Frances Parker Media Podcasts

More than a fifth of the French population is disabled. But for 80 percent of them, it doesn't show. Whether to disclose it or not is a delicate choice, given that disability is the leading cause of discrimination in France. Our team went to meet teenager Marc, who has a rare disease that means he has barely any intestines. They also met Joëlle, wh…

Jami Svay is a make-up/hair artist and stylist. She talks about her initial ambitions of going to art school in Atlanta and why she decided make a quick change to pursue a career in make-up, how she acquired the many skills/certifications to make her an expert in the field, marketing herself before the social media boom, insight on how life is on s…

Tatiana Castro is a painter and fiber artist currently based in Savannah, Georgia by way of West Virginia. During our conversation she shares memories of making her own toys as a kid, growing up in a cult, discovering that she could pursue a life in the arts, making burlesque outfits, how and why she aims to de-stigmatize queer eroticism through he…

By FRANCE 24 English

Mackensey is a photographer currently living in Savannah, Georgia. On this episode she talks about dropping out of art school, life in San Francisco, what sparked her interest in photography, establishing clients locally and abroad, shooting weddings and how she's helping people claim their beauty through her embodiment sessions.Follow Mackensey Ev…

The Renaissance-era Villers-Cotterêts castle, in France's Picardy region, is now home to the first cultural site in the world dedicated to the French language, a project championed by President Emmanuel Macron. It's a story conveyed with words, art and architecture to pay tribute to a language spoken by some 320 million people across the globe. But…

The NBA's next season is set to kick off with the "Michael Jordan" of French basketball, Victor Wembanyama. All eyes are on the 2.24-metre-tall mega talent who joined the San Antonio Spurs in June. He follows in the footsteps of Tony Parker, who was inducted into the NBA’s Hall of Fame in August. France in Focus takes a look at the players who have…

Shawn AKA " Mr. Penzelous" is a model, photographer and tailor currently living in Savannah, Georgia. We talk about his initial entry into the arts in middle school when he began to draw, his god mother supporting his dreams of becoming a photographer, how and why he started modeling, his love for fashion and what he has planned for his brand.Follo…

Lori Gascon is a multi-faceted artist currently living in Savannah, Georgia by way of Venezuela. During our conversation she talks about being surrounded and raised by artist, moving to Texas to pursue college, her initial love for fashion and film, pivoting to a life back into the arts while she was living in Florida, her take on jewelry making an…

Wine lovers will be familiar with Bordeaux, Bourgogne and Beaujolais. These wines are all symbols of French culture, celebrated worldwide. Yet over the past 60 years, wine consumption has dropped by 70 percent in France. Reds, in particular, have been given the cold shoulder – even abroad. So why are consumers changing their habits? How can winemak…

A secondary school in southern France embrace of social diversity programming a few years ago is now bearing fruit. Launched five years ago, the initiative aims to welcome students living in the the disadvantaged neighbourhoods of the city. It allows them to grow academically and socially, making a positive impact in the classroom. Noemie Roche and…

Antonia B. Larkin is a multi-disciplinary artist whose main focus is documenting black womanhood. She talks about being influenced by her mom and grandmother when she was growing up, her earlier dreams of being a writer, undergraduate and graduate experience, her process of creating sculptures for film, a life changing experience in Wisconsin, and …

It's a monument that is synonymous with France. The Eiffel Tower is more than just a wrought iron landmark, its very existence represents an architectural feat taken on by the man who gave it its name: Gustave Eiffel. This year marks 100 years since the engineer died. During his lifetime, Gustave Eiffel fought against all odds to make his dream com…

What if we worked a four-day week? In France, the idea is gaining ground. Some business owners have already made the switch. From company attractiveness to employees’ wellbeing, the formula seems to be working. We take a closer look at this new working schedule and explore which sectors are implementing it.…

Anastasia Faust is a leather worker currently living in Greensboro, North Carolina. She talks about her early like in Russia, memories of making clothes, time in Georgia, her process with making her products, rebranding and the importance of taking time off.Support her everywhere:https://faustleathergoods.comhttps://instagram.com/faustleathergoods…

Tony Artemsia is a contemporary painter currently living in Savannah Georgia. He talks about his first love for creating music, what led him to painting, being self taught, how works with multiple mediums to bring his work to life, what brought him to savannah, past and future gallery shows and ultimate how politics and philosophy drives his curren…

One year ahead of France hosting the Olympic Games, we went to meet athlete Margot Chevrier. At 23, she's a pole vaulter for the French national team. The athlete is also in her fifth year of studying medicine in Nice and is getting ready to sit her exams to become a doctor. This high-flyer aims to one day become an Olympic champion. FRANCE 24's Ma…

Shannon Taylor is an interior designer and life coach currently living in Savannah, Georgia. She talks about how and why she got into design, influence from her dad, her initial endeavors of being an architect, life in college, developing her style and with around 30 years of experience in the field she sheds light on how she maintains momentum in …

Known as the Wonder of the West, Mont Saint-Michel looks as if it could have been plucked from a fairytale. The religious sanctuary on France's Normandy coast turns 1,000 this year. Since the first stone was laid in 1023, it has been home to monks, monarchs and prisoners; a historic pilgrimage site that welcomes 3 million visitors each year. In thi…

Jean Moulin was one of the many French Resistance fighters who stood up to the Germans during the occupation of France in World War II. A true symbol of the Resistance and the Republic, many streets, schools and universities have been named after the French hero since his death 80 years ago. Moulin continues to be honoured across the political spec…

Brittany Gerow is a global designer and director currently based in Toronto, Canada. She talks about how her work has been influenced by movies and music, her time interning in Germany, her time at Sheridan College and The University of Toronto, working for a variety of agencies and brands, how meditative creating is and her current endeavors of te…

Water is a fundamental but fragile common resource that's being increasingly depleted and polluted by human activity. For several months now, traces of a pesticide called chlorothalonil – known as metabolites – have been detected in drinking water all over France, despite the pesticide being banned since 2020. How has France's most strictly control…

Back in the 1960s, the Soviets and Americans were racing to the Moon. Europe did not want to be a bystander in the space race and embarked on the Ariane programme in 1973. We take a look back at how the Europeans launched their space programme. Today, the Ariane-6 rocket's inaugural flight is running three years behind schedule. The European Space …

It’s one of the most iconic motor races in the world. The "24 hours of Le Mans" race marks a centenary this year. Seven auto manufacturers will be fighting for overall victory with 16 teams represented. The unique race tests its participants' reliability and endurance and encourages innovation. The 13,626km track attracts hundreds of thousands of f…

Luke Thompson is a cinematographer and visual artist currently living in Greensboro, North Carolina. He talks about how his love for music led to him creating, insights on his creative process, numerous traveling stories abroad and what he has planned for the future.Check Luke out here:https://instagram.com/visual.canopyhttps://visualcanopy.com/…

2022 was the most devastating year ever for wildfires in France. The Bordeaux region in the country’s south west was especially hard hit. This as the climate emergency seen globally is increasingly making its presence felt in temperate zones. So, how is France now preparing for the summer ahead? Have lessons been learned from last year?…

Alexander Rivera is a cinematographer currently living in Charlotte, North Carolina. He talks about his initial plans of being an architect, how he found his entry into film at Appalachian State University, freelancing, bringing visuals to life on set, working with a variety of brands, and his love for film photography.Support Alexander everywhere:…

France counts approximately 150,000 online influencers. Their work can include product placement, tutorials and even promoting cosmetic surgery. While most influencers struggle to make a living from their craft, some have made it a lucrative business. But sometimes, scams can lurk behind the products being peddled by influencers. French lawmakers a…

Vikki Vassar is an illustrator and graphic designer currently based in Winston Salem, North Carolina by way of Michigan. We discuss her time with creating art in high school, pop art, her approach to painting, Lisa Frank, mural projects, and how games influence her work.Follow Vikki Everywhere:https://www.instagram.com/thatblondegirlvikkiFollow Fre…

According to figures from the French Ministry of Gender Equality, every year in France, 94,000 women report being victims of rape or attempted rape. But in 2021, barely 1 percent of the reported assaults resulted in a conviction. In addition to the emotional and psychological trauma, rape victims also have to deal with an unyielding administrative …

As the UK prepares to celebrate King Charles III's coronation, we focus on the love affair between the British royal family and Paris, which has been both long and reciprocal. A series of landmarks are dedicated to British monarchs in the capital, such as Avenue Victoria – named after Queen Victoria, who in 1855 made the first state visit to Paris …

Lé Dieguê is a multidisciplinary artist currently living in Savannah, Georgia. He talks about his upbringing around a family of artists, early life in Venezuela, a pivotal moment in his artistic career in Kentucky, what moves him to create, his experience getting his master’s degree at SCAD, and his plans of teaching in Massachusetts.Follow Lé ever…

Jessica Singerman is a fine artist and educator currently living in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. She talks about her early influence into the arts via her grandmother, her time in college, studying in Europe, living in Australia, her approach to painting, teaching at UNCSA and much more!Follow Jessica everywhere:https://instagram.com/jessicasinge…

For years, autism was underdiagnosed in France because of a lack of medical training for professionals. Now adults, thousands of people on the autism spectrum have had to spend years waiting for a diagnosis and try to adapt to life without one. They spoke to Sonia Baritello and Jonathan Walsh about their long, uphill battle.…

In France, mothers face a nightmare battle to protect their children after they accuse the father of incest. While police and social services investigate, these mothers are forced to respect custody arrangements or face fines and even prison sentences. They are undermined and labelled as "over-protective", "manipulative" and desperate to gain exclu…

Connor Oaster îs a photographer currently living in Greensboro, North Carolina. In this episode he talks about what got him into the arts, skateboarding, a brief time in Charlotte, street fashion, developing his skills at Randolph Community College and what he's working on these days.Follow and support Connor:https://instagram.com/connoroasterhttps…

Greg Brady is a photographer and the owner of Anchor Coffee Co. He is currently living in Wilkesboro, North Carolina and sheds light on why and how he got into coffee, developing his love for photography, expanding the Winston Salem, North Carolina and operating a business in today's climate.Support Greg and Anchor Coffee everywhere:https://www.ins…

In March 2020, Paris emptied as the first Covid-19 lockdown was announced. City dwellers fled and sought refuge in the countryside. Three years later, what has become of those Parisians who embarked on a new way of life? And how has the arrival of these "neo-rurals" affected the local landscape? Our team went looking for the answers in the Perche r…

Since January, millions of people have taken to the streets across France in protest at the government's pension reform plans. Women have been unmissable and essential to the demonstrations. Indeed, retirement reflects one's career, but it also reveals a lifetime of inequality: in France, women's pensions are 40 percent lower than those of men. How…

This week, we're focusing on those who brave the stage in the hope that we'll be left rolling in the aisles. French comedy clubs are frequently full for one-man shows, and there's an Anglophone pack of stand-uppers eager to make France titter and giggle. We went to meet two of them.By FRANCE 24 English

Allen Nop is back again to give us an update on his life after leaving New York. More importantly he shares some insight on the opening of Studio Good Vibes Only, his very own photo studio that is available to rent in Greensboro.Follow Allen Everywhere:https://www.allennopphoto.comhttps://www.instagram.com/allennopphoto/To book his studio:https://i…

Lauren Strohacker is an eco-political artist currently living in Corryton, TN. She talks about growing up in Ohio, early inspiration from visiting the zoo, taking drawing classes in college, using art as communication, experience in graduate school in Arizona, multiple exhibitions around the country, the importance of betting on yourself and so muc…

Russia's invasion of Ukraine has forced millions of people, mostly women and children, to flee their homes since February 24, 2022. Nearly five million of them are believed to have escaped abroad, forcing them to integrate into a new country as they leave behind the life they were used to. A year later, we went to visit a school in Strasbourg in ea…

Adrian Lewis is a photographer currently living in New York City. He talks about his life growing up in upstate New York, first experiences with a camera, why he shoots film, developing his style, working with brands and his overall life as a freelancer in the big apple.Follow Adrian everywhere:https://www.ihaveperceived.comhttps://www.instagram.co…

Daniel Becker is a poet, actor and teacher currently living in High Point, North Carolina by way of Australia. He shares stories about growing up in Australia, creative influence from his mom, travels around the world, how he developed his passion for writing and what he's doing in his community in High Point.Support Daniel here:https://instagram.c…

Caitlyn Schrader is a dancer, filmmaker, and choreographer currently living in Greensboro, North Carolina. She talks about her time growing up in New York, playing sports, her process of creating movements, making films and so much more.Support Caitlyn Everywhere:https://instagram.com/caitlyn_schraderhttps://www.caitlynschrader.com…

Drew Lakin is the graphic design champion of the WORLD. Currently he is in California and it was an honor that he made the time to share his experience thus far of his journey being a freelance artist. He talks about how punk music lead him into making art, dropping out of high school, life in Texas, screen printing, working for agencies and his ov…

J. Bouey is a dance artist living In New York City and in their words, "they're out here doing the best can, dammit!". J Bouey talks about their life growing up in California, his parents not allowing him to dance initially, how and why he ended up pursuing dance in Arizona, battling self-hatred, his process of creating movement, living and teachin…

Nick Naber is the best draftsman in the whole world and he made some time to talk to me on the show. He talks about growing up and going to school in Wisconsin, finding his love for drawing, first exhibitions, earning his MFA at Pratt, how his works stems from reality, The Coastal Post and so much more!Support Nick Everywhere:https://nicknaber.comh…

Gina Franco is a muralist and artist currently living in Greensboro, North Carolina. She talks about where her initial interest in art began, life as a teacher, taking art classes, landing her first big job for Krispy Kreme, experiences on the road and how she navigates this life in the arts that she never saw coming.Support Gina Everywhere:https:/…