These two 1947 broadcasts mark the start and finish of the Friendship Food Train's U.S. journey, a project conceived to help the people of Europe get through the winter. 

The current conflict in Mali has had an affect on the country’s vibrant music scene -- from cancelled festivals to a complete ban on music in some parts of the country. Heather Maxwell, an ethnomusicologist, musician and host of Voice of America's Music Time in Africa and with freelance radio journalist Tamasin Ford join us to talk about how Malian musicians are coping.

In this brief monologue, the novelist Richard Wright sends home the most glowing postcard of France one could possibly imagine. 

The New York Times' Adam Nossiter, who is reporting from Algiers, and Steven Erlanger, who is reporting from Paris, discuss the latest developments in Algeria, and France's ongoing involvement in its former colonies.

G. Y. Dryansky takes us on a sweeping sensory journey from Paris to Normandy, Alsace, the Basque country, and beyond, sharing stories of evenings with Coco Chanel and Yves Saint Laurent, historic wine auctions and memorable banquets. Coquilles, Calva, and Crème: Exploring France's Culinary Heritage: A Love Affair with Real French Foodis an account of his travels across modern-day France, through kitchens, farms, and vineyards—with recipes.

France is closing its schools, consulates, cultural centers and embassies in 20 countries tomorrow amid fears of a new wave of violence in the Middle East over satirical depictions of the Muslim Prophet Mohammad. Benjamin Abtan, president for the European Grassroots Antiracist Movement, describes how the issue is unfolding in Paris.

Julia Child is widely credited with single handedly teaching America about the pleasures of good cooking with her groundbreaking cookbook Mastering the Art of French Cooking and her television show The French Chef. She would have turned 100 years old on August 15, and to celebrate her contributions to cooking and culture, the Leonard Lopate Show Book Club selection for August-September is her memoir, My Life in France, written with her grand-nephew Alex Prud’homme. He joins us to talk about her life, how she learned to cook in France, and how she became a brilliant teacher and writer. When she passed away in 2004, she and Alex were working on the book, about what Julia Child described as the best years of her life, and Alex finished it and published it in 2006.

Join the conversation—leave your comments and questions below!

-- Mitt Romney on his time in France

Ah, Bastille Day. The annual French commemoration of the storming of the Bastille - which took place on July 14, 1789 - is generally celebrated here in New York with kitchy games of pétanque, too many glasses of pastis and half-hearted attempts at putting that 7th grade French vocabulary to good use (“merci!” “ouais!” “shampooing!”). But here at Soundcheck, we’re gearing up for Bastille Day this year by taking a good hard look at the singles that have recently stormed - and conquered - the top of the French charts. (Check out the full playlist here.)

Mitt Romney and President Obama may find themselves watching events unfold in Europe with a little uneasiness. After all, Europe's political calendar may pose the perfect economic storm, and it could blow across the Atlantic and decide who becomes President of the United States. Brookings Institution senior fellow on foreign policy Justin Vaisse explains how the dominoes could fall in Europe and the United States.

Socialist Francois Hollande eked out a victory over Nicolas Sarkozy in yesterday's French presidential election. Sarkozy's belt-tightening austerity measures were his undoing, with Hollande promising higher taxes on the rich and a growing minimum wage for the working class. But the jury is still out on whether Hollande and his Socialist party will be able to combat the Euro-zone crisis that is keeping France in the red. Dominique Barbet, a senior economist at BNP Paribas, and Stephen Erlanger, correspondent for our partner The New York Times discuss the fallout of yesterday's election and what we can expect for the future of France.

Stanley Pignal, private equity correspondent for the Financial Times, discusses the French presidential election and what the outcome could mean for the Euro.

Francois Hollande was the winner of the first round in the French Presidential election, and will now face the current President Nicolas Sarkozy in a runoff election. Sarkozy came in second in the poll. The presidential runoff election is May 6. Joining us from the French capital is long time correspondent for our partner the BBC in Paris Hugh Scholfield.

One year ago, France implemented the "burqa ban," a restriction on Muslim women covering their faces in the burqa or niqab. Advocates for the ban argued it would free women of gender enslavement and help Muslims better integrate into French society. The ban received widespread support in France and even some Muslim organizations supported the legislation. Takeaway producer Arwa Gunja traveled to Paris as a reporting fellow with the International Center for Journalists to examine the impact of the law.

French-born gypsy jazz guitarist Stephane Wrembel has come a long way from the Roma campsites where he honed his skills. Earlier this year, he performed his original theme to the hit Woody Allen film “Midnight in Paris” at the Academy Awards. The now New Jersey-based guitarist joins us with his band to play songs from his upcoming album, called “Origins.”

One week ago, Mohammed Merah, a 23-year-old Frenchman of Algerian descent, was shot dead by French security forces following a dramatic 32-hour police standoff. Questions remain about the attack itself: Did Merah act alone? And why didn’t French officials catch him before the rampage? Takeaway producer Arwa Gunja has been in France this week as a reporting fellow with the International Center for Journalists, and spoke with community members about their reaction to both the attacks and the tragedy’s fallout.

Mohammed Merah, a French national of Algerian descent and former member of Al Qaeda, was allegedly behind two separate attacks in France this week. Benjamin Abtan, head of the European Grassroots Antiracist Movement, says there is concern that increasing anti-immigration sentiment may have fueled these attacks and that it could lead to others.

About 300 police officers have cornered a 24-year old man in the city of Toulouse, France. The man is believed to have murdered three French paratroopers last week and a rabbi and three children at a local school on Monday. How will the upcoming presidential election in France deal with this incident? Will it change the dialogue of the candidates?

Police believe they have cornered the gunman in the shooting at a Jewish school earlier this week. Identified as 24-year-old Muhammed Merah, the suspect opened fire when the police tried to raid his home overnight, wounding two officers. The standoff ends one of the largest manhunts in recent French history.