The New Paris Podcast

When I think of women in the food media, I instantly think of Victoire Loup, a French-born writer and consultant who goes between Paris and Los Angeles. For a time she was the communication director for Le Fooding and has written for a number of international magazines and newspapers. More recently, she has published two cookbooks in French and consulted for an international network of chefs. She joins the show today to talk about changes to the food scene, what Los Angeles gets right about cooking, and being involved in mission-driven food projects wherever she finds herself. MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE Victoire Loup Le Fooding Cuites book A La Maison book Victoire's consulting   Mokonuts

It’s been a while since I’ve done a France news update but there are so many pressing issues facing the country now besides Covid that it was time to jump back in. And this time, I’m joined by Yasser Louati, a human rights and civil liberties activist, a community organiser, and political analyst. He also co-founded the NGO CJL, a transnational human rights and civil liberties organisation. A fellow podcaster at Le Breakdown and Les Idées Libres, I couldn’t think of anyone better to join me to discuss the status of France’s controversial security bill, racism, Islamophobia and the historic sources of many of the countries troubles. UPDATE: Since the recording of this episode, France's Constitutional Council has struck down two elements of Macron's security bill: the measure to criminalise filming police and the measure to extend drone surveillance. That's a positive development for all -- well, except for the government. MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: Yasser Louati Yasser's tweet Le Breakdown podcast   Les Idées Libres podcast Security bill update

Talking to strangers is a part of my job. I interview people for work, most of whom I don’t know personally in advance, but is generally arranged. I know what I’m about to do and so does the person I’ll be speaking with. But approaching strangers on the street to learn bits of their story is something else altogether. That’s why I’ve been fascinated by the work of Stéphanie Pfeiffer, a photographer in Paris whose project Les Gueules de Parisiens, is the result of serendipitous encounters and storytelling. And in a city like Paris where rules and categories are sacrosanct, Stéphanie is a non-conformist in the most refreshing of ways. Here we talk about her upbringing, her love for funky fashions, and of course, Les Gueules de Parisiens. MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: Les Gueules de Parisiens Collaboration with My Little Paris The exhibition

Have you ever found yourself endlessly fascinated by something, to the point of obsession? For me, that’s probably coffee and chocolate but for others deeply passionate about food and the way it is made, that might be bread, cheese, or even wine. Those are the three loves explored by my friend Katie Quinn in her new book "Cheese, Wine, and Bread: Discovering the magic of fermentation in England, Italy, and France." As she puts it: it’s the story of one woman’s obsession with some of humanity’s most ancient and essential foods. And she takes readers on an incredible tour of three countries in order to share the stories, recipes, and science behind these favorite fermented foods. She joins me from southern Italy to talk about the process as well as a focus on the France-focused piece all about bread. MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: Katie Quinn Katie's YouTube channel Katie's podcast Keep it Quirky Buy the book

Mastering a language is a lifelong endeavour, one that can be complicated by the very fluidity and ever-evolving nature of language itself. Slang and idiomatic expressions change with each generation but require an education all the same. Understanding conversational and street French, for example, is a way into understanding who the French are today and their relationship to one another. Also, it’s quite fun. Divya Bala, an Australian fashion journalist, started Paris Phrase or (Paris Phrase in English), an account on Instagram as a way of documenting the expressions she hears and learns from friends, both in personal and professional contexts. She joins me to talk about the project and how amusing the experience has been thus far. MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: Paris Phrase: https://www.instagram.com/parisphrase/ Divya Bala: https://www.instagram.com/divya_bala/ C'est chelou: https://www.instagram.com/p/CHpfjQmBJ8y/ D'acc: https://www.instagram.com/p/CHN9qbyD5uS/

What does it take to open and run a restaurant in Paris? What about building a brand that not only reaches a wider audience but that that may be protected from the unexpected and very disruptive obstacles, from protests to health crises? Ali Terry and Isabelle Cote have taken Sunday in Soho from a canteen they thought Parisians would enjoy to a nutrition-focused subscription option and product line, building off the insight that some of the best ideas really do come from listening to your customers. The duo joins me to talk about building the business, the success of their annual Thanksgiving feasts, and the future of Sunday. MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: Sunday in Soho: https://www.sundayinsoho.com Sunday on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sunday_in_soho/ Bespoke by Sunday: https://bespokebysunday.com Bespoke on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bespoke_by_sunday/

If there’s one thing that springs to mind when it comes to French lifestyle, it’s the importance of farmer’s markets. Few places in the world can claim to rival the multitude of marchés that are both destinations and fixtures of everyday life across France. And for many, they are a source of tremendous inspiration. That was certainly the case for Amy Feezor and her husband Pierre Haberer who started Fed by a Frenchman, a playful Instagram account to document market life and explore the lessons it (and in Amy’s case, living with a Frenchman) bestows. They join me to talk about the project and what they’ve learned from one another. MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: Fed by a Frenchman: https://www.instagram.com/fedbyafrenchman/?hl=en Amy Feezor: https://www.instagram.com/amyfeezor/?hl=en Amy's writing work: http://www.m-dashing.com/about/

How important is travel in our lifelong education? For Kévi Donat, founder of Le Paris Noir walking tours, it’s a crucial element to understanding a place, a culture, a past, and a present and above all, builds empathy. He chronicles chronicles the city’s connection to Africa, the Caribbean, and the United States, covering critical themes from colonization and immigration to the literary, political, and artistic figures that have influenced the course of French history. And today, we talk about what sparked his work, the ongoing tensions around discussions of race and identity in France, and the books and films you can watch to foster understanding while travel is on hold. MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:  Le Paris Noir Le Paris Noir on Instagram   Gaston Monnerville Victor Schoelcher Michel Zecler Marianne et le Garçon Noir book Tout Simplement Noir film Le Tchip podcast  Lous and the Yakuza 

"The Paris Library", the New York Times Bestselling book by novelist Janet Skeslien Charles, is based on the true story of the heroic librarians at The American Library in Paris during WWII who not only kept the library alive but continued making books available to soldiers and Jewish members in hiding. The story follows Odile, a bibliophile who works at the library as the Nazis march into Paris. She joins the Resistance but grapples with the consequences of the choices she makes, with her friendships, and her relationship with her family. I’m thrilled to be joined by Janet today to talk about the library’s tremendous history and the role it plays today. MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: Janet Skeslien Charles  Order the "The Paris Library"  The American Library in Paris "Moonlight in Odessa" Janet on Instagram Janet on Twitter

Many of us can recall moments from childhood when there was nothing more appealing than being anywhere but at home. Someplace more dazzling, someplace where every day life takes on a more special sheen; someplace like Paris. That moment is captured perfectly in Paris by Phone, the new rhyming picture book for kids by today’s guest, Pamela Druckerman. She is the author of five books including Bringing Up Bébé, a worldwide bestseller, and writes a column about France for The New York Times. She joins me today to talk about the whimsical world and life lessons she wanted to express with this new book, the particular challenges of writing for children, and what makes Paris special for kids of all ages. MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: Pamela Druckerman: https://pameladruckerman.com Paris by Phone: https://pameladruckerman.com/paris-by-phone/ Bringing Up Bébé: https://pameladruckerman.com/bringing-up-bebe/ Pandemonium U: https://www.pandemoniumu.com My talk with Pamela: https://youtu.be/jR6wR7WDAps Pamela's NYT Column: https://www.nytimes.com/topic/person/pamela-druckerman Pamela on Twitter: https://twitter.com/pameladruck