Talking France artwork

News Commentary · The Local France

Talking France

by The Local France

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 and Emma Albright. They are also frequently joined by John Lichfield, a veteran journalist whose knowledge of French news and politics is second to none, as well as other expert commentators.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Chart trend

Position in the News Commentary chart (US), last 90 days.

#102
all-time peak
149
days in the top 200 since Nov 2024

Latest episodes

Showing 20 · updated from the feed

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

Sep 2
40 min

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

Aug 25
27 min

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

Jul 29
20 min

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

Jul 9
17 min

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

Jul 1
35 min

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

Jun 24
37 min

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

Jun 16
31 min

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

Jun 10
37 min

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

Jun 3
32 min

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

May 27
30 min

France frets over contaminated baguettes and how to avoid renovation nightmares

This week we'll find out why it's all kicked off at the famous Cannes film festival. In one corner of the ring we have hundreds of French film stars, directors and indust

May 20
40 min

The €16 million French château scam and why 2027 could be a ‘scary’ year in France?

This week we’ll find out why France might be about to ditch rent controls in cities including the capital Paris, how foreigners in France have been hit by outages to key

May 12
29 min

France's new anti-mosquito measures and where the French go for good food

This week we’ll hear about how France is under siege from mosquitoes and the new and old ways being used to fight back - including what you can do to keep them out of you

May 5
27 min

France takes on Musk and will French airports run out of jet fuel this summer?

On this week’s show we’ll find out why a story involving French prosecutors, a rabbit and the US tech billionaire and far right crusader Elon Musk made headlines in Franc

Apr 22
36 min

France to lose 1.7million children and far right photoshoot causes stir

In this week's show we'll find out why the rules around France's sacred May 1st public holiday have sparked a political row to the point where some lawmakers have accused

Apr 15
36 min

French tax traps you need to avoid and why Paris is divided in two

This week we'll find out whether France is running out of fuel or not and get the latest on how expensive it is to fill up your tank here. We'll hear about a cautionary

Apr 9
36 min

Oil crisis fuels French anger and is France sleepwalking into a far-right presidency?

On this week’s show we’ll find out how the war in the Middle East is impacting life in France as fuel prices rise and protests kick off around the country. What can the

Mar 31
32 min

The verdict on what the local election results mean for France

We are out earlier than usual this week in order to bring you the results and analysis of the 2026 French local elections. The definitive second round vote was held on S

Mar 23
21 min

Tense French elections head for super Sunday climax and five French towns worth moving to

The Local’s Talking France podcast is attracting more and more listeners each week and we currently have over 12,000 monthly downloads on average. If your company would l

Mar 17
40 min

Why the French local elections really matter and Macron walks Middle East tightrope

This week, well the news in France has been dominated by the war in the Middle East. We'll explain the ongoing impact that the conflict is having on daily life here and w

Mar 10
35 min

Chart positions

Where Talking France ranks today in each Apple Podcasts chart (US, Sep 4, 2026).

#161 NEW News Commentary US

More podcasts like Talking France

Popular shows in News Commentary, for your next listen.

Browse charts by category

Daily updated Apple Podcasts rankings for the United States.

About Talking France on Reason.fm

Here you find the Apple Podcasts chart positions of Talking France, its latest episodes to listen to directly, and reviews from listeners. Rankings are updated daily for the United States.

Contact

Questions or issues? Reach us at hello@reason.fm

0:000:00