Corrinke grew up in a strict religious community in the Netherlands where shame, control, and rigid rules governed emotions, the body, and desire. Leaving was only the beginning. Through burnout, a complicated breakup, and an ongoing search for herself, she unexpectedly found a path through BDSM, dominatrix work, and shibari—spaces that helped her reclaim her body, redefine control, and begin healing decades of internalized shame.

In this candid conversation, Corrinke reflects on how exploring power, vulnerability, and pleasure became deeply therapeutic rather than extreme or escapist. She shares her journey from religious trauma to self-acceptance and finding freedom in the very places she was taught to fear. Her story reminds us that healing is rarely linear—and often arrives in forms we never imagined. Corrinke is a storyteller, poet, and self-described joyful weirdo devoted to exploring the stories that shape, constrain, and liberate us. Through a blend of depth, humor, and emotional playfulness, she creates spaces where people feel safe to unravel inherited narratives, reconnect with their embodied truth, and normalize every part of the human experience—the sacred, the messy, and the shame-soaked—because she believes shame dissolves when real stories are spoken in safe spaces.Follow us on Instagram: Storytelling Lisboa & What Lingers Pod

Hosted by Cristian Figueroa & Liz Melchor

Edited by Liz Melchor

Born in Madeira and raised in Lisbon after his parents’ forced migration from Angola in 1975, Filipe grew up surrounded by unspoken truths. The most painful was the secret kept from him and his sister for years: their mother had died by suicide. In this intimate episode, Filipe reflects on uncovering that truth, the family silence that hid it, and the complex relationship with a father who chose secrecy over honesty. Set against Portugal’s post-colonial history, his story explores the lasting impact of migration, silence, and secrets—and the courage required to ask forbidden questions in order to heal.

Filipe is a 41-year-old Madeiran-born Lisboeta, constantly divided between both places. He holds a degree in History and works as a historical guide in Lisbon, with occasional commentary on CNN Portugal as a Royal Families specialist. Shaped by two grandmothers from very different backgrounds—both gifted storytellers—Filipe’s life and work are deeply influenced by the power of storytelling.Find him on @amazedby.lisbon | @uselessroyalfactsContent Warning: Discussion of suicide, family secrets, and grief.Follow us on Instagram: Storytelling Lisboa & What Lingers Pod

Hosted by Cristian Figueroa & Liz Melchor

Edited by Liz Melchor

What makes someone leave a tech startup behind to open a comedy café in Lisbon? For Ash, it was the need for real human connection. In this episode, he reflects on growing up in India under academic and cultural pressure, his path through elite education and tech entrepreneurship, and the moment he chose stand-up comedy over startups. Ash explores the fine line between making people laugh and making them feel, and why the stage became more meaningful than any algorithm.

The conversation deepens as Ash shares his storytelling experience—speaking publicly about his mother’s severe illness—and how that vulnerable moment revealed the power of empathy and presence. From comedy to personal storytelling, this episode is about choosing passion over security, embracing emotional honesty, and finding connection through both laughter and tears.Ash is a Lisbon-based comedian and creative entrepreneur. After six years as a digital nomad living in Dubai, Santiago de Chile, and San Francisco, he found his home in Lisbon, where he has lived for the past decade. He founded Lisbon Digital Nomads, helped build the city’s English-language comedy scene through Lisbon Comedy, and co-runs Selva Comedy Café. Today, Ash tours across Europe as a stand-up comedian and spends his downtime unsuccessfully trying to convince his puppy, Leila, to behave.Follow us on Instagram: Storytelling Lisboa & What Lingers Pod

Hosted by Cristian Figueroa & Liz Melchor

Edited by Liz Melchor

What does it mean to find your individual identity when you're born as one of three? For Alexa, the question of "who am I?" has always been more complicated than most.

Alexa is an identical twin triplet, a biracial woman who grew up in a mostly white, small Portuguese town, a daughter of a traditional patriarch who struggled to accept her sexual orientation, and now, a social worker for Europe's largest LGBTQI organization based in Brussels. Each of these identities shaped her—and sometimes collided with each other in painful ways.In this intimate episode, Alexa opens up about the complexities of finding your individual identity when you're born as one of three, navigating family dynamics when your father can't fully see you, growing up biracial in a homogeneous community, and a childhood near-death experience that shaped everything.Alexa Santos is a Portuguese social worker living in Brussels. Alexa is interested in queer studies and practice, gender and sexuality theory. Has been an anti-racist, trans feminist and LBGTIQA+ activist and educator, for almost 20 years and uses story telling in her social justice work.Follow us on Instagram: Storytelling Lisboa & What Lingers Pod

Hosted by Cristian Figueroa & Liz Melchor

Edited by Liz Melchor

What do childhood pranks, undiagnosed ADHD, and professional magic have in common? For Luke Hamilton, they’re all part of the same story—one about learning to hold people’s attention, channel restless energy, and turn secrets into art.

Luke’s story begins with mischief. As a kid with an international upbringing and adventures across Indonesia, he and his friend discovered the joy of pranking unsuspecting shoppers at supermarkets using magic tricks. What started as innocent fun—making things disappear, creating impossible moments—became the foundation for a life dedicated to the craft of illusion.

In this episode, Luke opens up about the intricate preparation behind magic tricks, the psychology of mentalism, the life lessons he learned from his father, and why audience engagement is everything—whether you’re performing magic or telling a story.

Find more of Luke’s Journey on his Youtube Channel

Follow us on Instagram: Storytelling Lisboa & What Lingers Pod

Hosted by Cristian Figueroa & Liz Melchor

Edited by Liz Melchor

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Vanessa grew up in a small, conservative town in Peru where being different wasn’t just difficult—it was dangerous. Raised in a strict Catholic school environment, she navigated the painful intersection of faith, identity, and belonging. She faced homophobia daily, was outed against her will, and struggled to reconcile the God she loved with a community that told her she couldn’t be both queer and faithful.

But Vanessa’s story isn’t one of losing faith—it’s one of finding it in new places. In herself. In her community. In the understanding that God’s love was never conditional on who she loved.

In this deeply vulnerable conversation, Vanessa shares her journey from a young girl trying to fit into boxes that were never meant for her, to a woman who refused to live a lie—even when it meant ending a long-term relationship and disappointing the people she loved most.Vanessa’s story is a testament to the power of self-acceptance and the courage it takes to choose authenticity over comfort. She reminds us that the journey to being yourself isn’t linear—it’s messy, painful, and ongoing. But it’s also necessary. And you’re never alone in it.

This episode is for anyone who’s ever felt caught between who they are and who they’re expected to be. For anyone who’s been told their identity and their faith can’t coexist. For anyone who’s choosing themselves for the first time—or the hundredth time.About Vanessa:

Vanessa is a 25-year-old Latina VC, angel investor, and LGBTQ+ advocate from Peru. After navigating identity and faith in a conservative Catholic environment, she’s dedicated to creating spaces where everyone belongs—from the boardroom to the queer community. Her story proves you can be authentic, faithful, and unapologetically yourself.

Follow Vanessa: @iamvanessa.pe

Follow us on Instagram: Storytelling Lisboa & What Lingers Pod

Hosted by Cristian Figueroa & Liz Melchor

Edited by Liz Melchor

Thanks for reading! This post is public so feel free to share it.

Harjeet Johal is a 46-year-old writer, commentator, broadcaster, and host of the podcast “The Boy Likes Gin,” based in Lisbon. In this episode, we explore his journey to making the audacious decision to run the Marathon des Sables—a 250-kilometer, six-day ultra-marathon through the Sahara Desert, often called “the toughest footrace on Earth.”

But this isn’t just a story about physical endurance. It’s about what you discover about yourself when you push past every limit you thought you had.

In this deeply moving conversation, Harjeet opens up about the journey that led him from being an overweight young adult to standing at the starting line in the Sahara—and what he found on the other side. He shares the cultural expectations he defied, the mental preparation that was just as intense as the physical training, and the unexpected ways the desert transformed him.

Harjeet’s story is a testament to the extraordinary capabilities of the human spirit. It’s about perseverance, yes, but more importantly, it’s about self-discovery—about the courage it takes to run toward the person you’re meant to be, even when the terrain is unforgiving and the path unclear.

This episode will make you believe in your own capacity for transformation. And it might just inspire you to sign up for something that terrifies you.

About Harjeet:

Harjeet is a writer, commentator, broadcaster, and podcast host based in Lisbon. He hosts “The Boy Likes Gin,” a podcast exploring life, identity, and authentic conversations. After losing 40 kilos and completing the Marathon des Sables, he continues to challenge himself and share his journey with honesty, humor, and heart. Follow Harjeet on instagram @theboylikesgin Follow us on Instagram: Storytelling Lisboa & What Lingers Pod

Hosted by Cristian Figueroa & Liz Melchor

Edited by Liz Melchor

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Miguel, a Portuguese journalist and storyteller from Lisbon, had eye cancer as a child. Since then, he’s lived with a prosthetic eye—a physical reality that shaped not just how he sees the world, but how the world sees him, and most importantly, how he sees himself.

In this tender and vulnerable conversation, Miguel takes us through the internal emotional landscape of growing up with a disability. He shares the insecurity, the self-consciousness, and the quiet burden of carrying something you can’t easily explain to others. But he also shares something unexpected: the funny, connecting, and deeply human moments that happened because of his prosthetic eye.

From his early years navigating a world that wasn’t always kind, to his career path from journalism to education, and eventually to the storytelling stage—Miguel’s journey is one of slowly learning to embrace what he once tried to hide.Miguel’s story is a beautiful reminder that our differences—the things we spend so much energy trying to conceal—are often the very things that connect us most deeply to others. His vulnerability on stage wasn’t just an act of courage; it was an act of freedom.

This episode is for anyone who’s ever felt “other,” who’s carried a story in silence, or who’s wondered what might happen if they finally let the world see all of who they are.

Miguel grew up in the Lisbon suburbs with a love for writing, but he’s recently discovered the joys of storytelling - even though he says it terrifies him that you can’t edit a live joke.Follow us on Instagram: Storytelling Lisboa & What Lingers Pod

Hosted by Cristian Figueroa & Liz Melchor

Edited by Liz Melchor

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