
About this episode
Alexandra Grabbe began her career in Paris, greeting listeners each evening with her signature line, “Good Evening, Paris!”. As one of the most popular FM hosts in the city, she connected French audiences to the latest American music while honing her lifelong love of writing.
Even as a child, Alexandra wrote and staged skits with her brother – an early sign of the creative spirit that would define her life. That same storytelling passion shines through in her memoir Seeing Joy (March 17, 2026). After marrying a Frenchman, Alexandra’s career path shifted from broadcasting to writing. When she was passed over for a management position at the radio station because she was “a woman, and American”, she turned to the written word as an outlet, becoming editor of the newsletter for the American Section of the International Lycée while raising three bilingual children.
Over the next 25 years, Alexandra built a thriving freelance career. A regular contributor to France Today, she also published work in US Airways Attaché and American Profile, to name a few. Once her children were grown – two attending Ivy League universities, and one working as a chief sound engineer for Babyface –
Alexandra returned to the United States to begin a new chapter. In 2004, she founded and managed Chez Sven, an eco-friendly bed-and-breakfast in Wellfleet, Massachusetts, which received praise from guests and was featured in The Guardian and The Boston Globe. For twelve years, she also wrote Wellfleet Today, a blog about sustainable living on Cape Cod. A graduate of Vassar College, Alexandra continues to blend creativity, insight and a deep appreciation for both French and American culture in her work.
CONNECT WITH THE AUTHOR ONLINE
Official Website: AlexandraGrabbe.com
Facebook: /alexandra.grabbe
Facebook: @alexandragrabbebooks
Grab a copy of Seeing Joy- https://a.co/d/0dm0Gc4x
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