Farz Edraki
Farz Edraki is a writer, editor, and broadcaster.
She attributes her brief, failed stint in slam poetry in her early twenties to the fact she was born in Shiraz, a city in Iran known for the poets Hafiz and Saadi. Growing up in Deniliquin and Mildura, Farz turned to stories for comfort; she always had a podcast in her ear or an episode of M*A*S*H on.
Farz joined the ABC as a radio producer in Canberra in 2014, and has since gone on to tell stories for television (The House; Tonightly; The School That Tried To End Racism) and online (ABC Everyday).
She is still waiting for Alan Alda to write back to the letter she wrote to him when she was 11.
Photo: Teresa Tan.
Latest by Farz Edraki
Ending the blame game: How Australia introduced 'no-fault divorce'
For decades, if you wanted a divorce in Australia, you had to prove your spouse was to blame. That changed in 1975 with the Family Law Bill — but the system remains controversial.
They were 18 when they joined the UN as interpreters. They weren't prepared for what came next
As a teenager, Andrijana was drawn into one of the bloodiest conflicts in post-war Europe. Thirty years later, she opens a Pandora's box from the past — and finds her voice.
John and Molly had a dream of a simple farm life. The reality went a little differently
Have you ever wanted to quit your job and live on a farm? Molly and John Chester did. But the reality of managing animals, crops and equipment on a rundown farm quickly hit home.
The country where a simple haircut can be a radical political statement
A feminist revolution is simmering in South Korea. Young women are discovering a new sense of freedom as they 'escape the corset' — but change doesn't come easily.
Could climate inaction unleash 'dark forces' that threaten democracy — and lead to war?
Political action to address climate change has come far too late, according to an expert, who predicts that any response now will be so abrupt it will threaten democracy — or lead to armed conflict.
No toilet paper, soiled bed linen, starving residents: A struggling aged care worker speaks out
After over 30 years working in aged care, Marta has amassed a number of horror stories. She wants to treat people with dignity and respect — but providing even basic care can be a challenge in a system she says is only getting worse.
Christians voted for Trump in huge numbers. This evangelical pastor wants that to change
Doug Pagitt is a man on a mission. For decades, evangelical Christians in the US have overwhelmingly voted for Republications. He wants that to change.
'There is a culture in Australia where qualification doesn't really mean much'
Manal Aqrawe is a doctor with more than 20 years of experience, but she can't get a job in Australia — even outside medicine. Her story is sobering, but far from isolated.
Free from adults, kids are using TikTok to politically organise
Controversial social media app TikTok has been seen as a place for earnest content like dance crazes and slapstick comedy. But its young Australian users are increasingly using it to politically organise.
A 'fool's paradise': The invisible cost of free parking
We all love free car parking, but it has a hidden cost — and you pay for it even if you don't drive. It's priced into our housing, shopping centres and buildings, and is making our cities "much more expensive". So what can we do?
From Waleed Aly to Adut Akech: 'Casual racism' in the media is 'a constant problem'
When a magazine illustrated a feature of her with an image of a different model, model Adut Akech said she was sure it'd happened to other people. She was right. Misidentification is a "constant problem" in the media — just ask Zindzi Okenyo, Ronny Chieng or Waleed Aly.
Louisiana, Alaska … but not Greenland: The land America has bought (and how much it cost)
From the moment it kicked out the British, America began buying, annexing and fighting over land. Following the US President's failed bid to buy Greenland, trace the longer story of American real estate.
Interest rate reggae: How banks are trying to make their message more fun
If you're not a financial analyst or an erstwhile banker, do you really understand what central banks like the RBA are saying? Would it help if the message was set to reggae music?
'People were murdered, beheaded': How Vannak survived four perilous years as a slave
There are more than 40 million slaves in the world today. This is the story of one who managed to escape.
Why Ancient Greek still matters, according to the 'Comma Queen'
Following the cult success of her 'Comma Queen' videos, grammar guru Mary Norris is turning her attention to Ancient Greek. You'll be surprised at how much a 'dead' language has influenced the modern world.
In rare interview, spy chief lists the biggest security threats facing Australia
Australia's spy chief Nick Warner says the world is now more dangerous than ever. In a rare interview, he outlines six of the biggest threats to our security — and how we can combat them.
Tara was groomed, abused and 'fed drugs'. This is why she supports forced rehab for addicted kids
Should substance-addicted children be forced into secure rehab centres? Abuse survivor Tara says it would've "made a massive difference" in her life. But not everyone agrees with the controversial proposal.
US soldiers were accused of shooting a boy on a bike. But was it a war crime? I spent 16 years trying to find out
While I was embedded with the US Army in Iraq, I heard a story about two soldiers killing a child in cold blood. I've spent 16 years trying to find out the truth about the war crime allegation. None of it has been easy.
A journalist was awarded $180k in PTSD damages. For media outlets, it's a 'wake-up call'
In a world first ruling, a Victorian court found The Age newspaper was responsible for a journalist's PTSD, and awarded her $180,000. The case offers significant lessons for all media outlets on how to deal with trauma.
Strut, spin, throw shade, dip: A night at the Sissy Ball
It started with underground balls and 'scandal sheets' in 1980s New York. Now voguing has hit centre stage in Australia, giving a "culture, community and a family" to its performers.
'They killed all my friends': Memories of the Iranian revolution, 40 years on
When Fereydoun Najafi Aria was 18, he was arrested, tortured and thrown in jail. Decades on, he feels lucky to have survived.
What this photo reveals about gay aversion therapy treatment
In an era where homosexuality was considered a medical disorder in Australia, a device dubbed the "penis lie detector" was used alongside aversion therapy to "treat" gay men.
Her government let her give birth then killed her. This is how her son found out
Ana Maria was pregnant when she was detained by a brutal regime. She was allowed to give birth before being "disappeared"; possibly drugged and thrown into the sea to die. For 40 years, her son had no idea.
'Rescuing' the story of Ada Lovelace from the shadow of her father
The cult of celebrity isn't a new phenomenon; in the 1800s, Lord Byron's scandalous reputation tarnished his daughter's name. But Ada Lovelace was an accomplished woman in her own right.
'Full of rage, of feminist anger': Women who changed the course of history
History often celebrates the role of great men, but a BBC broadcaster has compiled a list of 21 women who left their mark.