The Bittersweet Life

Rakeen Akila was kidnapped and held for ransom in Afghanistan. Now he's a refugee in Italy. His story is one of amazing resilience and great heartbreak. Come to personally understand our world-wide r…

Why do foreign doctor's offices seem sketchy sometimes? Why are colors brighter when you travel? This has more to do with your brain than reality. Science writer Erik Vance (Book: Suggestible You) jo…

What do Italians think about Trump? Does the country that produced Mussolini and invented fascism fear or support the new US president? Tiffany's Italian boss at Where Rome magazine shares his concer…

We capture the raw reaction of Katy and Tiffany to the election of reality TV star/businessman Donald Trump to the U.S. presidency, via voice memos sent across the ocean while it was happening in rea…

What if the values you were raised with are different that those of the foreign country you now live in? Should you maintain old cultural values in a new place? Tiffany and Katy discuss.

NEVER HEAR…

Katy moved to Rome once. Does that mean she'd be brave enough to do it again? Are you brave enough to move to a brand new city? Katy and Tiffany use a listener email to kick off the show. 

NEVER HE…

The Camino de Santiago is a popular pilgrimage route across Spain. Our guest Aarin Wright set off on the Camino with her father after finishing University. Was all the walking as rewarding as she hop…

Sunny Strong studied abroad in Florence in 1963, leaving her boyfriend Mike at home. Now, after 52 years of marriage, they recall how that time changed them. And we listen to reel-to-reel tapes and l…

Historian Mary Beard talks about her new book S.P.Q.R: A History of Ancient Rome. What parts of ancient Rome are alive in modern Rome? For one - Traffic! 

NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to s…

Host Tiffany Parks shares a big announcement. Also, Katy and Tiffany explore what it means to live in a temporary place that doesn't feel like home. 

NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start …

We visit Gaborone, Botswana where expat Sara Sullivan moved after living in Pakistan. We talk about misperceptions of Africa, 'staying-in-touch' strategies, and the challenge of deciding where to liv…

We use linguistics and speech pathology to think about learning languages with special guest Lisa Wilcox. Sound boring? Turns out- it is actually really funny. 

NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don't be afrai…

Host Tiffany Parks in Rome reacts to the earthquakes that rocked Italy on August 24, 2016. 

NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET

SPONSOR: Reach thousands of expats a…

If you cry unexpectedly while looking at art, or reading or watching TV, what do those tears mean? Do they indicated buried longings, fears, or loves? Katy and Tiffany discuss.

NEVER HEARD THE SHOW…

We delve into the archives to get you some free therapy. 

NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET

SPONSOR: Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the world by…

By listener request, we replay the very first episode of the show, which happened over 2 years ago. A perfect opportunity to introduce The Bittersweet Life to your friends. (Please do!) 

NEVER HEAR…

Nicole Hardy sailed the world on a 180 ft. square rigged tall ship. Her fantasy idea was rather horrific in reality. As a single woman who takes serious risks, what does it mean to plan a trip that i…

Our hosts say goodbye to their old lives as Tiffany moves out of her Trastevere apartment, and Katy's Seattle home is torn down. They explore life, loss, and the pain and annoyance of moving. 

NEVE…

We visit the artist movement of cold war Germany, then Berlin after the wall comes down with guest Rob Spillman. Rob is editor and co-founder of Tin House, a literary magazine in the USA, and author …

Reality TV director Scottie Madden's journey from man to woman took 50 years. She and her wife Marcy join Katy to talk about how their relationship has changed and grown and what it's like to film in…