Episodes

  • Making 'random' airport security checks an enjoyable experience with Aliya Kanani

    Making 'random' airport security checks an enjoyable experience with Aliya Kanani
    Nov 12 2025
    When Aliya Kanani was growing up, she dreamed of becoming an actress, but there was one problem: film and television rarely featured anyone who looked like her. In the season finale of Comedy Karma, host Aditya sits down with Aliya Kanani, the Canadian Screen Award-nominated comedian and actress, to talk about embracing her Tanzanian-Indian-Canadian identity, becoming a touring comedian, and what she hopes brown audiences take away from her work. They’ll also laugh through the hilarious stories behind her punchlines - from what it’s like to travel with a Muslim name, to navigating the world as a brown traveller, and her parent's reaction to her comedy career.
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    33 mins
  • Fady Kassab thinks that Lebanon is his mother and Australia is his wife

    Fady Kassab thinks that Lebanon is his mother and Australia is his wife
    Nov 5 2025
    As a late bloomer to the comedy scene, Fady Kassab arrived almost fully formed. Within just a couple of years of performing, he was winning awards, selling out shows, and sharing stages with some of Australia’s most acclaimed comedians. With sharp wit and fearless honesty, Fady has carved out a distinct voice in the Australian comedy landscape. In this episode of Comedy Karma, Fady shares lessons drawn from his rich life experiences. He opens up about his journey to Australia, how he learned to let go of others’ opinions, and his shared experiences with different Australian migrant communities.
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    32 mins
  • A family tragedy lead Stella Wu to comedy - she’s never looked back

    A family tragedy lead Stella Wu to comedy - she’s never looked back
    Oct 29 2025
    After the sudden passing of a close relative, Stella Wu had a realisation: 'What’s the point? We’re all going to die anyway.' That thought pushed her to quit her stable banking job and enrol in a comedy course - and she hasn’t looked back since. Now, she’s shaking up the Australian comedy scene. Defying her 'womanly duties', dismantling cultural norms, and making sure racists know that she definitely knows what 'condescending' means - Stella isn’t afraid to rock the boat. In this episode of Comedy Karma, Stella jumps on the mic to share her hilarious take on the Australian comedy scene. She chats with Aditya about the moment that sparked her leap into stand-up, her mother’s dramatic reaction to her tattoo, the quirks of dating in Hong Kong versus Australia, and plenty more laugh-out-loud stories.
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    28 mins
  • When Guneet Kaur says something rude, she wants you to know she means it

    When Guneet Kaur says something rude, she wants you to know she means it
    Oct 21 2025
    Guneet Kaur’s mum reckons The Age’s comedy reviewers must be dishing out five stars to everyone - but despite the skepticism at home, Guneet is making waves in the comedy scene. In this episode of Comedy Karma she shares the backstory to the jokes earning her glowing reviews. Guneet joins Aditya to talk about navigating cultural expectations, her evolving relationship with her heritage, and the fine line between fitting in and standing out. From getting scammed on dating apps, her autism diagnosis, to her family's tireless mission to marry her off, nothing is off-limits.
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    42 mins
  • The day Joe White made it - with a bowl full of apples

    The day Joe White made it - with a bowl full of apples
    Oct 14 2025
    Growing up in refugee camps in Sudan, Joe White could never have imagined the incredible success that awaited him. In this episode, Joe sits down with Aditya to share his inspiring story - from playing soccer with migrant kids to selling out shows at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, and eventually performing stand-up comedy on stage at the Opera House. In this episode you'll hear Joe's best jokes on Ethiopian pride, the difference between Perth and Melbourne, his adventures in America, and so much more.
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    42 mins
  • Mae Da misses how funny people in Iran are

    Mae Da misses how funny people in Iran are
    Oct 8 2025
    In her late teens, Mae Da moved from Iran to Australia. From awkward attempts at modest uniforms to navigating high school mean girls, the culture shock of starting over in a foreign country hit hard. Years later, she’s turned pain into punchlines - using comedy as a powerful tool for healing, connection, and laughter. In this episode of Comedy Karma, Mae Da shares her journey into stand-up, and the real-life stories behind some of her best jokes. We hear about how growing up in Tehran shaped her, the hardship in navigating her new life in Melbourne, and how becoming a mother made her more fearless on stage.
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    34 mins
  • Paul Ndungu's English is really good... because it's his first language

    Paul Ndungu's English is really good... because it's his first language
    Oct 1 2025
    Paul Ndungu believes Kenyans are among the world’s finest storytellers. In this episode of Comedy Karma, he joins Aditya to unpack the stereotypes he's had to challenge since moving to Australia. Paul chats about braving the Adelaide comedy scene, his family's memories of Kenya's independence, and the irony of having his first "third-world" experience as an economic migrant.
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    44 mins
  • William Wang on defying his parents and Confucius

    William Wang on defying his parents and Confucius
    Sep 24 2025
    What happens when someone asks about your "breed" instead of ethnicity? Comedian William Wang turns awkward encounters into comedy gold while exploring themes of cultural identity, the one-child policy's impact, and why some audiences don't always appreciate his humor.
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    42 mins