Jonathan Messinger is an award-winning author and journalist and the creator of The Alien Adventures of Finn Caspian podcast and co-founder of Gen Z Media, a company devoted to producing high-quality podcasts for kids. He was a founding editor of Time Out Chicago, where he edited its books section and then went on to be the web editor for Time Out Chicago Kids.

He has been named one of the Top 50 literary figures in Chicago five times by NewCity and was named one of Chicago's "Top 30 under 30" by UR Chicago. His 2007 book of stories, Hiding Out, was named a Best Book of the Year by The Omaha World-Herald, and was an Alex Awards nominee. He currently serves as executive producer of Gen Z Media and lives in Chicago with his wife and two sons. ,

Born in Estonia, Aleksei loved to draw as a child and doodled all over his school books. Although he originally intended to become a teacher, his extensive travels brought him back to art.

Aleksei studied illustration in London at LCC and Camberwell, where he received his masters degree. Influences on his quirky, humorous illustrations include Tove Jansson and Russian animators. He lives in London with his wife and son.