Rewind with Karen & Georgia - 86: Live at the Enmore Theatre

Summary of Rewind with Karen & Georgia - 86: Live at the Enmore Theatre

by Exactly Right and iHeartPodcasts

1h 23m•March 4, 2026
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Overview of Rewind with Karen & Georgia — Episode 86: Live at the Enmore Theatre

This Rewind episode revisits My Favorite Murder’s live show at Sydney’s Enmore Theatre (original episode published Sept 14, 2017). Karen and Georgia recap a memorable night: a highly charged heckling incident that became a viral moment, the overwhelmingly supportive Australian fan response (including a fundraiser), and several of the stories they told on stage — most notably Carolyn “Auntie Carrie” Grills (thallium poisonings), the 1935 Shark‑Arm case, and the hometown segment on John Wayne Glover (“the Granny Killer”). The episode mixes true crime storytelling with candid reflections about performing live and the emotional aftermath of the heckle.

Key segments & moments

  • Live show context

    • Location: Enmore Theatre, Sydney, Australia (tour stop).
    • Original air date: September 14, 2017.
    • Tone: comedy + true crime live show with audience Q&A/VIP interactions, snacks (Tim Tams), and on-stage banter.

  • Heckling incident and aftermath

    • During the show a man loudly heckled (shouting “This is shite”), which felt prolonged and upsetting to the hosts and parts of the audience.
    • Georgia was targeted; she became emotional on stage. Karen stepped in to calm the room and defend the tone and intent of the show.
    • Community response: Fans (led by Denisa and Nadine) launched an “Oh Yeah” campaign and raised roughly $9,000 for women’s organizations in Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney — a major, positive outcome.
    • Hosts’ message: they stressed their intent to support victims and acknowledged how sensitive live performances can be.

  • Stories told on stage (summaries below)

    • Carolyn (Caroline) Grills — suspected thallium poisoner in mid‑20th century Australia.
    • Shark‑Arm murder — the 1935 case where a shark regurgitated a severed, tattooed arm leading to a tangled criminal investigation (Jim Smith, Reginald Holmes, Patrick Brady).
    • Hometown: John Wayne Glover — Sydney serial killer who targeted elderly women (“Granny Killer”).

  • Audience & backstage color

    • VIP stories: fans shared personal struggles (anxiety, police officers who listen to the show, etc.).
    • Light bits: riffs about Spanx, chairs breaking, “piles of thighs” (rugby), lollies/Tim Tams, and stage rug/prop running jokes.
    • Guest moment: audience member Jo moonwalked on stage and delivered a hometown story (and promoted her cult podcast Zealot).

Story summaries (concise)

Carolyn “Auntie Carrie” Grills (thallium poisoning)

  • Era: 1940s–1950s, Sydney area.
  • Allegations: Aunt Carrie (Carolyn Grills) prepared cakes/tea and was later linked to multiple illnesses and deaths with symptoms consistent with thallium poisoning (hair loss, nervous disorders, progressive blindness, loss of speech).
  • Evidence: Police found thallium traces in food and in pockets of garments; exhumations revealed thallium in some earlier victims.
  • Legal outcome: Charged with several murders; convicted for at least one attempted murder (survivor). Death sentence later commuted to life; she died in prison (1960). Motive remains unclear.

Shark‑Arm murders (Coogee / “Coochie” Baths, 1935)

  • Incident: A shark kept in the Coogee baths became ill and vomited, revealing a severed human arm with a distinctive tattoo.
  • Identification: The arm was traced to missing boxer and billiards‑hall owner Jim Smith.
  • Investigation: Ties led to a smuggling/criminal circle including Reginald Holmes and forger Patrick Brady. Holmes later survived a self‑inflicted gunshot but then was murdered; Brady was charged but acquitted. Jim Smith’s body (besides the arm) was never recovered.
  • Later coverage: A detailed book published in 2020 — Shark Arm: A Shark, a Tattooed Arm and Two Unsolved Murders (Philip Roop & Kevin Meagher). The case remains one of Australia’s classic unsolved mysteries.

John Wayne Glover (“the Granny Killer”)

  • Era: late 1980s, North Shore suburbs (Sydney).
  • Modus: Attacked elderly women (often hitting them with a hammer) and stole small amounts of cash after delivering pies to nursing homes. He was eventually caught; the hosts briefly summarized the case in the hometown segment.
  • Outcome: Convicted; died in custody (circumstances referenced in the original show).

Main takeaways

  • Live performances can amplify vulnerability: an audience heckle can feel much larger than its actual duration and have emotional impact on performers.
  • The MFM community responded constructively: fans turned a negative moment into a fundraiser and broad show of support for victims and the hosts.
  • The live show highlights the podcast’s dual mandate: combine true crime storytelling with comedy while maintaining respect for victims — and the occasional onstage screw‑up or sensitive moment is handled in real time.
  • The Shark‑Arm case and the Grills poisonings remain fascinating historical mysteries with continuing cultural curiosity and follow‑up material (books, museum writeups).

Notable quotes / lines

  • “This is my favorite murder — a true crime podcast that’s also a comedy podcast.”
  • “We’re here to represent and support the victims.”
  • On the heckling: “It was a guy yelling, this is shite… it’s rude and jarring and upsetting, but it’s still not like assault.”
  • On fan action: “Australia, you guys responded in the fucking coolest way … as of 6 o’clock today it’s $9,000 going to women's organizations.”
  • Sign‑off from the stage: “Stay sexy and don’t get mad.” (live variation recorded in the episode)

Updates & further resources

  • Shark Arm book (2020): Shark Arm — A Shark, a Tattooed Arm and Two Unsolved Murders by Philip Roop & Kevin Meagher.
  • Primary sources referenced in the episode: Sydney Crime Museum writeups and The Dictionary of Sydney (historical archives).
  • No new legal updates for the Carolyn Grills or John Wayne Glover cases were noted in this Rewind episode.

Recommendations / Next steps for listeners

  • If you liked the live energy, listen to the original Episode 86 (My Favorite Murder live at the Enmore Theatre, Sept 14, 2017) for the full performance and audience reactions.
  • For deeper reading on the Shark‑Arm case, pick up the 2020 book by Roop & Meagher.
  • If the heckle and fan fundraising resonated, consider supporting local women’s organizations or charities featured by fan fundraisers (hosts mentioned money going to Brisbane/Melbourne/Sydney women’s orgs).
  • Expect the show’s mix of humor and true crime to occasionally lead to intense live moments; the hosts and community often respond by centering victims and supporting each other.

Quick episode highlights (one‑line bullets)

  • Live show disrupted by a loud heckler; fans responded by raising ~$9,000 for women’s groups.
  • Georgia and Karen discuss emotional impact and community support after the heckling.
  • Featured stories: Carolyn Grills (thallium poisoner), the Shark‑Arm murders (1935), and John Wayne Glover (Granny Killer).
  • Behind‑the‑scenes color: Tim Tams, rugby riffs, broken chairs, stage rug bit, VIP interactions, and a moonwalking hometown guest.

Sources mentioned or useful if you want to dive deeper: original Episode 86 (My Favorite Murder live, Sept 14 2017), Sydney Crime Museum, Dictionary of Sydney, and the Shark Arm book (Roop & Meagher, 2020).