RISK!

Ezra Holmlund and Sarah Adelman tell stories about things involving coming... and going.  🎤Live Story: Things Are Going South by Ezra Holmlund Ezra and his brother are at home when they begin to suspect a stranger has broken into their house upstairs. When the police arrive, the two brothers are mistaken for being the criminals. 🎤Live Story: The Long And Winding Road (To Semen Analysis) by Sarah Adelman Sarah is working at a sperm bank but loses her job after the HR department discovers her stand up comedy material is based off her...

In memory of Jan Scott-Frazier, we revisit her 2011 story called “The Riverside” and, until now unreleased, her conversation about the story in 2021 with narrative therapist David Newman.  🎤Live Story: The Riverside by Jan Scott-Frazier (Content note: suicide) At 22, Jan moved to Japan, but was lonely, as foreigners often feel. She began to notice a woman who visited the same river she did, who was even more depressed. Jan strategized how to comfort this stranger, but was too late, discovering from the newspapers that the woman took her own life.  🌈 Support RISK! & Get Involved • 🎟 Se...

Stella Mayerhoff and Rebecca Heron tell stories about the unbearable weight of truth. 🎙️Radio Story: In Ways I Never Could Have Imagined by Stella Mayerhoff In the Democratic Republic of Congo, out in the field studying bonobos, Stella has to get a local man back home by lying to him, saying his baby is sick, when in fact, his baby has already died. Keywords: Congo field research, bonobos, primatology, grief in the jungle, moral dilemma, scientific fieldwork, malaria loss, human conflict abroad 💻Workshop Story: Unfolding by Rebecca Heron (Content note: se...

A Classic RISK! episode from our early years that first ran in October of 2013, when Janine Latus, Scott Whitney and Dan Telfer told stories about brushes with madness that left scars. 🎙️Radio Story: Revelations by Scott Whitney (Content note: cults, suicide ideation) A Jehovah’s Witness struggling with his faith, Scott knocks on the door of a traumatized recluse to attempt to convert him. The brief, troubled friendship convinces Scott to leave the church. Check out our “Revelations, Revisited” episode, where Scott talked to Kevin about his then 12-year-old story. 🎤Live Story: Boots o...

Shem, Nonye Brown-West and JC Cassis share stories of sexual discoveries. 🎤Live Story: Shem's Guide to Sexuality by Shem As a joke, young Shem's frenemy gives him a sexy book, but it's a feminist book and he learns less about eroticism and more about the emotional needs of middle aged American women.  🎤Live Anecdote: The Joy of Toes by JC Cassis JC marvels at the outsized role that men’s big toes seem to play in that legendary guide to love making from the ‘70s, The Joy of Sex. 🎤Live Story: Wh...

A Classic RISK! episode from our early years that first ran in October of 2013, when Stephanie Douglass, Shannon Cason, Lily Be and Jim Padar were at our very first show in that toddlin’ town. 🎤Live Story: You Don’t Know Jack? by Stephanie Douglass A high school erupts in laughter over a mysterious name on the morning announcements, sending a well-meaning teacher on a frantic mission to protect a bullied student who, disastrously, does not exist. 🎤Live Story: I Do Not Want What I Haven’t Got by Shannon CasonAfter obsessing over penis size and att...

Ms. Aishia tells Cyndi Freeman about the time she navigated a complex, emotionally abusive relationship, and ultimately found the strength to prioritize her own happiness and independence. You can also watch this episode on YouTube. Check out all of our Conversation Stories! Conversation Story: Create My Life by Ms. Aishia EDITOR’S SYNOPSIS: After leaving an abusive relationship, Ms. Aishia enters an intense, largely virtual romance that slowly destabilizes her sense of self, leading her to sever ties, confront emotional dependency, and ultimately rebuild her life through radical change and solo travel. ...

There’s nothing but laughs in our Funny Stuff compilations of classic RISK! stories on the lighter side. This week, Kumail Nanjiani and Alecia Altstaetter share about penile injuries and barf boats.  🎤Live Story: Pure Fuckmachine by Kumail Nanjiani Kumail learns how to masturbate and is so excited that he zips his pants too quickly afterward and cuts his penis on the zipper. 🎤Live Story: That New Ship Smell by Alecia Altstaetter Alecia and her husband decide to take the kids on the high speed car ferry across Lake Michigan. A huge stor...

Michael J Bennett and Jessica Piscatelli Robinson tell holiday stories that are new, true and kinda blue.   🎤Radio Story: Santa's Revenge by Michael J Bennett Michael is a shopping mall Santa when his worst teacher from High School comes in with his kid. The rule of a store Santa is make no big promises the parents have to fulfill. Michael promises this kid the moon and a pony. 🎤Radio Story: A Mom-Made Christmas by Jessica Piscitelli Robinson Jessica is a teen when her mom has a stroke right before Christmas. Her mom was...

Kevin announces RISK!’s goal this year -- helping listeners connect. More social events, more online fun, and Kevin’s latest online storytelling workshops. One starts on Jan 14, one on Feb 15. Email kevin@risk-show.com to jump on in! To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A Classic RISK! episode from our early years that first ran in September of 2013, when Kevin Allison, Jen Bosworth, Donna Steele and Dare Campbell all shared stories of humiliation. 🎤Radio Story: Mother’s Little Helper by Donna Steele (Content note: poop) Donna’s mother has a strange habit of pooping in public. On this occasion, it’s into a McDonald’s coke cup in a mall dressing room. Donna is in awe of her mom’s nonchalance.  🎤Live Story: The Hustler by Kevin Allison In his early 20s, Kevin goes to a hustler bar to...

JC Cassis, David Crabb and Cyndi Freeman share stories at RISK! live shows when they were hosting 🎤Live Story: Not That Casual by JC Cassis As a young woman, JC is excited to go to a wild NYE party. A hot guy dances with her as if he's a middle school boy. She says he can be more casual. He takes out his dick and grinds on her. She tells him “Not THAT casual.” 🎤Live Story: Kitchen Nightmares! by David Crabb After moving to LA, David invites new friends to try one of the...

Every holiday season, RISK! fans ask about this small handful of yuletide perennial favorites. Well here they all are, wrapped up in one neat package with a bow. Unwrap and enjoy these stories from Elna Baker, Kevin Allison, Sarah Long Hendershot, and Kate Bohl. 🎤Live Story: For the Love of Nubbins by Elna Baker Selling expensive, real-looking baby dolls for the holiday season at FAO Schwartz, Elna “adopts” an unpopular one she calls Nubbins, a Black babydoll. When the doll is bought, Elna grieves. 🎤Radio Story: The Allison Family Christmas Tree by Ke...

Ty Gentile, James Rana, and David Hu share yuletide tales about Christmas carols, Black Santas, and of course, excretory health in our annual winter holidays special for 2025. 🎙️Radio Story: A Very Moving Christmas by David Hu David’s dad has Alzheimer’s. David always struggled to understand how to give and receive love from his immigrant father. But when he buys his dad dearly needed laxatives for Xmas, it’s a touching moment of bonding.  🎙️Radio Story: The Widow’s Song by Ty Gentile Struggling with homesickness, Ty gets a gig working...

A Classic RISK! episode from our early years that first ran in December of 2013, when Alex Edelman, Jude Treder-Wolff and Danielle Kramer all shared Yuletide tales.  🎤Live Story: Oy to the World by Alex Edelman In the story that eventually became his Broadway show and HBO special “Just For Us,” Alex shares how, in his childhood, his Orthodox Jewish family hosting Christmas to comfort a lonely friend led to life lessons.  🎤Radio Story: Winter Storm by Jude Treder-Wolff Driving home for Christmas in a massive blizzard, Jude and her sister get into a huge...

Nikki Bailey and Hana Nobel share stories about how messy things can get with food and sex, with guest host, Taj Easton. 🎤Live Story: That's Not Sexy, Baby by Nikki Bailey For Nikki, her hookup’s praise of her body is a boost to her self esteem. But when her digestive system acts up, she must become downright defiant about self-acceptance. keywords: Plus Sized Dating, Self-Acceptance, Queer, Body Positivity, BoPo, Self-Worth, Body Acceptance, Empowerment, Mr. Big, Sex and the City, Farting, Fuckboys, Hookup, U Up?, LGBTQ+ 🎤Live Story: Curry Coitus by Hana Nob...

A Classic RISK! episode from our early years that first ran in September of 2013, when Amanda Egge and Nayland Blake shared stories about reconciling their own desires with the desires of others. 🎤Live Story: Servant’s Wages by Amanda Egge Although she has little interest in the kink aspect of it, Amanda becomes intrigued that a BDSM "slave" would keep her total mess of an apartment clean for free. She quickly learns that her "slave" requires a lot of care.  keywords: erotic cleaning, fetish foot kiss, MySpace submissive, clean-for-free, dominant-submissive relationship, clutter addiction, prosti...

Jillian Markowitz and David Joseph share stories about the strains and secrets that come all too easily within families. 🌈 Support RISK! & Get Involved • 🎟 See RISK! live⁠ in NYC March 17 and June 9, 2025 • ✍️ Pitch your story⁠ • ❤️ Support us on Patreon⁠ or ⁠make a one-time PayPal donation⁠ • 📚 Shop merch or the RISK! book⁠ • 🎓 Take storytelling classes with us⁠• 🎥 Hire Kevin as a coach or get personalized videos To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Lear...

Christine Gentry revisits her story from 2016 called “Making the Chain” with Kevin Allison. She has many new insights, nine years later. 🎤Live Story: Making the Chain by Christine Gentry Christine’s friend needs a kidney donor or she will die. Christine is not a match for her friend, but she is able to join a chain of people donating, created by Be The Match. The experience transforms her life.  keywords: Be The Match, dialysis, donation, donation chain, kidney, nephrology 🌈 Support RISK! & Get Involved • 🎟 See RISK! live⁠ in NYC on Tuesday, March 17, 2...

Mira Rivera and Rachelle Anne Warren tell stories about opening up & leaning into insecurities.  🎤Workshop Story: Sexual Healing by Mira Rivera After her partner breaks up with her, Mira's confidence plummets. She goes on a series of dates in public with a hot guy who seems uninterested.One day, they have a date in private with weed and Mira discovers a whole new level of sexual and emotional chemistry. keywords: bad dates, sexual chemistry, weed, sexual breakthrough, rebound 🎤Radio Story: Stranded by Rachel Anne Warren Rachel spent years hiding her hai...