I am 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  @iamfrenchpodcastAmy CarterWebsite: Le BezyIG: @amy_le_bezy_pyreneesSelected 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  @iamfrenchpodcastAndrew Prior Website: andrewpriorfabulously.com IG: andrewpriorfabulously YouTube: andrewpriorSelected 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 LawsonWanna 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  @iamfrenchpodcastShannon PratuchWebsite: thisfrench.lifeIG: @thisfrench.lifeYouTube: Thisfrench.lifeSelected Resources from this episode:Discover the town of BeaunePLEASE NOTE: Shannon no longer works in Real EstateWanna 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  @iamfrenchpodcastAmaka Azuka Website: sugarhammock.com IG: @sugarhammockSelected 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  @iamfrenchpodcastKate Hill Website: www.kitchenatcamont.com IG: @katedecamontSelected 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  @iamfrenchpodcastFrench in Plain Sight YouTube channelAlex Barron Website Frenchinplainsight.com IG @frenchinplainsightSelected 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! 

Ajiri Aki hails from NYC, via Texas and Nigeria and after settling in France 9 years ago with her Swiss-German husband, 2 kids came along, she started a business and she now sees herself as a ‘lifer’ in Europe. Ajiri joins me to talk about her struggles in her early days in Paris, how she made friends along the way and how bringing people together is at the heart of her business @Madamedelamaison. We also talk about language, the complaining - ours as ex-pats and the French - and what ‘home’ means along with pregnancy, parenting bilingual kids and vacationing French style.‘The pace of life and business is slower here’, she says - it’d have to be coming from NYC!- and that has helped her juggle being a parent and a business owner. Ajiri shares her experiences with honesty and humour and the hour we chatted for flew by. I hope you enjoy it. I am French is hosted by Karen French (yup, that’s my real surname) Interweb info Karen French Website  www.karenfrenchinfrance.comIG / FB  @iamfrenchpodcastAjiri AkiWebsite Madamedelamaison.comIG @madamedelamaisonSelected Resources from this episode:Designer Jean Patou. Find out more here.Book: The Art of Gathering by Priya ParkerToni Morrison quote.Wanna be a Frenchie insider? Get on the I am French podcast email list here!

Tamsin Chubb is a yoga teacher, coach and ayurvedic practitioner and she runs retreats from her home in SW France. We discuss the role grief played in her decision to move here and how, after 7 years in France, she has been changed by the slower pace of life and by living so close to nature. We talk about how covid has changed her business, her journey of being a vegetarian in France and what Ayurveda is all about. We chat about finding community in French and in English, the French language of course (we both learnt by osmosis which we do not recommend!) and how acceptance has played a big part in settling here. I am French is hosted by Karen French (yup, that’s my real surname) Interweb info: Karen French Website  www.karenfrenchinfrance.com IG / FB  @iamfrenchpodcastTamsin ChubbWebsite https://www.littlefrenchretreat.comFind Tamsin's recipes here.Instagram @littlefrenchretreatSelected links from this episodePodcast mention: Feel Better, Live More with Dr. ChatterjeeJamsine Hemsley Ayurveda recipe book East by WestWanna be a Frenchie insider? Get on the I am French podcast email list here!

Elizabeth Hall - a Californian who once had a French flag flying outside her LA home - joins I am French to discuss how life has changed since moving to Paris two years ago with her husband and daughter. We talk about her struggle to learn French, how her daughter is her translator and with this dynamic how her role as a mother has changed. the differences between LA and Paris.her reflections on being American - this episode was recorded before the US election.  race and her experiences as a black foreigner in Paris.  how she navigates the culture change and learns French customs. Oh and also WW2 because whilst Elizabeth is very colourful and positive she’s also fascinated with that particular time in history. I am French is hosted by Karen French (yup, that’s my real surname) Interweb info: IG / FB  @iamfrenchpodcastElizabeth Hall Website www.sunkissis.comInstagram @sunkissis Selected links from this episodeAntebellum film https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10065694/

To start things off I’m joined by the lovely Laura Harley: a therapist and writer who moved to the Haute Vienne region of France in 2018. Through her blog, Frugal France Laura shares how she and her husband live in France on a budget. We talk about her work as a therapist, the internet and how things have changed because of Covid. Laura also shares the progress she’s making on doing up her house: including it being so ‘au natural’ that the weather reading can be made inside and a creepy story about what she found in her attic! [Spoiler alert: I joked, ‘Dead bodies?’ and she replied, ‘No, worse!’] Merde!We discuss her thoughts on frugal living, mental health, money trauma and figuring out the French language - the latter will be a recurring subject I think!With her potager and chickens, we talk about all things re. seasonal living and the comfort food we love to order from England. Marmite anyone?I am French is hosted by Karen French (yup, that’s my real surname) Interweb info: Karen French  IG / FB  @iamfrenchpodcastLaura Harley Website www.frugalfrance.com IG / FB @frugalfranceSelected links from this episode:1€ insulation https://www.french-property.com/news/build_renovation_france/financial_assistance_roof_insulation/