![[PATREON PREVIEW] When Life Surprises You show art](https://assets.libsyn.com/content/181104022?height=50&width=50)
[PATREON PREVIEW] When Life Surprises You
The Bittersweet Life
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 ! 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...
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Episode 558: Escape to Rome with The Bittersweet Life
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! ( to find out how!) ------------------------------------- ADVERTISE WITH US: Reach expats, future expats, and travelers all over the world. Send us an to get the conversation started. BECOME A PATRON: Pledge your monthly support of The Bittersweet Life and receive awesome prizes in...
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Episode 557: Ready to Flee the US? Listen to this First!
The Bittersweet Life
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...
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Episode 556: The Caller (A Radio Play by Matthew P. Woerner)
The Bittersweet Life
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 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...
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Episode 555: Scary Reads: Our Favorite Books for Halloween
The Bittersweet Life
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 Tiffany recently read. An understated but nevertheless about an innocuous but terrifying ghost. A in which the most important character is a dead woman. A creepy in which a neglected wife haunts her husband in a very odd way... Katy's favorite to listen to at Halloween. An (that is also beautiful) that...
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[PATREON PREVIEW] Rome vs. Seattle: Which Makes a Better Movie Backdrop?
The Bittersweet Life
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...
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Episode 554: How to Buy Nothing
The Bittersweet Life
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,...
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Episode 553: How Do You Prepare for a Trip?
The Bittersweet Life
...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 ------------------------------------- ADVERTISE WITH US: Reach expats, future expats, and travelers all over the world. Send us an to get the conversation started. BECOME A...
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Episode 552: Grammar Pet Peeves
The Bittersweet Life
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 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 us to let us know your grammar pet peeves, or to tell us what mistakes we are unknowingly making! And if you...
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Episode 551: How to Retire to Florence—With Your Granddaughter (with Dreck Baker)
The Bittersweet Life
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...
info_outlineKaty 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.
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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 miss the chance to tour the city with Tiffany as your guide!