Catherine and Marie De Medici: Queen Mothers and Kingmakers, Episode 608
50-word website preview: Catherine and Marie De Medici, two Italian banker's daughters, married French kings and ended up running the country. Annie Sargent and Elyse Rivin trace Catherine's decades as regent through religious wars, and Marie's proxy wedding, coronation, and exile. Both left their mark on Paris, from the Tuileries to the Luxembourg Gardens.
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.
Eugène Delacroix: The Painter Critics Loved to Hate, Episode 606
He painted Liberty Leading the People, yet critics tore Eugène Delacroix apart for decades. Elyse Rivin and I trace his life: the family debts, the brutal Salon reviews, the seven months in Morocco that changed his art, and where to see his work in Paris, from the Louvre to Saint-Sulpice.
Alexandre Dumas: Adventure, Scandal, and 100,000 Pages, Episode 604
Alexandre Dumas wrote over 100 novels, 100 plays, and an estimated 100,000 pages — all while running through fortunes, mistresses, and at least one Italian revolution. His grandmother was a slave. His father was France's first non-white general. The man lived like one of his own characters. Come find out how.
Puy du Fou, Arles Bullfighting, and Getting Pickpocketed in Paris, Episode 603
Cas McIntyre has visited France seven times and speaks French well enough to land in real trouble, and real fun. She joins Annie to talk about Puy du Fou, the Cocarde d'Or bullfighting festival in Arles, and getting pickpocketed in Paris. Real stories, with useful tips for your own trip.
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.
Who Was Coco Chanel Really? Her Life Story, Unvarnished, Episode 600
Born poor in rural France, Coco Chanel rewrote both fashion history and her own biography. Episode 600 tells her real story — the brilliant parts, the ugly parts, and everything in between.
Joan of Arc: The Real Woman Behind 20,000 Statues, Episode 598
She was never a shepherdess. She broke an arranged engagement at 13, convinced noblemen to take her to the French king, and led an army at 16. Joan of Arc died at 19, burned at the stake for wearing men's clothes. Listen to learn about the real woman behind the legend.
Road Tripping in Northern France: From Flander's Fields to Agincourt, Episode 597
Most visitors skip northern France entirely. Craig Anderson didn't, and he found WWII beaches, medieval battlefields, excellent seafood, and almost no American tourists. From Dunkirk to the Agincourt site, this region rewards curious travelers — and a rental car at 30 euros a day makes it surprisingly easy to explore.