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by Expat, Repat, Travel, Rome, Seattle, Books, Art, Italy, Wonder
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 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 authors along the way).
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- 1 weeks ago57 min
Episode 652: Rearview: A Halloween Radio Drama (by Matthew P. Woerner)
It's become something of a tradition here at The Bittersweet Life podcast to air an original radio play at Halloween or Christmas time, by our friends over at AudioImagination77 Productions. You'll be happy to hear that this year is no exception! Katy's brilliant friend Matthew P. Woerner returns with Rearview, another tantalizing and spine-tingling radio drama to properly celebrate Halloween. Based on the urban legend "Highbeams," this original production will get you in the perfect mood for our spookiest holiday. So settle into your favorite chair, turn down the lights, pour yourself a cup of something hot, close your eyes, and let this audio play come to life. Find Matt and AudioImagination77 on Instagram This original radio play written, produced and directed by Matthew P. Woerner and stars Logan Woerner, Craig Hart, Jonathan Winstead, Glenn Hascall, Katy Sewall, Liv Johansson, Ryan Olson, Seamus C. Smith, Wendy Woerner, Allison Woerner McGrath, and Casey Beary Andersen. Hear preview radio plays by Matthew P. Woener that we have aired in the past: Episode 556 The Caller (today's radio drama is a sequel of this one, so go back and listen if you missed it!) Episode 512 Operator Episdoe 460 A Radio Play for Christmas – A Gift <span style= "font-size: 13pt; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; color: #1155cc; b
- 2 weeks ago7 min
The Bittersweet Past: Ghostly and Romantic Stories
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 than ever. And why do hauntings and other ghostly phenomenon feel so oddly romantic? We also hear from a listener who experienced an utterly romantic moment in Venice several years ago. ***The Bittersweet Life podcast has been on the air for an impressive 10+ years! In order to help newer listeners discover some of our earlier episodes, every Friday we are now airing an episode from our vast archives! Enjoy!*** ------------------------------------- COME TO ROME WITH US: Our 4th annual Bittersweet Life Roman Adventure, taking place from 1 to 7 November 2026, is officially sold out! If you'd like to be on our first-dibs mailing list to make sure you don't miss out on future trips, just send us an email! AD-FREE LISTENING: After well over 10 years on the air with little-to-no advertising, in 2026 we have finally made the difficult decision that this completely independent and self-funded show is no longer sustainable without it. HOWEVER! If you join us on Patreon, for as little as $3 per month, you will have access to all new episodes completely ad-free! ADVERTISE WITH US: Reach expats, future expats, and travelers all over the world. Send us an email to get the conversation started. GET TWO BONUS EPISODES PER MONTH: Pledge your monthly support of The Bittersweet Life at the $5 per month level or above, and you will have access to two all-new (and sometimes wacky) bonus episodes every single month. As well as ad-free listening, occasional live meet-ups, and access to our chat community. Visit our Patreon site to find out more. TIP YOUR PODCASTER: Say thanks with a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website.) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affiliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here. You can also connect to us on Facebook or <a href= "https://www.instagram.com/thebittersweetlifepodcast/" target=
- 2 weeks ago28 min
Episode 651: Surprising Roman Fashion Trends
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 be wrong. Today, with the help of a recent New York Times article, we debunk this persistent fashion myth, and explore what kind of threads the ancient Romans, particularly those of the patrician class, were wearing. We also discover why the color purple was reserved for royalty (and where the dye came from) and how the ancient Roman styles might have trickled down to modern Italian designers. Read the New York Times article that inspired today's episode here: Forget Quiet Luxury. In Ancient Rome, the Fashion Was Loud. ------------------------------------- COME TO ROME WITH US: Our 4th annual Bittersweet Life Roman Adventure, taking place from 1 to 7 November 2026, is officially sold out! If you'd like to be on our first-dibs mailing list to make sure you don't miss out on future trips, just send us an email! AD-FREE LISTENING: After well over 10 years on the air with little-to-no advertising, in 2026 we have finally made the difficult decision that this completely independent and self-funded show is no longer sustainable without it. HOWEVER! If you join us on Patreon, for as little as $3 per month, you will have access to all new episodes completely ad-free! ADVERTISE WITH US: Reach expats, future expats, and travelers all over the world. Send us an email to get the conversation started. GET TWO BONUS EPISODES PER MONTH: Pledge your monthly support of The Bittersweet Life at the $5 per month level or above, and you will have access to two all-new (and sometimes wacky) bonus episodes every single month. As well as ad-free listening, occasional live meet-ups, and access to our chat community. Visit our Patreon site to find out more. TIP YOUR PODCASTER: Say thanks with a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website.) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affiliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here. You can also connec
- 3 weeks ago8 min
The Bittersweet Past: Halloween with Aurelio
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 grade in Italy going? Does he love it or hate it, what's his favorite subject, and does his English teacher actually speak English? We find out in this short (and very giggly) interview with our resident six-year-old redhead. Also, then as now, Halloween is just around the corner! What's Aurelio's favorite thing about Halloween, has he ever seen a ghost, and what is he going to dress up as this year? Enquiring minds need to know!! ------------------------------------- COME TO ROME WITH US: Our 4th annual Bittersweet Life Roman Adventure, taking place from 1 to 7 November 2026, is officially sold out! If you'd like to be on our first-dibs mailing list to make sure you don't miss out on future trips, just send us an email! AD-FREE LISTENING: After well over 10 years on the air with little-to-no advertising, in 2026 we have finally made the difficult decision that this completely independent and self-funded show is no longer sustainable without it. HOWEVER! If you join us on Patreon, for as little as $3 per month, you will have access to all new episodes completely ad-free! ADVERTISE WITH US: Reach expats, future expats, and travelers all over the world. Send us an email to get the conversation started. GET TWO BONUS EPISODES PER MONTH: Pledge your monthly support of The Bittersweet Life at the $5 per month level or above, and you will have access to two all-new (and sometimes wacky) bonus episodes every single month. As well as ad-free listening, occasional live meet-ups, and access to our chat community. Visit our Patreon site to find out more. TIP YOUR PODCASTER: Say thanks with a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website.) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affiliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here. You can also connect to us on Facebook or Instagram. Tag #thebittersweetlife with your expat story for a chance to be featured! NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1: OUTSET BOOK: Want to read Tiffany's book, Midnight in the Pi
- 3 weeks ago23 min
Episode 650: How a Place Changes You, Part 2
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 outcomes (like who you marry, what job you do, if you have kids) that often result from moving to one place or another (or staying right where you grew up). On Part 2, we turn the focus inward. How does living in a particular city or country change YOU? Change your personality, your character, your outlook on life? Or is that even possible? How would you be different if you'd never moved there at all? Or if you'd stayed somewhere you left? Lots of unanswerable questions on this probing episode! Be sure to listen to Part 1 of this episode. Find it on Apple Podcasts here, or wherever you get your podcasts (publication date was 5 October 2026). ------------------------------------- COME TO ROME WITH US: Our 4th annual Bittersweet Life Roman Adventure, taking place from 1 to 7 November 2026, is officially sold out! If you'd like to be on our first-dibs mailing list to make sure you don't miss out on future trips, just send us an email! AD-FREE LISTENING: After well over 10 years on the air with little-to-no advertising, in 2026 we have finally made the difficult decision that this completely independent and self-funded show is no longer sustainable without it. HOWEVER! If you join us on Patreon, for as little as $3 per month, you will have access to all new episodes completely ad-free! ADVERTISE WITH US: Reach expats, future expats, and travelers all over the world. Send us an email to get the conversation started. GET TWO BONUS EPISODES PER MONTH: Pledge your monthly support of The Bittersweet Life at the $5 per month level or above, and you will have access to two all-new (and sometimes wacky) bonus episodes every single month. As well as ad-free listening, occasional live meet-ups, and access to our chat community. Visit our Patreon site to find out more. TIP YOUR PODCASTER: Say thanks with a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website.) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affiliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here. You can also connect to us on Facebook or Instagram. Tag <a href= "https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/th
- Oct 9, 202611 min
The BIttersweet Past: Grave Robbing Artists (with Jennifer Dasal)
It's a much-told legend that Michelangelo and Leonardo Da Vinci used to rob graves in order to dissect bodies in secret so they could achieve anatomical accuracy in their art. But is it actually true? On this mini-episode from our archives, we are joined by curator Jennifer Dasal of the Art Curious podcast, and author of the book, Art Curious: Stories of the Unexpected, Slightly Odd, and Strangely Wonderful in Art History. Listen in to find out the truth, which might just be more fascinating than the myth. ***The Bittersweet Life podcast has been on the air for an impressive 10+ years! In order to help newer listeners discover some of our earlier episodes, every Friday we are now airing an episode from our vast archives! Enjoy!*** ------------------------------------- COME TO ROME WITH US: Our 4th annual Bittersweet Life Roman Adventure, taking place from 1 to 7 November 2026, is officially sold out! If you'd like to be on our first-dibs mailing list to make sure you don't miss out on future trips, just send us an email! AD-FREE LISTENING: After well over 10 years on the air with little-to-no advertising, in 2026 we have finally made the difficult decision that this completely independent and self-funded show is no longer sustainable without it. HOWEVER! If you join us on Patreon, for as little as $3 per month, you will have access to all new episodes completely ad-free! ADVERTISE WITH US: Reach expats, future expats, and travelers all over the world. Send us an email to get the conversation started. GET TWO BONUS EPISODES PER MONTH: Pledge your monthly support of The Bittersweet Life at the $5 per month level or above, and you will have access to two all-new (and sometimes wacky) bonus episodes every single month. As well as ad-free listening, occasional live meet-ups, and access to our chat community. Visit our Patreon site to find out more. TIP YOUR PODCASTER: Say thanks with a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website.) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affiliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here. You can also connect to us on Facebook or Instagram. Tag <span class="
- Oct 5, 202627 min
Episode 649: How a Place Changes You, Part 1
Can living in a foreign country or even a different city from where you grew up dramatically change your life and even your personality? A letter from a listener sparked this fascinating topic. Katy and Tiffany muse on how their lives would be different if Tiffany hadn't moved to Rome and Katy hadn't moved back to Seattle. Also, can you ever really imagine how much a decision (like moving or staying) can change your life? At some point, it's all just speculation. Stay tuned for next week's episode, when we continue this discussion to explore how the cities and countries we live in also change our personality and character—for better or for worse! ------------------------------------- COME TO ROME WITH US: Our 4th annual Bittersweet Life Roman Adventure, taking place from 1 to 7 November 2026, is officially sold out! If you'd like to be on our first-dibs mailing list to make sure you don't miss out on future trips, just send us an email! AD-FREE LISTENING: After well over 10 years on the air with little-to-no advertising, in 2026 we have finally made the difficult decision that this completely independent and self-funded show is no longer sustainable without it. HOWEVER! If you join us on Patreon, for as little as $3 per month, you will have access to all new episodes completely ad-free! ADVERTISE WITH US: Reach expats, future expats, and travelers all over the world. Send us an email to get the conversation started. GET TWO BONUS EPISODES PER MONTH: Pledge your monthly support of The Bittersweet Life at the $5 per month level or above, and you will have access to two all-new (and sometimes wacky) bonus episodes every single month. As well as ad-free listening, occasional live meet-ups, and access to our chat community. Visit our Patreon site to find out more. TIP YOUR PODCASTER: Say thanks with a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website.) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affiliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here. You can also connect to us on Facebook or Instagram. Tag #thebittersweetlife with your expat story for a chance to be featured! NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1: OUTSET BOOK: Want to read Tiffany's book, Midnight in the Piazza? Learn more <a href= "https://www.tiffany-parks.com/book/" target="_blank" rel= "noopen
- Oct 2, 202610 min
The Bittersweet Past: Have You Ever Heard a Rat Laugh?
It's finally Halloween season, and to assuage the fears of anyone who is afraid of rats (like Tiffany!) Katy shares a fascinating and little-known recording of rat laughter (yes, you read that right) on this episode from our archives. On this mini-episode from years past, she also shares a touching piece of short fiction she wrote during lockdown that most likely many of our listeners can relate to in some way. ***The Bittersweet Life podcast has been on the air for an impressive 10+ years! In order to help newer listeners discover some of our earlier episodes, every Friday we are now airing an episode from our vast archives! Enjoy!*** ------------------------------------- COME TO ROME WITH US: Our 4th annual Bittersweet Life Roman Adventure, taking place from 1 to 7 November 2026, is officially sold out! If you'd like to be on our first-dibs mailing list to make sure you don't miss out on future trips, just send us an email! AD-FREE LISTENING: After well over 10 years on the air with little-to-no advertising, in 2026 we have finally made the difficult decision that this completely independent and self-funded show is no longer sustainable without it. HOWEVER! If you join us on Patreon, for as little as $3 per month, you will have access to all new episodes completely ad-free! ADVERTISE WITH US: Reach expats, future expats, and travelers all over the world. Send us an email to get the conversation started. GET TWO BONUS EPISODES PER MONTH: Pledge your monthly support of The Bittersweet Life at the $5 per month level or above, and you will have access to two all-new (and sometimes wacky) bonus episodes every single month. As well as ad-free listening, occasional live meet-ups, and access to our chat community. Visit our Patreon site to find out more. TIP YOUR PODCASTER: Say thanks with a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website.) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affiliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here. You can also connect to us on Facebook or Instagram. Tag #thebittersweetlife with your expat story for a chance to be featured! NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1: OUTSET BOOK:</st
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About The Bittersweet Life
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 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 authors along the way).
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