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Kim is back with the second half of her listener Q&A, recorded after a technical issue cut the video short during the original session. She answers questions about building a life in France, from the biggest changes she has experienced as a mother to the realities of French paperwork and starting a business abroad. Kim shares why parenting in France has helped her worry less, give her children more independence and step away from the pressure to fill their schedules. She also talks about the preservation of childhood, France’s slower adoption of screens in schools, the friendships she has formed with other mothers and what French women really think about the world’s fascination with them. Plus, Kim shares the French fashion brands she wears most including Sézane, Soeur, Ysé, Stella & Suzie, Zara, J.Crew and Tuckernuck, her approach to building a wardrobe and what she learned while navigating visas, freelance work and the French administrative system. Resources: Sézane Soeur Ysé Maison Stella & Suzie Zara J.Crew Tuckernuck France-Visas: International Talent Visas France-Visas: Self-Employed or Liberal Activity Don't forget to subscribe, rate & review and follow us on Instagram @coucou.pod Produced by NOVA

Kim is joined by her sister, Courtney Ochs, a first-grade teacher from Chicago, to compare the American and French school systems from both a teacher’s and a parent’s perspective. They get into the major differences they’ve noticed in school schedules, vacations, lunches, recess and classroom technology. Courtney shares what teaching looks like in an American public school, while Kim explains the more traditional approach her children experience at an international school in France. They also compare classroom discipline, support for different learning needs, communication with teachers and the very different expectations around parental involvement. From three-course French school lunches and handwritten cursive homework to classroom iPads and parents competing for volunteer spots, both systems have benefits, drawbacks and plenty they could learn from each other. Resources: Don't forget to subscribe, rate & review and follow us on Instagram @coucou.pod Produced by NOVA

Daily life in France: errands, doctors, groceries and all the little surprises. Kim is sharing what daily life in France actually looks like, beyond the postcard version. After an ant infestation in her old French house sends her on a very un-American errand, she starts unpacking all the little ways everyday routines feel different in France. From booking doctors on Doctolib and picking up vaccines at the pharmacy to shopping at the market, carrying groceries in an “old lady cart,” figuring out weekday lunches, navigating the bank and comparing prices between France and the U.S., this episode is a realistic look at the slower, more local rhythm of life in France. Resources: Doctolib Don't forget to subscribe, rate & review and follow us on Instagram @coucou.pod Produced by NOVA

After three years in France, Kim is reflecting on the American habits she did not fully notice until she had enough distance to see them clearly. In this episode, she talks about rushing through the day, measuring life by productivity, feeling pressure to “keep busy,” overthinking parenting, buying too much, delaying rest, and treating pleasure like something that has to be earned. France has not magically cured any of these habits, but it has helped her question the fears, assumptions, and expectations that shaped so much of how she lived before. She also shares a summer travel chat about where people in France and Europe actually go on vacation, from Greek islands to Malta, Italy, Croatia, and Turkey. Resources: Don't forget to subscribe, rate & review and follow us on Instagram @coucou.pod

In this episode of Conversations From Paris: Kim sits down with Oliver Gee, the creator of The Earful Tower , one of the most beloved English-language podcasts about Paris. Oliver shares how he went from Australian journalist in Paris to storyteller, podcaster, walking tour host, author, and unofficial expert on the city’s hidden corners. Together, Kim and Oliver talk about what visitors often get wrong about Paris, why the best travel moments usually happen when you leave room for surprise, and how to experience the city beyond TikTok lists and tourist checkboxes. They also get into raising kids in France, learning French in real life, the beauty of small museums, and why Paris never runs out of stories. Resources: The Earful Tower Official Website The Earful Tower Podcast The Earful Tower Walking Tours Activities for Kids in Paris: Kapla Centre , Color Room , Atelier des Lumieres Don't forget to subscribe, rate & review and follow us on Instagram @coucou.pod

After three years living in Provence, Kim is sharing the things she’d like to say to the French, respectfully, as an American living in France. From the quiet intimidation of speaking French as an adult to the structure, rules and rhythms that shape daily life in France, she reflects on what it feels like to live between two cultures. She also shares what France has taught her about slowing down, protecting pleasure, noticing beauty, and questioning the parts of American life she once accepted without thinking. Plus, Kim shares her packing advice for summer travel in France, so hopes that’s helpful to anyone coming to Europe soon! Resources: Packing Cubes Don't forget to subscribe, rate & review and follow us on Instagram @coucou.pod Produced by NOVA

Kim is answering listener questions about what life in France really looks like day to day, from summer camps in Provence and her slower morning routine to motherhood, making friends, style, fitness, writing, and the question everyone asks: will her family stay in France? She shares how living in Aix-en-Provence has changed the way she thinks about work, parenting, creativity, and raising third-culture kids. She also gets into the practical side of moving abroad, including choosing France, navigating visas, starting a freelance business, and finding a new rhythm far from the American rush. Resources: Don't forget to subscribe, rate & review and follow us on Instagram @coucou.pod

Living abroad is not one big romantic leap. It is a process, and Kim is breaking it down into the stages she has experienced after moving from California to France. In this episode, Kim shares what life is like in the first year. She shares how these can often feel like the “toddler years” of expat life, when everything feels magical, confusing and slightly humiliating, from speaking in broken sentences to surviving the French post office. She also talks about the second-year homesickness that can hit when the novelty wears off, the cultural traditions you start to miss, and the deeper questions that come with building a new life far from home. Now in her third year, Kim reflects on the quiet confidence that comes with feeling more settled, speaking French more comfortably, letting go of old expectations, and noticing the small moments that make life feel fuller. From Aperol spritzes and sugary French cocktails to raising kids abroad and rediscovering herself, this is an honest look at what it really feels like to grow into a life in another country. Resources: Episode mentioned: Are These the Best Years of Our Lives? Episode mentioned: What No One Tells You About Moving Abroad Don't forget to subscribe, rate & review and follow us on Instagram @coucou.pod

Kim is in Paris for another conversation in her special series, Another Way to Live: Conversations from Paris , exploring how living in France can shift the way we think about work, identity, time, and what really matters. This week, Kim sits down with Pamela Clapp, a Belgian-American writer and marketing strategist who has lived in Paris for more than 14 years. Pamela shares her story of growing up between Hawaii, California, France, and New York, and how those different cultures shaped her sense of belonging, ambition, and home. Together, Kim and Pamela talk about the French relationship to busyness, why work is not always the center of identity in France, the American obsession with finding your purpose, French school culture, lunch breaks, status signals in Paris, and the quiet art of letting life be good enough. Resources: Meet Pamela - The Parisialite Follow Pamela on Instagram, @ theparisialite With Love From Paris | Pamela Clapp | Substack Don't forget to subscribe, rate & review and follow us on Instagram @coucou.pod Produced by NOVA

After a solo trip to Paris, Kim is sharing the little cultural habits that suddenly stood out to her after three years of living in France. From giant water bottles and coffee to-go to loud conversations, overscheduled weekends, smiling at strangers, and eating on the run, this episode is a funny and honest look at the everyday things other cultures do that can feel completely bizarre to the French. Kim also shares what she’s learned from these differences, what she’s happily adopted from French culture, and the American habits she’s not quite ready to give up. Resources: Don't forget to subscribe, rate & review and follow us on Instagram @coucou.pod Great boutique in Paris: Mademoiselle Jeanne

Kim is interviewing Sammy Royal, a Paris-based travel, hospitality and editorial photographer. Originally from New Zealand, she has lived in Paris for three years with her husband and two children. Together, Kim and Sammy discuss how important it is to be present, embrace daily rituals and enjoy your own company. They dive into freelancing, building a network from scratch, learning to market yourself, and the uncomfortable but necessary process of putting your work into the world before it feels perfect. They also get into storytelling, creative partnership, and why taking small steps toward the thing you want can make the bigger risks feel a little less scary. Resources: Sammy Royal: Website & Instagram Juste Les Filles : Sammy’s Freelance Business Agency Isabelle Bertolami’s Paris Apartment: Airbnb Don't forget to subscribe, rate & review and follow us on Instagram @coucou.pod

After more than 20 years in corporate America, Kim shares the honest story of what happened when she finally stepped away from the career path she had spent years building. From Harvard Business School to brand marketing roles at Kraft, Victoria’s Secret, Sephora and beyond, she had followed the “right” steps, earned the titles, and kept climbing, until the life she had built no longer felt like her own. In this episode, Kim opens up about the breaking point that led her to quit, the relief and panic that came after, and the unexpected grief of slowing down after years of measuring herself by achievement. She shares what moving to France taught her about stillness, why purpose can’t be rushed, and how the answers often come when we finally get quiet enough to hear them. This is a vulnerable conversation for anyone questioning their path, feeling restless in a life that looks good on paper, or wondering what might be waiting on the other side of slowing down. Resources: Don't forget to subscribe, rate & review and follow us on Instagram @coucou.pod

Do you find your mind racing? You might be falling into a mental trap. Kim is reflecting on the quiet mental traps that keep so many of us feeling rushed, stuck, and disconnected from the life we actually want. In this episode, she shares six mindset traps she’s noticed in herself, from tying self-worth to productivity to waiting for happiness to arrive someday in the future. She also compares them with what she’s observed in French women, who often seem more comfortable slowing down, trusting themselves, and defining success from the inside out. This conversation is about learning to notice the stories our minds repeat, interrupting old patterns, and creating more space for presence, intuition, trust, and possibility. Resources: This Is How It Feels To Be Seen by Sophie Beatrice Don't forget to subscribe, rate & review and follow us on Instagram @coucou.pod

After a family trip to Mallorca, Kim found herself sitting between two women at very different stages of life: one seemingly longing for the future, and one quietly remembering the past. That moment made her wonder whether the life she’s living right now, with young kids, a marriage, ambition, uncertainty, chaos, and gratitude all tangled together, might actually be one of the prime seasons of her life. She challenges us to think deeply about the season of life you’re in right now. In this episode, Kim reflects on motherhood, aging, comparison, life in France, and the pressure to believe our “best years” are tied to youth. She shares a more expansive way of thinking about the prime of life, not as one fleeting chapter, but as something that evolves as we grow more grounded, self-trusting, and at home with ourselves. Resources: Don't forget to subscribe, rate & review and follow us on Instagram @coucou.pod Mallorca, Spain: Best Cities to Go Palma Soller Deia Portals Nous

Rosé season has officially arrived in Provence, and Kim is reflecting on something French women seem to understand so well: balance. In this solo episode, she shares what she has observed about the way French women approach food, work, motherhood, friendship, and everyday life with more steadiness, intention, and less pressure. From the idea of just enough to letting go of perfection and prioritizing connection, Kim explores the quiet mindset shifts that can make daily life feel lighter and more grounded. She shares reflections on rethinking presence, protecting your energy, and focusing on what truly matters. Because balance isn’t something you achieve once and hold onto forever. It’s created in the small choices you make every day. Resources: Don't forget to subscribe, rate & review and follow us on Instagram @coucou.pod

After more than three years living in the south of France, Kim is sharing the honest side of what it really means to move abroad. In this solo episode, she reflects on the emotional highs and lows of leaving home, building a new life in another country, and learning that even a beautiful life abroad can still feel disorienting, lonely, and deeply stretching. From culture shock and homesickness to raising bilingual kids and seeing both American and French life with new eyes, this is a personal look at the realities no one really prepares you for. Kim talks about identity, discomfort, family, and the unexpected ways living abroad can change how you see the world and yourself. Resources: Don't forget to subscribe, rate & review and follow us on Instagram @coucou.pod

In this final episode of our series, Kim is interviewing French women to gain a rare and honest window into how they think about everything from work, motherhood, relationships, style and life overall. We’ll have real conversations that go beyond the cliches and offer perspective, advice and inspiration. Our guest today, Melanie Forsinetti, was born in the southwest of France, built her early career in Paris, then moved abroad after meeting her husband living in Mexico, Madagascar, Cambodia and Thailand before returning to France six years ago. She’s a mother of four daughters and brings a deeply international perspective shaped by years of raising children across cultures. Over a glass of champagne, Kim and Melanie talk about motherhood, marriage, moving across countries for love, and what it means to build a family life between cultures. They get into raising multilingual children abroad, the challenge of helping kids feel French after growing up in international environments, the cultural differences between French and American ways of relating, and Melanie’s journey from TV production and advertising into coaching, strength training and mental performance. Resources: Don't forget to subscribe, rate & review and follow us on Instagram @coucou.pod. Produced by NOVA

In this series, Kim is interviewing French women to gain a rare and honest window into how they think about everything from work, motherhood, relationships, style and life overall. We'll have real conversations that go beyond the cliches and offer perspective, advice and inspiration. Ludivine Lombard-Taverne, our guest today, was born in Lille, moved to Japan at 19, later built a life in Hong Kong with her husband, and is now raising her two children in Aix-en-Provence. Together, we'll talk about motherhood, marriage, keeping your own identity in a relationship, and we'll get into the realities of bilingual education, choosing between the IB and the French baccalauréat, and what it means to raise children who grew up abroad but still feel deeply French. Don't forget to subscribe, rate & review and follow us on Instagram @coucou.pod.

What can Americans learn from French culture? After nearly three years living in Aix-en-Provence, Kim reflects on the lessons she’s learned as an American living in France. In this episode, she shares the cultural insights and mindset shifts that have changed the way she thinks about work, time, family, and everyday life. From the French approach to balance and enjoyment to the subtle differences that shape daily routines, these reflections go beyond expat life. She shares advice that will resonate no matter where you live. Don't forget to subscribe, rate & review and follow on Instagram @coucou.pod.

In our new series, @kimberlyannwheeler is interviewing French women to gain a rare and honest window into how they think about everything from work, motherhood, relationships, style and life overall. We'll have real conversations that go beyond cliches and offer perspective, advice and inspiration. Our guest today, Helene Bouche, is the Global Head of eCommerce and Digital Marketing at @boucleme. She has a special gift for our listeners: 20% off any product with this promo code: COUCOU-BOUCLEME20. Valid until March 31, 2026. She has lived in Paris and London and now lives in Aix-en-Provence with her husband and son. Don't forget to subscribe, rate & review and follow us on Instagram @coucou.pod.