The Palestine Pod "Natural Causes" with Sammy Obeid
Aug 12, 2025
In this lively conversation, Palestinian-American comedian Sammy Obeid shares his unique brand of ethnic humor, tackling serious topics with wit. He discusses the media's misleading language around deaths linked to conflict, jokes about his experiences in comedy while navigating cultural sensitivities, and shares a hilarious personal story about staying with co-host Michael. As they explore comedy's role in shaping perceptions of Palestine, Sammy emphasizes the importance of balancing humor with advocacy.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Family Roots And Desire To Visit
- Sammy traces most of his family to Syria and notes some lineage from Jaffa, Bethlehem, and Jerusalem.
- His teta (grandma) was born in Jaffa and left in 1948, and Sammy has never visited Palestine but wants to go.
Consume News Efficiently
- Sammy spends about three hours a day consuming news by multitasking while editing and driving to stay current.
- He uses feeds and Breaking Points to quickly summarize developments and turn them into comedic material.
Euphemisms Mask Responsibility
- Guests mock media euphemisms like 'natural causes' while pointing to Israel's role in many deaths and environmental harms.
- They link cancer and pollution in Gaza to military remnants and long-term environmental damage.