Andy Frasco's World Saving Podcast - She's Singlehandedly Changing the Definition of KAREN | Respect Your Elders

Episode Date: October 9, 2026

Karen is 77, originally from Brooklyn, and has absolutely no interest in speaking to your manager. She'd rather have a Jameson on the rocks and tell you about Woodstock, outrunning the cops on a motorcycle, and why you should never marry a cowboy. On Andy Frasco's World Saving Podcast, this self-described "Jewish cowgirl from Brooklyn" shares her wild life, from running a lunch truck in a bikini in 1980s South Florida to owning bars and raising kids as a single mom. Along the way, she delivers some hard-earned advice about divorce, independence, and finally getting old enough to stop caring what everyone thinks. It's hilarious, unexpectedly emotional, and full of stories you couldn't make up. Meet the original Karen. Her advice? "Don't get caught." Subscribe for more conversations on Andy Frasco's World Saving Podcast. #AndyFrasco #WorldSavingPodcast #Karen #seniorlife #interview #seniorcitizen 👉 Subscribe for new episodes every Tuesday 

Hi. What's your name? My whole name, full name, Karen Wallman. Karen Walman, how old are you? Never asked a lady. You ask a, well, I'm not a lady, so I might as well tell you. I'm 77. You look fantastic.

Well, thank you. I love your hair color. It's dyed. It's cool. No, that's God. We're not about the pink. The pink. That's not God.

Where are you from? Originally, Brooklyn. Brooklyn. I could, I fucking felt the Brooklyn. I'm the original Karen. You, the OG. What was your dream job when you're younger? One that I never had.

I wanted to be a veterinarian. How many jobs have you had? You really want to? Oh, God. Too many to name. I had. The ones you liked? None.

You not dream of labor? Yeah. I will not dream a labor. I will not do that. I'm Karen from Brooklyn. I like to have martinis at 4 p.m. Yes, thank you. Jack and Coke.

You're Jack Coke? I'm James on the Rock. All right, cool. With the key of it. So you partied. Brooklyn was, this is, you like the life of a rock star. Without the rock.

Without the rock. You like the star. Yeah. Had fun. What, uh, what, what made you want to? What made you want to? live the exploration life? I don't know. I started in New York, Florida, Texas, Alaska, Texas, Oklahoma, Wyoming, Texas, Trinidad, Louisiana, Texas, Oklahoma, a couple of more times.

What may you keep going back to Texas? Well, first I was near Fort where I had a ranch. Oh. Yeah. Yeah, a cowgirl, huh? Yeah, a cowgirl from Brooklyn. A Jewish cowgirl from Brooklyn. It was a great combination.

Yeah, yeah, yeah. You're the kosher cowboy. Yeah, there you go. Oi ne. Oi, nay, there you. I love that. I love it. Yeah, no, I married a cowboy.

Oh, you did? Don't ever marry a cowboy. Why not? I'm not married. That sounds like a country song. Every girl I've been with from Dallas, Texas has broken my heart. Oh, I'm sorry. They're cowgirls.

I'm a cowgirl. Well, we're going to meet after the show or after after the podcast. What was your favorite decade to be a rock star? 80s. Why? I owned it. Yeah, like what would you do? I had my own business.

I had money. My kids were teenagers. Yeah. You partied? I was in South Florida. Oh, no. Cocaine? Cocaine?

Cocaine? Cocaine? What? A lot of cocaine out there. All of a sudden, all of a sudden, you're the hearing aid. I'm old. I can't hear very well. What was South Florida like in the 80s?

That must have been fucking insane. It was. It was, it was fun. It was, I mean, it was fun. Yeah. It was just a lot of fun. I don't remember a lot of it. Yeah.

But it was fun. I owned my own home. My kids were teenagers. I owned my own business. It was really great. What was the business? Well, at first, I bought a lunch truck, you know, one of those roach coaches. And I signed a contract at a construction where they were just building.

This was when they were really just starting to build in South Florida. And me and my McKinney made a lot of money. Oh, my God. So you just be in the bikini and making lunches? Oh, I didn't make lunches. Oh, no, no, no. No, I just, yeah. Served.

Yeah. And owned. Oh, my God. Yeah, just opened up the sides. How much has Miami changed since the 80s? I don't, I go back. My older son still lives there, and it's not the same. Was it hard raising a kid and party?

Yes and no. My older son, he was about, oh, he was about, 16, 17, he always got to that line. But never crossed it. I'm that same kid. I'm that same kid. Now my daughter. She crossed the line.

She's you, huh? She crossed that line many times. You raised yourself. I was a single mom. You were a single mom. That must have been hard. No. No? You're just strong.

It was what it was. You know, you did what it was. Yeah. You know, you did what you had to do. and got up in the morning and sold the lunch truck, opened up. I bought a bar restaurant. And then about a year later, I opened up another one in the next town. And I was busy.

And my father wanted me to work in the post office. Where did you teach who taught you work ethic? I guess my dad, because he was a workaholic. Really? And all my kids are workaholics. Were you guys buddies Or did you guys? My dad

When he was around But he always worked Yeah He worked at night Basically Is that bum me out That you never got to hang out Yeah

Yeah We weren't You know And my mother was always there So Yeah It's up My dad always worked too

And I always like I was like I always My mom I just take advantage Of my mom Because she's always there I always wanted

To hang out And my dad Yeah That guy Looks fucking cool Yeah My dad was okay You know

But My mom was A stickler for rules and regulations. And my dad was, you know, helping me fix my motorcycle and stuff like that. Oh, my God. When was, what was the worst time he crossed the line? The worst time I crossed the line.

Yeah, what was the, give me some crazy story. Sit-ins in the 60s. Oh, 60s. What was New York like in the 60s? Were you in New York? It was horrible. Was it? Really?

I mean, it was. it's not the New York now. I would move back there now in a heartbeat. But back then there was corruption. It was dirty. It was, you know, Times Square. You remember the old stories if you've ever heard. It's exactly what it was.

My girlfriend was stabbed on the train going to work. I mean, it was really bad. Yeah. So it's better now, huh? Yeah, I would move back there in a heartbeat now. Yeah. I mean, I'm trying to move back to the Lower East Side. I lived in Brooklyn.

I lived in Williamsburg, South 6th. and Dunham for five years with the Cidics and the Puerto Ricans. That's what I love about it. There's no, you are with everyone at all times. And I think it grew me up. I think people who live in New York, they grow up a lot quicker. Yeah, I mean, you did. I mean, I hear these, you know, oh, I have, you know, nine siblings,

and everybody in town knew who I was. And yeah, no, I had graduating class of 15. 100. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, I didn't even, nobody knew anybody. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

There's a power in that, though, too. When you get older, you realize you're sort of anonymous. Yeah. I mean, I moved to Florida in the early 70s, and, I mean, there was nothing there. And it was nice. I took my kids.

We went strawberry picking and dairy farms. This is before Florida man. Yeah. Yeah. Now it's six-lane highway. and it's horrible. I don't know if I could live there now. I mean, it's one of the fastest growing cities in America right now.

Yeah. But the whole thing was, you know, after I moved out of there, that's when I moved to Texas. And for 35 years, I lived in little backward towns. Do you, was there any man in your life that you regret? Thank you. Thank you. This interview is over.

No, no. No, we need more. No, is there any... No, is there any man in your life you regret not dating? Oh, no. No. Not dating. Like, someone like, I wish I just gave this a shot.

No. You gave everyone a shot. Who's your celebrity crush? Who is my who? Your celebrity crush. George Harrison. Oh, that's a good one. He was the best beetle.

Yeah. He's the best beatle. Coolest beetle for sure. Sure, right. My girlfriend was John Carroll was Ringo. Yeah, we had scrapbooks. We tried to get into Shea Stadium. Yeah, you were right there during the height of it.

Yeah, yeah. Yeah, I was 16. What do you think the biggest waste of money is ever? A brand new car. Really? Mm-hmm. Just get a used car. Mm-hmm.

There's no point. Mm-mm. Why do we feel like we have to keep up with the Joneses? That's just, that's a human nature. Everyone's got to be better. Everyone's got to have better, got to show off, got to, you know, that's the glory of getting older. I don't give a shit. When did you start not giving a shit?

Oh, after my second divorce. Yeah. Yeah. After my second divorce, I was done. I was doing it myself anyway, so why am I spending all this money with an extra master feed? Yeah, why do we feel like we have to find it? happiness for giving love and not saving enough for ourselves. Yeah, you're always, you figure, you want that love, whether you were missing it sometime in your life. That's your, you know,

you feel that's what you achieve. You want your kids to love you, your neighbors to love you, you know, everybody to love you. I, you don't like me good. I'm good. I don't care. that's the best part of you know you get to a point in your life where why are you wasting your time on other people and that's how I brought my kids out yeah you know don't do anything that you don't want to do really right and don't get caught yeah oh you drop why do you have to keep shutting that No, this is great. It's a standing ovation. Don't get caught.

That's the title of this episode. What's the greatest thing you never got caught for? The greatest thing? Or the worst. Or the worst thing you never got caught for. That I never got caught for. Statute of limitations. You can't be arrested.

No. Well, my second marriage was, we were in Florida. He was a cowboy from Texas. We both had motorcycles. We got married a week before Christmas, and we went up north a little bit to go see Christmas lights and everything. And we were driving back on 995, and there were sirens behind us.

Wow. Yeah, we hit about 140 going on 995. Oh, my God. Damn, you're a bad bitch. Yeah, they didn't catch us. We would have. Oh, they weren't pulling you over going for you. You ran away for them going on for you.

Yeah, we were going. Were you nervous going that fast? You liked being fast. No, it's adrenaline. Oh, you're, you like fast. They never caught up to you, huh? No. They're probably still chasing you out there.

Who are these men you fall in love with? Karen. I've only fallen in love with one person. Who was it? My ex-husband. Do you miss them? No. No.

You can fall out of love people with people too. Very quick. Too many feet in my bed. Yeah. You like to be alone Yes What's the importance of being alone to you? I control the remote

Fuck, I love you I love you Oh my God Out of the two divorces What divorce was better Went more smoothly Neither one of them Yeah, divorce is hard

I regret what I did to my first husband What did? Well, I left him And I really feel bad I did Yeah. You cheat on him? No. No, you just left him.

No, no, no. Just said I'm done, you know. Why do you feel bad? You're falling in your gut. He was a nice guy. Yeah. He really was. I knew him since I was 15.

Were you bored? And I, no, never bored. Because, you know, I was like, I did what I wanted to do. We got married in June. I was in Woodstock in August. Woodstock? Without him. You were at Woodstock?

Yeah. Oh my God, you're Penny Lane. We met Penny Lane. Who? Penny Lane was like the one who dated, you know. Yeah. Did musicians? No.

Well. Smart. Smart. I'll clap to you. When cowboy was enough. So Woodstock, was it just crazy? Who are it? Who are the musicians?

Oh, wow. Well, cowboys have a job, at least. Nah. No. You know, it's Yellowstone. Musicians sometimes get paid. Cowboys? I don't know about that.

Who's angrier? Cowboys or musicians? Angrier? Yeah, who's like an anger relationship, like meaner? Neither of them wanted a fight. Yeah. They're all passive aggressive. Very.

You know, the cowboy was my way or he walks out. The other one was, I'll do whatever you want me to do. And I'm like, oh, leave me alone. Which one did you like, which one? Like, out of both. Both personalities, it's very funny that one of them, Cowboys, like, you went completely opposite. Yeah. Why do you feel like, why do we feel like we have to go completely opposite or just like kind of more in the gray area?

Well, it was basically, well, he first of all he was gorgeous. Oh, it helps. And he was a dancer. Oh, he loved to dance. We had a ball. Yeah. But. It was romantic.

It was romance. You know, but the whole thing was. you know, I just if you're going to fight, fight. Yeah, not just stand there and look me in the eye and fight. Yeah. Give me a reason.

Yeah. But, you know, don't just walk away and then leave me there. You know, I need a fight. Yeah. Finish the fight. Say you're sorry. Don't say you're sorry.

Give me your point of view. Don't give me, but say something. Don't just walk away. Yeah. Which husband is... Actually, that's, beautiful it's a pure conversation right yeah i mean your voices may be raised but it's a conversation get it finished get it out of the way because if you don't then you're just you're festering and you go

home and you're just like not wanting to lay next to them and just like just leave me the fuck alone you know exactly yeah you guys are a lot of like damn we're we're the same person it's easy being alone well if you're ever looking for a third divorce i'm your guy ain't no cowboy though I know Calvo. That's okay. Good, mom. He was 14 years younger than me. Yeah.

Hey, Neil. Do you have a question? We haven't got you in our produce. This is Neil. Meet Neil. This is our producer. Come on over, Neil. Don't be shy.

You are, you are unbelievable. You're a spark plug or a firecracker. Whatever that's saying is. Slow down. There we go. Just stay right there, no. We did this the other day, but it's a really good one. I feel like you're going to have a really good answer.

Have you ever been lost? Like lost, all of a sudden you find yourself on this adventure and you're like, I have no idea where I am or how to get home or what I'm going to do from right now. You're talking physically or mentally? Whichever answer you'd like to throw out, you know? Yeah, whichever you got. I've never been lost physically, but I have sure been lost mentally. Yeah. How did you come out of it? Did you... You start talking to yourself. Get in the car. No radio, get on a highway, no lights to stop at, and just talk.

Wow. That's epic. So you kind of get lost to find yourself. Yeah. Have you ever, wow, unbelievable. Neil, what a question. Wow. You got to ask yourself questions.

What a question, Neil. But don't start answering yourself. That's when you know you're. So have you ever been too lost? Did you can't be found? No. You always stay close. I was, yeah, why not?

When I found out my husband was leaving me. We were in North Texas, and he was in South Texas. A lot of space, a lot of miles. And I had a Glock, and I was driving down to South Texas. Oh, my goodness. to do the thing? Mm-hmm. I was done.

You're done. Whoa. And I got to a small town, oh, about three hours south of where I was. And it was like 2 o'clock in the morning and stopped at railroad crossing. Trains coming, you know, sitting there. And somebody talked to me. I just heard voices. I had that same thing.

Isn't it crazy how, I don't know, that's when I started believing there's something. out there. You know, I mean, I, well, anyway, so I just breathed. The lights went, the gates went up, and I just went the rest of the way in peace. Oh, my God. Does that, has that voice ever came back to you throughout your life? That is unbelievable. I've never gotten that far.

I never been that far with anybody before to feel that way. Lucky for him. and yeah well I thank you so much for your time I'm gonna do this I'm gonna come to the bar yeah we're coming back um my last question is

do you do you regret anything no no no no you're right authentically you and everyone else could fuck off like I used to always say fuck off at the thank you for being on the show that was unbelievable