French connections

By FRANCE 24 English

A quirky, insider's guide to understanding France and the French, from the sublime to the ridiculous. Thursday at 1:45pm. And join us for French Connections Plus on the last Thursday

... more

4.8

1010 ratings

Download on the App Store

Download on the App Store

Get it on Google Play

FAQs about French connections:

How many episodes does French connections have?

The podcast currently has 209 episodes available.

French connections episodes:

April 13, 2023 Presidential powers: Is it time for a Sixth Republic in France?
In this edition of French Connections, we focus on a debate that comes up repeatedly in France: does the French president have too much power and if so, should France change its current political system, known as the Fifth Republic? Recently, this question has been back in the spotlight after President Emmanuel Macron forced his controversial pension reform plan through parliament without a vote. FRANCE 24's Florence Villeminot has been looking into the arguments for a Sixth Republic in France.
...more
7min
March 23, 2023 Time-travelling back to France's 'Belle Époque'
In this special history episode of French Connections Plus, we take a deep dive into "la Belle Époque" or "The Beautiful Era", a period in France history straddling the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century. It was a moment of peace and prosperity, technological progress, bubbling creativity and hope in the future. The period also saw deep societal change that laid the foundations of modern-day France. But there was a darker side to "la Belle Époque", as it was marked by great inequality and imperialism. This begs the question: was it really such a beautiful era? We take a closer look.
...more
14min
March 16, 2023 Livret A: Exploring France's favourite nest egg
In this week's show, we take a closer look at money in France, a country where talking about financial matters can be quite taboo. The French have traditionally been big savers. So where does this tendency to stow away cash come from? We put the spotlight on one of the most popular savings options: the Livret A. Created in 1818, eight in ten French people have one of these savings accounts. So who can open one and what's so advantageous about it? We tell you more.
...more
7min
March 03, 2023 Taking a bite out of Lyon, the French and worldwide capital of gastronomy
Located in east-central France, the city of Lyon is famous for its food. Join Florence Villeminot and Genie Godula as they go to a typical local restaurant – known as a "bouchon" – which serves traditional Lyonnaise cuisine, hearty meals where offal is a star and wine is served by the pitcher. They also take you to the restaurant of revered French chef Paul Bocuse, who passed away in 2018. We even learn how to cook frogs' legs thanks to Olivier Couvin, the Michelin-starred chef who's continuing Bocuse's legacy today. This edition of French Connections is a chance to bite into Lyon's food culture and unlock the city's history.
...more
18min
February 23, 2023 Baby bust? France sees historic drop in birth rate
For years, France has been proud of a so-called French exception: its high fertility rate. The country has long been the baby-making champion of Europe, but has seen the number of births fall in recent years. So what's the cause of this "baby bust"? And what are the long-term economic and social consequences for the French population? We take a closer look in this edition of French Connections.
...more
7min
February 16, 2023 Dress code debate: Should French schools have uniforms?
This week, we focus on a recurring debate in France: should uniforms be obligatory in schools? The issue has come up again after the far-right National Rally proposed a bill to make uniforms compulsory in public schools. The bill was rejected but not before getting a surprising boost from First Lady Brigitte Macron. So what is the situation in France? Many want to “bring back” the uniform, but there has never been a law for it, not since France became a republic. So why does it keep coming up?
...more
7min
January 26, 2023 A snapshot of France’s thriving tourism industry
For decades, France has been the world's number one tourist destination, ahead of Spain and the United States. In 2019, nearly 90 million people visited the country. The aim had been to reach 100 million tourists by 2020, but then the Covid-19 pandemic hit. Yet after several tough years, the tourism sector is making a comeback. So what does the future of France's travel trade look like? How can the country avoid being a victim of its success and welcome tourists in a sustainable way? In this episode of French Connections Plus, Florence Villeminot and Genie Godula take a snapshot of France's thriving tourism industry.
...more
14min
January 19, 2023 Born to revolt? Why the French go on strike
This Thursday, much of France is grinding to a halt due to a nationwide general strike over pension reform. It begs the question: is striking typically French? Although French people arguably have striking down to a fine art, on closer inspection, the figures debunk the myth. So why is the stereotype of a nation on strike so hard to shake off? We tell you more in this edition of French Connections.
...more
7min
January 05, 2023 Pension conundrum: Why is it so complicated to reform France's retirement system?
France's pension system is an emotional and divisive issue. Critics say it's an expensive and complex burden for the French economy, while defenders say it's a treasure that needs protecting. Attempts to reform it (and there have been many) have driven a cross-section of French society into the street and ground the country to a halt. President Emmanuel Macron came to power in 2017 with the promise of streamlining the pension system. His initial plan was sidelined by the Covid-19 pandemic but he's determined to push through changes during his second term. Will he manage where others have failed? We take a closer look in this edition of French Connections.
...more
7min
December 15, 2022 Should abortion rights be enshrined in the French constitution?
In this week's French Connections, Genie Godula and French Connections take a closer look at what French law says about abortion and contraception, in light of some new developments. Recently, the government made contraception and condoms completely free for anyone under the age of 26. Meanwhile, the morning-after pill has become free for all women. With abortion rights moving backwards in the US, Poland and Hungary, there have been calls to enshrine these rights in the French constitution. But while a majority of French people support the idea, changing the constitution is a complex affair.
...more
7min

FAQs about French connections:

How many episodes does French connections have?

The podcast currently has 209 episodes available.

More shows like French connections

TED Radio Hour by NPR

TED Radio Hour

21,808 Listeners

The New Yorker Radio Hour by WNYC Studios and The New Yorker

The New Yorker Radio Hour

6,827 Listeners

Global News Podcast by BBC World Service

Global News Podcast

7,617 Listeners

In Our Time by BBC Radio 4

In Our Time

5,524 Listeners

Join Us in France Travel Podcast by Annie Sargent

Join Us in France Travel Podcast

1,044 Listeners

News in Slow French (Intermediate) by Linguistica 360

News in Slow French (Intermediate)

501 Listeners

Podcast Francais Authentique by Johan Tekfak

Podcast Francais Authentique

507 Listeners

Le journal de 8H00 by France Culture

Le journal de 8H00

17 Listeners

arts24 by FRANCE 24 English

arts24

4 Listeners

People & Profit by FRANCE 24 English

People & Profit

0 Listeners

Access Asia by FRANCE 24 English

Access Asia

0 Listeners

Talking Europe by FRANCE 24 English

Talking Europe

2 Listeners

Géopolitique by France Inter

Géopolitique

194 Listeners

The 51% by FRANCE 24 English

The 51%

1 Listeners

Fashion by FRANCE 24 English

Fashion

21 Listeners

Tech 24 by FRANCE 24 English

Tech 24

4 Listeners

Down to Earth by FRANCE 24 English

Down to Earth

0 Listeners

Business by FRANCE 24 English

Business

4 Listeners

The Debate by FRANCE 24 English

The Debate

21 Listeners

Inside the Americas by FRANCE 24 English

Inside the Americas

6 Listeners

Europe Rendezvous by FRANCE 24 English

Europe Rendezvous

5 Listeners

The World This Week by FRANCE 24 English

The World This Week

37 Listeners

Advanced French by News in Slow French

Advanced French

104 Listeners

Reporters by FRANCE 24 English

Reporters

3 Listeners

Focus by FRANCE 24 English

Focus

4 Listeners

by FRANCE 24 English

5 Listeners

France in focus by FRANCE 24 English

France in focus

4 Listeners

Banlieue Project by FRANCE 24 English

Banlieue Project

1 Listeners

The Observers by FRANCE 24 English

The Observers

0 Listeners

Press Review by FRANCE 24 English

Press Review

0 Listeners

The Observers Direct by FRANCE 24 English

The Observers Direct

0 Listeners

Easy French: Learn French through authentic conversations | Conversations authentiques pour apprendre le français by Hélène & Judith

Easy French: Learn French through authentic conversations | Conversations authentiques pour apprendre le français

217 Listeners

Talking France by The Local France

Talking France

73 Listeners

Escargot - News & Culture in Simple French by Escargot Simple French

Escargot - News & Culture in Simple French

71 Listeners

Une semaine dans le monde by FRANCE 24

Une semaine dans le monde

48 Listeners