Arts
Read More ›
Love, Italian Style, in ‘Bittersweet Life’ Podcast
Town Hall program director Katy Sewall explores the expat life in her online audio broadcast
This article originally appeared in the November 2016 issue of Seattle magazine.
When Seattleite Katy Sewall headed to Rome in 2013 for an extended stay, she and lifelong friend Tiffany Parks—who had already been living in Rome for a decade—decided to create a podcast about the experience. The “BitterSweet Life” audio broadcast, with new episodes every Monday, is a natural for Sewall, who spent nine years at KUOW-FM as a producer for Steve Scher’s Weekday program. Although Sewall is now back in Seattle, the two friends continue to examine the experience of living abroad.
Image by Christina Mallet
Podcast host and Town Hall program director, Katy Sewall
Seattle Magazine: How did you decide you wanted to create a podcast about living life as an expat?
Katy Sewall: I knew I wanted to get into podcasting in some way, and while I was there, I had the time to experiment.
SM: How would you describe your show?
KS: It’s really about curiosity and exploration and how much you change as a person if you take a giant risk to move somewhere where you’re slightly uncomfortable, as well as when you try to come home and people don’t understand what you’ve been through. It’s really just about the human rollercoaster of life.
SM: How has the podcast changed since you’ve returned to Seattle?
KS: It’s changed from being totally toward expats to being about both people who have done it and those who haven’t. There are people who have never lived abroad who listen to it all the time.
SM: What do you hope listeners will get out of your podcasts?
KS: You might end up dreaming a little bit bigger. I also hope you think about goals. Hopefully, there’s some universal touchpoint where you recognize yourself in what we are talking about. And I really hope you take away a curiosity about the world. My entire career, my whole goal has been to just tweak how people see the world in a tiny way.
Follow Us
Rearview Mirror: Wedding Bells, A Furniture Launch, and the Symphony’s New Look
Things I did, saw, ate, learned, or read in the past week (or so).
WEDDING BELLS I’ve been a bit absent from this column lately, but I think I have a pretty good excuse: I got married! It’s already been three weeks since my September 19 wedding, but I’m still reflecting on the magic of the day. My fiancé, well husband now (I can’t get used to saying it!),…
Get Blown Away: Seattle’s Glass Art Scene Takes Center Stage
Now in its 8th year, Refract Seattle is the region’s premier celebration of glassblowing—arguably the most famous visual art genre in the Pacific Northwest. Pioneered by names like Dale Chihuly, Ginny Ruffner, Lino Tagliapietra, and Preston Singletary, glassblowing has remained among the area’s most prolific creative outputs, with contemporary talents such as John Hogan, Julie…
Kishi Bashi Is Ready to Feel Everything
Ten years after Sonderlust pushed his music in a new direction, he’s bringing the pivotal album to The Crocodile—and playing it in full for the first time.
Back in March of 2012, I snagged a last-minute ticket to see Of Montreal at the Showbox. As amazing as Kevin Barnes and company were, along with tourmates Deerhoof, the biggest impression made on me was the opener, Kishi Bashi. Armed with little more than a violin, a loop pedal, and a pristine voice, Kishi…
Seattle’s Artists of Color Expo Offers an Inside Look at the Creative Life
The October 9-11 gathering features live art-making and hands-on workshops, with Seattle artist Damon Brown delivering the keynote.
More than 100 artists participate each year in Seattle’s Artists of Color Expo & Symposium (ACES), which brings exhibitions, artist talks, live art-making, and workshops under one roof. Visitors can learn a technique from an artist or hear how a childhood memory became the starting point for a piece. This year’s event takes place October…