For generations, musicians of all stripes have flocked to Paris to pursue their craft and perform for curious and engaged audiences. Today’s guests have been working in music and performing all over the country (and beyond) for over twelve years and together they form Signing Earth Divine, a 100 member gospel-inspired choir. As a part of the group gears up to perform at Carnegie Hall this month and May 24th at the Eglise de la Madeleine in Paris, I wanted to get the back story from its founders ...
May 23, 2019•27 min
What does safety and security mean in the context of the French state? How does it relate to issues of immigration and national identity? Joining me back on the show is Andrew Aguilar (from episode 24), a PhD candidate in political science at Sciences Po and a fellow at the French Migrations Convergence Institute. On this episode, we talk about another aspect of his doctoral research and discuss concrete examples of its complexity in practice: state security in France and the UK. Mentioned in th...
May 09, 2019•24 min
How easy is it, really, to move to France and find work if you’re a foreigner? What about if English is your dominant language and French is a very distant second (or third, or fourth)? France24 journalist Charli James moved to Paris nearly two years ago and has talked at length about navigating life in Paris on her blog “Am I French Yet?” Today, she joins the show to talk about working and living in English/French and a hybrid of both. Up first: her work covering the Notre Dame fire on April 15...
Apr 24, 2019•32 min
In a time when award-winning chefs are giving up their Michelin stars and more and more diners use their everyday tools like Instagram to plan where to eat, what’s the value of the guidebook? Has Le Fooding’s merger with Michelin impact the direction of lists and rankings? I talk about this with guests Lina Caschetto, formerly the chef at Cantina, and Sabrina Goldin, the co-owner of Cantina, Carbon and the Asado Club. We also discuss food festivals, women in the industry and what needs to change...
Mar 21, 2019•26 min
Welcome to season 3! A block from the studio sits the 25Hours Hotel Terminus Nord, a new property that celebrates the real people who shape the day to day life of the wider Gare du Nord neighborhood. It’s also the latest project for today’s guest — Alex Toledano, co-founder of the art consultancy Visto Images. Alex spent the bulk of his graduate and doctoral work studying urban history in Europe in the 19th and 20th centuries but went to apply much of that firsthand knowledge of a city’s urban f...
Mar 04, 2019•27 min
The end of season 2 and, perhaps more importantly, the end of 2018, merits a special discussion. Joining me back in the studio for a chat about some of the events that have defined the year in Paris and France is author and staff writer for The New Yorker, Lauren Collins. We talked about France’s World Cup 2018 win, SNCF strikes and, the big-hippo story of the year, the Gilets Jaunes (yellow jacket) movement and whether it’s safe to visit Paris (spoiler: YES IT IS). Mentioned in this episode: La...
Dec 21, 2018•28 min
#Metoo, body shaming, fatphobia, feminism, PMA, representation. These are among the words, movements and themes that have gone from niche or seldom addressed to the forefront of conversation across nearly all social stratums. In season 1, I invited Lauren Bastide of the feminist podcast La Poudre to discuss the outcome of #MeToo in France and the rising influence of a new generation of feminists who are raising their voices and taking to the streets. Now a year later, I go deeper into the conver...
Nov 09, 2018•32 min
It’s 5:30 pm on a Monday evening and that means, it’s time for a drink and a nibble or two. That drink in France would be part of the beloved tradition of l’aperitif or apero as we so commonly refer to it. It’s a shared moment before dinner, usually among friends and with a few snacks to whet your appetite. But it’s also the name for an entire genre of French spirits, consumer during apero hour. Both of these are the focus of a new book appropriately called “Apéritif: Happy hour the French Way.”...
Oct 11, 2018•29 min
Ah, Gay Paree. It’s an expression firmly anchored into the collective imagination that speaks to the fin-de-siecle period wherein Paris became known as the capital of pleasure. Today, say Gay Paree and it almost certainly refers to and evokes a more modern understanding. Joining me today to talk about gay culture, history and the continuing fight for acceptance is Dr. Bryan Pirolli, a fellow Philadelphian, journalist, and the founder of the tour company, the Gay Locals. Mentioned in this episode...
Aug 22, 2018•28 min
Think it’s only French food that dominates the dining scene in Paris? You’d be mistaken. And some of the best food is cooked by foreign chefs who came to the city to train, learn, handle some of the world’s highest quality products and give back. Some bring their cultures to the dining landscape while other offers their interpretations on Gallic classics. Today’s guest is Peter Orr, an Australian Chef who brings his experience cooking on three different continents to Robert, his new restaurant. ...
Jul 31, 2018•28 min
I met today’s guest 3 years ago at a café. He was conducting research on French Islam, I was writing my book on Paris. That café was a source of comfort for both of us after the Nov 13th attacks which killed and injured hundreds. These attacks, carried out by French or other European nationals affiliated with or inspired by the Islamic State, raised serious questions about France’s security, treatment of Muslims in the country, and policies toward integration and deradicalization. Andrew Aguilar...
Jul 14, 2018•27 min
Some 23 million travelers from around the world descended on Paris last year. And if they’re like locals, they know there is more than one way to get around the city. But it is by foot that Paris is best experienced. Today’s guest is author and illustrator Jessie Kanelos Weiner, co-creator of the new book ‘Paris in Stride’ which offers clever and beautifully illustrated walking tours of the city, and speaks about the advantages and challenges to working as an artist in Paris, where she seeks ins...
Jun 28, 2018•26 min
For Frenchman David Santori, Paris has largely been a place to visit. For nearly 20 years, he has lived in the United States, returning each year to his hometown only to visit family. What changes in Paris are most obvious to him, I wondered? Is « The New Paris » part of a subtle shift or something bigger? We talk about the changing city, linguistic codes, neighborhoods and his bi-cultural sense of self. Mentioned in this episode: David Santori, @FrenchieYankee: https://www.instagram.com/frenchi...
Jun 10, 2018•28 min
The literary and artistic ties to Paris run deep. From Hemingway to Stein, Davis to Coates, the city’s appeal is everlasting. Today’s guest continues that legacy. Cody Delistraty, named a young writer of the year by British Vogue, is a cultural critic who talks to Lindsey today about working in Paris, the state of art, and his next big project.
May 25, 2018•26 min
The latest trend in Paris? Leaving Paris! There’s been an influx of Parisians decamping to the countryside or smaller French cities like Montpellier or Bordeaux. Driven by a desire to return to the land, step away from the frenetic urban pace, lower cost of living or simply explore parts unknown, this exodus is on the rise. Today’s guests are chefs Lise Kvan and Eric Montéleon who left Paris with a mission to uncover the people and places preserving traditional farming, baking, argiculture, wine...
May 15, 2018•28 min
Baron Haussmann, celebrated as one of the greatest urban planners in European history, is credited with having transformed Paris from an overcrowded, dirty and disease-riddled city in the 1840s to a breathable, walkable city with wide, well-lit avenues, cobbled streets, and ashlar buildings with wrought-iron balconies. But there’s more to the Parisian urban landscape than contributions from the 19th century. To talk about urbanism and the changing face of Paris, I chat with Alice Cabaret, a Fren...
Apr 11, 2018•27 min
Do you know what's in the food you're ordering at restaurants? Where the meat from the supermarket comes from? How the animals you eat were treated on the farms they were reared on? Do you think about the livelihoods of the food artisans producing the goods you regularly consume? These questions are abiding preoccupations today and transparency is now the gold standard of consumption. Today's guest, Charles Guirriec, cofounded Poiscaille as a result. His is a service that connects ingredient-con...
Mar 20, 2018•29 min
The last time we spoke about innovation in Paris was last year in the run up to the presidential election. Now that Emmanuel Macron has been in office for nine months, we revisit the discussion and look at the state of start-up culture, the creative scene and business development in the capital. Bringing their deep insights on the scene are Liam Boogar, of Rude Baguette and most recently of Algolia, and Abby Klein, founder of the Radical Departures podcast which highlights innovative men and wom...
Feb 26, 2018•31 min
Artists of all walks of life are a venerated group in Paris and that is especially true for filmmakers. Based in Paris for the last year, American filmmaker, actor and writer, Dan Sickles joins me to kick off season 2 of The New Paris with a discussion on filmmaking in France, following(or not following) the rules, his humanist vision for non-fiction documentaries and the local scene's approach to cinema. Mentioned in this episode: Dan Sickles: http://www.dansickles.com/about/ "Mala Mala": http:...
Feb 15, 2018•29 min
For the finale of season 1 of The New Paris, we're joined by journalist and fellow podcaster Oliver Gee (The Earful Tower) to chat about what drew him to Paris nearly three years ago, what he finds inspiring about the city, and what exactly makes this 'New' Paris so special. Mentioned in this episode: The Earful Tower https://theearfultower.com/ Live episode: https://theearfultower.com/2017/11/20/live-episode-heres-how-it-all-went-down-plus-pics/ November 13th attacks: http://www.refinery29.com/...
Dec 28, 2017•28 min
How many times a week do you have a glass of wine? How often do you talk about wine? If you're Parisian, probably quite frequently. For me, it wasn't something I indulged with any regularity until I was researching and writing my book and finally discovered what I enjoyed drinking and knew what sorts of questions to ask. For wine writer, James Beard award winner and author Jon Bonné, it's an abiding preoccupation. On this episode, we speak to him about his new book "The New Wine Rules", the wine...
Dec 06, 2017•27 min
Following the Harvey Weinstein allegations, stories of sexual harassment and misconduct have been pouring out and saturating our news feeds, and not only in the United States. On this week’s episode, we’ll be tackling the timely subject of systemic harassment, gender equality and feminism in France with Lauren Bastide, the journalist and feminist podcaster behind La Poudre, one of France's leading podcasts for women. Mentioned on this episode: La Poudre: http://www.nouvellesecoutes.fr/la-poudre/...
Nov 16, 2017•25 min
Paris certainly has no shortage of green spaces, from parks to beautiful squares, but it's only recently that a plant life movement has emerged in the city. To talk about this green and floral boom, Lindsey is joined by Elodie Love, creator of the blog Madame Love, and Judith de Graaf, co-author of the popular book "Urban Jungle: Living and Styling with Plants". Mentioned on this episode: Judith de Graaf https://www.joelix.com/ Elodie Love http://www.madame-love.com/ Urban Jungle Bloggers/Book: ...
Nov 10, 2017•25 min
Coffee in Paris has gone from maligned to revered in a relatively short time but the movement is still taking shape. Joining the discussion today are two individuals contributing to shaping and nurturing the Parisian java scene, Mihaela Jordache, head roaster at Belleville Brûlerie, and Daniel Warburton, co-founder of Honor Café and Neighbours. Mentioned in this episode: Belleville Brûlerie https://cafesbelleville.com/ KB Café: http://www.kbcafeshop.com/ Honor Café: https://www.honor-cafe.com/ N...
Oct 09, 2017•27 min
How does language shape or challenge our identities? Lauren Collins, staff writer for The New Yorker and the author of "When in French" (now in paperback!) joins us to discuss linguistics, the French language police, and navigating life in Paris as an Anglophone working to master a second language. Mentioned in this episode: "When in French": http://laurenzcollins.com/when-in-french/ Paris 2024: http://www.paris2024.org/en
Sep 26, 2017•28 min
How much of our image and understanding of Paris is shaped by what we see in the media? Or even more relevant to a younger generation, how much is shaped by social media? Do locals have a responsibility to present all sides of the city? To discuss the old vs new and the cliché vs the real, we chat with Arash Hajianpour, cofounder of design firm Optimistic Future, and Jane Bertch, co-owner of La Cuisine Paris cooking school. Mentioned in this episode: Optimistic Future https://optimisticfuture.to...
Sep 20, 2017•29 min
What does the typical French breakfast look like? Coffee, juice, toast with butter or jam, maybe a soft boiled egg or just a simple croissant are customary. There are sweet mainstays at 4pm too when the French take their goûter (their afternoon snack). But there are more options and perspectives on mealtime in Paris today that challenge how best to start (or break up) the day. To talk about these moments and more broadly, how foreign concepts are received in Paris, we have two business owners jo...
Sep 09, 2017•27 min
Thomas Abramowiscz and Usha Bora run successful businesses in Paris but only after spending much of their careers on a traditional corporate track, a path that's long been considered highly coveted with security in France. But things are changing and career shifts which were once considered too risky are more common with passion as the operative word driving concepts. The two small business owners talk about their careers, following their dreams and how difficult (or not) it truly is to run a bu...
Aug 31, 2017•27 min
Paris has long held the title as the fashion capital of the world but a landscape dominated by big brands like Dior and Louis Vuitton has made it tougher for emerging brands. In recent years this has all changed thanks to an influx of young talent, like Glenn Martens of Paris-based brand Y-Project who is the special guest on this episode. Glenn talks about the competition and his thoughts on the industry-at-large. Mentioned in this episode: Y/Project: https://www.instagram.com/yproject_official/...
Aug 12, 2017•21 min
In this episode, we talk about some of the very physical changes happening in the city, namely a flurry of hotel renovations and openings that have seen the Paris hotel scene step up its game in both design and experience. We welcome designer and interior architect Raphael Navot, the man behind one of city’s most exciting new addresses, Hotel National des Arts et Métiers, which opened earlier this month. Episode Notes: Raphael Navot: http://www.raphaelnavot.com/ Hotel National des Arts et Métier...
Jul 28, 2017•24 min
