Gaspard Koenig is one of France’s most original public intellectuals — a philosopher, novelist, founder of the GenerationLibre think tank, and even a one-time presidential candidate.

When he isn’t writing or debating ideas, Koenig can often be found tending to his garden and horses on a small farm in Normandy, exploring what he calls his “down-to-earth era.” For him, the countryside is not a retreat but a way to reflect on how humans truly connect with their environment.

Speaking with Paris Calling, Koenig delves into the distinction between land and soil, his journey from a months-long horseback expedition retracing Montaigne’s path to his novel Humus, and his lifelong search for the deeper meanings of liberty — rooted in responsibility, interdependence, and a sense of belonging to both nature and society.

This is Paris Calling, where each week we encounter a notable person from somewhere around the world. We are breaking new ground by bringing non-English interviews into English with the use of AI tools that allow us to translate our guest’s words, without changing their voice.

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