S17 Ep1719: How Can I Tell You?
Stella Mayerhoff and Rebecca Heron tell stories about the unbearable weight of truth. šŸŽ™ļøRadio 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, p...
54m Jan 27
54m
S17 Ep503: Casualties
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. šŸŽ™ļøRadio Story: Revelations by Scott Whitney (Content note: cults, suicide ideation) A Jehovahā€™s Witness struggling with his faith, Scott knocks on the door of a traumatized recluse to attempt to convert him. Th...
55m Jan 22
55m
S17 Ep1718: Sexploration
Shem, Nonye Brown-West and JC Cassis share stories of sexual discoveries. šŸŽ¤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.Ā  šŸŽ¤Live Anecdote: The Joy of Toes by JC Cassis JC marvels at the outsized role that menā€™s bi...
49m Jan 20
49m
S17 Ep501: Live From Chicago!
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 toddlinā€™ town. šŸŽ¤Live Story: You Donā€™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 prote...
1hr 10m Jan 15
1hr 10m
S17 Ep1717: Create My Life
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 EDITORā€™S SYNOPSIS: After leaving an abusive relationship, Ms. Aishia ...
1hr Jan 13
1hr
S17 Ep78: The Best of Funny Stuff #7
Thereā€™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.Ā  šŸŽ¤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. šŸŽ¤Live Story: Tha...
32m Jan 08
32m
S17 Ep1716: Holiday Blues #3
Michael J Bennett and Jessica Piscatelli Robinson tell holiday stories that are new, true and kinda blue.Ā Ā  šŸŽ¤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. šŸŽ¤Radio Story:...
35m Jan 06
35m
S17: In 2026, Jump In On RISK!
Kevin announces RISK!ā€™s goal this year -- helping listeners connect. More social events, more online fun, and Kevinā€™s latest online storytelling workshops. One starts on Jan 14, one on Feb 15. EmailĀ kevin@risk-show.comĀ 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://p...
7m Jan 05
7m
S17 Ep451: How Embarrassing
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. šŸŽ¤Radio Story: Motherā€™s Little Helper by Donna Steele (Content note: poop) Donnaā€™s mother has a strange habit of pooping in public. On this occasion, itā€™s into a McDonaldā€™s coke cup in a mall dressing room. Donna i...
1hr 2m Jan 01
1hr 2m
S17 Ep1715: Hosts with the Mosts
JC Cassis, David Crabb and Cyndi Freeman share stories at RISK! live shows when they were hosting šŸŽ¤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 ā€œNot THAT casual.ā€ šŸŽ¤Live Story: Kitchen Nightmares...
48m Dec 30, 2025
48m
S17 Ep77: Holiday Stories Fan Favorites!
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. šŸŽ¤Live Story: For the Love of Nubbins by Elna Baker Selling expensive, real-looking baby dolls for the holiday season at FAO Schwartz...
1hr 4m Dec 25, 2025
1hr 4m
S17 Ep1714: Holiday Stories #18
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. šŸŽ™ļøRadio Story: A Very Moving Christmas by David Hu Davidā€™s dad has Alzheimerā€™s. David always struggled to understand how to give and receive love from his immigrant father. But when he buys his dad dearly needed laxat...
34m Dec 23, 2025
34m
S17 Ep511: Holiday Stories #4
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.Ā  šŸŽ¤Live Story: Oy to the World by Alex Edelman In the story that eventually became his Broadway show and HBO special ā€œJust For Us,ā€ Alex shares how, in his childhood, his Orthodox Jewish family hosting Christmas to comfort a lonely...
45m Dec 18, 2025
45m
S17 Ep1713: Sex & Supper
Nikki Bailey and Hana Nobel share stories about how messy things can get with food and sex, with guest host, Taj Easton. šŸŽ¤Live Story: That's Not Sexy, Baby by Nikki Bailey For Nikki, her hookupā€™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,...
36m Dec 16, 2025
36m
S17 Ep450: Desire
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. šŸŽ¤Live Story: Servantā€™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...
36m Dec 11, 2025
36m
S17 Ep1712: We Are Family
Jillian Markowitz and David Joseph share stories about the strains and secrets that come all too easily within families. šŸŒˆ Support RISK! & Get Involved ā€¢ šŸŽŸ See RISK! liveā  in NYC March 17 and June 9, 2025 ā€¢ āœļø Pitch your storyā  ā€¢ ā¤ļø Support us on Patreonā  or ā make a one-time PayPal donationā  ā€¢ šŸ“š Shop merch or the RISK! bookā  ā€¢ šŸŽ“ Take storytelling classes with usā ā€¢ šŸŽ„ Hire Kevin as a coac...
49m Dec 09, 2025
49m
S17 Ep186: Making the Chain, Revisited
Christine Gentry revisits her story from 2016 called ā€œMaking the Chainā€ with Kevin Allison. She has many new insights, nine years later. šŸŽ¤Live Story: Making the Chain by Christine Gentry Christineā€™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 lif...
41m Dec 04, 2025
41m
S17 Ep1711: Not in Hiding Anymore
Mira Rivera and Rachelle Anne Warren tell stories about opening up & leaning into insecurities.Ā  šŸŽ¤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...
49m Dec 02, 2025
49m
S17 Ep76: The Best of Gratitude Stories #1
Satori Shakoor and Paul Cibis share stories of thanksgiving. A part of our series called Gratitude Stories. šŸŽ¤Live Story: Thank You by Satori Shakoor Satoriā€™s loss of her mother and son is devastating. Later, she dates a man who gets a kick out of Satori being ā€œtoo much,ā€ and she is grateful to remember to live life over-the-top, and fully alive. keywords: none šŸŽ¤Live Story: My Lifeline by Pa...
32m Nov 27, 2025
32m
S17 Ep1710: The Day I Met ARFID: RISK! Reacts
Kevin hears Danielle Meinertā€™s ā€œThe Day I Met ARFIDā€ 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. Hereā€™s the Spotify Playlist mentioned in the episode. And here is an article about the playlist from...
30m Nov 25, 2025
30m
S17 Ep449: Live From Austin!
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. šŸŽ¤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 ...
1hr 12m Nov 20, 2025
1hr 12m
S17 Ep1709: Do I Belong Here?
Jen Nails and Sandi Marx share stories about being who you are even, when itā€™s a pain in the ass.Ā  šŸŽ¤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.Ā  keywords: acting sch...
39m Nov 18, 2025
39m
S17 Ep182: Always A Woman, Revisited
Morgan revisits her story from 2012 called ā€œAlways A Womanā€ with Kevin Allison and considers how much has changed for trans folks in the 13 years since.Ā  šŸŽ™ļøRadio 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...
46m Nov 13, 2025
46m
S17 Ep1708: Pretending to Be Human
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.Ā  Check out all of our Conversation Stories! šŸŽ™ļøConversation 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...
1hr 3m Nov 12, 2025
1hr 3m
S17 Ep1707: A Breath of Fresh Air: RISK! Reacts (feat. Ray Christian)
On this Veteranā€™s Day, guest-host Ray Christian from Whatā€™s Ray Saying? hears Brian Simpsonā€™s ā€œFresh Airā€ 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. šŸŽ™ļø Story: Fresh Air by Brian Simpson (Content no...
24m Nov 11, 2025
24m
S17 Ep447: Boys and Girls
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. šŸŽ™ļøRadio 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 cru...
1hr 14m Nov 06, 2025
1hr 14m
S17 Ep1706: The Living Room: RISK! Reacts
Kevin hears Diane Weipertā€™s ā€œThe Living Roomā€ 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. šŸŽ™ļø Story: The Living Room by Diane Weipert Through an unobstructed window, Diane observes the lives of ...
42m Nov 04, 2025
42m
S17 Ep75: The Best of Scary Stories, Vol. 1
Three of our favorite scary stories from Halloween specials of our past.Ā  šŸŽ¤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.Ā  keywords: Paranormal encounter, Shadow figure,Beach sighting,Slee...
54m Oct 30, 2025
54m
S17 Ep1705: Scary Stories #17: Bone-chilling!
Our 17th annual Halloween special with scary true stories about ghosts, corpses and mortal danger.Ā  šŸŽ¤Radio Story: Do You Know My Name? by Robert Oakes Robert leads ghost tours, but unlike his father, heā€™s unsure heā€™s a believer. After his father dies, Robertā€™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...
1hr 22m Oct 28, 2025
1hr 22m
S17 Ep445: Edge Play
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. šŸŽ¤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:...
1hr Oct 23, 2025
1hr
S17 Ep1704: Hannah Sussman and Swapna Deshpande tell stories about coming to terms with mortality.Ā 
Hannah Sussman and Swapna Deshpande tell stories about coming to terms with mortality.Ā  šŸŽ¤Anecdote: Another Conversation with my Dead Mother by Hannah Sussman Hannah reflects on her relationship with her deceased motherā€”waking from a dream, looking in the mirror and eventually coming to peace with her own aging.Ā  keywords: mother daughter relationships, aging, grief šŸŽ¤Live Story: Each Other's...
37m Oct 21, 2025
37m
S17 Ep444: Live From Norfolk 2
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. šŸŽ¤Live Story: The Color Purple by Brad McMurran šŸŽ¤Live Story: Robbie Robbie by Alicia Camden šŸŽ¤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 ...
56m Oct 16, 2025
56m
S17 Ep1703: The Lies That Bind
DESCRIPTION: Mishelle tells Taj her story of a lifetime lived with an abusive mother in an environment of relentless lies, instability and unspeakable violence.Ā  Check out all of our Conversation Stories! šŸŽ™ļøConversation 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 me...
1hr 39m Oct 14, 2025
1hr 39m
Get Undomesticated
Candiace Dillard Bassett (Bravoā€™s Real Housewives of Potomac) and Michael Arceneaux (New York Times best-selling author and culture critic) have thoughtsā€¦and on Undomesticated, theyā€™re sharing all of them. Think of it like the group chat you wish you were in - brutally honest, funny, smart, and gloriously unfiltered.Ā  From viral TikTok drama to the celebrity news everyoneā€™s talking about (and ...
4m Oct 13, 2025
4m
S17 Ep443: Live From Norfolk 1
A Classic RISK! episode from our early years that first ran in 2013, when the RISK! live show came to Norfolk, Virginia.Ā Ā  šŸŽ¤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 šŸŽ¤Live Story: Sisterā€™s Keeper by...
46m Oct 09, 2025
46m
S17 Ep1702: Believe Her
Andrea Dunlop tells Kevin from the RISK! podcast her story ā€œBelieve Her,ā€ 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...
1hr 20m Oct 08, 2025
1hr 20m
S17 Ep1701: Sweet Sixteen
On the 16th anniversary of the podcast, Jill Karliner and Kevin Allison share stories from their own sixteeny days.Ā  šŸŽ™ļøRadio 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.Ā  keywords: concert, classical, duran duran, rick sp...
1hr 17m Oct 06, 2025
1hr 17m
S16 Ep181: Revelations, Revisited
Scott Whitney revisits his story from 2013 about losing his faith called ā€œRevelationsā€ with Kevin. He has many new insights twelve years later. You can also watch this episode on YouTube! šŸŽ¤Radio Story: Revelations by Scott Whitney (Content note: cults, suicide ideation) A Jehovahā€™s Witness struggling with his faith, Scott knocks on the door of a traumatized recluse to attempt to convert him. ...
47m Oct 02, 2025
47m
S16 Ep1668: The Best of RISK! #33
Our 33rd compilation of some of our favorite recent stories shared on the RISK! podcast, guest-host by Cyndi Freeman. šŸŽ¤Live Story: Hope Under the Sky (excerpt) by LP Nguyen SYNOPSIS: In 1975, the North won Vietnamā€™s civil war, and LP's dad, high ranking in the Southern Army, was imprisoned. The children lost everything, hunted for food, swam to school, and after 7 years, got their father back...
1hr 21m Sep 30, 2025
1hr 21m
S16 Ep441: Live From DC!
A Classic RISK! episode from our early years that first ran in July of 2013, when Kevin Boggs, Stephanie Garibaldi, R. Levin and Amy Saidman told stories at the first RISK! live show in Washington, DC in association with SpeakeasyDC. šŸŽ¤Live Story: Standing Up by Kevin Boggs Working as a waiter at an upscale Washington DC restaurant, Kevin gets into an emotional fight with an angry customer who...
1hr 2m Sep 25, 2025
1hr 2m
S16 Ep1667: Midnight in Manila
Scott McMahon tells Dawn Fraser from the RISK! podcast his story ā€œMidnight in Manila,ā€ about the time he was pulled into a nightmare of corruption, false rape charges, and five years in a Philippine jail.Ā  Check out all of our Conversation Stories! šŸŽ™ļøConversation Story: Midnight in Manila by Scott McMahon SYNOPSIS: Scott McMahon tells Dawn Fraser from the RISK! podcast his story ā€œMidnight in...
51m Sep 23, 2025
51m
Introducing Simpsons Declassified with Nancy Cartwright
Simpsons fans ā€”THE VAULT IS OPEN!Ā  Iā€™m Nancy Cartwright, the voice of Bart Simpson for 35+ years, and Iā€™m finally taking you inside Springfield. Simpsons Declassified is your all-access pass to the worldā€™s most iconic, animatedĀ  series.Ā Ā  Each week, we crack open wild predictions, eerie coincidences and fan conspiracies and storiesĀ  from 36 seasons (thatā€™s 800+ episodes!) behind-the-scenes wi...
3m Sep 19, 2025
3m
S16 Ep440: Queer
A Classic RISK! episode from our early years that first ran in July of 2013, when Cameron Esposito, Kris Grey and Kevin Allison shared radically different stories of LGBT life in the early 2010ā€™s.Ā  šŸŽ¤Live Story: All the Rage by Kevin Allison SYNOPSIS: A man living in Kevin's neighborhood started screaming, "Faggot!" at Kevin whenever he was in eyeshot. Then one day the man switched from scream...
1hr 1m Sep 18, 2025
1hr 1m
S16 Ep1666: Shit Happens
Kevin Allison, Rachel Frost and Luke Oyler share stories about being wasteful.Ā  Live Story: The Pickles Pickle by Kevin Allison Kevin flushes a jar of pickles down his brother's toilet while making his first student film in college and causes a plumbing issue, which becomes a story the Allison family retells for years to come.Ā Ā  keywords: Pickle jar, brother, student film šŸŽ¤Live Story: The I...
39m Sep 16, 2025
39m
S16 Ep180: The Power, Revisited
Tori Weston revisits her story about surviving childhood sexual abuse from 2014 called ā€œThe Powerā€ with Kevin Allison. Tori has many new insights eleven years later. You can also watch this episode on YouTube! šŸŽ¤Radio Story: The Power by Tori Weston (Content note: child sexual abuse, suicidal ideation) At 12, going on 13, Tori was raped by her stepfather. When she came out about it, the situat...
1hr 43m Sep 11, 2025
1hr 43m
S16 Ep1665: Post Mortem
Chelsea Dalsey tells Kevin Allison about her journey with addiction and the process of truly coming to terms with her experience. Ā  Check out all of our Conversation Stories! šŸŽ™ļøConversation Story: Post Mortem by Chelsea Dalsey SYNOPSIS: While working on cadavers in med school, Chelsea desperately hides her addiction to heroin and cocaine. Now, decades later, she has a realization about why...
56m Sep 09, 2025
56m
S16 Ep74: The Best of School Stories #1
A compilation of some of the best school related stories from the podcast.Ā  šŸŽ¤Live Story: Taking A Long Time by Angie Chatman SYNOPSIS: At age 8 Angie is in 2nd grade. A policeman visits and when he asks for a volunteer he hand shoots up. He handcuffs her in front of the classroom and refuses to let her go until she says "please." The fright causes her to pee, until the teacher finally insists...
26m Sep 04, 2025
26m
S16 Ep1664: The Fingers Episode
Bill, Brad, and Dominic recall the strange circumstances surrounding their broken or missing digits, with guest host John LaSala. šŸŽ¤Live Story: Just the Tip by Bill Worley Bill reveals how he lost the tip of his fingerā€”knife fights, dive bars, a guy losing an eyeā€”before revealing something even stranger: the truth. keywords: funny injury story, unreliable narrator, severed finger, missing f...
40m Sep 02, 2025
40m
S16 Ep439: Hurt
A Classic RISK! episode from our early years that first ran in July of 2013, when Trevor Noah and Robin Gelfenbien shared about scars they've healed from. šŸŽ¤Live Story: Vargas by Robin Gelfenbien In college, Robin is bullied by a whole pack of frat brothers who call her "Vargas," after a character in Fast Times at Ridgemont High. In the end, she gets to confront the leader of the group about...
39m Aug 28, 2025
39m
S16 Ep1663: My Secret Career: RISK! Reacts
Kevin hears C. J. Guyā€™s ā€œMy Secret Careerā€ story from The Secret Room 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. šŸŽ™ļø Story: My Secret Career by C.J. Guy CJ reveals his secret career path that started with dropping out of law ...
35m Aug 26, 2025
35m