RISK!

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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.

RISK!


    • Jan 15, 2026 LATEST EPISODE
    • weekdays NEW EPISODES
    • 52m AVG DURATION
    • 1,185 EPISODES

    4.6 from 5,306 ratings Listeners of RISK! that love the show mention: moth podcast, kevin allison, love kevin, storytelling podcasts, best storytelling podcast, kevin is awesome, story collider, like the moth, risky, take a risk, one of the best storytelling, thanks to kevin, story telling podcasts, know what you're going, anything goes, use headphones, love you kevin, kevin is the best, stories are funny, keep it up kevin.


    Ivy Insights

    The RISK! podcast is a treasure trove of human experiences. It combines storytelling with raw authenticity, providing a platform for individuals to share their funny, powerful, and vulnerable stories. Hosted by Kevin Allison, the show creates a space where anything goes and taboo topics are explored in an honest and relatable manner. Each episode is an enlightening journey that opens minds and touches hearts.

    One of the best aspects of RISK! is the diverse range of stories it presents. From personal struggles with mental illness to tales of love and loss, every episode offers a unique perspective on the human experience. The show teaches empathy, humility, and respect as listeners gain insight into the plights of others. The creative songs that sometimes accompany the stories add another layer of depth to the podcast, enhancing the emotional impact.

    Another highlight is Kevin Allison himself. His humor, authenticity, and unwavering support for storytellers make him an excellent host. He creates a welcoming environment where guests feel comfortable sharing their most intimate stories. Kevin's genuine passion for storytelling shines through in each episode and his sense of humor often leaves listeners laughing out loud.

    However, one potential drawback of RISK! is that Kevin can sometimes be long-winded and overly earnest in his commentary. While his enthusiasm is endearing, it may come across as excessive to some listeners. Additionally, there have been recent complaints about sound effects being added to the stories, making them harder to listen to.

    In conclusion, The RISK! podcast is truly exceptional. It has changed lives by broadening perspectives and offering comfort during difficult times. The authentic storytelling creates connections among listeners and reminds us all to embrace our true selves. Despite minor flaws like lengthy commentary or added sound effects, RISK! remains one of the best story-telling podcasts available today.



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    Latest episodes from RISK!

    Live From Chicago!

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 15, 2026 72:49


    A Classic RISK! episode from our early years that first ran in October of 2013, when Stephanie Douglass, Shannon Cason, Lily Be and Jim Padar were at our very first show in that toddlin' town.

    Create My Life

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 13, 2026 62:53


    Ms. Aishia tells Cyndi Freeman about the time she navigated a complex, emotionally abusive relationship, and ultimately found the strength to prioritize her own happiness and independence. You can also watch this episode on YouTube. Check out all of our Conversation Stories! Conversation Story: Create My Life by Ms. Aishia EDITOR'S SYNOPSIS: After leaving an abusive relationship, Ms. Aishia enters an intense, largely virtual romance that slowly destabilizes her sense of self, leading her to sever ties, confront emotional dependency, and ultimately rebuild her life through radical change and solo travel.

    ms risk shop paypal pitch aishia cyndi freeman
    The Best of Funny Stuff #7

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 8, 2026 35:46


    There's nothing but laughs in our Funny Stuff compilations of classic RISK! stories on the lighter side. This week, Kumail Nanjiani and Alecia Altstaetter share about penile injuries and barf boats. 

    Holiday Blues #3

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 6, 2026 36:57


    Michael J Bennett and Jessica Piscatelli Robinson tell holiday stories that are new, true and kinda blue.  

    In 2026, Jump In On RISK!

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 5, 2026 7:28


    Kevin announces RISK!'s goal this year -- helping listeners connect. More social events, more online fun, and Kevin's latest online storytelling workshops. One starts on Jan 14, one on Feb 15. Email kevin@risk-show.com to jump on in! 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

    How Embarrassing

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 1, 2026 63:22


    A Classic RISK! episode from our early years that first ran in September of 2013, when Kevin Allison, Jen Bosworth, Donna Steele and Dare Campbell all shared stories of humiliation.

    Hosts with the Mosts

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 30, 2025 50:31


    JC Cassis, David Crabb and Cyndi Freeman share stories at RISK! live shows when they were hosting

    Holiday Stories Fan Favorites!

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 25, 2025 67:49


    Every holiday season, RISK! fans ask about this small handful of yuletide perennial favorites. Well here they all are, wrapped up in one neat package with a bow. Unwrap and enjoy these stories from Elna Baker, Kevin Allison, Sarah Long Hendershot, and Kate Bohl.

    Holiday Stories #18

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 23, 2025 36:48


    Ty Gentile, James Rana, and David Hu share yuletide tales about Christmas carols, Black Santas, and of course, excretory health in our annual winter holidays special for 2025.

    Holiday Stories #4

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 18, 2025 48:45


    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. 

    Desire

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 11, 2025 38:55


    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.

    We Are Family

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 9, 2025 51:21


    Jillian Markowitz and David Joseph share stories about the strains and secrets that come all too easily within families.

    Making the Chain, Revisited

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 4, 2025 43:30


    Christine Gentry revisits her story from 2016 called “Making the Chain” with Kevin Allison. She has many new insights, nine years later.

    Not in Hiding Anymore

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 2, 2025 50:57


    Mira Rivera and Rachelle Anne Warren tell stories about opening up & leaning into insecurities. 

    The Best of Gratitude Stories #1

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 27, 2025 35:30


    Satori Shakoor and Paul Cibis share stories of thanksgiving. A part of our series called Gratitude Stories.

    The Day I Met ARFID: RISK! Reacts

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 25, 2025 32:21


    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.

    Live From Austin!

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 20, 2025 74:03


    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.

    Do I Belong Here?

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 18, 2025 42:18


    Jen Nails and Sandi Marx share stories about being who you are even, when it's a pain in the ass. 

    Always A Woman, Revisited

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 13, 2025 49:15


    Morgan revisits her story from 2012 called “Always A Woman” with Kevin Allison and considers how much has changed for trans folks in the 13 years since. 

    Pretending to Be Human

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 12, 2025 66:56


    Inky Montaine tells Taj Easton about how, before he was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder, he truly felt like he might have come from another planet.  Check out all of our Conversation Stories!

    A Breath of Fresh Air: RISK! Reacts (feat. Ray Christian)

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 11, 2025 27:17


    On this Veteran's Day, guest-host Ray Christian from What's Ray Saying? hears Brian Simpson's “Fresh Air” story from So Say We All 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.

    Boys and Girls

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 6, 2025 76:45


    A Classic RISK! episode from our early years that first ran in August of 2013, when DC Pierson, Selena Coppock, Brad Lawrence and Nina Davis shared stories of love and loss.

    The Living Room: RISK! Reacts

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 4, 2025 44:16


    Kevin hears Diane Weipert's “The Living Room” story from Love and Radio for the first time and gives you his instant reactions. 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.

    Scary Stories #17: Bone-chilling!

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 28, 2025 84:25


    Our 17th annual Halloween special with scary true stories about ghosts, corpses and mortal danger. 

    Edge Play

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 23, 2025 63:13


    A Classic RISK! episode from our early years that first ran in August of 2013, when Mather Zickel, Jen Curran, Joel Kim Booster and Julie Threlkeld told stories of times they crossed over the edge.

    Mortal

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 21, 2025 39:52


    Hannah Sussman and Swapna Deshpande tell stories about coming to terms with mortality. 

    Live From Norfolk 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 16, 2025 59:39


    A Classic RISK! episode from our early years that first ran in August of 2013, when Brad McMurran, Alicia Camden, and Sean Devereux told stories at the Norfolk Comedy Festival.

    The Lies That Bind

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 14, 2025 103:18


    DESCRIPTION: Mishelle tells Taj her story of a lifetime lived with an abusive mother in an environment of relentless lies, instability and unspeakable violence.  Check out all of our Conversation Stories!

    Get Undomesticated

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 13, 2025 4:22


    Candiace Dillard Bassett (Bravo's Real Housewives of Potomac) and Michael Arceneaux (New York Times best-selling author and culture critic) have thoughts…and on Undomesticated, they're sharing all of them. Think of it like the group chat you wish you were in - brutally honest, funny, smart, and gloriously unfiltered.  From viral TikTok drama to the celebrity news everyone's talking about (and the ones they should be), Candiace and Michael are here to talk their talk, crack you up, and keep it 100…with just the right amount of petty. 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

    Live From Norfolk 1

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 9, 2025 48:31


    A Classic RISK! episode from our early years that first ran in 2013, when the RISK! live show came to Norfolk, Virginia.  

    Believe Her

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 8, 2025 83:04


    Andrea Dunlop tells Kevin from the RISK! podcast her story “Believe Her,” about the time her sister was prosecuted for Munchausen by Proxy child abuse and how this set her off on a long path towards advocacy, outreach and the pursuit of justice. Years later, her podcast and vigilante journalism led her to uncover irrefutable evidence of an unprosecuted, hideous crime, as well as towards healing of her own deep, familial wounds.  You can also watch this episode on YouTube. Check out all of our Conversation Stories!

    Sweet Sixteen

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 6, 2025 80:41


    On the 16th anniversary of the podcast, Jill Karliner and Kevin Allison share stories from their own sixteeny days. 

    Revelations, Revisited

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 2, 2025 49:45


    Scott Whitney revisits his story from 2013 about losing his faith called “Revelations” with Kevin. He has many new insights twelve years later. You can also watch this episode on YouTube!

    The Best of RISK! #33

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 30, 2025 83:27


    Our 33rd compilation of some of our favorite recent stories shared on the RISK! podcast, guest-host by Cyndi Freeman.

    Live From DC!

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 25, 2025 62:59


    A Classic RISK! episode from our early years that first ran in July of 2013, when Kevin Boggs, Stephanie Garibaldi, R. Levin and Amy Saidman told stories at the first RISK! live show in Washington, DC in association with SpeakeasyDC.

    Midnight in Manila

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 23, 2025 52:09


    Scott McMahon tells Dawn Fraser from the RISK! podcast his story “Midnight in Manila,” about the time he was pulled into a nightmare of corruption, false rape charges, and five years in a Philippine jail.  Check out all of our Conversation Stories!

    Introducing Simpsons Declassified with Nancy Cartwright

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 19, 2025 2:57


    Simpsons fans —THE VAULT IS OPEN!  I'm Nancy Cartwright, the voice of Bart Simpson for 35+ years, and I'm finally taking you inside Springfield. Simpsons Declassified is your all-access pass to the world's most iconic, animated  series.   Each week, we crack open wild predictions, eerie coincidences and fan conspiracies and stories  from 36 seasons (that's 800+ episodes!) behind-the-scenes with writers, directors, the cast and  celebrity superfans, PLUS…Simpsons-themed games— play along and test your Springfield IQ.   Hear exclusive stories from our guests who were there! Perhaps some scenes that almost never  aired, the jokes that died, the ones that lived and the moments that still shock me at the mic.  Produced and showrun by Monica Gil-Rodriguez. From Audacy Podcasts and CRE84U  Entertainment. Follow now to get new episodes first — and drop your wildest Simpsons' theory in a review for  a chance to be featured on our uniquely unique podcast, Simpsons Declassified. 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

    Queer

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 18, 2025 64:45


    A Classic RISK! episode from our early years that first ran in July of 2013, when Cameron Esposito, Kris Grey and Kevin Allison shared radically different stories of LGBT life in the early 2010's. 

    Shit Happens

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 16, 2025 39:59


    Kevin Allison, Rachel Frost and Luke Oyler share stories about being wasteful.  Live Story: The Pickles Pickle by Kevin Allison Kevin flushes a jar of pickles down his brother's toilet while making his first student film in college and causes a plumbing issue, which becomes a story the Allison family retells for years to come.   keywords: Pickle jar, brother, student film

    The Power, Revisited

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 11, 2025 103:36


    Tori Weston revisits her story about surviving childhood sexual abuse from 2014 called “The Power” with Kevin Allison. Tori has many new insights eleven years later. You can also watch this episode on YouTube!

    Post Mortem

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 9, 2025 54:09


    Chelsea Dalsey tells Kevin Allison about her journey with addiction and the process of truly coming to terms with her experience.   Check out all of our Conversation Stories!

    The Best of School Stories #1

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 4, 2025 27:38


    A compilation of some of the best school related stories from the podcast. 

    The Fingers Episode

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 2, 2025 41:23


    Bill, Brad, and Dominic recall the strange circumstances surrounding their broken or missing digits, with guest host John LaSala.

    Hurt

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 28, 2025 42:53


    A Classic RISK! episode from our early years that first ran in July of 2013, when Trevor Noah and Robin Gelfenbien shared about scars they've healed from.

    My Secret Career: RISK! Reacts

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 26, 2025 36:49


    Kevin hears C. J. Guy's “My Secret Career” story from The Secret Room 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.

    Young Rebels

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 21, 2025 59:05


    A Classic RISK! episode from our early years that first ran in June of 2013, when Ethan Ullman, Katy Frame, Ben Lerman and Rob Lathan share stories about youthful indiscretions. 

    The Rebound

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 19, 2025 42:11


    John F. O'Donnell tells Kevin about that time he got kicked out of his favorite comedy club. You can also watch this episode on YouTube. Check out all of our Conversation Stories!

    The Best of Self-Help Stories #3

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 14, 2025 39:22


    Tommy Galan and Marc Amigone share stories about helping others by helping themselves. The latest in the Self Help Special Series, which can be found at risk-show.com/specialseries/self-help-stories

    Sink or Swim

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 12, 2025 36:38


    Valerie Ward and David Patteson share stories about calling for help when the world gets dangerous.

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