Everything you want to know about France and more… in a free podcast. Janine Marsh, Editor of The Good Life France, award-winning travel writer and author of best-selling memoirs about life in France with her unruly chickens, dogs, cats, ducks and geese, quirky neighbours and the joys of renovation, and Olivier Jauffrit, the vintage French music expert at Radio Paris Chanson – have teamed up to make a podcast!
…
continue reading
Hey 👋 I'm Rob and welcome to Codewords, a podcast for developers by developers. Join us for an informal coffee chat with code newbies, senior engineers and more. Wherever you are on your unique coding journey, we’ve got you covered.
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
#54 - Napoleon Bonaparte – the man, the legend, the weird stuff!
20:36
20:36
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
20:36
In this episode we explore the life of a truly legendary figure. He died more than 200 years ago but his legacy is as relevant in France today as it was then. He was one of the most powerful men in the world. He was loved by some, hated with a passion by his enemies. He was a complicated man, who from modest beginnings on the island of Corsica rose…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
#53 - Empress of Style: the Life and Legacy of Josephine Bonaparte
16:54
16:54
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
16:54
Step back in history to look at the life of a women who helped to shape the history of France. She is remembered for her personal style and influence. She was an icon of fashion, a patron of the arts, and the first Empress of France. She was married to one of the most powerful men in the world. And from humble beginnings on the island of Martinique…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
#52 - All about Victor Hugo, including the odd stuff!
17:16
17:16
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
17:16
We look at the life of one of France’s most famous writers – Victor Hugo. He was a genius writer, a most unusual man who lived an extraordinary life. His writing lives on, his books are still best sellers, his writing has inspired films, musicals and plays, one of his books saved the great Gothic Cathedral of Notre-Dame from being left to rot, and …
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
#51 - How the French Riviera became popular!
15:48
15:48
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
15:48
Today we’re setting sail for the French Riviera as English speakers call it, the Cote d’Azur as French speakers call it, the azure blue coast. It’s a stretch of Mediterranean coastline that is as rich in history as it is in sun-drenched luxury. We'll explore how it came to be so famous - from Victorian Lords, Ladies and a Queen who loved it and wer…
…
continue reading
Find out all about French etiquette! The social rules that France has are fascinating. We’re going to look at the history of French etiquette, and some of the most common, unspoken rules that can enhance your experience if you’re visiting France - from dining at a chic Parisian café to greeting a local in Provence. Dive into the world of French eti…
…
continue reading
In this episode we talk about the most famous French female singer of all time. A woman whose voice inspires more than 50 years after her death. It is of course Edith Piaf, who remains in the hearts of the people of France and continues to sell huge amounts of recordings worldwide. It is a rags to riches tale, born in the street, working the street…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
#48 - La Bise, the French kiss of friendship
15:55
15:55
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
15:55
Today we explore la bise! That’s French for the kiss, but not just any old kiss, this is the kiss of friendship that I am referring to, the tradition the French have of kissing on the cheek when they meet friends and family. One of the etiquette rules that confuses just about everyone new to France is kissing! Do you or don’t you kiss someone when …
…
continue reading
In this episode we talk you through an A to Z of French words and phrases - some are quirky, some are beautiful and some are historic. These are phrases that pepper the everyday language and will help you sound French, especially as Oli, the French half of the podcast team will say them in French properly! The French love their own language and the…
…
continue reading
In today's episode we talk about some of the most well-known, classic, delicious foods of France that we know were made by accident but became total celebrities in their own right! Find out how two sisters running a small hotel created Tarte Tatin, and the strange legends of how their accidental apple tart became super famous. Discover how a Britis…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
#45 - Fascinating French history of the Statue of Liberty
15:04
15:04
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
15:04
In this episode, we explore the origins of an American icon. She is world famous. She’s very tall. And she’s French. She is known as the Statue of Liberty. The statue of Liberty is an iconic landmark and one of the most recognised symbols of the United States. But did you know that Lady Liberty is an immigrant? It’s true, she’s a French woman by bi…
…
continue reading
2024 is the 150th anniversary of Impressionism – an art movement which began in France, and one of the key figures of the movement was Claude Monet, one of the most celebrated artists of all time and a household name today. So today, we’re going to have a potted history of the artist, talk about his beautiful home and garden in Normandy, and discov…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
#43 - Speedy history of the Tour de France
11:56
11:56
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
11:56
In this petite podcast episode, we’re going to do a potted history of the Tour de France – the world’s most famous bike race and share some of the most fun and incredible facts. It has been called the greatest free show on earth and is watched by 3.5 billion people worldwide during its three weeks on television. Le Tour has spawned a thousand myths…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
#42 - The incredible history of the Louvre Museum
25:38
25:38
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
25:38
In this episode we’re going to explore a legendary institution. It’s a world record holder. It’s enormous. It’s world famous. It’s in the heart of Paris. Kings have lived in it. Now it is home to one of the most famous paintings in the world. Ladies and gentlemen, lovely listeners – I give you - the Louvre Museum. The Louvre is the world’s most fam…
…
continue reading
The history of absinthe is a tale of madness, creative genius, smuggling, fairies and bad behaviour in the Belle-Époque, a time of peace and economic prosperity in France when the arts flourished from early 1870 until 1914 and the start of the first world war. Created as a medicine from wormwood plants by a doctor fleeing the French Revolution, it …
…
continue reading
A woman with an enigmatic smile. She has been celebrated in songs, poetry and pop art. She is mysterious, some say she is a siren who casts a spell on those who look at her. She does not move. She does not speak. And yet she is a global icon. Discover the fascinating history of the Mona Lisa as we explore the creation of the painting, its journey t…
…
continue reading
In this petite podcast episode, we’re going to explore the traditions of May Day in France, the first of May, and specifically the tradition of giving flowers to friends and loved ones which is unique to France. It’s a tale of history, drama and romance… Follow us: On Twitter On Instagram On Facebook On The Good Life France's website On Paris Chans…
…
continue reading
Today we’re going to be talking about a man who in his time was one of the most powerful men in the world. He had a huge impact on French history. He had lavish tastes, he was a control freak, he loved the arts and believed himself chosen by God to rule over millions of people. You might have guessed who I’m talking about by now. It is the only and…
…
continue reading
What exactly is French art de vivre? In this petite podcast episode, we explain all, where it comes from, what it is and how to practice art de vivre, a fundamental part of the French psyche and a way to elevate the ordinary things of everyday life to the extraordinary. Follow us: On Twitter On Instagram On Facebook On The Good Life France's websit…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
#36 - French wine – history, traditions and etiquette
29:18
29:18
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
29:18
Today we’re going to be talking about something very French, wine. France is of course one of the best wine making countries in the world and beyond, according to one of us on this podcast! Though extra-terrestrials probably won’t be sipping the famous red wine of Chateauneuf-du-Pape in Provence because the town has a law that states that UFOs cann…
…
continue reading
France is the world’s most visited country, Paris is the world’s most visited city, and several of its monuments, museums and metropolises are on the world’s top list for visits. But it’s not just the places or the buildings of France that tug at our heartstrings – what makes us fall for France goes beyond bricks and mortar and boundary lines. Ther…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
Tony Moran - Two time bootcamper and company director career switches into tech
1:06:48
1:06:48
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
1:06:48
In this episode, I'm joined by Command Shift and Northcoders alum Tony Moran, who talks about his experience of completing two bootcamps, and he explains some of the key differences between a part time and full time commitment. Tony also shares an insight into what it feels like to make a career switch from managing director of a company, to…
…
continue reading
We love Paris, but today we’re going to escape the city’s hustle and bustle. Join us as we discover historic, delicious, fascinating and enchanting destinations you can reach from Paris by train on a day trip. And we’ve made sure that nowhere takes longer than 2 hours by train. We’ll share what to see and do, the must-sees, the secrets and some top…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
#33 - The Life and Times of Queen Marie-Antoinette
27:32
27:32
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
27:32
Queen Marie-Antoinette's life was a blend of luxury, controversy, and tragedy. Her story is a fascinating glimpse into the complexities of royal life and the turbulent times of late 18th century France – no wonder we remain fascinated with her tale. We talk about some of the most important times in her life, her marriage at just 14 years old, fashi…
…
continue reading
When you’ve ticked off those must-see sites on your list – the Palace of Versailles, Mont-Saint-Michel in Normandy, a dazzling little island that makes you feel you have stepped back centuries, the Louvre, the world’s most visited museum and the sun-kissed French Riviera, the boulevards of Paris and the majestic castles of the Loire Valley - there …
…
continue reading
In this episode we’re going to be uncovering Paris to explore some of the most amazing hidden gems, the secret places you might miss if you don’t know they are there. It's not just the landmarks, like the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre museum, that make us fall in love with Paris. It’s also the little moments: finding a jazz band playing in a cosy caf…
…
continue reading
How much do you know about France? In this episode we’re doing a quiz that everyone can join in with! We’ll ask some questions on all sorts of topics – gastronomy, history, culture, language and more, and we’ll give you the answers and if you got the question right, you can award yourself some points! We’ll also share some fascinating and extraordi…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
#29 - French stereotypes – true or false?
24:54
24:54
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
24:54
A tour through the charming, amusing, and sometimes misunderstood world of French stereotypes. We’re going to take a light-hearted look at some of the common stereotypes about the French - from fashion to rudeness and smoking like chimneys. From the famed French culinary prowess to reputation for romance. A land where people apparently say 'Oh là l…
…
continue reading
Bread in France is more than just food; it's a cultural cornerstone. It’s about community, tradition, and the French way of life. We'll discuss the role of bread in daily French life and how it reflects the values and rhythms of French society. In these crusty chronicles we’ll explore the history of bread and especially the UNESCO-listed French bag…
…
continue reading
The Eiffel Tower isn’t just a symbol of Paris, but a symbol of France. But this wasn’t supposed to happen. The Tower shouldn’t even be there. We have to go back in time to the beginning of her story, she is known as the Iron Lady, la Dame de Fer in French, to find out why this towering icon is even there in the first place! And then we'll share som…
…
continue reading
Ghosts, ghoulies and Halloween in France. In this episode we’ll talk about haunted castles – there are loads of them in France. Plus ghost stories - including the tale of a wooden leg that walks alone. And French Halloween habits – and yes France does celebrate Halloween but in its own unique way! This is a spooky, spine tingling but fun podcast wi…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
#25 - The miraculous Mont-Saint-Michel, a legendary landmark
25:13
25:13
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
25:13
Mont-Saint-Michel in Normandy is one of France’s most iconic, legendary, and visited landmarks. This little island in one of the officially most beautiful bays in the world is a record breaker, a place conceived with the help of an angel with a pointy finger, a building that seems to defy gravity, and a site so wondrous that it has inspired artists…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
#24 - How to be French Part II – very French habits
21:31
21:31
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
21:31
Sometimes the French can be very different from everyone else! We look at some of the more unusual and unique habits such as never, ever, ever being wrong. And not only that, we explain the surprisingly and really rather strange way the French deal with it if they are wrong. Of course, this being France food comes into the story – anyone fancy a pl…
…
continue reading
Autumn in France and La Rentrée – a very French thing! It literally means ‘the return’, which sounds quite mysterious, like a thriller film but it’s not at all. We explain all about la rentrée and the best places to visit in France in the fall. We share some of the best seasonal festivals – especially foodie festivals - and events, from giant flea …
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
#22 - The palace of Versailles in a podcast
26:39
26:39
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
26:39
Versailles – the palace, the people, history and legends. The extraordinary story of this mighty castle, built in a swamp on the outskirts of Paris stars a heavyweight cast of royals and played a key role in the destiny of France… As breath-taking today as it was some 400 years ago when King Louis XIV of France, AKA the Sun King (and not for his su…
…
continue reading
Ever wondered where the French go on holiday, and what their secret favourite places are? Well, no secrets here, we reveal all, as well as some of the quirky habits of the French on holiday and some frankly downright weird aspects of French life! France is the most popular tourist destination in the world (and beyond apparently – just listen in to …
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
#20 - Bastille Day in France – what’s it all about?
27:04
27:04
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
27:04
Bastille Day is France’s biggest national holiday. Find out what it’s all about and why French people have no idea what you’re talking about when you call it Bastille Day – they don’t call it that at all! We explore the history of this famous day and uncover fun facts such as the DNA of a king discovered in a dried pumpkin (yup, really), how Marie-…
…
continue reading
Discover some of the most amazing castles of France, the most haunted, tallest and oldest. The castles with amazing histories like Vaux-le-Vicomte near Paris, built by a King’s minister and so beautiful it made the King seethe with jealousy and what followed was an epic tragedy and also kickstarted the Palace of Versailles project. The castle that …
…
continue reading
In this episode we share the A-Z of Paris. From arrondissements, the municipal districts of the city laid out in the shape of a snail, to the second oldest zoological garden in the world, started when the animals of the royal family were abandoned at Versailles during the French Revolution via a hidden message in the ceiling of the Opera Garnier an…
…
continue reading
In this episode we share the A-Z of French food. France is the nation that invented the restaurant, haute cuisine and Cordon Bleu, the pique-nique, baguettes and crème brulée. The French certainly live to eat, not eat to live. The great American cook Julia Child once said, ‘In France, cooking is a serious art form and a national sport’. She was not…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
#16 - Weird and wonderful superstitions of France
25:24
25:24
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
25:24
The French are rather a superstitious bunch – and some of the superstitions are very odd - got 13 for dinner and think the number 13 is unlucky? Then go French, pop an egg on the table, now you have 14 for dinner! Tread in dog poo and think it's ruined your day? Non, non, non - in France it could be lucky, depending on which foot did the deed! Want…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
#15 - The most marvellous monuments of France
34:12
34:12
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
34:12
Marvellous, magnificent and mesmerising monuments of France! The biggest and the best, the strange and the quirky, their history, legends and fascinating facts from the Eiffel Tower to the most incredible palace in France – built by a postman from pebbles collected on his delivery rounds more than 100 years ago. Notre Dame, Versailles, Mont-Saint-M…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
#14 - Fabulous and frankly quirky French festivals
26:31
26:31
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
26:31
The biggest and the best, the strange and the quirky, the festivals where you can eat yourself to a standstill, and the ones where you’ll have so much fun, you’ll want to go back year after year! Marathon races that serve cocktails – or Champagne. A strawberry fete where you’ll get a slice of the biggest strawberry tart in the world. Pig squealing,…
…
continue reading
For the French, cheese is a symbol of Frenchness. They’ve been eating great cheeses for a long time here, some of the most famous were being made thousands of years ago. In this episode we consider some of the most famous cheeses as well as some of the stinkiest, weirdest and frankly gross cheeses that France produces. One of them is officially the…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
Command Shift Bootcamp October 2022 Cohort - Debriefing the backend module
59:20
59:20
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
59:20
In this episode, I’m joined once again by Chris, Mike and Tony from my cohort. Last time, we had a chat about learning the building blocks of code and this time we’re turning our attention to the backend module. Special thanks to our Command Shift tutors, Lisa and Dragoș, for sharing their programming insights with us. Command Shift is a renowned …
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
Dave Christian - A day in the life of a backend developer
1:03:39
1:03:39
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
1:03:39
In this episode, I’m delighted to be joined by a good friend of mine, Dave Christian, as we discuss a day in the life of a backend developer. He’s been a Software Engineer since 2007, working mainly in C# and .NET, but has also written software in C/C++, Python, and Java during his career.
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
#12 - Top places to visit in France – plus top tips, secret places & more
27:15
27:15
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
27:15
Discover the most popular places to visit in France, their histories and legends, but also the secret places close by so you get to travel to ‘real’ France. In Paris you must of course visit the Eiffel Tower, but how about a tiny chapel that was built before the great cathedral of Notre Dame with the most beautiful stained glass windows, you’ll fee…
…
continue reading
In this episode we'll be talking about a topic that's on everyone's lips in France - great classic French food! And especially food that has a fascinating history, cheese that has a 6000 year old past, stew that helped save a town from a siege by their dastardly enemy hundreds of years ago, mouth-watering cakes that were made by accident but passed…
…
continue reading
Learn the three most important words in the French language in this fun episode - no test at the end we promise! Tu and vous - you and you - what's that all about? We'll explain what it means if a French person asks to "tu" with you! Plus - has one of us set a world record for the amount of times we said bonjour in one day?! And we also talk about …
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
Command Shift Bootcamp October 2022 Cohort - Learning the building blocks of code
53:54
53:54
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
53:54
In this episode, I’m joined by Chris, Mike and Tony from my cohort as we reflect on our progress so far. It was October last year, when I decided to take the plunge, and start learning to code with renowned Bootcamp, Command Shift, formerly known as Manchester Codes. The course offers a comprehensive understanding of how to build interactive websit…
…
continue reading
What if you were to browse the internet and see a photo of a neglected castle in the south of France, a ruin for sure but with a faded grandeur that pulls at your heart strings… Would you be tempted to give up your dream of a little house in the country and throw everything you have into restoring the castle to its former glory? Live without electr…
…
continue reading