About
A life in translation.
Across countries, formats and institutions, Sami’s work asks who gets to tell the story—and who benefits when everyone agrees not to laugh.
Sami Shah is a Pakistani-Australian writer, journalist, broadcaster, comedian and academic working across the places where public life becomes strange.
He began his career in Karachi as a journalist and English-language stand-up comedian, later creating a televised political satire called News Weakly. After migrating to Australia in 2012, he built a body of work that includes memoir, fantasy, non-fiction, columns, documentary radio, podcasting, audio drama and live performance.
He co-hosted ABC Radio Melbourne Breakfast, has made documentary series for ABC RN and BBC Radio 4, and has appeared on QI, Q&A, The Project, The Drum and stages in Australia, Pakistan and the United Kingdom.
Today he lectures in journalism at the University of Melbourne, hosts the weekly satirical podcast News Weakly, writes commentary and fiction, and curates OzAsia Festival’s Weekend of Words.
The through-line
“Make difficult ideas legible without making them smaller.”
Selected chronology
A career, approximately.
Performs his first solo English-language stand-up show in Karachi.
Creates, writes and hosts the television news satire News Weakly.
Migrates from Pakistan to Australia, settling first in regional Western Australia.
Publishes I, Migrant, later shortlisted for major Australian literary awards.
Publishes The Islamic Republic of Australia and begins co-hosting ABC Radio Melbourne Breakfast.
Releases The Missed; wins the Australian Podcast Award and an AWGIE for audio fiction.
Lectures, writes, hosts News Weakly and curates OzAsia Festival’s Weekend of Words.
Teaching & research
What satire knows.
Sami teaches journalism and popular fiction at the University of Melbourne. His doctoral research at RMIT examines how satirical news podcasts reframe professional journalism, objectivity and credibility.
The research grows directly from practice: producing News Weakly, interviewing leading Australian satirists, and studying what audiences trust when a presenter openly admits to having a point of view.
University profileSelected recognition
Awards & shortlists.
- 2024AWGIE Award
Best Audio Fiction, The Missed
- 2023Australian Podcast Awards
Best Fiction Podcast, The Missed
- 2016Fringe World
Best WA Comedy
- 2015NSW Premier’s Literary Awards
Shortlist, I, Migrant
- 2015Russell Prize for Humour Writing
Shortlist, I, Migrant
- 2013Perth International Comedy Festival
Best Local Act
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