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Bittersweet all the things we don't want to observe
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Life doesn't have a script. At least, it doesn't have to. Hosts Katy Sewall and Tiffany Parks explore the challenges and joys of moving abroad and moving home. Whether you’re living overseas, or not — or not yet — join us weekly for unadulterated conversation. Get to know Rome. Laugh at our embarrassments and insights. Most of all, imagine the possibilities for your own life (and meet some famous authors along the way).
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The Bittersweet Chronicles focuses on major topics to discuss and understand the different intersections, bitter and sweet parts of life.
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The Iron Gall examines a number of obstacles creative people encounter in our modern world. In each episode we will talk with one person, and find the key to what allows them to navigate today's literary and art landscape with confidence, humility and self-reliance – often finding some well-deserved success.
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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 you are considering fleeing the country if your side doesn't win, consider this first: The grass is not always greener on the other side of the fence. Countries like Italy, with its year-round sunshi…
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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. Woerner and our friends at Audioimagination77 Productions present a spine-tingling story in the tradition of the classic audio drama of the golden age of radio. Don't be surprised if the story sounds a …
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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 list list on this week's episode. If you want to order any of these wonderful books, you can find links here... The dark hell-inspired Japanese story Tiffany recently read. An understated but neverthele…
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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 city when filming on location. What major mistake was made in the filming of Sleepless in Seattle, and did they actually drive a car down the Spanish Steps in the latest Mission Impossible film? What anno…
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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 effort to better understand her spending habits, save a bit of money, and pare down the superfluous matter in her home, she attempts to spend nothing but the essential cost of living for the entire mon…
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...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 notices some particular habits she has when it comes to how she gets ready for a long trip. On this episode, she compares notes with Tiffany to see if her pre-trip habits are weird or normal. Do you h…
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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 with our Patreon supporters. This conversation is a lighthearted examination of what people say incorrectly—and why it bugs us so much. We are hard on ourselves as well (Tiffany finally tells Katy the …
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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 Baker, is not your typical retiree expat. A retired police officer, Dreck had dreamed of settling in Italy for many years, but rather than seeing his grandbaby as a hindrance to this plan, he was even mo…
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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 the daily life and culture of this fascinating country, and which aspects of it she has been inspired to incoporate into her own daily life. And what about the Japanese tea? Is this English Breakfast-l…
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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 believe it?), we've decided to air the episode in its entirety here on our show. According to Expat Sandwich's show notes for the episode, "Veteran public radio producer Katy Sewall and writer Tiffany…
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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? Become part of the Bittersweet Life community by supporting just on Patreon! 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 …
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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, bought a home in Italy, and become an Italian citizen, so... is it time to change that label from expat to immigrant? In response to a listener email, Tiffany and Katy chat about why Tiffany can't seem to…
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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 (and other types of art) that have inspired not only particular trips, but the things that we have sought out while on that trip, or even things we have made a point to see in our own cities. But this…
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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 interrupting your career in order to persue your expat dreams. Tiffany also gives listener Darlene practical tips to keep in mind when moving to Italy. Future expats, this is the show for you! Thanks to textile …
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You did it! You've landed that amazing job, or maybe you're successfully living abroad in the country you've always dreamed of, or you've published your book, bought your dream home, won a major award in your industry (you fill in the blank). The question is: can you chalk it all up to hard work? Or was there some luck involved? And how much of wha…
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Tiffany has an addiction she's decided to break, but she doesn't want to talk about it on the main show. She talks about it on this exclusive bonus episode. Want to hear the whole episode? Become part of the Bittersweet Life community by supporting just on Patreon! For as little as $5 per month—less than the price of a coffee in some places—you wil…
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What’s the difference between a goal and a quest? On this episode pulled from our archives (it's August afterall), Tiffany and Katy discuss what goes in to embarking on a quest, and why you would want to go on one. Tiffany (who famously loves a challenge) sets down her own definition of a quest, as well as why she believes the fun is not in the com…
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Who does leisure better, Italy or America? The answer is probably obvious, but you may be surprised to learn that Italians are emulating more and more the infamous American work ethic. Is the Italian dolce far niente instict enough to overcome the trend of over-productivity? And what can Americans learn from Italians about how to slow down and enjo…
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On this exclusive bonus episode, we put you and Tiffany, our queen of trivia, to the test. How many questions about July can you answer correctly? Want to hear more? Become part of the Bittersweet Life community by supporting just on Patreon! For as little as $5 per month—less than the price of a coffee in some places—you will have access to multip…
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From all accounts, the ancient Romans knew how to do leisure—the priviledged classes at least. According to historians, they didn't see leisure time as something they got to enjoy once their obligations were completed, but rather, as the ideal state in which to live, when they had control over all their actions. Can we learn something from this? Ar…
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What is it like to divide your life between two countries? It sounds like the best of both worlds, but is it really? Today we are joined by someone who does just that, Laurel Attanasio, founder of Laurel Ann, LLC a boutique travel company specializing in wellness adventures. Laurel divides her time between the US and Europe, mostly Italy but occasi…
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Tiffany's had a rough week. And to make matters worse, some of the people in her life have been driving her absolutely crazy. On this exclusive bonus episode, she vents her frustration. Want to hear more? Become part of the Bittersweet Life community by supporting just on Patreon! For as little as $5 per month—less than the price of a coffee in som…
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"When you’re a woman of a certain age, you are only promised that everything will get worse. But what if everything you’ve been told is a lie?" This is the leading question of Glynnis MacNicol's dazzling new memoir, I'm Mostly Here to Enjoy Myself. The acclaimed author joins us this week for a personal, intimate and delightful interview that explor…
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We all have our beloved rituals, the things we do that center us, that comfort us, that make us feel that all is right with the world. It can be anything from the way we prepare and enjoy our favorite morning beverage, to walking our dog the same route every day, to watching a favorite show before bed. But what happens when we get so attached to th…
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One of the hardest things about expat life is when your friends inevitably leave. For some expats, this happens like clockwork every single year (usually in June), causing heartache, disappointment, and a sense of continually having to begin again with a fresh set of expat friends. An article on The Culture Blend (that was mentioned to us by one of…
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