Sara : How has your audience received your new memoir , “ I ’ m Not a Terrorist , But I ’ ve Played One on TV ”? From what I ’ ve heard people seem to be enjoying it .
Maz : I tried to make it a fun and light read . There aren ’ t too many big words in there , so I make it easy to enjoy :)
Sara : As an Iranian-American , do you ever feel like you don ’ t fully fit into either culture ? Do you feel less Middle Eastern / Iranian when you visit the Middle East / Iran ?
Maz : I used to feel that a lot growing up . I felt too Iranian for my American friends and too American for my family . However , as I ’ ve grown older I ’ ve learned to enjoy both cultures . I still feel like I have more in common with people who come from diverse backgrounds who are well traveled . I definitely feel like a citizen of the world more than anything . I haven ’ t been back to Iran in almost 20 years , but yes , when I was there I felt like they knew I was from America . I think we just act differently when we ’ ve grown up in the West . I definitely feel less Middle Eastern when I ’ m doing shows in the Arab countries . I think there I ’ m thought of more as an American first and a Persian second .
Sara : When writing for your stand-up or creating content for your films , what is the underlying message that you hope to get across ?
Maz : My first goal is to be funny . If I can be funny and have a message of peace and togetherness then it ’ s a double win . Since I come from a Middle Eastern background , I tend to talk about a lot of topics that relate to Middle Eastern people in the West . My hope is to normalize the way people from that part of the world are seen by people from the West .
Sara : As an Iranian-American myself , I ’ ve noticed Iranians discriminating towards one another in the States . Some people make it a point to say they don ’ t associate with other Iranians . What ’ s your take on the Iranian-American community relations in the States ?
Maz : I ’ ve had a very positive experience with Iranians in the U . S . and around the world . I feel like whenever I do shows they show up and they support . I know that some Iranians are sick of other Iranians and that ’ s just something that happens that we can ’ t control . For me it ’ s hard to make a blanket statement about any one group and say that I don ’ t or do like them . All groups have good people and bad people . So I would never say “ I don ’ t associate with Iranians ” or any other group for that matter . I kind of feel sad for anyone who feels so strongly that they have to make a blanket statement like that .
Sara : What ’ s next for you ? Any comedy tours coming up ?
Maz : I continue to tour . I will be in Turkey for a show on Nov . 18th then back in California for more shows . I also just landed on a TV show for CBS called “ Superior Donuts ” which will hopefully premiere next Spring .
From there we will see where life takes me .
Sara : When all is said and done , what message do you want to leave behind ?
Maz : Love one another and don ’ t be afraid to hug !
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