The Bittersweet Life
Episodes
Episode 258: NIECE
20 May 2019
Contributed by Lukas
This week, we're joined by a very special guest, Tiffany's niece Hannah Ritter. At 22, Hannah has lived in France for the better part of two years, fi...
Bittersweet Moment #9: SCALA
16 May 2019
Contributed by Lukas
In this week's mini-episode, Tiffany recounts her visit to the Scala Santa and the Sancta Sanctorum. The so-called Holy Staircase is believed to be ma...
Episode 257: THERAPIST (with Lori Gottlieb)
13 May 2019
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 #8: PLAY
09 May 2019
Contributed by Lukas
On this week's Bittersweet Moment, Katy talks about the joys of play, and specifically, games. We are all familiar with simple childhood games, board ...
Episode 256: YOUTH
05 May 2019
Contributed by Lukas
As a follow-up to last week's Bittersweet Moment mini-episode KIDS, where Tiffany offers tips on traveling to Rome with little ones, this week, Katy a...
Bittersweet Moment #7: KIDS
02 May 2019
Contributed by Lukas
On this week's mini-episode, Tiffany shares her tips on traveling to Rome with kids. She not only gives suggestions about what sites in Rome are most ...
Episode 255 AWARENESS (with Amy Herman)
29 Apr 2019
Contributed by Lukas
In a sequel to Episode 253 PERCEPTION, this week we are joined once again by visual intelligence expert Amy Herman. Katy and Amy take a walk through t...
Bittersweet Moment #6: PLACES
25 Apr 2019
Contributed by Lukas
On Monday's episode, we discussed the tragic fire at Paris' Notre Dame Cathedral. (If you haven't listened to that episode yet, do that now!) At the e...
Episode 254 NOTRE DAME
22 Apr 2019
Contributed by Lukas
This week, Katy and Tiffany discuss the tragedy of the Notre Dame fire. How do you move on after all but losing such an integral monument to human his...
Bittersweet Moment #5: FIRE
18 Apr 2019
Contributed by Lukas
In the aftermath of the devastating fire at Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, Tiffany is reminded of a similar fire that took place at Rome's Basilica Sa...
Episode 253: PERCEPTION (with Amy Herman)
15 Apr 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Amy Herman is an art expert who trains members of law enforcement, intelligence agents, counter-terrorist specialists, and healthcare professionals to...
Bittersweet Moment #4: DANCE
11 Apr 2019
Contributed by Lukas
On this week's mini-episode, Katy interviews Matt Harding—you know, that crazy American guy who danced with people all over the world and taped hims...
Episode 252: CREATIVITY
08 Apr 2019
Contributed by Lukas
What do Ernest Hemingway, Pablo Picasso, Paul Gauguin (and so many other artists) have in common? They all reached the apex of their creative output w...
Bittersweet Moment #3: LANGUAGE
04 Apr 2019
Contributed by Lukas
In this week's Bittersweet Moment mini-episode, we tackle a question from a listener: how do you learn a new language effectively? Tiffany draws on he...
Episode 251: SHOULD
01 Apr 2019
Contributed by Lukas
How many of your life decisions were entirely your own, and how many were influenced by what the people around you wanted, hoped, or expected you to b...
Bittersweet Moment #2: QUESTION
28 Mar 2019
Contributed by Lukas
It's time for our first full Bittersweet Moment! Inspired by Monday's episode, Katy wonders how many people have lived in places they didn't like, and...
Episode 250: SPOUSE (with Beth M. Howard)
25 Mar 2019
Contributed by Lukas
We often chat with expats on The Bittersweet Life, whether they are corporate expats off to a new country every other year, passion expats who follow ...
Bittersweet Moment #1: INTRO
21 Mar 2019
Contributed by Lukas
On occasion of the fifth anniversary of The Bittersweet Life, we're launching Bittersweet Moments, mid-week mini-episodes to bring a little extra (bit...
Episode 249: PLATEAU
18 Mar 2019
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...
Episode 248: START-UP (with Lori-Lee Elliott)
11 Mar 2019
Contributed by Lukas
This week, we chat with Lori-Lee Elliott, many-time expat, world traveler, and techie girlboss. Lori-Lee's first appearance on The Bittersweet Life wa...
Episode 247: HOW-TO
04 Mar 2019
Contributed by Lukas
In this long-awaited epsiode, Tiffany finally reveals how she moved to Rome. It wasn't all a bed of roses (and frankly, it wasn't all legal), but afte...
Episode 246: REGRETS
25 Feb 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Whether due to poor planning, penny pinching, or simply laziness, we've all got regrets when it comes to our past travels. You know what we're talking...
Episode 245: FOOD (with Francesca Montillo)
18 Feb 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Have you ever thumbed through a cookbook only to roll your eyes and wonder, who has the time? And who has all these ingredients laying around? Italian...
Episode 244: JOY (with Sarah McColl)
08 Feb 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Do I deserve to live a bigger life? If you're asking that question, it's a gift to have parent (or friend) who answers- why not? Sarah McColl, author...
Episode 243: SISTERS Part 2
04 Feb 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Katy's sisters, Dana and Sara, join us again this week! They discuss what tethers people have (real or invented) that tie them to the city they are cu...
Episode 242: SISTERS, Part 1
28 Jan 2019
Contributed by Lukas
This week we're joined by two of The Bittersweet Life's most ardent listeners: Katy's own sisters, Dana Zahler and Sara Johnson. The three sisters cha...
Episode 241: DARE
21 Jan 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Our super summer Share-a-thon came to an end a few months ago now, and today is the big day (***fanfare***) that our super-fun, super-secret Truth or ...
Episode 240: ANGELS
14 Jan 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Every so often, just when you find yourself alone and vulnerable in a foreign place and in desperate need of help, an angel comes into your life...a v...
Episode 239: NOTICE (with Amy Herman)
07 Jan 2019
Contributed by Lukas
In a re-airing of one of our most fascinating interviews, Amy Herman joins us to talk about visual intelligence. How can looking at fine art, or rathe...
Episode 238: RESOLVE
31 Dec 2018
Contributed by Lukas
What happens when you dig out the resolutions you made at the beginning of the year just as you are about to make some new ones for the year to come? ...
Episode 237: WHITE
24 Dec 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Merry Christmas from your friends at The Bittersweet Life! This Christmas, we're gifting you with a sweet, sentimental, and surprising piece of radio ...
Episode 236: WHEN?
13 Dec 2018
Contributed by Lukas
When you move abroad to be with a significant other—not because it was your own dream—what do you do when you don't find expat life satisfying? Wh...
Episode 235: GERMAN (with Dana Newman)
10 Dec 2018
Contributed by Lukas
This week, we chat with expat, author, and vlogger Dana Newman, an American living in Germany with a book out next week! Dana moved to Europe back in ...
Episode 234: ADVENT
03 Dec 2018
Contributed by Lukas
It's December and Advent is upon us! With this unofficial kick-off of Christmastime, we discuss the different ways Italians and Americans prepare for ...
Episode 233: BORGIA
26 Nov 2018
Contributed by Lukas
A powerful, unscrupulous man whose two greatest vices are greed and lust. He's close to his family...perhaps too close (particularly his daughter). He...
Episode 232: THANKSGIVING
18 Nov 2018
Contributed by Lukas
It's almost Thanksgiving, and if you're anything like us, you're partly dreading sitting down at that big, diverse table because you know the person s...
Episode 231: ARCHAEOLOGY (with Christy Schirmer)
12 Nov 2018
Contributed by Lukas
This week we are joined by archaeologist and longtime Bittersweet Life listener Christy Schirmer. In her mid-30s, Christy decided to quit her job and ...
Episode 230: EIGHTEEN
05 Nov 2018
Contributed by Lukas
On this week's episode, Katy and Tiffany reminisce about their first experiences leaving home—when they went away to college at age eighteen. Why wa...
Episode 229: HALLOWEEN
29 Oct 2018
Contributed by Lukas
This week, in honor of Halloween, we feature the stories of listeners and friends, whether they be recountings of run-ins with ghosts they themselves ...
Episode 228: GHOSTS
22 Oct 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Join us for a whimsical (and not so whimsical) conversation about ghosts—do you believe in them? Have you ever encountered one? Are you the type of ...
Episode 227: WANDERLUST (with Laura Smith)
15 Oct 2018
Contributed by Lukas
This week, Katy interviews debut author Laura Smith, and the two discuss the definition of wanderlust, why some people spend their lives perennially ...
Episode 226: ISOLATED
08 Oct 2018
Contributed by Lukas
There's nothing like a complete political meltdown in your home country to make you feel utterly alone in your adopted one. Tiffany opens up about her...
Episode 225: LOST
01 Oct 2018
Contributed by Lukas
You've doubtless heard the phrase, "Not all who wander are lost." This week, Katy and Tiffany theorize that many who wander are, indeed, lost. Why is ...
Episode 224: DOLOMITES
24 Sep 2018
Contributed by Lukas
On the first episode of season six, Katy and Tiffany take a trip north (at least in their memories) to the Dolomite mountains in the Italian region of...
Episode 223: ARRIVEDERCI
17 Sep 2018
Contributed by Lukas
In this introspective episode, Katy says goodbye to Rome the night before she flies back to the States. And as she contemplates the end of another cha...
Episode 222: DESTINY
10 Sep 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Are we the masters of our own fate, or merely unwitting pawns in a larger scheme, the irresistible pull of destiny guiding all of our so-called decisi...
Episode 221: LABOR
03 Sep 2018
Contributed by Lukas
In honor of Labor Day, Katy and Tiffany take the week off from their labor of love, The Bittersweet Life podcast. But in this special, super-short epi...
Episode 220: STAYING?
27 Aug 2018
Contributed by Lukas
As Katy nears the end of her time in Rome (this time), Tiffany can't help but ask, will you stay? Or, more precisely, would you stay? Would you stay i...
Episode 219: ABDICATE (with Jackie)
20 Aug 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Moving abroad isn't just for twenty-somethings. Our guest this week proves just that. Jackie was a successful lawyer in her early 40s and living in Ch...
Episode 218: POSTCARDS
13 Aug 2018
Contributed by Lukas
A postcard captures a moment in time—a literal snapshot of a place. But according to Katy, people make the best postcards. If you visit a place ofte...
Episode 217: BILINGUAL (with Kristie Prada)
06 Aug 2018
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...
Episode 216: ORVIETO (with Linda Martinez and Toni De Bella)
30 Jul 2018
Contributed by Lukas
We often talk about expat life in big cities like Rome. But what's it like to be a foreigner in a small village where everyone knows everyone? On this...
Episode 215: SUMMIT
23 Jul 2018
Contributed by Lukas
After the wild week in the news in the US, Katy and Tiffany take a brief break from their recent Rome-based episodes to discuss the events surrounding...
Episode 214: RUDE
16 Jul 2018
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...
Episode 213: IN-LAWS
09 Jul 2018
Contributed by Lukas
The best thing about marrying an Italian? You're automatically part of a big Italian family. The worst thing about marrying an Italian? You're automat...
Episode 212: ETHNICITY (with Estrella Gomez)
02 Jul 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Issues of race and diversity are on everyone's lips and minds in the United States right now. But people in Italy are just starting to have these conv...
Episode 211: SIRENUSE (with Antonio Sersale)
25 Jun 2018
Contributed by Lukas
What happens when you say "no" to your destiny…only to discover that it brings you more joy than you could have imagined? This week, Katy intervie...
Episode 210: CORRESPONDENT (with Michael Maren)
18 Jun 2018
Contributed by Lukas
After a transformative trip to India during college, Michael Maren realized that in order to feel fully alive, he had to go back overseas. He joined t...
Episode 209: REPURPOSE
11 Jun 2018
Contributed by Lukas
This week, we hit the streets of Rome with our recording equipment to search for ancient artifacts or "spoglie" hidden in plain sight. Rome has been i...
Episode 208: DECAY
04 Jun 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Rome is crumbling...just as it has been for centuries. But what does it say about us adopted Romans that we choose to live in a city's whose glory day...
Episode 207: ARTIST (with Samuel Webster)
28 May 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Katy interviews Samuel Webster, versatile artist, Australian expat in a small town in Italy, and host of Fool's Paradise podcast. They discuss what it...
Episode 206: RAIN
21 May 2018
Contributed by Lukas
What does Rome sound like in the rain? Tiffany and Katy take a walk through the soggy streets of Rome, from Trastevere to Campo de' Fiori, capturing t...
Episode 205: ENCOUNTER
14 May 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Thanks to Stackry.com for supporting this program. Shop any US retailer and ship anywhere for less money. Bittersweet Life listeners get 10% off whe...
Episode 204: ZODIAC
07 May 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Thanks to Stackry.com for supporting this program. Shop any US retailer and ship anywhere for less money. Bittersweet Life listeners get 10% off whe...
Episode 203: PRETENSION
30 Apr 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Thanks to Stackry.com for supporting this program. Shop any US retailer and ship anywhere for less money. Bittersweet Life listeners get 10% off whe...
Episode 202: STATESIDE
23 Apr 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Thanks to Stackry.com for supporting this program. Shop any US retailer and ship anywhere for less money. Bittersweet Life listeners get 10% off whe...
Episode 201: NICE (with Steve Scher)
16 Apr 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Traveling alone to Nice, France helped former public radio host, Steve Scher, overcome a long-held hangup from high school. Has traveling helped you s...
Episode 200: LIVE!
09 Apr 2018
Contributed by Lukas
We explore the concept of synchronicity live on stage in Seattle. We also take audience questions as we celebrate the 200th episode of The Bittersweet...
Episode 199: TRADITION
02 Apr 2018
Contributed by Lukas
When it comes to gender roles, are Italians more conservative than other parts of the world? If a Italian marries an expat are they non-traditional? T...
Episode 198: MICRO (with Beth Ann Fennelly)
26 Mar 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Today we learn to write micro-memoirs. These are short stories that really capture the essence of an experience, sometimes in just one sentence. Wheth...
Episode 197: BOOK!
19 Mar 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Tiffany's first book, Midnight is the Piazza, is out! We talk about what it is like to achieve a long-held goal, and how to start writing if you want ...
Episode 196: RETURN
12 Mar 2018
Contributed by Lukas
When you travel, do you always go somewhere new, or do you revisit the same places again and again? What personality factors determine whether you pre...
Episode 195: GUNS
05 Mar 2018
Contributed by Lukas
How does violence in Italy compare to gun violence in the United States? We discuss guns, international gun regulations, and the privilege of living i...
Episode 194: GEMS, Part 2
26 Feb 2018
Contributed by Lukas
If you're planning a trip to Rome with kids, this is the episode for you. Lots of fun, spooky ideas to keep kids and teens entertained in the eternal ...
Episode 193: GEMS, Part 1
19 Feb 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Planning a trip to Rome? Today we explore the lesser known gems of the city. These are amazing places tourists often miss (though they shouldn't). Lis...
Episode 192: PACING
12 Feb 2018
Contributed by Lukas
What determines the pace of your life? Is it the city you live in? How many connections you have? What happens when you live in a country with a slowe...
Episode 191: ADVICE, Part 2
05 Feb 2018
Contributed by Lukas
"How does one choose their path without regrets?" That's one big question circling through listener Darlene's head as she listens to The Bittersweet L...
Episode 190: ADVICE, Part 1
29 Jan 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Dreaming of moving abroad but love your job? We discuss the hazards of giving up your career. Tiffany also gives listener Darlene practical tips to ke...
Episode 189: AESTHETICS
21 Jan 2018
Contributed by Lukas
How important are the decorations around you? Travelers frequently live in environments designed by other people. Some people can work anywhere, but f...
Episode 188: NEW YEAR
01 Jan 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Tiffany and Katy discuss resolutions for the New Year as 2018 kicks off. Tiffany needs your help with hers. Also, host Katy Sewall makes a big announc...
Episode 187: CHRISTMAS
25 Dec 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Christmas traditions can be grounding when you're living in a brand new place. Tiffany and Katy talk about the joys and challenges of being untethered...
Episode 186: DANTE
18 Dec 2017
Contributed by Lukas
The magician Dante joins us with his amazing story of reinvention - from landing in prison to busking for huge crowds in the streets of Europe. As he ...
Episode 185: METOO
11 Dec 2017
Contributed by Lukas
The #MeToo movement has taken over the news in the United States and much of the world. After Hollywood movie producer Harvey Weinstein was outed by t...
Episode 184: DISASTER
04 Dec 2017
Contributed by Lukas
During the Sack of Rome in 1527, thousands of citizens were killed or raped. The city's treasures were pillaged. Beyond the trauma and loss, the sack ...
Episode 183: SABINE
27 Nov 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Do Americans need more positive feedback than the French? French expat Sabine explains the communication issues she and her American husband face. She...
Episode 182: AUTHENTIC
20 Nov 2017
Contributed by Lukas
You would think living in Rome would be fantastic but "Rome squashes some of my joy" co-host Tiffany Parks says in this episode. Over in New Orleans, ...
Episode 181: EXISTENTIAL (with Anne Gisleson)
13 Nov 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Does life have any meaning? What is the purpose of living? If you are asking these questions, you might be experiencing an existential crisis. To tack...
Episode 180: HURRICANE
06 Nov 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Hurricane Nate missed New Orleans in October, but being in it's path brought about both fear and cultural revelation for new resident - our host Katy ...
Episode 179: DEATH (with Caitlin Doughty)
29 Oct 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Mortician Caitlin Doughty joins us to talk about death practices around the world. Discover where you'd like to die and what countries deal with morta...
Episode 178: DAD
23 Oct 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Sad days after Tiffany's father dies. She struggles with the guilt many expats feel about being far away and not seeing him as much as she might have ...
Episode 177: NOLA
16 Oct 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Visit New Orleans with us! Host Katy moves into her new (temporary) home and discovers crime, a muggy heat and a great dance partner. NEVER HEARD ...
Episode 176: JORGE (with Jorge Moreno)
08 Oct 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Jorge Moreno, beloved bartender from the reality show Bachelor in Paradise, gives us a behind-the-scenes look at the show and explains how expats can ...
Episode 175: AIR LIFT (with Sara Sullivan)
02 Oct 2017
Contributed by Lukas
When expat Sara Sullivan's baby got sick in Botswana, a medical transfer by private jet was required. What was that like? And what is it like to be ab...
Episode 174: RALLY (with Scott Gurian)
25 Sep 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Mongol Rally participants drive from London to Mongolia at their own pace and their own peril. Radio Producer Scott Gurian survived the 11,000 mile jo...
Episode 173: GLAMOUR
18 Sep 2017
Contributed by Lukas
A short memoir by Beth Ann Fennelly inspires a discussion on what makes something glamorous rather than trashy. Heating & Cooling by Beth Ann Fenne...
Episode 172: SURVEY
10 Sep 2017
Contributed by Lukas
What is the best and worst place to live according to expats the world over? Host Tiffany Parks tries to guess as Katy goes over the results of a rece...
Episode 171: CLIMATE
04 Sep 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Does weather dictate where people live or do people follow opportunities? We reflect on the power of weather after Hurricane Harvey floods the US city...
Episode 170: ECLIPSE
28 Aug 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Sometimes a big adventure comes along and you say no. How do you know you're saying no for the right reason? Hosts Katy and Tiffany use the US total e...
Episode 169: REFUGEE, Part 2 (with Jennifer Rumbach)
21 Aug 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Jennifer Rumbach works with refugees all over the world, specializing in communicating with the LGBTI community. After a hectic year zig-zagging the w...
Episode 168: TINY
14 Aug 2017
Contributed by Lukas
What do a baby eel and a favorite cafe have in common? Next to nothing, unless you're traveling and looking for a sense of place and belonging. We exp...