The Upfront Podcast
Welcome to The Upfront Podcast, where you can listen to compelling in-depth, honest, and thought-provoking conversations with international guests from all walks of life.
The aim is to raise awareness and amplify the voices of change-makers, thinkers, experts, leaders, and community influencers, to challenge pre-existing views that shape our everyday life, discuss current events, share personal stories, answer uncomfortable questions, and have upfront discussions important to our lives and society because knowledge truly is power.
This podcast covers topics people typically do not discuss, including societal fragmentation, politics, relationships, mental health, religion, community, civil rights, and lifestyle.
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The Upfront Podcast
Cynthia Sun | Falun Gong: China, Persecution & The Chinese Communist Party
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Today, we are hearing about the largest persecuted minority that you and I have likely never heard of before.
My guest today is Cynthia Sun, a Senior Researcher at the Falun Dafa Infocenter, who is based in New York. Her work focuses on persecution documentation, transnational repression, and public policy. She authored a report on Chinese influence at American colleges, which was featured by the Hudson Institute and Radio Free Asia. Cynthia has spoken at the Council of Foreign Relations, Harvard University, the US Congress, and more. Her latest testimony on state-controlled religion in China was published by USCIRF in October 2025. She recently concluded her service as a Freedom of Religion or Belief fellow at the First Freedom Foundation in September 2025. Before joining the Falun Dafa Information Center, Cynthia worked as a Research Affiliate at the Innovations for Peace and Development and at the Edward A. Clark Center for Australian & New Zealand Studies.
The persecution of various minorities under the ruling Chinese Communist Party or CCP is severe, and so we have a lot of ground to cover today, from how a religious movement is perceived as a threat to the dictatorial regime, what the reality on the ground in China is, and how people in China and abroad can work around the heavy censorship. We are talking about communism and what I have misunderstood about it for a long time, and we’re also discussing the difference between doctrine and religion, of which doctrine plays a role in everyone’s life, but not all of it is equally free or unhindering. We will also uncover deeper reasons why it is crucial that we have the freedom to criticise our leaders, how we can avoid state-sponsored propaganda, and the scope of influence of third-party legislators such as the US State Department.
Trigger Warning: We will hear unfathomable realities from daily life as a person under the thumb of the Chinese regime, including crimes against humanity, inherent free thought being stripped away, horror stories from the biggest black market for organ trafficking, mentions of bodily harm, torture, dictatorial oppression, and much more. Please be aware.
- Find Cynthia on LinkedIn here
- Find The Falun Dafa Information Center's website here
- More information on Falun Dafa Minghui
- Shenyun Production: China Before Communism
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