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.

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。

Tiantian

Digital nomad, envisioned and lives her dream. Social media coach, Content creator, translator, surfer, diver. 80k+ followers.

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.

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 M

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.

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.

Mike

Entrepreneur, adventure traveller, game designer and hardcore gamer, the brilliant and friendly Mike is one of the most interesting people you'll meet. His clubs go deep into human psychology and his wealth of experience in extreme situations bring a refreshingly clear and wise view on our everyday problems.

Nico

Fashion entrepreneur, screen printer, graphic/web designer. Degree in biotech engineering and marketing. Proud art nerd & foodie.

Omar

Tech expert, web designer, fintech master. Relentless optimist, even though AI can destroy us at any moment.

Praksin

Praksin is a Shanghai-based creative director, visual storyteller, and content creator known for blending cinematic aesthetics with contemporary culture. Widely recognised in China through viral meme culture, he's become a familiar face online, but that image only captures a small part of who he is. Behind the meme is a deep thinker, world traveller, and cultural observer with over 15 years of experience in the fashion industry, working across cities, scenes, and creative disciplines. He's built a career creating high-impact visual campaigns for international brands and platforms, spanning fashion, lifestyle, and media. His work combines strong narrative instincts with a sharp visual eye, shaped by years of working behind the scenes with designers, creatives, and cultural tastemakers. He can't wait to meet you!   Praksin 是一位常驻上海的创意总监、视觉叙事者和内容创作者，他最擅长的就是把电影美学和当代文化融合在一起。在国内，很多人是通过那些疯传的表情包认识他的，他也确实成了网络上的熟面孔。但说真的，表情包只展现了他很小的一部分。 在那副广为流传的网络形象背后，他其实是一位深度思考者、环球旅行家和文化观察家。他在时尚圈里摸爬滚打了超过15年，足迹和作品遍布不同城市、不同领域。他的职业生涯，就是为各种国际品牌和平台打造极具冲击力的视觉企划，横跨时尚、生活方式和媒体。 他的作品既有强烈的叙事感，又有精准的视觉眼光，这都得益于他多年和设计师、创意人以及文化推手们在幕后的紧密合作。他已经等不及要和你见面交流了！

Sam

Dr Sam Fremantle, born and raised in London, England, one of the founders of the London School of Philosophy, established 2010, where he still teaches part-time, also founded the International School of Philosophy in 2016. He's taught Philosophy at Birkbeck, London and for the University of London International programme Philosophy BA. He's currently a Senior Lecturer at the Sino-British College, Shanghai. He holds a BSc in Philosophy and Economics from the University of Bristol (where he was elected President of the Students’ Union), an MA in Political Philosophy from the University of York, and a Phd from University College London. His doctoral thesis consisted of a critique of John Rawls’ theory of justice from a utilitarian perspective. His main research areas are Political Philosophy and Ethics, and he's published several articles in these fields. Sam's also done charity work and is a mobile Dj under the ‘nom de needle’ Dr Vibes who still occasionally gigs! Dr. Sam Fremantle 出生并成长于英国伦敦，是伦敦哲学学院的创始人之一，该学院成立于2010年，他至今仍在该学院担任兼职教师。他还于2016年创办了国际哲学学院。Sam 曾在伦敦的伯克贝克学院和伦敦大学国际课程哲学学士项目教授哲学。目前，他是上海中英国际学院的高级讲师。他拥有布里斯托大学的哲学与经济学学士学位（在此期间他当选为学生会主席）、约克大学的政治哲学硕士学位，以及伦敦大学学院的博士学位。他的博士论文从功利主义的角度批评了约翰·罗尔斯的正义理论。他的主要研究领域是政治哲学和伦理学，且在这些领域已发表了多篇文章。Sam 还参与了慈善工作，并且以“Dr. Vibes”这一DJ艺名活跃在现场演出中，偶尔仍会举办演出。

Stacey

10+ years running PR in London’s West End, hobnobbing with UK celebs. Singer, actress, public speaker, networking queen. Proper London.

Vidal (padel)

Vidal, from Madrid, Spain, fluent in English, Spanish, French and with basic Chinese, has been a professional padel coach for over four years and has played it for fifteen. He's also highly proficient in tennis, golf, horse riding, basketball, football and swimming. Formerly a senior strategic consultant at PwC in Spain, he has a master's in international business, and he's lived in Switzerland, Croatia and Mexico before settling in Shanghai. He loves meeting new people, experiencing new cultures and padel, and he can't wait to dive into all three with you! Vidal来自西班牙马德里，能流利使用英语、西班牙语和法语，同时掌握基础中文。他从事板式网球（padel）已经超过15年，并有4年以上的职业教练经验。同时他在网球、高尔夫、马术、篮球、足球和游泳等运动上也非常擅长。在定居上海之前，他曾生活在瑞士、克罗地亚和墨西哥。他之前在西班牙普华永道担任高级战略咨询顾问，并拥有国际商务硕士学位。Vidal很喜欢认识新朋友、体验不同文化，当然还有打padel。他也很期待和你一起把这三件事都玩起来！

Violetta

TEDx public speaking coach, community builder, studied in Russia, US, EU with background in linguistics. Always ready with a fun fact.