Meet Dennison: Life Beyond the Golden Visa
Meet Denison Smith, an American novelist who recently traded the wide-open landscapes of New Mexico for the rolling countryside of Portugal’s Alentejo region.
In this episode, Denison shares the story behind her move from the United States to Portugal, a journey that was years in the making thanks to Portugal’s Golden Visa program. What started as an “insurance policy” gradually became a life-changing decision, prompted by political shifts in the U.S., a desire for new possibilities, and the opportunity to build a slower, more intentional life abroad.
We talk about the realities of relocating to Portugal, from navigating Portuguese bureaucracy and learning the language in a rural community to buying a home in the Alentejo and finding an unexpected network of artists, creatives, and fellow internationals living off the beaten path.
Denison also reflects on the challenges of importing her car, surviving one of Portugal’s wettest winters in recent memory, and adapting to a culture where things happen face-to-face and at a very different pace.
Along the way, we discuss what makes Portugal so appealing to expats: the warmth of local communities, the slower rhythm of life, the sense of trust between neighbors, and the beauty of living in a place where human connection still comes first.
Denison also introduces her newly released novel, The Westward Hours, a speculative fiction story that explores climate change, political upheaval, resilience, and humanity’s relationship with the land. Interestingly, the themes of the novel mirror many of the reasons that ultimately led him to make the move to Portugal.
If you're considering moving to Portugal, curious about life in the Alentejo, or interested in hearing an honest account of starting over abroad later in life, this episode is full of insights, stories, and practical realities.
📖 Denison's book:The Westward Hoursby Denison Smith
Restaurant recommendation: Howard's Folly
🎤Expat song:Que Sera Sera by Doris Day (from The Man Who Knew Too Much)
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Credits:
Intro outro Ice tea, Not the king
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