Best Screen Verdict Podcasts (2025)

1
Episode 246: The White Lotus - Season 3 Review 54:59

12d ago54:59

54:59

Jonathan and Matt discuss HBO's shocking third season of The White Lotus. They decide if they would choose to stay at a White Lotus hotel, weigh in on the theme music debate and discuss a massive safety concern at the Thai resort. SPOILER discussion starts at 20:05. For all our reviews you can Like us at - https://www.facebook.com/ScreenVerdictPodc…

1
Will Macron's referendums ever happen and why French bureaucracy is getting easier? 41:22

7d ago41:22

41:22

This week we hear about how the unpopular President Emmanuel Macron plans to box himself out of a corner into the centre of the ring and if he’s actually going to hold any of his much talked about referendums. We’ll also find out about France’s urban rodeos and why they are so popular but also so dangerous. We’ll hear why the scandalous Dreyfus aff…

1
France's plan to save kids from screens and will it get harder to become French? 33:36

15d ago33:36

33:36

In the show this week, French interior minister has announced plans to toughen up the requirements for becoming French - including a possible new history and civics test. We'll look at what he's got in mind for future citizenship applicants and most importantly whether it will actually change anything. We'll also find out about new proposals in Fra…

1
Do the French need to work harder and why is Nice the place to move to? 36:17

21d ago36:17

36:17

For this week's big talking points we'll look at what's happening on May Day in France, why French bakers are up in arms this year and whether there'll be any riots. And the future of France is at stake, according to the French PM and he's blaming the French for not working hard enough. We'll find out what needs to happen for France to be saved. An…

1
Episode 245: Severance - Season 2 Review 59:57

1M ago59:57

59:57

Jonathan and Matt discuss the buzzed AppleTV+ series Severance. We discuss if we would get the Severance procedure, question its genre and break down all the big moments from Season 2. For all our reviews you can Like us at - https://www.facebook.com/ScreenVerdictPodcast

1
So who'll be the next president of France and three French laws you should know 34:52

1M ago34:52

34:52

It might be two years but the race - albeit a marathon rather than a sprint - to be the next president of France has already started. We’ll hear about who’s in the running, who might be out of it, and who has the best chance of winning. And we’ll tell you why US president Donald Trump is targeting a tiny French overseas territory and why Emmanuel M…

1
What now for Le Pen after bombshell verdict and France's favourite dishes revealed 31:24

2M ago31:24

31:24

This new episode is not one you want to miss because shockwaves rippled around France this week when it was announced far right leader Marine Le Pen had been banned from standing for political office for the next five years. This could of course rule her out of the 2027 French presidential election. It's a huge story, it's all kicked off and we'll …

1
Crunch time for Le Pen, Ryanair's threat and McDonald's targets rural France 33:37

2M ago33:37

33:37

This week we'll look at a potential earthquake in French politics that could strike next week. That's when far right leader Marine Le Pen will find out whether she's been banned from standing in elections. Could she be banned? Should she be banned? What will happen if she is? We'll delve deep into all of those questions and try to come with some an…

1
Why the US can be grateful to the French, France's tremor threat and avoiding ETA scams 33:33

2M ago33:33

33:33

This week we look at the earthquake risks in different parts of France after the city of Nice and the surrounding area was recently shaken by a 4.1 magnitude tremor. Scientists say France should expect a big quake one day, but do we know where and when? We also wade into a new transatlantic war of words over the Statue of Liberty and look at what e…

1
How France can revive village life and the historic menace lurking under French soil 37:06

2M ago37:06

37:06

This week we look at how the international crisis is impacting France. Is President Emmanuel Macron a war monger and making the most of it all to boost his flagging popularity as his critics say, or is he the right man at the right time to lead France and Europe through increasingly stormy waters. And we look at the battle for French public opinion…

1
Episode 244: Oscars Review - Anora and Wicked and Conan... Oh My! 43:40

2M ago43:40

43:40

Jonathan and Matt are back to review this year's Oscars. We review the big winners and rate Conan's first time as host. We discuss if Anora deserved to be the lady of the night. Matt reveals whether he was able to get through all of The Brutalist. Jonathan gives his thoughts on Dune and Wicked. And we both get stuck into The Substance. Let us know …

1
Can Macron keep Trump on Europe's side and will France see a tourism backlash? 37:01

3M ago37:01

37:01

We start off this week by jumping straight into the increasingly choppy waters of international relations and examine whether France has a strong enough military to help bring peace to Europe and whether Emmanuel Macron has any influence at all over Donald Trump. We also explain how the UK's new travel authorisation scheme could affect you and your…

1
What does it mean to be French and how will France's budget impact you? 33:29

3M ago33:29

33:29

On the menu for this week we'll start off by talking about France's new highly intelligent cat, which Emmanual Macron is hoping will rule the world. Don't worry, we'll explain what I'm on about shortly. We'll also delve into France's new budget and explain how listeners will be impacted by some of the measures, including why you'll have to pay more…

1
The French mineral water scandal, Alps travel headaches and solving 'tu' versus 'vous' 36:17

3M ago36:17

36:17

On the bill this week, we get the latest on the forecast for how long the French PM will last as he tries to navigate the government through evermore turbulent waters. And speaking of water we'll also hear about a potentially huge scandal involving French eau mineral - or mineral water. We'll look at potential problems for the thousands of skiers h…

1
Macron’s €800m Louvre revamp explained and full speed ahead for rural France 36:50

4M ago36:50

36:50

This week we'll examine the French President's planned multi-million euro revamp of the world famous Louvre gallery in Paris and also… why is Emmanuel Macron even getting involved in museum refurbishments anyway? We'll also discuss the end of the internet in France, well not quite, but there are major changes afoot that listeners should be aware of…

1
Why France must act to avoid being ‘crushed’ and French census stirs anger 32:26

4M ago32:26

32:26

Donald Trump is back and his mate Elon Musk is doing a lot of talking and gesticulating, but the pair have been fairly quiet about France... so far. We'll examine whether Emmanual Macron has managed to befriend and becalm them or if Trump and co will "crush" France and Europe as the French PM has warned. On a slightly less worrying subject we'll ex…

1
Will pensioners bring down France and why the 'office de tourisme' is dying out? 28:49

4M ago28:49

28:49

This week we'll find out why pensioners are to blame for all of France's problems, well not quite, but they are perhaps to blame for all the new prime minister's troubles. We'll also examine some major travel changes for south west France at a time that could spell both bad and good news for residents there. We'll get to the bottom of a new driving…

1
Why driving in France has got complicated and the 12 moans that explain the French 41:43

4M ago41:43

41:43

This week we bring you all the latest on some big changes in France for drivers and look at where in the country you’ll wait the longest for a response from your prefecture. We will of course bring you the latest on the plight of France’s latest government and remind you who the PM is these days. We also explain the 12 Gallic complaints you’ll need…

1
What to expect in France in 2025 from new laws to major travel changes 27:40

5M ago27:40

27:40

This special episode is dedicated entirely to looking ahead so you know a little about what to expect in France in 2025. We'll try and answer some of the big questions about what lies ahead. Such as... How many Prime Ministers will France have in 2025? More or less than the 4 it had in 2024? We'll also look at whether there will be more elections t…

1
Can you get by in France without French and why does the government spend so much? 26:31

5M ago26:31

26:31

In this special episode of Talking France in which we answer some questions about France from listeners of the podcast and readers of The Local. These questions will cover everything from whether Donald Trump being back in the White House means Marine Le Pen will soon be in Macron’s house - the Elysee palace. We’ll answer a question on how could Fr…

1
How long will new French PM last and what to expect in France this Christmas? 28:46

5M ago28:46

28:46

France has a new Prime Minister, just in time for the New Year, but how long will he last for in 2025? France does have a PM but will it get a new government in time for Christmas? A lot has happened in French politics since last week and there’s a lot more that will happen before the end of the year so we’ll break it all down for you. Away from po…

1
Will France get a Christmas truce and how speaking French affects your personality? 30:07

5M ago30:07

30:07

This week, we'll get the latest on the ongoing political crisis in France and President Emmanuel Macron's quest to find a government to run the country. Will he succeed in getting a Christmas truce? We'll find out who the winners and losers are from the fact that France has no 2025 budget and look at who might be to blame for the messy end of year …

1
What next as France enters the unknown after government collapse? 35:45

6M ago35:45

35:45

France has been plunged into crisis this week. As widely expected the French government has fallen along with Prime Minister Michel Barnier after they lost a no-confidence vote on Wednesday evening. What happens next? Can the under-pressure President Emmanuel Macron steady the ship or will he jump, as many are calling for. We get all the latest new…

1
Will landmark rape trial change France and what's next if French government falls? 34:08

6M ago34:08

34:08

France has only had a new government for a couple of months and now it looks like it could lose it - just when it really needs one. We'll find out what's going on and what it will mean for the country and the crucial 2025 budget if the government falls. We'll also explore how Paris has changed over the last 10 years under mayor Anne Hidalgo, who an…

1
French sex lives explained, Notre Dame's unholy row and is Le Pen facing the end? 31:44

6M ago31:44

31:44

Protesting French farmers are threatening to cause chaos and the government is struggling to calm their anger. We explain the reasons for their fury and why it's causing France to lose friends in Brussels. And could Marine Le Pen be barred from standing in the next presidential election? We look at the ramifications of what could be a bombshell cou…

1
France faces winter of strikes and protests and will Trump revive Macron? 31:48

6M ago31:48

31:48

This week we look ahead to winter in France, not the weather or Christmas, but the likelihood of major strikes causing disruption across the country. French farmers, rail unions and pilots have all announced protests and industrial action over the days and weeks ahead. Just how bad could it get? We also explain why Emmanuel Macron might just have h…

1
New French rail strikes protest 'privatisation' and how can Americans move to France? 34:11

7M ago34:11

34:11

To start this news series off we find out how the French President Emmanuel Macron and his government might be feeling about the return of Donald Trump to the White House. And with many Americans apparently taking to Google to find out how they can move to France, we explain if they actually can, and all the pitfalls to avoid if you do. We also exp…

1
How painful will cuts in France be and why's Macron fretting about Emily in Paris? 36:35

7M ago36:35

36:35

Up for discussion this week is what's been described as "the most violent austerity plan France has ever seen." We find out just how painful the new budget will be for people in France. And apart from the budget, there's a planned new immigration bill that could also spell bad news for foreigners in France. We find out more. And did you know around…

1
How Paris is different from France and when will French ski slopes close for good? 36:02

7M ago36:02

36:02

The big news this week in France is that the mythical golden owl, a treasure people in France have been hunting for for three decades, has finally been found. If you have no idea what I'm talking about please stay tuned. This week we'll also get the calculator out and find out if France's autumn budget - described as the toughest and most important…

1
The foreigners who helped make France and just how bad is the French debt crisis? 34:20

8M ago34:20

34:20

Up for discussion this week is the French PM's key policy speech and why it sounded like a wedding speech by a bride's grandfather. Plus, does the PM have a chance of getting anything done and will the gaping hole in the country's money box spell doom for us all here in France? On a more positive note we'll put France's interior minister to rights …

1
Can France's government of 'losers' win anyone over and French airports hit turbulence 33:45

8M ago33:45

33:45

In this new episode we take a look at France's new government. It's been dubbed a government of "losers" and we'll get to the bottom of who's in it, how long it might last and whether foreigners in France should be wary of the direction it takes. We also find out why the Chinese are giving France's cognac makers a huge headache, whether Paris deser…

1
Can France accept major tax hikes and what's gone wrong with croissants? 36:16

8M ago36:16

36:16

This week we'll get the latest on the never-ending story that is France's quest to find a new government and find out if the country is facing imminent tax hikes to plug the gaping deficit. We also look at which are the best cities in France when it comes to having access to everything you need for everyday life. Plus we explore where are the most …

1
How long will France's new PM last and what will the Paris Olympics legacy be? 36:24

8M ago36:24

36:24

Talking France is back with a new series. This week, we'll bring you right up to date with the political shenanigans in France and examine whether there will be any positive legacy for Paris now the Olympics are over. Remember the political crisis that was paused over the summer? Well French politicians have pressed the play button again and the dr…

1
How can France's stormy political crisis be resolved and will the Olympics go to plan? 35:31

11M ago35:31

35:31

In the last episode before the summer break we focus on the post-election political crisis that is gripping France. We've had the elections, they produced a shock result and although there were some losers - namely Marine Le Pen’s far right which finished third despite pollsters predictions that they would win - there wasn't really a clear winner. …

1
How to explain France's shock election results and what happens now? 25:37

11M ago25:37

25:37

In this special edition of the Talking France podcast we'll look in detail at the shock results of the defining second round of France’s snap parliamentary elections. We also get all the reaction from the key players, look ahead at what happens next and get all the analysis from our politics expert John Lichfield. Host Ben McPartland is also joined…

1
With France's far right at the gates of power will French voters let them in? 23:55

11M ago23:55

23:55

France has voted in the first round of the snap parliamentary poll - an election considered one of the most pivotal in recent French history. This week, we explain the results, look ahead at what happens over the next few days and what Sunday's second round will bring. Can the far-right get a majority government or will the so-called Republican Fro…

1
Elections to take France into 'dark territory' and explaining the second homes crackdown 27:15

11M ago27:15

27:15

This episode comes at a crucial time in France's recent history. The first round of France's snap parliamentary elections are on Sunday and there couldn't be more at stake. Is France heading for a political earthquake or can President Emmanuel Macron somehow limit the aftershocks and restore some calm? We'll look at what lies ahead in the weeks and…

1
Could French elections wreck the EU and France's tourist sites to avoid this summer? 32:19

11M ago32:19

32:19

We're in the midst of a pretty major political crisis here in France with snap elections coming up so needless to say we have plenty to talk about in this week's episode. Firstly we bring you right up to date with all the drama, the dodgy deals and shaky alliances, the infighting and betrayals and the pleas for French people to get out and vote. Ou…

1
What now for France after Macron's great election gamble? 19:03

12M ago19:03

19:03

Welcome to a special episode of The Local's Talking France podcast in which we take a look at the (latest) political crisis in France following the EU election results. On Sunday night, as the European election results were drifting in French President Emmanuel Macron took everyone by surprise by announcing he was dissolving the French parliament -…

1
Why Russia is picking on France and how Europe's 'monumental' travel change will affect you 37:49

12M ago37:49

37:49

The talking points from France this week... in no particular order are - Russian meddling in French affairs. Yes France has accused Russia of being involved in a string of recent incidents from fake coffins left at the Eiffel Tower to bedbug invasion rumours. Why would Moscow do this and is it working? We also find about why the commemorations to m…

1
Explaining Paris syndrome and how the EU elections will impact France 34:59

12M ago34:59

34:59

On the bill this week we have the European elections. We answer the important questions: Why should we care, how will they affect France and what will they mean for the future? As well as explaining a little bit about the European parliament. We also look at how new laws aimed at averting dangerous wildfires in France will affect home owners plus e…

1
What are real French values and does France care about its troubled far-away territories? 32:30

12M ago32:30

32:30

This week we find out why so many workers are going on strike in Paris at the moment. From waste collectors to firefighters - what do they all want, and what's the Olympics got to do with it? We also explain the crisis in France's overseas territory of New Caledonia, why the president has deemed it necessary to fly there and why France has such a c…

1
Is France booming or bust, Paris QR codes explained and how to drive like a Frenchwoman? 35:00

1y ago35:00

35:00

This week on Talking France we explore more of the big issues in France such as... who'll actually need a special QR security code during the Paris Olympics, why male motorists in France are being urged to drive like women and why the future is uncertain for Normandy's famous D-Day beaches as the 80th anniversary of the landings approaches. And is …

1
Major French border changes explained and could France ban screens for kids? 36:12

1y ago36:12

36:12

We kick off this week looking at the Féte du Travail on May 1st. Is it still a significant, symbolic day for workers in France or is it just regarded as a bonus day off? We also look at the big upcoming change for passport checks in Europe. It's called EES and it's almost certain to cause lots of travel issues, which is why we try and answer some o…

1
How French invaded the English language, where foreigners buy second homes and youth violence flares 33:40

1y ago33:40

33:40

This week we explore just how big an issue is youth violence around schools in France. Is it out of control or just being exploited by those pesky politicians? We explain where foreigners buy second homes in France and why fewer Brits are snapping up properties. We also find out why one French island is taking on Airbnb and look at why drivers on F…

1
Is the Entente Cordiale still worth anything, France's new rail pass and 'crookie' versus croissant? 38:20

1y ago38:20

38:20

On this week's Talking France we talk about trains, croissants, the Le Pens, French bashing and the sexy subject of tax declarations in France. France is about to test a new 49 euro rail pass to encourage people to get onto trains. We explain who can take advantage of it and where you can use it. Plus it's 120 years of the entente cordiale between …

1
Can regional French airports survive, big changes in Paris and France's most dangerous animals 37:15

1y ago37:15

37:15

Up for discussion this week are France's regional airports. Have you flown into or out of the likes of Limoges, Brest or even Bergerac? No doubt these airports are handy but are they really sustainable? We also look at how France's official Champagne region is going to grow. Could it include part of England one day? And with the Olympics in sight w…

1
Is France heading for a Greek-style debt crisis and the most beautiful French train journeys? 33:42

1y ago33:42

33:42

"It's gone wild," "It's a meltdown" - these were just some of the shocked reactions to news that France is in a fair bit of debt and it's getting worse. We explain how it could affect you and whether the crisis could bring down the French government this summer. As well as debt, we look at wealth and just how much money you have to have to be consi…

1
Why is France so negative about the Olympics, a new schools row and the secret Michelin critics 33:41

1y ago33:41

33:41

In this week’s talking points we’ll look at why the French are so down about the Olympics right now. Are they understandably worried that everything’s going to go wrong and it’s going to be a disaster or are they just excelling at that famous Gallic sport of complaining? And we’ll hear the story of France’s famous Michelin guide and who the secret …

1
Why the European elections really matter in France plus deadly floods and French casinos 32:30

1y ago32:30

32:30

This week on Talking France we get the lowdown on the European Elections and why in France at least it's looking like it will be a resounding victory for ... Vladimir Putin. We'll also explain why southern France will likely see more deadly floods in future and try to understand why certain French towns are allowed casinos and why others, including…

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