Profiles in Franceformation

In Episode 97 of “Profiles in Franceformation”, Allison is joined by post-graduate student William McMillan. Originally from Minnesota, William first discovered France as a teenager, and his love for all things French eventually turned into an academic passion. He currently lives in Brittany, where he researches the use of France’s regional languages in schools and daily life, and shares on social...

In Episode 96 of “Profiles in Franceformation”, Allison Grant Lounes is joined by joined by freelance book editor and former Franceformation client, Kameron Bryant-Sergejev. After living in several different European countries, Kameron decided to make France her permanent home. Learn how she settled into Colmar, in Alsace, and built a life and community that was aligned with the lifestyle she had...

In episode 95 of "Profiles in Franceformation", Allison Grant Lounes is joined by Certified Wellness Practitioner Eliza Bacot.  Listen as Eliza shares how a once-in-a-lifetime year abroad with her husband and three children ultimately led to their decision to relocate long-term, and how raising her family in France has helped her gain new perspective on the true meaning of healthy living...

In Episode 94 of "Profiles in Franceformation", Allison is joined by writer and love coach Dufflyn Lammers. Discover how a childhood promise to visit Paris - and a friend’s last minute travel cancellation - led to Dufflyn's life-changing solo trip to France, a long-distance relationship with a Frenchman, and her move from Los Angeles to Paris.  To take advantage of the special $100...

In Episode 93 of "Profiles in Franceformation", Allison sits down with Your Franceformation's newest member, Emily Ravoire, who recently joined the team as Assistant International Mobility Consultant. Listen as Emily shares how her connection to France and the French language first began, and the journey that led to her ultimately settling with her husband in Toulouse last fall. She...

In Episode 92, Allison sits down with one of our Franceformation VIP retirement clients, Bret Graham. After considering several different regions of France for their relocation, Bret and his wife Karen decided to settle in Lille in 2022. Listen as Bret shares some of the unexpected challenges and delightful surprises of his life in Lille.

In this episode of Profiles in Franceformation, Allison sits down with international student recruitment coordinator Isa Nungaray. After initially moving to France as a business school student, Isa succeeded in relocating permanently through strategic planning and a lot of perseverance. Learn how she navigated the particularities of the French university system, the challenges of finding a job as...

In episode 90 of Profiles in Franceformation, Allison sits down with former client Liz Oxhorn, who traded her political career in Washington DC for a new chapter as the owner of a communications consultancy in Paris. Listen in as Liz discusses the challenges of building a business in France, some surprising aspects of raising her young daughter in Paris, and how she cultivated the right mindset fo...

In Episode 89, Allison sits down with Elina Sarazetdinova, the founder of Tell Me Panda, a company that helps international talents achieve their educational and professional goals in France. Learn how a birthday trip to France led Elina to study abroad in Paris, discover professional networking opportunities, and eventually create her own business helping people reach their dream of working in Fr...

In Episode 88 of Profiles in Franceformation, Allison is joined by author and communications professional Whitney Cubbison. Originally from Texas, Whitney built a high tech communications career in California before eventually transferring to Paris in 2008 to work with Microsoft International.  She is now the published author of two France-themed rom-com novels - “Will There Be Wine?” and “Will Th...

For the first episode of our 2026 season, Allison is joined by culinary journalist and podcaster Emily Monaco.  After falling in love with France - and French cheese - during a year of study abroad in Cannes, Emily found her calling as a food writer and guide in Paris. She is now co-host of the podcast Fishwives of Paris , which serves listeners the real stories behind their favorite French cuisin...

In Episode 86 of Profiles in Franceformation, Allison Grant Lounes sits down with Judith Benamran, who initially moved to France as a student and now has a successful career as a buyer’s agent in Paris. Listen as Judith discusses her transition through various careers over the years, the complexities of the French real estate market, and what makes life in Paris so rewarding.  Follow Judith : Inst...

In Episode 85 of Profiles in Franceformation, Allison sits down with The Rev. Michelle Wahila,  who moved with her family to France in 2012, where she now officiates English language spiritual services and ceremonies. Listen as Michelle shares how she created new traditions, built a sense of community, and learned to embrace the evolving nature of spirituality in her work with American couples get...

In Episode 84 of Profiles in Franceformation, Allison chats with Billy Potocnik, who moved with his wife Traci from Denver, Colorado to Nice, France in 2022. Listen as Billy retraces their journey from a canceled opportunity during the COVID-19 pandemic, to the creation of a successful yoga retreat business in the Côte d’Azur. Follow Billy : Website: https://www.billy.yoga/ YouTube: @billyyoga8846...

In Episode 83 of Profiles in Franceformation, Allison Grant Lounes sits down with Doris Speer, the president of AARO - the Association of American Resident Overseas.  Topics of conversation include the differences between American and French work culture, the challenges of living far from family and friends, and Doris’ continued advocacy for the rights of Americans living abroad.  Learn more about...

In Episode 82 of Profiles in Franceformation, Allison is joined by writer and marketing consultant Claire Naughton. Claire moved to Paris as an au pair in 2018, before joining her French boyfriend (now husband) in Strasbourg and starting her own business. Listen as Claire shares her experiences of cross-cultural dating, making friends through new hobbies, and how life in France has supported her q...

In Episode 81 of Profiles in Franceformation, Allison is joined by Janeen Sonsie, breakthrough coach and admin for the Facebook group Expat Women in France. Listen as Janeen shares how she finally pursued her dream of moving to France in 2018, and the steps she took to establish herself both professionally and personally in her new home. Get in touch with Janeen https://janeensonsie.com https://ge...

In Episode 80 of Profiles in Franceformation, Allison is joined by Traci Tooman, who relocated to France with her husband Billy and their teenaged son in 2022. Listen as Traci shares the highs and lows of moving abroad - from navigating the school system and understanding French bureaucracy, to turning her passion for the culinary arts into a dream job working at Julia Child's former villa. L...

In Episode 79 of Profiles in Franceformation, host Allison Grant Lounes sits down with Rick Jones, president of WICE (Where Internationals Connect in English). Rick shares the story behind his decades-long love of France and his decision to move to Paris permanently in 2018. The conversation also touches on the value of networking, cultivating luck, and creating meaningful connections as key to a...

In Episode 78 of Profiles in Franceformation, host Allison Grant Lounes is joined by Janice Deerwester, whose journey of a post-retirement solo relocation led her to Fontainebleau and a fulfilling new chapter as a content creator.  During the conversation, Janice offers practical advice for moving abroad, discusses the nuances of settling into a new culture, and touches on the everyday joys of Fre...

In episode 77 of Profiles in Franceformation, host Allison Grant Lounes chats with real estate agent Andrew Guck, who relocated to France in 2011.   Andrew recounts his unique story of a long-distance love that ultimately led to a fulfilling life and career in the South of France. Along the way, he shares his experiences in language learning, his culinary and cultural adventures, and his advice on...

In episode 76 of Profiles in Franceformation, host Allison Grant Lounes interviews travel consultant and photographer Tadji Kretschmer, who relocated to Paris in 2021.  Tadji shares how the 2020 pandemic led her to create an Instagram account, "Inseinely Paris", and to follow her dream of moving to Paris. She also discusses the importance of embracing the local lifestyle and establishing...

In this first episode of the 2024-2025 season of Profiles in Franceformation, host Allison Grant Lounes shares practical advice for planning a successful move to France in 2025.  Join Allison as she talks through the finer details of some of the more popular visa types, including the various work visas available for self-employed and salaried professionals. The episode also touches on some of the...

In episode 74 of Profiles in Franceformation, my guest is Sophie Hargreaves, owner of La Petite Ferme d'Alpaga - a small alpaca farm in Sanzay, located in the Deux Sèvres in the western French countryside. Sophie, along with her husband Will, moved to France to start their alpaca farm in the period between COVID and Brexit. They are now the proud parents of a small herd of alpacas and, more r...

In episode 73 of Profiles in Franceformation my guest is Lacey Bertrand-Reilly, the new Franceformation Team Member.  In this episode, we discuss how Lacey ended up living in France, and why they have opted for Countryside living over the Big City Lifestyle.  You will also hear: 💜 Why a courtesy robe or scarf is a top tip for people using the healthcare system 💜 What career advice and tips Lacey...