Tibet Unfiltered

Wit, humour and beaming positivity - listen to former translator to His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Geshe Lhakdor on Tibet Unfiltered for a powerful conversation on compassion, resilience and the fight to preserve Tibetan identity. From his years working alongside the Dalai Lama to the vital role of language, culture and the Library of Tibetan Works and Archives, Geshe Lhakdor shares profound insights into Tibet's peaceful resistance, inner freedom and finding hope in challenging times.

Chapters

1:00 Meet Geshe Lhakdor

2:17 Finding Joy Through Suffering

4:22 Preserving Tibet's Culture in Exile

7:28 Why the Tibetan Library Matters

8:21 Soft Power vs Hard Power

10:57 The Library's Most Precious Treasures

12:39 A Western Way of Asking Questions

13:27 Lessons from Tibetan Children's Village

15:02 The Fight to Preserve Tibetan Language

20:41 Translating for the Dalai Lama

24:34 Reincarnation and the Next Dalai Lama

29:52 Escaping Tibet as a Child

34:16 Faith, Resilience and Inner Freedom

37:08 The Dalai Lama's Advice for Difficult Times

40:00 What Gives Life Meaning?

43:39 A Message to Australia

44:34 Three Things Everyone Should Know About Tibet

Host: Geraldine Nordfeldt

Production: Sonam Gyeltshen

Location Credit: Kunchok Gyaltsen

Learn more about Australia Tibet Council’s work https://www.atc.org.au/

Support Australia Tibet Council’s work with a donation https://www.atc.org.au/donate/

This episode features Pema Taratsang, a Tibetan refugee who recounts her harrowing journey across the Himalayas at age seven, her life in exile, and her ongoing connection to Tibet. It explores themes of resilience, cultural identity, and the fight for Tibetan freedom.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction & powerful opening reflections

01:00 Podcast intro: Tibet Unfiltered and context

02:25 Pema’s early life in Tibet & family background

04:24 Unique family structure & upbringing

06:13 The moment everything changed (leaving Tibet)

09:00 Arrival in Lhasa & preparing for escape

10:47 Crossing begins: river, hunger, and hardship

11:58 Tragedy on the journey (nun & snow mountain events)

15:40 Resilience, fear, and survival as a child

16:36 Arrival in Nepal & refugee experience

17:49 Life in India & schooling under the Dalai Lama

19:12 Reconnecting with family & emotional distance

21:26 Moving to Australia & new life opportunities

25:09 Contact with family & risks under CCP surveillance

27:46 Trauma, reflection & meaning of “home”

30:42 Final thoughts & message about Tibet

Producer: Sonam Gyeltshen

Host: Geraldine Nordfeldt

Location credit: Sonam Choedon

Learn more about Australia Tibet Council’s work https://www.atc.org.au/

Support Australia Tibet Council’s work with a donation https://www.atc.org.au/donate/

The conversation delves into the intersection of the Chinese Government’s disinformation, cognitive warfare, and the Tibetan movement, particularly focusing on the recent association of the Dalai Lama with the Epstein files. Our guest Lobsang Sither, a cyber expert and Director of Technology at the Tibet Action Institute, breaks down the systematic nature of Chinese propaganda, the role of social media in spreading disinformation, and the importance of educating the public about the realities of the Tibetan struggle.

Chapters
00:00 Introduction & Context

00:41 How the Dalai Lama’s Name Appears in the Epstein Files

02:12 Official Denial & Forged Statement Explained

03:19 Timing After the Grammy Win Raises Questions

04:55 The “169 Mentions” Claim & Cognitive Warfare

06:30 A Long History of CCP Attacks on the Dalai Lama

07:26 Why Link the Dalai Lama to the Epstein Scandal?

10:19 Clickbait, Conjecture & Social Media Amplification

11:51 Manufactured Controversy & Eroding Moral Authority

16:00 Is the Dalai Lama’s Legacy at Risk in the Digital Age?

18:23 Can the CCP Win on Moral Grounds?

20:12 Meta Threat Reports & China’s Coordinated Disinformation

23:35 The “50 Cent Army,” Bots & AI Warfare

25:08 Are Social Media Companies Doing Enough?

27:24 AI, Tibetan Language & Surveillance Technology

28:14 China’s Tibet International Communication Strategy

31:07 What Supporters Can Do: Reporting, Blocking & FactChecking

33:27 Verify Sources: How to Spot Fake Statements

36:27 Top Three Facts About Tibet

37:53 Final Reflections & Closing Remarks

Producer: Sonam Gyeltshen

Host: Geraldine Nordfeldt
Guests: Lobsang Gyatso Sither, Dr Zoë Bedford

Learn more about Australia Tibet Council’s work https://www.atc.org.au/

Support Australia Tibet Council’s work with a donation https://www.atc.org.au/donate/

In this episode of Tibet Unfiltered, our host Geraldine Nordfeldt engages in a profound conversation with Barbara Miller, the director of the Dalai Lama’s new film "Wisdom of Happiness". The film, marking His Holiness's 90th birthday, offers a unique perspective on his teachings, focusing on themes of peace, compassion, and hope amidst global chaos. Miller shares insights into the film's creation, emphasising the importance of presenting the Dalai Lama's wisdom in a way that resonates with contemporary audiences, while also highlighting the challenges faced in securing his participation and the film's distribution due to political sensitivities surrounding Tibet.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Tibet Unfiltered

00:29 The Wisdom of Happiness Film Overview

01:26 Interview with Director, Barbara Miller

02:57 Challenges in Securing the Dalai Lama's Participation

05:12 The Interview Experience with His Holiness

08:28 Archival Footage and Its Significance

12:20 Cinematography and Visual Storytelling

14:49 Richard Gere's Involvement in the Film

20:08 Film Distribution Challenges

21:17 Martin Scorsese's Banned Film

22:18 Political Pressures and Filmmaking

27:24 The Dalai Lama's Middle Way Approach

32:07 Humour and Humanity in His Holiness

33:10 The Universal Appeal of His Wisdom

36:43 Final Thoughts and Audience Takeaways

Producer: Sonam Gyeltshen

Host: Geraldine Nordfeldt

Location credit: Sonam Choedon

Learn more about Australia Tibet Council’s work https://www.atc.org.au/

Support Australia Tibet Council’s work with a donation https://www.atc.org.au/donate/

In this episode of Tibet Unfiltered, Tsewang Thupten discusses his journey in Tibetan political advocacy in Australia, the importance of community engagement, and the challenges faced by Tibetans in the diaspora. He highlights the need for Australia to take a stronger stance on human rights issues in Tibet, the significance of Magnitsky sanctions in addressing human rights abuses, and the impact of transnational repression on Tibetan Australians. The conversation also touches on the role of the Dalai Lama in Tibetan identity and the connection between Australia and Tibet regarding trade and environmental issues.

Chapters

00:00 The Call of Home: Tibetan Political Advocacy

03:00 Activism Roots: A Personal Journey

06:26 Understanding Home: Identity and Belonging

08:03 Building Bridges: Engaging with Parliament

11:15 Balancing Trade and Human Rights

14:06 Australia's Role in Tibetan Human Rights

19:02 The Importance of Magnitsky Sanctions

30:46 Transnational Repression: A Growing Concern

32:30 The visa-free travel

40:50 Chinese repression in Australia

40:01 Hungkar Dorje death in Vietnam

47:05 Why China wants to control Buddhism

52:07 Upcoming Event: Raising Awareness

53:02 Three things about Tibet: The Connection Between Australia and Tibet

Producer: Sonam Gyeltshen

Host: Geraldine Nordfeldt

Location credit: Sonam Choedon

Learn more about Australia Tibet Council’s work https://www.atc.org.au/

Support Australia Tibet Council’s work with a donation https://www.atc.org.au/donate/