Kriti Mehrotra
Directed by Benjamin “Ben” Zand, Hulu’s ‘The Cult of Natureboy’ is a documentary series chronicling the rise and fall of the titular social media influencer and convicted felon Eligio Bishop, who authorities and former followers say ran a destructive cult. It carefully shines a light upon everything from how he kickstarted his brand of Carbon Nation as a spiritual group to how he evolved into what prosecutors and former members described as the leader of a sexually abusive cult. He was ultimately convicted of rape and false imprisonment in 2024 and sentenced to life. Amongst those to thus be featured in this original is former member Alex Raposo (aka Goldenboy), who left the tribe within a month of joining and fortunately escaped its darkest turns.
Alex Raposo’s Interest in Organic Living Drew Him to Carbon Nation
Although born in Arcos de Valdevez, Portugal, Alex Raposo primarily grew up in Toronto, Canada, after his family relocated there when he was a young boy in search of better opportunities. Their unit was big, beautiful, and supportive, as per his account in the aforementioned show, which gave him the confidence to pursue his passion as a career upon completing his studies. He was an amateur athlete as well as a sports enthusiast as a teenager, leading him to discover the world of fitness before he realized that’s where his calling lay – so, he became a bodybuilder.
It was when Alex was just starting out in 2016 – attending his debut Toronto Pro Show, competing for the first time, and embracing his roots – that he came across Natureboy. He had been watching documentaries on factory farming and plant-based diets when he stumbled upon Natureboy’s organic grocery haul, which caught his attention immediately. However, it was the influencer’s natural charisma and the fact that he was talking about how he was preparing to move into nature in Costa Rica that led the rising bodybuilder to follow him.
Alex admittedly felt as if “this guy’s like some spiritual gangster,” and they gradually built an online friendship as his comments began to get engagement and responses. The former was initially under the impression that Natureboy’s group, MelaNation (later Carbon Nation), didn’t take white members, but he soon learned their ideology was different. Therefore, by mid-September 2017, he had packed his bags, decided to move to Costa Rica, embrace a natural, organic lifestyle, and never return.
Alex Raposo Left Carbon Nation Over Financial Issues and an Incident with the Police
Alex Raposo believed he would find his true self alongside Natureboy, and that belief only strengthened when they actually met, because he felt as if “he was meeting someone that I was meant to meet.” He was excited since everyone else was also “super friendly,” yet then he got a shock as he learned that not only would his bags be checked, but his money would be taken too. Whether it be any cash, his debit cards, or his credit cards, he claimed he was required to hand them all over to the group upon arrival.
Alex alleged in the documentary that one of his cards was later used without his permission to buy an $800 ping-pong table, a decision he he said he didn’t question out of fear of angering Natureboy. However, things changed on October 14, 2017, when he claims he realized the leader wished to control every aspect of his followers’ lives for clout, without regard for their safety or well-being. That’s when the group came face to face with the migration police on their way to Limon, only for Natureboy to allegedly command his followers not to disembark or listen to the authorities.
Costa Rican officials only had an issue with none of the tourists’ passports being stamped, as per the show, but they suggested they could do it right there, so the tourists could continue their journey. Yet, according to the show, owing to Natureboy’s commands and his livestreaming of the ordeal, chaos ensued. Video footage from the time reportedly shows deputies forcibly removing members from the bus after they reportedly refused to disembark. They were subsequently taken to a nearby station, where Alex’s cooperation enabled him to walk free and make his own way home, whereas almost everyone else was processed before being deported.
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Alex Raposo Has Returned to the World of Fitness as a Breathwork Coach and a Bodybuilding Competitor
When Alex returned to Canada in late 2017, he felt as if everything he believed in or hoped to achieve in life had shattered, leaving him more confused and vulnerable than ever. However, thanks to the unwavering support of his parents, siblings, extended relatives, and friends, he soon got back on his feet by dabbling in labor work and embracing change. In fact, from 2019 to 2023, he proudly served as a Carpenter Helper on construction sites across Ontario, stepping away only when he learned the art of breathwork in fitness and fell in love with it.
Alex has since not only returned to the fitness world but also evolved into a Personal Trainer and Breathwork Coach with his own brand, Spiritually Fit with Alex, in his hometown of Toronto. We should also mention he has held the titles of Breathwork Facilitator and Cold Immersion Guide at Elemental Rhythm since April 2023, and has been a Classic Physique Athlete with the Canadian Physique Alliance since July 2024. After all, it was in 2024/2025 that he decided to delve into Competitive Bodybuilding again, resulting in him spending the past year or so getting into the best physical shape of his life.
Alex’s two biggest inspirations in bodybuilding are the renowned Frank Zane and the late Steve Reeves, so he hopes he can one day underscore their impact through his performance alone. It’s also imperative to note that he has since asserted he was at rock bottom after the whole ordeal with Natureboy, so bodybuilding is now more than just a sport to him; it’s his path of healing, growth, and reconnecting with his truest self. It thus comes as no surprise that the rising influencer has indeed begun competing again, with his most recent competition being The Toronto Naturals on April 18, 2026. On a personal level, it appears the 30-year-old is currently in a happy, healthy relationship with a local beauty and is a proud dad to a Black Labrador and a cat.
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