The North American Francophone Podcast

Bonjour Détroit! Francophone Detroit Today

What does it mean to be Francophone in Detroit today? Claire-Marie Brisson, Ph.D., is joined by Mélissa Baril and Sean Gordon of Bonjour Détroit, two icons of Metro Detroit's French-speaking community. Mélissa, originally from Quebec, founded Bonjour Détroit and the French children's library Le Caribou à Lunettes. Sean, a Downriver native with French-Canadian roots, teaches for Detroit Public Schools Community District.

They talk about the many Francophone communities that make up Detroit today: Haitian, Lebanese, Burundian, Congolese, Moroccan, French, Belgian and Québécois. They also discuss why French in Michigan isn't "far away" but right next door, and how the Michigan Francophone Games (les Jeux de la Francophonie) brought 200 high schoolers together to discover that speaking French is fun. Plus: Épelle-moi Michigan, the state's first French spelling bee, a Francophone mural and archive project, and the dream of a Francophone cultural center in Detroit.

Connect with Bonjour Détroit at bonjourdetroit.org and @bonjourdetroitmi on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.
Find Claire-Marie at thefrancophone.com.

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In 2026, Detroit turns 325... older than the United States itself! But before Motown, before the assembly line, before the great fire of 1805, Detroit was simply a French word for a stretch of water: le détroit, the strait, the place where the river narrows.

In this episode of The North American Francophone Podcast, Dr. Claire-Marie Brisson traces the waves of Frenchness that shaped the city and never quite left - from Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac's 1701 landing at Fort Pontchartrain to her own family's arrival from Quebec, by way of Ontario, in 1948.

Along the way, she returns to the sage-colored walls of her childhood bedroom in Dearborn, and remembers her neighbor, asking what it means to carry a Francophone memory in a place most people "fly over."

Her forthcoming book, Michiganaise (Wayne State University Press), arrives in early 2027. Have a story to share? Reach her at thefrancophone.com.

Join the interest list for my forthcoming book Michiganaise: Tracing Francophone Identity in the Great Lakes!

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EN: A special bilingual conversation with Benjamin Turlay of OnlyLyon on representing Lyon in the U.S., fostering economic connections, and bridging French and American work cultures — with a look at the role of Francophone communities in strengthening transatlantic ties.

FR: Une conversation bilingue avec Benjamin Turlay de OnlyLyon sur la représentation de Lyon aux États-Unis, l’attractivité économique et le dialogue entre cultures professionnelles françaises et américaines — avec un regard sur le rôle des communautés francophones dans les liens transatlantiques.

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In this episode of the North American Francophone Podcast, we dive into the journey of Micah McCreary, a third-year Harvard Law student with roots in Arizona and a passion for the French language. From his unexpected start in French studies at Arizona State University to his role as co-president of Harvard Law’s Francophone Society, Micah shares his experiences navigating multiple cultures, languages, and academic paths. Together, we explore the complexities of Francophone identity beyond France, the challenges of sustaining language programs in the U.S., and the unique perspectives that language brings to the field of law. Join us as we discuss what it means to be a Francophone in North America and why embracing this identity can open doors far beyond borders.

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The University of Toledo's recent decision to suspend the French and German programs has sparked widespread debate. This episode delves into the impact of this decision with special guests Dr. Linda Rouillard, Faculty Senate President, Ohio Faculty Council Chair, and Professor of French in the Department of World Languages and Cultures and Dr. Ruth A. Hottell, Professor Emerita of French and Chevalier de l'Ordre des Palmes Académiques.

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Tim Beaulieu, the founder of New Hampshire's beloved Poutinefest, and Dr. Claire-Marie Brisson, a passionate language advocate, join forces to explore the challenges facing French programs in schools from elementary schools to universities.

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In this episode, Pierre Lavoie and Claire-Marie Brisson discuss Mille après mille: Célébrité et migrations dans le Nord-Est américain, celebrities, migration, and Franco-American culture.

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In this episode, Claire-Marie Brisson, PhD dialogues with Patrick Litanga, PhD and James Natsis, PhD. Patrick and James are the hosts of the podcast Récits Francophones au Cœur de l'Amérique, recorded in Louisville, Kentucky entirely in French.

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Join (now) Dr. Claire-Marie Brisson as she launches the second season of The North American Francophone Podcast! Published 12 December 2022.

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Tune in to hear an interview with Dr. Nathan Rabalais - author, filmmaker, and Fellow for the Center for Louisiana Studies - as host Claire-Marie Brisson asks about the many ways he has contributed to (and continues to contribute to) the North American Francophonie.

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