Meet Gérald Darnis, a French marine biologist who studies zooplankton in the Arctic on the Canadian icebreaker Amundsen. After completing a PhD in oceanography, Gerald went on his first expedition in the Arctic. I asked him to share his first memories of going into a place of the world where very few of us will ever go. What is plankton? How and why is it interesting to study these tiny organisms? Why studying it in the Arctic? These are some of the questions we’ll answer to in this first episode with Gérald. Plankton is an essential part of the marine ecosystem while the Arctic … Read More →

Joseph Puzo is the CEO (in French, "PDG") of AXON' Câble, a very high technology entreprise producing cables. These are not just any cables: Axon’ is the provider for the French Ariane space rockets, Airbus aircrafts, the camera on the Discovery robot sending pictures of planet Mars to the world, and many other fascinating projects! Coming from an Italian family, Joseph Puzo came to France as a young child and therefore French was, like you, a foreign language he quickly learnt. In this episode, discover Joseph's life journey: you’ll get to see how his early studies and trainings were … Read More →

What do airbags, artificial hearts and the Discovery robot have in common? Joseph Puzo is the CEO (in French, "PDG") of AXON' Câble, a very high technology entreprise producing cables. These are not just any cables: Axon' is the provider for the French Ariane space rockets, Airbus aircrafts, the camera on the Discovery robot sending pictures of planet Mars to the world, and many other fascinating projects! This world class industry is actually established in my small hometown, Montmirail, bordering fields in the Champagne region. An episode about electric cables? Fear not, this … Read More →

This is the second part of my conversation with Maryse Mounier, a hard-working French woman growing bourbon vanilla on the Réunion island. Maryse will tell us in details about the process vanilla beans go through from the harvest until they are ready to be sold on the market. You'll probably be surprised by how precise each stage is! (temperature, time, etc.). Vanilla from La Réunion is unfortunately on the decline despite its excellent quality as it suffers from competition from Madagascar. Maryse will share her best tips on how to tell a good quality vanilla from a mediocre one – if … Read More →

Today's guest Maryse Mounier is a very energetic woman who is passionate about vanilla. She is working, on her own, in the forest where she grows Bourbon vanilla, a type of vanilla which is famous worldwide for its high quality and strong flavour. Bourbon was actually the former name of La Réunion island and we call "vanille bourbon" the vanilla beans coming from the vanilla planifolia plant. You can also find vanilla planifolia in other areas such as Madagascar or the Comoros but they are grown differently. For example, Maryse Mounier's plantation is located on a very old lava track … Read More →

Frenchwoman Stéphanie Brillant is the director (= réalisatrice) of documentary film "Brainious" – "Le cerveau des enfants" in French. I first watched the documentary because as a parent, I want to be the best possible guide for my daughter, develop and maintain a strong bond with her based on trust so she can become a confident and independent person. Although the film gives food for thought about how to best help children to reach their full potential, it is not only aimed at parents or caregivers: it is also an invitation to understand oneself, to explore how our present behaviours … Read More →

For the first time in French Voices, I’m interviewing a guest from La Réunion! Réunion Island is a tropical French department (un département d’Outre-Mer = overseas region) located in the Indian Ocean. It is known for its beautiful landscapes, with volcanoes, rainforest, coral reefs and beaches. Guest Aline Peltier is a volcanologist (=volcanologue) working at the Observatoire Volcanologique du Piton de la Fournaise. Aline specialises in geodesy, the science of measuring and understanding the earth's geometric shape. What does that mean, in the context of volcanoes? It means that by using … Read More →

This is the second part of my conversation with Frenchman Alain Collas, passionate about the Napoleonic Era and a cuirassier during the historical reenactments of the battles of the Napoleonic army. What’s exactly happening during the reenactments? I was curious to find out whether they were above all a show for the audience to see action and costumes or whether they were precise and based upon actual facts and details. Historical reenactments really are a passion for which many enthusiasts from all countries gather together, meeting on the very sites where Napoleon fought his battles. They … Read More →