Episode 564: An Ever-changing Holiday
How much has Italian Christmas changed over the years? We dig into this on Episode 564: An Ever-changing Holiday. As it turns out, even in the last ten years, since we began this show, the way Italians celebrate Christmas has evolved. We listen back to one of our very...
Episode 562: Moving to Rome—Sight Unseen, Part 2
Last year we met Brie Ripley, a young newly married Seattlite who had moved to Rome for a job without ever having visited the city, or even the country. On Episode 562: Moving to Rome—Sight Unseen, Part 2 we catch up with Brie and her husband 10 months later to see...
Episode 561: What Is It About Rome?
Why do so many people fall in love with Rome? We dig into that on Episode 561: What Is It about Rome? “You fall in love with Rome very slowly, a little at a time—but for all your life.” Nikolaj Gogol sums up so perfectly what many people experience when visiting Rome....
Episode 558: Escape to Rome with the Bittersweet Life
Escape to Rome with The Bittersweet Life! (Virtually or IN PERSON!) This week we’re thrilled to share Episode 558: Escape to Rome in which we kick off our 2024 Bittersweet Life Rome Adventure! We had an absolute blast sharing “our Rome” with 11 of...
Episode 535: The Millennial Saint, Carlo Acutis
On Episode 535: The Millennial Saint, we discuss Pope Francis’s green-lighting of the canonization of the very first saint from the millennial generation, Italian Carlo Acutis. Does it seem strange to have a saint from your own generation? Or one from a generation...
The Bittersweet Life
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).
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!!
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October 16, 2026
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