The Bittersweet Life
Episodes
Episode 67: CROW GIFTS (with Gabi Mann)
14 Jun 2015
Contributed by Lukas
Crows regularly bring gifts to 8-year-old, Gabi Mann. What is she doing right? Listen to a magical tale centered on a hilarious girl and her winged fr...
Episode 66: REPAT Part 2 (with Maria Foley)
07 Jun 2015
Contributed by Lukas
We further explore the difficulties of repatriating with Maria Foley, the blogger behind I was an Expat Wife. She conducted a survey of former expats ...
Episode 65: ROME
01 Jun 2015
Contributed by Lukas
Planning a trip to Rome? We offer practical tips and hidden gems to make your vacation great. NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with...
Episode 64: REPAT (with Debra Bruno)
24 May 2015
Contributed by Lukas
Repatriating is hard. Going home can lead to depression, isolation and wistfulness. Debra Bruno, freelance journalist for the Wall Street Journal, joi...
Episode 63: LANGUAGE Part 3 (with J J Michael)
17 May 2015
Contributed by Lukas
How did you learn a foreign language? Our guest JJ Michael learned Thai from math text books. We explore how language is best learned and the expat li...
Episode 62: LABELS (with Keith Cooke)
10 May 2015
Contributed by Lukas
Is "expat" a term reserved for white westerners? Are all other races immigrants? That's the argument put forth by writer and activist Mawuna Remarque ...
Episode 61: BABIES
03 May 2015
Contributed by Lukas
Tiffany is expecting a son. What does that mean for her career? How common are stay-at-home dads in Italy? How does Italian maternity leave compare to...
Episode 60: SOCIAL (with Jessica Spiegel and Pam Mandel)
27 Apr 2015
Contributed by Lukas
Social media. Do you need it to be successful in the modern world? Is Twitter like a bar or a billboard? Guests Jessica Spiegel of Italy Explained and...
Episode 59: BIG NEWS
19 Apr 2015
Contributed by Lukas
Big news on the show today. Things are about to change - for one of us, at least. NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:O...
Episode 58: HOME BASE (with Jessica Spiegel and Pam Mandel)
12 Apr 2015
Contributed by Lukas
Freelance writers Jessica Spiegel (Italy Explained) and Pam Mandel (Nerd's Eye View) join us to discuss travel-writing, working from home, and not lov...
Episode 57: POMPEII
05 Apr 2015
Contributed by Lukas
Katy visits "Pompeii: The Exhibition" with her husband Derek. This leads to a discussion on why we are so attracted to the tragic story of Pompeii, an...
Episode 56: MUSEUM
29 Mar 2015
Contributed by Lukas
What mistakes do museum visitors make? Tiffany Parks gives tips to make your museum visit more enjoyable. We also debate which is better, taking pictu...
Episode 55: ZONES
25 Mar 2015
Contributed by Lukas
Living in a different time zone than your family and friends can change relationships. Katy Sewall and Tiffany Parks explore how, and that leads to a ...
Episode 54: FLIGHTY (with John Wynn)
15 Mar 2015
Contributed by Lukas
A common stereotype about expats is they're maladjusted and running from real life. Is that true? Host Katy Sewall speaks with psychiatrist and former...
Episode 53: FLUX (with John Wynn)
08 Mar 2015
Contributed by Lukas
Life is full of major transitions. For host Katy Sewall, moving to Rome then back to Seattle has been hard. She speaks with psychiatrist and former ex...
Episode 52: ANIMALS (with Andrew Blechman and Clark and Evalea Beck)
01 Mar 2015
Contributed by Lukas
Travelers and expats often encounter animals. From the humble, common pigeon to a monkey or a great white shark. Today we share animal stories from al...
Episode 51: CROWS (with Gabi Mann)
22 Feb 2015
Contributed by Lukas
Gabi (age 8) regularly feeds crows and they bring her shiny things in return. Katy's story about Gabi was instantly viral. Hear Gabi as she shows h...
Episode 50: HOME
15 Feb 2015
Contributed by Lukas
For travelers and expats, what feels like home changes sometimes. Katy Sewall and Tiffany Parks share their experience with home and homesickness. ...
Episode 49: TIME
08 Feb 2015
Contributed by Lukas
Time can seem long or short, important or boring, precious or fleeting. Why do some experiences stay vivid while others seem so long ago? Tiffany and ...
Episode 48: FREELANCE
01 Feb 2015
Contributed by Lukas
Expats are often freelancers. Writers, artists, tour guides, radio reporters. Katy and Tiffany talk about the difficulties of freelancing and appeal t...
Epsiode 47: CONTRAST
25 Jan 2015
Contributed by Lukas
Parts of American culture seem strange after a year living as an expat in Italy. Katy and Tiffany talk about the cultural oddities that stand out afte...
Episode 46: GOODBYE
18 Jan 2015
Contributed by Lukas
Katy's last morning arrives. Tiffany and Katy spend their final moments together before Katy is no longer an expat. Taped during Katy's final 20 minut...
Episode 45: LEAVING
11 Jan 2015
Contributed by Lukas
Moving home after living as an expat isn't an easy thing to go. Tiffany and Katy lament Katy's imminent departure from Rome and discuss the joys and d...
Episode 44: MORNING
04 Jan 2015
Contributed by Lukas
Listen as the city of Rome comes alive. Tiffany picks up Katy at dawn, when only garbage men and birds move about. NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don't be a...
Episode 43: CARAVAGGIO, Part 2
14 Dec 2014
Contributed by Lukas
We retrace the steps of the painter Caravaggio who walked the streets of Rome in the late 1500s. We examine his artistic genius and murderous temper w...
Episode 42: CARAVAGGIO, Part 1
14 Dec 2014
Contributed by Lukas
The painter Caravaggio walked the streets of Rome in the late 1500s. Today we retrace his steps, examining his artistic genius and murderous temper. L...
Episode 41: COMPLAIN
07 Dec 2014
Contributed by Lukas
When can an expat legitimately complain about the country they elected to live in? Tiffany and Katy wonder if complaining only for natives and immigra...
Episode 40: FRIENDS
30 Nov 2014
Contributed by Lukas
Are long term expats unwilling to make friends with short term expats? Also, when you live abroad, is a big part of friendship saying goodbye? NE...
Episode 39: MEMORY
23 Nov 2014
Contributed by Lukas
Tiffany and Katy muse on how memories are formed, recorded, erased and Facebooked. NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OU...
Episode 38: STUDENT (with Peter Dziedzic)
16 Nov 2014
Contributed by Lukas
Students often travel abroad for extended periods of time. Does that make them expats? Our guest, student Peter Dziedzic, says no though he hasn't bee...
Episode 37: RETIRE (with Rose and Wayne Wentz)
09 Nov 2014
Contributed by Lukas
What planning does it take to retire overseas? Can the average person do it? Rose and Wayne Wentz retired to Rome from Seattle. They pass on their pra...
Episode 36: ALIEN
02 Nov 2014
Contributed by Lukas
Are expats people who feel alien in their native country? Tiffany and Katy explore the feeling of "otherness" and the differences between an expatriat...
Episode 35: TRANSLATE
26 Oct 2014
Contributed by Lukas
Tiffany is bilingual and that means translating for others. It can be tiring, but it also gives her power. Has she been editing Katy's speech this who...
Episode 34: VENTURE (with Toni DeBella)
19 Oct 2014
Contributed by Lukas
Moving abroad isn't exclusively for students or childless people. It's an adventure for all ages. Toni DeBella moved to Orvieto, Italy once her son wa...
Episode 33: PARENTS (with Linda Martinez and Steve Brenner)
12 Oct 2014
Contributed by Lukas
Meet two parents who boldly moved abroad with a dream rather than a plan. NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET SP...
Episode 32: KIDS
05 Oct 2014
Contributed by Lukas
We meet three American girls in Orvieto, Italy. Giulia (age 13), Paloma (age 11), and Viola (age 8) have been expats their whole lives. How do they vi...
Episode 31: TRAIN
03 Oct 2014
Contributed by Lukas
Train travel is a romantic. Is train travel even better if you record an episode of The Bittersweet Life on the trip? You be the judge. NEVER HEARD...
Episode 30: COMEDY, Part 2 (with Marsha De Salvatore)
21 Sep 2014
Contributed by Lukas
Our discussion on comedy continues with this bonus episode. Drunkenness, ESL, and expat cliches are on the table. Our guest, comedian Marsha De Salvat...
Episode 29: COMEDY, Part 1 (with Marsha De Salvatore)
21 Sep 2014
Contributed by Lukas
What people find funny varies from country to country. Comedian Marsha De Salvatore drops by to make us laugh and dissect why we're laughing. You migh...
Episode 28: HOSPITAL
14 Sep 2014
Contributed by Lukas
Not all medical systems are created equal. Expats often find that out unexpectedly -- like Katy did after giving herself a concussion. NEVER HEARD ...
Episode 27: UNSURE (with Amy Knauff)
07 Sep 2014
Contributed by Lukas
Expat Amy has lived overseas since college. First in Italy, then in Nicaragua, then back to Italy. All year she's been planning to return to the Unite...
Episode 26: MINORITY
31 Aug 2014
Contributed by Lukas
Moving abroad often means becoming a "minority." For many travelers, this is a new experience. Tiffany, Katy and Katy's husband Derek discuss an eye-o...
Episode 25: TOUCH
24 Aug 2014
Contributed by Lukas
Our series on the five senses wraps up with touch/feel. What does it feel like to be an expat and how is that different from the tourist experience? ...
Episode 24: SIGHT
17 Aug 2014
Contributed by Lukas
Our series on the five senses continues with sight. The sites of Rome have Katy contemplating her own death. Are we just a drop in the bucket? Tiffany...
Episode 23: TASTE
10 Aug 2014
Contributed by Lukas
Our series on the five senses continues with taste. Katy and Tiffany try eating and podcasting at the same time while visiting Eataly, a grocery store...
Episode 22: SMELL
03 Aug 2014
Contributed by Lukas
Our series on the five senses continues with smell. Katy and Tiffany visit a used book store in Rome that smells like Katy's grandparents house in Pen...
Episode 21: SOUND
27 Jul 2014
Contributed by Lukas
We begin a 5-part series on the five senses. This week: Sound. Explore Rome, Italy with your ears, and experience how different a city can sound. N...
Episode 20: REBOOT
20 Jul 2014
Contributed by Lukas
When you move overseas - no one knows you. You have no reputation. No expectations. No history. Does that mean you can completely reinvent yourself an...
Episode 19: LANGUAGE Part 2
13 Jul 2014
Contributed by Lukas
Do you think in English, or do you just think? Which language expresses ideas easier - English or Italian? Tiffany and Katy discuss language in respon...
Episode 18: RELINQUISH
06 Jul 2014
Contributed by Lukas
Moving overseas can mean giving up a dream; letting go of ideas of who you are or who you hoped to be. Katy and Tiffany discuss the dreams they let go...
Episode 17: ASSAULT Part 3
29 Jun 2014
Contributed by Lukas
Why do women feel shame after a bad sexual encounter? Does a lack of support from female friends make an assault worse? Katy and Tiffany talk it over....
Episode 16: HOME BIRTH Part 2
22 Jun 2014
Contributed by Lukas
Cassi and Leon Griesbach moved abroad while expecting a baby. Their plan: Hire local midwives and give birth in their apartment. Cassi shared their st...
Episode 15: MISSING
16 Jun 2014
Contributed by Lukas
Sometimes you become an expat for life. Sometimes you repatriate. When moving back home, what's there to look forward to? Katy and Tiffany try to get ...
Episode 14: INTEGRATE
09 Jun 2014
Contributed by Lukas
Living abroad requires some cultural integration - language, dining hours, work schedules. But do expats integrate with the more superficial things ab...
Episode 13: VISITORS
01 Jun 2014
Contributed by Lukas
People you love and (groan) acquaintances looking for a free place to stay will call you if you move somewhere great. What is an expats responsibility...
Episode 12: HOME BIRTH, Part 1
26 May 2014
Contributed by Lukas
Cassi just arrived in Rome with her husband, two little girls, and a baby on the way. She plans to give birth in her apartment. How do you plan for ch...
Episode 11: ASSAULT Part 2
19 May 2014
Contributed by Lukas
Our exploration of sexual assault overseas continues with Katy's story. If you haven't heard Part 1, go back and get caught up. This episode picks up ...
Episode 10: ASSAULT Part 1
19 May 2014
Contributed by Lukas
It's harder to read people in a foreign culture. That can lead to embarrassment or much, much, much worse. Today we delve into the dark side of living...
Episode 9: BLACKOUT
12 May 2014
Contributed by Lukas
It's lights out in Rome. Not for everyone -- for Katy. There's nothing more humbling to an expat than losing a basic necessity and having no idea why ...
Episode 8: TRAFFIC
04 May 2014
Contributed by Lukas
Tiffany dodges Rome's heavy commuter traffic to bring you this episode. The driving rules of your native country seldom apply overseas. That can resul...
Episode 7: LAYABOUT
27 Apr 2014
Contributed by Lukas
What's important in life? Accomplishing goals or meeting friends for an aperitivo? Where you live may change the answer. NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don'...
Episode 6: OVERSTAY
21 Apr 2014
Contributed by Lukas
When you move overseas -- without a Visa -- can you travel? Katy has overstayed her welcome and now she is facing passport control. Will she be deport...
Episode 5: DATING
13 Apr 2014
Contributed by Lukas
If an expat dates a local, does that improve their social standing? Do all cultures flirt in the same way?Tiffany Parks and Katy Sewall discuss dating...
Episode 4: HOMESICK
06 Apr 2014
Contributed by Lukas
Homesickness. It eventually strikes everyone who moves overseas. Tiffany Parks and Katy Sewall share their coping mechanisms and examine what they...
Episode 3: HOLIDAYS
31 Mar 2014
Contributed by Lukas
When you become an expat, you expect things to be different. Yet culturally, the holidays make that contrast most vivid. Does Christmas feel different...
Episode 2: LANGUAGE, Part 1
23 Mar 2014
Contributed by Lukas
It can be hard to live life in another language - even if you're fluent. Tiffany explains why. It's also hard to live with no language. Katy explains ...
Episode 1: OUTSET
18 Mar 2014
Contributed by Lukas
The premiere episode looks at the challenges of expat life from a short-term and long-term perspective. Hosts Katy Sewall and Tiffany Parks describe t...