This episode is a heartbreaker. I was shocked and saddened to learn that Dara Faizi died on September 30, 2013 at the tender young age of 25.

I became friends with Dara when he was first starting out as a comedian in Holland. He was a young master of comedy even when he just started. He had confidence as a story teller and a command of the stage you don't normally see in a comedian who is just starting out. He told fierce tales about being from Afghanistan and how his father was killed by the Taliban. He was an only child brought to Holland by his Mother when he was only 9 years old. On long van rides to do theater shows all over Holland he would pick my brain with questions about being a comedian and performing. There are times as a comedian when you see a young performer and you know that they are destined for great things. That is how I felt about Dara, I knew he was going to be a star from the moment I met him. This conversation was recorded on November 1, 2010 in Amsterdam. For years before I started doing my podcast I had been filming comedians for the comedy travel TV show idea that I have about highlighting comedians around the world. Dara Faiza was one of the comedians I wanted to highlight from Holland. Originally I was only going to use a few clips from this conversation for the TV show I wanted to make but since that show is still not in the works and Dara has passed on I see no reason to keep this chat to myself. Since we recorded this conversation his career path had been smart, going in the Dutch tradition of cabaret where you craft hour theater performances instead of a night club act. In recent years he was doing lots of Dutch television programs and being highlighted deservedly so in the Dutch media. His story is epic and he lays it all out for me here. My heart aches to think of his Mother and how shattered she must be right now. In truth everyone's heart should ache because the world of comedy and performance lost a great talent. I still can't believe that he is no longer of this earth but I am grateful that I recorded this conversation with him when he was only 22. I am proud that he was my friend and I'm pleased to present to you here the bright light that is Dara Faizi!