Explore the world through people and stories — Locals Insider

Peter Simonsson is the founder and creative director of The White Briefs, the Swedish men's underwear and essentials brand he launched with his wife Henriette in 2008. Based in Österlen, southern Sweden.

Hanne Kvernberg Hidlefjord is the general manager (daglig leder) of Flor & Fjære, the family-run tropical garden and restaurant on the island of Sør-Hidle in Ryfylke, a short boat ride from central Stavanger. The garden is open to visitors from May through September, with boats departing from Skagenkaien. More at florogfjare.no.

Dzmitry Samal is the founder and creative director of SAMAL DESIGN (also known as DZMITRY SAMAL Eyewear & Watches). Born in Belarus and trained in Minsk and Milan, he began his career designing automotive bodies at Renault and Alfa Romeo before founding his own eyewear brand in Paris in 2012. He is a SILMO d'Or winner for Best Designer of the Year*, a professor at Créapole and LISAA Mode Paris, and a fashion editor at The Times Review Magazine. All SAMAL DESIGN frames are handmade in the Jura, France. Explore the collection at* dzmitrysamal.fr or follow him on Instagram at @dzmitrysamal_officiel.

Vitor is a carioca — born and raised in Rio de Janeiro — with a degree in Social Sciences from the Universidade Federal Fluminense (UFF). He founded and runs Hidden Rio, a conscious-tourism project for international visitors offering walking tours through Santa Teresa, Vila Isabel, Pequena África, downtown and Rocinha. Follow him at @hidden.rrio on Instagram.

Rocio Bribiesca is the founder of Canopia, a restaurant, bar and wine space in Mexico City. Trained in oenology and viticulture, she opened Canopia in 2020 with her brother Francisco, an architect specializing in bioconstruction who designed the entire space under his brand SIQE. Follow her on Instagram at @rbribc and Canopia at @canopia__.

Louis is a London walking tour guide and professional actor, born and raised in West London. He is the founder of London with Louis, a small-group walking tour company specializing in story-led routes through the city's lesser-known corners — from 1970s punk and reggae in Notting Hill to the medieval bones of the City of London. Book at londonwithlouis.com or follow him at @londonwithlouis on Instagram and TikTok.

Eva Lenain is a scuba dive guide and instructor based in Tulum, Mexico. Originally from the Mediterranean coast of southern France, she holds a degree in Marine Biology and Conservation and has spent years researching sharks and rays around the world before settling in the Yucatán. Follow her on Instagram at @evadivetulum.

Alef Felipe is a bird watching guide based in Tapiraí, São Paulo state, Brazil, and the first bird watching guide in his city. He has led birding tours through the Atlantic Forest (Mata Atlântica) for eight years. Follow him on Instagram at @aleffelipe_bird_guide.

Hélène Havard is a French photographer based in French Polynesia. Her series include Pacifica, The Quiet Season, Pacific Insomnia and Out of Time. Fine art prints in limited and open editions are available at heleneharvard.com with international shipping. Follow her on Instagram at @helenehavard_travel.

Kaelyn DeYoung is a captain, wildlife photographer, and naturalist based in Monterey Bay, California. She captains the Fast Raft out of Moss Landing Harbor — the original 6-passenger whale watching boat on Monterey Bay. Follow her at @kaelyn_deyoung on Instagram.

Jade Arana — Co-founder of Swirl. Jade is the driving force behind Swirl's user experience and growth, leading product, design, and go-to-market. With a decade of experience building and scaling global mobile apps like Lifesum and Preglife, she knows how to craft an app people love to use.