Michael reflects on friendship and empathy

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 humor

🎤Live Story: 6 Hours by Nick Scott

Nick has severe pain in his testicles and reads online that he's probably only got six hours before he has to lose them. He and his parents rush to the hospital and learn that he'd misdiagnosed himself. 

Keywords: testicular torsion, medical emergency, masturbation story, awkward comedy, parental embarrassment, Austin live show, hospital panic, male health humor, storytelling

🎤Live Story: The Bad Seed by Dhaya Lakshminarayanan

Dhaya was the rebellious Hindu girl in Christian school forever in trouble. Seeing the bathroom graffiti “Jesus loves you motherfucker,” she realized how wit and creativity might turn a troublemaker into a successful student.

Keywords: childhood misbehavior, Hindu kid in Christian school, bathroom graffiti, learning to read, culture clash, Indian American humor, education story, Austin storytelling, gifted child

🎤Live Story: Bigger Than Love by Michael Jastroch

(Content warning: Death) Michael tells the bittersweet story of his first teenage crush, his envy of and rivalry with a friend, and how tragedy changed how he understood what it means to be the main character in life.

Keywords: teenage love story, AIDS revelation, high school heartbreak, coming of age, rivalry story, Austin storytelling, emotional true story, friendship betrayal, 1990s nostalgia

🎤Live Story: Taxi Driver by Sam Dingman

At the end of his rope in NYC, Sam is about to give up, when he decides to try being a taxi driver. One day, he is in 3 separate car accidents. It's an epic day of New York toil and trouble.

Keywords:  taxi driver story, New York storytelling, car crash, cab driving, workplace anxiety, life change, near-death experience, acting career, risk show live

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