The Good, the Bad, and the French

How to Party Like It's Mille Neuf Cent Quatre-Vingt-Dix-Neuf

Send a text [https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/2471876/open_sms] In episode 15, Mimi and Suzy break down the anatomy of a French party—from the germ-spreading ritual of la bise to the predictable flow of punch, wine, and classic apéro snacks. They compare regional quirks like Brittany’s surprising “party soup,” try to find out exactly what parts of the pig are in andouille sausage, and run through the typical late dinner, bad music rotation, chain-smoking corners, and obligatory nostalgia stories. Alongside tales of crashed parties, tame “sex-toy” themes, and cover bands killing the vibe, they also touch on Picard culture, Halloween’s slow rise in France, and the near-guarantee of getting sick after any gathering. The episode ends with a question to listeners: would a French party be your cup of soup? Keywords French parties, la bise, germs, fist bump, apéro snacks, crunchy peanuts, saucisson, andouille, party soup, Brittany, late dinners, bad music, Gypsy Kings, ’80s hits, Beyoncé, chain smoking, nostalgia, blind quiz, pétanque, photo slideshows, Picard, Halloween in France, party culture, metro germs. Chapters 00:00 – Sick Season & The Curse of La Bise 02:00 – Party Rules: Punch, Wine, and Apéro Snacks 06:30 – Andouille Debate: What Actually Is it? 09:30 – Brittany’s Surprise: The Mystery Party Soup 12:00 – Late Dinners, Bad Playlists & Beyoncé Rescues 15:00 – Chain Smoking & Childhood Nostalgia Hour 18:00 – Party Animations: Blind Quizzes, Slideshows, Pétanque 21:00 – Crashing the Cardboard-Box Birthday 24:30 – The Tame “Sex Toy” Party 28:00 – Picard, Costumes & Halloween in France 33:00 – Live Music Hijacks: The Host’s Cover Band 37:00 – Is Getting Sick Worth It? 38:30 – Would You Enjoy a French Party?

The French Supermarket

Send a text [https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/2471876/open_sms] In episode 14, Mimi and Suzy dive into the French world of supermarkets—from neighborhood Monoprix and walkable Super U to mega-sized Leclerc, produce paradise Grand Frais, and frozen-only cult favorite Picard. They compare U.S. variety with France’s strict seasonality and origin labeling, swap horror stories about the mustard and butter shortages, and get practical about scoring a good €6–€8 bottle. Picard gets a full love letter, and the episode wraps with souvenir do’s and don’ts. Keywords French supermarkets, Monoprix, Super U, Leclerc, Grand Frais, Picard, frozen food, produce seasonality, origin labeling, mustard shortage, butter shortage, Amora, Maille, cornichons, wine tips, wine medals, champagne, customs limits, how to ship butter internationally, butter, honey, local producers, groceries.  Chapters  00:00 – Supermarket Stories  02:00 – Monoprix, Super U & Leclerc Compared  05:00 – Suzy's Ode to Picard  10:00 – Mustard and Butter Shortages  14:00 – Wine Aisles and Missing Imports  20:00 – Seasonal Produce & Label Laws  25:00 – The Honey Monopoly Exposed  27:00 – Best Souvenirs to Bring Back

Dating Frenchmen 101

Send a text [https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/2471876/open_sms] In episode 13, Mimi and Suzy explore what it’s really like to date French men, from first dates and slow-to-arrive kisses to relationships that seem to form without discussion. They unpack the cultural differences around exclusivity, commitment, and the lack of a “define the relationship” talk, while also diving into the phenomenon of love bombing and how to recognize red and green flags early on. With Mimi’s perspective as someone married to a Frenchman and Suzy’s experience dating in France today, they compare etiquette around splitting the bill, expectations of romance, and why French men may be stylish and expressive but less inclined toward machismo. The discussion also looks at dating apps, presentation and grooming, and the subtle cultural cues that shape relationships across borders.  Keywords Dating in France, French men, French dating culture, love bombing, monogamy, commitment, first-date etiquette, splitting the bill, intercultural relationships, French kissing, dating apps in France (Hinge, Fruitz, Bumble, OkCupid, AdopteUnMec, Tinder), cultural differences, red flags, green flags, communication styles, expat life in France, French masculinity, French fashion, relationship dynamics, dating abroad.  Chapters 00:01 — La Rentrée Stress  01:08 — Dating French Men  07:12 — Exclusivity and Commitment  09:06 — Love Bombing and Red Flags  19:41 — Machismo, Romance, and Style  28:24 — Dating Apps in France  35:00 — First-Date Etiquette  40:36 — Final Thoughts

Learning French Part 2: How It's Going

Send a text [https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/2471876/open_sms] In episode 12, Mimi and Suzy explore the reality of speaking French with the French—from cafés and comedy clubs to parties that last until dawn. They share stories of microaggressions, waiters switching to English, the cultural “art of sparring,” and how accents shape perception in France. With Mimi’s immersion-through-slang approach and Suzy’s years of formal study, they compare very different learning experiences and reveal what it actually takes to feel confident in French. Along the way, they recount comic misunderstandings, frustrating encounters with French administration, and joyful milestones that prove persistence pays off.  Keywords Speaking French, French language, French culture, living in France, accents in France, French slang, French administration, microaggressions, cultural sparring, Parisian culture, bilingual life, learning French abroad, foreigners in France, French identity, expat life in France, French waiters, French integration, French comedy, cultural adaptation, French fluency, French pronunciation.  Chapters  00:00 – Introduction & Listener Shoutout  01:30 – From Learning French to Speaking with the French  03:00 – Parisian Sparring, Microaggressions & Administration Culture  06:20 – Mimi’s Slang Beginnings vs. Suzy’s Formal Study  09:30 – Accents, Perceptions & Cultural Bias  11:00 – Comedy Clubs, Roasting & Regional Speech  15:30 – Pronunciation Struggles & Being Understood  19:20 – Identity, Bias & The “Where Are You From?” Question  21:30 – Waiters Switching to English & Language Pet Peeves  27:00 – Milestones, Parties & Professional Confidence  42:45 – Practical Tips for Visitors & Final Reflections

Learning French Part 1: How It Started

Send a text [https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/2471876/open_sms] In episode 11, the first of a two-part series, Mimi and Suzy share their personal journeys learning French both before and after moving to France. They reflect on the challenges of grammar, pronunciation, and cultural expectations, as well as the emotional and practical realities of trying to become fluent in a language that often feels endless. With two very different learning paths—one self-taught through immersion, the other shaped by years of formal study—they discuss what helped, what didn’t, and why learning French is about more than just vocabulary and verbs. Keywords Learning French, French language, living in France, French grammar, language learning, subjunctive, French pronunciation, identity, classism, Duolingo, French culture, French integration, moving to France, bilingualism, French language trauma, French language tips, Beauty and the Beast, foreigners in France, multilingual life, French vocabulary, French fluency, cultural adaptation.  Chapters 00:00 – Introduction & Listener Shoutout 01:30 – Why We’re Talking About Learning French 02:30 – Language Test Stress 04:00 – Is French Hard to Learn? 05:20 – The Subjunctive Struggle 06:45 – Mimi's Self-Taught Journey 13:00 – Suzy’s Structured Language Path 19:30 – Time, Fluency, and Frustration 22:30 – Language, Identity, and Confidence 26:00 – La Dictée 30:00 – Grammar and Class in France 36:00 – The Culture of Eloquence 40:30 – Tools That Actually Helped 47:00 – What to Avoid When Learning French 51:30 – Looking Ahead to Part Two