The Heart & Hustle of Portugal

Eugenia Oswaldt left a corporate career to open up Tashca, a modern Portuguese eatery in Nolita, New York City. She tells Tony Gonçalves the story of how a visa issue led her to change a lucrative career for the hustle of opening up a restaurant.

Nuno Marques, the Portuguese pianist who played Carnegie Hall twice and built a festival from scratch, sits down with Tony Gonçalves to explain why he has spent a career carrying Portugal in his hands. Listen to The Heart & Hustle of Portugal

Filipe Santos, a Portuguese-American entrepreneur born in Newark, hrecounts a path that began in the tight-knit Portuguese community of his childhood and passed through more than a decade of heroin addiction. Listen to “The Heart & Hustle of Portugal”

Rita Barros has lived in the same room at the Chelsea Hotel, in Manhattan, for 42 years. Born in Lisbon, she arrived in New York in 1980 to study English and ended up staying. A temporary room, taken in 1984 while she looked for an apartment, became room 1008, a place she describes as a “cocoon” and a “warm, protective space” that has accompanied her through every stage of her life and work. Listen to “The Heart & Hustle of Portugal”

Ana Miranda arrived in New York in 2006 with a plan to spend three months studying acting before heading to Brazil. She stayed. In this episode of The Heart & Hustle of Portugal podcast, the founder of the Art Institute speaks to Tony Gonçalves abou how the city's energy changed her course.

Joey Bats never cooked a day in his life. He started selling Pasteis de Nata and now he has his own Boston place. Join us for this fascinating story about one of Portugal’s most enduring sweets and how its success on the other side of the Atlantic

Chef Nuno Sousa left Barcelos for New York with no formal culinary training, a background in football coaching and a determination to build something of his own. Nearly a decade later, he runs Leitao, a Portuguese restaurant in Manhattan’s West Village that has become a reference point for Portuguese cuisine in the city. Listen to the premiere of The Heart and Hustle of Portugal’s Season 5, recorded on location in New York

We revisit this conversation with Bankroll Hayden where the rapper speaks about his roots and what it means to be Portuguese now. Listen to The Heart & Hustle of Portugal

Revisit this conversation with Portuguese singer Richie Campbell, recorded live on location at the IPMA.

Nuno Seixas’ ambition is to bring light to the world. He started writing songs in 2019 and has recently won Best Video at the IPMA. He joins host Tony Gonçalves for a very earnest conversation about belief and light

Mackenzie Arromba is a young artist from Ontario, Canada, that has won two IPMA awards. At 25, that is a feat most artists don’t even dream. She joins Tony Gonçalves for a conversation about mental healt and longing for community

Half English, half Portuguese, always honest, Dave's videos have become a space where culture is passed down without pressure and tradition is kept alive without judgment

In this episode of podcast Heart & Hustle of Portugal: On Location, IPMA award winner Mariana Arroja sits down with Tony Gonçalves to talk about the song that changed everything, what it means to carry Portuguese roots across borders, and why fado doesn't need translation.

Nelson Sobral talks to Tony Gonçalves before his show at the IPMA. He talks about his love for the band Kiss and his favourite portuguese food. Listen to his conversation on the Heart and Hustle of Portugal podcast live from the IPMAs.

D.A.M.A. sit down again with Tony Gonçalves, before their act on the IPMA, to talk about portuguese heritage, food and what it means to be a genre

Ricardo Farias is a TV host and one of the most reconizable faces in the north-american portuguese community. Before stepping on stage to host the IPMA, he sat with Tony Gonçalves to talk about heritage and… chorizo

Manic Boys and Girls Club return for a special episode live backstage at the IPMA. Fernando and Bela talk about heritage, performance and the differences between live shows and recorded music

Sophia Tavares was nominated for Best New Talent at the 2026 IPMA. She sat down with Tony Gonçalves to talk about her love for music and how she almost lost her voice.

Daniela Ruah was born in Boston, grew up in Lisbon, and got her big break in New York. She built a career that took her from gymnastics competitions to NCIS: Los Angeles, and never stopped coming back.

Chazz Palminteri sold out his “A Bronx Tale” in Lisbon, the second time he performed his breakthrough show outside of the United Sates. We revisit his conversation with Tony Gonçalves on the podcast The Heart and Hustle of Portugal.

Nuno Bettencourt, one of the most celebrated guitarists in rock, left the Azores for Massachusetts at four years. The Extreme founder sits with Tony Gonçalves to revisit a journey that took him from his brother’s verdict “you’ll never amount to anything in music” to global stages, a Grammy, and the obsession with craft that still keeps him writing songs in hotel rooms while the tour bus rolls on.

American rapper Hayden Inacio, professionally known as Bankrol Hayden, discusses his music career and cultural identity from his Modesto, California origins, born in a family of Portuguese descent, to gaining prominence in the music industry at a young age, accumulating over a billion streams early in his trajectory.

Born in Angola and raised on the south bank of Lisbon, in Almada, by Cape Verdean parents, Carlão, the voice of the emblematic hip-hop band Da Weasel, joins Tony Gonçalves in an earnest and nostalgic conversation about being 50, about legacy and about growing up either too white or too black.

Richie Campbell did not build his artistic foundation at home. To conquer Portugal, the singer first had to find his voice in Kingston, grounding his identity in the purposeful, historically charged roots of Jamaican reggae. It is a story of reverse-engineering a career: bypassing local industry gatekeepers, leveraging the early internet, and seeking authenticity an ocean away before finally bringing his sound back to Lisbon. Listen to his story on “The Heart & Hustle of Portugal”.

Renowned Portuguese musician Pedro Abrunhosa sits down with Tony Gonçalves to reflect on a career that spans 30 years, records with Maceo Parker and Prince’s band, multiple number one hits in Portugal and sold out venues. From the funky beginnings with “Viagens” to the ballads and anthems of today, Abrunhosa is not just a household name, he is one of the most important Portuguese musicians of all time

In this special episode of The Heart & Hustle of Portugal, recorded live, producer Joana Vicente discusses her decision to leave senior institutional roles, including the leadership of the Sundance Institute, to return to direct involvement in filmmaking. After years away from the work, she makes the case for working closer to filmmakers at a moment when the independent film ecosystem is under renewed pressure.

For more than two decades, Paulo Furtado has built The Legendary Tigerman as a fiercely independent project, shaped by instinct, discipline and a refusal to compromise creatively. Listen to this fascinating artist on “The Heart and Hustle of Portugal”

Nelson Freitas speaks like someone still in motion. In a wide‑ranging conversation with Tony Gonçalves, the Dutch-born artist looks back on 25 years of music built without shortcuts, from selling records out of car trunks to filling dance floors across the Lusophone world and announcing “Legacy”, which he calls his final album.

Serena Kaos is a Portuguese singer‑songwriter who first caught public attention with a four‑chair turn on “The Voice Portugal” before choosing a harder, quieter route. She moved to London on impulse and began building her career from the street up as an independent busker. With a second album just released, she speaks candidly with Tony Gonçalves about fear, work, and the cost of artistic freedom.

Angelo Freire has spent most of his life slightly out of view, shaping the sound of contemporary fado from the place where it is built rather than displayed. A prodigy of the Portuguese guitar, he has accompanied some of the most decisive voices of the genre and, in doing so, helped carry a tradition that is both rigorously codified and quietly alive. Listen to him and his portuguese guitar on The Heart & Hustle of Portugal

Jessica Cipriano enters this conversation with Tony Gonçalves with the calm certainty of someone who has stood on stages larger than the doubts she still carries. The singer revisits the long path that brought her here: from shy early beginnings to the artistic rebirth that now propels her forward.

Capitão Fausto, one of the most respected bands in Portuguese music, joined Tony Gonçalves for an honest conversation about their career. Formed in Lisbon as teenagers, they evolved from a group of friends discovering music together into a defining force of modern indie rock. Their recent leap to the MEO Arena offered a rare chance to reflect on patience, risk, and what it means to grow without rushing. Listen to “The Heart & Hustle of Portugal”

The Manic Boys and Girls Club step into the podcast “The Heart & Hustle of Portugal” with the same raw charm and spontaneity that define their music. Siblings Bella and Fernando open up about a life split between Toronto and Portugal, and a career built less on strategy and more on instinct. It’s a conversation that feels both intimate and unfiltered.

Tim, a founding voice of Xutos & Pontapés, revisits the origins of a band that helped shape modern Portuguese music. In a conversation marked by humour and candour, he recalls the restless energy of post‑revolution Portugal, when two chords, a rehearsal room and an attitude were enough to start a movement. What began as teenage instinct quickly became cultural legacy.

Ruben de Almeida, known as Kura, is today one of the most influential names in Portuguese electronic music, with a solid presence on major international stages. He began as a shy resident DJ in Lisbon’s clubs and became one of the few Portuguese EDM artists to earn a prominent position in the DJ Mag Top 100. Listen to this conversation hosted by Tony Gonçalves.

IPMA founders José “Zach” Xavier and David Saraiva, joined by Manuel da Costa, talk with Tony Gonçalves about diaspora, love for music and the importance of international recognition for Portuguese talent.

Miguel Cristovinho (Cristo) and Miguel Coimbra, two of the three members of the band D.A.M.A., sit down for a conversation with Tony Gonçalves on the podcast “The Heart & Hustle of Portugal”

Singer-songwriter Carolina Deslandes’ conversation with Tony Gonçalves on “The Heart and Hustle of Portugal” podcast reveals an artist who moves between vulnerability and courage, always remaining true to herself. Deslandes speaks openly about motherhood, public exposure, and online hate with the frankness that characterizes her.

Journalist Mariana Van Zeller returns to The Heart and Hustle of Portugal and expands her love for Portugal’s mascot: Bacalhau. Listen again to this season 3 episode.

Listen again to this episode of The Heart and Hustle of Portugal with the actor Chazz Palminteri

Revisit the first episode of season 3 of The Heart and Hustle of Portugal with the singer-songwriter MARO.

Revisit this episode from season 3 of The Heart and Hustle of Portugal with comedian André de Freitas.

Afonso Pimentel sits down with Tony Gonçalves to talk about heritage, mental health and living with a sense of opportunity. Listen to the podcast The Heart and Hustle of Portugal

Piper Perabo sits down with Tony Gonçalves for an emotional and focused conversation on her career, Lisbon and her Portuguese “heritage”

Paula Lobo Antunes is one of the most recognized Portuguese actresses, leading career-defining roles in telenovelas, series and films. She carries that decades old legacy with an unforgiving pride, as she talks about fear, motherhood, acting and growing up on instinct Paula Lobo Antunes’s recent role in the film “A Teacher’s Gift” is as memorable as her career up to this point. Whether as a villain in “Flor do Mal” or as a leading protagonist role in “Mar de Paixão”, Paula knows she made the right decision to apply for drama school while studying medicine. She opens up about her career, her life, motherhood and family. She remembers how her father, the great neurosurgeon João Lobo Antunes, operated a VIH patient at a time where no one dared to touch an infected person. Throughout this conversation with Tony Gonçalves, Paula Lobo Antunes never ceases to give this sense of never belonging, of hard work, of always trying to compete with herself. And hard work pays off. Paula also suggests a Portuguese trait that no other guest has brought up to the table yet. The always apologising stance, the “forgive me for existing” mentality. How does that affect the cultural identity of a small country with huge talent?

One day, David Rodrigues was craving a real bifana so he filmed the process. Millions of views and two cookbooks later, everyone knows David and the typical Portuguese slang he uses in his videos. Join us for a special holiday episode about food and soul,

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Patrícia Vasconcelos is a renowned casting director and founder of Passaporte, a platform to help promote Portuguese actors abroad.

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.

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.

Ricardo Pereira’s acting career has crossed borders. Literally. It’s extremely unusual for a Portuguese actor to work consistently in Brasil, but Ricardo has done it - for twenty years.

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.

This year’s Upwardly Global honoree Mariana Van Zeller is back and she brings another four Emmys back home.

Ricardo Araújo Pereira is one of the sharpest and most distinctive voices in Portugal. He’s also very funny. But what he loves the most is writing.

Singer-songwriter MARO opens up Season 3 of The Heart and Hustle of Portugal.

In an insightful conversation with host Tony Gonçalves, Sebastião Bugalho discusses his visions for Portugal, Europe and also offers some insights into the rise of the far right party Chega.

Lindy Reid founded Rhodo Bagels, a bagel shop in the heart of Lisbon’s downtown that features amazing bagels, cookies and coffee. Listen to this conversation originally published in June.

Listen to Tim and Tony Gonçalves, episode originally published in June

Listen to this conversation originally published in April

John Calvao is a partner at Arrow Global and discusses his unique background in this insightful conversation on the challenges of building and investing in Portugal, originally released in June.

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.

Chef Lauren Covas just released her Cookbook “Little Portugal”. Listen to her conversation with Tony Gonçalves, originally published in July.

Comedian Mike Rita talks to Tony Gonçalves about Portuguese heritage, pain and being a funny guy.

Marta Pereira da Costa talks to Tony Gonçalves and shares her journey from the piano to the Portuguese guitar, and even delights us with three compositions that she plays with a huge smile on her face.

The true definition of an entrepreneur, José is now based in Texas and is the co-founder and CEO of Relive, a real-estate agency. Listen to the enthusiastic story of this true hustler.

Tim Vieira is Tony Gonçalves' guest for this episode.

Lindy Reid, from Rhodo Bagels, shares her story from New York to Portugal and her quest to bring the iconic bagel to Lisbon.

In this episode, John Calvão shares how Arrow is helping reshape Portugal’s real estate landscape from resort towns like Vilamoura to new efforts in affordable housing

Celebrating Youth Day, Tony Gonçalves talks with 14 year old The Voice Kids winner Julia Machado

Lilian Mehrel went to the Azores with her mother for a vacation and left there with a script.

Tony Gonçalves sat down with Ricardo Costa, Chief Content Officer at Grupo Impresa and one of the most trusted voices in Portuguese media to get a glimpse of the new political landscape in Portugal following yet another snap election.

Joel Sousa from Famel joins Tony Gonçalves for an earnest conversation about entrepreneurship and reviving an iconic brand.

Chef Lauren Covas shares her Portuguese heritage in this flavor infused conversation.

Gifford Miller is the owner of Atlético Clube de Lisboa and shares his passion for Portuguese football.

Catarina Portas, the founder of Vida Portuguesa, shares her journey from journalism to entrepreneurship

Virgilio Bento, CEO of Sword Health and leader of one of Portugal’s notable unicorn companies joins host Tony Gonçalves for this episode of The Heart and Hustle of Portugal.

Neemias Queta, the first Portuguese player drafted for the NBA, is the guest of Tony Gonçalves.

Tony Gonçalves steps into the guest’s chair to be interviewed by Francisco Pedro Balsemão

Filmmaking duo Marlee and Karlee Rodrigues share their experiences reclaiming their grandparents heritage using documentary as a means to perpetuate the culture.

Rerelease of the second episode of The Heart and Hustle of Portugal with actor Joaquim de Almeida

Nuno Morais Sarmento joins host Tony Gonçalves for an earnest conversation about life, politics and giving to others.

Diogo Mónica, Anchorage Digital's co-founder, is Tony Gonçalves' guest

Derrick DeMelo and Brian Martins talk with Tony Gonçalves about heritage and the strength of the Fall River Portuguese community.

Tune in for a masterclass in the intersection of creativity and the art of the hustle with producer Jon Kilik.

Lisbon Mayor Carlos Moedas joins Tony Gonçalves for an earnest conversation about immigration, the struggles of Portugal’s capital and the what the future holds. Listen to the The Heart and Hustle of Portugal

In this episode of the podcast The Heart and Hustle of Portugal, Tony Gonçalves interviews actress and director Daniela Ruah, exploring her journey from Boston to Portugal, her experiences in the entertainment industry, and her deep connection to her Portuguese roots

George Mendes, the Michelin starred chef that now operates Amar in Boston, talks to Tony Gonçalves about perfection, pursuit and Portuguese heritage.

Portuguese filmmaking duo Karlee and Marlee Rodrigues, based in the United States, speak with Tony Gonçalves about their film, “Os Sonhos Continuam”, their Portuguese heritage and their quest to film about Portuguese Rancho and Folclore.

Transition from architecture to acting and the journey involved: portuguese actor Pepe Rapazote

Award-winning journalist Mariana van Zeller shares her journey from Portugal to becoming a prominent figure in investigative journalism.

Tony Gonçalves interviews veteran journalist Dennis Redmont, who shares his remarkable journey from a childhood influenced by journalism to becoming a foreign correspondent in Portugal during a time of significant political upheaval.

US Ambassador to Portugal, Randi Charno Levine tells us that it was here where she learned that the true soul of a country resides in its nooks and crannies in this conversation with Tony Gonçalves for the podcast The Heart and Hustle of Portugal.

Tony Gonçalves talks with Joaquim de Almeida, Portugal’s most famous actor

Former CEO of Sundance explores the role of film festivals, support for diverse narratives, and the potential growth of the Portuguese film industry