Escape From Plan A
Escape From Plan A
Escape From Plan A is an ongoing discussion of life and politics in America from the perspective of Asian people living here.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Aug 28, 2026 • 1h 1min
Ep. 698: Is China Too Cheap? (ft. Han Feizi)
Han Feizi, the pen name of an Asia Times writer and analyst on China, joins a wide-ranging discussion about involution, low wages, and China’s productivity paradox. They explore whether infrastructure growth is misunderstood, why cheap goods can mask financial struggle, China’s EV price wars, deflation, rising consumerism, trade surpluses, and the geopolitical future of the dollar and petrodollar.
Aug 1, 2026 • 1h 4min
Ep. 695: Back in Canada, Back in the Old World (ft. Steve)
Steve joins Teen during his summer trip back to his home city of Toronto, away from the grind of Hong Kong and Greater China, and talks about what he misses about North America, why expatriating to China is the right choice, and a deep dive into the looming Japanese financial crisis and what it reveals about the global monetary system (hint: it's good to be American).Part 1 of 2For Pt 2 and all bonus eps: patreon.com/planamag
Jun 20, 2026 • 1h 6min
Ep. 690: The Lou Pai Appreciation Society Meeting #2 (ft. the Lou Pai Appreciation Society)
Mike, RVC, and Teen talk about the filthy cost of college, FAANG employee competence, and the pain of trying to sell a house right now.Part 1 of 2For Pt 2 and bonus episodes: patreon.com/planamag
Jun 15, 2026 • 39min
Ep. 689: Trump's "MOU"
Teen and Shan talk about Trump's peace deal, why "MOU's" are worthless, and why Trump won't confirm what's even in it.For bonus episodes: patreon.com/p[anamag
Jun 12, 2026 • 55min
Ep. 686: China and Iran Update (ft. Dalian Mike)
Mike (in Daliian) joins Teen to discuss his first year back in China, the Iran War, and why it's the best and worst of times in America.Part 1 of 2For part 2 and bonus episodes; patreon.com/planamag
May 30, 2026 • 1h 4min
Ep. 384: Look at What the Raccoon Dragged In (ft. Mike and RVC)
Mike and RVC join Teen on a rainy weekend to talk AI, Iran War, the Death of Hollywood, and JP Morgan "Cannons".Part 1 of 2For bonus pods: patreon.com/planamag
May 21, 2026 • 56min
Ep. 382: The Chinamaxxing World (ft. John Pang)
John Pang returns to join Teen to talk about geopolitics: Trump's humiliating trip to China, AI over-investment, whether the Iran War is a much more than just a 'crisis', and the true nature of American Exceptionalism,.Pt. 1 of 2For bonus episodes: patreon.com/planamag
May 13, 2026 • 57min
Ep. 380: Stories of our Lives (ft. Jess)
Jess and Teen talk about the need to live within the confines of a story, how influencers and marketers co-opt our lives by co-opting the stories of our lives, and whether raw-dogging transcontinental flights is a true test of emotional fortitude.Pt. 1 of 2for bonus episodes: patreon.com/planamag
May 4, 2026 • 60min
Ep. 378: Biography of a Business From Start to PE Exit (ft. Mike)
Mike joins Teen to talk in detail about the realities of starting your own business, growing into 8-digit revenues, hitting the wall of success, and living 'Mo Money Mo Problems'.Pt. 1 of 2For Part 2 and bonus eps: patreon.com/planamag
Apr 23, 2026 • 59min
Ep. 376: Maybe the End of Corporate Careerism is Good (ft. Jess)
The podcast takes a turn towards tech as Teen continues down his vibe-coding project to hardware, and Jess wonders about how to bridge the gap between self-directed work and creativity versus the instilling of work ethic, selflessness, and discipline forced into us through corporate careers. What happens now that corporate careerism is endangered?Pt. 1 of 2For pt.2 and bonus eps: patreon.com/planamag
