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

Marta Pereira da Costa’s story speaks to instinct, dedication, and cultural pride. She began on the piano but what spoke to her was the unique 12 string Portuguese guitar. Today, Marta is one of the few soloists performing this complex instrument on stages around the world, representing her culture with Fado music. In this episode, Marta shares her path from civil engineering to full-time musician, her roots and hustle in the Fado houses of Lisbon, and how she landed a coveted spot on NPR’s Tiny Desk concert series. She also treats us to three live performances, each one played with unmistakable joy. Marta never leaves her guitar behind and never forgets where she comes from.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

José Costa Rodrigues started selling iPhones to his friends in his teens, now he’s making it big in the United States. The true definition of an entrepreneur, José is now based in Texas and is the co-founder and CEO of Relive, a real-estate agency. Listen to the enthusiastic story of this true hustler. José shares his humble beginnings selling iPhones, a move that led him to be known as “José dos iPhones” and his first company, Forall Phones, that was acquired in 2020. But José has not forgotten his Portuguese heritage, and is focused on harnessing the best of both countries.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tim Vieira was born in South Africa but his Portuguese heritage shines bright. A businessman, entrepreneur and investor, Tim is running for President of Portugal, a bold move that we discuss in this episode of the podcast The Heart and Hustle of Portugal. Speaking with host Tony Gonçalves, Tim explains his down to earth approach to politics and why he wants to give back to Portugal. As usual, our guest shares his favorite Portuguese food is and why he believes Portugal is an amazing place to live.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What do you do when you miss a childhood staple food from your home country? Well, you make a business out of it, of course. Lindy Reid was baking bagels at home when when she started living in Lisbon and everyone loved them. Rhodo Bagels is now a colorful downtown place, where you can eat amazing bagels, drink great coffee and lush on delicious cookies. Lindy’s story is also one of finding your place in a foreign country, a testament that good food has no language. She also shares her favorite places and things to do in Lisbon.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

John Calvão is a Partner and Fund Principal at Arrow, one of Europe’s leading credit and real estate investment platforms. In this episode, John shares how Arrow is helping reshape Portugal’s real estate landscape from resort towns like Vilamoura to new efforts in affordable housing. He reflects on the unique opportunities Portugal offers, the cultural values that shape his leadership, and the practical hurdles that still need solving like long licensing delays and complex bureaucracy. He breaks down the barriers, but also the potential, and reminds us why investing here is both a challenge and a privilege. Plus, he shares his favorite Portuguese dish and what still makes the country feel like home.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Julia Machado may only be 14, but Tony’s conversation with her showed that she is wise beyond her years. Winner of The Voice Kids Portugal, Julia is a songwriter, a singer and has the dream of using her music to help other people through challenges including bullying. As we celebrate World Youth Day, listen to her extraordinary journey (and perspective) on The Heart and Hustle of Portugal.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.