EPISODE 62: THE JINX

A cozy New Year catch-up turns into a chilling origin story as we launch part one of our three-part dive into Robert Durst, the billionaire heir known as “The Jinx.” We start where the pattern begins: a childhood punctured by a mother’s death, a father’s distance, and early signs of a fractured personality that prestige and money could hide but never heal. From Lehigh to UCLA, we track Durst’s double life—achiever on paper, drifter in spirit—and the formative friendship with writer Susan Berman, whose mob-adjacent roots and fierce loyalty become a crucial thread.

The center of gravity is Kathy McCormack Durst. We follow her from dental hygiene to medical school, her hopes for pediatrics, and the subtle shift from romance to surveillance. The penthouse view didn’t change the rules: timed family visits, social isolation, and a cycle of jealousy and violence that her friends and family only glimpsed in pieces. When Kathy sought divorce guidance, the financial screws tightened. Then came January 1982: a bruising fight, a quiet dinner party exit in sweats, a call that pulled her back, and a husband’s claim about a train ride that no one can cleanly corroborate. After that night, Kathy is gone.

We balance darkness with a dose of culture—rewatching favorites, sharing music from local bands Tragic and Defy the Tyrant—because life is layered even when the story isn’t. This opening chapter lays out the power dynamics, personal histories, and choices that lead to a missing person case that still grips true crime listeners and legal watchers. Next up, we’ll trace the fallout, the friends who stayed close, and the moments where reputation collided with reality. If this hooked you, follow the show, share it with a friend, and leave a review—your support helps us bring more deep, careful storytelling to your feed.

AS ALWAYS CHECK OUT THE BANDS!!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pFpfOxtIGAE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oWn_TV0njP4

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