Pong Around the World – Stories from 7 Continents with Justin Bookey

Tens of millions of people play ping pong worldwide, but very few have used a paddle as a passport to the entire planet. In the 1970s, table tennis famously helped thaw decades of tension between the U.S. and China in what became known as Ping Pong Diplomacy. That same simple game has since carried Justin Bookey across all seven continents, connecting him with people, cultures, and stories in the most unexpected places.
Justin grew up in rainy Seattle, logging countless hours at a ping pong table in his family basement. As a kid, he learned to overcome adversity and even bullying through the sport, which helped him discover confidence, discipline, and joy. Today, the game remains a lifelong bond in his family: his 98-year-old father, a World War II veteran, can still play a lively game.
Along his global journey, Justin has played everywhere from a polished Bulgarian club on the shores of the Black Sea to a hidden shack at the end of a winding dirt road in Curaçao. Inside, beneath bright lights and on professional flooring, local players eagerly lined up their best competitors—including a former national champion—for hours of intense, unforgettable matches. Similar moments followed across Africa, Asia, the South Pacific, and even Antarctica, proving the universal language of the game.
Justin is also the author of Ping Pong Leadership: 18 Principles to Succeed at Any Table in Business, Sports, and Life. At the Adventurers Club, he’ll share remarkable stories from his seven-continent journey and the lessons learned when a small white ball becomes a bridge between worlds.

Justin Bookey is the best-selling author of Ping Pong Leadership. He’s a former lawyer, an award-winning marketing strategist, and competitive table tennis player with medals from the US Open. He’s worked with leaders at Disney, Sony, Honda, Qualcomm, XPRIZE, and more. He grew up in Seattle, Washington, playing a lot of ping pong in the family basement. He now lives in Santa Monica, California, where he also runs PongFit, a nonprofit that builds fitness and community through ping pong. He has played table tennis on seven continents.

This program was organized by Craig Caryl #1230.