The New Paris Podcast

On April 15, 2019, the world watched in horror as the Notre Dame cathedral became engulfed in a fiery inferno and the city came dangerously close to losing its 850-year-old treasure. Now, a new documentary called "Saving Notre Dame", airing on the PBS science series NOVA, tells the story of the fire and the race to stabilize the structure and stave off a total collapse. Director Joby Lubman follows a team of architects, engineers, scientists, and master craftspeople, as they work to read the minds of the original builders and rediscover the lost history of the cathedral. He joins me today to talk more about this incredible journey to document the rebirth. MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: Saving Notre Dame documentary: https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/video/saving-notre-dame/ Joby Lubman, director: http://www.windfallfilms.com/person/1790/joby-lubman.aspx Notre Dame Cathedral: https://www.notredamedeparis.fr/en/ Notre Dame fire: https://www.cntraveler.com/story/what-notre-dame-means-to-parisians-and-to-all-of-us

Some of my favorite reporting assignments have involved spending time in the Champagne region, getting to know its producers and uncovering the stories behind the bottles. Among the most memorable discoveries over the years has been AR Lenoble, a 4th generation family-run and independent operation that is heavily involved in making the industry more inclusive to women. I wondered, however, how Anne and Antoine Malassagne have fared during these last eight months of the pandemic. Anne and her director of export and communication Christian Holthausen (also my friend) tuned in to chat about the family’s heritage, drinking and selling in Covid times, and the importance of community. MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: AR Lenoble: https://champagne-arlenoble.com/ La Transmission women's group in Champagne: http://la-transmission-champagne.com/index.php/en/home/ Women in Champagne: https://www.foodandwine.com/wine/champagne-sparkling-wine/future-women-in-champagne

Women and Champagne have a long history together. In fact, If Champagne became shorthand for luxury and celebration, it’s entirely thanks to the business acumen of Barbe-Nicole Clicquot Ponsardin, commonly referred to as “La Veuve (widow) Clicquot.” Not only did she invent the riddling table, but she also turned the small, fledgling business she took over after her husband’s 1805 death into a global empire. Still, as is true with much of the broader world of wine, women in France’s Champagne region remain underrepresented both in production and leadership positions. And, I would argue, in the minds of consumers. That’s where Cynthia Coutu steps in. She joins me to talk about her Champagne club Delectabulles and how she works to champion women on all sides of the bottle. MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: Delectabulles: https://www.delectabulles.com/en/ Cynthia on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/delectabulles/ Women in Champagne: https://www.foodandwine.com/wine/champagne-sparkling-wine/future-women-in-champagne

Cocktails in Paris have evolved radically in the last ten years and certainly rival what you can get in any of the big cocktail hubs, such as New York and London. So it’s only natural that from a more sophisticated scene we would see more sophisticated and inventive concepts emerge. Allison Kave is involved in one such project. The creator of Brooklyn’s Butter & Scotch bakery and bar has co-founded Izzy’s, a new plant-based cocktail brand delivered to homes across Paris. Allison talks about moving to Paris during the pandemic, the synergies between baking and cocktail mixology, and her favorite drinks for the season. NOTE: This episode was recorded on Halloween, Allison’s favorite holiday. MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: Allison Kave: https://allisonkave.com/ Butter & Scotch: https://shop.butterandscotch.com/ Izzy's Paris: https://izzysparis.com/ First Prize Pies cookbook: https://bookshop.org/a/3892/9781617691027 Butter & Scotch cookbook: https://bookshop.org/a/3892/9781419722288

There are a million different reasons people move to Paris. In many cases, the move is meant to be temporary and invariably becomes more permanent. Even more often, the person finds themselves in an entirely different line of work or ends up pursuing a passion project once they’ve settled in. Tanisha Townsend had a radically different career path before she developed a love for wine and let that guide her life. With Girls Meets Glass, Tanisha works as a wine educator, guide, and writer. Today, she joins me to talk about her journey abroad and, most importantly, what she loves to drink! MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE Girl Meets Glass: https://www.girlmeetsglass.com/ Tanisha on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/GirlMeetsGlass/ 75 in the 75 Wine Bar Guide: https://www.girlmeetsglass.com/75-in-the-75 Wine School Dropout Podcast: https://www.girlmeetsglass.com/podcast

This episode is the first in what I hope to be a monthly series picking up apart one news story impacting France. And each time, I’ll be joined by my two friends Lauren Collins and Aida Alami. Lauren is a reporter for The New Yorker and the author of When in French: Love in a Second Language and Aida Alami is a journalist for The New York Times and NY Review of Books, among other outlets, and a filmmaker. Both have been guests on this show before. The idea emerged out of our Whatsapp group -- we’re constantly sharing our thoughts on what’s happening in the world, sometimes exclusively in emojis, but I thought that when it comes to Paris and issues influencing life and politics in France, we could go a bit deeper. So what’s happening right now? After separatism, communautarisme, questioning whether Covid is masculine or feminine (it’s feminine apparently), there’s another obsession taking over the discussion in France: "tenue républicaine" or what is or isn’t clothing fit for the republic. What IS the correct form of dress. And is the state's obsession with the hijab part of a similar problem? We discuss. Mentioned in this episode: Background on the issue: https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2020/10/09/france-women-dress-codes/?itid=ap_rokhayadiallo Education minister's comments: https://www.franceinter.fr/societe/tenue-republicaine-pour-aller-a-l-ecole-jean-michel-blanquer-moque-sur-twitter Obsession with the hijab: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/9/22/frances-decades-long-feud-over-the-hijab-takes-centre-stage Macron's speech on separatism: https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/macron-islam-france/2020/10/02/ba8a1dcc-04bc-11eb-b92e-029676f9ebec_story.html Aida's story on Maryam Pougetoux: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/01/world/europe/maryam-pougetoux-islam-france.html On Sibeth Ndiaye's clothes: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/02/style/sibeth-ndiaye-emmanuel-macron-france.html Lauren Collins: https://twitter.com/laurenzcollins Aida Alami: https://twitter.com/AidaAlami

Cathleen Clarity, a chef, cookbook author, and culinary teacher, has called Greater Paris home for 30 years and has championed both French and American cuisine through her work. Her daughter, Cécilia, has been living away from the French capital for seven years but returned home to reconnect with Paris and family. One day, she’ll return to Paris bearing the knowledge and experience of life lived abroad. How does each woman shape her identity? How has Cathleen seen the food industry shift since she got into the business? How as #MeToo played out in France, if at all? It’s all up for discussion in my first French-American mother-daughter conversation on the podcast. Mentioned in this episode: Cathleen Clarity: https://www.instagram.com/chefcathleen Cathleen for L'Atelier des Chefs: https://www.atelierdeschefs.fr/fr/concept/chefs/154369-cathleen-clarity.php Cathleen's books: https://www.amazon.fr/Cathleen-Clarity/e/B077N3YBYC?ref=dbs_a_mng_rwt_scns_share Me Too in France: https://www.cjr.org/the_feature/woody-allen-polanski-metoo-france.php

There are many different ways to be an advocate and support causes you believe in. For Liz Warner, an American in Paris, her advocacy goes hand in hand with her passion for running. She’s the founder of Run to Reach, a fundraising campaign that involved running marathons around the world to raise money for women’s organizations in local communities. Beyond the initial mission, the project aims to empower every runner to influence change by connecting locally with the places they run. On this episode, Liz talks about the catalyst for Run to Reach, where she ran, and where she runs in Paris-- in the moments she isn’t on the road. Mentioned in this episode: Run to Reach: http://runtoreach.com/ Beirut explosion: https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/09/09/world/middleeast/beirut-explosion.html About the women's organizations: http://runtoreach.com/organizations/ Liz on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/runtoreach/

I’ve been doing a lot of reading this summer and was delighted to discover the work of Sanaë Lemoine, a first-time novelist. Her book, “The Margot Affair”, was an editor’s choice by The New York Times shortly after it was released in June for its “lush, lyrical prose that perfectly captures the heightened emotion and confusion of being a young woman with a bruised heart and limited experience”. The book follows Margot Louve, the secret daughter of a French politician and a famous actress as she drops this startling revelation that will shatter her family. It asks us all to consider how we would handle being part of a hidden family and how one decision can change the course of our lives. I’m thrilled to be joined by the author to talk about her process, the book’s inspiration, and her own journey from Paris to Australia to America, a few other places in between. Mentioned in this episode: Buy “The Margot Affair” https://bookshop.org/a/3892/9781984854438 Sanaë Lemoine’s work: https://www.sanaelemoine.com/ NYT book review: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/09/books/review-margot-affair-sanae-lemoine.html Mitterand affair: https://www.nytimes.com/2016/10/18/books/in-francois-mitterrand-letters-an-intimate-portrait-of-the-other-woman.html Recipe from the book: https://smittenkitchen.com/2020/08/mathildes-tomato-tart/

I met today's guest 3 years ago this month, in Washington DC. I was in town to give a talk about The New Paris for Pineapple DC, a culinary-centric collective for women; women who work in food and beverage, are passionate about it, or have hopes of working in the industry. That’s where I met Ashley Donahey, a cocktails and spirits lover who was then considering a shift from her work in the U.S. State Department and into the world of booze. Two Worlds Whiskey, a bourbon brand she launched in April, is winning awards and a whole host of whiskey fans. On this episode, we'll be talking about her family connection to whiskey, why it’s the right time to bring this brand into the French market, and why the French are the right audience for bourbon. Mentioned in this episode: Pineapple Collaborative: https://www.pineapplecollaborative.com/ Two Worlds Whiskey: www.twoworldswhiskey.com La Maison du Whiskey: https://www.whisky.fr/en/ (Book): Kentucky Bourbon Whiskey: An American Heritage https://bookshop.org/a/3892/9780813141657 Plus, my story about Two Worlds Whiskey for Fortune: https://fortune.com/2020/04/05/bourbon-whiskey-french-coronavirus/