World Radio Paris

Turning Points: Yseult Williams, an Empress of Fashion

Yseult Williams - editorial director, journalist, award-winning author, and an “Empress of Fashion.”
In this episode of Turning Points, Patricia Killeen welcomed Yseult Williams. Yseult’s father, Patrick, was English, and her mother, Darina, is Irish. She studied at the Sorbonne and Lille University and had an Erasmus year in Italy. At the end of her studies, she picked up her bags and headed for the City of Light.
Being trilingual (English-French-Italian), she initially worked as a translator briefly. She subsequently approached magazines with ideas for articles and freelanced in the competitive arena of French feminine and news magazines, including Elle and VSD. In 2002, she was made deputy editor-in-chief at Femme Actual and was subsequently recruited by Tina Kieffer as editor-in-chief of Marie Claire. In 2005, the Marie Claire group entrusted her with managing Marie France, a responsibility she held until 2008, when she was recruited by Mondadori, the Italian publishing house, to launch the French version of the weekly magazine Grazia.
 
In 2013, she relaunched the mythical Lui magazine as chief editor with Frédéric Beigbeder.
 
During her career, she has also worked for the BBC and various French TV channels. In 2015, she was appointed chief editor of Le Grand Journal, the former renowned daily show on Canal+ TV.
After years at the helm of the French press and TV, Yseult decided to use her pen to write books. She has published three books in French; in Impératrices de la mode (Empresses of Fashion) La Martinière, 2015, she painted the portrait of six great historical editors of women's magazines, women who had much in common with herself and were often faced with similar choices.
Her second book, La Splendeur des Brunhoff (The Splendor of the Brunhoffs), Fayard 2018, won the Readers' Prize for Pocket Book in 2020. It is dedicated to the Brunhoff family, which launched Vogue France and Vu magazines. Jean de Brunhoff also created the character Babar. With her third book, On l'appelle Maïco (She was called Maïco), Grasset 2021, dedicated to Marie-Claude Vaillant-Couturier, she won the prestigious Simone-Veil 2022 literary prize. She is now writing a book devoted to Hélène Lazareff, who founded Elle magazine in 1945, which Grasset will publish.
 
In 2021, she joined Alma Studio (founded by Martin Solveig) as Editorial Director, where she is currently working. Alma Studio produces original stories and music written and composed for audio for children aged 3 to 10. Yseult’s English podcast for Alma Studio will be launched next year.
 
Looking forward to Yseult’s books being published in English and to seeing her fascinating characters on the big screen.

Lost in Fenchlation: Refugee crisis in Paris

Just a Couple of Days (Quelques Jours Pas Plus) is a recent film by Julie Navarro which focuses on the plight of refugees in Paris as a romantic comedy unfolds in the background. A music journalist is assigned to cover "hard news" and ends up at a protest to keep the doors open at a refugee resource center. He meets the passionate Matilde, who he likes, and who convinces him to house a refuge for... "just a couple of days."
The main character is played by Amruallah Safi. The actor was an Afghani asylum seeker who had never acted nor seen a film on the big screen. Manon Kerjean and ARBL Murray talk with Julie and Amruallah about how they managed to cross language barriers and make this film with an incredible cast including French cinema heavyweights Camille Cottin, and Benjamin Biolay. 
Julie Navarro is a seasoned Assistant director and Casting director, and this is her first feature film as Director. 

Petite Frite: Paris Olympics

Every episode Alistair offers his tongue-in-cheek review of the news World Radio Paris, and this week we are in Olympic shape. 

The Inkprints: Gertrude Stein in Paris

Episode two of The Inkprints dives into the life of Gertrude Stein, the American author, playwright, and art collector. Through the vibrant lens of 1920s and 30s Paris, we begin to explore the extensive and subversive modernism movement in literature, and how this self-proclaimed genius became one of the most well-known social figures of her time.

Turning Points: Interior Design and the Mona Lisa, ft. Antonia Mahon

Antonia Mahon, Interior Designer and founder of the 'Hub Sèvres' coworking.
 
In this episode of Turning Points, Patricia Killeen welcomed Antonia Mahon from Dublin, Ireland, who came to Paris after doing her Master's in Edinburgh University. She anticipated staying in the City of Light for a year or so, however,  twenty-four years later, Antonia is still here and loving it. They discussed the amazing Turning Points in her life from the time she was eight and asked her family to bring her to see the Mona Lisa, to a life-changing event that made her rethink her life and career choice. They also discussed the challenges and joys of being both the principal Interior Designer at Blue Sparks, the company she founded in 2020, and The Hub, a co-working space in Sèvres that she simultaneously launched.
At Blue Sparks, Antonia provides A-Z solutions to expats looking to completely revamp their new Parisian pied a terres, including renovation works, furnishing and decoration. Over the years in Paris, Antonia has developed a network of trusted contractors and suppliers, as well as bilingual professionals who can help find, buy and look after property in Paris. If she can’t solve a problem herself, she knows who to call to find the best solution!
Antonia would be delighted to chat and help with any questions, so do get in touch!
antonia@bluesparks.paris

WRP Presents: Car Racing at the Olympics

What happened in the 1900 Olympics in Paris? From crazy car racing on dirt roads from Paris to Toulouse, hot- air ballooning, and a lot of confusion about what was and wasn't a sport. 
Automotive journalist Raphael Orlove talks to ARBL Murray (Alex Brook Lynn) about the haphazard, and dangerous olympic car races that ushered in a new era.
Raphael Orlove is a writer, editor, and automotive expert you can find his latest article for Robb Report here:
Motor Racing Was an Olympic Sport 124 Years Ago. Here’s What It Was Like. 
In this Episode we reference:
Les Jeux olympiques oubliés : Paris 1900 by André Drevon published in 2000 - Raphael recommends this source. 
and 
The 1900 Olympic Games by Bill Mallon - Raphael sites as an incomplete source with some glaring omissions 
 
Episode Image:
Alfred ‘Levegh’ Velghe, won 8,000 francs and a gold medal!

The Paris 2024 Olympic Minute - August week 1

Everything you need to know about the Paris Olympics with Yannick Champion-Osselin on World Radio Paris.
At the Paris 2024 Olympics midpoint, France excelled with eight medals on Tuesday, Léon Marchand breaking Michael Phelps' record and Cassandre Beaugrand winning France's first triathlon gold.
Highlights also included US Gymnastics, which saw stellar performances from Simone Biles and Stephen Nedoroscik.
This weekend, Sha'Carri Richardson competes in the 100m final, Katie Ledecky aims for 800m freestyle gold, and 47 medals are at stake across various sports.
Next week, 18 medal events conclude, including badminton and gymnastics.
Find more great shows on worldradio.fr 

WRP Presents: Olympic Musician Sainte Victoire

As tourists and athletes alike flock to the city of lights for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, many elements of French culture are also being put on show.
Amongst these are musicians at the Terrace des Jeux festivity site, where many French artists will preform for the duration of the games.
One such musician is a young singer with Parisian style, Sainte Victoire, who we spoke with after her concert at Hotel de Ville. 
Tune in to World Radio Paris for more cultural coverage!

WRP Presents: Stop Killer Robots

It sounds like science fiction but it isn't. Unmanned weapons systems are being developed around the world and the possible implications are terrifying.
 
With the rise of AI, some technologies could possibly take any human calculation out of the equation in bombing campaigns, or risk assessment for civilian casualties. Currently the world is trying to grapple with how to regulate such technology. 
 
Writer and activist Anne Sophie Sempere joins ARBL Murray of WRP for a second time to talk about Lethal autonomous weapons, and what we are doing about them, who the major players are, and what regulation looks like.
 
Anne represents the French branch of the organization Stop Killer Robots , bringing awareness about the subject and advocating for strict regulation. 

The Paris 2024 Olympic Minute - July week 4

Everything you need to know about the Paris Olympics with Yannick Champion-Osselin on World Radio Paris.
Trials and tribulations of the Paris 2024 opening ceremony, rugby sevens begin, the start of gold medal events and a case of SNCF sabotage.
Find more great shows on worldradio.fr