Chouchou — le français par la culture.

9 — LE CHOUCHOU DE LA SEMAINE : CLAUDE DEBUSSY 🇫🇷🎹

In this episode, I introduce you to Claude Debussy, my favorite classical composer — and the very personal reason his music has stayed with me.

From Clair de lune and the Deux Arabesques to La Mer and Pelléas et Mélisande, we explore the French composer who transformed the way music could evoke color, atmosphere and emotion.

And there’s a particularly special connection to Chouchou : Debussy’s daughter, Claude-Emma, was affectionately known as “Chouchou.”

In this episode:

• Claude Debussy
• Clair de lune
• The Deux Arabesques
• The Paris Conservatoire and Prix de Rome
• Stéphane Mallarmé and French poetry
• The 1889 Paris Exposition
• The influence of Javanese gamelan
• La Mer and Pelléas et Mélisande
• Claude-Emma, “Chouchou”
• My grandmother and my personal connection to Debussy
• How music can travel from one generation to another

🎧 For B1–B2 French learners: discover one of France’s most important composers while practicing your listening through music, culture and a personal story.

Already C1–C2? Try listening at a slightly faster speed. 😉

Cette semaine, petit détour par le disquaire Babaluma — retrouvez-les sur Instagram : @babaluma_paris

Hébergé par Ausha. Visitez ausha.co/politique-de-confidentialite pour plus d'informations.

8 — LE CHOUCHOU DE LA SEMAINE : OMAR SY 🇫🇷🎬

In this episode, I introduce you to Omar Sy, one of the most charismatic and internationally recognized actors in contemporary French cinema.

But this one is personal. I didn’t discover Omar Sy through Intouchables. I discovered him while I was sick with Covid in early 2023 — stuck in bed and completely falling into Lupin. Suddenly, I had Paris, mystery, elegance, elaborate heists… and Omar Sy to keep me company. 😂

From Omar et Fred and Intouchables to Hollywood and his international success as Assane Diop in Lupin, we explore his career, versatility and unique screen presence.

In this episode:

• Omar Sy

• Omar et Fred

• Intouchables

• His César-winning performance

• Hollywood, X-Men and Jurassic World

• Lupin and Assane Diop

• Arsène Lupin and Maurice Leblanc

• Acting, transformation and physical comedy

• Paris as a character in Lupin

• His work as a producer

• My very personal discovery of Lupin

• And the return of Lupin on October 23, 2026
  

🎧 For B1–B2 French learners: practice your listening while discovering one of France’s biggest contemporary stars and hearing plenty of natural, everyday French.

Already C1–C2? Try listening at a slightly faster speed. 😉

Cette semaine, petit détour par ForTape Studios — retrouvez-les sur Instagram : @fortape.studio

Hébergé par Ausha. Visitez ausha.co/politique-de-confidentialite pour plus d'informations.

7 — LE CHOUCHOU DE LA SEMAINE : Nora Hamzawi 😂

In this episode, I introduce you to Nora Hamzawi, one of the most distinctive voices in contemporary French comedy — comedian, actress, writer, and radio and television personality.

But this episode is also a little personal.

I discovered Nora in 2021, when I was living in New York and desperately missing Paris. During a summer trip back to France, I bought her book 35 ans avant internet. A few years later, after moving back to Paris, I finally saw her perform live on October 11, 2025 — just a few days after my birthday, as a little birthday gift to myself.

We explore Nora’s observational humor, her wonderfully everyday French, and the way she transforms anxiety, relationships, family, work, and the tiny absurdities of daily life into comedy.

And because Nora speaks the way people actually speak — quickly, naturally, with irony, rhythm, and lots of conversational expressions — she’s also a great way to practice listening to real spoken French.

In this episode:

• Nora HamzawI

• 35 ans avant internet

• Everyday French and conversational expressions

• Irony, rhythm, and humor

• Her work in radio, television, and cinema

• Grâce à Dieu and Tout simplement noir

• Why comedians can be excellent language teachers

• My New York-to-Paris story

• Seeing Nora perform live in Paris

• And how a book, a comedian, and a city became part of my own life story

🎧 For B1–B2 French learners: practice listening to natural, everyday French while discovering one of France’s most distinctive comedians. And if Nora is going a little too fast… don’t hesitate to slow down the playback. 😉

Already C1–C2? Try listening at a slightly faster speed.

🎧 Un nouveau chouchou chaque samedi — 12 AM Los Angeles • 3 AM New York • 9h Paris
✨ Avec quelques dates exceptionnelles.

Cette semaine, petit détour par Café des Délices — retrouvez-les sur Instagram : @lecafedesdelices_paris

Hébergé par Ausha. Visitez ausha.co/politique-de-confidentialite pour plus d'informations.

6 — LE CHOUCHOU DE LA SEMAINE : Daniel Filipacchi 📻🇫🇷

What if I told you that the name of this podcast was inspired by a legendary French radio show from the 1960s?

In this episode, I introduce you to Daniel Filipacchi — photographer, journalist, radio host, publisher and art collector, and one of the creators and the host of Salut les Copains.

While discovering his story, I came across a little segment called “Le chouchou de la semaine” — the favorite of the week — and suddenly, I had the concept for this podcast.

So this episode is also the story of how Chouchou was born.

In this episode:

• Daniel Filipacchi and his beginnings in jazz
• Europe 1 and Pour ceux qui aiment le jazz
• The creation of Salut les Copains
• French youth culture in the 1960s
• Johnny Hallyday, Sylvie Vartan, Françoise Hardy and Jacques Dutronc
• “Le chouchou de la semaine” — the segment that inspired this podcast
• My visit to La Belle Ferronnière, a Paris café once frequented by the Salut les Copains team
• And how an old radio show, two books, a Parisian library and a slightly obsessive curiosity eventually gave birth to Chouchou. 😏

🎧 For B1–B2 French learners: discover a fascinating figure in French cultural history while practicing your listening through a very personal story.

Already C1–C2? Try listening at a slightly faster speed. 😉

🎧 Un nouveau chouchou chaque samedi — 12 AM Los Angeles • 3 AM New York • 9h Paris
✨ Avec quelques dates exceptionnelles.

Cette semaine, petit détour par For Tape Studios — retrouvez-les sur Instagram : @fortape.studio

Hébergé par Ausha. Visitez ausha.co/politique-de-confidentialite pour plus d'informations.

5 — LE CHOUCHOU DE LA SEMAINE : Gad Elmaleh 🇫🇷🇲🇦

In this episode, I introduce you to Gad Elmaleh, one of the most popular comedians in France.
Born in Casablanca, Gad moved to Paris in the 1990s and built a career in stand-up and film — eventually taking his comedy to New York and trying his hand at the American comedy scene.

In this episode:

• Gad Elmaleh
• Casablanca and his beginnings in show business
• Cours Florent
• Décalages and La Vie Normale
• Brian is in the kitchen 😂
• Humor, cultural differences and everyday life
• Hors de prix with Audrey Tautou
• His American adventure
• Stand-up and his comedy clubs
• Family and the influence of his parents
• Why Gad remains one of my favorite French comedians

For B1–B2 French learners: discover an important figure in contemporary French comedy while practicing your listening through humor, culture and natural French.
Already C1–C2? Try listening a little faster.

🎧 Un nouveau chouchou chaque samedi — 12 AM Los Angeles • 3 AM New York • 9h Paris
✨ Avec quelques dates exceptionnelles.

Cette semaine, petit détour par JM Vidéo — retrouvez-les sur Instagram : @jmvideoparis

Hébergé par Ausha. Visitez ausha.co/politique-de-confidentialite pour plus d'informations.

4 — LE CHOUCHOU DE LA SEMAINE : Brigitte Bardot 🇫🇷🎬🐾

In this episode, I introduce you to Brigitte Bardot — actress, singer, internationally renowned beauty, and one of the most recognizable faces of French cinema.
From Et Dieu… créa la femme and her legendary musical collaborations with Serge Gainsbourg to her extraordinary decision to leave acting at the height of her fame and devote the rest of her life to animal protection, we explore the many sides of Brigitte Bardot.

And the timing couldn’t be better: this episode arrives just two days before Brigitte Bardot’s birthday on September 28. 🎂

In this episode:

• Brigitte Bardot

• Et Dieu… créa la femme

• Roger Vadim

• Serge Gainsbourg

• Comic Strip & Contact

• Je t’aime… moi non plus

• French cinema and music in the 1960s

• Her decision to leave acting in 1973

• Animal protection and the Fondation Brigitte Bardot

• Fame, controversy and the complexity of a cultural icon

• My own connection to animal protection

• My dream of adopting a dog from the Fondation Brigitte Bardot 🐶

For B1–B2 French learners: discover one of the most famous figures in French popular culture while practicing your listening through cinema, music and a personal story.
Already C1–C2? Try listening a little faster.

🎧 Un nouveau chouchou chaque samedi — 12 AM Los Angeles • 3 AM New York • 9h Paris
✨ Avec quelques dates exceptionnelles.

Cette semaine, petit détour par La Cinémathèque Française — retrouvez-les sur Instagram : @cinemathequefr

Hébergé par Ausha. Visitez ausha.co/politique-de-confidentialite pour plus d'informations.

3 — LE CHOUCHOU DE LA SEMAINE : Jean-Pierre Jeunet 🇫🇷🎬

In this episode, I introduce you to Jean-Pierre Jeunet, the filmmaker behind Delicatessen and Amélie.
We explore his wonderfully strange cinematic universe — colorful, dark, funny, poetic and obsessively detailed — as well as his unexpected journey to Hollywood with Alien: Resurrection.

In this episode:

• Jean-Pierre Jeunet

• Delicatessen

• Amélie

• Alien: Resurrection

• Paris and Montmartre

• His visual universe and attention to detail

• Acting and unforgettable characters

For B1–B2 French learners: discover one of France’s most distinctive filmmakers while practicing your listening through cinema, culture and natural French.
Already C1–C2? Try listening a little faster.

🎧 Un nouveau chouchou chaque samedi — 12 AM Los Angeles • 3 AM New York • 9h Paris
✨ Avec quelques dates exceptionnelles.

Cette semaine, petit détour par Vidéothèque — retrouvez-les sur Instagram : @videotheque 

Hébergé par Ausha. Visitez ausha.co/politique-de-confidentialite pour plus d'informations.

2 — LE CHOUCHOU DE LA SEMAINE : Kavinsky 🇫🇷🚗🌃

In this episode, I introduce you to Kavinsky, the French electronic artist behind Nightcall — and the unforgettable sound of Drive.

We explore his connection to the French Touch, his cinematic universe of cars, neon lights and 1980s American culture, and the surprising connections between Daft Punk, CSS, AIR and the French electronic scene.

We also talk about his performance at the 2024 Paris Olympics and why Nightcall has become so much more than a song: for me, it’s the soundtrack to a very specific time, place and feeling.

In this episode:

• Kavinsky / Vincent Belorgey
• Nightcall
• Drive and Ryan Gosling
• The French Touch and French electronic music
• Daft Punk and Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo
• Lovefoxxx and CSS
• AIR and the surprising connection to CSS
• The 2024 Paris Olympics
• Cars, neon, cinema and 1980s aesthetics
• Why Nightcall became iconic
• Why sometimes a song can become a movie in your head

For B1–B2 French learners: discover one of the most cinematic figures in French electronic music while practicing your listening through music, cinema and pop culture.

Already C1–C2? Try listening a little faster.

🎧 Un nouveau chouchou chaque samedi — 12 AM Los Angeles • 3 AM New York • 9h Paris
✨ Avec quelques dates exceptionnelles.

Cette semaine, petit détour par La Filmothèque du Quartier Latin — retrouvez-les sur Instagram : @lafilmothequeduquartierlatin

Hébergé par Ausha. Visitez ausha.co/politique-de-confidentialite pour plus d'informations.

1 — LE CHOUCHOU DE LA SEMAINE : AIR 🇫🇷🎧

In this episode, I introduce you to AIR, the legendary French electronic duo from Versailles — and probably my favorite musical group in the world.

From Premiers Symptômes and Moon Safari to Talkie Walkie, we explore the dreamy, cinematic sound of Nicolas Godin and Jean-Benoît Dunckel, their place in the French Touch, and their extraordinary international career.

But this episode is also personal.

After years living in New York and Los Angeles, AIR’s music became the soundtrack to my return to France — and, perhaps, my good-luck charm. 😉

In this episode:

• AIR, Nicolas Godin & Jean-Benoît Dunckel
• Versailles and the French Touch
• Premiers Symptômes, Moon Safari & Talkie Walkie
• Some of my favorite AIR songs
• Seeing AIR live in Philadelphia, New York and Paris
• My years in New York and Los Angeles
• Music as the soundtrack to a life
• How AIR helped bring me back to France

For B1–B2 French learners: discover one of France’s most iconic electronic groups while practicing your listening through music, culture and a very personal story.

Already C1–C2? Try listening a little faster.

🎧 Un nouveau chouchou chaque samedi — 12 AM Los Angeles • 3 AM New York • 9h Paris
✨ Avec quelques dates exceptionnelles.

Cette semaine, petit détour par Chair de Poule — retrouvez-les sur Instagram : @chair_de_poule_bar

Hébergé par Ausha. Visitez ausha.co/politique-de-confidentialite pour plus d'informations.

Tu apprends le français et tu as envie de mieux comprendre le français parlé naturellement ?

Bienvenue dans Chouchou — Le français par la culture, un podcast principalement destiné aux apprenants de français de niveau B1 à B2.

Chaque semaine, viens découvrir l’histoire d’un de mes chouchous de la culture française : une personnalité, une œuvre ou un artiste qui a marqué la France.

🎧 Premier épisode : samedi 5 septembre 2026.

Retrouvez Chouchou sur Instagram : @chouchou_podcast

Hébergé par Ausha. Visitez ausha.co/politique-de-confidentialite pour plus d'informations.