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 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

Episode 587: Tears and Surprises at a Caravaggio Exhibit 06/16/2025

Episode 587: Tears and Surprises at a Caravaggio Exhibit Tiffany finally made it to Rome's epic 2025 Caravaggio exhibit and it was well worth the wait! (The tickets were also nearly as hard to come by as seats at Taylor Swift concert!) Tiffany and Katy talk about the thoughts that came up during the exhibit, incluing possibly misplaced tears, an astonishing encounter with true Caravaggio expert, and what makes an exhibit a great one—beyond just the works of art on display. Tiffany also remarks on what it is that makes Caravaggio such a universally intriguing and adored artist, as well as what it's like to be getting closer to the completion on her life-long quest of seeing every Caravaggio painting still in existence. ***Want to see Caravaggio paintings with us and learn more about this incredible artist? Come to Rome with us in October 2025! For the third year in a row, we are hosting an intimate group of listeners for a magical and unforgettable week in Rome, to explore and discover the wonders of this city with us as your guides, seeing a side to Rome tourists almost never see (including one morning dedicated entirely to Caravaggio!). Find out more .*** ***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.*** ------------------------------------- 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/37013775

[THE BITTERSWEET PAST] Should I Stay or Should I Go? (with Amy Knauff) 06/13/2025

[THE BITTERSWEET PAST] Should I Stay or Should I Go? (with Amy Knauff) Expat Amy has lived abroad since college. First in Italy, then in Nicaragua, then back to Italy. In this interview from our archives, we sat down with her (over a decade ago!) to chat about her indecisiveness on whether to return to the US or not. All year she had been planning to return to move back and yet she never leaves. That got us wondering, do long-term expats lose their sense of truly belonging anywhere? *** 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/36996515

[PATREON PREVIEW] What Were Katy and Tiffany Like as Kid Travelers? 06/11/2025

[PATREON PREVIEW] What Were Katy and Tiffany Like as Kid Travelers? After Monday's episode about traveling with teens, Tiffany and Katy continue the conversation on this bonus episode by turning the spotlight on themselves. What were we like as annoying teen travelers? Did we drive our parents crazy with our boredom and apathy like the "kids today"? (Spoiler: yes.) And what did our parents do about it? This is just a snippet of the full-length bonus episode. 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/36949020

Episode 586: A Sudden Lack of Interest: Traveling with Teens 06/09/2025

Episode 586: A Sudden Lack of Interest: Traveling with Teens Have you ever traveled with a teenager? Or maybe you have travel memories of your teenage self? Were you as insufferable a traveler as teens these days appear to be? Today we chat about what exactly turns off (is it an "interest switch"?) in the human brain around age 13 or 14 that makes incredible art, fascinating history, and amazing visual locations so very very dull. So how do you spark interest for a reluctant teen traveler, or should you not even bother? Katy and Tiffany dig into their own insufferable teenage pasts looking for an answer. ***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/36916805

[THE BITTERSWEET PAST] The Thrills and Pitfalls of Dating in a Foreign Country 06/06/2025

[THE BITTERSWEET PAST] The Thrills and Pitfalls of Dating in a Foreign Country Is dating harder when you're an expat? Is it easier? And does your gender make a difference? If an expat dates a local, does that improve their social standing? Do all cultures flirt in the same way? What's it like to flirt in a foreign language or date someone's who's language you don't speak? Today we dig into our archives to re-air one of our very first ever episodes (Episode 5 to be exact!) in which we discuss the thrills and pitfalls dating abroad. *** 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/36887770

Bittersweet Moment #224: Italy's Republic Day vs. the Fourth of July 06/04/2025

Bittersweet Moment #224: Italy's Republic Day vs. the Fourth of July Americans show their patriotism on the 4th of July—Italians do it on the 2nd of June. But in very different ways! On this mini-episode, Tiffany talks about the history of the Italian Repulic (it's several centuries younger than the American republic, believe it or not!!), how it came about, and how Italians celebrate this important national holiday. ***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/36847730

Episode 585: Paris Vacation or Comedy of Errors? 06/02/2025

Episode 585: Paris Vacation or Comedy of Errors? Tiffany and her family recently spend ten days in and around Paris, a city Tiffany has visited many times. Somehow, though—and to be fair, it was a quickly thrown together trip—Tiffany seemed to get it all wrong, mistaking museum opening hours, booking wrong nights in hotels, and committing other potentially disastrous mishaps. You'd think a professional travel planner would know better! But somehow planning your OWN trip is a thousand times harder than planning someone else's. Hear all about Tiffany's recent travel mistakes on this fun new episode. ***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/36815505

[THE BITTERSWEET PAST] Rome's Best Restaurants, Gelato, and More 05/30/2025

[THE BITTERSWEET PAST] Rome's Best Restaurants, Gelato, and More As you know if you're a regular listener, our show goes a lot deeper than travel tips an "best of"s. Our weekly conversations explore many aspects of life (both abroad and at home), and we encourage our listeners to live more daring and authentic lives. But we've had so many requests for an episode about our favorite restaurants, wine bars, and gelato shops, that we finally gave in! Whether you're preparing for a trip to Rome, or just traveling via your earphones, join us for a casual chat on this episode from our archives, al about our favorite places to eat and drink in Rome—and why we love them. ***NOTE: In this spontaneous conversation, Tiffany mistakenly referred to one of her favorite Trastevere restaurants, , as Mediterraneo. *facepalm* Check out the delicious southern Italian cuisine at Meridionale on Via dei Fienaroli, 30a. *** 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/36785545

[PATREON PREVIEW] You Can't Go Home Again 05/28/2025

[PATREON PREVIEW] You Can't Go Home Again On this snippet from a recent bonus episode—available only to our supporters on Patreon—Tiffany reveals why she decided to cancel her trip back to the States this year. To hear her full explanation, and lots of other answers to fun listener questions, 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/36760925

Episode 584: First Communion, Thoughts on the New Pope, and other Memorial Day Happenings 05/26/2025

Episode 584: First Communion, Thoughts on the New Pope, and other Memorial Day Happenings It's Memorial Day in the States, Aurelio's First Communion in Rome, and the occasion for a catch-up on the latest happenings in our lives on this casual, conversational episode. Happy Memorial Day to all who celebrate! ***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/36711845

[THE BITTERSWEET PAST] The Unexpected Magic of Italy 05/23/2025

[THE BITTERSWEET PAST] The Unexpected Magic of Italy Is there anywhere else on earth that offers as much sheer beauty as Italy? (We'd wager there isn't.) But in addition to Italy's undeniable beauty, it offers a sense of magic that, once you've experienced it, never quite leaves you. With artistic masterpieces hidden in obscure churches, exquisite villages perched on remote mountaintops, and archetectural wonders tucked away in the middle of a forest, you never know when you'll turn a corner and encounter something that will dazzle and delight you. We discuss our favorite moments of Italian magic 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 ! 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/36678050

Bittersweet Moment #223 Leo XIV is Elected the First American Pope 05/21/2025

Bittersweet Moment #223 Leo XIV is Elected the First American Pope Did Tiffany manage to witness the white smoke at conclave 2025 and see the first appearance of Pepe Leo XIV—as she did in 2013 for the election of Pope Francis? (Listen to to hear that story!) Unless you have unlimited time to spend hanging around St. Peter's Square for days on end, it's really luck of the draw if you are able to witness this momentous and historical event! Listen to this mini-episode to hear Tiffany's experience at the 2025 conclave, and what was different between the last conclave and this one (spoiler: a LOT has changed in 12 years!) Also, Tiffany talks a little bit about the name the new American pope chose and some thoughts about previous popes who have choesn the name Leo. 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/36654700

Episode 583: When Traveling Solo is a Mistake (with Jennie Spohr) 05/19/2025

Episode 583: When Traveling Solo is a Mistake (with Jennie Spohr) Solo travel... it can be inspiring, healing, life-changing... ...except when it isn't. Except when all it makes you is lonely and sad. Today we sit down with writer Jennie Spohr to discuss what happens when a solo trip—which you were sure would be just the thing to reignite your curiosity and joy—actually turns out to be a bad idea... or is it? Find Jennie on or at . ***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/36622685

[THE BITTERSWEET PAST] The Glorious Gardens of Rome 05/16/2025

[THE BITTERSWEET PAST] The Glorious Gardens of Rome Little known fact: Rome is the city in Europe with the most green space per capita! It's true, Rome is not all crumbling ruins and crowded city streets. The city is bursting with parks and gardens, true urban oases that often have centuries-old histories. Katy and Tiffany visit one such garden on this episode from our archives, the Roseto Comunale, Rome's municipal rose garden, on a hot May day when the roses are in spectacular bloom. What follows is a chat about some of the most beautiful gardens in the city, and why green spaces are such an integral, albeit little-known, part of Rome's city life. *** 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/36589405

[PATREON PREVIEW] Tiffany Lived with a Sociopath 05/14/2025

[PATREON PREVIEW] Tiffany Lived with a Sociopath When Tiffany first moved to Rome, she made a grave mistake. She paid several months' rent in advance to a seemingly kind man who rented out rooms in his Trastevere apartment to brand new expats. He was not who he claimed to be. This is an excerpt of a bonus episode that aired this month exclusively to our generous 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! Listen to the full story from Tiffany on the podcast. ***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/36561660

Episode 582: The White Lotus Effect 05/12/2025

Episode 582: The White Lotus Effect When did traveling stop being about the place you are visiting and instead become about you in that place? And how much do shows like The White Lotus have to do with this mental shift? When ordinary travelers flock en masse to a tourist site made famous by a popular television show, pushing the location well past the limits of its capacity, what is the damage? Today we tackle this topic, inconvenient though it may be to travel-lovers. Read by Sarah Stodola that in part inspired this episode. ***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/36531500

[THE BITTERSWEET PAST] The Fountains of Rome 05/09/2025

[THE BITTERSWEET PAST] The Fountains of Rome Rome not only has more fountains than any city on earth, it also has the most beautiful ones, from the delicate Fountain of the Turtles (nispiration for Tiffany's book ), to the massive Fontanone on the Gianicolo Hill and so many others. In fact, the early 20th-century Italian composer Ottorino Respighi was so inspired by Rome's fountains (four in particular) that he wrote a symphonic poem about them. On this episode from our archives, we talk about the four fountains that inspired this masterpiece, and play some of that glorious music. So pop in your earbuds, close your eyes, and we'll transport you not just to Rome, but to Resphigi's Rome. 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/36505950

Bittersweet Moment #222: Everything You Ever Wanted to Know about Conclave* 05/07/2025

Bittersweet Moment #222: Everything You Ever Wanted to Know about Conclave* *but didn't know who to ask. In today's mini-episode, Tiffany fills you in on the history of this fascinating election, unique in the wolrd, as well as all the rules and ceremonies involved, just in time for Conclave 2025, which starts today! 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/36458360

Episode 581: Girl in Florence (with Georgette Jupe) 05/05/2025

Episode 581: Girl in Florence (with Georgette Jupe) What's it like to move abroad, all the way from Texas to Florence, Italy, learn the language to perfection, and establish yourself there so fully that you become known internationally simply as the "," only to find yourself moving to a new country where you're unfamiliar with the culture and don't speak the language—in the midst of a worldwide pandemic no less?! That's what today's guest did a number of years ago. We sit down with freelance writer, social media consultant, and founder of Girl in Florence Georgette Jupe to hear about the challenges of becoming an expat for the second time, have a child in a new-to-you country in the wake of Covid-19, overcome those challenges to make a life for your family there, and then get the news that it's time to move back to Florence! This interview touches on the resilience necessary for a successful life abroad, the challenges of language learning, the near-impossibility of passing the Italian driver's licence exam, and many other engaging and interested topics. Don't miss it! You can find more from Georgette on or . ***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/36435675

[THE BITTERSWEET PAST] Four Seasons in Rome (with Anthony Doerr) 05/02/2025

[THE BITTERSWEET PAST] Four Seasons in Rome (with Anthony Doerr) This special author interview pulled from our archives is Part 2 of our conversation with bestselling writer Anthony Doerr, author of Pulitzer Prize-winning , as well as best-sellers and . Be sure to listen to Part 1 if you haven't already! As the conversation continues, Anthony tells the story of finding out he had won the prestigious Rome Prize literally the same day his twin sons were born, and what it took for he and his wife to make the monumental decision to pack up their newborns and move to Rome for a year. He also explains how writing a book set in a foreign city can change your experience of the place. He also discusses his work as the editor of The Best American Short Stories 2019. Find Anthony 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/36151555

Bittersweet Moment #221: Wonders of the Capitoline Museums 04/30/2025

Bittersweet Moment #221: Wonders of the Capitoline Museums There’s one museum in Rome that has it all—and it’s not the Vatican. The Capitoline Museums are comprised of a collection of nearly everything you could hope for in a museum—sumptuous frescoed rooms, Caravaggio paintings, Bernini sculptures, ancient bronze and marble statuary, panoramic views of the Roman Forum, fascinating artifacts, and the ruins of Rome’s oldest and most important temple. And believe it or not, it’s never crowded. Not even in high season. On this mini-episode, Tiffany talks about why she adores this museum, and believes it’s Rome’s best-kept secret that blows the Vatican Museums out of the water. 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/36205820

Episode 580: Go Smell a Statue 04/28/2025

Episode 580: Go Smell a Statue Did you know that ancient Roman statues used to smell like roses? Or that ancient temples and palaces used to be painted with bright colors? What other things from the deep, dark past are vastly different from how we imagine them today? We discuss on this fun, eye-opening episode. ***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/36150865

[THE BITTERSWEET PAST]: All the Light We Cannot See (with Anthony Doerr) 04/25/2025

[THE BITTERSWEET PAST]: All the Light We Cannot See (with Anthony Doerr) In this very special episode from our archives, we are joined by the award-winning, best-selling writer, Anthony Doerr, author of , , and , among others. Anthony shares his writing journey with Katy, from his earliest beginnings as an amateur writer to the challenges of writing from the perspective of a young blind girl in All the Light We Cannot See. He also shares how he got the idea for this book that would go on to become a world-wide sensation, and why it took him a decade to write. Also, don't miss part two of this episode where Anthony delves into his time living in Rome and the memoir that resulted from it. Find Anthony 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/36151105

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