Join Us in France Travel Podcast

Annie Sargent
  • 4.8 (1K)
  • Places & Travel
  • Updated Weekly

Planning a trip to France? Join Us in France is the podcast for you! On this podcast we have conversations about our trips to France, chat with tour guides, share tips on French culture, the basics of French history, explain how to be savvy traveler in France and share our love of French food, wine and destinations in France. You won't want to miss out on all these great conversations about one of the most beautiful countries on earth! Subscribe now so you don't miss an episode. And if you're planning your own trip soon - start listening now so you're ready to connect to France on a deeper level. Bon voyage!

  1. 3d ago

    Learning French Later in Life: A Couple's Avignon Immersion

    Annie Sargent chats with Nan and Marty Deniston, two Americans who spent three whole months living in Avignon. They wanted more than a vacation. They wanted real French. Nan started young, studying in Toulouse as a student. Marty didn't start learning until his fifties. Together they hired a private tutor, built their days around lessons and day trips, and leased a car through a program most travelers never hear about. They rented out their own house back home to make the whole trip work. Along the way, they found villages near Avignon that most visitors skip entirely. Press play, get inspired, and hit subscribe so you never miss an episode of Join Us in France. Table of Contents for this Episode Today on the podcast: Learning French Later in Life Podcast supporters Magazine segment Meet Nan and Marty Their France Backstory Nan Learns French Early Marty Starts Later Tools and Practice Habits Why Immersion Matters Planning Three Months Avignon Finding Teachers and Housing Zoom Tutors Anywhere Best Season to Stay Peugeot Long Term Lease Favorite Towns and Gems Avignon Area Highlights Bikes and French Only Tours Talk To Locals French Rhythm Gotchas Slow Down And Savor Skip Influencer Hype Great Food For Less Home Exchange Tips Renting Without Airbnb Toulouse And Day Trips Driving Medieval Centers Farewell And Thanks Thank you Patrons  Journées du Patrimoine Annie's Summer Vacation 2026 Bootcamp 2026 Next Week on the Podcast Copyright More episodes about learning French

    Learning French Later in Life: A Couple's Avignon Immersion

  2. 3d ago ·  Bonus

    You Might Also Like: The Story of Money

    Introducing The ‘Sheriff of Wall Street’ who exposed bankers’ lies from The Story of Money. Follow the show: The Story of Money He was the bruiser of Wall Street. In the early noughties, New York attorney-general Eliot Spitzer took it upon himself to expose the lies of stock analysts during the dotcom bubble. His crusade blindsided the bankers and made him one of America's most popular politicians. People even spoke of him as a possible US president before a scandal ended his political career almost overnight. In this episode of The Story of Money, host Gillian Tett speaks to Brooke Masters, FT US managing editor and author of Spoiling for a Fight: The Rise of Eliot Spitzer, to explore how Spitzer reshaped financial regulation during the dotcom era, why his aggressive tactics won both admirers and enemies and why his legacy still matters today. Further reading: Spoiling for a Fight: The Rise of Eliot Spitzer, (2006), Brooke Masters Credits: Getty Images Love listening to The Story of Money? Join Robin and Gillian on Saturday September 5 at Kenwood House Gardens in London, or online as the FT Weekend paper comes to life. Register now at ft.com/festival and enjoy 10% off with code FTPODCAST. To enjoy future episodes, be sure to subscribe to The Story of Money wherever you get your podcasts, also on the show's dedicated YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/@FTTheStoryOfMoney  Hosts: Gillian Tett and Robin Wigglesworth Producers: Laurence Knight and Lulu Smyth Executive producer: Manuela Saragosa Original music and sound design: Breen Turner Broadcast engineers: Bianca Wakeman and Petros Gioumpasis Podcast development: Laura Clarke FT global head of audio: Flo Phillips  Video editor: Richard Topping Learn more at www.ft.com/tsom or get in touch at thestoryofmoney@ft.com. Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. DISCLAIMER: Please note, this is an independent podcast episode not affiliated with, endorsed by, or produced in conjunction with the host podcast feed or any of its media entities. The views and opinions expressed in this episode are solely those of the creators and guests. For any concerns, please reach out to team@podroll.fm.

    You Might Also Like: The Story of Money

  3. Aug 23

    Louis Braille: The Blind French Teen Who Changed Reading Forever

    Annie Sargent sits down with Elyse Rivin to tell the story of Louis Braille. He lost his sight at age three. He was completely blind by five. That didn't stop him. By his teens, he had invented a whole new way to read. Annie and Elyse trace his path from a small village school to Paris, where teachers resisted his system at first. Then it spread like wildfire. You'll hear how blind students tested it, how one public demonstration changed everything, and why Braille still matters today, even with screen readers everywhere. Annie also shares guide dog etiquette and an update on Igor, her retired guide dog. Subscribe to Join Us in France so you never miss an episode.

    Louis Braille: The Blind French Teen Who Changed Reading Forever

  4. Aug 16

    Lyon Travel Guide: Secret Passageways and Food Specialties

    Annie Sargent takes you to Lyon in this episode. She met with Mikayla Sibner, an American who's taught French in Lyon for years, and they walk you through the city together. Listen to the episode ad-free You'll hear about secret passageways called traboules, Lyon's surprising silk-weaving history, and murals so convincing you'll swear they're real streets. Annie shares her own week in Lyon: the city pass that saved her money, the Fourvière Basilica, and the food she couldn't stop eating (praline, we're looking at you). Mikayla adds the local's perspective on neighborhoods, museums, and day trips worth taking. Grab your headphones and press play. And if you like what you hear, subscribe so you never miss an episode. Table of Contents for this Episode Introduction Today on the podcast: Lyon Travel Guide, Secret Passageways and Food Specialties Support the Podcast Magazine segment Meet Michaela Sibner Learning French Beyond AI First Impressions of Lyon Airport and Transit Tips Lyon Neighborhoods Explained Fourvière Basilica and Romans City Pass and Ticket Hacks Vieux Lyon and Traboules Cathedral Clocks and Bouchons Day Trips Oingt and Pérouges Miniature and Cinema Museum Movie Props Museum Lumiere Film Origins Justice Palace And WWII Lyon Murals Tour River Cruise And Hills Confluences Museum Food Markets Specialties Food Specialties of Lyon Farewell And Thanks Copyright More episodes about the Lyon and the French Alps area #JoinUsInFrance, #FrancePodcast, #Francophile, #FranceTravelTips, #RealFrance, #VisitLyon, #LyonFrance, #ExploreLyon, #Traboules, #LesCanuts, #SilkHistory, #FourviereLyon, #LyonMurals, #LyonFood, #FrenchCuisine, #LearnFrench, #TravelFrance, #VisitFrance, #FrenchHistory, #FrenchCulture

    Lyon Travel Guide: Secret Passageways and Food Specialties

  5. Aug 9

    Camille Claudel: Betrayed by Family, Locked Away for 30 Years

    Camille Claudel trained alongside Auguste Rodin. She fell in love with him. She became a brilliant sculptor in her own right. Then her family locked her away. Listen to the episode ad-free Annie Sargent talks with Elyse Rivin about Camille Claudel's extraordinary life. Elyse traces her early talent, her ten years with Rodin, and the misogyny that kept her from getting the recognition she deserved. Then the story turns dark: her own family had her committed to an asylum, where she stayed for 30 years, until her death. It's a hard story. It's also one you won't forget. Press play to hear it. Subscribe to Join Us in France so you never miss an episode. Table of Contents for this Episode Today on the podcast: Camille Claudel Support and Updates Magazine segment Camille Claudel Camille In Museums Early Life And Family Paris Training Begins Rodin Arrives Love And Collaboration Breakup And Independence Commissions And Misogyny Isolation And Decline Isolation a nd Misogyny Flood And Breakdown Committed By Family Asylum Years And Starvation Erased After Death Great Niece Restores Legacy Movie And Rodin Reassessment Her Sculptures And Influence Final Reflections And Farewell Copyright More episodes about French culture #JoinUsInFrance, #FrancePodcast, #Francophile, #FranceTravelTips, #RealFrance, #FranceTravelPodcast, #ExploreFrance, #FranceCulture, #ParisFrance, #CamilleClaudel, #AugusteRodin, #RodinMuseum, #FrenchSculpture, #WomenArtists, #ArtHistory, #ParisMuseums, #FrenchArtHistory, #ForgottenWomen, #FrenchHistory, #19thCenturyArt

    Camille Claudel: Betrayed by Family, Locked Away for 30 Years

  6. Aug 2

    How We Moved to Paris: Visa, Housing, and Healthcare

    109-word iTunes description: Sacha Cohen and her husband spent two and a half years scouting France. They tried Rouen, Dijon, Bordeaux, Toulouse, and more. Then they chose Paris and moved in December 2025. Annie Sargent talks with Sacha about the whole process. They cover the long stay visitor visa, opening a French bank account, and setting up healthcare. They also dig into apartment hunting, picking an arrondissement, and the homesickness that hits even when a move goes right. Sacha shares what surprised her most about daily life in Paris. She's honest about the hard parts too. Hit play to hear how it really went. Then subscribe so you catch every new episode. Table of Content for this episode Episode Intro ents for this EpisodeToday on the podcast: We Moved to Paris! Support the Podcast Magazine segment Meet Sacha Cohen Why Move In Winter Scouting France First Choosing Paris Work And Midlife Reinvention Blog And Visa Choices Paperwork Stress And Language Driver License Photo Tips Banking And Healthcare Basics Homesickness And Expectations Opening a French Bank Finding Housing In Paris Paperwork Survival Kit Translations And Driving Proof France Moves Slower Renting Realities In Paris Referrals For Daily Life Healthcare Setup Basics Planning Your Move Rent Or Buy Strategy Arrondissement Picks And Transit Resources And Wrap Up Copyright More episodes about moving to France

    How We Moved to Paris: Visa, Housing, and Healthcare

  7. Jul 26

    Catherine and Marie De Medici: Queen Mothers and Kingmakers

    Two Italian banker's daughters married French kings. Both ended up ruling France. Annie Sargent sits down with Elyse Rivin to sort out Catherine de' Medici and Marie de' Medici, cousins who together span the entire 1500s and into the 1600s. Catherine arrives at 15 to marry the future Henry II. She lives in the shadow of his mistress, buries three sons as kings, and holds France together through brutal religious wars. Marie marries Henry IV by proxy, gets humiliated at court, then loses him to an assassin's blade the day after her coronation. Annie and Elyse trace the schemes, the scandals, and the gardens these women left behind in Paris. Hit play. Then subscribe so you don't miss what's next. Table of Contents for this Episode Introduction Today on the podcast: Catherine and Marie De Medici Support and Announcements Magazine segment Why the Medici Women Queens and Power in France Medici Wealth and Alliances Catherine Arrives in France Diane de Poitiers Shadow Heir Crisis and Breakthrough Henry II Reigns and Tragedy Regency and First Son Charles IX and Religious Tensions Grand Tour and Civil War Marriage Politics and St Bartholomew Henry III and Catherine Final Years Valois Dynasty Ends Marie Medici Henry IV Needs an Heir Marie de Medici Chosen Proxy Wedding Shock Life at Court Humiliation Coronation Then Assassination Regency and Catholic Alliances Concini Murder and Exile Escape and Power Struggles Day of the Dupes Fallout Exile Across Europe Death and Lasting Legacy Copyright More episodes about French history

    Catherine and Marie De Medici: Queen Mothers and Kingmakers

  8. Jul 19

    An Art Retreat in a Medieval Burgundy Village

    In episode 607, Annie Sargent talks with Julie Lynch, an Australian costume designer turned painter, about her week-long art retreat in Noyers, a tiny medieval village in Burgundy. Julie traded her precise, detailed style for loose, abstract landscapes made on a gel plate. She and four childhood friends painted all morning, then explored Vézelay, Avallon, and the Château d'Ancy-le-Franc in the afternoons. Annie and Julie talk about wisteria, lilacs, why reservations matter even in small villages, and why a slow retreat beats a packed itinerary. Annie also shares news about her new YouTube channel, Join Us in France Video. Press play and join them in Burgundy. Subscribe to Join Us in France so you never miss an episode. Table of Contents for this Episode Welcome to Episode 607 Today on the podcast: An Art Retreat in a Medieval Burgundy Village Listener Support and Video Plans Magazine segment Meet Julie Lynch From Costumes to Painting Stage Costume Museum in Moulins Why Noyers in Burgundy La Porte Peinte Retreat Art Without Pressure Burgundy in Springtime Afternoon Excursions Nearby Favorite Places in France Life in Tiny Noyers Allotment Gardens Explained Sharing the Harvest Why Choose a Retreat Chablis Market Day Reserve Small Town Meals Menus Without English Self Directed Art Retreat Retreat Types in France Driving and Navigation Tales Slower Travel With Age Lilacs and Village Scents Rural France Weeklong Stays Farewell and Artist Eye Patreon Thanks and Support Brittany Research Trip Plans Launching the Video Channel French Shorts and Visual Guides Subscribe and Comment Vacation Recording Break Newsletter and Next Episode Next week on the podcast Copyright More episodes about the Burgundy area

    An Art Retreat in a Medieval Burgundy Village
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Planning a trip to France? Join Us in France is the podcast for you! On this podcast we have conversations about our trips to France, chat with tour guides, share tips on French culture, the basics of French history, explain how to be savvy traveler in France and share our love of French food, wine and destinations in France. You won't want to miss out on all these great conversations about one of the most beautiful countries on earth! Subscribe now so you don't miss an episode. And if you're planning your own trip soon - start listening now so you're ready to connect to France on a deeper level. Bon voyage!

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