<p>Kevin Allison, creator of the RISK! podcast, recounts a high school prank at an all-boys Jesuit school in 1986. After a crush teased him by repeatedly spitting on him, Kevin later mailed him a sealed container of feces labeled “enjoy the cookies.” </p><p><br></p><p>In retelling the story, Kevin considers how the prank mixes humiliation and a possible form of intimacy, situated within his experience of growing up gay under Catholic doctrine. For Kevin, telling such stories has become an opportunity for self-reflection. </p><p><br></p><p>Beyond this, Kevin argues that sharing what is usually considered “unmentionable” can create a distinct form of connection: moments of vulnerability tend to draw listeners in rather than push them away. Thus, the points of greatest risk are often where an audience leans in most.</p><p><br></p><p>Chapters:</p><p>[00:00] The Mailing Feces Prank</p><p>[12:49] Why the &quot;Unmentionable&quot; Matters</p><p>[14:20] Coming Out Under Catholicism</p><p>[18:09] Starting RISK!</p><p>[23:02] Teaching Storytelling</p><p>[35:41] Revisiting Old Stories</p><p>[42:22] Audience Backlash</p><p>[47:36] What are &quot;Safe Spaces&quot;</p><p>[56:09] How Memory Alters a Story</p><p>[01:03:29] Closing Remarks</p><p><br></p><p>Find the RISK! podcast here: https://www.risk-show.com/</p><p><br></p><p>Subscribe on Substack: https://braininavat.substack.com/</p>