EPISODE ARCHIVE
We launched The Bittersweet Life in 2014 and are now on our 12th season. In our vast archive of over 700 episodes and mini-episodes, we cover everything from moving abroad and expat life, to portraits of Rome and travel adventures, from interviews with famous authors and other notable guests to spontaneous discussions of life’s questions, big and small.
If you’re new to the show, we recommend you start at the beginning and take the journey with us. You can also browse our entire archive of episodes below, search for something specific, or browse episodes by topic.
![[THE BITTERSWEET PAST] Coronavirus Hits: Italy Locks Down, Part 1](https://thebittersweetlife.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/BSP-09-Coronavirus-Hits-Italy-Locks-Down-Part-1-Wide-400x250.jpg)
[THE BITTERSWEET PAST] Coronavirus Hits: Italy Locks Down, Part 1
Coronavirus Hits: Italy Locks Down, Part 1 is an episode from our archives that captures what life...
Bittersweet Moment 219: Beyond the Mouth of Truth: Exploring Santa Maria in Cosmedin
What lies beyond the Mouth of Truth? Everybody who visits Rome knows about the Bocca della...
Episode 574: Twelve Years a Pope
Just over 12 years ago, Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio was elected Pope Francis in the conclave of 2013....
![[THE BITTERSWEET PAST] The Science Behind Language Learning (with Lisa Wilcox)](https://thebittersweetlife.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/BSP-08-The-Science-of-Language-Learning-wide-400x250.jpg)
[THE BITTERSWEET PAST] The Science Behind Language Learning (with Lisa Wilcox)
On The Science Behind Language Learning, an eye-opening interview with special guest Lisa Wilcox,...
Episode 573: Getting Sick in Italy
Getting sick in Italy: what does it entail? How much does medical care cost? As an expat, how does...
![[THE BITTERSWEET PAST] The Unexpected Trauma of Moving, Part 2](https://thebittersweetlife.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/TBP-The-Unexpected-Trauma-of-Moving-Part-2-wide-400x250.jpg)
[THE BITTERSWEET PAST] The Unexpected Trauma of Moving, Part 2
The Unexpected Trauma of Moving, Part 2, an episode from our archives, was inspired by a letter...
Bittersweet Moment 218: The Tempietto of Bramante
On Bittersweet Moment #218 Tempietto of Bramante, taken from our archives, Tiffany and Aurelio...
Episode 572: A Crazy Student Falls in Love with Italian (with Melissa Muldoon)
Have you ever lost your mind over a foreign language? In Episode 572: A Crazy Student Falls in...
![[THE BITTERSWEET PAST] The Unexpected Trauma of Moving, Part 1](https://thebittersweetlife.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/BSP-06-The-Unexpected-Trauma-of-Moivng-Part-1-400x250.jpg)
[THE BITTERSWEET PAST] The Unexpected Trauma of Moving, Part 1
On The Unexpected Trauma of Moving, Part 1, an episode from our archives, Tiffany and Katy both...
Episode 571: Why Women Love Italy (with Susan Van Allen)
On Episode 571: Why Women Love Italy, author and Italy travel expert Susan Van Allen joins us to...
![[THE BITTERSWEET PAST] How Traveling Makes You Rude](https://thebittersweetlife.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/TBP-How-Traveling-Makes-You-Rude-Wide-400x250.jpg)
[THE BITTERSWEET PAST] How Traveling Makes You Rude
How Traveling Makes You Rude, an episode from our archives, looks at the cultural differences that...
Bittersweet Moment 217: The Owl House of Villa Torlonia
On Bittersweet Moment 217: The Owl House of Villa Torlonia, Tiffany (and a 4-year-old Aurelio!)...
Episode 570: An Irish-American Story (with Edward Burns)
On Episode 570: An Irish-American Story, Katy interviews actor, filmmaker, and author Edward Burns...
![[THE BITTERSWEET PAST] The Repurposing of Rome](https://thebittersweetlife.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Throwback-Episode-The-Repurposing-of-Rome-Wide-400x250.jpg)
[THE BITTERSWEET PAST] The Repurposing of Rome
In The Repurposing of Rome, an episode from our archives, we hit the streets of Rome with our...
Episode 569: To Cruise or Not to Cruise?
To cruise or not to cruise? Most travelers have strong opinions about cruising, and can be easily...
![[THE BITTERSWEET PAST] Raising a Bilingual Family](https://thebittersweetlife.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/The-Bittersweet-Life-Past-03-Raising-a-Bilingual-Family-image-wide-400x250.jpg)
[THE BITTERSWEET PAST] Raising a Bilingual Family
Raising a bilingual family? Or dreaming of it? Whether you are an expat or not, in a mixed-culture...
Bittersweet Moment 216: The Route of the Seven Churches
What does it mean to do the Giro delle Sette Chiese, or the Route of the Seven Churches? And what...
Episode 568: The Benefits and Dangers of Being Stubborn
Is being stubborn a good thing or a bad thing? Are there benefits as well as dangers of being...
![[THE BITTERSWEET PAST] Hitting an Expat Plateau](https://thebittersweetlife.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/The-Bittersweet-Past-02-Plateau-thumb-copy-400x250.jpg)
[THE BITTERSWEET PAST] Hitting an Expat Plateau
Hitting an Expat Plateau, an episode from our archives, is inspired by a letter from one of our...
Episode 567: What if Moving Abroad Isn’t Great?
What if moving abroad isn’t great? You've dreamed of moving to Italy since you were 16 years old,...
![[THE BITTERSWEET PAST] Living Life in a Foreign Language](https://thebittersweetlife.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/01-Throwback-Ep-Living-Life-in-a-Foreign-Language-thumb-400x250.jpg)
[THE BITTERSWEET PAST] Living Life in a Foreign Language
How does living life in a foreign language change impact your life? Have you ever wondered how...
Bittersweet Moment 215: Rome’s Jubilee Arrives!
Rome's Jubilee has arrived! And our Bittersweet Moments are back! (And you thought Christmas was...
Episode 566: How to Move to Italy
On Episode 566: How to Move to Italy, we are joined by a guest who happens to have all the...
Episode 565: Resolutions Old, Resolutions New
It's that time of year again! In Episode 565: Resolutions Old, Resolutions New, just like at every...
Episode 564: An Ever-changing Holiday
How much has Italian Christmas changed over the years? We dig into this on Episode 564: An...
Episode 563: How to Renovate a 17th-century Umbrian Villa
How many of us dream of living in a villa in the Umbrian countryside... but how many of us would...
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...
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...
![Episode 560: [LIVE] The Ghosts of Things Seen and Not Seen](https://thebittersweetlife.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Episode-560-The-Ghosts-of-Things-Not-Seen-thumb-400x250.jpg)
Episode 560: [LIVE] The Ghosts of Things Seen and Not Seen
On Episode 560: The Ghosts of Things Seen and Not Seen, a LIVE EPISODE taped in Rome with the...
Episode 559: The Bittersweet Life Origin Story
Can you believe that this little indie show premiered way back in March of 2014? That's an entire...