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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

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes173Founded4 years ago
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Latest Episodes

You are listening to a special summer episode of Talking France podcast and it's a pretty solemn episode too given France is in the midst of unprecedented heatwaves, drought and devastating wildfires.

We are recording this at the end of July to brin... more

In this week’s episode of Talking France we’ll look ahead to the holiday season in July and August and spell out exactly what you can expect in France this summer from the weather outlook and wildfire alerts to what will happen in French politics and... more

Welcome to a new episode of Talking France. It’s our penultimate episode before we take a summer break and it’s a jam-packed one full of the latest news, talking points and flare ups from France.

We’ll start with the fall out from the unprecedented ... more

On this week's show we discuss the heat, yes France and the rest of Europe is in the grip of another brutal heatwave - and it's still only June.

We'll look at the huge impact it's having on daily life in France and why the country isn't better prepa... more

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Recent Guests

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?
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?
Simon Kuper
Columnist for the Financial Times
Episode: Can regional French airports survive, big changes in Paris and France's most dangerous animals
John Lichfield
French politics expert and veteran journalist
The Local France
Episode: Why the European elections really matter in France plus deadly floods and French casinos

Hosts

Ben McPartland
Host of Talking France, with regular commentary on French news and politics.
Emma Pearson
Co-host/commentator on France-focused political and cultural topics.
Emma Albright
Co-host/commentator on Talking France, covering politics, culture, and daily life.
John Lichfield
Politics expert and veteran journalist providing historical and political context.

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 210 ratings
  • 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
    France10 months 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
    France10 months ago
  • Clear, smart, and fun!

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

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    annezclayton
    United States10 months 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 States10 months ago
  • Fantastic show!

    I look forward to this show! The hosts keep me informed while keeping it light. As a new transplant to France, I appreciate the English language analysis of French news and culture.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Mad Montessorian
    United States10 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Engaging hosts with strong on-ground reporting and clear language for non-native French listeners.
Thoughtful, accessible explanations of French politics and life.
A reliable mix of hard news and cultural notes that's useful for expats.
Consistently well-researched with smart guests and lively banter.
Solid for expats seeking practical guidance on bureaucracy, housing, and travel in France.

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 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.
French clash over air conditioning and how France became the best place to get naked
Q: What should France do though when it comes to aircon? Who's right here?
Experts suggest a balanced approach: expand access to air conditioning where it protects vulnerable populations while continuing to push for climate-smart energy and building improvements and avoiding treating AC as a cure-all.
French clash over air conditioning and how France became the best place to get naked
Q: John, why is France embroiled in a heated route about aircon rather than about the climate crisis?
The discussion shows how AC became a proxy for broader climate and energy policy, with political actors using it to frame the climate debate rather than addressing systemic reform, though experts argue both immediate mitigation and long-term climate action are needed.
Macron’s swan song, why France is mad for roundabouts and how Lyon became the home of gastronomy
Q: John, you have a theory or two on why there's so many roundabouts in France. What do you make of all this?
John argues that roundabouts arose from a need to address safety and traffic flow, notes that priority rules on French roads have historically contributed to their prevalence, and asserts that contemporary French driving culture has evolved but remains, in some places, unforgiving about rules—yet roundabouts are generally safer than traditional crossroad layouts.
Why the violence after football in France and will the French pay up for slavery role?
Q: Who was this not so gentleman and what exactly did he say?
The guest explains the remarks attributed to a French Open interviewee, who claimed that a match needs a male umpire and that women lack the strength to referee, which was deemed unacceptable and led to a substantial fine.

Audience Metrics

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

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Frequently Asked Questions About Talking France

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

A weekly English-language briefing on current French affairs, politics, and culture with a lucid mix of analysis, context, and practical tips for expatriates and travelers. Episodes thread together politics (including local and national dynamics), media landscape, public policy, and everyday life in France, often featuring veteran reporters and subject-matter guests. Noteworthy strengths include accessible explanations of complex policy, a cosmopolitan host team with strong on-ground reporting, and a steady stream of expert perspectives that illuminate how national events play out at the local level. A distinctive edge is the blend of hard political analysis with cultural and language touchpoints, plus practical expatriate guidance on burea... 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 Earful Tower: Paris
3. David Lebovitz podcast
4. Coffee Break French
5. News in Slow French (Intermediate)

How many episodes of Talking France are there?

Talking France launched 4 years ago and published 173 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. Caroline Fazeli
2. Carolione Fazeli
3. Rosie Ellis
4. Katy Wright
5. Gisele Pellicot
6. Simon Kuper
7. 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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