You’ve probably heard of Jay Swanson, the creator of Paris in My Pocket, and perhaps you’re here from his vlogs or instagram.

But if not, you may have found us through our instagram or YouTube channel, and you might be wondering - who is this guy? And who is the rest of the team? And most importantly, why should I enlist their help in planning the dream Paris vacation?

So here we are - a small and mighty team of passionate Paris-loving professionals, at your service to help you have the best possible time in Paris.

Jay Swanson

Hey there! I’m Jay, an American YouTuber and author who’s lived in Paris long enough now to legally become French (I finally got my dual citizenship in 2024). I moved to Paris simply because I love this city so much and, as I explored more of it, I stumbled into more and more delicious restaurants, top notch coffee shops, and a wide variety of bars and experiences I’d never heard of before.

Since I was vlogging daily at the time, people saw this all in real time and started asking me “Where was that coffee shop?” or “Where should I stay in Paris when I visit?” The questions piled up and inspired me to write my first guide, a PDF that served as the foundation for what would become Paris in My Pocket and the web app you’re interacting with now. I still love exploring this city, and the updates made to my recommendations reflect what I’m actually discovering as I go. I hope you enjoy them too!

Emily Guernsey

Hello, I’m Emily, an American who’s been living in France since 2014, and working in tourism and client relations for just about that long. I'm now a naturalized French citizen but, I’ll confess, my first few visits to Paris (first as a teen with a school group, and later as an overly confident post-grad with her French degree clutched in hand) were less than ideal. I thought I didn’t like Paris for a good year, before I realized I just didn’t know it, and I wasn’t trying to. When that shifted, so did everything else.

Paris’ heartbeat is found in the tiny restaurants with ever-changing chalkboard menus. It’s about the relationships you cultivate while chatting with local business owners from around the world. It’s in wandering the streets, embracing whatever the weather brings, and buying fresh fruit at the market. All of these places are there, ready, waiting for you, and we’re here to help you find them.

After seven years of living in the city I now know there is no excuse for having a bad time in Paris...you just need to know who to trust. And that’s where we come in.

Mollie Laylin

I’m Mollie, a French-American who’s been lucky to call Paris home for over a decade. Equal parts adventurer, coffee addict, and former-and-maybe-sometimes-still tour guide, I can’t help but show off the city I love, whether it’s a secret garden, a trendy new coffeeshop, or the perfect spot to watch the Eiffel Tower sparkle.

Paris is my playground. I run its streets (literally), love taking my dog to the park, and I'll never say no to trying a new spot with friends. As a big traveler myself, I know what it’s like to be a visitor in a new city, and I’m here to help you experience Paris like a local while making sure you see the very best this incredible city has to offer.

Jeff Beltran

I'm Jeff, a software developer who splits his heart between Washington and California but has called Seattle home for the past 7 years. I'm the tech guy behind the scenes, and I actually built this guide you're using! My French vocabulary is pretty much limited to ordering pain au chocolat (which I eat my weight in every Paris visit), and honestly, Paris was never on my must-see list. But when my wife and I were touring Europe and visited Jay, I quickly understood why he's so obsessed with this city.

Now it's become my mission to help others fall in love with Paris the same way Jay helped me discover its magic. When I'm not coding or perfecting the guide, you'll find me on the slopes snowboarding in winter or running and hiking in summer. With over a decade of software engineering experience, I focus on making sure our guide actually works the way it should by taking the team's vision for helping people explore Paris and turning it into something that's genuinely easy and enjoyable to use.

We also work with a variety of freelance editors who splice together the perfect Paris content for you. For the most part, these freelancers are Paris locals as well, or have been at one point, which allows them to capture the energy of the city that much better. If you're interested in getting in touch with anyone we work with, feel free to reach out.