The Bittersweet Life

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 goes. Last week we talked about the dilemma of what to do with the piles and piles of old journals many people have. (Make sure you listen to that episode first!) Our listeners had lots of thoughts on this topic, and they wrote in to tell us their opini...

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 journals (including a diary from when she was 11) and reads some of the most interesting snippits. From bird- and duck-watching as a wee girl (yes, she's been going out to see what the birds are doing for a very long time), to an early mention of her "frien...

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 topic sparked a passionate conversations, but it got us thinking: what do we do with our journals? If you are an avid, life-long journal writer, you will find yourself with a growing stack of journals, that might even surpass your book collection when you...

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 the most famous chapel in the world, the legendary Sistine Chapel. Back in 2016, our own little Aurelio was one of those fortunate kiddos. Tiffany recalls the details of that special day, what it was like to be a part of a papal ceremony, the elusive art...

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 resolutions and fess up on whether we managed to accomplish them or not!  ------------------------------------- ADVERTISE WITH US: Reach expats, future expats, and travelers all over the world. Send us an email to get the conversation started. BECOME A P...

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 resolutions this year—or if he even knows what resolutions are. But what it all boils down to really (for kids as well as adults) is this: what do I want to do more of this year? And don't miss Monday's episode when Katy and Tiffany reveal whether or not we ke...

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 their resolutions past January or so, but we are masochists and we go back and listen every year to see how we did. Listen in with us, and don't miss next Monday's episode when we will make our resolutions for 2023! (We never learn apparently.) --------...

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, although it aired a few months later. Back then, the Bittersweet Life podcast was in its earliest infancy (this is just the 3rd ever episode!), Katy was a brand-new expat celebrating her first Christmas abroad, and Aurelio hadn't even been dreamed of yet....

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 favorite original radio plays of recent years, A Gift , by friend of the show, Matthew P. Woerner. In the flavor of Its a Wonderful Life , this original radio play is about a mysterious, magical shop where the customer might just find what they long...

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from your friends at the Bittersweet Life! Enjoy this festive greeting from your devoted podcast hosts! ------------------------------------- ADVERTISE WITH US: Reach expats, future expats, and travelers all over the world. Send us an email to get the conversation started. BECOME A PATRON: Pledge your monthly support of The Bittersweet Life and receive awesome pr...

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 people who know her exclusively as a long-time radio professional just can't get their heads around the idea that she might be able to do something else, and do it to the same level of excellence. Why do so many people feel the need to pigeon-hole ot...

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? It must be something they are born with because we certainly didn't instill it in him, and yet adore calcio he most certainly does. On this week's episode we chat with our resident calcio expert, none other than Aurelio, about why he loves the sport...

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 stuff? Downsizing is something that all would-be expats will eventually face—as well as anyone who yearns for a less cluttered and simpler life—so when we received a voice memo from long-time listener Mike on this very topic, we had a lot to say about i...

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 creative medium, do you feel like you're in a bit of a rut? If any of these is the case for you, listen to this week's mini-episode. Katy shares some of the exercises that she uses in her own writing group, from writing prompts to writing sprints, fla...

When Tiffany described her struggles and misadventures to recreate a traditional Thanksgiving meal in her adopted country (listen to that mini-episode here if you haven't already), Katy had lots of questions. In this episode, they dissect what it is that makes it so hard, practically and emotionally, to recreate traditional holidays in a country that doesn't celebrate them. On a deeper level, they...

Against all odds (including being a self-described unenthusiastic cook), Tiffany managed to pull off a full Thanksgiving meal this year, all by herself! And it was waaaaay more work than she expected! On this week's mini-episode, she describes the challanges of finding distinctly non-Italian ingredients for this all-American meal, the confusion of guests who don't "get" Thanksgiving, and her deep...

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, today we put aside the "serious" topics to play a little game. This or That, autumn edition. Play along with us and hear us at our most unscripted and spontaneous, a state we usually reserve for bonus episodes. ------------------------------------- ADVE...

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 stunning Penguin Clothbound Classics edition . On this mini-episode, we put all the names of the giveaway participants into a hat (literally, Katy uses her grandfather's silk tophat for such occasions!) and find out the winner! If you participated in t...

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 popular online foodie publication, with the specific complaint that the media turns too much of its focus on Italy—particularly when it comes to food programming—so tourists think it's the "only" place to go. The comment section was wild, with most o...

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 the contest of a lifetime. You'll get to hear her live pitch and all about her amazing podcast idea that wowwed the judges and the audience, as well as her on-the-spot answers to the judges' questions. What do you think... did she win? You'll have to l...

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 ever, and that the opera was by Wagner. Tiffany (who has a bit more experience with opera) was, understandably, concerned. Will Katy adore it? Will she detest it? Will Seattle Opera's new production of Tristan und Isolde turn Katy into an opera-love...

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 said than done, of course)! On this mini-episode, Tiffany lays out the "best" and "worst" (according to several studies and surveys) countries and cities to live in as an expat, as well as the Italian cities with the highest quality of life (if you insi...

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 expats willingly leave home,  family, friends, and job to move to a foreign country where they often know no one? Why do expats chose to live in a place where—culturally, at the very least—they don't belong at all? Today we dig into this thought-provo...

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 New York Times that suggests some interesting reasons why ghosts are more popular than ever. And in response to last week's mini-episode , we hear from a listener who experienced an utterly romantic moment in Venice several years ago. ***Don't miss th...

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 Haints is a hilarious yet serious look at all things ghostly. Their episodes include both their own personal experiences with the other-worldly, as well as stories of their many guests. Becky Kilimnik and Diana Doty join us this week to talk about their c...