podcasts

Podcasts To Listen to in 2019 For Travelers, Frequent Fliers Jet Setters and Wanderers

Sometimes you just need to tune out, relax and let someone else do the talking. Whether you’re on a long haul flight, a road trip, lounging by the beach or just need a digital friend while you hike the Camino de Santiago we have a podcast (or six) for that. Check out the video and list with links below!

  1. The Bittersweet Life: Hosted by expats Katy Sewall and Tiffany Parks, TBSL takes a look at what happens when you leave life behind to adventure somewhere new. Subscribe here.


  2. Reply All: Broadly, a podcast about the internet, but really, a podcast about modern life. Gimlet Media hosts PJ Vogt and Alex Goldman take a deep dive into all the topics you didn’t know that you needed to know about. Subscribe here.


  3. The Skinny Confidential Him & Her: A podcast extensions of the wildly popular blog, Lauryn Evarts and her husband Michael Bosstick. Together they interview celebrities, influencer, thought leaders and experts on business, health, fitness, lifestyle and relationships. No two episodes are the same and no topic is off limits. Subscribe here.

  4. RadioLab: Host by Jad Abumrad and Robert Krulwich, RadioLab is an hour-ish long audio documentary on our every changing world. No topic is safe and every episode is thoroughly researched and expertly produced. Subscribe here.

  5. The Moth: On the Moth, storytellers retell true stories, as remembered, live. The podcast also includes additional stories from their archive recorded over the past 20 years. Subscribe here.

  6. Serial: On Serial, Sarah Koenig narrates an investigative journalism saga over multiple episodes. Each seasons covers a dedicated subject and about 10 episodes. Subscribe here.

If you’re looking for podcasts to listen to on business, technology and careers, check out these post.

Top Ten Expat Podcasts - The Bittersweet Life

Anyone who knows me knows I love a good podcast. One of my favourites is an expat podcast aptly called The Bittersweet Life hosted by Katy Sewell and Tiffany Parks. Katy is a radio producer who has worked for the likes of NPR and RadioLab (another one of my favourite podcasts). Tiffany is an editor at Where Rome, an English magazine based in, you guessed it, Rome. The podcast happens in both Rome and Seattle and covers a variety of expat and travel topics like homesickness, visas, politics, food, art (specifically Caravaggio), work, and spouses to name a few.  They also interview other expats from all over the world and even a few authors. So let's get to it. In no particular order:

  1. Relinquish: Going abroad usually means gaining something - new experiences, friends, memories, but in this episode Tiffany and Katy talk about what they needed to give up (or let go of) to fulfill their respective dreams of living abroad.

  2. Repat Part 1 and Part 2: what happens when an expat goes home and is 'repatriated'. It's not as easy as it sounds.

  3. Rome: an insider's guide to Rome. Even if you don't have a trip planned it is still to listen.

  4. Reboot: moving to a new place is an opportunity to start over, with a new job, new hobbies, new look and ...and even a new personality?

  5. Dating: Tales of expat dating. Some make it sound more appealing...some not so much.

  6. Trast: One of my favourite escape episodes on a walking tour of Trastevere, the neighbourhood in Rome where Katy and Tiffany live. Katy is an expert at capturing the sounds of Rome and it really feels like you are walking the city with them.

  7. Goals Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3: bucket lists, to-dos, and dreams that will never happen.

  8. Botswana: An interview with Sara Sullivan where she talks about living in Pakistan and Botswana. Sara describes the expat experience that I am more accustomed to.

  9. Homesick: Not the happiest topic, but it is always good to hear the tips and tricks other people use to fight off dreaded homesickness.

  10. The Senses Episodes: Katy and Tiffany capture the sounds, smells, sights, tastes and feels of Rome.

These are suggestions and if one episode gets you hooked you should go back to Episode 1 "Outset" and start there. You can listen online at www.thebittersweetlife.net or subscribe on iTunes. 

*I am not affiliated with this podcast in any way and do not get anything if you subscribe, I just like the show. 

Enjoy!