Journalist Cheng Lei reveals how she survived Chinese jail in this episode of Frances Whiting's Humankind

Frances Whiting interviews journalist Cheng Lei about her time in a Chinese jail

How do you hold on to your own humanity in inhumane conditions? This is what you'll discover in  this powerful episode of Humankind with journalist Cheng Lei, who's had a storied career presenting news and current affairs in Australia and Asia.

Lei speaks about her remarkable journey of resilience and survival after being wrongly detained in China for three years and two months. A detention that included six months 'sitting in punishment', unable to move or speak without permission. 

Now she's using her voice to help others, determined to share the incredible gift of freedom. In this third episode of Frances Whiting's new podcast, Lei reveals how she survived those years and how the mind can free what the body cannot. 

Frances Whiting's Humankind is a new limited series from The Courier-Mail and Sunday Mail.

Read more from Frances Whiting, including her Qweekend story on Cheng Lei.

Frances Whiting's new novel, The Nocturnals, is out now. 

Cheng Lei's A Memoir of Freedom is out now. 

Content warning: this episode contains references to sexual assault.

If you or someone you know is in crisis and needs help now call 000.  1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) is a 24/7 phone service to support people impacted by sexual violence and domestic and family violence. You can also reach out to Lifeline for 24/7 crisis support on 13 11 14.

 

 

How do you hold on to your own humanity in inhumane conditions? This is what you'll discover in&nbsp; this powerful episode of Humankind with journalist Cheng Lei, who's had a storied career presenting news and current affairs in Australia and Asia.
Lei speaks about her remarkable journey of resilience and survival after being wrongly detained in China for three years and two months. A detention that included six months 'sitting in punishment', unable to move or speak without permission.&nbsp;
Now she's using her voice to help others, determined to share the incredible gift of freedom. In this third episode of Frances Whiting's new podcast, Lei reveals how she survived those years and how the mind can free what the body cannot.&nbsp;
Frances Whiting's Humankind is a new limited series from&nbsp;<a href="https://www.couriermail.com.au/">The Courier-Mail and Sunday Mail</a>.
<a href="https://www.couriermail.com.au/journalists/fran-whiting?eafs_enabled=false">Read more </a>from Frances Whiting, including her Qweekend story <a href="https://www.couriermail.com.au/news/national/worse-than-solitary-jailed-australian-journalist-cheng-lei-reveals-cruel-torture-and-cries-with-thanks-for-the-cop-who-helped-her-younger-self/news-story/387d4722729a5cb9fb996155bbe3523b">on Cheng Lei.</a>
Frances Whiting's new novel,&nbsp;<a href="https://harpercollins.com.au/pages/nocturnals">The Nocturnals</a>, is out now.&nbsp;
Cheng Lei's <a href="https://www.harpercollins.com/collections/books-by-cheng-lei">A Memoir of Freedom</a> is out now.&nbsp;
Content warning: this episode contains references to sexual assault.
If you or someone you know is in crisis and needs help now call 000.&nbsp; 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) is a 24/7 phone service to support people impacted by sexual violence and domestic and family violence.&nbsp;You can also reach out to Lifeline for 24/7 crisis support on 13 11 14.
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Deep conversations. Extraordinary people. Human stories. A new limited podcast series hosted by award-winning journalist and best-selling author Frances Whiting, brought to you by The Courier-Mail and Sunday Mail.

Deep conversations. Extraordinary people. Human stories. Frances Whiting is an award-winning journalist, best-selling author, and Australia's longest-running Sunday newspaper columnist. For more than 30 years, she has shared stories of heartache, triumph, love, and loss. Now, her new podcast from The Courier-Mail and Sunday Mail takes you behind the scenes of her most candid interviews to reveal what it truly means to be human. In this limited series, Frances Whiting's Humankind, she shares her favourite conversations with politicians, celebrities, performers, and everyday people with vital stories to tell. Listen in as Frances sits down with wildlife conservationist Robert Irwin, journalist Cheng Lei, Pub Choir’s Astrid Jorgensen, radio personality Robin Bailey, and a prominent Queensland police officer facing an unfathomable family tragedy. This is a podcast that draws you in and makes you cry, laugh, and feel. These are deep conversations that will stay with you long after they end. Hit follow to never miss an episode of Frances Whiting's Humankind. Read Frances’s columns at couriermail.com.au/journalists/fran-whiting and features at qweekend.com.au. 

Deep conversations. Extraordinary people. Human stories. Frances Whiting is an award-winning journalist, best-selling author, and Australia's longest-running Sunday newspaper columnist.&nbsp;For more than 30 years, she has shared stories of heartache, triumph, love, and loss. Now, her new podcast from The Courier-Mail and Sunday Mail takes you behind the scenes of her most candid interviews to reveal what it truly means to be human. In this limited series, Frances Whiting's Humankind, she shares her favourite conversations with politicians, celebrities, performers, and everyday people with vital stories to tell. Listen in as Frances sits down with wildlife conservationist Robert Irwin, journalist Cheng Lei, Pub Choir&rsquo;s Astrid Jorgensen, radio personality Robin Bailey, and a prominent Queensland police officer facing an unfathomable family tragedy. This is a podcast that draws you in and makes you cry, laugh, and feel. These are deep conversations that will stay with you long after they end. Hit follow to never miss an episode of Frances Whiting's Humankind. Read Frances&rsquo;s columns at&nbsp;<a href="couriermail.com.au/journalists/fran-whiting">couriermail.com.au/journalists/fran-whiting</a> and features at <a href="qweekend.com.au">qweekend.com.au.</a>&nbsp;

Frances Whiting’s Humankind

Deep conversations. Extraordinary people. Human stories. 

Frances Whiting is an award-winning journalist, best-selling author, and Australia's longest-running Sunday newspaper columnist. For more than 30 years, she has shared stories of heartache, triumph, love, and loss. Now, her new podcast from The Courier-Mail and Sunday Mail takes you behind the scenes of her most candid interviews to reveal what it truly means to be human. 

In this limited series, Frances Whiting's Humankind, she shares her favourite conversations with politicians, celebrities, performers, and everyday people with vital stories to tell. Listen in as Frances sits down with wildlife conservationist Robert Irwin, journalist Cheng Lei, Pub Choir’s Astrid Jorgensen, radio personality Robin Bailey, and a prominent Queensland police officer facing an unfathomable family tragedy. 

This is a podcast that draws you in and makes you cry, laugh, and feel. These are deep conversations that will stay with you long after they end. 

Hit follow to never miss an episode of Frances Whiting's Humankind.

Read Frances’s columns at couriermail.com.au/journalists/fran-whiting and features at qweekend.com.au.

Deep conversations. Extraordinary people. Human stories.&nbsp;
Frances Whiting is an award-winning journalist, best-selling author, and Australia's longest-running Sunday newspaper columnist. For more than 30 years, she has shared stories of heartache, triumph, love, and loss. Now, her new podcast from The Courier-Mail and Sunday Mail takes you behind the scenes of her most candid interviews to reveal what it truly means to be human.&nbsp;
In this limited series, Frances Whiting's Humankind, she shares her favourite conversations with politicians, celebrities, performers, and everyday people with vital stories to tell. Listen in as Frances sits down with wildlife conservationist Robert Irwin, journalist Cheng Lei, Pub Choir&rsquo;s Astrid Jorgensen, radio personality Robin Bailey, and a prominent Queensland police officer facing an unfathomable family tragedy.&nbsp;
This is a podcast that draws you in and makes you cry, laugh, and feel. These are deep conversations that will stay with you long after they end.&nbsp;
Hit follow to never miss an episode of Frances Whiting's Humankind.
Read Frances&rsquo;s columns at&nbsp;<a href="http://couriermail.com.au/journalists/fran-whiting" data-renderer-mark="true" data-is-router-link="false" data-testid="link-with-safety">couriermail.com.au/journalists/fran-whiting</a> and features at <a href="http://qweekend.com.au/" data-renderer-mark="true" data-is-router-link="false" data-testid="link-with-safety">qweekend.com.au</a>.

Journalist Cheng Lei on the power of the mind

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/2fb3740d-3436-44af-8cc0-a91900716aa5/clips/05e2ab43-3a5b-415e-b0a2-b49f0006b02d/transcript