…

The Bittersweet Life

…

Expat, Repat, Travel, Rome, Seattle, Books, Art, Italy, Wonder

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 authors along the way).

#919

The Bittersweet Past: The Illusion of Choice (with Tom Vanderbilt)

Why do you like what you like? Journalist Tom Vanderbilt joins us to explore how our likes... more

Yesterday

42 MINS

42:40

Yesterday

#918

Bittersweet Moment #87: Slow Winter

Winter can be long at the best of times. But during a pandemic with no end in sight, it ca... more

03 Dec 2020

04 MINS

04:14

03 Dec 2020

#917

[THE BITTERSWEET PAST]: All the Light We Cannot See (with Anthony Doerr)

In this very special episode from our archives, we are joined by the award-winning, best-s... more

25 Apr 2025

25 MINS

25:31

25 Apr 2025

#916

Bittersweet Moment #234: A Surprisingly Perfect Time to Visit Rome

What's the best time of year to visit Rome? That's a truly impossible question to answer, ... more

10 Dec 2025

13 MINS

13:02

10 Dec 2025

#915

Episode 606: The Anxiety of the Unexpected

A sudden change of plans, an unexpected surgery—these are the kinds of things that can thr... more

08 Dec 2025

29 MINS

29:11

08 Dec 2025

#914

The Bittersweet Past: Honing Your Visual Intelligence (with Amy Herman)

Can studying fine art keep you safe? According to today's guest Amy Herman it can. Lawyer... more

05 Dec 2025

37 MINS

37:57

05 Dec 2025

#913

Bittersweet Peek: A Promise—Kept or Broken? (You Decide)

Tiffany made a big promise last month about her video watching habit. Here's an update on ... more

03 Dec 2025

05 MINS

05:12

03 Dec 2025

#912

Episode 605: An Update on Katy's Sister Dana

Today we catch up with Katy's sister Dana to hear the latest on her battle with aggressive... more

01 Dec 2025

46 MINS

46:08

01 Dec 2025

#911

The Bittersweet Past: The Inevitability of Expat Guilt (with Jessica Scott-Reid)

Among the plethora of emotions that plague expats, one of them is guilt. What happens whe... more

28 Nov 2025

29 MINS

29:26

28 Nov 2025

#910

Episode 604: How to Go Deeper when Traveling

For some travelers, visiting the sites just isn't enough. One of our listeners wrote to ex... more

24 Nov 2025

35 MINS

35:06

24 Nov 2025

#909

The Bittersweet Past: When Life Is Inspired by Art

Could watching a movie inspire you to move abroad? Could reading a book launch a lifetime ... more

21 Nov 2025

31 MINS

31:20

21 Nov 2025

#908

Bittersweet Peek: An Armoire for your Smartphone

Tiffany's son Aurelio will soon be in middle school, and the exact age that Katy and Tiffa... more

19 Nov 2025

05 MINS

05:39

19 Nov 2025

#907

Episode 603: The Benefits of Missing the Nuance

When you're visiting a foreign country, you miss a lot. From conversations around you on t... more

17 Nov 2025

34 MINS

34:32

17 Nov 2025

#906

Bittersweet Past: Armchair Travel (with Nancy Pearl)

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

14 Nov 2025

27 MINS

27:28

14 Nov 2025

#905

Bittersweet Moment #233: The Collapse of Torre dei Conti

Last week, a thousand-year-old medieval tower in Rome partially collapsed. This disaster f... more

12 Nov 2025

12 MINS

12:32

12 Nov 2025

#904

Episode 602: It Doesn't Have to Be this Way

When you spend a good deal of time in a foreign country, going back home can often be eye-... more

10 Nov 2025

32 MINS

32:13

10 Nov 2025

#903

The Bittersweet Past: Negotiating Italy's Endless Bureaucracy

Every country has its own bureaucracy... but some countries are worse than others. Part of... more

07 Nov 2025

21 MINS

21:39

07 Nov 2025

#902

Bittersweet Peek: A Promise (on Day One)

Tiffany is on "Day One!" of a new undertaking. It is something that ALL OF US should proba... more

05 Nov 2025

06 MINS

06:13

05 Nov 2025

#901

Episode 601: Every Pilgrimage Needs Merch

As Katy prepares to leave Rome once again, she and Tiffany muse on the 2025 Jubilee or Hol... more

03 Nov 2025

33 MINS

33:07