The Bittersweet Life

Tiffany is on "Day One!" of a new undertaking. It is something that ALL OF US should probably be doing. Find out what it is, and answer this question: Do you agree that you need to do this too?

This is just a sneak peek of a much longer bonus episode, available exclusively to our generous Patreon supporters.

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 acce...

As Katy prepares to leave Rome once again, she and Tiffany muse on the 2025 Jubilee or Holy Year that has taken over Rome this year.

How does Holy Year 2025 compare to past Jubilees? And does the change of pope halfway through the year make a difference?

And what about merch? How odd is it that a Jubilee (an institution that has been occurring every quarter century in Rome for over 500 years) should have a mascot and official merch? Does that cheapen it or make it more current? And whose job is it to design the...

Mortician Caitlin Doughty—of Ask a Mortitian fame—joins us on this episode from our archive to talk about death practices around the world. Discover where you'd like to die and what countries deal with mortality best.

Find Caitlin on Instagram, at her website, The Order of the Good Death, or on her You Tube Channel, Ask a Mortician.

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COME TO ROME WITH US: Our third annual Bittersweet Life Roman Adventure is all sold out for 2025! If you'd like to join us in 2026, and be part of an intimate group of listeners on a...

Mini episode drop!

Have you ever seen a ghost? Not just sensed one's presence, but actually seen one with your own eyes?

Tiffany's husband Claudio has.

In honor of Halloween, today we hear his story, a story that took place one frigid night in a tiny hilltop town near Rome.

Happy Halloween and happy ghost hunting!

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COME TO ROME WITH US: Want to join our next Bittersweet Life Roman Adventure in October 2026? You'll be part of an intimate...

So it turns out, 600 episodes is a lot!

Katy and Tiffany celebrate the work and dedication it has taken to reach this impressive milestone along with our guests on our third annual Bittersweet Life Roman Adventure, a trip to Rome we take with a small number of our listeners every October.

Hear us share our thoughts about this big big number, as well as other milestones we have achieved in our lives.

Our guests also share what milestones mean to them, what their greatest ones have been so far, and how they help...

On the previous members-only bonus episode, Katy revealed some big news. Dare we say, HUGE news!

Well, we're back with an update. And that huge news has quickly escalated into absolutely ENORMOUS NEWS.

But this is just a sneak peek. So if you'd like to hear the full bonus episode, available exclusively to our Patreon supporters, and find out what all this exciting news is about, join us on Patreon.

Become part of the Bittersweet Life community for as little as $5 per month—less than the price of a coffee in some places—you...

In the wake of our 3rd annual Bittersweet Life Roman Adventure, we're taking a much deserved break to prepare for a new season of the original, entertaining, and thought-provoking episodes that our listeners have come to expect from us for over a decade.

If you can't get through the week without your Bittersweet Life fix, not to worry! Join us over on Patreon. We put out two brand-new, never-before-heard bonus episodes on our Patreon every single month—and we've been doing so for years now.

Dor as little as $5 per month—less than the price of a...

Writer and scientist Hope Jahren, author of the New York Times best-seller Lab Girl, joins us on this episode from our archives to challenge how we experience the plants of the world. She also tackles the difficulties of being a female scientist and why us laymen can often feel intimidated by people who study the natural world.

***The Bittersweet Life podcast has been on the air for an impressive 10+ years! In order to help newer listeners discover some of our earlier episodes, every Friday we are now airing an episode from our vast archives! Enjoy!***

...

Another mini-episode, another amazing little-known Roman site that Tiffany explores on our listeners' behalf.

Did you know there is an escape route—hidden inside a medieval wall built in the 9th century—that has been used by popes to flee attacks on the Vatican? The Passetto del Borgo is an 800-meter raised tunnel that stretches from the Apostolic Palace in the Vatican all the way to the safety of Castel Sant'Angleo. It's a place steeped in history and mystery alike.

Come along with us as Tiffany shares details about this fascinating place, that has only rece...

What's it like to have children in a foreign country, only to uproot your family and move to a whole new country?

Today's guest tells us all about it on this eye-opening interview.

Longtime listener of The Bittersweet Life and international teacher Sara Gladding sits down with us to tell us her fascinating story. After living for a short time in France and moving back to the States for a period, Sara and her husband decide on a whim to move to Casablanca, Morocco to teach in an international school there. This is where their...

Travelers and expats often encounter animals. From the humble, common pigeon to a monkey or a great white shark. On this episode from our archives, we share animal stories from all over the world. Special guest stars: Andrew Blechman, author of Pigeons: The Fascinating Saga of the World's Most Revered and Reviled Bird and Clark and Evalea Beck, pigeon rescuers.

***The Bittersweet Life podcast has been on the air for an impressive 10+ years! In order to help newer listeners discover some of our earlier episodes, every Friday we are now airing an episode from our vast archives...

Katy has news—big news! And this bonus episode is the first place she's sharing it.

This is just a sneak peek of a much longer bonus episode, available exclusively to our generous Patreon supporters.

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 single month.

You'll hear conversations that would never take place on the main show, you'll be par...

If you've ever spent any significant amount of time in Italy or around native Italians, you will soon have discovered: Italians are loud.

A recent trip to the peaceful Austrian Alps, in which she was confronted with lots and lots of Italians on vacation in a place outisde of Italy, brought home this reality to Tiffany more than ever before. Turns out, when Italians are in a non-Italian context, they seem even louder.

Is there a genetic reason Italians talk more loudly, or is it simply because they are used to living in a loud...

On this fun episode from our archives, we sit down with three American sisters living in Orvieto, Italy. Giulia (age 13), Paloma (age 11), and Viola (age 8) have been expats their whole lives. How do they view the United States from afar? Do they feel like they fit in with the local kids their age?

This interview was taped over a decade ago! What are Giulia, Paloma, and Viola up to now? Should we do a follow-up episode?

***The Bittersweet Life podcast has been on the air for an impressive 10+ years! In order to help newer listeners...

Palazzo Farnese is one of the most magnificent palaces in Rome—and until recently, one of the most difficult to visit.

But that has changed and Tiffany took the opportunity to visit this incredible site while her mom was in town recently. In this mini-episode, she talks about the palace's history, the scandalous way the Farnese family rose to prestige in the Renaissance, and the glorious art that you can admire inside.

Aurelio also pops in to share his thoughts on visiting this marvelous palace.

Click here to book a visit to Palazzo Fa...

We all think we know what wil make your brain sharper, faster, and more agile. But what does the neuroscience actually say on the subject?

There's no one better to answer that question that Therese Huston, cognitive scientist, and author of Sharp: 14 Simple Ways to Improve Your Life with Brain Science. And today we are lucky to sit down with Therese and get into the nitty-gritty of brain science and what actually helps—small changes that in most cases can be accomplished in just 5 minutes a day.

According to Huston, "Your brain has a favorite be...

Comedian Marsha De Salvatore brings humor to a discussion on living abroad with a serious blood disease in this interview from our archives. We also touch on socialized health care systems, modern day dating, comedy and the differences between American and Italian women.

***The Bittersweet Life podcast has been on the air for an impressive 10+ years! In order to help newer listeners discover some of our earlier episodes, every Friday we are now airing an episode from our vast archives! Enjoy!***

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COME TO ROME WITH US: Our third annual Bittersweet Life Roman...

Sometimes we get tiny questions from listeners. They are fun topics to talk about but not large enough for an entire episode. On our latest bonus episode, we tackle several of these little quandaries.

This is just a sneak peek of a much longer bonus episode, available exclusively to our generous Patreon supporters.

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 two bonus episodes ever...

Our interview last week with brand-new expat Jennie Spohr brought up lots of thoughts and ideas on our part, so we've decided to weigh in together on this follow-up episode.

What struck us most was the idea of running AWAY from somewhere as opposed to running TO somewhere?

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COME TO ROME WITH US: Our third annual Bittersweet Life Roman Adventure is all sold out for 2025! If you'd like to join us in 2026, and be part of an intimate group of listeners on a magical and unforgettable journey to Rome, discovering the city...

A common stereotype is that expats are maladjusted and running away from real life.

But is it really true?

In this episode from our archives, Katy Sewall sits down with psychiatrist, author and former expat John Wynn to discuss this interesting topic. Later, Tiffany shares her own story.

***The Bittersweet Life podcast has been on the air for an impressive 11+ years! In order to help newer listeners discover some of our earlier episodes, every Friday we are now airing an episode from our vast archives! Enjoy!***

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COME TO...

After a seeminly endless summer (nearly 3 and a half months!), Aurelio is finally back to school this week!

In this informative mini-episode, Tiffany lays out all the ways Italian school—and elementary school in particular—is different from American school, from the early introduction of cursive to summer homework, to the ubiquitous grembuile (school smock).

If you've ever wondered what school is like across the pond, listen in and find out!

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COME TO ROME WITH US: Our third annual Bittersweet Life Roman Adventure is all sold out for 2025! If you'd like...

There are many reasons a family might choose to move abroad. In the case of Americans, that reason is generally motivated by a desire for adventure, change, new scenery, unfamiliar culture, a slower pace of living, or just plain fun.

But not always. Today we sit down with friend of the show and past guest Jennie Spohr, a Seattleite historical fiction writer who chose to pack up her life, leave her home country, and move to Ireland with her family for political reasons.

And there's a plot twist...

What could be harder than...

Life is full of major transitions. When Katy moved to Rome in 2013, then back to Seattle less than a year later, the transition was hard to say the least. In this episode from our archives, Katy sits down with psychiatrist and former expat John Wynn to explore why change is so hard. He also shares his insight on how to handle transitions in a healthy and productive way.

***The Bittersweet Life podcast has been on the air for an impressive 10+ years! In order to help newer listeners discover some of our earlier episodes, every Friday we are...

Katy recently attended her high school reunion. In this bonus episode—available only to our Patreon supporters—she breaks down all the unexpected drama from the night.

This just a sneak peak at one of our hundreds of bonus episodes. 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 two bonus episodes every single month.

You'll hear conversations that would never take place on the main sho...

We've all heard it. We've all said it. But what does "when in Rome" really mean?

Katy reveals the somewhat surprising origin of this ubiquitous catch-phrase, which has become the title of more Rome-based rom-coms and expat memoirs than we could count.

Tiffany and Katy have different opinions of the meaning of this cliché expression, and we end up down a rabbit hole discussing the correct way to use it. (And if Tiffany lives by it, since she does, in fact, live in Rome.)

She also reveals some of the other most common s...

Twenty years ago, on August 29th 2005, Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans. The Category 5 storm and its aftermath devastated the city, and the consequences still last today. Listen in as Katy takes you on a journey of remembrance to mark the occasion. You'll hear some of the New Orleans voices she has never forgotten in the intervening decades.

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COME TO ROME WITH US: For the third year in a row, we are hosting an intimate group of listeners for a magical and unforgettable week in Rome, this October 2025! Discover the city with us as your...

When Tiffany's husband Claudio takes a photo with the karate instructor of his youth, Tiffany realizes that by being an expat, it can sometimes feel like her life has no continuity. She can't revisit old teachers and places. She never unexpectedly stumbles upon people and objects from her childhood, and maintaining relationships longterm takes extra effort. Is this just one of the side effects of moving abroad indefinitely?

How important is a sense of continuity when it comes to life? Hosts Katy Sewall and Tiffany Parks explore the idea on this episode from our archives.

...

Have you ever received a sign to do something? Did you listen to it? Do signs even exist?

What about bad and good omens? Are they real or a product of our imagination?

Katy and Tiffany share their experiences and those of our listeners on this episode from our archives.

The Bittersweet Life podcast has been on the air for an impressive 10+ years! This August, we are taking a well-deserved rest, and in lieu of new episodes, we are airing episodes from our vast archives every Monday...

On last week's archive episode, we talked about fantasy, and the benefits and pitfalls of focusing on and working toward your personal fantasies.

But somehow, no matter how hard we try, reality always seems to intrude upon fantasy. Is that always a bad thing? Our thoughts might surprise you. Listen in to this week's episode from our archives where we discuss hard reality.

The Bittersweet Life podcast has been on the air for an impressive 11+ years! This August, we are taking a well-deserved rest, and in lieu of new episodes, we are airing episodes from...

How much of life is us trying to fulfill the fantasies of our youth? And is there anything inherently wrong with weaving fantasies and attempting to fulfill them? Is reality overrated?

We explore this idea on this episode from our archives.

The Bittersweet Life podcast has been on the air for an impressive 10+ years! This August, we are taking a well-deserved rest, and in lieu of new episodes, we are airing episodes from our vast archives every monday! Season 13 (!!!) starts with all-new episodes Monday September 8th. See you then!

***Katy's sister...

It began with a simple question: what's the most impractical thing you have ever traveled with?

Little did we know it would turn into one of our favorite (and perhaps silliest episodes) as Tiffany reminisces about her earliest trips abroad in the 1990s, when bringing two hat boxes and three full-sized suitcases on a solo trip to Europe was actually doable.

***The Bittersweet Life podcast has been on the air for an impressive 10+ years! In order to help newer listeners discover some of our earlier episodes, every Friday we are now airing an episode from...

Why does (seemingly) every single person in Italy go on vacation during the month of August?

If you've ever visited Italy in the month of August, you'll know that big cities and small towns alike empty out, particularly during the two middle weeks of August, and it can be a challenge to find a decent restaurant or shop open, or more locals than you can shake a stick at.

Why is that? Would you believe it's a tradition that dates back two thousand years?

Don't miss this week's mini-episode, which also happens to...

What percentage of Italian men cheat? Is it really 100% like a family friend of Tiffany's smugly insisted when she first moved to Italy? Or is that number closer to the rest of the world, only it's more acknowledged over here?

Did Tiffany take a terrible risk marrying an Italian, or is cultural background irrelevant to fidelity?

And what about Italian women? Do they cheat at the same (alleged) rate of their male counterparts?

An email from a listener who has had more than her fair share of...

Katy's father Dale and sister Sara join us on this episode from our archives to look back on their past family travels to Southeast Asia, specifically Vietnam. Katy, who was not a travel-lover as a younger person, asks her dad if he invited her to join him on his frequent trips to Vietnam in order to expand her world through travel. His answer surprises her.

Dale Sewall explains why he's been drawn to Vietnam for more than half his life, and he describes the electrifying reaction he had the first time he touched down in the country.<...

It's a common security question: What is the name of your first pet?

Tiffany and Katy reminisce about the pets that they adopted and loved throughout their childhood and what was special about them.

Aurelio (Tiffany's son), would like his first pet now, please, and he really wants a dog. Should he get one?

This is just a snippet of our most recent bonus episode, available exclusively to our supporters on Patreon. Want to hear more?

Become part of the Bittersweet Life community by supporting just on Patreon! For as little...

Can you remember the first time you were truly frightened—by a movie, a ghost story, or even a real event that you witnessed?

On this episode, Katy and Tiffany delve back into their earliest memories to come up with the first instances of true fear that they experienced—and most of the time they can laugh at them now.

We also wonder: can one instance of being horrified in childhood create lasting trauma throughout your life? And will we ever be able to understand why so many seemingly innocuous things frighten children so much?

On this nostalgic episode from our archives, Tiffany regales Katy with the details of a recent trip to the cradle of the Renaissance, including specific stops she made to research her latest book, a YA historical fiction thriller set in Florence in 1600.

Also, we talk about how memory-provoking it can be to travel to a place that you haven't been in over a decade, but that you have a few extremely strong impressions of from past trips. Tiffany takes a jaunt down memory lane to her very first trip to Florence when she was 14, when she explored...

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 forced to answer this question, but today's guest was recently asked this question by her husband, as they prepare and plan for the end of her life, after a devastating termincal cancer diagnosis.

In this episode, Katy is joined by her sisters Sara and Dana. Dana talks about the surprising realization she came to when confronted with this practical question, as her priorities shifted away from adventure...

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 different from anywhere we've ever been before?

In this episode from our archives, Katy recounts her magical and sometimes maddening week in Bali. She lays out the ways the island delighted and surprised her, the aspects that felt wholly different from what she is used to, and discusses with Tiffany how they compare with the cities of Rome and Seattle.

***The Bittersweet Life podcast has been on the air...

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.

To fill the time (and keep his brain from atrophying), Tiffany has created a daily list of ten things her son Aurelio must do. Can you guess what's on there?

This is jsut a preview of a bonus episode available exclusively to our Patreon supporters. Want to hear more?

Become part of the Bittersweet Life community by supporting just on Patreon! For as little as $5 per...