RISK!

Elna Baker, a candid storyteller and comedian, shares a touching tale of adopting a misfit doll from FAO Schwarz, reflecting on unexpected losses. Musician Sarah Long Hendershot recounts a life-changing moment when a mysterious box of cash arrives during a tough winter, showcasing the power of community. Bartender Kate Bohl reveals her magical blizzard encounter with a stranded woman, where a slow dance to Billie Holiday creates a timeless connection, encapsulating the beauty of spontaneous moments. Each story intertwines humor, hope, and the spirit of the season.

Ty Gentile, James Rana, and David Hu share yuletide tales about Christmas carols, unorthodox Santas, and of course, excretory health in our annual winter holidays special for 2025. 🎙️Radio Story: A Very Moving Christmas by David Hu David’s dad has Alzheimer’s. David always struggled to understand how to give and receive love from his immigrant father. But when he buys his dad dearly needed laxatives for Xmas, it’s a touching moment of bonding.  🎙️Radio Story: The Widow’s Song by Ty Gentile Struggling with homesickness, Ty gets a gig working as a Christmas elf in costume. He is surprised to find himself crying when an old widow breaks the tension in the crowd by breaking into song singing a Christmas carol.  🎙️Radio Story: Alternative Santa by James Rana James gets a gig as a Santa and, in spite of being dark-skinned with a Muslim surname, he takes it and likes it. Then he’s asked to do a party for Kellyanne Conway (of the Trump administration) and is conflicted. 🌈 Support RISK! & Get Involved 🎟 See RISK! live⁠ in NYC on March 17, 2026 ✍️ 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 Yuletide tales.  🎤Live Story: Oy to the World by Alex Edelman In the story that eventually became his Broadway show and HBO special “Just For Us,” Alex shares how, in his childhood, his Orthodox Jewish family hosting Christmas to comfort a lonely friend led to life lessons.  🎤Radio Story: Winter Storm by Jude Treder-Wolff Driving home for Christmas in a massive blizzard, Jude and her sister get into a huge fight in the car. Jude is going to reveal to the family that she’s leaving the country for a while and everyone is upset about it. 🎤Live Story: To Kids from 1 to 92 by Danielle Kramer A rebellious teen, Danielle despises Christmas, but after moving away and experiencing the loss of her grandfather and father, she comes to cherish family traditions, realizing the love her parents put into the holidays. 🌈 Support RISK! & Get Involved • 🎟 See RISK! live⁠ in NYC on March 17, 2026 • ✍️ 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nikki Bailey, a talented writer and comedian, shares an awkward yet humorous tale about self-acceptance and the pitfalls of a hookup gone wrong, complete with an unforgettable digestive mishap. Meanwhile, Hana Nobel, a poignant storyteller, recounts her attempt to spark intimacy after grief through messy food-play, only to end up with an unexpected rash. Their candid discussions about body positivity, vulnerability, and the chaotic intersection of food and sex will leave you both laughing and introspective.

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 their own desires with the desires of others. 🎤Live Story: Servant’s Wages by Amanda Egge Although she has little interest in the kink aspect of it, Amanda becomes intrigued that a BDSM "slave" would keep her total mess of an apartment clean for free. She quickly learns that her "slave" requires a lot of care.  keywords: erotic cleaning, fetish foot kiss, MySpace submissive, clean-for-free, dominant-submissive relationship, clutter addiction, prostitution metaphor, Craigslist slave, sobriety story 🎤Radio Story: Absorption by Nayland Blake Nayland wants to attend the infamous Black Party, NYC’s premier leather event, but he doesn’t have a leather uniform. Instead, he goes in a sanitation worker’s uniform. But when he finds himself in a group sex situation there, he finally feels he fits right in.  keywords: Black Party NYC, queer leather community, uniform fetish, gay festival story, erotic confession, communal sex, nightclub kink, leather subculture, orgiastic dance 🌈 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jillian Markowitz and David Joseph share stories about the secrets that haunt families. 🎤Live Story: Uncomfortably Close by Jillian Markowitz Jillian’s relationship with her sister is tumultuous. There are childhood memories of playing with Barbies and a horrible clash over a burn accident. During her sister’s wedding, things get volatile, until they find a way to make up yet again.  keywords: sisters rivalry, toxic siblings, bachelorette trip gone wrong, childhood incident fallout, family conflict, emotional volatility, dangerous sibling dynamics, strained sisterhood, complex family ties, reconciliation tension 🎙️Radio Story: Queer Fears by David Joseph As a creative, odd Black kid growing up in Queens, David frustrates his strict and macho father. When David is 15, his father takes him to meet his legendary Uncle Ron, a bachelor seen as the epitome of Black masculinity. David comes to realize his uncle lived behind a mask and died of AIDS.  keywords: black family dynamics, queer childhood, father-son tension, AIDS epidemic legacy, masculinity expectations, secret double life, Staten Island journey, uncle nephew story, coming-of-age confrontation, hidden illness 🌈 Support RISK! & Get Involved • 🎟 See RISK! live⁠ in NYC March 17 and June 9, 2025 • ✍️ 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Christine Gentry revisits her story from 2016 called “Making the Chain” with Kevin Allison. She has many new insights, nine years later. 🎤Live Story: Making the Chain by Christine Gentry Christine’s friend needs a kidney donor or she will die. Christine is not a match for her friend, but she is able to join a chain of people donating, created by Be The Match. The experience transforms her life.  keywords: Be The Match, dialysis, donation, donation chain, kidney, nephrology 🌈 Support RISK! & Get Involved • 🎟 See RISK! live⁠ in NYC on Tuesday, March 17, 2026 • ✍️ 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mira Rivera and Rachelle Anne Warren tell stories about opening up & leaning into insecurities.  💻Workshop Story: Sexual Healing by Mira Rivera After her partner breaks up with her, Mira's confidence plummets. She goes on a series of dates in public with a hot guy who seems uninterested.One day, they have a date in private with weed and Mira discovers a whole new level of sexual and emotional chemistry. 🎙️Radio Story: Stranded by Rachel Anne Warren Rachel spent years hiding her hair loss. When she finally stops running and faces what she’s been avoiding, she discovers the craft of wigmaking helps her rebuild her confidence and her sense of purpose.  🌈 Support RISK! & Get Involved • 🎟 See RISK! live⁠ in NYC on December 11th and March 17th • ✍️ 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Satori Shakoor and Paul Cibis share stories of thanksgiving. A part of our series called Gratitude Stories. 🎤Live Story: Thank You by Satori Shakoor Satori’s loss of her mother and son is devastating. Later, she dates a man who gets a kick out of Satori being “too much,” and she is grateful to remember to live life over-the-top, and fully alive. keywords: none 🎤Live Story: My Lifeline by Paul Cibis Paul's kidneys began to fail him. He was stuck in the tragic position of hoping someone would die soon, so that he could have their kidney. When it finally happened, he felt deep grief for the donor and gratitude. keywords: none 🌈 Support RISK! & Get Involved • 🎟 See RISK! live⁠ in NYC March 17 and June 9, 2026 • ✍️ 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 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. Here’s the Spotify Playlist mentioned in the episode. And here is an article about the playlist from hopkinsmedicine.org. 🎙️ Story: The Day I Met ARFID by Danielle Meinert After a lifetime of avoiding nearly all foods due to ARFID, Danielle tries psilocybin mushrooms in hopes of rewiring her brain, and discovers the joy, wonder, and liberation of truly tasting food for the first time as an adult.  keywords: arfid, eating disorder, psychedelics, psilocybin 🌈 Support RISK! & Get Involved • 🎟 See RISK! live⁠ in NYC on December 11, 2025 • ✍️ 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices