RISK! Podcast – "Edge Play"

Episode Date: October 23, 2025
Host: Kevin Allison
Episode Description:
This episode, first aired in August 2013, features four stories from RISK!’s live shows in New York and Los Angeles, centering on moments when the storytellers pushed personal boundaries or found themselves just outside their comfort zones—the “edge play” of their own lives. The show maintains its signature uncensored, confessional tone led by Kevin Allison, with stories that are bold, revealing, sometimes comic, sometimes raw, and always compelling.

Main Theme

Overview:
“Edge Play” showcases true stories where the tellers confront their most vulnerable or rebellious instincts, often breaking taboos or personal limits. Each story traverses topics like sexual experimentation, addiction to risk and thrill, criminal activity, and formative moments in childhood—all with candor and wit.

1. Introduction & Set-up

Host Kevin Allison ([00:37]–[02:41])

• Welcomes listeners, explains RISK!’s format of true, daring storytelling.
• Introduces the episode’s "Edge Play" theme—stories of pushing limits and comfort zones.
• Self-aware humor about his own enunciation (playfully addressing audience feedback):
  • "That was the biggest fuck you." (Kevin Allison, [02:40])
• Promotes a safe and open space for confessional stories.

2. Joel Kim Booster – "Waiting for the Man"

Segment: [03:50]–[16:41]
Storyteller: Joel Kim Booster
Key Points:

• Sexual Awakening:
  • At 9, Joel discovers erotic Pokemon BDSM fan fiction and begins a secret sexual journey.
  • Religious, evangelical, homeschooled background with zero outlets for these feelings.
• Kink and Self-Discovery:
  • Early masturbation material = cartoons; mind justifies it as less sinful.
  • Becomes fascinated by adult BDSM porn, especially scenes involving erotic humiliation and power play.
• Relationships & Singles Life:
  • Recalls a doomed relationship (“split a bottle of NyQuil and watched Passion of the Christ”), then five years of being happily single and sexually adventurous via an array of hookup apps:
    • “You gotta set a lot of traps when you’re gay.”
    • Describes himself: “I’m a pretty sex positive guy, which is a polite, progressive way of saying I’m a big old slut.” ([06:38])
• Edgeplay Encounter:
  • Details a recent, much-anticipated sexual hookup: a submissive (“slave”) reaches out on behalf of his master.
  • The “master’s” attire disappoints (“American Eagle T-shirt”), and conversation is awkward (talk of antique cars, misused words like “flustrated” and “irregardless”).
  • Hookup devolves into discomfort; role-play undermined by the guy’s lack of gravitas—and clashing vibes kill the fantasy.
  • Humorous self-doubt; sting from the master's criticism:
    • “You’re not very good at this.”
    • Joel: “I’m great at sex, okay? I’m great at sex.” ([14:38])
  • Tries to embrace the moment (“Live in the now!”), realizes he can’t surrender power to “a guy in an American Eagle T-shirt who wants to spend all this time showing me his antique cars.”
  • Callback to earlier teenage fantasy—still waiting for the “right guy to write ‘bitch’ around my asshole.” ([16:33])
• Memorable Quotes:
  • “If you want to get laid, you gotta set a lot of traps when you’re gay.” ([06:11])
  • “Is this the man that I want to write ‘bitch’ around my asshole?” ([15:37])
• Timestamps:
  • [03:50] – Story starts
  • [13:30] – The awkward meetup
  • [14:38] – “You’re not very good at this.”

3. Jen Curran – "The Thug Life"

Segment: [17:33]–[29:51]
Storyteller: Jen Curran
Key Points:

• Dual Identity:
  • Presents as a responsible, upstanding person (“keep in touch with my grandmother… make my bed every day”)—but hides a compulsion to steal.
• Lifelong Stealing:
  • Early experiences: stealing milk money in elementary school, shoplifting small items as a teen.
  • The thrill comes not from need but from excitement and feeling clever.
  • "It taught me that I did not seem like someone who would steal. And it also taught me that I was really good at it. And that ended up being a very dangerous combination.” ([19:39])
• Escalation:
  • As a university office assistant, devises a scheme to steal and resell textbooks for cash.
  • No remorse, only worry about being caught:
    • “I just wanted to keep getting stuff for nothing. I wanted to continue to have this exciting life.”
• Confrontation & Consequence:
  • HR uncovers her theft; she tries to lie until confronted with video evidence.
  • In the bathroom, practices remorse:
    • “Okay, Jen, what would you do if you had murdered someone and you got caught doing that?” ([25:30])
  • Officially fired, asked to pay back under $2,000 over a year—no charges pressed.
  • Feels the lack of serious consequences almost disappointing.
• Turning Point:
  • Later accused of stealing at a different job (this time falsely).
  • The karma and fear from this accusation scares her straight.
  • By the end, shares a recent near-miss: accidentally walks out of a store with a ring, but returns it—proof that she's changed.
  • “Unless you kill somebody, nothing in life is that big of a deal.” ([29:45])
• Memorable Quotes:
  • “If he hadn’t been such an asshole, maybe that wouldn’t have happened to him. We’ll never know.” ([19:20])
  • “I wanted there to be some more dire consequence so I would be scared out of doing this for the rest of my life. But that just wasn’t it.” ([28:00])
• Timestamps:
  • [17:33] – Story starts
  • [25:30] – The critical bathroom mirror moment
  • [29:45] – Closing lesson

4. Mather Zickel – "You’ve Made Worms Meat of Me"

Segment: [32:00]–[47:45]
Storyteller: Mather Zickel
Key Points:

• ’90s NYC Subculture:
  • Describes his aesthetic and activities: late-night rollerblading in black leather, wanting to project toughness.
  • Underlying desire for respect or fear—shaped by performing tough-guy roles in theater (e.g., Tybalt in Romeo & Juliet).
• Confrontation in Roanoke:
  • With another actor (Romeo), they rollerblade in small-town Virginia.
  • Encounter hecklers; Mather flips them off, triggering a confrontation—partly because, as he admits, a part of him wanted the fight.
  • “Why would you do that?” asked Romeo. “I think it’s because I really kind of wanted it. I secretly wanted it because I had a chip on my shoulder.” ([35:16])
• The Fight:
  • The men attack, Mather is kicked and pummeled on his rollerblades.
  • The attackers’ friends join in; he holds back from escalating.
  • The situation abruptly de-escalates, but not before Mather is sucker-punched, suffering only a cut above the eye.
  • Reflects on wanting the fight, feeling both shame and bravado.
• Aftermath & Reflection:
  • The fight gives him a temporary aura of “cool.”
  • Refuses to press charges, not wanting to admit he stoked the situation.
  • Estrangement from Romeo—resentments build over their different reactions to the assault.
  • Learns he isn’t the hero, maybe he is Tybalt after all.
  • Years later repeats the cycle ("the next fight I got into… happened in exactly the same way”), but now with worse consequences.
• Memorable Quotes:
  • “Maybe I wasn’t the hero in this story. Maybe I’m kind of the asshole. Maybe I really am Tybalt.” ([44:56])
  • “At least the second fight, I wasn’t wearing rollerblades.” ([46:36])
• Timestamps:
  • [32:00] – Story starts
  • [35:16] – Mather’s introspection on provoking the fight
  • [44:56] – Realization about his role

5. Julie Threlkeld – "The Snake and the Mouse"

Segment: [47:45]–[58:30]
Storyteller: Julie Threlkeld
Key Points:

• Childhood in California:
  • Daughter of a war correspondent, formative years marked by moves, absence of father due to Vietnam reporting.
  • Mill Valley, CA: affluent, star-studded enclave, described with warmth and detail.
• Bond With Neighbor Jackie:
  • Connects with next-door neighbor Jackie, who treats her as an equal and introduces her to a more adult, bohemian lifestyle.
  • Jackie and Peter (Jefferson Airplane’s guitarist) have an exotic menagerie, including a snake.
• A Crucial Life Lesson:
  • Julie and Jackie go into San Francisco to buy food (a live mouse) for the snake; Julie realizes in real time she's delivering the mouse to its death.
  • Jackie candidly explains nature’s realities to her.
  • “If you want to love a snake, you’ve got to love a mouse a little bit less.”
• Family Changes & Aftermath:
  • Father leaves again for Vietnam; the brief period of family togetherness ends.
  • Parents separate soon after; Julie loses contact with Jackie.
  • Story closes with complex feelings about love, loss, and the hard truths of adulthood.
• Memorable Quotes:
  • “If you want to love a snake, you’ve got to love a mouse a little bit less.” ([55:47])
• Timestamps:
  • [47:45] – Story starts
  • [55:47] – Central quote from Jackie

Notable Moments, Quotes & Timestamps

• Joel Kim Booster:
  • “Is this the man that I want to write ‘bitch’ around my asshole?” ([15:37])
• Jen Curran:
  • “I didn’t steal anything after that. Never again. I paid back all the bookstore money and I moved on with my life... Unless you kill somebody, nothing in life is that big of a deal.” ([29:45])
• Mather Zickel:
  • “Maybe I wasn’t the hero in this story. Maybe I’m kind of the asshole. Maybe I really am Tybalt.” ([44:56])
• Julie Threlkeld:
  • “If you want to love a snake, you’ve got to love a mouse a little bit less.” ([55:47])

Thematic Threads

• Pushing Boundaries: Each story involves venturing beyond personal safety—sexually, morally, physically, or emotionally—and encountering the unexpected consequences, both comic and profound.
• Transformation Through Discomfort: The storytellers emerge changed, whether through humor, shame, humility, or honest reflection.
• Subversive Honesty: The RISK! trademark—sharing what few would—delivers both entertainment and insight.

Episode Structure

• [00:37]–[03:50] | Introduction & Host Comments
• [03:50]–[16:41] | Joel Kim Booster: Sexual awakening and disappointing kink
• [17:33]–[29:51] | Jen Curran: Chronic (and comedically confessed) stealing
• [32:00]–[47:45] | Mather Zickel: Rollerblading, ego, and street fights
• [47:45]–[58:30] | Julie Threlkeld: Childhood, loss, and growing up

Final Note

Kevin Allison closes the episode with:
"That’s all for this week, folks … Today’s the day. Take a risk." ([59:41])

Key Takeaway

“Edge Play” is classic RISK!: true stories, courageously raw and sometimes hilarious, confronting the outer reaches of human experience—with every narrator stepping right up to their personal edge.