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.

Lauren Covas is a proud Portuguese-American chef, two-time Food Network champ and now the author of &ldquo;Little Portugal&rdquo;, 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&rsquo;s mascot. Host Tony Gon&ccedil;alves nods in agreement.

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

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

From Murtosa to the mainstream: chef Lauren Covas on food, family, and the flavor of Portugal

Pedro Abrunhosa’s career is nothing short of incredible, but his words always speak louder than fame or talent. A man of causes, he is quick to denounce the bombings in Gaza and Iran… in less than 10 minutes since the beginning of this conversation. He started as a double bass player, went to New York where he learned discipline and played with all the “cats”, then came back to Porto and, inspired by the sounds of dance music, crafted “Viagens”, a record about “sex, drugs and corruption” that featured Maceo Parker, James Brown’s saxophone player, and mixed sweaty funk with raw ballads that were sung by millions and led to completely sold out shows. He crafted a sound and a vibe that was unheard of, and totally unexpected, in the “grey Portugal” of the early 90s.

That record was a hit, so he did more. His second album “Tempo” was recorded with The New Power Generation, Prince’s band. And it spawned even more hits. He proved that he could do it. And has been doing it for 30 years. But he doesn’t believe in inspiration, that’s for the “rich guys in Beverly Hills houses overlooking the sea”. He is inspired by the world, the good, the bad and the pain. Pedro Abrunhosa navigates his words like he navigates a double bass or the piano his grandfathers had when he was growing up: with seriousness, measured tempo and wisdom.

Pedro Abrunhosa&rsquo;s career is nothing short of incredible, but his words always speak louder than fame or talent. A man of causes, he is quick to denounce the bombings in Gaza and Iran&hellip; in less than 10 minutes since the beginning of this conversation. He started as a double bass player, went to New York where he learned discipline and played with all the &ldquo;cats&rdquo;, then came back to Porto and, inspired by the sounds of dance music, crafted &ldquo;Viagens&rdquo;, a record about &ldquo;sex, drugs and corruption&rdquo; that featured Maceo Parker, James Brown&rsquo;s saxophone player, and mixed sweaty funk with raw ballads that were sung by millions and led to completely sold out shows. He crafted a sound and a vibe that was unheard of, and totally unexpected, in the &ldquo;grey Portugal&rdquo; of the early 90s.
That record was a hit, so he did more. His second album &ldquo;Tempo&rdquo; was recorded with The New Power Generation, Prince&rsquo;s band. And it spawned even more hits. He proved that he could do it. And has been doing it for 30 years. But he doesn&rsquo;t believe in inspiration, that&rsquo;s for the &ldquo;rich guys in Beverly Hills houses overlooking the sea&rdquo;. He is inspired by the world, the good, the bad and the pain. Pedro Abrunhosa navigates his words like he navigates a double bass or the piano his grandfathers had when he was growing up: with seriousness, measured tempo and wisdom.

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

Pedro Abrunhosa’s legacy is making legacy in a country that had nobody like him before

The conversation between Joana Vicente and Tony Gonçalves examines the current strain on the industry: distribution bottlenecks, shrinking financing, and established directors struggling to secure budgets once considered routine. Vicente frames technology, including artificial intelligence, as a potential lever for independent cinema. Not as a replacement for creative work, but as a way to preserve ambition within tighter economic limits.

From that context, she introduces Open Cities, a production company built around an accelerator model. The approach is deliberately pragmatic: strong scripts, shorter development cycles, and decision-making that stays in the hands of directors and producers. AI as a tool for better stories, not better factories.

The conversation between Joana Vicente and Tony Gon&ccedil;alves examines the current strain on the industry: distribution bottlenecks, shrinking financing, and established directors struggling to secure budgets once considered routine. Vicente frames technology, including artificial intelligence, as a potential lever for independent cinema. Not as a replacement for creative work, but as a way to preserve ambition within tighter economic limits.
From that context, she introduces Open Cities, a production company built around an accelerator model. The approach is deliberately pragmatic: strong scripts, shorter development cycles, and decision-making that stays in the hands of directors and producers. AI as a tool for better stories, not better factories.

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.

Joana Vicente: Independent film and the AI revolution

Emerging from Coimbra in the 1990s with Tedio Boys, Paulo Furtado’s early career was marked by confrontation, underground momentum and a rapid leap to international stages, including tours in the United States. The shift to a one‑man band came after the exhaustion of group dynamics and a deep attraction to the raw energy of Delta blues and punk. What began almost by accident evolved into an obsessive pursuit of sound, performance and total artistic control, with albums recorded live and a stage presence that carried both risk and solitude. Over time, that intensity softened: Tigerman expanded into collaborations, filmmaking and soundtracks, embracing a broader creative universe while maintaining autonomy over his work.

Fatherhood has recently introduced a new recalibration. Once convinced that art had to be the central force in an artist’s life, Paulo Furtado now acknowledges a different hierarchy, learning to balance creation with care, urgency with presence. The spark, he insists, remains the same — the need to make something new — but it now exists alongside a quieter clarity. Art, he says, saved his life. Today, it continues to shape it, just no longer alone.

Emerging from Coimbra in the 1990s with Tedio Boys, Paulo Furtado&rsquo;s early career was marked by confrontation, underground momentum and a rapid leap to international stages, including tours in the United States. The shift to a one‑man band came after the exhaustion of group dynamics and a deep attraction to the raw energy of Delta blues and punk. What began almost by accident evolved into an obsessive pursuit of sound, performance and total artistic control, with albums recorded live and a stage presence that carried both risk and solitude. Over time, that intensity softened: Tigerman expanded into collaborations, filmmaking and soundtracks, embracing a broader creative universe while maintaining autonomy over his work.
Fatherhood has recently introduced a new recalibration. Once convinced that art had to be the central force in an artist&rsquo;s life, Paulo Furtado now acknowledges a different hierarchy, learning to balance creation with care, urgency with presence. The spark, he insists, remains the same &mdash; the need to make something new &mdash; but it now exists alongside a quieter clarity. Art, he says, saved his life. Today, it continues to shape it, just no longer alone.

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”

From Murtosa to the mainstream: chef Lauren Covas on food, family, and the flavor of Portugal

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