Learn French by Podcast
- Episodes
- 218
- Released
- irregularly
- Latest episode
- Aug 10, 2026
About the podcast
Learn French by Podcast is an exciting series of French lessons for everybody. Work with high-quality audio podcasts in your own time and at your own pace. Want to clarify some details? Something you couldn't quite understand? Then download comprehensive PDF Guides which elucidate all the finer points. Learn French the fun way.
Episodes 218
217: La Coupe du monde 2026: 'le plus grand événement humain, social et culturel que l'humanité ait jamais vu'?
Even though the World Cup is now behind us, the 2026 edition was unlike all previous tournaments for all sorts of reasons. FIFA President, Gianni Infantino, described its success in grandiose terms. Others …
Show notes
Even though the World Cup is now behind us, the 2026 edition was unlike all previous tournaments for all sorts of reasons. FIFA President, Gianni Infantino, described its success in grandiose terms. Others, including Swiss football commentator, David Lemos, were more circumspect. At the conclusion of the final, Mr. Lemos didn't hold back. Let's revisit what he said in this lesson.
216: C'est la canicule!
Even though we are just about at mid-summer, there has already been a number of heatwaves. In several regions of the world temperatures are soaring. Let's talk about the extreme heat.
215: Les EU et l'UE toujours amis mais plus alliés
To say that relations between the U.S. and Europe have changed is an understatement. NATO is a major bone of contention and the introduction of tariffs has caused turmoil in financial markets. Let's talk about …
Show notes
To say that relations between the U.S. and Europe have changed is an understatement. NATO is a major bone of contention and the introduction of tariffs has caused turmoil in financial markets. Let's talk about it in this lesson.
214: Les jeux d'argent ne sont pas que de simples jeux.
Gambling is a colossal industry. Those with skin in the game say that it's 'just fun'. However, there are also those who say that gambling is addictive as a drug. Let's discuss 'les jeux d'argent' in this lesson.
213: Les Louisianais se battent pour la survie de leur patrimoine.
The people of southern Louisiana are very proud of their French heritage and culture. They're fighting tooth and nail for the survival of French which is struggling against the onslaught of English. In this …
Show notes
The people of southern Louisiana are very proud of their French heritage and culture. They're fighting tooth and nail for the survival of French which is struggling against the onslaught of English. In this lesson, let's discuss some of the things that makes Louisiana different.
212: Aux élections européennes le Président Macron prend une raclée
Our lesson this time relates to the European elections in which President Macron's party was subjected to a drubbing while support for parties of the right surged. A snap election, called by President Macron …
Show notes
Our lesson this time relates to the European elections in which President Macron's party was subjected to a drubbing while support for parties of the right surged. A snap election, called by President Macron after the election results became known, is a high-risk strategy. Let's discuss.
211: Les rénovations se paient cher … à moins que l'on ne les fasse soi-même!
This time, our lesson relates to a DIY job that frightens off a lot people, that is, laying tiles. Let's start with a dialogue.
210: 'Que penses-tu de chatGPT? Faut-il en avoir peur?'
Since the launch of chatGPT in November 2022, everyone is talking about it. Some are in awe of its potential while others go so far as to say that it represents an existential threat. Let's talk about this …
Show notes
Since the launch of chatGPT in November 2022, everyone is talking about it. Some are in awe of its potential while others go so far as to say that it represents an existential threat. Let's talk about this technological evolution in this lesson.
209 : Vers une société sans argent liquide
It seems we are inexorably headed towards a cashless society. It is not uncommon now for some retailers to even refuse cash payments. What are the consequences of this development? Let's talk about it.
208 : 'Les garçons ne pleurent pas'
In this lesson, we will hear Bertrand's thoughts on a book he has just finished reading. But we are going to discover that the book's title isn't really true.
207: J'ai eu le covid.
People were starting to feel invincible. After over two year's of covid, they were saying to themselves: 'it's over – we can get back to normality'. But covid is still circulating. Let's start with a conversation.
206: De retour au bureau - à temps partiel
After nearly two years, we are seeing a gradual return to the workplace. Working from home – travailler de sa maison – has presented both advantages and disadvantages.
205: Le monde appartient à ceux qui se lèvent tôt!
Some people are early-risers while others are night owls. In this lesson, we discuss an adage which makes the bold claim that people who fall into the first category are at an advantage.
204: Prendre - un verbe polyvalent
One of our Beginner listeners asked about the English verb 'to get' which made us think about prendre. 'Get' is just one of the many meanings of this multipurpose French verb, depending on the context.
203: L'indice de réparabilité - un petit pas dans la bonne direction
This lesson centres on an interesting initiative which should see manufacturers pull up their socks when it comes to environmentally-friendly products. Let's start with a conversation!
202: Ça pousse, ton jardin?!
One of our listeners asked that we would prepare a lesson with some gardening vocabulary and that's what we did, over WhatsApp! We have lots of interesting vocabulary to learn – let's start with a conversation.
201: La covid-19 - une crise inédite
Our conversation this time is about something which has been central to our lives around the world since the beginning of the year. We are speaking, of course, about the coronavirus pandemic. Let's get started …
Show notes
Our conversation this time is about something which has been central to our lives around the world since the beginning of the year. We are speaking, of course, about the coronavirus pandemic. Let's get started with a conversation.
200: La crise des opioïdes
The subject of this - our 200th lesson! - is the opioids crisis in the U.S. which has reached quite shocking proportions. But how did it come to this? Let's start with a conversation.
199: 'Les décroissants', c'est qui?
Our conversation this time focuses on people who are referred to as 'les décroissants'. But who exactly are 'les décroissants'? To find out, let's start with a conversation.
198: Je viens chercher mon fils!
One of our listeners was taking up a position as a teacher in a pre-school in France and asked if we would put together some expressions and vocabulary that might be used in a dialogue between the teacher and a …
Show notes
One of our listeners was taking up a position as a teacher in a pre-school in France and asked if we would put together some expressions and vocabulary that might be used in a dialogue between the teacher and a parent. Let's consider one such conversation.
197: Quand l'Afrique a gagné la Coupe du Monde
Our lesson this time goes back to a joke made by chat-show host Trevor Noah last summer, following the World cup. The only thing is, some people didn't find his joke funny at all, not least the French …
Show notes
Our lesson this time goes back to a joke made by chat-show host Trevor Noah last summer, following the World cup. The only thing is, some people didn't find his joke funny at all, not least the French ambassador in Washington. So what was it all about, again? Let's start, as usual, with a conversation to put things in context.
196: Le Président Macron réinstaurera le Service national
Our conversation this time focuses on President Macron's plan to reintroduce national service in France. Some people are wondering if he is the right man to decide on such matters, given that he himself is the …
Show notes
Our conversation this time focuses on President Macron's plan to reintroduce national service in France. Some people are wondering if he is the right man to decide on such matters, given that he himself is the first French president not to have done military service.
195: La présidence Trump approche des élections de mi-mandat
The Trump presidency is nearing the mid-term elections in November. Mr Trump – arguably more than any other American president – has polarised opinions. Let's talk about the first half of his mandate and what …
Show notes
The Trump presidency is nearing the mid-term elections in November. Mr Trump – arguably more than any other American president – has polarised opinions. Let's talk about the first half of his mandate and what has being going on in recent weeks.
194: France: la réforme de l'accès à l'université
Traditionally, French high school graduates have been guaranteed public university places, regardless of the grades achieved in their baccalauréat. This, however, has resulted in very high drop-out rates. It is …
Show notes
Traditionally, French high school graduates have been guaranteed public university places, regardless of the grades achieved in their baccalauréat. This, however, has resulted in very high drop-out rates. It is hoped that, from 2018, proposed reforms will result in a more efficient means of access to university. Let's talk about all this. C'est parti!
193: "Que penses-tu du Brexit?"
Britain's vote to withdraw from the European Union was widely controversial and continues to be so. Brexit – from a French perspective – is at the centre of our conversation this time.
192: Le transfer de Neymar : comment expliquer une telle outrance ?
The transfer of Brazilian footballer, Neymar, smashed all records in terms of the colossal sums of money involved. Are such sporting investments really justified? Let's talk about that.
191: "Je vais m'offrir un téléphone basique"
Our lesson this time was inspired by a recent article entitled "Have smartphones destroyed a generation?" A provocative title indeed, but one that got us thinking. C'est parti!
190: Le phénomène Macron ... en marche!
Our lesson this time - for Advanced learners – focuses on the stunning rise to the French presidency of the youthful Emmanuel Macron at just 39 years of age. How, exactly, did he manage to pull off such a …
Show notes
Our lesson this time - for Advanced learners – focuses on the stunning rise to the French presidency of the youthful Emmanuel Macron at just 39 years of age. How, exactly, did he manage to pull off such a victory? Let's discuss.
189: Comment parler d'un accident de la route?
A listener wondered if we could do a lesson on the basis of a traffic accident. So that's what we've done : we've simulated a discussion on the basis of a minor accident that did actually occur recently at our …
Show notes
A listener wondered if we could do a lesson on the basis of a traffic accident. So that's what we've done : we've simulated a discussion on the basis of a minor accident that did actually occur recently at our end. Let's start with a conversation: then we'll look closely at the vocabulary.
188: Le retrait des États-Unis de l'Accord de Paris sur le changement climatique
The withdrawal of the U.S. from the Paris Accord on climate change caused consternation worldwide, not least as almost all countries signed up to its terms in 2016. Let's talk about the decision of the U.S …
Show notes
The withdrawal of the U.S. from the Paris Accord on climate change caused consternation worldwide, not least as almost all countries signed up to its terms in 2016. Let's talk about the decision of the U.S. administration to withdraw. We'll discover how to make use of a whole range of interesting vocabulary. C'est parti!
These are the latest 40 of 218 episodes. You’ll find older episodes in the podcast’s feed.
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