Shows
ClashistsCan speaking a diff language actually change our personality? GUEST EP - Beatriz Lopez (Sociolinguist + Language Teacher)Does your vibe actually shift when you swap languages? Is French really the sexiest language? Is the fear of looking like an idiot thwarting our impending fluency? This week, Gabby and Dani are joined by linguist and language wizard Beatriz Lopez to unpack the wild (and painfully exhausting) subject of bi- (and tri) lingual brains. We get into whether speaking French actually rewires your personality (spoiler: sort of), why flirting feels smoother en français, and whether French actually deserves its rep as a hard-to-learn language—or if we're just A+ whiners. Come for the sociology, stay for the exi...2025-07-011h 23ClashistsWhy are international relationships so hard? GUEST EP - Jessamy Holland (Psychosexual and Relationship Therapist)Today on the pod: culture shock meets bedroom talk—we’re diving deep with Jessamy Holland, a psychosexual and relationship therapist based in Paris. She helps Dani & Gabby break down everything from the thrill and heartbreak of international dating, to navigating intimacy across cultural norms, to the quirks of French‑vs‑American expectations around sex, communication, and romance. Can she solve the dilemma of why Gabby despises dating French men? Or why French partners struggle with the word "sorry"? Only time (or, you know, this episode) will tell. Plus - tacos, Percy Pig gummies, and...brie + sugar?? No...2025-06-251h 37ClashistsGUEST EP - Sutanya Dacres (Author, Podcast Host & IRL Host of DINNER FOR ONE) Today is a very special day, because today we have one of our favorite people on the pod - Sutanya Dacres!! Sutanya has created a far-reaching community of readers, listeners and diners under her Dinner for One umbrella, in which she encourages single women to reclaim their tables and their stories. While Dani has been barred from the exclusive single supper club, Gabby has had the recent privilege of getting dumped — allowing her special access. Sutanya walks us all the way from her Jamaican roots, to her first mayonnaise experience (spoiler alert: it wasn't her "her type of taste"), to...2025-06-181h 34Clashists[Paris] Propaganda We're Not Falling For (mini-ep)We had to hop on the ~*~viral~*~ propaganda-we're-not-falling-for trend. Whether it's French men's falsely "romantic" reputation, French pharmacy fails, croissant chaos or attacks on snacks - Dani & Gabby are coming in hot today with the Paris propaganda they absolutely refuse to get behind.2025-06-1131 minClashists[Re-run] Dawn of the Clashists🎶 LET'S GO BACK, BACK TO THE BEGINNING 🎶 (IYKYK) Happy to report that we've acquired a lot of new friends recently so we're re-running our DEBUT EP! This is the ep in which we discover how awkward it is to talk TO each other while talking FOR someone else, and navigate just how much eye contact a social arrangement like that entails. Always nice to go back to your roots and remind yourself where you came from. Keeps us humble!!! Love y'all and see you next wk with a spankin' new ep. 2025-06-031h 07ClashistsGUEST EP - Matt Ortile (Editor @ Condé Nast Traveler, Author of "The Groom Will Keep His Name")It's our first guest & we COULDN'T be more excited!!!!! Clashes abound in this one 🚘! Matt tells us all about his early life in the Philippines and what it was like to come to the US as a kid — from the unique joys of childhood Costco sample scouring to the iconic gondolas in Vegas' Grand Canal Shoppes. We dig into baby's first culture shocks, the upsides/downsides/necessity of rule-following as an immigrant, the joys of NYC as an "outsider", and Matt's relationship with France today. BONUS: he schools us on the legacy (and mystery) of ~ Chartreuse ~.• M...2025-05-271h 08ClashistsSorry, Are We Rude??One question we get constantly as certified idiots abroad: “Are Parisians rude?” To which we’d like to counter—are we?? A big shock since moving countries has been the realization that our manners don't translate. Whether we're talking about the French's distain for small talk, their proclivity for directness, or an aversion to smiling — we discuss how our more American traits are often ~unwelcome abroad~. In an attempt at intellectualism, we put on our history hats (do historians wear hats?) to make a valiant, questionably accurate attempt to trace where our cultures diverged—and how these unspeakably different definitions...2025-05-211h 32ClashistsAre We Broke? The Awkward Money EpWhy is money so dang weird? Today we break down our respective relationships with ~l'argent~ — from NYC-fueled over-shopping to how moving to Paris killed both of our "more is more" mentalities. We touch on why we believe sharing your salary is an act of service, and whether it's wise to travel with a friend on a wholly different budget (communication is key!!). Stay tuned for post discussion rants about the incessant reality of groups of men blocking the sidewalk to why one of our laptops is about to grow its own forest. Reference materials: ...2025-05-131h 15ClashistsAging Disgracefully - The Disorienting Shock of Getting OlderARE WE OLD!?!? we ask ourselves calmly and reflectively with no hint of panic or desperation. Today's pod explores the clash of realizing you're not longer one of the "youth", and all that this entails. From grappling with the stranger in the mirror (what is HAPPENING under my eyes), to career-based insecurities, dating implications and more, Dani + Gabby dig into the disparaging aspects of aging and try to find the silver linings of silver hairs. To alleviate our woes, we snack on banana bread and scones while rioting against "top 10" Paris lists & the number 3 (?!) Reference...2025-05-061h 17Clashists Clash-a-Thon pt.2 (baby ep) Another baby ep?? You lucky ducks. Truly, who could be luckier? All the joy of Dani + Gabby, this time Polly Pocket-sized. Today we circle back to one of our favorite pod premises: rapid-fire clashes. Whether it's France's war on snacks (!!), waiters telling Gabby that the bathroom is "outside", or Dani's mental breakdown regarding when to say "bonjour" vs. "bonsoir", the Clashists duo brings you the hard hitting culture journalism you've come to know and love. Also, will we ever learn to pronounce the word "spritz" in French? That's a secret we'll never tell. We wrap with a fun "this...2025-04-2929 minClashistsFriendship Breakups, pt.2 (baby ep ep ep ...)A follow-up to one of our most popular eps, "Haunted by Friendship Breakups" — this time, with your stories. Dani and Gabby rehash your DMs, ID some common themes, break down potential solutions, and dig into one listener's stellar ~friendship health check-up checklist~. If you've ever felt alone after a friendship breakup (regardless of which end of it you were on), this [mini] ep is for you.2025-04-2338 minClashistsDo Breakups Make Us...Crazy?Bet y'all saw this coming! Four months after Gabby got dumped because her ex was, and we quote, "too tired", the Clashists dive head-first into one of life's quintessential clashes: the breakup. From coping mechs for the immediate aftermath (spoiler: BLOCK THEM), to recovery timeline windows, to neurologically-proven remedies — your fav two oversharers dig into the temporary insanity-induced by one of life's most transformational moments. Luckily we're accompanied by cardamom buns, apple pie, and the catharsis of complaining about things that annoy us ("snacking & spiralling" never get old).• You Always Change The Love Of Your Life...2025-04-161h 09ClashistsWho Are We Online, Really? The Shock of Living on Social Media.Today we dissect perhaps the greatest culture shock of all ~*~social media~*~, and how it's impacted our individual millennial lives (SORRY we are what we are). From early AIM flirtations, to cut throat Myspace "top 8" brutality, to our regrettable respective moments of TikTok virality, we chat through all things social and the rewarding pros (and psychotic cons) of living snippets of our lives online. Then, we once again end the ep eating various varieties of cookies and somehow finding ways to complain about things we should be grateful for. 2025-04-091h 27ClashistsAre NYC & Paris in a toxic relationship?Welcome back to another episode in which we spiral about the increasingly odd relationship between NYC & Paris. Are we the problem? Is this play about us?? We ask ourself these hard-hitting questions and more, like: How do you successfully export a concept to a new country? Can you translate a feeling? Why are we seeing so much cross-pollination between the two cities lately? And ... should Paris maybe just stop trying to make the bagel happen? We wash it all down with a solid rant attacking Parisians for their incessant need to speak English back to us despite our noble...2025-04-021h 19ClashistsNew Zip Code, New Personality?Existential crises abound! Today we discuss the various life events that have altered our personalities — from moving between cities and starting new relationships to actively chipping away at our less desirable traits. How has marrying a French man impacted Dani? How has incessantly being described as neurotic driven Gabby to self help articles? Only this ep will tell! Also ft: France's interpretation of "corn dogs" (heavy emphasis on *interpretation), the ageless joy of Kinder eggs, and why both of your beloved hosts are spiralling into scaffolding-induced insanity.The Atlantic — "I Gave Myself Three Months to Change My Pers...2025-03-261h 30ClashistsHaunted by Friendship BreakupsToday on the pod? Friendship breakups. We promise you you're not alone. Whether you've been ghosted, phased out, or downright dumped, recording this ep made us realize just how common this shame-inducing experience really is. Bright side/bold claim?: It might be leading us to our higher selves? Or, at the very least, weeding out some absolute weirdos. Then, Dani advocates for setting more stuff on fire (for a cause!) and Gabby reveals her vendetta against cancelers. Be sure to leave room for snack spirals involving two carb-filled classics.The Cut's article on friendship breakups...2025-03-191h 09ClashistsClash-A-Thon! (bite-sized baby ep) It's a baby bottle ep! (IYKYK) We rapid-fire run through some of our (and our listeners'!) most startling ~mini culture clashes~, 30% of which are bra-related for reasons unbeknownst to us. Also discussed? Dead bird heads, confusing toilet situations, "love hotels", and why we'll never get over the French's pronunciation of the word "smoothie".2025-03-1132 minClashistsAre Parisians (Actually) Fashionable? HOT TAKE! That sums up this entire episode. One egregious hot take. And just in time for Paris Fashion Week, no less. But truly: are Parisians interesting dressers? What are they actually wearing day-to-day? And why did it shock this pod's hosts? What is "effortlessness"? And why are people so convinced that French women have it? Dani + Gabby dissect these hard-hitting questions as the world crumbles around us. Service-journalism! Also on tap? A ~soft girl cheese~ session, what Gabby is willing to risk e-coli for, and why we're taking the cool back from mean girls....2025-03-051h 06ClashistsThe Dining Wars An overly dramatic ep title meant to highlight how ~odd~ NYC dining has become, and how some of Paris' most "annoying" restaurant-related traits are maybe actually...beautiful? We'll discuss everything from why we sort of love not being able to get a waiter to bring us the check, to why Gabby kept getting kicked out of NYC restaus, to the joys of cheap wine and sorrows of stingy ice distribution. Plus - the dairy-on-dairy combo that's making Gabby moo-an (sry), Dani's vendetta against wooden stools, and a vehement rant on subway pole etiquette 101.~ Dani's new Substack, This...2025-02-251h 14ClashistsTurns out Dating is Weird ... EverywhereThe first of what we can fully assure you will be a ~nearly incessant~ amount of eps about dating, We compare dating in NYC vs Paris (SPOILER ALERT: they're both bad! 2025-02-181h 02ClashistsSo, You Wanna Work (or Quit) in France? We are BACK with an ep alllll about how weird French jobs are. But also great. There is greatness there too. Dani schools Gabby on the oddities of French corporate employment and (spoiler alert) unemployment. Gabby sits mouth agape at the concept of severance and worker's rights. Latter half includes spirals about tactless favor-asking and demanding group chats, and a much-needed ode to BIG salads. 2025-02-0255 minClashistsWhen Did Making Friends Get So Hard??In this ep, we explore why making friends in your 30s isn't easy- and why that might actually be OK. Also- do French people hate being asked questions?? (Gab has thoughts), and why you should 100% slide into more strangers' DMs. Plus- Paris' best Venezuelan food & why onion soup mix has unexpected international appeal.Content referenced: How Solitude Is Rewiring American Identity, The Atlantic: https://www.theatlantic.com/newsletters/archive/2025/01/americas-crisis-of-aloneness/681251/Magical Overthinking About Adult Friendships: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/overthinking-about-adult-friendships/id1745220403?i=1000678377740Harvard Study of Adult Development: https://www...2025-01-2740 minClashistsDawn of the ClashistsHi! Here we are. This is our first episode. In terms of what you can expect - we'd say general first-episode-of-a-podcast kind of stuff, We tell you who we are, why we're fascinated by the concept of "culture shock" (in all of its forms), and how it's affected both of our lives. Other topics? The ~romantic~ tales of why we wound up in Paris (spoiler alert: one involves kidney stones & the other, a dead body), why we love stranger energy, how the only compliment we've ever received from a French person was while dressed as Princess Diana, and how...2025-01-261h 07