Episode Details

Lately it seems like lots of Americans are moving abroad. But, believe it or not, some American expats are moving back to the States.

Today we're joined by one such ex-expat, or repatriate. Seattle-native Brie Ripley has been on the show before. We first interviewed her back in 2024 after she moved to Rome without ever having been there before. She joined us again about sixe months later, after she had settled in.

And today we sit down with her to talk about why she and her husband decided to move back to the US and what it's been like to repatriate at such a time in history.

She reminisces about the things she misses about Rome, discusses what led to the decision to leave that sometimes feels like a mistake, and shares her thoughts about what it feels like to leave a place just as you're starting to feel at home now.

She also talks about what it feels like to move back to a country that in many ways you can't recognize, how her priorities have shifted after living in Europe, and the realities of culture shock.

Find past episodes with Brie here:

Episode 527 Moving to Rome—Sight Unseen (with Brie Ripley)

Episode 562 Moving to Rome—Sight Unseen, Part 2 (with Brie Ripley and Ryan Sparks)

-------------------------------------

COME TO ROME WITH US: Our third annual Bittersweet Life Roman Adventure is in the books! If you'd like to join us in 2026, and be part of an intimate group of listeners on a magical and unforgettable journey to Rome, discovering the city with us as your guides, find out more here.

ADVERTISE WITH US: Reach expats, future expats, and travelers all over the world. Send us an email to get the conversation started.

BECOME A PATRON: Pledge your monthly support of The Bittersweet Life and receive awesome prizes in return for your generosity! Visit our Patreon site to find out more.

TIP YOUR PODCASTER: Say thanks with a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website.) The show needs your support to continue.

START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up.

SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click <