Home is the Journey: Tales from Portugal’s Diasporas premiered on 25 April and features weekly interviews with figures connected to the arts, culture, literature, academia, history, sports, politics, business, and journalism.

The project is led by Miguel Moniz, a researcher at the Institute of Social Sciences at the University of Lisbon, and Gilberto Fernandes, a historian at York University in Toronto.

According to the podcast’s presentation, the goal is to promote critical yet accessible conversations about the experiences of Portuguese emigrant and immigrant communities and the global impact of Portugal’s various diasporas.

The first episode featured Brian Martins and Derrick DeMelo, members of the Massachusetts-based Portuguese-American comedy group The Portuguese Kids.

In the conversation, the comedians discuss growing up in Fall River, USA, as children of Portuguese immigrants; the relationship between identity and humour; the role of cultural institutions in immigrant communities; and the current American political climate regarding immigration.

The second episode features Portuguese-Canadian actors Paulino Nunes and Jess Salgueiro, both with careers in American television and film.

Paulino Nunes, known for roles in series such as Shōgun, The Boys, Law and Order, Brooklyn, and Suits, and Jess Salgueiro, with credits in Frasier, The Boys, Working Moms, Letterkenny, and Orphan Black, reflect on representation, identity, and artistic journey as descendants of Portuguese communities in Canada.

Among the upcoming guests are Colonel José Santos Coelho, known as one of the “Captains of April,” and Dennis Redmont, an American journalist who challenged the Estado Novo regime and was detained by the Portuguese political police.

Future programming also includes conversations with artists, musicians, labour activists, researchers, and representatives from community institutions, covering queer identities, social justice, and the impact of immigration operations on Portuguese-American communities.

In addition to the main episodes, Home is the Journey includes “sidecasts,” short interviews dedicated to Portuguese cultural practices and institutions, such as the tradition of philharmonic orchestras.

Miguel Moniz was born and raised in an Azorean and Cape Verdean community in Cape Cod, Massachusetts, has lived in Portugal since the 1990s, and holds a doctorate from Brown University.

Gilberto Fernandes grew up in the Greater Lisbon area, has lived in Canada for over 20 years, and holds a doctorate from York University.

The podcast is produced by the Massachusetts-based Migrant Communities Project and the Toronto-based Portuguese Canadian History Project

Home is the Journey: Tales from Portugal’s Diasporas is available on Acast, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, and other digital platforms.