The outsider's guide to finding your creative voice | Shappi Khorsandi | TEDxAylesbury

Shappi Khorsandi's presence becomes electric when she combines her wit and charm with an edgy insightfulness. Shappi speaks here about the pursuit of her satirist father by a death squad for criticizing the then-Iranian regime. In London, the family's place of exile, the schoolgirl Shappi felt like a bewildered, speechless outsider. But was it that experience of being a misfit that sparked Shappi's creativity till she found her unique and captivating voice?

Shappi Khorsandi's razor-sharp wit made her an Edinburgh Fringe sell-out. She’s also a serious, sought-after cultural commentator, appearing on BBC’s Question Time, the Open University, Woman’s Hour, The Guardian and the World Service - when she isn’t performing on five continents.

[MoosePantz]

I have greatly enjoyed Shappi's standup work. After this, I am absolutely in awe. Bless you Shappi!!

[Rose]

People don't realize what a great thing it is for a Persian woman to be in this profession which is so rare, and to be able to be proud of who she is as a single mom, and to become who she wanted to be and be so good at it, it is admirable, and respectable, and really breaks the barriers for women in her culture to pursue their dreams and not be afraid to step outside the lines of their culture and be as authentic as Shappi has shown us one can be about all of one's experiences, and laugh about it. Lots of love Shappi! Keep shining your light! You are a gift!

[RingfSaturn]

Shappi Khorsandi is wonderfully funny, honest, charming and lovely. This TED talk is another example of how she pushes her own boundaries with exquisite results. With any luck, we will have her around for many years to keep us laughing and understanding a bit better how we can crossover some of our own cultural boundaries.

[rosea]

I was hearing all this with my heart. I moved out of Iran when I was over 30 but I still had a very hard time to deal with the feeling of being an outsider, let alone a kid or a teenager who had to flee from their country with her family. It is so heartbreaking all the discrimination going on around the world...

[schmuelsonsradang]

I don't know what brought me here but to be honest, I like this lady personality. She talked more sense into me than my years of studying psychology at Princeton. Bless her heart. Love you

[carlitoab]

Amazing. With Iranians I always assume they are going to be really nice and really eloquent, and I am proven correct each and every time.

[pollekepmtb]

i respect miss Shappi for what she is doing, and stands for, not only as  a stand upcomdedain, but also show us in a respectfull way here iranian background. i realy love her for that.

[francinegray]

Lovely, brave and a beautiful Persian heart.

[pooriaansari]

She is awesome, she knows what she is doing and for what. very genuine

[granthambeard]

We all want to be the cool kid in the playground, what a good way of putting it.

[mortezasafaei]

.
Wish you always the best...
Shappi...
.

[wasabinguyen]

You are a wonderful woman Shappi Khorsandi. Thank you for the talk. And I love your stand up performance too!

[whenanxietykicksin]

Almost cried at the end and then she said that haha brilliant. I am a fan of her comedy.

[judydickens]

she is beautiful... and touching.. Love her.. Her conversations work.. <3

[semicedar]

I have high ratings for Shappi, she is very funny and intelligently witty. I am also a stand up comedian and i would like to meet her one day just to have a conversation and get some solid advice on comedy and life

[mohammedrashidy]

خیلی جالب خانم شاهپرک! لذت بردم، جالب! کاش همه زنان ایرانی بتوانند به این سطح برسند و انسانی فکر بکنند!!

[charlesandison]

you may not think it, but all the people around you, would love to have you as part of their 'tribe', don't you ever think that
you're alone or 'alien', you are delightful & gorgeous & funny!

[k.d.]

What is it about all these wonderful Iranian people I an learning about??? What finesse?!
Thank you for your moving thoughts Shappi.

[markwilliams]

I really won't to have her so much x

[kindnessfirst]

Her stand up is hilarious- people should check it out. I wish she was better know where I live in the USA.