The Bittersweet Life
Episodes
Episode 591: Where Would You Go if You Had Six Months to Travel? (with Katy's sisters Dana and Sara)
14 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Where would you go if you only had about six months left before travel would be out of the question for health reasons? Most people will never be forc...
[THE BITTERSWEET PAST] Katy Explores the Rich Culture of Bali
11 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In a world that is becoming ever more homogenized, what sets places apart? What are the blaring indicators that communicate we are in a place vastly d...
[PATREON PREVIEW] Mom School
09 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
School is out in Italy, and the summer is LONG (not to mention, extremely HOT!) and a certain red-headed someone is refusing to go to summer camp. T...
Episode 590: How to Cultivate a Growth Mindset
07 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What is a growth mindset and why would you want one? And perhaps more importantly, how do you cultivate one? To answer these questions, we dive back i...
[THE BITTERSWEET PAST] Just Across the Border: Austria vs. Italy
04 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Since July is a big month for travel, this month we are re-airing episodes from our archives every Friday that revisit trips we've taken in the past. ...
bittersweet Moment #226: Skip the Vatican (and Go Here Instead)
02 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Rome is extremely hot and extremely crowded right now, and the Vatican Museums have become an almost unbearable place. Instead of spending a miserable...
Episode 589: Vision Boards Don't Work
30 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
...According to the latest brain science anyway. Katy discovered this provcative tidbit in Dr. Therese Huston's new book, Sharp: 14 Simple Ways to Imp...
[THE BITTERSWEET PAST] Romance, for Expats
27 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
[PATREON PREVIEW] Opera in Italy Goes Viral
25 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
A school initiative in Italy is bringing elementary school children and opera together in an ingenius way! On this bonus episode, available exclusiv...
Episode 588: Closets, and Other Things Italy Doesn't Have
23 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Have you ever noticed that Italian homes don't have closets? Bedroom closets, linen closets, broom closets, coat closets—they simply don't exist (un...
[THE BITTERSWEET PAST] The Complications of an Expat Divorce (with Debra Bruno)
20 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Do expat couples divorce more than couples who live in their home countries? They certainly face different challenges. On this episode from our archiv...
Bittersweet Moment #225: Baffling Italian Beach Culture
18 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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, end...
Episode 587: Tears and Surprises at a Caravaggio Exhibit
16 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 sea...
[THE BITTERSWEET PAST] Should I Stay or Should I Go? (with Amy Knauff)
13 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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...
[PATREON PREVIEW] What Were Katy and Tiffany Like as Kid Travelers?
11 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
After Monday's episode about traveling with teens, Tiffany and Katy continue the conversation on this bonus episode by turning the spotlight on themse...
Episode 586: A Sudden Lack of Interest: Traveling with Teens
09 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 day...
[THE BITTERSWEET PAST] The Thrills and Pitfalls of Dating in a Foreign Country
06 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Bittersweet Moment #224: Italy's Republic Day vs. the Fourth of July
04 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 talk...
Episode 585: Paris Vacation or Comedy of Errors?
02 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
[THE BITTERSWEET PAST] Rome's Best Restaurants, Gelato, and More
30 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
[PATREON PREVIEW] You Can't Go Home Again
28 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Episode 584: First Communion, Thoughts on the New Pope, and other Memorial Day Happenings
26 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 casu...
[THE BITTERSWEET PAST] The Unexpected Magic of Italy
23 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
Bittersweet Moment #223 Leo XIV is Elected the First American Pope
21 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 P...
Episode 583: When Traveling Solo is a Mistake (with Jennie Spohr)
19 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 do...
[THE BITTERSWEET PAST] The Glorious Gardens of Rome
16 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 street...
[PATREON PREVIEW] Tiffany Lived with a Sociopath
14 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 h...
Episode 582: The White Lotus Effect
12 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
[THE BITTERSWEET PAST] The Fountains of Rome
09 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 f...
Bittersweet Moment #222: Everything You Ever Wanted to Know about Conclave*
07 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
*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 a...
Episode 581: Girl in Florence (with Georgette Jupe)
05 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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...
[THE BITTERSWEET PAST] Four Seasons in Rome (with Anthony Doerr)
02 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This special author interview pulled from our archives is Part 2 of our conversation with bestselling writer Anthony Doerr, author of Pulitzer Prize-w...
Bittersweet Moment #221: Wonders of the Capitoline Museums
30 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 everythi...
Episode 580: Go Smell a Statue
28 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 othe...
[THE BITTERSWEET PAST]: All the Light We Cannot See (with Anthony Doerr)
25 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this very special episode from our archives, we are joined by the award-winning, best-selling writer, Anthony Doerr, author of All the Light We Can...
[PATREON PREVIEW] Update on Katy's Sister Dana
23 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On this bonus episode, available exclusively to our Patreon supporters, Katy gives an update on her sister Dana's stage 4 agressive brain cancer. Thi...
Episode 579: Are Romance Languages Sexist?
21 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Are romance languages sexist? On this episode, we discuss the puzzling and seemingly discriminatory aspects of languages like Italian and French. For ...
[THE BITTERSWEET PAST] Where Are all the Accordions?
18 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
When you come back after several years to a city where you used to live, what do you notice? What has change? What has stayed the same? What have you ...
[THE BITTERSWEET PAST] Antico Caffè Greco: The Oldest Café in Rome
16 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Where did Lord Byron and Percy Shelley come to sip coffee while they jotted down their verses? Where did Bizet and Berlioz go to discuss their work? ...
Episode 578: Exploring Rome in the Deep Dark Night (A Sleep With Me crossover)
14 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Need help falling asleep? That's not usually our forte—at least we hope it isn't!—but this week the legendary sleep-podcaster Drew Ackerma...
[THE BITTERSWEET PAST] Maybe You Should Talk to Someone (with Lori Gottlieb)
11 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week, therapist and bestselling author Lori Gottlieb joins us to talk about change, loss, self-examination...and when you should really talk to s...
Bittersweet Moment #220: A Walk Down Via Giulia
09 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
For a leisurely stroll that is full of artistic gems and delightful curiosities hidden in plain —and somehow overlooked by tourists—join us for a...
Episode 577: Clive vs. Constance: An Unfortunate Journey Begins
07 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The Bittersweet Life Podcast went on an unexpected and unprecedented month-long hiatus. As you can imagine, only something life-threatening could ha...
[THE BITTERSWEET PAST] Underground (with Robert MacFarlane)
03 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week, we explore the underground world with Robert MacFarlane of Cambridge University in England. Robert is the best-selling author of Landmarks ...
[PATREON PREVIEW] Crying and Writing
02 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Did you know that your favorite podcast hosts are also writers? On this week's bonus episode—available exclusively to our supporters on Patreon—we...
Episode 576: Looking Back at the Covid Pandemic—Five Years Later
31 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Five years after the world came to a grinding halt—when Italy and shortly after much of the globe went into a full or partial lockdown—Katy and Ti...
[THE BITTERSWEET PAST] A Day in the Life under Lockdown, Part 2
28 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Continuing our month-long look back at life during the initial outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, we are re-airing Part 2 of our peek into our lives—...
[THE BITTERSWEET PAST] A Day in the Life under Lockdown, Part 1
21 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Who remembers what life felt like during the first wave of the Covid-19 pandemic, when cities and entire countries were shutting down right and left? ...
[THE BITTERSWEET PAST] Coronavirus Hits: Italy Locks Down, Part 2
14 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Exactly five years ago this month—March 2020—the world went through something that no one living had experienced in their lifetimes: a global epid...
Episode 575: An Unfortunate Announcement
10 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Our regularly scheduled episode is going to be delayed this week. Katy makes a hard announcement on this much abbreviated episode to explain why The B...
[THE BITTERSWEET PAST] Coronavirus Hits: Italy Locks Down, Part 1
07 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Do you remember what life was like during the first days and weeks of lockdown following the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, almost exactly 5 years...
Bittersweet Moment #219: Beyond the Mouth of Truth: Exploring Santa Maria in Cosmedin
05 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Everybody who visits Rome knows about the Mouth of Truth—and many of them line up for up to an hour (or more!) to stick their hand in its mouth and ...
Episode 574: Twelve Years a Pope
03 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Just over 12 years ago, Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio was elected Pope Francis in the conclave of 2013. And Tiffany was in St. Peter's Square when it hap...
[THE BITTERSWEET PAST] The Science Behind Language Learning (with Lisa Wilcox)
28 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On this eye-opening interview with special guest Lisa Wilcox, taken from our archives, we explore the science of language learning through linguistics...
[PATREON PREVIEW] Stupid Scars and Cool Diseases
26 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On this bonus episode, available exclusively to our Patreon supporters, random questions like "What is your dumbest scar?" are answered by us with a ...
Episode 573: Getting Sick in Italy
24 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What happens when you get sick in Italy? How much does medical care cost? As an expat, how does the Italian medical system differ from that of the Uni...
[THE BITTERSWEET PAST] The Unexpected Trauma of Moving, Part 2
21 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Katy moved to Rome once. Does that mean she'd be brave enough to do it again? Are you brave enough to move to a brand new city? What about a brand-new...
Bittersweet Moment #218: The Tempietto of Bramante
19 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On this Bittersweet Moment, taken from our archives, Tiffany and Aurelio chat about their recent visit to one of Rome's most secret and best-hidden ge...
Episode 572: A Crazy Student Falls in Love with Italian (with Melissa Muldoon)
17 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Have you ever lost your mind over a foreign language? This week's guest, Melissa Muldoon, did just that over 15 years ago, when she dove head first in...
[THE BITTERSWEET PAST] The Unexpected Trauma of Moving, Part 1
14 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode from our archives, Tiffany and Katy both say goodbye to their old lives: Tiffany moves out of her Trastevere apartment and braves the ...
[PATREON PREVIEW] Aurelio Answers Your Questions
12 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On this bonus episode, released exclusively for our Patreon supporters, we're joined by Tiffany's son, 9-year-old Aurelio—our redheaded mascot and ...
Episode 571: Why Women Love Italy (with Susan Van Allen)
10 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Author and Italy travel expert Susan Van Allen joins us today to talk about what she loves about Italy and why she believes the bel paese has particul...
[THE BITTERSWEET PAST] How Traveling Makes You Rude
07 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Have you ever walked into someone's house in Japan with your shoes on and had a room full of people laugh at you? (Katy has.) Have you ever traipsed i...
Bittersweet Moment #217: The Owl House of Villa Torlonia
05 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On this mini-episode from our archives, Tiffany (and a 4-year-old Aurelio!) will fill you in on one of Rome's most delightful hidden gems: the Owl Hou...
Episode 570: An Irish-American Story (with Edward Burns)
03 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Today Katy interviews actor, filmmaker, and author Edward Burns about his debut novel A Kid from Marlboro Road on the stage of Town Hall Seattle. Tune...
[THE BITTERSWEET PAST] The Repurposing of Rome
31 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week, we hit the streets of Rome with our recording equipment to search for ancient ruined artifacts or "spoglie" hidden in plain sight. Rome has...
[PATREON PREVIEW] A Lover of Legos and Tiny Cute Things
29 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What's going on in the life of The Bittersweet Life podcast's favorite 9-year-old redhead? On this exclusive bonus episode, Tiffany catches up our Pat...
Episode 569: To Cruise or Not to Cruise?
27 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
To cruise or not to cruise? Most travelers have strong opinions about cruising, and can be easily divided into two factions: the cruise-lovers and the...
[THE BITTERSWEET PAST] Raising a Bilingual Family
24 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Want to raise a bilingual child? Whether you are an expat or not, in a mixed-culture relationship or not, it is possible to raise your child in two (o...
Bittersweet Moment #216: The Route of the Seven Churches
22 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What does it mean to do the Giro delle Sette Chiese, or the Route of the Seven Churches? And what does it have to do with Rome's newly inaugurated Jub...
Episode 568: The Benefits and Dangers of Being Stubborn
20 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Is being stubborn a good thing or a bad thing? Tiffany has always considered it one of her best qualities, but after listening to last week's expat in...
[THE BITTERSWEET PAST] Hitting an Expat Plateau
17 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week's episode is inspired by a letter from one of our long-time listeners. Giovanna wonders what to do after hitting an "expat plateau," when th...
[PATREON PREVIEW] Disaster and Loss in LA
15 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On this week's exlusive bonus episode, we talk about the catastrophic fires that are, as of recording time, still raging in the Los Angeles area, and...
Episode 567: What if Moving Abroad Isn't Great? (with Darlene Sullivan)
13 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
You've dreamed of moving to Italy since you were 16 years old, and after years of scheming and planning, you finally made it happen. But... you're not...
[THE BITTERSWEET PAST] Living Life in a Foreign Language
10 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Have you ever wondered how speaking a second or third language more often than your native tongue can reshape your thinking? In this episode from the ...
Bittersweet Moment #215: Rome's Jubilee Arrives!
08 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Rome's Jubilee is here! And our Bittersweet Moments are back! (And you thought Christmas was over.) On this short-but-sweet mid-week mini-episode, Tif...
Episode 566: How to Move to Italy (with Thea Duncan)
06 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
So you want to move to Italy but... HOW??? Today we are joined by a guest who happens to have all the answers. Thea Duncan is the self-desc...
Episode 565: Resolutions Old, Resolutions New
30 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
It's that time of year again! Every turn of the year, we look back at the resolutions we set for the previous year and discuss whether or not we accom...
Episode 564: An Ever-Changing Holiday
23 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
How much has Italian Christmas changed over the years? Turns out, even in the last ten years, since we began this show, the way Italians celebrate Chr...
Episode 563: How to Renovate a 17th-century Umbrian Villa (with Kaila Merrill)
16 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
How many of us dream of living in a villa in the Umbrian countryside... but how many of us would quit our jobs and move abroad (not to mention do al...
Episode 562: Moving to Rome—Sight Unseen, Part 2 (with Brie Ripley and Ryan Sparks)
09 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Last year we met Brie Ripley, a young newly married Seattlite who had moved to Rome for a job without ever having visited the city, or even the countr...
Episode 561: What Is it About Rome?
02 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
"You fall in love with Rome very slowly, a little at a time—but for all your life." Nikolaj Gogol sums up so perfectly what many people experien...
[LIVE] Episode 560: The Ghosts of Things Not Seen (with our Rome guests!)
25 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Join us for this LIVE EPISODE taped in Rome with the listeners who participated in our 2024 Bittersweet Life Rome Trip! On this episode, we chat about...
Episode 559: The Bittersweet Life Origin Story: The 10th Anniversary Show
18 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Can you believe that this little indie show premiered way back in March of 2014?? That's an entire decade of The Bittersweet Life! Have you been wit...
[PATREON PREVIEW] When Life Surprises You
14 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
What are some of the most surprising things that have ever happened to you—in a good or a bad way? What are life's curve balls that you truly didn'...
Episode 558: Escape to Rome with The Bittersweet Life
11 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Come to Rome with us! (Virtually or IN PERSON!) This week we're thrilled to share the episode in which we kick off our 2024 Bittersweet Life Roman Adv...
Episode 557: Ready to Flee the US? Listen to this First!
04 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Tomorrow is presidential election day in the US! (Cue the angst-ridden gnashing of teeth.) If you're so worried about the results of the election that...
Episode 556: The Caller (A Radio Play by Matthew P. Woerner)
28 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
To get into the Halloween mood, grab a hot drink, dim the lights, and curl up in a cozy spot to listen to this new original radio drama. Matthew P. Wo...
Episode 555: Scary Reads: Our Favorite Books for Halloween
20 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
How do you get into the spooky Halloween spirit? If you're like us, you spend October reading scary books. Find out what's on our Halloween reading li...
[PATREON PREVIEW] Rome vs. Seattle: Which Makes a Better Movie Backdrop?
17 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this exclusive bonus episode—of which we're sharing just a sneak peek here—we chat about what movies get wrong when they showcase a particular...
Episode 554: How to Buy Nothing
14 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This month, Tiffany sets off to accomplish one of her New Year's resolutions: a month of buying nothing (beyond the essentials of daily life). In an e...
Episode 553: How Do You Prepare for a Trip?
07 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
...and what does how you prepare for a trip say about you? As Katy prepares to fly off to Italy for the second annual Bittersweet Life Rome Trip, she ...
Episode 552: Grammar Pet Peeves
30 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This week we're offering a peek behind the paywall by airing an episode on the main show that was originally intended as a bonus episode—shared just...
Episode 551: How to Retire to Florence—With Your Granddaughter (with Dreck Baker)
23 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Retiring to Italy—it's a dream for many people. But what about for a single man who has sole custody of his small grandchild? Today's guest, Dreck...
Episode 550: Life Lessons from Japan
16 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Tiffany is fresh off a two-week trip to Japan, a place that to her feels unique in the world. Hear some of her insights on what she discovered about t...
Episode 549: A Documentary about The Bittersweet Life!
09 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
A number of years back, expat podcast Expat Sandwich produced a documentary episode all about... us! As we prepare to launch our 12th season (can you ...
[PATREON PREVIEW] Would You Trapeze?
05 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In her quest for novelty and trying new things, Katy takes to the skies. What is the craziest thing you ever tried? ______ Want to hear more? Be...
Episode 548: Are You an Expat or an Immigrant?
02 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Tiffany moved to Italy as an expat in the fall of 2004—almost exactly two decades ago. Since then, she's married an Italian and started a family, bo...
Episode 547: Traveling the World by Book
26 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Reading books can inspire you to travel, and travel can inspire you to read books. It's what we call a delicious cycle. Today we talk about the books ...
Episode 546: Advice for Would-be Expats
19 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Dreaming of moving abroad but loath to give up the job you love? On this episode from our archives, we discuss the hazards of giving up or interruptin...