Explore the world through people and stories — Locals Insider

Rafi Mercer is the founder and writer of Tracks & Tales, a global guide to listening bars and listening culture. He spent twelve years at Virgin and a career in record shops, listening rooms and the quieter corners of the music business. He is the author of The Luxury of Listening, and hosts the Listening Club, a monthly vinyl session for members worldwide.

Marie Beltrami is a French surrealist artist, jewelry designer and stylist based in Paris. She moved to the city from Nantes in 1975 and spent twenty-five years as Jean-Paul Goude's chief stylist, working on the campaigns that defined an era of French advertising — including Chanel's Égoïste.

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, the Paris eyewear and watch brand. Born in Belarus, he started out designing car bodies for Renault and Alfa Romeo, and it shows: his frames, handmade in the Jura, still look like they were built for speed.

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.