RISK!

Join Ethan Ullman, a comedic storyteller known for his antics, as he shares a hilarious tale about high school pranks gone awry. Katy Frame dives into her childhood explorations with an eye-opening take on curiosity and vibrators. Ben Lerman hilariously recounts an embarrassing moment involving a forgotten VHS tape, while Rob Lathan reveals a harrowing fraternity hazing experience that nearly cost him his life. Together, they weave a tapestry of youthful indiscretion, laughter, and the lessons learned along the way.

In this captivating discussion, comedian John F. O'Donnell, who rose through New York's vibrant comedy scene, shares his experience of getting kicked out of his favorite club. He candidly addresses his struggles with bipolar disorder and the chaotic yet creative journey that shaped him. O'Donnell reflects on the importance of community in mental health, the impact of medication, and his triumphant return to laughter, all while destigmatizing mental illness through his art. A true testament to resilience and creativity!

Tommy Galan, a storyteller who overcame alcohol addiction, shares his moving journey to sobriety. He humorously reflects on the chaos of his drinking days and the pivotal moment when a mentor advised him to 'just commit' to a better path. Marc Amigone recounts his adventurous trip to Thailand for rock climbing, defying his parents' wishes. His story takes a dramatic turn during a climbing accident that nearly paralyzed him, leading to insights about healing and the importance of taking risks in life.

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