Wait, you CAN laugh at a violent conflict destabilizing a region, displacing an entire race of people, and uprooting the lives of millions for the better part of a century?

Comedian Sammy Obeid (Conan, says yes and proves it with a bit about the Israel-Palestine conflict that went viral earlier this year. According to Sammy, not only can anything be funny, but some of the skills that make an effective comedian can even be used to bring people together to solve differences.

In this episode, we talk about:

-Starting comedy by doing characters.

-Sammy’s viral bit on the Israel-Palestinian conflict to an organization with an anti-Palestinian bias.

-Connecting with an audience that doesn’t agree with you.

-The importance of our brains’ pattern detection to connecting with the audience.

-Having fun with building tension in a room.

-Using the perspective of a child to reveal humor in a complex premise.

-9/11, the American media’s portrayal of Palestinians, and its impact on Sammy’s identity.

-Why more Americans have recently developed a sympathy to the Palestinian plight.

-The role comedy could play in geopolitical relationships and building arguments.

-What comedians do that modern politicians can’t.

-Not letting the silence and judgment of a group who disagrees with your point derail your set.

-How to connect the humor in a touchy topic with a wide audience.

-Wrapping your personal experience around a topic as a way to approach any touchy topic.

And more!!!

Learn more about Sammy at sammyko.com

Buy Sammy's album, Orjanic: https://amzn.to/3cEjTbX

Follow Sammy on social media:

Instagram: @sammyobeid

Twitter: @sammyobeid

Support our podcast and gain access to bonus footage at patreon.com/youcantlaughpod

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Brought to you by Water Cooler Comedy - watercoolercomedy.org

Produced by Golden Ox Studio | Music: Producedbyzip