Best Language Fountain Podcasts (2025)

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[THE BITTERSWEET PAST] The Unexpected Magic of Italy 27:22

2d ago27:22

27:22

Is there anywhere else on earth that offers as much sheer beauty as Italy? (We'd wager there isn't.) But in addition to Italy's undeniable beauty, it offers a sense of magic that, once you've experienced it, never quite leaves you. With artistic masterpieces hidden in obscure churches, exquisite villages perched on remote mountaintops, and archetec…

1
Latest ‘Mission Impossible’ not so accomplished, ‘Fountain of Youth’ sags 18:19

2d ago18:19

18:19

Critics review the latest film releases: “Mission Impossible - The Final Reckoning,” “Sister Midnight,” “Fountain of Youth,” and “Jane Austin Wrecked My Life.”

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Bittersweet Moment #223 Leo XIV is Elected the First American Pope 20:42

4d ago20:42

20:42

Did Tiffany manage to witness the white smoke at conclave 2025 and see the first appearance of Pepe Leo XIV—as she did in 2013 for the election of Pope Francis? (Listen to this episode to hear that story!) Unless you have unlimited time to spend hanging around St. Peter's Square for days on end, it's really luck of the draw if you are able to witne…

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Episode 583: When Traveling Solo is a Mistake (with Jennie Spohr) 40:43

6d ago40:43

40:43

Solo travel... it can be inspiring, healing, life-changing... ...except when it isn't. Except when all it makes you is lonely and sad. Today we sit down with writer Jennie Spohr to discuss what happens when a solo trip—which you were sure would be just the thing to reignite your curiosity and joy—actually turns out to be a bad idea... or is it? Fin…

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[THE BITTERSWEET PAST] The Glorious Gardens of Rome 27:14

9d ago27:14

27:14

Little known fact: Rome is the city in Europe with the most green space per capita! It's true, Rome is not all crumbling ruins and crowded city streets. The city is bursting with parks and gardens, true urban oases that often have centuries-old histories. Katy and Tiffany visit one such garden on this episode from our archives, the Roseto Comunale,…

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Weekend film reviews: ‘Final Destination: Bloodlines,’ ‘Magic Farm’ 18:15

9d ago18:15

18:15

The latest film releases include Final Destination: Bloodlines, Magic Farm, Caught by the Tides, and Hurry Up Tomorrow. Weighing in are Alonso Duralde and Dave White, film critics and co-hosts of the movie podcast Linoleum Knife.

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[PATREON PREVIEW] Tiffany Lived with a Sociopath 3:41

11d ago3:41

3:41

When Tiffany first moved to Rome, she made a grave mistake. She paid several months' rent in advance to a seemingly kind man who rented out rooms in his Trastevere apartment to brand new expats. He was not who he claimed to be. This is an excerpt of a bonus episode that aired this month exclusively to our generous supporters. Want to hear more? Bec…

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Episode 582: The White Lotus Effect 38:35

13d ago38:35

38:35

When did traveling stop being about the place you are visiting and instead become about you in that place? And how much do shows like The White Lotus have to do with this mental shift? When ordinary travelers flock en masse to a tourist site made famous by a popular television show, pushing the location well past the limits of its capacity, what is…

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[THE BITTERSWEET PAST] The Fountains of Rome 24:10

16d ago24:10

24:10

Rome not only has more fountains than any city on earth, it also has the most beautiful ones, from the delicate Fountain of the Turtles (nispiration for Tiffany's book Midnight in the Piazza), to the massive Fontanone on the Gianicolo Hill and so many others. In fact, the early 20th-century Italian composer Ottorino Respighi was so inspired by Rome…

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Weekend film reviews: ‘Clown in a Cornfield,’ ‘Friendship’ 17:37

16d ago17:37

17:37

The latest film releases include Clown in a Cornfield, Friendship, Fight or Flight, and Absolute Dominion. Weighing in are Witney Seibold, senior writer at SlashFilm and co-host of the Critically Acclaimed Network, and Katie Walsh, film reviewer for The Tribune News Service and The Los Angeles Times.…

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Bittersweet Moment #222: Everything You Ever Wanted to Know about Conclave* 17:10

18d ago17:10

17:10

*but didn't know who to ask. In today's mini-episode, Tiffany fills you in on the history of this fascinating election, unique in the wolrd, as well as all the rules and ceremonies involved, just in time for Conclave 2025, which starts today! Don’t miss your chance to visit Rome with us, on our intimate Rome listener trip, coming up in October 2025…

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Authentic Leadership On Camera with Erin Duffy 36:08

20d ago36:08

36:08

Executive stage presence coach Erin Duffy returns to discuss how authentic leadership presence transforms careers and inspires others, whether on camera or in person. She shares practical techniques for creating meaningful connections in virtual environments and challenges common misconceptions about what it means to be a leader. • The key to camer…

1
Episode 581: Girl in Florence (with Georgette Jupe) 48:44

20d ago48:44

48:44

What's it like to move abroad, all the way from Texas to Florence, Italy, learn the language to perfection, and establish yourself there so fully that you become known internationally simply as the "Girl in Florence," only to find yourself moving to a new country where you're unfamiliar with the culture and don't speak the language—in the midst of …

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[THE BITTERSWEET PAST] Four Seasons in Rome (with Anthony Doerr) 24:23

23d ago24:23

24:23

This special author interview pulled from our archives is Part 2 of our conversation with bestselling writer Anthony Doerr, author of Pulitzer Prize-winning All the Light We Cannot See, as well as best-sellers Cloud Cuckoo Land and Four Seasons in Rome. Be sure to listen to Part 1 if you haven't already! As the conversation continues, Anthony tells…

1
Weekend film reviews: ‘Another Simple Favor,’ ‘The Surfer,’ ‘Rust’ 15:50

23d ago15:50

15:50

The latest film releases include Another Simple Favor, The Surfer, Rust, and Thunderbolts*. Weighing in are William Bibbiani, film critic for The Wrap and co-host of the Critically Acclaimed Network podcast, and Amy Nicholson, film critic for The Los Angeles Times and host of the podcast Unspooled.

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Bittersweet Moment #221: Wonders of the Capitoline Museums 17:54

25d ago17:54

17:54

There’s one museum in Rome that has it all—and it’s not the Vatican. The Capitoline Museums are comprised of a collection of nearly everything you could hope for in a museum—sumptuous frescoed rooms, Caravaggio paintings, Bernini sculptures, ancient bronze and marble statuary, panoramic views of the Roman Forum, fascinating artifacts, and the ruins…

1
Episode 580: Go Smell a Statue 30:46

27d ago30:46

30:46

Did you know that ancient Roman statues used to smell like roses? Or that ancient temples and palaces used to be painted with bright colors? What other things from the deep, dark past are vastly different from how we imagine them today? We discuss on this fun, eye-opening episode. ***Katy's sister Dana has recently been diagnosed with stage 4 agres…

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[THE BITTERSWEET PAST]: All the Light We Cannot See (with Anthony Doerr) 25:31

1M ago25:31

25:31

In this very special episode from our archives, we are joined by the award-winning, best-selling writer, Anthony Doerr, author of All the Light We Cannot See, Cloud Cuckoo Land, and Four Seasons in Rome, among others. Anthony shares his writing journey with Katy, from his earliest beginnings as an amateur writer to the challenges of writing from th…

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Weekend film reviews: ‘The Accountant 2,’ ‘Until Dawn,’ ‘Havoc’ 16:03

1M ago16:03

16:03

The latest film releases include The Accountant 2, Until Dawn, Havoc, and On Swift Horses. Weighing in are Tim Grierson, senior U.S. Critic for Screen International and author of This Is How You Make a Movie, and Alison Willmore, film critic for NY Magazine and Vulture.

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[PATREON PREVIEW] Update on Katy's Sister Dana 7:14

1M ago7:14

7:14

On this bonus episode, available exclusively to our Patreon supporters, Katy gives an update on her sister Dana's stage 4 agressive brain cancer. This is just an excerpt, and if you want to hear more, become part of the Bittersweet Life community by supporting just on Patreon! For as little as $5 per month—less than the price of a coffee in some pl…

1
Episode 579: Are Romance Languages Sexist? 28:43

1M ago28:43

28:43

Are romance languages sexist? On this episode, we discuss the puzzling and seemingly discriminatory aspects of languages like Italian and French. For example: Why do inanimate objects have a gender? Why, in Italian, must you refer to a group of people as entirely male even if there is only one man and 99 women? Why, in French, are there only recent…

1
[THE BITTERSWEET PAST] Where Are all the Accordions? 17:21

1M ago17:21

17:21

When you come back after several years to a city where you used to live, what do you notice? What has change? What has stayed the same? What have you forgotten about in your time away? In this episode from our archives, Katy arrives in Rome after four years away, and immediately notices something that—once ubiquitous on the streets of Rome—is now m…

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Weekend film reviews: ‘Sinners,’ ‘The Wedding Banquet,’ ‘The Shrouds’ 16:45

1M ago16:45

16:45

The latest film releases include Sinners, The Wedding Banquet, The Shrouds, and The President's Wife. Weighing in are Alonso Duralde and Dave White, film critics and co-hosts of the movie podcast Linoleum Knife.

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[THE BITTERSWEET PAST] Antico Caffè Greco: The Oldest Café in Rome 24:35

1M ago24:35

24:35

Where did Lord Byron and Percy Shelley come to sip coffee while they jotted down their verses? Where did Bizet and Berlioz go to discuss their work? Where could Casanova be found trying to pick up girls? Caffè Greco, where else? Having opened in 1760, Antico Caffè Greco is the oldest café in Rome and the second-oldest in all of Italy! And you can s…

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Leadership is an Acting Skill with Vocal Coach Ekaterina Kardakova 31:02

1M ago31:02

31:02

Opera singer and vocal coach Ekaterina Kardakova shares powerful insights on how voice techniques from the stage can transform business leaders' communication and presence. She reveals her journey from performing at prestigious venues like La Scala to helping executives harness their voices to build trust, credibility, and influence in the corporat…

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Episode 578: Exploring Rome in the Deep Dark Night (A Sleep With Me crossover) 1:15:13

1M ago1:15:13

1:15:13

Need help falling asleep? That's not usually our forte—at least we hope it isn't!—but this week the legendary sleep-podcaster Drew Ackerman, better known to his listeners as Dear Scooter, of the popular Sleep with Me podcast, has used not one but two of our past episodes as a script for his sleep-inducing show. We are reposting his somnolent take o…

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[THE BITTERSWEET PAST] Maybe You Should Talk to Someone (with Lori Gottlieb) 34:00

1M ago34:00

34:00

This week, therapist and bestselling author Lori Gottlieb joins us to talk about change, loss, self-examination...and when you should really talk to someone. If you’ve ever wondered what your therapist was thinking, this is a conversation you’ll want to hear. Lori and Katy discuss everything from what you should look for in a therapist to what your…

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Weekend film reviews: ‘The Amateaur,’ ‘Drop,’ ‘Warfare’ 17:49

1M ago17:49

17:49

The latest film releases include The Amateur, Drop, Warfare, and One to One: John & Yoko. Weighing in are Witney Seibold, contributor to SlashFilm and co-host of the podcast Critically Acclaimed, and Monica Castillo, freelance film critic and senior film programmer at the Jacob Burns Film Center.

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Bittersweet Moment #220: A Walk Down Via Giulia 12:28

2M ago12:28

12:28

For a leisurely stroll that is full of artistic gems and delightful curiosities hidden in plain —and somehow overlooked by tourists—join us for a walk down Via Giulia, one of the most historic and sumptuous streets in Rome. Don’t miss your chance to visit Rome with us, on our intimate Rome listener trip, coming up in October 2025. Find out all abou…

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Episode 577: Clive vs. Constance: An Unfortunate Journey Begins 55:06

2M ago55:06

55:06

The Bittersweet Life Podcast went on an unexpected and unprecedented month-long hiatus. As you can imagine, only something life-threatening could have caused us to take this break. Katy sits down with her sisters Dana and Sara to have an honest and vulnerable conversation about the tragedy that has occurred in their family, and why it’s a journey t…

1
Weekend film reviews: ‘Freaky Tales,’ ‘A Minecraft Movie’ 17:28

2M ago17:28

17:28

The latest film releases include Freaky Tales, A Minecraft Movie, The Luckiest Man in America, and The Friend. Weighing in are Shawn Edwards, a film critic at Fox 4 News and co-founder of the African American Film Critics Association, and Katie Walsh, film reviewer for the Tribune News Service and the Los Angeles Times.…

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[THE BITTERSWEET PAST] Underground (with Robert MacFarlane) 34:12

2M ago34:12

34:12

This week, we explore the underground world with Robert MacFarlane of Cambridge University in England. Robert is the best-selling author of Landmarks and The Old Ways, and was awarded the EM Forster Prize for Literature by the American Academy of Arts and Letters. His latest book, UNDERLAND, is an “epic exploration of the Earth’s underworlds as the…

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[PATREON PREVIEW] Crying and Writing 6:29

2M ago6:29

6:29

Did you know that your favorite podcast hosts are also writers? On this week's bonus episode—available exclusively to our supporters on Patreon—we talk all about our various writing processes. Katy reveals that she has been sobbing while writing lately as she comes to the end of her novel, and prepares to say goodbye to her characters. And speaking…

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Episode 576: Looking Back at the Covid Pandemic—Five Years Later 46:34

2M ago46:34

46:34

Five years after the world came to a grinding halt—when Italy and shortly after much of the globe went into a full or partial lockdown—Katy and Tiffany have a conversation about that unique and momentous time. Do we really remember what it was like or are the memories vague and unreliable? How did the pandemic and the lockdowns change our perceptio…

1
[THE BITTERSWEET PAST] A Day in the Life under Lockdown, Part 2 21:44

2M ago21:44

21:44

Continuing our month-long look back at life during the initial outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, we are re-airing Part 2 of our peek into our lives—and the lives of our listeners all around the world—while we live under the restrictions of our various countires. Katy offers a rare glimpse into what it’s like to edit and a long piece of tape, extra…

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Weekend film reviews: ‘Death of a Unicorn,’ ‘Grand Tour’ 18:23

2M ago18:23

18:23

The latest film releases include Death of a Unicorn, Grand Tour, An Unfinished Film, and The Ballad of Wallis Island. Weighing in are Alonso Duralde and Dave White, film critics and co-hosts of the movie podcast Linoleum Knife.

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The Power of Intuition Can Transform Your Life With Deonna Marie 42:40

2M ago42:40

42:40

Emmy award-winning vocalist and intuitive vocal coach Deonna Marie shares her powerful journey from childhood trauma to becoming a transformative voice teacher who heals more than just vocal technique. Through her unique approach, she helps clients remove psychological masks and connect with their authentic expression, teaching that true singing is…

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[THE BITTERSWEET PAST] A Day in the Life under Lockdown, Part 1 34:00

2M ago34:00

34:00

Who remembers what life felt like during the first wave of the Covid-19 pandemic, when cities and entire countries were shutting down right and left? Believe it or not, it all started five years ago this month! So we are digging back into our archives to bring you episodes from that momentous time all month long. On this episode, which originally a…

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Weekend film reviews: ‘The Alto Knights,’ ‘Snow White,’ ‘Ash’ 17:50

2M ago17:50

17:50

The latest film releases include The Alto Knights, Snow White, Misericordia and Ash. Weighing in are Alison Willmore, film critic for NY Magazine and Vulture, and Tim Grierson, senior U.S. critic for Screen International and author of This Is How You Make a Movie.

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[THE BITTERSWEET PAST] Coronavirus Hits: Italy Locks Down, Part 2 28:50

2M ago28:50

28:50

Exactly five years ago this month—March 2020—the world went through something that no one living had experienced in their lifetimes: a global epidemic that affected the entire world, and forced much of the population into their homes for weeks and months at a time, unable to socialize, go to work, and in some cases (like Italy) even take walk aroun…

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Weekend film reviews: ‘Black Bag,’ ‘Opus,’ ‘Novocaine’ 17:46

2M ago17:46

17:46

The latest film releases include Black Bag, Opus, Novocaine, and The Electric State. Weighing in are William Bibbiani, film critic for the Wrap and co-host of the Critically Acclaimed Network podcast, and Christy Lemire, writer for RogerEbert.com and co-host of the Breakfast All Day podcast.

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Episode 575: An Unfortunate Announcement 5:28

3M ago5:28

5:28

Our regularly scheduled episode is going to be delayed this week. Katy makes a hard announcement on this much abbreviated episode to explain why The Bittersweet Life is going on a (hopefully very short) hiatus. Thank you for your patience and understanding. Remember, we have a vast archive of episodes that you may never have listened to, so take th…

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[THE BITTERSWEET PAST] Coronavirus Hits: Italy Locks Down, Part 1 29:18

3M ago29:18

29:18

Do you remember what life was like during the first days and weeks of lockdown following the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, almost exactly 5 years ago? This month, we'll be airing four episodes from our archives, one every Friday, during that momentous, uncertain, and historic time. In this episode, which originally aired on March 16th 2020, It…

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Weekend film reviews: ‘Mickey 17,’ ‘On Becoming a Guinea Fowl’ 17:11

3M ago17:11

17:11

The latest film releases include Mickey 17, On Becoming a Guinea Fowl, Night of the Zoopocalypse, and The Rule of Jenny Pen. Weighing in are Witney Seibold, contributor to SlashFilm and co-host of the podcast Critically Acclaimed, and Amy Nicholson, host of the podcast Unspooled and film reviewer for The Los Angeles Times.…

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Dress To Impress: The Hidden Language of Style With Nina Fountain 35:44

3M ago35:44

35:44

Unleash your personal style with insights from executive stylist Nina Fountain in this vibrant episode. With an unexpected career transition from management consultant to styling expert, Nina delves into how mastering your style can transform not only your outward appearance but also your self-image and presence in the professional sphere. Nina emp…

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Bittersweet Moment #219: Beyond the Mouth of Truth: Exploring Santa Maria in Cosmedin 5:56

3M ago5:56

5:56

Everybody who visits Rome knows about the Mouth of Truth—and many of them line up for up to an hour (or more!) to stick their hand in its mouth and snap an iconic photo. But what most visitors fail to do is to take the time to visit the incredible church that lies just beyond this monument of dubious importance, Santa Maria in Cosmedin. Today, Tiff…

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Episode 574: Twelve Years a Pope 46:51

3M ago46:51

46:51

Just over 12 years ago, Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio was elected Pope Francis in the conclave of 2013. And Tiffany was in St. Peter's Square when it happened. She saw the white smoke pouring out of the Sistine Chapel chimney, she heard those famous words "Habemus Papam!" and she, along with the other thousands of people that had by that time gathered i…

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[THE BITTERSWEET PAST] The Science Behind Language Learning (with Lisa Wilcox) 31:20

3M ago31:20

31:20

On this eye-opening interview with special guest Lisa Wilcox, taken from our archives, we explore the science of language learning through linguistics and speech pathology. Sound boring? Turns out, it is actually really funny. And you might just discover a new angle from which to tackle your language-learning goals. ***The Bittersweet Life podcast …

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Weekend film reviews: ‘Last Breath,’ ‘My Dead Friend Zoe’ 16:58

3M ago16:58

16:58

The latest film releases include Last Breath, My Dead Friend Zoe, Cold Wallet, and The Accidental Getaway Driver. Weighing in are Tim Grierson, senior U.S. critic for Screen International and author of This Is How You Make a Movie, and Katie Walsh, film reviewer for the Tribune News Service and the Los Angeles Times.…

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[PATREON PREVIEW] Stupid Scars and Cool Diseases 3:31

3M ago3:31

3:31

On this bonus episode, available exclusively to our Patreon supporters, random questions like "What is your dumbest scar?" are answered by us with a great amount of laughter. This small excerpt is in our regular feed, but if you want to hear the entire episode, become part of the Bittersweet Life community by supporting us on Patreon! For as little…

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