In our first episode of 2026, I'm speaking with Rodrigo Cotrim de Carvalho, a Brazilian food researcher and educator who left Rio de Janeiro for Ottawa, Canada, through the now shuttered Startup Visa program.

There's a lot to reflect on here, folks. But I think the one I kept coming back to was the point Rodrigo makes about all that gets lost in translation as you go through the messy process of fitting into your new home.

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Rodrigo and I also chat about:

• Feeling like a prisoner while waiting for PR approval
• What it means to think in Portuguese but converse in English
• The gap between what Canadian immigration promises and what it delivers
• The impossibility of being mediocre when you've left everything behind
• The three F's that immigrants miss the most

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Dozie's Notes

A few things that struck me as I listened through this week's conversation:

1. Your immigration pathway can sometimes become your identity, even when it shouldn't. Rodrigo finds himself introducing himself through his Startup Visa pathway because it's the easiest thing for people to understand. However, that's just how he got here, not who he is.
2. One person should not define how you see a country. It's easier said than done when you're raw and sensitive as a new immigrant. Hold onto that principle though, it does wonders for your mental health.
3. Autonomy is something we immigrants take for granted before we land. The freedom to be yourself without wondering if you're fitting in or getting it right usually disappears once you start over.

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Official Links

✅ Connect with Rodrigo Cotrim de Carvalho on LinkedIn

✅ Check out Babette Food Experiences

✅ Listen to Rodrigo's Due Tramonti Podcast

One Ask

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