Talking France

How the surging far-left would change France and why so many new French WWII films?

This week we look at what France would be like in the hands of the far left and its firebrand presidential candidate Jean-Luc Melenchon. Plus we'll look at some of Mélén

Tear gas warning, health boost for rural France and which city speaks 'perfect' French?

This week we'll get the latest on the strikes, protests, marches, clashes and mass use of tear gas that have clouded France in recent weeks and look set to continue as we

Has France done enough to calm unrest and why is a new autoroute so hated?

Has calm returned to the streets of France? Can shopkeepers and store owners remove the wooden barricades and metal shutters? What further protests are planned? Will high

What's next for France as disorder and debt plunge country into crisis?

In recent days the country has been hit by widespread looting, violent clashes between rioters and police, street protests and just scenes of chaos and conflict. And the

The perils of French lovers and Le Pen's plan for a 'foreigner tax'

This week we’ll bring you up to date with what some of the French presidential candidates want to do with us foreigners - whether tax us more for working here or just kee

'On the brink': Why French high school revolt is not the only problem facing France

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

Carte de séjour misery, French data centre battlegrounds and Brittany runs low on tap water

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

French fuel prices risk autumn unrest and the real danger posed by Le Pen

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 wh

Could France really favour the French over foreigners and who derailed the Normandy train?

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

New tipping culture drives the French mad and far-right fractures deepen

On the show this week we'll delve into the almighty squabble that ended with the Eiffel Tower closing this week after angry staff walked out. We’ll also look at the grow

Le Pen's 'vile' election pledge and why French cheese could lose its taste

This week we look ahead to the 2027 presidential election which is edging closer. A new poll this week suggested there's only one winner, but could Marine Le Pen trip her

Food prices, strikes: How the hellish summer has hit life in France

Summer is thankfully almost over and September is upon us, which means it's time for a new series of Talking France. Thanks to you all for tuning in to this podcast, whi

France ravaged by climate crisis as wildfires and drought blight summer

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, drou

Heatwaves, wildfires and border delays: What to expect in France this summer

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 th

French clash over air conditioning and how France became the best place to get naked

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 a

Is France prepared to face more hellish heatwaves and why the French are ruling the World Cup?

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 i

Macron’s swan song, why France is mad for roundabouts and how Lyon became the home of gastronomy

This week we’ll look at whether Emmanuel Macron can land any knock out blows for Europe as he welcomes global leaders including Donald Trump to France for what’s been dub

70,000 outstanding complaints: France rocked by scale of child sexual violence

First up this week we'll look at how the killing of a young girl in south west France has sparked nationwide anger and protests and put the French governent under pressur

Why the violence after football in France and will the French pay up for slavery role?

On this week's episode we will discuss the trouble you can get into in France for being sexist after one man was fined 55,000 euros for an ungentlemanly outburst. We'll

How to live without a car in France and are we facing an insufferably hot summer?

As we recorded this episode, France is baking under a record-breaking May heatwave that has sadly proved deadly - at least seven people having died in incidents linked to