MFM Minisode 409

Summary

My Favorite Murder Minisode 409 Summary

In Minisode 409 of My Favorite Murder (MFM), hosts Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark delve into a series of compelling listener-submitted stories. This episode highlights tales of survival, eerie childhood memories, family drama, celebrity encounters, and nostalgic childhood antics. Below is a detailed summary capturing the key points, discussions, insights, and conclusions from the episode.

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1. A Father's Harrowing Survival at Sea

Timestamp: [02:01] – [06:10]

Karen introduces a heartfelt email from a listener named Kate, who shares her father's extraordinary survival story. Kate describes her father, Larry Stewart, as a "Hemingway hero" with a passion for adventure. Larry's extensive background includes leading an expedition to climb Mount Blanc and scuba diving with sharks.

Key Points:

• Parachute Accident: Larry suffers a parachute accident during his career as a paratrooper, resulting in a shattered ankle. Opting not to take a desk job, he becomes a Marine navigation officer.
• Atlantic Race Disaster: Larry joins a crew to race across the Atlantic from the Canary Islands to Barbados. Suspicious practices on the sailboat, including the lack of properly fitting life jackets, set the stage for disaster.
• Shipwreck and Rescue: The sailboat hits a reef near Barbados, leading to chaos. Larry is thrown into the ocean, battling rough seas and exhaustion alone. After over an hour of survival swimming, a troop of Boy Scouts rescues him.

Notable Quotes:

• Karen (03:24): "My dad continues to be the strongest person I know. He's been battling cancer for the past five years and his grit and determination is inspiring."
• Kate’s Email (06:10): "Stay sexy and always remember to try on your life jacket before crossing the Atlantic on a small sailboat."

Discussion: Karen and Georgia express immense admiration for Larry's resilience and courage. They reflect on the importance of trusting one's instincts and the value of preparedness in life-threatening situations.

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2. Halloween Amidst a Prison Break

Timestamp: [06:31] – [10:18]

Georgia recounts a chilling childhood memory from Bridgewater, Massachusetts, a town infamous for paranormal activities within the Bridgewater Triangle. She unveils a story from her past, connecting it to real events during her childhood Halloween celebrations.

Key Points:

• Prison Break Nightmare: Two murderers, Robert Delalo and Joseph Correa, escaped from the Old County Correctional Facility on Halloween night.
• Community Response: To ensure children's safety, the town organizes a large Halloween parade, keeping everyone together and minimizing individual trick-or-treating.
• Parental Decisions: Despite the danger, Georgia's parents decide to proceed with the festivities, prioritizing tradition and community spirit over safety concerns.

Notable Quotes:

• Georgia (09:20): "Stay sexy and don't trick or treat during prison breakouts."
• Karen (10:18): "They really did. Which was what the 90s were all about."

Discussion: The hosts discuss the intricate balance between maintaining community traditions and ensuring safety during unforeseen crises. They reflect on how fear and responsibility play pivotal roles in family and community decisions.

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3. Dumb Reasons for Family Blacklisting

Timestamp: [18:02] – [22:20]

Karen and Georgia delve into a listener-submitted story under the segment "Dumb Reasons," where the focus is on petty and inexplicable reasons families sever ties.

Key Points:

• Grandma Doris: A notorious grudge-holder from a lineage reminiscent of the Hatfields and McCoys. Doris blacklists family members for trivial offenses like missing a barbecue or breaking a figurine.
• Impacts of Blacklisting: The blacklist leads to complete communication breakdowns, including ignoring texts and avoiding face-to-face interactions.
• Family Aftermath: Despite the severe disconnections, there are moments of reconciliation, albeit overshadowed by significant revelations like being excluded from wills.

Notable Quotes:

• Georgia (19:13): "Fucking petty narcissist."
• Karen (21:04): "He… He was supposed to from the hospital send out notifications."

Discussion: The conversation highlights the destructive nature of holding grudges over insignificant matters and the lasting impact such behavior has on familial relationships. Karen and Georgia emphasize the importance of forgiveness and understanding in maintaining healthy family dynamics.

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4. A Celebrity Encounter During Chaos

Timestamp: [25:24] – [30:42]

Karen shares an extraordinary email detailing a surreal experience involving iconic celebrities Lauren Bacall and Keanu Reeves during a theatrical performance.

Key Points:

• Theatrical Setting: Karen, a freshman theater student, works as an usher at a play starring luminaries like Al Pacino and Steve Buscemi.
• Fire Alarm Chaos: Amidst the performance, a fire alarm blares due to a forgotten bag of popcorn in the dorm kitchen.
• Celebrity Intervention:
  • Keanu Reeves: Steps in to assist, calming attendees and even handling a thief at the snack bar by leaving cash in the tip jar and gently escorting the individual outside.
  • Lauren Bacall: Ensures the safety of all attendees, demonstrating grace under pressure.

Notable Quotes:

• Karen (26:31): "Can you imagine a Steve, break a leg. Steve Buscemi walks by and goes, hey, break a leg."
• Keanu's Actions (28:53): "He left his self-assigned post, walked over to the snack bar, said to the man who had his arms full, let me get that for you."

Discussion: The hosts marvel at Keanu Reeves' admirable behavior, contrasting it with typical expectations of celebrity action in crisis situations. They commend Lauren Bacall for her composed leadership, reinforcing the episode's theme of unexpected heroism.

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5. Selling a Soul for $5

Timestamp: [30:49] – [33:31]

Georgia shares a nostalgic and humorous childhood anecdote about a pact with her older brother to "sell her soul" for a mere $5.

Key Points:

• The Pact: At age six, Georgia's older brother offers her a $5 deal in exchange for her soul, complete with a handwritten contract.
• Panic and Resolution: Believing the gravity of the situation, Georgia fears for her soul's safety. Her brother stipulates that she can reclaim it by eating the contract, which she does, effectively ending the pact.
• Reflection: Georgia humorously connects this childhood pact to her current career as a clinical psychologist, attributing her resilience to past experiences.

Notable Quotes:

• Georgia (31:46): "I had to sell him my soul."
• Bethany’s Email (33:31): "Stay sexy and keep that soul to yourself."

Discussion: Karen and Georgia reflect on sibling dynamics and the lengths siblings go to in childhood to achieve small rewards. They humorously analyze the pact's impact, linking it to broader themes of trust and forgiveness within familial relationships.

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Conclusion

Minisode 409 of My Favorite Murder weaves together diverse listener stories that explore human resilience, the complexities of family relationships, unexpected moments of celebrity heroism, and the innocent misadventures of childhood. Through engaging narratives and thoughtful discussions, Karen and Georgia provide listeners with a rich tapestry of true crime and personal anecdotes, all while maintaining their signature comedic flair.

Final Thoughts:

• The importance of preparedness and intuition in life-threatening situations.
• The detrimental effects of holding petty grudges within families.
• The unexpected ways in which individuals, including celebrities, can act heroically during crises.
• The enduring bonds and playful dynamics between siblings.

Listeners are reminded to "stay sexy" and to cherish the unpredictable and often extraordinary stories that shape their lives.

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Notable Quotes with Timestamps:

• Karen (03:24): "My dad continues to be the strongest person I know. He's been battling cancer for the past five years and his grit and determination is inspiring."
• Georgia (09:20): "Stay sexy and don't trick or treat during prison breakouts."
• Georgia (19:13): "Fucking petty narcissist."
• Karen (26:31): "Can you imagine a Steve, break a leg. Steve Buscemi walks by and goes, hey, break a leg."
• Georgia (31:46): "I had to sell him my soul."

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This summary encapsulates the essence of Minisode 409, providing a comprehensive overview for those who haven't listened to the episode while highlighting the engaging content and memorable moments shared by Karen and Georgia.

Transcript

[Karen Kilgariff]

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[Georgia Hardstark]

Funny lady stuff on lady to Lady Podcast. New episodes every Wednesday on Lady to Lady Podcast.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Lady to lady to lady to lady to Lady Podcast. Check out lady to lady new episodes every Wednesday on the exactly right network.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Hello and welcome to my favorite murder. What? To my favorite moita. My favorite murder. Murder. Murder.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Murder. Murder. Murder. The minisode.

[Georgia Hardstark]

That's right.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Wait, is it?

[Georgia Hardstark]

Yes.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Yes it is. That's right.

[Georgia Hardstark]

You are 100% correct.

[Karen Kilgariff]

We're all where we think we are and are supposed to be.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Exactly.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Perfect to know. Oh, that's Georgia Arnstar. Did we do this?

[Georgia Hardstark]

I don't know. It's been a while. We are on vacay so we had a little break from this so we don't remember anything.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Line.

[Georgia Hardstark]

You wanna go first?

[Karen Kilgariff]

Sure. I am very excited about this first email because the subject line reads my dad's I survived a shipwreck story. Blood, exclamation point, Sharks, exclamation point. And then in parentheses it says edited for time. Hello Karen, Georgia and everyone at mfm. I sincerely love you all so much. That felt sincere. I'm here to tell you about my dad's amazing survival story. My dad, Larry Stewart is a Hemingway hero come to but like a gentle and non misogynistic version. He was a captain in the Canadian Airborne Regiment and participated in the US Ranger course. He led an expedition to climb Mount Blanc, the highest mountain in the Alps and scuba dived with sharks. He's a true adventurer. Unfortunately, he had a parachute accident at the height of his career as a paratrooper which shattered his ankle. Instead of taking a desk job in the army, he decided to become a Marine navigation officer. And then in parentheses it says a sailor. One day he heard about a man who was looking for a navigator to help him race across the Atlantic Ocean. They were to start in the Canary Islands and end in Barbados. My dad flew from Ontario, Canada to join the crew in Portugal. Right away he had a bad feeling about the Situation. The crew seemed surprised when dad asked where his life jacket was located.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Oh, no.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Then in parentheses it says, apparently they didn't bother to try them on. And a boom, which is a thing that big sail is connected to, clipped my dad on the side of the head when a crew member was being careless. One of the first nights, they almost got run over by a high speed ferry. They were close enough to see the people on deck. Red flags. Yes, however. Yes, for sure. However, he was committed to cross the Atlantic with this crew. Here's where it gets rough. They managed to take the 33 foot sailboat all the way to the coast of Barbados when all of a sudden their satellite navigation system. Bro. It was dark, but they could make out the coast in the far distance in a dip in the skyline. My dad was at the wheel, not navigating when they hit a reef. He could smell the algae and marine life that was being churned up and he knew they were in trouble. My dad grabbed his life jacket and the other crew members rushed to grab theirs. And then in parentheses it says, one of the sailors realized that his was child sized and it didn't fit. If only he'd tried it on before they left. My dad tried to steer them away, but they soon hit the reef again and the boat got knocked to the side, throwing my dad into the ocean. The other members of the crew managed to get into a dinghy before the sailboat sank. But the waves were strong and the current ripped them away. So my dad was on his own. I mean, if this is a creepypasta email, I don't care. I'm in because this is good shit.

[Georgia Hardstark]

It would have been like friend of a friend of a dad of a friend.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Yeah, that's true.

[Georgia Hardstark]

First person dad.

[Karen Kilgariff]

They wouldn't have known his name was Larry. Yeah, their dad was on his own. He had to muster up the strength and energy to swim to shore. Although he could occasionally see a break in the skyline, when he looked to shore, he was a great distance from it and the sea was rough. He remembers worrying about sharks. And then in parentheses, he was pretty bloody and banged up from the wreck and praying he wouldn't get smashed against the reef and rocks. He was always a strong swimmer, but the choppy water and exhaustion made it challenging. After over an hour of swimming, he started to hear waves. This gave him the psychological push to keep going. Finally, his tired and beat up body made it to shore. He was waterlogged and exhausted, lying on the beach. He was eventually rescued by, wait for it. A troop of Boy Scouts who were camping nearby. Where did you guys come from? Where did you come from, sir? They were able to put their scouting skills into action by saving this strange man who'd washed up on shore, Taking him to the local police station.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Oh, my God. That was like the night of their little lives.

[Karen Kilgariff]

What badge is that? I mean, are there enough badges to cover the heroics?

[Georgia Hardstark]

No.

[Karen Kilgariff]

My dad continues to be the strongest person I know. He's been battling cancer for the past five years and his grit and determination is inspiring. He is the best father a girl could ask for. Thank you for taking the time to read this story. Stay sexy and always remember to try on your life jacket before crossing the Atlantic on a small sailboat. Kate. Whoa.

[Georgia Hardstark]

That's badass.

[Karen Kilgariff]

It's incredible.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Yeah, that's so cool.

[Karen Kilgariff]

And also kind of from the top. It's like, listen to your gut. Listen to your gut.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Yeah.

[Karen Kilgariff]

You know when something's bad?

[Georgia Hardstark]

Try on your life jacket and listen to your gut. This one, I'm just going to tell you this part. We did what in the 90s and it's a Halloween story. So here we go. Hey team, here's a spooky Halloween story for you. When I was a kid, my family lived in Bridgewater, Massachusetts, notably famous for being part of the Bridgewater Triangle, the location of tons of paranormal phenomena. You know, this I have heard about.

[Karen Kilgariff]

There's like a swamp that crazy stuff happens in. If it's the thing I'm. If I'm right about what I'm thinking.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Of, okay, that's a whole other thing I know very little about. So for the purposes of this story, Bridgewater is also the home of Old County Correctional Facility. I've always had this vague memory from when I was around four years old of walking through town in a Halloween parade, trick or treating in one big group with tons of other kids. Picture every kid in town dressed in costumes, walking down a main road in one giant cluster. I never really thought much of it because four year old memories aren't super reliable. And I just figured it was some event my mom took us to. But as I got older, I started to wonder about it. Cue some Internet sleuthing. And it turns out there was a town wide Halloween parade of kids because all caps. Two escaped convicts from the local prison were on the loose.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Oh.

[Georgia Hardstark]

That'S right. Two murderers serving life in prison broke out of Bridgewater's security facility on Halloween.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Shit.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Robert Delalo was serving life for the murder of a Boston police officer in 1963. And Joseph Correa was serving life for the murder of a guard during a bank holdup in 1976. So these are like bad guys.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Yeah.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Both had had previous breakouts from other facilities and both had been transferred from the state's maximum security prison four years earlier due to overcrowding. Officials noticed that they had been well behaved until the breakout. If my memory serves correctly, there we were, a town full of kids just parading down the main road of town while two murderers were on the loose. I guess it's safer than individual trick or treating. But either way, nothing says I was a 90s kid more than our parents throwing caution to the wind for the promise of some tricks and treats. My mom passed away from breast cancer. And then it says, get screened, ladies. In 2014 when she was only 56 years old, she was the very best. Despite the aforementioned accusations that she took her four year old, three year old and one month old babies to very exposed Halloween activities during a prison break.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Hey, so did everybody else.

[Georgia Hardstark]

I know they all did it and I really, really wish I could ask her about this now. I'm certain she'd brush it off as no big deal, as all good 90s moms do. Stay sexy and don't trick or treat during prison breakouts. Kelly G. So basically they had this.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Parade planned and they were like, well, we're not canceling the parade. Even though there's no.

[Georgia Hardstark]

I think it's. We're not. We can't trick or treat on our own individually, so let's just have this like, group. If we're all together, they can't get us. They can't get us in the mentality. Yes. I think it's like that year there was basically a Halloween parade so everyone could stick together and trick or treat.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Oh, man. Hey, look, as long as there's costumes and candy, does any kid really care what the pattern is?

[Georgia Hardstark]

No. And does any parent want to be like, trick or treating's canceled this year. Halloween's canceled this year. No, no, you can't do that.

[Karen Kilgariff]

No, not to children.

[Georgia Hardstark]

They did the best with what they had.

[Karen Kilgariff]

They really did. Which was what the 90s were all about. On top of no one being really informed or caring that much.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Right.

[Karen Kilgariff]

I mean, yeah, everyone was doing their best.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Bring it back. During the holidays, there always seems to be little treats everywhere you look.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Yep. And then by dinnertime, you're crashing from all that sugar and you need a satisfying meal.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Yes. Enter Home Chef.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Home Chef has step by step recipes that are designed to make cooking a breeze. Whether You're a total beginner or a confident cook looking to save time.

[Georgia Hardstark]

With speedy recipes that are ready in less than 30 minutes and oven ready dishes that require zero prep, you can choose the meals that work for you.

[Karen Kilgariff]

So no more feeling overwhelmed, no more racing against the clock. Just delicious meals that come together effortlessly every time.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Home Chef boxes are conveniently delivered to your doorstep to simplify your cooking experience.

[Karen Kilgariff]

And Home chef has over 30 options a week and serves a variety of dietary needs, so you don't have to worry about what to make ahead of time.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Plus, they roll out 18 fresh options every week, like corn and steak, strip risotto or baked French onion penne.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Come on, come on. Not only is it convenient, but it's economical, too. Home Chef customers save an average of $86 a month on groceries.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Karen I have this affliction where I'm not hungry at all until I'm starving. And then I don't know what to do with myself because I'm so hungry I can't think about what to eat next. So I love, like, going on the Home Chef website and picking out meals that sound really good to me when I'm not cranky and starving. So when I am cranky and starving, I'm like, oh, my gosh. I have creamy spinach and artichoke stuffed chicken in my fridge ready to go. That corn and strip steak risotto, that sounds amazing. I want it now and I'm not even hungry.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Yeah, and it's like going to get into your mouth faster than if you ordered takeout.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Totally.

[Karen Kilgariff]

For a limited time, Home Chef is offering our listeners 18 free meals plus free dessert for life and of course, free shipping. On your first box, go to homechef.com mfm that's homechef.com mfm for 18 free meals plus free dessert for life. That's right. You heard it right. Homechef.com MFM must be an active subscriber to receive free dessert. Goodbye. This holiday. Why not invest in the gift that keeps on giving? Being smarter than everyone else, you know, I mean knowledge.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Yes. And with Masterclass, you can be become the smartest person in the room.

[Karen Kilgariff]

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[Georgia Hardstark]

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[Karen Kilgariff]

The masterclass platform is so powerful, 88% of members report feeling like the lessons made a positive impact on their lives.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Plus, every new membership comes with a 30 day money back guarantee.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Don't wait another moment to start your learning journey with Masterclass.

[Georgia Hardstark]

I'm having the hardest time thinking of what to get my mom for the holidays. That isn't political and isn't me telling her that she's wrong in every way. And I feel like this Masterclass membership is perfect for her because she gets to then pick what she like, learns. So, like, she can do the art of intelligence with former CIA officers or the lovely Jose Andres series who basically shows how food connects us all.

[Karen Kilgariff]

So, you know, I think that's a great gift. I think that's so smart and it's kind of like it's a gift, but you didn't actually pick all of it. You're like, I'm just suggesting you learned some stuff.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Exactly.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Right now our listeners will get an additional 15% off any annual [e-mail] MFM.

[Georgia Hardstark]

That'S 15% [e-mail] MFM masterclass.com MFM Goodbye.

[Karen Kilgariff]

The subject line of this email is per minisode377 the time I also had the entire neighborhood in a panic. And then it starts. Hi MFM fam. Newer listener, second time writer. Not sure if my other story has been picked because I'm still catching up. Wouldn't that be a fun Easter egg for this person to have two hometowns?

[Georgia Hardstark]

Oh my God.

[Karen Kilgariff]

I've been listening for about a year and I finally made it to 2024 in your episodes. That's right. Eight years of podcasting in less than a year.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Whoa.

[Karen Kilgariff]

It's okay to be impressed.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Thank you.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Impressed is one way to describe it. Deeply worried is another. Now for my story, I just listened to Miniso377 where a little girl incited a search party while she hid under the bed. I did almost the exact same thing when I was around 7 years old. @ the time, my mom and I lived in a big house with my grandparents. The upstairs had been converted to an apartment for myself and my mom. I had a bedroom upstairs at my mom's and another downstairs at my grandparents. I was a spoiled rotten brat. Anywho, in an attempt to make my upstairs room more enticing, my mother bought her seven year old a waterbed. I was stoked.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Yeah, you were.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Did you. Did people have waterbeds when you were growing up?

[Georgia Hardstark]

Maybe one of my brother's friends, I want to say. Like, I definitely saw one once, but it wasn't. But it was like, yeah, it was like on silver spoons and shit.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Right. Those rich people and those rich people. It was a very, to me, a very 70s thing. So it was like, as my memories were even forming, these things existed in the world where it's like, don't jump on them or you'll get in trouble. But if you lay there, they were.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Like the pinnacle of like, suave, rich, cool person, for sure.

[Karen Kilgariff]

They always, in my memory, always had like a velvet bedspread on them, smelled like cigarettes. We're back in the email. Okay. One evening, we were supposed to be going somewhere, and then it says, no idea where anymore, and I did not want to go, being very used to getting my way. I threw a fit, went upstairs, climbed into my waterbed, and pulled the blankets above my head to quote, unquote, hide. I remember hearing my mom, Lori, my meemaw Carolyn, and my Poppy John calling out my name, their panic increasing as they could not locate me. You see, when I laid down and pulled the blanket over me, my little body sank into the waterbed and the blanket appeared flat.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Yeah. And I could see it.

[Karen Kilgariff]

They were none the wiser. Sometime later, after the police had been called, my Poppy John went into my bedroom, sat down and started to cry.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Oh.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Through his sniffles, he heard a small snore. Yanking the blankets back off the bed. I was finally discovered. I remember them being so relieved that I didn't even get into trouble. However, the police did have a serious talk with me about how not getting my way was not reason enough to cause the entire neighborhood to mobilize a search party. Since being introduced to your podcast, I've been neglecting all my other favorites. Honestly, you guys are so good. I'm afraid you've ruined all the other true crime podcasts for me. Oh, yes. So thanks for that, I guess. Stay sexy and always check under the blanket. Whitley. She her.

[Georgia Hardstark]

That's so cute. It reminds me of why I'll never jump on a bed is because cats like to go underneath the covers. So even at a hotel where there's no fucking cats, for sure, like, I'll gingerly sit down on the bed. Just never know.

[Karen Kilgariff]

As a woman who is approaching middle age, I'm not trying to attack you, but that idea of like, and that's why I don't jump on the bed.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Right. And that's why, you know, launching yourself on a hotel room bed, like, there's. There's few pleasures in life that you can do that.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Yes. You could do it in a hotel room. Right. That's the one place you know it is.

[Georgia Hardstark]

But, God, what if there's just like one time a cat.

[Karen Kilgariff]

One cat, a stray cat gets into those windows that are sealed shut.

[Georgia Hardstark]

I wish. Okay, this one's called Dumb Reasons. The family stopped talking in Law's edition. And I guess we asked for this, like, why did you cut people out of your life?

[Karen Kilgariff]

Yeah, we want to hear all about everything.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Hey, MFMers, you throw an off the cuff reason for us to write in and we show up.

[Karen Kilgariff]

That's right.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Here we go. So these are all the reasons my husband has petty as fuck jeans on both sides of his family and I'm here to spill the tea. Names have been changed because quite frankly, I don't want to get on the family blacklist.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Smart.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Grandma Doris is a grudge holder. She is related to the Hatfields of the Hatfields and McCoys, so maybe she can't help it.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Yes, that's. Those are deep genes of hatred.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Grandma Doris has blacklisted her children for crimes such as missing a holiday barbecue and breaking a small glass dolphin figurine. Once she said to her granddaughter Hope, honey, it's not Halloween, referring to Hope's makeup. Then Doris blacklisted Hope's dad for being miffed about the comment.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Wow.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Fucking petty narcissist.

[Karen Kilgariff]

You gotta love him dealing it out. Can't take it. Yes. And a Hatfield.

[Georgia Hardstark]

The blacklist means no communication and no invitations to holidays. She will ignore you outright in a group text. She won't answer the door if you come to talk it out.

[Karen Kilgariff]

That's why you gotta crawl in a window.

[Georgia Hardstark]

That's right. When grandma Doris son, who is my father in law, died unexpectedly while on the blacklist, you would think she would eliminate the blacklist altogether, realizing time is short and family is everything. Nope. Her youngest son, Chad, is on the blacklist right now for having a failed marriage.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Oh. Oh, that's not fair.

[Georgia Hardstark]

That's not fair. On the other side of my husband's family, there is a longer term, done forever mentality.

[Karen Kilgariff]

I'm sorry, getting in trouble for getting a divorce is the funniest thing of all. It's so not about you, Doris.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Totally. Like, maybe he needs you at this time of, like, strife, but.

[Karen Kilgariff]

No, no, get it together.

[Georgia Hardstark]

All right? Here's the done forever mentality side of the family. After a bad round of golf, Uncle Ken and his son Ken Jr. Didn't talk to papa the grandpa through papa's dying day.

[Karen Kilgariff]

No.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Over a bad round of golf.

[Karen Kilgariff]

What? Like grandpa lost golf? And it was like they were like.

[Georgia Hardstark]

I don't know, maybe they'd be like, you're cheated. You cheated. I don't know.

[Karen Kilgariff]

We're only as strong as our weakest link. So get the hell out of here.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Right? Right after papa fell and hurt his hip and one of his d. Susan was not properly notified. She stopped talking to him and Nana for 15 years.

[Karen Kilgariff]

These people need to be medicated. This is not.

[Georgia Hardstark]

She stopped talking to him because he didn't tell her about her his hip on time.

[Karen Kilgariff]

He. He was supposed to from the hospital send out notifications.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Listen to this. She never spoke to her father again.

[Karen Kilgariff]

What is wrong with these people?

[Georgia Hardstark]

This one has a semi happy ending in that Susan and Nana had a reunion and made amends. Nana must have been waiting for this because she passed away the next day. Oh my God. Of course, Susan and Ken had been written out of the will and they both found out that last weekend.

[Karen Kilgariff]

I'm sorry. This is my new favorite hometown of all fucking times.

[Georgia Hardstark]

I love family gossip of families. I don't know.

[Karen Kilgariff]

It's pure tea. And it's kind of like you think your family's crazy. Listen to this shit.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Please send us your families, your in laws. Families gossip like we want to hear it. We don't care that we don't know them. Change names. Make up good ones. Yeah, and tell us about how petty and fucked up everyone's.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Also because I think people do this in smaller doses and it's almost like, let's blow it all the way up so you can see how fucking crazy this is.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Because when you add it all together, look at this. It says recap of reasons my in laws stopped talking. Barbecue, glass dolphin, golf, hip injury. Well, I hope you enjoyed. Much love to you. For all you do, stay sexy and be as petty as you damn well please.

[Karen Kilgariff]

K K. I have a guess that you're from the south and that your family lives in the South.

[Georgia Hardstark]

It sounds like there's pimento cheese at a lot of holiday gatherings. For sure.

[Karen Kilgariff]

That sounds like a lot of this has taken place in the holler, but I could be wrong. God damn, that was funny.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Send us your family gossip, please. My favorite murder at Gmail.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Also, I had kind of a recovered memory because I used to have a very small glass dolphin that was on the top of my dresser that I stared at. I mean, it must have been the late 70s. It was like the most beautiful thing I'd ever seen. It's like, look at it. Who made this?

[Georgia Hardstark]

It's gorgeous. Those little figurines that they glue to paper. A little square of paper.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Yes.

[Georgia Hardstark]

That you get. Like Hallmark.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Yeah. And it's like you would get it at the fair.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Yeah, yeah.

[Karen Kilgariff]

If you want something huge. Oh my God.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Yes.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Right?

[Georgia Hardstark]

Whoa. I'm getting. Yes. I definitely had, like, had a snail. I think that was really cute.

[Karen Kilgariff]

And like some of it was color but see through and some of it was white.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Yeah, like it was hand done. Bring it back. Why do I keep saying that?

[Karen Kilgariff]

If you have a glass figurine that you'd like to tell us about.

[Georgia Hardstark]

The holidays are nearly here. So now's the time to give your home a little sparkle.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Whether you're hosting a big holiday bash or you just want a cozy place to curl up, Article has the pieces that make it happen.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Article believes in delightful design for every home. And thanks to their online only model, they have some really delightful prices too.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Article makes furniture shopping a breeze with its carefully selected styles. From mid century modern to boho and everything in between. No more endless scrolling, just beautiful options that suit your taste.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Check out their Madeira extension dining table. This solid oak table expands with two extendable leaves so you can invite everybody to dinner.

[Karen Kilgariff]

And Article provides fast and affordable shipping across the US And Canada. You get to choose your delivery time and they'll keep you in the loop with updates along the way.

[Georgia Hardstark]

When it comes to quality, Article's designers hit the sweet spot between style, durability and price. They're all about thoughtful craftsmanship that not only looks great, but stands the test of time.

[Karen Kilgariff]

You know, when I walk through my house, you could truly, like, walk around. I could just point to all the different article pieces that are in my house. And because we're so lucky to get little samples over the years of like, you get to buy this thing, you get to buy that thing. And every single thing blends with the furniture that I have. It looks really high end. People always comment on it and it's like, oh, I actually got that table for a very reasonable price. I think Article is like one of the best. It's almost like a design service because the quality of the furniture is so good.

[Georgia Hardstark]

That's so true. Article is offering our listeners $50 off your first purchase of $100 or more.

[Karen Kilgariff]

To claim, visit Article.com and the discount will be automatically applied at checkout.

[Georgia Hardstark]

That's a R T I c l e.com murder to get $50 off your first purchase of $100 or more.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Goodbye. The subject line of this is celebrity encounter. Keanu Reeves helped during a fire alarm. Are you ready?

[Georgia Hardstark]

I'm ready.

[Karen Kilgariff]

No, it starts. I have loved you since late 2016. Now pardon me as I drop every name. I can do it. And then in parentheses it says additional story adjacent names at the end of this email. Yes. Okay. It's fall of 2002. I'm a freshman studying theater at Pace University, just five blocks from where the World Trade Tower stood. Just a year before, I was working as an usher for the professional theater that was located on the ground floor of the high rise that contained the freshman dorms. The play was the Resistible Rise of Arturo Yui. That's a guess. U I is the name. And it starred Al Pacino, Billy Crudup, Steve Buscemi in parentheses, who told us ushers to break a leg before each performance, making us feel part of everything. Uh oh, oh, they all said it. That might get me.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Karen's already.

[Karen Kilgariff]

That might get me. Can you imagine a Steve, break a leg. Steve Buscemi walks by and goes, hey, break a leg. Yeah, like with his little smile.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Are we all ready to do this?

[Karen Kilgariff]

Oh my God, come on, he's having the time of his life.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Yeah.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Okay. And then it says, among many others, because of the level of stardom that was performing in this show, the level of stardom that came to see the show was equal if not greater. I'm talking Paul McCartney, Yoko Ono. And then in parentheses, not the same night. Yeah, you know, Harrison Ford and Calista Flockhart. And again, this list could go on. On the night of this particular story, I was legitimately starstruck. I got to meet and shoot to their seat. The one and only Lauren Bacall.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Holy shit.

[Karen Kilgariff]

That's legendary. Yeah, that's Hollywood royalty.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Yeah.

[Karen Kilgariff]

A true dream come true. Also in attendance this night, Keanu Reeves. A different type of dream come true. It was about halfway into the first act. I, along with the other ushers, all 18 or 19 year old students, are sitting on the floor in the lobby whisper gossiping about who was in attendance that night. When the fire alarm starts to blare, we all jump up, open our assigned doors and begin pointing everyone in our sections towards the nearest exit, which led to a back alley. Once our sections were empty, we were to close our doors and follow everyone outside, keeping in mind the place, recent events and no one having any idea why the alarm was going off. It felt as though everything was edging on chaos.

[Georgia Hardstark]

That's scary. That was a scary time.

[Karen Kilgariff]

So scary.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Like a fire alarm that close to the fucking spot. Hell no.

[Karen Kilgariff]

I mean in Los Angeles, and I'm sure I've told you this story before. It was like a week after and we were swimming in the ocean and there were planes. We were basically watching planes land at lax. And every time a plane came to land, we all thought it was gonna crash. It was just this weird, like, is this one? And it's like, no, no, it has to land like this. This is the flight path. But we were all so freaked out.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Yeah.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Okay. Back into the email. I was standing at my door guiding everyone in my section and thinking about how I can't let anything happen to Lauren Bacall.

[Georgia Hardstark]

It's all on you.

[Karen Kilgariff]

When I look towards the exit and see none other than Keanu Reeves also guiding everyone towards the nearest exit. Not going outside, but staying and helping us almost children get everyone out.

[Georgia Hardstark]

John Wick.

[Karen Kilgariff]

John Wick. As this is happening, I then see another man decide this was his opportunity to raid the snack and drink bar that was currently unmanned.

[Georgia Hardstark]

What? No.

[Karen Kilgariff]

About 15ft from where I stood. I was not alone in seeing this blatant act of theft. Keanu also saw it. He left his self assigned post, walked over to the snack bar, said to the man who had his arms full, let me get that for you. And dropped a wad of cash in the tip jar that was on the counter, then gently pushed the thief toward the exit.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Holy shit. Who the fuck was that person?

[Karen Kilgariff]

I mean, just a kind of a desperate hungry person who was like, ah, fuck it, I hope. And then they actually broke the paragraph and just had to have a single line that says a true legend because it actually is true. He went and handled it in the classiest way. Yes.

[Georgia Hardstark]

He cut a punch, that guy. Right in the face.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Yeah. And it's easy to just be mad and be like, you're an asshole. But it's like. Or just. How about you, Keanu?

[Georgia Hardstark]

Let me make you look really fucking stupid.

[Karen Kilgariff]

And not to worry. Lauren Bacall was fine and got outside safely. Keanu Reeves also made it outside safely after unknowingly being my night in Black Blazer. The show went on after about 15 minutes of the A listers and the freshman college students mingling in the alleyway. And the cause of the fire alarm was discovered. It was a bag of popcorn left in a microwave too long in one of the dorm kitchens upstairs.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Oh, come on.

[Karen Kilgariff]

And then here's another line that got broken down out of the paragraph. Fucking teenagers. Stay sexy and believe in Keanu Reeves. Faith. She her.

[Georgia Hardstark]

I mean, is there anything he can't do? God damn national treasure.

[Karen Kilgariff]

And also just like handling shit hand. No one's. He's not running to the door, getting himself out first.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Totally. I love him. And he's Also like, these 18 year olds can't save.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Everyone's gotta handle this.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Yeah. Okay. My last one's called I Sold My Soul. Light hearted. Hi. Recently, my brother got married, and my sisters and I gave a speech celebrating him. Afterwards, I realized I missed sharing a classic story about his role as the stereotypical older brother. Coincidentally, that same week, you shared a story about an older sister's mischievous lies. So I thought I'd contribute my own tale.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Nice.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Growing up as the oldest of three sisters, my brother often found himself the target of our attempts to borrow his Palm Pilot or watch him play video games. It was the 90s, and we viewed him as our very own Inspector Gadget. With all his cool tech, I'm sure we were the worst to be around. So I'm giving some grace to him for what he did. Anyways, when I was around 6, he was 12. While I was pestering him, he offered me $5, an enormous sum for a kid my age. The catch? I had to sell him my soul.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Oh.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Naturally, I jumped at the opportunity, thinking it was a small price to pay to be rich. He even drew up a contract, which I could barely read, and had me sign it. Not long after, I panicked, worried that I would die without my soul, something that, in hindsight, seemed important. I cried and begged him to return it, and he said the only way to get it back was to eat the contract, the entire sheet of paper. So there I was, munching on that piece of paper for the rest of the day. Stressful as it was, I kept the $5 and regained my soul. So I felt like a winner in the end. I'm now a clinical psychologist. I promise it's not his fault. And I've been a fan of your show since my first year in my doctoral program. I truly appreciate your mental health shout outs, advocacy, and mindful growth. Thank you for everything you do. Stay sexy and keep that soul to yourself. Kind regards, Bethany.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Oh, my God.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Oh, my God. I can see my brother doing something like that as kids.

[Karen Kilgariff]

It's such a great plan of, like. If you're not gonna stop bugging me, then I'm gonna figure out something. Something you're gonna have to do all day long.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Keep you occupied all day long. It was worth it. It was worth the $5. And I bet you anything the two other sisters were responsible for telling her why she was stupid to sell her soul, then making her panic. You know what I mean? It's like.

[Karen Kilgariff]

It's like, do you do know you're going to hell, right?

[Georgia Hardstark]

You know that if you die right now, like, you're going to hell?

[Karen Kilgariff]

It's so hot there. Mom's not there.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Tell us about your siblings at my favorite murdermail.

[Karen Kilgariff]

What if that older brother was Kano Reeves and that changed everything we thought about him?

[Georgia Hardstark]

Oh, that's cute, though.

[Karen Kilgariff]

I know.

[Georgia Hardstark]

It's precious. Yeah. Stay sexy and don't get murdered. Goodbye, Elvis. Do you want a cookie?

[Karen Kilgariff]

This has been an exactly right production.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Our senior producer is Alejandra Keck.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Our editor is Aristotle Acevedo.

[Georgia Hardstark]

This episode was mixed by Liana Squad Belachi.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Email your hometowns to myfavoritemurdermail.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Com and follow the show on Instagram and Facebook @MyFavoriteMurder and on Twitter at my favemurder. Goodbye.