Meet Lucia Matuonto | Podcaster & Book Author

We had the good fortune of connecting with Lucia Matuonto and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Lucia, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
I have always been very artistic, and I’ve always thought of myself as someone who lives creatively. Ever since a young age, I’ve always loved writing and reading. I co-authored a book with my sister, I wrote for blogs, I’ve taken drama classes, I painted. Even as a physiotherapist, I would create stories for the kids who were my patients, to help them feel more comfortable. No child really wants to be treated in a clinic, so I would do this to make it fun for them at each session. I even helped organize a musical show with the kids for their parents, which included choreography. So once I decided to pivot away from physiotherapy, a creative career seemed like a logical next step.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
During the pandemic, I published a children’s book series, Zoe the Crab, and also Out of the Box. Not only that, but I also decided to have my own podcast. What I’m most proud of is the fact that I’m not a native English speaker, and I was always insecure about that fact. But I am still out here publishing English books, and interviewing guests in English. I’ve published over 250 episodes, and I have 1 million downloads, and I just want to keep going. It definitely was not easy, and had its own set of challenges, which makes it a great learning experience. I learned that if you don’t give up just because things are hard or uncomfortable, you will surprise yourself at how much you can accomplish. I learned that stepping out of your comfort zone is crucial to self-improvement. I learned that perfection does not exist, because perfection is subjective. You are your worst critic, and sometimes you need to just ignore your ego, because your ego doesn’t always know best. To quote the brilliant Mary Schmich, “Do one thing every day that scares you”.

My story isn’t necessarily unique, but I know so many people out there can relate to it, and I hope this inspires people to realize that if you don’t even try, the answer is immediately no.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I currently live in Spain, but there’s a spot in the US where I left a little piece of my heart, and that is Ponce Inlet, in Florida. It’s an hour and a half away from Orlando, and very close to Daytona Beach. The place has a beautiful beach, and a natural park, so that makes the Brazilian in me very happy. You can go for a bike ride on the beach itself. You can take the kayak and you can see dolphins, manatees, and even sharks. I’ve lived in 6 different countries. Ponce Inlet is a little town, but it’s one of my favourite places in the world.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
One person I’d like to dedicate my shoutout to is Marco Matuonto, my husband, who is my number one cheerleader. He supports everything I want to do, and not just that, he helps me achieve them. I started a new magazine called The Relatable Voice magazine, and he’s played a huge role in its realization. He helps with the layout, he helps with the photography, and graphic design. He’s also my advisor, because I always go to him for advice. Seeing that English is my second language, I also have a mentor who’s been with me since the very first episode. Maya Hafez is my English teacher who helps me formulate my thoughts into words so I can gain the confidence to express myself freely. Also, to my listeners and guests.

Lastly, I have to give a shoutout to Gaurav Gulati, from WorldAuthors.org, who saw something in me and gave me the chance to have my own show and be a creative director.

Website: www.luciamatuonto.com

Instagram: the_relatable_voice

Linkedin: Lucia Matuonto

Twitter: LMatuonto

Facebook: Lucia Matuonto

Other: www.relatable-media.com

Image Credits
Credit: Marco Matuonto