How Watching Dave Chappelle Sparked a Young Hijabi’s Comedy Dream - Hoodo Hersi Tells All

This episode of The Oasis features a conversation with Hoodo Hersi, a trailblazing comedian who’s breaking barriers and redefining what it means to succeed in comedy as a Black Muslim woman. From her roots as the daughter of Somali immigrants to navigating cultural identity, gender expectations, and societal norms, Hoodo shares how her unique perspective shaped her incisive, witty, and self-deprecating humor.

Inspired early on by watching Dave Chappelle, Hoodo realized that comedy wasn’t just a passion—it could be a career. While her identity as a Black, Muslim, hijabi woman informs her experience, she’s clear: those roles don’t define her. What truly shaped her path was her parents’ unwavering belief that she could do whatever she set her mind to. That message—that she was limitless—became the foundation of her drive.

In this episode, Hoodo reflects on her upbringing, her journey as a "third culture kid," and how she found the courage to step on stage in rooms where she wasn’t always expected—or even welcomed. She talks about performing for diverse audiences, tackling heavy topics like racism, Islamophobia, and tokenism with levity and heart, and the power of turning cultural tension into comedy gold.

Whether she’s sharing hilarious crowd interactions, breaking down societal constructs, or reflecting on her experiences as a teacher, Hoodo brings the kind of thoughtful, fearless humor that challenges stereotypes while keeping audiences laughing. She also shares her future plans for creating original comedy projects that continue to center authenticity, complexity, and joy.

This episode is for you if you’re curious about the intersection of race, religion, and comedy—or if you’re inspired by stories of resilience, identity, and living unapologetically.

CHAPTERS

00:00 – Intro

05:47 – “You can do anything” – Hoodo’s parents’ mindset

11:13 – How comedy became the dream

16:02 – Racism: Canada vs. the U.S.

18:58 – Being a Black Muslim woman… and not letting that define her

24:00 – Hoodo’s mom and rejecting internalized racism

27:30 – Building an online audience during the pandemic

29:10 – Hecklers and handling the nonsense

32:04 – Visiting Djibouti

34:20 – Big dreams and future plans

38:00 – Real talk: the path to becoming a comedian

45:55 – What’s coming up next

48:58 – Love, relationships, and keeping it real