How does a small-town kid from middle of nowhere West Virginia end up an expert in traveling, living and doing business on South America's "tumultuous" streets? Welcome to the inaugural episode of Matt Chambers Connects, where I take you on an unexpected adventure that merges the worlds of the rural United States and Latin America.From growing up in a tiny town with just three stoplights to successfully building and exiting two businesses, all while discovering a passion for Latin American culture, all by the age of 40. This passion was ignited primarily by an inquisitive spirit, many books about Amazon Jungle, Machu Picchu, and one short trip 3 month trip to Venezuela. This episode touches on my transformative trip to one of the most dangerous cities on the planet,Caracas Venezuela, and hits on the idea behind this podcast. You'll hear how a fateful encounter with some incredible Venezuelan friends in college and a bit of Johnny Walker led me to book a flight to Hugo Chavez's Venezuela right after graduation.
Get ready for stories and interviews that challenge conventional paths and celebrate bold leaps of faith. I share my vision for this podcast and how it aims to bridge the gap between Latin American and The U.S. Cultures. Whether it's recounting childhood memories or my early ventures into the business world, this episode sets the stage for an exploration of the rich cultural tapestry that connects these two distinct regions. Tune in to learn how my experiences across these vibrant landscapes have shaped my perspective and why I believe understanding and connecting with different cultures is more crucial than ever.
Follow me on Social: https://linktr.ee/mattchambers
If you'd like to support the show, use the links below.
How does a small-town kid from middle of nowhere West Virginia end up an expert in traveling, living and doing business on South America's "tumultuous" streets? Welcome to the inaugural episode of Matt Chambers Connects, where I take you on an unexpected adventure that merges the worlds of the rural United States and Latin America.From growing up in a tiny town with just three stoplights to successfully building and exiting two businesses, all while discovering a passion for Latin American culture, all by the age of 40. This passion was ignited primarily by an inquisitive spirit, many books about Amazon Jungle, Machu Picchu, and one short trip 3 month trip to Venezuela. This episode touches on my transformative trip to one of the most dangerous cities on the planet,Caracas Venezuela, and hits on the idea behind this podcast. You'll hear how a fateful encounter with some incredible Venezuelan friends in college and a bit of Johnny Walker led me to book a flight to Hugo Chavez's Venezuela right after graduation.
Get ready for stories and interviews that challenge conventional paths and celebrate bold leaps of faith. I share my vision for this podcast and how it aims to bridge the gap between Latin American and The U.S. Cultures. Whether it's recounting childhood memories or my early ventures into the business world, this episode sets the stage for an exploration of the rich cultural tapestry that connects these two distinct regions. Tune in to learn how my experiences across these vibrant landscapes have shaped my perspective and why I believe understanding and connecting with different cultures is more crucial than ever.
Follow me on Social: https://linktr.ee/mattchambers
If you'd like to support the show, use the links below.
Hello and welcome to Matt Chambers Connects, a podcast hosted by Matt Chambers. This is the podcast that transcends boundaries, empowers cross-cultural connections and fosters a more connected world. I'm your host, matt Chambers, and I invite you to join us on this quest to expand our understanding and build bridges between my two favorite places on the planet Latin America and the United States. I've been traveling, living and doing business in Latin America for nearly two decades.
Speaker 2:
In this very first episode I really wanted to take a moment to introduce myself and share my vision for this podcast and for this platform. So if you don't already know me, then you should know that my life has been primarily shaped by these two incredible worlds. I'm your typical all-American guy with blonde hair and blue eyes and was born to blue-collar, hard-working parents in small-town USA Literally middle of nowhere West Virginia. I had three stoplights in my town as a child, but only after my parents strived for years to move us within striking distance of a grocery store and a hospital. Before that, you basically had to swing on a grapevine and ride a donkey to get to where I was born. So stoplights weren't really necessary for donkeys and grapevines, but nonetheless, once my parents scraped up enough money, we moved to the big city, this big city that I previously mentioned, with the three stoplights.
Speaker 2:
Most kids where I'm from literally think Latin America is just some place down near Mexico, and I was certainly no different, as a child at least, but that would eventually change. So at some point around the age of five or so, like many of you, they forced me to go to school, much to my disagreement because, frankly, I didn't see much point in it, and I really still don't. My dad had already taught me that reading books independently at home was a great idea, which I was doing. I was completing math problems that were well above what a five-year-old was required to know at that time, and winning a few spelling bees as well. So, in my mind, what the hell did I need school for? But, needless to say, they made me go and I was bored in school for the entire 13 years that the government forced me to show up. But they had this thing called the Troll Book Club. I'm sure many of you have seen. It came out every Friday where we could order books for about a dollar. Due to this, I was able to find some peace in the whole school idea. This is where I began to learn a little about the Amazon rainforest and South America.
Speaker 2:
Eventually I went away to college, and not really because I wanted to, but because they told me it was really the only way that anyone was going to hire me for a job. Little did they know I didn't really want to work for anyone else anyway. So if I had it to do over again, I certainly would spend that time doing something else, starting and failing at a few businesses, because, frankly, that's taught me more than any textbook or job ever has. So, besides wasting those five years trying to prove to some guy that I can show up on time and do what he tells me, which I think is a complete, utter waste of time although I'm really good at the first one, absolutely terrible at the latter so working for myself was really inevitable anyway.
Speaker 2:
But nonetheless, while I was in college 2006, I believe in May of 2006, met some Venezuelan guys who are still great friends of mine, and they invited me to Venezuela. After a few glasses of Johnny Walker, I mustered up the courage and bought a flight. And, by the way, that wasn't the first time johnny walker made me do something a little crazy, and it damn sure wasn't the last, I promise. So in may of 2006, just one day after I graduated from west virginia university, I was on my way to hugo chavez's newly communist venezuela. And I know what most of you guys are thinking.
Speaker 2:
What the hell is wrong with this dude and why is he telling me about it? And I was actually thinking the same thing, but luckily I was able to avoid the kidnapping, the murders, the robberies and all the other fun stuff that CNN and everyone else told me were likely to happen. But I think I owe great debt of gratitude to everyone in the country, because I think they are the reason that nothing actually happened to me at that time and the reason that I'm still able to roam around today, because they really watched over me, took great care of me there. But I don't want to go too far into my Venezuelan story. I'll go into that in a little later episode, but for now I'm going to give the Cliff's notes and let you guys know that this crazy ass trip I took actually ended up in quite the love story, and when I say love story, it has absolutely nothing to do with a girl, although I did fall in love with plenty of them in Venezuela too.
Speaker 2:
One right after the other actually Basically any female there that spoke Spanish to me at the time I fell in love with. Most of you probably would too. I was 22, right out of college, absolutely nothing to do, nowhere to be. It was the first time I'd fallen in love with a girl that I couldn't verbally communicate with. But again, like I said, this love story has nothing to do with the girl.
Speaker 2:
The love that I found while on that trip was with the entire culture and the entire continent, and so much so that I've really never been able to leave Latin America, and every time that I try, something pulls me back in, and I have to give Venezuela credit there. They were the catalyst that initiated that and made me fall in love with the continent. But, as you'll learn in upcoming episodes, this certainly wasn't the last place that I fell in love with in Latin America, hence the reason for me creating this platform. But I did feel an immediate connection in Venezuela, without a doubt. Unfortunately for the great people of Venezuela, hugo Chavez turned that whole country upside down. I've never been able to go back for safety reasons, but it left me thirsty to see much more of Latin America. So I began to look at other places and, frankly, in a weird way, I'm extremely glad that I was forced to leave, not in the way I was forced to leave, but glad I was forced out because it allowed me to see a lot of other things that I've also loved.
Speaker 2:
So I've been obsessed since and I've been going back and forth between the United States and Latin America for years and years almost 17, 18 years now some for business, some for pleasure, and for the last six and a half years I've lived full time in Colombia and now Brazil, obviously going back and, and for the last six and a half years I've lived full-time in Colombia and now Brazil, obviously going back and forth to the US for business and things like that, but pretty much full-time living in Colombia and currently Brazil.
Speaker 2:
That said, I think it's important that you hear a little bit about the American side of me, as I think a lot of you guys will identify with this side a lot easier. Obviously, as a child, I played baseball, I had lemonade stands and, like many other kids, mowed a few lawns, which eventually turned into a full-fledged business that I built along with a childhood friend to more than 50 clients. And in my adult life I started a wholesale furniture business which I built to a little shy of $10 million in revenue, with clients in eight US states and five Latin American countries. And then after that, I had a few business learning experience that most would call failure and entrepreneurs would just call part of process. So then, while I was living in Colombia, I built a rental car business with more than 30 cars and eventually had a successful exit from that business.
Speaker 2:
So throughout my time in Latin America, I've had the privilege of immersing myself in the culture and the rich culture, the vibrant communities, and really witnessing the entrepreneurial spirit that really permeates this region the entrepreneurial spirit that really permeates this region. I've also been able to observe the challenges faced by many of my friends here, many people I've met along the way here, and their desire to learn from foreigners who have successfully navigated those obstacles. Many of them seek guidance on forging better connections, exploring opportunities and making informed investments that they maybe haven't had access to before. It's been my earnest endeavor to assist them to the best of my ability over the years, and this genuine desire to help them has been a major driving force behind the creation of this podcast and this platform. Additionally, while living in Latin America, I've unintentionally become a go-to resource for a lot of Americans, europeans, who I've crossed paths with along the way during their travels. It seems that when they see someone like myself engaging with the locals, embracing the region, embracing the culture, I actually become their trusted point of contact for inquiries and concerns about the area. This led to an epiphany and I realized that I have become that person and the individual who others seek to connect with and learn from. Owing all of this, by the way, to my experiences on both sides of the aisle, in the US and in Latin America. So watching my friends try to overcome these challenges ignited a fire within me, a burning desire to help bridge this gap, build these connections and help both sides realize the immense potential that we hold if we can figure out a way to work better together. And so that's why I'm here today launching this podcast and this platform.
Speaker 2:
Through engaging conversation and thought-provoking interviews with a diverse range of guests, we'll aim to educate, inspire and open doors to new possibilities. Each episode will feature experts, thought leaders, entrepreneurs. Each episode will feature experts, thought leaders, entrepreneurs, even indigenous leaders and, many times, just me, sharing personal stories. The goal is to embody the spirit of connection and contribute to the cultural and business landscapes of both Latin America and the United States. So as we navigate this voyage of discovery, if you will, we aim to enlighten and inform. We'll delve into the shared histories that make both of these regions so remarkable and, through educational conversations, stories and insights, we'll seek to foster understanding, facilitate connection and forge a stronger bond between these two incredible worlds. But I don't want this podcast to be just about imparting knowledge.
Speaker 1:
It's about engaging with you, our listeners.
Speaker 2:
We want to hear your thoughts, your experiences and your perspectives so that together we can create a vibrant community where ideas are exchanged, connections are made and a tapestry of understanding as well.
Speaker 1:
Thank you so much for joining me on this episode of Matt Chambers Connects. Stay tuned for upcoming episodes where we'll dive deeper into these two fascinating worlds. If you enjoyed today's episode, please subscribe to our YouTube channel, Matt Chambers Connects. You can also find us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube Music and many other major podcast platforms, so you don't miss a show. Also, please join us on our social media channels so you can connect with other listeners and ask your most pressing questions and also tell us what types of guests you'd like to see on the show. Thanks again, and I'll see you next time.
