So French!

This week, So French goes deep into one urgent question: what is France really doing in the war in #Ukraine — and what does it mean for #Europe’s future?Two major shocks landed almost at the same time:🔹 Donald Trump’s surprise 28-point “peace plan”🔹 A French-Ukrainian deal for up to 100 Rafale fighter jets over the coming decadeGrand promises, geopolitical theatre… and hard realities.To separate strategy from storytelling, Stef and Sara speak with Élie Tenenbaum, director of security studies at IFRI , France’s leading foreign policy institute. Why is France so far behind Denmark in real support to Ukraine? Why did Macron change course? And why is Europe watching peace talks between Washington and Moscow from the corridor?Expect blunt numbers, complicated truths… and a surprising conclusion about Europe’s strength.Plus:🇫🇷 Nicolas #Sarkozy wrote 11 pages per day about his 20 days in prison. Sacré bleu !🐬 A rare piece of good news from the French Atlantic coast: dolphins are returningFollow So French for sharp analysis from Paris, politics with a human touch, and a European lens on a continent at a turning point.📬 [email protected]📸 Instagram: @sofrenchshow🄾 Produced and hosted by Sara Bertilsson & Stefan de Vries🎵 Original music by Laurent Bleu

In this episode, Stefan and Sara delve into the complexities of French politics, exploring the cultural psyche that influences political behaviour, particularly the reluctance to compromise. They discuss recent developments, including Amsterdam's new parking regulations targeting French tourists, the ongoing debates surrounding the French state budget, and the implications of Nicolas Sarkozy's release from prison. The conversation also touches on Rachida Dati's legal troubles and the historical context of France's political structure, culminating in a discussion about a rare calculating machine auctioned in France.

Ten years ago today, So French! was born — just one week before the terror attacks that would forever change France. As we relaunch our podcast in a turbulent political and social landscape, Sara and Stefan look back at a decade of transformation: from terror threats to TikTok-era extremism, and from François Hollande to Emmanuel Macron (and still, somehow, Nicolas Sarkozy).This week, we dive into France’s budget battle royale — a “Frankenstein” of a finance bill that might just sink the government. We track the scandal of the week, as ultra-fast fashion giant Shein opens its Paris flagship amid outrage over child-like sex dolls, and we check in on the Bling-Bling President now sitting in solitary.Plus: slow TV from Mont Saint-Michel, the Norwegians’ unexpected role in soothing French nerves, and what happens when you mix politics, pain, and the tides of time.🇫🇷 Politics. Culture. Outrage. Beauty. Only on So French.Tune in — and vive la relance!

🎉 We’re Back! So French Returns After 5 Years 🇫🇷After a five-year hiatus, So French is back — and celebrating 10 years since our very first episode! In this special relaunch, co-hosts Sara Bertilsson and Stefan de Vries reunite to reflect on the past decade of podcasting about life in France, #politics, scandals (yes, plenty!), and the ever-evolving French society.Join us as we talk about what’s changed — and what hasn’t — since we last hit record:🦠 Life post-COVID🚴‍♀️ Cycling lanes in Paris🎩 Familiar political faces (Sarkozy, anyone?)🌍 A fresh European perspective from Amsterdam to Paris and back🎙️ New format, more guests, and now… video!Whether you’re a longtime listener or just discovering us, So French is your go-to dose of wit, insight, and all things français.📅 First full episode drops November 5th – exactly 10 years after our debut. Subscribe now and say bonjour to a new era of So French!

It's the seventh week of the National Strike. Will we see any major developments, or will the country stay chaotic over the next couple of days? What's at stake in the upcoming local Elections? Will the pension reform diminish Macron's chances? And who will become the next Mayor of Paris?A dustman in Paris was fired because someone tweeted that he was taking a nap. What's behind this story?Recorded in Paris, 19 January 2020.