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Hope Brush
Hey everyone, this is Hope. On this week's episode of Risk, you'll hear a story from Shawn Binder.
Shawn Binder
I was so tipsy after this date, I let him drop me off at home and then I slept for like three weeks with a knife under my pillow.
Hope Brush
That and more. But first, the holidays are coming up. And I don't know about you, but I feel like this time of year always stirs up a little chaos. Whether it's unexpected family drama, a holiday mishap, or a New Year's Eve that takes a turn, there's always something that makes for a good story. And we want to hear yours. So if something especially memorable happens this holiday season, pitch it to us. Even in January, we're always on the lookout for holiday stories to feature next year.
Kyrie Lanise
We'll be right back.
Hope Brush
Holiday magic is in the air and DSW's got all the shoes to make your season extra merry. Believe you've got parties to attend and lists to check twice. So DSW is taking care of the details like gifts to make their eyes all aglow. Styles that bring joy to your world. Brands everyone wants like Ugg, Nike, Birkenstock and more. And deals to make your budget bright. Find the perfect shoes for you and yours at a DSW store near you or dsw.com looking to get a new.
Kyrie Lanise
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Shawn Binder
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Kyrie Lanise
Instacart's deal week is coming up from.
Hope Brush
December 17th to December 23rd. That means you can get up to 25% off holiday gifts for the whole family from stores like Best Buy, Bath.
Shawn Binder
And Body Works, Petsmart, and more.
Hope Brush
And you can get delivery in as fast as 30 minutes.
Kyrie Lanise
Just think of it as Instacart's little gift to you.
Hope Brush
And while we're on the subject, why not get a little something for yourself too? Shop deal week from December 17th to 23rd and save up to 25% on gifts. Discounts vary, minimum spend, maximum discount and exclusions apply. Now here's the show. This is Risk the Show where people tell true stories they never thought they'd dare to share. I'm Hope Brush, one of the story producers here behind the scenes at Risk, and I'll be taking the reins from Santa. I mean, Kevin, this week. This is Hermanos Gutierrez behind me now, and we're calling this week's episode Mr. Wrong. In a little bit, we're going to hear from Shawn Binder, but before that, a story from Kyrie Lanise. Kyrie told this story at the Lyric Hyperion Theater here in LA this past September. So without further ado, here's Kyrie with a story we call Killer Instincts.
Kyrie Lanise
So do you guys know, like, have you ever had that time where you just, like, really, really needed, like, a good day? You just need it, like a good day. And this is where I was, like, in my early 30s, I was working in a newsroom, and I didn't feel, like, very respected or valued, so I just was like, you know what? I just don't feel like going into work. And my dating life wasn't going great. The last date I had gone on, we went to a Chinese restaurant, and I got a fortune cookie that was like, you'll find love soon. And I showed it to the guy, and he was like, huh? And I was like, oh, that's not a good sign. So that's pretty much where I was. And I was like, you know what? I cannot go into work today. I was like, I have to. Just do something for me. So I took the day off, and I lived in a huge foodie city. So every chain restaurant is, like, banished to the outskirts. There's no chain restaurants, pretty much in this city. So I drove all the way to the outskirts to go to ihop because I was like, I am going to get me some pancakes. And so I go to IHOP to get pancakes. I get out of my car, and lo and behold, on the ground is this old lady. And I'm like. I'm like, oh, my God. Are you okay? And she's like, oh, I hurt my arm. And I'm like, oh, my God. Are you okay? Suddenly, a man in a suit comes running up, and he's like, are you all right? And another woman comes running up, and she's like, mama, what happened? And I'm like, oh, my gosh. What is going on? And the lady is like, oh, I'm okay. I just hurt my arm. She's like, mama, do you still feel like going in and getting pancakes? And she's like, oh, I guess so. So they, like, pull her up and, like. Like, gingerly, like, bring her into ihop. And I, like, follow behind. And they get seated. I get seated, and I'm, like, so excited. Cause I already knew exactly what short stack I was getting. So I was really excited to sit down and eat my pancakes and finally have a good day. I'm eating my pancakes, I look up, and there is the old grandma. And she's like, hey, excuse me. And I'm like, yeah, what's up? She's like, did you see me fall? And I'm like, no, no, I didn't see you fall. And she was like, well, you know, in case I need to, like, sue ihop and I need to get some money from them, I need a witness, so can I get your number? And I was like, oh, my God. I just wanted some fucking pancakes without a scamming granny coming out of nowhere trying to get me to be in her lawsuit against ihop. So I was like, dang, this is a bust. I can't even enjoy my pancakes. So I go home and I'm like, you know what would make this day better? Maybe, like, a fun date, right? And so I, like, bust out my phone, and I pull up Bumble, and I'm like, who did I talk to? Okay, Luca. I was like, Luca's nice. Like, he was cool. So I hit him up, and I'm like, do you want to go on a date? And he was like, yeah. So I'm like, well, let me, like, you know, do my due diligence. Like, let's have a phone call first. So we get on the phone and we talk to each other. And, you know, he seems like a good guy. He seems, like, legit or whatever. And he tells me right before we get off the phone, because I'm like, where should we meet? And he was like, well, you can come to this coffee shop I'm at right now. I'm like, I'm not going to meet you just where you are already, like, out of convenience. He was like, well, the reason I said that is because all the girls that agreed to meet up with me always stand me up. They always ghost me. And I was like, oh, my God, I'm so sorry. You know, like, I definitely am not going to ghost you. I'll definitely meet you. Let's go meet at the Copper Penny. So we go to the Copper Penny and meet up, and when I walk in, he's already there, like, in a corner. And, like, when he sees me, he doesn't, like, light up or, like, he's not friendly. And Warm. Like I'm used to. So, like, I go up there and I'm like, hey, I'm Kyrie. And he's like, hey, I'm Luca. He doesn't, like, order me a drink or anything. I'm like, okay, I'll order. Order my own drink. And we have, like, a fine conversation. But during the conversation, he asked me like, hey, don't you work for the newspaper? And I'm like, yeah, I work for the newspaper. And he's like, okay. So we keep having regular date conversation. And he asked me again, like, you work for the city newspaper, right? And I'm like, yeah. He's like, well, how long have you worked there? I'm like, two years. So we're still talking, and at some point in this conversation, he asked me again, and I'm like, yeah, I work there. I've been there. I work in the newsroom. Like, legit. I work there. And so the date comes to an end, thank God. And he goes his way. And I'm like, okay, I'm gonna go meet up with some friends and go have some dinner. And he's like, okay, cool. So he leaves. I go to my friend John and James house. And so James is like, hey, I'm making dinner. Do you wanna eat? I'm like, sure. So James is in the kitchen making dinner, and John is sitting on the couch. So John is like, hey, how'd your date go? And I was like, it was fine. Nothing special or whatever. And John is like, well, what was his name? I'm like, his name is Luca. He was like, luca? Was it Luca McGinty? And I'm like, I don't know his last name. Bumble doesn't show you their last name. And so he was like, was it. He, like, has his phone, and he's like, boo, boo, boo, boo, Boo. Was this him? And I'm like, yes, that's him. And he was like, oh, shit. Oh, my God. And I'm like, what? What's going on? He's like, oh, shit. James. James, like, get in here right now. And I'm like. I'm like, john, what's going on? Like, what? I'm really scared at this point. So James comes running in from the kitchen, and John goes, james, Kyrie just went on a date with Luca. And so James is like, oh, shit.
Shawn Binder
Oh, shit.
Kyrie Lanise
And I'm like, yo, what? Tell me what's going on? So John is like, Luca McGinty is the entire reason I live here in this city. And I was like, what are you what's happening? Like, please, please tell me at this point. And so he's like, well, Luca actually was in prison because he stabbed a guy with fire poker 69 times. And I was like, what? He's like, I'm serious. And he, like, pulls up the article, the news article from the newspaper that I work for about this man stabbing a guy with a fire poker. Had I done my due diligence and not had a scamming granny, I would have probably, like, found this out. So apparently, Luca went to prison for stabbing a guy with a fire poker, or so legend has it. And he, like, turned his life around while he was in prison, as you do. That's what prison's for. Rehabilitated himself. And he wanted to study the law. And so once he served his time, he applied to the law school in town. And when he applied to the law school, the dean of admissions was so moved by his story that she admitted him into the law school. Well, all the kids who are paying a shit ton of money to study law were like, I don't want to go to law school for murder. You know, I understand. And so eventually, it was so much media attention and so much uproar about this that that dean of admissions got fired or had to leave or whatever happened. And the vice dean of admissions got promoted. My friend John got the position of vice dean of admissions, ended up meeting my good friend James, and that's how they met and fell. Now, I still had just gone on a date with a murderer, though. And so I. So I was shook. I was shooketh. And, you know, I wasn't quite sure what to do at this point. I thought, like, the, you know, fortune cookie date was the worst, but, no. And so, you know, I'm still shook. And, like, you know, me and my friends laugh about it, whatever. A couple of days go by, and I can't remember what I was doing. Like, I think I was, like, out with friends or something. And I never save people's numbers unless, like, I know them for a while. Cause I don't know if I'll, like, need, like, if I will stay in contact. So this particular guy saved his number because I was scared, like, if he ever messaged me or if I accidentally call him or something. So I saved it as killer, right? So when. So two days later, all of a sudden, my phone lights up and it says killer, right? And I didn't have it turned on where you can read the text. Like, you had to open it to read the text. So it just says killer. So like my heart is like pounding, you know, and so I like click on it and it is this most eloquent, like beautiful message I've gotten in forever. And it was like, hi Kyrie, thank you so much for going on a date with me. I just felt like, you know, there wasn't a sp and you know, I didn't want to ghost you or anything. That would be awful. So I just wanted to let you know and I wish you the best on your journey, you know, from Luca. And I was like, oh my God, that's completely fine with me. And that's my story of how I went on a date with a murderer.
Hope Brush
Don't you have anything better to do? I wish the sun someone could hug you Must be lonely being angry feeling overlooked when you sit alone at home in the darkness with all the pent up rage that y harnessed I'm real sorry about whatever happened to you I wanna walk through the park in the dark Men are scared to women in the office I wanna walk through the park in the dark Women are scared and then we'll kill them.
Kyrie Lanise
I hold my keys between my fingers. We'll be right back.
Paul
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Shawn Binder
Simple.
Paul
For millions of businesses, that business is Shopify. Nobody does selling better than Shopify, home of the number one checkout on the planet. And the not so secret secret with shop pay that boosts conversions up to 50%, meaning way less carts going abandoned and way more sales going. So if you're into growing your business, your commerce platform better be ready to sell whenever your customers are scrolling or strolling on the web, in your store, in their feed and everywhere in between. Upgrade your business and get the same checkout experience as business powerhouses like Aloe Allbirds and Skims. Sign up for your $1 per month trial period at shopify.com shop odysseypodcast all lowercase go to shopify.com odyssey podcast to upgrade your selling today. Shopify.com odysseypodcast I've been working with a.
Kyrie Lanise
Nurse dietitian for the last six months and it's been life changing. I've lost weight, healed my relationship with food and have way more energy. Working with a dietitian online to create a personalized nutrition plan was so easy. Thanks to nourish the best, best part.
Hope Brush
I pay $0 out of pocket.
Kyrie Lanise
Because Nourish accepts hundreds of insurance plans, 94% of patients pay $0 out of pocket. Find your dietitian@usenourish.com that's usenourish.com when you.
Shawn Binder
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Hope Brush
Oh no, not before the holidays.
Shawn Binder
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Hope Brush
Thanks Revere. I really should keep Zycam in the house.
Shawn Binder
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Hope Brush
Take it from America's most revered messenger.
Shawn Binder
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Hope Brush
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Shawn Binder
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Courtney Barnett
Buy@Zycam.Com Today's podcast is sponsored by Midi Health. At any given time, 61% of adult women say they want to lose weight, but for many, that's easier said than done. If you've had trouble losing weight, don't lose hope. Midihealth uses a deep understanding of women's hormones and a combination of weight loss medications to create a customized plan for each user. Midihealth can help you achieve more effective and sustainable weight loss by addressing hormone imbalances. Midi can also prescribe proven weight loss medications that help you experience reduced appetite and increased feelings of fullness. When paired with hormone optimization, you're not just managing your weight, you're also supporting your body's natural processes, which means you can overcome those weight loss plateaus that in the past have been so difficult and move beyond. So if you're ready to combine the power of hormones with the power of weight loss medications, visit joinmidi.com today. Discover how this innovative approach can lead you to lasting Success. That's join Midi.com we're back.
Hope Brush
This is Parcels behind me now. We just heard from Kyrie Lanise, followed by a song from Courtney Barnett. As a quick aside, I love Courtney's music and I think one of the reasons why is because her songs are so full of stories and she just puts them to music so well. One of my favorite examples of this from her is a song called Avant Gardner. If you're in the mood to check out a new song, did you know that you can give the gift of a Risk Patreon membership to someone else? It's an easy and thoughtful gift and it'll be helping out the podcast at the same time. Plus, if you gift a full year membership, you actually get 15% off. That's@patreon.com risk gift Next we're going to hear from Sean Binder, who also told this story at the Lyric Hyperion Theater this year. Sean is a copywriter, director, and producer based in Los Angeles. His work has been featured in Vice, Paper Magazine, the Huffington Post, and more. So here's Sean with a story we're calling Seeking Sugar Daddy.
Shawn Binder
My palms are shaking even more than they are now. I am drenched in sweat. I feel like when you eat a bad oyster and you're going to projectile vomit and shit your brains out at the same time. And I'm staring at my computer screen and I'm reading an email from a company that I've worked diligently for for four months that I owe them $12,000. Otherwise they will be taking legal action. Now I personally had never been in a lawsuit situation before, which, based on how I was living at the time, was pretty surprising. I had just gone through a breakup and was going out to WeHo every weekend. And I've been kicked out of many WeHo bars during that time, which I don't know if anyone's been to WeHo, but you have to do some pretty fucked up shit to get kicked out of a West Hollywood bar. But yeah, like every small twinks lawsuit story begins, it begins with a sugar daddy. So I was, like I said, in a new season of my life, I was still living with my ex, who was now sleeping in what used to be my office. And I was working for an Internet startup doing graphic design and social media captions. And I have no formal training in graphic design, so this was a very stressful job for me. In college I took a Photoshop class and when I turned in my final project, my professor was like, so you got the program open? But yeah, I just was hating life. I felt like I was working in a sweatshop factory for puns. And I knew I wanted to write, but my job was taking up all my time. I didn't want to be home. And so I did what any 6 who is delusional enough to think they're an LA8 did. I made a Seeking Arrangements account, which on the way over here I was like googling it. Sugar baby industry, which is what they call it, it's an industry now, which get your money, bitches. Sugar babies can make anywhere from $51,000 a year to 5 million. So I was like playing in the minor leagues. But I actually have a few friends who have had really sweet deals with sugar daddies. I have one friend who met a guy that he would have fucked for free, but he Goes to Vegas every other weekend and they gamble and drink, and he gets to go home with, like, five grand a month and, like, gets to focus on his art. I have another friend who gets venmos from men just for saying mean things to them over text, which was extremely appealing to me because I've been doing that for free my whole fucking life. So I decided this was going to be my avenue. So I put up a few pictures of myself and I made my profile. And I was pretty realistic about the type of men that I was going to attract. You know, this was before the facial hair a few years back. So I just knew that I was going to be attracting the type of man that really likes the boyish look. Like, you know, if that boy did know a lot about postmodern literature and he wouldn't end up in jail if there were naked photos of me on this phone. And I didn't really have any sort of moral dilemma with being a sugar baby. I'm no stranger to what I call sex work light. And that's because what sex workers do is actual work. And what I was doing was just shit I would do for free and getting paid for it. You know, I went to school in Tallahassee, Florida. And I don't know if I'm dating myself, but does anyone remember, like, the Seeking Connections on Craigslist? This was before Grindr. So that was basically like, the most fun I could have in Tallahassee, Florida. And then I think somebody went and murdered a few people and kind of ruined it for all of us. But I had spent a lot of my time in college jerking off in front of fat, repressed, down low husbands. In Tallahassee, Florida. There was this really, really interesting, but kind of cool guy that essentially funded my spring break trip. And he would just, like, text me and have me come over to, like, a Motel 8 and just, like, would watch me hook up with, like, straight guys. And he felt like my fairy godmother that smelled like Slim Jims. I remember being on that cruise and being like, thank you so much for the trade, Dick, and the unlimited beverage package. Thank you so much. There was also that time a guy paid me like 200 bucks to just spank me for 20 minutes. I think it helped me work through some daddy issues. But, yeah, I got on Seeking arrangements and I started to get some messages. And sugar baby interviews are really interesting. They kind of feel more stressful than job interviews because at any point they'll just like, cut you off mid sentence and be like, I don't think it's gonna work out, which is pretty refreshing. I went on one sugar baby interview with a very famous talk show host's orthodontist or, like, cosmetic dentist. I won't say which show host it was, but I will say if everybody looks under their chairs, they got a car. And I remember being at weho Bistro, and I was, like, three aperol spritzes deep already, and he, like, rolls up with a lumbar pillow and is, like, 35 years older than he even looked in his pictures. That didn't really work out that well. He took me after the date to look at carpet samples, and then he was very, very intent on watching me have sex with a guy he knew that looked like Menendez brother. But I was so tipsy after this date, I let him drop me off at home, and then I slept for, like, three weeks with a knife under my pillow. So anyway, it was during this time that I started to piece together. I'm probably not the most ideal candidate to be a sugar baby. I'm not undriven. And I also never shut the fuck up. I'm a yapper. I'm such a yapper. Me and my boyfriend have, like, done this really healthy thing for our relationship, which I have sleep apnea, so I tape my mouth shut every night. And we've decided it would be really therapeutic and healing if he was the one taping my mouth every night. I also really hated just being told to sit around and, like, wait for somebody to tell me we were, like, flying to Paris or doing anything cool. I had shit going on. So that is when I met Paul. And Paul reached out to me, and he was a very old gentleman that lived in San Francisco. He was a businessman. He actually had his own digital marketing agency, which I don't know how he was running it, because he always texted and emailed like he was having a seizure. And this whole business, from what I was able to gather, was run by, like, a weird army of white twinks he had, like, collected over the years. But we had our first phone call, and he was like, I want to fly you out San Francisco. I'll get you a hotel. We don't have to do anything. We can just have dinner. And the day I was supposed to fly out, I got invited to a spring break themed party. And I'm from Florida. I'm not going to ever turn around an opportunity to just, like, be drunk in a speedo in, like, a situation where I have no business being drunk in a speedo. So I told Paul, I said, I'm actually feeling kind of sick. And he PayPal'd me 300 bucks to be like, I'm very serious about meeting you. And thus began the strangest sugar baby sugar daddy relationship ever. We would just, like, talk on the phone once a week, and he'd be like, asking me about my life and my hopes and my dreams. And I would tell him which Law and Order SVU episode I just watched and which friends have my location and how I was raised as a black belt and can kick someone's ass in hand to hand combat. And it's then that he stopped making plans to meet me. And he started saying shit like, I really love your verve or I love your mind, which is sugar daddy speak for I don't want to fuck you because you never shut the fuck up. But he did start giving me work. He did have this digital marketing agency. And I told him I was down on my luck. And so he started giving me these, like, crazy projects. And he would just be like, what's your price? And I would hit him back with like, astronomical estimates. He, like, asked me once for a website for like an air purifier. And I'd be like, oh, it's $10,000. And he'd be like, yeah, let's make it happen. So I would like, deliver him websites that looked like I designed them in Ms. Paint. And then all this money would just appear in my bank account. It was like the most magical year of my life. I was able to move out of my apartment, I was able to buy new clothes. I didn't have to worry about money. I was still spending a fuck ton and going out and being a mess. But everything was going relatively well until Paul linked me with the Germans, which is just as fucking ominous as it sounds. And I'm German, I'm allowed to say that. So this German company was launching a new app in the United States, and it was specifically for soccer moms who want to, like, coordinate practices or. Yeah. Which I don't know why group text wouldn't work. But anyway, they needed an influencer strategy, which is basically me sourcing mommy influencers, the darkest subculture on the net, and telling them how many blog posts we want and how many videos. So I did not want to do this. I didn't want to deal with these mommy influencers. So I told this German company, I will do the strategy for a fucking crazy amount of money as long as I don't interact with these moms. His army of twinks was gonna handle it. And I was just gonna train them. So all was good. I signed the contract, I get them the proposal for all the mommy influencers we want to work with, and I am fucking swiping my credit card like Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman. I'm just going fucking ham when I get an email that Paul is dead. He died when I said he was texting me like he was having a seizure. He might have been. So I'm sitting there staring at this email that Paul is dead, thinking about how I just bought everybody and their fucking mother at the bar last night shots. So being scrappy, I said, hey, I'm so sorry about Paul. This is a really hard time for everybody. For an additional fee, I will deal with the mommy influencers. And before Paul's body is even cold, I have doubled my revenue in a month. Here's to you, Paul. So life goes on. You know, I don't really think much about Paul. I'm just doing my thing, dealing with these mommy influencers. Fucking crazy. But I get it done, and I submit my last invoice, and they're like, what the fuck do you mean, we owe you 10 grand? They tried to pull a fast one and say that because I never signed a new contract with them, that all the work that I did was invalid and now I owed them money back. Or I just had to keep working for them until we broke even, which the money was already fucking spent, babe. So I panic. I think I have gray hairs in my beard, specifically from this email that I got saying they wanted to take legal action. So I did what any rational person in this situation would do. I told them, come fucking get it. And then I blocked them. And so I haven't done storytelling in a minute. I've been on a little hiatus, and when I was writing this story, I was thinking about Paul more than I think I ever had before. I think, like, I would always tell him details about my life, but I never asked him about his. And I think I always kind of pitied him. I was like, oh, my gosh, you have to pay for me to talk to you on the phone. Like, that's crazy. In my mind, he went home and he made himself like a sad little TV dinner and, like, just waited by the phone for me. But when I was doing the story, I actually decided to look him up. I was like, who is this person? Who is this guardian seizure having angel that saved me during a time in my life where I was really lonely? And I just kind of want to pay respect to Paul and read a little bit of a eulogy that I found online for him that kind of, like, put everything into perspective for me. Paul, he was a life force, a gentle soul, a fantastic dresser, and a terrible speller. Fuck, yeah, he was. He shared his wine. He reached for the check. He did the work to bring his industry friends together over lavished meals that he couldn't enjoy himself later in his life, he always would pivot to the conversation, too. But I want to hear about you. How are you doing? And if I could answer Paul's question, I would tell him that I'm doing much better and I never got sued. Thank you all so much.
Kyrie Lanise
All I need is sugar daddy he could be my friend and if I needed a little money I know he would lend me lend me a hand but when it comes to love he better leave me alone.
Hope Brush
This is Risk, and this is Fleetwood Mac behind me now. We just heard from Sean Binder. You can find Sean online@seanbinder.com that's with a W. You or that binder dude on Instagram. Okay, so I know it's gonna be a busy few weeks for a lot of you as the holidays get underway, but don't forget that we'll be back every week throughout the end of the year with brand new content. This holiday episode next week is going to be stacked, so you definitely don't want to miss it. And, hey, maybe you can also make a New Year's resolution to pitch us a story in 2025. We would love to hear it. All right, that's all for this week. Kevin will be back next time. But until then, remember, today's the day. Take a risk.
Kyrie Lanise
Hey, folks, there's so much more of.
Shawn Binder
Risk in the holiday season. Risk is always publishing new episodes and new stories as well as holiday favorites.
Kyrie Lanise
This holiday season, don't forget, click on Risk.
Podcast Summary: RISK! Episode "Mr. Wrong"
Title: RISK!
Host: Kevin Allison
Episode: Mr. Wrong
Release Date: December 17, 2024
Introduction
In the "Mr. Wrong" episode of RISK!, host Kevin Allison delves into the tumultuous and unpredictable nature of romantic relationships. The episode features raw, unfiltered true stories from individuals who have navigated the rocky terrain of love and dating, often encountering unexpected and jaw-dropping situations. This summary highlights the two main stories presented in the episode: "Killer Instincts" by Kyrie Lanise and "Seeking Sugar Daddy" by Shawn Binder.
Timestamp: 03:45 - 13:41
Overview: Kyrie Lanise recounts a harrowing experience of unknowingly dating a convicted murderer. Her story encapsulates themes of trust, vulnerability, and the unforeseen dangers that can lurk beneath seemingly ordinary circumstances.
Detailed Summary:
Kyrie begins by setting the stage in her early thirties, detailing her dissatisfaction with her job in a newsroom where she felt undervalued and her stagnant dating life. Seeking solace, she decides to treat herself by visiting an IHOP, only to encounter an elderly woman who awkwardly attempts to involve Kyrie in a dubious lawsuit against the restaurant (00:14 - 03:45). This bizarre interaction sets the tone for the unexpected events that follow.
Feeling disheartened, Kyrie turns to the dating app Bumble and connects with a man named Luca. Their initial phone conversations seem promising, leading Kyrie to arrange a date at a local coffee shop. However, the meetup is underwhelming; Luca appears disinterested and unengaged, raising red flags for Kyrie. Despite the lackluster date, she attempts to shake off the disappointment by meeting friends for dinner.
Upon discussing the date with her friend John, Kyrie learns a shocking truth: Luca McGinty was convicted of stabbing a man with a fire poker 69 times. John reveals that Luca had served time in prison, rehabilitated himself, and was admitted to law school—a move that stirred significant controversy and led to the firing of the dean of admissions. This revelation leaves Kyrie in a state of disbelief and fear, realizing she had unknowingly dated a convicted murderer (09:45 - 13:41).
Notable Quotes:
Kyrie Lanise (07:30): "I just wanted some fucking pancakes without a scamming granny coming out of nowhere trying to get me to be in her lawsuit against IHOP."
Kyrie Lanise (12:15): "I was shook. And, like, you know, me and my friends laugh about it, whatever."
Insights:
Kyrie's story underscores the unpredictability of online dating and the potential dangers of not thoroughly vetting one's romantic interests. It also highlights the emotional turmoil that can result from discovering unsettling truths about someone you trusted.
Timestamp: 19:18 - 33:47
Overview: Shawn Binder shares his tumultuous journey into the world of sugar dating, navigating the complexities of financial dependency, personal boundaries, and eventual legal entanglements. His narrative explores the blurred lines between transactional relationships and genuine human connections.
Detailed Summary:
Shawn opens by describing a period of personal instability marked by a breakup, financial strain, and a high-stress job at an internet startup where he struggled due to lack of formal training in graphic design. Desperate for financial relief, Shawn turns to Seeking Arrangements, hoping to find a "sugar daddy" to alleviate his monetary woes (19:18 - 23:00).
Initially, Shawn experiences success, receiving substantial financial support from Paul, an older gentleman who manages a digital marketing agency staffed by an unconventional team. Through Paul, Shawn gains access to profitable projects, allowing him to stabilize his finances and improve his lifestyle. However, the relationship remains superficial, with Paul rarely meeting Shawn in person and maintaining a distant demeanor (23:01 - 28:00).
The turning point comes when Paul unexpectedly dies, leaving Shawn to handle ongoing projects and manage financial obligations without his primary benefactor. Facing legal threats for unpaid services rendered to a German company, Shawn recounts his panic and the subsequent fallout from failed business dealings. He reflects on the hollow nature of his relationship with Paul, recognizing that while it provided financial stability, it lacked genuine emotional connection (28:01 - 33:47).
Notable Quotes:
Shawn Binder (25:50): "I thought, like, the fortune cookie date was the worst, but, no."
Shawn Binder (32:30): "Paul was a life force, a gentle soul, a fantastic dresser, and a terrible speller. Fuck, yeah, he was."
Insights:
Shawn's narrative delves into the precarious balance between financial necessity and personal integrity. It raises questions about the sustainability of transactional relationships and the emotional costs associated with them. Moreover, his story highlights the potential legal and personal repercussions of entering into such arrangements without comprehensive understanding and safeguards.
Conclusion
The "Mr. Wrong" episode of RISK! offers a compelling exploration of modern relationships fraught with unexpected challenges and moral complexities. Through Kyrie Lanise's chilling encounter with a convicted murderer and Shawn Binder's tangled involvement in sugar dating, the episode underscores the unforeseen risks that can accompany the search for love and stability. These narratives serve as cautionary tales about the importance of due diligence, emotional resilience, and the unpredictable nature of human connections.
Notable Moments Beyond the Main Stories:
Hope Brush's Holiday Segment (00:45 - 02:05): Encourages listeners to share their memorable holiday stories, emphasizing the chaotic and unpredictable nature of the holiday season.
Advertisements and Sponsorships (Various Timestamps): Includes promotions for DSW shoes, Klarna payment services, Instacart's deal week, Shopify's business solutions, and more. While these segments provide commercial breaks, they also offer insights into products and services relevant to the listeners.
Musical Interludes: Features songs by Courtney Barnett and Fleetwood Mac, enhancing the storytelling atmosphere typical of RISK!'s production style.
Reflections:
"Mr. Wrong" masterfully intertwines humor, suspense, and genuine emotion, inviting listeners to reflect on their own experiences with risk-taking in relationships. The episode reinforces RISK!'s mission to present unabashedly honest and often provocative true stories, encouraging audiences to embrace vulnerability and share their own tales of personal audacity.