PUBLISHED DATE: 2026-04-30 04:31:05
VIDEO TRANSCRIPT
SPEAKER A:
To our first pilot podcast. Today we're going to be talking about our amazing park called Work Your World. I'm your host, Ashley Joyce, and I lead talent brand at Publicis Sapient. And these are my lovely marketing colleagues from across the ocean.
SPEAKER B:
Hey guys, I'm Matt. I'm based in New York normally, but obviously in Paris for some fun right now. And I'm on a marketing team.
SPEAKER A:
And Mario, what about you?
SPEAKER C:
Hi, Margot. I'm based in Paris, obviously French. I work. work for the France country marketing team in public sector for two and a half years now.
SPEAKER B:
Yes, and I'm Thibaut, as you can hear from my accent, and I'm also from Paris as well and working with Margot at Sapient.
SPEAKER A:
I love it. This is already depressing for me, guys. I'm in Atlanta, Georgia, and you guys are in France. Love it. so I mean honestly like I've thought about living abroad my roommate aka husband is from the UK so like has dual citizenship for him and my kids like I really want to do it so like Matt I'm just like curious like what is your why like what inspired you to actually go abroad too
SPEAKER B:
Yes, it's a good question. So like Paris was always pretty magical to me. You know, it's like it gets a pretty magical rep. wrapped
SPEAKER B:
um and i think i had gone for the first time maybe three years ago my one and only time to paris and it just like took my breath away i left saying like i need to come back um and we've had this work your world program as a part of poops this group you know since i've been um at the company and i'd always told myself oh well you'll do it like you'll get to it eventually and you know life happens so at the beginning of 2025 I committed to myself like like do
SPEAKER B:
it like take advantage not every company you work for is going to have this perk so take advantage and seize the day so I kind of you know committed that I talked to my manager we made it happen so yeah in October I landed in Paris and I've been working here for the last few weeks
SPEAKER A:
Oh, I'm so jealous. I can't. And then Margot, I know you've had an experience. And a brief stint, I think you said in Brazil, like when we were catching up, right? Like you've done this program a couple of times too.
SPEAKER C:
Yes, I've done it once because I needed to wait a year after joining to be able to access it. I went to Brazil. It was beginning of 2025. So it was less of an adventure for me because I actually lived in Brazil for 12 years. So it was just the opportunity for me to go back. Back there
SPEAKER C:
and really wanted to go for carnival if you've never been
SPEAKER C:
to Brazilian carnival. It must be on your list at some point of your lives because it's amazing. So it was just great to be able to work from there and then take a few holidays and enjoy the Brazilian heat. So
SPEAKER C:
yeah, I guess it was nice.
SPEAKER C:
you should. You should definitely go
SPEAKER A:
was just going to
SPEAKER A:
and I need to like commit to each other to be like, we're going to participate.
SPEAKER A:
My account was.
SPEAKER B:
Where would you guys both go then? I don't know. I think Europe first to start with.
SPEAKER B:
Not far away. Not sure where about still, but I think it would be.
SPEAKER A:
Okay. So I have been to Paris. It was a thousand years ago. I will not age myself, but I, it was beautiful. I loved it. I guess now like living in Paris, Matt, like as a New Yorker, like tell me like what about the culture in Paris was like surprising, something that you love. of and then like Tebow and like Margot as locals I would love like to see if those like line up with you guys yeah
SPEAKER B:
Okay. Okay. So I think the biggest shocks to the system that I've had since like living here as opposed to just, you know, vacationing here is number one, it's a lot smaller than you might think it is. um new york is huge and you know you think you hear all these like new york london or you think they're all kind of like the big cities Mm of the world
SPEAKER B:
and they are but coming here so many people have said oh people from new york say that like paris almost feels like a village in comparison and it kind of does it's really cute to like wander around it's like all pretty walkable compared to new york um so that was kind of one like pleasant surprise um another thing is kind of like the pace again there's the hustle and bustle of New York is not just like a stereotype it is like the truth so my first few weeks here I found myself like trying to like scoot around people and like rush and i'm like wait like no one does that here like you can like actually like take it slow and you can walk to this one not sprint those were
SPEAKER A:
know way to perpetuate those american stereotypes yes for
SPEAKER B:
i'm not sitting more better for it i'm not saying yeah we're we're more stressed out because of it so
SPEAKER A:
sure i don't know margot and chibo do you guys feel like that that's like is that similar like what do you guys love about french culture and parisian culture and culture.
SPEAKER C:
I think what might be said first is either super important, like the human size of Paris. And the funny thing is probably if you go to another French city, they will tell you that Paris is huge as compared. But I think that the human size is really nice.
SPEAKER C:
I love the fact that it's just so you use the word magic. agriculture earlier and I
SPEAKER C:
the same it's there's so much history in in the city and and so many places to visit that hold our entire culture basically our history and our art and I love that in Paris I've never been to New York so it's very hard for me to compare but I love the fact that I can get up Get up on a Sunday morning, go get a coffee and walk to an exhibition, which is probably going to be very crowded, but there is so many options and that's one of the things I love about Paris.
SPEAKER C:
I'm a Parisian, I was born and raised here from Parisian parents, so I'm a true defender of the city.
SPEAKER A:
Is T-Buff, you're from Champagne, is that right? Okay.
SPEAKER B:
Yes, yes, I'm from Champagne area. I've been in Paris since 15 years still, but yes, I'm not from Paris, but still like now because I've been here quite a few years. But yeah, just a second on what Matt and Margot were saying, like it's not so big, but not so small neither. You know, like I was coming in the area and I've never been in the area before. So you still have some place you discover after many years.
SPEAKER C:
yeah and uh yeah actually i'm not quite agree with with what matt was saying because i actually i took the subway and it's it's really stressed out like i mean every time i take the subway i'm like i need to hurry like i need to get on the train and it's two packed yeah
SPEAKER B:
compared to new york i feel like europe metro is so zen like no one talks everyone stays to themselves in new york York there are people like raiding their nasty feet like it's it's it's gross it's not it's not smart guys it's
SPEAKER B:
perfect it's crazy it's crazy whatever question for you because you've been here for 15 years is there like a a parisian like rule of thumb for like what when someone who's not from Paris like is like oh you're officially Parisian it's like a rite of passage
SPEAKER C:
uh well i'm not sure that people from paris like say that real parisian paris are from paris i'm not sure i'm not sure if after a while you can
SPEAKER D:
But no, no, I know, I know, because when you're not from Paris, but you live quite a lot longer to when you go outside Paris say, oh, I'm from Paris, then people see you as Parisian because,
SPEAKER D:
you know, Paris compared to the rest of France is like, oh, there is Paris and sometimes we are not on our best, you know, how could you say that you're not, you know, people see Parisian as sometimes like.
SPEAKER C:
Like they are. they are obnoxious can
SPEAKER C:
you say that arrogant
SPEAKER A:
I'm not going to say it,
SPEAKER A:
but you certainly can.
SPEAKER B:
The rule with New York, when I first moved there, I was told you need to be in New York for 10 years or you need to get like. like hit by like a car a taxi or a bus in
SPEAKER B:
the end I met in New York
SPEAKER B:
count, and I saw like a bunch of rumors you've seen some things
SPEAKER C:
Okay, we need to come up with another writer,
SPEAKER C:
a writer passage for Paris and people.
SPEAKER A:
Okay, so Matt, you're in Paris. tell me we've talked about like living and like apartments and things of that nature like tell me what is it like like culturally like going into a new office like obviously most people I think speak English I don't know but like tell me what that experience has been for you
SPEAKER B:
Yeah. So I think, so in New York, I would say in general, people get in, they have their headphones on, they set up their computer, they work, work, work, work, work, and then they head home. It's very, kick your job down and get out.
SPEAKER B:
I was surprised and delighted when I went to the Paris office for the first time. I actually was a little bit shocked. I called my mom and I was like, this is like a fantasy because I was sitting at my desk and I would just hear bonjour, bonjour, bonjour, bonjour. And everyone is just like saying hi, talking to each other, getting their coffee together. And, you know, it's not just get your coffee and go back to your desk. People are sitting. catching up talking about life and work um i would say like lunch breaks are real lunch breaks like i'm very used to munching my carrots while i'm still plugging away on my laptop everyone
SPEAKER B:
else closes up shop and takes a big brain break for an hour to just decompress and talk and and turn their brain off for a second um so that was a kind of a a pleasant
SPEAKER B:
surprise a very human surprise yeah
SPEAKER A:
Same. I'm very jealous of that because that's the same in the alien office too, unfortunately. I think it's an American thing maybe.
SPEAKER B:
or is that is that something that you guys have experienced at other is that the french culture thing or is that a yes a big
SPEAKER D:
not an American.
SPEAKER C:
And we have this saying which was very strange for us when COVID hit that the coffee machine is where things happen. So we don't just go to grab coffee because we need to stay awake and we need coffee. Yeah, it's really the place where you're going to catch up with people that you don't work with on a daily basis, for example. So co-workers that are not as close, but you have working relationships. So you're kind of going to update. on a few things so the coffee machine is super important like
SPEAKER C:
it's where you get the updates of what's going on business-wise super
SPEAKER C:
important for us
SPEAKER A:
i don't want that either i mean i guess this is like i'd be remiss but like clearly it's talking about parisian and french culture in general let's talk about the wine and the cheese you guys so i mean obviously we're having like our little tasting so i don't know margot like i i love wine and like learning about it I just think it's interesting and I know Margot you kind of share that too so like did you choose the wine today like for us to have like tell me more
SPEAKER C:
Well, that's a great question because I didn't. I did and I didn't.
SPEAKER C:
So another very Parisian thing to do is going to a wine store. So I know that you guys have, I think you have liquor stores.
SPEAKER C:
We don't have liquor stores. We have wine stores. So they only sell wine. basically you can buy a few other alcohols so I like to go there because there's always this this man person who knows a lot about wine and he's going to describe wine with adjectives that you would never use you don't really understand what they mean like they're going to tell you the wine it's going to be very round but then at the same time It's going to Enniala.
SPEAKER C:
I have no idea what you're saying.
SPEAKER C:
I'm just watching a description.
SPEAKER A:
I'm totally with you.
SPEAKER C:
So we're actually drinking Bordeaux. So it's a southwest region of France, I think quite famous. And it's actually called Margot. So...
SPEAKER A:
How appropriate. So with wine and cheese, obviously connoisseurs are the French, let's be honest. What is your favorite cheese, Margot? Tell me and I want you guys to go down in a line and I'd love to hear because I would love to share mine too. Deal.
SPEAKER C:
mine of i have two i think difficult to to choose one i think first it's camembert which is very very traditional but i just love it And the other one is Tom. So it's more camembert soft. Tom is a little bit more,
SPEAKER C:
don't know how to
SPEAKER C:
Tom and it's both are very good. I almost always have them in my cheese box.
SPEAKER C:
What about you? Do you have one?
SPEAKER B:
Maybe like Cheese Whiz, like a true American. I'm just kidding. That was a
SPEAKER A:
i was like you laughed a lot it's
SPEAKER B:
cheese and a can you like spoon it's like it's scary that
SPEAKER A:
margaret tomorrow like what is happening here yeah
SPEAKER C:
popping back in front of you guys
SPEAKER B:
that could be like a national like catastrophe for you guys um not my favorite um i like a smoked gouda i think is good you just like this um
SPEAKER B:
like in goat cheese it's
SPEAKER B:
a bit like a child or something
SPEAKER A:
Yeah. That's the only cheese I'm not here for.
SPEAKER B:
know, what kind of cheese do you like then? And don't say the cheese Cheese whizzed.
SPEAKER A:
real part no uh no um no goat cheese smells and tastes like where the goat lives to me and I can't get past it yeah it's a little much um I this is so annoying I love Camembert um but I also like Brie which is like I'll just leave it at that
SPEAKER D:
Me is, is Comté, like the, you were saying,
SPEAKER D:
firm cheese, like Gouda, like, and, you know, with some jam.
SPEAKER B:
more garlic. Yeah.
SPEAKER B:
I will say now that it's like. holiday time a lot of the christmas markets have roquefort is that my name that's which is
SPEAKER B:
good it's not so bad so it's like it's always like it's a it's a mind twist because you walk by and you're like ew but i also want to eat it it's good um
SPEAKER A:
Wait, Matt, explain to the listener, like, what is ReClet? Like, explain for those that may not know. hmm
SPEAKER B:
it's like a hot drippy cheese that you have with bread they
SPEAKER D:
yes you have different kind you have like the natural you have the smoked one you have like many different uh like a version and then you just put it on the kit and you just when it's melted you put it on your potatoes and you eat this with cold cut on the side
SPEAKER A:
okay so I kind of love this topic and we touched on it a little bit but I'm so interested to know like Matt now that you've been there for six weeks roughly like do you cringe looking back on maybe some stereotypes you perpetuated or things that you did you're like oh my god now that I know I can't ever do that again yeah
SPEAKER B:
That's good. I think maybe my first trip here, I made all of my missteps. So now that I'm here for these six weeks, I know not to make the same rookie mistakes.
SPEAKER B:
So when I say rookie mistakes, I would say, like, don't wear a beret. Like, that is so, and I see people that are, and you don't, I'm not trying to yuck people's yum. Like, to be cringe is to be free. I think that, like, yeah, you see people in front of the Eiffel Tower with their berets and it's like, oh, like you're falling into the Emily in Paris stereotype. But I let them have it. That's something else I want to add. But conversation-wise, something that I also think is unique about the Paris office that, yes, in New York, all group agencies are in one building basically, but there's not a lot of mingling between agencies from that I've seen. is that bar going to both have connections and relationships with other agencies they've done events with other agencies there's this I guess you have to get marketing like community music
SPEAKER B:
other marketing folks from other agencies and when we talk about the power of one and all of the one group agencies being stronger together I think I'd see it's very apparent in the Paris office it's really cool
SPEAKER A:
That is really cool. I love to hear that.
SPEAKER C:
You know that this morning we were, I was in the publicist group town hall and it's one of the things that they said it was that 2025 was really the power of one year and we want so many new clients thanks to different agencies coming together and pitching to new. new clients and and perhaps the second was part of that i
SPEAKER C:
that's really cool and um and the fact that we're all in the same building uh really helps
SPEAKER D:
I also expect to see like other people working with other agencies in the way they're working, what you think about things and yeah, it's kind of refreshing.
SPEAKER C:
this is yes okay
SPEAKER A:
So to really like round this conversation out and this has been super fun, you guys, I appreciate you like letting me into your home. home a Margo it's been lovely um but like just to round this out what words of wisdom would you say Matt for somebody thinking about taking this opportunity and then also for all of you just why Paris like why should that be the destination
SPEAKER B:
Um, I think my word of wisdom. is like really simple it's just like do it and just commit and that is the hardest biggest decision is just that first obstacle you
SPEAKER B:
will figure the rest out you'll trust your gut instinct but once you commit the rest is like way easier
SPEAKER A:
do and then if anyone's considering like paris in particular again i keep going back to this word like it's magical like it really really is the people are so nice the French get a bad reputation like
SPEAKER C:
I was going to say, you guys,
SPEAKER C:
for real. Same.
SPEAKER A:
it is not true it is so not true yeah it's been awesome I'm very happy to hear that I don't feel good
SPEAKER D:
It means that we're really like improving the way we welcome other people. So that's great to hear. Here, that's
SPEAKER A:
think it's just like different too because americans are so like chirpy you know like and all the time and i think that can maybe be a little bit like disarming like uh when you meet someone it's not like your best friends immediately the french are very warm but they might not be like Why don't you because that's a beard that americans do that i'm so um so yeah yeah everyone's been super warm if you can like learn a few french phrases when you come here i
SPEAKER E:
That's interesting,
SPEAKER E:
I didn't know that.
SPEAKER A:
i found that like like people smile at you and they're like way more willing to connect with you and help you and if you just show a little bit of effort too yeah
SPEAKER C:
Yeah, I think that's true.
SPEAKER D:
So come to Paris to feel the warmth, apparently.
SPEAKER C:
not during this month but like yes emotionally for sure i
SPEAKER D:
that's the key.
SPEAKER D:
Paris has a lot to offer, so, and the wine is very good.
SPEAKER A:
the wine is good and the champagne is cheap so it's
SPEAKER C:
i mean listen sign me up i'm coming you guys okay
SPEAKER D:
That's the wine
SPEAKER C:
yeah all right well thanks you guys thank you again I hope she is.
SPEAKER A:
The dress in the It's sand is
SPEAKER C:
so much from Spain.
SPEAKER A:
here, here, here, you know.