The Bittersweet Life

Expat, Repat, Travel, Rome, Seattle, Books, Art, Italy, Wonder

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Life doesn't have a script. At least, it doesn't have to. Hosts Katy Sewall and Tiffany Parks explore the challenges and joys of moving abroad and moving home. Whether you’re living overseas, or not — or not yet — join us weekly for unadulterated conversation. Get to know Rome. Laugh at our embarrassments and insights. Most of all, imagine the possibilities for your own life (and meet some famous authors along the way).

[PATREON PREVIEW] Update on Katy's Sister Dana

On this bonus episode, available exclusively to our Patreon supporters, Katy gives an update on her sister Dana's stage 4 agressive brain cancer. This is just an excerpt, and if you want to hear more, become part of the Bittersweet Life community by supporting just on Patreon! For as little as $5 per month—less than the price of a coffee in some places—you will have access to multiple bonus episodes every single month.  You'll hear conversations that would never take place on the main show, yo

Apr 23, • 7:14

Episode 579: Are Romance Languages Sexist?

Are romance languages sexist? On this episode, we discuss the puzzling and seemingly discriminatory aspects of languages like Italian and French. For example: Why do inanimate objects have a gender? Why, in Italian, must you refer to a group of people as entirely male even if there is only one man and 99 women? Why, in French, are there only recently female versions of professional occupations? Join us for this probing yet light-hearted discussion. ***Katy's sister Dana has recently been diagnos

Apr 21, • 28:43

[THE BITTERSWEET PAST] Where Are all the Accordions?

When you come back after several years to a city where you used to live, what do you notice? What has change? What has stayed the same? What have you forgotten about in your time away? In this episode from our archives, Katy arrives in Rome after four years away, and immediately  notices something that—once ubiquitous on the streets of Rome—is now missing: accordionists. This sparks a conversation about what we notice, what we take for granted as being an eternal aspect of the city, and how a ci

Apr 18, • 17:21

[THE BITTERSWEET PAST] Antico Caffè Greco: The Oldest Café in Rome

Where did Lord Byron and Percy Shelley come to sip coffee while they jotted down their verses? Where did Bizet and Berlioz go to discuss their work? Where could Casanova be found trying to pick up girls? Caffè Greco, where else? Having opened in 1760, Antico Caffè Greco is the oldest café in Rome and the second-oldest in all of Italy! And you can still go there and sit where Hawthorne, Ibsen, Gogol, Goethe, Canova, and many many other literary, art, and musical greats rubbed elbows and drank

Apr 16, • 24:35

Episode 578: Exploring Rome in the Deep Dark Night (A Sleep With Me crossover)

Need help falling asleep?   That's not usually our forte—at least we hope it isn't!—but this week the legendary sleep-podcaster Drew Ackerman, better known to his listeners as Dear Scooter, of the popular Sleep with Me podcast, has used not one but two of our past episodes as a script for his sleep-inducing show.   We are reposting his somnolent take on Episode 441 The Oldest Cafe in Rome and Episode 440 Where Are All the Accordions? right here (and we'll be posting the original

Apr 14, • 1:15:13

[THE BITTERSWEET PAST] Maybe You Should Talk to Someone (with Lori Gottlieb)

This week, therapist and bestselling author Lori Gottlieb joins us to talk about change, loss, self-examination...and when you should really talk to someone. If you’ve ever wondered what your therapist was thinking, this is a conversation you’ll want to hear. Lori and Katy discuss everything from what you should look for in a therapist to what your therapist is listening for—and why it’s often not what you tell them the problem is. Lori explains how patients often try to impress their therapists

Apr 11, • 34:00

Bittersweet Moment #220: A Walk Down Via Giulia

For a leisurely stroll that is full of artistic gems and delightful curiosities hidden in plain —and somehow overlooked by tourists—join us for a walk down Via Giulia, one of the most historic and sumptuous streets in Rome. Don’t miss your chance to visit Rome with us, on our intimate Rome listener trip, coming up in October 2025. Find out all about it here, or email us for more information! ***As you know if you have listened to our recent episodes, Katy's sister Dana has recently been d

Apr 9, • 12:28

Episode 577: Clive vs. Constance: An Unfortunate Journey Begins

The Bittersweet Life Podcast went on an unexpected and unprecedented month-long hiatus. As you can imagine, only something life-threatening could have caused us to take this break.   Katy sits down with her sisters Dana and Sara to have an honest and vulnerable conversation about the tragedy that has occurred in their family, and why it’s a journey that’s only beginning. And a journey with an unknown ending.   ***Katy's sister Dana has recently been diagnosed with stage 4 agfressive bra

Apr 7, • 55:06

[THE BITTERSWEET PAST] Underground (with Robert MacFarlane)

This week, we explore the underground world with Robert MacFarlane of Cambridge University in England. Robert is the best-selling author of Landmarks and The Old Ways, and was awarded the EM Forster Prize for Literature by the American Academy of Arts and Letters. His latest book, UNDERLAND, is an “epic exploration of the Earth’s underworlds as they exist in myth, literature, memory, and the land itself.” The book also details the three major things that humans do with or in the underground worl

Apr 3, • 34:12

[PATREON PREVIEW] Crying and Writing

Did you know that your favorite podcast hosts are also writers? On this week's bonus episode—available exclusively to our supporters on Patreon—we talk all about our various writing processes. Katy reveals that she has been sobbing while writing lately as she comes to the end of her novel, and prepares to say goodbye to her characters. And speaking of characters, Tiffany talks about what it's like to have a fully formed character pop up in a scene without any warning. We chat all about our odd w

Apr 2, • 6:29

Episode 576: Looking Back at the Covid Pandemic—Five Years Later

Five years after the world came to a grinding halt—when Italy and shortly after much of the globe went into a full or partial lockdown—Katy and Tiffany have a conversation about that unique and momentous time.  Do we really remember what it was like or are the memories vague and unreliable? How did the pandemic and the lockdowns change our perception of time?  And have we, as a society, changed since then? Did living through a global pandemic have lasting changes, and are they positive or negati

Mar 31, • 46:34

[THE BITTERSWEET PAST] A Day in the Life under Lockdown, Part 2

Continuing our month-long look back at life during the initial outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, we are re-airing Part 2 of our peek into our lives—and the lives of our listeners all around the world—while we live under the restrictions of our various countires. Katy offers a rare glimpse into what it’s like to edit and a long piece of tape, extracting its gems to transform it into something engaging. Karen, a US expat in the Dolomites, cycles home from work, hoping not to be stopped by the Car

Mar 28, • 21:44

[THE BITTERSWEET PAST] A Day in the Life under Lockdown, Part 1

Who remembers what life felt like during the first wave of the Covid-19 pandemic, when cities and entire countries were shutting down right and left? Believe it or not, it all started five years ago this month! So we are digging back into our archives to bring you episodes from that momentous time all month long. On this episode, which originally aired on April 5th 2020, we ask our listeners: What does a day in the life of someone under lockdown look like? And they responded, offering a peek int

Mar 21, • 34:00

[THE BITTERSWEET PAST] Coronavirus Hits: Italy Locks Down, Part 2

Exactly five years ago this month—March 2020—the world went through something that no one living had experienced in their lifetimes: a global epidemic that affected the entire world, and forced much of the population into their homes for weeks and months at a time, unable to socialize, go to work, and in some cases (like Italy) even take walk around the neighborhood. This month, we are re-airing, every Friday, the episodes that we recording during that momentous and unforgettable time, unique to

Mar 14, • 28:50

Episode 575: An Unfortunate Announcement

Our regularly scheduled episode is going to be delayed this week. Katy makes a hard announcement on this much abbreviated episode to explain why The Bittersweet Life is going on a (hopefully very short) hiatus. Thank you for your patience and understanding. Remember, we have a vast archive of episodes that you may never have listened to, so take this time to dig back into our plethora of earlier episodes (all 12 seasons of them!). Also remember that specially selected past episodes are now being

Mar 10, • 5:28

[THE BITTERSWEET PAST] Coronavirus Hits: Italy Locks Down, Part 1

Do you remember what life was like during the first days and weeks of lockdown following the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, almost exactly 5 years ago? This month, we'll be airing four episodes from our archives, one every Friday, during that momentous, uncertain, and historic time.  In this episode, which originally aired on March 16th 2020, Italy has recently entered lockdown. There was no going out except for basic necessities or medical reasons—or work if you had an essential job that co

Mar 7, • 29:18

Bittersweet Moment #219: Beyond the Mouth of Truth: Exploring Santa Maria in Cosmedin

Everybody who visits Rome knows about the Mouth of Truth—and many of them line up for up to an hour (or more!) to stick their hand in its mouth and snap an iconic photo.  But what most visitors fail to do is to take the time to visit the incredible church that lies just beyond this monument of dubious importance, Santa Maria in Cosmedin. Today, Tiffany tells you all about it, and what to look for when you are there. And don’t miss your chance to visit Rome with us, on our intimate Rome listene

Mar 5, • 5:56

Episode 574: Twelve Years a Pope

Just over 12 years ago, Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio was elected Pope Francis in the conclave of 2013. And Tiffany was in St. Peter's Square when it happened. She saw the white smoke pouring out of the Sistine Chapel chimney, she heard those famous words "Habemus Papam!" and she, along with the other thousands of people that had by that time gathered in St. Peter's Square that rainy March night, was among the first to see the newly elected Pope in person.   With Pope Francis seriously ill, and

Mar 3, • 46:51

[THE BITTERSWEET PAST] The Science Behind Language Learning (with Lisa Wilcox)

On this eye-opening interview with special guest Lisa Wilcox, taken from our archives, we explore the science of language learning through linguistics and speech pathology. Sound boring? Turns out, it is actually really funny. And you might just discover a new angle from which to tackle your language-learning goals. ***The Bittersweet Life podcast has been on the air for an impressive 10+ years! In order to help newer listeners discover some of our earlier episodes, every Friday we are now airin

Feb 28, • 31:20

[PATREON PREVIEW] Stupid Scars and Cool Diseases

On this bonus episode, available exclusively to our Patreon supporters, random questions like "What is your dumbest scar?" are answered by us with a great amount of laughter. This small excerpt is in our regular feed, but if you want to hear the entire episode, become part of the Bittersweet Life community by supporting us on Patreon! For as little as $5 per month—less than the price of a coffee in some places—you will have access to multiple bonus episodes every single month.  You'll hear c

Feb 26, • 3:31

Episode 573: Getting Sick in Italy

What happens when you get sick in Italy? How much does medical care cost? As an expat, how does the Italian medical system differ from that of the United States? Is Italian healthcare really as disorganized as it can sometimes seem? And is European socialized medicine really as wonderful and stress-free as it might seem from across the pond? Also: does an old, dingy hospital subconsciously affect how you perceive the quality of care you will receive there? After a month battling bronchitis and p

Feb 24, • 35:45

[THE BITTERSWEET PAST] The Unexpected Trauma of Moving, Part 2

Katy moved to Rome once. Does that mean she'd be brave enough to do it again? Are you brave enough to move to a brand new city? What about a brand-new country? Katy and Tiffany use a listener email to kick off this episode from our archives. If you like this topic, don't miss Part 1 of this episode! ***The Bittersweet Life podcast has been on the air for an impressive 10+ years! In order to help newer listeners discover some of our earlier episodes, every Friday we are now airing an episode from

Feb 21, • 29:36

Bittersweet Moment #218: The Tempietto of Bramante

On this Bittersweet Moment, taken from our archives, Tiffany and Aurelio chat about their recent visit to one of Rome’s most secret and best-hidden gems: the Tempietto of Bramante. Find out what makes this minuscule “temple” so utterly sublime, which ancient temple it was inspired by, and which domes around the world have been inspired by it. Aurelio also chimes in about his favorite thing about visiting the Tempietto. (Hint: it rhymes with Tempietto but begins with C-O-R-N.) And don’t miss you

Feb 19, • 15:42

Episode 572: A Crazy Student Falls in Love with Italian (with Melissa Muldoon)

Have you ever lost your mind over a foreign language? This week's guest, Melissa Muldoon, did just that over 15 years ago, when she dove head first into studying the Italian language. She was so crazy about Italian in fact, that she dubbed herself the "Studentessa Matta" (crazy student) and started blogging about her Italian-learning journey... in Italian. What began as a blog to flex her Italian writing skills has turned into a career as an Italian language teacher and coach, an Italian cultura

Feb 17, • 28:52

[THE BITTERSWEET PAST] The Unexpected Trauma of Moving, Part 1

In this episode from our archives, Tiffany and Katy both say goodbye to their old lives: Tiffany moves out of her Trastevere apartment and braves the Roman outskirts for the first time in over a decade as an expat, and Katy's beloved Seattle home is torn down. On this surprisingly vulnerable episode, we explore life, loss, and the pain and annoyance of moving. ***The Bittersweet life podcast has been on the air for an impressive 10+ years! In order to help newer listeners discover some of our ea

Feb 14, • 26:00

[PATREON PREVIEW] Aurelio Answers Your Questions

On this bonus episode, released exclusively for our Patreon supporters, we're joined by Tiffany's son, 9-year-old Aurelio—our redheaded mascot and "third co-host" who answers our Patreon supporters' burning questions! Find out where he'd rather live, the US or Italy, which language he prefers to speak, and what it's like, as an American, having to take English lessons from an Italian teacher. This is just a short preview of the full bonus episode. If you want to hear more, become part of the

Feb 12, • 6:06

Episode 571: Why Women Love Italy (with Susan Van Allen)

Author and Italy travel expert Susan Van Allen joins us today to talk about what she loves about Italy and why she believes the bel paese has particular appeal to women. In addition to being author of the book, 100 Places in Italy Every Woman Should Go, Van Allen also leads women-only tours of Italy, and shares her insights on the feminine allure Italy holds for so many, and why women seem to get even more out of travel here. Order Susan's book, 100 Places in Italy Every Woman Should Go here. Fi

Feb 10, • 37:53

[THE BITTERSWEET PAST] How Traveling Makes You Rude

Have you ever walked into someone’s house in Japan with your shoes on and had a room full of people laugh at you? (Katy has.) Have you ever traipsed into a room in an Italian home that has been freshly mopped and been given the evil eye by the lady of the house? (Tiffany has.) Part of living in a foreign culture is learning (often the hard way) that some things that are totally acceptable back home are, at best, a faux pas in your adopted country, and, at worst, a humiliating gaff. Picking up on

Feb 7, • 22:37

Bittersweet Moment #217: The Owl House of Villa Torlonia

On this mini-episode from our archives, Tiffany (and a 4-year-old Aurelio!) will fill you in on one of Rome's most delightful hidden gems: the Owl House! Swiss cabin meets medieval hamlet meets art nouveau glass? As crazy as it sounds, this unlikely mash-up is not an abomination, but rather one of the most charming, yet little visited, museums in Rome. Tucked away among the greenery of Villa Torlonia in the leafy north of Rome, la Casina delle Civette, or the Owl House, was built in 1840 for an

Feb 5, • 11:11

Episode 570: An Irish-American Story (with Edward Burns)

Today Katy interviews actor, filmmaker, and author Edward Burns about his debut novel A Kid from Marlboro Road on the stage of Town Hall Seattle. Tune in for a conversation about storytelling, memory, and the transition from screen to page. Acclaimed filmmaker and actor Edward Burns steps into the world of fiction with his debut novel, A Kid from Marlboro Road. Set in the 1970s, this coming-of-age story draws inspiration from Burns’s own Irish-Ameican childhood on Long Island, capturing the comp

Feb 3, • 1:00:17

[THE BITTERSWEET PAST] The Repurposing of Rome

This week, we hit the streets of Rome with our recording equipment to search for ancient ruined artifacts or “spoglie” hidden in plain sight. Rome has been inhabited without interruption for over three thousand of years. A past like that cannot but leave its mark on a city. And if you keep your eyes open, the vestiges of Rome’s ancient past can be found around almost every corner. From the fluted Corinthian columns walled into the sides of nondescript buildings to the piazza that follows the sha

Jan 31, • 30:20

[PATREON PREVIEW] A Lover of Legos and Tiny Cute Things

What's going on in the life of The Bittersweet Life podcast's favorite 9-year-old redhead? On this exclusive bonus episode, Tiffany catches up our Patreon supporters on the life and times of Aurelio, how he's growing, and what he loves lately. Want to hear more? Become part of the Bittersweet Life community by supporting just on Patreon! For as little as $5 per month—less than the price of a coffee in some places—you will have access to multiple bonus episodes every single month.  You'll hear

Jan 29, • 3:00

Episode 569: To Cruise or Not to Cruise?

To cruise or not to cruise? Most travelers have strong opinions about cruising, and can be easily divided into two factions: the cruise-lovers and the never-cruisers. But what is travel for if not to park your biases and open your mind a little? Is it possible that a never-cruiser could actually (gasp!) enjoy a cruise? On this episode, Katy describes how she was roped into going on a cruise with her sisters, in order to participate in their annual sisters' trip "Sisterfest," an unmissable event

Jan 27, • 34:06

[THE BITTERSWEET PAST] Raising a Bilingual Family

Want to raise a bilingual child? Whether you are an expat or not, in a mixed-culture relationship or not, it is possible to raise your child in two (or more) languages, and the benefits you will pass on to your child are significant. But how do you go about it? On this episode from our archives, we sit down with British mum Kristie Prada, author and creator of the blog Mamma Prada. She and her Italian husband live in the UK and are serious about raising their children to speak both languages fla

Jan 24, • 33:16

Bittersweet Moment #216: The Route of the Seven Churches

What does it mean to do the Giro delle Sette Chiese, or the Route of the Seven Churches? And what does it have to do with Rome's newly inaugurated Jubilee? Find out on this all-new mini-episode! Plus, learn some fun facts about Rome's seven most important churches! To find out more about Rome's Jubilee, don't miss our previous mini-episode, Bittersweet Moment #215: Rome's Jubilee Arrives! ------------------------------------- COME TO ROME WITH US: For the third year in a row, we are hosting an i

Jan 22, • 8:59

Episode 568: The Benefits and Dangers of Being Stubborn

Is being stubborn a good thing or a bad thing? Tiffany has always considered it one of her best qualities, but after listening to last week's expat interview with Darlene Sullivan, now she's not so sure. Katy and Tiffany discuss their takeaways from the previous episode, and Tiffany shares a story about the time being stubborn definitely did not benefit her. ------------------------------------- COME TO ROME WITH US: For the third year in a row, we are hosting an intimate group of listeners for

Jan 20, • 34:03

[THE BITTERSWEET PAST] Hitting an Expat Plateau

This week’s episode is inspired by a letter from one of our long-time listeners. Giovanna wonders what to do after hitting an "expat plateau,” when the rapid learning and expanding period of being a new expat inevitably slows down. After a little over a year living on the idyllic Italian island of Ischia (by way of New York, London, and Rome), Giovanna ponders what to do when the novelty of expat life wears off and you’re left with just... life. She also asks the question: does moving to the tin

Jan 17, • 37:27

[PATREON PREVIEW] Disaster and Loss in LA

On this week's exlusive bonus episode, we talk about the catastrophic fires that are, as of recording time, still raging in the Los Angeles area, and how they are affecting some of Tiffany's closest family members.

Jan 15, • 4:13

Episode 566: What if Moving Abroad Isn't Great? (with Darlene Sullivan)

You've dreamed of moving to Italy since you were 16 years old, and after years of scheming and planning, you finally made it happen. But... you're not happy. Could it be that you made a mistake in moving abroad? Or maybe you're just not in the right town. Longtime listener Darlene Sullivan joins us this week to talk about what happens when expat reality doesn't quite live up to your dreams—but how that doesn't necessarily mean you've made a mistake. Sometimes you just need to recalibrate and fin

Jan 13, • 41:23

[THE BITTERSWEET PAST] Living Life in a Foreign Language

Have you ever wondered how speaking a second or third language more often than your native tongue can reshape your thinking? In this episode from the archives of The Bittersweet Life, Tiffany reflects on 15 years of living abroad and how it has transformed the way she communicates—even in her first language. We dive into the surprising cognitive and emotional challenges of navigating life in a foreign language, especially for writers, who rely so heavily on nuanced expression. Plus, we explore h

Jan 10, • 38:33

Bittersweet Moment #215: Rome's Jubilee Arrives!

Rome's Jubilee is here! And our Bittersweet Moments are back! (And you thought Christmas was over.) On this short-but-sweet mid-week mini-episode, Tiffany explains the history and origins of this very Roman and VERY Catholic event, why it's so important, and what to do if you want to take part in this historic pilgrimage. ------------------------------------- ADVERTISE WITH US: Reach expats, future expats, and travelers all over the world. Send us an email to get the conversation started. BECOME

Jan 8, • 8:49

Episode 566: How to Move to Italy (with Thea Duncan)

So you want to move to Italy but... HOW??? Today we are joined by a guest who happens to have all the answers. Thea Duncan is the self-described "fairy godmother to people's dolce vita dreams." She's the founder of Doing Italy, where she and her team help people gain the knowledge and resources they need to move to Italy as well as buy property in Italy with ease, all while avoiding many of the pitfalls that negatively affect other expats when moving abroad. She answers all our questio

Jan 6, • 42:41

Episode 565: Old Resolutions, New Resolutions

It's that time of year again! Every turn of the year, we look back at the resolutions we set for the previous year and discuss whether or not we accomplished them, or at least got close. This is often a very cringe-worthy exercise. Undaunted by any failures, we also set resolutions for the coming year. Don't miss this fun annual tradition! ------------------------------------- ADVERTISE WITH US: Reach expats, future expats, and travelers all over the world. Send us an email to get the conversati

Dec 30, 2024 • 54:04

Episode 564: An Ever-Changing Holiday

How much has Italian Christmas changed over the years? Turns out, even in the last ten years, since we began this show, the way Italians celebrate Christmas has evolved. We listen back to one of our very first episodes, when we discussed Katy's first (and only) Christmas in Italy back in 2013. How did it feel different to her from Christmas in the States, and what makes an expat Christmas different from one in your home country? Listening back, Tiffany observes how different Christmas in Italy f

Dec 23, 2024 • 43:32

Episode 563: How to Renovate a 17th-century Umbrian Villa (with Kaila Merrill)

How many of us dream of living in a villa in the Umbrian countryside... but how many of us would quit our jobs and move abroad (not to mention do all the work) to actually make it happen? Today we are joined by Kaila Merrill, native Vermonter and now owner of gorgeous Poggio Belvedere, a 17th-century farmhouse deep in the Umbrian countryside that she and her husband Ludovico have lovingly renovated from the ruin it had been reduced to. It's now a luxury boutique hotel and villa-for-hire. K

Dec 16, 2024 • 40:34

Episode 562: Moving to Rome—Sight Unseen, Part 2 (with Brie Ripley and Ryan Sparks)

Last year we met Brie Ripley, a young newly married Seattlite who had moved to Rome for a job without ever having visited the city, or even the country. On this episode, we catch up with Brie and her husband 10 months later to see how they are adjusting to life in Rome and life as expats, now that the expat honeymoon phase is over and they are faced with the real challenges of living abroad. We talk about their struggles to learn the language, their attempts to create a community, and how hard i

Dec 9, 2024 • 40:10

Episode 561: What Is it About Rome?

“You fall in love with Rome very slowly, a little at a time—but for all your life.” Nikolaj Gogol sums up so perfectly what many people experience when viisting Rome. The city can be so overwhelming, so daunting, that many people aren't able to fully experience it on their first visit, or even their first few visits. And yet, it's a city that has captivated and fascinated people—perhaps beyond any other city—for centuries if not millennia, and it continues to do so to this day. So what is it

Dec 2, 2024 • 21:42

[LIVE] Episode 560: The Ghosts of Things Not Seen (with our Rome guests!)

Join us for this LIVE EPISODE taped in Rome with the listeners who participated in our 2024 Bittersweet Life Rome Trip! On this episode, we chat about what happens when places that we have lived or traveled to extensively change drastically over the years—particularly if we are not there to witness those changes slowly occurring. When we return, it can feel like the ghosts of those missing people and places are all around us. The city has moved on... but we still miss what has disappeared. Hear

Nov 25, 2024 • 48:22

Episode 559: The Bittersweet Life Origin Story: The 10th Anniversary Show

Can you believe that this little indie sow premiered way back in March of 2014??  That's an entire decade of The Bittersweet Life! Have you been with us from the very start? Or have you joined us late by caught up on all the episodes over the years? Or perhaps those first few seasons are a mystery that you've never tapped? Either way we're going to have fun on this episode. In honor of 10 (and a half) years of this show (and actually 11 since the taping of this pilot episode in Katy's Trastevere

Nov 18, 2024 • 1:02:30

[PATREON PREVIEW] When Life Surprises You

What are some of the most surprising things that have ever happened to you—in a good or a bad way? What are life's curve balls that you truly didn't see coming?

Nov 14, 2024 • 8:02

Episode 558: Escape to Rome with The Bittersweet Life

Come to Rome with us! (Virtually or IN PERSON!) This week we're thrilled to share the episode in which we kick off our 2024 Bittersweet Life Roman Adventure! We had an absolute blast sharing "our Rome" with 11 of our amazing listeners and we can't wait to do it again next year. Maybe in 2025 you will join us! (Get in touch to find out how!) ------------------------------------- ADVERTISE WITH US: Reach expats, future expats, and travelers all over the world. Send us an email to get the conversat

Nov 11, 2024 • 30:22

Episode 557: Ready to Flee the US? Listen to this First!

Tomorrow is presidential election day in the US! (Cue the angst-ridden gnashing of teeth.) If you're so worried about the results of the election that you are considering fleeing the country if your side doesn't win, consider this first: The grass is not always greener on the other side of the fence. Countries like Italy, with its year-round sunshine, amazing food, and infamous "dolce far niente" lifestyle, can feel awfully tempting when things in your home country aren't going your way. But is

Nov 4, 2024 • 34:36

Episode 556: The Caller (A Radio Play by Matthew P. Woerner)

To get into the Halloween mood, grab a hot drink, dim the lights, and curl up in a cozy spot to listen to this new original radio drama. Matthew P. Woerner and our friends at Audioimagination77 Productions present a spine-tingling story in the tradition of the classic audio drama of the golden age of radio.  Don't be surprised if the story sounds a bit familiar. It was inspired by an urban legend most of us know, and probably told during a sleepover or around a campfire in our younger days. The

Oct 28, 2024 • 49:46

Episode 555: Scary Reads: Our Favorite Books for Halloween

How do you get into the spooky Halloween spirit? If you're like us, you spend October reading scary books. Find out what's on our Halloween reading list list on this week's episode. ------------------------------------- ADVERTISE WITH US: Reach expats, future expats, and travelers all over the world. Send us an email to get the conversation started. BECOME A PATRON: Pledge your monthly support of The Bittersweet Life and receive awesome prizes in return for your generosity! Visit our Patreon sit

Oct 20, 2024 • 33:12

[PATREON PREVIEW] Rome vs. Seattle: Which Makes a Better Movie Backdrop?

In this exclusive bonus episode—of which we're sharing just a sneak peek here—we chat about what movies get wrong when they showcase a particular city when filming on location. What major mistake was made in the filming of Sleepless in Seattle, and did they actually drive a car down the Spanish Steps in the latest Mission Impossible film? What annoyed Katy about a famous movie that takes place in her hometown, and what's the worst movie that was ever shot in Rome (in Tiffany's opinion)? Tiffa

Oct 17, 2024 • 5:30

Episode 554: How to Buy Nothing

This month, Tiffany sets off to accomplish one of her New Year's resolutions: a month of buying nothing (beyond the essentials of daily life). In an effort to better understand her spending habits, save a bit of money, and pare down the superfluous matter in her home, she attempts to spend nothing but the essential cost of living for the entire month. Will she succeed? And with this more intentional way of spending effect a lasting change in her financial life? We discuss this and more on this w

Oct 14, 2024 • 37:02

Episode 553: How Do You Prepare for a Trip?

...and what does how you prepare for a trip say about you? As Katy prepares to fly off to Italy for the second annual Bittersweet Life Rome Trip, she notices some particular habits she has when it comes to how she gets ready for a long trip.  On this episode, she compares notes with Tiffany to see if her pre-trip habits are weird or normal. Do you have any strange or unusual ways you prepare for a long trip? Email us here. ------------------------------------- ADVERTISE WITH US: Reach expats, fu

Oct 7, 2024 • 29:22

Episode 552: Grammar Pet Peeves

This week we're offering a peek behind the paywall by airing an episode on the main show that was originally intended as a bonus episode—shared just with our Patreon supporters. This conversation is a lighthearted examination of what people say incorrectly—and why it bugs us so much. We are hard on ourselves as well (Tiffany finally tells Katy the mistake she makes that drive her crazy!)  What are your grammar pet peeves? And what mistakes do Katy and Tiffany always make? You can email us to l

Sep 30, 2024 • 31:22

Episode 551: How to Retire to Florence—With Your Granddaughter (with Dreck Baker)

Retiring to Italy—it's a dream for many people.  But what about for a single man who has sole custody of his small grandchild? Today's guest, Dreck Baker, is not your typical retiree expat. A retired police officer, Dreck had dreamed of settling in Italy for many years, but rather than seeing his grandbaby as a hindrance to this plan, he was even more inspired to make his expat dreams real when he envisioned their life in Florence together. Hear about the challenges and rewards Dreck and his gra

Sep 23, 2024 • 34:25

Episode 550: Life Lessons from Japan

Tiffany is fresh off a two-week trip to Japan, a place that to her feels unique in the world. Hear some of her insights on what she discovered about the daily life and culture of this fascinating country, and which aspects of it she has been inspired to incoporate into her own daily life. And what about the Japanese tea? Is this English Breakfast-lover a convert to matcha? ------------------------------------- ADVERTISE WITH US: Reach expats, future expats, and travelers all over the world. Send

Sep 16, 2024 • 31:08

Episode 549: A Documentary about The Bittersweet Life!

A number of years back, expat podcast Expat Sandwich produced a documentary episode all about... us! As we prepare to launch our 12th season (can you believe it?), we've decided to air the episode in its entirety here on our show. According to Expat Sandwich's show notes for the episode, "Veteran public radio producer Katy Sewall and writer Tiffany Parks have been friends since the sixth grade. Together they host The Bittersweet Life, a podcast they created four years ago when Katy spent a year

Sep 9, 2024 • 46:57

[PATREON PREVIEW] Would You Trapeze?

In her quest for novelty and trying new things, Katy takes to the skies. What is the craziest thing you ever tried? ______ Want to hear more? Become part of the Bittersweet Life community by supporting just on Patreon! For as little as $5 per month—less than the price of a coffee in some places—you will have access to multiple bonus episodes every single month.  You'll hear conversations that would never take place on the main show, you'll be part of our new chat community, you'll have ac

Sep 5, 2024 • 7:54

Episode 548: Are You an Expat or an Immigrant?

Tiffany moved to Italy as an expat in the fall of 2004—almost exactly two decades ago. Since then, she's married an Italian and started a family, bought a home in Italy, and become an Italian citizen, so... is it time to change that label from expat to immigrant? In response to a listener email, Tiffany and Katy chat about why Tiffany can't seem to relinquish the label of expat, and how despite being a fully fledged Italian citizen, she still doesn't feel as Italian as the native-born. On this e

Sep 2, 2024 • 30:12

Episode 547: Traveling the World by Book

Reading books can inspire you to travel, and travel can inspire you to read books. It's what we call a delicious cycle. Today we talk about the books (and other types of art) that have inspired not only particular trips, but the things that we have sought out while on that trip, or even things we have made a point to see in our own cities. But this inspiration goes both ways, and sometimes the things we see when traveling inspire us to read more about them, whether in fiction or non-fiction. Lis

Aug 26, 2024 • 26:48

Episode 546: Advice for Would-be Expats

Dreaming of moving abroad but loath to give up the job you love? On this episode from our archives, we discuss the hazards of giving up or interrupting your career in order to persue your expat dreams. Tiffany also gives listener Darlene practical tips to keep in mind when moving to Italy. Future expats, this is the show for you! Thanks to textile designer Darlene Sullivan, originally of Brooklyn, NY, for writing the letter that prompted this conversation that aired a number of years back. Flash

Aug 19, 2024 • 35:55

Episode 545: The Secret of Success: Luck vs. Hard Work

You did it! You've landed that amazing job, or maybe you're successfully living abroad in the country you've always dreamed of, or you've published your book, bought your dream home, won a major award in your industry (you fill in the blank). The question is: can you chalk it all up to hard work? Or was there some luck involved? And how much of what you've achieved can be attributed to privilege? It's tempting to claim you did it alone, but is that even possible? Today we dig into the topic of l

Aug 12, 2024 • 32:18

[PATREON PREVIEW] A Confession and a Decison

Tiffany has an addiction she's decided to break, but she doesn't want to talk about it on the main show. She talks about it on this exclusive bonus episode. Want to hear the whole episode? Become part of the Bittersweet Life community by supporting just on Patreon! For as little as $5 per month—less than the price of a coffee in some places—you will have access to multiple bonus episodes every single month.  You'll hear conversations that would never take place on the main show, you'll be par

Aug 8, 2024 • 2:47

Episode 544: It's Not a Goal, it's a QUEST!

What’s the difference between a goal and a quest? On this episode pulled from our archives (it's August afterall), Tiffany and Katy discuss what goes in to embarking on a quest, and why you would want to go on one. Tiffany (who famously loves a challenge) sets down her own definition of a quest, as well as why she believes the fun is not in the completion of it. They also brainstorm strategies for choosing the perfect quest, and how intentionality plays into that. -------------------------------

Aug 5, 2024 • 33:37

Episode 543: Leisure Wars: Italy vs. the United States

Who does leisure better, Italy or America? The answer is probably obvious, but you may be surprised to learn that Italians are emulating more and more the infamous American work ethic. Is the Italian dolce far niente instict enough to overcome the trend of over-productivity? And what can Americans learn from Italians about how to slow down and enjoy life? ------------------------------------- ADVERTISE WITH US: Reach expats, future expats, and travelers all over the world. Send us an email to ge

Jul 29, 2024 • 32:09

[PATREON PREVIEW] How Well Do You Know July?

On this exclusive bonus episode, we put you and Tiffany, our queen of trivia, to the test. How many questions about July can you answer correctly? Want to hear more? Become part of the Bittersweet Life community by supporting just on Patreon! For as little as $5 per month—less than the price of a coffee in some places—you will have access to multiple bonus episodes every single month.  You'll hear conversations that would never take place on the main show, you'll be part of our new chat commun

Jul 25, 2024 • 8:52

Episode 542: Leisure Time in Ancient Rome

From all accounts, the ancient Romans knew how to do leisure—the priviledged classes at least. According to historians, they didn't see leisure time as something they got to enjoy once their obligations were completed, but rather, as the ideal state in which to live, when they had control over all their actions. Can we learn something from this? Are we looking at leisure the wrong way? ------------------------------------- ADVERTISE WITH US: Reach expats, future expats, and travelers all over th

Jul 22, 2024 • 31:39

Episode 541: Living Life Between Two Countries (with Laurel Attanasio)

What is it like to divide your life between two countries? It sounds like the best of both worlds, but is it really? Today we are joined by someone who does just that, Laurel Attanasio, founder of Laurel Ann, LLC a boutique travel company specializing in wellness adventures. Laurel divides her time between the US and Europe, mostly Italy but occasionally Spain and Portugal—or even further afield. She often spends as many as five months of the year abroad, leading yoga retreats and adventure trav

Jul 15, 2024 • 42:51

[PATREON PREVIEW] A Rough Week

Tiffany's had a rough week. And to make matters worse, some of the people in her life have been driving her absolutely crazy. On this exclusive bonus episode, she vents her frustration.  Want to hear more? Become part of the Bittersweet Life community by supporting just on Patreon! For as little as $5 per month—less than the price of a coffee in some places—you will have access to multiple bonus episodes every single month.  You'll hear conversations that would never take place on the main s

Jul 11, 2024 • 2:22

Episode 540: I'm Mostly Here to Enjoy Myself (with Glynnis MacNicol)

"When you’re a woman of a certain age, you are only promised that everything will get worse. But what if everything you’ve been told is a lie?" This is the leading question of Glynnis MacNicol's dazzling new memoir, I'm Mostly Here to Enjoy Myself. The acclaimed author joins us this week for a personal, intimate and delightful interview that explores her unabashed pursuit of pleasure—and why she was inspired to write a book about it. After spending 16 excruciating months isolated and alone in he

Jul 8, 2024 • 48:27

Episode 539: The Dullness and Comfort of Rituals

We all have our beloved rituals, the things we do that center us, that comfort us, that make us feel that all is right with the world. It can be anything from the way we prepare and enjoy our favorite morning beverage, to walking our dog the same route every day, to watching a favorite show before bed. But what happens when we get so attached to these rituals that we can't do without them? Does this rigidity and inflexibiltiy not limit us? Is comfort overrated? To travel is, almost by definition

Jul 1, 2024 • 40:02

Episode 538: Stayers, Goers, and Newbies

One of the hardest things about expat life is when your friends inevitably leave. For some expats, this happens like clockwork every single year (usually in June), causing heartache, disappointment, and a sense of continually having to begin again with a fresh set of expat friends. An article on The Culture Blend (that was mentioned to us by one of our expat listeners) details this phenomenon perfectly, describing the three types of expats: Stayers, Goers, and Newbies?  Which one are you? Or is

Jun 24, 2024 • 31:23

[PATREON PREVIEW] A Very Italian End to the School Year

On this bonus episode exclusively for our Patreon supporters, we take you inside a very loud, very LATE dinner celebration marking the end of the school year in Rome. How late is too late for a third grader to party? Depends on who you ask. Want to hear more? Become part of the Bittersweet Life community by supporting just on Patreon! For as little as $5 per month—less than the price of a coffee in some places—you will have access to multiple bonus episodes every single month.  You'll hear

Jun 20, 2024 • 6:56

Episode 537: Navigating US Taxes as an Expat (with Nathalie Goldstein)

Whether you're a newly minted expat wondering how to go about filing your US taxes, or a longterm expat who wants to make sure you're doing it right—or maybe it's been years since you filed a return and now you're scared to get help—this episode is for you. Expat tax expert, and founder and CEO of My Expat Taxes, Nathalie Goldstein joins us to make sense of the often mystifying tax requirements that US expats have to grapple with every single year. As an enrolled agent with a focus on expat taxe

Jun 17, 2024 • 40:21

Episode 536: Trying Something New: How to Keep Trying

Katy continues to have epiphanies as she challenges herself every week in her pottery class. In a continuation of our Trying Something New episode, we talk about what it is that keeps us trying when those new things inevitably continue to be hard work. We also discuss those "fantasy self" items we buy for ourselves when, full of ambition, we decide we are going to start a new hobby before we really know what it entails. We also take the opportunity to hear from our listeners about the hardest th

Jun 10, 2024 • 40:31

[PATREON PREVIEW] Angelic Encounters

Want to hear more? Become part of the Bittersweet Life community by supporting just on Patreon! For as little as $5 per month—less than the price of a coffee in some places—you will have access to multiple bonus episodes every single month.  You'll hear conversations that would never take place on the main show, you'll be part of our new chat community, you'll have access to Patreon-only content in addition to bonus episodes, and you'll be invited to join us for regular live meet-ups.  But m

Jun 6, 2024 • 5:36

Episode 535: The Millennial Saint

The Pope has given the green light to canonize the very first saint from the millennial generation, Italian Carlo Acutis. Does it seem strange to have a saint from your own generation? Or one from a generation even younger than yours? Does it take away a little from the "magic" of the saints, who lived 2000 years ago and have improbable and unbelievable legends swirling around them? Or does it add to the wonder of the saints to know that these miracles—according to the Catholic church—are still

Jun 2, 2024 • 35:06

[PATREON PREVIEW] Sorry About the Giant Squid

Want to hear more? Become part of the Bittersweet Life community by supporting just on Patreon! For as little as $5 per month—less than the price of a coffee in some places—you will have access to multiple bonus episodes every single month.  You'll hear conversations that would never take place on the main show, you'll be part of our new chat community, you'll have access to Patreon-only content in addition to bonus episodes, and you'll be invited to join us for regular live meet-ups.  But m

May 30, 2024 • 3:18

Episode 534: Trying Something New: It's Supposed to Be Hard

The difficulty is the point. How often have we been seduced into thinking that something we've never tried must be easy, simply because experts make it look that way? On this episode, we talk about the new things we've recently tried, and how often we underestimated how difficult they would be. As Katy dips her toes into the art of pottery, she learns that failing is a crucial part of the learning process. If you liked this episode, don't miss Episode 517: Could You Miss Discovering Your Passion

May 27, 2024 • 36:43

[PATREON PREVIEW] You Can Move to Italy—But Should You?

Want to hear more? Become part of the Bittersweet Life community by supporting just on Patreon! For as little as $5 per month—less than the price of a coffee in some places—you will have access to multiple bonus episodes every single month.  You'll hear conversations that would never take place on the main show, you'll be part of our new chat community, you'll have access to Patreon-only content in addition to bonus episodes, and you'll be invited to join us for regular live meet-ups.  But most

May 23, 2024 • 2:37

Episode 533: Italy Welcomes the Digital Nomad

If you've been dreaming of moving to Italy but thought it was impossible, your chance has finally arrived! Italy has just launched the so-called "Digital Nomad Visa" which enables non-EU-nationals who are self-employed or remote workers who derive their income entirely outside of Italy, the chance to live in Italy on a year-by-year basis. For Italaphiles and wannabe expats around the globe, this may just be a dream come true. Tiffany and Katy discuss the details of this new visa, what the requir

May 20, 2024 • 37:40

Episode 532: Same Same but Different: Katy Visits Bali

In a world that is becoming ever more homogenized, what sets places apart? What are the blaring indicators that communicate we are in a place vastly different from anywhere we've ever been before? After a magical and sometimes maddening week in Bali, Katy lays out the ways the island delighted and surprised her, the aspects that felt wholly different from what she is used to, and discusses with Tiffany how they compare with the cities of Rome and Seattle. ------------------------------------- AD

May 13, 2024 • 44:41

Episode 531: Life as a Sociopath (with Patric Gagne)

What's it like to be a sociopath? This week's guest tells us. On this episode, Katy sits down with author and self-described sociopath Patric Gagne for a LIVE interview with audience at Seattle's Town Hall venue, whose recent book Sociopath has been acclaimed as a "fascinating, revelatory memoir revealing the author’s struggle to come to terms with her own sociopathy and shed light on the often maligned and misunderstood mental disorder." Hear from Patric about her experiences since childhood r

May 6, 2024 • 49:34

Episode 530: Revisiting a Long-Lost Place

What happens when you go back to a city you used to live in after not stepping foot there for twenty years? Tiffany finds out on this episode. After spending some of the most formative years of her life, her univeristy and post-univeristy years, in Boston, she moved to Rome and never went back. Earlier this month, she finally got a chance to visit Boston again, now with a husband and son in tow, and on this episode we capture her reactions to how the city has changed and how it hasn't changed—an

Apr 29, 2024 • 37:23

Episode 529: Going Native, Part 2

Who knew that "going native" was a topic that would resonate so strongly with our listeners? We got so much feedback on this subject—both social media comments as well as voice messages—that we just had to share them with you, and of course, open the discussion back up! So many new ideas came up hearing your thoughts, so we weigh in on them as well. By the way, we love love love hearing from you, our loyal listeners! We invite you to share your thoughts on any of the many topics we cover on our

Apr 22, 2024 • 1:08:06

Episode 528: Going Native

What happens when an expat "goes native"? How long does it take, and is it inevitable? Is it a conscious choice or does it just happen? Today we chat about this idea, and Tiffany lays out the ways she has gone native—eschewing American culture and habits entirely in favor of Italian ones—as well as the aspects of Italian life that she staunchly resists and rejects, even after two decades in the country. ------------------------------------- ADVERTISE WITH US: Reach expats, future expats, and tra

Apr 15, 2024 • 42:09

Episode 527: Moving to Rome—Sight Unseen (with Brie Ripley)

Would you move across the world to a country without ever having been there? That's what this week's guest did. We sit down with Brie Ripley to talk about her decision to take a 4-year contract with the World Food Program, which meant a relocation to Rome—a city she had never even visited.  She talks about the challenges of adjusting to life abroad as a brand-new expat, struggling to speak the language, searching for an apartment, missing her new husband who will be joining her soon, and quickly

Apr 8, 2024 • 41:56

Episode 526: An Unbelievable Discovery in Rome!

An exciting discovery out of Rome has recently rocked the archeological community! We have the details on this week's episode. ------------------------------------- ADVERTISE WITH US: Reach expats, future expats, and travelers all over the world. Send us an email to get the conversation started. BECOME A PATRON: Pledge your monthly support of The Bittersweet Life and receive awesome prizes in return for your generosity! Visit our Patreon site to find out more. TIP YOUR PODCASTER: Say thanks with

Apr 1, 2024 • 35:57

Episode 525: A Question of Season

Last week we talked—among other things—about what it would be like if the year started in March, as it used to do in ancient Rome. This got us thinking about seasons and how they effect our lives. On this week's episode we talk about what we love about certain seasons, how where you live can vastly affect how you experience the seasons (and therefore which ones you prefer), and the drawbacks of living in a place without distinct seasons. ------------------------------------- ADVERTISE WITH US: R

Mar 25, 2024 • 32:44

Episode 524: What if New Year's Were in March?

Is early January—the deepest, bleakest, darkest moment of winter—really the best time to make New Year's Resolutions? Isn't early spring a more fortuitous time for new beginnings? (And did you know that March used to be the first month of the year?) We mull this and other season-related questions on this episode (including a check-in to see how Tiffany and Katy are getting on with their resolutions for this year). We also talk about what we love about certain seasons, how where you live can vast

Mar 18, 2024 • 33:56

Episode 523: Legacy and Loss (with Kaila Merrill)

Today we explore a story of one woman whose family legacy—in particular her close relationship with her mother whom she lost suddenly to cancer—brought about a life pivot that she was never expecting. Kaila Merrill joins us today to tell her moving story, from growing up in tiny island town in northern Vermont to a carefree life on the beaches of Australia where she met her future husband, to her whirlwind wedding on Lake Como—one of the last joyful moments she was able to share with her mom—to

Mar 11, 2024 • 45:18

Episode 522: The Case Against Travel, Part 2

What if travel doesn't actually change you? A few weeks ago, we discussed this controversial idea, a conversation inspired by an essay in The New Yorker. (Make sure you listen to that episode first, because we had a lot to say on the topic!) It turns out, our listeners did too, as we got a lot of feedback on the subject. Today, we share some of it and dig even deeper into the topic. ------------------------------------- ADVERTISE WITH US: Reach expats, future expats, and travelers all over the w

Mar 4, 2024 • 31:13

Episode 521: Road Trips (with John Roderick)

What makes a song a good road trip song? This is something Katy has been musing over for several years now.   What better person to ask than a musician who has crossed the country on tour numerous times?   This week, Katy sits down with musician and podcaster John Roderick to talk about the allure of the American road trip, as well as what you should listen to while you are doing it.   John talks about his experience hitchhiking across the US as a recent high school graduate, and even

Feb 26, 2024 • 52:29

Episode 520: The Case Against Travel

Tell me about that trip that changed your life... and I'll tell you how you're lying to yourself. So claims a recent essay in The New Yorker titled The Case Against Travel. In it, author Agnes Callard makes some pretty bold and sweeping assertions, including that travel "turns us into the worst version of ourselves while convincing us that we’re at our best." Visiting a new place doesn't change the traveler, Callard argues, rather, the traveler changes the place. While there's certainly a nugge

Feb 19, 2024 • 41:34

Episode 519: Martyr! (with Kaveh Akbar)

What makes a life meaningful? Can a meaningful death transform an otherwise meaningless life into a meaningful one? These are just a few of the many ideas touched on in this week's episode, an interview with poet and author Kaveh Akbar. He joins us this week to discuss his new book, Martyr!, released in January 2024 and already a New York Times bestseller. This story follows a "newly sober, orphaned son of Iranian immigrants, guided by the voices of artists, poets, and kings, who embarks on a re

Feb 12, 2024 • 42:24

Episode 518: The Limitations of Language

A line from a new book by poet Kaveh Akbar sparks the idea for this episode: in a nutshell, does language have the capacity to truly express what we are trying to convey, or is there always something that can't be put into mere words? Is it true, as Akbar claims, that a photograph can describe what it was, but words can only describe what it was like? Also, when you speak two languages fluently, or live in two languages, do you naturally have a larger lexicon from which to draw when trying to ex

Feb 5, 2024 • 42:13

Episode 517: Could You Miss Discovering Your Passion?

How do we discover our passions? Is it a given that we will discover them at all? And where do they come from? Are they something we are born with and just need to be discovered within ourselves? Or are they triggered by something we are exposed to externally? Or is it a bit of both? Are there people with incredible innate talent for music or painting, walking around who will never know it because they never sit down at a piano or pick up a brush? Or will a remarkable talent always crop up soone

Jan 29, 2024 • 35:32

Episode 516: Post-Covid Social Woes

Is it Covid or are we just getting older? This week we discuss how the social world seems to have changed drastically in recent years—but is it due to this post-Covid era we're living in, or is it simply because we're getting older? We wonder: Is it acceptable now to simply not respond (indefinitely) to text messages? Even if they are from a close friend? Is it normal to have a sudden social anxiety that you've never experienced before? Is it easier to create a social circle in mid-life if you h

Jan 22, 2024 • 36:41

Episode 515: The Story Behind the Crow Gifts Photo

A little girl feeds crows and gets gifts in return. It’s a wonderful true story that’s gone viral again and again. But where did it come from? As it happens, it comes from this very podcast, when Katy discovered the "Nature Girl" and friend-of-crows herself, Gabi Mann. Katy snapped a photo of her collection of crow gifts—a photo that has now been seen by millions of people around the world. Hear the exclusive true story of how such a wondrous tale first came to be, before it captivated the entir

Jan 15, 2024 • 36:06

Episode 514: Did We Keep our New Year's Resolutions?

It's our annual New Year's Resoultion Recap! Did we do what we promised to do last year? This is always a cringe-worthy moment for us both as we go back and listen to our own hopeful voices promising what we will do... and often they are resolutions we don't even remember making—much less keeping! Listen in as we report how we did, and of course (because we can't resist), hear us make new resolutions for 2024. Curious about our previous editions? You can listen back to them all: What Did We Pro

Jan 8, 2024 • 42:59

Episode 513: One Last Gift

Happy New Year from your friends at the Bittersweet Life podcast! We wish you and your loved ones a 2024 full of adventure, personal growth, and excitment! As a final gift from us, we are extending our $500 discount for our October 2024 Rome listener trip to Epiphany (6 January 2024). So if you're considering joining us on an unforgettable week in Rome next fall, take advantage of this offer before it's too late! It's the perfect gift to give yourself (and your favorite travel partner!). We are

Jan 1, 2024 • 10:00

Episode 512: Operator (A Radio play by Matthew P. Woerner)

As a special holiday treat, today we are airing a new original radio play by friend of the show, Matthew P. Woerner. In the tradition of the golden age of radio, Operator is inspired by H. G. Well's historic War of the Worlds, from the point of view of a newly minted telephone operator as she fields calls from panicked citizens, calling in for information about the "alien invasion." Once the hustle and bustle of the holiday is past, or during a break in the action, find a quiet, cozy place, grab

Dec 25, 2023 • 1:34:48

Episode 511: Is the Place You Love as Good as You Think?

We've all had it happen: you gushingly recommend your favorite cafe or restaurant or bar to a friend, only to have them go and report back something tepid like, "It was ok." How is it possible that my friend thinks my all-time favorite place is... just ok?? Which caused us to wonder: are our favorite places really that great in and of themselves, or is it our particular experience there (which can depend on so many outside factors) that made it so great for us?  ---------------------------------

Dec 18, 2023 • 28:32

Episode 510: The Ghosts of Us

Have you ever wondered who you would be if you had made different life choices? Even making just one big decision differently, say, not moving abroad instead of moving abroad. Or not leaving that stable job. Where would you be in the world? What would you be doing? And most intriguingly, how would your personality and character be different?  Tiffany's most recent read, a ghost story by Henry James from this gorgeous edition, inspired this week's talk. Like Henry James' character Spencer Brydon,

Dec 11, 2023 • 33:56

Episode 509: Expats in Switzerland (with Lindy & Vince)

On our amazing listener trip to Rome this past October, we interviewed two of our guests, expats Vince and Lindy. These two native midwesterners talk about their backgrounds—traveling or not traveling as a child (depending on which member of the couple is talking), and how that has contributed to their life choices—and the challenges of being a twin (and being married to a twin). They recount how they intentionally embarked on their life abroad, which has brought them to as far-flung places as S

Dec 4, 2023 • 31:00

Episode 508: Discovering Rome's Secrets with our Listeners

On this episode, we bring you along with us on the final tour of our amazing Rome Adventure last month! During breaks between the sites of this super-secret Rome walk, Katy pulls out her microphone and interviews a few of our guests. She asks them about their impressions of Rome, the city's soundscape, the art that inspires them, the subjects that they now plan to explore further, as well as their take-aways from the trip we planned for them. One of our guests has even decided to change way she

Nov 27, 2023 • 46:30

Episode 507: Seeing (and not Seeing) Rome for the First Time

On the final morning of our amazing first-ever Bittersweet Life listener trip to Rome, we took a bit of time to tape an episode to capture what we were feeling and how the trip was going. What's it like to see Rome for the first time? And as a tour guide in Rome who has seen the sites hundreds if not thousands of times, is it possible to remember what it was like to see it all for the first time? Do you wish you could go back and see it for the first time again?  We muse on these ideas and more

Nov 20, 2023 • 22:07

Episode 506: [Live Show in Rome]: Discovery (with our listeners!)

Join us for a live episode with our listeners, the participants of the first-ever Bittersweet Life Roman Adventure! On Day Three of this amazing and magical trip, we stopped for an aperitivo in a sunny garden to tape this special show. Our topic: discovery. What are some of the greatest discoveries you've ever made, big or small? And what have you discovered about yourself? Our listeners weigh in live on the conversation with their own experiences. Don't miss it! And if you want to join us on ou

Nov 13, 2023 • 33:38

Episode 505: The Roman Adventure Begins!

In October we hosted the very first ever Bittersweet Life Rome Adventure with ten of our listeners! It was a blast, and we can't wait to share more about it over the coming episodes. But first! We taped this episode the evening before the trip kicked off, just a few hours before we met our guests on the rooftop terrace of Hotel Donna Camilla Savelli in Trastevere. We were nervous, excited, and—if we're being honest—pretty proud of ourselves for stepping out of our comfort zones and making this u

Nov 6, 2023 • 20:14

Episode 504: The Three Deaths

The opening lines of David M. Eagleman's Sum: Forty Tales from the Afterlives inspires this week's episode, just in time for Halloween. Eagleman's premise is that you aren't fully dead until your name is spoken for the last time. And although the thought of your name never being spoken again, never again being remembered by the living, is horrific, is it perhaps even more terrifying to imagine that your soul will not be able to rest until you cease to be spoken of?  What about famous dead people

Oct 30, 2023 • 32:38

Episode 503: How Geese Created Money

Every time Tiffany hears the word "money," she pictures geese on the Capitoline Hill. If you're curious why (and have an interest in word origins and ancient history) this episode is for you. You'll be surprised by the number of words that come to us direct from Ancient Rome. ------------------------------------- ADVERTISE WITH US: Reach expats, future expats, and travelers all over the world. Send us an email to get the conversation started. BECOME A PATRON: Pledge your monthly support of The B

Oct 23, 2023 • 29:39

Episode 502: Italy by Ingredient (with Viola Buitoni)

It's the ingredients, stupid. Ask anyone who knows Italian food and the'll tell you that what makes it so delicious and so universally beloved are the ingredients. Viola Buitoni's new cookbook Italy By Ingredient: Artisanal Foods / Modern Recipes is a celebration of this concept. Italian-born, California-based cooking instructor and food writer, Buitoni was honored by the President of the Italian Republic with the title Cavaliere dell’Ordine della Stella d’Italia for her work furthering the cult

Oct 16, 2023 • 34:34

Episode 501: How often do you think about the Roman Empire?

How often do actual Romans think about the Roman Empire? You probably saw the recent Tik Tok trend, in which women from around the world asked their male partners how often they thought about the Roman Empire. The results were surprising, with a lot more ancient Roman contemplation than the askers expected. We decided to ask Tiffany's husband Claudio, who has lived in Rome his entire life and works in a place full of ancient Roman art and artifacts, just how often he thinks about the Roman Empir

Oct 9, 2023 • 27:45

Episode 500: Celebrating 500 Episodes!

500 Episodes! Can you believe it? (We can't!) (And by complete coincidence, we taped this episode on the 19th anniversary of Tiffany's arrival in Rome!) Join us for this unbelievable milestone as we muse on what happens when we do something (a podcast, living abroad...) for a very, very long time. Longer than we could have ever imagined! ------------------------------------- ADVERTISE WITH US: Reach expats, future expats, and travelers all over the world. Send us an email to get the conversation

Oct 1, 2023 • 28:37

Episode 499: Losing Touch with the Soil

“You're an expatriate. You've lost touch with the soil. You get precious. Fake European standards have ruined you…” A famous quote in Tiffany’s current read sparks a lively conversation about the unglamorous side of the expat life. ------------------------------------- ADVERTISE WITH US: Reach expats, future expats, and travelers all over the world. Send us an email to get the conversation started. BECOME A PATRON: Pledge your monthly support of The Bittersweet Life and receive awesome prizes in

Sep 25, 2023 • 28:23

Episode 498: Cultural Fluency

How long does it take, living out of your home country, to lose your cultural fluency? When you grow up and live in the same country for most of your life, you might take it for granted, but understanding a culture, its nuances and customs, both big and small, is a huge part of everyday life. And strangely enough, we've found, if you don't use it, you lose it. Today Katy talks about the things that Tiffany no longer "gets" about the United States because she has lived abroad for nearly two decad

Sep 17, 2023 • 34:39

Episode 497: Finding Inspiration on Your Doorstep

Where do you find inspiration—for your writing, your painting, or just the art of living? A listener question about the flowers of Italy, of all things, sparks a conversation about where we find our inspiration, and how to go about seeking it if the well is running dry. As always, we welcome listener questions. Write to us here (or better yet, send us a voice recording of you asking your questions) and we may just do an episode on it. ------------------------------------- ADVERTISE WITH US: Reac

Sep 11, 2023 • 29:22

Episode 496: What We Did on our Summer Vacation

With our August break officially over, we're back with all new episodes, and oh my goodness, I guess that means it's Season 11! (What??!!) On this spontanous episode, we get back into the swing of things nice and slow, with a recap on what we did during our August vacation. ------------------------------------- ADVERTISE WITH US: Reach expats, future expats, and travelers all over the world. Send us an email to get the conversation started. BECOME A PATRON: Pledge your monthly support of The Bit

Sep 4, 2023 • 36:09

Episode 495: Loneliness and Belonging (with Hala Alyan)

Palestinian American poet Hala Alyan and her family fled Kuwait when Saddam invaded. She joins us to explore storytelling, straddling cultures, loneliness, therapy, and what value belongings come to have when you move constantly. Alyan is also a clinical psychologist and author of Salt Houses. Find Hala Alyan at her website. ------------------------------------- ADVERTISE WITH US: Reach expats, future expats, and travelers all over the world. Send us an email to get the conversation started. BEC

Aug 28, 2023 • 46:49

Episode 494: Your Brain and its Perceptions (with Erik Vance)

Why are colors brighter when you travel? Why do foreign doctors' offices seem sketchy sometimes? This has more to do with your brain than with reality. Science writer Erik Vance, author of Suggestible You, helps us examine the science behind our brain and its perceptions.   ------------------------------------- ADVERTISE WITH US: Reach expats, future expats, and travelers all over the world. Send us an email to get the conversation started. BECOME A PATRON: Pledge your monthly support of The Bit

Aug 21, 2023 • 37:47

Episode 493: Finding your Joyous Life (with Sarah McColl)

Do I deserve to live a bigger life? Sarah McColl, author of the memoir Joy Enough, joins us to talk about the beautiful life she discovered while living alongside her dying mother. In this probing coversation, we also explore how fear, loss, and the expectations of others can limit our potentially terrific lives. Find Sarah at her website or on Instagram. ------------------------------------- ADVERTISE WITH US: Reach expats, future expats, and travelers all over the world. Send us an email to ge

Aug 14, 2023 • 33:37

Episode 492: Exploring the Concept of Time (with Alan Burdick)

Why does time fly sometimes? Why does it slow down when you travel? We explore the notion of time with Alan Burdick, author of Why Time Flies. Alan Burdick is an editor on the Health and Science desk at the New York Times. ------------------------------------- ADVERTISE WITH US: Reach expats, future expats, and travelers all over the world. Send us an email to get the conversation started. BECOME A PATRON: Pledge your monthly support of The Bittersweet Life and receive awesome prizes in return f

Aug 7, 2023 • 39:06

Episode 491: When Will the Bubble Burst?

How long does the magic of Rome last to an expat? We recently received an email from a listener, an Australian who spent 5 years in Milan and has now been living in Rome for over a year. He wonders: when will the bubble burst? How long will he feel like his entire life is surreal, like he is living in a dream? Does the magic of living in Italy ever pass? Does it ever become mundane? Tiffany and Katy have lots of opinions. Listen in as they discuss! PS LIsteners are always welcome to send in ques

Jul 31, 2023 • 30:46

Episode 490: Just Across the Border: Austria vs. Italy

After her recent two-week trip to Austria, Tiffany reflects on the differences between Italy and Austria. Despite the fact that the countries share a border, it turns out there are many glaring differences between the two. ------------------------------------- ADVERTISE WITH US: Reach expats, future expats, and travelers all over the world. Send us an email to get the conversation started. BECOME A PATRON: Pledge your monthly support of The Bittersweet Life and receive awesome prizes in return f

Jul 24, 2023 • 36:45

Episode 489: What's in a Name?

Today we talk names. What names are most popular for kids in Italy these days? Which are evergreen favorites and how does popular culture play a part? And are old-fashioned grandpa and grandma names back in style in Italy as they are in the US? And speaking of, what are the most popular baby names in the States right now? Can you guess better than Katy can? Also, what if our parents had gone with one of the other names they were considering for us? Is it possible that our lives (and even our per

Jul 17, 2023 • 23:32

Episode 488: Hanging Out with the Dead

Do dead bodies make you squeamish? Have you ever seen one up close? For some, attending an open-casket funeral or a wake is as close as they'll ever come. For others, their career (funeral home director, embalmer, coroner...), close encounters with the dead are a regular fact of life. Then there are Romans, who, whether they notice it or not, are never very far away from a corpse—dead bodies of popes on full display in St. Peter's,  graves are underfoot more often than not, and skulls and bones

Jul 10, 2023 • 34:17

Bittersweet Moment #214: Lost in Translation: The Italian Movie Game!

Mamma Ho Perso L'Aereo! (Mom, I Missed the Airplane!) This is the Italian title for a  popular American movie—can you guess which one? On our twice-monthly bonus episodes, which we put out exclusively for our Patreon members and regular donors, we often talk about silly things, off-topic subjects, and deeply personal stories we prefer not to share with the entire world. And sometimes we continue a conversation we started on a regular episode. Today we're offering a peek behind the paywall with t

Jul 6, 2023 • 20:27

Episode 487: An Italian Woman in America (with Rosanna Staffa)

We talk (and talk and talk) about Americans living in Italy. But what about Italians who live in the US? What happens when the shoe is on the other foot?  Today we sit down with Rosanna Staffa, an Italian-born playwright and author who lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota.. Her debut novel The War Ends at Four is out now. Listen in to hear first-hand about the expat experience from the other perspective. Find Rosanna on Twitter or at her website. ------------------------------------- ADVERTISE WITH U

Jul 3, 2023 • 32:40

Bittersweet Moment #213: Trapped in Trastevere

Tiffany has been complaining about the criminal way in which Romans park since nearly the dawn of her now-dormant blog back in 2010. And becoming a Roman driver herself has not cooled her resentment towards the selfish jerks who park with complete disregard to their fellow citizens. But last weekend it got personal. After a Saturday evening out in Trastevere, Tiffany and her husband Claudio returned to their (legally parked) car to find it blocked in by an (illegally parked) car. They were, quit

Jun 29, 2023 • 12:07

Episode 486: Mom's (Necessary) Weekend Away

This month, Tiffany took her first solo (non-work-related) trip since becoming a mom almost 8 years ago! (What took her so long?) We reflect on the thoughts and realizations that came to her during this much-needed weekend get-away, specifically why she thinks it's vital that every mom take at least one trip away from her family every year. ------------------------------------- ADVERTISE WITH US: Reach expats, future expats, and travelers all over the world. Send us an email to get the conversat

Jun 25, 2023 • 31:39

Bittersweet Moment #212: Behind the Scenes at the Vatican

Planning a visit to the Vatican Museums this season? Forewarned is forearmed! Today we hear from three Vatican tour guides who dish the dirt on what it's really like inside the Vatican Museums, from unmanageable crowds to unbearable heat to rare acts of violence against the artwork.  But they also share their insider tips for how to survive—and enjoy—a visit to the Vatican Museums in high season. It is possible!  ------------------------------------- ADVERTISE WITH US: Reach expats, future expat

Jun 22, 2023 • 15:01

Episode 485: A Night at the Vatican

What's it like to be in the Vatican Museums in the middle of the night? Not just during evening hours, but long after they close... Journalist Cullen Murphy got a chance to do just that and he writes about his experience in a recent article in The Atlantic. The article sparked a discussion of places that change character entirely after nightfall. We chat about the places we've been at night and how the cover of darkness and, most of all, the absense of people, can utterly transform a place. ----

Jun 19, 2023 • 24:44

Bittersweet Life Moment #211: Audio Nostalgia

On Monday's episode we explored the music that we grew up listening to and loving—as well as how we discovered and acquired that music. (Call-in radio request, anyone?) Today, Katy digs up some old cassette tapes she recorded off the radio back in the 80s, when sometimes, the only way to find a favorite song was to sing it to the DJ and hope he recognized it. For anyone else who grew up in the 80s, get ready for some audio nostalgia. ------------------------------------- ADVERTISE WITH US: Reac

Jun 14, 2023 • 8:33

Episode 484: The Music We Love

A question from a listener sparks today's conversation: What music do we love and listen to on a daily basis? Have our tastes changed and matured over the years or do we still love the same music we loved as kids?  Also, find out why Katy says that listening through her music library takes courage. Join us as we dive into the music we love. ------------------------------------- ADVERTISE WITH US: Reach expats, future expats, and travelers all over the world. Send us an email to get the conversat

Jun 12, 2023 • 29:14

Bittersweet Moment #210: Belgium: Europe's Best-kept Secret

Fries, chocolate, canals, art, gabled houses... what's not to love?  Fresh off a long weekend in Ghent, Tiffany sings the glories of one of her favorite European towns, and explains why Belgium is Europe's best-kept secret. ------------------------------------- ADVERTISE WITH US: Reach expats, future expats, and travelers all over the world. Send us an email to get the conversation started. BECOME A PATRON: Pledge your monthly support of The Bittersweet Life and receive awesome prizes in return

Jun 8, 2023 • 11:04

Episode 483: When in Rome (with Liam Callanan)

Looking for the perfect summer read, something light yet introspective and thoughtful that takes place in Rome? You're in luck! This week we are joined by nationally bestselling, award-winning author Liam Callanan to talk about his new book, When in Rome, a "story of an opportunity to start over at midlife, a chance to save a struggling convent in the Eternal City, and the dramatic re-emergence of an old flame . . ." We chat about what it's like to write a book that takes place in a city you've

Jun 5, 2023 • 32:34

Bittersweet Moment #209: Aurelio's Summer Vacation Plans

School's almost out! Hooray for summer! Aurelio stops by to tell as about his summer plans, and why summer vacation for Italian kids is not quite as freeing as it is for their American counterparts. ------------------------------------- ADVERTISE WITH US: Reach expats, future expats, and travelers all over the world. Send us an email to get the conversation started. BECOME A PATRON: Pledge your monthly support of The Bittersweet Life and receive awesome prizes in return for your generosity! Visi

May 31, 2023 • 8:50

Episode 482: When Little Things Line Up

Do you ever have days when everything just lines up perfectly? When you couldn't have planned your day to work out in a more ideal if you had had it under your own control? Those days are rare when you live in Rome, but they do happen!  In the spirit of serendipity, we let this conversation lead us where it wanted.  ------------------------------------- ADVERTISE WITH US: Reach expats, future expats, and travelers all over the world. Send us an email to get the conversation started. BECOME A PAT

May 29, 2023 • 26:13

Bittersweet Moment #208: The Literary Magic of a Roman Hotel

What makes a place magical? A lot of factors can go into it, but one of them is certainly, as author Jess Walter puts it, when "history connects with the experience you're having." In this case, he's talking about the Hotel Donna Camilla Savelli, the very hotel where we are hosting our magical Roman Adventure this October. (Email us to find out how you can join us!) Today we talk with Jess to discover just what makes this hotel so magical, and why he chose to feature it in an article he wrote ab

May 25, 2023 • 12:19

Episode 481: A Visit to Basque Country (with Marti Buckley)

Today we're joined by Marti Buckley, an author, cook, and journalist living in San Sebastián, Spain. Her award-winning cookbook is called Basque Country, and her second book, The Pintxo Book, will be out in spring of 2024. ‌Listen to the interview to learn more about Basque Country (the place as well as the gorgeous book). We also discuss life in Spain vs. the United States, the challenges of single parenting abroad, and the effect that tourism has on places. Also: discover why pintxos (pronounc

May 22, 2023 • 38:01

Bittersweet Moment #207: A Virtual Tour of San Clemente

One of the most fascinating places in Rome by far, the one that packs the most layers (literally!) of history into a single site, is without a doubt the Basilica of San Celemente and the archeological excavations that lie underneath it. Today Tiffany takes you on a virtual tour of this amazing site, a sneak peek of what's to come this fall. You see, San Clemente is just one of many places Katy and Tiffany plan to take the lucky guests on the upcoming Bittersweet Life Rome Adventure, taking place

May 18, 2023 • 13:23

Episode 480: A Story Within a Story

What is the deal with the story within the story device? When reading 19th century literature, you're very likely to come across this technique, also known as a "frame story." And if you're like Tiffany, you find it annoying and distancing. Then again, if you're like Katy, you find it intriguing and charming. Why did the authors of mega-works like Frankenstein and Wuthering Heights decide that, to tell their stories properly, they needed to frame it with an external narrator (wholely unconnected

May 15, 2023 • 30:47

Bittersweet Moment #206: The Beauty of Being Told a Story

There's nothing quite like being told a story. Whether you're a child whose parent or babysitter is telling you a fairytale to help you fall asleep, a camper sitting in the magical glow of a campfire while one of your friends tells a ghost story, or a thrilled movie-goer in a darkened cinema, the power of storytelling is universal. We all feel it. Today Katy plays a story that she, long ago in her babysitting years, had memorized for those moments when the stubborn kids she was watching refused

May 11, 2023 • 16:08

Episode 479: Diary of an Au Pair (with Isidora Salcedo)

What's it like to move in with a family you've never met, in a foreign city you've never been to, to take care of children that are not your own? Turns out it can vary vastly, from finding your "second family" and sobbing when its time to leave, to being treated like a prisoner without even the freedom to decide what and when to eat. Isidora Salcedo, a visual artist from Chile, has run the gamut of au pair experiences, and she joins us this week to talk about the good, the bad, and the ugly of b

May 8, 2023 • 23:04

Bittersweet Moment #205: Rome's Truly Hidden Masterpieces

We've all heard the term "hidden gems" when it comes to going off the beaten track in popular tourist locations. Everyone wants to find that truly secret masterpiece that their fellow tourists miss.  But do hidden gems really exist in a place like Rome, where millions of tourists visit every year? Some say no, but Tiffany knows better. After spending 19 years exploring the Eternal City, she has found amazing works of art hidden in places you would never expect, often places that are open so rare

May 4, 2023 • 9:09

Episode 478: A Big Roman Announcement

Today we are making our biggest (and most exciting) announcement ever.  We are organizing an exclusive trip to Rome this October for just TEN of our listeners and their guests. Come to Rome with us! Spend 6 magical nights in one of the most beautiful and artistic hotels in Trastevere. The trip includes a walking tour of Rome's marvelous hidden masterpieces with us every single morning, a kick-off aperitivo all together on a terrace with a stunning view of the entire city, private transport from

May 1, 2023 • 23:58

Bittersweet Moment #204: A Bittersweet Boat Funeral

Today we bring you a story of passion, perseverence, and loss—an adventure on the high seas (really!). Listener Jordan sent us an extraordinary letter, about a bittersweet decision he had to make recently to say goodbye to the rowboat in which he rowed across the Atlantic Ocean—and won a Guinness World Record for it. A boat that has been with him on the greatest adventures of his life; a boat that was named after his late father. Don't miss this touching story. ----------------------------------

Apr 27, 2023 • 7:51

Episode 477: Dive into the Listener Mailbag

One of the things we pride ourselves on at The Bittersweet Podcast is our relationship with our listeners. We always welcome listener emails (and even voice memos) and we read and answer every single one.  We love hearing from you, learning what struck you on a particular episode, your feedback on questions we put out into the ether, and even just what's going on in your lives. Every so often we dive into that listener mail bag and answer a few questions live on air, and that is what we do today

Apr 24, 2023 • 19:24

Bittersweet Moment #203: Italian Words Americans Get Wrong

Think you know what "bimbo" means? What about "latte"? Turns out these Italian words are used all wrong by the majority of English speakers.  On Monday's episode, we talked, among other things, about the English words that Italian speakers use wrongly. Today the shoe is on the other foot, and Tiffany explains what these popular Italian words actually mean. ------------------------------------- ADVERTISE WITH US: Reach expats, future expats, and travelers all over the world. Send us an email to g

Apr 20, 2023 • 10:22

Episode 476: Italy Bans the English Language

A proposed law in Italy would ban the use English (or other foreign) words by public officials and in all government communications and documents, with fines of up to 100,000 euros for offenders. But what happens when a word in English simply doesn't exist in Italian? Or is it so archaic that it is rarely used anymore? And how much time will be wasted going through hundreds of thousands of documents to make these changes? Not to mention, is the Italian language really under attack? Does "Angloma

Apr 17, 2023 • 38:24

Bittersweet Moment #202: Moving Internationally (with Josh Sims of Sanelo)

One of the trickiest parts of moving abroad (especially if it’s for the long haul), is of course: how do I get all my stuff over there? Today we’re joined by Josh Sims, the Chief Operating Officer for Sanelo, a global move management company. Josh shares some of his deep industry experience in global relocation and logistics, with his over 20 years in the industry. Josh debunks expat moving myths like the need to get rid of all your worldly possessions or the inevitable stress around moving, and

Apr 13, 2023 • 18:08

Episode 475: Traveling Italy from Top to Bottom (with Jess Walter)

Jess Walter is the author of ten books, including New York Times #1 bestseller Beautiful Ruins, which takes place on the Italian Riviera. The latest is a collection of short stories titled The Angel of Rome. He’s spent the last five weeks seeing more of Italy than the average Italian. What are the lessons from the road, and how does exploring Italy from top to bottom alter your perception of time? He joins us this week to talk all about it. Find out more about Jess Walter at his website. -------

Apr 10, 2023 • 31:21

Bittersweet Moment #201: How to Have Rome's Museums All to Yourself

To say Rome is busy this season (and will only get busier as we move into summer) is an understatement. The city is on course to have its busiest tourist season IN HISTORY this year. Yikes! If you love museums and want to see some of Rome's incredible art, but you don't want to be crushed by the crowds, today is your lucky day. We list nearly a dozen amazing, significant, and beautiful museums in Rome that are almost empty, even in high season. If you're planning a trip to Rome, don't miss this

Apr 6, 2023 • 17:03

Episode 474: When Life Changes in an Instant... For the Better!

Last week we mused about those times when life changes in and the blink of an eye... for the worse. We've all been there: you crash your car, trip and break your wrist, or lose your job, and suddenly, daily life is very different. Today, we change gears to discuss those wonderful moments when life changes in an instant... for the better! We hope you've had plenty of those moments in your life too, and this week we chat about some of ours. ------------------------------------- ADVERTISE WITH US:

Apr 3, 2023 • 24:02

Bittersweet Moment #200: Losing JJ

Today Katy says goodbye to an old friend, someone she has known for over three decades. She got the news in a text message that her friend had passed away unexpectedly in Bangkok, where he had been living for 20 years. Today she gives a vulnerable and heartfelt tribute to him, and plays a clip from an episode he appeared on many years ago. ------------------------------------- ADVERTISE WITH US: Reach expats, future expats, and travelers all over the world. Send us an email to get the conversati

Mar 30, 2023 • 21:06

Episode 473: When Life Changes in an Instant... For the Worse

We all know how quick life can take a turn, when an accident or split-second decision throws your entire world into tilt, and everything changes in an instant. We're not talking major catastrophes or tragedies today, but rather those annoying little things you take for granted (like having a hand that functions properly or a strict, reliable routine), and when those things, for reasons outside your control, are suddenly gone, it's amazing how different life can suddenly feel. Today we discuss ho

Mar 27, 2023 • 36:53

Bittersweet Moment #199: Fantastical Thinking

March, for Katy, is the most melancholy and miserable month of the year, and we talk about why on Monday's full episode. She mentions a particular March a number of years ago when the combination of wretched and dismal weather plus a cold and unpleasant work space put her into a depressed state for the entire month. Out of curiosity, we decided to pull an episode from that very month to reair for you today, a conversation all about fantasy. (If you like this episode, don't miss its counterpart,

Mar 23, 2023 • 32:21

Episode 472: Melancholy March

It's spring at last, but early spring (and the month of March in particular) can mean different things to different people. For Katy in Seattle it's a time of constant rain and drizzle, for Tiffany in Rome it's one of most beautiful an temperate times of year, before the blistering heat of summer arrives.  But whether you love March or hate it, it's never easy when it seems like everyone you know is traveling and you are stuck at home. The reality of working from home is starting to get old. Kat

Mar 20, 2023 • 28:13

Bittersweet Moment #198: Discomfort Recollected in Tranquility

"An adventure is simply physical and emotional discomfort recollected in tranquility." —Tim Cahill Do you agree? In this mini-episode, we share a snippet of a past interview with fellow podcaster and adventurer Scott Gurian. He talks about his habit of seeking adventure, being a planner who knows the best experiences are often unplanned, and how he has turned from reporting on others adventures to living them himself. The full interview can be found here, and be sure to check out Scott's podcast

Mar 16, 2023 • 5:13

Episode 471: A Stranger in a Strange Land

Today we have the pleasure of hosting an episode of one of our favorite travel podcasts, Far From Home, hosted by Scott Gurian. In this episode, Jamie Yuenger talks about the unexpected challenges of adjusting to life as a New Yorker living in the Netherlands. She describes the near impossibility of making friends with locals, the lost feeling of not knowing the "terms of engagement," and the surprise in finding that her Americanness is often perceived as "too much." It wasn't until she went bac

Mar 13, 2023 • 30:58

Bittersweet Moment #197: Furbo vs. Fesso

They say that in Italy, you're either a furbo or a fesso—a wise guy or a chump. It's an unhappy reality that, in many situations in Italy, if you're not getting one over on someone else, someone is inevitably getting one over on you. After Monday's debate over the possible unexpected benefits of Italian disorganization, Tiffany recalls a few times in her nearly two decades of living in Rome when she turned on the wily arts of furbizia to get her way, and to avoid being a fessa. But that leads to

Mar 9, 2023 • 11:23

Episode 470: In Praise of Italian Disorganization

Italians love to complain about how disorganized everything is in Italy, but deep down, do they actually like it? A chance conversation Tiffany had last week sparked this episode about the possible benefits of living a country that doesn't take rules and regulations quite so seriously. Is there something to be said for a place that's a bit more flexible and relaxed, where people are more apt to "live and let live"? ------------------------------------- ADVERTISE WITH US: Reach expats, future exp

Mar 6, 2023 • 27:40

Bittersweet Moment: #196: The Secrets of Podcasting

What does it take to produce a professional-quality podcast? As in, what does it really take? As you may know, Katy is a seasoned radio and audio professional, not just the host and mastermind of The Bittersweet Life. Today she lets you in on a few of her podcasting secrets, including a peek behind the curtain to what a piece of tape can sound like before she edits it, as well as practical advice on how to improve your speaking voice. If you dream of starting your own podcast one day, don't miss

Mar 2, 2023 • 11:35

Episode 469: Can You Move to Italy without Speaking Italian?

Is it possible to move to Italy without speaking Italian? Can you find a job in Italy without speaking Italian? Can you make friends? This week we tackle a listener email, a question from someone who is pining to move to Italy, but is worried that she won't be able to find work or fit in, since she barely speaks the language. Tiffany and Katy spill on how much Italian you really need to know to get by, what you can do to improve it, and why it's so important to (eventually) speak the language of

Feb 27, 2023 • 27:17

Bittersweet Moment #195: What Else to See in Florence

You've seen the David, you know all about the Duomo, and the Uffizi is just to crowded... What else is there to see in Florence? As it turns out, a lot.  On this mini-episode, Tiffany fills you in on some amazing places to visit in Florence once you've seen the top three. Sign up for our newsletter for a full list with addresses, websites, and visiting information, as well as a few Florence restaurant recs. ------------------------------------- ADVERTISE WITH US: Reach expats, future expats, and

Feb 23, 2023 • 17:45

Episode 468: Florence, memories, and A Room with a View

Today The Bittersweet Life pops off to Florence, or at least, Tiffany regales Katy with the details of her recent trip to the cradle of the Renaissance, including specific stops she made to research her latest book, a YA historical fiction thriller set in Florence in 1600. Also, we talk about how memory-provoking it can be to travel to a place that you haven't been in over a decade, but that you have a few extremely strong impressions of from past trips. Tiffany takes a jaunt down memory lane to

Feb 20, 2023 • 30:01

Bittersweet Moment #194: Observing while Overlooked

After a discussion about how living in a foreign country can sometimes make you feel like you're completely overlooked and even invisible, Katy shares why, as a writer, that might be a wonderful thing. Be sure to listen to Monday's full episode first! ------------------------------------- ADVERTISE WITH US: Reach expats, future expats, and travelers all over the world. Send us an email to get the conversation started. BECOME A PATRON: Pledge your monthly support of The Bittersweet Life and recei

Feb 16, 2023 • 7:26

Episode 467: The Overlooked Outsider

Today we start the episode with a clip of comedy writer David Sedaris talking about his experiences as an expat, someone who, as he says, "doesn't count." This sparks a conversation about the anonymity that comes with being and living abroad. Is it a good thing? Is it simply a novelty that will wear off the longer you stay in a foreign country? Katy can relate, remembering her time as a completely invisible (she felt) foreigner living in Trastevere, where no one seemed to know she existed. Does

Feb 13, 2023 • 29:03

Bittersweet Moment #193: Stop Taking My Picture!

On Monday we talked about the risks of missing out on important moments because we are too busy photographing them to actually live them, and in particular, we talked about society's obsession with the selfie. But compulsively photographing yourself is not the only problem. On this mini-episode, we chat with Aurelio to get his perspective on having a mom who is constantly (according to him) taking his picture, what he likes and dislikes about finding her camera pointed at him all the time, and i

Feb 9, 2023 • 10:22

Episode 466: Turn Your Camera Around

Once upon a time, we took pictures in order to remember our travels—now we travel in order to get good pictures... so we can share on social media. At least, that's the take of opinion piece Tiffany happened upon in the New York Times, titled You're Pointing Your Camera the Wrong Way by Margaret Renkl. The piece hit home because Tiffany (like many people) often feels the urge to capture every moment, the need to pose photos just so, and even the sense of having missed out on special moments beca

Feb 6, 2023 • 28:50

Bittersweet Moment #192: Gifting Someone their Past

The art of letter-writing is not lost! Not if you, like Katy, choose to keep it alive. On this mini-episode, we hear from Katy's mom, who describes an wonderful keepsake from someone she wrote letters to for decades, and now she's passing on the tradition. Also, Katy reads some postcards she wrote to her mom while she was living in Rome. And remember, anyone who donates to this podcast—once or regularly—receives a hand-written letter from Katy.  ------------------------------------- ADVERTISE WI

Feb 2, 2023 • 11:48

Episode 465: You Will Never See it Again

There's something poignant about knowing that you will never see a particular painting again, even if you don't even really like that painting. Today, Katy shares an excerpt from a book she's reading The Victorian and the Romantic, by Nell Stevens (known under the title Mrs. Gaskell and Me in the UK), about a woman in the the Victorian period who had been in Rome for three months, and as she prepares to leave forever, she contemplates the fact that she will never ever see the painting she is loo

Jan 30, 2023 • 31:51

Bittersweet Moment #191: The Horror and Misery of a Brand-new Expat

Today we time-travel back to 2004 when Tiffany was a newly arrived expat in Rome. Believe it or not, those first few weeks and months were not exactly idyllic. Far from it. Tiffany reads some excerpts from her journals from 2004, entries that she has not looked at in almost 19 years! One thing that she hadn't remembered: how thoroughly miserable and homesick she was upon arrival. Laugh and cringe along with her on this mini-episode. ------------------------------------- ADVERTISE WITH US: Reach

Jan 26, 2023 • 16:33

Episode 464: Diving into the Past through Journals and Letters

Are you brave enough? Why is it that reading one of your old journals can be so terrifying—or often so cringe-worthy, depending on how far back it goes. Last week we talked about the dilemma of what to do with the piles and piles of old journals many people have. (Make sure you listen to that episode first!) Our listeners had lots of thoughts on this topic, and they wrote in to tell us their opinions and experiences. On this episode we read letters from a few listeners who spark an entirely new

Jan 23, 2023 • 32:14

Bittersweet Moment #190: Journaling with Seagulls, Sharks, and Desmond Tutu

Would ever read excerpts of your personal journal live on air? That's what Katy's doing on this mini-episode. She cracks opens some of her old journals (including a diary from when she was 11) and reads some of the most interesting snippits. From bird- and duck-watching as a wee girl (yes, she's been going out to see what the birds are doing for a very long time), to an early mention of her "friend Tiffany Parks" and the 100-page letter she received from her, from her observations upon arriving

Jan 19, 2023 • 17:12

Episode 463: What Do I Do with All those Journals?

A few weeks we did an episode about downsizing, inspired by a voice message sent in by a listener.  We both love the idea of downsizing and the topic sparked a passionate conversations, but it got us thinking: what do we do with our journals? If you are an avid, life-long journal writer, you will find yourself with a growing stack of journals, that might even surpass your book collection when you start nearing the end of your life. What do you do with them all? Do you destroy them? Leave them t

Jan 16, 2023 • 28:20

Bittersweet Moment #189: Baptized by the Pope

Every year in January, the pope baptizes a group of lucky babies—the offspring of his employees born in the previous six months—and he does it in the most famous chapel in the world, the legendary Sistine Chapel. Back in 2016, our own little Aurelio was one of those fortunate kiddos. Tiffany recalls the details of that special day, what it was like to be a part of a papal ceremony, the elusive art she got to see, and her emotions watching Pope Francis baptize her son. ---------------------------

Jan 12, 2023 • 19:40

Episode 462: Promises Kept and Promises Broken

It's our first new full episode of 2023, so of course we're here to share our New Year's Resolutions with you! We also listen back to last year's resolutions and fess up on whether we managed to accomplish them or not!  ------------------------------------- ADVERTISE WITH US: Reach expats, future expats, and travelers all over the world. Send us an email to get the conversation started. BECOME A PATRON: Pledge your monthly support of The Bittersweet Life and receive awesome prizes in return for

Jan 9, 2023 • 29:55

Bittersweet Moment #188: Aurelio's New Year's Resolutions

What happens when kids make New Year's Resolutions? Find out on today's mini-episode when we're joined by Aurelio to hear if he has set any resolutions this year—or if he even knows what resolutions are. But what it all boils down to really (for kids as well as adults) is this: what do I want to do more of this year? And don't miss Monday's episode when Katy and Tiffany reveal whether or not we kept our resolutions from last year, and set new ones for 2023. -------------------------------------

Jan 5, 2023 • 8:56

Episode 461: What Did We Promise to Do Last Year?

It's that time of year again! Ready or not, it's time to listen back at our New Year's Resolutions from last year. Most people don't even consider their resolutions past January or so, but we are masochists and we go back and listen every year to see how we did. Listen in with us, and don't miss next Monday's episode when we will make our resolutions for 2023! (We never learn apparently.) ------------------------------------- ADVERTISE WITH US: Reach expats, future expats, and travelers all over

Jan 2, 2023 • 33:08

Bittersweet Moment #187: Holiday Time Travel to 2013

In honor of our Christmas week break, we bring you an episode from way, way back in time. Holidays was taped all the way back in December 2013, although it aired a few months later. Back then, the Bittersweet Life podcast was in its earliest infancy (this is just the 3rd ever episode!), Katy was a brand-new expat celebrating her first Christmas abroad, and Aurelio hadn't even been dreamed of yet. Here are the original show notes from that early, early episode: When you become an expat, you expec

Dec 29, 2022 • 26:14

Episode 460: A Radio Play for Christmas – A Gift (with Matthew P. Woerner)

In the spirit of Christmas, we've decided to take the week off (shocking, we know!) so in lieu of a new episode this week, we are re-airing on of our favorite original radio plays of recent years, A Gift, by friend of the show, Matthew P. Woerner. In the flavor of Its a Wonderful Life, this original radio play is about a mysterious, magical shop where the customer might just find what they long for. When a woman takes a walk on Christmas Eve, she notices a shop she's never seen before—though the

Dec 26, 2022 • 50:47

Bittersweet Moment #186: A Holiday Greeting from Katy and Tiffany

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from your friends at the Bittersweet Life! Enjoy this festive greeting from your devoted podcast hosts! ------------------------------------- ADVERTISE WITH US: Reach expats, future expats, and travelers all over the world. Send us an email to get the conversation started. BECOME A PATRON: Pledge your monthly support of The Bittersweet Life and receive awesome prizes in return for your generosity! Visit our Patreon site to find out more. TIP YOUR PODCASTER: Say

Dec 22, 2022 • 18:41

Episode 459: Underestimated

Who says you can only excel at one thing? Lots of people it turns out. As Katy is focusing more of her time and effort on her writing career, certain people who know her exclusively as a long-time radio professional just can't get their heads around the idea that she might be able to do something else, and do it to the same level of excellence. Why do so many people feel the need to pigeon-hole others? And what can multi-faceted people do to protect themselves from being underestimated by well-m

Dec 19, 2022 • 37:27

Bittersweet Moment #185: World Cup Fever with Aurelio

What is it about little Italian boys that made them adore calcio (aka soccer, if you're in America), (aka football, if you're anywhere else) so much? It must be something they are born with because we certainly didn't instill it in him, and yet adore calcio he most certainly does. On this week's episode we chat with our resident calcio expert, none other than Aurelio, about why he loves the sport so much, why he's so fascinated (seemingly beyond reason!) by collectible players cards, and (most p

Dec 15, 2022 • 13:08

Episode 458: Downsizing

Do you feel the need to cull your belongings, either because you’re planning a big move, moving to a smaller space, or just feel you have too much stuff? Downsizing is something that all would-be expats will eventually face—as well as anyone who yearns for a less cluttered and simpler life—so when we received a voice memo from long-time listener Mike on this very topic, we had a lot to say about it. This week we discuss why it can be so freeing to get rid of unnecessary belongings, as well as wh

Dec 12, 2022 • 31:06

Bittersweet Moment #184: Get Writing!

Is writing one of the things that you are hoping to do more of in the new year? Are you a writer who feels blocked? Or, regardless of your preferred creative medium, do you feel like you're in a bit of a rut? If any of these is the case for you, listen to this week's mini-episode. Katy shares some of the exercises that she uses in her own writing group, from writing prompts to writing sprints, flash fiction to flash poetry. You'll be surprised how good a ten-minute timer is at releasing your cre

Dec 8, 2022 • 11:54

Episode 457: Longing and Feasting

When Tiffany described her struggles and misadventures to recreate a traditional Thanksgiving meal in her adopted country (listen to that mini-episode here if you haven't already), Katy had lots of questions. In this episode, they dissect what it is that makes it so hard, practically and emotionally, to recreate traditional holidays in a country that doesn't celebrate them. On a deeper level, they discuss the stark possibility that Tiffany will never again celebrate Thanksgiving with her family

Dec 5, 2022 • 27:47

Bittersweet Moment #183: The Hazards of an Expat Thanksgiving

Against all odds (including being a self-described unenthusiastic cook), Tiffany managed to pull off a full Thanksgiving meal this year, all by herself! And it was waaaaay more work than she expected! On this week's mini-episode, she describes the challanges of finding distinctly non-Italian ingredients for this all-American meal, the confusion of guests who don't "get" Thanksgiving, and her deep longing to be celebrating with her family back home. ------------------------------------- ADVERTISE

Dec 1, 2022 • 18:20

Episode 456: Autumn This or That?

Autumn isn't everyone's favorite season... but it should be.  For no other reason than because we're in the middle of the best season of the year, today we put aside the "serious" topics to play a little game. This or That, autumn edition. Play along with us and hear us at our most unscripted and spontaneous, a state we usually reserve for bonus episodes. ------------------------------------- ADVERTISE WITH US: Reach expats, future expats, and travelers all over the world. Send us an email to ge

Nov 28, 2022 • 28:47

Bittersweet Moment #182: And the Winner Is...

This autumn we announced our best book giveaway ever: a chance to win a brand-new copy of Jane Austen's best-loved novel Pride and Prejudice in the stunning Penguin Clothbound Classics edition. On this mini-episode, we put all the names of the giveaway participants into a hat (literally, Katy uses her grandfather's silk tophat for such occasions!) and find out the winner! If you participated in this giveaway, be sure to listen in to see if you won! And to all our listeners, and most particularly

Nov 24, 2022 • 8:46

Episode 455: Why Is the Media Obsessed with Italy? (with Coral Sisk)

Are you tired of watching every one you know go to Italy? The writer of a recent Eater article was, and she penned a viral complaint about it for the popular online foodie publication, with the specific complaint that the media turns too much of its focus on Italy—particularly when it comes to food programming—so tourists think it's the "only" place to go. The comment section was wild, with most of the responses somewhere along the lines of "I love Italy and there's nothing wrong with that!" Of

Nov 20, 2022 • 34:32

Bittersweet Moment #181: Throwing Your Hat in the Ring

Katy recently threw her hat in the ring, and ended up on a stage in Richmond, Virginia, vying for a $10,000 podcast pilot contract. We listen in on the contest of a lifetime. You'll get to hear her live pitch and all about her amazing podcast idea that wowwed the judges and the audience, as well as her on-the-spot answers to the judges' questions. What do you think... did she win? You'll have to listen to find out. One of the unexpected take-aways: when an amazing opportunity lands in your lap,

Nov 17, 2022 • 29:04

Episode 454: Trying New Things, Opera Edition

When you decide to try something new, you might as well go all the way. That's what Katy was thinking when she bought opera tickets for the first time ever, and that the opera was by Wagner. Tiffany (who has a bit more experience with opera) was, understandably, concerned. Will Katy adore it? Will she detest it? Will Seattle Opera's new production of Tristan und Isolde turn Katy into an opera-lover? You'll have to listen to find out.  Hear reaction from before, during, and after Katy's opera adv

Nov 14, 2022 • 40:14

Bittersweet Moment #180: Where in the World Should I Move?

If the current political situation in America or Britain or wherever you happen to live is not your cup of tea, you can always move abroad (easier said than done, of course)! On this mini-episode, Tiffany lays out the "best" and "worst" (according to several studies and surveys) countries and cities to live in as an expat, as well as the Italian cities with the highest quality of life (if you insist on moving to low-rated Italy). She also shares a list of countries that offer resident visas for

Nov 10, 2022 • 18:41

Episode 453: A Matter of Belonging

What does it mean to belong—to a place, a family, a profession, a community? They say that belonging is a universal need, but if that's true, why do expats willingly leave home,  family, friends, and job to move to a foreign country where they often know no one? Why do expats chose to live in a place where—culturally, at the very least—they don't belong at all? Today we dig into this thought-provoking topic... but we don't promise we have the answer. ------------------------------------- ADVERTI

Nov 7, 2022 • 27:54

Bittersweet Moment #179: Ghostly and Romantic Notions

What's it like to really live with a ghost, and why do so many people want to these days? This mini-episode was inspired by a recent article in the New York Times that suggests some interesting reasons why ghosts are more popular than ever. And in response to last week's mini-episode, we hear from a listener who experienced an utterly romantic moment in Venice several years ago. ***Don't miss these related episodes*** Episode 452: Ghostly Tales with the Hosts of Homespun Haints Bittersweet Mom

Nov 3, 2022 • 7:39

Episode 452: Ghostly Tales with the Hosts of Homespun Haints

Everyone has one—a ghost story, that is. At least that's what our guests on this episode claim. And their podcast sets out to prove it. Homespun Haints is a hilarious yet serious look at all things ghostly. Their episodes include both their own personal experiences with the other-worldly, as well as stories of their many guests. Becky Kilimnik and Diana Doty join us this week to talk about their creepiest personal ghost stories, and tell us a little bit about how they came to be so interested in

Oct 31, 2022 • 49:15

Bittersweet Moment #178: What Makes a Moment Romantic?

On Monday's episode, our guest Monique Le described a simple but memorable moment—just after arriving in Seattle as an immigrant from Vietnam —as romantic.  Inspired by this, on today's mini-episode, Tiffany shares some of the moments that have stood out in her life that have captured that same sense of indescribable romance. Not surprisingly, they all occurred when she was traveling. ------------------------------------- ADVERTISE WITH US: Reach expats, future expats, and travelers all over the

Oct 27, 2022 • 16:32

Episode 451: A Romantic Immigration (with Monique Le)

Monique Le fled Vietnam when she was 16 years old. After eight months in a refugee camp, she finally landed in the United States. Thirty years later, Monique lives in Seattle and makes her living as a matchmaker. We'll explore her amazing journey as one of the now legendary "boat people" of Vietnam, and why seeing the rain on her bedroom window in her new country was, for her, absolutely romantic. Listen to Monique's radio talk show, Afternoons with Monique, or—if you're in need of a matchmaker—

Oct 24, 2022 • 37:49

Bittersweet Moment #177: Where to Begin if You're New to the Show

When new listeners find our show, they often ask themselves (or us), where do I begin? And it's understandable: with an archive of over 450 episodes and pushing 200 mini-episodes, it can be hard to know where to start. To avoid new-listener overwhelm, we taped this mini (but actually kind of long!) episode to help new listeners navigate the show, find out what to expect, and learn what the show is about. And really, often the best strategy is simply to start at the beginning with Episode 1.  And

Oct 20, 2022 • 17:11

Episode 450 [LIVE]: Fright Night

Just in time for Halloween, we share grisly stories about the scariest, ickiest, and most unpleasant nights we ever spent on a trip—in a hotel, apartment, or other not ideal accomodation. But what makes this episode special is that we tell these stories LIVE on a live episode recording with our supporters on Patreon. At the end of the episode, the participating listeners are invited to share their scary overnight stories as well.  If you'd like to participate in our next live episode, join us on

Oct 17, 2022 • 35:01

Bittersweet Moment #176: Voting in Italy

On the heels of the big parliamentary elections in Italy last month, and the upcoming 2022 midterm elections in the states, Tiffany talks about what it's like to vote in Italy. You'll probably be surprised to hear how old school the process is, and Tiffany never ceases to be amazed—and delighted—at how little the process of voting has changed in Italy in the last century. And since we're talking about elections, here are a few episodes from our archives that follow our live and evolving reaction

Oct 13, 2022 • 18:02

Episode 449: I Was Here

On a recent Bittersweet Moment, Tiffany remembered accidently smearing a bit of lipstick on the doorframe of one of the buildings she lived in her first months in Rome, and how that red streak is still there, 18 years later. And how, somehow, every time she sees it, it reminds her of her earliest days in Rome, almost an "I was here" moment. Inspired by this, Katy and Tiffany talk about other moments in their life that they have felt a similar sensation, how common that might be, and why we somet

Oct 10, 2022 • 28:13

Bittersweet Moment #175: If You Could Do Anything, Would You Go to Stunt School?

On Monday's episode we asked the question, where would you live if you could live anywhere? Today we think about what would you do if you could do anything? What would you want to learn?  Katy once met a ballet dancer who was no longer getting hired. She'd aged out of the industry she loved. So what did she decide to do next? She enrolled in stunt school. Katy brings you an audio moment from an actual lesson at The International Stunt School. ------------------------------------- ADVERTISE WITH

Oct 6, 2022 • 10:15

Episode 448: If You Could Live Anywhere (with Melody Warnick)

It used to be that we moved to (and stayed in) whatever city we got a job in—whether we liked living there or not. Luckily, thanks to the rise in remote work and freelancing, we have more freedom than ever to take an active choice in where we want to livebut that doesn't necessarily make choosing where to live any easier. In her new book, If You Could Live Anywhere, Melody Warnick breaks down the considerations that should go into choosing where to live. The book offers practical advice for anyo

Oct 3, 2022 • 35:47

Bittersweet Moment #174: The Challenging First Weeks of Expat Life

On the heels of Tiffany's 18th anniversary of moving to Rome, she remenisces about the miserable living situations she found herself in those very first weeks as an expat. Luckily, with the distance of nearly two decades, she can laugh about these memories now instead of cry.  ------------------------------------- ADVERTISE WITH US: Reach expats, future expats, and travelers all over the world. Send us an email to get the conversation started. BECOME A PATRON: Pledge your monthly support of The

Sep 29, 2022 • 21:11

Episode 447: Eighteen Years in Rome!

Tiffany has officially lived in Rome longer than she has lived anywhere else! As she realizes this milestone, she and Katy reflect on what has changed for her since she made the move abroad, what has stayed the same, how she's grown and what she wished she had done differently. Katy also asks a big question: do you have any regrets? If you could do it all over again, would you? ------------------------------------- ADVERTISE WITH US: Reach expats, future expats, and travelers all over the world.

Sep 26, 2022 • 29:28

Bittersweet Moment #173: The Fantastical Neighborhood of Coppedè

We all know what Rome is supposed to look like: towering ruins, baroque majesty, cobblestones, orange buildings, churches everywhere you look. But Rome has the power to surprise you, even those of us who know her well. On this mini-episode, Tiffany recounts her visit to the tiny and delightful neighborhood of Coppedè in the north of Rome, a magical place that looks like it should be in a fairytale. Here more about the unexpected magic of Italy on this recent full episode. -----------------------

Sep 22, 2022 • 12:24

Episode 446: Why Do Anything for Ten Years?

As we kick of our tenth season, it got us wondering: why do we do anything for ten years? What keeps us going? How do we keep it fun? Whether it's a marriage, a job, a life in a foreign country, or a podcast you started on a whim, what makes us do things for THAT LONG? And how do we keep going when it gets hard? ------------------------------------- ADVERTISE WITH US: Reach expats, future expats, and travelers all over the world. Send us an email to get the conversation started. BECOME A PATRON:

Sep 19, 2022 • 36:15

Bittersweet Moment #172: Into the Woods

The mountains are calling and I must go! Despite having lived in Seattle the vast majority of her life, Katy is not much of an outdoorsy type. Still, she recently heeded the call of nature (and her partner Derek, whose hiking buddies had canceled on him last minute), to go on a strenuous hiking and camping trip in the Olympic Mountains. On this mini-episode, Katy recounts the adventure, including surprising animal encounters and grueling physical challenges. -------------------------------------

Sep 15, 2022 • 16:03

Episode 445: Are Americans Over-sensitive?

We kick of a brand new season today (Season 10, can you believe it?), and as exciting as that is, at the same time, our unforgettable Summer in Rome series is officially a wrap.  As always when Tiffany returns from a long stint in the States, she shares her observations about the things that seem strange in her home country, and not just little things. This time a big thing popped out at her, and it made her rethink a common critisism leveled against Italians. -----------------------------------

Sep 12, 2022 • 36:05

Bittersweet Moment #171: Italy vs. America, According to Aurelio

You've all heard at least half a dozen times Tiffany's impressions on the differences (both great and small) between the US and Italy. But on this mini-episode, Aurelio weighs in with his observations after his recent visit to his second home country. ------------------------------------- ADVERTISE WITH US: Reach expats, future expats, and travelers all over the world. Send us an email to get the conversation started. BECOME A PATRON: Pledge your monthly support of The Bittersweet Life and recei

Sep 8, 2022 • 12:05

Episode 444 [Summer in Rome]: The Limits of Time and Goodbye Roma

Saying goodbye is always bittersweet... especially when you're leaving not just a good friend, but also a beloved city. Today is the final chapter in our "Summer in Rome" series—we hoped you enjoyed listening to it as much as we enjoyed making it—and we muse on time, and how our perception of it is able to speed up and slow down depending on what we are doing. For example, how is it possible that Katy's life-changing time living in Rome took up less than one year, while the time since then—that

Sep 5, 2022 • 25:27

Bittersweet Moment #170: Left, Right, Surprise

What more unexpected magic in your life? Try playing "Left, Right, Surprise," a game invented by author Robert Fulghum which appears in his book Third Wish, a personal favorite of Katy.  On this mini-episode, Katy lays out how to play this interesting game, which will help you discover not just a new place or detail, but also a new nugget of insight into the person you are with. ***Want more?*** Listen to Katy's brilliant interview with Robert Fulghum here. Hear more about the unexpected magic o

Sep 1, 2022 • 6:53

Episode 443 [Summer in Rome]: The Unexpected Magic of Italy

Is there anywhere else on earth that offers as much sheer beauty as Italy? (We'd wager there aren't.) But in addition to Italy's undeniable beauty, there is a sense of magic that never quite leaves you. With artistic masterpieces hidden in obscure churches, exquisite villages perched on remote mountaintops, and archetectural wonders tucked away in the middle of a forest, you never know when you'll turn a corner and encounter something that will dazzle and delight you. ---------------------------

Aug 29, 2022 • 27:22

Bittersweet Moment #169: Airline Travel and American Adventure with Aurelio

Tiffany and her family are back in Italy after their summer vacation in the US. On this mini-episode, Tiffany and Aurelio talk about their trip, specifically the flight, and Tiffany reminisces about how different air travel was when she was a kid. She also asks Aurelio where he would rather live—Italy or America—and which language he prefers. ------------------------------------- ADVERTISE WITH US: Reach expats, future expats, and travelers all over the world. Send us an email to get the convers

Aug 25, 2022 • 13:47

Episode 442 [Summer in Rome]: The Glorious Gardens of Rome

Little known fact: Rome is the city in Europe with the most green space per capita! It's true, Rome is not all crumbling ruins and crowded city streets. The city is bursting with parks and gardens, true urban oases that often have centuries-old histories. Katy and Tiffany visit one such garden on this episode, the Roseto Comunale, Rome's municipal rose garden, on a hot May day when the roses are in spectacular bloom. What follows is a chat about some of the most beautiful gardens in the city, an

Aug 22, 2022 • 27:10

Bittersweet Moment #168: Moving to Rome Because of the Pandemic (with Kate Wheeler)

During the long lonely months of Covid lockdown and beyond, Seattlite cartoonist Kate Wheeler dreamed of moving to Rome. This winter, she made that dream a reality. She sits down with Katy to talk about how she made it happen, the challenges she has faced, the biggest rewaards, and how Rome is now inspiring her art. Check out her Washington Post article here. Find Kate's art on Instagram, or follow her adventures in Rome on her personal Instagram page. Visit her website here. ---------

Aug 18, 2022 • 17:54

Episode 441 [Summer in Rome]: The Oldest Cafe in Rome

Where did Lord Byron and Percy Shelley come to scribble down their verses? Where did Bizet and Berlioz go to discuss their work? Where could Casanova be found trying to pick up girls? Caffè Greco, where else? Having opened in 1760, Antico Caffè Greco is the oldest café in Rome and the second-oldest in all of Italy! And you can still go there and sit where Hawthorne, Ibsen, Gogol, Goethe, Canova, and many many other literary, art, and musical greats rubbed elbows and drank coffee. On this episode

Aug 15, 2022 • 24:00

Bittersweet Moment #167: Actually Not Italian

Accordion music... red and white checkered table clothes... spaghetti and meatballs... All wonderful things but... actually, they are NOT Italian! On this mini-episode, Tiffany debunks some myths about what's authentically Italian and what isn't, particularly when it comes to what many tourists think is Italian cuisine. ------------------------------------- ADVERTISE WITH US: Reach expats, future expats, and travelers all over the world. Send us an email to get the conversation started. BECOME A

Aug 11, 2022 • 12:43

Episode 440 [Summer in Rome]: Where Are All the Accordions?

When you come back after several years to a city where you used to live, what do you notice? What has change? What has stayed the same? What have you forgotten about in your time away? Arriving in Rome after four years away, Katy notices something that—once ubiquitous on the streets of Rome—is now missing: accordionists. This sparks a conversation about what we notice, what we take for granted as being an eternal aspect of the city, and how a city can change before your very eyes. The famous son

Aug 8, 2022 • 17:21

Bittersweet Moment #166: Exploring Villa Aurora with Princess Rita

Following our exclusive interview with Princess Rita Boncompagni Ludovisi, we explore the spectacular and art-filled Rome in a private tour, led by the owner herself! Casino Boncompagni Ludovisi, lovingly referred to as Villa Aurora, boasts an optical illusion by Guercino, four painters trying to outdo each other on the same ceiling for further commissions, a Michelangelo sculpture in the garden (is it??), ancient statuary everywhere you look, and most significantly, a original Caravaggio... and

Aug 4, 2022 • 12:29

Episode 439 [Summer in Rome]: Princess Rita and the Fight over Villa Aurora

In this EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW with Princess Rita Boncompagni Ludovisi, the elusive American princess opens up about her relationship with the late Prince Nicolò, the unpleasant inheritance fight she's currently embroiled in with her stepsons, how she feels about the prospect of being forced from her home, and—perhaps most intriguingly—what it's like to live at Villa Aurora, a five-hundred-year-old home decorated with paintings by Guercino, Pomerancio, and even Caravaggio, with its gardens full of

Aug 1, 2022 • 1:02:37

Bittersweet Moment #165: Italian Summer Reads

If you are dreaming of an Italian summer, find it within the pages of a book. Tiffany shares her favorite books that take place (at least partly) in Italy in summer, and exqiusitely and vividly capture that magical setting.  **Check out our interview with Liam Callanan about his earlier book, Paris by the Book here.** ------------------------------------- ADVERTISE WITH US: Reach expats, future expats, and travelers all over the world. Send us an email to get the conversation started. BECOME A P

Jul 28, 2022 • 18:01

Episode 438 [Summer in Rome]: The Hazards of a European Road Trip

Ah, the freedom of the roadtrip. Go anywhere, anytime, at your own pace. No limits but the open road... *record scratch* ...unless you are roadtripping in Europe, that is.  Katy recounts the hazards, hiccups, and dramas of her attempt to roadtrip across several European countries... and catching Covid in the process. ------------------------------------- ADVERTISE WITH US: Reach expats, future expats, and travelers all over the world. Send us an email to get the conversation started. BECOME A PA

Jul 25, 2022 • 26:46

Bittersweet Moment #164: Covid, Keats, and the Italian Air

"I was in Italy at Lake Como when I learned I had Covid." So begins an original piece by our own Katy Sewall, which recounts her health adventure getting Covid after two full years of pandemic isolation and extreme precaution, just as she finally departed on her first international trip since the coronavirus outbreak. She muses on the irony of the timing, the wisdom of traveling right now according to experts (better news than you might expect!), and the historic precedent for convalescing in It

Jul 21, 2022 • 10:40

Episode 437 [Summer in Rome]: Rome's Best Restaurants, Gelato, and More

As you know if you're a regular listener, our show goes a lot deeper than travel tips an "best of"s. Our weekly conversations explore many aspects of life (both abroad and at home), and we encourage our listeners to live more daring and authentic lives. But we've had so many requests for an episode about our favorite restaurants, wine bars, and gelato shops, that we finally gave in! Whether you're preparing for a trip to Rome, or just traveling via your earphones, join us for a casual chat about

Jul 18, 2022 • 33:42

Bittersweet Moment #163: Lesser-known Fountains of Rome

Rome's fountains are nothing short of inspiring—as we discovered on Monday's episode that features excerpts from Ottorino Respighi's symphonic tone poem, The Fountains of Rome. But there are so many more fountains in Rome than are depicted auditorily in Respighi's music, and so many more than the average tourist comes across in the course of a typical visit.  On this mini-episode, Tiffany shares some of her favorite lesser-known Roman fountains and why she loves them.  --------------------------

Jul 14, 2022 • 19:40

Episode 436 [Summer in Rome]: The Fountains of Rome

Rome not only has more fountains than any city on earth, it also has the most beautiful ones, from the delicate Fountain of the Turtles (ispiration for Tiffany's book Midnight in the Piazza), to the massive Fontanone on the Gianicolo Hill and so many others. In fact, the eary 20th-century Italian composer Ottorino Respighi was so inspired by Rome's fountains (four in particular) that he wrote a symphonic poem about them.  On this episode, we talk about the four fountains that inspired this maste

Jul 11, 2022 • 25:02

Bittersweet Moment #162: A European Gap Year... And What Comes After (with Suzanne Morrison)

Looking back on her eventful gap year, our childhood friend Suzanne (whom me mention often on this show) talks about what prompted her to put off college for two years (in a time and place where it simply wasn't done) to go live her version of a bohemian artist's life in Europe. She talks about what she learned about herself and the world, and how, despite being a travel-lover and a polyglot, she knows she'll never leave the Pacific Northwest for long. You can hear more from Suzanne on episodes

Jul 7, 2022 • 23:38

Episode 435 [Summer in Rome]: When Expat Dreams Come True (with Darlene Sullivan)

What about if you dream of moving abroad—but love your life and your community in your home town? This was the dilemma of longtime listener Darlene, who wrote to us several times during her years-long path to becoming an expat. She finally took the plunge and moved to Italy. She started out in Bolzano and is seeking what is next. She joins us for a interview taped in person in Rome to share how she took the risk to move abroad despite a happy an successful life in New York City. She also shares

Jul 4, 2022 • 30:04

BittersweetMoment #161: How to Survive an Italian Heat Wave

It's hot in Rome right now, and all over Italy. Unbearably hot. Tourists and locals alike are dropping like flies. On this mini-episode, Tiffany shares her tried-and-true tips based on her experience enduring nearly 20 Roman summers (most of them without the luxury of air conditioning) that will keep you reasonably cool, and—most importantly—ensure that you get the most out of your time in Rome, despite the blistering heat. ------------------------------------- ADVERTISE WITH US: Reach expats, f

Jun 30, 2022 • 14:22

Episode 434 [Summer in Rome]: A Meditation on Aging

When your co-hosts stumble upon Tiffany's old apartment on Via Garibaldi, where she spent several memorable years between her late 20s and early 30s, it sparks a conversation about aging. Not just the ravages of time on our faces and bodies, but how aging can change the way we remember the past, how we perceive the passage of time, and our expectations for the future. ------------------------------------- ADVERTISE WITH US: Reach expats, future expats, and travelers all over the world. Send us a

Jun 27, 2022 • 27:33

Bittersweet Moment #160: The Joy of Being in a New Place

As Katy wanders through her rental aparment in Rome, she revels in the quiet joy of simply waking up in a new place (especially after so much time sticking close to home). Part of travel is not just going out and exploring, but sitting still and noticing what's different about the place you find yourself in—what smells different? How is the soundscape different? On this mini-episode, she takes you along on this intimate moment of reflection and observation. -------------------------------------

Jun 23, 2022 • 9:01

Episode 433: [Summer in Rome] St. Francis Slept Here

You may know that St. Francis of Assisi traveled to Rome in the early 13th century, but do you know where he stayed? Did you know that you can vist the very cell where he slept and even see (and touch) the stone that St. Francis used for a pillow? (And by the way, why the heck did St. Francis use a a stone for a pillow?) Tiffany and Katy visit this pilgrimage site on this episode and talk about St. Francis's history and what made him and his order so different from the others of his time. ------

Jun 20, 2022 • 21:37

Bittersweet Moment #159: How to Avoid Getting Scammed in Italy

When traveling in Italy, how do you know when you are getting your money's worth and when you are getting scammed? Last week, Tiffany shared tips gathered from her long experience living Italy to help you avoid getting robbed, and this week, she dishes the dirt on how not to get scammed. Be sure to listen to this mini-epispde before your next trip to Italy! As promised, here are the OFFICIAL online ticket offices for some of Rome's top sites: Colosseum Vatican Museums Borghese Gallery ----------

Jun 16, 2022 • 14:07

Episode 432 [Summer in Rome]: Rome Through All the Senses

Katy finally tests negative for Covid and these two long-separated friends are reunited at last! Katy and Tiffany grab a spot on the steps of the fountain in Piazza Santa Maria in Trastevere for a totally unplanned, unscripted conversation. It turns into an exploration of Rome through the senses, particularly, what Katy's heightened senses are picking up after over four years away. Sometimes they are obvious things, like the constant buzz of scooters or the smell of cigarettes, and sometimes the

Jun 13, 2022 • 31:33

Bittersweet Moment #158: How to Avoid Getting Robbed in Italy

You've finally arrived in Italy for your dream vacation and all you want to do is dive head-first into pasta, gelato, art, history, and beauty but... [record scratch] ...you just got robbed. Passport gone. Smartphone swiped. Wallet emptied. Credit cards maxed out. It is a living travel nightmare that most of us have experienced at least once in our lives... and one we all want to avoid. Just in time for our Summer in Rome series, Tiffany lays out smart practical tips gathered over nearly two doz

Jun 9, 2022 • 17:52

Episode 431 [Summer in Rome]: Katy Arrives!... with Covid

After more than two years of staying close to home during the pandemic, being as careful to avoid infection as one could possibly be, with no international travel to speak of, Katy and her husband finally arrive in Italy! And the very first thing that happens... Katy tests positive for Covid  Tiffany and Katy are in the same city again for the first time in over four years... and they have to tape their first episode over Zoom. What are the odds? ------------------------------------- ADVERTISE W

Jun 6, 2022 • 30:52

Bittersweet Moment #157: For the Love of Luggage

As we prepare to launch our "Summer in Rome" series, Katy muses on her favorite suitcase, a piece of luggage that has seen her though nearly every trip she's ever taken for the past quarter of a century, from bus trips to train trips to road trips to flights, including many to Vietnam. With the zipper broken, she tries to decide whether or not it's worth it to fix it, with the impossible challange of trying to look objectively at a piece of luggage that has been her constant travel companion. --

Jun 1, 2022 • 10:49

Episode 430: Does Language Shape Thinking?

Does the language that we speak influence the way that our thoughts work? An article in the New York Times by Guy Deutcher, Does Your Language Shape How You Think? explores this topic in depth. Taking inspiration from the article, Katy and Tiffany muse on this topic, from how gendered nouns influences how we think about objects, to how specific we choose to be—or are forced to be—depending on the language we are speaking. ------------------------------------- ADVERTISE WITH US: Reach expats, fut

May 30, 2022 • 31:31

Bittersweet Moment #156: The Sounds of Tiffany's Day in Rome

The sounds that follow you throughtout your day have a way of slipping into the background and going unnoticed. But how often do you stop to really listen? On Monday's episode we played audio that listeners sent in of the sounds that mean something to them, that signify the something good is happening, or for whatever reason make them happy. On this mini-episode, Tiffany tunes into the ordinary sounds of an ordinary day. ------------------------------------- ADVERTISE WITH US: Reach expats, futu

May 26, 2022 • 11:36

Episode 429: The Sounds You Love

What are the sounds you truly love, not for how beautiful they are, but for what they mean? Sounds that, for whatever reason, make you happy? Sounds that, when you hear them, you know something good is about to happen? We asked and you answered. We asked our listeners to send in the sounds that mean something to them, and we got so many, we almost couldn't fit them all in one episode! Happy listening ------------------------------------- ADVERTISE WITH US: Reach expats, future expats, and travel

May 23, 2022 • 32:08

Bittersweet Moment #155: Common Uncommon Objects

No, we didn't make a mistake and accidently air a BONUS episode on the regular show. Today, we are giving ALL our listeners a peek at what our Patreon supporters and regular donors get twice a month: fun, often silly, sometimes off-topic, and always extremely candid BONUS EPISODES! On this one, Katy and Tiffany talk about the things you can find in any American home but are blatantly absent in Italian ones, and vice versa, the things the average Italian couldn't live without but are impossible t

May 19, 2022 • 15:21

Episode 428: The Infodemic (with Joel Simon and Robert Mahoney)

Two years after the worldwide outbreak of Covid-19, what will the long-term effects be? Not just in terms of public health, but in terms of privacy, censorship, and government control? This week, we are joined by journalists Joel Simon and Robert Mahoney, co-authors of The Infodemic: How Censorship and Lies Made the World Sicker and Less Free. The authors explain how, “as COVID-19 spread around the world, so did government censorship. The Infodemic lays bare not just old-fashioned censorship, bu

May 16, 2022 • 42:55

Bittersweet Moment #154: The Good News about Depressing Math

How many weeks (roughly) do you have left to live? The answer will probably shock you, accoriding to author and cartoonisht Tim Urban, as most of us like to think our lives are, somehow, infinite. But even more surprising than that, Urban points out, are the number of days we have left with the people closest to us, not because they are about to die, but because we simply see them much less often than we once did. On this mini-episode, Katy reads some excerpts from Tim's recent opinion piece for

May 12, 2022 • 10:10

Episode 427: Listener Questions Answered

We are proud to say that we have some of the most engaged listeners in the entire podcast world! We get lots of mail from our listeners, both comments and questions about specific past episodes, as well as suggestions for future episodes and questions about life (often expat life) in general. Every so often, we grab a few of those letters and read them on air, address the questions and offer our suggestions.  Today we hear from a third culture kid who is married to another third culture kid, and

May 9, 2022 • 21:47

Bittersweet Moment #153: Aurelio's Big Surprise

When Tiffany's mom (and Aurelio's Nana) came to Rome for a visit over Easter, they didn't tell Aurelio that his cousin Parker was coming too.  It was a surprise they kept for months (and almost spilled more than once!) but it was worth it. On this mini-episode, hear Aurelio's reaction when he discovers his adored cousin has come to surprise him. ------------------------------------- ADVERTISE WITH US: Reach expats, future expats, and travelers all over the world. Send us an email to get the conv

May 5, 2022 • 10:00

Episode 426: Touring Rome with Tiffany

What’s it like to be a tour guide in Rome? How do you break into the business? And how do you learn all the facts, much less put them together to make a coherent, enjoyable tour that lasts just the right amount of time? On this episode, Katy grills Tiffany on her over 15 years’ experience as a tour guide in Rome, the challenges, the rewards, and the best part of all: taking our podcast listeners on tour when they are in Rome! Tiffany shares how tiring it can be to be engaging, entertaining, and

May 2, 2022 • 24:00

Bittersweet Moment #152: Storybowl Party

After our interview with Andrea Scher, author of Wonder Seeker, Katy is inspired to play a game that Andrea invented and outlines in her book. It’s a storytelling game that has the intention not of trying to tell the most amazing and entertaining story, but to allow yourself to be completely spontaneous, to connect with the people around you, and get to know each other better. Listen to Katy tell some spontaneous stories, from bad jobs to animal encounters. -------------------------------------

Apr 28, 2022 • 15:18

Episode 425: Seeking Wonder (with Andrea Scher)

What is wonder? And how does it affect your life? Perhaps most importantly, what can we do to harness it? Today we are joined by Andrea Scher, author of Wonder Seeker: 52 Ways to Wake Up Your Creativity and Find Your Joy, a playful, practical, and effective guide to finding wonder and joy in your daily life. Andrea’s passion and life’s work is to cultivate a sense of wonder, and to help others do the same. She discusses how her need for wonder has grown out of her innate sensitivity, anxiety, fe

Apr 25, 2022 • 28:36

Bittersweet Moment #151: Rome's Birthday (Il Natale di Roma)

According to legend, the city of Rome was founded on 21 April 753 BC. That means today is Rome’s 2775th birthday! On this mini-episode, Tiffany tells a very brief version of the founding myth of ancient Rome, and explains some of the events that take place in the city on this day, from historical reenactments at the Circus Maximus to an amazing solar phenomenon at the Pantheon. ------------------------------------- ADVERTISE WITH US: Reach expats, future expats, and travelers all over the world.

Apr 21, 2022 • 9:15

Episode 424: Returning to Rome

We have news! Katy is on her way back to Rome—for the first time in over four years! She’s traveling to Rome partly for vacation, and partly to get out on the streets with Tiffany and make some episodes in the wild! This exciting development sparks a conversation about returning to places we know well or where we once lived after a long absence. Some places have changed so much since we’ve been there, that we are loath to have our version of that city be changed by modern developments. On the ot

Apr 18, 2022 • 23:32

Bittersweet Moment #150: How to Celebrate Easter in Rome

Rome is the center of the Christian world, and therefore, Easter is a BIG DEAL here. (The Pope lives here, after all!) In this mini-episode, Tiffany lays out all the most important traditions of a Roman Easter, including how to see the Pope, what to eat, what to wear, what the Easter bunny will bring, and—perhaps most importantly—what to do on Easter Monday (Pasquetta)! ------------------------------------ ADVERTISE WITH US: Reach expats, future expats, and travelers all over the world. Send us

Apr 14, 2022 • 12:13

Episode 423: Contronyms

We all know what synonyms are, and probably antonyms too. But have you ever heard of contronyms? Tiffany and Katy have a little fun playing with these controdictory words, which launches a discussion on learning a foreign language, including what makes learning English hard, and how it differs from a language like Italian. Tiffany also reveals the one Italian gramatical rule she still can't wrap her head around. ------------------------------------- ADVERTISE WITH US: Reach expats, future expats

Apr 11, 2022 • 33:15

Bittersweet Moment #149: The Sounds of Katy's Office

We recently challenged you to send us sounds you love, or even familiar everyday sounds that elicit a positive feeling or a sense of anticipation. To show you how many sounds surround you, Katy takes you on an audio tour of her office. Don't forget to send in your favorite sounds so we can incorporate them into an upcoming show! Just capture them on your voice recording app and send them to us at bittersweetlifepodcast@gmail.com. ------------------------------------- ADVERTISE WITH US: Reach exp

Apr 7, 2022 • 12:20

Episode 422: Solo Travel—Is It For You?

Traveling all alone... does sound like a nightmare or a dream? Or perhaps the idea intrigues you but you're a little too scared to try it. Thanks to a listener question, we delve into the realities of solo travel on this episode, the good, the bad, the perks, the challenges, the dangers, and the unexpected joys. We also share some of the wonderful and not-so-nice things that have happened to us on our own solo voyages, as well as a few hacks on how to make the most of it (and not get too lonely)

Apr 4, 2022 • 25:14

Bittersweet Moment #148: Free Art in Rome's Churches: Cloisters

Who can say no to amazing works of art that you can see for free? If you've been paying attention, you know we started this series of mini-episodes with free paintings, ogling works by Pinturicchio, Raphael, Caravaggio and many more; then we feted Michelangelo and Bernini in our episode on statues; then we fed our pupils on glittering mosaics.  This week we continue our exploration of free art in Rome's churches with a tour of the city's spectacular hidden cloisters. These beautiful and relaxing

Mar 31, 2022 • 20:25

Episode 421: What a Horse can Teach You about Life (with Mary Anne Campbell)

Katy's New Year's resolution to go horseback riding (and specifically to gallop) inspired her to interview Mary Anne Campbell, a trainer and master of the art of French classical equitation. Mary Anne tells the long and fascinating history of horse riding and horse training, before embarking on a conversation that sparks larger questions about life. She talks about what horses and humans have in common, and what she loves about both of these magnificent animals. She also delves into how learning

Mar 28, 2022 • 29:57

Bittersweet Moment #147: A Tribute to Doug

Veteran KUOW sound engineer and long-time colleague of Katy, Doug Patterson passed away this month. Much of the work that Katy created over her public radio career was made possible by Doug's technical abilities. She was asked to create an audio obituary for him, a project she accepted with a trepidation, considering her long professional relationship with him. In doing so, she got to know her former colleague on a deeper, more personal, level. Here's the result. Find the original KUOW story her

Mar 24, 2022 • 9:09

Episode 420: Live Show: Objects to Love, Objects to Loathe

Ever had a souvenir that you' grew to hate? Something that you'd love to get rid of, but can't bear to because you carried it across the world? Or what about the things you wish you had bought, but didn't? Objects that—whether because they were too expensive, too impractical, or simply too hard to get home—you failed to buy and have always regretted it? For this conversation about the souvenirs we love, loathe, and left behind, we invited our regular Patreon and PayPal supporters to a live episo

Mar 21, 2022 • 29:18

Bittersweet Moment #146: Mailbag: Expat Friendships

We had so many listeners send us feedback about Monday's episode on the challenges of maintain long-term friendships when you live abroad for a significant amount of time, so we decided to share a few on this mini-episode. Make sure you listen to Monday's episode first, then tune in to hear what a few of our listeners had to add to the conversation, including a bit of advice from an expat who has been keeping a long-distance friendship alive for almost three decades. ----------------------------

Mar 17, 2022 • 11:23

Episode 419: The Friend, the Bread, and the Knife

When you're a longtime expat, do your friends back home move on? Expats often make friends with other expats in their adopted country. That can be great, but it also means that it's very likely that your new friends will, sooner or later, move away and you'll be back to square one. It's typical, therefore, for expats to consider their friends back home as their "real friends." But do those same friends feel the same way about them? While an expat may consider their childhood friends as their clo

Mar 14, 2022 • 26:52

Bittersweet Life #145: Greetings from Casablanca

If you like podcasts (and we assume you do if you're listening to this one), you know how powerful the human voice can be. While we love getting letters and emails from our listeners—and we often read them on the show—there's something even more special about getting a voice message. Today we share one we recently received from a new mom and expat living in Casablanca, Morocco, telling us a bit about her life and why our show resonates with her. We'd love to hear from you too! Record a message o

Mar 10, 2022 • 7:49

Episode 418: Black Cake (with Charmaine Wilkerson)

Formerly close but now estranged siblings, two girls with a passion for swimming in the sea, a death that reveals long hidden secrets, a voice message from beyond the grave, and a tradtional Caribbean cake that ties it all together. These are the ingredients for Black Cake, the bestselling new novel by Charmaine Wilkerson, who joins us on the show today. In this fascinating author interview, we talk about family, memory, identity, loss, secrets, and so much more. Wilkerson reveals her own path t

Mar 7, 2022 • 35:44

Bittersweet Moment #144: Free Art in Rome's Churches: Mosaics

Love medieval mosaics? Then you're in luck as Tiffany continues her Free Art in Rome's Churches series with a mini-episode all about mosaics— which Roman churches they call home. From the Paleochristian mosaics at Santa Costanza to the innovative late-medieval mosaics by Pietro Cavallini in Santa Maria in Trastevere, follow Tiffany on a tour of these glimmering glories of the Middle Ages in Rome. Don't miss Bittersweet Moment #142: Free Art in Rome's Churches: Statues and Bittersweet Moment #1

Mar 3, 2022 • 21:58

Episode 417: Patriotism for Expats

How long do you have to live outside your own country before your patriotism starts to fade? How long do you have to be an expat or immigrant before hearing your home country bashed doesn’t phase you? For Tiffany, the answer is at least more than 17 years. Even though she’s called Italy home for over 17 years now, when she heard someone at the hair salon disparaging the entire population of the US, her dormant mama bear woke up after a long hibernation and bared its teeth. We talk about this lit

Feb 28, 2022 • 24:17

Bittersweet Moment #143: The Evolution of Seattle's Coffee Culture

On Monday we talked about Italian espresso, and what an integral part of Italian culture it is. In the same vein, Katy describes the unique coffee shop culture of Seattle in the 1990s—a far cry from the sterile, uniform, laptop-laden Starbucks of today. In their heyday, Seattle's iconic coffee shops were gritty, smoky, filled with grunge music (often live), and the place where Katy spend many long nights with friends during her teen years. On this mini-episode, she takes you there. -------------

Feb 24, 2022 • 9:44

Episode 416: The Art of Italian Espresso (with Wendy Pojmann)

What makes Italian espresso different from American coffee? Perhaps more to the point, what makes it better? And what separates good espresso from great espresso? Today we are joined by author and Italian espresso expert Wendy Pojmann to talk about all things caffè. An American professor and historian, Wendy was in Italy to do research, and every time she stopped for her morning espresso, she realized that what she really wanted to be researching was Italian coffee. The result was Espresso: The

Feb 21, 2022 • 26:47

Bittersweet Moment #142: Free Art in Rome's Churches: Statues

Only in Rome can you stumble upon a Michelangelo sculpture in a church hardly any tourists visit. A few weeks ago we talked about some of the most artistically important frescoes and oil paintings that you can find and admire (for free!) in Rome's churches. (Listen here!) Today, Tiffany takes you on another tour of Rome's churches, this time in search of sculptures of high artistic value. Discover exquisite works by Michelangelo, Bernini, and Stefano Maderno and more—all without opening your wal

Feb 17, 2022 • 16:07

Episode 415: Which Roman Neighborhood Should You Live in?

Tiffany gives you the low-down on Rome's neighborhoods, particularly from the expat perspective. Which neighborhoods are the prettiest? Where are they located? How high are the living expenses there and what kind of expat (typically) lives there? Also—what's the most important landmark in each neighborhood and what kind of food can you get there? We answer all these questions and more. If you're planning a move to Rome (or just daydreaming about one), this episode is for you! PS If you're drawn

Feb 14, 2022 • 36:00

Bittersweet Moment #141: Distance Learning with Aurelio

This week, Tiffany and Aurelio brave the distance learning trenches! What's it like for a six-year-old who has only just started school to attend class via Zoom? How does distance learning in Italy (aka DAD) differ from its American counterpart? But most importantly, what is a testuggine, and why does Aurelio love them so much? We answer these questions on this week's mini-episode. ------------------------------------- ADVERTISE WITH US: Reach expats, future expats, and travelers all over the wo

Feb 10, 2022 • 13:14

Episode 414: The Listening Planet (with Martyn Stewart)

What does it take to capture the sounds of the world's rich and diverse wildlife? On this extraordinary interview, we are joined by sound and nature recordist Martyn Stewart.  Stewart has one of the largest collections of natural sounds in the world, having recorded more than 90,000 different sounds in more than 55 different countries for a total of over 60,000 hours of natural sounds. Stunningly, Martyn reveals that two thirds of what he has recorded is now extinct. He talks about what inspired

Feb 6, 2022 • 46:03

Bittersweet Moment #140: Third Culture Kids (with Chelsea Hicks)

What is life like when you grow up in no fixed place and in countries that neither of your parents are from? The term for this kind of person is Third Culture Kid, and longtime listener Chelsea Hicks joins us on this mini-episode to explain what it's like. Not only is Chelsea a Third Culture Kid, but both her father an her partner are as well. She talks about the positive as well as the negative aspects of being a TCK, how being one has affected her life, and if she thinks she'll ever settle do

Feb 3, 2022 • 16:20

Episode 413: The Challenge of Speaking Italian in Italy (with Gloria Spagnoli)

You've taken your Italian lessons, you've memorized your vocabulary, you've practiced all your most useful phrases. Then you get to Italy...and it all flies out the window. It's a common problem that many language-learners face. But how to get around it? Why can speaking to an Italian in Italy be so much harder than speaking in a classroom setting? Today we are joined by someone who can help with that. Gloria Spagnoli is an Italian teacher who takes a different approach. She has come to understa

Jan 31, 2022 • 33:35

Bittersweet Moment #139: Free Art in Rome's Churches: Paintings

Wander into one of Rome's hundreds of churches, and you might just find yourself face to face with an artistic masterpiece that, in any other city, would be the main attraction of the city's biggest museum—and would come with a hefty price tag and probably lots of crowds. But in Rome, these works are all around you—if you know where to look. On this mini-episode, Tiffany shares with you some of the most spectacular frescoes and oil painting hidden away in Rome's churches. And the best part? They

Jan 27, 2022 • 22:06

Episode 412: The Auction of a Lifetime: The Villa, the Princess, and the Caravaggio

When the sons of a centuries-old noble Roman family and the American widow of their father, the prince, can't decide who gets to live in the family's priceless villa, a forced auction ensues! Princess Rita, a glamorous American, has been living in her late husband, Prince Nicolò Boncompagni Ludovisi's historic family home, Villa Aurora, since they wed over a decade ago. It was the American princess who insisted that the villa, and its priceless art collection, should not be left to languish unse

Jan 24, 2022 • 33:34

Bittersweet Moment #138: Behind the Scenes with Midnight Madness

When you decide to hop a plane to LA and recreate your favorite childhood film with your sisters, you contact the writers and directors and ask if they'd like to meet up. At least, if you're Katy, that's what you do. As a follow-up to Episode 411: A Sisterly Quest to Midnight Madness, Katy and her sisters sit down with David Wechter and Michael Nankin, the writing/directing team behind the cult classic, Midnight Madness (1980). They are also joined by a surprise guest—a member of the cast. Katy

Jan 20, 2022 • 14:16

A Sisterly Quest to Midnight Madness

Seven years ago, Katy and her sisters—who each live in different states—started gathering once a year for “Sisterfest.” But this year they are doing something different. When they were little girls growing up outside Seattle, they watched a little-known 1980 movie called Midnight Madness. It became a kind of cult classic in their house, and everything about it somehow took on a special meaning. On this Sisterfest, Katy, Dana, and Sara trace all the film’s stops around Los Angeles, complete with

Jan 17, 2022 • 25:46

Bittersweet Moment #137: Opening Back up the Listener Mail Bag

We get lots of mail from our loyal listeners and we love reading it! You guys always have the best questions and the most insightful commentary on our episodes. We often get inspired to make entire episodes based on a listener email. On this mini-episode, Katy dives into the mail bag to read some of the most interesting notes we've had in the past month or two. If you have a question, comment, or thought, please share it with us. We love hearing from you! ------------------------------------- AD

Jan 13, 2022 • 14:07

Episode 410: Books, Horses, Lard and other New Year's Resolutions

After the disaster of the last two years, Katy and Tiffany are a bit reluctant to make New Year's Resolutions this year. After all, what will the year be like? If 2021 taught us anything, it's that we can't presume to think we know when (or if) the pandemic will end. Nevertheless, they can't help making just one or two (maximum three!) little tiny ones, just for the sake of tradition. Hear what they are on this episode. ------------------------------------- ADVERTISE WITH US: Reach expats, futur

Jan 10, 2022 • 36:19

Bittersweet Moment #136: Underwater Encounter

After hearing from Katy's own lips before and after her experience going scuba diving in the frigid waters of the Pacific Ocean in winter, listen to Tiffany's own deep-sea adventure in Sumatra, when she accidentally came face to face with a terrifying sea creature. ------------------------------------- ADVERTISE WITH US: Reach expats, future expats, and travelers all over the world. Send us an email to get the conversation started. BECOME A PATRON: Pledge your monthly support of The Bittersweet

Jan 6, 2022 • 9:36

Episode 409: Diving into the New Year

New Year—new experiences! At least that's the idea. That's the way we used to do it pre-pandemic anyway. On this first episode of 2022, Katy digs back into her vast personal audio archive to relive what it was like to fulfill a rather adventurous New Year's Resolution several years back. Hear her as she prepares to go scuba diving in the frigid winter waters of the Pacific Ocean to get her diving certificate (the outside temperature was a biting 32F that day)! Then, hear her trembling reaction o

Jan 3, 2022 • 18:24

Bittersweet Moment #135: The Thirty Year Secret

About a month ago, in Bittersweet Moment No. 129, you learned about the 24-hour Radio Race, a competition that challenges radio artists to create a 4-minute story based on an assigned theme—in just 24 hours. Katy teamed up with reporter Casey Martin and created a story they titled "The Thirty Year Secret." They share this magical story with you today. This is the story they created based on the theme "Won't you be my neighbor?" Find Casey Martin here. ------------------------------------- ADVERT

Dec 30, 2021 • 8:18

Episode 408: A Year in Reading 2021

Instead of looking back on the entire year of 2021 (because that might not be too fun), today we look back on the year through the books we read. Find out which we loved best, which surprised us, and which were not as good as we had hoped. PS Listen to this mini-episode to hear what Aurelio read this year. Katy's Books Great Circle by Maggie Shipstead The Lover by Marguerite Duras Cloud Cuckoo Land by Anthony Doerr The Cold Millions by Jess Walter Stoner by John Williams Tiffany's Books The Tale

Dec 27, 2021 • 33:20

Bittersweet Moment #134: Aurelio Talks Books

Do you read to your kids? Tiffany an Aurelio read together every night (and sometimes, when the book is especially good, at every meal). Tiffany and Aurelio gather up all the books they read together in 2021, and sit under the Christmas tree to talk about which Aurelio liked best (and why), which he like the least, and which ones perhaps should have waited until he was a bit older. ------------------------------------- ADVERTISE WITH US: Reach expats, future expats, and travelers all over the wo

Dec 23, 2021 • 9:57

Episode 407: All I Watch for Christmas

Tell us your favorite Christmas movie, and we'll tell you what to do in Rome at Christmastime. All alone like Kevin McCallister? Feeling romantic à la Love Actually? Or are you a regular Grinch this time of year? Whichever iconic holiday film speaks to you, we've got an idea for the perfect Roman activity for you. If you want a list of all the places we mention in this episode, as well as addresses and phone numbers, sign up for our monthly newsletter! Just click here to sign up, or email us at

Dec 20, 2021 • 36:13

Bittersweet Moment #133: Epilogue to "A Gift"

If you listened to A Gift, the charming and heart-warming radio play we aired on Monday, don't miss the short epilogue, which we are airing on today's mini-episode. It is, of course, also by the great team at AudioImagination77 led by Matthew P. Woerner. This touching and bittersweet (no pun intended!) radio play touches on regret, loss, human weakness, redemption, and the comfort of a stranger. And all in the Christmas spirit! WARNING: Don't listen to this episode until you've listened to Episo

Dec 16, 2021 • 14:30

Episode 406: A Gift (A Radio Play)

In the flavor of Its a Wonderful Life, this original radio play is about a mysterious, magical shop where the customer might just find what they long for. When a woman takes a walk on Christmas Eve, she notices a shop she's never seen before—though the owner says it's been open for over 100 years. Why has she never noticed it before? And what amazing discovery will she make there? Turn down the lights and curl up in front of the Christmas tree with this original radio play by Matthew P. Woerner

Dec 13, 2021 • 51:28

Bittersweet Moment #132: Italian Christmas Sweets

From pandora to panettone and everything in between, follow us a dessert-rich tour of Italy at Christmastime. From Cremona's super-sweet and sticky torrone, to the delightful struffoli famous in Naples, on this mini-episode, Tiffany fills you in on all the traditional Italian holiday desserts that warm us up on cold December nights.  ------------------------------------- ADVERTISE WITH US: Reach expats, future expats, and travelers all over the world. Send us an email to get the conversation sta

Dec 9, 2021 • 13:55

Episode 405: How to Dress Like an Italian

How do you dress in Italy so you blend in? No one wants to be pegged as a tourist the moment they step off the plane, so today, in response to a listener question, Tiffany gives her advice on how to dress when in Italy so you'll look more like a local. ------------------------------------- ADVERTISE WITH US: Reach expats, future expats, and travelers all over the world. Send us an email to get the conversation started. BECOME A PATRON: Pledge your monthly support of The Bittersweet Life and rece

Dec 6, 2021 • 27:29

Bittersweet Moment #131: Perfect Pitch (with Evan Doty and Dana Zahler)

Imagine you hear a note—any note—from a ding in an elevator to the whistle of a bird, and somehow, without even having to thing about it, you just know what note it is. F-sharp. B-flat. Middle C. It's just there, as easy as it would be for the rest of us to recognize a color. This phenomenon is a gift shared by very few people on the earth, and one of them is Katy's nephew Evan. He didn't have to study. He didn't have to train his ear. He didn't acquire this ability after years of piano lessons.

Dec 2, 2021 • 15:29

Episode 404: When Not to Move Abroad

We spend a lot of time on this show encouraging our listeners—especially those who write in for advice—to throw caution to the wind and move abroad if that is their dream. But what about when the timing just doesn't seem right? Today we read a letter from a listener asking about a possible move to France, but this time we offer different advice. Listen in and decide if you agree. ------------------------------------- ADVERTISE WITH US: Reach expats, future expats, and travelers all over the worl

Nov 29, 2021 • 21:21

Bittersweet Moment #130: Empty Nesters Move to Rome (with Adrianne Castro)

For Adrianne Castro and her husband Joe, a move to Rome had been a very long time in the making. At first it started out as just an idea when they were on a trip with their young son. But then soon found themselves wondering: why not? Several years, a son settled at college, the recognition of Joe's Italian citizenship through ancestry, a pandemic, the sale of their home, and a lot of planning later, Adrianne has fulfilled this long-time dream and is living the life she imagined in Rome.  She al

Nov 25, 2021 • 14:12

Episode 403: Coping with Anxiety

Do you suffer from anxiety? Is it a chronic problem, or something that only flairs up at certain times? Or are you one of the lucky ones, blessed with calm under pressure? Today we talk about anxiety from a few different angles, including the stress that comes along with moving outside of your comfort zone, whether it be moving to a foreign country, leaving a stable job, or simply trying a new hobby. We ask, why do some of us sometimes choose discomfort as opposed to doing what's easy? And what

Nov 22, 2021 • 35:07

Bittersweet Moment #129: The 24-hour Radio Race

Can you produce an entire creative project in just 24 hours, from start to finish? This week, Katy attempted just that. She and her good friend and fellow radio producer Casey Martin decided to participate in the KCRW 24-hour Radio Race 2021. The challenge: produce an entire radio piece from scratch in no more than 24 hours. With the somewhat lack-luster theme of "Won't You Be My Neighbor?", these two audio professionals get to work, taking a radio project from zero to completely produced and in

Nov 18, 2021 • 11:22

Episode 402: Where Do Ideas Come From?

Where do you find your ideas? Do they come to you in a dream? Do you find them by reading, traveling, researching? Do you get them in the shower? By listening in on strangers' conversations? Or do they just come to you from out of nowhere? Do you have so many ideas you can't begin to use them all, or are ideas hard for you to find? And—perhaps more importantly—when you get these ideas, what do you do with them? Today Tiffany and Katy talk all about ideas, and the specific ways and places they fi

Nov 15, 2021 • 27:46

Bittersweet Moment #128: How to Write a Book

What does it take to write a book from beginning to end? The novel-writing process probably looks very different from writer to writer, but on this mini-episode, Tiffany describes her writing process from the first seed of an idea, all the way to a completed book. The writing tools she mentions in this mini-episode are Scivener, a word-processing program designed specifically for novels and other long texts, and Save the Cat Writes a Novel, a book that outlines an ingenious strategy for plotting

Nov 11, 2021 • 22:43

Episode 401: The Three (by Matthew P. Woerner)

Today we present a special radio drama, The Three, created by our friends over at AudioImagination77. After the listener response of their earlier show, After Midnight, which we aired back on Episode 346, we have decided to air their most recent production, a chilling true crime drama. Even more intriguing? The script of The Three comes from the pen of our very own Katy Sewall, written back in her early 20s, and edited by her old friend Matthew Woerner. So pour yourself a warm drink, get comfort

Nov 8, 2021 • 41:27

Bittersweet Moment #127: Listening to the World

How often do you stop and listen to the world? Just stop and listen. How often do you take the time to notice the sounds around you, birds, wind blowing in the trees, people's conversation, or even your own footsteps as you walk through your neighborhood. If you're like Katy, not only do you listen to the world around you on a daily basis, but often you record it as well. Over the last nearly two years, Katy has compiled a collection of sounds she has captured. On this mini-episode, she listens

Nov 4, 2021 • 10:13

Episode 400: A Dark and Deathly Month

Lots of people pack up the ghostly decor come November, but in truth, November is the real month of the dead, starting with All Saints' Day on the first and All Souls on the second. (Halloween is really only the preview.) On this ghostly episode, we chat about the origins of halloween and how they are connected to more religions than you might expect. We also share a few ghost stories that were shared by some of our listeners during our recent live virtual meet-up event for our Patreon supporter

Nov 1, 2021 • 40:38

Bittersweet Moment #126: Halloween with Aurelio

How's first grade in Italy going? Does Aurelio love it or hate it, what's his favorite subject, and does his English teacher actually speak English? We find out on this week's mini-episode, a short (and very giggly) interview with our resident six-year-old redhead. Also, Halloween is around the corner? What's Aurelio's favorite thing about Halloween, has he ever seen a ghost, and what is he going to dress up as this year? Enquiring minds want to know!! ------------------------------------- ADVER

Oct 28, 2021 • 8:57

Episode 399: Resilience, Curiosity, and a Very Important Pig (with Robert Fulghum)

As the author of 21 books and a career that has spanned multiple decades, how to you stay curious about the world around you? This is just one of the things we discover on this week's episode, a deep and intimate conversation with author Robert Fulghum, who just happens to be a personal friend of Katy. Katy's also explores Fulghum's uncanny ability to attain resilience in the face of what some would deem to be disaster, why Robert dismisses the "meaningless" idea of personal authenticity, how tr

Oct 25, 2021 • 43:24

Bittersweet Moment #125: More Listener Mail!

One of the most interesting thing about our show is that people are listening at all over the place—and no, we don't mean from all over the globe, although that is also true—but that some of our listeners have been with us from the very beginning and hear each episode as it comes out, some joined late and are binge listening to catch up, some have just joined us and are currently on season one (we always suggest new listeners start at the beginning), and some rebels like to hop around and pick e

Oct 20, 2021 • 14:42

Episode 398: Listener Mail Bag!

Today we dig into our overflowing mail bag and pull out a few listener letters that have particularly struck us lately. We always appreciate hearing from our listeners, whether with a questions, a comment, or a criticism, so if you are so inclined, drop us a line, you might just have your letter read on air—and discussed at length! ***Save the date! We are hosting our first ever live virtual meet-up on 20 October 2021 at 9pm Central European Time (Rome), or 12 noon PST (Seattle). The meet-up is

Oct 18, 2021 • 33:00

Bittersweet Moment #124: Rome—Fifty Years Later

What's it like to return to the city where you studied abroad? What's it like return 50 years later... and in the company of your former classmates, many you haven't seen for half a century? Today's guests can tell you. For this mini-episode, we're joined by a number of former students who studied abroad in Rome in 1970 and 1971, and have come back for a reunion fifty years later. They talk about how the city has changed, how it has stayed the same, and most intriguingly, how their time abroad a

Oct 14, 2021 • 13:12

Episode 397: Is it Hard Work or Luck?

You did it! You've landed that amazing job, or maybe you're successfully living abroad in the country you've always dreamed of, or you've published your book, bought your dream home, won a major award in your industry (you fill in the blank). The question is: can you chalk it all up to hard work? Or was there some luck involved? And how much of what you've achieved can be attributed to privilege? It's tempting to claim you did it alone, but is that even possible? Today we dig into the topic of l

Oct 11, 2021 • 33:40

Bittersweet Moment #123: Katy's First Days in Rome

Last week we heard from Tiffany about her very first days living as an expat in Rome 17 years ago. Today, it's Katy's turn. She digs into the daily journal she kept back in the fall of 2013, when she moved to Rome with not only no ability to speak the language, but also no clear idea of what she would do there, or even who she would be. In this intimate mini-episode, hear from Katy's own experiences how moving abroad is not always rainbows and roses—especially not at first. The Artist's Way by J

Oct 7, 2021 • 11:02

Episode 396: Stuck Home, Stuck Abroad (with Diana Opong)

The COVID pandemic has separated many families around the world, including that of today's guest, Diana Opong. Normally, her parents travel to Ghana, their home country, several months of every year. But during the pandemic, they got trapped there, and could not return to the United States. That caused some major problems and a lot of worry for Diana and her siblings—but there was one silver lining. Diana, who is an audio producer and host, joins us to share what it was like to have her parents

Oct 4, 2021 • 31:35

Bittersweet Moment #122: Tiffany's First Days in Rome

What was Rome like when Tiffany first moved there? On this mini-episode, Tiffany reminisces about what it was like to find an apartment, look for a job, use a cell phone, keep in touch with family, and make friends way back in 2004. (Spoiler alert: it's all way easier now.) ------------------------------------- ADVERTISE WITH US: Reach expats, future expats, and travelers all over the world. Send us an email to get the conversation started. BECOME A PATRON: Pledge your monthly support of The Bit

Sep 30, 2021 • 17:59

Episode 395: Should I Move Abroad?

Tiffany and Katy dig into their mail bag and pull out a letter from Tyler, who had been just about to move abroad when the pandemic hit. As he waits and waits (and waits) for things to go back to "normal," he feels time (and perhaps his expat dreams as well) slipping away. He writes to ask what we think he should do—should he throw caution to the wind and go ahead with his plans, or continue to keep his dreams on hold. As you might have guessed, Katy and Tiffany have VERY different opinions on w

Sep 27, 2021 • 26:42

Bittersweet Moment #121: More Culture Shock!

How has one of our listeners adjusted to moving back to the States after years as an expat in Europe? We find out on this mini-episode. In a follow-up to Monday's show on reverse culture shock, Katy reads an email from long-time listener Sonali, who shares some of the things that shocked her most—from expensive food staples to excessive patriotism—about living in the US again after so much time abroad. Also, Katy explores the various stages of getting used to living in a new culture. -----------

Sep 23, 2021 • 12:16

Episode 394: Reverse Culture Shock: Italy vs. USA

When you've lived abroad for 17 years, going "back home" can sometimes feel like going to a completely foreign country. Things that were once normal feel odd. You find you're no longer used to the way things are done in your former home. And sometimes, you realize that things have changed so much since you last visited, that it doesn't even seem like the country where you grew up anymore. On the heels of Tiffany's recent trip to the US—after over two years away—she comments on the things that su

Sep 20, 2021 • 32:14

Bittersweet Moment #120: First Day of School in Italy

This week, Tiffany's son Aurelio starts first grade! What is Italian elementary school like and how is it different from elementary school in the US? Will native English-speaking Aurelio have to study English as a second language? What about religion? How much homework is assigned? Do they have to go to school on Saturday? And what's up with those blue smocks all the kids wear? Tiffany explains it all on this mini-episode. ------------------------------------- ADVERTISE WITH US: Reach expats, fu

Sep 16, 2021 • 15:16

Braving International Travel—during Covid

After her month-long mega-trip to the States in August, Tiffany regales our listeners with the adventures (and many mis-adventures) of the international travel aspect of the trip. What kind of documentation do you need to get on an international flight? How difficult is it for a non-American citizen to get into the US under the current Covid regulations? What are the crowds like, and what's it like to have to wear a mask for an entire 14-hour flight? And what giant wrench was thrown into her pla

Sep 13, 2021 • 35:39

Episode 392: Make Your Home (Abroad) Your Own (with Rebecca West)

When you move abroad, chances are you'll spend at least a certain amount of time living in a space that doesn't feel like your own: temporary lodgings, a rented room in someone else's flat, or perhaps your dream apartment—that just happens to be filled with furniture and art you abhor. Today's guest, interior designer Rebecca West, shares some ideas on how to make anywhere feel like home. Be sure to check out Rebecca's book, Happy Starts at Home. ------------------------------------- ADVERTISE W

Sep 9, 2021 • 26:47

Episode 391: Everything You Ever Wanted to Know about Moving Abroad... (with Lori-Lee Elliott)

Planning (or hoping) to move abroad? We're guessing you have a lot of questions. Well today, we try to answer them. We rebroadcast one of our most helpful episodes, an interview with serial expat Lori-Lee Elliott (formerly Lori-Lee Emshey), who is currently on her 17th expat assignment. She shares her expert tips on how to successfully prepare for a move abroad, as well as strategies for what to do when you arrive. Perhaps most valuably, she offers advice on what common mistakes to avoid when mo

Sep 6, 2021 • 40:53

Episode 390: A Hurricane Strikes... Or Does It?

In the wake of menacing Hurricane Ida, Katy relives her own experiences with hurricanes in the Big Easy. When she was living in New Orleans several years ago, Hurricane Nate mercifully missed the city, but being in its path brought about both fear and cultural revelation for one temporary resident, your intrepid host Katy Sewall. It also brought about an unexpected interview with BBC radio. ***This episode was sponsored by LUGZ, offering comfortable, versatile and affordable footwear, from styli

Sep 2, 2021 • 27:40

Episode 389: An Idyll on the Amalfi Coast

Katy interviews Antonio Sersale, son of the founder of the legendary Le Sirenuse hotel in Postiano. From a young age, Antonio was groomed to take over the family business, but resisted for years, convinced the life of a hotelier wasn’t for him. Then, one day he changed his mind. During a recent stay at this exquisite hotel, Katy interviewed Sersale about what changed his mind and—more importantly—what it is about his job that he loves more than he could ever have dreamed of as a young man. ***Th

Aug 30, 2021 • 28:57

Episode 388: Studying Abroad in the 1960s

American Sunny Strong studied abroad in Florence in 1963, leaving her boyfriend Mike at home. Amazing (especially for us), Sunny captured some of her memories at the time on reel-to-reel tapes, a true time capsule that includes her reaction to the news that Kennedy had been assassinated, and what it was like to live through that time as an American in Florence. Now, after 52 years of marriage, Sunny and Mike recall how that time changed them (changed both of them, not just the student abroad, bu

Aug 26, 2021 • 57:44

Episode 387: Those Fleeting Moments of Glamour

A short memoir by Beth Ann Fennelly, from her book Heating & Cooling: 52 Micro Memoirs, inspires a discussion on what makes something glamorous rather than trashy, and why tiny insignificant moments, witnessed unexpectedly, can sometimes stay with us for a lifetime. ***This episode was sponsored by LUGZ, offering comfortable, versatile and affordable footwear, from stylish boots to canvas shoes. Visit Lugz.com and enter our promo code BITTERSWEET for an extra 30% off.*** ------------------------

Aug 23, 2021 • 36:41

Episode 386: The Fascinating Science of Speech (with Lisa Wilcox)

Learning a foreign language is one of the most desired goals most people have—and that's particularly true for travel lovers. But why do so many people fail in this quest? Today we use linguistics and speech pathology to think about learning languages with special guest Lisa Wilcox. Sound boring? Turns out, it is actually really funny. ***This episode was sponsored by LUGZ, offering comfortable, versatile and affordable footwear, from stylish boots to canvas shoes. Visit Lugz.com and enter our p

Aug 19, 2021 • 35:08

Episode 385: The Most Notorious Family in Rome

The Borgias are one of the most fascinating and depraved families in Italian history, and they ruled the Catholic Church. This family has been portrayed in two recent tv shows, but what's the true story? Did they really engage in incest? Did Cesare really murder his brother Juan? Was Lucrezia an over-sexed poisoner or an innocent victim of her family's ambition, or somewhere in between? And what about all those reported orgies? Did they really happen (inside Vatican walls)? Tiffany talks about t

Aug 16, 2021 • 44:48

Episode 384: Being French in New Orleans

We often talk about North American expats in Europe or Asia. But what about when the shoe is on the other foot? Today we talk to Sabine, a French expat living in New Orleans. Do Americans need more positive feedback than the French? Sabine explains the communication issues she faces with her American husband. Also, what do her French friends think of her decision to move the the United States? Would you trade Paris for New Orleans? For Sabine, living in NOLA is like taking a tropical vacation—we

Aug 12, 2021 • 37:15

Episode 383: Are You Living Your Dream Life?

We all have fantasies when we're young about how we want our life to turn out. Some are far-fetched, some are probably doable. But ow much of life is us trying to fulfill the fantasies of our youth? And what do we do when those fantasies go unfulfilled? Do we look back with regret, or do we just create new ones? ------------------------------------- ADVERTISE WITH US: Reach expats, future expats, and travelers all over the world. Send us an email to get the conversation started. BECOME A PATRON:

Aug 9, 2021 • 31:49

Episode 382: The Art of Travel Journaling (with Daniel Butterworth)

Writing while traveling. Many of us do it. Professor Daniel Butterworth teaches us how to do it better. Whether journaling is the way you document your travels, you're an aspiring travel writer, or you're working on a new book, you can't miss this episode. Show correction: Ghirlandaio painted the Santa Maria Novella frescoes Dan refers to, not Brunelleschi. ------------------------------------- ADVERTISE WITH US: Reach expats, future expats, and travelers all over the world. Send us an email to

Aug 5, 2021 • 59:39

Episode 381: The Best Way to Visit a Museum

What mistakes do museum visitors make? Tiffany Parks, a regular museum visitor and someone who has led tours through the Vatican Museums upwards of a thousand time, shares her expert tips to make your museum visit more enjoyable. We also debate which is better, taking pictures of everything or putting the camera away and living in the moment? ------------------------------------- ADVERTISE WITH US: Reach expats, future expats, and travelers all over the world. Send us an email to get the convers

Aug 2, 2021 • 29:10

Bittersweet Moment #119: How to Avoid Jetlag

Can you travel across nine time zones without more than a day's worth of jetlag? Tiffany is convinced that you can (without taking any pills). After decades of making regular trips across the ocean (at least until 2020), she's got the avoidance of jetlag down to an art—even little Aurelio never suffers from it. Claudio on the other hand, well... he doesn't listen to her advice, so it takes him several days to adjust. What's her secret? Listen to this week's mini-episode to find out. ------------

Jul 29, 2021 • 16:34

Episode 380: Finding Caravaggio at an Estate Sale

Did you hear about the doctor who unknowingly bought an original Caravaggio painting at an estate sale? Yes. That happened. Today we talk not only about this unbelievable story, but also about the allure of estate sales. Katy adores them. Tiffany's never been to one. What is it that intrigues Katy so much about them, and what was her one regret after buying a dead woman's most beloved position, a necklace she wore daily until her death? Find out on this week's episode. Read more about the discov

Jul 26, 2021 • 35:34

Bittersweet Moment #118: Harry Potter, One of the Most Translated Books of All Time

Everyone has their favorite book, author, or series, but when children fall in love with a book, that love can border on obsession. (And how lovely that is to witness!) Of course all demographics, from toddlers to great-great-grandmothers, can count Harry Potter mega-fans in their numbers, but for kids, that Harry Potter magic was extra special. Today, we re-air a bit of tape Katy captured way back in 2005, when she talked to young (and not-so-young) Harry Potter fans on the night that The Half-

Jul 22, 2021 • 12:46

Episode 379: Can You Truly Be Bilingual?

Inspired by a passage in the book Outline by Rachel Cusk, today we discuss the complexity of living life in two (or more!) languages, and if you can truly be yourself in every language you speak. Are you a different person when you speak a second language? Does it depend on at what age you start to learn the second language, or how well you speak it? And, intriguingly, does the way a language sounds influence the personalities of the people who speak it? These are just some of the topics that co

Jul 19, 2021 • 29:56

Bittersweet Moment #117: Being English in Italy—During the European Cup (with Julia Charity)

It's the biggest soccer (aka football) (aka calcio) match of the year as Italy faces off against England in the European Cup. But who do cheer for if you're an Englishwoman living in Italy for more than half your life, with an Italian husband and two half-Italian kids? To find out, we chat with Julia Charity, a thoroughly English tour guide who has called Italy home for more than two decades. Listen in to this mini-episode to find out which country she is more loyal too, and why she felt more co

Jul 15, 2021 • 18:47

Episode 378: Nostalgic Endings

Are you someone who has a hard time when things come to an end? Even when what's coming next might be just as good, if not better? Or possibly even when what is ending was never very good in the first place? Tiffany and Katy are both prone to nostalgia over endings, and as Aurelio finishes up Kindergarten or "Scuola Materna" as it's called in Italy, Tiffany begins to feel a pervading sadness over the impending end of her son's little-boyhood. In this episode we chat about endings, new beginnings

Jul 12, 2021 • 36:22

Bittersweet Moment #116: School's Out in Italy (featuring Aurelio and friend)

We hear from five-year-old Aurelio and his friend Jacopo on their very last day of Kindergarten—are they feeling the same sense of nostalgia that Tiffany's feeling, or are they just thrilled it's finally summer vacation? Also, Tiffany explains what preschool and Kindergarten are like in Italy, and how those very first years of school differ from their American counterparts. **This episode was sponsored by Faherty—a family-run environmentally friendly clothing company that creates soft and comfor

Jul 8, 2021 • 14:29

Returning Again and Again

Are you a person who always travels to a new place? Or do you prefer to revisit the same place over and over? Today we explore the value of going to the same place again and again. We discuss how going deeper into the culture of a place and getting to know its people on an intimate level can only come after prolonged or repeated visits, as well as the impact this kind of travel can have on our lives and how we see the world. **This episode was sponsored by Faherty—a family-run environmentally fr

Jul 5, 2021 • 27:23

Bittersweet Moment #115: Alaska Boat Trip – Your Questions Answered

Last week Katy regaled listeners with the story of her adventure aboard the Sea Star, a 1965 classic yacht, and her experiences cruising the inland passage from Seattle to Alaska. If you haven't listened yet, you can catch that episode here. In this mini-episode, she answers questions about this unforgettable trip, from practical things like what they ate, what the motor sounded like, and where the sewage went, to more probing questions such as, how did being "stuck" in a tiny ship cabin for ove

Jul 1, 2021 • 18:28

Episode 376: From Heartbreak to Purpose (with Asia Dawn Simonelli)

What do you do when your partner of almost a decade—and husband of only a few short months—tells you he thinks you made a mistake in getting married? Well, if you're today's guest, you pack your bags and start traveling the world. You might never even come back. Today we sit down with Asia Dawn Simonelli, who's unexpected heartbreak made her realize that life is too short and uncertain to do anything but what brings her joy. Her sudden divorce inspired her to spend a year traveling around South

Jun 28, 2021 • 31:08

Bittersweet Moment #114: Getting Married in Ancient Rome

To conclude our series of wedding-related mini-episodes, Tiffany regales you with the most common traditions and rituals surrounding weddings that took place in Ancient Rome. What words did the bride and groom recite to each other at the moment of marriage? What color was the bride's veil (and her shoes)? What did the bride, groom, and guests do after the wedding dinner? Find out all this and more on this mini-episode. Don't miss the earlier episodes in this series! Hear about classic Italian tr

Jun 24, 2021 • 12:06

Episode 375: Sea Adventure to Alaska

A private yacht called the Sea Star, a handful of strangers who would soon be friends, the inland passage to Alaska, and a few whales that like to show off—these are the ingredients in Katy's first post-pandemic trip. Although observing humpback whales in the wild has long been a dream of hers, she had no idea how much she would enjoy the actual trip, sailing the tranquil inland waters that stretch the entire length of British Colombia and beyond, making friends with her fellow passengers and le

Jun 21, 2021 • 34:27

Bittersweet Moment #113: Italian vs. American Weddings

Last week we talked about food, cake, invitations, and the dreaded colors of black and purple. This week, on the third installment in the Italian wedding mini-series, we delve into the differences between Italian and American weddings in terms of ceremony, bomboniere (aka very elaborate party favors), photography and—perhaps most intriguingly—who pays for the wedding. Find out why Italian newlyweds are almost always at least an hour late for their own wedding reception, and hear what Italian tra

Jun 17, 2021 • 13:11

Episode 374: Keep This, Ditch That

Make-up. Unpleasant social obligations. Commuting. Lots of things fell by the wayside during the pandemic. Lots of things that seemed absolutely necessary parts of life "before Covid" suddenly were either impossible or simply irrelevant. Now that life, for many people around the world, is starting to go back to normal, we can't help but wonder: do we have to start doing these things again? We put a call out on Instagram and got lots of responses of things our listeners would rather not go back t

Jun 14, 2021 • 28:29

Bittersweet Moment #112: An American Wedding in Italy

For the second installment in our series of Italian wedding-themed mini-episodes, Tiffany looks back on her wedding in Rome almost exactly ten years ago, and how she tried (and sometimes failed) to incorporate both the stylish American wedding trends she loved and the strict Italian wedding traditions and norms that her soon-to-be in-laws expected. Throw misunderstandings and assumptions into the mix and you have a few hitches that can be looked back on and laughed at—now that ten years have pas

Jun 10, 2021 • 15:05

Episode 373: The Label Debate Continues (with Keith Cooke)

Last week we talked about the labels expat vs immigrant, and specifically, why Tiffany, after nearly 17 years in Italy, still considers herself more of an expat than an immigrant. Today, we replay an episode from way back in 2015, the very first time we debated the expat vs immigrant question, and specifically, if the color of your skin determines whether you're considered an expat or an immigrant. In addition to our own conversation, we are joined by longtime listener and former expat Keith Coo

Jun 7, 2021 • 33:55

Bittersweet Moment #111: Italian Wedding Traditions

On occasion of her 10th wedding anniversary, Tiffany talks about Italian wedding traditions, particularly the ones popular in the mid-20th century. Ever wonder why Italians give sugared almonds at weddings and what they represent? Curious to know what a bride must never wear before the wedding day, and what a groom should carry in his pocket to ward off evil spirits? You learn about these traditions and more on this mini-episode. Some of these traditions are still around, and some are now comple

Jun 3, 2021 • 16:00

Episode 372: Expat or Immigrant?

Tiffany moved to Italy as an expat in the fall 2004—nearly 17 years ago. Since then, she's married an Italian and started a family, bought an apartment in Italy, and become an Italian citizenship, so... is it time to change that label from expat to immigrant? In response to a listener email, Tiffany and Katy chat about why Tiffany nevertheless still identifies as an expat, and how despite being a legal Italian citizenship, she still doesn't feel as Italian as the native-born. We also discuss wea

May 31, 2021 • 30:31

Episode 371: Anna Sale Talks About Hard Things, Part 2

Today we continue our conversation with Anna Sale, host of the popular podcast Death, Sex, and Money and author of bestselling book Let's Talk About Hard Things.  On Part 1 of this interview, Anna goes into the nitty-gritty of talks about sex and death—why they are so hard to have, and how to make them easier. On Part 2, she delves into money. She talks about something called financial vigilance, and how people who have historically felt the need to over-control their money can have a hard time

May 27, 2021 • 21:49

Episode 370: Anna Sale Talks About Hard Things, Part 1

Can you talk about hard things? Can you negotiate your salary with a new boss? Can you tactfully comfort someone who’s just had a devastating loss? Can you be open about your sexual needs with your partner? Anna Sale is the host of the Death, Sex, and Money, a award-winning podcast that “explores the big questions and hard choices that are often left out of polite conversation.” She's also the author of Let's Talk About Hard Things, a bestselling book that teaches you to have that conversation.

May 24, 2021 • 33:52

Bittersweet Moment #110: Italy Welcomes Tourists

What was it like to work in an international airport in the time of Covid? For this mini-episode, we're joined by someone who can answer that question with first-hand experience. Today's guest is Valentina, a staff member for a major Italian airline who worked at Rome's Fiumicino Airport throughout the pandemic. She shares her unprecedented experiences during this time, as well as how she feels about Italy's somewhat controversial reopening to tourists this month. She also explains how the new "

May 20, 2021 • 10:16

Episode 369: A Day in the Life: One Year Later

One year ago, we asked our listeners, What does a day in the life of someone under lockdown look like? Listeners from around the world sent us a peek into their lives in the form of voice memos, and we included our own auditory snapshots as well. This year, we once again sent out a call for recorded snippet of our listeners daily lives to see what has changed in one year—and what has stayed the same. Thank you so much to everyone who sent in a voice memo. We love hearing the voices of the people

May 17, 2021 • 27:27

Bittersweet Moment #109: A Boudoir Adventure

Have you ever taken off your clothes for the camera? Today Katy reaches back into the archives of her long career as a radio producer and pulls out an interview with a boudoir photographer, and one of her clients. On this mini-episode, you'll learn who is likely to get a boudoir photography session, and why you should do it.  The photographer interviewed in this episode is Christina Mallet, who now lives in Berlin, Germany. You can find her on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. ------------------

May 13, 2021 • 12:34

Italy Reopens to the World

The wait is over—at long last, you can finally go to Italy again! But is it a good idea? According to a recent announcement, the Italian government is not waiting for the EU "green pass" to welcome travelers from outside the EU this summer, but are instead launching their own version a month earlier, that could see the country open up to tourists from around the world in less than a week. It's a huge relief to anyone in the tourist or tourist-adjacent sectors in Italy (and Italophiles around the

May 10, 2021 • 31:08

Bittersweet Moment #108: The Spanish Steps in Bloom

Tiffany joins us from the Spanish Steps for this mini-episode, where glorious azalea plants are spilling down the steps and there is nary a tourist in sight. May 2021 the first—and most likely the last—time it will be possible to see the Spanish Steps this way. As Tiffany marvels at the spectacle, she also marvels at how fast Italians seem to be able to transition in and out of the country's various lockdowns and restrictions. Every time the city opens back up, it almost feel like there was neve

May 6, 2021 • 9:51

Episode 367: Documenting Travel (with Riley Morton)

This week we sit down with Riley Morton, a freelance documentary producer and cinematographer who kicked off his career two decades ago in the adventure sports space, producing documentaries and television about climbing, skiing, trail running, and adventure travel. Over the past decade, he has branched out, producing his own documentaries and collaborating on major projects. His newest creation is Endless Earth, a free app that features an ever-changing collection of professionally produced sho

May 3, 2021 • 26:50

Bittersweet Moment #107: Vaccine Hesitancy (with Jess Walter)

Bestselling author and friend of the show Jess Walter joins us for this mini-episode to talk about the reluctance so many people seem to have over getting the Covid vaccine. Jess shares a great tip for convincing the vaccine-hesitant people in your life to get the vaccine. ------------------------------------- ADVERTISE WITH US: Reach expats, future expats, and travelers all over the world. Send us an email to get the conversation started. BECOME A PATRON: Pledge your monthly support of The Bitt

Apr 29, 2021 • 8:03

Episode 366: Vaccinated

Over in the US, Katy is now fully vaccinated against Covid-19. Hurrah! Tiffany in Italy, meanwhile, still has a long wait ahead of her. How long is anyone's guess. Today they discuss how Katy's life will change now that she's vaccinated—perhaps a lot, perhaps not much, it's not easy to know just yet. As well as if she even wants to go back to life as it once was. And Tiffany shares her frustrations with Italy's dismal vaccine roll-out. ------------------------------------- ADVERTISE WITH US: Rea

Apr 26, 2021 • 30:46

Bittersweet Moment #106: Speed Writing

Want to write a 90k-word novel? If you've got 46 days (the length of Lent) Tiffany will tell you how to do it. This year during the period of Lent, Tiffany came up with the crazy idea to draft her next novel by Easter. That meant writing nearly 2000 words per day and, if that weren't challenging enough, schools in Italy closed halfway through! In this mini-episode, Tiffany shares her tips for completing such a massive project in such a short amount of time, as well as why you might want to attem

Apr 22, 2021 • 19:45

Episode 365: A Day in the Life Revisited

One year ago, we asked our listeners, What does a day in the life of someone under lockdown look like? Listeners from around the world sent us a peek into their lives in the form of voice memos, and we included our own auditory snapshots as well. Today we replay that episode to see what has changed in one year—and what has stayed the same. From Lynn in San Francisco as she studies Italian to Jill in Manhattan where the only sound on the city streets is the chirping of birds; from Karen, a US exp

Apr 19, 2021 • 48:48

Bittersweet Moment #105: How to Find Work Abroad (with David McNeill)

Want to move abroad but have no idea how to support yourself when you get there? For this mini-episode, we are joined by David McNeill, creator of Expat Empire, a consulting service for aspiring expats, and host of the Expat Empire podcast (check out this recent episode in which he interviews Tiffany). From finding a local job in the country you are moving to, to getting a transfer through the company you already work for, from opening your own business to becoming a digital nomad, David shares

Apr 15, 2021 • 12:53

Episode 364: Cross-cultural Challenges

Inspired by our conversation with Elizabeth Miki Brina, author of the new memoir Speak, Okinawa, we turn again to cross-cultural relationships and families, and the challenges that they bring up for those involved, many of them unexpected. We also consider how much those problems can change and worsen, depending on which country the immigrant spouse is from, and how that country is perceived in their new country. Be sure not to miss last week's episode, the interview with Elizabeth Miki Brina th

Apr 12, 2021 • 29:02

Bittersweet Moment #104: Cross-cultural Families

Inspired by last week's episode, an interview with Elizabeth Miki Brian, the author of the new memoir Speak, Okinawa, and the challenges she faced growing up the daughter of an American father and an Okinawan mother, Tiffany looks at pitfalls that can crop up in any cross-cultural relationship, particularly when one member of the couple leaves his or her home country to move (often permanently) the the country of the other, as well as a few ideas of how to avoid them. Be sure to listen to Episod

Apr 8, 2021 • 12:12

Episode 363: Speak, Okinawa (with Elizabeth Miki Brina)

Elizabeth Miki Brina's new memoir Speak Okinawa is a "searing, deeply candid memoir about a young woman's journey to understanding her complicated parents—her mother, an Okinawan war bride, her father, a Vietnam veteran—and her own, fraught cultural heritage." We sit down with the author for a probing interview that looks at the pitfalls of cross-cultural marriage, as well as Brina's own guilt and frequent embarrassment at being a mixed-race, mixed-heritage child. Her book seeks to uncover who h

Apr 5, 2021 • 38:07

Bittersweet Moment #103: New Life Begins

As a follow-up to Monday's episode, What Do I Want to Do Today?, on this mini-episode, Katy presents a radio piece she produced several years ago, in which she is physically present—and recording in audio—the birth of a child. First she chats with the parents-to-be about their decision to attempt a natural childbirth, as well as the doula who will be assisting the birth. Sometimes coming up with an idea for a story or a project can be as simple as asking yourself what you want to do that day. An

Mar 31, 2021 • 22:53

Episode 362: What Do You Want to Do Today

When trying to come up with an idea, whether it's for an article you're trying to pitch, a school assignment, a book you want to write, or any creative endeavor, have you ever just asked yourself: What do I want to do today? Today we talk about how this seemingly simple question can not only open up an opportunity to do something totally new to you and perhaps even out of your comfort zone, but it may also bring you an abundance of inspiration for a creative project. We also chat about all the c

Mar 29, 2021 • 43:46

Bittersweet Moment #102: Italy Lockdown (Again)

Italy is in lockdown (again), but this time it feels very different. The rules are mostly the same, but the mood on the street is completely changed. The restaurants and many of the shops may be closed, movement may be restricted, but the citizens are rejecting the call not to socialize, and (so far) the authorities have chosen to ignore it. Aurelio also stops by to chat about why he's fine with Italy's Lockdown 3.0. **This episode was sponsored by Lingoda—the #1 trusted European language school

Mar 25, 2021 • 9:21

Episode 361: How to Move Abroad (with Jessica Drucker)

So, you've decided you want to move abroad but... where do you start? It's not an easy subject to tackle, so today we've asked an expert. On this week's episode, we sit down with expert expat Jessica Drucker, author of How to Move Abroad and Why it's the Best Thing You'll Do. She's also the host of the Adventure Calls podcast. We get into the nitty-gritty of how to go about achieving your expat dreams, covering topics such as why you should move abroad, how to budget for your move, how to get yo

Mar 22, 2021 • 40:07

Bittersweet Moment #101: Seven Years, Seven Questions

Today we celebrate seven years of The Bittersweet Life! To mark this milestone, on this mini-episode we ask each other seven questions, each one inspired by the legendary seven hills of Rome! Listen in and you may just learn something new about us! **This episode was sponsored by Lingoda—the #1 trusted European language school with very affordable prices. The small online classes, available 24/7, are taught by native-speaking teachers with proven methods and expert-designed curriculums. Particip

Mar 17, 2021 • 17:03

Episode 360: Getting Better, Getting Worse

For much of the pandemic, Italy has been keeping their numbers (relatively) under control, and the United States, on the other hand, has seen their numbers climb and climb without an end in sight. But now the shoe is on the other foot, so it would seem. The vaccination roll-out in the US is actually ahead of schedule, and things are slowly, finally, beginning to turn around, meanwhile most of Italy is back in full lockdown as of today. We chat about how the situation in Italy is getting worse, w

Mar 15, 2021 • 29:51

Bittersweet Moment #100: One Year Later

Tiffany looks back on the week that it all changed in Italy—one year ago right now. Did any of us think, a year later, that restrictions, yellow, orange, and red zones, masks and all the rest of it, would still be a part of our lives one year later? She muses on what was going through our heads at that unprecedented time, what, if anything, we have learned since then, and the ways in which have we've been forever changed. She even listens back to the very first episode we taped about the pandemi

Mar 11, 2021 • 10:28

Episode 359: Diffused Art

Walking through the halls of a museum like the Uffizi Gallery in Florence—when we're not in the middle of a pandemic, that is—is generally about as artistic an experience as rush hour at Grand Central Station. Florence, a relatively small city, is overwhelmed by the number of tourists who visit it (in a normal year) and almost all of those tourists visit the Uffizi Gallery. The director of the Gallery is already thinking ahead to when mass tourism inevitably returns to Florence, and he's come up

Mar 8, 2021 • 27:33

Bittersweet Moment #99: Feedback, Good or Bad? (with Therese Huston)

Katy gets into the nitty-gritty of feedback from her own point of view, digging into her own past as a senior radio producer. Today's mini-episode features part of the conversation that was cut from Monday's full-length episode, an interview with Dr. Therese Huston, author of Let’s Talk: Make Effective Feedback Your Superpower. Katy looks back at her former job and wonders: did I give good feedback? Did I give enough feedback at all? If you haven't listened to Monday's episode, The Art of Feedb

Mar 4, 2021 • 9:26

Episode 358: The Art of Feedback (with Therese Huston)

How can effective feedback change your life? Today, we sit down with Dr. Theresa Huston, author of the new book Let’s Talk: Make Effective Feedback Your Superpower, a "game-changing model for giving effective feedback to peers, employees, or even your boss—without offending or demotivating." In it, she explains how to tell someone that they're not meeting expectations without crushing their spirit, a skill which, when delivered skillfully, can turn average performers into the hardest workers and

Mar 1, 2021 • 43:51

Bittersweet Moment #98: The Holiest Place in Rome

Oscar Wilde called it the "holiest place in Rome" and Percy Shelley said it would make someone apt to fall in love with death to think of being buried in so sweet a place...and not soon later he was buried there at only 29. But the most famous resident of Rome's Non-Catholic Cemetery is of course John Keats, who was interred there exactly 200 years ago today. Inspired by Katy's essay on his death and the death of her friend Susan, Tiffany visits the cemetery in her mind (it's still closed at pre

Feb 25, 2021 • 15:59

Episode 357: Literary Travel

Reading books can inspire you to travel, and travel can inspire you to read books. It's what we call a delicious cycle. Today we talk about the books (and other types of art) that have inspired not only particular trips, but the things that we have sought out when on that trip, or even things we have made a point to see in our own cities. But this inspiration goes both ways, and sometimes the things we see when traveling inspire us to read more about them, whether in fiction or non-fiction. List

Feb 22, 2021 • 29:24

Bittersweet Moment #97: The Scariest Cold Call

On our "super secret" Truth or Dare episode from a few years ago (available only to our Patreon patrons and long-time donors), Katy did something incredibly scary, heart-poundingly so: she called someone she'd had a brief but electrifying encounter with—completely out of the blue, 20 years later. As a hint of what the bonus content that our patrons and regular donors receive every single month, we are broadcasting this very scary call in all its nail-biting glory. If you'd like more bonus conten

Feb 18, 2021 • 20:33

Episode 356: Anticipating Travel

Some psychologists say that anticipation of a desired event can often bring more happiness than experiencing the event itself. And if that's the case, can we conclude that planning a trip is even more fun that actually taking the trip? Inspired by a recent article in the New York Times, Travel and the Art of Anticipation by Stephanie Rosenbloom, we muse about the so-called "happiness reset," the pleasure of anticipating travel, and the joys to be gleaned from reminiscing about past adventures. T

Feb 15, 2021 • 35:59

Bittersweet Moment #96: Disappearing Languages

Every two weeks, an endangered language disappears from the planet, when the last person who speaks it dies. And one third of the world's languages are endangered. On this mini-episode, we talk about the world's languages that are most at risk of disappearing, and why you might want to learn one of them. If you're interested in learning an obscure or endangered language, check out these three articles. **This episode was sponsored by Clyde Hill Publishing—partner and publisher for founders, inno

Feb 11, 2021 • 11:28

Episode 355: Losing Language

One of the greatest rewards of being an expat is mastering a foreign language. But what happens when you live in a foreign language so long, so cut off from your own culture, that you start to lose your fluency in your native tongue? Think it couldn't happen to you? Join us for a chat that might change your mind, and learn some Italian words in the process—ones that you might think you know, but their true meaning just may surprise you. **This episode was sponsored by Clyde Hill Publishing—partn

Feb 8, 2021 • 31:05

Episode 354: Virtual Tour of Rome with Special Guests, Part 2

Today we continue our virtual walk through Rome, were we just happen to run into a few more world-famous authors. What are the odds? Katy's brilliant sound-mixing skills, Tiffany's knowledge of the Eternal City, and the commentary of some of today's most brilliant authors come together in one of our most delightful episodes of all time. If you haven't listened to Part 1 of this episode, make sure you do that first! **This episode was sponsored by Clyde Hill Publishing—partner and publisher for f

Feb 4, 2021 • 23:25

Episode 353: Virtual Tour of Rome with Special Guests, Part 1

Katy and Tiffany take to the streets of Rome once again, and this time, they encounter a slew of fascinating and important people, all former guests of the show! Through the magic of radio—a cache of Rome sounds, snippets from old interviews, and Katy's brilliant sound-mixing skills—this walking tour of Rome was taped NOT on the streets of Rome as it seems, but in Katy and Tiffany's own homes, across the ocean from each other. Don't miss our previous virtual tour of Rome, created during Italy's

Feb 1, 2021 • 33:24

Bittersweet Moment #95: Why I Don't Trust Trip Advisor

TripAdvisor might be some people's go-to app for planning their vacations, but Tiffany prefers to steer clear of the anonymous travel review site if possible. We mentioned this on a previous episode, and a listener wrote in to ask why. Tiffany shares her opinions in this mini-episode. **This episode was sponsored by Clyde Hill Publishing—partner and publisher for founders, innovators, thinkers, and tinkerers. Check out their upcoming release, I Had No Idea You Were Black, by Ronald Crutcher. Pre

Jan 28, 2021 • 11:05

Episode 352: Souvenirs

Is there a specific thing you like to buy when you travel to a new place, like a magnet or a snow globe? Or do you seek out unique and locally made art and objects? Perhaps you prefer the type of souvenir that you can eat once you get back home. Maybe you wait to see what strikes your fancy or just pick something random off the street like Katy? Today we play and comment on the favorite souvenirs of the listeners of The Bittersweet Life, and talk a little bit about the most treasured objects we'

Jan 25, 2021 • 33:22

Bittersweet Moment #94: A New President

There's a new man in the White House this morning—and a new woman too! Just like we did four years ago during Donald Trump's inauguration, we recorded our live reactions to Joe Biden's inauguration via voice memo to each other, a conversation in real time across the ocean. It happened at 6pm in Rome, at 9am in Seattle, and at noon in Washington DC, but through the magic of radio (and Katy's brilliant editing skills), we're all able to experience it together. Listen in on our live reactions to th

Jan 21, 2021 • 22:02

Episode 351: Paris By The Book (with Liam Callanan)

A missing person, a grieving family, a curious clue: a half-finished manuscript set in Paris... these are just three of the intriguing ingredients of Liam Callanan's new novel, Paris by the Book. The author joins us today to chat about his latest book, and muses on what it's like to write a book that takes place in a city you've never lived in, and how cities like Paris sometimes exist in our imaginations; those versions often have little to do with reality, but that doesn't mean they aren't rea

Jan 16, 2021 • 32:32

Bittersweet Moment #93: ItalyGate: Vatican Blackout Conspiracy Theory

Was Pope Francis really arrested by the FBI last weekend? Did all the lights in the Vatican go out to hide this event from the world? And most importantly, did Pope Francis really change all the votes cast from Italy in the November election from Trump to Biden? We're guessing you know the answers to these questions, but we address these questions this wild theory anyway on our latest mini-episode. For further reading check out this post by Rome resident and Vatican expert Mountain Butorac on hi

Jan 14, 2021 • 10:44

Episode 350: Daily Life: Italy vs America

Do Italian parents really take their toddlers out to restaurants at 10pm? Do they really go home for lunch during the work day and take a nap? Thanks to an idea sent in by a listener, today we dig into some of the norms of Italian daily life and how it compares to life in the US. Tiffany busts some myths and shares the ways she's assimilated to the Italian lifestyle, as well as the American habits she just can't shake. -------------------------------------- ADVERTISE WITH US: Reach expats, futur

Jan 10, 2021 • 31:13

Bittersweet Moment #92: A Call for Souvenirs

Whether a funky mug from Prague, a hand-painted ceramic bowl from Mexico, or a random dish picked up off the street in Japan, there's got to be one special souvenir that has a place in your heart and on your shelf, and takes you back to wherever you found it. Thanks to a listener suggestion, today we're putting out a call for our listeners' favorite souvenirs, whether purchased or found, handmade or mass produced, from as far away as the South China Sea or as near as one town over. Record yourse

Jan 5, 2021 • 6:10

Episode 349: A New Year Begins: 2021

After the catastrophe that was 2020, we go back and listen to the resolutions we made one year ago. Did we manage to accomplish ANY of them? You'll have to listen to find out. We also make plans for the year ahead, and even dare to make a few resolutions, although we are humbled by the crazy year we've all just lived for and so are keeping our resolutions a bit less ambitious this year. -------------------------------------- ADVERTISE WITH US: Reach expats, future expats, and travelers all over

Jan 2, 2021 • 30:53

Bittersweet Moment #91: Rome's Restricted New Year

It's finally the end of 2020!! We made it! But the close of what many are calling the worst year in living memory won't be rung in as many people would like to: carousing and celebrating in the streets. Instead, most of us are stuck inside, especially those of us in Italy where curfews and lockdowns mean most people will be staying home. Tiffany and Katy talk about Rome's complicated and baffling restrictions over the holiday period and how they'll be celebrating in their respective cities. Happ

Dec 31, 2020 • 13:41

Episode 348: The Best of the Year: Virtual Tour of Rome

Lots of out-of-work tour guides are now offering virtual tours of Rome (and, I imagine, cities all around the world), as a way to keep their businesses alive, keep their knowledge fresh, and help people who are stuck at home feel like they are traveling. But way back in April, while we were all stuck inside and not even permitted to go for a walk more than 200 meters from home (at least in Rome), we created an auditory virtual tour of Rome. And the coolest part? We did it from our own homes—half

Dec 28, 2020 • 45:57

Bittersweet Moment #90: Merry Christmas from Aurelio

It's Christmas Eve and Tiffany interviews one little child who is looking forward to the big day. Enjoy this mini-burst of holiday cheer and Merry Christmas from your friends at The Bittersweet Life. -------------------------------------- ADVERTISE WITH US: Reach expats, future expats, and travelers all over the world. Send us an email to get the conversation started. BECOME A PATRON: Pledge your monthly support of The Bittersweet Life and receive awesome prizes in return for your generosity! Vi

Dec 23, 2020 • 9:09

Episode 347: A Bookish Christmas (with Nancy Pearl)

Just in time for last-minute Christmas shopping, the "world's librarian" Nancy Pearl, who is also a best-selling author herself, shares her favorite books for giving (or reading yourself) this holiday season (find titles and links below). Nancy also shares her advice for testing out a new friendship: give your new friend a book for Christmas, and whether they bother to read it (or love it or hate it) might inform whether your friendship has longterm potential.  Here our Nancy's picks for this ho

Dec 18, 2020 • 29:51

Bittersweet Moment #89: After After Midnight (with Matthew P. Woerner)

Katy catches up with Matthew P. Woerner, the writer and director of Monday's audio play "After Midnight," who also happens to be a childhood friend. On this mini-episode, they discuss their mutual love for old-time radio, and hypothesize on what makes radio theater unique. Matthew talks about his inspiration for "After Midnight," and how he got the radio bug. They also reminisce about their childhood and what Katy was like as a kid. -------------------------------------- ADVERTISE WITH US: Reach

Dec 17, 2020 • 17:21

Episode 346: After Midnight (by Matthew P. Woerner)

Get a cup of your favorite hot drink, find a cozy corner, and sit back and enjoy a totally different kind of show. Today we're  presenting a special radio play inspired by the Golden Age of radio drama, the very medium that made Katy fall in love with radio and go into a career as a public radio producer and podcaster. After Midnight was written and directed by Matthew P. Woerner, a childhood friend of Katy. During the long, solitary months of lockdown, as many people were pursuing new creative

Dec 14, 2020 • 1:07:04

Bittersweet Moment #88: An American in Italy—during Covid

In a time when leisure travel (especially international leisure travel) is all but non-existent, some brave and insistent travel-lovers are going anyway. Today we chat with long-time listener and past guest Lynn Fortunato, who flew to Italy from her home in San Francisco just before the second wave hit, with a one-way ticket and not much of a plan. Hear in her own words her experiences with Italy's strict quarantine for foreign travelers, where she's been, and how she's been filling her time in

Dec 10, 2020 • 13:33

Episode 345: Now You See It, Now You Don't

There are lots of new sights we are all quickly getting used to during this unprecedented time. People in masks, plexiglass partitions, ubiquitous hand sanitizer dispensers... but what about all the things we used to see everywhere that are now just gone? This week we remark on what sights have disappeared from our streets, and if they'll ever come back, which leads to a broader conversation about how the world is changing. **This episode was sponsored by Clyde Hill Publishing—partner and publis

Dec 6, 2020 • 35:13

Bittersweet Moment #87: Slow Winter

Winter can be long at the best of times. But during a pandemic with no end in sight, it can be brutal. Katy is joined briefly by author Jess Walter and the two try and come up with ways to get through this long, dark, and solitary winter. **This episode was sponsored by Clyde Hill Publishing—partner and publisher for founders, innovators, thinkers, and tinkerers. Check out their latest release, Georges Bank by Bradley Bagshow, a maritime novel set in a 19th-century fishing village in New England

Dec 3, 2020 • 4:14

Episode 344: Shifting Goals

We all make goals—or, at least most of us do—but what happens when we decide to scratch a goal off the list without ever completing it? Whether because we're simply not interested in having a particular experience anymore, our passions have led us in another direction, or we have (sob!) "aged out" of the possibility of achieving a dream, it's ok to change our minds. What we are determined to do when we're 14 (or 40) might not be what we were meant to do. This week we talk about how revising and

Nov 30, 2020 • 35:38

Bittersweet Moment #86: Gratitude

On this extra-short mini-episode, Katy and Tiffany express their thanks for things in their lives that they are unexpectedly treasuring this year. Sometimes it's the little things, sometimes it's the big things, but we can all find something to be grateful, even in the midst of the craziest year of our lives. **This episode was sponsored by Clyde Hill Publishing—partner and publisher for founders, innovators, thinkers, and tinkerers.** -------------------------------------- ADVERTISE WITH US: Re

Nov 26, 2020 • 9:53

Episode 343: Joyful News (with Clare Brown)

About five years ago, Clare Brown left a predictable life in the UK to move to Split, Croatia in search of writing, exploration, and adventure. A longtime listener of the show, she has been a regular guest over the years and has inspired the listeners of The Bittersweet Life with her daring yet highly relatable story. She first appeared on Episode 112 EXPLORE and, by popular demand, she returned in Episode 157 CLARE. This week, joins us once again from Split, Croatia with chapter three of her am

Nov 23, 2020 • 37:13

Bittersweet Moment #85: What's Going on in Italy?

Italy is in the midst of a wicked second wave of Covid. In fact, it makes spring's wave seem like a bump by comparison. Instead of instituting a national lockdown, as they did last spring, Italy's leaders have opted for zoned restrictions, ranging from light restrictions in the yellow zones (Rome, for example), to a nearly complete lockdown in red zones (Milan and Florence, for example). In this mini-episode, Tiffany explains the different restrictions facing different areas of the country, and

Nov 19, 2020 • 14:17

Episode 342: Sleep

Do you have a hard time falling asleep at night? Or perhaps, like Katy, you sleep fitfully, waking multiple times a night and having trouble falling back to sleep again. Or maybe, like Tiffany, you're one of the lucky ones, and sleep comes quickly and easily. (But don't get too smug, you could end up with a baby who refuses to sleep, just like Aurelio did!) After several listener requests, this week we present an episode all about slumber. Why some people find it so elusive and others so welcomi

Nov 16, 2020 • 32:44

Bittersweet Moment #84: Biden Wins!

Katy and Tiffany send voice memos back and forth across the Atlantic as one of the most consequential presidential elections in American history is finally called for Joe Biden. For Katy, it's early on a Saturday morning, for Tiffany, it's almost dinnertime, and once again they wonder if the time of day that something happens makes a difference in how you experience it. But most of all, they share their feelings, hopes, and reactions as this historic election is finally called, and what they thi

Nov 12, 2020 • 14:42

Episode 341: Around the World in Twelve Months (with Cyndie Burkhardt)

Photographer and visual storyteller Cyndie Burkhardt was living in New York City feeling unsatisfied with her life. Rather than continue to struggle, she decided to leave. Her goal: to visit 12 countries in 12 months and rediscover herself along the way. Nine months in, the coronavirus stopped her in her tracks. On today's episode we sit down with Cyndie to explore the journey she took, what she found, and where she is now. Follow Cyndie on her blog, at her 12 Countries, 12 Months photo project,

Nov 9, 2020 • 27:56

Bittersweet Moment #83: Election Night 2020

If you live abroad, sometimes you have to stay up all night in order to keep an eye on the fate of your home country. And then there are the rare occasions when you have to stay up all night even if you are in the states. No one said 2020 was going to be an easy year. On this week's mini-episode, Tiffany and Katy comunicate with each other via voice memo as the results of the 2020 US election come in. For Tiffany, this happened beginning at one in the morning, for Katy, the more reasonable hour

Nov 5, 2020 • 15:45

Episode 340: A World Away

It's the eve of the US presidential election, what the vast majority of Americans consider to be the most important election of their lifetimes. But what happens when you're an expat, living across the world while something so important is happening? Even if you exercise your right to vote from abroad, it can still be challenging for expats to be so far away when something enormously consequential is going on at home. On this episode, Tiffany explains what it feels like to be so far from home at

Nov 2, 2020 • 31:50

Bittersweet Moment #82: Rat Laughter and Storytelling

It's almost Halloween, and to assuage the fears of anyone who is afraid of rats (like Tiffany, see previous episode!) Katy shares a fascinating and little-known recording of rat laughter (yes, you read that right). On this mini-episode, she also shares a touching piece of short fiction she wrote during lockdown that most likely many of our listeners can relate to in some way. **This episode was sponsored by Clyde Hill Publishing—partner and publisher for founders, innovators, thinkers, and tinke

Oct 29, 2020 • 9:29

Episode 339: What Are You Afraid Of?

Are you afraid of the dark? Spider or rats? Being buried alive or drowning? Encountering a wild ferocious beast? Are you afraid of ghosts? Someone lurking in the shadows who is about to jump out and attack? In honor of Halloween week, this episode is all about our fears, whether they be rational or irrational. And if they are rational, can they even be considered fears? Or is that just a natural form of self-protection? And speaking of irrational fears, why are we often scared of things that we

Oct 26, 2020 • 32:46

Bittersweet Moment #81: The Veiled Christ

Considered for centuries to be the most mysterious sculpture in the world, The Veiled Christ by Giuseppe Sanmartino (1753) is an astoundingly realistically marble creation of the crucified Christ covered with a nearly transparent veil. The depiction is so uncannily real that for nearly 200 years, it was believed by many to have been created with the use of magical means. On this Bittersweet Moment, Tiffany tells the history of this mystifying work, and the secret that was believed to be responsi

Oct 21, 2020 • 10:37

Episode 338: Cute and Cuddly

"All things cute and cuddly" was the surprising topic requested by listener Sara, who supports us at the $50 level on Patreon. Choosing the topic of an episode is just one of many bonuses we offer our Patreon supporters, and as this episode proves, we take that pledge seriously and hold no veto power. The sky is the limit! In delving into this unexpected topic, we attempt to answer many questions: Why does Tiffany hate cuddly things—and the very word "cuddly" itself? What is the cutest thing Kat

Oct 19, 2020 • 36:03

Bittersweet Moment #80: Virtual Book Tour (with Jess Walter)

What are book tours like in the time of Covid? For this week's mini-episode, Katy sits down with bestselling author Jess Walter to discuss what it's like to do book events in his office while staring into a computer screen or to sign 6000 books in one go. They also consider that, even in a post-Covid world, true book tours might become a thing of the past, and why maybe that won't be such a bad thing. Jess' latest book, The Cold Millions will be published on 27 October 2020. Pre-order your copy,

Oct 15, 2020 • 13:01

Episode 337: Before and After Baby

This week we give all our listeners a peek into some of the extra bonus content that our Patreon donors are receiving. Every month we offer one or more bonus episodes exclusively for our Patreon supporters, and today we are sharing one of those with our entire audience. Way back in 2015, we taped a final episode just before Tiffany took a break to have her baby and begin learning the ropes of motherhood. This week, we re-listen to that episode and offer real-time commentary on it. Did Tiffany ha

Oct 12, 2020 • 50:20

Bittersweet Moment #79: Moving Abroad during a Pandemic (with Gabriela Proietti)

Moving abroad is already a daunting experience at the best of times. Imagine doing it during a deadly pandemic. For this mini-interview we are joined by listener Gabriela Proietti who took the leap and moved to Rome this past January, only to be forced back home to the States when Coronavirus exploded in Italy in early March. But was she daunted?  No! Hear her tell her story in her own words of how she defied her nay-sayers to move back to Rome in the midst of the pandemic. ---------------------

Oct 8, 2020 • 9:53

Episode 336: Silver Linings

As devastating as this pandemic has been, to our lives, our loved ones, and our livelihoods, is there a silver lining? In the midst of the suffering and the uncertainty, sometimes you have to let yourself see the good too. Regular listeners will know that Tiffany is an eternal optimist. Today, she and Katy discuss the positive changes they have noticed in the world and their own lives in the past six months, from big-picture things like environmental improvements, to things as small and personal

Oct 5, 2020 • 38:52

Bittersweet Moment #78: Grave-robbing Artists? (with Jennifer Dasal)

It's a much-told legend that Michelangelo and Leonardo Da Vinci used to rob graves in order to dissect bodies in secret so they could achieve anatomical accuracy in their art. But is it actually true? On this mini-episode, we are joined again by curator Jennifer Dasal of the Art Curious podcast, and author of the brand new book, Art Curious: Stories of the Unexpected, Slightly Odd, and Strangely Wonderful in Art History. Listen in to find out the truth, which might just be more fascinating than

Oct 1, 2020 • 11:28

Episode 335: Art Curious (with Jennifer Dasal)

Is the Mona Lisa in the Louvre fake? Was impressionist painter Claude Monet a radical? And was Caravaggio—our show's muse—murdered? Art history holds as many mysteries and baffling stories as it does masterpieces, and Jennifer Dasal, museum curator and host of the wildly popular ArtCurious podcast knows all the best ones. In this week’s episode we sit down with Jennifer to chat about her brand-new book, ArtCurious: Stories of the Unexpected, Slightly Odd, and Strangely Wonderful in Art History a

Sep 28, 2020 • 35:56

Bittersweet Moment #77: Back to School, Covid Edition

It's that time of year again, but this year everything is different. In Italy, kids are now back in the classroom full-time but the rules are complicated and very strict. In this mini-episode, Tiffany gives the low-down on what Italian schools are doing to keep kids (and their loved ones) safe in the time of corona, as well as her worries for the year ahead. Aurelio pops in to give his take too. --------------------------------------- ADVERTISE WITH US: Reach expats, future expats, and travelers

Sep 24, 2020 • 14:49

Episode 334: Voting from Home and Abroad

Ready or not, election season is upon us! And it's never been easier for Americans living abroad to vote—well, in some states. Tiffany is lucky as Arizona (where she's registered to vote) allows online voting through a secure portal. Other states have more complex and lengthy processes, but bottom line: no matter where you are registered to vote and no matter where you live now, all US expats can (and should!) vote from abroad! On this episode, Tiffany and Katy discuss the ins and outs of voting

Sep 21, 2020 • 32:16

Bittersweet Moment #76: Smoke and Good News!

Katy, and all of our fellow-West Coast listeners, are seeing massive tracts of their states destroyed, smoke blotting out the sun, and highly hazardous breathing conditions. If they couldn't go out to dinner or to a pub during lockdown, now they can't even take a walk around their block or sit in their backyard. But after filling listeners in on what's going on in her world, Katy is thrilled to dive back into the listener mail bag and read two extremely welcome pieces of good news. She shares th

Sep 17, 2020 • 12:19

Episode 333: Numbers

From lucky and unlucky numbers to numbers that make almost magical equations, from significant date to the "perfect" numbers, this week's episode is all about, well, numbers. And the fact that this is Episode Number 333 may—or may not—have anything to do with this week's choice of topic. Perhaps most intriguing of all: did you know that numbers can have color? To Tiffany they do. --------------------------------------- ADVERTISE WITH US: Reach expats, future expats, and travelers all over the wo

Sep 14, 2020 • 40:55

Bittersweet Moment #75: Exploring Pompeii

Pompeii, an entire ancient city preserved exactly as it was when it was covered in lava and ash during the eruption of Vesuvius in 79 AD. Even for a seasoned traveler like Tiffany, the site inspires awe, wonder, and fascination. Come along as Tiffany visits this ancient city for the first time. --------------------------------------- ADVERTISE WITH US: Reach expats, future expats, and travelers all over the world. Send us an email to get the conversation started. BECOME A PATRON: Pledge your mon

Sep 10, 2020 • 16:12

Episode 332: How We Live Now (with Bill Hayes)

Daily life during a devastating pandemic—something nearly no one alive has ever experienced before—is captured poignantly and artistically by Bill Hayes in his new book, How We Live Now: Scenes from the Pandemic. Today we catch up with the author and street photographer to learn about how the book was conceived, what inspired it, and how it was able to be published in record time. He and Katy discuss how the world changed almost overnight, and yet how, the early days of the pandemic already seem

Sep 7, 2020 • 35:16

Bittersweet Moment #74: More Questions!

Monday's Conversation Starters episode just didn't cover all the things we want to know about each other! In today's mini-episode we continue the question-and-answer drill to delve deep into what makes us us...and we get lost in several tangents along the way. --------------------------------------- ADVERTISE WITH US: Reach expats, future expats, and travelers all over the world. Send us an email to get the conversation started. BECOME A PATRON: Pledge your monthly support of The Bittersweet Lif

Sep 3, 2020 • 19:19

Episode 331: Conversation Starters

Whether you're looking for a great question to break the ice on a first date or just want to get to know your best friend, parent, or spouse even better, today we ask each other odd and unusual questions that cause us to reflect on our own lives, desires, and idiosyncrasies. In this episode, we prove that even after 30 years of friendship, there are still new things you can learn about a person...if you ask them. Play along with us! --------------------------------------- ADVERTISE WITH US: Reac

Aug 31, 2020 • 35:50

Bittersweet Moment #73: Mail Bag

When our listeners reach out to us to share how we've inspired them, delighted them, challenged them, or simply kept them company—well, it doesn't get much better than that for a podcaster. On this week's mini-episode, Katy shares some of our most heart-warming recent listener mail. And we always look forward to receiving more. Write us, or send us a voice memo, and maybe we'll turn the 'mail bag' into a regular feature. --------------------------------------- ADVERTISE WITH US: Reach expats, fu

Aug 27, 2020 • 14:40

Episode 330: America Grounded

A record number of Americans—42%—now hold passports (up from 27% in 2007) but much good it will do them. In the wake of this unprecedented pandemic, there are only a handful of countries in the entire world that are welcoming Americans with no quarantine requirement. As a result, most US residents have traded in their passports for camping gear this summer. On this episode, we chat about how travel-lovers are handling these new restrictions on their movement, as well as the other side of the coi

Aug 24, 2020 • 29:26

Bittersweet Moment #72: A Long Way to Italy

Tiffany is 19 and desperate to meet up with her boyfriend in Italy in the final weeks of summer before heading back to university in the fall. She's worked all summer and saved enough for the flight. She's got the tickets and a place to stay... what could possibly go wrong? Five flights, a bus ride, two train rides, and a taxi later...  Suffice it to say, back then she was not yet the expert travel planner she would become. She made a lot of mistakes that trip, but it made for a voyage she'll ne

Aug 19, 2020 • 15:35

Episode 329: Expat Move Time Warp (with Stephanie Fuccio)

The uncertainty of the expat life is magnified by life during a devastating global pandemic. But how often to you get to hear from the same person, just before and then during a major catastrophe that touches virtually every person in the world? Today we're joined by Stephanie Fuccio, Italian-American long-term expat (mostly in Asia), and host and creator of the Geopats podcast network. Through the magic of radio we hear from Stephanie, first back in January, days before she moved from Shanghai

Aug 17, 2020 • 36:30

Bittersweet Moment #71: Looking for the Little Things

A lot of us are walking more these days, in some cases, around and around the same neighborhood. On today's mini-episode, Katy takes us outside to the blocks around her Seattle home, exploring and commenting on the tiny little creative things that are happening in her neighborhood. --------------------------------------- ADVERTISE WITH US: Reach expats, future expats, and travelers all over the world. Send us an email to get the conversation started. BECOME A PATRON: Pledge your monthly support

Aug 13, 2020 • 17:58

Episode 328: Summer Game: This or That?

Sometimes you just need to tune out the cacophony of terrifying news and the anxiety over an uncertain future, and play a silly game. Don't you agree? This week, Katy and Tiffany take a much-needed break from the craziness that is life in 2020 to play an old favorite: This or That? And in this case, it's a summer themed version! Find out Tiffany and Katy's preferences on all things summer, and see if you can guess what they'll say. --------------------------------------- ADVERTISE WITH US: Reach

Aug 10, 2020 • 40:47

Bittersweet Moment #70: A Birthday Revelation

On a magical summer evening in Rome to celebrate her birthday, Tiffany has a sudden revelation. She shares it—and what Christian Dior's cologne Fahrenheit has to do with it—on this week's mini-episode. --------------------------------------- ADVERTISE WITH US: Reach expats, future expats, and travelers all over the world. Send us an email to get the conversation started. BECOME A PATRON: Pledge your monthly support of The Bittersweet Life and receive awesome prizes in return for your generosity!

Aug 6, 2020 • 15:55

Episode 327: Rome's New Normal?

Is Rome back to normal? Is that "new normal" what we expected it to be? This week's topic was sparked by an article in Esquire Magazine, "Things Are Not As Expected": Inside Rome's New Normal. We dissect the writer's claim that the only people who go out are teenagers and that the city's police are taking advantage of new-found powers to constantly harass anyone who dares to go out. Maybe, in reality, "normal" just a matter of perspective that depends on your personality and habits? Tiffany real

Aug 3, 2020 • 34:17

Bittersweet Moment #69: How's Coping Going?

In response to a listener question, Katy talks about what she's doing during the pandemic and the ensuing lockdown to keep her spirits up and get through the day. On this intimate and personal mini-episode, Katy shares the books she's been reading, the podcasts she's listening to, and the writing projects she's working on. She even shares the opening of an essay she wrote the last time she was in Rome, juxtaposing the languishing demise of poet John Keats with the sudden death of a close friend.

Jul 30, 2020 • 14:44

Episode 326: Finding Life in the Surf (with Diane Cardwell)

What's the difference between having fun and having a happy life? This week's guest, award-winning journalist and author Diane Cardwell, tackles this and many other life questions when she joins us for our latest author interview. After ending her marriage and giving up her attempts to have a child, Cardwell realizes that the thing that was missing from her life was the last thing she would have expected: surfing. Rockaway: Surfing Headlong into a New Life is a "stirring story of inner salvation

Jul 27, 2020 • 28:40

Bittersweet Moment #68: Outside the Vatican

Tiffany finds herself just outside the walls of Vatican City on a summer morning and marvels at the dramatic change in the neighborhood. In an area that once fed almost exclusively off of tourist dollars, from cafes to restaurants, from souvenir shops to tour agencies, even now, the dearth of tourists is disconcerting—and it's not clear how the area's businesses will survive. The biggest shock for Tiffany is that for the first time ever, she can walk around the area without being asked if she wa

Jul 23, 2020 • 8:49

Episode 325: Good Teachers

If you tuned in last week, you heard us commiserate about the awful and sometimes destructive teachers of our past. If that episode left a little blue (it did us!), then take heart because today we're talking all about the best teachers we ever had (and there are a lot more of them!) From teachers who made us believe in ourselves, to teachers who inspired us to consider a profession we'd never imagined, to the kind and wonderful teachers of our youth whom we will never forget, decades later. ---

Jul 20, 2020 • 28:29

Bittersweet Moment #67: Collecting Collections

Today Katy looks at collections, and the people who keep them. What makes people collect things—or not? After asking our listeners to write in about their own personal collections, she realized that unprecedented time we are living through might be more conducive to letting things go rather than collecting them. Nevertheless, she talks about her collections, both permanent and fleeting, and we hear from her nephew about the odd things he likes to collect. ---------------------------------------

Jul 16, 2020 • 10:23

Episode 324: Bad Teachers

We all remember our favorite teachers, but what about the horrible ones? The ones who crushed our ambitions, treated us unfairly, or were just plain mean. Tiffany tells the story of her abusive voice teacher in grad school, an experience that may have changed the trajectory of her entire life, and Katy talks about the high school biology teacher who carelessly quashed a beloved career dream. (Don't worry if this topic sounds dire—next week we'll be talking about the amazing teacher who inspired

Jul 12, 2020 • 33:03

Bittersweet Moment #66: Villa Doria Pamphilj

Have you noticed the birds more during lockdown? If your lockdown is over, do you find you're more aware of them than you were before? On this mini-episode, Tiffany and Aurelio stop to watch (and listen to!) the birds, and Tiffany takes the opportunity to talk a little bit about one of her favorite places in Rome: Villa Doria Pamphilj, a massive public park that once belonged to a single family, and happens to be a wonderful place to see what the birds are doing. --------------------------------

Jul 8, 2020 • 11:06

Episode 323: Travel Trauma

Has anything traumatic ever happened to you when you were traveling—a natural disaster, a personal tragedy, or maybe even a global pandemic—and as a result you never want to go back there? Today we hear from a listener who had an encounter with a traumatized young student as she was "evacuating" Italy back in March at the outbreak of Covid-19. And that got us thinking about how places can sometimes become tainted if we have bad experiences there. But is that enough of a reason to never return? -

Jul 4, 2020 • 33:34

Bittersweet Moment #65: A Sleepy Bittersweet Moment (with Drew Ackerman)

Do podcasts put you to sleep? Well, there's one out there that aims to do just that, Drew Ackerman's Sleep With Me podcast. Sleep with Me tells "bedtime stories to help grown ups fall asleep in the deep, dark night," perfect for podcast-lovers who are also insomniacs. This week, Drew put his own sleepy spin on our recent episode, Virtual Tour of Rome. Make sure you check it out to hear our audio walk through Rome translated into something designed to lull you to sleep. On this week's mini-episod

Jul 2, 2020 • 23:30

Episode 322: Introvert or Extrovert: The Covid Edition

We all think we know if we're an introvert or an extrovert. But what does it really mean? On this episode, we dig into the true meaning of these pervasive personality types, and they might not mean exactly what you think they mean. We also explore how the Covid pandemic and its resulting quarantine might have changed your personality type, or at least brought out another aspect to it. And we ask ourselves, is it really true that introverts are forced to live in an extroverted world? And has the

Jun 28, 2020 • 32:45

Bittersweet Moment #64: Visiting an Empty Colosseum

What's it like to visit the Colosseum in the time of corona? This iconic monument usually crams thousands of tourists in at a time, making the experience hot, sweaty, and often uninspiring (even if it is one of the most inspiring sights in the whole world.) Now that the Colosseum has reopened after months of quarantine, there are strict regulations on how many people can visit the site at the same time—not to mention the fact that there are still close to zero tourists in Rome right now. Tiffany

Jun 25, 2020 • 16:53

Episode 321: Living Alone during Lockdown (with Nicole Hardy)

What is the reality of living alone during this pandemic, when your entire town, state, or even country goes into a strict quarantine? What are the worst days like, and how do you stay healthy, safe, and sane when loneliness and the longing for human connection are prominent parts of every day? Today we talk with Nicole Hardy, a Seattle-based writer who has been living in complete isolation since Seattle went into quarantine nearly four months ago. She opens up about her difficult and painful ex

Jun 22, 2020 • 36:32

Bittersweet Moment #63: What's Going On in Seattle? (with Casey Martin)

Wondering what's going on in Seattle's police-free zone? The national media's reporting on the CHOP (Capital Hill Organized Protest) has, at times, been inaccurate. Today you can hear the truth from someone who's there every day. On this mini-episode, we are joined again by Seattle-based NPR reporter Casey Martin for the inside story. Casey has been on Seattle's Capitol Hill since the protests began, and has spent all week in the zone talking to shop owners, protestors, residents, and armed civi

Jun 18, 2020 • 17:25

Episode 320: Facing Death (with Jim deMaine, MD)

Whether you regularly contemplate your own mortality (like Katy), or give it very little thought (like Tiffany), we all have death on the mind more than usual during this time of pandemic. We may be worried about losing the older members of our families, overwhelmed by the staggering number of lives Covid-19 has already claimed, or are simply more aware that life is all too fleeting. Today we're joined by Jim deMaine, a retired pulmonary and critical care physician, a clinical professor of medic

Jun 13, 2020 • 34:32

Bittersweet Moment #62: Quarantine in Trastevere (with Amy Knauff)

You've heard all about how Katy and Tiffany spent their quarantines (or are still spending them, in Katy's case), but what was quarantine like for a someone living alone in Rome's lively and quaint Trastevere neighborhood while working from home? On this mini-episode, Tiffany checks in with her friend Amy Knauff (who appeared on Episode 27: UNSURE, way back in Season One), about her experiences with a completely solitary quarantine in the very heart of Rome. -------------------------------------

Jun 11, 2020 • 13:35

Episode 319: Who Is Rome For?

In cities like Rome, tourists are part of the city’s identity, its reality, its way of life. When they go away—and don’t come back—the city will inevitably change and adapt. Will the countless AirBNBs turn back into regular rentals, and will that in turn cause locals to move back to the historic center? Will the souvenir shops that have crowded out the artisanal workshops close their doors? Will restaurants that once hawked mediocre fare to tourists be forced to raise their standards in order to

Jun 7, 2020 • 40:32

Bittersweet Moment #61: A Nation in Protest (with reporter Casey Martin)

Protests over the murder of George Floyd, a black man in Minneapolis, have sprung up in cities across the United States. In Seattle, peaceful protests calling for justice have also generated violence, looting, and clashes with police, undermining from the message of the Black Lives Matters activists.  Public Radio reporter Casey Martin has been in the thick of it, and joins us to explain the view from the streets, and what it is like to cover a riot during a raging pandemic. Find Casey on Instag

Jun 4, 2020 • 23:34

Episode 318: The Nature of Time

Why does time pass more slowly or quickly depending on what we are doing? Why is it that we sometimes completely lose track of the time, and what does it mean to truly live in the present? Are the past, the present, and the future all happening at the same time (at least in our minds), and has the future already happened? These are just some of the intriguing questions we ask ourselves this week, particularly given the unprecedented time we are all living in. (By the way, did you know that "time

May 31, 2020 • 34:24

Bittersweet Moment #60: Italy's New Rules of the Road

What can you expect when you go out to eat in Italy during Phase Two? What about if you want to go to a museum, get your hair cut, or just grab a coffee at your local bar? What's the deal with shopping and trying on clothes? On this mini-episode, we give you the nitty-gritty on what to expect when you head out into the world again—at least for those of us living in Italy. And for the rest of the world, here's what might be in your future. --------------------------------------- ADVERTISE WITH US

May 27, 2020 • 15:34

Episode 317: Out and About in Rome

Italy has officially reopened for business. While masks are required in public places, social distancing is (supposedly) non-negotiable, and tourism is still non-existent, life is nevertheless quickly returning to normal. Perhaps too quickly? After Tiffany’s first aperitivo in Rome since the beginning of lockdown, she’s a bit apprehensive about how carelessly many of her fellow Romans (and sometimes herself) are picking up their old habits. Will the irrepressible sociality of Italians cause a se

May 23, 2020 • 39:19

Bittersweet Moment #59: MEMORIZATION (with Katy's dad, Dale)

Memory is the buzz word on The Bittersweet Life this week! Monday's episode was all about autobiographical memory, and on this mini-episode, Katy's dad Dale stops by to talk about the challenges and rewards of memorizing a speech of prose as opposed to rhyming rhythmic poetry. He also explains why he chooses to memorize things and what it means to want to have the words in him. He explains how, even after years of not revisiting a poem or speech he's memorized, parts of it never leave him, and c

May 21, 2020 • 20:33

Episode 316: The Nature of Memory (with Susan Engel)

Why do we remember certain things and forget others? Do some people simply have a better memory than others, or is it something we can practice and get better at? Perhaps most intriguing of all: how reliable are our memories really? Do our stories change to fit our perception of ourselves? This week, we muse about the nature of memory, particularly in regard to the fact that we’re all living through an unprecedented moment in living history. We wonder, are we more likely to remember the details

May 16, 2020 • 43:56

Bittersweet Moment #58: EMPTY ROME

Rome has finally opened up for walks in the center. Even so, when Tiffany finally has a chance to wander through the city, she finds it all but empty at midday. From the Spanish Steps to Piazza Venezia, from the Pantheon to Piazza Navona, Tiffany finds empty streets, chirping birds, and precious few residents out for a stroll. On this mini-episode, Tiffany takes you along on her walk around empty Rome, capturing the sounds she hears and describing the sights she sees, from a deserted Trevi Fount

May 14, 2020 • 11:18

Episode 315: THE FUTURE OF TRAVEL

With international and even domestic travel all but ground to a halt in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak, the question on everyone's lips is: what is travel going to be like once everything is back to "normal"? Will it become unaffordable to fly? Will museums limit the number of people who can enter at a time? Will prices on everything skyrocket making travel once again a luxury for the elite? Or will airlines and other tourist providers offer amazing deals to lure reluctant travelers back i

May 9, 2020 • 34:53

Bittersweet Moment #57: DISPATCH FROM SEATTLE

What's going on in Seattle right now? More to the point, what's going on with Katy in Seattle? On this mini-episode, Katy checks in with what's in store for the city in the near future, as well as how she's doing, and what she's doing to stay safe, sane, and well during this crazy time. She also talks about how and why Seattle is one of the cities in the US that has been first to begin to flatten the curve, and she muses on why that might be. Find the New Yorker article that she cites here. ----

May 7, 2020 • 9:41

Episode 314: STRAY (with Stephanie Danler)

How do you transcend a childhood marred by addiction and go on to pursue the life that is calling to you? This week, Katy sits down with bestselling author Stephanie Danler to talk about her forthcoming memoir Stray, but also to discuss what it takes to make the hard decisions that will allow you to claim the kind of life you know you want. Danler examines her overwhelming desire to wander the world and spend time in places where she can be anonymous, as well as what it took to face her fears an

May 3, 2020 • 32:01

Bittersweet Moment #56: ITALY BEGINS TO OPEN

Italy's lockdown restrictions are finally about to begin (and, more essentially, we finally know what they entail). In this mini-episode, Tiffany goes through the new rules, as well as her reactions to them. (Hint: she's slightly frustrated, and plenty perplexed.) She also hears from Aurelio about the places he's most looking forward to going once Rome is fully open again. --------------------------------------- ADVERTISE WITH US: Reach expats, future expats, and travelers all over the world. Se

Apr 30, 2020 • 11:29

Episode 313: Virtual Tour of Rome

Longing to wander the streets of Rome, visit its most beautiful squares, and marvel at its monuments? Since, for now, that isn't possible for any of us (even those of us who live in Rome) we've put together a virtual auditory tour of the Eternal City. The magic of radio brings Katy's expert editing skills and Tiffany's knowledge of Rome together for a light-hearted, informative virtual walk through Rome... until the time we can do it for real. --------------------------------------- ADVERTISE WI

Apr 26, 2020 • 38:42

Bittersweet Moment #55: Memorizing Poetry

Today Tiffany talks about one of her favorite hobbies: memorizing poetry! She lays out the plethora of surprising benefits she reaps from this personal practice, as well as a list of tips on how to start out memorizing your own favorite poems. Be sure to listen all the way to the end to hear a cameo poetry reading by Aurelio! Click here to find the gorgeous recitation of John Keats' Ode to a Nightingale, played at the end of this episode. Did you recognize his voice? ----------------------------

Apr 23, 2020 • 21:26

Episode 312: PHASE TWO

When will Italy reopen—and what will that reopening entail? These are the questions that Italy's residents have been asking themselves constantly lately. Rumor has it, Italy's country-wide lockdown will come to an end on May 4th, although this is not official yet. Hypotheses abound and no one really knows what to expect. Although one thing is for certain: this is only Phase Two. This crisis is far from over and social distancing and some restrictions of movement will likely go on for the foresee

Apr 19, 2020 • 32:51

Bittersweet Moment #54: Learning to Read in Two Languages at Once

With Aurelio home from school, Tiffany is taking the opportunity to teach him how to read and write in English—before Italian school gets its hooks into him. She explains why she's taking this so seriously, as well as some of the exercises she (with no pedagogy training) has come up with, and the biggest surprises she's had in the quest to teach a bilingual child to read. --------------------------------------- ADVERTISE WITH US: Reach expats, future expats, and travelers all over the world. Sen

Apr 16, 2020 • 17:36

Episode 311: LONG DISTANCE

We all have those close friendships that survive over time, despite the fact that we live half a world apart. And now—with most of us living under lockdown for the foreseeable future—all of our friendships are long-distance now. Is there a secret ingredient to making those relationships last and deepen over time? What are the best strategies for keeping friendships close in spite of the distance? We get some insight from two friends of the show, Stefania and Katharine over at This Life Explains

Apr 13, 2020 • 35:33

Bittersweet Moment #53: Roman Easter in the Time of Coronavirus

Rome is the center of the Catholic world, the home the pope, the city of St. Peter. Easter time draws enormous crowds of faithful to participate in the high holiday services and be blessed by the pope himself. But this year, Easter is cancelled. Or almost. Easter services will still be performed in the Vatican and churches around the city, but unless you're a priest, an organist, or a deacon, you're not allowed to go. What will Easter in Rome (and around most of the world) be like this year, sin

Apr 9, 2020 • 20:58

Episode 310: A Day in the Life under Quarantine, Part 2

In the second part of this Day in the Life episode, Katy offers a rare glimpse into what it’s like to edit and a long piece of tape, extracting its gems to transform it into something engaging. Karen, a US expat in the Dolomites, cycles home from work, hoping not to be stopped by the Carabinieri, to Jill in Oregon spots a hummingbird and looks for the silver lining in the midst of chaos. From Steve and Linda in Orvieto making homemade pizza to Simon from Melbourne as he walks his dog to Valentin

Apr 6, 2020 • 20:57

Episode 309: A Day in the Life under Quarantine, Part 1

What does a day in the life of someone under lockdown look like? That's what we asked our listeners for today's episode, offering a peek into their lives throughout the course of a day as well as our own.  From Lynn in San Francisco as she studies Italian to Scott trying to find some space for himself in his basement, from Madeline in Menlo Park remembering to be thankful to best-selling author Jess Walter who is very used to working from home. From Nancy in Wisconsin dealing with spring snowfal

Apr 5, 2020 • 33:12

Bittersweet Moment #52: Shopping and Consumerism in the Time of Coronavirus

What happens when you CAN’T shop? When all the stores in your town are closed and your supermarket stops selling anything beyond the basic necessities? Even major online shops are running out of merchandise or have month-long waiting periods for delivery. What’s an eager consumer to do? And a perhaps more interesting question: is this a good thing? Of course no one wants the economy to collapse or people to lose their businesses or jobs, but could we all get used to not constantly buying stuff,

Apr 2, 2020 • 25:43

Episode 308: Tips and Tricks for Surviving Quarantine

An astounding half of the world's population is now on some form of legal lockdown, quarantine, shelter-in-place, or self-isolation. With many of our listeners new to Quarantine Life, Tiffany, who as of today has been on lockdown for 21 days, offers some practical advice on today's episode. Tune in for tricks and tips for listeners who are have isolation looming for the unforeseeable future: how to stay sane, stay healthy, and not murder your mate. --------------------------------------- ADVERTI

Mar 29, 2020 • 31:40

Bittersweet Moment #51: LOCKDOWN, Part 4

How are our daily lives changed due to quarantine and life during the coronavirus outbreak? It seems like every day something changes: restrictions get tighter, a new epicenter emerges, and the new theories on the best way to conquer this crisis emerge. It's hard to keep up, so we like to check in with you from time to time to let you know how we are faring—and hear from you as well. This week, we read a letter from a listener (and recent expat in Italy) who, despite the challenges, is finding t

Mar 26, 2020 • 20:49

Episode 307: REPORTING

When did a podcast about travel, living abroad, embracing adventure, and going off the script become about… staying home all day, every day? Since coronavirus, that’s when. The Bittersweet Life is certainly not the only media platform that is suddenly all about the spread of this virus and the quarantines around the world that it is necessitating. So today we ask, what’s it like to cover a major world-wide news story that changes and develops practically every day and blots out every other thing

Mar 23, 2020 • 35:20

Bittersweet Moment #50: LOCKDOWN, Part 3

Lockdown has hit the United States—at least in some parts of the country. And people all around the nation are choosing to self-isolate. On this mini-episode, Katy and Tiffany discuss the realities of life under quarantine, including the practical things you need to do if you must leave your house. They also wonder if self-isolation will make enough of a difference, or if a nationwide lawful quarantine is the only way to combat the spread of Coronavirus. Tiffany also lays out Italy's grim number

Mar 18, 2020 • 20:42

LOCKDOWN, Part 2

The lockdown in Italy continues on the second part of Monday's episode, and as each moment passes, lockdown looms across the United States and the world. Tiffany shares some tips with Katy and our listeners for what to expect when their own quarantine inevitably arrives. She also explains why Italians aren't hoarding toilet paper, and together they ponder the cultural benefits of a world-wide plague. --------------------------------------- ADVERTISE WITH US: Reach expats, future expats, and trav

Mar 17, 2020 • 28:09

Episode 305: LOCKDOWN, Part 1

Italy is on lockdown. No going out except for basic necessities for medical reasons—or work if you absolutely cannot work from home. How is Tiffany coping? How is she staying sane, keeping her four-year-old entertained, and resisting tearing her husband limb from limb? We check in with Tiffany on today’s episode, and hear from Katy how Seattle is responding to the rapid spread of coronavirus in Washington State and the rest of the US. Does she think there is a lockdown in her future? -----------

Mar 16, 2020 • 28:39

Bittersweet Moment #49: VIRUS UPDATE, Part 2

How are Italians reacting to the strict restrictions now in place during the unprecedented Italy lock down? Are they exhibiting their characteristic "furbizia" to get around the rules? Or is the country pulling together and making the necessary sacrifices to slow the spread of Coronavirus? We discuss in our second mini-episode of the week. We also touch on some of the financial repercussions that are threatening Tiffany and her family as well the entire country. ---------------------------------

Mar 12, 2020 • 15:16

Bittersweet Moment #48: VIRUS UPDATE, Part 1

In the wake of the country-wide lock-down of Italy due to the rapid spread of the Coronavirus, we are putting two mini-episodes this week! On this first update, we check in about what exactly the "red zone" decree of Italy means, what life is like, and what we can expect from the coming days and weeks. --------------------------------------- ADVERTISE WITH US: Reach expats, future expats, and travelers all over the world. Send us an email to get the conversation started. BECOME A PATRON: Pledge

Mar 11, 2020 • 12:46

Episode 304: VIRUS

Tiffany and Katy are both living in two of the epicenters of the devastating coronavirus, Italy and Washington State. This week, they chat about their parallel but distinct experiences, how the spread of the virus is affecting their lives, what like is life in their cities, and their uncertainty about the future. Katy proposes that it might be the ideal moment for a Roman holiday. Note: This episode was recorded a week before publication so lots of things have changed since then. We will be putt

Mar 6, 2020 • 35:19

Bittersweet Moment #47: How to get an agent with PITMAD

How do you get a literary agent? For many aspiring writers, it can seem like an impossible task, and yet it's a necessary step on the road to getting your book published. But with agents receiving literally hundreds of queries per day, how can you possibly get noticed? Tiffany has a better way. Earlier this year, Tiffany was awarded a prestigious fellowship by the PEN America literary organization for her work in progress, the YA historical thriller Saving Caravaggio. On occasion of the awards c

Mar 5, 2020 • 10:27

Episode 303: FALCON THIEF (with Joshua Hammer)

A globe-trotting rare bird egg thief, a detective hell bent on protecting the world’s birds of prey, and a writer who stitches it all into a brilliant story. Today we talk to that very writer, Joshua Hammer, who also happens to be an expat living in Berlin with his family. The Falcon Thief: A True Tail of Adventure, Treachery, and the Hunt for the Perfect Bird “whisks readers from the volcanoes of Patagonia to Zimbabwe’s Matobo National Park, and from the frigid tundra near the Arctic Circle to

Mar 2, 2020 • 30:31

Bittersweet Moment #46: QUESTING

If you could have an encounter with any animal in the wild, which would you pick? For author and actress Jane Alexander, it was the exotic Himalayan Monal pheasant. She got her wish in the mountains of Bhutan and told Katy about it.  On Monday’s episode we talked about quests, and Katy mentioned she’d like to embark on a quest that has to do with seeing animals in the wild, and that made her think of Jane and a conversation they had a while back. Listen to Katy’s full interview with Jane Alexand

Feb 27, 2020 • 9:10

Episode 302: QUEST

What’s the difference between a goal and a quest? This week, Tiffany and Katy discuss what goes in to embarking on a quest, and why you would want to go on one. Tiffany (who famously loves a challenge) sets down her own definition of a quest, as well as why she believes the fun is not in the completion of it. They also brainstorm strategies for choosing the perfect quest, and how intentionality plays into that. Listen to the episode mentioned on the show: Episode 143: CRITTERS (with Jane Alexand

Feb 24, 2020 • 33:45

Bittersweet Moment #45: CARNEVALE

It’s Carnevale here in Rome, and before you say—why don’t you go celebrate in Venice?—you should know that Carnevale originated in Rome. In this week’s Bittersweet Moment, Tiffany recounts the ancient origins of this raucous pre-Lenten festival, what it was like to take part in Carnival in Rensaissance times, and how it's celebrated today. (Warning: this episode may make you drool.) Places mentioned in this episode: Pasticerria Regoli – Via dello Statuto, 60 (Esquilino) Forno La Renella – Via de

Feb 20, 2020 • 11:39

Episode 301: PERSONALITY

Do you know your personality type? On this week’s episode, Katy sits down with personality consultant Leslie McDaniel, who diagnoses Katy's personality type through a series of probing and sometimes difficult questions. Leslie believes that knowing your personality type—specifically the Myers-Briggs Type indicator—can help you reach your full potential, and it might even help you determine what kind of travel you’d enjoy most. By the end of this episode, not only will you know Katy’s personality

Feb 17, 2020 • 33:55

Bittersweet Moment #44: NOTABLE GUESTS

We've had some fascinating guests over the past six years of this podcast, and to celebrate our exciting 300-episode milestone, this Bittersweet Moment takes a look back at just a few of our very favorites. In this mini-episode, you'll hear why most of us remember a tree from our childhood, how one of today's most popular authors fights his way to joy over pain in his writing, and get insight into the challenges of being married to a trans partner. Listen to the full episodes here: Episode 110:

Feb 13, 2020 • 18:06

Episode 300: TRECENTO

Two countries, six years, 300 episodes! On this week's episode, The Bittersweet Life podcast reaches a major milestone! To  commemorate this important number, we look back on 300 episodes: highlights, bloopers, tears (mostly Katy's), laughter, our most famous young guest, and a few of the best Aurelio appearances. This week we not only a look back at some of our best episodes, but we also offer a peek behind the curtain. Don't miss this super-special episode. Want to listen to the full episodes

Feb 10, 2020 • 43:03

Bittersweet Moment #43: RAPHAEL

Visit Rome in the footsteps of Raphael, just in time for the 500th anniversary of his death. Many art historians date the unofficial end of the Renaissance as 6 April 1520, the day the great Raphael Sanzio left the earth. He was only 37 years old. But despite his short life, he had a massive artistic output. A whopping 100 of his works (paintings and sketches) will be on display at a once-in-a-lifetime exhibit at Rome’s Scuderie del Quirinale starting next month, but there are many works in the

Feb 6, 2020 • 14:38

Episode 299: CORRUPTION

Italy is a historically corrupt country, so much so that many Italians roll their eyes at anyone naive enough to trust their own government. Is that where the US is heading? On this episode, Tiffany and Katy discuss how a country can begin a slow slide into corruption, what it looks and feels like, and what (if anything) can be done to stop it. Tiffany also shares her worry (for the first time ever) that her vote won’t be counted. ---------------------------------------- ADVERTISE WITH US: Reach

Feb 3, 2020 • 35:59

Bittersweet Moment #42: ROMAN HOROSCOPE

Sagittarius or Scorpio, Leo or Libra, visit Rome based on your sign. In this mini-episode, Tiffany tells you what to see and do in Rome based on the traits of your zodiac sign. **Links to some of the places mentioned in the episode:** Rome's Michelin-starred restaurants Leonardo Da Vinci Experience  – Via della Conciliazione, 19 Alina Vicente FotoEmozioni (Rome-based family photographer) Biblioteca Casanatense – Via di Sant'Ignazio, 52. Biblioteca Angelica – Piazza di Sant'Agostino, 8. Bibliotec

Jan 30, 2020 • 13:31

Episode 298: VIETNAM

Katy's father and sister join us this week to look back on their family travels to Southeast Asia, specifically Vietnam. Katy, who was not a travel-lover as a younger person, asks her dad if he invited her to join him on his trips there in order to expand her world through travel. His answer surprises her. Dale Sewall explains why he's been drawn to Vietnam for more than half his life, and he describes the electrifying reaction he had the first time he touched down in the country. --------------

Jan 27, 2020 • 33:30

Bittersweet Moment #41: MORE SNOW

Michigan, Minnesota, Montana... oh my! Katy's sister and father have lived, respectively, in some of the snowiest places in the US. What do they think about the snow nostalgia that plagues so much of the non-snowy world? Do they agree with the theory that people who are "dreaming of a white Christmas" or joyfully singing "Let it Snow" are actually people who've never had to deal with the grim reality of constant snow? Tune in to find out. ---------------------------------------- ADVERTISE WITH U

Jan 23, 2020 • 11:15

Episode 297: SNOW

Most people either love snow or hate it. How much of that depends on where you live and how much snow you see in a typical year? Or maybe our love of snow is determined by how much it gets in the way of our day-to-day lives? A recent snowstorm hitting Seattle—a city that doesn't see snow often and is ill-equipped to handle it—inspired this episode that looks at the fluffy white stuff, and why people feel so differently about it. ---------------------------------------- ADVERTISE WITH US: Reach e

Jan 20, 2020 • 24:30

Bittersweet Moment #40: TRAVELING TO WRITE (with Jess Walter)

There’s nothing like curling up in your favorite armchair and traveling the world via an amazing book. But what about when the shoe is on the other foot? What about the writers who must craft stories that bring these exotic cities and countries to life? How do they go about it? On this week’s mini-episode, Katy interviews Jess Walter, best-selling author of Beautiful Ruins and We Live in Water: Stories, about how travel influences his writing, whether its Italy’s famed Cinque Terre or his own ho

Jan 15, 2020 • 15:04

READING (with Nancy Pearl)

Most book-lovers would agree that reading is the best way to travel without leaving the comfort of your favorite armchair. This week, Katy sits down with librarian and world-famous book expert Nancy Pearl to discuss what makes a book a great armchair travel read, as opposed to simply a book set in an unfamiliar place. Listen all the way to the end to hear Nancy’s scandalous and controversial strategy for dealing with the weight of too many books while traveling. Also, discover the one setting Ka

Jan 13, 2020 • 17:33

Bittersweet Moment #39: ROMAN RESOLUTIONS

So you set yourself a bunch of New Year’s resolutions and now you’re on your way to Rome. How in the world are you going to keep them? Do you even want to try? Well, we’ve got good news for you! This week’s mini-episode is all about how to keep your New Year’s Resolutions while in Rome! Want to save money? Eat healthy? Get active? Learn a new language? You’ve come to the right place. ---------------------------------------- ADVERTISE WITH US: Reach expats, future expats, and travelers all over t

Jan 9, 2020 • 13:57

Episode 295: VENTI VENTI

What are your resolutions this year? And did you get your resolutions done last year? We start every year with our Resolutions episode, where we look back on last year’s accomplishments (or non-accomplishments, as the case may be), and look ahead with ambition (if you're Tiffany) or playfulness and curiosity (if you're Katy) to what we want to do or change in the year ahead. Tune in to find out if we managed to stick with last year’s resolutions and to discover what goals we’ve set for ourselves

Jan 6, 2020 • 35:29

Episode 294: SHAKESPEARE

What did Shakespeare think about his own mortality? Is it possible to discern how he felt about death from his writing? We explore the intersection of art and death in this special presentation of the pilot to non-starter podcast In Black Ink that Katy created years before The Bittersweet Life. In it, she talks with Richard E. T. White and Amy Thone, both veteran Shakespearean actors, directors, and professors at Cornish College of the Arts in Seattle. They end the episode with a deep dive into

Dec 30, 2019 • 23:26

Episode 293: HOLIDAY MAGIC

Has Christmas lost its magic now that you’re all grown up? Katy and Tiffany brainstorm ways to bring that holiday magic back even if you don’t believe in Santa anymore. Katy tells the story of the time she played Santa’s secret helper to someone she barely knew and they muse on those magical moments when heaven and earth seem closer than usual. ---------------------------------------- ADVERTISE WITH US: Reach expats, future expats, and travelers all over the world. Send us an email to get the co

Dec 23, 2019 • 30:26

Bittersweet Moment #38 COCKTAILS

Who doesn’t love a good cocktail, especially around the holidays? On this week’s Bittersweet Moment, Katy revisits Monday’s episode and her interview with author Adrienne Brodeur to discover her mother’s secret for making amazing cocktails, especially her signature Manhattan.  Katy also shares a creative game she likes to play with her favorite Seattle bartender, Daniel. Grab a shaker and some ice and tune in. ---------------------------------------- ADVERTISE WITH US: Reach expats, future expat

Dec 19, 2019 • 9:47

Episode 292: WILD GAME (with Adrienne Brodeur)

Can you keep a secret? Author Adrienne Brodeur was asked to keep an explosive secret at just fourteen years old when her mother confided in her about her extramarital affair. From that moment on, Adrienne’s life changed; her innocent childhood was over, and her new life of secrets, lies, and drama began. Today Adrienne joins us for a thoughtful and intimate interview. She discusses her newly released memoir, Wild Game: My Mother, Her Lover, and Me, in which she tells this extraordinary story. Sh

Dec 16, 2019 • 35:27

Bittersweet Moment #37: CHRISTMAS IN ROME

Spending Christmas in Rome? On this week's mini-episode, Tiffany shares her tips on the best, coziest, and most festive ways to celebrate Christmas in Rome! Buon Natale e Buone Feste from The Bittersweet Life! ***Don't forget! All of our Patreon supportors at the $10 level or higher will be thrown into a hat to win a SIGNED copy of Mo Rocca's new book Mobituaries: Great Lives Worth Reliving mailed right to your door. You have until 15 December so get on it!*** -----------------------------------

Dec 12, 2019 • 13:25

Episode 291: LIGHTS OUT

Should you visit a country if you can't speak the language? Some say no, that you'll never be able to understand or truly experience a culture if you can't make sense of what its people are saying. (One person who makes this claim is recent guest Paul Theroux in Episodes 286 and 287.) But then again, that's awfully limiting. Even in the best scenario, in which you speak three or even four languages, that would still cut you off from most of the world. Tiffany and Katy debate this topic, and they

Dec 9, 2019 • 33:30

Bittersweet Moment #36: NEARLY FORGOTTEN

We won't be remembered for long after we die—that’s a conclusion that Mo Rocca, correspondent for CBS Sunday Morning, came to on Episode 290 MOBITUARIES. Today, we continue to explore the transience of fame on this mini-episode by introducing you to Jan Merlin. You probably haven't heard of this once-famous Hollywood actor, but he's about to make you cry. Listen to this mini-interview he did with Katy, where he tells the story of how he fell in love with acting in the most unlikely of places. --

Dec 5, 2019 • 10:40

Episode 290: MOBITUARIES (With Mo Rocca)

What makes someone’s life worth remembering? Mo Rocca spends a lot of time thinking and talking about this, on his podcast Mobituaries with Mo Rocca. Today he joins The Bittersweet Life to continue that conversation, and to talk about his new book, Mobituaries: Great Lives Worth Reliving. He discusses what it is about certain people’s lives that piques his interest, and how sometimes it’s not the thing they are famous for. He's fascinated by people who are not remembered in the way they should b

Dec 2, 2019 • 38:06

Bittersweet Moment #35: THANKS

We are so grateful for all of our wonderful listeners around the world for your love, attention, and support throughout the over five years of this show! On this extra-mini-episode, we have a quick Thanksgiving message for you. ---------------------------------------- ADVERTISE WITH US: Reach expats, future expats, and travelers all over the world. Send us an email to get the conversation started. BECOME A PATRON: Pledge your monthly support of The Bittersweet Life and receive awesome prizes in

Nov 28, 2019 • 7:29

Episode 289: LOSS

In the lead up to Thanksgiving, Katy and Tiffany muse on the inevitable missing out on important holidays and events that comes with being a far-away expat. And the annual November dilemma: do I make the effort to celebrate Thanksgiving this year, or do I just skip it? In addition, in light of the numerous losses of loved ones they have both been through in recent years, they discuss the difference between being "home" when someone important passes, and having the opportunity to process it as pa

Nov 25, 2019 • 34:44

Bittersweet Moment #34: OPERA

Do you love opera? Hate it? Indifferent? Give Tiffany the length of a mini-episode and you might finding yourself warming to it. Tiffany tells how she fell in love with opera at age 12, and how her passion for the art form goes hand in hand with her passion for Italy and the Italian language. She also explains where to start your exploration of opera (in a word: Puccini). Music featured on this episode: O Mio Babbino Caro from Gianni Schicchi by Puccini (with Kiri Te Kanawa) Dunque è proprio fin

Nov 21, 2019 • 13:31

Episode 288: CHINA VS. BALI

Mike Shaw recently moved to Bali after eleven years in Beijing. So far, it has been a hard move. On this week’s episode, he chats with Katy about why he decided to leave an adopted city he loves so much, and what he's discovered about himself in the process. He also talks about getting a clear “call” to move abroad, and how when he first arrived in China, everything seemed to just fall in to place, and it quickly became clear that he was exactly where he was supposed to be—synchronicity, perhaps

Nov 18, 2019 • 38:22

Bittersweet Moment #33: THE BORDER (with Paul Theroux)

Paul Theroux is back! This time, live onstage. If you loved Monday's double-header episode featuring an in-depth interview with legendary travel writer Paul Theroux, tune in to this week's mini-episode to hear a snippet of his live stage interview with Katy at Town Hall Seattle. Paul reveals the one thing you should never do when you are about to take off on adventure. He also shares some of the things that most surprised and fascinated him about his travels in Mexico. Grab a copy of his new boo

Nov 13, 2019 • 10:07

Episode 287: PAUL THEROUX, Part 2

World-famous travel writer Paul Theroux joins us again for the continuation of this fascinating discussion. In Part 2, Theroux weighs in on the cult of social media, and how much of the travel posts we see on Instagram are the antithesis of travel writing. How authentic travel writing tries to get at the truth of a place—even if it’s not beautiful. He also shares his views on the expat community—it might not be what you expect.  He comments on his so-called irascibility and why he has often been

Nov 11, 2019 • 19:48

Episode 286: PAUL THEROUX, Part 1

Legendary travel writer Paul Theroux joins us this week for a candid, backstage interview delving into his five decades spent traveling the world and writing about it. He delves into what brought him to traveling and to writing, and how those two things are inexorably linked, at least for him. He remarks on why he thinks that growing up in a big family helped teach him how to be a good traveler. He also explains what it means to travel “close to the ground” and offers advice on how to do so (and

Nov 11, 2019 • 29:21

Bittersweet Moment #32: RENT

Dying to move to Italy? Be forewarned: renting over here is a bit different than it is back home. On this mini-episode, Tiffany lists some of the oddest and most unexpected aspects of renting an apartment in Italy, and how to navigate the Italian rental market without losing your mind (or getting conned). ---------------------------------------- ADVERTISE WITH US: Reach expats, future expats, and travelers all over the world. Send us an email to get the conversation started. BECOME A PATRON: Pl

Nov 7, 2019 • 12:10

Episode 285: HOUSE

Since moving back to the states from Rome in 2014, Katy has flit around the country, moving from Seattle to New Orleans to San Francisco and back again. A common occurrence in repats who struggle to find their place in the world after living abroad. Perhaps that's why it's extra shocking that Katy has decided to put down roots in a major way. In other words, she has bought a house. Does that mean she'll never move abroad again? Listen to this week's episode to find out. ------------------------

Nov 4, 2019 • 38:14

Bittersweet Moment #31: THE BLOOD

In honor of Halloween, today's mini-episode features a snippet from Katy's most controversial NPR story ever recorded. Listen in to hear an interview that is equal parts, gruesome, disturbing, and adorable. And let us know what you think about it—is it wrong or just hilarious? ---------------------------------------- ADVERTISE WITH US: Reach expats, future expats, and travelers all over the world. Send us an email to get the conversation started. BECOME A PATRON: Pledge your monthly support of

Oct 31, 2019 • 6:50

Episode 284: ASK A MORTICIAN (with Caitlin Doughty)

Self-described dead body enthusiast and corpse geek, Caitlin Doughty joins us this week for a fascinating discussion about all things death. Doughty is quite possibly the most famous mortician on the internet, and her new book Will my Cat Eat my Eyeballs? and Other Questions from Tiny Mortals about Death, is a light-hearted but honest discussion of things many people would like to know about death, but are afraid to ask (lucky for us, kids are not afraid to ask). Caitlin recounts her own earlies

Oct 28, 2019 • 33:59

Bittersweet Moment #30: VILLA AURORA

A glorious Guercino ceiling fresco, Caravaggio's only wall painting, a maybe-Michelangelo, an oasis off Via Veneto, and a real live American princess! In this week's mini-episode, Tiffany takes listeners on a visit to one of the most unknown troves of art in the entire city, Villa Aurora. This glorious yet unassuming private home is all that's left of Villa Ludovisi, a garden that Stendhal and Henry James considered to be the most beautiful place in Rome. Find out how to visit here. -----------

Oct 24, 2019 • 15:46

Episode 283: SPIRITS

Have you ever encountered a ghost? As the Halloween season pulls into full swing, we replay one of the most popular shows from our archives: our ghost episode, featuring spooky and unexplainable stories, be they run-ins with ghosts, scary stuff that's happened to us, or the tales of the ghosts of Rome. So get comfortable, pour yourself a cup of cocoa, curl up in your favorite arm chair, turn the lights down...and enjoy! ---------------------------------------- ADVERTISE WITH US: Reach expats, f

Oct 21, 2019 • 38:34

Bittersweet Moment #29: INTERVIEWING

How do you conduct a successful interview? What are the best tricks for organizing and carrying out an effective interview? And what are some things that you should definitely NOT do? On this week’s Bittersweet Moment, Katy shares her considerable knowledge and experience on the matter after nearly two decades working in public radio and over five years on this podcast, interviewing everyone from Mary Beard to Anthony Doerr to (most recently) Paul Theroux. Whether you do your interviewing in a p

Oct 17, 2019 • 10:04

Episode 282: ROMANCE

How do you flirt in a foreign language? What if you barely speak the language in question? Is it easier to flirt with a foreigner than with someone from your own culture? What happens when cultural miscommunication crops up? And how do you manage to be witty and charming in a foreign language? On this week’s episode, we delve into Tiffany’s (many) experiences dating and flirting with foreign men, her bad dates, misadventures, and embarrassments. She shares why she finds foreign accents so irresi

Oct 14, 2019 • 45:25

Bittersweet Moment #28: ITALIAN

Want to kickstart your Italian language learning? On this week's mini-episode, Tiffany offers five practical tips for learning Italian fast, with specific tricks for building a vocabulary and learning to conjugate verbs. Aurelio also stops by to share his thoughts on learning Italian. ---------------------------------------- ADVERTISE WITH US: Reach expats, future expats, and travelers all over the world. Send us an email to get the conversation started. BECOME A PATRON: Pledge your monthly sup

Oct 10, 2019 • 14:19

Episode 281: LANGUAGE

Fifteen years of living your life in a foreign language can change the way you think in your own native tongue, or at least that's the case for Tiffany. This week, we chat about the unexpected side effects of speaking your second (or third) language more than you speak your first, and how it can be especially hazardous if you're a writer. Also, we talk about how couples from different countries will naturally settle into only one language to speak together, to the point that it feels downright w

Oct 7, 2019 • 38:55

Bittersweet Moment #27: BUDGET

Longing to visit Rome but don't want to dip into your life savings? On this week's mini-episode, Tiffany shares her tips for visiting Rome on a budget. Everything from eating, drinking, sleeping, and sightseeing. You never knew Rome could be this cheap. A few links for places mentioned on the episode: Alice pizza by the slice I Nasoni di Roma water fountain app BiciBaci Bike Rental Collalti Bike Rental The Beehive Hostel ---------------------------------------- ADVERTISE WITH US: Reach expats,

Oct 3, 2019 • 15:04

Episode 280: NO, Part 2 (with Sheri Salata and Nancy Hala)

Oprah Winfrey's former executive producer Sheri Salata and her cohost Nancy Hala from The Sheri + Nancy Show podcast, join us again this week to continue their fascinating conversation! On this episode, Sheri delves into the title of her new book, The Beautiful No. She explains how a devastating professional rejection at a time in which she was in a difficult period in her career became for her "the beautiful no," that is, the best thing that could have happened to her. That rejection eventually

Sep 30, 2019 • 24:25

Bittersweet Moment #26: READING

"Are we brave enough to want our heart's desires?" One of the best parts about hosting this podcast is getting to meet amazing authors and talk about their books with them. A bonus is when the author agrees to read you your favorite excerpt from their book. On this mini-episode, our most recent author guest, Sheri Salata, reads one of the quotes that Katy appreciated and promptly highlighted during her reading of Salata's The Beautiful No.  Be sure to listen to the previous Episode 279: NO if yo

Sep 26, 2019 • 7:28

Episode 279: NO, Part 1 (with Sheri Salata and Nancy Hala)

The executive producer of the Oprah Winfrey Show, Sheri Salata and her cohost Nancy Hala on the popular podcast, The Sheri and Nancy Show join us on this very special episode! Sheri is the author of the new book, The Beautiful No, And Other Tales of Trail, Transcendence, and Transformation. They discuss the inevitable question that arrives somewhere in your 50s: what's next? In the midst of a major career, an enriching family life, or other successes, how to you find inspiration for your next s

Sep 22, 2019 • 29:00

Bittersweet Moment #25: UNFORGETTABLE

On this week's Bittersweet Moment, Katy takes to the streets of Seattle to ask passersby if they've ever had a brief encounter with someone and never forgotten that person. Why was that? Why do some people stay with you even if they are not physically there? What makes some people stand out in your memory, despite the brevity of their time in your life? ---------------------------------------- ADVERTISE WITH US: Reach expats, future expats, and travelers all over the world. Send us an email to

Sep 19, 2019 • 11:13

Episode 278: LISTENER

Today Katy recounts her relationship with a long-time listener, someone she never met but communicated with often, and how finding out about his death brought up unexpected emotions. Digging back through his emails, she finds an invitation to cherish memories without bemoaning the passage of time—perhaps the exact message that her nostalgic soul needed to hear. ---------------------------------------- ADVERTISE WITH US: Reach expats, future expats, and travelers all over the world. Send us an e

Sep 16, 2019 • 35:40

Bittersweet Moment #24: ILLUSION

In this week’s mini-episode, Tiffany takes you on a virtual tour of one of the most fascinating and little-known sites in Rome, which also happens to be one of the greatest optical illusions in the world. ---------------------------------------- ADVERTISE WITH US: Reach expats, future expats, and travelers all over the world. Send us an email to get the conversation started. BECOME A PATRON: Pledge your monthly support of The Bittersweet Life and receive awesome prizes in return for your genero

Sep 12, 2019 • 12:45

Episode 277: TRANSITION

SEASON 7 is opening with an announcement from Katy. Another move is in store for her! In fact, part of this episode captures some of the highlights of her journey to her new home. Where will it be, you wonder? I guess you'll just have to listen to find out. ---------------------------------------- ADVERTISE WITH US: Reach expats, future expats, and travelers all over the world. Send us an email to get the conversation started. BECOME A PATRON: Pledge your monthly support of The Bittersweet Life

Sep 8, 2019 • 44:03

Episode 276: FAREWELL

Every year on Labor Day, we take the day off to enjoy the fruits of our labors, and post one of our favorite episodes from the archives. Today we take you back in time to the summer of 2014, on Katy's very last morning as an expat living in Rome. She and Tiffany spend 20 minutes in walking the streets of Trastevere at dawn before Katy has to hop on a bus and make her way to the airport, where a plane is waiting to take her back to the US. We hope you enjoy one of our most emotional episodes ever

Sep 2, 2019 • 30:58

Bittersweet Moment #23: FICTIVE

On this mini-episode, Katy takes us back in time to the the Golden Age of radio, by re-broadcasting a piece she produced for the Radio Retrospective. In it, she looks at the way the news was manipulated and dramatized leading up to and during World War II, in segments that were aired at the cinema, right before the feature. ---------------------------------------- ADVERTISE WITH US: Reach expats, future expats, and travelers all over the world. Send us an email to get the conversation started.

Aug 29, 2019 • 7:41

Episode 275: STORY, Part 2 (with Anthony Doerr)

This episode is Part 2 of an interview with bestselling writer Anthony Doerr, author of Pulitzer Prize-winning All the Light We Cannot See, and Four Seasons in Rome. Be sure to listen to Part 1 if you haven't already! As the conversation continues, Anthony tells the story of finding out he had won the prestigious Rome Prize literally the same day his twin sons were born, and what it took for he and his wife to make the monumental decision to pack up their newborns and move to Rome for a year. He

Aug 26, 2019 • 24:42

Episode 274: STORY, Part 1 (with Anthony Doerr)

In this very special episode, we are joined by the award-winning, best-selling writer, Anthony Doerr, author of All the Light We Cannot See, and Four Seasons in Rome, among others. Anthony shares his writing journey with Katy, from his earliest beginnings as an amateur writer to the challenges of writing from the perspective of a young blind girl in All the Light We Cannot See. He also shares how he got the idea for this book that would become a world-wide sensation, and why it took him a decade

Aug 26, 2019 • 25:20

Bittersweet Moment #22: OBSERVATIONS

This mini-episode finds Tiffany sitting on a bench on a crowded street corner in Rome's Prati neighborhood, observing the world around her—without her smartphone on hand. In a follow-up to last week's episode ADDICTION, Parts One and Two, Tiffany carries out Katy's assignment of spending some time alone without looking at her phone, and to notice the world around her instead. She points out five things she noticed, and explains why not being glued to your phone all the time has its drawbacks as

Aug 22, 2019 • 11:34

Episode 273: ADDICTION, Part 2

In part two of this week's double-header, we continue our discussion of addiction, this time focusing more on physical addictions, and specifically cigarettes. Katy reveals her struggles with smoking from a young age, and how she finally managed to quit. She also compares the physical and chemical addiction of something like a cigarette to the more psychological addiction of a smartphone. And what does it actually take to kick these addictions? Lastly, what do you do if the thing you are addicte

Aug 19, 2019 • 20:59

Episode 272: ADDICTION, Part 1

How do you know you're addicted to your phone? And more importantly, what can you do about it? Tiffany recognizes the signs of a looming problem and asks Katy for some advice. This leads to a conversation about addiction in general. Be sure to stick around for Part 2 of this conversation when Katy opens up about struggling with a very different kind of addiction. ---------------------------------------- ADVERTISE WITH US: Reach expats, future expats, and travelers all over the world. Send us an

Aug 19, 2019 • 37:48

Bittersweet Moment #21: OWL HOUSE

Swiss cabin meets medieval hamlet meets art nouveau glass? As crazy as it sounds, this unlikely mash-up is not an abomination, but rather one of the most charming, yet little visited, museums in Rome. Tucked away among the greenery of Villa Torlonia north of the city, la Casina delle Civette, or the Owl House, was built in 1840 for an Italian prince, and added to over the decades that followed.  It's most famous for its exceptional glass art, specifically the detailed works of flora and fauna by

Aug 15, 2019 • 11:11

Episode 271: PUNCTUALITY

Is it important to be on time? What does it say about you if you are often late? What does it say about you if it really bothers you when others are late? This week, we delve into the world of punctuality, and all of the expectations and resentments that can come with it (or the lack of it). This idea was suggested by a listener via Instagram. We love when listeners send us suggestions! Send us yours—we might just do an episode on it! Email us here. ---------------------------------------- ADVE

Aug 12, 2019 • 32:27

Bittersweet Moment #20: PARADE

On this week’s mini-episode, Katy captures the unique and festive sounds of a parade that is passing through her town. And she explains why she sometimes gets choked up when she attends a parade. She also wonders about the origins of the word “parade,” and if it ever meant something different from the gleeful file of marching bands, floats, and military regiments that it has come to signify today. Lastly, Katy tells you where you can see both the longest and the shortest parades in the world. -

Aug 8, 2019 • 8:25

Episode 270: STATES

This week, TIffany fills Katy in on her recent trip to the States, the best parts of the adventure, and how Aurelio is turning out to be an awesome traveler. She also remarks on the things about American life and culture that never fail to surprise her every time she goes back. Lastly, Tiffany reveals the surprising reaction she had upon flying back to Rome, as well as a thought she hasn’t had in all her 15 years of expat life. -------------------------------------------- ADVERTISE WITH US: Rea

Aug 5, 2019 • 34:41

Bittersweet Moment #19: AUGUST

Rome in August. It’s hot, it’s sticky and it’s surprisingly empty. August is the month in which Romans desert the city en masse and head for the seashore or the mountains, searching for a welcome respite from the sizzling city heat. Many shopkeepers and restaurant owners take part in the exodus as well, so shuttered shop windows and the ubiquitous “chiuso per ferie” (closed the for holidays) signs are a common sight. But if you're worried you'll have a terrible time during Roman August, never fe

Jul 31, 2019 • 13:00

Episode 269: UNDERLAND (with Robert MacFarlane)

This week, we explore the underground world with Robert MacFarlane of Cambridge University in England. Robert is the best-selling author of Landmarks and The Old Ways, and was awarded the EM Forster Prize for Literature by the American Academy of Arts and Letters. His latest book, UNDERLAND, is an “epic exploration of the Earth’s underworlds as they exist in myth, literature, memory, and the land itself.” The book also details the three major things that humans do with or in the underground worl

Jul 29, 2019 • 34:45

Bittersweet Moment #18: INDIA

On this week's Bittersweet Moment, Tiffany interviews an old friend, someone who has had an influence on her writing in a very concrete way. The interview takes place in a gorgous house up in the trees on the cliff of Big Sur, but it was in Rome where Tiffany and India first met, and the place India was living ending up being one of the seeds that would lead to the idea for her first book, Midnight in the Piazza. -------------------------------------------- ADVERTISE WITH US: Reach expats, futu

Jul 24, 2019 • 11:23

Episode 268: RAILS

Do you think traveling by rail is romantic? Or are we the only ones? We're digging into our archives this week to bring you this episode that we recorded on a train between Rome and Orvieto way back in 2014, the very first year of this podcast! Summer is a time of travel for many people, but if this week you happen to be stuck at home, come along with us as we discuss just why train travel is the best kind of travel (while the Umbrian countryside whooshes along outside the window). If you are tr

Jul 22, 2019 • 32:52

Bittersweet Moment #17: MEDIUM REFLECTIONS

On today’s Bittersweet Moment, we check in with listener and friend Lynn Fortunato to hear her reaction to her session with a psychic medium. If you haven’t listened to last week’s episodes, be sure to do that first! Episode 266: Medium, Part 1 Episode 267: Medium, Part 2 -------------------------------------------- ADVERTISE WITH US: Reach expats, future expats, and travelers all over the world. Send us an email to get the conversation started. BECOME A PATRON: Pledge your monthly support of T

Jul 18, 2019 • 7:53

Episode 267: MEDIUM, Part 2

Last week we were off, so this week, we’re putting out two shows for the price of one! (That price being FREE—as always! :-) Make sure you listen to Episode 266 {MEDIUM, Part 1} first, to follow Katy and our longtime listener Lynn into a live psychic session! Visit the site of Felix Lee Lerma, the psychic medium who assists Lynn in this episode. -------------------------------------------- ADVERTISE WITH US: Reach expats, future expats, and travelers all over the world. Send us an email to get

Jul 15, 2019 • 38:07

Episode 266: MEDIUM, Part 1

And for this week, something completely new! Katy meets up with one of The Bittersweet Life’s longtime listeners, San Francisco resident Lynn Fortunato. Lynn is standing on the precipice of change. She’s bored of her job, she’s not overly attached to San Francisco, her lease is up in September, and she’s yearning for something new. But how do you know where you should go—or even if you should go? One way to get some direction is to go to a psychic or a medium, someone who has a vision that goes

Jul 15, 2019 • 20:16

Episode 265: BREAK

Katy and Tiffany take a much-deserved break this week, but we do stop by, if just to say hi. If you feel a twitch of disappointment that you don’t get to hear the show this week, consider supporting us! If we bring value to your life every week, help keep the show alive by pledging monthly support on our new Patreon page! We are offering fun and valuable prizes for patrons at any tier. Every single dollar pledged helps keep this show going. Talking about money is awkward, but putting on a weekly

Jul 8, 2019 • 4:25

Bittersweet Moment #16: FEEDBACK

On this extra-mini Bittersweet Moment, Katy and Tiffany take a break from their mid-week mini-episode formula to ask YOU a question: what do you think of the mini-episodes? Do you love them or skip them? If you love them, what do you love most about them? If not, what could we do better? Do you have any ideas for mini-episode topics or formulas? This week we are asking for your feedback so we can bring you content that serves and entertains the most important people in our world—our amazing, won

Jul 4, 2019 • 4:50

TRAVEL ANXIETY

Do you love to travel but get inordinately stressed out when it comes time to book your reservations? Are you a typically chill person who wakes up in cold sweats because you’re afraid the tickets you were looking at have doubled in price—or worse—sold out? Do you find it nearly impossible to decide where and when to travel, and sometimes even how you want to get there? Do you long to take off on a new adventure but inexplicably wait until the last minute to book? Or is Tiffany the only one? Thi

Jul 1, 2019 • 30:34

Bittersweet Moment #15: BEHIND THE SCENES, Part 2

It takes more than one mini-episode to go behind the scenes at The Bittersweet Life! We’re joined again this week by Sara Johnson who turns the tables on Katy to interview her about everything that goes into producing this show every week. Specifically, Katy reveals valuable insight for anyone hoping to start their own podcast one day. From basic advice like what equipment you need, to more probing questions, like, how do you know your idea would make a good podcast? Katy shares her expert advic

Jun 27, 2019 • 15:42

Episode 263: CRACK-DOWN

This week we discuss the new strict laws that have recently been signed into law by Rome’s mayor, Virginia Raggi. Feel like enjoying a gelato on the Spanish Steps à la Audrey Hepburn in Roman Holiday? Think twice! Want to climb on the back of one of the lion statues in Piazza del Popolo to snap that perfect Instagram-worthy shot? Better not. Tempted to strip off and dive into the Trevi Fountain? Only do it if you’re willing to pay a hefty fine and risk being exiled from Rome! Maybe you’re thinki

Jun 24, 2019 • 30:32

Bittersweet Moment #14: BEHIND THE SCENES, Part 1

On this week's Bittersweet Moment, we offer a peek behind the curtain as Katy's sister Sara—one of our most ardent fans—interviews Katy about everything that goes into the podcast that listeners don't see (or hear). Learn how the name was chosen, how long it takes Katy to edit a single episode, the most challenging episode she ever taped and much more. Bonus: Katy offers some valuable words of advice for all the neophyte podcasters out there. -------------------------------------------- ADVERTI

Jun 20, 2019 • 15:33

Episode 262: JOURNALIST (with Natalie Higgins)

This week, we sit down with a BBC Europe producer Natalie Higgins to discuss the ins and outs of the journalist game, as well as her experiences living abroad in Rome over a decade ago, and her current expat experience in Belgium. Natalie shares her story of starting out as a university student studying languages, how she came about to decide on journalism as a career, and how her year abroad in Rome (where she just happened to be Tiffany’s roommate!) informed and influenced that decision. She a

Jun 17, 2019 • 39:14

Bittersweet Moment #13: TEMPIETTO

On this week’s Bittersweet Moment, Tiffany and Aurelio chat about their recent visit to one of Rome’s most secret and best-hidden gems: the Tempietto of Bramante. Find out what makes this minuscule “temple” so utterly sublime, which ancient temple it was inspired by, and which domes around the world have been inspired by it. Aurelio also chimes in about his favorite thing about visiting the Tempietto. (Hint: it rhymes with Tempietto but begins with C-O-R-N.) ------------------------------------

Jun 13, 2019 • 14:13

Episode 261: ICONS

What are the instantly recognizable symbols that represent your city? And more importantly, what do you think of them? We hash out the whys behind the icons that make our cities (or the cities we travel to) famous. We also ask, do you travel to a city because of the icons there, or are they what make that place feel more familiar once you arrive? Is the purpose of a city symbol, like the Seattle Space Needle, the St. Louis Arch, or the Eiffel Tour, to lure travelers to a city, or to make them fe

Jun 10, 2019 • 31:33

Bittersweet Moment #12: BODIES (with Hallie Rubenhold)

On this week’s mini-episode, we delve a little deeper with social historian Hallie Rubenhold, author of The Five: The Untold Lives of the Women Killed by Jack the Ripper. If you haven't listened to the full interview, on Episode 260: THE FIVE, check that out first. Hallie discusses her fascination with the bodies of people from different eras...not their dead bodies, although we are talking about the victims of Jack the Ripper! But rather, she’s fascinated by the physical experiences that people

Jun 6, 2019 • 9:12

Episode 260: THE FIVE (with Hallie Rubenhold)

Since Victorian times, people have been obsessed with Jack the Ripper. There are endless volumes full of history about him and the gory deaths of his five victims. What's missing is information about the lives of the women he killed—until now. This week, we sit down with Hallie Rubenhold, social historian and author of the recently published book, The Five: The Untold Lives of the Women Killed by Jack the Ripper. In this eye-opening interview, we discover that, contrary to popular narrative, Jac

Jun 3, 2019 • 44:05

Bittersweet Moment #11: VATICAN

On this week’s mini-episode, Tiffany shares all her expert tips for visiting the Vatican—and keeping your sanity while you do it. The Vatican Museums are huge, overwhelming, and most of all, extremely crowded. But if you feel that you simply can’t leave Rome without seeing this one-of-a-kind place, arm yourself with some strategies that will make your visit much more enjoyable. As a tour guide who has led groups and individuals inside the Vatican Museums upwards of one thousand times, Tiffany ha

May 30, 2019 • 18:26

Episode 259: CHALLENGE

Do you like to do hard things? Do you tend to challenge yourself… just because? On this episode, Katy and Tiffany talk about deliberately seeking out difficult situations, tasks, and habits, in order to promote personal growth, build inner (and outer) strength, and hone a sense of daring—and hopefully have fun too. Tiffany believes that doing hard things is a muscle that can be trained. If you force yourself to, say, take a cold shower every morning or go three full days without eating, when it

May 27, 2019 • 36:02

Bittersweet Moment #10: RAMADAN

Ramadan began for millions of Muslims on May 5, 2019. But what exactly is Ramadan? Most people know it entails fasting, contemplation, and prayer, but not much else. To learn a bit more about it, Katy interviews her former colleague, Amina Al-Sadi on this mini-episode for an inside look at celebrating Ramadan in the United States. Hear Amina’s tips for getting from sun-up to sun-down without eating, the aspects of Ramadan that go beyond the physical, and how observing it in a place where Muslims

May 23, 2019 • 10:01

Episode 258: NIECE

This week, we’re joined by a very special guest, Tiffany’s niece Hannah Ritter. At 22, Hannah has lived in France for the better part of two years, first as a study-abroad student, then as an English teacher. Tiffany sits down with Hannah to talk about how she was able to integrate into French culture so thoroughly in such a short period of time, how she became fluent in French in record time, and what led her to move back to France three days after graduation. She also reveals that despite her

May 20, 2019 • 24:17

Bittersweet Moment #9: SCALA

In this week’s mini-episode, Tiffany recounts her visit to the Scala Santa and the Sancta Sanctorum. The so-called Holy Staircase is believed to be made up of the actual 28 steps that Christ climbed on his way to his trial, shortly before the crucifixion. Transported to Rome in the early 4th century by St. Helena, the stairs are now part of a monumental complex that also includes the jewel of medieval art, the Sancta Sanctorum chapel. The stairs are usually covered with a layer of wood to protec

May 16, 2019 • 11:01

Episode 257: THERAPIST (with Lori Gottlieb)

This week, therapist and bestselling author Lori Gottlieb joins us to talk about change, loss, self-examination...and when you should really talk to someone. If you’ve ever wondered what your therapist was thinking, this is a conversation you’ll want to hear. Lori and Katy discuss everything from what you should look for in a therapist to what your therapist is listening for—and why it’s often not what you tell them the problem is. Lori explains how patients often try to impress their therapists

May 13, 2019 • 35:54

Bittersweet Moment #8: PLAY

On this week’s Bittersweet Moment, Katy talks about the joys of play, and specifically, games. We are all familiar with simple childhood games, board games, and travel games, but what about games that spark your imagination and fuel your creativity? Katy’s longtime friend Robert Fulgham, author of, among many others, All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten, makes a brief appearance on this mini-episode to talk about “infinite” games. He puts it best when he says that the purpose of p

May 9, 2019 • 9:41

Episode 256: YOUTH

As a follow-up to last week’s Bittersweet Moment mini-episode KIDS, where Tiffany offers tips on traveling to Rome with little ones, this week, Katy and Tiffany reminisce about traveling in their youth. Were they “good” travelers? Were they interested in what they were seeing, or were they bored and sulking? At what age did they begin to appreciate what they were seeing? What is it that causes this shift? Is it merely maturity, or is something else at play? Also: as kids, why do we remember what

May 5, 2019 • 34:14

Bittersweet Moment #7: KIDS

On this week's mini-episode, Tiffany shares her tips on traveling to Rome with kids. She not only gives suggestions about what sites in Rome are most suited to kids, but more importantly, she shares tricks on how to get your little ones to enjoy the places you want to go. Aurelio stops by too, and shares his favorite piazza and palazzo in Rome. Places mentioned in the episode: Explora Children's Museum BioParco (zoo) Museo delle Civiltà (prehistoric museum) More on Papal Seals Galleria Doria Pam

May 2, 2019 • 16:18

Episode 255 AWARENESS (with Amy Herman)

In a sequel to Episode 253 PERCEPTION, this week we are joined once again by visual intelligence expert Amy Herman. Katy and Amy take a walk through the streets of Manhattan, discussing how better to observe the world around them, and by doing so, make better decisions. Decisions that could save a life, or simply make their day better. They discuss the way our attention has been taken over by our phones, which leads not only to rudeness, but also to missing important things that are happening ar

Apr 29, 2019 • 32:27

Bittersweet Moment #6: PLACES

On Monday’s episode, we discussed the tragic fire at Paris’ Notre Dame Cathedral. (If you haven’t listened to that episode yet, do that now!) At the end of the episode, we wonder what other buildings in the world, if any, could elicit the same universal heartbreak as Notre Dame? We asked and you answered. Listeners nominated buildings and monuments around the world that, were they to be lost, would leave a gaping hole in human history. Take an audio tour of the world’s most priceless and irrepla

Apr 25, 2019 • 10:56

Episode 254 NOTRE DAME

This week, Katy and Tiffany discuss the tragedy of the Notre Dame fire. How do you move on after all but losing such an integral monument to human history? We muse on our own reactions to the disaster, and how it took us back to the trauma of tragedies such as 9/11. And that raises another question: can the loss of a building like Notre Dame be compared to the loss of a human life? We also ask: is there another building or monument in the world that has an equivalent weight, not just in its own

Apr 22, 2019 • 30:32

Bittersweet Moment #5: FIRE

In the aftermath of the devastating fire at Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, Tiffany is reminded of a similar fire that took place at Rome’s Basilica San Paolo fuori le Mura in 1823. In telling the story of the San Paolo fire, she takes comfort in the fact that almost every building or monument of any significant age has been rebuilt, at least partially and sometimes extensively, over the centuries. Even Notre Dame herself was heavily restored after she was brutally ransacked during the French Rev

Apr 18, 2019 • 12:16

Episode 253: PERCEPTION (with Amy Herman)

Amy Herman is an art expert who trains members of law enforcement, intelligence agents, counter-terrorist specialists, and healthcare professionals to enhance their observation skills by learning to look at works of art. Amy is the founder of The Art of Perception, and the author of Visual Intelligence. In this episode, Amy and Katy visit the Whitney Museum in New York, and they discuss how observing art is a teachable skill, and why it holds the key to heightening our awareness in our day-to-da

Apr 15, 2019 • 39:04

Bittersweet Moment #4: DANCE

On this week’s mini-episode, Katy interviews Matt Harding—you know, that crazy American guy who danced with people all over the world and taped himself doing it? His videos dancing alone and with locals, in front of some of the most recognizable monuments in the world and in some of the most remote places in the world, have garnered over 40 million views since he started back in 2008. In this mid-week mini-interview, Matt explains how he came to discover that everyone in the world is, essentiall

Apr 11, 2019 • 10:42

Episode 252: CREATIVITY

What do Ernest Hemingway, Pablo Picasso, Paul Gauguin (and so many other artists) have in common? They all reached the apex of their creative output while living outside their countries of birth. An email from a listener, who also happens to be a member of indie band Trash Can Dream, inspired this week’s episode. Emma Grace Stephenson is one of two Aussie expats who make up the band that is now based in New York City. Her email sparked a discussion on how travel, and specifically living abroad,

Apr 8, 2019 • 36:51

Bittersweet Moment #3: LANGUAGE

In this week's Bittersweet Moment mini-episode, we tackle a question from a listener: how do you learn a new language effectively? Tiffany draws on her experiences studying and speaking Italian and French (and a smidgen of Spanish and German) to come up with five tips to help you master a new language. Listen in to find out what they are! PS Aurelio has a few suggestions too. To find an online language exchange partner anywhere in the world, check out Conversation Exchange. --------------------

Apr 4, 2019 • 9:20

Episode 251: SHOULD

How many of your life decisions were entirely your own, and how many were influenced by what the people around you wanted, hoped, or expected you to be doing? And what happens when you decide to go off script and live life on your own terms? Today we delve into questions of “should.” We discuss whether or not we are living our family’s or society’s version of how our lives “should” be, Katy’s experiences as a preacher’s kid and how having a moral spotlight on her while she was growing up influen

Apr 1, 2019 • 35:17

Bittersweet Moment #2: QUESTION

It’s time for our first full Bittersweet Moment! Inspired by Monday’s episode, Katy wonders how many people have lived in places they didn’t like, and what they did about it. Be sure to listen to Episode 250 {SPOUSE} first, where we chat wtih author Beth Howard about her experiences as a trailing spouse expat while living in Germany...a place she never felt at home. Today, Katy takes to the streets of San Francisco to ask the city’s denizens if they’ve ever lived in a place they didn’t like, and

Mar 28, 2019 • 8:55

Episode 250: SPOUSE (with Beth M. Howard)

We often chat with expats on The Bittersweet Life, whether they are corporate expats off to a new country every other year, passion expats who follow their dream of living in a foreign land, or anything in between. But what about the expat spouse? What about the person who never signed up for the expat life but finds themselves living it anyway? This week we talk with Beth M. Howard, author of the new memoir, Hausfrau Honeymoon: Love, Language, and Other Misadventures in Germany. She tells the s

Mar 25, 2019 • 33:10

Bittersweet Moment #1: INTRO

On occasion of the fifth anniversary of The Bittersweet Life, we're launching Bittersweet Moments, mid-week mini-episodes to bring a little extra (bitter) sweetness to your week. We'll be regaling you with a different nugget every week, from bite-sized art or history tidbits to street interviews, follow-ups on previous episodes, listener messages, travel tips, random thoughts, and everything in between. We hope you enjoy these mini-episodes, and we'd love to hear your feedback! ----------------

Mar 21, 2019 • 4:55

Episode 249: PLATEAU

This week’s episode is inspired by a letter from one of our long-time listeners. Giovanna wonders what to do after hitting an expat “plateau,” when the rapid learning and expanding period of being a new expat inevitably slows down. After a little over a year living on the idyllic Italian island of Ischia (by way of New York, London, and Rome), Giovanna ponders what to do when the novelty of expat life wears off and you’re left with just...life. She also asks the question: does moving to the tiny

Mar 18, 2019 • 35:48

Episode 248: START-UP (with Lori-Lee Elliott)

This week, we chat with Lori-Lee Elliott, many-time expat, world traveler, and techie girlboss. Lori-Lee’s first appearance on The Bittersweet Life was back in July of 2017 in Episode 166: TIPS, when she pulls from her sizable expat experience to share tips with wannabe or newbie expats. This time, she joins us to talk about a big new venture in her own life. While working full time for an international corporation that moves her around the world every year or less (she’s lived in 13 countries s

Mar 11, 2019 • 35:44

Episode 247: HOW-TO

In this long-awaited epsiode, Tiffany finally reveals how she moved to Rome. It wasn't all a bed of roses (and frankly, it wasn't all legal), but after innumerable requests from listeners, who regularly write to us saying, "I want to move to Italy. How did you do it?" Tiffany is breaking her silence at last to describe what she went through to make her dream of living in Rome a reality. Friendly disclaimer: Despite the catchy title of this episode, it's not meant as a suggestion of how you shoul

Mar 4, 2019 • 28:26

Episode 246: REGRETS

Whether due to poor planning, penny pinching, or simply laziness, we’ve all got regrets when it comes to our past travels. You know what we’re talking about: the time you didn’t cough up the extra 5 bucks to climb the church tower and missed out on the amazing view. The time you missed the museum you most wanted to see because you didn’t check the opening times. The time you opted not to visit gorgeous and fascinating Porto because some stupid book convinced you it was more important to wander a

Feb 25, 2019 • 40:32

Episode 245: FOOD (with Francesca Montillo)

Have you ever thumbed through a cookbook only to roll your eyes and wonder, who has the time? And who has all these ingredients laying around? Italian food expert and cookbook author Francesca Montillo joins us for a conversation about her new cookbook. For anyone who loves cooking Italian food but doesn’t have the time or the inclination to concoct elaborate meals, The 5-Ingredient Italian Cookbook takes authentic regional Italian recipes and ever-so-slightly simplifies them to make them access

Feb 18, 2019 • 33:35

Episode 244: JOY (with Sarah McColl)

Do I deserve to live a bigger life? If you're asking that question, it's a gift to have parent (or friend) who answers- why not? Sarah McColl, author of Joy Enough, joins us to talk about the beautiful life she discovered while living alongside her dying mother. We also explore how fear, loss and the expectations of others can limit our potentially terrific lives and how to get beyond that.  Additional links: Sarah McColl discussing Joy Enough on NPR Sarah on Twitter and Instagram  ----------

Feb 8, 2019 • 34:47

Episode 243: SISTERS Part 2

Katy's sisters, Dana and Sara, join us again this week! They discuss what tethers people have (real or invented) that tie them to the city they are currently living in. Whether it's a stable job, a family support system, or simply force of habit, what is holding you back from imagining a new life for yourself in a new place? Dana has a special needs child, but that didn't stop her from uprooting her family not once but twice in the first five years of his life, and as it turns out, he grew and f

Feb 4, 2019 • 27:42

Episode 242: SISTERS, Part 1

This week we're joined by two of The Bittersweet Life's most ardent listeners: Katy's own sisters, Dana Zahler and Sara Johnson. The three sisters chat about the things that prompt you to change where you live, and what—if anything—your upbringing has to do with it.  Hear from Dana what it takes to move a family of four across the country and back again at the drop of a hat (surprisingly little, in her case), and how living in her "dream house" was actually a bad thing for her family. Learn from

Jan 28, 2019 • 26:43

Episode 241: DARE

Our super summer Share-a-thon came to an end a few months ago now, and today is the big day (***fanfare***) that our super-fun, super-secret Truth or Dare episode hits the airwaves! If you've been paying attention, you know that that episode is only available to listeners who managed to get at least 5 of their friends to subscribe to the show. HOWEVER! We've decided to be generous and let a few more of you in on the show. Listen to this mini-episode teaser to find out how you can get access to t

Jan 21, 2019 • 15:09

Episode 240: ANGELS

Every so often, just when you find yourself alone and vulnerable in a foreign place and in desperate need of help, an angel comes into your life...a very special kind of angel. A travel angel. This episode is dedicated to those rare and wonderful strangers who come into our lives just when we need them most. Because of their selfless and often unasked for help, disaster is averted, our vacation is saved, and often our lives are enriched in the process. ------------------------------------------

Jan 14, 2019 • 27:20

Episode 239: NOTICE (with Amy Herman)

In a re-airing of one of our most fascinating interviews, Amy Herman joins us to talk about visual intelligence. How can looking at fine art, or rather learning how to truly notice what it is you are seeing, change, or even save your life? Herman has trained police officers, doctors, military, and special operatives to hone their observation skills by studying visual art. On occasion of her recent Ted Talk reaching half a million views, we've decided to repost her thought-provoking interview on

Jan 7, 2019 • 43:21

Episode 238: RESOLVE

What happens when you dig out the resolutions you made at the beginning of the year just as you are about to make some new ones for the year to come? Tiffany and Katy find out the hard way. Plus, in honor of Tiffany, Katy takes on a few extra resolutions, and Tiffany takes a page out of Katy's book by resolving to do something that can be accomplished in a single day. And they both try not to cringe at last year's often-over-ambitious resolutions. What will you resolve to do in the year ahead?

Dec 31, 2018 • 33:25

WHITE

Merry Christmas from your friends at The Bittersweet Life! This Christmas, we're gifting you with a sweet, sentimental, and surprising piece of radio created by your host, Katy Sewall the Christmas she spent in Rome, way back in 2013. If you love the song White Christmas and have always wondered about its origins (or maybe you've never wondered, but now we've piqued your interest), listen to this show. So grab a comfy seat (ideally in front of a roaring fire with snow falling right outside), cud

Dec 24, 2018 • 13:01

Episode 236: WHEN?

When you move abroad to be with a significant other—not because it was your own dream—what do you do when you don't find expat life satisfying? Whether it's because you struggle to learn the language, feel isolated, don't really love the place where you live, or—god forbid—are not sure your partner is the right person for you, not every expat experience is right for every person. Sometimes you just have to cut your losses and go home. On this week's episode, we respond to a listener questions th

Dec 13, 2018 • 31:40

Episode 235: GERMAN (with Dana Newman)

This week, we chat with expat, author, and vlogger Dana Newman, an American living in Germany with a book out next week! Dana moved to Europe back in 2008, first to Prague, then later to Munich, where she married a German and still lives today. On her YouTube channel, Wanted Adventure, she talks about her experiences living abroad in general and living in Germany in particular, including the culture, the food, the traditions, and, of course, mastering the German language. (The infamously difficu

Dec 10, 2018 • 40:31

Episode 234: ADVENT

It’s December and Advent is upon us! With this unofficial kick-off of Christmastime, we discuss the different ways Italians and Americans prepare for the holiday season. And how have Italians ceded some of their native traditions to the global consumerism that has taken over the American Christmas experience? We also debate contentious topics such as: when is it too early to put up your Christmas decorations? How much of our own holiday preferences are based on the traditions we were taught in c

Dec 3, 2018 • 32:23

Episode 233: BORGIA

A powerful, unscrupulous man whose two greatest vices are greed and lust. He’s close to his family...perhaps too close (particularly his daughter). He has many children by different women, but the three he loves most are two sons and a daughter...a beautiful blond-haired daughter. He holds a position of great power, although the machinations he employed to get it are mired in scandal. Bribery was most certainly involved—and perhaps even blackmail. He is resented by those around him who feel he d

Nov 26, 2018 • 42:06

Episode 232: THANKSGIVING

It’s almost Thanksgiving, and if you’re anything like us, you’re partly dreading sitting down at that big, diverse table because you know the person sitting beside you—while you may love them to bits—has political views that are the polar opposite of yours. You can’t pick your family, am I right? And even worse, you can’t force them to think like you do, no matter how hard you try! Instead of ruining a wonderful holiday and a seriously tasty meal with unpleasant conversation, we suggest six topi

Nov 18, 2018 • 35:54

Episode 231: ARCHAEOLOGY (with Christy Schirmer)

This week we are joined by archaeologist and longtime Bittersweet Life listener Christy Schirmer. In her mid-30s, Christy decided to quit her job and pursue a PhD in Classics, something she had always dreamed about doing. Fast-forward a few years and she now comes to Italy (a country she loves) to work once a year on archaeological digs. What’s she looking for in the dirt? And how did she decide to take the risk of leaving her old life behind? Christy chats with Katy about the reality of being a

Nov 12, 2018 • 28:47

Episode 230: EIGHTEEN

On this week's episode, Katy and Tiffany reminisce about their first experiences leaving home—when they went away to college at age eighteen. Why was Katy’s experience so bad and Tiffany’s so awesome? Was it really only luck? How do you cope with debilitating homesickness? And does having a boyfriend make a big difference? What makes one homebody want to stay close to home, and another want to go as far away as possible? We discuss all this and more on our latest episode, EIGHTEEN. Today’s take-

Nov 5, 2018 • 35:20

Episode 229: HALLOWEEN

This week, in honor of Halloween, we feature the stories of listeners and friends, whether they be recountings of run-ins with ghosts they themselves have experienced, or just downright scary stuff that's happened to them. So get comfortable, pour yourself a piping cup of tea, curl up under your favorite blanket, turn the lights down...and enjoy! Bonus interview with a four-year-old who loves horror films. Yeah, you don't want to miss that. Plus: how to use every day foods you probably have in y

Oct 29, 2018 • 46:26

Episode 228: GHOSTS

Join us for a whimsical (and not so whimsical) conversation about ghosts—do you believe in them? Have you ever encountered one? Are you the type of person who automatically looks for “rational explanations” when spooky things occur? Or are you open to believing something paranormal is afoot? Where’s the line between open-minded and gullible? We also talk about the famous ghosts that supposedly haunt Rome, including Beatrice Cenci. Tiffany tells her tragic story. Also, the Colosseum—a place that

Oct 22, 2018 • 38:35

Episode 227: WANDERLUST (with Laura Smith)

This week, Katy interviews debut author Laura Smith, and the two discuss the definition of wanderlust, why some people spend their lives perennially longing for new experiences, and how you can challenge the status quo for your own life. They also examine the dark side of wanderlust—does a yearning for "other" mean you are unsatisfied with your life? When does travel become escape? When you are constantly running away, what happens to the people you leave behind? In her debut work, The Art of Va

Oct 15, 2018 • 33:09

Episode 226: ISOLATED

There's nothing like a complete political meltdown in your home country to make you feel utterly alone in your adopted one. Tiffany opens up about her feelings of isolation in the wake of the Kavanaugh debacle raging across the pond. When you are consumed for weeks on end with a political story that no one in your day-to-day life understands, it's easy to feel cut off. Sometimes all you want to do is walk into your office and commiserate with your colleagues about the latest insane thing that ha

Oct 8, 2018 • 38:06

Episode 225: LOST

You’ve doubtless heard the phrase, “Not all who wander are lost.” This week, Katy and Tiffany theorize that many who wander are, indeed, lost. Why is it that so many expats come from troubled homes or have difficult pasts? While we haven’t made a scientific study, in our time living abroad, we’ve noticed that expats and travel addicts seem to boast a much higher than average amount of family dysfunction and general malaise than the those who spend their lives close to home. In this week’s episod

Oct 1, 2018 • 26:38

Episode 224: DOLOMITES

On the first episode of season six, Katy and Tiffany take a trip north (at least in their memories) to the Dolomite mountains in the Italian region of Trentino-Alto Adige. It’s a part of the country that is well-loved by Italians from all over the peninsula, but not particularly known by people outside the country. The sounds of munching goats, clanging cow bells, and haunting chants—snippets of recordings that Katy captured on her two trips to the Dolomites—enliven the conversation that is part

Sep 24, 2018 • 36:42

Episode 223: ARRIVEDERCI

In this introspective episode, Katy says goodbye to Rome the night before she flies back to the States. And as she contemplates the end of another chapter, her thoughts turn to John Keats. Why John Keats, you ask? At the start of her time in Rome, Katy visited the Non-Catholic Cemetery and the grave of the Young English Poet. On her last day, she happened to find herself standing in front of the museum dedicated to him and his contemporary Percy Shelley. She decided to go in. On their final epis

Sep 17, 2018 • 22:50

Episode 222: DESTINY

Are we the masters of our own fate, or merely unwitting pawns in a larger scheme, the irresistible pull of destiny guiding all of our so-called decisions? Or is the reality somewhere in the middle? In their second live show, recorded at The Beehive Hotel & Hostel, Katy and Tiffany explore their own beliefs on this vast and bewildering topic, and what it means for their own lives and the paths they have chosen. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ SPONSO

Sep 10, 2018 • 41:20

Episode 221: LABOR

In honor of Labor Day, Katy and Tiffany take the week off from their labor of love, The Bittersweet Life podcast. But in this special, super-short episode we ask for your feedback for three upcoming episodes. Listen to the episode to hear our questions so you can be featured on the show! Email your stories (typed or voice messages work) to bittersweetlife@mail.com. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ SPONSOR THE SHOW: Reach expats, future expats, and t

Sep 3, 2018 • 8:54

Episode 220: STAYING?

As Katy nears the end of her time in Rome (this time), Tiffany can’t help but ask, will you stay? Or, more precisely, would you stay? Would you stay in Rome IF all the conditions allowed it: work visa, gainful employment, apartment? Her answer might surprise you. And it opens a discussion: how do you know when it’s time to go home, when it’s time to stay put, when it’s time to move on, when it’s time to hit the road in search of a new adventure?  How much do age and career play into it? Does the

Aug 27, 2018 • 34:03

Episode 219: ABDICATE (with Jackie)

Moving abroad isn’t just for twenty-somethings. Our guest this week proves just that. Jackie was a successful lawyer in her early 40s and living in Chicago when she realized she wasn’t content feeding her wanderlust with short, occasional trips to Europe—she had to move there. And when she finally decided to take the plunge, she didn’t do it by halves. No leave of absence from her job—she quit. No storage unit for her clothes and furniture—she sold the lot of it. She was fully committed, with no

Aug 20, 2018 • 27:18

Episode 218: POSTCARDS

A postcard captures a moment in time—a literal snapshot of a place. But according to Katy, people make the best postcards. If you visit a place often enough, every time you go back, you’ll inevitably find faces you’ve seen before. Locals whom you’ve noticed many times—and who have perhaps noticed you—although you may know nothing about them. May have never even spoken… and yet they are every bit a landmark of your experience of the city as an Eiffel Tower or a Colosseum. Maybe it’s the cashier a

Aug 13, 2018 • 19:32

Episode 217: BILINGUAL (with Kristie Prada)

Want to raise a bilingual child? Whether you are an expat or not, in a mixed-culture relationship or not, it is possible to raise your child in two (or more) languages, and the benefits you will pass on to your child are significant. But how do you go about it? Today Katy sits down with British mum Kristie Prada, author and creator of the blog Mamma Prada. She and her Italian husband live in the UK and are serious about raising their children to speak both languages flawlessly. In her effort to

Aug 6, 2018 • 33:20

Episode 216: ORVIETO (with Linda Martinez and Toni De Bella)

We often talk about expat life in big cities like Rome. But what’s it like to be a foreigner in a small village where everyone knows everyone? On this week’s episode {ORVIETO}, we catch up with two Americans living in the tiny central Italian town of Orvieto—two expats whom we interviewed for the first time back in 2014. Toni De Bella (Episode 34: Venture) moved to Orvieto in 2012 alone after raising her son. Linda Martinez (Episode 33: Parents) is the owner of The Beehive Hostel in Rome; she’s

Jul 30, 2018 • 23:30

Episode 215: SUMMIT

After the wild week in the news in the US, Katy and Tiffany take a brief break from their recent Rome-based episodes to discuss the events surrounding the now infamous Helsinki Summit. In the course of their commiserations, they wonder what is harder: having to live through the chaos as it unfolds in your own back yard, or living a world away in an expat bubble and not having anyone to talk to about it. What’s worse: inundation or isolation? Which leads to another observation: when you live so l

Jul 23, 2018 • 36:55

Episode 214: RUDE

Have you ever walked into someone’s house in Japan with your shoes on and had a room full of people laugh at you? (Katy has.) Have you ever traipsed into a room in an Italian home that has been freshly mopped and been given the evil eye by the lady of the house? (Tiffany has.) Part of living in a foreign culture is learning (often the hard way) that some things that are totally acceptable back home are, at best, a faux pas in your adopted country, and, at worst, a humiliating gaff. Picking up on

Jul 16, 2018 • 23:18

Episode 213: IN-LAWS

The best thing about marrying an Italian? You’re automatically part of a big Italian family. The worst thing about marrying an Italian? You’re automatically part of a big Italian family. If you’re a regular listener to the show, you’ve heard Tiffany talk about (and sometimes complain about) her Italian in-laws for years—especially during those long months when she and her husband lived with them when in between apartments.  This week, Tiffany’s mother-in-law, Luisa and father-in-law, Rocco, join

Jul 9, 2018 • 27:53

Episode 212: ETHNICITY (with Estrella Gomez)

Issues of race and diversity are on everyone’s lips and minds in the United States right now. But people in Italy are just starting to have these conversations. In a country where, until quite recently, everyone had a similar racial make-up, perhaps it simply wasn’t necessary until now. In an interview with our former intern, first generation Salvadoran American Estrella Gomez, we probe the issues facing an expat of color in a place that is just now getting used to its status as a country that p

Jul 2, 2018 • 25:07

Episode 211: SIRENUSE (with Antonio Sersale)

What happens when you say “no” to your destiny…only to discover that it brings you more joy than you could have imagined?  This week, Katy interviews Antonio Sersale, son of one of the four founding siblings of the legendary Le Sirenuse Hotel in Postiano on the Amalfi Coast. From a young age, Antonio was groomed to take over the family business of running the hotel, but he resisted for many years, convinced that the life of a hotelier wasn’t for him.  Then, one day he changed his mind. During a

Jun 25, 2018 • 27:12

Episode 210: CORRESPONDENT (with Michael Maren)

After a transformative trip to India during college, Michael Maren realized that in order to feel fully alive, he had to go back overseas. He joined the Peace Corps after graduating and a series of chance events led him to Kenya, where he stayed for the next five years, teaching English, Physics, and Swahili at a local secondary school, and he later worked as an aid worker in both Kenya and Somalia. After returning to the States for graduate school, Maren eventually became a war correspondent. F

Jun 18, 2018 • 39:28

Episode 209: REPURPOSE

This week, we hit the streets of Rome with our recording equipment to search for ancient artifacts or “spoglie” hidden in plain sight. Rome has been inhabited without interruption for over three thousand of years. A past like that cannot but leave its mark on a city. And if you keep your eyes open, the vestiges of Rome’s ancient past can be found around almost every corner. From the fluted Corinthian columns walled into the sides of nondescript buildings to the piazza that follows the shape of t

Jun 11, 2018 • 30:17

Episode 208: DECAY

Rome is crumbling...just as it has been for centuries. But what does it say about us adopted Romans that we choose to live in a city's whose glory days are all in the past? Why do so many of us, who can't even use the excuse that this is our native land, choose to live here, often at considerable financial and professional inconvenience, despite how little it has to offer us? Why do we leave in frustration only to return again and again, as if it were "more familiar, more intimately our home, th

Jun 4, 2018 • 26:16

Episode 207: ARTIST (with Samuel Webster)

Katy interviews Samuel Webster, versatile artist, Australian expat in a small town in Italy, and host of Fool’s Paradise podcast. They discuss what it means to be an “artist.” Does adopting that title make you pretentious, or is it just an honest representation of your craft? What about if you practice numerous arts? Webster identifies as a writer, a photographer, a poet, a podcaster, and much more. But does practicing one art form take away from the others? If you qualify yourself as a photogra

May 28, 2018 • 44:05

Episode 206: RAIN

What does Rome sound like in the rain? Tiffany and Katy take a walk through the soggy streets of Rome, from Trastevere to Campo de' Fiori, capturing the sounds that you might not notice: raindrops falling in a puddle, water rushing through an underground drain, birds chirping as they seek shelter from the storm. As a seasoned radio producer, Katy hears sounds other people don't notice. Tiffany is just learning to. Join them on an aural discovery of Rome in the rain. Plus: they attempt to answer

May 21, 2018 • 37:42

Episode 205: ENCOUNTER

Thanks to Stackry.com for supporting this program. Shop any US retailer and ship anywhere for less money. Bittersweet Life listeners  get 10% off when you try it! Just use the coupon code: MANGIA **** Sometimes a person comes into your life—just a chance encounter—and yet you never forget them. Maybe their impact is strong, maybe it's insignificant, yet for some reason, the memory of that person stays with you for the rest of your life. Katy and Tiffany discuss their own unforgettable encounters

May 14, 2018 • 30:02

Episode 204: ZODIAC

Thanks to Stackry.com for supporting this program. Shop any US retailer and ship anywhere for less money. Bittersweet Life listeners  get 10% off when you try it! Just use the coupon code: MANGIA **** Planning a trip to Rome? Use your Chinese horoscope sign as a guide to plan your itinerary. What animal are you? A snake, a dragon, a rat, a dog? Listen to episode 204 of The Bittersweet Life podcast to discover a Roman location that suits your personality perfectly. You might learn something about

May 7, 2018 • 31:57

Episode 203: PRETENSION

Thanks to Stackry.com for supporting this program. Shop any US retailer and ship anywhere for less money. Bittersweet Life listeners  get 10% off when you try it! Just use the coupon code: MANGIA **** An overheard conversation between two American students in Rome causes Katy to reflect on the idea of pretension. Why do some expats—even those who have only lived in a place for a few months—tend to feel superior to tourists whose experiences are necessarily more superficial? And does it follow th

Apr 30, 2018 • 33:36

STATESIDE

Thanks to Stackry.com for supporting this program. Shop any US retailer and ship anywhere for less money. Bittersweet Life listeners  get 10% off when you try it! Just use the coupon code: MANGIA **** Katy and Tiffany reunite in Rome for the first time in two and a half years to kick of Season 5 of The Bittersweet Life. Tiffany talks about her recent trip to the States, including her book tour to LA and Seattle (during which she lost her voice!), her father’s celebration of life complete with wh

Apr 23, 2018 • 32:19

Episode 201: NICE (with Steve Scher)

Traveling alone to Nice, France helped former public radio host, Steve Scher, overcome a long-held hangup from high school. Has traveling helped you shed a negative belief about yourself? Steve worked side-by-side with host Katy Sewall for 9 years at KUOW Public Radio in Seattle. Now they are both on a quest for discovery and wonder. The two friends meet-up in Seattle for today's long-promised episode.  Thanks to Stackry.com for supporting this program. Shop any US retailer and ship anywhere for

Apr 16, 2018 • 32:59

Episode 200: LIVE!

We explore the concept of synchronicity live on stage in Seattle. We also take audience questions as we celebrate the 200th episode of The Bittersweet Life podcast and the release of Tiffany Parks' new book Midnight in the Piazza.  WATCH! See the VIDEO of the live show!   COVID-19 keeping you home? Explore SpotMe to create your own virtual event! **** SPONSOR! Reach expats and future expats living all over the world. Send us an email to get the conversation started.  Thanks to Stackry.com for

Apr 9, 2018 • 1:02:50

Episode 199: TRADITION

When it comes to gender roles, are Italians more conservative than other parts of the world? If a Italian marries an expat are they non-traditional? That... and Italian Easter traditions!  Tiffany's article: Are Italian Women really Unhappy?  Thanks to Stackry.com for supporting this program. Shop any US retailer and ship anywhere for less money. Bittersweet Life listeners  get 10% off when you try it! Just use the coupon code: MANGIA **** SPONSOR! Reach expats and future expats living all ove

Apr 2, 2018 • 41:59

Episode 198: MICRO (with Beth Ann Fennelly)

Today we learn to write micro-memoirs. These are short stories that really capture the essence of an experience, sometimes in just one sentence. Whether you write a blog, post on Instagram, or just want to process the details of your day-to-day life in a new way, this show will give you fun exercises to try. Our guest is Beth Ann Fennelly, author of Heating & Cooling: 52 Micro-Memoirs. She's also the poet laureate of Mississippi.  Thanks to Stackry.com for supporting this program. Shop any US re

Mar 26, 2018 • 38:02

Episode 197: BOOK!

Tiffany's first book, Midnight is the Piazza, is out! We talk about what it is like to achieve a long-held goal, and how to start writing if you want to but you're stalled.  Thanks to Stackry.com for supporting this program. Shop any US retailer and ship anywhere for less money. Bittersweet Life listeners  get 10% off when you try it! Just use the coupon code: MANGIA Check out Estrella Gomez (*star intern) at La Casabloga **** SPONSOR! Reach expats and future expats living all over the world. Se

Mar 19, 2018 • 33:08

Episode 196: RETURN

When you travel, do you always go somewhere new, or do you revisit the same places again and again? What personality factors determine whether you prefer novelty or familiarity on the road? Host Tiffany Parks thinks life is short and the world is big. Why wouldn't you try to see as much as possible? Host Katy Sewall prefers returning to already visited locations. Is Tiffany just a bolder traveler?  Thanks to Stackry.com for supporting this program. Shop any US retailer and ship anywhere for less

Mar 12, 2018 • 37:17

Episode 195: GUNS

How does violence in Italy compare to gun violence in the United States? We discuss guns, international gun regulations, and the privilege of living in less armed countries.   Thanks to Stackry.com for supporting this program. Shop any US retailer and ship anywhere for less money. Bittersweet Life listeners  get 10% off when you try it! Just use the coupon code: MANGIA LIVE SHOW IN SEATTLE! On Friday, March 16, 2018, we celebrate the release of Tiffany's book Midnight in the Piazza with a live p

Mar 5, 2018 • 38:13

Episode 194: GEMS, Part 2

If you're planning a trip to Rome with kids, this is the episode for you. Lots of fun, spooky ideas to keep kids and teens entertained in the eternal city. But, adults! You'll love this too. These ideas are pretty fun for us grownups too.  Thanks to Stackry.com for supporting this program. Shop at any US retailer and ship anywhere for less money. Bittersweet Life listeners  get 10% off! Just use the coupon code: MANGIA LIVE SHOW IN SEATTLE! On Friday, March 16, 2018, we celebrate the release of

Feb 26, 2018 • 37:53

Episode 193: GEMS, Part 1

Planning a trip to Rome? Today we explore the lesser known gems of the city. These are amazing places tourists often miss (though they shouldn't). Listening will make your trip is incredible. And if you're not planning a trip, this will be like traveling to Rome at home.   LIVE SHOW! MARK YOUR CALENDARS! On Friday, March 16, 2018, we celebrate the release of Tiffany's book Midnight in the Piazza with a live performance of The Bittersweet Life in Seattle. It's at 7:30pm at the Greenwood Senior Ce

Feb 19, 2018 • 39:20

Episode 192: PACING

What determines the pace of your life? Is it the city you live in? How many connections you have? What happens when you live in a country with a slower pace than you're used to? Hosts Tiffany Parks and Katy Sewall discuss. MARK YOUR CALENDARS! On Friday, March 16, 2018, we celebrate the release of Tiffany's book Midnight in the Piazza with a live performance of The Bittersweet Life in Seattle. If you're in Seattle, we want to see you! Location TBA. If you have a question or a topic you want us t

Feb 12, 2018 • 35:33

Episode 191: ADVICE, Part 2

"How does one choose their path without regrets?" That's one big question circling through listener Darlene's head as she listens to The Bittersweet Life podcast. Is the expat life for the unattached? Can it be too late to move? Are artist-types always dissatisfied? Katy and Tiffany debate these huge concepts and attempt to give some good advice. If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email like Darlene did. Write to: bittersweetlife@mail.com  You can also talk to u

Feb 5, 2018 • 30:21

Episode 190: ADVICE, Part 1

Dreaming of moving abroad but love your job? We discuss the hazards of giving up your career. Tiffany also gives listener Darlene practical tips to keep in mind when moving to Rome, Italy. Future expats, this is the show for you.  Thanks for textile designer Darlene in Brooklyn, NY for writing the letter that prompted this conversation. If you have questions you want us to debate -- WRITE US! Send us an email at bittersweetlife@mail.com You can also talk to us through Twitter, Facebook and Insta

Jan 29, 2018 • 35:03

Episode 189: AESTHETICS

How important are the decorations around you? Travelers frequently live in environments designed by other people. Some people can work anywhere, but for others, aesthetics are really important.  While moving to San Francisco, host Katy Sewall realized her productivity suffered from living in uninspired temporary housing. Decorating styles differ from country to country too. Host Tiffany Parks isn't a big fan of Italian hostess gifts called Bomboniere. While most Italians save every trinket they

Jan 21, 2018 • 46:48

Episode 188: NEW YEAR

Tiffany and Katy discuss resolutions for the New Year as 2018 kicks off. Tiffany needs your help with hers. Also, host Katy Sewall makes a big announcement about where she is going from here.  The RECIPE Tiffany talks about compliments of Smitten Kitchen:  Pasta e ceci (pasta and chickpeas)  What are you resolving to do in 2018? We'd love to hear your goals. It might even inspire Katy to come up with a good resolution! Reach us on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, or write us @ bittersweetlife@mai

Jan 1, 2018 • 30:35

CHRISTMAS

Christmas traditions can be grounding when you're living in a brand new place. Tiffany and Katy talk about the joys and challenges of being untethered during the holidays. They also discuss which of their traditions come from childhood and which were added after living in a foreign culture.  The Sweet Smell of Christmas (The Scratch & Sniff book Tiffany ordered for the holiday)  The Best Christmas Pageant Ever (One of Katy's favorite Christmas book)  Also, tell us what you resolve to do in 201

Dec 25, 2017 • 36:58

Episode 186: DANTE

The magician Dante joins us with his amazing story of reinvention - from landing in prison to busking for huge crowds in the streets of Europe. As he puts it, "It's not about what has happened, it's about what we do next."  Dante learned magic to make sure he'd alway be free; able to work for himself and not someone else. Later, he picked up the trumpet and now performs regularly with The Dapper Dandies in New Orleans. He explains how making a fool of yourself can be great thing - and takes us o

Dec 18, 2017 • 50:41

Episode 185: METOO

The #MeToo movement has taken over the news in the United States and much of the world. After Hollywood movie producer Harvey Weinstein was outed by the New York Times for a history of assaulting women, more accusations - and firings - have followed. Now all men are reexamining their workplace behavior and women are rethinking their memories, reactions, and often their acceptance of questionable male/female dynamics. In this episode hosts Katy Sewall and Tiffany Parks revisit Episode 10 of The B

Dec 11, 2017 • 26:16

Episode 184: DISASTER

During the Sack of Rome in 1527, thousands of citizens were killed or raped. The city's treasures were pillaged. Beyond the trauma and loss, the sack also crippled the Italian Renaissance for good. When Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans in 2005, over 1500 people died and thousands lost everything they had. A huge percentage of the displaced population never returned. Those who stayed were  forever changed. Many locals mark time in NOLA as life "before Katrina" and life after.  Hosts Tiffany Park

Dec 4, 2017 • 46:48

Episode 183: SABINE

Do Americans need more positive feedback than the French? French expat Sabine explains the communication issues she and her American husband face. She also explains why her French friends sometimes feel sorry for her and what she makes of the 2nd amendment given all the mass shootings in America. Would you trade Paris for New Orleans? For Sabine, living in NOLA is like taking a tropical vacation - well, some of the time.  DONATE! The show stays on the air if you support it.  NEVER HEARD THE SHOW

Nov 27, 2017 • 35:39

Episode 182: AUTHENTIC

You would think living in Rome would be fantastic but "Rome squashes some of my joy" co-host Tiffany Parks says in this episode. Over in New Orleans, co-host Katy Sewall keeps encountering local residents claiming they're able to be more their authentic selves in The Big Easy. This has Katy questioning the influence of her long-time Seattle hometown. Can moving to a new place make you... well, more YOU? Are frequent travelers searching for a place where they their most authentic? Have you moved

Nov 20, 2017 • 27:04

Episode 181: EXISTENTIAL (with Anne Gisleson)

Does life have any meaning? What is the purpose of living? If you are asking these questions, you might be experiencing an existential crisis. To tackle grief, loss and these huge life questions, New Orleans writer Anne Gisleson formed the Existential Crisis Reading Group. Along the way, the book group discovered writers like Dante, James Joyce, Franz Kafka and Clarice Lispector. They even creatively reenacted the Stations of the Cross.  Anne's book The Futilitarians: Our Year Thinking, Drinking

Nov 13, 2017 • 37:05

Episode 180: HURRICANE

Hurricane Nate missed New Orleans in October, but being in it's path brought about both fear and cultural revelation for new resident - our host Katy Sewall. It also brought about an unexpected interview with BBC radio. BBC Radio 5 Live Katy's most famous BBC News article: The girl who gets gifts from birds NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET SPONSOR: Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the world by sponsoring The Bittersweet Life. Write the at bit

Nov 6, 2017 • 28:51

Episode 179: DEATH (with Caitlin Doughty)

Mortician Caitlin Doughty joins us to talk about death practices around the world. Discover where you'd like to die and what countries deal with mortality best.  Caitlin Doughty Homepage The Order of the Good Death   NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET SPONSOR: Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the world by sponsoring The Bittersweet Life. Write the at bittersweetlife@mail.com to get the conversation going. JOIN THE CONVERSATION Connect with us o

Oct 29, 2017 • 49:15

Episode 178: DAD

Sad days after Tiffany's father dies. She struggles with the guilt many expats feel about being far away and not seeing him as much as she might have if she lived closer.   NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET SPONSOR: Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the world by sponsoring The Bittersweet Life. Write the at bittersweetlife@mail.com to get the conversation going. JOIN THE CONVERSATION Connect with us on Instagram, Twitter, Facebookor write us @ bi

Oct 23, 2017 • 38:26

Episode 177: NOLA

Visit New Orleans with us! Host Katy moves into her new (temporary) home and discovers crime, a muggy heat and a great dance partner.   NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET SPONSOR: Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the world by sponsoring The Bittersweet Life. Write the at bittersweetlife@mail.com to get the conversation going. JOIN THE CONVERSATION Connect with us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram or write us @ bittersweetlife@mail.com. ©Web and sho

Oct 16, 2017 • 31:20

Episode 176: JORGE (with Jorge Moreno)

Jorge Moreno, beloved bartender from the reality show Bachelor in Paradise, gives us a behind-the-scenes look at the show and explains how expats can accidentally ruin a town they love.  Book a Tour with Jorge! Nayarit Uncovered Follow him on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, Twitter and Trip Advisor NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET SPONSOR: Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the world by sponsoring The Bittersweet Life. Write the at bittersweetlif

Oct 8, 2017 • 45:59

Episode 175: AIR LIFT (with Sara Sullivan)

When expat Sara Sullivan's baby got sick in Botswana, a medical transfer by private jet was required. What was that like? And what is it like to be able to afford a level of medical care that local residents can't?  Outland-ish: Honest Tales from Overseas by Sara Sullivan NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET SPONSOR: Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the world by sponsoring The Bittersweet Life. Write the at bittersweetlife@mail.com to get the co

Oct 2, 2017 • 29:46

Episode 174: RALLY (with Scott Gurian)

Mongol Rally participants drive from London to Mongolia at their own pace and their own peril. Radio Producer Scott Gurian survived the 11,000 mile journey in his tiny, 1 liter car and joins us to talk about it.  Far from Home podcast homepage Sign up for the Mongol Rally NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET SPONSOR: Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the world by sponsoring The Bittersweet Life. Write the at bittersweetlife@mail.com to get the con

Sep 25, 2017 • 29:11

Episode 173: GLAMOUR

A short memoir by Beth Ann Fennelly inspires a discussion on what makes something glamorous rather than trashy.  Heating & Cooling by Beth Ann Fennelly (Released:Oct 10, 2017)  NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET SPONSOR: Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the world by sponsoring The Bittersweet Life. Write the at bittersweetlife@mail.com to get the conversation going. JOIN THE CONVERSATION Connect with us on Twitter, Facebook or write us @ bitter

Sep 18, 2017 • 36:00

Episode 172: SURVEY

What is the best and worst place to live according to expats the world over? Host Tiffany Parks tries to guess as Katy goes over the results of a recent survey conducted by InterNations. Spoiler alert: Italy did not do so great.  The Full Expat Insider Survey Article: Not such a dolce vita: Italy ranked among worst countries for expat life by Catherine Edwards NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET SPONSOR: Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the worl

Sep 10, 2017 • 32:22

Episode 171: CLIMATE

Does weather dictate where people live or do people follow opportunities? We reflect on the power of weather after Hurricane Harvey floods the US city of Houston. NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET SPONSOR: Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the world by sponsoring The Bittersweet Life. Write the at bittersweetlife@mail.com to get the conversation going. JOIN THE CONVERSATION Connect with us on Twitter, Facebook or write us @ bittersweetlife@mail.c

Sep 4, 2017 • 34:56

Episode 170: ECLIPSE

Sometimes a big adventure comes along and you say no. How do you know you're saying no for the right reason? Hosts Katy and Tiffany use the US total eclipse of the sun to fuel the discussion.  NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET SPONSOR: Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the world by sponsoring The Bittersweet Life. Write the at bittersweetlife@mail.com to get the conversation going. JOIN THE CONVERSATION Connect with us on Twitter, Facebook or wri

Aug 28, 2017 • 45:46

Episode 169: REFUGEE, Part 2 (with Jennifer Rumbach)

Jennifer Rumbach works with refugees all over the world, specializing in communicating with the LGBTI community. After a hectic year zig-zagging the world by plane, she is finally staying put in New York. How does living in one place affect her sense of self - and her fight against a particularly resilient parasite? Jenn was a fan favorite when she originally appeared on Episode 79.    NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET SPONSOR: Reach thousands of expats and tra

Aug 21, 2017 • 41:50

Episode 168: TINY

What do a baby eel and a favorite cafe have in common? Next to nothing, unless you're traveling and looking for a sense of place and belonging. We explore how the tiniest things can give you peace of mind. Be sure to visit Twitter or Facebook to see the baby eel!   Katy's article about the closing of The People's Pub where she used to work.  Il Margutta, the vegetarian restaurant where Tiffany celebrated her birthday NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET SPONSOR:

Aug 14, 2017 • 45:08

RECAP

After an lengthy journey to visit her family, Tiffany returns to her home in Rome. We get her impressions and hear a big announcement from Katy. NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET SPONSOR: Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the world by sponsoring The Bittersweet Life. Write the at bittersweetlife@mail.com to get the conversation going. JOIN THE CONVERSATION Connect with us on Twitter, Facebook or write us @ bittersweetlife@mail.com. ©Web and show

Jul 30, 2017 • 39:21

Episode 166: TIPS (with Lori-Lee Emshey)

Today, tips on what NOT to do from an expat who is on her 17th expat assignment, Lori-Lee Emshey. Listen to avoid the mistakes people often make when moving to a new place.  NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET SPONSOR: Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the world by sponsoring The Bittersweet Life. Write the at bittersweetlife@mail.com to get the conversation going. JOIN THE CONVERSATION Connect with us on Twitter, Facebook or write us @ bittersweet

Jul 24, 2017 • 37:25

SPARK (with Cat Seto)

Artist Cat Seto completely remade her stationery business after being bullied into a trip to France.  Ferme a Papier (Cat's reborn business)    NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET SPONSOR: Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the world by sponsoring The Bittersweet Life. Write the at bittersweetlife@mail.com to get the conversation going. JOIN THE CONVERSATION Connect with us on Twitter, Facebook or write us @ bittersweetlife@mail.com. ©Web and show

Jul 17, 2017 • 28:42

SUZANNE, Part 2 (with Suzanne Morrison)

Travel changes you, but how much? We trace how hosts Tiffany and Katy have changed through the eyes of their childhood friend, Suzanne Morrison.    NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET SPONSOR: Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the world by sponsoring The Bittersweet Life. Write the at bittersweetlife@mail.com to get the conversation going. JOIN THE CONVERSATION Connect with us on Twitter, Facebook or write us @ bittersweetlife@mail.com. ©Web and sh

Jul 9, 2017 • 41:30

SUZANNE, Part 1 (with Suzanne Morrison)

We explore what makes yoga appealing to some? And what youthful notions of travel are unrealistic?  NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET SPONSOR: Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the world by sponsoring The Bittersweet Life. Write the at bittersweetlife@mail.com to get the conversation going. JOIN THE CONVERSATION Connect with us on Twitter, Facebook or write us @ bittersweetlife@mail.com. ©Web and show content can only be used with written permiss

Jul 3, 2017 • 24:58

ARRIVAL, Part 2

Expat Tiffany Parks returns to her hometown of Seattle after years away (in Rome). This episode is a continuation of last week's episode with special guest, author and old-time friend, Suzanne Morrison.    NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET SPONSOR: Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the world by sponsoring The Bittersweet Life. Write the at bittersweetlife@mail.com to get the conversation going. JOIN THE CONVERSATION Connect with us on Twitter, Fa

Jun 21, 2017 • 29:58

ARRIVAL, Part 1

Host Tiffany Parks arrives in Seattle from Rome, reuniting with co-host Katy and long-time best friend, Suzanne Morrison. The conversation turns into a bit of a praise-fest. Maybe that's what happens when an expat is gone from home for so many years. REMEMBER to send us your voice memos about LONELINESS for an upcoming show. Send them to bittersweetlife@mail.com NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1: OUTSET SPONSOR: Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the wor

Jun 11, 2017 • 27:25

TRIP

Tiffany is heading to the U.S.A after 4 years without visiting her home country. Is her Italian-born toddler ready with enough English to meet his American family?  REMEMBER to send us your voice memos about LONELINESS for an upcoming show. Send them to bittersweetlife@mail.com NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET SPONSOR: Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the world by sponsoring The Bittersweet Life. Write the at bittersweetlife@mail.com to get the

May 30, 2017 • 30:17

SALT (with Hala Alyan)

Hala Alyan is a Palestinian American a poet, novelist (Salt Houses) and clinical psychologist. After her family fled Kuwait when Saddam invaded, they moved a lot! Together we explore storytelling, straddling cultures, loneliness, therapy and what value belongings have when you move constantly. Well, that - and so much more. Hala Alyan Homepage Hala Alyan Poem about Place REMEMBER to send us your voice memos about LONELINESS for an upcoming show. Send them to bittersweetlife@mail.com NEVER HEAR

May 21, 2017 • 46:18

GRIEF

Katy cries over a sudden, devastating loss in her life, and the conversation turns to how to decide what you want out of life. REMEMBER to send us your voice memos about LONELINESS for an upcoming show. Send them to bittersweetlife@mail.com NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET SPONSOR: Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the world by sponsoring The Bittersweet Life. Write the at bittersweetlife@mail.com to get the conversation going. JOIN THE CONVERSA

May 15, 2017 • 32:10

CLARE (with Clare Brown)

Fan favorite Clare Brown joins us from Split, Croatia to talk about Tinder dating in a foreign country, making it as a freelancer, and the hazards of being happy anywhere.  REMEMBER to send us your voice memos about LONELINESS for an upcoming show. Send them to bittersweetlife@mail.com NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET SPONSOR: Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the world by sponsoring The Bittersweet Life. Write the at bittersweetlife@mail.com to

Apr 30, 2017 • 38:58

SIGNS

Have you ever received a sign to do something? Do signs even really exist? Katy and Tiffany share their experiences and yours.  REMEMBER to send us your voice memos about LONELINESS for an upcoming show. Send them to bittersweetlife@mail.com NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET SPONSOR: Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the world by sponsoring The Bittersweet Life. Write the at bittersweetlife@mail.com to get the conversation going. JOIN THE CONVERS

Apr 23, 2017 • 33:13

LONELY

Loneliness. Can it be cured by hitting the road? Katy and Tiffany discuss.  REMEMBER to send us your voice memos about LONELINESS for an upcoming show. Send them to bittersweetlife@mail.com NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET SPONSOR: Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the world by sponsoring The Bittersweet Life. Write the at bittersweetlife@mail.com to get the conversation going. JOIN THE CONVERSATION Connect with us on Twitter, Facebook or write

Apr 16, 2017 • 25:31

MUSE, Part 2

Part two of a rebroadcast of our walking tour through Rome tracing the steps of the painter Caravaggio.    NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET SPONSOR: Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the world by sponsoring The Bittersweet Life. Write the at bittersweetlife@mail.com to get the conversation going. JOIN THE CONVERSATION Connect with us on Twitter, Facebook or write us @ bittersweetlife@mail.com. ©Web and show content can only be used with written

Apr 10, 2017 • 20:12

MUSE, Part 1

A rebroadcast of our walking tour through Rome tracing the steps of the painter Caravaggio.  NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET SPONSOR: Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the world by sponsoring The Bittersweet Life. Write the at bittersweetlife@mail.com to get the conversation going. JOIN THE CONVERSATION Connect with us on Twitter, Facebook or write us @ bittersweetlife@mail.com. ©Web and show content can only be used with written permission.

Apr 2, 2017 • 25:52

COOKING, Part 2 (with Francesca Montillo)

The cooking discussion continues. Katy and Tiffany discuss their own cooking habits in response to last week's episode with Francesca Montillo of Lazy Italian Culinary Adventures. What happens when Italians express love through food, but you don't like to cook? Tiffany tackles that, and makes a great joke about being a mom.  Get cooking using Francesca's Recipe for Chicken Santimbocca Ingredients ½ Cup All-Purpose Flour 4 Thin Chicken Breast Cutlets Salt to Taste 8 Large Sage Leaves 4 Thin Slice

Mar 28, 2017 • 34:03

Episode 152: COOKING Part 2

The cooking discussion continues. Katy and Tiffany discuss their own cooking habits in response to last week's episode with Francesca Montillo of Lazy Italian Culinary Adventures. What happens when Italians express love through food, but you don't like to cook? Tiffany tackles that, and makes a great joke about being a mom. Francesca Montillo's Lazy Italian Culinary Adventures: http://www.thelazyitalian.com/ New to the show? Come along for the whole journey by starting with Episode One: OUTSET

Mar 26, 2017 • 0:34

COOKING, Part 1 (with Francesca Montillo)

Italian expat and cooking expert, Francesca Montillo, inspires us to cook and eat with others daily. She also explains what it is like to grow up in small-town Italy, and move permanently to the United States.    NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET SPONSOR: Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the world by sponsoring The Bittersweet Life. Write the at bittersweetlife@mail.com to get the conversation going. JOIN THE CONVERSATION Connect with us on Twit

Mar 20, 2017 • 31:35

RESIST (with Ezra Levin)

Do expats and American citizens have a responsibility to resist and take action against President Trump? Ezra Levin, co-executive director of the Indivisible guide, drops by. NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET SPONSOR: Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the world by sponsoring The Bittersweet Life. Write the at bittersweetlife@mail.com to get the conversation going. JOIN THE CONVERSATION Connect with us on Twitter, Facebook or write us @ bitterswee

Mar 12, 2017 • 36:31

COFFEE

Starbucks is opening its first Italian location in Milan in 2018. Are you okay with that? Tiffany and Katy discuss the good and bad of homogenized corporate culture spreading throughout the world.  NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET SPONSOR: Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the world by sponsoring The Bittersweet Life. Write the at bittersweetlife@mail.com to get the conversation going. JOIN THE CONVERSATION Connect with us on Twitter, Facebook o

Mar 6, 2017 • 35:37

TIME FLIES (with Alan Burdick)

Why does time fly sometimes? Why does it slow when you travel? We explore time with the New Yorker's Alan Burdick, author of Why Time Flies.  Alan Burdick in The New Yorker New to the show?    NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET SPONSOR: Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the world by sponsoring The Bittersweet Life. Write the at bittersweetlife@mail.com to get the conversation going. JOIN THE CONVERSATION Connect with us on Twitter, Facebook or wri

Feb 26, 2017 • 38:36

SEX (with Emily Witt)

Is part of exploring the world exploring sex? Host Katy Sewall talks with journalist (and former expat) Emily Witt about her book Future Sex. Warning: Sexual content.   NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET SPONSOR: Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the world by sponsoring The Bittersweet Life. Write the at bittersweetlife@mail.com to get the conversation going. JOIN THE CONVERSATION Connect with us on Twitter, Facebook or write us @ bittersweetlife@

Feb 12, 2017 • 33:04

VIEW

How does your perspective change of your hometown when you live abroad or travel? Katy and Tiffany explore that idea.    NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET SPONSOR: Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the world by sponsoring The Bittersweet Life. Write the at bittersweetlife@mail.com to get the conversation going. JOIN THE CONVERSATION Connect with us on Twitter, Facebook or write us @ bittersweetlife@mail.com. ©Web and show content can only be used

Feb 5, 2017 • 33:19

LETTERS

Katy and Tiffany read your letters and encourage you to email stories of the signs you've received in life before changing course or embarking on a new adventure.    NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET SPONSOR: Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the world by sponsoring The Bittersweet Life. Write the at bittersweetlife@mail.com to get the conversation going. JOIN THE CONVERSATION Connect with us on Twitter, Facebook or write us @ bittersweetlife@mai

Jan 29, 2017 • 35:02

TRUMP

Using voice memos, Katy and Tiffany watch the Presidental inauguration of Donald J. Trump from their respective parts of the world - Rome, Italy and Seattle, United States.    NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET SPONSOR: Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the world by sponsoring The Bittersweet Life. Write the at bittersweetlife@mail.com to get the conversation going. JOIN THE CONVERSATION Connect with us on Twitter, Facebook or write us @ bitterswe

Jan 22, 2017 • 31:29

CRITTERS (with Jane Alexander)

Actress and conservationist Jane Alexander (Kramer vs. Kramer) joins host Katy Sewall on stage to explore the world and the amazing creatures in it. Thanks to Town Hall Seattle for hosting this event.    NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET SPONSOR: Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the world by sponsoring The Bittersweet Life. Write the at bittersweetlife@mail.com to get the conversation going. JOIN THE CONVERSATION Connect with us on Twitter, Face

Jan 15, 2017 • 41:19

HAT BOX

We celebrate the dumbest thing we ever traveled with.    NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET SPONSOR: Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the world by sponsoring The Bittersweet Life. Write the at bittersweetlife@mail.com to get the conversation going. JOIN THE CONVERSATION Connect with us on Twitter, Facebook or write us @ bittersweetlife@mail.com. ©Web and show content can only be used with written permission.

Jan 9, 2017 • 35:14

HUMILITY

Does it take humility to live in a foreign country? Tiffany and Katy discuss.    NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET SPONSOR: Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the world by sponsoring The Bittersweet Life. Write the at bittersweetlife@mail.com to get the conversation going. JOIN THE CONVERSATION Connect with us on Twitter, Facebook or write us @ bittersweetlife@mail.com. ©Web and show content can only be used with written permission.

Dec 12, 2016 • 31:46

RAKEEN (with Rakeen Akila)

Rakeen Akila was kidnapped and held for ransom in Afghanistan. Now he's a refugee in Italy. His story is one of amazing resilience and great heartbreak. Come to personally understand our world-wide refugees through one man's experience.    NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET SPONSOR: Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the world by sponsoring The Bittersweet Life. Write the at bittersweetlife@mail.com to get the conversation going. JOIN THE CONVERSAT

Dec 4, 2016 • 26:39

PLACEBO (with Erik Vance)

Why do foreign doctor's offices seem sketchy sometimes? Why are colors brighter when you travel? This has more to do with your brain than reality. Science writer Erik Vance (Book: Suggestible You) joins us to examine the science behind your brain and its perceptions.    NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET SPONSOR: Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the world by sponsoring The Bittersweet Life. Write the at bittersweetlife@mail.com to get the convers

Nov 28, 2016 • 39:33

ELECTION, Part 2

What do Italians think about Trump? Does the country that produced Mussolini and invented fascism fear or support the new US president? Tiffany's Italian boss at Where Rome magazine shares his concerns about the election of Donald Trump, as well as the Brexit vote. NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET SPONSOR: Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the world by sponsoring The Bittersweet Life. Write the at bittersweetlife@mail.com to get the conversation

Nov 22, 2016 • 23:46

ELECTION, Part 1

We capture the raw reaction of Katy and Tiffany to the election of reality TV star/businessman Donald Trump to the U.S. presidency, via voice memos sent across the ocean while it was happening in real time. Warning: There is some swearing in this episode.  -------------------------- NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET SPONSOR: Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the world by sponsoring The Bittersweet Life. Write the at bittersweetlife@mail.com to ge

Nov 13, 2016 • 33:12

VALUES

What if the values you were raised with are different that those of the foreign country you now live in? Should you maintain old cultural values in a new place? Tiffany and Katy discuss.   NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET SPONSOR: Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the world by sponsoring The Bittersweet Life. Write the at bittersweetlife@mail.com to get the conversation going. JOIN THE CONVERSATION Connect with us on Twitter, Facebook or write u

Oct 31, 2016 • 41:22

MOVING, Part 2

Katy moved to Rome once. Does that mean she'd be brave enough to do it again? Are you brave enough to move to a brand new city? Katy and Tiffany use a listener email to kick off the show.    NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET SPONSOR: Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the world by sponsoring The Bittersweet Life. Write the at bittersweetlife@mail.com to get the conversation going. JOIN THE CONVERSATION Connect with us on Twitter, Facebook or write

Oct 23, 2016 • 29:36

CAMINO (with Aarin Wright)

The Camino de Santiago is a popular pilgrimage route across Spain. Our guest Aarin Wright set off on the Camino with her father after finishing University. Was all the walking as rewarding as she hoped?    NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET SPONSOR: Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the world by sponsoring The Bittersweet Life. Write the at bittersweetlife@mail.com to get the conversation going. JOIN THE CONVERSATION Connect with us on Twitter, Fa

Oct 16, 2016 • 29:12

EXCHANGE (with Sunny and Mike Strong)

Sunny Strong studied abroad in Florence in 1963, leaving her boyfriend Mike at home. Now, after 52 years of marriage, they recall how that time changed them. And we listen to reel-to-reel tapes and letters from that time to really capture Italy in 1963.    NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET SPONSOR: Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the world by sponsoring The Bittersweet Life. Write the at bittersweetlife@mail.com to get the conversation going. J

Oct 9, 2016 • 55:55

S.P.Q.R. (with Mary Beard)

Historian Mary Beard talks about her new book S.P.Q.R: A History of Ancient Rome. What parts of ancient Rome are alive in modern Rome? For one - Traffic!    NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET SPONSOR: Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the world by sponsoring The Bittersweet Life. Write the at bittersweetlife@mail.com to get the conversation going. JOIN THE CONVERSATION Connect with us on Twitter, Facebook or write us @ bittersweetlife@mail.com. ©W

Sep 25, 2016 • 47:43

DEAL

Host Tiffany Parks shares a big announcement. Also, Katy and Tiffany explore what it means to live in a temporary place that doesn't feel like home.    NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET SPONSOR: Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the world by sponsoring The Bittersweet Life. Write the at bittersweetlife@mail.com to get the conversation going. JOIN THE CONVERSATION Connect with us on Twitter, Facebook or write us @ bittersweetlife@mail.com. ©Web an

Sep 21, 2016 • 21:13

BOTSWANA (with Sara Sullivan)

We visit Gaborone, Botswana where expat Sara Sullivan moved after living in Pakistan. We talk about misperceptions of Africa, 'staying-in-touch' strategies, and the challenge of deciding where to live when your spouse has a job offer in one country and you have one in another.    NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET SPONSOR: Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the world by sponsoring The Bittersweet Life. Write the at bittersweetlife@mail.com to get t

Sep 11, 2016 • 29:25

SPEECH (with Lisa Wilcox)

We use linguistics and speech pathology to think about learning languages with special guest Lisa Wilcox. Sound boring? Turns out- it is actually really funny.    NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET SPONSOR: Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the world by sponsoring The Bittersweet Life. Write the at bittersweetlife@mail.com to get the conversation going. JOIN THE CONVERSATION Connect with us on Twitter, Facebook or write us @ bittersweetlife@mail.c

Sep 4, 2016 • 31:20

QUAKE

Host Tiffany Parks in Rome reacts to the earthquakes that rocked Italy on August 24, 2016.    NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET SPONSOR: Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the world by sponsoring The Bittersweet Life. Write the at bittersweetlife@mail.com to get the conversation going. JOIN THE CONVERSATION Connect with us on Twitter, Facebook or write us @ bittersweetlife@mail.com. ©Web and show content can only be used with written permission.

Aug 28, 2016 • 22:02

TEARS

If you cry unexpectedly while looking at art, or reading or watching TV, what do those tears mean? Do they indicated buried longings, fears, or loves? Katy and Tiffany discuss.   NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET SPONSOR: Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the world by sponsoring The Bittersweet Life. Write the at bittersweetlife@mail.com to get the conversation going. JOIN THE CONVERSATION Connect with us on Twitter, Facebook or write us @ bitter

Aug 21, 2016 • 32:20

THERAPY

We delve into the archives to get you some free therapy.    NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET SPONSOR: Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the world by sponsoring The Bittersweet Life. Write the at bittersweetlife@mail.com to get the conversation going. JOIN THE CONVERSATION Connect with us on Twitter, Facebook or write us @ bittersweetlife@mail.com. ©Web and show content can only be used with written permission.

Aug 14, 2016 • 27:47

BEGIN

By listener request, we replay the very first episode of the show, which happened over 2 years ago. A perfect opportunity to introduce The Bittersweet Life to your friends. (Please do!)    NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET SPONSOR: Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the world by sponsoring The Bittersweet Life. Write the at bittersweetlife@mail.com to get the conversation going. JOIN THE CONVERSATION Connect with us on Twitter, Facebook or write u

Aug 8, 2016 • 31:26

SHIP (with Nicole Hardy)

Nicole Hardy sailed the world on a 180 ft. square rigged tall ship. Her fantasy idea was rather horrific in reality. As a single woman who takes serious risks, what does it mean to plan a trip that is nothing like you expected?    NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET SPONSOR: Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the world by sponsoring The Bittersweet Life. Write the at bittersweetlife@mail.com to get the conversation going. JOIN THE CONVERSATION Conne

Jul 31, 2016 • 44:54

MOVING, Pat 1

Our hosts say goodbye to their old lives as Tiffany moves out of her Trastevere apartment, and Katy's Seattle home is torn down. They explore life, loss, and the pain and annoyance of moving.    NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET SPONSOR: Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the world by sponsoring The Bittersweet Life. Write the at bittersweetlife@mail.com to get the conversation going. JOIN THE CONVERSATION Connect with us on Twitter, Facebook or w

Jul 25, 2016 • 26:17

ARTISTS (with Rob Spillman)

We visit the artist movement of cold war Germany, then Berlin after the wall comes down with guest Rob Spillman. Rob is editor and co-founder of Tin House, a literary magazine in the USA, and author of the memoir All Tomorrow's Parties. Do artists thrive in historically fraught times? What happens when you are a displaced outsider who becomes an insider? Rob Spillman Homepage Tin House   NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET SPONSOR: Reach thousands of expats and

Jul 17, 2016 • 41:54

WOMAN (with Scottie Madden)

Reality TV director Scottie Madden's journey from man to woman took 50 years. She and her wife Marcy join Katy to talk about how their relationship has changed and grown and what it's like to film in wild places.  Scottie Madden's book Getting Back to Me: From Girl to Boy to Woman in Just Fifty Years NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET SPONSOR: Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the world by sponsoring The Bittersweet Life. Write the at bitterswee

Jul 10, 2016 • 33:31

SETTLER

On July 4th (Independence Day in the USA), many immigrants get their citizenship. In their honor, we rebroadcast the day (host) Tiffany Parks finally became a citizen of Italy. (Other host) Katy Sewall was in Rome to record it, and meet Tiffany's new baby, Aurelio.    NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET SPONSOR: Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the world by sponsoring The Bittersweet Life. Write the at bittersweetlife@mail.com to get the conversat

Jul 4, 2016 • 20:47

WRITING (with Daniel Butterworth)

Writing while traveling. Many of us do it. Professor Daniel Butterworth teaches us how to do it better. Show correction: Ghirlandaio painted the Santa Maria Novella frescoes Dan refers to, not Brunelleschi.    NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET SPONSOR: Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the world by sponsoring The Bittersweet Life. Write the at bittersweetlife@mail.com to get the conversation going. JOIN THE CONVERSATION Connect with us on Twitter

Jun 27, 2016 • 1:00:23

POLITICS

How does being an expat affect your politics? Host Tiffany Parks discovers that her politics in Italy are different from her politics in the United States. Do political views remain changed if you move back to your home country?    NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET SPONSOR: Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the world by sponsoring The Bittersweet Life. Write the at bittersweetlife@mail.com to get the conversation going. JOIN THE CONVERSATION Conn

Jun 19, 2016 • 37:08

CHOICE (with Tom Vanderbilt)

Why do you like what you like? Journalist Tom Vanderbilt joins us to explore how our likes and dislikes are formed. His new book is You May Also Like: Taste in an Age of Endless Choice.   NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET SPONSOR: Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the world by sponsoring The Bittersweet Life. Write the at bittersweetlife@mail.com to get the conversation going. JOIN THE CONVERSATION Connect with us on Twitter, Facebook or write us

Jun 12, 2016 • 42:40

GOALS, Part 3

We share our bucket list goals (and yours!!) as our series on goals concludes with part 3.    NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET SPONSOR: Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the world by sponsoring The Bittersweet Life. Write the at bittersweetlife@mail.com to get the conversation going. JOIN THE CONVERSATION Connect with us on Twitter, Facebook or write us @ bittersweetlife@mail.com. ©Web and show content can only be used with written permission.

Jun 5, 2016 • 42:57

VISUAL (with Amy Herman)

Learn how to keep yourself safer by studying fine art. Our guest, Amy Herman, has trained police, doctors, military and special operatives to see the world in a richer way in art galleries. We offer you her secrets.   NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET SPONSOR: Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the world by sponsoring The Bittersweet Life. Write the at bittersweetlife@mail.com to get the conversation going. JOIN THE CONVERSATION Connect with us on

May 23, 2016 • 37:57

RUINS (with Jess Walters)

Author Jess Walter (National Book Award finalist & winner of the Edgar Allan Poe Award) joins us to talk about his novel Beautiful Ruins. We also talk about writing in a language you don't speak, what it is like to have your writing translated, and how a book forms slowly over 15 years.    NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET SPONSOR: Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the world by sponsoring The Bittersweet Life. Write the at bittersweetlife@mail.co

May 15, 2016 • 31:02

GOALS, Part 2

It feels good to accomplish goals, even tiny, silly ones. Hosts Katy Sewall and Tiffany Parks talk about the goals they've accomplished and those they no longer wish to do. Listen to Goals, Part 1 before this episode.   NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET SPONSOR: Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the world by sponsoring The Bittersweet Life. Write the at bittersweetlife@mail.com to get the conversation going. JOIN THE CONVERSATION Connect with us

May 8, 2016 • 37:28

EXPLORE (with Clare Brown)

Clare Brown recently moved from London, England to Split, Croatia hoping to explore and write. Instead her life is full of new friends, adventure, and very little quiet time. She joins us with her hilarious and insightful impressions of life as a single woman living abroad for the first time.    NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET SPONSOR: Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the world by sponsoring The Bittersweet Life. Write the at bittersweetlife@m

May 1, 2016 • 44:23

GOALS, Part 1

A discussion about "bucket list" wishes turns into all the goals and dreams that will never happen. Not as depressing as it sounds. Or is it? New to the show?    NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET SPONSOR: Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the world by sponsoring The Bittersweet Life. Write the at bittersweetlife@mail.com to get the conversation going. JOIN THE CONVERSATION Connect with us on Twitter, Facebook or write us @ bittersweetlife@mail.co

Apr 24, 2016 • 31:35

PLANTS (with Hope Jarhen)

New York Times best-selling author Hope Jahren, writer of "Lab Girl," changes how we experience the plants of the world. She also tackles the difficulties of being a female scientist and why us laymen feel intimidated by people who study the natural world.  NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET SPONSOR: Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the world by sponsoring The Bittersweet Life. Write the at bittersweetlife@mail.com to get the conversation going

Apr 17, 2016 • 46:50

EYES

Tiffany and Katy describe the sights of Rome and contemplate Katy's death in this rebroadcast of Episode 24. If you've never heard our series on the five senses, don't miss it. Look for Episodes 21-25.    NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET SPONSOR: Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the world by sponsoring The Bittersweet Life. Write the at bittersweetlife@mail.com to get the conversation going. JOIN THE CONVERSATION Connect with us on Twitter, Fac

Apr 10, 2016 • 27:30

DAWN

Tiffany and Katy walk the early morning streets of Rome in this rebroadcast of Episode 44.    NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET SPONSOR: Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the world by sponsoring The Bittersweet Life. Write the at bittersweetlife@mail.com to get the conversation going. JOIN THE CONVERSATION Connect with us on Twitter, Facebook or write us @ bittersweetlife@mail.com. ©Web and show content can only be used with written permission.

Apr 3, 2016 • 31:47

REALITY

Reality always intrudes on fantasy. Is that always a bad thing? Hosts Tiffany Parks and Katy Sewall discuss.    NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET SPONSOR: Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the world by sponsoring The Bittersweet Life. Write the at bittersweetlife@mail.com to get the conversation going. JOIN THE CONVERSATION Connect with us on Twitter, Facebook or write us @ bittersweetlife@mail.com. ©Web and show content can only be used with wri

Mar 27, 2016 • 27:05

FANTASY

How much of life is us trying to fulfill the fantasies of our youth? Hosts Tiffany Parks and Katy Sewall explore this idea.     NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET SPONSOR: Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the world by sponsoring The Bittersweet Life. Write the at bittersweetlife@mail.com to get the conversation going. JOIN THE CONVERSATION Connect with us on Twitter, Facebook or write us @ bittersweetlife@mail.com. ©Web and show content can only

Mar 20, 2016 • 29:25

FOLKS (with Rashmi J. Dalai)

The stereotype is that when a child moves to another country, parents are depressed. But is that true? We explore the notion with Singapore-based writer Rashmi J. Dalai.    NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET SPONSOR: Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the world by sponsoring The Bittersweet Life. Write the at bittersweetlife@mail.com to get the conversation going. JOIN THE CONVERSATION Connect with us on Twitter, Facebook or write us @ bittersweetl

Mar 13, 2016 • 28:01

GUILT (with Jessica Scott-Reid)

Expats often feel guilt. What happens when you should go home, but don't? Guest Jessica Scott-Reid (Wall Street Journal Expat Blog) joins hosts Katy Sewall and Tiffany Parks to talk about it.    NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET SPONSOR: Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the world by sponsoring The Bittersweet Life. Write the at bittersweetlife@mail.com to get the conversation going. JOIN THE CONVERSATION Connect with us on Twitter, Facebook or w

Mar 6, 2016 • 29:25

CIRCUS (with Andrea Conway and Wayne Doba)

Circus performers often become travelers and expats because of their work. Host Katy Sewall visits Teatro Zinzanni (Seattle's circus/dinner theater) to meet Andrea Conway and Wayne Doba, a married couple who specialize in comedy, tap dance and acrobatics.   NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET SPONSOR: Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the world by sponsoring The Bittersweet Life. Write the at bittersweetlife@mail.com to get the conversation going.

Feb 28, 2016 • 36:58

DESIGN (with Rebecca West)

Expats often live in spaces decorated by other people. Interior designer, Rebecca West, shares some ideas on how to make anywhere feel like home. NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET SPONSOR: Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the world by sponsoring The Bittersweet Life. Write the at bittersweetlife@mail.com to get the conversation going. JOIN THE CONVERSATION Connect with us on Twitter, Facebook or write us @ bittersweetlife@mail.com. RESOURCES:

Feb 22, 2016 • 25:27

ROOTS

When Tiffany's husband Claudio takes a photo with the Karate coach of his youth, Tiffany realizes that by being an expat, her life has no continuity. She can't revisit old teachers and places. How important is a sense of continuity when it comes to life? Hosts Katy Sewall and Tiffany Parks explore the idea.    NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET SPONSOR: Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the world by sponsoring The Bittersweet Life. Write the at bi

Feb 14, 2016 • 21:16

MILESTONE

Hosts Katy Sewall and Tiffany Parks mark the 100th episode by talking about milestones.   NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET SPONSOR: Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the world by sponsoring The Bittersweet Life. Write the at bittersweetlife@mail.com to get the conversation going. JOIN THE CONVERSATION Connect with us on Twitter, Facebook or write us @ bittersweetlife@mail.com. ©Web and show content can only be used with written permission.

Feb 7, 2016 • 26:26

EVICTED

Host Katy Sewall is greeted by sad news when she returns to Seattle from Rome. Host Tiffany Parks is also facing new restrictions on her life. Does it pay to return home?    NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET SPONSOR: Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the world by sponsoring The Bittersweet Life. Write the at bittersweetlife@mail.com to get the conversation going. JOIN THE CONVERSATION Connect with us on Twitter, Facebook or write us @ bittersweet

Jan 31, 2016 • 22:11

BYE

It's time for Katy to leave Rome... again. Tiffany and Katy say goodbye and marvel at how unpredictable life and time can be.    NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET SPONSOR: Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the world by sponsoring The Bittersweet Life. Write the at bittersweetlife@mail.com to get the conversation going. JOIN THE CONVERSATION Connect with us on Twitter, Facebook or write us @ bittersweetlife@mail.com. ©Web and show content can only

Jan 24, 2016 • 19:14

NATIVE? (with Marta Nathansohn)

What is it like to feel like a foreigner in your native country? Italian citizen Marta Nathansohn has lived abroad much of her life. Now in Rome, she's having trouble fitting in. She joins Katy and Tiffany to tell her story.   NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET SPONSOR: Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the world by sponsoring The Bittersweet Life. Write the at bittersweetlife@mail.com to get the conversation going. JOIN THE CONVERSATION Connect w

Jan 17, 2016 • 29:03

PRIESTESS (with Kate McElwee)

Feminist activist and new expat to Rome, Kate McElwee, visits Katy and Tiffany to talk about her fight for women's ordination in the Catholic church and the heartache of being robbed your first week overseas.    NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET SPONSOR: Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the world by sponsoring The Bittersweet Life. Write the at bittersweetlife@mail.com to get the conversation going. JOIN THE CONVERSATION Connect with us on Twitt

Jan 10, 2016 • 36:11

IMMIGRANT

Hear the harrowing story of Rakeen, a refugee to Rome, Italy from Kabul, Afghanistan. Unbelievable! It might just change how you view asylum seekers. We also encourage you to explore the links below. Refuges to Rome need support and their stories heard. Joel Nafuma Refugee Center in Rome Paul's Place Project in Rome (Facebook page)   NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET SPONSOR: Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the world by sponsoring The Bitterswe

Jan 4, 2016 • 26:08

NATALE

Hosts Katy Sewall and Tiffany Parks get ready for the holidays.    NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET SPONSOR: Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the world by sponsoring The Bittersweet Life. Write the at bittersweetlife@mail.com to get the conversation going. JOIN THE CONVERSATION Connect with us on Twitter, Facebook or write us @ bittersweetlife@mail.com. ©Web and show content can only be used with written permission.

Dec 20, 2015 • 14:05

TRAST

Hosts Tiffany Parks and Katy Sewall take you on a walking tour of Trastevere, their favorite neighborhood in Rome.    NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET SPONSOR: Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the world by sponsoring The Bittersweet Life. Write the at bittersweetlife@mail.com to get the conversation going. JOIN THE CONVERSATION Connect with us on Twitter, Facebook or write us @ bittersweetlife@mail.com. ©Web and show content can only be used wi

Dec 13, 2015 • 37:49

MOMS

Hosts Katy Sewall and Tiffany Parks meet Katy's expat friend, Cassi Griesbach, at an outdoor cafe in Rome. Cassi is a mother of three, currently expecting a 4th. She gives new mom, Tiffany, some much needed advice.    NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET SPONSOR: Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the world by sponsoring The Bittersweet Life. Write the at bittersweetlife@mail.com to get the conversation going. JOIN THE CONVERSATION Connect with us on

Dec 6, 2015 • 38:54

MAFIA (with Ugo Barbara)

Journalist Ugo Barbara joins host Katy Sewall to talk about Italian mobsters, the Roma (aka gypsies), sexual slavery in Italy, and immigration issues. They also explore why Berlusconi came to power and why Ugo was Katy's only Italian friend while living abroad.    NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET SPONSOR: Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the world by sponsoring The Bittersweet Life. Write the at bittersweetlife@mail.com to get the conversation

Nov 29, 2015 • 35:45

INFLUENCE

Movies and books can have a big influence on personal actions. Some even inspire a move to a foreign country. What art influenced you? Hosts Tiffany Parks and Katy Sewall share their personal picks.   NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET SPONSOR: Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the world by sponsoring The Bittersweet Life. Write the at bittersweetlife@mail.com to get the conversation going. JOIN THE CONVERSATION Connect with us on Twitter, Faceboo

Nov 22, 2015 • 31:23

MISSING

Missing important events and people is part of living abroad or traveling a lot. Host Katy Sewall missed her 20 year high school reunion to visit Rome. Now she is feeling regretful. Together, Tiffany and Katy reflect on the difficult life choices expats make.    NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET SPONSOR: Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the world by sponsoring The Bittersweet Life. Write the at bittersweetlife@mail.com to get the conversation go

Nov 15, 2015 • 26:57

BLOOD (with Marsha De Salvatore)

Comedian Marsha De Salvatore brings humor to a discussion on living abroad with a serious blood disease. We also touch on socialized health care systems, modern day dating, comedy and the differences between American and Italian women.    NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET SPONSOR: Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the world by sponsoring The Bittersweet Life. Write the at bittersweetlife@mail.com to get the conversation going. JOIN THE CONVERSATI

Nov 8, 2015 • 50:56

SHARING

A conversation about sharing (something expats often have to do) takes a darker turn. Host Tiffany explains what's like to live with a stalker. Katy and Tiffany also explore the difficultly of revealing who you are to the world.    NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET SPONSOR: Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the world by sponsoring The Bittersweet Life. Write the at bittersweetlife@mail.com to get the conversation going. JOIN THE CONVERSATION Conn

Nov 1, 2015 • 31:07

BIRTH

Host Tiffany Parks takes you inside the realities of giving birth in Italy... or really... giving birth anywhere.  Additional Resources:  Touring Rome with Kids? Let Tiffany help. Web Baby Shower-- easy virtual baby showers Listen to more: How to have a home birth in Rome. NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET SPONSOR: Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the world by sponsoring The Bittersweet Life. Write the at bittersweetlife@mail.com to get the co

Oct 25, 2015 • 21:11

PARK

Host Katy Sewall and her husband Derek kick back in the Villa Borghese park to reflect on being back in Rome. While there, they are visited by Abdul, a immigrant from Bangladesh with roses to sell.    NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET SPONSOR: Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the world by sponsoring The Bittersweet Life. Write the at bittersweetlife@mail.com to get the conversation going. JOIN THE CONVERSATION Connect with us on Twitter, Faceboo

Oct 18, 2015 • 29:40

CITIZEN

Hosts Tiffany Parks and Katy Sewall are together again in Rome, Italy on a very special day. Listen as Tiffany finally gets her Italian citizenship.    NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET SPONSOR: Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the world by sponsoring The Bittersweet Life. Write the at bittersweetlife@mail.com to get the conversation going. JOIN THE CONVERSATION Connect with us on Twitter, Facebook or write us @ bittersweetlife@mail.com. ©Web an

Oct 11, 2015 • 19:52

SHERMAN (with Sherman Alexie)

Native American author Sherman Alexie joins Katy Sewall live on stage with veteran NPR host Steve Scher to talk about urban animal encounters. A longer episode that will delight those who love great storytelling and the creatures in our midst. Contains explicit language. NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET SPONSOR: Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the world by sponsoring The Bittersweet Life. Write the at bittersweetlife@mail.com to get the conver

Oct 4, 2015 • 1:41:32

DIVORCE (with Debra Bruno)

Do expat couples divorce more than other couples? They certainly face different challenges. Writer and former expat, Debra Bruno joins us to talk about her article "Divorce Global Style: For Expat Marriages, Breaking Up is Harder to Do" which appeared on the Wall Street Journal Expat Blog.   NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET SPONSOR: Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the world by sponsoring The Bittersweet Life. Write the at bittersweetlife@mail.

Sep 27, 2015 • 20:32

CHEF (with Thierry Rautureau)

Celebrity chef, Thierry Rautureau (aka The Chef in the Hat), grew up small town France grilling bread over an open flame. Now he's a big shot chef in Seattle. He joins us with advice for home cooks and insight into our changing attitudes towards eating out. Taped before a live studio audience at Cafe Nordo in Seattle. Warning: This show contains explicit language.   NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET SPONSOR: Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the

Sep 20, 2015 • 1:02:45

MOVIES (with Robert Horton)

Robert Horton is a film critic and temporary expat living in Scotland for six months. What movies inspired him to move abroad? How do movies influence our view of the world? Why are blockbusters aimed exclusively at teenagers?   NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET SPONSOR: Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the world by sponsoring The Bittersweet Life. Write the at bittersweetlife@mail.com to get the conversation going. JOIN THE CONVERSATION Connect

Sep 13, 2015 • 27:21

REFUGEE, Part 1 (with Jennifer Rumbach)

Jennifer Rumbach works with refugees all over the world. Lately her focus has been on the special needs of LGBTI refugees. She joins host Katy Sewall before a live studio audience for a funny and fascinating conversation that goes from Ghana, to Iraq, to the earthquake in Nepal.   NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET SPONSOR: Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the world by sponsoring The Bittersweet Life. Write the at bittersweetlife@mail.com to get

Sep 6, 2015 • 1:06:57

HOUSE-SIT (with Dalene Heck)

One cheap way to travel is to housesit along the way. Find out how to go to your desired destination while saving money. Dalene Heck of Hecktic Travels joins us with tips.   NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET SPONSOR: Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the world by sponsoring The Bittersweet Life. Write the at bittersweetlife@mail.com to get the conversation going. JOIN THE CONVERSATION Connect with us on Twitter, Facebook or write us @ bittersweet

Aug 30, 2015 • 25:12

CIAO

Tiffany's baby is due. We say goodbye to her (temporarily) and hear her final thoughts on becoming a parent. We also find out if she's picked a name for her baby boy yet.   NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET SPONSOR: Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the world by sponsoring The Bittersweet Life. Write the at bittersweetlife@mail.com to get the conversation going. JOIN THE CONVERSATION Connect with us on Twitter, Facebook or write us @ bittersweetl

Aug 23, 2015 • 30:52

BOOKS (with Nancy Pearl)

Armchair travel! Reading can take you anywhere. Today we recommend books that transport you. NPR's Nancy Pearl is famous for giving the best book recommendations. She gives us her selections for the best armchair travel books.   NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET SPONSOR: Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the world by sponsoring The Bittersweet Life. Write the at bittersweetlife@mail.com to get the conversation going. JOIN THE CONVERSATION Connect

Aug 16, 2015 • 27:28

GUEST

Part of traveling is being a guest in other people's homes. Can you relax or are you always trying to be the perfect guest? Tiffany's been living with her in-laws to escape Rome's incredible summer heat. How is staying with family different from friends?   NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET SPONSOR: Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the world by sponsoring The Bittersweet Life. Write the at bittersweetlife@mail.com to get the conversation going. J

Aug 9, 2015 • 18:17

NEW

Trying new things is a big part of traveling or living in a foreign country. It's also a way to get to know yourself. Tiffany and Katy muse about newness.   NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET SPONSOR: Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the world by sponsoring The Bittersweet Life. Write the at bittersweetlife@mail.com to get the conversation going. JOIN THE CONVERSATION Connect with us on Twitter, Facebook or write us @ bittersweetlife@mail.com. ©W

Aug 2, 2015 • 20:55

INVISIBLE (with Surekha A. Yadav)

Some expats are invisible. They look like they are native in their adopted country. That can be positive and negative. We explore how with writer and expat Surekha A. Yadav who wrote the article "What's It Like to Be an Invisible Expat" for the Wall Street Journal's Expat Blog.    NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET SPONSOR: Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the world by sponsoring The Bittersweet Life. Write the at bittersweetlife@mail.com to get

Jul 26, 2015 • 25:49

ADDICT (with Rashmi Dalai)

What makes the expat lifestyle so addictive? Rashmi Dalai, an American writer in Asia, explores that question with host Katy Sewall.    NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET SPONSOR: Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the world by sponsoring The Bittersweet Life. Write the at bittersweetlife@mail.com to get the conversation going. JOIN THE CONVERSATION Connect with us on Twitter, Facebook or write us @ bittersweetlife@mail.com. ©Web and show content c

Jul 19, 2015 • 27:55

WEATHER

It is so hot in Rome and Seattle, it is all people can talk about. How much does weather dictate where you live in the world? Expats on assignment don't get to choose what climate to live in sometimes. What does that mean for their lives?    NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET SPONSOR: Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the world by sponsoring The Bittersweet Life. Write the at bittersweetlife@mail.com to get the conversation going. JOIN THE CONVERS

Jul 12, 2015 • 27:47

UPDATE

Tiffany updates us on Rome, her baby and the inappropriate things people are saying to her lately. Katy talks about her upcoming live performance in Seattle and the mysterious illness of her co-worker, Gil.    NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET SPONSOR: Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the world by sponsoring The Bittersweet Life. Write the at bittersweetlife@mail.com to get the conversation going. JOIN THE CONVERSATION Connect with us on Twitter

Jul 5, 2015 • 31:13

GROUP TRIP (with Madeline Jhawar)

Planning a multi-generational trip isn't easy. Taking that trip is also stressful if you do it wrong. Madeline Jhawar from Italy Beyond the Obvious gives us advice. We'll also explore the difference between people who love trip planning and those who don't.    NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET SPONSOR: Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the world by sponsoring The Bittersweet Life. Write the at bittersweetlife@mail.com to get the conversation goin

Jun 28, 2015 • 26:03

RED TAPE

Every country has bureaucracy. Part of living in a new country is learning the hoops to jump through. Host Tiffany Parks has been dealing with a lot of process. What has she learned?    NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET SPONSOR: Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the world by sponsoring The Bittersweet Life. Write the at bittersweetlife@mail.com to get the conversation going. JOIN THE CONVERSATION Connect with us on Twitter, Facebook or write us @

Jun 21, 2015 • 21:44

CROW GIFTS (with Gabi Mann)

Crows regularly bring gifts to 8-year-old, Gabi Mann. What is she doing right? Listen to a magical tale centered on a hilarious girl and her winged friends.   NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET SPONSOR: Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the world by sponsoring The Bittersweet Life. Write the at bittersweetlife@mail.com to get the conversation going. JOIN THE CONVERSATION Connect with us on Twitter, Facebook or write us @ bittersweetlife@mail.com.

Jun 14, 2015 • 7:42

REPAT, Part 2 (with Maria Foley)

We further explore the difficulties of repatriating with Maria Foley, the blogger behind I was an Expat Wife. She conducted a survey of former expats to discover what struggles they faced coming home. We discuss what she found.    NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET SPONSOR: Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the world by sponsoring The Bittersweet Life. Write the at bittersweetlife@mail.com to get the conversation going. JOIN THE CONVERSATION Conne

Jun 7, 2015 • 35:42

ROME

Planning a trip to Rome? We offer practical tips and hidden gems to make your vacation great.    NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET SPONSOR: Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the world by sponsoring The Bittersweet Life. Write the at bittersweetlife@mail.com to get the conversation going. JOIN THE CONVERSATION Connect with us on Twitter, Facebook or write us @ bittersweetlife@mail.com. ©Web and show content can only be used with written permission

Jun 1, 2015 • 23:17

REPAT, Part 1 (with Debra Bruno)

Repatriating is hard. Going home can lead to depression, isolation and wistfulness. Debra Bruno, freelance journalist for the Wall Street Journal, joins us to talk about her article Repatriation Blues: Expats Struggle with the Dark Side of Coming Home. Host Katy Sewall shares her own depression and struggles.    NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET SPONSOR: Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the world by sponsoring The Bittersweet Life. Write the at

May 24, 2015 • 31:28

LANGUAGE, Part 3 (with J J Michael)

How did you learn a foreign language? Our guest JJ Michael learned Thai from math text books. We explore how language is best learned and the expat life in Thailand.    NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET SPONSOR: Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the world by sponsoring The Bittersweet Life. Write the at bittersweetlife@mail.com to get the conversation going. JOIN THE CONVERSATION Connect with us on Twitter, Facebook or write us @ bittersweetlife@

May 17, 2015 • 33:16

LABELS (with Mawuna Remarque Koutonin)

Is "expat" a term reserved for white westerners? Are all other races immigrants? That's the argument put forth by writer and activist Mawuna Remarque Koutonin. Today we debate that notion with special guest Keith Cooke.    NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET SPONSOR: Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the world by sponsoring The Bittersweet Life. Write the at bittersweetlife@mail.com to get the conversation going. JOIN THE CONVERSATION Connect with

May 10, 2015 • 33:33

BABIES

Tiffany is expecting a son. What does that mean for her career? How common are stay-at-home dads in Italy? How does Italian maternity leave compare to what she would have received in the United States? Does a Catholic country revere mothers in a way others countries don't?    NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET SPONSOR: Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the world by sponsoring The Bittersweet Life. Write the at bittersweetlife@mail.com to get the c

May 3, 2015 • 24:24

SOCIAL (with Jessica Spiegel and Pam Mandel)

Social media. Do you need it to be successful in the modern world? Is Twitter like a bar or a billboard? Guests Jessica Spiegel of Italy Explained and Pam Mandel of Nerd's Eye View join us.    NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET SPONSOR: Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the world by sponsoring The Bittersweet Life. Write the at bittersweetlife@mail.com to get the conversation going. JOIN THE CONVERSATION Connect with us on Twitter, Facebook or wri

Apr 27, 2015 • 29:09

BIG NEWS

Big news on the show today. Things are about to change - for one of us, at least.    NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET SPONSOR: Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the world by sponsoring The Bittersweet Life. Write the at bittersweetlife@mail.com to get the conversation going. JOIN THE CONVERSATION Connect with us on Twitter, Facebook or write us @ bittersweetlife@mail.com. ©Web and show content can only be used with written permission.

Apr 19, 2015 • 20:08

HOME BASE (with Jessica Spiegel and Pam Mandel)

Freelance writers Jessica Spiegel (Italy Explained) and Pam Mandel (Nerd's Eye View) join us to discuss travel-writing, working from home, and not loving overseas living.    NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET SPONSOR: Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the world by sponsoring The Bittersweet Life. Write the at bittersweetlife@mail.com to get the conversation going. JOIN THE CONVERSATION Connect with us on Twitter, Facebook or write us @ bittersweet

Apr 12, 2015 • 29:06

POMPEII

Katy visits "Pompeii: The Exhibition" with her husband Derek. This leads to a discussion on why we are so attracted to the tragic story of Pompeii, and how many years must pass before tragedy turns into gift shop kitsch.    NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET SPONSOR: Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the world by sponsoring The Bittersweet Life. Write the at bittersweetlife@mail.com to get the conversation going. JOIN THE CONVERSATION Connect with

Apr 5, 2015 • 30:17

MUSEUM

What mistakes do museum visitors make? Tiffany Parks gives tips to make your museum visit more enjoyable. We also debate which is better, taking pictures of everything or putting the camera away and living in the moment?    NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET SPONSOR: Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the world by sponsoring The Bittersweet Life. Write the at bittersweetlife@mail.com to get the conversation going. JOIN THE CONVERSATION Connect with

Mar 29, 2015 • 24:30

ZONES

Living in a different time zone than your family and friends can change relationships. Katy Sewall and Tiffany Parks explore how, and that leads to a discussion on irrational fears.    NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET SPONSOR: Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the world by sponsoring The Bittersweet Life. Write the at bittersweetlife@mail.com to get the conversation going. JOIN THE CONVERSATION Connect with us on Twitter, Facebook or write us @

Mar 25, 2015 • 24:54

FLIGHTY (with John Wynn)

A common stereotype about expats is they're maladjusted and running from real life. Is that true? Host Katy Sewall speaks with psychiatrist and former expat, John Wynn, about it, and host Tiffany Parks shares her own story.   NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET SPONSOR: Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the world by sponsoring The Bittersweet Life. Write the at bittersweetlife@mail.com to get the conversation going. JOIN THE CONVERSATION Connect wi

Mar 15, 2015 • 25:46

FLUX (with John Wynn)

Life is full of major transitions. For host Katy Sewall, moving to Rome then back to Seattle has been hard. She speaks with psychiatrist and former expat, John Wynn, about why change is tough and how to do transitions well.    NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET SPONSOR: Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the world by sponsoring The Bittersweet Life. Write the at bittersweetlife@mail.com to get the conversation going. JOIN THE CONVERSATION Connect w

Mar 8, 2015 • 26:49

ANIMALS (with Andrew Blechman and Clark and Evalea Beck)

Travelers and expats often encounter animals. From the humble, common pigeon to a monkey or a great white shark. Today we share animal stories from all over the world. Special guest stars: Andrew Blechman, author of Pigeons: The Fascinating Saga of the World's Most Revered and Reviled Bird and Clark and Evalea Beck, pigeon rescuers.   NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET SPONSOR: Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the world by sponsoring The Bittersw

Mar 1, 2015 • 26:08

CROWS (with Gabi Mann)

Gabi (age 8) regularly feeds crows and they bring her shiny things in return. Katy's story about Gabi was instantly viral. Hear Gabi as she shows host Katy Sewall her crow-gift collection. We'll also discover why crows give gifts and how you can earn gifts too! Show guests: Gabi Mann, her mother Lisa, John Marzluff (corvid expert), Tony Angell (artist, crow imitator)   NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET SPONSOR: Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over t

Feb 22, 2015 • 24:09

HOME

For travelers and expats, what feels like home changes sometimes. Katy Sewall and Tiffany Parks share their experience with home and homesickness.    NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET SPONSOR: Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the world by sponsoring The Bittersweet Life. Write the at bittersweetlife@mail.com to get the conversation going. JOIN THE CONVERSATION Connect with us on Twitter, Facebook or write us @ bittersweetlife@mail.com. ©Web and

Feb 15, 2015 • 25:01

TIME

Time can seem long or short, important or boring, precious or fleeting. Why do some experiences stay vivid while others seem so long ago? Tiffany and Katy explore how time plays with memories.    NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET SPONSOR: Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the world by sponsoring The Bittersweet Life. Write the at bittersweetlife@mail.com to get the conversation going. JOIN THE CONVERSATION Connect with us on Twitter, Facebook or

Feb 8, 2015 • 33:45

FREELANCE

Expats are often freelancers. Writers, artists, tour guides, radio reporters. Katy and Tiffany talk about the difficulties of freelancing and appeal to you for help.    NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET SPONSOR: Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the world by sponsoring The Bittersweet Life. Write the at bittersweetlife@mail.com to get the conversation going. JOIN THE CONVERSATION Connect with us on Twitter, Facebook or write us @ bittersweetlife@

Feb 1, 2015 • 38:40

CONTRAST

Parts of American culture seem strange after a year living as an expat in Italy. Katy and Tiffany talk about the cultural oddities that stand out after living abroad.    NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET SPONSOR: Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the world by sponsoring The Bittersweet Life. Write the at bittersweetlife@mail.com to get the conversation going. JOIN THE CONVERSATION Connect with us on Twitter, Facebook or write us @ bittersweetlife

Jan 25, 2015 • 31:40

GOODBYE

Katy's last morning arrives. Tiffany and Katy spend their final moments together before Katy is no longer an expat. Taped during Katy's final 20 minutes in Rome.    NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET SPONSOR: Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the world by sponsoring The Bittersweet Life. Write the at bittersweetlife@mail.com to get the conversation going. JOIN THE CONVERSATION Connect with us on Twitter, Facebook or write us @ bittersweetlife@mail

Jan 18, 2015 • 25:43

LEAVING

Moving home after living as an expat isn't an easy thing to go. Tiffany and Katy lament Katy's imminent departure from Rome and discuss the joys and difficulties that lie ahead.    NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET SPONSOR: Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the world by sponsoring The Bittersweet Life. Write the at bittersweetlife@mail.com to get the conversation going. JOIN THE CONVERSATION Connect with us on Twitter, Facebook or write us @ bitt

Jan 11, 2015 • 30:08

MORNING

Listen as the city of Rome comes alive. Tiffany picks up Katy at dawn, when only garbage men and birds move about.   NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET SPONSOR: Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the world by sponsoring The Bittersweet Life. Write the at bittersweetlife@mail.com to get the conversation going. JOIN THE CONVERSATION Connect with us on Twitter, Facebook or write us @ bittersweetlife@mail.com. ©Web and show content can only be used wit

Jan 4, 2015 • 30:38

CARAVAGGIO, Part 2

We retrace the steps of the painter Caravaggio who walked the streets of Rome in the late 1500s. We examine his artistic genius and murderous temper while looking at his painting "Madonna di Loreto." (Listen to "Part 1" first.)   NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET SPONSOR: Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the world by sponsoring The Bittersweet Life. Write the at bittersweetlife@mail.com to get the conversation going. JOIN THE CONVERSATION Connec

Dec 14, 2014 • 19:39

CARAVAGGIO, Part 1

The painter Caravaggio walked the streets of Rome in the late 1500s. Today we retrace his steps, examining his artistic genius and murderous temper. Listen to Part 2 for the conclusion.    NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET SPONSOR: Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the world by sponsoring The Bittersweet Life. Write the at bittersweetlife@mail.com to get the conversation going. JOIN THE CONVERSATION Connect with us on Twitter, Facebook or write u

Dec 14, 2014 • 24:00

COMPLAIN

When can an expat legitimately complain about the country they elected to live in? Tiffany and Katy wonder if complaining only for natives and immigrants?    NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET SPONSOR: Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the world by sponsoring The Bittersweet Life. Write the at bittersweetlife@mail.com to get the conversation going. JOIN THE CONVERSATION Connect with us on Twitter, Facebook or write us @ bittersweetlife@mail.com. ©

Dec 7, 2014 • 19:34

FRIENDS

Are long term expats unwilling to make friends with short term expats? Also, when you live abroad, is a big part of friendship saying goodbye?    NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET SPONSOR: Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the world by sponsoring The Bittersweet Life. Write the at bittersweetlife@mail.com to get the conversation going. JOIN THE CONVERSATION Connect with us on Twitter, Facebook or write us @ bittersweetlife@mail.com. ©Web and show

Nov 30, 2014 • 20:41

MEMORY

Tiffany and Katy muse on how memories are formed, recorded, erased and Facebooked.   NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET SPONSOR: Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the world by sponsoring The Bittersweet Life. Write the at bittersweetlife@mail.com to get the conversation going. JOIN THE CONVERSATION Connect with us on Twitter, Facebook or write us @ bittersweetlife@mail.com. ©Web and show content can only be used with written permission.

Nov 23, 2014 • 27:42

STUDENT (with Peter Dziedzic)

Students often travel abroad for extended periods of time. Does that make them expats? Our guest, student Peter Dziedzic, says no though he hasn't been home in years.   NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET SPONSOR: Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the world by sponsoring The Bittersweet Life. Write the at bittersweetlife@mail.com to get the conversation going. JOIN THE CONVERSATION Connect with us on Twitter, Facebook or write us @ bittersweetlife@

Nov 16, 2014 • 22:07

RETIRE (with Rose and Wayne Wentz)

What planning does it take to retire overseas? Can the average person do it? Rose and Wayne Wentz retired to Rome from Seattle. They pass on their practical and helpful advice.   NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET SPONSOR: Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the world by sponsoring The Bittersweet Life. Write the at bittersweetlife@mail.com to get the conversation going. JOIN THE CONVERSATION Connect with us on Twitter, Facebook or write us @ bitter

Nov 9, 2014 • 29:33

ALIEN

Are expats people who feel alien in their native country? Tiffany and Katy explore the feeling of "otherness" and the differences between an expatriate and an immigrant.   NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET SPONSOR: Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the world by sponsoring The Bittersweet Life. Write the at bittersweetlife@mail.com to get the conversation going. JOIN THE CONVERSATION Connect with us on Twitter, Facebook or write us @ bittersweetli

Nov 2, 2014 • 22:31

TRANSLATE

Tiffany is bilingual and that means translating for others. It can be tiring, but it also gives her power. Has she been editing Katy's speech this whole time?   NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET SPONSOR: Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the world by sponsoring The Bittersweet Life. Write the at bittersweetlife@mail.com to get the conversation going. JOIN THE CONVERSATION Connect with us on Twitter, Facebook or write us @ bittersweetlife@mail.com

Oct 26, 2014 • 23:55

VENTURE (with Toni DeBella)

Moving abroad isn't exclusively for students or childless people. It's an adventure for all ages. Toni DeBella moved to Orvieto, Italy once her son was grown, proving that new dreams can always be made.   NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET SPONSOR: Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the world by sponsoring The Bittersweet Life. Write the at bittersweetlife@mail.com to get the conversation going. JOIN THE CONVERSATION Connect with us on Twitter, Fac

Oct 19, 2014 • 21:31

PARENTS (with Linda Martinez and Steve Brenner)

Meet two parents who boldly moved abroad with a dream rather than a plan.    NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET SPONSOR: Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the world by sponsoring The Bittersweet Life. Write the at bittersweetlife@mail.com to get the conversation going. JOIN THE CONVERSATION Connect with us on Twitter, Facebook or write us @ bittersweetlife@mail.com. ©Web and show content can only be used with written permission.

Oct 12, 2014 • 31:11

KIDS

We meet three American girls in Orvieto, Italy. Giulia (age 13), Paloma (age 11), and Viola (age 8) have been expats their whole lives. How do they view the United States from afar? Do they feel like they fit in with the local kids their age?   NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET SPONSOR: Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the world by sponsoring The Bittersweet Life. Write the at bittersweetlife@mail.com to get the conversation going. JOIN THE CONV

Oct 5, 2014 • 23:45

TRAIN

Train travel is a romantic. Is train travel even better if you record an episode of The Bittersweet Life on the trip? You be the judge.   NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET SPONSOR: Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the world by sponsoring The Bittersweet Life. Write the at bittersweetlife@mail.com to get the conversation going. JOIN THE CONVERSATION Connect with us on Twitter, Facebook or write us @ bittersweetlife@mail.com. ©Web and show content

Oct 3, 2014 • 31:02

COMEDY, Part 2 (with Marsha De Salvatore)

Our discussion on comedy continues with this bonus episode. Drunkenness, ESL, and expat cliches are on the table. Our guest, comedian Marsha De Salvatore, runs Rome's Comedy Club. Note: If you haven't heard Episode 29, listen to that first.   NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET SPONSOR: Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the world by sponsoring The Bittersweet Life. Write the at bittersweetlife@mail.com to get the conversation going. JOIN THE CONVER

Sep 21, 2014 • 29:31

COMEDY, Part 1 (with Marsha De Salvatore)

What people find funny varies from country to country. Comedian Marsha De Salvatore drops by to make us laugh and dissect why we're laughing. You might be funnier in another culture. Did you even think of that?   NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET SPONSOR: Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the world by sponsoring The Bittersweet Life. Write the at bittersweetlife@mail.com to get the conversation going. JOIN THE CONVERSATION Connect with us on Twit

Sep 21, 2014 • 29:31

HOSPITAL

Not all medical systems are created equal. Expats often find that out unexpectedly -- like Katy did after giving herself a concussion.   NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET SPONSOR: Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the world by sponsoring The Bittersweet Life. Write the at bittersweetlife@mail.com to get the conversation going. JOIN THE CONVERSATION Connect with us on Twitter, Facebook or write us @ bittersweetlife@mail.com. ©Web and show content

Sep 14, 2014 • 30:22

UNSURE (with Amy Knauff)

Expat Amy has lived overseas since college. First in Italy, then in Nicaragua, then back to Italy. All year she's been planning to return to the United States but she never leaves. Do long term expats lose their sense of truly belonging anywhere?   NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET SPONSOR: Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the world by sponsoring The Bittersweet Life. Write the at bittersweetlife@mail.com to get the conversation going. JOIN THE

Sep 7, 2014 • 34:28

MINORITY

Moving abroad often means becoming a "minority." For many travelers, this is a new experience. Tiffany, Katy and Katy's husband Derek discuss an eye-opening aspect of becoming an expats.   NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET SPONSOR: Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the world by sponsoring The Bittersweet Life. Write the at bittersweetlife@mail.com to get the conversation going. JOIN THE CONVERSATION Connect with us on Twitter, Facebook or write u

Aug 31, 2014 • 20:55

TOUCH

Our series on the five senses wraps up with touch/feel. What does it feel like to be an expat and how is that different from the tourist experience?   NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET SPONSOR: Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the world by sponsoring The Bittersweet Life. Write the at bittersweetlife@mail.com to get the conversation going. JOIN THE CONVERSATION Connect with us on Twitter, Facebook or write us @ bittersweetlife@mail.com. ©Web and

Aug 24, 2014 • 14:31

SIGHT

Our series on the five senses continues with sight. The sites of Rome have Katy contemplating her own death. Are we just a drop in the bucket? Tiffany and Katy broadcast from a roof on the Capitoline Hill.    NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET SPONSOR: Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the world by sponsoring The Bittersweet Life. Write the at bittersweetlife@mail.com to get the conversation going. JOIN THE CONVERSATION Connect with us on Twitter,

Aug 17, 2014 • 26:26

TASTE

Our series on the five senses continues with taste. Katy and Tiffany try eating and podcasting at the same time while visiting Eataly, a grocery store in Rome. Do countries have a national flavor? Does living abroad require a change in eating habits?   NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET SPONSOR: Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the world by sponsoring The Bittersweet Life. Write the at bittersweetlife@mail.com to get the conversation going. JOIN

Aug 10, 2014 • 23:23

SMELL

Our series on the five senses continues with smell. Katy and Tiffany visit a used book store in Rome that smells like Katy's grandparents house in Pennsylvania. Is smell the closest thing we have to time-travel? NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET SPONSOR: Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the world by sponsoring The Bittersweet Life. Write the at bittersweetlife@mail.com to get the conversation going. JOIN THE CONVERSATION Connect with us on Twitt

Aug 3, 2014 • 20:25

SOUND

We begin a 5-part series on the five senses. This week: Sound. Explore Rome, Italy with your ears, and experience how different a city can sound.   NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET SPONSOR: Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the world by sponsoring The Bittersweet Life. Write the at bittersweetlife@mail.com to get the conversation going. JOIN THE CONVERSATION Connect with us on Twitter, Facebook or write us @ bittersweetlife@mail.com. ©Web and sh

Jul 27, 2014 • 31:30

REBOOT

When you move overseas - no one knows you. You have no reputation. No expectations. No history. Does that mean you can completely reinvent yourself and become a new person? Or is a complete revamp impossible?   NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET SPONSOR: Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the world by sponsoring The Bittersweet Life. Write the at bittersweetlife@mail.com to get the conversation going. JOIN THE CONVERSATION Connect with us on Twitte

Jul 20, 2014 • 24:28

LANGUAGE, Part 2

Do you think in English, or do you just think? Which language expresses ideas easier - English or Italian? Tiffany and Katy discuss language in response to listener Adam's email. If you want to hear "Language, Part 1," look for Episode 2.   NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET SPONSOR: Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the world by sponsoring The Bittersweet Life. Write the at bittersweetlife@mail.com to get the conversation going. JOIN THE CONVERSA

Jul 13, 2014 • 27:26

RELINQUISH

Moving overseas can mean giving up a dream; letting go of ideas of who you are or who you hoped to be. Katy and Tiffany discuss the dreams they let go to live abroad.   NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET SPONSOR: Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the world by sponsoring The Bittersweet Life. Write the at bittersweetlife@mail.com to get the conversation going. JOIN THE CONVERSATION Connect with us on Twitter, Facebook or write us @ bittersweetlife@

Jul 6, 2014 • 22:55

ASSAULT, Part 3

Why do women feel shame after a bad sexual encounter? Does a lack of support from female friends make an assault worse? Katy and Tiffany talk it over.   NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET SPONSOR: Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the world by sponsoring The Bittersweet Life. Write the at bittersweetlife@mail.com to get the conversation going. JOIN THE CONVERSATION Connect with us on Twitter, Facebook or write us @ bittersweetlife@mail.com. ©Web a

Jun 29, 2014 • 26:24

HOME BIRTH, Part 2

Cassi and Leon Griesbach moved abroad while expecting a baby. Their plan: Hire local midwives and give birth in their apartment. Cassi shared their story in Episode 12. How did it go? Today we visit with Cassi to find out.   NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET SPONSOR: Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the world by sponsoring The Bittersweet Life. Write the at bittersweetlife@mail.com to get the conversation going. JOIN THE CONVERSATION Connect wit

Jun 22, 2014 • 20:26

MISSING

Sometimes you become an expat for life. Sometimes you repatriate. When moving back home, what's there to look forward to? Katy and Tiffany try to get excited about the fact Katy will eventually move away.   NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET SPONSOR: Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the world by sponsoring The Bittersweet Life. Write the at bittersweetlife@mail.com to get the conversation going. JOIN THE CONVERSATION Connect with us on Twitter, F

Jun 16, 2014 • 21:51

INTEGRATE

Living abroad requires some cultural integration - language, dining hours, work schedules. But do expats integrate with the more superficial things about a culture? Things like fashion, breakfast food, and kissing hello? Katy and Tiffany explore the culture they've picked up, and what they never will.   NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET SPONSOR: Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the world by sponsoring The Bittersweet Life. Write the at bitterswe

Jun 9, 2014 • 22:25

VISITORS

People you love and (groan) acquaintances looking for a free place to stay will call you if you move somewhere great. What is an expats responsibility to out-of-town company? Can you be too much of a tour guide? Katy slips out of the house while her guests are napping to talk with Tiffany.   NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET SPONSOR: Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the world by sponsoring The Bittersweet Life. Write the at bittersweetlife@mail.

Jun 1, 2014 • 26:45

HOME BIRTH, Part 1

Cassi just arrived in Rome with her husband, two little girls, and a baby on the way. She plans to give birth in her apartment. How do you plan for childbirth in a new country with rudimentary language skills? She shares her story.   NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET SPONSOR: Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the world by sponsoring The Bittersweet Life. Write the at bittersweetlife@mail.com to get the conversation going. JOIN THE CONVERSATION Co

May 26, 2014 • 33:19

ASSAULT, Part 2

Our exploration of sexual assault overseas continues with Katy's story. If you haven't heard Part 1, go back and get caught up. This episode picks up right where the other left off. Again, a warning that this episode is not for children.   NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET SPONSOR: Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the world by sponsoring The Bittersweet Life. Write the at bittersweetlife@mail.com to get the conversation going. JOIN THE CONVERSAT

May 19, 2014 • 22:35

ASSAULT, Part 1

It's harder to read people in a foreign culture. That can lead to embarrassment or much, much, much worse. Today we delve into the dark side of living abroad by sharing our personal accounts of sexual assault. This episode should not be heard by children. NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET SPONSOR: Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the world by sponsoring The Bittersweet Life. Write the at bittersweetlife@mail.com to get the conversation going. JO

May 19, 2014 • 17:27

BLACKOUT

It's lights out in Rome. Not for everyone -- for Katy. There's nothing more humbling to an expat than losing a basic necessity and having no idea why or how to get it back.   NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET SPONSOR: Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the world by sponsoring The Bittersweet Life. Write the at bittersweetlife@mail.com to get the conversation going. JOIN THE CONVERSATION Connect with us on Twitter, Facebook or write us @ bitterswee

May 12, 2014 • 25:09

TRAFFIC

Tiffany dodges Rome's heavy commuter traffic to bring you this episode. The driving rules of your native country seldom apply overseas. That can result in confusion, fury - or worse - a close shave.   NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET SPONSOR: Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the world by sponsoring The Bittersweet Life. Write the at bittersweetlife@mail.com to get the conversation going. JOIN THE CONVERSATION Connect with us on Twitter, Faceboo

May 4, 2014 • 21:15

LAYABOUT

What's important in life? Accomplishing goals or meeting friends for an aperitivo? Where you live may change the answer.   NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET SPONSOR: Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the world by sponsoring The Bittersweet Life. Write the at bittersweetlife@mail.com to get the conversation going. JOIN THE CONVERSATION Connect with us on Twitter, Facebook or write us @ bittersweetlife@mail.com. ©Web and show content can only be us

Apr 27, 2014 • 26:51

OVERSTAY

When you move overseas -- without a Visa -- can you travel? Katy has overstayed her welcome and now she is facing passport control. Will she be deported?   NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET SPONSOR: Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the world by sponsoring The Bittersweet Life. Write the at bittersweetlife@mail.com to get the conversation going. JOIN THE CONVERSATION Connect with us on Twitter, Facebook or write us @ bittersweetlife@mail.com. ©We

Apr 21, 2014 • 21:02

DATING

If an expat dates a local, does that improve their social standing? Do all cultures flirt in the same way?Tiffany Parks and Katy Sewall discuss dating abroad.   NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET SPONSOR: Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the world by sponsoring The Bittersweet Life. Write the at bittersweetlife@mail.com to get the conversation going. JOIN THE CONVERSATION Connect with us on Twitter, Facebook or write us @ bittersweetlife@mail.com

Apr 13, 2014 • 26:54

HOMESICK

Homesickness.  It eventually strikes everyone who moves overseas.  Tiffany Parks and Katy Sewall share their coping mechanisms and examine what they are actually missing when they miss home.    NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET SPONSOR: Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the world by sponsoring The Bittersweet Life. Write the at bittersweetlife@mail.com to get the conversation going. JOIN THE CONVERSATION Connect with us on Twitter, Facebook or wr

Apr 6, 2014 • 19:04

HOLIDAYS

When you become an expat, you expect things to be different. Yet culturally, the holidays make that contrast most vivid. Does Christmas feel different overseas because the commercialism is missing? Katy and Tiffany explore how the holidays affect, and sometimes alter, the expat experience.   NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET SPONSOR: Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the world by sponsoring The Bittersweet Life. Write the at bittersweetlife@mail.

Mar 31, 2014 • 23:50

LANGUAGE, Part 1

It can be hard to live life in another language - even if you're fluent. Tiffany explains why. It's also hard to live with no language. Katy explains how the language barrier changes her perspective on dogs, kids and herself.   NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET SPONSOR: Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the world by sponsoring The Bittersweet Life. Write the at bittersweetlife@mail.com to get the conversation going. JOIN THE CONVERSATION Connect

Mar 23, 2014 • 24:27

OUTSET

The premiere episode looks at the challenges of expat life from a short-term and long-term perspective. Hosts Katy Sewall and Tiffany Parks describe the fear and liberation of moving abroad. They also tackle the question: If you're not happy, is a city's beauty enough reason to stay?   SPONSOR: Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the world by sponsoring The Bittersweet Life. Write the at bittersweetlife@mail.com to get the conversation going. JOIN THE CONVERSATION Connect with us on

Mar 18, 2014 • 30:29