Ze English Podcast by Ecsplicite

This week's podcast, where Sus is in conversation with William, is about the YouTuber Inoxtag who has made a movie called Kaizen , all about his ascension of Everest and what has happened since. It's an extraordinary thing to watch, particularly if you have no interest in YouTubers; so listen up, and, like Sue, you might just be surprised.

With less than 3 weeks to go before the election in the US, we talk again to Jonathan our British expat living in Cincinnati, just down the road from Springfield Ohio, about the succession of amazing events since we last spoke six months ago and we explore different scenarios in the event of Republican or Democrat victory.

Oasis, the famous British rock band, have announced a UK comeback tour for 2025.  The announcement has been met with both enthusiasm & criticism about ticketing from fans and press speculation about the motivation behind their revival fifteen years after they disbanded amid acrimony.  Today we check in with Cyril, himself a musician, who tells us about the band and their music and why he for o...

As the  Olympic Torch  arrives in Paris on Bastille day, and fireworks and drones over the Eiffel Tower join a chorus of growing excitement in the run-up for the Olympic Games, we hear from Hannah, a Team US judoka, about the disappointments, sacrifices and the rewards of top level athletes who prepare for the Olympic Games.

In the past few weeks snap elections have been called in France and UK and today in conversation with Marie, who is Irish and Sue who is British, we explore what these elections mean for our respective democracies; we discuss Brexit, the gilets jaunes, the growing influence of social media and remember Churchill's famous quip about Democracy being worst possible system of government, except th...

The cold war witnessed an ideological struggle for lunar supremacy but it only involved the United States and the then Soviet Union. Today, there are now new national players and big commercial businesses that are interested in the space race, sending satellites, probes and cosmic rovers out into the night sky. We asked our own local expert, Sue, to share her understanding of the current race for...

What's the podcast about? Well, frankly... we really didn't know ... until we decided to make the absence of ideas the subject for today's podcast : what we do when we run out ideas. Colleagues Sue and Lawrence discuss different ways to get back on track. And as you'll hear, you, our listeners, have a role to play.

Groundhog Day? The Spring US Primary season will have disappointed US voters frustrated at the prospect of a sterile rematch of the 2020 Biden Trump face off. For many, it seems like 'back to the future'. This week we ask Jonathan, our British colleague who has been living in the US for a number of years, to read the runes.  Where are we? How did we get here and what's likely to happen...

This week France became the first country in the world to enshrine the right to abortion in its constitution.   Already legal in France since 1975, opinion polls show overwhelming public support in France to guarantee women’s  freedom to choose. The result of the almost unanimous vote was announced in Versailles to a standing ovation and the Eiffel tower lit up with the words My body My Choice as...

This week, France added the right to choose to its constitution.   Abortion has been legal in France since 1975, but this change to the constitution guarantees women’s freedom to choose as a fundamental right. The Eiffel tower lit up with the words " My body My Choice " and French President described the move as French “pride” in carrying a "universal message".

In this episode, we hear from our colleague Gillian, who tells us why she agrees with President Macron about uniforms, and why they are a good idea. 

In this episode of Fly on the Wall we hear from our British expat colleague Gillian, who tells us all the reasons why she's inclined to agree with President Macron about uniforms, which now appear to her with hindsight to be a ‘jolly’ good idea. 

Enough is enough. For farmers in France the social contract appears at a breaking point and they are asking the government to recognise that the constraints, taxes and rules imposed on them to meet climate commitments leave agricultural workers out in the cold. Two British colleagues, who live in France, discuss why this protest has the support of so many.

A scandal about powerful men taking advantage of young women and girls in exotic locations. Today our Canadian colleague Phoeby takes us on a journey to uncover the disturbing tale of Jeffrey Epstein, a tale about power, influence and sexual exploitation.

A scandal about influential powerful men with predatory tastes that reaches deep into the heart of the establishment and affairs of state. Sound familiar? Today our Canadian colleague and reporter Phoeby takes us on a journey that uncovers the extraordinary tale of Jeffrey Epstein, who we now know used his power and prominence to exploit young women, often under the age of consent, in exotic and l...

In November last year, Argentines, faced with an economy in serious trouble and inflation running at 150%, decisively elected a liberal outsider Javier Milei, as their new president who was welcomed by US ex-President Donald Trump, & Brazil's former leader Jair Bolsonaro. For our first podcast of the year we hear from our Argentinian colleagues, Victoria and Sergio, as they explain what ha...

Kylian Mbappe who turned 25 this week has been criticised in France recently for revelling a little too much in his success. But who can blame him?  Certainly not our colleague Désirée who takes a peek inside the phenomenon and imagines what it must mean to be one of the greatest footballers of all time. 

Many years from now, when historians cease to argue about the great figures who shaped the 20th century, very few will receive such clear acclaim and recognition as Nelson Mandela, who carried the flame of hope and reconciliation across the millennia.  This year and this very day, December 5, marks the 10th anniversary of his death and our colleague Inger reminds us why it is a particularly tellin...

The 5th of December 2023 marks the 10th anniversary since Nelson Mandela died and as you'll hear, our South African colleague Inger & her ten year old son Zakai talk together about his life and legacy and what it must mean to those growing up in modern South Africa.

Fans of Netflix series and big box-office franchises are relieved. After the longest strike in their history, American actors have got agreement about pay, conditions and protections from the film studios as stars of film and television lined up to support and finance the strikers with million dollar donations.  

Fans of Netflix series and big box-office franchises can heave a sigh of relief as the actors’ strike comes to an end. After 118 days,  the longest strike in their history, American actors have succeeded like the writers a few weeks earlier in securing an agreement about pay, conditions and protection from artificial intelligence. During the 4 month stoppage film studios lost billions and A-list s...

The 9th November in France marks a national day for the prevention of bullying at school. Up and down the country school principals and teachers will be raising awareness amongst pupils about the damage that bullying poses to mental health, academic achievement, and simple human rights.  In the United States, school authorities are finding different ways to deal with the problem, as our colleague...

“Good night, sleep tight, don’t let the bedbugs bite” is a common saying before bedtime in English, and it is not superstition if you are in Paris currently, as my colleague Sue, just back from a visit, is going to tell us.  What are bedbugs and what do they mean for the Olympic games next year?

“Good night, sleep tight, don’t let the bedbugs bite” I used to intone to my kids before they went to bed. It is meant to be reassuring, a familiar litany to ward off undesirable visitors and sooth attendant night time anxieties. Something that seems superstitious unless you happen to be living in Paris. My colleague Sue , just back from a visit to the French capital, joins me to discuss what’s go...

44 rugby matches in 5 weeks, soon the semi-finals, only 4 teams remaining, France & Ireland eliminated, only one team from the northern hemisphere, still in the tournament, England.  Probably the Springboks will meet the All Blacks in the final. Today Kevin, in South Africa, looks back at the quarter final matches and explains why the Southern hemisphere so dominate the competition and why Fra...