What makes the British so British and the French so French?

From history and geography to arts, politics, perception and attitudes, Garlic & Pearls offers a tour of French and British culture in 1,000 things, ideas and scents

Latest Episodes

Garlic & PearlsJanuary 09, 2026x
82
46:5764.48 MB

A Study in Silver: The cryptic British world of precious metals, their hallmarks, assays, and guilds

Suzanne illuminates the origins and meaning of hallmarking, which began in the 13th century under Edward I – aka Edward Longshanks – as part of his wider effort to stabilise the kingdom by means of statutes. Though the French king Louis IX appears as a guest star, this is a case of Britain being far more systematic and precise than France while, in typical British fashion, devising a resilient system capable...

Garlic & PearlsJanuary 02, 2026x
81
56:3377.67 MB

La dictée: How did a school spelling test become a French obsession and symbol of Frenchness?

Muriel goes back to school to explore how in France the spelling test called  la dictée  became the backbone of French education. Who introduced it and why? Is it fascistic or democratic? And how did a school exercise become a beloved popular cultural event shared by the nation? It's a very Gallic tale of Republican alphabetisation, unification and nation-building, and Muriel joins in by pi...

Garlic & PearlsDecember 25, 2025x
80
35:4349.07 MB

The Christmas Tale Face-Off: A Christmas Carol or Les Misérables?

In our last episode of 2025, Suzanne and Muriel consider soberly which is more atmospheric and replete with the spirit of Christmas - is it Dickens with Michael Caine and a cast of Muppets, or is it a pivotal bit of melodrama in Victor Hugo's social saga? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Garlic & PearlsDecember 24, 2025x
80
41:3757.16 MB

The Christmas Drink Face-Off: Indulgent Irish Cream or astringent coupe de champagne?

Cheers! Santé! Suzanne retraces the history of a 1970s Soho brainwave of deliciousness and Muriel obeys the traditional Pavlovian call of Champenois fizz Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Garlic & PearlsDecember 23, 2025x
79
51:1170.31 MB

The Christmas Telly Face-Off: Reithian British Monument or Gallic social satire?

Suzanne brings a whole lotta Christmas to the table and parses the delights of the double issue of the Radio Times; Muriel unpacks a cult French sitcom about two contrasting lifestyles of the bourgeoisie Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Garlic & PearlsDecember 19, 2025x
78
27:4838.19 MB

The Christmas Carol Face-Off: Pre-Raphaelite Poetry or Socialist Manifesto?

Suzanne makes a compelling case for the evocative beauty of In the Bleak Midwinter and its landscape imagery infused with spirituality; Muriel wonders how Minuit, Chrétiens, a rousing carol authored by a Socialist firebrand and a stage composer, made it into the French Catholic choral canon. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

About Garlic & Pearls

Have you ever wondered about the many cultural differences between the British and the French? This podcast is for you.

What makes the French so French and the British so British? Which of the two nations is the weirder? Garlic & Pearls bring you the answers by way of bluebells, steam trains and panto, Harris tweed and bungalows, absinthe and Marseilles soap, French school canteens, concierges and the 4-colour BiC pen, and much, much more.

French cultural journalist Muriel Zagha and British geopolitics expert Suzanne Raine are long-time friends, and in each episode of Garlic & Pearls they take it in turns to astonish and entertain each other and the listeners with insights into their respective cultures.

Garlic & Pearls is wide-ranging and eclectic: Muriel and Suzanne examine everyday objects, foods, scents, iconic designs, films, landscapes, games, folklore, poetry, transport – taking in many eccentric personalities and quirky anecdotes along the way. Join them in their quest to define the essence of Britishness and Frenchness!

To contact Garlic & Pearls email garlicandpearls@gmail.com

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