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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 PAST] Coronavirus Hits: Italy Locks Down, Part 1
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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 ago? This month, we'll be airing four episodes from our archives, one every Friday, during that momentous, uncertain, and historic time. In this episode, which originally aired on March 16th 2020, It…
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Bittersweet Moment #219: Beyond the Mouth of Truth: Exploring Santa Maria in Cosmedin
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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 snap an iconic photo. But what most visitors fail to do is to take the time to visit the incredible church that lies just beyond this monument of dubious importance, Santa Maria in Cosmedin. Today, Tiff…
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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 happened. She saw the white smoke pouring out of the Sistine Chapel chimney, she heard those famous words "Habemus Papam!" and she, along with the other thousands of people that had by that time gathered i…
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[THE BITTERSWEET PAST] The Science Behind Language Learning (with Lisa Wilcox)
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On this eye-opening interview with special guest Lisa Wilcox, taken from our archives, we explore the science of language learning through linguistics and speech pathology. Sound boring? Turns out, it is actually really funny. And you might just discover a new angle from which to tackle your language-learning goals. ***The Bittersweet Life podcast …
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[PATREON PREVIEW] Stupid Scars and Cool Diseases
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On this bonus episode, available exclusively to our Patreon supporters, random questions like "What is your dumbest scar?" are answered by us with a great amount of laughter. This small excerpt is in our regular feed, but if you want to hear the entire episode, become part of the Bittersweet Life community by supporting us on Patreon! For as little…
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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 United States? Is Italian healthcare really as disorganized as it can sometimes seem? And is European socialized medicine really as wonderful and stress-free as it might seem from across the pond? Also: …
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[THE BITTERSWEET PAST] The Unexpected Trauma of Moving, Part 2
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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 country? Katy and Tiffany use a listener email to kick off this episode from our archives. If you like this topic, don't miss Part 1 of this episode! ***The Bittersweet Life podcast has been on the a…
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Bittersweet Moment #218: The Tempietto of Bramante
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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 gems: the Tempietto of Bramante. Find out what makes this minuscule “temple” so utterly sublime, which ancient temple it was inspired by, and which domes around the world have been inspired by it. Aurel…
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Episode 572: A Crazy Student Falls in Love with Italian (with Melissa Muldoon)
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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 into studying the Italian language. She was so crazy about Italian in fact, that she dubbed herself the "Studentessa Matta" (crazy student) and started blogging about her Italian-learning journey... in …
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[THE BITTERSWEET PAST] The Unexpected Trauma of Moving, Part 1
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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 Roman outskirts for the first time in over a decade as an expat, and Katy's beloved Seattle home is torn down. On this surprisingly vulnerable episode, we explore life, loss, and the pain and annoyanc…
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[PATREON PREVIEW] Aurelio Answers Your Questions
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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 "third co-host" who answers our Patreon supporters' burning questions! Find out where he'd rather live, the US or Italy, which language he prefers to speak, and what it's like, as an American, having to …
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Episode 571: Why Women Love Italy (with Susan Van Allen)
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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 particular appeal to women. In addition to being author of the book, 100 Places in Italy Every Woman Should Go, Van Allen also leads women-only tours of Italy, and shares her insights on the feminine allure I…
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[THE BITTERSWEET PAST] How Traveling Makes You Rude
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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 into a room in an Italian home that has been freshly mopped and been given the evil eye by the lady of the house? (Tiffany has.) Part of living in a foreign culture is learning (often the hard way) tha…
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Bittersweet Moment #217: The Owl House of Villa Torlonia
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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 House! Swiss cabin meets medieval hamlet meets art nouveau glass? As crazy as it sounds, this unlikely mash-up is not an abomination, but rather one of the most charming, yet little visited, museums in R…
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Episode 570: An Irish-American Story (with Edward Burns)
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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 in for a conversation about storytelling, memory, and the transition from screen to page. Acclaimed filmmaker and actor Edward Burns steps into the world of fiction with his debut novel, A Kid from M…
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[THE BITTERSWEET PAST] The Repurposing of Rome
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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 been inhabited without interruption for over three thousand of years. A past like that cannot but leave its mark on a city. And if you keep your eyes open, the vestiges of Rome’s ancient past can be …
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[PATREON PREVIEW] A Lover of Legos and Tiny Cute Things
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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 Patreon supporters on the life and times of Aurelio, how he's growing, and what he loves lately. Want to hear more? Become part of the Bittersweet Life community by supporting just on Patreon! For as lit…
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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 never-cruisers. But what is travel for if not to park your biases and open your mind a little? Is it possible that a never-cruiser could actually (gasp!) enjoy a cruise? On this episode, Katy describ…
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[THE BITTERSWEET PAST] Raising a Bilingual Family
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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 (or more) languages, and the benefits you will pass on to your child are significant. But how do you go about it? On this episode from our archives, we sit down with British mum Kristie Prada, author an…
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Bittersweet Moment #216: The Route of the Seven Churches
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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 Jubilee? Find out on this all-new mini-episode! Plus, learn some fun facts about Rome's seven most important churches! To find out more about Rome's Jubilee, don't miss our previous mini-episode, Bitters…
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Episode 568: The Benefits and Dangers of Being Stubborn
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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 interview with Darlene Sullivan, now she's not so sure. Katy and Tiffany discuss their takeaways from the previous episode, and Tiffany shares a story about the time being stubborn definitely did not be…
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[THE BITTERSWEET PAST] Hitting an Expat Plateau
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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 the rapid learning and expanding period of being a new expat inevitably slows down. After a little over a year living on the idyllic Italian island of Ischia (by way of New York, London, and Rome), Giov…
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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 how they are affecting some of Tiffany's closest family members. 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…
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Episode 567: What if Moving Abroad Isn't Great? (with Darlene Sullivan)
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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 happy. Could it be that you made a mistake in moving abroad? Or maybe you're just not in the right town. Longtime listener Darlene Sullivan joins us this week to talk about what happens when expat re…
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[THE BITTERSWEET PAST] Living Life in a Foreign Language
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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 archives of The Bittersweet Life, Tiffany reflects on 15 years of living abroad and how it has transformed the way she communicates—even in her first language. We dive into the surprising cognitive an…
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