The Bittersweet Life

On this extra-mini Bittersweet Moment, Katy and Tiffany take a break from their mid-week mini-episode formula to ask YOU a question: what do you think of the mini-episodes? Do you love them or skip them? If you love them, what do you love most about them? If not, what could we do better? Do you have any ideas for mini-episode topics or formulas? This week we are asking for your feedback so we can...

Do you love to travel but get inordinately stressed out when it comes time to book your reservations? Are you a typically chill person who wakes up in cold sweats because you're afraid the tickets you were looking at have doubled in price—or worse—sold out? Do you find it nearly impossible to decide where and when to travel, and sometimes even how you want to get there? Do you long to take off on...

It takes more than one mini-episode to go behind the scenes at The Bittersweet Life! We're joined again this week by Sara Johnson who turns the tables on Katy to interview her about everything that goes into producing this show every week. Specifically, Katy reveals valuable insight for anyone hoping to start their own podcast one day. From basic advice like what equipment you need, to more probin...

This week we discuss the new strict laws that have recently been signed into law by Rome's mayor, Virginia Raggi. Feel like enjoying a gelato on the Spanish Steps à la Audrey Hepburn in Roman Holiday? Think twice! Want to climb on the back of one of the lion statues in Piazza del Popolo to snap that perfect Instagram-worthy shot? Better not. Tempted to strip off and dive into the Trevi Fountain? O...

On this week's Bittersweet Moment, we offer a peek behind the curtain as Katy's sister Sara—one of our most ardent fans—interviews Katy about everything that goes into the podcast that listeners don't see (or hear). Learn how the name was chosen, how long it takes Katy to edit a single episode, the most challenging episode she ever taped and much more. Bonus: Katy offers some valuable words of adv...

This week, we sit down with a BBC Europe producer Natalie Higgins to discuss the ins and outs of the journalist game, as well as her experiences living abroad in Rome over a decade ago, and her current expat experience in Belgium. Natalie shares her story of starting out as a university student studying languages, how she came about to decide on journalism as a career, and how her year abroad in R...

On this week's Bittersweet Moment, 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. Aurelio also chimes in about his favorite thing about visiting the Tempie...

What are the instantly recognizable symbols that represent your city? And more importantly, what do you think of them? We hash out the whys behind the icons that make our cities (or the cities we travel to) famous. We also ask, do you travel to a city because of the icons there, or are they what make that place feel more familiar once you arrive? Is the purpose of a city symbol, like the Seattle S...

On this week's mini-episode, we delve a little deeper with social historian Hallie Rubenhold, author of The Five: The Untold Lives of the Women Killed by Jack the Ripper . If you haven't listened to the full interview, on Episode 260: THE FIVE , check that out first. Hallie discusses her fascination with the bodies of people from different eras...not their dead bodies, although we are talking abou...

Since Victorian times, people have been obsessed with Jack the Ripper. There are endless volumes full of history about him and the gory deaths of his five victims. What's missing is information about the lives of the women he killed—until now. This week, we sit down with Hallie Rubenhold, social historian and author of the recently published book, The Five: The Untold Lives of the Women Killed by...

On this week's mini-episode, Tiffany shares all her expert tips for visiting the Vatican—and keeping your sanity while you do it. The Vatican Museums are huge, overwhelming, and most of all, extremely crowded. But if you feel that you simply can't leave Rome without seeing this one-of-a-kind place, arm yourself with some strategies that will make your visit much more enjoyable. As a tour guide who...

Do you like to do hard things? Do you tend to challenge yourself… just because? On this episode, Katy and Tiffany talk about deliberately seeking out difficult situations, tasks, and habits, in order to promote personal growth, build inner (and outer) strength, and hone a sense of daring—and hopefully have fun too. Tiffany believes that doing hard things is a muscle that can be trained. If you for...

Ramadan began for millions of Muslims on May 5, 2019. But what exactly is Ramadan? Most people know it entails fasting, contemplation, and prayer, but not much else. To learn a bit more about it, Katy interviews her former colleague, Amina Al-Sadi on this mini-episode for an inside look at celebrating Ramadan in the United States. Hear Amina's tips for getting from sun-up to sun-down without eatin...

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, first as a study-abroad student, then as an English teacher. Tiffany sits down with Hannah to talk about how she was able to integrate into French culture so thoroughly in such a short period of time, how she became fluent in French in record time, and...

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 made up of the actual 28 steps that Christ climbed on his way to his trial, shortly before the crucifixion. Transported to Rome in the early 4th century by St. Helena, the stairs are now part of a monumental complex that also includes the jewel of medi...

This week, therapist and bestselling author Lori Gottlieb joins us to talk about change, loss, self-examination...and when you should really talk to someone. If you've ever wondered what your therapist was thinking, this is a conversation you'll want to hear. Lori and Katy discuss everything from what you should look for in a therapist to what your therapist is listening for—and why it's often not...

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 games, and travel games, but what about games that spark your imagination and fuel your creativity? Katy's longtime friend Robert Fulgham, author of, among many others, All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten , makes a brief appearance on...

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 and Tiffany reminisce about traveling in their youth. Were they "good" travelers? Were they interested in what they were seeing, or were they bored and sulking? At what age did they begin to appreciate what they were seeing? What is it that causes thi...

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 suited to kids, but more importantly, she shares tricks on how to get your little ones to enjoy the places you want to go. Aurelio stops by too, and shares his favorite piazza and palazzo in Rome. Places mentioned in the episode: Explora Children's M...

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 the streets of Manhattan, discussing how better to observe the world around them, and by doing so, make better decisions. Decisions that could save a life, or simply make their day better. They discuss the way our attention has been taken over by our...

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 end of the episode, we wonder what other buildings in the world, if any, could elicit the same universal heartbreak as Notre Dame? We asked and you answered. Listeners nominated buildings and monuments around the world that, were they to be lost, woul...

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 history? We muse on our own reactions to the disaster, and how it took us back to the trauma of tragedies such as 9/11. And that raises another question: can the loss of a building like Notre Dame be compared to the loss of a human life? We also ask: is...

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 San Paolo fuori le Mura in 1823. In telling the story of the San Paolo fire, she takes comfort in the fact that almost every building or monument of any significant age has been rebuilt, at least partially and sometimes extensively, over the centuries....

Amy Herman is an art expert who trains members of law enforcement, intelligence agents, counter-terrorist specialists, and healthcare professionals to enhance their observation skills by learning to look at works of art. Amy is the founder of The Art of Perception , and the author of Visual Intelligence . In this episode, Amy and Katy visit the Whitney Museum in New York, and they discuss how obse...

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 himself doing it? His videos dancing alone and with locals, in front of some of the most recognizable monuments in the world and in some of the most remote places in the world, have garnered over 40 million views since he started back in 2008. In this mid-...