113: On 'Joie', living well, and lessons from France with Ajiri Aki

The work to live vs live to work ideology was among the earliest characteristics of French life that appealed to me as a student. I didn’t know the extent to which that would bear out until I had lived in Paris for a number of years and discovered it firsthand. For Ajiri Aki, the Nigerian-American founder of the online linens and antiques brand Madame de la Maison, her decade in Paris has similarly crystallised a number of life lessons which she has now put on paper in her new book: Joie, a Parisian’s Guide to Celebrating the Good Life. Ajiri was one of the women I was fortunate enough to profile in The New Parisienne and is also a dear friend so I’m excited to get to have her on the show to dig into this beautiful, inspiring project.

Mentioned in this episode:

Madame de la Maison

Ajiri Aki on Instagram

Joie (order the book!)

OECD report on French productivity

Paula Sutton, Hill House Vintage

Marché aux Puces de Saint Ouen

Marché Vernaison

Victoria Antiques

Foire de Chatou

Thanks to Matthew Jordan for technical production and editing on this episode!