Overview of Rewind with Karen & Georgia — 80: Live At The Rams Head Live
This is a Rewind episode (recap + new commentary) of episode 80 of My Favorite Murder — recorded live at Rams Head Live in Baltimore. Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark revisit the live show (originally released Aug 3, 2017), riffing on tour life, audience interactions and several true‑crime stories they covered in that live set: the Maryland killing spree of Joseph Palczynski and the New Jersey serial murders carried out by Joseph Kallinger (with his son Michael). The episode mixes true‑crime retellings with live-show banter, hometown submissions from audience members, and many off-script anecdotes.
Episode structure (what’s in this episode)
- Live-show banter and crowd interaction (birthday bits, travel & wardrobe stories, food detours like Arby’s/White Castle attempts).
- Main case 1: Joseph Palczynski — recap of his Baltimore/Eastern Maryland killing spree, the abduction of Tracy Whitehead, other victims, the manhunt, the motel/woods sequence and Palczynski’s death during police action.
- Main case 2: Joseph Kallinger — Kallinger (the “shoemaker”) and his son Michael: background, horrific crimes across New Jersey/Pennsylvania in the 1970s, arrests, convictions and prison outcomes.
- Live hometown submissions from the crowd — two audience members present short, local murder stories: the WVU co‑ed murders (unsolved case) and a personal story about a dating/Outback/Quiznos connection to a New York murder.
- Listener email read‑throughs and short updates (no major law‑enforcement updates for the two main cases presented).
Key takeaways / facts from the cases covered
- Joseph Palczynski (transcribed in various spellings during the show) — Maryland killing spree:
- Palczynski abducted and terrorized Tracy Whitehead, murdered multiple victims (including the homeowners Gloria and George in one incident), and triggered a large manhunt in the Baltimore area.
- Tracy Whitehead survived and later received national attention (Howard Stern anecdote in the episode: she won a prize in Vegas in the real story).
- Palczynski was located and shot by law enforcement during the manhunt (the hosts quote the on‑scene outcome).
- Joseph Kallinger — “the shoemaker” (real name Joseph Kallinger):
- Kallinger had an extremely abusive childhood and violent history as an adult; he and his teenage son Michael committed multiple home invasions, sexual assaults and murders in the mid‑1970s.
- He was convicted of numerous crimes (including the murder of a child) and sentenced to long prison terms and/or life; his crimes include particularly gruesome torture and mutilation.
- Kallinger died while incarcerated in the 1990s (hosts relate a seizure/vomiting death; Kallinger died in custody).
(Notes: the live transcript contains misspellings and rough names — the hosts themselves riff on spellings and visuals during the show. I used the commonly reported names Joseph Palczynski and Joseph Kallinger to match the historical record.)
Notable live-show moments, tone & audience bits
- Heavy banter about tour life: hotels, bad flights, dancing on planes, clothing (“the Sophisticated Miss” dress), and food stops (failed White Castle run, the “Meatnado” at Arby’s).
- The hosts frequently flip between dark humor and empathy. Moments of laughter are interspersed with clearly emotional responses when they describe victims and survivors.
- Crowd participation: a few audience members were invited onstage to read hometown cases; energetic, conversational atmosphere.
- Recurring buzzphrase: “Stay sexy” and the hosts’ characteristic asides (e.g., joking about unions, Xanax anecdotes).
- Sponsors and ad reads are interlaced throughout (typical podcast ad cadence present).
Hometown segments (audience-submitted)
- West Virginia co‑ed murders:
- Audience member’s mother (an x‑ray tech) first encountered evidence at the morgue; victims were found headless per the listener’s account.
- Case history: an anonymous tip led police to the bodies; a man later confessed in jail then recanted. The case remains complicated and was described during the episode as reopened but ultimately unsolved.
- Personal New York story (woman who dated a man later implicated in the disappearance/murder of a young woman):
- The guest’s friend unwittingly stayed overnight at the suspect’s apartment; the missing woman’s body was later found in a closet. The friend cooperated with police and later dated a state trooper; the story is personal, charged and handled onstage as a listener contribution.
Episode updates & outcomes mentioned by hosts
- No recent updates for the West Virginia co‑ed murders — presented as unsolved in this episode.
- Michael (Kallinger’s son) was placed under supervision and eventually moved into foster care/changed identity as young adult (hosts say he was treated by authorities as a manipulated accomplice). Kallinger served long sentences and died in custody.
- Palczynski: hosts describe his death during the manhunt — he was shot by police after the extended search.
Notable quotes & lines (for flavor)
- “Stay sexy.” — live sign‑off and catchphrase.
- “This is restoration, not reinvention.” — playful lines in live banter.
- “We could call it Ending in the Middle.” — hosts’ commentary on how they sometimes structure stories.
Why listen to (or revisit) this episode
- It captures the dynamic of a live MFM show: improvisational riffs, audience interaction, and candid onstage chemistry.
- The two main cases (Palczynski and Kallinger) are presented as classic examples of violent, complicated offenders with elements of survival, police manhunts, and long sentences — useful if you want an emotionally charged, dramatized account.
- The hometown segments give a window into how local communities and survivors process crime, and they show the variety of ways listeners connect with the show.
Further reading / research suggestions
- To verify details or read full case records, search reputable news archives and court records for:
- Joseph Palczynski (Maryland manhunt / 2000 spree; abduction of Tracy Whitehead).
- Joseph Kallinger (New Jersey serial killer in the 1970s; crimes with son Michael).
- “WVU coed murders” (to follow up on the listener’s WVU submission and official case history).
- For contextual reading about why offenders manipulate or recruit teens, look for academic sources on coercive control, grooming, and criminal psychology.
Tone & trigger note
- This live episode contains frank discussion of sexual violence, torture, home invasions and graphic details. Expect dark content and trigger material typical of My Favorite Murder.
If you want a tighter, bulletized timeline for either main case (Palczynski or Kallinger), I can produce a one‑page timeline summary with verified dates and sources.