A French Village Podcast with Sarah Longwell and Ben Wittes The Bulwark

I have to revise my original review, written after listening to just two episodes. This podcast is FANTASTIC. I now accept and even have great affection for Ben Wittes’s occasionally slightly mansplainy speech habits, because he actually knows ALL the things! Come for the clever banter, stay for the history and charm and really insightful layers that Sarah and Ben bring to this entire effort. I’m so glad I stuck with it. My absolute two favorite shows of pandemic time, perhaps of all time, are French — The Bureau and A French Village — and this podcast has kept me in a world I wasn’t ready to leave, and I’m grateful for it. Watch and listen!!

In light of Ben’s recent light show exploits in front of the Russian embassy, I want to leave another comment. Please Google Ben, Ukraine, and Russia embassy if curious.

Was a little surprised to see the negative comments on the frequent analogy to the Trump administration. For those who are not familiar with the Bulwark, this podcast is an offshoot from this wonderful anti-authoritarian publication. Sarah literally started a movement to convert a number of former Republicans to vote for Biden in 2020. So a lot of her comments relate to her journey as a principled conservative during the Trump administration.

For me, while Ben may not sound like a professional radio personality, his knowledge and research more than made up for his speech pattern. I also find their chemistry to be wonderful, okay, close second to hers and JVL.

I’m listening to the interview with the French producer —after having listened to the entire podcast content. Thank you for this most welcome holiday gift! The French Village was breathtaking, and I thoroughly enjoyed the commentary on your podcast.
I have been wanting to voice one comment. In your analysis of Hortense, you discussed her descent into madness as unbelievable. I found it entirely believable. Have you ever been involved with a sociopath? They say all the right things, and can make you swoon with their charms. Then one day you realize there is nothing there. Depending on how hard you fell for this sociopath — your love and devotion directly corresponds to how crushing that awful realization can be. Heinrich met her in the hotel, now married to another, with a completely new identity. And there was nothing there. Granted, Hortense was unstable and self centered. Then a sociopath used her up. She actually loved him. He was not capable of love.
What gifted actors! The man who played Heinrich did such a good job he made my skin crawl! And I loved the character of Beriot from beginning to end. When he and Lucienne joke about her proclivity for poisoning at the end of his life, well, what a devoted lover to such a difficult woman —and great acting on his part!
Thank you!