In this episode, WizCate and I talk about the French books that shaped who she is today. From childhood classics to stories she discovered later in life, these books reveal not only great storytelling but also a glimpse into French culture, history, and how people’s values evolve over time.

Books have an incredible power to influence our lives. They introduce us to different worlds, challenge our thinking, and sometimes stay with us for decades.

Cate shares the titles that left a lasting impression on her growing up in France. Many of these stories capture life in the “old world” of France and reflect the social changes that shaped generations.

We’ve included her full reading list at the end of the episode notes. If you haven’t read them yet, consider checking them out from your local library.

What about you?
Which book shaped the way you see the world?

Tag someone who needs a new reading list, and let’s celebrate the books that helped shape who we are.

Books discussed in this episode include works by Émile Zola, Victor Hugo, Alexandre Dumas, Jules Verne, Albert Camus, Antoine de Saint-Exupéry and more.

📚 Books Mentioned in This EpisodeÉmile Zola — Les Rougon-Macquart Cycle (20 novels)

Including:

• La Fortune des Rougon

• L’Assommoir

• Nana

• Au Bonheur des Dames (The Ladies' Paradise)

• Germinal

• La Bête Humaine (The Beast Within)

• L’Argent (Money)

• La Débâcle

• Le Docteur Pascal

Guy de Maupassant

• Bel-Ami

• Pierre et Jean

• Boule de Suif

• La Parure (The Necklace)

• Le Horla

• Les Misérables

• Notre-Dame de Paris (The Hunchback of Notre-Dame)

• Le Comte de Monte-Cristo (The Count of Monte Cristo)

• Les Trois Mousquetaires (The Three Musketeers)

• La Dame aux Camélias (The Lady of the Camellias)

Victor Hugo

• Les Misérables

• Notre-Dame de Paris (The Hunchback of Notre-Dame)

Alexandre Dumas

• Le Comte de Monte-Cristo (The Count of Monte Cristo)

• Les Trois Mousquetaires (The Three Musketeers)

• La Dame aux Camélias (The Lady of the Camellias)

Jules Verne

• Vingt mille lieues sous les mers (Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea)

• Le Tour du monde en quatre-vingts jours (Around the World in Eighty Days)

• Voyage au centre de la Terre (Journey to the Center of the Earth)

Honoré de Balzac

• Le Père Goriot

Albert Camus

• L’Étranger (The Stranger)

Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

• Le Petit Prince (The Little Prince)

Medieval Arthurian Literature

• Chrétien de Troyes

• Perceval ou le Conte du Graal

• Lancelot

• Yvain

• Tristan et Iseult

Medieval Travel Chronicle

• William of Rubruck
• Itinerarium

French & European Comics (Bandes Dessinées)

• Tintin

• Astérix

• Lucky Luke

• Les Schtroumpfs (The Smurfs)

• The Incal

Join Ronit and WizCate as they casually explore Chinese astrology through the Fire Horse and Fire Goat signs. From personality traits and elemental influence to cultural superstitions in the Chinese zodiac, this episode is less textbook and more honest conversation — with plenty of personal insights and “wait… that’s so me” moments.

No experts. Just opinion

Keywords:

• Chinese astrology

• Chinese zodiac

• Fire Horse

• Fire Goat

• Zodiac traits

• Cultural superstitions

WizCate and Ronit dive into Chinese New Year traditions — from old wives’ tales to family rituals that may sound strange… but somehow still work.

Through Ronit’s personal stories and cultural context, we explore the superstitions that shape the Lunar New Year. No sweeping. No shoe shopping. No crying. But plenty of laughter.

How much of it is tradition? How much is belief? And how much is just human psychology?

Topics Covered:

• Chinese New Year traditions• Lunar New Year superstitions• Cultural symbolism and old wives’ tales• Why you shouldn’t buy shoes during Chinese New Year• The psychology behind superstition

#ChineseNewYear#LunarNewYear#ChineseTraditions#CulturalPodcast#Superstitions#HopelesslyUnedited

In last week’s episode, we made an unedited decision on the fly — just as Rich was about to respond to Cate’s scientific skepticism about UFOs… we hit stop.

This episode picks up exactly where we left off.

Rich explains why he believes there’s more going on than people realize. Cate pushes back with logic, data, and hard science.

So what actually counts as evidence?
What counts as belief?
Is there a middle ground between curiosity and irrationality… between skepticism and closed-mindedness?

And then we go there.

How much does Elon Musk really know?

I asked. Rich answered.

No scripts. No edits. Just three adults trying to make sense of the unknown.

Part II of our UFO debate starts now.

Summary

We are discussing UFO with Rich Cranor. Rich lives an extraordinary life. He goes from the tech industry to filmmaking and music, while delving into the intriguing world of UFOs and government disclosures. We discussed the societal shifts post-2001, the acknowledgment of UFOs by the government, and perhaps even deep state involvement in UFO technology. Rich also touches on ancient alien theories and the skepticism surrounding the lack of concrete proof. The conversation emphasizes the importance of open discourse on these topics and the need for curiosity in understanding our place in the universe.

n this episode, Ronit and WizCate admit something controversial: not every wildly popular book or movie deserves universal praise.

From Avatar to The Pillars of the Earth and the ever-polarizing Outlander, they talk through what worked, what didn’t, and why “everyone loves it” isn’t a good enough reason to force yourself through a story.

Honest opinions, no literary guilt, and a gentle reminder that entertainment doesn’t have to be universally loved to be worth discussing.

Martial arts—aka Kung Fu—films are a cornerstone of Asian cinema and wildly different from Western action movies. From absurd humor and gravity-defying fantasy to poetic storytelling and deep emotional themes, the genre does it all.

In this episode, WizCate and Ronit explore two very different classics: the fun, silly, action-packed Shaolin Soccer and the award-winning masterpiece Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.

Watch Shaolin Soccer free on Pluto TV (Spanish dub) or rent on Amazon Prime Video. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon is available on HBO Max.

Seen them? Tell us what you think in the comments or email us at [email protected]

WizCate and I decided to chitchat about U.S. box hits that were remakes of French films. With our resident Frenchwoman, we talk about the French cult classic La Cage aux Folles and its American remake, The Birdcage.

Did you know Three Men and a Baby was a remake of the French film Trois hommes et un couffin?

How different are the remakes? Listen or watch to find out.

In this episode, WizCate and I talk about the things that still give us culture shock after decades of working in corporate America.Some of it gets a little heavy and annoying, and some of it is funny but all real.If you have a corporate moment that makes you laugh (or cringe), send it to [email protected]. We’d love to share it and laugh with you.

WizCate and I explore our cultures through food. Ronit puts WizCate’s food IQ and tolerance to the test by asking her to identify ingredients from photos of Chinese dishes. WizCate then flips the script, sharing photos of some of Ronit’s favorite French dishes and the stories behind them.

We’d love to hear your thoughts and feedback!