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

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

PublishesDailyEpisodes972Founded12 years ago
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Artwork for The Bittersweet Life

Latest Episodes

Some psychologists say that anticipation of a desired event can often bring more happiness than experiencing the event itself. And if that's the case, can we conclude that planning a trip is even more fun that actually taking the trip?

This episode... more

Our supporters on Patreon voted YES to this episode idea!

So today we fire up the random question generator again, except this time, there's a twist: we each have to guess what the other person will say.

What does Tiffany wish she learned sooner?... more

We all have mementos from the past: cards and letters from loved ones, journals from or angst-ridden teenage years, homework from when we were just wee things... but the question is: what do you do with it all?

We can't store an infinite amount of ... more

We all have fantasies when we are young about how we want our lives to turn out. Some are far-fetched, some are probably doable.

But do you ever stop to ask yourself how much of life is us trying to fulfill the fantasies of our youth? And what do w... more

Key Facts

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Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Sarah Gladding
Teacher living in Madrid, discussing filing taxes from abroad
Madrid, Spain (teacher)
Episode: Episode 623: Taxes, Taxes, Taxes!
Ben Gladding
Husband of Sarah, discusses handling taxes from abroad
Madrid, Spain (teacher)
Episode: Episode 623: Taxes, Taxes, Taxes!
Drek Baker
Resident in Florence commenting on visa status and taxes
Florence, Italy
Episode: Episode 623: Taxes, Taxes, Taxes!
Paul Theroux
Renowned travel writer and novelist
Author of On the Plain of Snakes, A Mexican Journey; books include The Mosquito Coast, Dark Star Safari
Episode: The Bittersweet Past: Tales of a Travel Writing Legend (with Paul Theroux)
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)

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 397 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 States3 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 States10 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.

The Bittersweet Past: Tales of a Travel Writing Legend (with Paul Theroux)
Q: What tips do you have for normal travelers who want to travel close to the ground like you do?
Take public transportation, travel slowly, and be prepared to spend more time in places to truly absorb and understand them, rather than rushing between destinations.
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.

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?

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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How many listeners does The Bittersweet Life get?

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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. Kimberly's Italy Travel
2. The Moth
3. Untold Italy travel podcast
4. Were You Raised By Wolves?
5. This American Life

How many episodes of The Bittersweet Life are there?

The Bittersweet Life launched 12 years ago and published 972 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. Sarah Gladding
2. Ben Gladding
3. Drek Baker
4. Paul Theroux
5. Francesca Montello
6. Felix Lee Lerma
7. Dana Zahler
8. Sheri Salata

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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