Postcards From Provence

In this episode, I'm joined by the utterly delightful Florence Champ, a painter who divides her time between Provence and Lisbon, and whose work is shaped by light, colour, and the rhythms of daily life. We talk about growing up between Uzès and the Alpilles, what it means to live somewhere rather than visit, and how Provence finds its way onto the canvas, even when she's painting elsewhere. Florence shares her great loves: the food and flea markets she plans her weeks around, a serious devotion to cheese and Picholine olives, and the particular blue light of the Luberon. She also tells me about Paint and Feast, the week-long painting workshop she's running in November. It's a conversation about colour and place, and the small rituals that make a life here.

In this first portrait episode, I'm joined by Lise Kvan, co-owner of Le Saint Hubert, a restaurant and hotel in the heart of Provence. We talk about her life here - what brought her to the region, what it's like running a restaurant and hotel with her husband Eric, and the rhythms of daily life in Provence. Lise shares her perspective on food, hospitality and the small details that make this part of the world so special, as well as the things that might surprise people about living here. It's a conversation about place, work and building a life in Provence.

In this first episode, I'm introducing myself and sharing the story behind the podcast - how I came to live in Provence and why I wanted to create something that captures the feeling of life in the south of France. This podcast is a mix of personal reflections and conversations with people who live and work in Provence (from artists and writers to makers and creatives) exploring not just what life looks like here, but what it feels like. If you've ever dreamed of living in France, spent time here, or are simply drawn to a slower, more sensory way of life, you're in the right place.