The Good Morning Portugal! podcast with Carl Munson

In this episode, Filomena Pascoal - an experienced teacher of 38 years and a longtime mentor to the hosts - introduces her work teaching Portuguese to foreigners and English to Portuguese adults, running private one-to-one lessons and EU-sponsored A1/A2 group courses (including online courses with Expats Portugal - https://expatsportugal.com/fun-portuguese-language-course-for-expats-in-portugal-portuguese-language-course/). 
She also does certified translations (including French–Portuguese) and accompanies clients to places like town halls, banks, doctors, and even court to interpret and boost their confidence. Philomena describes her flexible, student-centered teaching style, using videos and podcasts alongside books when helpful. Her top advice for learners is...

Full story - https://www.portugalresident.com/environmental-groups-demand-action-after-fresh-wildlife-deaths-near-salgados-lagoon/

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On Friday 11th September 2026, Carl Munson’s Good Morning Portugal! news reports that the Portuguese Armed Forces are strengthening cyber defences through partnerships with national firms BlackRoute and Ethiac, backed by more than €920,000. 

Other headlines include President António José Seguro visiting the Algarve, a ministerial call for fiscal responsibility in the state budget, Portugal ranking low in EU funding execution, a fire at historic Café Nicola in Lisbon injuring three people, and low-income pensioners set to receive a €200 December bonus. 

Temperatures remain high, with Lisbon forecast to reach 31°C and Évora 34°C.

Keep in touch 24/7...

Celebrating International Port Wine Day on 10 September, marking the 1756 anniversary when the Marquês de Pombal created the Companhia Geral de Agricultura das Vinhas do Alto Douro and established Alto Douro as the world’s first officially demarcated, regulated wine region, later commemorated as Port Wine Day in 2014 by the Douro and Port Wine Institute.

Ending with a Portuguese-learning “mission” featuring port-wine vocabulary, styles, and a conversation prompt: “Qual é o seu preferido? Por quê?”

Get the SWAT Portuguese mission module - https://www.skool.com/gmp-vips-1236/classroom/5dbee6b1?md=acbf04cb4c8a4d2585187a4bcdbb67b3

Fizz: Automating Taxes & Cutting Business Bureaucracy in Portugal | Good Morning Portugal
On the Good Morning Portugal show, Carl interviews Mike from Fizz, a tech-based financial assistant designed to reduce the bureaucracy of running a business in Portugal, especially around understanding, calculating, and filing taxes. Mike explains that Fizz automates tax calculations and filings, sends users alerts, and helps entrepreneurs stay calm by largely removing the need to manage taxes manually. He also previews a new dashboard launching this month that functions like a financial director, giving visibility into cashflow and financial position to help small business owners manage money...

Paul & Carl criticise supermarket and food-industry labelling as cynical and shameful, describing tactics like hiding product descriptions in cooking instructions and manipulating labelling laws to mislead consumers, especially around processed foods and ready meals. 
They compare past openly “junk” foods with today’s products marketed as wholesome, arguing shoppers are now targeted with more cunning marketing, such as simply adding the word “protein.” 
Paul speaker recalls studying food production and being shocked even then, and contrasts earlier decades of home growing, preserving, and local independent shops with the rise and power of supermarkets. 
They advocate buying from local markets...

Today, this monthly discussion reviews Bank of Portugal figures suggesting foreign real-estate investment fell from about 1.9 to 1.7 billion, questioning whether Portugal’s market is cooling or maturing. 
Paul argues the data depends on what is counted, but says the headline “decline” is really a refinement as Lisbon, Porto and the Algarve have become unaffordable and yields in central Lisbon are thin (roughly 3.5–5%), pushing “floating capital” to seek better returns inland and outside expensive areas. 
They note reports of sharp rent and price increases in Portugal, contrast them with London declines, and describe greater caution about overpaying and 2008-style downside risk...

In this live conversation, Carl interviews Ali Heathfield, author of “Not Done Yet,” about balancing digital tools with real-life community - especially for foreigners settling in Portugal. 
Ali describes herself as an encourager and shares how redesigning her website and publishing three books, with AI used for editing but not writing, sparked reflections on time online and the “digital divide.” 
They argue digital connection isn’t inherently good or bad and works best as a bridge to real life, warning that expats can isolate themselves by only connecting online with people from their own culture and language instead of engaging...

On Wednesday 9th September 2026, Carl Munson’s Good Morning Portugal! news leads with the story of Pedro Sobchyshak, a Portuguese-born man who has lived 25 years without citizenship after repeated administrative failures; new legislation from 1 September now offers a possible path via 'stateless status'. 

Other headlines include Portugal joining 12 countries in announcing sanctions on Israeli settlements in the West Bank, a planned pension bonus similar to 2025, Spider-Man helping Portuguese cinemas nearly double August audiences, severe prison overcrowding and mental-health shortages at Caxias, and extra government support for agricultural diesel. 

Weather is milder and cloudier after recent rain.

On Tuesday 8th September 2026, Carl Munson’s Good Morning Portugal! news reports that 21 finalists have been chosen for the new Seven Wonders of Portugal after a national semi-final at the Palácio Nacional de Sintra. 

Other headlines include the no-confidence motion around Interior Minister Luís Neves creating an institutional challenge for the Prime Minister, with the Socialist Party set to abstain; bitcoins that bypassed PJ custody being found in a Canadian’s account; the state acquiring a 13.7% stake in REN as the Zara owner exits; and an EU ban on Brazilian meat imports expected to have little impact...

In this episode, Carl talks with Stephen from Digital Serenity about the growing frustration of living in a digital world where apps, passwords, and account systems create constant friction, including real examples of being locked out of essential services like parking apps.
They discuss why even tech-savvy people can get trapped by company-side login loops, and why using an agnostic password manager (rather than browser-based password saving) helps across browsers and devices. Stephen advises avoiding single sign-on when possible due to privacy and identity risks, explains two-factor authentication, and describes how passkeys work and why they still often require...

More and bookings - https://www.chronospherefestival.com/

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https://www.skool.com/gmp-vips-1236/boa-segunda-vamos-embora-what-will-you-say-today
Carl reframes learning Portuguese as an “A-Team” daily mission: take small steps every day to build vocabulary, confidence, and integration, using community encouragement and writing your intended Portuguese phrase, person, and context in the comments. 
The format has shifted from a 90-day challenge to “Speak Portuguese Now Today,” with weekly reflection meetings moved to Fridays at 6pm with potential guest teachers, while weekdays focus on quick commitments and reporting back. 
Today’s featured module covers what to say in the first 10 seconds of a real emergency call (112), including key phrases for requesting h...

Carl recounts seeing a completely naked man in Lisbon’s Jardim Zoológico (Sete Rios) Metro station in mid-afternoon while with his three children, rebuking him to dress and suspecting a mental health episode.
He uses the incident to explore how public standards, safety, and cultural norms around dress and behavior operate in Portugal, alongside a recent sighting of a topless woman on a beach and discussion of Portugal’s face-covering (burqa/balaclava) ban.
He reflects on whether noting someone’s perceived nationality matters, compares reporting of foreign misbehaviour (including incidents in Albufeira), and argues foreigners should help uphold...

On Monday 7th September 2026, Carl Munson’s Good Morning Portugal! news leads with the Socialist Party accusing the government of profiteering from fuel taxes, claiming more than €1 billion in extra revenue since April 2024. 
Other headlines include a study highlighting regional disparities among two million students and higher dropout rates in Lisbon, Setúbal and the Algarve, artists withdrawing from a Lisbon comedy festival over Jerry Seinfeld’s support for Israel, the PCP marking the 50th anniversary of its Avante festival, and a quarry in Tavira ordered to close immediately. 
Heat warnings remain in place, with Évora forecast to reach 37°C...

On Friday 4th September 2026, Carl Munson’s Good Morning Portugal! news warns of a new “quishing” scam: fake personalised bank letters containing cards with malicious QR codes designed to steal banking credentials.



Other headlines include scheduled E-Redes power maintenance in Sintra, Mafra and Palmela, a historic cork-industry archive donated to Silves, psychologists calling for better access to mental-health care, an overview of Portugal’s textile sector, analysis of the 2027 budget, the Russian ambassador describing Portugal as one of the most hostile countries in Europe, and continued scrutiny of Interior Minister Luís Neves ahead of Chega’...

Keep in touch 24/7 - www.portugaltalkradio.com
3rd September 2026: highlighting cultural news and updates: sardine prices rising as Portugal’s 2026 quota is cut under an EU recovery plan amid global “tinned fish” demand and climate pressures; and Douro wine growers dumping about 300 kg of grapes in Régua to protest a crisis where grapes aren’t being bought and prices are uncertain. 
Carl shares Portugal weather (heat wave and maximum fire-risk municipalities) and euro exchange rates, then interviews Bobby O’Reilly about progress at Herdade do Meio (nearly sold out, finishing in March with a second phase planned), his health c...

obby O'Reilly returns to discuss progress at Herdade do Meio, a 70-villa development with fewer than 10 units left to sell and completion expected in March, followed by a second phase adding hotel infrastructure and a sports complex for the local community. 
He shares a personal update about giving up alcohol and improving his health to keep up with extensive travel. 
The conversation then shifts to Portugal’s residency-by-investment landscape amid immigration-law changes, SEF’s replacement by AIMA, court pressure to clear backlogs, and updated citizenship timelines, emphasizing investment first with residency as a benefit. 
Bobby outlines a bundled...

On Thursday 3rd September 2026, Carl Munson’s Good Morning Portugal! news reports that sardine prices are surging after Portugal’s 2026 EU quota was cut under a recovery plan, combining limited supply with booming global demand for artisanal tinned fish.

Douro wine growers dumped around 300 kg of grapes in the streets of Régua as a protest over the regional crisis. 

Other headlines include parliamentary leaders setting a date for a no-confidence motion, the PSD criticising Chega’s move, and 11 municipalities under maximum wildfire risk during an intense heatwave, with temperatures forecast up to 38°C in Lisbon and 41°C...

Climate Change in Portugal (2026): El Niño, Storm Kristin, and Building Local Resilience

In a 2026 conversation based in Portugal, Stewart and Carl discuss human-induced climate change, how the topic has become politically polarizing, and why they look to climate science - especially IPCC reports - while acknowledging public distrust of “science.”

They compare their environmental backgrounds and focus on practical implications of worsening extremes, referencing Storm Kristin (power and internet outages, water issues) and an incoming heat spike into the 40s. Stuart explains weather vs climate, outlines how El Niño works and why its current intens...

Follow the show, more content, news, weather & currency at www.portugaltalkradio.com
Find Steven at https://digitalserenity.life
Munson hosts the Good Morning Portugal Show, previewing guest Steven Shewack from Digital Serenity and leading with concerns that rising costs, drought, and global conflict could trigger bread and staple price hikes in October as Portugal produces only 20% of its cereals. 
He runs through other headlines, gives weather and currency updates, shares a UK balcony-rail safety warning, and highlights frustration with app-driven daily life. 
The discussion with Steven focuses on password problems, why browser-based password saving and single si...

Keep in touch and have your say 24/7 - www.portugaltalkradio.com
Top news on an intense mainland Portugal heatwave with temperatures up to 42°C alongside continued expansion of onshore wind energy as Portugal pursues 2030 climate goals and net-zero by 2045. 
Sharing headlines including a missing 23-year-old last seen in Lisbon, a woman’s death in an Albufeira hotel with a partner detained, book vouchers exceeding 52,000 issued, and opportunities for Portuguese companies in Ireland, plus weather and currency updates. 
Munson previews recent uploads (a Tavira coach-trip video, Portugal’s first neurodivergent festival, and a central Portugal real-estate report) before intervi...

Portugal heatwave from today, as wind power grows. Temperatures to reach 40°+ in places!

On Wednesday 2nd September 2026, Carl Munson’s Good Morning Portugal! news leads with an intense heatwave, with temperatures expected to reach 42°C in several mainland regions, while Portugal’s onshore wind capacity has grown by 199 MW this year as the country pursues 2030 climate targets and net-zero emissions by 2045. 

Other headlines include a French mother seeking news of her 23-year-old son last seen in Lisbon 10 days ago, police investigating the death of a woman in an Albufeira hotel (partner detained), the book-voucher programme exceeding 52,000 voucher...

Carl Munson documents a quick round-trip from São Martinho do Porto to Tavira to celebrate Johnny Cocktail’s 65th birthday, traveling via Rede Expressos with a change in Lisbon/Sete Rios.

He shares the comfort of the buses (Wi‑Fi, charging, air conditioning), kills time at the Jardim Zoológico area café in Lisbon overlooking the alligators, and narrates the southbound ride over the 25 de Abril Bridge through the Alentejo into the Algarve with stops including Albufeira, Quarteira and Faro, arriving in Tavira over an hour late.

He walks the riverside amid multiple music stages, joins t...

On Tuesday 1st September 2026, Carl Munson’s Good Morning Portugal! news leads with a warning on food security: drought and global conflict could push bread and staple prices higher from October, with Portugal producing only 20% of its own cereals. 

Other headlines include Interior Minister Luís Neves saying he is calm about Chega’s no-confidence motion, Portugal hosting the world’s largest military drone exercise (REPMUS 26), a new industrial “Portugal Gateway” cluster aimed at boosting the defence sector, the state surplus falling to €282 million through July, and eight daily reports of child-on-parent abuse.

Weather is mixed with fog in th...

Carl Munson previews the updated Good Morning Portugal Show format and the launch of PortugalTalkRadio.com, featuring a top story, headlines, weather, currency, images/memes, and a way to book in as a live guest, with official relaunch set for 1 September and this episode dated 31 August 2026. 
The top story highlights the Chronosphere Festival in Góis launching 18 September as Portugal’s first neuro-inclusive event, with techno/ambient music, sensory-aware design, accessibility support, workshops, camping, and an online accessibility guide. 
Headlines include education announcements, Novo Banco debt restructuring, Almada water alert ending, companies heading to Saudi Arabia, IRS payment deadl...

On Monday 31st August 2026, Carl Munson’s Good Morning Portugal! news leads with the launch of Chronosphere Festival in Góis on 18 September - Portugal’s first neuro-inclusive event, offering an immersive forest experience with techno, ambient music and sensory-aware design.

Other headlines include Prime Minister Luís Montenegro closing the PSD Summer University with new education announcements, Novo Banco restructuring debt for a major real-estate developer, the Almada water-supply alert ending after reservoir levels stayed above 70%, four more Portuguese companies heading to Saudi Arabia, the IRS tax-assessment deadline falling today, parents again calling for an overhaul of school...

Is Crime Getting Worse in Portugal? What the Data (and Lisbon’s Periphery) Really Shows...

This episode examines whether crime is getting worse in Portugal by comparing headlines and lived experience with official figures. It notes that overall reported crime fell 4.6% in 2024 and Portugal’s homicide rate remains very low, yet highlights concerning shifts: 108 homicides in 2025 (highest since 2018), a 2.1% rise in general crime in early-to-late 2025, major increases in vehicle theft and bank robberies, and a 14.6% rise in group offenses concentrated around Lisbon and Porto. 

The monologue stresses crime is unevenly distributed, focusing on Lisbon’s peripheral neighbo...

For Friday 28th August 2026, Carl Munson’s Good Morning Portugal! news reports that one of four Portuguese citizens missing after the Nepal flash floods has been found alive and well, with searches continuing for the others. 

Other headlines include the Polícia Judiciária director being accused of lying in court over allegedly unlawful surveillance, politicians downplaying the MAI controversy, the Defence Minister saying he will sue to protect his name, Prime Minister Luís Montenegro criticising current media practices and calling for journalism without “modern censorship,” CONFAP proposing year-round school opening to help families balance work and holidays...

On Thursday 27 August 2026, Carl Munson’s Good Morning Portugal! news reports that foreign direct investment in Portugal reached €6.7 billion in the first half of 2026. 

Other headlines include more than 100 Portuguese stranded in Cape Verde (EasyJet assisting passengers), confirmation that a Portuguese national died in the devastating flash floods and landslides in Nepal (another remains missing, while 16 Portuguese tourists in the Gorkha region are safe), Marques Mendes calling for political understandings rather than a “permanent election campaign,” the PCP defending its invitation to a Palestinian organisation classified as terrorist, safety concerns over the aging Fagilde Dam in Viseu, and the PSP d...

On Wednesday 26 August 2026, Carl Munson’s Good Morning Portugal reports that Algarve hoteliers are calling for a crackdown on “booze tourism” and aggressive nightlife following a violent car rampage in Albufeira. 

Other headlines include the launch of a new progressive think tank (Instituto Progresso) chaired by Socialist deputy Miguel Costa Matos, yellow weather warnings for rain across 11 mainland districts, TAP expanding its maintenance business into defence while privatisation talks continue, Foreign Minister Paulo Rangel warning against demagogues and populism, the Minister of Culture commenting on the need for more active feminists, health unions preparing for a possible September strike...

Rural Properties reflects on seven years of restoring neglected buildings in central Portugal and how its mission has broadened as it better understands the country’s housing challenge: not a lack of buildings, but a lack of livable homes.

Citing the 2021 census, it notes over 723,000 vacant homes and 238,000 buildings needing medium or major repairs, especially in aging inland communities, while demand for quality rural housing has surged from families leaving costly coastal cities, remote workers, and international buyers seeking permanent homes. 

Paul highlights renovation risks - scarce contractors, rising material costs, slow planning, and hidden structural iss...

On Tuesday 25th August 2026, Carl Munson’s Good Morning Portugal! news reports that a homeless man discovered a bag containing over 7,000 counterfeit €200 notes (worth around €1.5 million) near trash containers.

Other headlines include a tourist robbed at gunpoint in Quinta do Lago, unusual weather systems making this one of the rainiest Augusts in recent years (with Lisbon recording record 24-hour rainfall), the PJ wanting to question André Ventura and Chega deputies about the alleged assault and ransacking of their parliamentary office, public-sector unions pushing beyond the multi-year agreement in the 2027 budget, the Ministry of Health reviewing the National Emergency Care Ne...

On Monday 24 August 2026, Carl Munson’s Good Morning Portugal! news reports the peaceful death of Maria da Conceição, Portugal’s oldest person, at the age of 113. She was known for her humour and attributed her longevity to “not working hard.” 

Other headlines include the government cutting almost half of the contentious green map for renewable energy projects, the GNR seizing five tons of hashish and detaining seven men in the Algarve, continued calls for the resignation of Interior Minister Luís Neves (with President António José Seguro urging the swift conclusion of investigations), Euribor rises pushing savings certif...

How to Taste Olive Oil Like Wine (and Why Cold-Pressed Extra Virgin Matters)

Carl is taught, by Merkado's Haim, how to taste olive oil like wine by warming it in the hand, sniffing for fruity aromas, then sipping without swallowing to let air pass over it and noting sensations like heat and pepperiness and how long the flavor lingers.

They discuss early-season oil’s intense “alive” character with a gentler mid-season version, discuss using high-quality oil for dressing rather than cooking, and describe it as medicinal, with some people taking a daily shot.

The conver...

Musing from above Alfeizerão on Portugal’s Silver Coast, Carl Munson is visting Atelier de Doces, a bakery with sweeping views featuring distant valleys, wind turbines, pine trees (pinheiro manso), and summer birds on a hot July 7th birthday breakfast date. 

Inside, he speaks of 21 meters of freshly baked treats, highlighting Bolos de Berlim - soft, fluffy Portuguese custard-filled doughnuts - sharing an origin story involving WWII-era German spies in Estoril. He teases an array of fillings such as lemon, tangerine, wild berries, apple, strawberry, cinnamon, multiple chocolates, doce de leite, Nutella, pistachio, plus Dubai-style and Biscoff vers...

Email Overwhelm to Digital Serenity: The 4 Ds and Inbox Zero with Steven Shewach:

On Portugal Talk Radio, host reconnects with digital serenity coach Steven Shewach to review his five pillars of digital health - passwords and security, email and communication, cloud and files, devices and backups, and legacy and access - and then focus on why email deserves special attention.

Shewach explains that email is meant for communication, not storage, a to-do list, or an archive, and that using it that way creates anxiety and “landfill” inboxes with thousands of messages, multiple accounts, and subscription bloat. 
...

How about taking on the challenge of Speaking Portuguese in 90 Days? But in a fun, friendly and fast way?!
Here, Carl from Good Morning Portugal!/Portugal Talk Radio introduces his SWAT Portuguese approach - Show up, Wing it, Adapt, Talk - aimed at helping 1,000 foreigners start actually speaking Portuguese and feel conversationally confident in three months through consistent effort. 
He invites viewers to join the Speak Portuguese school platform with a free cadet level plus optional $9 and $99 tiers for more support and resources. 
Sign up free/upgrade here
Features include community timeline posts in Portuguese for cu...

On Friday 21st August 2026, Carl Munson’s Good Morning Portugal! news reports an atypical August weather pattern, with an Atlantic depression expected to bring rain, strong winds and rough seas to mainland Portugal this weekend. 

Other headlines include the Torre de Moncorvo wildfire that has burned over 3,000 hectares, Interior Minister Luís Neves driving a judicial-police-seized Volkswagen Golf GTD (citing savings and operational benefits), the decision that Jardim do Morro in Gaia will not be fenced, signs of price stabilisation in the real-estate market, new mobile-phone rules in schools with secondary pupils starting later, Lisbon Mayor Carlos Moedas appe...

Choose your portuguese driver, social security controversy & US praises Portugal energy policy

On Thursday 20th August 2026, Carl Munson’s Good Morning Portugal! news reports the launch of VLOZ, a new Portuguese ride-hailing app in Lisbon, Porto and Setúbal that lets passengers choose their specific driver.


Other headlines include Chega leader André Ventura pushing for a lower retirement age in the 2027 budget talks and threatening elections while criticising the latest Social Security report, ongoing debates on the urgency and timeline of Social Security reform, and the United States praising Portugal’s efforts to strengthen energy sovere...