The Best of RISK! #36

Twice a year we gather the best of the best from the last six months. This round holds three. (Content note: suicide) At fifteen, Richard Velazquez steps onto a 1986 Lower East Side corner for his first crack sale, carrying the demon-fear of a Jehovah's Witness childhood and a father who has started smoking his own supply. His first customer changes everything in a heartbeat. Cassidy Krug dives nine years for Frank, a coach who throws his aviators and screams until the vein in his forehead pops, all while swearing he can put her on an Olympic team. She still wonders whether it was abuse or the only road to greatness. (Content note: sexual assault, homicide, suicidal ideation) Annie Carnrike and her cousin Michael are close as siblings, and when Annie comes out as trans, he is the one who loves her with no "but." Then one drunken Thanksgiving night, Michael breaks down her door, and Annie fights for her life. Support Annie in overcoming her ongoing struggles with the justice system and in her campaigning for the legal rights of trans people by leveraging her story at https://www.gofundme.com/f/justice-and-dignity-for-annie-g Leave your thoughts on the stories, and find full episode details and music credits, at risk-show.com/podcast/the-best-of-risk-36  You can find all of our Best of RISK! episodes at risk-show.com/bestofrisk  Be Part of RISK! 🎟 See RISK! live⁠ in New York City (Tuesday, December 8) ✍️ Pitch your story⁠ ❤️ Support us on Patreon⁠ 💵 Make a one-time donation⁠⁠ via PayPal or Zelle to kevin@risk-show.com 📚 Shop merch or the RISK! book⁠ 🎓 Take storytelling classes with us⁠ 🎥 Hire Kevin as a coach or get personalized videos Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices