
Comedy, Courage, and Inclusion | Maysoon Zayid | EP 103
From Ask JBH with Janice Bryant Howroyd by Janice Bryant Howroyd
October 15, 2025 · 1h 5m · Season 2 · Episode 103
About this episode
Maysoon Zayid discusses her journey as a comedian and disability advocate, emphasizing the importance of humor and inclusion.
Comedian, actress, writer, and disability advocate Maysoon Zayid brings laughter, honesty, and heart to every stage she steps on. From co-founding the New York Arab American Comedy Festival to delivering one of the most-viewed TED Talks of all time, Maysoon has built a career on turning challenge into charm and advocacy into art. In this conversation, she shares how humor became her superpower, the lessons her parents taught her about joy and grit, and why she created Shiny Misfits, a graphic novel that gives kids a hero who looks and lives like them. With her trademark wit, Maysoon reminds us that inclusion isn’t charity, it’s common sense. Watch to hear how this unstoppable force proves her mantra true: If I can can, you can can.
People in this episode
Guest: Maysoon Zayid
Topics covered
- comedy
- disability advocacy
- inclusion
- graphic novels
Keywords
- laughter
- TED Talks
- New York Arab American Comedy Festival
- Shiny Misfits
Mentioned in this episode
Products: Shiny Misfits
Books & works: Shiny Misfits
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