Pop Mart: The History & Economics | Max Levchin, Jim Belosic

The hosts of TBPN discuss a variety of topics, including the rise of Pop Mart and Lebooboos, comparing it to the Beanie Babies craze of the dot-com era, and the broader implications of gambling culture infiltrating the toy market. They analyze Pop Mart's history, business model, and potential cultural impact, touching on China's role in the phenomenon. They also discuss Apple's narrative in 2016, a story of a man getting scammed for 1.25 million, and the Time AI 100 list. They interview Max Levchin from Affirm about the company's recent success and the future of financial products. Lastly, they interview James Belosic from SendCutSend about the company's origins, business model, and the state of American manufacturing.