The Lonely Podcaster
The Lonely Podcaster is a raw and personal journey into the life of an expat entrepreneur navigating business, culture, and identity in Shanghai. It’s about the quiet moments between the hustle — the early mornings in coffee shops, the late nights of reflection, and the in-between spaces where ideas are born. Each episode shares unfiltered thoughts on running a business abroad, cultural clashes, family life far from home, and the challenges (and beauty) of building a life outside your comfort zone. It’s not polished or scripted — just real stories from someone trying to make it work, one episode at a time.
The Lonely Podcaster
Still in Shanghai: High Rent, Low Mandarin, but This Time I Have a Plan
In this follow-up to episode three, I dive deeper into my ongoing struggle with the Chinese language—and what it’s really like living in Shanghai without speaking proper Mandarin.
From awkward grocery store encounters to ordering coffee with carefully memorized phrases, I share the daily challenges of navigating life as a foreigner with limited language skills. I also talk about the surprising kindness of the locals, and why that makes all the difference.
But this episode isn’t just about the struggle—it’s also about the cost of life in China’s most expensive city. I break down what it really costs to raise a family in Shanghai, from sky-high international school tuition to imported cheese and football cards that burn a hole in your wallet.
Finally, I share my plan to change things. This summer, while back in Sweden, I’ve decided it’s time to finally focus on learning Mandarin—and I’m bringing you along for the journey.
#mandarinchinese #chineselanguage #struggleyourlife #expatlife
