RISK!

Valerie Ward, a storyteller and Instagram influencer, recounts her childhood near-drowning experience under a dock, sharing her complex feelings about vulnerability and asking for help. David Patteson, known for engaging tales on his website, reflects on being rescued from drowning by his brother Mike, who stepped in as a surrogate parent. They both emphasize the significance of support during perilous moments, exploring themes of isolation, connection, and the transformative power of storytelling.

Camille Lowman, a member of the improv troupe Mary Kay Has a Posse, shares wild bachelorette party antics amid drunken shenanigans and a stripper named Kevin. Nathaniel Bates dives into childhood insecurities as he hilariously recounts the shocking realization of body image differences with his father. Meanwhile, stand-up comedian Shon Kennedy tells a quirky story about bonding with an unexpected helper after a car accident in the South, revealing their honest insecurities and defying stereotypes in the process.

Scott Johnson, host of the What Was That Like podcast, joins storyteller Gregg LeFevre to discuss his harrowing experience of falling into a crevasse while unprepared for a glacier climb in Las Vegas. Gregg shares how he followed an injured deer to escape, revealing the blend of fear and resilience in extreme adventure. The conversation also delves into the impulsivity tied to risk-taking, the Dunning-Kruger effect, and the importance of personal anecdotes in creative expression, making for a thrilling and reflective dialogue.

Julie Polk ventures into the wild world of escort services, sharing quirky encounters and a family showdown that leads to unexpected choices. Alex Wilkie recounts a hilarious close call with a trained chimp, mixing adrenaline with laughter and friendship. Mark Schlechetka reflects on his whirlwind romance gone wrong post-Navy duty, revealing the emotional chaos of a swift marriage and divorce. These captivating true stories blend humor, heart, and the messy realities of life's unexpected turns.

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 sexual abuse, murder, suicide) In a church where guilt is weaponized and silence rewarded, teenage Brad listens to a friend's secret that echoes into adulthood, long past her violent death. keywords: abortion, church youth group, evangelical guilt, childhood abuse, shame, U2, murder, strangulation 🌈 Support RISK! & Get Involved • 🎟 See RISK! live⁠ in NYC September 25th or December 11th • ✍️ 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

Sarah Jones and Myka Fox share stories about high stakes ventures.  🎤Live Story: Kibbles 'n Bits by Sarah Jones Sarah starts abusing laxatives to lose weight for her new hot boyfriend. When camping with his dog, she secretly shits in the woods. The dog laps it up and kisses the boy when back in the car.   keywords: diarrhea, poop disasters, canine coprophagia, shitkisses 🎤Live Story: Hitchin' It! by Myka Fox Myka and her friend are hitchhiking and they're picked up by "Kevin Spacey with a Ray Liotta skin covering." They escape the creepy guy and hitch with another guy who is drinking while driving.  keywords: dangers of hitchhiking, don’t take rides from strangers, hitchhikers in danger 🌈 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 • 🎥 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

Jonathan Bradley Welch and Talia Tabin share stories of psychics, mediums and intuitions. 🎤Live Story: The One? by Jonathan Bradley Welch After a psychic's prediction of lasting love, Jonathan pins his hopes on a pandemic crush—only to be let down. He learns love won’t save him, but self-acceptance just might.  keywords: Queer love story, Provincetown romance, Gay dating journey, Psychic love prediction, Pandemic virtual boyfriend 🎤Live Story: What Older Brothers Do by Talia Tabin Years after her brother’s death, Talia’s family meets with a medium. Talia gets teased from the beyond, realizing her brother’s teasing of her when he was alive contained love in it too. keywords: grief and loss, medium reading, dead brother, afterlife signs, family mourning, spiritual session, psychic medium, sibling pranks, Grief and healing 🌈 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 • 🎥 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

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

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

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