RISK!

Today's the Day. Welcome to RISK!

17 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Think you've heard it all? You haven't. People pull over because they're laughing too hard to drive. People cry on treadmills. People share episodes ...

A Hard Landing, Revisited

16 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

JP Michael first told "A Hard Landing" on RISK! in the summer of 2016, and it became one of the most talked-about episodes in the show's history. Now,...

Bad Medicine

15 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Bad Medicine brings together three storytellers whose bodies, doctors, and circumstances all conspire against them in very different ways. Pam Step...

Backfire

14 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Two RISK! veterans deliver stories about plans that—you guessed it—backfired. As a teenager Nate Runkel built a satirical website that sexualiz...

The Best of RISK! #12

09 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

For the first time, we’re putting a Best of RISK! episode back on the feed. Originally released in July 2017, #12 remains one of the most epic compi...

Into the Moving Dark

07 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

(Content note: sexual assault, justifiable homicide) Annie Carnrike spent years close to her cousin Michael, a man of fierce loyalty and an equally f...

Fighting Back

02 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

This is a classic RISK! episode from January 2014, and it holds up with a particular kind of ferocity. (Content note: sexual assault) Ellie Jackson ...

The Best of RISK! #34

31 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Three stories worth your time, ranging from darkly funny to devastating. Our 34th compilation of some of our favorite recent stories shared on the pod...

Impulsive

26 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Three stories about snap decisions and what happens next: a classic RISK! episode from December 2013 that still hits hard. Lauren Cook found her date...

Males of the City: RISK! Reacts

24 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Kevin hears Timothy Vaux's "Males of the City," a story from So Say We All, for the first time. In RISK! Reacts episodes, there's no preview, no prep,...

Presenting True Crime News: The Podcast

20 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

True Crime News: The Podcast is your weekly dose of real-time updates on the most gripping true crime stories, current cases, investigations, scams, a...

Live From Philly 4!

19 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

First released in December 2013, this live RISK! episode from Philadelphia's First Person Arts pairs two storytellers with a lot to say about losing c...

Quid Pro Quo, Revisited

17 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

(Content note: child sexual abuse) In 2016, Ed G. got on stage at RISK! and told a story he'd never told anyone. Now, ten years later, Ophira Eisenbe...

Where It Hurts

13 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

In this crossover episode with The Story Collider, Karen McCaffrey and Mary Cyn share stories that illustrate the importance of compassion in healthca...

Metamorphosis

10 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Michael McFadden and Adrianne Frost share stories about evolving feelings about their bodies over time.  🎙️Radio Story: Growth by Michael McFad...

The Best of Coming of Age Stories #2

05 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Byron Bowers and Amy Salloway share experiences from their formative years. A part of The Best of Coming of Age Stories series. 🎤🎙️💻Live S...

Private Parts

03 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

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 Si...

Family Secrets

26 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

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 sur...

Catastrophe

24 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Emma Yarbrough and Joel Gonzalez share stories about learning and growing from hard times. 🎤Live Story: Searching for Blue Sky by Emma Yarbrough ...

Live from Brown/RISD

19 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

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 De...

Lights Off, Pants Down

17 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

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 Conversa...

The Best of Love Stories #4

12 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Reba Sparrow and Smith Galtney share some of our favorite unusual love stories from our 16-year history. 🎙️LIVE Story: Pleasant Mountain by Smit...

Unrequited

10 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Connor O’Donoghue, JC Cassis and Jay Michel share stories about crushes and rebounds.  🎙️Radio Story: I Was the Appetizer by Connor O'Donoghu...

Live From LA Storytelling Fest

05 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

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 ...

Come and Go

03 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Ezra Holmlund and Sarah Adelman tell stories about things involving coming... and going.  🎤Live Story: Things Are Going South by Ezra Holmlund E...

The Riverside, Revisited

30 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

In memory of Jan Scott-Frazier, we revisit her 2011 story called “The Riverside” and, until now unreleased, her conversation about the story in 20...

How Can I Tell You?

27 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Stella Mayerhoff and Rebecca Heron tell stories about the unbearable weight of truth. 🎙️Radio Story: In Ways I Never Could Have Imagined by Stel...

Casualties

22 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

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 bru...

Sexploration

20 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

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 ...

Live From Chicago!

15 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

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 ...

Create My Life

13 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Ms. Aishia tells Cyndi Freeman about the time she navigated a complex, emotionally abusive relationship, and ultimately found the strength to prioriti...

The Best of Funny Stuff #7

08 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

There’s nothing but laughs in our Funny Stuff compilations of classic RISK! stories on the lighter side. This week, Kumail Nanjiani and Alecia Altst...

Holiday Blues #3

06 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Michael J Bennett and Jessica Piscatelli Robinson tell holiday stories that are new, true and kinda blue.   🎤Radio Story: Santa's Revenge by Mic...

In 2026, Jump In On RISK!

05 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Kevin announces RISK!’s goal this year -- helping listeners connect. More social events, more online fun, and Kevin’s latest online storytelling w...

How Embarrassing

01 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

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...

Hosts with the Mosts

30 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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 ...

Holiday Stories Fan Favorites!

25 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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 ...

Holiday Stories #18

23 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Ty Gentile, James Rana, and David Hu share yuletide tales about Christmas carols, Black Santas, and of course, excretory health in our annual winter h...

Holiday Stories #4

18 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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 Y...

Sex & Supper

16 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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 S...

Desire

11 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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 ...

We Are Family

09 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Jillian Markowitz and David Joseph share stories about the strains and secrets that come all too easily within families. 🌈 Support RISK! & Get I...

Making the Chain, Revisited

04 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Christine Gentry revisits her story from 2016 called “Making the Chain” with Kevin Allison. She has many new insights, nine years later. 🎤Live...

Not in Hiding Anymore

02 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Mira Rivera and Rachelle Anne Warren tell stories about opening up & leaning into insecurities.  🎤Workshop Story: Sexual Healing by Mira Rivera ...

The Best of Gratitude Stories #1

27 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Satori Shakoor and Paul Cibis share stories of thanksgiving. A part of our series called Gratitude Stories. 🎤Live Story: Thank You by Satori Shako...

The Day I Met ARFID: RISK! Reacts

25 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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 ...

Live From Austin!

20 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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: ...

Do I Belong Here?

18 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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 J...

Always A Woman, Revisited

13 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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 ...

Pretending to Be Human

12 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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 pl...

A Breath of Fresh Air: RISK! Reacts (feat. Ray Christian)

11 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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 f...

Boys and Girls

06 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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 st...

The Living Room: RISK! Reacts

04 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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 wat...

The Best of Scary Stories, Vol. 1

30 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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...

Scary Stories #17: Bone-chilling!

28 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Our 17th annual Halloween special with scary true stories about ghosts, corpses and mortal danger.  🎤Radio Story: Do You Know My Name? by Robert ...

Edge Play

23 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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 to...

Mortal

21 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Hannah Sussman and Swapna Deshpande tell stories about coming to terms with mortality.  🎤Anecdote: Another Conversation with my Dead Mother by Ha...

Live From Norfolk 2

16 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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 th...

The Lies That Bind

14 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Mishelle tells Taj her story of a lifetime lived with an abusive mother in an environment of relentless lies, instability and unspeakable violence.  ...

Get Undomesticated

13 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Candiace Dillard Bassett (Bravo’s Real Housewives of Potomac) and Michael Arceneaux (New York Times best-selling author and culture critic) have tho...

Live From Norfolk 1

09 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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 Squa...

Sweet Sixteen

08 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

On the 16th anniversary of the podcast, Jill Karliner and Kevin Allison share stories from their own sixteeny days.  🎙️Radio Story: Save a Pray...

Believe Her

08 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Andrea Dunlop tells Kevin about the time her sister was investigated for Munchausen syndrome by proxy child abuse and how this set her off on a long p...

Revelations, Revisited

02 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Scott Whitney revisits his story from 2013 about losing his faith called “Revelations” with Kevin. He has many new insights twelve years later. Yo...

The Best of RISK! #33

30 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Our 33rd compilation of some of our favorite recent stories shared on the RISK! podcast, guest-host by Cyndi Freeman. 🎤Live Story: Hope Under the ...

Live From DC!

25 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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 stor...

Midnight in Manila

23 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Scott McMahon tells Dawn Fraser from the RISK! podcast his story “Midnight in Manila,” about the time he was pulled into a nightmare of corruption...

Introducing Simpsons Declassified with Nancy Cartwright

19 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Simpsons fans —THE VAULT IS OPEN!  I’m Nancy Cartwright, the voice of Bart Simpson for 35+ years, and I’m finally taking you inside Springfiel...

Queer

18 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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 diffe...

Shit Happens

16 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Kevin Allison, Rachel Frost and Luke Oyler share stories about being wasteful.  Live Story: The Pickles Pickle by Kevin Allison Kevin flushes a jar...

The Power, Revisited

11 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Tori Weston revisits her story about surviving childhood sexual abuse from 2014 called “The Power” with Kevin Allison. Tori has many new insights ...

Post Mortem

09 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Chelsea Dalsey tells Kevin Allison about her journey with addiction and the process of truly coming to terms with her experience.   Check out all of...

The Best of School Stories #1

04 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

A compilation of some of the best school related stories from the podcast.  🎤Live Story: Taking A Long Time by Angie Chatman At age 8 Angie is i...

The Fingers Episode

02 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Bill, Brad, and Dominic recall the strange circumstances surrounding their broken or missing digits, with guest host John LaSala. 🎤Live Story: J...

Hurt

28 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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 f...

My Secret Career: RISK! Reacts

26 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Kevin hears C. J. Guy’s “My Secret Career” story from The Secret Room for the first time and gives you his hot takes. You can also watch this ep...

Young Rebels

21 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

A Classic RISK! episode from our early years that first ran in June of 2013, when Ethan Ullman, Katy Frame, Ben Lerman and Rob Lathan share stories ab...

The Rebound

19 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

John F. O'Donnell tells Kevin about that time he got kicked out of his favorite comedy club. You can also watch this episode on YouTube. Check out al...

The Best of Self-Help Stories #3

14 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Tommy Galan and Marc Amigone share stories about helping others by helping themselves. A part of our series called Self-Help Stories. 🎤Live Sto...

Sink or Swim

12 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Valerie Ward and David Patteson share stories about calling for help when the world gets dangerous. 🎤Live Story: Treading Water by Valerie Ward I...

Live From Charleston 2!

07 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

A Classic RISK! episode from our early years that first ran in June of 2013 - Stories from our 2nd visit to Charleston’s Theatre 99! 🎤Live Story...

Gregg fell into a crevasse: RISK! Reacts

05 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Kevin hears Gregg LeFevre’s “Gregg fell into a crevasse” story from the what was that like podcast for the first time and gives you his hot take...

Incompatible

31 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

• See RISK! Live! Details at risk-show.com/live⁠ • Pitch us your story! risk-show.com/submissions⁠ • Support RISK! through Patreon at patr...

The Big Secret

29 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Brad keeps a big secret for far too long a time. Guest hosted by Cyndi Freeman. 🎤Live Story: The Big Secret by Brad Lawrence (Content note: child...

The Best of Adventure Stories #2

24 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Sarah Jones and Myka Fox share stories about high stakes ventures.  🎤Live Story: Kibbles 'n Bits by Sarah Jones Sarah starts abusing laxatives t...

Shoulda Seen It Coming

22 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Jonathan Bradley Welch and Talia Tabin share stories of psychics, mediums and intuitions. 🎤Live Story: The One? by Jonathan Bradley Welch After...

Mother Lovers

17 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

A Classic RISK! episode from our early years that first ran in May of 2013, when Tommy O’Malley, Jenny, and Moses Storm shared surprising stories ab...

Animals Past and Present

15 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Ray Christian tells Kevin about the pet cemetery he and his childhood friends created and the gruesome secret it might hold. You can also watch this e...

Live From Philly 3!

10 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

A Classic RISK! episode from our early years that first ran in May of 2013, when Brady Dale, Elna Baker and Marjorie Winther shared stories at the 4/2...

There’s Still Time to Jump In Kevin’s Online Workshops!

09 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Hey folks! The last two online storytelling workshops I’m teaching before I move to a dramatically different time zone are starting on July 23 and A...

Campy!

08 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Lindsay Ames and Shannon Turner tell stories of camp flames.  🎧Live Story: The Jerk by Lindsay Ames As a teen at Jewish camp Lindsay is eager ...

Live From Philly 2!

03 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

A Classic RISK! episode from our early years that first ran in April of 2013, when Giulia Rozzi, Nimisha Ladva and Kevin Allison shared stories at a l...

Beat Yourself Up

01 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Glen A. Dunzweiler and David Wayne tell stories about going easier on yourself… or not. • Pitch us your story! risk-show.com/submissions⁠ •...

Parental Advisory

26 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

A Classic RISK! episode from our early years that first ran in April of 2013, when Andy Livengood, Jean Ann Le Bec, and Julie Threlkeld told of surpri...

I'm Gay and Pets Are My Only Friends: RISK! Reacts

25 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Kevin hears Fabian Godinez’s “I’m Gay and Pets Are My Only Friends” story from The Mortified Podcast for the first time and gives you his hot ...

Bad Decisions, Good Stories

24 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Tata Sherise and Max Langert reveal the self-destructive journeys they took after trusting the wrong people. • See RISK! live in New York City on...

The Best of Trans Lives #4 (feat. Peppermint)

19 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Drag Race Superstar Peppermint guest-hosts as Tuesday Thomas and A. Kraft share stories about finding joy and facing challenges regarding being trans ...

Curious

17 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Stories about people curious about sex or curious about people who are curious about sex! • See RISK! live in Philadelphia on June 19th, or in New ...

The Best of Father's Day Stories #3

12 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

To celebrate Father’s Day this weekend, we’ve gathered a couple more classic heartfelt stories about dads. • See RISK! live in Philadelphia o...

The Luckiest Trans Woman Alive

11 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Kate Bohl tells Taj about what it’s been like to finally come out as trans in her late 50s—after a lifetime of feeling like something wasn’t qui...