Living the Dream: French Riviera
Relocating to the French Riviera sounds idyllic. But how do you actually build a professional life once you arrive? Hosted by Cecile Liconnet, Living the Dream: French Riviera explores women’s professional journeys after relocating to the South of France. Through candid, in-depth conversations, the podcast looks at what it really takes to work, earn a living, and create long-term stability abroad. Each episode shares first-hand experiences of career change, entrepreneurship, adaptation, and reinvention; from navigating visas and local job markets to managing finances, seasonality, and cultural differences. Authentic voices. Grounded stories. A clear look behind the postcard perfect image of life on the Riviera. For photos and extra content about our guests, visit our website: Living the Dream: French Riviera. Please follow, share, and consider supporting the podcast 😊 Merci beaucoup!
Episodes
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 fin...
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 creati...
What does learning French really look like when you are living in France and trying to find your place there?
In this episode, Cecile Liconnet speaks with Patricia Pedditzi a Riviera-based French teacher whose approach is built around immersion, everyday situations, and cultural understanding. Drawing on her own experience living abroad and years spent working with expats, she explains why real-life practice matters far more than t...
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 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 disc...
What does it really take to build and scale a serious business after relocating abroad?
In this 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 min...
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 prof...
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 ...
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 Frenc...
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 Gold...
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 t...
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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 ...
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