In honor of Women’s History Month, the Duolingo French Podcast is back for a special season celebrating exceptional women. We’ll revisit stories of powerful dreamers, visionaries, and truth-seekers from our archives — and share updates on their lives since their stories first aired. This special season starts March 14th, 2023. Tune in to the trailer now!

Muriel Aublet-Cuvelier is a French pastry chef on a mission to share the art of pastry with the world. She takes us to visit some of Paris’ historic pastry shops and taste some of the city’s most iconic desserts. A transcript of this episode is available at http://bit.ly/3kUYQZI.

Photographer Gaspard Duval has a growing archive of the historic Paris Catacombs, a network of tunnels and burial grounds underneath the city of Paris. He navigates the underground labyrinth to highlight his favorite spots, from the official tour area to secret chambers that are forbidden to the public. A transcript of this episode is available at http://bit.ly/3XDWlK0.

Olivier Chandez was the official clocksmith of the Notre Dame Cathedral. He tended to its antique central clock until a fire set the Cathedral ablaze in 2019. Olivier will take us back to a time before the fire for a special tour of one of the world’s most beloved Parisian landmarks. A transcript of this episode is available at http://bit.ly/3WuvTAX.

A longtime resident of Paris, Pascal Fonquernie, walks us through his historic neighborhood, Le Marais, sharing its unique history and shining a light on the different communities who live there. A transcript of this episode is available at https://bit.ly/3X25hIQ.

The Duolingo French Podcast is back for a new season. Our special trip to Paris, France starts January 2023. Listen to the trailer now!

Alphonse Maitrepierre is a talented young designer who worked his way up to many established fashion houses in Paris. After learning from the best, he wanted to design clothes that reflected his vision and commitment to sustainability. But would the fashion world embrace him? A transcript of this episode is available at https://bit.ly/3ThCPQh.

A doctor from Guadeloupe dedicates his life to honoring the memory of his island’s enslaved ancestors, and fights to make sure their names will not be forgotten. A transcript of this episode is available at https://bit.ly/3DRItUY.

Growing up in Cameroon, Euphrasie Mbambae spent a lot of time on her grandfather’s cacao farm. But it wasn’t until she moved to Belgium that she tasted chocolate for the first time and understood the power of the fruits from her childhood. We recently reached out to Euphrasie and updated her story with new content. A transcript of this episode is available at https://bit.ly/3FnIsJk.

A Montreal resident realizes people in his neighborhood of Saint-Henri West don’t have access to fresh and affordable food. So together as a community, they decide to take matters into their own hands and open a collective grocery store run by and for the people of Saint-Henri West. A transcript of this episode is available at https://bit.ly/3Sa4Ad9.

As a teenager in Mali, Djénébou Dante dodged a string of marriage proposals to pursue her running dreams and represent her country on the international stage. We recently reached out to Djénébou and updated her story with new content. A transcript of this episode is available at https://bit.ly/3MkQK6s.

A Parisian B&B host sets out on a journey to master the art of making the perfect traditional French crepe. He shares his findings with the world…one crepe at a time. A transcript of this episode is available at https://bit.ly/3CadWzG.

After learning that cigarette butts are the most harmful pollutants of our oceans, Chloé decides to take action. She sets out on a daring journey to follow a cigarette butt's course from the Seine River to the sea, raising awareness and sparking change along the way. A transcript of this episode is available at https://bit.ly/3LJHGYx.

As a little person, Douchka Volaric didn’t grow up with any media representation of people like her. When she discovers TikTok, she decides to use it as a tool to educate others, spread a positive message, and be the change she wished to see. A transcript of this episode is available at https://bit.ly/3xDnYrn.

As a film programmer, Aurélie depended on going to the legendary Cannes Film Festival. But when she had her first child, she realized attending Festivals with a baby would be nearly impossible and she wondered, could anything be done to help working families? A transcript of this episode is available at https://podcast.duolingo.com/french.

Ever since he was 10 years old, Serge Zaka was fascinated by the power and beauty of France’s most elusive thunderstorms. So he made it his life's mission to photograph the perfect storm to share with the world, but could he do it? A transcript of this episode is available at https://bit.ly/3AUvkHQ.

The Duolingo French Podcast is back with new episodes starting September 6, 2022. Listen to the trailer now!

Le Tour de France is a legendary bicycle race in France. But to cycling enthusiast Claire Floret, there’s something terribly wrong with it: women aren’t allowed to compete. So in order to make things right, she created a brand new cycling challenge. A transcript of this episode is available at https://bit.ly/3zeMXTo.

The béret was once the most popular hat in France. But today, most French people see it as old-fashioned. Except for Valérie. As a native of southwest France – where bérets were invented – she wants to bring them back in style! A transcript of this episode is available at https://bit.ly/3ajeGbM.

In France, greeting friends, relatives and co-workers with “la bise” — a kiss hello — is more than tradition. It’s essential. Yet Mathieu Avanzi was so baffled by the custom, it left him wondering: did others feel the same? A transcript of this episode is available at https://bit.ly/3y59bp7.

Every year on June 21st, musicians across France take to the streets to celebrate la Fête de la musique. Growing up, Fanny’s birthday also happened to be on June 21st…and for a long time, she resented having to share her day with the popular French holiday. Until the tradition took on a special meaning for her… A transcript of this episode is available at https://bit.ly/3O9Ieal.

In the grand French tradition of winemaking, Beaujolais Nouveau wine was once the cool kid on the block. But when wine connoisseurs felt it went too mainstream, they turned their backs on it. So wine lover Anaïs Pertuizet decided to make a new kind of Beaujolais Nouveau, one that would win back their hearts. A transcript of this episode is available at https://bit.ly/3b4LLZb.

The French love their long summer vacations, les grandes vacances. But they hate the massive traffic jams that go with them. To help vacation-bound drivers and passengers have some fun on the road, traffic radio host Francine Thomas has to get creative. A transcript of this episode is available at https://bit.ly/3GWrJM9.

Le repas gastronomique, the true French feast, is a unique part of French culture. Chef Stéphane Ranieri worked his way up the kitchen ranks in some of France’s most prestigious restaurants. Then one day, he decided to take fine dining to a completely different setting: the rugby stadium. A transcript of this episode is available at https://bit.ly/3NK17Qz.

Perfume is France’s everyday luxury. French people love to wear it, to gift it, but also to create it. When one of France’s foremost perfumers realizes that the perfume-making tradition in his hometown of Grasse is in danger, he vows to defend it. A transcript of this episode is available at https://bit.ly/3lJuKpn.