The Land of Desire: French History and Culture

Oct 28 2021 31 mins 4.3k
The Land of Desire: French History and Culture Podcast artwork

French history is wacky, wonderful - and seriously weird. If the only thing you know about French history is that you hated reading A Tale of Two Cities in high school, pour yourself a glass of pinot noir and get ready for a wild ride. Learn about the time France ran out of cows - and figured out how to eat zebras. Learn about the eccentric national hero keeping bees on top of the Louvre. Learn about the revolution which fought for brotherhood, equality, and a national holiday for marshmallows! New episodes every few weeks! /// Featured on iTunes Buzzed About, CBC/Radio-Canada, Bello Collective, and The Audit.

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71. Marie Bonaparte, Part I

Oct 28 2021 40 mins  
“I liked murderers. I thought them interesting. Had not my grandfather been one when he killed the journalist? And my great-granduncle Napoleon, what a monumental murderer he was!” – Marie Bonaparte   Welcome back! After a long break to buy new soundproofing equipment – which may or may not have been successful – we’re back with a new miniseri

70. Fifth Anniversary! Listener Q&A

Jul 15 2021 15 mins  
What if it succeeds? Aloha from Hawaii! Your host is celebrating a lot of things right now: Bastille Day, the ability to travel responsibly, the birthday of a certain overworked and abused producer-intern, and oh yeah, the fifth anniversary of The Land of Desire!!! I’m celebrating by answering some excellent questions from you, dear listeners. Merci beaucoup. Episode 70: &#

69. The Boy Who Solved Vanilla

Jun 23 2021 35 mins  
“Here Albius fertilized vanilla.” – Tribute to Edmond Albius, Saint Suzanne, Réunion. We’re back! After a big move, which required the dismantling and relocation of the trusty recording studio (a.k.a. Diana’s closet), I’m excited to record in my new space! Next month is the show’s sixth anniversary – I know, right?!! – and I

68. Antoine Parmentier & The History of the Potato

Apr 28 2021 49 mins  
“The vegetable of the shack and the château.” – Le marquis de Cussy April showers bring May flowers – unless they bring floods, famine, and fear. This month, I’m looking at the moment in French history when farmers turned their nose up at the foods of the New World – until they realized what the potato had to offer. Antoine Parmentier, one of

67. Marcel & Celeste, Part II

Mar 24 2021 25 mins  
“Proust n’a aime que deux personnes, sa mere et Celeste.” – Prince Antoine Bibesco What better way to “celebrate” a year of sheltering in place than a closer look at France’s most famous social distancer? This week, I’m looking at the curious relationship between the eccentric, reclusive writer, Marcel Proust, and his beloved housek

66. Marcel & Celeste, Part I

Mar 24 2021 32 mins  
“Proust n’a aime que deux personnes, sa mere et Celeste.” – Prince Antoine Bibesco What better way to “celebrate” a year of sheltering in place than a closer look at France’s most famous social distancer? This week, I’m looking at the curious relationship between the eccentric, reclusive writer, Marcel Proust, and his beloved housek

65. A Trip to the Spa

Feb 24 2021 45 mins  
“The waters of Vichy…gave me back my strength.” – Madame de Sévigné The darkest days of winter are here, and I think it’s time we all indulged in a little self-care, non? My own quarantine hobby, skincare, set me down a particular path. Why was I spraying my face with thermal spa water from France? What is thermal spa water? Why do we drink thermal

64. Louis Pasteur and The History of the Vaccine

Jan 20 2021 43 mins  
“I think my hand will tremble,“ – Louis Pasteur Happy New Year! The Land of Desire is BACK with an exciting – and hopeful – story to set us off on the right track in 2021. Your happy host gets to indulge her love of epidemiology a little bit without leaving you depressed in the middle of a pandemic (she swears). This week, we’re taking a look at on

63. Jeanne de Clisson and the Black Fleet

Oct 28 2020 42 mins  
Just in time for spooky season - ooh, lady pirates. Learn the tale of Jeanne de Clisson and the Black Fleet: piracy, treachery...and blood-soaked revenge!

62. Surya Bonaly

Sep 23 2020 50 mins  
The story of Surya Bonaly, France's innovative, infamous anti-ice princess. Was she a victim of racism, a squandered talent, or simply ahead of her time? And will anyone ever dare to attempt her signature move?