762 episodes
The Bittersweet Life Expat, Repat, Travel, Rome, Seattle, Books, Art, Italy, Wonder
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- Society & Culture
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4.7 • 289 Ratings
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Life doesn't have a script. At least, it doesn't have to. Hosts Katy Sewall and Tiffany Parks explore the challenges and joys of moving abroad and moving home. Whether you’re living overseas, or not — or not yet — join us weekly for unadulterated conversation. Get to know Rome. Laugh at our embarrassments and insights. Most of all, imagine the possibilities for your own life (and meet some famous authors along the way).
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[PATREON PREVIEW] How Well Do You Know July?
On this exclusive bonus episode, we put you and Tiffany, our queen of trivia, to the test. How many questions about July can you answer correctly?
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 part of our new chat community, you'll have access to Patreon-only content in addition to bonus episodes, and you'll be invited to join us for regular live meet-ups.
But most importantly, you'll be doing your part to help keep this show alive—an independent podcast with no corporate support. (You'll also help keep it virtually ad-free!)
Check our our Patreon page for all the details, and consider joining us at the $5 level or above. We are eternally grateful!
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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 prizes in return for your generosity! Visit our Patreon site to find out more.
TIP YOUR PODCASTER: Say thanks with a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website.) The show needs your support to continue.
START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up.
SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps.
WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us.
JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here. You can also connect to us through Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Tag #thebittersweetlife with your expat story for a chance to be featured!
NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1: OUTSET
BOOK: Want to read Tiffany's book, Midnight in the Piazza? Learn more here or order on Amazon.
TOUR ROME: If you're traveling to Rome, don't miss the chance to tour the city with Tiffany as your guide!
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Episode 542: Leisure Time in Ancient Rome
From all accounts, the ancient Romans knew how to do leisure—the priviledged classes at least.
According to historians, they didn't see leisure time as something they got to enjoy once their obligations were completed, but rather, as the ideal state in which to live, when they had control over all their actions.
Can we learn something from this? Are we looking at leisure the wrong way?
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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 prizes in return for your generosity! Visit our Patreon site to find out more.
TIP YOUR PODCASTER: Say thanks with a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website.) The show needs your support to continue.
START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up.
SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps.
WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us.
JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here. You can also connect to us through Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Tag #thebittersweetlife with your expat story for a chance to be featured!
NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1: OUTSET
BOOK: Want to read Tiffany's book, Midnight in the Piazza? Learn more here or order on Amazon.
TOUR ROME: If you're traveling to Rome, don't miss the chance to tour the city with Tiffany as your guide!
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Episode 541: Living Life Between Two Countries (with Laurel Attanasio)
What is it like to divide your life between two countries? It sounds like the best of both worlds, but is it really?
Today we are joined by someone who does just that, Laurel Attanasio, founder of Laurel Ann, LLC a boutique travel company specializing in wellness adventures. Laurel divides her time between the US and Europe, mostly Italy but occasionally Spain and Portugal—or even further afield. She often spends as many as five months of the year abroad, leading yoga retreats and adventure travel—nice work if you can get it! But what are the downsides?
Some are obvious—missing her bed, her friends, her husband—while some are more surprising (you never take for granted being able to throw a load of laundry in the washer when you live out of a suitcase for months at a time!).
Laurel also discusses how her personality changes depending on which country she's living and working in, in both subtle and dramatic ways. If you've ever dreamed about living with one foot in a different country and culture, don't miss this episode.
Find Laurel on Instagram or at her website.
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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 prizes in return for your generosity! Visit our Patreon site to find out more.
TIP YOUR PODCASTER: Say thanks with a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website.) The show needs your support to continue.
START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up.
SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps.
WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us.
JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here. You can also connect to us through Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Tag #thebittersweetlife with your expat story for a chance to be featured!
NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1: OUTSET
BOOK: Want to read Tiffany's book, Midnight in the Piazza? Learn more here or order on Amazon.
TOUR ROME: If you're traveling to Rome, don't miss the chance to tour the city with Tiffany as your guide!
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[PATREON PREVIEW] A Rough Week
Tiffany's had a rough week. And to make matters worse, some of the people in her life have been driving her absolutely crazy. On this exclusive bonus episode, she vents her frustration.
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 part of our new chat community, you'll have access to Patreon-only content in addition to bonus episodes, and you'll be invited to join us for regular live meet-ups.
But most importantly, you'll be doing your part to help keep this show alive—an independent podcast with no corporate support. (You'll also help keep it virtually ad-free!)
Check our our Patreon page for all the details, and consider joining us at the $5 level or above. We are eternally grateful!
-------------------------------------
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 prizes in return for your generosity! Visit our Patreon site to find out more.
TIP YOUR PODCASTER: Say thanks with a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website.) The show needs your support to continue.
START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up.
SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps.
WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us.
JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here. You can also connect to us through Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Tag #thebittersweetlife with your expat story for a chance to be featured!
NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1: OUTSET
BOOK: Want to read Tiffany's book, Midnight in the Piazza? Learn more here or order on Amazon.
TOUR ROME: If you're traveling to Rome, don't miss the chance to tour the city with Tiffany as your guide!
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Episode 540: I'm Mostly Here to Enjoy Myself (with Glynnis MacNicol)
"When you’re a woman of a certain age, you are only promised that everything will get worse. But what if everything you’ve been told is a lie?"
This is the leading question of Glynnis MacNicol's dazzling new memoir, I'm Mostly Here to Enjoy Myself. The acclaimed author joins us this week for a personal, intimate and delightful interview that explores her unabashed pursuit of pleasure—and why she was inspired to write a book about it.
After spending 16 excruciating months isolated and alone in her tiny Manhattan apartment during the pandemic, 46-year-old MacNicol did something that some would consider daring but to her, felt like necessity: she fled to Paris. Her memoir recounts the "decadent, joyful, unexpected journey into one woman’s pursuit of radical enjoyment."
"The pursuit of enjoyment is a political act," the book declares, "both a right and a responsibility. Enjoying yourself—as you are—is not something the world tells you is possible, but it is."
You can find Glynnis MacNicol on Instagram or oat her website.
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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 prizes in return for your generosity! Visit our Patreon site to find out more.
TIP YOUR PODCASTER: Say thanks with a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website.) The show needs your support to continue.
START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up.
SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps.
WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us.
JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here. You can also connect to us through Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Tag #thebittersweetlife with your expat story for a chance to be featured!
NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1: OUTSET
BOOK: Want to read Tiffany's book, Midnight in the Piazza? Learn more here or order on Amazon.
TOUR ROME: If you're traveling to Rome, don't miss the chance to tour the city with Tiffany as your guide! -
Episode 539: The Dullness and Comfort of Rituals
We all have our beloved rituals, the things we do that center us, that comfort us, that make us feel that all is right with the world. It can be anything from the way we prepare and enjoy our favorite morning beverage, to walking our dog the same route every day, to watching a favorite show before bed.
But what happens when we get so attached to these rituals that we can't do without them? Does this rigidity and inflexibiltiy not limit us? Is comfort overrated?
To travel is, almost by definition, to get out of one's comfort zone. So perhaps we should aim to leave those comfortable rituals at home when we travel, and instead seek out new ways to do things. We might just discover something new to love.
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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 prizes in return for your generosity! Visit our Patreon site to find out more.
TIP YOUR PODCASTER: Say thanks with a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website.) The show needs your support to continue.
START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up.
SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps.
WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us.
JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here. You can also connect to us through Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Tag #thebittersweetlife with your expat story for a chance to be featured!
NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1: OUTSET
BOOK: Want to read Tiffany's book, Midnight in the Piazza? Learn more here or order on Amazon.
TOUR ROME: If you're traveling to Rome, don't miss the chance to tour the city with Tiffany as your guide!
Customer Reviews
New listener but glad I’ve found you!
I’m so excited to have found this podcast. Initially I started listening as I was looking to find a podcast on ideas/what to do/what not to do in becoming an expat in Italy. I’ve listened to like 20 episodes in the last few days and love not only hearing the good, the bad, but the in between as well. You ladies have done a great job making it feel like it isn’t just informative but also entertaining. I like that you keep it fairly short but in that short amount of time a lot of info comes through. I even appreciate hearing not just about experiences in Italy but other cities/countries. And I love when your humor comes through!
Living the Life of Dreams!
I’ve always been fascinated with exploring other places and cultures outside the US. I didn’t get the chance to travel until after raising kids and sending them off to see the world. I finally took off to Europe in my 60’s, and with the knowledge, experience & tips I’ve gained from listening to this podcast, I am traveling like I always dreamed I would.
The Bittersweet Life podcast, with Tiffany in Rome, and Katy in Seattle, explores all the bittersweet of travel, life abroad, LIFE experiences/changes/growth, with guests, like: expats, adventurists, writers & contributing listeners worldwide - sharing the bitter & the sweet of realizing dreams & living our lives with purpose and passion 🍫
Tiffany & Katy, who’ve been friends since 11 years old, are well-versed interviewers and great storytellers, with deep familiarity of their subjects and each other, as a listener I resonate easily and feel as if they are speaking directly to my longings.
There is so much content to dig into from their archives of 10 years, plus they respond to listeners questions, that provide many examples of how to approach your wildest dreams.
I recommend that if you’re tempted to taste the Bittersweet Life podcast, take a bite and if you want more, start from the beginning with Katy and Tiffany together in Rome. It’s a beautiful trip, the bitter and the sweet! 🇮🇪
Best of Both Known Worlds
I have been listening since the very beginning and years later I am still entertained and enlightened by Katy and Tiffany. I live in Seattle and knew of Katy as the producer of one of my favorite local morning news programs. When I first saw her doing an interview “live”; I was completely impressed by her. She is competent, confident, and sincerely enthusiastic (I am older, so I am impressed by such things). The Bittersweet Life is as enjoyable as it is because we have the privilege of listening-in on the conversations of two intelligent, thoughtful and extraordinary young women. It’s true. Most importantly we get to hear about life in my beloved Italy and for a Seattleite the local twist and connection. What could be better? Niente.
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