"A really cool m#f*ck3r"

I’ve done a lot of things online over these 30+ years, but nothing tops being called that by Samuel L. Jackson himself. That pretty much sums up my story. ;)

In case you missed it, I’m Borbs—a spin on Borbolla, which became my nickname back in 1996 when a school friend decided to call me that. But my real name is Thiago. Thiago Borbolla. I’m a journalist, and I love saying (and repeating) that, even though I’ve worked in advertising these past few years. It’s like I’ve got superpowers that help brands bridge gaps and translate ideas for audiences, especially online, where I’ve been for 30 years.

The first time I heard a modem—a Zoltrix 14.400—making all those screechy noises was in 1995, when I was trying to connect to Videotexto, TELESP’s ancient service. Feel old yet? ;)

During all this time online (which is most of my life, nearly 3/4 of it!), I created and moderated a conference on Mandic BBS, ranked Top 10 iBest with a fan page (the certificate’s still here with me), and founded JUDAO.com.br, one of the biggest pop culture sites the Brazilian internet ever had—a site that not only shaped who I am personally but also gave me a career I never once imagined having.

Artist, skydiver, astronaut, firefighter, computer scientist, ad guy? Yeah, I considered those. But journalist? Nope. It just... happened. And I dove in headfirst. :)

For 20 years, I grew, evolved, and learned tons of things with JUDAO.com.br. Without exaggeration—and using the word correctly—the site literally opened doors to the universe for me: I was read by millions, made countless friends, hosted podcasts, debated stuff I love at events and universities (like, uh, USP), hosted a show on MTV (yep, I was what they call a VJ), interviewed celebs, set foot on four continents, appeared in a music video, had my name show up on WikiLeaks, and, phew, got to see the world through perspectives I never knew existed.

In 2018, I decided to dive into new waters, and that’s when advertising (returned, since it was my second choice for college) came back into my life. I mashed up the World Cup and Stranger Things for Netflix at Mutato, then became a writer for a collab between BuzzFeed Brasil and F/Nazca Saatchi Saatchi, and finally landed at Twitter Brasil—where I stayed until a vulture swooped in, destroyed all the eggs, and tossed the nest out of the tree. :P

Also in 2018, I started DJing (who even says that anymore?) at real and silly parties, picking the coolest, funniest tracks to get people dancing and singing loud. I’ve spun at VHS, Festival Cultura Inglesa, the now-defunct Sputnik, Milo Garage, and plenty of other spots—even produced my own party, Sound N Vision, focused on soundtracks and "songs you’ve definitely seen somewhere."

Oh, and I decided to fulfill my grandma’s dream: for a while now, I’ve been making drawings of people and little critters. Dona Wilma always wanted me to be an "artist" (and felt fulfilled when I was on TV), but it wasn’t until my 40s that I started leaning into this whole art thing. :)

Right now, in this exact moment of the universe’s history, I’m more than open to all kinds of work—writing for your site, magazine, newspaper; helping your brand connect with people; DJing your party; or illustrating whatever’s in your head. Just shoot me an email, and let’s chat! :)

That’s what I’m here for. ;)

Clipping

Samuel L. Jackson gave me that "life achievement" compliment when I interviewed him for Django Unchained in New York, a day before Corinthians won their second Club World Cup (while I was on a plane). But there’s other stuff you can watch, hear, or read from people who’ve talked or written about me. :)

In 2009, for example, there was a great feature in Estadão. I’d just taken JUDAO.com.br to MTV Portal and talked about how I got there. You can read it here (paywall) or here (PDF). :)

I’ve also talked a lot about pop culture out there. I’ve been on episodes of Um Milkshake Chamado Wanda and Nerdcast, chimed in on Braincast and Mamilos, and guested on tons of podcasts, YouTube channels, and events—like CCXP, where I talked pop culture AND podcasts. :)

More recently, I’ve been on podcasts and channels like Mothership, Overloadr, Analógica (91 FM Natal), and Brasil Que Deu Certo. Since they all have video versions, I tossed ’em into a lil’ playlist here. :)

Over on my YouTube channel, there’s a bunch more guest appearances and stuff I’ve produced. If you’re into that... ;D

Résumé

In my portfolio—which you might’ve already seen—I’ve gathered my most recent and important work. But of course, my résumé’s available for résumé people. Download it here (PDF, in Portuguese and/or English!). :)

Huh? Oh, right. I’ve also got a LinkedIn profile, but I don’t update it much because... well, you know. But if you wanna peek, it’s here. :)