RISK!

Satori Shakoor and Paul Cibis share stories of thanksgiving. A part of our series called Gratitude Stories. 🎤Live Story: Thank You by Satori Shakoor Satori’s loss of her mother and son is devastating. Later, she dates a man who gets a kick out of Satori being “too much,” and she is grateful to remember to live life over-the-top, and fully alive. keywords: none 🎤Live Story: My Lifeline by Paul Cibis Paul's kidneys began to fail him. He was stuck in the tragic position of hoping someone would die soon, so tha...

Kevin hears Danielle Meinert’s “The Day I Met ARFID” story from The Story Collider for the first time and gives you his hot takes. You can also watch this episode on YouTube! This is part of our RISK! Reacts series, where we listen to a story told on another show and give our first reactions. Here’s the Spotify Playlist mentioned in the episode. And here is an article about the playlist from hopkinsmedicine.org. 🎙️ Story: The Day I Met ARFID by Danielle Meinert After a lifetime of avoiding near...

A Classic RISK! episode from our early years that first ran in September of 2013, when RISK! had its first live show in the city that keeps it weird: Austin, Texas. 🎤Live Story: The Redhead by Paul Normandin Every year that his wife asked, "What do you want for your birthday?" Paul would answer, "A redhead." One year, his wife finally arranged for a hotel rendezvous with a redhead... who led him into a surprise party. Keywords:  birthday story, marriage humor, Austin storytelling, sexual misunderstanding, redhead joke, surprise party, marriage comedy, public embarrassment, relationship humo...

Jen Nails and Sandi Marx share stories about being who you are even, when it’s a pain in the ass.  🎤Radio Story: Permission to Be Myself by Jen Nails Jen struggles to fit in at her college acting program, which attempts to remove her from the class roster. Finally, her fellow students write to the administration appealing on her behalf and the school changes its mind.  keywords: acting school, rejection, left out,  🎤 Live Story: Fake It 'Til You Make It by Sandi Marx In high school, San...

Morgan revisits her story from 2012 called “Always A Woman” with Kevin Allison and considers how much has changed for trans folks in the 13 years since.  🎙️Radio Story: Always A Woman by Morgan A biker and ironworker has a lifelong secret. After a nearly life-ending accident, Morgan finally decides to transition from man to woman. The people in her life are amazed, but they adjust. keywords: LGBTQIA+ storyteller, Trans storyteller, transgender 🌈 Support RISK! & Get Involved • 🎟 See RISK! live⁠ in NYC on December 11, 2025 • ✍️ Pitch your story⁠ • ❤️ Support us on Patreon⁠ or ⁠make a...

Inky Montaine tells Taj Easton about how, before he was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder, he truly felt like he might have come from another planet.  Check out all of our Conversation Stories! 🎙️Conversation Story: Pretending to Be Human by Inky Montaine Inky spent a lifetime switching masks but felt a certainty of unbelonging. Later in life, an Autism Spectrum Disorder diagnosis didn't lead to yet another identity, but gave a name to the one he’s always had. keywords: ASD, autism, neurodivergent, youth gender identity, punk rock, outsider, alienated, superman obsessio...

On this Veteran’s Day, guest-host Ray Christian from What’s Ray Saying? hears Brian Simpson’s “Fresh Air” story from So Say We All for the first time and gives you his hot takes. You can also watch this episode on YouTube! This is part of our RISK! Reacts series, where we listen to a story told on another show and give our first reactions. 🎙️ Story: Fresh Air by Brian Simpson (Content note: suicidal ideation) In 2003, Brian is a Marine stationed in Kuwait, and his battalion drills for pote...

A Classic RISK! episode from our early years that first ran in August of 2013, when DC Pierson, Selena Coppock, Brad Lawrence and Nina Davis shared stories of love and loss. 🎙️Radio Story: Let Me Sleep On It by Brad Lawrence In his youth, Brad finds and loses love with a fellow bookstore employee. Later, after marrying someone else, he sees his feelings for his fellow employee were just a crush, and that real love allows for making mistakes.keywords: crushes, love, marriage, relationships, youth 🎤Live Story: In the Belly by DC Pierson As a n...

Kevin hears Diane Weipert’s “The Living Room” story from Love and Radio for the first time and gives you his instant reactions. You can also watch this episode on YouTube! This is part of our RISK! Reacts series, where we listen to a story told on another show and give our first reactions. 🎙️ Story: The Living Room by Diane Weipert Through an unobstructed window, Diane observes the lives of a young couple in the apartment across the street, becoming a silent witness to their private moments, which become more and more profound.  keywor...

Three of our favorite scary stories from Halloween specials of our past.  🎤Radio Story: The Thing by Thomas McKean When Thomas was a kid, he and a friend saw a shadowy oblong shape following them on a beach. Years later, he feels chained to his bed in the middle of the night when the same figure, then two more hover over him.  keywords: Paranormal encounter, Shadow figure,Beach sighting,Sleep paralysis,Night terrors,Childhood mystery,UFO-like entity,Supernatural experience 🎤Radio Story: Your Health and Your Soul by Erika Steigerw...

Our 17th annual Halloween special with scary true stories about ghosts, corpses and mortal danger.  🎤Radio Story: Do You Know My Name? by Robert Oakes Robert leads ghost tours, but unlike his father, he’s unsure he’s a believer. After his father dies, Robert’s tour of a haunted house is visited by paranormal investigators, who have him ask a question to the spirits there which reveal a family connection.  keywords: haunted house, paranormal investigation, EVP session, skeptic vs believer, Berkshire ghosts, Venford Hall, Edith Wharton, paranormal tourism 🎤Radio Story: A World of Cor...

A Classic RISK! episode from our early years that first ran in August of 2013, when Mather Zickel, Jen Curran, Joel Kim Booster and Julie Threlkeld told stories of times they crossed over the edge. 🎤Live Story: Waiting for the Man by Joel Kim Booster Joel would love to find a kinky Dom to write "Bitch" around his asshole. One night, he plays with a Dom who is a huge disappointment. keywords: Asian storyteller, gay, homosexual, lgbtqia, queer 🎤Live Story: Stop Thief by Jen Curran Jen confesses that she feels no gui...

Hannah Sussman and Swapna Deshpande tell stories about coming to terms with mortality.  🎤Anecdote: Another Conversation with my Dead Mother by Hannah Sussman Hannah reflects on her relationship with her deceased mother—waking from a dream, looking in the mirror and eventually coming to peace with her own aging.  keywords: mother daughter relationships, aging, grief 🎤Live Story: Each Other's Angels by Swapna Deshpande Dr. Swapna Deshpande recounts her experiences with a patient she befriended named 'John' at a trauma center. She practically saved his life on a couple of occasions...

A Classic RISK! episode from our early years that first ran in August of 2013, when Brad McMurran, Alicia Camden, and Sean Devereux told stories at the Norfolk Comedy Festival. 🎤Live Story: The Color Purple by Brad McMurran 🎤Live Story: Robbie Robbie by Alicia Camden 🎤Live Story: Train du Matin by Sean Devereux Sean dates a girl who he only sees when they are both drunk. When he decides to have a lunchtime date with her without alcohol, he realizes they have nothing in common. To his bewilderment, she tries to convince him to st...

DESCRIPTION: Mishelle tells Taj her story of a lifetime lived with an abusive mother in an environment of relentless lies, instability and unspeakable violence.  Check out all of our Conversation Stories! 🎙️Conversation Story: The Lies that Bind by Mishelle Roberts SYNOPSIS: (CONTENT NOTE: child abuse, child murder) Mishelle tells Taj about growing up in the shadow of hospitals, horrific medical drama, and a web of lies that defined her entire life. As an adult, she starts to uncover what was really happening and discovers that the lies were bigger and darker than s...

Candiace Dillard Bassett (Bravo’s Real Housewives of Potomac) and Michael Arceneaux (New York Times best-selling author and culture critic) have thoughts…and on Undomesticated, they’re sharing all of them. Think of it like the group chat you wish you were in - brutally honest, funny, smart, and gloriously unfiltered.  From viral TikTok drama to the celebrity news everyone’s talking about (and the ones they should be), Candiace and Michael are here to talk their talk, crack you up, and keep it 100…with just the right amount of petty. To learn mo...

A Classic RISK! episode from our early years that first ran in 2013, when the RISK! live show came to Norfolk, Virginia.   🎤Live Story: The Squatter by Billy Raim Billy is afraid to poop in public until he decides to let go of of that fear, as it was ruining a trip with friends to China, with disastrous consequences. keywords: Poop, Fear, China, Culture Shock 🎤Live Story: Sister’s Keeper by Tiffany Chilcott Tiffany impersonates her sister on the phone and gets a guy to shave his head. keywords...

Andrea Dunlop tells Kevin from the RISK! podcast her story “Believe Her,” about the time her sister was prosecuted for Munchausen by Proxy child abuse and how this set her off on a long path towards advocacy, outreach and the pursuit of justice. Years later, her podcast and vigilante journalism led her to uncover irrefutable evidence of an unprosecuted, hideous crime, as well as towards healing of her own deep, familial wounds.  You can also watch this episode on YouTube. Check out all of our Conversation Stories! 🎙️Conversation Story: Believe Her by Andrea Dunlop...

On the 16th anniversary of the podcast, Jill Karliner and Kevin Allison share stories from their own sixteeny days.  🎙️Radio Story: Save a Prayer for Jill by Jill Karliner When she was sixteen, Jill went to a Duran Duran concert in an attempt to fit in with her friend group and got so inside her own head about not enjoying it, she panicked.  keywords: concert, classical, duran duran, rick springfield, squeeze, high school 🎙️Radio Story: What’s in the Box?! by Kevin Allison After being slighted by his high-school crush, a young...

Scott Whitney revisits his story from 2013 about losing his faith called “Revelations” with Kevin. He has many new insights twelve years later. You can also watch this episode on YouTube! 🎤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. CURRENT keywords: Awake!, door-to-door, Jehovah’s Witnesses, The Watchtower 🌈 Support RISK! & Get Involved • 🎟 See RISK! live⁠ in NYC (December 11)<...