When a free-spirited wanderer reluctantly takes a job as tour guide in Lyon, the last thing she expects is to fall in love with the city and its secrets…

A transcript of this episode is available at https://podcast.duolingo.com/french.

When the best crab fisherman in Étretat, Normandy gradually loses his eyesight, he does everything in his power to continue fishing along the coastline he loves.

A transcript of this episode is available at https://podcast.duolingo.com/french.

The Duolingo French Podcast is back with new episodes starting April 13, 2021. Listen to the trailer now!

In this special episode, we answer your questions about the Duolingo French Podcast! Listen as host Ngofeen Mputubwele takes you behind the scenes of this one-of-a-kind podcast — with a little help from some friends.

A transcript of this episode is available at https://podcast.duolingo.com/french.

Benji was an idealistic young man full of hopes for his future…until the 2008 financial crisis left him jobless. At a loss for how to lead a good life and earn a living, he decided to join an alternative community, la ZAD, in the west of France.

A transcript of this episode is available at https://podcast.duolingo.com/french.

Simone Hérault had the gift of a unique voice, but as a child, she was too insecure to believe in it. Still, her talent and dedication would end up taking her places she never expected…until she became one of the most familiar and beloved voices in all of France.

A transcript of this episode is available at https://podcast.duolingo.com/french.

As a teenager in Mali, Djénébou Danté dodged a string of marriage proposals to pursue her running dreams and represent her country on the international stage.

A transcript of this episode is available at https://podcast.duolingo.com/french.

At 30, Aliénor Le Gouvello set off to ride solo across Australia’s toughest trails. She gave herself one year to train wild horses and complete the journey. Riding ten hours a day, every day, Aliénor was determined not to quit — not for crocodiles, fire ants…not even for the handsome helicopter pilot she met along the way.

A transcript of this episode is available at https://podcast.duolingo.com/french

When a devastating earthquake strikes Haiti in January 2010, one of the island’s most respected public health experts rushes to the aid of 38 abandoned children who have been left without a home. She decides then and there to take care of them, not knowing that the decision will change their lives — and hers — forever.

A transcript of this episode is available at podcast.duolingo.com.

At age 27, Matthieu Landri said goodbye to his family and shared one last beer with his friends…then began his new life as a Benedictine monk. He longed for a spiritual life of contemplation and prayer. But soon he found himself embarking on a new journey: reviving the lost French art of monastic beer-brewing.

A transcript of this episode is available at podcast.duolingo.com.

In Martine Gaussen’s childhood, traditional French santons — handmade nativity figures — were a key that unlocked the magic of Christmas. But decades after the magic has dulled and adult responsibilities have taken over, can Martine rediscover the curiosity and creativity that defined the holidays of her youth?

A transcript of this episode is available at podcast.duolingo.com.

A young boy in the south of France discovers an unexpected passion for bees and beekeeping. But he’s not prepared for the heartbreak he’ll face when he leaves his little buzzing companions over the summer...

A transcript of this episode is available at podcast.duolingo.com.

The Duolingo French Podcast is back with new episodes starting December 15, 2020. Listen to the trailer now!

After his grandparents’ deaths, 20-year-old Damien Bouché uncovers a family secret from World War II. He spends the next 10 years unearthing the past, from Vienna to the south of France, in a fight to regain his true family name.

A transcript of this episode is available at podcast.duolingo.com.

When Vincent-Gabriel Lamarre joined the Canadian Armed Forces, he knew he had found his calling. But a few years into his service, he realized he could no longer ignore the discomfort he felt about his gender identity. Would a gender transition be accepted in the military? After the episode, learn more about Vincent-Gabriel’s journey here: https://vimeo.com/ondemand/tigars.

A transcript of this episode is available at podcast.duolingo.com.

A young dancer discovers French Cancan in the 1960s, leading her to an exciting international career…and the love of her life. When a tragic loss rips the joy of dancing from her, cancan slowly helps her find a renewed sense of self.

A transcript of this episode is available at podcast.duolingo.com.

When a young attorney from Chad decided to take on the ex-dictator who terrorized her country, she knew she was going up against dark and powerful forces. But that didn’t stop her from dedicating her life to fighting for justice in her homeland.

A transcript of this episode is available at podcast.duolingo.com.

Najib Nasary left his native Afghanistan in search of a fresh start in France. He had nothing, knew no one, and faced the threat of deportation. But when a village in France’s Cévennes mountains took him in, he finally found a new home…and a new passion for baking French bread.

A transcript of this episode is available at podcast.duolingo.com.

When Valérie Hirschfield lost her leg, she made a promise to her family that she would bounce back stronger than ever — a promise that would one day lead her to race up France’s most iconic monument.

A transcript of this episode is available at podcast.duolingo.com.

Emel Mathlouthi left her home country of Tunisia so that she could sing openly about bringing freedom to her people. But that didn’t stop her from participating in the seismic revolution that was taking place back home.

A transcript of this episode is available at podcast.duolingo.com.

Growing up in France as the daughter of Vietnamese immigrants, Linh Lan Dao felt uncomfortable speaking up when she encountered anti-Asian racism. But after becoming a journalist and finding a community of like-minded people, Linh Lan discovered the tools she needed to stand up for herself and others.

A transcript of this episode is available at podcast.duolingo.com.

The Duolingo French Podcast is back with new episodes starting September 15, 2020. Listen to the trailer now!

Berthet One always loved drawing, but never saw a future in it. Until he wound up in prison and realized that drawing was the best chance he had at rebuilding his life.

A transcript of this episode is available at podcast.duolingo.com.

Gratien Leroy is a small-town accountant with big culinary dreams. But when France’s most popular cooking show announces an open call for the country’s best amateur cooks, does Gratien have what it takes to join the ranks of his country’s top chefs?

A transcript of this episode is available at podcast.duolingo.com.

In Khadjou Sambe’s home country of Senegal, surfing is considered a male-only sport. But that hasn’t stopped Khadjou from pursuing her surfing dreams, becoming the first girl in Dakar to rule the waves.

A transcript of this episode is available at podcast.duolingo.com.

In honor of Pride and LGBTQ people across the world, this week we're rerunning the story of Marine Rome and the French soccer team that rocked the Women’s World Cup in 2019.

A transcript of this episode is available at podcast.duolingo.com.

Arnaud Askoy has already had three different careers when, at age 43, he discovers his true calling: singing. But not his own music. Arnaud plans to launch a career impersonating Jacques Brel, one of the world’s most famous francophone musicians, and might just be crazy enough to pull it off.

Check out recordings of Arnaud’s live performances here (arnaudaskoy.org/video). We also made a Spotify playlist (spoti.fi/36MhU19) where you can kick back and listen to some of Jacques Brel’s greatest hits.

A transcript of this episode is available at podcast.duolingo.com.

For many years, Valérie struggled with feeling different from the other students at her karate school in Montreal. But after learning she had Asperger's syndrome, Valérie’s new self-knowledge inspired her to work even harder toward achieving her karate dreams.

A transcript of this episode is available at https://podcast.duolingo.com.

Fabien Cousteau, grandson of legendary ocean explorer Jacques Cousteau, was just a boy when he fell in love with a creature that most other people fear: sharks. But no one could have predicted that years later, Fabien would do the unthinkable…and decide to live among them.

A transcript of this episode is available at https://podcast.duolingo.com.

The Duolingo French Podcast is back with new episodes starting June 8, 2020. Listen to the trailer now!

As a young PhD student, Viriginie Dhorne dreamed of becoming a brilliant academic. But after starting a family and finding herself stuck working in her husband’s cheese business, Virginie began to realize that the world of cheese—a world she once hated—was rich with opportunities for people with brains, ambition… and a fierce competitive streak.

A transcript of this episode is available at https://podcast.duolingo.com.

Kilian Belamri’s loitering habits weren’t much appreciated among the residents of his housing project in Malakoff, south of Paris. But when his neighbors found themselves in grave danger late one evening, Kilian and his friends did the unexpected—and became heroes overnight.

A transcript of this episode is available at https://podcast.duolingo.com.

While on a day trip with his senior citizens club, Raymond Silvestrini survived one of the worst traffic accidents in France’s history. But after meeting Monique, a fellow survivor, his life took another unexpected turn -- this time, for the better.

A transcript of this episode is available at https://podcast.duolingo.com.

As a nuclear engineer, David S. had a very serious job. But after discovering a passion for the French art of clowning, he decided to start leading a double life, doing everything in his power to keep his two different worlds from colliding.

A transcript of this episode is available at https://podcast.duolingo.com.

After earning a PhD in nuclear physics in Europe, Dr. Rajaâ Cherkaoui El Moursli returned to her native Morocco to teach and raise a family. But when she learned her former colleagues were embarking on the scientific quest of the century, she hatched a plan to join them—and give her country the scientific credit it deserved.

A transcript of this episode is available at https://podcast.duolingo.com.

Ever since France won the World Cup in 1998, Marine Rome yearned to play soccer, but felt excluded from the field. When she finally found her dream team in Paris, they decided to take a stand for inclusion at the 2019 World Cup.

A transcript of this episode is available at https://podcast.duolingo.com.

Growing up in France, Hong Dagognet rarely spoke with her adoptive parents about her childhood in Vietnam. But after receiving a surprising letter, she set out to reconnect with her family and finally unveil the mysteries of her past.

A transcript of this episode is available at https://podcast.duolingo.com.

In everyday sounds, Christophe Chassol hears the makings of a song. That refined ear led Chassol to become a renowned musician, and develop a new genre of music. But it was only by returning to his parents’ birthplace in Martinique that he would be able to create his masterpiece.

A transcript of this episode of the Duolingo French Podcast is available at https://podcast.duolingo.com.

The Duolingo French Podcast is back with new episodes starting January 28, 2020. Listen to the trailer now!

Eric Dargent devoted his life to surfing — the bigger the waves, the better. He wouldn’t let anything get in his way of his passion, not even a life-altering shark attack. After losing half of his leg, he set out to pursue a new dream, for himself and countless others.

Study materials and a transcript of this episode are available at https://podcast.duolingo.com.

Cédric Herrou lived a quiet life as an olive farmer on the border between France and Italy until he began to offer shelter for hundreds of migrants struggling to cross into France. But when the French state took him to court for his actions, it would take Cédric and a small community of volunteers to convince a nation that freedom should know no borders.
Study materials and a transcript of this episode are available at https://podcast.duolingo.com.

When Oliver Cousin's grandparents passed away, he promised to honor the winemaking traditions they had passed down to him. But when the French state got involved with his product, he decided to fight to the end for his natural wine.
Study materials and a transcript of this episode are available at https://podcast.duolingo.com.

Elodie Lauret yearned to discover what was beyond the island of La Réunion. But when she set off to Europe in search of better opportunity, she realized over time that the island would always be her place to call home.
Study materials and a transcript of this episode are available at https://podcast.duolingo.com.

For a long time, Paris was the only place Alexia Sena considered home. But when Alexia began to wonder how she would pass down her Cameroonian heritage to her mixed-race daughter born in France, she decided to move back to Cameroon with her family in search of the identity she thought she lost.

Study materials and a transcript of this episode are available at https://podcast.duolingo.com.

Mahmoud M’Seddi was born to bake. When M’Seddi was surprised to come in 7th place in the Grand Prix contest for Best Baguette in Paris in 2017, he knew that the next time, he had a chance to win. He would prove to his parents and an entire nation that he was meant to do this for the rest of his life.

Study materials and a transcript of this episode are available at https://podcast.duolingo.com/french.

Deepen your language skills and knowledge of the French-speaking world through fascinating true stories in easy-to-follow French, with added English for context. From Duolingo, the world's #1 way to learn a language. Hosted by Ngofeen Mputubwele.