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
My favourite podcast
I love your podcast, thank you very much. Educational, unpredictable topics and so jolly, it absolutely makes my day when a new episode comes out
Found out about it after muriel appeared with giles coren on Times radio. Hooked by the fabulous theme tune, and the multicultural chat. Makes me smile and educative
Wonderful
I am hugely enjoying this fascinating Podcast. Only today I ordered an Orangina because it was in the original bottle (and woke it up)! Who else could have made jigsaw puzzles interesting, Brigitte so compelling and the history of the BIC 4 Colours pen so fascinating? No one except Muriel Zagha and Suzanne Raine. This well researched, brilliantly presented, warm and humorous Podcast is in a league of its own.
Light and fluffy but in a good way.
I enjoyed this , both have melodious voices which are pleasant to listen to . Raquel Welch is American.
My thanks to you two lovely ladies!
I so enjoy your podcast and have just listened to your studio edition which was a real treat. In these somewhat fraught times it is wonderful to be able to listen you as you discuss intelligently things that are endlessly interesting and a world away from politics. Thankyou 🌺
Wonderful
How about an episode about the Banlieues after the exhibition in Paris
Interesting Topics, Fabulous Hosts
I'm learning so much about both cultures through the hosts' fun and thoughtful conversations. Truly a perfect podcast!
A wonderful take on our two nations
Not sure how I discovered this podcast but enjoy so much about it. I’m English and have adored France since I was a child when my parents took us camping in Brittany. Your voices are beautiful and Muriel’s delicate French accent is lovely. The way you journey around the topic makes it rich and deep. Enjoyed Pimm’s, Orangina, ID cards and many more!
Gentle, informative and Fun!
I love this podcast. It transports me from my usual diet of politics and is a great listen.
Listen in. You won’t be sorry.
This is a spectacular podcast. Not only are these two delightful women smart, they are so very funny. It is a great listen.
Fantastic
This is a warm and wonderful podcast! Muriel and Suzanne’s friendship demonstrates the entente cordiale that overrides the fascinating cultural difference between France and Britain, which they discuss and dissect. I have learned a lot about both and often laughed out loud. Experience, research and imagination provide an endlessly surprising set of subjects with stories that lead in unexpected directions! Allez, amusez vous!
Vachement bon!
Well I wanted to soak up French culture but I’m learning some pretty esoteric stuff about the UK too. Much more fun than I expected! Now I just want an episode about why the French roads don’t have cats eyes…
Really interesting show
So happy my friend Matt recommended this show. Great chemistry between Muriel and Suzanne and really interesting topics and conversation. And I’m only at the beginning so looking forward to listening to all the episodes
Thoroughly charming as well as being thoroughly thorough!
What a discovery to feel part of the lovely discussion between two knowledgeable ladies. Being able to listen to fun and varied subjects complete with researched historical facts is a marvelous concept for a podcast. The nuances of French and English culture are embraced and challenged with wit and humor.
Brilliant
This is a tremendous podcast. Each episode is so rich and interesting, and the energy is so great between Suzanne and Muriel. Each time I listen I feel as though I have learned so much, am looking at things quite differently, and have a huge smile on my face!
The perfect podcast for curious minds
Quickly becoming one of my all-time favourite podcasts. Muriel and Suzanne are both such warm, charming hosts and their curiosity is infectious. Always leave each episode wishing I could stay with them a little longer!
Fabulous! So entertaining and SO interesting!
I’ve been listening to Garlic and Pearls for a few months now, and I’m impressed by how it effortlessly offers an engaging experience for anyone curious about both cultures. The hosts have great chemistry, and their enthusiasm makes the podcast fun. What I love about this podcast is its wide variety of topics — from French cuisine and festivals to British everyday life and traditions. It’s always so refreshing to hear about cultural nuances in both countries, often with surprising connections between the two cultures. Whether you’re a language learner, a cultural enthusiast, or just curious about the intersections between French and English traditions, I highly recommend Garlic and Pearls. It’s the perfect mix of entertainment, education, and cross-cultural exploration!
Warm and interesting
I am learning so much from Muriel and Suzanne’s lively conversations. I particularly delight in rediscovering my country - merci Muriel!
Witty and educational
I am certainly learning a lot about France; but I am also surprised to find how much I’m learning about Britain, my home. A beautifully made podcast, with excellent hosts and an intriguing selection of subjects.
Latest Episodes
The Christmas Chart-Topper Face-Off: Beguiling Pop or Kitsch Cosiness?
Suzanne takes a punt at the 2025 Christmas No1 and crowns 1984 as the very best vintage of British Christmas charts; Muriel explains how and why the French Christmas No1, a 'secular carol' by venerated crooner Tino Rossi, remains unchanged since 1946. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Metal Detectors: What goes 'beep beep' all over the land and is typically British? The gentle army of treasure seekers hoping to find an Anglo-Saxon hoard!
In which Suzanne unearths the story of a major British hobby and its relationship with landscape and the romance of the past. Why are the British obsessed with metal detecting? What is their Arthurian code of practice? What are portable antiquities? Who are the night hawkers? What does all this reveal about British attitudes to liberty, in stark contrast to France? Includes helpful pointers about buying the best meta...
French Politicians and Clairvoyants: The French worship Reason and critical thinking, don't they? So why do Presidents (and mayors), who serve the French Republic, love the occult so much?
Muriel tackles an awkward truth: the French may love rigour and rationality – France is the nation of Descartes, after all – but they are also susceptible to the allure of psychics, the alignment of the stars, and angels calling on the phone from beyond. How has this survived the advent of the Enlightenment and the Revolution? And what does it mean in terms of our relationship to super-forecasting and superstition, S...
The British Tax Year: The French tax year is aligned on the calendar year, but not the British. Why not? Popes, Catholicism, the Reformation!
In which Suzanne investigates profound differences between our two cultures by asking why the British tax year is not, like in France, aligned onto the calendar year. The answers, which astonish Muriel, are deeply rooted in Britain's relationship to the Continent. It's a story of mathematics and astrology, Popes, bishops and archbishops, Catholicism and the Reformation, and, of course, Acts of Parliament, which opens...
Greatest Play Ever! Britain vs France, part 2. The Bald Prima Donna - Zany Avant-Garde on the Paris Left Bank
In the second half of our theatrical diptych, Muriel tells Suzanne about the 'atomic bomb' of the French theatre, an experimental Absurdist masterpiece by Romanian-French playwright Eugène Ionesco that became a classic of the French stage. It has neither plot nor psychology – only a lot of uneasy comic momentum, poking fun at the bourgeoisie. But how has it lasted so long? And why is it about British people? ...
Greatest Play Ever! Britain vs France, part 1. The Mousetrap - Agatha Christie's Not So Cosy West End Whodunnit
Suzanne and Muriel consider the brilliance, longevity and significance of Agatha Christie's murder mystery play The Mousetrap, which has been running since 1952. Set in a country house isolated by bad weather, the play is a model of distinctly British sweet-and-sour eruption of violence in a cosy setting, and replete with red herrings and eccentric characters. The police inspector arrives on skis! It also ta...
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!
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