How Mo Amer used his refugee story to make one of Netflix's most acclaimed comedy specials

Comedian Mo Amer grew up in Houston, Texas after arriving from Kuwait as a refugee when he was just nine years old. It took him 20 years to get his citizenship, which presented more than a few challenges when he'd travel around the world to perform. 

Amer's comedy is deeply personal, drawing on what it's like to be Muslim in America right now. He joined guest host Ali Hassan live from Yellow Springs, Ohio to talk about why he sees comedy as an opportunity to speak about difficult moments in his life and celebrate the people he loves. 

His critically-acclaimed new Netflix special is called The Vagabond and it's out now. Amer will be performing at the Aga Khan Museum in Toronto on Jan. 25, 2019. 

Listen to the full conversation with Mo Amer near the top of this page. 

— Produced by ​Ben Jamieson