In this SAFE SPACE episode, Jess sits down with Cheng Lei to explore what it’s really like to be Wrongly Imprisoned.

Chinese Born Australian Journalist Cheng Lei’s life was upended when she was wrongfully detained in China on charges of espionage. For more than three years, Cheng endured isolation, interrogation, and imprisonment, cut off from her family, her children, and the outside world.

With courage, dark humour, and remarkable insight, Cheng shares what it took to survive, the unexpected friendships that sustained her, and how love, desire, and the human spirit helped her endure the unthinkable. This is her extraordinary story of resilience, injustice, and ultimately, freedom.

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LINKS:

Find out more about Cheng Lei’s story in her remarkable ‘Memoir of Freedom’

If you or someone you love needs support after leaving prison, organisations like Samaritans are here to help. For over 25 years, Samaritans has supported people transitioning from prison back into the community, providing practical assistance to help rebuild life on the outside. Along with Mission Australia and Reboot Australia.

And if this conversation has brought up difficult feelings, Lifeline is here 24/7 on 13 11 14 You’re not alone.

CREDITS:
Host: Jessica Rowe
Guest: Cheng Lei
Executive Producer: Nic McClure
Audio Producer: Nat Marshall
Digital Content Producer: Zoe Panaretos

The Jess Rowe Big Talk Show acknowledges the Gadigal people, Traditional Custodians of the land on which we recorded this podcast, and pay our respects to their Elders past, present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders peoples here today.

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Safe Space: What is it like to be Wrongly Imprisoned?