The Bittersweet Life

We visit Gaborone, Botswana where expat Sara Sullivan moved after living in Pakistan. We talk about misperceptions of Africa, 'staying-in-touch' strategies, and the challenge of deciding where to live when your spouse has a job offer in one country and you have one in another.    NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET SPONSOR:  Reach thousands of expats and travelers...

We use linguistics and speech pathology to think about learning languages with special guest Lisa Wilcox. Sound boring? Turns out- it is actually really funny.    NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET SPONSOR:  Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the world by sponsoring  The Bittersweet Life.  Write the at  bittersweetlife@mail.com  to get the conversati...

Host Tiffany Parks in Rome reacts to the earthquakes that rocked Italy on August 24, 2016 .    NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET SPONSOR:  Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the world by sponsoring  The Bittersweet Life.  Write the at  bittersweetlife@mail.com  to get the conversation going. JOIN THE CONVERSATION Connect with us on Twitter , Faceboo...

If you cry unexpectedly while looking at art, or reading or watching TV, what do those tears mean? Do they indicated buried longings, fears, or loves? Katy and Tiffany discuss.   NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET SPONSOR:  Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the world by sponsoring  The Bittersweet Life.  Write the at  bittersweetlife@mail.com  to ge...

We delve into the archives to get you some free therapy.    NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET SPONSOR:  Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the world by sponsoring  The Bittersweet Life.  Write the at  bittersweetlife@mail.com  to get the conversation going. JOIN THE CONVERSATION Connect with us on Twitter , Facebook or write us @ bittersweetlife@mai...

By listener request, we replay the very first episode of the show, which happened over 2 years ago. A perfect opportunity to introduce The Bittersweet Life to your friends. (Please do!)    NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET SPONSOR:  Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the world by sponsoring  The Bittersweet Life.  Write the at  bittersweetlife@mail....

Nicole Hardy  sailed the world on a 180 ft. square rigged tall ship. Her fantasy idea was rather horrific in reality. As a single woman who takes serious risks, what does it mean to plan a trip that is nothing like you expected?    NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET SPONSOR:  Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the world by sponsoring  The Bittersweet...

Our hosts say goodbye to their old lives as Tiffany moves out of her Trastevere apartment, and Katy's Seattle home is torn down. They explore life, loss, and the pain and annoyance of moving.    NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET SPONSOR:  Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the world by sponsoring  The Bittersweet Life.  Write the at  bittersweetlife...

We visit the artist movement of cold war Germany, then Berlin after the wall comes down with guest Rob Spillman. Rob is editor and co-founder of Tin House, a literary magazine in the USA, and author of the memoir All Tomorrow's Parties .  Do artists thrive in historically fraught times? What happens when you are a displaced outsider who becomes an insider? Rob Spillman Homepage Tin House   NEVER H...

Reality TV director Scottie Madden 's journey from man to woman took 50 years. She and her wife Marcy join Katy to talk about how their relationship has changed and grown and what it's like to film in wild places.  Scottie Madden's book Getting Back to Me: From Girl to Boy to Woman in Just Fifty Years NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET SPONSOR:  Reach thousands of...

On July 4th (Independence Day in the USA), many immigrants get their citizenship. In their honor, we rebroadcast the day (host) Tiffany Parks finally became a citizen of Italy. (Other host) Katy Sewall was in Rome to record it, and meet Tiffany's new baby, Aurelio.    NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET SPONSOR:  Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the...

Writing while traveling. Many of us do it. Professor Daniel Butterworth teaches us how to do it better. Show correction: Ghirlandaio painted the Santa Maria Novella frescoes Dan refers to, not Brunelleschi.    NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET SPONSOR:  Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the world by sponsoring  The Bittersweet Life.  Write the at ...

How does being an expat affect your politics? Host Tiffany Parks discovers that her politics in Italy are different from her politics in the United States. Do political views remain changed if you move back to your home country?    NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET SPONSOR:  Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the world by sponsoring  The Bittersweet...

Why do you like what you like? Journalist Tom Vanderbilt joins us to explore how our likes and dislikes are formed. His new book is You May Also Like: Taste in an Age of Endless Choice .   NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET SPONSOR:  Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the world by sponsoring  The Bittersweet Life.  Write the at  bittersweetlife@mail....

We share our bucket list goals (and yours!!) as our series on goals concludes with part 3.    NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET SPONSOR:  Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the world by sponsoring  The Bittersweet Life.  Write the at  bittersweetlife@mail.com  to get the conversation going. JOIN THE CONVERSATION Connect with us on Twitter , Facebook...

Learn how to keep yourself safer by studying fine art. Our guest, Amy Herman , has trained police, doctors, military and special operatives to see the world in a richer way in art galleries . We offer you her secrets.   NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET SPONSOR:  Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the world by sponsoring  The Bittersweet Life.  Writ...

Author Jess Walter (National Book Award finalist & winner of the Edgar Allan Poe Award) joins us to talk about his novel Beautiful Ruins . We also talk about writing in a language you don't speak, what it is like to have your writing translated, and how a book forms slowly over 15 years.    NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET SPONSOR:  Reach thousands of expats and...

It feels good to accomplish goals, even tiny, silly ones. Hosts Katy Sewall and Tiffany Parks talk about the goals they've accomplished and those they no longer wish to do. Listen to Goals, Part 1 before this episode.   NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET SPONSOR:  Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the world by sponsoring  The Bittersweet Life.  Writ...

Clare Brown recently moved from London, England to Split, Croatia hoping to explore and write. Instead her life is full of new friends, adventure, and very little quiet time. She joins us with her hilarious and insightful impressions of life as a single woman living abroad for the first time.    NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET SPONSOR:  Reach thousands of expat...

A discussion about "bucket list" wishes turns into all the goals and dreams that will never happen. Not as depressing as it sounds. Or is it? New to the show?    NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET SPONSOR:  Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the world by sponsoring  The Bittersweet Life.  Write the at  bittersweetlife@mail.com  to get the conversatio...

  New York Times best-selling author Hope Jahren , writer of " Lab Girl ," changes how we experience the plants of the world. She also tackles the difficulties of being a female scientist and why us laymen feel intimidated by people who study the natural world.  NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET SPONSOR:  Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the world...

Tiffany and Katy describe the sights of Rome and contemplate Katy's death in this rebroadcast of Episode 24. If you've never heard our series on the five senses, don't miss it. Look for Episodes 21-25.    NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET SPONSOR:  Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the world by sponsoring  The Bittersweet Life.  Write the at  bitte...

Tiffany and Katy walk the early morning streets of Rome in this rebroadcast of Episode 44.    NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET SPONSOR:  Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the world by sponsoring  The Bittersweet Life.  Write the at  bittersweetlife@mail.com  to get the conversation going. JOIN THE CONVERSATION Connect with us on Twitter , Facebook...

Reality always intrudes on fantasy. Is that always a bad thing? Hosts Tiffany Parks and Katy Sewall discuss.    NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET SPONSOR:  Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the world by sponsoring  The Bittersweet Life.  Write the at  bittersweetlife@mail.com  to get the conversation going. JOIN THE CONVERSATION Connect with us on...

How much of life is us trying to fulfill the fantasies of our youth? Hosts Tiffany Parks and Katy Sewall explore this idea.     NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET SPONSOR:  Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the world by sponsoring  The Bittersweet Life.  Write the at  bittersweetlife@mail.com  to get the conversation going. JOIN THE CONVERSATION Con...