Sophia Tavares grew up in Porto, fell in love with music on a 13-hour road trip to Spain, and almost walked away from it all after completely losing her voice. She didn't. And she was nominated for Best New Talent at the 2026 IPMA.

In this episode of Heart & Hustle: On Location, recorded at the International Portuguese Music Awards in Providence, Sophia sits down with Tony Gonçalves to talk about the email she almost didn't open, the vulnerability she wants every listener to feel, finding her voice again after losing it, a dream collaboration with Billie Eilish, and what it felt like to land in Boston for the first time and think “I’m home”.

Sophia Tavares grew up in Porto, fell in love with music on a 13-hour road trip to Spain, and almost walked away from it all after completely losing her voice. She didn't. And she was nominated for Best New Talent at the 2026 IPMA.
In this episode of Heart &amp; Hustle: On Location, recorded at the International Portuguese Music Awards in Providence, Sophia sits down with Tony Gon&ccedil;alves to talk about the email she almost didn't open, the vulnerability she wants every listener to feel, finding her voice again after losing it, a dream collaboration with Billie Eilish, and what it felt like to land in Boston for the first time and think &ldquo;I&rsquo;m home&rdquo;.

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

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.

Sophia Tavares lost her voice, then ended up on the IPMA stage

Chef Nuno Sousa reflects on his journey from immigrant worker with three jobs to restaurant owner, and on how New York’s culture of resilience, risk-taking and reinvention shaped both his career and his outlook.

The conversation traces the growth of Leitao from a street-food concept inspired by New York’s Smorgasburg market to a restaurant that introduced many American diners to Portuguese dishes such as leitão, francesinha, bacalhau and octopus. Sousa discusses the challenges of presenting Portuguese food outside Portugal, the importance of quality ingredients and hospitality, and the opportunity created by the growing international interest in Portuguese culture, tourism and gastronomy.

Sousa also looks ahead to Galo, his new restaurant project, which aims to showcase Portugal’s regional wines and culinary traditions in a more ambitious setting. Throughout the conversation, he reflects on identity, migration and the values he associates with the Portuguese community: resilience, courage and hard work. The result is a portrait of an entrepreneur using food as a way to represent Portugal on one of the world's most competitive culinary stages.

The synopsis of this episode was created with the help of AI. Read more about Impresa’s use of Artificial Intelligence

Chef Nuno Sousa reflects on his journey from immigrant worker with three jobs to restaurant owner, and on how New York&rsquo;s culture of resilience, risk-taking and reinvention shaped both his career and his outlook.
The conversation traces the growth of Leitao from a street-food concept inspired by New York&rsquo;s Smorgasburg market to a restaurant that introduced many American diners to Portuguese dishes such as leit&atilde;o, francesinha, bacalhau and octopus. Sousa discusses the challenges of presenting Portuguese food outside Portugal, the importance of quality ingredients and hospitality, and the opportunity created by the growing international interest in Portuguese culture, tourism and gastronomy.
Sousa also looks ahead to Galo, his new restaurant project, which aims to showcase Portugal&rsquo;s regional wines and culinary traditions in a more ambitious setting. Throughout the conversation, he reflects on identity, migration and the values he associates with the Portuguese community: resilience, courage and hard work. The result is a portrait of an entrepreneur using food as a way to represent Portugal on one of the world's most competitive culinary stages.
The synopsis of this episode was created with the help of AI. <a href="https://expresso.pt/sobre/estatuto-editorial/2020-01-20-estatuto-editorial-3c79f4ec">Read more about Impresa&rsquo;s use of Artificial Intelligence</a>

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

“Losing one-zero”: Nuno Sousa on running a restaurant like a soccer match

Hayden Inacio grew up in Modesto, California — Central Valley, agricultural, working class. His grandfather emigrated from Terceira in the Azores, came through the East Coast, and eventually built a dairy. By the time Hayden came along, the Portuguese was mostly gone: no language, not much culture, just a last name and a grandmother's saying that would end up in a song.

He started rapping at 13. At 16, he was in a near-fatal car crash that killed two people, broke his back, left him on life support for six days, and eventually produced “29” — written from a hospital bed, recorded before he could walk properly, and the song that launched everything. A billion streams, three albums, and a platinum plaque later, he walked into an IPMA pre-party in Providence not really thinking of himself as Portuguese. He left with an award, a cousin pointing at a photo of his avô, and a challenge to record something in the language his mother decided not to teach him.

Hayden Inacio grew up in Modesto, California &mdash; Central Valley, agricultural, working class. His grandfather emigrated from Terceira in the Azores, came through the East Coast, and eventually built a dairy. By the time Hayden came along, the Portuguese was mostly gone: no language, not much culture, just a last name and a grandmother's saying that would end up in a song.
He started rapping at 13. At 16, he was in a near-fatal car crash that killed two people, broke his back, left him on life support for six days, and eventually produced &ldquo;29&rdquo; &mdash; written from a hospital bed, recorded before he could walk properly, and the song that launched everything. A billion streams, three albums, and a platinum plaque later, he walked into an IPMA pre-party in Providence not really thinking of himself as Portuguese. He left with an award, a cousin pointing at a photo of his av&ocirc;, and a challenge to record something in the language his mother decided not to teach him.

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

Rerelease: Bankrol Hayden on making a hit on his death bed

Richie Campbell went to Jamaica at 18 with one contact and no plan. He printed out Patois lyrics at school to learn the language. He learned to compete in Kingston studios before Portugal fully understood what he was building. Speaking with Tony Gonçalves, one idea prevails: Portugal gave him roots, Jamaica gave him meaning.

His new album is called Elephant in the Room. This is the conversation behind it, recorded live on location at the IPMA.

Richie Campbell went to Jamaica at 18 with one contact and no plan. He printed out Patois lyrics at school to learn the language. He learned to compete in Kingston studios before Portugal fully understood what he was building. Speaking with Tony Gon&ccedil;alves, one idea prevails: Portugal gave him roots, Jamaica gave him meaning.
His new album is called Elephant in the Room. This is the conversation behind it, recorded live on location at the IPMA.

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

Sophia Tavares lost her voice, then ended up on the IPMA stage

In 1 playlist(s)

The Heart and Hustle of Portugal

Social links

Follow podcast

Recent clips