RISK!

RISK! is the storytelling podcast that goes where The Moth won't. Host Kevin Allison, known from the comedy group The State, created the show specifically for stories people never thought they'd share in public. The result is raw, uncensored, and frequently jaw-dropping. With over 1,200 episodes, this is one of the largest archives of personal true stories anywhere. The format mixes live performances with recorded studio stories, and Allison features multiple storytellers per episode, usually organized loosely around a theme. The content is explicitly rated for a reason. You'll hear confessions about addiction, sexuality, embarrassment, grief, and the kind of personal disasters that would make most people change their name and move to another state. Allison is a genuinely skilled interviewer and host who knows how to draw out the uncomfortable details that make a story land. He also has a knack for finding storytellers from wildly different backgrounds. One episode might pair a retired nurse with a stand-up comedian and a recovering addict, and somehow it all works together. Fair warning: some listeners find the intro segments and ad breaks on the longer side. But the stories themselves are worth the patience. The show drops new episodes twice a week, and it carries a 4.6-star rating from over 5,400 reviews. If you appreciate storytelling that's honest to the point of being uncomfortable, RISK! is the place to go. It's not for the easily scandalized, but it's very much for people who believe the best stories are the ones you almost didn't tell.