The HERO Pod

Matteo Scaletti

The Hero World is a podcast about real people navigating turning points in life. Hosted by Matteo Scaletti, the show explores personal transformation through conversations with founders, creators, coaches, and everyday individuals who have faced struggle, change, and reinvention. Themes include identity, resilience, healing, spirituality, and growth. These are not expert lectures — just honest conversations about life and the path of becoming who you are. In other words: the Hero’s Journey.

  1. Apr 29

    From Rio to Recovery: Sex, Drugs & Finding Real Love

    Thiago Izabel grew up in Rio de Janeiro — 26-building complex, beach runs, soccer in the streets, acting as an extra on Brazilian soap operas. Life was full. Life was fast. And then it got dark. By his teens he was kicked out of three schools, running with the wrong crowd, using drugs that he says "destroy one's life." His dad — a Navy man who traveled the world and brought back gifts — passed away in 2012. A year later, Thiago moved to America on a tourist visa with $4,000 and a 1991 Honda Civic he bought delivering pizzas in California. What followed was years of rebuilding — through therapy, NA meetings, a spiritual awakening, and one of the most intentional decisions I've ever heard someone make: a covenant of celibacy until he found the right person. He found her. They dated for 8 months with no sex before getting engaged. His wife knows every flaw, every shadow, every chapter he doesn't talk about publicly. That's not luck. That's what happens when you build affinity before intimacy. In this episode, Thiago breaks down why modern relationships keep collapsing — and it's not because love is broken. It's because we skipped a step. He also talks about what it took to get clean, how changing people, places, and habits saved his life, and why he wakes up every morning fired up to be a personal trainer. This one goes deep. From Rio to recovery to real love — this is Thiago's Hero's Journey. Hero World is a podcast about the humans who are doing the inner work. New episodes every week. Follow Hero World on YouTube, Instagram, and Substack → linktr.ee/theheroworld_

    1h 2m
5
out of 5
7 Ratings

About

The Hero World is a podcast about real people navigating turning points in life. Hosted by Matteo Scaletti, the show explores personal transformation through conversations with founders, creators, coaches, and everyday individuals who have faced struggle, change, and reinvention. Themes include identity, resilience, healing, spirituality, and growth. These are not expert lectures — just honest conversations about life and the path of becoming who you are. In other words: the Hero’s Journey.