Jackson and Miles explore Laura and Lisa Ling's harrowing account of 140 days of North Korean detention, weaving in stories of resilience under totalitarian regimes and the psychology of survival when humanity itself becomes an act of resistance.

Somewhere Inside by Laura Ling and Lisa Ling


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From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco

Jackson: Hey everyone, welcome back to another personalized podcast from BeFreed! I'm Jackson, and I've got to say, we've got an absolutely fascinating exploration lined up for you today that's going to take us deep into some of the most harrowing yet inspiring stories of human resilience you'll ever encounter.
Miles: And I'm Miles, and man, Jackson's not kidding about this one. We're diving into Laura Ling and Lisa Ling's "Somewhere Inside," but we're also weaving in these incredible accounts from North Korea and beyond that really paint this comprehensive picture of what it means to survive under totalitarian regimes. It's heavy stuff, but absolutely essential.
Jackson: Exactly. What we're really exploring today is how people maintain their humanity-their hope, their connections, their very sense of self-when they're trapped in systems designed to strip all of that away. And the stories we're looking at today? They're going to challenge everything you think you know about resilience.