Surviving Shanghai - Ep 69
Mon Dec 29 2025
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We are back! In Episode 69, Ken and Carson bridge the 6,000-mile gap between California and Austria to debrief Carson's recent business trip to Shanghai, China. What started as a last-minute trip for the automotive industry turned into a deep dive into one of the most consumerist cities on earth. Carson breaks down the complex reality of modern China, from the "Great Firewall" that blocks your favorite apps to the cashless society where Visa and MasterCard are useless. We discuss the insanity of the Chinese auto market, where 100+ brands are in a price war so deep the government had to step in. Plus, we get into the shopping. Carson takes us inside the "fake" markets where goods are hidden in secret suitcases , and a second-hand luxury warehouse featuring 12 aisles of Louis Vuitton bags.
In this episode:
The Visa Struggle: Why it's easy for Europeans but a hassle for Americans.Tech & Payments: Surviving without Google and why you need Alipay to buy anything.The "Fake" Market: How vendors use secret suitcases to hide counterfeit luxury goods behind invisible walls.Shanghai Disney: Why the tickets are only $50, the obsession with a pink bear named Lotso, and the Zootopia craze.Cost of Living: Taking a premium EV taxi for two hours for only $12.The Malbon Haul: Carson’s "streetwear golf" shopping spree.Support the show
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Send us a text We are back! In Episode 69, Ken and Carson bridge the 6,000-mile gap between California and Austria to debrief Carson's recent business trip to Shanghai, China. What started as a last-minute trip for the automotive industry turned into a deep dive into one of the most consumerist cities on earth. Carson breaks down the complex reality of modern China, from the "Great Firewall" that blocks your favorite apps to the cashless society where Visa and MasterCard are useless. We discuss the insanity of the Chinese auto market, where 100+ brands are in a price war so deep the government had to step in. Plus, we get into the shopping. Carson takes us inside the "fake" markets where goods are hidden in secret suitcases , and a second-hand luxury warehouse featuring 12 aisles of Louis Vuitton bags. In this episode: The Visa Struggle: Why it's easy for Europeans but a hassle for Americans.Tech & Payments: Surviving without Google and why you need Alipay to buy anything.The "Fake" Market: How vendors use secret suitcases to hide counterfeit luxury goods behind invisible walls.Shanghai Disney: Why the tickets are only $50, the obsession with a pink bear named Lotso, and the Zootopia craze.Cost of Living: Taking a premium EV taxi for two hours for only $12.The Malbon Haul: Carson’s "streetwear golf" shopping spree.Support the show Our Social Links