Explorez tous les épisodes du podcast Profiles in Franceformation

In Episode 99 of Profiles in Franceformation, Allison Grant Lounes is joined by Jan Hicks, a cross-stitch designer and entrepreneur who has turned her love of all things colorful and creative into a new life and thriving business in France.

Jan's creative journey has grown from designing cross-stitch patterns to opening Mon Aiguille Filitée, a charming boutique in the heart of the medieval town of Josselin, where she now lives with her husband Mike (and their very fluffy Siberian cat, Nina).

Follow Jan:
https://monaiguillefiletee.com/
Instagram  @monaiguillefiletee
Facebook  @janhickscreates

In Episode 98 of Profiles in Franceformation, Allison Grant Lounes is joined by retired college counselor and Franceformation client Mark Bowen.

Mark and his partner purchased a 19th century Neogothic converted convent near Poitiers, which they are enjoying renovating. The enclosed 2 acre garden keeps them busy seasonally between the mini orchard, free range chickens, vegetable plots, and large koi pond. 

Learn how they've succeeded in building community in rural France, and hear the story of how Mark unexpectedly became King for the Day in his village! 

In Episode 97 of “Profiles in Franceformation”, Allison is joined by post-graduate student William McMillan.

Originally from Minnesota, William first discovered France as a teenager, and his love for all things French eventually turned into an academic passion. He currently lives in Brittany, where he researches the use of France’s regional languages in schools and daily life, and shares on social media his journey of learning Breton.

Follow William on Instagram and TikTok   @arminnesotad

In Episode 96 of “Profiles in Franceformation”, Allison Grant Lounes is joined by joined by freelance book editor and former Franceformation client, Kameron Bryant-Sergejev.

After living in several different European countries, Kameron decided to make France her permanent home. Learn how she settled into Colmar, in Alsace, and built a life and community that was aligned with the lifestyle she had been dreaming of.

In episode 95 of "Profiles in Franceformation", Allison Grant Lounes is joined by Certified Wellness Practitioner Eliza Bacot. 

Listen as Eliza shares how a once-in-a-lifetime year abroad with her husband and three children ultimately led to their decision to relocate long-term, and how raising her family in France has helped her gain new perspective on the true meaning of healthy living.

Follow Eliza:

www.theorganicsouth.com

Instagram @theorganicsouth

In Episode 94 of "Profiles in Franceformation", Allison is joined by writer and love coach Dufflyn Lammers.

Discover how a childhood promise to visit Paris - and a friend’s last minute travel cancellation - led to Dufflyn's life-changing solo trip to France, a long-distance relationship with a Frenchman, and her move from Los Angeles to Paris. 

To take advantage of the special $100 discount on the Love Internationally All Access pass (as mentioned in the episode), click here and enter the discount code FRANCEFORMATION : https://www.dufflyn.com/Love_Internationally_Home_2025  

Dufflyn's memoir YOU HAD ME AT BONJOUR will be released June 4, 2026 and available on Amazon from Rise Books (Simon & Schuster). You can learn more about her coaching services at https://www.dufflyn.com/

Photo credit: Miss Paris Photo.

In Episode 93 of "Profiles in Franceformation", Allison sits down with Your Franceformation's newest member, Emily Ravoire, who recently joined the team as Assistant International Mobility Consultant.

Listen as Emily shares how her connection to France and the French language first began, and the journey that led to her ultimately settling with her husband in Toulouse last fall. She also shares her tips for making connections as a recent expat, and what she’s most looking forward to in working with our clients. 

Follow Emily on LinkedIn

In Episode 92, Allison sits down with one of our Franceformation VIP retirement clients, Bret Graham. After considering several different regions of France for their relocation, Bret and his wife Karen decided to settle in Lille in 2022.

Listen as Bret shares some of the unexpected challenges and delightful surprises of his life in Lille.

In this episode of Profiles in Franceformation, Allison sits down with international student recruitment coordinator Isa Nungaray. After initially moving to France as a business school student, Isa succeeded in relocating permanently through strategic planning and a lot of perseverance.

Learn how she navigated the particularities of the French university system, the challenges of finding a job as a foreigner, and more.

In episode 90 of Profiles in Franceformation, Allison sits down with former client Liz Oxhorn, who traded her political career in Washington DC for a new chapter as the owner of a communications consultancy in Paris. Listen in as Liz discusses the challenges of building a business in France, some surprising aspects of raising her young daughter in Paris, and how she cultivated the right mindset for creating her best life abroad.

Follow Liz:

On Substack
Sonnet Creative: https://www.sonnet-creative.com/
Instagram: @petitevalise_

In Episode 89, Allison sits down with Elina Sarazetdinova, the founder of Tell Me Panda, a company that helps international talents achieve their educational and professional goals in France.

Learn how a birthday trip to France led Elina to study abroad in Paris, discover professional networking opportunities, and eventually create her own business helping people reach their dream of working in France long-term. 

Get Elina's FREE LinkedIn Diagnostic Here

Register to Attend our Webinar with Elina Here

Follow Elina and Tell Me Panda:

https://www.instagram.com/elina.sarazetdinova/

https://tellmepanda.com/

In Episode 88 of Profiles in Franceformation, Allison is joined by author and communications professional Whitney Cubbison. Originally from Texas, Whitney built a high tech communications career in California before eventually transferring to Paris in 2008 to work with Microsoft International. 

She is now the published author of two France-themed rom-com novels - “Will There Be Wine?” and “Will There Be Love?”.

Follow Whitney at www.datingdisasters.paris/ 

And on LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook

For the first episode of our 2026 season, Allison is joined by culinary journalist and podcaster Emily Monaco. 

After falling in love with France - and French cheese - during a year of study abroad in Cannes, Emily found her calling as a food writer and guide in Paris. She is now co-host of the podcast Fishwives of Paris, which serves listeners the real stories behind their favorite French cuisine.

Follow Emily on YouTube @fishwivesofparis

In Episode 86 of Profiles in Franceformation, Allison Grant Lounes sits down with Judith Benamran, who initially moved to France as a student and now has a successful career as a buyer’s agent in Paris. Listen as Judith discusses her transition through various careers over the years, the complexities of the French real estate market, and what makes life in Paris so rewarding. 

Follow Judith :

Instagram: @judithlisa.benamran

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/judith-l-benamran-0ab82ab

In Episode 85 of Profiles in Franceformation, Allison sits down with The Rev. Michelle Wahila,  who moved with her family to France in 2012, where she now officiates English language spiritual services and ceremonies. Listen as Michelle shares how she created new traditions, built a sense of community, and learned to embrace the evolving nature of spirituality in her work with American couples getting married. 

Follow Michelle :

Website: https://ruffledbygrace.com/

Instagram:: @ruffledbygrace

Facebook: Ruffled By Grace

In Episode 84 of Profiles in Franceformation, Allison chats with Billy Potocnik, who moved with his wife Traci from Denver, Colorado to Nice, France in 2022. Listen as Billy retraces their journey from a canceled opportunity during the COVID-19 pandemic, to the creation of a successful yoga retreat business in the Côte d’Azur.

Follow Billy :
Website: https://www.billy.yoga/
YouTube: @billyyoga8846
Instagram:: @billyyogaworldwide
Facebook: Billy YOGA

In Episode 83 of Profiles in Franceformation, Allison Grant Lounes sits down with Doris Speer, the president of AARO - the Association of American Resident Overseas. 

Topics of conversation include the differences between American and French work culture, the challenges of living far from family and friends, and Doris’ continued advocacy for the rights of Americans living abroad. 

Learn more about AARO here: https://aaro.org/

In Episode 82 of Profiles in Franceformation, Allison is joined by writer and marketing consultant Claire Naughton. Claire moved to Paris as an au pair in 2018, before joining her French boyfriend (now husband) in Strasbourg and starting her own business. Listen as Claire shares her experiences of cross-cultural dating, making friends through new hobbies, and how life in France has supported her quest for balance between personal happiness and professional growth.

Follow Claire :

Website: https://www.themillennialabroad.com/ 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/claire-naughton/

In Episode 81 of Profiles in Franceformation, Allison is joined by Janeen Sonsie, breakthrough coach and admin for the Facebook group Expat Women in France. Listen as Janeen shares how she finally pursued her dream of moving to France in 2018, and the steps she took to establish herself both professionally and personally in her new home.

Get in touch with Janeen
https://janeensonsie.com
https://getrealcommunication.com

The Expat Women in France Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/expatwomenfrance/

In Episode 80 of Profiles in Franceformation, Allison is joined by Traci Tooman, who relocated to France with her husband Billy and their teenaged son in 2022. Listen as Traci shares the highs and lows of moving abroad - from navigating the school system and understanding French bureaucracy, to turning her passion for the culinary arts into a dream job working at Julia Child's former villa.

Learn more about Billy's yoga retreats at billy.yoga/retreats and on Instagram @sudandsea

Find Traci and Billy's book "Your Ultimate Guide for Relocating to Portugal" here: https://a.co/d/bzJfZla

In Episode 79 of Profiles in Franceformation, host Allison Grant Lounes sits down with Rick Jones, president of WICE (Where Internationals Connect in English).

Rick shares the story behind his decades-long love of France and his decision to move to Paris permanently in 2018. The conversation also touches on the value of networking, cultivating luck, and creating meaningful connections as key to a successful transition.

Learn more about WICE at wice-paris.org

In Episode 78 of Profiles in Franceformation, host Allison Grant Lounes is joined by Janice Deerwester, whose journey of a post-retirement solo relocation led her to Fontainebleau and a fulfilling new chapter as a content creator. 

During the conversation, Janice offers practical advice for moving abroad, discusses the nuances of settling into a new culture, and touches on the everyday joys of French life. 

Follow Janice:
janiceinfrance.com
Instagram: @janiceinfrance 
YouTube: @JaniceInFrance

If you liked this episode, please leave a positive review and be sure to subscribe so you won’t miss our next episode!

In episode 77 of Profiles in Franceformation, host Allison Grant Lounes chats with real estate agent Andrew Guck, who relocated to France in 2011.  

Andrew recounts his unique story of a long-distance love that ultimately led to a fulfilling life and career in the South of France. Along the way, he shares his experiences in language learning, his culinary and cultural adventures, and his advice on making a home in a new country. 

Follow Andrew:
andrewguck.com
YouTube: @AndrewGuckLeggett
IG: @andrew_guck_leggett

If you liked this episode, please leave a positive review and be sure to subscribe so you won’t miss our next episode!

In episode 76 of Profiles in Franceformation, host Allison Grant Lounes interviews travel consultant and photographer Tadji Kretschmer, who relocated to Paris in 2021. 

Tadji shares how the 2020 pandemic led her to create an Instagram account, "Inseinely Paris", and to follow her dream of moving to Paris. She also discusses the importance of embracing the local lifestyle and establishing a community, and the challenges she experienced with French bureaucracy.

Follow Tadji
www.travelswithtadji.com
IG: @inseinelyparis

In this first episode of the 2024-2025 season of Profiles in Franceformation, host Allison Grant Lounes shares practical advice for planning a successful move to France in 2025. 

Join Allison as she talks through the finer details of some of the more popular visa types, including the various work visas available for self-employed and salaried professionals. The episode also touches on some of the recent changes in French immigration policies and common hurdles in the relocation process. 

Gather helpful resources on preparing your move, and learn about some of the French admin procedures that allow both a smooth transition and a path to long-term residency in France. If you’re planning a relocation to France in 2025, you won’t want to miss this episode!

For more information about how Your Franceformation can assist you in your relocation to France, visit our website at www.yourfranceformation.com

In episode 74 of Profiles in Franceformation, my guest is Sophie Hargreaves, owner of La Petite Ferme d'Alpaga - a small alpaca farm in Sanzay, located in the Deux Sèvres in the western French countryside. Sophie, along with her husband Will, moved to France to start their alpaca farm in the period between COVID and Brexit. They are now the proud parents of a small herd of alpacas and, more recently, one human child.

La Petite Ferme d'Alpaga welcomes guests and parties, has an on-site gîte, offers glamping experiences, and also sells gorgeous products made from soft alpaca wool.

https://www.lapetitefermedalpagas.com/
Instagram: @lapetitefermedalpagas/

In episode 73 of Profiles in Franceformation my guest is Lacey Bertrand-Reilly, the new Franceformation Team Member. 

In this episode, we discuss how Lacey ended up living in France, and why they have opted for Countryside living over the Big City Lifestyle. 

You will also hear:

💜 Why a courtesy robe or scarf is a top tip for people using the healthcare system

💜 What career advice and tips Lacey would give to those embarking on work in France

💜The challenges applying for French Nationality

💜Lacey’s role and involvement in Your Franceformation. 

If you are considering moving to France, Foolproof French Visas can help you navigate the path toward finding the right visa for you. It can be purchased here: https://www.yourfranceformation.com/books or in paperback on Amazon.

If you liked this episode, please leave a positive review and be sure to subscribe so you won't miss next week's episode! 

In episode 72 of Profiles in Franceformation my guest is Michael Yuille, a British financial advisor living in the south of France near Toulouse.  After deciding to move to France with his family, Michael became aware of the many challenges people face when trying to do retirement and financial planning while living abroad. 

British and American clients, and clients of other nationalities, struggle to understand the financial and tax implications of their move, and strict regulations normally prohibit financial advisors from working outside of their own country withoutn Special Certifications. In this episode, we'll discuss the most important aspects of financial planning for an overseas move, and Michael, who is certified in France, the UK, and the US, can help.

You will also hear:

💜 Why they ended up moving to France?

💜 What led Michael to helping people with their finances

💜 How ‘Hand holding’ helped him with relocating to France

💜What you can put in place before you move to France to help protect your finances

💜 How to avoid costly mistakes

💜 What Michael’s top 3 tips are for people before they move to France

If you are considering moving to France, Foolproof French Visas can help you navigate the path toward finding the right visa for you. It can be purchased here: https://www.yourfranceformation.com/books or in paperback on Amazon.

If you liked this episode, please leave a positive review and be sure to subscribe so you won't miss next week's episode! 

In Episode 71 of Profiles in Franceformation. Allison is joined by Jacqueline Menoret and Maria Laura Ribadeneira. Jacqueline studied abroad in Montpellier and then at the London School of Economics before marrying her French husband and working in higher education in Paris.

She founded the Immigrant Book Club in 2020, where she was soon joined as a co-host by Maria Laura, who is originally from Quito, Ecuador, and who studied at Vassar College. Together, they have recently launched Versions Originales, a multilingual literary review in Paris. 

In this episode, you will hear:

💜 Why they ended up moving to France?

💜 Why they don't identify with the term 'expat'

💜 Maria Laura's experience of moving from Ecuador and how that differs from the process of moving from the US

💜how the book club started and how it led to their literary review

💜 How they aim to bring bilingual people together. 

💜 What French Traditions they love and what they love about living in France

To find out more about Jacqueline and Maria Laura's Literary Review, you can visit their website https://revueversionoriginale.com/ or follow them on instagram @revueversionoriginale

If you are considering moving to France, Foolproof French Visas can help you navigate the path toward finding the right visa for you. It can be purchased here: https://www.yourfranceformation.com/books or in paperback on Amazon.

If you liked this episode, please leave a positive review and be sure to subscribe so you won't miss next week's episode! 

Welcome to Episode 70 of Profiles in Franceformation. I'm your host, Allison Grant Louness, and this week our guest is John Frederick. John worked in government and lived many lives in the U. S. before coming to France as a visitor to follow his dream of living in Paris. Since arriving, he's written multiple books, including Prosperity Now and Paris Histories and Mysteries.

After living in Paris for several years, John began working with us so he could work as a life coach in Paris, and the epic tale of the administrative hurdles we had to jump through to change his status will go down in Paris Histories and Mysteries.

To find out more about Joanna you can visit her website here:https://www.johnafrederick.com/

If you are considering moving to France, Foolproof French Visas can help you navigate the path toward finding the right visa for you. It can be purchased here: https://www.yourfranceformation.com/books or in paperback on Amazon.

If you liked this episode, please leave a positive review and be sure to subscribe so you won't miss next week's episode! 

Welcome to episode 69 of Profiles in Franceformation. I'm your host, Allison Grant Lounes, and this week my guest is Lounes, and this week my guest is Joanna of Happy Hugs. Joanna is originally from Romania, and she moved to the UK, where she trained as a doula, and then to France with her French husband. She now helps pregnant women navigate the French healthcare system during pregnancy, hosts birth preparation classes for first time moms, and has multiple free resources for English speaking women to prepare for pregnancy and for giving birth in France.

Today, we'll talk about the challenges of navigating maternity care for English speaking women in France who are used to different systems and options, and the resources she has for any woman planning to have a baby in France. 

To find out more about Joanna you can visit her website here: https://happyhugs.fr/

If you are considering moving to France, Foolproof French Visas can help you navigate the path toward finding the right visa for you. It can be purchased here: https://www.yourfranceformation.com/books or in paperback on Amazon.

If you liked this episode, please leave a positive review and be sure to subscribe so you won't miss next week's episode! 

Welcome to episode 68 of Profiles in Franceformation. I'm your host, Allison Grant Lounes, and this week my guest is Fabricio Carminati, a real estate agent and creator of French Riviera House Hunting. His goal is to help English-speaking property hunters find the right property and navigate the process of buying their new home in France with ease.

Fabricio talks about:

• How he started helping Americans find their dream homes in France
• How the buying process works
• What there is to offer in the French Riviera
• Handy hints and tips to help you purchase your dream home in France. 

To find out more about French Riviera House Hunting, you can find all the details here: https://linktr.ee/frenchrivierahousehunting

If you are considering moving to France, Foolproof French Visas can help you navigate the path toward finding the right visa for you. It can be purchased here: https://www.yourfranceformation.com/books or in paperback on Amazon.

If you liked this episode, please leave a positive review and be sure to subscribe so you won't miss next week's episode! 

Welcome to Episode 67 of Profiles in Franceformation. I’m your host Allison Grant Lounes, and this week, I’m back with Lisa Vanden Bos, who has been a pillar of the American community in France, since she arrived three decades ago.

Lisa launched FUSAC in the 90's, a print magazine that was the go-to resource for English speakers in Paris to help them find jobs, housing, and much more. Lisa has also recently launched Bill and Rosa's Book Room, a used English bookshop at Poitou Sacou. 

Listen to Lisa's story and love for France including…

• Why her Mother's scrapbook inspired the move to France
• How the business developed and the challenges they faced. 
• Navigating Retirement in France
• How Lisa navigated the citizenship process
• How Lisa created a French life. 
• The plans for the book shop
• And much more...

If you are considering moving to France, Foolproof French Visas can help you navigate the path toward finding the right visa for you. It can be purchased here: https://www.yourfranceformation.com/books or in paperback on Amazon. 

If you liked this episode, please leave a positive review and be sure to subscribe so you won't miss next week's episode! 

Welcome to episode 66 of the Profiles in Franceformation podcast. I’m your host, Allison Grant Lounes, and today my guest is author Erin Zhurkin. Erin moved to Paris to follow her husband’s job and has lived in 6 different countries, including France, and she now lives in Seoul, South Korea, with her family. Her novel, Plus-Size in Paris, is out this week, and available on Amazon.

• Purchase Plus-Size in Paris on Amazon.
• Follow Erin on Instagram @ErinZhurkinWrites and @plussizeinparis
• Check out her website https://erinzhurkin.com/

Welcome to episode 65 of Profiles in Franceformation. This week’s guest is Robynne Pendariès, a professional organizer and ADHD coach who found her calling after joining Message, the Paris-based group for English-speaking parents in France. Robynne followed love to Paris after school and discovered her knack for organizing during the early years of motherhood. She is involved with many groups and associations in Paris, including Message and AAWE, the Association of American Women in Europe, and Cancer Support France. She has also created an excellent organizational resource and checklist for international couples that will be useful for anyone living in France.

AAWE: www.aaweparis.org
Message Paris: www.messageparis.org
Cancer Support France: http://paris.cancersupportfrance.org/paris-home

www.robynnependaries.com
Instagram: @robynnependaries
T‌o receive Robynne's "Checklist To Complete LONG Before You Need It", send an e-mail to robynnependaries@noos.fr

Welcome to episode 64 of Profiles in Franceformation. This week’s guests are Mark and Kim Jesperen, an author and artist from Maine who fell in love with their home and village in southern France and purchased their French house in 3 days when their trip was unexpectedly extended.

Mark Jespersen - Author
www.facebook.com/lapetitefantome
www.mark-jespersen.com
Jespersen & Associates LLC - www.ja-online.com

Welcome to episode 63 of Profiles in Franceformation. This week’s guest is Fiona Warren, a currency transfer specialist with Currencies Direct who moved from the London suburbs to southwest France in 2009. In this episode, we talk about how transferring money has evolved significantly and become much easier and cheaper since the early days, and the different ways you can transfer money internationally so you can pursue your dreams of buying property, starting a business and establishing your life in France.

To register with Currencies Direct, click here.

Welcome to Episode 62 of Profiles in Franceformation! This week, my guest is Marta Hobbs, author of Unraveling: A Woman's Search for Freedom and the Journey of Coming Home, a memoir about her spiritual healing journey. Marta has been an immigrant twice, in very different circumstances. The first time, she was a young girl fleeing communist Poland in a cloak-and-dagger operation, and she arrived in the unwelcoming city of New York, not speaking a word of English, to compound the trauma of escaping by abandoning herself and her identity to fit in and become American. The second time, after creating outward business and family success, she moved to Paris by choice. And once she arrived, with financial security, and distance, and space, everything started to unravel. I am delighted that Marta was willing to share her beautiful story of healing, and I encourage you to read her book.

You can purchase her book on Amazon: Unraveling: A Woman's Search for Freedom and the Journey of Coming Home
Purchase on Amazon France

Marta's website: www.martahobbs.com
Instagram: @martahobbs

Welcome to Episode 60 of Profiles in Franceformation. I’m your host, Allison Grant Lounes, and this week, we’re celebrating International Women’s Day with an episode on a very important topic that can affect any woman moving to France. Sarah McGrath is an Australian woman who volunteered as a advocate for domestic violence survivors at home, before moving to France and becoming the founder of Women for Women France. Women for Women France is a non-profit organization that helps immigrant women in France who are subjected to physical abuse, coercive control, and administrative and financial abuse to navigate the complex legal system which is difficult to navigate in a foreign language and which so often fails to adequately support victims. Women for Women France also provides an informational portal in 15 languages, including English, which provides information on legal procedures and helps women to understand issues like child custody and their immigration situation in the event it’s tied to their relationship status.

Women for Women France is doing incredibly important work supporting immigrant women in France, and I am proud that Your Franceformation made an €1800 donation in December to help fund these important resources. This week, I’d like to ask you to join me in donating, and I would love it if our community of listeners and Americans in France could collectively donate another €1800. Please check out the link in the show notes or on my Facebook page to join our efforts.

Before we begin, I want to warn you that usually, the Profiles in Franceformation podcast is fairly light and child-friendly, but in this episode, we’re going to talk about feminicide, male violence against women, and domestic violence and coercive control, so you may want to listen away from little ears.

And now, it’s my pleasure to introduce Sarah McGrath, of Women for Women France.  Sarah founded Women for Women France in 2018 and has 17 years of financial governance and complex project delivery experience in the private, public, and not-for-profit sectors across three continents with budgets ranging from 5m to 750m USD. An Australian immigrant living in France since 2016, and close to the stories of her family’s journey as refugees from Eastern Europe to New Zealand, Sarah is engaged in the fight against the vilification and dehumanisation of migrants from all countries of origin. She advocates for cultural and systemic change within first-contact victim services and within the French judicial system, and is calling elimination of the culture of intersectional discrimination currently present.

Women for Women France's multilingual portal can be accessed through their website: https://womenforwomenfrance.org/ and you can follow Women for Women France on social media: @womenforwomen on Instagram and WFW France on Facebook.

In today's conversation, we talk about male violence against women and the many challenges that face immigrant women in France who are subjected to coercive control, financial and administrative abuse, and physical abuse, and the resources Women for Women France has put together to help women navigate these complex issues. 

Please join me in making a donation to Women for Women France in honor of International Women's Day: https://www.womenforwomenfrance.org/en/about-us/make-a-donation

Your donation is tax-deductible in France and it helps fund important resources like the multilingual informational portal providing support to victim-survivors. Sarah and the team at Women for Women France will be grateful for your support.

Welcome to Episode 59 of Profiles in Franceformation! I’m your host, Allison Grant Lounes, and this week, I’m speaking with Charlotte King, my friend, an art history and wine expert, and the co-owner of two companies in France. Bacchus and Clio offers customized tours of France focusing on wine, gastronomy, and French history and culture, while Kira Consultants offers trainings on food and wine to professionals in the restauarant industry. Charlotte moved to France at the same time as me, and we sang in choirs together in Paris while she explored various careers, from teaching at the university level, to becoming an art history tour guide at the Louvre, to working as an interpreter in the wine department at Le Cordon Bleu, where she met her business partner.

You can follow Bacchus and Clio @bacchusandclio and learn more about wine and gastronomy tourism with the God of Wine and Muse of History here: https://www.bacchusandclio.com
and Kira Wine Consultants @kira_consultants

Charlotte talks about…

• Why she wanted to move to France and how she learned French immersed with a host family in Burgundy as a high school student
• How she pursued various professional experiences in France, from teaching in universities to becoming a tour guide, to finally becoming a wine interpreter at Le Cordon Bleu, where she met her business partner
• How the groups she joined, like singing with Allison in Voices and other choirs, led to professional opportunities and connected her with foreigners who had been living in France for years.
• How she shares her ideas about wine and foods to the tourists as their first trip here in France.
• Her journey in the wine industry that made her collaborate with the best of the best winemakers in France.
• How she fell in love in France and her observations towards different wine companies
• Her travel journey all over France and how it made her feel like France is still a foreign country to her even though she has already become French.
• The  things that made her feel like she was ready to become French and what that process was like.
• The things that motivate her to get her French citizenship.
• The thing she does aside from work, when she finally first got here in France.

If you are considering moving to France like Daniel, Foolproof French Visas can help you navigate the path toward finding the right visa for you. It can be purchased here: https://www.yourfranceformation.com/books or in paperback on Amazon

If you would like to pursue your own Franceformation, you can also request a free 30-minute clarity call with Allison to review your visa options and decide how to move toward creating your ideal life in France: https://www.yourfranceformation.com/free-call 

If you liked this episode, please leave a positive review and be sure to subscribe so you won't miss next week's episode! 

Introduction: Welcome to Episode 58 of Profiles in Franceformation. I’m your host, Allison Grant Lounes, and this week, my very special guest is Amy Gruber. Amy is a former educator turned communications consultant who made the decision to begin her Franceformation in January 2020 - right before covid closed the borders. She finally received her Profession Libérale visa and moved from Michigan to Côtes d’Armor, Brittany, in November 2021, where she lives with her dog, Stella, and her cat, Albus. Amy has a blog, Tales from Brittany, where she writes about her life in France, she’s a contributor to the My French Life website, and, as one of our favorite clients, she also works with Your Franceformation on some of our writing projects. Welcome, Amy.

Amy talks about…

• The reason that motivates her to transfer to France.
• The idea on how she fell in love in Brittany.
• How she learned French before she totally settled in Brittany.
• How she ended working with Allison.
• The challenges she encountered in processing her transfer in France, especially during covid era.
• Her experience when she first got to France and her plans on how to get life moving, knowing that she will be in France for good.
• How she built her business in France so easily and even got more clients.
• The process she did in finding the first French client and how she showcased her business, talents and skills to potentially work with them.
• How she enjoys her life and works in French and how she finds the people in France, specially in Brittany.
• Why do you need to have furry friends particularly during the lonely time of your life?

You may reach her out through:

• https://talesfrombrittany.com/
• on instagram: @agruber17
•  www.myfrenclife.org

If you are considering moving to France like Daniel, Foolproof French Visas can help you navigate the path toward finding the right visa for you. It can be purchased here: https://www.yourfranceformation.com/books or in paperback on Amazon

If you would like to pursue your own Franceformation, you can also request a free 30-minute clarity call with Allison to review your visa options and decide how to move toward creating your ideal life in France: https://www.yourfranceformation.com/free-call 

If you liked this episode, please leave a positive review and be sure to subscribe so you won't miss next week's episode!

Introduction: Welcome to episode 57 of the Profiles in Franceformation podcast! I’m your host, Allison Grant Lounes, and this week, I’m interviewing Daniel Tostado, an American attorney who was a teaching assistant with TAPIF in La Réunion, before attending law school in France and becoming an immigration attorney registered with the Paris bar. Daniel does all kinds of things to serve the American community in France, including hosting a regular free legal clinic at the American Church in Paris, and serving with 100 Nights of Welcome, which provides refuge to homeless people in the ACP gym during the winter. Welcome, Daniel.

Daniel talks about...

• The idea that pushed him to move to France and make a living.
• The process of getting a seat in French Law and how he became a lawyer.
• His inspiration of becoming a lawyer and the idea of getting into immigration law.
• When he started learning French and how he started it.
• The process of what kind of work he wanted and how much he expected to earn and how long he wanted to stay in France.
• The difference between American and French immigration procedures.
• The different challenges that he faced outside Law school.
• The things he loved and enjoyed about living in France.
• The advice he could give to someone who might be thinking and planning of moving to France.

If you are considering moving to France like Daniel, Foolproof French Visas can help you navigate the path toward finding the right visa for you. It can be purchased here: https://www.yourfranceformation.com/books or in paperback on Amazon

If you would like to pursue your own Franceformation, you can also request a free 30-minute clarity call with Allison to review your visa options and decide how to move toward creating your ideal life in France: https://www.yourfranceformation.com/free-call 

If you liked this episode, please leave a positive review and be sure to subscribe so you won't miss next week's episode! 

Welcome to episode 56 of the Profiles in Franceformation podcast! This week, I’m interviewing Maquita Guild-Schwarz, a retired pediatrician who moved to Montpellier, France, with her husband in 1998 after living in Nairobi, Kenya, and 5 other countries. Throughout her time in France, Maquita has joined several volunteer organizations, such as the American Women’s Group, Restos Bébés du Coeur, and Cancer Support France.

- Restos Bébé du Coeur Montpellier
- Cancer Support France

Maquita talks about…

• The reasons behind her decision to move to France after having lived in many different places, and how she and her husband chose to settle in Montpelier.
• How she fell in love in France and her observations towards the people of France and the beauty of it.
• How she learned French before they totally settled in Montpelier.
• The places she visited when she first arrived in France and how she enjoyed it so much.
• The kind of things she does to get integrated and how she becomes part of the community, where or how she learned her French Speaking. Basically, how she and her husband build their life together here in France.
• The hardships they encountered when they first got here in France and how they overcame it. And to whom they look for help at those times.
• The reasons behind achieving French citizenship.
• The basic assumptions in life and the culture shock she encountered.
• Her involvement with groups such as the American Women’s Group, Cancer Support France, and Restos Bébés du Coeur

If you are considering moving to France like Maquita, Foolproof French Visas can help you navigate the path toward finding the right visa for you. It can be purchased here: https://www.yourfranceformation.com/books or in paperback on Amazon

If you would like to pursue your own Franceformation, you can also request a free 30-minute clarity call with Allison to review your visa options and decide how to move toward creating your ideal life in France: https://www.yourfranceformation.com/free-call 

If you liked this episode, please leave a positive review and be sure to subscribe so you won't miss next week's episode!

Welcome to Episode #55 of Profiles in Franceformation, I'm your host, Allison Grant Lounes and in this episode, I'm speaking with Kylie Lang, a British copywriter, author, and amateur line dancer who lives in the Charente region, and who runs Life in Rural France on Facebook and Instagram. 

Kylie talks about…

• The reasoning behind her decision to move to France after having lived in many different places, and how she and her husband chose to settle in Charentes
• Her experience of purchasing a home in France and how that experience compared to previously purchasing a property in Australia
• Adjusting to the different of the pace of life when living in France
• Integrating into the local culture in rural France and what she has come to love in her new hometown
• Her online business and the process of moving it from the UK to France
• The local group she joined to better integrate into her local community
• Her goals for 2023 and what she plans to accomplish in her professional life
• What she typically orders in a French restaurant
• The thing she enjoys most about her French home and what she finds most annoying
• Favorite places to visit within her region of France, as well as other regions
• Her advice for anyone wishing to move to France

To follow Kylie and her adventures in the rural countryside of France, check out her Facebook and Instagram accounts here:
https://m.facebook.com/lifeinruralfrance
Instagram: @lifeinruralfrance

If you are considering moving to France like Kylie, Foolproof French Visas can help you navigate the path toward finding the right visa for you. It can be purchased here: https://www.yourfranceformation.com/books or in paperback on Amazon.

If you would like to pursue your own Franceformation, you can also request a free 30-minute clarity call with Allison to review your visa options and decide how to move toward creating your ideal life in France: https://www.yourfranceformation.com/free-call
 
If you liked this episode, please leave a positive review and be sure to subscribe so you won't miss next week's episode! 

Welcome to Episode #54 of Profiles in Franceformation, I’m your host, Allison Grant Lounes and in this episode, we speak with one of our Franceformation clients, Ashley Sorci, who pursued her dream of moving to France and who runs a student exchange program between France and the US. 

Ashley also tells us about…

• What initially inspired her to move to France and how she chose to settle in her new hometown of Strasbourg
• Her experience studying abroad in Bordeaux
• The feelings and reverse culture shock she experienced when going back to the US after studying abroad
• What she did to keep ties to France after returning to the US, and eventually the decision to pursue moving back to France permanently
• Her experience purchasing a student exchange program
• The decision to work with the Franceformation team to turn her dream of moving to France into a reality
• What she enjoys most about officially living in France, especially about Strasbourg
• Administrative challenges she has experienced
• Her advice to anyone wishing to move to France

If you are considering moving to France like Ashley, Foolproof French Visas can help you navigate the path toward finding the right visa for you. It can be purchased here: https://www.yourfranceformation.com/books or in paperback on Amazon. 

If you would like to pursue your own Franceformation, you can also request a free 30-minute clarity call with Allison to review your visa options and decide how to move toward creating your ideal life in France: https://www.yourfranceformation.com/free-call     

If you liked this episode, please leave a positive review and be sure to subscribe so you won't miss next week's episode! 

Today’s very special guest is Kim Mousseron, the very first full-time member of the Franceformation team, as she began her permanent role as an International Mobility Consultant on January 2nd. Kim has a Master’s from Middlebury College, and a rich and varied professional history of teaching, office and administrative work and most recently, as a housing coordinator and administrator in a study abroad program. She is a longtime member of the American Women’s Group of Languedoc Roussillion and FAWCO, the Federation of American Women’s Clubs Overseas. She joined me in April 2021 part-time, we finally met in-person this past October at the Bloom Where You’re Planted event, and we finally signed her CDI for her new position right before the Christmas break. It has been a pleasure getting to know Kim and working with her, and I am very excited to have her on the team full time going forward. She has wonderful energy, she’s a great problem solver, she’s also from Massachusetts and appreciates, or at least tolerates, my snark, and most importantly, she speaks fluent French bureaucracy. Study abroad’s loss has been the good fortune of me and of our Franceformation clients, and I am thrilled to be able to introduce you to her as our team member.

Welcome to Episode #52 of Profiles in Franceformation! I’m your host, Allison Grant Lounes, and this week, I’m speaking with Laura McIntyre, an Arkansas native who left corporate America to follow her dream of moving to Paris. After deciding to stay, Laura changed from a visitor status to a profession libérale visa status and put her passion for helping others discover Paris to work, by starting a business helping people find and furnish their dream home here.

Just a reminder, this is the last episode of the 2022 season, and we’ll be back on Wednesday, January 4 with another episode about following your dream to create your new life in France. Happy Holidays from the Franceformation team, and we wish you a happy and healthy new year 2023.

Laura and I discuss…

• Why she first wanted to move to Paris
• Her experience obtaining a visa and opening her business in Paris
• How she integrated into local Parisian life and culture
• The challenges of trying to rent an apartment as an expat in Paris
• Her process of helping clients, catering to their needs and what sort of assistance they are looking for
• How her business changed during the COVID outbreak
• What she enjoys most about living in France and the French culture
• The things she really misses about the US, and what sort of items she takes back to friends and family when she returns to the US
• Her advice for anyone wishing to move to France

To learn more about Laura’s business, check out her website: https://move2paris.com/

If you are considering moving to France like Laura, Foolproof French Visas can help you navigate the path toward finding the right visa for you. It can be purchased here: https://www.yourfranceformation.com/books or in paperback on Amazon.

If you would like to pursue your own Franceformation, you can also request a free 30-minute clarity call with Allison to review your visa options and decide how to move toward creating your ideal life in France: https://www.yourfranceformation.com/free-call
 
If you liked this episode, please leave a positive review and be sure to subscribe so you won't miss next week's episode! 

Welcome to Episode 51 of Profiles in Franceformation. I’m your host Allison Grant Lounes, and this week, I’m speaking with one of our Franceformation VIP clients, Brian Bailey, who moved to Paris for a year after covid to work as a professional swing dance teacher, before deciding to go even further and travel the world.

And, just so you know, we're going to be taking a break at the end of the year, so next week's episode 52 will be the last episode of 2022! We'll be back in January with more great stories from people who have pursued their dream of moving to France.

Listen to Brian’s experience in France including…

• Why he wanted to move to France and his initial steps toward preparing for his move
• The timeline of applying for his visa up to the moment he actually arrived in France
• What administrative tasks he completed first once arriving in France
• Taking French classes at the Alliance Francaise in Paris
• Integrating into the swing dance community in Paris and how this was impacted by COVID
• How living in France compared to being a tourist in France
• What he enjoyed versus found annoying about French culture
• His most memorable experiences while living in Paris
• What factors played a role in his decision to move back to the US
• The benefits he enjoyed while living in France
• Working with the Franceformation team
• His upcoming plans to travel the world
• The advice he would give to anyone wishing to move to France

If you are considering moving to France like Brian, Foolproof French Visas can help you navigate the path toward finding the right visa for you. It can be purchased here: https://www.yourfranceformation.com/books or in paperback on Amazon. 

If you would like to pursue your own Franceformation, you can also request a free 30-minute clarity call with Allison to review your visa options and decide how to move toward creating your ideal life in France: https://www.yourfranceformation.com/free-call     

If you liked this episode, please leave a positive review and be sure to subscribe so you won't miss next week's episode! 

This week, I’m interviewing Dennis Roberts, a psychologist with the Paris Psychology Center who moved to France in August 2021 from Chicago with his spouse and two big dogs. He’s certified in the UK and 5 US states, and in the process of working on his Profession Libérale visa application, he used Foolproof French Visas as a guide, and also went through the process of becoming a certified psychologue in France with an ADELI number to treat patients through the French healthcare system. He now serves the English speaking community in Paris and would like to encourage other English-speaking licensed psychologists to take the leap as well. 

We discuss:

• The “joke that he took to far” that motivated him to move to Paris
• His experience applying for a visa during the COVID pandemic and how using Foolproof French Visas paid off during the visa application process
• The process of having his doctorate of psychology recognized in France in order to practice in France
• The different types of counseling and degrees recognized in France, from psychologue to psychotherapeute to psychopracticien 
• The difficulties and mental health challenges people can face when they move abroad or are adjusting to life here, and how it can be helpful to discuss these things with professionals who know what’s normal and can guide you through them
• The types of help Dennis sought out from experienced professionals through reading Foolproof French Visas and also through connecting to other English-speaking psychologists in France who could give advice
• The mindset to adopt while observing different cultural practices and getting used to how things work differently in France
• The rare opportunity to change and grow as a person that moving abroad and learning a new language can bring.
• How it’s normal to want to integrate but to also want to have comforts from home.
• And more…

If you are considering moving to France like Dennis, Foolproof French Visas can help you navigate the path toward finding the right visa for you. It can be purchased here: https://www.yourfranceformation.com/books or in paperback on Amazon. 

If you would like to pursue your own Franceformation, you can also request a free 30-minute clarity call with Allison to review your visa options and decide how to move toward creating your ideal life in France: https://www.yourfranceformation.com/free-call     

If you liked this episode, please leave a positive review and be sure to subscribe so you won't miss next week's episode!