Courtney Traub

The French Culture Podcast (by Paris Unlocked)

Society EN ↓ 6 episodes

The French Culture Podcast by Paris Unlocked is a deep dive into the people, historical moments, food, art, and trends that have shaped the Gallic world in the modern era. Written & hosted by Courtney Traub, a Franco-American writer & journalist who’s a longtime expert on Parisian culture and history, this show is an antidote to the cliché ideas about France you’ve imbibed over the years. Please follow, share & subscribe at Substack (Paris Unlocked Newsletter) for more insights, bonus episodes and perks. You can also visit Paris Unlocked for hundreds of features on French food, art, culture, h...

Author

Courtney Traub

Episodes

Josephine Baker: Performer, Spy, Civil Rights Hero, Enigma (Great French Icons of the 20th Century, Part 4) 02.06.2026 1:04:17

To see the full show notes , including a full list of sources and music used for this episode, visit the podcast webpage at Paris Unlocked. Josephine Baker is best known as the African-American performer and dancer who took Paris by storm in the 1920s with her own takes on the Charleston and the Black Bottom, performed in an iconic banana skirt. But Baker, who became a French citizen, shouldn't be...

Edith Piaf Part 2: Performing Through a World War, Later Life, & Untimely Death (Great French Icons of the 20th Century, Part 3) 02.06.2026 1:06:53

To see the full show notes , including a full list of sources and music used for this episode, visit the podcast webpage at Paris Unlocked. In this episode, Part II of our look at France's most-beloved diva, we’ll be focusing on a few key phases and turning points in Piaf’s life, especially pivotal moments in her musical artistry and the collaborations that made those pivots possible. You’ll also...

Edith Piaf Part 1: Early Life & The Making of a Star (Great French Icons of the 20th Century, Part 2) 02.06.2026 1:02:11

To see the full show notes , including a full list of sources and music used for this episode, visit the podcast webpage at Paris Unlocked. More than a mere diva, Piaf was something of a force of nature. She had an uncanny ability to reach a wide public with her soaring, guttural voice, but also with her odd physical presence. She captivated audiences around the world with her repertoire of French...

The Radically Colorful World of Henri Matisse (Great French Icons of the 20th Century, Part 1) 02.06.2026 1:01:54

Most see Henri Matisse as someone who razed classical artistic conventions to the ground with his ferocious commitment to vibrant color and decoration. Yet it took decades for his work to earn wide acclaim in France, and to be considered a pioneering modern artist globally. How did he use public outrage and new places to produce such original work? How did he go from copying European masters to in...

Sick of Clichés About French Culture? Make Time For This Podcast. 30.04.2026 1:50

The official trailer for The French Culture Podcast (by Paris Unlocked), which debuts in June 2026 with four episodes from our first season, "Great French Icons of the 20th Century". Follow the podcast and share with anyone who might be interested. Merci, and hope to see you in June.

Welcome to the French Culture Podcast -- & Season 1 Preview (Great French Icons of the 20th Century) 16.04.2026 18:18

This is a short preview episode introducing you to The French Culture Podcast and its debut season . In Season 1, 20th Century French Icons & Artists, Part I , we’ll be taking a look at some of the great writers, musicians, and artists who made an outsized mark on French and Parisian culture last century. You can expect deep dives into the lives and legacies of the artist Henri Matisse, the si...