The Heart & Hustle of Portugal

Lilian Mehrel went to the Azores with her mother for a vacation and left there with a script. She teamed up with Portuguese producer Andreia Nunes and, a string of coincidences and happy encounters later, led them to win Tribeca’s 1 million dollars grant to shoot “Honeyjoon” in the place it was imagined the first time: the idyllic island of São Miguel. Listen to Lilian and Andreia’s incredible journey on the podcast The Heart and Hustle of Portugal.

Lilian and Andreia share the stories from the production and the magical moments that happened during shooting.

“Honeyjoon” is also a reminder that USA-Portuguese productions can happen more frequently and can really boost not only the Portuguese filmmaking industry but also the country’s beautiful scenery.

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The far-right has become Portugal’s leading opposition force. 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. This is a special episode from The Heart and Hustle of Portugal.

Ricardo Costa has covered many elections and is convinced that the two major political parties, PSD (winner of most of the seats but with no majority) and PS (which is on the verge of loosing the opposition place it has held) will work together to create stability.

With presidential elections next year, what will this political change mean for the stability of Portugal?

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Joel Sousa is leading the revival of Famel, the iconic motorcycle brand that was a staple of Portugal’s working class from the 60s through the 80s. Now reimagined as a sleek, sustainable electric bike, Famel is ready to ride again and once again become the two wheeler of “the People”.

Joel Sousa’s engineering background and willingness to get his hands on everything is the passion that drives the new iteration of Famel.

Joel talks about what it takes to bring a national symbol back to life, what he’s learned from the journey, and, of course, shares his favorite Portuguese dish.

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Lauren Covas is a proud Portuguese-American chef, two-time Food Network champ and now the author of “Little Portugal”, her cookbook that champions and highlights the Portuguese dishes and flavors of her youth, where, as she recalls, there was always something cooking in the kitchen: night and day.

For Lauren, food is deeply rooted in family and this conversation highlights this heritage, as she recalls her youth spent in the kitchen helping her parents prepare food.

As a proud lover of her Portuguese roots, Lauren adores bacalhau, of course, even claiming that the salted fish should be Portugal’s mascot. Host Tony Gonçalves nods in agreement.

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Gifford Miller planned a stop over in Lisbon on his way to Seville, but 36 hours later, he was house hunting and never made it to Seville. Today, he’s the owner of Atlético Clube de Portugal, a historic football club in the heart of the Portuguese capital. His motto? Football and good times

A former New York politician, Gifford shares his passion for football, and for walking - offering a few tips for navigating Lisbon’s steep hills.

He also shares his favorite Portuguese food and drinks, including a deep love for Madeira wine.

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Catarina Portas, the founder of A Vida Portuguesa, a store that celebrates and revives iconic Portuguese brands and products, shares her journey from journalism to entrepreneurship, from the opening of the first shop to a showcase at MoMA

Catarina Portas explains the importance of the swallow as a Portuguese icon and how A Vida Portuguesa is not about nostalgia but about identity and pride.

She also shares her favourite Portuguese qualities and how consumption can drive change in local economies.

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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. Known as “V” among friends, Virgilio discusses why success doesn’t require leaving Portugal and emphasises the significance of fostering local talent and investment.

V offers his straightforward insights on leadership, stressing the importance of focusing on value creation over chasing unicorn status.

He also delves into the strengths of Portuguese culture and shares some of his personal favorite Portuguese dishes.

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Neemias Queta is an icon: the first Portuguese NBA player. The 25 year old basketballer, currently playing for the Boston Celtics, shares his journey from his roots playing soccer in the streets of Lisbon to being drafted for the NBA in 2021

The Celtics player embodies a humbleness and kindness that rivals his competitive approach on the court, having won the NBA championship in 2024, in his first season with the team.

Neemias also shares his favourite Portuguese comfort food and his goal to fulfil his mother’s desire: to get a university degree.

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Before we kick off the second season of “The Heart and Hustle of Portugal,” our host, Tony Gonçalves, steps into the guest’s chair to be interviewed by Francisco Pedro Balsemão. They discuss Tony’s storied career in the media industry and his deep roots in Portugal.

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George Mendes, the chef from Amar in Boston, shares his personal journey from his culinary school nickname 'George Burns' to earning a Michelin Star in New York.

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