Hi everyone! A bit of stern one to be honest. I suppose that is to be expected, right? I usually try to keep the show fun, but obviously sometimes it's more challenging than others. This is such a time, and while we're not veering into a giant depressing mess (thank God!), this episode isn't as relaxed as the show usually is. So we try and make up for it by making the content count in other ways that matter: hearing different voices, asking questions we don't get to ask, trying to understand rather than coming in with hard truths. We don't always succeed, but hopefully we get some of the result we hoped, and we all come out of it with a little bit more understanding than we went in with. I really hope you appreciate the show, and I thank you again a thousand times for your patronage! Big hugs to ALL. (You can't see it, but I'm trying to stretch out my arms around the globe to truly hug everyone. :) http://frenchspin.com/2015/01/phileas-club-52-charlie/

Another month, another Phileas Club! And this one will forever have a special place in my heart, since it marks the return of Turki, from Saudi Arabia, whom long time listeners will remember as my long time co-host and insufferable contradictor! I'm immensely pleased to have him back, and hopefully we'll be able have him on on a regular basis from now on. But we shouldn't forget two other returnees: Maria (from Sweden) and Lertad (from Thailand) are with us as well, and I'm so glad that we're starting to slowly rebuilt what we had put together over the four years span of the show's first run. Anyhoo, we did a show! And we discussed many an interesting topic, including Greece, Ukraine, Copenhagen, Yemen, and even more interestingly, what each of us considers to be "international news". I hope you enjoy the show, and we'll be back in a month!

Well, we all know it: we'd love Eastwood to be our president. Unfortunately, reality kind of sucks, and he isn't... But at least we have The Phileas Club to make reality entertaining, even when it is super serious! Thank you all for your continued support, and I hope you enjoy listening to the show as much as we enjoyed recording it. :) Hugs to all.

Yes, dear wonderful patrons, things might look grim from time to time. And we, of all people, certainly aren't here to say that everything is wonderful everywhere... But every once in a while, it's good to remember that even with all the horrible things happening, and that we shouldn't forget about, there are still good things happening as well, especially when you take the long view. Come join Tom Merritt, Eric Olander and myself as we try to convince the world that "things aren't that bad". :) I hope all y'all in here enjoy the show; it wouldn't be the same without you... French hugs!

Hello beautiful members of the Distinguished Gentlemen and Ladies Society ! I always enjoy doing this show, but I think I've had even more fun of this episode. Turki, Mahmoud and Breki really did a stupendous job, and I really hope you enjoy listening to it as much as did recording it. As always, we cover some pretty damn serious topics (education, Isis, and Russian bombers, to name a few), and I think we manage to expand the discussions to places where the show shines the most (and that lack in more traditional reporting): putting them in the context of the actual situation on the ground. So here it is, our 56th episode, created thanks to you. I hope you're proud, and I am, as always, very thankful for your support. :)

Hello my dearest distinguished gentlemen and ladies! I've missed you so much, it's wonderful to be back. :)

And we're back with a pretty cool show, with "I'm always here and you can't do nothing about it" Turki from Saudi Arabia, along with Paul from Hong Kong who had been on the show a few times in the olden days, and Matthias from Germany who's returning after a few months. As for topics... Well, we couldn't avoid talking about Greece, could we? But we also discuss the infuriating Taxi vs Uber situation we had in France, the way shaming is handled in Abu Dhabi, the (potential) change in natal policy in China, and the growing xenophobia in Germany.

I really hope you enjoy the episode (hey, it exists because of you!) and we'll be back next month.

... And hey, if you are at the Nerdtacular event in Utah next week, please do come say hello! I'd love to shake your hand and / or give you a hug. :)

http://frenchspin.com/2015/07/the-phileas-club-57-to-grexit-or-not-to-grexit/

Dear amazing, lovely, beautiful patrons, I love you.

This episode is a perfect example of why I want to do the show, and why I really think it is valuable. My motivation behind this has always been to show people, anyone and everyone really, a different perspective on things, and in this show I think we provide this with enough fun and entertainment that it makes all of these other very serious topics palatable and all the more impactful. This would not happen without you, and I hope you are proud of your participation in this club of Distinguished Gentlemen and Ladies.

Anyway, today we talked about the train attack in France, the MERS breakout in Saudi Arabia and the immigration issues Sweden, as well as a host of other issues and questions that swirl into our brains as we veer off into animated discussions.

I really hope you enjoy the show, and we'll be back in September for more awesomeness!

Hugs and love to all,

http://frenchspin.com/2015/08/the-phileas-club-58-this-and-that-tribe/

Hello dear distinguished gentlemen and ladies!

On this September episode, Brian from the US and Pierre from Russia join me to discuss:

- The conundrum of the refugee crisis (yes, it is still the main topic of discussion here, still without a solution in sight)

- The questions of Russia's involvement in Syria (and the potential involvement other countries might have to commit to)

- The mysteries of the american election primaries (oh, those are deep deep mysteries for us Europeans)

And much more!

I hope you enjoy the show (and the very slow, deliberate pace of Pierre; it is a Russian cultural experience!), and we'll be back hopefully very soon with a special episode with Turki, as explained at the end of this one. Something to look forward to!

Oh, and as I said, don't forget to hug someone you love. :)

http://frenchspin.com/2015/09/the-phileas-club-59-east-vs-west/