My Favorite Murder Episode 497: "Cigarettes and Mothballs"

Release Date: September 11, 2025
Hosts: Karen Kilgariff & Georgia Hardstark
Podcast Network: Exactly Right & iHeartPodcasts

Episode Overview

This episode of My Favorite Murder falls on September 11 and is thematically focused on the heroism aboard United Flight 93 during the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Georgia tells the story of the passengers and crew who bravely fought back against the hijackers, preventing further loss of life. Interwoven with personal reflections and commentary on the events of 9/11, Karen and Georgia discuss collective trauma, the passage of time, and the enduring impact of that day. The episode blends their signature conversational style with a deep dive into a solemn true crime story of national significance.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Tour Anecdotes, Nostalgic Food & Live Show Energy

(02:19 - 07:15)

• Karen and Georgia reconnect on their recent tour stops, sharing personal stories about backstage food (Uncrustables, Caesar salads, string cheese, “cigarettes and mothballs” scent from vintage clothing).
• They reflect on the energy and community at live shows (“Denver was the loudest audience I’ve ever heard. Both nights. But that first night was nuts.” — Karen, 04:36).
• Humorous banter about green room requests and the joys/pitfalls of life on tour.

2. Pop Culture Shout-Outs and Podcast Network News

(07:15 - 12:01)

• Karen celebrates actor Sean Hatosy’s Emmy win, recounting their playful past Twitter exchanges and how the loss of Twitter has changed their digital lives.
• Georgia provides an update to a past case (Buford “Walking Tall” Pusser): new evidence suggests he killed his wife, overturning long-held lore about the case (08:02).
• Highlights from other podcasts on the Exactly Right network, and behind-the-scenes with merch maven Nicole.

3. Reflecting on September 11, 2001

(14:41 - 17:40)

• As the episode lands on 9/11’s anniversary, Georgia remarks on how there are now adults who were born after 2001 and have no direct memory of that day, stressing the generational difference in trauma.
• Karen recounts personal moments of fear and paranoia in Los Angeles just after the attacks; both hosts reflect on the irrevocable paradigm shift.
• Georgia reads a resonant quote from Hunter S. Thompson about the world before and after 9/11:

  “…the 22 babies born in New York City while the World Trade Center burned will never know what they missed. The last half of the 20th century will seem like a wild party for rich kids compared to what's coming now. The party's over, folks.” (15:41)

4. Detailed Story: United Flight 93 and the Call to Heroism

(17:40 - 44:36)

Setting the Stage

• Georgia introduces the story of United Flight 93, the only hijacked plane on 9/11 that did not reach its intended target, focusing on the brave actions of the passengers and crew.
• She gives context about technology in 2001 (prevalence of airphones, early-stage cell phones, expensive and clunky texting).

Timeline of Events

• 8:00 AM (ET): United 93 boards at Newark.
• 8:42 AM: Flight takes off after delay, unknowingly behind the earlier hijackings due to the time lag.
• 8:19 - 8:46 AM: Other flights are hijacked and crash (detailed with quotes from flight attendants’ phone calls).
• 9:23 AM: United 93 pilots receive a warning about cockpit intrusions via written transmission ("beware any cockpit intrusion. Two aircraft hit World Trade Center.") — Georgia, 34:27
• 9:34 - 9:44 AM: Hijackers breach the cockpit; air traffic control picks up distress calls and the struggle on the radio.
• 9:57 AM: Passengers coordinate a counterattack (“everyone is running up to first class. I've gotta go. Bye.” — passenger, 39:29)
• 10:02 AM: The plane crashes into a field in Shanksville, PA, averting another urban tragedy.

The Human Side

• Todd Beamer’s Call

  • Central to the story is Todd Beamer’s phone call with Lisa Jefferson, a supervisor at the Verizon Airfone center. There is no recording, but Lisa’s memory and notes guide the retelling.
  • Lisa Jefferson stays on the phone, supporting Todd, who refuses to call his pregnant wife to spare her further trauma (“He did not want to upset his family and freak her out.” — Georgia, 20:42).
  • The passengers quickly decide to act, and Todd famously says, “Okay, let’s roll” before they storm the cockpit (40:18).

• Decision-Making in Crisis

  • Passengers learn about the broader attacks via phone conversations, realize the suicide mission, and plan to reclaim the plane, deliberately choosing a rural crash site to avoid more casualties on the ground.
  • “They fucking know the plane is going to crash and they're going to die. Let's do this somewhere where it will take as few, you know, people on the ground as possible.” — Georgia, 38:46

• Heroism & Legacy

  • The cockpit voice recorder captures the struggle and heroics (“Loved ones of the passengers and crew members on that flight can pick out the individual voices of the people they lost who are fighting.” — Georgia, 41:07).
  • The crash site becomes a memorial with the “Tower of Voices” — a 93-ft. structure with 40 wind chimes (one for each victim).
  • Poignant personal touches, such as Todd’s wife Lisa finding his old catcher's mitt for their son:

    “So now he has the whole gear from Daddy.” — Lisa Beamer, as read by Georgia, 44:33

5. Hosts' Reflections and Emotional Responses

(44:36 - 45:30)

• Karen and Georgia both express being deeply moved by the story’s bravery and selflessness:

  “People have the potential to be incredible. And sometimes it does take the worst of the worst to get that out of people.” — Karen, 44:38

• “Let’s roll” is reclaimed as a phrase of courage, not just political rhetoric.
• The episode ends with a call to bring out the best in ourselves daily, not just in moments of crisis.

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On Post-9/11 Trauma:
  “Like, the trauma that we collectively still have from it, from that day, and people hadn't been born yet. I can't even imagine.” — Georgia, 15:11

• On Heroism in Crisis:
  “Are you ready?... Okay, let's roll.” — Todd Beamer (as recounted by Lisa Jefferson and Georgia), 40:14–40:18

• Aftermath & Memorial:
  “There's also something called the Tower of Voices, a 93-foot tall giant musical instrument that holds 40 wind chimes. Isn't that beautiful?” — Georgia, 44:09

• Hosts' Closing Thoughts:
  “People have the potential to be incredible... let’s practice doing it while not in a dire situation.” — Karen, 44:36–44:54

Important Timestamps

| Time | Segment/Topic | |----------|---------------------------------------------------------------------| | 02:19 | Start of main show, tour stories, food & dressing room banter | | 07:16 | Sean Hatosy anecdote, Twitter reflections | | 08:02 | New Buford Pusser developments | | 14:44 | Introduction to 9/11 and Flight 93 | | 20:42 | Todd Beamer, Lisa Jefferson’s phone call | | 34:27 | Pilots warned mid-flight, United 93 timeline | | 38:04 | Passengers decide to retake plane | | 40:14 | The phrase “Let’s roll” | | 41:06 | Audio of the struggle, family members identify loved ones | | 44:09 | Description of the memorial, “Tower of Voices” | | 44:33 | Lisa Beamer’s interview—baseball glove for son, Todd’s legacy | | 44:38 | Host reflections on heroism |

Tone and Style

Karen and Georgia maintain a conversational, irreverent, and heartfelt tone—balancing humor, personal anecdotes, and respectful, emotional storytelling. The tone shifts from lighthearted banter to somber reflection as the story of United 93 unfolds, culminating in an emotional, sincere ending that underscores the episode’s message of courage, loss, and community.

Summary

“Cigarettes and Mothballs” is a moving tribute to the ordinary citizens on Flight 93 who acted with extraordinary heroism on September 11, 2001. Mixing their trademark blend of humor and gravity, Karen and Georgia honor their memory with care and compassion, drawing lessons on bravery, sacrifice, and the importance of cultivating resilience and kindness in daily life. This episode stands as a reminder of both the darkness and the incredible light within people—making history personal and its lessons enduring.