Topical with Michael Shafar

The Comedy Club Shut Down by the Chinese Government - Episode 18

Michael Shafar is joined by the very funny and insightful ANDY CURTAIN who has an incredible story to tell.
In 2014, while living in Shanghai, Andy established the first English-speaking comedy club in China called Kung Fu Comedy. The good news for Andy was that the club was a huge success. The bad news for Andy was that its success also attracted the ire of the Chinese Government. Andy tells us what it was like performing comedy in a country where censorship is rife and the danger he and other comedians faced.
Follow Michael Shafar on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube and Twitter. He's also filming his next comedy special in Melbourne on 19 November. For more tour dates, head to www.michaelshafar.com.

Rishi Sunak’s AWKWARD Start, Kanye West Needs a Sponsor and a Netball Scandal! - Episode 17

Michael Shafar is joined by the hilarious LIZZY HOO to discuss the UK's newest PM, Rishi Sunak, and he might be their least charismatic leader yet!
Meanwhile, Kanye West is looking for a new sponsor and Gina Rinehart is no longer saying 'here if you need!' to Netball Australia.
Follow Michael Shafar on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube and Twitter. Check out his live shows in Adelaide on 5 November and his special taping in Melbourne on 19 November.
Follow Lizzy Hoo on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Comedians, Art and JEWISH PEOPLE are Under Attack! - Episode 16

Michael Shafar is joined by the hilarious ELOUISE EFTOS who only came on the podcast to find a Jewish husband and score an invitation to a bar-mitzvah.
Amongst all that, they discuss how art pieces are afforded better protection than female comedians, Kanye West's latest anti-Semitic outburst and why his music needs to improve if we're going to forgive him like we did Michael Jackson.
Follow Michael Shafar on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube and Twitter. Check out his upcoming live shows in Narre Warren (22 October), Adelaide (5 November), Warrnambool (18 November) and the taping for his new special in Melbourne on 19 November.
Follow Elouise on Instagram!

Another Essendon Scandal, LGBTQI+ Rights, Religious ’Freedom’ & Wayne Carey’s Demise - Episode 15

Michael Shafar is joined by the very funny and die-hard Bombers supporter GERALDINE HICKEY who reveals how she almost cancelled her Essendon membership this week.
They unpack the Essendon CEO scandal, how religious 'freedom' conflicts with LGBTQI+ rights and why we simply need more gay teachers at Catholic schools. They also lament the demise of Wayne Carey who has been unfairly PERSECUTED for simply choosing to snort some Voltaren at a casino.
Follow Michael Shafar on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and TikTok. Head to his website for details of his upcoming shows in Narre Warren, Adelaide, Warrnambool and Melbourne.
Follow Geraldine Hickey on Twitter and TikTok, for her monthly post!

Sam Newman, Pauline Hanson, Chess Cheating & Solving Climate Change - Episode 14

Michael Shafar is joined in his Sydney hotel room (consensually) by the very funny SUREN JAYEMANNE.
They discuss how Sam Newman has staved off irrelevancy for another week by getting upset at the AFL's Welcome to Country ceremony. Meanwhile, Pauline Hanson has generously offered to give a colleague a lift to the airport, chess is rocked by the most salacious scandal in its history and they come to one final solution for climate change that will fix everything. 
Follow Michael Shafar on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, TikTok and Twitter, and/or check him out live in Melbourne, Adelaide, Narre Warren and more.
Follow Suren on Instagram.

Queen Queue, Prince Andrew’s Bravery & The Little Mermaid - Episode 13

Michael Shafar is joined by the part-English, part-Scottish, part-Irish and fully funny MATT O'NEILL!
They discuss why they'd never queue to see the Queen's coffin, Australia's confusing commemorations for Her Majesty, Prince Andrew's new nickname, the British tabloids' treatment of Meghan Markle and the backlash towards the new Little Mermaid because she is *checks notes* not white.
Follow Michael Shafar on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Twitter (@michaelshafar) and check out his upcoming live shows in Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Narre Warren, Warrnambool and more. Head to www.michaelshafar.com for details.
Follow Matt on TikTok (@mattoneillthunderbastard).

Pride Jumper Boycott, Pauline Hanson’s Walkout and Instagram’s Backlash - Episode 12

Michael Shafar walks you through another big week of scandals, boycotts and backlashes!
Seven Manly Sea Eagles boycotted the club's pride jumper, but does the LGBT+ community really need the endorsement of some coked-up wife-beaters anyway?
Plus, Pauline Hanson walks out of the Senate's Acknowledge of Country, which might be the only way to get her out of Parliament. 
And, Instagram influencers are upset with the changes to the app's algorithm, but anything that upsets influencers is surely a good thing, right?
If you'd like to hear more from Michael Shafar, follow him on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok and YouTube, or see him live in Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Narre Warren.

Swastika Ban, ’Birthing Parents’ and ScoMo’s Sermon - Episode 11

Michael Shafar is once again riding solo as he reveals why he doesn't support banning the swastika, and it's not for the reason you'd think.
Plus, people are outraged by a new government form that dared to refer to mothers as 'birthing parents' and the media attacks Scott Morrison for his latest church sermon, but Michael surprisingly leaps to the former PM's defence.
You can follow Michael on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, TikTok and YouTube, though it is certainly not mandatory.
You can also see him live later this year in Sydney, Adelaide, Melbourne and Narre Warren.

Wimbledon, Putin and Jordan Peterson - Episode 10

In a very special episode Michael Shafar is riding solo this week! Ahead of the Wimbledon men's final, he offers two post-match reactions depending on the outcome and explains why he now supports the ban on Russian athletes.
He also reacts to former F1 boss and 91-year-old Bernie Ecclestone claiming he'd "take a bullet for Vladimir Putin" and explains why all bodyguards should be elderly people. 
Finally, he has a message of support for Jordan Peterson, who may have been banned from Twitter, but is still managing to put out hilarious content on YouTube.
Follow Michael on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and TikTok. And see him live in Narre Warren (VIC) and Adelaide later this year.

Cancer, Chemo and Comedy - Episode 9

In a very special episode (that is not topical at all) Michael Shafar is joined by fellow testicular cancer survivor NICK CAPPER who has just finished up four months of chemotherapy.
They discuss the experience of undergoing chemo, losing a testicle and performing stand up through it all.
Follow Michael on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, TikTok and YouTube, or see him live in Darwin on 8-9 July and Narre Warren 22 October.
Follow Nick on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter, and check out his special Pork Palace on YouTube