In this episode of Living the Dream: French Riviera, host Cecile Liconnet is joined by Melanie Morcom, a corporate event planner from London turned owner of a health and wellness coaching studio in the South of France.

Mel tells Cecile about the situations that led to her move to France, the difficulties that came with establishing her studio in a foreign country and a moment that marked her relocating journey.

For more than two centuries, a rumour has clung to this monument that inside the body of Henri IV, sealed in the hollow of the bronze, there’s something that doesn’t belong to him at all. A secret hidden during the Restoration, a political joke, or maybe an act of quiet revenge. Find out once and for all in this episode.

The episode explores Jade Genin's path to carving out her own identity separately from her famous father, Jacques Genin. They discuss what she does differently at her shop on Avenue de l'Opéra, how she sources her beans, flavor selections, the challenges of running a boutique, and ethical questions surrounding the production and pricing of craft chocolate.

Life on the French Riviera is often seen as the ultimate dream. But behind the sunshine and glamour lies the challenge of building a sustainable life. The Living the Dream podcast, hosted by Cecile Liconnet, shares the bold and authentic stories of women who have made the move, navigating work, reinvention, and cultural shifts while creating new lives by the sea and sun.

Here are few of the cultural recommendations broadcast this month on WRP. Hope you find them useful !

In this episode of Turning Points, Patricia Killeen welcomed Franco-Irish soprano Fiona

Fauchois. Fiona began her musical training as a pianist in Paris while studying art history at

the École du Louvre, before studying voice with Frédéric Gindraux at the Haute École de

Musique de Lausanne.

Her repertoire ranges from early music to contemporary works, including Stravinsky,

Schoenberg and Gérard Pesson. In 2024, she sang Tatiana in Tchaikovsky’s Eugene

Onegin. That year she was also awarded ‘Best Contemporary Performance’ at the

Kattenburg Competition.

Fiona often creates performances combining different art forms. Her production Sorelle,

inspired by the paintings of Artemisia Gentileschi and music by pioneering female

composers, won first prize in the Osez! creation competition.

She regularly performs with pianist Nataliya Nikolskaya, with whom she explores twentieth-

century art songs for voice and piano.

Having recently completed her voice studies in Lausanne, Fiona has returned to Paris and

will also go to Dublin in November to perform in Carmen with the Irish National Opera.

On 21 September, Fiona and Nataliya will perform Uisce – A Tale of Salt and Wood at the

Centre Culturel Irlandais (CCI), Paris 75005, at an event organised by the Cercle Littéraire

Irlandais.

Created by Fiona, the performance combines songs by Samuel Barber and Benjamin Britten

with spoken words from writer Kathleen Handrick’s fictional piece, Michael Rogers,

Seanchaí: Monologue. Rogers was a seanchaí (storyteller) interned at Frongoch in 1916.

As a musical prelude, flautist Ilona Csibi-Lockhart, formerly of the Royal Irish Academy of

Music and Trinity College Dublin, will play a very innovative rendition of The Foggy Dew,

bringing us back to the Easter Rising.

Uisce – A Tale of Salt and Wood, 21 September at 19:00 in the Chapelle Saint-Patrick, (CCI)

is a free event. Register on this link to attend:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/uisce-a-tale-of-salt-and-wood-tickets-

1999165844858?aff=oddtdtcreator

Photo credit : Romane Carbonnel

This week on Where to Go Out in Paris, Ma! Le Bouillon Chic Italien takes the spotlight: A stylish Italian twist on the traditional Parisian bouillon, serving generous and comforting Italian dishes in a lively yet elegant atmosphere. Perfect for relaxed dinners, sharing plates with friends, or enjoying classic flavours with a modern Parisian touch — just steps from Richelieu–Drouot.

This week on Book Talk with Clara, The Dead Romantics takes the spotlight: A heartwarming blend of romance, magical realism, and family drama that explores love, grief, and second chances. Emotional, comforting, and surprisingly funny, it's a story that gently reminds us that the people we lose may never truly leave us.

This week on Book Talk with Clara, How to Fall Out of Love Madly takes the spotlight: A witty and emotionally honest novel about heartbreak, healing, and rediscovering yourself after a relationship ends. Funny, relatable, and full of hope, it's a thoughtful reminder that sometimes the most important love story is the one you have with yourself.

The modern charcuterie board may be beautiful, but it isn't particularly French.

This week, Caroline and Emily unpack the world of French charcuterie, from saucisson and jambon to pâté, rillettes, and pâté croûte. They explain why cheese and charcuterie were traditionally served separately, how regional pork traditions shaped French cuisine, and why the Instagram charcuterie board would surprise many French diners.