Holiday Stories #18

Summary

RISK! – Holiday Stories #18 (December 23, 2025)

Overview

This special episode of RISK! continues the tradition of the annual "Holiday Stories" theme, presenting true, wild, and touching tales centered on the winter holidays. Host Kevin Allison invites listeners to celebrate the art of risk-taking in storytelling and highlights stories brimming with emotion, humor, and the unexpected. The episode spotlights three memorable stories: David Hu’s bittersweet and hilarious family memory, Ty Gentile’s moving encounter with holiday homesickness, and James Rana’s surreal Christmas Eve as “Alternative Santa Claus.”

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Key Segments & Discussion Points

Host Introduction & Reflections (03:44)

• Kevin opens with gratitude for twelve years of RISK! and acknowledges the show’s perseverance amid personal and global challenges.
• Shares the significance of artistic persistence and announces this episode as a celebration of community storytelling.
• Notable moment: Kevin reflects on his personal “biggest risk” in moving to Thailand, underlining the show’s themes of vulnerability and boldness.

Story #1: David Hu – "A Very Moving Christmas"

(Begins at 05:54)

• Challenge of Connection: David recalls the difficulty of finding the perfect Christmas gift for his hard-working, quiet, Chinese-immigrant father. Due to a language barrier (“I felt like I was raised by two spies”), their communication was muted and indirect.
• Acts of Love: Childhood memories reveal how his father showed affection: lost toys rescued from restaurant tables, placed on young David’s bed one Christmas.
• Bittersweet Aging: Fast-forwarding to 2018, David’s father experiences memory issues and possible dementia, exacerbated by severe constipation. The search for laxatives becomes a strange but urgent mission.
• The Perfect Gift: David buys $200 worth of Miralax, presenting it on Christmas. It becomes a hilariously heartwarming exchange as his father’s joy mirrors David’s own childhood delight with the rescued toys.
• Meaningful Rituals: They revisit an old routine—McDonald's lunch and watching Columbo—solidifying their unconventional but deep father-son bond.
• Notable Quotes:
  • “I felt like I was raised by two spies.” (06:13)
  • “My dad always loved me. He just showed his love in a different way.” (07:50)
  • “When I opened that box in front of my dad, the expression on his face, his eyes lit up like a Christmas tree.” (10:22)
  • “We both dropped a couple hits of laxatives. Oh my God, I never felt so light in my life.” (11:27)

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Interstitial: “Hornigay Hornigay Christmas” (11:49 – 13:31)

• A comically risqué, poetic parody of “’Twas the Night Before Christmas,” filled with irreverent sexual innuendo.
• Demonstrates RISK!’s signature blend of earnestness and outrageous humor.

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Story #2: Ty Gentile – "The Widow’s Song"

(Begins at 20:38)

• Homesickness & Longing: Ty, transplanted from upstate New York to Tennessee, describes missing home during the holidays while working as a mascot at a tourist attraction.
• Unexpected Comfort: During a slow shift, he’s serenaded with “White Christmas” by the “cookie lady,” an older coworker whose singing evokes flashbacks of family celebrations and childhood in the snowy north.
• Emotional Resonance: Ty breaks down inside his mascot suit, comforted by the cookie lady’s simple gesture, only to learn the next day that she herself was newly widowed and returning to work for the first time.
• Profound Impact: The moment reflects mutual, silent support and connection during a time of loss and longing.
• Notable Quotes:
  • “It almost feels like my grandmother is singing to me. It just kind of brought me back to my home in New York.” (22:10)
  • “There was so much I was missing, and this old woman was bringing me back there, and I was helpless.” (23:03)
  • “[S]he had touched me and made that winter and that Christmas feel like home.” (24:18)

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Interstitial: “Tiny Little Tots” (24:36 – 25:21)

• A comic musical break about the importance of potatoes (especially tater tots!) at Christmas, further adding to the quirky, heartwarming tone.

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Story #3: James Rana – "Alternative Santa Claus"

(Begins at 25:21)

• Taking on Santa: James, a seasoned actor and a man of color with a Muslim name, recounts being a professional Santa Claus after helping a friend in need.
• The Acting Challenge: Committed to performance, he perfects his Santa act—white makeup, baritone voice, balloon candy canes—even though agents repeatedly say “people want their Santas white like Jesus.”
• Christmas Eve 2016: On a turbulent post-election night, James is asked at the last minute to visit the neighbor’s kids—only to realize the home is owned by Kellyanne Conway.
• Moment of Truth: Torn between personal beliefs and Santa’s spirit, he accepts, entering a high-tension scenario (“I started shaking…I can’t believe this is happening” 29:45).
• Irony & Reflection: The act is surreal—the sweat washes off his white makeup (“I look like the Maharishi” 32:35)—and the experience pushes him to contemplate the power and limits of empathy in divided times.
• Triumphant Subversion: The story closes with James’s pride at subverting expectations: “Underneath that costume and that beard and that wig and that makeup, was a dark skinned liberal man with a Muslim name. Because that night, I wasn’t Santa Claus. I was alternative Santa Claus.” (34:45)
• Notable Quotes:
  • “People want their Santas white like Jesus.” (26:46)
  • “No one deserves a death threat. At that moment, the door opened and out came Kellyanne Conway.” (30:27)
  • “How did this happen? How did I get myself into this?... I am sweated so much that the white face has completely washed off. I look like the Maharishi.” (32:25)
  • “I'd like to think that maybe I brought a little kindness into that house.” (34:15)
  • “Because that night, I wasn’t Santa Claus. I was alternative Santa Claus.” (34:45)

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Closing Thoughts & Announcements

• Kevin Allison celebrates the guests’ vulnerability and creativity, inviting listeners to join upcoming storytelling workshops and to support RISK! via Patreon or PayPal.
• Praises the power of shared stories to foster empathy and resilience, especially in uncertain times.
• Teases the next episode (“Holiday Fan Favorites”) and shares warm holiday wishes with the audience.

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Memorable Quotes & Moments

• On unconventional father-son love:
  • “My dad always loved me. He just showed his love in a different way.” —David Hu, (07:50)
• On mutual holiday compassion:
  • “She had touched me and made that winter and that Christmas feel like home.” —Ty Gentile, (24:18)
• On subverting expectations as Santa:
  • “Underneath that costume and that beard and that wig and that makeup, was a dark skinned liberal man with a Muslim name...I was alternative Santa Claus.” —James Rana, (34:45)

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Timestamps for Key Segments

| Segment | Timestamp | |-----------------------------------------------|-------------| | Show introduction & reflections | 03:44 | | Story #1: David Hu – "A Very Moving Christmas"| 05:54 | | Hornigay Christmas interstitial | 11:49 | | Story #2: Ty Gentile – "The Widow’s Song" | 20:38 | | Tiny Tots Musical Interlude | 24:36 | | Story #3: James Rana – "Alternative Santa Claus"| 25:21 | | Show wrap-up & story reflections | 35:01 |

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Tone & Style

True to RISK!’s signature, this episode oscillates between honest-hearted storytelling and audacious, irreverent humor. Stories are offered in the storytellers’ voices, with vulnerability, comic timing, and sharp observational wit. The host and contributors maintain a conversational, confessional, and inclusive tone, welcoming listeners into an intimate community of experience.

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Summary

“Holiday Stories #18” delivers laughter, catharsis, surprising tenderness, and the edge-of-your-seat unpredictability that RISK! is known for, making it a perfect listen for holiday revelers and anyone craving tales of real human connection.

Transcript

[A]

Hey folks, this is Kevin. On this week's episode of Risk, you'll.

[B]

Hear David Hu and afterwards we circled back to the house and we both dropped a couple hits of laxatives. Oh my God. I never felt so light in my life.

[A]

That and more. But first, do you follow me on all the socials? Hekevinalison do you follow Risk on all the socials? Riskshow there's so much that we post about behind the scenes little mini video check ins commentary on the stories interacting with you. So follow us. I'm Hekevinalison and Risk is Risk show.

[C]

We'll be right back.

[D]

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[D]

Sam. Hello, folks.

[A]

This is Risk, the show where people tell true stories they never thought they'd dare to share. I'm Kevin Allison. This is Amos Ever Hadami behind me now. And we're calling this week's episode Holiday Stories 18, our annual winter holidays celebration. I will tell you, I am just so proud that we have made it this far Since October of 2009, and especially this year, where we've all had to take pay cuts yet again, where members of the staff have had to deal with lots of challenges in our personal lives, where we've all been so worried about the state of the US and the world, and where I took the biggest risk of my life so far by moving to Thailand. And through it all, we have featured phenomenal stories this year, and I've had unforgettable, beautiful experiences teaching my online storytelling workshops. There's just so much to be grateful for, and it's just so exciting to, like, feel like we're doing it. We're doing the thing. You know, like, when you think of artists that persisted through hard times, we're doing the thing. So let's celebrate with some wonderful stories today. First up, a dear friend of the show, a Risk favorite for years. I'm talking about David, who? And here he is now with a story we call A Very Moving Christmas.

[B]

During the Christmas holidays, I always had a hard time finding that perfect gift for my dad. Growing up, my dad worked a lot of hours at a restaurant in Chinatown, and there was a language barrier between us. See, my dad doesn't speak English very well, and he always spoke to my mom in Chinese, and I don't speak Chinese. So growing up, I felt like I was raised by two spies. And my dad, he's not like your typical American dad that you see on TV, like Mr. Keaton on Family Ties. That's really affable and charming. No, my dad was quiet and reserved. And I never understood why my dad was like that compared to my other friends dads. I remember when I was six years old, I was sound asleep. It was night before Christmas, and I felt the cold hand wiggle my foot. And I woke up startled to see this black silhouette at the end of my bed. And I realized it was my dad with a big smile on his face. And the only few words that he knew how to say in English was good night. And he walked away. And I was confused. And I wondered, was my dad checking up on me to make sure I was asleep, or was it his way of being Affectionate. The next morning, Christmas Day, I wake up to find toys scattered all over my bed. And it made sense, because every time I went to go see my dad at the restaurant, I would always see him pick up lost toys, the tables. And now I know that he was saving those lost toys for months to put on my bed when I was asleep. On the night of Christmas Eve when I was six years old, my dad always loved me. He just showed his love in a different way. I remember on his days off, he would bring me to McDonald's for lunch. And I remember sitting there eating a Happy Meal and looking at my dad just read the newspaper and drink a black coffee in silence. As I got older, during the Christmas holidays, I wanted to give my dad a personalized gift, but my mom suggested I give my dad money. My dad would use the money and go Chinatown and buy food for myself and my mom. My dad was not just quiet and reserved. He was humble and generous. In the summer of 2018, I'm in my mid-40s, and I get a call one afternoon from my mom at work, and she's like, david, don't give dad any more money for the Christmas holidays. Because he started to forget on how I put the money in his pockets, as well as other things like open the door with a key. On occasion, he would forget to turn off the gas on the stove. My mom, who has been a nurse for many years, thought that his delusions may be due to constipation. So she started to give him laxatives, and it helped out a little bit. He never carried a lot of laxatives in the house to begin with. And every store I went to around the neighborhood was out of laxatives. Oh, my God, America is in deep shit. And during the Christmas holidays, I went on Amazon, and I was able to find a box of laxatives, and I bought $200 worth of it. That box arrived on Christmas Day. I didn't have a chance to wrap it. But when I opened that box in front of my dad, the expression on his face, his eyes lit up like a Christmas tree. And he chuckled like a kid when he saw those bright purple boxes that said Miralax, the stool softener. And he looked at me and he held my hand with a strong grip. And I see his eyes watered up. And he says, david, thank you. I'm so happy to have a son like you. And it really touched my heart. And that afternoon, we went to McDonald's and we had lunch just like he did when I was six years old. And afterwards we circled back to the house and we crashed on the couch and we watched one of his favorite TV shows, Columbo. And we both dropped a couple hits on of laxative. Oh my God, I never felt so light in my life. I finally found the perfect gift for my dad that made him happy. The same happiness I got when I woke up on Christmas day when I was 6 years old to find those toys scattered all over my bed that were lost at the restaurant and saved by my dad just for me.

[D]

Twas the night before Christmas and through the decked halls no creature was stirring but the crabs on my bones and I with my nightcap regrettably poured when outside erupted an ungodly roar. It's a horny gate. Hornigay Hornigay. Hornigate Hornigay Christmas. It's a hornigay harg K Hornigay.

[C]

O.

[D]

What to my wandering gaze should appear but a sleigh that was wrong and an object of fear pulled by seven creatures so greasy and strange. Strange with glossy eyes leaking and covered in mange. The driver whose presence defied local law just grinned with a vigor that flirted with awe. His eyes were as empty as vessels of space. I looked at him, hungry for carnal embrace. His pulsating pan bulge attracted my eyes as I thought to myself, I'm the luckiest guy.

[C]

We'll be right back.

[D]

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[A]

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[D]

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Let's get it.

[A]

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[B]

The North Pole, of course.

[A]

Like a Very Jonas Christmas movie and Home Alone on Disney plus. Did I burn down the Joy?

[D]

I don't think so.

[A]

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[D]

I think we're all in for a.

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[D]

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[C]

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[D]

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[C]

Glowing soft as a flame A candle shining bright through the pain Christmas time is brighter with you Snowflakes, they dance in the glow Running, leaving prints in the snow Christmas Christmas time is brighter with you.

[D]

Our hearts are alive Singing carols outside and love is in the air.

[C]

It's Christmas with you.

[A]

This is Risk. This is Northern Heart behind me now. And we just heard from a bunch of Taj Easton's friends having a horny gay Christmas. And before that from David Hu, who is hopefully having a very regular one. We're wishing him a Type 4 on the Bristol Stool chart kind of Christmas indicating good hydration, fiber intake and gut function. You can find David on Instagram ave.who718 Folks, my next online storytelling workshop starts on Wednesday, January 14th at 8:30pm Eastern Time. We'll meet for two and a half hours each Wednesday evening at that time and then my Next Sunday morning one will be starting on February 1st at 9:30am Eastern Time. Give yourself or a loved one the wonderful gift of joining this storytelling community in this way. In 2026, we'll be featuring many more stories that were first told in the workshops. We'll be building out ways for workshop grads to stay connected and continue having story circles, and you'll see why so many people take the workshop repeatedly. In fact, we want to start creating other workshops that build off of this one. So we're really thrilled with how this has become a little like a Risk school and a little like a risk community center and social hub. These workshops, you learn about storytelling, but you also get to be creative in a low pressure, highly supportive and encouraging environment with me. So email me for more information at kevinrisk-show.com another way you can get a little more plugged in with us is to join our [e-mail] work risk. Over 250 bonus stories over there. Over 90 check ins. Good Lord, I wonder what all I've.

[D]

Said.

[A]

And you get free access to our Storytelling for Business video course. You have access to tons of video recordings of Risk live shows and access to the ad free free feed of the podcast. But most importantly you will be helping to keep Risk running. We do very very dearly need your help for that. That is [e-mail] risk or if you'd like to make a one time donation that's at paypal me riskshow now in a little bit we're going to hear from James Rana. But first, we've been meaning to run this story by Tai Gentile for a long time now, so I'm thrilled that we're able to today. You can find him on Instagram c a xry13 and here's Ty Gentile now with a story we call the Widow's Song.

[D]

Love is indeed There. It's Christmas with you.

[C]

In early December of 2019, I was working as a mascot at a local tourist attraction. I really loved my job. It was always a good time when I was there. I really never had a bad day, but around the holidays I get really homesick. See, I moved to a small town in Tennessee from upstate New York in 2009. You lose a lot of things whenever you move halfway across the country. I lost a lot of my family and friends and I just lost a general sense of home. I really missed the snow. I really missed my family more than anything. This particular night I was just kind of doing my own thing, walking around the pavilion that we had, listening to a local high school sing some Christmas carols. It was a bit of a slower night, so I was just pacing back and forth and suddenly they start singing the song White Christmas. Out of nowhere I start hearing someone singing to me and I realize it's the cookie lady from behind me. She's an older woman, a bit frail, and she's just singing to me.

[D]

Children listen.

[C]

It's so raspy and homey and it almost feels like my grandmother is singing to me. It just kind of brought me back to my home in New York. Watching the snow fall, everybody around me just celebrating Christmas and having a good time. I could feel it All I was back in the snow, playing with my brother and my cousins, throwing snowballs and sledding down hills. I was cooking in the kitchen with my grandma and just smelling all the wonderful smells. I was just there. Something they don't tell you whenever you're poor and you move halfway across America is you don't get to visit home very often. You're lucky if you get there for the funerals, let alone the parties. So I started to cry. There was so much I was missing, and this old woman was bringing me back there, and I was helpless. I just was stuck swaying back and forth, bawling my eyes out in a giant mascot costume. And when the song ends, the woman turned to me and she wiped my cheek, almost like she knew I was crying inside the costume. And I just kind of left, went on with my night. I just go home. Well, the next day I get into work and I was telling somebody about the story, and they told me about how her husband had died the week before, and that was her first day back at work. And that just broke my heart. This woman gave me so much without even asking for anything. She had touched me and made that winter and that Christmas feel like home.

[D]

Mom, I'm hungry. Why is this taking so long?

[A]

Mom, I'm hungry. What will they eat for Christmas dinner?

[D]

Everybody knows a turkey and some tiny little tots.

[A]

That really hit the spot.

[C]

Pew, pew, pew, pew, pew.

[D]

Tiny little tots. Don't forget potatoes. The all important potatoes. What makes these fried spuds so undeniably tasty? It's Jesus, isn't it? That Christmas spirit.

[A]

I want to eat it right now.

[C]

Wow.

[D]

I mean, but what happens if you don't have potatoes?

[C]

You know, like, how are you gonna. You can also use lemons and oranges, which is pretty cool.

[D]

One of the greatest rewards I've experienced as an actor is getting to portray a character who possesses the traits that I don't have, but always wanted. And I think that's why so many a listers have joined the Marvel Universe. I had the opportunity to play a character who was everything I wasn't, but secretly wanted to be an all powerful, rich white guy. That's right. I got to be Santa Claus. It all started many Christmas Eves ago when I got a phone call from my friend John. John is a professional Santa, and he had several personal appearances to make that night when he was suddenly struck with kidney stones and couldn't go on. If he canceled, he would disappoint so many children. And he didn't want to do that. So he called me and he asked, will you do it? Will you save Christmas? And I said yes. I never played Santa before, but the moment I put on his costume and his boots and his beard and his wig, it all felt right. I went out that night and had the best time of my life. The children believed I was Santa Claus. Their eyes lit up the moment I entered the room. It was beautiful. Besides making a nice amount of money, I found a new calling. The next year, I purchased my own Santa Claus costume, contacted all the agents, and set out to work. I was an overnight hit. Yeah, there are a lot of guys with real white beards who look like Santa, but they don't really do anything. No, no. I treated this like a character. I did my research. Santa Claus comes from the North Pole. So I spoke in a mid Atlantic, northern European, North Pole baritone. Merry Christmas, my little snowflakes. Have you all been good little gingerbread boys and girls? I didn't do an appearance. I did a performance. I sang Christmas carols. I read the Night Before Christmas. I juggled Christmas tree ornaments. I even made candy canes out of balloons. I was a rock star. Now, I think it's important to bring up a very important fact. I am not a white man. I love the diversity we see in Santas. But to quote the agents who booked me, people want their Santas white like Jesus. I didn't argue with them. I didn't storm out of the room. Instead, I saw this as a challenge. I met with a makeup designer, and I learned how to turn myself into an old white man. It felt great. Within a few years, I went from being the Santa you should have at your party to the Santa you had to have. December of 2016 truly was the winter of our discontent. Donald Trump had won the election, and in a few weeks, he'd be sworn in as the 45th president. And I noticed a change in the air. At the parties I went to, people were less festive and more drunk. But I didn't let that affect me. I was there to bring the Christmas spirit. It was Christmas Eve, and I had several personal appearances to make that night. I had just finished the first home. It was at the house of a wealthy older woman. I had been there many times before. I was on my way out the door when, for the first time ever, she stopped me. I think you're wonderful. Well, I think you're wonderful, too. Good night. And I. I know how busy you must be, but I was wondering if you just take a couple of minutes to say Hi. To my neighbor's children. Well, I. I am very busy, but if you could call them and make this happen, we. We could quickly do this. She went out to make a phone call. Meanwhile, I am hoping that they're not available. I gotta get in my car and drive quite away. Immediately. The lady comes back. Okay, well, it's all set. My neighbors are waiting for you. Okay? So listen, just get in your car and follow me. When I said they're. They're. My neighbors are a little down the road. Okay? Oh, and one other thing is my neighbor's Kellyanne Conway. What? Kellyanne Conway. You know, I know her. Kellyanne Conway, Donald Trump's campaign manager. The woman who would go on to coin the phrase alternative facts, I would be entertaining at her house on Christmas Eve. No, absolutely not. That is where I draw the line. I will not go to that person's house. The things that she helped happen at this Donald Trump maga and the wall and the Muslim ban and the birtherism lies that he spread about Obama. She was pure evil, and I wanted nothing to do with her. That's what I wanted to say. But if I said that, I would be a hypocrite. The holidays are for anyone who wants to celebrate. I got in my car and I drove down that road to Kellyanne Conway's house. I started shaking. I could feel beads of sweat in my brow. How did this happen? What did I just get myself into? I can't believe this is happening. I pulled up in front of her house and I rang the doorbell. No answer. I rang it again. Still no answer. Finally, the lady said, bang on the window. And for the first time in my Santa career, I broke character. No. What's your problem? You're so nervous. Look, a guy in Colorado walked into a movie theater dressed as Batman and shot everyone. She is a very controversial person, and I don't want to make her worried, but at the same time, I'm a little concerned about my own safety. Okay? You know, Kaylie Ann told me that she's been getting death threats. No one deserves a death threat. At that moment, the door opened and out came Kellyanne Conway. Now, Kellyanne Conway looks like Kellyanne Conway. What you see on TV is what you get. She was wearing a beautiful red dress because the family was going to go to church that night. And fluffy pink slippers. And I love that about her. The lady was hugging her, congratulating her. And very soon, I was ushered into her house. This is the only communication I had with Kellyanne that night. And hopefully forever. Oh, this is wonderful. Children, children, Santa Claus is here. Say ho, ho. Ho. Ho, ho, ho. I was led into her living room to sit at a large chair. And there's her entire family around me. There's George Conway taking pictures, and there's her parents, and there are her beautiful children. And I start doing my Santa Claus act. And I know I'm doing it because my mouth is moving, but I have no idea what I'm saying because meanwhile, my mind is going a thousand miles an hour. How did this happen? How did I get myself into this? Oh, my God. And I am sweating more and more. I am sweated so much that the white face has completely washed off. I. I look like the Maharishi. I gotta get myself out of here.

[A]

I gotta get out of here.

[D]

And what do you want for Christmas this year? And what I'm about to tell you is completely true. Kellyanne's little child said, peace on earth. Oh, wait, we're gonna get that with Trump.

[A]

I have to go.

[D]

Good night. Where's your reindeer? There somewhere. Merry Christmas. Ho ho, ho. And I got out the door and I ran across the street to my car, soaking wet with sweat and shaking. And I drove off that night to my next job, which I was very late to. That night pretty much put an end to my Santa Claus career. It wasn't just Kellyanne. Things changed. I got busy, my Christmas wish came true, and I ended up on Broadway. But I think about that night a lot and everything that Kellyanne Conway stood for. All the vile, all the bile that came out of her mouth, and Donald Trump, the things that still are happening and how our country has changed. I'm proud that I decided to just put those differences aside and share the Christmas spirit. I'd like to think that maybe I brought a little kindness into that house. I don't know. That's my thinking. But on top of it all, I am so proud that little did she know, at her house that night, entertaining her family, underneath that costume and that beard and that wig and that makeup, was a dark skinned liberal man with a Muslim name. Because that night, I wasn't Santa Claus. I was alternative Santa Claus.

[A]

This is Risk. This is T. Bless and the professionals behind me now. And we just heard from James Rana. What an amazing storyteller. Oh, my God. We've got to have James on as soon as possible again. He is the writer and producer and star of the award winning short film Strays. And the performances on Broadway he mentioned in his story include being in the original cast of the band's visit. You can find him [e-mail] and before James, we heard a little interstitial by our episode editor, Jeff Barr featuring pretty literal tiny tots with their eyes all aglow. I know that Jeff is a passionate lover of Tater tots and my question to you this holiday season is, are you not? I mean, come on, who doesn't love Tater tots? And folks, we are so grateful for you, our listeners. And on Christmas Day, December 25th, we'll be releasing an episode called Holiday Fan Favorites with four of the stories you all love to hear every year at this time. And it's perfect for sharing with family and friends and maybe introducing them to risk. So happy holidays everyone.

[D]

Happy.

[A]

And folks, today's the day. Take a risk. Is something missing in your Christmas celebration?

[D]

No, I I think I've got it all. Let's not forget the tiny little tuts.

[C]

Tear tads always make me feel better.

[B]

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