The Good Morning Portugal! podcast with Carl Munson

The episode examines why fuel is so expensive in Portugal, noting that about 47 cents of every euro spent on petrol and around 42 cents on diesel goes to the state through stacked taxes. 
Using AI research, it breaks down the main components: ISP fuel duty, a carbon tax added on top, and 23% VAT applied to the full price (effectively “tax on tax”). 
A real-world example estimates that filling a 50-liter petrol tank at €2.075/L costs €103.75, with roughly €49 going to taxation, and an average driver could pay about €886 per year in fuel tax alone. 
The discussion compares Portugal’s fuel-tax burden to other EU countries, questions policy choices, and considers alternatives like electric cars, driving less, public transport, walking, cycling, and living closer to work.
00:00 Fuel Tax Shock
01:29 Breaking Down Petrol Costs
03:17 Diesel Taxes and Real Costs
05:28 Portugal vs EU Prices
06:27 EVs Not a Simple Fix
08:11 Practical Alternatives to Driving
09:54 15 Minute City Debate
11:10 Switching to AI News


Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-good-morning-portugal-podcast-with-carl-munson--2903992/support.

Get help moving to and living in Portugal

On Monday 14th September 2026, Carl Munson’s Good Morning Portugal! news focuses on two big stories: the Sophia solar project being scaled down by 35% after environmental feedback, and Lightsource BP cancelling a Beiras solar plant. The other main theme is fuel prices, with an economist warning against cutting VAT on fuel amid a political dispute over the tax burden at the pump. 

Additional headlines include Chega accusing Livre over the parliamentary office break-in, a study showing independent ministers tend to stay in post longer than party officials, and the Socialist Party criticising the education minister. 

Clear skies and late-summer heat continue, with highs of 32°C in Lisbon and 36°C in Évora.

#GoodMorningPortugal #PortugalNews #SofiaSolar #FuelTax #VAT #LightsourceBP #Chega #Livre #Portugal2026

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-good-morning-portugal-podcast-with-carl-munson--2903992/support.

Get help moving to and living in Portugal

In this episode, Filomena Pascoal - an experienced teacher of 38 years and a longtime mentor to the hosts - introduces her work teaching Portuguese to foreigners and English to Portuguese adults, running private one-to-one lessons and EU-sponsored A1/A2 group courses (including online courses with Expats Portugal - https://expatsportugal.com/fun-portuguese-language-course-for-expats-in-portugal-portuguese-language-course/). 
She also does certified translations (including French–Portuguese) and accompanies clients to places like town halls, banks, doctors, and even court to interpret and boost their confidence. Philomena describes her flexible, student-centered teaching style, using videos and podcasts alongside books when helpful. Her top advice for learners is consistency, practicing regularly, and not fearing mistakes; she warns against translating directly from English and encourages speaking with simple vocabulary. 
Filomena shares humorous stories about pronunciation mix-ups (debaixo/beijo; casado/cansado) and a “Sumol/small/some more” misunderstanding.
00:00 Welcome and Introductions
00:52 Meet Filomena Pascoal
02:33 Teaching and Translation Work
05:39 Teaching Style and Courses
09:34 Advice for Learning Portuguese
11:35 Pronunciation and Funny Mixups
20:13 Closing Thanks and Weekend Plans


Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-good-morning-portugal-podcast-with-carl-munson--2903992/support.

Get help moving to and living in Portugal

Full story - https://www.portugalresident.com/environmental-groups-demand-action-after-fresh-wildlife-deaths-near-salgados-lagoon/

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-good-morning-portugal-podcast-with-carl-munson--2903992/support.

Get help moving to and living in Portugal

On Friday 11th September 2026, Carl Munson’s Good Morning Portugal! news reports that the Portuguese Armed Forces are strengthening cyber defences through partnerships with national firms BlackRoute and Ethiac, backed by more than €920,000. 

Other headlines include President António José Seguro visiting the Algarve, a ministerial call for fiscal responsibility in the state budget, Portugal ranking low in EU funding execution, a fire at historic Café Nicola in Lisbon injuring three people, and low-income pensioners set to receive a €200 December bonus. 

Temperatures remain high, with Lisbon forecast to reach 31°C and Évora 34°C.

Keep in touch 24/7 - https://portugaltalkradio.com/

#GoodMorningPortugal #PortugalNews #CyberDefence #CafeNicola #PensionBonus #Algarve #StateBudget #FeelgoodFriday #Portugal2026

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-good-morning-portugal-podcast-with-carl-munson--2903992/support.

Get help moving to and living in Portugal

Celebrating International Port Wine Day on 10 September, marking the 1756 anniversary when the Marquês de Pombal created the Companhia Geral de Agricultura das Vinhas do Alto Douro and established Alto Douro as the world’s first officially demarcated, regulated wine region, later commemorated as Port Wine Day in 2014 by the Douro and Port Wine Institute.

Ending with a Portuguese-learning “mission” featuring port-wine vocabulary, styles, and a conversation prompt: “Qual é o seu preferido? Por quê?”

Get the SWAT Portuguese mission module - https://www.skool.com/gmp-vips-1236/classroom/5dbee6b1?md=acbf04cb4c8a4d2585187a4bcdbb67b3

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-good-morning-portugal-podcast-with-carl-munson--2903992/support.

Get help moving to and living in Portugal

Fizz: Automating Taxes & Cutting Business Bureaucracy in Portugal | Good Morning Portugal
On the Good Morning Portugal show, Carl interviews Mike from Fizz, a tech-based financial assistant designed to reduce the bureaucracy of running a business in Portugal, especially around understanding, calculating, and filing taxes. Mike explains that Fizz automates tax calculations and filings, sends users alerts, and helps entrepreneurs stay calm by largely removing the need to manage taxes manually. He also previews a new dashboard launching this month that functions like a financial director, giving visibility into cashflow and financial position to help small business owners manage money better. They discuss how Fizz translates “accountancy language” into normal language, supports personalization, and uses an AI agent that tracks legal changes to interpret taxes correctly amid rapid growth and frequent rule updates.
00:00 Welcome From Madeira
00:33 Portugal Business Pain
00:54 Meet Fizz Assistant
01:18 Automating Taxes
02:11 Cashflow Dashboard
02:53 Tech Not Accountancy
03:36 Bridging Accountant Language
04:35 Why Accountants Struggle
05:20 AI Personalization
05:58 Wrap Up And Next Steps

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-good-morning-portugal-podcast-with-carl-munson--2903992/support.

Get help moving to and living in Portugal

Paul & Carl criticise supermarket and food-industry labelling as cynical and shameful, describing tactics like hiding product descriptions in cooking instructions and manipulating labelling laws to mislead consumers, especially around processed foods and ready meals. 
They compare past openly “junk” foods with today’s products marketed as wholesome, arguing shoppers are now targeted with more cunning marketing, such as simply adding the word “protein.” 
Paul speaker recalls studying food production and being shocked even then, and contrasts earlier decades of home growing, preserving, and local independent shops with the rise and power of supermarkets. 
They advocate buying from local markets where you can see what’s produced, speak to producers, and support high-quality items like cheeses, stressing that it may not cost more and urging “use it or lose it” to preserve local food sources.
00:00 Supermarket Labelling Rant
00:33 Hidden Ingredients Tricks
00:57 Why It Got Worse
01:41 Shop Local Market
02:25 Listener Messages and Additives
03:10 Wholesome Marketing Myth
03:25 War Era Frugality Roots
04:39 From Village Shops to Supermarkets
05:20 Power and Processing Problems
06:13 Use It or Lose It

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-good-morning-portugal-podcast-with-carl-munson--2903992/support.

Get help moving to and living in Portugal

Today, this monthly discussion reviews Bank of Portugal figures suggesting foreign real-estate investment fell from about 1.9 to 1.7 billion, questioning whether Portugal’s market is cooling or maturing. 
Paul argues the data depends on what is counted, but says the headline “decline” is really a refinement as Lisbon, Porto and the Algarve have become unaffordable and yields in central Lisbon are thin (roughly 3.5–5%), pushing “floating capital” to seek better returns inland and outside expensive areas. 
They note reports of sharp rent and price increases in Portugal, contrast them with London declines, and describe greater caution about overpaying and 2008-style downside risk. 
Paul highlights an inland development investment in Pedrogão Grande and an opt-in quarterly investment newsletter via rural-properties.com, then explains asking prices may be unrealistic, inheritance sales can inflate prices, and buyers can still find value by understanding seller motivations and negotiating beyond price.
00:00 Bank Report Question
00:52 What Counts as Property
01:43 Returns and Overpricing
03:04 Looking Inland for Value
04:40 Maturation Not Cooling
06:46 Bigger Projects and Funding
08:03 Investment Newsletter Signup
09:31 Asking Prices vs Reality
11:31 Finding Value and Negotiating
14:08 Next Topic Teaser


Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-good-morning-portugal-podcast-with-carl-munson--2903992/support.

Get help moving to and living in Portugal

In this live conversation, Carl interviews Ali Heathfield, author of “Not Done Yet,” about balancing digital tools with real-life community - especially for foreigners settling in Portugal. 
Ali describes herself as an encourager and shares how redesigning her website and publishing three books, with AI used for editing but not writing, sparked reflections on time online and the “digital divide.” 
They argue digital connection isn’t inherently good or bad and works best as a bridge to real life, warning that expats can isolate themselves by only connecting online with people from their own culture and language instead of engaging locally through cafes, events, and new groups. 
They discuss loneliness trends, “friction maxing” as a countertrend toward in-person experiences, the lack of nuance and increased rudeness online, and the need to review habits, embrace discomfort, and build community both online and offline.
Find Ali here - https://aliheathfield.com/
00:00 Live Intro and Banter
01:15 Meet Ali the Encourager
02:04 Digital Divide Spark
03:24 AI as Editing Tool
05:43 Mission Drift and Marketing
07:25 Digital Life in Portugal
09:27 Cafe Culture and Belonging
10:30 Friction Maxing Trend
13:01 Balance and Self Review
14:46 Online Chess Parenting
15:14 Chess On Phones
16:03 Online Judgment Culture
16:55 Relocation Groundwork
18:23 Context And Road Rage
19:38 Aging And Change
20:58 Forced Online Services
22:10 Coaching Courses Retreats
22:59 Seek Joy Not Offense
24:27 Banking And Cashless Shift
25:50 Website Resources And T Chat
26:55 Viewer Comments Wrap Up
29:01 Farewell And A Team Pitch


Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-good-morning-portugal-podcast-with-carl-munson--2903992/support.

Get help moving to and living in Portugal