Life & Work with Pretty Brandao of Tarzana, Los Angeles, California

Today we’d like to introduce you to Pretty Brandao.

Hi Pretty, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
It all started with me getting sober after struggling with addiction for over 10 years, with the last 4 years being fentanyl. I’m originally from Boston, Massachusetts, and I moved to Los Angeles in 2020, which is where I finally got sober. That was the lowest point of my life, but it became the turning point.

Before my addiction got really bad, I was well known in my community in Boston. So when I began sharing my story, it wasn’t coming from a stranger. People already knew who I was, and that made it easier for them to trust me and reach out.

After getting sober, I was interviewed by Soft White Underbelly, where I shared my story openly. That interview reached a lot of people, especially back home in Boston, and people started reaching out asking how they could begin their own sobriety journey.

From there, I went back home to Cape Verde, Africa, and was invited to be a guest on a morning show. That brought even more awareness to the idea that sobriety is possible, not just there but also within the Cape Verdean community in Boston who saw it. More people began reaching out, whether for themselves or for a loved one.

That’s when I realized this was bigger than just my story. It became about helping others find a way out, just like I did.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
No, it has definitely not been a smooth road. Like any business, especially in this field, there are real challenges.

I had never opened a sober living before. I had only experienced it as a client. But in a way, that became my advantage. I built Life is Pretty based on everything I felt was missing when I was in sober living. I paid attention to the flaws, the lack of structure, the lack of care, and I created something different.

One of the biggest challenges early on was responsibility. You are not just running a business, you are responsible for people’s lives, their recovery, and their future. That pressure is real.

At the same time, something special happened. My first house filled up with people from my own community. Mostly Cape Verdean clients from Boston who had already known me or heard my story. So it became more than just a sober living. It was a shared culture, a shared background, and a group of people all working toward the same goal under one roof. It felt like family.

In this industry, relapse is very common. Some sober Living homes experience it weekly, sometimes even daily. I opened my first house on August 1, 2024, and we didn’t have our first relapse until December 25, 2024. That’s 4 months, That kind of time without a relapse is almost unheard of.

That showed me that what I was building was different. Not perfect, but intentional, structured, and built from real lived experience.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
What I’m most proud of is something simple but powerful. Every client in my house represents a family that can finally sleep in peace. It means there is a mother out there who doesn’t have to worry if her child is alive that night. That means everything to me, because during my own addiction I put my mother through a lot of pain. Today, being able to create an environment where families can feel hope again is one of the greatest rewards of my life.

What I do goes beyond just providing housing. I specialize in mentorship and real life structure. I work closely with my clients on short term goals like saving money, building credit, finding employment, and creating stability. I stay personally involved in their journey because I know what it feels like to be in their position.

What sets me apart is that I lived this life. I’m not teaching from a book or from theory. I understand the mindset, the struggles, and the patterns because I experienced them myself. That allows me to connect with my clients in a way that builds trust and accountability.

Of course, in this field relapse can happen. It is part of recovery and not everything is in my control. But what I can control is the environment, the structure, and the guidance I provide. The clients who truly follow the blueprint we create together go on to build stable, meaningful lives.

One of my first clients, my first female client, moved into my house in August 2024. As of today, she is still sober. She returned to Boston, is doing well, and still checks in with me. Stories like that remind me why I do this.

At the end of the day, I’m not just running a sober living. I’m helping people rebuild their lives and become who they were always meant to be.

Are there any apps, books, podcasts, blogs or other resources you think our readers should check out?
I’ve always been someone who learns more from lived experience than from books, but I do stay intentional about the content I consume. One podcast that has had a strong impact on me is The Diary of a CEO. It offers valuable insight on discipline, mindset, and personal accountability, all of which directly apply to both recovery and leadership.

A book that resonates with me is The Four Agreements. Its core principles, especially being disciplined with your word and taking personal responsibility, align closely with the structure I try to instill in my program.

Overall, I focus on surrounding myself with meaningful conversations and ideas that promote growth, both for myself and for the people I mentor.

Pricing:

• One on one mentorship available for individuals in recovery
• Guidance and support for families navigating addiction
• Sessions are personalized based on each individual’s situation
• Availability is limited and provided upon request

Contact Info:

• Website: https://Www.lifeispretty.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yoprettyf?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@PrettyBrandao
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@yoprettyf?_r=1&_t=ZT-955KYbZecVZ