Talking France Podcast By The Local France cover art

Talking France

Talking France

By: The Local France
Listen for free

Talking France is The Local’s weekly podcast where we discuss the big news and talking points in France as well as explore and explain the major issues that impact life in the country. We also answer your essential questions and look ahead at what’s coming up.

In each episode presenter Ben McPartland chats about the most important news and must-know information with The Local France’s Emma Pearson and Emma Albright. They are also frequently joined by John Lichfield, a veteran journalist whose knowledge of French news and politics is second to none, as well as other expert commentators.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

© 2022 The Local Europe AB
Politics & Government Social Sciences
Episodes
  • French tax traps you need to avoid and why Paris is divided in two
    Apr 9 2026

    This week we'll find out whether France is running out of fuel or not and get the latest on how expensive it is to fill up your tank here.


    We'll hear about a cautionary tale of how the French tax man caught an apparent 'non-resident' because of all the take away meals he was ordering in France.


    And we'll alert you to a few more tax traps you want to avoid in France during declaration season.


    We'll also discuss the new plan to cut waiting times for residency cards, why one part of France doesn't have motorway tolls, the latest on the EU's new biometric border checks at French ports and why there's still a clear east west divide in Paris.


    Host Ben McPartland is joined by the team at The Local France Emma Pearson, Emma Albright and our politics expert John Lichfield.



    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Show more Show less
    36 mins
  • Oil crisis fuels French anger and is France sleepwalking into a far-right presidency?
    Mar 31 2026

    On this week’s show we’ll find out how the war in the Middle East is impacting life in France as fuel prices rise and protests kick off around the country.


    What can the government do to ease the crisis?


    With the local elections out of the way France’s next election race has begun. It’s the big one - we’ll get the lowdown on the lineup for the 2027 Presidential Election and whether we can already call a winner.


    Excitement levels have gone through the roof in France this week and it’s all to do with Celine Dion. Why does the Canadian singer cause such a frenzy here?


    And we’ll discuss the best and the worst, most ridiculous, most babyish ways to say hello in French. If you want to know why I’m getting a bit irate, stay with us until the end.


    Host Ben McPartland is joined by the team at The Local France: Emma Pearson, Emma Albright and politics expert John Lichfield.


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Show more Show less
    33 mins
  • The verdict on what the local election results mean for France
    Mar 23 2026

    We are out earlier than usual this week in order to bring you the results and analysis of the 2026 French local elections.


    The definitive second round vote was held on Sunday in thousands of communes across France, from tiny rural villages to the big urban centres like Lyon, Marseille and Paris.


    Over the next 20 minutes or so we'll bring you all the key takeaways from the main battle grounds, get some snap analysis from our politics expert and look ahead to what happens next.


    Host Ben McPartland is joined by the team at The Local France - Emma Pearson, Emma Albright and John Lichfield.



    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Show more Show less
    21 mins
No reviews yet