Rephonic
Artwork for The Bittersweet Life
Rome
Italy
Rome, Italy
Travel
Expat Life
Seattle
Caravaggio
Cultural Differences
Seattle, United States
Florence
Social Media
United States
Patreon
Culture
Christmas
Papal Conclave
Education
White Christmas
Trastevere
Family

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

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes1035Founded13 years ago
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Places & TravelArtsBooksSociety & Culture

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Artwork for The Bittersweet Life

Latest Episodes

What's it like to really live with a ghost, and why do so many people want to these days?

This mini-episode from our archives was inspired by a recent article in the New York Times that suggests some interesting reasons why ghosts are more popular ... more

When the only ancient Romans you've ever seen are gleaming white statues of gods, goddesses, and emperors, you might assume that the fashion trends in Ancient Rome favored clean lines, understated design, and an all-white color scheme.

Well, you'd... more

Aurelio may be starting middle school this fall, but on this episode from our archives, we time travel back to a different new beginning, namely elementary school.

He joined us for a mini-interview exactly five years ago, to answer: How's first gra... more

This week, we continue our conversation from last week's episode: Can living in a foreign country or even a different city from where you grew up dramatically change your life and even your personality?

Last week we discussed the concrete life outc... more

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Recent Guests

Jennifer Dasal
Host of Art Curious Podcast and author of Art Curious
Art Curious Podcast
Episode: The BIttersweet Past: Grave Robbing Artists (with Jennifer Dasal)
Kelly Feenan
Representative from Vote From Abroad
Vote From Abroad
Episode: Episode 647: How to Vote from Abroad in US Elections
Dana Zaller
Dana, Katy's guest sister, diagnosed with glioblastoma, discussing her treatment updates
Episode: Episode 646: Celebrating Life while You're Alive (with Katy's sisters)
Sara Cole
Dana's sister, participates in discussion and questions
Episode: Episode 646: Celebrating Life while You're Alive (with Katy's sisters)
Coral Sisk
Italian American blogger in Florence; founder of Curious Appetite Travel
Curious Appetite Travel
Episode: The Bittersweet Past: Why Is the Media Obsessed with Italy? (with Coral Sisk)
Andrea Scher
Writer, artist, and life coach; author of Wonder Seeker
Creative Superheroes Podcast; Wonder Seeker
Episode: The Bittersweet Past: Seeking Wonder (with Andrea Scher)
Julian Shapiro-Barnum
Author of How to Grow Up without Becoming a Grown-up; creator/host of Recess Therapy
Author; Recess Therapy
Episode: Episode 641: How to Grow Up without Becoming a Grown-Up (w/Julian Shapiro-Barnum)
Sara Kohl
Dana's sister, sister to Katy
Family of the hosts
Episode: Episode 640: Planning for the End (with Katy's sisters)
David Epstein
Author of Inside the Box, How Constraints Make Us Better
Author
Episode: Episode 639: How Constraints Make Us Better (with David Epstein)

Hosts

Katy Sewall
Host of The Bittersweet Life; collaborator on travel, culture, and storytelling topics.
Tiffany Parks
Co-host; co-creator focusing on travel, language, and personal storytelling.

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 400 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 States9 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 Statesa year 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 States2 years 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 States2 years 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 States3 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Fans note the Italy/Rome focus alongside broader global life experiences.
Audiences appreciate the production quality and the varied topics beyond travel.
The show is a great blend of travel insight and personal storytelling with strong guest mix.
Listeners praise warmth and candid conversations that feel like chats with friends.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The Bittersweet Past: Halloween with Aurelio
Q: What's your favorite thing about Halloween?
Aurelio first jokes about ghostly screams, then says candy is his favorite part. He prefers a scary costume theme but does not settle on a costume.
The Bittersweet Past: Halloween with Aurelio
Q: Do you like school?
Aurelio says he does not like it much, eventually rating his enjoyment a four out of ten. He prefers drawing to writing and says writing is boring.
The BIttersweet Past: Grave Robbing Artists (with Jennifer Dasal)
Q: But how does he gain this knowledge of muscle and structure and skeleton, would you say?
The guest explains that artists like Leonardo built connections with hospital workers and accessed bodies after death in more open, legitimate ways, rather than secretly grave-robbing.
The Bittersweet Past: Why Is the Media Obsessed with Italy? (with Coral Sisk)
Q: Coral, what is your role in this conversation given your work leading food tours in Florence and in Italian culinary tourism?
She highlights her dual position of benefiting from Italy's marketing while also advocating for a broader, more inclusive portrayal of Italian regions and cuisines, and for responsible tourism that doesn't overwhelm local communities.
Episode 641: How to Grow Up without Becoming a Grown-Up (w/Julian Shapiro-Barnum)
Q: What real-world impact do you hope readers take away from applying childlike approaches to adulthood?
To adopt the mindset of play, curiosity, and action—break small, non-harmful rules; pursue passions; and engage with others openly—to create more joyful, connected, and resilient lives.

Audience Metrics

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

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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?

The show focuses on life abroad, relocation, and living with the bittersweet parts of travel, culture, and personal growth. Conversations frequently explore expat and cross-cultural experiences, language, storytelling, and how people shape home across continents, with a warm, anecdotal, and often collaborative vibe around guests who bring creative, linguistic, or mobility perspectives. Noteworthy traits include a long-running, listener-driven community, a strong emphasis on travel and Italy (especially Rome), and episodes that blend practical tips with candid personal updates, making it approachable for both prospective expats and travel enthusiasts.

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How many listeners does The Bittersweet Life get?

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How many subscribers and views does The Bittersweet Life have?

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. Christopher Kimball’s Milk Street Radio
3. Bon Appétit
4. Join Us in France Travel Podcast
5. Fresh Air

How many episodes of The Bittersweet Life are there?

The Bittersweet Life launched 13 years ago and published 1035 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact The Bittersweet Life?

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.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for The Bittersweet Life?

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What guests have appeared on The Bittersweet Life?

Recent guests on The Bittersweet Life include:

1. Jennifer Dasal
2. Kelly Feenan
3. Dana Zaller
4. Sara Cole
5. Coral Sisk
6. Andrea Scher
7. Julian Shapiro-Barnum
8. Sara Kohl

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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