
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.
Latest episodes

Jul 17, 2025 • 46min
Mother Lovers
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 about moms and stepmoms.
Moses comes to grips with the fact that his mom is not like others. She dresses like a rebellious teen and uses her kids to steal things like roller skates at the rink.
keywords: nonconformist, poverty, shoplifting
When Jenny decides to divorce her husband, she is sure her stepmom will hate her for it. When she reveals it’s because her husband won’t have sex, Jenny’s stepmom becomes like a supportive sister.
keywords: sexless marriage, women’s issues, female bonding,
Tommy has a real Boston brawler of a mom. Hardcore, working class Southie kinda gal. Their relationship ends when he comes out of the closet to her. Then, after much fighting, it begins again.
keywords: coming out, parents of gays, Boston Catholics, family feuds
🌈 Support RISK! & Get Involved
• 🎟 See RISK! live in New York 9/25 &12/11
• ✍️ Pitch your story
• ❤️ Support us on Patreon or make a one-time PayPal donation
• 📚 Shop merch or the RISK! book
• 🎓 Take storytelling classes with us
🎤Live Story: Semi-Charmed Kinda Life by Moses Storm🎤Radio Story: Getting Friendly by Jenny Smith🎤Live Story: Fighting for Each Other by Tommy O’Malley• 🎥 Hire Kevin as a coach or get personalized videos 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://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jul 15, 2025 • 56min
Animals Past and Present
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 episode on YouTube!
Conversation Story: Animals Past and Present by Ray Christian
(Content note: animal death) As a child, Ray and his friends held funerals for small animals. One day, Ray saw a monkey, then later what may have been the monkey’s remains… or those of a missing child.
keywords: Funeral home, Mock funeral, Peacock, Monkey, Missing child
🌈 Support RISK! & Get Involved
• 🎟 See RISK! live in NYC (September 25) or (December 11)
• ✍️ Pitch your story
• ❤️ Support us on Patreon or make a one-time PayPal donation
• 📚 Shop merch or the RISK! book
• 🎓 Take storytelling classes with us
• 🎥 Hire Kevin as a coach or get personalized videos 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://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jul 10, 2025 • 1h 4min
Live From Philly 3!
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 4/20/13 RISK! Live show in Philly hosted by First Person Arts.
🎧Live Story: The Prayer by Brady Dale
After a streak of bad luck with women, Brady tries ancient Christian practices, like the mantra-like repetition of a pilgrim's prayer and self-flagellation with a belt.
current keywords: flogging, mortification of the flesh, ascetic practice, pilgrim’s prayer
🎧Live Story: Jump by Elna Baker
Elna longs for luminous love and finally meets someone who sparks it—only to freeze at the leap. Elna learns the key to love isn’t magic, it’s a person who stays.
current keywords: phosphorescent love, falling in love, emotional intimacy, fear of love, real connection, unrequited love, letting go.
🎧Live Story: My Own Life by Marjorie Winther
When marriage ends after her husband is arrested for trying to meet up for sex with a 13-year old girl, Marjorie puts her life back together and embraces polyamory.
current keywords: polyamory, child molester, secrets and lies, divorce,
🌈 Support RISK! & Get Involved
• 🎟 See RISK! live!
• ✍️ Pitch your story
• ❤️ Support us on Patreon or make a one-time PayPal donation
• 📚 Shop merch or the RISK! book
• 🎓 Take storytelling classes with us
• 🎥 Hire Kevin as a coach or get personalized videos 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://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jul 9, 2025 • 6min
There’s Still Time to Jump In Kevin’s Online Workshops!
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 August 17, but even if you have to miss some sessions, you can still jump in! So email me at kevin@risk-show.com to learn more. In this little announcement, I’ll give you a better idea of how it all works. 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://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jul 8, 2025 • 48min
Campy!
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 to have a sexual experience with the cute boy, and gets in a sleeping bag with him, but her friend Carly jumps in and steals Lindsay’s first handjob.
keywords: handjob, Jewish camp, cockblock, virgin
🎧Radio Story: Tomfoolery by Shannon M. Turner
Shannon is in love with a guy at camp. Her crush goes on for years, as they both end up on the camp’s staff, until a friend finally helps Shannon see it is time to move on.
keywords: Crush, first love, camp counselor, preacher’s kid
• 🌈 Support RISK! & Get Involved
• 🎟 See RISK! live in [CITY] ([MONTH & DAY]) or [CITY] ([MONTH & DAY])
• ✍️ Pitch your story
• ❤️ Support us on Patreon or make a one-time PayPal donation
• 📚 Shop merch or the RISK! book
• 🎓 Take storytelling classes• 🎥 Hire Kevin as a coach or get personalized videos 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://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jul 3, 2025 • 1h 1min
Live From Philly 2!
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 live RISK! show in Philadelphia, presented by First Person Arts.
🎧Live Story: A Little Help from My Friends by Kevin Allison
When his comedy troupe The State breaks up, Kevin has to start a solo career, and creates a weird, elaborate, performance-art style comedic character monologue that centers around possibly being (or not being) Charles Manson. He tries it out at the Luna Lounge on a night when the club is packed to the rafters with famous comedians, and one paragraph into the piece, he completely blanks out on the remaining nine pages, paralyzed by stage fright, and unable to trust his own instincts or his vulnerability. Kevin tries to leave the theatre, but the crowd is so huge he can’t go anywhere, and suddenly they grab him and body-surf him around the room, depositing him back onstage, cheering at him that he has to keep performing...and that gives him the boost to find his voice and his lines again, and finish his monologue.
keywords: Live story, show host, Host story, Kevin Allison, NYC, New York, comedy, comedy club, standup, gig, failure, blank, memorization, stage fright, script, scripted, Luna Lounge, Charles Manson, character, monologue, think about it Jackass, audience, The State, solo, body surfing, onstage, agent, fear, vulnerability, career.
🎧Live Story: Giulia Rozzi Shaves Her Toes! by Giulia Rozzi
🎧Live Story: An American Family by Nimisha Ladva
Nimisha's Indian family is not happy to hear she's marrying a Jewish guy, but they do their best to get over it. At the epic Indian wedding, Nimisha's mom makes the groom a gift, and makes a big deal of presenting it to him. It's emblazoned with a swastika, which has its own historical meaning in Indian culture. It's an extremely awkward moment, but love saves the day and the family acknowledges the mistake, conceding that no swastikas should be present during the wedding.
🌈 Support RISK! & Get Involved
• 🎟 See RISK! live
• ✍️ Pitch your story
• ❤️ Support us on Patreon or make a one-time PayPal donation
• 📚 Shop merch or the RISK! book
• 🎓 Take storytelling classes with us
• 🎥 Hire Kevin as a coach or get personalized videos 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://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jul 1, 2025 • 45min
Beat Yourself Up
Glen A. Dunzweiler and David Wayne tell stories about going easier on yourself… or not.
• Pitch us your story! risk-show.com/submissions
• Support RISK! through Patreon at patreon.com/risk or make a one-time donation: paypal.me/riskshow
• Get the RISK! Book and shop for merch: risk-show.com/shop
• Take our storytelling classes: thestorystudio.org
• Hire Kevin Allison as a coach or get personalized videos: kevinallison.com 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://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jun 26, 2025 • 56min
Parental Advisory
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 surprising times with their parents.
• Pitch us your story! risk-show.com/submissions
• Support RISK! through Patreon at patreon.com/risk or make a one-time donation: paypal.me/riskshow
• Get the RISK! Book and shop for merch: risk-show.com/shop
• Take our storytelling classes: thestorystudio.org
• Hire Kevin Allison as a coach or get personalized videos: kevinallison.com
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://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jun 25, 2025 • 32min
I'm Gay and Pets Are My Only Friends: RISK! Reacts
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 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.
🎧 Story: I’m Gay and Pets Are My Only Friends by Fabian Godinez
At a live Mortified event, Fabian reads from his teen journal, about growing up with immigrant parents. His sister outs him as gay, his dog dies, and Fabian works toward self-acceptance.
keywords: coming out, mortified, journal entries, pooping, dogs, parvo, immigrant storyteller
🌈 Support RISK! & Get Involved
• 🎟 See RISK! live
• ✍️ Pitch your story
• ❤️ Support us on Patreon or make a one-time PayPal donation
• 📚 Shop merch or the RISK! book
• 🎓 Take storytelling classes with us
Next• 🎥 Hire Kevin as a coach or get personalized videos 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://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jun 24, 2025 • 50min
Bad Decisions, Good Stories
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 June 26th. Get tickets at risk-show.com/live
• Pitch us your story! risk-show.com/submissions
• Support RISK! through Patreon at patreon.com/risk or make a one-time donation: paypal.me/riskshow
• Get the RISK! Book and shop for merch: risk-show.com/shop
• Take our storytelling classes: thestorystudio.org
• Hire Kevin Allison as a coach or get personalized videos: kevinallison.com 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://podcastchoices.com/adchoices