Why Southern Brittany Should Be Your Next French Escape
Join Us in France Travel Podcast
Release Date: 01/11/2026
Camille Claudel: Betrayed by Family, Locked Away for 30 Years
Join Us in France Travel Podcast
Camille Claudel trained alongside Auguste Rodin. She fell in love with him. She became a brilliant sculptor in her own right. Then her family locked her away. Annie Sargent talks with Elyse Rivin about Camille Claudel's extraordinary life. Elyse traces her early talent, her ten years with Rodin, and the misogyny that kept her from getting the recognition she deserved. Then the story turns dark: her own family had her committed to an asylum, where she stayed for 30 years, until her death. It's a hard story. It's also one you won't forget. Press play to hear it. Subscribe to Join Us in France...
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How We Moved to Paris: Visa, Housing, and Healthcare
Join Us in France Travel Podcast
109-word iTunes description: Sacha Cohen and her husband spent two and a half years scouting France. They tried Rouen, Dijon, Bordeaux, Toulouse, and more. Then they chose Paris and moved in December 2025. Annie Sargent talks with Sacha about the whole process. They cover the long stay visitor visa, opening a French bank account, and setting up healthcare. They also dig into apartment hunting, picking an arrondissement, and the homesickness that hits even when a move goes right. Sacha shares what surprised her most about daily life in Paris. She's honest about the hard parts too. Hit play to...
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Catherine and Marie De Medici: Queen Mothers and Kingmakers
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Two Italian banker's daughters married French kings. Both ended up ruling France. Annie Sargent sits down with Elyse Rivin to sort out Catherine de' Medici and Marie de' Medici, cousins who together span the entire 1500s and into the 1600s. Catherine arrives at 15 to marry the future Henry II. She lives in the shadow of his mistress, buries three sons as kings, and holds France together through brutal religious wars. Marie marries Henry IV by proxy, gets humiliated at court, then loses him to an assassin's blade the day after her coronation. Annie and Elyse trace the schemes, the scandals, and...
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An Art Retreat in a Medieval Burgundy Village, Episode 607
Join Us in France Travel Podcast
In episode 607, Annie Sargent talks with Julie Lynch, an Australian costume designer turned painter, about her week-long art retreat in Noyers, a tiny medieval village in Burgundy. Julie traded her precise, detailed style for loose, abstract landscapes made on a gel plate. She and four childhood friends painted all morning, then explored Vézelay, Avallon, and the Château d'Ancy-le-Franc in the afternoons. Annie and Julie talk about wisteria, lilacs, why reservations matter even in small villages, and why a slow retreat beats a packed itinerary. Annie also shares news about her new YouTube...
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Eugène Delacroix: The Painter Critics Loved to Hate, Episode 606
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Critics called his paintings smudges. He kept painting anyway. In this episode, Annie Sargent and Elyse Rivin tell the story of Eugène Delacroix, the man behind Liberty Leading the People. His father left the family in debt. Géricault became his mentor. Critics attacked nearly every painting he showed. Then seven months in Morocco changed his art forever. Elyse tells the whole story, and Annie shares where to see his work in Paris, from the Louvre to Saint-Sulpice. You'll never look at Liberty Leading the People the same way. Hit play, then subscribe so you never miss an episode of Join Us...
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Five Weeks Solo in Paris: 20 Museums and Hidden Gems, Episode 605
Join Us in France Travel Podcast
Five weeks solo in Paris. Twenty museums. Four monuments. And a whole lot of surprises. Annie Sargent chats with Larry Rosenblum to talk about his trip. Larry swims in the Seine. He watches a play at the Comédie-Française through AR glasses. He tours the French Senate during Heritage Days. He even straps on VR goggles and steps straight into the Louvre's history. Larry shares his best planning tips, his favorite discovery (a fairground museum you've probably never heard of), and the one thing he wishes he hadn't skipped: Montmartre. Annie also digs into "La France Moche," the ugly side of...
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Alexandre Dumas: Adventure, Scandal, and 100,000 Pages
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Annie Sargent and Elyse Rivin dig into the life of Alexandre Dumas Père — and it's a wild ride. His grandmother was a slave. His father was the French army's first non-white general. Napoleon destroyed that father, and Dumas never forgot it. He wrote over 100 novels, went broke twice, helped unify Italy, and ran the museums of Naples — including Pompeii. Oh, and he wrote a cookbook. Elyse brings the research, Annie brings the questions, and together they make French history genuinely fun. Hit play. And if you enjoy this, subscribe — a new episode drops every Sunday. Table of Contents...
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Puy du Fou, Arles Bullfighting, and Getting Pickpocketed in Paris
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Cas McIntyre has visited France seven times and speaks French well enough to land in real trouble, and real fun. She joins Annie Sargent to swap stories that go beyond postcard moments: two and a half days lost in the theatrics of the Puy du Fou theme park, a village potato ball where 400 plates got filled, and a thermal cure in Sète that ended with Cas dancing the Jerusalem at midnight. Travel isn't always smooth. A pickpocket hits Cas at a Paris turnstile, her handbag goes missing on a train in Strasbourg, and Annie admits to losing a camera on a tour bus. Press play for stories you won't...
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Vichy's Story and the Best of the Allier Department
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Annie Sargent just got back from the Allier department, dead center of France, and almost nobody visits it. In this episode, she sits down with Elyse Rivin to talk about Vichy, Moulins and her trip. Annie shares what surprised her: a gorgeous Art Deco café, and a 19th-century mansion frozen in time for a hundred years and empty streets in Vichy in December. Elyse then digs into Vichy's real history, the Romans, hot springs, and a beautiful pottery called sigillée, long before it became famous for World War II. They also cover medieval villages, forests, and a local wine called...
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What Your Paris Photos Are Missing (And How to Fix It)
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Annie Sargent chats with Bob Soltys, a black-and-white street photographer who has spent decades capturing Paris. Bob shares what gear to actually bring, why night photography beats daytime almost every time, and which Paris neighborhoods deliver the best shots. He also explains phone tricks most tourists never use and when to put the camera down entirely. In the magazine segment, Annie covers a new underground tunnel connecting Gare du Nord and Gare de l'Est — and why it matters for your next Paris trip. Hit play. You'll come home with better photos. If you enjoy the show, subscribe so you...
info_outlineEpisode 580: A Vacation in Southern Brittany with Elyse takes you on a journey through one of France’s most enchanting yet underrated regions. Host Annie Sargent and Elyse Rivin dive into the , sharing their firsthand experiences and insider tips. This episode is perfect for travelers who love history, coastal charm, and authentic French culture—without the crowds.
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Annie and Elyse start by exploring the , a 1,000-year-old castle that was once the second home of the Dukes of Brittany. Recently restored, this fortress now offers interactive exhibits, medieval crossbow demonstrations, and even a moat filled with swans. Elyse shares fascinating stories about the castle’s past, including how it was and later abandoned before being brought back to life. If you’re traveling with kids (or just a kid at heart), you’ll love the hands-on activities and the chance to step into a real-life fairy tale.
Next, they head to , a peaceful island in the Gulf of Morbihan. Known as the "Island of Captains," this tiny gem is packed with history, from prehistoric megaliths to a medieval church and a working tidal mill. Elyse describes the island’s unique vibe, where while their men sailed the seas. You can walk or bike around the entire island in a day, stopping at quiet beaches, local crêperies, and even a sailing school. Elyse’s personal anecdotes—like trying for the first time—make the island feel like a place you need to visit.
The episode also covers practical tips for exploring Southern Brittany. Elyse recommends basing your trip in Vannes, a charming city with a lively market and easy access to the gulf’s many islands. She and Annie discuss the best ways to get around, including boat tours and bike rentals, and why the make every visit to the coast a little different.
For food lovers, Southern Brittany is a dream. Elyse raves about fresh oysters for just six euros a dozen and the local , a cider-based twist on the classic Aperol spritz. The region’s seafood, crêpes, and artisanal treats are not to be missed.
Whether you’re planning a trip or just dreaming of one, this episode is your guide to the best of Southern Brittany. Annie and Elyse’s conversational style makes you feel like you’re right there with them, discovering hidden gems and soaking up the local culture.
Subscribe to Join Us in France for more episodes like this—where history, food, and adventure come together. Perfect for anyone who wants to . Listen now and start planning your own Brittany escape!
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