Baccarat Crystal: Visiting the Town and Museum in the Grand Est, Episode 618
Baccarat is a small town between Nancy and Colmar that gave its name to world-famous crystal. We talk about how glass becomes crystal, what to see at the Baccarat crystal museum, why the Saint-Rémy church is worth a stop, and the humanist library in Sélestat on the road to Colmar.
Brittany Coastal Camping Guide: GR34 from Saint-Brieuc to Saint-Malo, Episode 617
Jennifer Gruenke hiked the GR34 in Brittany from Saint-Brieuc to Saint-Malo, camping every night without booking ahead. She explains how French campground stars work, how to use the BreizhGo buses when your legs give out, and where to find mussels, galettes, and a tidal island chapel along the way.
Loire Valley Chateaux (Plus a Month of French Lessons in Tours), Episode 615
Rowena Sjovall spent four weeks in immersive French classes in Tours, renting her own apartment and shopping the local markets. On her days off, she explored Loire Valley chateaux most visitors skip, from Chinon to Blois to Angers, picking up restaurant tips along the way.
Learning French Later in Life: A Couple's Avignon Immersion, Episode 613
Nan and Marty Deniston spent three months living in Avignon, chasing real fluency instead of a quick refresher. They found a private tutor, leased a car through a little-known program, and rented out their house to make it happen. Their story proves you can learn French at any age.
Lyon Travel Guide: Secret Passageways and Food Specialties, Episode 611
A conversation with Mikayla Sibner of Pardon My Learning about visiting Lyon: the city's three neighborhoods, secret traboule passageways, Fourvière Basilica and its Roman ruins, the silk-weaving history behind the Croix-Rousse district, local murals, museums worth your time, and where to eat, plus tips on getting around using Lyon's city pass.
How We Moved to Paris: Visa, Housing, and Healthcare, Episode 609
Sacha Cohen moved to Paris with her husband after two and a half years scouting France city by city. We cover the long stay visitor visa, opening a bank account, healthcare, renting an apartment as a foreigner, and the real adjustments of building a new life in your fifties.
An Art Retreat in a Medieval Burgundy Village, Episode 607
Julie Lynch, an Australian costume designer turned painter, spent eight nights at an art retreat in Burgundy. We talk about painting without pressure in the medieval village of Noyers, afternoon outings to Vézelay, Avallon, and Chablis, and why a slow week beats a packed itinerary once you've traveled enough.
Five Weeks Solo in Paris: 20 Museums and Hidden Gems, Episode 605
Larry Rosenblum spent five weeks solo in Paris, and made every day count: twenty museums, a Seine swim, AR glasses at the Comédie-Française, and a VR trip back to the year 1180 at the Louvre. Annie Sargent gets his best tips, top discovery, and one big regret on the podcast.
Vichy's Story and the Best of the Allier Department, Episode 602
Vichy's name brings World War II to mind, but that's just four years of a nearly 2,000-year history. Annie and Elyse explore the Allier department: Roman thermal baths, royal spa visitors, and why locals call themselves Vichyssois. Plus Moulins' costume museum, the Maison Mantin time capsule, and medieval villages worth a detour.
What Your Paris Photos Are Missing (And How to Fix It), Episode 601
Your Paris photos could be better — and it's probably not your camera. A longtime Paris street photographer shares practical advice on gear, timing, light, and which neighborhoods deliver the best shots. Whether you shoot with a phone or a dedicated camera, there's something here for you.