The Bittersweet Life

Every country has its own bureaucracy... but some countries are worse than others. Part of living in a new country is learning the hoops you need to jump through to keep your life running smoothly. In this episode from our archives, Tiffany talks about how she has learned to deal with Italian bureaucracy, and how doing so is part of the inevitable expat process. What has she learned? *** The Bitte...

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  ...

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) shou...

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. ------------------------------------- COME TO ROME WITH US: O...

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! ------------------------------------- COME TO ROME WITH US:  Want to join ou...

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 live...

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 Patreo...

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-be...

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 impressi...

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...

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, S...

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...

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...

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, th...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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 jus...

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?  ------------------------------------- COME TO ROME WITH US: Our third annual Bittersweet Life Roman Adventure is all sold out...

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 listen...

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...

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 he...

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 po...

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 som...