The Bittersweet Life
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).
S12 E578 · Mon, April 14, 2025
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 versions of those episodes on Wednesday and Friday of this week. If you have trouble with insomnia, be sure to check out Drew's podcast , where his bedtime stories help grown-ups fall asleep in the deep, dark night. Listen to this episode right here, or over on the Sleep with Me feed. ***Katy's sister Dana has recently been diagnosed with stage 4 agressive brain cancer. To help with the staggering medical costs—her specialist is outside her insurance network—as well of the costs of temporarily relocating to San Francsico for her treatments, please consider donating to her GoFundMe . Anything you
S12 Enull · Fri, April 11, 2025
[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 (and even strive to become their favorite) and how this can lead to not being fully honest with them. Lori reveals what happens when the therapist herself realizes she too needs therapy, and how sometimes, it’s the therapist who learns from the patient. Her book, Maybe You Should Talk To Someone: A Therapist, Her Therapist, and Our Lives Revealed , covers topics that make people think differently about themselves and the world around them: love and loss, meaning and mortality, gender and culture, parents and children, female appearance, regret and redemption, hope and change. It’s a New York Times bestseller, and is currently being made into a television series with Eva Longoria on ABC. <p
S12 Enull · Wed, April 09, 2025
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 diagnosed with stage 4 agressive brain cancer. To help with the staggering medical costs—her specialist is outside her insurance network—as well of the costs of temporarily relocating to San Francsico for her treatments, please consider donating to her GoFundMe . Anything you can contribute will be extremely helpful. Thank you.*** ------------------------------------- COME TO ROME WITH US: For the third year in a row, we are hosting an intimate group of listeners for a magical and unforgettable week in Rome, this October 2025! Discover the city with us as your guides, seeing a side to Rome tourists almost never see. Find out more 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 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your su
S12 E577 · Mon, April 07, 2025
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 agressive brain cancer. To help with the staggering medical costs—her specialist is outside her insurance network—as well of the costs of temporarily relocating to San Francsico for her treatments, please consider donating to her GoFundMe . Anything you can contribute will be extremely helpful. Thank you.*** ***Th e podcast mentioned on this episode is The Europeans (a non-boring podcast about European politics!), hosted by Dominic Kraemer and Katy Lee. Find their latest episode here or wherever you listen to our show.*** ------------------------------------- COME TO ROME WITH US: For the third year in a row, we are hosting an intimate group of listeners for a magical and unforgettable week in Rome, this October 2025! Discover the city with us as your guides, seeing a side to Rome tourists almost never see. Find out more 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 PATRON: Pledge your monthly support of The Bittersweet Life and receive awesome prizes in return for your generosity! Visit our Patreon site
S12 Enull · Thu, April 03, 2025
[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 world. You’ll have to listen to the interview (or read the book!) to find out what they are. Katy and Robert discuss fascinating yet obscure concepts like deep-time, and how instead of making our lives seem insignificant, this concept can inspire us to live every second more fully. Robert also points out how important it is to keep cognizant of our ignorance, and never stop exploring and learning, and how spending so much time underground has taught him how much he loves the light and the living. Listen all the way to the end to find out the very scariest underground experience MacFarlane ever had. *** 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 our vast archives ! Enjoy!*** ------------------------------------- COME TO ROME WITH US: For the third year in a row, we are hosting an intimate group of listeners for a magical and unforgettable week in Rome, this October 2025! Discover the city with us as your guides, seeing a side to Rome tourists almost never see. Find out more 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 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own p
S12 Enull · Wed, April 02, 2025
[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 writing habits and quirks, including how to deal with writer's block, whether it's advisable—or even possible—to plot out an entire book in advance, the merciless editing process, and if a story can have a life of its own. This is just a snippet of the full bonus episode. If you 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, in addition to years of back bonus episodes you've never heard! 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. <p style= "caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: ui-rounded, system-ui-rounded, -apple-system-ui-rounded, -apple-system; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: n
S12 E576 · Mon, March 31, 2025
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 negative changes? We discuss this and more on this all-new episode. The podcast you heard about on this episode is The Europeans (a non-boring podcast about European politics!), hosted by Dominic Kraemer and Katy Lee. Find their latest episode here or wherever you listen to our show. ------------------------------------- COME TO ROME WITH US: For the third year in a row, we are hosting an intimate group of listeners for a magical and unforgettable week in Rome, this October 2025! Discover the city with us as your guides, seeing a side to Rome tourists almost never see. Find out more 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 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the
S12 Enull · Fri, March 28, 2025
[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 Carabinieri. 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 Valentina in Trentino counting her blessings via social media. Lastly, take a peek into Katy and her husband Derek’s craft night in Seattle. We end this show with the song Six Feet Apart , sent in by Seattle artists Miles and Katrina, and inspired by the social isolation of the coronavirus pandemic. Find Part 1 of this episode here . *** 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 our vast archives ! Enjoy!*** ------------------------------------- COME TO ROME WITH US: For the third year in a row, we are hosting an intimate group of listeners for a magical and unforgettable week in Rome, this October 2025! Discover the city with us as your guides, seeing a side to Rome tourists almost never see. Find out more 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 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click <a href="PayPal.me/thebittersweetlife" target="_blank" rel= "noopen
S12 Enull · Fri, March 21, 2025
[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 into their lives throughout the course of a day. We also offer 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 snowfall to Theresa in Port Townsend in a hailstorm to Jill in Manhattan, where the only sound on the city streets is the chirping of birds, and many, many others. We got so many glimpses into the lives of our diverse listeners that we had to divide this episode into two parts. But don’t fret—the second part is available here . *** 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 our vast archives ! Enjoy!*** ------------------------------------- COME TO ROME WITH US: For the third year in a row, we are hosting an intimate group of listeners for a magical and unforgettable week in Rome, this October 2025! Discover the city with us as your guides, seeing a side to Rome tourists almost never see. Find out more 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 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via Pay
S12 Enull · Fri, March 14, 2025
[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 pretty much all of us. On this episode, the continuation of last week's dispatch , Tiffany talks about what it's like to live under Italy's strict lockdown (the first to go into effect in the Western hemisphere) what supermarket shopping is life, what magical thing happens at 6pm every night, and what kids and families are doing to stay positive. 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 we ponder the cultural benefits of a world-wide plague. Listen to Part 1 of this episode here. *** 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 our vast archives ! Enjoy!*** ------------------------------------- COME TO ROME WITH US: For the third year in a row, we are hosting an intimate group of listeners for a magical and unforgettable week in Rome, this October 2025! Discover the city with us as your guides, seeing a side to Rome tourists almost never see. Find out more 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 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:
S12 E575 · Mon, March 10, 2025
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 re-aired regularly on Fridays so check those out as well. If you are looking for even more content, join us on Patreon , where we put out two all-new bonus episodes every single month, and there is a growing backlog of those to binge on as well, if you feel the need. For as little as $5 per month, you'll get exclusive access to that on top of our regular episodes. Thank you for your continued support and understanding, and prayers and positive thoughts are most welcome at this time. ------------------------------------- COME TO ROME WITH US: For the third year in a row, we are hosting an intimate group of listeners for a magical and unforgettable week in Rome, this October 2025! Discover the city with us as your guides, seeing a side to Rome tourists almost never see. Find out more 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 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free,
S12 Enull · Fri, March 07, 2025
[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 could not be done from home. How was Tiffany coping? How was she staying sane, keeping her four-year-old entertained, and resisting tearing her husband limb from limb? And while Tiffany was living through that unprecedented time in Italy, Katy reported on how Seattle was responding to the rapid spread of coronavirus in Washington State and the rest of the US. Did she have any idea a lockdown was in her future? *** 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 our vast archives ! Enjoy!*** ------------------------------------- COME TO ROME WITH US: For the third year in a row, we are hosting an intimate group of listeners for a magical and unforgettable week in Rome, this October 2025! Discover the city with us as your guides, seeing a side to Rome tourists almost never see. Find out more 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 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this <a href= "https://signup.l
S12 E219 · Wed, March 05, 2025
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 listener trip , coming up in October 2025. Find out all about it here , or email us for more information! Or book a tour of Rome with Tiffany as your guide! ------------------------------------- COME TO ROME WITH US: For the third year in a row, we are hosting an intimate group of listeners for a magical and unforgettable week in Rome, this October 2025! Discover the city with us as your guides, seeing a side to Rome tourists almost never see. Find out more 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 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to
S12 E574 · Mon, March 03, 2025
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 many believing his papacy will soon come to an end, Tiffany and Katy talk about his 12 years (so far) as Pope, what it was like to see him elected, see him up close when he baptized Aurelio, and what will happen when he eventually passes. We also delve into all things pope, including the death and funeral of Pope John Paul II, the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI, and what to see in Rome instead if you happen to be here when the Sistine Chapel is closed for the conclave. The mega-blog posts that Tiffany mentions having written during the lead-up to the conclave of Pope Francis can be found here: Meet the Papabili: A Handy Guide to the Popefuls of Conclave 2013 How the Conclave Works: All the Rules and Rituals of the Papal Election A Short History of Conclave Find out more about the convent of Santa Francesca Romana here . ------------------------------------- COME TO ROME WITH US: For the third year in a row, we are hosting an intimate group of listeners for a magical and unforgettable week in Rome, this Oct
S12 Enull · Fri, February 28, 2025
[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 airing an episode from our vast archives! Enjoy!*** ------------------------------------- COME TO ROME WITH US: For the third year in a row, we are hosting an intimate group of listeners for a magical and unforgettable week in Rome, this October 2025! Discover the city with us as your guides, seeing a side to Rome tourists almost never see. Find out more 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 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topi
S12 Enull · Wed, February 26, 2025
[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 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 importantly, you'll be doing your part to help keep this show alive—an independent podcast with no corporate support. (You'll also help keep it virtually ad-free!) <p style= "caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: ui-rounded, system-ui-rounded, -apple-system-ui-rounded, -apple-system; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; wor
S12 E573 · Mon, February 24, 2025
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 pneumonia in Italy, Tiffany weighs in on the Italian healthcare system. ------------------------------------- COME TO ROME WITH US: For the third year in a row, we are hosting an intimate group of listeners for a magical and unforgettable week in Rome, this October 2025! Discover the city with us as your guides, seeing a side to Rome tourists almost never see. Find out more 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 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If
S12 Enull · Fri, February 21, 2025
[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 our vast archives! Enjoy!*** ------------------------------------- COME TO ROME WITH US: For the third year in a row, we are hosting an intimate group of listeners for a magical and unforgettable week in Rome, this October 2025! Discover the city with us as your guides, seeing a side to Rome tourists almost never see. Find out more 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 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to fi
S12 Enull · Wed, February 19, 2025
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 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! ------------------------------------- COME TO ROME WITH US: For the third year in a row, we are hosting an intimate group of listeners for a magical and unforgettable week in Rome, this October 2025! Discover the city with us as your guides, seeing a side to Rome tourists almost never see. Find out more 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 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click <a href= "linktr
S12 E572 · Mon, February 17, 2025
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 cultural ambassador, an author of historical fiction set in Italy, and a leader of immersive language and culture trips to Italy, which she hosts twice a year. Melissa joins us to talk about her journey to learn Italian, what made her go "crazy" for it, and—perhaps most valuably—how she manages to incorporate the Italian language into her daily life without actually living in Italy. Find out more about Melissa's trips and language programs at her website , buy one of her works of historical fiction , or follow her on Instagram or Facebook . ------------------------------------- COME TO ROME WITH US: For the third year in a row, we are hosting an intimate group of listeners for a magical and unforgettable week in Rome, this October 2025! Discover the city with us as your guides, seeing a side to Rome tourists almost never see. Find out more 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 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If y
S12 Enull · Fri, February 14, 2025
[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 earlier episodes, every Friday we are now airing an episode from our vast archives! Enjoy!*** ------------------------------------- COME TO ROME WITH US: For the third year in a row, we are hosting an intimate group of listeners for a magical and unforgettable week in Rome, this October 2025! Discover the city with us as your guides, seeing a side to Rome tourists almost never see. Find out more 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 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE C
S12 Enull · Wed, February 12, 2025
[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 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. <p style= "caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: ui-rounded, system-ui-rounded, -apple-system-ui-rounded, -apple-system; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.3); -webkit-text-size-adjust: none; -webkit-text-str
S12 E571 · Mon, February 10, 2025
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 . Find Susan on Facebook and Instagram , or at her website . ------------------------------------- COME TO ROME WITH US: For the third year in a row, we are hosting an intimate group of listeners for a magical and unforgettable week in Rome, this October 2025! Discover the city with us as your guides, seeing a side to Rome tourists almost never see. Find out more 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 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this <a href= "https://signup.libsyn.com/?promo_code=SWEET" tar
S12 Enull · Fri, February 07, 2025
[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 the social rules of your new country is part of adjusting to life abroad. Inevitably, all expats will go through it. But what makes things rude in one culture and acceptable in another? What does it say about the people of those countries, and what they value? Why is it ok to litter on the street in Italy, but not ok to wash your hands in the kitchen sink? Why is it fine, in Italy, to wave to get your waiter’s attention, but unspeakably rude to leave a shop without saying “ grazie, arrivederci ”—the exact opposite of which is true in the US? And what happens when you pick up habits that are perfectly acceptable in your new country, and take them back home with you, where they are seen as downright rude? (Case in point: after a one-year stint in Rome, polite, mild-mannered Katy has taken to cutting lines, a heinous crime in America and merely an eye-rolling annoyance in Italy.) We discuss these social conundrums and etiquette paradoxes and try to make sense of it all on this episode from our archives. ***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 our vast archives! Enjoy!*** ------------------------------------- COME TO ROME WITH US: For the third year in a row, we are hosting an intimate group of listeners for a magical and unforgettable week in Rome, this October 2025! Discover the city with us as your guides, seeing a side to Rome tourists almost never see. Find out more 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 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support
S12 Enull · Wed, February 05, 2025
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 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 Art Nouveau master, Duilio Cambellotti. Take a aural tour of this one-of-a-kind place, and we bet you will want to visit in person. And 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! ------------------------------------- COME TO ROME WITH US: For the third year in a row, we are hosting an intimate group of listeners for a magical and unforgettable week in Rome, this October 2025! Discover the city with us as your guides, seeing a side to Rome tourists almost never see. Find out more 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 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your supp
S12 E570 · Mon, February 03, 2025
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 complexities of family, loss, and growing up. Edward Burns, known for films like The Brothers McMullen and Saving Private Ryan , has built a career telling stories of Irish-American life. Now, he brings that same depth and authenticity to the page. In this episode, he shares the inspiration behind his novel, how his filmmaking background influenced his writing, and what it was like to revisit his own past through fiction. This event was presented by Town Hall Seattle in September 2024. Thanks to Town Hall Seattle for presenting Edward Burns and allowing The Bittersweet Life to record and reair this conversation. ------------------------------------- COME TO ROME WITH US: For the third year in a row, we are hosting an intimate group of listeners for a magical and unforgettable week in Rome, this October 2025! Discover the city with us as your guides, seeing a side to Rome tourists almost never see. Find out more 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 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our <a href= "thebittersweetlife.net" target="_blank" re
S12 Enull · Fri, January 31, 2025
[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 shape of the ancient stadium it was built upon, from the crumbling Roman buildings that found new life as Renaissance palaces to the fragments of ancient decoration plastered into the walls of medieval buildings…the history of Rome is palpable in its very urban fabric. You don’t have to visit an archeological site or even a museum to discover the city’s many layers of history. Just take a long rambling walk through Rome’s historic center and you’ll find the tangible ghosts of the ancient city coming to life all around you. Want to follow along with us? Here’s a list of the stops we make on our passeggiata: • Ponte Fabricio • Torre dei Caetani (*Note: Tiffany mistakenly refers to it as the Torre dei Crescenzi in the episode. Oops!) • Portico Of Octavia • Theater of Marcellus (and Palazzo Orsini) • Largo di Torre Argentina (and the Cat Sanctuary) • Piazza Navona (and Sant'Agnese in Agone Church) • Piazza di Pietra and the Temple of Hadrian PS If you'd like to book a walking tour of Rome with Tiffany, read about her tours here . Better yet, come to Rome for a magical week with Katy and Tiffany in October 2025! Find out more about our unforgettable listener trip here . ***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 our vast archives! Enjoy!*** ------------------------------------- COME TO ROME WITH US: For the third year in a row, we are hosting an intimate group of listeners for a magical and unforgettable week in Rome, this October 2025! Discover the city with us as your guides, seeing a side to Rome tourists almost never see. Find out more 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 PATRON: Pledge your monthly support of The Bittersweet Life and receive awesome prizes in return for your generosity! Vis
S12 Enull · Wed, January 29, 2025
[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 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 importantly, you'll be doi
S12 E569 · Mon, January 27, 2025
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 in Katy's year. And you know what? She didn't hate it. Despite being someone who savors slow travel, likes to go back to the same places over and over, and aims to get to know a place deeply over the course weeks or months, Katy found something to appreciate in cruise travel. She talks about the good, the bad, and the hilarious when it comes to cruising, and why—as many veteran cruisers probably know—it's not about where you go, it's about what's going on on the ship. ------------------------------------- COME TO ROME WITH US: For the third year in a row, we are hosting an intimate group of listeners for a magical and unforgettable week in Rome, this October 2025! Discover the city with us as your guides, seeing a side to Rome tourists almost never see. Find out more 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 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: <a href= "https://itunes.appl
S12 Enull · Fri, January 24, 2025
[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 flawlessly. In her effort to do just that, she has become an expert on childhood bilingualism, and shares that knowledge onto her blog. On this episode, Kristie shares her favorite resources for raising children in two languages, the most interesting of which is double-language book series by One Third Stories . She also shares the brilliant idea of teaching your child about the other country and its culture as a way of piquing his or her interest in the language (instead of the other way around), and offers tips and tricks for staying strong when your older child resists the minority language. If bilingualism is something you want for your child, this is the episode for you! This episode also features a bonus appearance by none other than Tiffany’s son Aurelio, who offers a peek into the mind of a bilingual toddler, and answers Katy’s hard-hitting questions, such as, “What does a cow say?” *** 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 our vast archives! Enjoy!*** ------------------------------------- COME TO ROME WITH US: For the third year in a row, we are hosting an intimate group of listeners for a magical and unforgettable week in Rome, this October 2025! Discover the city with us as your guides, seeing a side to Rome tourists almost never see. Find out more 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 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click <a href="PayPal.me/thebittersweetlife" tar
S12 E216 · Wed, January 22, 2025
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! And 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! ------------------------------------- COME TO ROME WITH US: For the third year in a row, we are hosting an intimate group of listeners for a magical and unforgettable week in Rome, this October 2025! Discover the city with us as your guides, seeing a side to Rome tourists almost never see. Find out more 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 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe
S12 E568 · Mon, January 20, 2025
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 a magical and unforgettable week in Rome, this October 2025! Discover the city with us as your guides, seeing a side to Rome tourists almost never see. Find out more 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 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us
S12 Enull · Fri, January 17, 2025
[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 tiny Italian town where her mom was born somehow nullify the life her parents strived to create as immigrants in the States? We explore this and other topics on this episode pulled from our archives. ***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 our vast archives! Enjoy!*** ------------------------------------- COME TO ROME WITH US: For the third year in a row, we are hosting an intimate group of listeners for a magical and unforgettable week in Rome, this October 2025! Discover the city with us as your guides, seeing a side to Rome tourists almost never see. Find out more 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 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click <a href= "linktr.ee/thebitterswe
S12 Enull · Wed, January 15, 2025
[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. 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. <p style= "caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0)
S12 E567 · Mon, January 13, 2025
Episode 567: 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 find a living situation that matches your personality. Another important lesson: don't underestimate how trauma might be souring your expat experience. Just because something bad happens in your adopted country, doesn't mean you're not supposed to be there. If you haven't already, go back and listen to our first interview with Darlene, shortly after her move to Bolzano, Italy back in 2020, Episode 435: When Expat Dreams Come True. Darlene is a freelance textile designer. Find her work at her website . Or find her on Instagram here . If you're interested in reading her Master's thesis, Flocking Together , which she mentions in the episode, it's available 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 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code
S12 Enull · Fri, January 10, 2025
[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 how bilingual or multilingual couples often gravitate toward one shared language in their relationship—and how this dynamic might shift dramatically when raising a child in a multilingual household. Tune in to discover the fascinating ways language shapes identity, relationships, and the thought-process. Language is one of our most popular topics! You might be interested in these past episodes about language: Episode 476 Italy Bans the English Language Episode 430 Does Language Shape Thinking? Episode 355 Losing Language Episode 63 LANGUAGE, Part 3 (with J J Michael) Episode 19 LANGUAGE, Part 2 Episode 2 LANGUAGE, Part 1 Bittersweet Moment #96: Disappearing Languages Bittersweet Moment #54: Learning to Read in Two Languages at Once Bittersweet Moment #3: LANGUAGE ------------------------------------- ADVERTISE WITH US: Reach expats, future expats, and t
S12 Enull · Wed, January 08, 2025
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 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/t
S12 E566 · Mon, January 06, 2025
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 questions, including: Is it really true that you can buy an Italian villa for $1? And, what is the thing most people get wrong when attempting their big move? As well as the most basic: what are the easiest ways to move to Italy legally? If moving to Italy is a dream for you, don't miss this interview! Find Thea at her webite , or on Facebook or Instagram . ------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: <a href= "https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-bittersweet-life/id843351111?mt=2" target="_blank" rel="noope
S12 E565 · Mon, December 30, 2024
Episode 565: Resolutions Old, Resolutions New
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 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and <a href="ht
S12 E564 · Mon, December 23, 2024
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 feels only ten years later. ------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through <s
S12 E563 · Mon, December 16, 2024
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. Kaila talks about the imagination it took to be able to visualize what their new home could become, and the endless Italian bureaucracy that had to be waded through to make it happen. She also shares the struggles of having a child abroad and learning how to be a mother at the very same time she was opening her boutique hotel and learning to be a business owner. Another challenge? Creating community and getting social interaction when you live in the middle of nowhere—no matter how gorgeous the surroundings are, you still need human connection. Don't miss our first intevriew with Kaila, when she was just emerging from the renovation process and at the same time going through the grief of losing her mother: Episode 523 Legacy and Loss (with Kaila Merrill) Find out more about Poggio Belvedere (or book your stay!) 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 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCAST
S12 E562 · Mon, December 09, 2024
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 it can be to live in a foreign country when you don't particularly embrace trying new things. They both weigh in on what it feels like to be the so-called "trailing spouse" vs. the (for lack of a better term) "leading spouse," how living in a foreign country has changed how they interact as a couple, and whether either of them would have moved to Rome if they had been single at the time (spoiler: their answers are very different from each other!) Find Part One of this interview here: Episode 527 Moving to Rome—Sight Unseen (with Brie Ripley). ------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of
S12 E561 · Mon, December 02, 2024
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 about Rome? What is it that pulls people here, over and over and over? What is it that brings people back year after year? Tiffany and Katy try to put their finger on why so many people fall helplessly in love with Rome (either little by little or suddenly), and why one of Rome's most impressive qualities is its resilence. It's a city that has been burned, flooded, sacked, and destroyed countless times. Yet like a phoenix, it emerges from the ashes somehow better than it was before. ------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JO
S12 E560 · Mon, November 25, 2024
[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 from our Rome guests about these "ghosts" that exist in their towns and favorite places. ------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through <a href="https://
S12 E559 · Mon, November 18, 2024
Episode 559: The Bittersweet Life Origin Story: The 10th Anniversary Show
Can you believe that this little indie show 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 but 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 apartment) we listen all the way back to Episode Number One, and comment on it in real time. How relevant is that discussion? What was it like for Tiffany, with zero audio background, to tape her first podcast episode? How much has the show changed and evolved over the decade? We hope you'll enjoy listening back as much as we did. And if you haven't heard those early seasons, why not dig into our archives? There are some real gems back in our early era. ------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION:
S12 Enull · Thu, November 14, 2024
[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? That's the subject of this week's bonus epiosode. Here's a little peek behind the paywall. 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. <p style= "caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: ui-rounded, system-ui-rounded, -apple-system-ui-rounded, -apple-system; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; or
S12 E558 · Mon, November 11, 2024
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 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , <a href="https://www.facebook.com/bittersweetlifepodcas
S12 E557 · Mon, November 04, 2024
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 life really better over here? Tiffany takes off the rose-colored glasses for a moment to rant about how stressful and frustrating Italian life has been for her lately. Just so you don't quit your job and move to Italy and say we didn't warn you! Admittedly, this episode is a light-hearted take on what is in fact a serious subject that we may decide to tackle in its entirety in a future episode. Listen if you need a bit of distraction from all the political coverage this week! ------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. <p class=
S12 E556 · Mon, October 28, 2024
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 Caller was written, produced, and directed by Matthew P. Woerner, and stars Logan Woerner as Jill Harlow, Annie DiMartino as Mrs. Miller, Craig Hart as Detective Daniels, Jonathan Cooke as Sergeant Burke, Liv Johansson as Paget, and Matthew Woerner as Dr. Miller and The Caller. ------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email <a href="mailto:bitter
S12 E555 · Sun, October 20, 2024
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. If you want to order any of these wonderful books, you can find links here... The dark hell-inspired Japanese story Tiffany recently read. An understated but nevertheless chilling story about an innocuous but terrifying ghost. A classic eerie book in which the most important character is a dead woman. A creepy short story in which a neglected wife haunts her husband in a very odd way... Katy's favorite old-time radio play to listen to at Halloween. An amazing collection of ghost stories (that is also beautiful) that contains a few oddly funny ghost stories. A collection of beautifully atmostpheric ghost stories by one of the greatest American authors. Now it's your turn! Send us your favorite ghost stories! We'd love to hear what you love to read at Halloween! ------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up.</p
S12 Enull · Thu, October 17, 2024
[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)? Tiffany also shares a funny interaction she had with a famous actor who was filming on location in Rome. Want to hear the whole episode? <p style= "caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: ui-rounded, system-ui-rounded, -apple-system-ui-rounded, -apple-system; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant
S12 E554 · Mon, October 14, 2024
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 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through <span class="s
S12 E553 · Mon, October 07, 2024
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, 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through <span clas
S12 E552 · Mon, September 30, 2024
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 let us know your grammar pet peeves, or to tell us what mistakes we are unknowingly making! And if you enjoy this BONUS episode, you could get access to two brand-new bonus episodes every single month (in addition to our sizable archive of past bonus episodes) by becoming a Patreon supporter , for as little as $5 per month! And you would be providing essential support to our independent podcast at the same time. If you love this show, please consider joining! Click here to find out how. ------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click <a
S11 E551 · Mon, September 23, 2024
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 granddaughter have faced in their first six months in Florence, from legal paperwork to finding a home, from navigating the language barrier to enrolling a foreign child in Italian kindergarten. ------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter
S12 E550 · Mon, September 16, 2024
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 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook<
S11 E549 · Mon, September 09, 2024
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 in living in Rome, and where Tiffany has lived for the last thirteen years. "Their conversational podcast is NOT short on substance by any means—they take deep dives into some pretty emotional terrain on universal topics such as joy, loneliness, heartbreak, relationships and much more, as events unfold in their daily lives. In this episode, we share some of our favorite shows from their podcast as well as learn more about Katy and Tiffany—where they’ve been and what lies ahead." If you're a relatively new listener and the clips shared on this compilation are unfamiliar to you, take it as a suggestion to dig back into the archives for our early shows—or maybe even start all the way back at Episode One. You can find the original Expat Sandwich episode 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 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: <a href= "https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/th
S11 Enull · Thu, September 05, 2024
[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. <p style= "caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: ui-rounded, system-ui-rounded, -apple-system-ui-rounded, -apple-system; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px; -
S11 E548 · Mon, September 02, 2024
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 episode from our archives, we also discuss whether the choice when using the expat and immigrant labels has anything to do with race or privilege. ------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , <a href="https://www.facebook.com/bittersweetli
S11 E547 · Mon, August 26, 2024
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. Listen in to our conversation about travel-inspired reading and reading-inspired travel. ------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through <a href="https://twi
S11 E546 · Mon, August 19, 2024
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 forward to the present: Darlene is now a happy and successful expat in Italy! (Yes, expat dreams can come true.) To hear an interview with Darlene shortly after her move to Italy, check out Episode 435: When Expat Dreams Come True. ------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. <p
S11 E545 · Mon, August 12, 2024
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 luck, privilege, and hard work, and how, when they all come together, amazing things can happen. ------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to
S11 Enull · Thu, August 08, 2024
[PATREON PREVIEW] A Confession and a Decision
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 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 importantly, you'll be doing your part to help keep this show alive—an indepe
S11 E544 · Mon, August 05, 2024
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. ------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through <a href="https://twitter.com/BitterSweetPod" target=
S11 E543 · Mon, July 29, 2024
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 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook</s
S11 Enull · Thu, July 25, 2024
[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 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 importantly, you'll be doing your part to help keep this show alive—an independent podcast with no corporate support. (You'll also help keep it virtually ad-free!) <p style= "caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: ui-rounded, system-ui-rounded, -apple-system-ui-rounded, -apple-system; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.3); -webkit-text-size-adjust: none; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; t
S11 E542 · Mon, July 22, 2024
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 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , <span class="
S11 E541 · Mon, July 15, 2024
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 travel—nice work if you can get it! But what are the downsides? Some are obvious—missing her bed, her friends, her husband—while some are more surprising (you never take for granted being able to throw a load of laundry in the washer when you live out of a suitcase for months at a time!). Laurel also discusses how her personality changes depending on which country she's living and working in, in both subtle and dramatic ways. If you've ever dreamed about living with one foot in a different country and culture, don't miss this episode. Find Laurel on Instagram or 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. 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this <a href= "https://signup.libsyn.com/?promo_code=S
S11 Enull · Thu, July 11, 2024
[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 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. <p style= "caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: ui-rounded, s
S11 E540 · Mon, July 08, 2024
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 her tiny Manhattan apartment during the pandemic, 46-year-old MacNicol did something that some would consider daring but to her, felt like necessity: she fled to Paris. Her memoir recounts the "decadent, joyful, unexpected journey into one woman’s pursuit of radical enjoyment." "The pursuit of enjoyment is a political act," the book declares, "both a right and a responsibility. Enjoying yourself—as you are—is not something the world tells you is possible, but it is." You can find Glynnis MacNicol on Instagram or oat her website . ------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find
S11 E539 · Mon, July 01, 2024
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, to get out of one's comfort zone. So perhaps we should aim to leave those comfortable rituals at home when we travel, and instead seek out new ways to do things. We might just discover something new to love. ------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through <a href="https://twitter.com/BitterSweetPod" target= "_blank" rel="noopen
S11 E538 · Mon, June 24, 2024
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 there, as Tiffany believes, a fourth category: Lifers? Or are those people no longer expats? Join us for this thought-provoking 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You c
S11 Enull · Thu, June 20, 2024
[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 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. <p style= "caret-col
S11 E537 · Mon, June 17, 2024
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 taxes, Nathalie combines her deep understanding of tax laws with a passion for simplifying financial complexities for fellow expats worldwide. Her dedication and expertise have earned her widespread recognition, including a coveted spot on the Forbes 30 Under 30 list. She also shares a bit of her own personal expat journey, originally hailing from California and eventually landing in Austria, where she has established a successful business while embracing the Austrian lifestyle. You can find Nathalie on LinkedIn , and follow My Expat Taxes on Instagram , Facebook . and X . ------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: <a href= "https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-bittersweet-life/id8
S11 E535 · Mon, June 10, 2024
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 things they've ever tried. Make sure you listen to the first installment of this topic first, Episode 534: Trying Something New: It's Supposed to Be 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: 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JO
S11 Enull · Thu, June 06, 2024
[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 most importantly, you'll be doing your part to help keep this show alive—an independent podcast with no corporate support. (You'll also help keep it virtually ad-free!) <p style= "caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: ui-rounded, system-ui-rounded, -apple-system
S11 E535 · Sun, June 02, 2024
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 happening, even in our day? And here's a deeper question: can you believe in miracles and science at the same 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 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can als
S11 Enull · Thu, May 30, 2024
[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 most importantly, you'll be doing your part to help keep this show alive—an independent podcast with no corporate support. (You'll also help keep it virtually ad-free!) <p style= "caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: ui-rounded, system-ui-rounded, -apple-system
S11 E534 · Mon, May 27, 2024
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? The stationery company Tiffany mentions in this episode is Paper and Cities . ------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email <a href="mailto:bittersweetlifepodcast@gmail.com" target="_blank" rel="
S11 Enull · Thu, May 23, 2024
[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 importantly, you'll be doing your part to help keep this show alive—an independent podcast with no corporate support. (You'll also help keep it virtually ad-free!) Check our our Patreon page for all the details, and consider joining us at the $5 level or above. We are eternally grateful! ------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATIO
S11 E533 · Mon, May 20, 2024
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 requirements are, and if it's a good or a bad idea for Italy's economy. ------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through <a href="https://twitter.com/BitterSweetPod" targe
S11 E532 · Mon, May 13, 2024
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. ------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , <a href="https://www.facebook.com/bitte
S11 E531 · Mon, May 06, 2024
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 realizing that she didn't feel the same way other people did, what it was like to be diagnosed with this daunting disorder, and how she over came sociopathy to go on to have a life full of love and hope. Don't miss this fascinating author interview! Order Sociopath here or find it wherever you buy books. Find Patric Gagne on Instagram . This interview has been reaired on this podcast with permission of Town Hall Seattle . ------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click <a href= "linktr.ee/thebitt
S11 E530 · Mon, April 29, 2024
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—and how her time there changed her. And it begs the age-old question: can you ever go home again? ------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through <a
S11 E529 · Mon, April 22, 2024
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 (literally) hundreds of episodes. Email us here or better yet, you can send us a voice memo! (You can also send us a text or voice message on Instagram .) Who knows, we may just use your message on a future 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. FOLLOW US: On Instagram
S11 E528 · Mon, April 15, 2024
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 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , <s
S11 E527 · Mon, April 08, 2024
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 acquiring an unquenchable dependence on espresso. She also talks about what it was like to move her cats here, and how that came with its own set of challenges. ------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , <a href="https://www.fac
S11 E526 · Mon, April 01, 2024
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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram . Tag #thebittersweetlife</s
S11 E525 · Mon, March 25, 2024
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: 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , <a href="https://www
S11 E524 · Mon, March 18, 2024
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 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: 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , <a href="https://www.facebook.com/bittersweetlif
S11 E523 · Mon, March 11, 2024
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 realizing, while she greived her loss, that her destiny was to run an agrigurismo in Umbria with her Italian husband. Join us for this insightful, vulnerable, and touching interview. Stay at Kaila and her husband Ludovico's agritursimo, Poggio Belvedere , or let hem help you plan the most unforgettable Umbrian vacation at Vero in Italy . ------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. <p class=
S11 E522 · Mon, March 04, 2024
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 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , <a href="https://www.faceboo
S11 E521 · Mon, February 26, 2024
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 hopping on a freight train, and how it sparked a love for overland travel. Now that his band touring days are over, he has begun taking road trips again, this time with his 90-year-old mother and his 12-year-old daughter. He also describes how, as a native Alaskan, the continental US often felt like a foreign country growing up and how that was one of the things that encouraged him to begin exploring the country. He also shares his simple strategy for introducing both order and randomness into a road trip, as well as taking you places you wouldn’t otherwise go. John Roderick is the co-host of Roderick on the Line and Omnibus with Ken Jennings . He is the lead singer and songwriter for The Long Winters and has also toured with the band Harvey Danger. You can find him on his website , Instagram , Facebook , and Threads . ------------------------------------- ADVERTISE WITH US: Reach expats, future expats, and travelers all over the world. Send us an <a href="mailto:bittersweetlifepo
S11 E520 · Mon, February 19, 2024
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 Trave l . 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 nugget of unpleasant truth in that, the idea that travel simply cannot change you is something both Katy and Tiffany know from experience to be untrue. We discuss and debate the article's points and come away with our own conclusions. We'd love to hear your thoughts as will. Send your feedback here and we may share it on a future episode. And don't miss this probing discussion! ------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on <a href= "https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-bittersweet-life/id843351111?mt=2" target="_blan
S11 E519 · Mon, February 12, 2024
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 remarkable search for a family secret that leads him to a terminally ill painter living out her final days in the Brooklyn Museum." Listen in on this thought-provoking conversation, which explores so many interesting topics, including the difference between collective trauma and individual grief, how discovering his calling as a poet was, in his younger years, what he stayed alive for, and how a morning of writing can be as powerful as a hit of narcotics. We also continue our exploration of the limitations of languages that was kicked off on last week's episode (which was inspired by a line Katy read in this very book!). You can find Kaveh on his website or on Instagram . Martyr! is available on Amazon or where ever you buy books. ------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSC
S11 E518 · Mon, February 05, 2024
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 express yourself? Or does it limit you? What about clichés? Why do we use them, and how do they translate? Listen to the end to hear some fun foreign words that mean very very specific things that have no equivalent in English. We also talk about our own personal writing tics, descriptive habits we can't stop using in our own writing. ------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email <a href="mailto:bittersweetlifepodcast@g
S11 E517 · Mon, January 29, 2024
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 sooner or later, bidden or unbidden? We don't have the answers to these questions, but it certainly makes for an interesting discussion. Listen in! And tell us what you think by sending us an email (or better yet, email us your thoughts recorded in a voice memo.) ------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email <a href="mailto:bittersweetlifepodcast@gmail.com" targe
S11 E516 · Mon, January 22, 2024
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 have children? Have the rules of the social world changed because of the technological world we live in? Listen in, and don't be shy if you have opinions on this matter— email us with your thoughts, we may just share it on a future episode! ------------------------------------- COME TO ROME WITH US: There are still spots left for our 2024 Rome listener trip! Join on for an intimate week in a gorgeous historic Trastevere hotel 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find
S11 E515 · Mon, January 15, 2024
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 entire world. Also, hear tips on how to befriend a crow of your own. The full interview with the Nature Girl Gabi Mann can be heard here: Episode 51: CROWS (with Gabi Mann). Hear a shorter and more concise version of the interview here: Episode 67: CROW GIFTS (with Gabi Mann). ------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSAT
S11 E514 · Mon, January 08, 2024
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: W hat Did We Promise to Do Last Year? (2022—>2023) Books, Horses, Lard and other New Year's Resolutions (2021—>2022) A New Year Begins: 2021 (2020—>2021) Venti Venti (2019—>2020) Resolve (2018—>2019) ------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make
S11 E513 · Mon, January 01, 2024
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 $500 discount for our October 2024 Rome listener trip to Epiphany (6 January 2024). So if you're considering joining us on an unforgettable week in Rome next fall, take advantage of this offer before it's too late! It's the perfect gift to give yourself (and your favorite travel partner!). We are looking forward to bringing you another wonderful year of thought-provoking, insightful, and entertaining podcast episodes! We are so glad you are part of this journey. If you are considering what independent art to support in the new year, please consider joining us on Patreon . For as little as 5$ a month, you will get exclusive access, two bonus episodes a month, live virtual Zoom meet-ups, and our sincerest gratitude. We literally could not produce this virtually ad-free podcast (as we have for the past 10+ years) without the generous support of our listeners, and we thank you in advance! (You can also make a one-time or recurring dontation via PayPal .) ------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click <a href= "linktr.ee/thebitterswee
S11 E512 · Mon, December 25, 2023
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 your favorite hot drink, and curl up with this eerie original radio play by Matthew P. Woerner. Enjoy and Merry Christmas! ------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , <a href="https://www.facebook.com/bitterswee
S11 E511 · Mon, December 18, 2023
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? ------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , <a href="https://www.face
S11 E510 · Mon, December 11, 2023
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, we go in search of the ghosts of our alternative selves. ***Have an idea you'd like us to tackle? Email us here and we may just discuss it on the show.*** ------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to
S11 E509 · Mon, December 04, 2023
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 Singapore and Switzerland. They talk about the things they love about those two countries, and what makes them unique, from the soundscape to the bureaucracy. They also describe what it's like to move to a country that you have never stepped foot in. ------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through <a href="https://twitter.com/Bitt
S11 E508 · Mon, November 27, 2023
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 travels! Katy also captures a few snippets of Tiffany's tour of some extremely off-the-beaten-track spots, including the moment when we get completely unexpected access to a church that has been closed for decades—a church that has a crypt full of human bones. Katy has been dying to see it for years (no pun intended) and finally gets to. Don't forget, we are offering another listener trip to Rome in October of 2024! Email us at bittersweetlifepodcast@gmail.com for all the information and find out how you can spend a week in Rome with Katy and Tiffany as your guides. ------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on <a href= "https://itune
S11 E507 · Mon, November 20, 2023
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 on this episode. Also: Tiffany complains about one of the most annoying things that can happen during a tour. Listen to the end to find out what it is. ------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , <a href="https://www.facebook.com/bitters
S11 E506 · Mon, November 13, 2023
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 our next Roman adventure in the fall of 2024, drop us an email! ------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , <a href="https://www.facebook.com/bittersweetl
S11 E505 · Mon, November 06, 2023
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 unforgettable experience a reality. ------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through <
S11 E504 · Mon, October 30, 2023
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 whose names will be evoked for centuries to come? Do they ever get tired of people ceaselessly talking about them? What about people who are mistakenly remembered for things they didn't do (good or evil)? Join us for this morbid discussion. And have a happy Halloween! ------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email <a href="mailto:bittersweetlifepodcast@
S11 E503 · Mon, October 23, 2023
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 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and <sp
S11 E502 · Mon, October 16, 2023
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 culture and business of Italian food. Today she joins us to talk about the very ingredients that go into her recipes and what makes them so special. ------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through <a href="https://twitter.com/BitterSweetPod" target= "_blank" rel="noopene
S11 E501 · Mon, October 09, 2023
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 Empire. And Tiffany weighs in as well. Listen in for one of the first (if not the only) ever appearances from Claudio! ------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can als
S11 E500 · Sun, October 01, 2023
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 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and <a href="https://www
S11 E499 · Mon, September 25, 2023
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 return for your generosity! Visit our Patreon site to find out more. TIP YOUR PODCASTER: Say thanks with a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram . T
S11 E498 · Sun, September 17, 2023
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 decades. Hear about how her vocabulary has changed, and the words that, according to Katy, she gets wrong. And how does it feel to no longer understand the many aspects of your own 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 receive awesome prizes in return for your generosity! Visit our Patreon site to find out more. TIP YOUR PODCASTER: Say thanks with a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter<
S11 E497 · Mon, September 11, 2023
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: 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through <sp
S11 E496 · Mon, September 04, 2023
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 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/thebittersweetlifepodcast/" target="_blank" rel="noopener
S10 E495 · Mon, August 28, 2023
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. 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter</spa
S10 E494 · Mon, August 21, 2023
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 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , <a hr
S10 E493 · Mon, August 14, 2023
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 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through <a href="https://twit
S10 E492 · Mon, August 07, 2023
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 for your generosity! Visit our Patreon site to find out more. TIP YOUR PODCASTER: Say thanks with a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , <span class="
S10 E491 · Mon, July 31, 2023
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 questions! If your question resonates, we may just dedicate an entire episode to it! Email us your questions here . Better yet, send a recording of you asking the question! (Just use the voice memo app on your phone and email that.) ------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here</
S10 E490 · Mon, July 24, 2023
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 for your generosity! Visit our Patreon site to find out more. TIP YOUR PODCASTER: Say thanks with a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram . Tag <a href= "https://www.instagra
S10 E489 · Mon, July 17, 2023
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 personalities) would be different if we'd had different names? And just for fun—what are the sexiest names, and what makes them sexy? How is it possible that this metric can change so much over time? This episode was originally aired as a bonus episode exclusively for our Patreon supporters , but we've decided to post it here as well to give all our listeners a little taste of what goes on behind the paywall. We have a lot of fun over on Patreon, with off-topic episodes, lots of laughs, and some deeply personal conversations (our ex-boyfriends episode was one of our favorites). In a very rare move for us, we will be pausing the show for the month of August—don't worry, we're starting a brand new season come September! But if you think you'll miss us popping into your podcast feed twice a week, why not join us over on Patreon for as little as $5 per month? You'll get access to the now sizable archive of bonus episodes we've been producing twice a month for the past few years, delivered right to your feed! (Plus, we will be putting out two new bonus episoes this August, even though the main show will be on hiatus.) Best of all, you'll be supporting the show you love. This independent podcast (run, produced, and paid for only by the two of us!) would literally not be possible without the generous support of our Patreon supporters and regular donors. Thank you so much for your support! ------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our <a
S10 E488 · Mon, July 10, 2023
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 can pop up where you least expect them. Today we talk about what it's like to hang out with the dead. ------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us throu
S10 E214 · Thu, July 06, 2023
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 the continuation of a fun game we played (Guess the movie by the weird Italian title) on a regular episode. Join us on Patreon here to get access to fun episodes like this every other week! We thank you in advance from the bottom of our little podcasting hearts! ------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a questio
S10 E487 · Mon, July 03, 2023
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 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . Y
S10 E213 · Thu, June 29, 2023
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, quite literally, trapped. For hours. How did this adventure end? You'll have to listen in 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 and receive awesome prizes in return for your generosity! Visit our Patreon site to find out more. TIP YOUR PODCASTER: Say thanks with a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through <a href="https://twitter
S10 E486 · Sun, June 25, 2023
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 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and <a href="https://www.ins
S10 E212 · Thu, June 22, 2023
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 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , <a href="https://www.facebook.com/bittersweetlifepodcast" target= "_blank"
S10 E485 · Mon, June 19, 2023
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. ------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , <a href="https://www.facebook.com/bittersweetlifepodcast" targ
S10 E211 · Wed, June 14, 2023
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: 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through <a href="https://twitter.com/BitterSweetPod" target= "_blank" r
S10 E484 · Mon, June 12, 2023
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 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and <a href="https://www.instagram.
S10 E210 · Thu, June 08, 2023
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 for your generosity! Visit our Patreon site to find out more. TIP YOUR PODCASTER: Say thanks with a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram . Tag <a hr
S10 E483 · Mon, June 05, 2023
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 never lived in, how travel inspires stories, how the moods of cities like Paris and Rome can influence the stories that are set there, and much more. Check out an earlier interview with Liam about his last novel, Paris by the Book , an engaging and poignant story set in the City of Light. Find Liam Callanan on Instagram . ------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave
S10 E209 · Wed, May 31, 2023
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! Visit our Patreon site to find out more. TIP YOUR PODCASTER: Say thanks with a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram . Tag <a href= "https://www.instagram.com/e
S10 E482 · Mon, May 29, 2023
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 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/thebitt
S10 E208 · Thu, May 25, 2023
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 about a recent family trip to Rome. Jess Walter is the author of ten books, most recently the short story collection The Angel of Rome . His other books include the national bestseller The Cold Millions; the #1 New York Times bestseller, Beautiful Ruins; The Zero, a finalist for the National Book Award; and Citizen Vince, winner of the Edgar Award. His work has been published in 34 languages and his short fiction has appeared three times in Best American Short Stories. ------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast
S10 E481 · Mon, May 22, 2023
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 (pronounced pin-cho) is the best eating format ever invented. Find Marti on Instagram or on Twitter . Order Basque Country here or wherever you buy books. ------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. <p class="
S10 E207 · Thu, May 18, 2023
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 in October of 2023. To find out more about the intimate trip to Rome wer're planning for just 10 of our listeners, listen to Episode 478: A Roman Announcement . Or, simply email us here for all the details. Secure your spot soon as they are filling up! ------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or
S10 E480 · Mon, May 15, 2023
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 to the story or its characters) who tells the story to another unconnected person? This week we dicuss this storytelling technique and posit our guesses as to why so many authors made this choice. ------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email <a href="mailto:bittersweetlifepodcast@gmail.com" t
S10 E206 · Thu, May 11, 2023
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 to go to sleep. Extra points if you listen at bedtime. ------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through <a href="https://twitter.com/BitterSweetPod" target
S10 E479 · Mon, May 08, 2023
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 being an au pair in Europe. She recently published a graphic novel, Diaries of an Au Pair , based on her experiences caring for other people’s children while living abroad, and tracing her life as a migrant in Germany and Austria. You can follow Isadora on Instagram at @diaries_of_an_aupair and @isi_salcedo_ or find her on her website or get in touch with her by email . ------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click <a href= "linktr.ee/thebitterswe
S10 E205 · Thu, May 04, 2023
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 rarely that it takes major planning to visit them. Luckily, if you choose to come on our Rome Adventure 2023 trip this October, Tiffany will take you to these unknown wonders herself. Just another reason you don't want to miss this rare opportunity to come to Rome with us! Email us for more info and to secure your spot! ------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes s
S10 E478 · Mon, May 01, 2023
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 the airport to the hotel, and a delicious final meal at one of our favorite Trastevere restaurants. We'll also be offering lots of other exciting things, like a chance to be interviewed by Katy and appear on an episode, a live show taping, and welcome booklets made by us with optional afternoon itineraries, restaurant recommendations, and practical visiting tips. Listen to the episode for more information on what we're planning for this unforgettable first-ever Bittersweet Life Rome adventure! Email us right away to reserve your spot! This trip is limited to just TEN ROOMS and they are filling up fast! We can't wait to see you in 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 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click <a href= "linktr.ee/thebittersweetlifepodcast
S10 E204 · Thu, April 27, 2023
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. ------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , <a href="https://www.faceb
S10 E477 · Mon, April 24, 2023
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. If you have a question, comment, or piece of insight, don't hesitate to email us (or send us a voice memo) 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 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twi
S10 E203 · Thu, April 20, 2023
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 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twit
S10 E476 · Mon, April 17, 2023
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 "Anglomania" truly pose a threat to the preservation of the Italian language? We discuss on this week's episode. We also talk about other places that have strict language laws (like those that Tiffany experienced living in Montreal years ago), and if they are necessary, at least in some circumstances, or if they pose a threat to freedom of speech. To end, Tiffany quizzes Katy on the meaning of English words that have completely lost their original meaning when used in Italian. See if Katy can guess what Italians think those English words mean. This is a fun one. ------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leav
S10 E202 · Thu, April 13, 2023
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 suggests what to focus on to make your transition as smooth as possible, whether you’re moving just yourself or your entire family. If you’re planning a big move, don’t miss this interview! Find more about Josh’s company Sanelo 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 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email <a
S10 E475 · Mon, April 10, 2023
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 . ------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through <a href="https://twitter.com/BitterSweetPod" target= "_bla
S10 E201 · Thu, April 06, 2023
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 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twi
S10 E474 · Mon, April 03, 2023
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: 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through
S10 E200 · Thu, March 30, 2023
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 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and <a href="https://www.instagram.c
S10 E473 · Mon, March 27, 2023
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 how life can change in an instant...for the worse. (Don't worry, next week we'll talk about all the ways it can change for the better!) ------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , <a href="https://www.facebook.com/bittersweetlifepodcast" t
S10 E199 · Thu, March 23, 2023
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, Reality .) ------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through <a href="https://tw
S10 E472 · Mon, March 20, 2023
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. Katy and Tiffany discuss the pitfalls of leading a too home-based life, and think about what they can do to make daily life more fun. ------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also conn
S10 E198 · Thu, March 16, 2023
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 Far From Home . We aired an episode of the Far From Home podcast on our show this week (and they aired one of ours on their show!). ------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on <a href= "https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-bittersweet-life/id843351111?mt=2" tar
S10 E471 · Mon, March 13, 2023
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 back to New York for a visit after three years that she was able to put her finger on why adjusting to life in a small Dutch city was such a challenge. She talks about the things she misses, things as simple as being able to walk into a bookstore and be able to read any book there, to as important as being able to fully express yourself to your partner. This is an unmissable episode for any expat who's having a hard time, or anyone who is planning a move abroad. Way back in our archives, you can find an interview with Scott Gurian, Episode 174 Rally , where he talks about an amazing adventure he went on, the Mongolian Rally. You can also listen to more from Jamie on her own podcast, If You Knew Me . ------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: <a href= "https://itunes.apple
S10 E197 · Thu, March 09, 2023
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 a bigger question, does it have to be this 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 Life and receive awesome prizes in return for your generosity! Visit our Patreon site to find out more. TIP YOUR PODCASTER: Say thanks with a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through <a href="https://twitter.com/BitterSw
S10 E470 · Mon, March 06, 2023
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 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , <a href="https://www.facebook.com/bittersweetlifepodcast" target= "_blank" rel="noopene
S10 E196 · Thu, March 02, 2023
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 this episode. And bonus: this episode includes some absolutely infectious laughter by regular guest, Aurelio. ------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , <a href="https://www.facebook.com/bittersweetlifepodcast"
S10 E469 · Mon, February 27, 2023
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 the country you live in. If you have a question of your own, email us and we might just answer your question on air! And if you want even more access, join us on Patreon , where we host regular live meet-ups with listeners and offer two exclusive bonus episodes every month! ------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If
S10 E195 · Thu, February 23, 2023
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 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter
S10 E468 · Mon, February 20, 2023
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 her very first trip to Florence when she was 14, when she explored the city through the lens of her obsession with E. M. Forster's A Room with a View . ------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , <a href="https://www.facebook.com/bitte
S10 E194 · Thu, February 16, 2023
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 receive awesome prizes in return for your generosity! Visit our Patreon site to find out more. TIP YOUR PODCASTER: Say thanks with a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , <span cla
S10 E467 · Mon, February 13, 2023
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 Tiffany—whose been in Rome nearly two decades and is no longer even a foreigner—remember what it's like to be the overlooked outsider? ------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also
S10 E193 · Thu, February 09, 2023
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 if we should be asking our children's permission before we post their images on social media for all the world to see. ------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through <a href="https://twitter
S10 E466 · Mon, February 06, 2023
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 because she was too busy documenting them. The selfie, now so ubiquitous it has lost all irony, is the embodiment of this over-documenting epidemic. Have we stopped looking at the things we travel to see, in order to get a shot of our own smiling selves? Katy and Tiffany discuss. ------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send
S10 E192 · Thu, February 02, 2023
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 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You c
S10 E465 · Mon, January 30, 2023
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 looking at again. We muse on the topic of the privilege of living in Rome and being able to see amazing works of art at any moment—or living in Seattle and getting to see the Puget Sound any time you want. And when you travel to a place and fall in love with something there, and know you will never be back, how do you come to terms with the fact that you may never see that thing again? ------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSA
S10 E191 · Thu, January 26, 2023
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 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , <a href="https://www.facebook.com/bittersweetlifepodcast" targ
S10 E464 · Mon, January 23, 2023
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 (though related) conversation. If you listen all the way to the end, you'll even get to hear some snippets from a letter Tiffany wrote to Katy way, way, way back when she was a brand-new expat. The horrible living situation she found herself in was brought back in vibrant detail live on the show, most of which she had long forgotten. Which is one of the greatest benefits of writing things down. ------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes</
S10 E190 · Thu, January 19, 2023
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 at the Cape Town airport to minute descriptions of white sharks when she was in a shark cage and an encounter with the late great Desmond Tutu. It can be deeply revealing to read our old journals, and sometimes very, very funny. Also, so many valuable memories would be lost if we didn't write about them at the moment, so dig back into your old journals (if you have any) and discover something about yourself that you wouldn't remember otherwise. And if you've never kept a journal, why not start 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 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOI
S10 E463 · Mon, January 16, 2023
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 to your kids for posterity? Hope someone will care enough to read them—or hope they WON'T? We discuss on today's episode. Remember, we welcome your thoughts and questions always. Send us a voice memo of something you are thinking about. It might just inspire an entire show. Record yourself on your voice memo app, then email it to us at bittersweetlifepodcast@gmail.com . ------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more list
S11 E189 · Thu, January 12, 2023
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. ------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , <a href="https://www.faceb
S10 E462 · Mon, January 09, 2023
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 your generosity! Visit our Patreon site to find out more. TIP YOUR PODCASTER: Say thanks with a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram . Tag <a href= "https:
S10 E188 · Thu, January 05, 2023
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. ------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us
S10 E461 · Mon, January 02, 2023
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 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Faceboo
S10 E187 · Thu, December 29, 2022
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 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. ------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email <a href="mailto:bittersweetlifep
S10 E460 · Mon, December 26, 2022
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 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 and produced by AudioImagination77. A Gift is a delightful and heart-warming audio play with plenty of sound effects as well as original music. So close your eyes, get comfortable, and get into the holiday season in a thoroughly magical way. Find Matthew P. Woerner, the audio maven behind these wonderful all-original shows, on Facebook and Instagram . Find AudioImagination77 on Twitter and Instagram . ------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use o
S10 E186 · Thu, December 22, 2022
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 thanks with a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram . Tag #thebitter
S10 E459 · Mon, December 19, 2022
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-meaning doubters? ------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through <span class
S10 E185 · Thu, December 15, 2022
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 pressingly) who thinks will win the World Cup 2022, and why. ------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through <a href="https://twitter.com/BitterSweetPod" target=
S10 E458 · Mon, December 12, 2022
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 why it can be so hard, especially when sentiment is involved. Example: how do you get rid of a trophy that you worked so hard to win? ------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email <a href="mailto:bitter
S10 E184 · Thu, December 08, 2022
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 creativity and silencing your inner critic. That and a community of friendly, like-minded writers can help you on your writing journey, or simply your artistic journey, whatever it may be. ------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , <a href="http
S10 E457 · Mon, December 05, 2022
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 of origin, something she has never before admitted to herself. Be sure to listen to Bittersweet Moment #183: The Hazards of an Expat Thanksgiving before listening to this 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on <a href= "https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-bittersweet-life/id843351111?mt=
S10 E183 · Thu, December 01, 2022
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 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , <a href="https://www.facebook.com/bittersweetl
S10 E456 · Mon, November 28, 2022
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 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and <a href="https://www.insta
S10 E182 · Thu, November 24, 2022
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 those who regularly support this show financially, on this Thanksgiving Day, we are so grateful 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 return for your generosity! Visit our Patreon site to find out more. TIP YOUR PODCASTER: Say thanks with a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connec
S10 E455 · Sun, November 20, 2022
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 course there isn't, but does the author of the controversial article have a point? Does the media contribute to an oversaturation of tourists in Italy when there is so much world out there to explore and eat your way through? And is this excessive tourism even beneficial to Italy and its tourism industry? And while we're at it, why is it that people come back to Italy again and again? To try to find the answer, we sit down with Coral Sisk, food writer, food expert, and part-time Italy resident who had some very strong opinions about the article. Follow Coral's culinary adventures on Instagram , or visit her website Curious Appetite to read her blog or book a Florence food tour. Read the Eater article that inspired this conversation here . Read the article on Ugly Delicious that Coral mentions 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 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your ow
S10 E181 · Thu, November 17, 2022
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, as Katy's partner Derek said, "Just say yes," and figure out the details later. ------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through <a href="https://twitter.c
S10 E454 · Mon, November 14, 2022
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 adventure on this week's episode. What new thing will you try this year? Tell us about it 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 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through <a
S10 E180 · Thu, November 10, 2022
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 remote workers. If you've always dreamed of living abroad, now's your chance! Find links to these studies below (in order that they are mentioned on this episode): William Russell "World Expat Index 2022" Internations "Best an Worst Places for Expats 2022" Business Insider "Best Cities to Live and Work in Right Now" Sole24Ore "Most Livable Cities in Italy 2021" ExpatVagabond "21 Countries with Digital Nomad Visa (for Remote Workers)" ------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCR
S10 E453 · Mon, November 07, 2022
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. ------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , <a href="https://www.facebook.com/bit
S10 E179 · Thu, November 03, 2022
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 Moment #178: What Makes a Moment Romantic? Episode 451: A Romantic Immigration (with Monique Le) ------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: <a href= "https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-bittersweet-life/id84
S10 E452 · Mon, October 31, 2022
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 the paranormal. Find them on their website or on Instagram , Twitter , or TikTok. ------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email her
S10 E178 · Thu, October 27, 2022
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 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through <a href="https://twitter.com/BitterSweetPod" target= "_blank"
S10 E451 · Mon, October 24, 2022
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—find out more on her website, Seattle Love Broker . You can also find her on Instagram , Twitter , and Facebook . ------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN T
S10 E177 · Thu, October 20, 2022
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 remember, you can also search epsiodes by season or by topic . ( Our website is actually really great—check it 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 and receive awesome prizes in return for your generosity! Visit our Patreon site to find out more. TIP YOUR PODCASTER: Say thanks with a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on <a href= "https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-bittersweet-life/id843351111?mt
S10 E451 · Mon, October 17, 2022
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 Patreon at the $5/month tier or higher. And bonus: you'll be supporting the show you love and helping to keep it going. ------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through <a href="https://twitter.com/BitterSweetPod" target= "_blank" re
S10 E176 · Thu, October 13, 2022
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 reactions to major American elections and other converstaions about voting: Episode 137: ELECTION, Part 1 Episoe 138: ELECTION, Part 2 Episode 334: Voting from Home and Abroad Bittersweet Moment #83: Election Night 2020 Bittersweet Moment #84: Biden Wins! ------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss a
S10 E449 · Mon, October 10, 2022
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 sometimes feel the need to leave parts of ourselves behind when we leave a place. ------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through <a href="https://twitter.com/BitterSweetPod" targe
S10 E175 · Thu, October 06, 2022
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 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , <a href=
S10 E448 · Mon, October 03, 2022
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 anyone considering a change of location, including different location strategies, factors you might not have thought about, and classifying people looking to move to a new place as either wanderers, seekers, or settlers. Today, Melody sits down with Katy to talk about her new book and the "surprising importance of place in a work-from-anywhere world." Find If You Could Live Anywhere on Amazon or whereever you buy books. Follow Melody Warnick on Facebook , Twitter , or Instagram . ------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: <
S10 E174 · Thu, September 29, 2022
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 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and <s
S10 E447 · Mon, September 26, 2022
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. 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook</s
S10 E173 · Thu, September 22, 2022
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 . ------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , <a href="https://www.facebook.com/bittersweetli
S10 E446 · Mon, September 19, 2022
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: 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/thebittersweetlife
S10 E172 · Thu, September 15, 2022
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. ------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , <a href="https://www.facebook.com/bi
S10 E445 · Mon, September 12, 2022
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. ------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , <a href="https://www.facebook.com/
S9 E171 · Thu, September 08, 2022
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 receive awesome prizes in return for your generosity! Visit our Patreon site to find out more. TIP YOUR PODCASTER: Say thanks with a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram<
S9 E444 · Mon, September 05, 2022
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 has seemed to pass in a flash—is nearly ten years! ------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through <a href="https://twitter.com/BitterSweetPod" target= "_
S9 E170 · Thu, September 01, 2022
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 of Italy 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 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on <a href= "https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-bittersweet-life/id843351111?mt=2" target="_blank" rel="noope
S9 E443 · Mon, August 29, 2022
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. ------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , <a href="https://www.faceb
S9 E169 · Thu, August 25, 2022
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 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and <a href="https://www.instagra
S9 E442 · Mon, August 22, 2022
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, and why green spaces are such an integral, albeit little-known, part of Rome's city 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! Visit our Patreon site to find out more. TIP YOUR PODCASTER: Say thanks with a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through <a href="https://t
S9 E168 · Thu, August 18, 2022
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 . ------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email <a href="mailto:bittersweetlifepodcast@gmail
S9 E441 · Mon, August 15, 2022
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, we visit the famous café, grab some espresso ourselves, and discuss what it feels like to drink coffee in the same place so many brilliant thinkers over the generations did the same. ------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through <a href="https
S9 E167 · Thu, August 11, 2022
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 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/the
S9 E440 · Mon, August 08, 2022
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 song that Katy plays (and Tiffany recognizes but fails to recognize) is Ma il Cielo è Sempre Più Blù by Rino Gaetano . ------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also
S9 E166 · Thu, August 04, 2022
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 not just any Caravaggio: his only ceiling painting in the world! Discover this singular (and for sale!) home with us. (You only heard it here: the Princess sometimes does yoga under Caravaggio's ceiling mural!) In case you missed it, be sure to go back and listen to the exclusive interview with Princess Rita, taped the same day she showed us around her magnificent home. To hear more about Villa Aurora and its fascinating history and the art it possesses, listen to Episode 412: The Auction of a Lifetime: The Villa, the Princess, and the Caravaggio ; and Bittersweet Moment #30: VILLA AURORA . Adore Caravaggio (like we do)? Check out Episode 42: CARAVAGGIO, Part 1 ; and Episode 43: CARAVAGGIO, 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 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link</a
S9 E439 · Mon, August 01, 2022
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 ancient statuary. Listen to more about Villa Aurora on Bittersweet Moment #30: Villa Aurora and Episode 412 The Auction of a Lifetime: The Villa, the Princess, and the Caravaggio . ------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email <a href="mai
S9 E165 · Thu, July 28, 2022
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 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , <a href="https
S9 E438 · Mon, July 25, 2022
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 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and <a href="https://www.instagram.com
S9 E164 · Thu, July 21, 2022
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 Italy. This radio piece was originally created for KUOW, an NPR member station in Seattle, and it can be found here . There you will also find the longer essay that inspired the radio piece. In case you missed it, make sure you listen to Episode 431: Katy Arrives!... with Covid , taped shortly after Katy's arrival in Rome, albeit via Zoom, due to the fact that she was still testing positive for Covid. ------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a writt
S9 E437 · Mon, July 18, 2022
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 our favorite places to eat and drink in Rome—and why we love them. ***NOTE: In this spontaneous conversation, Tiffany mistakenly referred to one of her favorite Trastevere restaurants, Meridionale, as Mediterraneo. *facepalm* Check out the delicious southern Italian cuisine at Meridionale on Via dei Fienaroli, 30a. ------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an e
S9 E163 · Thu, July 14, 2022
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. ------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , <a href="https://www.facebook.com/bittersweetlife
S9 E436 · Mon, July 11, 2022
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 masterpiece, and play some of that glorious music. So pop in your earbuds, close your eyes, and we'll transport you not just to Rome, but to Resphigi's 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 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email <a href="
S9 E162 · Thu, July 07, 2022
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 163 and 164 . Find Suzanne's memoir Yoga Bitch 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 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSAT
S9 E435 · Mon, July 04, 2022
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 the challenges of dating and finding "your people" in a new 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 receive awesome prizes in return for your generosity! Visit our Patreon site to find out more. TIP YOUR PODCASTER: Say thanks with a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through <a href="https://twitter.com/BitterSweetPod"
S9 E161 · Thu, June 30, 2022
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, 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , <a href="https://www.facebook.com/bittersweetlifepodcast" target= "_bla
S9 E434 · Mon, June 27, 2022
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 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook ,
S9 E160 · Thu, June 23, 2022
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. ------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , <a href="https://www.facebook.com/bitterswee
S9 E433 · Mon, June 20, 2022
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. ------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , <a hr
S9 E159 · Thu, June 16, 2022
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 ------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If y
S9 E432 · Mon, June 13, 2022
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 they are things that are so subtle, Tiffany, who is so used to Rome, cannot even perceive them. ------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through <a href="https://twitter.co
S9 E158 · Thu, June 09, 2022
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 dozen years living in Rome (and many times falling victim to pickpockets and thieves, and occasionally thwarting them) that will help you avoid this extremely unpleasant experience. ------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , <a href="https
S9 E431 · Mon, June 06, 2022
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 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , <a href="https://www.facebook.com/bittersweetlif
S9 E157 · Wed, June 01, 2022
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. ------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , <a href=
S9 E430 · Mon, May 30, 2022
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, 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through <a href="https://twitter.com/BitterSweetPod" target= "
S9 E156 · Thu, May 26, 2022
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, 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through <a href="https://twitter.com/BitterSweetPod
S9 E429 · Mon, May 23, 2022
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 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , <span
S9 E155 · Thu, May 19, 2022
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 to find in the States! Enjoy this fun bonus episode, and if you like it, consider become a regular supporter of the show! You'll get TWO fun exclusive episodes like this delivered straight to your feed every month—and you'll be making a meaningful contribution to the show you love! (Win, win!) Just sign up on Patreon at any price tier, or set up regular donations through PayPal . Thank you in advance! ------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on <a href= "https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-bittersweet-life/id843351111?mt=2" target="_blank" rel="noop
S9 E428 · Mon, May 16, 2022
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, but also the mechanisms of a modern brand of ‘censorship through noise,’ which moves beyond traditional means of state control—such as the jailing of critics and restricting the flow of information—to open the floodgates of misinformation, overwhelming the public with lies and half-truths.” Joel and Robert talk about how the Covid crisis has exacerbated a mistrust in institutions, a deterioration of local news outlets, and a deep sense of cynicism that is born of lack of information. Don’t miss this fascinating conversation about something that affects all of us in one way or another. Find Joel Simon on Instagram and Twitter . Find Robert Mahoney on Twitter . Learn more about the publisher, Consumer Global Reports on their website , Instagram , Twitter , and Facebook . Find The Infodemic on Amazon or pick up a copy at your local bookstore.
S9 E154 · Thu, May 12, 2022
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 the New York Times, How Covid Stole Our Time, and How We Can Get It Back , an article that offers (impossible as it sounds) a positive opportunity that comes from understanding this stark reality. Tim Urban is the author and illustrator of the blog Wait But Why . You can also find him on Instagram and Twitter . ------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating a
S9 E427 · Mon, May 09, 2022
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 the challenges he has faced and the rewards he has experienced during his untethered, multi-cultural life. We also get a question from a young former-expat who is desperate to move abroad again permanently, but struggling to find the most practical way to do so. For a chance to hear your email addressed on air, write to us 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 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address,
S9 E153 · Thu, May 05, 2022
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 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and <a href="https://ww
S9 E426 · Mon, May 02, 2022
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 "on" for three hours straight (or more), all the while remembering and reciting endless dates, names, facts, and anecdotes. (Hint: there is one tiny thing that can make it much more exhausting than normal!) She also talks about the specific tours she offers —including a Caravaggio hunt!—and why she refuses to lead tours of the Colosseum and Vatican. Don’t forget, you can take a tour of Rome with Tiffany too! Learn about the tours she offers here , or just send us an email ! PS Tiffany's vast knowledge of Rome and Katy's brilliant audio editing skills come together in a Virtual Tour of Rome ! Taped in the height of lockdown in spring of 2020, and half a world apart—but you'd never know it by listening! Don't miss one of our most popular episodes ever! PPS We did a different two-part Virtual Tour of Rome with Special Guests , when we "ran into" important former guests on the streets of Rome, such as Mary Beard , Robert MacFarlane , Amy Herman , Mo Rocca , and many others. ------------------------------------- ADVERTISE WITH US: Reach expats, future expats, and travelers all over the world. Send us an <a href="mailto:bittersweetlifepodcast@gmail.com" target="_blank" rel
S9 E152 · Thu, April 28, 2022
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. ------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, s
S9 E425 · Mon, April 25, 2022
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, fear, and past trauma, and how actively scanning for the good things in life can help her let go of anxiety and choose joy instead. Andrea explains how life-changing it can be to simply scan the world for wonder instead of danger, as we are biologically wired to do. How asking yourself “How can I make this more fun and easy?” will transform even the dullest of tasks. She also talks about how being open to wonder can even make you a kinder person. Find Andrea on Instagram , and grab a copy of her 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 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this <a href= "https://signup.libsyn.com/?promo_code=SWEET" target="_blank" re
S9 E151 · Thu, April 21, 2022
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. 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , <a href="https://www.facebook.com/bittersweetlifepodcast" target= "_b
S9 E424 · Mon, April 18, 2022
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 other hand, some places, particularly ancient ones like Rome, change so little that, when we go back, it almost feels like we never left at all. And other places make up a part of our memory that stretches so far back, that even if the place hasn’t changed, our perception of it certainly has. On this episode, we discuss the reality of returning to places from our past, in advance of Katy’s return trip to 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 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an ema
S9 E150 · Thu, April 14, 2022
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 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram . Tag #thebittersweetlife with your expat story for a chance to be featured! NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afra
S9 E423 · Mon, April 11, 2022
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, 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , <a href="https://www.facebook.com/bittersweetlifepodcast" target= "_blank"
S9 E149 · Thu, April 07, 2022
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 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through <span
S9 E422 · Mon, April 04, 2022
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). If you are considering taking off on a solo trip for the first time, don't miss this episode! PS If you're traveling to Rome, consider taking a tour with Tiffany! Find out more 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 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us throug
S9 E148 · Thu, March 31, 2022
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 urban oases are a great place to combine rest and sight-seeing. Win win! As always, if you want a full list of the places I mention in this episode, sign up for our newsletter ! Want Tiffany to take you to see art in Rome in person? Book a tour with her 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 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: <a href= "https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-bittersweet-life/id843351111?mt=2" target="_blank" rel="
S9 E421 · Mon, March 28, 2022
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 to communicate with horses can help your human connections, and how working with horses teaches you to be in the moment. Find out more about Mary Anne's classical horse training school Blue River Farm 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 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to
S9 E147 · Thu, March 24, 2022
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 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 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , <a href="https://www.facebook.com/bittersweetlifepo
S9 E420 · Mon, March 21, 2022
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 episode via Zoom—and some of them contributed to the conversation! ------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email <a href="mailto:bittersweetlifepodcast@gmail.
S9 E146 · Thu, March 17, 2022
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. ------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also conn
S9 E419 · Mon, March 14, 2022
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 closest friends, they have likely moved on. Today we talk about this and other topics facing long-distance friends . ------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email <a href="mailto:bittersweetlifepodcast@gmai
S9 E145 · Thu, March 10, 2022
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 on your voice memo app, and email it to us at bittersweetlifepodcast@gmail.com . Hear more from our wonderful listeners around the world on Ep 309 A Day in the Life under Quarantine, Part 1 , Ep 310 A Day in the Life under Quarantine, Part 2 , and Ep 369 A Day in the Life: One Year Later. ------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us
S9 E418 · Mon, March 07, 2022
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 to becoming an author, as well as a bit about her writing process, and some words of advice for aspiring authors, Order Black Cake on Amazon , Abe Books , Book Depository , or pick it up at your favorite bookshop. Find Charmaine Wilkerson on Instagtram , Twitter , or at her wesbite . ------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET
S9 E144 · Thu, March 03, 2022
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 #139: Free Art in Rome's Churches: Paintings. Want to take a tour of Rome with Tiffany as your guide? Find out more 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 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If y
S9 E417 · Mon, February 28, 2022
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 little encounter on this week’s episode, and consider how, for Tiffany at least, spending decades outside her home country has not extinguished her instinct to defend it. ------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , <a href="https://www.face
S9 E143 · Thu, February 24, 2022
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. ------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to
S9 E416 · Mon, February 21, 2022
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 Art and Soul of Italy, a work of literary non-fiction that delves into the history, culture, and art of espresso—and why it is inseparable from Italy itself. Also, listen as Wendy tries to get Tiffany to like espresso—the jury is still out! Find Espresso: The Art and Soul of Italy on Amazon or anywhere you buy books. For an autographed copy, order exclusively at Parigi Books . Find Wendy Pojmann on Instagram . ------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find
S9 E142 · Thu, February 17, 2022
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 wallet. ------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , <a href="https://www.facebook.co
S9 E415 · Mon, February 14, 2022
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 to Trastevere like we are, check out Episode 93: TRAST , which we taped on the streets of the neighborhood where this podcast was born all those year ago. ------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Fac
S9 E141 · Thu, February 10, 2022
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 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram . Tag #thebittersweetlife with your expat story for a chance to be featured! NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with <a href= "https://podcasts.ap
S9 E414 · Sun, February 06, 2022
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 him as a young child to be a nature recordist, and explains you how to open your ears to discover the sounds of the creatures around you. He also talks about what we can do, as ordinary citizens of earth, to lessen the constant encroachment of humans on the natural habitats of the world. This unforgettable conversation might just make you think differently about the world, and who you are in it. All through the episode, Katy uses her brilliant sound-editing skills to weave a backdrop of Martyn's nature sounds to accompany their fascinating conversation. Learn more about Martyn and follow his journeys at his website, The Listening Planet . You can also find him on Instagram , Twitter , and Facebook . ------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on <a href= "https://itune
S9 E140 · Thu, February 03, 2022
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 down. Find Chelsea in Instagram on both her personal page and her art page . You can also follow the Third Culture Kid Instagram page; message Jay to join the Discord and WhatsApp groups if you’re a TCK. Also, learn more by reading Third Culture Kids: Growing Up Among Worlds by David C. Pollock and Ruth E Van Reken. ------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connec
S9 E413 · Mon, January 31, 2022
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 understand that language learning is not just about having the vocabulary and grammar. All of that is vital of course, but so is having the right mind set. So often, hesitation, negative self talk, and fear of looking ridiculous can sabotage our language efforts. Gloria offers practical steps to get beyond these hindrances and make use of our true abilities—which might be stronger than we think! We also talk about the innate Italian traits that can sometimes make it intimidating to dive into a conversation, and how to turn them to your advantage. Find out more about Gloria and her lessons and culture consulting services on her website, Speakita . ------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here
S9 E139 · Thu, January 27, 2022
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 are all absolutely free. ------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram . Tag #thebittersweetlife with your expat story for a
S9 E412 · Mon, January 24, 2022
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 unseen, but should be restored and made available to the public on a very part time basis. According to Prince Nicolò's will, although the villa will pass to his sons, his widow has the right to live there for the rest of her life. But the sons don't agree, and now the family feud has led to a forced auction. The only catch is that the starting price is nearly half a billion dollars (perhaps because of the original Caravaggio mural in one of the rooms, not to mention the fact that the villa is located on Via Veneto with its own grounds!). Tiffany has visited Villa Aurora, and Katy used to go to church with Princess Rita (although she had no idea then who she was!). This week we talk about that magnificent place, our opinion on who has the right to it, the and our speculations on what everyday life would be life living in a veritable museum—with a Caravaggio painting over your head at any time day or night. Hear Tiffany's description of Villa Aurora just after visiting on Bittersweet Moment #30: Villa Aurora . On Episode 218: Postcards , Katy describes seeing Princess Rita shortly after the death of her husband, although at the time of taping, she had no idea who she was. Find out how the auction went 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 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Do
S9 E138 · Thu, January 20, 2022
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 and her sisters get the rare opportunity to share with the creators just how much their movie has meant to them all these years, leading to a discussion about work origin stories and how what you put into the world can affect people decades later. Be sure to listen to Monday's full episode before you hear this one. ------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email <a href="mailto:bittersweetlife
S9 E411 · Mon, January 17, 2022
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 custom t-shirts and even a chat with the writers and directors. ------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagr
S9 E137 · Thu, January 13, 2022
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! ------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram . Tag #thebittersweetlife with your expat story for a chance to be featured! NEW TO THE
S9 E410 · Mon, January 10, 2022
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, 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram . Tag #thebittersweetlife with your expat story for a chance to be featured! NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to s
S9 E136 · Thu, January 06, 2022
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 Life and receive awesome prizes in return for your generosity! Visit our Patreon site to find out more. TIP YOUR PODCASTER: Say thanks with a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram . Tag #thebittersweetlife with your expat story for a chance to be featured! NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1: OUTSET</span
S9 E409 · Mon, January 03, 2022
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 once she got out of the freezing waters, and hear her on a call to her slightly concerned parents. Then go with her as she attempts another dive the next day. Most importantly, find out if Katy manage to do it, or if she gave up. (These are the kind of memories you can capture only if your record yourself on a regular basis like your faithful host!) ------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , <a href="https://www.facebook.com/bittersweetlifepodcast" target= "_blank" re
S9 E135 · Thu, December 30, 2021
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 . ------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/thebittersweetlifepodcast/" target="
S9 E408 · Mon, December 27, 2021
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 Talented Mr. Ripley by Patricia Highsmith Strangers on a Train by Patricia Highsmith Mrs. Palfrey at the Claremont by Elizabeth Taylor D: A Tale of Two Worlds by Michel Faber The Awakening by Kate Chopin ------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you
S9 E134 · Thu, December 23, 2021
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 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram . Tag #thebittersweetlife with your expat story for a chance to be featured! NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with <a href= "https://podcasts.apple.com
S9 E407 · Mon, December 20, 2021
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 bittersweetlifepodcast@gmail.com . ------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/thebittersweetlifepodcast/" target="_blank" rel="noope
S9 E133 · Thu, December 16, 2021
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 Episode 406: A Gift (A Radio Play) ! ------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook </
S9 E406 · Mon, December 13, 2021
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 and produced by AudioImagination77. A Gift is a delightful and heart-warming audio play with plenty of sound effects as well as original music. So close your eyes, get comfortable, and get into the holiday season in a thoroughly magical way. Find Matthew P. Woerner, the audio maven behind these wonderful all-original shows, on Facebook and Instagram . Find AudioImagination77 on Twitter and Instagram . ------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email <a href="mailto:bittersweetlifepodcast@gmail.com" target="_blank" re
S9 E132 · Thu, December 09, 2021
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 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram . Tag #thebittersweetlife with your expat story for a chance to be featured! NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with <a href= "https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/outset/id843351111?i=1000363761134" t
S9 E405 · Mon, December 06, 2021
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 receive awesome prizes in return for your generosity! Visit our Patreon site to find out more. TIP YOUR PODCASTER: Say thanks with a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram . Tag #thebittersweetlife with your expat story for a chance to be featured! NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1: OUTSET <p
S9 E131 · Thu, December 02, 2021
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. It was always with him. On this mini-episode, Katy talks with both Evan and his mom Dana (Katy's sister) about what it is like to live with this incredible gift. Listen to the end to hear one of Evan's own compositions. ------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/thebittersweetlifepodcast/" target="_bla
S9 E404 · Mon, November 29, 2021
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 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram . Tag #thebittersweetlife with your expat story for a chance to be featured! NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with <a href= "https://podcasts.appl
S9 E130 · Thu, November 25, 2021
Bittersweet Moment #130: Empty Nesters Move to Rome
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 also just happens to be a longtime listener of the show. She joins us on this inspiring mini-episode to talk about her journey to Rome. Find Adrianne on Instagram , Facebook , and on her website, Coffee in Italia . ------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twi
S9 E403 · Mon, November 22, 2021
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 happens when you crave novelty but your world has shrunk due to the pandemic? ----------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram . Tag <a href= "https://www.instagram.com/explore
S9 E129 · Thu, November 18, 2021
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 the can. After Monday's episode on ideas , hear Katy and Casey go through the brainstorming process in real time, thinking up an idea and curating it to fit the theme. Find the finished project, The Thirty Year Secret , here . You can also hear an interview with Casey Martin from last year on Bittersweet Moment #63: What's Going On in Seattle? ------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic yo
S9 E402 · Mon, November 15, 2021
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 find them, whether they be for a podcast episode, an article, or a work of fiction. Tiffany's book, Midnight in the Piazza , which she mentions in this episode, can be purchased 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 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebo
S9 E128 · Thu, November 11, 2021
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 works of fiction. If you curious about how Tiffany landed her literary agent, listen back to Bittersweet Moment #47: How to get an agent with PitMad . ------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through <a href="https://twitter.com/BitterS
S9 E401 · Mon, November 08, 2021
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 comfortable, and let your imagination take you away. Created by Matthew P. Woerner and AudioImagination77. Listen to Episode 346: After Midnight to hear their earlier show. ----------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through <a href="https://twitter.com/BitterSweet
S9 E127 · Thu, November 04, 2021
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 back to those sounds to make sense of the past two years. ------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram . Tag #thebittersweetlife <
S9 E400 · Mon, November 01, 2021
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 supporters and long-time donors. Tiffany also tells the story of one of Rome's most famous ghosts (this time it's not Beatrice Cenci!). The book Tiffany talks about on this episode is Mistress of the Vatican by Eleanor Herman. ----------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Faceb
S9 E126 · Thu, October 28, 2021
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!! ------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram . Tag #thebittersweetlife with your expat story for a chance to be featured! NEW TO THE SH
S9 E399 · Mon, October 25, 2021
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 travel shapes your life (and why he makes sure never to dress like a tourist!) and the simple thing that one elementary school teacher did that still makes him tear up thinking about it. Read Third Wish , the book by Fulghum that changed Katy's life (and which she has talked about numerous times on the show), and download (for free!!) some of Robert's personal favorites of his own books. Find more about Robert Fulghum and his work at his website . ------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to
S9 E125 · Wed, October 20, 2021
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 episodes whose names strike their fancy. So when we get listener mail (which we do on a regular basis), the listener might have a question or a comment about an episode from any one of our (so far) nine seasons. Sometimes we have to really think back to remember episodes that we taped years and years ago, but it's always fun and it's always worth it. For this mini-episode, Katy reads a few more listener letters. Keep them coming! ------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us
S9 E398 · Mon, October 18, 2021
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 open to all of our patrons and regular donors. Join us on Patreon if you haven't already, then come say hi on the 20th! ------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/thebittersweetlifepodcast/" target="_blank" re
S9 E124 · Thu, October 14, 2021
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 all those years ago change their lives forever. ------------ If you liked this episode, be sure to also check out Episode 133: EXCHANGE , an interview with a husband and wife, Sunny and Doug Strong. Sunny studied in Florence in 1963, and sent her then-boyfriend Doug reel-to-reel tapes chronicling her experiences. We talk to them over fifty years later, and hear her words on the tapes that Doug saved all this time. ***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 open to all of our patrons and regular donors. Join us on Patreon if you haven't already, then come say hi on the 20th! ------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listener
S9 E397 · Mon, October 11, 2021
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 luck, privilege, and hard work, and how, when they all come together, amazing things can happen. ***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 open to all of our patrons and regular donors. Join us on Patreon if you haven't already, then come say hi on the 20th! ------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through <a href="https://twitter.com/BitterSweetPod" target= "_bl
S9 E123 · Thu, October 07, 2021
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 Julia Cameron, the book Katy talks about on this episode. Hear about Tiffany's first days in Rome if you missed that mini-episode. **This episode was sponsored by SafetyWing, a fully remote team building a global safety net for digital nomads and travelers worldwide. Their Nomad Insurance is subscription-based coverage for anyone living or traveling outside of their home country. Find more information or sign up at SafetyWing . ------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a quest
S9 E396 · Mon, October 04, 2021
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 trapped on the other side of the world. Find Diana on Twitter , on Facebook , and on Instagram at @diana.opong and @d.o_tell . ***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 open to all of our patrons and regular donors. Join us on Patreon if you haven't already, then come say hi on the 20th! ------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to addr
S9 E122 · Thu, September 30, 2021
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 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram . Tag #thebittersweetlife with your expat story for a chance to be featured! NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1: OUT
S9 E395 · Mon, September 27, 2021
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 what he should do. Listen in to hear them get into it. ------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram . Tag #thebittersweetlife</spa
S9 E121 · Thu, September 23, 2021
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. ------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram . Tag #thebittersweetlife with your expat story for a chance to be featured! <p class="
S9 E394 · Mon, September 20, 2021
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 surprised her, unsettled her, and baffled her. She also shares her thoughts on the prospect of moving back to the States one day. ------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram . Tag <a href= "https://www.instagram.com/e
S9 E120 · Thu, September 16, 2021
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, 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram . Tag #thebittersweetlife with your expat story for a chance to be featured! NEW TO THE SHOW?</strong
S9 E393 · Mon, September 13, 2021
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 plans that resulted in an unexpected morning spent in Brooklyn, New York? Also, how is international travel like motherhood? Tiffany answers these and many other questions on the very first episode of brand-new Season Nine. ------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/thebittersweetlifepodcast/" target="_blank" rel="noope
S8 E392 · Thu, September 09, 2021
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 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram . Tag #thebittersweetlife with you
S8 E391 · Mon, September 06, 2021
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 moving to a new place. *** 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. *** ------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , <span class=
S8 E390 · Thu, September 02, 2021
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 stylish boots to canvas shoes. Visit Lugz.com and enter our promo code BITTERSWEET for an extra 30% off. *** ------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and <sp
S8 E389 · Mon, August 30, 2021
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. *** 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. *** ------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , <a href="https://www.facebook.com/bittersweetlifepodcast"
S8 E388 · Thu, August 26, 2021
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, but the boyfriend left behind). We listen to reel-to-reel tapes and letters from that time that poignantly capture Italy in 1963. *** 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. *** ------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter <
S8 E387 · Mon, August 23, 2021
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. *** ------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram . Tag <a href
S8 E386 · Thu, August 19, 2021
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 promo code BITTERSWEET for an extra 30% off. *** ------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram . Tag <a href= "https
S8 E385 · Mon, August 16, 2021
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 the true story behind the Borgias, as well as where you can go in Rome to visit some of the places they lived. 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. ------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through <a href="https://twitter.com/BitterSweetPod" target= "_blank" rel="noopener
S8 E384 · Thu, August 12, 2021
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—well, some of the 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 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram . Tag #thebittersweetlife with your expat story for
S8 E383 · Mon, August 09, 2021
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: 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram . Tag #thebittersweetlife with your expat story for a chance to be featured! NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with <a href= "https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/outset/id843351111?i=1000363761134" target="_blank" rel="no
S8 E382 · Thu, August 05, 2021
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 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram . Tag #thebittersweetlife with your expat story for a chance to be featured! NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with <a href= "https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/outset
S8 E381 · Mon, August 02, 2021
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 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram . Tag #thebittersweetlife with your expat story for a chance to be featured! NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with <a href= "https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/outset/id843351111?i=1000363
S8 E119 · Thu, July 29, 2021
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. ------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram . Tag #thebittersweetlife with your expat story for a chance to be featured! <p class="p
S8 E380 · Mon, July 26, 2021
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 discovery of the long-lost Caravaggio painting in this article in The Irish Times or in the book The Lost Painting by Jonathan Harr. ------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter ,
S8 E18 · Thu, July 22, 2021
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-Blood Prince was released. The joy and excitement in the voices of these kids is something you just have to hear—their passion for a book that has been translated into more languages than almost any other non-religious text. **This episode was sponsored by EMERGENCY UK. Click here to find out how to donate to this worthy charitable organization that provides free high-quality healthcare around 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 generosity! Visit our Patreon site to find out more. TIP YOUR PODCASTER: Say thanks with a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through <a h
S8 E379 · Mon, July 19, 2021
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 come up in this thought-provoking discussion. We also chat about writing in a foreign language. Can journal writing in a foreign language access a different part of your brain? Will you have different thoughts? If you write a book that takes place in a foreign country, would you ever attempt at writing the dialogue in that language and then translate it back to the language of the book? ------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through <a href="https://twitter.com
S8 E117 · Thu, July 15, 2021
Bittersweet Moment #117: Being English in Italy—During the European Cup
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 conflicted during the match than she expected she would. (Her half-English/half-Italian seven-year-old son weighs in too! Does he side with mom or dad?) **This episode was sponsored by EMERGENCY UK. Click here to find out how to donate to this worthy charitable organization that provides free high-quality healthcare around 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 generosity! Visit our Patreon site to find out more. TIP YOUR PODCASTER: Say thanks with a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twi
S8 E378 · Mon, July 12, 2021
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, change, and the nostalgia that can often pervade it. (Bonus: you might just hear Tiffany tear up for the first time on this podcast!) **This episode was sponsored by Faherty —a family-run environmentally friendly clothing company that creates soft and comfortable clothes that are the perfect blend of casual and classic. They also offer a Lifetime Guarantee of Quality: they are so confident in the quality of their clothes that they will replace or fix them—for life. Get 20% off your entire purchase by using our code BITTERSWEET. ------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through <a href="https://twitter.com/BitterSweetPod" target= "_blank" rel="noop
S8 E116 · Thu, July 08, 2021
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 comfortable clothes that are the perfect blend of casual and classic. They also offer a Lifetime Guarantee of Quality: they are so confident in the quality of their clothes that they will replace or fix them—for life. Get 20% off your entire purchase by using our code BITTERSWEET. **Thanks also to EMERGENCY UK for supporting the show. Click here to find out how to donate to this worthy charitable organization that provides free high-quality healthcare around 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 generosity! Visit our Patreon site to find out more. TIP YOUR PODCASTER: Say thanks with a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through <a href="https://twitter.com/BitterSweetPod"
S8 E377 · Mon, July 05, 2021
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 friendly clothing company that creates soft and comfortable clothes that are the perfect blend of casual and classic. They also offer a Lifetime Guarantee of Quality: they are so confident in the quality of their clothes that they will replace or fix them—for life. Get 20% off your entire purchase by using our code BITTERSWEET. **Thanks also to EMERGENCY UK for supporting the show. Click here to find out how to donate to this worthy charitable organization that provides free high-quality healthcare around 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 generosity! Visit our Patreon site to find out more. TIP YOUR PODCASTER: Say thanks with a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through
S8 E115 · Thu, July 01, 2021
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 over a week compare to being stuck in her home for months at a time during quarantine. If you are interested in taking a trip like this, you can find more information here . **This episode was sponsored by Faherty —a family-run environmentally friendly clothing company that creates soft and comfortable clothes that are the perfect blend of casual and classic. They also offer a Lifetime Guarantee of Quality: they are so confident in the quality of their clothes that they will replace or fix them—for life. Get 20% off your entire purchase by using our code BITTERSWEET. ------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a questio
S8 E376 · Mon, June 28, 2021
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 Simonell i, 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 America, eventually settling in Mexico City, only to decide that Italy is where she truly belongs. Hear how her love of travel led her to a life of her dreams, and how she turned what could have been a devastating crisis into a new career that brings her joy and purpose and helps other women who've been through similar trauma. Find out more about Asia's relationship coaching services on her website , read about her travels on her travel blog , and follow her adventures on her Instagram page. Read her viral HuffPost article After My Divorce at 32, I Left the Country and Never Came Back . **This episode was sponsored by Faherty —a family-run environmentally friendly clothing company that creates soft and comfortable clothes that are the perfect blend of casual and classic. They also offer a Lifetime Guarantee of Quality: they are so confident in the quality of their clothes that they will replace or fix them—for life. Get 20% off your entire purchase by using our code BITTERSWEET. ------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our web
S8 E114 · Thu, June 24, 2021
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 traditions of the last century here . , learn the differences between Italian and American weddings here , and hear some experiences from Tiffany's own Italian-American wedding here . **This episode was sponsored by Faherty —a family-run environmentally friendly clothing company that creates soft and comfortable clothes that are the perfect blend of casual and classic. They also offer a Lifetime Guarantee of Quality: they are so confident in the quality of their clothes that they will replace or fix them—for life. Get 20% off your entire purchase by using our code BITTERSWEET. ------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast
S8 E375 · Mon, June 21, 2021
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 learning to live together in such close quarters, having a complete break from all forms of technology in order to truly commune with nature. Here all about it in her own words on this week's episode. If you are interested in taking a trip like this, you can find more information here . **This episode was sponsored by Faherty —a family-run environmentally friendly clothing company that creates soft and comfortable clothes that are the perfect blend of casual and classic. They also offer a Lifetime Guarantee of Quality: they are so confident in the quality of their clothes that they will replace or fix them—for life. Get 20% off your entire purchase by using our code BITTERSWEET. ------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want
S8 E113 · Thu, June 17, 2021
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 tradition Tiffany put her foot down about during her own wedding—and how she was eventually overruled by her future father-in-law. Find the first part of this episode here , and hear about classic Italian traditions of the last century 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 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , <a href="https://www.facebook.c
S8 E374 · Mon, June 14, 2021
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 to doing, now that the virus seems—at least in parts of the world—to be under control at last. We share some of them on this episode, as well as what the two of us hope we won't have to start doing again. ------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/thebittersweetlifepodcast/" target="_blank" rel="n
S8 E112 · Thu, June 10, 2021
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 passed. You'll hear what her father-in-law did with the top tier of her wedding cake, what her mother-in-law did with her bouquet, and what innocuous paper product almost derailed the whole wedding (not really). ------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and
S8 E373 · Mon, June 07, 2021
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 Cooke. As a serial expat as well as a man of color, he has a unique perspective on this subject, specifically his experiences as an African American male living and working in post-apartheid South Africa. ------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and <span c
S8 E111 · Thu, June 03, 2021
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 completely obscure. Tiffany also talks about a few of these old traditions that she took part in in an Italian wedding she attended way back in 2004. ------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram . Tag <a href= "https://www.instag
S8 E372 · Mon, May 31, 2021
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 weather the expat vs immigrant labels have anything to do with race or privilege. PS Listen in on Tiffany becoming an Italian citizen in Episode 84 CITIZEN captured back in 2015 when Aurelio was just a newborn. ------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , <span clas
S8 E371 · Thu, May 27, 2021
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 down the road when financial decisions have to be made, as well as other pit-falls that can crop up in any relationship that has to do with money. Bottom line: we all have to talk about money from time to time—might as well learn how to do it. Be sure to listen to Part 1 first. Find Anna Sale's bestselling new book Let's Talk About Hard Things on Amazon or at your local bookshop. Find Anna on Twitter , Facebook , Instagram , or at her podcast, Death, Sex, and Money . ------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also fin
S8 E370 · Mon, May 24, 2021
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. She sits down with us this week to talk about tactics to have those challenging talks. Anna’s philosophy is: “hard conversations” are inevitable in life, so you might as well learn how to have them. In this interview, she talks about why the three topics of death, sex, and money (all unavoidable sooner or later) can make people so uncomfortable. We discuss how your upbringing and background influence your life choices, and what happens when you choose to go off-script, as well as how hard conversations with your family of origin can be—and why that’s completely normal. Anna also offers practical tips on how to start a conversation that might be awkward and uncomfortable, what to listen for in a difficult talk, and how to be direct, but at the same time kind. Find Let's Talk About Hard Things on Amazon or at your local bookshop. Find Anna on Twitter , Facebook , Instagram , or at her podcast, Death, Sex, and Money . ------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you
S8 E110 · Thu, May 20, 2021
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 "Covid-free" flights will operate. **Please note, this episode mentions a rule that travelers from the US must be tested for Covid-19 72 hours or less before departure. In fact, the rule (as of the time of airing) is 48 hours or less. Check updated regulations before traveling. ------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and <a href="https://www.inst
S8 E369 · Mon, May 17, 2021
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 who listen to ours every week. You can find the original two-part Day in the Life episode here and 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 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter</span
S8 E109 · Thu, May 13, 2021
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 . ------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/thebittersweetlifepodcast/" target="_blank"
S8 E368 · Mon, May 10, 2021
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 world are thrilled), but is it too soon? Just a few weeks ago, Italians could't even sit outside at a bar or restaurant, and just a few weeks before that, they could barely leave their homes or see their loved ones. The vaccine rollout in Italy has so far been very slow, and infection rate is still high. Could letting in tourists en masse (even vaccinated ones) create a new wave of illness? This week, we discuss our conflicting feelings over Italy's new plan, and Tiffany asks Katy when she plans to come visit. ------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through <a href="https://t
S8 E108 · Thu, May 06, 2021
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 never any pandemic at all. Why is that? ------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram . Tag #thebittersweetlife with your e
S8 E367 · Mon, May 03, 2021
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 short travel films that capture some of the most fascinating, vibrant, and beautiful places on earth. They discuss a wide range of topics including what travel was like pre-social media and pre-smartphone, and how dramatically it has changed. As someone who is passionate about documentation, and has literally made it his profession, Riley discusses the limits of documentation during travel, and when he feels it’s time to put down the camera and focus on the pure experience in and of itself. They also speculate on the future of travel in a post-Covid world, and wonder if access to travel should be guaranteed to all, or if it truly is only a privilege. Finally, he shares his tips on how to travel on a shoestring. Learn more about Endless Earth here . Find Riley at his website . Find Endless Earth on Instagram . ------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a var
S8 E107 · Thu, April 29, 2021
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 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram . Tag #thebittersweetlife with your expat story for a chance to be featured! NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode
S8 E366 · Mon, April 26, 2021
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: 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram . Tag #thebittersweetlife with your expat story for a chance to be featured! NEW TO THE SHOW? Don'
S8 E106 · Thu, April 22, 2021
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 attempt a project like this, because believe it or not, speed writing comes with a slew of unexpected benefits. ------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram . Tag <a href= "https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/th
S8 E365 · Mon, April 19, 2021
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 expat in the Dolomites, cycling home from work and hoping not to be stopped by the Carabinieri, to Jill in Oregon spotting a hummingbird and looking for the silver lining in the midst of chaos. And many more. We're planning a "One Year Later" version of our Day in the Life episode, so send us audio snapshots of your life right now, and we may use them in that episode. Record a voice memo and email it to us. Find the longer, two-part version of this episode here and 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 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on <a href= "https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-bittersweet-life/id843351111?mt=2
S8 E105 · Thu, April 15, 2021
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 all his tips on how to support yourself on your expat journey. Find David on Instagram here and here , on Facebook here or here , and on Twitter . -------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email
S8 E364 · Mon, April 12, 2021
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 that sparked this conversation. -------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through
S8 E104 · Thu, April 08, 2021
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 Episode 363 Speak, Okinawa first. **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. Participate in a learning sprint to get up to 100% cash back! Use our code BITTERSWEET to get a discount on your deposit. Click here to find out more. -------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN TH
S8 E363 · Mon, April 05, 2021
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 her parents really are, to explore her own internalized racism, and to apologize for her inability to see how much her mother loved her, and how much she had lost in moving abroad. Order your copy of Speak Okinawa here , or find it at your local bookstore. **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. Participate in a learning sprint to get up to 100% cash back! Use our code BITTERSWEET to get a discount on your deposit. Click here to find out more. -------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and
S8 E103 · Wed, March 31, 2021
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. And on this day, Katy wanted to see new life begin. **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. Participate in a learning sprint to get up to 100% cash back! Use our code BITTERSWEET to get a discount on your deposit. Click here to find out more. -------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email <a href="mailto:bittersweetlife@mail.com" target="
S8 E362 · Mon, March 29, 2021
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 crazy things we've done in the pursuit of a story or an idea, and how some of those things have brought unexpected blessings into our lives. **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. Participate in a learning sprint to get up to 100% cash back! Use our code BITTERSWEET to get a discount on your deposit. Click here to find out more. -------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can al
S8 E102 · Thu, March 25, 2021
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 with very affordable prices. The small online classes, available 24/7, are taught by native-speaking teachers with proven methods and expert-designed curriculums. Participate in a learning sprint to get up to 100% cash back! Use our code BITTERSWEET to get a discount on your deposit. Click here to find out more. -------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email <a href="mailto:bittersweetlife@mail.com" target="_blank" rel=
S8 E362 · Mon, March 22, 2021
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 your documents in order, how to learn any language, and how to make yourself at home once you get there. This conversation will help you think through your goal to live abroad, offering practical tips that will turn the idea from simply a dream into a concrete plan for the near future. **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. Participate in a learning sprint to get up to 100% cash back! Use our code BITTERSWEET to get a discount on your deposit. Click here to find out more. -------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on <a href= "
S8 E101 · Wed, March 17, 2021
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. Participate in a learning sprint to get up to 100% cash back! Use our code BITTERSWEET to get a discount on your deposit. Click here to find out more. -------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , <a href="
S8 E360 · Mon, March 15, 2021
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, while the situation in the US is getting better, as well as why that might be. **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. Participate in a learning sprint to get up to 100% cash back! Use our code BITTERSWEET to get a discount on your deposit. Click here to find out more. -------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through <a href="https://twitter.com/BitterSw
S8 E100 · Thu, March 11, 2021
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 pandemic, before it was even a pandemic, and when coronavirus was still a new word for most of us. **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-order your copy 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 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through <a href="https://twitter.com/BitterSweetPod" targe
S8 E359 · Mon, March 08, 2021
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 with a brilliant and original idea to prevent the museum (one of the most important in the world) from being overrun with visitors, leading to a less-than-ideal experience for everyone. Listen to the episode to hear about his daring new idea. The article mentioned in this episode can be found here . **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-order your copy 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 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us
S8 E99 · Thu, March 04, 2021
Bittersweet Moment #99: Feedback, Good or Bad?
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 Feedback (with Therese Huston) yet, make sure you listen to that first. **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-order your copy 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 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email <a href="mailto:bittersweetlife@mail
S8 E358 · Mon, March 01, 2021
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 stars into superstars. Dr. Therese Huston received her MS and PhD in cognitive psychology from Carnegie Mellon University and is currently completing a post graduate program at the University of Oxford. She’s is also the author of Teaching What You Don’t Know and How Women Decide . Find Therese Huston on Twitter or at her website . **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-order your copy 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 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue.
S8 E98 · Thu, February 25, 2021
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 present). Listen to the end to find out how to be buried there (it's still possible!) Find Katy's essay on the death of John Keats in Catapult literary magazine. Find out more about how to be buried in the Non-Catholic Cemetery in Rome. Don't miss Episode 357: Literary Travel , that was partly inspired by Keat's grave and the Keats-Shelley Museum in Rome. Hear Tiffany talk about memorizing poetry on Bittersweet Moment #55: Memorizing Poetry . **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-order your copy 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 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on our website .) The show needs your support to continue. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click <a href="linktr.ee/thebitter
S8 E357 · Mon, February 22, 2021
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. Listen in to our conversation about travel-inspired reading and our reading-inspired travel. **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-order your copy 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 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , <a href= "https://www.facebook.com/bittersweetlifepodca
S8 E97 · Thu, February 18, 2021
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 content like this, join us on Patreon , or donate via PayPal . Your support is so so appreciated. * *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-order your copy 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 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on our website .) The show needs your support to continue. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us
S8 E356 · Mon, February 15, 2021
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. The Italian language book collection Tiffany is highly anticipating arriving at her door can be found here . If you want to receive letters destined for Sherlock Holmes, sign up here . **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-order your copy 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 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email <
S8 E96 · Thu, February 11, 2021
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, innovators, thinkers, and tinkerers. Check out their upcoming release, I Had No Idea You Were Black , by Ronald Crutcher. Pre-order your copy 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 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through <a href= "https://twitter
S8 E355 · Mon, February 08, 2021
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 —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-order your copy 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 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram . Tag
S8 E354 · Thu, February 04, 2021
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 founders, innovators, thinkers, and tinkerers. Check out their upcoming release, I Had No Idea You Were Black , by Ronald Crutcher. Pre-order your copy 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 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Fa
S8 E353 · Mon, February 01, 2021
Virtual Tour of Rome with Special Guests
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 super-strict lockdown in the spring of 2020. **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-order your copy 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 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through <spa
S8 E95 · Thu, January 28, 2021
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-order your copy 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 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram . Tag #thebittersweetlife with your expat story for a chance to
S8 E352 · Mon, January 25, 2021
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've picked up on our travels. **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-order your copy 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 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and <a href= "https://ww
S8 E94 · Thu, January 21, 2021
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 this historic moment. **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-order your copy 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 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and <a href= "https://www.
S8 E351 · Sat, January 16, 2021
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 real to us. Find Liam Callanan on Twitter , Instagram , Facebook , or on his website . Order your copy of Paris by the Book at Amazon , or find it anywhere you buy books. **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-order your copy 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 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on <a href= "https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-bittersweet-life/id843351111?mt=2
S8 E93 · Thu, January 14, 2021
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 his blog The Catholic Traveler, as well as this informative article from Reuters. -------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on our website .) The show needs your support to continue. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram <
S8 E350 · Sun, January 10, 2021
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, 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram . Tag #thebittersweetlife with your expat story for a chance to be featured! NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1: OUTSET BOOK: Want to read Tiffany's book, Midnight
S8 E92 · Tue, January 05, 2021
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 yourself talking about it on your phone's voice memo app, then email it to us at bittersweetlifepodcast@gmail.com , along with a photo (optional). We will share some of them on a future 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on our website .) The show needs your support to continue. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram . Tag #thebittersweetlife wi
S8 E349 · Sat, January 02, 2021
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 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram . Tag #thebittersweetlife with your expat story for a chance to be featured! NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1: OUTSET BOOK: Want to read Tiffany's book, Midnight in the Piazza? Learn more <
S8 E91 · Thu, December 31, 2020
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. Happy New Year and see you in 2021! -------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram . Tag #thebittersweetlife with your expat story for a chance to be featured! NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Ep
S8 E348 · Mon, December 28, 2020
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—halfway across the world from each other. Katy drew on her vast collection of sounds she has captured over the years, Tiffany brought her knowledge of Rome and its history, and Katy put it all together with her exceptional sound-editing skills. The result has to be heard to be believed. When we originally posted this episode back in April, several listeners actually thought we had indeed taped it on the streets of Rome. Today, for our very last episode of 2020, we decided to repost our most popular episode of the year, and, not surprisingly, this was it. -------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through <a
S8 E90 · Wed, December 23, 2020
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! Visit our Patreon site to find out more. TIP YOUR PODCASTER: Say thanks with a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram . Tag #thebittersweetlife with your expat story for a chance to be featured! NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1: OUTSET BOOK: Want to read Tiffany's book, Midnight in the Piazza? Learn more here or order on Amazon . TOUR ROME: If you're traveling to Rome, don't mi
S8 E347 · Fri, December 18, 2020
A Literary 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 holiday season: The Company: A Novel of the CIA by Robert Littell The Quiet Americans: Four CIA Spies at the Dawn of the Cold War-a Tragedy in Three Acts by Scott Anderson The Autobiography of Alice B. Toklas (illustrated) by Gertrude Stein and Maira Kalman Here We Are by Graham Swift Hench: A Novel by Natalie Zina Walschots Set My Heart to Five: A Novel by Simon Stephenson Ninety-Nine Glimpses of Princess Margaret by Craig Brown Find Nancy on Instagram , Twitter , Facebook , or 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. 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. SUBSCRIBE:
S8 E89 · Thu, December 17, 2020
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 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram . Tag #thebittersweetlife with your expat story for a chance to be featured! NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1: OUTSET BOOK: Want to read Tiffany's book, M
S8 E346 · Mon, December 14, 2020
After Midnight
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 endeavors (or reviving ones that had long been left dormant), Matthew built a sound studio in his basement, wrote a radio drama, and recorded it, complete with live actors and home-made sound effects. Close your eyes and imagine you're in a different time as we present this suspenseful and delicious piece of theater of the mind. Find Matthew Woerner on Instagram and Facebook . -------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , <a href= "https:
S8 E88 · Thu, December 10, 2020
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 a country that is all but locked-down. ** 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. Find it on Amazon , IndieBound , Bookshop.org , or at your favorite local bookstore.** -------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email <a href="mailto:bittersweetl
S8 E345 · Sun, December 06, 2020
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 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. Find it on Amazon , IndieBound , Bookshop.org , or at your favorite local bookstore.** -------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through <a href= "https://twitter.c
S87 E8 · Thu, December 03, 2020
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. Find it on Amazon , IndieBound , Bookshop.org , or at your favorite local bookstore.** -------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and <a href= "https://www.instagram.com/t
S8 E344 · Mon, November 30, 2020
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 changing our goals is a better strategy than sticking to something we may have outgrown. **This episode was sponsored by Clyde Hill Publishing —partner and publisher for founders, innovators, thinkers, and tinkerers. Their newest release is Facing Death: Finding Dignity, Hope, and Healing at the End by former guest Jim DeMaine . You can purchase the book on Amazon , IndieBound , Bookshop.org , or at your favorite local bookstore.** -------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN
S8 E86 · Thu, November 26, 2020
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: 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram . Tag #thebittersweetlife with your expat story for a chance to be featured! NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with <span class= "s1
S8 E343 · Mon, November 23, 2020
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 amazing story. Find Clare on Twitter and Instagram . **This episode was sponsored by Clyde Hill Publishing —partner and publisher for founders, innovators, thinkers, and tinkerers. Their newest release is Facing Death: Finding Dignity, Hope, and Healing at the End by former guest Jim DeMaine . You can purchase the book on Amazon , IndieBound , Bookshop.org , or at your favorite local bookstore.** -------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to m
S8 E85 · Thu, November 19, 2020
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 wonders if they will be enough to flatten this devastating new curve. ** This episode was sponsored by Clyde Hill Publishing —partner and publisher for founders, innovators, thinkers, and tinkerers.** -------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram . Tag <a href= "https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/thebitters
S8 E342 · Mon, November 16, 2020
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 welcoming, how having a baby can change your sleep forever, and some simple tricks we can all do to improve our sleep. Listen to an episode of The Bittersweet Life reimagined as a bedtime story over on the Sleep With Me podcast. Listen to a Modern Love essay about a couple whose sleep cycles are exactly opposite on The Night Girl Finds a Day Boy . **This episode was sponsored by Clyde Hill Publishing —partner and publisher for founders, innovators, thinkers, and tinkerers. Their newest release is Facing Death: Finding Dignity, Hope, and Healing at the End by former guest Jim DeMaine . Katy will interview the author live at a virtual Town Hall Seattle event on Monday 16 November at 7:30pm PST {THE DAY THIS EPISODE AIRS} and you are all invited. Get your tickets here ! You can purchase the book on Amazon , IndieBound , Bookshop.org , or at your favorite local bookstore.** -------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know
S8 Enull · Thu, November 12, 2020
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 think might happen next. **This episode was sponsored by Clyde Hill Publishing —partner and publisher for founders, innovators, thinkers, and tinkerers. Their newest release is Facing Death: Finding Dignity, Hope, and Healing at the End by former guest Jim DeMaine . Katy will interview the author live at a virtual Town Hall Seattle event on Monday 16 November at 7:30pm PST and you are all invited. Get your tickets here ! You can purchase the book on Amazon , IndieBound , Bookshop.org , or at your favorite local bookstore.** -------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written revie
S8 E341 · Mon, November 09, 2020
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, or on Instagram at @cyndierabbit or @everywherecyndie . She traveled with Remote Year . **This episode was sponsored by Clyde Hill Publishing —partner and publisher for founders, innovators, thinkers, and tinkerers. Their newest release is Facing Death: Finding Dignity, Hope, and Healing at the End by former guest Jim DeMaine . Katy will interview the author live at a virtual Town Hall Seattle event on Monday 16 November at 7:30pm PST and you are all invited. Get your tickets here ! You can purchase the book on Amazon , IndieBound , Bookshop.org , or at your favorite local bookstore.** -------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop v
S8 E83 · Thu, November 05, 2020
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 of 4pm. But it would turn out to be anything but a straight-forward election night. Listen in as we react live to the results of the most crucial and tumultuous election of our lives. **This episode was sponsored by Clyde Hill Publishing —partner and publisher for founders, innovators, thinkers, and tinkerers. Their newest release is Facing Death: Finding Dignity, Hope, and Healing at the End by former guest Jim DeMaine . Katy will interview the author live at a virtual Town Hall Seattle event on Monday 16 November at 7:30pm PST and you are all invited. Get your tickets here ! You can purchase the book on Amazon , IndieBound , Bookshop.org , or at your favorite local bookstore.** -------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click <a href="linktr.ee/thebit
S8 E340 · Mon, November 02, 2020
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 a time like this, and Katy can relate: she recalls watching her hometown team win the Super Bowl while she was living in Rome: by herself in a pub in the middle of the night—while she knew her entire city was celebrating back home. **This episode was sponsored by Clyde Hill Publishing —partner and publisher for founders, innovators, thinkers, and tinkerers. Today Katy reads an excerpt from their newest release Facing Death: Finding Dignity, Hope, and Healing at the End by former guest Jim DeMaine . Katy will interview the author live at a virtual Town Hall Seattle event on Monday 16 November at 7:30pm PST and you are all invited. Get your tickets here ! You can purchase the book on Amazon , IndieBound , Bookshop.org , or at your favorite local bookstore.** -------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe t
S8 E82 · Thu, October 29, 2020
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 tinkerers. Today Katy reads an excerpt from their newest release Facing Death: Finding Dignity, Hope, and Healing at the End by former guest Jim DeMaine . Katy will interview the author live at a virtual Town Hall Seattle event on Monday 16 November at 7:30pm PST and you are all invited. Get your tickets here ! You can purchase the book on Amazon , IndieBound , Bookshop.org , or at your favorite local bookstore.** -------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more list
S8 E339 · Mon, October 26, 2020
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 know can't hurt us—or that maybe don't even exist? And why do we enjoy being scared? Why do we seek out terror? We explore all these topics on our latest episode. **This episode was sponsored by Clyde Hill Publishing —partner and publisher for founders, innovators, thinkers, and tinkerers. Today Katy reads an excerpt from their newest release Facing Death: Finding Dignity, Hope, and Healing at the End by former guest Jim DeMaine . Katy will interview the author live at a virtual Town Hall Seattle event on Monday 16 November at 7:30pm PST and you are all invited. Get your tickets here ! You can purchase the book on Amazon , IndieBound , Bookshop.org , or at your favorite local bookstore.** -------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click <a href="l
S8 E81 · Wed, October 21, 2020
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 responsible for its seemingly impossible realism. You can find the work a the Cappella Sansevero Museum in Naples. **This episode was sponsored by Clyde Hill Publishing —partner and publisher for founders, innovators, thinkers, and tinkerers. Today Katy reads an excerpt from their newest release Facing Death: Finding Dignity, Hope, and Healing at the End by former guest Jim DeMaine . Katy will interview the author live at a virtual Town Hall Seattle event on Monday 16 November at 7:30pm PST and you are all invited. Get your tickets here ! You can purchase the book on Amazon , IndieBound , Bookshop.org , or at your favorite local bookstore.** -------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never mis
S8 E338 · Mon, October 19, 2020
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 Katy ever saw on a plane? And how did the word "cute" get redefined through the centuries? Listen in to find out. **This episode was sponsored by Clyde Hill Publishing —partner and publisher for founders, innovators, thinkers, and tinkerers. Today Katy reads an excerpt from their newest release Facing Death: Finding Dignity, Hope, and Healing at the End by former guest Jim DeMaine . Katy will interview the author live at a virtual Town Hall Seattle event on Monday 16 November at 7:30pm PST and you are all invited. Get your tickets here ! You can purchase the book on Amazon , IndieBound , Bookshop.org , or at your favorite local bookstore.** -------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you ne
S8 E80 · Thu, October 15, 2020
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 , or better yet, drop by your local bookstore and you might just find a signed copy. -------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram . Tag <a href= "https://www.instagram.com/explore
S8 E337 · Mon, October 12, 2020
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 have any idea what she was getting in to? How has motherhood changed her, and is it anything like what she expected? Listen in, and if you like it, consider supporting the show on Patreon so you'll get extra content like this every month. -------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram . Tag #thebittersweetlife
S8 E79 · Thu, October 08, 2020
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. -------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram . Tag #thebittersweetlife with your expat story for a chance to be featured! NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1: OUTSET BOOK:</
S8 E336 · Mon, October 05, 2020
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 as having more time to read. We also hear from several listeners, both by letter and by voice memo, about the silver linings they have found during this trying 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 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram . Tag #thebittersweetlife with your expat story for a chance to be featured!
S8 E78 · Thu, October 01, 2020
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 the myth. -------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram . Tag #thebittersweetl
S8 E335 · Mon, September 28, 2020
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 and delve into the fascinating world of mystery and art. -------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can al
S8 E77 · Thu, September 24, 2020
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 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram . Tag #thebittersweetlife with your expat story for a chance to be featured! NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1: OUTSET BOOK: Want to read Tiffany's book, Midnight in the Piazza? Learn mor
S8 E334 · Mon, September 21, 2020
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 by mail, whether you are doing it from your own US state or from a far-flung foreign country. Also, they both realize that neither of them has ever voted in person. Ever! Unless you count the times Tiffany has voted in Italy—she details what it's like to vote in Italian elections and how it's refreshingly old-school and surprisingly easy. *** Find out how to vote from abroad no matter your state with the non-partisan organization votefromabroad.org . --------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , <a href= "https://www.facebook.com/bitterswee
S8 E76 · Thu, September 17, 2020
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 them on today's mini-episode. She even got a hand-written response to one of her hand-written thank-you notes. How cool is that? --------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram . Tag #thebittersweetlife with your expat story for a chance to be featured! NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afr
S8 E333 · Mon, September 14, 2020
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 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram . Tag #thebittersweetlife with your expat story for a chance to be featured! NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1: OUTSET BOOK: Want to read Tiffany's book, Midnight in the Piazza? Learn more <a href
S7 E75 · Thu, September 10, 2020
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 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram . Tag #thebittersweetlife with your expat story for a chance to be featured! NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1: OUTSET BOOK: Want to read Tiffany's book, Midnight in the Piazza? Learn more here or order on <a href= "https://amzn.to/
S7 E332 · Mon, September 07, 2020
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 like a distant memory. He talks about things that are simply no longer a part of our lives, something as simple as shaking hands with a stranger or kissing a friend on the cheek, as well as all the things that make up our new normal: quiet streets, masked people, socially distanced meet-ups. He even shares an excerpt from the book in which he marvels about the uncanny silence on the streets of Manhattan. Order How We Live Now here or find it wherever you buy books. Find Bill Hayes on Instagram , Facebook , or at his website . --------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so mo
S7 E74 · Thu, September 03, 2020
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 Life and receive awesome prizes in return for your generosity! Visit our Patreon site to find out more. TIP YOUR PODCASTER: Say thanks with a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram . Tag #thebittersweetlife with your expat story for a chance to be featured! NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1: OUTSET BOOK: Want to read Tiffany's book, Midnight in the Piazza? Learn more here or order on Amazon . <st
S7 E331 · Mon, August 31, 2020
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: 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram . Tag #thebittersweetlife with your expat story for a chance to be featured! NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1: OUTSET BOOK: Want to read Tiffany's boo
S7 E73 · Thu, August 27, 2020
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, 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram . Tag #thebittersweetlife with your expat story for a chance to be featured! NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1: OUTSET BOOK: Want to read Tiffany's book, Midni
S7 E330 · Mon, August 24, 2020
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 coin: what is Europe (and the rest of the world) like with no American tourists? --------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram . Tag #thebittersweetlife with your expat story for a chance to be featured! NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with <a href= "http://thebittersweet
S7 E72 · Wed, August 19, 2020
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 never forget. And, oddly, it only made her yearn to travel more. --------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram . Tag #thebittersweetlife with your expat story for a chance to be featured! NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with <a href= "http://thebittersweetlife.net
S7 E329 · Mon, August 17, 2020
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 to Berlin, then a month later after she had settled in the German capital, then fast-forward six months to post-lockdown Berlin. It's a very personal journey that turned out much different than expected. Find Stephanie on Twitter , Instagram , or on her website . ***Related episodes*** *Hear about Katy's recent move from San Francisco to Seattle on Episode 277: Transition . *Guest Mike Shaw talks about his move from China to Bali on Episode 288: China vs. Bali *Guest Debra Bruno talks about the depression and isolation that repatriating can cause on Episode 64: Repat . *Guest Maria Foley discusses the results of a survey she conducted of former expats to discover what struggles they faced coming home in Episode 66: Repat, 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 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your su
S7 E71 · Thu, August 13, 2020
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 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram . Tag #thebittersweetlife with your expat story for a chance to be featured! NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1: OUTSET BOOK: Want to read Tiffany's book, Midnight in the Piazza? Learn more here or order on Amazon .
S7 E328 · Mon, August 10, 2020
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 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram . Tag #thebittersweetlife with your expat story for a chance to be featured! NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1: OUTSET BOOK: Want to read Tiffany's book
S7 E70 · Thu, August 06, 2020
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! Visit our Patreon site to find out more. TIP YOUR PODCASTER: Say thanks with a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram . Tag #thebittersweetlife with your expat story for a chance to be featured! NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1: OUTSET BOOK: Want to read Tiffany's book, Midnight in the Piazza? Learn more here or order on Amazon . TOUR ROME: If you're traveling to Rome, don't
S7 E327 · Mon, August 03, 2020
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 realizes that perhaps Rome has indeed changed dramatically, it's just that she doesn't notice the differences. --------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram . Tag #thebittersweetlife
S7 E69 · Thu, July 30, 2020
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. --------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram . Tag #thebittersweetlife with your expat story for a chance to be featured! NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1: OUTSET
S7 E326 · Mon, July 27, 2020
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 sought through a challenging physical pursuit—and of learning to accept the idea of a complete reset, no matter when in life it comes." Order Rockaway here , or find it at your local bookshop. Read more about it on GoodReads , and learn more about Diane Cardwell on her website . You can also find her on Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram . --------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email <a
S7 E68 · Thu, July 23, 2020
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 wants a tour a dozen or more times. She also wonders: are the few tourists here now aware how lucky they are to see Rome like this? --------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram . Tag #thebittersweetlife with your expat story for a chance to be featured! NEW TO THE SHOW? Do
S7 E325 · Mon, July 20, 2020
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. --------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram . Tag #thebittersweetlife with your expat story for a chance to be featured! NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1: OUTSET <p
S7 E67 · Thu, July 16, 2020
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. --------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram . Tag #thebittersweetlife with your expat story for a chance to be featured! NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1: OUTSET BOOK: Wan
S7 E324 · Sun, July 12, 2020
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 us and whose teachings stay with us, even decades later.) --------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram . Tag #thebittersweetlife with your expat story for a chance to be featured! NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with <a href= "http://thebittersweetlife.net/epis
S7 E66 · Wed, July 08, 2020
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. --------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram . Tag #thebittersweetlife with your expat story for a chance to be featured! NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1: OUTSET BOOK:</str
S7 E323 · Sat, July 04, 2020
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? --------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram . Tag #thebittersweetlife with your expat story for a chance to be featured! NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1: OUTSET <
S7 E65 · Thu, July 02, 2020
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-episode, Drew joins us to talk about his popular podcast, where he came up with the idea, and why helping people sleep has become so important to him. Find his take on our episode here: 887: Virtual Tour of Rome – The Bittersweet Life crossover . (He doesn't get to our stuff until about minute 25.) Find our original version of that episode here: Episode 313: Virtual Tour of 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 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a questio
S7 E322 · Sun, June 28, 2020
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 quarantine turned the table on extroverts? --------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram . Tag #thebittersweetlife with your expat story for a chance to be featured! NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with <span cl
S7 E64 · Thu, June 25, 2020
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 fills you in on what it's like, what's wonderful about it, what's disappointing, and the basic info on how to visit. Book your tickets here (official site). --------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram . Tag #thebi
S7 E321 · Mon, June 22, 2020
Living Alone during Lockdown
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 experience living cut off from all human contact, and the ways she has learned to cope. Nicole is the author of the memoir Confessions of a Latter-Day Virgin , a finalist for the Washington State Book Award. Her essays have appeared in the New York Times , the Washington Post and Marie Claire . Find her on her website or on Twitter . Read more of her thoughts on her time during lockdown in her article in Seattle Magazine , Living Alone in a Former Sanitorium . and check out her first appearance on The Bittersweet Life back on Episode 124 SHIP . --------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us
S7 E63 · Thu, June 18, 2020
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 civilians. He shares his view from the streets, dispelling rumors of rioting and violence, and answering common questions about what exactly is going on in this ongoing organized protest. He also talks about the reactions of the area's local residents and business owners, the complaints from some Black Lives Matter activists that it's taking attention away from the movement, and how, perhaps surprising to some, he feels safer on the streets now than when the police were there. Find Casey on Instagram and Twitter, and listen to his earlier interview on Bittersweet Moment No. 61: A Nation in Protest . --------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email <a href="mailto:bi
S7 E320 · Sat, June 13, 2020
Facing Death (with Jim deMaine)
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 medicine emeritus at the University of Washington School of Medicine, and author of the upcoming book Facing Death: Finding Dignity, Hope and Healing at the End . As someone who has helped countless number of patients achieve a "good death," Jim shares his thoughts on healthy attitudes to have toward death as well as tips to navigate life in the time of the coronavirus pandemic. He also discusses the mental toll that extreme isolation and fear of Covid can have on people of all ages, and how to avoid it. Facing Death is not yet available for pre-order, so click here to be notified by email when it becomes available. --------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you w
S7 E62 · Thu, June 11, 2020
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. --------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram . Tag #thebittersweetlife with your expat story for a chance to be featured! NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with <a href= "http://thebittersweetlife.net/episode-1-ou
S7 E319 · Sun, June 07, 2020
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 lure Romans to dine? On this episode, we hypothesize about what is in store for Rome in this post-Covid age, at least until the tourists return en masse. And we also muse upon the question: who is Rome for—at least, the historic center? With so few locals living and working in the center, has it become a kind of “Disneyland” for tourists, and will the sudden lack of tourists change that? --------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , an
S7 E61 · Thu, June 04, 2020
Bittersweet Moment #61: A Nation in Protest
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 Instagram and Twitter . --------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram . Tag #thebittersweetlife with your expat story for a chance to be featured! NEW
S7 E318 · Sun, May 31, 2020
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" is the most commonly used noun in the English language?) We revisit an earlier episode, an interview with author and time expert Alan Burdick, to get some insight into our discussion. Grab a copy of Burdick's book Why Time Flies , a deep dive into the mysteries of time, here . Listen to Episode 148: TIME FLIES (with Alan Burdick) 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 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email <a href="mailto:bittersweetlife@
S7 E60 · Wed, May 27, 2020
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: 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram . Tag #thebittersweetlife with your expat story for a chance to be featured! NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1: OUTSET BOOK: Want to read Tiffany
S7 E317 · Sat, May 23, 2020
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 second wave of Covid cases? Have we learned anything at all or will 2+ months of quarantine have been in vain? We discuss this and more on our latest 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram . Tag #thebittersweetlife with yo
S7 E59 · Thu, May 21, 2020
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 continue to reinforce who he is. --------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram . Tag #thebittersweetlife with your expat story for a chance to be featured! NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with <span clas
S7 E316 · Sat, May 16, 2020
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 of this time as opposed to our “regular” lives, or less so? We’re also joined by Susan Engel, psychology professor and author of, among other titles, forthcoming The Intellectual Lives of Children . Engel is an expert on memory who answers some of our most pressing questions, and debunks some of our long-held beliefs about memory. ***Find the book we talk about on the show, Flights by Olga Tokarczuk, 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 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on <a href= "https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-bitter
S7 E58 · Thu, May 14, 2020
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 Fountain to church bells at noon ringing for (almost) no one to hear. --------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram . Tag #thebittersweetlife with your expat story for a chance to be featured! NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with <a href= "http://thebittersweetlife.n
S7 E315 · Sat, May 09, 2020
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 into the sky and around the world? We tackle these (frankly terrifying) questions on this week's episode, and we also discuss the potential benefits that could arise from the decline of mass tourism. --------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram . Tag #thebittersweetlife with your expat story for a chance
S7 E57 · Thu, May 07, 2020
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 . --------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram . Tag #thebittersweetlife with your expat story for a chance to be featured!</p
S7 E314 · Sun, May 03, 2020
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 and put down roots. Stray is a "memoir of growing up in a family shattered by lies and addiction, and of one woman's attempts to find a life beyond the limits of her past. Stray is a moving, sometimes devastating, brilliantly written and ultimately inspiring exploration of the landscapes of damage and survival." Find Stephanie on Twitter , Instagram , and Facebook. Pre-order your copy of Stray 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 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you wan
S7 E56 · Thu, April 30, 2020
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. 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram . Tag #thebittersweetlife with your expat story for a chance to be featured! NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1: OUTSET BOOK: Want to read Tiffany's book, Midnight in the Piazza? Learn more <a href= "http
S7 E313 · Sun, April 26, 2020
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 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram . Tag #thebittersweetlife with your expat story for a chance to be featured! NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1: OUTSET BOOK: Want to read Ti
S7 E55 · Thu, April 23, 2020
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? --------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram . Tag #thebittersweetlife with your expat story for a chance to be featured! NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with <a href= "http://thebitt
S7 E312 · Sun, April 19, 2020
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 foreseeable future. But we all want to know: once we start phase two, will life return (somewhat) to normal? Will coffee bars and restaurants reopen? Will we be able to go to parks again? What about the beach once summer hits in just a few months? We discuss this and more 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram . Tag <a href= "https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/thebitt
S7 E53 · Thu, April 16, 2020
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. 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram . Tag #thebittersweetlife with your expat story for a chance to be featured! NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1: OUTSET BOOK: Want to read Tiffany's book, Midnight in the Piazza? Learn more <a href= "https
S7 E311 · Mon, April 13, 2020
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 it All podcast. Then we weigh in with our own thoughts on the subject—especially keeping in mind that Tiffany and Katy have kept their friendship alive and strong despite living thousands of miles apart for nearly 25 years. --------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram . Tag <a h
S7 E53 · Thu, April 09, 2020
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, since we are all stuck at home. Tiffany in Rome and Katy in Seattle ruminate on just that in 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! Visit our Patreon site to find out more. TIP YOUR PODCASTER: Say thanks with a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram . Tag #thebittersweetlife with your expat story for a chance to be featured! NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid
S7 E310 · Mon, April 06, 2020
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 Valentina in Trentino counting her blessings via social media. Lastly, take a peek into Katy and her husband Derek’s craft night in Seattle. We end this show with the song Six Feet Apart , sent in by Seattle artists Miles and Katrina, and inspired by the social isolation of the coronavirus pandemic. Find Part 1 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 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a
S7 E309 · Sun, April 05, 2020
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 snowfall to Theresa in Port Townsend in a hailstorm to Jill in Manhattan, where the only sound on the city streets is the chirping of birds, and many, many others. We got so many glimpses into the lives of our diverse listeners that we had to divide this episode into two parts. But don’t fret—the second part of the episode will be released right after this one. --------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , <a href= "https://www.facebook.com/bittersw
S7 E52 · Thu, April 02, 2020
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, and might that be a good thing? We discuss this and more 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! Visit our Patreon site to find out more. TIP YOUR PODCASTER: Say thanks with a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram . Tag #thebittersweetlife with your expat story for a chance to be featured! N
S7 E308 · Sun, March 29, 2020
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. --------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram . Tag #thebittersweetlife with your expat story for a chance to be featured! NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1: OUTSET BOOK: Want to re
S7 E51 · Thu, March 26, 2020
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 the joy and beauty in life under lockdown. --------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram . Tag #thebittersweetlife with your expat story for a chance to be featured! NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with <s
S7 E307 · Mon, March 23, 2020
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 going on? How do you keep up with the story and find new ways of looking at it? And what happens when you, as a reporter, become part of the story? And what kind of people thrive in these situations? We discuss this and more in our latest episode. In addition, Katy sits down with Patricia Murphy, an award-winning NPR reporter who covers justice and public health in Seattle, as well as one of Katy’s former colleagues. Patricia just launched the NPR podcast Seattle Now, and has found herself dedicating the entire premise of the new show (so far) to the growing crisis. Check out the Seattle Now podcast on their website or on Apple podcasts . Find out more about Patricia Murphy here or follow her on Twitter . --------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on <a href= "https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-bitte
S7 E50 · Wed, March 18, 2020
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 numbers, which are about to eclipse even China's heart-wrenching statistics. ***More cheerful episodes starting next week, we promise!!*** --------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram . Tag #thebittersweetlife with your expat story for a chance to be featured! <s
S7 E306 · Tue, March 17, 2020
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 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram . Tag #thebittersweetlife with your expat story for a chance to be featured! NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1: OUTSET BOOK: Want to read Tiffany's book, Midnight in the Pia
S7 E305 · Mon, March 16, 2020
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? --------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram . Tag #thebittersweetlife with your expat story for a chance to be featured! NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with <a href= "http://thebittersweetlife.net/ep
S7 E49 · Thu, March 12, 2020
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. --------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram . Tag #thebittersweetlife with your expat story for a chance to be featured! NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1: OUTSET BOOK:</stro
S7 E48 · Wed, March 11, 2020
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 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram . Tag #thebittersweetlife with your expat story for a chance to be featured! NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1: OUTSET BOOK: Want to read Tiffany's book, Midnight in the Piazza? Learn more here or order on <a href= "https://
S7 E304 · Fri, March 06, 2020
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 putting out a special mini-episode to update the situation, so look out for that in the coming days. Check out this New York Times article by Italian journalist Beppe Severgnini that Tiffany talks about. ---------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram</s
S7 E47 · Thu, March 05, 2020
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 ceremony, she takes the opportunity to spill her guts about about the ingenious (and low-effort) way she got an agent. And here's the best part: anyone can do it. PS If you are actively looking for an agent, we suggest you listen to this episode the day it airs. (You'll soon find out why.) Find more info about this process 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 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. DONATE: Prefer a one-time donation? Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram . Tag #thebittersweetlife with your expat story for a chance to be featured! NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1: OUTSET SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast t
S7 E303 · Mon, March 02, 2020
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 luxurious aviaries in the deserts of Dubai, all in pursuit of a man who is reckless, arrogant, and gripped by a destructive compulsion to make the most beautiful creatures in nature his own. It’s a story that’s part true-crime narrative, part epic adventure—and wholly unputdownable until the very last page.” Listen in for an interview with author Joshua Hammer and order 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 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a questi
S7 E46 · Thu, February 27, 2020
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 Alexander here: Episode 143: CRITTERS (with Jane Alexander). ---------------------------------------- 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. DONATE: Prefer a one-time donation? Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram . Tag #thebittersweetlife with your expat story for a chance to be featured! NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1: OUTSET SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click <a href="
S7 E302 · Mon, February 24, 2020
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 Alexander). ---------------------------------------- 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 a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram . Tag #thebittersweetlife with your expat story for a chance to be featured! NEW TO T
S7 E45 · Thu, February 20, 2020
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 del Moro, 13 (Trastevere) ---------------------------------------- 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. DONATE: Prefer a one-time donation? Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram . Tag #thebittersweetlife with your expat story for a chance to be featured! NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1: OUTSET SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a va
S7 E301 · Mon, February 17, 2020
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 type, you’ll probably know Katy even better than she knows herself. Find Leslie McDaniel on Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram , or at her website . Interested in working with Leslie? Reach her at leslie@lesliemcdaniel.com Want to find out your own personality type? Take the Myers Briggs Indicator test 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 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. DONATE: Prefer a one-time donation? Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and <a href= "https://www.instagram.com/thebitterswee
S7 E44 · Thu, February 13, 2020
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: PLANTS with Hope Jahren, author of Lab Girl Episodes 274: STORY, Part 1 and 275: STORY, Part 2 with Anthony Doerr, author of All the Light We Cannot See and F our Seasons in Rom e Episode 121: WOMAN with Scottie Madden ---------------------------------------- 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. DONATE: Prefer a one-time donation? Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram . Tag <a href= "https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/t
S7 E300 · Mon, February 10, 2020
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 excerpted on this episode? Find them below: Episode 142: HAT BOX Episode 46: GOODBYE Episode 158: GRIEF Episode 178: DAD Episode 278: LISTENER Episode 51: CROWS Episode 200: LIVE! Episode 100: MILESTONE Episode 84: CITIZEN Episode 111: GOALS, Part 1 Bittersweet Moment #42: ROMAN HOROSCOPES (bloopers!) Bittersweet Moment #13: TEMPIETTO (with Aurelio) Bittersweet Moment #7: KIDS (with Aurelio) ---------------------------------------- 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. DONATE: Prefer a one-time donation? Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (Yo
S7 E43 · Thu, February 06, 2020
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 city that can’t be included in the exhibit, simply because they are frescoes or architectural projects that physically can’t be moved. On this mini-episode, Tiffany leads you around Rome to some of Raphael’s most glorious permanent works. ---------------------------------------- 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. DONATE: Prefer a one-time donation? Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram . Tag #thebittersweetlife with your expat story for a chance to be featured! NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1: OUTSET SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click <a href="linktr.ee/thebittersweetlif
S7 E299 · Mon, February 03, 2020
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 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. DONATE: Prefer a one-time donation? Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram . Tag #thebittersweetlife with your expat story for a chance to be featured! NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1: OUTSET SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. BOOK: Want to
S7 E41 · Thu, January 30, 2020
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. Biblioteca dell'Accademia Nazionale dei Lincei – Via della Lungara, 10 (Palazzo Corsini) Mithreum under San Clemente Church – Via Labicana, 95 Sunflyers – Parachuting Colosseum – Official online ticket office Vatican Museums – Official online ticket office BioParco – Viale del Giardino Zoologico, 1 Palazzo Valentini – Foro Traiano, 85 Circus Maximus Experience ...or take a tour with Tiffany ! ---------------------------------------- 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. DONATE: Prefer a one-time donation? Click here to s
S7 E298 · Mon, January 27, 2020
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. ---------------------------------------- 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. DONATE: Prefer a one-time donation? Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram . Tag #thebittersweetlife with your expat story for a chance to be featured! NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1: OUTSET SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. BOOK: Want to read Tiffany's book, Mi
S7 E41 · Thu, January 23, 2020
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 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. DONATE: Prefer a one-time donation? Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram . Tag #thebittersweetlife with your expat story for a chance to be featured! NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1: OUTSET SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. BOOK: Want to read Tiffany's book, Midnight in the Piazza? Learn mor
S7 E297 · Mon, January 20, 2020
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 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. DONATE: Prefer a one-time donation? Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram . Tag #thebittersweetlife with your expat story for a chance to be featured! NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1: OUTSET SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. BOOK: Want to read Tiffany's book, Midnight in the Piazza? Learn more <a href=
S7 E40 · Wed, January 15, 2020
Bittersweet Moment #40: TRAVELING TO WRITE
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 hometown of Spokane, Washington. He also explains why the memoir of Gabriel Garcia Marquez has him dreaming of a trip to Bogota, Colombia, and shares a sneak peek of his forthcoming book, The Cold Millions . Find Jess at on Twitter , Facebook , Instagram , or at his website . ---------------------------------------- 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. DONATE: Prefer a one-time donation? Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram</s
S7 E296 · Mon, January 13, 2020
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 Katy avoids when it comes to travel reads. Nancy Pearl’s top armchair reads: Non-fiction: The Great Railway Bazaar by Paul Theroux Dark Star Safari: Overland from Cairo to Capetown by Paul Theroux Between Terror and Tourism by Michael Mewshaw The Oregon Trail: A New American Journey by Rinker Buck Fiction: The Memory of Love by Aminatta Forna Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie The Woman who Lost Her Soul by Bob Shacochis The Towers of Trebizond by Rose Macaulay Birds Without Wings by Louis de Bernieres The Raj Quartet by Paul Scott ---------------------------------------- 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. DONATE: Prefer a one-time donation? Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email <a href="mailto:bittersweetlife@mail.com" targ
S7 E39 · Thu, January 09, 2020
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 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. DONATE: Prefer a one-time donation? Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram . Tag #thebittersweetlife with your expat story for a chance to be featured! NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1: OUTSET SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. BOOK: Want to read Tiffany's book, Midnight in the Piazza?
S7 E295 · Mon, January 06, 2020
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 this year. And we want to hear from you! Send in your own resolutions by voice memo or email here , or tell us via social media. We’re on Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram . (Catch up with us there to see some photos of last year’s resolutions!) Listen to the interview with Nancy Pearl that Katy mentions here: Episode 76: BOOKS . ---------------------------------------- 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. DONATE: Prefer a one-time donation? Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Insta
S7 E294 · Mon, December 30, 2019
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 Sonnet 65. What do you think of the show? We're curious. Let us know! ---------------------------------------- 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. DONATE: Prefer a one-time donation? Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram . Tag #thebittersweetlife with your expat story for a chance to be featured! NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1: OUTSET SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podca
S7 E293 · Mon, December 23, 2019
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 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. DONATE: Prefer a one-time donation? Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram . Tag #thebittersweetlife with your expat story for a chance to be featured! NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1: OUTSET SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. BOOK: Want to read Tiffany's book, Midnight in the Piazza? Learn more here<
S7 E38 · Thu, December 19, 2019
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 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. DONATE: Prefer a one-time donation? Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram . Tag #thebittersweetlife with your expat story for a chance to be featured! NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1: OUTSET SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more l
S7 E292 · Mon, December 16, 2019
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. She also explores the challenges of writing memoir, and how perspective, persuasion, and longing all shape how you remember events. She also points out that sometimes, to tell your story well, you have to distance yourself from your own narrative. Find Adrienne Brodeur on Twitter , Instagram , and Facebook , or at her website . Pick up a copy of her book here . **We’ll be giving away three copies of Wild Game , so follow us on Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram to see how you can win.** This episode was recorded at Town Hall Seattle. ---------------------------------------- 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. DONATE: Prefer a one-time donation? Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You c
S7 E37 · Thu, December 12, 2019
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!*** ---------------------------------------- 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. DONATE: Prefer a one-time donation? Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram . Tag #thebittersweetlife with your expat story for a chance to be featured! NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1: OUTSET SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on
S7 E291 · Mon, December 09, 2019
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 also replay an episode from way back in season one. Katy, newly living in Rome, finds herself in a situation in which her limited Italian skills make life more complicated than it should be. ---------------------------------------- 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. DONATE: Prefer a one-time donation? Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram . Tag #thebittersweetlife with your expat story for a chance to be featured! NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1: OUTSET SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss a
S7 E36 · Thu, December 05, 2019
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. ---------------------------------------- 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. DONATE: Prefer a one-time donation? Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram . Tag #thebittersweetlife with your expat story for a chance to be featured! NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1: OUTSET SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW:
S7 E290 · Mon, December 02, 2019
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 be; others who were once household names and then completely disappeared; and forgotten forerunners who did remarkable things too early on and were not remembered for those accomplishments. Mo Rocca is the correspondent for CBS Sunday Morning , the host and creator of My Grandmother’s Ravioli on The Cooking Channel, and the moderator of the National Geographic Society 's National Geographic Bee . He also spent four years as a correspondent on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart . ---------------------------------------- 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. DONATE: Prefer a one-time donation? Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram . Tag #thebittersweetlife with your expat story for a chance to
S7 E35 · Thu, November 28, 2019
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 return for your generosity! Visit our Patreon site to find out more. DONATE: Prefer a one-time donation? Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram . Tag #thebittersweetlife with your expat story for a chance to be featured! NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1: OUTSET SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. BOOK: Want to read Tiffany's book, Midnight in the Piazza? Learn more here or order on Amazon . TOUR ROME: If you're traveling to Rome, don't miss the chance to <a href= "ht
S7 E289 · Mon, November 25, 2019
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 part of a community, as opposed to going through it alone and far away. To lighten the mood and get ready for the holiday, they reminisce abut funny Thanksgiving memories, and attempt to tell a few Turkey Day jokes (prepare to groan). ---------------------------------------- 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. DONATE: Prefer a one-time donation? Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram . Tag #thebittersweetlife with your expat story for a chance to be featured! NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1: OUTSET SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW:</
S7 E34 · Thu, November 21, 2019
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 finito...? from La Bohème by Puccini (with Mirella Freni and Luciano Pavarotti) Va Pensiero from Nabucco by Verdi (with the chorus of Teatro dell'Opera di Roma) ---------------------------------------- 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. DONATE: Prefer a one-time donation? Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram . Tag #thebittersweetlife with your expat story for a chance to be featured! NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1: OUTSET SUBSCRIBE: <a href= "https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcas
S7 E288 · Mon, November 18, 2019
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? Flash forward to Bali, and although he loves it there too, he’s not having the same experience this time around. Lastly, remarks upon the differences between digital nomads and settled expats, as well as what he considers to be the false distinctions made between expats and migrants. Check out Mike’s podcast Migratory Patterns and listen to his recent episode in which he interviews Katy . You can find Mike on Twitter . ---------------------------------------- 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. DONATE: Prefer a one-time donation? Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram . Tag <span cl
S7 E33 · Wed, November 13, 2019
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 book On the Plain of Snakes: A Mexican Journey . And don't forget to listen to the full interview in Episode {PAUL THEROUX} Part One and Part 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 for your generosity! Visit our Patreon site to find out more. DONATE: Prefer a one-time donation? Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram . Tag #thebittersweetlife with your expat story for a chance to be featured! NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1: OUTSET SUBSCR
S7 E287 · Mon, November 11, 2019
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 accused of being a grumpy traveler. He describes how to write about a place that is seen through your eyes without making it all about yourself. Lastly, he describes the main differences he notices traveling now as opposed to 50 years ago, and where in the US a privacy- or solitude-seeking person could move without spending a fortune. Grab a copy of Theroux’s latest book, On the Plain of Snakes, A Mexican Journey 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 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. DONATE: Prefer a one-time donation? Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram . Tag #thebittersweetlife with your expat story
S7 E286 · Mon, November 11, 2019
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 why you would want to). Grab a copy of Theroux’s latest book, On the Plain of Snakes, A Mexican Journey 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 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. DONATE: Prefer a one-time donation? Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram . Tag #thebittersweetlife with your expat story for a chance to be featured! NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1: OUTSET SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Clic
S7 E32 · Thu, November 07, 2019
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: 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. DONATE: Prefer a one-time donation? Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram . Tag #thebittersweetlife with your expat story for a chance to be featured! NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1: OUTSET SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. BOOK: Want to read Tiffany's book, Midnight in the Piazza? Learn more here or order on Amaz
S7 E285 · Mon, November 04, 2019
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. ---------------------------------------- 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. DONATE: Prefer a one-time donation? Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram . Tag #thebittersweetlife with your expat story for a chance to be featured! NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1: OUTSET SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. BOOK: Want to read
S7 E31 · Thu, October 31, 2019
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 The Bittersweet Life and receive awesome prizes in return for your generosity! Visit our Patreon site to find out more. DONATE: Prefer a one-time donation? Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram . Tag #thebittersweetlife with your expat story for a chance to be featured! NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1: OUTSET SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. BOOK: Want to read Tiffany's book, Midnight in the Piazza? Learn more here or order on Amazon .
S7 E284 · Mon, October 28, 2019
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 earliest experiences with death, and whether or not she believes they had any impact on her choice of a profession. She talks about some of the hardest things about her job as a mortician—it’s probably not what you’d think—and also describes some of the surprising benefits on her own life about working so closely with death. Bonus: she answers a few of her young interlocutors’ questions, such as: What happens if you die on a plane? For more fascinating facts about death, make sure to pick up a copy of her book . In addition, visit her website The Order of the Good Death , a non-profit death acceptance organization that aims to help people overcome their fear of death, and be sure to check out her web series, Ask a Mortician on YouTube. Find Caitlin Doughty on Instagram , Facebook , and Twitter . ---------------------------------------- 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. DONATE: Prefer a one-time donation? Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have
S7 E30 · Thu, October 24, 2019
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 . ---------------------------------------- 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. DONATE: Prefer a one-time donation? Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram . Tag #thebittersweetlife with your expat story for a chance to be featured! NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1: OUTSET SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on <a href= "https://itunes.apple.com/us
S7 E283 · Mon, October 21, 2019
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, 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. DONATE: Prefer a one-time donation? Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram . Tag #thebittersweetlife with your expat story for a chance to be featured! NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1: OUTSET SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. BOOK: Want to read Tiffany's book, Midnight in the Piazza? L
S7 E29 · Thu, October 17, 2019
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 podcasting setting, live on stage, or in writing for a blog, this mini-episode will give you excellent advice for improving your interviewing skills. ---------------------------------------- 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. DONATE: Prefer a one-time donation? Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram . Tag #thebittersweetlife with your expat story for a chance to be featured! NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1: OUTSET SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of p
S7 E282 · Mon, October 14, 2019
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 irresistible, and how dating a local in a foreign country can make you get to know that country in a whole new way. Katy recounts her one-off date with a local guy in Vietnam, and shares the over-the-top romantic gestures from boyfriends past that made her run for the hills. ---------------------------------------- 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. DONATE: Prefer a one-time donation? Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram . Tag #thebittersweetlife with your expat story for a chance to be featured! NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1: OUTSET SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click <a href="linktr.ee/thebittersweetlifepo
S7 E28 · Thu, October 10, 2019
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 support of The Bittersweet Life and receive awesome prizes in return for your generosity! Visit our Patreon site to find out more. DONATE: Prefer a one-time donation? Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram . Tag #thebittersweetlife with your expat story for a chance to be featured! NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1: OUTSET SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. BOOK: Want to read Tiffany's book, Midnight in the Piazza? Learn more here or order on Amazon . <p class=
S7 E281 · Mon, October 07, 2019
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 wrong to speak in the other one. And how all that flies out the window when a baby is thrown into the mix. Don't miss this week's new episode about one of our favorite topics: language! ---------------------------------------- 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. DONATE: Prefer a one-time donation? Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram . Tag #thebittersweetlife with your expat story for a chance to be featured! NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1: OUTSET SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WR
S7 E27 · Thu, October 03, 2019
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, 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. DONATE: Prefer a one-time donation? Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram . Tag #thebittersweetlife with your expat story for a chance to be featured! NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1: OUTSET SUBSCRIBE: <a href= "https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-bittersweet-life/id
S7 E280 · Mon, September 30, 2019
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 led her to become the executive producer of The Oprah Winfrey Show, a job that quite literally changed her life. Sheri and Nancy also talk about what they call "fresh joy," that is, the deliberately stirring up of happy feelings, which often involves newness—something that can require a lot of effort for people in middle-life. Make sure to listen to Part 1 of this interview 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 receive awesome prizes in return for your generosity! Visit our Patreon site to find out more. DONATE: Prefer a one-time donation? Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram . Tag #thebittersweetlife with your expat story for a chance to be featured!<
S7 E26 · Thu, September 26, 2019
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 you haven't already, and don't miss the continuation of that conversation, coming next week! ---------------------------------------- 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. DONATE: Prefer a one-time donation? Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram . Tag #thebittersweetlife with your expat story for a chance to be featured! NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1: OUTSET SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure
S7 E279 · Sun, September 22, 2019
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 steps, and more importantly, how to make a total commitment to yourself to make that happen? Part of that is admitting that you don't need to settle for success in only one or two areas of your life: you can have the whole package—if you want it. And often it's the tiny changes that make a world of difference. They also propose trashing the now-prevalent work-life balance ideal, as all it seems to do is instill shame and failure in so many women. Lastly, they urge people to curate their own life experiences, instead of simply letting life happen. ---------------------------------------- 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. DONATE: Prefer a one-time donation? Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram . Tag #thebittersw
S7 E25 · Thu, September 19, 2019
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 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. DONATE: Prefer a one-time donation? Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram . Tag #thebittersweetlife with your expat story for a chance to be featured! NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1: OUTSET SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. BOOK: Want to read Tiffany's book, Midnight in the Piazza? Learn more here or order on <a href=
S7 E278 · Mon, September 16, 2019
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 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. DONATE: Prefer a one-time donation? Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram . Tag #thebittersweetlife with your expat story for a chance to be featured! NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1: OUTSET SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. BOOK: Want to read Tiffany's book, Midnight in the Piazza? Learn more here or order on <a h
S7 E24 · Thu, September 12, 2019
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 generosity! Visit our Patreon site to find out more. DONATE: Prefer a one-time donation? Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram . Tag #thebittersweetlife with your expat story for a chance to be featured! NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1: OUTSET SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. BOOK: Want to read Tiffany's book, Midnight in the Piazza? Learn more here or order on Amazon . TOUR ROME: If you're traveling to Rome, don't miss the chance to <a href= "https://www.t
S7 E277 · Sun, September 08, 2019
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 and receive awesome prizes in return for your generosity! Visit our Patreon site to find out more. DONATE: Prefer a one-time donation? Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram . Tag #thebittersweetlife with your expat story for a chance to be featured! NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1: OUTSET SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. BOOK: Want to read Tiffany's book, Midnight in the Piazza? Learn more here or order on Amazon . TOUR ROME:</stro
S6 E276 · Mon, September 02, 2019
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, and if you haven't listened to that first Roman season yet, consider going back to Episode 1 to follow our journey from the very beginning. Happy Labor Day! ---------------------------------------- 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. DONATE: Prefer a one-time donation? Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram . Tag #thebittersweetlife with your expat story for a chance to be featured! NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1: OUTSET SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click
S6 E23 · Thu, August 29, 2019
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. 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. DONATE: Prefer a one-time donation? Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram . Tag #thebittersweetlife with your expat story for a chance to be featured! NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1: OUTSET SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. BOOK: Want to read Tiffany's book, Midnight in the Piazza? Learn more here or order on Ama
S6 E275 · Mon, August 26, 2019
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 also explains how writing a book set in a foreign city can change your experience of the place. He also discusses his work as the editor of The Best American Short Stories 2019 , out in October and available for pre-order here . Find Anthony at his website anthonydoerr.com ---------------------------------------- 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. DONATE: Prefer a one-time donation? Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email <a href="mailto:b
S6 E274 · Mon, August 26, 2019
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 to write. Also, don't miss part two of this episode, airing immediately after this one, where Anthony delves into his time living in Rome and the memoir that resulted from it. Find Anthony at his website anthonydoerr.com His is the editor of The Best American Short Stories 2019, out in October and available for pre-order 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 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. DONATE: Prefer a one-time donation? Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic y
S6 E22 · Thu, August 22, 2019
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 well as its merits. ---------------------------------------- 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. DONATE: Prefer a one-time donation? Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram . Tag #thebittersweetlife with your expat story for a chance to be featured! NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1: OUTSET SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variet
S6 E273 · Mon, August 19, 2019
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 addicted to is something you must use in your daily life simply to do your job? ---------------------------------------- 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. DONATE: Prefer a one-time donation? Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram . Tag #thebittersweetlife with your expat story for a chance to be featured! NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1: OUTSET SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on <a href= "https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-bittersweet-lif
S6 E272 · Mon, August 19, 2019
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 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. DONATE: Prefer a one-time donation? Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram . Tag #thebittersweetlife with your expat story for a chance to be featured! NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1: OUTSET SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. BOOK: Want to read Tiffany's book, Midnight in the Piazza? Learn more h
S6 E21 · Thu, August 15, 2019
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 Art Nouveau master, Duilio Cambellotti. Take a aural tour of this one-of-a-kind place, and we bet you will want to visit in person. Find more information on the Owl House 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 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. DONATE: Prefer a one-time donation? Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram . Tag #thebittersweetlife with your expat story for a chance to be featured! NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1: OUTSET SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click <a href="linktr.ee/thebittersweetlifepodcast" target="_blank" rel="n
S6 E271 · Mon, August 12, 2019
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 . ---------------------------------------- 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. DONATE: Prefer a one-time donation? Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram . Tag #thebittersweetlife with your expat story for a chance to be featured! NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1: OUTSET SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more
S6 E20 · Thu, August 08, 2019
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. -------------------------------------------- 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. DONATE: Prefer a one-time donation? Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email at bittersweetlife@mail.com. You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram . Tag #thebittersweetlife with your expat story for a chance to be featured! NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1: OUTSET SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. BOOK: Want to read Tiffany's b
S6 E270 · Mon, August 05, 2019
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: 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. DONATE: Prefer a one-time donation? Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email at bittersweetlife@mail.com. You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram . Tag #thebittersweetlife with your expat story for a chance to be featured! NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1: OUTSET SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. BOOK: Want to read Tiffany's book, Midnight in the Piazza?
S6 E19 · Wed, July 31, 2019
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 fear, Tiffany is here! After more Augusts in Rome than she'd like to admit, she's an expert on getting the most out of the city during this scorching month. Follow her suggestions and you might just decide August is the best time to visit 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 Bittersweet Life and receive awesome prizes in return for your generosity! Visit our Patreon site to find out more. DONATE: Prefer a one-time donation? Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email at bittersweetlife@mail.com. You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram . Tag #thebittersweetlife with your expat story for a chance to be featured! NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1: OUTSET SUBSCRIBE: <a href= "https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-bittersweet-life/id8433
S6 E269 · Mon, July 29, 2019
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 world. You’ll have to listen to the interview (or read the book!) to find out what they are. Katy and Robert discuss fascinating yet obscure concepts like deep-time, and how instead of making our lives seem insignificant, this concept can inspire us to live every second more fully. Robert also points out how important it is to keep cognizant of our ignorance, and never stop exploring and learning, and how spending so much time underground has taught him how much he loves the light and the living. Listen all the way to the end to find out the very scariest underground experience MacFarlane ever had. **We will be giving away two copies of this book this month (open worldwide). Stay tuned for our #bookgiveaway post later this week.** Find Robert MacFarlane on Twitter and Instagram . Purchase Underland 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 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. DONATE: Prefer a one-time donation? Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email at bittersweetlife@mail.com. You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram . Tag <a href= "https://www.instagram.c
S6 E18 · Wed, July 24, 2019
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, 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. DONATE: Prefer a one-time donation? Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email at bittersweetlife@mail.com. You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram . Tag #thebittersweetlife with your expat story for a chance to be featured! NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1: OUTSET SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. BOOK: Want to read Tiffany's book, Midnight in the Piazza? Learn more <
S6 E268 · Mon, July 22, 2019
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 traveling yourself this week, why not record the sounds of your trip, whatever your mode of transportation, and send them to us? If we get enough, we'll weave them together and publish them on a future 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. DONATE: Prefer a one-time donation? Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email at bittersweetlife@mail.com. You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram . Tag #thebittersweetlife with your expat story for a chance to be featured! NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1: OUTSET SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on <a href= "https:/
S6 E17 · Thu, July 18, 2019
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 The Bittersweet Life and receive awesome prizes in return for your generosity! Visit our Patreon site to find out more. DONATE: Prefer a one-time donation? Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email at bittersweetlife@mail.com. You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram . Tag #thebittersweetlife with your expat story for a chance to be featured! NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1: OUTSET SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on <a href= "https://itu
S6 E267 · Mon, July 15, 2019
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 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. DONATE: Prefer a one-time donation? Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email at bittersweetlife@mail.com. You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram . Tag #thebittersweetlife with your expat story for a chance to be featured! NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1: OUTSET SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes<
S6 E266 · Mon, July 15, 2019
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 beyond the everyday, perhaps even beyond the realm of the living. Katy and Lynn take the show into the studio of a psychic medium to get his insight on the direction Lynn should take next. Stay tuned for the second part of this episode, released just thirty minutes after this one! Visit the site of Felix Lee Lerma , the San Francisco-based 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 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. DONATE: Prefer a one-time donation? Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email at bittersweetlife@mail.com. You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram . Tag #thebittersweetlife with your expat story for a chance to be featured! NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afra
S6 E265 · Mon, July 08, 2019
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 (now bi-weekly) podcast takes major amounts of time, work, and money—and we literally can’t do it without you! Visit our Patreon page and check out the awesome prizes for our patrons. We are so grateful for whatever you can pledge! -------------------------------------------- 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. DONATE: Prefer a one-time donation? Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email at bittersweetlife@mail.com. You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram . Tag #thebittersweetlife with your expat story for a chance to be featured! NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1: OUTSET SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the
S6 E16 · Thu, July 04, 2019
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, wonderful listeners. So tell us what you think! -------------------------------------------- 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. DONATE: Prefer a one-time donation? Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email at bittersweetlife@mail.com. You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram . Tag #thebittersweetlife with your expat story for a chance to be featured! NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1: OUTSET SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners ca
S6 E264 · Mon, July 01, 2019
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? This week Tiffany opens up about her recently self-diagnosed case of travel anxiety. As a generally serene and laid-back person, she realized while planning her summer travels that something about the trip-planning process paralyzes her with anxiety and consumes her with procrastination...even when (especially when?) it’s a trip she desperately wants to go on. On this episode, Katy helps Tiffany try to figure out why this is happening, and what she can do to avoid travel anxiety in future. -------------------------------------------- If you're looking for ways to cope with anxiety and improve your wellness, or better plan for you're upcoming trip, here are some resources: How to Survive August in Rome by Tiffany Parks Learn how CBD oil reduces anxiety Visiting Florence? Here are 23 anxiety reducing tips (Girl in Florence) -------------------------------------------- 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. DONATE: Prefer a one-time donation? Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email at bittersweetlife@mail.com. You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and <a href= "https://www.instagram.com/thebitterswee
S6 E15 · Thu, June 27, 2019
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 advice and answers more questions about the podcast on this week’s midweek 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! Visit our Patreon site to find out more. DONATE: Prefer a one-time donation? Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email at bittersweetlife@mail.com. You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram . Tag #thebittersweetlife with your expat story for a chance to be featured! NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1: OUTSET SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written
Bonus · Mon, June 24, 2019
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 thinking, “But Rome wouldn’t be Rome without an impromptu picnic on the steps of a monument?” Or perhaps your thoughts run more along the lines of: “About time this city started to be treated with respect!” Whichever is your view, tune in to this week’s episode to hear our take. Here are a few articles about these new rules: Travel + Leisure The Local News.com.au -------------------------------------------- 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. DONATE: Prefer a one-time donation? Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email at bittersweetlife@mail.com . You can also connect to us through Twitter , <span
S6 E14 · Thu, June 20, 2019
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. -------------------------------------------- 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. DONATE: Prefer a one-time donation? Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email at bittersweetlife@mail.com. You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram . Tag #thebittersweetlife with your expat story for a chance to be featured! NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1: OUTSET SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. BOOK: Want to read Tiffany's book, Midnight in the Piazza? Learn more <a href= "https://www.tiffany-parks.com/book
S6 E262 · Mon, June 17, 2019
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 also reveals what it takes to to go after a highly desirable career like journalism, and shares the strategies she used to get her foot in the door and set herself apart from the crowd. -------------------------------------------- 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. DONATE: Prefer a one-time donation? Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email at bittersweetlife@mail.com. You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram . Tag #thebittersweetlife with your expat story for a chance to be featured! NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1: OUTSET SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to
S6 E13 · Thu, June 13, 2019
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.) -------------------------------------------- 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. DONATE: Prefer a one-time donation? Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email at bittersweetlife@mail.com . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram – Better yet, tag #thebittersweetlife with your story for a chance to be featured! NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1: OUTSET SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on <a href= "https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-bitters
S6 E261 · Mon, June 10, 2019
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 feel like they have fully seen it when they leave? And what about gastronomic icons? Can you really say you’ve been to Seattle if you haven’t had a cuppa from the original Starbucks? Would you really leave Lisbon without trying a cream cake from Pastéis de Belém? Can you go to New York without eating a Pastrami sandwich at Katz’s Deli? If you don’t sample a city’s local dish, will you have somehow missed out? Not experienced the true city? And in that sense, where does city icon end and tourist trap begin? We discuss all this and more on the latest episode of 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! Visit our Patreon site to find out more. DONATE: Prefer a one-time donation? Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email at bittersweetlife@mail.com . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram – Better yet, tag #thebitter
S6 E12 · Thu, June 06, 2019
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 from other eras must have had, and how they differed from our own. We can walk down the same streets that a Victorian prostitute walked down, but we can never feel what she felt, smell what she smelled, or truly know what it felt like to be alive in a different time. Just one of the many fascinating aspects of history. Hear this mini-interview on this week’s Bittersweet Moment. -------------------------------------------- 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. DONATE: Prefer a one-time donation? Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email at bittersweetlife@mail.com . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram – Better yet, tag #thebittersweetlife with yo
S6 E260 · Mon, June 03, 2019
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, Jack the Ripper’s victims were almost certainly not all prostitutes. Rubenhold has painstakingly reconstructed the previously untold stories of these five women, whose greatest tragedy was not being in the wrong place at the wrong time, but rather being born women in the Victorian era. Instead of focusing on these women’s deaths, as virtually all study pertaining to the mystery of Jack the Ripper does, Rubenhold instead focuses on these women’s lives, which have been roundly ignored by historians until now. The story of each woman provides a portrait of the underbelly of Victorian London, as well as gives incredible insight into the entire Victorian period, highlighting the vivid contrast between rich and poor and demonstrates how unbelievably precarious life was for women, particularly lower-class women, of the time. Find Hallie Rubenhold on Twitter , or at her website . We'll be giving away THREE copies of this book in the coming weeks, so follow us on our social media sites to find out how to win (see below for links). -------------------------------------------- SPONSOR THE SHOW: Reach expats, future expats, and travelers all over the world. Send us an email to get the conversation started. DONATE: Click here to send financial support to The Bittersweet Life via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email at bittersweetlife@mail.com . You can also connect to us through Twitter , <a href=
S6 E11 · Thu, May 30, 2019
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 has a wealth of experience navigating the labyrinthine museums, and dealing with its heaving crowds. So, if a trip to the Vatican is in your near future, tune into this Bittersweet Moment to hear insider tips on how to get the most out of your visit. Also, contact Tiffany if you are interested in hiring a private tour guide for your Vatican visit. Book your Vatican tickets in advance at the official Vatican website . -------------------------------------------- SPONSOR THE SHOW: Reach expats, future expats, and travelers all over the world. Send us an email to get the conversation started. DONATE: Click here to send financial support to The Bittersweet Life via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email at bittersweetlife@mail.com . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram – Better yet, tag #thebittersweetlife with your story for a chance to be featured! NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1: OUTSET SUBSCRIBE: <a href= "https://itunes.
S6 E259 · Mon, May 27, 2019
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 come time to ask your boss for a raise, quit your day job, or (gasp!) move to a far-flung country, those challenges won’t feel quite so daunting, simply because you’ll be used to challenging yourself. Katy advocates for facing fears head-on. As someone who grew up terrified of death, she spent several months working in a mortuary at age 21, dressing, cleaning, and even shaving dead people. Did that help her conquer her fear? Did observing (and taping) a live hip-replacement surgery cure her of squeamishness? We discuss these ideas and more on the latest episode of The Bittersweet Life podcast. -------------------------------------------- SPONSOR THE SHOW: Reach expats, future expats, and travelers all over the world. Send us an email to get the conversation started. DONATE: Click here to send financial support to The Bittersweet Life via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email at bittersweetlife@mail.com . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram – Better yet, tag #thebittersweetlife with your story for a chance to be featured! NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with <a href= "http://thebittersweetlife.net/epis
S6 E10 · Thu, May 23, 2019
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 are in the vast minority allows Amina to take a better look at herself. Amina is a producer at the great daily news podcast, Today Explained ( @today_explained ). Find her on Twitter at @voxdotcom and @amialsa . -------------------------------------------- SPONSOR THE SHOW: Reach expats, future expats, and travelers all over the world. Send us an email to get the conversation started. DONATE: Click here to send financial support to The Bittersweet Life via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email at bittersweetlife@mail.com . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram – Better yet, tag #thebittersweetlife with your story for a chance to be featured! NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1: OUTSET SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on <a href= "http
S6 E258 · Mon, May 20, 2019
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 passion for the country, she’s decided to move back home, although she’s leaving a door open to move back to France one day. She gives valuable advice on other study-abroad students on how to get the most out their expat experience. -------------------------------------------- SPONSOR THE SHOW: Reach expats, future expats, and travelers all over the world. Send us an email to get the conversation started. DONATE: Click here to send financial support to The Bittersweet Life via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email at bittersweetlife@mail.com . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram – Better yet, tag #thebittersweetlife with your story for a chance to be featured! NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1: OUTSET SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. BOOK: Want to read Tiffany's book, Midnight in the Piazza? Learn more here or order on Amazon .<
S6 E9 · Thu, May 16, 2019
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 protect them from being worn away by the knees of the millions of pilgrims who climb them every year, but on occasion of a recent restoration, they are now uncovered for the short period for the first time in 300 years. Tiffany takes the inspiring (and painful) trip up the stairs (on her knees) and lives to tell the tale. -------------------------------------------- SPONSOR THE SHOW: Reach expats, future expats, and travelers all over the world. Send us an email to get the conversation started. DONATE: Click here to send financial support to The Bittersweet Life via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email at bittersweetlife@mail.com . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram – Better yet, tag #thebittersweetlife with your story for a chance to be featured! NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1: OUTSET SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. BOOK: Want to read Tiffany's book, Midnight in the Piazza? Learn mor
S6 E257 · Mon, May 13, 2019
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 (and even strive to become their favorite) and how this can lead to not being fully honest with them. Lori reveals what happens when the therapist herself realizes she too needs therapy, and how sometimes, it’s the therapist who learns from the patient. Her new book, Maybe You Should Talk To Someone : A Therapist, Her Therapist, and Our Lives Revealed , covers topics that make people think differently about themselves and the world around them: love and loss, meaning and mortality, gender and culture, parents and children, female appearance, regret and redemption, hope and change. It’s a New York Times bestseller, and is currently being made into a television series with Eva Longoria on ABC. Follow Lori on Twitter and Facebook , or find her on her website. You can also read her work in The Atlantic . -------------------------------------------- SPONSOR THE SHOW: Reach expats, future expats, and travelers all over the world. Send us an email to get the conversation started. DONATE: Click here to send financial support to The Bittersweet Life via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email at bittersweetlife@mail.com . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram – Better
S6 E8 · Thu, May 09, 2019
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 playing these games is “to add a quality of delight to the serious business of the world.” On this episode, you’ll learn how to play an “infinite game.” Teach it to your loved ones tonight, and maybe you’ll forget to look at your devices for a few hours, and have some unforgettable fun instead. -------------------------------------------- SPONSOR THE SHOW: Reach expats, future expats, and travelers all over the world. Send us an email to get the conversation started. DONATE: Click here to send financial support to The Bittersweet Life via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email at bittersweetlife@mail.com . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram – Better yet, tag #thebittersweetlife with your story for a chance to be featured! NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1: OUTSET SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on <a href= "https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-bittersweet-life/id843351111?mt=2
S6 E256 · Sun, May 05, 2019
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 we remember from our travels? How can insignificant details stick in our heads, and major sites disappear from our memories? They also wonder: are kids today—with their ever-present screens—worse than we were back in the day? Or are teenage travelers equally insufferable in any century? Lastly, we recall our favorite travel games...and invite our listeners to send in theirs. -------------------------------------------- SPONSOR THE SHOW: Reach expats, future expats, and travelers all over the world. Send us an email to get the conversation started. DONATE: Click here to send financial support to The Bittersweet Life via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email at bittersweetlife@mail.com . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram – Better yet, tag #thebittersweetlife with your story for a chance to be featured! NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1: OUTSET SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on <a href= "https://itunes.apple.com/us/pod
S6 E7 · Thu, May 02, 2019
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 Pamphilj Case Romane Ancient homes on the Caelian Hill Villa Farnesina Palazzo Braschi Palazzo Altemps VoiceMap (Tiffany's Trastevere Audio Tou r) Take a private tour with Tiffany -------------------------------------------- SPONSOR THE SHOW: Reach expats, future expats, and travelers all over the world. Send us an email to get the conversation started. DONATE: Click here to send financial support to The Bittersweet Life via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email at bittersweetlife@mail.com . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram – Better yet, tag <a href= "https:/
S6 E255 · Mon, April 29, 2019
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 around us. And Katy asks: How have we collectively decided that what’s happening in the world isn’t interesting? She also wonders: When you work so hard to heighten your visual senses, do the other senses get heightened too or does the visual sense take over the rest? Amy details how, in a world where we’re constantly bombarded with information, we can learn to distill out the information we need and want instead of trying to take it all in, or worse, missing it. Join us for this fascinating conversation on the streets of New York, and learn how being aware will make you a better cop, nurse, firefighter, parent, student, tourist—person. Amy Herman is the founder of The Art of Perception , and the author of Visual Intelligence . Find her on Twitter . -------------------------------------------- SPONSOR THE SHOW: Reach expats, future expats, and travelers all over the world. Send us an email to get the conversation started. DONATE: Click here to send financial support to The Bittersweet Life via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email at bittersweetlife@mail.com . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram – Better yet, tag <a href= "
S6 E6 · Thu, April 25, 2019
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 irreplaceable monuments in this mid-week mini-episode. -------------------------------------------- SPONSOR THE SHOW: Reach expats, future expats, and travelers all over the world. Send us an email to get the conversation started. DONATE: Click here to send financial support to The Bittersweet Life via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email at bittersweetlife@mail.com . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram – Better yet, tag #thebittersweetlife with your story for a chance to be featured! NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1: OUTSET SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. BOOK: Want to read Tiffany's book, Midnight in the Piazza? Learn more here or order on Amazon . TOUR ROME: If you're traveling to Rome, don't miss the chance to <a href= "https://www.tiffany-parks.
S6 E254 · Mon, April 22, 2019
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 city, but to people around the world? -------------------------------------------- SPONSOR THE SHOW: Reach expats, future expats, and travelers all over the world. Send us an email to get the conversation started. DONATE: Click here to send financial support to The Bittersweet Life via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email at bittersweetlife@mail.com . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram – Better yet, tag #thebittersweetlife with your story for a chance to be featured! NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1: OUTSET SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. BOOK: Want to read Tiffany's book, Midnight in the Piazza? Learn more here or order on
S6 E5 · Thu, April 18, 2019
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 Revolution. Notre Dame will recover from this devastation, just as San Paolo did, just as she has done before. This fire does not signify the “end” of Notre Dame. It is simply another dramatic chapter in her long and fascinating story. -------------------------------------------- SPONSOR THE SHOW: Reach expats, future expats, and travelers all over the world. Send us an email to get the conversation started. DONATE: Click here to send financial support to The Bittersweet Life via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email at bittersweetlife@mail.com . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram – Better yet, tag #thebittersweetlife with your story for a chance to be featured! NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1: OUTSET SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. BOOK: Want to read Tiffany's book, Midnight in the Piazza? Learn more here or order on <a href= "https
S6 E253 · Mon, April 15, 2019
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-day lives. Amy asks Katy to describe some of the works of art they are seeing, a fascinating study in why we notice what we notice. This episode delves into perception, observation, and not just how we see, but how we communicate what we see. Also: how do our biases influence us, not only in terms of the art we chose to look at, but also what we observe and how we interpret what we observe? Don’t miss this fascinating conversation, on location at the Whitney Museum! Visit our social media sites to see some of the works of art described in the episode: Instagram , Twitter , Facebook . Find Amy Herman on Twitter . -------------------------------------------- SPONSOR THE SHOW: Reach expats, future expats, and travelers all over the world. Send us an email to get the conversation started. DONATE: Click here to send financial support to The Bittersweet Life via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email at bittersweetlife@mail.com . You can also connect to us through Twitter , <a href= "https://ww
S6 E4 · Thu, April 11, 2019
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, essentially, the same, and how dancing is one of the most universal and unifying human impulses. He also describes how he managed to record himself dancing with locals in North Korea at Kim Jung Il’s very last birthday celebration in 2011. Find Matt Harding at his website, Where the Heck is Matt? , or connect with him on Facebook or Twitter . Watch the original 2008 video that started it all (look for Katy in the Seattle crowd!) or the 2012 video . -------------------------------------------- SPONSOR THE SHOW: Reach expats, future expats, and travelers all over the world. Send us an email to get the conversation started. DONATE: Click here to send financial support to The Bittersweet Life via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email at bittersweetlife@mail.com . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram – Better yet, tag #thebittersweetlife with your story for a chance to be featured! NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with <s
S6 E252 · Mon, April 08, 2019
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, can inspire art and creativity, and why we think that is. We close the show with their song, Out on the Sea , that touches on this topic. Find the band here . -------------------------------------------- SPONSOR THE SHOW: Reach expats, future expats, and travelers all over the world. Send us an email to get the conversation started. DONATE: Click here to send financial support to The Bittersweet Life via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email at bittersweetlife@mail.com . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram – Better yet, tag #thebittersweetlife with your story for a chance to be featured! NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1: OUTSET SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on <a href= "https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-bittersweet-life/id843351111?m
S6 E3 · Thu, April 04, 2019
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 . -------------------------------------------- SPONSOR THE SHOW: Reach expats, future expats, and travelers all over the world. Send us an email to get the conversation started. DONATE: Click here to send financial support to The Bittersweet Life via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email at bittersweetlife@mail.com . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram – Better yet, tag #thebittersweetlife with your story for a chance to be featured! NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1: OUTSET SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. BOOK: Want to read Tiffany's book, Midnight in the Piazza? Learn more here or order on Amazon . TOUR ROME: If you're traveling to Rome, don't miss the chance to <a href= "https://www.tiffany-parks.com/tours/" target="_
S6 E251 · Mon, April 01, 2019
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 influenced her behavior, and how, as a parent, you can avoid imprinting your desires and expectations on your kids and let them live their own lives. -------------------------------------------- SPONSOR THE SHOW: Reach expats, future expats, and travelers all over the world. Send us an email to get the conversation started. DONATE: Click here to send financial support to The Bittersweet Life via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email at bittersweetlife@mail.com . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram – Better yet, tag #thebittersweetlife with your story for a chance to be featured! NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1: OUTSET SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. BOOK: Want to read Tiffany's book, Midnight in the Piazza? Learn more here or order on Amazon . <p class="
S6 E2 · Thu, March 28, 2019
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 if so, what was it they didn’t like? Why did they move there? How did they escape? Join us for this “vox pop” mini-episode, and don’t forget to subscribe to the show so you make sure you never miss an episode, long or short. -------------------------------------------- SPONSOR THE SHOW: Reach expats, future expats, and travelers all over the world. Send us an email to get the conversation started. DONATE: Click here to send financial support to The Bittersweet Life via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email at bittersweetlife@mail.com . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram – Better yet, tag #thebittersweetlife with your story for a chance to be featured! NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1: OUTSET SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so
S6 E250 · Mon, March 25, 2019
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 story of her challenging years as a “trailing spouse” in Germany, how despite her best efforts, she just couldn’t seem to find happiness there. But when you’re a trailing spouse expat, you can’t just pick up and leave whenever you like. What happens when the success of your marriage hangs on whether or not you can tough it out in a country you don’t like living in? What happens when, try as you might, you can’t manage to learn your new husband’s (and new country’s) native tongue? What happens when the man who seemed so evolved in your country turns out to be a bit of a chauvinist in his? Well, if you’re a writer, you curl up in a cozy coffee house and write a book about it, of course! In this interview, Beth reveals the power of admitting that a place just isn’t right for you, accepting that the glamorous expat existence you imagined is actually quite lonely, and discovering that sometimes the biggest adventure of all is moving back home. You can find Beth on Facebook , on her author website , on her pie website (she makes pie!!!), or on her blog, The World Needs More Pie . Order her book here . -------------------------------------------- SPONSOR THE SHOW: Reach expats, future expats, and travelers all over the world. Send us an email to get the conversation started. DONATE: Click here to send financial support to The Bittersweet Life via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question
S6 E1 · Thu, March 21, 2019
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! -------------------------------------------- SPONSOR THE SHOW: Reach expats, future expats, and travelers all over the world. Send us an email to get the conversation started. DONATE: Click here to send financial support to The Bittersweet Life via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email at bittersweetlife@mail.com . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram – Better yet, tag #thebittersweetlife with your story for a chance to be featured! NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1: OUTSET SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. BOOK: Want to read Tiffany's book, Midnight in the Piazza? Learn more here or order on Amazon . TOUR ROME: If you're traveling to Rome, don't miss the chance to tour the city with Tiffany as your guide!
S6 E249 · Mon, March 18, 2019
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 Italian town where her mom was born somehow nullify the life her parents strived to create as immigrants in the States? We explore these and other topics on our latest episode {PLATEAU}. Be sure to listen to the end to hear our exciting new announcement! -------------------------------------------- SPONSOR THE SHOW: Reach expats, future expats, and travelers all over the world. Send us an email to get the conversation started. DONATE: Click here to send financial support to The Bittersweet Life via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email at bittersweetlife@mail.com . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram – Better yet, tag #thebittersweetlife with your story for a chance to be featured! NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1: OUTSET SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. BOOK: Want to read Tiffany's book, Midnight
S6 E248 · Mon, March 11, 2019
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 so far, and has moved 24 times in her 28-year life), she has decided to open her own Augmented Reality software company. Lori-Lee talks about what it takes to open a company in a foreign country, why it’s important to her to work with other expats, and why she decided to leave a secure, stable, and profitable job to create something that is completely hers. She also offers invaluable advice on opening a business—whether you’re an expat or not—including the importance of having a partner, how to get good at being a salesperson even if that’s not your “thing,” and how to push through what seems like endless rejection from potential investors. Find Lori-Lee Elliott on Instagram , Twitter , on your YouTube travel channel , or her YouTube business channel . The travel article referenced in this episode can be found here . -------------------------------------------- SPONSOR THE SHOW: Reach expats, future expats, and travelers all over the world. Send us an email to get the conversation started. DONATE: Click here to send financial support to The Bittersweet Life via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email at bittersweetlife@mail.com . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and <a href= "https://www.instagram.com/thebittersweetlifepodca
S6 E247 · Mon, March 04, 2019
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 should go about attempting a move of your own. Italian rules and regulations (as well as how they are inforced) have changed. Follow in her footsteps at your own risk! -------------------------------------------- SPONSOR THE SHOW: Reach expats, future expats, and travelers all over the world. Send us an email to get the conversation started. DONATE: Click here to send financial support to The Bittersweet Life via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email at bittersweetlife@mail.com . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram – Better yet, tag #thebittersweetlife with your story for a chance to be featured! NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1: OUTSET SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. BOOK: Want to read Tiffany's book, Midnight in the Piazza? Learn more here or order on Amazon . TOUR ROME: If you're traveling to R
S6 E246 · Mon, February 25, 2019
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 around the Bussaco Forest (or was that just me?). In this week’s episode, we share and commiserate about our travel regrets, and discuss ways to make sure we don’t create any new ones. -------------------------------------------- SPONSOR THE SHOW: Reach expats, future expats, and travelers all over the world. Send us an email to get the conversation started. DONATE: Click here to send financial support to The Bittersweet Life via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email at bittersweetlife@mail.com . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram – Better yet, tag #thebittersweetlife with your story for a chance to be featured! NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1: OUTSET SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. BOOK: Want to read Tiffany's book, Midnight in the Piazza? Learn more <a href= "https://www.tiffany-parks.com/
S6 E245 · Mon, February 18, 2019
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 accessible to busy cooks. We chat with Francesca about the differences between northern and southern Italian cuisine, why Italian food is so universally loved, what key ingredients and tools you need in your kitchen, what Americans get wrong about Italian cooking, and when to let yourself bend the rules a little. Buy a copy of the cookbook on Amazon! Follow Francesca Montillo on Twitter , Facebook , Pinterest , and Instagram , or find her on her website, Lazy Italian Culinary Travels . Check out two earlier episodes we taped with Francesca a few years ago, Episode 151 {COOKING} and Episode 152 {COOKING, Part 2} . ***Scroll down for a sample recipe from the book! And remember, you we're giving away one copy of The 5-Ingredient Italian Cookbook —visit our recent post on Instagram for details.*** -------------------------------------------- SPONSOR THE SHOW: Reach expats, future expats, and travelers all over the world. Send us an email to get the conversation started. DONATE: Click here to send financial support to The Bittersweet Life via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our <a href="
S6 E244 · Fri, February 08, 2019
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 -------------------------------------------- SPONSOR THE SHOW: Reach expats, future expats, and travelers all over the world. Send us an email to get the conversation started. DONATE: Click here to send financial support to The Bittersweet Life via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email at bittersweetlife@mail.com . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram – Better yet, tag #thebittersweetlife with your story for a chance to be featured! NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1: OUTSET SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on <a hre
S6 E243 · Mon, February 04, 2019
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 flourished from these new experiences. Sometimes the excuse for why you shouldn't go may just be the reason you should . Katy and her sisters also chat about old friends vs. new: what does it take to keep decades-long friendships thriving despite distance and different lifestyles? And how do you make new friends as an adult, especially when you are living in a new city? -------------------------------------------- SPONSOR THE SHOW: Reach expats, future expats, and travelers all over the world. Send us an email to get the conversation started. DONATE: Click here to send financial support to The Bittersweet Life via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email at bittersweetlife@mail.com . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram – Better yet, tag #thebittersweetlife with your story for a chance to be featured! NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1: OUTSET SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. <str
S6 E242 · Mon, January 28, 2019
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 Sara the tricks for getting the most out of life in a small town, and why living far from her sisters means she gets to see them more. -------------------------------------------- SPONSOR THE SHOW: Reach expats, future expats, and travelers all over the world. Send us an email to get the conversation started. DONATE: Click here to send financial support to The Bittersweet Life via PayPal: PayPal.me/thebittersweetlife. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email at bittersweetlife@mail.com . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram – Better yet, tag #thebittersweetlife with your story for a chance to be featured! NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1: OUTSET SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. BOOK: Want to read Tiffany's book, Midnight in the Piazza? Learn more here or order on Amazon . <p class="
S6 E241 · Mon, January 21, 2019
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 this exclusive (and highly embarrassing!) episode. -------------------------------------------- SPONSOR THE SHOW: Reach expats, future expats, and travelers all over the world. Send us an email to get the conversation started. DONATE: Click here to send financial support to The Bittersweet Life via PayPal: PayPal.me/thebittersweetlife. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email at bittersweetlife@mail.com . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram – Better yet, tag #thebittersweetlife with your story for a chance to be featured! NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1: OUTSET SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. BOOK: Want to read Tiffany's book, Midnight in the Piazza? Learn more here or order on Amazon . TOUR ROME: If you're traveling to Rome, don't miss the chance to
S6 E240 · Mon, January 14, 2019
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. -------------------------------------------- SPONSOR THE SHOW: Reach expats, future expats, and travelers all over the world. Send us an email to get the conversation started. DONATE: Click here to send financial support to The Bittersweet Life via PayPal: PayPal.me/thebittersweetlife. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email at bittersweetlife@mail.com . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram – Better yet, tag #thebittersweetlife with your story for a chance to be featured! NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1: OUTSET SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. BOOK: Want to read Tiffany's book, Midnight in the Piazza? Learn more here or order on Amazon . TOUR ROME: If you're traveling to Rome, don't miss the chance to tour the city with Tiffany as your guide! <p
S6 E239 · Mon, January 07, 2019
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 our show in which she shares the secrets of how practicing perception in art can help keep you safer. ------------------------------------------------------------------- SPONSOR THE SHOW: Reach expats, future expats, and travelers all over the world. Send us an email to get the conversation started. DONATE: Click here to send financial support to The Bittersweet Life via PayPal: PayPal.me/thebittersweetlife. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email at bittersweetlife@mail.com . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram – Better yet, tag #thebittersweetlife with your story for a chance to be featured! NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1: OUTSET SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us.
S6 E238 · Mon, December 31, 2018
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? ------------------------------------------------------------------- SPONSOR THE SHOW: Reach expats, future expats, and travelers all over the world. Send us an email to get the conversation started. DONATE: Click here to send support The Bittersweet Life via PayPal: PayPal.me/thebittersweetlife. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website .) The show needs your support to continue. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email at bittersweetlife@mail.com . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram – Better yet, tag #thebittersweetlife with your story for a chance to be featured! NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1: OUTSET SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. BOOK: Want to read Tiffany's book, Midnight in the Piazza? Learn more here or order on Amazon . TOUR ROME: If you're traveling to Rome, don't miss the chance to <a href= "https://www.tiffany-parks.com/tours/" target="_blank" rel= "noopene
S6 E237 · Mon, December 24, 2018
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), cuddle up to your favorite person and/or your favorite hot beverage, and reminisce with us about a Christmas long past. ------------------------------------------------------------------- SPONSOR THE SHOW: Reach expats, future expats, and travelers all over the world. Send us an email to get the conversation started. DONATE: Open your laptop and visit The Bittersweet Life and click the donate button on the right side of the page. The show needs your support to continue. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email at bittersweetlife@mail.com . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram – Better yet, tag #thebittersweetlife with your story for a chance to be featured! NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1: OUTSET SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. BOOK: Want to read Tiffany's book, Midnight in the Piazza? Learn more here or order on <a href= "
S6 E236 · Thu, December 13, 2018
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 that asks: when is it time to give up the expat life? ------------------------------------------------------------------- SPONSOR THE SHOW: Reach expats, future expats, and travelers all over the world. Send us an email to get the conversation started. DONATE: Open your laptop and visit The Bittersweet Life and click the donate button on the right side of the page. The show needs your support to continue. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email at bittersweetlife@mail.com . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram – Better yet, tag #thebittersweetlife with your story for a chance to be featured! NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1: OUTSET SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. BOOK: Want to read Tiffany's book, Midnight in the Piazza? Learn more here or order on Amazon . TOUR ROME: If you're traveling to Rome, don't miss
S6 E235 · Mon, December 10, 2018
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 difficult-to-learn German language! Do you know how many ways there are to say “the” in German? We don’t either, but it’s a lot.) In fact, the German language is the subject of Dana’s new book. The full title of the book contains some German, so we’ll let Dana tell you the whole thing, but the first part is You Go Me on the Cookie! , a literal English translation of a German expression. The book is available for pre-order now, and release day is just around the corner on 17 December. You Go Me on the Cookie! is available as e-book on amazon.com , and in both paperback and e-book format on amazon.de . You can also find it on GoodReads . For now, the book is only in German, but hopefully it will be out in English one day soon. (Don’t worry, the interview is in English!) Follow Dana on Twitter , Facebook , and on her YouTube channel, Wanted Adventure . (Here’s a video where she talks about The Bittersweet Life podcast!) ------------------------------------------------------------------- SPONSOR THE SHOW: Reach expats, future expats, and travelers all over the world. Send us an email to get the conversation started. DONATE: Open your laptop and visit The Bittersweet Life and click the donate button on the right side of the page. The show need
S6 E234 · Mon, December 03, 2018
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 childhood? And how do you create traditions in your own home if you are out of town for the holiday? In the second half of the episode, we discuss Tiffany’s conversion to Catholicism. How much does living in a country influence your religious beliefs and customs? Sometimes it’s just easier to assimilate, but is that the right thing to do? ------------------------------------------------------------------- SPONSOR THE SHOW: Reach expats, future expats, and travelers all over the world. Send us an email to get the conversation started. DONATE: Open your laptop and visit The Bittersweet Life and click the donate button on the right side of the page. The show needs your support to continue. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email at bittersweetlife@mail.com . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram – Better yet, tag #thebittersweetlife with your story for a chance to be featured! NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1: OUTSET SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. <s
S6 E233 · Mon, November 26, 2018
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 doesn’t deserve his position. Hated by those who see him abusing his power, profiting off his office, and making a mockery of the very institution he rules over. He has placed his children in positions of power and authority within his sphere, and he is positioning them to take over the reins of his power when he is gone, dreaming of turning his elected seat into a family dynasty. If you think you know who I’m talking about, you’re probably wrong. Pope Alexander VI, birth name Rodrigo Borgia, is the subject of our latest episode. Tune in to hear all about the “Evil Pope,” his corrupt and rapacious family, and all the ways they are so uncannily like another powerful family we know too well. Also, we’ll also discuss the places in Rome where Borgia family lived, worked, and played so you can follow along in the footsteps of what Mario Puzo called the “original crime family.” We hope you’ll listen, but here’s a cheatsheet so you don’t have to take notes while you’re listening: - The Borgia Apartments at the Vatican - Salita dei Borgia - Piazza Fiammetta - Palazzo della Cancelleria (Piazza della Cancelleria) - Palazzo Farnese (Piazza Farnese) ------------------------------------------------------------------- SPONSOR THE SHOW: Reach expats, future expats, and travelers all over the world. Send us an email to get the conversation started. DONATE: Open your laptop and visit The Bittersweet Life and click the donate button on the right side of the page. The show needs your support to continue. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email at bittersweetlife@mail.com . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram – Better yet, tag #thebittersweetlife with your story for a chance to
S6 E232 · Sun, November 18, 2018
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 topics that will make sure the conversation stays friendly and fun. And bonus: you might learn something new about someone you’ve known for a very long time. How often does that happen? We got our inspiration for this episode from this article in Huffington Post by Terri Coles, and this week, your faithful hosts try out each one of her suggestions as a warm-up for the big day. Many thanks to Ms. Coles for the inspiration for this week's episode. ------------------------------------------------------------------- SPONSOR THE SHOW: Reach expats, future expats, and travelers all over the world. Send us an email to get the conversation started. DONATE: Open your laptop and visit The Bittersweet Life and click the donate button on the right side of the page. The show needs your support to continue. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email at bittersweetlife@mail.com . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram – Better yet, tag #thebittersweetlife with your story for a chance to be featured! NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1: OUTSET SUBSCRIBE: <a href= "https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-bitterswe
S6 E231 · Mon, November 12, 2018
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 an archaeologist today (spoiler: it’s not all Indiana Jones), what examining the ancients can bring to our modern lives, what the ancient Greeks and Romans had in common with us, and why her favorite thing to study is an ancient garbage pit. Also: when you work in a country for a few months out of every year, but don’t actually live there, are you a tourist or a local? How do you balance that in-between state? And what if you want to move there indefinitely, but the job prospects are dismal? We discuss these topics and more on this week’s episode of The Bittersweet Life. Learn more about the project Christy is working on presently in Morgantina, Sicily here , or find them on Instagram @aemcap . Find Christy herself on Twitter @loquensmachina or on Instagram @loquensmachina. ------------------------------------------------------------------- SPONSOR THE SHOW: Reach expats, future expats, and travelers all over the world. Send us an email to get the conversation started. DONATE: Open your laptop and visit The Bittersweet Life and click the donate button on the right side of the page. The show needs your support to continue. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email at bittersweetlife@mail.com . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram – Better yet, tag
S6 E230 · Mon, November 05, 2018
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-away message is a bit of advice from Katy’s husband Derek: “Just because you didn’t do it well the first time, doesn’t mean you’re not going to do it well now.” A huge thanks to listener Azariah whose letter inspired this episode. ------------------------------------------------------------------- SPONSOR THE SHOW: Reach expats, future expats, and travelers all over the world. Send us an email to get the conversation started. DONATE: Open your laptop and visit The Bittersweet Life and click the donate button on the right side of the page. The show needs your support to continue. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email at bittersweetlife@mail.com . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram – Better yet, tag #thebittersweetlife with your story for a chance to be featured! NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1: OUTSET SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. BOOK: Want to read Tiffany's book, Midnight in the Piazza? Learn more <a href
S6 E229 · Mon, October 29, 2018
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 your kitchen right now to make gory sound effects! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ SPONSOR THE SHOW: Reach expats, future expats, and travelers all over the world. Send us an email to get the conversation started. DONATE: Open your laptop and visit The Bittersweet Life and click the donate button on the right side of the page. The show needs your support to continue. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email at bittersweetlife@mail.com . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram – Better yet, tag #thebittersweetlife with your story for a chance to be featured! NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1: OUTSET SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. BOOK: Want to read Tiffany's book, Midnight in the Piazza? Learn more here or order on Amazon . TOUR ROME: If you'r
S6 E228 · Mon, October 22, 2018
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 saw the deaths of so many tens if not hundreds of thousands of people—many say it’s bound to be the most haunted place on earth. And that leads us to another question: is it right the site of mass killing, torture, and horror go on to become tourist attractions? Katy recounts her chilling experience at the “Hanoi Hilton” in Vietnam, and considers that maybe it would have been better if it had been torn to the ground. Why do we seek to preserve places of unspeakable cruelty? It is so they will be a warning to future generations…or because we’re fascinated with the macabre? ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ SPONSOR THE SHOW: Reach expats, future expats, and travelers all over the world. Send us an email to get the conversation started. DONATE: Open your laptop and visit The Bittersweet Life and click the donate button on the right side of the page. The show needs your support to continue. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email at bittersweetlife@mail.com . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram – Better yet, tag #thebittersweetlife with your story for a chance to be featured! NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1: OUTSET SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode.
S6 E227 · Mon, October 15, 2018
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 Vanishing: A Memoir of Wanderlust , Smith uses the extraordinary life and mysterious disappearance of child prodigy and fellow wanderer Barbara Newhall Follett as a backdrop for her own raging wanderlust. Learn more about Laura Smith at her website . ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ SPONSOR THE SHOW: Reach expats, future expats, and travelers all over the world. Send us an email to get the conversation started. DONATE: Open your laptop and visit The Bittersweet Life and click the donate button on the right side of the page. The show needs your support to continue. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email at bittersweetlife@mail.com . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram – Better yet, tag #thebittersweetlife with your story for a chance to be featured! NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1: OUTSET SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on <a href= "https:/
S6 E226 · Mon, October 08, 2018
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 has happened in the news, but life is a bit more complicated when you're an expat. And what happens when things start to look so bleak back home that you're not sure you want to go back there...maybe ever? Mentioned on the show: Episode 137: Election – Katy and Tiffany react in real time to the election of Donald Trump as President of the United States. Episode 150: Resist – An interview with Indivisible's Ezra Levin. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ SPONSOR THE SHOW: Reach expats, future expats, and travelers all over the world. Send us an email to get the conversation started. DONATE: Open your laptop and visit The Bittersweet Life and click the donate button on the right side of the page. The show needs your support to continue. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email at bittersweetlife@mail.com . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram – Better yet, tag #thebittersweetlife with your story for a chance to be featured! NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1: OUTSET SUBSCRIBE: <a href= "https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-bittersweet-life/id843351111?mt=2"
S6 E225 · Mon, October 01, 2018
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 episode, your intrepid hosts discuss whether this is simply a coincidence or if suffering and dissatisfaction push people out into the world. Also, Tiffany muses on the times she has used travel as an excuse to avoid unpleasant realities at home. Have you ever stopped to ask yourself if you’re traveling TO somewhere, or simply to leave somewhere behind? ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ SPONSOR THE SHOW: Reach expats, future expats, and travelers all over the world. Send us an email to get the conversation started. DONATE: Open your laptop and visit The Bittersweet Life and click the donate button on the right side of the page. The show needs your support to continue. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email at bittersweetlife@mail.com . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram – Better yet, tag #thebittersweetlife with your story for a chance to be featured! NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1: OUTSET SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. <p class="p1
S6 E224 · Mon, September 24, 2018
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 travelogue, part guide book, and part two friends reminiscing while wishing they were still on vacation. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ SPONSOR THE SHOW: Reach expats, future expats, and travelers all over the world. Send us an email to get the conversation started. DONATE: Open your laptop and visit The Bittersweet Life and click the donate button on the right side of the page. The show needs your support to continue. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email at bittersweetlife@mail.com . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram – Better yet, tag #thebittersweetlife with your story for a chance to be featured! NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1: OUTSET SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. BOOK: Want to read Tiffany's book, Midnight in the Piazza? Learn more here or order on Amazon . TOUR ROME:</
S5 E223 · Mon, September 17, 2018
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 episode of the season {ARRIVEDERCI}, Katy and Tiffany discuss what it's like to be in a city like Rome without having the time to explore it, and how it feels when a trip comes to an end and, while you may have done what you needed to do, you didn't see what you wanted to see. But that's ok. Because Rome will always be here. Waiting patiently for Katy's next visit. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ SPONSOR THE SHOW: Reach expats, future expats, and travelers all over the world. Send us an email to get the conversation started. DONATE: Open your laptop and visit The Bittersweet Life and click the donate button on the right side of the page. The show needs your support to continue. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email at bittersweetlife@mail.com . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram – Better yet, tag #thebittersweetlife with your story for a chance to be featured! NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1: OUTSET SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on <a href= "https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-bittersweet-life/id843351111?
S5 E222 · Mon, September 10, 2018
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. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ SPONSOR THE SHOW: Reach expats, future expats, and travelers all over the world. Send us an email to get the conversation started. DONATE: Open your laptop and visit The Bittersweet Life and click the donate button on the right side of the page. The show needs your support to continue. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email at bittersweetlife@mail.com . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram – Better yet, tag #thebittersweetlife with your story for a chance to be featured! NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1: OUTSET SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. BOOK: Want to read Tiffany's book, Midnight in the Piazza? Learn more here or order on Amazon . TOUR ROME: If you're traveling to Rome, don
S5 E221 · Mon, September 03, 2018
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 travelers all over the world. Send us an email to get the conversation started. DONATE: Open your laptop and visit The Bittersweet Life and click the donate button on the right side of the page. The show needs your support to continue. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email at bittersweetlife@mail.com . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram – Better yet, tag #thebittersweetlife with your story for a chance to be featured! NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1: OUTSET SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. BOOK: Want to read Tiffany's book, Midnight in the Piazza? Learn more here or order on Amazon . TOUR ROME: If you're traveling to Rome, don't miss the chance to <a href= "https://www.tiffany-parks.com/tours/" target="_b
S5 E220 · Mon, August 27, 2018
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 there come a time in life when it’s “too late” to take off in a new direction, or is that simply a self-imposed limitation? And once you’ve been an expat in one country, are you more or less likely to change countries a second time? We discuss this and more on the latest installment of The Bittersweet Life, Episode 220 {STAYING?}. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ SPONSOR THE SHOW: Reach expats, future expats, and travelers all over the world. Send us an email to get the conversation started. DONATE: Open your laptop and visit The Bittersweet Life and click the donate button on the right side of the page. The show needs your support to continue. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email at bittersweetlife@mail.com . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram – Better yet, tag #thebittersweetlife with your story for a chance to be featured! NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1: OUTSET SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on <a href= "https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-bittersweet-life/id843351111?mt=2
S5 E219 · Mon, August 20, 2018
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 escape plan if things went haywire. And go haywire they did. Her first attempt at expat life in central Spain blew up in her face, but her determination to make a life for herself in Europe meant she didn’t give up. Nearly a year later, she is happily settled in Milan, attending a graduate program and learning to speak Italian. She may not have the expat thing completely figured out yet, but she knows one thing: she doesn’t regret leaving everything behind and following her dreams for a second. Listen to her interview to learn how, when things don’t work out as planned, sometimes it’s the best thing that could have happened. ---------------------------------------------------------------- Additional resources: Article: Moving Abroad: Fate and the Allure of Italy Tiffany's Advice: So You Want to Move to Rome? Need legal advice? Try JSS Justice -------------- SPONSOR THE SHOW: Reach expats, future expats, and travelers all over the world. Send us an email to get the conversation started. DONATE: Open your laptop and visit The Bittersweet Life and click the donate button on the right side of the page. The show needs your support to continue. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email at bittersweetlife@mail.com . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram – Better yet, tag #thebittersweetlife with
S5 E218 · Mon, August 13, 2018
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 at the supermarket down the street from the apartment you once rented, perhaps it’s the accordion player who always sits on the same corner, or the young mother in the park who has a new baby every time you see her. How they change or don’t change, age or seemingly defy the ravages of time, how their eyes might linger on you with a glimmer of half-recognition before returning to their inner world—these are the snapshots that truly color a city, and a return traveler’s experience of it. Katy and Tiffany explore this idea in Episode 218: POSTCARDS. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ SPONSOR THE SHOW: Reach expats, future expats, and travelers all over the world. Send us an email to get the conversation started. DONATE: Open your laptop and visit The Bittersweet Life and click the donate button on the right side of the page. The show needs your support to continue. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email at bittersweetlife@mail.com . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram – Better yet, tag #thebittersweetlife with your story for a chance to be featured! NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1: OUTSET SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. WRITE A R
S5 E217 · Mon, August 06, 2018
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 do just that, she has become an expert on childhood bilingualism, and shares that knowledge onto her blog. On this episode, Kristie shares her favorite resources for raising children in two language, the most interesting of which is double-language book series by One Third Stories . Instead of presenting the two languages side by side, these books introduce foreign words into the text slowly, until they eventually take over. Before you know it, your child is reading an entire book in a second language! She also shares the brilliant idea of teaching your child about the other country and its culture as a way of piquing his or her interest in the language (instead of the other way around), and offers tips and tricks for staying strong when your older child resists the minority language. If bilingualism is something you want for your child, this is the episode for you! This episode also features a bonus appearance by none other than Tiffany’s son Aurelio, who offers a peek into the mind of a bilingual toddler, and answers Katy’s hard-hitting questions, such as, “What does a cow say?” You can also find Kristie Prada on Twitter , Facebook , or Instagram . ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ SPONSOR THE SHOW: Reach expats, future expats, and travelers all over the world. Send us an email to get the conversation started. DONATE: Open your laptop and visit The Bittersweet Life and click the donate button on the right side of the page. The show needs your support to continue. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email at bittersweetlife@mail.com . You can a
S5 E216 · Mon, July 30, 2018
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 been in Italy for most of the past few decades, but she and her husband Steve Brenner decided to settle in Orvieto with their three daughters several years ago in search of a slower pace of life. We reconnect with them (together this time) four years later to see how life in small-town Italy is treating them. What do they still love about Orvieto? And what do they wish visitors to Italy knew about it? What has started to wear on them? What—if anything—makes them consider moving back to the big city? And how do they know when the town has become “theirs”? Listen in on this casual conversation among friends, and you might just decide to add Orvieto to your next Italian vacation itinerary…or sell everything you own and move there like Toni and Linda did. Episode 216: ORVIETO. Want more from Toni and Linda? To learn more about Orvieto and why Toni fell in love with it, visit her blog, Orvieto or Bust . You can also follow her on Instagram , Twitter or Facebook . Or check out her episode on House Hunters International . If you're planning a trip to Rome, check out Linda's family-run hostel, The Beehive . You can also find her on Instagram , Twitter , and Facebook . ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ SPONSOR THE SHOW: Reach expats, future expats, and travelers all over the world. Send us an email to get the conversation started. DONATE: Open your laptop and visit The Bittersweet Life and click the <a href= "https://www.paypa
S5 E215 · Mon, July 23, 2018
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 long out of your home country, and especially when you acquire citizenship to your adopted country and start a family there, you can begin to lose the allegiance to your home country. Does that make you less patriotic? Can expats be excused for closing their eyes and focusing on life in their new country, or should they remain just as involved as they would be if they were still living in their hometown. Katy and Tiffany discuss these and more related topics on Episode 215 {SUMMIT} of The Bittersweet Life podcast. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ SPONSOR THE SHOW: Reach expats, future expats, and travelers all over the world. Send us an email to get the conversation started. DONATE: Open your laptop and visit The Bittersweet Life and click the donate button on the right side of the page. The show needs your support to continue. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email at bittersweetlife@mail.com . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram – Better yet, tag #thebittersweetlife with your story for a chance to be featured! NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1: OUTSET SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating
S5 E214 · Mon, July 16, 2018
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 the social rules of your new country is part of adjusting to life abroad. To a certain extent, all expats go through it. But what makes things rude in one culture and acceptable in another? What does it say about the people of those countries, and what they value? Why is it ok to litter on the street in Italy, but not ok to wash your hands in the kitchen sink? Why is it fine, in Italy, to wave to get your waiter’s attention, but unspeakably rude to leave a shop without saying “ grazie, arrivederci ”—the exact opposite of which is true in the US? And what happens when you pick up habits that are perfectly acceptable in your new country, and take them back home with you, where they are seen as downright rude? (Case in point: after a one-year stint in Rome, polite, mild-mannered Katy has taken to cutting lines, a heinous crime in America and merely an eye-rolling annoyance in Italy.) We discuss these social conundrums and etiquette paradoxes and try to make sense of it all on this week’s new episode, {RUDE}. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ SPONSOR THE SHOW: Reach expats, future expats, and travelers all over the world. Send us an email to get the conversation started. DONATE: Open your laptop and visit The Bittersweet Life and click the donate button on the right side of the page. The show needs your support to continue. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email at bittersweetlife@mail.com . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram – Better yet, tag <a href= "https://www.instag
S5 E213 · Mon, July 09, 2018
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 us to speak for themselves. Katy and Tiffany discuss many topics with this couple who have been married for 40 years, including the closeness of the Italian family unit, how they first met, which of their three children is the favorite, and what they thought when their only son brought home an American girl. A hilarious episode ensues, in which we finally learn if they dislike each other as much as they pretend to. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ SPONSOR THE SHOW: Reach expats, future expats, and travelers all over the world. Send us an email to get the conversation started. DONATE: Open your laptop and visit The Bittersweet Life and click the donate button on the right side of the page. The show needs your support to continue. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email at bittersweetlife@mail.com . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram – Better yet, tag #thebittersweetlife with your story for a chance to be featured! NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1: OUTSET SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on <a href= "https://itune
S5 E212 · Mon, July 02, 2018
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 people immigrate to , rather than from. Does Estrella get treated any differently than an expat who can pass for an Italian, like Katy, or one who fits the American racial stereotype, like Tiffany? How has her experience as an expat in Rome differed from ours? We also ask the question: if your parents were immigrants, do you have the right to move abroad? Does it somehow make their sacrifice less meaningful? We broach these and other thought-provoking topics on this week’s episode {ETHNICITY}. Learn more about Estrella Gomez at her blog, La Casa Bloga . You can also find her on Instagram , Twitter , Pinterest , and YouTube . ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ SPONSOR THE SHOW: Reach expats, future expats, and travelers all over the world. Send us an email to get the conversation started. DONATE: Open your laptop and visit The Bittersweet Life and click the donate button on the right side of the page. The show needs your support to continue. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email at bittersweetlife@mail.com . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram – Better yet, tag <a href= "https://www.instagram.c
S5 E211 · Mon, June 25, 2018
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 recent stay at this exquisite boutique hotel overlooking its namesake Sirenuse Islands, Katy interviewed Antonio 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. Listen in to their fascinating conversation, and consider what could be waiting for you in your own life, if you would simply say “yes.” Wonder what the hotel is like? Check out this video . ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ SPONSOR THE SHOW: Reach expats, future expats, and travelers all over the world. Send us an email to get the conversation started. DONATE: Open your laptop and visit The Bittersweet Life and click the donate button on the right side of the page. The show needs your support to continue. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email at bittersweetlife@mail.com . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram – Better yet, tag #thebittersweetlife with your story for a chance to be featured! NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1: OUTSET
S5 E210 · Mon, June 18, 2018
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. From Uganda during the overthrow of Idi Amin in 1979 to Somalia during the height of the Somali Civil War in the early ‘90s, Maren has lived and worked in some of the dangerous places and situations on the planet. In our latest episode, Katy travels to Positano on the Amalfi Coast, where she met up with Michael and interviewed him about his experiences covering conflict across the African continent. They discuss the trap of expat privilege, the negative effects of foreign aid on developing countries, and the delusions many war correspondents have that they are special enough to survive. Maren is now an author and screenwriter. His book The Road to Hell explains how misguided foreign aid, charity, development assistance, and food relief in developing countries have propagated a culture of destructive dependency that damages the local economy and promotes corruption. He also wrote and produced the film A Short History of Decay starring Bryan Greenberg and Linda Lavin, is currently working on a new film, Shriver . ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ SPONSOR THE SHOW: Reach expats, future expats, and travelers all over the world. Send us an email to get the conversation started. DONATE: Open your laptop and visit The Bittersweet Life and click the donate button on the right side of the page. The show needs your support to continue. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email at bittersweetlife@mail.com . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram – Better yet, tag #thebittersweetlife with your story for a chance to be featured! <p cl
S5 E209 · Mon, June 11, 2018
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 the ancient stadium it was built upon, from the crumbling Roman buildings that found new life as Renaissance palaces to the fragments of ancient decoration plastered into the walls of medieval buildings…the history of Rome is palpable in its very urban fabric. You don’t have to visit an archeological site or even a museum to discover the city’s many layers of history. Just take a long rambling walk through Rome’s historic center and you’ll find the tangible ghosts of the ancient city coming to life all around you. Want to follow along with us? Here’s a list of the stops we make on our passeggiata : Ponte Fabricio Torre dei Caetani (*Note: Tiffany mistakenly refers to it as the Torre dei Crescenzi in the episode. Oops!) Portico Of Octavia Theater of Marcellus (and Palazzo Orsini ) Largo di Torre Argentina (and the Cat Sanctuary) Piazza Navona (and Sant'Agnese in Agone Church) Piazza di Pietra and the Temple of Hadrian ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ SPONSOR THE SHOW: Reach expats, future expats, and travelers all over the world. Send us an email to get the conversation started. DONATE: Open your laptop and visit The Bittersweet Life and click the donate button on the right side of the page. The show needs your support to continue. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email at bittersweetlife@mail.com . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram – Better yet, tag #thebittersweetlife with your story for a chance to be featured! NEW TO THE
S5 E208 · Mon, June 04, 2018
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, than even the spot where we were born"? The inspiration for today's episode comes from one line (albeit a very long line) from Nathaniel Hawthorne's novel, The Marble Faun . (The quote in its entirety can be found here .) It leads us to made a rather stark comparison: is living in Rome a bit like being in an abusive relationship? Bonus: turns out ancient Romans complained about the city's traffic problems too! And apparently, Juvenal coined the term "traffic jam" back in the 1st century AD. We discuss one of his quotes, which can be found here . ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ SPONSOR THE SHOW: Reach expats, future expats, and travelers all over the world. Send us an email to get the conversation started. DONATE: Open your laptop and visit The Bittersweet Life and click the donate button on the right side of the page. The show needs your support to continue. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email at bittersweetlife@mail.com . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram – Better yet, tag #thebittersweetlife with your story for a chance to be featured! NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with <a href= "http://thebittersweetlife.net/e
S5 E207 · Mon, May 28, 2018
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 photographer, what does that say about your writing degree? Beyond that, how do you go about making a living from art in a foreign country? Katy and Samuel discuss these and other fascinating topics. Check out Samuel Webster's podcast, Fool's Paradise . Or visit his website to learn more about his projects. Bonus! Samuel interviewed Katy on the same day, and his episode is set to air simultaneously. So if you enjoyed this episode, be sure to check out his as well. Just click the link above. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ SPONSOR THE SHOW: Reach expats, future expats, and travelers all over the world. Send us an email to get the conversation started. DONATE: Open your laptop and visit The Bittersweet Life and click the donate button on the right side of the page. The show needs your support to continue. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email at bittersweetlife@mail.com . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram – Better yet, tag #thebittersweetlife with your story for a chance to be featured! NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1: OUTSET SUBSCRIBE: <a hr
S5 E206 · Mon, May 21, 2018
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 the age-old question: what do the umbrella-sellers do with the umbrellas when it's not raining! Bonus interview! Tiffany is convinced that Italians hate the rain. She interviews some Italians in Campo de' Fiori about why they hate the rain so much...their answers may surprise you! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ SPONSOR THE SHOW: Reach expats, future expats, and travelers all over the world. Send us an email to get the conversation started. DONATE: Open your laptop and visit The Bittersweet Life and click the donate button on the right side of the page. The show needs your support to continue. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email at bittersweetlife@mail.com . You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram – Better yet, tag #thebittersweetlife with your story for a chance to be featured! NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1: OUTSET SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. BOOK: Want to re
S5 E205 · Mon, May 14, 2018
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 with people who have probably long since forgotten them. SPONSOR! Reach expats and future expats living all over the world. Send us an email to get the conversation started. DONATE! Open your laptop and visit The Bittersweet Life and click the donate button on the right side of the page. The show needs your support to continue. SAY HI! If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email. Write to: bittersweetlife@mail.com You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook and Instagram - Better yet, tag #thebittersweetlife with your story for a chance to be featured! NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET BOOK! Need a copy of Tiffany's book Midnight in the Piazza? Order here! TOUR ROME! If you're traveling to Rome, don't miss the chance to tour the city with Tiffany Parks as your guide! ©Web and show content can only be used with written permission.
S5 E204 · Mon, May 07, 2018
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 yourself in the process! Read Tiffany's blog post on the same topic! What's your Chinese zodiac sign? Find out here . SPONSOR! Reach expats and future expats living all over the world. Send us an email to get the conversation started. DONATE! Open your laptop and visit The Bittersweet Life and click the donate button on the right side of the page. The show needs your support to continue. SAY HI! If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email. Write to: bittersweetlife@mail.com You can also connect to us through Twitter , Facebook and Instagram - Better yet, tag #thebittersweetlife with your story for a chance to be featured! NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET BOOK! Need a copy of Tiffany's book Midnight in the Piazza? Order here! TOUR ROME! If you're traveling to Rome, don't miss the chance to <a href= "https://www.tiffany-parks
S5 E203 · Mon, April 30, 2018
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 that long-term expats feel superior to short-term expats? We muse on unintentional pretension, and what we can do to stop ourselves from falling into the trap of becoming an expat-snob. SPONSOR! Reach expats and future expats living all over the world. Send us an email to get the conversation started. DONATE! Open your laptop and visit The Bittersweet Life and click the donate button on the right side of the page. The show needs your support to continue. SAY HI! If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email. Write to: bittersweetlife@mail.com You can also talk to us through Twitter , Facebook and Instagram - Tag #thebittersweetlife with your story for a chance to be featured! NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET BOOK! Need a copy of Tiffany's book Midnight in the Piazza? Check it out! TOUR ROME! If you're traveling to Rome, don't miss the chance to tour the city with Tiffany Parks as your guide! ©Web and show content can only be used with written permission.
S5 E202 · Mon, April 23, 2018
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 whale sighting, and a frightening—but unfortunately not uncommon—moment during one of her school visits. SPONSOR! Reach expats and future expats living all over the world. Send us an email to get the conversation started. DONATE! Open your laptop and visit The Bittersweet Life and click the donate button on the right side of the page. The show needs your support to continue. SAY HI! If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email. Write to: bittersweetlife@mail.com You can also talk to us through Twitter , Facebook and Instagram - Tag #thebittersweetlife with your story for a chance to be featured! NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET BOOK! Need a copy of Tiffany's book Midnight in the Piazza? Check it out! TOUR ROME! If you're traveling to Rome, don't miss the chance to tour the city with Tiffany Parks as your guide! ©Web and show content can only be used with written permission.
S4 E201 · Mon, April 16, 2018
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 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 over the world. Send us an email to get the conversation started. DONATE! Open your laptop and visit The Bittersweet Life and click the donate button on the right side of the page. The show needs your support to continue. SAY HI! If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email. Write to: bittersweetlife@mail.com You can also talk to us through Twitter , Facebook and Instagram - Tag #thebittersweetlife with your story for a chance to be featured! NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET BOOK! Need a copy of Tiffany's book Midnight in the Piazza? Check it out! TOUR ROME! If you're traveling to Rome, don't miss the chance to <a href= "https://w
S4 E200 · Mon, April 09, 2018
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 supporting this episode. 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 DONATE! Open your laptop and visit The Bittersweet Life and click the donate button on the right side of the page. The show needs your support to continue. SAY HI! If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email. Write to: bittersweetlife@mail.com You can also talk to us through Twitter , Facebook and Instagram - Tag #thebittersweetlife with your story for a chance to be featured! NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET BOOK! Need a copy of Tiffany's book Midnight in the Piazza? Check i
S4 E199 · Mon, April 02, 2018
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 over the world. Send us an email to get the conversation started. DONATE! Open your laptop and visit The Bittersweet Life and click the donate button on the right side of the page. The show needs your support to continue. SAY HI! If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email. Write to: bittersweetlife@mail.com You can also talk to us through Twitter , Facebook and Instagram - Tag #thebittersweetlife with your story for a chance to be featured! NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET BOOK! Need a copy of Tiffany's book Midnight in the Piazza? Check it out!
S4 E198 · Mon, March 26, 2018
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 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 over the world. Send us an email to get the conversation started. DONATE! Open your laptop and visit The Bittersweet Life and click the donate button on the right side of the page. The show needs your support to continue. SAY HI! If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email. Write to: bittersweetlife@mail.com You can also talk to us through Twitter , Facebook and Instagram - Tag #thebittersweetlife with your story for a chance to be featured! NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET
S4 E197 · Mon, March 19, 2018
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. Send us an email to get the conversation started. DONATE! Open your laptop and visit The Bittersweet Life and click the donate button on the right side of the page. The show needs your support to continue. SAY HI! If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email. Write to: bittersweetlife@mail.com You can also talk to us through Twitter , Facebook and Instagram - Tag #thebittersweetlife with your story for a chance to be featured! NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET
S4 E196 · Mon, March 12, 2018
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 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 performance of The Bittersweet Life . It's at 7:30pm at the Greenwood Senior Center (525 N 85th St, Seattle, WA 98103). Get tickets here ! TIFFANY'S OTHER EVENTS : See a complete listing of book appearances here . SAY HI! If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email. Write to: bittersweetlife@mail.com You can also talk to us through Twitter , Facebook and Instagram - Tag #thebittersweetlife with your story for a chance to be featured! DONATE! Open your laptop and visit The Bittersweet Life and click the donate button on the right side of the page. The show needs your support to continue. NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET </sp
S4 E195 · Mon, March 05, 2018
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 performance of The Bittersweet Life . It's at 7:30pm at the Greenwood Senior Center (525 N 85th St, Seattle, WA 98103). Get tickets here ! TIFFANY'S OTHER EVENTS : See a complete listing of book appearances here . SAY HI! If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email. Write to: bittersweetlife@mail.com You can also talk to us through Twitter , Facebook and Instagram - Tag #thebittersweetlife with your story for a chance to be featured! DONATE! Open your laptop and visit The Bittersweet Life and click the donate button on the right side of the page. The show needs your support to continue. NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET SPONSOR! Reach expats and future expats living all over the world. Send us an email to get the conversation started.
S4 E194 · Mon, February 26, 2018
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 Tiffany's book Midnight in the Piazza with a live performance of The Bittersweet Life . It's at 7:30pm at the Greenwood Senior Center (525 N 85th St, Seattle, WA 98103). Get tickets here ! Locations mentioned in the show: Gianicolo Hill Cannon Quirinale Palace - Changing of the Guard The Nerja Caves (Spain side trip!) Catacombs along the Appian Way The Crypts of the Capuchin Monks Santa Maria dell'Orazione e Morte The Pharmacy Museum in Trastevere Luneur Amusement Park Explora Children's Museum The Time Elevator Palazzo Valentini Pizza! Visit Dar Poeta or <a href=
S4 E193 · Mon, February 19, 2018
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 Center (525 N 85th St, Seattle, WA 98103). Get tickets here . Locations mentioned in the show: The Portico d'Octavia Stadium of Domitian Galleria Doria Pamphilj Galleria Colonna (only open Saturday morning) Baths of Diocletian Villa Farnesina Ostia Antica (outside Rome) Casa di Santa Francesca Romana (aka Tor de Specchi convent ) - March 9th only! Santo Stefano Rotondo SAY HI! If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email. Write to: bittersweetlife@mail.com You can also talk to us through Twitter , Facebook and Instagram - Tag <a href= "https://www.i
S4 E192 · Mon, February 12, 2018
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 to address, send us an email. Write to: bittersweetlife@mail.com You can also talk to us through Twitter , Facebook and Instagram - Tag #thebittersweetlife with your story for a chance to be featured! DONATE! Open your laptop and visit The Bittersweet Life and click the donate button on the right side of the page. The show needs your support to continue. NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET SPONSOR! Reach expats and future expats living all over the world. Send us an email to get the conversation started.
S4 E191 · Mon, February 05, 2018
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 us through Twitter , Facebook and Instagram - Tag #thebittersweetlife with your story for a chance to be featured! DONATE! Open your laptop and visit The Bittersweet Life and click the donate button on the right side of the page. The show needs your support to continue. NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET SPONSOR! Reach expats and future expats living all over the world. Send us an email to get the conversation started.
S4 E190 · Mon, January 29, 2018
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 Instagram - Tag #thebittersweetlife with your story for a chance to be featured! DONATE! Open your laptop and visit The Bittersweet Life and click the donate button on the right side of the page. The show needs your support to continue. NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET SPONSOR! Reach expats and future expats living all over the world. Send us an email to get the conversation started.
S4 E189 · Sun, January 21, 2018
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 ever receive at a party, she throws them away. Check out Twitter , Facebook and Instagram to see pictures of Katy's aesthetic peculiarities and to see the one bomboniere Tiffany did keep. * Post pictures of where you live too!* Also, if you missed our show with housing designer Rebecca West , you can listen to it here . DONATE! Open your laptop and visit The Bittersweet Life and click the donate button on the right side of the page. The show needs your support to continue. WRITE US! Tell us your aesthetic preferences. We are dying to know. Send us an email at bittersweetlife@mail.com NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET SPONSOR! Reach expats and future expats living all over the world. Send us an email to get the conversation started.
S4 E188 · Mon, January 01, 2018
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@mail.com . NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET WANT TO SPONSOR THE SHOW: 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. ©Web and show content can only be used with written permission.
S4 E187 · Mon, December 25, 2017
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 2018. (Next week: New Years Resolutions!) Write us at bittersweetlife@mail.com . We LOVE hearing your stories. 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. WE'RE ON SOCIAL MEDIA! Connect with us on Instagram , Twitter , Facebook , or write us @ bittersweetlife@mail.com . ©Web and show content can only be used with written permission.
S4 E186 · Mon, December 18, 2017
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 on a most wild ride through jail, and plots, and escape... You get the idea. This is a super fun, inspiring episode. You'll also learn how your host Katy Sewall gave Dante the name Dante. Dante's Homepage Dante's favorite magician, Tom Mullica 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 , Facebook , or write us @ bittersweetlife@mail.com . ©Web and show content can only be used with written permission.
S4 E185 · Mon, December 11, 2017
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 Bittersweet Life, a show that focused on sexual assault abroad. One of the dangers of traveling to foreign lands is not recognizing when you're in danger. Katy and Tiffany share stories of what happened to them. If you have thoughts (or a #metoo story) to share - TELL US! If we get enough responses, we'll do a follow up show on the matter. And if you want to hear more, the conversation goes on in Part 2 and Part 3 If you've 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 , Facebook , or write us @ bittersweetlife@mail.com . ©Web and show content can only be used with written permission.
S4 E184 · Mon, December 04, 2017
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 Parks (in Rome) and Katy Sewall (in New Orleans) explore how cities are forever altered by the natural and man-made disasters that strike. DONATE! Support the independent radio makers you love. Unpaid bills lead to no show in the future. :( 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 , Facebook , or write us @ bittersweetlife@mail.com . ©Web and show content can only be used with written permission.
S4 E183 · Mon, November 27, 2017
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? 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 , Facebook , or write us @ bittersweetlife@mail.com . ©Web and show content can only be used with written permission.
S4 E182 · Mon, November 20, 2017
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 and discovered a richer, more authentic personal life? If so, tell us in the comments or through social media. Connect with us on Instagram , Twitter , Facebook , or write us @ bittersweetlife@mail.com . NEW TO 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. ©Web and show content can only be used with written permission.
S4 E181 · Mon, November 13, 2017
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, Grieving, and Reading explores the grief of losing two younger siblings to suicide, as well as the beloved father who forbid writing about their deaths before his own. It is a deep, beautifully written book. While reading, host Katy Sewall really latched onto one quote by the Greek philosopher Epicurus writing about death. He wrote: Against all other things it is possible to obtain security, but when it comes to death we human beings all live in an unwalled city. Anne Gisleson invited Katy into her Bywater, New Orleans home to discuss life, death, and how we make meaning along the way. 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 , Facebook , or write us @ bittersweetlife@mail.com . ©Web and show content can only be used with written permission.
S4 E180 · Mon, November 06, 2017
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 bittersweetlife@mail.com to get the conversation going. JOIN THE CONVERSATION Connect with us on Instagram , Twitter , Facebook , or write us @ bittersweetlife@mail.com . ©Web and show content can only be used with written permission.
S4 E179 · Sun, October 29, 2017
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 on Instagram , Twitter , Facebook , or write us @ bittersweetlife@mail.com . ©Web and show content can only be used with written permission.
S4 E178 · Mon, October 23, 2017
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 , Facebook or write us @ bittersweetlife@mail.com . ©Web and show content can only be used with written permission.
S4 E177 · Mon, October 16, 2017
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 show content can only be used with written permission.
S3 E176 · Sun, October 08, 2017
BACHELOR (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 bittersweetlife@mail.com to get the conversation going. JOIN THE CONVERSATION Connect with us on Twitter , Facebook or Instagram and write us @ bittersweetlife@mail.com . ©Web and show content can only be used with written permission.
S3 E175 · Mon, October 02, 2017
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 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.
S3 E174 · Mon, September 25, 2017
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 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.
S3 E173 · Mon, September 18, 2017
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 @ bittersweetlife@mail.com . ©Web and show content can only be used with written permission.
S3 E172 · Sun, September 10, 2017
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 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.
S3 E171 · Mon, September 04, 2017
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.com . ©Web and show content can only be used with written permission.
S3 E170 · Mon, August 28, 2017
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 write us @ bittersweetlife@mail.com . ©Web and show content can only be used with written permission.
S3 E169 · Mon, August 21, 2017
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 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.
S3 E168 · Mon, August 14, 2017
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: 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. EMAIL US: bittersweetlife@mail.com . ©Web and show content can only be used with written permission.
S3 E167 · Sun, July 30, 2017
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 content can only be used with written permission.
S3 E166 · Mon, July 24, 2017
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 @ bittersweetlife@mail.com . ©Web and show content can only be used with written permission.
S3 E165 · Mon, July 17, 2017
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 content can only be used with written permission.
S3 E164 · Sun, July 09, 2017
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 show content can only be used with written permission.
S3 E163 · Mon, July 03, 2017
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 permission.
S3 E162 · Wed, June 21, 2017
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 , Facebook or write us @ bittersweetlife@mail.com . ©Web and show content can only be used with written permission.
S3 E161 · Sun, June 11, 2017
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 S PONSOR: 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 c ontent can only be used with written permission.
S3 E160 · Tue, May 30, 2017
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 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.
S3 E159 · Sun, May 21, 2017
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 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.
S3 E158 · Mon, May 15, 2017
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 CONVERSATION Connect with us on Twitter , Facebook or write us @ bittersweetlife@mail.com . ©Web and show content can only be used with written permission.
S3 E157 · Sun, April 30, 2017
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 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.
S3 E156 · Sun, April 23, 2017
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 CONVERSATION Connect with us on Twitter , Facebook or write us @ bittersweetlife@mail.com . ©Web and show content can only be used with written permission.
S3 E155 · Sun, April 16, 2017
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 us @ bittersweetlife@mail.com . ©Web and show content can only be used with written permission.
S3 E154 · Mon, April 10, 2017
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 permission.
S3 E153 · Sun, April 02, 2017
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.
S3 E152 · Tue, March 28, 2017
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 Slices Prosciutto 3 Tablespoons Olive Oil 4 Tablespoons Butter, Dived ½ Cup Chicken Stock ½ Cup of Dry White Wine (You may use 1 cup of Stock if you prefer not to use any wine.) Serves 4 / 25 minutes, start to finish Directions On a flat dish, add ½ cup of flour, set aside. Wash the chicken, pat dry with paper towels and season with salt. Place 2 sage leaves on each breast. Place slice of prosciutto over the sage leaves. Dust both sides of the chicken in the flour while holding the prosciutto so it does not fall, shaking off the excess flour. Discard any left over flour. In a large frying pan, heat the oil and 2 tablespoons of the butter. Add the chicken breasts, prosciutto side down, to the pan and cook over medium heat until nearly cooked through, about 6 – 7 minutes. Lower the heat if it looks like it’s cooking too quickly. With a wooden spoon, gently move chicken around so it does not burn. Turn the chicken and cook an additional 2 minutes. Transfer the chicken to a clean plate. Add the remaining butter to the skillet. Add the stock and wine and bring to a boil. Cook until reduced by half, about 3 minutes. (If you prefer a thicker sauce, you may add a 1 teaspoon of plain flour, whisk it until it fully dissolves.) Return the chicken to the skillet and simmer over medium heat for an additional minute. Transfer the chicken to plates, pour the sauce on top and serve. *Did you know that “santimbocca” means “jumps in your mouth” in Italian? The chicken’s deliciousness is said to be so good, it literally jumps in your mouth to be devoured. 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 <a href= "https://twitter.com/Bitte
Sun, March 26, 2017
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 . DONATE : If you love the show, please help pay for it. Your donation keeps the show alive! Visit: http://www.thebittersweetlife.net/donate/ ( Then check your mailbox for a handwritten thank you note!) S PONSOR: 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. SUBSCRIBE on iTunes, Sticher or anywhere you get podcasts. Just look for "The Bittersweet Life." Also, here's a handy link: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-bittersweet-life/id843351111?mt=2&ign-mpt=uo%3D4 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 Slices Prosciutto 3 Tablespoons Olive Oil 4 Tablespoons Butter, Dived ½ Cup Chicken Stock ½ Cup of Dry White Wine (You may use 1 cup of Stock if you prefer not to use any wine.) Serves 4 / 25 minutes, start to finish Directions On a flat dish, add ½ cup of flour, set aside. Wash the chicken, pat dry with paper towels and season with salt. Place 2 sage leaves on each breast. Place slice of prosciutto over the sage leaves. Dust both sides of the chicken in the flour while holding the prosciutto so it does not fall, shaking off the excess flour. Discard any left over flour.
S3 E151 · Mon, March 20, 2017
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 Twitter , Facebook or write us @ bittersweetlife@mail.com . ©Web and show content can only be used with written permission.
S3 E150 · Sun, March 12, 2017
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 @ bittersweetlife@mail.com . ©Web and show content can only be used with written permission.
S3 E149 · Mon, March 06, 2017
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 or write us @ bittersweetlife@mail.com . ©Web and show content can only be used with written permission.
S3 E148 · Sun, February 26, 2017
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 write us @ bittersweetlife@mail.com . ©Web and show content can only be used with written permission.
S3 E147 · Sun, February 12, 2017
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@mail.com . ©Web and show content can only be used with written permission.
S3 E146 · Sun, February 05, 2017
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 with written permission.
S3 E145 · Sun, January 29, 2017
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@mail.com . ©Web and show content can only be used with written permission.
S3 E144 · Sun, January 22, 2017
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 @ bittersweetlife@mail.com . ©Web and show content can only be used with written permission.
S3 E143 · Sun, January 15, 2017
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 , Facebook or write us @ bittersweetlife@mail.com . ©Web and show content can only be used with written permission.
S3 E142 · Mon, January 09, 2017
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.
S3 E141 · Mon, December 12, 2016
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.
S3 E140 · Sun, December 04, 2016
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 CONVERSATION Connect with us on Twitter , Facebook or write us @ bittersweetlife@mail.com . ©Web and show content can only be used with written permission.
S3 E139 · Mon, November 28, 2016
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 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.
S3 E138 · Tue, November 22, 2016
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 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.
S3 E137 · Sun, November 13, 2016
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 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.
S3 E136 · Mon, October 31, 2016
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 us @ bittersweetlife@mail.com . ©Web and show content can only be used with written permission.
S3 E135 · Sun, October 23, 2016
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 us @ bittersweetlife@mail.com . ©Web and show content can only be used with written permission.
S3 E134 · Sun, October 16, 2016
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 , Facebook or write us @ bittersweetlife@mail.com . ©Web and show content can only be used with written permission.
S3 E133 · Sun, October 09, 2016
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. 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.
S3 E132 · Sun, September 25, 2016
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 . ©Web and show content can only be used with written permission.
S3 E131 · Wed, September 21, 2016
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 and show content can only be used with written permission.
S3 E130 · Sun, September 11, 2016
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 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.
S3 E129 · Sun, September 04, 2016
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.com . ©Web and show content can only be used with written permission.
S3 E128 · Sun, August 28, 2016
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.
S3 E127 · Sun, August 21, 2016
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 @ bittersweetlife@mail.com . ©Web and show content can only be used with written permission.
S3 E126 · Sun, August 14, 2016
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.
S3 E125 · Mon, August 08, 2016
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 us @ bittersweetlife@mail.com . ©Web and show content can only be used with written permission.
S3 E124 · Sun, July 31, 2016
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 Connect with us on Twitter , Facebook or write us @ bittersweetlife@mail.com . ©Web and show content can only be used with written permission.
S3 E123 · Mon, July 25, 2016
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 write us @ bittersweetlife@mail.com . ©Web and show content can only be used with written permission.
S3 E122 · Sun, July 17, 2016
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 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.
S3 E121 · Sun, July 10, 2016
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 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.
S3 E120 · Mon, July 04, 2016
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 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.
Mon, June 27, 2016
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 , Facebook or write us @ bittersweetlife@mail.com . ©Web and show content can only be used with written permission.
S3 E118 · Sun, June 19, 2016
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 Connect with us on Twitter , Facebook or write us @ bittersweetlife@mail.com . ©Web and show content can only be used with written permission.
S3 E117 · Sun, June 12, 2016
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 @ bittersweetlife@mail.com . ©Web and show content can only be used with written permission.
S3 E116 · Sun, June 05, 2016
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.
S3 E115 · Mon, May 23, 2016
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 Twitter , Facebook or write us @ bittersweetlife@mail.com . ©Web and show content can only be used with written permission.
S3 E114 · Sun, May 15, 2016
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.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.
S3 E113 · Sun, May 08, 2016
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 on Twitter , Facebook or write us @ bittersweetlife@mail.com . ©Web and show content can only be used with written permission. .
S3 E112 · Sun, May 01, 2016
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@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.
S3 E111 · Sun, April 24, 2016
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.com . ©Web and show content can only be used with written permission.
S3 E110 · Sun, April 17, 2016
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. 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.
S3 E109 · Sun, April 10, 2016
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 , Facebook or write us @ bittersweetlife@mail.com . ©Web and show content can only be used with written permission.
S3 E108 · Sun, April 03, 2016
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.
S3 E107 · Sun, March 27, 2016
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 written permission.
S3 E106 · Sun, March 20, 2016
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 be used with written permission.
S3 E105 · Sun, March 13, 2016
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 @ bittersweetlife@mail.com . ©Web and show content can only be used with written permission.
S3 E104 · Sun, March 06, 2016
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 write us @ bittersweetlife@mail.com . ©Web and show content can only be used with written permission.
S3 E103 · Sun, February 28, 2016
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. 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.
S3 E102 · Mon, February 22, 2016
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: Mangum Home Builders Rebecca West's Seriously. Happy. Homes. ©Web and show content can only be used with written permission.
S3 E101 · Sun, February 14, 2016
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 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.
S3 E100 · Sun, February 07, 2016
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.
S3 E99 · Sun, January 31, 2016
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 @ bittersweetlife@mail.com . ©Web and show content can only be used with written permission.
S2 E98 · Sun, January 24, 2016
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 be used with written permission.
S2 E97 · Sun, January 17, 2016
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 with us on Twitter , Facebook or write us @ bittersweetlife@mail.com . ©Web and show content can only be used with written permission.
S2 E96 · Sun, January 10, 2016
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 Twitter , Facebook or write us @ bittersweetlife@mail.com . ©Web and show content can only be used with written permission.
S2 E95 · Mon, January 04, 2016
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 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.
S2 E94 · Sun, December 20, 2015
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.
S2 E93 · Sun, December 13, 2015
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 with written permission.
S3 E92 · Sun, December 06, 2015
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 Twitter , Facebook or write us @ bittersweetlife@mail.com . ©Web and show content can only be used with written permission.
S2 E91 · Sun, November 29, 2015
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 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.
S2 E90 · Sun, November 22, 2015
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 , Facebook or write us @ bittersweetlife@mail.com . ©Web and show content can only be used with written permission.
S2 E89 · Sun, November 15, 2015
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 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.
S2 E88 · Sun, November 08, 2015
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 CONVERSATION Connect with us on Twitter , Facebook or write us @ bittersweetlife@mail.com . ©Web and show content can only be used with written permission.
S2 E87 · Sun, November 01, 2015
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 Connect with us on Twitter , Facebook or write us @ bittersweetlife@mail.com . ©Web and show content can only be used with written permission.
S2 E86 · Sun, October 25, 2015
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 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.
S2 E85 · Sun, October 18, 2015
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 , Facebook or write us @ bittersweetlife@mail.com . ©Web and show content can only be used with written permission.
S2 E84 · Sun, October 11, 2015
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 and show content can only be used with written permission.
S2 E83 · Sun, October 04, 2015
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 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.
S2 E82 · Sun, September 27, 2015
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.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.
S2 E81 · Sun, September 20, 2015
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 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.
S2 E80 · Sun, September 13, 2015
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 with us on Twitter , Facebook or write us @ bittersweetlife@mail.com . ©Web and show content can only be used with written permission.
S2 E79 · Sun, September 06, 2015
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 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.
S2 E78 · Sun, August 30, 2015
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 @ bittersweetlife@mail.com . ©Web and show content can only be used with written permission.
S2 E77 · Sun, August 23, 2015
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 @ bittersweetlife@mail.com . ©Web and show content can only be used with written permission.
S2 E76 · Sun, August 16, 2015
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 with us on Twitter , Facebook or write us @ bittersweetlife@mail.com . ©Web and show content can only be used with written permission.
S2 E75 · Sun, August 09, 2015
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. 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.
S2 E74 · Sun, August 02, 2015
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 . ©Web and show content can only be used with written permission.
S2 E73 · Sun, July 26, 2015
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 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.
S2 E72 · Sun, July 19, 2015
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 can only be used with written permission.
S2 E71 · Sun, July 12, 2015
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 CONVERSATION Connect with us on Twitter , Facebook or write us @ bittersweetlife@mail.com . ©Web and show content can only be used with written permission.
S2 E70 · Sun, July 05, 2015
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 , Facebook or write us @ bittersweetlife@mail.com . ©Web and show content can only be used with written permission.
S2 E69 · Sun, June 28, 2015
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 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.
S2 E68 · Sun, June 21, 2015
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 @ bittersweetlife@mail.com . ©Web and show content can only be used with written permission.
S2 E67 · Sun, June 14, 2015
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 . ©Web and show content can only be used with written permission.
S2 E66 · Sun, June 07, 2015
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 Connect with us on Twitter , Facebook or write us @ bittersweetlife@mail.com . ©Web and show content can only be used with written permission.
S2 E65 · Mon, June 01, 2015
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.
S2 E64 · Sun, May 24, 2015
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 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.
S2 E63 · Sun, May 17, 2015
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@mail.com . ©Web and show content can only be used with written permission.
S2 E62 · Sun, May 10, 2015
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 us on Twitter , Facebook or write us @ bittersweetlife@mail.com . ©Web and show content can only be used with written permission.
S2 E61 · Sun, May 03, 2015
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 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.
S2 E60 · Mon, April 27, 2015
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 write us @ bittersweetlife@mail.com . ©Web and show content can only be used with written permission.
S2 E59 · Sun, April 19, 2015
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.
S2 E58 · Sun, April 12, 2015
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 @ bittersweetlife@mail.com . ©Web and show content can only be used with written permission.
S2 E57 · Sun, April 05, 2015
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 us on Twitter , Facebook or write us @ bittersweetlife@mail.com . ©Web and show content can only be used with written permission.
S2 E56 · Sun, March 29, 2015
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 us on Twitter , Facebook or write us @ bittersweetlife@mail.com . ©Web and show content can only be used with written permission.
S2 E55 · Wed, March 25, 2015
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 @ bittersweetlife@mail.com . ©Web and show content can only be used with written permission.
S2 E54 · Sun, March 15, 2015
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 with us on Twitter , Facebook or write us @ bittersweetlife@mail.com . ©Web and show content can only be used with written permission.
S2 E53 · Sun, March 08, 2015
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 with us on Twitter , Facebook or write us @ bittersweetlife@mail.com . ©Web and show content can only be used with written permission.
S2 E52 · Sun, March 01, 2015
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 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.
S2 E51 · Sun, February 22, 2015
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 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.
S2 E50 · Sun, February 15, 2015
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 show content can only be used with written permission.
S2 E49 · Sun, February 08, 2015
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 write us @ bittersweetlife@mail.com . ©Web and show content can only be used with written permission.
S2 E48 · Sun, February 01, 2015
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@mail.com . ©Web and show content can only be used with written permission.
S2 E47 · Sun, January 25, 2015
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@mail.com . ©Web and show content can only be used with written permission.
S1 E46 · Sun, January 18, 2015
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.com . ©Web and show content can only be used with written permission.
S1 E45 · Sun, January 11, 2015
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 @ bittersweetlife@mail.com . ©Web and show content can only be used with written permission.
S1 E44 · Sun, January 04, 2015
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 with written permission.
S1 E43 · Sun, December 14, 2014
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 Connect with us on Twitter , Facebook or write us @ bittersweetlife@mail.com . ©Web and show content can only be used with written permission.
S1 E42 · Sun, December 14, 2014
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 us @ bittersweetlife@mail.com . ©Web and show content can only be used with written permission.
S1 E41 · Sun, December 07, 2014
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 . ©Web and show content can only be used with written permission.
S1 E40 · Sun, November 30, 2014
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 content can only be used with written permission.
S1 E39 · Sun, November 23, 2014
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.
S1 E38 · Sun, November 16, 2014
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@mail.com . ©Web and show content can only be used with written permission.
S1 E37 · Sun, November 09, 2014
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 @ bittersweetlife@mail.com . ©Web and show content can only be used with written permission.
S1 E36 · Sun, November 02, 2014
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 @ bittersweetlife@mail.com . ©Web and show content can only be used with written permission.
S1 E35 · Sun, October 26, 2014
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 . ©Web and show content can only be used with written permission.
S1 E34 · Sun, October 19, 2014
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 , Facebook or write us @ bittersweetlife@mail.com . ©Web and show content can only be used with written permission.
S1 E33 · Sun, October 12, 2014
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.
S1 E32 · Sun, October 05, 2014
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 CONVERSATION Connect with us on Twitter , Facebook or write us @ bittersweetlife@mail.com . ©Web and show content can only be used with written permission.
S1 E31 · Fri, October 03, 2014
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 can only be used with written permission.
S1 E30 · Sun, September 21, 2014
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 CONVERSATION Connect with us on Twitter , Facebook or write us @ bittersweetlife@mail.com . ©Web and show content can only be used with written permission.
S1 E29 · Sun, September 21, 2014
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 Twitter , Facebook or write us @ bittersweetlife@mail.com . ©Web and show content can only be used with written permission.
S1 E28 · Sun, September 14, 2014
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 can only be used with written permission.
S1 E27 · Sun, September 07, 2014
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 CONVERSATION Connect with us on Twitter , Facebook or write us @ bittersweetlife@mail.com . ©Web and show content can only be used with written permission.
S1 E26 · Sun, August 31, 2014
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 us @ bittersweetlife@mail.com . ©Web and show content can only be used with written permission.
S1 E25 · Sun, August 24, 2014
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 show content can only be used with written permission.
S1 E24 · Sun, August 17, 2014
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 , Facebook or write us @ bittersweetlife@mail.com . ©Web and show content can only be used with written permission.
S1 E23 · Sun, August 10, 2014
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 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.
S1 E22 · Sun, August 03, 2014
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 Twitter , Facebook or write us @ bittersweetlife@mail.com . ©Web and show content can only be used with written permission.
S1 E21 · Sun, July 27, 2014
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 show content can only be used with written permission.
S1 E20 · Sun, July 20, 2014
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 Twitter , Facebook or write us @ bittersweetlife@mail.com . ©Web and show content can only be used with written permission.
S1 E19 · Sun, July 13, 2014
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 CONVERSATION Connect with us on Twitter , Facebook or write us @ bittersweetlife@mail.com . ©Web and show content can only be used with written permission.
S1 E18 · Sun, July 06, 2014
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@mail.com . ©Web and show content can only be used with written permission.
S1 E17 · Sun, June 29, 2014
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 and show content can only be used with written permission.
S1 E16 · Sun, June 22, 2014
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 with us on Twitter , Facebook or write us @ bittersweetlife@mail.com . ©Web and show content can only be used with written permission.
S1 E15 · Mon, June 16, 2014
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 , Facebook or write us @ bittersweetlife@mail.com . ©Web and show content can only be used with written permission.
S1 E14 · Mon, June 09, 2014
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 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.
S1 E13 · Sun, June 01, 2014
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.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.
S1 E12 · Mon, May 26, 2014
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 Connect with us on Twitter , Facebook or write us @ bittersweetlife@mail.com . ©Web and show content can only be used with written permission.
S1 E11 · Mon, May 19, 2014
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 CONVERSATION Connect with us on Twitter , Facebook or write us @ bittersweetlife@mail.com . ©Web and show content can only be used with written permission.
S1 E10 · Mon, May 19, 2014
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. 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.
S1 E9 · Mon, May 12, 2014
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 @ bittersweetlife@mail.com . ©Web and show content can only be used with written permission.
S1 E8 · Sun, May 04, 2014
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 , Facebook or write us @ bittersweetlife@mail.com . ©Web and show content can only be used with written permission.
S1 E7 · Sun, April 27, 2014
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 used with written permission.
S1 E6 · Mon, April 21, 2014
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 . ©Web and show content can only be used with written permission.
S1 E5 · Sun, April 13, 2014
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 . ©Web and show content can only be used with written permission.
S1 E4 · Sun, April 06, 2014
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 write us @ bittersweetlife@mail.com . ©Web and show content can only be used with written permission.
S1 E3 · Mon, March 31, 2014
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.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.
S1 E2 · Sun, March 23, 2014
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 with us on Twitter , Facebook or write us @ bittersweetlife@mail.com . ©Web and show content can only be used with written permission.
S1 E1 · Tue, March 18, 2014
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 Twitter , Facebook or write us @ bittersweetlife@mail.com . ©Web and show content can only be used with written permission.
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