Rewind with Karen & Georgia - 51: A Bit of Oblivion

Summary

Podcast Summary: My Favorite Murder with Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark

Episode: Rewind with Karen & Georgia - 51: A Bit of Oblivion
Release Date: July 2, 2025
Hosts: Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark
Network: Exactly Right and iHeartPodcasts

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1. Introduction: Closing an Era (00:02:03 - 00:08:00)

In this special episode of "Rewind with Karen and Georgia," the hosts reflect on the conclusion of an important chapter in their podcasting journey. Karen and Georgia announce that this is the last episode recorded in Georgia's old apartment, affectionately dubbed the "OG My Favorite Murder Studios." They express bittersweet emotions about leaving behind the "beautiful, seafoam green kind of, like, retro situation" that had become synonymous with their show.

Notable Quote:

Karen Kilgariff: "This is a show where we recap our old episodes and we bring you all new case updates and insights and all the news that's fit to print." (02:03)

2. Revisiting Episode #51: A Bit of Oblivion (00:08:00 - 00:14:00)

Karen and Georgia listen to the introduction of their original Episode 51, "A Bit of Oblivion," reminiscing about the creativity and camaraderie that characterized their early days. They fondly recall their collaborator, Stephen, who contributed significantly to the show's ambiance with his musical talents.

Notable Quote:

Georgia Hardstark: "You're so red right now, Stephen. You're the color of your red beanie. And I love it, and it's cute, and I love it." (05:00)

3. Personal Anecdotes: Moving and Milestones (00:14:00 - 00:27:00)

The conversation shifts to personal stories, including Georgia's moving experience and a heartfelt account of her fiancé Vince's unconventional proposal. They discuss the emotional weight of leaving their familiar recording space and the excitement (and nervousness) about setting up in a new environment.

Notable Quote:

Georgia Hardstark: "We did it together. So this is episode 51. And my bags are packed and I'm ready to go. And this is the last episode..." (07:21)

4. Reflecting on the Menendez Brothers Case (00:10:00 - 00:20:00)

Karen and Georgia delve into the infamous case of the Menendez brothers, exploring the complexities and evolving perceptions over the years. They dissect the brothers' courtroom defenses, societal reactions, and the eventual sentences handed down. The hosts offer their theories on the motivations behind the murders, contemplating the interplay of familial abuse and sociopathic tendencies.

Notable Quote:

Karen Kilgariff: "I'm glad we have a little more nuance nowadays to this sort of thing." (17:16)

5. Survivor Stories: Jennifer Holiday’s Bravery (00:18:00 - 00:43:00)

A significant portion of the episode is dedicated to recounting Jennifer Holiday's harrowing experience of surviving a brutal attack. Karen narrates the events in detail, highlighting Jennifer's quick thinking and resilience that led to her survival. The hosts discuss the psychological and physical aftermath, emphasizing Jennifer's journey of healing and the medical assistance that aided her recovery.

Notable Quote:

Karen Kilgariff: "She's just like, you can't... She "*** [00:36:12] ***is walking up this hill trying to get to the ambulance, and she's like..." *** [00:37:22] *** "She was thinking, like, what. She was positive she was gonna die in the cemetery house that she ended up at. And so the fact that when she got on that 911 call, she got to talk to this woman who got her shit, who picked up on the game..." (37:22)

6. Megan’s Law: Advocacy Born from Tragedy (00:46:00 - 01:02:00)

Transitioning to another pivotal story, Karen and Georgia explore the origins and impact of Megan's Law, a legislation inspired by the tragic murder of seven-year-old Megan Kanka. They detail Jesse Tamendegoss's heinous crimes, his manipulative behavior, and the subsequent legal repercussions that led to his life sentences. The episode underscores the relentless advocacy of Megan's parents, Richard and Maureen, whose determination led to significant legal reforms aimed at protecting children from sexual offenders.

Notable Quote:

Georgia Hardstark: "Richard and Maureen, badass motherfuckers, go on a crusade to change the law. They demand mandatory community notification of sex offenders." (55:54)

7. The Positive Outcomes: Law Changes and Awareness (01:02:00 - 01:22:00)

Despite the grim subject matter, the hosts highlight the positive changes that emerged from these tragedies. They discuss how Megan’s Law enhanced community safety through mandatory registration and public notification of sex offenders, potentially preventing future crimes. Karen and Georgia commend the resilience of Megan’s parents and their unwavering commitment to safeguarding children.

Notable Quote:

Georgia Hardstark: "It's important. This is why it's not just some... It's not arguing that I'm better than that. But this is an important one." (56:02)

8. Personal Interests and Recommendations: Balancing Dark Topics (01:22:00 - 01:44:00)

Shifting gears, Karen and Georgia share their current interests outside of true crime, including favorite TV shows like "Fleabag," "Search Party," and "Black Mirror." They discuss how engaging with creative and emotionally resonant media helps them process and balance the intense subject matter of their podcast. The hosts also engage in light-hearted banter about their viewing habits and personal preferences.

Notable Quote:

Georgia Hardstark: "It's the most beautiful love story. So it's just... I shouldn't have said that." (75:14)

9. Closing Thoughts: Embracing Change and Continuing the Journey (01:44:00 - End)

As the episode concludes, Karen and Georgia reflect on the significance of revisiting past episodes and the growth they've experienced as hosts. They express gratitude toward their listeners and reaffirm their commitment to bringing both heavy and uplifting stories to their audience. The hosts emphasize the importance of community and continued advocacy for change, ending the episode on a note of hope and resilience.

Notable Quote:

Karen Kilgariff: "We love you and stay sexy and don't get murdered." (76:38)

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Conclusion

In "Rewind with Karen & Georgia - 51: A Bit of Oblivion," Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark offer a profound blend of reflection, storytelling, and personal insight. They honor the legacy of their podcasting roots while highlighting transformative true crime stories that underscore the themes of survival, advocacy, and legislative change. This episode serves both as a nostalgic journey and an inspiring testament to the enduring impact of "My Favorite Murder."

Transcript

[Karen Kilgariff]

This is exactly right.

[Georgia Hardstark]

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[Karen Kilgariff]

A woman announces on Facebook that she has Covid and won't be seeking medical attention. I didn't want to be talked out of this plan.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Then she disappears. Anyone else think this is strange?

[Karen Kilgariff]

I just had to know, how did this happen? Listen to what happened to Talina zar.

[Georgia Hardstark]

On the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Wherever you get your podcasts.

[Georgia Hardstark]

In 2012, 16 year old Brian Herrera.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Was gunned down in broad daylight on.

[Georgia Hardstark]

His way to do homework. No suspects, no witnesses, no justice.

[Karen Kilgariff]

I would ask my husband, do you.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Want me to stop? He was like, no, keep fighting. After nearly a decade, a breakthrough changed everything.

[Karen Kilgariff]

This is Cold Case Files Miami. Stories of families who never stopped fighting. Listen to Cold Case Files Miami on.

[Georgia Hardstark]

The iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. Hello and welcome to Rewind with Karen and Georgia.

[Karen Kilgariff]

This is a show where we recap our old episodes and we bring you all new case updates and insights and all the news that's fit to print.

[Georgia Hardstark]

And this is actually the last episode that we recorded in my old apartment. The OG my favorite murder studios. It's kind of bittersweet.

[Karen Kilgariff]

I mean, it was a really. It was an era. We talk about it in this episode of how it's the end of an era.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Definitely. So this episode came out on January 12, 2017.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Let's listen to the intro of episode 51. A bit of oblivion.

[Georgia Hardstark]

It sounds like scary. Bless the rain. Is that in Africa? What's that one?

[Karen Kilgariff]

It does. Wait. My favorite bird.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Stephen. It's good.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Liv has like seven. Seven.

[Georgia Hardstark]

And he's just beatboxing over it.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Hold on.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Yeah. Stephen. I love it.

[Karen Kilgariff]

How many minutes long is this?

[Georgia Hardstark]

It just. It just fades out like this. Put that up on something. My face is burning. I just. I love it. I miss making music. So it was just like, oh, my gosh. And I'm moving. And I was. Of course he did. He, like, heard a thing that we wanted and he's like, not us. But, like, in life, this is why you're gonna fucking rule the world. I'm very ready, Karen. Looks very obvious.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Did you guys talk about this before?

[Georgia Hardstark]

No. I have no idea what's going on.

[Karen Kilgariff]

But I wish you could see that from my point of view how insane that was.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Steven is great.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Steven, you've done it.

[Georgia Hardstark]

You did it.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Steven, you've really done it now in the breakdown part where you're really kind of getting into it and you're really singing what was going through your head in that part when you were recording it?

[Georgia Hardstark]

I just like the samba part. And I was like, well, I gotta make this an actual cover. So, yeah, I just kind of vamped on the. I didn't think of inventing new lyrics or anything.

[Karen Kilgariff]

No, but I'm saying, like, you did, but you really went for an unextended part where you kind of got emotional at the end.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Yeah, it's fun.

[Karen Kilgariff]

I don't know.

[Georgia Hardstark]

I just kind of was.

[Karen Kilgariff]

You just let it out.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Yeah.

[Karen Kilgariff]

You just let out your feelings. Well, thank you so much.

[Georgia Hardstark]

I love it.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Thanks, Dan.

[Georgia Hardstark]

All right. Episode 51, play it again. They're gonna just make me play it.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Over and over again.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Episode 51, the one they played over and over and over again.

[Karen Kilgariff]

I just want to, like, verse after verse after verse where he's just like, I started working for them.

[Georgia Hardstark]

And then there's the. There's the, like. Yeah, there's like, the breakdown where it's like Elvis's meow, and it's like, breaking it down. That's good. You're so red right now, Steven. You're the color of your red beanie. And I love it, and it's cute, and I love it. Steven, you're being so quiet. Hey, this is my favorite murder.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Welcome to my favorite murder.

[Georgia Hardstark]

What's up? Hi.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Hi.

[Georgia Hardstark]

That's Karen.

[Karen Kilgariff]

That's Georgia.

[Georgia Hardstark]

This is my favorite murder.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Do you like murder? You come to the right place.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Do you not like murder? Go away.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Give it a try.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Oh, go give it a try.

[Karen Kilgariff]

I mean, who knows? Yeah, everybody thinks they don't like murder.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Oh, my God.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Till you hear a real good story about it.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Yeah, everyone thinks they. I hate that when they're like, you're creepy like murder. And like. Well, I have this really interesting story. You're like, everyone fucking loves murder.

[Karen Kilgariff]

People love a good story.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Come on, man.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Don't judge us. This is just like Steven's theme song. Don't judge it. Until you get all the way through to the emotional twice. Yeah, you should listen to it. Twice, for sure.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Listen to this podcast twice, please.

[Karen Kilgariff]

And then stare at us while our face gets red.

[Georgia Hardstark]

I was listening to the last episode. I don't listen to a lot of episodes anymore because, like, it's just, like, hard. But I was listening to the last one just for quality control. And I was cleaning the house, and I just started. I had my earphones in, and Vince was, like, doing another thing, and I just started cracking up so loudly. At some point, something that we talked about, and it's like, partly it's funny, but it's also like, I'm laughing at how, like, how fun our friendship is and, like, these things. Like, it's funny to me because I know what's going on. And he was like, are you okay? And I had to take out my headphones and mean, like, I'm laughing at my own podcast. I'm sorry.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Have you ever had the thing where your podcast starts, like, I never close windows on my phone correctly. So if I'm listening to our podcast in the car, and then I'll walk in somewhere, and then, like, in the grocery store, our podcast will start. So it's like me and my own podcast standing there.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Oh, my God.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Trying to press stuff. Like, the harder you touch it, the more it won't go off. That's happened a couple times. Yeah. We've all been pretty embarrassed.

[Georgia Hardstark]

We're all stupid idiots, and it's fine. Look how far we've come. Way to go.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Way to go, everybody.

[Georgia Hardstark]

We did it together. So this is episode 51. And my bags are packed and I'm ready to go. And this is the last episode. I mean, it doesn't matter to anyone. Like, we're just voices.

[Karen Kilgariff]

It matters to us, though.

[Georgia Hardstark]

It does. This is the last episode in the place where we have recorded. I was gonna say filmed. Recorded. 51 episodes.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Yeah. And it's going to. Wherever we do it in your apartment. In your new apartment is going to have a completely different feel and vibe, as opposed to this beautiful, seafoam green kind of, like, retro situation that we've been in.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Cozy and homey. There's no, like, hard angles. No, I don't know what that means, but it's like my apartment that I'm in, and I. I can't, like, normally. Like, you'll do. You'll record stuff and you'll be like, my apartment or yours? Like, just go to mine. Mine's like, you'll do it back and forth and you'll go places, but this is every single fucking. Except for live ones that's right. I've been in this apartment.

[Karen Kilgariff]

It's always been here. Thank you for that. Thank you for opening your home.

[Georgia Hardstark]

I like leaving my house.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Yeah, it works out good in that way.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Yeah. I get to wear.

[Karen Kilgariff]

And also, if we did it at my house, it would just be fun. 45 sec. Every 45 seconds, barking.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Well, that would. Then people would make memes of your dogs. Frank and George barking instead of Elvis screaming his fucking hat off.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Yeah. I don't know. It wouldn't be as good.

[Georgia Hardstark]

No.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Yeah. Well, it's the end of an era. It's also 2017, so. Good. Like new things. It's all about new energies, liminal space. What we've talked about already, what can come out of being in a totally new spot.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Yeah. Vibes are involved. Probably.

[Karen Kilgariff]

I bet. Vibes are totally involved.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Like good ones, I hope.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Well, we'll see. We'll see.

[Georgia Hardstark]

And if not, then we'll move.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Then you have to get a new apartment. Fair. Or move back into this apartment.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Oh, my God, I'm sad I'm gonna miss this place. Vince proposed to me right there. Yeah.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Take a picture before you go.

[Georgia Hardstark]

It wasn't a great proposal though, so it's okay.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Should we edit that out?

[Georgia Hardstark]

No, he knows. No, I mean, he. Yeah. No, no, no. He had fucking. He had stomach flu. It wasn't a great. It's fine. All right. So I cried.

[Karen Kilgariff]

You weren't in the hot air balloon like you wanted to be?

[Georgia Hardstark]

Well, it was basically in a hot air balloon, but it was. Oh, my God. Okay. Hey, what's. What's. What's crapping? In what corner did you watch Vanetta's Brothers? No, it's fucked up. It was good.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Was it?

[Georgia Hardstark]

Yeah, it was just like a hour long thing about the trial and the murder and stuff.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Some people are saying it was amazing. Would you use the word amazing?

[Georgia Hardstark]

No. It was like an extended 2020 episode.

[Karen Kilgariff]

What new information was revealed that I wouldn't have known in 19. What was it, 96?

[Georgia Hardstark]

Well, none.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Oh.

[Georgia Hardstark]

But you look at it from a new angle, and my angle that I looked at it from, which I thought was interesting, is like they, the Menendez brothers, argued that the dad was molesting them, but then went in like this crazy other direction of how the mom was molesting them too. And he moles. It got crazy. But you could kind of tell the little part that was actually true in my mind. And the stuff that they just exaggerated from them trying to play on that. And if they had just gone with the part that was true. Which I think maybe the dad was molesting them. But they were also sociopaths. Then maybe they wouldn't have gotten such extreme sentences.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Do they. That was your theory. Or they talk about it?

[Georgia Hardstark]

That's my theory.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Oh. Did they talk about those wigs at all? Yeah, I didn't know. For real.

[Georgia Hardstark]

He had a toupee.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Yeah.

[Georgia Hardstark]

I didn't know that.

[Karen Kilgariff]

And he was so young to have a toupee.

[Georgia Hardstark]

One of the brothers who. They both just look like. They both look like Mad magazine characters.

[Karen Kilgariff]

But it was. Lyle had the toupee.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Right.

[Karen Kilgariff]

The older brother.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Older brother had toupee. Older brother said he molested the younger brother.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Oh, no.

[Georgia Hardstark]

In court and apologized. And when you see their faces when they're. When supposedly they're telling the truth. It's so different when they're. Than when they're lying.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Really?

[Georgia Hardstark]

That's what I like. I would say watch it just for the testimony alone. It's so interesting to see. They seem like such creepy, fucking narcissistic sociopaths, which I know everyone hates when we use those terms because. But they seem creepy and lying and it's full of shit. Until there's this one part that could be true.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Oh, okay.

[Georgia Hardstark]

And then it's like.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Like it just resonates where you're looking at it. You're going, I don't think this person is doing the thing he was just.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Doing with that other bullshit. They're broken all of a sudden, and then they're back to normal. And it's like, they're just, like, lying.

[Karen Kilgariff]

I mean, look, I get it would make sense because it's one thing, like killing your parents so that you can have money is one thing, but, like, machine gunning down your parents or whatever. Didn't they have some crazy gun?

[Georgia Hardstark]

Yeah. And the other thing about that, too is that, like, if they had just done it to their father, they might have gotten a pretty lenient sentence if they had said, like, he was molesting us for years. And we were traumatized.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Right.

[Georgia Hardstark]

But they, like, kind of chase down the mom.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Yeah.

[Georgia Hardstark]

And everyone was like, that part to them was like, how could you kill your mother? And so they made up this. I think they made up the story about the mom molesting them too, when really I think they were just pissed off that she never cared or did anything about it.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Right.

[Georgia Hardstark]

It's just really, it's. It's. I mean, this is all made up shit, obviously, but.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Yeah. It's your theory.

[Georgia Hardstark]

This is all my theory.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Right. Right, but it's based on. You've listened to 1 million podcasts about it and watched a million crime shows about it. And there was also the thing of how that Father Jose was just a big fucking bully and so it was like she was bullied herself. But yeah, yeah, it's. It's ugly. The whole thing is there's definitely no clear lines, except for the fact that, yeah, you just. You can't. Here's the thing, you murder them, but then you just go on a fucking spending spree. I mean, they just didn't do anything, right?

[Georgia Hardstark]

No, not at all.

[Karen Kilgariff]

I guess I don't like that one because it's just greed. I hate the greed based ones.

[Georgia Hardstark]

There's a lot that I don't of those that I don't like until I watch something a little more interesting about them and then like, them. And this is one of them where, like, I didn't give a shit. We just happened to catch it and then I liked it.

[Karen Kilgariff]

So it must have been produced kind of. Well.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Yeah, no, it was done really well. It was just like, wasn't, you know, one of the, like, JonBenet ones.

[Karen Kilgariff]

And we are back.

[Georgia Hardstark]

We're back. And the song was Africa by Toto.

[Karen Kilgariff]

That's right.

[Georgia Hardstark]

One of the greats. How did we not know that?

[Karen Kilgariff]

I mean, a legendary song. Also, it's just so funny. Stephen was such a gigantic part of the show. And it's so funny looking back on these episodes where it's like Stephen wrote a song for us or whatever, where it's just like the third host.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Totally. Like we were a little family.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Yeah.

[Georgia Hardstark]

We love you, Steven.

[Karen Kilgariff]

We love you, Steven.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Also, I want to clarify something. I say in the episode. Cause we're moving out of the apartment. That Vince's proposal was, quote, bad. I don't mean bad. I mean, like, I don't know what.

[Karen Kilgariff]

This is. What happens when you record personal conversations and distribute them to the public.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Essentially, he was supposed to propose. His plan was to propose to me in downtown Las Vegas, where we love to hang out. And he got.

[Karen Kilgariff]

I'm sorry, are you saying your plan was that he was supposed to propose to you in downtown Las Vegas?

[Georgia Hardstark]

No, he literally made this plan. We were going to Vegas that evening. He got the stomach flu. I had to take him to urgent care on the way back. He was like the sweating and kind of flu. Maybe he was just nervous. But we walk into our apartment and he comes out of the kitchen and I guess in his mind he was like, fuck it. I'm just Gonna do it anyways and proposed then I was not expecting it at all. But I also had been proposed to in the past, and it was really romantic and sweet, and it was a terrible relationship. So I kind of was like, maybe this is good luck.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Yeah.

[Georgia Hardstark]

You know, and it has been so clearly. Yeah, well.

[Karen Kilgariff]

But those kinds of things, I think, are such a. They're supposed to be this definitive moment, and then it's like, oh, here's the background. It's supposed to have this playing and this doing and blah, blah, blah. And also, I wonder if he had the stomach flu, did they give him a shot? Or could he have been a little high on some sort of a medication?

[Georgia Hardstark]

I don't think so. I don't know. But he was definitely sweating. And we're 12 years into our relationship, nine years into our marriage, and things are great. So.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Also, one of the best weddings I've ever been to. To this date.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Yeah. We made up for it with the wedding, for sure.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Also, we're being very timely in this episode, or it would have been interesting to know back then how this topic of the Menendez brothers would just continue on into the future for the next decade for us.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Yeah. And like, change our minds in a lot of ways, too. The Monsters, the Lyle and Eric Menendez story, which was the limited series, and then the Menendez brother documentary, I think, did change my opinion a lot in this case for a lot of people. And I think you can see that by the fact that they're having a parole hearing at this point to see if they're eligible for parole, which, you know, wasn't at all possible back then. So I think it's interesting.

[Karen Kilgariff]

I mean, the idea that we really were. Because of the. They call it the monoculture or whatever, we were just fed this kind of very singular story about these two rich brats, and they really. What they did, and then how they acted afterwards, very unsympathetic. But then, because it was basically on tv, everyone watched it as if it was TV and then formed these opinions or were told their opinion.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Right.

[Karen Kilgariff]

It's weird to look back on that.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Yeah.

[Karen Kilgariff]

To be able to.

[Georgia Hardstark]

I'm glad we have a little more nuance nowadays to this sort of thing.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Or at least that there's just more people in the conversation than whoever's cutting tape at the local news station.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Totally. And the conversation isn't like, it's not, the mom knew or the mom didn't know the boys did it or they didn't do it. It's like, you can be multiple things you don't have. Being a perfect victim isn't actually a thing.

[Karen Kilgariff]

No.

[Georgia Hardstark]

And I'm glad we are acknowledging that these days.

[Karen Kilgariff]

And also I think our opinions from the beginning of this podcast, it was like absolutely very black and white for me. Just going in and being like, nope, people should go to jail forever or whatever. The kind of things that we would talk about so casually, thinking there was 50 people listening and then really getting educated over the years of like the truth of it and the reality and the day to day of all of that stuff. I mean, watching that Chloe Sevigny, her performance in that fucking show Monsters is so, so good. Amazing. And then the idea that that could be the truth about that mom.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Right, right. Horrifying. Yeah. That show was incredible. All right, well, should we get into your story?

[Karen Kilgariff]

Let's do it.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Okay. Let's listen to Karen's story about Jennifer Holiday.

[Karen Kilgariff]

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[Georgia Hardstark]

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[Karen Kilgariff]

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[Georgia Hardstark]

Yay.

[Karen Kilgariff]

But also this is one of the ones. As I was writing this up I realized when we've talked in the past about how I cannot listen to 911 calls. This is the one time that I've listened to a 911 call that it insanely enhanced the story so it wasn't just like some lunatic person screaming in panic and like a horror thing that immediately makes you go, oh, my God, everyone's in danger. It's like the perfect most. The fact that they even have it to run during this story is incredible. So, anyway, I'll just tell you what it was. This is the attempted murder of Jennifer Holiday and the murder of Anna Franklin. Oh, my God. And it happened in. This is from season two, episode six of I Survived. So, anyway, if you haven't heard this, I love the show. I Survived. It's now in reruns. I think it's on. They're rerunning it on Lifetime, but you can also get it on something else. Whatever. I think they're also on YouTube, but I like to every once in a while, remember ones that just stuck with me and talk about them. Because I do love a survivor and I love the first person. I do love a first person tale of insane horror.

[Georgia Hardstark]

And this time, they make you calm down a little bit because, you know, whatever bad happen, you can still get back to the person. And they're not dead.

[Karen Kilgariff]

They're not fucking dead.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Yeah. So it's like, okay to be into it.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Yes, exactly. You're not going straight down like we do at the end of an episode sometime where we're just like, oh, great, they got murdered. Yes, exactly. No matter what's happening, you're still looking at the person.

[Georgia Hardstark]

It's like triumphant. You know that?

[Karen Kilgariff]

Absolutely. And a lot of the time. Cause it's, I would say, 80% women telling these stories. And they're telling you stories where you're like, holy fucking shit. And they're telling you, you know, just fine. Telling you the story of this thing that happened, that they survived, that they've gotten through, and they're there to tell you that story.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Yeah. Like, you're like, I would never get out of a fetal position if this happened to me. And they're like, yes, you would. Yes, you absolutely would fucking deal with it.

[Karen Kilgariff]

And that. Because that's life. And life goes on. And everybody does, like, not everybody does this, but the people who experience extreme trauma continue to live and sometimes even flourish afterwards. So I like this one, too, because it's fucking exactly like a 70s horror movie. It is. When you see it and you hear it, and I recommend that you watch it.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Are they at camp.

[Karen Kilgariff]

It's.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Are they camping?

[Karen Kilgariff]

No, but kind of close. It's like that feel. So basically it's this. It's May 25, 2005. And Jennifer. Sorry, May 29, 2005. Jennifer Holiday is driving down Highway 69 near. It's just north of Lufkin, Texas with her 17 year old cousin, Anna Franklin. They're in an SUV going 70 miles an hour and all of a sudden there's the fucking loudest bang in the world. She doesn't even know what happened. They pull. There's glass and blood everywhere all of a sudden. And they pull over and her cousin starts screaming and she looks down and her left arm has been shot. She's been shot through the window of her car. And her left arm is almost severed, like right above the elbow.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Holy fuck.

[Karen Kilgariff]

So her husband, her cousin's losing her shit, of course. And she's. And she is an emt.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Fuck. Yeah.

[Karen Kilgariff]

So she goes super calm and is like, pull out your phone, call 911 right now. You know, basically is like, calm down, stop screaming, whatever.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Yeah.

[Karen Kilgariff]

What they don't realize is there was a man who was driving next to them and he was the one who shot at them. And he pulls over and he walks up to the open driver's side window, reaches in past Jennifer, grabs the phone out of Anna's hand and just tosses it away. And he's laughing and she says, right then she was like, I got real scared. And so he basically, he backs up, he's got a shotgun in his hands and they're both just kind of staring at him. He like takes a couple steps backwards, picks up the shotgun.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Oh my God. Oh my God.

[Karen Kilgariff]

And just shoots into the car. And Jennifer said in this show she sees. It's like a tracer where she sees the bullet go by her face. Like it just goes right by the front of her face. And shoots Anna in the head and kills her.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Wait, this is the older chick or the younger one?

[Karen Kilgariff]

The younger chick gets shot in the head and killed. It's her cousin, so.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Oh my God.

[Karen Kilgariff]

So then he pulls Jennifer out of the car and she's like, what the fuck is going on?

[Georgia Hardstark]

Almost blown off.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Her arm is like hanging off. And he puts her into his car.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Jesus.

[Karen Kilgariff]

And they start driving up the highway.

[Georgia Hardstark]

This is a fucking Mary Vincent tale all over again.

[Karen Kilgariff]

It's fucking. It's insane, but it's. It's also this kind of thing where it's like, you can see it like shot. You can see it shot. All grainy. In like 8 millimeter, where you're like, what the fuck? And it's like. When she tells the story, it's like the guy's laughing. It's stuff where you're like, who.

[Georgia Hardstark]

What state is this? Or what county?

[Karen Kilgariff]

Texas. It's north of Lufkin, Texas.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Okay.

[Karen Kilgariff]

I don't know what the county is. What the shit man we are in. What part of Texas is. Apparently, it's a big place.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Okay?

[Karen Kilgariff]

So they're just driving like 90 miles an hour out of town. They drive and drive. So now she says there's no one around. There's no lights, there's no houses. There's no one anywhere.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Oh, my God.

[Karen Kilgariff]

And at one point, he pulls her out of the car. He pulls over, pulls her out of the car, pulls her into the woods and rapes her. Then when he's finally done and he's like, ripped all her clothes off and everything, he does the thing where he's like. All of a sudden, then he starts crying.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Yeah.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Then he looks at her and goes, oh, my God, you're bleeding. What happened?

[Georgia Hardstark]

What?

[Karen Kilgariff]

And then he starts laughing. And she realizes, okay, this person is either on drug, like, something is seriously fucking wrong with this guy, and I need to get myself out of here. So she fucking comes up with this plan. And this is the part where we're like, this is why you fucking hang in through the commercial. And you're like, what the fuck?

[Georgia Hardstark]

Well, this is so interesting too, because like. Like, it's not like. She's just like, I don't know what this guy's capable of. She just. She knows her cousin is dead. Back in the fucking car. She knows what this dude is capable of. There's no. Like, she knows. There's no fucking.

[Karen Kilgariff]

She knows we're in complete emergency mode and something must be done. And she sees his weakness. That's the thing, is that a person acting like that, she realizes there could be some play here. She could do something about the situation that she's in. So what she starts doing, and it's so fucking brilliant, is she starts. She starts. The way she says it. Cause she has her Texan accent. She's like. I start rubbing up on him and acting like I really like him and saying. Basically saying, thank you for saving me, and you're so nice and, like, being flirty and sweetie. And he immediately reacts and is, like, into it. So she basically convinces him he didn't attack her. She's treating him like the hero and saying, I can't believe you saved me from that man. Thank you so much. Thank you so much. You're my hero. And, oh, my God, I just wanna. Can we go back to your house?

[Georgia Hardstark]

What the fuck?

[Karen Kilgariff]

Because she's thinking in her head, yeah, they're in the. Right now. They're in the middle of fucking nowhere. There's not a person to be found. There's not a light. So at least if he drives her to his house, there will be a phone or there will be at least one other person.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Or a knife. She can fucking stab him.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Some fuck. Something.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Yeah.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Which is brilliant.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Yes.

[Karen Kilgariff]

She's just like, get me out of this spot now. And also, clearly, you're on drugs or something's going on with you where you can be manipulated. She fucking goes for it. You. And it works. He gets her back into the car and he's like, I can drive you to my house, but here's the thing. Don't be bad and don't do what the bad people do, because you'll pay. And this hint. And she's like, I won't. I promise. Why would I. And she'd be like, I'm so grateful to you. You've helped me so much. And then he's, like, believing what she's saying.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Oh, my God.

[Karen Kilgariff]

And then he would, like, look at her and be like, oh, my God, you're covered in blood. And she'd be like, I know. I need help really badly. And so she's basically doing this. They get to his house. He turns down the road into a cemetery.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Oh, fuck.

[Karen Kilgariff]

I mean, if you fucking wrote this, it'd be like, change the cemetery part. That's crazy.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Just go to a house.

[Karen Kilgariff]

They're driving into an old cemetery.

[Georgia Hardstark]

She's like.

[Karen Kilgariff]

She's naked, covered in blood. And like, what the. Where are we going?

[Georgia Hardstark]

My God.

[Karen Kilgariff]

They go down a hill a little bit, and there's like two trailers on either side, and one of them is his. So they go down into this kind of thing, past the cemetery, and this is where he lives.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Sounds chill. So that's where I'm moving. I didn't tell you that. This is my new apartment.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Oh, that's your new spot. Good, good. Cause just for, like. Just to be around shits and gigs, man. Right, right. Good plan. So he takes her into the house and he actually lets her use the phone. No. Yeah. He's like. She's convinced him it has worked, and he now believes that he helped her.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Oh, my God.

[Karen Kilgariff]

So here's the fucking 911 call part.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Oh, my God.

[Karen Kilgariff]

You hear it? Yes. It is. You have to watch this episode because.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Can you play it for us? She.

[Karen Kilgariff]

No, dude, she is so calm and she's like, hi, Yeah, I got shot and this man helped me so much. He is sitting right here in front of me and he helped me so much. And I just. I really need help. And I need someone to come and help me because. But this man helped me and saved me. And the woman's like, ma' am, did you say you were shot? And she's like, yeah, yeah, yeah, and I need help. And so she's doing this thing where the words she's saying don't match her tone of voice. And the woman on the other line, it only takes her like three exchanges and she's like, what the fuck? So the woman goes, are you saying you were shot? She's like, yeah, and I need help. And this man helped me so much. This man right here in front of me. And then she goes, ma' am, are you not from around here? And she goes, no. And he's here, so I'm safe with him. I'm here with him and I need you to send me an ambulance because I'm bleeding really bad. And then she hears the 911 operator. Someone else says something where it's like that shooting. And then she gets back on the phone, she said, and the 911 operator, I can't remember how it goes exactly, but it's basically like she goes, the woman says something. She goes, did you say there's like something about a shooting? And she goes, she goes, uh huh, uh huh. He's here right now and he's helping me so much. It's that one. It's the same one. Huh. And she basically is like, it's creepy.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Hearing you say it, by the way.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Telling her, oh my God in this like super pleasant voice, giving her these signals without letting on to the crazy man literally sitting in front of her that the shooter is sitting fucking in front of her.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Isn't it crazy that if he were a little less crazy, this wouldn't have worked?

[Karen Kilgariff]

Right.

[Georgia Hardstark]

You know what I mean?

[Karen Kilgariff]

Yes. Like if whatever angel dust or fucking thing he was on, but he actually, the way she played it. And when you hear her this 911 call, you understand how it worked because she's not. I'm actually doing too much energy. Yeah, she's like almost kind of like chill like this, where it's like, yeah, I just need an uh huh. Yep, that's it. Yeah. And doing that fucking thing, so.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Oh, my God. Oh, my God.

[Karen Kilgariff]

So she says, just need an ambulance or whatever. So she can't. They can't figure out where she is because there. It's not like a trace, whatever. He ends up getting on the phone.

[Georgia Hardstark]

No.

[Karen Kilgariff]

And they have that 911. That portion of the 911 call.

[Georgia Hardstark]

No.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Where he's giving the 911 operator directions to his house.

[Georgia Hardstark]

How the fuck does he not know? Like, how does that happen?

[Karen Kilgariff]

Because he was out of his fucking mind. On drugs. He was on drugs and drunk. But I think it's the drugs and maybe something else he had. His brain's already a crazy rap sheet. He had been in jail a ton of times, lots of fucking domestic violence he had gotten into. His girlfriend had left him that night.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Oh, my God.

[Karen Kilgariff]

And he got drunk at a bar and. And he said he did, like, Xanax or Paxlors. Like, one single thing where I'm like, dude, you were on fucking angel dust.

[Georgia Hardstark]

It's like, Tuesday for me, man.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Yeah, that's right. So anyway, the part of the recording he's talking to the operator, saying how they should get to his house and then going, yeah, and she's bleeding real bad. I mean, I got blood all over me, too. And I saved her. And I don't know. Like, you need to get someone here really fast. Like, he's completely been convinced. Jesus. And she goes, well, is she doing okay? And she's. The 911 operator is, like, sweet as pie. You would never know that she's talking to anybody except for the nice man that saved this woman. So he says, only you can only have an ambulance. No cops. And she's like, no, of course not. I only want an ambulance. I just need to get his blood off me and get this thing taken care of. He's like, okay. So then he gives her shorts and a shirt to put on so she doesn't have to walk outside naked.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Can you imagine being naked? Like, naked, too. It's, like, so vulnerable.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Naked and covered in blood. Dude, it is total horror movie. She goes outside and she says she's lost so much blood at this point, and she's an emt. So she knows. Like, she knows.

[Georgia Hardstark]

She's like.

[Karen Kilgariff]

And she says she's walking out. She sees the ambulance. So she's walking up this hill trying to get to the ambulance, and she's like. She goes. And I know I've lost so much blood because I can see the trees moving. What it was, was the fucking SWAT team in place. And she gets, like, out of range and. And he is Walking outside behind her.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Oh, my God.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Because he's, like, gonna see her to the fucking ambulance. And then the second. Like, the second he gets far enough outside, the SWAT team just fucking goes down. He fights him, they take him down, and they arrest him.

[Georgia Hardstark]

They don't kill him. That's amazing.

[Karen Kilgariff]

No, they take him down.

[Georgia Hardstark]

That's amazing.

[Karen Kilgariff]

You can't just go. You're not supposed to just go shooting.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Right? But, like, you know, you'd think he'd fight back and.

[Karen Kilgariff]

No, he fought him, but they arrested him.

[Georgia Hardstark]

I mean, good for them.

[Karen Kilgariff]

They arrested him and he gets. Oh, it's two life sentences for capital murder, aggravated assault and kidnapping. And when that show aired in 2007, she still had over 30 shotgun pellets lodged in her arm, neck and chest.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Two years later that she did the show then.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Yes.

[Georgia Hardstark]

That's fucking insane.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Yeah. And she still had, like, shotgun pellets inside her from these shotgun blasts that she survived. Crazy. She had a son that she.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Like, since then.

[Karen Kilgariff]

No, no, at the time, she was a single mother. And she said that she was thinking, like, what. She was positive she was gonna die in the cemetery house that she ended up at. And so the fact that when she got on that 911 call, she got to talk to this woman who got her shit, who got. Who like, picked up on the game. And fucking.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Yes, to the fucking city, man.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Did it. And because, like, basically the cops had come up upon Anna's dead body in that car, knew a situation had happened totally. And basically everybody hooked it all together. It's like, best case scenario, totally.

[Georgia Hardstark]

For looking for this person. This girl is calling.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Yes.

[Georgia Hardstark]

This is what this is.

[Karen Kilgariff]

And then basically at the very end, Jennifer just says, I should have died that night. Like, it's a miracle of God that I lived. And I just want to say this. It's not a fu. God bless God. It's not a miracle of God. Because she was instinctually smart. She fucking came up with a plan and she was brave enough to enact it and go for it and make it happen for herself. She did it. Like, she did it. And yes, it worked out good, best case scenario. But it's like, that's a survivor's instinct that she had, and she did it for herself.

[Georgia Hardstark]

I mean. Yeah. Yeah. That's insane. Yeah. I wonder where she is now. Like, if she gonna. What's she doing now? Where's her kid? He's gotta be proud of her, right?

[Karen Kilgariff]

Yo. Yeah.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Fuck, dude.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Pretty good.

[Georgia Hardstark]

It's a good one. What's her name?

[Karen Kilgariff]

Again, her name's Jennifer Holiday.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Okay.

[Karen Kilgariff]

And her cousin who died, who was. She was, like, in her late 20s, but her cousin who died was 17 when it happened. Anna Franklin.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Oh, honey, I'm sorry. Rip. Okay, we're back. Karen, any updates? How you feeling about that?

[Karen Kilgariff]

I mean, this story, I remember watching it real time, and it was so unbelievably horror movie creepy. What this woman went through and lived through and of course, obviously survived is unbelievable. So there are no updates for Jennifer Holiday's story. She's kept a low public profile, and I didn't cover this in the original story, but after the attack, she struggled with very serious health issues and regaining motor skills in her left arm. I mean, it was essentially blown off by a shotgun.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Yeah.

[Karen Kilgariff]

She gave a 2007 interview with the Lufkin Daily News where she said, quote, I still can't feel the back of my hand at all. I can't put my hand to my face. I have no fine motor skills. And basically, once the CEO of Memorial Herman Hospital heard about Jennifer's story, and this is kind of insane. They covered all of her medical bills for a very important surgery she couldn't afford, and that restored movement to her elbow. So before that, she couldn't do basic stuff like tying her shoes, and then after that, she could. So, I mean, that's kind of a really lovely silver lining in what is truly like watching a horror film.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Totally.

[Karen Kilgariff]

I still can't get over. And I talk about it in the episode when he takes her to his house and they drive through a cemetery to get to his house behind the cemetery, where it's just like, you couldn't script this any worse. This is another thing she said to the Houston Chronicle. Jennifer Holiday said, quote, my sole goal in life is to get back somewhat as I was before. I know mentally and physically. I'll never be able to go back to the job I used to have. I'll be able to do something, I'm sure. So, you know, being the victim of an attack like that, traumatic and horrible enough as it is, but then all of the physical repercussions afterwards, just like, horrible.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Definitely.

[Karen Kilgariff]

So glad to talk about her as a survivor because she really beat the odds on that one.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Yeah. And then we have another horrible story that I cover that does have a silver lining, even though it's just a tragic story. But we love the stories where laws are changed and where people, survivors fight back. Yeah.

[Karen Kilgariff]

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[Georgia Hardstark]

So I get that ping on my phone, on my app that tells me when there's someone like on my lawn, I'm such an old lady or like, you know, walking up my driveway because I live up off the street and you shouldn't be there if you're not meant to be there. So like, if I get the ping that someone's on my lawn and I'm like, I know something's up and I can check it before they even get to the door or break in in the window, it's great.

[Karen Kilgariff]

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[Georgia Hardstark]

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[Karen Kilgariff]

You know when your timer goes off in your dryer, so you go to pull your clothes out, but they're still wet.

[Georgia Hardstark]

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[Karen Kilgariff]

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[Georgia Hardstark]

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[Karen Kilgariff]

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[Georgia Hardstark]

They even offer video chat as a benefit to some plans so you can connect with a repair expert and troubleshoot the issue in real time. You can't control when things break down, but you can be prepared.

[Karen Kilgariff]

American Home Shield has over 50 years of experience, so yeah, they've seen it all.

[Georgia Hardstark]

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[Karen Kilgariff]

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[Georgia Hardstark]

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[Karen Kilgariff]

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[Georgia Hardstark]

All right, you ready for mine?

[Karen Kilgariff]

I am.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Mine's a bummer. Get ready to be bummed. It's not a survivor story, but there is a positive ending to it. Something good happens out of it. Okay, so Jesse Task. He is born April 15th in 1961 in Piscataway, New Jersey. He claims that his mother was promiscuous. A promiscuous alcoholic, had 10 children by seven different men. And that his dad was a violent drinker. And that his dad had sexually abused him and his brother all the time. And that they once saw their dad rape a seven year old girl.

[Karen Kilgariff]

What the fuck?

[Georgia Hardstark]

That's what they said. They said. And that the father tortured and killed pets. And that he once forced this guy Jesse and his brothers to eat their pet rabbit. What? Yeah. So in 1979, when this guy, Jesse Tamendicas is 18, he persuades two five year old girls to go off with him in search of ducks, is what he tells them. He took them by the hand and leads them towards an embankment. One of the girls fucking has some horrible feeling and takes off. Leaves him with the other girl, a.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Little five year old girl.

[Georgia Hardstark]

She's like, fuck this, I'm gonna get help Jesus. But the other girl, they get to the bottom of the hill by the brook, he knocks her down, he pulls her pants down. And right at that moment, the girl who ran away got a neighbor and they run up and fucking find him. So Jesse pleads guilty to the attempted aggravated sexual assault. And in exchange for pleading guilty, he gets a suspended sentence as long as he agrees to go get counseling or to get counseling. He doesn't get it and he's sent for as a punishment, is sent for nine months to the Middlesex Delt Correctional Center. Nine months because he said no to fucking counseling.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Yeah.

[Georgia Hardstark]

So in 1981 he's out and he lures a seven year old girl into the woods. Don't go in the fucking woods. With the promise of firecrackers, ma' am. And again, this girl's with a friend and this friend is like, fuck this. And takes off on her bike. But while that's happening, Jesse takes the girl into the woods, strangles her until he thinks she's dead.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Dead.

[Georgia Hardstark]

And while he's running out of the woods, the girl who survived had gotten cops. And they catch him. He pleads guilty to assault and is imprisoned in the Adult Diagnostic and Treatment center in Avenel, New Jersey for 10 years. But he only gets six years. He's let out after that and a therapist says that he thinks that he would eventually. So the therapist says that she thinks that he'll eventually commit another sex crime, but she doesn't think he'll commit murder. So let him fucking go. After six years. So when he leaves this facility, he moves in to. He moves into a town. Where's the town name? Okay, he moves into Hamilton Township, New Jersey, into a house with two other sex offenders that he had met at the facility.

[Karen Kilgariff]

What?

[Georgia Hardstark]

Yep.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Their plan or like halfway house style?

[Georgia Hardstark]

Nope, their plan, dude. There's no halfway house style in the. It's the.

[Karen Kilgariff]

They're out and free.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Yeah, it's the early 90s. Oh, there's no halfway house style.

[Karen Kilgariff]

So it's the early 90s. I was thinking this was like 70s. I had that kind of like he.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Went in 1981, he goes in for six or seven years. So he moves out. And so he's living at this time in HAMILTON TOWNSHIP, N.J. one of the sex offenders he lived with named Brian Jennin, he had joined the big brothers so he could have access to young boys. So he gets out. The other one is Joseph Safeli. He had been charged with carnal abuse and sodomy of a five year old girl. And he pled guilty to three counts of impairing the morals of a minor. What kind of fucking impairing the morals? No, you're a fucking rapist.

[Karen Kilgariff]

You're a rapist.

[Georgia Hardstark]

It's not, you're not fucking with the morals, man. You're like, okay, so across the street from their house and one house down, and this street, I saw it on a video, it's a tiny street. It's like, it's a small neighborhood and this is like a, this is a small town, you know, families. It's not a dangerous town. Right across the street lives the Kenka family. And part of that family was seven year old Megan. So on July 29, 1994, Megan walks by his house on the way to a friend's house. And Jesse tells her, as he had done in other fucking times, that he has an animal to show her. He says that he has a puppy inside his house who wants to show her. And she goes with him into his room. He rapes her and sodomizes her and slams her head into the dresser. He puts plastic bags over her head so she won't bleed in his room and strangles her with a belt. And then he puts her body into a toy chest and dumps her in the nearby Mercer county park. It's fucking horrifying. So that night, Megan's family's freaking out. There's a search for her. Jesse participates in it, handing out flyers. The police go door to door. He tells them he had seen Megan riding her bicycle around 2:30 in the afternoon. But he also tells Maureen, Megan's mom, some other weird shit about seeing her before dinner. His story is weird. He's like, like nervous and sweating when he's telling these stories.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Wait, so sorry. He went to the mom and was like, oh, I know.

[Georgia Hardstark]

The mom was like, have you seen them? And he was, you know, he was.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Like, he wasn't keeping his own story.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Straight and he was offering too much information. And.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Okay.

[Georgia Hardstark]

And so the next day, I guess one of the roommates had like, had like, had convinced him to confess. One of the roommates was like, you.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Need to confess in the bowels of hell. They decide they're going to get.

[Georgia Hardstark]

This guy's like, I'm fucking clean, man. You need to get the fuck out of here. The next day he goes and confesses to investigators and he leads the police to Megan's body. He, he confesses to some of it, but not all of the aspects of the sexual assault. And so once the autopsy happened, the police were like, yeah, but here's more information. And he's like, okay, yeah, I did that too. Like he's a fucking creeper. And he knows, like he's not, he's not crazy and he's not mentally impaired because he knows to keep this certain information from the cops, he knows that he should put a bag over her head so that blood won't get places.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Because yeah, he's aware of it too.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Exactly what's going on. Even though he had a really low self esteem, I mean self esteem, he had a really low iq, but he knew the things to hide something.

[Karen Kilgariff]

He was smart enough to cover his own fucking tracks, right?

[Georgia Hardstark]

So there's so blood stained hair, fiber samples. And also Megan had fucking and fought back. And there was a bite mark on Jesse's hand because she had fought really hard. And he said that the reason he killed her was because she fought and he was scared she was going to tell her mom, which is utter fucking bullshit. So his trial is in May of 1997. He's found guilty of purposeful or knowing murder, two counts of felony murder, first degree kidnapping, and four counts of first degree aggravated assault. And in June, he's sentenced to death and in a statement says, okay, I'm sorry for what I've done to Megan. I pray for her and her family every day. I have to live with this and what I've done for the rest of my life.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Yeah, it's very sad for you, Stephen.

[Georgia Hardstark]

I asked you to let me live so I someday can understand and have an understanding why something like this could happen. Thanks.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Wait, did he say thanks at the end?

[Georgia Hardstark]

He said thanks at the end.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Oh, sorry. Wait, his name is Steven, right?

[Georgia Hardstark]

No.

[Karen Kilgariff]

I'm so sorry.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Are you kidding?

[Karen Kilgariff]

Hilarious. No, I swear I just said. I just added Steven's Stephen to that. That's so fucking funny. So I'm sorry.

[Georgia Hardstark]

No.

[Karen Kilgariff]

My full apology.

[Georgia Hardstark]

No. His name is Jesse Tamendegoss.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Jesse. That's right, Jesse Tamendegot. I'm so sorry.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Oh, Stephen, this is not Steven's episode. Oh, no.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Okay, so, okay, we know. So we can just do narcissism off the checklist of like all of a sudden a young girl's rape and murder that he committed is sad for him.

[Georgia Hardstark]

And I hope someday I can understand why this happened, not why I did this even would be better.

[Karen Kilgariff]

You'll be right. Because it's, it's such a mystery.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Yeah. Why did this happen?

[Karen Kilgariff]

The thing I did? Yeah. Fully with my eyes open, knowing full well what was happening in the end.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Right. And this is when he starts to say that his dad had sexually abused him and was, you know, which is, like, horrifying if it's true. But it doesn't mean so many people. Like, this happens to people and they don't go on to do these horrible things. They became better people, or they do become better people, but they don't fucking molest children. You know what I mean?

[Karen Kilgariff]

Yes. Also, I'm thinking what year Woodlaw, Menendez. 94, 93, something like that.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Yeah.

[Karen Kilgariff]

I mean, I'm just wondering if, like. Because did you. You say this was 92 before or.

[Georgia Hardstark]

After he went to.

[Karen Kilgariff]

He went. He made that claim.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Oh, that was like 97.

[Karen Kilgariff]

I mean, I'm just saying that when those things get into, like, the popular culture.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Here's what I need to say. Yeah, like, this is working. Yeah, that kind of thing. Yes, totally.

[Karen Kilgariff]

That. I mean, could have happened. Just saying that suddenly it's like this be. Start. Starts to become a rationale.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Yeah. Like, try this. You should try this defense.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Oh, Steven.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Oh, my God. Oh, my God. Okay. No, his name was Elvis. So. Okay. So here's the positive on this horrifying story.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Yeah. This is fucking rotten.

[Georgia Hardstark]

I know. So Michelle's parents, Richard and Maureen Kenka, go on a fucking crusade to change the law. They demand mandatory community notification of sex offenders. Yeah.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Megan's Law.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Megan's fucking Law. This is Megan's Law, Which I thought we should all know where it came from.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Fuck, yes, we should.

[Georgia Hardstark]

It's important. This is why it's not just some. I didn't tell this horrifying child story. Child murder story, which I would do. It's not fucking arguing that I'm better than that. But this is an important one. And I was studying some other murder today to do, and that came up, and I was like, Jesus, I don't know enough about this.

[Karen Kilgariff]

That's. I love that.

[Georgia Hardstark]

So I studied this, and I was like, this is my murder. This is important. And the next. The one that I found can come up because it has to do with Megan's Law later. But let's get to this. You know what I mean? So Richard and Maureen, badass motherfuckers, go on a crusade to change the law. They demand mandatory community notification of sex offenders, which is the thing of, like, when a sex offender moves into your community, they have to notify the whole community that there's a sex offender living there. They can't live in your schools or daycares. All this shit.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Can't fucking join the big brothers.

[Georgia Hardstark]

No. You motherfuckers. So they say that the registrar registration requires. So there was the Jacob Wetterling act originally, which is. We all know the Jacob Wetterling story, which is horrifying. But that only required sex offenders to register with local law enforcement. So they didn't have to tell anyone about it except the law enforcement. And they said that Megan would still be alive if they had known the criminal history of this dude. So in 1994, New Jersey enacts the law. And in 96, President Bill Clinton signed a federal Megan's Law. And it's basically amending the Jacob Wetterling Act. It sets guidelines for the state statutes requiring states to notify the public, although officials could decide how much public notification is necessary based on the level of danger posed by the offender, which is kind of troubling. So there's three tiers, and based on those tiers, they have to tell a certain amount of people, which sucks. And I can tell you what's in each tier if you want, but I don't know if it's. It's even fucking worth it.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Like, do you have to list acts that are super upsetting?

[Georgia Hardstark]

Pretty much, yeah. I mean, it's. It's all troubling and it's. You know, there's this whole argument now about. About First Amendment rights and all this shit and like, you know, freedom of. It's just like. It's an ugly thing where you're just like, don't molest children. You lose your fucking rights when you are a sex offender.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Yeah.

[Georgia Hardstark]

You lose your rights and you can't fucking argue your freedom of whatever the shit.

[Karen Kilgariff]

I mean, they want them to do. Speech, right? Is it like their freedom of privacy?

[Georgia Hardstark]

Yes, that's the one which is like, well, you.

[Karen Kilgariff]

You don't get to have it.

[Georgia Hardstark]

You lost that.

[Karen Kilgariff]

You don't get to have it.

[Georgia Hardstark]

No.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Also, tell your friends in your fucking apartment you're sharing with all the other sex offenders. Let them know if that's something they're going to continue to do if they get caught, prosecuted for it. Yeah, they're not going to be able to have that privacy to be a child rapist anymore.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Sorry, it's not like. So tier one is someone who's convicted and served less than one year of imprisonment for something like. It's for something light like receiving or possessing child porn. That's tier one. Like, that's a light fucking thing for them that you don't have to tell everyone. Or sexual assault against an adult that involved sexual contact but not completed or attempted sexual assault. So they try to fucking rape an adult but didn't fucking go through with it. They're not a sexual. They are not. They're not scary.

[Karen Kilgariff]

They don't have to come and knock on your door and say, I did this.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Nope.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Okay.

[Georgia Hardstark]

So you don't know that there's a rapist. Attempted rapist.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Attempted rapist. Because this is the classic difference between attempted and succeeded.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Fuck you.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Well, because all it is is it's just gonna lead to. Now they're going to succeed. That's. It's that.

[Georgia Hardstark]

So this time they're gonna do it. They're gonna kill them so they can't be identified and brought to trial. Right. Because the second tier is when people who have had one conviction get another one. So they're not gonna want that other one. They're gonna kill their fucking victim instead of letting them live a bunch of other shit. Tier 3 is just like, you don't wanna fucking meet one of these motherfuckers ever anyways.

[Karen Kilgariff]

And are those the people knocking on your door?

[Georgia Hardstark]

I don't know if that's actually a thing.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Okay.

[Georgia Hardstark]

I don't know if they do that.

[Karen Kilgariff]

I'm just thinking of that part in the Big Lebowski where Jesus knocks on people's doors, immediately gets punched in the face.

[Georgia Hardstark]

That's amazing. No, I think that the cops, or, like, the. They have to hand out flyers door to door. But there's this crazy thing, too, where you're not allowed to tell anyone about the flyer you got. So we get. We don't have freedom of speech to tell our friends that there's a child molester living in your neighborhood.

[Karen Kilgariff]

What?

[Georgia Hardstark]

Yeah.

[Karen Kilgariff]

How is that?

[Georgia Hardstark]

I don't know. And let me say that this is from.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Well, you can leave it on the coffee table and point to it without saying anything.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Also.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Oh, tip tap.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Also, this is from an episode of 6060 and 60 Minutes in 2000. So I could be. Could have changed by then.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Oh, yeah.

[Georgia Hardstark]

I didn't do my research.

[Karen Kilgariff]

So you can't keep up with every goddamn law they pass.

[Georgia Hardstark]

I'm sorry. I'm a busy woman. So. Yeah. So Megan's Law, sex offenders, they're required to register with local police when they're moved into a neighborhood. And. And it's, like, so amazing that that's a huge change. It's not. It's not huge.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Super important.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Unfortunately, in 2007, the death penalty was abolished in New Jersey. I don't want to. I'm not trying to start a fucking fight about the death penalty. But. So Jesse Tamendicos just is now having life in prison, which is good. I want him to suffer there too, you know? What do you mean?

[Karen Kilgariff]

I do. Yeah.

[Georgia Hardstark]

So everything is fucked. No. So it's wonderful. No, it's not. It's neither.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Look, it's all horrible. It's all horrible. But, yeah, you're right. At least something good came out of it. Where it's like, at least there's some progress in some way.

[Georgia Hardstark]

And I'm. You know, her parents, I'm impressed with them. And it's amazing that they. And, you know, there's an interview with her mom who was just like, I was obsessed. She made the cops laugh. Her go into that room where her daughter died, and she couldn't stop thinking about it. And they finally fucking demolished the house and built a park for Megan. And the mom's like, I can't go to the park. Like, she's clearly broken. She was like, I wanted to die. But, you know, they did something with it and have probably helped innumerable. Is that a word? Innumerable amount of children.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Prevention.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Prevention.

[Karen Kilgariff]

They'll have no idea how many people.

[Georgia Hardstark]

They say they'll never know.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Yeah. So. Wow.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Awesome.

[Karen Kilgariff]

I like that one. And also learning.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Yeah.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Learning about what? That even. You hear that phrase and you don't know what it means.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Totally. I had no idea.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Yeah. Oh, man.

[Georgia Hardstark]

How you doing?

[Karen Kilgariff]

I'm pretty good. Yourself?

[Georgia Hardstark]

What do you. What's the thing you like this week?

[Karen Kilgariff]

Huh?

[Georgia Hardstark]

Is there anything.

[Karen Kilgariff]

I just like to say sorry to Stephen.

[Georgia Hardstark]

You like the fact that you're saying sorry to Stephen?

[Karen Kilgariff]

No, it's separate. It's Steven's apology corner.

[Georgia Hardstark]

I just didn't apologize.

[Karen Kilgariff]

It's really been bad, this episode between Steven and I. Usually, it's fake. I like to do some pretend yelling at the beginning. We have a whole thing.

[Georgia Hardstark]

And this Steven crying isn't real.

[Karen Kilgariff]

This is real way the fuck wrong.

[Georgia Hardstark]

He looks real broken.

[Karen Kilgariff]

But here's the good part about it. If you would see him right now, everybody at home, he has this, like, an elf hat on. So if he were crying, it's very. It suits him. Like, it looks good and he could.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Use it to cover his face. It's a beanie. One of those things called that. You had called that one? Yeah. Yeah. Okay. Well, I'll go. Because I actually wrote it down this time so I wouldn't be like. I don't know what I like. I like the show Fleabag on Amazon.

[Karen Kilgariff]

What is it? I've never heard of it.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Well, A, you would love it. Because it's fucking British.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Because it's all reenactments.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Yeah. No, it's like. It's like the show Search Party that we love.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Yes.

[Georgia Hardstark]

But it's this fucking British chick who's too pretty for the part she's playing, which is like a mess. She's a fucking train wreck of a person. It's six episodes, but it's all like people that you would know from British procedurals. And she's a mess. But there's this like crazy arc that happens that it's like kind of a surprise. It's just such a beautiful, messy show.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Oh, yes.

[Georgia Hardstark]

And like, I don't fucking cry at shows ever. I fucking started crying at the end. What? And I buried my face into Vince. Cause I was so embarrassed. And I was like, he was just kinder.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Oh, I gotta see that kindness.

[Georgia Hardstark]

It's so. You'll watch them all in one sitting.

[Karen Kilgariff]

I love that.

[Georgia Hardstark]

It's so good. You'll love it.

[Karen Kilgariff]

You said Amazon.

[Georgia Hardstark]

It's on Amazon. It's called Fleabag.

[Karen Kilgariff]

I can't figure out how to watch TV on Amazon. And I think I have all the things to do it.

[Georgia Hardstark]

I just don't.

[Karen Kilgariff]

When I go to do it every time I'm like, I'm not young. I can't do this.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Have to have 21 year old Steven come over. Well, he hates you now, so.

[Karen Kilgariff]

And making the casseroles, all these apologies. Look, I don't think that you. You are a child murderer. I never have. I don't know why it came out. I guess I felt bad that I wasn't. Didn't receive. I was confused about your goddamn theme song. I'm sorry. It's funny, Karen.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Like surprises.

[Karen Kilgariff]

I just was confused.

[Georgia Hardstark]

There's a chick who's a main character on the show who is from a British procedural detective murder show. So you'll love it.

[Karen Kilgariff]

You mean I'll recognize her?

[Georgia Hardstark]

You're going to recognize a lot of people that I wouldn't recognize. And you will recognize her. Yes. And Brett Gelman randomly is in it.

[Karen Kilgariff]

No way.

[Georgia Hardstark]

You're like, what the fuck is Brett Gelman doing in this?

[Karen Kilgariff]

That's awesome.

[Georgia Hardstark]

It's so weird.

[Karen Kilgariff]

I thought that you were saying her character, she's playing a girl who's from a procedural room. Like, that's awesome.

[Georgia Hardstark]

No, but you'll love it.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Okay.

[Georgia Hardstark]

It brought me a lot of joy because it gave me feelings again.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Good.

[Georgia Hardstark]

I don't have those.

[Karen Kilgariff]

I like those. Listen, I am getting back into feelings for 2017.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Yeah.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Like, even just trying to say, I think I want to have feelings again to people that would actually listen to me. I know. I think it's a good idea. This thing is healthy.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Yeah. I wanted to. You know what I want? I had therapy today, and I want to stop. I want to have reality again. I mean it.

[Karen Kilgariff]

I know what you mean. I think.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Because I think my therapist and I did this, like, this, like. What is it called? Not activity, but, like.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Oh, like, you did a. I know.

[Georgia Hardstark]

You know what I'm saying. What is the word, Lisa?

[Karen Kilgariff]

Frank, you did a.

[Georgia Hardstark]

You.

[Karen Kilgariff]

You drew weird unicorns.

[Georgia Hardstark]

We did this. We had a.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Exercise.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Exercise. Thank you. I want to get my fucking memory. I want to move. What if this house had black mold this whole time? That would be my brain, the reason.

[Karen Kilgariff]

But then you go to the new house, and then you, like. You're like Bradley Cooper in that movie where you can see everything and you choose everything.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Yeah. And I'm like, oh, I gotta move back, because this is really overwhelming. It's too much.

[Karen Kilgariff]

You did better the other way.

[Georgia Hardstark]

It's too much for me. Yeah. We do these exercises where we sit in reality, and it makes me realize that I've been disassociating with the world because it's easier to filter in when I think that there's a different, different plane of existence and this is all fake and virtual reality and that every book I read is, like, more real than life.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Yes.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Are you saying yes like you're scared of me and you think I'm crazy?

[Karen Kilgariff]

No. I am.

[Georgia Hardstark]

We do it, and it's scary and overwhelming, and she's like, how do I.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Say yes in a way that would. Because that was the realest yes I've said in a while.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Oh, cool. Okay.

[Karen Kilgariff]

No, that's all. Yeah. And then I hear you 100%.

[Georgia Hardstark]

And then she's like, leave it here, though. Don't go do that, because you'll have a fucking panic attack if you do it in real life. So.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Well, yeah, because you can't. You can't stay in too long. Everybody copes in different ways. It's like my therapist said to me one time when I had quit, don't drink anymore, quit doing anything extra quit. And then I had quit sugar, and I'd quit this and I'd quit that. And she goes, well, you gotta do something because everybody needs a little bit of oblivion. And I was like, you're fucking really good at your job, Michelle.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Everybody needs a bit of oblivion. Yeah. It's not lower Back tattoo.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Big butterfly underneath.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Beautiful.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Put it in quotes. Misspell. Oblivion. Everybody needs a little bit of oblivion.

[Georgia Hardstark]

I'm oblivion.

[Karen Kilgariff]

We're not aiming for perfection here.

[Georgia Hardstark]

There's no perfection happening.

[Karen Kilgariff]

We don't want it.

[Georgia Hardstark]

We're being. We're saying to it, we're not feelings and reality.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Feelings and pieces of reality at times, bits and pieces, then dip back out and go into your other world.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Cause it can't.

[Karen Kilgariff]

I know I have one.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Okay.

[Karen Kilgariff]

But mine I haven't seen yet. It's. I'm so excited for the new FX series starring Tom Hardy called Taboo, where he plays a guy that he's, like, on a secret police force in London in 1814. And it is the preview for. It looks insanely beautiful. It looks like it's shot. Like, it looks super real. Like, my thing, my way of disappearing from reality is going into TV shows and going into Jane Austen movies and shit, where I'm like, it is no longer this year. We are now back in the time where you sit in your room and write letters and see if somebody wants to come and sit in the salon with you.

[Georgia Hardstark]

I don't do that with movies. I do with books because movies. I'm like, that guy has a fucking headshot. That piece of shit motherfucker. Like, someone dressed that person in the wardrobe. Like, assistant is so miserable. And like, someone threw coffee on her today. Like, I can't. Why I have to make it up in my head.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Keep you in that. Don't push you out.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Okay. Fleabag was one of the only ones I've been able. Because I was able to. The one I just talked about, I was able to identify with her so much.

[Karen Kilgariff]

So it was so real to you that you never left. You stayed in that reality.

[Georgia Hardstark]

That's probably why I liked it. And Search Party is like, it was real. I can't do that with movies, so. And that's why when you. When you. As soon as you said Tom Hardy, I was out, everything about that sounds amazing, but he can't.

[Karen Kilgariff]

He will take you out a pretty.

[Georgia Hardstark]

I thought he was a. I thought Tom Hardy and whatever Hardy were the football player were the same person. I don't.

[Karen Kilgariff]

He's just Tom Brady.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Yeah, he's just like a pretty.

[Karen Kilgariff]

The Tom family.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Yeah, he's pretty.

[Karen Kilgariff]

He's insanely pretty in this, though.

[Georgia Hardstark]

It's like if Justin fucking Timberlake were playing him. To me, it's the same thing.

[Karen Kilgariff]

But. But let's talk about body difference. Tom Hardy is a beefy.

[Georgia Hardstark]

He's Hardy slice.

[Karen Kilgariff]

He Is a beefy slice of what, Mince pie? I don't know, something British. The man is. I mean, he's played a boxer like 17 different times.

[Georgia Hardstark]

A what?

[Karen Kilgariff]

A boxer.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Oh, I thought you said something between a. I don't know what you said.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Yeah, it was a boxer. Okay, maybe I put a little slide on that X. Yeah, but yeah, no, I'm just saying he's insanely well built. If you ever take a chance and watch Peaky Blinders.

[Georgia Hardstark]

I tried.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Okay.

[Georgia Hardstark]

I don't like. I told. You know, I don't like attractive, well built actors. I want to. I want to cut them down to size, okay. And make them feel like shit about themselves. I just, I can't.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Well, then, yeah, no Tom Hardy vehicle is going to be good for you because the man exudes confidence to the point of insane cockiness.

[Georgia Hardstark]

I feel bad that everything you're saying, I'm like, I don't like that. I don't like that. I don't like that.

[Karen Kilgariff]

It's just one of those episodes. But I will say this. There's a lot of who cares in this. I think there's all kinds of extra shit happening because like everything I see and I've only seen the trailer, so what do I know?

[Georgia Hardstark]

It sounds awesome in every way.

[Karen Kilgariff]

He's painted like he's crawling through mud. He's like the cat man.

[Georgia Hardstark]

That hasn't come out yet.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Other episodes, he's doing all these things where I feel like he's fighting the pretty as hard, hard as he possibly can, which in and of itself might be distracting.

[Georgia Hardstark]

And maybe he needs to prove himself that he's like, I'm not just a pretty face.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Because like, yeah, I don't know that Tom Hardy's gonna be sitting around doubting himself in any way at any time in his life.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Can you imagine?

[Karen Kilgariff]

I mean, or maybe he does privately, but he just. Did you see that? He made a video and it's Tom Hardy reads you to sleep.

[Georgia Hardstark]

No.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Huh. See if you don't hate that.

[Georgia Hardstark]

I'll try it. I like being put to sleep.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Oh, that's true. I think it's just him being insanely sexy, but I don't. It's not like he's my type, sexiness wise. It's.

[Georgia Hardstark]

It's.

[Karen Kilgariff]

What I'm attracted to sexually is 1814 London. I want to be that.

[Georgia Hardstark]

So bring me the plague on a fucking silver platter and tell me about it on a fucking. On Tom Hardy's abs. Oh, wait, that's Tom Brady.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Can I do another One.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Yes. Sorry. Always.

[Karen Kilgariff]

This will dig us back out. I mean, that was. We were already out. Sorry. But, I mean, this is just. This is one I've actually experienced, because that thing could be. Who knows? That's my own trailer. That's my review of a trailer. Somebody. And I'm sorry, I can't remember your name. A lovely gal on Twitter retweeted me a Riz Ahmed tweet where he is. Did you see that picture where he. Steven knows what I'm talking about. Riz Ahmed squatting down by a personalized license plate.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Oh, my God. Oh, my God.

[Karen Kilgariff]

That says I'm sad. And he's throwing up like the peace sign.

[Georgia Hardstark]

No, he isn't.

[Karen Kilgariff]

And he just looks kind of, like, neutral. And she just sent it to me and just said, hey, girl. And I just wrote back to her and said, I've never been happier.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Oh, my God.

[Karen Kilgariff]

It's the best picture.

[Georgia Hardstark]

I'm sad.

[Karen Kilgariff]

I'm sad. And he doesn't look sad at all. Also, he is doing amazing humanitarian work to raise money for humanitari. Humanitarian. Humanitarian work to raise money for. For people in Syria. He fucking tweets about it all the time. He has a whole thing where it's like, send me $10 and get. Get five people to send $10. Like, he is busting his ass to raise money for Syrian refugees. And it just is like, well, you're super great actor that was just nominated for a Golden Globe, and you look so good in a fucking bow tie. And you have a good sense of humor because you know enough to squat next to the I'm sad license plate. Oh, and you're gonna raise money.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Tom Hardy ever fucking done? Is it Tom Hardy?

[Karen Kilgariff]

What's Tom Hardy ever squatted next to?

[Georgia Hardstark]

Yeah. Nothing. 1814.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Yeah. We'll see what he squats next to in this fucking show. Now I'm mad at the show.

[Georgia Hardstark]

I should have another one.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Okay. Yes. What if we start doing 10 each?

[Georgia Hardstark]

I have the episode of Black Mirror.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Yeah.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Called San Junipero.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Didn't see it.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Oh, my God. It's a lesbian love story. I shouldn't have said that. That's a spoiler. It's the most. Just go watch San Junipero. It's like the most beautiful love story. So it's just. I shouldn't have said that.

[Karen Kilgariff]

It's such a good show. Charlie Booker, the guy that writes that show, I think.

[Georgia Hardstark]

I think he wrote and directed this episode. That might be wrong, too, but I bet he did. It's such a. It's such A. It's not even a Black Mirror episode. It's like such a beautiful story that you don't see very often on, you know, television because it's like. Because it's like, spoiler alert because there's lesbians. But it's like, it's just a love story.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Okay, okay, I'll watch it.

[Georgia Hardstark]

And it's heartbreaking and beautiful.

[Karen Kilgariff]

I was actually avoiding Black Mirror because when I go to my TV escape, I just want it to be an actual escape. So. So when it's a thing like, look at how your phone is going to murder your eyes. It's like, I can't. I don't want to.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Don't watch the first episode. It is so. It's so good. But it's. It'll make you stop using your phone ever again.

[Karen Kilgariff]

I.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Good luck.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Good luck.

[Georgia Hardstark]

It's so good, Bryce. What's her name?

[Karen Kilgariff]

Dallas Howard.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Dallas Howard.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Is she in it?

[Georgia Hardstark]

I think that's her. Unless it's another redhead.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Jessica Chastain. Those are the two that look exactly the same.

[Georgia Hardstark]

I know it's not Jessica Chastain. I think it's Bryce Dallas. Dallas Howard. She's so good. It's so good.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Okay, I'll watch it.

[Georgia Hardstark]

You should watch it.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Okay, I'll watch it.

[Georgia Hardstark]

What other shows do we want to recommend? Let's recommend these shows to you.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Every single show on tv.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Now we talk about it, even though we don't know.

[Karen Kilgariff]

We don't know. We don't know.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Who cares? We don't care.

[Karen Kilgariff]

We don't care. Stephen, go.

[Georgia Hardstark]

We don't care.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Cue that song as we go out. Thanks for listening, everybody. You better fucking cue that song. I swear to God. Stephen, do it. Drive your thing. Thanks for listening. We love you guys. Thank you for all your interaction with.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Us, your angel babies. We're at my favorite murder. Like, follow us on shit and, like, go to things and be a part of our lives.

[Karen Kilgariff]

We love you and stay sexy and don't get murdered.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Elvis, you want a cookie? Want a cookie?

[Karen Kilgariff]

Yeah, you do.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Want a cookie, Elvis?

[Karen Kilgariff]

Elvis, answer your mom.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Goddamn cookie. There we go. Play us out. Play us out, Stephen. Sing along, Karen. I can't do it.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Elvis is singing along.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Oh, yeah, Elvis. Sing it, Elvis. Sing it. Cookie. Cookie. Cookie.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Here's Cookie.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Everyone is trying to find asleep. Listening to this episode is like, you, Elvis, you want a cookie? We did it last episode.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Here. Bye.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Goodbye. I should give up my address now.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Okay, so we're back. Do you have updates for this story?

[Georgia Hardstark]

I do. More than 30 years later, Maureen and Rich Kanka still live in the home they shared with Megan, which is incredible. In an interview with cbs, the Kankas said they're grateful to be able to spoil their grandsons and enjoy quality time with their daughter and son, Megan's two older siblings. The Kankas recognize that Megan's story has done more than just create laws. It started a nationwide movement and conversations with kids about safety, strangers, and how to avoid danger. Thirty years ago, Maureen Kanka said, quote, don't sugarcoat it. Tell them what happens to little children by sex offenders. I mean, it's so hard, I'm sure, but you gotta warn kids about the dangers of life.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Yes, right. I feel like since that time, that has really changed, where that was the kind of thing of like, oh, that's inappropriate to talk about. And now, obviously, parents are much more like that kind of, like, propriety. Concern is not what you should be worried about. You should be worried about keeping your kids safe.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Totally. And to this day, Maureen's message and mission are still the same. It's to honor Megan by protecting children. And then I also talked about the three tier system as part of the Federal Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act. So knock and notify is still a thing, like you see in the Big Lebowski, but it's state specific, not federally mandated. I mean, that's how we all know it from now.

[Karen Kilgariff]

No, it is. It's the perfect thing. I was just referencing the Big Lebowski to my dad the other day where I'm like, don't fuck with the Jesus man. And I'm like, why am I quoting the Big Lebowski to my father? He does not know what I'm talking about.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Were you high? Did they give you. Did you have the flu and they gave you drugs? So it's usually officers and not the offender who do the knock and notify thing. And now in New Jersey, where Megan lived, knock and notify is mandatory, but only for tier 3 sex offenders. So that's interesting, but updated offender obligations now include providing email addresses, Internet IDs, and verifying information every one, three, or six months, depending on the tier. So, you know, I mean, what a historic story.

[Karen Kilgariff]

The kind of story that I think we would do differently maybe now, but all the same. So important to talk about.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Yeah. And then so, because we're ending on.

[Karen Kilgariff]

It, it's like we could finally feel those heavy stories of, like, we have to pivot here. It's too hard to stay here.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Yeah. It was a gleam in our eyes not to be Total fucking downers.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Right?

[Georgia Hardstark]

Yeah.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Important.

[Georgia Hardstark]

So in this, I recommended Fleabag before. It was a thing. I didn't know. I'm so impressed with myself.

[Karen Kilgariff]

You should be. You called that you're a visionary, but also, I just saw note that says Karen can't figure out how to watch things on Amazon. What in the fuck? What? Am I really that old? Like, it's like. We're like, stephen, can you help Karen watch something on Amazon Prime?

[Georgia Hardstark]

Was it new? It must have been new.

[Karen Kilgariff]

I guess so. I didn't have a smart tv.

[Georgia Hardstark]

You're confused about that. And I'm confused still to this day about the difference between Tom Hardy and Tom Brady.

[Karen Kilgariff]

I'm furious at you about that.

[Georgia Hardstark]

It's just a name thing. It's not a person thing. I know. One is light and one is evil. I know. I know. One is British and one is not.

[Karen Kilgariff]

One is a New Englander or something.

[Georgia Hardstark]

You can't give me too many names and expect the world from me.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Yeah. The Tom ratio's too high for you in this. Yeah. I mean, if we could travel back in time and tell that Karen in Georgia. Hey, hold on. Because you're excited about Tom Hardy, and he will be there when somebody else mentions your podcast name in front of him.

[Georgia Hardstark]

That's right. In Venom 3 the Last Dance, which stars Tom Hardy for sure. Yes, Tom Hardy.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Tom Brady did not star in Venom, that's for sure.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Our podcast is mentioned, and it's pretty. Pretty fucking incredible.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Also, he's listed as a writer, so I think we got ourselves excited one day thinking about, like, what if he actually was making a reference? But the odds of that are, I would say, between 2 and 3%.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Definitely on a good day.

[Karen Kilgariff]

All right, so this episode, as we said, was originally called A Bit of Oblivion, which I think is.

[Georgia Hardstark]

I still think about that quote. Cause you say we all need a bit of oblivion. And I think it's a pretty classic, excellent, like, saying.

[Karen Kilgariff]

And it's. I have to give full credit to my therapist. That's her.

[Georgia Hardstark]

That's right.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Where I was like, you know, talking about all the ways that I love Oblivion, which I have a lot of them. And then she's just like, we all need to get out of this reality every once in a while.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Escape. It's a thing.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Yeah.

[Georgia Hardstark]

But if we called it something else, maybe we'd call it. I'm laughing at my own podcast, which I've done many, many times. Stephen's Apology Corner. Sorry, Stephen.

[Karen Kilgariff]

How about I'm sad Just that picture with Riz Ahmed.

[Georgia Hardstark]

I'm sad.

[Karen Kilgariff]

I'm sad.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Back into feelings. I mean, there's so many. Whatever. Hardy.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Whatever. Hardy.

[Georgia Hardstark]

The hardies. The Hardy Boys.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Well, bless the rains down in Africa. There's so many in this one. Yeah, Stephen helped me watch Amazon.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Well, thanks, you guys, for listening to this episode of Rewind. We hope you enjoyed it, and we'll keep bringing them to you.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Yes, stay sexy and don't get murdered.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Goodbye, Elvis. Do you want a cookie? Tired of losing weight only to gain it all back? The weight loss [e-mail] have done the research. Slimrank.com ranks the safest, most effective GLP1 programs that get and keep the weight off for good. Stop watching the scale go up and down. Go to slimrank.com and pick America's number one weight loss program today. Slimrank.com that's S L I M R-A-N K.com your dream body is just a few months away. Slimrank.com it's April 2020.

[Karen Kilgariff]

A woman announces on Facebook that she has Covid and won't be seeking medical attention. I didn't want to be talked out of this plan.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Then she disappears. Anyone else think this is strange?

[Karen Kilgariff]

I just had to know, how did this happen? Listen to what happened to Talina czar.

[Georgia Hardstark]

On the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. I'm Jeff Perelman.

[Karen Kilgariff]

And I'm Rick Jervis.

[Georgia Hardstark]

We're journalists and hosts of the podcast Finding Sexy Sweat.

[Karen Kilgariff]

At an internship in 1993, we roomed.

[Georgia Hardstark]

With Reggie Payne, aspiring reporter and rapper who went by Sexy Sweat a couple years ago.

[Karen Kilgariff]

We set out to find him, but in 2020, Reggie fell into a coma at after police pinned him down and.

[Georgia Hardstark]

He never woke up. But then I see my son's not moving. So we started digging and uncovered city officials bent on protecting their own. Listen to finding Sexy Sweat on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.