My Favorite Murder: Rewind with Karen & Georgia – Episode 80 "Live At The Rams Head Live" (Rewind)

Release Date: January 21, 2026
Hosts: Karen Kilgariff & Georgia Hardstark
Podcast Network: Exactly Right and iHeartPodcasts

Episode Overview

This special “Rewind” episode revisits one of My Favorite Murder’s classic live shows: Episode 80, recorded at Baltimore's legendary Rams Head Live. Karen and Georgia listen back to the original show, provide commentary, and share updates, insights, and behind-the-scenes stories—blending true crime with signature wit, personal anecdotes, and audience engagement. The heart of the episode features deep dives into two disturbing cases: the spree of Joe Palzinski and the mind-bending murders committed by Joseph Callinger. Throughout, they connect with audience ‘hometown’ stories and reflect on what made this show and its setting so memorable.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Revisiting Rams Head Live in Baltimore

• Setting and Vibe:
  The hosts reminisce about the unique energy of performing in a bar/venue instead of traditional theaters. The show had an "MTV’s The Grind" or "Janet Jackson Rhythm Nation" vibe, with the bar close to the stage and the crowd feeling especially “Murderino” (01:47-02:59).

• Notable Quote:
  “It was literally like being in a Janet Jackson video. There was no other way to describe it.” – Karen (16:12)

• Tour Anecdotes:
  Stories include Karen's birthday celebrations, gifts from fans (like a "fuck politeness" mug), and escapades such as searching for White Castle or settling for Arby’s, which they regret (04:26-05:03, 08:42-09:31, 16:12-20:09).

2. Georgia’s Case: The Killing Spree of Joe Palzinski ("Joby")

[22:53–55:03]

• Story Summary:
  Joe Palzinski was a manipulative and violent man who, over years, targeted vulnerable young women across Baltimore. His mother, Pam, habitually covered for him as his abuse escalated from beatings to full-blown murder. Despite obvious red flags—such as threatening girlfriends, keeping weapons, and repeated stints in jail—he continued slipping through cracks in the justice system.

• Key Details:

  • Extensive abuse of teenage girls; threats involving guns and knives.
  • Notable manipulative behavior, including blaming victims and claiming insanity to avoid punishment.
  • In 2000, Palzinski went on a rampage, murdering people who aided his fleeing girlfriend, Tracy Whitehead, holding hostages for 97 hours before a final shootout with police.
  • Tracy survived the ordeal and weeks later, won $100,000 on a single hand of blackjack on Howard Stern’s radio show—a poignant, improbable moment of life turning around.

• Notable Moments & Quotes:

  • "He played Russian roulette, which everyone knows is the tough guy move. That's the toughest thing you can do." – Georgia (32:40)
  • “He would threaten to kill their family and leave them alive to suffer. So he thinks that he can make a girlfriend come back to him... if she's terrified.” – Georgia (31:50)
  • “She convinced him to leave the woods. Let's go find some food… She pushes Tracy into the homeowner's car. And then at the evening of March 8th, he kills his fourth victim.” – Georgia (41:14-42:08)
  • “A year later, on Tracy's 23rd birthday... she wins $100,000 in Vegas on a single hand of blackjack.” – Georgia (53:45-54:12)

• Audience Hometown Connections:
  Georgia reads an email from a listener whose family had brushes with Palzinski, including one relative who dated him briefly at 16 and another who had her home invaded by him—but still managed sassy, unflappable portion control under direct threat (56:59–58:06).

3. Karen’s Case: The Shoemaker Killer, Joseph Callinger

[61:14–89:54]

• Early Life:
  Callinger endured atrocious abuse in foster care—locked in closets, starved, beaten with hammers. These traumas set the stage for later monstrosities.

  • “He was placed in the worst foster family possible. They were both insanely abusive... they whipped him, they starved him, they locked him in a closet.” – Karen (61:15-62:14)

• Descent into Crime and Madness:

  • Became a shoemaker in Philadelphia, repeated abuse patterns on his own family.
  • Series of arsons for insurance, criminal charges, and mental health crises.
  • Eventually claimed to hear the voice of “God” (manifested as a disembodied head called Charlie) instructing him to kill.
  • Enlisted his 13-year-old son Michael as an accomplice. Their rampage included torturing and murdering a young boy, killing Callinger’s own son Joe Jr., and a series of home invasions marked by sexual assault and brutality.

• Notable Moments & Quotes:

  • “He enlists his 13-year-old son Michael to help him out. He explains what the head was telling him... Michael’s like, sounds great, I’m in.” – Karen (69:23)
  • “Turns out that there is a chemical component to the leather treatment that they used in the shoes... It was like eating away his brain essentially.” – Karen (69:39)
  • “He told the interviewer that he wanted to slaughter every single person on earth, after which he hoped to commit suicide and become God.” – Karen (87:18)
  • Karen recounts Callinger’s bizarre attempt at self-immolation in prison: “As he lit himself on fire and his cell, he also cracked an egg on his head to see if he could make it cook.” (84:19)

• Justice & Aftermath:

  • Callinger was convicted and died in prison (1996) by choking on his own vomit after a seizure—an end Karen finds poetically suitable for him.
  • Michael, the manipulated son, was put into foster care, identity changed, and shielded from press/interviewers thereafter.

4. Hometown Murder Stories (Live Audience Participation)

[94:01–108:58]

• West Virginia Co-Ed Murders (94:11):
  A listener, Grace, tells of her mother’s traumatic experience being called to X-ray two decapitated murder victims as a young tech in the 1970s. The girls went missing while hitchhiking; the bodies were found after a cult tipped off authorities with an anonymous letter. The heads were never recovered, and the case remains unsolved—a macabre cold case laced with rumors of cult involvement.

• Quiznos Killer (Amanda’s Story) (101:10):
  Amanda describes narrowly dodging a relationship with a man who turned out to be a murderer—his next girlfriend survived being manipulated into helping him clean up the murder scene, unknowingly, after he strangled a woman and hid her body in his closet. Amanda’s vivid storytelling has Karen and Georgia laughing (and gasping) even through the darkness.

  • "She helped him... she goes back to work at Outback Steakhouse, and we're all there. State troopers come in and they're like, bitch, you gotta go. She's an accomplice. ... The dead girl was in the closet while she slept." – Amanda (106:01)

5. Recurring Themes & Memorable Moments

• Comedy Amid Darkness:
  The hosts trade barbs about hotels, birthday celebrations, and dressing like "The Sophisticated Miss," peppering the show with absurdist asides (e.g., singing the Trouble board game theme "in the key of diarrhea" [111:02]).

• Advocacy and Activism:
  Georgia discusses texting back and forth with ACLU volunteers about California ballot issues, underlining the hosts’ ongoing commitment to calls for social justice (13:33-14:23).

• Baltimore Grit:
  Throughout the episode, the hosts and audience embrace Baltimore’s reputation for being tough and “not for the faint of heart” as the ideal context for My Favorite Murder’s ethos (18:00-18:17).

Important Timestamps

• [01:47] – Rewind intro; revisiting Rams Head Live in Baltimore
• [04:17] – Karen gives marriage advice; birthday shenanigans
• [16:12] – Bar show logistics and the “Rhythm Nation” crowd
• [22:53] – Start of Georgia’s Joe Palzinski case
• [53:45] – Tracy Whitehead wins $100,000 on Howard Stern
• [56:59] – Listener email: family member’s close calls with Palzinski
• [61:14] – Karen’s Joseph Callinger story begins
• [94:01] – Audience “hometown” segment: West Virginia co-ed murders
• [101:10] – Amanda’s “Quiznos murderer” story
• [110:05] – Updates & episode wrap-up

Notable Quotes

• On the uniqueness of the Rams Head show:
  “It was literally like being in a Janet Jackson video. There was no other way to describe it...” – Karen (16:12)

• On surviving abusive relationships:
  “Her mother later recalls... Amy’s mother later recalls getting a phone call from Pam who is like—begging not to press charges—and she said, ‘Your son’s going to kill somebody someday.’” – Georgia (27:32)

• On audience member Amanda’s wild story:
  “The dead girl was in the closet while she slept...” – Amanda (106:28)

• On justice for Callinger:
  “He starts choking on his vomit. While he has a seizure. And they're like, 'let’s just see how this plays out...' He’s in the right place, but he’s such a huge piece of shit.” – Karen (87:53)

• On live show magic:
  “We used to do live shows like— we’re just leaving it all out here, and only these people are gonna hear it. Totally.” – Karen (111:18)

Tone & Style

The episode is classic My Favorite Murder: conversational, irreverent, empathetic, and occasionally raucous—balancing gallows humor with respectful storytelling. Karen and Georgia lean into their genuine affection for audience members and their city, mining their own vulnerability, horror, and wit even in the most gruesome criminal tales.

Summary for New Listeners

This rewind episode captures everything that makes My Favorite Murder a phenomenon: community, vulnerability, and the cathartic release of laughing through the dark. The hosts’ true crime retellings—grisly, outrageous, and deeply researched—are made accessible through lived experiences and a sense of solidarity. Whether new or returning, listeners are welcomed into a space where fear meets friendship, and everyone is encouraged: “Stay sexy. Don’t get murdered.”