Rephonic
Artwork for The Bittersweet Life
Rome
Travel
New Year's Resolutions
Bernini
Borromini
Roman Crypt
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

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Artwork for The Bittersweet Life

Latest Episodes

Tiffany's son Aurelio will soon be in middle school, and the exact age that Katy and Tiffany were when they first met. And, wow, how things have changed. Tiffany reports on her visit to his potential new school.

This is just a sneak peek of a much ... more

When you're visiting a foreign country, you miss a lot.

From conversations around you on the street to advertisements on billboards or your favorite podcast that is suddenly playing you ads in the local language.

You also miss a lot of cultural c... more

Don't have the cash or the time off to travel right now? Not to worry! Reading can take you anywhere.

On this episode from our archives, we recommend books that will transport you. NPR's Nancy Pearl—quite possibly the world's most famous librarian—... more

Last week, a thousand-year-old medieval tower in Rome partially collapsed. This disaster for history and Rome's patrimony—which could have been much worse—serves as a reminder that Rome's monuments are not forever.

The Torre dei Conti is far from b... more

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Recent Guests

Nancy Pearl
Book expert, frequent NPR book reviewer, and author.
NPR
Episode: Bittersweet Past: Armchair Travel (with Nancy Pearl)
Caitlin Doughty
Mortician, author of 'From Here to Eternity', and host of 'Ask a Mortician'
Undertaking LA
Episode: The Bittersweet Past: Getting Comfortable with Death (with Caitlyn Doughty)
Hope Jahren
Author of 'Lab Girl', received three Fulbright Awards in Geobiology, and the only woman to have been awarded the Young Investigator Medal in Earth Sciences.
Episode: The Bittersweet Past: Conversations with a Lab Girl (with Hope Jahren)
Andrew Blechman
Author of 'Pigeons: The Fascinating Saga of the World's Most Revered and Reviled Bird'
Episode: The Bittersweet Past: Wild Animals I Have Known
Therese Huston
Cognitive scientist and author of Sharp: 14 Simple Ways to Improve Your Life with Brain Science
Seattle University
Episode: Episode 597: Think Better, Live More (with Therese Huston)
Marsha De Salvatore
Comedian and founder of Rome's Comedy Club
Rome's Comedy Club
Episode: The Bittersweet Past: When a Comedian Moves Abroad (with Marsha De Salvatore)
John Wynn
Psychiatrist and organizational consultant
Seattle Psychiatry
Episode: The Bittersweet Past: Why Change is Hard (with John Wynn)
Debra Bruno
A Washington DC-based freelance writer who recently completed a three-year stint in Beijing.
Wall Street Journal
Episode: [THE BITTERSWEET PAST] The Complications of an Expat Divorce (with Debra Bruno)
Amy Knauff
An American expat in Rome who has lived in various countries
Episode: [THE BITTERSWEET PAST] Should I Stay or Should I Go? (with Amy Knauff)

Hosts

Katy Sewall
Host and producer of The Bittersweet Life, offering a unique perspective as a long-time expatriate.
Tiffany Parks
Host, a magazine editor and writer with extensive knowledge of living in Rome and cultural exchange.

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 395 ratings
  • 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 States5 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 States8 months 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 States10 months 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
  • Roman perspective

    A wonderful perspective on not just living in Rome but all sorts of interesting topics … 2 educated and interesting women who make you feel like you’re right there with them. Highly recommend.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    RubyAlighieri
    United Kingdom2 years ago

Listeners Say

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

The humorous yet insightful storytelling resonates deeply with audiences, many of whom identify with the challenges of moving and cultural adaptation.
Many reviews highlight the podcast's ability to transport individuals to Italy and enrich their understanding of both expat life and the intricacies of human relationships.
Listeners appreciate the hosts' candid and relatable conversations about life abroad, often finding comfort and inspiration in their discussions.

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: Getting Comfortable with Death (with Caitlyn Doughty)
Q: Does it make you wish that you live somewhere else?
No, it doesn't make me wish for that because my focus is on reforming the American funeral industry and creating more options for people here.
The Bittersweet Past: Getting Comfortable with Death (with Caitlyn Doughty)
Q: Do you find that we in the United States are more heavily in denial about maybe our own mortality or even the mortality of others around us than others?
Yes, I find that we are more in denial about death than other cultures; it reflects a significant cultural difference in how we engage with mortality.
The Bittersweet Past: When a Comedian Moves Abroad (with Marsha De Salvatore)
Q: Why did you decide to move to Rome in the first place?
I wanted to travel and thought living in one place in Italy would allow me that opportunity.
The Bittersweet Past: When a Comedian Moves Abroad (with Marsha De Salvatore)
Q: What happens if there's no blood?
I would feel fatigued and overwhelmed, eventually leading to severe health issues due to lack of oxygen in my body.
The Bittersweet Past: When a Comedian Moves Abroad (with Marsha De Salvatore)
Q: Could you see yourself staying here your whole life?
No, I love Italians, but I sometimes miss a nice American guy that I can relate to better.

Audience Metrics

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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 podcast frequently navigates the complexities of life transitions, particularly the challenges and rewards of moving abroad and repatriating. The hosts, who share personal anecdotes, aim to make the experiences of expatriates relatable and engaging for all listeners, whether they are contemplating or currently undergoing similar life changes. Conversations cover a wide range of poignant topics, including culture shock, nostalgia, personal development, and the practicalities of living in a foreign country versus visiting. Several episodes uniquely blend humor with depth, providing both insightful reflections and entertaining stories about their adventures and misadventures in Italy and beyond.

Where can I find podcast stats for The Bittersweet Life?

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How many listeners does The Bittersweet Life get?

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What are the audience demographics for The Bittersweet Life?

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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. Wiser Than Me with Julia Louis-Dreyfus
3. Travel with Rick Steves
4. All There Is with Anderson Cooper
5. Travel with Amateur Traveler Podcast

How many episodes of The Bittersweet Life are there?

The Bittersweet Life launched 12 years ago and published 910 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. Nancy Pearl
2. Caitlin Doughty
3. Hope Jahren
4. Andrew Blechman
5. Therese Huston
6. Marsha De Salvatore
7. John Wynn
8. Debra Bruno

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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