Living the Dream - Radio Edition Podcast

Living in English on the French Riviera can feel easy, especially in a region where so many people speak your language. But what does that ease really cost when it comes to building a career? In this episode of Living the Dream, Cecile Liconnet explores the professional journey of Kirsti, whose path has evolved from yoga and massage therapy to a deeper, more complex field shaped by mystical experience and spiritual psychology. After relocating to the Côte d’Azur from the international yachting world, Kirsti built a life without speaking French. Like many expats, she was able to get by, working with an English-speaking clientele and navigating daily life with relative ease. But over time, that reality quietly limited her opportunities. From setting up multiple businesses in France, to navigating administration without the language, to repeatedly reinventing her work in response to both personal evolution and external changes—including the rise of AI—this is an honest look at what it really takes to create a sustainable professional life abroad. As her work deepened into the exploration of mystical experience, her career became more aligned, but also more niche, raising new challenges around visibility, credibility, and finding clients in a foreign country. This conversation explores the intersection of: women, work and relocation language as both a support and a limitation building a niche career on the French Riviera and the reality behind a life that can look idyllic from the outside 🎙️ Living the Dream: Women, Work & Relocation on the French Riviera Real stories of women building meaningful, sustainable lives in the South of France. This is the condensed 28-minute episode. If you would like to listen to the full-length version, it is available on Living the Dream: French Riviera  main Podcast channel https://livingthedreampodcast.com

What happens when a high-achieving career no longer aligns with the life you want to build? In this episode of Living the Dream: Women, Work & Relocation on the French Riviera, Helen shares her journey from a career in finance to building a new professional life in the South of France. At the start of her career, she had a clear ambition: to follow in the footsteps of Nicola Horlick and succeed at the highest level in finance. But a pivotal moment, being in New York during 9/11, shifted her perspective. It wasn’t about leaving finance overnight, but about recognising that the life she was working towards no longer matched what she wanted long term. Together with her husband, she made a deliberate decision to build a different kind of life on the French Riviera: one that prioritised lifestyle, flexibility, and time. They created a property rental business in Cannes, combining financial planning with a long-term relocation strategy. On paper, everything worked. But building a life abroad also meant navigating the realities many expats face: – The complexity of French administration and business set-up – Cultural differences in customer service and professional expectations – A business model dependent on tourism and seasonal income – And the impact of COVID, when travel stopped and their revenue disappeared overnight In that moment of uncertainty, Helen adapted once again. What started as a small opportunity through her children’s school evolved into a new career: tutoring English and maths, bringing a renewed sense of purpose and independence alongside the family business. This episode explores the professional journey behind relocation: how women adapt their careers abroad, how financial realities shape decisions, and how success can be redefined beyond income and status. A thoughtful conversation about building a sustainable life on the French Riviera, one that truly fits.   This is the condensed 28-minute episode. If you would like to listen to the full-length version, it is available on Living the Dream: French Riviera  main Podcast channel Living the Dream: French Riviera Podcast Women and their professional journey while relocating to the South of France. https://livingthedreampodcast.com

Relocating abroad is challenging for anyone. But what happens when your profession is highly regulated and your qualifications don’t automatically transfer? When Nita moved as a trailing spouse from London to the French Riviera in 2006, she left behind a prestigious career working on major international architectural projects. What began as a temporary relocation quickly became a long-term life in France. With no French language skills and a young family, she had to rebuild her professional identity step by step. In this episode, Nita shares how she gradually re-established herself as an architect in France. From freelancing under the umbrella of a local practice, to navigating the complexities of French planning regulations, to eventually registering with the Ordre des Architectes and launching her own practice. We discuss the realities of transferring a regulated profession across borders, including: • learning technical French • understanding French planning laws and local mairie regulations • working with French construction teams and builders • adapting architectural methods to the Mediterranean climate • building a client base through word of mouth and international networks Nita also reflects on the personal side of relocation: learning a new language as an adult, raising children between cultures, and redefining success after leaving a high-pressure London career. Today she runs her own architectural practice on the Côte d’Azur, working with international clients and designing renovations and homes that blend sustainability, local architecture and modern living. A candid conversation about resilience, professional reinvention, and proving yourself again in a new country. This is the condensed 28-minute episode. If you would like to listen to the full-length version, it is available on Living the Dream: French Riviera  main Podcast channel Living the Dream: French Riviera Podcast Women and their professional journey while relocating to the South of France. https://livingthedreampodcast.com

Faye arrived on the Côte d’Azur in the late 1990s after a decade in Madrid and a career in film production that had taken her across Europe. Monaco was glamorous. The Riviera was quieter than she expected. The beaches were pebbled, not white sand. Life looked different here. What she could not foresee was how profoundly her professional life would change. After years working in film, alongside IVF treatments and a four-year adoption journey, Faye found herself at a crossroads. A painful moment at an airport made her realise she could no longer live out of a suitcase. She had waited 44 years to become a mother. Something had to shift. Yoga, which had supported her through infertility and uncertainty, slowly became more than a personal practice. It became a vocation. What began as one informal exchange — yoga lessons for pottery classes — evolved into a fully fledged business built through entrepreneurial networks, word of mouth, strategic pricing decisions and a bold “one-month intensive” model that worked perfectly in the transient Riviera environment. In this episode, we talk about: – Leaving a well-paid but unstable film career – Navigating the French freelance system and auto-entrepreneur status – Building a yoga business in an area saturated with wellness professionals – The reality of financial pressure during the 2009 crisis – Balancing motherhood and entrepreneurship without external childcare – Charging fairly in a profession often expected to be “spiritual” and free – Why Riviera glamour is mostly a myth – And what it really means to nurture a business like you would a child This is a candid conversation about reinvention, resilience, financial simplicity, women supporting women, and building a sustainable life in the South of France not through glamour, but through passion and persistence. This is the condensed 28-minute episode. If you would like to listen to the full-length version, it is available on Living the Dream: French Riviera  main Podcast channel Living the Dream: French Riviera Podcast Women and their professional journey while relocating to the South of France. https://livingthedreampodcast.com  

Vicky moved from Manchester to the French Riviera with a plan, savings in place, jobs secured, and a dream built years earlier on a beach in the South of France. But building a long-term professional life abroad is never as simple as the dream. In this episode, we go deep into what it really takes to build a financial advisory practice in France as a British expat: from navigating French bureaucracy and cultural differences in the workplace, to understanding social charges, licensing requirements, and the realities of entrepreneurship on the Côte d’Azur. After nearly two decades working in corporate finance, including at AXA UK and AXA France, Vicky made the bold decision to leave salaried employment, complete a French master’s degree in financial engineering, obtain AMF certification, and build her own wealth management company focused on expats and women. We discuss: The shock of French social charges and what they actually fund The cultural differences between UK and French working life The complexity of French investment products and inheritance rules Why financial confidence is not about having a million euros Pricing your services ethically as a female entrepreneur The reality behind Riviera glamour And how to build credibility in a country that isn’t your own This is a candid conversation about relocation, financial literacy, resilience, and what it really means to build a sustainable career abroad. A must-listen for anyone considering moving to France, starting a business here, or trying to understand the French financial system. This is the condensed 28-minute episode. If you would like to listen to the full-length version, it is available on Living the Dream: French Riviera  main Podcast channel Living the Dream: French Riviera Podcast Women and their professional journey while relocating to the South of France. https://livingthedreampodcast.com  

At 18, Lu arrived on the French Riviera with a plane ticket, a job on a yacht in Golfe Juan, and no idea that the industry would shape her entire life. The job lasted 24 hours. The career lasted decades. After years working as a yacht chef and travelling the world, yachting eventually brought her back to the South of France this time as a mother of twins and unable to return to life on board. What began as casually walking the docks with a suitcase of samples turned into a shop in Antibes, partnerships with international suppliers, and eventually her own uniform designs worn by crew across Europe. In this episode, we explore what it really takes to build a specialised business in the yachting capital of Europe. Lu shares how she set up a company in France without ever having run a shop before, navigated banks and bureaucracy with limited French, and built her client base from scratch by networking dock by dock. We talk about: – the realities of launching a business in France – the three-year runway every entrepreneur should prepare for – French social charges and why hiring can stall growth – the 3–6–9 commercial lease system – the difference between selling products and understanding an industry from the inside Lu also opens up about a turning point that forced her to pause and rebuild her company on her own terms, this time slower, more strategic, and entirely her own. This is a conversation about industry knowledge, patience, reinvention, and why nothing in business happens overnight especially not on the French Riviera. This is the condensed 28-minute episode. If you would like to listen to the full-length version, it is available on Living the Dream: French Riviera  main Podcast channel Living the Dream: French Riviera Podcast Women and their professional journey while relocating to the South of France. https://livingthedreampodcast.com

Dana relocated from London to the French Riviera with the promise of a position at a high-end fitness club that was still in development, where she would continue her successful career in wellness. Shortly after arriving, the investor pulled out. Suddenly, she was unemployed in France with no French language skills, no guaranteed income, and a family depending on her. In this episode, we explore what it really takes to build a sustainable yoga business after relocation. From navigating French bureaucracy and tax systems to finding an international clientele and creating retreats that actually sell, Dana shares how her background as a professional athlete shaped her resilience. She explains how she identified a niche for English-speaking clients on the Côte d’Azur, and why community is essential when building a career abroad. We also talk honestly about financial pressure, competition in the wellness industry, finding freedom, and redefining success beyond the glamour of the French Riviera. A candid conversation about women, relocation, career reinvention, and making a living in the South of France when the original plan falls apart.   This is the condensed 28-minute episode. If you would like to listen to the full-length version, it is available on Living the Dream: French Riviera  main Podcast channel Living the Dream: French Riviera Podcast Women and their professional journey while relocating to the South of France. https://livingthedreampodcast.com  

Women, Work & Relocation on the French Riviera: Emilie grew up between France, the UK, and Belgium. A third culture childhood that shaped her language, identity, and sense of belonging long before she realised it. Returning to France as a young adult felt both familiar and unsettling: home, yet foreign. In this episode, we explore what it means to grow up internationally and come back to your country of birth feeling slightly out of place. Emilie reflects on studying and working in a language that once felt secondary, building confidence in French professional settings, and creating a career rooted in care, wellbeing, and human connection. We also talk about retraining later in life, navigating French systems, finding visibility as a self-employed practitioner, and why international environments can feel essential long after relocation ends. A thoughtful conversation about third culture identity, language, career reinvention, and what “home” really means for women who have lived between cultures. This is the condensed 28-minute episode. If you would like to listen to the full-length version, it is available on Living the Dream: French Riviera  main Podcast channel Living the Dream: French Riviera Podcast Women and their professional journey while relocating to the South of France. https://livingthedreampodcast.com  

Flavia has lived and worked across five countries, but what sets her apart is not the number of moves, it’s what she has learned by staying long enough to be changed by them. In this episode, host Cecile Liconnet speaks with Flavia Wahnfried, a career and transition strategist whose own journey from Brazil to New Zealand, the UK, Portugal and finally the French Riviera has shaped a deep understanding of what relocation really does to identity, ambition and professional direction. They explore why career transitions abroad are rarely just about jobs or skills, but about invisible rules, cultural adjustment, language, pace, and the quiet inner work of redefining who you are when familiar reference points disappear. Flavia shares how copying your old professional self into a new country often backfires, why learning how people relate to work matters as much as expertise, and how patience becomes a strategic skill. The conversation also touches on loss, resilience, and the unexpected support networks that can emerge far from home; experiences that led Flavia to create Terra8, a platform designed to connect people navigating life and work abroad. This episode is a thoughtful, grounded exploration of professional transitions, identity shifts, and what it really takes to build a meaningful life and career outside your country of origin. This is the condensed 28-minute episode. If you would like to listen to the full-length version, it is available on Living the Dream: French Riviera  main Podcast channel Living the Dream: French Riviera Podcast Women and their professional journey while relocating to the South of France. https://livingthedreampodcast.com

Rachael Dickens arrived on the French Riviera just days after osteopathy became legal in France: a move that could have been risky, but she treated it like a masterclass in strategy. In this episode, hosted by Cecile Liconnet, Rachael shares how meticulous planning, foresight, and sheer determination allowed her to turn a bold relocation into a thriving, high-end practice serving an international clientele. From carefully orchestrating her move and navigating French bureaucracy, to finding her first clients through clever networking and free advertising, Rachael demonstrates how to build a career abroad with precision and creativity. She opens up about the early months of emotional autopilot, the challenge of forging a professional identity from the ground up, and the lessons learned managing collaborators, contracts, and high-stakes situations, all while staying true to her values. Beyond business, she explores the nuances of integration, friendship, and connection, sharing how charity work expanded her network and led to unexpected opportunities. Rachael also reflects on the Riviera life, blending hard work with glamour, light, and the freedom that drew her here in the first place. This episode is more than a story of relocation, it’s a step-by-step blueprint for turning courage into sustainable professional success, packed with insights that anyone looking to start over or elevate their career will find invaluable. This is the condensed 28-minute episode. If you would like to listen to the full-length version, it is available on Living the Dream: French Riviera  main Podcast channel Living the Dream: French Riviera Podcast Women and their professional journey while relocating to the South of France. https://livingthedreampodcast.com

Moving to France is often described as a dream. But what happens when it doesn’t feel like one? In this episode of Living the Dream: French Riviera, Cecile Liconnet speaks with Valentina Gargano, an independent educational consultant, who first moved to the South of France in her mid-forties full of hope, only to realise that life there was far more complex than expected. The excitement faded, professional stability was hard to find, and eventually, she made the difficult decision to leave and return home. Later, something pulled her back. This time, without illusions, but with experience, clarity, and a deeper understanding of what it really takes to live and work in France. What followed was not an overnight success story, but a slow, thoughtful professional shift. Drawing on years of teaching and personal experience, Valentina gradually built an independent practice helping families navigate university choices across Europe. A niche role shaped by trust, word of mouth, and real expertise. This conversation explores disappointment, resilience, and the courage it takes to try again. It speaks honestly about failed relocations, rebuilding confidence, finding legitimacy in a new country, and creating a professional life that finally feels sustainable. 🎧 This is the 28-minute radio edition. The full-length conversation is available on the Living the Dream main podcast channel. Living the Dream: French Riviera Podcast Women and their professional journey while relocating to the South of France. https://livingthedreampodcast.com

Suzanne’s story is a powerful illustration that building a life abroad rarely follows a straight line. In this episode, Cecile Liconnet sits down with Suzanne Shields, who first arrived in the South of France in 2000 after a career as a British Airways stewardess. What followed were multiple relocations and a series of professional reinventions, from villa management to running a creative ceramic café in Biot, and eventually creating her own bespoke cake business, Les Gâteaux Sucrés. Together, they explore what it really takes to make relocation work long term: resilience, adaptability, strong work ethics, and the willingness to learn the language and adjust to local culture. Suzanne shares honest insights into working in France as a foreigner, navigating administration, adapting to the French palate, dealing with seasonality, and why effort and integration matter when settling into a local community. This episode also touches on the realities of entrepreneurship in France, the importance of evolving your offer, and how community, word of mouth, and consistency quietly build a sustainable business over time. A grounded, inspiring conversation about relocation, work, and finding your place in France without shortcuts. This is the 28-minute radio edition. The full-length conversation is available on the Living the Dream main podcast channel. Living the Dream: French Riviera Podcast Women and their professional journey while relocating to the South of France. https://livingthedreampodcast.com

What does learning French really involve when you live in France and want to feel comfortable in everyday life? In this episode, Cecile Liconnet talks with Patricia Pedditzi, a Riviera-based French teacher who works through immersion, real situations, and cultural context rather than classroom methods. Her experience comes from years spent living abroad herself and from helping expats navigate daily life in France, from simple conversations to more complex interactions. The conversation also opens up a less visible side of life on the Riviera: how people in France, can access support when they want to change direction professionally. From business incubators to practical guidance, this episode offers insight into the structures that exist and how they can be used when starting something new later in life. A grounded discussion about language, integration, and building a professional path that fits real life in France. This is the 28-minute radio edition. The full-length conversation is available on the Living the Dream main podcast channel. Living the Dream: French Riviera Women and their professional journey while relocating to the South of France.https://livingthedreampodcast.com

What does it really take to build a business in France when you’re not European, don’t speak the language fluently, and have no safety net? In this radio-edited episode of Living the Dream: French Riviera, Cecile speaks with a Brazilian entrepreneur who rebuilt her professional life from scratch after leaving the yachting industry and settling in the South of France. After years working at sea, she made the decision to step ashore, only to discover the realities many expats face: low local salaries, language barriers, long commutes, seasonality, and the pressure of securing legal residency as a non-EU national. Faced with limited options, she chose entrepreneurship as a way to survive, and eventually build stability. This conversation offers grounded, first-hand insight into: Navigating visas and residency as a non-EU entrepreneur in France Why salaried work doesn’t always add up financially on the Riviera Launching a business without capital, a showroom, or connections Managing seasonal income and off-season stress Building clients through trust, word-of-mouth and reputation The unspoken social and emotional cost of relocation Why Riviera life is far less glamorous than it appears Honest, practical and deeply relatable, this episode cuts through the fantasy of expat life and focuses on what actually sustains a professional life abroad. This is the 28-minute radio edition. The full-length conversation is available on the Living the Dream main podcast feed. Living the Dream: French Riviera Women and their professional journey while relocating to the South of France.https://livingthedreampodcast.com  

What does it really take to build and scale a serious business after relocating abroad? In this radio edited episode of Living the Dream: French Riviera, Cecile speaks with a former UK nurse who rebuilt her professional life in France and went on to co-found a global communications and technology business headquartered in Cannes. Starting with the typical expat mix of side jobs, she shares how necessity, adaptability, and a solutions-driven mindset led to unexpected opportunities: from serving individual expats to working with major international companies across Europe, North America, Asia and beyond. This conversation offers grounded, first-hand insight into: Reinventing your career after relocation Scaling a business from France while serving global clients Navigating French bureaucracy, employment law, and URSSAF Building multicultural, multilingual teams Maintaining strong company culture while growing internationally Why Cannes can work as a serious business base, not just a lifestyle choice Practical, honest and deeply informative, this episode is a must-listen for anyone considering entrepreneurship or career reinvention abroad. This is the 28-minute radio edition. The full-length conversation is available on the Living the Dream main podcast channel. Living the Dream: French Riviera Women and their professional journey while relocating to the South of France.https://livingthedreampodcast.com

Staying True to Your Path: Christine’s Wellness Journey from Denmark to the French Riviera. In this episode of Living the Dream: French Riviera, Cecile welcomes Christine Kjeldberg, a wellness expert who has built a thriving career in Pilates, barre, and nutrition since relocating from Denmark nearly 20 years ago. Christine shares how she turned a lifetime of movement, holistic health, and personal resilience into a meaningful profession on the French Riviera; beginning with teaching Pilates to her elderly neighbours and growing into a respected international wellness practitioner. From early challenges with the French language and navigating local administration to developing a niche as one of the very first Pilates instructors in the region, Christine opens up about the realities of rebuilding a career abroad. We explore: • How she transitioned from dancer to personal trainer to Pilates and barre specialist • Why balance, between nutrition, movement and enjoyment, is at the core of her philosophy • Her return to full-time studies as a mother of two, completing both a Bachelor’s and a Master’s • The growth of her online and international clientele, including luxury wellness retreats • Her signature kombucha flavour that became a bestseller • The importance of trusting your intuition through every stage of relocation and reinvention Christine’s story is a powerful reminder that passion and consistency can create a fulfilling life, no matter where you land. Living the Dream: French Riviera Women and their professional journey while relocating to the South of France.https://livingthedreampodcast.com

If you’re considering a move to the French Riviera, or already here and feeling stuck, this episode is a goldmine. In this conversation, Cecile speaks with Luus, an engineer who went through extensive professional retraining to become a therapist and coach, and who has spent years observing how women adapt, reinvent their careers, and rebuild their identities after relocating abroad. Luus offers a rare, expert perspective: she has watched many of women arrive in France, struggle with language and confidence, lose their professional identity and eventually find a path that fits. Drawing from years of therapeutic work with individuals and couples, she shares her most powerful insights on: • why relocation destabilises your career identity • the predictable phases women go through after moving to France • the emotional and psychological blocks that appear during reinvention • the smartest way to handle career change on the Riviera • navigating fear, uncertainty, and the loss of professional confidence • how to rebuild purpose and meaning in a new culture • the role of community, language, partners, and inner work • what she has seen work consistently for long-term success Grounded, intelligent and deeply experienced, Luus offers some of the most valuable, honest guidance you will hear about career reinvention abroad. These are the special 28 minute radio versions of Living the Dream.If you’d like to enjoy the full interviews and discover more stories, I invite you to follow the main podcast, Living the Dream: French Riviera.Living the Dream: French Riviera Women and their professional journey while relocating to the South of France.https://livingthedreampodcast.com

When Ariana moved back to the French Riviera in 2020, she knew one thing for certain: she was ready to leave her corporate marketing career behind. What she didn’t know was what would come next. In this inspiring episode, Ariana shares how an unexpected conversation at a local market pushed her to explore a completely different path; one that led from colourful hummus to the artisanal granola business she runs today. As a French Canadian, Arianna arrived fluent in French but eager for a fresh start. After years in Dubai working in HR marketing and questioning whether office life truly suited her, she reached a point where she simply couldn’t return to the corporate world. Instead, she gave herself permission to explore her passions: food, wellness, creativity, and see where they might lead. Her journey into entrepreneurship was anything but planned. It grew one small decision at a time: signing up for micro-entrepreneur training, trying her first market stall, navigating French hygiene regulations, and eventually discovering that her homemade granola, once “just a family favourite”, was the product people truly wanted. Ariana’s story is about reinvention, cultural integration, overcoming imposter syndrome, and learning to trust the process. It’s a reminder that sometimes the most meaningful chapters begin with a single conversation and a willingness to try. If you’ve ever wondered what it takes to build a small food business in France, shift careers mid-life, or rediscover yourself in a new country, this episode will speak straight to your heart. These are the special 28 minute radio versions of Living the Dream.If you’d like to enjoy the full interviews and discover more stories, I invite you to follow the main podcast, Living the Dream: French Riviera.Living the Dream: French Riviera Women and their professional journey while relocating to the South of France.https://livingthedreampodcast.com

What does it really take to rebuild your career (and your life) on the French Riviera? In this episode of Living the Dream: French Riviera, Cecile speaks with Mel, who first arrived in the South of France as a young newlywed with a corporate career in London. Years later, life took an unexpected turn, bringing her back to the Riviera as a single mother ready to start again. Mel shares how she went from organising events at Goldman Sachs to opening her own Pilates studio in Valbonne. We dive into the realities behind the glossy postcard image, from language barriers and re-qualifying in France, to building a business from scratch and managing moments when no clients showed up. Her story explores resilience, reinvention, and finding purpose after a major life shift. It’s also a candid look at the administrative challenges, cultural adjustments, and financial decisions involved in building a sustainable career far from home. If you’re dreaming of relocating, navigating a transition, or curious about building a meaningful professional life on the French Riviera, Mel’s journey offers both inspiration and honesty. These are the special 28 minute radio versions of Living the Dream.If you’d like to enjoy the full interviews and discover more stories, I invite you to follow the main podcast, Living the Dream: French Riviera.Living the Dream: French Riviera Women and their professional journey while relocating to the South of France.https://livingthedreampodcast.com

What does it really take to build a sustainable career in France as a foreigner? In this episode of Living the Dream: French Riviera, Cecile sits down with Cat, an English teacher who transformed her freelance work into a fully accredited training centre, now helping hundreds of professionals in France gain confidence in English. Cat shares her remarkable professional evolution: • arriving in France with no job and navigating the shock of French administration • piecing together freelance work in Paris’ top universities • relocating to the Riviera only to discover a very different job market • deciding to launch her own training company and later a full Qualiopi certified training centre • mastering the complexities of France’s adult-training ecosystem, including the Compte Personnel de Formation (CPF) • strategically using lockdown and an office location to scale her business Her story is a masterclass in career reinvention, entrepreneurship, and cultural integration. If you're dreaming of moving to France, or already here and seeking a sustainable professional path, Cat’s journey offers rare, expert insight into the real steps required to build a business and thrive. These are the special 28 minute radio versions of Living the Dream.If you’d like to enjoy the full interviews and discover more stories, I invite you to follow the main podcast, Living the Dream: French Riviera.Living the Dream: French Riviera Women and their professional journey while relocating to the South of France.https://livingthedreampodcast.com

In this episode of Living the Dream: French Riviera, we meet Lizzy Parks, a jazz musician who reinvented her professional life after relocating from London to Cannes. Lizzy first arrived on the Riviera for a music conference, and within hours, she felt something shift. The sunshine, the atmosphere, the creative energy. It all sparked a life-changing realisation. Within three months, she had moved to France, started learning the language from scratch, and begun building a new life, both personally and professionally. In this candid conversation, Lizzy shares how she went from feeling isolated and unable to express herself in French to becoming a well known figure in the region’s vibrant events world. She explains how she rebuilt a music career in a new country and a new language, the booming Riviera events scene and how she carved her niche, the power of community, visibility and confidence when starting again abroad, the cultural challenges that surprised her the most. Lizzy’s story is warm, honest and full of practical wisdom. A testament to creativity, resilience and the courage to leap into the unknown. These are the special 28 minute radio versions of Living the Dream. If you’d like to enjoy the full interviews and discover more stories, I invite you to follow the main podcast, Living the Dream: French Riviera. Living the Dream: French Riviera Women and their professional journey while relocating to the South of France. https://livingthedreampodcast.com

In this first episode of Living the Dream: French Riviera, Cecile welcomes Jo, a real estate agent who has spent nearly two decades guiding international families through the complexities of buying property in France. Jo shares what most newcomers never expect: the impact of French inheritance law, why buying under the wrong status can create long-term complications, and what actually happens from the first viewing to signing with a notaire. She also shares the unexpected challenges of settling into local life, from making friends to realising that the Mediterranean isn’t made for surfing. Whether you’re dreaming of a house with a terrace, planning a move for work in Sophia Antipolis, or simply trying to understand how French property really works, Jo’s practical advice and personal experience offer a rare, honest guide to starting again in the South of France. These are the special 28 minute radio versions of Living the Dream. If you’d like to enjoy the full interviews and discover more stories, I invite you to follow the main podcast, Living the Dream: French Riviera. Living the Dream: French Riviera Women and their professional journey while relocating to the South of France. https://livingthedreampodcast.com