The Bittersweet Life

Latest Episodes:

Bittersweet Moment #197: Furbo vs. Fesso Mar 09, 2023

Show notes

They say that in Italy, you're either a furbo or a fesso—a wise guy or a chump. It's an unhappy reality that, in many situations in Italy, if you're not getting one over on someone else, someone is inevitably getting one over on you.

After Monday's debate over the possible unexpected benefits of Italian disorganization, Tiffany recalls a few times in her nearly two decades of living in Rome when she turned on the wily arts of furbizia to get her way, and to avoid being a fessa.

But that leads to a bigger question, does it have to be this way?

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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 here or order on Amazon.

TOUR ROME: If you're traveling to Rome, don't miss the chance to tour the city with Tiffany as your guide!

Episode 470: In Praise of Italian Disorganization Mar 06, 2023

Show notes

Italians love to complain about how disorganized everything is in Italy, but deep down, do they actually like it? A chance conversation Tiffany had last week sparked this episode about the possible benefits of living a country that doesn't take rules and regulations quite so seriously. Is there something to be said for a place that's a bit more flexible and relaxed, where people are more apt to "live and let live"?

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ADVERTISE WITH US: Reach expats, future expats, and travelers all over the world. Send us an email to get the conversation started.

BECOME A PATRON: Pledge your monthly support of The Bittersweet Life and receive awesome prizes in return for your generosity! Visit our Patreon site to find out more.

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.

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 here or order on Amazon.

TOUR ROME: If you're traveling to Rome, don't miss the chance to tour the city with Tiffany as your guide!

Bittersweet Moment: #196: The Secrets of Podcasting Mar 02, 2023

Show notes

What does it take to produce a professional-quality podcast? As in, what does it really take?

As you may know, Katy is a seasoned radio and audio professional, not just the host and mastermind of The Bittersweet Life. Today she lets you in on a few of her podcasting secrets, including a peek behind the curtain to what a piece of tape can sound like before she edits it, as well as practical advice on how to improve your speaking voice.

If you dream of starting your own podcast one day, don't miss this episode.

And bonus: this episode includes some absolutely infectious laughter by regular guest, Aurelio.

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ADVERTISE WITH US: Reach expats, future expats, and travelers all over the world. Send us an email to get the conversation started.

BECOME A PATRON: Pledge your monthly support of The Bittersweet Life and receive awesome prizes in return for your generosity! Visit our Patreon site to find out more.

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.

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 here or order on Amazon.

TOUR ROME: If you're traveling to Rome, don't miss the chance to tour the city with Tiffany as your guide!

Episode 469: Can You Move to Italy without Speaking Italian? Feb 27, 2023

Show notes

Is it possible to move to Italy without speaking Italian? Can you find a job in Italy without speaking Italian? Can you make friends?

This week we tackle a listener email, a question from someone who is pining to move to Italy, but is worried that she won't be able to find work or fit in, since she barely speaks the language.

Tiffany and Katy spill on how much Italian you really need to know to get by, what you can do to improve it, and why it's so important to (eventually) speak the language of the country you live in.

If you have a question of your own, email us and we might just answer your question on air!

And if you want even more access, join us on Patreon, where we host regular live meet-ups with listeners and offer two exclusive bonus episodes every month!

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ADVERTISE WITH US: Reach expats, future expats, and travelers all over the world. Send us an email to get the conversation started.

BECOME A PATRON: Pledge your monthly support of The Bittersweet Life and receive awesome prizes in return for your generosity! Visit our Patreon site to find out more.

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.

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 here or order on Amazon.

TOUR ROME: If you're traveling to Rome, don't miss the chance to tour the city with Tiffany as your guide!

Bittersweet Moment #195: What Else to See in Florence Feb 23, 2023

Show notes

You've seen the David, you know all about the Duomo, and the Uffizi is just to crowded...

What else is there to see in Florence? As it turns out, a lot.

On this mini-episode, Tiffany fills you in on some amazing places to visit in Florence once you've seen the top three.

Sign up for our newsletter for a full list with addresses, websites, and visiting information, as well as a few Florence restaurant recs.

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ADVERTISE WITH US: Reach expats, future expats, and travelers all over the world. Send us an email to get the conversation started.

BECOME A PATRON: Pledge your monthly support of The Bittersweet Life and receive awesome prizes in return for your generosity! Visit our Patreon site to find out more.

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.

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 here or order on Amazon.

TOUR ROME: If you're traveling to Rome, don't miss the chance to tour the city with Tiffany as your guide!

Episode 468: Florence, memories, and A Room with a View Feb 20, 2023

Show notes

Today The Bittersweet Life pops off to Florence, or at least, Tiffany regales Katy with the details of her recent trip to the cradle of the Renaissance, including specific stops she made to research her latest book, a YA historical fiction thriller set in Florence in 1600.

Also, we talk about how memory-provoking it can be to travel to a place that you haven't been in over a decade, but that you have a few extremely strong impressions of from past trips. Tiffany takes a jaunt down memory lane to her very first trip to Florence when she was 14, when she explored the city through the lens of her obsession with E. M. Forster's A Room with a View.

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ADVERTISE WITH US: Reach expats, future expats, and travelers all over the world. Send us an email to get the conversation started.

BECOME A PATRON: Pledge your monthly support of The Bittersweet Life and receive awesome prizes in return for your generosity! Visit our Patreon site to find out more.

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.

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 here or order on Amazon.

TOUR ROME: If you're traveling to Rome, don't miss the chance to tour the city with Tiffany as your guide!

Bittersweet Moment #194: Observing while Overlooked Feb 16, 2023

Show notes

After a discussion about how living in a foreign country can sometimes make you feel like you're completely overlooked and even invisible, Katy shares why, as a writer, that might be a wonderful thing.

Be sure to listen to Monday's full episode first!

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ADVERTISE WITH US: Reach expats, future expats, and travelers all over the world. Send us an email to get the conversation started.

BECOME A PATRON: Pledge your monthly support of The Bittersweet Life and receive awesome prizes in return for your generosity! Visit our Patreon site to find out more.

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.

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 here or order on Amazon.

TOUR ROME: If you're traveling to Rome, don't miss the chance to tour the city with Tiffany as your guide!

Episode 467: The Overlooked Outsider Feb 13, 2023

Show notes

Today we start the episode with a clip of comedy writer David Sedaris talking about his experiences as an expat, someone who, as he says, "doesn't count." This sparks a conversation about the anonymity that comes with being and living abroad. Is it a good thing? Is it simply a novelty that will wear off the longer you stay in a foreign country?

Katy can relate, remembering her time as a completely invisible (she felt) foreigner living in Trastevere, where no one seemed to know she existed. Does Tiffany—whose been in Rome nearly two decades and is no longer even a foreigner—remember what it's like to be the overlooked outsider?

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ADVERTISE WITH US: Reach expats, future expats, and travelers all over the world. Send us an email to get the conversation started.

BECOME A PATRON: Pledge your monthly support of The Bittersweet Life and receive awesome prizes in return for your generosity! Visit our Patreon site to find out more.

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.

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 here or order on Amazon.

TOUR ROME: If you're traveling to Rome, don't miss the chance to tour the city with Tiffany as your guide!

Bittersweet Moment #193: Stop Taking My Picture! Feb 09, 2023

Show notes

On Monday we talked about the risks of missing out on important moments because we are too busy photographing them to actually live them, and in particular, we talked about society's obsession with the selfie. But compulsively photographing yourself is not the only problem.

On this mini-episode, we chat with Aurelio to get his perspective on having a mom who is constantly (according to him) taking his picture, what he likes and dislikes about finding her camera pointed at him all the time, and if we should be asking our children's permission before we post their images on social media for all the world to see.

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ADVERTISE WITH US: Reach expats, future expats, and travelers all over the world. Send us an email to get the conversation started.

BECOME A PATRON: Pledge your monthly support of The Bittersweet Life and receive awesome prizes in return for your generosity! Visit our Patreon site to find out more.

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.

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 here or order on Amazon.

TOUR ROME: If you're traveling to Rome, don't miss the chance to tour the city with Tiffany as your guide!

Episode 466: Turn Your Camera Around Feb 06, 2023

Show notes

Once upon a time, we took pictures in order to remember our travels—now we travel in order to get good pictures... so we can share on social media.

At least, that's the take of opinion piece Tiffany happened upon in the New York Times, titled You're Pointing Your Camera the Wrong Way by Margaret Renkl. The piece hit home because Tiffany (like many people) often feels the urge to capture every moment, the need to pose photos just so, and even the sense of having missed out on special moments because she was too busy documenting them.

The selfie, now so ubiquitous it has lost all irony, is the embodiment of this over-documenting epidemic. Have we stopped looking at the things we travel to see, in order to get a shot of our own smiling selves? Katy and Tiffany discuss.

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ADVERTISE WITH US: Reach expats, future expats, and travelers all over the world. Send us an email to get the conversation started.

BECOME A PATRON: Pledge your monthly support of The Bittersweet Life and receive awesome prizes in return for your generosity! Visit our Patreon site to find out more.

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.

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 here or order on Amazon.

TOUR ROME: If you're traveling to Rome, don't miss the chance to tour the city with Tiffany as your guide!

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