Ep 165. Malala Yousafzai

On the 165th episode of the 18th season of The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, the featured guest is Malala Yousafzai, a Pakistani activist for female education and the youngest Nobel Prize laureate. The show focuses on Yousafzai's story of education advocacy and survival after being shot by the Taliban at the age of 15.

Jon Stewart starts the show with a comedic monologue that briefly touches on current events before introducing Yousafzai. The audience warmly welcomes her with applause as she takes her seat next to Stewart.

Stewart opens up the conversation by prompting Yousafzai to talk about how she became an education activist. Yousafzai explains that her father was a teacher, and she grew up in a culture where education for girls was not a priority. As a young girl, she felt frustrated by the limited educational opportunities for girls in her community and started writing a blog advocating for girls' education. Her writing went viral, and she became a prominent advocate for education.

Stewart then shifts the conversation to Yousafzai's experience of being shot by the Taliban. Yousafzai shares that on her way to school, a Taliban gunman boarded her school bus and shot her in the head and neck in an attempt to silence her advocacy for girls' education. She recounts her healing process and how the attack only fueled her passion for education activism. Stewart praises her bravery and resilience.

The conversation then turns to Yousafzai's nonprofit organization, the Malala Fund, which advocates for girls' access to education in disadvantaged communities. Yousafzai emphasizes the importance of investing in education and highlights the detrimental effects that poverty and gender discrimination have on girls' education.

Throughout the interview, Stewart adds comedic comments to lighten up the serious topic, but his respect for Yousafzai is palpable. The show ends with Stewart thanking Yousafzai for her advocacy and wishing her continued success with the Malala Fund.

Overall, the episode provides a platform for Yousafzai to share her inspiring story and educate the audience on the importance of education for girls. Stewart's interview style allows for both humor and seriousness, making the show a well-balanced mix of entertainment and education.