PODCAST PORTUGAL

Portuguese-American historian Dr. Manuel Rosa has spent thirty-five years challenging the accepted story of Christopher Columbus, and in this episode of Podcast Portugal he explains why the man history remembers as an Italian weaver was, in his view, never Italian at all. Rosa traces the confusion to a fifteenth-century printing error in Rome that sent non-Spanish historians searching for a “Colombo” in Italy, while Spain had always known the navigator by a different name entirely: Colón.

Central to Rosa’s research is the marriage of Colón to Filipa Moniz, a high-ranking Portuguese noblewoman and Commendadora of the Order of Santiago, whose family sat at the heart of the royal court. Rosa argues that such a union would have been unthinkable for a peasant or a foreign weaver, and that the marriage alone points to a man of noble standing whose true background had to be concealed rather than celebrated.

That concealment, Rosa contends, was deliberate and shared between the Portuguese and Spanish courts. His research points towards Colón being the son of a Polish king who vanished after the Battle of Varna in 1444, his real identity hidden behind a chosen name meaning “member of Christ.” It is a claim that has drawn fierce resistance from mainstream historians, many of whom, Rosa says, have dismissed his work without engaging with the documentary evidence behind it.

The conversation also explores the role of DNA testing in the search for the truth, from the 2003 tests on remains in Seville to a fresh round of studies in 2024 that ruled out the Italian, Portuguese royal and Jewish Catalan theories alike — without yet confirming any alternative. For Rosa, each negative result narrows the field further, and he explains why he believes the real answer has been hiding in plain sight for over five centuries.

To find all Dr Rosa´s books and follow his studies you can connect through the links below:
https://mdrosa.com
https://www.manuelrosa.net

Sporting CP's clinical psychologist and sleep scientist, Dr Rui Pereira, joins Podcast Portugal to reveal how sleep science shapes elite football performance.

In this episode, host Justin West sits down with Dr Rui Pereira, a clinical psychologist and sleep scientist who works within the medical department of Sporting Clube de Portugal, one of Portugal's most storied and passionately supported football clubs. Rui's path began in clinical psychology before a PhD in sleep science at a leading UK sports university brought him into direct contact with elite athletes for the first time. Postdoctoral research at the University of Birmingham deepened his expertise, before he returned to his clinical roots within the specific and demanding context of professional sport. Today, his work sits at the intersection of psychology, sleep and athletic performance, a triad he describes as the space where he is most useful to the athletes in his care.

The conversation unpacks why elite athletes, despite every incentive to rest well, are often among the most vulnerable to poor sleep. Rui explains how pre-match anxiety, unsociable training schedules, travel and unfamiliar hotel beds all conspire against recovery, and shares a striking finding from his own research: roughly half of athletes struggle to nap effectively, often the very same individuals who struggle most with sleep at night. He draws a clear line between sleep and mental health, describing the two as walking hand in hand, and cautions against reaching first for supplements such as melatonin when consistent daily patterns and habits offer a safer, more sustainable foundation. He also speaks candidly about the psychological pressures of life as a professional athlete, from balancing full-time training with study or work, to the toll of fan commentary and scrutiny on social media.

Beyond the science, Justin and Rui reflect on football's outsized influence on Portuguese society and on younger fans in particular, weighing the honour-driven codes of rugby and martial arts against some of the game's less sportsmanlike habits, while singling out figures such as Cristiano Ronaldo as a positive example. Rui also opens up about his ambition to build a more public, evidence-based presence, cutting through the misinformation that dominates health content on social media, with LinkedIn identified as the natural home for that work. Listeners are encouraged to follow Dr Rui Pereira on LinkedIn to stay across his research, future publications and any forthcoming projects in the sleep and performance space.

Follow Dr Rui Pereira on LinkedIn for evidence-based insight into sleep, mental health and elite performance: linkedin.com/in/roo-pereira

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Portugal’s food and beverage sector continues to attract entrepreneurs from around the world, many of whom are drawn by the country’s lifestyle, culture and growing appreciation for premium artisan products. Among them is John Beeby, founder of Gran Sorvete, a company dedicated to producing handcrafted gelato and sorbet using carefully selected ingredients and traditional production methods.
In this episode of Podcast Portugal, host Justin West sits down with John to discuss his entrepreneurial journey, the realities of building a food business in Portugal and the passion that drives the creation of exceptional frozen desserts.
Gran Sorvete was born from a simple belief: quality ingredients and careful craftsmanship produce better food. Rather than relying on mass production techniques, the company focuses on creating authentic gelato and sorbet that prioritise flavour, texture and ingredient integrity. The result is a growing reputation among customers seeking premium artisan alternatives to conventional ice cream products. Based in the Algarve, Gran Sorvete has become known for producing small-batch frozen desserts that celebrate both traditional techniques and local inspiration.
During the conversation, John shares how his professional background led him towards entrepreneurship and why Portugal provided the ideal environment to launch a specialist food business. He discusses the practical challenges of developing recipes, sourcing ingredients, navigating regulations and establishing a brand within a competitive market.
The episode also explores the difference between traditional gelato, sorbet and conventional ice cream. John explains how ingredient selection, production methods and attention to detail influence the final product, creating distinctive flavours and textures that many consumers immediately notice.
A major theme throughout the discussion is craftsmanship. In an age dominated by industrial food production, consumers are increasingly interested in understanding where products come from, how they are made and who is behind them. Gran Sorvete reflects a broader movement towards authenticity, transparency and quality over quantity.
Justin and John also discuss Portugal’s growing food culture and why the country continues to attract entrepreneurs looking to build businesses around premium products, hospitality and culinary experiences. From sourcing ingredients to creating memorable customer experiences, the conversation highlights the opportunities available to those willing to combine passion with persistence.
For aspiring entrepreneurs, food lovers, hospitality professionals and anyone considering launching a business in Portugal, this episode provides valuable insights into building a brand from the ground up while staying true to a commitment to quality and craftsmanship.
About John Beeby
John Beeby is the founder of Gran Sorvete, an artisan gelato and sorbet company based in Portugal. Combining entrepreneurial experience with a passion for quality food production, he has built a business focused on handcrafted frozen desserts, carefully selected ingredients and authentic flavour experiences. Through Gran Sorvete, John continues to champion craftsmanship, quality and innovation within Portugal’s growing artisan food sector.
https://www.gransorvete.com/
https://www.instagram.com/gransorvete

Listen Now
Listen to the full conversation on Podcast Portugal and discover how one entrepreneur transformed a passion for quality food into a thriving artisan brand in Portugal.

Portugal is home to some of Europe’s most remarkable megalithic monuments, yet many remain largely unknown outside specialist archaeological circles. Scattered across the countryside are ancient stone circles, dolmens, standing stones and sacred landscapes that predate many of the world’s most famous historical sites by thousands of years.

In this fascinating episode of Podcast Portugal, Justin West sits down with Scottish explorer, filmmaker and megalithic researcher David O’Connor, founder of Reppin Nature, to discuss what these ancient places may reveal about our ancestors and their relationship with the natural world. Through years of field research, filmmaking and immersive tours across Scotland, Portugal and beyond, David has developed a unique perspective on the role these sites played within the wider landscape.

Rather than viewing megalithic monuments solely as ceremonial or ritual locations, David explores the possibility that many were sophisticated landscape-based technologies, carefully positioned in relation to geological features, water systems, light patterns, acoustics and natural energies. His work examines how prehistoric communities may have understood their environment in ways that modern society has largely forgotten.

The conversation journeys through some of Portugal’s most significant megalithic regions and explores why ancient people invested extraordinary effort into constructing these monuments. What knowledge guided their placement? Why do so many sites share common characteristics across vast geographical distances? And what can these ancient structures teach us about living in greater harmony with the Earth?

David discusses the importance of experiencing these places firsthand rather than viewing them purely through textbooks or archaeological reports. Atmosphere, landscape, scale and human experience are central themes throughout his work. By immersing ourselves within these environments, he believes we gain insights that cannot always be captured through conventional academic analysis alone.

Justin and David also explore broader questions surrounding modern society’s relationship with nature. As technology increasingly dominates daily life, many people are searching for deeper connections to landscape, ancestry and place. Ancient monuments may offer clues not only about the past but also about how we might reconnect with the natural world today.

The discussion touches on archaeology, history, mythology, geology, consciousness, landscape interpretation and the enduring mystery surrounding some of humanity’s oldest surviving structures. While many questions remain unanswered, these mysteries continue to inspire researchers, explorers and curious travellers from around the world.

For anyone fascinated by ancient history, Portugal’s hidden heritage, archaeology, exploration or humanity’s connection to nature, this episode offers a thought-provoking journey into some of the most intriguing landscapes on Earth.

About David O’Connor
David O’Connor is a Scottish explorer, filmmaker and founder of Reppin Nature. Through field research, filmmaking and guided tours, he explores megalithic sites, ancient landscapes and humanity’s relationship with the natural world. His work focuses on experiential exploration and investigating how ancient people may have worked with stone, water, light, sound and landscape in ways that continue to intrigue researchers today.
Megalithic Tours, Film & Research - Connect with David: Reppin´Nature

Documentary filmmaker Heitor Carvalho talks to Podcast Portugal about Aldeias do Futuro and the rural regeneration and ecovillage movement reviving Portugal.

In this episode, Justin West is joined by Heitor Carvalho, a Portuguese documentary filmmaker and cultural contributor closely associated with the country's rural regeneration and ecological transition movement. Heitor is best known for his feature-length documentary, Aldeias do Futuro (Villages of the Future), which explores the profound transformation currently underway in rural Portugal.

To make the film, Heitor spent several months travelling across the country, visiting intentional communities, ecovillages and grassroots local projects. His work highlights the Re.Rural movement, which shows how abandoned and ageing villages are being revitalised as hubs for community living, ecological cooperation and sustainable land stewardship. Rather than portraying traditional villages as relics of the past, the documentary frames them as modern laboratories for learning how to live together and manage land sustainably.
Justin and Heitor discuss the making of the documentary, the communities he encountered along the way, and the broader questions his work raises about community living, ecological transition and Portugal's shifting relationship with the land.

For information about Heitor and his storytelling you could follow his Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/heitor.poema
For direct links to his documentary and his philosophy click on his website link below:
https://www.re-rural.info/

Follow the movement on:
https://www.instagram.com/re.rural/