The Bittersweet Life

WARNING: This show might change your life. What began as a podcast about what it means to live abroad has become a dynamic examination of what it means to live. Public Radio’s Katy Sewall and Italy expert, Tiffany Parks, guide you on a vulnerable, entertaining journey to discover a more wondrous and adventurous life. Their famous guests, topic-based conversations, and visits to Rome will tweak how you see the world, keep you company, and expand your life view.

The Bittersweet Past: Are Expats Running away from Life? (with John Wynn) 09/19/2025

The Bittersweet Past: Are Expats Running away from Life? (with John Wynn) A common stereotype is that expats are maladjusted and running away from real life. But is it really true? In this episode from our archives, Katy Sewall sits down with psychiatrist, author and former expat John Wynn to discuss this interesting topic. Later, Tiffany shares her own story. *** podcast has been on the air for an impressive 11+ years! In order to help newer listeners discover some of our earlier episodes, every Friday we are now airing an episode from ! Enjoy!*** ------------------------------------- COME TO ROME WITH US: Our third annual Bittersweet Life Roman Adventure is all sold out for 2025! If you'd like to join us in 2026, and be part of an intimate group of listeners on a magical and unforgettable journey to Rome, discovering the city with us as your guides, find out more . 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 return for your generosity! Visit our to find out more. TIP YOUR PODCASTER: Say thanks with a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider for your hosting service! Use this to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email . You can also connect to us through , , and . Tag with your expat story for a chance to be featured! NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with BOOK: Want to read Tiffany's book, Midnight in the Piazza? Learn more or order on . TOUR ROME: If you're traveling to Rome, don't miss the chance to with Tiffany as your guide! /episode/index/show/bittersweetlife/id/38277390

Bittersweet Moment #228: Back to School, Italian Style 09/17/2025

Bittersweet Moment #228: Back to School, Italian Style After a seeminly endless summer (nearly 3 and a half months!), Aurelio is finally back to school this week! In this informative mini-episode, Tiffany lays out all the ways Italian school—and elementary school in particular—is different from American school, from the early introduction of cursive to summer homework, to the ubiquitous grembuile (school smock). If you've ever wondered what school is like across the pond, listen in and find out! ------------------------------------- COME TO ROME WITH US: Our third annual Bittersweet Life Roman Adventure is all sold out for 2025! If you'd like to join us in 2026, and be part of an intimate group of listeners on a magical and unforgettable journey to Rome, discovering the city with us as your guides, find out more . 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 return for your generosity! Visit our to find out more. TIP YOUR PODCASTER: Say thanks with a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider for your hosting service! Use this to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email . You can also connect to us through , , and . Tag with your expat story for a chance to be featured! NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with BOOK: Want to read Tiffany's book, Midnight in the Piazza? Learn more or order on . TOUR ROME: If you're traveling to Rome, don't miss the chance to with Tiffany as your guide! /episode/index/show/bittersweetlife/id/38248870

Episode 595: Would You Move Abroad for Political Reasons? (with Jennie Spohr) 09/15/2025

Episode 595: Would You Move Abroad for Political Reasons? (with Jennie Spohr) There are many reasons a family might choose to move abroad. In the case of Americans, that reason is generally motivated by a desire for adventure, change, new scenery, unfamiliar culture, a slower pace of living, or just plain fun. But not always. Today we sit down with friend of the show and past guest Jennie Spohr, a Seattleite historical fiction writer who chose to pack up her life, leave her home country, and move to Ireland with her family for political reasons. And there's a plot twist... What could be harder than convincing your teen and pre-teen kids to leave their friends, their school, and practically every aspect of their life and move to a new country? Convincing your ex-husband to come too. Don't miss this surprising and entertaining episode. If you've considered moving abroad for political reasons—or if you've already done it—get in touch by emailing us . We'd love to hear your story and we might feature it on a future episode. Find today's guest and author Jennie Spohr at or on her Instagram pages and . Listen to our with Jennie where she talks about the pitfalls of solo travel, and why taking off on a one-woman journey isn't always the answer to your problems. ------------------------------------- COME TO ROME WITH US: Our third annual Bittersweet Life Roman Adventure is all sold out for 2025! If you'd like to join us in 2026, and be part of an intimate group of listeners on a magical and unforgettable journey to Rome, discovering the city with us as your guides, find out more . 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 return for your generosity! Visit our to find out more. TIP YOUR PODCASTER: Say thanks with a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider for your hosting service! Use this to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email . You can also connect to us through , , and . Tag with your expat story for a chance to be featured! NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with BOOK: Want to read Tiffany's book, Midnight in the Piazza? Learn more or order on . TOUR ROME: If you're traveling to Rome, don't miss the chance to with Tiffany as your guide! /episode/index/show/bittersweetlife/id/38221005

The Bittersweet Past: Why Change is Hard (with John Wynn) 09/12/2025

The Bittersweet Past: Why Change is Hard (with John Wynn) Life is full of major transitions. When Katy moved to Rome in 2013, then back to Seattle less than a year later, the transition was hard to say the least. In this episode from our archives, Katy sits down with psychiatrist and former expat John Wynn to explore why change is so hard. He also shares his insight on how to handle transitions in a healthy and productive way. *** 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 ! Enjoy!*** ------------------------------------- COME TO ROME WITH US: Our third annual Bittersweet Life Roman Adventure is all sold out for 2025! If you'd like to join us in 2026, and be part of an intimate group of listeners on a magical and unforgettable journey to Rome, discovering the city with us as your guides, find out more . 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 return for your generosity! Visit our to find out more. TIP YOUR PODCASTER: Say thanks with a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider for your hosting service! Use this to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email . You can also connect to us through , , and . Tag with your expat story for a chance to be featured! NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with BOOK: Want to read Tiffany's book, Midnight in the Piazza? Learn more or order on . TOUR ROME: If you're traveling to Rome, don't miss the chance to with Tiffany as your guide! /episode/index/show/bittersweetlife/id/38195060

Bittersweet Peek: The After Report: Drama at the High School Reunion 09/10/2025

Bittersweet Peek: The After Report: Drama at the High School Reunion Katy recently attended her high school reunion. In this bonus episode—available only to our Patreon supporters—she breaks down all the unexpected drama from the night. This just a sneak peak at one of our hundreds of bonus episodes. 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 two 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 for all the details, and consider joining us at the $5 level or above. We are eternally grateful! ------------------------------------- COME TO ROME WITH US: Our third annual Bittersweet Life Roman Adventure is all sold out for 2025! If you'd like to join us in 2026, and be part of an intimate group of listeners on a magical and unforgettable journey to Rome, discovering the city with us as your guides, find out more . 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 return for your generosity! Visit our to find out more. TIP YOUR PODCASTER: Say thanks with a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider for your hosting service! Use this to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email . You can also connect to us through , , and . Tag with your expat story for a chance to be featured! NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with BOOK: Want to read Tiffany's book, Midnight in the Piazza? Learn more or order on . TOUR ROME: If you're traveling to Rome, don't miss the chance to with Tiffany as your guide! /episode/index/show/bittersweetlife/id/38154990

Episode 594: When in Rome 09/08/2025

Episode 594: When in Rome We've all heard it. We've all said it. But what does "when in Rome" really mean? Katy reveals the somewhat surprising origin of this ubiquitous catch-phrase, which has become the title of more Rome-based rom-coms and expat memoirs than we could count. Tiffany and Katy have different opinions of the meaning of this cliché expression, and we end up down a rabbit hole discussing the correct way to use it. (And if Tiffany lives by it, since she does, in fact, live in Rome.) She also reveals some of the other most common sayings about the Eternal City. By the way, this episode kicks off Season 13 of The Bittersweet Life! (We can't believe it either!) ------------------------------------- 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 . 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 return for your generosity! Visit our to find out more. TIP YOUR PODCASTER: Say thanks with a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider for your hosting service! Use this to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email . You can also connect to us through , , and . Tag with your expat story for a chance to be featured! NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with BOOK: Want to read Tiffany's book, Midnight in the Piazza? Learn more or order on . TOUR ROME: If you're traveling to Rome, don't miss the chance to with Tiffany as your guide! /episode/index/show/bittersweetlife/id/38117955

Bittersweet Moment #228: The Storm Remade: Hurricane Katrina 20 Years Later 09/03/2025

Bittersweet Moment #228: The Storm Remade: Hurricane Katrina 20 Years Later Twenty years ago, on August 29th 2005, Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans. The Category 5 storm and its aftermath devastated the city, and the consequences still last today. Listen in as Katy takes you on a journey of remembrance to mark the occasion. You’ll hear some of the New Orleans voices she has never forgotten in the intervening decades. ------------------------------------- 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 . 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 return for your generosity! Visit our to find out more. TIP YOUR PODCASTER: Say thanks with a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider for your hosting service! Use this to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email . You can also connect to us through , , and . Tag with your expat story for a chance to be featured! NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with BOOK: Want to read Tiffany's book, Midnight in the Piazza? Learn more or order on . TOUR ROME: If you're traveling to Rome, don't miss the chance to with Tiffany as your guide! /episode/index/show/bittersweetlife/id/38070285

The Bittersweet Past: In Search of Continuity 09/01/2025

The Bittersweet Past: In Search of Continuity When Tiffany's husband Claudio takes a photo with the karate instructor of his youth, Tiffany realizes that by being an expat, it can sometimes feel like her life has no continuity. She can't revisit old teachers and places. She never unexpectedly stumbles upon people and objects from her childhood, and maintaining relationships longterm takes extra effort. Is this just one of the side effects of moving abroad indefinitely? How important is a sense of continuity when it comes to life? Hosts Katy Sewall and Tiffany Parks explore the idea on this episode from our archives. *** 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 ! In addition, this August, we are taking a well-deserved rest, and in lieu of new episodes, we are airing episodes from our vast archives every Monday! Season 13 (!!!) starts with all-new episodes Monday September 8th. See you then! ***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 . 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 . 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 return for your generosity! Visit our to find out more. TIP YOUR PODCASTER: Say thanks with a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider for your hosting service! Use this to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email . You can also connect to us through , , and . Tag with your expat story for a chance to be featured! NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with BOOK: Want to read Tiffany's book, Midnight in the Piazza? Learn more or order on . TOUR ROME: If you're traveling to Rome, don't miss the chance to with Tiffany as your guide! /episode/index/show/bittersweetlife/id/38045460

The Bittersweet Past: I Saw the Sign 08/25/2025

The Bittersweet Past: I Saw the Sign Have you ever received a sign to do something? Did you listen to it? Do signs even exist? What about bad and good omens? Are they real or a product of our imagination? Katy and Tiffany share their experiences and those of our listeners on this episode from our archives. podcast has been on the air for an impressive 10+ years! This August, we are taking a well-deserved rest, and in lieu of new episodes, we are airing episodes from every Monday! Season 13 (!!!) starts with all-new episodes Monday September 8th. See you then! ***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 . 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 . 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 return for your generosity! Visit our to find out more. TIP YOUR PODCASTER: Say thanks with a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider for your hosting service! Use this to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email . You can also connect to us through , , and . Tag with your expat story for a chance to be featured! NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with BOOK: Want to read Tiffany's book, Midnight in the Piazza? Learn more or order on . TOUR ROME: If you're traveling to Rome, don't miss the chance to with Tiffany as your guide! /episode/index/show/bittersweetlife/id/37742690

The Bittersweet Past: Back to Reality 08/18/2025

The Bittersweet Past: Back to Reality On last week’s archive episode, we talked about fantasy, and the benefits and pitfalls of focusing on and working toward your personal fantasies. But somehow, no matter how hard we try, reality always seems to intrude upon fantasy. Is that always a bad thing? Our thoughts might surprise you. Listen in to this week’s episode from our archives where we discuss hard reality. podcast has been on the air for an impressive 11+ years! This August, we are taking a well-deserved rest, and in lieu of new episodes, we are airing episodes from every monday! Season 13 (!!!) starts with all-new episodes Monday September 8th. See you then! ***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 . 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 . 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 return for your generosity! Visit our to find out more. TIP YOUR PODCASTER: Say thanks with a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider for your hosting service! Use this to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email . You can also connect to us through , , and . Tag with your expat story for a chance to be featured! NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with BOOK: Want to read Tiffany's book, Midnight in the Piazza? Learn more or order on . TOUR ROME: If you're traveling to Rome, don't miss the chance to with Tiffany as your guide! /episode/index/show/bittersweetlife/id/37742675

The Bittersweet Past: Sometimes a Fantasy 08/11/2025

The Bittersweet Past: Sometimes a Fantasy How much of life is us trying to fulfill the fantasies of our youth? And is there anything inherently wrong with weaving fantasies and attempting to fulfill them? Is reality overrated? We explore this idea on this episode from our archives. podcast has been on the air for an impressive 10+ years! This August, we are taking a well-deserved rest, and in lieu of new episodes, we are airing episodes from every monday! Season 13 (!!!) starts with all-new episodes Monday September 8th. See you then! ***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 . 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 . 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 return for your generosity! Visit our to find out more. TIP YOUR PODCASTER: Say thanks with a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider for your hosting service! Use this to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email . You can also connect to us through , , and . Tag with your expat story for a chance to be featured! NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with BOOK: Want to read Tiffany's book, Midnight in the Piazza? Learn more or order on . TOUR ROME: If you're traveling to Rome, don't miss the chance to with Tiffany as your guide! /episode/index/show/bittersweetlife/id/37742650

The Bittersweet Past: The Infamous Hat Box Episode 08/04/2025

The Bittersweet Past: The Infamous Hat Box Episode It began with a simple question: what's the most impractical thing you have ever traveled with? Little did we know it would turn into one of our favorite (and perhaps silliest episodes) as Tiffany reminisces about her earliest trips abroad in the 1990s, when bringing two hat boxes and three full-sized suitcases on a solo trip to Europe was actually doable. *** 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 ! Enjoy!*** ***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 . 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 . 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 return for your generosity! Visit our to find out more. TIP YOUR PODCASTER: Say thanks with a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider for your hosting service! Use this to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email . You can also connect to us through , , and . Tag with your expat story for a chance to be featured! NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with BOOK: Want to read Tiffany's book, Midnight in the Piazza? Learn more or order on . TOUR ROME: If you're traveling to Rome, don't miss the chance to with Tiffany as your guide! /episode/index/show/bittersweetlife/id/37662435

Bittersweet Moment #227: Ferragosto and Italy's Universal August Holidays 07/30/2025

Bittersweet Moment #227: Ferragosto and Italy's Universal August Holidays Why does (seemingly) every single person in Italy go on vacation during the month of August? If you've ever visited Italy in the month of August, you'll know that big cities and small towns alike empty out, particularly during the two middle weeks of August, and it can be a challenge to find a decent restaurant or shop open, or more locals than you can shake a stick at. Why is that? Would you believe it's a tradition that dates back two thousand years? Don't miss this week's mini-episode, which also happens to be our last new episode until September, because that's right, we too are taking the month of August off. Have a wonderful rest of your summer and will see you in Season 13! ***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 . 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 . 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 return for your generosity! Visit our to find out more. TIP YOUR PODCASTER: Say thanks with a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider for your hosting service! Use this to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email . You can also connect to us through , , and . Tag with your expat story for a chance to be featured! NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with BOOK: Want to read Tiffany's book, Midnight in the Piazza? Learn more or order on . TOUR ROME: If you're traveling to Rome, don't miss the chance to with Tiffany as your guide! /episode/index/show/bittersweetlife/id/37605655

Episode 593: Are Italians Cheaters? 07/28/2025

Episode 593: Are Italians Cheaters? What percentage of Italian men cheat? Is it really 100% like a family friend of Tiffany’s smugly insisted when she first moved to Italy? Or is that number closer to the rest of the world, only it’s more acknowledged over here? Did Tiffany take a terrible risk marrying an Italian, or is cultural background irrelevant to fidelity? And what about Italian women? Do they cheat at the same (alleged) rate of their male counterparts? An email from a listener who has had more than her fair share of contact with faithless Italian men sparked this titillating topic! Listen in! ***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 . 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 . 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 return for your generosity! Visit our to find out more. TIP YOUR PODCASTER: Say thanks with a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider for your hosting service! Use this to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email . You can also connect to us through , , and . Tag with your expat story for a chance to be featured! NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with BOOK: Want to read Tiffany's book, Midnight in the Piazza? Learn more or order on . TOUR ROME: If you're traveling to Rome, don't miss the chance to with Tiffany as your guide! /episode/index/show/bittersweetlife/id/37575495

The BIttersweet Past: The Irresistible Call of Vietnam 07/25/2025

The BIttersweet Past: The Irresistible Call of Vietnam Katy's father Dale and sister Sara join us on this episode from our archives to look back on their past 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 frequent trips to Vietnam 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. *** 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 ! Enjoy!*** ***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 . 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 . 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 return for your generosity! Visit our to find out more. TIP YOUR PODCASTER: Say thanks with a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider for your hosting service! Use this to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email . You can also connect to us through , , and . Tag with your expat story for a chance to be featured! NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with BOOK: Want to read Tiffany's book, Midnight in the Piazza? Learn more or order on . TOUR ROME: If you're traveling to Rome, don't miss the chance to with Tiffany as your guide! /episode/index/show/bittersweetlife/id/37545210

Bittersweet Peek: The First Pet 07/23/2025

Bittersweet Peek: The First Pet It's a common security question: What is the name of your first pet? Tiffany and Katy reminisce about the pets that they adopted and loved throughout their childhood and what was special about them. Aurelio (Tiffany's son), would like his first pet now, please, and he really wants a dog. Should he get one? This is just a snippet of our most recent bonus episode, available exclusively to our supporters on Patreon. 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 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 out our for all the details, and consider joining us at the $5 level or above. We are eternally grateful! ------------------------------------- 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 . 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 return for your generosity! Visit our to find out more. TIP YOUR PODCASTER: Say thanks with a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider for your hosting service! Use this to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email . You can also connect to us through , , and . Tag with your expat story for a chance to be featured! NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with BOOK: Want to read Tiffany's book, Midnight in the Piazza? Learn more or order on . TOUR ROME: If you're traveling to Rome, don't miss the chance to with Tiffany as your guide! /episode/index/show/bittersweetlife/id/37523485

Episode 592: The Horrors of Childhood 07/21/2025

Episode 592: The Horrors of Childhood Can you remember the first time you were truly frightened—by a movie, a ghost story, or even a real event that you witnessed? On this episode, Katy and Tiffany delve back into their earliest memories to come up with the first instances of true fear that they experienced—and most of the time they can laugh at them now. We also wonder: can one instance of being horrified in childhood create lasting trauma throughout your life? And will we ever be able to understand why so many seemingly innocuous things frighten children so much? Join us for this fun discussion! ***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 . 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 . 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 return for your generosity! Visit our to find out more. TIP YOUR PODCASTER: Say thanks with a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider for your hosting service! Use this to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email . You can also connect to us through , , and . Tag with your expat story for a chance to be featured! NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with BOOK: Want to read Tiffany's book, Midnight in the Piazza? Learn more or order on . TOUR ROME: If you're traveling to Rome, don't miss the chance to with Tiffany as your guide! /episode/index/show/bittersweetlife/id/37465620

[THE BITTERSWEET PAST] Florence, Memories, and A Room with a View 07/18/2025

[THE BITTERSWEET PAST] Florence, Memories, and A Room with a View On this nostalgic episode from our archives, Tiffany regales Katy with the details of a 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. *** 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 ! Enjoy!*** ***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 . 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 . 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 return for your generosity! Visit our to find out more. TIP YOUR PODCASTER: Say thanks with a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider for your hosting service! Use this to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email . You can also connect to us through , , and . Tag with your expat story for a chance to be featured! NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with BOOK: Want to read Tiffany's book, Midnight in the Piazza? Learn more or order on . TOUR ROME: If you're traveling to Rome, don't miss the chance to with Tiffany as your guide! /episode/index/show/bittersweetlife/id/37380195

Episode 591: Where Would You Go if You Had Six Months to Travel? (with Katy's sisters Dana and Sara) 07/14/2025

Episode 591: Where Would You Go if You Had Six Months to Travel? (with Katy's sisters Dana and Sara) Where would you go if you only had about six months left before travel would be out of the question for health reasons? Most people will never be forced to answer this question, but today's guest was recently asked this question by her husband, as they prepare and plan for the end of her life, after a devastating termincal cancer diagnosis. In this episode, Katy is joined by her sisters Sara and Dana. Dana talks about the surprising realization she came to when confronted with this practical question, as her priorities shifted away from adventure and novelty, and toward the places and people she already knows and loves. ***To help Katy's sister Dana with the staggering medical costs of her stage 4 agressive brain cancer—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 . 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 . 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 return for your generosity! Visit our to find out more. TIP YOUR PODCASTER: Say thanks with a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider for your hosting service! Use this to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email . You can also connect to us through , , and . Tag with your expat story for a chance to be featured! NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with BOOK: Want to read Tiffany's book, Midnight in the Piazza? Learn more or order on . TOUR ROME: If you're traveling to Rome, don't miss the chance to with Tiffany as your guide! /episode/index/show/bittersweetlife/id/37372725

[THE BITTERSWEET PAST] Katy Explores the Rich Culture of Bali 07/11/2025

[THE BITTERSWEET PAST] Katy Explores the Rich Culture of 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? In this episode from our archives, Katy recounts her magical and sometimes maddening week in Bali. She 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. *** 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 ! Enjoy!*** ***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 . 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 . 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 return for your generosity! Visit our to find out more. TIP YOUR PODCASTER: Say thanks with a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider for your hosting service! Use this to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email . You can also connect to us through , , and . Tag with your expat story for a chance to be featured! NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with BOOK: Want to read Tiffany's book, Midnight in the Piazza? Learn more or order on . TOUR ROME: If you're traveling to Rome, don't miss the chance to with Tiffany as your guide! /episode/index/show/bittersweetlife/id/37371940

[PATREON PREVIEW] Mom School 07/09/2025

[PATREON PREVIEW] Mom School School is out in Italy, and the summer is LONG (not to mention, extremely HOT!) and a certain red-headed someone is refusing to go to summer camp. To fill the time (and keep his brain from atrophying), Tiffany has created a daily list of ten things her son Aurelio must do. Can you guess what's on there? This is jsut a preview of a bonus episode available exclusively to our Patreon supporters. 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 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 for all the details, and consider joining us at the $5 level or above. We are eternally grateful! ***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 . 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 . 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 return for your generosity! Visit our to find out more. TIP YOUR PODCASTER: Say thanks with a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider for your hosting service! Use this to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email . You can also connect to us through , , and . Tag with your expat story for a chance to be featured! NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with BOOK: Want to read Tiffany's book, Midnight in the Piazza? Learn more or order on . TOUR ROME: If you're traveling to Rome, don't miss the chance to with Tiffany as your guide! /episode/index/show/bittersweetlife/id/37345600

Episode 590: How to Cultivate a Growth Mindset 07/07/2025

Episode 590: How to Cultivate a Growth Mindset What is a growth mindset and why would you want one? And perhaps more importantly, how do you cultivate one? To answer these questions, we dive back into Dr. Therese Huston's fascinating book, . We explore the idea of growth vs. fixed mindset in relation to our own lives, learning to do things that once seemed impossible, from becoming fluent in a foreign language to mastering the art of speaking live on radio, from learning to play the piano to writing an entire work of fiction. We also discuss the value of continuing to learn new things as an adult, and how having a growth mindset can make lifetime learning possible (and fun). Make sure to listen to , also inspired by this book, in which we discover that, contrary to popular belief, vision boards do not work! Find Dr. Huston at or on . ***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 . 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 . 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 return for your generosity! Visit our to find out more. TIP YOUR PODCASTER: Say thanks with a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider for your hosting service! Use this to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email . You can also connect to us through , , and . Tag with your expat story for a chance to be featured! NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with BOOK: Want to read Tiffany's book, Midnight in the Piazza? Learn more or order on . TOUR ROME: If you're traveling to Rome, don't miss the chance to with Tiffany as your guide! /episode/index/show/bittersweetlife/id/37304195

[THE BITTERSWEET PAST] Just Across the Border: Austria vs. Italy 07/04/2025

[THE BITTERSWEET PAST] Just Across the Border: Austria vs. Italy Since July is a big month for travel, this month we are re-airing episodes from our archives every Friday that revisit trips we've taken in the past. 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. *** 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 ! Enjoy!*** ***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 . 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 . 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 return for your generosity! Visit our to find out more. TIP YOUR PODCASTER: Say thanks with a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider for your hosting service! Use this to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email . You can also connect to us through , , and . Tag with your expat story for a chance to be featured! NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with BOOK: Want to read Tiffany's book, Midnight in the Piazza? Learn more or order on . TOUR ROME: If you're traveling to Rome, don't miss the chance to with Tiffany as your guide! /episode/index/show/bittersweetlife/id/37282830

bittersweet Moment #226: Skip the Vatican (and Go Here Instead) 07/02/2025

bittersweet Moment #226: Skip the Vatican (and Go Here Instead) Rome is extremely hot and extremely crowded right now, and the Vatican Museums have become an almost unbearable place. Instead of spending a miserable (and potentially hazardous) day inside one of the most amazing but sadly most overcrowded and unpleasant museums in the world, we've come up with a list of places you can go in Rome to find the same kind of art you'd find in the Vatican—and you'll probably have a much better time doing it! You're welcome. And don’t miss your chance to visit Rome with us, on our , coming up in October 2025. Find out all about it , or 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 . 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 return for your generosity! Visit our to find out more. TIP YOUR PODCASTER: Say thanks with a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider for your hosting service! Use this to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email . You can also connect to us through , , and . Tag with your expat story for a chance to be featured! NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with BOOK: Want to read Tiffany's book, Midnight in the Piazza? Learn more or order on . TOUR ROME: If you're traveling to Rome, don't miss the chance to with Tiffany as your guide! /episode/index/show/bittersweetlife/id/37256135

Episode 589: Vision Boards Don't Work 06/30/2025

Episode 589: Vision Boards Don't Work ...According to the latest brain science anyway. Katy discovered this provcative tidbit in Dr. Therese Huston's new book, . She asks Tiffany if she's ever had a vision board and proceeds to explain why the thinking behind this concept is faulty. But Tiffany has her own ideas on this topic, ideas that are more philosophy than science. Join us for this fun conversation that might just change your mind about how you go about accomplishing your goals. Find Dr. Huston at her or on . ***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 . 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 . 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 return for your generosity! Visit our to find out more. TIP YOUR PODCASTER: Say thanks with a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider for your hosting service! Use this to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email . You can also connect to us through , , and . Tag with your expat story for a chance to be featured! NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with BOOK: Want to read Tiffany's book, Midnight in the Piazza? Learn more or order on . TOUR ROME: If you're traveling to Rome, don't miss the chance to with Tiffany as your guide! /episode/index/show/bittersweetlife/id/37217600

[THE BITTERSWEET PAST] Romance, for Expats 06/27/2025

[THE BITTERSWEET PAST] Romance, for Expats 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 episode from our archives, 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. *** 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 ! Enjoy!*** ***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 . 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 . 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 return for your generosity! Visit our to find out more. TIP YOUR PODCASTER: Say thanks with a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider for your hosting service! Use this to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email . You can also connect to us through , , and . Tag with your expat story for a chance to be featured! NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with BOOK: Want to read Tiffany's book, Midnight in the Piazza? Learn more or order on . TOUR ROME: If you're traveling to Rome, don't miss the chance to with Tiffany as your guide! /episode/index/show/bittersweetlife/id/37178695

[PATREON PREVIEW] Opera in Italy Goes Viral 06/25/2025

[PATREON PREVIEW] Opera in Italy Goes Viral A school initiative in Italy is bringing elementary school children and opera together in an ingenius way! On this bonus episode, available exclusively to our supporters on , we talk about the sheer delight this project has brought to hundreds of thousands of people on social media. Which brings up the question: what exactly makes something go viral? This is just a preivew of what we offer to our generous Patreon supporters. 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 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 for all the details, and consider joining us at the $5 level or above. We are eternally grateful! ***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 . 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 . 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 return for your generosity! Visit our to find out more. TIP YOUR PODCASTER: Say thanks with a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider for your hosting service! Use this to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email . You can also connect to us through , , and . Tag with your expat story for a chance to be featured! NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with BOOK: Want to read Tiffany's book, Midnight in the Piazza? Learn more or order on . TOUR ROME: If you're traveling to Rome, don't miss the chance to with Tiffany as your guide! /episode/index/show/bittersweetlife/id/37149605

Episode 588: Closets, and Other Things Italy Doesn't Have 06/23/2025

Episode 588: Closets, and Other Things Italy Doesn't Have Have you ever noticed that Italian homes don't have closets? Bedroom closets, linen closets, broom closets, coat closets—they simply don't exist (unless you as a homeowner or renter decide to build one). Because of this lack of convenient storage space, Italians, twice a year, every year, have to swap out all their winter clothes (and pack them away) for their spring clothes, or vice versa. This got us thinking: what other things that an American might feel is indispensible in a home just dosn't exist in Italy? Or at least, it's not included when you buy or rent your home, but must be provided by you? A few things to keep in mind before you move to Italy... ***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 . 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 . 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 return for your generosity! Visit our to find out more. TIP YOUR PODCASTER: Say thanks with a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider for your hosting service! Use this to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email . You can also connect to us through , , and . Tag with your expat story for a chance to be featured! NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with BOOK: Want to read Tiffany's book, Midnight in the Piazza? Learn more or order on . TOUR ROME: If you're traveling to Rome, don't miss the chance to with Tiffany as your guide! /episode/index/show/bittersweetlife/id/37104920

[THE BITTERSWEET PAST] The Complications of an Expat Divorce (with Debra Bruno) 06/20/2025

[THE BITTERSWEET PAST] The Complications of an Expat Divorce (with Debra Bruno) Do expat couples divorce more than couples who live in their home countries? They certainly face different challenges. On this episode from our archives, writer and former expat Debra Bruno joins us to talk about her article which appeared on the Wall Street Journal's Expat Blog. Find Debra Bruno on or at . *** 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 ! Enjoy!*** ***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 . 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 . 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 return for your generosity! Visit our to find out more. TIP YOUR PODCASTER: Say thanks with a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider for your hosting service! Use this to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email . You can also connect to us through , , and . Tag with your expat story for a chance to be featured! NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with BOOK: Want to read Tiffany's book, Midnight in the Piazza? Learn more or order on . TOUR ROME: If you're traveling to Rome, don't miss the chance to with Tiffany as your guide! /episode/index/show/bittersweetlife/id/37088970

Bittersweet Moment #225: Baffling Italian Beach Culture 06/18/2025

Bittersweet Moment #225: Baffling Italian Beach Culture Tiffany does not get Italian beach culture. In this candid (and a bit heated) mini-episode, she wonders: what's the appeal of overcrowded beaches, endless rows of umbrellas and chaise longues as far as they eye can see, baking, inescapable heat, and dirty warm water that most people don't even swim in? Why are Italians so obsessed with spending every free moment of summer here? Tiffany doesn't have an answer. But maybe you do: write in to tell us your theory. And don’t miss your chance to visit Rome with us, on our , coming up in October 2025. Find out all about it , or for more information! ***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 . 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 . 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 return for your generosity! Visit our to find out more. TIP YOUR PODCASTER: Say thanks with a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our .) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider for your hosting service! Use this to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email . You can also connect to us through , , and . Tag with your expat story for a chance to be featured! NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with BOOK: Want to read Tiffany's book, Midnight in the Piazza? Learn more or order on . TOUR ROME: If you're traveling to Rome, don't miss the chance to with Tiffany as your guide! /episode/index/show/bittersweetlife/id/37045520

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