My Portugal Series: Tony Goncalves
'My Portugal' is our newsletter series celebrating Portuguese culture through conversations with friends of Portugalia Marketplace. This month, we are thrilled to feature Tony Goncalves, media executive and host of the podcast 'The Heart & Hustle of Portugal.'
Tony Goncalves is the founder of The Evrose Group, a growth strategy and advisory firm, and the host of "The Heart & Hustle of Portugal" podcast. As a Portuguese immigrant, his work with The Evrose Group and his podcast are deeply rooted in his mission to connect Portugal's emerging arts, media, and technology sectors with U.S. business opportunities. His distinguished professional background in media and entertainment includes serving as the Chief Revenue Officer of WarnerMedia, where he oversaw a $20 billion revenue portfolio and led the launch of the streaming service HBO Max. He also held the role of CEO of Otter Media as well as leadership positions at AT&T and DIRECTV, pioneering the pivot to streaming video. He has been recognized on Variety's "500 Entertainment Leaders & Icons" list for three consecutive years.
Portugalia Marketplace: As a U.S.-based Portuguese immigrant, could you share a bit about your journey as a young boy from Portugal to the U.S.?
Tony Goncalves: I was born in a tiny village in the north of Portugal. When I was four, my parents made the decision to leave for a better life and more opportunity. We were poor, living conditions were tough. The Salazar regime had just fallen but there still was not much hope. We got on a TWA 747 and landed at JFK, embraced by family and community into this land of opportunity. The kindness of others was our fuel and the need to take advantage of the opportunities in front of us shaped me.
PM: How has your experience as an immigrant influenced your career in the global media sphere?
TG: The grit, the constant push for more and better, came from watching the sacrifices my parents made to put food on the table. We had no choice but to work, and work harder than others, to thrive and differentiate ourselves. I think that work ethic and the example I saw in my mom and dad made me different throughout my career. I treated every opportunity as a gift, even the smallest projects. I ran small businesses and projects inside large organizations and to me they were always the most important. I never took anything for granted and I never accepted good enough as a standard.
PM: The podcast is titled “The Heart and Hustle of Portugal.” How did that title come about, and what impact do you hope the podcast has?
TG: We had many title options. We started out wanting to be creative and clever only to land on something basic and direct. Our mission is to highlight amazing people with stories to tell. They all have one thing in common, Portugal. They love the country, its culture, and they have all had to do a little more than expected to make it. Portuguese people are “desenrascados”, which loosely translates to resourceful, and for me that means hustle. We kept it simple and matter of fact so it represents our guests and their common thread.
PM: Beyond the guests you have had on the podcast, who is someone, living or historical, from Portugal whose story you find inspiring?
TG: You can go all the way back to the first king of Portugal, Dom Afonso Henriques, and find it inspiring that he believed in the country so much he fought his own mother for independence. Then you can fast forward to post revolution Portugal and a young lawyer named Mário Soares who put the country on the track to democracy. I stood in the very room that marked this path - its crazy! Two very different people at very different times, both driven by belief in Portugal.
PM: You rebuilt your childhood home in the Parish of Cabril and still spend time there. When you think of Portugal as home, what are the first three things that come to mind?
TG: First, roots, deep ones. This is where my heritage lives and the stories of my ancestors inspire me. Second, belonging. I feel more at home there than anywhere else in the world. And third, food. Simple, organic, plentiful, and accessible. It is a way of life.
PM: If you had to pick one Portuguese dish that embodies comfort and tradition, what would it be and why?
TG: Bacalhau, salted cod - this comes up on my podcast all the time! There is a running joke with a client that I do not need a menu, just tell me the bacalhau dish. It is tradition, it was easy to preserve, inexpensive at one time, and has 365 ways to prepare it. The simplest version, boiled cod, potatoes, egg, greens, olive oil, vinegar, and garlic, is soul food. One of my podcast guests, Lauren Covas, said it best “Bacalhau is our mascot”!
PM: Are there any particular Portuguese traditions or festivals that hold a special place in your heart? Could you share a memory associated with one?
TG: Patron saint festivals are a big thing in Portugal. I spent 50 years hearing about the one in my hometown but never fully experienced it until this past year. And I was lucky enough to share it with my family. Four days of food, family, worship, and connection. No fancy menus or cocktails, just bifanas and beer. Carrying the patron saint in the procession was deeply touching, and dancing to the local rock band performance made me feel like the little kid that left so long ago. We made memories - something I will never forget.
Bacalhau is our mascot. It’s the definition of Portuguese cuisine!
Delta Cafés Gran Roasted Whole Bean Espresso
Coffee is culture in Portugal and Delta is coffee! Plus, the founder’s leadership principles really resonate with me.
Americans grew up on Coke, Portuguese on Sumol. Soda = Sumol in Portugal.
Quinta d'Avó Piri Piri Portugal
I love my food with some spice. This particular one has an unexplainable flavor. We gift it all the time!
Seia do Tavares Cured Sheep Cheese
I have a friend who says the smellier the cheese the better. Cheese from Serra da Estrela is to die for.