RISK!

David Zellnik tells Kevin Allison about a moment of sexual liberation in a dark back room at a gay bar in the early 90s. Check out all of our Conversation Stories! 🎙️Conversation Story: Allowed to Look by David Zellnik David has a transformative night at a gay bar in the early 90s, during the ongoing AIDS crisis. It felt risky but it also helped him to feel more visible and confident in his identi...

Reba Sparrow and Smith Galtney share some of our favorite unusual love stories from our 16-year history. 🎙️LIVE Story: Pleasant Mountain by Smith Galtney Smith had the perfect husband, house and home... till he returned to the crystal meth habit of his younger years. His husband was able to support Smith in getting to rehab and putting his life back together again. 🎙️LIVE Story: Baby Love by Reba...

Connor O’Donoghue, JC Cassis and Jay Michel share stories about crushes and rebounds.  🎙️Radio Story: I Was the Appetizer by Connor O'Donoghue A virgin with body shame issues, Connor falls for a straight guy he befriends in a psych hospital. He has a threesome with his crush and a girl, knowing the guy is only into the girl. Decades later, Connor sheds his sexual anxiety.  🎤Live Story: Never Agai...

A Classic RISK! episode from our early years when Brian Finkelstein, Carrie Wade and Matt Oberg told true stories at the live RISK! show for the 2013 LA Storytelling Festival. 🎤Live Story: She and I by Brian Finkelstein (Content note: miscarriage, suicidal ideation) Brian’s anxiety around marriage and fatherhood lead to a panic attack at a grocery store just before he learns his wife is pregnant…...

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...

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.  00:00 Introduction 01:34 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...

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, primato...

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 bri...

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 toe...

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...

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...

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 Ne...

Michael J Bennett and Jessica Piscitelli 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 M...

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! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/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...

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...

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, El...

Ty Gentile, James Rana, and David Hu share yuletide tales about Christmas carols, unorthodox 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 laxativ...

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 fri...

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...

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 fre...

Jillian Markowitz and David Joseph share stories about the secrets that haunt families. 🎤Live Story: Uncomfortably Close by Jillian Markowitz Jillian’s relationship with her sister is tumultuous. There are childhood memories of playing with Barbies and a horrible clash over a burn accident. During her sister’s wedding, things get volatile, until they find a way to make up yet again.  keywords: si...

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. ...

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 ch...

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 Ci...