Carlos Moedas has held the mayor office since 2021 when he won over projected winner Fernando Medina. Being the mayor of Portugal’s capital is no easy task, a job that is constantly in the spotlight. The mayor describes his experiences living abroad, as an immigrant, and how that shaped his leadership today.

This earnest conversation also focus on the strength of the city’s immigrant population, the importance of innovation and the housing challenges.

Carlos Moedas has held the mayor office since 2021 when he won over projected winner Fernando Medina. Being the mayor of Portugal&rsquo;s capital is no easy task, a job that is constantly in the spotlight. The mayor describes his experiences living abroad, as an immigrant, and how that shaped his leadership today.
This earnest conversation also focus on the strength of the city&rsquo;s immigrant population, the importance of innovation and the housing challenges.

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.

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.

Tony Gonçalves—a U.S.-based Portuguese immigrant and successful media executive— explores the stories of those driving Portugal’s influence on the global stage

The Heart & Hustle of Portugal

The Heart and Hustle of Portugal

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

Carlos Moedas: “I'm always a little bit underestimated in the political scene but I like it. I prefer to be underestimated, that's a huge power”

Actor Afonso Pimentel, one of the most recognizable faces from Netflix’s “Turn of the Tide”, carries with him a story that reveals how a single moment of hesitation can alter the course of a career. Early on, when a casting director from Los Angeles reached out requesting his reel, Pimentel didn’t have one prepared. He asked for two weeks to assemble it: The reply never came.

Only years later did he discover what was at stake: the production was casting for a then‑unknown series titled “Lost”, a show that would go on to become a global phenomenon. The opportunity evaporated before he had the chance to compete for it, a reminder that, in the entertainment industry, timing matters, but acting on timing matters more. Windows of opportunity rarely stay open.

Today, Pimentel’s path has brought him international visibility through Netflix and a growing body of work that solidifies his reputation. Yet the missed “Lost” moment remains part of his narrative, an example of the unpredictable turns that shape creative careers. It’s a story that resonates not only with actors, but with anyone working in an industry where momentum is fragile — and where hesitation can mean watching a defining moment pass by.

Actor Afonso Pimentel, one of the most recognizable faces from Netflix&rsquo;s &ldquo;Turn of the Tide&rdquo;, carries with him a story that reveals how a single moment of hesitation can alter the course of a career. Early on, when a casting director from Los Angeles reached out requesting his reel, Pimentel didn&rsquo;t have one prepared. He asked for two weeks to assemble it: The reply never came.
Only years later did he discover what was at stake: the production was casting for a then‑unknown series titled &ldquo;Lost&rdquo;, a show that would go on to become a global phenomenon. The opportunity evaporated before he had the chance to compete for it, a reminder that, in the entertainment industry, timing matters, but acting on timing matters more. Windows of opportunity rarely stay open.
Today, Pimentel&rsquo;s path has brought him international visibility through Netflix and a growing body of work that solidifies his reputation. Yet the missed &ldquo;Lost&rdquo; moment remains part of his narrative, an example of the unpredictable turns that shape creative careers. It&rsquo;s a story that resonates not only with actors, but with anyone working in an industry where momentum is fragile &mdash; and where hesitation can mean watching a defining moment pass by.

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

Afonso Pimentel: how a Portuguese actor closed a 30-year circle in the Atlantic

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.

Actor Piper Perabo&rsquo;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: &ldquo;You got the part&rdquo;. 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 &ldquo;Coyote Ugly&rdquo; and the series &ldquo;Covert Affairs&rdquo; Perabo&rsquo;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&rsquo;s Tribeca Festival Lisboa, attending the opening-night screening of &ldquo;In the Hand of Dante&rdquo;. Piper&rsquo;s first time in Lisbon was a moment she will treasure forever, as she remembers a particular afternoon around a &ldquo;ginjinha&rdquo; place downtown in the pouring rain.

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

Piper Perabo on acting, activism, and a little bit of Portugal

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?

Paula Lobo Antunes&rsquo;s recent role in the film &ldquo;A Teacher&rsquo;s Gift&rdquo; 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 Paix&atilde;o, 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 Jo&atilde;o Lobo Antunes, operated on an HIV patient at a time when no one else would dare.
Throughout this conversation with Tony Gon&ccedil;alves, 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 &ldquo;forgive me for existing&rdquo; mentality. What does that mean for the cultural identity of a small country with enormous talent?

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?

Carlos Moedas: “I'm always a little bit underestimated in the political scene but I like it. I prefer to be underestimated, that's a huge power”

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