SHOW ANNOUNCEMENT & Shen Yun/Falun Gong is Still a Cult! Pt1 [UPDATE]

In this re-released episode of 'Was I in a Cult?', hosts Liz Iacuzzi and Tyler Miesom expose the dark reality behind Shen Yun, a performing arts company promoted as a cultural celebration of pre-communist China but revealed to be the public face of the banned Falun Gong movement. The episode details how Shen Yun, despite its glamorous billboards and sold-out performances at venues like Lincoln Center, operates as a tax-exempt religious nonprofit built on the backs of child performers who are paid pennies, subjected to forced labor, and trapped in a cycle of debt through fabricated 'scholarships.' The hosts highlight a federal criminal investigation into visa fraud, labor violations, and cash smuggling, while also revealing how the group uses followers' donations to fund massive advertising campaigns and propaganda. Angela, a former practitioner, shares her harrowing story of growing up in the cult, including being groomed from age 11, enduring emotional manipulation, and being told that leaving would bring divine punishment. The episode underscores the ongoing danger of Falun Gong, now more active and influential than ever, and urges listeners to avoid supporting the organization by refusing to buy tickets or spread its message. The episode serves as both a warning and a call to action, emphasizing that Falun Gong is not a harmless spiritual practice but a global cult with a violent history, ties to human trafficking, and a deep-seated anti-government ideology. The hosts stress that the movement’s success is fueled by misinformation, emotional manipulation, and the exploitation of vulnerable individuals, especially children. They conclude by urging listeners to be vigilant, support victims, and demand accountability from institutions that allow such organizations to operate with impunity. The episode is a powerful indictment of how cults evolve in the modern era—using art, entertainment, and religion as tools for control and profit.