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Talking France

The Local France
France
Emmanuel Macron
Marine Le Pen
Paris
Rassemblement National
French Government
French Politics
French Parliament
Louvre Museum
European Union
Michel Barnier
Climate Change
French Farmers Protests
Heatwaves
Francois Bayrou
French Immigration Bill
Nouveau Front Populaire
2025 Budget
European Elections
Brexit

Talking France is The Local’s weekly podcast where we discuss the big news and talking points in France as well as explore and explain the major issues that impact life in the country. We also answer your essential questions and look ahead at what’s coming up.

In each episode presenter Ben McPartland chats about the most important news and must-know information with The Local France’s Emma Pearson... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes180Founded5 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
News CommentaryNewsSociety & Culture

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Artwork for Talking France

Latest Episodes

Welcome to a new episode of Talking France, a special episode it turns out, because we find ourselves in the midst of a new major protest movement in France.

This one is being led by high school students, who are fed up with the state of the educati... more

Up for discussion this week is the weather, will a town in rainy Brittany run out of water. What’s the situation like everywhere else? Will we all be forced to limit our showers to three minutes soon?

We’ll get the latest analysis on French politics... more

Among the words on everyone’s lips this week in France is - petrol, well and diesel. Yes fuel prices have reached record high levels in France. We’ll get the latest on what the government is doing, where the shortages are and whether the crisis could... more

This week we dig into one of Marine Le Pen's contentious proposals and find out whether the far right leader would actually be able to favour French citizens over foreign national residents if she became president.

We'll also find out why French sch... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Rim Sarah Alouane
Civil liberties expert, legal scholar on human rights
Independent/Academic
Episode: French fuel prices risk autumn unrest and the real danger posed by Le Pen
Manon Kerjean
Founder of Lost in Frenchlation, cinema club organizer
Lost in Frenchlation
Episode: Could France really favour the French over foreigners and who derailed the Normandy train?
Bruno Menard
Secretary General of the Syndicat des Sapeurs Pompiers Volontaires (part-time firefighters union)
Syndicat des Sapeurs Pompiers Volontaires
Episode: Food prices, strikes: How the hellish summer has hit life in France
Caroline Fazeli
Wine specialist
Leon Wine Tastings; Fish Wives of Paris
Episode: French clash over air conditioning and how France became the best place to get naked
Carolione Fazeli
Co-host of Fish Wives of Paris (based in Lyon)
Fish Wives of Paris
Episode: Macron’s swan song, why France is mad for roundabouts and how Lyon became the home of gastronomy
Rosie Ellis
Project coordinator in renovation and construction with Maison Bretagne; host of French Renault Diaries Uncensored
Maison Bretagne / French Renault Diaries Uncensored
Episode: France frets over contaminated baguettes and how to avoid renovation nightmares
Katy Wright
Freelance journalist based in Brittany
Freelance journalist
Episode: The €16 million French château scam and why 2027 could be a ‘scary’ year in France?
John Lichfield
Politics expert, veteran journalist
Normandy correspondent, The Local France
Episode: Oil crisis fuels French anger and is France sleepwalking into a far-right presidency?
Gisele Pellicot
Victim of the mass rape trial, advocate for public discussion on sexual violence and consent.
Episode: Will landmark rape trial change France and what's next if French government falls?

Hosts

Benjamin McPartland
Host of Talking France
Emma Albright
Commentator/Co-host on Talking France
Emma Pearson
Team member on Talking France; Co-host/Commentator

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 214 ratings
  • Why just read a script??

    Quite enjoy the French detail given that we have a second home in France, but cannot understand why the French/American girl just reads a script. It’s a very dull and humourless part of the otherwise interesting show.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    Pechbely
    United Kingdom2 months ago
  • Fun and informative

    A joy to listen to. The team make it easy listening but still with in depth and vital analysis on french politics and life

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Tomstwr
    Francea year ago
  • Spectac!

    The Local France — and its associated podcast — provide a treasure trove of info for any visitor or expat. The Local’s staff explain France’s complexities to those of us who weren’t born here, but got here as fast as we could! I’ve been a subscriber for years, listened to almost every podcast, and recommended subscribing to friends who were visiting/moving here. The Local provides hard news we need, updates on bureaucratic procedures we endure, and a nice dose of tantalising topics on food, even... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Fwsunshine
    Francea year ago
  • Clear, smart, and fun!

    I love this podcast! I’ve learned so many interesting things about France!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    annezclayton
    United Statesa year ago
  • Great for expats

    As an expat in France, I really enjoy this podcast which gives an informative look into French politics. I often hear about the subjects being discussed in France but struggle to focus on such complex topics in French which is my not my native language. The hosts do a good job breaking down the topics to an understandable level for outsiders such as myself. Thank you!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    big fat nobody
    United Statesa year ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Shows are appreciated for balancing politics with culture and practical travel tips.
Quality of guests and chemistry between hosts is frequently highlighted as a strength.
Listeners praise clear, smart analysis that's easy to understand for expats and newcomers.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

French fuel prices risk autumn unrest and the real danger posed by Le Pen
Q: What is the potential impact of voter fatigue and disenchantment on the election?
Rim Sarah Alouane cautions that fatigue could blunt turnout and that mainstream parties must offer credible policies and tangible public services to compete with the far-right beyond mere rhetoric about fear or security.
French fuel prices risk autumn unrest and the real danger posed by Le Pen
Q: Will competition on the rails actually lower prices for travelers, including cross-channel routes?
Experts suggest competition could increase choice and capacity on busy routes, but prices may not fall uniformly across all services; some routes could see smaller benefits while overall market dynamics evolve by 2028 and beyond.
French fuel prices risk autumn unrest and the real danger posed by Le Pen
Q: Should we be worried about a Le Pen presidency and its implications for foreigners in France?
While there is concern about policies like 'France first', Rim Sarah Alouane argues the real threat is the normalization of anti-foreign rhetoric, which could affect rights and civil liberties even before any election outcome.
New tipping culture drives the French mad and far-right fractures deepen
Q: John, your column this week on The Local France is about this split between Bardella and Le Pen in the RN. What's caused this split?
John attributes the split to a combination of personal animosity and clear policy differences, with Le Pen moving toward a hard line and Bardella pushing for more moderate, reform-oriented positions, leading to internal tensions.
French clash over air conditioning and how France became the best place to get naked
Q: What impact will the Le Pen court ruling have on the presidential race?
The ruling could reshape the campaign landscape by clarifying whether Le Pen can run, potentially narrowing the field and forcing rivals to articulate fresh strategies as the race moves into the summer campaign season.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
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Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Talking France

What is Talking France about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A weekly English-language deep-dive into French news, politics, and culture, with a steady panel including a veteran journalist and expert commentators. The show mixes clear explainers on current events with practical tips for listeners in France, travelers, and expats, often featuring on-the-ground reporting, regional perspectives, and occasional cross-promo segments. Notable is the session's balance of rigorous analysis and accessible storytelling, plus a rotating slate of expert guests that widen the discussion beyond Paris to regional France and policy implications ahead of elections. This format makes it a strong fit for listeners who want stay-informed about France without language barriers, with practical vocab, travel tips, and cont... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Talking France?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Talking France:

1. Join Us in France Travel Podcast
2. The New Paris Podcast
3. The Earful Tower: Paris
4. The Rest Is Politics
5. The Rest Is Politics: US

How many episodes of Talking France are there?

Talking France launched 5 years ago and published 180 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Talking France?

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What guests have appeared on Talking France?

Recent guests on Talking France include:

1. Rim Sarah Alouane
2. Manon Kerjean
3. Bruno Menard
4. Caroline Fazeli
5. Carolione Fazeli
6. Rosie Ellis
7. Katy Wright
8. John Lichfield

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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