si vous êtes apprenant de français, je vous invite à découvrir la lettre qui accompagne cet épisode, nous observerons ensemble l'expression du temps dans cet épisode « sur le vif »(l'emploi de certains mots, de certains temps ou de certains verbes). C'est une aventure dans l'aventure de l'épisode. Et enfin, il y aura toutes les références culturelles pour comprendre cet épisode.  www.onethinginafrenchday.com spoken french, learn french, paris stories, french daily life, real french, life in paris, authentic french conversations, parisian encounters, paris hidden gems, french listening practice, erev concept store, erev restaurant, rue Notre-Dame de Nazareth, Marais, Paris3, Time in French

After pulling back the curtain on the brutal stomach virus that hit the final leg of their European tour last week, Lauren and Trey are back to talk about the good stuff. In this episode, they recount Trey's first-ever trip overseas; a three-country whirlwind through Paris, Amsterdam, and Barcelona (with a final stop in the quiet beach town of Sitges) in April and May of 2026.Moving past the sickness, they unpack the deep relational gold found on the road: why making adult friendships is a secret weapon for a thriving sex life, how to perfectly balance relationship logistics based on individual strengths, and what happened when they stepped into a historic Parisian erotic theater that completely shattered their American-bred biases.If you and your partner are trying to navigate your own travel triggers, step out of isolating relationship bubbles, or unpack your old scripts around pleasure, intimacy, and control, you don't have to do it alone.Ready to start building a resilient, well-defined partnership?Request your free 15-minute consult at sexedforyou.com/freeconsult.About ThemLauren and Trey are partners living in Central Virginia, where Lauren owns and operates Sex Ed for You. She provides comprehensive sexuality education and embodied coaching to individuals, partners, and parents.Through a biopsychosocial approach, Sex Ed for You works to restore positive and respectful approaches to sexuality and sexual relationships, while increasing the possibility of pleasurable and safe sexual experiences, free of coercion, discrimination, and violence (World Health Organization).Sexual health is fundamental to the overall health and well-being of individuals, couples, and families, as well as to the social and economic development of communities and countries (World Health Organization). When individuals are blocked from sexual health, they are often stunted in their ability to develop sensual play, embodied connection, and enjoyment.Learn More & ConnectLearn more about Sex Ed for You: ⁠https://www.sexedforyou.com⁠Schedule a FREE CONSULT with Lauren: ⁠https://www.sexedforyou.com/freeconsult⁠Learn more about partnered communication and relational education on Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/sex_ed_for_you/⁠Subscribe to the YouTube channel for conversations about sex, partnership, communication, and love: ⁠https://youtube.com/@thepartnershippodcast⁠Important RemindersThis is not a “how to” podcast, but rather a “how they” podcast. Lauren and Trey share personal experiences, perspectives, and reflections, inviting listeners to learn from what resonates, question what doesn't, and decide what feels aligned for their own lives.Lauren is not a therapist. She is a Certified Holistic Sexuality Educator and Embodied Intimacy and Relationship Coach.Key Takeaways & Dynamic Frameworks

From tiny Parisian dinner parties to becoming one of the most recognisable food voices on television, this week we sit down with the incredible Rachel Khoo for a deeply honest, funny and nostalgic conversation about food, identity and building a creative life from scratch. Rachel takes us back to the beginning — leaving London with barely any money, studying pastry at Le Cordon Bleu, hustling her way through Paris and eventually creating the now legendary Little Paris Kitchen. We talk about the highs and heartbreaks of television, cookbook publishing, and why she decided to self-publish her powerful new memoir.This episode is packed with unbelievable stories: Austrian mountain summers fuelled by butter and strudel, Malaysian family feasts in 1980s Bromley, breakdancing crews in Paris, and the reality of building a career in food before Instagram existed. Rachel opens up about the challenges of working in TV, navigating rejection, motherhood whilst filming Bake Off Australia, and why meaningful hospitality matters more than fancy food. There's also plenty of talk about pastries, Swedish comfort food, Paris markets, cookbook politics and the restaurants she keeps returning to after all these years.Alongside one of the most fascinating food journeys we've ever heard, Rachel also gives us her ultimate go-to meals, favourite bakeries in Paris, dream dim sum orders and the philosophy behind hosting unforgettable dinner parties. It's warm, hilarious, emotional and full of wisdom for anyone chasing a creative dream. Rachel Khoo is every bit as brilliant as you hope she'll be — and this might be one of our favourite conversations we've ever recorded.The Smallest Restaurant in Paris - A memoir by Rachel Khoo £18.99 available at all good bookshops - https://geni.us/order_TRSPWatch and Subscribe To Our Youtube Videos Here - https://www.youtube.com/@gotofoodGet 2 Months of Blinq For Free - With Code - GOTOBLINQ - https://blinqme.com/Order The Greatest Meat In The Country From HG Walter Here & Have Restaurant Quality Meals From Home - www.hgwalter.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  “Subscribe to free weekly news letter HUNGRY FRIDAY FEAST here”  Jeremy King doesn't just talk about restaurants — he talks about change, class, creativity, ego, instinct, death, literature, leadership, and why the best dining rooms become tiny theatres of human behaviour.In this conversation, the legendary restaurateur behind The Ivy, Le Caprice, The Wolseley, Arlington and now Simpson's in the Strand explains why “maintaining standards” is actually the road to bankruptcy, why great restaurants must constantly evolve, and why hospitality is really about love, generosity, observation and care.Jeremy and Dan explore everything from Mick Jagger and Bianca Jagger at Le Caprice, to Lucian Freud, A.A. Gill, Harold Pinter, Graham Norton, Apple, Kodak, IBM, The Beatles, New York brasseries, Parisian cafés, class in Britain, and why every great creative or political movement may have started in a restaurant.  This one is unforgettable.A conversation about restaurants, yes — but really about how to live, lead, notice, change, and leave the world slightly better than you found it.ON THE MENU:00:00:00 Intro00:03:03 Why Restaurants Must Always Change00:05:46 Why Leadership Is A Benign Dictatorship00:07:24 Maintaining Standards Leads To Bankruptcy00:13:47 Why Restaurants Get Defensive00:17:35 Why Enough Is Never Enough00:20:06 Why Altruism Still Matters00:22:13 When Jeremy Refuses A Booking00:26:06 The Silent Couple At Mirabelle00:32:08 Arlington, Soho And Restaurant Design00:35:55 Why Great Restaurants Are Egalitarian00:41:18 Why Money Ruins Taste00:43:49 What Makes The Best Restaurant?00:47:43 Why Restaurants Need Creative People00:49:43 How Le Caprice Changed Service00:55:19 Why Culture Hates Real Change00:59:49 Why Strong Opinions Win01:03:00 How To Prepare For Death01:05:14 Why Jeremy Has Regrets Every Day01:06:16 The Power Of Happy Problems01:08:30 Why Jeremy Finally Wrote A Book01:15:12 Why Restaurant Work Changes Young People01:18:31 How Shyness Became Jeremy's Advantage01:20:17 Can Dogs Sense Us Coming Home?01:24:11 Why We've Lost Our Instinct01:27:14 The Brain's Restaurant Memory Card01:33:09 Why Moneyball Thinking Kills Instinct01:35:12 How Jeremy Feels A Restaurant's Hum01:38:07 Why First Impressions Mislead Us01:41:18 Do All Movements Start In Restaurants?01:44:10 Why Creativity Needs Long Lunches01:48:48 Jeremy's Favourite Books And Writers01:55:31 How Meditation Helped With Lucian Freud01:58:21 How Literature Taught Jeremy Restaurants02:00:01 Jeremy King's Best Life Advice02:03:29 Ruthie Rogers' Eye Contact Lesson02:05:33 Why Questions Beat Statements02:07:33 How Mick Jagger Helped Le Caprice02:11:43 Why Jeremy Prefers Narrowcasting02:13:01 Jeremy King's Rules For Success ============================================== ♨️Still bloody HUNGRY? Course ya are. Each week I spend 15 hours writing my newsletter. It'll take you 5 mins to read. Full of wisdom from the biggest names in food and drink. Subscribe here - https://hungryfeast.beehiiv.com/

Alberta announces a vote on whether to hold a vote on whether to separate -- and a former Conservative cabinet minister tells us about his plan to convince as many people as possible that Canada's union is worth preserving. He was restrained without restraint. And now, people in Ireland are demanding answers after the death of a Black man who was suspected of shoplifting -- and set upon by security guards. A Jamaican politician tells us what it was like to be interrupted in parliament for speaking Patois -- or Jamaican -- and why she's speaking out about speaking it. When Victor Bal got his university degree today, he was accompanied by his service dog Kopek -- who joined him for every class he took. And ultimately should also have been given a degree. Stephen Colbert's "Late Show" has come to an end; a long-time writer for the show tells us the host's finely tuned moral compass guided the writer's room, even on the toughest days.Everybody wants their photo taken with one Parisian celebrity -- so the Louvre is moving the Mona Lisa to her very own space, where people can stop fighting over self-portraits with the portrait. As It Happens, the Friday Edition. Radio that hates to get in the middle of a Louvre's quarrel.

Fluent Fiction - French: Unraveling Secrets of the Heart: Étienne's Parisian Journey Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/fr/episode/2026-05-21-22-34-01-fr Story Transcript:Fr: Au cœur de Paris, là où le temps semble s'arrêter, se dresse un vieil orphelinat.En: In the heart of Paris, where time seems to stand still, stands an old orphanage.Fr: Les murs de pierre sont couverts de lierre, et ce bâtiment imposant se cache dans une rue tranquille d'un quartier animé.En: The stone walls are covered in ivy, and this imposing building hides in a quiet street of a lively neighborhood.Fr: À l'intérieur, des rires d'enfants remplissent l'air, mais des secrets chuchotent aussi, tapissant les murs de souvenirs.En: Inside, children's laughter fills the air, but secrets also whisper, lining the walls with memories.Fr: Parmi ces enfants, il y a Étienne, un garçon de treize ans.En: Among these children is Étienne, a thirteen-year-old boy.Fr: Étienne adore les histoires.En: Étienne loves stories.Fr: Son endroit préféré est la petite bibliothèque de l'orphelinat.En: His favorite place is the little library of the orphanage.Fr: Il aime voyager à travers les pages vers des mondes imaginaires.En: He loves to travel through the pages to imaginary worlds.Fr: Pourtant, un mystère le hante : ses propres parents.En: Yet, a mystery haunts him: his own parents.Fr: Que leur est-il arrivé ?En: What happened to them?Fr: Pourquoi est-il ici ?En: Why is he here?Fr: Le printemps colore Paris de teintes douces.En: Spring colors Paris with soft hues.Fr: Les magnolias fleurissent, les oiseaux chantent.En: The magnolias bloom, the birds sing.Fr: C'est la saison du renouveau, de la découverte.En: It's the season of renewal, of discovery.Fr: Étienne regarde par la fenêtre de sa chambre.En: Étienne looks out the window of his room.Fr: Il pense à sa quête de vérité.En: He thinks about his quest for truth.Fr: Le directeur de l'orphelinat, monsieur Beaumont, est réticent.En: The director of the orphanage, monsieur Beaumont, is reluctant.Fr: Il pense que ce passé pourrait blesser Étienne davantage que l'aider.En: He thinks this past might hurt Étienne more than help him.Fr: Mais Étienne n'abandonne pas.En: But Étienne doesn't give up.Fr: Un après-midi, alors que les autres enfants jouent dehors, Étienne s'aventure dans la vieille salle de stockage.En: One afternoon, while the other children play outside, Étienne ventures into the old storage room.Fr: C'est un immense espace poussiéreux rempli de boîtes, de vieux souvenirs.En: It's a vast dusty space filled with boxes, old memories.Fr: Une boîte attire son attention, elle est ornée d'un ruban bleu fané.En: A box catches his attention, it is adorned with a faded blue ribbon.Fr: Sa curiosité piquée, Étienne l'ouvre et découvre une lettre.En: His curiosity piqued, Étienne opens it and discovers a letter.Fr: L'enveloppe porte son nom.En: The envelope bears his name.Fr: Le cœur battant, il lit les mots qui semblent éclairer son monde.En: Heart pounding, he reads the words that seem to light up his world.Fr: La lettre provient de sa mère.En: The letter is from his mother.Fr: Elle décrit avec amour et tristesse les raisons de son choix.En: She describes with love and sadness the reasons for her choice.Fr: Elle n'avait pas d'autre option que de le laisser à l'orphelinat pour qu'il ait un meilleur avenir.En: She had no other option but to leave him at the orphanage so he could have a better future.Fr: Étienne essuie une larme.En: Étienne wipes away a tear.Fr: Les mots de sa mère sont comme un doux baume sur son cœur.En: His mother's words are like a gentle balm on his heart.Fr: Elle l'aime, et elle a fait un sacrifice immense par amour.En: She loves him, and she made an immense sacrifice out of love.Fr: Avec cette nouvelle compréhension, Étienne sent une chaleur, une clôture se former autour de lui.En: With this new understanding, Étienne feels a warmth, a closure forming around him.Fr: Il n'est plus seulement cet enfant perdu et incertain.En: He is no longer just that lost and uncertain child.Fr: Il devient quelqu'un qui comprend la complexité de l'amour et le courage des sacrifices faits par ceux qui nous aiment.En: He becomes someone who understands the complexity of love and the courage of the sacrifices made by those who love us.Fr: Il range la lettre précieusement, un sourire timide illuminant son visage.En: He carefully puts the letter away, a shy smile lighting up his face.Fr: Il sait qu'à partir de maintenant, il portera cette vérité dans son cœur, prêt à affronter le monde avec un nouvel espoir.En: He knows that from now on, he will carry this truth in his heart, ready to face the world with new hope.Fr: Paris est en fleurs et, tout comme la ville, le cœur d'Étienne s'ouvre à une nouvelle saison de sa vie.En: Paris is in bloom and, just like the city, Étienne's heart opens to a new season of his life. Vocabulary Words:the stone: la pierrethe ivy: le lierrethe laughter: les riresthe secret: le secretto whisper: chuchoterimposing: imposantthe mystery: le mystèreto haunt: hanterthe truth: la véritéreluctant: réticentthe quest: la quêteto venture: s'aventurerthe storage room: la salle de stockagethe box: la boîtethe ribbon: le rubanto pique: piquerthe envelope: l'enveloppeto bear: porterthe heart pounding: le cœur battantthe world: le mondethe balm: le baumethe understanding: la compréhensionthe closure: la clôturethe sacrifice: le sacrificethe warmth: la chaleurimmense: immensethe courage: le courageto illuminate: illuminerto face: affronterto bloom: fleurir

Fluent Fiction - French: Parisian Sketches: A Date in the Jardin des Tuileries Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/fr/episode/2026-05-20-22-34-01-fr Story Transcript:Fr: Le soleil brillait doucement sur le Jardin des Tuileries.En: The sun was gently shining on the Jardin des Tuileries.Fr: Élodie marchait lentement entre les allées, son cœur battant un peu plus vite que d'habitude.En: Élodie was walking slowly through the paths, her heart beating a little faster than usual.Fr: Elle était nerveuse mais excitée.En: She was nervous but excited.Fr: Aujourd'hui, c'était son premier rendez-vous avec Mathieu, un jeune homme qu'elle avait rencontré lors d'une soirée entre amis.En: Today was her first date with Mathieu, a young man she had met at a party with friends.Fr: Le jardin était magnifique en ce début de printemps.En: The garden was magnificent in this early spring.Fr: Les fleurs éclataient de couleurs vives et les arbres bourgeonnaient, apportant de la vie et de la fraîcheur à l'air parisien.En: The flowers burst with vivid colors and the trees were budding, bringing life and freshness to the Parisian air.Fr: Les sculptures élégantes et les fontaines anciennes ajoutaient une touche de magie au lieu.En: The elegant sculptures and ancient fountains added a touch of magic to the place.Fr: Partout, des Parisiens et des visiteurs flânaient, profitant joyeusement de l'atmosphère.En: Everywhere, Parisians and visitors strolled, joyfully enjoying the atmosphere.Fr: Mathieu arriva, un sourire timide sur les lèvres.En: Mathieu arrived, a shy smile on his lips.Fr: Il portait une veste légère et salua Élodie d'un clin d'œil charmant.En: He wore a light jacket and greeted Élodie with a charming wink.Fr: Tous deux commencèrent à marcher ensemble, longeant les allées bordées de tulipes et de jonquilles.En: The two began to walk together, along the paths lined with tulips and daffodils.Fr: Leurs conversations commençaient par des sujets légers : le temps, Paris, leurs amis communs.En: Their conversations began with light topics: the weather, Paris, their mutual friends.Fr: Pourtant, Élodie sentait que quelque chose manquait.En: Yet, Élodie felt something was missing.Fr: Elle voulait que cette journée soit spéciale.En: She wanted this day to be special.Fr: Après quelques minutes de silence qu'ils tentaient d'éviter, Élodie prit une inspiration profonde.En: After a few moments of silence they tried to avoid, Élodie took a deep breath.Fr: « Tu sais, j'adore l'art », dit-elle, ses yeux scintillant d'un nouvel éclat.En: "You know, I love art," she said, her eyes sparkling with a new glint.Fr: « Quand je viens ici, je pense souvent à Monet et à ses jardins.En: "When I come here, I often think of Monet and his gardens."Fr: » Mathieu se redressa, intéressé.En: Mathieu straightened up, interested.Fr: « Vraiment ?En: "Really?Fr: Moi aussi, j'aime l'art.En: I like art too.Fr: Enfin, je fais du dessin, un peu.En: Well, I do a bit of drawing."Fr: » Élodie fut surprise et ravie.En: Élodie was surprised and delighted.Fr: « Tu dessines ?En: "You draw?Fr: Je ne savais pas !En: I didn't know!"Fr: » Mathieu haussa les épaules, un peu gêné mais encouragé par l'intérêt d'Élodie.En: Mathieu shrugged, a little embarrassed but encouraged by Élodie's interest.Fr: « Oui, c'est un passe-temps.En: "Yes, it's a hobby.Fr: Je n'en parle pas beaucoup.En: I don't talk about it much."Fr: » Soudain, ils virent sur leur chemin un artiste ambulant.En: Suddenly, they saw a street artist on their path.Fr: Il proposait des portraits rapides aux passants, ses esquisses capturant l'essence des gens avec vivacité.En: He was offering quick portraits to passersby, his sketches capturing the essence of people vividly.Fr: Mathieu, inspiré, eut une idée.En: Mathieu, inspired, had an idea.Fr: « Que dirais-tu si on se faisait esquisser ensemble ?En: "What do you say we get sketched together?"Fr: » Élodie éclata de rire.En: Élodie burst into laughter.Fr: « C'est une excellente idée !En: "That's an excellent idea!Fr: Faisons-le !En: Let's do it!"Fr: » En s'asseyant côte à côte, leurs nervosités s'évanouirent.En: As they sat next to each other, their nervousness faded away.Fr: L'artiste travailla rapidement, capturant leurs sourires et leurs traits dans un portrait simple et élégant.En: The artist worked quickly, capturing their smiles and features in a simple and elegant portrait.Fr: Pendant ce temps, Élodie et Mathieu partagèrent des histoires sur leurs passions artistiques, découvrant des points communs et riant de leurs expériences passées.En: Meanwhile, Élodie and Mathieu shared stories about their artistic passions, discovering common interests and laughing about their past experiences.Fr: Une fois l'esquisse terminée, ils la contemplèrent, satisfaits et amusés par la version d'eux-mêmes sur le papier.En: Once the sketch was finished, they gazed at it, satisfied and amused by the version of themselves on paper.Fr: En quittant le jardin, ils comparèrent leur portrait à leurs propres dessins, échangeant des conseils et des rires.En: Leaving the garden, they compared their portrait to their own drawings, exchanging tips and laughter.Fr: Élodie se sentit plus détendue.En: Élodie felt more relaxed.Fr: Elle se rendit compte qu'elle n'avait pas besoin d'être parfaite, juste d'être elle-même.En: She realized she didn't need to be perfect, just herself.Fr: Mathieu, quant à lui, se sentait plus à l'aise pour s'exprimer, trouvant du plaisir à partager son monde intérieur.En: Mathieu, for his part, felt more comfortable expressing himself, finding joy in sharing his inner world.Fr: Les Tuileries derrière eux, ils continuèrent de marcher, leurs pas désormais plus légers et leurs cœurs plus proches, envisagés d'une nouvelle complicité née d'un après-midi de printemps à Paris.En: Leaving the Tuileries behind them, they continued to walk, their steps now lighter and their hearts closer, envisaging a new bond born from a spring afternoon in Paris. Vocabulary Words:the sun: le soleilthe garden: le jardinthe heart: le cœurmagnificent: magnifiquethe flowers: les fleursthe paths: les alléesvivid: vivesbudding: bourgeonnaientfreshness: la fraîcheurelegant: élégantesancient: anciennessculpture: la sculpturefountain: la fontainea touch of magic: une touche de magieshy: timidethe lips: les lèvresdaffodils: les jonquillesmissing: manquaitsparkling: scintillantto straighten up: se redresserdelighted: ravieembarrassed: gênéstreet artist: artiste ambulantquick portraits: portraits rapidesessence: l'essenceinspired: inspiréto sketch: esquisserto laugh: éclater de rirepassion: la passionsatisfied: satisfaits

Fluent Fiction - French: Along the Seine: Love Blossoms Amidst Parisian Spring Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/fr/episode/2026-05-20-07-38-19-fr Story Transcript:Fr: Le soleil brille sur Paris.En: The sun shines on Paris.Fr: Le printemps habille la ville de couleurs vives.En: Spring dresses the city in bright colors.Fr: Luc et Céline se promènent le long de la Seine.En: Luc and Céline walk along the Seine.Fr: Les arbres sont en fleurs, et l'air est doux.En: The trees are in bloom, and the air is gentle.Fr: Luc a passé la semaine à préparer cette journée.En: Luc spent the week preparing for this day.Fr: Il veut montrer à Céline qu'il peut être attentif et charmant.En: He wants to show Céline that he can be attentive and charming.Fr: Les touristes prennent des photos, et les artistes vendent leurs peintures.En: Tourists take photographs, and artists sell their paintings.Fr: Luc regarde Céline souriante.En: Luc watches Céline smiling.Fr: Son cœur bat fort.En: His heart beats strongly.Fr: Il espère que tout se passera bien.En: He hopes everything will go well.Fr: Soudain, Céline s'arrête.En: Suddenly, Céline stops.Fr: Elle pose une main sur son front.En: She places a hand on her forehead.Fr: Elle vacille légèrement.En: She sways slightly.Fr: Luc s'inquiète.En: Luc becomes worried.Fr: "Ça va, Céline ?"En: "Are you okay, Céline?"Fr: demande-t-il, la voix tremblante.En: he asks, a tremble in his voice.Fr: Céline respire profondément.En: Céline takes a deep breath.Fr: "Je suis juste un peu étourdie," murmure-t-elle.En: "I'm just a bit dizzy," she murmurs.Fr: "Cela arrive parfois."En: "It happens sometimes."Fr: Elle tente de sourire pour le rassurer.En: She tries to smile to reassure him.Fr: Luc ne sait pas quoi faire.En: Luc doesn't know what to do.Fr: Il veut continuer cette belle après-midi, mais il est inquiet pour Céline.En: He wants to continue this beautiful afternoon, but he is worried about Céline.Fr: Elle insiste qu'elle va bien, qu'elle a juste besoin de s'asseoir un instant.En: She insists that she is fine, that she just needs to sit down for a moment.Fr: "Céline, es-tu sûre ?"En: "Céline, are you sure?"Fr: demande Luc, les yeux anxieux.En: Luc asks, his eyes anxious.Fr: Elle hoche la tête, mais quelque chose dans son regard inquiète Luc profondément.En: She nods, but something in her look deeply worries Luc.Fr: Il décide de ne pas écouter ses protestations légères.En: He decides not to listen to her mild protests.Fr: Il appelle rapidement un médecin.En: He quickly calls a doctor.Fr: Il sait que c'est mieux ainsi.En: He knows it's better this way.Fr: Peu après, l'ambulance arrive.En: Soon after, the ambulance arrives.Fr: Céline est prise en charge par une équipe attentive.En: Céline is cared for by a diligent team.Fr: Luc reste à ses côtés, serrant doucement sa main.En: Luc stays by her side, gently holding her hand.Fr: "Céline, ta santé est plus importante que tout," dit Luc quand ils sont seuls, conscients de l'effervescence autour d'eux.En: "Céline, your health is more important than anything," says Luc when they are alone, aware of the bustle around them.Fr: Céline l'observe, touchée par sa sollicitude.En: Céline observes him, touched by his concern.Fr: "Merci, Luc," souffle-t-elle, reconnaissante.En: "Thank you, Luc," she whispers, grateful.Fr: "Tu as fait le bon choix."En: "You made the right choice."Fr: Luc sourit timidement.En: Luc smiles shyly.Fr: Ce jour où il voulait tant impressionner Céline, il a appris quelque chose d'important.En: On this day, when he wanted so much to impress Céline, he learned something important.Fr: Prendre soin de ceux qu'on aime est une priorité.En: Caring for those you love is a priority.Fr: Céline le regarde maintenant avec une nouvelle tendresse.En: Céline now looks at him with newfound tenderness.Fr: Ils savent tous les deux que cet après-midi le long de la Seine a été plus qu'une simple promenade.En: They both know that this afternoon along the Seine was more than just a walk.Fr: C'était un pas vers quelque chose de plus profond.En: It was a step towards something deeper.Fr: Quand la lumière dorée du soir tombe sur la Seine, Luc et Céline repartent ensemble, le cœur apaisé.En: When the golden evening light falls on the Seine, Luc and Céline leave together, their hearts at ease.Fr: Ils savent que leur relation a pris un tournant important, fort de la confiance et de la compassion partagées.En: They know that their relationship has taken an important turn, strengthened by shared trust and compassion. Vocabulary Words:the sun: le soleilthe spring: le printempsthe city: la villein bloom: en fleursgentle: douxattentive: attentifcharming: charmantthe tourists: les touristestake photographs: prennent des photosthe paintings: les peinturesto sway: vacillerthe forehead: le frontto whisper: murmurerdizzy: étourdieto reassure: rassurerworried: inquietanxious: anxieuxmild protests: protestations légèresthe doctor: le médecinquickly: rapidementthe ambulance: l'ambulancea diligent team: une équipe attentiveto hold: serrershared trust: la confiance partagéecompassion: la compassionthe health: la santéthe concern: la sollicitudegrateful: reconnaissantetenderness: la tendresseto impress: impressionner

Fluent Fiction - French: Parisian Startup Dreams: A Hopeful Journey to Innovation Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/fr/episode/2026-05-19-22-34-01-fr Story Transcript:Fr: Le soleil de printemps éclaire l'incubateur de startups de Paris.En: The spring sun illuminates the incubateur de startups in Paris.Fr: Dans cet endroit dynamique, les entrepreneurs se précipitent, pleins d'espoir et de rêves d'avenir.En: In this dynamic place, entrepreneurs rush around, full of hope and dreams of the future.Fr: Les murs en verre brillent, et de grandes fenêtres offrent une vue magnifique sur la tour Eiffel.En: The glass walls gleam, and large windows offer a magnificent view of the tour Eiffel.Fr: Au centre de cette activité intense se trouvent Éloi et Clémence, deux jeunes ambitieux prêts à changer le monde.En: At the center of this intense activity are Éloi and Clémence, two young ambitious individuals ready to change the world.Fr: Éloi est nerveux.En: Éloi is nervous.Fr: Il a une mission importante aujourd'hui.En: He has an important mission today.Fr: Il doit convaincre les investisseurs de la valeur de leur projet technologique écologique.En: He must convince the investors of the value of their ecological technological project.Fr: Avec une passion débordante, il rêve de cet instant.En: With overflowing passion, he dreams of this moment.Fr: À ses côtés, Clémence reste calme et réfléchie.En: Beside him, Clémence remains calm and thoughtful.Fr: Elle est le cerveau technique derrière leur innovation.En: She is the technical brain behind their innovation.Fr: « Courage, Éloi », murmure Clémence, en ajustant ses lunettes.En: “Courage, Éloi,” Clémence murmurs, adjusting her glasses.Fr: « Notre projet est solide. »En: “Our project is solid.”Fr: Dans la salle de présentation, les investisseurs prennent place.En: In the presentation room, the investors take their seats.Fr: Maëlle, une femme connue pour son esprit critique, s'installe au premier rang.En: Maëlle, a woman known for her critical mind, sits in the front row.Fr: Elle a vu de nombreux projets échouer, mais elle est aussi ouverte aux idées de valeur.En: She has seen many projects fail, but she is also open to ideas of value.Fr: Éloi commence son discours.En: Éloi begins his speech.Fr: « Notre technologie vise à réduire les déchets électroniques », déclare-t-il avec enthousiasme.En: “Our technology aims to reduce electronic waste,” he declares with enthusiasm.Fr: Il parle des avantages environnementaux et de l'impact positif sur la société.En: He speaks of the environmental benefits and the positive impact on society.Fr: Mais il remarque rapidement que les investisseurs ont des doutes.En: But he quickly notices that the investors have doubts.Fr: La rentabilité immédiate n'est pas évidente.En: Immediate profitability is not evident.Fr: Sa nervosité augmente.En: His nervousness increases.Fr: Les questions fusent.En: Questions fly.Fr: Quels sont les profits attendus?En: What are the expected profits?Fr: Comment garantir le succès?En: How can success be guaranteed?Fr: Éloi perd presque espoir.En: Éloi almost loses hope.Fr: Mais il se souvient de leur vision.En: But he remembers their vision.Fr: Il décide de jouer la carte de l'avenir.En: He decides to play the card of the future.Fr: Il insiste sur les bénéfices à long terme, espérant toucher une corde sensible chez les investisseurs.En: He insists on long-term benefits, hoping to strike a chord with the investors.Fr: Puis, Clémence intervient.En: Then, Clémence intervenes.Fr: Elle se lève avec confiance.En: She stands with confidence.Fr: « Laissez-moi vous montrer notre prototype », dit-elle, attirant l'attention de tous.En: “Let me show you our prototype,” she says, drawing everyone's attention.Fr: Elle démarre la démonstration.En: She starts the demonstration.Fr: Le prototype fonctionne sans faille.En: The prototype works flawlessly.Fr: Il est innovant, efficace et prometteur.En: It is innovative, efficient, and promising.Fr: Les regards des investisseurs changent.En: The investors' expressions change.Fr: Maëlle, impressionnée, hoche la tête.En: Maëlle, impressed, nods.Fr: Elle reconnaît le potentiel de l'idée.En: She recognizes the potential of the idea.Fr: Elle se tourne vers Éloi et Clémence.En: She turns to Éloi and Clémence.Fr: « Votre projet a du mérite », dit-elle.En: “Your project has merit,” she says.Fr: « Mais nous avons besoin de garanties. »En: “But we need guarantees.”Fr: Maëlle propose une offre conditionnelle.En: Maëlle proposes a conditional offer.Fr: « Prouvez-nous la viabilité de votre technologie dans les six prochains mois, et nous investirons. »En: “Prove to us the viability of your technology in the next six months, and we will invest.”Fr: Éloi est soulagé.En: Éloi is relieved.Fr: Il se tourne vers Clémence, un sourire complice sur les lèvres.En: He turns to Clémence, a knowing smile on his lips.Fr: Il sait qu'ils ont du travail, mais aussi du talent et de la détermination.En: He knows they have work to do, but also talent and determination.Fr: Clémence réalise qu'elle peut briller hors des laboratoires, et Éloi sait maintenant qu'il a la capacité de mener leur projet vers le succès.En: Clémence realizes she can shine outside the laboratories, and Éloi now knows he has the ability to lead their project to success.Fr: L'incubateur de Paris continue de bourdonner, mais pour Éloi et Clémence, c'est le début d'un nouveau chapitre prometteur.En: The incubateur de Paris continues to buzz, but for Éloi and Clémence, it is the beginning of a promising new chapter. Vocabulary Words:the spring: le printempsthe incubator: l'incubateurthe entrepreneur: l'entrepreneurthe glass: le verrethe investor: l'investisseurto gleam: brillermagnificent: magnifiqueto convince: convaincreecological: écologiqueoverflowing: débordantthe demonstration: la démonstrationthe prototype: le prototypeimmediate: immédiatthe profitability: la rentabilitéthe success: le succèsto guarantee: garantirto intervene: intervenirto nod: hocher la têtethe potential: le potentielmerit: le méritethe viability: la viabilitéto invest: investirto relieve: soulagertalent: le talentthe determination: la déterminationto shine: brillerto buzz: bourdonnerdynamic: dynamiquecritical: critiqueto declare: déclarer

Fluent Fiction - French: Healing with Art: A Family's Journey in Montmartre Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/fr/episode/2026-05-17-22-34-01-fr Story Transcript:Fr: Le soleil brillait doucement sur les rues pavées de Montmartre.En: The sun shone softly on the cobbled streets of Montmartre.Fr: L'air était doux, parfumé par les premières fleurs du printemps.En: The air was gentle, scented by the first flowers of spring.Fr: Mais dans le cœur de Lucien, le soleil avait du mal à percer.En: But in Lucien's heart, the sun struggled to break through.Fr: Artiste passionné, père dévoué, il se sentait perdu depuis la mort de sa femme.En: A passionate artist and devoted father, he felt lost since the death of his wife.Fr: Ses deux filles, Chloé et Émilie, luttaient également pour trouver leur équilibre.En: His two daughters, Chloé and Émilie, were also struggling to find their balance.Fr: Lucien marchait avec ses filles le long des rues animées, à la recherche d'un apaisement.En: Lucien walked with his daughters along the bustling streets, searching for solace.Fr: Chloé, 14 ans, traînait derrière avec son cahier de dessin sous le bras.En: Chloé, 14, lagged behind with her sketchbook under her arm.Fr: Sa passion pour la peinture lui donnait un refuge, mais elle se sentait seule dans son chagrin.En: Her passion for painting provided her a refuge, but she felt alone in her grief.Fr: Émilie, la plus jeune, sautillait gaiement de trottoir en trottoir.En: Émilie, the youngest, skipped merrily from sidewalk to sidewalk.Fr: Son énergie était sans fin, mais elle cherchait désespérément l'attention de son père.En: Her energy was endless, but she was desperately seeking her father's attention.Fr: En passant devant le Sacré-Cœur, Lucien décida qu'aujourd'hui serait consacré à sa famille.En: Passing by the Sacré-Cœur, Lucien decided that today would be dedicated to his family.Fr: Il avait pris un jour de congé, décidé à renouer les liens qui semblaient se déchirer.En: He had taken the day off, determined to mend the bonds that seemed to be unraveling.Fr: La place du Tertre, avec ses artistes et ses couleurs vivantes, était l'endroit parfait pour cela.En: The Place du Tertre, with its artists and vibrant colors, was the perfect place for this.Fr: Là, parmi les toiles et les rires, Émilie regardait émerveillée tandis que Chloé jetait des regards intéressés aux tableaux exposés.En: There, amidst the canvases and laughter, Émilie looked on in wonder while Chloé cast interested glances at the paintings on display.Fr: Lucien les fit asseoir à une table d'un café en plein air.En: Lucien sat them down at an outdoor café table.Fr: "Aujourd'hui, nous profitons de chaque instant", leur dit-il avec un sourire, bien décidé à retrouver la chaleur de leur unité.En: "Today, we enjoy every moment," he told them with a smile, resolute in his goal to rediscover the warmth of their unity.Fr: En dégustant des crêpes, une émotion vint troubler Chloé.En: While savoring crêpes, an emotion stirred within Chloé.Fr: Doucement, elle dit : "Maman me manque."En: Softly, she said, "I miss mom."Fr: Lucien, surpris, lui prit tendrement la main.En: Surprised, Lucien gently took her hand.Fr: "À moi aussi, Chloé."En: "I miss her too, Chloé."Fr: Voyant la peine dans les yeux de sa sœur, Émilie s'approcha et dit : "Papa, tu peux m'apprendre à peindre comme toi et Chloé ?"En: Seeing the pain in her sister's eyes, Émilie approached and said, "Papa, can you teach me to paint like you and Chloé?"Fr: Sa curiosité, doublée d'un besoin de se connecter, était palpable.En: Her curiosity, coupled with a need to connect, was palpable.Fr: Lucien rit, le cœur plus léger.En: Lucien laughed, feeling lighter at heart.Fr: "Bien sûr, ma chérie.En: "Of course, my dear.Fr: Nous commencerons dès ce soir."En: We'll start this evening."Fr: Il sentit que le lien qui semblait fragile se renforçait peu à peu.En: He felt the bond that seemed fragile was gradually strengthening.Fr: En rentrant chez eux à la tombée de la nuit, quelque chose avait changé.En: As they returned home at nightfall, something had changed.Fr: Il n'y avait plus cet écran de tristesse entre eux.En: The barrier of sadness between them had lifted.Fr: À la maison, Lucien installa des chevalets pour chacun.En: At home, Lucien set up easels for everyone.Fr: Ils s'adonnèrent à la peinture, laissant les couleurs exprimer leurs émotions.En: They engaged in painting, letting the colors express their emotions.Fr: Ce soir-là, sous les étoiles parisiennes, une nouvelle tradition venait de naître.En: That evening, under the Parisian stars, a new tradition was born.Fr: Chaque soir de semaine, la famille se retrouverait pour peindre ensemble, parlant, riant, guérissant peu à peu les blessures laissées par la perte.En: Every weeknight, the family would gather to paint together, talking, laughing, and gradually healing the wounds left by their loss.Fr: Lucien se sentait plus proche, plus présent pour ses filles, et une nouvelle aventure artistique et familiale commençait.En: Lucien felt closer, more present for his daughters, and a new artistic and familial adventure was beginning.Fr: À Montmartre, à la lumière des lampadaires, une nouvelle harmonie se dessinait dans le cœur de cette famille, et l'art devenait le pont entre leur peine et leur amour retrouvé.En: In Montmartre, under the glow of street lamps, a new harmony was taking shape in the heart of this family, and art became the bridge between their pain and their rediscovered love. Vocabulary Words:the sun: le soleilshone: brillaitcobbled streets: rues pavéesgentle: douxscented: parfuméthe heart: le cœurdevoted: dévouéthe death: la mortbalance: l'équilibrebustling: animéessolace: apaisethe sketchbook: le cahier de dessinrefuge: refugegrief: chagrinthe sidewalk: le trottoirthe attention: l'attentionmend: renouerbonds: les liensunraveling: se déchirerthe canvases: les toileslaughter: les rireswonder: émerveilléeglances: regardsthe café: le caféemotion stirred: émotion vint troublercuriosity: curiositépalpable: palpablelight-hearted: le cœur légereasels: chevaletsengaged: s'adonnèrent

Westerns and Comedy on a FridayFirst, a look at the events of the day.Then, Have Gun Will Travel starring John Dehner, originally broadcast May 15, 1960, 66 years ago, Lena Countryman.  Lena Countryman, a schoolteacher, is going to be killed by Dutch Talbot because she caused the death of his son by trying to teach him to swim. Followed by Gunsmoke starring William Conrad, originally broadcast May 15, 1954, 72 years ago, the Indian Horse.   Obnoxious Lieutenant Flagg wins a horse race against Sy Pilcher, old Howling Dog is another matter, however.Then, The Lux Radio Theater, originally broadcast May 15, 1939, 87 years ago, Tovarich starring William Powell and Miriam Hopkins.   A comedy about two starving Russian emigres who become servants in the home of a wealthy Parisian, and much more. Claudette Colbert and Charles Boyer starred in the 1937 motion picture.  Finally, Fibber McGee and Molly, originally broadcast May 15, 1955, 71 years ago, The McGees Take in a Movie.  Molly's purse has been knocked over the balcony at the Bijou movie house.Thanks to Debbie B. for supporting our podcast by using the Buy Me a Coffee function at http://classicradio.streamCheck out Professor Bees Digestive Aid at profbees.com and use my promo code WYATT to save 10% when you order! If you like what we do here, visit our friend Jay at http://radio.macinmind.com for great old-time radio shows 24 hours a day

Fluent Fiction - French: Parisian Connections: Reigniting Passion Through Art Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/fr/episode/2026-05-15-22-34-01-fr Story Transcript:Fr: Le soleil printanier glissait à travers le toit en verre du Musée d'Orsay.En: The spring sun glided through the glass roof of the Musée d'Orsay.Fr: C'était une journée parfaite pour une visite.En: It was a perfect day for a visit.Fr: L'air était frais, chargé du parfum des fleurs qui renaissaient dans les rues de Paris.En: The air was fresh, filled with the scent of flowers blooming again on the streets of Paris.Fr: Émile se dirigeait vers l'entrée, un léger sentiment d'anxiété l'envahissant en pensant à la foule.En: Émile made his way to the entrance, a slight sense of anxiety creeping in as he thought about the crowd.Fr: Émile, un passionné d'art, espérait retrouver son inspiration perdue ici, au cœur de sa ville préférée.En: Émile, an art enthusiast, hoped to rediscover his lost inspiration here, in the heart of his favorite city.Fr: Mais le monde extérieur lui semblait souvent intimidant.En: But the outside world often seemed intimidating to him.Fr: Aujourd'hui, il voulait changer cela.En: Today, he wanted to change that.Fr: À l'intérieur, le musée bruissait d'excitation.En: Inside, the museum buzzed with excitement.Fr: Les visiteurs étaient impatients de découvrir la nouvelle exposition.En: Visitors were eager to discover the new exhibition.Fr: Émile passa devant une série de chefs-d'œuvre, se laissant guider par sa curiosité.En: Émile passed by a series of masterpieces, letting his curiosity guide him.Fr: Non loin de là, Lucie se tenait devant un tableau.En: Not far away, Lucie stood in front of a painting.Fr: Elle fixait la toile, pleine de doutes sur son propre travail de peintre.En: She stared at the canvas, full of doubts about her own work as a painter.Fr: Marcel, un ancien ami et critique d'art célèbre, devait aussi être là aujourd'hui.En: Marcel, a former friend and famous art critic, was also supposed to be there today.Fr: Elle redoutait son verdict sur ses créations récentes.En: She dreaded his verdict on her recent creations.Fr: Émile s'approcha du tableau qui avait captivé Lucie.En: Émile approached the painting that had captivated Lucie.Fr: "C'est beau, n'est-ce pas ?"En: "It's beautiful, isn't it?"Fr: demanda-t-il timidement.En: he asked timidly.Fr: Surpris par cette question sincère, Lucie sourit doucement.En: Surprised by this sincere question, Lucie smiled softly.Fr: "Oui, ça l'est", répondit-elle.En: "Yes, it is," she replied.Fr: "Cela me rappelle une époque où je peignais sans peur."En: "It reminds me of a time when I painted without fear."Fr: Leurs regards se croisèrent, une connexion naissait.En: Their eyes met, a connection forming.Fr: Ils partagèrent leurs impressions sur le tableau, échangeant des pensées sur les couleurs et les formes.En: They shared their impressions on the painting, exchanging thoughts on the colors and shapes.Fr: Pour un instant, le monde extérieur disparut.En: For a moment, the outside world disappeared.Fr: Alors que leur conversation s'approfondissait, Marcel arriva.En: As their conversation deepened, Marcel arrived.Fr: Avec un air critique, il observa le tableau.En: With a critical air, he observed the painting.Fr: Mais Émile, avec une couche de douceur dans sa voix, répondit avec optimisme à ses remarques pointues.En: But Émile, with a layer of softness in his voice, responded optimistically to his sharp remarks.Fr: Il parlait de la beauté que chaque œuvre pouvait révéler à ceux qui prenaient le temps de la voir.En: He spoke of the beauty that each work could reveal to those who took the time to see it.Fr: Les paroles d'Émile touchaient Lucie.En: Émile's words touched Lucie.Fr: Elle sentit son cœur s'alléger.En: She felt her heart lighten.Fr: Peut-être que son art avait vraiment de la valeur, au-delà des critiques.En: Perhaps her art truly had value, beyond the critiques.Fr: Quand la visite se termina, Émile et Lucie sortirent ensemble du musée.En: When the visit ended, Émile and Lucie left the museum together.Fr: Le long de la Seine, ils discutèrent de leur passion pour l'art et la vie.En: Along the Seine, they discussed their passion for art and life.Fr: Émile était plus ouvert, inspiré par leurs échanges.En: Émile was more open, inspired by their exchanges.Fr: Lucie, elle, avait retrouvé confiance en sa peinture.En: Lucie, on the other hand, had regained confidence in her painting.Fr: Ils décidèrent de se revoir, d'explorer d'autres galeries et de partager davantage.En: They decided to meet again, to explore other galleries and share more.Fr: Émile avait redécouvert un monde plein de couleurs et de sensations qu'il avait oublié.En: Émile had rediscovered a world full of colors and sensations he had forgotten.Fr: Lucie, elle, savait désormais que son talent était réel et méritait d'être partagé.En: Lucie now knew that her talent was real and deserved to be shared.Fr: Sous le ciel de Paris, deux âmes s'épanouirent, ensemble, prêtes à embrasser de nouveaux horizons.En: Under the Paris sky, two souls blossomed, together, ready to embrace new horizons. Vocabulary Words:the spring: le printempsthe glass: le verrethe anxiety: l'anxiététhe heart: le cœurthe crowd: la foulethe painting: le tableauthe masterpiece: le chef-d'œuvreto bloom: renaîtrethe verdict: le verdictthe scent: le parfumthe canvas: la toilethe inspiration: l'inspirationthe fear: la peurthe critic: le critiquethe connection: la connexionto vanish: disparaîtreto deepen: s'approfondirthe talent: le talentto explore: explorercaptivated: captivéto rediscover: redécouvrirenthusiast: passionnéblossomed: s'épanouirto glide: glisserthe roof: le toitthe layer: la couchethe exhibition: l'expositionto intimidate: intimiderthe excitement: l'excitationoptimistically: avec optimisme

✈️ In this episode of Vanilla Swingers — Apple's #1 ranked swinger podcast — we're finally back from Europe… and let's just say, Katlandia XXX World Tour did not disappoint.

From the beginning, the Hermes Family knew they were in the craftsmen business. Making products that last for generations. Dave Young: Welcome to the Empire Builders Podcast, teaching business owners the not-so-secret techniques that took famous businesses from mom-and-pop to major brands. Stephen Semple is a marketing consultant, story collector, and storyteller. I’m Stephen’s sidekick and business partner, Dave Young. Before we get into today’s episode, a word from our sponsor, which is, well, it’s us, but we’re highlighting ads we’ve written and produced for our clients. So here’s one of those. [Wagmore Garage Doors Ad] Dave Young: Welcome back to the Empire Builders Podcast. Dave Young here, along with Stephen Semple. And Stephen, just before he whispered the topic in, this tells you what Stephen thinks about me. He said, “Yeah. I’ll tell you this one, but I don’t think you’re going to know about it because it’s a really high-end fashion.” Yeah. Stephen Semple: It’s not exactly what I said. Dave Young: Not … Well, I’m telling the truth in a more powerful way. And as we call them in Nebraska, Hermès, but it’s Hermès. Say it for me. Stephen Semple: I think it’s Hermès because it’s French. Dave Young: Hermès? Hermès? Stephen Semple: Yeah. Dave Young: Is the H pronounced at the beginning or not? I don’t know. Stephen Semple: I think it would be very soft. Dave Young: Scarves and things like that, that’s all I know. Stephen Semple: Well, the big thing they’re known for is handbags. Dave Young: Things I don’t own is what they’re known for. Stephen Semple: Correct. Dave Young: And I will admit you were absolutely right to think that I probably don’t know a whole lot about these people or this brand. Stephen Semple: The more I looked into this company, the more interested I got on it because I got fascinated by some of the history. Dave Young: I got to share with you just how much I don’t know about them. You see this shirt I’m wearing as we record? Stephen Semple: Yes. Dave Young: This is from the fishing department at Walmart. Not the men’s clothing section. Fishing. And I- Stephen Semple: And, Dave- Dave Young: Here’s the other thing. Stephen Semple: Dave, you don’t fish, dude. Dave Young: I don’t fish. No, I don’t. I don’t fish at all. I stumbled across these shirts one time. I’m like, “I love these shirts.” But yeah, anyway, they’re not Hermès. Stephen Semple: So this is a really interesting company. It was founded in 1837 by Thierry Hermès. And he’s a German-born craftsman. And the company started in Paris. Now, what makes it super rare is here we are, close to 190 years later, and it’s still primarily owned by direct descendants of Thierry. Dave Young: Wow. Stephen Semple: There you go, Dave. Dave Young: Okay. That’s pretty cool. That’s a family business. Stephen Semple: That’s interesting on its own, isn’t it? Dave Young: Mm-hmm. Stephen Semple: So the family owns somewhere between 65 and 70% of the business, and is publicly traded at around a valuation of about $200 billion. Dave Young: That’s a lot of billion. Stephen Semple: That’s a couple of billion, isn’t it? Dave Young: Yeah. Wow. Okay. Stephen Semple: They only have like 70% of that 200 billion, so … Dave Young: Oh. Well, just downgraded their jet. Stephen Semple: Yeah. That’s it. So in 2010, the luxury giant LVMH tried to take the company over, and the family blocked it. There was a time where they tried to take over. And the CEO, Axel Dumas, is a sixth generation member of the Hermès family. So today, they have 300 stores. They do 14 billion EU, which is about 16 billion US in sales, which means they sell $50 million per store. Dave Young: I was going to say that’s not very many stores. Stephen Semple: No. And put in perspective, Gucci does about 25 million. Prada does half of that. Tiffany’s does about 15 million per store. $50 million per store. Dave Young: It’s got to be a front for something else. Stephen Semple: Now, their big product, so we talked about … Is this handbag called the Birkin bag. And the Birkin bag sells for anywhere from $10,000 to $100,000 per bag. Dave Young: Get out of town. Stephen Semple: Yeah. And often sells for more- Dave Young: Is it bottomless? Can you crawl into it? Stephen Semple: Seemingly, it’s a pretty big bag. I personally- Dave Young: Will it transport you to other dimensions? Stephen Semple: I personally have never known anybody who’s had one, so I can’t really comment. Dave Young: No. No. I just want to touch one. Stephen Semple: And here’s the other crazy thing, is they often sell for more on the secondary market. Dave Young: Sure. Stephen Semple: Yeah. Dave Young: Why not? Stephen Semple: They’re super- Dave Young: Because they only make a couple of them, or enough to sell. Stephen Semple: They’re super scarce. You cannot walk into a store and buy one. There’s a waiting list. Dave Young: Wow. Okay. Stephen Semple: Even celebrities, doesn’t matter who you are, have to get on the waiting list. They’ve really leaned into this whole idea of scarcity. Dave Young: Yeah. Stephen Semple: They’ve really leaned into it. Dave Young: How many billion dollars worth of scarcity? Stephen Semple: Oh, in terms of their sales? Dave Young: 300 stores. And how much per store? Stephen Semple: Well, 50 million a store. Dave Young: It doesn’t feel like scarcity, but when the handbags are 10,000 and up … Wow. Stephen Semple: And to this day, the leather bags use the original hand saddle stitching. Every bag is made by one person, beginning to end, handcrafted. Their scarves, which are also really known for, are hand screen printed. The edges are all hand rolled. And the CEO personally signs off on every product. Dave Young: All right. Stephen Semple: So there is this real high level of craftsmanship with it. So Thierry was born in 1801 in Krefeld, Germany. And at the time, that part of Germany was under the control of Bonaparte, which made him a French citizen. So that’s why though he was German-born, French citizen. Dave Young: Oh. Okay. Stephen Semple: And the town was known for textiles and was considered the city of velvet and silk. And in 1821, most of his family had died of famine and disease due to the war. So he moved to Normandy, where he learned the art of saddle and harness making under the Palmieri family. 1828, he married. And in 1837, he moved to Paris and opened an equestrian supply store. I’m going to butcher this. Dave Young: Of course you are. Stephen Semple: Rue Basse-du-Rempart. Dave Young: You said it perfectly. Stephen Semple: Okay. There we go. There, he made bridals, harnesses, carriage fittings using leather and wrought iron, right? And he became famous for a particularly strong saddle stitch that basically uses this opposite stitching. If one of the stitches broke, the other held. Dave Young: Now, here’s what I know about horses in Paris. Stephen Semple: Okay. Dave Young: Ain’t no cowboys over there. So again, this is the rich folk doing equestrian things and pulling carriages. Stephen Semple: That’s it. It was a mode of transportation. Dave Young: Yeah. The average folk are walking around the streets of Paris. Stephen Semple: Correct. Correct. It was the nobility who had horses and carriages. Now, that original stitch is still the stitch that’s being used today. Dave Young: Hey, if it works. Stephen Semple: Yeah. So this stitch is important to the history because to your point, horses and carriages were a mode of transportation. And, look, the roads were rough. Transportation was rough. So durability was really important. And his skill attracted the nobility. People like Eugénie, the wife of Napoleon III. So Thierry went on to win several medals for this design and his work. And he became known because his stitching did not break, the leather aged beautifully, and the workmanship was flawless under stress. So he died in 1878. And his son, Charles-Émile, took over. And like his dad, he was dedicated to this quality. The business expanded. They started creating more products, including these really large bags that could actually carry a saddle and the boots, right? Because- Dave Young: Wow. Okay. That is a big bag. Stephen Semple: Right? Because if you had a horse and you’re showing up, you take the saddle, you take the boots off, right? Dave Young: Yeah. Yeah. Stephen Semple: And it’s really considered the forerunner to this big handbag that they make today. So you’re asking, “Is it big?” It’s a big handbag. So the business growing. Dave Young: Everything but the horse. Stephen Semple: Yeah. Everything but the horse. That’s it. So the business is growing. The prestige is growing. They’re making these products for the horse and carriage industry. Then Charles travels to Canada. Dave Young: Oh. Okay. Stephen Semple: Okay. And he comes across this unique fastening system that’s being used for the canvas roof of the convertible Cadillac. It was a zipper. Dave Young: Oh. Yeah. The zipper. Uh-huh. Stephen Semple: So he took the idea back to France, and he applied for a patent to use the idea, and thus was born the Hermès fastener. It was innovative at the time. Dave Young: Okay. Stephen Semple: By the end- Dave Young: But it was a zipper? Stephen Semple: It’s a zipper. Dave Young: Okay. Stephen Semple: But it’s not a zipper. It’s the Hermès fastener. Dave Young: It’s the Hermès fastener. Yes. Get it right. Stephen Semple: Yeah. So by the end of World War II … This is another important part in terms of innovation because think about how many businesses that served the carriage trade that died. Dave Young: Well, sure. Yeah. Stephen Semple: Right? Dave Young: Because once we started all using cars and … I’m also thinking, man, this German-owned business in Paris in World War II, that’s got to be a tricky road to- Stephen Semple: Well, we’re not at World War II yet. End of World War I. Dave Young: Okay. Into World War- Stephen Semple: Into World War I. Dave Young: Oh, yeah. Okay. Kind of the same. Stephen Semple: He realizes that the car is going to take off. He notices the car. But what he also realizes, it’s a faster form of transportation. So it requires stronger materials and better fasteners because remember, the early cars didn’t have trunks that you put things in. You put a trunk on the back of the car and attached it all with fasteners. Dave Young: Right. So you need a trunk that could withstand being outdoors while a car drives it around. Stephen Semple: Correct. They did a collaboration with Bugatti where Bugatti commissioned a yellow trunk and yellow cowhide to match the first Bugatti Royale. Dave Young: Wow. Okay. Stephen Semple: Right. So this is a interesting thing. They did not change their business for the car. They refocused it. Dave Young: Stay tuned. We’re going to wrap up this story and tell you how to apply this lesson to your business right after this. [Using Stories To Sell] Dave Young: Let’s pick up our story where we left off. And trust me, you haven’t missed a thing. Stephen Semple: So this is a interesting thing. They did not change their business for the car. They refocused it. They leaned into the things they were already good at. And I think this is important because how many companies, again, were unable to pivot to the automobile business? Dave Young: I think of all the things in a car. Yeah. Eventually, we figured out we could actually put a trunk in the car instead of- Stephen Semple: Eventually. Dave Young: … carrying it on top. But you’ve also got all the upholstery, maybe the dashboard, maybe the steering wheel that would be wrapped in leather and need some fine stitching. So there’s lots of things that you could still do that show off your skill and your dedication to this kind of quality. Stephen Semple: Right. They didn’t ask, “What do we need to do differently?” They asked, “Where does their craftsmanship still matter?” Dave Young: Yeah. Stephen Semple: That’s the question they asked. Where does our craftsmanship still matter? Dave Young: And they realized that’s the business they were in, was craftsmanship and making things well. Stephen Semple: This is an important distinction to keep in mind that comes later. So 1922, they added their first handbag basically when Émile’s wife, she was like, “I’d like a scaled down version of this thing that you put boots and saddles in.” Dave Young: Don’t really need to carry my boots, but … Stephen Semple: But travel was also expanding at this time, so the handbags started becoming a needed accessory. 1950s, they added their orange box. So they took probably … And I’m going to guess they probably took inspiration from Tiffany’s Blue Box, and they created this orange box. Now, here’s an important part of the company’s history. It’s 1978. And Jean-Louis Dumas, the great-great-great-grandson of Thierry has taken over the company. And the company was stagnating. They still had loyal customers, but not enough of them. And here’s the advice that was given to them by investment bankers. Cut production costs by outsourcing production. Dave Young: Of course that’s the advice that was given to them by investment bankers. Stephen Semple: How many times we heard that advice? Dave Young: Yeah. Stephen Semple: But what was their DNA? Craftsmanship. Dave Young: Yeah. Stephen Semple: And, look, everybody will say, “Oh, you can outsource it, and you’ll still have the same quality.” He knew that to not to be true. He knew he would never be able to maintain quality the moment he did that. So how many companies would have resisted this? I don’t know of any others. I’m sure there’s others. But that was a big moment. And he said, “No, we’re not doing that.” Instead, what he decided to do was something that they rarely did, advertise. Dave Young: Yeah. Okay. Stephen Semple: But here’s what they did. They decide to advertise something different. It’s 1979. And they launched this campaign showing edgy, young … Remember, ’79. Edgy, young Parisian women wearing silk Hermès scarves, not in haute couture, wearing jeans. Dave Young: Yeah. There you go. Stephen Semple: Fits, but doesn’t fit. Picked a scarf. Expensive, but pretty much anybody could purchase. And all of a sudden, this accessory that made the jeans and everything look awesome. Where did you get that scarf? Dave Young: You could dress down, but people would still know. Stephen Semple: Bingo. Dave Young: I also think … I don’t know if this had a part in it or not, but that’s the era of Robin Leach’s Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous. Stephen Semple: Right. There you go. Dave Young: And so people had a fascination with this kind of thing there because of that show, right? That was always an interesting one to watch and to make fun of Robin Lynch, Leach, Robin Leach. Stephen Semple: Yeah. Leach. Yeah. So here’s the thing you could do. You could put on your jeans, you could put on a nice shirt, you could put on that scarf, and you’re looking like a Parisian model. They sold a crap ton of the scarfs. What they also knew is selling the scarves, people are now in their store, they’re going to see other things. Dave Young: Yeah. They’re going to start to want that bag. Stephen Semple: The advertising campaign was shocking. Dave Young: Really? Stephen Semple: Because it was just … Well, it was never done before. It was never this super high-end fashion going there. They were the first to do it. It was shocking, but changed the trajectory of the company. We could do a whole episode just on the scarves and the history of the handbags in terms of the things that they did for promoting it. But what I loved was he looked at it and he said, “There’s another option other than dropping production costs. What we need to do is we need to find new customers. How are we going to find new customers? We’re going to find new customers by reaching down, but we’re not going to reach down by making our products cheaper. We’re going to reach down by finding a product that if somebody really wants, they … Sure, $300, $400 scarf is crazy expensive, but can buy. And we’re going to make it glamorous. And, look, if we sell a whole pile of those scarves, we’re doing well.” Dave Young: So I may be wrong on this, but here’s what my Spidey-sense tells me. Who stole the idea of the DNA of the Hermès ads in the ’70s to repeat that thing where it’s, “We can make this expensive product desirable. And everybody will want it”? Stephen Semple: Ralph Lauren. Dave Young: Now I’m thinking iPods. Stephen Semple: Except he’s not expensive. Dave Young: I’m thinking iPod. The iPod. Stephen Semple: iPods. Interesting. Interesting. Dave Young: Thousand songs in your pocket. And the ads were sort of this every person with the white cord and the AirPods. Stephen Semple: Interesting. Interesting. Dave Young: But that’s the same notion, right? Stephen Semple: It is the same notion. Dave Young: This is the one little expensive thing that you can have and just make your life better. Stephen Semple: Yeah. Dave Young: Yeah. Stephen Semple: Well, it’s that whole idea of an indulgence. Dave Young: Mm-hmm. Absolutely. Stephen Semple: Right? This is an indulgence. I can go and I can treat myself. I will feel better. It’s special. It’s all these other things. And it’s that moment where you’re sort of like … It’s that whole idea of it’s an indulgence. And they figured out how to stay true to what they do. They still make the super expensive stuff, but were able to reach down into more mainstream, which is where you need to be in order to be successful long term. Dave Young: Yeah. You just want the people to really want the one thing. This is a great story. And now I’m wondering what color of Hermès cravat would go well with my Walmart fishing shirt. But here’s the problem. Here’s the problem. Stephen Semple: There’s so many problems. Dave Young: No. No. Well, I don’t even know where one of their stores is. So that’s probably by design. They don’t want me to know where one of their stores is. Stephen Semple: Where they will be- Dave Young: I’d wander around and touch things. Stephen Semple: Yeah. Where they would be would be in, again, the really super high-end malls [inaudible 00:18:49]. Dave Young: If you find a Tiffany store, you’ve found the Hermès store. Stephen Semple: You have. You have. But it’s funny because anytime I’ve known about the company, I’ve never really researched it because it was not- Dave Young: I’ve seen the name before. I’ve seen the name. Wondered how you pronounced it until fairly recently. Yeah. Stephen Semple: And seen the name, know about it. Then I came across a few things. And then literally how I got interested in it, I was researching Tiffany’s, and there was a little book on Tiffany’s that had some information in it that I thought I could use for the Tiffany’s episode. I bought the book, and Amazon said, “Those who have bought that book have also bought-“ Dave Young: Also like. Yeah. Hermès. Stephen Semple: “… this book.” Right? So I was like, “Oh, what the heck? Let’s add that to the cart.” Dave Young: Yeah. There you go. Stephen Semple: So I added it to the cart. And then I started reading through it, and I was like, “Wow. This is actually a really interesting company.” Dave Young: Very cool. Stephen Semple: Yeah. So I sort of stumbled across it kind of by accident. Dave Young: What’s the scarf cost? It’s got to be less than the leather bag. Stephen Semple: Oh, yes. Dave Young: Yeah. Stephen Semple: Yeah. Dave Young: So … Stephen Semple: I’m going to guess they’re three, $400. Dave Young: Okay. I’m just saying for the guys out there, this is one of those sleeper gifts, right? Get her a scarf from Hermès. Stephen Semple: I just Googled it. Canadian. They run from $500 to 750 bucks. Dave Young: Yeah. Yeah. I’m not saying do that instead of jewelry or something, but that’s a nice one you didn’t think of. Stephen Semple: It’s a special thing. Dave Young: Yeah. And she’s going to know more about it than you probably. Stephen Semple: And I remember doing the research on it. I was looking at them. They are beautiful and they’re all hand rolled and they are actually pretty spectacular. Dave Young: Awesome. All right. Hermès. Hermès. Hermès. Hermès. Hermès. Stephen Semple: Let’s go with Hermès. That sounds great. Dave Young: Hermès. Yeah. Stephen Semple: Hermès. Dave Young: It doesn’t sound quite as- Stephen Semple: I actually think if we’re probably going to … I think if we’re going to really do it correctly, it’s Hermès, I bet you. It’s just like … That H is just like- Dave Young: Hermès. Hermès is a diner somewhere, but- Stephen Semple: Just poking it. Dave Young: Hermès. Thank you for bringing us the Hermès story to the Empire Builders Podcast, Stephen. Stephen Semple: All right. Thanks, David. Dave Young: Thanks for listening to the podcast. Please share us. Subscribe on your favorite podcast app and leave us a big, fat, juicy five-star rating and review at Apple Podcasts. And if you’d like to schedule your own 90-minute empire building session, you can do it at empirebuildingprogram.com.

Welcome back to "The 20 Kingdoms", a new season of The Earful Tower podcast. As you probably know, there are 20 districts in Paris, known as arrondissements. They may as well be kingdoms, at least for this podcast season, where I'll visit each kingdom and introduce you to someone who truly loves it. That's the whole concept. This isn't me recommending cafes or restaurants in different parts of town. This is true locals telling us about the soul of their kingdom and what they like to do there. The goal is to give you a very real look at each of these districts from a local's perspective.  And for the 19th Kingdom, the second episode of the season, you'll meet Ben McPartland, the presenter and producer of the Talking France podcast, which is made by The Local France news website here in Paris.  He loves this "genuine neighbourhood" of an arrondissement, and I met him at the edge of the Bassin de la Villette for a pint of beer, which he also loves. Here's what he had to say. Mentioned in this episode: Drinks, Food & Canal Hangouts Paname Brewing Company A floating brewery on the Bassin de la Villette with an easygoing, almost London-style pub atmosphere. Great beers, lively crowds, and one of the best sunset views over the canal. 41 Quai de la Loire, 75019 panamebrewingcompany.com L'Atalante Just up the Canal de l'Ourcq from Paname Brewing, this spot is known for its strong craft beer selection and excellent IPAs. 26 Quai de la Marne, 75019 latalante-paris.com La Rotonde Historic circular building at Stalingrad with restaurants, terraces, and drinks right on the edge of the canal basin. Ideal meeting point before exploring the neighborhood. 6–8 Place de la Bataille de Stalingrad, 75019 Bars Inside Buttes-Chaumont In summer, the park fills with tiny outdoor bars and terraces tucked among the hills and pathways — perfect for an afternoon drink after wandering the park. Music, Film & Culture Philharmonie de Paris One of Paris's great modern concert halls, famous for its dramatic silver architecture and panoramic rooftop terrace overlooking the city. 221 Avenue Jean Jaurès, 75019 philharmoniedeparis.fr Le Zénith Large live music venue inside Parc de la Villette hosting major touring artists and rock concerts. 211 Avenue Jean Jaurès, 75019 le-zenith.com MK2 Cinemas Twin cinemas facing each other across the canal. A favorite local spot for late-night screenings and films in original English versions. 7 Quai de la Loire & 14 Quai de la Seine, 75019 mk2.com Cité des Sciences et de l'Industrie Massive science and industry museum loved by Parisian families, with exhibitions, immersive installations, and huge open spaces. 30 Avenue Corentin Cariou, 75019 cite-sciences.fr On the Water Marin d'Eau Douce Rent small electric boats and cruise the Canal de l'Ourcq yourself — especially beautiful from spring through early autumn. 37 Quai de la Seine, 75019 marindeaudouce.fr Kayaks & Rowboats Locals can often access free kayaking and rowing sessions around the Bassin de la Villette on weekends during warmer months. Summer Canal Swimming Every summer, sections of the Bassin de la Villette transform into open-air swimming areas, with races, floating pools, and seasonal events. Parks & Walks Parc des Buttes-Chaumont Wild, cinematic, and hilly — often called the most beautiful park in Paris. Expect cliffs, bridges, waterfalls, a lake, and incredible Sacré-Cœur views. Parc de la Villette Huge contemporary park blending architecture, green space, music venues, museums, and canal life into one sprawling cultural district. **************** This episode brought to you by The Earful Tower Tours. Come join us in the Marais, Montmartre, or the Latin Quarter. Our Walking Tours are exceptionally highly rated online and are the best way to experience this podcast in real life. The Earful Tower exists thanks to support from its members. For just $10 a month you can unlock almost endless extras including bonus podcast episodes, live video replays, special event invites, and our annually updated PDF guide to Paris.  Membership takes only a minute to set up on Patreon, or Substack. Thank you for keeping this channel independent.  For more from the Earful Tower, here are some handy links: Website  Weekly newsletter  Walking Tours Music: Pres Maxson 

Socrates. Aristotle. Duchamp. Ben Bankas. Join Spencer, Ty, Andy, and guest Charles Austin of the Episode One podcast as they discuss the great thinkers, poets, and artists of their time in a consortium of learned intellectuals. Just what we need to combat this wave of anti-intellectualism, eh? Support us on Patreon for $5, $7, or $10: www.patreon.com/tgofv. TGOFV Theme by World Record Pace. A big shout-out to our $10/month patrons: Celeste, Yung Zoe, Dane Stephen, Weedworf, James Lloyd-Jones, Sam Thomas, Josh O'Brien, Kilo, David, Sam, T, Rach, Tomix, Adam W, L M, Revidicism, Jennifer Knowles, Jeremy-Alice, Louis Ceresa, Charles Doyle, Dean, Axon, Themandme, Raouldyke, Stephen Tucker, Lawrence, Rebecca Kimpel, Malek Douglas, Jacon Sauber-Cavazos, Bernventers, William Copping, NewmansOwn, Heather-Pleather, Bunknown, Dinosarden, Bedi, Francis Wolf, King Krang, Anthony C, ASDF, Buffoonworld, Bavbiff, D Love, and Tugboat!

Screenshot marks the 25th anniversary of the whimsical romantic comedy about a shy Parisian waitress trying very hard to improve the lives of those around her. Why does Jean-Pierre Jeunet's film continue to enchant audiences a quarter of a century on? And how did Amélie embody the ‘Manic Pixie Dream Girl'?Mark speaks to the director himself, Jean-Pierre Jeunet, to explore the films legacy and revisit how it was received at the time.Ellen talks to comedian Susan Wokoma and film critic Hannah Strong on how the film embodied the twee era and indie film-making and whether Amélie was ever a manic pixie dream girl.Producer: Mae-Li Evans A Prospect Street production for BBC Radio 4

We're often told that the American style of parenting is inferior—that we're doing it all wrong compared to, say, a laissez-faire Parisian whose kids eat whatever is served. But is it our too intense/ too lax/ too snack-heavy parenting style that is making us (and our kids) so stressed? Or is it where we're doing that parenting? In this episode, we explore the forces shaping parenting in America today, and the ways in which other countries offer parents more support. From the pressure to “do it all” to the lack of community support, we examine how our American struggles may be rooted in American ideals. There's no doubt cultural expectations can shape our parenting decisions, leading to the "intensive parenting" that's so easy for others to criticize. But there's plenty about our circumstances as American parents that makes things harder. Our friend Janelle Hanchett (whose writing inspired this episode) was exactly right when she wrote: "As much as we may in the US give lip-service to universal healthcare, parental leave, labor rights, and childcare subsidies as key tenets of good parenting, just below these assertions is the implication that if American parents simply tried harder, they would not be so stressed and they would parent better. The narrative bombards American parents relentlessly: Others do it better because they are culturally superior. They are not better people. They live in societies with better policies." Here are links to some of the resources mentioned in the episode: Jannelle Hanchett on Substack: They aren't better parents because they're culturally superior Claire Cain Miller for the NYT: Today's Parents: ‘Exhausted, Burned Out and Perpetually Behind' Reddit/attachmentparenting: Thoughts on “Bringing Up Bébé” book? Kate Cray for The Atlantic: Parenting in America Keeps Getting More Intensive Kate Juilan for The Atlantic: What Happened to American Childhood? Joe Pinsker for The Atlantic: ‘Intensive' Parenting Is Now the Norm in America Patrick Ishizuka for Social Forces journal: Social Class, Gender, and Contemporary Parenting Standards in the United States: Evidence from a National Survey Experiment Yu-Chin Her for Population Research and Policy Review: Having Fun or Having Kids? Leisure Aspirations and Attitudes Toward Parenthood in Europe Susan Kelley for The Cornell Chronicle: Hands-on, intensive parenting is best, most parents say What Fresh Hell is co-hosted by Amy Wilson and Margaret Ables. We love the sponsors that make this show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on our website: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.whatfreshhellpodcast.com/p/promo-codes/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

He changed everything...without a clue on what can of worms he was going to open. Steven Spurrier, the architect of the Judgement of Paris, checked in with Wine Talks to tell his and it's story. He passed only weeks after. Stephen Spurrier was never just a spectator in the world of wine—he was the host who re-sorted the guest list, rewrote the rules, and decanted a whole new future for California and beyond. In this episode of Wine Talks, you'll hear firsthand how one Englishman's curiosity and courage upended centuries of French dominance and invited America to the table. Spurrier's journey, as recounted to Paul K, is laced with wit and candor: from his early days as an "independent younger brother" joining the London wine scene, to his adventurous leap to Paris where he found not only love, but the seeds of a movement that would blossom into the historic Judgment of Paris. Each anecdote bubbles over with the energy of a man unafraid to say "why not?" and willing to challenge everything for the sheer joy of discovery. A glass in hand, you'll travel alongside Spurrier as he navigates the peculiarities and prejudices of Parisian wine culture, reinvents himself as a merchant and educator, and eventually pulls off a tasting so legendary that its aftershocks are still felt today. Revelations abound—not just about the logistics and emotions behind May 24, 1976, but about the characters, the stakes, and the unintended consequences for both the icons of Bordeaux and the upstart producers of Napa Valley. As the story unfolds, you'll hear how a spirit of risk, trust in communication, and a belief in honest storytelling led to a blind tasting that didn't just surprise critics, but also rebalanced the global map of wine quality and perception. But this episode uncorks far more than history—it invites you into the ongoing debate about wine's future. With Spurrier's trademark blend of reverence and irreverence, you'll learn why wine, at its best, is more about friendship, education, and shared narrative than points, packaging, or trends. Whether you're a cork purist, a screwcap convert, or an adventurer intrigued by ancient vineyards in Armenia, Spurrier reminds us that wine's deepest magic is—and will always be—in the stories we sip and share together. Here are five things you'll discover with a swirl of your glass:

Est-ce que les Parisiens prennent encore le temps de flâner? Et les touristes?  Cet épisode répond à cette question : je vous raconte une promenade imprévue avec ma fille Lisa, pendant laquelle nous avons croisé des touristes.  Nous avions prévu de goûter les produits d'une pâtisserie près des Halles, c'était notre point de départ.  Cet épisode est l'occasion d'être un peu à Paris, avec Lisa et moi, par une fin d'après-midi printanière.  Dans cet épisode, vous trouverez une série de petites scènes avec du vocabulaire du quotidien utile et pratique (qu'on utilise sans y penser), des échanges courts et naturels avec ma fille Lisa sont retranscrits, le tout dans un registre ni trop soutenu, ni familier.  Vous pouvez compléter l'expérience grâce aux lettres qui accompagnent le podcast en vous abonnant sur www.onethinginafrenchday.com French podcast • learn French through daily Parisian life • spoken French • authentic French • paris stories • french daily life • real french • life in paris • french stories • flâner à Paris • Palais-Royal • colonnes de Buren • Café Kitsuné

How did a widowed mother transform loss, politics and misogyny into one of the most accomplished literary careers in medieval history?From the Parisian court to contemporaneously telling the story of Joan of Arc, Christine de Pizan was Europe's first professional woman writer and publisher. Matt Lewis is joined by Katherine Pangonis to explore her extraordinary life and uncover the story of one of history's most formidable writers.MORETrial of Joan of ArcListen on AppleListen on SpotifyJulian of NorwichListen on AppleListen on SpotifyGone Medieval is presented by Matt Lewis. Audio editor is Amy Haddow, the producer is Rob Weinberg. 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.

Let's take a deeper dive into the 20th arrondissement of Paris. This is an updated re-release of the time we visited the 20th arrondissement as part of our Paris Countdown season.  You'll hear dinnertime singalongs, a cemetery visit, and more about the best pizza in Europe. There is even an interview with a Polish singer called Gosia who had just finished leading an Edith Piaf show at a local restaurant. (She sings on the episode, too, her fave Edith song, which was J'm'en fous pas mal). You can find everything we mention on this post:  This episode brought to you by The Earful Tower Tours. Come join us in the Marais, Montmartre, or the Latin Quarter. Our Walking Tours are exceptionally highly rated online and are the best way to experience this podcast in real life. The Earful Tower exists thanks to support from its members. For just $10 a month you can unlock almost endless extras including bonus podcast episodes, live video replays, special event invites, and our annually updated PDF guide to Paris.  Membership takes only a minute to set up on Patreon, or Substack. Thank you for keeping this channel independent.  For more from the Earful Tower, here are some handy links: Website  Weekly newsletter  Walking Tours If you're in a rush, here is a narrative distillation of the episode (meaning, essentially, that you're reading about 10 percent of what happens).  Oliver: Let me take you back to December 19th, 1915, in Paris, where a baby girl named Edith Piaf was born on the cold streets of Belleville. She became the soul of Paris and, more specifically, the soul of the district we are sharing with you today in the far east of the city. To get there, we are taking a car, and I'm joined by my wife and confidant, Lina,. Lina: Yes, I am ready. Welcome to a new season. Oliver: I'm very excited. I've described my role this season as the Robin to your Batman. Lina: And usually, I am the Batman, of course. Oliver: We want to give everyone a glimpse into this interesting neighborhood where Edith Piaf served as the muse,. Upon arrival in Belleville, we stayed at the Babel Belleville hotel. It was immediately clear that this is a different version of Paris than the one people expect with berets and the Eiffel Tower. Lina: Especially since we arrived on market day. Oliver: The market was busy, bustling, and colorful, with more people than I've ever seen in a Paris market. We were in full tourist mode, talking to street sellers and eating what seemed like an Algerian Korean crepe,. The area is very diverse and immersive,. We also noticed that as time passed, there were far fewer tourists than in areas like the Marais. Lina: The shops aren't catered to tourists either; many were residential or even closed down,. It's a real, unpolished neighborhood. Oliver: Our plan was to explore for the day and then attend a show at Le Vieux Belleville. The 20th is a large district, so we did a lot of walking. We set our sights on Peppe's Pizza, which is ranked the best pizza in Europe. On the way, we passed the Père Lachaise Cemetery, which is essentially the only major tourist attraction in the district. Lina: I used to live in the 20th and had visited the cemetery a few times years ago, but it is just so big. Oliver: No one should miss it because entering those gates feels like entering a different world. However, it is not wheelchair or push-chair friendly due to the huge cobblestones,. While the most famous grave is often cited as Jim Morrison, I went looking for the ultimate hit: Edith Piaf,. Her grave is somewhat unassuming, much like her famous little black dress. After the cemetery, we finally had that pizza, which lived up to the hype with its unique toppings like cheese and marmalade,. Lina: It was delicious. Oliver: Next, we looked for La Campagne à Paris, the "countryside of Paris". It's a remote area with cottage-style houses built on top of old quarries, which is why the buildings are so low,. Our cab driver even gossiped that the previous president, François Hollande, lives up there. Lina: It was lovely, though since it's winter, there were more sticks than greenery. It's a great spot for a 15-minute walk and an Instagram photo. Oliver: That evening, we went to Le Vieux Belleville. We were worried it might be cheesy or touristy, but we ended up staying for three hours,. I managed to warm up the owner by telling him he looked like George Clooney,. Every Tuesday is Edith Piaf night, featuring an accordionist and a wonderful Polish singer named Gosia,. Lina: The vibe felt like crashing a French family's dinner party,. Oliver: We were the only foreigners there, but everyone was dancing and singing together. It was an utterly surprising amount of fun. Afterward, I stepped outside to interview the singer, Gosia,. Oliver: Gosia, that was a wonderful performance. How did a Polish woman end up singing Edith Piaf in Belleville,? Gosia: I started learning French by singing her songs. I adore the "gut" emotion in her singing; she comes from the streets. Piaf is an icon, but not many people really listen to her music anymore. Oliver: What makes a good crowd for you? Gosia: A crowd that realizes they actually can sing along. I know the evening worked if people are exchanging phone numbers and talking to their neighbors by the end. It's more of a ritual than a concert. Oliver: What is your favorite Piaf song? Gosia: My favorite is "J'm'en fous pas mal". Oliver: You also mentioned this is the best district in Paris. Gosia: It is getting gentrified, but it's a lovely, mixed, working-class area where Piaf was born. It has the real life of the neighborhood and an original Parisian feel,. We need to enjoy it while it lasts. Oliver: Le Vieux Belleville really captured the vibe of the neighborhood. My only complaint was that the lighting was a bit too bright,. Afterward, we walked down to Rue de Belleville and visited a bar called Aux Folies where Piaf used to perform,. Lina: That bar has a great "old Paris but young vibe" with neon lights. It's very picturesque, but don't expect fancy cocktails—it's all about cheap drinks and fun. Oliver: We stayed at the Babel Belleville, which has an international, "multi-culti" vibe that represents the 20th well,. The next day, we visited a brand-new cafe called The Dancing Goat, run by a young British guy,. Lina: The cafe was beautiful and fresh. Regarding the street art, it was cool but perhaps not as much as I had hoped for. Oliver: I think the 13th arrondissement might be better for street art, though Rue Dénoyez had some huge murals,. Finally, we decided to rank the district based on five categories: Strollability, Affordability, Sharability, Touristability, and Accessibility,. The Scores: Strollability: Oliver (4), Lina (3) — It's too big and has too many hills. Affordability: Oliver (10), Lina (10) — Probably the cheapest in Paris. Sharability: Oliver (5), Lina (4). Touristability: Oliver (3), Lina (5) — Lina liked the views and the bars,. Accessibility: Oliver (3), Lina (2) — It's quite far from the rest of Paris. Oliver: My total was 23, and Lina's was 26, giving the district a 49 out of 100,. Lina: It failed! Oliver: It's not a fail, it's just a very residential district. I probably wouldn't stay here on a first trip to Paris, but it's a great experience if you've been here before. Join us next week as we head to the canals of the 19th Arrondissement. Oliver and Lina: Bye-bye!