In this final episode of Season 2, I reflect on everything we’ve talked about since relaunching the podcast—mental health, queer visibility, chosen family—and why this space has come to mean so much to me. But I also speak about the reality we’re facing: the worrying political shifts across Europe, the rise of the far right, and what that means for queer people, for all minorities, and for our ability to live freely and visibly.

This isn’t a doom spiral. It’s a reminder that we’re still here. And we’re not going anywhere.

To wrap things up with some softness, I’m sharing a few of my favourite queer movies, series, books, and even a vegan cookbook—things that have kept me company and might do the same for you this summer. I’ll be back in September with Season 3, focusing on the queer body in a heteronormative world—a theme I can’t wait to explore through movement, emotion, and personal stories.

💬 Stay safe, stay visible, and take good care of yourself. We are many, and we are alive.

🎧 Listen on your favorite platform:

👉 Gay in Rural France on RedCircle: https://redcircle.com/shows/40d184b4-bcc8-429e-a72a-18ad2f5f7817

📲 Stay connected:

✨ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/le_demi_chateau

✨ YouTube: https://youtube.com/@ledemi-chateau

✨ Newsletter: https://countrysidetales.substack.com/

✨ Website: https://ledemichateau.com

💖 Support the Podcast:

If you enjoy the show, consider sharing it or leaving a review to help others find it!

#GayInRuralFrance #QueerPodcast #Pride2025 #SeasonFinale #LGBTQVoices #QueerResistance #HalfChateau

In this episode, I explore what it means to rest—not as laziness, but as a radical, queer act of resistance. Even here in the countryside, with birdsong and silence all around, I find myself rushing. Rest is something I crave but also struggle to allow.

I talk about how productivity feels safer than stillness, what queer rest means in a world that demands performance, and why slowing down is deeply political—especially for those of us who’ve never been given permission just to be.

This isn’t a guide or a how-to. It’s a reflection. I’m not here to tell you to rest more—I’m still figuring it out myself. But maybe, like me, you’re ready to start unlearning the pressure to always do, fix, or perform.

💬 What does rest look like for you? Have you let yourself stop lately?

🎧 Listen on your favorite platform:

👉 Gay in Rural France on RedCircle: https://redcircle.com/shows/40d184b4-bcc8-429e-a72a-18ad2f5f7817

📲 Stay connected:

✨ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/le_demi_chateau

✨ YouTube: https://youtube.com/@ledemi-chateau

✨ Newsletter: https://countrysidetales.substack.com/

✨ Website: https://ledemichateau.com

💖 Support the Podcast:

If you enjoy the show, consider sharing it or leaving a review to help others find it!

#GayInRuralFrance #RestAsResistance #QueerPodcast #MentalHealthMatters #SlowLiving #LGBTQVoices #CreativeBurnout

In this episode, I dive into the unexpected experience of being visibly queer in a tiny French village—where people know before you ever say a word. I share my personal story of a second coming out, small-town gossip, and how my boyfriend Alexei became part of the plot twist. But this isn’t just about me—it’s about queerness in rural France, community dynamics, acceptance (or lack thereof), and what it means to be seen without having to perform.

I also get into some surprising statistics about LGBTQIA+ life in the countryside and reflect on why visibility still matters—even in quiet places.

This is for anyone who’s ever wondered if it’s safe to be yourself where the baker knows your name and the neighbors know your business.

💬 Has your queerness ever felt invisible—or hyper-visible? I’d love to hear your story. Message me or leave a comment.

🎧 Listen on your favorite platform:

👉 Gay in Rural France on RedCircle: https://redcircle.com/shows/40d184b4-bcc8-429e-a72a-18ad2f5f7817

📲 Stay connected:

✨ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/le_demi_chateau

✨ YouTube: https://youtube.com/@ledemi-chateau

✨ Newsletter (Substack): https://countrysidetales.substack.com/

✨ Website: https://ledemichateau.com

💖 Support the Podcast:

If you enjoy the show, consider sharing it or leaving a review to help others find it!

#GayInRuralFrance #QueerInTheCountryside #LGBTQLife #ComingOutStory #QueerPodcast #RuralFrance #HalfChateau

In this episode, I open up about the hidden pressure behind “slow living”—especially when it becomes something we have to perform. From the aesthetic expectations placed on queer men to the rise of calm as a monetized niche, I explore how even serenity can become exhausting when it’s constantly on display.

I also talk about the cost of constantly producing content, how my body image has shifted since leaving city life, and why I’ve decided to scale the podcast back to twice a month—at least for now. This isn’t a goodbye. It’s a call to stay honest, stay grounded, and keep creating with intention.

💬 Have you ever felt pressure to appear peaceful, even when you’re not? Let me know—I’d love to hear from you.

🏡 Curious about my space? Watch the 2023 house tour on my other channel:

👉 https://youtu.be/ynFRZASF0Nk

🎧 Listen on your favorite platform:

👉 Gay in Rural France on RedCircle: https://redcircle.com/shows/40d184b4-bcc8-429e-a72a-18ad2f5f7817

📲 Follow along for more:

✨ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/le_demi_chateau

✨ YouTube: https://youtube.com/@ledemi-chateau

✨ Newsletter (Substack): https://countrysidetales.substack.com/

✨ Website: https://ledemichateau.com

💖 Support the Podcast:

If you enjoy the show, consider sharing it or leaving a review to support future episodes!

#GayInRuralFrance #QueerLife #SlowLiving #ContentFatigue #AestheticPressure #LGBTQPodcast #ChateauLife #RuralLiving #MentalHealthMatters #BodyImage

Rural life is supposed to be quiet… right? In this episode, I share the surprising truth about living in the French countryside—it’s not as solitary as people think. From daily chats on dog walks to a house full of guests and shared dinners, rural life here feels more like a loosely structured commune. I dive into what it’s like to crave solitude when you're constantly surrounded by warmth, noise, and community—and how that tension especially shows up in queer spaces where chosen family is everything.

We also touch on queering the domestic, redefining home as a tender and inclusive space, and how even the most beautiful connections can turn into noise if we don’t make space for ourselves. If you’ve ever dreamed of moving to the countryside, or if you're navigating that fine line between connection and overwhelm, this one’s for you.

💬 Does your quiet life feel unexpectedly social too? Let me know in the comments or send me a message—I’d love to hear your experience.

🎧 Listen on your favorite platform:

👉 Gay in Rural France on RedCircle: https://redcircle.com/shows/40d184b4-bcc8-429e-a72a-18ad2f5f7817

📲 Follow along for more:

✨ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/le_demi_chateau

✨ YouTube: https://youtube.com/@ledemi-chateau

✨ Newsletter (Substack): https://countrysidetales.substack.com/

✨ Website: https://ledemichateau.com

💖 Support the Podcast:

If you enjoy the show, consider sharing it or leaving a review to support future episodes!

#GayInRuralFrance #QueerLife #LGBTQPodcast #RuralCommunity #ChosenFamily #ExpatLife #QuietLiving #MentalSpace #QueerDomesticity

Friendship isn’t static—and neither are we. In this episode, I dive into how friendships evolve over time, through life changes, distance, and shifting values. As a queer person, a dancer, and an expat, I’ve experienced friendship in many forms—from intense bonds forged in ballet school to long-distance voice notes with best friends raising children. I talk about what it means to grieve a friendship, how new ones form in rural France, and why learning to accept the changing nature of connection might be the most loving thing we can do.

💬 Have your friendships changed over the years too? I’d love to hear your story—drop a comment or message me.

🎧 Listen on your favorite platform:

👉 Gay in Rural France on RedCircle: https://redcircle.com/shows/40d184b4-bcc8-429e-a72a-18ad2f5f7817

📲 Follow along for more:

✨ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/le_demi_chateau

✨ YouTube: https://youtube.com/@ledemi-chateau

✨ Newsletter (Substack): https://countrysidetales.substack.com/

✨ Website: https://ledemichateau.com

💖 Support the Podcast:

If you enjoy the show, consider sharing it or leaving a review to support future episodes!

#GayInRuralFrance #QueerLife #FriendshipPodcast #LGBTQPodcast #ExpatLife #FriendshipsEvolve

Lately, I’ve been sitting with a quiet but persistent question: Am I doing this right?

In this episode, I dive into the tender space between creativity and comparison, between romanticizing life and feeling the weight of expectation. From witnessing other château creators to reflecting on how capitalism shapes our identity and value, this episode unpacks what it means to live slowly, queerly, and intentionally—while still wondering if it's enough.

I talk about self-worth, identity, and the illusion of unconditional love. I also share why questioning ourselves might not be a weakness—but part of a deeper, more thoughtful way of living.

Whether you're navigating rural life, trying to live authentically, or just feeling a little lost—you’re not alone in asking the big questions.

💬 Do you ever wonder if you’re doing it “right”? Drop me a comment or send a message—I’d love to hear your thoughts.

🎧 Listen on your favorite platform:

👉 Gay in Rural France on RedCircle: https://redcircle.com/shows/40d184b4-bcc8-429e-a72a-18ad2f5f7817

📲 Follow along for more:

✨ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/le_demi_chateau

✨ YouTube: https://youtube.com/@ledemi-chateau

✨ Newsletter (Substack): https://countrysidetales.substack.com/

✨ Website: https://ledemichateau.com

💖 Support the Podcast:

If you enjoy the show, consider sharing it or leaving a review to support future episodes!

#GayInRuralFrance #QueerPodcast #MentalHealthJourney #CreativeLife #RuralLiving #ComparisonTrap #SlowLiving #ChateauLife #ExpatsInFrance #QueerAndCreative

What if your home could be an act of quiet rebellion? In this episode, I explore how queerness reshapes the idea of home—from the aesthetics we choose to the communities we build. I reflect on my own life in rural France and how my château, without me realizing it at first, became a political statement.

We talk softness as resistance, chosen family, the radical beauty of brocante decor, and how homemaking can be activism. I also share a more personal story about my short film HomoPol, made during the pandemic, and how growing up in Poland shaped my view on visibility, safety, and queerness.

🕯️ This episode is about reclaiming space, redefining home, and turning everyday living into a quiet form of protest.

🎬 Mentioned in the episode: 👉 Paris is Burning (Ballroom Documentary): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nI7EhpY2yaA&pp=ygUQcGFyaXMgaXMgYnVybmluZw%3D%3D

👉 HomoPol – My Short Film on Queer Life in Poland: https://vimeo.com/539628337

💬 What does home mean to you? Can softness be political? I’d love to hear your reflections—drop me a message or comment below.

🎧 Listen on your favorite platform:

👉 Gay in Rural France on RedCircle: https://redcircle.com/shows/40d184b4-bcc8-429e-a72a-18ad2f5f7817

📲 Follow along for more:

✨ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/le_demi_chateau

✨ YouTube: https://youtube.com/@ledemi-chateau

✨ Newsletter (Substack): https://countrysidetales.substack.com/

✨ Website: https://ledemichateau.com

💖 Support the Podcast:

If you enjoy the show, consider sharing it or leaving a review to help others find it!

#QueerHome #GayInRuralFrance #ParisIsBurning #LGBTQPodcast #HomoPol #QueerActivism #ChateauLife #SoftnessAsResistance #ExpatLife #RuralQueer