Meshel Laurie
Meshel Laurie | |
|---|---|
| Born | May 29, 1973 Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia |
| Occupation(s) | Author, podcaster, comedian, radio presenter |
| Years active | 1998–present |
| Known for | Comedy performances, radio hosting, podcasting |
| Notable work | CSI Told You Lies: Giving Victims a Voice Through Forensics, Buddhism for Breakups |
Meshel Laurie (originally named Michelle Laurie, born 29 May 1973) is an Australian author and podcaster.
Comedy career
Laurie's debut performance at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival was the show Dairy Belles, which she presented alongside Corinne Grant. In 1998, she was awarded the Brian McCarthy Memorial Moosehead Award to develop The Virgin Mary 2 - This Time It's Personal. Her significant breakthrough occurred in 2000 with The Whore Whisperer: Confessions of a Madam at the Melbourne Fringe Festival, a production inspired by her personal experiences in brothel work. This performance achieved sold-out runs at the Adelaide Fringe, Melbourne International Comedy Festival, the Edinburgh Fringe, and the Sydney Opera House.
Broadcasting career
In 2000, Laurie co-hosted the weekly comedy program Enough Rope on 3RRR with Josh Kinal. The show included interviews with industry figures and featured contributions from Adam Richard and Toby Sullivan. Despite its popularity, it was controversially discontinued in 2002.
By 2004, Laurie was hosting ABC TV's comedy series Stand Up! and frequently appeared on major national variety programs such as Rove Live, The Glass House, Spicks and Specks, and The Project.
In 2005, Laurie became a founding breakfast presenter on Brisbane's Nova 106.9 with the show Meshel, Ash, Kip and Luttsy, which rose to become Brisbane's top-rated morning program. After changes in the lineup, the show evolved into Meshel, Tim and Marty until August 2011, when it relocated to Melbourne to air nationally during Nova FM's Drive time slot.
Laurie co-hosted This Week Live in 2013 alongside Dave Thornton, Tommy Little, and Tom Gleeson. Later that year, she partnered with Tommy Little for Nova 100's Meshel & Tommy, succeeding Hughesy & Kate. In January 2014, she shifted to Nova's drive show with Tim Blackwell and Marty Sheargold.
In October 2015, Laurie departed Nova 100 to present Matt & Meshel on KIIS 101.1 alongside Matt Tilley and also co-hosted the 3PM Pick-Up with Katie 'Monty' Dimond across the KIIS Network. The Australian Radio Network revealed in October 2017 that Matt & Meshel would not continue into 2018.
In 2015, Laurie launched her interview podcast titled Nitty Gritty Committee and later began producing and hosting the Australian True Crime Podcast with Emily Webb starting November 2016. In September 2018, she appeared on SBS's Go Back To Where You Came From, journeying to South Sudan.
Laurie returned to radio in January 2021 as a Breakfast host on Wave FM Wollongong alongside Adam Straney and Damien Leith while Jade Tonta took maternity leave. She authored the book CSI Told You Lies: Giving Victims a Voice Through Forensics, published in August 2021.
Personal life
Born in Toowoomba, Queensland, Laurie relocated early in her professional journey to Melbourne to take advantage of its vibrant comedy scene.
She practices Buddhist beliefs.
In June 2009, Laurie announced her pregnancy with twins via Twitter; they were born on 20 November 2009—a son named Louis and a daughter named Dali.
In 2010, she initiated a blog focused on encouraging charitable acts and community support worldwide.
Her book titled Buddhism for Breakups was released in 2017 through Blank Inc.