Claim OwnershipThe Heart & Hustle of Portugal
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Each week, join Tony Gonçalves—a U.S.-based Portuguese immigrant and successful media executive—as he explores the stories of those driving Portugal’s influence on the global stage. From visionary entrepreneurs to cultural pioneers, The Heart and Hustle of Portugal uncovers the unique ways the Portuguese identity thrives worldwide. As Expresso’s first English-language product, this series bridges cultures and connects the global audience to Portugal’s spirit of innovation, passion, and resilience.
57 Episodes
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Actor Piper Perabo’s path to the screen began with a landline phone call: producer Jane Rosenthal contacted the young performer at home with the words every new actor hopes to hear: “You got the part”. Just six months after graduating from college, Perabo found herself on set with Robert De Niro, an early break that set the pace for a varied and steadily rising career. Although widely recognized for her roles in “Coyote Ugly” and the series “Covert Affairs” Perabo’s story begins far from Hollywood. Raised on the Jersey Shore, she is the daughter of a poetry professor and grew up in an environment steeped in the arts. Perabo was among the featured guests at this year’s Tribeca Festival Lisboa, attending the opening-night screening of “In the Hand of Dante”. Piper’s first time in Lisbon was a moment she will treasure forever, as she remembers a particular afternoon around a “ginjinha” place downtown in the pouring rain.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Paula Lobo Antunes’s recent role in the film “A Teacher’s Gift” is as memorable as the path that brought her here. Whether playing the villain in Flor do Mal or a leading protagonist in Mar de Paixão, Paula knows she made the right decision the day she quietly applied to drama school while still studying medicine. She opens up about her career, her life, motherhood, and family. She recalls how her father, the renowned neurosurgeon João Lobo Antunes, operated on an HIV patient at a time when no one else would dare. Throughout this conversation with Tony Gonçalves, Paula reveals a lifelong sense of not fully belonging, of working hard, and of constantly competing with herself. And the work speaks for itself. She also brings forward a Portuguese trait that no other guest has named so clearly: the constant apologizing, the “forgive me for existing” mentality. What does that mean for the cultural identity of a small country with enormous talent?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
David Rodrigues is the man behind @howtocookstuff, a very entertaining collection of videos and reels about authentic Portuguese food (and slang). Born in the US, his parents immigrated from Lisboa and, as he recalls in this conversation with Tony Gonçalves, his mother’s food was always simmering in the kitchen, filling it with those typical Portuguese scents. One day he was craving a real bifana (a typical Portuguese pork sandwich cooked in broth and fat) and he made a simple video. That was the start of his cooking channel and of his global following that has spanned two cookbooks. David Rodrigues is all about traditions and real Portuguese food (and a little chaos) and if you watch his videos you’ll be uttering sentences like “come e cala-te” in no time. A real ambassador for Portuguese flavours, David is the perfect guest for this holiday season.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Ticha Penicheiro changed the game. A true pioneer in women’s basketball, she played in the WNBA from 1998 to 2012, became a four-time All-Star, and earned her place as one of the greatest point guards of all time. In this conversation with Tony Gonçalves, she goes back to where it all started: a little girl with big dreams in a small country. Ticha’s story is built on beating the odds. She was the only girl on a court full of boys in Figueira da Foz, learning to move the ball fast so she would not get blocked. She became a rising star in a country where basketball was not a full time career. And then, as a young woman, she took a chance on a brand new league in a foreign country and rose to the top of it. She spent the prime of her career with the Sacramento Monarchs through 2009 and today she is a sports agent committed to opening doors for the next generation. In this conversation, Ticha reflects on her childhood, her path to the WNBA, and the pride she carries for Portugal every step of the way. Ticha is also the subject of a new documentary called “Feel the Magic: Ticha Penicheiro – Against All Odds.” She shares how the film came to life and why she hopes it will inspire young athletes to take their shot. As she says herself, it is better to go for it than to live with regrets.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Griffin Dunne has an acclaimed career with classics like “An American Werewolf in London” or “After Hours”, but the New York actor had a rough spot in his 60s and went back to class. Listen to a fascinating tale of loss, rejoice and renewal Griffin Dunne’s personal life is as vertiginous as his prolific film and television career. The tragic death of his sister Dominique at the ripe age of 22 was an emotional shock that shook his life forever. His father, Dominick Dunne, was an acclaimed writer, journalist and producer that, after the tragic loss of his daughter, became a voice for victims of violent crimes, as well as his mother, who founded Justice for Homicide Victims. His New York Times’ best selling memoir “The Friday Afternoon Club”, from 2024, is at the center of this conversation, as the actor recalls the experience of writing it and feeling the loss of every person that was no longer with him. Faced with a series of bad decisions, as he tells so poignantly, Griffin Dunne went back to school and discovered a Chekhovian method to his acting skills. Griffin also recalls his experiences in Lisbon, as he attended the first Tribeca Festival in the capital, as well as the amazing meals and conversations that he had.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Joana Vasconcelos is Portugal’s most celebrated (and bigger artist), her works have been shown at Versailles, Guggenheim, Hong Kong or featured at Dior. Listen to this conversation recorded live at Tribeca Lisboa.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Tony Gonçalves thought he was going to interview a funny guy. Instead, the mic was turned on him when Andre de Freitas flipped the script and asked him a few questions. As one of the most recognized Portuguese comedians, André de Freitas has not only a powerful social media presence, but also a very international career. He is a man with a mission, and shares his amazing journey of perseverance and endurance to become what he is today: a funny guy who is proud of being Portuguese. This is a conversation, not an interview, as André and Tony share their experiences. André de Freitas is proud of his Portuguese heritage and he isn’t shy to share his favorite dishes.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Chazz Palminteri is a tour de force — an actor, writer, and producer best known for “A Bronx Tale”, the powerful one-man show where he plays every role. For the first time ever, Chazz is bringing this legendary performance to Lisbon, just as it was originally staged in New York. In this episode, Chazz Palminteri reflects on his journey from the Bronx to stages across America — including a run in Las Vegas, where it earned “Show of the Year.” A fan of Lisbon, Chazz also shares his love for the city’s culture, history, and, yes, sardines, one of his favorite dishes.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Patrícia Vasconcelos is a renowned casting director and founder of Passaporte, a platform to help promote Portuguese actors abroad. She shares her fascinating journey that spans countries like Yugoslavia or Zaire and explains why the typical hustle that is characteristic of Portuguese people is the key to success. Patricia Explains how her hustle and a series of coincidences turned her into a casting director. The daughter of renowned Portuguese director António Pedro Vasconcelos, she fondly remembers growing up amongst his father’s cameras and equipment. She also shares her favourite Portuguese food and why she doesn’t like the word “export”.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Augusto Fraga was born in the Azores but he always dreamed far beyond his island. His smash hit series “Turn of the Tide” turned him (and his island of S. Miguel) into global superstars. Now on its second season, the series is one of Netflix’s top hits and it shows that Portugal can complete on a global stage. The director and screenwriter, who confesses that he always operates the camera himself, guides us through the process of writing “Turn of the Tide” and how that opportunity changed his life. His humble approach to awards and compliments are on the forefront of this conversation with Tony Gonçalves, as he explains that the feeling of empathy is what drove him back to Portugal, after living abroad for a while.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Rui Pedro Tendinha has interviewed everyone: Oprah, Tarantino, Jack Nicholson are just a few. And he will not stop. A self-confessed cinema addict, Rui Tendinha is one of the most recognized voices in the business, not only as journalist but also as a curator. Listen to his journey amongst the stars in this episode of The Heart & Hustle of Portugal. The film critic shares a few of his adventures interviewing the likes of Julie Andrews or Quentin Tarantino (a highlight of his career), and give us some insight into his new book. He also shares his favourite films and Portuguese food, and proposes a strategy for more investment in Portugal’s film infrastructure to attract Hollywood productions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Ricardo Pereira’s acting career has crossed borders. Literally. It’s extremely unusual for a Portuguese actor to work consistently in Brazil, but Ricardo has done it - for twenty years. A household figure at Globo and SIC, where he lend his skills to many telenovela characters, Ricardo Pereira will show his talent on the second season of Netflix’s series “Turn of the Tide” A believer of the art of giving small steps, Ricardo’s career is all about being humble and not being afraid to work hard. Ricardo Pereira shares his most fond culinary memories from his childhood and his favorite Portuguese trait.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Pedro Gadanho is an architect and curator, responsible for Lisbon’s MAAT Museum and a former curator of MoMA. A creative, Gadanho expresses his views on architecture as narrative and sustainable urbanism, giving his insights on how to approach the housing crisis with state intervention to bring vacant buildings back to use. An insightful conversation with a creative at heart on this episode of “The Heart & Hustle of Portugal”. Gadanho also speaks about his views on the current wars across the globe, that he calls resource and climate wars, and offers his views on sustainable architecture and furnishing. He also mentions his favourite Portuguese traits, food and architecture, mentioning the Portuguese resilience and modesty as our biggest assets.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
This year’s Upwardly Global honoree Mariana Van Zeller is back and she brings another four Emmys back home. The fearless journalist that stars and produces the incredible documentary series “Trafficked” on National Geographic returns for another season of investigations in the criminal underworld and speaks with Tony Gonçalves about immigration, broken policies, journalism, empathy and… Bacalhau! Mariana Van Zeller explains how her hit show “Trafficked” is made and produced with a small team and how she approaches each subject with care and dedication. No conversation on The Heart & Hustle podcast is complete without a mention of Portuguese food, and Mariana delivers yet another love letter to our national mascot, Bacalhau.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Ricardo Araújo Pereira is one of the sharpest and most distinctive voices in Portugal. He’s also very funny. His Sunday prime time show attracts millions of viewers each night and he is a constant presence in the Portuguese landscape: in advertisement, writing for newspapers and magazines and even hosting a podcast with his friends. But Ricardo, who is also known a Portuguese Jon Stewart, confesses to Tony Gonçalves that what he loves the most is actually writing. Ricardo also delves into what it means to be funny and his opinion on the prison sentence for Brazilian comedian Léo Lins. As usual, our guest shares his favourite Portuguese dishes and one specific trait of the country that others might find unnerving. But he thinks it’s a great asset.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The incredible journey of singer-songwriter MARO is nothing short of amazing: from her humble roots in Lisboa to living in LA and being praised by Billie Eilish, collaborating with Eric Clapton or being on tour with Jacob Collier and Shawn Mendes. There’s nothing MARO can’t do, and, as she confides to Tony Gonçalves on this podcast, she will continue to do it until it makes sense. MARO also shares her creative process and how she got into the prestigious Berklee School of Music. Her Portuguese roots shine in every sentence, as she shares her favourite Portuguese dishes and talk us through the musical influences she inherited from her parents.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
1Sebastião Bugalho’s meteoric rise from journalism to politics is astonishing, specially considering he wasn’t even 30 years old when he gained the top seat of his political party, PSD, on the European Parliament. In an insightful conversation with host Tony Gonçalves, Sebastião discusses his visions for Portugal, Europe and also offers some insights into the rise of the far right party Chega. His father was a Jazz DJ and his mother an author, and this eclectic duality gave us a young mind with an inquisitive and hard look into the present and the future. Sitting in his office in Brussels, Sebastião Bugalho reflects not only on the political future of Europe but also muses on the importance of music and family.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Portuguese journalist Ana Rita Guerra covers a range of topics from tech to AI to entertainment and US Politics for Lusa, Expresso, Diário de Notícias and others. Based in LA, Ana Rita was at the center of the Palisades wildfires and the ICE raids and, speaking with host Tony Gonçalves, she muses over those surreal days and offers a glimpse of the future of the media business. Ana Rita Guerra believes that good journalism is really important, but the media business is suffering huge transformations. Ana Rita’s food and drink suggestions touch a few Portuguese landmarks that no other guest had yet recommended.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Comedian Mike Rita isn’t just a stand-up. He’s a naturally funny guy who also happens to be Portuguese. Born in Canada to immigrant parents, he grew up mimicking their voices and mannerisms as a way to connect with the adults around him. But for years he left that part of himself off stage… until, one day, someone called him on it and it changed everything. Mike’s presence carries the same raw honesty as the Portuguese immigrants who crossed oceans in search of a better life. But as host Tony Gonçalves recalls, his process isn’t all laughs. Before stepping on stage at the IPMAs, Mike was backstage, sunglasses on, sweating, pacing in silence. That moment stuck. Food plays a big part in his story too. In this episode, Mike shares some of his favorite (and very humble) meals from childhood. And yes, there’s bacalhau.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Marta Pereira da Costa’s story speaks to instinct, dedication, and cultural pride. She began on the piano but what spoke to her was the unique 12 string Portuguese guitar. Today, Marta is one of the few soloists performing this complex instrument on stages around the world, representing her culture with Fado music. In this episode, Marta shares her path from civil engineering to full-time musician, her roots and hustle in the Fado houses of Lisbon, and how she landed a coveted spot on NPR’s Tiny Desk concert series. She also treats us to three live performances, each one played with unmistakable joy. Marta never leaves her guitar behind and never forgets where she comes from.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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