The Vibes Were Off

Kathryn Malley and Meg Irwin

Behind every headline is a human heart that kept beating. Join sisters Kathryn and Meg as we look past the yellow tape to find the stories of those who survived the unimaginable. Based in Texas, where the grit is as real as the heat, we explore the bravery of victims turned victors. This isn't just a podcast about what happened; it's about how they fought back and what it takes to heal.

  1. Jul 14

    Episode 37- No Good Deed - The Survival Story of Brandi Hicks

    In May 2000, best friends Liz Reiser and Brandi Hicks were just days away from graduating high school when a simple act of kindness changed their lives forever. After an evening choir banquet, the girls stopped at a local video store to pick out movies for a sleepover. As they were leaving, a stranger approached them and asked for a ride home. Although they were hesitant, Liz and Brandi agreed to help—never imagining the terrifying nightmare that would follow.Once inside their car, the stranger pulled out a gun and forced the girls to drive to a secluded area. There, 17-year-old Liz was brutally attacked. Brandi was abducted and subjected to hours of unimaginable violence before her attacker threw her from a bridge into the Tuscarawas River.But Brandi was still alive.In the cold water below, badly injured and unable to call for help, Brandi realized that her only chance of survival was to convince her attacker that she was not alive. After he finally left, she fought through the pain, made her way out of the river, and held on until help arrived. Her survival—and the information she was able to provide—helped authorities identify the man responsible and bring him to justice.This episode tells the heartbreaking story of Liz Reiser, a kindhearted young woman whose life was taken far too soon, and the incredible survival story of Brandi Hicks—a story of courage, quick thinking, resilience, and the strength it took to survive the unthinkable.Sometimes the smallest act of kindness can lead somewhere no one could have imagined. For Liz and Brandi, one good deed became a nightmare—but Brandi’s determination ensured that their story would be told.#TrueCrime #SurvivorStory #BrandiHicks #LizReiser #NoGoodDeed #TheVibesWereOff #TrueCrimePodcast #fyp References and Picture Credits: TV Series: I Survived – Season 1 Episode 2 TV Series: Dead Silent – Season 2 Episode 3 Strange Passenger https://appgateway.drc.ohio.gov/OffenderSearch/Search/DetailsPrint/A394200. https://www.themirror.com/news/us-news/teen-played-dead-after-being-469651. https://thecinemaholic.com/elizabeth-reiser-murder-where-is-matthew-vaca-now/. https://thecinemaholic.com/where-is-brandi-hicks-now/. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder_of_Elizabeth_Reiser. Produced By: Raymond Malley

  2. Jul 7

    Episode 36- Missing Without A Trace? The Steven Kubacki Story

    In 1978, 24-year-old Steven Kubacki set out on a solo cross-country ski trip near the icy shores of Lake Michigan. When his abandoned skis and tracks leading straight onto the frozen lake were discovered, it appeared he had fallen through the ice and died. Despite an extensive search, no body was ever found. Then, 15 months later, Steven suddenly reappeared over 700 miles away in Massachusetts—with no memory of what had happened. He claimed to have awakened in a field wearing clothes that weren't his, carrying a backpack he didn't recognize, and with no recollection of the missing year and a half of his life. Was it a rare case of dissociative amnesia? Did he intentionally disappear to start a new life? Or is Steven Kubacki one of the most baffling missing-person mysteries ever recorded? In this episode of The Vibes Were Off, we break down the timeline, examine the evidence, explore the psychological explanations, and discuss the theories that continue to surround one of the strangest disappearance stories ever told. Was Steven lost... or was something much stranger going on? 🎧 Listen now and decide for yourself. #TrueCrime #MissingPerson #StevenKubacki #UnsolvedMystery #Disappearances #LakeMichigan #MysteryPodcast #TheVibesWereOff #TrueCrimePodcast #ColdCases #StrangeDisappearances #UnexplainedMysteries Resources: The Disappearance: Conspiracy, Revolution, Revelation… The Extraordinary Disappearance of Steven Kubacki (After 45 Years of Silence) by Steven Kubacki, PhD with Dylan James Quarles https://ellenkilloran.substack.com/archive: The Misappearance of Steven Kubacki https://metroeaststar.com/2025/10/07/steven-kubacki-reveals-why-he-disappeared-in-new-book/.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Michigan_Triangle.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naxalism.  Photo Credit:  https://stevenkubacki.com/.  https://www.adirondackexplorer.org/recreation/cross-country-skiing-the-floodwood-ponds-loop/. (Skiing Picture)  https://ellenkilloran.substack.com/archive: The Misappearance of Steven Kubacki.  Produced by: Raymond Malley

  3. Jun 30

    Episode 35 - The Night Lisa McVey Outsmarted A Monster

    Lisa McVey was 17 years old, riding her bicycle home from work, when a car slowly pulled up beside her. Moments later, she was kidnapped by a man who had already murdered multiple women—and she was convinced she would never make it home again. But instead of giving in to fear, Lisa did something extraordinary. She stayed calm, studied her captor, memorized every detail she could, and used psychology to convince a serial killer to let her live. What happened after her release was almost as shocking: many people didn't believe her. Even so, Lisa refused to back down, and the information she provided would ultimately lead detectives to one of the most prolific serial killers in Florida history. In this episode of The Vibes Were Off, Kathryn and Meg tell the incredible true story of Lisa McVey's survival, the hunt for Bobby Joe Long, and how one teenager's courage helped stop a killer before he could strike again.Resources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lisa_McVey https://blurredbylines.com/articles/lisa-mcvey-abduction-story-bobby-joe-long/ https://www.tampabay.com/tampa/tampa-serial-killer-bobby-joe-long-is-executed-in-silence-20190523/ https://www.mlive.com/news/muskegon/2019/05/family-witnesses-execution-of-serial-killer-who-murdered-michigan-woman.html https://www.wtsp.com/article/news/local/its-been-horrible-victims-family-speaks-after-execution-date-set-for-serial-killer/67-831cd9b5-e8c0-43cf-b141-77973c43f9be https://www.fox13news.com/news/execution-does-not-bring-closure-for-family-of-kim-swann-victim-of-bobby-joe-long

  4. Jun 23

    Episode 34- House of Horrors: Pt. 2

    In Part 2 of House of Horrors, we dive deeper into the nightmare unfolding inside Gary Heidnik's Philadelphia basement. As the abuse escalates, Heidnik uses fear, starvation, and psychological manipulation to maintain control over the women he has imprisoned. Under constant threats and brutal punishment, trust becomes a luxury none of them can afford.This episode explores the impossible choices the women were forced to make to survive, including how Heidnik manipulated some captives into helping enforce his control over the others. We'll follow the events that ultimately led to his downfall, the daring escape that exposed the horrors hidden inside the house, and the investigation that shocked the nation. Finally, we'll examine what happened to Gary Heidnik after his arrest, the trial that revealed the full extent of his crimes, and the lasting impact his victims' courage had on bringing a monster to justice. Resources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gary_M._Heidnik. https://crimelibrary.org/serial_killers/weird/heidnik/. https://law.justia.com/cases/pennsylvania/supreme-court/1991/526-pa-458-1.html. Interview with Gary Heidnik Clip - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KhBLYDHRCSQ (starts at 13:30) https://www.aetv.com/articles/gary-heidnik. Monster Preacher Documentary: Oxygen True Crime https://www.truecrimeedition.com/post/gary-heidnik. https://theywillkillyou.com/profile/gary-m-heidnik. https://thecinemaholic.com/gary-heidnik-survivors/. TV Show: The Killer Next Door – Gary Heidnik: House of Horrors https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Milgram_experiment. Photo Credits: https://allthatsinteresting.com/gary-heidnik. https://crimelibrary.org/serial_killers/weird/heidnik/. https://www.truecrimeedition.com/post/gary-heidnik. https://theywillkillyou.com/profile/gary-m-heidnik. https://murderpedia.org/male.H/h1/heidnik-gary-photos.htm. https://discover.hubpages.com/politics/Serial-Killer-Gary-Heidnik-Inspiration-for-Movie-Silence-of-the-Lambs. https://medium.com/@lisariggio1994/gary-heidnik-and-the-6-women-in-the-cellar-23d87e450596. https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/gary-heidnik-attorney-house-of-horrors-buffalo-bill-true-crime-doc. Produced by: Raymond Malley

  5. Jun 16

    Episode 33- House of Horrors: Part 1

    At first glance, Gary Heidnik seemed like an unlikely predator—a self-proclaimed preacher who appeared to have wealth, influence, and a quiet life in Philadelphia. But behind closed doors, he was carefully searching for vulnerable women he believed no one would miss. In Part 1, Kathryn and Meg dive into the beginning of Heidnik's horrifying crimes. From the warning signs that were overlooked to the first kidnappings that would set a nightmare in motion, this episode follows how Heidnik lured women into his home and transformed his basement into a prison. As more victims disappeared, the situation became increasingly terrifying, leaving the women trapped in a fight for survival with no way of knowing if they would ever escape. This is the beginning of one of the most disturbing captivity cases in American history—and the story of the women whose courage would eventually help bring it to an end. References: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gary_M._Heidnik.   https://crimelibrary.org/serial_killers/weird/heidnik/.   https://law.justia.com/cases/pennsylvania/supreme-court/1991/526-pa-458-1.html.   Interview with Gary Heidnik Clip - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KhBLYDHRCSQ (starts at 13:30)   https://www.aetv.com/articles/gary-heidnik.   Monster Preacher Documentary: Oxygen True Crime   https://www.truecrimeedition.com/post/gary-heidnik.   https://theywillkillyou.com/profile/gary-m-heidnik.   https://thecinemaholic.com/gary-heidnik-survivors/.   TV Show: The Killer Next Door – Gary Heidnik: House of Horrors  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Milgram_experiment.   Photo Credits:   https://allthatsinteresting.com/gary-heidnik.   https://crimelibrary.org/serial_killers/weird/heidnik/.   https://www.truecrimeedition.com/post/gary-heidnik.   https://theywillkillyou.com/profile/gary-m-heidnik.   https://murderpedia.org/male.H/h1/heidnik-gary-photos.htm.   https://discover.hubpages.com/politics/Serial-Killer-Gary-Heidnik-Inspiration-for-Movie-Silence-of-the-Lambs.   https://medium.com/@lisariggio1994/gary-heidnik-and-the-6-women-in-the-cellar-23d87e450596.   https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/gary-heidnik-attorney-house-of-horrors-buffalo-bill-true-crime-doc.  Produced by: Raymond Malley

  6. Jun 9

    Episode 32- Shot in the Dark: The Survival Story of Sharon Komlos

    A single headlight appeared in Sharon Komlos's rearview mirror late one night. Assuming the driver wanted to get around her, she slowed down and pulled over. Seconds later, a bullet tore through her head.You won't believe what happened next.Bleeding and terrified, Sharon found herself trapped in a nightmare of kidnapping, assault, and unimaginable cruelty. And when a man appeared who seemed like he might be her chance at rescue, she quickly learned that not everyone who offers help has good intentions.This week we cover Sharon's incredible story of survival, the determination that kept her alive, and the escape that turned the tables on the man who thought he'd taken everything from her. References: Myotron Infomercial https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hMG0h4rVQ9o. TV Series: I Survived - Season 3 Episode 6 https://www.deseret.com/1990/5/1/18859623/woman-who-was-blinded-in-attack-hasn-t-lost-her-sense-of-humor/. https://www.orlandosentinel.com/1990/04/26/victim-of-a-brutal-rape-working-to-help-others/. https://www.casemine.com/judgement/us/591490d0add7b0493457d1cb. Picture Credit: Young Sharon - Myotron Infomercial https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hMG0h4rVQ9o. Sharon’s Book Thomas Rossi - https://rain-street.org/Thomas-Rossi-7p1X12. Produced by: Raymond Malley

  7. Jun 2

    Episode 31- Dr. Whitney Temple

    For years, Whitney Temple lived in a relationship that looked normal from the outside, but behind closed doors, she endured relentless abuse. In this episode of The Vibes Were Off, Kathryn and Meg explore Whitney's powerful survival story. We discuss how emotional, mental and physical abuse can slowly chip away at a person's confidence, the warning signs that are often overlooked, and the lasting impact of living under constant control and intimidation. Whitney's story is one of resilience, courage, and ultimately reclaiming her life. Through her own experiences, she sheds light on a form of abuse that doesn't always leave visible scars but can be just as devastating. Join us as we unpack the red flags, the turning points, and the strength it took for Whitney to break free and tell her story. If you've ever wondered how someone becomes trapped in an emotionally abusive relationship—or how they find the courage to leave—this is an episode you won't want to miss. Because sometimes the most dangerous wounds are the ones no one can see... and the vibes were off from the very beginning. Resources: https://www.amundsonfuneralhome.com/obituaries/whitney-temple https://www.valleynewslive.com/2025/01/30/plea-agreement-man-accused-abusing-wife-with-cancer/?outputType/ Explore with us - YouTube Channel

  8. May 26

    Episode 30- 27 Hours Missing, the Survival Story of Teri Jendusa-Nicolai

    Imagine climbing into your car for a normal custody exchange and realizing way too late that you’ve just walked into a trap. That’s exactly what happened to Teri Jendusa-Nicolai on January 31st, 2004. After years of trying to escape her abusive ex-husband, Teri was brutally attacked, taped up, and locked inside a plastic storage bin packed with snow in the back of a pickup truck. For the next 26 hours, Teri fought to survive freezing temperatures, devastating injuries, and the terrifying reality that nobody knew where she was. Somehow, against every possible odd, she stayed alive. In this episode, we’re talking about one of the most shocking survival stories we’ve ever covered — and the unbelievable strength it took for Teri to make it home. Resources: TV Series: I Survived: Season 3 Episode 1  TV Series: Three Days to Live: Season 1 Episode 1  https://abcnews.com/2020/story?id=124252&page=1.  https://wgntv.com/news/cover-story/beaten-woman-left-to-die-in-garbage-can-survives/.  https://www.womansday.com/relationships/dating-marriage/a58621/teri-jendusa-nicolai-domestic-violence-survivor/.

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4.6
out of 5
11 Ratings

About

Behind every headline is a human heart that kept beating. Join sisters Kathryn and Meg as we look past the yellow tape to find the stories of those who survived the unimaginable. Based in Texas, where the grit is as real as the heat, we explore the bravery of victims turned victors. This isn't just a podcast about what happened; it's about how they fought back and what it takes to heal.

Information

  • Creator
    Kathryn Malley and Meg Irwin
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    38
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Kathryn Malley and Meg Irwin
  • Show Website
    The Vibes Were Off

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