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.

Bittersweet Peek: The Best Break-up 02/18/2026

Bittersweet Peek: The Best Break-up Most break-ups are painful, but every now and then, they can be fun. Or even funny! Have you had a funny break-up? Tune in to hear ours. This is just a sneak peek of a much longer bonus episode, available exclusively 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! ------------------------------------- COME TO ROME WITH US: Our third annual Bittersweet Life Roman Adventure is in the books! 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/40150025

Episode 616: Mardi Gras, Italian Graduation, and Pulcinella 02/16/2026

Episode 616: Mardi Gras, Italian Graduation, and Pulcinella February 17th is a big day in Tiffany's life this year... from Martedi Grasso with Aurelio (aka Pulcinella) to her Italian sister-in-law's Master's graduation to her mom's birthday. Hear Katy and Tiffany chat about what Italian graduation looks like (and what it takes to get your degree) as well as the fun and the surprising (yet very traditional) Carvenale costume Aurelio chose this year. ------------------------------------- COME TO ROME WITH US: Our third annual Bittersweet Life Roman Adventure is in the books! 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/40122990

The Bittersweet Past: From Heartbreak to Purpose (with Asia Dawn SImonelli) 02/13/2026

The Bittersweet Past: From Heartbreak to Purpose (with Asia Dawn SImonelli) What do you do when your partner of almost a decade finally proposes, and after a just few short months of marriage, tells you he thinks you made a mistake getting married? Well, if you're the guest of this episode from our archives, you pack your bags and start traveling the world. You might never even come back. On this episode, we sit down with Asia Dawn Simonelli, who's unexpected heartbreak made her realize that life is too short and uncertain to do anything but what brings her joy. Her sudden divorce inspired her to spend a year traveling around South America, eventually settling in Mexico City, only to decide that Italy is where she truly belongs. Hear how her love of travel led her to a life of her dreams, and how she turned what could have been a devastating crisis into a new career that brings her joy and purpose and helps other women who've been through similar trauma. Find out more about Asia's relationship coaching services on her website, read about her travels on her travel blog, and follow her adventures on her Instagram page. Read her viral HuffPost article . *** 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 in the books! 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/40086125

Bittersweet Moment #238: Hidden Frescoes, Medieval Mosaics, and Underground Ruins 02/11/2026

Bittersweet Moment #238: Hidden Frescoes, Medieval Mosaics, and Underground Ruins On this mini-episode, we talk about one of the most over-looked and underappreciated sites in the entire city. It has it all: glorious medieval mosaics (some of the oldest you'll find in the city), exquisite works of proto-baroque statuary, hidden frescoes that almost no one knows about, and an ancient underground level that ties the history together. What to know what it is? Listen to this week's Bittersweet Moment and Tiffany will take you there. And if you want Tiffany and Katy to take you there in person, sign up for our , coming up in fall of 2026. Find out all about it , or for more information! ------------------------------------- COME TO ROME WITH US: Our third annual Bittersweet Life Roman Adventure is in the books! 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/40055915

Episode 615: The Best Kind of Love (with Katy's sisters) 02/09/2026

Episode 615: The Best Kind of Love (with Katy's sisters) On the occassion of Valentine's Day, The Bittersweet Life looks at the many different kinds of love, from family love to romantic love to the love you feel for your pets. Katy sits down with her sisters Dana and Sara to talk about the love that binds them as siblings, and she shares the kind of the love that she feels doesn't get enough credit. She also gets her sisters to open up about their oddest and most inappropriate crushes. The conversation deepens as they discuss their love for things like birdwatching, the music of Prince, or arranging books in a visually pleasing way. ***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: Our third annual Bittersweet Life Roman Adventure is in the books! 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/40041955

The Bittersweet Past: All Things Cute and Cuddly 02/06/2026

The Bittersweet Past: All Things Cute and Cuddly "All things cute and cuddly" was the surprising topic requested by listener Sara, who supports us at the $50 level on . Choosing the topic of an episode is just one of many bonuses we offer our Patreon supporters, and as this episode proves, we take that pledge seriously and hold no veto power. The sky is the limit! In delving into this unexpected topic, we attempt to answer many questions: Why does Tiffany hate cuddly things—and the very word "cuddly" itself? What is the cutest thing Katy ever saw on a plane? And how did the word "cute" get redefined through the centuries? Listen in to find out. *** 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 in the books! 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/40019385

Bittersweet Peek: The Cenci Gut Punch 02/04/2026

Bittersweet Peek: The Cenci Gut Punch Romans love the story of the young Renaissance noblewoman Beatrice Cenci. It's an absolutely gruesome and horrific story (for all you true crime fans) and now, it's also a huge disappointment in Tiffany's life. Find out why on this week's exclusive bonus episode. This is just a sneak peek of a much longer bonus episode, available exclusively 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 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: Our third annual Bittersweet Life Roman Adventure is in the books! 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/39991450

Episode 614: When You Move Abroad and the Locals Don't Like You (with Beth Ann Fennely) 02/02/2026

Episode 614: When You Move Abroad and the Locals Don't Like You (with Beth Ann Fennely) What happens when you move abroad with the intention of contributing to the lives of the local people... and those local people don't seem to like you. Author Beth Ann Fennelly joins us to talk about her experiences teaching English in a dark, polluted Czech town just after the fall of the communism, where the locals viewed her with distrust or downright suspicion and she struggled to make even one friend. This interview highlights the grim fact that not all expat experiences can live up to expectations. What happens when your expat dreams look nothing like the reality? Beth Ann Fennelly is the author of the new book , a collection of micro-memoirs. She was also Poet Laureate of Mississippi from 2016 to 2021 and her work has won a Pushcart Prize and was included in The Best American Poetry series three times. She appeared on the show before for another collection of micro-memoirs titled . You can also find Beth Ann Fennelly on a previous episode called . We also used one of her micro essays as a launching point for a discussion on Episode . Find Beth Ann at or on . ------------------------------------- COME TO ROME WITH US: Our third annual Bittersweet Life Roman Adventure is in the books! 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/39962185

The Bittersweet Past: The Art of Documenting Travel (with Riley Morton) 01/30/2026

The Bittersweet Past: The Art of Documenting Travel (with Riley Morton) In this interview from our archives, we sit down with Riley Morton, a freelance documentary producer and cinematographer who kicked off his career two decades ago in the adventure sports space, producing documentaries and television about climbing, skiing, trail running, and adventure travel. Over the past decade, he has branched out, producing his own documentaries and collaborating on major projects. His newest creation is Endless Earth, a free app that features an ever-changing collection of professionally produced short travel films that capture some of the most fascinating, vibrant, and beautiful places on earth. They discuss a wide range of topics including what travel was like pre-social media and pre-smartphone, and how dramatically it has changed. As someone who is passionate about documentation, and has literally made it his profession, Riley discusses the limits of documentation during travel, and when he feels it's time to put down the camera and focus on the pure experience in and of itself. They also speculate on the future of travel in a post-Covid world, and wonder if access to travel should be guaranteed to all, or if it truly is only a privilege. Finally, he shares his tips on how to travel on a shoestring. Learn more about here. Find Riley at . This January, our archive episodes—presented every Friday—will cover the theme of ADVENTURE! Because we could all use a little more adventure in our lives, and January is the perfect time to start thinking about the adventures we want to take during the new year. *** 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 in the books! 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/39933405

Bittersweet Moment #237: Celebrating Carnival in Rome 01/28/2026

Bittersweet Moment #237: Celebrating Carnival in Rome It's Carnival time here in Rome, and before you say—why don't you go celebrate in Venice?—you should know that Carnevale originated in Rome. In this week's mini-episode, Tiffany recounts the ancient origins of this raucous pre-Lenten festival, what it was like to take part in Carnival in Renaissance times, and how it's celebrated today. (Warning: this episode may make you drool.) Places mentioned in this episode: Pasticerria Regoli – Via dello Statuto, 60 (Esquilino) Forno La Renella – Via del Moro, 13 (Trastevere) By the way, don't miss your chance to visit Rome with us, on our , coming up in fall of 2026. Find out all about it , or for more information! ------------------------------------- COME TO ROME WITH US: Our third annual Bittersweet Life Roman Adventure is in the books! 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/39907900

Episode 613: How to Live to Be 107 01/26/2026

Episode 613: How to Live to Be 107 On today's poignant episode, Katy says goodbye to her Grammy Jean, who lived to be a staggering 107 years old. Not only that, she was active, healthy, happy, and mentally sharp until the very end. Katy shares what she thinks might have been her grandmother's secrets of longevity—and a couple of them might surprise you. ***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: Our third annual Bittersweet Life Roman Adventure is in the books! 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/39876910

The Bittersweet Past: The Life of an International War Correspondent (with Michael Maren) 01/23/2026

The Bittersweet Past: The Life of an International War Correspondent (with Michael Maren) To continue our January archival series on ADVENTURE, today we revisit an interview with author Michael Maren. As a war correspondent, he covered fierce conflicts around the globe, from the overthrow of Idi Amin in Uganda in 1979 to the height of the Somali Civil War in the early '90s. Maren has lived and worked in some of the dangerous places and situations on the planet. Katy sits down with Maren to talk about his experiences covering conflict across the African continent. They discuss the trap of expat privilege, the negative effects of foreign aid on developing countries, and the delusions many war correspondents have that they are special enough to survive. *** 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 in the books! 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/39826630

Bittersweet Peek: Sisters and Aging (with the Sewall Sisters) 01/21/2026

Bittersweet Peek: Sisters and Aging (with the Sewall Sisters) The Sewall Sisters (Sara, Dana, and host Katy) sit down to discuss aging: what they're worried about, what has already happened, and how a terminal illness changes the perspective. This is a raw, and often surprising, conversation. Please share your thoughts! This is just a sneak peek of a much longer bonus episode, available exclusively 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: Our third annual Bittersweet Life Roman Adventure is in the books! 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/39796015

Episode 612: Sisterfest on the High Seas (with Katy's sisters Sara and Dana) 01/19/2026

Episode 612: Sisterfest on the High Seas (with Katy's sisters Sara and Dana) It's January and that means Katy and her sisters are off on Sisterfest! Katy and her two older sisters Sara and Dana have been taking an annual trip together every year in January—which begs the question, would you even WANT to spend that much time with your adult siblings? Would you get sick of each other? Katy asks her sisters if they are sick of her! They dispute the pros and cons of cruising, the uselessness of trying to get the perfect photo, and how experiencing a terminal cancer diagnosis (whether for yourself or your sister) can put your entire life and priorities into perspective. And with that in mind, Katy asks her sister Dana, who is currently fighting brain cancer: what do you now think is a total waste of time? Listen in on past Sisterfest episodes: Episode 569 Epispde 411 Hear more from Katy's sisters here: Episode 243 Episode 242 ***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: Our third annual Bittersweet Life Roman Adventure is in the books! 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/39781475

The Bittersweet Past: Around the World in Twelve Months (with Cyndie Burkhardt) 01/16/2026

The Bittersweet Past: Around the World in Twelve Months (with Cyndie Burkhardt) Photographer and visual storyteller Cyndie Burkhardt was living in New York City feeling unsatisfied with her life. Rather than continue to struggle, she decided to leave. Her goal: to visit 12 countries in 12 months and rediscover herself along the way. Nine months in, the coronavirus stopped her in her tracks. On this episode from our archives, we sit down with Cyndie to explore the journey she took, what she found, and where she is now. Follow Cyndie on , at her photo project, or on Instagram at or . This January, our archive episodes—presented every Friday—will cover the theme of ADVENTURE! Because we could all use a little more adventure in our lives, and January is the perfect time to start thinking about the adventures we want to take during the new year. *** 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 in the books! 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/39740040

Bittersweet Moment #236: Snow in Rome 01/14/2026

Bittersweet Moment #236: Snow in Rome The temps are dropping in Rome and all Roman children (and several adults as well!) are praying nightly for that Roman rarity: snow! Will it happen this year? It's anyone's guess but it's certainly not a common occurance. Since Tiffany moved to Rome over two decades ago, it has only snowed a measely three times. But when it snows in Rome it is truly magical! On this mini-episode, Tiffany talks about the major Roman snowstorms of the past half-century, and what it was like to see the Eternal City under a blanket of snow. Don’t miss your chance to visit Rome with us, on our , coming up in October 2026. Find out all about it , or for more information! ------------------------------------- COME TO ROME WITH US: Our third annual Bittersweet Life Roman Adventure is in the books! 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/39713430

Episode 611: Creating a Literary Life in Florence (with Lauren Mouat) 01/12/2026

Episode 611: Creating a Literary Life in Florence (with Lauren Mouat) When a writer moves abroad, how do they find a literary community in their new country, especially when that country speaks (and reads) in a different language? They create it themselves of course! This week we sit down with writer, editor, and tour guide Lauren Mouat, who has created a literary life for herself in Florence and Livorno, from co-founding a literary society to starting a literary magazine, from creating a direct channel from aspiring writers to literary agents to publishing a volume of her own short stories. Listen in and get inspired to create a rich literary community in your own city! Find out more about the and their annual initiative. Find the latest issue of the . Order Lauren's book of short stories if you're in the US or if you're in Italy. to book a tour of Florence with Lauren. ------------------------------------- COME TO ROME WITH US: Our third annual Bittersweet Life Roman Adventure is in the books! 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/39697875

The Bittersweet Past: The Wild Ride of the Mongolian Rally (with Scott Gurian) 01/09/2026

The Bittersweet Past: The Wild Ride of the Mongolian Rally (with Scott Gurian) The Mongol Rally is a one-of-kind intercontinental car race, the "greatest motoring adventure on the planet" according to the organizers. Participants must drive from London to eastern Russia, across Mongolia, in a small engine car (1000-1200cc) at their own pace and their own peril. Radio producer and friend-of-the-show Scott Gurian survived the 11,000 mile journey in his tiny, 1 liter car and joins us to talk about it. Sign up for the Mongolian Rally . Check out Scott's podcast here. This January, our archive episodes—presented every Friday—will cover the theme of ADVENTURE! Because we could all use a little more adventure in our lives, and January is the perfect time to start thinking about the adventures we want to take during the new year. *** 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 in the books! 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/39671010

Bittersweet Peek: A ChatGPT Party 01/07/2026

Bittersweet Peek: A ChatGPT Party To celebrate the New Year, we ask ChatGPT to create a party for us! Is A.I. a good party planner? Or do the humans do it better? Listen in and send us your vote! This is just a sneak peek of a much longer bonus episode, available exclusively 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! ------------------------------------- COME TO ROME WITH US: Our third annual Bittersweet Life Roman Adventure is in the books! 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/39640845

Episode 610: Fountains Aren't Free Anymore 01/05/2026

Episode 610: Fountains Aren't Free Anymore Have you heard the news? The City of Rome will now be charging a 2 Euro fee to tourists who want to access the Trevi Fountain. Want to throw your coin in? You're going to have to pony up a few more coins that you'd counted on. This week, we talk about the ways a city can change, thanks to rampant over-tourism as well as other factors, and why seeing our city change before our eyes—for better or for worse—often makes us nostalgic for the past. What else used to be free in Rome that now costs money? (Turns out, a lot.) Tune in to our latest episode, and don't forget to share your thoughts—do you think Rome is right to charge an extra fee for getting close to the Trevi Fountain? Or should outdoor attractions be free no matter what? Read about the city's decision to impose this new fee . ------------------------------------- COME TO ROME WITH US: Our third annual Bittersweet Life Roman Adventure is in the books! 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/39613775

The Bittersweet Past: Walking the Camino de Santiago (with Aarin Wright) 01/02/2026

The Bittersweet Past: Walking the Camino de Santiago (with Aarin Wright) This January, our archive episodes—presented every Friday—will cover the theme of ADVENTURE! Because we could all use a little more adventure in our lives, and January is the perfect time to start thinking about the adventures we want to take during the new year. The Camino de Santiago is a popular pilgrimage route across Spain. On this episode from our archives, our guest Aarin Wright set off on the Camino with her father after finishing university. Was all the walking as rewarding as she had hoped? *** 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 in the books! 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/39590805

Episode 609: New Year, New Resolutions 12/29/2025

Episode 609: New Year, New Resolutions It's that time of year—New Year's Resolution time! If you're a longtime listener you know that at every turn of the year, Katy and Tiffany revisit the New Year's Resolutions they made for the previous year, and assess (with brutal honesty) how they did. They end the episode with the announcement of their resolutions for the year to come. This year, Tiffany share the ingenious yet simple hack that makes crushing your resolutions much more doable. And Katy discovers that sometimes, keeping your resolutions is just not worth the effort. Find out if they did what they said they were going to do, and what they resolve to do in 2026! Listen to the end to hear a special performance by Tiffany! Curious about our previous editions? You can listen back to them all: (2024–>2025) (2023–>2024) & (2022—>2023) (2021—>2022) (2020—>2021) (2019—>2020) (2018—>2019) Other fun resolution episodes: ------------------------------------- COME TO ROME WITH US: Our third annual Bittersweet Life Roman Adventure is in the books! 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/39551950

The Bittersweet Past: Holiday Magic 12/26/2025

The Bittersweet Past: Holiday Magic Has Christmas lost its magic now that you're all grown up? In this episode from our archives, Katy and Tiffany brainstorm ways to bring that holiday magic back even if you don't believe in Santa anymore. Katy tells the story of the time she played Santa's secret helper to someone she barely knew and they muse on those magical moments when heaven and earth seem closer than usual. If you're already feeling the post-Christmas blues, snuggle up with a cup of cocoa and this nostalgic episode from the past. *** 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 in the books! 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/39536915

Bittersweet Moment #235: White Christmas: The History of a Classic 12/24/2025

Bittersweet Moment #235: White Christmas: The History of a Classic You know it. You love it. You hear it every Christmas, and if you're like us, you never get sick of the classic holiday song, White Christmas. But did you know that the song has a very special, and very poignant, history? On this mini-episode, Katy tells you all about it. ------------------------------------- COME TO ROME WITH US: Our third annual Bittersweet Life Roman Adventure is in the books! 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/39528320

Episode 608: How Christmas Looked in 2017 12/22/2025

Episode 608: How Christmas Looked in 2017 Christmas traditions can be grounding when you're living in a brand-new place. Tiffany and Katy talk about the joys and challenges of being untethered during the holidays. They also discuss which of their traditions come from childhood and which were added after living in a foreign culture. Bonus: Check out two of our favorite Christmas books: • (The Scratch & Sniff book Tiffany used to read when she was little and ordered for Aurelio) • (One of Katy's favorite Christmas books) ------------------------------------- COME TO ROME WITH US: Our third annual Bittersweet Life Roman Adventure is in the books! 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/39493350

The Bittersweet Past: Finding Your Joyous Life (with/Sarah McColl) 12/19/2025

The Bittersweet Past: Finding Your Joyous Life (with/Sarah McColl) Do I deserve to live a bigger life? Sarah McColl, author of the memoir Joy Enough, joins us to talk about the beautiful life she discovered while living alongside her dying mother. In this probing coversation from our archives, we also explore how fear, loss, and the expectations of others can limit our potentially terrific lives. Find McColl's memoir Joy Enough . Find Sarah 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!*** ------------------------------------- COME TO ROME WITH US: Our third annual Bittersweet Life Roman Adventure is in the books! 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/39461255

Bittersweet Peek: There's No Place like Work for the Holidays 12/17/2025

Bittersweet Peek: There's No Place like Work for the Holidays The holidays aren't all fun and games. Sometimes you have to go to work. But is there any sort of magic to work this time of year? We discuss this topic on our latest bonus episode, and share some of the memories of times we had to work over Christmas. This is just a sneak peek of a much longer bonus episode, available exclusively 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! ------------------------------------- COME TO ROME WITH US: Our third annual Bittersweet Life Roman Adventure is in the books! 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/39440520

Episode 607: Pageantry and Anticipation 12/15/2025

Episode 607: Pageantry and Anticipation The Christmas season starts earlier and earlier every year. Pretty soon we'll be setting up our tree before Halloween! What do you think about this? Are you shamelessly here for it, or do you cringe when you hear Bing Crosby crooning White Christmas in early November? Is the joy that the Christmas season brings enough of an excuse to indulge in it two months before the actual event? Or is there something to be said for the delightful anticpation of Christmas? What do we lose when we no longer allow space to look forward to something? We discuss this and more holiday-related topics on this new episode! ------------------------------------- COME TO ROME WITH US: Our third annual Bittersweet Life Roman Adventure is in the books! 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/39408735

The Bittersweet Past: The Illusion of Choice (with Tom Vanderbilt) 12/12/2025

The Bittersweet Past: The Illusion of Choice (with Tom Vanderbilt) Why do you like what you like? Journalist Tom Vanderbilt joins us to explore how our likes and dislikes are formed. His new book is . Find Tom Vanderbilt at or on . His other books include and . *** 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 in the books! 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/39369115

Bittersweet Moment #234: A Surprisingly Perfect Time to Visit Rome 12/10/2025

Bittersweet Moment #234: A Surprisingly Perfect Time to Visit Rome What's the best time of year to visit Rome? That's a truly impossible question to answer, but Tiffany has an ideal time that might surprise you. Listen to this mini-episode to discover the unlikely perfection of a season you've probably never considered. Don’t miss your chance to visit Rome with us, on our , coming up in October 2026. Find out all about it , or for more information! ------------------------------------- COME TO ROME WITH US: Our third annual Bittersweet Life Roman Adventure is in the books! 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/39352690

The Bittersweet Life

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