RISK!
If you like The Moth, This American Life or Snap Judgment, take a walk on the wilder side with RISK! Your colorful host Kevin Allison (of the legendary comedy group The State) helms this surprisingly uncensored show where people tell jaw-dropping true stories they never thought they'd dare to share in public. RISK! is hilarious, heart-wrenching and remarkably real. Think you've heard it all? Fasten your seatbelt.
Episodes
March 3, 2026 • 38 mins
Ria Spencer, Mindy Myers and Josh Connors share stories about learning to feel at home in your body.
🎤Live Story: The Only Girl by Ria Spencer
Six-year-old Ria is diagnosed with severe cradle cap and must enter an all-male Arkansas barbershop to have her beloved locks shaved. It might have been traumatic, but the men were supportive and encouraging.
🎙️Radio Story: Ample Package by Mindy Myers
Mindy orders therapeutic vaginal...
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February 26, 2026 • 53 mins
A Classic RISK! episode from our early years that first ran in November of 2013, when Kitty Hailey, Christine Lee and Josh Healey share stories of surprising family situations.
🎤🎙️💻Live Story: Rollin’ With Grandma by Josh Healey
Josh's Grandma-in-law gets a pinched nerve and requires medical marijuana. The hilarity ensues of him buying pot for this little old lady and helping her to smoke it.
🎤🎙️💻Radio Story: Two Bowls by ...
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February 24, 2026 • 44 mins
Emma Yarbrough and Joel Gonzalez share stories about learning and growing from hard times.
🎤Live Story: Searching for Blue Sky by Emma Yarbrough
Emma believes an intruder has broken in her home but it’s a false alarm. It triggers memories of her PTSD following the murder of her beloved Aunt Day. Emma cherishes her aunt’s memory and is stronger for it.
🎙️Radio Story: Keeping Us Safe by Joel Gonzalez
Joel is working a grocery ...
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February 19, 2026 • 50 mins
A Classic RISK! episode from our early years that first ran in November of 2013, when students from Brown University and the Rhode Island School of Design shared true stories at a RISK! live show on campus.
🎤Live Story: Over the Limit by David Jacobs
As a kid, it took David a while to realize he had anger management problems. After a few unfortunate outbursts, a therapist helped him get a hold of himself.
🎤Live Story: Street S...
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February 17, 2026 • 52 mins
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 identity, changing his perspective on ...
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February 12, 2026 • 39 mins
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 Sparrow
Reba has a history of...
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February 10, 2026 • 48 mins
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 Again by JC Cassis
JC gets a crush...
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February 5, 2026 • 49 mins
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… shortly before he learns of a mi...
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February 3, 2026 • 38 mins
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 ...
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January 30, 2026 • 49 mins
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 did, who was even more depre...
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January 27, 2026 • 56 mins
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, mora...
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January 22, 2026 • 57 mins
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 convince...
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January 20, 2026 • 51 mins
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 legendar...
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January 15, 2026 • 72 mins
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, disastrousl...
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January 13, 2026 • 62 mins
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 rom...
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January 8, 2026 • 35 mins
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 Altstaett...
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January 6, 2026 • 38 mins
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 Mom-Made Christmas by Jessica P...
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January 5, 2026 • 7 mins
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!
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January 1, 2026 • 63 mins
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.
...
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December 30, 2025 • 50 mins
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...
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