With “A Arte da Conversa,” the former parliamentarian returns to public debate outside party politics, defending feminism, criticizing the deterioration of political discourse, and exploring how conversation can challenge prejudice and encourage social change.
After stepping away from party politics, former Azorean parliamentarian Alexandra Manes is returning to the public arena with a new initiative that reflects her enduring commitment to civic engagement and her growing concern about the quality of public debate. Her podcast, A Arte da Conversa (The Art of Conversation), seeks to bring overlooked people, little-known projects, and uncomfortable social questions into the spotlight, offering an alternative to the confrontational rhetoric she believes has increasingly characterized political life. For Manes, leaving elected office never meant abandoning her convictions or her responsibility to participate in society. Instead, the podcast represents an opportunity to exercise that commitment with greater independence, placing active listening, honest discussion, and the exploration of human experiences at the center of a project that she insists is far more than a recreational activity.
In an interview with Diário Insular, Manes explained that the initiative emerged almost spontaneously following an invitation from Marta and Joel, associated with Lar Doce Livro. This bookstore promotes the podcast series. The idea developed through WhatsApp messages and became a reality in about one week. Manes speaks affectionately of the bookstore, describing it humorously as a second home for which she does not have to pay property taxes. Despite the speed with which the project materialized, its ambitions are substantial. She envisions a space where individuals and initiatives that have received little attention or been misunderstood can share their experiences and perspectives. The podcast will explore a wide range of subjects, with humor, unconventional approaches, and the exchange of ideas playing important roles. Above all, she wants conversations that lead somewhere, whether by helping audiences reconsider assumptions, better understand complex issues, or recognize experiences that are rarely discussed openly.
The first recording introduced Manes to an unfamiliar position: that of interviewer rather than interviewee. Having spent years responding to questions from journalists and navigating the demands of political communication, she now finds herself responsible for researching guests, preparing questions, guiding discussions, and ensuring that each conversation remains focused without losing its natural rhythm. She acknowledged that the experience was both complicated and uncomfortable, particularly because she was accustomed to being the person answering questions and, when necessary, finding ways around them. The change has given her a renewed appreciation for the work of journalists and the communications professionals who accompanied her political career. She specifically mentioned João Cordeiro, who worked as a press adviser, and Marlisa, whom she described as a friend and political comrade, as two important figures during her years in active politics. Although the responsibilities of hosting remain demanding, Manes enjoyed the experience and considers the freedom to select guests and subjects one of its most attractive features.
Politics and feminism will naturally occupy an important place in A Arte da Conversa, although Manes does not intend to limit the podcast to either subject. “Everything is political, and therefore politics always has a place,” she declared, emphasizing that political questions extend far beyond political parties and parliamentary institutions. Feminism, she added, is inseparable from this understanding because women’s experiences, rights, and opportunities have always been shaped by political and social structures. She expressed concern about what she considers a widespread misunderstanding of feminism, its historical importance, and its contribution to the development of contemporary societies. In her view, feminist movements have transformed not only women’s lives but also the expectations and restrictions imposed upon men by traditional forms of machismo. She noted that opportunities now taken for granted, including her own ability to occupy a public platform and express independent opinions, would once have been unimaginable. “Thanks to feminism, we can say ‘no,'” she observed, presenting that freedom as one of the movement’s fundamental achievements.
Although she has distanced herself from party politics, Manes maintains that political engagement remains intrinsic to her identity. She has never hesitated to acknowledge her convictions or defend the ideals that guided her public career, and she continues to seek opportunities to contribute to civic life through different forms of participation. Looking back on her experience as an elected representative, she described the opportunity to participate in public decision-making as a privilege, one that frequently required sacrifices in her personal and family life. Nevertheless, her assessment of the current political environment is deeply critical. She believes that democratic institutions have suffered from a deterioration in the quality of debate, particularly in the Portuguese national parliament and the Azorean regional assembly. Personal attacks, the language used during parliamentary exchanges, conflicts of interest, and what she regards as insufficient legislative productivity have, in her opinion, contributed to growing public disillusionment with elected representatives and the political process.
Manes argued that the prominence of hostile political rhetoric did not emerge in isolation but became possible because weaknesses within established political discourse created opportunities for increasingly divisive narratives. Comparing parliamentary debates from previous legislatures with contemporary proceedings, she sees a decline in political seriousness and in the qualities traditionally associated with statesmanship. Although she recognizes that the present political landscape is itself a product of democratic choice, she believes that democracy deserves a higher standard of public discussion than the one frequently displayed by elected officials. Her criticism is not a rejection of politics but an expression of concern about the distance between the ideals of public service and the conduct of some political actors. Through the podcast, she hopes to demonstrate that difficult subjects can be addressed without reducing disagreement to personal hostility or replacing substantive arguments with provocative remarks.
For Manes, the art of conversation begins with the ability to move from abstract ideas to concrete human realities. A successful discussion requires an atmosphere in which participants feel sufficiently comfortable to speak naturally, express uncertainty, and share experiences without being constrained by excessive formality. The selection of subjects is equally important, particularly when they involve personal circumstances that reveal broader social questions. “The more personal something is, the more collective it becomes,” she explained, suggesting that intimate experiences often illuminate concerns shared by many people who may never have spoken openly about them. This approach will guide the podcast’s future episodes, including the next conversation, for which a guest and subject have already been selected. Although Manes declined to reveal further details, she indicated that the episode will address an experience encountered by people at different stages of life, one that remains surrounded by limited understanding, prejudice, and social pressure. Its deeply personal character, she suggested, has contributed to making it almost taboo, despite its relevance to society.
The former parliamentarian is convinced that conversations can produce meaningful changes in individual lives and within the wider Azorean community. She believes that responsible dialogue can challenge misconceptions, encourage greater empathy, and help people recognize experiences that might otherwise remain hidden behind silence or social expectations. Asked whether conversations truly possess the power to bring about change, she responded without hesitation, explaining that she would never have accepted the invitation to host the podcast if she did not believe in that possibility. “Conversations, when conducted with a sense of responsibility, have enormous power. They save lives,” she stated. At the same time, she criticized the tendency to confuse serious discussion with casual, uninformed commentary, insisting that a meaningful exchange requires preparation, attention, and respect for the complexity of the subjects being addressed.
For Alexandra Manes, A Arte da Conversa is neither a pastime nor an attempt to reproduce the confrontations of parliamentary life in another format. It is an extension of her commitment to public service, now expressed through a medium that allows her to explore subjects beyond the boundaries of party politics and engage directly with individuals whose stories deserve greater recognition. Her transition from elected representative to podcast host reflects a conviction that civic participation does not depend upon holding political office and that public debate can take many forms. By bringing together different perspectives, confronting uncomfortable questions, and giving space to experiences that too often remain unspoken, Manes hopes to contribute to a more informed, attentive, and reflective society. In an age when public discourse frequently rewards the loudest voice, her new project rests on a different principle: the value of a conversation may depend less on who speaks the most than on whether those involved are genuinely willing to listen.
Based on an inerview with Diário Insular-José Lourenço, director. The photos are also form DI. Alexandra Manes is a regular contributing writer to several Azorean newspaper and the columns in English translation appear regularly here on Novidades.