MEDIA
BOOKS
L'âme de l'Amérique
Au coeur des grands espaces de l'Ouest
The Soul of America
Into the Wide Open Spaces of the West
Land of adventure and freedom, the American West fascinates with its wide-open spaces, the traditions of its emblematic tribes and the eternal myth of the cowboy. It is where America has forged its legend and reinforced it through movies, television and literature. Montana is at the heart of this great legend.
From the Rockies to the Great Plains and from Yellowstone to the Little Bighorn, distinguished author and journalist Sylvie Brieu leads us on a captivating road trip to encounter Native Americans, rodeo champions, authors, artists and wildlife specialists. Their unconditional love for a now threatened but exquisite natural environment fuels their deep sense of community and resilience. Far from the clichés of an individualistic nation, these colorful personalities join together to create a new environmental age. Is it possible that the future of the United States is being played out on the wild frontier?
In this heart-warming and insightful memoir, Sylvie Brieu brings the seasoned eyes of an experienced outsider to capture a portrait of a rebellious America where women play a prominent role and where natural beauty is the best antidote to despair.
"The complexities of American history, the contradictions of American identity, and the many layers of American mythology are played out in the endlessly fascinating landscape of the Wild West in L'âme de l'Amérique. Taking Montana as her object, considering our relationship to the land and to each other, Sylvie Brieu has located the heart of Americana."
The American Library in Paris.
« In L'âme de l'Amérique, Sylvie Brieu has provided the literary equivalent of the sunlight, the moisture, the scents and sounds that dominate and define the American West but natives like me often get too busy to appreciate. Her years of research included endless miles on dusty roads, going horseback through sacred Blackfeet lands, kayaking the Yellowstone River, and wearing out a few pairs of shoes. Now distilled into this fine book, Brieu’s fresh approach will give pause to Montanans and other Westerners... »
The Montana Quarterly
Birmanie
Les chemins de la liberté
Burma
The Roads to Freedom
After fifty years of isolation under the rule of an oppressive military regime, Burma is finally opening up in a wave of euphoria. Despite the recent landslide victory of Aung San Suu Kyi’s political party in the country’s first free election, the situation remains explosive. In a country torn by deep ethnic divide and prolonged armed conflicts, women are taking the lead to pave the road to peace, freedom and democracy. These include a laureate of the « Asian Nobel Peace Prize », a visionary social entrepreneur, a feminist buddhist nun, and even an ecologist princess (a descendant of the last King of Burma). A number of men support them on their long march to freedom. Moved by their stories, Brieu set out to gain some insights into the reality of Burma today through the incisive visions and the positive actions of its women. The book is divided into three parts. Each part opens up with inspiring quotations promoting the voices of change-makers from different ethnic and religious backgrounds advocating for change, resistance and peace.
"An unprecedented book" - France Culture
"At last, a book that offers a look from the inside of a complex country whose diversity of voices, beliefs, and people deserve to be known better." - Le Monde Diplomatique
"The author has captured the country at its very depths, as it begins to open up and before a part of it disappears forever." - Libération
Quand s'élèvent nos voix
Des Andes à l'Amazonie, une odyssée en terre indienne
When Our Voices Rise
From the Andes to the Amazon, a journey through Native lands
During an intense year-long journey from the Andes to the Amazon via Easter Island, Sylvie Brieu traveled solo on the trails of South America. Forgoing a rigid itinerary, she set her sights on seeking out some of the most creative native communities linked to great civilizations – Quechua, Rapanui, Mapuche, Xavante, Surui, Uru-eu-wau-wau, Guarani. Through these modern descendants, she explored how their ancient wisdom and original high-tech strategies could inspire Western societies. Thanks to both serendipity and exceptional access, Brieu immersed herself in the daily life of warriors, shamans, artists, peasants, filmmakers, poets, and singers, recording their appeal for transborder solidarity. Her expedition even led her to the first territory in the world ever to be demarcated for an uncontacted tribe. Cutting through clichés, she makes a plea for tolerance and celebrates diversity while bolstering her convictions with economic, political, scientific, and historical underpinnings.
"It is gripping and incredibly well-told" - TV5 Monde
"A moving tribute to the resilience and adaptation of
these people" - La Croix
BIO
An award-winning journalist, multimedia storyteller, and keynote speaker whose work explores the deep connections between people and the natural world.
A passionate advocate for environmental and cultural storytelling.
Creator and host of the documentary podcast series Sur la Piste du BISON, an immersive narrative exploring the challenges and promise of rewilding and our relationship with the living world.
As co-founder of National Geographic France, I helped establish its editorial vision and introducing world-class storytelling on exploration, science, culture, and conservation to French-speaking audiences.
Optimistic and creative, I am actively involved in several nonprofit organizations and serve as one of the few women ever elected to the Board of Directors of the French Explorers Society—an organization rooted in the legacy of pioneering figures such as Alexandra David-Néel and Jacques-Yves Cousteau. In 2024,
I founded Thé des Exploratrices, a series of conversations designed to elevate the voices of women explorers and adventurers who are pushing the boundaries of knowledge and discovery.
I am the founder and president of Quand S’élèvent nos Voix (When Our Voices Rise), a nonprofit organization dedicated to amplifying the voices of inspiring changemakers—especially women—through documentary filmmaking, photography, podcasting, and writing.
TALKS & WORKSHOPS
When I am not in the field, I share insights drawn from more than twenty-five years of reporting, expeditions, and conversations with people who are opening new paths across cultures and continents.
I have been invited to speak and moderate discussions at UNESCO, the National Geographic Society, the Women's Forum for the Economy & Society, the Musée du quai Branly – Jacques Chirac, the Guimet Museum, the University of Oxford, as well as for public and private organizations around the world.
I give talks, moderate panel discussions, host public conversations, and lead bespoke workshops for companies, international organizations, museums, festivals, and universities worldwide.
Drawing on firsthand experience and in-depth reporting, my talks offer fresh perspectives, deepen understanding, and encourage audiences to think differently—and leave with the momentum to act.
Explore - Share - Create links
Founded by Sylvie Brieu in 2023, Quand S’élèvent nos Voix (When Our Voices Rise) is a non-profit organization dedicated to celebrating cultural diversity and the living world—and inspiring people to protect both. Through storytelling, encounters, and creative projects, we build bridges, challenge stereotypes, and open new ways of seeing the world.
We are currently raising funds to produce an English-language version of our immersive documentary podcast, Sur la Piste du BISON. Exploring the profound connections between people, wildlife, and the vast landscapes of the American West, it follows the return of the bison to tell a larger story about coexistence, resilience, and the future of rewilding.
Every donation helps bring new stories to light, create meaningful connections, and ensure that more voices are heard.
