The Bittersweet Life

Bittersweet Moment #206: The Beauty of Being Told a Story

11 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

There's nothing quite like being told a story. Whether you're a child whose parent or babysitter is telling you a fairytale to help you fall asleep, a...

Episode 479: Diary of an Au Pair (with Isidora Salcedo)

08 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

What's it like to move in with a family you've never met, in a foreign city you've never been to, to take care of children that are not your own? Turn...

Bittersweet Moment #205: Rome's Truly Hidden Masterpieces

04 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

We've all heard the term "hidden gems" when it comes to going off the beaten track in popular tourist locations. Everyone wants to find that truly sec...

Episode 478: A Big Roman Announcement

01 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Today we are making our biggest (and most exciting) announcement ever.  We are organizing an exclusive trip to Rome this October for just TEN of our ...

Bittersweet Moment #204: A Bittersweet Boat Funeral

27 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Today we bring you a story of passion, perseverence, and loss—an adventure on the high seas (really!). Listener Jordan sent us an extraordinary lett...

Episode 477: Dive into the Listener Mailbag

24 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

One of the things we pride ourselves on at The Bittersweet Podcast is our relationship with our listeners. We always welcome listener emails (and even...

Bittersweet Moment #203: Italian Words Americans Get Wrong

20 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Think you know what "bimbo" means? What about "latte"? Turns out these Italian words are used all wrong by the majority of English speakers.  On Mond...

Episode 476: Italy Bans the English Language

17 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

A proposed law in Italy would ban the use English (or other foreign) words by public officials and in all government communications and documents, wit...

Bittersweet Moment #202: Moving Internationally (with Josh Sims of Sanelo)

13 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

One of the trickiest parts of moving abroad (especially if it's for the long haul), is of course: how do I get all my stuff over there? Today we're jo...

Episode 475: Traveling Italy from Top to Bottom (with Jess Walter)

10 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Jess Walter is the author of ten books, including New York Times #1 bestseller Beautiful Ruins, which takes place on the Italian Riviera. The latest i...

Bittersweet Moment #201: How to Have Rome's Museums All to Yourself

06 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

To say Rome is busy this season (and will only get busier as we move into summer) is an understatement. The city is on course to have its busiest tour...

Episode 474: When Life Changes in an Instant... For the Better!

03 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Last week we mused about those times when life changes in and the blink of an eye... for the worse. We've all been there: you crash your car, trip and...

Bittersweet Moment #200: Losing JJ

30 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Today Katy says goodbye to an old friend, someone she has known for over three decades. She got the news in a text message that her friend had passed ...

Episode 473: When Life Changes in an Instant... For the Worse

27 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

We all know how quick life can take a turn, when an accident or split-second decision throws your entire world into tilt, and everything changes in an...

Bittersweet Moment #199: Fantastical Thinking

23 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

March, for Katy, is the most melancholy and miserable month of the year, and we talk about why on Monday's full episode. She mentions a particular Mar...

Episode 472: Melancholy March

20 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

It's spring at last, but early spring (and the month of March in particular) can mean different things to different people. For Katy in Seattle it's a...

Bittersweet Moment #198: Discomfort Recollected in Tranquility

16 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

"An adventure is simply physical and emotional discomfort recollected in tranquility." —Tim Cahill Do you agree? In this mini-episode, we share a sn...

Episode 471: A Stranger in a Strange Land

13 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Today we have the pleasure of hosting an episode of one of our favorite travel podcasts, Far From Home, hosted by Scott Gurian. In this episode, Jamie...

Bittersweet Moment #197: Furbo vs. Fesso

09 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

They say that in Italy, you're either a furbo or a fesso—a wise guy or a chump. It's an unhappy reality that, in many situations in Italy, if you're...

Episode 470: In Praise of Italian Disorganization

06 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Italians love to complain about how disorganized everything is in Italy, but deep down, do they actually like it? A chance conversation Tiffany had la...

Bittersweet Moment: #196: The Secrets of Podcasting

02 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

What does it take to produce a professional-quality podcast? As in, what does it really take? As you may know, Katy is a seasoned radio and audio prof...

Episode 469: Can You Move to Italy without Speaking Italian?

27 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Is it possible to move to Italy without speaking Italian? Can you find a job in Italy without speaking Italian? Can you make friends? This week we tac...

Bittersweet Moment #195: What Else to See in Florence

23 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

You've seen the David, you know all about the Duomo, and the Uffizi is just to crowded... What else is there to see in Florence? As it turns out, a lo...

Episode 468: Florence, memories, and A Room with a View

20 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Today The Bittersweet Life pops off to Florence, or at least, Tiffany regales Katy with the details of her recent trip to the cradle of the Renaissanc...

Bittersweet Moment #194: Observing while Overlooked

16 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

After a discussion about how living in a foreign country can sometimes make you feel like you're completely overlooked and even invisible, Katy shares...

Episode 467: The Overlooked Outsider

13 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Today we start the episode with a clip of comedy writer David Sedaris talking about his experiences as an expat, someone who, as he says, "doesn't cou...

Bittersweet Moment #193: Stop Taking My Picture!

09 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

On Monday we talked about the risks of missing out on important moments because we are too busy photographing them to actually live them, and in parti...

Episode 466: Turn Your Camera Around

06 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Once upon a time, we took pictures in order to remember our travels—now we travel in order to get good pictures... so we can share on social media. ...

Bittersweet Moment #192: Gifting Someone their Past

02 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The art of letter-writing is not lost! Not if you, like Katy, choose to keep it alive. On this mini-episode, we hear from Katy's mom, who describes an...

Episode 465: You Will Never See it Again

30 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

There's something poignant about knowing that you will never see a particular painting again, even if you don't even really like that painting. Today,...

Bittersweet Moment #191: The Horror and Misery of a Brand-new Expat

26 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Today we time-travel back to 2004 when Tiffany was a newly arrived expat in Rome. Believe it or not, those first few weeks and months were not exactly...

Episode 464: Diving into the Past through Journals and Letters

23 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Are you brave enough? Why is it that reading one of your old journals can be so terrifying—or often so cringe-worthy, depending on how far back it g...

Bittersweet Moment #190: Journaling with Seagulls, Sharks, and Desmond Tutu

19 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Would ever read excerpts of your personal journal live on air? That's what Katy's doing on this mini-episode. She cracks opens some of her old journal...

Episode 463: What Do I Do with All those Journals?

16 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

A few weeks we did an episode about downsizing, inspired by a voice message sent in by a listener.  We both love the idea of downsizing and the topi...

Bittersweet Moment #189: Baptized by the Pope

12 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Every year in January, the pope baptizes a group of lucky babies—the offspring of his employees born in the previous six months—and he does it in ...

Episode 462: Promises Kept and Promises Broken

09 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

It's our first new full episode of 2023, so of course we're here to share our New Year's Resolutions with you! We also listen back to last year's reso...

Bittersweet Moment #188: Aurelio's New Year's Resolutions

05 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

What happens when kids make New Year's Resolutions? Find out on today's mini-episode when we're joined by Aurelio to hear if he has set any resolution...

Episode 461: What Did We Promise to Do Last Year?

02 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

It's that time of year again! Ready or not, it's time to listen back at our New Year's Resolutions from last year. Most people don't even consider the...

Bittersweet Moment #187: Holiday Time Travel to 2013

29 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In honor of our Christmas week break, we bring you an episode from way, way back in time. Holidays was taped all the way back in December 2013, althou...

Episode 460: A Radio Play for Christmas – A Gift (with Matthew P. Woerner)

26 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In the spirit of Christmas, we've decided to take the week off (shocking, we know!) so in lieu of a new episode this week, we are re-airing on of our ...

Bittersweet Moment #186: A Holiday Greeting from Katy and Tiffany

22 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from your friends at the Bittersweet Life! Enjoy this festive greeting from your devoted podcast hosts! -----------...

Episode 459: Underestimated

19 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Who says you can only excel at one thing? Lots of people it turns out. As Katy is focusing more of her time and effort on her writing career, certain ...

Bittersweet Moment #185: World Cup Fever with Aurelio

15 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

What is it about little Italian boys that made them adore calcio (aka soccer, if you're in America), (aka football, if you're anywhere else) so much? ...

Episode 458: Downsizing

12 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Do you feel the need to cull your belongings, either because you're planning a big move, moving to a smaller space, or just feel you have too much stu...

Bittersweet Moment #184: Get Writing!

08 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Is writing one of the things that you are hoping to do more of in the new year? Are you a writer who feels blocked? Or, regardless of your preferred c...

Episode 457: Longing and Feasting

05 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

When Tiffany described her struggles and misadventures to recreate a traditional Thanksgiving meal in her adopted country (listen to that mini-episode...

Bittersweet Moment #183: The Hazards of an Expat Thanksgiving

01 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Against all odds (including being a self-described unenthusiastic cook), Tiffany managed to pull off a full Thanksgiving meal this year, all by hersel...

Episode 456: Autumn This or That?

28 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Autumn isn't everyone's favorite season... but it should be.  For no other reason than because we're in the middle of the best season of the year, to...

Bittersweet Moment #182: And the Winner Is...

24 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

This autumn we announced our best book giveaway ever: a chance to win a brand-new copy of Jane Austen's best-loved novel Pride and Prejudice in the st...

Episode 455: Why Is the Media Obsessed with Italy? (with Coral Sisk)

20 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Are you tired of watching every one you know go to Italy? The writer of a recent Eater article was, and she penned a viral complaint about it for the ...

Bittersweet Moment #181: Throwing Your Hat in the Ring

17 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Katy recently threw her hat in the ring, and ended up on a stage in Richmond, Virginia, vying for a $10,000 podcast pilot contract. We listen in on th...

Episode 454: Trying New Things, Opera Edition

14 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

When you decide to try something new, you might as well go all the way. That's what Katy was thinking when she bought opera tickets for the first time...

Bittersweet Moment #180: Where in the World Should I Move?

10 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

If the current political situation in America or Britain or wherever you happen to live is not your cup of tea, you can always move abroad (easier sai...

Episode 453: A Matter of Belonging

07 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

What does it mean to belong—to a place, a family, a profession, a community? They say that belonging is a universal need, but if that's true, why do...

Bittersweet Moment #179: Ghostly and Romantic Notions

03 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

What's it like to really live with a ghost, and why do so many people want to these days? This mini-episode was inspired by a recent article in the Ne...

Episode 452: Ghostly Tales with the Hosts of Homespun Haints

31 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Everyone has one—a ghost story, that is. At least that's what our guests on this episode claim. And their podcast sets out to prove it. Homespun Hai...

Bittersweet Moment #178: What Makes a Moment Romantic?

27 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On Monday's episode, our guest Monique Le described a simple but memorable moment—just after arriving in Seattle as an immigrant from Vietnam —as ...

Episode 451: A Romantic Immigration (with Monique Le)

24 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Monique Le fled Vietnam when she was 16 years old. After eight months in a refugee camp, she finally landed in the United States. Thirty years later, ...

Bittersweet Moment #177: Where to Begin if You're New to the Show

20 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

When new listeners find our show, they often ask themselves (or us), where do I begin? And it's understandable: with an archive of over 450 episodes a...

Episode 450 [LIVE]: Fright Night

17 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Just in time for Halloween, we share grisly stories about the scariest, ickiest, and most unpleasant nights we ever spent on a trip—in a hotel, apar...

Bittersweet Moment #176: Voting in Italy

13 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On the heels of the big parliamentary elections in Italy last month, and the upcoming 2022 midterm elections in the states, Tiffany talks about what i...

Episode 449: I Was Here

10 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On a recent Bittersweet Moment, Tiffany remembered accidently smearing a bit of lipstick on the doorframe of one of the buildings she lived in her fir...

Bittersweet Moment #175: If You Could Do Anything, Would You Go to Stunt School?

06 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On Monday's episode we asked the question, where would you live if you could live anywhere? Today we think about what would you do if you could do any...

Episode 448: If You Could Live Anywhere (with Melody Warnick)

03 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

It used to be that we moved to (and stayed in) whatever city we got a job in—whether we liked living there or not. Luckily, thanks to the rise in re...

Bittersweet Moment #174: The Challenging First Weeks of Expat Life

29 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On the heels of Tiffany's 18th anniversary of moving to Rome, she remenisces about the miserable living situations she found herself in those very fir...

Episode 447: Eighteen Years in Rome!

26 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Tiffany has officially lived in Rome longer than she has lived anywhere else! As she realizes this milestone, she and Katy reflect on what has changed...

Bittersweet Moment #173: The Fantastical Neighborhood of Coppedè

22 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

We all know what Rome is supposed to look like: towering ruins, baroque majesty, cobblestones, orange buildings, churches everywhere you look. But Rom...

Episode 446: Why Do Anything for Ten Years?

19 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

As we kick of our tenth season, it got us wondering: why do we do anything for ten years? What keeps us going? How do we keep it fun? Whether it's a m...

Bittersweet Moment #172: Into the Woods

15 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The mountains are calling and I must go! Despite having lived in Seattle the vast majority of her life, Katy is not much of an outdoorsy type. Still, ...

Episode 445: Are Americans Over-sensitive?

12 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

We kick of a brand new season today (Season 10, can you believe it?), and as exciting as that is, at the same time, our unforgettable Summer in Rome s...

Bittersweet Moment #171: Italy vs. America, According to Aurelio

08 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

You've all heard at least half a dozen times Tiffany's impressions on the differences (both great and small) between the US and Italy. But on this min...

Episode 444 [Summer in Rome]: The Limits of Time and Goodbye Roma

05 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Saying goodbye is always bittersweet... especially when you're leaving not just a good friend, but also a beloved city. Today is the final chapter in ...

Bittersweet Moment #170: Left, Right, Surprise

01 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

What more unexpected magic in your life? Try playing "Left, Right, Surprise," a game invented by author Robert Fulghum which appears in his book Third...

Episode 443 [Summer in Rome]: The Unexpected Magic of Italy

29 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Is there anywhere else on earth that offers as much sheer beauty as Italy? (We'd wager there aren't.) But in addition to Italy's undeniable beauty, th...

Bittersweet Moment #169: Airline Travel and American Adventure with Aurelio

25 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Tiffany and her family are back in Italy after their summer vacation in the US. On this mini-episode, Tiffany and Aurelio talk about their trip, speci...

Episode 442 [Summer in Rome]: The Glorious Gardens of Rome

22 Aug 2022

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...

Bittersweet Moment #168: Moving to Rome Because of the Pandemic (with Kate Wheeler)

18 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

During the long lonely months of Covid lockdown and beyond, Seattlite cartoonist Kate Wheeler dreamed of moving to Rome. This winter, she made that dr...

Episode 441 [Summer in Rome]: The Oldest Cafe in Rome

15 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Where did Lord Byron and Percy Shelley come to scribble down their verses? Where did Bizet and Berlioz go to discuss their work? Where could Casanova ...

Bittersweet Moment #167: Actually Not Italian

11 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Accordion music... red and white checkered table clothes... spaghetti and meatballs... All wonderful things but... actually, they are NOT Italian! On ...

Episode 440 [Summer in Rome]: Where Are All the Accordions?

08 Aug 2022

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 ...

Bittersweet Moment #166: Exploring Villa Aurora with Princess Rita

04 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Following our exclusive interview with Princess Rita Boncompagni Ludovisi, we explore the spectacular and art-filled Rome in a private tour, led by th...

Episode 439 [Summer in Rome]: Princess Rita and the Fight over Villa Aurora

01 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW with Princess Rita Boncompagni Ludovisi, the elusive American princess opens up about her relationship with the late Prin...

Bittersweet Moment #165: Italian Summer Reads

28 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

If you are dreaming of an Italian summer, find it within the pages of a book. Tiffany shares her favorite books that take place (at least partly) in I...

Episode 438 [Summer in Rome]: The Hazards of a European Road Trip

25 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Ah, the freedom of the roadtrip. Go anywhere, anytime, at your own pace. No limits but the open road... *record scratch* ...unless you are roadtrippin...

Bittersweet Moment #164: Covid, Keats, and the Italian Air

21 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

"I was in Italy at Lake Como when I learned I had Covid." So begins an original piece by our own Katy Sewall, which recounts her health adventure gett...

Episode 437 [Summer in Rome]: Rome's Best Restaurants, Gelato, and More

18 Jul 2022

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 ...

Bittersweet Moment #163: Lesser-known Fountains of Rome

14 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Rome's fountains are nothing short of inspiring—as we discovered on Monday's episode that features excerpts from Ottorino Respighi's symphonic tone ...

Episode 436 [Summer in Rome]: The Fountains of Rome

11 Jul 2022

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 (ispiration fo...

Bittersweet Moment #162: A European Gap Year... And What Comes After (with Suzanne Morrison)

07 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Looking back on her eventful gap year, our childhood friend Suzanne (whom me mention often on this show) talks about what prompted her to put off coll...

Episode 435 [Summer in Rome]: When Expat Dreams Come True (with Darlene Sullivan)

04 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

What about if you dream of moving abroad—but love your life and your community in your home town? This was the dilemma of longtime listener Darlene,...

BittersweetMoment #161: How to Survive an Italian Heat Wave

30 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

It's hot in Rome right now, and all over Italy. Unbearably hot. Tourists and locals alike are dropping like flies. On this mini-episode, Tiffany share...

Episode 434 [Summer in Rome]: A Meditation on Aging

27 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

When your co-hosts stumble upon Tiffany's old apartment on Via Garibaldi, where she spent several memorable years between her late 20s and early 30s, ...

Bittersweet Moment #160: The Joy of Being in a New Place

23 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

As Katy wanders through her rental aparment in Rome, she revels in the quiet joy of simply waking up in a new place (especially after so much time sti...

Episode 433: [Summer in Rome] St. Francis Slept Here

20 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

You may know that St. Francis of Assisi traveled to Rome in the early 13th century, but do you know where he stayed? Did you know that you can vist th...

Bittersweet Moment #159: How to Avoid Getting Scammed in Italy

16 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

When traveling in Italy, how do you know when you are getting your money's worth and when you are getting scammed? Last week, Tiffany shared tips gath...

Episode 432 [Summer in Rome]: Rome Through All the Senses

13 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Katy finally tests negative for Covid and these two long-separated friends are reunited at last! Katy and Tiffany grab a spot on the steps of the foun...

Bittersweet Moment #158: How to Avoid Getting Robbed in Italy

09 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

You've finally arrived in Italy for your dream vacation and all you want to do is dive head-first into pasta, gelato, art, history, and beauty but... ...

Episode 431 [Summer in Rome]: Katy Arrives!... with Covid

06 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

After more than two years of staying close to home during the pandemic, being as careful to avoid infection as one could possibly be, with no internat...

Bittersweet Moment #157: For the Love of Luggage

01 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

As we prepare to launch our "Summer in Rome" series, Katy muses on her favorite suitcase, a piece of luggage that has seen her though nearly every tri...

Episode 430: Does Language Shape Thinking?

30 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Does the language that we speak influence the way that our thoughts work? An article in the New York Times by Guy Deutcher, Does Your Language Shape H...