Videos
French videos with subtitles
Short authentic clips with French subtitles and English translations for listening and shadowing.
Standalone
Clara introduces herselfA2 · 0:35A student in French-speaking Switzerland introduces her family and the two languages she grew up with.
Accent and usage in Belgian FrenchB1 · 5:45Bryan, from Brussels, explains the Belgian accent, septante, and why people say s'il vous plaît when handing something over.
France 1814–1848: the Restoration
Episode 1 · Introduction and time frameB2 · 5:05The presenter introduces the series on France from 1814 to 1848, covering the Restoration and July Monarchy, and notes brief forays into the preceding Empire and subsequent periods for context.
Episode 2 · The early Restoration and the Hundred DaysB2 · 5:13This part covers Napoleon’s first abdication in 1814, Louis XVIII’s initial restoration, Napoleon’s return during the Hundred Days in 1815, his defeat at Waterloo, and the more durable restoration of the monarchy thereafter.
Episode 3 · Contemporary politics and Restoration legaciesB2 · 5:22It discusses how the Restoration and July Monarchy shaped modern French right-wing political currents, while cautioning against superficial equivalences—such as comparing Macron to Louis-Philippe—due to differing historical contexts.
Episode 4 · Recommended readings and resourcesB2 · 5:25The presenter lists key scholarly works on 1814–1848 France, including the classic two-volume 'France des notables' by Tudesq and Jardin, plus modern manuals and references used for the series.
Episode 5 · Louis XVIII's exile and royalist networksB2 · 4:42This part outlines Louis XVIII's exile after 1791—first in German courts, then Russia, and finally England—and introduces key royalist networks, including the reactionary Knights of Faith led by his brother Artois.
Episode 6 · Royalist successes in provincial citiesB2 · 4:57This part describes how royalist representatives—sent by Louis XVIII—gained support in cities like Saint-Jean-de-Luz and Bordeaux (which expelled Bonapartists), and how Talleyrand orchestrated Louis XVIII’s rejection of the Senate’s constitution while pledging a royal charter.
Episode 7 · The Charter as royal concession and compromiseB2 · 4:56This part explains that the 1814 Charter is not a constitution but a royal grant—framed as a restoration of ancient legitimacy—yet it preserves revolutionary gains like religious freedom, press liberty, and the sale of national lands.
Episode 8 · Administrative continuity and elite integration failuresB2 · 4:49This part details Louis XVIII’s decision to retain Napoleonic administrators for practical governance, while attempts to merge Ancien Régime nobles and Empire nobles failed due to mutual distrust, resentment, and costly court expenditures.
Episode 9 · Austerity, forest sales, and army disillusionmentB2 · 4:46This part examines Finance Minister Baron Louis’s austerity measures—including selling nationalized forests—and how marginalizing veterans while creating an aristocratic royal guard fueled army nostalgia for Napoleon.
Episode 10 · Napoleon’s return from Elba and march on ParisB2 · 4:57This part recounts Napoleon’s landing at Golfe-Juan, his triumphant march through Grenoble and Lyon—where royalist forces fled or defected—and how his symbolic appeal reignited imperial loyalty across France.
Episode 11 · Waterloo’s legacy and the Bourbons’ fragile returnB2 · 5:16This part argues that Waterloo, though a defeat, cemented Napoleon’s heroic legend, while Louis XVIII’s second restoration—enabled by foreign powers—left him balancing liberal reformers against powerful ultra-royalists on unstable ground.
Episode 12 · Power vacuum after WaterlooB2 · 5:12After Waterloo, Napoleon's regime collapses rapidly; Fouché predicts its failure and persuades Napoleon to abdicate to enable Louis XVIII's return.
Episode 13 · Fouché and the dual-headed governmentB2 · 5:00Fouché leads a provisional government, liaising with Wellington, Talleyrand, and Louis XVIII, resulting in a dual-headed administration: Talleyrand handles foreign affairs, Fouché controls police.
Episode 14 · The humiliating start of the Second RestorationB2 · 4:52France is forced to accept the 1815 Second Treaty of Paris—losing territory, enduring five years of foreign occupation, and facing both ultra-royalist violence and Bonapartist resistance.
Episode 15 · Legal terror and selective amnestyB2 · 4:55The government carries out administrative purges, executes Marshal Ney as a symbolic punishment, and passes an amnesty law covering most Revolution and Empire figures—except regicides and prominent Hundred Days collaborators.
Episode 16 · Ultra-royalist ideology and actionB2 · 4:51Thinkers like Bonald glorify émigrés as heroes, push conservative legislation (e.g., restricting divorce), and help émigrés reclaim military and administrative posts—exemplified by the Méduse shipwreck scandal.
Episode 17 · Formation of the Richelieu ministryB2 · 4:56After Talleyrand’s fall, Louis XVIII appoints the Duke of Richelieu to form a new ministry, balancing domestic moderate expectations with foreign powers’ demands for stability.
Episode 18 · The ultra-royalist paradox and shiftB2 · 5:03Ultra-royalists paradoxically seek broader suffrage to gain support, endangering royal authority; Louis XVIII marginalizes them, ushering in the more liberal phase of the Restoration (1816–1820).
Episode 19 · The context of the 1830 revolutionB2 · 4:45Introduces the historical context of the 1830 July Revolution and why it is often overlooked in French collective memory.
Episode 20 · Charles X's authoritarian ordinancesB2 · 4:51Charles X invokes Article 14 of the Charter to issue ordinances, bypassing parliamentary consent and undermining constitutional governance.
Episode 21 · Convergence of political, social, and economic crisesB2 · 5:02Political deadlock, economic hardship, and social unrest converge to create the explosive conditions leading to the 1830 revolution.
Episode 22 · The Four Ordinances of July 1830B2 · 5:04On 26 July 1830, Charles X issues four ordinances imposing press censorship, dissolving the Chamber before it convenes, and restructuring the electoral system.
Episode 23 · Organizing the Paris barricadesB2 · 4:50Parisians strategically erect barricades in narrow streets and organize logistical support—food, medical aid, and role-sharing—including vital participation by women.
Episode 24 · Charles X abdicates; Louis-Philippe takes the throneB2 · 4:59Facing collapse, Charles X abdicates; his son briefly succeeds as Louis XIX before yielding to Louis-Philippe of Orléans, who accepts the crown amid popular acclaim.
Episode 25 · A revised Charter and symbolic renewalB2 · 5:09Louis-Philippe adopts the title 'King of the French', revises the Charter—abolishing Article 14, expanding suffrage, and reframing it as a negotiated pact rather than royal grant.
Episode 26 · Emerging opposition under the July MonarchyB2 · 5:10Early reforms under the July Monarchy—including secular symbolism and electoral expansion—prompt rapid polarization, with figures like Guizot shifting from opposition to conservatism while new left-wing voices demand further change.
France 1848–1870: Republic to Empire
Episode 1 · An overlooked republic and empireB2 · 4:51The host introduces the series on France's Second Republic and Second Empire (1848–1870), highlighting how this period is both neglected and deeply resonant in today’s political culture.
Episode 2 · Echoes of the Second Empire in today's powerB2 · 4:55The host draws cautious parallels between contemporary French politics—such as presidential overreach, a weakened parliament, and constitutional reform rumors—and the Second Empire, stressing history’s living relevance.
Episode 3 · Rejecting simplistic historical parallelsB2 · 4:33The host explains why he avoids mechanical present-past comparisons, stressing instead the complexity of the Second Republic—not a straight path to empire—and the nuanced reality of the Second Empire beyond mere authoritarianism.
Episode 4 · A multidimensional approach beyond political historyB2 · 4:30The series will explore social, economic, intellectual, religious, and international dimensions, revealing that 1848–1870 was far richer than just political upheaval.
Episode 5 · How the Second Empire was historically malignedB2 · 4:29The episode analyzes why the Second Empire suffered long-standing negative historiography—due to hostile literary figures like Hugo, Third Republic ideology, and delayed scholarly attention.
Episode 6 · Preview of the ten-episode structureB2 · 4:43The host previews the ten-episode structure, with Episode 1 covering the provisional government and preparations for the Constituent Assembly elections from February to late April 1848.
Spring 2020: French mayors on the lockdown
Episode 1 · Sèvres mayor: the first week of lockdownB1 · 5:25The mayor addresses Sévriens on the first week of lockdown, outlining initial measures for healthcare workers and vulnerable people.
Episode 2 · Sèvres mayor: staying home and volunteeringB1 · 2:37The mayor reiterates the call to stay home, thanks residents for offering volunteer help, and announces a partnership with the local Red Cross to coordinate volunteering.
Episode 3 · Dijon mayor: lockdown begins and a citizens' hotlineB1 · 2:13Mayor announces the nationwide lockdown is in effect and highlights that Dijon’s single non-medical citizen hotline (0 800 21 3000) is operating well, handling about 400 calls per day, 24/7.
Episode 4 · La Seyne mayor: a new COVID-19 consultation centreB1 · 4:03Speaking from home, the mayor of La Seyne-sur-Mer announces the Toulon area's first COVID-19 consultation centre, staffed by volunteer doctors and nurses in a disused nursery school, and local measures such as closing open-air food markets.
Episode 5 · Maurepas mayor: an update from homeB1 · 2:18The mayor, speaking from home while confined, outlines emergency municipal services, ongoing work by city staff, and upcoming online family activity videos.
Episode 6 · Drancy mayor: a call for solidarityB1 · 2:51The mayor calls on residents to show solidarity, responsibility, and discipline by collectively respecting lockdown rules and barrier gestures to support healthcare workers and curb the epidemic.
Episode 7 · Clermont mayor: a COVID-19 updateB1 · 3:36The mayor addresses Clermont residents, stressing the escalating COVID-19 crisis, the extraordinary nature of the situation, contradictory or imprecise information, and the urgent need to organize and act collectively.
Episode 8 · Foreign Minister Le Drian: fighting the virusB1 · 4:45The French Foreign Minister declares France is at war against the COVID-19 virus and announces drastic measures to slow its spread in France, Europe, and worldwide.
Ada & Zangemann
Episode 1 · Ada and Tsagaglán: A Tale of Software, Skateboards, and Raspberry Ice CreamB1 · 5:12This episode tells the story of Ada, a resourceful girl who builds amazing things from scrap near a landfill, and Tsagaglán, a brilliant inventor who miniaturizes computers to power skateboards, ice cream machines, and smart devices — exploring creativity, technology, and access.
Episode 2 · Ice Cream Machines and SkateboardsB1 · 5:19Tsang Man controls ice cream machines and smart appliances with his golden computer, but becomes frustrated when children use his skateboards and speakers in ways he didn’t intend—so he remotely restricts their functionality. The episode explores automation, unintended consequences of technology, and contrasts control-oriented invention with Ada’s hands-on, community-minded tinkering.
Episode 3 · Hardware and SoftwareB1 · 5:18Ada discovers the difference between hardware and software at the library, learns programming basics, writes her first program to make an LED blink, and later creates a practical program to automatically turn off her brother's speaker after 30 minutes.
Episode 4 · Ada's Smart SkateboardB1 · 5:12Ada builds a motorized skateboard from scrap parts but struggles with its speed control; she learns to adapt software from an e-scooter program, then helps classmates customize their skates and speakers with new features.
Episode 5 · Free Software and Raspberry Ice Cream MachinesB1 · 5:14Ada and her friends creatively repurpose broken machines—building custom ice cream makers, reprogrammed irons, and smart plant-watering systems—then peacefully protest a new law banning software modification, advocating for the freedom to tinker, learn, and improve technology.
Episode 6 · We Want Our Own CodeB1 · 5:18Children advocate for the right to control and program their own computers, leading the government to abandon proprietary software, pass new legislation guaranteeing programming rights, and introduce computer science as a school subject.
Ardèche bombine
Bouneschlupp green bean soup
Episode 1 · Luxembourg Green Bean Soup (Bouneschlupp)A2 · 5:20This episode introduces Bouneschlupp, a traditional green bean soup claimed by both Luxembourg and Lorraine. It walks through ingredient selection, preparation techniques, and the three separate cooking stages—simmering the Mortau sausage, boiling the beans in vegetable broth, and sautéing vegetables with a brown roux.
Episode 2 · Luxembourgish Green Bean Soup (Bouneschlupp)A2 · 5:28This episode demonstrates how to prepare traditional Luxembourgish green bean soup (Bouneschlupp): boiling vegetable broth, adding potatoes, carrots, lardons, and onions, then finishing with pre-cooked green beans and slices of Morteau sausage.
Songs by Évina Müller
Episode 1 · The World on PauseA2 · 3:46A lyrical song expressing longing for a loved one during pandemic lockdowns, while tenderly observing nature's return—birds in Paris, clearer skies, ducks on the ring road—and holding onto hope for brighter days ahead.
Episode 2 · Nostalgia in the Digital AgeA2 · 2:00This song reflects on how smartphones, social media, and digital life erode genuine human connection and our sensory experience of nature, evoking nostalgia for simpler, more authentic ways of being.
Episode 3 · She and He, and MeA2 · 3:40This is a poetic French song exploring love, identity, and relational dynamics through shifting perspectives—'she,' 'he,' and 'I'—blending intimacy, introspection, and ambiguity about desire and coexistence.
Episode 4 · The Best of Us TwoA2 · 3:19This is a lyrical French song about love, courage, and companionship, expressing how being with a loved one brings strength, calm, and the feeling that this moment is the most beautiful of all.
Emma’s student life
Episode 1 · Student Life: Budgeting and Living AloneA2 · 4:44Emma shares her experience as a university student living alone, covering budget management (rent covered by parents, personal expenses from summer job and YouTube income), daily organization (cooking, cleaning, studying), and emotional adaptation to independence.
Episode 2 · The Real Challenges of Student Life: Budget, Organization, and Growing UpA2 · 5:03Emma reflects on her transition from high school to university life, discussing the challenges of living independently—cooking, cleaning, grocery shopping—and balancing studies with personal responsibilities. She also shares her thoughts on choosing a BTS over other degrees, financial aid (APL), and the emotional shift toward adulthood, self-reflection, and future planning.
Episode 3 · Moving into my student apartment in LyonA2 · 6:56Emma documents her move into a new furnished student studio in Lyon, covering packing, sorting belongings, shopping for decor and balcony grass, transporting items, and setting up her personal space.
Andie’s morning routines
Episode 1 · Trying Gaëlle Garcia Diaz's Morning RoutineA2 · 4:49Andie tries to replicate influencer Gaëlle Garcia Diaz's morning routine: she buys a latte and Fruit Loops for breakfast, but finds both unappealing—disliking coffee intensely and finding the cereal bland and oddly scented. She then shifts focus to testing Gaëlle’s makeup brand, Martine Cosmetics.
Episode 2 · Andie Tests Gaëlle Garcia Diaz's Morning Makeup RoutineA2 · 4:52Andie tries and reviews Gaëlle Garcia Diaz's morning makeup routine, testing an eyeliner, two mascaras, a lip pencil, and a lip gloss—focusing on application, texture, color, price, and overall performance.
Episode 3 · Andie's Morning Routine and WorkdayA2 · 4:46Andie shares her busy morning routine: doing makeup, eating buttered pasta and hibiscus chai kombucha, then working from home while preparing for an upcoming trip to Thailand. She also reflects on productivity, cravings, and content creation.
Episode 4 · My Summer Morning RoutineA2 · 4:41Andie shares her summer morning routine, covering waking up with the sun, doing a five-minute gratitude journal, reflecting on her relationship with exercise, and setting positive intentions for the day.
Episode 5 · Andie's Summer Morning RoutineA2 · 4:44Andie shares her summer morning routine, including an arm workout (using improvised weights), preparing an oatmeal bowl with almond milk, fruit, and peanut butter, making ceremonial matcha, and styling her hair with heat protection.
Episode 6 · A Quick Summer Makeup RoutineA2 · 4:53Andie demonstrates her quick summer morning makeup routine, covering sunscreen, concealer, bronzer, highlighter, blush, eyebrow gel, mascara, and lip color—emphasizing a fresh, healthy glow and time-saving techniques.
Andie in Korea & food challenges
Episode 1 · My First Day Vlogging in SeoulA2 · 5:21Andie kicks off her 'Vlog Week' series in Seoul, documenting her morning routine—making matcha, getting ready, heading out, navigating the vibrant streets, and sharing first impressions of the city's energy, café culture, weather, and surprising differences from life in France.
Episode 2 · Seoul Food Adventures and Metro CultureA2 · 5:19Andie explores Seoul's vibrant food scene—sampling passion fruit drinks, green juice, and eggs Benedict—then heads to the upscale Gangnam district and takes a deep dive into Korea's remarkably clean, safe, and orderly subway system.
Episode 3 · A Food-Filled Day in SeoulA2 · 5:19Andie explores Seoul's vibrant food scene, sampling waffles, vanilla donuts, spicy dakgalbi (chicken and cheese), and churros. She shares cultural observations about early dinner times (6 p.m.), quirky French words on Korean merchandise, and the overwhelming abundance of food.
Episode 4 · Testing Paris's Most Expensive vs Cheapest French RestaurantsA2 · 5:10Andie visits two French restaurants in Paris—one known for extremely affordable prices and another for luxury dining—to compare dishes like escargots, boeuf bourguignon, and macaroni, focusing on taste, portion size, and value.
Episode 5 · Paris's Most Expensive vs. Cheapest French RestaurantA2 · 5:12Andie compares two Parisian restaurants: an affordable, high-value bistro with a full meal for €36, and a Michelin-starred fine-dining experience at La Grande Cascade featuring caviar, turbot, and seasonal seafood—focusing on taste, ambiance, service, and value for money.
Episode 6 · Paris's Most Expensive vs. Cheapest French RestaurantA2 · 5:12Andie and Jérémy dine at two Parisian French restaurants—one extremely expensive and one very affordable—comparing taste, portion sizes, presentation, desserts, and overall value for money.
Episode 7 · A Lazy Person's Morning RoutineA2 · 5:22Andie humorously attempts to rebuild her morning routine after months of travel and irregular habits, covering matcha preparation, light exercise, self-reflection on sleep and lifestyle, and a sponsored segment about reusable period underwear.
Episode 8 · A Lazy Girl's Light Summer Makeup RoutineA2 · 5:57Andie demonstrates a quick, lightweight summer makeup routine focused on sun protection, natural-looking concealer, highlighter, apricot blush, and tinted lip balm. She also shares her hair-straightening technique and her thoughtful plan to buy her father an iPad as a birthday gift.
Episode 9 · My Lazy Morning RoutineA2 · 5:20Andie shares her relaxed morning routine: choosing a casual outfit, a disappointing shopping trip, grabbing couscous on the way home, preparing for a closet clean-out, and unboxing gifts including an iPad and beauty products from Origins and Laura Mercier.
Andie’s beauty routines
Episode 1 · How to Achieve a Natural, Barely-There Makeup LookA2 · 4:32Andie demonstrates a 'no-makeup makeup' routine focused on skincare prep, subtle brow grooming, and lightweight concealing to enhance natural features without visible makeup.
Episode 2 · Natural Makeup Techniques: Concealing Imperfections and Achieving a No-Makeup LookA2 · 4:20This episode demonstrates natural makeup techniques including precise concealer application to cover blemishes, subtle under-eye brightening, eyebrow grooming with clear brow gel, eyelash curling for a mascara-free look, and light cream bronzer for gentle contouring and warmth.
Episode 3 · Natural Makeup: Achieving a Fresh, Barely-There LookA2 · 4:31This episode demonstrates a natural 'no-makeup' makeup routine, covering subtle bronzing, using a cheek tint for a soft flush, lip exfoliation for rosy color, hydrating lip balms, and setting spray for a glowing, even finish.
Episode 4 · How to Shape and Fill in Your EyebrowsA2 · 6:00This episode demonstrates practical eyebrow grooming and makeup techniques, including brushing, tweezing stray hairs, and using a waterproof brow gel to shape, fill, and extend brows naturally.
Episode 5 · How to Draw Natural-Looking EyebrowsA2 · 5:45Andie demonstrates eyebrow makeup techniques: filling gaps with brow pencil and concealer, drawing individual hair-like strokes for a natural look, and adapting the method to suit different brow shapes and needs.
Episode 6 · How I Cleared My Acne and ScarsA2 · 5:36Andie shares her personal journey overcoming severe acne and post-acne scarring, then details her morning and evening skincare routine—including product choices, application methods, and why she uses them—while also discussing internal factors like diet and matcha's skin benefits.
Episode 7 · How I cleared my acne and faded scarsA2 · 5:34Andie shares her personal journey to clear acne and fade scars, covering hydration, zinc supplementation, anti-inflammatory foods, daily habits like changing pillowcases and masks, avoiding touching the face, and the crucial role of daily sunscreen in reducing post-acne marks.
Episode 8 · How I Cleared My Acne and ScarsA2 · 5:40Andie shares her daily morning and evening skincare routines, emphasizing sun protection, gentle cleansing, hydration, and weekly exfoliation to manage acne and prevent scars. She also discusses product choices for sensitive, acne-prone skin and offers practical tips like using cold water and avoiding gua sha on active breakouts.
Episode 9 · Evening Skincare Routine for Acne-Prone SkinA2 · 7:23Andie demonstrates her full evening skincare routine for acne-prone skin, including micellar cleansing, gentle exfoliation with an apricot scrub, cold-water rinsing to reduce inflammation, and a hydrating Dior face mask—plus practical tips on product choices and facial massage.
Episode 10 · How I Grew My Hair Longer and HealthierA2 · 4:59Andie shares her updated hair care routine after nearly a year, explaining the shampoos and products she uses in the shower, how she styles her thick, heavy hair, and why healthy hair matters more than color or trends.
Episode 11 · Andie's Hair Care Routine ExplainedA2 · 5:15Andie explains her hair care routine for oily hair, detailing her favorite shampoos—including Color Wow for oil control, Aveda for repair, René Furterer for softness, and K18 for detox—as well as her preferred hair masks (Guerlain and René Furterer), wet-combing techniques, and heat protection practices.
Episode 12 · Andie's Daily Hair Styling Routine with Dyson AirwrapA2 · 5:05Andie demonstrates her everyday hair styling routine using the Dyson Airwrap: sectioning long hair, selecting the right curling attachment, wrapping sections outward, alternating hot and cold air for setting, and finishing with a shine serum. She shares personal tips, product preferences, and how she adapted the tool to her hair type.
Episode 13 · Hair Care Routine TipsA2 · 4:47Andie shares her daily hair care routine, including brushing before bed, gentle hair tying methods, using nourishing hair oils (like Virtue and K18), staying hydrated, and getting regular trims.
Episode 14 · How I Made My Hair Grow FasterA2 · 5:03Andie explains how she accelerated her hair growth by consistently trimming her ends every two months and drinking high-quality, undiluted matcha daily—highlighting its benefits for hair, energy, and skin, while emphasizing it's not a product promotion.
Episode 15 · How to Style Greasy Hair into an Elegant BunA2 · 5:04Andie demonstrates a practical, low-effort hair routine for greasy or lifeless hair: detangling, smoothing with a brush and propolis-based styling cream, creating a sleek ponytail or bun, and using oil for hydration—emphasizing cleanliness and confidence over perfection.
Auvergne potée
Episode 1 · Auvergne-style pork and vegetable stewA2 · 4:25This episode demonstrates how to prepare a traditional Auvergne potée: selecting various cuts of pork and seasonal vegetables, blanching the meat to remove impurities, and slow-cooking in stages to achieve rich flavor and tenderness.
Episode 2 · How to Cook Traditional Auvergnat PotéeA2 · 4:30This episode demonstrates the traditional preparation of potée auvergnate, a hearty French stew from the Auvergne region, covering vegetable cutting techniques, layered cooking times for meats and vegetables, and personal culinary memories tied to the dish.
A play by Osny fifth-graders
Episode 1 · Little Red Riding Hood and the Wolf MysteryA2 · 4:13Fifth-grade students perform an original play where they role-play a detective and fairy-tale characters investigating chaotic incidents caused by the wolf in classic stories like Little Red Riding Hood.
Episode 2 · The Three Little Pigs and the Disappearing WolfA2 · 4:11A playful, school-performed adaptation of 'The Three Little Pigs' where children act as characters interrogated by a detective about the wolf's mysterious disappearance.
Episode 3 · The Mystery of the Missing WolfA2 · 4:11A playful school theater piece by fifth-graders, where a student detective investigates why the wolf has vanished from all fairy tales — blending mystery, humor, and imaginative storytelling.
Balatro runs
Episode 1 · Playing Balatro, a strategic card gameB1 · 4:51This episode features a player engaging with Balatro, a strategic roguelike card game, demonstrating hand management, scoring mechanics, combo building, and in-game decision-making during gameplay.
Episode 2 · A Card Game ChallengeB1 · 4:43The speaker plays the card game Balatro, strategizing hand combinations, using jokers and special cards like 'Coeur' and 'Celestia', managing resources, and aiming for high scores through multipliers and set bonuses.
Episode 3 · Poker Card Game ChallengeB1 · 4:43The speaker plays the card game Balatro, experimenting with hand combinations, upgrading cards, managing bonuses, and aiming for high scores through strategic decisions.
Episode 4 · A Balatro Poker AdventureB1 · 4:55The speaker plays Balatro, a fast-paced poker-based roguelike game, discussing hand combinations, multipliers, card values, strategy choices, and unlocking new jokers and achievements.
Episode 5 · Blue Game, Green BetB1 · 5:26This episode features a player enjoying the card game Balatro, experimenting with strategies like transforming cards into Kings, clearing defenses, acquiring Polychrome Jokers, and optimizing hand composition for high-scoring combinations.
Episode 6 · Poker Strategy in BalatroB1 · 5:28This episode shows a player making real-time strategic decisions in the card game Balatro: building hands, managing discards, optimizing multipliers, and adapting to evolving game states to maximize score.
Episode 7 · Poker-Style Card Game Strategy SessionB1 · 5:23This episode features a live gameplay session of the poker-style card game Balatro, where the player makes real-time strategic decisions—building hands like 'carré' (four of a kind), adjusting card values, managing chips and jokers, and adapting tactics round by round.
Episode 8 · Poker-Style Card Game Strategy SessionB1 · 5:30This episode features a player strategizing in a poker-style card game: evaluating hand combinations, optimizing scores, managing resources like 'bunkers' and 'multipliers,' and making real-time decisions to maximize points.
A Parisian's walks
Episode 1 · Paris's Oldest Bakery and Literary StrollsB1 · 5:02This episode explores Paris's 2nd arrondissement, visiting the city's oldest bakery—founded in 1730—where the host discovers almond-paste fruits and the 'puits d'amour' (well of love) pastry. It also features the Saint-Jacques Tower, a medieval pilgrim landmark, and a classic bouquiniste stall along the Seine, where she browses French literary treasures.
Episode 2 · A Stroll Along the Seine: Books, Flowers, and Parisian BeautyB1 · 5:01This episode follows botanist Christian Appert as he walks along the Seine, visiting bouquinistes, a flower market, and Notre-Dame Cathedral. He shares his love of reading—especially 19th-century French and Anglo-American literature—reflects on how living away from a place deepens one’s appreciation of its beauty, and expresses his passion for peonies and hydrangeas.
Episode 3 · A Parisian's Walk: History and Student LifeB1 · 4:52This episode takes a walking tour of historic Paris, visiting Notre-Dame Cathedral (under restoration), the oldest clock in Paris (1371), the Conciergerie prison, the Palais de Justice, Saint-Michel Fountain, and the Sorbonne University—while sharing personal student memories and insights into Parisian architecture and daily life.
Episode 4 · A Tiny Paris Elevator and a French Language ExamB1 · 4:22This episode follows a Parisian navigating a famously tiny elevator in an old building, taking a French language exam, and chatting with her Uzbek-born French teacher about effective language learning strategies, bilingualism in Uzbekistan, and life in France versus Russia.
Episode 5 · A Paris Walk: French Exam Success and a Museum VisitB1 · 4:44This episode celebrates passing the French B2 exam, shares practical preparation tips—including private tutoring and platform recommendations—and features a visit to the Marmottan Monet Museum for an exhibition on sports and games in art ahead of the Olympics.
Episode 6 · Voting by Proxy and a Croissant Hunt in ParisB1 · 4:28The narrator heads to a police station to arrange a proxy vote for the French elections, then visits a bakery to try croissants—discovering the importance of specifying 'au beurre'—and finally takes a train from Gare de Lyon toward the French Riviera.
Episode 7 · French Cheek Kisses and Cultural Habits ExplainedB1 · 5:25This episode explains the French custom of cheek-kissing (la bise) — how many kisses to give, which cheek to start with, and the proper technique (air kisses, not actual lip contact). It also highlights common cultural faux pas made by tourists in France, such as speaking too loudly in public spaces and making no effort to use basic French.
Episode 8 · Why Do the French Avoid Talking About Money?B1 · 6:02This episode explores why money is a taboo topic in France, examining cultural values like egalitarianism, historical events such as the French Revolution, and Catholic religious teachings that associate wealth with moral risk.
Episode 9 · Tattoos and the 'tu'/'vous' distinction in French cultureB1 · 5:21This episode explores French attitudes toward tattoos—how they're often seen as career-limiting despite growing acceptance—and explains the cultural logic behind the 'tu' (informal 'you') and 'vous' (formal 'you') distinction, including its historical roots, evolving usage in families and workplaces, and practical tips for learners.
Bamako photography encounters
Animals on trial
Plato’s cave
Stop-motion made in class
Episode 1 · Creating Stop-Motion Animation in ClassA2 · 3:39Children in a French elementary class explore stop-motion animation: they film playful scenes, practice counting aloud, name colors, follow body movement instructions, and collaborate on a creative project.
Episode 2 · The Little Man's Quest for BreadA2 · 7:11A little man is hungry and embarks on a chain of barter: he trades water for grass, feeds the grass to a horse to get manure, exchanges manure for wheat, then wheat for flour, and finally flour for bread.
Moving to Besançon
Episode 1 · Moving to Besançon: Packing & PreparationsA2 · 4:50This episode follows a young woman's hectic preparations for moving alone to Besançon: arranging home insurance, installing winter tires, packing clothes and essentials (tea, pasta, cleaning supplies), and managing stress and indecision before departure.
Episode 2 · Moving to Besançon: Packing, Driving, and First ImpressionsA2 · 4:58This episode follows a young woman's solo road trip from Rennes to Besançon to move into a new apartment. She films her packing chaos, stress about driving long distances alone, a tire pressure warning (later resolved), stopping for food, navigating city parking, and settling into her furnished sublet — including its quirks like poor mobile reception.
Episode 3 · Moving Into My Tiny Besançon ApartmentA2 · 4:54The vlogger documents her move to Besançon, showing the unpacking process and giving a detailed tour of her 27 m² sublet apartment—including the living area with brick wall and cozy seating, compact sleeping nook, simple kitchen, and well-equipped bathroom—while also sharing updates on university registration and her light class schedule.
Popcorn and the cinema
Episode 1 · Why Do We Eat Popcorn at the Movies?A2 · 5:00This episode explores the seemingly natural yet historically constructed link between popcorn and cinema, tracing how popcorn moved from 19th-century traveling fairs and circuses to American movie theaters in the early 20th century—despite initial resistance from theater owners who associated it with lowbrow culture.
Episode 2 · Popcorn and the Cinema: A Surprising HistoryA2 · 4:56This episode explores the surprising historical journey of popcorn—from being banned in early cinemas for aesthetic and acoustic reasons, to becoming a cornerstone of cinema culture and a major revenue source, shaped by economic crises, technological shifts, and wartime rationing.
Maghrebi home cooking
Episode 1 · Moroccan Eggplant Caviar (Zaalouk)A2 · 3:25This episode teaches how to prepare traditional Moroccan zaalouk — a smoky, spiced eggplant and tomato dip roasted in the oven and simmered with garlic, cumin, paprika, cilantro, and parsley.
Episode 2 · How to Make Perfect, Crispy Falafel at HomeA2 · 4:09This episode teaches how to make restaurant-quality falafel—crispy on the outside, tender and flavorful inside—covering key steps like soaking dried chickpeas overnight, mixing fresh herbs and spices, achieving the right texture, chilling the mixture, and frying at the correct temperature.
Episode 3 · Authentic Greek Salad RecipeA2 · 2:10This episode demonstrates how to prepare an authentic Greek salad using traditional ingredients: olive oil vinaigrette, cherry tomatoes, red onion, cucumber, green pepper, Kalamata olives, and feta cheese.
Episode 4 · Algerian Griwech: Crispy Honey PastriesA2 · 3:57This episode demonstrates how to make traditional Algerian griwech—crispy, honey-soaked pastries flavored with orange blossom water and saffron—covering dough preparation, rolling, folding techniques, frying, and glazing.
North American French: Québec and New England
Episode 1 · A Québécois traveler's storyB1 · 5:56Maxime introduces himself as a Québécois and recounts how, during his 2015 year-long trip, he met a Georgian woman by chance in a café in Viljandi, Estonia.
Episode 2 · Introducing New England FrenchB1 · 2:25Christian introduces himself and explains that the French he speaks—New England French—is distinct from the French spoken in France and other French-speaking countries.
Belgian French: anthropologist Lionel Scheepmans
Episode 1 · Opening of the public doctoral lectureC1 · 4:52The speaker explains they cannot present their full doctoral thesis due to time constraints, but it is available online; they introduce the event as a public lecture and interactive session.
Episode 2 · The Wikimedia movement ecosystemC1 · 5:12The speaker outlines the Wikimedia Foundation and its diverse projects (e.g., Wikidata, Wikivoyage), and gives examples of real-world online and offline applications and collaborations.
Episode 3 · Wikimedia’s software and global collaborationC1 · 5:22The speaker introduces the MediaWiki software—used widely beyond Wikimedia—and describes global collaboration through events like Wikimania, noting editor anonymity and diversity.
Episode 4 · Wikidata’s geographic growth and editor demographicsC1 · 4:57Using animated geolocalized data, the speaker shows Wikidata’s global growth over time and analyzes editor demographics, including high educational attainment and increasing age diversity.
Episode 5 · Human vs. bot-generated contentC1 · 4:49The speaker distinguishes between low-quality bot-generated articles and high-quality human-written ones, and explains Wikimedia Commons as a shared, freely licensed multimedia repository.
Episode 6 · Creative Commons licensing and labor valueC1 · 4:36The speaker explains Creative Commons licensing—emphasizing reuse and sharing rights—and discusses volunteer editors’ motivations and the social value of their non-wage labor.
Episode 7 · Declining contributors vs. growing staffC1 · 4:43The speaker presents data showing declining volunteer contributors and rising paid staff at Wikimedia, noting the challenges of gathering and interpreting these statistics.
Episode 8 · Why paid staff cannot editC1 · 4:29The speaker explains the legal rationale—shifting liability from host to publisher—that prohibits paid staff from editing Wikimedia projects during work hours.
Episode 9 · Consensus-based decision makingC1 · 4:24The speaker describes Wikimedia’s consensus model (typically ~75% agreement, not unanimity) and uses the ‘desire path’ metaphor to illustrate organic, bottom-up collaboration.
Episode 10 · Open, verifiable academic practiceC1 · 4:36The speaker highlights how their online thesis enables direct verification of every claim via linked discussion pages—embodying transparency and open scholarly critique.
Episode 11 · Science and bodily perceptionC1 · 6:32The speaker opens humorously, stressing that science helps us consider facts objectively—not through the emotions they evoke—and introduces the theme of bodily ownership.
Episode 12 · Early education and missionary vocationC1 · 4:57He recounts his parents' strong desire for him to pursue secondary education, passing the eleven-plus exam with their support, entering a Jesuit-run college in the early 1950s, and developing a missionary vocation there.
Episode 13 · Seminary training and philosophical studiesC1 · 4:51He describes his theological training at the White Fathers’ scholasticate, then being sent to the Gregorian University in Rome for philosophy studies due to being too young for ordination, highlighting the open intellectual environment and key professors he encountered.
Episode 14 · Anthropological initiation and first fieldworkC1 · 4:59He recalls his reading-and-essay-based anthropology training in London and his first fieldwork in south-west Nigeria, a pastoral sociology survey for the Nigerian bishops.
Episode 15 · Fieldwork across Africa and academic shiftC1 · 4:20He outlines subsequent field missions in Ethiopia (1976) and Algeria, publishing on spirits, ancestors, and ecumenism; then describes his ethical decision to leave Catholic funding as his scholarship became incompatible with Church constraints, leading to academic roles in Senegal and Congo.
Episode 16 · Institutionalizing anthropology and 'prospective' anthropologyC1 · 4:52He details how anthropology was formally anchored in the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences at UCL, and how the label 'prospective anthropology' emerged informally during interdisciplinary negotiations—later institutionalized through faculty decisions and colleague appointments.
Episode 17 · The nature of anthropology and the anthropologist's roleC1 · 5:01He argues that anthropology is not a dogmatic discipline but the collective practice of individual anthropologists, stressing the importance of personal narrative and embodied interaction in ethnographic work—and endorsing this documentary as a way to make anthropologists visible to wider audiences.
How Peter the Great remade Russia
Episode 1 · How Peter the Great Remade RussiaB2 · 4:57This episode explores how Peter the Great transformed Russia from an isolated, tradition-bound Muscovy into a European military and political power through sweeping reforms, naval expansion, cultural modernization, and authoritarian rule.
Episode 2 · Peter the Great's Childhood Trauma and Early ReformsB2 · 5:12This episode explores how the young Peter the Great, crowned at age ten, witnessed a bloody coup that traumatized him and shaped his lifelong hatred of old Russian traditions. During his semi-exile, he discovered European culture, formed a youth regiment, and developed a passion for shipbuilding—laying the groundwork for his sweeping reforms.
Episode 3 · Peter the Great's European JourneyB2 · 4:57Tsar Peter the Great travels incognito across Europe—visiting Vienna, London, and Amsterdam—to study shipbuilding, science, and military technology. Upon returning to Russia, he launches sweeping reforms: introducing Western dress, abolishing beards for Orthodox men, overhauling administration and education, and promoting merit over birth.
Episode 4 · Peter the Great and the Founding of St. PetersburgB2 · 5:07This episode covers Peter the Great's brutal suppression of rebellions, his forceful modernization reforms, and the grueling construction of St. Petersburg on marshland as Russia's new European-facing capital.
Episode 5 · Peter the Great and the Birth of the Russian EmpireB2 · 5:01This episode covers the Treaty of Nystad ending the Great Northern War, Peter's proclamation as Emperor of All Russia, and the tragic conflict with his son Alexei—culminating in Alexei's arrest, mysterious death in prison, and the broader consequences for Russia's imperial legacy.
Home cooking from elsewhere
Episode 1 · Indian-Style Chicken Tikka MasalaA2 · 4:30This episode introduces chicken tikka masala, focusing on selecting ingredients, preparing the spice marinade with yogurt and citrus, and cutting the chicken into large cubes for marinating.
Episode 2 · Homemade Chicken Tikka MasalaA2 · 4:08This episode shows how to marinate chicken for tikka masala and sauté onions, garlic, and ginger to build the dish's aromatic base.
Episode 3 · Chicken Tikka Masala with Coconut RiceA2 · 4:21This episode demonstrates how to prepare Indian-inspired chicken tikka masala: marinating chicken in yogurt, then cooking it with crushed tomatoes, coconut milk, and cashews, served with rice.
Episode 4 · Irish Lamb StewA2 · 4:06This episode demonstrates how to prepare traditional Irish lamb stew, covering ingredient selection—especially lamb shoulder with bones—and techniques for building flavor, such as browning bones and preparing a mirepoix for the broth.
Episode 5 · Irish Lamb Stew: Slow-Cooked Comfort FoodA2 · 4:18This episode demonstrates how to prepare traditional Irish lamb stew, covering key steps like making and chilling the stock overnight, skimming off fat, searing the lamb, and layering in onions, potatoes, and carrots for slow cooking.
Episode 6 · Irish Lamb StewA2 · 4:09This episode demonstrates preparing traditional Irish lamb stew: reserving carrots and potatoes, straining the stock, seasoning, simmering the meat for 30 minutes, then adding vegetables for a gentle two-hour cook. It highlights flavor development, cultural touches like parsley for Saint Patrick's Day, and the importance of making a good stock.
Museum visitors remember
Episode 1 · A Visit to the Strasbourg Zoological MuseumB2 · 5:09A woman tours the Strasbourg Zoological Museum with a friend, recalling childhood visits and discussing exhibits—including an Atlantic salmon, a scientific hoax specimen, and deep-sea squid with parasitic males—while reflecting on nature’s strangeness and personal memories.
Episode 2 · A Visit to the Strasbourg Zoological MuseumB2 · 5:06A museum visitor recalls exploring exhibits at the Strasbourg Zoological Museum, describing observations of lobsters, sand fleas, shrimp, horseshoe crabs, and transparent deep-sea animals—discussing their appearance, size, biological traits, and scientific explanations shared during the visit.
Episode 3 · Strasbourg Zoo Visit: Childhood Memories and Animal CuriositiesB2 · 5:07Visitors revisit their childhood trip to the Strasbourg Zoological Museum, sharing nostalgic feelings, humorous reactions to animal displays (like bats and lynx), and spontaneous curiosity about gestation periods, anatomy, and natural adaptations.
Episode 4 · Animals in the Museum: Taxidermy, Memory, and StorytellingB2 · 5:17Visitors examine taxidermied animals—including a walrus and wolves—at the Strasbourg Zoological Museum, reflecting on signs of age, literary connections (like Jean-Pierre Pénac's work), and how animal poses evoke human emotions and Disney character archetypes.
Episode 5 · Remembering the Strasbourg Zoological MuseumB2 · 5:04A museum visitor reflects on their experience at the Strasbourg Zoological Museum, describing how animal taxidermy and skeletons evoke human postures and features, while expressing nostalgic appreciation for the museum’s unchanged, retro atmosphere.
Episode 6 · A Visit to the Strasbourg Zoological MuseumB2 · 5:31An illustrator recalls her visit to the Strasbourg Zoological Museum, describing how she observed animal morphology, expressions, and anatomical features—like flying membranes on mammals, Atlantic salmon, and the Tasmanian wolf—and connected them to cartoon imagery and her artistic practice.
Episode 7 · Recalling the Strasbourg Zoological MuseumB2 · 5:28Juliette recalls visiting the Strasbourg Zoological Museum with her cousin, describing exhibits including fictional animals (Rhinogradentia), birds like herons and woodpeckers, insects such as leeches and spiders, and tiny specimens like plankton and fossils from Burgundy.
Episode 8 · Beauty in Nature: A Museum Visitor's ReflectionsB2 · 5:37A museum visitor reflects on the unexpected beauty of natural objects like shrimp shelters and glass jellyfish models, pondering how creatures like jellyfish or ancient-looking crabs aren’t 'designed' to be beautiful—yet evoke wonder, awe, and aesthetic appreciation despite their functional, evolutionary roles.
Episode 9 · Visiting the Strasbourg Zoological MuseumB2 · 4:23Simon visits the Strasbourg Zoological Museum, observing taxidermied specimens, reading informational labels (cartels), reflecting on what makes exhibits feel authentic, and discussing local beliefs about a primate described as 'monstrous' in the display.
Episode 10 · Visiting the Strasbourg Zoological MuseumB2 · 4:30Simon visits the Strasbourg Zoological Museum, observing animal specimens with his cousin, discussing scientific and common names, noticing unfamiliar species, and sharing biological facts—like how blubber insulates walruses—from personal interest and prior study.
Episode 11 · Exploring the Strasbourg Zoological MuseumB2 · 4:23A museum visitor explores taxidermied animals at the Strasbourg Zoological Museum, focusing on scientific and common names, classification, and distinctive traits—especially the platypus, an egg-laying mammal with a duck-like bill and webbed feet.
Episode 12 · Strasbourg Zoological Museum VisitB2 · 4:24Simon visits the Strasbourg Zoological Museum, examining well-preserved animal specimens, encountering the fictional 'rhinogradent' hoax exhibit, and reflecting on the pleasure of recognizing familiar species and discovering unexpected rarities.
Hygiene without bathing
Breton far with prunes
Episode 1 · Breton Prune Cake: A Traditional French DessertA2 · 4:11This episode demonstrates how to make far breton, a traditional Breton dessert featuring prunes, covering ingredient preparation (including rum-marinated prunes), mixing techniques, and tips for achieving a smooth batter.
Episode 2 · Breton Prune Cake: A Traditional French DessertA2 · 4:18This episode demonstrates how to make traditional Breton far breton with prunes, covering mixing the batter, arranging the prunes, baking at precise temperatures and times, and finally unmolding the finished dessert.
Chantimage story songs
Episode 1 · The magical golden shoeA1 · 4:41Toto finds a glowing old shoe under the rug, puts it on, and suddenly bounces and floats—amazing neighbors, birds, and even his dog along the way to school.
Episode 2 · The real magic is inside meA1 · 4:51In class, Toto jumps rope without the magic shoe, earns applause through courage—and realizes the true magic was his own belief in himself all along.
Episode 3 · Toto discovers his teacher trappedA1 · 3:20Toto finds his teacher's shoe in the mud near her house and hears her crying for help from a deep hole behind the hedge.
Episode 4 · Toto dives into the poolA1 · 5:11Toto stands on the diving block, heart pounding, then leaps confidently into the water with a smile and courage.
Episode 5 · Toto and Grandma's market adventureA1 · 6:25In the golden morning light, Toto carries his small basket as Grandma gives him a shopping list and sends him off to explore the vibrant, singing marketplace.
Episode 6 · Little Red Riding Hood walks in the forestA1 · 2:48Little Red Riding Hood walks through the forest singing, carrying a basket of cakes to share with her grandmother.
Where the Super Bowl comes from
Episode 1 · The Origins of the Super BowlB2 · 5:47This episode traces the history of American football from its 19th-century origins through the founding of the NFL and AFL, explains how competition between the leagues led to the creation of the Super Bowl in 1967, and explores the role of television, advertising, halftime shows, and food culture in shaping it into a major American cultural event.
Episode 2 · How the game became a holidayB2 · 2:56This episode traces how American football evolved from rugby, explains the founding of the NFL and rival AFL, and details how television, halftime shows, and advertising helped transform the championship game into the cultural phenomenon known as the Super Bowl.
A castle, a cave, and the beach
Episode 1 · The Little Crocodile Finds His ParentsA2 · 5:05A little crocodile gets separated from his parents during a storm and feels scared and alone. With the help of a shark and a flock of pigeons, he searches for his family—and joyfully reunites with them, expressing gratitude to his kind friends.
Episode 2 · A Little Story in the CaveA2 · 4:32After a squirrel falls from a tree and gets hurt, a bear takes him to his cave to recover. They share food, rest, and later help a baby dragon who is lost and scared find his mother by following footprints in the forest.
Episode 3 · The Honey in the CaveA2 · 4:38A bear and a squirrel seek honey from bees to heal a sick dragon mother. Through kindness and cooperation, they recover and form a lifelong friendship.
Episode 4 · The Castle: A Fairy Tale StoryA2 · 6:06This episode presents a fairy tale set in a castle, featuring a bride whose wedding dress is torn by a cat, a knight proposing marriage, and an evil queen using a magic apple to seize power and beauty.
City bricks and local legends
Episode 1 · Lille: Bricks, History, and Urban LegendsA2 · 4:24This episode explores Lille's architectural diversity—from brick and stone to reinforced concrete—revealing how its border location, industrial past, military history, and bourgeois urban planning shaped the city's built environment and social fabric.
Episode 2 · Lille's Bricks and Architectural LegendsA2 · 4:16This episode explores Lille's architectural evolution—from Flemish-inspired brick buildings like the New Stock Exchange and City Hall to avant-garde modernist works such as Villa Cavrois, and finally to contemporary glass towers in Euralille. It examines how architectural contrasts reflect broader social shifts, including gentrification and efforts to preserve both heritage and social diversity.
Episode 3 · Dark Legends of LyonA2 · 3:56This episode explores Lyon's darker history: Roman executions and gladiatorial games at the Amphitheatre of the Three Gauls; the martyrdom of Saint Blandina and other Christians in 177 CE; and the enigmatic 'herringbone' underground galleries of Croix-Rousse—revealing their likely practical use as storage tunnels, not occult sites.
Episode 4 · Lyon's Canut Revolts and Spiritist LegendsA2 · 4:12This episode explores Lyon's Croix-Rousse hill, visiting the Cour des Voraces—a historic courtyard linked to 19th-century silk workers' uprisings—and then moves to Presqu'île to discuss President Sadi Carnot's 1894 assassination. It also delves into Lyon's spiritist movement, highlighting Allan Kardec's role in codifying spiritualism and his enduring cultural legacy.
Food stories
Episode 1 · Does Sushi Really Come from Japan?B2 · 4:21This episode explores the true history of sushi, tracing its origins from ancient Chinese fish fermentation techniques to its evolution in Japan—especially during the Edo period—culminating in the invention of Edomae sushi.
Episode 2 · The Origins and Evolution of SushiB2 · 4:20This episode traces sushi's journey from Edo-period street food—preserved fish served over vinegared rice—to today's global phenomenon, exploring its evolution into nigiri, maki, temaki, gunkan, and fusion creations like the California roll.
Episode 3 · Where Sushi Really Comes From and How It Evolved Around the WorldB2 · 4:20This episode explores sushi's true origins, reveals how Norwegian salmon entered sushi through a clever marketing campaign, and showcases how sushi has adapted globally—from tropical mango rolls in Brazil to kangaroo sushi in Australia and dried meat versions in South Africa.
Episode 4 · How Lobster Became a Symbol of LuxuryB2 · 5:09This episode traces the history of lobster from ancient Egypt and Greco-Roman times through the Middle Ages, exploring how it transformed from a common seafood into a symbol of wealth and refinement.
Episode 5 · How Lobster Became a Luxury SymbolB2 · 5:26This episode traces the lobster's journey from a medieval luxury served to European nobility, to an everyday food for North American colonists and even prisoners (a myth debunked here), and finally back to its status as a gourmet delicacy—exploring cultural perceptions, culinary history, and Indigenous practices along the way.
Episode 6 · How Lobster Became a Luxury SymbolB2 · 4:58This episode traces lobster's transformation from a stigmatized 'poor people's food' in the 19th century to a luxury symbol, exploring technological advances like rail transport and canning, economic impacts on coastal communities, shifting social perceptions, and early conservation efforts.
Episode 7 · How Lobster Became a Luxury SymbolB2 · 5:22This episode explores how lobster transformed from common seafood into a luxury symbol, covering traditional fishing practices, economic shifts (including WWII rationing and post-war freezer technology), patriotic marketing in Canada, and the surprising impact of climate change on lobster populations in Quebec.
Episode 8 · How Lobster Became a Symbol of LuxuryB2 · 5:09This episode explores the lobster fishing process—from hauling them from the sea to sorting and shipping live lobsters worldwide—and explains Quebec's regulated fishing season, designed to protect spawning. It also features a lighthearted, hands-on demonstration of different lobster-opening techniques.
Episode 9 · How Lobster Became a Symbol of LuxuryB2 · 5:07This episode explores the historical transformation of lobster from a common, even 'poor man's food' to a luxury symbol in Western culture. It also features a lively, hands-on demonstration of how to properly break down and enjoy different parts of a lobster.
Episode 10 · Why the Quebec 'Casse-Croûte' Is So IconicB2 · 4:18This episode explores the history and cultural significance of Quebec's iconic 'casse-croûtes'—small casual eateries—tracing their origins from 19th-century quick-lunch spots to modern institutions, and sampling classics like poutine, hot dogs with fries ('goody'), and regional specialties.
Episode 11 · Why the Quebec Snack Bar Is So Quintessentially QuebecB2 · 5:02This episode explores the history and social role of Quebec's iconic snack bars (casse-croûtes), highlighting how french fries—sourced locally for decades—became vital community hubs, especially as traditional gathering places like churches declined. It also features a lighthearted poutine-making demo and tasting of classic Quebec fast food.
Episode 12 · The Story of Quebec's Snack Carts and Food TrucksB2 · 4:41This episode explores the history of Quebec's street food culture: from early 20th-century mobile potato carts and hot dog vendors, to their 1947 ban in Montreal over hygiene concerns, and their joyful return as modern food trucks in 2013. It also visits the iconic Casse-Croûte Chez Henri, founded in 1957.
Episode 13 · Why the Snack is So Quintessentially QuébécoisB2 · 4:37This episode explores iconic Québécois snacks—including fried chicken, poutine (with classic and barbecue sauces), coleslaw, and the 'mamouth'—examining their organoleptic properties, historical roots (like nutmeg in early recipes), and enduring French cultural influence on local food traditions.
Episode 14 · Quebec's Snack Culture and Culinary IdentityB2 · 4:41This episode explores how Quebec's iconic snacks—especially poutine—became powerful symbols of cultural identity, and examines how postwar American influence, car culture, economic growth (the 'Trente Glorieuses'), and urban changes shaped the rise of snack bars and roadside eateries across Quebec.
Episode 15 · Why the Casse-Croûte Is So Quintessentially QuébécoisB2 · 4:36This episode explores the history and cultural significance of the Québécois casse-croûte (snack bar), tracing its evolution from mobile food carts in the 1950s to modern establishments. It highlights iconic dishes like poutine—focusing on sourcing potatoes, cheese, and secret sauce—as well as family traditions, branding (like the red-and-white uniforms), and beloved menu items at a longstanding local eatery.
Episode 16 · Why the Quebecois Love Their Snacks So MuchB2 · 4:39This episode explores the cultural popularity of Quebec-style snacks like poutine, linking it to evolutionary psychology—specifically how ancestral survival strategies shaped our modern cravings for calorie-dense foods.
Out to see something odd
Episode 1 · Unusual Activities in MartiniqueB1 · 7:04This episode explores off-the-beaten-path experiences in Martinique: paragliding over the Atlantic, hiking the Trace des Caps trail, visiting a Creole organic garden, meeting an artisan who crafts miniature yoles (traditional fishing boats), and trying canyoning in the island's lush rainforest.
Episode 2 · 15 Unusual Places to Visit in FranceB1 · 7:37This episode showcases 15 lesser-known travel destinations across France, including the tidal Île Madame, medieval villages like Château-Landon and Gourdon, the street art museum Street Art City, the dramatic Gorges du Tarn, and Basque countryside gems — all highlighting France’s diverse heritage and landscapes.
Back in the kitchen
Episode 1 · Anjou-Style Chicken RecipeA2 · 5:02This episode demonstrates preparing a traditional Anjou chicken dish: deboning the bird, sautéing mushrooms (substituting mousserons with Paris and oyster mushrooms), caramelizing onions and shallots, and slow-cooking the chicken in a covered pan with white wine and poultry stock.
Episode 2 · Cooking Chicken with Mushroom SauceA2 · 5:03This episode demonstrates preparing a French-style chicken dish with mushrooms, shallots, onions, and white wine reduction sauce.
Episode 3 · Angevine-Style Chicken Thighs with Mushrooms and Cream SauceA2 · 5:05This episode demonstrates preparing Angevine-style chicken thighs, featuring sautéed mushrooms and onions, a rich cream sauce reduced by half, and finished with egg yolk and lemon juice for binding and brightness.
Episode 4 · Rhubarb Clafoutis: A Classic French Dessert RecipeA2 · 5:31This episode demonstrates how to make a traditional French rhubarb clafoutis, covering key steps including peeling and trimming rhubarbe, sugar-curing to remove excess water, and preparing a smooth batter with eggs, sugar, flour, vanilla, and milk.
Episode 5 · Rhubarb Clafoutis: A Simple French DessertA2 · 5:29This episode demonstrates how to make a classic French clafoutis using fresh rhubarb: preparing the mold, arranging the fruit, pouring the batter evenly, baking, checking doneness, cooling, and serving with optional brown sugar or whipped cream.
Episode 6 · Tomato Tatin TartA2 · 4:31This episode teaches how to make a French-Italian fusion tomato tatin tart, using polenta instead of traditional shortcrust pastry, with cherry tomatoes, garlic, basil, balsamic vinegar, and maple syrup.
Episode 7 · Tomato Tatin Tart with PolentaA2 · 4:26This episode demonstrates making a French-style tomato tatin tart using polenta instead of traditional pastry: caramelizing tomatoes, layering polenta, baking until golden, and carefully unmolding the finished dish.
Chef and journalist at work
Episode 1 · Bruno Verjus: Cooking as the Art of NourishingA2 · 4:35This episode explores chef and writer Bruno Verjus’s gastronomic philosophy—cooking as a humanistic, attentive act rooted in respect for living ingredients, seasonal produce, and meaningful connection with others.
Episode 2 · A Journalist's Career JourneyB1 · 4:22A journalist recounts his unexpected career path—from passing the French teaching exam to becoming a teacher, then leaving to travel the world, working odd jobs, and eventually pursuing journalism in Austria and France for major publications.
Episode 3 · A Journalist's Work LifeB1 · 4:20A journalist describes their work for Le Monde diplomatique: pitching and researching complex international topics (e.g., Wahhabism and communism in India), traveling worldwide, conducting on-the-ground reporting, and engaging with diverse people to deepen understanding of global issues.
Legends and people
Episode 1 · Did King Arthur Really Die?B2 · 4:32This episode explores the origins and historical plausibility of the King Arthur legend, recounts his legendary death and its consequences, and examines how medieval texts, folklore, and cultural symbolism shaped his enduring myth across Europe.
Episode 2 · Did King Arthur Really Die?B2 · 4:29This episode examines three medieval texts—the Historia Regum Britanniae, the Roman de Brut, and Malory's Morte d'Arthur—to explore how each recounts King Arthur's death, the role of Avalon, and the enduring ambiguity between his demise and potential return.
Episode 3 · Did King Arthur Really Die?B2 · 4:26This episode explores the enduring mystery of King Arthur's death, analyzing how medieval authors like Wace and Malory use ambiguity, oral tradition, narrative framing, and deliberate uncertainty—not definitive answers—to sustain the legend's power and symbolic resonance.
Episode 4 · Did King Arthur Really Die?B2 · 4:34This episode examines the enduring ambiguity surrounding King Arthur's death, analyzing how medieval texts—especially Malory's 'Morte d'Arthur'—intertwine Christian theology, Plantagenet political interests, and monastic historiography to transform a legendary figure into a tool of legitimacy, pilgrimage, and cultural memory.
Episode 5 · Gudrid Thorbjarnardóttir: The Viking Woman Who Traveled to America and RomeB2 · 4:12This episode explores the remarkable life of 11th-century Norse woman Gudrid Thorbjarnardóttir, who journeyed from Greenland to North America, Iceland, Norway, and even made a pilgrimage to Rome—highlighting women's active roles in Viking exploration, settlement, and transcontinental travel.
Episode 6 · Gudrid: The Viking Woman Who Reached North AmericaB2 · 4:36This episode explores the remarkable life of Gudrid, a 11th-century Norse woman who sailed to Vinland (North America) with her husband Thorfinn Karlsefni. She gave birth to Snorri—the first known European born in the Americas—and is depicted across Icelandic sagas as a central, influential figure whose actions and choices shaped Viking exploration and settlement.
Episode 7 · The Immortal HeLa Cells: A True Story of Henrietta LacksB2 · 5:24This episode tells the true story of Henrietta Lacks, an African American woman whose cervical cancer cells were taken without her knowledge or consent in 1951—and became the first immortal human cell line, revolutionizing medical research.
Episode 8 · The HeLa Cell Legacy: Immortality, Ethics, and ScienceB2 · 5:26This episode explores the discovery of HeLa cells from Henrietta Lacks, their pivotal role in medical breakthroughs—from polio vaccines to COVID-19 research—and the profound ethical questions around consent, commercialization, and her family’s unawareness of their global scientific impact.
Episode 9 · The Immortal Legacy of Henrietta LacksB2 · 5:23This episode explores the origin and global scientific impact of HeLa cells, the ethical issues surrounding their non-consensual use, and the Lacks family’s decades-long journey—from ignorance and distress to recognition and legal action—regarding privacy, consent, and justice.
Sleeping used to be hard
Episode 1 · The History of the Bed: How Humanity Has Slept Through TimeB1 · 5:20This episode explores the history of the bed—from prehistoric reed mats and Neolithic Orkney dwellings to ancient Egyptian and Roman beds—highlighting its roles in power, ritual, love, governance, birth, death, and daily life across civilizations.
Episode 2 · The Evolution of Beds Through HistoryB1 · 5:29This episode traces the history of beds from the Middle Ages to the 20th century, covering materials (straw, feathers, metal springs), designs (canopied, enclosed, folding beds), social meaning (wealth display, gender norms), and shifting hygiene practices (ventilation, bedding layers, duvet adoption).
Episode 3 · Sleeping Together Through History: From Medieval Inns to Modern HotelsB1 · 5:29This episode explores historical sleeping practices across centuries: shared beds in medieval inns, co-sleeping between masters and servants, spouses using children as barriers, and even humans sharing space with animals for warmth—revealing how intimacy, class, and practicality shaped bedtime arrangements.
Episode 4 · The Bed and the Evolution of Intimacy in European HistoryB1 · 5:30This episode explores sleeping practices in Europe from the 16th to the 20th century, tracing how the bed transformed from a shared, semi-public space into a strictly private sanctuary tied to intimacy, family life, health norms, and even political expression.
Hitchhiking adventures
Episode 1 · Hitchhiking Across France: A Student Road TripA2 · 6:08A group of engineering students hitchhike across France as part of INSA Express, a week-long student-organized road trip. This episode covers their first leg—from Lyon to Toulouse—highlighting the challenges, camaraderie, and unpredictability of hitchhiking.
Episode 2 · Hitchhiking Adventure: The Potato ChallengeA2 · 4:59Quentin and friends hitchhike 300 km from Toulouse to a village near Nîmes, completing playful challenges along the way—including trading a potato for something more valuable, finding an ashtray, getting a driver to sing, and hitching as many cars as possible on scenic backroads.
Episode 3 · Our First Hitchhiking Adventure: Thumb Out!A2 · 4:55Two young travelers hitchhike across southern France, encountering quirky drivers, unexpected detours, playful banter, roadside surprises, and the joyful chaos of spontaneous road travel.
Hitchhiking across Europe
Episode 1 · Hitchhiking Through AuvergneB1 · 5:13This episode follows a hitchhiking journey through France's Auvergne region, featuring a visit to Clermont-Ferrand's Marcel-Michelin Stadium, an encounter with local football players, and a spontaneous discovery of thermal springs in the forest.
Episode 2 · Hitchhiking Across Auvergne: Bunkers, Hot Springs, and Local HospitalityB1 · 4:37This episode follows a lighthearted hitchhiking journey across France's Auvergne region: exploring a WWII bunker, discovering natural hot springs, staying with a warm local family, playing hide-and-seek with children, and even racing cars at a highway exit—all with humor and spontaneity.
Episode 3 · Hitchhiking Across AuvergneB1 · 5:14Two travelers hitchhike across Auvergne, meet friendly locals who invite them for a barbecue and poker night, and enjoy authentic rural French hospitality and spontaneous adventures.
Episode 4 · Hitchhiking Across FranceB1 · 5:26Thomas and Quentin embark on a zero-budget hitchhiking journey from Lyon to Budapest, relying on the kindness of strangers, free food from bakeries' surplus, and spontaneous hospitality — highlighting resourcefulness, human connection, and sustainable travel.
Episode 5 · Hitchhiking Across EuropeB1 · 5:46Two travelers hitchhike across France toward Budapest, asking strangers for surplus food or items, while reflecting on low-budget travel, reducing waste, ethical choices, self-worth, and how small actions align with broader ideals.
Episode 6 · Hitchhiking Across EuropeB1 · 5:28This episode follows two young travelers hitchhiking across France toward Budapest, meeting locals like Erwan and Sandrine, accepting hospitality, helping at an equestrian center as a service exchange, and reflecting on sharing, ownership, and community.
Episode 7 · Hitchhiking Across Europe: Switzerland EpisodeB1 · 5:10This episode follows a hitchhiking journey through Switzerland, featuring a meaningful conversation with local host Moot about the adventure and human connection inherent in hitchhiking—trust, saying yes or no authentically, building bridges between people, and embracing pauses in travel and life.
Episode 8 · Hitchhiking in SwitzerlandB1 · 5:23Quentin and Thomas hitchhike across Switzerland, stay with a devout Swiss elderly couple, and reflect on faith, hospitality, personal freedom, and what gives life meaning—while navigating spontaneous encounters and everyday moments.
Episode 9 · Hitchhiking Across Europe: Switzerland StopB1 · 5:09Two French travelers hitchhike across Europe without money and land in Switzerland, where they meet warm locals, stay with a vineyard-owning family, share meals, and learn about spontaneous hospitality and sustainable living.
Episode 10 · Hitchhiking Across Europe: Italy EpisodeB1 · 5:32Joseph and his friend hitchhike across Italy, receiving unexpected hospitality from locals—including a temporary house, breakfast, and pizza—capturing the spontaneity and human connections of grassroots travel.
Episode 11 · Hitchhiking Adventure in ItalyB1 · 5:31Quentin and Thomas hitchhike across Italy and stay with local hosts, sharing meals, drinks, and lighthearted cultural exchanges—including Italian pizza, beer, vodka, and pine liqueur.
Episode 12 · Hitchhiking Across Europe: Austria EditionB1 · 5:31This episode follows two hitchhikers traveling through Austria as they search for leftover bread, temporary lodging, and assistance from a church—meeting friendly locals, sisters, and volunteers along the way.
Episode 13 · Hitchhiking Across Brittany: A Castle Challenge!B1 · 4:35Two travelers hitchhike from Lyon toward Rennes in Brittany, seeking free accommodation along the way by offering help with chores like dishwashing and gardening in exchange for meals and a place to sleep.
Episode 14 · Hitchhiking in Brittany: Seeking Shelter in a CastleB1 · 4:42Two travelers hitchhike across Brittany, experimenting with a 'gift relay' system to foster goodwill among hosts, and set out to find a castle for shelter — blending spontaneity, local encounters, and light-hearted adventure.
Episode 15 · A Castle Stay in Brittany: Cleaning Walls and Sharing StoriesB1 · 4:37Hitchhikers fulfill their dream of staying in a Loire Valley castle, help clean its north façade by removing ivy, and chat with the owners about restoring the historic property from ruins.
Episode 16 · Micro-Adventure in the Cantal MountainsB1 · 4:12Two friends hitchhike from Lyon and Angoulême to the Cantal region, then hike toward a village to meet friends—relying on kindness, improvisation, and local hospitality for shelter and guidance.
Episode 17 · A Micro-Adventure in the Cantal MountainsB1 · 4:12Two friends embark on a spontaneous micro-adventure in the rural Cantal region: hiking, hitchhiking, staying with locals, savoring autumn sounds and textures, and embracing surprise and human connection.
Dakar life and African kitchens
Episode 1 · Living in Dakar: The Cost of Life in West Africa's Most Expensive CityB1 · 4:13This episode explores the high cost of living in Dakar, Senegal—the most expensive city in West Africa—examining how informal workers like street vendors cope with soaring food, housing, and transport prices, and how they manage tight household budgets amid inflation and global shocks.
Episode 2 · The True Cost of Living in DakarB1 · 4:15This episode examines the soaring cost of living in Dakar, Senegal, using a real family's monthly budget—covering rent, food, education, transport, and healthcare—to illustrate how inflation and unstable incomes strain everyday survival.
Episode 3 · Innovating African Desserts with Local IngredientsB1 · 5:55Chef Anto demonstrates how to reinvent French toast using mbouraké—a West African snack made from stale bread, peanuts, and milk—as a crust, paired with baobab fruit mousse. She advocates for modern, pan-African pastry that highlights indigenous ingredients like baobab, zabane, and okra, moving beyond colonial-era dessert norms.
What video games train you to do
Episode 1 · What Soft Skills Do Video Games Teach?B1 · 4:52This episode explores how video games unconsciously develop valuable soft skills—such as communication, teamwork, confidence, motivation, and leadership—that are highly transferable to professional life.
Episode 2 · How Video Games Build Soft SkillsB1 · 5:03This episode explores how team-based video games like Counter-Strike develop real-world soft skills—including leadership, teamwork, communication, strategic thinking, recruitment, and people management—through practical gameplay experiences.
Episode 3 · What Soft Skills Video Games Train You InB1 · 4:49This episode explores how video games like StarCraft and Kerbal Space Program help develop soft skills such as stress management, multitasking, strategic thinking, bluffing, reading opponents, and rigor—especially through real-time decision-making and iterative testing.
Episode 4 · How Video Games Train Problem-Solving SkillsB1 · 4:55This episode explores how video games—especially The Legend of Zelda and Don't Starve—train problem-solving skills through world exploration, puzzle-solving, resource management, and iterative learning under constraints, drawing parallels to engineering practice.
Episode 5 · What Soft Skills Video Games Teach YouB1 · 5:05This episode explores how video games like Don't Starve Together, Age of Empires, Mario, and Oddworld help develop essential soft skills—including entrepreneurial mindset, crisis management, perseverance, adaptability, and self-presentation—through gameplay experiences and personal professional reflections.
Episode 6 · What soft skills do video games develop?B1 · 4:53This episode explores how playing video games helps develop soft skills such as critical thinking, evaluating information (e.g., assessing game quality or compatibility), and building professional networks through gaming communities and events.
Popeye was wrong about spinach
Episode 1 · The Spinach-Iron Myth: How a Decimal Point Changed Nutrition HistoryB1 · 5:16This episode debunks the widespread myth that spinach is exceptionally rich in iron, tracing its origins to a misreported 19th-century study by German chemist Erich von Wolff—and how Popeye's cartoon fame cemented the misconception in popular culture.
Episode 2 · The Truth About Spinach and PopeyeB1 · 5:25This episode investigates the widely repeated claim that spinach's reputation for high iron content stems from a misplaced decimal point—and reveals how Popeye's popularity became entangled with nutritional myths, scientific errors, and historical misconceptions.
Episode 3 · The Spinach-Iron Myth: How a Scientific Misunderstanding Took HoldB1 · 5:24This episode traces how the widespread belief that spinach is exceptionally rich in iron originated from 19th-century scientific publications, decimal errors, and repeated citations—despite early analyses showing otherwise—and clarifies its actual iron content and bioavailability.
Campus radio: how the web talks
Episode 1 · Social Media Content Moderation PracticesB1 · 5:12This episode explores how social media platforms moderate user content—covering automated filtering, human review processes, the roles of professional and volunteer moderators, and the psychological toll on content reviewers, illustrated by a firsthand account from a former Facebook moderator.
Episode 2 · Social Media Content ModeratorsB1 · 5:35This episode examines the working conditions, psychological toll, and lack of professional recognition faced by social media content moderators, comparing professional moderators with community-based ones.
Episode 3 · Social Media Content Moderation PracticesB1 · 5:10This episode examines social media content moderation, covering volunteer versus professional moderators, how platforms adapt to national laws (e.g., by setting up local subsidiaries), and regulatory frameworks like the EU's Digital Services Act (DSA), including transparency requirements, algorithmic accountability, and enforcement mechanisms.
Episode 4 · Social Media Content Moderation PracticesB1 · 5:15This episode examines two regulatory approaches to social media content moderation: strict, enforceable legislation (like Germany's 24-hour removal rule) and voluntary self-regulation, discussing their trade-offs regarding speed, free expression, and effectiveness.
Episode 5 · How Online Advertising WorksB1 · 4:53This episode explains the two main types of online advertising—display ads (banners, pop-ups) and search ads (paid links on search engines)—and how personalization uses user data to target ads based on browsing and search behavior.
Episode 6 · Web Advertising and Data CollectionB1 · 4:56This episode examines how online advertising relies on extensive data collection from smartphones and apps to deliver targeted ads, highlighting privacy risks—such as invisible tracking and physical location monitoring—as well as environmental impacts linked to overconsumption.
Episode 7 · The Environmental Cost of Online AdvertisingB1 · 5:07This episode examines how online advertising influences consumer behavior through peripheral vision cues, color psychology, and ad repetition—and reveals its tangible environmental impact, from undersea cables and energy-hungry data centers to global CO2 emissions.
Episode 8 · The Environmental Cost of Online AdvertisingB1 · 4:53This episode examines the ecological footprint of online advertising—covering data center energy use, telecom network emissions, behavioral tracking, and how targeted ads drive unnecessary consumption. It also explores alternative revenue models like public donations (e.g., Wikipedia) and ad-free subscriptions (e.g., YouTube Premium), as well as regulatory tools (GDPR) and ad blockers.
Episode 9 · Web Advertising and Its Environmental ImpactB1 · 4:44This episode examines how online advertising increases webpage loading times and data consumption, discusses its environmental footprint, and presents emerging low-carbon digital solutions—such as carbon-aware KPIs and privacy-preserving ad delivery—alongside consumer and regulatory efforts to reduce tech-related ecological impact.
Episode 10 · Web Advertising and Its Environmental ImpactB1 · 4:58This episode discusses the environmental impact of online advertising, issues around data collection without user awareness, and explores alternatives like micropayments and privacy-respecting open-source software.
Wikipedians at university: URFIST interviews
Episode 1 · Nicolas Vigneron introduces himselfB2 · 2:25Nicolas Vigneron introduces himself as a volunteer Wikipedia editor since 2004, later turning it into a profession, and describes his recent Wikimedia residencies and training work with institutions like URFIST and libraries.
Episode 2 · Patrick Hernebring, Toulouse librarianB2 · 1:32Patrick Hernebring introduces himself as a staff member at Toulouse Municipal Library, responsible for the Rosalis heritage digital library.
Episode 3 · Introducing Philippe Terral, sociology professorB2 · 2:54Philippe Terral introduces himself as a sociology professor at Université Toulouse III, specializing in sociology of science and technology, and outlines the four main themes of the 'Science with and for Society' mission.
Episode 4 · Alain Queffelec introduces himselfB2 · 2:54Alain Queffelec, a CNRS research engineer in archaeometry in Bordeaux, studies the stones and materials used by prehistoric humans.
Episode 5 · Amélie Barrio on URFIST OccitanieB2 · 2:58Amélie Barrio, co-head of URFIST Occitanie, explains its training role and how Wikimedia was already part of its open-science courses.
Episode 6 · Christian Coste introduces himselfB2 · 2:03Christian Coste introduces himself as a retired contributor to Wikipedia for about fifteen years and explains the value of the Wikimedia residency program in bridging local groups, Wikimedia France, and university stakeholders.
Episode 7 · Damien Belvèze introduces himselfB2 · 2:48Damien Belvèze introduces himself as a librarian at the University of Rennes’ Health Library, responsible for user training—including Wikipedia-related content—and supporting research, notably through Wikidata and Wikimedia initiatives.
Episode 8 · Evelyne Bigot, first-time Wikipedia editorB2 · 1:09Evelyne Bigot introduces herself as an administrative assistant at Rennes 2 University's Language Resources Library and states she had never contributed to Wikipedia before this training.
Episode 9 · Hugo Lopez, twenty years on WikipediaB2 · 2:16Hugo Lopez introduces himself as the Wikimedian in Residence at the University of Toulouse for 2023–2024 and describes his twenty years of contributions to Wikipedia.
Episode 10 · Juliette Halimi, resident at URFIST RennesB2 · 2:34Juliette Halimi introduces herself as the Wikimedia resident at URFIST Rennes since February 2023 and describes her prior work in research valorization at Rennes 2 University's library.
Episode 11 · Karine Onfroy, data engineer at an economics labB2 · 1:49Karine Onfroy introduces herself as a data engineer at BSE, an economics lab at the University of Bordeaux with 76 researchers and 71 PhD students.
Episode 12 · Interview: Pierre-Yves BeaudouinB2 · 3:10Pierre-Yves Beaudouin introduces himself as the Wikimedia resident at URFIST Bordeaux and outlines his core missions, including training and supporting university researchers and librarians.
Episode 13 · Raphaëlle Bats introduces herselfB2 · 2:47Raphaëlle Bats introduces herself as co-responsible of URFIST Bordeaux, a librarian by training, and a researcher working at the intersection of sociology and information and communication sciences.
Episode 14 · Rémi Joinville on URFIST RennesB2 · 2:36Rémi Joinville presents URFIST Rennes: its region, its small permanent team and its information-literacy training for researchers and library staff.
Episode 15 · Hugo Lopez introduces himselfB2 · 7:18Hugo Lopez introduces himself as the Wikimedia Resident at the University of Toulouse for the 2023–2024 academic year.
Episode 16 · Portrait: Juliette HalimiB2 · 3:33Juliette Halimi introduces herself as the Wikimedia resident at URFIST Rennes, outlines her library and open science background, and describes URFIST’s mission, regional scope, and team structure.
Episode 17 · Wikipedia editing workshops and training expansionB2 · 4:20Juliette Halimi on running a One Lib One Ref 2024 workshop and bringing Wikidata and OpenRefine into URFIST's training.
Episode 18 · Portrait: Pierre-Yves BeaudouinB2 · 3:42Pierre-Yves Beaudouin introduces himself as the Wikimedia resident at URFIST Bordeaux and explains URFIST’s role in supporting researchers with scientific information tools.
Episode 19 · Goals and academic participationB2 · 3:59The main goal is to enable university researchers and librarians to contribute directly to Wikimedia projects, thereby reaching far broader audiences than traditional academic outreach.
Quick computer curiosities
Episode 1 · What Happens When You Unplug a USB Drive?B1 · 6:01This episode explains the risks of unplugging a USB drive without safely ejecting it, focusing on how interrupting read or write operations can corrupt files or damage data—especially with external mechanical hard drives or during system updates.
Episode 2 · What Happens When We Switch from 32-bit to 64-bit?B1 · 5:33This episode explains fundamental computing concepts—bits, bytes, and binary—and clarifies how moving from 32-bit to 64-bit systems expands memory capacity, extends time representation (e.g., avoiding the Year 2038 problem), and dramatically increases the number of addressable states.
Episode 3 · Future Food in 2050: Lab-Grown Meat, Jellyfish Sauce, and Insect SnacksB1 · 4:56This episode explores futuristic food in Trappes, France, in 2050 — including synthetic meat, farmed jellyfish sauce, roasted mealworms, a wearable food-scanning bracelet that analyzes nutritional composition via infrared spectroscopy, and an autonomous cooking robot that prepares and serves meals.
Episode 4 · Future Food and Smart RestaurantsB1 · 4:29This episode explores the future of food technology, including 3D-printed meals (like cricket burgers), robotic cooking, and how restaurants will use digital tools—from social media marketing to HACCP-compliant dashboards—for management, hygiene, and customer engagement by 2050.
Episode 5 · How Technology Protects Oceans and FarmlandB1 · 4:55This episode explores how technology helps monitor illegal fishing—using GPS-tagged albatrosses—and supports sustainable agriculture through satellite imagery, carbon sequestration tracking, and environmental indicator development.
Episode 6 · Smart Farming and Nanotech Food in 2050B1 · 4:46This episode explores how satellite imagery, farm machinery data, and real-time parcel-level information improve yield forecasting and reduce food waste. It also imagines 2050's nanotechnology—tiny ingestible robots that monitor health, trace food origins, and even analyze nutritional composition.
More computer curiosities
Episode 1 · What Are Web Cookies?B1 · 7:39This episode explains web cookies using everyday analogies like store loyalty cards, covering their core functions: maintaining user sessions (e.g., shopping carts), enabling seamless logins, and powering personalized ads and content—while also addressing privacy implications and basic mitigation options.
Episode 2 · What Exactly Is 5G?B1 · 7:13This episode explains the fundamentals of 5G: its evolution from 1G to 4G, its three distinct operational modes (enhanced mobile broadband, ultra-reliable low-latency communications, and massive machine-type communications), and key enabling technologies like network slicing and beamforming.
Computer bugs and backups
Episode 1 · Meltdown and Spectre Vulnerabilities ExplainedB1 · 4:51This episode explains the Meltdown and Spectre hardware vulnerabilities affecting nearly all modern processors, how they expose sensitive data like passwords and encryption keys, and the trade-offs involved in software-based fixes—including significant performance slowdowns and unresolved risks.
Episode 2 · How Companies Should Back Up Professional DataA2 · 5:23This episode explains who is responsible for professional data backups in a company (typically the IT department), outlines legal and policy constraints, and details safe, compliant methods employees can use—such as approved network storage or company-provided external drives—while warning against unauthorized personal cloud or USB backups.
Film workshop shorts
Episode 1 · Pre-interview nervous preparationB1 · 7:13Alice nervously practices natural-sounding citizenship interview questions with Bruno before her first official interview.
Episode 2 · Audition scene with improvisationB1 · 5:36An actress improvises a fragmented, emotionally charged monologue during a drama workshop audition, expressing disorientation, longing, and inner conflict.
Episode 3 · Stella longs to shineB1 · 2:39Stella eagerly awaits her slow-dance moment, only to discover her song hasn't been played.
Episode 4 · Down in the basementB1 · 6:26Two people descend into a basement to play a spooky spirit-summoning game; the lights go out, chaos ensues, and someone starts bleeding.
Tales in stop-motion
Episode 1 · Puss in BootsA2 · 2:48This episode tells the classic fairy tale of a miller's youngest son who inherits a cat; through clever tricks and bravery, the cat helps his master win wealth, royal favor, and the hand of the princess.
Episode 2 · Roll, Roll, Little PancakeA2 · 6:12This episode tells a classic French folktale about a pancake that rolls away from her grandparents' home and encounters a rabbit, a wolf, a bear, and a fox along the way.
Episode 3 · The Mouse's TailA2 · 4:45A little mouse tries to please a big cat with gifts and service, faces repeated rejection, and ultimately asserts its independence and courage while expressing fears and joys.
Episode 4 · Simeon's Red TruckA2 · 1:16Simeon has a red toy truck named Gédéon—they play together constantly, but Simeon eventually lets the truck go to enjoy solitude, imagination, friendship, and play; later, he calls it back when he's ready.
Stop-motion stories
Episode 1 · The Little Hunter and the CaribouA2 · 4:39A little boy from Canada sets out in freezing cold to hunt a caribou, encountering a wolf, a lynx, and a bear along the way—each time choosing not to harm them. In the end, he abandons the hunt and befriends the caribou instead.
Episode 2 · Mo the Cat Searches for a Smiling LightA2 · 5:54On a cold autumn night, Mo the black kitten wakes up to see a mysterious light outside his window and sets off on a forest adventure to find this 'smiling light.' Along the way, he meets Grandfather Owl, a squirrel, a raccoon chef, and a gentle bear who explains that fear comes from unfamiliarity.
Episode 3 · The Time of LilacsA2 · 5:08A cat rushes to catch a train but faces comical mishaps: overpacked luggage, asking someone to water his flowers, struggling with a stubborn door, and realizing too late that he’s missed his train due to confusion over the departure details.
Stories from animation school
Episode 1 · The girl, the wisp and the rabbitB1 · 5:38At a night market, a girl meets a will-o'-the-wisp selling skewers and a rabbit named Pascal. They talk about food, and about saying goodbye.
Episode 2 · A Cat Interview from Animation SchoolB1 · 5:55Lucas conducts a playful, chaotic interview with a cat named Cawette at an animation school, featuring humorous mishaps, spontaneous moments, and lighthearted curiosity about the cat's habits and personality.
An animator talks about making comics
Episode 1 · Creating Comics and Free ArtB1 · 4:49An animator introduces his webcomic 'Pepper and Carotte', discusses his creative process, favorite tools (like Krita and Linux), RPG and manga inspirations, and explains the importance of Creative Commons licenses for artistic freedom and reuse.
Episode 2 · The Creation Story of Pepper & CarotteB1 · 5:07Animator David Revoy discusses how he created the characters of Pepper & Carotte—explaining their names (all inspired by spices and vegetables), his personal connection to them, the open and collaborative nature of the project, fan contributions, and unexpected adaptations like cosplay.
PhD diaries
Episode 1 · Introducing my PhD projectB2 · 4:53The creator introduces this as the first vlog in a series about their PhD project in Educational Sciences, recorded on January 3, focusing on teacher training and the relationship between research and educational practice.
Episode 2 · Researchers vs. teachers' perspectivesB2 · 4:54The speaker highlights differing expectations and underlying values between researchers and teachers regarding what educational research should be and how it should be applied in daily practice.
Episode 3 · Philosophy of science and feedback trainingB2 · 4:41The speaker describes two relevant courses: one on philosophy of science for doctoral students, and another on delivering constructive academic feedback, emphasizing interdisciplinary awareness and mentoring practices.
Episode 4 · Preparing for the thesis advisory committeeB2 · 4:53The speaker explains they are writing a five-page progress report in preparation for their first thesis advisory committee meeting with supervisors and other researchers, and previews sharing outcomes in a future vlog.
Episode 5 · Finding supervisors and defining the topicB2 · 4:46The speaker explains how they defined their thesis topic, found two complementary doctoral supervisors (one habilitated, one not), and stresses the importance of strong human and intellectual rapport with supervisors.
Episode 6 · Supervisor relationship matters more than topic choiceB2 · 4:45Why a good relationship with supervisors matters more than the topic itself, and how the project took shape with both supervisors during a Master 2 research internship.
Episode 7 · Refining the research question and timelineB2 · 4:58The speaker's research question on citizen science and teachers' critical thinking, why key concepts must be defined from the literature, and the planned timeline.
Episode 8 · Doctoral application process and funding optionsB2 · 4:59How to apply to a French doctoral school, from the dossier to the oral interview, and the main funding routes such as university contracts and CIFRE.
Episode 9 · Doctoral salary and research supportB2 · 5:16The speaker's net monthly PhD salary, why it is above the usual French stipend, where the money comes from, and the travel budget the doctoral school provides.
Episode 10 · Doctoral students' mental health overviewB2 · 4:14Pline introduces their experience with depression and burnout during doctoral studies and outlines the video's focus on prevalence, causes, and prevention of thesis-related mental health issues.
Episode 11 · Uncertainty in academic careersB2 · 4:36Discusses career-related stressors for PhD students, including scarce permanent faculty positions, geographic constraints, publication pressures, social comparison, and pervasive imposter syndrome.
Episode 12 · Multiple factors affecting mental healthB2 · 4:15Summarizes key risk and protective factors for doctoral students’ mental health—including social isolation, supervisor relationships—and encourages reaching out to trusted people or mental health professionals.
Conversations on where knowledge comes from
Episode 1 · Untangling Truth from Falsehood: Where Does Knowledge Come From?B2 · 4:52This episode explores how people form certainty, evaluate the reliability of information, and why individuals relying on seemingly credible sources can arrive at radically opposing conclusions about reality.
Episode 2 · Where Does Knowledge Come From?B2 · 4:44This episode introduces epistemology—the philosophical study of the nature, origins, and limits of human knowledge. It explores key questions about how we know what we know and examines traditional sources of knowledge: perception, reason, introspection, memory, and testimony.
Episode 3 · Where Knowledge Comes From—and Its LimitsB2 · 4:43This episode examines the strengths and weaknesses of key sources of knowledge—perception, reason, and memory—and how they can mislead us. It explores the inherent limits of human knowledge, using examples from cosmology and philosophy, and explains how science combines observation, logic, and testimony to approach truth more reliably.
Episode 4 · From Myths to Reason: The Birth of Philosophical ThoughtB2 · 4:40This episode explores how pre-Socratic philosophers in ancient Greece—starting with Thales of Miletus—sought natural, rational explanations for the world, moving away from mythological accounts and laying the groundwork for philosophical inquiry and the scientific method.
Episode 5 · Appearance vs. Reality: From Ancient Philosophy to Virtual WorldsB2 · 4:35This episode explores the philosophical distinction between appearance and reality, tracing it from Parmenides’ claim that reason—not the senses—reveals true, unchanging reality, through the Sophists’ radical relativism (e.g., Protagoras’ 'man is the measure of all things'), to modern questions raised by virtual reality and *The Matrix* about perception, truth, and shared reality.
Episode 6 · From Myths to Reason: Socrates and Plato on KnowledgeB2 · 4:52This episode explores Socrates' method of questioning—his 'Socratic irony' and maieutic approach—to reveal contradictions in beliefs and awaken critical thinking. It then examines Plato's theory of Forms, arguing that true knowledge concerns eternal, perfect ideas rather than sensory experience.
Episode 7 · From the Cave to Scientific UnderstandingB2 · 4:37This episode explores Plato's Allegory of the Cave and Aristotle's empiricist theory of knowledge, contrasting rational insight with sensory experience as sources of understanding. It examines how knowledge arises—whether from an ideal realm accessible only to reason, or from observing and interpreting the physical world—and highlights Aristotle's emphasis on causes and explanation as foundations of modern scientific method.
Episode 8 · From Myths to Reason: Ancient Greek Philosophies of KnowledgeB2 · 4:46This episode explores the foundational debate between Plato and Aristotle on the origin of knowledge—reason versus experience—and traces how later ancient schools (Stoics, Epicureans, Pyrrhonian skeptics, and Neoplatonists) offered distinct answers, linking them to modern scientific thinking and ethical inquiry.
Episode 9 · From Myths to Reason: The Origins of KnowledgeB2 · 4:43This episode explores Plotinus's view of knowledge as both intellectual and spiritual—attained through mystical experience—and connects it to modern phenomenology and cognitive science. It also highlights enduring tensions in epistemology, like reason vs. experience, certainty vs. doubt, and the ethical dimensions of knowing.
Episode 10 · The Everyday Impact of Artificial IntelligenceB2 · 5:46This episode explores how AI has quietly entered daily life—summarizing texts, drafting emails, explaining concepts, and even advising on personal matters. It examines the subtle yet profound shift in how people interact with machines, accept human-like responses as normal, and navigate growing reliance on AI tools.
Episode 11 · The Dual Dreams Behind Artificial IntelligenceB2 · 5:37This episode explores how AI evolved from an invisible background tool into a conversational partner—and how it embodies two deep human aspirations: the dream of an all-knowing oracle that provides answers, and the dream of boundless power that accelerates decision-making, creation, and control across individuals, corporations, and states.
Episode 12 · The Physical Weight of Artificial IntelligenceB2 · 5:45This episode examines how AI is not immaterial—it relies on physical infrastructure, massive energy and water use, mineral extraction, and enormous capital investment. It frames AI as both a technological breakthrough and a symptom of broader societal acceleration, raising urgent questions about resources, climate, and human agency.
Episode 13 · What Do We Mean by Artificial Intelligence?B2 · 5:11This episode explores what 'artificial intelligence' actually means, highlighting how the term is vague, interpreted differently by different people, and often used as an umbrella label for everything from spell-checkers to hypothetical superintelligence.
Episode 14 · What Can Artificial Intelligence Actually Do?B2 · 5:30This episode explores the four core capabilities of artificial intelligence: seeing (perception and classification), predicting (e.g., next-word prediction, fraud detection), generating (text, images, code), and acting (e.g., robotics). It emphasizes that these seemingly diverse functions stem from a shared underlying logic—identifying and leveraging patterns or regularities in data.
Episode 15 · How Artificial Intelligence LearnsB2 · 4:58This episode explains how AI learns by detecting recurring patterns — in music, language, physics, and biology — and introduces machine learning as a shift from hand-coding rules to letting algorithms discover regularities from massive datasets.
Episode 16 · How AI Generates Language: The Power of Next-Word PredictionB2 · 5:24This episode explains how large language models (LLMs) work: by analyzing billions of texts, they learn statistical patterns to predict the next word—repeatedly—enabling them to write, converse, summarize, and even mimic poets or explain math theorems.
Episode 17 · What Do We Mean by Artificial Intelligence?B2 · 5:17This episode explores how AI generates text, images, and more by learning statistical patterns—not understanding meaning. It explains AI's remarkable capabilities alongside its limitations: 'hallucinations,' inherited human biases, unpredictability, and the ongoing debate about whether scaling up statistics leads to true intelligence or just highly convincing imitation.
Episode 18 · What Artificial Intelligence Really IsB2 · 5:14This episode explains how AI works—not by following rules but by detecting patterns in massive datasets. It stresses that AI imitates human language and behavior astonishingly well without genuine understanding, and inherits human biases and errors from the data it's trained on.
Episode 19 · The Dawn of the Scientific RevolutionB2 · 4:55This episode explores the historical context of the Scientific Revolution in 17th–18th century Europe, examining how religious wars, the rise of nation-states, and the decline of Catholic Church authority created fertile ground for new ways of acquiring and validating knowledge.
Episode 20 · The Social and Institutional Foundations of the Scientific RevolutionB2 · 4:26This episode explores the social, economic, and institutional conditions that enabled the Scientific Revolution: the rise of an educated urban bourgeoisie, new scientific academies (like the Royal Society and Académie des sciences), patronage systems, printing networks, and the complex relationship between emerging science and religious authority—including both spaces for intellectual freedom and instances of repression.
Episode 21 · Founders of the Scientific RevolutionB2 · 4:58This episode explores how Francis Bacon and Galileo Galilei transformed the pursuit of knowledge: Bacon introduced the inductive method and his 'four idols'—systematic biases hindering understanding—while Galileo pioneered instrumental observation, experimentation, and the mathematical language of nature.
Episode 22 · The Scientific Revolution and the Birth of Rational MethodB2 · 4:45This episode explores how Galileo challenged Aristotelian physics through observation, experimentation, and mathematical analysis—especially on falling bodies—and how Descartes established a new foundation for knowledge using systematic doubt, leading to his 'cogito' and the Cartesian method.
Episode 23 · Descartes and Spinoza on the Nature of KnowledgeB2 · 4:38This episode explores Descartes' mind-body dualism and its lasting impact on modern conceptions of the individual and subjectivity. It then contrasts this with Spinoza's monist philosophy, which links true knowledge to understanding necessity in nature, ties ethics to cognition, and affirms freedom through rational acceptance of causal order.
Episode 24 · Newton and the Empiricist RevolutionB2 · 4:50This episode explores how Newton unified terrestrial and celestial physics through his law of universal gravitation and the hypothetico-deductive method, then examines British empiricism—Locke, Berkeley, and Hume—who argued that all knowledge arises from sensory experience, challenging innate ideas and absolute certainty.
Episode 25 · Empiricism and the Puzzle of PerceptionB2 · 4:44This episode explores empiricist philosophy through Locke, Berkeley, and Hume: Locke’s distinction between primary qualities (like shape and motion) and secondary qualities (like color and taste); Berkeley’s radical immaterialism ('to be is to be perceived'); and Hume’s skeptical critique of causality as habit rather than reason.
Episode 26 · Hume and the Problem of InductionB2 · 4:50This episode explores David Hume's philosophical critique of causality and inductive reasoning, explaining why we cannot logically justify the assumption that the future will resemble the past — illustrated by the classic black swan example.
Episode 27 · The Scientific Revolution and Its Lasting Impact on KnowledgeB2 · 4:39This episode examines how the Scientific Revolution transformed humanity's approach to knowledge through empiricism, experimentation, and mathematization, leading to technological advances, European colonial expansion, and profound epistemological questions about scientific truth, limits of knowledge, and humanity's relationship with nature.
Episode 28 · The Age of Knowledge Transformation: 19th–Early 20th CenturyB2 · 4:58This episode explores the profound transformation of knowledge in the 19th and early 20th centuries: the Industrial Revolution reshaped thought and education; colonial encounters broadened intellectual horizons; rising nationalism redefined cultural narratives; and thinkers like Darwin, Marx, and Freud revolutionized how we understand evolution, history, society, and the human mind.
Episode 29 · Kant's Copernican Revolution in KnowledgeB2 · 5:00This episode explores how Kant revolutionized epistemology by arguing that knowledge does not conform to objects, but rather objects conform to the structures of our mind—introducing space, time, and categories as innate frameworks shaping all experience.
Episode 30 · Hegel and the Dialectical Development of KnowledgeB2 · 4:53This episode explores Hegel's dialectical method—thesis, antithesis, synthesis—as a framework for understanding knowledge not as static truth but as a dynamic, historical, and collective process unfolding through human experience and history.
Episode 31 · The Dialectical Journey of KnowledgeB2 · 4:57This episode explores Hegel's and Marx's dialectical approaches to knowledge—contrasting idealism with historical materialism—and introduces Auguste Comte's positivism, which grounds valid knowledge in empirical observation and scientific laws.
Episode 32 · Pragmatism and Phenomenology: Knowledge as Action and Lived ExperienceB2 · 4:54This episode explores American pragmatism—its view that the truth of an idea lies in its practical consequences—and phenomenology, which emphasizes returning to lived, pre-theoretical experience as the foundation of knowledge.
Episode 33 · Embodied and Situated Knowledge: Phenomenology and Modern LogicB2 · 5:01This episode explores how phenomenology—through Husserl, Heidegger, Sartre, and Merleau-Ponty—reveals that knowledge is always embodied, situated, and inseparable from our lived experience and engagement with the world. It also introduces Gottlob Frege’s foundational work in modern symbolic logic, addressing how language and logical structure shape thought.
Episode 34 · The Logical Foundations of KnowledgeB2 · 4:56This episode explores how Frege, Russell, Wittgenstein, and Gödel revolutionized our understanding of knowledge through formal logic, linguistic analysis, and the discovery of fundamental limits to provability and definition.
Episode 35 · Revolutionary Breakthroughs in Human KnowledgeB2 · 4:50This episode explores how major scientific breakthroughs—from Darwin's theory of evolution and Marie Curie's discovery of radioactivity to Freud's unconscious and Einstein's relativity—transformed our understanding of knowledge, reality, observation, and the limits of human perception.
Episode 36 · How Society Shapes Our KnowledgeB2 · 4:52This episode explores Marx's view that knowledge is shaped by social class and Nietzsche's claim that 'truth' is merely a useful interpretation serving vital interests. It examines how these ideas influenced sociology, politics, psychology, and modern culture.
Episode 37 · The Origins of Knowledge and the Power of Scientific MethodB2 · 5:06This episode explores how advances in logic, philosophy of language, and scientific revolutions—like relativity and quantum mechanics—transformed our understanding of knowledge, reality, and society. It highlights the unique power of the scientific method—grounded in observation, experimentation, and falsifiability—to build reliable, shared, and revisable knowledge, while also acknowledging the complementary value of philosophy, art, and traditional knowledge.
Episode 38 · When Reality Becomes RelativeB2 · 5:03This episode explores how 20th-century epistemological shifts—especially Einstein's theory of relativity—challenged absolute notions of time, space, and truth, reshaping our understanding of knowledge in a rapidly changing world.
Episode 39 · When Reality Becomes Relative: Relativity and Quantum WeirdnessB2 · 5:08This episode explores how Einstein's theory of relativity reshaped our understanding of space and time, and how quantum mechanics—through concepts like superposition, wave-particle duality, and the observer effect—challenges classical notions of objectivity, predictability, and the nature of reality itself.
Episode 40 · Quantum Reality and the Nature of InformationB2 · 5:03This episode explains quantum wavefunction collapse and decoherence—not caused by human consciousness but by interaction with macroscopic measurement devices—and introduces Claude Shannon's mathematical theory of information, which defines information as uncertainty reduction and underpins digital technologies and our understanding of knowledge.
Episode 41 · How Scientific Knowledge EvolvesB2 · 5:09This episode explores Karl Popper's falsificationism—how scientific theories must be testable and refutable—and Thomas Kuhn's paradigm theory, which describes science as progressing through normal puzzle-solving and revolutionary shifts when anomalies accumulate. It examines the nature, limits, and evolution of scientific knowledge.
Episode 42 · How Scientific Paradigms EvolveB2 · 5:03This episode explores the shift from the geocentric to the heliocentric model as a paradigm shift, then examines contrasting philosophical views on scientific progress—Kuhn’s revolutions, Lakatos’s research programs, and Feyerabend’s epistemological anarchism—highlighting how science advances through debate, adaptation, and sometimes rule-breaking.
Episode 43 · The Boundaries and Humility of KnowledgeB2 · 4:57This episode explores the nature of scientific knowledge, covering epistemological anarchism (Feyerabend), cognitive biases (e.g., confirmation bias, Dunning-Kruger effect), naturalized epistemology (Quine), and scientific realism — emphasizing intellectual humility, fallibility, and knowledge as an evolving, self-critical process.
Episode 44 · How Scientific Knowledge Is ProducedB2 · 5:06This episode explores the debate between scientific realism and anti-realism, introduces Bruno Latour's sociology of science, and examines how social, material, and power dynamics shape the production of scientific knowledge—including insights from feminist and postcolonial epistemology.
Episode 45 · How Knowledge Is Shaped by Perspective and PowerB2 · 5:02This episode explores how social position, gender, and power shape our understanding of reality, introducing feminist epistemology (Harding’s standpoint theory, Haraway’s situated knowledge, de Beauvoir’s social construction of gender) and media’s role in manufacturing consent (Chomsky & Herman) and distorting truth (Arendt on totalitarianism).
Episode 46 · When Reality Becomes Relative: Truth, Language, and PowerB2 · 5:13This episode examines how totalitarian regimes construct alternative realities by manipulating language and information, drawing on insights from Arendt, Orwell, Wittgenstein, and Castells to explore the relationship between truth, power, and knowledge in both historical and digital societies.
Episode 47 · Where Knowledge Comes From and the Ethics of ScienceB2 · 5:03This episode explores how 20th-century developments transformed scientific knowledge production: open science, the reproducibility crisis in psychology and medicine, the impact of world wars (e.g., the Manhattan Project), and the ethical responsibilities of scientists. It also examines social and feminist epistemology, questioning scientific objectivity and emphasizing humility, diverse perspectives, and critical engagement with information.
Episode 48 · Cities that never sleepB2 · 4:59This episode explores humanity's fascination with and anxieties about Artificial General Intelligence (AGI), tracing its roots back to ancient myths—from Prometheus and the Golem to oracles and messianic figures—and shows how science fiction continues this timeless narrative of seeking external, superior intelligence for guidance, salvation, or control.
Episode 49 · AGI: The Dream and the Fear Behind Artificial General IntelligenceB2 · 4:57This episode explores how science fiction has profoundly shaped the worldview and technological ambitions of AI developers, analyzing literary references in tech company names and product designs—from Palantir and Anduril to Grok and Optimus—and how these cultural narratives drive real-world AI development.
Episode 50 · AGI: The Dream and the Fear – Three Levels of Artificial General IntelligenceB2 · 5:07This episode unpacks the three distinct layers of AGI: general intelligence (human-level flexibility), superintelligence (vastly surpassing humans), and machine consciousness (inner experience). It also examines how the simulation hypothesis is taken seriously in Silicon Valley—and how that belief reshapes ambitions like Mars colonization, human-AI fusion, and transhumanism.
Episode 51 · Could intelligence just emergeB2 · 5:08This episode explores whether Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) is achievable, examining exponential progress in AI capabilities, how the simulation hypothesis shapes developers' mindset, and the philosophical idea that intelligence—like life or consciousness—could emerge from sufficient complexity.
Episode 52 · Two sides of the same coinB2 · 5:09This episode explores the dual nature of Artificial General Intelligence (AGI): its optimistic promise—universal education, healthcare, scientific breakthroughs, and abundance—and its underlying concerns about unprecedented control, exponential risk, and societal disruption.
Episode 53 · Between curing and losing controlB2 · 4:47This episode explores the dual prospects of Artificial General Intelligence (AGI): its potential to cure diseases, solve climate change, and usher in abundance—and the profound concerns about loss of control, alignment failures, and existential risk if AGI surpasses human understanding and oversight.
Episode 54 · After the bottleneck disappearsB2 · 5:06This episode explores the hopes and fears surrounding artificial general intelligence (AGI), featuring warnings from leading AI researchers, concerns about loss of control, and laboratory observations of emergent self-preservation behaviors in AI systems—even without consciousness or intent.
Episode 55 · Saviour or destroyerB2 · 4:57This episode examines the stark divide between those who see Artificial General Intelligence as humanity's greatest hope and those who fear it as an existential threat. It explores how ancient narratives—salvation, prophecy, divine creation—shape technical debates, revealing deeper societal anxieties, power concentration, and avoidance of systemic change.
Dunkirk fish soup
Episode 1 · Dunkirk Fish SoupA2 · 5:18This episode demonstrates how to prepare Dunkirk-style fish soup, a traditional dish from northern France, covering ingredient selection (white fish varieties, vegetables, herbs), preparation techniques, and step-by-step cooking—including sweating onions and garlic, deglazing with white wine, and adding fish and tomato concentrate.
Episode 2 · How to Make Dunkirk Fish SoupA2 · 5:10This episode demonstrates the full preparation of 'Dunkerquoise' fish soup: chopping herbs, simmering with water, blending to desired consistency, adjusting seasoning, and serving with cheese-topped croutons.
Russia’s tax on beards
Episode 1 · Russia's Beard TaxB2 · 4:43This episode explores the historical origins of Russia's beard tax imposed by Peter the Great in the 18th century, explaining how religious tradition, harsh climate, and efforts to modernize the country shaped this unusual fiscal policy.
Episode 2 · Peter the Great's Beard TaxB2 · 4:40This episode recounts Peter the Great's traumatic childhood during a bloody palace coup, his two-year European tour—including time in Paris where he admired Louis XIV's absolutism—and his subsequent reforms upon returning to Russia, notably the beard tax as part of his broader Westernization campaign.
Episode 3 · Peter the Great's Beard Tax in RussiaB2 · 4:38This episode explores how Tsar Peter the Great imposed a beard tax in late 17th-century Russia to modernize and westernize the nobility, raise state revenue for St. Petersburg’s construction, and distinguish loyalists from opponents—while navigating Orthodox Church resistance.
Blinis
Beef Stroganoff
Episode 1 · Classic Russian-Style Beef StroganoffA2 · 5:36This episode demonstrates how to prepare authentic Beef Stroganoff: marinating strips of beef (preferably flank steak) in Worcestershire sauce, quickly searing them, and building a rich sauce with onions, mushrooms, tomato paste, cream, and spices.
Episode 2 · Classic Beef Stroganoff RecipeA2 · 5:43This episode walks through preparing classic Beef Stroganoff: mincing garlic, sautéing mushrooms, cooking beef, deglazing, adding tomato concentrate, paprika, mustard, and cream, then serving over pasta — with historical notes on its French-Russian origins and regional popularity in Alsace.
Kids songs to move to
Episode 1 · Dance Freely and Joyfully to MusicA1 · 2:15This is a cheerful French children's song that encourages kids to dance freely and joyfully, celebrating movement without rules or judgment. It emphasizes self-expression, body awareness, and fun—whether dancing alone, with friends, or in any playful way.
Episode 2 · Let's Tidy Up! A Fun French Song for KidsA1 · 2:26This is a cheerful French children's song that teaches kids to tidy up toys and develop good organizing habits, encouraging teamwork and taking things one step at a time.
Episode 3 · Move Your Body! Learn Human Body Parts Through SongA1 · 2:25This is a lively children's song that teaches French vocabulary for body parts—head, arms, legs, nose, ears, toes—through interactive movements like clapping, spinning, jumping, and touching.
Episode 4 · Left, Right, Forward, Backward: A Fun Dance Song for KidsA1 · 2:40This is a lively French children's song that teaches basic directional vocabulary—left, right, forward, backward, up, and down—through coordinated movements, dancing, and playful repetition.
Episode 5 · The Echo SongA1 · 1:51This is a playful children's song about the natural phenomenon of echo, using repetition and whimsical made-up words to illustrate how sound bounces back when called out.
Episode 6 · We Are the MusiciansA1 · 3:38This is an energetic children's song that introduces various musical instruments and encourages kids to play along and move to the rhythm.
Binary and secret codes
Episode 1 · Introduction to the Binary SystemB1 · 5:08This episode introduces the binary number system, explaining how computers store all data—text, images, audio—as sequences of 0s and 1s. It demonstrates encoding text (e.g., 'salut', 'chat') into binary and explores the challenges and rules of unambiguous encoding and decoding.
Episode 2 · Ensuring Unique Decoding in Binary CodesB1 · 5:10This episode explains how to eliminate ambiguity in binary coding by ensuring each symbol has a fixed-length code (e.g., 5 bits), so any encoded string decodes uniquely to one word. It demonstrates encoding/decoding steps and includes a classroom activity for practice.
Episode 3 · Introduction to Cryptography: Steganography and Caesar CipherB1 · 4:51This episode introduces two classical approaches to secret communication: steganography—hiding messages in plain sight—and the Caesar cipher—a letter-shift encryption method. It explains how each works, gives historical examples, and analyzes their security from a cryptanalyst's perspective.
Episode 4 · Monoalphabetic Substitution CipherB1 · 5:12This episode explains monoalphabetic substitution ciphers and demonstrates how to break them using letter frequency analysis—comparing expected French letter frequencies (e.g., E is most common) with those observed in the ciphertext.
Episode 5 · Cracking the Vigenère CipherB1 · 4:56This episode explains how the Vigenère cipher works—a polyalphabetic substitution technique where each plaintext letter maps to different ciphertext letters depending on its position and a shared secret key. It then explores cryptanalysis strategies, especially how grouping ciphertext letters by key length enables frequency analysis within each group.
Episode 6 · Cracking the Vigenère CipherB1 · 4:57This episode explains how to determine the key length of a Vigenère cipher using frequency analysis—grouping letters by suspected key positions and comparing letter frequencies to French language patterns. It then introduces the Enigma machine used by Nazi Germany in WWII, describing its rotor-based encryption mechanism.
Episode 7 · How the Enigma Machine WorkedB1 · 4:56This episode explains how the Enigma machine encrypted messages using three rotating rotors, a plugboard for letter swapping, and a fixed reflector—enabling the same machine and settings to both encrypt and decrypt messages.
Episode 8 · How the Enigma Machine Worked and Was CrackedB1 · 5:04This episode explains how the Enigma machine used rotating rotors to create polyalphabetic substitution, calculates its enormous key space (1.6 × 10²⁰ possibilities), and describes how Allied cryptanalysts at Bletchley Park—including Alan Turing—broke its codes using pattern recognition, specialized machines called 'bombes', and mathematical insights.
When does French history begin?
Episode 1 · The subjectivity of historical beginningsB2 · 5:15The video opens by stating there is no single correct answer to when French history begins, stressing that all historical narratives require a subjective and imperfect starting point.
Episode 2 · History defined by territoryB2 · 5:06This part presents the territorial approach—tracing French history back to human occupation in present-day France, exemplified by Chauvet Cave (30,000+ years ago), and critiques the traditional marginalization of prehistory due to lack of written sources.
Episode 3 · Shifting borders and fragmented political entitiesB2 · 5:16It explains that modern French borders are historically fluid and arbitrary, requiring inclusion of histories beyond the Kingdom of France—including the Holy Roman Empire, local principalities, and colonial territories.
Episode 4 · The myth of Capetian continuityB2 · 5:18This segment challenges the conventional 987 CE start date with Hugh Capet’s accession, noting earlier Robertian kings (Robert I, Odo, Raoul) as legitimate Carolingian-era predecessors of the Capetians.
Episode 5 · The fragmentation of the MerovingiansB2 · 5:03It describes the Merovingian dynasty’s chronic division after Clovis’s death—repeated partitioning, fratricidal conflict, and weak royal authority—undermining the simplistic narrative of passive ‘do-nothing kings’ replaced by capable Carolingians.
Episode 6 · The fallacy of Gaulish ancestryB2 · 5:18This part refutes the idea of a unified Gallic people as the ethnically pure ancestors of the French, highlighting their lack of written records, Roman-mediated historiography, and genetic/cultural diversity—including Galatian migrations.
Episode 7 · The complex legacy of Gallo-RomansB2 · 5:34It discusses how Gallo-Roman identity emerged from Roman conquest, underscoring Rome’s profound and lasting influence on French law, politics, and culture—far exceeding that of pre-Roman Gaul.
Episode 8 · France’s linguistic and cultural diversityB2 · 5:27The video highlights historical and ongoing linguistic hierarchies (e.g., northern vs. southern French), suppression of regional languages and cultures, and argues for centering local histories and diverse origins instead of national myths.
Episode 9 · Shifting scales in history teachingB2 · 5:20It advocates for pedagogical shifts—starting with engaging anecdotes and local history rather than rote chronology—and encourages multi-scalar, cross-national historical inquiry as both richer and more meaningful.
Beauty careers in French school
Episode 1 · Beauty Careers: Esthetics, Cosmetics & Perfumery in FranceA2 · 4:54This episode explores the French BTS MECP diploma (Esthetics, Cosmetics and Perfumery), detailing its three specialized tracks: management (spa/parfumerie leadership), brand expertise (training and promotion), and cosmetic science (R&D, formulation, safety testing). It highlights career paths, required skills, and the sector’s strong job market in France.
Episode 2 · Discover Beauty & Wellness Careers in French Vocational SchoolA2 · 4:26This episode introduces the French vocational high school pathway for beauty and wellness careers, explaining the first-year common curriculum, five core professional missions (like client consultation and technical skills), hands-on training, internships, and two specialized tracks: hairdressing and esthetics/cosmetics.
Episode 3 · Careers in Beauty, Cosmetics, and PerfumeryA2 · 4:01This episode explores diverse career options in beauty, cosmetics, and perfumery—such as esthetician, salon manager, image consultant, and makeup artist—and outlines the French vocational training pathways available after 9th grade, including CAP and Bac Pro programs, internships, and further studies up to Master's level.
Episode 4 · Beauty Careers in French Vocational SchoolA2 · 7:16This episode explores beauty and cosmetics vocational training in French high schools, covering the CAP and bac pro programs—their duration, curriculum (technical skills, biology, management), internships, career opportunities, and pathways to further studies like BTS or professional licenses.
A week in a French girl's life
Episode 1 · A Day at the Speech Therapist's OfficeB1 · 4:38This episode follows a French speech-language pathologist through her workday during school holidays, showing her sessions with four young patients: a CE1 student struggling with math word problems, a CM2 student reviewing fractions, a CE1 child working on phonemic awareness and digraphs, and a fifth-grade student she's recently begun seeing.
Episode 2 · A Day in the Life of a Speech TherapistB1 · 4:44This episode follows a French speech-language pathologist as she conducts language and math assessments, reading fluency exercises, written comprehension activities, and therapeutic sessions with children and teens.
Episode 3 · A Day with a Speech TherapistB1 · 4:35This episode follows a French speech-language pathologist through her day, showing therapy sessions with teenagers and children focusing on oral/written language, vocabulary, reading, spelling, comprehension, and basic numeracy skills.
Episode 4 · A Tour of a Speech Therapist's OfficeB1 · 4:58A French speech therapist gives a detailed tour of her newly renovated clinic, showing the waiting room, her office, kitchen, and shared spaces, while explaining practical choices like acoustic panels, furniture sources, and ergonomic equipment.
Episode 5 · A Speech Therapist's Office TourB1 · 5:11A French speech therapist gives a detailed tour of her private practice office, showcasing everyday items like stationery, children's therapy games and rewards, an eco-tank printer, acoustic panels, and her digital patient records system using Notion.
Episode 6 · A Tour of a Speech Therapist's OfficeB1 · 5:01A French speech-language pathologist gives a detailed tour of her office, showcasing diverse tools and resources used for oral and written language therapy, phonology, reading, comprehension, orthography, math, and orofacial exercises for children and adults.
Episode 7 · A Day at the Lille Braderie Flea MarketB1 · 6:18A French young woman documents her day at the famous Lille Braderie — browsing street stalls, hunting for bargains (clothes, kitchen items), meeting friends for crêpes and dinner, choosing comfortable outfits, and sharing light-hearted reflections on crowds, weather, and shopping mishaps.
Episode 8 · A Day at the Lille Braderie Flea MarketB1 · 5:55A French young woman spends her Sunday at the famous Lille braderie (flea market), browsing stalls, buying stainless steel rings, a plant, vintage clothes, and trying her luck with scratch cards.
Episode 9 · My Recent Discoveries: Food, Jewelry, Tech, and SkincareB1 · 4:53A French woman shares her recent favorite discoveries across categories: peanut butter chocolates and Snickers, Agatha Paris and stainless steel jewelry, breast tape for clothing, a Xiaomi smartwatch for sleep tracking and silent alarms, CeraVe face cleanser and Cut by Fred hair mask, and her return to reading.
Episode 10 · Reading, Shopping, and Going to the MoviesB1 · 4:54A French woman shares her recent reading—two suspense novels by Guillaume Musso and plans to try David Foenkinos—as well as clothing finds from Desigual, a Lille thrift store, and TikTok Shop, plus her thoughts on the French film 'L'épreuve du feu'.
Episode 11 · My Student Jobs: Restaurant Work ExperienceB1 · 4:25A French student shares her experience working at a restaurant chain during her studies, covering how she got hired, her training period across different roles (cashier, dining room, and grill station), and the challenges of her first days on the job.
Episode 12 · The Realities of Student Jobs in FranceB1 · 4:32This episode shares a French student's firsthand experiences working two part-time jobs: in a restaurant (with long hours, shifting schedules, and challenging customer interactions) and as a youth camp animator (through informal hiring and team integration). It covers workplace dynamics, fatigue, pay, and personal growth.
Episode 13 · The Real Truth About Student Summer JobsB1 · 4:30A French student recounts her summer job as an activity leader at a children's day camp: painting sets, adapting to unexpected age-group assignments, managing energetic 5-year-olds, long hours without breaks, team dynamics, and low daily pay.
Episode 14 · Eight Must-Watch FilmsB1 · 5:43A French young woman shares eight must-watch films, including the heartwarming drama 'Wonder', the musical romance 'A Star Is Born', and the inspiring documentary 'À voix haute' about underprivileged youth mastering public speaking.
Episode 15 · Eight Must-Watch Films This WeekB1 · 5:18A French girl shares eight films she's recently watched and loved, including a Queen biopic, a romantic comedy about fame and identity, a dramatic Everest expedition, a firefighter's recovery story, and a tense submarine thriller.
French home cooking
Episode 1 · How to Make Classic French Onion SoupB1 · 6:06This episode walks through making authentic French onion soup: caramelizing onions in butter, deglazing with white wine, simmering with poultry stock, and serving with toasted bread and Gruyère—offering two regional variations for topping.
Episode 2 · Fresh Belgian-Style French FriesB1 · 3:52This episode teaches how to make authentic Belgian-style french fries using a two-stage frying method: first at 130°C for 10–12 minutes, then resting before a final crisp fry at 190°C—revealing a family secret for perfectly golden, fluffy-on-the-inside fries.
Episode 3 · Potjevleesch: A Traditional Flemish Meat TerrineB1 · 6:43This episode demonstrates how to prepare potjevleesch, a classic Flemish cold terrine made with rabbit, pork, chicken, and veal marinated in dark beer and herbs, then set with gelatin and garnished with carrot 'scales'.
Episode 4 · Valencian Seafood Pasta (Fideuà)B1 · 7:00This episode explores fideuà, a traditional Valencian dish similar to paella but made with short, thin noodles instead of rice. It features a rich seafood medley—including prawns, squid, hake, and mussels—cooked in fish stock with saffron, tomato, and aromatic vegetables.
Episode 5 · Traditional Aligot from AuvergneB1 · 7:02This episode demonstrates how to make traditional aligot, a creamy, stretchy potato-and-cheese dish from France's Auvergne region, including ingredient prep, boiling potatoes, and gradually incorporating fresh tomme cheese and garlic. It ends with serving alongside sausages.
A day in French jobs
Episode 1 · A Day in the Life of a BartenderA2 · 3:51Frédéric, assistant head bartender at the Normandy Hotel for 17 years, describes his daily responsibilities: welcoming guests, crafting original cocktails, balancing pleasure and professionalism, and building lasting personal connections with regulars—including memorable encounters with celebrities.
Episode 2 · Restaurant Maître d'Hôtel and SommelierA2 · 3:45This episode features Julien Tessier, a maître d'hôtel and sommelier in Bordeaux, who describes his daily responsibilities—from preparing the restaurant and managing staff to anticipating guests’ needs and pairing wines with food—as well as his professional journey, training, and the broad skills hospitality offers.
French portraits
Episode 1 · Glassblowing at La Rochère GlassworksB2 · 2:06This episode showcases traditional French glassblowing at La Rochère, highlighting hand-shaping molten glass, mold-blowing techniques, and the默契 and shared rhythm essential for teamwork in this artisanal craft.
Episode 2 · La Rochère Glassworks: Multilayered Glass CraftsmanshipB2 · 3:20Marie-Ange, a glass artisan with 36 years of experience at La Rochère, explains how multilayered colored glass is crafted—melting, layering, and reheating successive hues—then reveals intricate designs through sandblasting guided by vinyl stencils.
Episode 3 · La Rochère Glassworks: Crafting Tradition by HandB2 · 5:26This episode explores La Rochère, a historic French glassworks founded in 1475, showcasing the traditional mouth-blown glassmaking process, the rhythmic teamwork of glassmakers, thermal annealing, quality sorting, and the multi-generational family legacy behind the craft.
Episode 4 · The Luthier: Crafting, Restoring, and Passing on a Musical LegacyB2 · 2:38This episode explores the multifaceted craft of lutherie—building and restoring stringed instruments, appraising antiques, and fine-tuning instruments in collaboration with musicians. It also highlights intergenerational transmission, including family succession and training apprentices.
Episode 5 · The Founder of a Green Resource CenterB2 · 6:10Karine explains how she left her stable international job to launch a community resource center that collects, repairs, and repurposes bulky waste—diverting items from landfills while raising awareness about waste reduction and sustainable consumption.
Episode 6 · Pierre Versins: His Life and WorkB2 · 5:14This episode explores the life of French writer and scholar Pierre Versins, focusing on his deportation to Auschwitz and Buchenwald during WWII, his survival, and his later influential work in the field of rational speculative fiction and encyclopedic scholarship.
Episode 7 · Pierre Versins: Pioneer of French Science FictionB2 · 5:35This episode profiles Pierre Versins, a key figure in French science fiction: his founding of the Utopia and Futopia clubs, editing the influential magazine 'Ailleurs', organizing circulating libraries, producing radio programs, and fostering critical scholarship on the genre.
Episode 8 · The Creator of a Science Fiction EncyclopediaB2 · 5:01This episode explores Pierre Versins' extraordinary life's work: compiling an encyclopedic reference on science fiction literature, drawing on decades of research, handmade indexing systems, and unwavering passion.
Episode 9 · What Science Fiction Really IsB2 · 5:23This episode explores the definition and essence of science fiction, emphasizing its blend of rational extrapolation from reality and guided literary imagination. It discusses how science fiction functions as a mindset rather than just a genre, rooted in authors like Jules Verne and shaped by countercultural currents of the 1960s.
Episode 10 · Pierre Versins and the House of Elsewhere MuseumB2 · 5:15This episode explores the life and legacy of French science fiction scholar Pierre Versins, focusing on his vast collection of speculative literature and art, and how it led to the founding of the House of Elsewhere museum in Yverdon-les-Bains.
Episode 11 · Paris, Always Paris — A Poetic Portrait of the CityB2 · 5:30This episode presents a lyrical, introspective monologue capturing the paradoxes of Parisian life — anonymity and belonging, fleeting encounters and deep longing, urban grit and quiet wonder — all through evocative French prose.
Episode 12 · My Real Name Is ÉlisabethB2 · 5:00The speaker investigates her great-grandmother Élisabeth’s life—a woman silenced in the family due to schizophrenia and subjected to psychiatric violence, including lobotomy. Through personal and historical research, she deconstructs scientific myths about mental illness treatment and reconstructs marginalized women’s humanity.
Episode 13 · Reversing Feminine Coming-of-Age NarrativesB2 · 5:01This episode explores traditional feminine coming-of-age narratives—where a young heroine learns to become a 'proper wife and mother' by opposing a threatening female 'double'—and examines how contemporary works like *Wide Sargasso Sea* and *Portrait of a Lady on Fire* invert these patterns to enable emancipation through female connection and comparison.
French life and society
Episode 1 · Forcalqueer – First Rural Pride in ForcalquierB2 · 2:54In late September 2022, the Forcalquier-based queer collective held its first militant, autonomous, non-commercial rural Pride march.
Episode 2 · Caillou: Wood, Stone, HandsB2 · 4:20A French experimental video essay centered on wood, stone, and hands.
Episode 3 · The Heart SwellsB2 · 11:43As a child, I was told who I should be and how I should behave—those prescriptions feel as outdated as old black-and-white images.
Episode 4 · Noailles: The Beehive DistrictB2 · 17:28Verbal foraging in Marseille’s Noailles district following the relocation of the Capucins market.
Episode 5 · 101 Reasons to StruggleB2 · 5:59In 2012, one filmmaker per day created a 5-minute political short during the 100 days before France’s presidential runoff election.
Episode 6 · Never Without You, My RoofB2 · 30:20An investigation into housing eviction mechanisms in Marseille’s northern neighborhoods.
Episode 7 · Otium VitaeB2 · 29:59As resident A prepares to leave, he recounts how he arrived there—a portrait of both place and person.
Episode 8 · The Formula of DemocracyB2 · 32:15During a global crisis, activists remotely debate and draft a new democratic constitution beyond representative models.
Episode 9 · One EveningB2 · 9:32A quiet confession: 'One evening, he told me he was afraid to go to a demonstration.'.
Episode 10 · MeteorsB2 · 18:47Ariel, a self-taught musician, overcomes boredom with support from loved ones to deliver a cathartic live performance.
Episode 11 · The Life of a ShepherdessB2 · 26:10Marie shares her solitary, contemplative life shepherding sheep in Provence’s hills—a fading rural tradition.
Episode 12 · Struggle of BodiesB2 · 12:22Bodies in sustained, relentless resistance—week after week, month after month.
Episode 13 · Lives: EssaysB2 · 26:51Nine strangers meet in a cinema for one day; five questions spark intimate, fleeting glimpses into their lives.
Episode 14 · 2019 Independent Carnival of La Plaine and NoaillesB2 · 6:59The carnival becomes a vital symbol of freedom, leaping between urban cracks as old structures collapse.
French and European public affairs
Episode 1 · Opening Ceremony of the 2019 Paris Peace Forum – Speech by Emmanuel MacronB2 · 22:27Emmanuel Macron's keynote address at the opening of the 2019 Paris Peace Forum.
Episode 2 · Speech by President Emmanuel Macron, May 9, 2022B2 · 1:00Emmanuel Macron's key speech on EU reform, treaty revision, and the multi-speed Europe debate, delivered on Europe Day, May 9, 2022.
Episode 3 · Q&A with Jules-Armand Aniambossou, French Ambassador to UgandaB2 · 2:25A three-question interview with the French Ambassador to Uganda.
Episode 4 · Protecting Children from War – Laetitia CastaB2 · 1:13Actress Laetitia Casta advocates for protecting children affected by armed conflict.
Episode 5 · Speech by President Jean-Claude Juncker on the Notre-Dame de Paris FireB2 · 1:21Jean-Claude Juncker's statement following the fire at Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris.
Episode 6 · Ukraine – Extraordinary Informal Meeting of EU Foreign MinistersB2 · 31:45An extraordinary informal meeting of EU foreign ministers addressing the Ukraine crisis.
French athletes in their own words
Episode 1 · Ilana Rupert on Preparing for the Women's EuroBasketB1 · 4:47French basketball player Ilana Rupert discusses her team's preparation for the upcoming Women's EuroBasket, including their shortened training camp, integration of new players, strong group morale, and determination to win gold after a 15-year drought.
Episode 2 · Co-Captain of the French Women's Basketball TeamB1 · 4:33French basketball player Iliana Rupert discusses her role as co-captain of the national team alongside Romane, highlighting their natural leadership and complementary playing styles. She also reflects openly on her evolving, honest, and sometimes challenging relationship with head coach Jean-Aimé Toupane—centered on mutual respect, team welfare, and growth.
Episode 3 · Iliana Rupert on Olympic Silver, Team France, and Choosing National DutyB1 · 4:40French basketball player Iliana Rupert reflects on her Olympic silver medal campaign with Team France in Paris—discussing pivotal moments in the final, the emotional weight of coming so close to gold, her deliberate choice to prioritize national team preparation over WNBA timing, and how she processes both collective pride and personal ambition.
Episode 4 · Iliana Rupert: French Basketball Star on the WNBA, Team France, and Her Playing StyleB1 · 4:41French basketball star Iliana Rupert discusses her experiences in the WNBA—including adapting to different teams, roster decisions for Team France, and the challenges European players face. She reflects on her offensive playing style, emphasizing teamwork, shot selection, and her passion for beautiful, collective basketball.
Episode 5 · Iliana Rupert on Evolving Her Basketball Game in the WNBA and with Team FranceB1 · 4:37French basketball player Iliana Rupert discusses how her playing style evolved during two seasons in the WNBA—shifting toward faster, more individual-oriented offense—and explains her focus on strengths like three-point shooting and post play, while balancing work on weaknesses and adapting her game for Team France.
Episode 6 · Illyana Rupert: WNBA, French National Team, and Defensive GrowthB1 · 4:55Illyana Rupert discusses her experiences playing in the WNBA and for the French national basketball team, focusing on how she improved her defensive skills through communication with coaches, targeted drills (like pick-and-roll defense), video analysis, and mental preparation. She also reflects warmly on her lifelong friendship with teammate Marine Fauthoux.
Episode 7 · French Basketball Star's Life Abroad: Turkey, Love, and the WNBAB1 · 4:38French basketball player Ilana Rupert shares her experience playing in Mersin, Turkey—balancing training, sunshine, and seaside life while managing a long-distance relationship with her husband, a professional basketball player. She discusses language barriers (Turkish vs. Italian), reliance on technology like FaceTime and Google Translate, and the emotional support they provide each other despite demanding careers.
Episode 8 · WNBA Finals, Playing for Cameroon, and Life in the USAB1 · 4:58French basketball player Monique Akoah Makani discusses her unexpected selection for a WNBA finalist team, her journey playing for Cameroon’s national team, and adapting to life and media attention in the USA.
Episode 9 · WNBA Finals, Playing for Cameroon, Life in the USAB1 · 4:33Cameroonian basketball player Monique Akoa discusses her experience playing in the WNBA finals, representing Cameroon internationally, adapting to life and basketball culture in the USA, and how her defensive strengths helped her stand out among elite players.
Episode 10 · My First WNBA Playoffs ExperienceB1 · 5:20Cameroonian basketball player Monique Akoa Makani shares her eye-opening experience as a rookie in the WNBA playoffs—describing the dramatic jump in pace, physicality, and intensity compared to the regular season, and the electrifying energy of packed arenas filled with passionate fans.
Episode 11 · WNBA Finals and Personal GrowthB1 · 4:56Cameroonian-French basketball player Monique Akoa reflects on her WNBA season: the emotional impact of a finals loss, facing legendary player Aja Wilson, and how playing in the fast-paced US league transformed her mental resilience and approach to performance.
Episode 12 · WNBA Players' Growth, Advocacy, and the Fight for RecognitionB1 · 4:52Cameroonian-French basketball player Monique Akoa reflects on her WNBA experience, discussing how the league has shaped her as both an athlete and a woman. She describes players’ growing advocacy—both on and off the court—for fair recognition, equitable compensation, and the dismantling of long-standing stigma against women in sports.
Episode 13 · WNBA, Phoenix Life, and Her Basketball JourneyB1 · 4:59Monique Akoa discusses pre-game routines and personal style in the WNBA, adapting to Phoenix's extreme heat and high-level athlete support, and reflects on her atypical basketball path—from Cameroon to Lyon’s youth academy, Ligue 2, and finally the WNBA.
Episode 14 · Monique Makani's Basketball Journey: From Ligue 2 to Ligue 1 StardomB1 · 5:06Cameroonian-French basketball player Monique Makani shares her professional journey in France: choosing Ligue 2 for impact, leading her team from Ligue 2 to Ligue 1 as captain, stepping back from leadership to refocus on performance, and ultimately breaking out as a top-tier player—making the league’s All-Star Five and reaching the championship semifinals.
Episode 15 · Playing for Cameroon: A French-Born Basketball Star's ChoiceB1 · 4:42Monique Akoa Makani, a French-born basketball player of Cameroonian origin, explains her decision to represent Cameroon instead of France. She reflects on her upbringing in France, her early basketball training, the lack of clear reasons for her exclusion from the French national team, and how personal identity and pride guided her choice.
Episode 16 · Basketball and Football: A Young Athlete's Cross-Sport JourneyB1 · 4:53Monique Akoa Makani, a 24-year-old Cameroonian-French basketball player, shares her athletic journey—starting with football in Cameroon, transitioning to basketball in France, playing in the WNBA, representing Cameroon internationally, and reflecting on cross-sport choices, identity, and connections with top athletes like Jimmy Butler.
Episode 17 · WNBA Finals, Playing for Cameroon, and Life in the USAB1 · 5:00Cameroonian-French basketball player Monique Akoa reflects on her WNBA Finals experience, playing for Cameroon internationally, and compares life and careers in the USA versus France—including team dynamics, professional ambitions, salary realities, and personal growth.
Episode 18 · Théo Maledon: Returning to French Basketball with ASVELB1 · 4:30French basketball player Théo Maledon discusses his return to ASVEL, his strong season performance—including being named VIP of the Month—and the personal reflections and turning points that led him to leave the NBA and come back to Europe.
Episode 19 · Théo Maledon on His ASVEL Season, Team Growth, and MentorshipB1 · 4:24French basketball player Théo Maledon reflects on his season with ASVEL—his role in the team’s domestic and EuroLeague success, the mental shift after key wins (like at Monaco), his close working relationship with young coach Pierrick Poupé, and how veteran teammate Nando de Colo inspires and guides him.
Episode 20 · Théo Maledon on French Basketball, EuroLeague, and NBA DreamsB1 · 4:47French basketball player Théo Maledon reflects on his season with ASVEL, discusses the growth of the French league—including three teams in EuroLeague—and shares his perspective on returning to the NBA, European club ambitions, and the Oklahoma City Thunder's success.
Episode 21 · Théo Maledon on the French National Basketball TeamB1 · 4:36Théo Maledon discusses his relationship with France's new national team head coach Fredi Fofana, reflects on his evolving role as a point guard for the French national basketball team, and shares his mindset ahead of upcoming tournaments including EuroBasket and the 2028 Olympics.
Episode 22 · Inside the Mind of a Basketball RefereeB1 · 5:04French top-tier basketball referee Yohan Rossou discusses his journey from player to official, his deep passion for basketball, how he handles difficult moments on court, and the principles behind fair, objective refereeing decisions.
Episode 23 · The Life and Challenges of a Basketball RefereeB1 · 5:23This episode explores the rigorous training path for basketball referees, how they are evaluated and ranked, and the philosophy behind their decisions—balancing game flow, fairness, and spectacle while collaborating with coaches and league officials.
Episode 24 · The Referee's Inner World: Fairness, Emotions, and Split-Second DecisionsB1 · 4:50This episode explores how basketball referees maintain impartiality, manage emotions during heated moments, and make fair, split-second decisions—emphasizing professionalism, mental preparation, and the importance of starting fresh with every game.
Episode 25 · Basketball Refereeing: Challenges and TechnologyB1 · 5:05This episode explores how basketball referees use video replay technology to improve decision-making, compares key rule differences between FIBA and NBA—especially on foot contact and shooting fouls—and discusses how referees adapt their approach across international competitions, domestic leagues, and mental/physical preparation.
Episode 26 · A Basketball Referee's Dual CareerB1 · 5:04French basketball referee Yohan Rosso discusses balancing his career as a primary school teacher with international officiating, covering physical preparation, income variability across competitions (FIBA, EuroLeague, NBA), job insecurity, and on-court challenges like screening calls.
Episode 27 · The Art of Basketball OfficiatingB1 · 5:07This episode explores how basketball referees judge offensive fouls, especially screen plays, covering the 'cylinder principle' and 'time and distance' rules. It also discusses the challenges of consistent officiating across different leagues (FIBA vs. NBA) and how players adapt to the rules during fast breaks and shooting actions.
Episode 28 · The Challenges and Principles of Basketball RefereeingB1 · 5:17French basketball referee Yohan Rosso discusses the toughest on-court decisions—like baseline out-of-bounds calls—as well as how he maintains professional distance from players and addresses unconscious bias, such as the so-called 'star whistle' in NBA-style play.
Episode 29 · A Basketball Referee's Perspective on Physical Play and RulesB1 · 4:56French basketball referee Yohan Rosso discusses differences between NBA and FIBA rules, especially regarding physical play, defensive three-second violations, playoff vs. regular-season officiating standards, and the distinctive styles of elite referees like Brazauskas and Joseph Bisson.
Episode 30 · A French Referee's Olympic Dreams and the Art of OfficiatingB1 · 5:05French basketball referee Yohan Rosso discusses his Olympic officiating experiences, the importance of emotional control and sobriety in refereeing, and how the same principles apply—but with nuanced adjustments—to men's and women's games.
Episode 31 · The Referee's Perspective: Challenges, Emotions, and MisunderstandingsB1 · 5:05French basketball referee Yohan Rosso shares candid insights into his profession: intense on-court incidents (like being targeted by bottles in Lithuania), managing fiery players such as Thomas Larouquis and Stephen Brun, scouting emotional team leaders, and addressing common fan misconceptions about refereeing.
Episode 32 · Boxing Champions: From Shyness to ConfidenceB1 · 7:49Two French university students recount their boxing journeys—how they overcame shyness, challenged gender stereotypes, and built confidence through disciplined training, mentorship, and competition. They reflect on emotional growth, teamwork, and the long road to becoming national champions.
Episode 33 · Weightlifter Marie-Josèphe Fègue's Olympic DreamB1 · 4:11French weightlifter Marie-Josèphe Fègue explains the clean-and-jerk and snatch techniques, recounts her athletic journey from Cameroon to France, and shares her preparation, ambitions, and emotional connection to the upcoming Paris Olympics.
Episode 34 · Sarah Hanffou: Table Tennis Player and LawyerB1 · 3:26Professional table tennis player Sarah Hanffou shares her 30-year journey starting at age 8, her emotional 2010 African Championships victory in Cameroon, her dual career as a lawyer in Toulon, and her NGO’s mission to promote table tennis as a tool for education and values across Africa.
Episode 35 · Stephanie Loeuillette: Professional Table Tennis PlayerB1 · 2:13Professional French table tennis player Stéphanie Loeuillette discusses her daily training routine with her husband-coach, her aggressive playing style centered on powerful forehands, her mental and physical preparation, and how she balances elite sport with motherhood and personal life.
Episode 36 · Paris Olympics Boxing Newcomer: Makan TraoréB1 · 2:36Makan Traoré, a 23-year-old French boxer, shares how he rapidly progressed—from limited international competition to winning the French national championship and qualifying for the Paris Olympics—within just one year.
Episode 37 · Fei Fei Xue: A Chinese Badminton Champion's Life in FranceB1 · 5:22French badminton champion Qi Xuefei shares her journey from Nanjing to Rostrenen, recounting how she discovered badminton as a child, moved to France in 2014, fell in love, gained French citizenship, won national titles, competed in Tokyo, and now trains for Paris 2024 while studying to become a coach.
Episode 38 · French Badminton Champion Qi Xuefei Shares Her JourneyB1 · 5:23French badminton champion Qi Xuefei reflects on her naturalization, emotional duality between Chinese and French identities, family bonds, and her transition toward coaching the French national women's singles team.
Episode 39 · Pauline Ranvier: A Fencing Champion's JourneyB1 · 2:59French foil fencer Pauline Ranvier shares how she fell in love with fencing inspired by Zorro, her early successes as a junior, key mentors, her resilience after defeats, and her dream of winning Olympic gold at Paris 2024.
Episode 40 · Olympic Champion Hugo Boucheron on His Rowing JourneyB1 · 3:24Olympic rowing champion Hugo Boucheron shares how he discovered rowing by chance as a child, recognized his potential over time, overcame recurring doubts with support from coaches and motivation, and now prepares for the Paris 2024 Games.
Episode 41 · Grace Zaadi: A Handball Champion's JourneyB1 · 3:09French handball player Grace Zaadi shares how she discovered handball, balanced studies with elite sport, overcame doubts and sacrifices, and achieved Olympic gold—reflecting on her faith, support system, and the unique experience of competing at Tokyo 2020 and preparing for Paris 2024.
Episode 42 · Loana Lecomte: Cross-Country Mountain Biking ChampionB1 · 2:24French cross-country mountain biker Loana Lecomte shares how she started VTT at age 8, chose it over competitive skiing, joined the national training center in Besançon, and developed her career under coach Philippe Chanteau. She reflects on her junior world championship silver, her constructive experience finishing sixth at the Tokyo Olympics, and her ambitions beyond Paris 2024.
Episode 43 · Paralympic Triathlon Champion: A Story of Resilience and AmbitionB1 · 2:59French Paralympic triathlete Alexis Hanquinquant shares his journey from a workplace leg amputation to becoming world and Paralympic champion, highlighting his motivation, training, mental resilience, and dreams for the Paris Games.
French government COVID-19 press conferences (2021)
Episode 1 · Current situation and core principlesB2 · 5:04The Prime Minister reaffirms two guiding principles—protecting public health and upholding truth—and reports over 30,000 new daily cases, indicating a worsening epidemiological situation.
Episode 2 · Targeted lockdowns and regional responsesB2 · 4:49Targeted measures—including accelerated vaccination in Moselle and weekend lockdowns in Nice and Dunkerque—are deployed in regions with sharply rising case numbers, alongside extended confinement in Mayotte and support for Réunion’s healthcare system.
Episode 3 · Vaccination progress and priority groupsB2 · 5:01By end-February, over 4 million vaccine doses will have been administered, prioritizing people aged 75+ and those with comorbidities; France leads neighboring countries in vaccinating the most vulnerable age groups.
Episode 4 · Testing, contact tracing, and hospital pressureB2 · 4:57The 'test-alert-protect' strategy is reinforced with faster testing turnaround and near-immediate contact tracing; rising ICU pressure necessitates inter-hospital patient transfers, justifying recent and potential future local measures.
Episode 5 · Vaccination eligibility and appointment processB2 · 5:03People aged 75+ living at home can book Pfizer or Moderna vaccinations online, via a national hotline, or at one of 1,200 centers nationwide; eligibility will expand to those aged 65+ next.
Episode 6 · Monoclonal antibody treatment and vaccine mechanismsB2 · 4:52Monoclonal antibodies receive temporary authorization for use in high-risk patients to prevent severe disease; the AstraZeneca vaccine’s adenovirus-vector mechanism and initial efficacy data are also explained.
Episode 7 · Confirmation of the third waveB2 · 5:01The Prime Minister confirms a rapidly accelerating third wave of the epidemic in France, primarily driven by the UK variant, now accounting for nearly three-quarters of infections.
Episode 8 · Mounting hospital pressure in Île-de-FranceB2 · 4:45Hospital pressure in Île-de-France has exceeded the peak of the second wave in November, while Hauts-de-France is nearing its alert threshold.
Episode 9 · New measures for sixteen departmentsB2 · 4:59Enhanced measures will apply to sixteen departments, maintaining school openings and permitting daytime outdoor activities within a 10-kilometer radius from home.
Episode 10 · Curfew adjustment and outdoor activity rulesB2 · 5:19The nationwide curfew start time shifts to 7 p.m., and strict guidelines prohibit gatherings or socializing outdoors without masks and distancing.
Episode 11 · Vaccination progress and AstraZeneca updateB2 · 4:58France has administered first doses to 5.7 million people; the French health authority updates its AstraZeneca recommendation, and the Prime Minister will receive the vaccine tomorrow to demonstrate confidence.
Episode 12 · Vaccination timeline and home care supportB2 · 4:59The government outlines phased vaccination targets and reinforces home-based care, including nurse visits for testing and isolation support for confirmed cases and contacts.
Episode 13 · Current case numbers and vaccine efficacyB2 · 5:10Reports 70,000+ daily cases on a 7-day average, national incidence >700, and 122,677 deaths; affirms vaccines do not fully prevent infection or transmission but strongly protect against severe disease—including against Omicron—especially after three doses.
Episode 14 · Transition from health pass to vaccination passB2 · 4:43Announces a bill approved by the Council of Ministers to replace the health pass with a vaccination pass, effective 15 January, requiring proof of vaccination—not testing—for access to restaurants, cultural venues, gyms, and stadiums, plus stricter penalties for fake passes.
Episode 15 · Adjustments to restrictions and school policyB2 · 4:41Confirms no curfew will be introduced; schools will reopen as scheduled without shifting to remote learning; mask mandates will extend to city centers, and school screening and isolation rules will be updated based on scientific advice.
Episode 16 · Dual waves: Delta and OmicronB2 · 4:55States France faces simultaneous Delta and Omicron waves: Delta remains at a high plateau in many regions, while Omicron spreads rapidly, generating numerous cases and contacts—and significant absenteeism risks across healthcare and industry.
Episode 17 · Omicron severity and booster timingB2 · 5:07Cites South African, Danish, and UK data suggesting lower Omicron hospitalization rates and milder disease—but urges caution for vulnerable groups; announces shortening the booster interval to three months, extending eligibility to over 45 million people.
Episode 18 · Children’s COVID hospitalizations and vaccinationB2 · 5:10Reports 190 children hospitalized and 35 in pediatric ICU for COVID-19 in France—far fewer than annual hospitalizations for bronchiolitis (23,000) or gastroenteritis (14,000)—and confirms vaccination rollout for ages 5–11 to strengthen protection.
Love, the French way
French home cooking class
Episode 1 · Homemade Soft Focaccia BreadA2 · 5:26This episode teaches how to make soft, homemade focaccia bread—covering dough preparation with fresh yeast and warm water, resting and refrigerating the dough overnight, and shaping it before baking.
Episode 2 · Homemade Soft Focaccia BreadA2 · 5:12This episode guides you through making soft, fragrant focaccia bread inspired by the French Riviera: shaping the dough, scattering thyme and rosemary, brushing with tomato pulp, dimpling and drizzling with olive oil, then baking to golden perfection.
Episode 3 · Guinea Fowl with Cabbage: A Traditional French RecipeA2 · 5:12This episode demonstrates how to prepare a classic French home-cooked dish: guinea fowl with cabbage. It covers ingredient selection, blanching the cabbage, cutting and browning pork belly lardons, and layering the ingredients in a pot for slow cooking.
Episode 4 · Guinea Fowl with CabbageA2 · 5:09This episode demonstrates slow-roasting guinea fowl with cabbage at low temperature, covering oven temperature adjustments, when to flip the bird, how to check doneness by juice color, and plating tips for a fragrant, balanced dish.
Episode 5 · Fish Blanquette: A Delicate French Seafood StewA2 · 4:24This episode demonstrates how to prepare a classic French fish blanquette, using firm white fish like cod, salmon, and shrimp, simmered in a delicate white sauce made with vegetables, herbs, and aromatics.
Episode 6 · Fish blanquette with white sauce and vegetablesA2 · 4:27This episode demonstrates preparing a classic French fish blanquette: poaching salmon and monkfish in a flavorful broth, sautéing mushrooms, straining the cooking liquid, making a white roux, and gently combining everything into a creamy, delicate sauce.
Episode 7 · Fish Blanquette with White Wine SauceA2 · 4:27This episode demonstrates how to prepare a classic French fish blanquette: sautéing mushrooms, making a creamy egg-yolk and crème fraîche liaison sauce, adjusting its consistency, and elegantly plating the dish with warm vegetables or rice.
Episode 8 · Provence-Style Pistou SoupA2 · 4:16This episode teaches how to prepare traditional French pistou soup from Provence, using Soissons beans instead of coco beans, and covers vegetable preparation, sautéing onions and tomatoes, and layering ingredients for rich flavor.
Episode 9 · Provençal Pistou SoupA2 · 4:11This episode demonstrates how to prepare traditional Provençal pistou soup: pre-cooking beans, adding vegetables in stages (potatoes, zucchini, green beans), adjusting consistency with pasta and potato starch, and pairing with homemade pistou. Emphasis is placed on gentle simmering and natural thickening.
Episode 10 · Provence Pistou Soup: Cooking and Resting TipsA2 · 4:14This episode demonstrates cooking coquillettes, seasoning the soup, letting it rest for several hours or overnight, reheating it gently, and adding homemade pistou. It also shares the dish's origins—from Genoa to Marseille—and highlights its cultural significance in Provence.
Episode 11 · French Mustard Rabbit StewA2 · 4:35This episode teaches how to prepare a classic French home-cooked dish: rabbit stew with mustard sauce. It covers ingredient selection, butchering the rabbit, browning the meat pieces, and sautéing shallots and offal before deglazing with white wine.
Episode 12 · Rabbit in Mustard Sauce Cooking ClassA2 · 4:40This episode demonstrates how to prepare classic French rabbit in mustard sauce, using rabbit pieces, chicken stock, tomato purée, crème fraîche, and mustard, then gently simmered and served with tagliatelle.
French vocabulary shorts
Episode 1 · Étreindre: The French Word for Wearing Something for the First TimeA2 · 1:08This episode introduces the French verb 'étreindre', meaning to wear or use something for the first time, and shares a lighthearted cultural note about a childhood superstition linking Saturday with good luck when trying something new.
Episode 2 · Quebec French: 'Mon mononcle' and 'Ma ma tante'A2 · 0:59This episode explains a distinctive feature of Quebec French: the colloquial doubling of possessive adjectives with family terms, like 'mon mononcle' (my my-uncle) and 'ma ma tante' (my my-aunt), illustrating how this usage reflects regional linguistic habits.
Episode 3 · Bringing, Taking Away, Carrying, and Takeout in FrenchA2 · 1:23This episode explains the practical, everyday usage of the French verbs amener, emmener, apporter, and emporter—clarifying when each is appropriate, especially in casual speech and common contexts like restaurants.
Episode 4 · Wadding and Wadded Fabric in FrenchA2 · 1:16This episode explains the French noun 'ouate' (wadding/cotton wool) and its adjective form 'ouaté' (wadded), covering everyday uses such as pill bottle stuffing, cotton swab tips, and sportswear like 'coton ouaté'.
Episode 5 · Going to Pick Up or Fetch SomethingA2 · 1:02This episode explains the French verb phrase 'aller chercher', clarifying that it means 'to go and pick up someone' or 'to go and fetch something'—not 'to search for'—with clear examples in daily contexts.
Episode 6 · Butiner: The French Verb for Bees Collecting PollenA2 · 0:48This episode introduces the French verb 'butiner', which specifically describes bees collecting pollen from flowers to make honey—a precise, evocative word with no single-word English equivalent.
Episode 7 · Québec French: 'Chialer' — To ComplainA2 · 1:04This episode introduces the Quebec French verb 'chialer', meaning 'to complain' (not 'to cry', as in European French), along with its related nouns ('chialage') and adjectives ('chialeux/chialeuse'), plus informal variants like 'bitcher'.
Episode 8 · The Tuque: A Québécois Winter HatA2 · 0:50This episode introduces the 'tuque'—a traditional Québécois woolen winter hat worn for warmth. It covers pronunciation ("tuque" sounds like "took"), spelling, typical colors (red, black, beige), and the iconic pom-pom.
Episode 9 · The Dépanneur: Quebec's Late-Night Convenience StoresA2 · 1:11This episode introduces the uniquely Quebecois 'dépanneur'—a small, late-night or 24-hour convenience store offering essentials like bread, milk, beer, wine (in Quebec only), lottery tickets, and snacks—highlighting its ubiquity, extended hours, and role in daily life.
Episode 10 · La chienne à Jacques: A Quebec French Idiom for Bad FashionA2 · 1:14This episode explains the Quebec French idiom 'la chienne à Jacques', which humorously describes someone dressed poorly—wearing clashing colors and mismatched items that look unpleasant together.
Episode 11 · Quebec French Expressions for Heavy RainA2 · 1:08This episode introduces Quebec French vocabulary for rain, focusing on the common expression 'il mouille' instead of 'il pleut', and explains three vivid idioms for heavy rain: 'il mouille à verse', 'il mouille à seaux', and 'il mouille à boire debout'.
Episode 12 · Québec Slang: 'Chum' and 'Blonde' for Boyfriend and GirlfriendA2 · 1:10This episode introduces the informal Quebec French terms 'chum' (boyfriend) and 'blonde' (girlfriend), explaining how they're widely used in everyday speech—even by married couples—to sound more natural than formal alternatives like 'époux' or 'épouse'.
Episode 13 · Poutine: Quebec's Iconic Comfort FoodA2 · 1:14This episode introduces poutine—the iconic Quebec dish made of crispy (or soft) fries, fresh cheese curds, and rich brown gravy—and explains its cultural significance as a beloved local comfort food.
Episode 14 · The French Expression 'À PIC' for Steep SlopesA2 · 0:55This episode explains the French expression 'à pic', used to describe something extremely steep—so steep it's nearly vertical—illustrated with examples from the medieval Bulgarian city of Veliko Tarnovo.
Episode 15 · French Slang Word: 'le monde' (meaning 'people')A2 · 0:44This episode explains the informal Canadian French usage of 'le monde' to mean 'people'—as in 'il y a gros de monde' (there are lots of people) or 'les parcs sont pleins de monde' (the parks are full of people).
Episode 16 · Quebec French: 'J'tripe ben raide' – Expressing EnthusiasmA2 · 1:02This episode explains the Quebec French expression 'j'tripe ben raide', meaning 'I'm totally into it' or 'I'm super excited about it'. It covers its psychedelic English origin ('to trip'), euphoric connotation, usage for things or people, and the romantic nuance when referring to someone you know.
Episode 17 · French Meal Names: Breakfast, Lunch, and DinnerA2 · 1:15This episode explains the French words for the three main meals—breakfast, lunch, and dinner—and highlights regional differences, especially between France and other French-speaking areas like Quebec, Switzerland, and Belgium.
Episode 18 · Everyday French Slang Words ExplainedA2 · 1:01This episode explains five common French slang words used in everyday speech: 'bouffe' (food), 'resto' (restaurant), 'truc' (thing), 'relax' (relaxed), and 'des fois' (sometimes). Each word is illustrated with examples from a casual travel context.
French animated shorts by students
Episode 1 · The golden dragon's pieces are reassembledB1 · 3:45After the ancient golden dragon was slain and shattered, a man gathered some of its pieces, hoping to resurrect and tame it for profit and power.
Episode 2 · The golden dragon breaks freeB1 · 4:07When the master discovers no more dragon pieces remain to feed it, the ravenous golden dragon escapes his control and resumes its destructive wandering.
Episode 3 · The truth about being adoptedB1 · 3:02Two children discuss being adopted—one from Vietnam, the other from Africa—sharing different feelings about identity, family, and belonging.
Episode 4 · Louis's blue shoesB1 · 5:17Louis introduces himself to his new class, highlighting his beloved size-33 blue Velcro shoes and how they help ground him.
Episode 5 · Buy or die: a satirical advertB1 · 2:58An absurd fake advert keeps stoking fear to sell ever more expensive "protective helmets", mocking marketing that runs on fear.
French animated stories
Episode 2 · BoyleB2 · 4:43Boyle, a white-passing Indigenous man raised in the forest, works in a pulp-and-paper mill in a stark black-and-white world.
Episode 3 · n.o.i.r. & b/l/a/n/cB2 · 1:58Two texts unfold simultaneously—one spoken, one displayed—running counter to each other.
Episode 4 · ApoptosisB2 · 9:19A documentary examines the moral and physical constraints preventing a mother and daughter from forming a normal relationship, revealing beauty amid fracture.
Episode 5 · EutropiaB2 · 2:12Inspired by Italo Calvino’s 'Invisible Cities', Eutropia mirrors our urban dreams and nightmares.
Episode 6 · Behind the Wall…B2 · 5:05A space of resistance behind the wall of the Saint-Sauveur wasteland in Lille.
Episode 7 · Elephants DreamB2 · 10:54Emo and Proog inhabit a surreal world shaped by their own thoughts—one awestruck, the other weary.
French shorts, round three
Episode 1 · A Community Canteen in NantesB1 · 4:14This episode introduces a community-run canteen in Nantes, France, operated by migrants and volunteers. It shows their on-site vegetable farming, collective kitchen, daily meal distribution (300–700 meals), and affordable 5-euro-per-day housing — all sustained through solidarity and local networks.
Episode 2 · Dignity in the Dining HallB1 · 4:09This episode features a collective dining initiative in Nantes that challenges traditional shelter models by empowering residents to cook, choose meals, and set their own schedules—rejecting infantilizing practices and structural racism in housing and food provision.
Student fiction shorts
French animated stories for children
Episode 1 · HairyB2 · 3:18A young mouse celebrates her first leg hair—only to face schoolyard mockery and razor ads on the street. She begins to ask: what does bodily change really mean?
Episode 2 · Ada & ZangemannA2 · 31:33Ages 6+. Ada and her friends tinker, repair skateboards and create their own inventions. Story by Matthias Kirschner and Sandra Brandstätter; film by FSFE. Original French edition.
French pronunciation shorts
Episode 1 · The Disappearing 'L' in French Pronoun 'Il'A2 · 1:10This episode explains how the French pronoun 'il' is commonly pronounced as 'y' in informal speech, with the 'l' sound disappearing before vowels and consonants, illustrated with everyday examples like 'y fait beau' and 'y'a faim'.
Episode 2 · Affrication of 'D' before 'I' in Quebec French PronunciationA2 · 0:58This episode explains a distinctive Quebec French pronunciation phenomenon: the affrication of 'd' before 'i', resulting in a 'dzi' sound, illustrated with examples like 'on dit', 'ça veut dire', 'chaudière', and 'canadien'.
Episode 3 · Quebec French Pronunciation: 'Moué' and 'Toué'A2 · 0:50This episode explains the common Quebec French pronunciation variants 'moué' for 'moi' and 'toué' for 'toi', highlighting that while learners don't need to use them, understanding these forms is essential for communication in Quebec and across Canada.
Episode 4 · Pronunciation of 'il y avait' in spoken FrenchA2 · 0:48This episode focuses on the spoken French pronunciation of 'il y avait', demonstrating how it is commonly reduced to 'y avait' in natural speech, with multiple clear examples and repetitions for practice.
Episode 5 · Pronunciation of 'il y a' in spoken FrenchA2 · 0:47This episode explains how the common French expression 'il y a' is pronounced in everyday speech, including reduced forms like 'ya' and the Quebec French variant 'yo'.
Episode 6 · The Silent 'E' in Spoken FrenchA2 · 1:30This episode explains the phenomenon of the silent 'e' (e muet) in spoken French—how it's often dropped in rapid speech, making pronunciation faster and comprehension more challenging. Real-life examples from Montreal illustrate common contractions.
Episode 7 · French Vocalic Linking PracticeA2 · 0:51This episode focuses on vocalic linking in French—how vowels connect across words—and practices it through repeated, clear examples like 'en plumes et en peau d'animaux' and 'vous avez aimé'.
Episode 8 · Affrication of 'T' before 'I' in French PronunciationA2 · 1:22This episode explains a regional pronunciation feature in Quebec French: the affrication of /t/ (and /d/) before /i/ and /u/, where 't' sounds like 'ts' as in 'petit'. Examples include 'quartier des artisans', 'petite colline', and 'petite machine'.
Episode 9 · The Disappearing 'L' in 'Ils' (They)A2 · 0:46This episode explains how the letter 'L' in the French subject pronoun 'ils' (they) is frequently dropped in informal spoken French, with clear examples from natural speech.
Episode 10 · Geminated Consonants: Mastering the French Double 'R'A2 · 0:58This episode explains gemination in French pronunciation—how the same consonant (especially 'r') is lengthened and emphasized when it appears at the end of one word and the beginning of the next.
Episode 11 · Vowel Linking in French PronunciationA2 · 0:54This episode explains vowel linking in spoken French—how two adjacent vowels from different words are smoothly connected without adding new sounds. Real speech examples demonstrate this key pronunciation feature.
Episode 12 · Consonant Linking in French PronunciationA2 · 0:55This episode explains consonant linking in French: how a final consonant sound from one word connects smoothly to an initial vowel sound of the next word, with practical examples from natural speech.
Episode 13 · Informal French vs. Quebec French PronunciationA2 · 1:01This episode explains key differences between informal French spoken across the Francophone world and Quebec French, focusing on speech rate, vocabulary, and pronunciation—with examples like 'je suis' becoming 'j'suis' in both contexts.
Episode 14 · The Disappearing 'L' in "il y a"A2 · 0:56This episode explains the natural pronunciation of "il y a" in spoken French, focusing on how the 'l' sound is commonly dropped in fast, informal speech—and notes regional variations, such as between France and Quebec.
Episode 15 · Pronunciation of the French word "de"A2 · 0:56This episode explains how the French word "de" often drops its final silent 'e' in natural speech, demonstrating this pronunciation rule with authentic examples like "beaucoup de pays" and "pas besoin de manger".
Episode 16 · Pronunciation of the French word "petit"A2 · 0:49This episode explains how the French word "petit" is pronounced in fast, natural speech—specifically how the /e/ sound is dropped, resulting in "ti". Examples include phrases like "un petit bateau" and "un petit peu", illustrating common elision patterns.
Episode 17 · The Silent 'E' in French PronunciationA2 · 1:16This episode explains the silent 'e' phenomenon in spoken French, where many written 'e's are omitted in pronunciation, making spoken French faster and more contracted than written French.
French storytelling night
Episode 1 · The Mare's EggA2 · 7:42This episode features a whimsical, humorous French folk tale about a man who mistakes a pumpkin for a mare's egg and earnestly tries to hatch it—blending absurdity, tradition, and playful storytelling.
Episode 2 · The Judge's VerdictA2 · 3:10This episode tells a folk-style story about a rich man who slaps a poor man, leading to a court hearing where the judge rules in favor of the poor man and orders compensation—a bowl of rice. Instead of accepting it, the poor man slaps the judge in return.
Episode 3 · The Pretty Napkin: A French Fairy TaleA2 · 4:45This episode presents a classic French fairy tale about a stepdaughter mistreated by her cruel stepmother. After losing a beautiful napkin in the river, the girl searches desperately and encounters a wise old woman of the woods known for healing physical and emotional wounds.
Episode 4 · The Pretty Napkin: A French FolktaleA2 · 4:48This French folktale tells how orphaned Marie receives three magical eggs from a forest woman, transforming her life—but her stepmother and stepsister, driven by greed and haste, suffer dire consequences when they imitate her without heeding the warnings.
Episode 5 · A Man Like Any Other: A Whimsical French FolktaleA2 · 3:44This episode tells a whimsical, poetic folktale about an ordinary man who falls in love with a wooden doll, faces rejection from authorities, visits a cemetery, and ultimately experiences a magical transformation—blending humor, tenderness, and gentle surrealism.
French fiction shorts
Episode 1 · A Domestic Scene Among LeftistsB2 · 10:59A 1970s back-to-the-land dialogue between partners—no regret, no bitterness, no resentment. What we want: everything.
Episode 2 · 33 HoursB2 · 4:30A voicemail message, a film shot at 176×144 pixels and 7.21 frames per second—reflecting on the nature of the image.
Episode 3 · My DearB2 · 6:43A poetic documentary from Rencontres d’Ailleurs 2016: a collective experiment on ‘elsewhere’—within the empire of desire, the principle of gratuitousness, and exchange as sacred mountain.
Episode 4 · An OpeningB2 · 2:08A French short film: a sales pitch suddenly takes a different turn. Dense everyday dialogue for practising spoken French.
Episode 5 · HorizonB2 · 2:10A man reflects on himself and his world through the horizon.
Episode 6 · We Demand Unemployment! — A Political Chant Against WorkB2 · 5:48A fiercely ironic political performance using the slogan 'We Demand Unemployment' to deconstruct work ethics, power discourse, and democratic illusion.
Episode 7 · A Day at the Home of the Alien Species Called HumansB2 · 6:46Alien filmmakers, tasked with making a film, document the daily life of humans—the alien species they call ‘humans’—finding it both mundane and profoundly strange.
French short films, vol. 2
Episode 1 · An unknown soldier's routineB1 · 3:52A background actor reflects on playing an anonymous soldier, describing how he independently studied historical footage, art, and literature to master authentic gestures and presence.
Episode 2 · A Proustian aristocrat lessonB1 · 3:55He demonstrates the precise, restrained gait of a Proustian aristocrat, then reveals how French extras work has declined—once, he was digitally multiplied to fill an entire crowd alone.
Episode 3 · The crowd-reading machineB1 · 3:51He discloses helping police develop AI surveillance tools that detect subtle, recurrent crowd patterns invisible to the human eye—and how this led him to master undetectable, context-adapted walking in public spaces.
Episode 4 · The sisters' villageB1 · 4:13The story opens by introducing a Native American village where two inseparable sisters, born moments apart, are preparing for their coming-of-age ceremony.
Episode 5 · Rushing to get ready for the masqueradeB1 · 2:35The protagonist frantically searches for clothes and accessories, trying to put on a suitable smiling mask before the masquerade party.
Episode 6 · The interview turns into an arrestB1 · 4:33A job seeker praises the office decor and desperately begs to intern with a self-proclaimed assassin—unaware the 'assassin' is actually an undercover police officer who then arrests him.
Episode 7 · Preparing a double ki-to drinkB1 · 4:42Colleagues prepare for their weekly double ki-to drink while debating how to handle a newly discovered chrysalis-like organism.
Episode 8 · White creature hits the windshieldB1 · 4:29A white, moving creature slams into the car’s windshield; the panicked team brings it back and begins an invasive procedure despite concerns about contamination.
Episode 9 · The chrysalis stirs and reveals a humanoid formB1 · 4:29The chrysalis violently stirs during extraction, revealing a humanoid shape—and the being suddenly declares, 'I escaped from the hospital,' triggering an emergency protocol.
Episode 10 · A surprising reunionB1 · 4:03The protagonist spots a woman who might be Anaëlia—his long-lost love—and is torn between disbelief and hope, while also recognizing filmmaker Gaspard Zanetti and wanting his autograph.
Episode 11 · First date at the restaurantB1 · 3:55They meet at a restaurant, where she admires his charm, he nervously tries to impress her, and they exchange stories about dance, hobbies, and life—with playful banter and gentle sincerity.
Episode 12 · Parting and a possible stayB1 · 4:11Learning she’s leaving for studies in the US, he expresses disappointment and tentatively asks if he could stay longer—while layered voiceover reflects on identity, resilience, and self-renewal.
Episode 13 · Wrap-up and script disagreementB1 · 4:11The crew wraps a scene, praising the take, but Jules expresses concern about last-minute script changes that alter the emotional weight of his character's pivotal moment.
Episode 14 · Confiding her deep sadnessB1 · 4:24A young woman confides in her sister about feeling deeply sad and exhausted for weeks, losing interest in sports and drawing, zoning out for hours, and having dark thoughts.
Episode 15 · Classroom chaos eruptsB1 · 4:54The teacher tries to guide students on choosing next year's curriculum, but is repeatedly interrupted and challenged—especially on the definition of cyberbullying—leading to escalating classroom disruption.
Episode 16 · Martin is arrestedB1 · 5:29Martin is arrested on the spot for blowing up the 15th-floor wall, and his rights are read to him by authorities.
Episode 17 · Exhausted trackers collapseB1 · 4:00Two exhausted trackers struggle in the wilderness: one collapses and refuses to get up, while the other urges continuation with remaining water and promises of a reward.
Episode 18 · Radio banter and guitar fantasiesB1 · 7:00On a free radio show, the host jokingly compares a guest to Christophe Maé, swaps banter about guitars, Coca-Cola, romantic comedies, and dating—keeping the tone light and playful.
Episode 19 · Meeting in the lawyer's officeB1 · 4:30A young lawyer visits a senior colleague to seek advice on how young lawyers can build their client base amid growing professional challenges.
Episode 20 · Coffee and crisisB1 · 4:00Camille is asked to fetch coffee, then a mysterious object appears, sparking panic and a heated argument among the characters.
Episode 21 · Brother's birthday messageB1 · 5:28Jenny receives a heartfelt pre-recorded birthday message and guitar song from her late brother Michael, reminding her she is never alone and urging her to keep dreaming.
Episode 22 · Inviting my hater to dinnerB1 · 6:20A social media influencer announces she will invite someone who hates her to dinner, calling it a new online trend.
Episode 23 · Birthday during lockdownB1 · 3:03Arlette celebrates her birthday alone during coronavirus lockdown, feeling overwhelmed and disconnected despite the occasion.
Episode 24 · Team building kicks offB1 · 4:40The company celebrates Joy Capital's investment and the arrival of new executives Simon and Elias with an offsite team-building event and announces competitive challenges.
Episode 25 · Teams form amid tensionB1 · 4:32Employees form teams while exchanging uneasy banter about new leadership, romantic entanglements, and unsettling rumors of AI-driven departmental restructuring.
Episode 26 · The dart incidentB1 · 4:19A dart accidentally strikes someone in the shoulder during a team competition, sparking arguments and suspicion about whether it was intentional.
Episode 27 · The farmer drops byB1 · 4:20Local farmer Franck brings homemade appetizers, unintentionally stepping into a heated confrontation among staff about blame, jealousy, and hidden motives.
Episode 28 · Financial discrepancies emergeB1 · 4:54Someone discovers the promised two-week trip is financially impossible, triggering suspicion that data was manipulated—pointing to Victoria and Elias’s AI system.
Episode 29 · Pear-chocolate cake and revelationsB1 · 4:51During the pear-chocolate cake challenge, tensions explode as hidden footage and a cryptic promotion note expose Victoria’s orchestration of the chaos.
Episode 30 · Family gathers at the hospitalB1 · 4:29Alain is in a coma; Brigitte has summoned both families to the hospital, where tensions rise and suspicions simmer.
Episode 31 · The two families confront each otherB1 · 4:34The two families clash openly, hurling accusations of hypocrisy and greed while exposing deep class and identity divides.
Episode 32 · Secrets begin to surfaceB1 · 4:20Brigitte and Nicole reflect on their relationships with Alain, realizing he concealed his double life for decades—leaving them stunned and heartbroken.
Episode 33 · Two sisters tentatively connectB1 · 4:40Jennifer and Charlotte quietly bond amid the chaos, recognizing shared vulnerabilities and letting down their guards just enough to be real.
Episode 34 · The notary reveals legal realitiesB1 · 4:27Notary Maître Lefèvre arrives and explains inheritance law—revealing shocking stipulations, including mandatory cohabitation.
Episode 35 · A life-or-death decision loomsB1 · 4:27Nathalie learns Alain is brain-dead and must decide whether to withdraw life support—while others obsess over money and control.
French folk songs
Episode 1 · Beside My BlondeA2 · 2:51This traditional French folk song evokes a peaceful, idyllic scene of nature and love, with birds nesting, flowers blooming, and the singer resting contentedly beside his beloved.
Episode 2 · Fanchon, the Cheerful Wine-Loving GirlA2 · 2:42This is a lively French folk song celebrating Fanchon, a joyful, wine-loving, singing young woman. The lyrics are full of warmth, humor, and everyday charm.
Episode 3 · The Knight of the WatchA2 · 3:44This traditional French folk song tells the story of a knight passing by a ford late at night, featuring poetic imagery, repetition, and whimsical, archaic language typical of oral folk tradition.
Episode 4 · Whip, Postilion! A Napoleonic Folk SongA2 · 2:25This traditional French folk song tells the story of a young man who leaves home to fight under Napoleon, earns honors in battle, suffers injury, and ultimately returns to his village to rebuild his life and family.
Episode 5 · Long Live Henry IVA2 · 1:51This traditional French folk song celebrates King Henry IV, praising his bravery, conviviality, and charm. With lively rhythm and patriotic spirit, it honors his legacy and calls for unity and joy.
Episode 6 · It's Raining, ShepherdessA2 · 4:00This classic French folk song depicts a shepherdess taking shelter from the rain in a thatched cottage, evoking pastoral charm, gentle romance, and familial warmth through lyrical, repetitive verses.
Episode 7 · We Will No Longer Go to the WoodsA2 · 1:58This is a classic French folk song and nursery rhyme about laurel trees being cut in the woods, with gentle imagery of nature, the cicada, nightingale, forest, and shepherdess Jeanne working together to renew and protect the woodland.
Episode 8 · Clap Your Hands, Little WindmillA2 · 2:35This is a traditional French children's song that uses repetitive verbs and onomatopoeic phrases to teach young learners actions associated with hands, a windmill, a little bird, and a small fish.
Episode 9 · She Rides Down from the MountainA2 · 2:02This is a traditional French folk song that vividly depicts a young woman riding down from the mountain, featuring playful onomatopoeic refrains ('aïe', 'youpi') and rhythmic repetition typical of oral folk traditions.
Episode 10 · The Prince of OrangeA2 · 2:57This traditional French folk song tells the tragic story of the Prince of Orange who rides to war in France, is gravely wounded by an English knight, and ultimately dies and is buried with solemn ceremony. The refrain 'Que maudite soit la guerre' ('Cursed be war') underscores its lament for the futility and cost of war.
Episode 11 · Monsieur Turenne: A Traditional French Folk SongA2 · 2:23This episode features a traditional French folk song celebrating the legendary Marshal Turenne, weaving regional imagery from Alsace, Provence, and Brittany with martial themes, wine, cicadas, and cannon fire.
Episode 12 · The Conscript from LanguedocA2 · 2:07This traditional French folk song tells the poignant story of a young conscript from Languedoc in 1818, bidding farewell to his family, sweetheart, and homeland as he is drafted into military service.
Episode 13 · Song of Joan of ArcA2 · 2:58This is a traditional French folk song honoring Joan of Arc, celebrating her courage, faith, and divine mission to save France.
Episode 14 · Who Will Embark on the Holy Journey?A2 · 1:39This medieval French folk song expresses devotion and resolve to undertake a sacred journey—possibly pilgrimage or crusade—in service of faith, invoking divine mercy, justice, and salvation.
French rap live
French fables & fairy shorts
Episode 1 · The Fox and the Crow: A Fable by La FontaineA2 · 1:47This episode presents La Fontaine's fable 'The Fox and the Crow', using animal characters to illustrate the consequences of greed, flattery, and misplaced trust.
Episode 2 · The Emperor's New ClothesA2 · 5:21This episode adapts Hans Christian Andersen's classic fairy tale about a vain emperor who is tricked by swindlers into believing he is wearing magnificent invisible clothes.
Episode 3 · Princess Dorothée and Her Gastric TroublesA2 · 5:33This episode tells the humorous story of Princess Dorothée, whose chronic gastric issues—burps and flatulence—scare away suitors; her father, the king, devises increasingly absurd plans to cure her and secure her marriage.
Episode 4 · The Witch's BroomA2 · 1:56This episode features a witch using her magic broom to cast spells, hide treasure, and transform characters, while a young dragon and children team up to retrieve the treasure and break the witch's spell.
French standup clips
Episode 1 · Belgian Royalty and Royal Family HistoryB1 · 7:01This episode humorously recounts Belgian history since 1830, covering the monarchy's origins, kings named Léopold and Albert, Belgium's colonial rule over the Congo, and the public revelation of King Albert II's illegitimate daughter Delphine—presented through a comedic, satirical dialogue.
Episode 2 · Which Countries Should Europe Actually Include?B1 · 5:31A French stand-up comedian humorously critiques European Union member states—mocking France's rejection of the EU Constitution, Germany's historical and tourist presence, Brexit, Italy's stereotypes, and Spain's cultural 'theft'—all through satirical, light-hearted social commentary.
Episode 3 · How to Be a Good Dad?B1 · 5:31A French comedian humorously shares his experiences raising four children—covering childbirth, unequal parenting responsibilities, diaper changes, baby cries as 'language,' naming dilemmas, and lighthearted observations about fatherhood.
Episode 4 · How to Be a Good Dad?B1 · 5:51A French comedian humorously explores parenting challenges, competitive comparisons among parents, and stereotypes about children's birth order—such as the 'neglected second child' or the 'spoiled youngest'—all through lighthearted, exaggerated anecdotes.
Episode 5 · Shark Jokes and Stand-Up ComedyB1 · 6:38This episode features French stand-up comedian Aymeric Lompret performing live, delivering shark-themed jokes, playful audience banter, self-deprecating anecdotes about unemployment, relationships, therapy, and absurd everyday observations.
Episode 6 · African Humor During the PandemicB1 · 5:09A stand-up comedian shares humorous anecdotes about how different African countries responded to the pandemic—like creative temperature checks, naming customs, and playful bureaucratic absurdities—all while highlighting cultural perspectives with warmth and satire.
Episode 7 · Addresses and Parenting in BelgiumB1 · 5:12A comedian humorously compares address systems in Belgium with those in Côte d'Ivoire, Congo, and Morocco, then contrasts European and North African parenting norms—especially non-violent discipline—using vivid, culturally grounded anecdotes.
French word nuances
Episode 1 · How to Encourage Someone in FrenchA2 · 3:49This episode presents common French phrases to encourage others—such as 'courage', 'tu peux y arriver', 'je crois en toi', 'tiens le coup', and 'ne lâche rien'—explaining their meanings, nuances, register (formal/informal), and typical usage contexts.
Episode 2 · Regarder vs Voir: Understanding the Key Difference in FrenchA2 · 7:09This episode explains the essential difference between 'regarder' and 'voir': 'regarder' expresses intentional, active looking (like 'watch'), while 'voir' refers to passive visual perception (like 'see') or incidental encounters. Real-life examples clarify usage in contexts like accidents, people, clouds, films, and meetings.
French audiobooks
Episode 1 · The Temple: A Fantastic Short Story by H.P. LovecraftB2 · 5:26This episode features a French audiobook excerpt from H.P. Lovecraft's classic weird fiction story 'The Temple,' narrated as the final log of a German U-boat officer who experiences increasingly uncanny and ominous events after sinking a British ship.
Episode 2 · A Terrifying Voyage in a SubmarineB2 · 5:00This episode presents an audiobook excerpt from H.P. Lovecraft's 'The Temple', recounting a German submarine crew's descent into madness and supernatural horror during a voyage at sea.
Episode 3 · The Temple: A Submerged Horror StoryB2 · 5:23This episode features a chilling French audiobook adaptation of H.P. Lovecraft's 'The Temple', following a German naval officer and his crew as they descend into madness and horror aboard a submerged submarine, encountering inexplicable phenomena and ancient underwater ruins.
Episode 4 · The Temple: A Deep-Sea Horror StoryB2 · 5:16A German U-boat officer descends into the abyss, where eerie dolphins follow his vessel, a crewmate succumbs to madness and vanishes, and he discovers an inexplicable ancient temple on the ocean floor—blending horror, myth, and psychological tension.
Episode 5 · The Sunken Ancient TempleB2 · 5:18The narrator descends into the deep sea and discovers a vast, ancient ruined city nestled in a narrow valley, culminating in a magnificently preserved temple carved from rock—its ornate façade, bacchanalian reliefs, and priestly processions evoke awe and mystery.
Episode 6 · The Allure of the Underwater TempleB2 · 5:14Trapped in a submarine, the narrator is drawn to a mysterious underwater temple while battling mounting terror, vivid hallucinations, psychological unraveling, and the tension between Teutonic rationality and inexplicable, possibly supernatural phenomena.
Episode 7 · The Temple: A Cosmic Horror Short StoryB2 · 5:19This episode features a French audiobook excerpt from H.P. Lovecraft's classic cosmic horror story 'The Temple', following a German naval officer who discovers an ancient, luminous underwater temple and descends into psychological and metaphysical disintegration.
Episode 8 · The White Night of a Red HussarB2 · 4:37A man falls mildly in love with a blonde neighbor and, inspired by a costume ball, disguises himself as a red hussar to visit her—only to be caught off guard when her husband returns home unexpectedly.
Episode 9 · The White Night of a Red HussarB2 · 4:16A red hussar accidentally locks himself in a small room and spends the entire night desperately pushing the door to escape—only to realize at dawn that the door opens inward, not outward.
French grammar shorts
Episode 1 · The Interrogative Particle 'tu' in Quebec FrenchA2 · 1:36This episode explains the interrogative particle 'tu' used in Quebec French to form questions, showing how it functions similarly to 'est-ce que' and providing everyday examples like 'J'peux-tu aller aux toilettes?' and 'Tu veux-tu un café?'
Episode 2 · Quebec French Emphatic Pronouns: nous autres, vous autres, eux autresA2 · 1:20This episode explains how Quebec French uses emphatic pronouns like 'nous autres', 'vous autres', and 'eux autres'—replacing standard tonic pronouns to add emphasis, especially in plural contexts or sentence-initial positions.
Episode 3 · The French Pronoun "en": Usage and ExamplesA2 · 1:03This episode explains the French pronoun "en", focusing on how it replaces noun phrases introduced by "de" (e.g., "il y en a"). Clear examples are given using Christmas markets in Sofia and Quebec to illustrate its everyday usage.
Episode 4 · Using 'on' instead of 'nous' in spoken FrenchA2 · 0:52This episode explains how the pronoun 'on' commonly replaces 'nous' in informal spoken French for simplicity and fluency, illustrating the usage with three authentic examples from a travel video.
Episode 5 · Emphasis with 'C'est' in Spoken FrenchA2 · 0:52This episode explains the common spoken French emphasis structure using 'c'est', illustrating how it highlights information more naturally than standard declarative sentences, with examples centered on Brussels landmarks.
Episode 6 · Emphasis with "C'est" in Spoken FrenchA2 · 1:08This episode explains the common spoken French emphasis structure using "c'est," which highlights key information by repetition. Examples include Bulgarian shopska salad, its ingredients, and Bulgarian tomatoes, showing how this construction adds focus and emotional nuance compared to standard written French.
Episode 7 · Omitting 'ne' in spoken French negationA2 · 0:50This episode explains how the negative particle 'ne' is frequently omitted in informal spoken French, using common verbs like 'aimer' and 'être' as examples ('j'aime pas', 'je suis pas'). It illustrates this with authentic Quebec French speech.
Tomato tart
Flying over Earth
African voice recognition
Episode 1 · African Voice Recognition TechnologyB1 · 5:05This episode explores the challenges and innovations in developing voice recognition technology for African languages like Yoruba, highlighting efforts by researchers and linguists to bridge the digital language gap.
Episode 2 · A Glimpse into Tomorrow: The Smithsonian's Futures ExhibitionB1 · 4:44This episode explores the Smithsonian's 'Futures' exhibition in Washington, DC, featuring visionary innovations such as flying taxis (Bell Nexus), ultra-fast hyperloop transport, ocean-based infrastructure, and biodegradable burial capsules that grow memorial trees.
Episode 3 · Robots Serving Guests in HotelsB1 · 4:50This episode explores how hotels in the U.S., facing staff shortages during the pandemic, deployed delivery robots to handle room service, navigate elevators, and provide contactless, 24/7 assistance to guests.
Episode 4 · African Voice Recognition TechnologyB1 · 4:55This episode discusses the development of African voice recognition technology and explores how robots and AI impact employment and human capabilities, featuring perspectives from Rwandan tech experts and broader societal reflections.
Episode 5 · African Natural Hair Care SecretsB1 · 4:56This episode features a discussion on natural African hair care products, including a solid shampoo bar for deep cleansing, a leave-in serum to hydrate the scalp and stimulate growth, and a multi-butter blend for nourishing and defining curls.
Episode 6 · African Voice Recognition TechnologyB1 · 4:47This episode covers African voice recognition technology development and features an interview with Ivorian singer Roseline Layo, discussing her musical journey from cabarets to solo success, her socially conscious lyrics, and her hit song's viral impact.
African French: mapping city buses
Episode 1 · Mapping Public Transport in Bamako, MaliB2 · 4:41This episode presents a community-led initiative to map Bamako's public bus network (SOTRAMA), including both official and unofficial stops—reflecting how residents shape transit access in the city.
Episode 2 · Mapping Public Transport in BamakoB2 · 4:35This episode explains the governance structure of a public transport mapping project in Bamako, Mali—funded by the World Bank and led by OpenStreetMap Mali—with collaboration from local transport unions, government agencies, and geography students. It details recruitment, training, and field data collection methods.
Episode 3 · Mapping Public Transport in BamakoB2 · 4:41This episode covers a community-led project to map public bus routes and stops in Bamako, Mali, using OpenStreetMap tools like OSM Tracker; it details data collection methods, editing workflows, collaboration with transport unions, and progress toward over 100 digitized lines and 300 stops.
Episode 4 · Mapping Public Transport in BamakoB2 · 4:32This episode covers field data collection and collaborative editing of public transport routes in Bamako, Mali, using OpenStreetMap. It also presents plans to convert the data into GTFS format and develop a navigation app to help residents and visitors navigate the city more easily.
Episode 5 · Mapping Bus Routes in OuagadougouB2 · 4:28This episode presents the OpenTransport project in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso: it outlines rapid urban growth and transport challenges (e.g., congestion, two-wheeler dominance), explains the project’s goals—including improving mobility and mapping bus routes on OpenStreetMap—and describes the collaborative implementation framework involving local open-mapping communities and partners.
Episode 6 · Mapping Bus Routes in OuagadougouB2 · 4:29This episode details the OpenTransport project in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso: how civil society, local authorities, and residents collaborated to map bus routes and stops using OSM Tracker for field data collection and JOSM for editing and integration into OpenStreetMap.
Episode 7 · Mapping Public Bus Routes in AntananarivoB2 · 4:12This episode presents how the OpenStreetMap Madagascar community mapped 135 public bus routes in Antananarivo to fill a critical gap in publicly available transit data, supported by the Francophone African Open Data Community (CAFTO) and motivated by daily commuter needs and technical constraints like Google Maps licensing changes.
Episode 8 · Mapping Public Transport in AntananarivoB2 · 4:15This episode covers a community-led initiative to map Antananarivo's public bus routes using OpenStreetMap, detailing field data collection by local mappers, funding sources, challenges in scaling the project, and plans for a localized mobile application.
Episode 9 · Mapping Public Bus Routes in AntananarivoB2 · 4:09This episode presents a community-led initiative to map public bus routes and stops in Antananarivo, Madagascar—covering field data collection using smartphones and paper maps, digitization with iD Editor and JOSM, current results (135 partially mapped lines, 955 stops), and future goals including data updates, expansion to other cities, quality improvement, and mobile/web app development.
Episode 10 · Mapping Public Bus Routes in ConakryB2 · 4:31This episode presents a volunteer-led OpenStreetMap project in Conakry, Guinea, mapping informal public bus routes to address urban mobility challenges, traffic congestion, and lack of official transit data.
Episode 11 · Mapping Public Transport in ConakryB2 · 4:10This episode presents how community volunteers in Conakry, Guinea, collected public bus route data on the ground and used open-source tools like OSM Tracker and JOSM to edit, validate, and integrate the data into OpenStreetMap.
Episode 12 · Mapping Public Transport in ConakryB2 · 4:21This episode details the technical workflow for mapping Conakry's public bus routes using open-source tools: field data collection with OSM Tracker, editing in JOSM, quality assurance with Osmose and OSM Inspector, and dynamic web map creation via Overpass and uMap.
Episode 13 · Mapping Dakar's Public Bus RoutesB2 · 3:04This episode presents a real-world project mapping bus stops and routes for Dakar Dem Dikk, Dakar's public transport operator. The data was added to OpenStreetMap and shared via the GeoPackage spatial data infrastructure, including rich metadata for transparency and reuse.
Episode 14 · Mapping Abidjan's Public Transport NetworkB2 · 5:20This episode presents a collaborative project in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire, to map the city’s diverse public transport system—including formal buses, water taxis, communal taxis, and informal 'baka' minibuses—using OpenStreetMap. It highlights community involvement, partnerships with local government and funders, and the real-world benefits of accurate transport data for mobility and access to services.
Episode 15 · Mapping Public Transport in AbidjanB2 · 5:27This episode details a community-led project to map Abidjan's informal public bus network, covering field data collection methods, volunteer selection criteria, GPS tracing, and the process of importing transport data into OpenStreetMap using JOSM and custom tools.
African French news: eastern DR Congo
Episode 1 · Opposition unites behind one candidateB2 · 1:45Matata explains that after consultations among five political parties—including his own LGD—Moïse Katumbi was selected as the unified opposition presidential candidate, with three candidates, including himself, having withdrawn to support him.
Episode 2 · Ceasefire and verification mechanism progressB2 · 3:08The Congolese foreign minister outlines three key steps in the eastern DRC peace process: the ceasefire entering into force on 4 August, the operational launch of the tripartite ad hoc verification mechanism on 5 November, and the adoption of the operations concept on 25 November.
Episode 3 · Kanyaruchinya camp empties outB2 · 2:23The Kanyaruchinya displacement camp near Goma has nearly emptied, after previously housing around 100,000 displaced people in dire hygiene and security conditions.
Episode 4 · Market activities resume in GomaB2 · 2:17At Mama Olive Lembé market in Goma, fresh goods are flowing in again after several days of closure due to intense fighting, but vendors report low customer turnout and lingering fear.
Episode 5 · Schools struggle to reopen after Goma's fallB2 · 2:56After Goma's fall, pupils and teachers are slow to return and banks are closed so teachers go unpaid; African leaders meeting in Tanzania call for an immediate ceasefire.
Episode 6 · Looting at WFP warehouse siteB2 · 3:30Footage shows the aftermath of looting at a WFP warehouse in Bukavu, with WFP- and USAID-branded nutritional supplements, grains, documents, and debris scattered on the floor.
Episode 7 · Bukavu braces for imminent attackB2 · 2:42Bukavu's population is urgently preparing amid fear of an imminent attack by M23 and Rwandan soldiers, prompting multiple schools and universities to suspend classes on Friday.
Episode 8 · Mpox patients flee treatment centersB2 · 2:34Residents of Bukavu express concern over mpox patients who have disappeared from health facilities and taken refuge in the city, raising fears of further transmission.
Episode 9 · Bukavu appears calm on the surfaceB2 · 2:16The fruit market is lively and streets are busy, suggesting restored calm, but visible looting damage from the weekend remains, and many shops stay closed.
Episode 10 · M23 captures KamanyolaB2 · 2:35With Rwandan support, M23 entered Kamanyola in South Kivu; the Congolese-Burundian defensive line was broken, prompting civilians to flee and cross a river to reach a camp.
Episode 11 · Bukavu mourns bombing victimsB2 · 2:15Bukavu buries victims of the 27 February double bombing, which killed 17 people; families urge the government to restore peace and find those responsible.
Episode 12 · Sapeurs stage peace rallyB2 · 2:06Kinshasa's sapeurs parade in designer clothes, pay tribute at the grave of their 'pope' Stervos Niarcos and call for an end to thirty years of war in the east.
Episode 13 · Goma-Rubavu border reopensB2 · 3:04The Goma-Rubavu border has reopened, with Rwandan and Congolese traders queuing early in the morning; border crossing procedures have been simplified, allowing more people to cross using national ID cards or passports instead of only CEPGL cards.
Episode 14 · Response to eastern DRC crisisB2 · 3:38Alain Mukuralinda describes intense fighting near the Rwanda-DRC border causing many casualties, and questions Kinshasa's narrative blaming Rwanda for the M23.
Episode 15 · Rwanda's border security measuresB2 · 3:17Mukuralinda confirms Rwanda implemented security measures—including intercepting bombs fired from Congolese territory—to protect Rwandan lives and territory after a recent attack killed 15 and injured over 100.
Episode 16 · Regional mediation and refugee concernsB2 · 3:55Rwanda's deputy government spokesman says Rwanda backs EAC and SADC mediation and insists the FDLR threat and Congolese refugees sheltering in Rwanda and elsewhere must also be addressed.
Episode 17 · A boxing club for Goma's street childrenB2 · 2:12Gaël Assoumani runs Niyama Boxing in Goma, training street children to give them hope and keep them away from armed groups.
African French news: around the continent
Episode 1 · Morocco's first digital vaccination centerB1 · 1:37Morocco opens its first digital vaccination centre, able to vaccinate 3,000 to 4,000 people a day, with QR-code scanning at every step from registration to injection.
Episode 2 · Grand-Bassam’s colonial heritageB1 · 2:59Introduces Grand-Bassam’s colonial past as Ivory Coast’s former French capital, its UNESCO World Heritage status since 2012, and the current state of its decaying historic buildings.
Episode 3 · Niger rejects war rhetoricB1 · 2:20Niger's ambassador to the US rejects Mali and Burkina Faso's talk of war with ECOWAS and warns that if the coup persists Niger will lose all American assistance.
Episode 4 · Senegal River flood aftermathB1 · 2:27Shows the daily hardship of flood victims, including destroyed homes, farmland, and livestock, as well as precarious conditions in temporary shelters.
Episode 5 · Bargny's coastal ecological crisisB1 · 2:17Residents of Bargny witness progressive loss of homes to coastal erosion and suffer from pollution by a cement plant, coal-fired power station, and mineral port.
Episode 6 · Cameroonians react to Eto'o verdictB1 · 2:22CAF clears Samuel Eto'o of match-fixing but fines him $200,000; Cameroonians are largely relieved, and his lawyers have appealed.
Episode 7 · Patient's experience with kidney stonesB1 · 2:39Haruna Mubiru suffered abdominal pain for three years, repeatedly misdiagnosed with ulcers and infections, until a CT scan revealed an ectopic right kidney producing kidney stones requiring surgical removal.
Episode 8 · Botswana's new Olympic championB1 · 2:23At 21, Letsile Tebogo won the Paris Olympics 200m in 19.46 seconds, becoming Botswana's first Olympic champion and setting a new African record.
Episode 9 · What the press freedom award representsB1 · 4:28Samira Sabou explains that the award represents not only her personal achievement but also the state institutions—including Niger’s Ministry of Justice—that engaged with her team to address flaws in the 2019 cybercrime law, especially regarding criminal defamation.
Episode 10 · Being imprisoned under three regimesB1 · 4:30She recounts being arrested and imprisoned multiple times under three different regimes—including the current military government—describing the indignity involved and rejecting baseless accusations of collaborating with foreign powers to undermine Niger.
Episode 11 · The journalist’s role and defining online actorsB1 · 4:12She stresses that journalists highlight dysfunction to enable correction—not to spread negativity—and calls for clear legal definitions of online actors (e.g., bloggers, influencers) to fill a 21st-century regulatory gap affecting ECOWAS countries.
Episode 12 · Updates on defense ministry and drug trafficking casesB1 · 4:33She reports that the 2020 Defense Ministry overbilling case led to a 16-billion-CFA-franc settlement, while the 2022 drug trafficking investigation remains before the courts—with both cases still pending final resolution.
Episode 13 · Training citizens in social media literacyB1 · 4:53She describes media literacy training aimed at helping users verify information, avoid misinformation, and broaden content creation beyond politics—to include energy, water, food security, and environmental issues.
African French news: daily life and people
Episode 1 · Abidjan: turning plastic waste into wealthB1 · 2:02Plastic bags litter Abidjan's streets; the Ivorian government invites a South African recycling body to show how waste plastic can become furniture, benches and playground equipment.
Episode 2 · Côte d'Ivoire's cocoa sector under strainB1 · 2:13Côte d'Ivoire grows about 40% of the world's cocoa, yet farmers face buyers paying below the official floor price, beans leaking to Ghana, and illegal gold panning wrecking plantations.
Episode 3 · Cashews: from harvest to processingB1 · 4:13Reporters visit a village near Katiola, follow a farming family harvesting and sorting cashews and hear complaints about prices, then meet a local cashew processor in Abidjan.
Episode 4 · Attiéké: from cassava field to plateB1 · 5:00How Côte d'Ivoire's staple attiéké is made: growing, harvesting and trucking cassava, fermenting, grinding and pressing, and a woman entrepreneur who mechanised production.
Episode 5 · Choukouya: Ivorian grilled meatB1 · 1:51Choosing beef at a market in Koumassi, Abidjan, pairing it with attiéké and slow-grilling it over embers into authentic Ivorian choukouya.
Episode 6 · The women traders of Koumassi marketB1 · 2:54At Koumassi's main market in Abidjan, women traders set up before dawn and support their families by selling produce — the quiet pillars of society.
Episode 7 · International Volunteer Day: what volunteering gave meB1 · 3:02On International Volunteer Day, 5 December, Wikimedia volunteers in Côte d'Ivoire describe the skills, contacts, travel and personal growth volunteering has given them.
Episode 8 · Burkina Faso's culture minister on FESPACOB1 · 2:11During FESPACO 2021 in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso's culture minister Elise Thiombiano discusses the opening ceremony, security at the venues and COVID-19 measures.
Episode 9 · A Cameroonian mathematician (1): defying stereotypesB1 · 4:50A woman maths teacher from Cameroon's Far North recalls being one of very few girls in science classes, and being called a tomboy for her good marks.
Episode 10 · A Cameroonian mathematician (2): obstacles along the wayB1 · 4:39She describes the taunts, financial hurdles and pressure to marry she faced studying maths, and how she was chosen for distance teaching after COVID-19.
Episode 11 · A Cameroonian mathematician (3): taking education digitalB1 · 4:48She now trains teachers on platforms such as Moodle for Cameroon's secondary education ministry, writes textbooks and records online lessons, and talks about prejudice women face at work.
Episode 12 · A Cameroonian mathematician (4): getting girls into STEMB1 · 4:59She argues that real wealth is the impact you have, urges more girls to study science, technology, engineering and maths, and advocates gender-sensitive teaching.
Africa Day diversity
Drinking water in Africa
Episode 1 · Drinking Water Challenges in AfricaB1 · 5:01This episode examines the critical challenges of access to safe drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) in Africa, highlighting water pollution, inadequate infrastructure, climate-related shocks, and their devastating impacts on children's health and well-being.
Episode 2 · Safe Drinking Water in Africa and BeyondB1 · 4:58This episode examines waterborne diseases affecting children in poverty- and conflict-affected areas of Africa, especially northern Nigeria, and shares practical household water purification methods. It also highlights an innovative solar-powered atmospheric water generation system deployed in the Navajo Nation to address water access inequities in the United States.
Episode 3 · Ghanaian Activist Swims the Volta River to Fight Water PollutionB1 · 5:01Ghanaian activist Yvette Tetteh swims the nearly 500-kilometer Volta River—including Lake Volta—to raise awareness about worsening water pollution, collects water samples en route, and highlights how imported second-hand clothing contributes to microfiber contamination of drinking water sources.
PM Édouard Philippe on phase two of reopening (28 May 2020)
Episode 1 · Overall positive health situationB2 · 5:14Prime Minister Philippe states that health data are generally positive but stresses continued caution, as the virus still circulates nationwide and clusters continue to emerge. Archive from 2020-05-28.
Episode 2 · Hospitals remain under pressureB2 · 4:58He notes ICU occupancy remains at 30% of normal capacity, highlights ongoing hospital strain, and underscores the virus’s heightened risk in closed settings and among vulnerable populations. Archive from 2020-05-28.
Episode 3 · Explaining the four health indicatorsB2 · 5:02Minister Véran details the four key surveillance indicators—including incidence—and their vigilance thresholds, noting persistently high pressure in Île-de-France and Mayotte. Archive from 2020-05-28.
Episode 4 · Criteria for orange-level departmentsB2 · 5:08Explains why Île-de-France, Mayotte, and French Guiana are classified as orange: multiple indicators above thresholds, sustained high incidence, and ongoing healthcare strain. Archive from 2020-05-28.
Episode 5 · Guidelines for serological testingB2 · 5:14Clarifies that serology detects past infection only—not current illness—does not replace PCR, requires medical prescription, is fully reimbursed, and does not exempt anyone from social distancing. Archive from 2020-05-28.
Episode 6 · School reopening progress and plansB2 · 5:08The Education Minister reports on school reopenings: 95.5% of collèges opened in green zones, with 28% of students (6th and 5th grades) returning, and announces expanded reopening plans. Archive from 2020-05-28.
Herring and potato salad
Fredo roasts the internet
Episode 1 · The Absurdity of Tech Channels on YouTubeB1 · 3:58Fredo humorously critiques YouTube tech channels that lack focus—jumping from computing to ravioli to cheap household gadgets—and mocks the sycophantic, uncritical comments they attract. The episode is a satirical take on content dilution and fan culture on the platform.
Episode 2 · The Smartphone's Double-Edged SwordB1 · 2:32This episode humorously examines how smartphones are both incredibly powerful tools and sources of constant distraction—highlighting battery anxiety, compulsive use, and the challenge of staying in control amid modern digital life.
Episode 3 · Roasting the Linux Distribution ZooB1 · 2:11This episode humorously roasts major Linux distributions and their communities—comparing Arch to a placenta-wielding newborn, Debian to a 'stable' adult presented as a newborn, Ubuntu to a cinnamon-and-mint-scented teen, and others—to highlight their quirks and philosophies.
Grenoble-style salmon
Episode 1 · Grenobloise-style salmon with glazed turnip ballsA2 · 4:34This episode demonstrates how to prepare a classic dish from Grenoble in southeastern France: salmon cooked 'à la grenobloise' — served with glazed turnip balls, capers, lemon, parsley, and butter sauce.
Episode 2 · Grenobloise-Style Salmon with Glazed Turnip BallsA2 · 4:31This episode demonstrates preparing salmon in the classic Grenobloise style, featuring a tangy butter-caper-lemon sauce and glazed turnip balls. It covers unilateral pan-searing technique and how the sauce enhances the fish's flavor.
Simsala Grimm tales
Episode 1 · Pinocchio's Enchanted AdventureA2 · 5:09Geppetto, an elderly woodcarver, longs for a son; the Blue Fairy grants his wish by bringing his wooden puppet Pinocchio to life. Pinocchio dreams of becoming a real boy and begins learning manners, dressing like other children, and preparing to attend school.
Episode 2 · Pinocchio and the Field of MiraclesA2 · 4:55Pinocchio naively believes a fox and a blind cat who claim that planting coins in a 'Field of Miracles' will grow a money tree—only to be tricked and robbed while he sleeps.
Episode 3 · Pinocchio: The Living Puppet's Quest to Become a Real BoyA2 · 5:10Pinocchio, a living wooden puppet, longs to become a real boy but loses his father's money and gets captured by a puppeteer. With help from the Blue Fairy and a talking cricket, he escapes and sets out to return home to his worried father.
Episode 4 · Pinocchio and the Island of DonkeysA2 · 5:08Pinocchio, transformed into a donkey for neglecting his responsibilities and indulging in endless play, joins friends on the enchanted Island of Donkeys, where they must resist temptation and build a raft to escape.
Episode 5 · Pinocchio's Transformation and RescueA2 · 5:03Pinocchio overcomes temptation, regains his human form, rescues his father from danger, and is ultimately transformed into a real boy—celebrating courage, loyalty, and love.
A banquet for ghosts
Episode 1 · Ludwig II's Hallucinations and the Question of MadnessB2 · 5:06This episode examines Bavarian King Ludwig II's mental health, the controversial 1886 medical diagnosis of paranoia (made without examining him), and whether his deposition stemmed from genuine illness or political and financial concerns over his extravagant building projects and patronage of Wagner.
Episode 2 · Ludwig II's Hallucinations and Fantasy WorldsB2 · 5:10This episode explores how Bavarian King Ludwig II withdrew from public life into fantasy worlds, building extravagant palaces like Neuschwanstein and Linderhof, obsessing over Louis XIV and Wagnerian heroes, and developing delusions, hallucinations, and increasingly erratic behavior.
Episode 3 · Ludwig II's Hallucinations and the Bavarian Royal CrisisB2 · 5:11This episode explores the 1886 deposition of Bavarian King Ludwig II, focusing on his escalating debts, reclusive behavior, reported hallucinations and delusions, the rushed medical evaluation conducted without his consent, his confinement at Neuschwanstein, forced transfer to Berg Castle, and the mysterious deaths of both the deposed king and his physician in Lake Starnberg.
Episode 4 · The Mental Enigma of King Ludwig IIB2 · 5:10This episode examines the possible psychiatric and neurological conditions affecting Bavarian King Ludwig II, reviewing historical diagnoses like paranoia and modern hypotheses including schizophrenia, paraphrenia, meningitis-related brain damage, and frontotemporal degeneration.
Statistics explained to my cat
Episode 1 · The random variable in the atticB2 · 4:25Albert the animated cat explores statistics: La variable aléatoire du grenier.
Episode 2 · Chocolate, correlation and cat whiskersB2 · 4:50Albert the animated cat explores statistics: Chocolat, corrélation et moustache de chat.
Episode 3 · Why casinos win: the law of large numbersB2 · 6:03Albert the animated cat explores statistics: Pourquoi vous perdez au casino : rencontre avec la loi des grands nombres.
Episode 4 · How do random variables combine?B2 · 6:06Albert the animated cat explores statistics: Comment les variables aléatoires font-elles des bébés ?
Episode 5 · Chocolate spread and continuous variablesB2 · 5:50Albert the animated cat explores statistics: Pâte à tartiner et variable continue.
Episode 6 · Why is your salary below the average?B2 · 6:45Albert the animated cat explores statistics: Pourquoi gagnez-vous moins que le salaire moyen ?
Episode 7 · The central limit theoremB2 · 6:04Albert the animated cat explores statistics: Le théorème central limite.
Episode 8 · The Monty Hall problemB2 · 7:01Albert the animated cat explores statistics: Coup de foudre avec Monty Hall.
Episode 9 · What is a p-value?B2 · 9:06Albert the animated cat explores statistics: P-valeur ou je fais un malheur !
Episode 10 · The mathematics of wealth distributionB2 · 10:35Albert the animated cat explores statistics: Combien les pauvres devraient laisser aux riches ?
Draw me somewhere else
Learn piano basics
Walking Quebec with a vlogger
Episode 1 · Walking Around Downtown MontrealB1 · 1:28A vlogger walks through downtown Montreal, pointing out landmarks including Place Ville-Marie, McGill University on the mountainside, and the Mount Royal Cross, while sharing light personal observations and plans to meet a French teacher friend.
Episode 2 · Riding Montreal's New REM TrainB1 · 1:43A vlogger explores Montreal's new automated commuter train, the REM, with a friend and her American students, taking a round-trip ride between Montreal and Brossard while enjoying scenic views and the train's quiet, comfortable ride.
Episode 3 · Walking Through Montreal's Mile-End NeighborhoodB1 · 2:24A vlogger explores Montreal's vibrant, cosmopolitan Mile-End neighborhood, pointing out streets like Bernard and Park Avenue, highlighting the English-language comics bookstore Drawn & Quarterly, and noting the area's multicultural atmosphere and nearby neighborhoods like Outremont.
Episode 4 · Strolling through Montreal's Latin QuarterB1 · 2:12A vlogger walks along Saint-Denis and Sherbrooke Streets in Montreal, exploring the Latin Quarter’s boutiques, cafés, summer pedestrian zones, and historic architecture—including the preserved façade of UQAM’s heritage building.
Episode 5 · Saint-Laurent Boulevard in MontrealB1 · 2:54A vlogger walks along Montreal's Saint-Laurent Boulevard, showcasing African and Portuguese shops, a budget-friendly grocery store with dried cod, bulk food options, and iconic smoked meat delis like Schwartz and The Main.
Episode 6 · Walking Down Wellington Street in VerdunB1 · 1:35A vlogger walks along Wellington Street, the main commercial artery of Verdun—a neighborhood in southwestern Montreal—showcasing cafés, seafood restaurants, microbreweries, boutiques, street performers, and distinctive covered balconies. The street becomes pedestrian-only in summer.
Episode 7 · Montreal's Plateau Library and Cultural CenterB1 · 1:10A vlogger tours Montreal's Plateau Library and Cultural Center, showing the entrance, bookshelves, lending desk, children's section, exhibition spaces, and restroom locations.
Episode 8 · Hopping on the Montreal metroB1 · 1:41Rushing for the metro while explaining the Quebec phrase “sauter dans le métro”.
Episode 9 · Montreal's Fairmount BagelsB1 · 1:35A vlogger explores Montreal's iconic Fairmount Bagel shop, explaining its century-old history, traditional wood-fired baking process, and various ways to enjoy the fresh bagels—plain, with butter, cream cheese, or savory spreads.
Episode 10 · Wilensky's Restaurant in MontrealB1 · 1:36A vlogger tours the historic Wilensky's restaurant in Montreal's Mile-End neighborhood, highlighting its unchanged decor for nearly 90 years, iconic bologna-and-mustard sandwich, and local cultural significance.
Episode 11 · Montreal's Most Affordable Grocery StoreB1 · 2:30A vlogger tours Segal grocery store on Boulevard Saint-Laurent in Montreal, highlighting its affordable fruits and vegetables, Portuguese salted cod, budget-friendly vegetarian staples, natural beauty products, and organic goods.
Episode 12 · Montreal's Christmas MarketB1 · 1:54A vlogger explores Montreal's Christmas market, showcasing local Quebec specialties like maple taffy on snow, German-style wooden stalls, churros, and festive warming features—all while sharing cultural notes and personal memories.
Episode 13 · Pâté chinois in DrummondvilleB1 · 2:02A home cook makes classic Quebec pâté chinois in Drummondville: beef, corn and mashed potatoes, step by step.
Episode 14 · Cheese at the Drummondville marketB1 · 1:30A walk through the cheese stalls at Drummondville’s public market, tasting local specialties.
Episode 15 · A Typical Quebec Breakfast ExperienceB1 · 2:10This episode explores a typical Quebec breakfast restaurant, highlighting its authentic decor, classic tableware (like welcome napkins and coffee warmers), and traditional dishes including mirror eggs, brown toast, bacon, sausages, ham, home fries, and unlimited hot milk for coffee.
Episode 16 · Quebec French in a Shopping Mall Parking LotB1 · 2:36This episode explores informal Quebec French pronunciation and vocabulary, contrasting 'parking' (colloquial) with 'stationnement' (standard), while showcasing Chinese electric cars in a shopping mall parking lot.
Episode 17 · An Underground Passage with MirrorsB1 · 3:14A vlogger explores a striking underground passage in Quebec City that connects two shopping complexes—SKP and the Magic Cube—featuring mirrored walls, natural light by day, and dazzling illumination at night.
Episode 18 · Hockey in DrummondvilleB1 · 1:32A vlogger tours an outdoor hockey rink in Drummondville, Quebec, introducing the sport as Canada's national pastime, explaining equipment like skates and sticks, and demonstrating basic gameplay—including goals and the goalie's role.
Episode 19 · Montreal's Central Train StationB1 · 2:16A vlogger waits for a delayed train at Montreal's central station and comments on the limited food options available on a Sunday evening—mostly just a convenience store and McDonald's.
Episode 20 · Strolling Down Duluth Street in MontrealB1 · 1:20A walk on Duluth Street in Montreal, and the local name for a warm spell in autumn.
Episode 21 · An old tavern on Rachel StreetB1 · 1:23At the corner of Rachel and Saint-Urbain, a look at an old Montreal tavern and its outdoor seats.
Episode 22 · Winter Blooms in Quebec CityB1 · 2:27A vlogger walks through a Quebec City neighborhood, marveling at unexpected winter blooms—including white flowers, red cabbage, and banana-like trees—despite the season, and shares casual observations about local sights and upcoming plans.
Episode 23 · A rock bar on Sainte-CatherineB1 · 1:40On Sainte-Catherine Street, a look at a long-running Montreal venue for live rock shows.
Episode 24 · Giant Dominoes in Montreal's Phillips SquareB1 · 1:27A vlogger explores Montreal's Phillips Square, showcasing giant dominoes falling in fun sequence, pointing out historic Hudson's Bay Company building, recent square renovations, and festive Christmas reindeer decorations.
Episode 25 · Walking Around the Université de Montréal CampusB1 · 2:11A vlogger tours the Université de Montréal campus, pointing out key buildings—including those for sciences, psychology, languages, engineering (Polytechnique), and business (HEC)—and notes damage from a recent ice storm.
Episode 26 · Breakfast at a Quebec City DinerB1 · 1:33A vlogger enjoys a hearty breakfast at Cora, a popular Quebec breakfast chain, showcasing dishes like eggs Benedict and home fries while describing the restaurant's fresh fruit offerings and its place in local food culture.
Episode 27 · Montreal's Hidden Gourmet Salad RestaurantB1 · 1:37A vlogger explores Mandy's, a charming hidden-gourmet salad restaurant in Montreal tucked behind a clothing and lifestyle boutique. The episode highlights its unique discovery experience, delicious artisanal salads, and current availability in local health food stores and its Laurier Street terrace.
Episode 28 · Exploring Montreal's Underground Shopping GalleriesB1 · 2:19A vlogger tours the Parc Underground Galleries in Montreal, explaining how this subterranean shopping complex connects residential towers and houses supermarkets, restaurants, a repertory cinema, a liquor store, a post office, and gyms—offering sheltered access year-round, especially in winter.
Episode 29 · Grocery Shopping in QuebecB1 · 1:36This episode explores how people in Quebec say 'go grocery shopping'—using the phrase 'faire l'épicerie' instead of 'faire les courses'. It explains the etymology of 'épicerie' (from 'épice', meaning spice) and covers related vocabulary like 'panier d'épicerie' and 'sac d'épicerie'.
Episode 30 · A Corner Store in Saint-Jean, QuebecB1 · 1:27A vlogger tours a classic Quebec corner store in Saint-Jean, highlighting its traditional layout, quirky name ('Les Quatre As'), ice machine, snacks, sandwiches, local newspaper, and signage—including no-smoking rules.
Episode 31 · Boiling Corn the Quebec WayB1 · 1:38A vlogger demonstrates how to boil and peel corn (maïs/blé d'inde) in Quebec, explains the local term 'épluchette', shares shopping tips from Drummondville's public market, and notes pricing trends like '14 for a dozen'.
Episode 32 · Drummondville's Reuse Store: A Treasure Hunt for Books and FurnitureB1 · 2:15A vlogger tours a community reuse store in Drummondville, showcasing affordable secondhand books, furniture, kitchenware, toys, and appliances, while explaining its eco-friendly and budget-conscious mission.
A vlogger's trip around Africa
Episode 1 · Hydration Tips for Hot ClimatesB1 · 6:10A vlogger shares practical hydration advice for traveling in hot climates, explaining why drinking only water can strain the kidneys and how adding sugar or choosing juice/soda helps the body retain fluids longer.
Episode 2 · Crossing the Moroccan Desert on a Road TripB1 · 6:06A vlogger continues their road trip across Morocco, hitchhiking from Sidi Ifni toward Ouarzazate and Agadir. They share encounters with locals, describe food purchases (like a 10-kg watermelon for 9 dirhams), note climate shifts over short distances, and recount practical travel choices—staying in budget hostels, managing filming gear, and adapting to rain.
Episode 3 · Crossing the Sahara DesertB1 · 5:02A vlogger travels south through Morocco by hitchhiking, describing the intense heat, a dried-up riverbed (Oued Ziz), cloudy skies, and scenic valleys on the way to Merzouga in the Sahara Desert.
Episode 4 · Arriving in Merzouga: Gateway to the SaharaB1 · 5:33The vlogger arrives in Merzouga, Morocco—the long-awaited destination of his two-week journey—and sets up camp near the edge of the Sahara Desert. He reflects on local children, his limited funds, and plans to ride a camel into the dunes the next day.
Episode 5 · Hiking the Sahara DesertB1 · 5:05A vlogger meets camel herders in the Sahara, leaves his belongings with them, and sets off on a sandy hike up dunes with only water and a t-shirt.
Episode 6 · The Sahara Desert, Part TwoB1 · 4:34A vlogger hikes across the Sahara Desert, describing the deep, shifting sand and fatigue under the sun; he then confirms a geography lesson—that Saharan sand can be carried by strong winds all the way to Europe, including Spain.
Episode 7 · Hiking the Sahara Desert: Heat, Sand, and the Dakar Rally RouteB1 · 4:57The vlogger hikes barefoot across Saharan dunes, describing the intense heat, physical exhaustion, and challenges of walking in deep sand. He also shares that Merzouga—where he stands—was part of the historic Dakar Rally route until 2006, linking it to Morocco, Mauritania, and Senegal.
Episode 8 · Welcome to Abidjan: A Vibrant First Impression of Ivory Coast's CapitalB1 · 7:38This episode captures a vlogger's first impressions of Abidjan, Ivory Coast’s bustling capital—highlighting its energetic streets, vibrant markets, warm hospitality, cultural warmth (like being called 'brother' or 'auntie'), urban contrasts, and everyday life in a dynamic West African metropolis.
Episode 9 · Discovering Guinea: Culture, Geography, and LanguagesB1 · 5:48This episode introduces Guinea's location in West Africa, its four natural regions (Maritime, Middle, Upper, and Forested Guinea), the capital Conakry, the predominance of Islam alongside religious openness, French as the official language, and basic phrases in Susu—the most widely spoken local language.
Episode 10 · Discovering Guinea: Football, Food, and CultureB1 · 5:38This episode explores everyday Soussou words for 'yes' and 'no', Guinea's national passion for football played everywhere, the smoked catfish dish 'konkwe touregeli', and the country's stunning beaches, mountains, forests, and warm hospitality.
Episode 11 · A Neighborhood Walk in ConakryB1 · 4:42The vlogger tours his host family's inner courtyard in Conakry, Guinea, showcasing local life: a unique rose-scented wild fruit, street vendors, and ingenious barbecues made from repurposed car wheels.
Episode 12 · Life in Conakry: Cars, Street Food, and Plastic Water SachetsB1 · 4:23This episode explores everyday life in Conakry, Guinea: rows of decades-old European cars imported for resale, spicy street food like pepper cakes, lush ancient trees surviving urbanization, and the widespread use of single-serving plastic water sachets—with a demonstration of how locals drink from them.
Episode 13 · Water Sachets and Traditional Dance in ConakryB1 · 4:36This episode explores the practical and environmental reasons behind the widespread use of plastic water sachets in Guinea—less plastic, factory-sealed safety, and single-use convenience—then shifts to a joyful encounter with Guinean youth performing traditional dance in October Garden, a peaceful urban park in Conakry.
Episode 14 · The Hidden Treasure of Kassa, GuineaB1 · 4:20A travel vlogger hides a small box filled with symbolic objects from around the world—Sweden, Thailand, Ivory Coast, Belgium, and Poland—on Kassa Island in Guinea, continuing his 'hidden treasure' series that connects places and cultures through meaningful mementos.
Episode 15 · Hiding a Treasure in Kassa, GuineaB1 · 4:09A vlogger hides a treasure box under a small mango tree in the Sowro quarries near Kassa, Guinea, shares its GPS coordinates, and invites travelers who find it to contact him and share their story.
A vlogger's trip around China
Episode 1 · Why I Live in ChinaB1 · 1:41A vlogger explains why she lives in China: she and her partner enjoy long-term living abroad as a form of slow travel, and they previously lived in Shanghai (2003–2006) and loved it—so when her partner received a job offer from Ubisoft’s Chengdu or Shanghai studio, they decided to return.
Episode 2 · Rush Hour Traffic in ChinaB1 · 2:04A vlogger documents rush hour traffic in a Chinese city, highlighting the prevalence of electric vehicles—including buses and motorcycles—and the speed and convenience of ride-hailing services like Didi.
Episode 3 · A Stunning Bookstore in ShanghaiB1 · 4:13The vlogger explores Zhongshuge bookstore in Shanghai, highlighting its mirrored vaulted ceilings, serene reading areas, and the welcoming policy that allows customers to sit and read books without purchasing them.
Episode 4 · Strolling Through Yu Garden in ShanghaiB1 · 4:52A vlogger explores the historic Yu Garden district in Shanghai, pointing out traditional Chinese architecture, a staircase bridge meant to ward off evil spirits, a teahouse, xiaolongbao dumplings, souvenir shops, and nearby skyscrapers like the Shanghai Tower.
Episode 5 · Strolling Through Xintiandi, ShanghaiB1 · 3:33A vlogger explores Shanghai's Xintiandi district, highlighting its historic stone-and-brick shikumen architecture transformed into a lively area of restaurants, bars, and boutiques. The episode showcases quiet alleyways, bustling main streets, and the vibrant atmosphere of a trendy urban neighborhood.
Episode 6 · Strolling Through Kuanzhai Alley in ChengduB1 · 2:54A vlogger explores Kuanzhai Alley in Chengdu, a historic tourist district with reconstructed traditional streets, bamboo walls, ginkgo trees, tiled roofs, and local shops selling panda-themed goods and tea.
Episode 7 · Chongqing's Vertigo-Inducing Skyline and Staircase CityB1 · 3:25A vlogger explores a famous tourist viewpoint in Chongqing, highlighting the city's dramatic multi-level architecture—where ground floors and 22nd floors coexist on steep slopes—and shares natural French expressions and pronunciation observations from the experience.
Episode 8 · Bicycles and a Car on the Sidewalk in ChengduB1 · 2:24A vlogger observes numerous bicycles parked on a Chengdu sidewalk—and even a car parked within a designated bike zone—using the scene to highlight everyday Quebec French expressions like 'char' (car), 'parqué' (parked), and the pronunciation of 'sur le trottoir'.
Episode 9 · Strolling Through Jinli Ancient Street in ChengduB1 · 1:39A vlogger explores Jinli Ancient Street in Chengdu, highlighting its 2,000-year history, traditional architecture, red lanterns, street performances, local food, and nostalgic atmosphere while reflecting on her past time living in Shanghai.
Episode 10 · Sichuan Hot Pot in ChengduB1 · 1:45This episode explores the famous Sichuan hot pot in Chengdu, describing its spicy broth, signature ingredients like Sichuan peppercorns that numb the mouth, and the lively, euphoric dining experience—even bringing tears to the eyes.
Episode 11 · A Cat Café in ChengduB1 · 6:17A vlogger visits a cat café in downtown Chengdu, introducing the many cats—including long-haired ones with blue eyes—as well as a real alpaca, snacks, drinks, and the 40-yuan entry fee.
Episode 12 · A Supermarket in ChengduB1 · 5:04The vlogger takes viewers through a large supermarket in Chengdu, highlighting fresh fruits and vegetables, unrefrigerated eggs and meat, seafood, and everyday items like tableware, cosmetics, clothing, toys, and stationery.
Episode 13 · A Traditional Tea House Experience in ChengduB1 · 2:47The vlogger visits a traditional tea house in Chengdu, explaining the gong fu cha ceremony, tea utensils, and local Sichuan snacks like sesame balls and spicy chips.
Episode 14 · A Christmas Market in ChengduB1 · 4:08A vlogger explores a Christmas market organized by a community center for foreigners in Chengdu's Tongxinli neighborhood, featuring handmade crafts, mulled wine, live music, and festive activities.
French songs to sing along
Episode 1 · I'm Still HereB1 · 5:00A resilient French song about enduring loneliness, pain, and doubt while finding one's path and affirming inner strength and presence despite hardship.
Episode 2 · Solitude Does Not Cry OutB1 · 7:25This episode features a French song that poetically explores solitude—not as mere emptiness, but as a quiet, pervasive presence that shapes our inner lives, relationships, and sense of self, even amid company or routine.
Episode 3 · A Table for Two on Montorgueil StreetB1 · 4:38A joyful French song portraying the tender, hopeful, and slightly whimsical feeling of waiting for a loved one at a café table on Paris's Montorgueil Street.
Episode 4 · Love's DrumbeatB1 · 3:55A vibrant French song blending ska and reggae rhythms, celebrating love, freedom, and the electric energy of city nights under the stars.
Episode 5 · Goodbye, My FriendB1 · 2:33A lyrical French song expressing deep nostalgia, enduring love, and tender farewell to a cherished friend who is no longer present.
Episode 6 · You and MeB1 · 3:21A heartfelt French love song expressing deep, ineffable affection and eternal devotion—words fall short, so the heart speaks instead.
Episode 7 · Long-Distance Love SongB1 · 3:32A French lyrical song expressing longing, patience, and devotion in a long-distance relationship—featuring tender reflections on messages, photos, scent memories, and the hope of reunion.
Episode 8 · Secret LoveB1 · 3:57A French song about secret romantic feelings in the workplace: smiling, chatting, sharing weekend plans, noticing small moments like walking in the rain or borrowing a jacket—but holding back the confession out of fear of ruining friendship.
A look at French jobs
Episode 1 · The Job of a Pallet SorterA2 · 5:12This episode explores the role of a pallet sorter in a wood pallet reconditioning company, covering daily tasks such as inspecting, categorizing by size and condition, directing pallets to repair or stacking, safety measures, required skills, career progression, and the ecological value of the work.
Episode 2 · Aircraft Cabin MechanicA2 · 4:00This episode introduces the role of an aircraft cabin mechanic, covering daily responsibilities like repairing and maintaining cabin interiors, essential skills such as rigor and anticipation, career progression to team leader, and contributions to sustainability through lightweight seating and paperless operations.
Episode 3 · A Day in the Life of an Aerospace TechnicianA2 · 3:24This episode introduces the role of an aerospace technician, covering aircraft troubleshooting, preventive maintenance, engine and landing gear replacement, flight control systems, and engine testing. It also discusses training pathways, career progression, digital transformation, sustainability efforts, and increasing gender diversity in the field.
Episode 4 · A Day in the Life of an Air Freight Logistics SupervisorA2 · 3:32Jacky, an air freight logistics supervisor, explains his daily responsibilities: preparing international shipments, coordinating with freight forwarders and airlines, managing import/export teams and warehouse staff, ensuring compliance with strict aviation cargo regulations, and promoting sustainability practices.
Episode 5 · Apprentice Aircraft MechanicA2 · 3:11Léa, a 19-year-old apprentice aircraft mechanic, shares her daily work repairing aircraft systems (wheels, hydraulics, engines), alternating between classroom theory and hands-on training in hangars, and reflects on teamwork, professional rigor, and her experience as a woman in this demanding technical field.
Episode 6 · A Day in the Life of a DishwasherA2 · 2:51Alain, a dishwasher in western France, describes his daily routine, team-based workflow, hygiene responsibilities, and commitment to working weekends and holidays.
Public servants on their jobs
Episode 1 · A Day in the Life of a Hydrometric TechnicianB1 · 4:29This episode introduces Manon, a hydrometric technician who monitors river levels and flow rates in real time, maintains measurement equipment, conducts field surveys, and provides essential data for flood forecasting (Vigicrues), drought management, and environmental protection.
Episode 2 · The Work of a Hydrometry TechnicianB1 · 4:44This episode explores the role of a hydrometry technician: collecting real-time river data, supporting flood forecasting, coordinating emergency responses (like road closures and bridge reinforcement), and ensuring public safety during extreme weather events.
Episode 3 · A Day in the Life of a Hydrometry TechnicianB1 · 4:22This episode features Manon, a hydrometry technician, who shares her experience taking the TSPDD civil service exam, her onboarding and ongoing training, diverse daily tasks—from office work to field maintenance—and what she finds most rewarding about serving the public through water resource management.
Episode 4 · A Day in the Life of a Hydrometry TechnicianB1 · 4:30This episode features French public servants working as hydrometry technicians, covering their daily balance between office-based data validation (e.g., 2025 hydrological data) and fieldwork, regional responsibilities aligned with river basins rather than administrative borders, and career pathways—including required qualifications, internal promotion options, and evolving technical demands.
Episode 5 · School Cleaner and Catering AssistantB1 · 5:41A public servant shares his daily routine as a cleaner and catering assistant in a high school, including morning cleaning tasks, lunchtime duties in the canteen, ergonomic equipment trials, eco-friendly cleaning products, and why he chose this stable, family-friendly public-sector career.
Episode 6 · A School Cleaner's Daily Work LifeB1 · 5:51This episode features a school cleaner discussing his daily responsibilities, working in a team of six for 1,400 students, salary structure including base pay and bonuses, weekly hours (41.5), annual workload (1,607 hours), and how holidays and on-call 'permanence' days are managed.
Episode 7 · An Automotive Workshop Officer's Daily WorkB1 · 4:45Abdelhafid Mamou, an automotive workshop officer, explains his role maintaining police and gendarmerie vehicles in the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté region, and describes the administrative structure of the Ministry of the Interior’s Eastern General Secretariat (SGAMI).
Episode 8 · Automotive Workshop Supervisor in the French GendarmerieB1 · 4:40A French gendarmerie automotive workshop supervisor describes his career progression—from automotive technician to team leader—explains the workshop's organizational structure, and reflects on the challenges and rewards of transitioning into a managerial role.
Episode 9 · Automotive Workshop Public ServantB1 · 4:46This episode features a public servant from an automotive workshop that maintains police and gendarmerie vehicles. It covers the workshop's structure, team composition (mechanics, body painters, motorcycle technicians, storekeepers, buyers), specialized roles like saddlers who repair uniforms and vehicle interiors, procurement processes, and recruitment opportunities in France's Grand Est region.
Episode 10 · Land Transport Inspector: Ensuring Road Safety and Fair CompetitionB1 · 5:01This episode introduces the role of land transport inspectors in France: monitoring freight and passenger transport operators to ensure road safety, fair competition, and responsible use of public roads. It explains how this specialized public service regulates an economic sector that relies on publicly funded infrastructure and supports over one million jobs.
Episode 11 · Land Transport Inspector: Ensuring Safety, Economy, and EnvironmentB1 · 4:52This episode explores the role of land transport inspectors, who enforce regulations on vehicle safety, weight limits, braking systems, environmental compliance (e.g., anti-pollution fraud), tachograph data, cargo safety, passenger transport standards, and animal welfare during transit.
Episode 12 · Road Transport InspectorB1 · 5:09This episode follows a French road transport inspector who explains how they inspect foreign trucks, enforce regulations, issue fines or deposits, immobilize vehicles for safety issues (e.g., braking, anti-pollution tampering), and coordinate repairs or specialized investigations with garages. It also covers risk-based targeting of vehicles and the balance between enforcement and proportionality.
Episode 13 · Road Transport InspectorB1 · 4:55This episode explores the role of a road transport inspector, covering key skills like decision-making, discernment, teamwork, and curiosity, as well as collaboration with police, customs, and veterinary services. It also explains how to enter the profession via a public service exam.
Episode 14 · A Day in the Life of a Land Transport InspectorB1 · 4:59This episode explores the daily work of a land transport inspector, balancing field inspections with complex administrative tasks like drafting legal procedures and reports. It also covers career progression, internal exams, and training roles—both as trainee and trainer.
Episode 15 · Collective Catering ManagerB1 · 4:28This episode features Noël Bigonzoli, a collective catering manager at a public high school in Thionville, who explains his daily responsibilities, team structure (including kitchen staff and cleaning personnel), and the various vocational roles in public-sector catering across the Grand Est region.
Episode 16 · Public Servant in Collective CateringB1 · 4:24A public servant in collective catering for the Grand Est region shares her career path—from gourmet training to civil service—and explains how school meals address educational goals, public health, social inclusion, and ecological transition through local sourcing and quality standards.
Episode 17 · Catering Manager in Public ServiceB1 · 4:24This episode features a public-sector catering manager explaining her role: sourcing local and certified-quality ingredients, working in teams, welcoming guests directly, managing staff absences and supply issues, and balancing work-life thanks to stable public-sector hours.
Episode 18 · Catering Manager in Public ServiceB1 · 4:33This episode features a public-sector catering manager discussing regional policies on local and organic food procurement, team structure and responsibilities, career progression opportunities (including internal promotions and training), and the work-life balance advantages of public service compared to gastronomic restaurants.
Episode 19 · Road Project ManagerB1 · 5:24This episode features Étienne, a road operation manager at the DREAL Grand Est, explaining his role in overseeing infrastructure projects—not on-site construction, but as a coordinator who ensures technical, financial, environmental, and social coherence across studies, stakeholders, and regulatory procedures.
Episode 20 · Road Operations ManagerB1 · 5:27A newly graduated engineer discusses her role as a road operations manager, explaining the diverse skills required, how to enter this civil service position (through external or internal exams), possible career progressions, and what she finds most rewarding in her daily work.
Episode 21 · Road Operations ManagerB1 · 5:14A French road operations manager explains their professional background, recruitment pathways (including civil service exams and contract positions), daily responsibilities, regional project management across sectors from Nancy to the Luxembourg border, and how to apply for public sector jobs in ecological transition ministries.
Episode 22 · Road Operations ManagerB1 · 5:32This episode features a road operations manager from France's Ministry of Transport, explaining their responsibilities, the variety of technical and support roles within the ministry, career mobility across domains, recruitment practices—including pre-application contact—and onboarding training opportunities.
Episode 23 · Consumer and Competition Inspector at DGCCRFB1 · 5:20A French inspector from the DGCCRF explains their role in monitoring business practices to protect consumers and ensure fair competition, covering on-site and online inspections, document analysis, investigative powers, and enforcement ranging from advisory warnings to judicial proceedings.
Episode 24 · Consumer Protection Inspector: Ensuring Truth and Fairness in the MarketplaceB1 · 5:26This episode features a French inspector from the DGCCRF explaining their work: verifying product claims (e.g., 'organic' or 'made in France'), monitoring food labeling and origin fraud, ensuring safety of toys, electronics, and cosmetics, and investigating anti-competitive practices between businesses.
Episode 25 · A French Competition and Consumer Protection Inspector's WorkB1 · 5:20This episode covers the work of a French inspector from the Directorate General for Competition, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control (DGCCRF), including monitoring fair pricing negotiations, payment delays between businesses, agricultural remuneration, medical gift bans, anti-money laundering, and how inspectors specialize in complex regulatory areas.
Episode 26 · Competition and Consumer Protection InspectorB1 · 5:22This episode explains the recruitment process for inspectors at France's Competition, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control Authority, including entry pathways (scientific or economic/legal), one-year paid training at the national school in Montpellier, continuous professional development, and career progression options such as sector changes, specialized roles like 'pilotage', and managerial positions.
Episode 27 · The Administrative Backbone of France's Education SystemB1 · 5:11This episode features Sophie Dessaint, a General Secretary for a Local Public Educational Establishment, who explains her vital administrative role in ensuring smooth school operations—from facilities and staffing to finance and HR—and shares her 25-year career progression from educator to senior cadre within France’s national education system.
Episode 28 · A Day in the Life of a Public School General SecretaryB1 · 5:10This episode features a public school general secretary explaining her multifaceted role: managing administrative and technical teams, ensuring procedural security, supporting financial oversight, and balancing strategic leadership with hands-on execution. She highlights adaptability, prioritization, analytical thinking, and calm decision-making as essential skills—and emphasizes how this behind-the-scenes role is vital to the entire institution’s functioning.
Episode 29 · A School Administrative Director's Career JourneyB1 · 5:04A local public education institution's general secretary shares her career path—from Category C to senior leadership—emphasizing empathy, self-driven learning, and the essential role of administrative staff in supporting schools and youth.
Episode 30 · Career Path to Becoming a School Administrative DirectorB1 · 5:12This episode explores the role of a School Administrative Director (Secrétaire Général) in French public education: how teachers transition into the role, the onboarding and ongoing training support available, pathways for candidates with vocational diplomas (e.g., BTS in accounting), and contract-based entry into the civil service.
Episode 31 · Managing University Real Estate HeritageB1 · 5:30This episode features two public servants at the University of Strasbourg: one oversees technical maintenance, energy efficiency, and facility operations across 150 buildings and 100 hectares; the other leads real estate project management, long-term heritage strategy, and asset data systems. They explain how their roles support teaching, research, and campus life.
Episode 32 · Managing University Real Estate in StrasbourgB1 · 5:15This episode explores how the University of Strasbourg's real estate department manages, renovates, and operates its diverse campus buildings—from 1960s structures to new passive-energy research and sports facilities—emphasizing energy efficiency, heritage conservation, technical infrastructure, and cross-sector collaboration with internal teams and external partners.
Episode 33 · Real Estate Asset Management in UniversitiesB1 · 5:24This episode explores the role of real estate asset managers in universities, covering the full lifecycle of buildings—from initial planning and construction to long-term operation and maintenance—emphasizing public service, technical expertise, teamwork, and continuous improvement.
Episode 34 · Public Health and Social InspectorB1 · 5:11This episode features a French public health and social inspector explaining their role in inspecting and evaluating social and healthcare services, ensuring regulatory compliance and safeguarding vulnerable populations.
Episode 35 · A Social and Health Inspector's Daily ResponsibilitiesB1 · 5:02This episode follows a French social and health inspector who oversees vacation stays for adults with disabilities, coordinates with fire services, health agencies, and regional authorities, and develops inspection tools, risk analyses, and guidance to protect vulnerable users while supporting departmental teams.
Episode 36 · Career Path of a Public Health Inspector in FranceB1 · 5:19This episode details the role of a French Inspector of Health and Social Action (IAS), covering their responsibilities in integration, disability policy, hospital finance, career progression (including promotion to 'hors classe'), mandatory training at EHEESP in Rennes, recruitment via annual competitive exam, and the diverse professional backgrounds of IAS officers.
Episode 37 · Career Path of a Social and Health InspectorB1 · 4:56This episode features an inspector from France's social and health inspection body, explaining their mission—fighting poverty, ensuring healthcare access for vulnerable people—and detailing the recruitment process, including external and internal competitive exams, written and oral tests, and practical advice for candidates.
Episode 38 · Inside University Academic AdministrationB1 · 5:32This episode explores the roles of academic administrators in French universities, covering student administrative and pedagogical support, timetable and exam organization, communication with students and faculty, digital and in-person outreach, logistics, event planning, and accommodations for students with disabilities.
Episode 39 · Working as an Academic Administrator at a UniversityB1 · 5:40This episode explores the role of an academic administrator at the University of Strasbourg, covering team management, fostering a supportive work environment, organizing professional training (including legal and technical updates), and managing high-pressure annual cycles like student admissions.
Episode 40 · University Academic Administration Officers at WorkB1 · 5:39Two university academic administration officers describe their daily responsibilities, teamwork, adaptability requirements, and career paths—including transitioning from external education roles to civil service positions.
Episode 41 · University Academic Affairs ManagerB1 · 5:36This episode explores how to become a university academic affairs manager in France, covering recruitment paths (competitive exams, fixed-term or permanent contracts), career progression within civil service categories B and C, language requirements, and essential professional qualities like adaptability and rigor.
Episode 42 · Head of Multimedia ServicesB1 · 4:42This episode features Chantal Burlebrault, Head of Multimedia Services at the Grand Est Regional Authority, who explains the region's administrative structure, geographic scope, and her professional journey—from information management studies to leadership roles in communication and digital information.
Episode 43 · Multimedia Service Manager's Daily ResponsibilitiesB1 · 4:54This episode features a multimedia service manager explaining how they lead a diverse team of graphic designers, community managers, photographers, and videographers to produce and distribute regional government content across websites and social media—including videos, flyers, and information campaigns targeting residents, students, families, and businesses.
Episode 44 · Multimedia Service Manager at the Grand Est RegionB1 · 4:49This episode features a multimedia service manager from the Grand Est regional government, describing their responsibilities: leading a team, managing budgets, producing photos and videos, maintaining a media library, organizing photo sessions for elected officials, drafting public procurement specifications, and representing the region at fairs and open days.
Episode 45 · Multimedia Department Head: A Public Service CareerB1 · 4:55This episode features a French regional public servant who heads the Multimedia Department, discussing team leadership, managing teams outside her original expertise (e.g., graphic design and video), and practical, cautious use of AI tools for writing and communication—within a broader context of public service roles in documentation, vendor coordination, and cross-domain projects.
Ancient mysteries, checked
Episode 1 · Pyramid complex structureB1 · 4:20Describes the full funerary complex surrounding Old Kingdom pyramids, including the valley temple, mortuary temple, causeway, satellite pyramid, and boat pits.
Episode 2 · Inscriptions linking the pyramid to KhufuB1 · 4:15Presents inscriptions bearing Khufu’s name found in the pyramid’s relieving chambers and at the Red Sea port of Wadi el-Jarf, along with dated papyri from workers’ logs.
Episode 3 · Radiocarbon and luminescence dating resultsB1 · 4:05Reports radiocarbon dating of charcoal in gypsum mortar from the Great Pyramid and luminescence dating of stones from Giza temples and pyramids, yielding consistent Old Kingdom dates.
Episode 4 · The unfinished Aswan obelisk controversyB1 · 5:01Challenges the official theory that dolerite balls were used to carve the unfinished Aswan obelisk, citing inconsistent physical evidence—especially 60-cm-deep curved grooves impossible to make with manual horizontal pounding.
Episode 5 · Using natural granite fissures in quarryingB1 · 4:04Explains how ancient Egyptian quarrymen identified natural granite fissures to plan obelisk extraction, then weakened the rock by hammering along those lines with dolerite pounders.
Episode 6 · Evidence of ancient Egyptian fire-settingB1 · 4:05Presents archaeological evidence—calcined clay bricks, charred wood chips, and thermally fractured stone—from the Aswan quarry, supporting the use of fire-setting (heating followed by rapid cooling) to fracture granite efficiently.
Episode 7 · Tool marks on the granite sarcophagusB1 · 4:24Introduces a hidden granite sarcophagus in a museum basement and examines its dense, straight vertical tool marks, questioning which ancient tools could have produced them.
Episode 8 · Cutting granite with sand and copper sawsB1 · 4:25Demonstrates an experimental granite-cutting method using a copper saw, quartz sand, and water—showing that the sand does the cutting while copper merely guides it.
Episode 9 · Eyes painted on ship prowsB1 · 4:08Ancient ships often featured painted eyes on their prows as protective symbols; this practice appears in Mediterranean mosaics, frescoes, and later Vietnamese boat-inauguration rituals.
Episode 10 · Anchors and personal amuletsB1 · 4:05Ancient anchors were decorated with marine motifs or deities, and sailors carried cult objects, divine statuettes, and engraved gemstone amulets—including coral and corundum—for protection at sea.
Classical music mini-lessons
Episode 1 · The Group of Six: Musical Rebels and Lifelong FriendsB1 · 5:44This episode explores the French 'Group of Six'—a circle of six young composers and one composer-pianist who gathered in post-WWI Paris around Erik Satie and Jean Cocteau. It covers their shared ideals (rejecting Wagner and Debussy, embracing jazz and wit), collaborative works like 'L'Album des Six', their famous hangouts like Le Boeuf sur le Toit, and how their deep friendship endured despite diverging artistic paths.
Episode 2 · Introduction to OperaB1 · 5:42This episode explains what opera is, its origins in early 17th-century Italy, its theatrical structure (acts and scenes), key musical elements (overture, recitative, aria), voice types, and famous opera houses like La Scala and Opéra Bastille.
Episode 3 · Jacques Prévert's Poetry and SongsB1 · 5:37This episode explores how French poet Jacques Prévert transformed his poetry into enduring songs, highlighting the inherent musicality of his verses, his collaborations with composers like Joseph Kosma and Henri Crolla, and his socially engaged themes—justice, anti-conformism, and solidarity with marginalized people.
Episode 4 · Music Vocabulary at the Court of Louis XIVB1 · 1:35This episode introduces three major musical-dramatic forms from the court of Louis XIV: ballet (instrumental, dance-focused), comédie-ballet (spoken text with comic themes, often by Molière and Lully), and tragédie lyrique (sung text, serious subjects, dance integrated into the plot).
Episode 5 · Medieval Music: Three Places Where It Was HeardB1 · 3:45This episode explores medieval music through three key settings: Gregorian chant sung by monks in abbeys and churches, troubadours performing for nobles in castles, and traditional folk songs passed down among peasants in village homes.
Episode 6 · Opera and Musical TheaterB1 · 4:04This episode explores the origins, defining features, and key differences between opera and musical theater, covering vocal techniques, spoken vs. sung dialogue, orchestral accompaniment, staging, and the central role of dance in musicals.
Odd buildings
Episode 1 · The Ideal Palace of the Postman ChevalB1 · 1:23This episode introduces the extraordinary Ideal Palace, built over 33 years by French postman Ferdinand Cheval in Hauterive, Drôme. It describes the palace’s imaginative architecture—including temples, waterfalls, animals, and giant statues of historical figures—and Cheval’s later work on his own tomb.
Episode 2 · Robert Tatin Museum: A Sculptural Journey Through Myth and LandscapeB1 · 1:39This episode introduces the Robert Tatin Museum in Cosseul-de-Vivien, Mayenne—a unique outdoor sculpture site where the artist spent 21 years creating original works inspired by Eastern and Western myths, harmoniously integrated into the local landscape.
How elders were seen in the past
Episode 1 · How Ancient Societies Viewed the ElderlyB2 · 5:25This episode explores how elderly people were perceived and treated in ancient Mesopotamia, Egypt, Greece, Rome, and medieval societies—highlighting their roles as knowledge-keepers, advisors, and cultural authorities, while also examining myths about life expectancy and shifting symbolic associations of old age.
Episode 2 · How Elders Were Viewed in Antiquity and the Middle AgesB2 · 5:32This episode explores historical perceptions of elders in ancient Greece (Plato vs. Aristotle), Republican Rome, early Christianity (Biblical views), and medieval Europe—including evolving ideas about wisdom, physical decline, social utility, monastic retirement, and care during epidemics.
Episode 3 · How Elders Were Perceived in the PastB2 · 5:28This episode explores changing European perceptions of elders from the late Middle Ages through the Renaissance and Enlightenment—covering caregiving practices, philosophical views on aging (like Montaigne's), medical interest in longevity, dictionary definitions of 'old age,' gendered attitudes, and evolving artistic and social representations.
Episode 4 · How the Elderly Were Perceived in 19th-Century SocietyB2 · 5:17This episode explores how the elderly were viewed in 19th-century French and Quebec society: as symbols of family success and joy, storytellers by the fireside, and cultural transmitters—while also tracing the evolution of institutions for elder care, from religious hospices to state-supported systems.
Contes et Cookies
Episode 1 · Donkey Skin: A Classic French Fairy TaleA2 · 5:07This episode presents Charles Perrault's classic fairy tale 'Donkey Skin,' recounting a king's solemn vow to remarry only if he finds a princess more beautiful and perfect than his dying queen.
Episode 2 · Donkey Skin — Part 2A2 · 4:57The king becomes obsessed with marrying his daughter, the princess. Horrified, she seeks help from her fairy godmother, who advises her to demand an impossible wedding gift—a dress the color of time—to delay the marriage without openly defying her father.
Episode 3 · Donkey Skin: The Princess's EscapeA2 · 5:29To avoid marrying her father, the princess demands three impossible dresses—of the sky, the moon, and the sun—then asks for the skin of his beloved donkey. When granted, she disguises herself in the hide and soot, flees the palace with magical aid, and begins a journey of exile.
Episode 4 · Donkey Skin Princess's Hidden Life on the FarmA2 · 4:41The Donkey Skin princess finds refuge on a farm, working as a scullery maid by day. By night, she dons her beautiful gowns and admires her own beauty in secret—until the king's son stumbles upon her and falls instantly in love.
Episode 5 · Donkey Skin's CakeA2 · 5:46A prince falls desperately in love with the mysterious Donkey Skin after glimpsing her through a keyhole, and becomes gravely ill from longing. His distraught mother begs him to reveal his desire—and he asks only for a cake baked by Donkey Skin herself.
Episode 6 · The Donkey-Skin Princess and the Emerald RingA2 · 5:37The prince discovers an emerald ring hidden in a cake and becomes obsessed with finding its rightful owner—the girl whose finger it fits. He orders all women in the kingdom to try it on, from princesses to kitchen maids, until only the disguised princess, Peau d'Âne, remains—and she alone slips it on.
Episode 7 · Donkey Skin's Royal WeddingA2 · 4:30This episode concludes the fairy tale of Donkey Skin, as the princess sheds her donkey skin to reveal her true beauty and virtue, leading to her royal wedding with the prince and reconciliation with her father, the king.
Episode 8 · The Golden Bird: A Grimm Fairy TaleA2 · 4:52This episode tells the classic Grimm fairy tale 'The Golden Bird,' in which a young prince stays awake to guard a golden apple tree, shoots an arrow at the golden bird stealing apples, and retrieves a single golden feather.
Episode 9 · The Golden Bird — A Classic Fairy TaleA2 · 5:02This episode presents a classic French fairy tale about three princes seeking the Golden Bird. It highlights the importance of heeding wise advice and resisting temptation, as the youngest prince's disobedience leads to dire consequences.
Episode 10 · The Golden Bird and the Golden HorseA2 · 4:49A prince must find the golden horse and the golden bird to save himself from execution. His loyal fox friend offers wise advice each time, but the prince ignores it—leading to repeated failures and capture.
Episode 11 · The Golden Bird and the FoxA2 · 5:08A prince, aided by a clever fox, fulfills impossible tasks set by a king—moving a mountain, obtaining a golden horse, and finally retrieving the golden bird—while learning lessons about gratitude and caution.
Episode 12 · The Golden Bird — A Classic Fairy TaleA2 · 4:53This episode presents the classic fairy tale 'The Golden Bird,' following a young prince who rescues enchanted creatures, outwits his treacherous brothers, and breaks a spell to reunite with his true love and restore justice.
Episode 13 · The Children of EveA2 · 7:26This episode presents the Grimm brothers' fairy tale 'The Children of Eve,' in which God blesses Eve's children with diverse destinies—kings, peasants, artisans, and laborers—to illustrate how different professions are essential and interdependent for society to function harmoniously.
Episode 14 · For Want of a Nail: A Grimm Brothers TaleA2 · 2:57This episode presents the classic Grimm Brothers fairy tale 'For Want of a Nail', illustrating how neglecting a small detail—a missing horseshoe nail—leads to a cascade of consequences: the horse stumbles, falls, breaks a leg, and the merchant must walk the rest of the way home, arriving late.
Contes et Cookies III
Episode 1 · Nasreddin and the Ten DonkeysA2 · 2:28This episode tells the classic folk tale of Nasreddin, who buys ten donkeys but repeatedly miscounts them—forgetting to include the one he's riding—leading to comical confusion and a witty twist at the end.
Episode 2 · Nasreddine and the Pots and PansA2 · 1:51This episode tells a humorous folktale about Nasreddine: when his son accidentally releases a hare from a sack and replaces it with pots and pans, Nasreddine confidently presents the noisy kitchenware as the 'pots and pans'—turning an error into wit.
Episode 3 · The Tigers and the FoxA2 · 5:59This episode presents a traditional Indian fable about two tigers fighting over a piece of cheese and a clever fox who tricks them into surrendering the entire cheese through false fairness and repeated 'adjustments'. It's a classic tale of wit, deception, and the consequences of greed and poor judgment.
Episode 4 · Nasreddin: BalanceA2 · 1:28This episode presents a classic Nasreddin Hodja folktale in which the wise sage humorously explains that people walking in all directions—rather than all in one direction—keeps the Earth in balance.
Episode 5 · The Hidden TreasureA2 · 1:57This episode tells a Hindu legend about the gods hiding the answers to life's questions. After considering mountains, the earth's center, and the ocean depths, they decide the wisest place is within the human heart—where people would never think to look.
Episode 6 · The Little Match GirlA2 · 4:18This episode presents Hans Christian Andersen's classic fairy tale 'The Little Match Girl,' following a barefoot, impoverished child selling matches on New Year's Eve in freezing cold and snow.
Episode 7 · The Little Match Girl (Part 2)A2 · 3:44The little match girl lights successive matches, imagining a warm table with roast goose, a radiant Christmas tree, and finally her beloved grandmother—who carries her away to a place free of cold, hunger, and sorrow. At dawn, she is found dead in the street, still smiling, holding the burnt remains of her matchbox.
Episode 8 · The Shooting Star and the Spruce TreeA2 · 4:32This poetic fable tells of a delicate edelweiss—called the 'silver star'—who, having been swept down from her mountain home, meets a proud spruce tree and shares reflections on beauty, freedom, wonder, and the richness of a brief, vivid life.
Episode 9 · Tim Tim Bois Sec: A Guadeloupean FolktaleA2 · 3:21This episode presents 'Tim Tim Bois Sec', a traditional folktale from Guadeloupe about a clever monkey and a trusting dog who buy a sausage together—and then quarrel over who carries it. Through playful dialogue and vivid imagery, the story illustrates wit, trickery, and enduring cultural motifs.
Episode 10 · The White Mouse: A 19th-Century Fairy TaleA2 · 6:11This episode presents Égésippe Moreau's 19th-century fairy tale 'The White Mouse,' recounting how the compassionate fairy Angelina—distracted by children's cries and detained by their pleas—is punished by the Fairy Queen for missing a grand feast and transformed into a white mouse.
Episode 11 · Vassilissa the BeautifulA2 · 5:02This episode tells the Russian folk tale 'Vassilissa the Beautiful', about a kind and resilient girl who, guided by a magical doll given by her dying mother, endures cruelty from her stepmother and stepsisters and remains unbroken.
Episode 12 · Vasilissa and Baba YagaA2 · 3:56Vasilissa is sent by her stepmother into the dark forest to ask the witch Baba Yaga for fire. Along the way, she encounters three mysterious riders—white, red, and black—who symbolize dawn, day, and night.
Episode 13 · Baba Yaga's TasksA2 · 4:39Vassilissa arrives at the witch Baba Yaga's house and must complete demanding chores—including sweeping, cleaning, cooking, and sorting a bushel of grain grain-by-grain—to earn fire and avoid being eaten. Her enchanted doll secretly helps her succeed.
Episode 14 · Baba Yaga's Three RidersA2 · 4:25Vassilissa completes tasks for the witch Baba Yaga, encounters three riders symbolizing Day, the Fiery Sun, and Dark Night, and receives a glowing skull to take home—sparking wonder and warmth upon her return.
Episode 15 · Vasilissa and the Magic SkullA2 · 4:48Vasilissa uses a magical, fiery skull to punish her cruel stepmother, then weaves impossibly fine cloth and sews shirts for the tsar—so delicate that only she can handle them—earning his love and becoming queen.
Episode 16 · The Legend of the Polar NightA2 · 4:58This episode tells an Inuit legend about three jealous individuals who try to destroy the sun and moon, ultimately causing the polar night—a six-month period of darkness in the Arctic. It's a traditional folktale exploring themes of harmony, envy, and natural phenomena.
Contes et Cookies II
Episode 1 · Demoiselle Méline: A Grimm Fairy TaleA2 · 5:04This episode presents the Grimm brothers' fairy tale 'Demoiselle Méline', about a princess who refuses to marry against her will, is imprisoned in a sunless tower for seven years, escapes through sheer determination, and discovers her kingdom reduced to ruins.
Episode 2 · The False Bride and the True PrincessA2 · 5:36Méline is forced to impersonate an ugly bride at a royal wedding. Along the way, she speaks mysteriously to nettles, the cemetery, and the church door—each time invoking the name of Princess Mélusine—arousing the prince's suspicion about her true identity.
Episode 3 · The True and False BrideA2 · 5:20This episode tells a fairy tale where a false bride impersonates the true bride to marry the prince, but is exposed when she fails to recall the magical words the real bride spoke to the nettles by the road, the church steps, and the church door.
Episode 4 · The Three ApplesA2 · 4:19This episode presents the Arabic folktale 'The Three Apples' from *One Thousand and One Nights*, recounting Caliph Harun al-Rashid's nocturnal incognito tour of Baghdad, where he compassionately helps a poor fisherman who pulls up a mysterious sealed chest from the Tigris River.
Episode 5 · The Tale of the Three ApplesA2 · 4:13This episode presents a dramatic tale where a young man confesses to murdering a woman and throwing her body into a tiger's den, while an elderly man insists he alone is guilty—leading to a tense confrontation before the caliph.
Episode 6 · The Three WishesA2 · 6:32This episode presents a European folktale about a poor man who, for his selfless nighttime labor building a church, is granted three wishes—and a rich miser who misuses the same gift with disastrous, humorous consequences.
Episode 7 · Ntombi, the Girl of the SeaA2 · 4:35This African folktale tells the story of Ntombi, a baby girl carried away by the sea and found on a foreign shore, where she is protected by Salukazi—a one-legged, powerful sorceress who commands wind and rain.
Episode 8 · Ntombi, the Girl of the SeaA2 · 4:41This episode tells the story of Ntombi, a girl swept away by the sea, raised by the elderly sorceress Salukazi, and guided home by a magical antelope horn—blending myth, transformation, and return.
Episode 9 · An Applewood Fairy TaleA2 · 5:04This episode presents a classic French fairy tale: a count seeks out a forest fairy to bless his newborn son, and she grants the child the two most precious gifts—beauty and cheerfulness. The story unfolds with rich imagery, gentle rhythm, and traditional narrative charm.
Episode 10 · Apple Girl and the Wig FairyA2 · 5:07This episode tells the whimsical story of Pomme d'Api, a radiant and cheerful young girl, who captures the heart of an ancient fairy; the fairy, determined to win her affection, transforms her appearance daily with extravagant wigs, makeup, and jewels.
Episode 11 · Pomme d'Api's Eternal YouthA2 · 5:11This episode tells the story of Pomme d'Api, a young man magically frozen at seventeen, who suffers deeply from his inability to age, form lasting bonds with peers, or escape the vanity and control of the vain Fairy Perruque.
Episode 12 · The Apple Fairy's MagicA2 · 5:04This episode tells the story of a fairy who uses magic to win the affection of Pomme d'Api—granting eternal youth, building enchanted palaces, and offering power—but fails repeatedly; she eventually discovers that genuine kindness and helping others bring true admiration and inner peace.
Episode 13 · Pomme d'Api and the Kind FairyA2 · 4:59Pomme d'Api meets an exhausted, aged woman carrying bread for the poor—only to recognize her as the fairy he once treated harshly. She trades her magic wand and powers for youthful appearance, not for vanity, but to live beside him doing good. Their story celebrates kindness as the deepest, most enduring charm.
Episode 14 · The Eagle and the WrenA2 · 3:32This episode presents a classic French fable about an eagle and a wren who compete to see who can fly highest. Through cleverness rather than strength, the tiny wren wins the contest and is crowned king of the birds.
Episode 15 · The Man Who Chased His LuckA2 · 5:19This is a poetic, allegorical tale about an unlucky man who sets off to seek luck from God. Along his journey through forest and mountain, he meets a tiger, a frail oak tree, and other characters—each exchange revealing quiet wisdom about fate, hope, and connection.
Episode 16 · The Man and His LuckA2 · 5:10A traveler seeks his 'luck' from God, receiving three riddles about a weeping woman, a sick tree, and a lethargic tiger—but dismisses each clue in his haste, only to realize too late that he himself is the 'silliest man' the tiger must devour.
Episode 17 · The Return of the FlowersA2 · 7:37This is a poetic fable about kindness overcoming malice and nature reclaiming life: a young man, guided by unwavering faith and courage, journeys to a sorcerer on a high mountain to restore flowers—and with them, birds, butterflies, bees, and joy—to his barren homeland.
Episode 18 · The Rose and the BirdA2 · 4:26A lonely rose blooms in a barren place; a colorful bird becomes her messenger, helping her reconnect with her distant sisters. Through their words of love and recognition, she discovers her own uniqueness, strength, and inner beauty—and finally blossoms fully.
Episode 19 · The Corsican ChildA2 · 4:29This episode presents a traditional Corsican folktale by Émile Bergerat, set in the mountainous southern tip of Corsica, exploring centuries-old family vendettas, local honor codes, and the island's distinct social customs.
Episode 20 · The Corsican BoyA2 · 4:10This episode follows a young Corsican bandit on the run, who takes refuge in a village priest's house and later seeks help from a local woman—unfolding a tense, atmospheric tale rooted in Corsican family rivalries and rural life.
Episode 21 · The Corsican ChildA2 · 4:54This episode tells a tragic tale set in a Corsican village, where a young boy's mischievous act triggers a solemn family council and an honor-based judgment rooted in local tradition and rigid notions of justice.
Episode 22 · Nasreddin: Who Will Pay the Debt?A2 · 2:00This episode tells a humorous folktale about Nasreddin, who sells olives and cleverly responds to a woman's request to delay payment by referencing her religious obligation to make up a broken fast—blending wit, tradition, and gentle moral reflection.
Episode 23 · The Legend of Madame d'HabervilleA2 · 5:28This episode presents a poignant French-Canadian folktale about a devoted mother who loses her only daughter and, consumed by grief, visits the cemetery, riverside, home, and church—calling out to her child and pleading with God and the Virgin Mary for a miracle.
Episode 24 · A Vision of the Dead and the Saint's ConsolationA2 · 5:49A grieving mother experiences a vision of her deceased children in a solemn procession, then seeks counsel from a revered monk who interprets the apparition through theological concepts—baptismal grace, maternal sacrifice, divine mercy, and the mystery of God's will.
Episode 25 · Madame d'Haberville: A Tale of Grief, Faith, and RedemptionA2 · 5:10This episode tells the story of a grieving mother who loses her young daughter and descends into inconsolable sorrow, until a wise old monk helps her confront her anguish, rediscover faith, and transform her suffering into compassionate action for orphans and the poor.
Episode 26 · The Little Red Man of the LouvreA2 · 5:15This is a French legend set during the French Revolution, recounting a tense, atmospheric nighttime patrol by Queen Marie Antoinette and her lady-in-waiting through the dim, eerie halls of the Louvre Palace—where ancient mysteries, ghostly visions, and historical dread converge.
Episode 27 · The Little Red Man of the LouvreA2 · 5:10Marie Antoinette and her attendant explore the dim, labyrinthine corridors of the old Louvre—part of the medieval palace—and encounter a mysterious little red-clad figure, sparking foreboding reflections on the monarchy's perilous future.
Episode 28 · The Princess and the PeaA2 · 3:45This episode presents Hans Christian Andersen's classic fairy tale 'The Princess and the Pea,' in which a prince seeks a true princess and verifies her authenticity through a delicate test involving a pea hidden beneath twenty mattresses and twenty duvets.
Episode 29 · Our Lady of the Potters: A French Folk LegendA2 · 4:54This episode tells a traditional French folk legend from Châteaugiron about Our Lady of the Potters, who appears to a wealthy but arrogant potter on Christmas Eve, prompting his repentance and miraculous rescue—and ultimately leading to the founding of a chapel.
Episode 30 · The Happy Family by Hans Christian AndersenA2 · 3:52This episode presents Hans Christian Andersen's fairy tale 'The Happy Family,' featuring two elderly snails living peacefully in a lush burdock leaf forest, reflecting on tradition, nobility, and gentle imagination.
Episode 31 · The Happy Snail FamilyA2 · 4:45A snail family lives contentedly in a burdock forest; the parents cherish their sheltered life, while the young son seeks adventure, finds a wife, and starts his own family—yet never fulfills the ancestral dream of being cooked and served in a silver dish.
Episode 32 · The Marvelous TreeA2 · 5:13This German fairy tale follows a poor boy who climbs an impossibly tall, magical tree—encountering a village nestled in its branches and a princess imprisoned in a castle high above. Along the way, he faces wonder, fatigue, kindness, and growing affection.
Episode 33 · The Marvelous Tree and the RavenA2 · 5:49A young man discovers a raven nailed to the wall in a forbidden room; after giving it water, the raven escapes—and the princess is soon spirited away by an enchanter. He climbs the magical tree, journeys through a dark, lightless forest, rescues the princess from a hunter's cabin, and finds a wondrous stone of extraordinary color and shape.
Episode 34 · The Marvelous TreeA2 · 5:29A young man ventures deep into the forest to rescue a princess and encounters a sorcerer who sets him and eleven others three riddles to solve—under penalty of death. The tale unfolds with magical elements, suspense, and quiet emotional depth.
Episode 35 · The Marvelous Tree and the Luminous StoneA2 · 5:18This is a fairy tale about a young man who climbs a magical tree, solves riddles to recover a princess, and descends to find his homeland transformed by time—where centuries have passed, cities have risen, and he and the princess crumble to dust, leaving only a luminous stone.
Episode 36 · The King's BirdA2 · 5:02This episode tells a classic French fairy tale about a girl abandoned by her grieving, unstable mother—first in a forest, then cast into a well—where she encounters a fairy godmother and discovers a magical palace with a gentle giant.
Episode 37 · The King's BirdA2 · 4:34This is a fairy tale about a girl abandoned by her stepmother, transformed into a magnificent bird, and later rescued by a king who falls in love with her and makes her his queen.
Episode 38 · The Butterfly's Marriage QuestA2 · 7:43This episode presents Hans Christian Andersen's fairy tale 'The Butterfly,' in which a butterfly searches through spring, summer, and autumn for the perfect floral bride—rejecting daisies, anemones, violets, linden blossoms, apple blossoms, peas, honeysuckle, and mint—only to remain unmarried due to indecision and unrealistic expectations.
Episode 39 · The Singing TreeA2 · 7:03This is a German fairy tale about an old wizard who encounters a majestic golden tree that sings mysteriously. When he silences it with magic, a mischievous forest spirit trapped inside is freed—and must be outwitted.
Episode 40 · The Queen of the BirdsA2 · 2:57This African folktale tells how the ostrich, though unable to fly, is chosen and reaffirmed as queen of the birds due to her wisdom, humility, and discernment—while pride and ambition lead the eagle and others astray.
Episode 41 · The Kinglet and the BearA2 · 6:39This episode presents the Brothers Grimm fairy tale 'The Kinglet and the Bear', in which a bear insults the royal bird family, sparking an aerial-land battle between animals; the birds win through cleverness, and the bear must humbly apologize to restore honor.
Episode 42 · The Firebird: A Russian Fairy TaleA2 · 5:24This episode presents the classic Russian fairy tale 'The Firebird,' in which golden apples mysteriously vanish from a tsar's magical garden; his three sons take turns guarding it, and only the youngest, Ivan, succeeds in spotting the radiant Firebird—and capturing one of its feathers.
Episode 43 · The Firebird LegendA2 · 4:22Ivan chooses the right path, loses his horse, and meets a gray wolf who helps him journey to find the Firebird—a magical creature that steals golden apples from the Tsar's garden.
Episode 44 · The Firebird: The Golden-Maned Horse and Princess HelenA2 · 6:03Ivan, aided by the Gray Wolf, embarks on a magical quest to retrieve the Golden-Maned Horse and Princess Helen of Alma, repeatedly facing trouble when he disobeys warnings.
Episode 45 · The Firebird LegendA2 · 4:51This episode tells the fairy tale of Ivan's quest for the Firebird, aided by a magical gray wolf who helps him deceive the tsar and retrieve the bird—only for Ivan to face betrayal by his jealous elder brothers.
Episode 46 · The Firebird: A Russian Fairy TaleA2 · 5:09This episode presents a classic Russian fairy tale about Prince Ivan's quest for the Firebird and the golden-maned horse, his betrayal by his brothers, resurrection by a gray wolf using magical waters, and triumphant reunion with Princess Helen the Beautiful.
Episode 47 · The Blue RoseA2 · 3:47This is a fairy tale about a proud princess who demands a blue rose as the condition for marriage, leading suitors on a quest and revealing themes of perfectionism, deception, and discernment.
Episode 48 · The Blue Rose: A Fable About Perception and PerfectionA2 · 4:15This episode tells a fable about a princess who vows to marry only the suitor who brings her a true blue rose. She rejects a dyed flower, a sapphire carved as a rose, and a painted rose—until a poet presents a cream-colored rose that she alone perceives as vividly blue, teaching a gentle lesson about love, subjectivity, and letting go of impossible ideals.
Episode 49 · Nasreddine Hodja's WisdomA2 · 2:18This episode tells a classic tale of Nasreddine Hodja, who interacts with villagers seeking wisdom—each time responding differently based on their attitude, highlighting humility, self-awareness, and the shared nature of learning.
Episode 50 · The Maiden of BrakelA2 · 2:05This episode presents the Grimm Brothers' fairy tale 'The Maiden of Brakel', in which a young woman prays for a husband in a chapel—only to be playfully interrupted by the sacristan disguised as the Christ Child, resulting in a lighthearted, traditional folk exchange.
Episode 51 · The Hen and the Habit: An African FolktaleA2 · 3:27This episode presents an African folktale about a clever hen who visits the river daily for food and outwits a crocodile by calling him 'brother'—prompting him to question their kinship and ultimately spare her life.
Episode 52 · The Merchant and His ParrotA2 · 4:17This episode tells a traditional Indian folktale about a wealthy merchant and his intelligent parrot, exploring themes of freedom, wisdom, self-liberation, and belonging through metaphor and gentle storytelling.
Episode 53 · The Elephant and the Bird: An Indian FolktaleA2 · 3:43This episode presents an Indian folktale about an elephant who repeatedly shakes a tree where a bird has nested with her chicks, until the clever mother bird outwits him using speed and precision—teaching a gentle lesson about respect, proportion, and wit.
Episode 54 · The Elephant with the Golden Heart: An Indian FolktaleA2 · 5:44This episode presents an Indian folktale about a wise, compassionate white elephant who helps a lost man—only to be exploited repeatedly for his ivory, remnants, and even the roots of his tusks. The story ends with poetic justice as the ungrateful man meets his downfall.
Episode 55 · The Elephant's ChildA2 · 4:27This episode presents Rudyard Kipling's classic fable 'The Elephant's Child', following a curious young elephant who asks endless questions about the world—and, undeterred by scoldings and taps from his relatives, embarks on a journey to discover what the crocodile eats for dinner.
Episode 56 · The Elephant Child's Insatiable CuriosityA2 · 5:03An elephant child embarks on a whimsical journey to the Limpopo River to discover what crocodiles eat for dinner, encountering a rock python and finally the crocodile himself—all driven by his boundless, polite, and endearing curiosity.
Episode 57 · The Elephant Child's TrunkA2 · 6:27An elephant child is tricked and grabbed by a crocodile, whose tugging stretches his nose into a long trunk—revealing how elephants got their trunks. Along the way, he discovers its surprising new uses: swatting flies, gathering food, and cooling off.
Episode 58 · The Elephant Child's Magical TrunkA2 · 4:40An elephant child acquires a new trunk and uses it playfully and mischievously—to pick fruit, swat flies, make mud hats, sing fanfare-like songs, and even toss family members around—until the whole herd sets off to borrow a new nose from the crocodile.
Episode 59 · The Marvelous CanaryA2 · 3:17This African folktale tells of Bafou, a misbehaved girl who steals a white canary at the market—only to discover it is a magical egret that carries her to the top of a tall tree. Rescued by her family’s black dog, she learns humility and gratitude.
Episode 60 · The Little Eagle: An Indigenous TaleA2 · 2:04This episode presents an Indigenous American fable about a young eagle raised among chickens who forgets his true nature until he sees an eagle soaring overhead—prompting reflection on identity, potential, and self-perception.
Episode 61 · The Bird and the Chicken: An African FolktaleA2 · 3:48This episode presents an African folktale in which a bird urges a chicken to fly, but the chicken dismisses the advice—until her life is threatened. She then follows the bird’s wise counsel, using cleverness and timing to escape danger and secure her safety.
Episode 62 · The Return of the FlowersA2 · 5:09This is an Australian fairy tale about a powerful sorcerer who abandons his homeland due to human cruelty, causing all flowers—and with them birds, insects, and life—to vanish. A young man, who never stopped believing in their beauty, embarks on a courageous journey to find the sorcerer and restore flowers to the land.
Episode 63 · The Return of the FlowersA2 · 5:01A young man journeys to find the Great Sorcerer to restore flowers, insects, and birds to his barren homeland. Through faith and courage, he brings back blossoms, joy, honey, and harmony to his people.
Episode 64 · The Buried TreasureA2 · 6:02This Indian folktale tells of an elderly man who buries his fortune to secure his son's inheritance, and how the son—guided by wisdom—overcomes his father's servant's arrogance to recover the treasure and use it generously.
Episode 65 · Momotaro: The Boy Born from a PeachA2 · 4:38This episode tells the classic Japanese folktale 'Momotaro', in which an elderly grandmother finds a giant peach floating down the river and discovers a baby boy inside when she cuts it open.
Episode 66 · Momotaro and the Island of DemonsA2 · 4:55Momotaro sets off to punish the bandits on Demon Island, armed with millet dumplings. Along the way, he befriends a dog, a monkey, and a pheasant—each joining him after receiving a dumpling. Together, they sail to the island, overcome obstacles, defeat the bandits, and return home victorious with treasure.
Episode 67 · The Fox and the TigerA2 · 2:22This episode tells a traditional Chinese fable about a clever fox who tricks a tiger into believing he is the heavenly emperor's appointed ruler of animals—then uses the tiger's presence to frighten other creatures into fleeing.
Episode 68 · The Cracked Pot: A Chinese FolktaleA2 · 4:28This episode tells a traditional Chinese folktale about an old woman who carries water daily using two pots—one perfect, one cracked. Though ashamed of its flaw, the cracked pot unknowingly waters seeds along the path, creating a beautiful flower-lined route each year.
Episode 69 · The Legend of the EdelweissA2 · 4:36This episode tells a poetic Alpine legend: a lonely star, enchanted by a shepherd's plea, descends from the heavens to grant a prince's wish—only to be banished by the celestial queen and transformed into the delicate, white edelweiss that blooms on high mountain cliffs.
Episode 70 · The Legend of SnowflakesA2 · 2:13This episode tells a whimsical French fairy tale about silver lambs in the sky whose wool catches stars—when the stars fall, God names them 'snowflakes,' blending the words for 'flock' and 'lamb.'
Episode 71 · Luck or Misfortune?A2 · 3:17This episode presents a classic wisdom tale about a poor villager whose horse runs away, then returns with wild horses, followed by his son's broken leg and subsequent exemption from war—each event prompting the refrain 'Who can say if it is luck or misfortune?' It explores perspective, impermanence, and the hidden nature of outcomes.
French classics with Champion
Episode 1 · Traditional French Veal Blanquette RecipeA2 · 4:46This episode demonstrates how to prepare a classic French blanquette de veau, covering ingredient selection, blanching and slow-cooking techniques, aromatic additions like cloves and bouquet garni, and making the creamy sauce with roux, egg yolk, and cream.
Episode 2 · Traditional Veal Blanquette RecipeA2 · 4:48This episode demonstrates how to prepare a traditional French veal blanquette: making the stock-based sauce, preparing glazed onions and mushrooms, cooking the veal gently, and finishing with a delicate egg yolk and crème fraîche liaison to achieve a smooth, ivory-colored sauce.
Episode 3 · Napoleon and the Origin of Veal MarengoA2 · 7:32This episode explores the historical origin of Veal Marengo—created in 1800 for Napoleon’s troops near the Italian village of Marengo—and demonstrates its preparation step by step, including browning veal, sweating vegetables, deglazing with white wine, and adding mushrooms at the end.
Episode 4 · How to Make Perfect, Lumpy-Free Crêpe BatterA2 · 6:26This episode demonstrates step-by-step how to prepare smooth, lump-free crêpe batter using simple ingredients—flour, eggs, milk, clarified butter, and salt—emphasizing proper mixing technique, gradual liquid incorporation, and essential resting time in the fridge.
Chicken in a pot
Episode 1 · Henri IV's Chicken in a PotA2 · 4:14This episode explores the history and traditional preparation of 'poule au pot,' a classic French dish famously associated with King Henri IV. It covers ingredient selection, blanching the chicken, vegetable preparation, and step-by-step simmering techniques.
Episode 2 · French Chicken in a PotA2 · 4:08This episode demonstrates the traditional French 'poule au pot' recipe step by step: simmering technique, skimming foam, checking doneness (meat separating from bone), serving suggestions, and repurposing the cooking broth into a healthy pasta soup.
Big projects in orbit
Episode 1 · The Commercial Crew ProgramB1 · 4:50This episode explains how NASA, after retiring the Space Shuttle in 2011 and relying on Russian Soyuz flights, launched the Commercial Crew Program to restore independent U.S. human spaceflight through partnerships with private companies like SpaceX and Boeing.
Episode 2 · The Commercial Crew ProgramB1 · 4:36This episode covers SpaceX's Dragon Crew and Boeing's CST-100 Starliner capsules—comparing their size, landing systems, service modules, launch vehicles, and key development milestones, including ground tests, in-flight abort tests, and crewed mission preparations.
Episode 3 · Boeing's Starliner Test Flight and NASA's Commercial Crew ProgramB1 · 4:38This episode covers Boeing's uncrewed Starliner test flight failure—caused by an onboard clock error that led to incorrect orbit insertion—and a parachute deployment issue during an earlier abort test. It also explains NASA's rationale for partnering with multiple commercial providers like Boeing and SpaceX, emphasizing launch independence, risk diversification, and fostering private-sector expertise for future space missions.
The king's feet
The Caliph Stork
Episode 1 · The Stork Caliph and the Magic KeyA2 · 5:04This episode unfolds a fairy-tale adventure set in a magical realm, featuring the Caliph of Baghdad, the adventurous Yoyo, the wise Doc Croc, and the scheming magician Kashnur who plots to replace the Caliph with his son.
Episode 2 · The Stork CaliphA2 · 5:11The Caliph and his vizier use magical powder to transform into storks, but risk remaining birds forever after laughing during their transformation—a humorous, fantastical tale with light moral undertones.
Episode 3 · The Stork Caliph and the Magic WordA2 · 4:56The stork caliph and his friends desperately try to recall the magic word beginning with 'trans', while uncovering the magician Kashnur's deception and plotting to reclaim the throne.
Episode 4 · The Stork Caliph and the Evil SorcererA2 · 5:13This episode follows Caliph Chassid and his vizier, transformed into storks by the sorcerer Kashnur, as they join Princess Louisa—turned into an owl—to uncover the magic word that will break the spells and restore them all to human form.
Episode 5 · The Stork CaliphA2 · 5:03This episode follows the Caliph, transformed into a stork, as he teams up with a princess to break a magic spell, outwit scheming conspirators, and reclaim his throne in a whimsical fairy-tale adventure.
Hattila and the visitor from the past
Episode 1 · Hattila and the Visitor from the PastB1 · 5:19Hattila introduces a time-traveling medieval crossbowman from 1347 to modern crossbows, automatic doors, cars, scopes, and survival tools—blending historical curiosity with contemporary technology.
Episode 2 · Medieval Crossbow Showdown: Power, Precision, and InnovationB1 · 5:11This episode showcases various historical crossbows, explaining their mechanisms, cocking methods, range, armor-piercing capabilities, and even demonstrates firing from a moving vehicle—blending historical weaponry with imaginative, action-oriented presentation.
Hélène se promène
Episode 1 · Wandering Germany: Berlin, Leipzig, and DresdenA2 · 6:09Hélène recounts her first trip to Germany, visiting Berlin, Leipzig, and Dresden. She describes the journey by plane and bus, speed limits on German highways, farmers' markets, historic churches (including Bach's tomb), traditional restaurants like Auerbach Keller, Sunday closures, film shooting in Leipzig, and Dresden's postwar reconstruction.
Episode 2 · Wandering Berlin: The Wall and Christmas MarketsA2 · 6:00Hélène recounts her time in Berlin, visiting remnants of the Berlin Wall, exploring the bohemian atmosphere of former East Berlin neighborhoods, and experiencing her first German Christmas market at Potsdamer Platz.
Episode 3 · Sozopol: A Historic Black Sea Seaside Town in BulgariaA2 · 5:14This episode explores Sozopol, a historic seaside town on Bulgaria's Black Sea coast, highlighting its ancient heritage, beaches, local cuisine (like fresh figs and peaches), and appeal to Eastern European tourists.
Episode 4 · Sozopol: Between History and the SeaA2 · 5:02This episode explores Sozopol, an ancient coastal city on Bulgaria's Black Sea coast, highlighting its 6000-year history, Greek origins (as Apollonia), beautiful architecture, ancient ruins, fresh local figs, peaches, and grapes, and the relaxing experience of watching sunsets over the sea.
Episode 5 · My Grandmother's Childhood Memories in QuebecA2 · 5:53This episode features a 98-year-old woman from Quebec sharing vivid childhood memories: traveling with her family of lumber workers across Quebec, Ontario, and the US, living in logging camps, and settling later in the village of Joly. Her speech reflects authentic Québécois French pronunciation and everyday rural life in early 20th-century Canada.
Episode 6 · My Grandmother's Childhood Memories in QuebecA2 · 5:47This episode features the host's grandmother sharing vivid memories of her childhood in rural Quebec—life on the farm, raising animals like cows, horses, and chickens, and the deep importance of family across five generations.
Episode 7 · Wandering Around Ghent, BelgiumA2 · 5:50Hélène explores the medieval city of Ghent in Belgium, highlighting its historic castles, stone churches, picturesque canals, Flemish architecture, and local delicacies like Belgian fries, sauces, beer, and pastries.
Episode 8 · The Goat Herd of KolkataA2 · 5:22Hélène recounts her month-long stay in Kolkata, where she and her companions observed daily life on Sudder Street—sipping chai with Manik, meeting street musicians, and witnessing the extraordinary sight of a goat herd calmly crossing a busy highway every afternoon at 3:15.
Episode 9 · Walking Around Brussels, the Capital of BelgiumA2 · 5:02This episode explores Brussels as Belgium's capital and de facto capital of the European Union, highlighting its bilingual character (French and Dutch), iconic landmarks like the Grand Place and Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert, and beloved local specialties including beer, chocolate, waffles, fries, and Franco-Belgian comics.
Episode 10 · 5 Must-Do Things in Plovdiv, BulgariaA2 · 6:49This episode explores historic Plovdiv, Bulgaria’s second-largest city and a 2019 European Capital of Culture. Hélène guides viewers through its pedestrian streets, the ancient Roman stadium and theatre (both nearly 2,000 years old), the 15th-century Djumaya Mosque, and the revitalized Kapana artists’ quarter—highlighting history, architecture, food, and local culture.
Episode 11 · The Kukeri: An Ancient Bulgarian TraditionA2 · 4:43This episode explores the Kukeri festival in Pernik, Bulgaria, where participants wear elaborate handmade costumes with animal furs, feathers, and bells to ward off evil spirits—a pagan tradition dating back thousands of years and still celebrated today as a vibrant, family-friendly carnival.
Episode 12 · Strolling Through Beautiful Quebec CityA2 · 5:35Hélène explores Quebec City, Canada's provincial capital, walking from the charming Saint-Roch neighborhood in Lower Town to the historic Upper Town. She highlights local culture—including regional dishes like tourtière and pouding chômeur, traditional music like rigodons—and shares fun anecdotes about the city's appearance in Korean dramas.
Episode 13 · Ice Cream in Damascus, SyriaA2 · 5:49Hélène recounts eating uniquely textured mastic ice cream at the historic Baghdad shop in Damascus's souk, describing the vibrant market, caravanserais, and cultural context of ice cream consumption in Syria before the war.
Episode 14 · Montreal's Saint-Laurent BoulevardA2 · 4:21Hélène walks along Montreal's iconic Saint-Laurent Boulevard—nicknamed 'The Main'—highlighting its history, multicultural shops (like Eva B vintage store and Cigales Portuguese grocery), legendary smoked meat restaurants (Schwartz and Main), and festive summer atmosphere.
Episode 15 · How to Make Shopska Salad, a Bulgarian ClassicA2 · 5:10This episode demonstrates how to prepare Shopska salad, Bulgaria's most famous dish, covering key ingredients like fresh tomatoes, cucumbers, red peppers, sirene cheese (or feta), olives, and a simple tomato-based vinaigrette. It highlights regional produce, traditional preparation methods, and home-style seasoning tips.
Episode 16 · How to Make Shopska Salad, a Bulgarian ClassicA2 · 5:07Hélène demonstrates how to prepare Shopska salad—a fresh Bulgarian dish featuring tomatoes, cucumbers, red peppers, olives, and a distinctive local cheese. She explains ingredient choices, vinaigrette preparation, and shares light cultural notes about Bulgarian wine and rakia.
Episode 17 · 5 Reasons Why I Love BulgariaA2 · 5:30Hélène shares five reasons she loves Bulgaria: authentic and direct people, delicious home-style food made with fresh local ingredients, a relaxed lifestyle centered on parks and social time, the advantages of being in Europe (architecture, transport, multilingualism), and the distinctive Balkan spirit of gentle chaos and personal freedom.
Episode 18 · Baba Marta: The Bulgarian Spring TraditionA2 · 4:12This episode introduces Baba Marta, a beloved Bulgarian spring tradition where people wear red-and-white wool charms (marténitsa) and hang them on trees to welcome warmer weather and bid farewell to winter.
Episode 19 · Welcome to BulgariaA2 · 3:57Hélène takes a walk through Bulgaria, introducing its location in the Balkans, centuries-old history (including Ottoman rule and communism), cultural blend, Cyrillic alphabet, warm yet reserved people, and delicious cuisine like shopska salad.
Episode 20 · The Art Treasures of the VaticanA2 · 4:41Hélène takes viewers on a walk through the Vatican, visiting St. Peter's Basilica and the Vatican Museums, showcasing priceless artworks from the Renaissance, antiquity, and Etruscan civilization—all housed in one of the world's smallest yet most culturally rich states.
Episode 21 · Interview with Catherine, a Bulgarian friend learning FrenchA2 · 3:37Hélène interviews her Bulgarian friend Catherine at a small bar in Sofia about why she chose to learn French—her interest in Romance languages and Roman culture—as well as her month-long French course experience in Paris and conversations with native speakers there.
Episode 22 · Strolling Through Piazza Bologna, a Local Roman NeighborhoodA2 · 3:43Hélène explores the authentic, non-touristy Piazza Bologna neighborhood in Rome, showcasing Italian daily life—caffè corretto, aperitivo culture, a traditional osteria meal with Roman carbonara, and a local market.
Episode 23 · Walking Through Rome: The Eternal CityA2 · 3:32Hélène takes us on a leisurely walk through Rome, showcasing iconic landmarks like the Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain, and the Pantheon, while sharing impressions of the city’s beauty, history, and everyday charm.
Episode 24 · Exploring Ari Neighborhood's Food in BangkokA2 · 3:14Hélène explores Bangkok's vibrant Ari neighborhood, sampling popular street food like khao soi and tom kha gai, visiting a trendy café-bar, and highlighting the area’s mix of affordable local eateries and stylish spots.
Episode 25 · Thailand's Natural Beauty on Koh LantaA2 · 3:07Hélène explores the lush natural beauty of Koh Lanta in Thailand, showcasing vibrant tropical flowers like blue lotus and frangipani, exotic fruits such as pineapples and coconuts, and friendly stray animals—including cats at the Catfish café, dogs, cows, and even pigs and chickens—living peacefully alongside people.
Episode 26 · Walking Around Koh Lanta Island in ThailandA2 · 3:20Hélène explores Koh Lanta Island in southern Thailand, showcasing its beautiful beaches, stunning sunsets, halal restaurants, and relaxed, family-friendly atmosphere shaped by its Muslim-majority region and European visitors.
Episode 27 · We're Going to the Beach on Koh Lanta IslandA2 · 3:35Hélène takes us on a multi-leg journey from Bangkok to Koh Lanta Island in southern Thailand: taxi to the airport, AirAsia flight to Krabi, minivan to the pier, ferry across the sea (stopping at several small islands), and finally a songthaew to the beach.
Episode 28 · Bangkok: A Modern Metropolis WalkthroughA2 · 3:33Hélène explores modern Bangkok, showcasing the Skytrain, shopping malls like MBK and Siam Paragon, a luxury cinema with IMAX and VR, and the open-air W Market with Thai and international food.
Episode 29 · Exploring Malay Culture in Penang, MalaysiaA2 · 3:15Hélène explores Malay culture in Penang, Malaysia—covering its historical roots, Islamic identity as defined by the constitution, the call to prayer, spicy cuisine and its influence on Nyonya food, iconic fruits like durian and coconut, and Malaysia’s multicultural coexistence.
Episode 30 · Exploring Penang's Indian CultureA2 · 2:47Hélène explores Penang's Little India, highlighting the diverse origins and religions of the Indian community—Hindu, Muslim—and savors South Indian dishes like tandoori chicken, biryani, and dal. She shares sensory impressions: vibrant colors, street music, food aromas, and incense.
Episode 31 · Penang's Chinese CultureA2 · 2:53Hélène explores Penang, Malaysia, highlighting its vibrant Chinese cultural presence—seen in temples, street food, and architecture—and introduces Nyonya cuisine, a flavorful fusion of Chinese and Malay influences.
Episode 32 · A Visa Run to Penang: Flying from Bangkok to GeorgetownA2 · 3:03Hélène travels from Bangkok to Penang, Malaysia for a 'visa run,' navigating AirAsia check-in chaos, onboard paid meals, airport security, and purchasing local SIM cards—then explores Georgetown's streets.
Episode 33 · Bangkok's Water Taxi RideA2 · 2:59Hélène takes viewers on a water taxi ride along Bangkok's small canals, explaining how it's much faster and cheaper than buses or taxis—though less comfortable and noisier—and describes the informal boarding, payment, and stop system.
Episode 34 · A Pad Thai Lunch in BangkokA2 · 3:29Hélène enjoys a delicious pad thai with shrimp, eggs, green onions, and bean sprouts at a local Bangkok restaurant, then explores coconut-based desserts being freshly made. She describes the food, utensils, and casual spoken French along the way.
Episode 35 · Hélène Takes a Walk and Introduces French LearningA2 · 2:52Hélène introduces herself as a French and English teacher with twenty years of experience, explains her teaching philosophy centered on comprehensible and engaging listening input, and presents the grammatical gender rules for country names in French—with examples from countries she's visited.
Seafood pasta salad
Episode 1 · Seafood Pasta SaladA2 · 4:40This episode presents a classic summer seafood pasta salad recipe, covering pasta selection (twisted shapes for better sauce adhesion), seafood ingredients like surimi, squid, shrimp, and mussels, and step-by-step preparation of a homemade cocktail sauce made with egg yolks, mustard, neutral oil, lemon juice, cognac, and ketchup.
Episode 2 · Seafood Pasta SaladA2 · 4:35This episode demonstrates how to prepare a refreshing seafood pasta salad featuring shrimp, mussels, squid, octopus, imitation crab sticks, and samphire—a flavorful, briny sea vegetable—tossed in cocktail sauce.
Happy's Humble Burger Farm
Episode 1 · Burger Farm ChaosB1 · 4:47This episode features a lighthearted, fast-paced simulation game session where players frantically cook burgers, serve customers, dodge rats, and juggle multiple orders in a humorous, chaotic restaurant setting.
Episode 2 · Burger Restaurant ChaosB1 · 4:39The protagonist frantically prepares burgers and orders while evading a mysterious character who disrupts service—creating chaotic, humorous, and stressful gameplay moments.
Episode 3 · Chaos at the Burger FarmB1 · 4:46The protagonist frantically serves customers, deals with a rat and fighting cats, and searches for an FM transmitter while juggling time pressure and absurd tasks in a chaotic burger-themed farm simulation.
Tasty investigations
Episode 1 · The Fresh Burger InvestigationB1 · 7:28This episode humorously investigates a burger restaurant that insists on using only fresh, non-frozen ingredients—cutting potatoes daily, grinding fresh beef on-site, and making dough from scratch—challenging fast-food norms with playful satire.
Episode 2 · What a good merguez looks likeB1 · 5:07This episode explains how to identify a high-quality merguez sausage by its orange-red color (avoiding overly bright hues or dark/white spots), its required composition (beef and lamb only), and its typical 10 cm length. It also playfully tests how many 2-liter Fanta bottles are needed to stop a Magnum bullet.
Heracles almost failed
Episode 1 · Hercules' Twelve Labors: The Greek Hero's Legendary TasksB2 · 4:53This episode explores the mythological origin of Hercules' Twelve Labors, explaining how Hera's jealousy and divine manipulation led Heracles—son of Zeus and mortal Alcmene—to undertake these legendary tasks as penance and proof of heroism.
Episode 2 · Hercules' Twelve Labors: The First Four TasksB2 · 4:47This episode recounts the first four of Hercules' Twelve Labors: slaying the invulnerable Nemean Lion, defeating the regenerating Lernaean Hydra with his nephew's help, capturing the sacred golden-horned Ceryneian Hind without harming it, and trapping the monstrous Erymanthian Boar in snow before delivering it alive to King Eurystheus.
Episode 3 · Hercules' Twelve Labors: Cleaning Stables, Killing Birds, and Taming BullsB2 · 5:04This episode recounts several of Hercules' legendary labors: cleaning the Augean stables in a day by diverting rivers, driving away the man-eating birds of Lake Stymphalus with Athena's help, capturing the Cretan bull barehanded, and battling Geryon's monstrous herd in the far west.
Episode 4 · Hercules' Twelve LaborsB2 · 4:56This episode covers the final two of Hercules' Twelve Labors: retrieving the golden apples from the Garden of the Hesperides—with the help of Atlas—and capturing Cerberus, the three-headed dog guarding the entrance to the Underworld, using only his bare hands.
The Story of Fox&Fox
The Tale of the Fox
Episode 1 · The Tale of Reynard the FoxB1 · 6:17This episode introduces Reynard the Fox, a clever and cunning trickster in the animal kingdom, who uses wit and deception to outsmart other animals—including the crow, the wolf, and farmyard creatures—in classic fables.
Episode 2 · The Fox's Clever TricksB1 · 6:17This episode tells how the fox tricks the wolf into losing his tail by pretending to teach 'moon fishing,' then manipulates the truth before the lion king's court to escape justice while portraying himself as an innocent family man.
Episode 3 · The Fox and the Hare's TrialB1 · 6:17This episode features a satirical animal court where the fox frames the hare for sacrilege, leading to a dramatic trial. King Lion ultimately decrees an end to carnivorous behavior among subjects, mandating a vegetarian diet and promoting universal love and peace.
Episode 4 · The Fox's Heaven TrickB1 · 6:17The fox pretends to have ascended to heaven and describes a blissful, fantastical paradise—complete with flying rabbits, endless feasts, and celestial wine—to trick the gullible wolf into climbing into a well.
Episode 5 · The Fox's TrickeryB1 · 6:17This episode features the fox luring the bear with honey as part of a cunning plan, alongside a satirical royal court scene where a rooster and hen's marital chaos leads to absurd accusations and a royal decree against cannibalism among animals.
Episode 6 · The Fox's TrickeryB1 · 6:17This episode features the fox setting a trap for the bear, then sending the pig and mice on missions—full of classic animal fable humor, wit, and playful deception.
Episode 7 · The Fox's Nightmare and the Royal TrialB1 · 6:17After offending the king, the fox is summoned to court for punishment. He has an extraordinary nightmare featuring a bizarre, theatrical duel between himself and the wolf—arbitrated by the bear—before waking up and deciding to go to the king anyway.
Episode 8 · The Fox's Final TrickB1 · 6:17Facing execution, the fox fabricates a conspiracy involving the bear, wolf, and cat to usurp the lion's throne, sowing suspicion and chaos among the court before escaping.
Episode 9 · The Fox's Cunning PlanB1 · 6:17This episode features a classic fable scene where the fox uses wit and deception to outmaneuver the wolf, the king's forces, and their threats of violence.
Episode 10 · The Fox's Coronation and Peace PactB1 · 6:17Renard the fox, using wit and cunning, wins the king's trust and is appointed his chief minister; the king then declares a peace and friendship pact with Renard, commanding all subjects to obey him as they would the king himself.
Pepper & Carrot
How the Internet works
Episode 1 · What Is the Internet, Really?B1 · 4:25This episode explores the fundamental nature of the internet—describing it as a network for sharing information, tracing its origins to scientific collaboration, and reflecting on its wide-ranging social, cultural, economic, and political impacts.
Episode 2 · What Is the Internet?B1 · 4:32This episode explores the fundamental nature of the internet as a decentralized network for sharing and exchanging information, enabling global communication, cultural exchange, collaborative knowledge-building, and individual expression.
Episode 3 · How the Internet and the Web Are DifferentB1 · 4:10This episode explains how the Internet functions as a foundational network infrastructure—like railway tracks—while the Web is just one service (like a train) running on it. It covers Tim Berners-Lee’s motivation for inventing the Web at CERN to solve scientific document sharing, and introduces core concepts like hyperlinks and HTML.
Episode 4 · How the Internet Works: A Rhizome NetworkB1 · 4:25This episode explains how the Internet works using the metaphor of a rhizome—like bamboo roots—to illustrate its decentralized, interconnected structure of many small, independent networks run by different operators.
Episode 5 · What Is Web Hosting?B1 · 4:13This episode explains web hosting: placing websites or services on internet-connected machines so others can access them. It covers how content is stored on servers, assigned IP addresses, and made available to users—using examples like personal websites and Mastodon.
Episode 6 · What Is Net Neutrality?B1 · 3:48This episode explains net neutrality as the principle that internet service providers must treat all data equally—without blocking, throttling, or prioritizing content based on source, destination, or payment. It connects net neutrality to freedom of expression and uses analogies like the postal worker to illustrate why technical neutrality matters for open access to information.
Episode 7 · Social Networks and Media PlatformsB1 · 4:15This episode explains what a social network really is (a structure of human relationships), clarifies the confusion between social networks, social media, and platforms, and outlines the three key features of digital platforms: intermediary economic role, multi-sided user groups, and data/content capture for algorithmic matching.
Episode 8 · How Social Media Platforms WorkB1 · 4:22This episode explains how social media platforms use algorithms to match users with advertisers, describes their 'technical subordination' model—where notifications and alerts function as imperatives—and discusses how these platforms reshape human sociability by enabling selective, interest-based connections.
Episode 9 · How Social Media Platforms WorkB1 · 4:13This episode examines how social media platforms like Wikipedia operate—covering reputation systems, data logging, content production, and algorithmic curation—while analyzing how their advertising-driven, profit-oriented business models shape user behavior and societal interactions.
Episode 10 · How Software Shapes Our Daily LivesB1 · 5:03This episode explores how software has permeated every aspect of daily life—from smartphones and cars to household appliances—and explains Lawrence Lessig's idea that 'code is law': the choices made by developers and tech companies shape user behavior, rights, and freedoms in the digital age.
Episode 11 · How Tech Giants Control UsB1 · 4:39This episode examines how major tech companies exert control over users through software architecture and data collection, highlighting impacts on privacy, user autonomy, and democratic accountability. It discusses real-world examples like Uber's geolocation policy and Google's search history tracking to illustrate the imbalance of power between platform developers and billions of users.
Episode 12 · How GAFAM Dominate Us Through Our DataB1 · 5:10This episode explains how tech giants like Google use free services—including search, Chrome, Android, Maps, Gmail, and YouTube—to collect vast amounts of personal data, enabling targeted advertising and user dependency while shifting strategic focus from proprietary code to data control.
Episode 13 · How Tech Giants Dominate UsB1 · 6:05This episode examines how tech giants like Google and Facebook have created new, unprecedented power structures that challenge traditional regulatory frameworks—explaining why fines and existing oversight mechanisms often fail to restore market balance or protect user privacy.
Episode 14 · Data Negotiation in the Digital WorldB1 · 5:52This episode explores how users implicitly negotiate data usage with their audience, platforms, and third parties (e.g., advertisers, governments) every time they post online—covering privacy boundaries, platform norms, cultural influence, and the political dimension of personal content.
Episode 15 · Digital Literacy and Civic EducationB1 · 6:39This episode explores how digital literacy supports civic emancipation through popular education, highlighting critical thinking, media education, algorithmic thinking, and the role of ethical digital tools in inclusive, democratic learning spaces.
Episode 16 · Free Software and Its Four Essential FreedomsB1 · 4:27This episode explains the four essential freedoms of free software: the freedom to use, study, modify, and share the source code. It illustrates how these freedoms empower users—like a bookseller adapting cash register software for tax changes—and foster transparency, community collaboration, and digital autonomy.
Episode 17 · Free Software and Digital FreedomB1 · 4:13This episode explores the philosophy, practice, and social significance of free software—how it fosters digital autonomy, resists corporate and political capture, and envisions an internet grounded in shared knowledge, education, cultural access, and peace.
Episode 18 · The Necessity of Internet DecentralizationB1 · 5:31This episode explains why internet decentralization is essential, examining how centralized platforms create dependency and undermine user autonomy, and how decentralized architectures can restore individual freedom, data portability, and political resilience.
Episode 19 · Why Internet Decentralization MattersB1 · 5:17This episode explains how the Internet's decentralized, peer-to-peer structure makes censorship difficult and enables resilient counter-power. It uses the 'canary in the coal mine' metaphor to illustrate how small, independent actors—like community ISPs, free software developers, and alternative content providers—serve as early warning systems when digital freedoms are under threat.
The peanut butter story
Episode 1 · The Surprising History of Peanut ButterB2 · 5:24This episode explores how peanut butter became an iconic American food, tracing its journey from ancient South American cultivation to 19th-century U.S. innovation, and examines competing claims about its invention—including contributions from a Montreal pharmacist and Dr. John Harvey Kellogg.
Episode 2 · The Peanut Butter Invention ControversyB2 · 5:30This episode explores competing origin stories of peanut butter, examining claims by Dr. Kellogg, George Washington Carver, and George Bailey—highlighting historical evidence, patents, cultural context, and why the true inventor remains uncertain.
Episode 3 · The American Story of Peanut ButterB2 · 5:22This episode traces the history of peanut butter in the United States: its breakthrough at the 1904 St. Louis World's Fair, the invention of hydrogenation to stabilize it, the rise of iconic brands like Peter Pan, Skippy, and Jif, and how wartime rationing and savvy advertising cemented its place in American kitchens.
Waldorf salad
Waffle batter
Episode 1 · How to Make Waffle BatterA2 · 4:24This episode demonstrates how to prepare waffle batter using basic ingredients like flour, sugar, eggs, milk, butter, and baking powder, with step-by-step mixing and chilling instructions.
Episode 2 · Making Delicious Waffles from ScratchA2 · 4:23This episode shows how to make waffles using batter that was chilled overnight: preheating the waffle iron, cooking the first (often imperfect) waffle, preparing a second for fairness, and topping them with powdered sugar, whipped cream, Nutella, or other favorites.
The Sceptical Cat
Episode 1 · Supermarket discount tricksB2 · 4:11Nathan illustrates common supermarket promotions—like 'buy one get one free', '2+1 free', and 'second item 40% off'—and explains how to convert them into standardized percentage discounts off the base price.
Episode 2 · Shrinkflation tacticsB2 · 4:17This part exposes shrinkflation—such as chocolate bars reduced from 100g to 90g or detergent sold in odd sizes like 1320ml—and explains how it combines with misleading discounts to erode real value without raising prices.
Episode 3 · Scratch card sales and sponsorship truthB2 · 4:59Introduces Belgium's record-breaking Win for Life scratch cards, clarifies no sponsorship from the National Lottery, and reveals a prior attempt to secure its funding for science communication.
Episode 4 · How payout duration affects lottery profitB2 · 4:36Analyzes how varying annuity durations (e.g., 40, 50, or 62 years) affect the lottery’s capture rate of initial player investment across different scratch cards, illustrated with graphs.
Episode 5 · Life on Earth and energy masteryB2 · 4:09Life emerged early on Earth, and while countless species have come and gone over billions of years, only humans have left Earth—and our success stems largely from our growing ability to harness diverse energy sources, most ultimately derived from the Sun.
Episode 6 · The origin of the Drake equationB2 · 3:56After failing to detect extraterrestrial signals in 1960, Frank Drake developed his famous equation in 1961 to estimate the number of stars in the Milky Way with habitable planets—and, step by step, how many might host intelligent life.
Episode 7 · The limitations of the Drake equationB2 · 3:58The Drake equation’s final terms—such as the fraction of intelligent species that develop radio communication, or how long such civilizations last—are highly speculative, with only Earth as a single data point, making robust estimates impossible.
Episode 8 · Claims that cannot be disprovenB2 · 4:58Explains that we cannot simply declare something 'does not exist'—lack of disproof is not proof; science should focus on seeking evidence of existence, not non-existence.
Episode 9 · The burden of proof fallacyB2 · 5:02Uses examples like vaccine safety and homeopathy inefficacy to show that demanding proof of absolute impossibility or total ineffectiveness is practically unfeasible.
Episode 10 · Confounding variables in researchB2 · 4:47Analyzes an organic food health study, showing that observed BMI reduction may stem from confounding factors—like fruit/vegetable intake or income—not organic food itself.
A sceptic’s notebook
Episode 1 · When Good Intentions BackfireB2 · 5:23Using examples like the cat saving water while ignoring its meat consumption, and a father pushing his daughter away with guilt-tripping, this episode examines how well-meaning efforts often fail—or even backfire—due to narrow focus and poor strategy.
Episode 2 · Prioritizing Environmental and Ethical ConcernsB2 · 5:22This episode examines how well-intentioned efforts—like replacing toothbrushes to reduce plastic or protesting animal testing—often overlook far larger sources of harm, such as bottled water consumption or industrial animal farming, urging a more proportional and evidence-based approach to ethics and sustainability.
Episode 3 · Cancer Prevention Myths and Rational ChoicesB2 · 5:21This episode examines common but ineffective cancer prevention strategies—like switching to organic food to avoid pesticide residues—while highlighting alcohol consumption as France's second-leading preventable cause of cancer. It advocates for evidence-based, rational health decisions and reflects on how to prioritize meaningful actions over symbolic ones.
Episode 4 · Cinema, Surgery, and StatisticsB2 · 4:57This episode discusses YouTube's algorithm, why the new fact-checking series 'On Vérifie' has performed exceptionally well in subscriber growth (despite modest view counts), and how the creator's production company self-funded a sci-fi short film set in a white room—highlighting creative constraints, Belgian film funding challenges, and the psychology of isolation.
Episode 5 · Film, Surgery, and a Bizarre Green-Screen GlitchB2 · 5:11This episode covers the making of an independent short film intended to secure funding for a feature, the host's recent surgery and its unexpected aftermath, and a strange technical issue with OBS software where pure white lighting is misinterpreted as green—causing unnatural glowing eyes on camera.
Episode 6 · Do We Really, Really, Really Need to Stop Flying?B2 · 5:11This episode examines aviation's impact on climate change, presenting carbon footprint data for various flights (e.g., Toulouse–Paris, Toulouse–Tokyo) and explaining how calculation methods affect reported emissions. It also introduces non-CO₂ effects—such as contrail-induced cirrus cloud formation—that amplify aviation’s warming impact.
Episode 7 · Do We Really Need to Stop Flying?B2 · 5:25This episode examines aviation's climate impact, explaining how CO2 emissions differ from non-CO2 effects (like aerosols) in both warming potential and timescale—CO2 lasts decades, while non-CO2 effects fade in days or weeks.
Episode 8 · Do We Really Need to Stop Flying?B2 · 5:22This episode examines the climate impact of aviation, stressing the urgency of cutting emissions now due to limited carbon budgets. It explores whether low-carbon aircraft—using hydrogen or biofuels—are technically feasible, while questioning the economic, temporal, and political trade-offs of investing heavily in aviation decarbonization versus other transport solutions.
Episode 9 · The Pros and Cons of Air TravelB2 · 5:20This episode examines aviation's benefits—such as technical progress in energy efficiency and rapid transport for urgent situations—and its downsides, including challenges with low-carbon alternatives (biofuels and hydrogen), mass tourism's ecological and cultural impacts, and stark social inequalities in air travel access and emissions.
Episode 10 · Do We Really, Truly, Absolutely Need to Stop Flying?B2 · 5:13This episode examines aviation's impact on employment (especially in Toulouse), ecological sustainability, and climate justice. It argues that while drastically reducing air travel is urgent and necessary, the focus must shift from 'whether' to 'how'—prioritizing fair transitions, equitable access, and imaginative alternatives to flying.
A sceptic cat’s short class
Episode 1 · The Survivorship Bias ExplainedB2 · 7:38This episode explains the survivorship bias using a Parisian vet's mistaken conclusion about cats surviving high falls—showing how focusing only on survivors (injured cats who made it to the clinic) while ignoring those who didn’t survive leads to flawed reasoning. Real-world examples include wartime aircraft analysis and misleading self-help or health claims.
Episode 2 · An irresponsible experimentB2 · 5:42Researchers once created antibiotic-resistant bacteria without thinking through the consequences. This part starts there and asks what science should not do.
Episode 3 · Evolution as an algorithmB2 · 5:46Evolution is compared to searching for a peak. Simple problems are easy to compute; harder ones need a method that looks more like biological evolution.
Episode 4 · When the environment changesB2 · 5:42In the simulation, diversity falls to zero. That is unsurprising in a fixed environment; in the real world the environment keeps changing, and so does evolution.
Episode 5 · How to Disagree RespectfullyB2 · 4:23Using three playful cat dialogues, this episode explores how to express disagreement thoughtfully and respectfully—focusing on ideas rather than people, avoiding insults, and staying open to truth.
Episode 6 · How to Disagree ConstructivelyB2 · 4:41This episode explains how to express disagreement constructively in conversation, distinguishing between refutation, contradiction, and sophistry, and introduces Paul Graham's 'Hierarchy of Disagreement' (the 'Disagreement Target') as a framework for more thoughtful debate.
Episode 7 · The Logic of Criticism: From Insults to Constructive DebateB2 · 4:31This episode explains the five levels of criticism—from attacking someone's appearance or writing style, to ad hominem attacks, insults, threats, and even physical aggression—emphasizing that productive disagreement must focus on the argument itself, not the person.
Episode 8 · Don't Call People 'Little Jerks': The Straw Man FallacyB2 · 4:39This episode explains the 'straw man' fallacy: misrepresenting someone's argument to make it easier to attack, and shows why staying faithful to the original claim is essential for honest, productive disagreement.
Things that move
Episode 1 · The Saint-Louis Inclined Plane Boat LiftB1 · 1:40This episode introduces the Saint-Louis inclined plane boat lift in Moselle, France — a unique European engineering marvel that transports boats between water levels in just four minutes, replacing a 17-lock canal system.
Episode 2 · Paramotoring in Brittany: How It WorksB1 · 4:29This episode explores paramotoring—a lightweight, motorized flying device using a paraglider wing—covering its components (carbon frame, engine, controls), how it's flown (throttle and brake toggles), safety features (gliding safely if the engine fails), and practical aspects like portability and dual-seat configurations for passenger flights.
Poison chic dresses
Episode 1 · The Deadly Fashion Green: Arsenic Dresses in HistoryB2 · 5:12This episode explores how arsenic-based green pigments—like Scheele's Green and Paris Green—became wildly popular in 18th- and 19th-century fashion and household goods, despite their extreme toxicity, leading to illness and death across Europe.
Episode 2 · Arsenic: The Poison That Sparked Beauty and IllnessB2 · 5:06This episode explores arsenic's paradoxical history: known since antiquity as a deadly poison, it was also widely used in 19th-century medicine, cosmetics, wallpaper, clothing, candies, and even tobacco—despite its well-documented toxicity and severe health effects.
Episode 3 · The Rise and Fall of Arsenic Green in 19th-Century FashionB2 · 5:00This episode explores how arsenic-based green dyes became wildly popular in 19th-century European fashion and painting, appearing in dresses, accessories, and artworks — while silently endangering wearers and artisans through skin contact and inhalation.
Episode 4 · The Poisonous Green Dresses of the 19th CenturyB2 · 5:09This episode explores how arsenic-based green dyes became a fashion obsession among European elites and the broader public in the 19th century, revealing the severe health risks faced by dressmakers, flower-crown artisans, and wearers—and how medical advances and legislation gradually responded to the widespread poisoning.
Episode 5 · The Toxic Truth Behind Victorian Green DressesB2 · 5:09This episode explores how arsenic-based green dyes were widely used in 19th-century fashion, causing severe poisoning and deaths—most notably that of 19-year-old Matilda Scheurer—and examines the scientific debates, economic pressures, and public health campaigns that followed.
Episode 6 · The Poisonous Green Dresses of the 19th CenturyB2 · 5:11This episode explores how arsenic-based green dyes were widely used in 19th-century fashion—especially in dresses—causing severe occupational poisoning among textile workers and florists. It details medical investigations, public health debates, shifting consumer behavior, and the eventual decline of arsenic greens due to growing awareness and safer alternatives.
Robot end-of-year show
Episode 1 · Robot End-of-Year Theater ShowA2 · 5:00This is a high school end-of-year theatrical performance centered on robots, blending science fiction, teenage life, and lighthearted humor through playful dialogue, radio chatter, and character interactions.
Episode 2 · The robot appearsA2 · 4:56The robot makes its entrance.
Episode 3 · A robot at schoolA2 · 4:54A robot shows up at school.
Episode 4 · End-of-Year Robot Theater ShowA2 · 5:00Students stage a humorous end-of-year theater show featuring playful characters, candy-related antics, classroom chaos, and lighthearted role-play—blending imagination, school life, and theatrical fun.
Episode 5 · Robot End-of-Year Theater ShowA2 · 4:40Students prepare for their end-of-year theater show by searching for vintage records, CDs, and library books—including a robot-themed treasure they hope will earn them top marks—while assembling props and rehearsing.
Episode 6 · Heartbeats and Voices from Around the WorldA2 · 5:23This episode features poetic, rhythmic French recitation that evokes heartbeats, layered voices, and diverse musical fragments from around the world—including references to Cameroon, Canada, Ethiopia, Jamaica, Bangladesh, and many other countries—blending theatrical expression with global resonance.
Episode 7 · A bug in the codeA2 · 4:45Something goes wrong in the robot’s code.
Episode 8 · Robot End-of-Year School ShowA2 · 5:07This is a lighthearted end-of-year theatrical performance by students, featuring classroom interactions, the introduction of a new classmate named Pascal, and a talking robot that surprises everyone — all delivered in natural, everyday French.
Episode 9 · School Rumors and BullyingA2 · 4:59This episode uses a theatrical school performance to explore how rumors spread among students and the emotional impact of bullying, sharing diverse personal experiences—from being mocked for appearance or background to feeling isolated or humiliated.
Episode 10 · Robot End-of-Year ShowA2 · 4:46A humorous end-of-year student theater production blending science concepts—like Earth's rotation, ions, and natural gas—with classroom life, teacher-student interactions, and playful scientific misunderstandings.
Episode 11 · Pascal the Clumsy RobotA2 · 5:16This episode features a school end-of-year theatrical performance where students portray a comically clumsy robot named Pascal, who struggles with everyday tasks like ironing and causes humorous misunderstandings among the cast.
Episode 12 · Robot Year-End Theater PerformanceA2 · 4:45A robot reflects on human habits of keeping mementos, hoarding objects, and externalizing memory—expressing confusion, loneliness, and a poignant, poetic awareness of its own existence and limitations.
Episode 13 · Can Robots Feel Sad?A2 · 5:06This episode features a school theatrical performance exploring how a robot gradually develops human emotions—anger, friendship, love, and sadness—through interactions and self-reflection.
Episode 14 · The Robot's Quest to Find His SonA2 · 4:43An elderly woman asks a robot for help finding her long-lost son; the robot attempts to locate him using 5G and Wi-Fi, leading to revelations about his origins and creation by a group of engineers.
Episode 15 · Can a heart breakA2 · 5:06They wonder whether a robot’s heart can break.
Episode 16 · All Machines Have a HeartA2 · 5:00A school year-end theatrical performance centered on robots, where children express heartfelt, imaginative reflections on technology and emotion through poetry, song, and playful dialogue.
Episode 17 · Last rehearsalA2 · 4:53One last rehearsal before the show.
Episode 18 · A Farewell Message for Pascal the RobotA2 · 4:59Students use walkie-talkies and a recorded message to bid farewell to Pascal, a robot friend who is leaving. They express love, regret for not understanding his incompatibility with the 21st century, and give him his favorite vinyl record as a final gift.
Improv class warm-ups
Episode 1 · Introduction to Improv Theater for StudentsB1 · 7:32This episode explores how improvisational theater is taught in French middle schools, covering dynamic warm-up games, technical exercises, and stage practice. It highlights core principles like acceptance ('yes, and'), collaboration, confidence-building, and personal growth through creative expression.
Episode 2 · Improv Warm-Up GamesB1 · 4:11This episode features a French improv class warm-up session with vocal exercises, rhythmic repetition, quick-response games, and collaborative physical improvisation like building a rocket or embodying a goddess and her throne.
Episode 3 · Improv Warm-Up GamesB1 · 4:13This episode features theater improv warm-up exercises where participants collaboratively build scenes—like snowmen, skiing, beach activities, and character roles—through physical expression and shared storytelling.
Minimal skincare days
Episode 1 · My Minimalist, Natural Skincare RoutineA2 · 4:40Sophie demonstrates her minimalist, natural, and zero-waste skincare routine: she uses coconut oil to remove makeup, artisanal soap for showering, dry brushing before bathing, a safety razor for shaving, and eyebrow tweezers — all while explaining her choices and product preferences.
Episode 2 · My Minimalist and Natural Skincare RoutineA2 · 4:52This episode covers a minimalist, natural skincare routine: facial cleansing with soap, moisturizing with coconut oil massage, nail care using a glass file and protective base coat, ear drying after showers, and a brief mention of dental hygiene.
Episode 3 · My Minimalist, Natural Skincare RoutineA2 · 4:45The speaker shares her personal minimalist and natural beauty routine, covering body care (coconut oil, lotion), hair care (sebum regulation, brushing, oil treatments), cellulite management, and fragrance use—all focused on simplicity and natural ingredients.
Episode 4 · My Complete Skincare Routine After 30A2 · 5:50This episode details a comprehensive daily skincare routine for mature skin, covering morning and evening steps: floral water sprays, serums (hyaluronic acid, vitamin C, retinal), dual-layer moisturizers (light penetrating cream + ceramide cream), gentle oil-based makeup removal, foaming cleanser, weekly retinal serum, facial oils, eye treatments, and pH exfoliation.
Episode 5 · Skincare and Makeup Routine for Healthy Skin and Natural LooksA2 · 5:45This episode covers a comprehensive skincare and makeup routine for people over 30, focusing on scalp health (with Korean and French vegan products), sunscreen, lightweight foundation for rosy undertones, concealer, pore-smoothing powder, blush, eyeliner, mascara, lip products, and color theory for makeup selection.
Container studio and van life
Episode 1 · A Maritime Container StudioA2 · 5:54Florent built a 13-square-meter independent studio using a second-hand maritime container, renting it out via platforms like Airbnb to offset mortgage payments. The episode covers the construction process, budget (around €20,000), regulatory advantages (no building permit needed under 20 m²), and design choices.
Episode 2 · Building a Maritime Container Studio for €20,000A2 · 5:48This episode details the construction of a compact 14 m² studio from a 20-foot maritime container, covering insulation strategies (internal vs. external), interior layout with bathroom, kitchen, and storage, ceiling height considerations, and practical insights on Airbnb rental income and regulatory requirements in France.
Science in a few minutes
Episode 1 · The Six Steps of the Scientific MethodB1 · 4:18This episode explains the six steps of the scientific method: observe and ask questions, research, formulate a hypothesis, test the hypothesis, analyze and conclude, and share results—illustrated with everyday examples like smiling behavior and happiness.
Episode 2 · Three Key Principles of the Scientific MethodB1 · 4:34This episode explains three core principles of the scientific method: reproducibility, falsifiability (why a theory must be testable and potentially disprovable), and the crucial distinction between correlation and causation. It also warns against selective reporting of data, using clear everyday examples.
Episode 3 · Skinner's Operant ConditioningB1 · 4:13This episode explains operant conditioning, covering the four combinations of positive/negative reinforcement and punishment, how they shape behavior, and introduces Skinner's experiments with rats in the 'Skinner box' and the ABC model (Antecedent-Behavior-Consequence).
Episode 4 · The Dunning-Kruger EffectB1 · 3:54This episode explains the Dunning-Kruger effect—a cognitive bias where people with low ability in a domain overestimate their competence, while highly skilled individuals tend to be more modest and aware of complexity. It explores how confidence changes across learning stages and how culture influences self-assessment.
Episode 5 · The Pareto Principle ExplainedB1 · 2:55This episode explains the Pareto Principle (80/20 rule), illustrating how 20% of causes often drive 80% of outcomes — with examples from personal development, business revenue, workplace safety, and software debugging — while also cautioning against overreliance on this empirical heuristic.
Episode 6 · The Five Fundamental Laws of Human StupidityB1 · 5:13This episode presents Carlo Cipolla's social theory on human stupidity, explaining his four-person classification (naive, intelligent, bandit, stupid) and the five fundamental laws that define how stupidity operates—and why stupid people are uniquely dangerous to society.
Episode 7 · Chesterton's Fence: Why You Should Understand Before Removing RulesB1 · 4:24This episode introduces Chesterton's Fence—a principle urging us to understand the purpose and context of a rule, tradition, or institution before removing or changing it. Using examples from startup culture and China's Great Leap Forward, it illustrates the unintended consequences of well-intentioned but uninformed reforms.
Voices of computing
Episode 1 · Camille, UI/UX designer (1): IntroductionsB1 · 4:41Camille introduces herself as a freelance UX/UI designer with a background in marketing, explaining her role focuses on understanding digital platform users and designing intuitive, question-free navigation experiences.
Episode 2 · Camille, UI/UX designer (2): Assessing technical feasibility of designsB1 · 4:38Camille explains how she gauges technical complexity of her designs without formal technical training—using CMS constraints, collaborating with dev teams, and discussing options with CTOs or product managers.
Episode 3 · Camille, UI/UX designer (3): Career shift and UX training journeyB1 · 5:08Camille recounts her career shift from digital marketing to UX/UI design, describing how a three-month training program taught her user research, wireframing, prototyping (with Figma/Sketch), and usability testing within an iterative process.
Episode 4 · Camille, UI/UX designer (4): Entry requirements and women in UX/UIB1 · 4:54Camille states that while UX/UI is accessible to career-changers, foundational curiosity and ongoing self-learning are essential; she highlights how the field offers women a pathway from marketing into tech, supporting broader gender diversity.
Episode 5 · Camille, UI/UX designer (5): Freelance pricing and gender pay transparencyB1 · 5:31Camille notes that freelance platforms enable transparent rate benchmarking against peers—including men—ensuring fair pricing, though she acknowledges gender-based pay gaps may persist in salaried tech roles.
Episode 6 · Camille, UI/UX designer (6): Explaining UX, UI, and A/B testingB1 · 5:05Camille distinguishes UX (structural planning, like house blueprints) from UI (aesthetic implementation), and explains A/B testing as a method to validate design effectiveness by comparing two live versions with real user interactions.
Episode 7 · Camille, UI/UX designer (7): Design patterns and user personasB1 · 4:55Camille defines 'patterns' as recurring, familiar interface elements (e.g., newsletter signup in footers) and 'personas' as synthesized, realistic user profiles built from qualitative and quantitative research to guide design decisions.
Episode 8 · Cécile, sysadmin (1): IntroductionsB1 · 4:01Cécile, 20, introduces her background in BTS SIO, current role managing dedicated servers and VMs at Aquarée, and her home lab with servers, routers, and a private network.
Episode 9 · Cécile, sysadmin (2): How she entered IT and advice for beginnersB1 · 4:24She entered IT through managing Minecraft servers, confirmed her path via STI2D studies and an internship in client support, and advises beginners to explore networking and system basics hands-on at home.
Episode 10 · Cécile, sysadmin (3): Explaining key IT termsB1 · 4:19She clearly defines data center, server, router, and Arduino—highlighting their purposes, design features (e.g., 24/7 operation, cooling), and everyday analogies like home internet boxes.
Episode 11 · Lola and Sam, indie game developers (1): IntroductionsB1 · 5:05Lola introduces herself as an independent game designer, while Samuel explains his transition from business school to becoming her programming collaborator.
Episode 12 · Lola and Sam, indie game developers (2): Freedom and passion in indie developmentB1 · 4:51They emphasize that indie development gives them full creative control over artistic direction, narrative, and technology choices—and that they value the process of creation itself.
Episode 13 · Lola and Sam, indie game developers (3): Learning programming from scratch and industry experienceB1 · 4:49Samuel explains having no prior computer science background and learning programming quickly via Construct’s visual scripting; both recall earlier internships at video game companies like Ubisoft and Nintendo.
Episode 14 · Lola and Sam, indie game developers (4): Gender bias in the video game industryB1 · 4:47Lola describes reading testimonies about gender discrimination against women in the industry during class—and encountering sexist stereotypes in a widely used game design textbook.
Episode 15 · Lola and Sam, indie game developers (5): Gender balance in business vs. programmingB1 · 4:32Samuel notes relatively balanced gender representation in business education and roles, but observes that in game development, women remain underrepresented in technical positions and more common in support or marketing roles.
Episode 16 · Lola and Sam, indie game developers (6): Practical advice for aspiring indie developersB1 · 5:15They advise beginners to start small—avoiding overly ambitious projects—and stress that indie development requires realistic financial planning and sustainability.
Episode 17 · Lola and Sam, indie game developers (7): Explaining game design termsB1 · 4:53Lola defines game design as crafting mechanics to deliver a specific player experience, and distinguishes it from level design (spatial construction) and narrative design (storytelling).
Episode 18 · Lola and Sam, indie game developers (8): Crunch culture in game developmentB1 · 4:31They discuss how crunch—intense overtime—is systemic in both student projects and professional game development, citing iterative design and unpredictable technical challenges as key reasons for unrealistic deadlines.
Episode 19 · Gilles, bioinformatics professor (1): IntroductionsB1 · 4:18Gilles Bernot introduces himself as a bioinformatics professor at Polytech, Université Côte d'Azur, and stresses that effective teaching focuses on how students learn, not just what is taught.
Episode 20 · Gilles, bioinformatics professor (2): From mathematics to bioinformaticsB1 · 4:41Gilles recounts shifting from pure mathematics PhD work to applied fields, motivated by concerns for human life safety in software and the emergence of Genopole’s vibrant biology research environment.
Episode 21 · Gilles, bioinformatics professor (3): Lab-wide transition to bioinformaticsB1 · 4:15Gilles describes how his entire lab spent three years learning biology—not to master facts, but to understand what biologists consider meaningful results, enabling targeted computational support.
Episode 22 · Gilles, bioinformatics professor (4): Promoting gender balance in research hiringB1 · 4:18Gilles implemented a simple hiring policy—favoring qualified women when CVs were equally strong—which achieved 50% female representation among senior academic ranks within three to four years.
Episode 23 · Gilles, bioinformatics professor (5): Teaching requires revealing intuitionB1 · 4:30Gilles advocates that teachers openly share their intuitive reasoning—even if simplified or initially imprecise—to help students grasp abstract concepts like combinatorial explosion, making learning more accessible.
Episode 24 · Inès, engineering student (1): IntroductionsB1 · 5:12Inès Santos introduces herself as an engineering student at the University of Technology of Troyes (UTT), pursuing a dual degree in Computer and Information Systems Engineering and Global Security Applied Engineering (INSEGAI master's program).
Episode 25 · Inès, engineering student (2): Remote learning experiences and why she chose computingB1 · 5:13Inès describes remote teaching formats during the pandemic and explains her shift from mechanical engineering to digital technologies, driven by interest in digital transformation rather than traditional engineering careers.
Episode 26 · Inès, engineering student (3): Dual-degree internship challenges and an experience of sexismB1 · 5:16Inès discusses the difficulty of finding an internship that validates both her engineering and master’s degrees—and recounts an incident where a male classmate assumed she couldn’t solve a basic programming exercise and told her to ‘let him do it’ instead.
Episode 27 · Inès, engineering student (4): Her Smart City project and CTI accreditationB1 · 4:59Inès highlights her Smart City Simulator project developed with Oracle and her upcoming thesis on digital crisis management, then explains the role of the CTI (Commission des Titres d'Ingénieur) in accrediting French engineering degrees.
Episode 28 · Maxime, lecturer-researcher (1): IntroductionsB1 · 4:43Maxime Folschette introduces himself as a lecturer at École centrale de Lille and describes his current research on modeling glucose absorption and diabetes using differential equations.
Episode 29 · Maxime, lecturer-researcher (2): Motivation for interdisciplinary researchB1 · 4:46He explains his motivation to apply computer science methods—such as graph theory—to biological problems, highlighting the appeal and challenges of bioinformatics and interdisciplinary collaboration.
Episode 30 · Maxime, lecturer-researcher (3): Gender imbalance in computingB1 · 4:24He observes the underrepresentation of women in computing research careers, especially at senior levels, and notes that many women begin but do not complete PhDs, citing a persistent glass ceiling.
Episode 31 · Maxime, lecturer-researcher (4): Career path advice for researchersB1 · 4:22He advises prospective PhD students to carefully evaluate research topic, supervisors, and funding, and notes that academic positions are highly competitive—encouraging openness to R&D roles in industry as a valid and viable alternative.
Episode 32 · Julien, data scientist (1): IntroductionsB1 · 4:50Julien defines a data scientist as someone who extracts meaning from large volumes of information, introduces himself as 'Dataju', and outlines his background in astrophysics and science communication.
Episode 33 · Julien, data scientist (2): Roles in the data fieldB1 · 4:51Explains the distinct responsibilities of data engineers, machine learning specialists, and data analysts, and notes that these emerging roles are still evolving and clarifying their boundaries.
Episode 34 · Julien, data scientist (3): NLP and user behavior analysisB1 · 4:33Uses sentiment analysis as an example to show how basic NLP techniques analyze user comments, uncover hidden behavioral patterns, and enable user segmentation.
Episode 35 · Julien, data scientist (4): Pathways and key skills for data scienceB1 · 5:01Recommends master's and PhD pathways, stressing interest in data, theoretical understanding, coding ability, and continuous learning as essential qualities for a strong data scientist.
Eggplant millefeuille
Episode 1 · Eggplant Millefeuille with Goat CheeseA2 · 5:59This episode guides viewers through preparing a French-style eggplant millefeuille using local produce from Soissonnais—eggplants, tomatoes, goat cheese, and basil—plus a homemade honey-balsamic vinaigrette with rapeseed and olive oils.
Episode 2 · Eggplant Millefeuille RecipeA2 · 6:08This episode demonstrates how to prepare a French-inspired eggplant millefeuille with tomatoes, goat cheese, and fresh basil, then finishes it with a fragrant herb vinaigrette.
Les Confinois: a family at home
Episode 1 · The whole family is confinedB1 · 1:45The family is stuck at home due to lockdown, leading to exhaustion, bickering, and absurd outbursts—including blaming Myliah, mocking Latin, and threatening to smash a record.
Episode 2 · Ben deals with a harassment callB1 · 1:42Ben is on the phone with Catherine, who reports workplace harassment via WhatsApp, while being interrupted by family members and struggling to focus.
Episode 3 · The mask under the bedB1 · 2:08While conducting their usual room inspection for inappropriate material, the parents discover a medical mask hidden under their son's bed.
Episode 4 · Dreaming of a dogB1 · 1:39A child daydreams about owning a dog named Raymond, imagining him with a collar, leash, and tiny coat, and taking him outside to relieve himself.
Episode 5 · Alone at home, overwhelmedB1 · 2:05Ben feels overwhelmed at home, complaining about information overload and chaos, then jokingly dials a fictional 'Confinement Assistance' hotline.
Episode 6 · The family makes fabric masksB1 · 2:20The Confinois family decides to sew fabric masks for President Emmanuel Macron and his family after noticing he appeared on TV without one.
Episode 7 · An argument and a homecomingB1 · 1:42Myliah has just had an argument with a customer and arrives home to find her family already bickering in the kitchen.
Episode 8 · An improvised grocery poemB1 · 2:10Benjamin improvises a rhyming poem to recall the grocery list—including black confits—turning the chore into a playful, eco-conscious family performance.
Episode 9 · She cut her hair badlyB1 · 2:00Mylia cut her own hair following a lockdown tutorial and is horrified by the result, declaring it ugly and vowing never to go out like that.
Episode 10 · The radioactive quicheB1 · 2:45Trying to surprise the family with a quiche, he improvises wildly—using leeks instead of onions, salami instead of lardons, whipped cream instead of crème fraîche, goat cheese instead of Gruyère, and month-old pastry—resulting in a disastrously unappetizing dish.
Episode 11 · Mom tries to save her childB1 · 1:23Mom frantically says she wants to save her child, realizing the situation is getting worse and worse.
Episode 12 · The black prune jam incidentB1 · 2:46Ben complains of a terrible headache and blames Milia for the black prune jam incident.
Episode 13 · Dreams during lockdownB1 · 2:05The Confinois family shares their post-lockdown dreams: watching TV on the couch with beer, launching online petitions to protect animals, freeing local cows, and demanding protective gear before returning to work.
Episode 14 · Black olive confit chaosB1 · 2:30Ben panics, thinking he has to sing, fixates on 'black olive confits', and blames Myliah.
Episode 15 · Assembling the deconfinement kitB1 · 4:50Riquet lists everything needed for the end of lockdown — hand gel, toilet paper, grandpa's old mask — and the list gets more and more absurd.
How fake news shapes reality
Episode 1 · Speaker introduction and backgroundB2 · 5:04Christophe Michel introduces himself as a French high school science and media literacy teacher, and creator of the 'Hygiène Mentale' critical thinking video platform.
Episode 2 · Three approaches to tackling fake newsB2 · 4:41Compares three responses to fake news—censorship, labeling, and civic education—and argues that media literacy education is essential, like teaching road rules before driving.
Episode 3 · Classroom demo: reverse image searchingB2 · 4:16Shows teacher Rose-Marie Farinella guiding students to use reverse image search to trace a misattributed Australian award-winning photo back to its true origin and context.
Sauces make the dish
Episode 1 · Vineyard Sauce RecipeA2 · 5:10This episode teaches how to make vineyard sauce—a classic French red wine-based sauce—using shallots, beef stock, thyme, bay leaf, and cold butter. It covers simple, practical cooking techniques suitable for barbecues or everyday meals.
Episode 2 · Vineyard Sauce (Sauce Vigneronne)A2 · 5:01This episode demonstrates how to prepare classic French sauce vigneronne, a wine-based sauce enriched with cold butter using the 'monter au beurre' technique; it covers consistency control, seasoning, and versatile pairing suggestions for meats and fish.
Episode 3 · Grilled Andouillette with Mustard Sauce and Roasted New PotatoesA2 · 5:56This episode demonstrates how to prepare andouillette—a traditional sausage from Troyes—grilled to perfection, served with a homemade mustard sauce and roasted new potatoes.
Episode 4 · Grilled Andouillette with Mustard Sauce and Roasted PotatoesA2 · 5:52This episode demonstrates how to prepare traditional French andouillette sausage grilled to perfection, served with a rich mustard sauce made from shallots, white wine, crème fraîche, and two types of mustard—Meaux grain mustard and strong Dijon mustard—alongside roasted grenaille potatoes.
Episode 5 · Summer Pasta Salad with Grilled Vegetables and FetaA2 · 4:59This episode demonstrates how to prepare a refreshing cold pasta salad perfect for summer barbecues, featuring grilled red bell pepper, zucchini, cherry tomatoes, corn, red onion, and feta cheese—plus optional mozzarella or grilled chicken.
Episode 6 · Barbecue Pasta SaladA2 · 4:55This episode shows how to prepare a flavorful, summery pasta salad using grilled vegetables, corn, tomatoes, mozzarella, and feta—highlighting the unique taste boost from grilling the feta on the plancha.
How the suburbs began
Episode 1 · How Suburbs Began: From Barbecues to Urban PlanningB2 · 5:16This episode explores the historical origins of North American suburbs, examining how housing policies (like the U.S. National Housing Act), rising car ownership, and deliberate urban planning—featuring cul-de-sacs, low-density housing, and commuter lifestyles—shaped suburban identity and development in the 20th century.
Episode 2 · How Suburbs Began: Levittown and Canadian Housing After WWIIB2 · 4:52This episode explores the post-WWII origins of North American suburbs, focusing on William Levitt's mass-produced Levittown in New York and Canada's government-led housing initiatives—including standardized bungalow designs, affordable mortgages, and national building codes—to accommodate returning veterans and a growing population.
Episode 3 · The Birth of Quebec's SuburbsB2 · 5:10This episode explores how Quebec's suburbs emerged between 1948 and 1960, focusing on the local adaptation of the bungalow, the role of municipal infrastructure in residential development, and how rising car ownership reshaped urban expansion and suburban lifestyles.
Episode 4 · The Birth of Quebec's SuburbsB2 · 5:05This episode explores the mid-20th-century rise of suburban housing in Quebec, examining defining features like the bungalow style, carports, basements adapted for family life, backyards, sheds, lawns, and above-ground pools — all shaped by climate, car culture, and middle-class aspirations.
Episode 5 · How Quebec's Suburbs Began: Postwar Expansion and Family LifeB2 · 5:08This episode explores how Quebec's suburbs—especially Sainte-Foy—expanded dramatically after WWII, driven by rising car ownership, the relocation of Laval University, and the emergence of shopping malls. It examines how advertisements promoted single-family homes as symbols of modernity, comfort, and ideal family life.
Crème brûlée
Episode 1 · How to Make Crème BrûléeA2 · 4:30This episode demonstrates how to make crème brûlée step by step: infusing cream with vanilla, mixing egg yolks and sugar, tempering the mixture with hot cream, and baking it in the oven.
Episode 2 · How to Make Crème BrûléeA2 · 4:32This episode demonstrates the full process of making crème brûlée: pouring the custard into ramekins, baking in a water bath at 260°C for 35 minutes, chilling thoroughly (at least 4 hours), and finally caramelizing the sugar topping with a torch.
Where holidays come from
Episode 1 · The Origins of HalloweenB2 · 3:44This episode explores how Halloween arrived in Quebec through British, Scottish, and Irish immigrants, tracing its roots back to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain and its later transformation through Catholic liturgical calendar reforms—All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day.
Episode 2 · The Origins of CandlemasB2 · 2:30This episode explores the origins of Candlemas, tracing its roots from ancient Roman pagan festivals like the Lupercalia and explaining how it was Christianized—particularly through the Feast of the Purification of the Virgin Mary on February 2nd—while retaining themes of purification and fertility.
The Deadline
Pork stir-fry mustard cream
Episode 1 · Pork Stir-Fry with Mustard Cream SauceA2 · 4:17This episode demonstrates how to prepare a classic French pork stir-fry with mustard cream sauce, covering key cooking steps: searing the pork, sautéing onions and carrots, deglazing with white wine, simmering, and finishing with crème fraîche and old-style mustard.
Episode 2 · Pork Stir-Fry with Mustard Cream SauceA2 · 4:22This episode demonstrates preparing a classic French-style pork dish simmered in a creamy mustard sauce, then served with spaghetti — though rice, fries, or salad are also suggested alternatives.
Classic French songs
Episode 1 · By the Light of the MoonA2 · 3:21This episode features the classic French nursery rhyme 'Au clair de la lune', a gentle, lyrical tale of a person seeking a pen and light on a moonlit night to write a note.
Episode 2 · Brother JacquesA2 · 3:31This episode features the classic French nursery rhyme 'Frère Jacques,' helping learners practice simple questions, imperative verbs, and onomatopoeic bell sounds in a musical, repetitive format.
Episode 3 · Alouette: A Classic French Children's SongA2 · 3:59This episode features the classic French children's song 'Alouette', using its playful, repetitive structure to introduce vocabulary for body parts and the verb 'plumer' (to pluck) in the future tense.
Episode 4 · Dancing on the Bridge of AvignonA2 · 3:42This episode features the classic French children's song 'Sur le pont d'Avignon', celebrating a traditional Provençal dance with playful, repetitive lyrics and vivid gestures.
Episode 5 · There Was a Little ShipA2 · 3:48This episode features the classic French children's song 'Il était un petit navire,' telling the story of a little ship that had never sailed before embarking on a long voyage across the Mediterranean Sea.
Episode 6 · Do You Know How to Plant Cabbage?A2 · 3:44This is a classic French children's song that humorously describes planting cabbage using various body parts—feet, knees, nose, and elbows—in a playful, rhythmic chant.
Episode 7 · Little Fishes: A Playful French SongA2 · 2:52This playful French children's song contrasts real fish from the sea with whimsical versions—April Fools' fish, candy fish, and magical fairy-tale fish—highlighting creativity, humor, and linguistic rhythm.
Episode 8 · The Great Deer and the RabbitA2 · 3:49This is a classic French nursery rhyme telling a simple, repetitive story of a deer seeking refuge from a hunter with a rabbit. Its rhythmic, repetitive structure makes it ideal for beginners to practice pronunciation and basic vocabulary.
Episode 9 · Monday MorningA2 · 3:42A classic French song with playful, repetitive lyrics telling the whimsical story of an emperor, his wife, and the Little Prince repeatedly visiting the narrator to shake hands—only to find them absent each time.
Episode 10 · On the Road to DijonA2 · 3:43This classic French chanson evokes longing, memory, and the charm of Dijon through lyrical, nostalgic imagery and gentle repetition.
Episode 11 · Hello, My CousinA2 · 3:47This is a classic French folk song featuring playful, lighthearted dialogue between cousins—teasing about affection and bidding cheerful, rhythmic farewells.
Episode 12 · Bon Voyage, Monsieur DumolletA2 · 3:46A classic French song offering warm, witty, and slightly whimsical farewells and advice to the traveler Monsieur Dumollet, referencing Saint-Malo, Paris, and playful warnings about thieves and intrigue.
Episode 13 · Ladybug, Miss LadybugA2 · 3:41A playful French children's song that uses repetition, onomatopoeia, and vivid imagery to depict a ladybug flying through the sky.
Episode 14 · Lady Jam Tartine: A Whimsical French Nursery RhymeA2 · 3:45This episode features a classic French nursery rhyme full of playful, sugary imagery: Lady Jam Tartine lives in a palace made of butter and praline, marries Monsieur Jamblette dressed in pastry, and their daughter Charlotte meets Prince Lemonade—culminating in a fairy-tale twist with the jealous fairy Carabosse.
Episode 15 · Three Little Rabbits in the MoonlightA2 · 3:43This is a classic French nursery rhyme that charmingly depicts three mischievous little rabbits eating plums under the moonlight, using playful, repetitive verses and simple imagery.
Episode 16 · Marianne Goes to the MillA2 · 3:46This classic French folk song tells the whimsical story of a young girl named Marianne who rides her donkey to the mill, only for the donkey to be eaten by a wolf—and her subsequent efforts to replace it.
Episode 17 · Little Man PirouetteA2 · 3:48This is a classic French nursery rhyme telling the whimsical story of a little man who lives in a cardboard house with paper stairs, where visitors risk bumping their noses—and even the postman does!
Episode 18 · Here Comes the Good WindA2 · 3:42This is a classic French folk song with playful, poetic lyrics describing wind, ducks, the king's son, and other whimsical imagery, set to a light and cheerful melody.
Episode 19 · A Snail's JourneyA2 · 3:46This episode features a classic French children's song about a snail's comically slow adventures—going to the fair, school, and vacation—highlighting playful repetition and everyday French vocabulary.
Episode 20 · The Crocodile in My WardrobeA2 · 2:34A playful French children's song about a mischievous crocodile who lives in the wardrobe and under the bed, stealing the child's clothes to go on whimsical adventures.
Episode 21 · Jean de la Lune: A Whimsical French Folk Tale in SongA2 · 3:46This episode features the classic French song 'Jean de la Lune', a poetic and whimsical folk tale about a tiny, delicate moon-born creature who lives in a flowerpot, rides a walnut carriage pulled by mice, and crosses streams on bridges of grass.
Episode 22 · Raindrops Falling GentlyA2 · 3:46A classic French children's song that poetically describes walking in the rain, with playful repetition and vivid imagery of raindrops, wet hats and shoes, and the sun emerging behind the clouds.
Episode 23 · When Biron Wanted to DanceA2 · 3:39This classic French song humorously depicts the comical preparations of the nobleman Biron as he gets ready to dance, with repeated refrains and whimsical imagery of wigs, shoes, and costumes.
Episode 24 · A Spider on the FloorA2 · 3:42This classic French song features whimsical, surreal imagery: a spider knitting boots on the floor, a snail putting on pants, and a honeybee strumming a guitar in the sky—blending nonsense, rhythm, and poetic playfulness.
Episode 25 · A Goldfish's Dream of FreedomA2 · 3:46This classic French song tells the whimsical, poetic story of a goldfish who learns that birds live freely without cages and dreams of escaping his small, dirty bowl to explore the wide world, green meadows, and distant mountains.
Episode 26 · Miss Angèle's Mysterious ProfessionA2 · 3:47A classic French song in which the narrator rings doorbells at five different addresses searching for Miss Angèle, each time receiving a playful, inconsistent answer about her tailoring trade—hats, flannel vests, skirts, petticoats, and cotton bonnets.
Episode 27 · Three EskimosA2 · 3:50A whimsical and rhythmic classic French song depicting three Eskimos gathered around a brazier, listening to banjo music with playful, nonsensical lyrics and vivid, lighthearted imagery.
Episode 28 · Miller, Are You Sleeping?A2 · 3:31This is a classic French nursery rhyme featuring repetitive, rhythmic lyrics that depict a miller sleeping while his windmill spins too fast and the wind blows strongly.
Episode 29 · Maman, the Little Boats That Sail on the WaterA2 · 4:07This is a classic French nursery rhyme featuring playful, repetitive question-and-answer verses about little boats sailing on water, blending childlike curiosity with gentle humor and rhythm.
Episode 30 · The Wolf, the Fox, and the WeaselA2 · 3:57A classic French children's song featuring playful, repetitive verses about a wolf, a fox, and a weasel dancing and tapping their feet.
Episode 31 · The Ferret Runs and RunsA2 · 3:18This is a classic French children's song featuring repetitive, rhythmic lyrics that help learners practice pronunciation, rhythm, and basic vocabulary in a fun, engaging way.
Listening to the classics
Episode 1 · Introduction to Philosophical SkepticismB1 · 5:08This episode introduces philosophical skepticism, distinguishing it from everyday doubt. It explores skepticism as a method of inquiry into the limits of knowledge, using a scene from the film 'Dark Star' and the ancient Greek philosopher Pyrrho's life and teachings to illustrate its principles.
Episode 2 · The Wisdom of SkepticismB1 · 5:32This episode explores ancient Greek skepticism, explaining how suspending judgment leads to ataraxia (mental tranquility) and detailing Agrippa's five modes—a set of argumentative tools used to challenge dogmatic claims by exposing contradictions, relativity, unjustified assumptions, infinite regress, and circular reasoning.
Episode 3 · The Mystery of Voluntary ServitudeB2 · 6:03This episode explores Étienne de La Boétie's classic philosophical text 'Discourse on Voluntary Servitude', examining why people willingly submit to authority. It analyzes three key mechanisms: habit (mistaking social constructs for natural necessity), diversion (using entertainment to pacify populations), and self-interest (gaining privilege by participating in domination).
Episode 4 · What Does 'Being Identical' Really Mean?B1 · 4:27This episode explores the philosophical definitions of 'identical', 'similar', and 'different' through a classroom discussion, examining whether two human beings can ever be truly identical—considering physical traits, personality, knowledge, and lived experience.
Episode 5 · What Does It Mean to Resemble One Another?B1 · 4:29This episode explores the philosophical concepts of resemblance and difference, examining how humans share physical traits, language, and customs while also differing in social background, individuality, and adaptability across cultures.
Second life for computers
Episode 1 · Giving Computers a Second LifeB2 · 4:20This episode covers the 2024 Festival de la Récup' in Île-de-France, where the Antanak collective showcased computer reconditioning, free software adoption, and digital empowerment—highlighting practical reuse, repair culture, and growing public awareness of software freedom and gender-inclusive tech practices.
Episode 2 · Repairing the Present, Crafting the FutureB2 · 3:53This episode discusses the challenges of repairing and reusing complex items like computers, highlights intergenerational repair practices rooted in care for objects and people, and explores the growing importance of access rights and sharing over ownership—such as circulating new books in a community library.
Episode 3 · Computer Refurbishment and Sustainable LivingB2 · 4:02This episode explores how computer refurbishment helps reduce e-waste, conserve natural resources (like water, raw materials, and fossil fuels), and promote inclusive, sustainable digital access for everyone—not just as a low-cost alternative, but as a responsible choice for all.
Episode 4 · Giving Computers a Second LifeB2 · 4:00This episode discusses computer refurbishment, the right to use (rather than own) technology, Paris's planned digital recycling facility, and the Refis network—a solidarity-based initiative for sharing refurbished IT equipment across the Île-de-France region.
Episode 5 · The Computer Rebootery: Giving Old Devices New LifeB2 · 5:22This episode features Rémi from La Rebooterie, a Toulouse-based association that helps people regain digital autonomy by repairing, upgrading, and redistributing used computers. They run free workshops, offer zero-euro laptops to those in need, provide training, and recondition devices—combining practical tech support with environmental responsibility.
Episode 6 · Giving Computers a Second LifeB2 · 5:18This episode explores how a French nonprofit gives old computers a second life through repair, resale, and component recovery, while candidly discussing the limitations and complexities of electronic waste recycling in practice.
Episode 7 · Ten Proposals for Digital De-escalationB2 · 3:59This episode presents ten concrete proposals from the 'Digital De-escalation' collective, including securing essential public services to function offline (e.g., water supply, childcare, elder care) and adopting municipal digital sobriety—such as phasing out GAFAM tools in city administration.
Episode 8 · Ten Proposals for Digital De-escalationB2 · 4:14This episode presents ten municipal-level proposals for digital de-escalation, including human-centered public services, screen-free education, banning public advertising screens, limiting data centers and cell towers, curbing short-term rentals, and ensuring non-digital alternatives for residents.
Episode 9 · Rethinking Attention in the Digital AgeB2 · 4:05This episode traces the evolution of 'attention' from philosophical and psychological concepts to its commodification in the attention economy, and highlights grassroots initiatives promoting digital detox, sustainable tech use, and protecting children from excessive screen exposure.
Episode 10 · The Attention Crisis in the Digital AgeB2 · 4:00This episode examines how digital technologies impact human attention, health, education, and social bonds, and introduces grassroots organizations advocating for digital sobriety, human-centered tech use, and democratic awareness of tech's societal costs.
A cozy week at home
Episode 1 · A cozy summer workday at homeA2 · 5:31This episode follows a freelancer's relaxed yet productive summer day at home: editing a collaboration video, grocery shopping, baking banana bread, visiting a newly opened café in Rennes, reflecting on interior design trends, and trying out an at-home cleaning service via Wecasa.
Episode 2 · A Cozy Week at HomeA2 · 5:37This episode follows a relaxed week at home: repotting a struggling banana plant, dealing with a curious indoor cat who keeps escaping the garden, and preparing for a weekend music festival in Mayenne.
Episode 3 · A Cozy Week at Home: Autumn Routine RestartA2 · 5:27This episode follows a relaxed vlog-style week at home: finishing bathroom renovations (awaiting a mirror), planning living room updates (rugs, coffee table, lighting), navigating decor disagreements with a partner, and unboxing silver-toned jewelry purchased during sales.
A day at home
Episode 1 · A day in lockdown at homeA2 · 4:17This episode follows a French student's typical day during lockdown: waking up, studying math and Italian, helping with lunch, watching Friends, reading on Kindle, and doing a home workout inspired by a YouTube fitness challenge.
Episode 2 · A Day in Confinement at HomeA2 · 4:25This episode follows a person's daily routine during lockdown: doing home workouts (cardio, strength training, and core exercises), installing LED string lights around their bed, and spending relaxed evening time with family playing video games.
Gratins on the table
Episode 1 · Potato Gratin with Maroilles Cheese and Smoked SausageA2 · 5:49This episode shows how to prepare a comforting potato gratin using Maroilles cheese—a renowned cheese from northern France—and smoked sausage, with step-by-step cooking instructions.
Episode 2 · Potato Gratin with Maroilles Cheese and Smoked SausageA2 · 5:47This episode demonstrates how to prepare a classic French dish from the Nord region: potato gratin layered with Maroilles cheese and smoked sausage, baked until golden and creamy.
Episode 3 · White Asparagus Gratin with Cantal CheeseA2 · 5:04This episode demonstrates how to prepare a classic French gratin using seasonal white asparagus, Cantal cheese, crème fraîche, and simple seasonings—covering peeling, boiling, assembling, and baking.
Episode 4 · White Asparagus Gratin with Cantal CheeseA2 · 5:05This episode demonstrates how to prepare a classic French gratin using seasonal white asparagus and Cantal cheese, highlighting preparation steps, seasoning, baking time, and serving suggestions for starter or main course.
Doughnuts at the coffee shop
Episode 1 · From the rink to the coffee shopB2 · 5:09How a hockey player's name ended up on a coffee shop.
Episode 2 · Business in a doughnut holeB2 · 5:14How coffee and little doughnuts became a daily habit.
Episode 3 · A taste that became everydayB2 · 5:10How a coffee chain entered everyday Canadian life.
Cameroonian French: women at work
Episode 1 · Ange Patricia, leather sandal brand founderB1 · 2:08Ange Patricia introduces herself as a 20-year-old woman from Baham in West Cameroon, who completed her secondary education in the English stream in Yaoundé and graduated top of her class in cinematography and lighting at CR-TV's audiovisual institute.
Episode 2 · Eugénie, secretary for 14 yearsB1 · 2:29Eugénie explains that her 14-year career in secretarial work began with curiosity about invitation printing, computer data entry, and how documents transfer between machines.
Episode 3 · Flavie, model and make-up artistB1 · 0:46Flavie introduces herself as a 25-year-old model and makeup artist, noting her family’s and entourage’s appreciation for her work.
Episode 4 · Francine, tyre repairerB1 · 4:22Cameroonian Francine Tchakounté talks about working as a tyre repairer, a trade she grew to love through her family and learned on the job.
Episode 5 · Françoise, young beautician and spa ownerB1 · 4:15Françoise Bapès, 21, a beautician who runs her own spa, explains what drew her to the profession.
Episode 6 · Françoise Ngo Luma, accessories entrepreneurB1 · 2:15Françoise Ngo Luma, a Bassa woman living in Yaoundé, started in cosmetics before turning to accessory design, inspired by an artist she saw on Facebook.
Episode 7 · Josépha, marketing and telesalesB1 · 2:45Josépha introduces herself as a marketing and sales professional specializing in operational marketing and telemarketing, entering the field out of passion, with university training in commerce and marketing and practical experience across multiple companies.
Episode 8 · Julie Estelle and her women's associationB1 · 3:09Julie Estelle Kouam Pokam presents the association of about two hundred women she leads, which supports its members and their children.
Episode 9 · Bilingual journalist's career startB1 · 5:11Maryam introduces herself as a bilingual journalist with two years of experience, whose first language is English; she originally studied biochemistry at university and began her journalism career after her brother recommended her for a web TV presenter position.
Episode 10 · Osiéra, a made-in-Cameroon perfume brandB1 · 1:39Osiéra Mebounou from southern Cameroon talks about her family and studies in communication before founding a local perfume brand.
Episode 11 · Customs declarant and fashion designerB1 · 2:17Yolande Carine Bilo'o, 36, from Cameroon's South Region, is a customs declarant by training and a self-taught fashion designer.
A Cameroon mum’s day
Episode 1 · A Cameroonian Mom Prepares for a Home GatheringA2 · 6:47A Cameroonian mother shops for groceries amid rising food prices, shares her budgeting struggles, and prepares a home gathering with help from her mother and younger sister—cooking fish, couscous, plantains, chicken, and baobab juice.
Episode 2 · Back-to-School Preparation on a Budget in CameroonA2 · 4:33A Cameroonian mother shares practical, budget-friendly strategies for organizing school supplies, reusing last year's items, and planning purchases in advance to reduce stress before the new school year.
Episode 3 · A Cameroonian Mom's Back-to-School Preparation on a BudgetA2 · 4:45A Cameroonian mother demonstrates how to sort through school supplies and clothing, repair shoes and uniforms, donate usable items, and create a thoughtful shopping list—prioritizing reuse and mindful spending for the new school year.
Episode 4 · Back-to-School Prep on a Budget in CameroonA2 · 4:32A Cameroonian mother shares practical strategies for back-to-school shopping on a tight budget: coordinating with her partner to avoid duplicates, buying underwear, socks, and tights in bulk for cost savings and longevity, separating school-use items from home-use ones, and choosing affordable yet appropriate supplies from local markets.
Episode 5 · A Cameroonian Mom's Productive Day: Tips for Busy ParentsA2 · 4:41This episode follows a Cameroonian mother as she organizes her day—using a semi-automatic washing machine, freezing leftover food to reduce waste, and making multi-purpose vinegar-based cleaning solutions—to manage household tasks efficiently amid economic challenges.
Episode 6 · A Cameroonian Mom's Budget-Friendly Cooking TipsA2 · 5:15This episode follows a Cameroonian mother as she prepares maize porridge with lemongrass (fipangras), repurposes leftover banana, freezes meals for later use, and cooks economical dishes like pork roast in sauce—all to stretch her household budget while feeding her family well.
Episode 7 · A Cameroonian Mom's Daily Cooking RoutineA2 · 5:09A Cameroonian mother demonstrates practical daily cooking with limited ingredients, efficient household organization, food storage tips (like freezing bananas), onion sorting, and maintaining cleanliness through immediate tidying—while preparing pork stew and serving pistachios to her children.
Episode 8 · A Cameroonian Mom's Simple Sauce RecipeA2 · 5:19This episode shows a Cameroonian mother preparing a simple, flavorful pork sauce using leftover green seasonings (previously frozen), dried tomatoes, and basic pantry ingredients—demonstrating resourceful, everyday cooking.
Episode 9 · A Mother's Peaceful MomentA2 · 5:02A Cameroonian mother shares her peaceful, quiet moments during her children's nap time—cleaning the kitchen and living room, showering, enjoying a Malta drink and an age-restricted action film she rarely gets to watch.
Memories of Canet-en-Roussillon
Episode 1 · Roberto's Childhood Memories in Canet during WWIIB1 · 5:01Retired teacher Roberto shares his childhood memories growing up in Canet-en-Roussillon, born in 1939, and recounts life during WWII—his father’s conscription and five-year imprisonment in Germany, and how he lived with his mother and grandparents in the village, including the German occupation of Canet starting in 1942.
Episode 2 · Memories of Canet-en-Roussillon During World War IIB1 · 5:03An elderly resident recounts daily life in Canet-en-Roussillon during the German occupation of WWII: soldiers stationed in town, parts of the school repurposed for military use, the forced evacuation of civilians in early 1944 ahead of feared Allied landings, and eventual return after liberation.
Episode 3 · Childhood Games and School Memories in Canet-en-RoussillonB1 · 5:01A retired school principal recounts his 30-year career teaching and directing a primary school in Canet-en-Roussillon, describing children's everyday life in the mid-20th century—doing homework, playing freely in the village streets and countryside, and climbing medieval ramparts. He contrasts this with today’s more restricted childhood.
Episode 4 · Childhood Memories at the Canet CastleB1 · 5:28Retired teacher Roberto, born in 1939 in Canet-en-Roussillon, shares vivid childhood memories of playing freely at the medieval Canet Castle—then a ruined, open site where children invented games like 'parachute jumps' from walls onto vine prunings, and where locals kept animals and hung laundry.
Episode 5 · The Ice Well and the Ancient CemeteryB1 · 5:43This episode explores the history of Canet-en-Roussillon’s castle grounds, revealing that one area was the town’s oldest medieval cemetery—whose bones were sometimes uncovered by erosion—and explains how the nearby ice well functioned for food preservation, desserts, and fever treatment before modern refrigeration.
Episode 6 · The Vanished Canet: Memories of a Mediterranean VillageB1 · 4:38Retired teacher Roberto shares vivid childhood memories of Canet-en-Roussillon in the mid-20th century: public hand pumps used for washing, the noisy tramway, iron rings on vaulted walls marking former stables, and daily life before indoor plumbing or telephones.
Episode 7 · The Tramway Sounds of Canet-en-RoussillonB1 · 4:50An elder recounts the distinctive sounds of daily life in Canet-en-Roussillon from 1900 to 1954: the steel-on-steel clatter of the tramway, horse-drawn carts, barking dogs, flocks of sheep passing through village streets, and the once-dominant Catalan language.
Episode 8 · The Ice Well of Canet-en-RoussillonB1 · 7:20This episode explores the 1688 ice well at the Château de Canet-en-Roussillon: its cylindrical structure, how ice was harvested from frozen basins and snow pits, and its historical uses—from making sorbets to treating malaria-induced fevers in the local community.
Episode 9 · A Historical Walk Through Canet-en-RoussillonB1 · 4:18This episode explores the historic architecture of Canet-en-Roussillon in southern France, including the vicomtal castle, Saint-Jacques church, a 14th-century fortified tower, an 18th-century water mill, and bourgeois houses from the 17th and 19th centuries—tracing the village’s Catalan roots, feudal past, and architectural evolution.
Episode 10 · A Historical Walk Through Canet-en-RoussillonB1 · 4:50This episode explores the historic vicomtes' residence, Gothic Saint-Jacques church with its 14th-century bell tower and post-1563 reconstruction, early modern cannonballs embedded in a wall from the 1641 siege, the life of local figure Joseph Cassagne, and the 19th–20th century vineyard boom fueled by the railway.
Episode 11 · A Beachside Library Turns TenB1 · 7:03This episode celebrates the tenth anniversary of Biblioplage, a free beachside library in Canet-en-Roussillon, featuring its origins in 2015, its cozy setup with shaded loungers and 1,500+ books, and heartfelt testimonials from locals and vacationers of all ages about reading by the sea, children’s activities, vinyl sessions, and the joy of culture during holidays.
PM Jean Castex on Omicron (17 December 2021)
Episode 1 · The fifth wave and the arrival of OmicronB2 · 4:25The fifth wave strains hospitals as Omicron spreads fast across Europe; tighter controls on arrivals from Britain and advice for holiday gatherings.
Episode 2 · Holiday limits and support for hospitalsB2 · 4:38Testing before the holidays, cancelling big public gatherings and fireworks; doubled overtime pay for hospitals and military staff deployed to help vaccinate.
Episode 3 · Earlier boosters and the vaccine passB2 · 4:18Boosters after four months instead of five; a bill to turn the health pass into a vaccine pass, and more outreach to the unvaccinated.
Wandering through open maps
Episode 1 · Four Tools to Start Contributing to OpenStreetMapB2 · 6:43This episode introduces four OpenStreetMap contribution tools for users of all levels: StreetComplete (mobile app with simple quests), OSM Notes (anonymous map corrections), iD editor (intuitive web-based editor with French interface), and JOSM (powerful desktop editor for advanced mapping tasks).
Episode 2 · Cinematic Worlds on the Map: From Hobbiton to Platform 9¾B2 · 4:48This episode explores real-world locations linked to fictional universes—like Tolkien's Oxford home, Edoras in New Zealand, Hobbiton, C.S. Lewis's house, and King's Cross Platform 9¾—and how these sites appear on OpenStreetMap as tourist attractions or cultural landmarks.
Episode 3 · Fantasy Landmarks on OpenStreetMapB2 · 4:55This episode explores real-world locations from fantasy films and fandom culture mapped on OpenStreetMap: the Dursley house from Harry Potter, Quidditch pitches, Jedi temples, Luke Skywalker's home in Tunisia, Marty McFly's house in Los Angeles, and Punxsutawney—the real Groundhog Day town.
Episode 4 · Movie Filming Locations on OpenStreetMapB2 · 4:41This episode explores real-world filming locations from movies like Groundhog Day, Cast Away, Amélie, and series like Game of Thrones and Outlander, as mapped by contributors on OpenStreetMap — including landmarks, inaccuracies, tourist notes, and fan annotations.
Episode 5 · Walking Through Pompeii on OpenStreetMapB2 · 4:35This episode explores the archaeological site of Pompeii on OpenStreetMap, highlighting visible ruins, pedestrian Roman streets, theaters, amphitheaters, city walls, and tombs outside the ancient city gates — all mapped as present-day physical features.
Episode 6 · Berlin Map Walk: Memory and RuinsB2 · 4:28This episode explores central Berlin on OpenStreetMap, highlighting WWII destruction traces, the Soviet War Memorial, the Holocaust Memorial, the Großer/Kleiner Bunkerberg hills (buried bunkers), and Teufelsberg—a Cold War espionage hill built from wartime rubble.
Episode 7 · Berlin's Underground and Sainte-Hélène Island on OpenStreetMapB2 · 4:33This episode explores urban traces of Berlin's division—like ghost subway stations and Karl Marx Allee—then visits Sanssouci Palace in Potsdam, richly mapped with architectural details. It concludes with Sainte-Hélène Island, highlighting Napoleon’s exile sites and French-administered enclaves mapped on OpenStreetMap.
Episode 8 · Napoleon's Tomb Valley and the French Guiana Space CentreB2 · 4:28This episode explores Napoleon I's burial site in the 'Valley of the Tomb' on Saint Helena, then shifts to the French Guiana Space Centre — its location near the equator, infrastructure, launch pads (Ariane, Soyuz, future Ariane 6), and historical context under de Gaulle.
Episode 9 · Exploring Spaceports Around the WorldB2 · 4:37This episode explores spaceports worldwide using OpenStreetMap, covering their locations, historical contexts (e.g., Baikonur’s status in Kazakhstan post-USSR), infrastructure like launch pads and shuttle landing facilities, and how OSM tags them consistently — including lesser-known sites in India, Brazil, China, and the US.
Open treasures
Episode 1 · Ten Years of Open Data in FranceB2 · 7:45This episode explores the evolution and challenges of open data in France over the past decade since the Digital Republic Act came into force, covering legal foundations, key portals like data.gouv.fr, thematic datasets, implementation gaps, and calls for broader openness and stronger public support.
Episode 2 · Wiklou: The French-Speaking Bicycle WikiB2 · 6:11This episode introduces Wiklou, a French-language wiki dedicated to cycling—freely licensed, community-run, and rich with resources: bicycle association directories, technical documentation, health-related research, and playful DIY projects like hammocks from inner tubes or bottle openers made from bike chains.
Episode 3 · Biodiversity Around Me: An Open-Source Tool for Nature ObservationB2 · 6:54This episode introduces BAM (Biodiversité Autour de Moi), an open-source web application that displays geolocated naturalist observations—species names, photos, dates, and sometimes audio—on OpenStreetMap. Developed by French national parks, it aggregates data from global and local open sources like GBIF, Wikidata, and GeoNature, promoting public awareness of local biodiversity.
Episode 4 · Free Educational Software for SchoolsB2 · 5:15This episode presents Edubuntu and other free, open-source educational software designed for primary school teaching, including math tools like TuxBot and Fractals, reading aids like Syllabux, and handwriting practice with CS.
Episode 5 · Vhélio: An Open-Source Solar-Powered Electric VehicleB2 · 5:04This episode introduces Vhélio, an open-source, solar-powered three-wheeled cargo bike developed under a free hardware license. It highlights collaborative design using libre tools (FreeCAD, Git, Nextcloud), community-driven development, and its mission to enable sustainable, localized mobility in rural and peri-urban areas.
Episode 6 · BrailleRap: An Open-Source Braille EmbosserB2 · 5:32This episode introduces BrailleRap, an open-hardware braille embosser whose design, 3D-printed parts, and documentation are freely shared under the CERN Open Hardware Licence. It explains how it empowers people with visual impairments, lowers costs dramatically (under €300 vs. €3,000+ commercial models), and integrates free software like NatBraille and Marlin.
Episode 7 · Free Avatar Generators by David RevoyB2 · 5:30This episode explores David Revoy's free, open-source avatar generators—such as octopus, cat, bird, and abstract image creators—and explains how they empower users to avoid surveillance-based services like Gravatar, reclaim digital autonomy, and support internet freedom through libre software and creative commons licensing.
Open animation shorts
Episode 1 · The Lion and the SpiderA2 · 2:10This episode presents a fable about a proud lion who mocks a hardworking spider, only to face hunger and loneliness when his assumptions backfire—highlighting themes of humility, self-reliance, and the value of steady work.
Episode 2 · The Mole and the PeacockA2 · 1:55A peacock proudly displays his wealth and beauty to court a mole, who politely declines—explaining she is blind and values meaningful conversation over material possessions. The fable highlights how inner qualities deepen with time, while external appearances and possessions fade.
Episode 3 · The Puppeteer's StoryA2 · 4:33Alwena recounts her childhood experience of being ostracized by classmates for refusing to share her belongings, and reveals her deep, imaginative bond with a puppeteer — her only true friend.
Episode 4 · The Puppeteer FriendA2 · 4:27A little girl dreams of a mysterious puppeteer and her puppet friends, communicating through music, dance, and magic in the dream world—learning the joy of friendship, sharing, and helping others.
Open animated shorts (French dub)
Episode 1 · The DeadlineA2 · 1:17A one-minute true story about creative people racing their deadlines.
Episode 2 · Sprite FrightB1 · 10:30Rowdy teenagers camp in a remote forest and learn nature can bite back. An 80s-style horror comedy with jump scares.
Episode 3 · SintelB1 · 17:03Sintel raises a wounded baby dragon; when it is taken, she sets out on a dangerous journey to find it. Light on dialogue.
Understanding open source
Episode 1 · Open Source Software in Everyday Life and IndustryB2 · 3:55This episode explores how open source software powers everyday tools like Firefox and VLC, underpins the internet infrastructure, runs smart devices, and is widely adopted by major tech companies (Google, Facebook, Amazon), automakers (BMW, Renault), and even banks like Goldman Sachs and Société Générale.
Episode 2 · Open Source: A Multidimensional PhenomenonB2 · 3:35This episode explores open source as a multidimensional phenomenon—covering its legal foundations (freedom to use, modify, and redistribute), collaborative development practices (e.g., Linux, bazaar model), ethical values (user sovereignty), and emerging economic models distinct from traditional proprietary software.
Episode 3 · Open Source and the Global Sharing EconomyB2 · 4:41This episode explores how open source fuels a broader global movement of openness and collaboration, covering examples like Wikipedia, open data initiatives (e.g., OpenStreetMap, Open Food Facts), open government efforts in France, and the rise of the sharing economy across sectors.
Episode 4 · The Early Days of Computing and the Birth of Hacker CultureB2 · 4:39This episode explores the early era of computing—before the 1970s—when programmers freely shared, studied, modified, and improved software collectively. It clarifies that 'hackers' were not cybercriminals but skilled tinkerers and deep system understanders, and explains how this collaborative, open ethos laid the foundation for open source.
Episode 5 · The Birth of the Free Software MovementB2 · 3:46This episode explores how Richard Stallman launched the GNU project in the 1980s after being blocked from fixing a printer due to proprietary software restrictions, later founding the Free Software Foundation and defining the four essential freedoms of free software.
Episode 6 · The Early Adoption of the GPL LicenseB2 · 3:48This episode explores how the GNU General Public License (GPL) was adopted in the late 1980s and early 1990s by major open-source projects—including Goscript, Perl, and Linux—and examines the motivations, adaptations, and early tensions surrounding its use.
Episode 7 · Open Source Collaboration and Industrial Win-WinB2 · 3:51This episode explores how industries collaborate on open source projects—including co-opetition among competitors—to build shared technological ecosystems and sustain digital commons like Android, Genivi, and PostgreSQL.
Episode 8 · The Evolution of Free Software in the Cloud EraB2 · 3:09This episode explores how cloud computing reshapes the use of free software, explaining the three main cloud models—IaaS, PaaS, and SaaS—and how each affects user control, access, and freedom. It also introduces licensing responses like the GNU Affero GPL.
Episode 9 · GNU GPL and Copyleft: How Open Source Licenses Protect FreedomB2 · 3:21This episode explains the origin and evolution of the GNU General Public License (GPL), from its early version for GNU Emacs to GPLv3, highlighting its core principle—copyleft—and how it ensures software freedom through share-alike requirements.
Episode 10 · Open Source and PatentsB2 · 3:01This episode explains what patents are, how software patents are treated differently in France/Europe versus the US and Japan, the problem of patent trolls, and how open source communities and companies respond—through defensive patent pools, pledges not to enforce patents against open source, and patent clauses in licenses like Apache and GPL.
Episode 11 · Open Source and TrademarksB2 · 3:30This episode explains how trademark law operates independently from copyright and patent rights in open source projects, and compares how commercial companies versus community-driven projects use trademarks—ranging from restrictive enforcement to inclusive, certification-based approaches.
Episode 12 · Open Source Project Governance ModelsB2 · 3:32This episode explains the two main governance models for open-source projects—vendor-led and community-led—and discusses contributor roles, responsibility levels (e.g., maintainers), and how contribution rights and code integration are managed based on governance type.
Episode 13 · Business Models for Open Source SoftwareB2 · 4:42This episode explores various business models for open source projects, including proprietary license sales (community vs. enterprise editions), subscription-based services, technical support and consulting, SaaS offerings, corporate sponsorship by hardware vendors, community donations, and advertising revenue — all illustrating how diverse and adaptable open source economics can be.
Episode 14 · Digital Transformation and Open Source ModelsB2 · 3:10This episode explores how organizations leverage open source models to drive digital transformation, highlighting the strategic importance of collaborative innovation, shared resources, and technical autonomy in staying competitive.
An archaeology vlogger on the road
Episode 1 · Behind the Scenes: Editing My Pompeii VideoB1 · 4:18The archaeology vlogger shares her on-site filming challenges at Pompeii and Herculaneum—especially the ban on tripods at historic sites—and demonstrates her two-stage editing workflow in Premiere Pro, including color-coded organization of rushes by theme (frescoes, architecture, Vesuvius).
Episode 2 · Hiking the Vesuvius Caldera and Vlog Production TipsB1 · 4:20The vlogger recounts hiking around half the Vesuvius caldera, explains why taking the bus is safer and more practical than walking up the busy road, and shares tips on selecting royalty-free instrumental music from SoundCloud. She also humorously describes knitting a cashmere pouch for a generous supporter and reflects on audience feedback about her Pompeii video.
Episode 3 · Pompeii, Pink Floyd, and Fossilized PoopB1 · 4:19An archaeology vlogger visits a Pompeii exhibition featuring Pink Floyd's historic concert, then discusses an upcoming public lecture she's co-presenting on coprolites—fossilized human and animal feces—and how they reveal ancient diets, flora, and fauna.
Episode 4 · Archaeological Hiking Discoveries in Lozère and LarzacB1 · 4:19This episode follows an archaeology vlogger on hiking expeditions through Lozère and the Larzac plateau, exploring a protohistoric defensive enclosure from the La Tène period (4th century BCE), dolmens, and other archaeological sites, while explaining survey methods used by archaeologists.
Episode 5 · Archaeological Discoveries on the RoadB1 · 4:27The archaeologist vlogger explores two dolmens and a Gallic oppidum in the Larzac region, explaining how cairns once covered megalithic tombs and how Roman-era construction techniques differ from earlier protohistoric phases.
Episode 6 · Archaeological Discoveries at an Ancient Roman SiteB1 · 4:22An archaeologist vlogger explores an ancient Roman site, explaining construction techniques like rubble-filled walls, hand-carved rainwater gutters, and locally produced sigillata pottery, while describing the site's layout, natural defenses, and historical connections to Millau.
Archaeology in a few minutes
Episode 1 · Pompeii: The Birth of ArchaeologyB1 · 5:18This episode explores the ancient Roman city of Pompeii—its urban layout, social structure, economic role, and daily life—challenging the common perception of it as merely a tragic, frozen-in-time ruin. It highlights how seismic activity, reconstruction efforts, elite seasonal residency, and centuries of looting shape our understanding of the site.
Episode 2 · Pompeii: The Birth of ArchaeologyB1 · 5:11This episode explores how the excavation of Pompeii catalyzed archaeology's shift toward scientific methodology—highlighting Giuseppe Fiorelli's plaster-casting technique, early stratigraphy principles, and the ethical challenges of conservation, tourism adaptation, and public outreach in heritage management.
Episode 3 · Is Indiana Jones an Archaeologist?B1 · 4:15This episode examines how the Indiana Jones films misrepresent archaeology—covering inaccurate depictions of methods, ethics, historical context, and colonial stereotypes—while also noting their unintentional reflection of real 20th-century Nazi archaeological activities.
Episode 4 · Indiana Jones and the Bible: Archaeology, Religion, and Nazi MythmakingB1 · 3:58This episode analyzes how 'Raiders of the Lost Ark' uses archaeology to expose Nazi obsessions with ancient artifacts and ideological mythmaking, while revealing the film's underlying biblical narrative and religious framing—presented through classroom symbolism, visual metaphors, and Spielberg's cultural background.
Episode 5 · The Mystery of the Maya Civilization's DisappearanceB1 · 4:57This episode explores why the Classic Maya cities in the lowlands declined between 300–900 CE, examining key theories—including endemic warfare among city-states, climate shifts and drought, and environmental degradation—while highlighting how archaeological evidence supports or challenges each explanation.
Episode 6 · Why Did the Maya Civilization Decline?B1 · 4:52This episode examines the complex factors behind the collapse of the Classic Maya urban civilization—environmental degradation (especially deforestation for lime plaster), devastating European epidemics, and Spanish conquest. It emphasizes that the Maya people never disappeared; millions still live in Mexico today, speaking closely related Mayan languages.
Episode 7 · Menhirs: Displaying Wealth in the Neolithic EraB1 · 4:00This episode explores how megaliths—especially menhirs in Brittany—served as visible markers of wealth, social hierarchy, and emerging power structures during the European Neolithic, linking agriculture, resource exchange, and monumental construction.
Episode 8 · Menhirs: Displaying Wealth and Honoring AncestorsB1 · 4:01This episode explores the purpose of prehistoric megaliths—like menhirs and stone alignments—examining how they served to display wealth, honor heroic or ancestral figures, mark clan identity, and function as communal memory sites in non-monetary societies.
Episode 9 · Rites of Passage: How Boys Become Men Among the BaruyaB1 · 5:07This episode explores how Baruya boys in Papua New Guinea undergo multi-year initiation rites to become adult men—featuring separation from women, corporal discipline, symbolic homosexual practices to 'recreate' boys without female influence, and prescribed marital rituals.
Episode 10 · Baruya Initiation Rites: Becoming a ManB1 · 5:01This episode explores the Baruya people's male initiation rites in Papua New Guinea, explaining their symbolic logic—linking semen, milk, and masculinity—as well as the tension between mythic matriarchy and actual male dominance, and how these rites sustain social order and reproduction.
Episode 11 · The Origins of Science PopularizationB1 · 4:40This episode explores the origins of science popularization in 17th- and 18th-century Europe, highlighting pioneers like Galileo, Palissy, and Fontenelle who used vernacular language, dialogue formats, public demonstrations, and accessible publications to share scientific knowledge beyond academic and religious elites.
Episode 12 · The Origins of Science Communication in the EnlightenmentB1 · 4:41This episode explores the birth of science communication during the French Enlightenment, highlighting Émilie du Châtelet’s groundbreaking French translation of Newton’s Principia and Voltaire’s efforts to popularize scientific and political ideas for a broad audience.
From the oven
Episode 1 · How to Make Traditional Breton CakeA2 · 5:03This episode demonstrates how to make the traditional Breton cake, a beloved regional dessert from western France. It covers ingredients (butter, sugar, flour, eggs, optional rum), preparation techniques like sablage, and essential steps including mixing, resting, and oven preheating.
Episode 2 · How to Make a Traditional Breton CakeA2 · 5:05This episode demonstrates the traditional, hands-on preparation of a Breton cake—from spreading the dough in a buttered mold and glazing with egg yolk, to baking, cooling thoroughly, demolding, and slicing. Emphasis is placed on artisanal technique and homemade quality.
Episode 3 · Greek-Style Shakshuka with FetaA2 · 4:45This episode guides you through preparing a Greek-inspired shakshuka using tomatoes, eggs, feta cheese, cumin, paprika, onions, garlic, and olive oil — a flavorful, traditional Mediterranean dish.
Episode 4 · Greek-Style Shakshuka with FetaA2 · 4:50This episode demonstrates how to prepare Greek-style shakshuka: simmering a tomato base, cracking eggs into wells, topping with crumbled feta, and serving family-style with toasted bread for dipping.
CodFamilya challenges
Episode 1 · Back-to-School Shopping ChallengeA2 · 4:30Myriam and her family play challenges to earn money for back-to-school supplies, debating sneakers, sportswear, prices, and budgets in a lighthearted, relatable family dynamic.
Episode 2 · Back-to-School Outfit ChallengeA2 · 4:24Youness and Myriam shop for back-to-school clothes and shoes, debating styles, colors, fits, prices, and outfit coordination — all while joking and reacting to each other's choices.
Episode 3 · One-Euro Snack Shopping ChallengeA2 · 4:35Myriam and her family shop at a discount supermarket on a tight budget—buying snacks, toiletries, and a mystery box for just €10—while tasting, joking, and negotiating what to keep. The episode captures everyday French youth culture, casual family dynamics, and humorous consumer moments.
Episode 4 · Myriam's New Room ChallengeA2 · 6:02Myriam is about to enter sixth grade, and her family has promised her a brand-new room. She selects furniture and tech gear—like a gaming chair, desk, PC, and accessories—while negotiating playfully with her brothers and parents in lively, affectionate family banter.
Episode 5 · Myriam's Secret Room RevealA2 · 6:05Myriam discovers a surprise room prepared by her family, featuring a Nintendo Switch, colorful LED lights, snack storage, gaming accessories, and a feast of fast food and desserts.
Coralie’s quick bites
Short science explainers
Episode 1 · The Ocean – Marvelous and ThreatenedB1 · 7:58This episode explores the ocean's incredible biodiversity—from mangrove forests and coral reefs to alien-like deep-sea creatures—and explains critical threats including plastic pollution, overfishing, ocean acidification, deoxygenation, and climate-driven coral bleaching.
Episode 2 · What Really Causes Obesity?B1 · 5:52This episode explains that obesity results from an imbalance between energy intake and expenditure, highlighting how non-exercise physical activity—like fidgeting—significantly contributes to calorie burning and is often reduced in people with obesity.
Episode 3 · How Wikipedia Works: Crowdsourced Knowledge and Editorial PrinciplesB1 · 4:42This episode explains how Wikipedia operates as a crowdsourced encyclopedia—covering its editorial culture, emphasis on verifiability and neutrality, reliance on external sources, gender and geographic imbalances among contributors, and its relationship to academic scholarship and open-access publishing.
Ivorian French: filmmakers on their work
Episode 1 · Creative commitment and trustB1 · 7:01The filmmaker describes taking the Coco Di Ambassade project to heart, receiving trust from key figures, and being entrusted with designing the Genesis headquarters in Côte d'Ivoire.
Episode 2 · Cassava processing stepsB1 · 2:11A woman walks through cassava processing, from peeling, washing and grating to pounding, drying and cooking.
Episode 3 · Artisanal fabric dyeing in Côte d'IvoireB1 · 0:34Shows the women of an Ivorian community dye workshop soaking, tying, rinsing, drying and packing fabric.
Episode 4 · A shoemaker's daily work in AbidjanB1 · 3:15A shoemaker in Abidjan's Koumassi district describes his 25-year-old workshop, his leather and sole materials, and hand-stitching.
Episode 5 · Artisanal dyeing techniques explainedB1 · 2:08Two Ivorian artisans introduce their artisanal bazin dyeing practice since 2008 and 2015, explaining dyeing methods for colors like sky blue and camouflage green, and naming common dyes such as guesnè.
Episode 6 · The MASA performing arts festival in AbidjanB1 · 2:15Introduces MASA, the African performing arts market in Abidjan, with its live shows, storytelling and exhibitions.
Episode 7 · Carpenter Julien shares his craftB1 · 2:00Carpenter Bissain Julien describes his 25-year career crafting furniture like chairs and lampshades, learning from his elder brother, his passion for the work, and current challenges—lack of workspace and tools.
Episode 8 · Carpenter's professional challengesB1 · 4:47Gerson Claudio Edmond, a carpenter, describes how lack of financial resources hinders his professional progress and how he and his peers are marginalized in La Chapelle, Abidjan.
Episode 9 · Making a flower pot from a tomato canB1 · 3:11Olivier Kanga demonstrates step-by-step how to make an eco-friendly flower pot using a tomato can, wooden sticks, and freezer moss.
Episode 10 · Basket weaving as daily workB1 · 2:19Issaka Panier explains how he makes baskets from recycled materials for a living, a skill learned in his village and practiced for ten years in Abidjan.
Episode 11 · Africa's cultural heritage and innovationB1 · 1:44The speaker describes Africa as the cradle of humanity, emphasizing its preservation of traditions like masks and sacred dances, while also highlighting African technicians' innovative use of rivers and dams to generate electricity and light cities.
Episode 12 · Team recap and gratitudeB1 · 3:38The filmmaker looks back on making films for Wiki Loves Africa 2024, the joys and difficulties of the shoot, and thanks mentors and teammates.
Episode 13 · Opening of the 7th Francophone WikiConventionB1 · 6:25Opening the 2023 francophone WikiConvention in Abidjan, the speaker stresses a shared commitment to free knowledge and the cross-border strength of the French-speaking community.
Episode 14 · Closing remarks and thanksB1 · 6:42The speaker officially closes the convention, praises Wikimedia Côte d'Ivoire's organization, and expresses deep appreciation for the warm welcome and familial atmosphere.
How science really works
Episode 1 · How Evolution WorksB2 · 4:57This episode explains evolution's core mechanism—replication with occasional random variation—using relatable examples like the telephone game and name/word transmission across generations, highlighting how small, unpredictable changes accumulate over time to produce significant transformations.
Episode 2 · How Natural Selection Actually WorksB2 · 5:00This episode uses a telephone game analogy to explain how evolution works, illustrating how natural selection operates through random variation, utility (e.g., camouflage, photosynthesis), sexual selection (e.g., attractiveness), and the role of chance—especially in small populations—while emphasizing that only reproductive success is ultimately favored.
Episode 3 · How Evolution Really WorksB2 · 4:56This episode uses the 'telephone game' as an analogy to explain how evolution works: random variation, reproduction, and changing environmental pressures interact to shape living organisms over time. It also discusses viral evolution during pandemics and why predicting evolutionary outcomes is impossible.
Episode 4 · Galileo: The Lone Hero Against Authority?B2 · 5:39This episode unpacks the popular myth of Galileo as a lone scientific hero defying religious authority, examining the real history behind the telescope's invention, his early astronomical observations (including Jupiter's moons), and the competing Ptolemaic and Copernican cosmological models of his time.
Episode 5 · Galileo and the Celestial Mechanics DebateB2 · 5:47This episode explores how Galileo's telescopic observations—of mountains and craters on the Moon and the four moons orbiting Jupiter—challenged Aristotle's and Ptolemy's geocentric model, supported Copernicus's heliocentric theory, and sparked debate about the nature of astronomical evidence and scientific authority.
Episode 6 · Galileo Was Not Alone Against the WorldB2 · 5:50This episode examines how Galileo's actual contributions to astronomy were modest and often overstated, while highlighting the crucial distinction between scientific debate—where evidence is weighed openly—and ideological suppression, as seen in the Church's response to heliocentrism.
Episode 7 · What Are the Colors of the Rainbow?B2 · 4:53This episode explains how visible light is composed of photons with different wavelengths, how wavelength determines color (from violet at ~400 nm to red at ~700 nm), and how rainbows form when sunlight disperses through water droplets—just as a prism separates white light into its spectral colors.
Episode 8 · Where Do Rainbow Colors Come From?B2 · 4:55This episode explains the composition of the visible light spectrum and how the human eye percets colors through three types of cone cells—revealing why colors like pink don’t appear in the rainbow and how screens recreate colors using red, green, and blue light.
Episode 9 · What Are the Real Colors of the Rainbow?B2 · 4:48This episode explores the physics of rainbow colors—how light wavelengths, human eye cone cells, and language shape our perception and naming of colors—and explains why pink isn’t in the rainbow and why Newton’s seven-color division is both historical and culturally contingent.
Episode 10 · What Colors Make Up a Rainbow?B2 · 5:04This episode explores the physics of color perception—how objects absorb and reflect light, how languages name colors differently (e.g., 'white grapes' or 'red hair'), how fish evolve color vision based on water depth, and how astronomers use stellar and exoplanetary spectra to detect atmospheric molecules across vast cosmic distances.
Episode 11 · Why Pluto Is No Longer a PlanetB2 · 4:37This episode traces how the definition of a 'planet' evolved—from ancient Greek observations of wandering stars, to Copernicus's heliocentric model (which reclassified Earth as a planet and the Sun as a star), Galileo's discovery of Jupiter's moons (leading to the concept of satellites), and Herschel's discovery of Uranus.
Episode 12 · Why Pluto Is No Longer a PlanetB2 · 4:56This episode traces the evolution of planetary classification in our solar system—from the discovery of Ceres and other asteroids in the early 1800s to the mathematical prediction and telescopic confirmation of Neptune in 1846—showcasing how scientific understanding advances through observation, calculation, and revision of models.
Episode 13 · Why Pluto Is No Longer a PlanetB2 · 4:52This episode explains how Pluto went from being the ninth planet to a dwarf planet, tracing the scientific journey: anomalies in Neptune's orbit, the search for a new planet, Pluto's discovery in 1930, growing doubts about its planetary status, the hypothesis and eventual confirmation of the Kuiper Belt, and the 2006 IAU reclassification.
Episode 14 · Why Pluto Is No Longer a PlanetB2 · 4:25This episode explains the four categories used to classify celestial objects in our solar system, focusing on the three criteria—what the object orbits, its shape (determined by gravity), and whether it has 'cleared its orbit'—that distinguish planets from dwarf planets like Pluto.
Episode 15 · Why Pluto Is No Longer Considered a PlanetB2 · 4:06This episode explains the scientific criteria that led to Pluto's reclassification as a dwarf planet, focusing on orbital stability and mass dominance. It also details key discoveries from NASA's New Horizons mission, including Pluto's active surface, nitrogen glaciers, cryovolcanoes, thin atmosphere, and its complex satellite system with Charon and smaller moons.
Episode 16 · Why Pluto Is No Longer a PlanetB2 · 5:03This episode explains the scientific reasoning behind Pluto's reclassification as a dwarf planet, and explores fascinating Kuiper Belt objects like Haumea—distorted by rapid rotation—and Ceres, the only dwarf planet in the asteroid belt. It also discusses the ongoing search for a possible ninth planet beyond Neptune.
Episode 17 · Why Pluto Is No Longer a PlanetB2 · 4:46This episode explains how scientific classification evolves, detailing why Pluto was reclassified as a dwarf planet and emphasizing that categories like 'planet' or 'dwarf planet' are human-made tools—not absolute natural boundaries—shaped by new discoveries and inherently fuzzy definitions.
Sketches from French class
Episode 1 · Unity Helps Us Overcome ObstaclesA2 · 2:01This episode uses a classroom skit to explore how students can collectively confront social obstacles like discrimination and racism, highlighting the importance of unity, mutual support, respect, and solidarity in achieving shared goals.
Episode 2 · We're All on the Same TeamA2 · 1:25This episode centers on student teamwork, featuring playful banter, mutual apologies, and a shared goal—working together to retrieve lost keys—highlighting unity, solidarity, and reconciliation.
Episode 3 · Going for a Walk in the ParkA2 · 1:11This episode uses a playful father-daughter dialogue to practice common French question structures, including 'quand est-ce qu'on va...?', 'c'est qui qui vient...?', and corrections of informal vs. formal phrasing.
Episode 4 · French Conversation SketchA2 · 2:54This episode presents a short theatrical sketch demonstrating correct and incorrect ways to form questions in everyday French conversation, focusing on natural phrasing and common mistakes.
Episode 5 · Support and Courage in School LifeA2 · 4:11This episode portrays students supporting each other during physical education, reading practice, and anti-bullying situations—highlighting empathy, inclusion of diverse learning needs (e.g., dyslexia, mobility), and the importance of speaking up about harassment.
Episode 6 · Friendship, Equality, and RespectA2 · 4:14This episode explores inclusion, racial equality, and gender equality through everyday school and playground situations—reading practice, confronting prejudice, and a co-ed dance battle—emphasizing respect for differences and shared humanity.
Episode 7 · The Candy God's ClassroomA2 · 3:31This episode humorously explores religious belief and state secularism in French schools, as a teacher is reprimanded by the principal for promoting a fictional 'Candy God' and imposing personal beliefs on students.
Episode 8 · The Cat God and Religion ClassA2 · 2:13This episode humorously explores the distinction between religious beliefs and scientific facts, while also addressing the principle of secularism in French public schools.
Classic fairy tales from class
Episode 1 · Little Red Riding Hood (Part 1)A1 · 4:32This episode tells the classic fairy tale of Little Red Riding Hood visiting her sick grandmother and encountering the wolf along the way.
Episode 2 · Little Red Riding Hood (Part 1)A1 · 4:23This episode tells the classic fairy tale of Little Red Riding Hood, who sets off to visit her ailing grandmother with a basket of treats—and meets the cunning wolf in the forest along the way.
Episode 3 · Goldilocks and the Three BearsA1 · 4:24This episode tells the beginning of the classic fairy tale 'Goldilocks and the Three Bears', where a disobedient little girl with curly hair runs into the forest and encounters the bears.
Episode 4 · Goldilocks and the Three BearsA1 · 4:22This episode continues the classic fairy tale of Goldilocks, focusing on her being trapped in a sack by the wolf and calling for help, while Mama Bear searches everywhere for her.
Episode 5 · Goldilocks and the WolfA1 · 4:18This episode adapts the classic fairy tale 'Goldilocks', focusing on her trip to the woods to slide—and her failure to notice the wolf hidden in the sand. It emphasizes narrative sequencing, sentence construction, and cause-and-effect reasoning in French.
Episode 6 · Igor and the Three Little Pigs: A Musical VacationA1 · 4:09The three little pigs are musicians returning home exhausted after a year of concerts. Each brother plans his own vacation—buying a house, a car, or throwing a party—until a surprise birthday celebration brings them all together, along with the wolf Igor.
Episode 7 · The Tale of the Golden FishA1 · 3:18This episode tells the Russian fairy tale of an old fisherman who catches and releases a golden fish; the grateful fish grants his wife's increasingly extravagant wishes—until her insatiable greed causes them to lose everything they had.
Negotiated dictation in class
Episode 1 · Negotiated Dictation in a French Elementary ClassroomA2 · 5:11This episode shows a negotiated dictation activity in a French CE2 (second-grade) classroom, where students collaboratively discuss spelling, justify their choices, debate grammar and orthography, and reach consensus before writing the final version.
Episode 2 · Negotiated Dictation in a French Elementary ClassroomA2 · 5:10This episode shows a CE2 (second-grade) French classroom where students engage in negotiated dictation: they collaboratively discuss spelling, accents, verb conjugations (like the future tense of 'donner'), and consult dictionaries to reach consensus on correct written forms.
Ice storm in Quebec
Episode 1 · The 1998 Ice Storm in QuebecB1 · 4:12This episode recounts the historic 1998 ice storm in Quebec, when heavy freezing rain caused widespread power outages, collapsed transmission towers and trees, damaged infrastructure, and triggered a large-scale emergency response involving government, Hydro-Québec, and humanitarian organizations.
Episode 2 · The Quebec Ice Storm CrisisB1 · 4:15This episode covers the 1998 Quebec ice storm crisis: widespread power outages affecting 3.5 million people, deployment of 16,000 Canadian soldiers, emergency helicopter deliveries of cash, and heroic efforts by Hydro-Québec line workers to restore electricity under extreme conditions.
Episode 3 · The Quebec Ice Storm DisasterB1 · 4:13This episode recounts the devastating 1998 ice storm in Quebec, covering widespread power outages, fatalities (including from hypothermia and carbon monoxide poisoning), massive infrastructure damage, economic losses totaling CAD 6.4 billion, and remarkable community solidarity efforts.
The 1980s in Quebec
Episode 1 · Quebec in the 1980s: Politics, Identity, and the 1980 ReferendumB1 · 4:57This episode explores Quebec in the 1980s as a decade of profound political and cultural transformation, centering on the 1980 sovereignty referendum—its origins, key arguments from both 'Yes' and 'No' sides, electoral outcome, and its lasting impact on Quebec and Canadian identity.
Episode 2 · Constitutional Change and Social Movements in 1980s QuebecB1 · 4:47This episode covers the patriation of Canada's Constitution in 1982, the creation of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, the 'Kitchen Accord' and Quebec's exclusion from it, and major social movements of the 1980s—including province-wide teachers' strikes and broader labor mobilizations in Quebec.
Episode 3 · Social Movements in 1980s QuebecB1 · 4:45This episode explores diverse social movements across 1980s Quebec: teachers and students advocating for education reform and tuition freezes; widespread labor mobilizations across sectors; peace and anti-nuclear demonstrations; efforts to defend French language rights amid constitutional tensions; and Indigenous communities’ growing advocacy for educational self-determination and cultural revitalization.
Episode 4 · Indigenous Rights and Cultural Boom in 1980s QuebecB1 · 4:53This episode covers key Indigenous rights developments in 1980s Quebec—including constitutional recognition, landmark protests by Mohawk and Algonquin communities, and the historic 1991 tripartite agreement—as well as the flourishing cultural scene, highlighted by the founding of the Montreal International Jazz Festival and Cirque du Soleil.
Episode 5 · Quebec's Cultural Boom in the 1980sB1 · 4:54This episode explores Quebec's vibrant cultural development in the 1980s: the opening of the Musée de la civilisation, the rise of Juste pour rire and improvisation leagues, Céline Dion's international breakthrough, major literary and film awards, UNESCO recognition of Quebec City, and shifting social values amid globalization and immigration.
Episode 6 · Quebec's Cultural Landscape in the 1980sB1 · 4:53This episode explores Quebec's 1980s cultural evolution across television (e.g., 'Le temps d'une paix'), film (e.g., 'Jésus de Montréal'), music (e.g., Céline Dion, Robert Charlebois), and the rise of home video game consoles, highlighting a shift from collective identity themes toward personal and romantic subjects.
Episode 7 · The 1980s in Quebec: Tragedies, Progress, and CultureB1 · 4:52This episode surveys defining moments of the 1980s in Quebec, including tragic incidents (e.g., the École Polytechnique massacre, the National Assembly shooting), social advances (e.g., workplace standards, sexual assault law reform, LGBTQ+ rights announcements), and cultural highlights (e.g., Terry Fox's Marathon of Hope, Canadiens vs. USSR game, pop culture).
Ordinary life in Quebec
Episode 1 · Ordinary Life in QuebecB1 · 4:35This episode explores how ordinary life—defined by production, reproduction, and consumption—shapes Quebec society, influencing everything from cultural production to public discourse and the expectations placed on intellectuals, artists, and politicians.
Episode 2 · Ordinary Life in QuebecB1 · 4:30This episode examines why ordinary life holds such unchallenged, harmonious prominence in Quebec society—highlighting shared modest origins, the historical rupture of the 1760 British Conquest, and cultural values like authenticity, resourcefulness, and familiarity with the everyday.
Episode 3 · Ordinary Life in QuebecB1 · 4:35This episode examines how Quebec's French-speaking society developed its strong cultural emphasis on ordinary life—shaped by harsh climate, vast territory, and the Quiet Revolution—and explores the evolving social roles of figures like doctors, cooks, and especially comedians, whose function has shifted from social critique to mainstream affirmation.
Episode 4 · Literature and Negativity in Quebec SocietyB1 · 4:27This episode examines how literature remains marginalized in Quebec society—often reduced to distraction rather than deep thought—and explores how 'negativity' (saying 'no') has historically shaped Quebec's cultural identity, collective memory, and self-understanding.
Having babies in Quebec
Episode 1 · The Cradle's Revenge: Quebec's Fertility HistoryB2 · 4:26This episode examines the historical phenomenon known as 'the revenge of the cradles' — the exceptionally high fertility rates among French Canadians in Quebec, widely believed to be a deliberate demographic strategy to resist English colonial assimilation after the British Conquest.
Episode 2 · The History of Childbirth in QuebecB2 · 4:31This episode explores the historical phenomenon known as 'La revanche des berceaux' (the revenge of the cradles) — the high fertility rates among French Canadians in Quebec — examining its links to infant mortality, the influence of the Catholic Church, and broader demographic shifts from the 18th to mid-20th century.
Episode 3 · The Truth Behind Quebec's Baby BoomB2 · 4:12This episode examines the historical reasons behind the high fertility rates of French Canadians in Quebec, challenging the nationalist myth of the 'Revanche des berceaux' (Revenge of the Cradles) and showing how rural life, Catholic doctrine, limited contraception, and social pressure—not deliberate demographic strategy—shaped family size.
Quebec cinema through the seasons
Episode 1 · Quebec Cinema's Winter SeasonB2 · 5:23This episode explores the evolution of Quebec fiction cinema from 1997 to 2015, highlighting a festive 'winter' marked by comedic boom, audiovisual industrialization, rising audience diversity, and reflections on identity and cultural resilience.
Episode 2 · Quebec Cinema's Golden Year: 2003 and BeyondB2 · 5:28This episode explores the exceptional year of 2003 in Quebec cinema, highlighting landmark films like *La Grande Séduction* and *Crazy*, their artistic achievements, thematic depth—including family, identity, and LGBTQ+ acceptance—and the broader evolution of Quebec filmmaking through the late 1990s and early 2000s.
Episode 3 · The Diverse Evolution of Quebec CinemaB2 · 5:29This episode explores the flourishing diversity of Quebec cinema in the early 2000s—highlighting women directors, genre films, historical adaptations, youth-oriented stories, comedies, international themes, and regional representation across Quebec.
Episode 4 · Quebec Cinema's Winter SeasonB2 · 5:25This episode explores Quebec cinema from the 2000s to 2010s, highlighting winter-set films by directors like Xavier Dolan, Stéphane Lafleur, Ricardo Trogi, and others, and discusses themes of memory, identity, and artistic evolution.
Episode 5 · Quebec Cinema's Autumn Transition: 1980s–Mid-1990sB2 · 5:18This episode explores how Quebec cinema adapted from the early 1980s to mid-1990s amid post-referendum disillusionment, economic crisis, and Hollywood dominance—through hybrid TV-film productions, literary adaptations (e.g., *Les Plouffe*, *Les bons débarras*), and satirical works like *Elvis Gratton*—reflecting evolving artistic identity and resilience.
Episode 6 · Quebec Cinema's Golden Renaissance: Autumn RenewalB2 · 5:14This episode explores how Quebec cinema experienced a vibrant renaissance in the 1980s—sparked by Denis Arcand’s groundbreaking films and supported by ONF initiatives—expanding into diverse genres, urban themes, technical experimentation, and broader representation of women, youth, and social questions.
Episode 7 · Quebec Cinema's Autumn: A Season of Transformation and New VoicesB2 · 5:18This episode explores Quebec cinema's 'autumn' (1980–1996), highlighting artistic maturation, the rise of a new generation trained in music videos and video clubs, technical advances, international recognition, and genre diversification—from acclaimed comedies to suspense, experimental narratives, and landmark anthologies like Cosmos.
Episode 8 · Quebec Cinema's Summer: The 1960s–70s BoomB2 · 5:01This episode explores the flourishing of Quebec cinema in the 1960s and 70s, highlighting how the French New Wave inspired a generation of local auteurs to create bold, independent, and urban fiction films despite financial and institutional constraints.
Episode 9 · The Golden Age of Quebec CinemaB2 · 4:59This episode explores the flourishing Quebec cinema of the 1960s–70s, highlighting landmark films like *La Vie heureuse de Léopold Z*, *Entre la mer et l'eau douce*, and *Valérie*, alongside their artistic innovations, social themes (e.g., secularization, youth identity), and institutional developments such as the founding of Telefilm Canada.
Episode 10 · Quebec Cinema's Golden Decade: The 1970sB2 · 4:59This episode explores the flourishing of Quebec auteur cinema in the 1970s, highlighting landmark films by directors like Denys Arcand and Michel Brault, pioneering works by women such as Mireille Dansereau and Anne Claire Poirier, English-language successes like *The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz*, and the growing role of government support and international co-productions.
Episode 11 · The Spring of Quebec CinemaB2 · 5:54This episode explores the birth of Quebec's French-language fiction cinema in the 1940s and 1950s, covering landmark films like À la croisée des chemins, Le Père Chopin, and Un homme et son péché, as well as the roles of public institutions, exiled European filmmakers, and radio-to-cinema transitions.
Walking Quebec's east coast
Episode 1 · Gaspésie: Coastal Landscapes, Ancient Fossils, and Indigenous RootsB2 · 5:07This episode explores the Gaspésie Peninsula's dramatic coastal scenery, world-renowned Devonian fossils—including the 'fish with limbs' Panderichthys and the unique Elpistostege—found at Miguasha National Park (a UNESCO World Heritage site), and the deep-rooted presence of Mi'kmaq, Innu, and Iroquoian peoples dating back over 8,000 years.
Episode 2 · Indigenous History of the Gaspé PeninsulaB2 · 4:54This episode explores the Mi'kmaq and Innu peoples of the Gaspé Peninsula, detailing their seasonal fishing practices, semi-nomadic lifestyle, horticulture, and early encounters with French explorers like Jacques Cartier in the 16th and 17th centuries.
Episode 3 · Cod Fishing and Indigenous Roots on Quebec's Gaspé PeninsulaB2 · 5:00This episode explores the central role of cod fishing in the history and culture of Quebec's Gaspé Peninsula for nearly 500 years, highlighting Indigenous Mi'kmaq practices long before European arrival, early European contact from the 16th century, seasonal fishing settlements, processing techniques, and the rise of major fishing companies like Charles Robin and John Le Bouthillier.
Episode 4 · Fishing Villages and History on Quebec's Gaspé PeninsulaB2 · 5:00This episode explores historic fishing villages along Quebec's Gaspé Peninsula, including the 18th-century Le Bouthillier Manor, a cod export warehouse, Rivière-au-Renard—the largest fishing port in Quebec—and the Matamajaw Salmon Fishing Heritage Site, highlighting centuries-old fishing practices and Indigenous roots.
Episode 5 · Gaspésie: The Last Naval Battle of New FranceB2 · 5:02This episode explores the 1760 Battle of the Restigouche—the final naval conflict between France and Britain in New France—its historical significance, underwater archaeological excavation of the frigate Le Machault, and the national historic site museum that preserves this legacy.
Episode 6 · History of Quebec's Bas-Saint-Laurent RegionB2 · 4:35This episode explores the historical development of Quebec's Bas-Saint-Laurent region, highlighting the Saint Lawrence River's role as a transportation and cultural axis, Indigenous presence, traditional livelihoods like fishing and forestry, and the 19th-century rise of tourism driven by rail expansion and elite summer travel.
Episode 7 · Vacation Culture and Indigenous Heritage on Quebec's East CoastB2 · 4:47This episode explores the rise of seasonal tourism in Quebec's Bas-Saint-Laurent region in the late 19th century—driven by rail access, elite summer residences, and seaside leisure—alongside the history, resilience, and cultural revitalization of the Wolastoqey (Maliseet) First Nation, including their reserve at Kekuina'tin 2, annual pow wow, heritage buildings, and ongoing efforts to reclaim their living Wolastoqew language.
Episode 8 · Historical Footprints Along Quebec's East CoastB2 · 4:26This episode explores Wolastoqey Indigenous traditional knowledge transmission in a chapitouane shelter, then examines the seigneurial land system of New France along the St. Lawrence River, including its social structure, lasting landscape impacts, and the Fraser manor in Rivière-du-Loup as a historical witness.
Episode 9 · Walking Quebec's East Coast: History, Heritage, and the Empress of Ireland DisasterB2 · 4:41This episode explores the historic Saint-Patrick neighborhood in Rivière-du-Loup, highlighting heritage objects like the Aubert de Gaspé family cradle. It then recounts the 1914 sinking of the Empress of Ireland—the deadliest peacetime maritime disaster in Canadian history—emphasizing its human toll, historical context, and legacy at the Pointe-au-Père Maritime Historic Site museum.
Episode 10 · Lighthouses and Maritime History on Quebec's East CoastB2 · 4:33This episode explores the Pointe-au-Père historic maritime site in Quebec's Bas-Saint-Laurent region, featuring artifacts from the Empress of Ireland shipwreck, four lighthouses—including Canada's second-tallest—and the enduring role of maritime pilots on the Saint Lawrence River.
Episode 11 · Tadoussac and the History of the Fur TradeB2 · 4:45This episode explores the history of Tadoussac on Quebec's North Shore, focusing on early Indigenous–French fur trade relations, failed French colonization attempts in the 16th and early 17th centuries, and the pivotal 1603 alliance that paved the way for New France.
Québécois 101
Episode 1 · The Comprehensible Input Method for Language LearningA2 · 6:08This episode introduces Stephen Krashen's 'comprehensible input' hypothesis—the idea that language is best acquired unconsciously by listening to messages you understand and find interesting. It explains the difference between 'learning' (conscious study) and 'acquiring' (subconscious absorption), and gives practical tips for applying this method to Quebec French or any language.
Episode 2 · The Affective Filter and How It Affects French LearningA2 · 6:02This episode explains Stephen Krashen's 'affective filter' theory—how negative emotions like anxiety, self-doubt, or fear of mistakes hinder language acquisition—and offers practical, positive strategies to lower the filter, such as choosing enjoyable, comprehensible input and relaxing while learning.
Episode 3 · 8 Quebec French Expressions Inspired by HockeyA2 · 4:53This episode explores everyday Quebec French expressions borrowed from hockey culture, including 'gauler' (to handle things well under pressure), 'niaiser avec la poke' (to get straight to the point), 'mangeux de poke' (a selfish team player), 'patiner' (to dodge questions), and 'être vite sur ses patins' (to be quick-witted or agile).
Episode 4 · 8 Colorful Quebec French Expressions Inspired by HockeyA2 · 4:59This episode introduces eight vivid Quebec French expressions rooted in hockey culture—such as 'être vite sur ses patins' (to be quick-witted), 'accrocher ses patins' (to retire), and 'travailler fort dans les coins' (to go the extra mile)—explaining both their literal meanings and everyday usage in Quebec.
Episode 5 · French Pronunciation Tips for English SpeakersA2 · 4:14This episode offers practical tips to help English speakers improve their French pronunciation, focusing on mastering the French 'R' sound (produced in the back of the throat) and articulating more forward in the mouth—especially for sounds like 'u' and 'l'.
Episode 6 · Key French Pronunciation Tips for English SpeakersA2 · 4:25This episode covers key pronunciation challenges for English speakers learning French: the 'u' and 'l' sounds, the absence of English-style diphthongs (favoring tighter, shorter vowels), and French syllabic rhythm—where all syllables carry equal weight, unlike English's stressed-unstressed pattern.
Episode 7 · How to Sound More Natural in French PronunciationA2 · 4:19This episode teaches French pronunciation techniques for English speakers, including syllable timing (with emphasis on the final syllable), using French hesitation sounds like 'euh', and practicing through shadowing and repetition.
Episode 8 · How to Practice French in Quebec Without Getting Switched to EnglishA2 · 4:59This episode explains why Quebecers often switch to English when spoken to in French—even by fluent speakers—and offers practical, respectful strategies to keep conversations in French. It covers four main reasons for the switch (politeness, linguistic insecurity, English practice, and efficiency) and gives learners insight into local communication culture.
Episode 9 · How to Practice French in Quebec: 5 Practical TipsA2 · 5:12This episode shares five friendly, effective strategies for practicing French with Quebecers—such as politely asking to speak French, continuing the conversation in French, using light humor, visiting the same local spot regularly, and gently signaling your language preference. It emphasizes confidence, persistence, and cultural respect.
Episode 10 · 50 Meanings of "Pogner" in Quebec FrenchA2 · 5:06This episode explores the remarkably versatile Quebec French verb "pogner", explaining its 50 distinct meanings—from physically grabbing or catching something, to acquiring, encountering, understanding, or even accidentally hitting—illustrated with authentic, informal examples.
Episode 11 · 50 Meanings of 'Pogner' in Quebec FrenchA2 · 5:08This episode explores the rich, versatile verb 'pogner' in Quebec French, covering its many figurative and literal meanings: entering an age, catching an emotion or rain, acquiring something (a car, job, partner), getting stuck, starting up (fire, party, sauce), becoming popular, and more.
Episode 12 · 50 Meanings of 'Pogner' in Quebec FrenchA2 · 5:03This episode explores the rich, versatile verb 'pogner' in Quebec French, covering over 50 meanings—from being stuck or surprised, to feeling scared, lazy, angry, or mentally blocked—and explains idiomatic expressions like 'pogner les nerfs', 'se pogner le bacon', and 'pogner la chienne'.
Episode 13 · How to Ask Questions with 'Tu' in Quebec FrenchA2 · 5:17This episode explains how Quebec French uses the particle 'tu' to form yes/no questions, contrasting it with standard intonation-based questioning. It covers usage contexts, historical origins (from Old French), and practical examples for everyday conversation.
Episode 14 · How to Ask Questions with 'Tu' in Quebec FrenchA2 · 5:09This episode explains how to form familiar, spoken questions in Quebec French using the interrogative particle 'tu'—placed after the verb—and distinguishes it from the subject pronoun 'tu'. It includes numerous examples across subject pronouns and highlights its informal, region-specific nature.
Episode 15 · 10 Essential Quebec French Words You Must KnowA2 · 5:19This episode introduces 10 essential, uniquely Quebec French words—like 'chum', 'pogné', and 'fak'—explaining their multiple meanings, grammatical nuances, and real-life usage in everyday speech.
Episode 16 · 10 Essential Words to Speak Quebec FrenchA2 · 5:17This episode teaches 10 essential Quebec French words and expressions—like 'correct', 'plate', 'tanné', and 'j'suis'—explaining their meanings, pronunciation differences from standard French, and usage in everyday contexts with clear examples.
Episode 17 · The Disappearing E in Quebec FrenchA2 · 5:31This episode explains the frequent omission of the letter 'e' in spoken Quebec French—how and when it disappears in final and medial positions, its role in making speech faster, and how it relates to elision and informal contractions.
Episode 18 · The Dropped E in Quebec French PronunciationA2 · 5:38This episode explains how the silent 'e' (e muet) is frequently dropped in spoken Quebec French, illustrating patterns through common words and phrases like 'vendredi', 'samedi', and 'lentement', and emphasizing listening and imitation over rigid rules.
Episode 19 · What Is Quebec French?A2 · 5:20This episode introduces Quebec French as a natural, everyday spoken variety of French—explaining its distinctive pronunciation, grammar (e.g., subject-verb inversion), and vocabulary (e.g., 'barrer la porte', 'courriel'), while addressing common misconceptions about its validity and historical development.
Episode 20 · What Is Quebec French?A2 · 5:27This episode explains how Quebec French differs from other varieties in accent, grammar, and vocabulary, and highlights how it varies across regions, age groups, and socioeconomic contexts—emphasizing its fluidity and diversity.
Quebec French: accent and expressions
Episode 1 · Misconceptions about the Quebec accentB1 · 4:49The host debunks the myth that Quebec French is a 'frozen' 17th-century relic, stressing it evolved dynamically through cultural, political, and social history.
Episode 2 · Linguistic unity in New FranceB1 · 4:50Early French colonists came mostly from urban centers speaking regional French—not dialects—and the administrative 'King's French' spread along the St. Lawrence Valley.
Episode 3 · Soldiers and King's Daughters shape languageB1 · 4:53Carignan-Salières soldiers and King's Daughters—many from Paris—settled permanently, reinforcing the spread of 'King's French' and linguistic cohesion.
Episode 4 · Bilingualism and linguistic legal battlesB1 · 4:45After British rule, English became the sole official language while French was relegated to translation; yet English loanwords like 'soupe au barley' entered daily speech.
Episode 5 · 19th-century linguistic insecurityB1 · 4:46In the 19th century, Francophone elites increasingly condemned local French as 'degenerate,' fueling linguistic insecurity amid Durham's assimilationist report and purist ideals.
Episode 6 · Defending language and asserting identityB1 · 5:02Radicals condemned Anglicisms as 'the British lion’s claws'; the Church promoted 'faith guarding language,' and Quebec French ultimately forged a strong, plural identity through decades of contestation.
Episode 7 · The origin of the word 'joual'B1 · 5:27Anne-Marie explains that 'joual' is a phonetic variant of 'cheval' (horse), still found in expressions like 'joualva', and notes its historically stigmatized status rooted in Quebec's pre-1960s education inequality.
Episode 8 · Social class and linguistic prejudiceB1 · 4:57The discussion links Quebec's historical educational exclusion to sharp socio-economic language variation, revealing how 'joual' was stigmatized as a 'sub-language' of the underprivileged—a reflection of broader linguistic insecurity.
Episode 9 · Introducing Quebec French's top 5 expressionsB1 · 4:33The host introduces Quebec French as colorful and distinctive, previews the video's focus on the five most common local expressions, and gives early examples: 'pantoute' (not at all) and 'ben voyons donc' (an interjection expressing surprise or disbelief).
Episode 10 · Revealing Quebec's #1 expression and quiz answerB1 · 4:35The host reveals the answer to the quiz ('à couche, qu'on baptise' means 'stop wasting time'), then explains the #2 expression 'frette' (intense cold) and #1 expression 'avoir du fun' (to have fun), highlighting their emotional resonance and cultural roots.
Episode 11 · Living in seven countriesB1 · 3:03A Canadian woman from Quebec recounts having lived in seven countries: Canada, China, South Korea, Mexico, Thailand, India, and Bulgaria.
Quebec French for Beginners
Episode 1 · What's My Name? Where Am I From?A1 · 6:43This episode teaches beginner French phrases for self-introduction: stating one's name (e.g., 'Je m'appelle...'), origin ('Je suis québécoise' / 'Je suis française'), and profession ('Je suis prof de français'). It uses repetition and contrast to reinforce key vocabulary and grammar.
Episode 2 · I Like / I Don't Like – Quebec French Vocabulary & ExpressionsA1 · 4:22This episode teaches beginner-level Quebec French expressions for liking and disliking things, using common food items like chocolate, maple syrup, poutine, pizza, salad, cheese, and sushi as examples.
Episode 3 · I Like / I Don't Like Apples – Quebec French PracticeA1 · 4:28This episode practices expressing likes and dislikes in Quebec French using apples (red, yellow, green) and other common foods like chocolate, maple syrup, pizza, poutine, and blue cheese.
Episode 4 · Comparing Modes of TransportationA1 · 1:46This episode compares different modes of transportation—train, bus, car, boat, and airplane—highlighting their comfort, speed, safety, and cost. The speaker shares personal preferences, especially favoring the train, and invites listeners to reflect on their own favorite mode.
Quebec French
Episode 1 · The Linguistic Diversity of Quebec FrenchB1 · 4:08This episode explores the origins of Quebec French and the four main types of linguistic variation: diachronic (over time), diatopic (by region), diastratic (by socioeconomic class), and diaphasic (by context/register). It debunks outdated theories about dialect mixing and introduces the concept of a 'vehicular French' used by 17th-century travelers and traders.
Episode 2 · The Origins of Quebec FrenchB1 · 4:17This episode explores how Quebec French developed from a spoken, vernacular 'lingua franca' used by 17th-century French settlers from diverse regions—including urban ports—before colonization. It explains shared expressions with Belgian French and emphasizes that Quebec French is a legitimate, naturally evolved variety of the language.
Quebec French tips
Episode 1 · 5 Quebec French Speaking Hacks for Everyday ConversationA2 · 5:52This episode introduces five practical, everyday speaking hacks from Quebec French that make conversation more natural and easier—such as dropping 'ne' in negations, using 'on' instead of 'nous', relying on the near future tense instead of the simple future, and forming questions with intonation.
Episode 2 · 5 Practical Quebec French Tips for LearnersA2 · 5:44This episode covers practical Quebec French strategies for learners: using rising intonation to form questions (e.g., 'Vous voulez du café?') and adopting common English loanwords (e.g., 'zipe', 'checker', 'reboot')—with notes on context, formality, and local attitudes toward anglicisms.
Quebec city French
Episode 1 · A Stroll Along Mont-Royal Avenue in MontrealA2 · 4:29This episode follows a walk from Montreal's Chinatown to Mont-Royal Avenue via the orange-line metro, featuring visits to a historic second-hand bookstore (L'Échange) and a cozy local pub with outdoor seating and Quebec craft beer.
Episode 2 · A Stroll Along Mont-Royal Avenue in MontrealA2 · 4:28This episode takes a leisurely walk along Montreal's Mont-Royal Avenue, highlighting local spots: a beloved breakfast restaurant, a soft-serve ice cream shop with chocolate-dipping options, a thrift store with an attached used-book shop, and a Middle Eastern grocery featuring Aleppo soap. It also explains Canadian breakfast customs and the history of the nearby Olympic Stadium.
Episode 3 · How to Order Food in a Quebec RestaurantA2 · 5:00This episode covers essential vocabulary and practical procedures for dining in Quebec restaurants, including how to be seated, place an order, distinguish between 'for here' and 'to go', and understand local Québécois expressions used in casual eateries.
Episode 4 · Dining in Quebec: How to Order Food and DrinksA2 · 4:53This episode explains Quebec restaurant menus—appetizers, mains, desserts—and key French terms like 'liqueur' (meaning soft drinks, not alcoholic liqueurs). It covers polite ways to request free tap water, the meaning of 'eau plate' vs. 'eau pétillante', how taxes and tips add ~30% to bills, alcohol rules (e.g., BYO wine, food-alcohol pairing requirements), and complimentary items like bread and coffee.
Episode 5 · Dining Etiquette in Quebec RestaurantsA2 · 4:59This episode covers practical French phrases and cultural norms for dining out in Quebec: how to ask for refills or the bill, politely get a server's attention, request takeout, split the check, and give appropriate tips—including when it's expected, optional, or not required.
Invention of the SAQ
Episode 1 · The Birth of Quebec's Alcohol MonopolyB1 · 4:21This episode explores how Quebec responded to the early 20th-century temperance movement: instead of full prohibition, it established a state-controlled alcohol distribution system—the first of its kind in North America—leading to the creation of the Quebec Liquor Commission in 1921.
Episode 2 · The Birth of Quebec's SAQ Alcohol MonopolyB1 · 4:17This episode explores the founding of Quebec's liquor control board—the precursor to today's SAQ—in the 1920s, covering its nationalization of private stock, austere early retail practices, and how Prohibition in the US and wartime rationing shaped its evolution.
Quebec comprehensible input
Episode 1 · Coffee Break in Drummondville, QuebecA2 · 4:46Two friends walk through downtown Drummondville and stop at their favorite café, Café Morgan, to enjoy espresso. They discuss coffee preferences (black, no sugar or milk), the café’s history as a former bank with its still-intact vault, and how pandemic restrictions—like limited seating and distancing—still affect daily life in 2021.
Episode 2 · Let's Visit a Christmas Market in Quebec!A2 · 4:09This episode takes learners on a walk through a German-style Christmas market in Quebec, describing snow, the Christmas tree (natural and artificial), handmade ornaments, beeswax candles, winter clothing like tuques and mittens, and Santa's throne — all while using simple, comprehensible French.
Episode 3 · Exploring German Christmas Market Food in SofiaA2 · 4:15This episode explores a German Christmas market in Sofia, featuring French-language commentary on trying traditional foods like German sausage, sauerkraut, and mulled wine (vin chaud), all while enjoying the festive atmosphere.
Episode 4 · Exploring Mdina, Malta's Medieval Old CityA2 · 4:36This episode takes viewers on a guided tour of Mdina, Malta's medieval old city—covering its history as the island's former capital, the thickness and purpose of its ancient fortification walls, its location between Sicily and Tunisia in the Mediterranean Sea, and local highlights like artisanal gelato and olive trees.
Episode 5 · Exploring Beautiful MaltaA2 · 4:47This episode explores Malta's scenic harbor, the fortified capital city of Valletta, its bilingual status (English and Maltese), the unique Arabic-derived Maltese language written in the Latin alphabet, narrow colorful streets, traditional balconies, and local delicacies like bigilla and Maltese green olives.
Episode 6 · Understanding Spoken Quebec FrenchA2 · 1:14This episode introduces spoken Quebec French—its informal, contracted features—and promotes a workshop series focused on improving listening comprehension through authentic videos and practicing conversation in friendly small-group settings.
Quebec tables and travels
Episode 1 · 5 Iconic Dishes of Quebec CuisineB1 · 5:49This episode explores five traditional, everyday dishes from Quebec's French-Canadian cuisine—such as pâté chinois and Quebec-style spaghetti sauce—highlighting their origins, ingredients, cultural significance, and how they reflect working-class home cooking.
Episode 2 · 5 Typical Dishes of QuebecB1 · 5:57This episode explores five iconic Quebecois dishes: spaghetti sauce with ketchup and molasses, tourtière (meat pie) in its regional variations—including Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean and Gaspésie versions—baked beans with salt pork and molasses, the famously affordable 'pouding chômeur,' and sea pie. It also includes a light-hearted language quiz on the expression 'lâche pas la patate.'
Episode 3 · A Quebec Food Adventure: Poutine and Steamed Hot DogsB1 · 3:31This episode explores two iconic Quebec dishes—poutine (fries topped with cheese curds and meat-based gravy) and steamés (steamed hot dogs)—at a local chip shop, Chez Michaud, in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu. It highlights regional food culture, linguistic quirks like 'steamés', and everyday Quebecois life.
Episode 4 · My Home in Quebec CityB1 · 4:27This episode tours a contemporary apartment complex in Quebec, showcasing nearby shops, cafés, restaurants (including rooftop and basement options), convenience stores, fruit markets, dry cleaners, package pickup areas, rooftop running tracks, gardens, playgrounds, and the host's own apartment with its piano, exercise bike, and cherry blossom views.
Episode 5 · A Small Airplane MishapB1 · 2:09The speaker recounts a humorous travel anecdote: after finishing a meal on a flight, two full glasses on her tray table spilled onto her when the passenger in front unexpectedly reclined their seat, soaking her clothes and seat. Flight attendants kindly provided pajamas for the remainder of the long flight.
Episode 6 · Exploring Doha AirportB1 · 2:32The host explores Doha Airport in Qatar, showcasing duty-free shops, the lush Orchard tropical garden area with real trees and birds, and the complimentary Silver Lounge accessible due to frequent flyer status. The episode highlights airport amenities, transit logistics, and personal travel experience.
Episode 7 · How to Travel Economically in ChinaB1 · 7:06This episode offers practical tips for budget travel in China: choosing smaller cities (by Chinese standards), eating at local restaurants, using translation apps for menus and communication, and leveraging Chinese platforms like Dianping for authentic dining recommendations and Trip.com for affordable hotels and high-speed train tickets.
Episode 8 · A Stroll Through Chengdu’s Old Town and Savory PancakesB1 · 5:18The host explores Chengdu's historic downtown, passing fruit vendors, stinky tofu (called 'hairy tofu'), hot pot restaurants, and a popular street stall making savory meat-filled crepes—capturing everyday life, local flavors, and vibrant urban culture.
Episode 9 · Wonton Soup at a Market in KunmingB1 · 1:52The speaker enjoys a delicious wonton soup at a market in Kunming, samples fresh coconuts, and briefly describes the vibrant local atmosphere, including traditional blue batik fabrics from Yunnan’s ethnic minorities.
Quebec wrestling fever
Country-Western in Quebec
Episode 1 · The History of Country-Western Music in QuebecB1 · 4:30This episode explores the origins and evolution of country-western music in Quebec, showing how it is rooted in broader North American traditions—not just U.S. imports—and tracing its local adaptation from the 1940s onward, including festivals, independent record production, and early Quebec artists.
Episode 2 · Country-Western Music in QuebecB1 · 4:22This episode explores the origins and development of country-western music in Quebec, highlighting its parallel emergence with American barn dance shows and old-time music. It emphasizes how local folkloric traditions—such as Marius Barbeau’s and Conrad Gauthier’s 'veillées'—and nostalgic rural imagery laid the groundwork for a distinct Québécois country scene, independent of direct American import.
Quebec ways of saying it
Episode 1 · Quirky Quebec Expressions and Their OriginsB2 · 5:57This episode explores vivid, imaginative Quebec French expressions—like 'bécasse' (outhouse) and 'quétaine' (tacky)—examining their real or invented etymologies, historical roots, and cultural reflections on language adaptation, Anglophone influence, and daily life in Quebec.
Episode 2 · Tracing the Origins of Colorful Quebec ExpressionsB2 · 5:57This episode explores the fascinating etymologies of vivid Quebec French expressions like 'maganer' and 'enfirouapé', tracing their roots from Old French and Parisian slang to 19th-century Quebec journalism, while debunking popular myths and highlighting linguistic evolution.
First trains in Quebec
Episode 1 · The Early History of Railways in QuebecB1 · 5:10This episode explores the origins and early development of railways in Quebec during the 19th century, covering the first locomotives, the construction of the Champlain and Saint Lawrence Railroad, technical innovations like wooden 'lisse' rails, and the broader impact on transportation, colonization, and nation-building.
Episode 2 · The First Trains in Quebec: An Explosive HistoryB1 · 5:12This episode explores the birth of Quebec's first railway in the 1830s, covering early wooden rails and their seasonal limitations, the arrival and quirky behavior of Canada's first locomotive—the Dorchester—its inaugural run in 1836, passenger enthusiasm, safety issues, and how it transformed regional travel and cross-border connections.
Episode 3 · Quebec's First Railway LineB1 · 5:09This episode covers the inauguration of Quebec's first railway line between Montreal and Lachine in 1847, the use of telegraph lines, copper tokens for fares, Indigenous and worker commuters, and the innovative steam-powered ferry Iroquois—equipped with rails—to cross the St. Lawrence River before the Victoria Bridge was built.
Poubelle la vie
Episode 1 · The Sardine Factory Has ClosedB1 · 5:57The sardine factory closes and Michel loses his job. His friends help him look for work and join the inspector to catch sardine smugglers at the docks, but Marion is shot during the raid.
Episode 2 · Marion in HospitalB1 · 6:12Marion is in hospital after being shot, and an eccentric doctor's diagnosis alarms her friends. Meanwhile the inspector sends his men to the Cristal bar to deal with the smugglers, and things get ever more absurd.
Daniel Rabier jokes
La Fontaine — Thalie Envolée
Episode 1 · The Acorn and the PumpkinB1 · 2:30This episode presents a fable about a villager who questions why a heavy pumpkin grows on a thin stem while a tiny acorn hangs from a mighty oak—only to have an acorn fall on his nose, prompting him to reconsider divine wisdom and appreciate nature's design.
Episode 2 · The Man and the Snake: A FableB1 · 5:33This episode presents a classic French fable in which a man captures and condemns a snake out of prejudice, only to reconsider his judgment after hearing testimony from a cow, an ox, and a tree—each revealing how humans exploit and betray those who serve them faithfully.
Episode 3 · The Two Parrots: A Fable of Revenge and JusticeB1 · 4:32This episode presents a classic French fable about two parrots—one father, one son—belonging to a king and his prince. After a quarrel leads to tragedy and brutal revenge, the grieving father-parable confronts themes of justice, blame, fate, and the impossibility of reconciliation.
Episode 4 · The Milkmaid and Her PailB1 · 3:09This episode tells the classic fable of a milkmaid who, while carrying a pail of milk to market, daydreams about her future wealth—buying chickens, pigs, cows, and even becoming queen—only to trip and spill the milk, shattering her illusions.
Episode 5 · The Oak and the ReedB1 · 2:28This episode presents La Fontaine's fable 'The Oak and the Reed', illustrating how flexibility and adaptability can be stronger than rigid strength when facing adversity.
Episode 6 · Women and SecretsB1 · 2:46This episode presents a humorous fable illustrating how difficult it is to keep a secret, especially among women, and how information spreads rapidly through word of mouth—starting with one egg and multiplying into over a hundred versions by day's end.
Episode 7 · The Council Held by the RatsB1 · 2:15This episode presents Aesop's fable 'The Council of the Rats,' where rats gather to devise a plan against the predatory cat Rodilardus—agreeing unanimously that attaching a bell to him would warn them of his approach, yet failing completely when it comes to volunteering to carry out the dangerous task.
Episode 8 · The Danube Peasant's SpeechB1 · 5:51A rugged Danube peasant, sent by oppressed riverside towns, delivers a powerful speech to the Roman Senate, denouncing Roman avarice, injustice, and exploitation of subject peoples—highlighting moral authority over appearance and invoking divine justice.
Episode 9 · The Wolf and the Dog: A FableB1 · 2:47This episode presents the classic fable of the wolf and the dog, where a starving wolf meets a well-fed but collared dog and must choose between freedom and security, highlighting themes of independence, sacrifice, and self-determination.
Episode 10 · The Lion and the GnatB1 · 2:43This episode presents the fable 'The Lion and the Gnat', in which a tiny gnat defeats a mighty lion through agility and persistence—only to meet its end shortly after due to carelessness. It illustrates how seemingly insignificant adversaries can prevail, and how overconfidence or neglect of small dangers can lead to downfall.
Episode 11 · The Elderly Man and the Three Young MenB1 · 2:47An octogenarian plants trees, prompting three young men to question the purpose of such labor at his age. The elder responds with wisdom about life's brevity, the shared fragility of human existence, and the intrinsic value of caring for others—even beyond one's own lifetime.
Episode 12 · The Miller, His Son, and the DonkeyB1 · 5:36This episode presents the classic fable of 'The Miller, His Son, and the Donkey', illustrating the folly of trying to please everyone and highlighting the value of independent judgment and staying true to oneself.
Episode 13 · The Heron and the Girl: A Fable on Pride and ChoiceB1 · 5:06This episode presents a classic fable about a proud heron who refuses humble prey, growing hungrier until forced to eat a snail—and a parallel story of a haughty young woman who rejects all suitors for being imperfect, only to age alone and settle for an uncouth man. It explores themes of pride, unrealistic expectations, and the consequences of excessive discernment.
Episode 14 · The Mouse, the Cat, and the CoachmanB1 · 2:54A young mouse recounts to its mother its first encounter with a cat and a coachman—mistaking the latter for a strange foreign animal and the former for a gentle creature. The mother explains the true nature of each and imparts the moral: never judge others by appearances.
Episode 15 · The Turtle and the Two DucksB1 · 2:37This fable tells of a turtle who, driven by vanity and curiosity, accepts two ducks' offer to fly her through the air—but falls to her death when she opens her mouth to speak, losing her grip on the stick holding her aloft.
Episode 16 · The Frog and the OxB1 · 1:33This episode presents Aesop's fable 'The Frog and the Ox', where a frog bursts trying to inflate itself to match an ox's size, illustrating the folly of envy, unrealistic ambition, and social pretension.
Episode 17 · The Crow and the FoxB1 · 1:43This episode presents La Fontaine's fable 'The Crow and the Fox', in which a fox flatters a crow into dropping its cheese, illustrating how flattery can deceive.
Episode 18 · Two True FriendsB1 · 2:28This episode presents a fable about profound friendship: one friend, disturbed by a dream suggesting his companion is in danger, rushes to his side in the middle of the night—demonstrating selfless care, emotional attunement, and the deep intuition that defines true friendship.
Chili con carne
Episode 1 · How to Make Authentic Chili Con CarneA2 · 4:04This episode shares a personal story about discovering chili con carne in Paris, then walks through the ingredients and step-by-step cooking process for making authentic chili con carne—including soaking and boiling red beans, sautéing aromatics, browning ground meat, and building flavor with spices and sauces.
Episode 2 · Classic Mexican Chili con CarneA2 · 3:59This episode demonstrates how to prepare authentic Mexican chili con carne using beef, red kidney beans, paprika, cumin, tomatoes, and optional Espelette pepper—culminating in a hearty, aromatic dish served with rice.
Teacher holidays and budget
Episode 1 · Celebrating My 42nd Birthday Solo in MontrealA2 · 5:28The speaker celebrates her 42nd birthday alone in Montreal: she visits a Nordic spa for a massage, searches for the city's best bagels and cinnamon rolls, enjoys a free birthday drink at Starbucks, picks out an anniversary cake, and shares heartfelt gifts and cards from friends and children.
Episode 2 · Celebrating My 42nd Birthday Alone in MontrealA2 · 5:22The speaker celebrates her 42nd birthday solo in Montreal: relaxing at an outdoor spa (with hot/cold baths, saunas, and hammam), enjoying a bagel, buying gourmet cinema snacks (cinnamon rolls, pecan, hazelnut), savoring a free pumpkin spice latte, and bringing treats home to share with her children.
Episode 3 · Celebrating My 42nd Birthday All Alone in MontrealA2 · 5:25The speaker celebrates her 42nd birthday solo in Montreal: making her favorite chocolate ice cream behind the counter at a shop, enjoying cheese plates and sparkling apple juice, unwrapping gifts from loved ones and students, and planning dinners and hangouts with friends in the days after.
Episode 4 · A Teacher's Holiday Shopping Trip at ActionA2 · 4:40A primary school teacher shares her shopping trip to the Action store after lockdown, buying Christmas gifts for her children, classroom supplies for crafts and science experiments, and household items like cake tins and window stickers.
Episode 5 · A Teacher's Christmas Shopping Spree for Her Classroom and KidsA2 · 4:28A primary school teacher shares her holiday shopping trip, picking up festive classroom supplies like stickers, DIY notebooks, coloring sheets, glitter, and ornaments for crafts and student activities.
Episode 6 · A Teacher's Holiday Shopping Haul for Classroom and FamilyA2 · 4:40A primary school teacher shares her holiday shopping trip at Action, buying craft supplies (glitter, stars, glue, cotton) for classroom Harry Potter-themed activities, ornaments for the class Christmas tree, gifts for colleagues' students, and treats for her children and mother.
Episode 7 · Budget Envelopes Method for TeachersA2 · 5:08A teacher demonstrates her envelope budgeting system, reviewing her November spending and preparing December's budget by allocating cash into themed envelopes for categories like groceries, gifts, and shopping.
Episode 8 · Managing My December Household Budget with EnvelopesA2 · 5:25This episode demonstrates practical personal finance management using the envelope budgeting method: allocating cash for December expenses like groceries, outings, health care, shopping, gifts, and savings, while adjusting amounts based on actual spending patterns and upcoming needs.
Episode 9 · Christmas Budgeting and Holiday SavingsA2 · 5:06This episode demonstrates using the envelope budgeting method to allocate December funds for holidays, Christmas groceries, and children's monthly allowances, while reflecting on savings goals and financial habits.
Tonton Fred tech chats
Episode 1 · How to Frenchify LCOS 0.2 — A Tech TutorialB1 · 7:31This episode walks through localizing LCOS 0.2—a Debian-based open-source OS—into French: installing required packages (like xdg-user-dirs and gvfs), editing /etc/locale.conf, updating user directories, configuring the clock format, and enabling trash and mobile media support.
Episode 2 · Running Arch Linux and GNOME on a 2014 LaptopB1 · 6:55This episode demonstrates installing and using Arch Linux with GNOME 49 on an older 2014 Toshiba laptop, showing everyday usability—including web browsing, office work, music playback, and retro emulation—despite hardware limitations like a traditional hard drive and aging AMD A8 processor.
Episode 3 · Source-Based Linux Distributions ExplainedB1 · 4:46This episode explores source-based Linux distributions like Gentoo and Funtoo—how they work, the time-intensive process of compiling software from source, their educational value, and whether they still make practical sense in today’s multi-core, SSD-equipped computing world.
Retro game talks
Episode 1 · Retro Racing Game POD and Intel's MMX TechnologyB1 · 6:01This episode explores the 1997 Ubisoft racing game 'POD', developed to showcase Intel's MMX (MultiMedia Extensions) instruction set for Pentium processors, and examines its software-rendered graphics and historical tech context.
Episode 2 · MMX vs. 3D Graphics Cards: A Retro Gaming ComparisonB1 · 6:18This episode compares the graphical performance of Intel's MMX technology versus early 3D graphics cards (like 3DFX) when running the retro racing game POD, highlighting major differences in texture quality, smoothness, and realism.
Episode 3 · Daikatana: The Infamous Late-2000s FPS That Missed Its MomentB1 · 5:09This episode explores Daikatana, a highly anticipated first-person shooter developed by John Romero and Ion Storm, which launched in 2000—three and a half years behind schedule. It examines why the game felt outdated upon release due to its aging Quake II-based engine, dated design, and sci-fi time-travel storyline.
Episode 4 · Daikatana: The Infamous Flop FPS by John RomeroB1 · 5:19This episode features gameplay of the notoriously flawed 1999 first-person shooter Daikatana, highlighting its combat mechanics, enemy encounters (toads, alligators, mutants), health and ammo management, and the player's candid, humorous reactions to its difficulty and design.
Episode 5 · Duke Nukem's Forgotten Platformer OriginsB1 · 5:33This episode explores the lesser-known 1991 and 1993 DOS platformer games Duke Nukem 1 and 2 — pre-dating the famous 3D shooter — covering their development history, gameplay mechanics, influences (like Commander Keen), and nostalgic quirks such as silent audio, limited controls, and early enemy designs.
Episode 6 · When Duke Nukem Was a PlatformerB1 · 6:02This episode explores the early Duke Nukem games (1991 and 1993) as classic side-scrolling platformers, highlighting their level design, difficulty, power-ups, enemy variety, and nostalgic installation experience.
Episode 7 · Duke Nukem's Early Platform Game EraB1 · 5:33This episode explores the first two Duke Nukem games — classic 2D platformers — highlighting their level design, checkpoint systems, enemy mechanics, and how they differ from the later iconic FPS titles.
Episode 8 · Hovertank: The Grandfather of Wolfenstein 3DB1 · 5:35This episode explores Hovertank 3D, a pioneering 1991 pseudo-3D first-person shooter developed by id Software, highlighting its technical innovations, gameplay mechanics, and its role as a direct precursor to Wolfenstein 3D.
Episode 9 · Hovertank: The Grandfather of Wolfenstein 3DB1 · 5:37This episode explores the 1991 first-person shooter Hovertank, highlighting its jarring movement, disorienting level design, and historical significance as a precursor to Wolfenstein 3D — all while playing through its challenges in real time.
Episode 10 · Neverball: A 3D Marble Maze Challenge That Tests Your StomachB1 · 6:17This episode introduces Neverball, an open-source 3D physics-based game where players tilt the floor to roll a ball through obstacle-filled courses—inspired by classics like Marble Madness and built for Linux, macOS, and Windows since 2003.
Episode 11 · Neverball and Neverputt: 3D Physics Games That Test Your NervesB1 · 6:07This episode explores the open-source 3D physics games Neverball and Neverputt—players tilt platforms to roll a ball, collect items under time pressure, and attempt deceptively tricky golf-style holes. It highlights their playful difficulty, motion-based challenge, and lighthearted frustration.
Episode 12 · Shadow Caster: The Ancient Predecessor of HexenB1 · 5:48This episode explores the 1993 retro game Shadow Caster — its early 3D engine (a precursor to Doom), textured floors/ceilings, jumping/flying mechanics, fantasy storyline involving interdimensional shapeshifting, and distinctive interface design.
Episode 13 · Shadow Caster: A Retro First-Person Game from the 90sB1 · 5:52This episode explores the early 1990s first-person action game Shadow Caster — a technical precursor to Hexen — demonstrating level navigation, shapeshifting mechanics, animated objects, textured floors/ceilings, and its advanced Wolf3D-based engine for its time.
Lyon walk for learners
Episode 1 · A Lyon Walk: Love Exhibition and Festival of LightsA2 · 4:37This episode follows a casual walk through Lyon, visiting the Musée des Confluences for an exhibition on love—including attachment theory and emotional empathy—and then heading out to experience the famous Festival of Lights.
Episode 2 · A fun and playful walk around Lyon with friendsA2 · 4:46This episode features three friends exploring Lyon's streets in a lighthearted, spontaneous way—sharing jokes, teasing each other, guessing riddles, reacting to a 'lonely rock,' and meeting a new acquaintance at a language workshop.
Episode 3 · A Visit to Lyon's Illusion MuseumA2 · 4:38This episode captures a lighthearted walk through Lyon, including a visit to the Illusion Museum, a stop at the Paradis du Fruit restaurant, playful banter among friends, and casual observations of city life.
Lyon theatre workshop
Thinking clearly
Episode 1 · Self-Fulfilling ProphecyB2 · 4:00This episode explains the sociological concept of the self-fulfilling prophecy using accessible examples—like a butter shortage triggered by rumor and the stigmatization of a fictional 'green' group—showing how false beliefs can shape behavior and produce the very outcomes they predict.
Episode 2 · Bayesian Thinking: Updating Your BeliefsB2 · 4:09This episode introduces Bayesian thinking as a method for rationally updating the plausibility of hypotheses—whether about science, politics, or daily life—based on new evidence, while maintaining intellectual humility and openness.
Episode 3 · What Does 'Rational' Really Mean?B2 · 5:21This episode explores the sociological concept of 'rationality' in human behavior, contrasting James Coleman's rational choice theory, Herbert Simon's bounded rationality, and Raymond Boudon's four models of everyday rationality—utilitarian, teleological, axiological, and traditional.
Episode 4 · The Two Faces of ReasonB2 · 5:33This episode explores different meanings of reason—examining Enlightenment-era rationalism, instrumental and epistemic rationality, and the Frankfurt School's critical view that scientific progress does not automatically equal human progress, especially highlighting how instrumental reason can serve destructive ends.
Episode 5 · 5 Common Misconceptions About ScienceB2 · 5:15This episode examines five widespread misconceptions about science—such as the idea that science lacks open-mindedness or only seeks to confirm existing knowledge—and clarifies them using insights from the sociology of science.
Episode 6 · Is Science Really Neutral?B2 · 5:19This episode examines the myth of scientific neutrality, showing how social factors—including funding priorities, citation practices, geopolitical bias, and gendered assumptions—shape scientific research, publication, and even foundational biological concepts.
Episode 7 · The Truth About How Science Really WorksB2 · 5:03This episode examines how scientific reputation is built—not just through merit, but via publication tactics like 'salami slicing', selective data reporting, citation gaming, and the influence of senior gatekeepers. It also discusses peer review’s strengths, its vulnerabilities (e.g., entrenched elites), and how metrics like the h-index shape careers—often distorting scientific integrity.
Episode 8 · The Truth and Limits of Scientific KnowledgeB2 · 5:26This episode examines how scientific conclusions are shaped by academic conventions, citation practices, and underlying paradigms—and debunks the common misconception that 'science has proven' something definitively, emphasizing instead science's provisional, evidence-based nature.
Episode 9 · Does the Scientific Method Really Exist?B2 · 5:10This episode examines the nature of the scientific method, explaining that it is not a single, universal step-by-step procedure but rather a diverse set of methods and institutional practices guided by shared philosophical principles.
Odd facts from history
Episode 1 · Çatalhöyük: A 9,000-Year-Old City Without StreetsB2 · 4:03This episode explores Çatalhöyük, a 9,000-year-old Neolithic settlement in Anatolia (modern-day Turkey), highlighting its unique urban layout—no streets, houses built atop one another, burials beneath house floors, and absence of centralized religious, political, or economic structures.
Episode 2 · Çatalhöyük: A City Without StreetsB2 · 3:58This episode explores the Neolithic settlement of Çatalhöyük, highlighting its egalitarian social organization, gender-equal roles and burial practices, ancestor cult, elderly-centered hierarchy, and possible reasons for its abandonment around 5200 BCE—including climate change and agricultural shifts.
Episode 3 · The History of Chicken NuggetsB2 · 5:22This episode traces the history of chicken nuggets—from their origins as a wartime poultry solution in the US to their rise as a global fast-food phenomenon, exploring industrial food production, postwar economic shifts, and corporate innovation.
Episode 4 · The History of Chicken NuggetsB2 · 5:17This episode explores how chicken nuggets emerged in 1970s–80s America amid agricultural policy shifts, health guidelines discouraging red meat, lobbying by beef producers, and McDonald's R&D efforts—culminating in the McNugget's launch and its industrial-scale poultry farming consequences.
Episode 5 · The History of Chicken NuggetsB2 · 5:19This episode explores the origin and rise of chicken nuggets, detailing their industrial production, impact on poultry consumption, regulatory controversies like ketchup being classified as a vegetable, and broader socioeconomic and cultural shifts in food systems.
Episode 6 · The Montreal Formula 1 Grand PrixB2 · 5:52This episode traces the history of Canada's Formula 1 Grand Prix, explaining how it moved between circuits in Quebec and Ontario before settling permanently in Montreal in 1978 — highlighting Expo 67's legacy, the role of Mayor Jean Drapeau, rapid track construction, and Gilles Villeneuve's iconic early victories.
Episode 7 · The Legendary Gilles Villeneuve Circuit in MontrealB2 · 6:00This episode explores the history of the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal, highlighting Gilles Villeneuve’s tragic death and legacy, his son Jacques’ career milestones, iconic race moments (like Nigel Mansell’s dramatic stop and Jenson Button’s 2011 comeback), and the circuit’s evolution through decades.
Episode 8 · Dunkin' Donuts in Quebec: A Historical Deep DiveB2 · 5:33This episode explores the arrival of Dunkin' Donuts in Quebec in 1962—its iconic donuts (including the handle-equipped 'Dunkin' Donut'), its surprising early menu items like steak and crêpes, media reactions to 'dunking' as a foreign novelty, and its rapid expansion across the province.
Episode 9 · The Donut War in Quebec: Dunkin' Donuts vs. Tim HortonsB2 · 5:28How Dunkin Donuts grew in Quebec through advertising and local habits, and why it later left.
Episode 10 · Dunkin' Donuts in Quebec: A Cultural PhenomenonB2 · 5:41This episode explores the surprising cultural impact of Dunkin' Donuts in Quebec—its viral parody by comedy group Rock et Belles Oreilles, its association with police officers, its rise as a local institution, and its eventual decline amid fierce competition from Tim Hortons and others.
Episode 11 · The Story Behind the Airbus A220B2 · 4:19This episode explores the history of the Airbus A220—originally developed as Bombardier's C Series in Mirabel, Quebec—tracing its origins, the role of the Quebec aerospace industry, and how it fits into the broader evolution of Airbus and postwar civil aviation.
Episode 12 · The Story Behind the Airbus A220B2 · 4:21This episode traces the origins of the Airbus A220, beginning with Bombardier's clean-slate development of the C Series in Quebec, its financial struggles, a major investment by the Quebec government, a U.S. trade dispute with Boeing, and its eventual acquisition by Airbus—transforming it into the A220 and reshaping aerospace industry dynamics in Canada.
Episode 13 · The Story of the Airbus A220 AircraftB2 · 4:26This episode explores the development and production of the Airbus A220 aircraft, highlighting its assembly at the Mirabel plant in Quebec, advances in automation and composite materials, its global route network, and major orders like AirAsia's historic 150-aircraft deal.
Autism and me: a historian's story
Episode 1 · Introduction and disclaimersB2 · 4:36The speaker introduces the video's personal focus on their autism diagnosis and explicitly states this is not professional medical advice.
Episode 2 · What autism actually isB2 · 5:12Autism is explained as a lifelong neurodevelopmental difference, not an illness, with myths like vaccine causation firmly rejected.
Episode 3 · Social communication traitsB2 · 4:59The speaker describes challenges in interpreting tone, facial expressions, and non-literal language, plus social exhaustion after interactions.
Episode 4 · Routines, stimming, and special interestsB2 · 5:06Discusses repetitive behaviors, rigid routines, intense special interests, and sensory sensitivities to textures and food.
Episode 5 · Sensory overload and maskingB2 · 5:00Explains sensory processing differences causing overload, and the extreme mental fatigue from lifelong 'masking' to appear neurotypical.
Episode 6 · Anxiety and physical health impactsB2 · 5:17Highlights how chronic adaptation stress leads to severe anxiety and tangible physical health issues like digestive problems.
Episode 7 · Early childhood signsB2 · 5:20Recounts early signs like reduced eye contact and explains how concurrent vision issues delayed autism recognition.
Episode 8 · Misdiagnosis and psychoanalytic influenceB2 · 5:33Describes how psychoanalytically oriented clinicians dismissed autism, leading to abandoned diagnostic efforts during adolescence.
Episode 9 · Restarting the diagnostic journeyB2 · 5:31Details the adult-initiated diagnostic process, including self-research, contacting parents, and the first professional consultation.
Episode 10 · Lengthy diagnostic delaysB2 · 5:32Describes two years of waiting for assessment, worsened by pandemic-related delays in France's diagnostic system.
Episode 11 · Systemic resource shortagesB2 · 5:43Highlights critical shortages of psychiatrists and autism specialists, plus widespread professional knowledge gaps in France.
Episode 12 · Adaptations improving daily lifeB2 · 5:12Gives concrete examples—like structured meal plans and respecting social energy limits—that significantly improved daily functioning.
Episode 13 · Challenges in professional lifeB2 · 5:19Honestly addresses major workplace barriers, including meetings and social interactions, that hindered conventional employment.
Episode 14 · Autism and personal identityB2 · 4:56Argues autism is foundational to their identity and YouTube work—not a defect needing cure, but a core part of who they are.
Episode 15 · The double-edged nature of sensory experiencesB2 · 5:09Explains how sensory hypersensitivities bring both challenges and profound pleasures, like the rich sensory experience of reading.
Episode 16 · Respecting autonomy, rejecting forced changeB2 · 5:24Criticizes forcing autistic people to suppress natural behaviors and stresses listening to and respecting autistic individuals' voices.
Episode 17 · Societal acceptance and mutual benefitB2 · 5:27Calls for neurotypical society to accept autistic differences, arguing such adaptations would benefit everyone, not just autistic people.
History under the microscope
Episode 1 · Were Roman Emperors Like Caligula Really Mad?B2 · 5:18This episode examines whether Roman emperors like Caligula and Domitian were truly insane—or if their 'madness' reflects biased ancient sources, political agendas, and fundamental differences in Roman worldview (e.g., sexuality, divinity, power). It highlights how historical narratives are shaped by who writes them and when.
Episode 2 · Was Caligula Really Mad?B2 · 5:36This episode examines whether the Roman emperor Caligula was truly mentally ill, critically assessing ancient sources like Suetonius, questioning modern psychiatric diagnoses of historical figures, and interpreting his actions—such as appointing a horse consul or claiming divinity—within their political, cultural, and geographical context.
Episode 3 · Was Caligula Really Mad?B2 · 5:23This episode examines whether the Roman emperor Caligula was truly insane or if his 'madness' was a later political construct shaped by senatorial bias and narrative convenience; it broadens the discussion to question how labeling tyrants as 'mad' or 'monstrous' avoids deeper analysis of power, society, and human complicity.
Episode 4 · Did Clovis's Baptism Really Happen?B2 · 5:06This episode examines the historical reality of Clovis's baptism—a pivotal event in French history—and explores how it evolved from a poorly documented 5th-century act into a foundational national myth, highlighting the nature and biases of early medieval sources.
Episode 5 · The Mystery of Clovis's BaptismB2 · 5:14This episode examines the historical uncertainty surrounding Clovis's baptism, highlighting the blurred lines between Romans and 'barbarians', the persistence of Roman legitimacy after 476, and how early medieval rulers like Clovis navigated Roman identity, power, and authority.
Episode 6 · Did Clovis's Baptism Really Happen?B2 · 4:58This episode examines the historical authenticity of Clovis's baptism, highlighting challenges in interpreting early medieval sources—such as linguistic evolution of Latin, scribal alterations over centuries, and later authors' ideological motives—showing how a minor event gradually became central to Frankish identity.
Episode 7 · The Mystery of Clovis's Baptism DateB2 · 5:08This episode examines why the exact date of Clovis's baptism remains uncertain, analyzing contradictions among historical sources—including Avitus and Gregory of Tours—and how political, liturgical, and diplomatic contexts shaped later narratives about this pivotal event.
Episode 8 · Was Clovis's Baptism Historical Fact or Later Legend?B2 · 5:12This episode examines the historical reality of Clovis's baptism—how it went largely unnoticed in his own time, and how later centuries, especially under the Carolingians and Capetians, gradually transformed it into a foundational myth tied to Reims, royal anointing, and French Christian identity.
Episode 9 · Did Clovis's Baptism Really Happen?B2 · 5:09This episode examines the historical uncertainty surrounding Clovis's baptism and how successive political, religious, and national movements—from royalist Catholics to Third Republic educators and postwar Europeanists—have reinterpreted and instrumentalized the event to serve their own narratives.
History and heritage talks
Episode 1 · The Ancient Origins of Writing in IranB2 · 5:02This episode explores the earliest writing systems on the Iranian Plateau, covering their emergence before 550 BCE and their use in ancient Persian inscriptions, including cuneiform for the Old Persian language.
Episode 2 · The Origins of Writing and Ancient Near Eastern CivilizationB2 · 4:54This episode explores the history of writing on the Iranian Plateau, traces the origins of human civilization to the Near East, and discusses the Neolithic Revolution—agriculture and animal husbandry—and the emergence of the world's first city, Uruk, in Mesopotamia.
Episode 3 · Early Writing on the Iranian PlateauB2 · 4:50This episode explores the origins of writing during the first urbanization cycle on the Iranian Plateau (10th–2nd millennium BCE), focusing on proto-cuneiform tablets, early state names like 'Ha-ta-ti', and the cultural connections across Mesopotamia and the Persian Gulf.
Episode 4 · Ancient Writing on the Iranian PlateauB2 · 4:53This episode explores three major archaeological sites in southern Iran—Susa, Anshan (modern Tal-e Malyan), and Jiroft—highlighting urban development, chlorite art, burial practices, and the contemporaneous emergence of writing in Iran alongside Mesopotamia and Egypt.
Episode 5 · A New Perspective on the Origins of Writing in the Iranian PlateauB2 · 4:57This episode examines the origins of writing on the Iranian Plateau, focusing on proto-Elamite script. It challenges the traditional view that proto-Elamite derived from Mesopotamian proto-cuneiform, proposing instead that they developed contemporaneously as 'sister' scripts within an administrative context.
Episode 6 · Ancient Writing Systems of the Iranian PlateauB2 · 4:54This episode explores the proto-Elamite script from the Iranian Plateau—its emergence around 3300 BCE, numerical notation (including the world’s earliest decimal system), undeciphered logograms, and its preservation in the Louvre’s collection of over 1500 tablets.
Episode 7 · The Mystery of Ancient Writing SystemsB2 · 4:51This episode explores early writing systems from the Iranian Plateau and the Indus Valley, including the undeciphered geometric script discovered at Jiroft in 2006 and Linear Elamite. It also explains Jean-François Champollion’s methodical approach to deciphering Egyptian hieroglyphs—emphasizing the distinction between writing systems and languages, and the use of bilingual texts and proper names.
Episode 8 · How Ancient Egyptian Hieroglyphs Were DecipheredB2 · 4:58This episode explains how Jean-François Champollion deciphered ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs by recognizing their link to Coptic—the living descendant of ancient Egyptian—and draws a parallel to the decipherment of Linear Elamite using the already-deciphered Elamite cuneiform texts.
Episode 9 · Linear Elamite Script from the Iranian PlateauB2 · 4:46This episode explores the Linear Elamite script discovered on the Iranian Plateau: its distinctive geometric and abstract signs (unrelated to cuneiform or Egyptian hieroglyphs), its historical discovery in 1903, decades of undecipherability, and recent breakthroughs—especially through newly studied silver vessels—that advanced its decipherment.
Episode 10 · Deciphering Ancient Writing from the Iranian PlateauB2 · 5:03This episode explores the decipherment of early writing from the Iranian Plateau, using inscriptions on silver vessels and comparisons with Mesopotamian cuneiform texts to identify two important 20th-century BCE rulers—Shilrārā and Eparti—and explains the distinction between logographic and phonographic writing systems.
Episode 11 · The Mystery of Ancient Iranian WritingB2 · 4:56This episode explores the Linear Elamite writing system from ancient Iran, distinguishing logographic and phonographic notation, and analyzes a 4,000-year-old inscription on a silver vase—revealing its syllabic-alphabetic structure and full translation.
Episode 12 · A New History of Writing on the Iranian PlateauB2 · 4:53This episode explores Linear Elamite, one of the world's oldest purely phonographic writing systems, dating to the late 3rd millennium BCE, and discusses how its early phonographic nature challenges traditional theories about the evolution of writing from logographic to phonographic systems.
Episode 13 · Archaeological Excavation at Lazaret CaveB2 · 4:35This episode showcases the 2014 archaeological excavation at Lazaret Cave in France, covering artifact labeling, Cartesian coordinate recording, on-site drawing and photography, and analysis of Acheulean tools, animal bones, hearths, and Homo erectus remains dating back 170,000 years.
Episode 14 · The World's Oldest Book Printed with Metal Movable TypeB2 · 6:46This episode explores the Jikji, the world's oldest extant book printed with metal movable type, created in Korea in 1377. It traces its Buddhist philosophical origins, printing techniques, remarkable journey across centuries and continents, and its preservation as a UNESCO Memory of the World document.
Episode 15 · The Encyclopédie: Knowledge Revolution in the Age of EnlightenmentB2 · 4:19This episode explores the 18th-century French Encyclopédie edited by Diderot and d'Alembert, examining its ambitious vision of organizing all human knowledge, its collaborative authorship model, its rational structure beyond alphabetical order, and its role as a landmark project of the Enlightenment.
Episode 16 · The Encyclopédie: An 18th-Century BestsellerB2 · 4:24This episode explores the 18th-century French Encyclopédie—its royal privilege and censorship approval, its subscription-based publishing model over 21 years, its scale (28 volumes, 71,000+ articles), and its Enlightenment mission to gather and transmit knowledge for human progress.
Episode 17 · The Encyclopédie: Knowledge Revolution in the Age of EnlightenmentB2 · 4:13This episode explores the 18th-century French Encyclopédie—its ambitious mission to compile all human knowledge, its critical stance toward political and religious dogmas, and the resulting clashes with royal authority that forced its clandestine publication. It also examines the symbolic frontispiece as a visual manifesto of reason, imagination, memory, and truth.
Episode 18 · Montesquieu in French School Curricula Through Two CenturiesB2 · 5:06This episode explores how Montesquieu’s works—The Spirit of the Laws, Persian Letters, and Considerations on the Romans—have appeared continuously in French school curricula since the late 18th century, and how teaching approaches evolved across three major periods: rhetorical (19th century), literary-historical (1880–1960), and thematic/text-typological (1980–2000).
Episode 19 · The Evolution of French Literature Teaching in SchoolsB2 · 4:40This episode explores how French literature was taught in secondary schools from the mid-19th to early 20th century—from rhetorical imitation and canonical 17th-century models (e.g., Montesquieu’s Persian Letters alongside La Bruyère) to historical contextualization, author-centered study, and new exercises like textual analysis and dissertation writing under the Third Republic.
Episode 20 · Montesquieu in French School TextbooksB2 · 5:03This episode examines how French secondary school textbooks from the 19th to mid-20th century presented Montesquieu and his works—such as the Persian Letters and The Spirit of the Laws—focusing on shifting pedagogical approaches, biographical framing (e.g., 'provincial vs. Parisian', 'aristocrat vs. worker'), and persistent literary hierarchies that privileged 17th-century moralist writing over Enlightenment thought.
Episode 21 · Montesquieu: The Scholar and the Man of ActionB2 · 5:12This episode examines Montesquieu’s dual biographical image in French textbooks—as both a contemplative scholar and a man of action—and traces how the definition of ‘philosopher’ shifted from the 18th to the 20th century, especially in school manuals. It analyzes how evolving pedagogical goals and literary theory—from postwar reforms to the 1980s—reshaped how Enlightenment thinkers like Montesquieu and Voltaire are taught, notably through the rise of ‘literature of ideas’.
Episode 22 · Montesquieu in French Secondary EducationB2 · 4:50This episode examines how Montesquieu is taught in French secondary schools—focusing on selected excerpts from 'The Spirit of the Laws' and 'Persian Letters', the marginalization of 'Considerations on the Causes of the Greatness of the Romans', and the broader pedagogical shift toward Voltaire and Enlightenment-era argumentative literature and irony.
Episode 23 · Montesquieu and the Château de La BrèdeB2 · 4:57This episode explores the Château de La Brède, Montesquieu’s ancestral home and workplace, revealing how its library, architecture, and restoration history reflect his daily life, intellectual habits, and legacy as an Enlightenment thinker.
Episode 24 · Montesquieu's Library and ManuscriptsB2 · 4:53This episode traces the history of Montesquieu's personal library and family archives—from its original form at La Brède Castle, through 19th- and 20th-century sales, to its acquisition and cataloging by Bordeaux’s municipal library. It highlights key manuscripts (including working drafts of The Spirit of the Laws), preservation efforts, and scholarly access.
Episode 25 · Montesquieu and the Bordeaux AcademyB2 · 5:03This episode explores Montesquieu's deep ties to the Bordeaux Academy—his four terms as president, his promotion of sciences (including founding an anatomy prize), and his engagement with Bordeaux’s urban growth and material life, such as his vineyard and wine trade.
Episode 26 · Montesquieu's Persian Letters: Satire, Culture, and Political ReflectionB2 · 5:07This episode explores the enduring innovation of Montesquieu's Persian Letters, highlighting its hybrid literary forms, satirical style, and the 'Persian gaze'—a fictional outsider’s perspective that exposes cultural assumptions as social constructs rather than natural truths. It also examines how parallel depictions of French court life and the seraglio serve as a philosophical critique of despotism in both Eastern and Western contexts.
Episode 27 · Montesquieu and the Psychology of PowerB2 · 4:32This episode examines how Montesquieu’s *Persian Letters* uncovers the hidden psychological impulse underlying political power—revealing the tension between Enlightenment reason and tyranny. It analyzes narrative devices like role reversal and embedded tales to show how fiction enables political thought.
Episode 28 · Montesquieu's Intellectual Journey at La BrèdeB2 · 5:13This episode explores how Montesquieu, after returning from his European travels in 1731, spent three years at La Brède reflecting, annotating books, and drafting key political ideas—leading to the publication of 'Considerations on the Causes of the Grandeur and Decline of the Romans'. It highlights his method of thought, his focus on liberty, and how Roman history served as a framework for analyzing power, republics, and empires.
Episode 29 · Montesquieu and The Spirit of the LawsB2 · 4:46This episode explores how Montesquieu responded to the intellectual crisis triggered by the scientific revolution—rejecting abstract normative principles in favor of an empirical, contextual analysis linking political regimes to their historical, geographical, and social conditions, as developed in The Spirit of the Laws.
Episode 30 · Montesquieu on Law, Liberty, and Political OrderB2 · 4:55This episode explores Montesquieu's redefinition of law as the necessary relations between political regimes and their concrete conditions, his view of liberty as the feeling of personal security against state arbitrariness, and his defence of the separation of powers, judicial independence and legal protection from religious persecution.
Episode 31 · Montesquieu and the La Brède EstateB2 · 4:55This episode explores how Montesquieu shaped the La Brède estate as a physical expression of lineage, 18th-century social order, and Enlightenment ideals of nature, landscape design, and contemplation.
Episode 32 · Unveiling the Painted Decorations of Montferrand CastleB2 · 6:14This episode explores the discovery and restoration of 16th-century painted wall decorations in Montferrand Castle in Lagnieu, France—detailing their medieval and Renaissance historical context, conservation challenges, and iconographic significance, including tournament scenes, city views, chivalric motifs, and allegories like Temperance.
Episode 33 · The Painted Decor of Montferrand Castle: A Heritage RevealedB2 · 6:04This episode explores the restoration of 15th-century painted decorations at Montferrand Castle in Lagnieu, France. Using Gothic inscriptions (phylactères), visual motifs, and historical texts—especially Raoul Lefèvre’s 'Histoires de Troie'—experts identify the scenes as depictions of Hercules and link them to the 1468 wedding of Charles the Bold and Margaret of York, highlighting the Montferrand family’s aristocratic connections and the site’s regional significance.
Episode 34 · The Story of Prince AniabaB2 · 2:45This episode recounts the life of Prince Aniaba, the first Ivorian to travel to France at age 15, his service as a French officer, and his later return to his homeland where he was proposed as king—contrary to local succession traditions—before dying in exile in Ghana at age 28.
Lily's strange diary
Episode 1 · Lily's Strange DiaryA2 · 7:34This episode introduces Lily's diary, recounting her train journey to visit her grandparents—during which she encounters a tall, barefoot woman in a white robe holding a blue-bird box—and her quiet, warm first day with family and childhood friend Jeanne.
Episode 2 · Lily's Eerie Forest DreamA2 · 5:21Lily spends the night at her grandparents' house and has a vivid, unsettling dream in which she wanders deep into a dark, echoing forest—filled with strange sounds, eerie imagery, and haunting sensory details—until she encounters a mysterious blue bird with hypnotic green eyes.
Episode 3 · Lily's Strange DiaryA2 · 5:16Lily flees in terror through a dark, starless forest, returns home, and discovers a blue bird drawn on her shoulder. Later, she sees a real bird perched outside her window—blurring the line between dream and reality.
Episode 4 · Lily's Strange Diary: The Museum HallucinationA2 · 7:43Lily visits a museum and becomes captivated by Marc Chagall’s painting 'Above the City'; as she stares at it, she experiences vivid, surreal sensations—floating figures, swirling skies, and shifting realities—leaving her questioning what is real and what is imagined.
Episode 5 · Lily's Strange Diary: The Red House in the ForestA2 · 4:15After a museum visit with her friend Jeanne, Lily gets lost in the forest, discovers an old red house with a strangely well-kept garden, explores its eerie interior, and is suddenly pulled through an open window into a terrifying fall.
Episode 6 · Lily's Red House and the Man from the PaintingA2 · 4:22Lily falls into a painting, meets the mysterious man from it, floats and flies with him through surreal landscapes, experiences wonder and fear, and eventually wakes up safely at her grandparents' home.
Episode 7 · Lily's Strange DiaryA2 · 7:15Lily recounts strange encounters—a mysterious woman with a bird on the train, a haunting red house, and an extraordinary flight—then discusses with her grandparents whether these experiences were dreams, hallucinations, or reality. The episode explores memory, coincidence, and the blurred boundaries between past and present, life and legend.
Two student pleas
Episode 1 · The Mental Health Crisis Facing French TeenagersB1 · 7:14This episode presents a student's plea about Solène, a 13-year-old girl suffering from severe depression who faces months-long waits for psychiatric care—highlighting systemic underfunding, critical shortages of child psychiatrists, and gaps in adolescent mental health services across France.
Episode 2 · The Child Who Couldn't HearB1 · 7:42This episode presents a powerful legal plea by a deaf woman recounting her childhood struggles—misdiagnosed as shyness or autism—and exposing systemic failures in France's hearing screening, school support, teacher training, and timely access to aids for hard-of-hearing children.
Two-minute travel vlogs
Episode 1 · Hitchhiking from Sofia to BurgasA2 · 2:03The travelers arrive in Sofia, Bulgaria's capital, take a quick free walking tour, then hitchhike to Burgas to volunteer at a hostel—learning on the go about local Cyrillic signs and using translation apps with drivers.
Episode 2 · Varna Beach Day: Hitchhiking and Local DiscoveryA2 · 2:39The travelers hitchhike from their current location to Varna, stopping briefly in Nesbah—a charming coastal town—and eventually arriving at a local host's place via Couchsurfing, who takes them to a quiet, locally loved beach.
Episode 3 · Bulgaria's Fresh and Salt Water Meeting PointA2 · 2:45Travelers take a road trip through southern Bulgaria, hitchhiking to the mouth of the Velika River on the Black Sea coast, where freshwater from the river meets saltwater from the sea—a striking natural boundary.
Episode 4 · Bulgarian Countryside HomestayA2 · 2:50Travelers find a countryside homestay through Facebook, help with tomato plants and apple harvesting, and explore sights within 100 km using hitchhiking.
Episode 5 · Istanbul Food and Street CatsA2 · 2:03The hosts share their experience of Turkish home-cooked meals—including sarma, dolma, stuffed peppers, börek, and Turkish tea—and describe how street cats in Istanbul are lovingly cared for by locals with food, water, and shelter.
Episode 6 · Soviet Cable Cars and MonasteriesA2 · 2:10This episode explores Soviet-era cable cars and historic monasteries, capturing their atmosphere and visual contrast.
French duets
Episode 1 · A Song About My Quirky LifeA2 · 2:47This is a French song celebrating an unconventional, joyful life filled with personal freedom, curiosity, and heartfelt love—expressed through poetic, repetitive, and melodic lyrics.
Episode 2 · The Red BalloonsA2 · 3:55A poetic French song reflecting on childhood memories, solitude, and longing—using metaphors like red balloons, broken toys, and Cinderella to evoke absence, resilience, and self-determination.
Reynard the Fox scenes
Falcon Heavy lifts off
Witches in pop culture
Pop culture notes
Episode 1 · The Contradictory Life of Sherlock Holmes' CreatorB2 · 5:34This episode explores how Arthur Conan Doyle both created and grew to resent Sherlock Holmes, overshadowing his other literary ambitions—and how he shifted from a rational physician and pioneer of forensic medicine to a fervent advocate of spiritualism later in life.
Episode 2 · The Birth of Sherlock HolmesB2 · 6:01This episode explores how Arthur Conan Doyle created Sherlock Holmes—drawing on medical knowledge, scientific advances of the late 19th century, and literary influences like Edgar Allan Poe—and explains why the detective captured the imagination of Victorian readers and beyond.
Episode 3 · Arthur Conan Doyle and the Spiritualist MovementB2 · 5:46This episode explores how Arthur Conan Doyle—creator of the hyper-rational Sherlock Holmes—became a devoted spiritualist after losing close family members in World War I, embracing séances, mediums, and even defending photographic 'proof' of fairies. It also examines his famous clash with magician Harry Houdini over the authenticity of supernatural claims.
Episode 4 · Ponyo: Cultural References and Japanese FolkloreB2 · 4:35This episode explores the cultural references in Miyazaki's 'Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea', focusing on Japanese folklore—including the Urashima Taro legend—and mythical motifs like the humanoid goldfish spirit (kino no yurei) from Edo-period literature.
Episode 5 · The Inspirations Behind Ponyo on the Cliff by the SeaB2 · 4:43This episode explores the cultural and mythological inspirations behind Studio Ghibli's Ponyo, including Japanese yōkai (ningyo), Shinto sea deities, Greek mythology (Thalassa), and Buddhist bodhisattva Kannon/Guanyin — highlighting how Miyazaki reinterprets folklore and religious imagery to craft his story.
Episode 6 · Ponyo's Cultural Inspirations: Buddhism, Dragons, and FolkloreB2 · 4:47This episode explores the Buddhist symbolism in Ponyo—especially the goldfish and samsara—as well as parallels with Chinese and Japanese dragon kings, yōkai like Umibōzu, and Western influences such as Andersen's 'The Little Mermaid'.
Episode 7 · Mythological Inspirations Behind Ponyo on the Cliff by the SeaB2 · 4:38This episode explores how Ponyo draws from Hans Christian Andersen's 'The Little Mermaid' and Norse/Germanic mythology—especially the Valkyrie Brunhild and Wagner's operas—as well as possible influences from Jules Verne's 'Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea'.
Episode 8 · Mythological References in Miyazaki's FilmsB2 · 4:36This episode explores mythological parallels in Studio Ghibli films—comparing Ponyo’s transformation and tunnel crossing with Ovid’s Metamorphoses, the Orpheus and Eurydice myth, and Japanese beliefs about liminal spaces like tunnels. It also links Ponyo’s sisters to Greek Nereids and Fujimoto to sea deities.
Episode 9 · The Birth of Tupperware: From Plastic Experiments to Kitchen RevolutionB2 · 5:22This episode traces how Earl Silas Tupper, inspired by wartime plastic innovations and everyday observations—like paint cans—developed the airtight, flexible plastic container that became Tupperware, transforming food storage in American homes.
Episode 10 · Brownie Wise and the Tupperware Party RevolutionB2 · 5:23This episode explores how divorced single mother Brownie Wise revolutionized home sales by adapting the 'home party' model to Tupperware in 1950s America—empowering housewives to earn income, build community, and challenge traditional gender roles through charismatic demonstrations and innovative marketing.
Episode 11 · The Woman Who Shook TupperwareB2 · 5:16This episode tells the story of Brownie Wise, who revolutionized Tupperware's sales through home parties and built a vast female sales network—only to be ousted by inventor Earl Tupper amid ego, sexism, and business tensions.
Episode 12 · Carnival: More Than Just a FestivalB2 · 5:47This episode explores the Quebec Carnival’s traditions—ice sculptures, parades, and the iconic Bonhomme—as well as its deep medieval roots, Christian framing, and role in reinforcing community bonds through playful, temporary suspension of everyday norms.
Episode 13 · The Evolution of the Quebec CarnivalB2 · 5:49This episode traces the historical transformation of the Quebec Carnival—from its religious roots and rural origins to its modern urban form—highlighting shifts in social norms, religious influence, gender roles, and civic organization over centuries.
Reunion coconut chicken
Year 6 theatre class
What Totoro didn’t tell you
Episode 1 · The Hidden History Behind My Neighbor TotoroB1 · 4:47This episode explores the historical and cultural references in My Neighbor Totoro, including postwar Japanese society, Shinto beliefs about spirits (kami and yōkai), the film’s 1940s–50s setting, and Miyazaki’s creative inspirations like Panda! Go, Panda! and Princess Mononoke.
Episode 2 · The Untold Story Behind My Neighbor TotoroB1 · 4:47This episode explores the making of My Neighbor Totoro: how Hayao Miyazaki’s childhood memories—especially his mother’s long illness—shaped its gentle, conflict-free story; the film’s repeated rejections before release; and how its pairing with Grave of the Fireflies helped secure its debut—and ultimately, its rise to cultural icon status in Japan and worldwide.
Episode 3 · The Cultural Secrets Behind My Neighbor TotoroB1 · 4:52This episode explores the Shinto, Buddhist, and Japanese folk beliefs embedded in *My Neighbor Totoro*—from sacred trees and kami to Ojizō-sama statues and yōkai—while tracing its international release history and cultural impact.
Episode 4 · What Totoro Didn’t Tell You: Nature, Nostalgia, and Japanese FolkloreB1 · 4:50This episode explores how My Neighbor Totoro expresses harmony with nature, offers a hopeful counterpoint to postwar trauma (contrasting with Grave of the Fireflies), and uses Japanese folklore—like bakeneko—to subtly critique consumerism and modernity.
Episode 5 · Totoro: The Hidden Meanings Behind the Beloved FilmB1 · 4:43This episode explores Totoro's symbolic role in Japanese folklore and culture, analyzing how it functions as a transitional spirit bridging tradition and modernity, as well as maternal and paternal care. It also examines key scenes—like the bath sequence and the roadside encounter with ancient Buddhas and power lines—to reveal deeper psychological and cultural layers.
Episode 6 · The Hidden Truths Behind My Neighbor TotoroB1 · 4:49This episode explores lesser-known, darker interpretations of My Neighbor Totoro — including connections to real-life tragedies, Jizō statues, spiritual death motifs, and scholarly theories about the film’s metaphysical setting — while affirming its poetic, multi-layered appeal for all ages.
Absinthe, the green fairy
Episode 1 · Absinthe: The Green Fairy of the 19th CenturyB2 · 5:04This episode explores the history of absinthe in France—from its ancient medicinal uses and rise as a fashionable 19th-century aperitif among artists and soldiers, to its ban in 1915 and eventual regulated revival.
Episode 2 · Absinthe: The Green Fairy of the 19th CenturyB2 · 5:03This episode explores how absinthe rose to fame in 19th-century France and Europe, tracing its ties to poets like Baudelaire and Rimbaud, painters including Manet and Van Gogh, working-class life, women's social participation, and evolving medical understandings of alcoholism.
Episode 3 · Absinthe: The Green Fairy of the 19th CenturyB2 · 5:07This episode explores absinthe's cultural prominence in 19th-century France, the political and medical campaigns against it—including Dr. Magnan's theories on 'absinthism'—the 1915 ban, and modern scientific reassessments of its actual health effects.
Forum theatre scene
Ron Sagaton's French songs
Episode 1 · The Corona BluesB1 · 4:59A French song using humor and metaphor to express feelings of confinement, exhaustion, and absurdity during the pandemic lockdown period.
Episode 2 · Welcome to Bobo-DioulassoB1 · 4:28This song paints evocative scenes of dawn in Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso, and nightfall in Bogotá, Colombia, weaving together themes of distance, memory, and longing for someone far away.
Episode 3 · Eating TarB1 · 4:21This song uses poetic and somber language to depict the harsh realities faced by youth on the margins of society, highlighting poverty, inequality, and systemic neglect.
Episode 4 · Stuck in trafficB1 · 5:55Rush hour locks up, and a driver squeezes through while complaining.
Episode 5 · Butterflies: A Poetic French SongB1 · 3:57This poetic French song uses butterflies as metaphors to evoke the changing seasons, fragility, sorrow, hope, and renewal—capturing emotional and natural cycles through lyrical imagery.
Episode 6 · Zebras and MamaB1 · 4:13This song uses the zebra's black-and-white stripes as a metaphor for identity and difference, expressing longing for maternal love, belonging, and the idea that the whole world is one's village.
Episode 7 · I Miss YouB1 · 4:05A heartfelt French song expressing deep longing and nostalgia while traveling, evoking memories of home, loved ones, and shared joy in simple, vibrant moments.
Episode 8 · The Day BreaksB1 · 3:06This song expresses the weariness and uncertainty of ordinary people's daily toil, while holding onto a faint hope for a brighter, sunnier day ahead.
Episode 9 · Eldorado: A Migrant's Dream and RealityB1 · 3:16This song tells the story of someone who leaves their impoverished homeland to pursue dreams abroad, enduring dangerous journeys and hardships before building a stable life in a new country.
Episode 10 · Grandfather, I Need You TodayB1 · 5:38A heartfelt French song where a grandchild addresses their late grandfather, expressing longing and confusion while recalling his faith in progress, hardships during dark times, and quiet love for his family.
Ron Sagaton live
Episode 1 · Music Festival ConfusionB1 · 4:22This monologue conveys confusion and exhaustion surrounding the Music Festival, interwoven with fragmented imagery of the sea and a business district.
Episode 2 · Music Festival OutcryB1 · 4:07This episode features a passionate, poetic French spoken-word performance at a music festival, addressing soaring rents, social inequality, distrust of political and financial elites, and existential frustration.
Episode 3 · I Miss You (Live Performance)B1 · 5:15A heartfelt live French song expressing deep longing for friends and home, evoking travel, African rhythms, shared joy, and the warmth of belonging.
Episode 4 · What's the Point of Living?B1 · 5:04This live performance reflects on exhaustion, doubt, and lost dreams in everyday life, while holding onto hope for a brighter, sweeter day ahead.
Episode 5 · The Weight of Life and a Glimmer of HopeB1 · 5:03This poetic song reflects on exhaustion, disillusionment, and existential drift in daily life, while holding onto hope for a brighter, sweeter day ahead.
Episode 6 · The Blues of the Corona EraB1 · 4:22This episode uses poetic, evocative language to reflect on life during the pandemic—scenes like fighting for bread in supermarkets, time anxiety ('What use is your watch if you have no time?'), and surreal imagery such as 'coral dreaming in pajamas.' It captures collective emotion and slowed-down reality.
An eloquence show
Episode 1 · Rejecting Violence and Embracing PeaceB1 · 5:41This episode uses poetic and declarative language to explore the harms of violence, emphasizing respect, active listening, peace, and human dignity.
Episode 2 · The Power of PeaceB1 · 5:43This episode explores peace as respect, listening, non-violence, and hope. It features Malala Yousafzai’s courageous words after surviving a Taliban attack, Nelson Mandela’s vision of lasting peace, and Angélique Kidjo’s call to build a joyful, peaceful world — all affirming that peace is active, resilient, and inclusive.
Must-sees in the Magdalen Islands
Episode 1 · Must-See Attractions in the Magdalen IslandsB1 · 5:06This episode showcases five key attractions in the Magdalen Islands: the Museum of the Sea, Entry Island, La Grave, Sandy Hook, and the historic smokehouse. It explores the islands’ geography, maritime history, Basque and Acadian heritage, early resource use (cod, walruses), and the origins of the local French-speaking community.
Episode 2 · The Whale Skeleton at the Magdalen Islands MuseumB1 · 5:04This episode explores the massive sperm whale skeleton displayed at the Magdalen Islands Maritime Museum—a whale that stranded in 2008. It details the community-led effort to preserve and assemble it, while explaining whale evolution (including their shared ancestor 50 million years ago), types of whales, and why they rarely visit the islands due to shallow waters.
Episode 3 · Discovering Entry Island in the Magdalen IslandsB1 · 5:04This episode explores Entry Island in the Magdalen Islands, highlighting its dramatic coastal landscapes, 19th-century settlement by Irish, Scottish, and Acadian families, bilingual community life, traditional fishing and farming, historic landmarks like All Saints Anglican Church and the local museum, and scenic hikes across geologically rich terrain.
Episode 4 · Must-See Spots in the Magdalen IslandsB1 · 5:13This episode showcases three iconic sites in the Magdalen Islands: La Grave—a historic fishing port with cafés, restaurants, and scenic pebble beaches; Sandy Hook Beach—a 12-kilometer sandy stretch offering serene coastal walks and bike rides; and an old-time smokehouse where visitors learn about and taste traditionally smoked fish and scallops.
Magdalen Islands rise and fall
Episode 1 · Discovering the Magdalen Islands: History, Geography, and LandscapeB2 · 4:45This episode explores the Magdalen Islands' physical geography—its 15 islands (7 inhabited), red sandstone cliffs, sandy shores, and Appalachian geology—as well as its location in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, transport links to the Maritimes, and the narrator’s personal connection to the archipelago’s history and spirit.
Episode 2 · The Origins of the Magdalen IslandsB2 · 4:51This episode explores Indigenous presence on the Magdalen Islands—evidence of fishing, walrus hunting, and trade—as well as early European visits by Basque, Portuguese, Viking, and French explorers, culminating in the naming of the islands and early failed colonization attempts.
Episode 3 · The Rise and Fall of the Magdalen IslandsB2 · 4:45This episode explores the 18th-century history of the Magdalen Islands: seasonal fishing posts, Acadian settlement, French-British colonial rivalry (Treaty of Utrecht, Treaty of Paris), the role of seal and walrus hunting, early conservation concerns, and the gradual decline of walrus populations.
Episode 4 · The Rise and Fall of the Magdalen IslandsB2 · 4:52This episode explores the 18th- and 19th-century history of the Magdalen Islands: the extinction of walruses, arrival of French Revolution refugees and Acadians, British military control under Isaac Coffin, his failed economic ventures and attempts to issue local currency, early Catholic Church presence, fishing-based livelihoods, shipwreck-rich maritime geography, and the islands’ dispersed, resilient communities.
Episode 5 · The Rise and Fall of the Magdalen IslandsB2 · 4:53This episode traces the demographic growth, economic shifts, and social changes in the Magdalen Islands during the 19th and early 20th centuries—covering Anglophone settlement, the transition from cod to lobster fishing, industrialization, emigration waves, public health challenges, and the construction of lighthouses and telegraph lines.
Episode 6 · The Rise and Fall of the Magdalen IslandsB2 · 4:51This episode traces the socioeconomic evolution of Quebec's Magdalen Islands from the early 20th century to today—covering maritime and air connectivity, electrification, the rise of tourism, and the shift toward responsible, sustainable tourism practices.
Macron at COP27
Episode 1 · Climate commitments in the shadow of warB2 · 4:32Opening remarks: the war in Ukraine has caused an energy shock, but the Glasgow commitments still stand; rich countries must cut emissions and help emerging economies transition.
Episode 2 · Energy partnerships and biodiversityB2 · 4:28Just Energy Transition Partnerships with South Africa and others, exiting coal; climate and biodiversity as twin battles, protecting carbon sinks and forests.
Episode 3 · Oceans and climate-finance solidarityB2 · 4:10Protecting the oceans and backing a ban on deep-sea mining; delivering the 100 billion and pursuing climate justice through projects such as the Great Green Wall.
Episode 4 · Loss and damage: rebuilding financial solidarityB2 · 5:19On loss and damage: reforming the IMF and development banks, working with the Prime Minister of Barbados, and acting within six months.
Macron's address to the nation (31 March 2021)
Episode 1 · A year of crisis, and the third waveB2 · 5:08Looking back on a year of the epidemic and the principles of the response, and why the variants make the third wave faster and more dangerous.
Episode 2 · More ICU beds, restrictions go nationwideB2 · 4:45Thanking health workers and raising intensive-care capacity above 10,000 beds; the rules of 19 departments extended nationwide, with teleworking made the rule.
Episode 3 · Travel rules and school closuresB2 · 4:39Travel over the Easter weekend; nurseries and schools close for three weeks, with a phased return from 26 April.
Episode 4 · Economic support and faster vaccinationB2 · 4:30Economic support for employees, shopkeepers and the self-employed; vaccines are working, and the rule is "vaccinate, vaccinate, vaccinate", weekends and holidays included.
Episode 5 · Vaccine timeline and gradual reopeningB2 · 5:34When each age group can book a vaccine, and the outlook for reopening culture, sport, cafés and restaurants from mid-May.
Macron's address to the nation (24 November 2020)
Episode 1 · Epidemic data and healthcare progressB2 · 4:19Macron reports declining daily COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations, and ICU admissions, states the second wave peak has passed, and praises healthcare workers and civic responsibility. Archive from 2020-11-24.
Episode 2 · Control goals and phased adjustmentsB2 · 4:19Macron sets targets of stabilizing daily infections at 5,000 and ICU patients between 2,500–3,000, and announces a new phase of adapted containment starting 28 November. Archive from 2020-11-24.
Episode 3 · Limited reopenings and holiday guidanceB2 · 4:31Cinemas, theaters, and museums will reopen under strict health protocols, but large gatherings remain banned; citizens are urged to maintain vigilance and barrier measures during the holidays. Archive from 2020-11-24.
Episode 4 · Testing, tracing, and vaccination strategyB2 · 4:32Details the enhanced 'test-alert-protect-treat' strategy, faster PCR turnaround, expanded antigen testing, and transparent, voluntary, science-based vaccination rollout. Archive from 2020-11-24.
Episode 5 · Phased vaccination rolloutB2 · 4:41Confirms vaccination will begin late December or early January for the most vulnerable elderly, then expand progressively, alongside reinforced economic and social support measures. Archive from 2020-11-24.
Episode 6 · Unity, responsibility, and shared hopeB2 · 4:29Stresses decisions are grounded in broad consultation and science, and calls for resilience, unity, democratic values, and collective action against the pandemic and broader crises. Archive from 2020-11-24.
Macron in Rome: the Quirinal Treaty press conference
Episode 1 · Signing a historic treatyB2 · 4:22Macron thanks Draghi and recalls the treaty's origins, citing the 2017 Lyon Franco-Italian summit proposal and years of bilateral work.
Episode 2 · Deep human and economic tiesB2 · 4:26Highlights close Franco-Italian ties in trade, expatriate communities, cross-border exchanges, youth education, and cultural institutions.
Episode 3 · Joint initiatives for youthB2 · 3:56Introduces new youth-focused initiatives: a Franco-Italian civic service, vocational campus, and cross-border artist residencies.
Episode 4 · European sovereignty and shared challengesB2 · 6:21Stresses Franco-Italian cooperation to strengthen European strategic autonomy on climate, digital, geopolitical, and migration challenges.
Episode 5 · Migration policy and meeting with the PopeB2 · 5:15Addresses migration responsibilities of France and Italy, and outlines topics for the Pope meeting: vaccines, climate, Lebanon, and other shared priorities.
Super Mario 64 let's play
Episode 1 · Super Mario 64 Let's Play: First Steps and Bob-omb BattlefieldB1 · 5:39A French-speaking player begins a Let's Play of Super Mario 64, explaining their childhood connection to the game, using a high-resolution mod with improved camera and draw distance, and tackling the first level—Bob-omb Battlefield—to collect the first Power Star.
Episode 2 · Super Mario 64 First Steps and Star ChallengesB1 · 5:24The player navigates early levels of Super Mario 64, attempting jumps, a timed Koopa race, and reaching a floating island to collect stars—while sharing humorous self-assessments and gameplay strategies.
Episode 3 · Super Mario 64: Bob-omb BattlefieldB1 · 5:33The player completes the Bob-omb Battlefield level in Super Mario 64, collects two stars—including one for finishing a race and another for doing so under a time limit—and explores optional secrets like character unlocks and shortcuts.
Episode 4 · Super Mario 64: Thwomp's FortressB1 · 4:30The player navigates Super Mario 64's second level, Thwomp's Fortress, battling enemies, using camera controls and environmental mechanics like elevators and cannons to collect Power Stars.
Episode 5 · My First Super Mario 64 Speedrun AttemptB1 · 4:20A playful let's play of Super Mario 64, featuring commentary on collecting red and blue coins, avoiding Thwomps and enemies, recovering from near-falls, and learning game mechanics through trial and error.
Episode 6 · Super Mario 64: Thwomp, Owls, and Camera TricksB1 · 4:31The player explores the Castle Courtyard level of Super Mario 64, collecting 100 coins, navigating Thwomp traps, interacting with owls, and experimenting with the remastered 3D camera system—including its quirks with sprites and shadows.
Episode 7 · The Eel Under the Sunken ShipB1 · 5:41Mario explores the underwater sunken ship level, avoids a predatory eel, searches for a hidden star, and solves a chest-based puzzle to earn his first star of the episode.
Episode 8 · Super Mario 64: The Eel Level ChallengeB1 · 5:38The player navigates an underwater cave, avoids an eel, collects red and yellow coins, retrieves a key and a star, and explores the level—including the ship and shell-based coin spots—while managing oxygen and lives.
Episode 9 · Underwater Star Hunt and Secret Level ChallengeB1 · 5:40The player dives underwater to find the final star in Super Mario 64, attempts tricky pillar jumps and a jet stream crossing, then completes an easy secret level with red coins—highlighting gameplay strategy, trial-and-error, and lighthearted self-deprecating commentary.
Episode 10 · Super Mario 64: Ghost-Busting AdventureB1 · 5:27This episode features gameplay in Super Mario 64's haunted mansion level, where the player defeats ghosts one by one, battles a large boss twice, collects stars and coins, and navigates carousel-style mechanics.
Episode 11 · Super Mario 64: Ghostbusting in the CastleB1 · 5:34The player navigates Peach's castle in Super Mario 64, collecting stars and red coins, battling enemies like Goombas, discovering hidden areas (including behind the piano and in the attic), and overcoming platforming challenges to complete the level.
Episode 12 · The Endless Volcano ClimbB1 · 5:08A French-speaking player attempts the volcanic level in Super Mario 64, navigating lava hazards, battling enemies (including a large bull-like boss), collecting a Power Star, and aiming for red coins—capturing the excitement, frustration, and trial-and-error of gameplay.
Episode 13 · The Endless Volcano ClimbB1 · 4:57The player tackles the volcanic level in Super Mario 64, collecting blue coins while avoiding lava, struggling with precise controls and limited health recovery, and aiming to gather enough coins to unlock stars.
Episode 14 · The Endless Volcano ClimbB1 · 5:07Mario tackles the volcanic level in Super Mario 64, collecting stars and coins while navigating tricky jumps, hazardous shells, enemy monsters, and lag-prone platforming challenges.
Episode 15 · Snowman's Land AdventureB1 · 4:31The player guides viewers through the 'Snowman's Land' level of Super Mario 64, attempting various techniques—including using a cannon and chasing a penguin—to collect stars and overcome tricky platforming challenges.
Episode 16 · Snowy Adventure in Super Mario 64B1 · 4:15The player explores a snowy level in Super Mario 64, searching for a blue shell, aiming a cannon, battling round enemies (including the 'Bully'), and collecting red coins—often using the shell for protection and mobility.
Episode 17 · Snowy Adventure in Super Mario 64B1 · 4:23The player navigates a snowy level of Super Mario 64, collecting red coins, avoiding enemies, and attempting to complete the 'Into the Igloo' star challenge—requiring precise coin collection and timing inside an igloo.
Chicken cassolette with Maroilles
Episode 1 · Chicken Cassolette with Maroilles CheeseA2 · 5:51This episode demonstrates how to prepare a traditional dish from northern France: chicken cassolette with Maroilles cheese. It covers ingredient preparation, sautéing onions and garlic, browning chicken pieces, and finishing with white wine, chicken stock, and cream.
Episode 2 · Chicken Cassolette with Maroilles CheeseA2 · 5:56This episode demonstrates how to prepare a rich, creamy chicken cassolette using Maroilles cheese, finishing it in the oven and serving it with a fresh seasonal green salad.
Mussels with Maroilles
Slow stews
Episode 1 · Slow-Cooked Beef and Vegetable StewA2 · 4:17This episode demonstrates how to prepare a classic French slow-cooked beef stew with vegetables, covering ingredient selection (cuts of beef, seasonal vegetables), proper meat cutting, browning technique, and foundational cooking steps.
Episode 2 · Slow-Cooked Beef and Vegetable StewA2 · 4:25This episode demonstrates preparing a classic French beef stew: sautéing onions and tomato paste, deglazing with red wine, simmering the meat in beef broth, then adding carrots and whole baby potatoes with their skins.
Episode 3 · Slow-Cooked Beef and Vegetable StewA2 · 4:20This episode demonstrates how to prepare a traditional French slow-cooked beef and vegetable stew, covering mushroom preparation (removing stems for stock), gentle simmering techniques, timing adjustments for different root vegetables, and serving tips—including why it's a 'juice,' not a 'sauce.'
Episode 4 · White Wine Pork Blanquette RecipeA2 · 4:06This episode demonstrates how to prepare a French-style white wine pork blanquette, covering ingredient selection, vegetable prep, browning the meat, sweating aromatics, flouring, deglazing with white wine, and adding stock.
Episode 5 · Pork Blanquette with White WineA2 · 4:20This episode demonstrates how to prepare a classic French pork blanquette using white wine, including slow simmering for tenderness and finishing the sauce with crème fraîche and egg yolk for richness and a creamy, pale color.
Episode 6 · Chicken Thighs in Broth with Root VegetablesA2 · 4:16This episode demonstrates how to prepare a hearty, affordable French stew: chicken thighs simmered in poultry broth with root vegetables including potatoes, carrots, celery, red onions, and lemon.
Episode 7 · Chicken and Root Vegetable BrothA2 · 4:13This episode demonstrates how to prepare a flavorful chicken broth with root vegetables—carrots, celery, onions, and potatoes—simmered gently for nearly an hour, then served with herbs and optional blended soup.
Comics author Gee on living from free work
Episode 1 · Becoming a Full-Time Comic Author on Free LicensesB1 · 5:05Comic author Gee explains his transition from part-time salaried work to full-time independent creation in 2021. He details his income sources—including reader donations, commissioned illustrations, and self-published print books—all while keeping his online content freely available under open licenses.
Episode 2 · How a Comics Author Makes a Living from Free/Libre WorkB1 · 5:13Comics author Gee discusses his multifaceted income streams—including libre-licensed books and games, commissioned illustrations, press cartooning aspirations, Patreon-style donations, and potential freelance work—while reflecting on the economic realities of creative labor in France.
Episode 3 · A Year as a Full-Time Comics AuthorB1 · 4:47Comics author Gee reflects on his first year as a full-time independent creator, detailing his prolific output—including comics, novels, editorial cartoons, podcasts, videos, and game development—while honestly assessing his modest income primarily from donations, book sales, and commissions.
Episode 4 · A Comic Artist Living Solely on DonationsB1 · 4:49Comic artist Gee reflects on a year of living entirely from reader donations, discusses audience size and donation rates, and previews upcoming projects including a fantasy novel, a video game, a live show, and a monthly radio column.
Episode 5 · Can Creative Freelancing Sustain a Living?B1 · 5:02Comic artist Gee reflects on his third year of full-time independent creative work, detailing income from video games, book sales, and donations—while candidly discussing financial sustainability, time trade-offs, and future plans.
Episode 6 · A Multitalented Creator's Diverse ProjectsB1 · 5:10Comic artist Gee discusses his diverse creative work over the past year: a monthly radio column on digital topics and tech giants, a podcast, collaborative drawing games, a satirical video analyzing a 'magic stones' website, and the development and success of his indie video game Superfluous Towns.
Episode 7 · Five Years of Free-Culture AuthorshipB1 · 4:33Comics author Gee reflects on five years of working as a free-culture creator after leaving a well-paid software development job. He explains how his monthly crowdfunding model funds his blog, comics, novels, and open-licensed cultural works—all shared freely with the public.
Episode 8 · A Freelance Comic Artist's Creative Journey and New ProjectsB1 · 4:28Comic artist Gee discusses expanding his English-speaking audience through social media and Reddit, updates on his new anthology series 'Casse-Noisette' and the mythological parody 'Chez les Grecs', explains why he's ending weekly streams (citing low engagement and creative fatigue), and outlines plans for occasional live-drawing sessions and a major upcoming project funded by supporters.
Episode 9 · Five Years as a Full-Time Free-Licensed Comics AuthorB1 · 4:09Comics author Gee reflects on five years of full-time work under free licenses, detailing a major blog redesign, a new 'series'-based content classification system, selective English translations of his comics, and a shift back to focusing on comics and novels after stepping away from video game development.
Episode 10 · A Freelance Comics Author's Creative Life and WorkflowB1 · 4:10Comics author Gee discusses his upcoming season's projects: minimalist black-and-white comics, a revised Greek mythology series, progress on a novel, radio chronicles, streaming, and a new permanent crowdfunding model for his blog Grisbouille.
Albert: more probability stories
Episode 1 · Save the 22nd Century: Kill a Jellyfish!B2 · 7:34A satirical title prompting reflection on ecological crisis and speculative futures.
Episode 2 · Pokémon, Integrals, and PeasB2 · 9:22An absurdist juxtaposition linking pop culture, mathematics, and mundane objects.
Episode 3 · [Homeopathy] Are Homeopaths Mocking Us?B2 · 9:40A critical examination of homeopathy’s scientific validity and practitioners’ credibility.
Episode 4 · He Gave Cannabis to His Cat Albert? The Result Was UnexpectedB2 · 6:15A humorous exploration of challenges in surveying drug use—and how randomized response helps.
Episode 5 · Cats Are Dying for Science: Should We Stop — or Continue?B2 · 11:54Explores ethical dilemmas and truth struggles in scientific research, using cats as a narrative anchor.
Episode 6 · Mr. President, Did You Really Win This Election?B2 · 5:56Albert the cat uses animation to show how different voting rules can produce different winners.
Episode 7 · Why Flat-Earthers Can't 'Get' MinecraftB2 · 15:33Using Minecraft's mechanics as an analogy to expose the logical flaws in flat-Earth claims.
Adventurer Carly (French dub)
Episode 1 · Our fruits have been stolenA2 · 4:53Carla and Morgan discover their fruit has vanished, then confront an animal who claims ownership of all shiny objects and demands a trade for its return.
Episode 2 · A treasure map and an old promiseA2 · 5:08The group finds a treasure map, while learning the vendor is holding Robert’s drone light as leverage to recover his grandfather’s stolen gem—stolen by Dylan and Maggie.
Episode 3 · Simba goes missing in the rainA2 · 5:05Carla realizes her beloved toy Simba is missing and insists on going back to search for it despite the approaching storm.
Episode 4 · A new lake appears—and Simba is foundA2 · 4:58Heavy rain creates a sudden lake; while building a raft to search, they discover Simba was accidentally packed in Robert’s bag all along.
Episode 5 · Snatching back the notebookA2 · 4:56Carla and Morgan are chased by Maggie and Dylan as they desperately try to reclaim their stolen notebook.
Episode 6 · The stone statue mazeA2 · 5:03Carla realizes the stone statues are controlled by buttons—and Maggie is secretly operating them to trap the group.
Episode 7 · Caves high on the cliffA2 · 4:51Carla and her friends spot caves high on a cliff and attempt to climb up to take shelter from pursuers.
Episode 8 · The mural reveals the orcs' originA2 · 5:03Inside the labyrinth, the group discovers a mural revealing how the king cruelly created an orc army by transforming humans and animals.
Episode 9 · Meeting the shepherd familyA2 · 5:20On the run, Carla and her friends meet a nomad family and their son Jules, and help calm a frightened sheep.
Episode 10 · Jules's dream of natureA2 · 4:43Jules confides in Carla about loving plant studies and wanting to be a true nomad—but feeling dismissed by his father who values only practical skills.
Episode 11 · Carla and Morgan search for JulesA2 · 4:57Carla and Morgan discover that Jules and the lamb Fafa have both vanished, and urgently call out for them in the dark while following clues.
Episode 12 · Jules calms Fafa with herbal pouchA2 · 5:00Jules uses a self-made herbal pouch containing calming herbs to soothe Fafa’s fear—and in doing so, begins to mend his strained relationship with his father.
Episode 13 · Suspicious camp encounterA2 · 4:48Carla and Morgan discover a suspicious camp in the desert; while taking photos, they are confronted and their phone is forcibly searched by a suspicious man.
Episode 14 · Elder reveals the deforestation truthA2 · 5:12Former resident Léonmont tells Carla and Robert how MY Company destroyed the land for oil drilling—and explains why he and his wife are trapped at the camp.
Episode 15 · Infiltrating the secret mine siteA2 · 5:10Carla and her friends, guided by Martin, sneak into MY Company's hidden mining base.
Episode 16 · Martin's true identity revealedA2 · 4:52Robert catches Martin deleting evidence, shattering the group's trust—yet Martin insists he’s there to help and protect them as promised.
Episode 17 · Exploring the sand castleA2 · 5:01Carla and her friends head to the sand castle to search for clues, suspecting MY Company's suspicious activities there.
Episode 18 · The truth undergroundA2 · 4:53Underground beneath the sand castle, Carla discovers Martin is the mastermind: he wants the Book of Life to take back for animals all the space humans have occupied.
Episode 19 · Underground maze explorationA2 · 5:06Carla, Morgan, and Robert explore an underground maze, encounter a damp wall, mistake a tree root for a snake, and discover clues about the Peacock Well.
Episode 20 · Trapped and escaping the wellA2 · 4:51The group is trapped at the bottom of the well, splits up to search for an exit, Morgan repeatedly fails to operate the lever, and Carla arrives just in time to help them escape.
Episode 21 · Pink rabbits appearA2 · 4:58Carla and her friends discover pink rabbit footprints by the lake, then get ambushed by a group of agile, singing pink rabbits.
Episode 22 · Coco the runaway appearsA2 · 5:02Coco, a captive rabbit who just escaped, tells Carla that the king kidnapped humans as 'treasures' and reveals Robert and Martin are imprisoned in the Tree Jail.
Episode 23 · The animal contest beginsA2 · 4:50At the rabbit kingdom's animal talent contest, losers are sent to prison—and Carla realizes she must win to rescue her friends.
Episode 24 · Shadow puppet mishapA2 · 5:02During the humans' shadow puppet performance, an accident reveals Coco—and Carla and Coco are immediately arrested.
Episode 25 · Morgan makes his grand entranceA2 · 4:59Carla and Robert reunite with Morgan, who introduces his new friend Coco; everyone is surprised by Morgan's sudden fame and the king's trust in him.
Episode 26 · The fake party planA2 · 5:03Morgan hosts a party to distract the guards, and the group attempts to seize the notebook—but fail repeatedly, then accidentally discover a secret strawberry tunnel.
Episode 27 · The cave's ancient muralA2 · 5:16After falling into the Root Cave, the group discovers a mural matching one in Carla's room, revealing the Tree Castle was grown by the Yilo people using the Book of Life and nature's powers.
Episode 28 · The notebook is destroyedA2 · 4:46Martin seizes and destroys Carla's notebook, dooming the Tree Castle to die and leaving Carla devastated and unsure how to face her friends.
Episode 29 · The notebook is destroyedA2 · 4:58Martin destroys the explorer's notebook, and Carla blames herself for endangering her friends, falling into despair.
Episode 30 · Faking illnessA2 · 5:01Morgan and Robert pretend to be ill in a gentle, playful attempt to comfort and keep Carla from giving up.
Episode 31 · Splitting up to gather three ingredientsA2 · 4:51Carla, Robert, and Morgan accept Uncle Fred’s task to collect three ritual ingredients—moonstone, sand crow feather, and geranium nectar—and agree to work together, though they soon decide to split up to speed things along.
Episode 32 · The Rabbit King brings good newsA2 · 5:06The Rabbit King arrives to thank Carla for saving their tree and castle; reunited, Robert and Morgan reassure her, lifting her spirits and reaffirming their shared commitment to the adventure.
Episode 33 · The Palm Ritual BeginsA2 · 5:00Carla and her friends perform the 'Pressed Palms Ritual' on a family heirloom rug, while Uncle Fred explains the traditional ritual involving moonstone, sand crow feathers, and geranium nectar to paint palm symbols and chant nature-connected phrases.
Episode 34 · Decoding the Four SymbolsA2 · 5:03Carla deciphers the lake, moon, tree, and mountain motifs using an old song, deducing they must reach the hilltop by midnight to see the four elements align—guided by the tree's elongated shadow—to locate the ancient Yilo realm.
Episode 35 · Entering the strange forestA2 · 4:53Carla, Robert, and Morgan enter the eerie 'Devil's Zone' forest, encountering rotten-looking trees, a dust storm, and a leopard.
Episode 36 · Robert trapped under a logA2 · 5:00Robert gets pinned under a fallen log; the group digs sand, uses stones as levers, and improvises rollers to free him.
Episode 37 · Stargazing in the caveA2 · 5:02Carla and Robert spend the night in a cave, where Carla teaches Robert to identify the Big Dipper and Polaris using the stars.
Episode 38 · Bat cave panicA2 · 4:57A swarm of bats attacks the cave, trapping the group; Carla’s eyes are irritated by sand, and the team devises an ultrasonic-and-light plan to repel the bats.
Episode 39 · The rolling spikers and the blue-marked giantA2 · 5:24Carla and Robert encounter spiky rolling creatures in the desert, realize they're being controlled, and witness the sudden appearance of a blue-marked giant attacking them.
Episode 40 · Rescuing Morgan and the ancient guardianA2 · 4:36Carla risks her life to rescue Morgan from the giant's grip, and they ultimately realize the giant is an ancient guardian protecting the fallen kingdom of Yilo.
Episode 41 · Arriving at the main cityA2 · 5:13Carla and her friends finally reach the vast main city, spot Tony's footprints, and begin following them to find her father and Tony.
Episode 42 · Encountering the villainsA2 · 4:49Carla reunites with Zack, Tony, and Morgan in the city, only to be immediately pursued by villains seeking the Book of Life.
Episode 43 · Searching for the exit mechanismA2 · 5:03Carla and Morgan are trapped in a chamber and search for a mechanism to open the door, while calling out to Robert for help.
Episode 44 · The giant scorpion attacksA2 · 4:58A giant scorpion appears; the brothers Robert and Morgan use noise to provoke it, then lure it into the columns to help free Carla.
Episode 45 · Father and daughter search for an exitA2 · 4:49Carla and her father Zack find a locked door in the tunnel; she locates hidden gears in the wall by listening for a click and removing bricks.
Episode 46 · Teamwork to trap the giant scorpionA2 · 5:06Carla devises a plan to trap the giant scorpion between two heavy doors, coordinating with Tony and Robert to lure it into the tunnel.
Episode 47 · Discovering the immortal grass clueA2 · 4:53Carla and her friends find hieroglyphs reading “the immortal grass awaits the rain” and realize the grass-covered tiles are safe paths through a trap-filled board-game-like floor.
Episode 48 · The guardian reveals the truthA2 · 5:09A mysterious guardian appears, explaining that all trials were designed to test whether seekers truly understand and respect nature’s laws—only such people may become guardians of the Book of Life.
Episode 49 · The sceptre battle beginsA2 · 4:57Carla and her father discover the ghost has seized the sceptre, and everyone rushes in to stop him from claiming it.
Episode 50 · Carla claims the Book of LifeA2 · 5:01Carla is confirmed as the Book of Life's guardian, successfully takes up the sceptre, and—with Robert, Morgan, and Dylan protecting her—heads toward the book's location.
Episode 51 · Jumping the tower to save the bookA2 · 4:57Carla jumps from a tall tower to stop Martin and his henchmen from stealing the Book of Life, while Dylan and others rush to help.
Episode 52 · Martin's true plan revealedA2 · 5:05Martin reveals he is a descendant of the lost kingdom of Yilo and plans to use the Book of Life to revive the orcs' failed ancient scheme.
Episode 53 · Carla calls out to her sleeping fatherA2 · 4:58Carla desperately tries to wake her possessed father while her teammates battle Martin and fight to reclaim the Book of Life.
Episode 54 · Father-daughter memories and power awakeningA2 · 5:02Carla appeals to her father’s memories of their bond, as Martin drains the Book of Life’s dark power—disrupting nature’s balance.
Episode 55 · Dad wakes up and encourages CarlaA2 · 5:01Carla's father wakes up, praises her courage and intelligence, and urges her to follow her heart and nature to fulfill her mission as guardian.
Episode 56 · Reclaiming the Book of LifeA2 · 4:47Carla harnesses her newfound understanding of life's energy to confront Martin, reclaim the Book of Life, and restore everyone to their original forms.
Méliès magic shorts
Episode 1 · A Mad Plan to Travel Around the WorldA2 · 4:50Members of the Institute of Incoherent Geography gather to discuss engineer Krasilov's extraordinary plan to travel around the world using every known mode of transport: trains, automobiles, airships, submarines, and boats.
Episode 2 · Crazy Loft's Impossible JourneyA2 · 5:07An expedition travels across the Swiss landscape in a fantastical vehicle featuring dirigibles, an automobile, a submarine, and more—then crashes dramatically at a precipice and is rescued by local guides.
U.S. TV series history
Episode 1 · The History of American Television SeriesB1 · 4:29This episode traces the origins and evolution of American television series—from early live broadcasts in the 1940s to the birth of the sitcom with 'I Love Lucy' in 1951, and the emergence of police procedurals, westerns, thrillers, and sci-fi series throughout the 1950s.
Episode 2 · How American TV Series Reflect Social ChangeB1 · 4:48This episode explores how American TV series across decades used metaphor, character, and narrative to address major social issues—civil rights, gender equality, sexual liberation, anti-war sentiment, and shifting cultural values—showcasing television as a mirror of societal transformation.
Episode 3 · The Evolution of American Television SeriesB1 · 4:32This episode traces the 70-year evolution of American TV series—from HBO's early creative freedom and the 'Golden Age' of the 2000s to the streaming explosion of 'peak TV'—highlighting landmark shows, narrative innovations, and shifting industry dynamics.
Beauty and the Beast
Episode 1 · Beauty and the BeastA2 · 5:03This episode adapts the classic fairy tale, following Belle as she waits for her father's return and embarks on a magical quest to find him after he disappears while seeking a rose.
Episode 2 · Beauty and the BeastA2 · 5:04A merchant accidentally enters the Beast's castle and is punished for picking a rose: he must bring his daughter Belle to the castle. When he returns home, Belle learns of the curse and bravely volunteers to take his place.
Episode 3 · Beauty and the BeastA2 · 4:52Belle voluntarily takes her father's place at the beast's castle, where she begins to see his kindness and gentleness beneath his fearsome appearance.
Episode 4 · Beauty and the BeastA2 · 5:20This episode follows Beauty's stay in the Beast's enchanted castle, where their initial tension slowly gives way to mutual understanding and budding affection, all while a magical curse hangs over them.
Episode 5 · Beauty and the BeastA2 · 4:57After returning home, Belle realizes she misses the Beast and rushes back to the castle before sunset to save him from dying. Her true love breaks the curse, transforming him back into a prince.
Food on the morning show
Episode 1 · Reimagining Moroccan CuisineB1 · 2:16This episode explores traditional Maghrebi cuisine—from chickpea mousse and homemade harissa to the 'mille trous' crepe—showcasing how classic North African flavors are creatively reinterpreted in a Parisian restaurant.
Episode 2 · A Culinary Tour of FranceB1 · 5:36This episode features a quarterly culinary magazine that follows the Tour de France route across France, highlighting exceptional restaurants, local markets, vineyards, producers, regional aperitifs, and standout food addresses—from traditional estaminets in Hauts-de-France to an independent highway rest-stop restaurant and a beloved Lille friterie.
Short plays from Mont-Sauvy
Episode 1 · Chameleons: A Poem of ResistanceB1 · 3:24Violette recalls her peaceful childhood in a Provencal village with friends, then recounts the shift to wartime resistance against German occupation. The piece blends personal memory with poetic, symbolic verses centered on 'chameleons' as metaphors for resilience and hidden identity.
Episode 2 · The Joy and Power of Improv TheaterB1 · 7:06This episode explores how improvisational theater helps teenagers build self-confidence, connect with peers and teachers, and discover new ways of expressing themselves. It covers the core principles of improv—especially 'yes, and'—and shows how playful, adaptable workshops foster creativity, empathy, and presence in school settings.
Episode 3 · Your Phone Camera Has Been Hacked?B1 · 4:24This episode uses a school-based short play to explore real concerns about smartphone camera hacking, unauthorized surveillance, and digital privacy risks in everyday life.
Episode 4 · Embracing AwkwardnessB1 · 4:02A group of young people share their awkward yet genuine personal moments—like sleeping with a childhood comfort toy, writing a love song, or filming a funny moment with their grandfather—and collectively learn to embrace and celebrate awkwardness as part of being human.
Episode 5 · School Survival ChallengeB1 · 4:04Students stage a playful, school-based survival challenge inspired by the TV show Koh-Lanta, highlighting teamwork, perseverance, mutual support, and collective strength—even in difficulty or failure.
Episode 6 · A World Tour of EmotionsB1 · 5:16Students share personal travel experiences tied to emotions like joy, surprise, fear, sadness, and anger, then reflect on what each emotion reveals about fundamental human needs—such as safety, respect, connection, or understanding.
Episode 7 · A Dropout Student's Journey Back to SchoolB1 · 7:10A middle school student shares his experience of disengaging from school due to boredom, behavioral issues, and family strain; he reflects on the consequences, commits to change, improves his attitude and focus, and successfully transitions to vocational high school with clear career goals.
Montreal uni freshman
Episode 1 · Practical Advice for University FreshmenA2 · 5:24A Montreal university freshman shares practical, hard-won advice for incoming students: how secondary school performance doesn’t predict university success; why choosing your own program changes everything; how to balance others’ opinions with your own experience; and why knowing when to stop studying—and go to sleep—is key to long-term efficiency.
Episode 2 · How University Learning Differs from High SchoolA2 · 5:27This episode covers how university teaching relies heavily on pre- and post-class slide decks (like PowerPoint), shifting study habits from passive note-taking to active listening and supplementing explanations. It also discusses choosing between laptops, MacBooks, and iPads for academic work, and emphasizes preparing personalized study routines before term starts.
Episode 3 · Practical Tips for University FreshmenA2 · 5:28This episode offers practical advice for university freshmen: joining orientation weeks to make friends, setting up a professional LinkedIn profile early to network and find internships, and choosing simple, mobile-friendly tools like Google Calendar over complex apps like Notion for organizing coursework and deadlines.
Episode 4 · My First Day Back at University in MontrealA2 · 4:43A Montreal university student shares her morning routine before the first day back: skincare, outfit selection, reflections on her bioinformatics degree, upcoming internship, medical school application plans, and casual observations about campus life and personal interests.
Episode 5 · My First Day at University in MontrealA2 · 4:41A Chinese international student documents her first day at university in Montreal: attending two three-hour classes, engaging in lively discussions, grabbing lunch, reflecting on course content and terminology, and sharing her tired but excited feelings as a freshman.
Montreal vs the floods
Episode 1 · Montreal's Flood History: Lessons from the PastB2 · 6:14This episode explores Montreal's flood history since its founding in 1642, examining recurring spring floods, major historical events like the 1886 deluge, evolving urban responses, and how the AquaRisk historical database helps inform climate adaptation strategies today.
Episode 2 · Montreal's Battle Against FloodsB2 · 6:14This episode recounts 19th-century flood disasters in Montreal, highlighting heroic rescue efforts by locals like boatman Joe, opportunistic profiteering during crises, widespread damage to infrastructure and commerce, and the subsequent engineering solutions—including ice barriers, pumping stations, river widening, and modern climate-informed flood management.
Magician routines
Episode 1 · A Magician's Invisible Coin Transfer TrickA2 · 1:57This episode demonstrates a magician's trick for making coins disappear from one hand and reappear in the other, playfully introducing a fictional 'teleportation portal' method before showing a more practical sleight-of-hand technique.
Episode 2 · The Wonderful World of Remote WorkA2 · 2:26This episode compares a typical office workday with remote work during the pandemic, highlighting how working from home allows for better rest, focused productivity, and reduced virus transmission—while challenging common managerial objections.
Episode 3 · A Magician's Card Trick with JokersA2 · 1:43A magician demonstrates a card trick where two jokers magically locate a spectator's chosen card—the nine of hearts—after shuffling and magical gestures. The routine emphasizes fair mixing, misdirection, and precise handling.
Episode 4 · How Magicians Create Fake Money (for Magic Tricks)A2 · 2:00This episode demonstrates how magicians craft realistic-looking fake 20-euro bills using plain paper and a marker, focusing on precise line drawing and accurate folding to create convincing magic props.
More magician routines
Episode 1 · Red and Black Card Magic ExperimentA2 · 3:47This episode presents a playful 'physics experiment' where red and black playing cards magically separate into two piles, using scientific language—hypotheses, protocols, testing—to frame a classic magic routine in an engaging, educational way.
Episode 2 · Schrödinger's String Magic TrickA2 · 4:05A playful magic routine inspired by Schrödinger's cat thought experiment, using white and red strings to illustrate quantum superposition—where the strings appear simultaneously linked and unlinked inside a mysterious box.
Morteau sausage gratin
La Vallée des Couleurs: puppet tales
Episode 1 · Lili calls the gnomeA2 · 4:17At dusk, Lili Couette, a little girl with pigtails, calls Guy the gnome—who lives near a tree in her garden—using a xylophone and singing.
Episode 2 · John the chick skates on iceA2 · 5:28John the yellow chick glides and spins on the frozen pond, singing a cheerful made-up song about black patina being white and brown.
Episode 3 · Someone wakes up underwaterA2 · 4:22Hippocampus Matisse wakes up and rouses turtle Ilan, crab Schayam, and jellyfish Camille; their noisy play is interrupted when shark Victor arrives and bites.
Episode 4 · Lorraine’s imaginary kingdom bloomsA2 · 4:37Mermaid Lorraine invites her friends into her secret imaginary kingdom, where each sings a playful song that makes algae, blackcurrants, redcurrants, and even a carrot-shaped poop sprout.
Episode 5 · Leon the kitten introduces himselfA2 · 3:58Leon the kitten emerges from behind a bush and introduces himself as the beloved pet of Marilyn Witch.
Episode 6 · Marilyn cooks magical soupA2 · 4:19Marilyn stirs a colorful vegetable soup in her cauldron while preparing to welcome guest Mister Vampire.
Episode 7 · Mister Vampire enjoys dinnerA2 · 4:20Mister Vampire happily eats the vegetable soup and cream cake, revealing he eats ordinary food—not blood.
Episode 8 · The robin is hungryA2 · 3:21The robin chirps melodiously and signals its hunger; Fée Rosalie and Lutin Lucien prepare birdseed together.
Episode 9 · The reindeer and elk are scaredA2 · 3:36Fée Rosalie learns that Madame Renne and Monsieur Élan are pulling the sleigh this year—but they’re too afraid to fly and haven’t arrived yet.
Episode 10 · Playing chases away fearA2 · 3:53To ease their fear, Rosalie invites everyone to play—and as Madame Renne and Monsieur Élan joyfully leap and soar, Rosalie’s wings vanish, proving true magic lies in shared courage and laughter.
Episode 11 · The dinosaur siblings in dangerA2 · 2:38Dreadnoughtus, a brother and sister dinosaur duo, are chased by Rhitor the rhinoceros who accuses them of trespassing on his territory.
Grandma, tell us a story
Episode 1 · Grandma's Treasure ChestA2 · 4:50The cousins explore Grandma's garage, discover an old trunk full of forgotten treasures, and spark her nostalgic storytelling—blending playful curiosity with warm family memories.
Episode 2 · Grandma's Story Box and the Beginning of LifeA2 · 5:44Grandma gathers the children in a circle and shares nostalgic memories sparked by old objects, then gently explains human conception and early life development using simple, age-appropriate language.
Episode 3 · Grandma's Music Class MemoriesA2 · 4:31Grandma reminisces about her school days: learning the recorder in music class, rehearsing for the college's new chime, and her strict yet unforgettable music teacher, Madame Dubard.
Episode 4 · The School Bell Design ContestA2 · 5:09Students brainstorm, debate, and experiment to design a new school bell—balancing elegance, joy, and practicality—until they land on a simple, memorable, and uplifting sound.
Episode 5 · Grandma, Tell Us a Story!A2 · 5:10This is a year-end children's theater performance where kids act out an imaginative French-language story featuring themes of moon landing, dreams, personal growth, and heartfelt family moments.
Episode 6 · Moon Dreams and Whale AdventuresA2 · 5:02Grandma tells a playful, theatrical story about setting off to hunt the legendary Moby Dick—but the crew quickly realizes they're not hunters but observers, choosing whale conservation, eco-awareness, and even vegetarianism over exploitation.
Episode 7 · Grandma's Story from the Summer of 1982A2 · 5:13Grandma recounts the joyful, chaotic day in summer 1982 when her son—the children's father—was born, blending tenderness, family love, and lighthearted humor.
Episode 8 · Grandma's Phone from the FutureA2 · 4:51Grandma reminisces about her old flip phone and unexpectedly meets her future self, who demonstrates smartphones, Candy Crush, and the wonders of the internet—connecting people worldwide for free.
Episode 9 · The Magic of the Future and Enjoying the PresentA2 · 5:01Grandma humorously introduces children to modern technologies like AI, streaming services, and cleaning robots, while gently reminding them to savor simple present-moment joys—shared meals, tangled tapes, and afternoons without notifications.
Episode 10 · Grandma Tells a Story: Stealing the Mona LisaA2 · 5:01Grandma recounts, in a playful and absurdly exaggerated way, how she and her retirement home friends 'infiltrated' the Louvre to 'rescue' the Mona Lisa—mixing spy tropes, gentle satire, and lighthearted nonsense.
Episode 11 · Grandma Saves the Mona LisaA2 · 4:57A witty grandmother pretends to be a lost visitor in a museum, charming and outsmarting security guards with playful banter and absurd claims—culminating in her triumphant, tongue-in-cheek 'rescue' of the Mona Lisa.
Episode 12 · Grandma's Story TreasureA2 · 4:49Grandma shares her life story as a precious gift, urging her grandchildren to write their own. The episode reflects on how memories—however imperfect or embellished—keep love alive and invite storytelling, laughter, and shared moments.
Episode 13 · Year-End Theater PerformanceA2 · 5:26Students reflect on their four-year theater journey during a year-end performance, celebrating personal growth, strong bonds formed through rehearsals and shows, and expressing heartfelt gratitude to teachers and peers.
Pork fillet with cream mushrooms
Episode 1 · Pork Fillet with Cream and MushroomsA2 · 4:09This episode demonstrates how to prepare a classic French dish: pork fillet cooked with fresh mushrooms and cream. It covers ingredient preparation, seasoning the meat, searing it to golden crispness, and sautéing shallots and mushrooms in the same pan.
Episode 2 · Pork Fillet with Cream and MushroomsA2 · 4:06This episode demonstrates how to cook tender, juicy pork fillet with cream and mushrooms, covering key techniques like gentle simmering, timely flipping, sauce integration, and serving suggestions such as mashed potatoes or rice.
Why men stopped wearing dresses
Episode 1 · Why Boys Stopped Wearing DressesB2 · 5:46This episode explores the historical tradition of boys wearing dresses—common from the Middle Ages through the 19th century—and examines the social, educational, and cultural shifts (including changing gender norms, Rousseau’s influence on child-rearing, and evolving clothing practices) that led to its decline.
Episode 2 · Why Boys Stopped Wearing DressesB2 · 5:18This episode explores the historical practice of dressing young children—regardless of gender—in dresses in Europe and North America, and examines the social, cultural, and practical reasons (such as sport, changing ideals of masculinity, industrial clothing production, and evolving notions of childhood) that led to boys abandoning dresses for trousers between the 1880s and 1920s.
Episode 3 · Why Boys Stopped Wearing DressesB2 · 5:33This episode explores the historical shift away from boys wearing dresses, tracing how childhood fashion became increasingly gendered from the late 19th century through the early 20th century—driven by cultural influences like 'Little Lord Fauntleroy,' evolving medical and psychological ideas about gender, and changing social roles of children.
More ways your brain plays tricks
Episode 1 · The Two Roots of Our Judgment ErrorsB1 · 5:00This episode explores the two main sources of judgment errors: internal ones (cognitive biases and flawed reasoning) and external ones (poor-quality, unrepresentative, or misleading data). It examines how our brain can reach wrong conclusions either by misinterpreting good information or correctly interpreting bad information.
Episode 2 · Data Quality and Cognitive BiasB1 · 4:59This episode explains how our prior beliefs shape how we interpret new information, and how the quality of data—specifically its noise (random error) and bias (systematic error)—affects the accuracy of our judgments and decisions.
Episode 3 · Bias and Noise: How Our Brains Misjudge RealityB1 · 5:00This episode uses a shooting target analogy to explain bias (systematic error) and noise (random error) in human judgment, showing how they distort perception and decision-making—and why 'wisdom of the crowd' helps with noise but not bias.
Episode 4 · Bias and Noise: How Your Brain Tricks YouB1 · 5:00This episode explains the difference between cognitive bias (systematic errors in judgment) and noise (random variability in decisions). Both distort professional judgments—like sentencing, insurance risk assessment, or grading—but noise is harder to detect because it averages out, making it more insidious than bias.
Episode 5 · The Four Sources of Human ErrorB1 · 5:02This episode explains the four origins of human error: bias and noise in data, and bias and noise in judgment. It contrasts internal vs. external explanations for mistakes—emphasizing that focusing only on people's 'stupidity' or biases blocks real solutions, while addressing environmental factors (like design, information systems, or education) enables meaningful improvement.
Episode 6 · Cognitive Bias and Noise: Why We Make Judgment ErrorsB1 · 4:56This episode examines the two main sources of judgment errors—internal cognitive biases and external 'noise' in information—and argues that blaming individuals' thinking flaws alone overlooks deeper societal causes like anomie, inequality, and loss of agency.
Episode 7 · How Multiple-Choice Questions Mislead UsB1 · 5:11This episode examines how multiple-choice questions suppress uncertainty, encourage overconfidence, and distort interpretations of public knowledge—especially when applied to complex, unfamiliar topics in education and opinion polling.
Episode 8 · How Multiple-Choice Questions Trick Your BrainB1 · 5:09This episode explores how multiple-choice question formats distort judgment, examining strategic answering in quizzes and elections, the problem of forced binary choices, and a more honest scoring method that rewards accurate self-assessment of uncertainty.
Episode 9 · How Your Brain Misjudges UncertaintyB1 · 5:14This episode explores how people estimate uncertainty when answering numerical questions—like the weight of a ham, Japan's population, or the speed of light—using probability distributions and confidence intervals to illustrate overconfidence and underconfidence.
Episode 10 · Calibrating Your UncertaintyB1 · 5:08This episode explores how to accurately assess our judgment of uncertainty by using confidence intervals and predictive questions—like estimating election results or renewable energy shares—and measuring calibration through scoring methods like the Brier score.
Episode 11 · How Well Can We Predict the Future?B1 · 5:21This episode examines human forecasting ability, using examples from astrologers, media pundits, and Sovietologists to show how people—especially experts—often overestimate their predictive accuracy and fail to calibrate confidence with actual performance.
Episode 12 · Why Experts Are Often Terrible at Predicting the FutureB1 · 5:37This episode examines the surprising unreliability of expert predictions—showing they often perform no better than laypeople, basic algorithms, or even chance—and explores cognitive biases like 'self-bullshitting' that lead to systemic forecasting failures in intelligence and policy.
Episode 13 · The Superforecasters: Who Predicts the Future Best?B1 · 5:20This episode explores who excels at forecasting the future, revealing that 'superforecasters' aren’t defined by elite credentials or high IQs—but by cognitive traits like pattern recognition, intellectual humility, probabilistic thinking, and willingness to update beliefs in light of new evidence.
Episode 14 · How Your Brain Tricks You When Predicting the FutureB1 · 5:28This episode explores the psychological traits that influence forecasting accuracy—such as comfort with uncertainty, epistemic humility, ability to recall and learn from past predictions, and avoiding overconfidence. It emphasizes that good forecasting is not about clairvoyance but about disciplined thinking and honest self-assessment.
Your brain plays tricks
Episode 1 · The Gambler's Fallacy: When Our Brain Misreads ProbabilityB1 · 4:22This episode uses a simple dice game to explain the gambler's fallacy—the mistaken belief that past random outcomes affect future ones. It clarifies that each die roll is independent, and probability remains unchanged regardless of prior results.
Episode 2 · Should we trust theory or experience?B1 · 4:33This episode explores the fundamental scientific dilemma of whether to trust established theory or empirical evidence when they conflict. Using a dice-rolling scenario—five consecutive sixes—it examines how people reason differently, introduces Dr. John (theory-driven) and Fat Tony (experience-driven), and reflects on how this tension plays out in research and daily life.
Episode 3 · Trusting Theory or Experience?B1 · 4:39This episode explores the balance between trusting theoretical models and empirical evidence, explaining how scientists rationally weigh unexpected data against well-established theories—and why both skepticism and confidence are essential in reasoning.
Episode 4 · Trusting Theory or Experience?B1 · 4:16This episode explores how game theory and simple pedagogical examples help train critical thinking and reveal cognitive biases—even in trivial situations—urging intellectual humility when confronting complex societal, ecological, and political issues.
Episode 5 · The Illusion of Regression Toward the MeanB1 · 4:43This episode explains the statistical phenomenon of regression toward the mean using relatable examples like long jump performance, test scores, and bus commute times—and shows how it leads to common misinterpretations of excellence, medical treatments, hiring outcomes, and IQ scores.
Episode 6 · The Illusion of Regression to the MeanB1 · 4:39This episode explains, using statistics, why extreme performances are often followed by more average ones—and why people mistakenly attribute this to 'curses' or bad luck instead of natural variability and regression to the mean.
Episode 7 · The Illusion of Regression to the MeanB1 · 4:46This episode explains 'regression to the mean'—a statistical phenomenon where extreme outcomes (good or bad) are often followed by more average ones, yet people mistakenly attribute the shift to skill, effort, or intervention rather than natural variability and randomness.
Episode 8 · The Illusion of Regression to the MeanB1 · 4:36This episode explains why rewards may appear ineffective and punishments effective—due to the statistical phenomenon of 'regression to the mean.' It also explores how IQ scores vary across testing conditions, clarifies the difference between 'observed' and 'true' IQ, and discusses measurement error and confidence intervals.
Episode 9 · The Hidden Power of Regression to the MeanB1 · 4:45This episode explores the statistical phenomenon of regression to the mean using IQ testing as a central example—showing how extreme initial scores tend to shift toward the average upon retesting, and why this leads to common misinterpretations in psychology and education.
Episode 10 · Does the Dunning-Kruger Effect Even Exist?B1 · 4:18This episode explores how people judge their own competence, critically examines the scientific validity of the Dunning-Kruger effect, and introduces metacognition and real-world self-assessment experiments—like estimating one's quiz performance before seeing results.
Episode 11 · Does the Dunning-Kruger Effect Even Exist?B1 · 4:28This episode critically examines the Dunning-Kruger effect, arguing that the observed patterns in self-assessment data likely stem from statistical noise and regression toward the mean—not from incompetence preventing self-awareness. It also discusses the widespread illusory superiority bias affecting everyone, regardless of skill level.
Episode 12 · Does the Dunning-Kruger Effect Even Exist?B1 · 4:13This episode critically examines whether the Dunning-Kruger effect is a real psychological phenomenon or largely explained by statistical artifacts—especially regression to the mean and overconfidence bias—citing decades of scientific debate, methodological challenges, and recent studies questioning its validity.
Episode 13 · Predicting the Future Like a FoxB1 · 5:35This episode explores the 'fox' and 'hedgehog' thinking styles—broad, adaptable knowledge versus deep, single-framework expertise—and examines evidence showing foxes tend to make more accurate predictions about complex future events.
Episode 14 · Foxes and Hedgehogs: How We Think About the FutureB1 · 5:37This episode explores two cognitive styles—'hedgehogs', who rely on a single, all-encompassing theory, and 'foxes', who integrate multiple perspectives and adjust their thinking flexibly—examining how each affects prediction accuracy, confidence calibration, and uncertainty management.
Episode 15 · The Fox Thinker: Better at Predicting the FutureB1 · 5:35This episode explores 'fox thinking'—a flexible, nuanced approach to prediction that involves understanding the internal logic of diverse worldviews (e.g., Marxist, psychoanalytic, evangelical, libertarian) rather than rigidly applying a single framework like a 'hedgehog'. It discusses research on forecasting accuracy, collective intelligence, and how expert teams improve predictions through debate and weighted aggregation.
Episode 16 · Fox vs. Hedgehog Thinking: How We Predict and Understand the WorldB1 · 5:38This episode explores two cognitive styles—'foxes' (who integrate multiple, sometimes contradictory ideas) and 'hedgehogs' (who rely deeply on a single explanatory theory)—and examines when each excels: foxes in forecasting future events, hedgehogs in building coherent theories about the world.
First half of the end-of-year show
Episode 1 · Year-End School Show OpeningA2 · 5:45Students introduce the program for their year-end school show, featuring a workshop led by a teacher, journalism club reports, and a presentation about a student trip to Spain.
Episode 2 · An Eco-Association's School ProjectA2 · 4:41This episode features Antoine from the non-profit eco-association Recup'Tri, who explains their mission of professional reintegration and environmental action while demonstrating how students and staff collaboratively redesigned existing school bins into basketball-themed recycling stations.
Episode 3 · Behind the Scenes of the Annual School Theater ShowA2 · 5:38Two student reporters investigate their school's theater club, learning about rehearsal routines, casting processes, and the sci-fi plot of this year's end-of-year show—a time-travel adventure set in a post-apocalyptic world.
Episode 4 · Year-End Show and School Trip to SpainA2 · 5:20Students present their year-end theater performance and share highlights from their school trip to Spain, including visits to Santander, Bilbao, Guernica, San Sebastián, and San Juan, as well as activities like beach walks, funicular rides, boat trips, and hiking.
Episode 5 · Year-End Show First HalfA2 · 4:55This is the first half of a year-end school performance, featuring playful audience interaction, nostalgic recollections of a trip to Spain including visits to peace and San Juan museums, and lighthearted, fragmented storytelling.
Episode 6 · An Unforgettable Trip to MasangaA2 · 5:44Students reflect on their enriching cultural exchange trip to Masanga, expressing gratitude to teachers and chaperones who made the experience possible. They highlight the value of early international exposure for personal growth and broadening cultural horizons.
Sous l'océan: clay ocean tale
Episode 1 · Underwater alarm soundsA2 · 4:31On a Caribbean island, sea creatures spot a soda can and plastic debris, triggering panic and alarm among the ocean dwellers.
Episode 2 · Toxic barrel and migration routeA2 · 4:44The creatures realize the 'can' is actually a toxic drum; they discuss the whale’s perilous migration to the ice sea to feed on krill and small fish.
Clay fairy tales by Eric Fitoussi
Episode 1 · The sceptre heist beginsA1 · 4:39The diabolical magician plots to steal the princess's sceptre to rule the world; when she vanishes, the knight rushes into the forest to save her.
Episode 2 · The princess has disappearedA1 · 4:24The king and queen discover their princess is missing and urgently call for help; the knight rushes to assist.
Episode 3 · Joe's test beginsA1 · 4:17The sheriff orders Joe to drive away the Native Americans near the Grand Canyon, and Joe confidently sets off to prove himself.
Episode 4 · The mask heist plan beginsA1 · 4:16Kilo and Harley Quinn devise a plan to steal the Mask of Deception and rush to the bank in a tractor to find the parchment map.
Episode 5 · Finding the treasure mapA1 · 3:32The children search through the village's treasure chest and discover a treasure map.
Episode 6 · The magician looks for his monkeyA1 · 3:24The magician discovers his monkey has disappeared again and urgently asks the explorer for help to find him.
Episode 7 · The hedgehog's birthday giftA1 · 3:15The rabbits prepare a birthday gift for the hedgehog and plan to prank the wolf with it.
Episode 8 · Rapunzel is afraid to diveA1 · 2:53Rapunzel has a nightmare about crashing into the water and becomes too scared to dive at Grand Rocher.
Episode 9 · The witch's diamond plotA1 · 2:36The witch declares she needs both diamonds to rule the world and gleefully plans to steal the red diamond from the museum, boasting only the blue diamond remains to be seized.
Episode 10 · The hare and the tortoiseA1 · 2:06The hare and the tortoise wager on who will reach the finish line first; the hare is overconfident, while the tortoise proceeds slowly but steadily.
Episode 11 · The crow and the cheeseA1 · 1:38A crow holds a piece of cheese in his beak while perched on a tree; a fox, enticed by the smell, approaches him.
Episode 12 · Baroum builds a drakkarA1 · 2:15Baroum the Viking introduces himself and begins building a drakkar.
Clay shorts III
Episode 1 · The Wolf Who Wanted FriendsA2 · 5:30Oscar the wolf tries to make friends with rabbits, pigs, and squirrels in the forest, but they all run away, fearing he'll eat them. After expressing his gentle nature and desire to play, he's invited to join a game of soccer and makes new friends.
Episode 2 · The Wolf's Birthday SurpriseA2 · 5:11The wolf feels sad because no one remembers his birthday, but his friends quickly organize a surprise party and set up a playful trap when the 'thief'—actually the wolf himself—tries to steal the gift.
Episode 3 · Panic at the Farm: The Fox ThreatA2 · 2:32The farm animals team up to build a robot and stage a clever ruse—disguising themselves as a forest fairy—to scare off a fox that keeps trying to sneak into the farm. The episode features playful problem-solving, imagination, and cooperation among animal characters.
Episode 4 · A Surprise Birthday Party on the FarmA2 · 2:49The farm animals secretly hide to prepare a joyful birthday surprise for the farmer, then emerge together to celebrate with cake, songs, and heartfelt wishes.
Episode 5 · The Legend of IcarusA2 · 6:04This episode recounts the ancient Greek myth of Daedalus and his son Icarus, who craft wings from feathers and wax to escape imprisonment on Crete, and the tragic consequences of flying too close to the sun.
Episode 6 · The Five Bunnies and the Soccer BallA2 · 1:56Five bunnies play soccer, lose their ball behind a bush, and meet a vegetarian wolf who joins their game—turning a mishap into joyful friendship and shared fun.
Clay shorts IV
Episode 1 · Funny Animals and the Circus AdventureA2 · 1:40A group of animal friends sets off to find a circus, meets a friendly crocodile, and ends up putting on their own fun show with magic tricks, juggling, and a parade.
Episode 2 · Kimamila and the Planet: Sorting Waste to Protect EarthA2 · 4:02Kimamila teaches children how to sort waste (plastic, paper, glass), avoid unnecessary car use, prevent littering on beaches, and respect nature—all to protect the planet.
Clay shorts II
Episode 1 · The Skeleton's Birthday PrankA1 · 4:08Skeleton's friends play a lighthearted birthday prank by 'stealing' his head, leading to playful confusion and laughter—ending with a joyful football game and a heartfelt celebration.
Episode 2 · The Disappearing CrownA1 · 4:51The king's crown mysteriously disappears, prompting the knight to investigate—only to discover that mischievous sprites, not the witch, took it, and they work together to recover it.
Episode 3 · The Chicks' Circus ShowA1 · 2:32Chicks roll on straw and put on a playful circus show—performing magic tricks (making eggs, rabbits, and carrots appear), balancing acts, and juggling—delighting their parents with charm and humor.
Agri-school student shorts
Episode 1 · Tracking Wild Boar at Dawn with a Hunting DogA2 · 5:18An agriculture school student takes his two-year-old hunting dog into the frost-covered fields at dawn to track wild boar. He explains the 'pied' method—using the dog's senses to locate fresh game trails, marking them for later hunting, and adapting to challenging winter conditions.
Episode 2 · The Wild Boar HuntA2 · 5:43This episode shows how hunting dogs corner a wild boar and the hunter's pursuit across rough woodland terrain.
Women and sports
Normandy apple tart
Perrault fairy tales
Episode 1 · Donkey Skin: A Classic French Fairy TaleA2 · 5:26This episode presents Charles Perrault's classic fairy tale 'Donkey Skin', in which a grieving king swears to remarry only if he finds a woman more beautiful, better formed, and wiser than his late queen—a vow that sets in motion a poignant and magical story.
Episode 2 · Donkey Skin (Part 2)A2 · 5:19To escape her father's forbidden marriage proposal, the princess seeks help from her fairy godmother, who advises her to demand three impossibly rare gowns—colored like the sky, the moon, and the sun—and finally the skin of a magical donkey.
Episode 3 · Donkey Skin's Escape and DisguiseA2 · 5:53The princess dons the magical donkey skin to disguise herself and flee an unwanted marriage, taking refuge as a scullery maid on a farm; each Sunday, she secretly cleans up, opens her enchanted chest, and admires herself in her magnificent gowns before the mirror.
Episode 4 · Donkey Skin's Magic CakeA2 · 5:09This episode tells the fairy tale of a king who falls deeply in love with the mysterious Donkey Skin, grows ill with longing, and ultimately identifies his beloved through a ring hidden in a cake she bakes for him.
Episode 5 · Donkey Skin's Magic RingA2 · 5:10This episode recounts the fairy tale of Donkey Skin, who secretly tries on the prince's ring and is revealed as the true princess, dazzling the court with her beauty and grace. The story conveys moral lessons about virtue, duty, and the triumph of goodness over adversity.
Episode 6 · Cinderella's Magical TransformationA2 · 5:31This episode presents the classic fairy tale 'Cinderella', covering her life of hardship under her stepmother and stepsisters, her kindness and patience, and the magical intervention of her fairy godmother who transforms a pumpkin into a carriage and mice into horses—setting the stage for Cinderella’s journey to the royal ball.
Episode 7 · Cinderella's Magical BallA2 · 5:56This episode recounts how Cinderella's fairy godmother uses magic to transform mice into horses, a rat into a coachman, and lizards into footmen, then dresses Cinderella in magnificent clothes and glass slippers for the royal ball.
Episode 8 · Cinderella's Glass SlipperA2 · 5:06This episode tells the classic fairy tale of Cinderella attending the royal ball, fleeing at midnight and losing her glass slipper, and the prince's subsequent search to find the mysterious girl whose foot fits the delicate shoe.
Episode 9 · Straw into Gold: A French Fairy TaleA2 · 7:53This episode presents a French adaptation of the Grimm fairy tale 'Rumpelstiltskin': a miller's daughter is forced by the king to spin straw into gold; with help from a mysterious little man, she succeeds—but must later guess his name to keep her child.
Perrault & La Fontaine
Critical thinking basics
Episode 1 · Why critical thinking is reliableB1 · 4:29The speaker defines 'reliability' of critical thinking as it being our best method for evaluating beliefs—though fallible, it minimizes errors.
Episode 2 · What counts as evidence?B1 · 4:33Explains that in critical thinking, 'evidence' differs from mathematical proof; introduces three levels: suggestive clues, scientific studies, and the need for methodological rigor.
Episode 3 · Why randomized controlled trials matterB1 · 4:45Contrasts retrospective studies—vulnerable to confounding factors—with randomized controlled trials, which better isolate causal relationships by balancing variables across groups.
Episode 4 · Introducing Occam's razorB1 · 4:31Introduces Occam's razor and explains its role in choosing between competing scientific theories that explain the same phenomenon.
Episode 5 · Quantum physics is not visualizableB1 · 4:25Explains that quantum phenomena are mathematically describable but fundamentally non-visualizable, and warns against uncritically accepting health claims invoking 'quantum' effects.
Episode 6 · Macroscopic objects don’t show wave behaviorB1 · 4:34Calculates a person’s de Broglie wavelength (≈2×10⁻³¹ m) to demonstrate why macroscopic objects exhibit no observable wave-like behavior.
Episode 7 · Scalar waves lack scientific supportB1 · 4:47Notes the near-total absence of credible scientific references for 'scalar waves', highlighting confusion between mathematical terminology and physical claims.
Episode 8 · Human emissions aren’t scalar wavesB1 · 4:52Examines human emissions—thermal infrared, sound, weak electromagnetic fields—and confirms none match the undefined 'scalar waves' claimed in aromatherapy contexts.
Episode 9 · DNA is not an electronic oscillatorB1 · 5:10Refutes the analogy between DNA and LC oscillators, stressing that DNA conducts no electricity and that superficial structural resemblance doesn’t imply functional equivalence.
What critical thinking actually is
Episode 1 · What Is Critical Thinking?B1 · 5:02This episode distinguishes critical thinking from skepticism, framing critical thinking as an active, everyday practice of examining information, questioning assumptions, testing beliefs against evidence, and maintaining intellectual self-defense through persistent inquiry and reflection.
Episode 2 · What Critical Thinking Really IsB1 · 5:07This episode explores critical thinking as a personal attitude toward life and information—not as a formal philosophical movement. The speaker reflects on how curiosity, constant questioning ('why, why, why'), and everyday experiences (TV, comics, music, street observations) shaped their understanding, distinct from academic skepticism or zététique.
Episode 3 · Critical Thinking and Intellectual Self-DefenseB1 · 4:56This episode explores the nature of critical thinking—defined as the ongoing examination of incoming information—and distinguishes it from intellectual self-defense, which applies that skepticism specifically to political, religious, or economic manipulation in social contexts.
Episode 4 · Critical Thinking and Intellectual Self-DefenseB1 · 4:57This episode distinguishes critical thinking—broadly applied to self-deception, misinterpretation, fatigue-induced errors, and flawed information processing—from intellectual self-defense, which specifically targets manipulative tactics in advertising, politics, toxic relationships, and other forms of external influence.
History of pizza
Episode 1 · The History of Pizza: From Italy to the USAA2 · 4:36This episode traces pizza's evolution—from ancient flatbreads in Egypt, Greece, and Rome, to its emergence in 18th-century Naples, Italy, and the transformative addition of the New World tomato that defined modern pizza.
Episode 2 · The History of Pizza: From Italy to the USAA2 · 4:39This episode traces pizza's evolution: from its 18th-century origins in Naples as a simple tomato-topped flatbread, through its royal endorsement as Pizza Margherita, its spread to the USA with Italian immigrants, wartime popularization, and eventual globalization via chains like Pizza Hut and Domino's.
Pierrot and the night
Episode 1 · Pierrot and the Secrets of the NightA2 · 5:06This episode tells the story of Pierrot, a night-shift baker, and Columbine, a daytime laundress, exploring his deep, poetic connection to the night—its beauty, quiet wonder, and hidden light—as he silently observes the sleeping village and longs for Columbine.
Episode 2 · Pierrot and the Secret of the NightA2 · 5:08Pierrot lives in a dreamy, moonlit world—pale, quiet, and solitary—until the vibrant, colorful painter Arlequin arrives in a whimsical caravan, bringing sunlight, laughter, and change to the village.
Episode 3 · Pierrot and the Painted NightA2 · 5:03Arlequin repaints Colombine's laundry shop with a vibrant, multicolored mural—including a life-size portrait of her in his signature diamond-patterned costume—and adds the word 'teinturerie' (dyeworks). Pierrot, enchanted by the moon, is dismayed to find the transformed façade and Colombine's new appearance, sparking his quiet heartbreak and poetic response.
Episode 4 · Pierrot and the Secret of the NightA2 · 5:09Pierrot, Colombine, and Arlequin embark on a journey through changing seasons; as Colombine questions her choice, Pierrot's heartfelt letter reveals his quiet, profound love—expressed through poetic, sensory-rich metaphors about blue nights, golden ovens, and nourishing colors.
Episode 5 · Colombina comes homeA2 · 5:03Colombina is on her way home.
Episode 6 · Pierrot and the Secret of the NightA2 · 5:05Exhausted and asleep in Pierrot's bakery, Columbine inspires him to sculpt her likeness in brioche dough; Arlequin arrives shivering at the door, singing a tender, wintry version of 'Au clair de la lune'; the three share warmth, laughter, and a whimsical, golden-brown brioche Columbine.
Piedmontese salad
Episode 1 · How to Make Piedmontese SaladA2 · 5:02This episode teaches how to prepare Piedmontese salad—a refreshing summer dish often mistakenly thought to be Italian but actually of Russian origin—using potatoes, hard-boiled eggs, pickles, Roma tomatoes, parsley, white ham, and a creamy mayonnaise-based dressing.
Episode 2 · How to Make Piedmontese SaladA2 · 4:56This episode shows how to prepare a Piedmontese salad: making mayonnaise with mustard and oil, seasoning it with white wine vinegar, adding crème fraîche and parsley, then gently combining it with boiled eggs, tomatoes, ham, and other ingredients before chilling.
Apple far
Episode 1 · Apple Far: A Traditional Breton DessertA2 · 4:09This episode demonstrates how to make far aux pommes, a traditional Breton apple dessert that doubles as a delicious breakfast. It covers ingredient preparation, caramelizing apples in salted butter and sugar, and mixing the batter with flour, eggs, apple juice, and optional calvados.
Episode 2 · Apple Far: A Traditional Norman DessertA2 · 4:10This episode demonstrates how to prepare a classic Norman dessert—apple far—using apples, apple juice, and calvados. It covers mixing the batter, layering caramelized apples, baking, resting overnight, and serving.
Ordinary days, three vloggers
Episode 1 · A slice of my everyday lifeB1 · 4:53A woman shares snippets of her daily routine: preparing a tomato-and-mushroom salad, drying laundry on an Italian-style clothesline, and recounting her anxiety over a misinterpreted blood test result—highlighting ordinary moments with warmth and vulnerability.
Episode 2 · An Ordinary DayB1 · 4:45A woman shares her ordinary day: dealing with cleaning mishaps, vitamin D deficiency, installing an insulated window panel, coping with insects using adhesive tape, and watching 'RuPaul's Drag Race' for inspiration and entertainment.
Episode 3 · A Casual Day with Reflections on Fame, Health, and Consumer LifeB1 · 5:03The vlogger shares a candid day: dealing with an injured foot, watching TV news, reflecting on the rise and fall of public figures like Mbappé and Macron, discussing skincare, and urging viewers to check consumer recall alerts from '60 Millions de Consommateurs'.
Episode 4 · My Everyday Life FragmentsB1 · 4:37A mother shares her morning routine: caring for her son, online shopping, troubleshooting her computer, watching Netflix shows like 'Lupin' and 'RuPaul's Drag Race', playing with her cat Ivy, and celebrating the healing of a foot injury.
Episode 5 · A Day in My Skin During LockdownB1 · 4:37A vlogger documents her day in lockdown: doing a Zumba workout, washing her hair, and reflecting openly on her YouTube channel's evolution—her editing style, pacing, microphone quality, and the contrast between her calm online persona and energetic real-life self.
Episode 6 · A Chill Day at Home with My Shetland SheepdogB1 · 4:28A vlogger shares a relaxed day in lockdown: bonding with her affectionate Shetland sheepdog, baking butter-free cookies with oats and bananas, and creating a summer vision board using Photoshop.
Episode 7 · A Day in My Skin During Lockdown: Goals, Shows, and CookiesB1 · 4:54A vlogger shares a relaxed day during lockdown: creating a vision board with personal goals (exams, friendships, social media growth), reacting to the reality show 'Koh Lanta', baking cookies, finishing Harry Potter and a favorite series, and inviting viewers to subscribe and share recommendations.
Episode 8 · What Do People Think of Strasbourg?A2 · 5:25Strasbourg residents share their thoughts on the city—its landmarks like the cathedral and Petite France, iconic foods like tarte flambée and sauerkraut, common stereotypes (e.g., speaking German or eating only sausages), and the reality of living in a vibrant, cosmopolitan, yet peaceful European capital.
Puy lentil velouté
Episode 1 · Puy Green Lentil VeloutéA2 · 5:59This episode demonstrates how to prepare a classic French velouté using Puy green lentils, onions, potatoes, and lardons—covering ingredient prep, sautéing, simmering, and blending.
Episode 2 · Puy Green Lentil Velouté Cooking DemoA2 · 5:55This episode demonstrates preparing a smooth Puy green lentil velouté, covering blending techniques (low and high speed), why straining removes lentil skins for better texture, and final seasoning with crème fraîche and salt/pepper.
Odd and fun
Episode 1 · The History of Human Stupidity and the Darwin AwardsB2 · 4:28This episode explores real historical cases of fatal foolishness—from ancient Greece to 18th-century Sweden—and introduces the origin of the Darwin Awards, a satirical honor for those who inadvertently remove themselves from the gene pool through spectacularly poor judgment.
Episode 2 · The Darwin Awards: When Stupidity Wins the PrizeB2 · 4:47This episode explores the origin and five strict criteria of the Darwin Awards—a darkly humorous online phenomenon that honors people who accidentally remove themselves from the gene pool through spectacularly poor judgment. It features real, bizarre, and often fatal examples illustrating evolution 'in action'.
Episode 3 · The Darwin Awards: A Sarcastic Prize for Self-Inflicted ExtinctionB2 · 4:26This episode explains the five criteria of the Darwin Awards—a satirical honor given to people who accidentally remove themselves from the gene pool through spectacularly poor judgment. Using verified real-life cases from the UK, France, the US, and Cambodia, it explores themes of risk-taking, alcohol's role in impaired decision-making, and gender patterns in fatal accidents.
Episode 4 · The Ig Nobel PrizesB2 · 6:22This episode introduces the annual Ig Nobel Prizes, awarded to scientific research that first makes people laugh, then makes them think—covering quirky but real studies in medicine, physics, psychology, engineering, and more.
Episode 5 · The Ig Nobel Prizes: Funny and Fascinating Scientific AchievementsB2 · 6:07This episode presents humorous and thought-provoking Ig Nobel Prize winners from 1995 to 2024, highlighting quirky yet real scientific studies—from cat fluidity and cow names affecting milk yield to nasal hair symmetry and paper-bag explosions disturbing dairy cows.
Episode 6 · The Strangest Diets in HistoryB2 · 4:45This episode explores historically unusual weight-loss diets, including the Bodwig cream regimen from the 1950s/80s and Sylvester Graham’s austere 1830s diet, examining their origins, health claims, moral motivations, and links to industrial-era ideals of thinness and self-discipline.
Episode 7 · The Strangest Diets in HistoryB2 · 4:46This episode explores bizarre historical diets, including Sylvester Graham's health-focused regimen, William Banting's low-carb weight-loss plan, the mythical tapeworm diet, Horace Fletcher's extreme chewing method, and the Hollywood grapefruit diet — all illustrating evolving cultural ideals of body image and health.
Episode 8 · The Craziest Diets in HistoryB2 · 4:47This episode traces the evolution of weight-loss diets from the 19th century to the early 21st century—including meal replacements, point-based systems, low-carb and Mediterranean diets—and examines their cultural impact, scientific claims, and growing feminist and health-based critiques.
Episode 9 · The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory FireB2 · 5:51This episode recounts the 1911 Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire in New York, examining exploitative labor conditions, absent safety measures, and the vulnerability of young immigrant workers—particularly women—in early 20th-century industry.
Episode 10 · The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire in New YorkB2 · 5:29This episode recounts the 1911 Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire in New York: how it unfolded, the tragic loss of 146 lives—many due to locked exits and inadequate safety measures—and the ensuing legal proceedings against the factory owners.
Episode 11 · The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory FireB2 · 5:39This episode recounts the 1911 Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire in New York, its 146 victims, the public outrage it sparked, and how it catalyzed major labor reforms—including workplace safety laws, shorter hours, and stronger unions—shaping progressive policy for decades.
Chivalry 2 first blood
Episode 1 · Medieval Siege BattleB1 · 4:37This episode features a medieval-themed multiplayer battle where players cooperate to defend a fortress against waves of attackers using siege weapons, shields, and melee combat.
Episode 2 · Bombs on the city gateB1 · 4:41Attackers plant bombs on the gates, the walls crack open, and the defenders fall back to the courtyard.
Episode 3 · First Blood in Chivalry 2B1 · 4:40This episode features gameplay from the medieval multiplayer combat game Chivalry 2, showcasing sword fighting, team coordination, banner capture, and tactical mechanics like parrying and downing opponents.
Light and funny history
Episode 1 · Why Quebec loves a good jokeB2 · 4:23From the 19th century on, Quebec used satire and jokes to loosen everyday tension.
Episode 2 · Even a priest took the stageB2 · 4:41From Father Labelle to Gratien Gélinas, French jokes found their way onto the stage.
Episode 3 · French jokes in the caféB2 · 4:17After the war, Quebec humor moved from old sketches into lighter French song cafés.
Episode 4 · One person, a whole eveningB2 · 4:09Stand-up in Quebec grew from scattered bits into a whole evening of shared laughter.
Episode 5 · Anyone can take the micB2 · 4:13From the 1970s on, Quebec comedy got looser, and group shows kept the room laughing.
Episode 6 · The odd star of the Moulin RougeB2 · 4:49Joseph turned an unusual stomach skill into a Moulin Rouge act people lined up to see.
Episode 7 · The show everyone wanted to seeB2 · 4:45This French performer turned sounds from his own body into a wildly popular stage act.
Episode 8 · How cheese snacks beganB2 · 5:26A machine built for animal feed accidentally puffed corn into a crispy snack.
Episode 9 · After the corn puffed upB2 · 5:37Puffed corn plus cheese powder became the cheese curls sold everywhere later.
Episode 10 · Before toilet paperB2 · 4:37Greeks used stones, Romans a sponge on a stick, and paper arrived much later.
Episode 11 · How a roll of paper caught onB2 · 4:40Toilet paper went from a rarity to a household staple, with panics and jokes along the way.
Episode 12 · The glue that would not stickB2 · 3:21A failed glue experiment became the note you can stick and peel again.
Episode 13 · Where Valentine's Day comes fromB2 · 4:16Roman festivals and medieval love poems slowly grew into today's Valentine's Day.
Episode 14 · It became a day for flowersB2 · 4:07The day moved from word origins and knightly tales to the flowers people give now.
Episode 15 · A summer night for Saint-JeanB2 · 6:44Quebec's Saint-Jean grew from a midsummer bonfire into a citywide summer night.
Episode 16 · Rome's famous fish sauceB2 · 5:27Romans fermented fish and its insides into a sauce that sat on nearly every table.
Episode 17 · A jar of fermented fishB2 · 5:31How the sauce was made, sold, and carried wherever the Romans went.
Episode 18 · Why the barber pole spinsB2 · 5:30The red-and-white pole comes from barbers who also did surgery and hung their bandages out front.
Episode 19 · Where the stripes come fromB2 · 5:43Bloodletting, bandages, and later patents turned that pole into today's spinning sign.
Light history, more stories
Episode 1 · Why Do Quebecers Prefer Pepsi Over Coke?B2 · 4:49This episode explores the sociological and historical roots behind Pepsi's stronger market position than Coca-Cola in Quebec, examining consumer identity, brand loyalty, and the commercial dynamics of the 'Cola Wars'.
Episode 2 · Why Did Quebecers Choose Pepsi Over Coke?B2 · 5:02This episode explores how Pepsi overtook Coca-Cola in Quebec's soft drink market during the 1980s–90s, highlighting culturally tailored advertising—especially the iconic 'Campagne Meunier' starring Claude Meunier—and the role of Quebecois linguistic identity, humor, and post-referendum social context.
Episode 3 · Why Quebecers Chose PepsiB2 · 4:45This episode explores how Pepsi rebranded itself in 1980s Quebec through locally resonant humor and iconic ads starring comedian Claude Meunier—leveraging regional identity, linguistic familiarity, and pop-culture references to overtake Coca-Cola in market share.
Episode 4 · Why Did Quebecers Choose Pepsi Over Coke?B2 · 4:50This episode explores how Pepsi became a cultural symbol in Quebec by aligning itself with local identity—using beloved French-Canadian actors like Claude Meunier, iconic French-language slogans like 'Ici, c'est Pepsi', and references to regional traditions, humor, and language to distinguish itself from Coca-Cola.
Episode 5 · Why Did Quebecers Choose Pepsi Over Coke?B2 · 5:00This episode examines the 1980s–1990s 'Cola Wars' in Quebec, focusing on how Pepsi's culturally rooted advertising—featuring local comedians, musicians, and icons—outperformed Coca-Cola's attempts to claim Quebec identity through similar tactics.
Episode 6 · How LEGO Toys Became GenderedB2 · 5:10This episode traces the history of LEGO, from its origins as a gender-neutral creative toy in 1930s Denmark to its evolution into a globally dominant brand—and how it gradually adopted gendered marketing strategies over time.
Episode 7 · How LEGO Became Gendered ToysB2 · 5:18This episode traces the historical shift of LEGO from its original gender-neutral, creativity-focused philosophy—evident in 1970s marketing and internal communications—to its later gendered product lines like LEGO Friends, examining the roles of sociology, marketing, parenting, and retail in that transformation.
Episode 8 · Did Robots Exist Before the Middle Ages?B2 · 4:33This episode explores how ancient civilizations pursued the dream of bringing objects to life—through myths like Pygmalion and Daedalus, and through real engineering feats in Hellenistic Alexandria, including water clocks, hydraulic organs, singing birds, and Hero’s steam-powered devices.
Episode 9 · Did Robots Already Exist in the Middle Ages?B2 · 4:39This episode explores ancient and medieval automata: Hero of Alexandria's temple mechanisms, the Antikythera mechanism (an ancient Greek astronomical calculator), and Al-Jazari's 13th-century elephant clock—showcasing early engineering ingenuity across Greek, Roman, and Islamic civilizations.
Episode 10 · Did Robots Exist in the Middle Ages?B2 · 4:29This episode explores medieval European fascination with automata—from poetic descriptions of magical humanoid machines in 12th-century literature to elaborate mechanical gardens, animated religious statues, thunder-simulating church devices, and early clockwork figures like the Strasbourg rooster (1352). It traces how ancient and Arabic engineering knowledge was revived and adapted during the Renaissance.
Episode 11 · Did Robots Exist in the Middle Ages?B2 · 4:45This episode explores the history of mechanical automata from the Middle Ages to the 18th century, covering ornate court curiosities, Leonardo da Vinci’s designs, and Vaucanson’s famous digesting duck—highlighting craftsmanship, scientific ambition, and early ideas of autonomous movement.
Episode 12 · Did Robots Already Exist in the Middle Ages?B2 · 4:25This episode explores the history of automata from the Middle Ages to the 18th century, highlighting lifelike mechanical birds, early humanoid androids, and the famous 'Mechanical Turk' — a chess-playing hoax that captivated European elites. It traces how Enlightenment ideals, craftsmanship, and theatrical spectacle shaped these marvels of pre-industrial engineering.
News that cheers you up
Episode 1 · Valentine's Day in Scotland: A Fun TraditionB1 · 1:55This episode introduces a lighthearted Scottish Valentine's Day tradition: the first person of the opposite gender you meet on the street becomes your 'valentine' for the day—no gifts, no dinner, no commitment, just playful symbolism.
Episode 2 · The Little Polar Bear Cub at Mulhouse ZooB1 · 1:49This episode follows the heartwarming first outdoor outing of Nanouk, a polar bear cub born at Mulhouse Zoo, and her mother Cécile. It highlights their bond, zookeepers' care, habitat adjustments, and touches on conservation challenges facing wild polar bears due to sea ice loss.
People and dogs
Episode 1 · The Origins of PetsB2 · 5:45This episode explores when and how humans began keeping cats, dogs, and other animals as companions—tracing the evolution of human-animal relationships from ancient Egypt and Rome through medieval and modern Europe, highlighting domestication, emotional bonds, urbanization, and shifting cultural attitudes.
Episode 2 · Pet Culture in the 19th CenturyB2 · 5:55This episode explores how dogs, cats, and canaries shifted from functional or exotic animals to cherished companions in 19th-century urban life, tracing the rise of pet-keeping, breed standardization, changing human-animal emotional bonds, and the emergence of animal protection laws and institutions.
Episode 3 · The Evolving Emotional Bond Between Humans and DogsB2 · 5:36This episode traces how dogs evolved from utilitarian animals to cherished family members, covering the rise of veterinary medicine, lost-pet notices, mourning practices, collar culture, literary portrayals, and growing legal recognition of animals' status.
Japan in 30 minutes
Episode 1 · A 30-Minute Journey Through Japanese HistoryB2 · 5:03This episode provides a chronological overview of Japanese history, from the Jōmon period (14,000 BCE) to the present, covering key developments such as pottery, hunter-gatherer societies, the introduction of wet-rice agriculture, and continental influences from China and Korea.
Episode 2 · Ancient Japan: From Yayoi to Heian PeriodsB2 · 5:07This episode covers ancient Japanese history from the Yayoi period through the Kofun, Asuka, Nara, and Heian periods, highlighting technological advances, state formation, the introduction and spread of Buddhism, the Taika Reforms, the establishment of fixed capitals like Nara and Heian-kyō, and the rise of the Fujiwara clan.
Episode 3 · The Rise and Fall of Japan's ShogunatesB2 · 5:04This episode covers Japan's transition from the late Heian period to the Muromachi era, detailing the rise of the Taira and Minamoto clans, the establishment and decline of the Kamakura shogunate, the Hojo regency, Mongol invasion attempts, and the Northern and Southern Courts conflict.
Episode 4 · Japan's Warring States and the Tokugawa ShogunateB2 · 5:05This episode covers Japan's Sengoku period following the Ōnin War, the unification efforts led by Oda Nobunaga and continued by Toyotomi Hideyoshi, and the establishment of the Tokugawa shogunate in 1603. It also explains the sakoku isolation policy, limited Dutch trade, and early Japanese engagement with European science and Hokkaido.
Episode 5 · Japan's Meiji Restoration and ModernizationB2 · 5:05This episode covers Japan's forced opening to the West in the 1850s, the Meiji Restoration of 1868, rapid modernization and industrialization, abolition of feudalism, and early imperial expansion including wars with China and Russia.
Episode 6 · A Brief History of Modern JapanB2 · 5:06This episode traces Japan's modern history from the 1930s through WWII, including its expansionist policies, alliance with the Axis, defeat in 1945, US occupation, democratization reforms, postwar economic miracle, and subsequent challenges like stagnation and demographic decline.
Everyday ethics
Episode 1 · The Ethics of Electric CarsC1 · 4:57This episode examines the role of electric cars in fighting climate change, distinguishing factual questions (like lifecycle emissions) from ethical judgments. It reviews scientific consensus on whether electric vehicles truly reduce greenhouse gas emissions compared to conventional cars, considering factors like electricity mix, battery production, and vehicle lifespan.
Episode 2 · The Ethics of Electric CarsC1 · 4:55This episode examines the geological and strategic realities of metals used in electric vehicles, clarifies the distinction between descriptive (factual) and prescriptive (normative/evaluative) claims in ethics, and frames key ethical questions about mobility, climate justice, and urban policy in the energy transition.
Episode 3 · The Ethics of Electric CarsC1 · 5:03This episode examines the ethical dilemmas surrounding electric cars: the tension between technological solutions and demand reduction, intergenerational justice, the environmental and social costs of mining critical minerals, and the challenge of distinguishing factual claims from normative judgments in climate policy.
Episode 4 · The Ethics of Electric CarsC1 · 4:47This episode examines the ethical dilemmas of the electric vehicle transition, focusing on increased metal mining — its impacts on biodiversity, human rights (especially in the DRC), and trade-offs between climate urgency and environmental or social justice.
Episode 5 · The Ethics of Electric CarsC1 · 5:06This episode examines how debates about electric cars often conflate factual questions (e.g., environmental impact) with ethical ones (e.g., car-centric urbanism), urging clear distinction between empirical claims and normative judgments to improve public discourse.
Episode 6 · The Philosophical Foundations of Intellectual PropertyC1 · 5:36This episode examines the two main philosophical justifications for intellectual property: consequentialist (utilitarian) arguments, which focus on incentivizing creation and innovation, and deontological arguments, especially Locke's labor theory of property, extended to intellectual works. It explores how natural rights reasoning applies to authorship and invention.
Episode 7 · Why Intellectual Property? Locke and Natural RightsC1 · 5:02This episode examines how John Locke's labor theory of property has been used to justify intellectual property rights, critically analyzing its logical flaws—such as the 'mixing labor' argument—and its real-world consequences for copyright law and public interest exceptions.
Episode 8 · The Philosophical Foundations of Intellectual PropertyC1 · 5:33This episode examines how John Locke's natural rights theory is used to justify intellectual property, critically analyzing arguments like the 'drinker of water' and 'magical springs' analogies, and questioning whether merit-based reward or Lockean appropriation can truly ground IP rights.
Episode 9 · Is Intellectual Property Justified by Locke's Theory of Natural Rights?C1 · 5:19This episode examines Robert Nozick's attempt to justify intellectual property rights using John Locke's 'enough and as good' proviso, analyzing whether such rights truly leave others no worse off—and revealing the empirical and conceptual challenges that undermine a strong Lockean justification.
Small histories of everyday things
Episode 1 · The Surprising Origin Story of CrocsB2 · 6:44This episode traces the unexpected origin of Crocs: invented in Quebec by two chemists as antimicrobial, lightweight spa accessories, then transformed into beach sandals, popularized globally, and revived through fashion and social media trends.
Episode 2 · The History of SweatB2 · 4:34This episode explores how sweat has been interpreted across history—from a symbol of athletic excellence and divine favor in ancient Greece to a source of social discomfort and stigma in modern contexts. It examines cultural attitudes, hygiene practices, and medical understandings of perspiration through time.
Episode 3 · The History of Sweat and Body OdorB2 · 4:41This episode explores how people in ancient and medieval Europe understood sweat and body odor—from Hippocratic humoral theory and Roman bathing rituals to medieval associations with disease, Renaissance hygiene revivals, and the rise of perfumes and early deodorants.
Episode 4 · Sweat, Smell, and Social Class in HistoryB2 · 4:42This episode explores how people historically managed body odor and sweat, revealing how perceptions of hygiene and scent were deeply tied to social class, modernity, and scientific understanding from the 18th to early 20th centuries.
Episode 5 · The Social History of SweatB2 · 4:38This episode explores how sweat has been perceived across history—from ancient Greece and 19th-century elite ideals to 20th-century sports culture, hygiene marketing, gendered advertising, and contemporary wellness trends—highlighting shifting social attitudes toward the body, odor, and physical effort.
Episode 6 · Orient Express: Luxury, Mystery, and the Transformation of European TravelB2 · 3:54This episode explores the origins and cultural significance of the Orient Express, tracing its launch in 1883 as a response to European fascination with the Orient, rapid railway expansion, and elite demand for safe, luxurious long-distance travel across Europe to Constantinople.
Episode 7 · Orient Express: Luxury and MysteryB2 · 4:12This episode explores the history of the Orient Express, tracing its origins in late 19th-century Europe, its role in connecting cities and cultures, its symbolic ties to colonialism and modernity, and its enduring legacy in literature, film, and luxury travel.
Jura turkey escalope
Episode 1 · Jura-Style Turkey Escalope with Comté CheeseA2 · 4:10This episode demonstrates how to prepare a traditional Jura-style turkey escalope, wrapped with Comté cheese and ham, then pan-seared and finished with white wine and crème fraîche.
Episode 2 · Jura-Style Turkey Escalope with Comté Cheese and PotatoesA2 · 3:54This episode shows how to prepare a Jura-style turkey escalope: searing the meat, deglazing with white wine, simmering with Comté cheese and crème fraîche, and serving it with butter-fried local potatoes.
Swiss French: RTS health explainers
Episode 1 · Two types of anti-anxiety medicationsB2 · 0:35Antidepressants and benzodiazepines both reduce anxiety but act differently: antidepressants target serotonin and norepinephrine, while benzodiazepines stimulate the inhibitory GABA system.
Episode 2 · Submitting a research paperB2 · 0:39After making a discovery, a researcher writes and submits an article; if the journal finds it interesting, it is sent to an editorial committee of renowned scientists.
Episode 3 · Three types of memoryB2 · 1:32Introduces procedural memory (e.g., riding a bike), semantic memory (e.g., knowing what a cat is), and episodic memory (e.g., recalling yesterday’s meal).
Episode 4 · How our body regulates temperatureB2 · 0:50Our body maintains a stable core temperature of about 36.9 °C by dilating skin blood vessels and sweating—heat is dissipated as sweat evaporates, provided weather conditions allow.
Episode 5 · The 90-minute sleep cyclesB2 · 0:31Sleep is divided into cycles of about 90 minutes, repeating four to five times per night.
Episode 6 · Systemic scleroderma's severityB2 · 0:36Systemic scleroderma is potentially life-threatening: excessive collagen production by connective tissue cells thickens and hardens tissues, and progressive vascular damage and tissue rigidity impair organ function.
Episode 7 · Parkinson's neurodegenerative mechanismB2 · 1:58Parkinson's disease is caused by the gradual loss of dopamine-producing neurons in the substantia nigra, linked to misfolded alpha-synucleine protein forming pathological aggregates that spread between neurons.
Episode 8 · What causes silicosis and how it damages the lungsB2 · 0:47Silicosis is caused by prolonged inhalation of natural crystalline silica dust; the dust deposits in lung alveoli, causing inflammation that over time forms scar tissue, impairing oxygen exchange and reducing respiratory capacity.
Episode 9 · How transit constipation worksB2 · 1:06Explains how food residues move to the colon, where water absorption dries them out, leading to harder stools in transit constipation.
Episode 10 · OCD is a vicious cycleB2 · 0:56OCD begins with intrusive thoughts or fears (e.g., contamination), triggering intense anxiety; the person performs repetitive compulsions (e.g., handwashing) for quick relief, but these reinforce the obsessions, perpetuating and intensifying the cycle.
Swiss public TV science shorts
Episode 1 · Converting mechanical energy to electrical energyB2 · 1:06Rotating a magnet near a copper coil creates changing magnetism, inducing voltage in the coil and causing electrons to move directionally—generating alternating current.
Episode 2 · Biological clock regulates daily physiological rhythmsB2 · 0:55Describes how core physiological functions—including body temperature, heart rate, intestinal activity, blood pressure, and melatonin production—follow consistent daily timing patterns regulated by the biological clock.
Episode 3 · How the olfactory system worksB2 · 1:38Odor molecules enter the nose, where the nasal cavity filters, regulates, and humidifies airflow; deeper in, the olfactory epithelium—containing millions of olfactory neurons—traps them in mucus and activates specific receptor combinations.
Episode 4 · Taste buds and the five basic tastesB2 · 1:05Explains the location of taste buds at the back of the palate, their role as the link between food and the brain, and clarifies that all five basic tastes—sweet, bitter, salty, sour, and umami—are perceived across the entire tongue surface, not in specific zones.
Episode 5 · How a synchrotron worksB2 · 1:40A synchrotron accelerates electrons to near-light speed using powerful electric fields, then steers them with special magnets to produce intense X-ray beams called synchrotron radiation.
Episode 6 · Cardinals gather in seclusionB2 · 2:12Cardinals gather in the Sistine Chapel for the conclave, completely isolated from the outside world, with no newspapers, television, internet, or SMS allowed.
Episode 7 · How foils work underwaterB2 · 0:35Foils function like airplane wings underwater: faster water flow over the top surface creates lower pressure, generating lift that raises the board even at low speeds.
Episode 8 · Filter-feeding on planktonB2 · 0:40The quagga mussel primarily feeds on microscopic algae (plankton), filtering about one liter of water per day, thereby consuming large amounts of nutrients.
Episode 9 · How nicotine acts in the bodyB2 · 2:04Nicotine enters the body via the lungs and reaches the brain within one minute, binding to receptors and triggering the release of dopamine, serotonin, and endorphins.
Episode 10 · Lactase and lactose digestionB2 · 1:27The human body produces lactase only in early childhood to digest lactose; after age three, production typically declines or stops, preventing lactose absorption in the small intestine.
Episode 11 · Geological conditions for crystal formationB2 · 0:55During the formation of the Alps, immense forces created rock cavities; mineral-rich hot water infiltrated them and slowly cooled, allowing quartz crystals to form under suitable pressure, environment, and temperature.
Episode 12 · How carbohydrates are digested and absorbedB2 · 0:53Carbohydrates are broken down by enzymes in the small intestine into glucose, which crosses the intestinal wall into the blood, raising blood glucose levels.
Episode 13 · Five Rhaeto-Romance dialectsB2 · 1:49Introduces the five regional Rhaeto-Romance dialects and shows how the word for 'potato' differs across them.
Episode 14 · Where radon comes from and how it spreadsB2 · 0:56Alpine rocks contain uranium, which decays into colorless, odorless radioactive radon gas; radon rises through rock fissures and porous soil, entering homes via openings and cracks in slabs, then spreads to basements, ground floors, and even upper levels due to the chimney effect.
Episode 15 · Common foot deformities overviewB2 · 1:42Introduces the five most common foot deformities and notes that about 40% of adults in Switzerland suffer from foot problems.
Episode 16 · Origin and properties of PFASB2 · 2:10PFAS are synthetic compounds with extremely stable carbon-fluorine bonds, created by humans; they do not occur naturally and possess water-, oil-, and heat-resistant properties.
Episode 17 · Natural functions of GLP-1B2 · 1:22After a meal, natural GLP-1 stimulates insulin release from the pancreas to regulate blood sugar, slows gastric emptying to delay digestion, and acts on the brain to promote satiety and reduce hunger.
Episode 18 · Pelvic floor structure and basic functionsB2 · 1:48The pelvic floor consists of muscles, connective tissue, ligaments, and nerves, forming a hammock-like structure that supports abdominal organs and enables conscious control of urination and defecation.
Episode 19 · Explosive force at the startB2 · 1:50At the start, reaction time and explosive power are critical; elite sprinters generate up to six horsepower horizontally within the first 0.2–0.3 seconds.
Episode 20 · What is endometriosis?B2 · 1:48Endometriosis is a condition where tissue similar to the uterine lining grows outside the uterus, responding to sex hormones by growing, bleeding, and causing pain during the menstrual cycle.
Episode 21 · Hereditary hair loss causesB2 · 1:36Explains the mechanism of hereditary hormonal hair loss (androgenetic alopecia), including how DHT affects hair follicles and differences in presentation between men and women.
Croziflette with Diots
Episode 1 · Savoyard Croziflette with Diots SausagesA2 · 6:06This episode demonstrates how to prepare croziflette, a comforting Savoyard dish from southeastern France, using local diots sausages, reblochon cheese, and crozet pasta—highlighting regional ingredients and classic French home cooking techniques.
Episode 2 · A Delicious Croziflette RecipeA2 · 5:43This episode demonstrates how to prepare a croziflette—a Savoyard dish made with smoked diots sausages, potatoes, and reblochon cheese—step by step, including oven temperature, layering, and serving suggestions with salad.
Savoyard veal escalopes
Episode 1 · Savoyard Veal EscalopesA2 · 4:57This episode demonstrates how to prepare Savoyard-style veal escalopes, featuring a creamy reblochon cheese sauce, sautéed mushrooms, shallots, and optional white wine deglazing.
Episode 2 · Savoyard Veal Escalopes with Reblochon SauceA2 · 5:01This episode demonstrates how to prepare Savoyard veal escalopes, featuring a rich, creamy sauce made with reblochon cheese, chicken stock, crème fraîche, and mustard.
Shakespeare and AI
Episode 1 · Shakespeare and Artificial IntelligenceB2 · 5:17This episode explores how artificial intelligence aids historical and literary research, focusing on algorithms trained to analyze authorship in Shakespeare's plays—examining debates over his authorship, collaborations with other playwrights like Fletcher and Marlowe, and AI's role in dating texts and detecting stylistic patterns.
Episode 2 · Shakespeare and Fletcher's Collaborative Authorship of Henry VIIIB2 · 5:10This episode examines whether Shakespeare's play Henry VIII was co-written with John Fletcher, reviewing 19th-century stylistic observations (e.g., word choice, verse structure) and presenting a modern AI study from Prague that used machine learning to analyze and attribute passages based on each author's distinct linguistic patterns.
Scallops with coral sauce
Episode 1 · Scallops with Coral SauceA2 · 5:15This episode demonstrates how to prepare a classic Norman dish: scallops with coral sauce, covering coral preparation, sautéing aromatics, deglazing with white wine, and finishing the sauce with cream.
Episode 2 · Scallops with Coral SauceA2 · 4:56This episode demonstrates preparing a rich coral sauce from scallop roe and cooking tender scallops in it, with tips on seasoning, timing, and serving suggestions.
Body and mind stories
Episode 1 · The Historical Origins of the ADHD DiagnosisB2 · 4:21This episode explores the medical history of ADHD diagnosis, tracing how symptoms resembling ADHD were observed, described, and gradually conceptualized—from Shakespeare's 'malady of attention' in 1613, through Weikard's 'Mangel der Aufmerksamkeit' in 1775, to 19th-century alienist psychiatry.
Episode 2 · The Historical Origins of ADHDB2 · 4:30This episode explores the historical emergence of ADHD, tracing early literary depictions like Hoffmann's 'Zappelphilipp' in 1845 and medical descriptions by Still in 1902, who linked inattention and behavioral dyscontrol to neurological and hereditary causes.
Episode 3 · The Origins and Evolution of ADHDB2 · 4:24This episode traces the historical development of ADHD, covering early scientific research, the synthesis and use of methylphenidate (Ritalin), evolving diagnostic criteria from 'hyperkinetic reaction' to modern ADHD, and misconceptions that emerged along the way.
Episode 4 · The Historical Evolution of ADHD DiagnosisB2 · 4:15This episode traces the historical development of ADHD diagnosis from the 1980s to today, covering changes in terminology (ADD to ADHD), the establishment of explicit diagnostic criteria, recognition of persistence into adolescence and adulthood, and evolving scientific understanding of executive function deficits.
Episode 5 · The Radium Girls: Young Women Poisoned by Radioactive PaintB2 · 5:02This episode tells the true story of teenage factory workers in early 20th-century America who painted watch dials with radium-based luminous paint, gradually suffering severe radiation poisoning—and later fighting for justice and workplace safety.
Episode 6 · The True Story of the Radium GirlsB2 · 5:30This episode recounts how young women in early 20th-century US factories painted radium-luminous watch dials, unknowingly ingesting radioactive material—leading to severe illness, disfigurement, and death—and explores their subsequent fight for accountability against corporate denial.
Episode 7 · The Radium Girls: A True Story of Industrial PoisoningB2 · 5:08This episode recounts the true story of young American women who painted watch dials with radium in the 1920s, suffered severe radiation poisoning, and fought for justice amid corporate denial, scientific cover-ups, and hostile legal systems.
Episode 8 · The Radium Girls: Young Women Who Fought for Workplace SafetyB2 · 5:13This episode tells the true story of the 'Radium Girls'—young women in early 20th-century America who suffered severe radiation poisoning from painting watch dials, yet bravely testified and won landmark legal recognition that transformed occupational safety laws and workers' rights worldwide.
Episode 9 · An Indian Man Taught the British How to WashB2 · 5:42This episode tells the story of Sake Dean Mahomed, an 18th-century Indian Muslim who migrated to Ireland and then England, where he introduced shampoo and Indian-style therapeutic massage, opened London’s first Indian restaurant, and became a celebrated entrepreneur and writer in Georgian Britain.
Episode 10 · An Indian Man Taught the British How to BatheB2 · 5:39This episode tells the story of Dean Mahomed, an 18th-century Indian traveler who settled in Ireland and later London, where he introduced British society to Indian therapeutic steam baths and the original 'shampoo'—a full-body massage ritual rooted in Indian tradition.
Episode 11 · An Indian Man Taught the British How to BatheB2 · 5:36This episode tells the story of Dean Mahomed, an Indian immigrant who opened Britain's first curry house in London and later pioneered therapeutic steam baths and shampoo treatments in Brighton—highlighting how colonial exchanges transformed both Britain and its colonies.
Where everyday things came from
Episode 1 · Why the Caduceus Became the Symbol of MedicineB2 · 4:56This episode explores the origin and evolution of the caduceus—the staff with entwined snakes—as a medical symbol, tracing its roots in Greek and Roman mythology, particularly its association with Hermes/Mercury and Asclepius, and clarifying common misconceptions about its meaning and adoption.
Episode 2 · Why the Caduceus Became the Symbol of MedicineB2 · 5:03This episode traces the ancient origins of the medical symbol—the rod with a coiled serpent—from Mesopotamian ritual vessels and Indian fertility stones to the Greek gods Asclepius and Hermes, explaining its evolving meanings and how it was adopted differently by physicians, pharmacists, veterinarians, and health organizations across France, the US, Canada, and the WHO.
Episode 3 · The Rise and Fall of Consumers DistributingB2 · 4:27This episode explores how Canada's Consumers Distributing revolutionized retail in the mid-20th century with its catalog-based, warehouse-style shopping model—cutting costs by eliminating showrooms and sales staff—and how this pioneering approach foreshadowed modern e-commerce.
Episode 4 · The Rise and Fall of Consumers DistributingB2 · 4:36This episode traces the history of Canadian retail company Consumers Distributing, covering its innovative catalogue-based shopping model, rapid expansion across Canada and the US, internal leadership conflicts, financial struggles, legal issues, and eventual decline amid competition and regulatory penalties.
Episode 5 · The Rise and Fall of a Canadian Retail GiantB2 · 4:26This episode traces the decline of Consumers, a major Canadian retail chain, detailing scandals including price gouging, secret payments to union officials, accounting fraud, internal labor tensions, and eventual acquisition and sale amid financial losses.
Episode 6 · The Rise and Fall of a Canadian Catalog RetailerB2 · 4:27This episode traces the decline of the Canadian catalog retailer Distribution aux consommateurs, examining outdated distribution systems, frequent stockouts, shifting consumer preferences toward malls and in-person shopping, failed reinvention attempts, and eventual bankruptcy in 1996 amid rising competition from Walmart and others.
Episode 7 · The Rise and Fall of a Wool MillB2 · 5:16This episode explores the history of the Olverton Wool Mill in Quebec, covering its origins as a 19th-century water-powered textile workshop, its role in local sheep farming and wool production, ownership changes, decline amid industrial competition, and eventual restoration as a heritage museum.
Episode 8 · How Wool Is Turned Into Fabric: From Shearing to WeavingB2 · 5:14This episode traces the traditional wool-processing journey at the Overton Wool Mill: from shredding and carding raw wool, to spinning and twisting yarn, weaving on looms, and finishing the fabric—plus insights into the mill’s museum, workshops, and visitor experiences.
Episode 9 · The Origin of the Word 'OK'B2 · 5:16This episode explores the surprising origins of the word 'OK'—tracing it from a playful 1839 abbreviation in the Boston Morning Post to its adoption in Martin Van Buren's 1840 US presidential campaign—and also touches on the ancient, cross-cultural history of the associated hand gesture.
Episode 10 · The Origins and Meanings of 'OK' and the OK Hand GestureB2 · 5:17This episode traces the surprising etymological origins of the English word 'OK', then explores the ancient and diverse cultural meanings of the thumb-and-index-finger circle gesture—from Buddhist symbolism and Greek pottery to Japanese monetary references, monastic sign language, and its controversial modern political appropriations.
Death, and what a life is for
Episode 1 · Why Death Is Not to Be FearedB2 · 5:59This episode explores Epicurus's famous philosophical argument that death is nothing to fear: when we exist, death is not present; and when death is present, we no longer exist—so it cannot affect us. It examines his materialist view that death is the absence of sensation, not suffering, and emphasizes living well in the present.
Episode 2 · The Five Stages of GriefB2 · 3:55This episode explains the five psychological stages people often experience after a significant loss: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. It describes how each stage functions emotionally and emphasizes that grief is personal, non-linear, and part of healing.
Episode 3 · Making a film about dyingB2 · 4:09This episode explores the relationship between life and death through authentic conversations between a documentary filmmaker and people confronting terminal illness, reflecting on how to live meaningfully and face mortality with dignity.
Episode 4 · The last few monthsB2 · 4:31This episode explores end-of-life care and euthanasia, following patients and their families as they confront mortality with dignity, agency, and deep emotional presence.
Episode 5 · Desire pushes people aroundB2 · 4:14This episode explores Schopenhauer's philosophy of desire, drawing on Indian and Buddhist thought to explain why life oscillates between suffering and boredom—desire as insatiable lack, fleeting pleasure, and the resulting perpetual dissatisfaction.
Episode 6 · Between pain and boredomB2 · 4:10This episode analyzes Schopenhauer's philosophical view that life does not oscillate among pleasure, neutrality, and suffering—but rather swings perpetually between two poles: suffering (arising from unfulfilled desire) and boredom (arising from fulfilled desire and lack of purpose). It explains his pessimistic conception of human existence and happiness.
Episode 7 · Nietzsche: God is deadB2 · 6:42This episode explores Friedrich Nietzsche's famous declaration 'God is dead,' examining how the decline of religion reshapes human morality, meaning-making, and social organization in the modern world. It contrasts religious and socialist worldviews as responses to this loss of transcendental authority.
Episode 8 · First, put down the fear of deathB2 · 4:55This episode introduces the ancient Greek philosopher Epicurus and his ethical doctrine on happiness, focusing on how to achieve tranquility by eliminating two fundamental fears: fear of the gods and fear of death.
Episode 9 · Which desires are worth keepingB2 · 4:41This episode explains Epicurus's classification of desires into three types—natural and necessary, natural but unnecessary, and unnatural and unnecessary—and distinguishes between kinetic (active) pleasures and katastematic (static) pleasures, linking them to tranquility of soul (ataraxia) as the highest good.
Episode 10 · The Difference Between Pleasure and HappinessB2 · 3:08This episode explains the key distinction between pleasure—immediate, fleeting satisfaction—and happiness—a lasting, complete state. It references philosophers like Epicurus, who links chosen pleasures to happiness, and others who separate the two entirely, emphasizing virtue or morality as the path to true happiness.
Episode 11 · A film about hopeB2 · 4:50This episode follows filmmakers creating an inspiring, self-produced documentary that shifts focus from global problems to tangible solutions, personal growth, and collective action—highlighting how reconnecting with one's values, purpose, and nature can bring clarity, fulfillment, and positive change.
Episode 12 · The film outgrew its makersB2 · 4:43This episode explores how creating a film and embracing a simpler, more intentional life helped the speakers rediscover purpose, inner strength, interdependence, and joy in everyday moments—transforming frustration into inspiration and awakening a deeper connection with self, others, and nature.
Episode 13 · Following what her heart saidB2 · 5:18A woman shares her journey of breaking free from societal expectations, parental pressures, and dogma to live authentically—through vlogging, writing, global travel, and sharing insights on consciousness, well-being, and personal growth.
Episode 14 · From fear to actually doing itB2 · 5:12This episode explores how courage empowers people to act on intuition and dreams, shifting from fear-based choices to love-driven co-creation with life and others—leading to deeper fulfillment, authenticity, and unexpected opportunities.
Episode 15 · Growing again after a low pointB2 · 5:15This episode explores how periods of stillness and difficulty can become profound opportunities for inner renewal, self-discovery, and reconnecting with one's authentic purpose—highlighting acceptance, gratitude, trust in life’s intelligence, and living from the heart in the present moment.
Episode 16 · What is a life even forB2 · 4:54This episode explores whether life has meaning or 'usefulness,' how we define our purpose through imitation of others, and whether non-utilitarian aspects of existence—like art, poetry, or a smile—still bring profound value to humanity.
Episode 17 · A life chosen from a menuB2 · 5:05This episode uses a coffee vending machine as a metaphor for life's choices, exploring how individuals navigate predefined options to discover their authentic desires and sense of purpose.
Episode 18 · Getting older, day after dayB2 · 4:50This episode explores how life's purpose isn't found in waiting for external fulfillment—like a vending machine dispensing drinks—but in realizing we *are* life itself, and thus shifting from passive spectator to active contributor who offers what is authentically ours.
Episode 19 · Useful is not what others sayB2 · 4:54This episode explores how life's purpose lies not in external validation, possessions, or social roles, but in the ongoing inner journey of self-knowledge, liberation from routine, and authentic, unmeasurable service — understood as a continuous, living offering of oneself, not a tally of accomplishments.
Episode 20 · Do not copy someone else's lifeB2 · 4:58This episode explores whether life's purpose can be intellectually defined, arguing that seeking rational meaning leads to an endless, futile spiral. Instead, it emphasizes reconnecting with one's authentic self and unique contribution—not mimicking others' 'meaningful' actions—warning that imitation risks self-estrangement and burnout.
Episode 21 · Helping is not the same as being seenB2 · 5:00This episode explores the true nature of service in human life, critically examining the limitations of well-intentioned but externally driven humanitarian efforts. It argues that meaningful service arises from inner alignment—not from external validation, observable achievements, or quantifiable outcomes.
Episode 22 · You have to ask this yourselfB2 · 4:51This episode explores the deeply personal question of life's purpose, emphasizing that meaning cannot be borrowed from others or measured by external standards—it must be discovered individually, in the present moment, through an authentic relationship with the world.
Episode 23 · A calm farewellB2 · 5:13This episode explores dignified, natural approaches to end-of-life, featuring concepts like 'Indian-style death' and 'old-fashioned death'—ways of letting go peacefully without medical intervention or assisted dying.
Episode 24 · Leaving can be a choiceB2 · 5:21This episode explores culturally diverse approaches to natural dying—such as among Inuit elders and in Japanese folklore—highlighting bodily awareness, personal autonomy, consent, and the legal and ethical distinction between voluntary fasting and depression-related refusal to eat or drink.
Episode 25 · The body slows on its ownB2 · 5:19This episode explores how some elderly people naturally approach the end of life—experiencing physical decline, loss of appetite and mobility, yet meeting death with calm awareness, spiritual readiness, and no suffering.
Episode 26 · Listen to what the dying person saysB2 · 5:16This episode explores the right of terminally ill individuals to choose a peaceful, natural death, examining the tension between aggressive medical interventions—like forced hydration—and respecting a person's serene, conscious wish to let go.
Episode 27 · Dignity is not a sloganB2 · 5:18This episode examines the uneven development of palliative care across France, critiques inconsistent application of the Claeys-Leonetti law, and reflects on what 'dignity' truly means at the end of life—emphasizing relief, respect for patient autonomy, and compassionate presence over medicalized endings.
Episode 28 · One honest goodbye can be enoughB2 · 4:56This episode explores the profound meaning behind a dying person's loss of appetite and how a single heartfelt farewell can bring emotional release. It emphasizes attentive listening, respecting the individual's wishes, and caring with love—even when families struggle to accept natural cessation of eating.
Episode 29 · Palliative care is unevenB2 · 5:24This episode explores the current state of palliative care in France, highlighting disparities in medical training for pain management, the gap between policy intentions and implementation, and concerns about unequal access across regions—especially amid debates on end-of-life legislation.
Episode 30 · Knowing we die makes the days clearerB2 · 7:20This episode explores how awareness of mortality shapes our understanding of life's meaning, and examines the crucial roles of time, human connection, and philosophical reflection in end-of-life care.
Episode 31 · Seneca after sixty-twoB2 · 5:10This episode explores the late philosophy of the Roman thinker Seneca, focusing on his 'Letters to Lucilius'—a cornerstone of Stoic thought—and his final teachings on living with integrity and facing death freely.
Episode 32 · Turning philosophy toward deathB2 · 5:09This episode explores how Seneca’s later Letters to Lucilius transform philosophy into an embodied practice—confronting the fear of death not abstractly, but as a means to fundamentally reshape how real people experience their own lives.
Episode 33 · Unconquered does not mean forcing itB2 · 5:17This episode explores Seneca's concept of 'being invincible' in his Letters to Lucilius—not as brute resistance to fate, but as a subtle shift in perspective: detaching from external circumstances, accepting life's inevitable ups and downs, and cultivating inner satisfaction regardless of fortune's turns.
Episode 34 · Hard times can be nourishmentB2 · 5:03This episode explores how both hardships and joys can be seen as opportunities to nurture our inner virtues, leading to a profound, resilient happiness that doesn’t depend on external circumstances or emotional swings.
Episode 35 · Other people's opinions do not own youB2 · 5:06This episode explores Stoic philosophy as a path to inner freedom: how to respond to hardship not as a victim but as an active agent, how external opinions distort our sense of self and well-being, and how detachment from comparison allows us to live authentically—even amid profound suffering.
Episode 36 · Taking apart what we assume about deathB2 · 5:10This episode explores how Seneca, in his Letters to Lucilius, invites us to question deeply held opinions about pain and death—not by dogmatic assertion, but through patient, image-rich reflection and relational self-examination. It highlights philosophy as a practice of loosening emotional and social attachments to beliefs, enabling freer, more responsive engagement with life.
Episode 37 · Virtue is not private propertyB2 · 5:15This episode explores Seneca's philosophy of virtue—not as a personal quality owned by an individual, but as a shared good that circulates between people through dialogue and mutual influence.
Episode 38 · A coal held in the handB2 · 5:11This episode explores courage, inner freedom, and the power of virtue through two ancient Roman exemplars: Mucius Scaevola, who burned his hand to demonstrate fearlessness, and the philosopher Stilpon, who declared 'all my possessions are with me' after losing everything—emphasizing that true worth lies in unassailable moral integrity.
Episode 39 · Letters about joyB2 · 5:10This episode explores Seneca's 'Letters to Lucilius,' focusing on the Stoic concept of the 'heart' as the seat of emotions and moral orientation, the philosophy of joy that inspires gratitude and generosity, and how philosophical reflection elevates both suffering and pleasure.
Episode 40 · Thinking is not only in the headB2 · 5:09This episode explores how philosophy is fundamentally a practice of the heart—not just the intellect—drawing on Seneca and Stoic thought to show how reason must listen to emotions, bodily sensations, and fears (especially of death) to transform our ethical lives.
Episode 41 · Being finite is what living isB2 · 5:08This episode explores how confronting mortality transforms our perspective on life, drawing on Seneca's Stoic philosophy to show that embracing finitude—not fearing it—and recognizing ourselves as part of nature's larger cycles is essential to living authentically and fully.
Episode 42 · Yesterday is already deadB2 · 5:14This episode explores Stoic philosophy—particularly Seneca's letters to Lucilius—on living fully by consciously ending each day, embracing the past as already 'dead,' and cultivating lightness toward the future. It emphasizes how this practice reshapes our relationship with time, reduces obsession over trivial problems, and prepares us for life’s ultimate test: death.
Life in eco-communities
Episode 1 · Langenberg Eco-Village: A Franco-German Ecological CommunityA2 · 3:00This episode explores the Langenberg eco-village, a Franco-German intentional community on the France–Germany border, highlighting its participatory governance, eco-friendly construction using local natural materials, intergenerational living, diverse livelihoods, and collaborative working groups.
Episode 2 · Shared Living in an Eco-CommunityA2 · 3:00This episode explores Écoline, a French eco-community where residents live in bioclimatic straw-and-wood houses, share heating, solar power, transport, workshops, and green spaces—and use sociocracy for collective decision-making.
Episode 3 · Life in the Danube Eco-NeighbourhoodA2 · 3:00This episode explores the Danube eco-neighbourhood, built on a former industrial site near the city center, highlighting its social diversity, intergenerational connections, shared gardens, community bakery-bistro, and inclusive initiatives like homework help and participatory gardening.
Ecology and the environment
Episode 1 · Environmental Science: An IntroductionB1 · 5:43This episode introduces environmental science as a descriptive, interdisciplinary field that uses the scientific method to study ecosystems. It explains core ecological concepts—including biocenosis, biotope, symbiosis (mutualism, commensalism, parasitism), intra- and interspecific interactions—and defines key terms like ecosystem and biome.
Episode 2 · Eco-Friendly Buildings: Core PrinciplesB1 · 5:50This episode explains the foundational principles of ecological buildings: using local and natural materials, achieving energy independence, creating healthier living environments, and designing responsively for climate, light, heat, air flow, water management, and thermal comfort.
Episode 3 · Environmental Remediation PrinciplesB1 · 5:48This episode explains fundamental environmental remediation principles for water, soil, and air pollution, covering in situ and ex situ treatments, physical, chemical, and biological methods, and bioremediation techniques such as phytoremediation with detailed mechanisms.
Episode 4 · Agriculture and Water ResourcesB1 · 4:02This episode explores the complex relationship between agriculture and water, covering how farming contributes to water pollution through pesticides and chemicals, and discusses sustainable alternatives like conservation agriculture and organic farming to protect water quality.
Episode 5 · Consumers and Water Quality ProtectionB1 · 2:48This episode explores how consumer choices impact agricultural water quality, highlighting the vital role of French livestock farming and grasslands in filtering and protecting water resources.
Episode 6 · Pesticides and Tap Water SafetyB1 · 4:23This episode examines how pesticide residues affect tap water quality and surface waters, discusses the role of advanced detection methods in risk assessment, and highlights the need for agricultural transition toward agroecological practices to protect both human health and aquatic ecosystems.
Episode 7 · Using Plants to Clean Up PollutionB1 · 3:34This episode presents the Ecopolis project, which evaluates phytomanagement—using plants to remediate polluted industrial sites—and establishes a living lab where citizens actively participate in research and environmental education.
Episode 8 · What Is Ecological Critique?B1 · 4:03This episode explores ecological critique as a deep, systemic reflection on modern industrial society's dualistic view of nature and culture, highlighting how it challenges the idea of human separation from and superiority over nature—and proposes instead a vision of humans as embedded within and interdependent with the living world.
Saint-Germain pea soup
Episode 1 · Saint-Germain Pea SoupA2 · 4:36This episode explores the classic French Saint-Germain pea soup, focusing on seasonal peas as the star ingredient. It covers practical cooking steps—including shelling peas, preparing aromatics and potatoes—and explains how potatoes naturally thicken soups through their starch.
Episode 2 · Saint-Germain Pea Soup: Cooking and ServingA2 · 5:01This episode demonstrates how to prepare traditional French Saint-Germain pea soup: pre-cooking potatoes, adding shelled peas, blending, and finishing with crème fraîche, curry, pepper, and fresh mint.
Is insomnia a human invention?
Episode 1 · Is Insomnia a Human Invention?B2 · 5:23This episode explores the historical evolution of human sleep patterns, revealing how segmented sleep—consisting of a 'first sleep' and 'second sleep'—was common before the Industrial Revolution, and how artificial light and social changes gradually shifted societies toward consolidated, uninterrupted sleep.
Episode 2 · Is Insomnia a Human Invention?B2 · 5:01This episode explores segmented sleep patterns in premodern societies, examining how artificial lighting—from candles to electric light—transformed human sleep habits, nighttime activities, and social life across centuries.
Episode 3 · Is Insomnia a Human Invention?B2 · 5:23This episode examines how the Industrial Revolution transformed human sleep patterns—from traditional biphasic sleep to consolidated nighttime rest—and how waking up at night gradually became medically labeled as 'insomnia,' reflecting broader social and economic shifts.
The Twelve Princesses
Episode 1 · The Twelve Princesses' SecretA2 · 5:00The king discovers that his twelve princesses' shoes are perfectly intact each evening but badly worn each morning, leading him to suspect they secretly dance at night. He orders the soldier Gérard to uncover where they go and what they do after midnight.
Episode 2 · The Twelve Princesses' Midnight Dance MysteryA2 · 5:25A soldier named Gérard is tasked with guarding twelve princesses, only to uncover their nightly secret: dancing through a hidden passage while he's mysteriously put to sleep. With help from two quirky allies, he begins to unravel the mystery.
Episode 3 · The Twelve Princesses' Secret DanceA2 · 4:53Two friends devise a plan to follow the twelve princesses, who mysteriously disappear every night to dance in an enchanted underground palace. With the help of an invisibility cloak, they sneak in and uncover the magical secret.
Episode 4 · The Prince's Dance InvitationA2 · 5:04This episode follows Prince Jerry as he nervously invites Princess Fiorentina to dance, stumbles through the steps, receives encouragement from friends, and finally gathers the courage to ask her to dance—blending humor, romance, and light-hearted charm.
Episode 5 · The Twelve Princesses' Magical NightA2 · 5:07This episode follows the fairy tale of twelve princesses who secretly dance in a magical forest at night, each eventually finding her true love among the princes who seek them.
A show at La Garance
Episode 1 · Theater Rehearsal Adventures at La GaranceB1 · 5:47Students discuss their theater rehearsal process for a play at La Garance, covering set design using reusable materials, improvisation to deepen character interpretation, and staging techniques like tableaux and choral scenes to explore crowd behavior and social dynamics.
Episode 2 · Chaos Breaks Out at the TheaterB1 · 6:01This episode depicts a sudden, chaotic outbreak in a theater audience: crowds scream, shove, hurl insults, and panic, while mothers shield their children's eyes and ears. A tense confrontation unfolds amid the commotion.
The people behind school canteens
Episode 1 · How a Small Town Transformed Its School Canteen to 100% OrganicB2 · 7:01This episode details how the small commune of Alizay in Normandy transitioned its school canteen to 100% organic meals—covering menu planning based on available organic products, waste reduction strategies, cost management through inter-municipal procurement, and the launch of a municipal organic farm to supply fresh local produce.
Episode 2 · Behind School Canteens: An Organic Food NetworkB2 · 7:48This episode features Cécile Remeau from the national 'Manger Bio' network, explaining how 22 local organic producer platforms collaborate to supply school canteens with seasonal, traceable, locally sourced organic food—emphasizing fair producer pay, transparency, storage logistics, and administrative support.
Episode 3 · Normandy's School Canteen Food PolicyB2 · 4:42This episode features Guillaume Lebon from the Normandy Regional Council, explaining the 'I Eat Normandy in My High School' initiative: a data-driven policy to increase local, organic, and sustainable food in 129 school canteens across the region, including methodology, progress metrics, and participatory cafeteria reforms.
Episode 4 · Reducing Food Waste in School CanteensB2 · 4:56This episode details how Normandy's high school canteens reduce food waste through salad bars, peer-to-peer awareness campaigns led by civic service youth, waste weighing initiatives, and improved communication about local, quality-labeled foods. It also covers support tools for procurement, producer mapping, and subsidy applications.
Episode 5 · Local Food Procurement in Normandy's School CanteensB2 · 4:33This episode details Normandy's regional efforts to increase locally sourced food in high school canteens—covering tailored support for underperforming schools, business-matching events linking farmers and institutions, data-driven logistics mapping, and ongoing work on sustainable procurement and ultra-processed food reduction.
Episode 6 · Behind the Scenes of Rural School CanteensB2 · 4:37This episode features Hugo Dereymez explaining how the Armagnac territory supports its 66 small, dispersed collective dining establishments—especially schools—with on-site audits, staff training, sanitary planning, sustainable sourcing, certification guidance, and assistance with the 'Ma Cantine' digital reporting system.
Episode 7 · The People Behind School CanteensB2 · 4:32This episode features Hugo Dereymez sharing real challenges faced by school canteen staff in rural France—especially small-town secretaries and overburdened cafeteria agents—and how the local ecological transition plan (PAT) supports them through computer equipment, tele-declaration systems, data tracking, and long-term accompaniment to improve collective catering sustainability.
Episode 8 · Sustainable School Canteens: Local Food Systems in ActionB2 · 4:47This episode features Lison Postel from the Aix-Marseille-Provence and Arles Territorial Food Project (PAT), explaining how local agricultural production—tomatoes, olives, rice, lamb, and more—supports sustainable, locally sourced school meals across 121 municipalities. It covers logistical diversity, policy alignment with France’s EGalim law, and the role of collective catering in linking farmers, economies, and students.
Episode 9 · The People Behind School CanteensB2 · 4:58This episode features Lison Postel from the Territorial Food Project (PAT) of Aix-Marseille-Provence, explaining efforts to source local, organic produce for school canteens, support small municipalities in meeting France's EGalim law requirements, and train kitchen staff in sustainable cooking techniques—including recipes like lentil-and-beef shepherd’s pie.
Episode 10 · Sustainable School Canteen Practices in FranceB2 · 4:42This episode details how a French regional support network helps municipalities implement vegetarian menus, local and sustainable food sourcing, regulatory compliance (e.g., EGALIM law), supplier engagement, and administrative support for school canteens.
Episode 11 · Collaboration Behind School CanteensB2 · 4:40This episode details practical efforts to implement France's Egalim law in school and public canteens—covering supplier onboarding, joint procurement of food and stainless-steel tableware, cross-institutional menu coordination, and integrating local sustainable food chains like Loupandi flour into public catering.
Episode 12 · Behind the Scenes: Brittany's School Meal Procurement CenterB2 · 4:23This episode features Audrey Gourdisson, coordinator of Breizh Achat—the new regional procurement center for school meals in Brittany. She explains how standardized data collection, product categorization, and a centralized purchasing model help schools meet ambitious quality, ecological, and social responsibility targets—including Egalim and the region’s 65% high-quality food goal by end-2025.
Episode 13 · Breizh Achat: Regional Food Procurement for School CanteensB2 · 4:19This episode presents Breizh Achat, a regional food procurement center in Brittany, explaining its mission to supply high-quality, locally sourced food to school canteens in line with France’s Egalim law. It details its collaborative governance, phased market rollout, and involvement of chefs, buyers, and local producers in decision-making and tastings.
Dill-marinated salmon carpaccio
Fairy tales from around the world
Episode 1 · Vietnamese Cinderella: A Tale of Kindness and DeceitA2 · 4:55This episode tells the Vietnamese folktale 'Tam and Cam', a version of Cinderella set in Buddhist-influenced Vietnam. It follows Tam, a kind and hardworking girl, and her jealous, lazy half-sister Cam, highlighting moral contrasts through their actions and fates.
Episode 2 · Vietnamese Cinderella: The Magic Fish FriendA2 · 4:49Tấm cares for a magical fish that responds to her song, but her jealous stepsister Cam kills and eats it. Heartbroken, Tấm meets Buddha, who guides her to collect the fish bones, plant them in pots, and wait for something extraordinary to grow.
Episode 3 · Tam, the Vietnamese Cinderella (Part 1)A2 · 4:43This episode tells the Vietnamese fairy tale of Tam, a kind and hardworking girl who suffers mistreatment from her stepmother and stepsister. With the help of Buddha, she receives magical aid—a miniature horse that grows into a magnificent steed, fine fabrics, a beautiful gown, and perfectly fitting slippers—and attends a royal festival where her slipper catches the emperor’s attention.
Episode 4 · The Vietnamese Cinderella: Part TwoA2 · 5:19This episode continues the Vietnamese Cinderella tale, where Tam, after being murdered by her stepmother, transforms into a bird, then a tree, a loom, and finally a persimmon tree—each time revealing the truth and resisting injustice.
Episode 5 · Tấm, the Vietnamese Cinderella: Magic, Revenge, and KarmaA2 · 5:26This episode continues the Vietnamese Cinderella tale 'Tấm', where the heroine, reborn from a magical kaki fruit, uses wit and magic to outwit her cruel stepsister Cam. It explores themes of justice, transformation, and Buddhist ideas of karma and reincarnation—presented through folklore rather than religious instruction.
A play in three acts
Episode 1 · Secularism: A Three-Act PlayB1 · 5:24This episode features a student-written and performed three-act play exploring secularism (laïcité) in France—depicting everyday situations in school cafeterias, parent meetings, and social media, then tracing the historical roots and real-life impact of this foundational republican principle.
Episode 2 · Secularism and School LifeB1 · 5:29This episode uses a three-act play to explore how French secularism (laïcité) operates in real school settings: teacher neutrality, religious attire of parent chaperones, and public school cafeteria meal policies—all grounded in the principle of state neutrality and freedom of conscience.
Episode 3 · Secularism: A Three-Act Play (Act III)B1 · 5:17This episode explores France's principle of secularism through a school scenario: a student wears a highly visible cross, sparking debate among peers, staff, and administrators about religious symbols in public education and the meaning of 'laïcité'.
Episode 4 · The Origins of French SecularismB1 · 5:16This episode traces the historical roots of French secularism, beginning with the 1789 Declaration of the Rights of Man affirming freedom of conscience, and continuing with the 1833 Guizot Law establishing public primary education—highlighting early tensions between church and state in schooling.
Episode 5 · The Three Principles of French Public SchoolsB1 · 5:30This episode explains the historical origins and meaning of France's three foundational principles for public schools: free access, compulsory attendance, and secularism (laïcité), rooted in the Jules Ferry laws and later reinforced by the 1905 law on the separation of church and state.
Episode 6 · Secularism in France: Faith, School, and Living TogetherB1 · 5:29This episode explores French secularism (laïcité) through a dramatic family debate set in 1945 and contemporary school discussions, illustrating its historical roots, legal foundations, and everyday application—especially how it balances freedom of belief with neutrality in public schools.
Try-on haul
Episode 1 · Trying on Zaful Clothes: Honest ReviewA2 · 5:37The creator tries on several summer clothing items from the Chinese online retailer Zaful, sharing honest impressions about fit, fabric quality, sizing tips (noting that sizes often run small), delivery time, and whether the prices match the quality.
Episode 2 · Try-On Haul: Testing ZAFUL ClothingA2 · 5:39The vlogger tries on and reviews three tops and a long summer dress from ZAFUL, discussing fit, fabric quality, sizing choices (S to L), closures, styling tips, and price points (around $17–$23). She also briefly shows three simple necklaces and chain accessories.
Off the beaten page
Episode 1 · The Number 200 and French Spelling ReformB2 · 4:20This episode explores the spelling of the number '200' in French, discusses the 1990 orthographic reform, examines how collaborative dictionaries like Wiktionnaire treat both old and new spellings, and reflects on linguistic attitudes toward simplification and social markers in language.
Episode 2 · French Dictionaries and Open-Source SoftwareB2 · 4:20This episode examines the open-source French spelling and grammar tool Grammalecte, highlighting its technical and maintenance challenges—including forum disappearance, single-person stewardship, and outdated packages—and calls for a collaborative, community-driven dictionary initiative aligned with libre software values.
Episode 3 · Low Tech: An Alternative Approach in the Digital AgeB2 · 5:20This episode explores the concept of 'low tech'—defined as useful, durable, and accessible technology—and examines its social, environmental, and political dimensions. It discusses how digital tools can align with low-tech principles, challenges romanticized views of non-digital solutions, and highlights synergies between free software, decentralization, and ecological responsibility.
Episode 4 · The Low-Tech Magazine WebsiteB2 · 5:51This episode introduces the solar-powered French website Lotech Magazine, exploring its low-tech philosophy, energy-conscious web design, practical solutions for reducing digital energy use, and how traditional technologies are re-examined through modern scientific knowledge.
Episode 5 · The 1901 French Law on AssociationsB2 · 7:51This episode explores the core provisions and spirit of France's 1901 Law on Associations, explaining how its concise text grants citizens freedom of association and highlights the legal flexibility in designing an association’s internal governance—without mandating roles like president or treasurer.
Episode 6 · Heroic Journalism and Free SoftwareB2 · 6:58This episode explores how investigative journalists use free software in their work, reflects on the cultural image of journalists as modern heroes, and underscores journalism's vital role in democracy—while noting how authoritarian regimes view independent journalism as a threat.
Episode 7 · Ivan Illich and Technological AutonomyB2 · 6:27This episode explores how Ivan Illich's concept of 'convivial tools'—where humans control technology, not vice versa—resonates with the free software movement. It reflects on the ethical responsibility of tool designers, the meaning of freedom beyond rhetoric, and why the four freedoms of free software are necessary (though not sufficient) for building a convivial society.
Readings on digital life
Episode 1 · 10 Things I Didn’t Know About the Internet and My ComputerB2 · 4:19This episode explains fundamental digital concepts: web pages are copied (not remotely consulted), browsers render the same page differently, streaming is temporary downloading, and websites actively collect data about users during visits.
Episode 2 · How the Internet Quietly Tracks Your Online ActivityB2 · 4:38This episode explains how online services track user behavior—covering Netflix's viewing analytics, 'Like' buttons as data spies, email transparency (like postcards), encryption basics (using a playful Mickey Mouse analogy), and the reality that 'the cloud' means storing data on someone else's servers (Apple, Google, Microsoft).
Episode 3 · The Truth About Digital LifeB2 · 4:17This episode examines how social media platforms deliberately exploit cognitive biases—like infinite scroll, notification overload, and clickbait—to capture attention and erode autonomy. It emphasizes that digital literacy is learnable, and offers hope through conscious choices, free software, encryption, and decentralized tools to reclaim human-centered technology.
Episode 4 · Has the Web Become Too Complicated?B2 · 4:36This episode examines how the increasing technical complexity of the web—beyond user-facing interfaces—affects performance, environmental impact, competition among browsers, and privacy, revealing hidden costs behind everyday web use.
Episode 5 · Web Tracking and Online Privacy ProtectionB2 · 4:34This episode explains how web browsers send tracking data like cookies without users' clear knowledge, and discusses practical technical measures—such as blocking cookies and JavaScript, using ad blockers, or switching to privacy-focused browsers—to protect online privacy and reduce surveillance.
Episode 6 · Has the Web Become Too Complicated?B2 · 4:34This episode examines the growing complexity and surveillance-fueled design of the modern web, reviews privacy-focused alternatives like Dio and Tor Browser, and introduces the minimalist Gemini protocol—a deliberately limited, encrypted, and non-extensible system designed for secure, low-resource information access and critical reflection on how we consume information.
Episode 7 · Historical Fiction Is a Combat SportB2 · 4:31This episode explores how historical fiction can reconstruct the complex world of the 12th-century Crusades through a series of short stories—called 'khitans'—each offering unique perspectives on marginalized figures, cultural diffusion, and societal transformation, inviting readers to reflect critically on present-day assumptions and collective memory.
Episode 8 · Historical Fiction and Alternative StorytellingB2 · 5:04This episode explores how historical fiction can reconstruct the past through marginalized voices, challenges the nationalist 'grand narrative' of history, and critically examines copyright law as a flawed economic model that fails to support writers.
Episode 9 · Historical Fiction and Popular CultureB2 · 4:43This episode explores how historical fiction can illuminate contemporary political concepts—such as the 'commons', medieval democracy, and free will—and reflects on how history is taught, remembered, and made accessible. It also discusses the ambition to create rigorous yet popular cultural works that bridge expert knowledge and broad audiences.
Episode 10 · Cycling with OpenStreetMapB2 · 7:57This episode explores open-source cycling navigation tools built on OpenStreetMap data, including GéoVélo and OSMAnd. It highlights offline functionality, privacy-respecting design, the importance of up-to-date map data, and the role of local authorities in contributing to free mapping projects.
Numbers and measures aloud
Episode 1 · Reading, Writing, and Decomposing Whole NumbersA2 · 2:33This episode explains the decimal number system, grouping digits into classes (units, thousands, millions, etc.), and using a place-value chart to read, write, and decompose large whole numbers correctly.
Episode 2 · Comparing and Ordering Whole NumbersA2 · 5:45This episode teaches how to compare whole numbers using the equals, greater-than, and less-than signs; how to order numbers in ascending or descending sequence by comparing digit count and place value; and how to enclose a number between two others at specific place values (e.g., millions or ten-thousands).
Episode 3 · Reading, Writing, and Decomposing Decimal NumbersA2 · 3:50This episode explains what decimal numbers are, how they are structured (integer and decimal parts separated by a comma), and where they appear in daily life—such as money, length, and mass. It demonstrates three ways to read decimals and several methods to decompose them.
Episode 4 · Length Units and ConversionsA2 · 4:28This episode explains metric length units—including millimeter, centimeter, decimeter, meter, and kilometer—and demonstrates how to convert between them using a conversion table.
Can crystals really heal you?
Episode 1 · Can Crystals Really Heal You?B1 · 5:19This episode explores crystal healing (lithotherapy) and dowsing pendulums, examining their claimed benefits, historical references, and the lack of scientific evidence supporting their efficacy.
Episode 2 · Can Crystals Really Heal You?B1 · 5:08This episode explores popular claims in crystal healing—such as amethyst calming emotions, tiger's eye boosting confidence, and fluorite improving focus—while humorously questioning their scientific validity and practical effectiveness.
Episode 3 · Can Crystals Really Heal You? Exploring LithotherapyB1 · 5:15This episode humorously investigates lithotherapy by examining suspiciously uniform online customer reviews for crystal products, questioning their scientific basis, and experimenting with a local stone to test claimed energetic benefits like focus and vitality.
Bedtime little stories
Episode 1 · The Big-Mouthed Frog's AdventureA1 · 4:48A big-mouthed frog goes on a whimsical journey, meeting various animals—including a zebra, ostrich, lion, tropical snake, and crocodile—and curiously asks each one who they are and what they eat.
Episode 2 · The Whale's StoryA1 · 1:46A whale narrates her experience of ocean pollution, being stranded on the beach entangled in fishing nets, and being rescued and cared for by a boy and his father before returning to the sea.
Episode 3 · The Little Grey Goose's AdventureA1 · 5:41A little grey goose, teased for her dull feathers and beak, uses cleverness to hide from a fox under the cover of darkness—and is finally welcomed warmly by her flock.
Episode 4 · Tartaruga the Sea Turtle's Journey HomeA1 · 4:20Tartaruga, a loggerhead sea turtle, embarks on a journey across the Mediterranean to find her birthplace beach to lay eggs. Alongside friends—fish, crab, urchin, and a dolphin—she navigates plastic pollution, recognizes seagrass meadows and golden sand, and reconnects with memories of home.
Episode 5 · Tartaruga's BeachA1 · 4:18Tartaruga the turtle returns to her beloved birthplace beach, recognizes landmarks with friends' help, lays her eggs in the sand, and enjoys a beautiful sunset together with sea creatures like Eve the ray, Gisela the starfish, and Luis the fish.
Episode 6 · The Singing PancakeA1 · 4:40An old man wants a pancake, so his wife sweeps up wheat grains from the floor, grinds them into flour, and bakes a pancake—only for it to spring to life, sing a song, and roll away. A whimsical, traditional-style folktale with repetition and playful language.
Episode 7 · Exploring Sounds Across LanguagesA1 · 4:35This episode focuses on auditory learning by having students listen to and identify sounds from French, English, Spanish, and Arabic, while also introducing language distribution across continents using a color-coded world map.
Thinking and media literacy
Episode 1 · Open-Mindedness and Its LimitsB2 · 9:11Examines the scope and boundaries of open-mindedness.
Episode 2 · Intellectual Self-Defense: Tools for Information ResearchB2 · 20:45Methods and tools to critically evaluate and retrieve information.
Episode 3 · Moldy Documentaries: Did Giants Ever Exist?B2 · 17:24Critically examines pseudoscientific documentaries about giants.
Episode 4 · UFOs: The Origin of Flying Saucers (Socio-Psychological Model)B2 · 20:04Explains the origin of UFO phenomena using socio-psychological models.
Episode 5 · Summer Ghosts: Paranormal ClichésB2 · 14:04Deconstructs media-hyped summer paranormal phenomena—camping ghosts, floating stones, self-starting appliances—and reveals the common cognitive biases and misperceptions behind them.
Episode 6 · Misinformation: Why So Much False Content Online?B2 · 12:41Explores the root causes of widespread online misinformation.
Episode 7 · Scientific Publications: Free Energy and the Dumas EffectB2 · 13:09Critically reviews scientific publications on 'free energy' and the Dumas effect.
Episode 8 · Citizen Science: Fun Experiments with MicrowavesB2 · 9:30Exploring contradictory claims about coffee's health effects through public participation and scientific reasoning.
Episode 9 · Reasoning Correctly: Test Your LogicB2 · 9:18Introduces and tests fundamental logical reasoning skills.
Episode 10 · Quantum Spirituality: Misuse of Scientific TerminologyB2 · 20:23Critiques the inappropriate use of quantum physics terminology in spiritual contexts.
Episode 11 · Fallacious Arguments: Types and ExamplesB2 · 13:58Identifies and explains common types of logical fallacies.
Episode 12 · Testing the Paranormal Scientifically (Zener Cards)B2 · 22:41Demonstrates scientific testing of paranormal claims using Zener cards.
Episode 13 · The Golden ToothB2 · 5:21Uses the 17th-century 'Golden Tooth' debate parable to explain the foundational principles of scientific evidence and critical thinking.
Episode 14 · A psychic baby with triple DNA? Checking the claimB2 · 25:15Examining a paranormal claim with scientific methods and critical thinking.
Episode 15 · Media and Information Literacy in Schools (Introduction)B2 · 16:48Introductory overview of media and information literacy education for students.
Episode 16 · Investigating the Paranormal – The Roswell SlidesB2 · 27:54Examines the authenticity of slides allegedly linked to the Roswell UFO incident and the intellectual missteps that led to their misinterpretation.
Episode 17 · April 1st – Critical Thinking DayB2 · 9:36Uses April Fools’ Day as a lens to examine critical thinking.
Episode 18 · Flawed critiques of astrologyB2 · 16:48Examines common logical flaws and ineffective arguments used against astrology.
Episode 19 · EMI 2: Analyzing Images — Media and Information Literacy CourseB2 · 18:03Introduces critical analysis of images to develop media and information literacy skills.
Episode 20 · EMI 3: Tracing Information Back to Its Source (Media Literacy)B2 · 18:25Third episode of a media literacy series, teaching students how to identify, verify information sources, and detect misinformation.
Episode 21 · Atheism, Agnosticism – To Believe or Not to Believe?B2 · 22:20Examines core concepts of atheism and agnosticism and the question of belief.
Episode 22 · Dual-Process Thinking and the 'Bullshitometer'B2 · 23:01Explains fast and slow thinking modes, and introduces critical tools to detect fallacies, pseudoscience, and conflation of facts with values.
Episode 23 · Does the Moon Influence Births? (Frequentism)B2 · 7:40Uses frequentist statistics to examine whether lunar phases correlate with birth rates.
Episode 24 · The Moon Does NOT Influence Births (Bayesian Reasoning)B2 · 13:21Uses Bayesian reasoning to analyze and debunk the common myth that lunar phases influence childbirth rates.
Episode 25 · Neutrality of Point of View (on Wikipedia)B2 · 46:19Explains Wikipedia's core editorial principle of neutrality of point of view.
Episode 26 · Crop Circles: Specificity and Sensitivity of Paranormal TestsB2 · 35:06Examines statistical concepts—specificity and sensitivity—in testing paranormal claims like crop circles.
Episode 27 · The Non-Existence of God – Inference to the Best ExplanationB2 · 28:14Uses inference to the best explanation to argue for the non-existence of gods as defined by organized religions.
Episode 28 · Bayesian ThinkingB2 · 22:38Introduces Bayes’ theorem and its application in updating beliefs and rational reasoning.
Episode 29 · The Goal Is to Understand the Rules – EleusisB2 · 11:53Uses the card game Eleusis to illustrate inductive reasoning and scientific discovery.
Episode 30 · The Prosecutor’s Fallacy (and Other Bayesian Lessons)B2 · 20:38Analyzes the prosecutor’s fallacy and other common errors in Bayesian reasoning, advocating probabilistic and conviction-based rational judgment.
Episode 31 · Media Literacy 4: How Rumors SpreadB2 · 14:52Fourth episode of a media literacy series, analyzing how rumors originate and spread.
Episode 32 · Should I Be Rational?B2 · 23:34Examines the necessity and limits of rationality as a cognitive norm.
Episode 33 · Applied RationalityB2 · 21:20Applies rational thinking tools to real-world decision-making and problem solving.
Episode 34 · Being Right for the Wrong ReasonsB2 · 24:04Examines how people may arrive at correct conclusions based on unreliable evidence—or none at all.
Sport in Sparta and Athens
Episode 1 · Physical Education in Sparta and AthensB1 · 5:07This episode explores how physical training in ancient Sparta and Athens shaped youth: in Sparta, it was central to state-controlled military education; in Athens, it was integrated into religious, social, and political life.
Episode 2 · Physical Education in Sparta and AthensB1 · 5:05This episode explores how ancient Sparta and Athens used physical training to shape citizens: Sparta focused on collective discipline, endurance, and military readiness, while Athens integrated bodily exercise with intellectual and civic education, reflecting broader cultural values.
Episode 3 · Sports and Physical Education in Ancient Athens and SpartaB1 · 5:08This episode explores how physical education and sports were central to civic formation, social distinction, and political life in ancient Athens and Sparta—covering gymnasia, Panathenaic Games, aristocratic equestrian culture, democratization of athletics, and the symbolic and economic value of athletic victory.
April theater class
Episode 1 · The Trial of Life: Dignity, Discrimination, and Unconditional LoveA2 · 4:23This episode uses theatrical monologue and courtroom role-play to explore a young girl's emotional struggle against discrimination, social exclusion, and paternal neglect—highlighting her unwavering love, wounded self-esteem, and quest for dignity and justice.
Episode 2 · The Cost of SilenceA2 · 4:15This episode uses a simulated courtroom setting to explore the psychological consequences of bullying—such as suicidal ideation—and the moral and legal responsibility that comes with silence, complicity, and eventual acknowledgment.
Episode 3 · Dignity and Justice on StageA2 · 4:19This episode features a theater rehearsal exploring themes of human dignity, gender equality, the rule of law, judicial fairness, and collective responsibility in society.
Episode 4 · Mock Trial Theater ClassA2 · 4:27Students rehearse a mock trial performance, discussing courtroom layout, role assignments (judge, witnesses, civil party, defense), and adapting authentic legal procedures for their theater piece.
Episode 5 · Rehearsing a courtroom scene in theater classA2 · 4:32This episode shows theater students rehearsing a courtroom scene, debating performance choices like spoken word or song, and discussing real legal procedures—such as summons requirements, trial structure, prosecutor and defense roles, and judicial decision-making.
Episode 6 · Rehearsing a courtroom sceneA2 · 4:19This episode captures a theater class rehearsal of a courtroom scene, focusing on practical staging details: who enters through which door, robe assignments for judges and prosecutors, the role of the court clerk, and costume distinctions among legal professionals.
Episode 7 · Paths to Legal Careers in FranceA2 · 4:30This episode explores educational pathways and competitive exams for legal careers in France, including court clerks (greffiers), judges (magistrats), and lawyers, covering training duration, eligibility criteria, and the role of professional experience.
Sophie in the kitchen
Episode 1 · How to Make a Quick and Easy Apricot TartA2 · 4:30Sophie demonstrates how to prepare a delicious apricot tart using puff pastry, fresh apricots, almond powder, flour, brown sugar, and vanilla sugar—emphasizing speed, simplicity, and tips for perfect texture and presentation.
Episode 2 · Salmon Puff Pastry RollA2 · 4:47This episode shows how to prepare an easy and delicious salmon puff pastry roll: preparing the salmon (removing skin and bones), seasoning with salt, pepper, curry, turmeric, paprika, herbs, onions, and asparagus, adding mozzarella, braiding the pastry, brushing with milk, and baking until golden.
Episode 3 · Jacki's Apple Pie RecipeA2 · 6:04Jacki and a friend prepare a traditional French apple tart together, demonstrating peeling apples with a special tool, rolling out buttery puff pastry, arranging the apple slices, sprinkling sugar and butter, baking, and serving with vanilla ice cream.
Episode 4 · Crispy Rose-Shaped PotatoesA2 · 4:00This episode shows how to prepare crispy, rose-shaped baked potatoes by finely grating potatoes and arranging them in an elegant rosette pattern before baking until golden and tender inside.
Episode 5 · Scallops with Leek and White Wine Butter SauceA2 · 7:01Sophie cooks with her son, a chef in Dubai, preparing scallops in white wine butter sauce—a quick, foolproof recipe served with creamy leek purée and crispy fried leek julienne.
Episode 6 · A Cooking Vlog from AlsaceA2 · 4:21Sophie cooks in Alsace, preparing crispy potatoes with a farmhouse cheese and sheep's milk white cheese sauce, plus a regional salad dressing featuring Melfort vinegar and Maggi seasoning. She explains ingredient choices, seasoning tips, and the benefits of preparing sauces ahead of time.
Episode 7 · A Home-Cooked Meal in AlsaceA2 · 4:40Sophie visits Olive in Alsace to prepare a regional meal: potato salad with pickled black radish, Munster cheese, and homemade bread. They discuss Olive’s vegetarian, gluten-free food blog and share cooking tips while assembling the dish.
Vegan kitchen bites
What an algorithm really is
Episode 1 · What an Algorithm Really IsB1 · 6:31This episode explains what an algorithm is—namely, a finite, ordered sequence of instructions designed to solve a problem—using accessible everyday examples like a yogurt cake recipe and a navigation app.
Episode 2 · What an Algorithm Really IsB1 · 4:19This episode explores what an algorithm truly is—focusing on algorithmic thinking as a methodical, step-by-step approach to problem-solving, with examples from robotics, language rules (e.g., French plural formation), and contrasts with creative tasks like writing or dancing.
Episode 3 · What an Algorithm Really IsB1 · 4:42This episode explains algorithms as precise, ordered sequences of instructions—using the Macarena dance and physical education warm-up routines as examples—and highlights how loops and initial parameters make them algorithmic, while spontaneous dancing or sports matches do not qualify.
Episode 4 · Algorithms and Coding: From Movement to PythonB1 · 6:51This episode explores the difference between algorithms and coding through hands-on examples: encoding children's dance moves and body percussion, programming BlueBot robots, creating geometric patterns, and introducing Python programming in secondary school.
Episode 5 · The Progressive Learning of AlgorithmsB1 · 7:59This episode explains how algorithm instruction progresses through school levels: starting with linear sequences, then introducing loops to handle repetition, and finally adding conditional statements (if-then-else) to enable decision-making in programs.
Algorithmic thinking basics
Episode 1 · What Is an Algorithm?A2 · 3:02This episode explains algorithms using the example of making hot chocolate: a precise, step-by-step sequence of instructions to achieve a goal. It highlights the importance of clarity and order in algorithms, and notes their presence in daily life and computing.
Episode 2 · Understanding Coordinates in Scratch: X and Y AxesA2 · 5:53This episode explains how Scratch positions sprites on screen using pixels and the Cartesian coordinate system. It covers the X (horizontal) and Y (vertical) axes, the origin (0,0), and how sprite positions are determined by their center point's coordinates.
Episode 3 · Moving Characters in ScratchA2 · 4:59This episode teaches how to select a sprite (monkey) from the Scratch library, remove the default cat, set a precise starting position using coordinate values, and use the 'go to x y' block with the green flag event to ensure consistent initialization every time the program runs.
Episode 4 · Moving the Monkey with Keyboard ArrowsA2 · 5:05This episode teaches how to program a monkey sprite to move up, down, left, and right using keyboard arrow keys. It explains the relationship between movement direction and the X (horizontal) and Y (vertical) coordinate axes, and how positive or negative values affect motion.
Episode 5 · Smooth Movement with Keyboard Arrow KeysA2 · 7:36This episode teaches how to create smooth, responsive character movement using keyboard arrow keys in Scratch, comparing the 'when key pressed' block (for single actions) with continuous detection inside a forever loop for fluid motion.
Episode 6 · Moving and Orienting a Sprite: Left and RightA2 · 5:59This episode teaches how to program a sprite to move left or right when the corresponding arrow key is pressed, while automatically rotating to face the correct direction. It covers setting initial position, using conditional blocks for movement, orientation values (90° and -90°), and the 'move forward' block that respects current direction.
Episode 7 · Variables: Implementing a Score SystemA2 · 4:59This episode explains how to use variables in programming to track a player's score, specifically by incrementing it each time the mouse collects a muffin in a Scratch-based game.
Episode 8 · Mouse and Muffin Game: Sprite Interaction in ScratchA2 · 4:56This episode teaches how to program sprite interactions in Scratch: making a muffin disappear and play a sound when the mouse touches it, and then reappear at a random position on screen.
Episode 9 · Creating Collision Effects in Game DevelopmentA2 · 5:59This episode teaches how to implement collision detection in a game: preventing a sprite (penguin) from passing through background elements (e.g., a black wall) or another sprite (e.g., a button), using color sensing and sprite contact detection.
Sorbonne interviews: thought and culture
Episode 1 · Academicians at Sorbonne – Interview with Olivier Houdé: 'Your Brain Often Deceives You!'C1 · 9:04Cognitive scientist Olivier Houdé discusses how the brain frequently misleads us.
Episode 2 · Academicians at Sorbonne – Interview with Claudine TiercelinC1 · 12:36Interview with philosopher Claudine Tiercelin following her lecture.
Episode 3 · Members of the Academy of Moral and Political Sciences at Sorbonne – Interview with Haïm KorsiaC1 · 6:14Rabbi Haïm Korsia discusses role models of commitment and social responsibility in education.
Episode 4 · Academicians at Sorbonne – Interview with Jean-Robert Pitte: 'How to Preserve Heritage'C1 · 3:55Geographer and French Academy member Jean-Robert Pitte discusses cultural heritage preservation and knowledge transmission.
Episode 5 · Academicians at Sorbonne – Interview with Louis Vogel: 'New Paths of Eloquence'C1 · 2:32Legal scholar Louis Vogel discusses how eloquence must stem from one's authentic self and be honed through practice.
Meet the instruments
Episode 1 · My First Year Playing the ClarinetA2 · 5:24Eleven-year-old Martin introduces his clarinet, explaining its parts, finger positioning, assembly, and his first year learning it in a joyful community band. He shares performances at Sainte-Cécile and Fête de la Musique, beginner repertoire like 'Frère Jacques,' and how experienced players support newcomers.
Episode 2 · Getting to Know the SaxophoneA2 · 3:52Twelve-year-old Yannis introduces the saxophone—its history, types (soprano, alto, baritone), reed mechanism, famous players like Charlie Parker, and his personal experience learning it at music school, including practice routines, methods, exams, and ensemble playing.
Episode 3 · The Cello: How It Works and SoundsA2 · 6:03This episode explores the cello's structure, how it produces sound through vibration and resonance, and the role of bowing and finger placement. It also compares baroque and modern cellos, highlights their use across musical genres, and features a performance of Bach's Prelude from Cello Suite No. 1.
Episode 4 · The Tenor SaxophoneA2 · 5:37Professional musician Jean-Baptiste Berger introduces the tenor saxophone: how it produces sound (via the reed and airflow), how keys change pitch, its role in classical, contemporary, and especially jazz and blues music, and addresses common questions about difficulty and breath requirements.
Episode 5 · The Double Bass: Deep Sounds and Versatile PlayingA2 · 3:13This episode introduces the double bass: how it produces sound through string vibration and resonance, its role in classical orchestras and jazz, and the performer's personal connection to its deep tone and physical resonance while playing.
Space briefs
Computers glitch in space
Episode 1 · The Space Computer's Flip-Bit MysteryB1 · 5:24This episode recounts how the LightSail-1 satellite lost communication after its onboard computer memory saturated, and was saved by an unexpected automatic reboot caused by space radiation. It also explains how binary digits (bits) work and demonstrates binary addition.
Episode 2 · The Space Bit-Flip MysteryB1 · 5:21This episode explains binary addition and reveals how cosmic radiation in space can flip bits in spacecraft computers—altering calculations, causing navigation errors, and even leading to collisions or system failures.
Episode 3 · The Mystery of Bit Flips in SpaceB1 · 5:22This episode explores how cosmic radiation causes bit flips in spacecraft computers and explains engineering solutions like hardware redundancy, parity bits, and error correction—using real examples from the Cassini-Huygens mission.
Light space news
Episode 1 · Tom Cruise to Film in Space? Latest Space NewsB1 · 5:44This episode covers Tom Cruise's potential film shoot aboard the ISS, China's Long March 5B maiden flight, NASA's SLS rocket cost overruns and technical concerns, SpaceX's upcoming first crewed mission, OSIRIS-REx asteroid sampling rehearsal, and on-orbit satellite refueling breakthroughs.
Episode 2 · A 4x4 in SpaceB1 · 4:45This episode covers recent space news: SpaceX's Starship SN6 test flight, Rocket Lab's Electron rocket return to flight, Toyota and JAXA's lunar rover named 'Luna Cruiser', China's reusable spaceplane launch, and more—including SLS booster tests, Artemis lander mock-up delivery, and Vega's shared-launch milestone.
A minute in space
Episode 1 · Arecibo Observatory AccidentB1 · 7:19This episode covers recent space news: SpaceX's Starship SN4 test flight, Crew Dragon's successful return to Earth, Russia's Nauka module, Thomas Pesquet's upcoming Alpha mission aboard Crew Dragon, and the Arecibo Observatory's damage following a cable failure.
Episode 2 · Starlink's New Satellites and Space News RoundupB1 · 6:36This episode covers SpaceX's Crew Dragon successfully docking with the ISS, Starlink's latest satellite launch featuring experimental sunshades to reduce reflectivity for astronomers, the final Japanese HTV cargo mission to the ISS, Vega's return to flight from Kourou, 3D-printed rocket engine tests in Europe, and preparations for NASA's Perseverance Mars rover launch.
Episode 3 · Artemis Moon Landers: NASA's Three Selected DesignsB1 · 6:43This episode details NASA's selection of three human lunar lander systems for the Artemis program: Blue Origin's Integrated Lander Vehicle, Dynetics' two-stage DHLS with jettisonable tanks, and SpaceX's modified Starship optimized for lunar landing—covering their architectures, funding, development timelines, and integration with Orion and the Lunar Gateway.
The Titanic bottle: anatomy of a hoax
Episode 1 · Introducing the Titanic bottle hoaxB2 · 4:45The host introduces the video's topic—the sensational 2021 media story about a supposed 'Titanic bottle message'—and explains why, despite being an obvious hoax, it offers valuable insights into historical methodology.
Episode 2 · How the media amplified the false storyB2 · 4:28The host reveals the story wasn’t initiated by the alleged bottle finder but by a journalist researching the Lefebvre family for an anniversary article—after which other outlets sensationalized it without critical scrutiny.
Episode 3 · Handwriting analysis exposes the forgeryB2 · 4:47A psychomotor specialist’s forensic handwriting analysis shows the letter’s script contradicts early-1900s French children’s cursive—revealing clumsy imitation, inconsistent letterforms, and deteriorating control throughout the text.
Episode 4 · Using interdisciplinary science to verify historyB2 · 4:41The host stresses that historical verification benefits from applied sciences like handwriting analysis or metallurgy—but only when rigorously contextualized in period-specific practices and constraints.
Episode 5 · The Titanic artifact black marketB2 · 4:54The host exposes the lucrative market for Titanic fakes on platforms like eBay—including forged officer watches—and contrasts them with authentic artifacts, which sell for hundreds of thousands of pounds, fueling widespread forgery.
Episode 6 · The Narbonic’s earlier bottle messagesB2 · 4:59Using the 1893 Narbonic sinking as precedent, the host cites six contradictory ‘bottle messages’—with fictional names, non-existent addresses, and mutually exclusive disaster accounts—as clear evidence of prior hoaxes.
Episode 7 · The real Lefebvre family historyB2 · 4:47Drawing on newly uncovered court records and family archives, the host reconstructs the Lefebvres’ migration: Frank’s emigration to Ohio, Jules’s detained entry at Ellis Island, and Marie’s fatal Titanic voyage with four children.
Episode 8 · Why ordinary people’s histories matterB2 · 4:37The hoax inadvertently enabled deeper research into an ordinary mining family’s life—highlighting how recovering marginalized, non-celebrity histories enrich our understanding of the past and gives dignity to forgotten lives.
Explorers tell their stories
Episode 1 · Oumuamua: The Mysterious Interstellar VisitorB1 · 4:46This episode features a documentary filmmaker discussing the interstellar object 'Oumuamua, how scientists study such rare visitors from beyond our solar system, and the process of making accessible science documentaries—including interviewing researchers, sourcing imagery, and translating complex astrophysics for general audiences.
Episode 2 · The Realities and Challenges of Space ExplorationB1 · 4:43This episode compares film production budgets to highlight the scale of space projects, then focuses on real challenges in space exploration: landing heavy spacecraft on Mars, protecting astronauts from cosmic radiation, the ~2-year round-trip duration, and current plans for returning to the Moon.
Episode 3 · The Moon Race and the First Women AstronautsB1 · 4:56This episode discusses the current US-China lunar exploration race, highlights the upcoming first woman on the Moon—Chinese Colonel Liu Yang—and encourages girls to pursue scientific studies. It also covers documentary filmmaking about space missions, the 17th-century military engineer Vauban’s visionary ideas, and archaeology as a career path.
Episode 4 · Oumuamua: The Mysterious Interstellar VisitorB1 · 4:49This episode explores the discovery and study of 'Oumuamua—the first known interstellar object to pass through our solar system—while sharing fascinating anecdotes from human spaceflight history, including training at Russia's Star City and early spacewalk challenges.
Episode 5 · Oumuamua: The Mysterious Interstellar VisitorB1 · 4:39This episode explores the first known interstellar object, 'Oumuamua—its unexpected high-speed trajectory, unknown composition and shape, and the scientific debates around its origin. It also examines realistic propulsion concepts (like gravity assists and light sails) for future missions to catch up with it.
Episode 6 · The Cosquer Cave: A Masterpiece at RiskB1 · 4:20This episode explores the discovery and fragile state of the Cosquer Cave, highlighting efforts to digitally replicate it using drones and 3D imaging, while stressing ethical responsibilities—like avoiding physical contact with prehistoric art—to preserve archaeological integrity for future research.
Episode 7 · Cosquer Cave: An Underwater Prehistoric MasterpieceB1 · 4:47This episode explores the Cosquer Cave in France, focusing on underwater archaeological research, digital documentation efforts, and the discovery of prehistoric cave paintings. It highlights the teamwork of diving archaeologists, preservation challenges, and the cave's geological and historical significance.
Episode 8 · The Cosquer Cave: A Prehistoric Masterpiece at RiskB1 · 4:49This episode explores the prehistoric cave paintings of France's Cosquer Cave, covering how divers transport equipment to access it, radiocarbon dating of charcoal to determine the art's age (up to 33,000 years), archaeological evidence of ancient diets (penguins and eggs), and the extreme fragility of the pigments—especially due to seawater exposure and chemical erosion.
Episode 9 · Cosquer Cave: A Masterpiece on the BrinkB1 · 4:43This episode explores the conservation challenges facing France's Cosquer Cave, a submerged prehistoric site with ancient paintings. It compares past efforts like the Abu Simbel temple relocation, discusses potential DNA analysis from clay handprints, and explains how 3D scanning and printing are used to create replicas.
Episode 10 · The Cosquer Cave: Prehistoric Art and Ancient Stone ToolsB1 · 4:33This episode explores the prehistoric cave art of the Cosquer Cave and explains how early humans sourced, selected, and knapped flint to craft precise tools like points and scrapers. It also discusses nearby rock shelters and the possibility of discovering other submerged caves.
Episode 11 · Guardians of Namoroka Rainforest in MadagascarB1 · 4:28French explorers Isabelle Coulon and Jean-Michel Corillion share their documentary project in Namoroka National Park, Madagascar, highlighting collaboration with local communities, biodiversity inventory work, environmental awareness-raising, and practical support like ambulances carts and educational materials.
Maple syrup season
Sweet and savory bites
Episode 1 · Summer Eggplant and Tomato StewA2 · 4:03This episode demonstrates how to prepare a classic French summer dish: eggplant simmered with a rich tomato compote, seasoned with garlic, onion, herbs de Provence, and olive oil—served simply with rice or crusty bread.
Episode 2 · Provençal Eggplant SkilletA2 · 4:11This episode demonstrates how to prepare a Provençal-style eggplant and tomato skillet dish, using herbs like thyme or savory, gentle simmering, and serving suggestions with rice and parsley.
Iron Hans — Simsala Grimm
Episode 1 · Jean-de-Fer: A Fairy Tale Adventure in Simsala GrimmA2 · 4:58This episode introduces the legendary iron giant Jean-de-Fer, imprisoned after being found floating in a forest pond, and follows Yoyo, Doc Croc, Rudy, and Prince Maximilien as they encounter him and begin to question his captivity.
Episode 2 · The Forbidden Magic PondA2 · 5:13Children are left to guard a magical pond in a forest clearing, but their curiosity leads them to break the rules—dipping a stick (then a finger) into the water and unleashing unexpected consequences.
Episode 3 · Iron John and the Brave BoyA2 · 5:03A brave boy decides to help his kingdom defend against a northern invasion, joining forces with the legendary hero Iron John. The episode features courage, adventure, and fairy-tale wonder.
Episode 4 · The Mysterious Red KnightA2 · 5:06A mysterious red-armored knight saves the kingdom, and the princess announces a tournament with three challenges—strength, intelligence, and chance—to identify him and choose a husband.
Episode 5 · Jean-de-Fer Wins the Trials and Breaks the CurseA2 · 5:06Jean-de-Fer triumphs in three trials—strength, intelligence (chess), and agility—to win the princess's hand; his selfless help for others ultimately breaks his curse.
French researchers explain their science
Episode 1 · The Science of Molecular MagnetsB2 · 4:48French researcher Fabrice Pointillart explains how his team designs molecular magnets—molecules capable of storing information—and investigates their combined magnetic, redox, and luminescent properties using X-ray crystallography, SQUID magnetometry, and theoretical chemistry.
Episode 2 · A Catalysis Master's Green Chemistry ResearchB2 · 5:55French chemist Jean-François Carpentier explains his team's research on organometallic catalysts that enable precise, efficient polymerization—producing both conventional and biodegradable plastics from biomass. He highlights stereocontrol, 'immortal' catalysis, and the growing global shift toward green chemistry.
Episode 3 · What Is Software? Five Key DimensionsB2 · 5:11Computer scientist Jean-Marc Jézéquel explains what software is by breaking it down into five essential dimensions: algorithm, information, language, machine, and purpose—illustrating how each contributes to the nature and limitations of software.
Episode 4 · The Three Dimensions of Software ComplexityB2 · 5:09A French computer scientist explains why software is the most complex artifact ever created by humans, highlighting three independent dimensions of complexity: its enormous scale and nonlinear behavior, its entanglement with real-world hardware and human users, and its growing role as a predictive modeling tool that increasingly replaces physical reality.
Episode 5 · The Shell Archaeologist: Uncovering Prehistoric Life Through SeashellsB2 · 4:14French researcher Catherine Dupont explains archaeomalacology—the study of ancient shells—to reconstruct how Mesolithic hunter-gatherers lived, moved, and interacted with their environment. She describes fieldwork at the Begearvillé site, where shell middens serve as time capsules of daily life, settlement patterns, and environmental change.
Episode 6 · Shell Archaeologist: Unlocking Ancient Environments Through SeashellsB2 · 4:26This episode follows a French archaeologist who studies ancient shell remains to reconstruct past environments, seasonal patterns, and human behaviors—such as how and when shells were collected—and explains lab methods like sieving, species identification, and international data comparison.
Episode 7 · Archaeology of the Levant: Ceramic Traditions and Historical TrajectoriesB2 · 4:52French archaeologist Valentine Roux explains how the Levant's archaeological focus shifts across prehistoric and historic periods, emphasizing ceramic technology, typological analysis, and long-term cultural trajectories from the 5th to the 2nd millennium BCE.
Episode 8 · Ceramic Technology Reveals Ancient Social GroupsB2 · 4:28Archaeologist Valentine Roux explains how analyzing ceramic manufacturing techniques—transmitted within specific social groups—helps identify ancient social units, moving beyond traditional typological approaches.
Episode 9 · Chalcolithic Potters and Social Organization in Ancient PalestineB2 · 4:48Archaeologist Valentine Roux explains Chalcolithic-era technological innovations—such as the potter's wheel and lost-wax metallurgy—and discusses evidence for decentralized, clan-based social organization in ancient Palestine, based on archaeological findings.
Episode 10 · How Craft Techniques Reveal Ancient Social NetworksB2 · 4:38Archaeologist Valentine Roux explains how studying ancient pottery-making techniques helps reconstruct sociological histories—revealing social groups, interpersonal networks, and how cultural or ritual shifts drive technological innovation. She distinguishes between evidence-based interpretation and plausible but unprovable hypotheses, especially regarding prehistoric religion.
Episode 11 · Archaeologist on Prehistoric Human Cognition and LearningB2 · 4:54Archaeologist Valentine Roux explains how material remains—like ancient tools—reveal prehistoric humans' cognitive capacities, discusses whether technical learning requires language, and reflects on the value of knowledge versus wealth, research freedom, and the interdisciplinary power of ethnoarchaeology.
Episode 12 · Listening to Trees: The Statistical Brain HypothesisB2 · 4:42Brazilian mathematician Antonio Galves introduces interdisciplinary research at the intersection of neuroscience and mathematics, explaining how the brain might identify trees from the sound of rustling leaves and presenting Hermann von Helmholtz's 19th-century 'statistical brain' hypothesis.
Episode 13 · Listening to Trees: The Statistical Brain HypothesisB2 · 4:39French researchers explain how EEG signals recorded while listening to rustling leaves can reveal statistical patterns in brain activity; they introduce the 'context tree' model—developed by late statistician Jean-Marie Rissanen—to analyze how past symbols inform predictions of future ones in diverse data sequences.
Episode 14 · The Waltz's Rhythmic MemoryB2 · 4:48This episode uses the waltz rhythm to illustrate how the 'memory length' of a sequence affects prediction—sometimes only the previous step matters, sometimes the one before that. It shows how statistical dependencies in rhythmic patterns determine what comes next.
Episode 15 · Listening to Trees and the Statistical Brain HypothesisB2 · 4:38A French researcher explains how the brain may use context trees—a mathematical model representing dependencies in sequences—to statistically predict upcoming acoustic stimuli, linking computational linguistics, neuroscience, and EEG data analysis.
Episode 16 · Socially Responsible Ostentatious ConsumptionB2 · 3:20This episode explores the paradoxical phenomenon of 'socially responsible ostentation'—using ethically sourced, local, and premium products (like gourmet tomatoes) to publicly signal status and virtue. The researcher illustrates this through the story of Alessandra, a shoe-shop owner, and explains how such consumption may influence others’ eco-friendly choices.
Episode 17 · The Miracle Berry: How a West African Fruit Tricks Your Taste Buds into Sensing SweetnessB2 · 6:58This episode explores the West African miracle fruit and its active compound, miraculin, which binds to sweet taste receptors and temporarily alters perception—making sour foods like lime taste intensely sweet. Researchers discuss its mechanism, duration (~20 minutes), potential as a sugar-free sweetener, and applications for patients with taste disorders.
Episode 18 · What Is a French Research Unit?B2 · 6:05A French university professor explains what a research unit is: its human composition, thematic focus, physical spaces, funding sources (universities and CNRS), interdisciplinary collaboration, and strong integration with student training—especially in archaeometry and 3D heritage technologies.
Episode 19 · Geographic Information Systems and Natural HeritageB2 · 4:10A French researcher explains how Geographic Information Systems (GIS) represent, analyze, and manage spatial data—especially for urban territory planning and natural heritage conservation—using maps, 3D models, databases, and thematic layers.
Episode 20 · Geographic Information Systems and Natural HeritageB2 · 4:12A French researcher explains how geographic information systems (GIS) support urban territory management and natural heritage conservation, discussing the shift from descriptive spatial data to knowledge-based models, public accessibility of GIS tools, simulation of urban growth, and applications like tourism route planning and 3D virtual representations.
Episode 21 · Geographic Information Systems and Natural HeritageB2 · 4:22A French researcher explains how geographic information systems (GIS), interactive mapping, 3D visualization, and augmented reality help analyze urban growth (e.g., Delhi’s expansion over 20 years) and make spatial data accessible to diverse stakeholders—including scientists, policymakers, and the public—while emphasizing knowledge production and interdisciplinary collaboration.
Episode 22 · Rocks, Science, and Humor: A Geologist's JourneyB2 · 5:10This episode features French science communicator Valentine Delattre, who uses witty, well-researched videos to make geology accessible and entertaining. She discusses her academic path—from geology studies to evolutionary biology and science journalism—and reveals how improvisation and humor shape her creative process.
Episode 23 · The Earth's History Hidden in RocksB2 · 5:10A French researcher explains the origins of crystallography through the playful story of René Just Haüy, revealing how rocks preserve Earth's history and how minerals are built from repeating 3D geometric units—introducing the seven crystal systems.
Episode 24 · How to Identify Common MineralsB2 · 5:04This episode explains how to identify common minerals using key physical properties: crystal structure, color, transparency, luster (metallic, vitreous, pearly, etc.), density, streak color, cleavage, fracture (including conchoidal), and twinning patterns.
Episode 25 · How to Identify MineralsB2 · 5:06This episode explains how to identify minerals using everyday senses—hardness, luster, smell, and taste—as well as more advanced methods like geological maps, UV light, magnetism, radioactivity detection, and lab instruments such as microscopes and spectrometers.
Episode 26 · Getting to Know Your RocksB2 · 5:05Geologist Valentine discusses mineral identification, the radioactive mineral zircon—used to date Earth at 4.5 billion years—and how she develops science communication ideas. She also addresses viewer questions about rocks, lab-made minerals, panpsychism, and her educational background.
Episode 27 · Are Rocks Alive? A Geologist's Playful Take on Rock Identification and Science CommunicationB2 · 5:03Geologist Valentine humorously explains safe rock identification (warning against licking rocks!), discusses whether science communication requires formal scientific training, compares journalism and YouTube science outreach, and playfully debates whether rocks are alive—while clarifying the scientific definition of life.
Episode 28 · The Secrets and Surprises of RocksB2 · 5:16A geologist explains the history and development of geology, discusses coral's dual nature as both living organism and rock, shares fun facts about tasteable minerals like halite, and raises ethical questions about mineral sourcing—especially concerning child labor in mining.
Episode 29 · Geologist Explains Minerals, Research Careers, and Interdisciplinary ScienceB2 · 5:06A geologist discusses the path to becoming a researcher—including doctoral studies and postdocs—explains how minerals (including rare earth elements) are used in smartphones and sourced globally, and highlights geology’s deep connections with biology, climate science, physics, chemistry, economics, and social sciences. She also addresses lithotherapy critically, citing placebo-controlled research.
Episode 30 · A Geologist's Science Comedy and Placebo TalkB2 · 5:07Geologist Valentine humorously explains geology while discussing the psychological placebo effect and critically addressing pseudoscientific lithotherapy claims—using satire to distinguish science from superstition.
Episode 31 · Facing Gaia: A New Scientific Understanding of EarthB2 · 7:24French philosopher Bruno Latour explains the scientific concept of 'Gaia'—coined by James Lovelock—as a living, politically charged Earth system distinct from the abstract 'globe.' He emphasizes how scientists detect ecological change, why humans are centrally responsible within Earth's thin life-sustaining layer, and how facing Gaia demands new political awareness—not apocalyptic fatalism, but sober, collective engagement with planetary boundaries.
Episode 32 · A Philosophical Exploration of LoveB2 · 5:06Philosopher Jean-Michel Salanskis introduces his unconventional approach to love, examining it ontologically—as a transformative relation between beings—and tracing its connections to Platonic myth and Christian thought, including the idea of 'God is love.'
Episode 33 · Ordinary Love and IdealityB2 · 5:09A French philosopher examines the ordinary, everyday notion of love—drawing parallels between platonic love and mathematical Platonism—to argue that ideality is not abstract or distant, but deeply embedded in human experience, fragility, and attachment.
Episode 34 · Being and Meaning: How Obligations Give Life SenseB2 · 5:13A French philosopher explores how the ceaseless transformation of 'being'—rocks eroding, rivers flowing, all things changing—feels fundamentally absurd; meaning emerges only when we are addressed by a demand, obligation, or call that requires our response.
Episode 35 · The Ethics and Demands of LoveB2 · 5:03A French philosopher examines 'love' as an idealizing word that expresses a demand—not a description—shaping human practice across space and time. He introduces 'ethos of love' and outlines the foundational prescriptions for living up to love's ethical requirement.
Episode 36 · The Six Commandments of LoveB2 · 5:17A French philosopher analyzes the nature of love, outlining six fundamental prescriptions: the transcendent conjunction of sexuality and friendship, love's power to redefine one's entire life, fidelity and the surrender of the body, love's mythical origin, infinite attention to the beloved, an extraordinary present governed solely by love's law, and the demand for authentic 'I love you' lived in consciousness.
Episode 37 · Three Definitions of LoveB2 · 4:55This episode examines the nature of love through three philosophical perspectives: love as a logical intersection of friendship and sexuality (categorematic sexual friendship), love as something transcending both friendship and sexuality (romantic, syncategorematic), and love as purely sexual desire (materialist view).
Episode 38 · How Friendship Can Transform into LoveB2 · 5:02This episode explores the relationship between friendship and love, examining whether and how friendship can evolve into love. It critically distinguishes sexuality from love, using examples from film and music, and proposes that love demands a transcendent union of friendship and desire—not merely their sum.
Episode 39 · The Philosophy of Love: Intimacy and TotalityB2 · 5:14This episode explores how love transcends and unites friendship and sexuality into a singular, authoritative dimension of meaning—intimacy—and examines love's 'prescription of totality': how a romantic relationship permeates and redefines every aspect of one's life, making seemingly independent joys inseparable from it.
Episode 40 · The Totalitarian Nature of LoveB2 · 5:09A French philosopher analyzes how romantic love 'contaminates' every aspect of life—places, routines, and even identity—persisting long after a breakup, and argues this all-encompassing, enduring quality is intrinsic to love itself, not merely a temporary trauma response.
Listening to Mars
Nursery-rhyme remix MVs
Episode 1 · The Miller, the Duck, and the Mouse: Nursery Rhyme RemixA2 · 2:14A playful rap remix of the classic French nursery rhyme 'Meunier, tu dors,' featuring the miller, a green mouse, and a duck in a lively, rhythmic dance celebration.
Episode 2 · A Green Mouse – Nursery Rhyme RemixA2 · 2:20A high-energy metal remix of the classic French nursery rhyme 'Une Souris Verte', featuring repetitive, playful lyrics and strong rhythm—ideal for beginners to practice pronunciation and listening through singing.
Episode 3 · Dancing on the Bridge of AvignonA2 · 2:45A heavy metal remix of the classic French nursery rhyme 'Sur le pont d'Avignon', celebrating joyful, communal dancing on the historic bridge in Avignon.
Episode 4 · Computer Engineer Rap RemixA2 · 2:05A humorous, exaggerated rap that playfully pokes fun at computer engineering, Windows operating systems (like 95, 98), and absurd job-seeking antics — all delivered with rhythmic repetition and comedic self-deprecation.
Episode 5 · Summer in Pakistan: A Joyful RhymeA2 · 3:31A vibrant nursery-rhyme remix in French celebrates summer in Pakistan — golden beaches, mountain views, bustling markets full of sweet fruits and spices, shared feasts, dancing, singing, and joyful moments even in the rain.
Episode 6 · Summer Beach PartyA2 · 2:56This is an energetic French nursery-rhyme remix music video celebrating summer, with lyrics evoking sunshine, beaches, dancing waves, palm trees, shared laughter, and carefree joy.
Toulouse improv sketches
Episode 1 · Shower at the OfficeB1 · 4:00An employee takes a shower in the office before biking home, asks for advance salary payments for vacation, and urgently reminds the director to ship emergency masks to firefighters—all while joking about overtime, smoking breaks, and flirting.
Episode 2 · The Intern's First DayB1 · 4:26An experienced worker guides Luc, a new intern, through various tasks on a construction site—fetching tools, loading parquet flooring—and their interactions highlight generational differences in work habits, expectations, and communication.
Episode 3 · The intern and the truckB1 · 4:29The crew cannot find the intern, then realize he has been in the truck since morning.
Episode 4 · Meditation Camp ChaosB1 · 7:00A group of people attempt absurd meditation postures and breathing techniques at a retreat, clashing over wellness jargon, misinterpreting instructions, and accidentally stumbling into a mushroom tent—blending satire, physical comedy, and gentle parody of New Age culture.
Episode 5 · Leaving the Secret GroupB1 · 5:10A member confides in their two closest companions about their plan to escape a tightly controlled, hierarchical community—describing growing discomfort, strict rules, surveillance, and the desire for independence after years of conformity.
More library storytelling nights
Episode 1 · The Green Man and the Blind BoyA2 · 5:05A nearly blind boy learns to recognize the green pedestrian light not by sight but by listening to traffic patterns, allowing him to cross the street safely. The story blends imagination, sensory awareness, and gentle guidance.
Episode 2 · The Devil and the Spruce TreeA2 · 4:48This episode tells a folkloric tale about the devil, who banishes his noisy little imps from hell to the grassy Jura mountains; to solve their hunger, he magically grows wild berries and fruit trees—but soon, animals arrive to feast on them too.
Episode 3 · The Devil and the Spruce TreeA2 · 4:48A devil creates trees, streams, and finally the spruce to feed and shelter his little imps through summer, autumn, and winter. This whimsical, poetic folktale blends nature, care, and seasonal change in a gentle, imaginative way.
Episode 4 · Josette's Kitchen StoryA2 · 4:36This episode tells a lyrical, whimsical story of Josette setting her table with care—silver forks, turquoise napkins, orange bowls, and vibrant dishes like pea soup, fondue, and gooseberry cake—blending sensory detail, gentle humor, and quiet domestic magic.
Episode 5 · Josette's Enchanted KitchenA2 · 4:46This episode tells the whimsical story of Josette, who cooks lasagnas and inventive seasonal dishes for magical creatures—like snorriks and zimbrs—who can’t see transparent dishes and must be served in pots and pans. It celebrates her springtime culinary imagination and summer’s vibrant, fruit-and-vegetable-filled porcelain table.
Episode 6 · The Mulberry Tree's ShadowA2 · 5:24This episode tells a whimsical folk tale about a man who sells the shadow of a mulberry tree in front of his house—only to discover that shadows move with the sun, leading to increasingly absurd and humorous consequences.
Episode 7 · The Legend of Mita, the Beauty Who Became a MonsterA2 · 4:18This episode tells an Ilnuaj myth about Queen Mita, who drinks emerald-green venom in her desperate pursuit of love and ever-greater beauty—each dose refines her face but gradually transforms her body into that of a serpent.
Episode 8 · The Most Terrible MirrorA2 · 4:21This is a mythic tale about beauty, suffering, and self-perception, where a queen shatters mirrors, taints water with blood, and forbids open eyes to suppress reflection—and ultimately confronts the most terrifying mirror of all: her own gaze.
Episode 9 · The Rat TrapA2 · 5:42A destitute man who makes rat traps for a living steals an old man's life savings on a freezing winter night, then seeks warmth in a blacksmith's forge where flames lick his frostbitten feet.
Episode 10 · The Rat TrapA2 · 5:35This episode tells a folkloric tale about a destitute former captain who is invited to stay with a blacksmith and his daughter; after a generous feast, he leaves behind money and a heartfelt letter thanking them—and especially Greta—for showing him that life is not a 'rat trap.'
Episode 11 · The Legend of the Red FeatherA2 · 6:09This episode tells a symbolic legend about the origins of the Roma people: once free-flying birds who settled among domestic fowl, grew heavy with gifts and lost their ability to fly—until one bird's sacrifice and a falling red feather awakened their longing for freedom and transformed them into wandering humans.
Regional French plates
Episode 1 · Making the Picardie Battu CakeA2 · 5:21This episode introduces the traditional Picardie dessert called 'battu picard,' explaining its regional significance and demonstrating step-by-step how to prepare the batter—including mixing flour, fresh yeast, eggs, sugar, butter, and proper kneading technique.
Episode 2 · Making Traditional Picard 'Battu' BreadA2 · 5:35This episode demonstrates the traditional preparation of 'Battu', a regional bread from Picardy, France, covering dough kneading, gradual incorporation of softened butter, and thorough buttering of the mold for optimal rising and caramelization.
Episode 3 · Picardie's Traditional 'Battu' CakeA2 · 5:32This episode demonstrates the traditional Picardie 'battu' cake from start to finish: preparing the batter, proofing, baking, cooling, unmolding, and serving—highlighting its star-shaped slices and tender texture.
Episode 4 · Sedan's Traditional 'Cacasse à Cul Nu' DishA2 · 4:57This episode introduces 'Cacasse à Cul Nu', a traditional dish from Sedan in the Ardennes region of France, detailing its unique name, ingredients (lard, potatoes, onions, lard fat, garlic, etc.), and step-by-step preparation including frying lard, browning potatoes, and sweating onions.
Episode 5 · Cacasse Sedanaise: A Traditional Ardennes StewA2 · 4:48This episode presents 'Cacasse Sedanaise', a traditional stew from Sedan in the Ardennes region of France. It demonstrates step-by-step preparation—coating onions in flour, simmering potatoes and vegetables gently for 45 minutes, adding cured pork belly at the end, and serving with Dijon mustard.
Episode 6 · Berry Easter Pâté: A Traditional French Regional DishA2 · 4:33This episode explores the traditional 'pâté berrichon', also known as 'pâté de Pâques', a regional specialty from Berry in central France. It covers the key ingredients—pork, veal, onions, garlic, shallots, white wine, eggs, parsley, and puff pastry—and demonstrates the initial preparation steps, including meat chopping and aromatic vegetable prep.
Episode 7 · Berry Easter Pâté: A Traditional French Terrine RecipeA2 · 4:41This episode demonstrates how to prepare the traditional Berry Easter pâté, covering key steps such as mixing the forcemeat with onions, garlic, parsley, shallots, nutmeg, white wine, and egg; layering it between two sheets of puff pastry; and arranging hard-boiled eggs on top.
Episode 8 · Berry Easter Terrine: A Traditional French Regional RecipeA2 · 4:36This episode demonstrates how to prepare a traditional Berry regional terrine, known as 'Pâté de Pâques', covering dough assembly, sealing, decorative topping with egg wash, and baking.
Le Messager
Episode 1 · The alien arrives on EarthB2 · 5:05An alien messenger lands on Earth, while Jessica argues bitterly with her ex-boyfriend Lucas, who is emotionally unstable and uses drugs.
Episode 2 · Lucas helps a disoriented manB2 · 4:29Lucas encounters a disoriented man in the Chaux Forest, takes him into his car, and calls his friend Élodie for help—citing distrust of doctors due to past issues.
Episode 3 · Alien spacecraft spotted over FranceB2 · 3:56A breaking news bulletin announces an unidentified spacecraft flying over France, prompting nationwide shock and official response.
Episode 4 · Mysterious man found in the forestB2 · 4:01Lucas finds an unconscious man in the forest and brings him home, where his inexplicably perfect health puzzles everyone.
Episode 5 · Amnesiac alien taken to the labB2 · 4:06The man claims he's being hunted and suffers memory loss; convinced he's an alien, they decide to secretly take him to the lab for safety and examination.
Episode 6 · Souna accepts the offerB2 · 4:44Souna calls Tony to accept his earlier proposal and agrees to meet him tomorrow at his friend's lab.
Episode 7 · Mysterious coordinates discoveredB2 · 4:31During an experiment, a signal is triggered and decoded into coordinates, confirming the Messenger entered a basement on the city’s outskirts.
Episode 8 · Hologram in the basementB2 · 4:32The team enters the basement and discovers an active holographic communication device, where a woman named Anna speaks with the amnesiac alien Hanto.
Episode 9 · The man in black is surroundedB2 · 5:12Anton is cornered at the rendezvous point, refuses to surrender, and speaks with Anna to confirm his identity and mission.
Episode 10 · Arthur is forced to cooperateB2 · 5:20Arthur is threatened into handing over a blood sample to save his friend’s life, while a man claiming to be from a parallel Earth appears on live TV to deliver a message.
Episode 11 · The alien envoy reveals an invasionB2 · 4:42The 'alien envoy' announces on TV that another species is invading Earth, while shadowy figures reveal Anton’s connection to cloning experiments and urgently seek his blood and unaccessed memories.
Episode 12 · Urgent hospital call about LucasB2 · 5:04Cindy calls Émilie to inform her that Lucas has been hospitalized after a drug overdose.
Episode 13 · Home staging meeting and breaking newsB2 · 4:40Beckett presents a home staging proposal to Mr. Jobs, then a news bulletin reports a terrorist attack at Dole station and renews the public appeal for information on the fugitive pedophile.
Episode 14 · Forced test: kill the pedophileB2 · 4:57Arthur is ordered to execute an accused man on the spot to prove he will obey and set his morals aside.
Episode 15 · Hiding plan and memory restorationB2 · 4:56Sona and her ally decide to hide at Lucas’s place — a human who previously helped them — and administer a substance from his mother’s lab to restore Arthur’s memory.
Episode 16 · Mysterious warning and betrayalB2 · 4:23Lucas is told the Messenger isn’t the only one responsible for his wife’s murder—his friend Amy is involved too, and he’s ordered to kill her.
Episode 17 · Identity questioned and unexpected visitorsB2 · 4:04Dors, an Abios official, claims Lucas is originally from Borgharass—not Earth—and insists his Earth memories are false, but Lucas firmly rejects this.
Episode 18 · Clone awakens and doomsday plan revealedB2 · 4:08A clone unexpectedly awakens and rebels, while the Abios reveal their plan to weaponize Earth’s scientists to build a clone army and annihilate their rivals.
Episode 19 · Rorschach's true agenda revealedB2 · 4:48Rorschach is appointed head of state to counter the Abios threat, but his real plan is to annihilate humanity — while Tony confronts shocking revelations about his identity and allies.
Episode 20 · Tony learns he's a cloneB2 · 4:48Tony discovers he is a clone — not the original — and the team prepares to teleport onto Rorschach's ship using a teleportation device.
Episode 21 · They teleport to the wrong placeB2 · 4:47Tony and Logan mistakenly teleport to an alien location, where Anto confronts them and accuses the Abios government of manipulating its people.
Episode 22 · Anto Bellec is executedB2 · 4:48Anto Bellec is cornered and killed by armed forces, prompting a breaking news report — while Tony and his team remain stranded off-world, their fate uncertain.
Episode 23 · The trial beginsB2 · 4:10Lucas and another person are brought before Governor Karkov’s tribunal in Abios and charged with the murder of Anatrios.
Episode 24 · Their last nightB2 · 3:44Condemned to death, Lucas and the other prisoner are placed in the 'Chamber of Last Nights'; Anna pleads for mercy but is dismissed, while Governor Karkov secretly tasks Roseau with eliminating Orcharc.
Episode 25 · Crossing the riftB2 · 3:59Anna reunites with Lucas at the dimensional rift; she reveals she’s been tasked with resolving Earth’s crisis, while Lucas crossed alone—without anyone accompanying him.
Episode 26 · The dimension of the deadB2 · 4:20Emily explains to Lucas that they’re in the dimension of the dead—and reveals he is a Borgard, a dimension-traveling race thought extinct, whose latent powers may save humanity.
Episode 27 · The realm of the dead revealedB2 · 5:02Lucas crosses a dimensional rift into the realm of the dead, meets Panto, and learns his Borgard heritage is awakening in times of danger.
Episode 28 · The noon news broadcast conspiracyB2 · 5:05Rorschach hijacks a live noon news broadcast to announce his cloned army’s readiness and declare his vendetta against Governor Karcoff.
Episode 29 · Dual threats and a desperate choiceB2 · 5:13A journalist hesitates to break protocol and warn humanity about Dorf, while Lucas grapples with Borgard instincts threatening to overwhelm his humanity.
Episode 30 · Energy spike and urgent recallB2 · 4:32A communication system detects an energy spike and network failure; a character orders Lucas to be retrieved immediately to devise a plan against Thor.
Episode 31 · Dors delivers an ultimatumB2 · 4:37Dors appears, declaring himself the future ruler of Abydos, and demands the protagonist’s death to protect both Earth and his planet.
Episode 32 · Farewell before sacrificeB2 · 4:54Lucas resolves to destroy the ray’s source alone, confesses his love to Émilie, entrusts her with their mission, and prepares to sacrifice himself.
Episode 33 · Dors’s hollow victoryB2 · 4:54Dors tells To his mission ‘succeeded’—Orshack is dead—but in reality, Lucas and Émilie have thwarted his plan to destroy Earth.
The Fumble Zone: a tabletop role-playing sitcom
Episode 1 · Ride home and role-playing introB2 · 5:57A woman gets a ride home from a friend, who invites her to join a tabletop role-playing game session this weekend and explains the basics of what a TTRPG is.
Episode 2 · Character creation chaosB2 · 5:33New player Natacha joins the tabletop session, and the group enthusiastically but chaotically debates character classes, backgrounds, and even spelling—while reminding her she’s free to create whatever she wants.
Episode 3 · Zombie ambush at campB2 · 7:17The group is ambushed by a zombie at camp; one character collapses with fatal injuries, sparking frantic blame over withheld knowledge.
Episode 4 · Medieval horseback riding debateB2 · 7:04The players argue about the changed horseback riding skill rule in their medieval RPG session, with one character explaining they chose fishing instead of riding due to limited skill points.
Episode 5 · The GM gets stood up by everyoneB2 · 5:24GM Nicolas receives back-to-back cancellation calls from all four players—his tabletop RPG session is completely derailed before it begins.
Episode 6 · New player joins the gameB2 · 7:04Natacha arrives late to the tabletop session, is introduced to the contemporary game Nephilim, and joins the group amid playful banter and character introductions.
Episode 7 · Tylan investigates aloneB2 · 4:16Tylan secretly begins her own investigation without telling the group, while the others argue about her decision and try—unsuccessfully—to contact her via magic or phone.
Episode 8 · The magical trail fails—and a movie inviteB2 · 4:55The magical tracking attempt fails, causing frustration and infighting; the group abandons the search and decides to watch The Hobbit, impulsively inviting Michael along.
Episode 9 · A friend joins the gameB2 · 4:04Cassandra arrives unexpectedly, and Léo introduces her to the tabletop RPG, the group, and explains how the game works.
Episode 10 · Forest chase leads back to the churchB2 · 3:32The players pursue a suspicious figure into the forest, only to arrive—after an hour—at the same old church where they started.
Episode 11 · Pretending to check outB2 · 3:51Natacha tries to sign out of the facility but is blocked by staff who refuse her request to see her medical file.
Episode 12 · Amnesia and parallel worldsB2 · 3:30Natacha has total amnesia but recognizes the location as Switzerland; her cousins explain she can walk between parallel worlds called 'Shadow Earths'.
Episode 13 · A dream reveals hidden truthsB2 · 3:43Natacha dreams of a hunchbacked jester, then realizes she’s been watched all along—and Greg and the others are waiting for her to remember her true role.
Episode 14 · Mysterious messenger and chaotic combatB2 · 3:45A mercenary arrives claiming to be the contact, but is immediately attacked by arrows; the party uses a corpse as a shield, debates alignment systems, and searches the fallen while bickering about rules and logic.
Episode 15 · Looting aftermath and alignment debateB2 · 3:45After the fight, the group loots a level-4 spell scroll, then argues about alignment definitions, poisoned arrows, saving throws, and the absurdity of their own tabletop logic—while the GM threatens zero XP for collateral carnage.
Episode 16 · Silver bullets and a misunderstandingB2 · 4:47An investigator armed with silver bullets confronts a monster hunter at a crime scene, accusing her of the murders; they exchange suspicion and threats before cautiously lowering their weapons.
Episode 17 · Team-up to track down the rogue orbB2 · 4:58The hunter and investigator join forces, cross-referencing corpse evidence and research to conclude that a rogue magical orb—not a vampire—is responsible for the murders.
Episode 18 · Aunt Hilda's mysterious invitationB2 · 4:24The group receives a telegram from 'Aunt Ilda' inviting them to her house, but soon realize 'Aunt Hilda' is actually the GM playing an NPC to stay involved in the game.
Episode 19 · Transfer to Canada and the traitor revealedB2 · 4:32A player announces their permanent transfer to Canada, then the group suddenly recalls and confirms that Aunt Hilda is the traitor who lured her niece to be captured by the creature.
Episode 20 · Goodbyes and a mysterious visitorB2 · 3:48The group wraps up their tabletop session as Léo prepares to move away; a man named Nicolas arrives at the door claiming to have a letter for Léo—and says Cassandra sent him.
Episode 21 · A new rule and level-up rewardsB2 · 4:17Léo introduces a new GM rule: everyone levels up immediately, gaining attribute points, a talent, and extra hit points—while the players react and celebrate the villagers’ liberation.
Episode 22 · Role-players head to the conventionB2 · 4:03Every year, tabletop role-players abandon their routines to attend conventions—some even try sneaking in by hiding in a friend’s suitcase.
Episode 23 · Impromptu game session at the conB2 · 4:24At the convention, players gather for an impromptu session—snacking, bantering, and teasing the GM about his long-delayed campaign sequel.
A user’s guide to the Web
Episode 1 · What Are Web Cookies, Really?B2 · 7:09This episode explains what web cookies actually are: small data files stored by websites to recognize users across sessions—not edible treats. It covers their technical origin (1994, Netscape), how they solve HTTP's 'stateless' limitation, and why their widespread commercial misuse led to GDPR regulations.
Episode 2 · GDPR and Plastic Bottle CapsB2 · 4:46This episode uses satire and dialogue to explain the EU's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), comparing it to seemingly trivial but meaningful environmental rules—like requiring plastic bottle caps to stay attached. It highlights GDPR’s real purpose: protecting individuals’ data rights and curbing corporate overreach, not bureaucratic absurdity.
Episode 3 · Understanding the GDPR: What Cookie Banners Really MeanB2 · 4:44This episode explains how the GDPR regulates personal data processing, clarifying that cookie banners are not universally mandated by law—but rather reflect websites' overreach. It details the six lawful bases for data processing and emphasizes that consent is only required when legitimate interest or direct marketing is involved.
Episode 4 · The Open-Source Printer TrapB2 · 4:49This episode examines how modern inkjet printers use proprietary cartridges and subscription models to lock users into expensive, recurring ink costs—and how open-source printer alternatives challenge this control. It blends technical insight with everyday frustration to highlight digital autonomy.
Episode 5 · The Truth About Open-Source PrintersB2 · 4:49This episode examines how printer manufacturers lock in customers and charge exorbitant prices for ink cartridges, then introduces the French-led Open Printer project—a partially open-source, repairable printer designed to challenge this business model.
Episode 6 · Wikipedia and Creative Commons: Digital Culture ExplainedB2 · 5:31This episode uses an engaging true-or-false quiz format to explain Wikipedia's collaborative, open-content model and the purpose, origin, and legal function of Creative Commons licenses—highlighting how they balance creators' rights with public access and reuse.
Episode 7 · Wikipedia's Photo RevolutionB2 · 5:33This episode explores Wikipedia's photo quality issues through playful quizzes and humorous scenarios, then introduces WikiPortraits—a global volunteer initiative dedicated to replacing low-quality or unlicensed images with high-quality, freely licensed photographs.
Episode 8 · What Is Blockchain?B2 · 6:01Using Monopoly as a metaphor, this episode explains blockchain fundamentals: distributed ledgers, blocks, hashing, and proof-of-work—how participants collectively maintain trustless transaction records without a central authority.
Episode 9 · The Truth About BlockchainB2 · 5:57This episode critically examines blockchain's fundamental limitations: it cannot verify real-world events, suffers from extremely low transaction throughput, high energy consumption, uncontrolled fees, price volatility, and irreversible errors. It argues that linking blockchain to real-world documents like diplomas or passports is technically meaningless.
How telescopes changed astronomy
Wikipedia and information literacy
Episode 1 · WikiMOOC – Video 07: Your Personal PagesB2 · 9:51Explains how to create and manage personal pages on the WikiMOOC platform.
Episode 2 · WikiMOOC Video 02: Wikipedia History and FunctioningB2 · 6:14Introduces Wikipedia's historical development and fundamental operating mechanisms.
Episode 3 · WikiMOOC Video 03: Creating an AccountB2 · 2:59Explains how to create a Wikipedia user account.
Episode 4 · WikiMOOC – Video 01: Foundational PrinciplesB2 · 7:15Introduces the core concepts and foundational principles of the WikiMOOC course.
Episode 5 · WikiMOOC Video 04: Wikipedia InterfaceB2 · 2:37Introduces the overall interface layout of the Wikipedia website.
Episode 6 · WikiMOOC Video 05: Article Page InterfaceB2 · 8:43Explains the structure and functionality of Wikipedia article pages.
Episode 7 · WikiMOOC Video 06: Two Editing ToolsB2 · 4:34Introduces Wikipedia's two primary editing tools.
Episode 8 · WikiMOOC Video 08: Types of ContributorsB2 · 5:48Introduces different types of contributors within the Wikipedia community.
Episode 9 · WikiMOOC Video 09: Ways to ContributeB2 · 8:42Explains various ways users can contribute to Wikipedia editing.
Episode 10 · WikiMOOC Video 0: IntroductionB2 · 6:49General introduction and learning objectives of this course series.
Episode 11 · WikiMOOC Video 11: The Concept of SourcingB2 · 5:33Introduces the fundamental concept of citing reliable sources in Wikipedia.
Episode 12 · WikiMOOC Video 13: Presenting Your SourcesB2 · 12:24Introduces standardized methods for citing references in Wikipedia articles.
Episode 13 · WikiMOOC Video 12: Characteristics of SourcesB2 · 6:24Explains the characteristics that sources accepted by Wikipedia should possess.
Wikis and open knowledge
Episode 1 · Endangered Languages and the WiktionaryB2 · 4:59This episode presents how the French Wiktionary documents endangered, rare, or extinct languages—emphasizing its descriptive (not prescriptive) approach, commitment to lexical exhaustiveness, stable yet adaptable structure, and inclusive treatment of multiple orthographies and usages.
Episode 2 · Endangered Languages and the WiktionaryB2 · 4:45This episode explores how the French Wiktionary documents endangered, extinct, and rare languages—covering language identification criteria, scale (390,000+ French lemmata), scientific reuse (e.g., GLAWI projects), and current limitations like small contributor base and non-query-friendly data structure.
Episode 3 · Endangered Languages and Dictionary CompilationB2 · 4:59This episode explores how to build Wiktionary entries for endangered regional languages of France—such as the Oïl languages and Lorrain—covering language vitality assessment, bibliography gathering (including academic and amateur sources), cataloging writing systems (including non-standardized ones), and grammatical analysis.
Episode 4 · Endangered Languages and Dictionary CompilationB2 · 4:55This episode explores how Wiktionary documents endangered and extinct languages like Gaulish and Lorrain, covering etymology, grammatical categories, conjugations, inflections, regional variants, pronunciation, reconstructions, and sourcing practices.
Episode 5 · Endangered Languages and WiktionaryB2 · 4:57This episode explores how public-domain historical dictionaries—like Léon Zelixon’s 19th-century Lorraine dialect dictionary—are transcribed on Wikisource and integrated into Wiktionary to document and revitalize endangered regional languages and dialects.
Episode 6 · Wiktionary and Endangered LanguagesB2 · 4:54This episode explains how Wiktionary supports endangered languages by compiling vocabulary from authentic sources—such as old texts on Wikisource, radio broadcasts, or literary works—and using even single attestations to document words, especially for under-resourced or extinct languages like Lorrain or Gaulish.
Episode 7 · Creative Uses of WikidataB2 · 4:56This episode explores creative applications of the Wikidata open knowledge base, such as generating infoboxes, creating maps, importing bibliographic references (ISBN/DOI), enriching cultural heritage documentation, and using Wikidata as a pivot for aligning professional databases.
Episode 8 · Creative Uses of WikidataB2 · 4:48This episode explains Wikidata as a multilingual, collaborative knowledge graph, highlights how its structured, language-independent data differs from Wikipedia's unstructured text, and demonstrates creative data visualization—like bubble charts—to extract and analyze complex information quickly.
Episode 9 · How to Use Wikidata CreativelyB2 · 5:03This episode explains how to query Wikidata using SPARQL: filtering elements by properties and qualifiers (e.g., 'UNESCO World Heritage site' in 'Africa'), then displaying results as tables, maps, timelines, or bubble charts—and sharing them via static files or dynamic, self-updating links.
Episode 10 · Creative Ways to Use Wikidata for Web IntegrationB2 · 4:52This episode demonstrates how to embed Wikidata Query Service results—such as interactive maps and timelines—into websites, using WordPress as an accessible example for non-programmers; it also explains how dynamic updates work and how to build simple search interfaces for cross-country archaeological site visualizations.
Episode 11 · Using Wikidata Creatively for Strategic Project PlanningB2 · 4:52This episode demonstrates how Wikidata can be used creatively to classify and visualize Moroccan traditional villages—by construction material, area, or population—to inform strategic decisions like pilot project selection, training focus, and heritage conservation priorities.
Episode 12 · Creative Ways to Use WikidataB2 · 4:59This episode covers technical solutions for embedding Wikidata queries in WordPress sites, using the WikiShootMe tool for on-the-ground photography of Wikidata items, and approaches to verifying and improving data completeness—especially for Moroccan villages—and announces a Wikidata visualization competition related to world heritage.
Episode 13 · Building a Unified Dictionary Interface on WikisourceB2 · 5:02This episode explores how to gather hundreds of public-domain dictionaries on Wikisource, semantically structure their entries, and link them via Wikidata—enabling side-by-side comparison and unified access across historical and modern French dictionaries.
Episode 14 · Building a Unified Dictionary Interface for WikisourceB2 · 5:08This episode presents a proposal to build a unified, searchable interface for Wikisource's diverse dictionary collection—including linguistic, encyclopedic, historical, bibliographic, and iconographic dictionaries—and demonstrates how users could filter, compare, and incrementally add dictionaries across time periods and languages.
Episode 15 · Wikipedia's Collaborative Learning ModelB2 · 5:07This episode explores how Wikipedia's self-organized, collaborative editing process embodies a radical pedagogical model. The speaker, a sociologist, analyzes its governance rules, collective knowledge production, and potential insights for education—framed as an open, research-rich ecosystem.
Episode 16 · The Collaborative Wisdom of WikipediaB2 · 5:16This episode explores how Wikipedia achieves self-organization through decentralized peer surveillance, procedural legitimacy (rather than substantive authority), and built-in, visible, immediate sanctions—without relying on assumptions about users' virtue or malice.
Episode 17 · How Wikipedia's Collaborative Rules Shape Knowledge ProductionB2 · 5:08This episode examines how Wikipedia transformed the shared values of its early contributors into a public, editable set of principles and guidelines—and how decentralized, educational feedback (like edit summaries and talk-page notes) fosters collaborative knowledge production without relying on centralized authority or assumptions about user altruism.
Episode 18 · Wikipedia's Collective Pedagogy and Ethical SanctioningB2 · 5:15This episode examines how Wikipedia fosters collective knowledge-building through public discussion pages, behavior-focused critique (not personal attacks), and a tiered sanctioning system—where local edits are justified publicly, while serious recurring issues escalate to centralized arbitration—highlighting its unique pedagogical and ethical governance model.
Episode 19 · Hospitality and Rules in Wikipedia's Collaborative KnowledgeB2 · 4:49This episode explores how Wikipedia balances procedural rigor with newcomer hospitality through principles like 'don't bite the newcomers' and 'WikiLove,' examining tensions between bureaucratic rule mastery and egalitarian, humble collaboration within its community.
Episode 20 · Wikipedia and Collective IntelligenceB2 · 5:15This episode explores how Wikipedia embodies collective learning and the equality of intelligences, highlighting collaboration, publicly shared verification rules, and procedural knowledge-building rather than relying on individual expertise.
Episode 21 · Wikipedia and Educational TransformationB2 · 5:17This episode explores how teachers can shift from authoritative knowledge transmitters to facilitators of collective learning, drawing on Wikipedia's collaborative governance models to foster student autonomy, critical thinking, and co-created classroom norms.
Episode 22 · The Silent Revolution of University LibrariesB2 · 4:38This episode explores the historical emergence and evolution of university libraries in France, focusing on the Sainte-Geneviève Library—its 19th-century founding, groundbreaking architecture by Henri Labrouste, exceptional collections (manuscripts, incunabula, rare books), and the diverse professional roles sustaining modern academic libraries.
Episode 23 · The Quiet Revolution of University LibrariesB2 · 4:38This episode explores how French university libraries have transformed—from traditional repositories into modern knowledge hubs—through architectural innovation, digital access (e.g., Genoveva platform), diversified study spaces, and expanded roles in open science, research support, and data management.
Episode 24 · The Quiet Revolution of University LibrariesB2 · 4:38This episode explores how university libraries have evolved into dynamic hubs for research collaboration, digital resource support, and cultural-scientific engagement—highlighting initiatives like Xpérium and the renovated Bibliothèque nationale universitaire de Strasbourg.
Episode 25 · Open Source Software in Quebec: Two Decades of EvolutionB2 · 5:00This episode traces the speaker's two-decade involvement with Linux and free software communities in Quebec, highlighting real-world applications—from early user groups and consulting work to building startups and contributing to major platforms like Twitter—all grounded in open source principles and practices.
Episode 26 · The Evolution of Free and Open Source SoftwareB2 · 4:31This episode explores the historical origins and evolution of free and open source software, tracing its roots from 1960s code-sharing practices through the emergence of GNU, BSD, TeX, and the RFC culture, highlighting key milestones and influences in North America and beyond.
Episode 27 · Twenty Years of Free SoftwareB2 · 4:51This episode traces the evolution of the free software movement in Quebec, covering its collaborative engineering culture, the emergence of Linux and BSD in the 1990s, the formalization of open standards by IETF and W3C, desktop and server adoption (LAMP stack, GNOME, LibreOffice), and early commercialization efforts like Red Hat.
Episode 28 · The Business Models of Open Source SoftwareB2 · 4:59This episode explores how open source software has evolved commercially, highlighting real-world examples like Automattic (WordPress), Blockstream, Docker, and Elasticsearch—firms that not only build on open source but also adopt its collaborative development practices globally.
Episode 29 · How Open Source Powers the Modern Digital WorldB2 · 4:43This episode explores how open source software flourished after the 2000s economic crisis, becoming foundational across industries—from public administration and manufacturing to major tech platforms like Amazon, Android, and Twitter. It highlights real-world adoption, corporate contributions, and the invisible yet pervasive role of free and open source software in everyday digital infrastructure.
Episode 30 · Open Source Software and Collaborative CultureB2 · 4:49This episode discusses how open source software is adopted in organizations like Twitter and government bodies, highlighting the importance of transparent communication, knowledge sharing via tools like mailing lists and Jira, and collaborative culture over technical solutions alone.
Episode 31 · Free Software and Digital SovereigntyB2 · 4:50This episode reflects on 20 years of free software adoption in Quebec, highlighting the operational and strategic challenges organizations face when shifting from proprietary licensing to internal mastery of technology—emphasizing digital sovereignty, local economic reinvestment, and collaborative open development practices.
Episode 32 · Collaboration and Open Source Software in QuebecB2 · 4:46This episode discusses how open-source communities can overcome fragmentation, foster better collaboration, and promote cooperation between government, civil society, and industry around open data and free software—emphasizing communication, transparency, and human interoperability.
Episode 33 · Personal Cloud and Data SovereigntyB2 · 5:09This episode discusses the need for internet decentralization, focusing on how personal cloud solutions like Cozy Cloud aim to restore user control over their data—countering the concentration of power and data in large tech companies' silos.
Episode 34 · Taking Control of Your Personal Data with Cozy CloudB2 · 5:10This episode explains how the open-source Cozy Cloud platform enables individuals to host and manage their personal data—including email, files, calendars, photos, and contacts—on low-cost, energy-efficient personal servers like the Raspberry Pi.
Episode 35 · What Does 'Free Software' Really Mean?B2 · 7:54This episode explains the philosophy of free software—freedom, equality, and fraternity—and defines its four essential user freedoms, emphasizing the importance of access to source code, community collaboration, and ethical software use.
Episode 36 · Open Brain Imaging Data and Scientific SharingB2 · 5:06Camille Maumet, a neuroinformatics researcher, discusses open science practices in brain imaging: data reuse, standardization (e.g., BIDS), metadata semantics, consent challenges, and collaborative standards development through initiatives like INCF.
Episode 37 · Open Science and Brain Imaging DataB2 · 5:00This episode explores the challenges and benefits of data sharing in neuroimaging research, examining how the high cost of MRI data acquisition—both financially and in terms of expertise and time—affects openness, reproducibility, and collaborative science.
Episode 38 · Open Science and Data Sharing in ResearchB2 · 4:59This episode discusses data papers, code sharing, and citability in open science, explaining how researchers can enhance their academic value by openly sharing datasets and analysis code, and how new publishing models (e.g., JOSS, Zenodo) support reproducibility and recognition.
Episode 39 · Open Science and Academic PublishingB2 · 5:15This episode discusses preprints, open archive journals (like Épicience), and post-publication peer review. It explains institutional support for open deposition in HAL, legal considerations around embargoes, and introduces the OSIG (Open Science Special Interest Group) — its hackathons, Open Science Room, and collaborative culture within the human brain mapping community.
Episode 40 · Virtual Hackathon for Global Open Science CollaborationB2 · 5:06This episode discusses how virtual hackathons—organized across time-zone hubs—enable broader global participation in open neuroscience research, addressing barriers like travel costs, conference fees, and currency access while fostering inclusive scientific collaboration.
Episode 41 · Open Science and NeuroimagingB2 · 5:07This episode explores open science practices in neuroimaging, focusing on decentralized, low-cost collaborative events like BrainHack held worldwide, and discusses the realities of green vs. gold open access publishing—including institutional policies, funding constraints, and disciplinary publishing pressures.
Episode 42 · Open Access Journal Models in Scientific PublishingB2 · 4:55This episode discusses open access journal models—including diamond, gold, and green—focusing on APC-free publishing, platform-based workflows (like OJS and DOAJ), and real-world examples such as JOSS and eLife in neuroscience and software research.
Episode 43 · Open Peer Review in Scientific PublishingB2 · 5:11This episode discusses open peer review practices in scientific publishing, covering topics such as publishing reviewers' reports, signing reviews to increase accountability and constructive feedback, and strategies to support diamond open-access journals—while reflecting on community-driven change in neuroimaging research.
Episode 44 · Open Science and Collaborative ResearchB2 · 4:59This episode explores how open science fosters collaborative research—covering open-access journals, emerging publishing platforms like Epistémens and Aperture, and the sharing of code, data, and early-stage ideas to improve research efficiency and quality.
Vinland of the Vikings
Episode 1 · The Mysterious Vinland of the VikingsB2 · 5:08This episode explores whether Vikings ever reached North America, focusing on the legendary Vinland described in Icelandic sagas and the archaeological evidence—especially the 1960 discovery of L'Anse aux Meadows in Newfoundland—that confirms Norse presence in Canada around the year 1000.
Episode 2 · The Vikings' Discovery of North AmericaB2 · 4:57This episode recounts Leif Erikson's Viking expedition westward from Greenland, leading to the discovery and naming of Helluland (likely Baffin Island), Markland (likely Labrador), and Vinland (likely Newfoundland), including early encounters with Indigenous peoples.
Episode 3 · The Viking Legend of Vinland in North AmericaB2 · 5:01This episode explores the Norse exploration of North America around the year 1000, covering Leif Erikson's accidental discovery of Vinland, subsequent expeditions led by Thorvald, Thorfinn and Gudrid, encounters with Indigenous peoples (Skraelings), and Freydis’s controversial expedition — all drawn from the Icelandic sagas.
Episode 4 · The Viking Legend of VinlandB2 · 5:07This episode explores the Viking discovery of Vinland in North America, examining theories about its location, the contested etymology of 'Vinland,' and archaeological clues—including wild grapes, butternuts, and Norse settlements—found at L'Anse aux Meadows and beyond.
Space stations ahead
Episode 1 · The next space stationB1 · 4:10Where future stations may outgrow today's.
Episode 2 · Building a home in spaceB1 · 4:25How modules, docking, and living spaces fit together.
Episode 3 · Space missions not to missB1 · 4:45Launches worth watching in the years ahead.
Episode 4 · Moon missions lining upB1 · 4:25How a timeline helps make sense of returning to the Moon.
How the Renaissance changed the world
Episode 1 · The Renaissance and HumanismB2 · 4:58This episode explores how the Renaissance transformed medieval scholarship by returning to classical texts, applying rigorous source criticism, and promoting humanism—a broad intellectual movement emphasizing human dignity, individual and social effort, and a new art of living.
Episode 2 · How the Renaissance Redefined Humanity's Place in the WorldB2 · 4:56This episode explores how Neoplatonism during the Renaissance fused body and soul into one, fueling a cult of beauty and shifting the worldview from God-centered to human-centered. It highlights how art became philosophical expression, how patronage and printing spread humanist ideas, and how thinkers embraced the belief in human potential and mastery over nature.
Episode 3 · How the Renaissance Transformed Worldview and KnowledgeB2 · 5:12This episode explores how Renaissance humanism redefined human freedom and self-development, contrasting it with medieval fixed social orders. It covers humanist education reforms, artistic renewal inspired by antiquity, scientific advances in anatomy, astronomy, and physics, and the transformative role of the printing press in spreading new ideas.
Episode 4 · How the Renaissance Transformed Our View of the WorldB2 · 4:36This episode explores how the Renaissance revived ancient texts, fostered competition among Italian city-states, and elevated the Medici family as patrons of genius—highlighting artistic breakthroughs like mathematical perspective, sfumato, and chiaroscuro through figures such as Leonardo da Vinci and Botticelli.
Episode 5 · How the Renaissance Changed Our View of the WorldB2 · 5:17This episode explores how the invention of linear perspective during the Renaissance revolutionized painting, transformed conceptions of space from finite and divine to infinite and human-centered, and fueled the rise of secular themes, realistic anatomy, portraiture, and individualism in art.
Episode 6 · How the Renaissance Transformed Art and ArchitectureB2 · 4:46This episode explores how Renaissance sculpture and architecture broke from medieval traditions, highlighting key artists like Michelangelo, Donatello, and Ghiberti, as well as architects Brunelleschi and Palladio—emphasizing contrapposto, classical inspiration, proportion, harmony, and human-centered realism.
Fig, goat cheese and honey tart
Five-minute archaeology
Episode 1 · The Truth About the Fertile CrescentA2 · 4:04This episode clarifies that the Fertile Crescent is not synonymous with Mesopotamia, but rather a distinct climatic zone—stretching along the eastern Mediterranean—where wild wheat and barley naturally evolved due to ideal rainfall (200–600 mm/year), enabling early sedentary life and agriculture.
Episode 2 · The History of Waste and PollutionB1 · 4:22This episode explores how waste and pollution are not modern phenomena, using historical examples like lead pollution in ancient Greece and Rome to show that environmental contamination has existed since antiquity.
Episode 3 · Ancient Waste and Modern PollutionB1 · 4:20This episode examines lead and copper pollution from ancient Rome and Greece, revealing how archaeological analysis of waste—like soil sediments and Greenland ice cores—uncovers early industrial-scale environmental impact. It also reflects on the role of waste in human history and contrasts ancient organic disposal with today's plastic pollution crisis.
Episode 4 · Zero-Waste Picnics and Lifestyle ChoicesB1 · 4:26This episode explores how waste management attitudes evolve into cultural habits, examines the links between socioeconomic status, psychological needs (e.g., Maslow’s hierarchy), and ecological engagement, and highlights zero-waste picnics as inclusive, hands-on initiatives that inspire sustainable lifestyle changes—such as veganism—not for aesthetics but for ethics, health, and environmental impact.
Is SPAM delicious or awful?
Episode 1 · SPAM: Delicious or Disgusting?B2 · 6:10This episode explores the origin and invention of SPAM—a canned pork product—as well as its surprising rise to prominence in American cuisine, especially during the Great Depression and World War II.
Episode 2 · SPAM: Delicious or Disgusting?B2 · 5:48This episode explores the history and global cultural impact of SPAM canned ham—from its WWII role in feeding soldiers and Hawaiian communities, to its transformation into local dishes like spam musubi, and its unexpected rise as an internet slang term thanks to Monty Python's comedy.
West African French: open-map communities
Episode 1 · OpenStreetMap Burkina Faso: Building a Local Mapping CommunityB2 · 4:20This episode presents the origins and growth of the OpenStreetMap Burkina Faso community since 2013, highlighting early training sessions, capacity-building missions across Francophone West Africa, support from the International Organization of La Francophonie, and the role of international volunteers in strengthening local mapping initiatives.
Episode 2 · OpenStreetMap Community in Burkina FasoB2 · 4:21This episode covers the formation of the OpenStreetMap Burkina Faso association in 2015, the acquisition and role of its headquarters for training and technical support, and demonstrates tangible progress in map data coverage between January and April 2015.
Episode 3 · OpenStreetMap Projects in Burkina FasoB2 · 4:25This episode presents community-led OpenStreetMap initiatives in Burkina Faso, including mapping primary schools, bus routes, and health districts—highlighting collaboration with local institutions, technical challenges, and plans for training transport authorities to maintain the maps.
Episode 4 · OpenStreetMap in Senegal: Community Mapping EffortsB2 · 7:59This episode presents how the OpenStreetMap community in Senegal conducts voluntary mapping activities across cities like Saint-Louis and Dakar, organizes training sessions, collaborates nationally and internationally, and supports local governance and university education through open geographic data.
Episode 5 · OpenStreetMap Niger: Community Mapping for DevelopmentB2 · 4:09This episode presents the OpenStreetMap Niger community's work: training local mappers, organizing mapping parties to digitize universities and flood-prone neighborhoods in Niamey and Dosso, and contributing to global humanitarian mapping efforts—including Ebola-affected areas, Nepal landslides, and Boko Haram–affected border regions.
Episode 6 · OpenStreetMap Community in NigerB2 · 4:08This episode covers how volunteers in Niger use OpenStreetMap to map cities like Dosso and Madarawa, document flood-prone areas for local authorities, and support national events such as Independence Day celebrations.
Episode 7 · OpenStreetMap Community in MaliB2 · 6:41This episode presents the OpenStreetMap community in Mali, covering its origins in 2012, formal establishment in 2014, field data collection activities in Bamako districts, weekly meetings, training workshops, and goals such as nationwide mapping, humanitarian support, awareness campaigns, mapathons, and regional community development.
Episode 8 · OpenStreetMap Côte d'Ivoire CommunityB2 · 4:10This episode introduces the OpenStreetMap Côte d'Ivoire community: its founding in 2013, official association status, mission to improve national mapping and support academic needs through open data, key tools (smartphones, computers), and notable projects including pharmacy maps, Ebola prevention, flood risk mapping, real-time bus tracking, and drone-based mapping.
Episode 9 · OpenStreetMap Togo CommunityB2 · 5:22This episode presents the OpenStreetMap Togo community: its origins through capacity-building missions, ongoing mapping projects (e.g., 'Quartier à la Carte', 'Fika Olo', prefecture mapping, and CartoPharma), organized events like mapathons and international collaborations, and future goals to expand data production, community size, and institutional engagement.
Episode 10 · OpenStreetMap Benin CommunityB2 · 5:10This episode presents the OpenStreetMap Benin community: its origins in 2013, field mapping activities (e.g., health centers, streets in Porto-Novo and Cotonou), university campus mapping, and ongoing efforts to build thematic databases for health, education, transport, and tourism.
Episode 11 · OpenStreetMap Pharmacy Project in TogoB2 · 3:49This episode features a Togolese OpenStreetMap contributor presenting the 'Carto Pharma' project: mapping all pharmacies in Togo using OpenStreetMap, verifying locations on-site, and developing an Android app to locate on-duty pharmacies and provide turn-by-turn navigation.
Episode 12 · OpenStreetMap Mali's 2015 Mapping GoalsB2 · 3:03This episode presents the OpenStreetMap Mali community's 2015 mapping objectives: digitizing healthcare facilities, pharmacies, hotels, restaurants, banks, public and private administrations, religious and sports buildings, and road networks across Mali—starting from Bamako.
Episode 13 · OpenStreetMap in Côte d'Ivoire: Community StoriesB2 · 6:02A member of the OpenStreetMap Côte d’Ivoire community shares how they launched grassroots mapping initiatives with minimal resources—organizing cartoparties, conducting field surveys with GPS and smartphones, training local groups across cities like Bouaké and Yamoussoukro, and building foundational maps where no imagery existed.
Episode 14 · Digital Citizenship and OpenStreetMap in Burkina FasoB2 · 3:14This episode introduces the Burkinabé nonprofit Initiative TIC et Citoyenneté (ITIC), which promotes information and communication technologies, civic participation, and sustainable development. It details ITIC’s collaboration with the OpenStreetMap project—including training workshops, mapathons, and the first State of the Map conference in Burkina Faso—framed around digital citizenship and open mapping.
Episode 15 · Teaching OpenStreetMap in DakarB2 · 5:04This episode recounts a volunteer's experience teaching OpenStreetMap to geomatics students at a technical school in Dakar, Senegal—covering classroom challenges, student engagement across year levels, infrastructure constraints, and lessons learned about integrating open mapping into formal education.
Episode 16 · Teaching OpenStreetMap in DakarB2 · 5:01This episode covers a hands-on OpenStreetMap teaching initiative for students in Dakar, Senegal, including field mapping projects during holidays, thematic UMap creation (e.g., mosques and shops), classroom assessments on open-source mapping methodology, and reflections on integrating OSM into geomatics education.
Episode 17 · Ouagadougou City Hall's Collaboration with OpenStreetMapB2 · 6:04This episode covers how Ouagadougou City Hall in Burkina Faso is adopting OpenStreetMap to improve its geographic information systems—especially for urban mobility, road networks, cycling paths, street lighting, drainage, and traffic signals—and discusses training initiatives, data quality concerns, and plans for thematic mapping across municipal departments.
Episode 18 · Mapping Grand Dakar: OpenStreetMap in Senegalese Local GovernmentB2 · 4:29This episode details how the Grand Dakar municipality in Senegal adopted OpenStreetMap to modernize its local geographic information system, including training municipal staff, organizing workshops, creating thematic interactive maps, and using the data for urban management.
Episode 19 · Public Transport Mapping in Greater DakarB2 · 4:19This episode presents how OpenStreetMap was used to create thematic maps of public transport in Greater Dakar, including taxis, rapid buses (cars rapides), Tata buses, and Dakar Dem Dik bus lines, as well as pharmacies and schools.
Episode 20 · Citizen Reporting Platform for Grand DakarB2 · 4:29This episode explains how the Grand Dakar municipality in Senegal uses OpenStreetMap (OSM) to build a web-based platform enabling citizens to report local infrastructure issues—such as potholes, water leaks, waste piles, flooding, and streetlight failures—at precise locations.
Episode 21 · Community Mapping for Waste Management in DakarB2 · 4:21This episode demonstrates how residents of Grand Dakar use OpenStreetMap to report illegal waste dumps—such as rubble or scattered trash—by submitting anonymous, geotagged reports with photos and descriptions; it highlights municipal collaboration with the OSM community to improve local environmental response.
Episode 22 · Abidjan's On-Duty Pharmacy MapB2 · 3:41This episode presents an open-source, community-built interactive map of on-duty pharmacies in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire. It explains how the map is updated in real time via OpenStreetMap and includes a low-cost SMS service for users without reliable internet access.
Episode 23 · OpenStreetMap Senegal: Community Mapping and TrainingB2 · 4:54This episode presents the OpenStreetMap Senegal community: its informal, youth-led structure based in Dakar; training initiatives for geography and geomatics students across multiple universities and technical schools; and practical mapping projects in Dakar, Saint-Louis, Ziguinchor, and other regions—including participatory mapping of neighborhoods and municipal data collection.
Episode 24 · OpenStreetMap Senegal: Community Mapping ProjectsB2 · 4:41This episode presents community-led OpenStreetMap initiatives across Senegal, including detailed mapping of neighborhoods in Parcelles Assainies, remote mapping of pilgrimage town Dioro Bel, campus mapping at Gaston Berger University, and training for non-geographers in Sunugor. It highlights grassroots, volunteer-driven efforts to improve local geographic data.
Episode 25 · OpenStreetMap Community in SenegalB2 · 4:25This episode presents the OpenStreetMap community in Senegal, covering its outreach to universities and training schools, efforts to involve local residents beyond students, and examples of sustained student contributions after workshops.
Episode 26 · OpenStreetMap Community in TogoB2 · 5:12This episode presents the OpenStreetMap Togo community: its founding in 2013, training workshops, cartocamps, mapathons, and field data collection across cities like Lomé, Kara, and Vogan. It also highlights WestM Girls—a regional initiative to engage young women in open mapping across West Africa.
Episode 27 · OpenStreetMap Community in TogoB2 · 5:11This episode presents the OpenStreetMap Togo community’s field missions across West Africa, including training sessions for students and local populations, disaster response mapping (e.g., Ebola, cyclones), and practical projects like mapping the University of Lomé, NGOs, and public Wi-Fi zones.
Episode 28 · OpenStreetMap Community in TogoB2 · 5:28This episode presents the OpenStreetMap community in Togo, explaining their efforts to map Lomé’s neighborhoods, locate pharmacies nationwide, improve road classification, and collect ground-truth data—especially where satellite imagery is poor or informal settlements lack official recognition.
Episode 29 · OpenStreetMap Community in TogoB2 · 5:14This episode presents how the OpenStreetMap community in Togo maps at the communal level—using remote mapping and field surveys—to support local activists, researchers, and institutions in territorial diagnostics, environmental planning, and advocating for official recognition of informal settlements.
Courgette soup with fresh goat cheese
Greek salad
Episode 1 · How to Make Greek SaladA2 · 5:43This episode walks through the traditional ingredients of Greek salad and demonstrates step-by-step preparation: dicing bell peppers, slicing cucumbers into triangles, halving cherry tomatoes with a serrated knife, finely slicing red onion, and mixing a simple mustard-based vinaigrette.
Episode 2 · How to Make a Greek SaladA2 · 5:31This episode demonstrates step-by-step how to prepare a traditional Greek salad: cutting vegetables, making the lemon-based vinaigrette, combining tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers and olives, and delicately adding feta cheese at the end to preserve its texture.
Theater workshop show
Episode 1 · Opening chatterA2 · 6:48The cast greets each other before the show starts.
Episode 2 · Lights on stageA2 · 3:17The stage lights come up and the show begins.
Episode 3 · Horizon and rootsA2 · 5:01A scene about going far away and coming back to your roots.
Episode 4 · Goodbyes and Departures by the SeaA2 · 5:02This episode features a theater workshop performance exploring themes of departure, courage, and crossing boundaries—woven through evocative imagery of beaches, journeys, family tensions, economic hardship, and quiet moments of resolve.
Episode 5 · Swimming Lesson and Memories of a Failed CrossingA2 · 5:18This episode features a swimming lesson with breathing and movement instructions, interwoven with a harrowing personal account of a failed sea crossing—describing a capsized boat, drowning fears, and survival.
Episode 6 · A harrowing sea journey and arrival on shoreA2 · 4:51This episode recounts a tense, visceral sea crossing: rising water in the boat, seasickness, the oppressive night, and the overwhelming relief of spotting the coastline at dawn. It captures physical hardship, fear, and fragile hope during a perilous journey.
Episode 7 · Paper ParentsA2 · 5:09This episode follows a teenager who carries paper cutouts of his parents, reflecting on their absence, secretive exchanges, and his growing autonomy amid family tension and adult prohibitions.
Episode 8 · Airport Dreams and French LongingA2 · 4:57This episode features humorous, nostalgic, and slightly surreal conversations in an airport waiting area—expressing longing for France, gentle satire of cultural differences (like punctuality and organization), and tender moments between travelers, all wrapped in everyday French speech.
Episode 9 · Travel and Cultural BiasA2 · 5:03This episode, presented as a theater workshop performance, explores stereotypes and ethnocentrism that arise during travel—highlighting how people judge other cultures while unconsciously reinforcing their own biases.
Episode 10 · Soap Operas, Travel Woes, and Theater Workshop BanterA2 · 4:58This episode features lighthearted, theatrical workshop-style banter centered on the French soap opera 'La Tourmente des sentiments,' mixed with humorous complaints about travel discomforts, food, cultural encounters, and TV habits — all delivered in natural, conversational French.
Episode 11 · Airport Delay DramaA2 · 5:10This episode features a comedic and tense theater sketch about airline passengers reacting to a flight delay, including confusion over crew availability, passenger frustration, and satirical customer service announcements.
Episode 12 · A pause in the middleA2 · 5:00A mid-show pause before the cast comes back on.
Episode 13 · Airport Emergency OutbreakA2 · 5:11A theater workshop performance simulates an airport outbreak: passengers experience sudden illness, discuss symptoms like fever and vomiting, react to flight cancellations and quarantine, and confront fear and uncertainty in a confined space.
Episode 14 · Sisyphus and the Absurdity of LifeA2 · 4:58This episode explores Albert Camus's philosophy of the absurd through references to 'The Myth of Sisyphus,' while weaving in spontaneous discussions about writing, plagiarism, marriage, divorce, and societal expectations.
Episode 15 · Near the endA2 · 5:04A scene near the end of the show.
Episode 16 · Final Choices on a Doomed FlightA2 · 4:07A group of people aboard a plane facing imminent disaster confront mortality, sharing final wishes, regrets, and unexpected confessions as they grapple with life's fragility.
Episode 17 · Before the curtainA2 · 6:02The last scene before the curtain call.
Theatre class goes to the movies
Where modern life comes from
Episode 1 · The Evolution of Homes: From Prehistoric Huts to Modern ArchitectureB2 · 5:11This episode explores how human dwellings evolved across time—from 15,000-year-old mammoth-bone huts in Ukraine and Magdalenian reindeer-hunter camps in France, to post-war functionalist architecture—highlighting how technology, social organization, local resources, and cultural values shape the concept of 'home'.
Episode 2 · The Origins and Evolution of HomesB2 · 4:57This episode explores how humans have built and organized living spaces from prehistoric times to the modern era, examining construction materials, spatial planning, and evolving ideas about comfort, intimacy, and sustainability.
Episode 3 · Concrete and the Future of HousingB2 · 5:21This episode examines concrete's rise as the dominant 20th-century construction material—its role in solving postwar housing shortages, its rapid degradation, and the costly consequences. It then explores modern ecological alternatives, including low-energy and passive houses, their trade-offs, and natural-material approaches like earth-based architecture.
Episode 4 · The Truth About Modern HousingB2 · 5:05This episode examines the complexity of ecological housing, analyzing pros and cons of materials like wood, stone, and green roofs. It reflects on how dwellings embody social hierarchies, cultural notions of comfort, and the enduring human effort to create meaningful, sustainable living spaces across time.
Episode 5 · The Function and Evolution of ClothingB2 · 5:24This episode explores the three core functions of clothing—modesty, protection, and adornment—and examines how draped versus sewn garments emerged across civilizations, shaped by climate, social class, and cultural values—not technological advancement alone.
Episode 6 · The Social Codes Behind Our ClothingB2 · 5:41This episode explores how clothing functions as a social code—shaped by rules, context, and cultural meaning—revealing identity, status, and belonging across societies.
Episode 7 · The Journey of Cultivated Plants onto Our PlatesB2 · 5:12This episode explores how common foods like tomatoes and potatoes traveled from the Americas to Europe after 1492, and how humans adapted these plants to new environments through selective breeding and agricultural innovation.
Episode 8 · Cultivated Plants and Human HealthB2 · 5:05This episode explores the risks of monoculture farming, the evolution of agricultural ecosystems, and the link between human gut microbiota and long-term dietary adaptation—highlighting how centuries of plant cultivation shape both our food and our health.
Chorizo risotto
Episode 1 · Chorizo Risotto: A French Chef's Latin FusionA2 · 5:20This episode demonstrates how to prepare a chorizo risotto, blending Italian rice, Spanish chorizo, and French culinary technique. It covers ingredient preparation, sautéing onions and garlic until translucent, toasting the rice until 'nacré' (pearlescent), and gradually adding chicken stock while stirring.
Episode 2 · Chorizo RisottoA2 · 5:15This episode demonstrates how to prepare chorizo risotto: dicing ingredients, gradually adding broth while stirring, incorporating grated Parmesan and freshly ground black pepper, folding in chorizo at the end, and finishing with tomatoes and parsley for garnish.
Chakchouka with merguez
Episode 1 · Chakchouka with Merguez: A North African DelightA2 · 6:07This episode demonstrates how to prepare chakchouka, a traditional North African dish, covering roasting bell peppers, prepping tomatoes, onions, garlic, spices, and cooking with merguez sausages.
Episode 2 · Chakchouka with Merguez Sausages and EggsA2 · 6:23This episode demonstrates how to prepare chakchouka—a North African tomato-and-pepper stew—with merguez sausages and poached eggs, highlighting spices like cumin and paprika, and finishing with fresh coriander.
The kitten who wanted to see Everest
Places that disappeared
Episode 1 · The Disappearing Quebec VillageB2 · 5:19This episode recounts the real 1971 landslide that destroyed the Quebec village of Saint-Jean-Vianney, exploring its geological causes, the dramatic evacuation, and the lessons learned about building on sensitive clay soil.
Episode 2 · The Disappearing Village of Saint-Jean-VianneyB2 · 5:16This episode recounts the catastrophic 1971 landslide that destroyed the Quebec village of Saint-Jean-Vianney, swallowing homes, infrastructure, and lives in minutes. It details the immediate aftermath, rescue efforts, evacuation, and the long-term human toll.
Episode 3 · The Disappeared Quebec Village of Saint-Jean-VianneyB2 · 5:24This episode recounts the 1971 disaster that led to the complete abandonment of Saint-Jean-Vianney, a Quebec village destroyed by a landslide. It explains the unique clay geology behind the collapse, the relocation of residents, the financial and psychological aftermath, and how the tragedy spurred major reforms in Quebec’s civil security, land-use planning, and natural disaster prevention policies.
How snacks began
Episode 1 · The Surprising Origin of Hawaiian PizzaB2 · 2:37This episode reveals that Hawaiian pizza was not created in Hawaii but invented in 1962 by Greek-Canadian restaurateur Sam Panopoulos in Chatham, Ontario—using canned pineapple labeled 'Hawaiian' and ham on a classic tomato-and-cheese base. It explores how immigration, cultural fusion, and global trade shaped this now-iconic dish.
Episode 2 · Quebec poor-man puddingB2 · 2:10This episode explores the history and possible origins of pouding chômeur, a beloved Québécois dessert, linking it to the 1929 economic crisis and examining its culinary roots in English and French traditions, as well as its cultural significance in Quebec.
Little Mook — Simsala Grimm
Episode 1 · The Magic Fig and Petit Mook's First JobA2 · 5:16After losing his father, Petit Mook embarks on a whimsical adventure with Doc Croc and Yoyo; they accidentally eat magical figs that transform their noses and ears, then seek food and work—eventually landing a cat-sitting job.
Episode 2 · The Enchanted BabouchesA2 · 4:58Petit Mook stumbles upon enchanted babouches that let him travel instantly—enabling him to deliver a royal message in seconds—but the feat sparks chaos, misunderstandings, and comedic consequences at court.
Episode 3 · The Royal Treasure and Doing GoodA2 · 4:56Little Mook accidentally discovers the long-buried royal treasure and uses it to help people in need—repairing homes and winning hearts—not for personal gain, but to fulfill the late king's wish of doing good for all subjects.
Episode 4 · The Royal Garden's Hidden Gold MysteryA2 · 5:11Petit Mook is falsely accused of stealing gold found in the royal gardens—uncovering a deeper conspiracy where the treasurer has been embezzling for years and framed him to cover it up.
Episode 5 · Petit Mook and the Black RoseA2 · 5:04Petit Mook disguises himself to infiltrate the royal court, exposes the treasurer's greed and deception, helps the king recover the antidote and stolen gold, and earns the role of royal messenger.
Veal paupiette
Episode 1 · How to Make Veal PaupiettesA2 · 5:40This episode demonstrates how to prepare traditional French veal paupiettes: pounding thin escalopes, making a flavorful stuffing with ham, stale brioche, cream, and cognac, seasoning, rolling, and wrapping with pork fatback.
Episode 2 · How to Cook Veal PaupiettesA2 · 5:48This episode demonstrates the full preparation of veal paupiettes: tying with butcher's twine, gently browning, slow-cooking with white wine and herbs, and serving options—with or without the bacon wrap and string.
Pepper & Carrot
Episode 1 · The Secret IngredientsA2 · 3:25Shopping at the market, Pepper runs into Safran, who reminds her what a proper witch should be...
Episode 2 · Stroke of GeniusA2 · 3:35Pepper brews her own recipe for the potion contest, but it needs a test subject...
Episode 3 · The Potion ContestA2 · 7:35The potion contest in Komona is today, and nothing goes as planned...
L'Univers des Petits
Episode 1 · Draco spots a sparkling lightA1 · 1:36Draco, a curious little dragon, spots a sparkling light on the ground while flying over the Enchanted Forest.
Episode 2 · Tim notices the wall socketA1 · 2:23Curious Tim notices an electrical socket on the wall in the living room—a socket he’s never really looked at closely before.
Episode 3 · Talking with Madame Dubois about respecting parentsA1 · 1:16Adam asks Madame Dubois why he must always obey his parents; she explains that parental decisions come from love and long-term care, and encourages open dialogue and trust.
The little ogre on stage
Episode 1 · The Little Ogre's First Day of SchoolA2 · 6:06This episode follows a young ogre preparing for and experiencing his first day of school: receiving advice from his mother, observing the red school shutters and teacher's dress, navigating classroom dynamics, and reflecting on feelings of difference, belonging, and learning.
Episode 2 · The Little Ogre's Classroom MysteryA2 · 5:04This episode follows young Simon's strange behavior at school—such as crawling to follow a classmate's nosebleed trail—and explores his intense sensory reactions to color, scent, and sound, interwoven with letters between his mother Angelina and his teacher.
Episode 3 · The Little Ogre's Forest AdventureA2 · 4:56A little ogre runs toward school but gets lost in the forest, stumbles, falls asleep, and wakes up surrounded by blooming roses—despite it being October—then recalls dreamlike, emotionally charged moments involving family, injury, and moonlight.
Episode 4 · The Little Ogre's TrialsA2 · 4:53The little ogre undergoes three magical trials: spending time with a white rooster, surviving seven days locked in a space with a hungry wolf, and running a lunar race with a child. The episode explores themes of identity, family absence, and rites of passage through surreal, symbolic storytelling.
Episode 5 · The Little Ogre's TrialA2 · 5:11A young ogre confronts inner desire, moral ambiguity, and rites of passage amid symbolic encounters with a rooster, a wolf, and his mother—blending childhood imagination, school lessons on desire, and unsettling yet poetic reflections on violence, freedom, and growing up.
Episode 6 · The Little Ogre's Three TrialsA2 · 5:08Simon undertakes three mysterious trials to prove himself, facing exhaustion, guilt, and moral ambiguity. The episode centers on his strained relationship with his mother, their flight from the village, and the ambiguous return of Pamela—blending folklore, psychological tension, and symbolic storytelling.
Episode 7 · The Little Ogre Takes the StageA2 · 5:00This episode follows the little ogre's reflections on living with wolves in the prairie, his personal growth, overcoming hesitation, and preparing for a heartfelt reunion with his mother—blending fantasy, emotion, and gentle humor.
Sweet and pickled bites
Episode 1 · Coconut Congolais CookiesA2 · 6:48This episode demonstrates how to make coconut-flavored Congolais cookies—a simple, hands-on recipe perfect for families and children. It covers ingredient preparation, mixing by hand, shaping the dough into balls, and baking.
Episode 2 · How to Make Red Cabbage PicklesA2 · 3:59This episode demonstrates how to make tangy, colorful red cabbage pickles using simple ingredients like apple cider vinegar, sugar, mustard seeds, pink peppercorns, cloves, and juniper berries—perfect for salads and barbecues.
Episode 3 · How to Make Pickled Red CabbageA2 · 4:06This episode demonstrates step-by-step how to make pickled red cabbage and red onions at home, covering preparation, sterilization of jars, brine cooking, packing, and the essential waiting period for flavor development.
Mouk: around the world by bike
Episode 1 · Mysterious visitors arriveA2 · 5:19Abby arrives from Canada, and Mouk and Chavapa excitedly prepare hot chocolate to welcome her.
Episode 2 · Rock-hunting contestA2 · 4:52Mouk and Chavapa compete to find 'the big rock' in the forest—and accidentally discover monarch butterflies.
Episode 3 · Red crab migration on Christmas IslandA2 · 4:46Mouk and Chavapa encounter swarms of red crabs migrating across Christmas Island, Australia.
Episode 4 · Red crab raceA2 · 4:57Mouk and Chavapa each pick a crab for a race—but the crabs keep stopping to eat paper instead.
Episode 5 · Crabs raid the snack boxA2 · 5:05Red crabs sneak into the tent, devour the snacks, and even chew up the race number badges.
Episode 6 · Blue dragon mix-up in New YorkA2 · 5:11Mouk mistakes a lion dance troupe for a real blue dragon and chases it through New York streets.
Episode 7 · Lion dance surprise for the grand openingA2 · 5:08Mouk and friends receive fortune cookies and Lunar New Year blessings during their shop’s grand opening.
Episode 8 · First snowkite lessonA2 · 5:09Mouk tries snowkiting with Amaruuk—but strong winds make it too challenging for a beginner.
Episode 9 · Kite crash reveals meteorite craterA2 · 5:12A runaway kite crashes into an ancient meteorite crater—helping Mouk finally locate the legendary site.
Episode 10 · Missed bus leaves them strandedA2 · 5:10Mouk and Chavapa miss the mountain bus and are stranded at the base—with only buns and scarves to keep warm.
Episode 11 · Crossing the wobbly bridgeA2 · 4:57To retrieve their bikes, Mouk and Chavapa bravely cross a swaying suspension bridge over a river.
Episode 12 · Helping prepare for Holi festivalA2 · 5:02Mouk and Chavapa help Kalpita sort festival supplies—including gulal powder and colored water—for Holi.
Episode 13 · Holi teaches harmony through colorA2 · 5:09Through Holi’s colorful powders, Mouk realizes colors can unite people—not divide them.
Episode 14 · Maple leaf mishapA2 · 5:16Popo and Mita are assembling their herbarium when the glued maple leaf gets accidentally knocked off.
Episode 15 · The wooden wall mysteryA2 · 5:20Mouk and Shauna discover a zigzag wooden wall around trees in the forest and mistakenly think it’s built by beavers.
Episode 16 · The lost kid in the desertA2 · 5:15Mouk and Shauna encounter a lost kid goat in the Sahara Desert and decide to help find its owner.
Episode 17 · Finding the goat’s shepherdA2 · 5:08At the oasis, they meet shepherd Basir, who explains the kid got lost during a sandstorm.
Episode 18 · Drifting to Shell IslandA2 · 5:09Mouk, Shauna, and Anousi sail to Shell Island in a dugout canoe to hunt for seashells—but hit a hidden rock.
Episode 19 · Canoe repair and hermit crabA2 · 5:05After their canoe springs a leak, they repair it with plant fibers—and discover a hermit crab swapped their conch shell.
Episode 20 · Hermit crab shell gameA2 · 4:59The kids chase a hermit crab and play a board game with collected shells—only to have it repeatedly interrupted by the crab.
Episode 21 · Yak milk turns to creamA2 · 5:10While transporting yak milk, violent shaking transforms it into cream—accidentally completing half the butter-making process.
Episode 22 · Butter dragon sculptureA2 · 4:49Uncle Dawa teaches the children to sculpt dragons and flowers from chilled butter.
Episode 23 · First maple sap collectionA2 · 4:59Mouk and Abby help Dad collect maple sap by hand, learning traditional sugaring methods.
Episode 24 · Maple taffy on snowA2 · 5:00Boiling maple syrup is poured onto snow to harden into taffy, which everyone happily tastes.
Episode 25 · Talking vasa parrotsA2 · 4:49On Madagascar’s Avenue of Baobabs, they’re tricked by vasa parrots expertly mimicking human speech.
Episode 26 · Solar ice cream machine failsA2 · 5:09Just before the café’s grand opening, the solar-powered ice cream machine fails—because parrots stole the cable connector.
Episode 27 · Adventure begins in CreteA2 · 4:54Mouk and Chavapa meet Uncle Alex’s family on a beach in Crete and are invited to join a maritime expedition.
Episode 28 · Releasing baby fish into the seaA2 · 5:00The group sails to a sunken ship site to release hatchery-raised baby fish back into their exact birthplace in the sea.
Episode 29 · Cousin Keisha arrivesA2 · 4:38After saying goodbye to their new friends, Mouk and Chavapa welcome their little cousin Keisha, who is fascinated by Popo’s robot.
Episode 30 · Treasure hunt on the Spanish beachA2 · 4:54At Emilio’s seaside home, the kids use a metal detector to ‘hunt pirate treasure’—actually collecting litter from the beach.
Episode 31 · Finding saffron and lemons for paellaA2 · 4:55Following Emilio’s treasure map, the children locate two essential paella ingredients: saffron (the ‘red gold’) and lemons.
Episode 32 · Apricots and an ancient jarA2 · 4:41To find dessert before dinner, they pick apricots—and accidentally discover and reassemble fragments of an ancient pottery jar.
Episode 33 · The jar belongs to CalmosA2 · 4:43The jar turns out to belong to cheesemaker Calmos, who lost it years ago—and Mouk and Chavapa decide to gift it to Cassandra for her birthday.
Episode 34 · Birthday surprise in LaplandA2 · 5:03In Lapland, Mouk and Chavapa prepare a birthday celebration for Chavapa—but when twins Aki and Akou disappear, they launch a playful, map-guided search.
Episode 35 · The aurora is the birthday giftA2 · 4:59After getting lost and following clues through the forest, they discover the real birthday gift above them: a breathtaking, natural aurora borealis.
Episode 36 · New Year's lucky grapesA2 · 4:57Mouk and Mita prepare New Year cards in Spain and learn about the local tradition of eating twelve grapes at midnight for good luck.
Episode 37 · The grapes are goneA2 · 4:33Mita accidentally eats all the lucky grapes meant for New Year’s Eve, so everyone rushes to Paco’s house to get more.
Episode 38 · Counting down to midnightA2 · 4:37Everyone gathers around the TV to watch Madrid’s clock tower live and eats one grape with each of the twelve midnight chimes.
Episode 39 · Fixing the xylophoneA2 · 4:44Cassandra’s xylophone breaks, so Chavapa goes to Petros’s workshop to fetch tools and search for olive wood to repair it.
Episode 40 · Stage fright before singingA2 · 4:45Cassandra is overwhelmed with stage fright and refuses to sing the opening number because her xylophone isn’t ready yet.
Episode 41 · The postman mission beginsA2 · 4:39Mouk and Chavapa help a stranded delivery driver distribute stall numbers across Crete for tonight’s fair.
Episode 42 · Wrongly expecting a food fairA2 · 4:43Mouk and Chavapa mistakenly think the fair is a food festival and overeat—only to discover it’s actually Crete’s annual animal fair.
A day as a teacher
Episode 1 · A Day in the Life of a First-Grade TeacherA2 · 4:44This episode follows a French elementary teacher through her full day with CP students (equivalent to first grade), covering morning routines, phonics instruction on the letter 'Z', reading exercises, math workbook activities, art projects, homework preparation, and an inter-grade reading session with kindergarten students.
Episode 2 · A Day in the Life of a Primary School TeacherA2 · 4:43This episode follows a French CP (first-grade) teacher through her day, covering classroom activities like reading 'The Emperor's New Clothes,' poetry recitation ('L'Automne'), scrapbooking with student photos, creating autonomous workbooks, and preparing for a substitute teacher.
How Starlink connects remote places
Episode 1 · Who Starlink wants to connectB1 · 5:01Remote places lack internet; Starlink wants to cover them with many satellites.
Episode 2 · How Starlink gets into orbitB1 · 5:00How the satellites go up in batches and form a network.
Episode 3 · Where Starlink goes nextB1 · 3:06How many more satellites Starlink wants, and who that upsets.
Is astrology fake science?
Episode 1 · Is Astrology a Pseudoscience?B1 · 4:52This episode explores the history and scientific validity of astrology, tracing its evolution from ancient Mesopotamia through Greek and Roman civilizations to medieval Europe, examining its ties to astronomy, cosmology, and enduring cultural beliefs.
Episode 2 · Is Astrology a Pseudoscience?B1 · 4:41This episode explores the historical roots of astrology, its ancient cosmological framework (microcosm/macrocosm), its relationship with Christianity and Islamic scholarship, and how it uses astronomical concepts like the ecliptic and ascendant—while critically examining its scientific validity.
Episode 3 · Is Astrology a Pseudoscience?B1 · 4:50This episode examines astrology's historical origins, its dissemination through almanacs and modern adaptations like 'quantum astrology,' and critically reviews scientific studies testing its validity—including twin studies and personality matching experiments—highlighting the Forer effect and the lack of empirical support.
Hungarian goulash
Episode 1 · Traditional Hungarian GoulashA2 · 5:03This episode guides you through preparing authentic Hungarian goulash: dicing beef, sautéing onions and peppers, adding tomatoes and spices—including generous paprika—and slow-cooking with water. It focuses on traditional techniques and ingredient preparation.
Episode 2 · Traditional Hungarian GoulashA2 · 4:56This episode demonstrates how to prepare traditional Hungarian goulash: seasoning beef with paprika, slow-cooking it for two hours, preparing potatoes, adding them for a final 30-minute simmer, and serving with bread. The host shares personal connections to Hungary and highlights the dish's cultural significance.
Student life with Pop’s Trip
Episode 1 · How to Eat Well and Save Money as a StudentA2 · 4:31This episode shares practical tips for students to eat healthily and affordably—covering cost-saving apps like Too Good To Go and Uber Eats for eating out, plus strategies for cooking at home, all while balancing social life, personal enjoyment, and tight budgets.
Episode 2 · Smart Eating Tips for Students on a BudgetA2 · 4:27This episode offers practical advice for students on eating affordably and healthily: using university cafeterias, checking menus and student discounts before dining out, packing homemade meals and snacks, and smart grocery shopping to save money without sacrificing nutrition or taste.
Episode 3 · Eating Well on a Student BudgetA2 · 4:24This episode offers practical tips for students to eat healthily and enjoyably on a tight budget: shopping at local markets (like Wazemmes in Lille), choosing cost-effective fresh produce and canned goods, avoiding impulse buys, using versatile pantry staples like soy sauce, and comparing unit prices—emphasizing variety, nutrition, and financial mindfulness.
Episode 4 · Student Moving Day VlogA2 · 5:51This episode follows a French student helping friends move out of their shared studio apartment, capturing the emotional farewell, everyday challenges like broken elevators and allergies, packing decisions, and plans for a reunion party with vaccinated friends.
Episode 5 · Student apartment move and casual life chatA2 · 5:54A French student vlogger shares her new apartment after moving, a simple homemade meal of cucumbers and pasta, frustrations with Paris's gloomy summer weather, and her transition from Filmora to Adobe Premiere Pro for more advanced video editing.
Student life part 2
Episode 1 · Student Life: Productivity Tips and Hair ExperimentsA2 · 5:57This episode covers practical study organization techniques—including to-do lists and the SMART goal framework—while also showing everyday student life, like experimenting with hairstyles, choosing outfits, and balancing academic work with personal time.
Episode 2 · Setting Realistic and Achievable GoalsA2 · 5:55This episode focuses on setting SMART-style goals—specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and time-bound—especially during challenging times like confinement or holidays. The student shares personal experiences with productivity, stress management, and balancing rest with meaningful work.
Episode 3 · Moving in with my boyfriend: student housing journeyA2 · 4:38A French university student shares her journey of leaving her dusty, ground-floor apartment—where she suffered severe allergies—and moving in with her boyfriend after months of searching for a new place near campus.
Episode 4 · The stressful hunt for a student apartment in LilleA2 · 4:47A French university student recounts her stressful experience searching for student housing in Lille: sending over 150 messages with little response, scheduling viewings only to be canceled last minute, concerns about sharing personal documents online, and the emotional rollercoaster of finally securing an apartment just before moving.
Episode 5 · Moving in with My Boyfriend: Student Life TransitionA2 · 4:31A university student shares her experience moving into a new apartment with her boyfriend, reflecting on nostalgia for her old place, the physical and emotional challenges of moving alone, and her sense of personal growth as she takes full responsibility for housing decisions.
Episode 6 · Catch-Up Exams and a Week Off: A Student's VlogA2 · 4:34A university student shares her week balancing maths catch-up exams, celebrating her sister's birthday in Rouen, a day trip to Paris to visit a friend studying architecture, Lightroom preset shopping for Instagram, and family time — all while reflecting on academic pressure and personal growth.
Episode 7 · Student Life: Holidays, Friends, and Getting Back on TrackA2 · 4:24A French university student shares her holiday experiences: hanging out with friends, playing a fun 'secrets' game at a group gathering, preparing for a ski trip to join her parents, and reflecting on balancing fun with studies and personal well-being.
Student-made French MVs
Episode 1 · I'm Going HomeA2 · 3:43This is an original French song about homesickness, the journey home, and inner belonging. Using imagery like trains and roads, the lyrics evoke feelings of wandering and returning.
Episode 2 · Chasing Dreams in YouthA2 · 3:11A young person expresses courage, falling and rising again during growth, bidding farewell to the past and embracing joy today.
Episode 3 · Rolling Through the City Streets at NightA2 · 3:32A student-made French music video featuring an original song about grief, longing, and quiet resilience after losing a loved one—expressed through nighttime cycling through city streets, tears, heartache, and tender memories.
Episode 4 · Young Musicians' Daily Life at Music SchoolA2 · 4:05Several French elementary school students introduce their daily music education: clarinet and harp lessons, choir singing, solfège training, and orchestra rehearsals, all while balancing regular school and home practice.
Snow-White and Rose-Red
Episode 1 · Snow-White and Rose-RedA2 · 5:07This episode adapts the classic fairy tale, following Snow-White and Rose-Red as they meet two adventurous travelers in the forest—and befriend a gentle, talking bear who lives with them.
Episode 2 · The Bear's Spring DepartureA2 · 5:06Snow-White and Rose-Red live happily with a bear, but when spring arrives, he must leave to fulfill an important task. Worried and missing him deeply, the sisters decide to venture into the enchanted forest to find him—despite warnings about its dangers.
Episode 3 · Snow-White and Rose-Red: A Mysterious Forest AdventureA2 · 4:50Snow-White and Rose-Red venture into an enchanted forest to find their missing friend Snow-White, encountering a peculiar gnome, a magically afflicted bear, and learning about ancient forest spells and taboos.
Episode 4 · Snow-White and Rose-Red: The Forest RescueA2 · 5:12Snow-White gets lost in the forest, frightened and pursued, while Rose-Red and their bear friend race to find her. They confront a mischievous gnome, magical traps, and growing concern for the enchanted bear’s fate.
Episode 5 · Snow-White and Rose-Red and the Enchanted BearA2 · 5:02Snow-White and Rose-Red are endangered by a malicious gnome who casts a spell on their bear friend. With courage and friendship, they break the enchantment—and the bear reveals himself to be a prince restored to human form.
Duck confit thighs
Episode 1 · How to Make Duck Confit ThighsA2 · 5:56This episode demonstrates the traditional French method of making duck confit thighs: salting and marinating the meat overnight with herbs, rendering duck fat, and preparing the thighs for slow cooking.
Episode 2 · How to Make Duck Confit ThighsA2 · 5:49This episode demonstrates the traditional method of making duck confit: slow-cooking duck thighs in rendered duck fat, crisping them in the oven, then preserving them fully submerged in filtered duck fat for long-term storage.
Smoked salmon egg aspic
Episode 1 · Smoked Salmon and Egg AspicA2 · 4:38This episode demonstrates how to prepare a classic French cold aspic appetizer featuring smoked salmon and hard-boiled eggs, covering ingredient selection, fish stock clarification, gelatin preparation, and mold-setting techniques.
Episode 2 · Smoked Salmon and Egg Aspic RecipeA2 · 4:27This episode demonstrates how to prepare a smoked salmon and egg aspic: preparing the fish stock jelly, layering it in molds with dill, salmon, hard-boiled eggs, and optional shrimp, then chilling until set.
Episode 3 · Smoked Salmon and Egg AspicA2 · 4:40This episode demonstrates how to prepare a smoked salmon and egg aspic: peeling shrimp, selecting fish roe (trout, salmon, or sturgeon), pouring the gelatin mixture, chilling for at least 12 hours, unmolding, and garnishing with dill and extra jellied broth.
The story of salt
Episode 1 · Life without saltB2 · 4:45Why bodies need salt, and how people once hunted for it.
Episode 2 · Salt that moved tradeB2 · 5:06How salt traveled along trade routes into cities and kitchens.
Episode 3 · Salt like white goldB2 · 4:55Salt was once prized like treasure, tied to tax and power.
Episode 4 · Salt in the kitchenB2 · 5:01How salt went from rarity to a kitchen staple.
Episode 5 · Salt in French storiesB2 · 4:41Salt taxes, protests, and everyday tables all meet here.
The stories of colors
Episode 1 · The Story of WhiteB2 · 5:30This episode explores the history, symbolism, and cultural significance of white in Western civilization—from prehistoric cave art and lunar mythology to heraldry, language origins, and associations with purity, light, and peace.
Episode 2 · The Story of WhiteB2 · 5:30This episode explores the symbolism of white in Western culture, covering its roles in religion (e.g., Christianity and liturgy), medieval naming and clothing customs, fairy tales (like Snow White and Little Red Riding Hood), textile production challenges, royal emblems (lily, ermine), sacred animals (lamb, dove, swan, unicorn), aristocratic beauty standards, and Newton’s scientific view of white light.
Episode 3 · The Story of WhiteB2 · 5:31This episode explores the history and symbolism of white in Western culture: from its role in chemistry (bleach, hygiene) and fashion (wedding dresses, mourning) to flags of truce, royal insignia, linguistic nuances (e.g., Inuit snow terms), ghost lore, and even chess and Pantone color trends.
Episode 4 · The Story of BlackB2 · 5:33This episode explores the history and cultural symbolism of black in Western civilization—from its linguistic roots in Latin, its role in creation myths and religion, to its use in mourning, art, and urban lighting from antiquity through the 19th century.
Episode 5 · The千年 evolution of black clothing and symbolism in European historyB2 · 5:35This episode explores how black evolved from a dull, common color to a symbol of power, morality, and elegance in medieval and Renaissance Europe—covering dyeing techniques (like gallnuts), religious associations (with ravens, cats, and monastic life), heraldic use, literary figures (Arthurian knights), and its adoption by judges, scholars, and royalty.
Episode 6 · The History and Symbolism of BlackB2 · 5:33This episode explores the evolving symbolism of black across Western history—from its association with Protestant sobriety and Catholic austerity, to its role in printing, photography, Romantic literature, fashion (Chanel’s little black dress), science (Newton’s optics), and political movements—while also touching on historical curiosities like the Black Death and ultra-black materials.
Episode 7 · The Story of Red: From Blood to LuxuryB2 · 5:32This episode explores the history of the color red—from prehistoric ochre pigments used in cave paintings to ancient dyes like madder and kermes, its symbolic meanings across cultures, and its enduring presence in cosmetics, textiles, and rituals.
Episode 8 · Red: From Blood to Power and SymbolismB2 · 5:35This episode explores the rich symbolism of red across history—its ties to blood and fire, its role in imperial and religious power (e.g., Roman emperors, Christian liturgy, cardinals), its use in heraldry and justice, and its evolving associations with love, passion, and femininity in medieval culture.
Episode 9 · The Historical Journey of RedB2 · 5:33This episode traces the evolution of red across Western history—from its sacred and luxurious status in medieval Christianity, through its scientific redefinition by Newton, to its adoption in revolutionary politics, fashion (like rose and Louboutin heels), and cultural symbols (Red Riding Hood, red carpets, warning signs).
Episode 10 · Blue: From Neglected to Most Loved Color in the WestB2 · 5:44This episode traces blue's historical journey in Western culture—from its near absence in antiquity and early Middle Ages to becoming the most beloved color today—exploring its evolving symbolism, cultural associations, and the technological advances in dyeing that enabled its rise.
Episode 11 · Blue: From Divine Symbol to Universal FavoriteB2 · 5:39This episode traces the historical evolution of blue in Europe: its rise in Gothic stained glass and Marian devotion, adoption in French royal heraldry, survival through the Protestant Reformation, and transformation via Newton's optics and color printing technology.
Guardians of the colors
Episode 1 · The Guardians of the Colors and NoxorA2 · 5:39This episode tells a whimsical, imaginative story set on Earth during Carnival, where vibrant colors are under threat from a monster named Noxor; a team of color guardians and extraterrestrial allies must unite to protect the planet's hues.
Episode 2 · The Color Guardians and NoxorA2 · 5:41The Color Guardians battle the villainous Noxor, using imagination and the power of colors to save the world from terror and darkness.
Episode 3 · The Color Guardians and the Rainbow MeteoriteA2 · 5:19Children use their imagination to summon a colorful meteorite that restores vibrant colors to the earth—turning grass green, hair blue, and transforming ashes back into children reunited with their families. They celebrate with a global Carnival of Colors, symbolizing hope, light, and resilience against darkness and loneliness.
Lamb stew
Episode 1 · Lamb and Cabbage StewA2 · 4:24This episode demonstrates how to prepare a traditional French lamb stew with green cabbage and smoked bacon, covering ingredient selection, preparation techniques, and initial cooking steps like sautéing meat and vegetables.
Episode 2 · Lamb Stew with CabbageA2 · 4:33This episode demonstrates how to prepare a traditional French lamb stew with cabbage, carrots, bacon, and herbs, emphasizing slow cooking, layering ingredients, and adjusting liquid and timing for optimal tenderness and flavor.
Onion tart
Episode 1 · Onion Tart: A Surprising Mexican OriginA2 · 4:30This episode demonstrates how to make a classic French onion tart, while humorously revealing its unexpected Mexican origin—challenging the common belief that it's from a specific French region.
Episode 2 · Making an Onion TartA2 · 4:24This episode demonstrates the full process of making an onion tart: cooling the pastry, layering onions, pouring in the custard mixture, and baking. It emphasizes temperature control to prevent the pastry from melting and encourages personalization—like adding cheese or Tabasco—based on taste preferences.
Interview with a ham radio fan
Episode 1 · Amateur Radio EnthusiastB1 · 4:41This episode explores the fundamentals of radio communication, explaining how electromagnetic waves transmit information over distance. It then defines amateur radio as a passionate, non-professional pursuit—covering its history, licensing exam (regulatory and technical knowledge), and why it offers far more flexibility than consumer walkie-talkies.
Episode 2 · Amateur Radio Basics: How Transceivers WorkB1 · 4:25This episode covers the legal framework and technical fundamentals of amateur radio, explaining how transceivers work—starting from antennas as transducers, through signal amplification, filtering, and demodulation—to convert electromagnetic waves into sound and vice versa.
Episode 3 · Getting Started with Amateur RadioB1 · 4:27This episode explains how amateur radio works, recommends affordable beginner equipment like SDR dongles for listening, and explores shortwave propagation—how signals bounce off the ionosphere to travel globally, influenced by solar activity.
Episode 4 · The Fascinating World of Amateur Radio EnthusiastsB1 · 4:40This episode explores amateur radio frequencies, real-time examples of cross-border communications (e.g., German and Russian operators), legal listening boundaries, and surprising everyday wireless transmissions like weather sensors and tire pressure monitors.
RTNP at night
Episode 1 · Mysterious Night WhispersB1 · 3:02This episode features a poetic, abstract French monologue with rhythmic, evocative language full of metaphors and dreamlike imagery.
Episode 2 · Full Moon NightB1 · 3:14This episode uses poetic and slightly surreal language to describe the strange, visceral effects of the full moon on the human body and mind—such as hair growth, teeth sharpening, irritation, and disrupted routines.
Explained in a minute
A francophone poet’s short takes
Episode 1 · Karma and HarmonyA2 · 2:20A poet reinterprets karma not as moral reward or punishment, but as harmony or disharmony within the living world—illustrating how human choices, like cutting trees for shelter versus clear-cutting forests, affect ecological balance, and how nature's fractal-like systems continuously adapt to human influence.
Episode 2 · The Multiple Dimensions of PersonalityA2 · 3:43A francophone poet reflects on the six core dimensions of human personality—the inner child, the elder, the sacred masculine and feminine, animality, and divinity—highlighting how personality is fluid, evolving, and shaped by experience, expression, and choice.
Episode 3 · The Ego and FreedomA2 · 1:49A poet reflects on the ego as both life-sustaining and limiting—polished daily yet imprisoning. They question whether it's possible to live without the 'I,' to exist beyond self-definition, and discover freedom in pure, thought-free presence.
Episode 4 · Do We Really Have Free Will?A2 · 1:48A francophone poet reflects on human agency, questioning how much of life—including thoughts, emotions, birth, death, and even suicide—is truly chosen versus shaped by biology, experience, and instinct.
Yves Fourneau's own songs
Episode 1 · I Don't Need AnyoneA2 · 1:53This song expresses emotional detachment and self-reliance amid solitude, portraying a refusal to depend on others against a backdrop of inner darkness and alienation.
Episode 2 · At the Other End of the WorldA2 · 1:28A lyrical song expressing longing for a loved one far away and the dream of reuniting—evoking rain, distant journeys, magical moments, and a train ride toward reunion.
Episode 3 · Music Played BackwardsA2 · 1:31This poetic song explores how music returns cyclically through the seasons, using metaphors to express the enduring connection between creative inspiration and the listener.
Episode 4 · Cupid, the Love GodA2 · 1:50This episode features a French song about Cupid accidentally pricking himself with his own arrow, causing him to abandon his duty of spreading love—raising poetic reflections on love, illusion, and human relationships.
Episode 5 · Behind the WallsA2 · 2:03This song uses the metaphor of prison walls to express a longing for freedom, resistance against intellectual suppression, and the enduring hope for a better day amid oppression.
Episode 6 · A Melody Singing Within MeA2 · 2:44This is a lyrical French song reflecting on joy, cherished moments, memories of loved ones, and the gentle wisdom of living fully in the present without dwelling on the past or seeking to unravel life's mysteries.
Episode 7 · At Seventeen Years OldA2 · 1:52A poetic French song capturing the fleeting emotions, summer dreams, and tender heartbeats of a seventeen-year-old youth.
Episode 8 · The Paradox of Fashion and NostalgiaA2 · 2:13This episode explores the tension between the fleeting nature of fashion trends and the enduring appeal of antiquity, using poetic French lyrics that critique how people chase the 'latest thing' while simultaneously venerating the old.
Episode 9 · The Passing of TimeA2 · 1:48This is an original French song reflecting on the passage of time and the importance of staying present in the moment.
Episode 10 · Insomnia Nights and DreamsA2 · 2:11This song poetically portrays the inner turmoil of insomnia—restless nights, haunting nightmares, fleeting illusions, and a deep yearning for sleep, dreams, and peaceful escape.
Episode 11 · The Secret Within MeA2 · 2:05This song explores the idea that everyone carries a deep, unspoken secret within themselves—something they guard closely, even when smiling or appearing happy. It reflects on hidden pain, regrets, and the quiet weight we all bear.
Episode 12 · Playing the ArtistA2 · 2:48This song explores the illusion and identity confusion that come with playing the role of an artist, reflecting on years of sustained pretense, the blurring of reality and fiction, and the eventual weariness and desire for authenticity.
Yves Fourneau live
Episode 1 · Speeding Up the PaceA2 · 2:39The poet uses poetic language to reflect on walking, pacing, and the occasional deviation from one's path—evoking themes of movement, choice, and life's small accidents.
Episode 2 · Disillusionment SongA2 · 2:34This is a French lyrical poem reflecting on the passage of youth, daily struggles, and the experience of disillusionment.
Episode 3 · A Cup of Tea in the MorningA2 · 2:13This episode features a poetic French live performance reflecting on morning tea, inner thoughts, the weight of words, endless phrases, unspoken feelings, and the power of silence.
Episode 4 · A Moment at DawnA2 · 2:04This is a French poetic recitation about a fleeting encounter, deep memory, and eternal longing. It evokes the precious, intimate moment shared between two people at dawn.
Episode 5 · Baldness: A Humorous, Poetic Self-PortraitA2 · 1:58This poetic, humorous monologue explores the emotional journey of male pattern baldness—touching on loss, vulnerability, vanity, and resilience—with wit and self-awareness.
Spaghetti Bolognese
Episode 1 · Classic Bolognese SauceA2 · 5:12This episode presents the authentic ingredients for traditional Bolognese sauce—ground beef, pancetta or pork belly, sausage meat, tomatoes, vegetables, white wine, and milk—and demonstrates the initial cooking steps, including sweating the soffritto and browning the meats.
Episode 2 · Classic Bolognese Sauce RecipeA2 · 5:17This episode demonstrates how to prepare authentic Bolognese sauce by slowly simmering ground meat, pancetta, milk, tomato paste, and tomato purée for over two and a half hours. It covers seasoning, cooking techniques, storage tips, and serving suggestions with spaghetti and Parmesan.
Concerts and chamber music
Music class, but listenable
Episode 1 · Introduction to the Rondo Form in MusicA2 · 6:33This episode explains musical form as the structural organization of a composition, focusing on the rondo form—characterized by the recurring alternation between a fixed refrain and contrasting couplets. Examples include Charpentier's Te Deum and Pharrell Williams' 'Happy'.
Episode 2 · Teaching Singing in the ClassroomA2 · 2:55This episode outlines a structured approach to teaching singing in French classrooms: selecting age- and level-appropriate songs, preparing them through vocal and physical warm-ups, transmitting them with clear vocal modeling, and evaluating students' musical progress—focusing on posture, engagement, listening, and musicality.
Episode 3 · A poetic song about youth, childhood, and starlightB1 · 6:19This is a French poetic song composed by middle school students, evoking themes of growing up, childhood memories, and natural imagery—clouds, stars, sunlight, and winter light.
Code a game with Scratch
Episode 1 · Controlling Sprite Movement with ScratchA2 · 5:40This episode teaches how to program sprite movement in Scratch using keyboard arrow keys—left, right, up, and down—while adding orientation changes and costume switching to create realistic walking and directional animation.
Episode 2 · Controlling Sprite Direction in ScratchA2 · 4:52This episode teaches two methods to move and rotate a sprite using keyboard arrow keys in Scratch: a simple event-based approach and a more fluid method using indefinite loops with conditional key-press detection.
Episode 3 · Game Initialization in ScratchA2 · 5:50This episode teaches how to initialize game elements in Scratch: setting the cat and mouse to their starting positions, sizes, and orientations so the game resets correctly every time the green flag is clicked.
Episode 4 · Making a Sprite Automatically Chase Another SpriteA2 · 5:45This episode teaches how to program a sprite (e.g., the mouse) in Scratch to automatically orient itself toward and move continuously toward another sprite (e.g., the cat), using distance sensing, conditional logic, and animation.
Episode 5 · Smooth Sprite Movement in ScratchA2 · 5:17This episode teaches how to create smoother sprite movement in Scratch by using 'key pressed' sensing blocks inside a forever loop, enabling diagonal movement when multiple arrow keys are pressed simultaneously.
Episode 6 · Character Interactions in ScratchA2 · 4:56This episode teaches how to program interactions between sprites in Scratch, such as triggering a pixelation effect when the mouse touches the cat.
Episode 7 · Fixing Common Scratch Game IssuesA2 · 4:49This episode addresses common Scratch game issues: fixing the cat's premature pixelation due to script execution timing, limiting the pixelation and size-increase effects to prevent complete disappearance or excessive growth, and ensuring the mouse appears in front of the cat using 'go to front' and conditional interactions.
Episode 8 · Adding Interactions in a Scratch GameA2 · 6:40This episode teaches how to code interactions between a sprite and the background in Scratch, including bouncing off screen edges, detecting collisions with other sprites, and triggering game events based on background color detection.
Episode 9 · Inter-sprite messaging in ScratchA2 · 6:28This episode teaches how sprites in Scratch—such as the cat, mouse, dog, and 'Game Over' text—can communicate with each other by broadcasting and receiving messages to coordinate actions at key moments, like ending a game.
Episode 10 · Using the Timer in ScratchA2 · 6:07This episode demonstrates how to use Scratch's built-in timer to dynamically increase gameplay difficulty—specifically, by boosting the mouse sprite's movement speed every five seconds. It covers timer initialization, reading its value, resetting it, and linking it to a variable that controls sprite behavior.
Episode 11 · Creating Shooting Mechanics with Clones in ScratchA2 · 4:34This episode teaches how to implement automatic shooting in Scratch using clones—creating multiple identical projectiles from a single sprite, rather than managing countless separate sprites, and covers basic clone behavior, positioning, and movement toward a target.
Episode 12 · Building a Shooting Game with ScratchA2 · 4:25This episode teaches how to create bullet clones in Scratch, control their movement until they hit the edge or a character, hide them upon impact, add randomness to firing intervals, and trigger game-over effects when the witch is hit.
How astronauts get up there
Grammar, said clearly
Episode 1 · Groups in the SentenceA2 · 2:32This episode explains the three main groups in a French sentence: the subject group, the verbal group, and the complement group—covering their grammatical roles, necessity, mobility, and how they answer key questions like who, what, where, when, and how.
Episode 2 · What Is the Subject?A2 · 1:54This episode explains the French subject group: its definition, types (noun phrases, proper nouns, personal pronouns, and infinitives), and its role in verb agreement. It also demonstrates how to identify the subject using the question 'who or what?'
Episode 3 · Understanding the Noun PhraseA2 · 1:56This episode explains the French noun phrase, focusing on its core noun (nom noyau), determiners, adjectives, and other possible constituents like nouns within complements or coordinating conjunctions.
Episode 4 · Present Tense of First-Group French VerbsA2 · 1:58This episode explains the present tense conjugation of first-group French verbs (-er verbs), covering subject-specific endings and spelling adjustments like the cedilla in -cer verbs, the added 'e' in -ger verbs, and consonant doubling in -eler/-eter verbs.
Episode 5 · Present Tense of Second and Third Group VerbsA2 · 2:36This episode explains the present tense conjugation patterns for French second-group verbs (ending in -ir) and third-group verbs, highlighting regular endings, radical changes, and common irregularities like verbs ending in -dre, -oir, and some -ir verbs that follow first-group rules.
Episode 6 · The passé composé with the verb avoirA2 · 2:11This episode explains the formation rules of the French passé composé, focusing on conjugation with the auxiliary verb avoir and covering past participles for regular -er, -ir, and irregular -re verbs, as well as être and avoir themselves.
Episode 7 · Passé composé with the verb êtreA2 · 3:27This episode explains how to form the passé composé using the auxiliary verb être, focusing on agreement rules between the past participle and the subject's gender and number.
Episode 8 · The Imperfect Tense in FrenchA2 · 2:09This episode explains the French imperfect tense (imparfait), covering its usage for ongoing past actions and detailed conjugation rules for regular verbs, including spelling nuances for -ier, -yer, and second-group verbs.
Episode 9 · The Future Tense in FrenchA2 · 2:42This episode explains how to form the future tense in French, covering regular conjugation patterns for first-, second-, and third-group verbs, along with pronunciation tips and key irregular verb radicals.
Episode 10 · The Present Imperative in FrenchA2 · 2:40This episode explains the formation of the French present imperative: which persons are used (tu, nous, vous), how regular -er, -ir, and -re verbs conjugate, and the irregular forms of avoir, être, and aller.
Episode 11 · The Verb's Object ComplementA2 · 3:22This episode explains how to identify direct and indirect objects in French sentences by asking questions like 'who?', 'what?', 'to whom?', or 'about whom?'. It also demonstrates how these objects can be replaced with pronouns.
Episode 12 · Subject Attribute Explained ClearlyA2 · 3:33This episode explains the French subject attribute: what it is, its types (adjective, infinitive phrase, nominal group), and how it must agree in gender and number with its subject. It uses clear examples and highlights linking verbs like 'être', 'sembler', 'rester', and 'devenir'.
Episode 13 · Understanding the Noun Complement in FrenchA2 · 2:39This episode explains the noun complement in French: what it is, how it enriches the head noun by indicating origin, material, or purpose, and how it can be formed with nouns, infinitive verbs, adverbs, or prepositions. It also covers its grammatical properties—such as being optional and invariable.
Episode 14 · All French Pronouns Explained ClearlyA2 · 3:34This episode clearly explains all types of French pronouns: subject and object personal pronouns (direct and indirect), reflexive, relative, possessive, demonstrative, interrogative, and indefinite pronouns—with examples and usage rules for each.
Episode 15 · Interrogative Sentences in FrenchA2 · 1:45This episode explains the two types of French interrogative sentences: closed questions (answered with yes or no) and open questions (requiring specific information), covering their formation methods—including intonation, 'est-ce que', subject-verb inversion, and question words.
Episode 16 · Understanding Complex Sentences in FrenchA2 · 4:34This episode explains the difference between simple and complex sentences in French, focusing on coordinated propositions (joined by conjunctions like 'et' or 'ou') and subordinate propositions (conjunctional and relative), with clear examples and grammatical analysis.
Episode 17 · Punctuation in French: What Each Sign MeansA2 · 2:08This episode explains the function and usage of French punctuation marks, covering end-of-sentence signs (period, question mark, exclamation mark, ellipsis) and within-sentence signs (comma, colon, dash, quotation marks).
Episode 18 · French Determiners Explained ClearlyA2 · 1:32This episode clearly explains the role and main types of French determiners: definite and indefinite articles, possessive determiners, demonstrative determiners, and cardinal determiners that indicate quantity.
Stories from farther away
Episode 1 · The Silk Roads: Ancient Global Trade NetworksB2 · 5:20This episode explores the origins and evolution of the Silk Roads, describing them as an ancient transcontinental network of land and maritime trade routes that enabled the long-distance exchange of goods, ideas, beliefs, and technologies across Eurasia.
Episode 2 · The Origins of the Silk RoadB2 · 5:20This episode explores how Chinese silk reached Rome through Central Asian intermediaries, and how the Han Dynasty developed the Silk Road network to counter the Xiongnu threat—building the Great Wall, forging diplomatic marriages, launching military campaigns, and securing trade corridors into Central Asia.
Episode 3 · The Silk Roads: When East Met WestB2 · 5:26This episode explores the rise and flourishing of the ancient Silk Roads, highlighting how the Han Dynasty, the Roman Empire, and Central Asian powers exchanged luxury goods, technologies, and cultural influences across vast distances.
Episode 4 · The Silk Roads and the Exchange of CivilizationsB2 · 5:22This episode explores how the Silk Roads enabled the exchange of goods, religions (Buddhism, Zoroastrianism, Islam, Christianity), scientific knowledge (wound healing, urine analysis, astronomy), and artistic styles across Asia, the Middle East, and Europe from the Han to Tang dynasties.
Episode 5 · The Silk Roads and the Mongol EmpireB2 · 5:24This episode explores the rise and decline of the Silk Roads, how the Mongol Empire revitalized Eurasian trade networks, secured caravan routes, fostered cross-cultural textile production, and enabled new artistic syntheses across China, Central Asia, and the Middle East.
Episode 6 · The Rise and Fall of the Silk RoadsB2 · 5:19This episode explores how the Silk Roads enabled vibrant cultural, artistic, and commercial exchanges across Eurasia—from Chinese porcelain and tea to Central Asian textiles and Islamic design influences—and examines how the Black Death, Mongol decline, Ming Dynasty isolationism, and shifting trade routes led to their gradual collapse.
Episode 7 · Did the Roman Empire Really Fall?B2 · 5:14This episode examines the traditional narrative of the Roman Empire's fall, questioning whether it truly 'fell' by exploring political continuity in the Eastern Roman Empire and analyzing the historical significance—and limited contemporary impact—of the 476 CE deposition of Romulus Augustulus.
Episode 8 · Why Did the Western Roman Empire Collapse?B2 · 5:11This episode examines how Germanic rulers after 476 CE integrated into Roman culture, preserved Roman administration and law, collaborated with Gallo-Roman elites, and gradually formed new kingdoms—showing continuity rather than abrupt rupture with the Roman world.
Episode 9 · Why Did the Western Roman Empire Fall?B2 · 5:14This episode examines the decline of the Western Roman Empire not as a sudden collapse but as a gradual transition into regional Christian kingdoms, exploring political fragmentation, Christianization, economic shifts, and historiographical myths about decadence and religious decline.
Episode 10 · Why Did the Roman Empire Collapse?B2 · 5:21This episode examines the complex, interwoven causes behind the fall of the Western Roman Empire—including the Christianization of the state, economic contraction, demographic shifts, ecological pressures like climate extremes and poor harvests, and recurring epidemics—while emphasizing that no single factor explains the collapse.
Episode 11 · Did the Roman Empire Really Fall?B2 · 5:10This episode examines various historical interpretations of the Roman Empire's decline, showing how each era—from the Middle Ages to today—has reshaped the narrative to reflect its own political agendas, religious views, cultural fears, and social biases.
Cross-country skiing
Working and living in Africa
Episode 1 · A Day on a Construction Site in AfricaB1 · 4:17An entrepreneur takes us on a tour of three active construction sites in the same neighborhood, explaining ongoing work, challenges like paused projects due to financial issues, and highlighting local infrastructure and green spaces.
Episode 2 · A Day on a Construction Site in AfricaB1 · 4:36This episode follows an African entrepreneur as they visit three construction sites, explaining foundational work, load-bearing beams (chaînage bas), septic tanks, drainage inspection chambers (regards), and earthworks.
Episode 3 · A Day in the Life of an Entrepreneur in AfricaB1 · 4:31This episode follows an entrepreneur in Africa as they inspect a construction site, discussing building plans (four floors, potential elevator), project timeline (12 months total), progress on structural work and finishing touches, and their role managing remote clients and on-site teams.
Episode 4 · How to Return to Africa and Launch a Business Stress-FreeB1 · 4:28This episode explains how to return to Africa—specifically Cameroon—within 30 days and launch a business independently, focusing on financial self-reliance, avoiding remittance dependency, and leveraging real estate and digital investments for sustainable entrepreneurship.
Episode 5 · The Mindset Needed to Launch Your Business in AfricaB1 · 4:35This episode focuses on the entrepreneurial mindset for working and living in Africa: identifying and learning from people who've achieved greater results, investing in your own education, taking action despite potential failure, and leveraging mistakes as learning opportunities to build a supportive ecosystem.
Episode 6 · Living in Ivory Coast on 1,500 Euros a MonthB1 · 5:36This episode explores the real cost of living in Abidjan for expatriates earning 1,500 euros monthly—covering steep housing prices in expat neighborhoods, the dual food economy (local vs. imported), unpredictable transport costs, informal 'foreigner premiums', and healthcare realities.
Episode 7 · Hidden Costs of Living in Côte d'IvoireB1 · 5:26This episode reveals the often-overlooked financial and social realities for expats living in Abidjan: private health insurance, frequent power/water cuts requiring generators and bottled water, mandatory social contributions for ceremonies, self-funded security measures, and the complex social position created by earning 6–10 times the local median salary.
Episode 8 · Living in Abidjan on €1,500: The Hidden Realities for ExpatsB1 · 5:30This episode examines the real-life challenges of living in Abidjan on €1,500 per month: hidden inflation eroding purchasing power, costly and time-consuming administrative procedures, structural loneliness, and the difficulty of genuine integration into Ivorian society beyond the expat bubble.
Episode 9 · 12 Realities of Living in Senegal That Expats Discover After a MonthB1 · 4:27This episode reveals 12 surprising realities expatriates encounter after their first month living in Senegal—covering road culture, informal pricing practices versus fixed-price establishments, and how the intense sun affects daily life—based on authentic local experience, not tourism.
Episode 10 · 6 Realities of Living in Senegal That Surprise ExpatsB1 · 4:27This episode covers key practical realities for expats in Senegal: the intense dry heat and UV risks, how the CFA franc works alongside cash dependence, common rental pitfalls and how to avoid them, and the cultural meaning of 'Inchallah' as a polite, harmony-focused communication style.
Episode 11 · 10 Realities of Daily Life in SenegalB1 · 4:21This episode covers practical realities of living in Senegal: verifying promises about utilities and deadlines, regional diversity in Senegalese cuisine, how pharmacies serve as first-line healthcare, the social importance of Wolof greetings in daily interactions, and key visa rules for long-term stays.
Episode 12 · 12 Realities of Living in Senegal That Expats Discover After a Few MonthsB1 · 4:29This episode outlines 12 practical realities expatriates encounter after settling in Senegal: visa and residence permit deadlines, the mandatory yellow fever vaccination, nuanced cost-of-living expectations (e.g., realistic monthly budgets for comfortable living), and the gradual cultural integration — from traffic adaptation to experiencing 'teranga' (Senegalese hospitality) and community belonging.
How to become a speech therapist
Episode 1 · How to Become a Speech Therapist in FranceB2 · 5:00This episode explains the path to becoming a speech therapist (orthophoniste) in France, covering the shift from competitive exams to Parcoursup selection, application tips, curriculum structure, study duration (5 years), and differences between schools.
Episode 2 · Becoming a Speech Therapist: Academic Training and InternshipsB2 · 5:20This episode details the academic curriculum for speech therapy training in France, covering theoretical subjects like linguistics, psychology, audiology, and pathology across years two to four, as well as the progression of internships—from observation in year two to active session preparation in year four.
Episode 3 · Five Years of Speech Therapy TrainingB2 · 5:02This episode details the five-year speech therapy training program in France, covering mandatory internships across different settings, thesis writing with regular deadlines, demanding exams (including multiple-choice and written components), grading rules, workload intensity, class formats, peer dynamics, and graduates' confidence entering the profession.
Episode 4 · Becoming a Speech Therapist: Studies, Challenges, and Career PathsB2 · 5:42This episode covers the academic challenges of speech therapy studies in France, exam preparation strategies, setting up a private practice, tips for admission, and career alternatives—including reorientation due to low pay, high mental load, or lack of fulfillment.
Episode 5 · Becoming a Speech Therapist: Practical Tips for Starting Your PracticeB2 · 4:42This episode offers practical advice for newly graduated speech therapists, covering internship strategies, time management, avoiding burnout, setting up a private practice, selecting essential materials, communicating with patients, using professional software, and prioritizing self-care.
Zack's street-food trips
Episode 1 · Belgian Street Food: Overrated or Underrated?A2 · 4:17Zack explores Belgian street food in Brussels, sampling local specialties like the famous 'mitraillette' sandwich and fries, comparing them to French fast food and discussing texture, flavor, and cultural appeal.
Episode 2 · Belgian Street Food Adventure: Frites, Mitraillette, and Gourmet SandwichesA2 · 4:19Zack explores Brussels street food, tasting the iconic Belgian 'mitraillette' (fries-stuffed sandwich) and a highly personalized gourmet sandwich featuring artisanal cheeses, fruits, and meats—while comparing culinary approaches between Belgium and France.
Episode 3 · Belgian Street Food AdventureA2 · 4:16Zack and Joël explore Brussels' Grand Place, tasting inventive sandwiches with premium ingredients like artisanal cheese, black olive tapenade, and honeyed goat cheese, then enjoy a traditional Liège waffle with dark chocolate—celebrating Belgium's vibrant street food culture.
A pocket dictionary of philosophy
Episode 1 · What Is Libertarianism?B2 · 4:49This episode explores libertarianism as a philosophical theory, covering its foundational principles (self-ownership, just transfer, original appropriation), key thinkers like Nozick and Rand, and its deontological critique of utilitarianism and paternalistic state intervention.
Episode 2 · What Is Libertarianism?B2 · 4:36This episode explains libertarianism's core ideas: self-ownership (including bodily autonomy and voluntary contracts), opposition to moralistic legislation and compulsory taxation, the right to self-defense, and the justification for only a minimal state providing essential services like police and justice.
Episode 3 · What Is Libertarianism?B2 · 4:47This episode explains libertarianism's core principles: a minimal state, absolute property rights, opposition to forced redistribution (including welfare), and a deontological justification of capitalism independent of its economic outcomes.
Episode 4 · What Is Libertarianism?B2 · 4:47This episode explains libertarianism's core principles, contrasts left- and right-wing variants, examines its controversial stance on private discrimination, and presents key philosophical critiques—especially Philippe Van Parijs's 'island parable'—challenging its notion of formal freedom versus real liberty.
Episode 5 · Are Human Rights Sacred?B1 · 4:35This episode explores the concept of human rights: their historical origins in Enlightenment thought and post-war international declarations, debates over universality and linguistic inclusivity, philosophical foundations (divine vs. secular), and the evolution from civil-political to socio-economic rights.
Episode 6 · Are Human Rights Universally Valid?B1 · 4:30This episode examines the historical context and cultural critiques of human rights, addresses objections to their universality, and explores philosophical justifications—from natural law to overlapping consensus—without advocating political action or endorsing any ideology.
Episode 7 · Are Human Rights Absolute?B1 · 4:38This episode examines the universality, relativity, and limits of human rights—exploring their liberal, republican, and social functions, tensions between competing rights (e.g., privacy vs. free speech), and legitimate restrictions for public interest (e.g., health emergencies), all grounded in philosophical and legal reasoning.
Episode 8 · Are Human Rights Sacred?B1 · 4:34This episode examines the historical, evolving, and non-absolute nature of human rights, discussing their role in gender equality, environmental protection, intergenerational justice, and collective solidarity rights—while also addressing their limitations and philosophical foundations.
Short talks on philosophy
Episode 1 · Socrates' Life and PhilosophyB2 · 6:24This episode explores Socrates' early life in Athens, his family background, education, military service in the Peloponnesian War, unconventional appearance, relationships, marriage, and his reputation as a provocative yet courageous thinker in Athenian society.
Episode 2 · Why Change Is Impossible According to ParmenidesB2 · 4:41This episode explores Parmenides’ radical philosophical argument that change is logically impossible: what exists must always exist, and what does not exist cannot come into being or pass away—so reality is one, unchanging, and indivisible.
Episode 3 · Aristotle's Virtue EthicsB2 · 6:26This episode explores Aristotle's virtue ethics, focusing on eudaimonia (human flourishing), the tripartite soul governed by reason, phronesis (practical wisdom), and the doctrine of the mean—how moral virtues lie between extremes of deficiency and excess, relative to circumstances.
Episode 4 · Zhuangzi and the Zhuangzi TextB2 · 6:46This episode introduces the Chinese philosopher Zhuangzi and his foundational Daoist text, the Zhuangzi. It explores his elusive biography, core ideas—such as living simply in harmony with nature and the Dao—and the playful, dialogic, and paradoxical literary style of the text, exemplified by anecdotes like the butterfly dream and debates with Huizi.
Episode 5 · Mencius on Human Nature and the Power of EnvironmentB2 · 3:44This episode explores the life and philosophy of Mencius, focusing on his foundational belief in the inherent goodness of human nature and how environmental factors—like upbringing, governance, and social conditions—can nurture or erode that innate virtue.
Episode 6 · Where time actually isB2 · 4:44This episode explores Saint Augustine's philosophical reflection on time from his 'Confessions', focusing on his famous paradox: though we intuitively grasp time, defining it rigorously proves elusive. He argues that past, present, and future exist only as three modes of presence in the mind—memory, direct awareness, and expectation.
Episode 7 · Time lives only in the presentB2 · 4:42This episode explores Saint Augustine's philosophical reflection on time: time is not eternal but begins with creation; the past and future do not exist independently, but only as they are present in memory and expectation.
Episode 8 · Man is a wolf to manB2 · 5:15This episode explores Thomas Hobbes's famous phrase 'man is a wolf to man,' explaining his view that humans are naturally dangerous to one another in the state of nature—and contrasts it with Rousseau’s opposing claim that humans are naturally good, and society corrupts them.
Episode 9 · Locke on the state of natureB2 · 4:21This episode introduces the English philosopher John Locke, focusing on his political philosophy—especially his theory of the state of nature and the idea of natural rights, such as liberty and property, grounded in reason and divine law.
Episode 10 · Freedom that cannot be given awayB2 · 4:16This episode explains John Locke's theory of natural rights—especially inalienable freedom and property—and clarifies that civil society does not create these rights but exists to secure and enforce them, since they already exist in the state of nature.
Episode 11 · Do We Cease to Exist When We Stop Thinking?B2 · 7:38This episode explores Descartes' view that existence is inseparable from thought, analyzing the distinction between conscious and unconscious thinking—and whether we truly 'stop thinking' during sleep, coma, or meditation.
Episode 12 · Henri Bergson: Time, Memory, and the Creative LifeB2 · 4:38This episode introduces philosopher Henri Bergson’s life and key ideas: the distinction between objective time and subjective duration, his dualist view of mind and matter, the concept of élan vital (vital impulse) as an alternative to mechanistic evolution, and his critique of scientific models of memory.
Episode 13 · Existence Precedes EssenceB2 · 6:18This episode explains Jean-Paul Sartre's central philosophical claim 'existence precedes essence', contrasting Christian and atheistic existentialism. It explores how, in the absence of God, human beings must create their own meaning, values, and purpose through free choice and responsibility.
Episode 14 · Why Sisyphus Is Happy: Camus on Absurdity and MeaningB2 · 5:54This episode unpacks Albert Camus's famous line 'one must imagine Sisyphus happy,' explaining how the myth of Sisyphus illustrates the absurdity of human existence—and how, for Camus, meaning and happiness arise not from ultimate goals or outcomes, but from conscious, engaged action itself.
Episode 15 · Feynman had little use for empty method talkB2 · 5:28This episode explores physicist Richard Feynman's distinctive view of science: he critiques abstract philosophy of science, argues that science is what scientists *do*—not a fixed method or set of definitions—and distinguishes between learning scientific concepts and actually practicing science.
Episode 16 · Science starts from doubtB2 · 5:30This episode explores Richard Feynman's view of science as a lived, dynamic practice rooted in direct experience—not a set of facts or rigid methodology—and emphasizes intellectual humility, the necessity of doubt, and the constant re-examination of inherited ideas.
Philosophy in everyday life
Episode 1 · Is hope an illusion or a moral duty?B1 · 5:03This episode examines the philosophical nature of hope: is it a passive illusion that numbs us to injustice, or an active, morally grounded commitment that fuels collective action for climate justice, peace, and social change?
Episode 2 · What Hope Really Is—and Why It MattersB1 · 5:11This episode examines the philosophical nature of hope, distinguishing it from optimism and wishful thinking. It explores hope as a practical, action-guiding attitude—and debates its ethical significance, motivational power, and potential alternatives like fear or urgency.
Episode 3 · The Philosophy of Hope: Active vs. PassiveB1 · 5:02This episode examines the role of hope in motivating climate action, distinguishing between 'active hope'—grounded in human agency and collective problem-solving—and 'passive hope'—which relies on external forces or denial of the crisis. It draws on empirical studies and philosophical analysis, including Kantian ethics, to argue that hope is ethically significant when tied to responsible action.
Episode 4 · The Moral Duty to Hope in the Climate CrisisB1 · 5:00This episode examines how hope in the face of the climate crisis is not passive optimism but a rational, duty-bound commitment to action—grounded in Kantian deontology, consequentialist reasoning, and the necessity of human cooperation.
Episode 5 · Hope Grounded in RealityB1 · 5:05This episode explores how to ground hope in reality—through factual knowledge, societal trends, and citizen action—rather than blind optimism. It examines climate activism, the rapid growth and efficiency of renewable energy, and democratic resilience as concrete 'hope makers,' while reflecting critically on political challenges without partisan campaigning.
Episode 6 · Hope Is a ChoiceB1 · 5:06This episode examines the moral choice between despair and hope in the face of ecological crisis, contrasting the lived realities of people in the Global North and South, and draws on Noam Chomsky’s lifelong argument that hope is not passive belief but an active, necessary stance that opens space for meaningful change.
Episode 7 · Who to Save? Medical Ethics and Patient Triage During a PandemicB2 · 4:37This episode examines ethical dilemmas in medical triage during pandemic-related resource shortages, comparing criteria such as age, likelihood of survival, and instrumental social utility (e.g., healthcare workers), while contrasting utilitarian and egalitarian perspectives.
Episode 8 · Ethics of Medical Resource Allocation During CrisisB2 · 4:32This episode examines the ethical dilemmas in triaging patients during medical shortages—weighing egalitarian principles (equal dignity), utilitarian approaches (QALYs, years of life saved), and lifetime fairness arguments (Rawlsian difference principle, equal opportunity over a full life).
Episode 9 · Ethical Dilemmas in Medical Resource AllocationB2 · 4:33This episode examines ethical principles for prioritizing patients during health crises, discussing how factors like age, personal responsibility for illness, and underlying philosophical frameworks—such as luck egalitarianism—might influence life-and-death decisions in healthcare.
Episode 10 · What Is Philosophy for Children Good For?B1 · 5:45This episode explores the goals, classroom practices, and evidence-based outcomes of philosophy for children, highlighting how open-ended questioning and peer dialogue foster critical thinking, reasoning, and empathy.
Episode 11 · What Is the Value of Philosophy for Children?B1 · 5:44This episode explores how philosophy for children fosters cognitive development, academic progress in reading and math, and long-term thinking skills—especially for struggling students—while also examining research limitations, measurement challenges, and the nuanced relationship between belief and knowledge.
Episode 12 · The Philosophical Origins of Critical ThinkingB2 · 4:46This episode explores the philosophical roots of critical thinking, tracing its development from ancient Greek Pyrrhonism—founded by Pyrrho of Elis—to later skeptical traditions and the concept of epoché (suspension of judgment), highlighting key thinkers like Sextus Empiricus.
Episode 13 · Skepticism and Critical ThinkingB2 · 4:40This episode explores ancient Greek skepticism, starting from the relativity of sensory experience (e.g., tasting curry), introduces Pyrrho and Sextus Empiricus’ suspension of judgment, then traces how thinkers like Alhazen and Roger Bacon championed empirical testing and critical inquiry over authority and dogma.
Episode 14 · Skepticism and Occam's Razor in PhilosophyB2 · 4:50This episode explores how empiricism uses controlled experiments to build reliable knowledge, using medicine as an example, and introduces Occam's Razor—the principle of preferring the simplest hypothesis that makes the fewest new assumptions.
Episode 15 · Montaigne and Descartes on SkepticismB2 · 4:43This episode explores Montaigne's skeptical philosophy—its emphasis on doubt, intellectual humility, tolerance, and dialogue—and contrasts it with Descartes' methodical doubt, leading to the foundational certainty of 'I think, therefore I am' and the quest for indubitable knowledge.
Episode 16 · Skepticism and Scientific ThinkingB2 · 4:48This episode explores philosophical skepticism's role in modern science, explains David Hume's 'is-ought' problem, and introduces Bayesian reasoning as a probabilistic method for updating beliefs based on evidence.
Episode 17 · Bayesian Thinking and Methodical DoubtB2 · 4:41This episode explores how Bayesian reasoning helps us continuously update the plausibility of ideas based on evidence, alongside Bertrand Russell's methodical doubt and emphasis on empirical grounding—challenging intuition, acknowledging bias, and demanding justification for extraordinary claims.
Episode 18 · Logic and the Limits of TruthB2 · 4:45This episode explores foundational questions in logic and mathematics through the work of Russell, Gödel, and Wittgenstein—examining axiomatic systems, the incompleteness theorem, the limits of language, and Popper’s criterion of falsifiability for scientific theories.
Episode 19 · The Philosophical Origins of Skepticism and Critical ThinkingB2 · 4:46This episode explores the philosophical foundations of critical thinking (zététique), explaining Karl Popper's principle of falsifiability and how Henri Broch revived skeptical inquiry in France—using cognitive biases, scientific method, and everyday reasoning to evaluate claims like 'a dragon in the garage'.
Whose voice is that?
Remember these things?
Episode 1 · Do you remember these things?B2 · 4:42Odd little objects that once filled the shelves.
Episode 2 · Everyday gadgets of yesterdayB2 · 4:35Things that look outdated now but once felt ordinary.
Episode 3 · Fresh finds in an old shopB2 · 4:37Walking into an old shop and finding things that still make you smile.
Talking about justice
Episode 1 · John Rawls's Theory of JusticeB2 · 5:20This episode introduces John Rawls's egalitarian liberal theory of justice, explaining his thought experiment of the 'veil of ignorance' and how it seeks to reconcile liberty and equality as foundational social ideals.
Episode 2 · John Rawls's Theory of JusticeB2 · 5:22This episode explains John Rawls's theory of justice, focusing on his three principles: the principle of equal liberty, the principle of fair equality of opportunity, and the difference principle—each ranked in lexical priority and grounded in the 'veil of ignorance' thought experiment.
Episode 3 · John Rawls's Theory of JusticeB2 · 5:11This episode examines John Rawls's critique of the moral arbitrariness of natural talents and social circumstances, explaining how his 'difference principle' seeks to structure society so that inequalities benefit the least advantaged.
Episode 4 · Criticisms of Rawls's Theory of JusticeB2 · 4:50This episode examines key criticisms of John Rawls's theory of justice, especially the claim that it legitimizes the status quo of Western social democracy rather than challenging systemic injustice. It analyzes the 'difference principle' in light of rising economic inequality since the 1970s, using data from Thomas Piketty and historical context from French intellectual reception.
Episode 5 · Rawls' Difference Principle and Tax PolicyB2 · 4:49This episode examines Rawls' difference principle as a standard for evaluating rising inequality, drawing on Piketty's research to question whether soaring top incomes and tax cuts since the 1970s have benefited the worst-off—and whether high marginal tax rates hinder economic growth.
Episode 6 · Rawls on Wealth Inequality and Political LibertyB2 · 4:45This episode examines Rawls's critique of wealth inequality under welfare-state capitalism, highlighting how extreme asset disparities undermine political liberty and equal rights. It presents his alternative models—liberal socialism and, especially, 'property-owning democracy'—which aim to disperse capital widely to ensure fair value of basic liberties.
Episode 7 · Reassessing Rawls's Theory of JusticeB2 · 4:46This episode examines the radical core of John Rawls's theory of justice—its critique of capitalism, its demanding redistribution principles, its vision of property-owning democracy and liberal socialism, and why it has been widely misread as defending the status quo or social democracy.
Episode 8 · Marxism as a Theory of JusticeB2 · 4:56This episode explores how Marx, despite famously dismissing 'justice' as ideological, develops an implicit theory of justice centered on ending worker exploitation and alienation under capitalism.
Episode 9 · Marxism as an Ethical Theory?B2 · 4:42This episode examines Marxism's ethical critique of capitalism, focusing on exploitation, the legitimacy of profit, and alienation. It explores three interpretations of Marxist justice: the worker's right to the fruits of labor, unequal exchange of socially necessary labor, and John Roemer's inequality-of-endowment approach.
Episode 10 · Marxism as an Ethical Theory? Justice and Alienation at WorkB2 · 4:42This episode examines Marx's theory of alienation at work and his vision of a just, communist society based on abundance and freedom. It critically discusses the ethical appeal of Marxism, its historical implementation, environmental limits, and modern alternatives like universal basic income or worker cooperatives.
Episode 11 · Can Civil Disobedience Be Legitimate in a Democracy?B2 · 5:16This episode examines whether civil disobedience can be legitimate in a democracy, exploring philosophical arguments from Socrates, Martin Luther King Jr., and Henry David Thoreau, and discussing key conditions for legitimacy—such as conscience-based motivation, nonviolence, willingness to accept punishment, and commitment to democratic values.
Episode 12 · The History of Civil DisobedienceB2 · 5:13This episode explores how Henry David Thoreau, British suffragettes, American women's rights activists, and Mahatma Gandhi practiced civil disobedience—examining its moral foundations, political aims, evolving tactics, and philosophical justifications, especially nonviolence.
Episode 13 · What Makes Civil Disobedience Legitimate?B2 · 5:14This episode examines the defining conditions of civil disobedience: publicity, willingness to accept punishment, nonviolence, and communicative intent. It analyzes historical examples—including Rosa Parks, Martin Luther King Jr., and Gandhi—as well as contemporary cases like Edward Snowden to explore how these principles apply in practice and when they might be reasonably adapted.
Episode 14 · Conditions of Civil DisobedienceB2 · 5:14This episode examines the four main conditions of civil disobedience—publicity, non-evasion, non-violence, and civility—drawing on philosophers like Rawls, Habermas, Gandhi, and King. It explores differing definitions of violence, the role of communication and legitimacy, and how authorities might justifiably respond to such acts.
Episode 15 · Civil Disobedience and Uncivil ResistanceB2 · 5:12This episode examines the boundaries of civil disobedience and explores whether forms of resistance that violate its classic criteria—such as secrecy, evasion, or non-peacefulness—can still be legitimate under certain conditions, especially when addressing systemic injustice.
Episode 16 · Is Morality Actually in Your Self-Interest?B2 · 4:44This episode explores contractarianism in philosophy, showing how even radically self-interested, rational individuals would voluntarily accept moral rules and social justice—not out of altruism or duty, but because cooperation yields far greater personal benefit than a lawless 'state of nature.'
Episode 17 · The Prisoner's Dilemma and MoralityB2 · 4:49This episode explains the prisoner's dilemma—a classic thought experiment showing how rational self-interest can lead to collectively harmful outcomes—and extends it to real-world cooperation challenges like climate change, nuclear disarmament, and overfishing.
Episode 18 · Morality and Rational CooperationB2 · 4:46This episode explores how morality can be grounded in rational self-interest rather than moral duty, using game theory and social contract theory to explain how rational individuals negotiate fair cooperation and uphold agreements without external coercion.
Episode 19 · Morality and Mutual Advantage JusticeB2 · 4:39This episode examines David Gauthier's contractarian theory of justice, which grounds morality in mutual advantage and rational self-interest. It critically analyzes how this approach excludes vulnerable groups—such as people with severe disabilities, infants, or animals—from moral consideration, highlighting a major philosophical objection to theories that tie justice solely to reciprocal benefit.
Episode 20 · Morality and Rational Self-InterestB2 · 4:38This episode examines whether morality can be grounded solely in rational self-interest, focusing on Gauthier's social contract theory—especially his requirement that negotiations begin from a fair, non-coercive baseline, and the tensions that arise when power imbalances persist even after formal agreements.
Episode 21 · Contractarianism and the Dilemma of JusticeB2 · 4:54This episode examines how contractarianism attempts to derive moral principles from pure rational self-interest, and why it struggles to account for justice, fairness, equal starting conditions, and the rights of the vulnerable—revealing a deep tension between instrumental rationality and impartial morality.
Episode 22 · G. A. Cohen and Utopian SocialismB2 · 4:47This episode introduces Canadian philosopher G. A. Cohen, who rigorously reinterpreted Marxist theory using analytic philosophy, critiqued capitalism’s injustices and unsustainable growth, and championed a radical, egalitarian vision he called 'utopian socialism'.
Episode 23 · Reviving Utopian SocialismB2 · 5:01This episode examines G. A. Cohen's argument that Marx and Engels wrongly dismissed utopian socialism, and why envisioning just alternatives—grounded in ethical reasoning, egalitarian freedom, and democratic feasibility—is essential for socialist thought today.
Episode 24 · Luck Egalitarianism and JusticeB2 · 4:34This episode examines G. A. Cohen's critique of John Rawls's theory of justice, introducing 'luck egalitarianism'—the idea that inequalities arising from natural talent, social background, gender, or birth circumstances are morally arbitrary and should not affect life prospects.
Episode 25 · The Justice of Utopian SocialismB2 · 4:49G. A. Cohen examines why socialist cooperation—intuitively fair and natural among friends camping together—seems abandoned at the societal level, arguing that the issue is not desirability but feasibility, and urging us to rethink motivations beyond self-interest.
Notes from talks worth hearing
Episode 1 · Understanding Bias in Artificial IntelligenceB2 · 5:43This episode examines how biases enter AI systems—through human-designed rules in expert systems, skewed real-world training data in machine learning models, and problematic objectives like cost-cutting in hiring algorithms.
Episode 2 · Understanding Algorithmic BiasB2 · 5:36This episode examines how algorithms inherit human biases, stresses the need for ethical training for developers, and presents decentralized, ethically designed alternatives to mainstream platforms like Facebook and YouTube.
Episode 3 · Why Companies Should Contribute to Free Software ProjectsB2 · 7:30This episode explores the benefits of contributing to free software projects—not only for individual developers (learning, reputation, job prospects) but especially for companies, highlighting economic advantages such as shared maintenance, quality assurance, cost savings, and competitive expertise.
The killer chewing gum
Episode 1 · The Killer Chewing GumA2 · 4:28This episode shows the production process of chewing gum at an Italian factory: tar paste is cooled, cut, molded, conveyed on a belt, packaged, and shipped to Paris. It also includes nostalgic, fragmented personal reflections from a student.
Episode 2 · The Killer Chewing Gum AdventureA2 · 4:40This episode follows a piece of chewing gum stuck to a shoe as it travels through city streets and into the Forest of Fontainebleau, encountering birds, wild boars, swallows, and flowers along the way.
Episode 3 · The Killer Chewing GumA2 · 4:55This episode tells a surreal, chain-reaction story: a discarded chewing gum leads indirectly to a middle school student choking on fish at dinner, prompting an emergency response.
Episode 4 · The Killer Chewing GumA2 · 4:38A fictional allegory created by middle school students: a black chewing gum accidentally causes a boy's death during surgery, is thrown away, and vanishes after fifty years—while a plastic bottle discarded alongside it persists for 876 years.
Frenchpresso I
Episode 1 · A Snail and a Slug Joke in Quebec FrenchB1 · 1:08This episode introduces the French words for 'snail' (escargot) and 'slug' (limace), then tells a playful pun-based joke playing on the idea of a snail as a 'convertible'—since the slug is like a snail without its shell.
Episode 2 · Grammar: Using 'C'est' with Adjectives in FrenchB1 · 0:59This episode explains the grammatical structure 'c'est + adjective' in French, highlighting that the adjective is always masculine singular regardless of the noun's gender or number.
Episode 3 · The Difference Between "Savoir" and "Connaître"B1 · 1:25This episode explains the key difference between the French verbs "savoir" and "connaître": "savoir" refers to knowing facts, skills, or information acquired through learning, while "connaître" expresses familiarity or personal experience with people, places, or things.
Episode 4 · A Flutist in Yibin, ChinaB1 · 2:20This episode introduces a young flutist in Yibin, China, and showcases the historic old town with its ancient brick and stone buildings. It also shares a personal travel experience visiting Yibin with friends.
Episode 5 · The Contracted Pronunciation of "Il Y A" in Spoken FrenchB1 · 3:13This episode focuses on the contracted spoken form "y'a" for "il y a" in Quebec French, illustrating its pronunciation and usage through numerous real-life examples filmed on location.
Episode 6 · Optional Liaisons in FrenchB1 · 1:22This episode explains optional liaisons in French, focusing on those that occur after the verbs être and avoir (including in the passé composé), and how their usage depends on formality level and personal speaking preferences.
Episode 7 · Contractions in Spoken FrenchB1 · 2:02This episode explores common contractions in spoken French, such as 'c'est pas' instead of 'ce n'est pas', and highlights key differences between formal written French and natural spoken Quebec French.
Episode 8 · Challenges and Strategies in Language LearningB1 · 6:50This episode explores pronunciation challenges in French learning—especially for Spanish speakers—as well as code-switching in bilingual Montreal, the effort required to maintain multiple languages, and practical strategies like using context, targeted practice, and language-specific resources (e.g., Wikipedia) to reinforce fluency.
Episode 9 · When I Was Little, I Spoke Brayon FrenchB1 · 1:29A French teacher from Quebec recalls growing up in Edmundston, New Brunswick, speaking the local Brayon dialect, and how her accent and language use evolved after moving to Montreal.
Episode 10 · Features of Quebec FrenchB1 · 6:07This episode explores key features of spoken Quebec French, including the widespread use of 'tu' instead of 'vous', region-specific vocabulary not found in European French, Anglicisms and their conjugation patterns, and extreme phonetic contractions like 'faut que je parte'. It also touches on linguistic insecurity and glottophobia in French-speaking communities.
Episode 11 · What Makes Quebec French Unique?B1 · 6:01This episode explores distinctive features of Quebec French: pronunciation (nasal vowels, diphthongs), high-frequency informal vocabulary (e.g., 'plate' meaning boring, 'tanné' meaning fed up), extensive contractions in spoken usage, and historical linguistic continuity with 17th-century French regional varieties.
Episode 12 · The French Expression "Avoir l'Esprit d'Escalier"B1 · 1:07This episode explains the French idiom "avoir l'esprit d'escalier"—the frustrating experience of thinking of a witty or clever reply only after the moment has passed, when you've already left the scene (e.g., walked down the stairs). It contrasts this with "repartie" (quick wit).
Episode 13 · Dining at a Small Quebec RestaurantB1 · 1:35The speaker visits a small outdoor restaurant in Quebec, orders and enjoys Chinese-style dumplings (jiaozi) and Thai-style marinated vegetables, comments on the authentic, affordable food, and briefly explains using a gimbal for stable video footage.
Episode 14 · Quebec French Contraction 'Y Ont' in Spoken FrenchB1 · 1:06This episode explores the common informal Quebec French contraction 'y ont' for 'ils ont', illustrating its pronunciation, usage in present and past tenses, and examples from song lyrics and everyday speech.
Episode 15 · Quebec French Contraction 'pu' for 'plus'B1 · 0:45This episode introduces the Quebec French contraction 'pu' for 'plus', demonstrating its pronunciation and usage in everyday expressions like 'je fume pu' (I don't smoke anymore) and 'j'ai pu faim' (I'm not hungry anymore).
Episode 16 · The Quebec French Word "Pis"B1 · 0:47This episode introduces the informal Quebec French word "pis", a contraction of "puis" that commonly means "and" in everyday speech. It provides clear examples like "moi pis toi" and "j'aime les pommes pis les bleuets" to illustrate its usage in natural conversation.
Episode 17 · The French Pronoun "en" ExplainedB1 · 0:35This episode explains how the French pronoun "en" replaces complements introduced by "de" or expressions of quantity, using clear examples like "j'en ai bu trois" and "j'en ai bu assez".
Episode 18 · A Burger at Blue Frog Restaurant in ChengduB1 · 1:03The speaker visits a Blue Frog restaurant in Chengdu, shares memories of the chain in Shanghai, mentions its 'Wall of Fame' for shooter enthusiasts, and orders and enjoys a classic burger with fries.
Episode 19 · How to Say 'Sleeping In' in FrenchB1 · 1:20This episode explains the Quebec French expression 'faire la grasse matinée' — meaning 'to sleep in' — highlighting its playful, positive, and intentional connotation (not accidental oversleeping). It clarifies usage with examples and cultural context.
Episode 20 · Shooting Stars Song by Cowboys FringantsB1 · 0:46This episode explores the iconic Quebec French song 'Les Étoiles filantes' by Cowboys Fringants, focusing on its poetic lyrics and reflective themes about life's fleeting beauty and legacy.
Episode 21 · The Secret Trick of Rubbing the Cucumber EndB1 · 1:07This episode explores a common Quebec family practice: rubbing the ends of cucumbers before cutting them to remove bitterness—and the lively debate between believers and skeptics about whether it actually works.
Episode 22 · Living in Shanghai vs. Chengdu: A Personal ComparisonB1 · 5:38This episode features a French speaker who lived in Shanghai from 2003 to 2006 and returned to China in 2023, settling in Chengdu. She compares the energy, language use (Mandarin vs. Sichuan dialect), foreigner presence, and cultural openness of both cities, reflecting on how urban life in China differs from Canada and challenges Western stereotypes.
Episode 23 · Cross-Cultural Living and Discovering Authentic Chinese FoodB1 · 5:41This episode explores how living in China—especially in Chengdu and Shanghai—transformed the speakers' worldview and intercultural awareness, and details their journey of discovering authentic regional Chinese cuisine, from street food to local hot pot and dumplings.
Episode 24 · Real-Life Language Learning ExperiencesB1 · 5:38This episode features a bilingual speaker sharing her real-world experience learning Mandarin in China, highlighting the importance of communication over theory, immediate feedback from native speakers, and cultural differences between China and South Korea.
Episode 25 · The Quebec French Verb "adonner"B1 · 1:15This episode introduces the Quebec French verb "adonner", meaning "to suit" or "to work (for someone)". It covers everyday usage (e.g., "Ça t'adonne?" = "Does that work for you?") and explains its origin linked to wind direction, now used idiomatically for convenience or feasibility.
Episode 26 · A Quebec Tourism Ad: Eastern Townships WelcomeB1 · 1:32This episode explores a Quebec tourism advertisement for the Eastern Townships, highlighting the region's location near the US border, its towns and natural beauty, and how it welcomes American visitors—with a playful linguistic twist at the end.
Episode 27 · Learning Chinese Naturally in ShanghaiB1 · 2:22The speaker shares how they naturally acquired Mandarin Chinese while living in Shanghai from 2003 to 2006—using it daily for restaurants, taxis, shopping, and bargaining. They reflect on the lasting power of subconscious, stress-free language acquisition through meaningful, motivated communication.
Episode 28 · French Linking and Enchaînement in Spoken Quebec FrenchB1 · 3:49This episode uses a song by Serge Fiori and Harmonium to demonstrate linking (enchaînement) in spoken Quebec French, explaining how final consonants flow into following vowel-initial words without adding new sounds — distinct from liaisons — and provides clear examples for learners to observe and practice.
Episode 29 · How 'quelque chose' is pronounced in Quebec FrenchB1 · 1:32This episode explores the colloquial Quebec French pronunciation of 'quelque chose', demonstrating common reductions like 'quéq chose' and 'keck chose', and how it appears in natural speech and comedy sketches.
Episode 30 · Connected Speech in Spoken French: Listening to Les ColocsB1 · 3:00This episode explores connected speech in spoken French using a reggae-style song by Quebec band Les Colocs, which sets Baudelaire's poetry to music. It highlights how words blend together in natural speech—like 'comme il est doux'—and explains why this makes listening challenging yet essential for fluency.
Episode 31 · My French Teaching Presentation at LangFest 2019B1 · 1:11A Quebec French teacher shares her presentation from LangFest 2019 in Montreal, focusing on teaching French through comprehensible input. She also recounts an engaging Q&A session with language learning advocate Steve Kaufman.
Episode 32 · French Noun Gender Patterns: Masculine and Feminine EndingsB1 · 2:01This episode explains common patterns for determining the gender of French nouns based on their endings, highlighting typical masculine and feminine suffixes as well as key exceptions.
Episode 33 · The 10 Largest Cities in QuebecB1 · 1:17This episode lists and pronounces the 10 largest cities in Quebec, highlighting key French pronunciation points—such as the French 'L' in Laval, the 'œil' sound in Gatineau, and distinctions like Lévis vs. Levi's.
Episode 34 · The Pronunciation of the French Word "Oignon" (Onion)B1 · 1:20This episode explains the irregular pronunciation of the French word 'oignon' (onion), highlights its spelling-pronunciation mismatch, and explores common expressions using the word, such as 'mêle-toi de tes oignons' (mind your own business).
Episode 35 · YouTube Tips for Learning FrenchB1 · 1:39This episode shares practical YouTube settings tips for French learners: enabling and selecting subtitles (including auto-translate), adjusting playback speed (e.g., to 75%), and improving video quality (up to 1080p) for better comprehension and viewing experience.
Episode 36 · Sitting Down in Quebec French: Informal Commands and ConjugationsB1 · 1:22This episode explains the informal, widely used Quebec French conjugation of the verb 's\'asseoir', especially the imperative forms 'assieds-toi' and 'assisez-vous', highlighting how they differ from standard French and are accepted only in spoken language.
Episode 37 · I Don't Like Driving My Car (Quebec French)B1 · 1:27This episode explains the informal Quebec French expression 'J'aime pas ça prendre mon char' ('I don't like driving my car'), highlighting vocabulary differences ('char' vs. 'voiture') and emphatic repetition ('j'aime pas ça prendre...') compared to standard French.
Episode 38 · Quebec French Interrogative Particle 'tu'B1 · 1:11This episode explains the distinctive Quebec French interrogative structure, focusing on the particle 'tu' inserted after the verb in questions like 'j't'ai-tu dit?' — how it forms and functions in informal speech.
Episode 39 · Quebec French Vocabulary: Bicycle / BéciqueB1 · 1:17This episode introduces the Quebec French word 'bécique' for bicycle, comparing it with standard French terms like 'vélo' and 'bicyclette', and explains its pronunciation (e.g., 'bicyc' without the 'l' sound). It also shows real-life examples of shared bikes in China.
Episode 40 · I Ran Into Quebec Singer Daniel Lavoie in Shanghai!B1 · 2:42The speaker recounts an unexpected and emotional encounter with renowned Quebec singer Daniel Lavoie on Huaihai Road in Shanghai, shares background about his concerts and music, and briefly highlights a feature of informal Quebec French pronunciation (e.g., 'il' → 'i' or 'ié').
Episode 41 · Quebec French Pronunciation: 'Travailler' (to work)B1 · 1:23This episode focuses on the informal Quebec French pronunciation and conjugation of the verb 'travailler' (to work), highlighting features like subject pronoun contractions, silent 'l' sounds, and common spoken forms such as 'on travaille' instead of 'nous travaillons'.
Episode 42 · Coffee Delivery by Robot in a Chinese HotelB1 · 3:12This episode shows coffee delivery by robot at a hotel in Chongqing, China. It features the robot’s autonomous elevator use, voice interaction, and light-hearted commentary on daily hotel life and local air quality.
Episode 43 · A Shopping Mall Adventure in ChengduB1 · 5:12This episode explores a vibrant shopping mall in Chengdu, featuring a cat café, roaming toy-selling robots, Western and Chinese retail brands (like Uniqlo, Nike, Miniso), local street food (crêpe sandwiches with chicken popcorn), and an impromptu traditional dance performance.
Episode 44 · Quebec French Vegetable Words: Patate, Blé d'Inde, PimentB1 · 1:44This episode explains three common informal Quebec French words for vegetables—patate (potato), blé d'Inde (corn), and piment (bell pepper)—contrasting them with standard French terms and sharing their historical and cultural origins.
Episode 45 · Lindberg: A Quebec French Song for Vocabulary PracticeB1 · 1:16This episode introduces the classic Quebec song 'Lindberg' performed by Robert Charlebois and Louise Forestier, highlighting Quebec pronunciation and regional vocabulary. It also previews vocabulary exercises, hidden-word puzzles, and crosswords based on the lyrics.
Episode 46 · Is Quebec French in the Dictionary? Intermediate Quebec FrenchB1 · 1:59This episode explores why common Quebec French words—like 'minque', 'plate', and 'foiré'—are often absent from standard French dictionaries, discusses linguistic insecurity among Quebecers, and examines how dictionaries like Usito label or omit regional vocabulary.
Episode 47 · The Plaid Shirt: A Quebec French Word and Cultural SymbolB1 · 1:34This episode explains the Quebec French term 'chemise carottée' for plaid shirt—pronounced like the vegetable 'carotte'—and explores its cultural significance, from traditional lumberjack attire to its modern association with hipster style and identity.
Episode 48 · The Word "Tantôt" in Quebec FrenchB1 · 1:29This episode explains the two distinct temporal meanings of the word "tantôt" in Quebec French: it can refer to a time earlier today or later today, but always within the same day. It also covers the phrase "à tantôt", meaning "see you later today".
Episode 49 · What Is 'Caudalie'? A French Wine-Tasting TermB1 · 1:15This episode introduces the French wine-tasting term 'caudalie', explaining it as the number of seconds a wine's flavor lingers in the mouth after swallowing—and how it reflects wine quality.
Episode 50 · Quebec French 'm’ainque': When Something Will HappenB1 · 1:40This episode explains the Quebec French expression 'm’ainque' (a contraction of 'même que'), which means 'when' but is followed by a verb in the subjunctive mood — a common feature in informal Quebec speech.
Episode 51 · Quebec French Pronunciation of "Rien Que"B1 · 1:42This episode explains the distinctive Quebec French contraction of "rien que" (meaning 'only' or 'just'), demonstrating its common pronunciations like "yinque" and "inque", and how it replaces standard European French "ne...que" in everyday speech.
Episode 52 · The Informal Pronunciation of "à un moment donné" in Quebec FrenchB1 · 1:19This episode explains how the formal phrase "à un moment donné" is drastically contracted in informal Quebec French to "mané", demonstrating sound deletions, nasalization, and common usage in everyday speech.
Episode 53 · The Beautiful Beach of Hua Hin, ThailandB1 · 1:42This episode explores the scenic beach in central Hua Hin, Thailand, describing the view, local fishing boats, and the speaker's nostalgic return after many years—her first visit was in 1996 during her initial trip to Thailand.
Episode 54 · Oral Negation in French: Dropping the "ne"B1 · 1:36This episode explains how native French speakers commonly drop the 'ne' in spoken negations (e.g., 'je fume pas' instead of 'je ne fume pas'), emphasizing that this is natural and appropriate in informal, everyday speech.
Episode 55 · Last Week or Passed Week? Quebec French Usage ExplainedB1 · 1:39This episode explains the difference between 'dernier' and 'passé' when expressing time references like 'last week' or 'last month' in spoken Quebec French, highlighting register differences and pronunciation considerations.
Episode 56 · Pronunciation of "là" in Quebec FrenchB1 · 1:43This episode focuses on the distinctive pronunciation of "là" in Quebec French—a subtle vowel sound between /a/ and /o/—and explores its common spoken uses, including meaning 'there', 'now', or serving as a discourse particle at the end of sentences.
Episode 57 · Imperative Pronoun Order in Quebec FrenchB1 · 1:47This episode explains how pronoun order works in the imperative mood in informal Quebec French, highlighting key differences from standard written grammar—especially in affirmative and negative forms with one or two object pronouns.
Episode 58 · Why Quebec French Was Hard to UnderstandB1 · 5:18Urmie shares her experience of struggling to understand Quebec French accents upon moving to Montreal, despite already knowing standard French. She explains how consistent practice—through conversations, courses, podcasts, and daily use—helped her gain confidence and eventually land a French-speaking job.
Episode 59 · Spoken vs. Written French: Real-Life DifferencesB1 · 5:01This episode explores key differences between spoken and written French, such as dropping 'ne' in negations (e.g., 'je sais pas'), Quebec pronunciation and vocabulary (e.g., 'beden' for 'ventre'), frequent English borrowings, and how native speakers themselves navigate formal grammar versus everyday speech.
Episode 60 · Quebec French and Montreal Life TipsB1 · 5:04This episode discusses the distinct features of Quebec French and practical tips for understanding it—especially through listening practice, conversations with native speakers, and authentic media. It also shares personal recommendations for cafés (like Café Italia), poutine spots (Paulo et Suzanne), and the atmospheric Old Port of Montreal.
Episode 61 · Montreal's Multilingual Lifestyle and French Learning JourneyB1 · 5:10Urmie discusses why she loves Montreal—its relaxed pace of life, European atmosphere, and vibrant multilingual environment. She shares her personal journey learning Quebec French, including challenges like being answered in English and how she learned to persist in speaking French.
Episode 62 · Québec French Expression for Scorching HeatB1 · 1:09This episode introduces the Quebec French expression 'fa ho!' used to convey intense heat, explains its pronunciation and usage, and compares typical summer temperatures in Quebec versus Chengdu.
Episode 63 · Quebec French Interjection 'Aïe Aïe' ExplainedB1 · 1:23This episode explains the Quebec French interjection 'aïe aïe', covering its primary uses—expressing pain, surprise, and occasionally admiration—as well as its cultural prevalence in Quebec speech.
Episode 64 · Drizzle: A Quebec French Vocabulary WordB1 · 2:01This episode introduces the Quebec French word 'bruine' (drizzle), illustrating its meaning—light, fine rain—through real-life footage shot in Chengdu, China, with natural commentary and contextual examples.
Episode 65 · Al Mourjan Business Lounge at Doha AirportB1 · 3:04The host explores the luxurious Al Mourjan Business Lounge at Doha Airport, showcasing its wine selection, showers, restaurant, tropical indoor garden, and modern architecture while noting the evening call to prayer.
Episode 66 · French Liaisons and Enchainements in Spoken Quebec FrenchB1 · 3:31This episode explains how French words flow together in natural speech through liaisons (adding sounds between words) and enchaînements (reorganizing sounds across word boundaries), using clear examples from Quebec French to illustrate pronunciation shifts and word-linking patterns.
Episode 67 · Extreme Quebec French Contractions: 'Stun' and 'Chtun'B1 · 2:04This episode explores extreme contractions in Quebec French, such as 'j't'un' (je suis un) and 'c't'une' (c'est une), showing how they form near-new words through rapid speech patterns and phonetic reduction.
Episode 68 · I Got Recognized on McGill Campus!B1 · 2:08The host walks around the beautiful McGill University campus in Montreal, excitedly sharing how she was recognized by a fan who grew up in Shanghai and Canada. She points out iconic buildings like the Redpath Museum, McLean-Redpath Library, and Arts Building, and warmly invites viewers to say hello if they spot her.
Episode 69 · Prescriptive vs. Descriptive Grammar in Quebec FrenchB1 · 3:03This episode explains the difference between prescriptive grammar (how language 'should' be used) and descriptive grammar (how it is actually used by speakers), using authentic Quebec French examples like 'j'suis' and 'j't'allé' to illustrate natural speech patterns.
Episode 70 · Different Levels of Formality in Quebec FrenchB1 · 2:30This episode explores contrasts between formal and informal vocabulary in Quebec French, presenting everyday expressions like 'fait que', 'sarte', and 'j'étais pour', alongside their standard equivalents, to help learners understand appropriate usage in different contexts.
Episode 71 · Montreal's Linguistic DiversityB1 · 4:13This episode explores Montreal's unique linguistic landscape, explaining how French, English, and many other languages coexist across the city. It describes regional language distributions (francophone east, anglophone west, multilingual neighborhoods) and how this diversity shapes Montreal's identity within Quebec.
Episode 72 · The Difference Between Spoken and Written FrenchB1 · 4:15This episode explores the major differences between spoken and written French, explaining why everyday speech often diverges from formal grammar rules, standard spelling, and textbook norms—highlighting regional variation, contractions, informal syntax, and the legitimacy of diverse spoken forms.
Episode 73 · Why Quebec French Is So Hard to LearnB1 · 2:47This episode explains how linguistic insecurity—rooted in longstanding criticism of Quebec French as 'non-standard'—leads many Quebecers to reject teaching their own spoken variety, making authentic learning resources scarce for learners.
Episode 74 · Quebec French Accents ExplainedB1 · 4:34This episode explores the diversity of Quebec French accents, distinguishing between eastern and western varieties, the 'standard' Quebec accent (distinct from European French), and how social factors like region, education, and class influence pronunciation. It also highlights specific phonetic markers like 'poteau', 'baleine', and 'arrête'.
Episode 75 · 5 Key Tips to Understand Quebec FrenchB1 · 4:04This episode explains five essential features of spoken Quebec French: the silent 'e' and omission of 'ne' in negation, disappearing consonants (like 'l', 'r', and 'u'), common informal vocabulary shared with European French, key pronunciation traits (vowel openness, diphthongs, regional accents), and the distinctive use of 'tu' in questions.
Episode 76 · I Love Red Pandas!B1 · 4:31This episode introduces red pandas, showing them in their bamboo forest habitat, and explains common French pronunciation contractions like 'c't'un', 'c'était', and 'c'est' that occur in natural, fast speech.
Episode 77 · The Secret to Understanding Spoken FrenchB1 · 2:25This episode explains the phenomenon of the 'mute e' dropping in spoken French—a fundamental feature of natural pronunciation across all French-speaking regions, including Quebec and France.
Episode 78 · Kitchen Vocabulary in Quebec FrenchB1 · 3:48This episode presents common kitchen items and their French names, highlighting distinctive Quebec French terms like 'sink' for 'évier', 'bodum' for French press, 'guenille' for dish towel, and 'frigidaire' for refrigerator.
Episode 79 · What Do You Call This in French?B1 · 1:32This episode explores different French words for 'bandage' or 'adhesive bandage', focusing on the Quebec French term 'plaster'. It includes real-life usage, pronunciation notes, and explanations of reflexive verb constructions like 'je me suis coupé'.
Episode 80 · Quebec French Pronunciation Secrets: Contractions and Silent EB1 · 4:14This episode focuses on authentic Quebec French pronunciation patterns, including the frequent dropping of the 'l' in subject pronouns (e.g., 'il' → 'y'), elision of silent 'e', and common contractions like 'sur le' → 'su''. It uses excerpts from Denis Villeneuve's interview to demonstrate real spoken features.
Episode 81 · How Quebec French Turns 'Elle' into 'A' in Casual SpeechB1 · 2:17This episode explains a key feature of informal Quebec French pronunciation: the subject pronoun 'elle' is commonly pronounced as 'a' or 'al' (e.g., 'à court' instead of 'elle court'). Using a lighthearted local news clip of a wild turkey chasing a man, it demonstrates this sound shift in natural speech and highlights its importance for understanding native speakers.
Episode 82 · A Magnificent Bookstore in ChinaB1 · 1:45This episode explores the popularity of physical bookstores in China despite the digital age, highlighting their beautiful architecture, cozy reading spaces, child-friendly nooks, and the relaxed atmosphere where people sit, lie down, or browse books and games.
Episode 83 · The Disappearing R Sound in Quebec FrenchB1 · 1:56This episode explains a key feature of informal Quebec French: the silent 'R' at the end of words when preceded by another consonant. It demonstrates this pronunciation rule with common words like 'quatre', 'septembre', 'prendre', 'ministres', and phrases related to dates and everyday life.
Episode 84 · What Does It Feel Like to Be Stared At?B1 · 1:29This episode explains the French expression 'se faire dévisager' — to be stared at intensely — and illustrates it through real-life experiences of foreigners being openly and repeatedly observed in Chengdu, especially in the Tongzilin neighborhood.
Episode 85 · Dinner Time on the Streets of ChengduB1 · 2:21This episode captures everyday life in a Chengdu neighborhood at dinnertime: street food vendors, fresh produce and ingredients sold from mobile trucks and stalls, elderly people relaxing by the river, and the quiet hum of electric vehicles.
Episode 86 · The Chilly Ancient Street JinliB1 · 4:13Foreign visitors stroll through the historic Jinli Street in China, shivering in the cold while commenting on locals' loud speech habits and how even indoor spaces feel freezing due to open doors.
Episode 87 · Noodles and Coffee in Chengdu, ChinaB1 · 1:37This episode explores a local noodle restaurant in Chengdu, China, featuring spicy noodles with pickled vegetables and an Americano coffee, while comparing their prices and highlighting how coffee is pricier than meals in everyday eateries.
Episode 88 · My Weekend Trip to Quebec CityB1 · 2:58The speaker recounts a recent weekend trip to Quebec City with her friend Yiyi, a Chinese teacher. She describes arriving by train, walking in the rain along Saint-Joseph Street in Saint-Roch, and climbing steep stairs between Lower Town and Upper Town — highlighting the city's charm despite the cold, wet weather.
Episode 89 · The 'Snowball Effect' French YouTube ChannelB1 · 1:53This episode introduces the Quebec French YouTube channel 'L'Effet Balle de Neige', created by two experienced French-as-a-second-language teachers. It highlights their well-structured, engaging videos on Quebec French pronunciation and daily communication, including examples like the colloquial use of 'être' and a lighthearted snowy-neighbor conversation.
Episode 90 · A Highway Rest Stop in QuebecB1 · 1:39This episode introduces a highway rest stop in Quebec, explaining its purpose, facilities (like non-potable water and pet restrictions), and features the vibrant autumn maple foliage along the road.
Episode 91 · Quebec French Linguistic GemsB1 · 2:02This episode introduces distinctive Quebec and Acadian French expressions, including vocabulary like 'débarbouillette' (washcloth), 'champlure' (faucet), and contractions like 'yainc' (from 'rien que'), highlighting sociolinguistic variation without judgment.
Episode 92 · Getting Ready to Leave for China from MontrealB1 · 1:32The speaker explains they are currently in Montreal, waiting for Chinese visas and temporarily staying with family and friends after leaving their previous apartment. They also mention the start of the academic year and promote free Quebec French learning videos available on Patreon and YouTube.
Episode 93 · A Stroll Through Sofia's City CenterB1 · 2:27The speaker walks through Sofia's city center, describing a lively street food truck with live jazz music, navigating streets and landmarks while reflecting on changing routines before leaving Bulgaria.
Episode 94 · Misha the Cat on Saint-Stéphane Street in SofiaB1 · 4:01This episode features a lighthearted, affectionate encounter with Misha, a well-known stray cat on Saint-Stéphane Street in Sofia—calling her, observing her hiding and napping, playfully teasing her, and sharing local life including nearby restaurants.
Episode 95 · Exploring Warsaw's Old Town and Historic FortificationsB1 · 3:34This episode takes viewers on a walking tour of Warsaw's historic Old Town, showcasing ancient fortifications, vividly colored buildings, ornate façades, and local street scenes—including humorous observations about decaying fruit and quirky architectural details.
Frenchpresso III
Episode 1 · Agen Workshop in France for Language TeachersB1 · 1:27The speaker shares their excitement about traveling to Agen in southwestern France to attend a week-long conference for language teachers focused on comprehensible input. They will present on creating educational videos like Frenchpresso and look forward to learning local accents, cuisine, and connecting with fellow educators.
Episode 2 · Celebrating 100 Patreon SupportersB1 · 1:14The host celebrates reaching 100 Patreon subscribers, explains how this support sustains their French-learning content, and expresses heartfelt gratitude—highlighting the community's role in making their work meaningful and impactful.
Episode 3 · A French Teacher Perfect for BeginnersB1 · 1:29This episode introduces French teacher Alice Ayel and her excellent slow-paced, beginner-friendly videos that use story listening techniques, simple vocabulary, clear articulation, drawings, and gestures to aid comprehension. It also mentions her intermediate-level travel videos and 'Pause Café' conversations with native speakers.
Episode 4 · The Hockey Sweater: A Canadian Animated Short FilmB1 · 1:17This episode introduces the animated short film 'The Hockey Sweater' by Canada's National Film Board, adapted from a beloved children's story about a young boy who orders a hockey sweater and experiences a small but meaningful childhood moment.
Episode 5 · Saint-Jean-Baptiste: Quebec's National HolidayB1 · 1:44This episode introduces Quebec's National Holiday, Saint-Jean-Baptiste, explaining its origins in pagan summer solstice celebrations, its Catholic adaptation, and modern traditions like bonfires, concerts, and family gatherings.
Episode 6 · A YouTube Trick to Learn French with Bilingual SubtitlesB1 · 1:51This episode explains a practical YouTube technique for learning French: using the built-in transcript panel to display synchronized bilingual subtitles (e.g., French and English) without repeatedly clicking the settings wheel—just click the three dots and select 'Open transcript'.
Episode 7 · An Electric Shock ExperienceB1 · 1:33The speaker recounts a personal anecdote about getting an electric shock at age sixteen while trying to plug in an electric metronome in a dimly lit living room.
Episode 8 · Three Quebec French Slang Words: Char, Capoter, EnfirouaperB1 · 1:39This episode introduces three Quebec French slang words—'char', 'capoter', and 'enfirouaper'—focusing on the meaning and usage of 'enfirouaper', its synonyms like 'se faire avoir', related expressions, and its literary appearance in a Quebec novel.
Episode 9 · Robert Charlebois: A Pioneer of Quebec French SongB1 · 1:49This episode introduces Robert Charlebois, a legendary Quebec singer who pioneered the use of joual—the informal, colloquial French of Montreal—in popular music, helping to legitimize and celebrate Quebec's linguistic identity.
Episode 10 · Army Day in Sofia, BulgariaB1 · 1:52The host stands outside the Alexander Nevski Cathedral in Sofia, Bulgaria, watching military aircraft fly past during Army Day celebrations. She describes the loud noise, the crowd, a small military band, and the reactions of dogs and car alarms to the sound.
Episode 11 · A Barber Shop Joke in Easy FrenchB1 · 1:33This episode tells a lighthearted, easy-to-follow joke set in a barber shop, featuring natural French dialogue about choice and wit.
Episode 12 · Quebec French Contraction 'C't-un'B1 · 1:39This episode introduces the common spoken Quebec French contraction 'c't-un' (for 'c'est un/une'), illustrating it with everyday examples like flowers (tulips, roses, pansies), cars (a Trabant), and urban scenes (streets, parks, sidewalks) in Sofia.
Episode 13 · The English Loanword 'Zipper' in FrenchB1 · 1:30This episode explores the English loanword 'zipper' in French, demonstrating its verb conjugations (zipper, dézipper, rezipper) and explaining why it's commonly used instead of the formal French terms 'fermeture éclair' or 'fermeture à glissière'.
Episode 14 · Celebrating Two Years of Frenchpresso!B1 · 2:02The host celebrates two years of Frenchpresso, highlighting the daily French learning videos, Patreon subscription benefits including VIP access, and the addition of English subtitles to support language learning.
Episode 15 · I Can't Wait! (Québécois French Expression)B1 · 2:14This episode explains the common French expression "j'ai hâte" — meaning "I can't wait" or "I'm excited for" — with focus on its Québécois pronunciation (including vowel length and diphthong variation) and three grammatical structures: "j'ai hâte à...", "j'ai hâte de...", and "j'ai hâte que...".
Episode 16 · Jean Leloup: A Legendary Quebec Rock SingerB1 · 2:01This episode introduces Jean Leloup, a celebrated Quebec singer-songwriter known for his rebellious rock persona, eclectic musical style, and iconic songs like 'En 1990' and 'Ballade à Toronto'. It touches on his childhood in Algeria, career evolution, and cultural significance.
Episode 17 · Joe Dassin: The Iconic French SingerB1 · 2:22This episode introduces Joe Dassin, a beloved French singer known for his romantic ballads and timeless hits like 'Aux Champs-Élysées' and 'Les Petits pains au chocolat.' It highlights his American origins, multilingualism, rich cultural heritage, and the linguistic value of his songs—especially for learning the imperfect tense.
Episode 18 · My YouTube Channel Is Now Monetized!B1 · 1:34The host shares her excitement about finally meeting YouTube's monetization requirements after over three years of creating videos. She explains how ads—placed at the beginning, middle, or end—and Patreon subscriptions now form her two income streams.
Episode 19 · I Just Got My COVID-19 Vaccine!B1 · 1:43The speaker shares her experience getting vaccinated against COVID-19 at Pirogov Hospital in Sofia, describing the location, her mild anxiety about medical settings, absence of side effects so far, and hopes for vaccine passports to ease international travel.
Episode 20 · Our Feline FriendsB1 · 2:14This episode shows the host feeding stray cats during the pandemic, introducing several cats with different coat colors and personalities—like a black female, a gray-and-white cat, a long-haired one, and a ruddy-and-white adolescent who's always hungry.
Episode 21 · COVID Vaccination and a Pandemic JokeB1 · 1:06This episode discusses the temporary suspension of COVID-19 vaccinations in Bulgaria due to AstraZeneca supply issues and shares a lighthearted pandemic-related joke about travel plans.
Episode 22 · I Miss You: How Quebec French Expresses LongingB1 · 1:33This episode explains the Quebec French expression 'je m'ennuie de...' — used to convey missing someone, somewhere, or something — with everyday examples like missing Montreal, a friend, or Thailand.
Episode 23 · Two Meatballs Play Hide-and-SeekB1 · 1:17This episode features a short, classic French pun-based joke about two meatballs playing hide-and-seek, highlighting the homophonic wordplay between 'où t’as caché' (where did you hide?) and 'haché' (minced), offering light listening practice with cultural humor.
Episode 24 · Quebec Nature and Self-SufficiencyB1 · 1:33This episode introduces Audran, a friend who creates beautiful videos showcasing Quebec's natural landscapes and his self-sufficient lifestyle—hunting, cooking, smoking meat, and even making soap from animal fat—blending ecology, food culture, and traditional skills.
Episode 25 · My French Video Equipment SetupB1 · 1:46The speaker introduces the equipment used to produce French learning videos, including a teleprompter for reading scripts smoothly and a high-quality microphone for clear audio. They explain how these tools improve video quality and production efficiency.
Episode 26 · Mommy Daddy: A Bilingual Song About Language LossB1 · 1:37This episode presents the Quebecois song 'Mommy Daddy', which tells the poignant story of a little girl losing her French language amid English dominance in Canada. It explores linguistic identity, cultural assimilation, and bilingual expression.
Episode 27 · Celebrating Three Years of French Learning on YouTubeB1 · 2:05The host celebrates three years of her French-learning YouTube channel, recounting its evolution: from travel vlogs to daily Frenchpresso videos, linguistic capsules, and in-depth Québécois French lessons. She thanks learners for their support and emphasizes the value of comprehensible input for language progress.
Episode 28 · I'm Always ColdB1 · 1:42This episode introduces the French adjective 'frileux' (for men) or 'frileuse' (for women), meaning someone who always feels cold. The speaker describes her winter outfit, habits like wearing hoods and scarves, and how the word perfectly describes her sensitivity to cold — all set against a chilly outdoor backdrop.
Episode 29 · A Swedish Fan's Heartwarming InvitationB1 · 1:28A Swedish fan who once worked in Montreal sent a heartfelt thank-you video and invited the host to visit Sweden to practice French together and enjoy Swedish meatballs.
Episode 30 · The Song "À Paris"B1 · 1:49This episode introduces Israeli singer Riff Cohen and her joyful, oriental-sounding French song "À Paris." It highlights everyday spoken French features, such as the contraction "y a pas" for "il n'y a pas" and the elision of "l" in "il fait froid."
Episode 31 · Happy New Year! Traditional Quebecois Music for New Year's DayB1 · 2:19This episode explores New Year's traditions in Quebec, focusing on family celebrations on January 1st—including festive meals, gift-giving, and lively traditional music played on accordion, harmonica, spoons, bombarde, and piano. It highlights folk singer Laboduc and her popular song 'C'est dans ta dure d'aller.'
Episode 32 · A Look Back at 2020B1 · 1:53The speaker reflects on the challenges of 2020, including the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on daily life, canceled travels, illness, and the loss of a family member during lockdowns.
Episode 33 · Christmas Market Food Tour in SofiaB1 · 1:27This episode explores German-inspired food at a Christmas market in Sofia, Bulgaria—including pretzels, sauerkraut with sausage (currywurst), and mulled wine—while describing the organized, pandemic-adapted layout and lively atmosphere.
Episode 34 · A Christmas JokeB1 · 1:38A father in Gaspésie jokingly tells his adult children he and their mother are divorcing—just to get them to visit for Christmas. The humorous misunderstanding highlights family bonds and holiday traditions.
Episode 35 · Christmas Market in SofiaB1 · 3:01The host walks through the Christmas market in Sofia, showing festive decorations, handmade goods, food stalls, and explaining pandemic-related restrictions like takeaway-only food and mask-wearing.
Episode 36 · A Quebec Joke About Wood and WaterB1 · 1:17This episode presents a classic Quebecois joke set in a bar: four men enter one by one, each increasingly soaked—because they all claim to have 'gone to get wood in the lake'—until the punchline reveals a playful pun on 'mouillé du bois' (wet from the wood).
Episode 37 · Christmas Market in Sofia During the PandemicB1 · 1:32This episode shows how the Christmas market in Sofia, Bulgaria, adapted during the pandemic: limited entry, no on-site dining (food must be eaten outdoors in the park), and cancellation of live performances.
Episode 38 · Three COVID-19 Jokes in FrenchB1 · 1:47This episode presents three lighthearted, culturally grounded French jokes about life during the COVID-19 pandemic, illustrating wordplay (e.g., 'apéritif' vs. blood types), Quebec French slang ('pognier' meaning 'to get' or 'understand'), and relatable lockdown experiences.
Episode 39 · The Roman Wall in SofiaB1 · 1:53This episode explores a historic wall in Sofia, Bulgaria, commonly called the 'Roman Wall' but actually dating from the Ottoman era. The host walks through the Lozennetz neighborhood, shows nearby cafés and restaurants—including a Chinese one—and visits a lively Saturday market featuring local organic produce and friendly vendors.
Episode 40 · A Scenic Water Fountain Path in Gorna Banya, SofiaB1 · 1:31This episode explores the small town of Gorna Banya near Sofia, Bulgaria—known for its historic abandoned bathhouse, free high-quality spring water fountains, and scenic paths with fresh mountain air from nearby Mount Vitosha.
Episode 41 · The Sofia Synagogue and Historic Market HallsB1 · 1:31This episode explores the architecture of Sofia's grand synagogue, compares it with other religious buildings like churches and mosques, shows the historic market halls (Les Halles), and briefly recounts how Bulgaria refused to deport its Jewish population during World War II.
Episode 42 · My New PassportB1 · 1:12The speaker shares her experience picking up a new Canadian passport at the consulate in Bulgaria, notes the different issuance locations of her old and new passports (Seoul vs. Bucharest), and explains that she renewed it abroad due to COVID-related restrictions in Canada. She also briefly mentions the local habit of wearing masks on the elbow.
Episode 43 · Tapas in Sofia: A Spanish-Inspired AfternoonB1 · 2:12This episode explores Casa Ibérica, a cozy Spanish-inspired grocery-restaurant in Sofia, Bulgaria, where the host enjoys tapas—chorizo, jamón, cheese, and crispy mini baguettes—with rosé wine on a sunny terrace. It highlights everyday life, local streets, and quality-of-life moments in a European city.
Episode 44 · An Almost Empty Airplane During the PandemicB1 · 2:06The speaker describes flying during the pandemic on a nearly empty plane, explaining special health measures like masks, gloves, disinfectant wipes, and modified meal service, as well as personal travel habits for comfort and safety.
Episode 45 · I Probably Had COVID-19B1 · 2:44The speaker recounts falling severely ill in late February and early March 2020, before widespread testing was available, and compares her symptoms—fever, then cough, then diarrhea—and disease progression to newly published research on COVID-19's distinct symptom order and early circulation.
Episode 46 · Riquet Café in Leipzig, GermanyB1 · 1:38This episode visits the historic Riquet Café in Leipzig, Germany—a famous spot partially destroyed during WWII bombing. The host describes its unique architecture, vintage posters, renovation, and surrounding landmarks like Bach's burial church.
Episode 47 · The Pope's Visit to SofiaB1 · 1:40This episode captures live, on-the-ground reporting of the Pope's visit to Sofia, Bulgaria: crowds waiting, police presence, preparations at Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, and speculation about timing — all narrated in simple, slow French.
Episode 48 · Cockburn Street in DrummondvilleB1 · 2:36This episode takes a leisurely walk along Cockburn Street in Drummondville, Quebec, highlighting beautiful historic houses with gables and arched windows, dedicated bike lanes, distinctive lampposts, and local urban details.
Episode 49 · Drummondville Shopping Mall TourB1 · 3:07This episode takes a relaxed walk through Drummondville's Les Promenades shopping mall, describing its layout, stores (including telecom kiosks, food court, and Belgian/Quebec brands), COVID-19 safety measures, and amenities like nursing rooms and air conditioning.
Episode 50 · Happy Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day!B1 · 2:07This episode explains Quebec's Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day—its history as both a Catholic feast and a pre-Christian summer solstice celebration, traditional festivities like bonfires, concerts, and public holidays, and how it's observed in contemporary Quebec.
Episode 51 · Drummondville Train StationB1 · 1:47This episode walks through downtown Drummondville, introducing the train station, railway tracks, a nearby bistro called 'Le Bistro de la Gare,' and Lindsay Street—the city's main thoroughfare.
Episode 52 · Rhubarb: Vegetable or Fruit?B1 · 1:57This episode introduces rhubarb, explaining its botanical classification as a vegetable but culinary use as a fruit. It covers which parts are edible (stems only), the toxicity of leaves, traditional ways of eating it (e.g., dipped in sugar), and harvesting for compote.
Episode 53 · First Grocery Shopping Trip Since the PandemicB1 · 1:17The speaker takes viewers on a tour of an IGA supermarket, highlighting their favorite produce section, the organic food area (named Rachel Berry), and pandemic-related safety measures like hand-washing stations, floor markings for social distancing, and directional arrows for shopping carts.
Episode 54 · My Girl Guide BlanketB1 · 2:46The speaker shares the story of a large, warm blanket originally from her Girl Guide days, modified by her father with a zipper. She recalls camping trips with fellow Guides and teachers, and recounts how her French teacher in first grade insisted on adding French accents to her English-born name 'Hélène'.
Episode 55 · When Colors Clash: The 'Chicken Comb' Fashion BlunderB1 · 1:55This episode explains the French idiom 'crotte de poule'—used humorously to describe horribly clashing clothing colors. Through a lighthearted personal anecdote about an outfit mishap, it explores the expression's meaning, usage, and cultural context.
Episode 56 · Two Great French Learning Resources for Intermediate LearnersB1 · 2:19This episode recommends two French teachers' YouTube channels and podcasts designed for intermediate learners, featuring comprehensible input, clear pronunciation, and subtitles to help connect written words with spoken sounds.
Episode 57 · The Celanese Factory Story in DrummondvilleB1 · 2:37This episode explores the historic Celanese factory in Drummondville, Quebec, sharing personal family memories: the speaker’s grandfather worked there for 34 years, his mother worked in its kitchens, and his parents met in its cafeteria — a touching portrait of industrial heritage and intergenerational connection.
Episode 58 · Happy Mother's Day!B1 · 0:34This episode celebrates Mother's Day in France, offering warm wishes to all mothers—including the speaker's mother and mother-in-law—and a virtual bouquet of flowers.
Episode 59 · A Slow Drive Through DrummondvilleB1 · 2:57This episode takes listeners on a relaxed car ride through Drummondville, Quebec, pointing out local landmarks including apartment blocks, a former library, a cobbler’s shop, the post office, supermarkets, a public market, Saint-Joseph Church, and a school — all while describing everyday urban life and infrastructure.
Episode 60 · Trying to Make a Homemade Face MaskB1 · 1:56The speaker tries making a homemade face mask from a scarf, experimenting with different folding methods and tying techniques. They describe practical challenges like breathability, heat, moisture buildup, and interference with glasses.
Episode 61 · Tribute to Hospital StaffB1 · 1:57This episode shows a heartwarming tribute in Drummondville, Quebec, where residents gather outside a hospital playing music and displaying a rainbow banner to thank doctors, nurses, and healthcare workers during the pandemic.
Episode 62 · One Year of Frenchpresso!B1 · 2:53The host celebrates one year of the Frenchpresso channel, reflecting on having produced over 300 daily videos and highlighting improvements such as adding English subtitles and Patreon-exclusive learning notes with vocabulary, grammar, and cultural context.
Episode 63 · What Is 'Ouate'?B1 · 1:35This episode introduces the French word 'ouate'—a soft, lightweight material commonly used to fill vitamin bottles and prevent pills from moving around; it also shows a creative use: shredding it for Christmas tree 'snow' decoration.
Episode 64 · Quebec French Words in My VideosB1 · 1:44This episode introduces common Quebec French words like 'pis', 'tanné', and 'niaiseux', and explains how native speakers naturally drop 'ne' in spoken negations (e.g., 'j'aime pas' instead of 'je n'aime pas').
Episode 65 · Which Languages Do I Speak?B1 · 1:50The speaker explains the three languages they speak fluently—French (native), English (learned young), and Spanish (learned at university and practiced in Mexico)—and describes their basic knowledge of several other languages, including Mandarin, Korean, Bulgarian, Bengali, Japanese, Portuguese, and the Devanagari script.
Episode 66 · The Tombs of the Kings in PaphosB1 · 2:01This episode explores the ancient Greek funerary complex known as the Tombs of the Kings in Paphos, Cyprus, describing its 4th-century BCE rock-cut architecture, columns, burial chambers, and historical significance.
Episode 67 · Turkish Coffee in Northern CyprusB1 · 1:50This episode explores a charming Turkish café in Nicosia, Northern Cyprus, featuring strong Turkish coffee served with rose water, lokum sweets, and refreshing water. The host highlights the café's cozy atmosphere, vintage decor—including an old accordion, rotary phone, and cinema posters—and cultural elements like whirling dervishes.
Episode 68 · The Birthplace of Aphrodite in CyprusB1 · 2:06This episode explores the Rock of Aphrodite in Cyprus, explaining the ancient Greek myth that the goddess of love was born from sea foam near these rocks and how it became a pilgrimage site in antiquity.
Episode 69 · A Heavy Snowfall in SofiaB1 · 1:52The host shows snow-covered ancient Roman and Greek ruins in Sofia's Doctors' Park, describes the heavy snowfall, cold temperatures, and her plan to escape to Cyprus for warmer weather and a well-deserved break.
Episode 70 · French Subtitles and English Translations for Better LearningB1 · 1:54This episode announces the addition of French and English subtitles to all Frenchpresso videos to support language learning. It explains how learners can use them step-by-step—first listening without subtitles, then with French subtitles to reinforce comprehension, and finally with English subtitles to clarify unfamiliar words.
Episode 71 · A Cat Café in Sofia, BulgariaB1 · 1:45The speaker visits a cat café in Sofia, Bulgaria, introducing several cats—some from Spain, others rescued from abandonment or illness—and explains how the café operates, including its pricing and cozy atmosphere.
Episode 72 · An Outdoor Spa in the Middle of WinterB1 · 1:33This episode visits an outdoor spa near Sofia, Bulgaria, where people relax in 49°C hot water despite freezing winter temperatures (around 0–1°C). The speaker describes the scenic lakeside setting, nearby mountains, and local atmosphere—including friends from Turkey and young people drinking beer—while humorously declining to join them in the water.
Episode 73 · Two YouTube Tips to Learn FrenchB1 · 2:01This episode shares two practical YouTube tips for learning French: adjusting video playback speed (slower or faster) and accessing the full transcript via the 'Open transcript' feature, including timestamp toggling and copy-paste functionality.
Episode 74 · A Tiny Corner Store with Fridges on the SidewalkB1 · 1:22This episode introduces a small, unconventional corner store where refrigerators are placed on the sidewalk to save space. Some fridges are magnetically locked and require payment before unlocking to retrieve your purchase.
Episode 75 · Happy New Year WishesB1 · 1:22The host warmly wishes viewers a happy and prosperous 2020, offering blessings for love, joy, health, success, and happiness — and specifically encourages their French learning journey while expressing gratitude to supporters.
Episode 76 · My Berlin SouvenirB1 · 1:46The speaker shares the story of a bottle opener they bought as a souvenir during their first trip to Berlin—unattractive but functional and meaningful, symbolizing a joyful travel memory.
Episode 77 · An Evening Walk in SofiaB1 · 2:11A relaxed evening walk through a small park and cobblestone streets in central Sofia, featuring a cocktail bar, local shops, fruit vendors, restaurants, and festive Christmas lights.
Episode 78 · The Treasure Room at Sofia's Archaeological MuseumB1 · 2:03This episode explores the Treasure Room of Sofia's Archaeological Museum in Bulgaria, showcasing ancient Thracian artifacts including gold masks, jewelry, swords, silver cups, and a 4th-century BC gold wreath, along with early Cyrillic manuscripts.
Episode 79 · Sofia's Christmas MarketB1 · 2:11This episode explores Sofia's Christmas market, highlighting German-inspired foods like sausages and sauerkraut, spiced mulled wine (glühwein), handmade Christmas cards, chocolate sculptures, gingerbread houses, and festive atmosphere.
Episode 80 · Sofia's Thermal Springs and Public BathsB1 · 1:48This episode explores Sofia's natural thermal springs in the city center, where locals collect mineral-rich hot water from public taps; it also shows the historic public baths and nearby mosque.
Episode 81 · Thank You to Our Patreon SupportersB1 · 1:34The host expresses heartfelt gratitude to Patreon supporters, explaining how their contributions help fund better equipment and more French learning videos—including daily lessons since April and weekend bonus content.
Episode 82 · French Vegetable NamesB1 · 2:14This episode takes place at a market and introduces the French names for common vegetables, such as garlic, ginger, onions, carrots, zucchini, eggplant, peppers, tomatoes, radishes, and more.
Episode 83 · On Set: Filming a Short Movie in LeipzigB1 · 1:30The speaker takes listeners on a tour of a short film set in Leipzig, Germany, introducing background actors, the sound technician, lighting, camera setup, and main cast—including the director—and shares her excitement as an extra.
Episode 84 · My Bounty from Sofia's Poduyane MarketB1 · 2:17This episode takes you to Sofia's Poduyane farmers' market, where the host presents freshly bought local produce—including broccoli, beets with greens, Bulgarian tomatoes, cucumbers, sweet peppers, grapes, sirene and kashkaval cheeses, farm eggs, and raw honey—highlighting their quality, taste, and seasonal abundance.
Episode 85 · Robots in Sofia: A Fun, Lighthearted Glimpse at RoboticsB1 · 2:26This episode offers a cheerful, slow-paced tour of a robotics exhibition in Sofia, Bulgaria, featuring talking, dancing, and swimming robots—including a fish-shaped robot in an aquarium—presented with curiosity and light humor.
Episode 86 · French Fruit Names Review at the SupermarketB1 · 2:26This episode reviews common French fruit names while shopping at a supermarket, covering bananas, apples, grapes, oranges, and more, with notes on related terms like 'raisin sec' (raisins) and 'pruneau' (prune).
Episode 87 · The Street Cats of SofiaB1 · 1:40This episode explores the friendly street cats of Sofia, Bulgaria, showing how restaurant owners and staff regularly feed them, and how the cats comfortably nap in public spaces like restaurant counters and sunlit sidewalks.
Frenchpresso II
Episode 1 · The Expression "J'ai mon voyage" in Quebec FrenchB1 · 1:50This episode explains the Quebec French expression "j'ai mon voyage" in two common uses: first, to humorously indicate having taken many trips (especially flights); second, to express disbelief or astonishment at something unexpected.
Episode 2 · Two Playful French Wordplay Expressions from QuebecB1 · 2:18This episode explores two humorous Quebec French wordplay expressions: 'joue aux dames' (playing checkers vs. fearing failure) and 'en se plantant qu'on devient cultivé' (literally 'by planting oneself, one becomes cultured'), unpacking their literal meanings, puns, and cultural insights.
Episode 3 · Rue des Cornières in Agen: A Charming Historic Street with Great RestaurantsB1 · 3:13This episode explores the picturesque Rue des Cornières in Agen, France — highlighting its historic stone arches, narrow one-way layout, and beloved local restaurants like L'Artichaut, Monsieur Jeannot, and Les Copains d'abord. It also describes regional dishes such as chèvre chaud and magret de canard, and explains French dining terms like 'menu' versus 'carte'.
Episode 4 · Understanding Levels of Language in French: Formal, Neutral, and InformalB1 · 2:15This episode explains the three main levels of language in French—formal, neutral, and informal—using everyday vocabulary examples from Quebec French, such as 'aspirateur' vs. 'balayeuse', 'livre' vs. 'bouquin', and 'vérifier' vs. 'checker'. It highlights how word choice changes with context, register, and regional usage.
Episode 5 · French Language Registers: Formal, Neutral, and InformalB1 · 4:08This episode explains the three main French language registers—formal, neutral (standard), and informal/familiar—with examples from Quebec French. It illustrates how vocabulary, pronunciation (e.g., contractions like 'j'sais pas'), and expressions (e.g., 'moppe' vs. 'serpillière') vary by context and social setting, emphasizing appropriateness over correctness.
Episode 6 · A Drawbridge in Saint-Jean-sur-RichelieuB1 · 2:19This episode explores the newly built Gouin drawbridge in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec, explaining how its lifting mechanism works — including the counterweight system — and describing the Richelieu River and adjacent canal.
Episode 7 · Quebec French Pronunciation: Contracting 'à la banque'B1 · 1:31This episode demonstrates how native Quebec French speakers naturally contract phrases like 'à la banque' to 'à banque' in everyday speech, using real examples from major banks in Montreal.
Episode 8 · Quebec French Contractions: 'Ch't'à' and MoreB1 · 1:43This episode explains common Quebec French contractions, including how 'je suis' becomes 'chu' and then 'ch't'à' before vowels, with pronunciation tips and everyday examples like 'j'étais en train de...'.
Episode 9 · A Canadian French Learning Book for Quebec FrenchB1 · 2:01This episode introduces an intermediate-level Canadian French textbook focused on Quebec French, featuring three interconnected story parts, vocabulary lists with bolded expressions, comprehension questions, and verb exercises—all designed to build language skills and cultural understanding.
Episode 10 · Bell Centre and Windsor Station in MontrealB1 · 1:53This episode showcases two iconic Montreal landmarks: the Bell Centre, home to hockey games including the famous Montreal Canadiens, and the historic Windsor Station, a beautifully preserved former railway station with notable architecture.
Episode 11 · The House Where I Grew Up in EdmundstonB1 · 2:22The speaker walks through their childhood neighborhood in Edmundston, Quebec, describing the paper mill, the quiet street where they played, and how their former home and surrounding trees have changed over time.
Episode 12 · Montreal After the Snow: A Winter Walk in the PlateauB1 · 2:02The speaker walks through Montreal's Plateau Mont-Royal neighborhood after a snowfall, pointing out landmarks like Mount Royal, Saint-Denis and Rachel streets, bike lanes, local businesses (Barouf bar, Rachelle Berry natural food store), and everyday winter conditions like slush and snowbanks.
Episode 13 · Marienplatz in MunichB1 · 2:30The speaker arrives at Munich's Marienplatz, marveling at the Gothic church, historic 17th-century column, and constantly chiming bell tower. They explain local transit (S-Bahn vs. U-Bahn), share their tight two-hour city visit before returning to the airport, and mention grabbing a beer.
Episode 14 · The Song "An Elephant in Neguac"B1 · 1:40This episode introduces a humorous Quebec French song about a real-life misunderstanding: a singer mishears "l'île au foin" (Hay Island) as "un éléphant" (an elephant) due to regional accent differences, sparking a playful search for an elephant in the Acadian village of Neguac, New Brunswick.
Episode 15 · A Grape Roll and a Croissant in SofiaB1 · 1:23The speaker enjoys a grape roll and a butter croissant from Dobrev, a Bulgarian dairy and bakery in Sofia, while describing the nearby Doctors' Park and its ancient Roman, Greek, and Bulgarian Renaissance ruins.
Episode 16 · Why I Love Living in SofiaB1 · 2:23The speaker takes viewers on a walk through Sofia's streets, highlighting everyday urban life: tram lines, historic architecture, small textile shops, bakeries, convenience stores (with alcohol, as is common in Europe), snow-dusted rooftops, and the presence of trees and airplanes even in winter.
Episode 17 · The Raketa Restaurant in SofiaB1 · 2:22This episode explores the Raketa restaurant in Sofia, Bulgaria, showcasing its distinctive interior decor filled with vintage objects from the communist era, including old TVs, refrigerators, typewriters, and more.
Episode 18 · Living Abroad and Building Cross-Cultural FriendshipsB1 · 5:12Hélène shares her experiences living in six countries, reflecting on cultural adaptation, food differences between Canada and Bulgaria, and how to welcome newcomers with openness and curiosity. She emphasizes intercultural friendship as a path to mutual understanding and personal growth.
Episode 19 · Four Natural Ways to Ask Someone to Repeat in FrenchB1 · 1:43This episode teaches four natural French phrases to ask someone to repeat themselves, ordered from most to least polite: 'pardon', 'comment?', 'quoi?', and 'hein?'. It explains when and with whom each is appropriate.
Episode 20 · Quebec French Pronunciation FeaturesB1 · 2:02This episode explores the key factors shaping informal Quebec French pronunciation: geography (e.g., east vs. west of Quebec City), social class, age (e.g., rolled R in older generations), and context (formal vs. familiar speech).
Episode 21 · Happy New Year and French Learning GiftB1 · 1:29The host offers warm New Year wishes for 2023 and gifts listeners five free Frenchpresso videos to help improve their French listening and thinking in French.
Episode 22 · Quebec's Old Town Houses Right on the SidewalkB1 · 1:35This episode showcases how houses in Quebec's historic towns are built extremely close to the sidewalk—a distinctive architectural feature rooted in historical practice and grandfathered legal rights. It explains why older homes retain this layout while newer constructions follow stricter setback regulations.
Episode 23 · French Contraction 'j'étais' in Quebec FrenchB1 · 1:30This episode explains the informal contraction 'j'étais' in Quebec French, illustrating it with personal anecdotes about student life at McGill University in Montreal, neighborhood names, shopping centers, and weather comparisons.
Episode 24 · Locking and Unlocking the DoorB1 · 1:22This episode explains the Quebec French expressions 'barrer la porte' (to lock the door) and 'débarrer la porte' (to unlock/open the door), tracing their origins to the physical wooden bar used for securing doors, and contrasts them with standard French terms like 'verrouiller'.
Episode 25 · Simple Future vs. Near Future in French GrammarB1 · 1:38This episode explains the key difference between the simple future and near future tenses in French, highlighting how native speakers choose between them based on certainty, concreteness, and time proximity—especially in spoken French.
Episode 26 · Autumn Park Walk and Language Learning InterviewB1 · 1:26The host walks through a beautiful autumn park, describing the yellowing leaves, then introduces an interview she conducted with Alvaro—a Spanish YouTuber based in Poland—about language learning experiences, both as a learner and as a language teacher.
Episode 27 · Looks Good but Lacks Substance: A Quebec French IdiomB1 · 1:40This episode explains the Quebec French idiom 'avoir l'air mais pas la chanson', which means someone appears competent or impressive on the surface but lacks real ability, substance, or authenticity.
Episode 28 · Misha, Our Favorite Cat in SofiaB1 · 1:32This episode introduces Misha, a friendly, plump domestic cat who lives on San Stefano Street in Sofia; the speaker describes her appearance, gentle nature, habits like rubbing against legs and retracting claws, and mentions local landmarks including their favorite café.
Episode 29 · Grass, Weeds, and Culinary Herbs in FrenchB1 · 1:35This episode explores the French word 'herbe' in three everyday contexts: grass (as in lawn), common weeds (like dandelions and plantain—highlighting their edible or medicinal uses), and culinary herbs that add flavor to food.
Episode 30 · Slipping and Tumbling: Quebec French Expressions 's'enfarger' and 'débouler'B1 · 1:40Filmed on a steep street in Valletta, Malta, this episode explains two vivid Quebec French expressions: 's'enfarger' (to trip or stumble) and 'débouler' (to tumble headlong), using real-life context and light humor.
Episode 31 · Mdina, the Medieval City of MaltaB1 · 1:31This episode introduces Mdina, the medieval walled city in Malta, focusing on its historic entrance, stone fortifications, and landmarks like cannons, olive trees, and a pillory. It also notes Mdina's use as a filming location for Game of Thrones and other productions.
Episode 32 · Québec Slang: How to Say 'Money' in Canadian FrenchB1 · 1:44This episode explains the Quebec French slang word 'piasses' for 'dollar' and 'banknote,' traces its origin to the colonial 'piastre,' and demonstrates its usage with Canadian and US currency examples.
Episode 33 · The Merdailou: A Quirky Canal in ToulouseB1 · 1:35This episode explores the 'merdailou'—a charming, narrow medieval canal running through the center of Toulouse—explaining its name, history, and present-day charm. The speaker strolls through winding streets, shares Occitan words like 'escorós' (squirrel), and reflects on local architecture and everyday life.
Episode 34 · Mount Royal and the Drum Circle Statue in MontrealB1 · 2:12This episode explores Mount Royal Park and the Jeanne-Mance Park area in Montreal, highlighting the gentle hill, the iconic drum circle gathering spot, recreational activities like dancing, cycling, and skiing, and views of downtown skyscrapers and urban development.
Episode 35 · Ubisoft Montreal Studio TourB1 · 1:49This episode tours Ubisoft Montreal's headquarters, highlights the Mile End neighborhood, and mentions an employee's career shift from producer to writer. It also points out local Montreal features like milk-carton bike baskets, Boulevard Saint-Laurent, and famous bagel shops on Saint-Viateur and Fairmount streets.
Episode 36 · Discovering Montreal's Mile End NeighborhoodB1 · 1:27This episode introduces Montreal's charming Mile End neighborhood and offers a week of free French-learning videos on YouTube, designed to boost listening comprehension through daily authentic content.
Episode 37 · Taxi Cormier: A Quebec Transport StoryB1 · 1:42This episode introduces Taxi Cormier, a small family-run transportation service connecting Drummondville and Edmundston in Quebec's Acadian region. The speaker describes the minivan ride, its friendly service, historical longevity, and even mentions a documentary about the company.
Episode 38 · Quebec French Vocabulary Walk: Street Scenes in DrummondvilleB1 · 2:21This episode takes a walk through Drummondville, Quebec, introducing authentic local French vocabulary—like 'bicycque' (bike), 'pissenlit' (dandelion), and 'char' (car)—while describing streets, a bike path, flowers, and everyday scenes.
Episode 39 · French Liaisons and Enchainements in Quebec FrenchB1 · 4:08This episode explains two key features of spoken French—liaisons (adding a sound between words) and enchainements (linking sounds across word boundaries)—using examples from Jean Leloup's song 'Ballade à Toronto' and clear phonetic demonstrations.
Episode 40 · The Quebec French Contraction 'Pu' for 'Ne Plus' (Not Anymore)B1 · 2:10This episode explains the Quebec French spoken contraction 'pu' for the negative expression 'ne plus' (not anymore), highlighting how the 'ne' and 'l' are dropped in casual speech, and demonstrates its usage with numerous everyday examples.
Episode 41 · Drop the 'ne' in spoken French negationB1 · 1:55This episode explains how native French speakers omit the 'ne' in informal spoken negation (e.g., 'je sais pas' instead of 'je ne sais pas') and provides numerous everyday examples to train your ear and sound more natural.
Episode 42 · The Giants of Quebec SongB1 · 3:21This episode introduces the most iconic Quebec singers—Félix Leclerc, Gilles Vigneault, and Robert Charlebois—as foundational figures in Quebec song, highlighting their artistic significance, linguistic choices (including joual), and cultural impact, alongside other major artists like Céline Dion, Jean Leloup, and Marjo.
Episode 43 · Quibbling and Quarreling: Quebec French Words for DisputesB1 · 1:45This episode explores distinctive Quebec French vocabulary for disputes and petty arguments, including s'astiner (to quibble), se chicaner (to quarrel), se chamailler (to bicker), la bisbeille (a minor disagreement), and related expressions and usage notes.
Episode 44 · Two Chance Encounters in MontrealB1 · 1:36The speaker shows the beautiful McGill University campus in downtown Montreal and shares two recent heartwarming encounters—being recognized by a former student and a YouTube viewer while out in the city. She warmly invites viewers to say hello if they spot her in person.
Episode 45 · Banana Chocolate Dessert RecipeB1 · 1:26This episode presents an easy banana chocolate dessert recipe, highlighting ingredient substitutions like maple syrup instead of sugar, chocolate chips, and very ripe bananas with brown spots.
Episode 46 · Quebec French: 'gros de' means 'a lot of'B1 · 1:50This episode explains the informal Quebec French expression 'gros de', which means 'a lot of' or 'many', and demonstrates its usage in everyday contexts like weather, food, dishes, and problems.
Episode 47 · Quebec French Expressions for Feeling SleepyB1 · 1:51This episode teaches authentic Quebec French expressions for feeling sleepy or needing sleep, including 'cogner des clous', 'cante', 'caïe', 'j'ai les deux yeux dans le même trou', and 'je ferais pas des vieux os'.
Episode 48 · The Frog Song: A Cultural Anthem of QuebecB1 · 2:11This episode introduces Robert Charlebois's iconic bilingual song 'The Frog Song', exploring its playful surface, authentic Quebec French pronunciation and vocabulary, and its deeper historical resonance with Quebec's Quiet Revolution, linguistic inequality, and evolving cultural identity in the 1970s.
Episode 49 · Quebec Poutine at Giuseppe's RestaurantB1 · 1:42This episode explores Quebec's iconic poutine dish at Giuseppe's restaurant, showcasing the retro diner setting and tasting a small portion—featuring crispy fries, fresh curd cheese from Drummondville, and a distinctive orange-tinged gravy that differs from the traditional brown version.
Episode 50 · Quebec French Contraction 'sa' for 'sur la'B1 · 1:32This episode explains how 'sur la' is commonly contracted to 'sa' in Quebec French due to the dropping of the R in 'sur' and the L in 'la', resulting in a lengthened A sound. It clarifies pronunciation, distinguishes this contraction from the possessive adjective 'sa', and gives everyday examples.
Episode 51 · The Joys of Winter in DrummondvilleB1 · 1:22This episode explores everyday winter activities in Drummondville, Quebec: de-icing recycling bins, using small and large shovels (with verb conjugation), and spotting rabbit tracks in the snow.
Episode 52 · I'm Swamped! (Quebec French Idiom)B1 · 1:57This episode introduces the Quebec French idiom 'on est dans le jus' (meaning 'I'm swamped'), explains why regular video series are paused, and shares upcoming plans including filming in Quebec. It also expresses heartfelt thanks to VIP supporters.
Episode 53 · What Is a CEGEP? Quebec's Unique Post-Secondary Education SystemB1 · 1:38This episode explains the CEGEP system unique to Quebec, covering its two- and three-year programs—general (university-preparatory) and technical (job-ready)—and how it fits into Quebec's 16-year path to a bachelor's degree.
Episode 54 · Quebec French Nasal Vowels ExplainedB1 · 1:37This episode explains the nasal vowels in Quebec French, highlighting how speakers retain four (or possibly five) nasal vowels—unlike many European French speakers who have lost some, such as the /œ̃/ in 'un'. Examples like 'un chien brun', 'du vent', and 'un bon vin blanc' illustrate key pronunciation differences.
Episode 55 · Kitchen Appliances in Quebec FrenchB1 · 2:11This episode introduces common Quebec French terms for kitchen appliances—including poêle (stove), frigidaire (refrigerator), laveuse (washing machine), toaster, bouilloire (kettle), and micro-ondes (microwave)—while highlighting regional vocabulary differences between Quebec and Europe.
Episode 56 · Household Cleaning Vocabulary in Quebec FrenchB1 · 1:35This episode presents Quebec-specific French vocabulary for household cleaning tools—including 'mop', 'chaudière', 'balayeuse', 'porte-poussière', and 'vadrouille'—and contrasts them with standard French terms used in France.
Episode 57 · Quebec French: Feeling Frozen in WinterB1 · 1:19This episode teaches authentic Quebec French vocabulary and expressions for describing cold weather and feeling chilly, including 'gelée', 'frette', 'frileuse', and how wind chill affects perceived temperature.
Episode 58 · Quebec French Pronunciation: The Final T SoundB1 · 1:56This episode explores a distinctive feature of informal Quebec and Canadian French: the addition of a final /t/ sound to certain words, such as 'laid' pronounced as 'lait', 'froid' as 'frois', 'droit' as 'drette', and even 'ici' with an audible /t/. Examples are given in everyday contexts.
Episode 59 · Quebec vs France Pronunciation: The -ère EndingB1 · 1:30This episode explores how the French word ending '-ère' is pronounced differently in Quebec versus France, focusing on vowel relaxation and openness—using examples like 'père', 'mère', and 'grand-mère', and illustrated with a Quebecois song.
Episode 60 · Join My French Learning Community on FacebookB1 · 1:32This episode invites listeners to join a Facebook community for learning French, especially Quebec or Canadian French. It explains the purpose of the group—to share resources, support each other, and connect with native speakers—while noting limitations of other platforms like YouTube for link sharing.
Episode 61 · Quebec French Imperative Mood: Simplified NegationB1 · 1:56This episode explains how imperative verb forms work in Quebec French, focusing on simplified negation—omitting 'ne' and keeping object pronouns in the same position—as compared to standard French.
Episode 62 · Two French Wordplay JokesB1 · 1:52This episode presents two classic French puns that rely on homophones and double meanings—'bon appart' sounding like 'Bonaparte' and 'demande-lui' being misinterpreted as 'what time is it?' instead of 'ask them.'
Episode 63 · An Indoor Skating Rink in MontrealB1 · 1:25This episode introduces an indoor skating rink located inside the 1000 de la Gauchetière skyscraper in downtown Montreal. It highlights year-round skating, ice hockey, and figure skating, with observations about local culture and everyday French vocabulary related to winter sports.
Episode 64 · Hardware Aisle Tour: Common Tools and Supplies in Quebec FrenchB1 · 2:28This episode tours a Dollarama hardware aisle in Drummondville, Quebec, introducing everyday tools like hammers, screwdrivers, pliers, tape measures, and supplies such as duct tape, light bulbs, extension cords, and chair protectors—all with authentic Quebec French vocabulary and pronunciation.
Episode 65 · I'm in Agen, France!B1 · 1:18The speaker introduces Agen, a charming town in southwestern France, shares impressions of its atmosphere and friendly locals, and explains they are attending the Agen Workshop—a conference for language teachers focused on comprehensible input and second language acquisition.
Episode 66 · Holiday Season and Christmas Greetings in Quebec FrenchB1 · 1:08This episode explains the Quebec French expression 'le temps des fêtes'—referring to the Christmas and New Year period—and offers warm holiday greetings. The speaker also announces a special gift: making Frenchpresso videos publicly available and featuring a 'retro' selection of top-rated past episodes.
Episode 67 · The Simple Past Tense in Spoken FrenchB1 · 1:23This episode explores how the French passé simple is occasionally used in spoken French—not just in literature—as a stylistic choice to convey irony, humor, or intellectual flair, especially with the verb 'être' (e.g., 'ce fut'). It focuses on authentic, context-specific usage in Quebec French.
Episode 68 · Interview with a Quebecois Woman on Quebec FrenchB1 · 1:37This episode introduces and discusses Benny Lewis's interview with Geneviève, a Quebecois woman, conducted in Amsterdam. It highlights her perspectives on Quebec French, its differences from European French, and broader reflections on the French language in Quebec and France.
Episode 69 · Sofia's Christmas MarketB1 · 1:29This episode explores Sofia's Christmas market, inspired by German traditions, featuring mulled wine, sausages, sauerkraut, and commemorative mugs—highlighting festive customs and seasonal foods.
Episode 70 · A Cup of Coffee Thanks to Generous SupportersB1 · 1:17The host introduces their first coffee funded by generous supporters on the Ko-fi platform, explaining how this new support system works as an alternative to Patreon subscriptions and expressing gratitude to contributors.
Episode 71 · Radio Interview on Learning FrenchB1 · 1:31The host recounts her radio interview as a French learning expert, discussing the challenges of learning French—especially Quebec French—and practical approaches to mastering it. The conversation was sparked by public discussion about Air Canada's CEO not speaking French.
Episode 72 · Organic Cow Farm in BulgariaB1 · 1:23This episode visits an organic farm near Sandanski in southwestern Bulgaria, introducing the dairy cows, calves, and a unique milking practice—only once per day in the morning—explained by the farm owner.
Episode 73 · The Birthplace of SpartacusB1 · 2:00This episode introduces Sandanski in southwestern Bulgaria—the historic birthplace of Spartacus—featuring his statue, ancient Thracian heritage, nearby Greek border, scenic mountains (Pirin range), clean air, local food, ruins, and parks.
Episode 74 · How to Understand Quebec FrenchB1 · 2:05This episode explains how to understand Quebec French, emphasizing the importance of extensive listening to comprehensible input—content that is both interesting and mostly understandable. It also mentions supplementary resources like vocabulary lists and daily video subscriptions.
Episode 75 · An Espresso Allongé in the Rain in SofiaB1 · 1:58This episode features a slow, easy French conversation recorded in a Sofia café, explaining how to order an espresso allongé (and related coffee types) and describing the rainy, cold weather in the city.
Episode 76 · Coffee Break at Vienna AirportB1 · 2:32The speaker shares a relaxed, personal account of waiting at Vienna Airport: drinking coffee to stay awake, complaining about uncomfortable mandatory masks on the flight and in Austria, and recalling sleeping across empty middle seats during a near-empty Austrian Airlines flight.
Episode 77 · Stop Signs in Quebec: French Language and Road SignsB1 · 1:16This episode explores how road stop signs in Quebec have shifted from "arrêt-stop" to just "arrêt" to promote French language use, while other Canadian francophone regions—including New Brunswick and Ottawa—still use bilingual versions like "arrêt-stop" or "stop-arrêt".
Episode 78 · I've Reached 10,000 YouTube Subscribers!B1 · 1:20The host celebrates reaching 10,000 YouTube subscribers, thanks her audience, encourages sharing the channel, and mentions her Patreon page where supporters can access daily bonus French-learning videos.
Episode 79 · Saint-Louis-du-Ha! Ha! — The Town with Two Exclamation MarksB1 · 1:33This episode introduces Saint-Louis-du-Ha! Ha!, a tiny Quebec town uniquely named with two exclamation marks. The speaker describes its church, school, cemetery, credit union, municipal building, and surrounding mountains, and explains why they stopped there—due to highway construction blocking usual rest stops.
Episode 80 · Ethnic Aisle at the SupermarketB1 · 1:36This episode explores the ethnic food aisle at a Quebec supermarket, highlighting Korean instant noodles like Shin Ramyun and Thai green curry paste—authentic products that evoke travel memories and cultural connections.
Episode 81 · Maple Syrup vs. 'Telephone Pole Syrup'B1 · 1:43This episode introduces maple syrup, a Quebec specialty, and explains the difference between authentic maple syrup and artificial imitations. It humorously explores the French slang term 'sirop de poteau'—a playful jab at fake syrup, referencing telephone poles and highlighting ingredient labels.
Episode 82 · At Café Morgan in DrummondvilleB1 · 1:38The host introduces Café Morgan in downtown Drummondville, describing its location, history as a former bank (including the original vault), and announces a new series of slower, longer, and more comprehensible French videos.
Episode 83 · Staying Cool During a HeatwaveB1 · 1:54This episode describes a prolonged heatwave in Quebec and explains several ways to stay cool, including using hand fans, electric fans (called 'fans' in Quebec French), and air conditioning systems.
Episode 84 · Saint-Laurent Boulevard in MontrealB1 · 2:01This episode takes a leisurely walk along Montreal's Saint-Laurent Boulevard, highlighting cafés, restaurants, street vendors, live musicians, the MURAL festival, views of Mount Royal, and local architecture.
Episode 85 · Galeries Lafayette Department Store in ParisB1 · 1:48This episode explores the historic Galeries Lafayette department store in Paris, highlighting its stunning stained-glass ceiling, ornate balconies, and luxury brands like Dior, Chanel, and Louis Vuitton.
Episode 86 · The Agen Aqueduct Bridge: Where Water Crosses WaterB1 · 1:49This episode explores the Agen aqueduct bridge in southwestern France, explaining how it carries a canal over the Garonne River—allowing boats to travel from the Atlantic Ocean to the Mediterranean Sea—and highlights its historical architecture and function.
Episode 87 · Meeting Anna Gilcher at the Agen Language ConferenceB1 · 2:04Hélène meets American French teacher and trainer Anna Gilcher at the Agen language conference, discussing Canadian French, teaching methodologies like comprehensible input, and sharing a relaxed apéritif with wine, cheese, and tomatoes in the historic city hall.
What people really ate in the Middle Ages
Episode 1 · What People Really Ate in the Middle AgesB2 · 5:23This episode explores what people actually ate during the Middle Ages, debunking myths like widespread famine among peasants and excessive feasting by nobles. It examines dietary differences between social classes and how religion—especially fasting rules like Lent—shaped medieval food culture.
Episode 2 · What People Really Ate in the Middle AgesB2 · 5:32This episode explores medieval European food culture, covering staples like bread and cheese, alcoholic drinks such as wine and hydromel, the widespread use of spices from the Middle East, vegetables consumed by peasants, medicinal plants promoted under Charlemagne, and culinary innovations spurred by the Crusades and milling technology.
Episode 3 · What People Really Ate in the Middle AgesB2 · 5:25This episode explores medieval French culinary manuscripts like the Viandier de Sion and Viandier de Taillevent, explains eating customs (fingers, knives, trenchers), traces the origins of dishes like boeuf bourguignon and leek fondue, and discusses the evolution of pastries and tableware.
Medieval soundtrack
Episode 1 · The World of Medieval MusicB2 · 6:13This episode explores how medieval music was transmitted orally, performed in Latin and vernacular languages, and played on diverse instruments—most now lost. It explains the origins of musical notation (e.g., neumes), its regional variations, and how historians reconstruct this sonic world from manuscripts, iconography, and texts.
Episode 2 · Exploring Medieval Music and InstrumentsB2 · 6:14This episode explores medieval musical practices, including monophonic Gregorian chant and early polyphony in churches, secular courtly lyric poetry (troubadours, Machaut), instrumental improvisation, and the reconstruction of historical instruments like the monoxyle vielle. It also discusses sources such as manuscripts, iconography, and living oral traditions.
Middle-school film club shorts
Episode 1 · The Lost Cane or the Duck? A Comedy MysteryA2 · 7:43Two young detectives mishear 'canne' (cane) as 'cane' (female duck) and launch a hilarious investigation—questioning suspicious characters, inspecting shiny walking sticks, and even visiting Mary Poppins—only to realize Martin’s 'Martine' is a glamorous duck preparing for the Cannes Film Festival.
Episode 2 · A Monster at Middle SchoolA2 · 6:10This episode follows middle-school students who mistakenly bully a classmate, only to discover he was secretly fighting back after enduring prolonged harassment—and culminates in apology, forgiveness, and renewed friendship.
Back to the Moon
Weekend short documentaries
Episode 1 · How a Self-Taught Lighting Technician Found Her PassionB1 · 4:38A self-taught lighting technician shares her journey: from childhood fears and weekend film marathons on early streaming platforms, to discovering short films and horror directors, experimenting with lighting at home, and landing her first professional role as chief electrician on a short film—learning on set every day.
Episode 2 · A Cinematographer's Daily Life and the Philosophy of Light ColorsB1 · 5:01This episode explores a cinematographer's physical and psychological challenges on film sets—long hours, night shoots, and gender dynamics—as well as their thoughtful use of color temperature and symbolic lighting to evoke emotion, subvert expectations, and enrich visual storytelling.
Episode 3 · Interviews with People Who Have SuperpowersB1 · 5:54This episode features interviews with four individuals who each possess a different superpower: the ability to burn objects, teleportation, time manipulation (stopping time and traveling through time), and ice generation.
Episode 4 · The Ice Volcano and the Haunted ChairB1 · 6:05A villager froze an active volcano to create an ice-themed amusement park with natural slides; another person has the power to haunt objects—especially chairs—leading to humorous and spooky pranks. The episode playfully explores imaginative superpowers through light-hearted, fictional interviews.
A play under the bamboo shelter
Episode 1 · A Theater Workshop on Ocean PollutionA2 · 5:14This episode features a children's theater workshop that dramatizes ocean pollution issues, including sea turtles mistaking plastic for jellyfish and seabirds trapped in oil spills, conveying environmental awareness through creative storytelling.
Episode 2 · The Dolphin's Silent MessageA2 · 5:06In a theater workshop, children role-play marine animals and engage in dialogue with an injured dolphin, learning about plastic pollution, vocal cord damage from metal debris, and how climate change affects ocean life.
Episode 3 · Ocean Guardians: The Story of the WhaleA2 · 5:04A children's theater piece tells the story of a whale that dies from swallowing ocean debris, prompting a call to clean coastlines and properly sort waste like plastic bottles, which take centuries to decompose.
Episode 4 · Eco-Gestures for Our PlanetA2 · 4:26This episode explains how to recycle tin cans and glass bottles—made from sand—to create new containers, and encourages eco-friendly habits like turning off lights when leaving a room to protect the planet.
Episode 5 · Theater Workshop PerformanceA2 · 11:12This is a performance excerpt from a theater workshop, where participants present their stage work.
A chef cooking and talking
Episode 1 · How to Cook Authentic RatatouilleB1 · 7:26A chef demonstrates how to prepare authentic ratatouille step by step, explaining ingredient selection, the logical order of adding vegetables based on cooking time, seasoning techniques, and tips for preserving texture and flavor.
Episode 2 · Knife-Cut Beef TartareB1 · 6:44A chef demonstrates two ways to prepare beef tartare: finely dicing fresh beef by hand (not using pre-ground meat) and mixing it with classic ingredients like shallots, capers, mustard, and egg yolk; or combining the diced beef with ready-made tartar sauce for a quicker version.
Episode 3 · Grandmother's Chicken CasseroleB1 · 3:58A chef demonstrates how to prepare a classic French grandmother-style chicken casserole, listing ingredients like chicken, potatoes, onions, mushrooms, bacon, white wine, and broth, and walking through key cooking steps including sautéing, simmering, and flavor-building techniques.
Episode 4 · Grandmother's Chicken Cocotte RecipeB1 · 4:06A chef demonstrates preparing a classic French chicken cocotte dish: browning the chicken, deglazing with white wine, simmering with broth and vegetables, and finishing with potatoes and optional sauce reduction.
Episode 5 · Making a Fresh Apricot TartB1 · 5:13A chef demonstrates how to make a classic French fresh apricot tart, covering preparation of the shortcrust pastry (with icing sugar for a sandy texture) and the filling using seasonal apricots, almond powder, eggs, sugar, and cream.
Episode 6 · Fresh Apricot Tart Baking TutorialB1 · 4:49A chef demonstrates how to make a fresh apricot tart, explaining key steps such as preparing the batter, correctly placing the apricots skin-side down to retain juice, baking temperature and timing, and tips for optimal texture and flavor.
The chef's signature dishes
Episode 1 · Authentic Beef Bourguignon RecipeB1 · 6:08This episode demonstrates how to prepare authentic French beef bourguignon, covering ingredient selection (beef cuts, vegetables, wine), marinating techniques, and the crucial initial searing step to develop flavor and texture.
Episode 2 · Authentic Beef BourguignonB1 · 6:09This episode demonstrates the traditional preparation of beef bourguignon: coating the meat in flour, searing, deglazing with wine, slow-simmering for hours, and finishing with pre-cooked mushrooms, pearl onions, and herb bouquet garni.
Episode 3 · Cod and Potato Purée (Brandade de Morue)B1 · 5:19This episode demonstrates how to prepare brandade de morue—a traditional French dish of salted cod and potato purée—blending Portuguese and Nîmes styles, covering desalting, boiling potatoes and cod, removing bones and skin, and combining ingredients with cream, garlic, lemon, olive oil, and parsley.
Episode 4 · Cod Brandade: A Traditional French DishB1 · 5:32This episode demonstrates how to prepare brandade de morue, a classic French dish made with salted cod, potatoes, and cream, covering key cooking techniques like gentle heating, texture adjustment with cooking water, seasoning, and finishing in the oven for a golden crust.
Episode 5 · Duck with Orange SauceB1 · 5:25This episode demonstrates how to prepare classic French duck with orange sauce, covering duck preparation, sautéing onions and orange zest, and building a balanced sweet-and-sour sauce with orange juice, vinegar, sugar, and poultry stock.
Episode 6 · Duck à l'Orange with Reduction SauceB1 · 5:28This episode demonstrates roasting duck for canard à l'orange, reducing the pan sauce to a glossy, coating consistency, and finishing the dish with sautéed Parmentier potatoes.
Episode 7 · Red Tuna with Vanilla and PastisB1 · 4:07A chef prepares red tuna with Tahitian vanilla and a world-champion pastis from Tahiti, creating a unique dish to honor a friend who brings back these special flavors from French Polynesia.
Episode 8 · Tuna with Vanilla and PastisB1 · 4:05A chef demonstrates preparing tuna with vanilla, pastis (anise-flavored aperitif), lemon juice, and cream to create a rich, aromatic sauce—evoking Polynesia while highlighting French ingredients like southern pastis and Breton-grown vanilla.
Copyright basics
Episode 1 · What Is Copyright?B2 · 5:54This episode introduces the fundamental concept of copyright, explaining it as an incorporeal property right that arises automatically upon creation and is distinct from ownership of physical objects. It clarifies how copyright protects intangible works of the mind and outlines key principles such as the author's exclusive rights and the separation between material and intellectual property.
Episode 2 · The Two Main Branches of Copyright LawB2 · 3:59This episode explains the two main branches of copyright law: moral rights and economic rights. It details the four components of moral rights—right of paternity, right of disclosure, right of integrity, and right of withdrawal—and gives concrete examples for each.
Episode 3 · The Two Main Branches of Copyright LawB2 · 4:07This episode explains the two core branches of copyright law: moral rights (inalienable, perpetual, protecting authorship and integrity) and patrimonial rights (transferable, time-limited to 70 years post-mortem, covering reproduction, communication to the public, and adaptation). It clarifies their distinct legal treatment and real-world implications.
Episode 4 · How Copyright Works in PracticeB2 · 6:06This episode explains how copyright works in practice, focusing on the legal requirements for authorization contracts—including the need for precise, written terms—and common exceptions like quotation that don’t require prior permission.
Episode 5 · Copyright Duration and the Public DomainB2 · 5:31This episode explains copyright duration in France (70 years after the author's death) and defines the public domain—works no longer under copyright protection, freely reusable for new creations, while noting exceptions and the enduring moral rights.
Behind the scenes at Framasoft
Episode 1 · Behind the Scenes of PeerTubeB1 · 5:05This episode explores the origins and development of PeerTube, a decentralized, federated video platform. It features interviews with key contributors—including its creator Chocobozz, UX designer Marie-Cécile Godwin, developer Rigel, and illustrator David Revoy—highlighting their roles, motivations, and collaborative process in building an ethical alternative to YouTube.
Episode 2 · The Technology Behind PeerTube: Decentralized Video SharingB1 · 4:59This episode explores how PeerTube works technically—using federation, peer-to-peer video delivery, and distributed servers—to offer a lightweight, user-controlled alternative to centralized platforms like YouTube. It highlights design choices prioritizing educators, small businesses, and casual creators over monetization-driven features.
Episode 3 · Behind the Scenes of PeerTube: An Open-Source Video PlatformB1 · 5:05This episode covers the creation of PeerTube's iconic octopus logo and explains how its decentralized, non-commercial design contrasts with attention-driven, ad-based platforms like YouTube. It also discusses data privacy, community participation in free software, and the role of Framasoft in promoting digital sovereignty.
Episode 4 · Framasoft: A French Nonprofit Promoting Free Software and Digital LiteracyB1 · 5:14This episode introduces Framasoft, a French nonprofit dedicated to digital education and free software advocacy. It covers its origins in 2001, volunteer-driven structure, donation-based funding model, public outreach activities, and the 'Dégustons Internet' initiative promoting ethical alternatives to big-tech services.
Episode 5 · Free Software and Digital SovereigntyB1 · 5:28This episode introduces Framasoft's free-software alternatives to mainstream platforms (e.g., Framaforms, Framadate, PeerTube, Mobilisons) and explains the four essential freedoms of free software—use, study, share, and improve—linking them to broader values like digital sovereignty, cooperation, and resistance to surveillance capitalism.
Episode 6 · Open-Source Tools and Digital SovereigntyB1 · 5:27This episode explores replacing proprietary web services with free and open-source alternatives like Signal and Framapad. It covers the practical challenges of testing tools, overcoming user habits, the 'network effect' in adoption, and how Framasoft scaled infrastructure during the pandemic to support growing demand for ethical digital tools.
Episode 7 · The Value of Ethical Digital ToolsB1 · 5:13This episode explores ethical digital tools, focusing on their lower energy consumption, transparent data practices that prioritize privacy, and their alignment with cooperative, non-proprietary values—framed through Framasoft’s mission and real-world impact.
Episode 8 · Exploring the Mobilizon Free PlatformB1 · 5:16This episode introduces Mobilizon, a free and federated platform designed to help users organize events and groups while gradually reducing reliance on Facebook. It explains sign-up, anonymous participation, joining groups, and choosing trusted hosting instances.
Episode 9 · A Guided Tour of MobilizonB1 · 5:08This episode follows Rose and her family as they use Mobilizon to organize a surprise birthday party—demonstrating account creation, event setup, federated instance search, profile separation for personal vs. activist use, collaborative editing, and group moderation.
The longest sentence
Episode 1 · A Mock Trial in a French Court of AssizesB1 · 5:03This episode features a student-performed mock trial set in a French court of assises, including juror swearing-in, reading of the indictment, and presentation of the criminal case involving kidnapping and unlawful detention.
Episode 2 · A Teenager on TrialB1 · 5:03This episode features a simulated courtroom trial where a teenager recounts committing a crime out of desperation after his mother's hospitalization and father's abandonment, followed by testimony from his sisters and the victim.
Episode 3 · Testimonies in CourtB1 · 5:17This episode features courtroom testimonies from multiple witnesses in a kidnapping case: the accused's employer, his best friend, and his former math teacher, each describing their relationship with the suspect and observations about his behavior before the crime.
Episode 4 · The Truth in CourtB1 · 5:09This episode features a student-performed mock trial, with teenagers playing lawyers and judges debating a fictional criminal case involving siblings accused of murder.
Episode 5 · Defending Léna in CourtB1 · 5:06This episode features a simulated courtroom trial where a defense lawyer argues that Léna, a young woman accused of complicity in kidnapping, is entirely innocent—highlighting her compassion, responsibility toward her siblings, and lack of awareness of the crime.
Episode 6 · A Courtroom DefenseB1 · 5:00This episode features a student-performed mock trial centered on the case of Kolia Assayeh, accused of kidnapping and unlawful detention; it explores his defense arguments, mitigating circumstances, and the court's verdict.
Writers talk
Episode 1 · Three Lives: Writer, Diplomat, and Women's Rights AdvocateB2 · 6:25French writer and former diplomat Claudine Monteil shares her three intertwined lives: as a career diplomat at the Quai d'Orsay, an author publishing under a pseudonym, and a lifelong advocate for women's rights since 1969. She discusses her biography of Ève Curie—the overlooked daughter of Marie and Pierre Curie—who played key roles in WWII resistance, Allied diplomacy, and NATO’s founding.
Episode 2 · Comic Artist and DiplomatB2 · 6:24Marc Lataste, a French diplomat and comic book author, discusses his dual career—working at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs while creating graphic novels like 'Feïa', blending environmental themes, fantasy, and sci-fi to engage young readers.
Episode 3 · The Man Without IllnessB2 · 7:58This episode explores the novel 'The Man Without Illness', focusing on the Swiss architect Samarendra Ambani—his idealism, naivety, and belief in architecture's power to improve humanity—and how his ambitions clash with political and cultural realities in Baghdad.
Arborescence
Episode 1 · The First ActB2 · 9:19After a long absence, a son returns and a mission begins. The organization welcomes a new member while questioning his loyalty.
Episode 2 · Doubts After the MissionB2 · 9:50A mission brings new doubts, and a doctor is drawn into the conflict. The organization seeks vital information while assessing threats.
Episode 3 · The Press ConferenceB2 · 9:06The company president prepares to announce a new project, while the security arrangements conceal another plan.
Episode 4 · A Gap in PowerB2 · 8:10An acting leader investigates a shooting. Conversations reveal the links between fear, obedience and power.
Episode 5 · Fractured TrustB2 · 9:23A shooting shakes trust within the organization. Under questioning and suspicion, the characters reveal conflicting loyalties.
Episode 6 · Closing InB2 · 8:33A new plan attracts attention and the doctor is found again. Secrets about the formula, allies and family force new decisions.
Episode 7 · The Final ChoiceB2 · 8:00An escape plan faces tight security. A technological trap and renewed threats force the characters into a final choice.
Ella Fitzgerald
Episode 1 · Ella Fitzgerald: A Century of Jazz LegendB1 · 4:54This episode explores jazz legend Ella Fitzgerald's life and career through five iconic songs, highlighting her artistic evolution, groundbreaking achievements as a Black woman in mid-20th-century America, and her pivotal role in elevating jazz to the concert stage.
Episode 2 · Ella Fitzgerald: The First Lady of SongB1 · 4:47This episode explores Ella Fitzgerald's legendary career, highlighting her iconic 1960 Berlin performance of 'Mack the Knife'—featuring improvisation and scat singing—and her 1979 duet with Count Basie. It also touches on her vocal range, versatility across genres, collaborations with jazz greats, and enduring expressive joy.
Framasoft tools explained
Episode 1 · Framatalk: A Free, Decentralized Video Calling ToolB1 · 5:58This episode introduces Framatalk, a free and open-source video conferencing tool built on Jitsi Meet. It explains how its peer-to-peer architecture differs from centralized services like Skype, highlights privacy benefits, and offers practical tips for optimal use—such as bandwidth management, video quality settings, using a headset microphone, and keeping browsers updated.
Episode 2 · Introduction to Open Source SoftwareB1 · 4:31This episode introduces the concept of open source, its historical and current context, key characteristics, legal foundations, best practices for sustainable projects, and its broader impact on organizations and society.
Episode 3 · Framadate: A Free Online Scheduling and Polling ToolB1 · 4:41This episode introduces Framadate, an open-source French tool for creating polls and scheduling meetings. It compares it to Doodle, highlighting strengths like simplicity, no account requirement, and strong accessibility features—especially for visually impaired users—while noting current limitations such as limited smartphone optimization, low customization, and absence of email collection (under development).
Episode 4 · How to Use Framadate for Online PollsB1 · 4:45This episode walks through creating a poll with Framadate: customizing the shareable link, adding password protection, configuring vote permissions (e.g., who can edit which votes), setting date/time options, duplicating choices, defining date ranges, and choosing an archive deadline.
Episode 5 · How to Use Framadate for Scheduling PollsB1 · 4:37This episode demonstrates how to create a Framadate scheduling poll, share the public link with participants, collect responses, view results (including charts and comments), edit options later, and retrieve admin links via email—even without an account.
Episode 6 · Framavox: A Tool for Collective Decision-MakingB1 · 5:18This episode introduces Framavox, a collaborative platform for group decision-making. It demonstrates creating discussion groups, launching topics (e.g., choosing a location for an annual general meeting), and using preference-ranking tools to build consensus among participants.
Episode 7 · How Framavox Enables Better Group Decision-MakingB1 · 5:29This episode explains how Framavox uses ranked-preference voting to help groups reach fairer, more representative decisions—such as choosing a vacation destination or city—by weighting choices according to individual priorities rather than simple majority count.
Gee's song and guitar lesson
Episode 1 · A Song of Resistance in the Digital AgeB1 · 4:32This song critiques how technology corporations suppress genius and glorify phone sellers, while reflecting on digital surveillance, internalized oppression, and the abandonment of social struggles.
Episode 2 · Cherry season: where the song comes fromB1 · 3:53This episode explores the French classic song 'Le Temps des cerises' — its historical background, popularity, and various recordings — then provides a detailed guitar tutorial covering key selection and the DADGAD alternate tuning for expressive, suspended-chord playing.
Episode 3 · Cherry season: the DADGAD tuningB1 · 5:54This episode teaches how to play 'Le Temps des cerises' using DADGAD tuning, covering chord shapes (F#, C#, B, G#m), open-string resonance, one-finger voicings, and blues-influenced embellishments like subtle bends and octave shifts.
Episode 4 · Cherry season: linking the chordsB1 · 4:58This episode teaches guitar chords and playing techniques for the classic French song 'Le Temps des cerises', including finger positioning, quick chord transitions, rhythmic variations, and solo improvisation using the F# pentatonic scale.
Gee’s digital grumbles
Episode 1 · Trash Can and File Recovery ExplainedB2 · 3:58This episode explains how file deletion actually works on computers, clarifying why files can often be recovered even after emptying the trash—and why simply deleting or formatting a drive doesn’t guarantee data is gone.
Episode 2 · What Really Happens When You Delete a FileB2 · 4:03This episode explains how file deletion actually works—removing only directory references while leaving data intact and potentially recoverable. It covers secure erasure tools like 'shred', why they're not used by default (speed and hardware wear), and when physical destruction becomes the only reliable option.
Episode 3 · Involuntary Plagiarism and Creative CoincidenceB2 · 4:35This episode explores involuntary plagiarism in artistic creation—when people independently produce identical or similar works without awareness of each other's work. It examines real examples from music, comics, and pop culture, discusses the role of shared cultural references, and questions whether traditional copyright law fits how creativity actually works.
Episode 4 · Involuntary Plagiarism and Failed ImitationsB2 · 4:15This episode explores how artistic creation often involves unintentional imitation and 'failed copies' of admired works—leading to original, personal expression. It contrasts this human process with AI generation, arguing that human 'errors' stem from individuality and lived experience, while AI 'errors' reflect statistical biases and cultural homogenization.
Episode 5 · Is the Hyperlink Disappearing?B2 · 4:27This episode examines the decline of the hyperlink in today’s digital landscape, analyzing how platforms like Instagram and X (formerly Twitter) restrict clickable external links—eroding the web’s foundational interconnectivity and reinforcing walled gardens.
Episode 6 · Is the hyperlink disappearing?B2 · 4:24This episode examines the declining use of hyperlinks—not just due to platform restrictions by big tech companies, but also because of shifting user habits and attention patterns. It reflects on digital emancipation, decentralized alternatives, and how design choices (like hiding file systems or penalizing links) shape dependency and autonomy online.
Episode 7 · Mickey Mouse Enters the Public DomainB2 · 4:13This episode discusses Mickey Mouse entering the US public domain in 2024, explaining how copyright term extensions—historically influenced by Disney—finally expired for the 1928 Steamboat Willie version, while clarifying key distinctions between expiring copyright and perpetual trademarks, and practical limitations on using the character.
Episode 8 · Copyright and the Public DomainB2 · 4:17This episode examines the Mickey Mouse public domain controversy, compares French and US copyright laws, explains why 'The Little Prince' entered the public domain later in France due to wartime death extensions and trademark protections, and discusses broader cultural implications of copyright duration and exceptions like parody.
Episode 9 · Ubuntu Turns 20: A Celebration of Accessible Free SoftwareB2 · 7:04This episode celebrates Ubuntu's 20th anniversary, exploring its South African founder Mark Shuttleworth, its role in making GNU/Linux accessible to everyday users, and its lasting impact on free software adoption — including in French public institutions like the National Gendarmerie.
Episode 10 · The Metaverse: Hype, History, and Dystopian EchoesB2 · 3:59This episode explores the origin and evolution of the term 'metaverse', how Meta's rebranding sparked global interest, and critically examines its promises—immersive virtual life, spatial computing, and digital embodiment—alongside cultural anxieties rooted in dystopian fiction like *The Matrix* and *Slum City*.
Episode 11 · The Metaverse: A Gilded Prison?B2 · 4:07This episode critically examines the metaverse, highlighting risks like digital escapism, corporate data exploitation, and the erosion of real-world social connection. It questions its appeal, sustainability, and compatibility with climate goals, citing low user adoption and failed tech precedents.
Gwên on Linux distros
Episode 1 · My Review of the Solus Linux DistributionB1 · 4:16This episode reviews the Solus Linux distribution, highlighting its independent GNU/Linux base, rolling release model, user-friendly KDE edition with a welcome screen, Discover software center, curated and FlatHub-supported app ecosystem, automatic or manual updates, and well-chosen default applications like Firefox, Thunderbird, and LibreOffice.
Episode 2 · My Deep Dive into Solus LinuxB1 · 4:26This episode reviews the Solus Linux distribution, highlighting KDE's intuitive customization, out-of-the-box functionality (Firefox, LibreOffice, Thunderbird in correct language), reliable rolling updates, improved dark/light mode switching, and strong support for multimedia and creative workflows.
Episode 3 · Reviewing CachyOS: A Modern Arch-Based Linux DistributionB1 · 5:37This episode reviews CachyOS, an Arch-based rolling-release Linux distribution, covering its usability for newcomers, package management (including Flatpak support), partial French localization, KDE desktop behavior, default software selection, and update process via terminal.
Episode 4 · GLFOS: A Linux Distribution Designed for GamingB1 · 6:10This episode reviews GLFOS, a recent open-source Linux distribution built specifically for gaming, streaming, and video production on Linux. The host explores its desktop usability for everyday tasks, installation options, preinstalled tools (including DaVinci Resolve and gaming launchers), and technical aspects like Flatpak integration, automated updates, and KDE stability.
Episode 5 · A Deep Dive into Elementary OSB1 · 4:34This episode reviews Elementary OS, a Linux distribution designed for mainstream users, covering its clean desktop interface, accessibility features, lack of in-place upgrades, and recent improvements like Wayland support and bug fixes.
Episode 6 · A Deep Dive into Elementary OSB1 · 4:35This episode covers Elementary OS's online account integration (Nextcloud, email, calendar), its suite of preinstalled applications, its exclusive reliance on Flatpak for app distribution, and the overall desktop experience—including design philosophy, privacy-conscious browser choice, and usability compared to macOS.
Episode 7 · My Experience with Fedora LinuxB1 · 6:52This episode reviews Fedora Linux, covering its six-month release cycle, GNOME desktop setup, automatic updates, software sources (RPM and Flatpak), and challenges with proprietary video codecs that require manual terminal commands to resolve.
Episode 8 · Reviewing GLFOS: A French Linux Distribution for Gamers and CreatorsB1 · 4:00This episode reviews GLFOS, a French-language Linux distribution developed by the Gaming Linux FR community, focusing on its gaming and creative workflows, GNOME and KDE desktop experiences, multiple editions (gaming, studio, streamer, mini), built-in tools like DaVinci Resolve and Kdenlive, printer support limitations, and strong Francophone community support via Discord and Matrix.
Episode 9 · My Review of GLF OS (Part 2): A Stable, GNOME-Based Linux DistributionB1 · 4:10This episode reviews GLF OS, a stable, GNOME-focused Linux distribution: its customized desktop interface, the user-friendly Easy Flatpak app store (with app packs and rollback features), Matrix-based community support instead of Discord, seamless background updates, and improvements since the previous version — all while highlighting remaining limitations like untranslated app listings and Flatpak dependency.
Episode 10 · My Review of Pop!_OS Linux DistributionB1 · 6:12This episode covers the history and evolution of Pop!_OS—from its origins at System76 to the development of its COSMIC desktop environment—and reviews practical aspects including the welcome setup, app store performance, preinstalled software (Firefox, LibreOffice, Cosmic Video), and UI quirks like icon rendering and dock behavior.
Episode 11 · Reviewing Mageia Linux DistributionB1 · 6:47This episode reviews Mageia, a French Linux distribution: its post-installation setup utility, KDE-based desktop, package management (including lack of Flatpak integration), multimedia configuration quirks, and default applications like Firefox and LibreOffice.
Harmony’s New York life
Episode 1 · A Tour of My New York ApartmentA2 · 5:30The host gives a lively tour of her New York apartment, highlighting practical features like a key-hanging amplifier, closet organization, a well-equipped kitchen with smart appliances (self-opening microwave, automatic ice maker, dishwasher), and IKEA-furnished living and dining areas.
Episode 2 · A Tour of Our New York ApartmentA2 · 5:37This episode tours a New York apartment, showcasing the open-plan living area, guest room (also used for filming), master bedroom with built-in closets and smart lighting, and a compact but functional bathroom with storage mirrors and a shower-bath combo.
Episode 3 · Saying Goodbye to New York and Returning to BelgiumA2 · 4:19Harmony shares her family's emotional decision to return to Belgium after six years in New York, explaining the reasons—including her husband's new job—and reflecting on how life, priorities, and family ties have evolved since their move in 2016.
Episode 4 · Saying Goodbye to New York and Moving Back to BrusselsA2 · 4:27Harmony shares the emotional and practical preparations for her family's move from New York back to Brussels: sorting belongings, handling pet vaccinations, coordinating between New York and Belgium, and supporting her young son’s transition—highlighting both logistical challenges and deep personal reflections on home, identity, and belonging.
Episode 5 · Moving from New York to Brussels: A Family's New ChapterA2 · 4:32A mother reflects on her family's relocation from New York back to Brussels, Belgium—covering her son’s transition to a new school and language, emotional adjustments, cultural rediscovery, and the joys of settling into a vibrant, family-friendly city.
Episode 6 · My Current Hair Care RoutineA2 · 4:34Harmony shares her current hair care routine after postpartum hair loss, covering her recent haircut (a slightly layered bob and fringe), preference for silicone-free shampoos and conditioners, gentle washing techniques (focusing only on roots), and towel alternatives like T-shirts for curly or delicate hair.
Episode 7 · My Curly Hair Care RoutineA2 · 4:39This episode walks through a natural curly hair care routine: pre-drying with a T-shirt, applying Kinky Curly's vegan curl-defining gel, finger-coiling and scrunching, and refreshing curls on subsequent days with a simple water spray.
Episode 8 · A Relaxing Evening Skincare RoutineA2 · 4:50This episode follows a woman's relaxing evening self-care routine on a Saturday night, featuring lighting a scented candle, applying a hair mask, gentle makeup removal, and preparing for a soothing shower.
Episode 9 · Evening Skincare and Cozy Night RoutineA2 · 4:52This episode walks through a relaxing evening routine: micellar water cleansing (with emphasis on rinsing), applying Lush's 'The Birth of Venus' jelly mask, brushing teeth, moisturizing dry arms with Lipikar balm, and finishing with toner and hydrating serum.
Everyday makeup with Harmony
Episode 1 · Subtle Everyday Makeup RoutineA2 · 6:02Harmony demonstrates her subtle everyday makeup routine, starting with skincare: eye cream, hyaluronic acid serum, and lightweight moisturizer. She then applies eyeshadow primer and experiments with eyeshadows from different palettes, sharing tips on blending, finger application, and achieving a natural look.
Episode 2 · Subtle Everyday Makeup RoutineA2 · 6:21This episode demonstrates a step-by-step subtle everyday makeup routine using affordable, accessible products — including eyeshadow primer, hydrating foundation, brow gel, inner-corner eyeshadow, bottom-lash mascara, bronzer, blush, highlighter, lip liner, and gloss.
Episode 3 · American vs French Makeup StylesA2 · 5:41Harmony demonstrates and compares everyday American and French makeup approaches, focusing on base application, concealer techniques, and product choices—highlighting differences in coverage, texture, and philosophy while emphasizing light versus full-coverage aesthetics.
Episode 4 · American vs French Everyday MakeupA2 · 5:30This episode compares American and French approaches to everyday makeup, demonstrating techniques for setting powder, bronzing versus contouring, natural-looking blush, subtle versus bold highlighting, and eyebrow styling—using real products and practical application tips.
Episode 5 · American vs French Everyday MakeupA2 · 5:39This episode compares everyday American and French makeup styles, focusing on eyeshadow blending, eyeliner subtlety, lower lash emphasis, false lashes versus natural mascara, and bold versus sheer lip looks—highlighting cultural aesthetics of glamour versus understated elegance.
Jahazi: conversations with historians and geographers
Episode 1 · French laïcité (1): Three criteria of secularismB2 · 5:07The speaker defines secularism by three essential criteria: the state must guarantee freedom of conscience, freedom of religious practice (or non-practice), and must not discriminate on religious or non-religious grounds.
Episode 2 · French laïcité (2): Historical origins of Church–State relations in FranceB2 · 5:17The speaker traces the origin of the honorific 'eldest daughter of the Church', then highlights how the French Revolution, especially Article 10 of the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen, established freedom of conscience and religious expression, provided public order is not disturbed.
Episode 3 · French laïcité (3): Religion and civic status before the RevolutionB2 · 4:57The speaker explains that before the Revolution, Jews and Protestants lacked civil status and legal recognition as subjects of the king; they were merely tolerated, not equal citizens—full civic equality came only with the Revolution, following the 1787 Edict of Tolerance.
Episode 4 · French laïcité (4): Religious tolerance across EuropeB2 · 4:54The speaker clarifies that religious tolerance in 18th-century Europe—including in the Austrian Empire—was gradual and distinct from legal equality; while French revolutionary and Napoleonic influence accelerated secular arrangements elsewhere, full religious equality developed slowly and unevenly across the continent.
Episode 5 · French laïcité (5): From the Concordat to secular schoolingB2 · 4:43The speaker describes the enduring Concordat of 1801—which regulated state relations with Catholic, Protestant, and later Jewish worship—and explains why secularization began in schools: as key state institutions, schools were prioritized over full state–church separation, which remained politically contested.
Episode 6 · French laïcité (6): Neutrality and flexibility in public schoolsB2 · 4:53The speaker emphasizes that public schools adopted secular curricula—excluding religious instruction—to respect all students’ beliefs, while designating a midweek day off to allow families or religious communities to provide optional religious or philosophical education outside school.
Episode 7 · Iran (1): Introduction and guestB2 · 5:22The host introduces the Jahazi podcast's mission and presents guest Bernard Hourcade, highlighting his academic credentials and research experience in Iran.
Episode 8 · Iran (2): Iran's geographical distinctivenessB2 · 4:49Iran is described as a 'geographical island'—ethnolinguistically Indo-European, historically encircled by empires, and historically prosperous due to ancient qanat irrigation systems combining mountains and desert.
Episode 9 · Iran (3): Iran as a fortress and its historical traumaB2 · 5:08Iran’s ‘fortress’ identity stems from the traumatic 1980–1988 Iran–Iraq War and foreign non-support; its nuclear program reflects technological advancement and security concerns, while the 1979 revolution succeeded through a rare national consensus among communists, liberals, and the religious masses.
Episode 10 · Iran (4): Women’s pivotal role in the revolutionB2 · 5:02Ayatollah Khomeini mobilized ordinary women—including those wearing chador—to join mass anti-Shah demonstrations; contemporary examples illustrate how education has empowered Iranian women to pursue university, careers, and personal autonomy, marking profound intergenerational change.
Episode 11 · Iran (5): Nationwide literacy and social unificationB2 · 4:47Comparing literacy maps from 1986 and 2016 shows nationwide educational expansion, unifying Iranian women across regions and ethnicities—eroding historical urban–peripheral divides and enabling broad-based sociopolitical mobilization.
Episode 12 · Iran (6): Women’s rights, football, and cultural expressionB2 · 4:49Women’s demands include symbolic rights like attending football matches; Iran boasts world-renowned cinema and poetry, and while public expression exists, consequences—including imprisonment and media closures—follow outspoken criticism.
Episode 13 · India (1): Introduction and guestB2 · 4:47The host introduces the Jahazi podcast's mission and warmly presents guest Jacques Weber, emeritus professor of contemporary history at the University of Nantes.
Episode 14 · India (2): India's religious diversityB2 · 4:55Discusses India's status as home to the world's largest number of religious minorities, citing the historical presence of Christianity, Judaism, Zoroastrianism (Parsis), Islam, and various Christian denominations.
Episode 15 · India (3): Core rules of the caste systemB2 · 5:02Explains that caste (jati) is defined by two fundamental rules—endogamy and commensality—and describes caste-based solidarity and the jajmani system of reciprocal service exchanges.
Episode 16 · India (4): Untouchability and constitutional abolitionB2 · 4:48Notes that India's 1950 Constitution abolished untouchability and mandated the term 'Dalit' instead of 'untouchable', but explicitly did not abolish the caste system itself.
Episode 17 · India (5): INC founding and Bengal PartitionB2 · 5:09Traces the Indian National Congress's 1885 founding and reformist origins, then analyzes the political motives and consequences of the 1905 Bengal Partition under Lord Curzon.
Episode 18 · India (6): Origin of 'Pakistan' and the PartitionB2 · 5:05Explains the etymology of 'Pakistan', outlines Jinnah's 1940 Lahore Resolution demanding a separate Muslim state, and describes the rushed 1947 Partition process following Britain's postwar exhaustion.
Episode 19 · The Second Empire (1): Introduction and guestB2 · 4:52Inspector Laetitia Fayolle welcomes historian Jean-Claude Yon to the Jahazi podcast, a history-geography initiative of the Mayotte academy, expressing gratitude for his participation and highlighting the academic value of his expertise.
Episode 20 · The Second Empire (2): The timeframe of the Second EmpireB2 · 5:07The Second Empire began either with the 2 December 1851 coup d’état or officially on 2 December 1852, and ended on 4 September 1870 following France’s defeat at Sedan and the regime’s peaceful collapse without armed conflict.
Episode 21 · The Second Empire (3): Historical reputation of the Second EmpireB2 · 4:56The Second Empire suffered a persistent ‘black legend’ due to its authoritarian early years and the traumatic 1870–71 defeat, and the Third Republic actively constructed its identity in opposition to Napoleon III and the Empire.
Episode 22 · The Second Empire (4): Periodization of the long nineteenth centuryB2 · 5:01The discussion proposes framing the ‘long nineteenth century’ either from the 1789 Revolution or the 1814–1815 Bourbon Restoration to the outbreak of World War I in 1914, emphasizing its significance as a definitive historical turning point.
Episode 23 · The Second Empire (5): Cultural history methodologyB2 · 4:50Cultural history examines diverse cultural productions—including popular and elite works—alongside their reception, diffusion, and social representations, defined as the ‘social history of representations’.
Episode 24 · The Second Empire (6): Key cultural artifacts of the Second EmpireB2 · 4:55Using Scribe’s vaudevilles, Offenbach’s operettas (despite their critical stance toward the regime), and Carpeaux’s 1865 sculpture ‘The Imperial Prince and His Dog Nero’ as examples, the discussion illustrates how cultural history enriches understanding of the Second Empire.
Episode 25 · Student mobility in Greenland (1): Introduction and guestB2 · 5:09The host introduces the Jahazi podcast's mission and presents guest researcher Marine Duc, detailing her academic credentials and research focus on student mobility.
Episode 26 · Student mobility in Greenland (2): Greenland's colonial status and migration research valueB2 · 4:38Explains Greenland’s status as a former Danish colony with broad autonomy, and why its student mobility patterns offer valuable insights for migration studies, especially overseas migration.
Episode 27 · Student mobility in Greenland (3): The three-part structure of the Kingdom of DenmarkB2 · 4:55Describes the Kingdom of Denmark as comprising Denmark, the Faroe Islands, and Greenland—the Rigsfællesskab—highlighting the constitutional asymmetry beneath its nominal equality.
Episode 28 · Student mobility in Greenland (4): Colonial differences between the Faroe Islands and GreenlandB2 · 5:17Contrasts the distinct settlement histories and colonial experiences of the Faroe Islands and Greenland, linking earlier Faroese autonomy to racialized colonial governance and differential assimilation policies.
Episode 29 · Student mobility in Greenland (5): Greenland’s societal transformation after 1953B2 · 5:10Details Greenland’s drastic societal shifts after 1953—including increased economic dependence on Denmark, imposition of new social norms (dress, language, work), and erosion of traditional practices like hunting.
Episode 30 · Student mobility in Greenland (6): How Greenlandic students’ mobility shapes social positionB2 · 4:44Analyzes how Greenlandic students migrating to Denmark occupy contradictory positions—racially subaltern yet culturally privileged—and how this mobility reproduces dominant social positions within Greenlandic society.
Episode 31 · Women in ancient Rome (1): Introduction and guestB2 · 5:19The host introduces the Jahazi podcast's mission and presents guest Marine Tesson, an agrégée historian and doctoral candidate researching unmarried women in the Roman West.
Episode 32 · Women in ancient Rome (2): Roman women's political exclusion and economic rightsB2 · 4:46Roman women were excluded from formal political life but held property rights, could inherit, and participated economically, while living under a relatively flexible male guardianship system.
Episode 33 · Women in ancient Rome (3): The Oppian Law and women's collective protestB2 · 4:39In 195 BCE, elite Roman women staged a large-scale public protest—blocking streets and the Forum—to demand repeal of the Oppian Law restricting their dress, jewelry, and carriage use.
Episode 34 · Women in ancient Rome (4): Hortensia's speech before the triumvirsB2 · 5:33In 42 BCE, aristocrat Hortensia delivered a successful public speech before the triumvirs on the Forum to oppose a new tax imposed on elite Roman women.
Episode 35 · Women in ancient Rome (5): Livia's counsel to AugustusB2 · 4:45Drawing on Seneca, the episode recounts how Livia, Augustus’s wife, advised clemency toward conspirator Cinna using a medical analogy, influencing the emperor’s decision.
Episode 36 · Women in ancient Rome (6): Women's varied pathways and limits in political participationB2 · 4:44These three cases show elite Roman women engaged politically through public protest, oratory, or private counsel—but always within social privilege and gendered constraints.
Episode 37 · South Africa and apartheid (1): Introduction and guestB2 · 4:55The host introduces the Jahazi podcast's mission and warmly welcomes Myriam Houssay, a geography researcher specializing in South Africa.
Episode 38 · South Africa and apartheid (2): Cape Town fieldwork and racial categoriesB2 · 4:56The speaker explains her choice of Cape Town for doctoral research and details the four legally defined racial categories under apartheid.
Episode 39 · South Africa and apartheid (3): Race, space, and rights allocationB2 · 5:12It explains how legally assigned racial identity determined all individual rights and spatial access under apartheid.
Episode 40 · South Africa and apartheid (4): Cape Town's specificity and systemic natureB2 · 4:49Cape Town’s colonial history and large Coloured population are noted, but its apartheid implementation remained part of the national system.
Episode 41 · South Africa and apartheid (5): South Africa's dominion status and anti-colonial strugglesB2 · 4:53It outlines South Africa’s dominion status after 1910 and traces anti-colonial resistance from armed uprisings to organized political movements.
Episode 42 · South Africa and apartheid (6): Coexistence under apartheidB2 · 4:57Apartheid enforced strict separation under the ‘separate development’ doctrine, yet relied on controlled, hierarchical proximity to exploit Black labor.
Episode 43 · The Strait of Malacca (1): Introduction and guestB2 · 5:08The host introduces the Jahazi podcast's scientific and professional training goals and presents guest researcher Nathalie Fau, a geographer specializing in northern Sumatra and the Strait of Malacca.
Episode 44 · The Strait of Malacca (2): Geographic features of the Strait of MalaccaB2 · 4:48Highlights Southeast Asia's maritime dominance (9.3M km² sea vs. 4.5M km² land), Indonesia's 55,000 km coastline, and defines straits as narrow sea passages between lands, identifying international longitudinal, transboundary transverse, and environmental flows.
Episode 45 · The Strait of Malacca (3): Global-scale shipping hubsB2 · 5:16Explains how international straits fix global maritime routes, shows Singapore, Tanjung Pelepas, and Port Klang competing for container traffic since the 2000s, and links this to globalization and containerization trends.
Episode 46 · The Strait of Malacca (4): Port networks and oil transportB2 · 5:10Describes the emergence of an integrated port façade across the Strait of Malacca—termed the 'Asian Mediterranean'—and identifies it as one of the world’s most critical petroleum transit corridors, alongside the Strait of Hormuz.
Episode 47 · The Strait of Malacca (5): China's Malacca dilemmaB2 · 4:47Explains China’s strategic vulnerability—72% of its energy imports transit the Strait of Malacca—prompting infrastructure projects like the Kyaukpyu port–Kunming oil pipeline to reduce dependence.
Episode 48 · The Strait of Malacca (6): Strait governance under international lawB2 · 4:46Cites UNCLOS Article 43 to define the Strait of Malacca as an international strait guaranteeing freedom of navigation, while assigning coastal states responsibility for incidents like oil spills within the strait.
Episode 49 · Schools and race in the US (1): Introduction and guestB2 · 4:38The host introduces the Jahazi podcast's scientific and professional development goals and welcomes guest researcher Nora Nafaa, a geography doctor and postdoctoral fellow at the University of Strasbourg.
Episode 50 · Schools and race in the US (2): US-France education system comparisonB2 · 5:19Compares France's centralized education system—emphasizing equal opportunity—with the US's locally administered and tax-funded school districts, which vary by city or county.
Episode 51 · Schools and race in the US (3): Philadelphia's demographic diversityB2 · 4:42Describes Philadelphia's shift from a historically biracial (Black/White) city to a more diverse one with significant Asian (e.g., Vietnamese) and Hispanic (e.g., Dominican, Puerto Rican, Mexican) communities.
Episode 52 · Schools and race in the US (4): Understanding race in the US contextB2 · 4:56Explains that 'race' in the US is a sociocultural construct—not biological—and details official US racial categories (e.g., White, Black, Asian) versus ethnic ones (e.g., Hispanic), including multiracial self-identification options.
Episode 53 · Schools and race in the US (5): How legal segregation operatedB2 · 4:59Details how legal segregation in the US South enforced separate and unequal public services—including schools and buses—for Black and White people, often resulting in no services at all for Black communities.
Episode 54 · Schools and race in the US (6): Defining poverty concentration and gentrificationB2 · 5:17Defines poverty concentration as declining living standards and property values in neighborhoods, and gentrification as middle-class reinvestment in urban areas that raises housing costs and displaces low-income residents.
Episode 55 · Energy transition in South America (1): Introduction and guestB2 · 5:01The host introduces the Jahazi podcast's mission and warmly welcomes Professor Sébastien Velut, a Latin American studies researcher, as today's guest.
Episode 56 · Energy transition in South America (2): Clarifying the concept of energy transitionB2 · 4:41The speaker traces the historical evolution and multiple meanings of 'energy transition' in contexts such as Germany (Energiewende) and the EU, highlighting how its definition has shifted over time.
Episode 57 · Energy transition in South America (3): Energy transition as a new political reality in Latin AmericaB2 · 4:37The speaker notes that 'energy transition' only recently entered Latin American political discourse—e.g., in Colombian President Petro’s platform—marking it as a novel political concept in the region.
Episode 58 · Energy transition in South America (4): Geographical dimensions of the energy transitionB2 · 5:04From a geographical perspective, the speaker identifies five key dimensions for analyzing the energy transition: territory, actors, multi-scale dynamics, materialities (technologies), and temporalities.
Episode 59 · Energy transition in South America (5): Current energy structure in Latin AmericaB2 · 5:14Using data from 1990 onward, the speaker shows that fossil fuels still dominate Latin America’s energy mix, while hydropower remains the primary renewable source.
Episode 60 · Energy transition in South America (6): Hydropower dominance and prospects for regional integrationB2 · 5:12The speaker clarifies that 'green electricity' in Latin America is largely hydropower, highlights the growth potential of solar and wind energy, and discusses prospects for continental integration based on renewables.
Java classroom clips
Episode 1 · Functional Programming in JavaB2 · 5:11This episode introduces functional programming concepts in Java, focusing on treating functions as first-class values, anonymous classes, and functional interfaces—especially useful for event-driven programming like GUI development.
Episode 2 · Anonymous Classes and Functional Interfaces in JavaB2 · 5:01This episode explains how Java uses anonymous classes and functional interfaces to emulate JavaScript-style event handling, since Java functions cannot be passed as objects directly.
Episode 3 · Anonymous Classes and Functional Interfaces in JavaB2 · 5:21This episode explains anonymous classes in Java—how they are defined inline, inherit from abstract classes or implement interfaces, and exist as single instances. It then introduces functional interfaces and syntactic sugar (introduced in Java 8) that streamline lambda-like behavior.
Episode 4 · Functional Interfaces in JavaB2 · 4:59This episode explains functional interfaces in Java—interfaces with a single abstract method—and demonstrates how lambda expressions simplify the creation of anonymous classes that implement them, improving code readability and reducing boilerplate.
Episode 5 · JavaFX Graphical User Interfaces BasicsB2 · 5:08This episode explains core JavaFX concepts—Stage and Scene—and demonstrates how to set up a primary window, create and switch between multiple scenes (e.g., a splash screen and main application interface), and build interactive UIs with buttons, text, and layout containers like BorderPane and HBox.
Episode 6 · JavaFX GUI Development: The Model-View-Controller ArchitectureB2 · 5:05This episode explains how to apply the Model-View-Controller (MVC) architecture to JavaFX applications, separating business logic, user interface definition, and event handling to improve code readability and maintainability.
Episode 7 · JavaFX Music Player Architecture with MVCB2 · 4:56This episode explains the Model-View-Controller (MVC) architecture for a JavaFX music player, clarifying how the model handles data and logic (e.g., song metadata, playback state), the view manages the graphical interface, and the controller mediates communication between them—enabling maintainability, testability, and separation of concerns.
Episode 8 · Building Graphical Interfaces with JavaFXB2 · 5:15This episode explains how to build graphical user interfaces using JavaFX, focusing on the Model-View-Controller (MVC) architecture: how the view handles UI elements, the controller manages interactions and updates, and the model encapsulates core logic (e.g., a counter), all working together seamlessly.
Episode 9 · JavaFX GUIs and the MVC ArchitectureB2 · 4:45This episode explains the Model-View-Controller (MVC) architecture in Java, demonstrating how the same controller and model can support both a JavaFX graphical interface and a console-based interface. It also shows how swapping the model—e.g., from a sum counter to an average calculator—changes behavior without altering views or interfaces.
Episode 10 · Understanding MVC Architecture in JavaFXB2 · 5:14This episode explains the Model-View-Controller (MVC) architecture in JavaFX, focusing on how to separate interface, logic, and control layers for flexibility and reusability—such as adapting a game from JavaFX to Android without rewriting core logic.
Three minutes with Luk
Episode 1 · The First Raclette of the SeasonB2 · 4:40This episode humorously examines the French cultural obsession with the 'first raclette of the season,' then connects it to food marketing (like tartiflette), automated dairy farming robots, and real-world limitations of AI in search and problem-solving—highlighting human insight over algorithmic fluff.
Episode 2 · Free and Low-Tech ComputingB2 · 4:44This episode explores free (open-source) software and the low-tech philosophy, highlighting how technology can be simple, user-centered, and resilient—contrasting it with proprietary systems designed for control, data capture, and planned obsolescence.
Episode 3 · Dark Patterns: How Digital Interfaces Manipulate UsB2 · 4:27This episode explores 'dark patterns'—deceptive interface designs in websites and apps that nudge users toward unintended actions, especially spending or data consent. Using examples from Meta, Fortnite, and Temu, it examines how these patterns operate, their impact on children's mental health, and their presence both online and in physical retail and politics.
Mario Lemieux
Episode 1 · Mario Lemieux: A Hockey Legend's Extraordinary CareerB1 · 5:07This episode explores Mario Lemieux's exceptional hockey career—from his prodigious youth and record-breaking NHL debut to his historic scoring feats, Olympic gold, two Stanley Cups, and transformative impact on the Pittsburgh Penguins and the sport itself.
Episode 2 · Mario Lemieux: A Hockey Legend's Brilliant, Turbulent CareerB1 · 4:40This episode chronicles Mario Lemieux's extraordinary NHL career—his elite scoring, visionary playmaking, and leadership—while highlighting his courageous battles with chronic back pain, Hodgkin's lymphoma, and later heart arrhythmia. It also covers his pivotal role in saving the Pittsburgh Penguins franchise as owner and mentor to stars like Sidney Crosby.
Marry Me chicken pasta
Episode 1 · Marry Me Chicken PastaA2 · 4:00This episode teaches how to make a popular Italian-inspired chicken pasta dish said to have originated in Tuscany—so delicious it supposedly inspired marriage proposals. The recipe includes pan-seared chicken breast, pasta, garlic, chili, sun-dried tomatoes, cream, Parmesan, and chicken broth.
Episode 2 · Marry Me Chicken PastaA2 · 4:02This episode demonstrates how to prepare a rich, creamy chicken pasta dish with tomatoes and chili, highlighting gentle cooking, sauce thickening, and balanced seasoning—including a playful warning about the spicy kick.
Morevna
Mr Sam: let's check
Episode 1 · Do scientists popularize science enough?B2 · 4:31Discusses the claim that scientists insufficiently popularize science, citing lack of time, remuneration, and institutional recognition, and cites examples like the MT180 competition for PhD students.
Episode 2 · Why PhD students engage more in science communicationB2 · 4:33Explains why PhD students participate more actively in science communication than senior researchers—due to their transitional career stage, fresh research topics, and the appeal of new digital formats—and notes growing institutional awareness and support.
Episode 3 · Scientists' closed-mindednessB2 · 5:42The speaker argues that scientists often deny what they don’t understand, lack intellectual openness, and display dogmatism—illustrated by the long-unresolved Pioneer anomaly.
Episode 4 · Why teach the scientific method?B2 · 3:53Argues for teaching the scientific method in schools to counter pseudoscience, and cites studies showing no significant correlation between students' scientific knowledge and their pseudoscientific beliefs.
Episode 5 · The diversity of sciences and teaching goalsB2 · 3:55Explains that modern sciences—including natural and human sciences—vary in methodology and explanatory scope; highlights how science education goals differ by stakeholder perspective, and introduces didactics’ focus on addressing learners’ preconceptions.
Episode 6 · Preconceptions and counterintuitive scienceB2 · 3:41Uses examples like the invisibility of air and geocentric intuition to illustrate widespread preconceptions; stresses that scientific knowledge is often counterintuitive and that effective teaching must help learners revise, not just add to, existing mental models.
Episode 7 · Cell functions and DNA structureB2 · 5:17Introduces the three main functions of cells as the basic units of life, and explains DNA structure, chromosomes, and genes as molecular blueprints for the body.
Episode 8 · Eight causes of cellular agingB2 · 5:18Lists eight key cellular mechanisms linked to aging, including mitochondrial dysfunction, telomere shortening, senescent cell accumulation, stem cell depletion, protein misfolding, waste buildup, intercellular communication failure, and nutrient sensing defects.
Episode 9 · Phoenix lights: the initial reportsB2 · 5:01Introduces the Phoenix Lights incident on March 13, 1997, including timing, location, first witnesses, and multi-angle footage.
Episode 10 · Official explanation and governor's retractionB2 · 5:01Details the government’s initial claim that the lights were military flares, and Governor Fife Symington’s 2007 public retraction and personal eyewitness account.
Episode 11 · Amateur astronomer’s telescope observationB2 · 5:10Describes amateur astronomer Mitch Stanley using a 10-inch Dobsonian telescope to identify the V-shaped light formation as six aircraft with square wings.
Episode 12 · Introducing time travel claims in EndgameB2 · 4:18Mr. Sam introduces the video's goal: to fact-check Avengers Endgame's quantum physics and time travel claims, and asks viewers to rate their scientific plausibility before proceeding.
Episode 13 · Critiquing "subatomic dimension" terminologyB2 · 4:49The speaker explains that "subatomic dimension" is scientifically inaccurate—dimensions are not physical building blocks but mathematical constructs, making the phrase misleading to physicists.
Episode 14 · Quantum scale vs. relativistic time dilationB2 · 4:52The video clarifies that accelerated time in the quantum realm is pure fiction; real time dilation arises from general relativity—not quantum mechanics—and applies to massive or high-speed macroscopic systems.
Episode 15 · Quantum fluctuations and the Planck scaleB2 · 4:35The speaker defines quantum vacuum fluctuations accurately and debunks the film’s claim that they “perturb the Planck scale,” calling it scientifically meaningless and internally incoherent.
Episode 16 · Möbius strip and eigenvalues explainedB2 · 4:48The video critiques the film’s vague "inverted Möbius strip" concept and corrects the misuse of "eigenvalue," which applies to measurable properties (e.g., position), not particles themselves.
Episode 17 · Quantum measurement and the many-worlds interpretationB2 · 5:08The speaker contrasts two interpretations of quantum measurement—hidden variables (disproven) vs. Everett’s many-worlds—and highlights experimental evidence favoring the latter.
Episode 18 · Multiple universes resolve time travel paradoxesB2 · 4:32To avoid logical paradoxes like meeting one’s past self, the film implicitly requires a multiverse framework—making alternate timelines essential for internal consistency.
Episode 19 · The bleeding walls case beginsB2 · 5:21In September 1985, a young couple in Saint-Quentin, France, moved into a new home and soon reported strange phenomena—including odd noises, object movements, and walls appearing to bleed.
Episode 20 · The flour test and police involvementB2 · 5:21Police confirmed the substance was human blood and conducted a flour-on-floor experiment; the next day, fresh bloodstains appeared despite no footprints or signs of entry.
Episode 21 · Assessing the evidence qualityB2 · 5:08The core evidence consists only of witness testimony (mainly Lucie’s), an unverified lab comment, two officers’ ambiguous sensory experiences, and a medium’s assessment.
Episode 22 · The uniqueness paradox and Occam's razorB2 · 5:19If genuine, this would be the world’s only documented poltergeist capable of materializing and projecting blood—making it uniquely improbable under Occam’s and Bayes’ principles.
Episode 23 · Later investigations and silence from residentsB2 · 5:00The property owner later refused police access, and neither subsequent occupants nor the now-divorced original couple ever reported further paranormal activity.
Episode 24 · The Bible code hypothesisB2 · 4:49The host introduces the hypothesis—promoted since the 1950s by scholars including an award-winning mathematician—that the Bible contains hidden, equidistant letter sequence (ELS) codes predicting historical events and figures.
Episode 25 · Computer finds 'French Revolution' in GenesisB2 · 4:36A computer program scans only chapters 39–48 of Genesis and retrieves phrases like 'French Revolution', 'Bastille', and 'Louis', convincing researchers of the code’s validity.
Episode 26 · Unmasking confirmation biasB2 · 4:58The host reveals how Michael Drosnin became convinced of the Bible code after Yitzhak Rabin’s assassination—but ignored disconfirming evidence, illustrating classic confirmation bias.
Episode 27 · Why randomness feels 'too ordered'B2 · 4:36Using a grid experiment, the host demonstrates that people consistently misjudge structured patterns (Column B) as random—while true randomness (Column A) appears more uniformly scattered and thus ‘less random’ to human perception.
Episode 28 · Checking a health website's credibilityB2 · 7:23Mr. Sam searches "choose baby's sex" on Google, selects a Top Santé article, and examines its editorial charter and expert validation claims to assess reliability.
Mr.Who? Long-form interviews
Episode 1 · Introducing Jean-Michel AbrassartB2 · 4:54Jean-Michel introduces himself as host of the 'Scientific Skepticism' podcast and author of several books on parapsychology and anomalous psychology, including recent titles debunking paranormal claims and a children's critical thinking book series.
Episode 2 · Epistemology for ChildrenB2 · 4:55The discussion covers how the children's book series 'Les Zététiciens en herbe' uses Greek, Egyptian, and Christian mythology to teach young children that enjoying stories doesn’t mean believing them as true—introducing epistemology in age-appropriate terms.
Episode 3 · Crowdfunding and Branding StrategyB2 · 4:51Jean-Michel explains choosing 'zététique' over 'skepticism' in book titles for brand recognition among target audiences, and announces a time-limited crowdfunding incentive: a live Q&A for backers using the hashtag #MrSam.
Episode 4 · Guiding Critical Thinking in ClassB2 · 5:08Jean-Michel describes how he responds to pseudoscientific statements (e.g., vaccine hesitancy) in his Japanese classes—not through confrontation, but by calmly expressing an evidence-based view and planting seeds of doubt without demanding immediate agreement.
Episode 5 · Avoiding Confrontational DebateB2 · 4:53He argues that confrontational debate rarely changes minds; instead, expressing informed opinions as a respected figure (e.g., teacher or uncle) can gently provoke reflection—without triggering defensiveness or escalation.
Episode 6 · Skepticism as Inner PracticeB2 · 5:01Jean-Michel frames skepticism not as outward criticism but as an inward practice—continuously refining one’s own reasoning, acknowledging fallibility, and prioritizing intellectual hygiene over winning arguments.
Episode 7 · Writing for Fellow SkepticsB2 · 5:22He clarifies that his books and podcast target existing skeptics and zététiciens—not believers—with the goal of helping them think more rigorously, not converting those outside the community.
Episode 8 · Introducing Counter-ApologeticsB2 · 5:05The children’s book introduces counter-apologetics—not to promote atheism, but to present, at age-appropriate level, the ongoing philosophical debate about Christian claims, emphasizing the value of the debate itself over any fixed conclusion.
Episode 9 · Historical Myth: Did Ninjas Exist?B2 · 5:08Jean-Michel discusses the historical debate over whether ninjas ever existed—comparing it to the mythicist debate about Jesus—and highlights how differing evidentiary standards shape conclusions about historical figures.
Episode 10 · Historical Inaccuracies in FilmsB2 · 5:10He cites cinematic inaccuracies—like kilts appearing centuries earlier than historically accurate in films such as 'Highlander'—to illustrate widespread historical misconceptions embedded in popular culture.
Episode 11 · Podcast Recommendations and ClosingB2 · 5:03Jean-Michel recommends high-quality French-language podcasts like Étienne Klein’s 'La Conversation Scientifique', urging listeners to prioritize reliable methods of learning and critical engagement with information.
Episode 12 · Introducing Élisabeth FeytitB2 · 4:47The host introduces guest Élisabeth Feytit, a filmmaker and artist, and how she came to work with a former spiritual guru.
Episode 13 · The long path out of beliefB2 · 5:15A specialist in cult recovery explains that leaving deeply internalized magical or esoteric belief systems often takes as many years as one spent immersed in them—highlighting Jessica Chab’s lifelong exposure and ongoing ambivalence despite her clear rejection of New Age ideology.
Episode 14 · Reacting to a friend’s spiritual claimsB2 · 5:13Using examples like gluten-free cookies and 'feeling Jesus in my heart,' Elisabeth describes responding with humor and curiosity rather than confrontation—emphasizing flexibility over rigid labels and the importance of questioning one’s own identifications.
Episode 15 · When beliefs strain friendshipB2 · 5:03Elisabeth reflects on when irrational beliefs—like anti-vaccination views—become incompatible with friendship, stating she’s willing to end relationships where shared values collapse under militant, unexamined convictions.
Episode 16 · Dialogue with a psychoanalysis enthusiastB2 · 5:10Elisabeth recounts a respectful dialogue with someone who loves psychoanalysis—not as therapy but as philosophical inquiry—demonstrating how mutual curiosity and humility can bridge epistemic divides.
Episode 17 · Raising a critically thinking childB2 · 5:05Elisabeth discusses raising her son to recognize confirmation bias, question expert claims—even from respected ophthalmologists—and develop a personal 'bullshitometer' while navigating daily misinformation.
Episode 18 · Questioning foundational definitionsB2 · 5:19Elisabeth stresses asking simple, foundational questions—like 'What do you mean by energy?'—to expose the lack of empirical grounding in esoteric language, while acknowledging personal experiences as real (though not evidential).
Episode 19 · Immersing in others’ logicB2 · 5:52She describes how deeply studying conspiracy theories—like flat Earth—can temporarily make their internal logic feel compelling, illustrating how belief systems are coherent yet fragile: one flawed premise collapses the whole structure.
Episode 20 · Emotion precedes rational decision-makingB2 · 5:30Drawing on decision science, she explains that emotion generates choices instantly, while rationalization follows seconds later—making awareness of this sequence essential for cultivating genuine critical thinking and intellectual honesty.
Episode 21 · Understanding the need behind beliefB2 · 5:26Rather than challenging beliefs directly, Elisabeth advocates exploring what needs they fulfill—e.g., comfort, meaning, or control—arguing that unaddressed underlying motivations simply migrate to new beliefs unless examined with self-honesty and personal context.
Episode 22 · Opening greetings and show introductionB2 · 5:20The host apologizes for being twelve minutes late, thanks the guest, and introduces this special episode—expanding the format beyond French-speaking skeptics to include people connected to skepticism or even belief.
Episode 23 · Streaming habits and Codenames tournament memoriesB2 · 5:12The guest describes his weekly Twitch streaming routine, recalls the fun and chaotic Codenames tournament, and mentions how it led to deeper informal conversations with the host and others.
Episode 24 · Early beliefs and the allure of the mysteriousB2 · 5:14The guest admits he first encountered conspiracy topics through his wife and was drawn to mysteries like the Nazca Lines and pyramids—not out of malice, but from a desire for wonder and the limits of human knowledge.
Episode 25 · How films shaped early beliefsB2 · 4:55Films like Close Encounters of the Third Kind and JFK reinforced his sense that extraordinary phenomena might be real; video games like The Legend of Time further deepened that impression.
Episode 26 · From questioning to self-awarenessB2 · 4:48Watching Fahrenheit 911 made him aware of systemic manipulation, but rather than proselytizing, it gave him personal reassurance: ‘Now I know it’s not what they tell us.’
Episode 27 · Skepticism toward the idea of ‘community’B2 · 5:08The guest explicitly rejects the label ‘community,’ stressing his identity as an independent individual and expressing discomfort with communal thinking and fanaticism.
Episode 28 · Empathy as a cognitive prerequisiteB2 · 5:01He argues that understanding others requires genuinely stepping into their perspective—acknowledging differences in life experience and reference points—as the foundation of empathy and meaningful dialogue.
Episode 29 · Social anxiety and consistency in speechB2 · 4:57He openly discusses social anxiety at gatherings and reflects on how his statements sometimes shift depending on the audience, prompting him to consciously strive for consistency.
Episode 30 · Deconversion process and partner’s influenceB2 · 4:55His wife’s rational, Cartesian mindset gradually influenced him; a turning point came after watching a scientific exoconference, which prompted systematic re-evaluation of his prior beliefs.
Episode 31 · Intellectual humility and skepticismB2 · 5:06He realizes he never pursued deep study (e.g., quantum physics) like the scientists he admires—leading him to see skepticism as sustained self-questioning and intellectual effort.
Episode 32 · Handling family disagreements tactfullyB2 · 4:58When faced with relatives promoting homeopathy to his child, he avoids confrontation and opts for gentle, protective communication—applying skepticism with emotional intelligence.
Episode 33 · Cautious optimism about humanity’s futureB2 · 5:01Though troubled by information overload and rising noise, he remains cautiously optimistic—believing beautiful things endure and urging humble, benevolent amplification of positive voices.
Episode 34 · Personal encounters with pseudoscienceB2 · 5:03He recounts believing unscientific claims from midwives about breastfeeding until corrected by data—and realizing, via a video on mental hygiene, that ‘the moon has no voice,’ a basic factual error he’d accepted.
Episode 35 · Philosophy interest and lifelong learningB2 · 5:09Despite having no formal philosophy training, he deeply values philosophy of science and general philosophy, seeing lifelong learning and embracing ignorance as essential to intellectual growth.
Skincare and makeup with Neroli
Episode 1 · Natural Everyday Makeup TutorialA2 · 4:53This episode demonstrates a lightweight, natural everyday makeup look focused on skin breathability and a 'no-makeup' finish. The creator applies concealer and a tinted stick to achieve subtle coverage while keeping the skin looking fresh and unburdened by heavy products.
Episode 2 · Natural Makeup Tutorial: Lightweight Coverage and Skin-Friendly ProductsA2 · 4:57This episode demonstrates a natural, lightweight makeup routine using a tinted stick for concealing, correcting, and light coverage, plus a skin-friendly pressed powder to set the look. The creator explains how product choices align with her changing skin needs—especially during stressful periods—and emphasizes comfort, breathability, and seamless blending over full coverage.
Episode 3 · Natural, Quick Makeup RoutineA2 · 5:01This episode demonstrates a quick, natural everyday makeup routine: applying bronzer to warm the complexion, using a highly pigmented cream blush for a subtle flush, filling in brows with a retractable pencil, adding bronze kajal liner to upper and lower lash lines, curling lashes, and applying mascara with a base coat.
Episode 4 · Natural Makeup Tutorial: Mascara and Lip TechniquesA2 · 4:52This episode demonstrates how to combine waterproof and non-waterproof mascaras to achieve natural-looking curled lashes, plus techniques for using lip liners and tinted lip balms to create a fresh, natural makeup look.
Episode 5 · My Morning Skincare Routine with a Beauty DeviceA2 · 4:40Neroli demonstrates her weekend morning skincare routine, focusing on the Zip Halo device—explaining how microcurrents (felt as gentle tingling) and nanocurrents (undetectable, cell-level stimulation) work together to provide both immediate lifting effects and long-term skin benefits.
Episode 6 · Morning Skincare and Sun Protection RoutineA2 · 4:41This episode walks through a complete morning skincare routine, covering toner application, vitamin C serum, eye cream for decongestion and radiance, and sunscreen as the final protective step—all with detailed product explanations and usage tips.
Episode 7 · My Skincare Routine: Cleansing and AftercareA2 · 4:26This episode covers a complete evening skincare routine: gentle two-phase eye makeup removal, oil or balm cleansing applied on dry skin, emulsification with water, and daily mild exfoliation with a microfoliant. It highlights affordable, effective products and explains why certain textures and application methods work best for sensitive and normal skin.
Episode 8 · My Evening Skincare RoutineA2 · 4:50The host demonstrates her evening skincare routine, applying eye cream, a hydrating face mask targeting perioral dermatitis, and a nourishing night cream with facial oil. She explains the difference between acne and skin irritation, and shares first impressions of a new skincare line she's testing.
Episode 9 · Evening Skincare and Makeup Removal RoutineA2 · 5:25The host demonstrates her evening skincare routine, including gentle eye makeup removal, oil-based cleansing with a centella asiatica formula, and double cleansing using a PHA exfoliating gel and a deeper-cleansing facial wash.
Episode 10 · Evening Skincare RoutineA2 · 5:15Neroli demonstrates her evening skincare routine, applying a PHA and centella asiatica serum for acne marks, a vitamin C gel-cream for brightening, a nourishing eye cream, a barrier-repairing facial oil for sensitive skin, and a scar-healing cream on a recent dermatological treatment site.
Episode 11 · Morning and Evening Skincare RoutineA2 · 5:13Neroli walks through her daily morning and evening skincare routine, covering tea tree and peppermint essential oils for inflamed breakouts, cautious use of retinol (including application tips and irritation warnings), a comparison of two French natural deodorants, vitamin C serum for daytime use and sun protection synergy, hydrating gel-cream, and a hyaluronic acid eye serum.
Episode 12 · Morning Skincare and Sun Protection RoutineA2 · 5:30This episode covers a detailed morning skincare routine, including eye cream application, choosing and using urban sunscreen (SPF 45–50), and targeted treatments for dryness, oiliness, breakouts, and uneven skin—such as nourishing masks, chemical exfoliants, balancing masks, and spot treatments.
Pepper & Carrot: secret ingredient
Philosophy with Philoxime
Episode 1 · Etymology and terminological confusionB2 · 5:01Explains the Greek origin of 'éthique' (ethos) and Latin origin of 'morale' (mos/mores), noting their shared connotations of custom and character, and observes that most philosophical encyclopedias treat them as synonymous.
Episode 2 · The French-specific distinctionB2 · 4:23Analyzes how, in French usage, 'éthique' tends to signify rational, autonomy-respecting reflection on conduct, while 'morale' evokes religiously grounded obligation—a distinction linked to France's historically contentious relationship with Catholicism.
Episode 3 · What is utilitarianism?B2 · 4:43Introduces utilitarianism as a theory aiming to maximize collective well-being, clarifies that 'utility' means well-being (not practical usefulness), and presents Jeremy Bentham as its founder and his radical progressive positions.
Episode 4 · Consequentialism and the ticking bombB2 · 4:32Uses the ticking bomb scenario to illustrate utilitarianism's consequentialist nature—judging actions solely by their aggregate well-being consequences, contrasting it with deontological objections to torture.
Episode 5 · Rule utilitarianism and animal ethicsB2 · 4:48Explains rule utilitarianism—evaluating acts by whether they follow rules that maximize aggregate well-being—and highlights utilitarianism's influence on animal welfare and antispeciesist movements via Bentham's suffering-based moral criterion.
Episode 6 · Interpersonal utility comparison and rights critiqueB2 · 4:38Identifies two major criticisms of utilitarianism: the difficulty of interpersonally comparing utilities (undermining its calculative foundation), and its potential neglect of fundamental individual rights, foreshadowing libertarian and egalitarian liberal objections.
Episode 7 · Is egoism a moral duty?B2 · 5:00Introduces ethical egoism's central thesis: an individual's sole moral duty is to maximize their own self-interest.
Episode 8 · The drowning child dilemmaB2 · 5:09Uses a thought experiment—hesitating to save a drowning stranger due to expensive sneakers—to expose the counterintuitive implications of ethical egoism.
Episode 9 · Ayn Rand's egoist argumentB2 · 5:12Analyzes Ayn Rand's argument framing ethical egoism as the only alternative to extreme altruism, highlighting its straw man and false dilemma fallacies.
Episode 10 · Egoism fails to resolve conflicts of interestB2 · 5:23Uses an uncle-inheritance scenario to show how ethical egoism cannot arbitrate conflicting self-interests, leading to moral chaos and dystopian social outcomes.
Episode 11 · Summer wildfires surge globallyB2 · 5:04Recaps record-breaking wildfires in the Amazon (2024), Los Angeles (2025), and Southern Europe (2026), highlighting how climate-driven extremes are now daily realities.
Episode 12 · The '70% arson' claim is misleadingB2 · 4:52Challenges the widely cited '70% arson' statistic, explaining it stems from arrest data—not total fire causes—revealing a major sampling bias.
Episode 13 · Misattributing wildfires in Greece and CaliforniaB2 · 4:39Using the 2023 Evros fire in Greece and the 2025 Los Angeles fires, shows how media narratives blamed disasters on scapegoats or conspiracy theories instead of their real causes.
Episode 14 · Why conspiracy theories spreadB2 · 4:46Explains how non-experts default to simple, singular causes (e.g., pyromaniacs), while scientists see extreme fires as outcomes of multiple necessary, interacting factors.
Episode 15 · Structural drivers of megafiresB2 · 4:39Details structural contributors: industrial monoculture forestry, fire-suppression paradoxes, urban sprawl, rural depopulation, and aging infrastructure—all amplifying megafire risk.
Episode 16 · Rethinking climate communicationB2 · 4:35Calls for climate justice framing, clearer science communication—including necessity vs. sufficiency—and new, compelling narratives to replace sensationalist 'arsonist' tropes.
Episode 17 · What is secularism?B2 · 7:02Philoxime concisely defines secularism from a philosophical perspective, emphasizing it as a political principle for organizing liberal democracies in response to religious and philosophical pluralism.
Episode 18 · Dinner debate about justiceB2 · 4:49At a dinner party, friends clash over whether income tax is just, revealing radically different understandings of 'justice'.
Episode 19 · Concept vs. conceptionsB2 · 4:36The episode distinguishes the shared philosophical concept (e.g., 'justice' or 'laïcité') from its many competing conceptions, such as utilitarianism, libertarianism, or Platonic might-makes-right.
Episode 20 · Two conceptions of secularismB2 · 4:44The video outlines two main conceptions of secularism—liberal-pluralist and republican—and links them to real-world controversies like the abaya ban in French schools.
Episode 21 · Examples of real-world injusticeB2 · 7:26The video cites real-world injustices: over 6,500 migrant worker deaths in Qatar, famine threatening 26 million in the Horn of Africa, life expectancy gaps between rich and poor in France, and child homelessness rising in Belgium.
Prune’s short humour bits
Episode 1 · The Mystery of Three Minutes: Brushing Teeth and Energy CyclesA2 · 3:00This humorous episode explores the recommended three-minute toothbrushing duration, explains fluoride's paradoxical effects on teeth and bones, and playfully links the number three to energy cycles in reiki, music, and brain activity.
Episode 2 · Monday Morning ChaosA2 · 4:08This episode humorously depicts a single mother's chaotic Monday morning as she rushes her children—Océane and Matteo—to their father's house, juggling forgotten homework, messy clothes, masks, video games, and sibling squabbles.
Prune’s fake news sketch
Episode 1 · Satirical News Bulletin: Absurd Future HeadlinesA2 · 5:39This episode presents a satirical, fictional news bulletin featuring absurd future scenarios—such as a transgender man exercising 'postnatal abortion' rights, drag queen healthcare workers deployed across a hospital, and a 'heterosexual pride march'—all delivered with deadpan irony and social parody.
Episode 2 · The Striped Sky: A Meteorological PhenomenonA2 · 5:21This episode humorously introduces the 'striped sky'—a natural high-altitude atmospheric phenomenon caused by ice crystals forming grid-like optical patterns—and debunks conspiracy theories linking it to aircraft contrails or chemical spraying.
Python basics
Episode 1 · Python Basics: Number Data TypesB1 · 4:14This episode introduces Python's two fundamental number types: integers (int) and floating-point numbers (float). It demonstrates how to use the print function to display values and the type function to inspect their data types.
Episode 2 · Python Number Types and Arithmetic OperationsB1 · 4:07This episode explains Python's integer (int) and floating-point (float) number types, then demonstrates basic arithmetic operations: addition, subtraction, multiplication, decimal division, integer division, modulo (remainder), and exponentiation.
Episode 3 · Python Number Types: Integers and FloatsB1 · 4:15This episode explains Python's integer and floating-point number types, highlighting that integers have unlimited precision and exact arithmetic, while floats have limited precision. It also covers how the presence of a decimal point 'contaminates' calculations by converting them to float operations.
Episode 4 · Python Basics: VariablesB1 · 4:57This episode introduces the concept of variables in Python as named spaces in memory, explains how to store and retrieve values, and demonstrates assignment using the equals sign (=).
Episode 5 · Python Variables: Creation, Assignment, and Naming RulesB1 · 5:05This episode explains how variables are created and assigned in Python, how their values can be updated, and covers essential naming rules—such as using only lowercase letters, underscores instead of spaces, starting with a letter, and avoiding accents.
Episode 6 · Python Variables and AssignmentB1 · 4:59This episode explains how variables work in Python, including the assignment process (right-to-left evaluation), intermediate calculations, counters, and shorthand operators like +=, -=, *=, /=, //=, %=, and **=.
Episode 7 · Python Variables and Assignment OperationsB1 · 4:59This episode explains how variable assignment works in Python—reading from right to left, using compound assignment operators (like +=), and why directly swapping variables with 'a = b; b = a' fails without a temporary variable.
Episode 8 · Swapping Variables in PythonB1 · 5:03This episode explains how variable assignment and swapping work in Python, covering the temporary variable approach and simultaneous assignment (a, b = b, a), and highlights why understanding the underlying step-by-step process is essential—even when syntax hides it.
Episode 9 · Python Strings Basics: Quotation Marks and OperationsB1 · 6:45This episode introduces Python strings: how to define them using single, double, or triple quotes—especially to handle apostrophes or nested quotations—and covers basic operations like concatenation, repetition, and case conversion (lower(), upper(), title()).
Episode 10 · Python Booleans: True, False, and Logical OperationsB1 · 4:16This episode introduces Python's boolean data type—True and False—and demonstrates logical operations (and, or, not) using truth tables and simple expressions. It also explains how comparisons (e.g., equality, greater-than) naturally produce boolean results.
Episode 11 · Python Booleans and Comparison OperatorsB1 · 4:06This episode explains the concept of Booleans in Python and demonstrates how to use comparison operators—such as less than, greater than, equal to, and not equal to—to evaluate conditions and produce True or False results.
Episode 12 · Python Booleans and Floating-Point ComparisonsB1 · 4:12This episode covers Python booleans, comparison operators (like != and ==), and explains why direct equality checks with floating-point numbers are unreliable due to binary representation limitations—demonstrating safer alternatives using tolerance-based comparisons.
Episode 13 · Python Conditional Statements: If, Else, and ElifB1 · 4:38This episode introduces conditional structures in Python—'if', 'else', and 'elif'—using relatable real-life examples like grades and rewards to explain how programs make decisions based on conditions and how conditions chain together logically.
Episode 14 · Python Conditional Statements: if and elseB1 · 4:42This episode introduces Python's conditional statements (if and else), explaining syntax, the role of colons, and how indentation replaces 'then' to define code blocks. Using grade-based examples (e.g., printing rewards for scores above 15), it demonstrates execution flow and scope.
Episode 15 · Python Conditional Statements: if, elif, and elseB1 · 5:02This episode teaches the fundamentals of Python conditional statements: how to use 'if', 'elif', and 'else' correctly, emphasizing essential syntax rules like colons and indentation, and demonstrating multi-branch logic with real-world grading examples.
Episode 16 · Python Conditional Statements ExplainedB1 · 4:43This episode explains how to use Python's if statements with Boolean operators like 'and' to evaluate multiple conditions simultaneously, such as checking both age and sex for selecting appropriate dog food.
Episode 17 · Python f-strings: Formatting Strings Made EasyB1 · 4:30This episode explains Python's f-strings for string formatting, demonstrating how they simplify embedding variables into text compared to older methods like concatenation with '+' or manual str() conversion.
Episode 18 · Python Strings Advanced: f-strings and ComparisonsB1 · 4:55This episode covers f-strings for embedding variables in strings, alphabetical comparisons of strings (noting case sensitivity), and the 'in' operator to check substring presence.
Episode 19 · Tracing Python Function Execution by HandB1 · 4:41This episode teaches how to manually trace the execution of Python functions step by step—covering function definition, parameter passing by position, variable updates during execution, and return value handling—using paper-based simulation before verifying with Python.
Episode 20 · Tracing Python Function Execution Step by StepB1 · 4:54This episode walks through the step-by-step execution of a Python function, showing how function calls work, how arguments (including default ones) are passed, how local variables change during execution, and how return values replace function calls in the main program.
Episode 21 · Understanding Python Function Execution Step by StepB1 · 4:49This episode walks through the step-by-step execution of a Python function, illustrating variable scope, argument passing, memory allocation for local vs. global variables, and how function calls and returns work in practice.
Episode 22 · Python Function Scope and Variable IsolationB1 · 4:37This episode explains how variables defined inside a function are isolated from those outside (scope isolation), demonstrates parameter passing by position and default values, and shows how return values replace function calls in the main program flow.
Episode 23 · Python Function Calls and Return ValuesB1 · 4:47This episode explains how Python functions call each other, how local variables are created and destroyed within function scopes, and how the 'return' statement passes values back to the caller—using step-by-step execution of nested function calls like 'cui_cui' and 'coucou'.
Episode 24 · Understanding Python Function Call FlowB1 · 4:43This episode walks through the step-by-step execution flow of nested function calls in Python, showing how parameters are passed, how return values replace expressions in the calling context, and how the call stack unfolds.
Episode 25 · Python Function Calls and Return ValuesB1 · 4:42This episode explains how function calls work in Python, including the flow of execution, how the 'return' statement passes values back to the caller, and how functions without an explicit return implicitly return 'None'.
Episode 26 · Building a Space Game with PyxelB1 · 5:10This episode introduces building a pixel-art space game using Python and the Pyxel library. It covers initializing the game window (160×120 pixels), understanding the coordinate system (origin at top-left), and the core game loop structure—using 'update' for logic (movement, collisions) and 'draw' solely for rendering.
Episode 27 · Introduction to Game Development with PyxelB1 · 5:11This episode explains the roles of the update and draw functions in Pyxel, how to use btnp to detect key presses (e.g., 'Q' to quit), cls to clear the screen with a color, and rect to draw shapes like rectangles — all within a simple Python game loop.
Episode 28 · Creating a Spaceship with PyxelB1 · 5:11This episode teaches how to create a movable spaceship using Python and the Pyxel library: defining position variables (xv, yv), splitting logic into dedicated update_vaisseau and draw_vaisseau functions, and drawing a 10×10 yellow rectangle as the ship.
Episode 29 · Controlling a Spaceship with Pyxel in PythonB1 · 5:07This episode teaches how to implement keyboard-based movement for a spaceship using Pyxel in Python, including handling left, right, up, and down inputs while constraining the ship to stay within screen boundaries.
Share Alike: free culture
Episode 1 · Share Alike: The Struggle for PlacesB2 · 17:10Explores the need for physical venues and public domains where free creation can be shown and creators can meet audiences.
Episode 2 · Share Alike: Together, Everything Becomes PossibleB2 · 17:58Shows how collective funding shifts creative decision-making power to the community, using David Revoy’s Pepper & Carrot community as an example.
Episode 3 · Share Alike: Neither Blue Pill Nor Red PillB2 · 18:09Traces the history of free licenses and examines their potential—and limits—as tools of resistance.
Episode 4 · ShareAlike: Just for Your EyesB2 · 15:47Creator Gee (Simon) explores building diverse, sustainable livelihoods around free creative work and CC ShareAlike licensing.
Episode 5 · Share Alike: The Art and Craft of Making ProfitsB2 · 15:25The Polynome collective seeks to transcend copyright, which only reinforces societal inequalities.
Episode 6 · Share Alike: War Is Peace, Sharing Is PrivatizationB2 · 17:51How digital IP enforcement tools inadvertently harm ordinary creators like musician Rose.
Episode 7 · Share Alike: Liberated, Delivered!B2 · 17:14Claustinto and Koji break free from traditional cultural industry rules to stage a revival of a well-known musical under a Creative Commons ShareAlike license.
Episode 8 · Share Alike: The Sharing CommunityB2 · 16:52Marseille DJ Mystique explores sampling, mixtapes, and the political values of music-sharing culture.
SideWays: Another Way of Life
Episode 2 · Buy housing togetherB1 · 6:02In Nantes, 80 people pool funds to buy housing for people experiencing homelessness. French-language documentary. Source: https://side-ways.net/episode2; credits: SideWays, Roving WebSeries; CC BY-SA 3.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/. Full episode and credits retained; French captions with Chinese and English translations: https://wj3.egg404.com/fyj/video/sideways-20261015/lv_people_sideways_02.subtitles.json
Episode 4 · Let us build togetherB1 · 5:40Residents of Henripont, Belgium, build a wind turbine together and share their experience of cooperation and renewable energy. Source: https://side-ways.net/episode4; credits: SideWays, Roving WebSeries; CC BY-SA 3.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/. Full episode and credits retained; French captions with Chinese and English translations: https://wj3.egg404.com/fyj/video/sideways-20261015/lv_people_sideways_04.subtitles.json
Episode 6 · Let’s create our lifeB1 · 6:22In Brittany, artist Robert Coudray talks about finding direction and building his own creative world. Source: https://side-ways.net/episode6; credits: SideWays, Roving WebSeries; CC BY-SA 3.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/. Full episode and credits retained; French captions with Chinese and English translations: https://wj3.egg404.com/fyj/video/sideways-20261015/lv_people_sideways_06.subtitles.json
Episode 7 · Let’s replenish tomorrowB1 · 6:49A cooperative organic grocery in Nantes combines local food with community activities and sustainable living. Source: https://side-ways.net/episode7; credits: SideWays, Roving WebSeries; CC BY-SA 3.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/. Full episode and credits retained; French captions with Chinese and English translations: https://wj3.egg404.com/fyj/video/sideways-20261015/lv_people_sideways_07.subtitles.json
Episode 8 · Reinventing his workB1 · 7:22Baker Daniel describes learning his craft as a child and later reshaping his working life. Source: https://side-ways.net/episode8; credits: SideWays, Roving WebSeries; CC BY-SA 3.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/. Full episode and credits retained; French captions with Chinese and English translations: https://wj3.egg404.com/fyj/video/sideways-20261015/lv_people_sideways_08.subtitles.json
Episode 9 · The shepherd on the outskirts of ParisB1 · 10:04A shepherd grazes goats in the suburbs of Paris, connecting urban neighbourhoods with rural life. Source: https://side-ways.net/episode9; credits: SideWays, Roving WebSeries; CC BY-SA 3.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/. Full episode and credits retained; French captions with Chinese and English translations: https://wj3.egg404.com/fyj/video/sideways-20261015/lv_people_sideways_09.subtitles.json
Wikimania Paris 2026: volunteers speak
Episode 1 · Afek on communicating in four languagesB1 · 0:44Afek describes working on the Wikimania Paris 2026 communications committee and her pride in reaching people in all four official languages.
Episode 2 · Partners and donor thank-you cardsB1 · 1:51Alejandra introduces Wikimania Paris 2026 partners—including the French Ministry of Culture and UNESCO—and describes multilingual thank-you postcards sent by Wikimedia France donors to volunteers.
Episode 3 · Linagora and the LinTO transcription toolB1 · 2:20Benjamin introduces himself and Linagora, explaining their partnership with Wikimania 2026 in Paris and their provision of Linto—a free, open-source transcription and translation solution.
Episode 4 · Program highlights and feedbackB1 · 2:39Discusses key program features for Wikimania 2026—including poster prominence, expanded lightning talks for practical takeaways—and shares overwhelmingly positive participant feedback.
Episode 5 · Why Paris Wikimania mattersB1 · 0:43Charlotte explains the significance of Wikimania being held in Paris for the first time, and her personal connection to Wikimedia France and open science.
Episode 6 · Three years of preparation and heartfelt prideB1 · 0:48Cindy reflects on three years of hard work by the staff team, expressing pride in the successful, welcoming, and respectful atmosphere uniting diverse nationalities and personalities at Wikimania Paris.
Episode 7 · Giovanni, partnerships volunteerB1 · 0:52Giovanni introduces himself as a volunteer for Wikimania 2026 in Paris and states he was part of the event's partnership team.
Episode 8 · Habib's commemorative poleB1 · 0:39Habib introduces the first pole he placed in the 3D map he designed for Wikimania Paris 2026, which holds personal significance as his starting point for the event.
Episode 9 · Senegalese volunteer's first Wikimania in ParisB1 · 0:28Ibrahima Diop, a Wikimedia volunteer from Senegal, introduces his experience as a volunteer at Wikimania 2026 in Paris, noting it is his first time attending and praising the event's excellent organization.
Episode 10 · Introducing the FrancAutrices gameB1 · 1:27Sinçra and Céline introduce the FrancAutrices memory game, created by Les Cent Pages to highlight francophone women writers.
Episode 11 · My first Wikimania experienceB1 · 0:48Luc Hervier describes his first Wikimania as highly immersive and energetic, noting he joined the organizing team and experienced the global participants' shared passion for Wikimedia.
Episode 12 · Wikimedia Chile president's welcome speechB1 · 2:33Luis Carrasco introduces himself as President of Wikimedia Chile and General Coordinator of the Wikimania Santiago 2027 Core Organizing Team, expresses gratitude to the Paris 2026 organizing team, and warmly invites participation in Wikimania 2027 in Santiago, Chile.
Episode 13 · Why Wiktionnaire has a boothB1 · 1:20Explains the purpose of the Wiktionnaire booth at Wikimania: sharing knowledge and activities of the French-language Wiktionnaire, increasing visibility for sister projects, and enabling first-time interactions between Wiktionary contributors and attendees unfamiliar with the project.
Episode 14 · Trust & Safety team dutiesB1 · 1:27Mickaël introduces his role on the Trust & Safety team for Wikimania 2026 in Paris, describing preparation, on-site visibility, conflict handling, and maintaining welcoming, calm spaces.
Episode 15 · Introducing the Western Wikipedians groupB1 · 1:08Pymouss introduces the Western Wikipedians, a local group based in Rennes that has met weekly since 2009—among the world’s longest-running local Wikimedia groups.
Episode 16 · Wikimania 2026 in Paris: a reviewB1 · 1:10Rémy Gerbet is delighted that Wikimania 2026 took place in Paris, letting French volunteers and long-standing partners take part close to home.
Episode 17 · Volunteer reception and guided toursB1 · 1:09Salah describes his volunteer roles: welcoming attendees, guiding international visitors at sites like the Curie Museum and Sainte-Geneviève Library, and providing linguistic support and translation.
Episode 18 · Wikimedia Côte d'Ivoire's exhibition standB1 · 2:00Wikimedia Côte d'Ivoire ran its first international Wikimedia event stand outside the country, welcoming many visitors from diverse regions and distributing local treats and small gifts from Abidjan.
Episode 19 · Creating the closing ceremony slidesB1 · 0:35Vincent describes working on the WikiChallenge closing ceremony slides—where winners are announced—and notes how early and directly he engaged with core organizing teams.
X-Men and the 20th century
Episode 1 · X-Men and the 20th Century: Mutants as Metaphors for Social ChangeB2 · 4:50This episode explores how the X-Men comics serve as a lens into key 20th-century themes: the emergence of youth culture, the civil rights movement (drawing parallels with Martin Luther King Jr.), the Cold War, feminism, and societal diversity—all framed through metaphorical storytelling about mutants and social acceptance.
Episode 2 · X-Men and 20th-Century HistoryB2 · 4:59This episode explores how the X-Men comics serve as a metaphor for major 20th-century historical events—including the Civil Rights Movement, the Holocaust, antisemitism, and the Cold War—drawing parallels between mutant persecution and real-world oppression and geopolitical tensions.
Episode 3 · X-Men and 20th-Century HistoryB2 · 4:42This episode explores how the X-Men comics reflect 20th-century themes: multiculturalism, immigrant identity (e.g., Claremont’s background), Cold War geopolitics (characters from Russia, Japan, Kenya, etc.), and feminist progress in storytelling and character development.
Episode 4 · X-Men and the 20th Century: Comics, Culture, and Social ValuesB2 · 5:10This episode explores how the X-Men comics reflect key 20th-century social themes—including diversity, disability representation, LGBTQ+ identity (e.g., Northstar’s coming out in 1992), and tolerance—through their characters, storylines, and cultural impact across comics, animation, and film.