My Favorite Murder – Episode 511: "They'll All Pay"

Date: December 18, 2025
Hosts: Karen Kilgariff & Georgia Hardstark
Podcast Network: Exactly Right/iHeartPodcasts

Episode Overview

In this episode, Karen and Georgia dive into the notorious true crime story of the 1994 attack on figure skater Nancy Kerrigan, famously involving her rival Tonya Harding. The episode is rich in cultural reflection, dark humor, and empathy, as the hosts break down not only the events themselves but also the media frenzy, social pressures, and systemic sexism that surrounded the saga. The conversation is threaded with signature MFM banter, personal asides, and cultural context—making the Kerrigan-Harding tale both a history lesson and a critical look at 90s America.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Holiday Season Banter and Groundwork

• [02:31] Georgia arrives energetic—“I just had caffeine, so I'm ready to fucking go.”
• Cozy, quirky, and relatable holiday complaints—cuddling dog pillows, unwashed family quilts, visiting childhood homes.
• The importance of small acts of kindness, especially for family, highlighted by a heartfelt listener story about supporting her mother and sister through their first holiday without their dad.
• Notable Quote:

  “Your question about how we're all getting back allows me to make the case. I may actually be more like a luminous angel or Tinkerbell in all of this.” - Georgia reading listener letter (05:13)

2. Podcast & Network Recommendations

• [07:01] Georgia recommends "Beth's Dead," a podcast about the dangers of parasocial podcast-listener relationships in the era of catfishing.

• [09:28] Karen shares an uplifting update about the Parley Overpass—a wildlife bridge in Utah leading to a 77% reduction in animal/vehicle collisions and a “100% moose crossing success rate.”

  • Notable Quote:

    “You never missed a moose.” - Karen (10:22)

• [11:11] Discussion about their Exactly Right podcast network and recent shows.

3. Charity & Giving Back

• [13:41] December’s featured donation: $10,000 to World Central Kitchen, led by Chef José Andrés, helping communities in crisis with meals during disasters and conflicts.
  • Notable Quote:

    "Their mission is to use the power of food to heal, support, and rebuild communities when they need it the most.” - Karen (14:02)

The Main Story: The Kerrigan-Harding Figure Skating Scandal

4. Setting the Scene – Media Sensation in the 90s

• [19:12] Georgia introduces the iconic 1994 skating scandal:
  • “If you were alive and at least semi-conscious during the 90s, you vividly remember this story… the country’s most infamous January 6th until 2011.”
  • Karen and Georgia reminisce about the pervasive coverage—tabloids, late-night jokes, endless TV news cycles.

5. Background on Nancy Kerrigan and Tonya Harding

• [21:52] Nancy Kerrigan: America’s Ice Princess

  • Working-class family in Massachusetts, supportive parents, especially after her dad’s sacrifices (driving Zamboni for ice time).
  • “She was rich in…having a stable family. And that's a privilege in itself.” - Georgia (28:04)

• [29:10] Tonya Harding: The Outsider Rebel

  • Tough upbringing in rural Oregon, poverty, abusive mother, early exposure to adversity.

  • Early, fierce skating talent, driven by athleticism over elegance; known for power, persistence, and refusing to conform to skating’s elite image.

  • Discussion of how childhood poverty and chaos can alter brain development and self-esteem.

  • Tonya’s challenging relationship with her mother, including public abuse—a reflection of “how much chaos and poverty in childhood can lead to subsequent cognitive and social development issues.” - Georgia (29:39)

  • Notable Quote:

    “If you have the kind of mom that'll beat you with a brush in a bathroom in front of people, then there isn’t a lot of protection going on.” - Karen (34:12)

6. The Rivalry and Media Stereotypes

• Contrasts between the “graceful, humble” Nancy and “tough, athletic” Tonya.
• Judges’ subjectivity and class prejudice—how Tonya’s homemade costumes and daring music choices led to harsher scoring.
• Media fueled the “ice princess vs. rebel” narrative even though little real animosity occurred between Nancy and Tonya.

7. The Plot: The Attack on Nancy Kerrigan

• [23:39] Description of the attack: Nancy is struck in the knee by a man with a metal baton after a practice—her wailing “Why? Why?” becomes instantly iconic and widely replayed.
• The attack was clumsily planned, with the assailant smashing out through a locked glass door—“not subtle, dude.”

8. Investigation and Unraveling

• [60:31] (1:00:31) Portland TV station receives anonymous letter fingering Tonya’s husband, Jeff Gillooly, and “bodyguard” Shawn Eckhardt.
• Interview footage suggests Tonya may have been intimidated by Jeff, raising doubts about her role.
• Shawn Eckhardt, bragging about involvement, quickly confesses and exposes the whole plan:
  • Four men involved, with Jeff as architect; two men travel to Detroit to physically attack Nancy; careless planning—with all expenses charged to their own credit cards.
• Incriminating evidence against Tonya: her handwritten note with Kerrigan’s rink details (64:20)

9. The 1994 Olympic Fallout

• Nancy recovers and, due to public sympathy and intervention, takes Michelle Kwan’s spot on the Olympic team.

  • [58:44] Kwan, just 13, graciously accepts being bumped—“How graceful is that of her? ... Like, fucking cool.” (59:16)

• Tonya, embroiled in the investigation, is allowed to compete as there’s no formal charge.

• Both women skate at Lillehammer:

  • Nancy delivers strong performances, ultimately winning silver.
  • Tonya chokes under pressure—her skate lace breaks, she is visibly distraught, finishes 8th.

• Notable Commentary:

  • Karen, on Tonya’s breakdown:

    “The second her lace was broken… the pressure was building, building, building. … it wasn’t the shoelace. You wanted out.” (69:32)

• Oksana Baiul wins gold. US sports media is unsatisfied. Hosts reflect on how public sympathy for Nancy transmogrifies into media fatigue—“double punished for something she had no control over.” (72:01)

10. Aftermath & Legacy

• March 1994: Tonya pleads guilty to “conspiracy to hinder prosecution.” She is stripped of her titles and banned from skating professionally or coaching for life (72:52).
  • “That’s some vengeful skating authorities. … Let her coach. How does that hurt you?” – Karen (73:14)
• Tonya’s later life—reality TV, comes third in Dancing with the Stars in 2018 (74:00).
• Nancy becomes a commentator, has a family, continues involvement in skating.
• The 1994 saga is credited with catapulting US figure skating—and its athletes—into massive popularity and lucrative opportunity.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the attack video:

  “I’ll never forget the sound of her voice. … she’s yelling over and over again, desperately asking, Why? Why? Why?” – Georgia (23:43)

• On media bias and sexism:

  "We’ve all been raised to hate women so much that we can figure out a way to hate any woman." – Karen (24:35)

• On perseverance:

  “That's the best motivation is when someone's like, oh, you don't think I can do that?... let me go ahead.” – Georgia (35:53)

• On competing in a judgmental sport:

  “You have to look different to do something different.” – Karen (49:24)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 02:31 – Holiday banter, giving back anecdotes
• 07:01 – Podcast recommendations ("Beth’s Dead")
• 09:28 – Parley Overpass wildlife bridge update
• 13:41 – December donation: World Central Kitchen
• 19:12 – Introduction to the Kerrigan/Harding saga
• 21:52 – Nancy Kerrigan’s background
• 29:10 – Tonya Harding’s background
• 34:35 – Tonya’s challenges and media stereotypes
• 39:03 – Nancy’s endorsements, cultural connotations
• 40:36 – Tonya’s relationship with Jeff Gillooly
• 48:06 – Tonya’s triple axel achievement
• 54:45 – The 1994 “Leggs” US Championships
• 58:44 – Michelle Kwan gives up her Olympic spot for Nancy
• 60:31 – The FBI investigation and media circus
• 64:20 – Tonya’s incriminating note surfaces
• 67:15 – 1994 Olympics, Nancy and Tonya compete
• 69:32 – Tonya's skate lace drama
• 72:01 – Oksana Baiul wins gold; reflections on fallout
• 72:52 – Tonya's banishment from skating
• 74:00 – Both women on “Dancing With the Stars”
• 75:29 – Kerrigan/Harding saga’s long cultural impact
• 76:07 – Wrap up, reflections, and comedic closing

Tone, Style, and Listener Value

The episode brings the classic MFM blend—irreverent, empathetic, personal, and reflective. Karen and Georgia use gallows humor and candid self-reflection to offer both substance and comfort for their listeners. The discussion illuminates how class, sexism, ambition, and spectacle shaped the Kerrigan/Harding narrative—and how these forces remain relevant today.

Summary Takeaways

• The Kerrigan-Harding episode is emblematic of 90s media sensationalism, gendered expectations, and collective schadenfreude.
• Tonya Harding's story, as retold, is one of immense adversity, misunderstood ambition, and tragic consequences, while Nancy Kerrigan emerges as a study in grace, perseverance, and public scapegoating.
• The legacy of the scandal is complex: it changed figure skating forever, exposed societal double standards, and remains a touchstone for how we process public “scandal” and women's ambition.

Closing Advice (MFM style): Not only stay sexy and don't get murdered—also, don't let the media pit women against each other, and question the stories we’re fed about blame, ambition, and success.