Rephonic
Artwork for The Bittersweet Life
Rome
Travel
New Year's Resolutions
Borromini
Roman Crypt
Bernini
Santa Maria Dell'orazione E Morte
Singapore
Books
Post-Pandemic Socialization
Tourism
Vatican Museum
Outdoor Activities
Switzerland
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

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Artwork for The Bittersweet Life

Latest Episodes

The Christmas season starts earlier and earlier every year. Pretty soon we'll be setting up our tree before Halloween!

What do you think about this? Are you shamelessly here for it, or do you cringe when you hear Bing Crosby crooning White Christm... more

Why do you like what you like? Journalist Tom Vanderbilt joins us to explore how our likes and dislikes are formed. His new book is You May Also Like: Taste in an Age of Endless Choice.

Find Tom Vanderbilt at his website or on Instagram. His other ... more

What's the best time of year to visit Rome?

That's a truly impossible question to answer, but Tiffany has an ideal time that might surprise you. Listen to this mini-episode to discover the unlikely perfection of a season you've probably never consi... more

A sudden change of plans, an unexpected surgery—these are the kinds of things that can throw your world into temporary disarray, and often cause no little anxiety in the process.

On this personal and vulnerable episode, Tiffany and Katy discuss the... more

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Recent Guests

Tom Vanderbilt
Writer and contributing editor at Wired in the UK, Outside and Art Forum.
Episode: The Bittersweet Past: The Illusion of Choice (with Tom Vanderbilt)
Amy Herman
Lawyer and art historian who developed the Art of Perception course
Episode: The Bittersweet Past: Honing Your Visual Intelligence (with Amy Herman)
Jessica Scott-Reid
Canadian freelance writer living abroad
Wall Street Journal
Episode: The Bittersweet Past: The Inevitability of Expat Guilt (with Jessica Scott-Reid)
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)

Hosts

Katy Sewall
Co-host and creative force behind engaging narratives on expat life and cultural exploration. Often shares personal stories that resonate with the audience's experiences.
Tiffany Parks
Co-host known for her warm approach and engaging storytelling, particularly around themes of friendship, travel, and cultural insights. Shares relatable experiences as an expat.

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 States6 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 States9 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 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
  • 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.

Many find the insights into Italian culture enriching and educational, identifying it as both a travel and a life podcast.
Listeners appreciate the hosts' ability to balance humor with thoughtful discussions on serious topics.
The podcast is praised for its relatable and candid conversations about the expat experience, making listeners feel connected even from afar.
Listeners love the strong friendship between the hosts, noting that their rapport makes the listening experience enjoyable and engaging.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Episode 605: An Update on Katy's Sister Dana
Q: Is there anything that people say that irritates you?
Dana acknowledges that while people often try to be encouraging, some platitudes about fighting or deserving outcomes can feel dismissive of the meaningfulness she's found in her experience.
Episode 605: An Update on Katy's Sister Dana
Q: What is it like for you to actually look so directly at it?
Dana reflects on the difficulty of facing her condition, emphasizing the importance of connection and the value of time spent with loved ones.
Episode 605: An Update on Katy's Sister Dana
Q: How are you doing?
Dana shares her experience with treatment for glioblastoma, stating that her condition is currently stable, and she focuses on enjoying life despite the challenges.
The Bittersweet Past: Honing Your Visual Intelligence (with Amy Herman)
Q: Can you give an example of why somebody else's observations might matter to me?
Distracted walkers or drivers can endanger your safety, highlighting the necessity of situational awareness.
The Bittersweet Past: Honing Your Visual Intelligence (with Amy Herman)
Q: Can you explain why our very lives sometimes can depend on someone's good observation skills or our own?
We are dependent on other people's observation and perception skills for our personal safety and situational awareness.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
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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 offers a candid exploration of the experiences, joys, and challenges associated with living abroad, particularly focusing on expat life in Italy. Through discussions filled with humor and personal anecdotes, the hosts provide insights into navigating cultural differences, addressing personal growth, and fostering meaningful connections as they reflect on their own journeys based in Rome and Seattle. Notable episodes tackle diverse themes ranging from art and literature to travel tips and emotional experiences like expat guilt and health challenges, creating a rich tapestry of topics that resonates with a broad audience. Uniquely, it blends humor with heartfelt discussions, making it both informative and relatable, and is likely... 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. The Europeans | European news, politics and culture
2. Untold Italy travel podcast
3. The Frommer's Travel Show
4. Fresh Air
5. The Earful Tower: Paris

How many episodes of The Bittersweet Life are there?

The Bittersweet Life launched 12 years ago and published 920 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.

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What guests have appeared on The Bittersweet Life?

Recent guests on The Bittersweet Life include:

1. Tom Vanderbilt
2. Amy Herman
3. Jessica Scott-Reid
4. Nancy Pearl
5. Caitlin Doughty
6. Hope Jahren
7. Andrew Blechman
8. Therese Huston

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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