What do you get when you mix a Brazilian teenager, three countries, about a dozen different jobs, and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu? You get Tiago de Paula — our friend, our guest, and the proud owner of the dojo where this episode takes place. In this 15-minute interview, we sit down with Tiago right on the mats to talk about life, migration, dreams, mistakes, and why showing up every day actually matters. Tiago left Brazil at just 15, moved to Switzerland, then the UK, then Spain, and finally found his way back to Zurich. Along the way, he learned languages, worked as a security guard, supermarket employee, hotel receptionist, flight attendant, factory baker… basically everything except astronaut (so far). His story is a perfect reminder that moving abroad is rarely a straight line — but it can still take you exactly where you need to be. Today, Tiago is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt and runs a thriving dojo full of kids, adults, women, and some truly unstoppable little fighters. But it didn’t start that way. There were long days in the bakery, empty gyms, doubts, criticism, and a lot of faith that “this is going to work.” Spoiler alert: it did. We also talk about much more than sport. Tiago shares how Jiu-Jitsu helps kids build confidence, deal with bullying, set boundaries, and even how the dojo became a safe and empowering place for women and children with autism. This is not just about fighting — it’s about community, discipline, and finding your place in the world. Check out his instagram accounts for amazing daily BJJ videos and pics: https://www.instagram.com/tiagobjjdepaula/ https://www.instagram.com/silvercoast_tiagodepaulabjj/ https://www.instagram.com/adccsuisse/ And of course, as an Expat Boomers episode, we ask the big question: would he do it all again? The answer is honest, raw, and very Tiago. If you’re thinking about moving abroad, starting over, or chasing a dream that feels a bit too big — this episode is for you. If you want to see the episode in smaller parts, we help you here below with the links to the different segments: (00:00) Arriving to the dojo of Tiago (00:25) Meeting the Boss (01:40) Why Switzerland? (02:25) Moving to the UK (04:52) What about dreams? (05:56) Finally BJJ (08:19) The dojo became reality (09:55) The first years in BJJ business (11:55) Different divisions (14:16) Last advice Grab a coffee, step onto the mats with us, and enjoy this inspiring, emotional, and surprisingly funny conversation. And yes — follow Tiago, follow the dojo, like the video, subscribe, and come back for the next episode. Cheers! YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ExpatBoomers Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/expatboomers Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/expatboomers TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@expat.boomers Spotify: http://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/expatboomers LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/ExpatBoomers #expatboomers #KülföldiÉlet #PodcastAngolul #MigránsBoomerek #BoomerekDeNemBoomerek #KülföldreKöltözés #BrazilokKülföldön #Andalúzia #München #Svájc #Zürich #GimisHaverok #YouTubeMagyarul #PodcastIndulás #expatlife #külföldimagyarok #életkülföldön #újrakezdés #KöltözésGyerekkel #HumorosPodcast #tigodepaula #bjj
