It's not Julia Child! Sorry. More than just about anyone, Auguste Escoffier changed the cooking profession, restaurants, how we eat, and what we eat. Along the way, he interacted with kings and emperors, famous stars and producers, and even fli

017-All About the Louvre

Mar 3rd, 2020 19m 4s

The Louvre is arguably the greatest museum in the world. In this podcast you'll learn how it took 800 years to build, the surprising fact behind its name, how much of its collection was gathered, and a few interesting anecdotes about the woman

016-A Sequel! France's Most Popular Women

Feb 22nd, 2020 18m 51s

Thanks to an updated poll, I can tell you about the ten most popular women in France. Movie stars! Comedians! Singers! Activists! Romantic entanglements! Ranging in age from 23 to 91 years old! (Plus, just a little about some men.)

015-Saint-Exupéry & The Little Prince

Feb 14th, 2020 22m 41s

THE LITTLE PRINCE is the most translated book in the world, after THE BIBLE. In this episode, you'll learn about the man who wrote it and get an introduction to the book itself. Along the way, you may even pick up some knowledge about French av

014-Paris Cafés (and Brasseries)

Feb 6th, 2020 17m 15s

What's more idyllic than sitting at café in Paris on a sunny day and watching the world go by? In this episode, I'll give you a history of cafés in Paris, and talk about some famous spots near the Boulevard St. Germain and Montparnasse. Be prep

013-How I Became an Imaginary Frenchman

Jan 24th, 2020 22m 28s

This week, it's personal. Please take some time to get to know me better. I tell you about my love affair with France: when the seeds of my interest were planted, how it blossomed, how I tended it, and how it continues to decorate my life.

012-Movies for Francophiles

Jan 18th, 2020 21m 15s

An American in Paris! Charade! Ratatouille! These and other films give us romantic visions of life in France (and Paris, of course). In this week's podcast, the Imaginary Frenchman recommends several films in which a Francophile can alleviate,

011-French Food Adventures

Jan 10th, 2020 19m 46s

Bonne année! For the first podcast of the Imaginary Frenchman in 2020, I'm going to talk about traditional French dishes, a few of them familiar, and some of them less well-known outside of France. Along the way, I share memories of my own "enc

010-A Sip of French Wine

Dec 21st, 2019 22m 44s

This episode includes some basic knowledge necessary to understand French wine: how the French name their wines, where you find the most noted varietals, the concept of terroir, three major wine classifications, and some advice on buying French

009-The Best French TV Shows, and Where to Watch Them If You Don't Live in France

Dec 12th, 2019 15m 34s

As a follow-up to the last Imaginary Frenchman episode, I highlight the best French television series that are available to watch on streaming services outside of France. There are espionage shows, police dramas, historical series, and more. I

008-What France Watches on TV (and How You Can See These Shows, Too)

Nov 29th, 2019 21m 40s

In this podcast, the Imaginary Frenchman analyzes the top 100 programs in France from last year. You'll learn about what US programs are popular, what French programs are the most successful, and how you can watch many of them.

007-France Goes Mad for Books: La Rentrée Litteraire and the Prix Goncourt

Nov 21st, 2019 17m 44s

Something happens every autumn in France. Hundreds of books are published in anticipation of winning one of several literary prizes that will be awarded. In this episode, the Imaginary Frenchman will talk about la Rentrée Litteraire and the Pri

006-All About the Baguette

Nov 12th, 2019 18m 31s

There's no more iconic French food than a good old loaf of French bread: the baguette. In this week's episode, I'll give you the history of the baguette, its uses, some additional information about other kinds of French bread, the laws concerni

005-An Easy Quiz about French Culture

Oct 29th, 2019 18m 43s

How big is France? Which came first: the French Revolution or Napoleon? Why is it called the Eiffel Tower? This episode covers some of the most basic information about France in a fun and easy quiz! And learn where you can take a great college

004-Children of Paradise: France's GONE WITH THE WIND

Oct 23rd, 2019 22m 8s

In Episode Four of the Imaginary Frenchman, my exploration of French cinema takes us to a discussion of one of the most popular French films of all time, LES ENFANTS DU PARADISE, or, as it is known in English, CHILDREN OF PARADISE. Some call it

003-The Ten Greatest French Films

Oct 16th, 2019 28m 6s

This week I count down the ten greatest French movies of all time, as determined by a survey of critics around the world. The discussion includes background on some very famous directors and episodes in cinematic history. I will also talk about

002-Marcel Proust

Oct 9th, 2019 24m 47s

In this episode, the Imaginary Frenchman talks about Marcel Proust, the greatest French novelist of the 20th century. A brief biography is followed by an introduction to Proust's great novel IN SEARCH OF LOST TIME.Music credits available on my

001-France's Favorite People

Oct 2nd, 2019 20m 58s

In this first episode of the Imaginary Frenchman, I tell you about the most popular personalities in France. And I also offer a little recommendation for you to indulge your interest in all things French!Music credits available on my website, I

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