I am French Karen French

For the season finale - YES! the last episode before we take a little break -  I talk with the lovely Amy Carter who moved to France in 2018. She opened a gite - Le Bezy - with her husband James and then 6 months later lockdown happened. She tells us the process of setting up a gite in France and we talk about what it’s like to live and work with her husband. They are both passionate cyclists and it allows them to explore their new home and also meet new people. 
Amy talks about their love of the French way of life and how they always planned to move here - even if they didn’t really speak French. The more seasonal rhythm - generally in France and with a gite - and they are now able to be entrepreneurs and create their own life/work balance. 
We cover veganism and finding vegan cheese in the land of traditional cheese, rocket yoga and becoming a yoga teacher. Amy is sunshine incarnate and I hope this conversation brings you some warmth and laughter!
I am French is hosted by Karen French (yup, that’s my real surname) 
Interweb info: 
Karen French
Website  www.karenfrenchinfrance.com
IG / FB  @iamfrenchpodcast
Amy Carter
Website: Le Bezy
IG: @amy_le_bezy_pyrenees
Selected Resources from this episode: 
Where their gite is locatedRocket Yoga trainingWanna be a Frenchie insider? Get the I am French podcast Newsletter here!

For this Australia Day, I sat down with the fabulous Andrew Prior of, wait for it...Andrewpriorfabulously! Well, I got tripped up by the teacher’s strike so it’s a day late. Note to self: get organised. ha!
So, Andrew moved to France from Australia with his husband 4 years ago and after first being based in Paris they moved down to Nouvelle-Acquaitaine near Poitiers just before the first lockdown.  
We chat about life before he came to France and how he starred on MasterChef Australia. Having always been a foodie the show changed his life and afterwards, he started running food tours. The plan was to continue doing that here in France but with the pandemic, he pivoted to creating a cooking show on YouTube. 
Andrew talks about living in the countryside and how he incorporates French cooking into his life and cooking show. We talk about his dream to start a cooking school, there’s a story about a cat petting cafe in Japan, taking his Kitchen Aid as carry on luggage and finding out about the first confinement in the supermarket. Andrew is hilarious - Dad jokes and all - I hope you enjoy listening to this episode as much as I enjoyed recording it. Enjoy all the fabulousness!
I am French is hosted by Karen French (yup, that’s my real surname) 


Interweb info: 
Karen French 
Website  www.karenfrenchinfrance.com
 IG / FB  @iamfrenchpodcast


Andrew Prior
 Website: andrewpriorfabulously.com
 IG: andrewpriorfabulously
 YouTube: andrewprior


Selected Resources from this episode: aaand Fact check!
History of Australia according to Wikipedia. The French had arrived 2 days before Janurary 26th 1788 but I think the British had already landed in Australia since the year before 1770. Same sex marriage in Australia: December 2017, France: April 2013, UK: March 2014.Michelin star chef Joel Robuchon infoFamous butter region Charentes PoitouChef Rachel KhooFood writer and cook Nigella Lawson


Wanna be a Frenchie insider? Get the I am French podcast Newsletter here!

Shannon Pratuch is an American who fell in love with France on a work trip and then strategically planned her move here over the following years. Having closed her business in the US Shannon made the leap to live in France and dove into the immigration and visa process all whilst setting herself up here in France.

Shannon gives great advice about how to find the right home and area of France for you - not just the logistics and budget considerations but the emotional elements of how we navigate moving to a new country.
POST RECORDING NOTE (2023): Shannon no longer works in Real Estate so do enjoy her advice but she's no longer working in this industry.

We talk about city and country life, making friends with French and English speaking people and how she recommends people rent before they buy. 
There’s so much great insight in this episode and not just for immigrants such as, ‘Change is not something to be afraid of’, and ‘Never make assumptions’. Wise words. Enjoy!


I am French is hosted by Karen French (yup, that’s my real surname) 
Interweb info: 
Karen French 
IG / FB  @iamfrenchpodcast

Shannon Pratuch
Website: thisfrench.life
IG: @thisfrench.life
YouTube: Thisfrench.life


Selected Resources from this episode:
Discover the town of BeaunePLEASE NOTE: Shannon no longer works in Real Estate
Wanna be a Frenchie insider? Get the I am French podcast Newsletter here!

Amaka Azuka is a vegetarian Londoner who’s been in Paris for over 8 years. She teaches English, she’s a food photographer and when I found her IG page I knew I wanted her on the podcast. 
Amaka knew that she would live in Paris from the age of 12 and even failing her French exams didn’t deter her to bring her dream to life.
We chat about how she started photography, how being a vegetarian in Paris has gotten easier and we look at France v England, Paris v London and city v countryside. Amaka said she never wants to get into comparing places as though there is somewhere perfect. I couldn’t agree more. 
We talk immigration and perceived immigrant status (in England) and how being ‘new’ to a country can encourage self reflection and perspective about ourselves and in Amaka’s case, her parents’ journey. 


I am French is hosted by Karen French (yup, that’s my real surname) 
Interweb info: 
Karen French 
Website  www.karenfrenchinfrance.com
 IG / FB  @iamfrenchpodcast


Amaka Azuka
 Website: sugarhammock.com
 IG: @sugarhammock


Selected Resources from this episode:
Get Amaka’s fruit crumble recipe hereThe film My big fat greek wedding infoAlso, Listen to my interview on the ExpatFamilies podcast here.  All about my immigrant and parenting journey - in French! I talk about being a step mum, becoming a mother and how I ended up in the middle of nowhere in France. Turns out it's home!
Wanna be a Frenchie insider? Subscribe to the I am French podcast newsletter here!

Whereas most of us caught a plane to get here or maybe drove, my guest this week has the most original means of arriving in France...by barge. 
Kate Hill is a cook, teacher and writer who has lived in Gascony, SW France for over 30 years. We talk about how she learnt French cooking, the language and how she has become integrated into her community. 
We talk about her identity as an American, where she feels at home and her ability to be ‘nimble’ in these trying times. Kate reflects on her new challenges with teaching online but also how it has inspired new projects. With the re-release of her 1989 book The Culinary Journey in Gascony - now available as an e-book - she’s able to create video content to bring her recipes to life. 
We talk about all things seasonal, regional, veggies and broth and also, the beauty of the traditional food practices she has learnt. Kate is full of heart, she loves the artistry of cooking and it shows. When I asked her why she came to France she replied, “the better question is why have I stayed!”, and whilst she feels ‘mega American’ (love that!) she feels truly at home in her 18th-century house by the water where she first arrived and where her barge still sits. (Oh, and it’s for sale if you’re interested! )
Apologies for the technical hiccup around the 46min mark. Doesn't last long, promise!
I am French is hosted by Karen French (yup, that’s my real surname) 
T'internet info: 
Karen French 
Website  www.karenfrenchinfrance.com
 IG / FB  @iamfrenchpodcast
Kate Hill
 Website: www.kitchenatcamont.com
 IG: @katedecamont
Selected Resources from this episode:
Order Kate’s e-book A Culinary Journey in Gascony here. Join Kate’s cooking classes online here. Listen to my ExpatFamilies podcast episode here.  All about my immigrant and parenting journey - in French!Want exclusive content, behind the scenes looks and upcoming Patreon community info?
Get on the I am French email list and become a Frenchie insider!

It hasn't escaped me that it’s been all ladies so far (and there are some lovely gentlemen coming up in future episodes, I promise.) So, voila! Here's our first man! 
Alex Barron, who found his love of French in... Australia, would you believe, joins me to discuss what we can encounter when we embark on learning a new language: Perfectionism, ego, trust, looking silly & getting it wrong, the language plateau, acceptance and setting goals. 
We discuss his coaching and online courses that offer tools to deal with the frustration and to build confidence. We chat about language and class, the Acadamie Francaise and how learning a language is, “a marathon not a sprint”. 
I am French is hosted by Karen French (yup, that’s my real surname) 
Interweb info: 
Karen French 
Website  www.karenfrenchinfrance.com
 IG / FB  @iamfrenchpodcast
French in Plain Sight YouTube channel
Alex Barron
 Website Frenchinplainsight.com
 IG @frenchinplainsight


Selected Resources from this episode:
Acadamie FrancaiseSign up for the I am French Newsletter here. Get guest info early,  insights I only share with my community and behind the scenes sneak peeks!