Meet Our Hosts
Al
With the mind of a marketer and the soul of a philosopher, AL's clubs are all about critical thinking. Whether you're identifying advertising strategies or discussing ancient wisdom, it's always deep and insightful.
Damon
University professor, published poet, opinionated American.
Dasol
Highly sought-after career coach, fluent in English, Chinese, Korean. Uses principles from storytelling to promote you and Yoga to ground you.
Ed
Geo-engineer for world-leading firm. Loves sci-fi and fantasy yet hates Harry Potter.
Emmanuel
Award-winning film and TV director and writer. Very French.
Ivan
Brilliant writer, director, and up-and-comer in the London theatre scene. A true traveller with networks of artists and businesspeople all over the world, he blends the cultural mix with creative writing prowess to always be creating something new.
Jennifer
Digital nomad, singer, actress, content creator, business consultant, educator. Free soul.
Marc
Gaming entrepreneur, incredibly French, game master, endless imagination, and an introvert who found ways to thrive in the extrovert’s world.
Richard
Richard, from the US, is an educator, entrepreneur, and multilingual learning advocate. He's lived and worked around the world, including South Africa, China and the Middle East. He was Head of School at Emirates National Schools Al-Ain in the UAE and the founding principal at Beijing International Bilingual Academy and International Division Ningbo Foreign Language school. He currently works across education, training, and business operations in Fairbanks, Alaska. Richard holds degrees in history, forced migration studies, international education and educational leadership. His professional experience includes instructional leadership, curriculum development, workforce training, and running his own service-based business supporting communities across Alaska. He's especially known for making complex ideas accessible, practical, and engaging for diverse audiences. Richard is a father of three, a lifelong language learner, speaking English, Sepedi and Xitsonga, and a passionate supporter of youth sports and cross-cultural exchange. His sessions are interactive, energetic, and focused on real-world communication skills that participants can use immediately. Richard 来自美国，是一位教育者、创业者，也是多语言学习的积极倡导者。他在全球多个地方生活和工作过，包括南非、中国以及中东地区。他曾担任阿联酋艾因酋长国国立学校校长，同时也是北京国际双语学院和宁波外国语学校国际部的创校校长。目前，他在阿拉斯加费尔班克斯从事教育、培训以及商业运营相关工作。Richard 拥有历史、强迫迁移研究、国际教育和教育领导力等多个学位。他的职业经历涵盖教学领导、课程开发、职业培训，以及运营自己的服务型企业，为阿拉斯加各地社区提供支持。他尤其擅长把复杂的内容讲清楚，讲得实用又有趣，能让不同背景的人都轻松理解。 Richard 也是三个孩子的父亲，是一位长期坚持语言学习的人，会说英语、塞佩迪语和聪加语，同时也非常支持青少年体育发展和跨文化交流。他的课程风格偏互动、有活力，而且很注重实用性，参与者基本都能学到可以立刻用起来的沟通技巧。
Tiantian
Digital nomad, envisioned and lives her dream. Social media coach, Content creator, translator, surfer, diver. 80k+ followers.
Adam
Adam, from Ireland, has a degree in business from University College Cork and a superhuman knowledge of global affairs and history. Fluent in English, Chinese and Spanish, Adam has travelled to some of the most remote places in the world, including Brunei, Borneo, Transnistria and North Korea (where he ran a marathon). He's a highly experienced English professor. He devours books, goes to the gym, and, of course, loves to travel. Adam is one of those rare wonderful people with incredibly far-reaching knowledge and wisdom about culture, history and politics and yet humble to a fault, down-to-earth and super friendly. He can't wait to meet you! Adam来自爱尔兰，毕业于University College Cork，拿的是商科学位。他对国际事务和历史有着很深的了解，知识面非常广。Adam能熟练使用英语、中文和西班牙语，也去过很多很偏远、很特别的地方，比如文莱、婆罗洲、德涅斯特河沿岸，还有朝鲜——他甚至还在朝鲜跑过马拉松。他也是一位经验很丰富的英语教授。平时喜欢看书、健身，当然也很爱旅行。Adam属于那种很难得的人，对文化、历史和政治有很多自己的理解，见识也很广，但同时又特别谦逊、接地气，而且很好相处。他已经迫不及待想认识你了。
Alex J M
Career development expert with huge network connecting China and Europe. CEO of Creatly. Pure sunshine.
Alexandra
Health and wellness coach, degree in clinical medicine. Brilliant, highly empathic, fluent in English and Chinese.
Alysia
AI trainer, creative coach, content creator, award-winning educator. Often uses art, always there to talk.
Anastasiia
Professional artist and animator. Able to teach complex art skills to beginners. Literature expert. Fluent in English, Russian and Chinese. Crazy talented.
Anji
Cannes-nominated filmmaker. Award-winning director, screenwriter. Cultured genius.
Ben
Highly in-demand freelance advertising genius working with the biggest automotive names in Europe and Asia. Philosopher, world traveller, skateboarding artist.
Charles
Finance expert, personal trainer, beer educator, expert salesman. Director at major software firm. Amazing at handstands.
Charlie
Former creative director of RADII, runs corporate AI workshops across Asia, filmmaker, playwright, actor. Business genius, tortured artist, opinionated American.
Chris
Chris, a Mexican American, with degrees in UX/UI, International Business and Logistics, and a Master’s in Finance, has lived in Asia for the past decade, and is fluent in English, Spanish and Chinese. He’s a storyteller at heart and works professionally as a Communication Skills Coach and IELTS instructor. Chris helps people build real confidence by improving how they express themselves; clearly, naturally, and without pressure. His background is in business and UX design, and he also runs his own travel agency. When he’s not teaching or working, he’s usually travelling, working out, taking photos, or watching TV with his black Shiba Inu, Hachi (a solid 10/10 good boi). Chris is here to make English conversation engaging, human, and full of stories. Chris 是一名墨西哥裔美国人，拥有 UX/UI、国际商务与物流相关学位，并取得了金融学硕士学位。过去十年里，他一直生活在亚洲，英语、西班牙语和中文都能流利使用。他骨子里是个讲故事的人，目前的职业是沟通表达教练和 IELTS 教师。Chris 擅长帮助别人建立真正的自信，通过提升表达方式，让人说得更清楚、更自然，也更没有压力。他的背景来自商业和 UX 设计，同时还经营着一家自己的旅行社。不在教学或工作的时候，他大多在路上旅行、健身、拍照，或者和他的黑色柴犬 Hachi 一起看电
Christina
Law degree, global trade entrepreneur, brilliant and relentlessly curious. Speaks English, Russian, Belarusian, Italian, Chinese.
Coquina
Coquina, from the US, is an expat writer working in marketing, as well as a freelance educator and content creator. Graduated from Hollins University, all-women’s college, in 2018 with a degree in International Relations, she lived and worked in Washington, D.C., and started working in China as an ESL Teacher in 2019. Since then, she's become quite well-known in the expat networking scene, hosting events, bringing people together, and writing contribution pieces for different publications in Shanghai. This year, she’s attempting to finish her first novel. She speaks English and Spanish. She's full of life, interesting facts and a truly inclusive and friendly person who can't wait to meet you! Coquina，来自美国，是一位在上海生活的营销人、自由职业教育者和内容创作者。2018年，她从文理学院Hollins University毕业，拿到国际关系学位后，先在华盛顿特区工作和生活了一段时间，然后在2019年来到中国，成了一名英语老师。从那以后，她在上海的外国人社交圈里就混得风生水起了——自己组局办活动、把大家聚在一起，还给上海的几家媒体写过专栏。今年，她正在努力完成自己的第一部小说。她会说英语和西班牙语，整个人活力满满，脑子里装满了各种有趣的冷知识。是个超级包容又友善的人，已经等不及要认识你了！
DJ BO
Vinyl DJ, cultural and historical lecturer at consulates and universities, global event producer, responsible for China’s first-ever Elvis Presley festival.
David A
Chief psychological counsellor, former CFO with L’Oréal, four master’s degrees in different fields. Very German, yet also very French.
David MO
David, a Spanish architect with over 20 years of experience in international firms across Spain, the Netherlands, Italy, the UK (Foster + Partners), and China. He brings a rare blend of creativity, business thinking, and global perspective. He has a Master’s in Architecture and a Global Executive MBA from CEIBS, and is the co-founder of OMIO architecture studio and The Loft Cost. His current work spans projects from Shanghai to Bali, combining cutting-edge design, sustainability, and cultural storytelling. His approach is simple: never stop experimenting, never stop creating. He’s known for bridging East and West, design and business, structure and imagination. Beyond architecture, he's a mentor to the younger generation, he’s hosted events, appeared in media, worked on documentaries, and even performed on stage. He speaks Spanish, English, and Chinese, and when he’s not designing, you’ll likely find him playing sports or exploring the city. David是一位来自西班牙的建筑师，在西班牙、荷兰、意大利、英国（Foster + Partners）以及中国的国际事务所拥有20多年的从业经验。他身上有一种挺少见的组合：既有创意，又有商业思维，还带着全球视角。他拥有建筑学硕士学位，同时还拿下了中欧国际工商学院（CEIBS）的Global Executive MBA，是OMIO建筑事务所和The Loft Cost的联合创始人。他目前的项目遍布上海到巴厘岛，把前沿设计、可持续理念和文化表达融合在一起。他的做事方式其实很简单：不停尝试，不停创造。他也一直在做“连接”的角色——把东西方、设计和商业、结构和想象力串在一起。除了建筑，他也很活跃在不同领域，是年轻一代的导师，做过活动主持，也上过媒体、参与纪录片拍摄，甚至还登台表演过。他会说西班牙语、英语和中文。平时不在做设计的时候，大概率就是在运动或者到处探索城市。
David Stephen
Corporate trainer, event organizer, British etiquette coach, football team manager. Incredibly British. Speaks English and Chinese.
Davie
Popcorn Club founder. Serial entrepreneur, master debater, screenwriter, questions everything. Inspires confidence.
Emma
Emma is a British columnist and public speaker based in Shanghai. She writes The Oyster Pail for Shanghai Daily, one of its most widely read columns, known for its honesty and her ability to make readers feel less alone. She trained at Bournemouth University and the British College of Journalism. Emma’s career spans television production, magazine editing as Editor-in-Chief, and speech curation for TEDx. She works closely with the mental health community in Shanghai. Emma runs The Brief, a channel delivering short, relatable lessons on authentic communication and human connection. She also created Writing for Impact, a 14-lesson masterclass on powerful, human writing. Emma says the things most people are thinking but haven’t found the words for. She brings honesty, vulnerability, and warmth to every conversation. Emma是一位来自英国的专栏作家，同时也做公共演讲。她在《上海日报》上写的专栏The Oyster Pail，是很多人每期必看的那种，够坦诚，也总让人觉得“原来不是我一个人这样”。她本科毕业于伯恩茅斯大学，又在英国新闻学院接受过专业训练。职业履历也蛮丰富的：做过电视制作，当过杂志主编，还曾为TEDx策展过演讲内容。现在她运营着一个叫The Brief的平台，专门分享那些一针见血又很有共鸣的沟通和人际洞察，也跟上海的心理健康社群保持着紧密合作。她做的事情，说到底就是帮大家在各种嘈杂的信息里，找到并表达出自己真实的声音。她还自己搞了一套写作课，叫Writing for Impact，一共14节，专门讲怎么写出有温度、有力量的东西。Emma有个很简单的信念：每个人都有值得说的内容，只是需要学会怎么把它讲出来。好的写作不是靠天赋，而是靠方法。她很期待见到你！
ICEX
Award-winning music producer, sound designer. Believes everyone can dance, and will prove it!
Justin
Health & fitness entrepreneur. Former liaison for Australian government and startups. Black belts in Jiu-Jitsu, Karate, Taekwondo. International kickboxer, Olympic wrestler. Deadly yet super friendly.
Karli
Director of counselling at CCS (Community Centre Shanghai). Mental health awareness crusader, high-level corporate trainer. Angel with a high IQ.
Leon
Psychologist, musician, Mensa supervisor. Happiest on a motorcycle or camping in the middle of nowhere.
Leslie
Innovator, entrepreneur, and true conversationalist, Leslie's created companies in IT, English Training and wine. He's an actor, podcaster, beloved MC and has degrees in business and psychology. Always insightful and interesting, and one of the friendliest guys you'll meet.
Mai
Emotions coach. Has ability to see inside people and find beauty. Contagious laugh.
Mateusz
Founder of Eventure, gaming & events. Community builder, Jiu- Jitsu brown belt, inclusive to a fault, will always have your back.
Matthew
Matthew is a Canadian content creator, DJ, and events organiser based in Shanghai. He holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from Ivey Business School at the University of Western Ontario and a Master’s degree in Digital Experience Innoviation (UX Research) from the University of Waterloo. Before going independent, he was an Associate Marketing Manager at Wattpad WEBTOON (NAVER Corp), running campaigns across seven language platforms and working with creatives and artists worldwide. Today, he creates bilingual content in English and Mandarin with 50,000+ followers on both Instagram and Xiaohongshu, partnering with brands like HOKA, GAP, and Adidas. Outside of content, Matt DJs for brand events and Shanghai clubs like Potent, and is a regular face at run clubs across the city. Matthew 是一位常驻上海的加拿大内容创作者、DJ，同时也会做活动策划。他本科毕业于 University of Western Ontario 的 Ivey Business School（商学学士），之后在 University of Waterloo 拿到了 Digital Experience Innovation（UX Research）的硕士学位。在开始做自由创作之前，他曾在 Wattpad WEBTOON（NAVER Corp）担任 Associate Marketing Manager，负责多个语言平台（共七种）的营销项目，并和全球各地的创作者、艺术家合作。现在他主要用 English 和 Mandarin 做双语内容，在 Instagram 和 小红书 上都有 50,000+ 粉丝，也和 HOKA、GAP、Adidas 等品牌有合作。除了内容创作之外，他也会在品牌活动和上海的一些俱乐部（比如 Potent）做 DJ，同时也是城市里各类跑步社群里的常见面孔。
