Episode Summary: “In 2026, Jump In On RISK!”

Podcast: RISK!
Host: Kevin Allison
Date: January 5, 2026

Main Theme

This special episode, hosted by Kevin Allison, centers on the transformative impact and inclusive spirit of RISK!’s online storytelling workshops. Through personal anecdotes and community success stories, Kevin details how these workshops have empowered participants from all walks of life to connect, share, and discover through the power of narrative.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Reflecting on Change, Growth, and What Matters (00:10–01:30)

• Kevin opens by reflecting on his move from New York to Bangkok after decades in America, highlighting how pivotal experiences often emerge from unexpected places.
• He reveals that some of his most impactful experiences of 2020 weren’t from dramatic life events, but from his online storytelling workshops:

  “Some of the most moving, the most hilarious, the most thought provoking, the most spiritual experiences that I had last year happened in my online storytelling workshops for real.” (Kevin Allison, 00:21)

The Origin Story of RISK! Workshops (01:30–03:10)

• The idea for workshops began as a practical effort: Kevin needed funds to qualify for a digital nomad visa.
• Very quickly, these sessions took on a deeper significance:

  “I ended the Zoom meeting. And I said to myself, Kevin, wait a minute. This is the next level. This is the future of what we have to offer.” (Kevin Allison, 02:14)

• The workshops became spaces for:
  • Mindful listening
  • Deep empathy
  • Letting go of shyness and shame
  • Reconsidering life stories
  • Valuing small moments
  • Building a kind, creative community

What Makes the Workshops Special? (03:10–05:00)

• Workshops are described as restorative, creative, and uplifting; a “detailed learning experience” and a space for deep connection.
• RISK! is actively working to cultivate ongoing “story circle” events for alumni to stay connected.
• The workshops attract a highly diverse group:
  • Some are regular RISK! listeners, others are not podcast listeners at all.
  • Notable participants include:
    • A doctor wanting to share better with patients
    • A labor union organizer hoping to connect more with colleagues
    • An 80-something woman who worked with Dr. Martin Luther King and finally wanted to share her story
  • Some join for confidence at social gatherings

Real Transformations: Participant Stories (05:00–07:00)

• The workshops allow both active sharing and attentive listening, meeting people wherever they are.
• Memorable transformations include:
  • Chelsea Dawsey:

    “She’d been telling her story about addiction and recovery for years... But in our workshop she found a missing piece and it radically transformed her understanding of her life.” (Kevin Allison, 06:13)

    • Resulted in her RISK! story "Postmortem."
  • Mira Rivera:

    “A very experienced storyteller. But in the workshop she finally found the nerve to share a story she’d been too shy to tell for years—about her sexual liberation after getting divorced.” (Kevin Allison, 06:44)

    • Featured on the episode "Not in Hiding Anymore."
• The workshops are so impactful, people have retaken them and even gifted them to friends and family.

Embracing All Backgrounds & Personalities (07:00–08:15)

• The workshops welcome everyone, no matter their life experience, personality, or prior creative training:

  “Whether you’ve lived a wild life or a quiet one, whether you’re extroverted or shy, whether you’ve taken writing or acting or storytelling classes in the past or not—this is a low pressure way to do something fun, social, generative and meaningful in 2026.” (Kevin Allison, 07:23)

Workshop Structure, Scheduling, and How to Join (08:15–End)

• Eight-week workshops with weekly Zoom sessions (up to 14 participants each)
• Lifetime access to over 7 hours of pre-recorded video lessons
• Upcoming workshop dates:
  • Wednesday, January 14th at 8:30pm Eastern
  • Sunday, February 15th at 10:00am Eastern
• Flexible: missing sessions is “perfectly doable”
• Contact for info/enrollment: kevin@risk-show.com
• International participation welcome; mailing list available for future dates

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “These workshops are helping me and everyone else in them to listen more mindfully, to empathize more deeply, to let go of shyness and shame, to reconsider some of our past assumptions about our lives…” (Kevin Allison, 02:25)
• “Some people make lasting friendships even. We’re even working on creating ongoing online story circle events for graduates of the workshops…” (Kevin Allison, 03:50)
• On the workshops’ unique appeal:

  “There was a doctor in one. There was a labor union organizer in another. ... A woman in one of the workshops is in her 80s. She worked closely with Dr. Martin Luther King in the 60s, and she wanted to finally be able to share that story.” (Kevin Allison, 04:17)

• “Some people hold back and do more listening than sharing in the workshops. And that’s okay too. But the workshops can be transformative.” (Kevin Allison, 05:28)

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Segment | Timestamp | | --------------------------------------------- | ----------- | | Reflections on Change & 2020 Memories | 00:10–01:30 | | Workshop Origins & Mission | 01:30–03:10 | | Workshop Experience & Community | 03:10–05:00 | | Participant Transformations | 05:00–07:00 | | Inclusive, Low-Pressure Environment | 07:00–08:15 | | Upcoming Details & How to Join | 08:15–End |

Tone and Takeaway

Warm, honest, and gently persuasive, Kevin Allison’s message is that everyone has stories worth telling, and the RISK! workshops provide a unique, judgment-free space to discover, hone, and share them. Whether you seek craft, connection, or catharsis, there’s a spot for you—just “jump in on RISK!”