Rephonic
Artwork for The Bittersweet Life
Rome
Travel
New Year's Resolutions
Bernini
Roman Crypt
Borromini
Santa Maria Dell'orazione E Morte
Singapore
Books
Post-Pandemic Socialization
Vatican Museum
Outdoor Activities
Switzerland
Social Media
Kaveh Akbar
Expat Life
Henry James
Creativity
Communication Changes
Road Trips

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 ... more

PublishesDailyEpisodes962Founded12 years ago
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Artwork for The Bittersweet Life

Latest Episodes

On this out-of-the-ordinary mini-episode, Katy digs into some old schoolwork from her childhood. That leads to the question: what should we do with tangible memories from our far-away past, such as old term papers, school presentations, awards, show ... more

After last week's horror story from Tiffany about her out-and-out war with her upstairs neighbors over her piano playing, we decided to follow up with a more optimistic episode.

Katy has had numerous experiences living in the same apartment buildin... more

In this two-part episode from our archives, Italian expat and cooking expert, Francesca Montillo, joins us for an in-depth interview which inspires us to cook and eat with others daily. She also explains what it is like to grow up in small-town Italy... more

This special bonus episode was SUCH fun to create. We hope you laugh along with us as we answer some ridiculous and interesting questions.

This is just a sneak peek of a much longer bonus episode that drops today, available exclusively to our gener... more

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Recent Guests

Francesca Montello
Italian expat, teacher and owner of Lazy Italian Culinary Adventures
Lazy Italian Culinary Adventures
Episode: The Bittersweet Past: How to Cook like an Italian (with Francesca Montillo)
Felix Lee Lerma
Psychic medium who has been practicing for 18 years
Felix Lee Lerma Psychic Medium
Episode: The Bittersweet Past: When in Doubt, Ask a Psychic Medium
Dana Zahler
Guest sharing a personal travel illness story
Episode: Episode 619: Parasite (with Dana Zahler)
Sheri Salata
Oprah Winfrey's former executive producer, co-president of Harpo Studios and OWN Network, author
The Pillar Life / Sheri Salata
Episode: Bittersweet Past: The Beauty of No (with Sheri Salata and Nancy Hala)
Nancy Hala
Co-host of The Sheri and Nancy Show, author
The Pillar Life / The Sheri and Nancy Show
Episode: Bittersweet Past: The Beauty of No (with Sheri Salata and Nancy Hala)
Jennifer Dasal
Curator of modern and contemporary art and host of the ArtCurious podcast
ArtCurious
Episode: The Bittersweet Past: Are You Curious about Art? (with Jennifer Dasal)
Asia Dawn Simonelli
Writer, coach, speaker, world traveler, and relationship coach
Episode: The Bittersweet Past: From Heartbreak to Purpose (with Asia Dawn SImonelli)
Beth Ann Fennelly
Author of The Irish Goodbye, a collection of micro memoirs. Poet laureate of Mississippi from 2016 to 2021.
Episode: Episode 614: When You Move Abroad and the Locals Don't Like You (with Beth Ann Fennely)
Riley Morton
Freelance documentary producer and cinematographer
Endless Earth
Episode: The Bittersweet Past: The Art of Documenting Travel (with Riley Morton)

Hosts

Katy Sewall
Host with long-running involvement in the show focusing on travel, culture, and personal narratives about life in Rome and Seattle.
Tiffany Parks
Co-host known for insightful conversations about expatriate life, travel, and cultural observations, often featuring guests and field reporting.

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 396 ratings
  • Rome, Florence, Seattle

    This is genius. I can’t believe I didn’t start following them earlier. But, hey, plenty to binge!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Seattle Yakyuu
    United States2 months ago
  • If you love Italy and travel don’t miss this podcast

    I have been listening for a few years and love the content. The episodes about Italy travel and relocation are my favorite but all of them are interesting. You bring interesting perspectives to travel, culture, the expatriate life, and life in general. Keep up the amazing work.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    birdsdurango
    United States9 months ago
  • Such a warm listen!

    I’m new to the podcast, which was recommended by Katy Lee from the podcast The Europeans, and I’ve really enjoyed the hosts’ candor. It’s such a comforting listen. Their honest discussions about living abroad and their experiences are a pleasure to hear. I’m so glad I found it!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    snežinkaaaaaa
    United Statesa year ago
  • Consistently good

    I’ve been a listener from the beginning and am amazed at how each episode continues to be interesting. I often refer to things I’ve heard either from the banter between the hosts or from their guests. I count on this podcast to keep me entertained during my walks and hope they keep making it for a long time.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Jpagaran
    United Statesa year ago
  • 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 throug... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    WilliMia
    United States2 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

The content is consistently engaging with diverse topics, from art history to expat experiences, and listeners appreciate the hosts' genuine curiosity and humor.
Listeners describe the show as warm, insightful, and candid, often feeling like chats between friends who are genuinely interested in travel, culture, and life abroad.
Many fans praise production quality and the ability to make complex travel and relocation topics approachable and relatable.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Bittersweet Peek: Random Questions Answered (with special guest Dana Zahler)
Q: Tiffany, what do you wear to sleep?
Tiffany is prompted to share, but the exchange mostly leads to a light, playful moment about personal habits and boundaries around the random questions.
Bittersweet Peek: Random Questions Answered (with special guest Dana Zahler)
Q: What do you like to do on a rainy day?
Dana describes a cozy, couch-based scene with a blanket, dogs, and a crossword, highlighting a simple, comforting rainy-day ritual.
Episode 617: Returning Home to a Different Country (with Brie Ripley)
Q: How did you feel about your job in Rome and its impact on staying longer?
The job was incredibly stressful and ultimately influenced the decision to return earlier than planned.
Episode 617: Returning Home to a Different Country (with Brie Ripley)
Q: Were there moments during your time in Rome where you felt at home?
Yes, about a year and a half in, I really began to feel like I belonged and knew how to navigate life there.
Episode 617: Returning Home to a Different Country (with Brie Ripley)
Q: What was the first week back like for you?
The first week back was brutal as I felt the shock of returning to a different pace and culture after adjusting to life in Rome.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Bittersweet Life

What is The Bittersweet Life about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This show centers on travel, relocation, and life transitions, often through intimate conversations with people who have lived abroad or across cultures. Episodes mix personal storytelling with practical insights about adapting to new places, managing cultural expectations, and finding meaning in the bittersweet moments of moving, aging, parenting, and pursuing new passions. A standout trait is the duo's warm, candid dynamic and their ability to blend travel lore with deeper cultural observations, often featuring guests who bring expertise on art, expat life, relationship coaching, or documentary storytelling. Listeners can expect approachable, conversational episodes that feel like listening in on two longtime friends who guide you through... more

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To see how many followers or subscribers The Bittersweet Life has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to The Bittersweet Life?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Bittersweet Life:

1. Untold Italy travel podcast
2. What Now? with Trevor Noah
3. The Interview
4. Join Us in France Travel Podcast
5. 10% Happier with Dan Harris

How many episodes of The Bittersweet Life are there?

The Bittersweet Life launched 12 years ago and published 962 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

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What guests have appeared on The Bittersweet Life?

Recent guests on The Bittersweet Life include:

1. Francesca Montello
2. Felix Lee Lerma
3. Dana Zahler
4. Sheri Salata
5. Nancy Hala
6. Jennifer Dasal
7. Asia Dawn Simonelli
8. Beth Ann Fennelly

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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