Pop Mart is bigger than Hasbro and Mattel - combined. The Chinese toy company listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange in 2020 and hasn't looked back.

Fear & Greed's Michael Thompson and Stefan Von Imhof from alts.co explore the story behind Pop Mart's boom, the role of social media and 'blind boxes' in the company's success, and why the rollout into the US could be a little bumpy.

Pop Mart is bigger than Hasbro and Mattel - combined. The Chinese toy company listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange in 2020 and hasn't looked back. <a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://fearandgreed.com.au/&amp;sa=D&amp;source=calendar&amp;ust=1747228618431764&amp;usg=AOvVaw2CBBbnewQuncfHCPErwFnM">Fear &amp; Greed</a>'s Michael Thompson and Stefan Von Imhof from&nbsp;<a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://alts.co/&amp;sa=D&amp;source=calendar&amp;ust=1747228618431764&amp;usg=AOvVaw0_yH4-Y9mIU5nTBzQXNNmv">alts.co</a>&nbsp;explore the story behind Pop Mart's boom, the role of social media and 'blind boxes' in the company's success, and why the rollout into the US could be a little bumpy.

Business news you can use. A daily business news podcast with journalists Sean Aylmer and Michael Thompson. Find out more at https://fearandgreed.com.au

Business news you can use. A daily business news podcast with journalists <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/sean-aylmer-9922068/" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.linkedin.com/in/sean-aylmer-9922068/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1689199223540000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0wu3ezGEfBZFYspJbTTaYL">Sean Aylmer</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/mcwthompson/" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.linkedin.com/in/mcwthompson/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1689199223540000&amp;usg=AOvVaw08pZ8jZ88rHJgCfbHkTr5k">Michael Thompson</a>.&nbsp;Find out more at&nbsp;<a href="https://protect-au.mimecast.com/s/7AmQCOMxmAtl5q0qiE-KY7?domain=fearandgreed.com.au/" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://protect-au.mimecast.com/s/7AmQCOMxmAtl5q0qiE-KY7?domain%3Dfearandgreed.com.au/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1689199223540000&amp;usg=AOvVaw1DLq_FuqjEt3HC-ZK1704H">https://fearandgreed.com.au</a>

Fear and Greed is Australia's most popular business podcast.

FEAR & GREED | Business News

Daily business news for people who make their own decisions, with business journalist Sean Aylmer and Michael Thompson. Find out more at https://fearandgreed.com.au

Daily business news for people who make their own decisions, with business journalist <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/sean-aylmer-9922068/">Sean Aylmer</a> and <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/mcwthompson/">Michael Thompson</a>. Find out more at <a href="https://protect-au.mimecast.com/s/7AmQCOMxmAtl5q0qiE-KY7?domain=fearandgreed.com.au/">https://fearandgreed.com.au</a>

The global toy giant you've never heard of

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/2fb3740d-3436-44af-8cc0-a91900716aa5/clips/32e70645-72b4-4ed6-9691-b2d800da7094/transcript

Thursday 5 March 2026

Economic growth in Australia accelerates, increasing the likelihood of higher interest rates. 
The local sharemarket has its worst day since April last year
Oil prices surge, while gold prices fall
Fighting in the Middle East escalates as Australia rushes to get citizens home
A new type of drug that resists overdoses

Plus the second interview in our Accelerator series with Airwallex. Today’s guest: David Holland from Employment Hero on culture and international growth at an Australian HR-tech unicorn.

Thursday 5 March 2026
Economic growth in Australia accelerates, increasing the likelihood of higher interest rates.&nbsp;
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">The local sharemarket has its worst day since April last year</li>
<li aria-level="1">Oil prices surge, while gold prices fall</li>
<li aria-level="1">Fighting in the Middle East escalates as Australia rushes to get citizens home</li>
<li aria-level="1">A new type of drug that resists overdoses</li>
</ul>
Plus the second interview in our Accelerator series with&nbsp;<a href="https://www.airwallex.com/">Airwallex</a>. Today&rsquo;s guest: David Holland from Employment Hero on culture and international growth at an Australian HR-tech unicorn.

Hot growth triggers rate fears; ASX tumbles; overdose resistant drugs

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/2fb3740d-3436-44af-8cc0-a91900716aa5/clips/4bf1a7aa-88c4-4efd-a8b3-b40300b2d379/transcript

Australia’s economy is growing faster than expected. New GDP figures show the economy expanded by 2.6 per cent through 2025 — its fastest pace in almost three years — helped by government spending, strong business investment including data centres, and resilient consumer demand.

Belinda Allen, Head of Australian Economics at Commonwealth Bank, joins Sean Aylmer to unpack the numbers, and she explains why the strong economy, the inflation challenge, and international uncertainty have put the RBA in a pickle.

Australia&rsquo;s economy is growing faster than expected. New GDP figures show the economy expanded by 2.6 per cent through 2025 &mdash; its fastest pace in almost three years &mdash; helped by government spending, strong business investment including data centres, and resilient consumer demand. Belinda Allen, Head of Australian Economics at Commonwealth Bank, joins Sean Aylmer to unpack the numbers, and she explains why the strong economy, the inflation challenge, and international uncertainty have put the RBA in a pickle.

Q+A: Why the Reserve Bank is in a pickle on rates

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/2fb3740d-3436-44af-8cc0-a91900716aa5/clips/372a38b8-69dc-4a19-ac4d-b40300b23e07/transcript

This is the Fear & Greed Afternoon Report - everything you need to know about what happened in the markets, economy and world of business today, in just a few minutes.


ASX falls 1.9pc


Commercial flights leave Dubai for Sydney


Businesses reject push for 5 weeks leave


Endeavour to keep liquor & pubs


Apple launches new Macbooks

Join our free daily newsletter here.

This is the&nbsp;<a href="https://fearandgreed.com.au/">Fear &amp; Greed</a> Afternoon Report - everything you need to know about what happened in the markets, economy and world of business today, in just a few minutes.
<ol>
<li data-start="0" data-end="42">
ASX falls 1.9pc
</li>
<li data-start="0" data-end="42">
Commercial flights leave Dubai for Sydney
</li>
<li data-start="0" data-end="42">
Businesses reject push for 5 weeks leave
</li>
<li data-start="135" data-end="176">
Endeavour to keep liquor &amp; pubs
</li>
<li data-start="178" data-end="218" data-is-last-node="">
Apple launches new Macbooks
</li>
</ol>
Join our <a href="https://fearandgreed.com.au/newsletter-signup">free daily newsletter here</a>.

Afternoon Report | ASX plunges

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/2fb3740d-3436-44af-8cc0-a91900716aa5/clips/f8225489-d472-412e-ae2f-b40300613e88/transcript

The global toy giant you've never heard of

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