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.
Viollet-le-Duc: The Self-Taught Architect Who Shaped France's Medieval Landmarks, Episode 596
Eugène Viollet-le-Duc never had an architecture degree, but he restored Notre-Dame, Carcassonne, and dozens of France's most visited medieval monuments — and reinvented most of them along the way. We look at what he actually added, the one project that got completely torn down a century later, and the quiet, controversial end to a very loud career.
France's Most Stunning Destinations: What's Worth the Hype (and What Isn't), Episode 593
France has stunning destinations — but not all of them deliver. We go through the places that genuinely earn a wow, from prehistoric caves to perched villages and Loire châteaux, and get honest about the ones that disappoint depending on the season, the weather, or the crowds.
What People Get Wrong About French Food, Episode 590
French food is famous around the world—but the reality of what French people cook at home is very different from the fantasy.
The Guédelon Project: A Modern Take on Medieval Construction, Episode 588
Step back in time with Annie Sargent and Elyse Rivin as they explore the Guédelon Project, where a medieval castle is being built using only 13th-century techniques. Discover the history, challenges, and educational aspects of this unique project. Listen now to learn more about this fascinating journey into the past.
From Cajun Country to the French Riviera: Louisiana Meets France, Episode 585
Cajun French culture meets modern France on a mother-daughter journey through Nice, Champagne, and Paris. Food comparisons, cultural surprises, walking cities, and practical travel insights show what feels familiar—and what doesn’t—when Louisiana roots meet contemporary France.