MFM Minisode 440

Summary

My Favorite Murder with Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark Episode Summary: MFM Minisode 440 Release Date: June 16, 2025

Hosted by Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark, "My Favorite Murder" blends true crime narratives with comedic elements, creating a unique and engaging podcast experience. In Minisode 440, Karen and Georgia delve into a series of listener-submitted stories that range from personal trauma to heartwarming moments, all while maintaining their signature blend of humor and empathy.

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1. Introduction to the Minisode

The episode kicks off with Karen and Georgia welcoming listeners to the Minisode, setting the stage for a series of heartfelt and gripping stories shared by their audience. This segment establishes the intimate and supportive atmosphere that "My Favorite Murder" is renowned for.

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2. Listener Story #1: Karen’s Latchkey Kid Nightmare [02:07 – 05:05]

Karen Kilgariff opens the session by sharing a deeply personal and harrowing experience from her childhood. As an 80s latchkey kid, Karen was home alone when intruders forcibly entered her home. The intense fear and subsequent trauma left a lasting impact, shaping her perspective on safety and trust.

Notable Quote:

“I'm just out here living my life, always on the edge, but also trying to stay sexy and not get murdered.”
—Karen Kilgariff [04:55]

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3. Listener Story #2: Georgia’s Trash Cat – Penny’s Ordeal [05:05 – 08:17]

Georgia Hardstark recounts the terrifying incident involving her beloved cat, Penny. During a panic-inducing event where Penny was sprayed by a skunk, an accidental fire broke out, adding to the chaos. Despite the fear and the physical danger, both Georgia and Penny survived the ordeal, highlighting the deep bond between them.

Notable Quote:

“Penny lived another two and a half years and passed away shortly before her 22nd birthday last November. She was truly a part of me.”
—Georgia Hardstark [07:16]

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4. Listener Story #3: Historical Hometown – Celebrating Founding Mothers [08:17 – 12:07]

A heartfelt letter from a third-grade teacher in Quincy, Massachusetts, brings a historical perspective to the episode. The teacher shares inspiring stories about notable women in American history, such as Deborah Sampson, Phillis Wheatley, and Abigail Adams, emphasizing their significant yet often overlooked contributions.

Notable Quote:

“Abigail Adams was an OG feminist.”
—Karen Kilgariff [11:21]

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5. Listener Story #4: Georgia’s Quad Accident [14:32 – 17:25]

Georgia narrates a childhood accident involving her quad bike. At seven years old, Georgia disregarded safety instructions, leading to a dramatic fall that resulted in a broken arm. The story not only highlights the physical pain endured but also the resilience and humorous outlook Georgia developed from the experience.

Notable Quote:

“I am now 21 years old and to this day that is still the only bone I have ever broken. And I actually punch harder with that arm now. Bionic arm.”
—Georgia Hardstark [16:21]

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6. Listener Story #5: A Fist Fight at a Birthday Party [17:30 – 21:44]

Emily shares a dramatic family incident from her childhood where her grandfather and grandmother engaged in a fist fight during her cousin Steven's first birthday party. The altercation, sparked by a mispronounced word, marked the end of familial relationships and left a lasting impression on the family.

Notable Quote:

“Stay sexy and don't get into a fist fight at a child's birthday party.”
—Karen Kilgariff [21:34]

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7. Hoorays: Celebrating Listener Achievements [28:38 – 35:58]

The episode transitions into a series of "Hoorays," where listeners celebrate personal milestones and achievements. Highlights include:

• Joe Sweet shares his fulfillment of moving to Maine to live near the Portland Head Lighthouse, inspired by Karen's dreams.

  Notable Quote:

  “Hooray for bravery, for finding inspiration anywhere or just doing what Karen says gratefully.”
  —Joe Sweet [29:43]

• Shelby celebrates completing her doctorate in nursing alongside her daughter, Megan, who is graduating with an RN degree.

  Notable Quote:

  “So a huge hooray to my badass daughter Megan.”
  —Shelby [31:40]

• Aaron announces his upcoming wedding and reflects on his journey, thanking the podcast for its support.

  Notable Quote:

  “You're a lawyer. You did it. Congratulations.”
  —Georgia Hardstark [35:01]

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8. Conclusion

Karen and Georgia close the Minisode by expressing gratitude to their listeners, acknowledging the diverse and resilient community that supports the podcast. The episode emphasizes themes of survival, resilience, and the importance of sharing personal stories to foster connection and understanding.

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Overall Insights:

• Trauma and Resilience: Both Karen and Georgia share personal stories that showcase their resilience in the face of trauma, offering listeners a sense of solidarity and hope.

• Importance of Sharing Stories: The episode highlights how sharing personal and historical narratives can provide healing, education, and a deeper community connection.

• Humor and Empathy: Throughout the episode, the hosts balance serious topics with humor, making difficult subjects more approachable and engaging for the audience.

Conclusion: MFM Minisode 440 is a testament to the power of storytelling within the "My Favorite Murder" community. Through personal anecdotes and celebratory messages, Karen and Georgia create a space where listeners feel supported, understood, and connected. The episode underscores the podcast's mission to blend true crime with relatable human experiences, all while maintaining a tone of compassion and humor.

Transcript

[Karen Kilgariff]

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[Georgia Hardstark]

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[Karen Kilgariff]

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[Georgia Hardstark]

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[Karen Kilgariff]

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[Georgia Hardstark]

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[Karen Kilgariff]

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[Georgia Hardstark]

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[Karen Kilgariff]

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[Georgia Hardstark]

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[Karen Kilgariff]

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[Georgia Hardstark]

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[Karen Kilgariff]

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[Georgia Hardstark]

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[Karen Kilgariff]

Goodbye My favor.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Hello and welcome to my favorite Murder the Minisode. We read you your stories.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Do you Want to hear one?

[Georgia Hardstark]

Go first.

[Karen Kilgariff]

This is an 80s latchkey kid story and it just goes right into it. It says I just listened to Gillian's latchkey kid story and I have one of my own. As a latchkey kid, I was always reminded to never answer the door for anyone. One day while my parents were out, one was at work, the other was car shopping. I was home alone when some men came to the door and started knocking. I looked out my curtain, saw a recognize and knew I shouldn't answer the door. The knocking grew louder and louder and became intense banging until they finally just broke the door down.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Jesus.

[Karen Kilgariff]

I was of course terrified and not sure what to do. I could hear them downstairs rifling through things and when I heard them start to come up the stairs, I quickly hid under the bed. One of them came in my room and I don't really know why he came to my bedside, but I was sure the thunderous sound of my heart beating when that man's dirty steel toed boots were standing inches from my face would give me away. He finally left my room and my dumb brain said, you should try to see what he looks like for the police. So I crept onto my bed as he was going the opposite direction down the hall and rounded the corner to the stairs. How he did not see me, I don't know. And I wasn't able to get a good look at his facial features either. I crawled back under the bed and waited for them to leave. Finally they left. And because call 911 in an emergency had not yet been drilled into my brain, I called the neighbor who then called the police. You would think this was bad enough, but upon my return to school, I got the dreaded Take this to the office for me directive. And I knew full well that my classmates were being talked to about me and the incident. What? And then in parentheses it just says, why did schools do this kind of bullshit anyway?

[Georgia Hardstark]

That's weird.

[Karen Kilgariff]

It says, thank you Butte Creek Elementary School for giving my tormentors ammunition that made my life hell. From that moment on, the next line says, I. I struggled with intense nightmares for 20 plus years until I started letting my dog sleep with me. And you would be surprised by the number of grown ass adults who to this day fucking ask me about it as if we were discussing the weather.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Wow.

[Karen Kilgariff]

I'm 53 now and have lived my life in constant fear for my safety. And I tell everyone I know to please call first because an unexpected knock at the door throws my heart straight into my throat. Also, about 10 years ago, one of my biggest tormentors friended me on Facebook. I accepted, trying to let bygones be bygones. And then one day I was like, fuck that shit. And I unfriended him. He still occasionally tried to friend me before. Blocking was something we thought about on the regular. And that's my terrifying latchkey kid story. I'm just out here living my life, always on the edge, but also trying to stay sexy and not get murdered.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Elsa, man, that stuff sticks with you.

[Karen Kilgariff]

I mean, not to assume anything, Elsa. Cause you didn't. I know that's not your whole life story. I hope you get into therapy. Yeah, that's something you should definitely talk to somebody about.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Your body keeps the score and you can work it out. This is called Trash Cat story. Hello ladies. I Finally thought of a good one. A must read really. When I was 12 years old, my mom brought home two little kittens. They were roughly 3 months old and they quickly became my whole entire life. That's right. I became a full blown cat lady at the age of 12. The years passed and we lost one of the kittens around age 6. The remaining cat was the calmer of the two. Her name was Penny. She was small, tan and gray and very quiet. I took her to live with me when I was about 20 years old and she was eight. She stuck with me through the birth of three boys, adopting a beagle puppy, a shitty marriage and divorce, and bringing home another stray kitten when penny was around 16 years old. Having been the solo cat for the last 10 years of her life. She hated that kitten with every fiber of her being and often went into hiding in different parts of the house to escape him. Aw, Mimi. When Penny was 19 years old, I had just dropped the boys off with their father for his weekend and came back home to enjoy a quiet night. I had been home for around an hour when I went to the back of the house to start a load of laundry. Coming back into the living room, I was suddenly hit with an eye stinging, nose burning wall of chemical burning smell that I thought was coming from the open windows in the kitchen. I walked through the kitchen and when I got to the front of the house, I realized the smell was coming from inside the house somewhere. Panicking, I scooped up the other cat, Alby, and the beagle Rosie, and looked around for Penny. Not seeing her immediately, I took the two pets outside of my car and locked them in. I looked around the outside of the house and saw no smoke, but didn't dare go back inside yet. I called my mom to see if she would know what the smell was since she had lived there previously. She told me to call the gas company. The gas company shows up with a fire truck in tow. They use their magic gas sensing wands to look around the outside of the house. Nothing toxic. They go inside. Nothing toxic. But they also smell the smell and want to stay to help identify where it could be coming. So a team consisting of me, three firefighters and two gas company men start looking in the front of the house where the smell is strongest. When out of nowhere, Penny pokes her little gray head out of the cabinet to see what all the fuss is about. I scoop her up when the smell hits me like a load of bricks. It was Penny.

[Karen Kilgariff]

She gets sprayed by a skunk.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Uh, in an act of what I'm calling cat dementia. Penny walked across the counters when I was out of the kitchen and all Cap set her tail on fire with a candle I had lit on the I got home, the smell was burnt hair and some streaks of burnt paint on the kitchen wall when she was running away from the fire. The singed part hadn't reached down to her skin and she was perfectly fine. I on the other hand, had to explain to the five men in my house that it was my cat and there was no serious danger. I still can't totally look all the local firemen in the face when I see some of them in school drop off line. Penny lived another two and a half years and passed away shortly before her 22nd birthday last November. She was truly a part of me that I had to learn how to live without the joy and comfort she brought to me and my children who had never known a life without her is truly irreplaceable. Keep doing what you're doing. It has made a world of difference for people who once felt out of place for loving them. A cop. Lots of love, Sarah. Aw, Kenny's tail on fire.

[Karen Kilgariff]

I mean it's very kind of like sweet. And of course the shy cat gets her cat her tail set on fire. But I would say you can go right up to those firemen in the pickup line because you just having some kind of cat problem is the best kind of call a fireman could go on.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Right?

[Karen Kilgariff]

They love it. They think it's funny. It's something to talk about. Who cares?

[Georgia Hardstark]

No one's hurt.

[Karen Kilgariff]

No one's jumping off a roof to escape. Yeah, it's best case scenario.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Okay.

[Karen Kilgariff]

I would say with the kinds of things that firemen see, they're probably not judging the cat thing.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Yeah.

[Karen Kilgariff]

I was afraid that cat was gonna be dead somewhere in a wall. This sucks. I'm sad about Benny.

[Georgia Hardstark]

No.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Okay. Historical hometown. Hello Georgia. Karen and the erm team. Greetings from Quincy. Pronounced Quincy by the locals. Massachusetts hometown of John and John Quincy Adams. I'm a third grade teacher in Quincy and our social studies curriculum is all about Massachusetts history. My typical audience is the 8 to 9 year old non Murderino Market. So I'm hoping to share my historical knowledge with my fellow Murderinos. Please do. You've discussed John Adams and John Quincy Adams, but I would be remiss not to acknowledge Abigail Adams. It says Abigail was husband to John, but we think they mean wife, obviously mother to John Quincy. And if we're talking founding fathers, we need to talk founding mothers. While the men of the revolution who've been extensively written about in our country's history. Shocking. Were fighting battles, writing declarations and signing constitutions. The women were making contributions of their own, although their stories aren't often told. Take Deborah Sampson, Massachusetts state heroine. When women were forbidden from fighting in battle, Deborah disguised herself as a man, fought, and even dug a musket ball out of her leg with a knife to avoid medical attention that might out her identity.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Wow.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Total badass. I just read about that woman.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Really?

[Karen Kilgariff]

Yes. She was a soldier undercover the entire time and then finally had to go to the hospital. I believe that's when they were found out. Yeah, there's Phillis Wheatley. As a girl, Phyllis was taken from her family in Africa and sold as a s. Her birth name is unknown. The name Phyllis Wheatley, quote unquote, was given to her. Phyllis was taught to read and write by the family that enslaved her. A rarity to say the least. And despite her horrific circumstances, she emerged as a prolific poet, penning works about the importance of freedom for all. Many of her works were published, making her the first published African American poet.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Wow.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Circling back to Abigail While John was traveling for America's independence, Abigail Adams was at home tending to the farm and her children, alone, under threat and danger of the British during their time apart. She and John are well known for writing letters to one another, many in which Abigail offered advice and guidance to John during the revolution. Most famously, she encouraged him to remember the ladies imploring him to support women too, and the need to provide education to both boys and girls. Many schools for girls opened after the revolution. Abigail Adams was an OG feminist.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Hell yeah.

[Karen Kilgariff]

I hope you enjoyed my often useless historical knowledge. I know. I think it could be of great use to here on this podcast. Thank you for being my companions on my long commute home while I decompress from the chaos that is teaching in America right now. God. Stay strong, teachers. Keep fighting the good fight. You're doing amazing. Back at you from Georgia. And I stay sexy and remember the ladies. Patricia. P.S. a quick hooray to all the teachers. Oh, I didn't see that. This job has always been difficult, but it has become damn near impossible in recent years. Keep digging deep. Stay true to your authentic self and purpose, and don't forget to take care of you.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Wow.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Yeah, that's good advice.

[Georgia Hardstark]

That was a great letter.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Yeah, good job. Third grade history teacher's gonna come in and actually provide us something knowledge.

[Georgia Hardstark]

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[Karen Kilgariff]

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[Georgia Hardstark]

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[Karen Kilgariff]

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[Georgia Hardstark]

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[Karen Kilgariff]

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[Georgia Hardstark]

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[Karen Kilgariff]

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[Georgia Hardstark]

That's squarespace.com murder code murder goodbye Goodbye. If your idea of spring cleaning means getting rid of every single piece of furniture that you swore was temporary four years ago, Article is here to help. Article makes it easy to create a stylish, long lasting home at an unbeatable price and thanks to their online only model, they have some unbeatable prices too. Article offers a curated range of mid century, modern, coastal and Scandi inspired pieces that not only shine on their own, but also pair seamlessly with other Article products. This thoughtful approach to design makes it incredibly easy to mix and match, helping you create a space that feels cohesive and stylish. Article takes great care in curating its collection, focusing solely on high quality, meaningful pieces that will stand the test of time. There's no filler, every item is chosen for its craftsmanship, design and lasting value 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. Article is offering our listeners $50 off your first purchase of $100 or more. To claim, visit article.commur and the discount will be automatically applied at checkout. That's a R T I c l e.com murder to get 50 off your first purchase of a hundred dollars or more. Goodbye. This is seven year old, three days and a broken arm. Hello Queens of the Macabre. That's weird that macabre.

[Karen Kilgariff]

That's the adjective of I guess so. Our producer Molly's just writing all of these. She's like Georgia will like this. It's about a cat named Penny.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Yeah, exactly. It says hello queens of the macabre, cats of cookies and escape artist dogs.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Aww.

[Georgia Hardstark]

It was about this time of year when I was seven years old and riding my quad four wheeler to some people. Basically it's a motorized four wheeled thing that a seven year old probably shouldn't have been writing on her own. But I was writing it in my large backyard when my dad and younger sister got fishing poles ready to go up to a local pond for some after dinner fishing when I did the only thing my D told me not to do. He told me to go fast on straightaway and slow on turns. Well, I did not slow down on the turn and the quad ended up on two wheels and I fell off flipping the quad. I remember rolling out of the way to avoid getting crushed. But I was 7 so who the hell knows? I screamed, my dad came running, stopped the runaway quad, and then helped me get up. My left arm hurt.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Like which one cost $2,500?

[Georgia Hardstark]

Exactly. My arm hurt like hell. So he took me inside. My mom got me a water bottle for my arm and tried to calm me down because naturally I was crying and freaking out. My mom told me it would be sore for the next few days, but the next morning I couldn't lift it above my shoulder. My mom had to all caps force my arm above my head to put on my shirt and I was in tears.

[Karen Kilgariff]

So like her shoulder's dislocated and her mom's like, but we gotta get this shirt on.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Yeah, this is the only way to get a shirt on.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Gotta. It has to be a pull over the head shirt.

[Georgia Hardstark]

I went to a all caps karate class that night and then school and then school the next day. When I came out of school Friday, it says the wreck happened on a Wednesday. My pants were not zipped up or buttoned and I was dragging my rolling backpack trying to clutch my arm. Very pathetic.

[Karen Kilgariff]

So pathetic.

[Georgia Hardstark]

A doctor's office, a hospital three hours later and questions that I now realize I needed to answer because people thought a seven year old was being abused. And we found out I had a broken arm.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Yeah, you did. Yeah, you did.

[Georgia Hardstark]

I am now 21 years old and to this day that is still the only bone I have ever broken. And I actually punch harder with that arm now. Bionic arm.

[Karen Kilgariff]

In what scenario do you know that?

[Georgia Hardstark]

I know that's something we should all know. Which arm do you punch harder with? We should all know.

[Karen Kilgariff]

And remember when you used to punch with that arm. How different is it now when you're punching?

[Georgia Hardstark]

Right? Right. Maybe they loaded her up with something titanium. Yeah. I also have this kick ass story to freak my friends out. I would like to clarify that my parents are amazing people and very supportive and I believe this incident has helped me to become a tougher human being overall.

[Karen Kilgariff]

You have to say that to yourself, don't you?

[Georgia Hardstark]

There's no other way.

[Karen Kilgariff]

The other option is so sad.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Thank you, ladies, for all you do. Stay sexy. And if your 7 year old falls off her quad, get her to the.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Hospital or don't, because it'll make her tougher.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Right, Brit?

[Karen Kilgariff]

British Britt, you're probably as tough as nails.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Yeah, Britt's like a positive, you know, cheery person who will also fight for you.

[Karen Kilgariff]

She's like. Britt's like, get her done. She's like, look, put your arms up even when you have a dislocated shoulder.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Totally.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Put your ringer T shirt on and.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Jam that arm up over your head.

[Karen Kilgariff]

If it's really swollen and throbbing and it hurts to move at all, move it. The answer's karate. Did you hear about the 13 year old? A guy tried to grab her. It was in Carmel.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Mm, mm.

[Karen Kilgariff]

And she fucking used Jiu jitsu on him and broke his ankle.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Hell yeah.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Yeah. He was like, hey, blah, blah, blah. And she was like, I don't need to be helping you. And then he reached out and grabbed her and she was just like, jiu jitsu move. Jiu Jitsu move.

[Georgia Hardstark]

That's amazing. We all need to learn Jiu jitsu.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Yeah.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Wow. We'll talk about it. That's crazy.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Okay, here's my last one. It says fist fight at a first birthday party. And then in parentheses it says spicy family drama. That's what we're looking for. Hello, Karen, Georgia. Kitties, puppies, and the entire exactly right crew. Longtime listener, second time writer, though this is a much better story, so I'm glad you guys never read the first one. See, we know in minisode 418, you asked for family drama stories. Boy, do I have a good story for you. Some context. My grandfather was not a good guy. He was a firefighter who faked an injury and went out on disability for the remainder of his career. He was also abusive towards my grandmother, mother and uncles. My grandma divorced him in the 70s and my mother, a loud, opinionated Brooklyn Italian, stopped speaking to him when she was a teenager. Suffice it to say, we all had no relationship with the man. And I Didn't know him at all. Fast forward to January 2002. I am freshly four years old, and the family has gathered to celebrate my cousin Steven's first birthday. My Uncle Steve, Stephen's dad, obviously had an icy relationship with his father, but they're still on speaking terms at this point. Being that I was only four at the time, I have no memory of the following incident, but this is what I've been told happened. My grandfather's new wife was making a comment about something and was trying to use the word connoisseur. However, it sounds like me.

[Georgia Hardstark]

It sounds like me. Okay.

[Karen Kilgariff]

However, she mispronounced the word and instead said connoisseur. Which is fine.

[Georgia Hardstark]

That's fine.

[Karen Kilgariff]

That's a fun accent.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Yeah.

[Karen Kilgariff]

My grandmother, never one to hold her judgment or tongue when it's involving someone she does not have the highest opinion of, turns around and very loudly says, connoisseur. This one silly comment led to my grandfather and grandmother exchanging some choice words. Things began to get a little heated, which led my Uncle Frank, Grandma's brother, leaping across the table and punching my grandfather in the face. A fist fight between two men commenced. I don't know exactly what happened next. I'd imagine they were broken up and maybe the police were called. But I do know that this was the final nail in the coffin, effectively ending the relationship between Uncle Steve and my grandfather. Which explains why my brother, cousins and I never even knew the man. My mother will often say, I'm surprised you don't remember that, ma' am. I was four. Wild family moments connected to the story and the nonsense of my grandfather in general. Like, whenever my cousins and I come across the word connoisseur, which surprisingly happens a lot more than you'd think, we always give each other a knowing look and exclaim, connoisseur. Like the assholes we are. Or the time I was watching the old school game show Card Sharks with my grandma.

[Georgia Hardstark]

I love that game.

[Karen Kilgariff]

That sentence, I was watching card Sharks with my grandma is like the source of all great memories.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Memories. Yeah. Beautiful.

[Karen Kilgariff]

It's such a good game.

[Georgia Hardstark]

It is.

[Karen Kilgariff]

The host introduces 10 married women and says, how many of these women claim that they've been in love with another man besides their husbands? Scandalous. My grandma says, I think I've been in love with three men. None of them are my husband.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Ooh, Grandma, spicy.

[Karen Kilgariff]

I practically fell on the floor laughing. The icing on the cake. A few days after this, we were informed of my grandfather's passing. True comedic irony. My sweet Uncle Frank. The Unsung hero of this story lost his battle with Alzheimer's in 2024. He was a New York City firefighter for 30 years and the grandfather I never had. He was an incredible man, and we all miss him so much, but we know he's always with us, visiting us in the form of cardinals and flickering lights. He was and remains the best. Stay sexy and don't get into a fist fight at a child's birthday party. Emily.

[Georgia Hardstark]

There is nothing classier than a fist fight at a child's birthday party.

[Karen Kilgariff]

How about a fist fight at a wedding?

[Georgia Hardstark]

A wedding?

[Karen Kilgariff]

Oh, my family did that a couple times. Sacramento.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Okay. An emu tried to pants my grandma. Hello. MFM Day One listener. Somethingeth Time writer. The first time I heard your voices, I was in the back of a bush taxi in the middle of rural Burkina Faso, where I was serving with the Peace Corps. Since then, I've become an immigration attorney, and I'm prepping for my wedding next month. You've been with me every step of the way. Thank you.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Wow. Thank you.

[Georgia Hardstark]

While listening to George's excellent Emu wars episode, I remember the time I very gallantly did not stand up to an emu. When I was 10 years old, my family moved to Australia. I was fascinated by all the animal interactions. Early on, I woke up for school and walked out into the dining room to just see my dad in his underwear, leaping from wall to wall with a shoebox, trying to catch the biggest huntsman spider I have ever seen.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Have you seen those ones?

[Georgia Hardstark]

And they're, like, hairy.

[Karen Kilgariff]

It's kind of tarantula, if I'm not mistaken.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Yeah, I honestly don't want to see.

[Karen Kilgariff]

I won't show you, but I'm gonna look it up really quick.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Show me, show me. Okay.

[Karen Kilgariff]

I should know because I wonder if I'm thinking of.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Oh, there's one behind you right now.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Behind you.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Ah. The legs are long. The legs are so long.

[Karen Kilgariff]

It's also actually. Well, I. I think maybe there's different ones, but this is not. Carrie. Yeah, it's like the tiny version gets in your bathroom all the time, but it's literally that big. But when you see it, you go, those legs are too long.

[Georgia Hardstark]

I can't fucking. I can't do spiders.

[Karen Kilgariff]

I'm so sorry. Because that one was. Was palm size.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Literally palm size. And then, like, really, like, especially long legs.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Yes.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Okay.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Like, you. Like, how are these people putting them on their hands?

[Georgia Hardstark]

Like, long and skinny? Like, look at my page right there. That's how I gripped. That's how hard I gripped my page. I ruined my papers. Okay, no, I don't want to say that no more. No more. Linda says it's an image I will never forget. Me, too.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Me three.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Around my 11th birthday, my grandparents Ann and Bill, aka Grammy and Gramps, came to visit us. And we set off on a number of adventures to show them our new home. One of the outings was to Tidbanilla National Preserve, an excellent nature preserve outside of Canberra where we were living. We took a picnic and set up to eat after walking through the koala preserve.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Oh, so minty.

[Georgia Hardstark]

I'll take a koala in my house. Not a huntsman spider. Imagine any day koala on the wall.

[Karen Kilgariff]

They just have a little bit of herpes. That's okay.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Oh, no. Do they?

[Karen Kilgariff]

Yeah.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Oh, no.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Yeah, they have a lot of STDs, apparently.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Cool. Okay. For learning a lot.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Australian. I'm your Australian information. You didn't want to know about Australia. Hookup.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Yeah. Okay. As we were starting to eat a couple. As we were starting to eat a couple emus. Not. As we were starting to eat a couple emus.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Digging into those emus.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Right. As we were starting to eat a couple emus started to approach our table. We tried to play it cool, but one of them started to really focus on Grammy. But the emus just kept getting closer and closer until they were practically sitting at the table with us. Us. Suddenly, one of the emus start pecking at Grammy's pants. She got up and started to back away and around the table, and the emu followed, pecking incessantly at the button of her pants. The rest of the family started yelling at the emu, trying to chase it away or trying to quickly pack up our lunch. Me. I ran as quickly as I could into the car and locked myself inside.

[Karen Kilgariff]

That's right.

[Georgia Hardstark]

And watched from afar as a giant emu chased my little Grammy around the picnic table, attempting to steal her pants.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Why?

[Georgia Hardstark]

In the end, the picnic was saved and Grammy's pants remained intact. All thanks to everyone but me. Coward. Also, like, locking the door. Like an emu's just gonna open the door.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Or if anyone else tries to come and get it, it's like, no, no, just me. You weren't fast enough.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Stay sexy and don't let the emus steal your pants. Ruby.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Ruby. Why was it, like, the color or shiny button? Probably because those are, like, I would imagine emus are super cute 15ft away, and the second they're within 5ft, you're scared shitless.

[Georgia Hardstark]

I think Just, they're terrifying up close. We got the teeth and the calves and the muscles.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Dinosaurs.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Dinosaurs.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Full on dinosaurs.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Send us your stories about Australia's stories.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Large spider on any continent stories.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Sure. Definitely.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Of course. Emu.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Always emu.

[Karen Kilgariff]

If you've got an emu story. If you got an emu story, we'll take either. We like both.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Spring is in the air. And that means open windows, outdoor plans, and more time away from home. All the things that burglars love.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Well, bad news, burglars. Now you can protect your home with Simplisafe.

[Georgia Hardstark]

With Simplisafe, millions of Americans enjoy greater security and peace of mind every time they arm their system.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Traditional security systems only take action after somebody has already broken in. That's too late.

[Georgia Hardstark]

But with active guard outdoor protection, Simplisafe's monitoring agents closely watch your property and stop crimes before they happen.

[Karen Kilgariff]

The cameras use advanced AI to distinguish between friendly faces like family and neighbors, and potential threats, alerting agents to suspicious individuals before they get close to your home.

[Georgia Hardstark]

So I get that ping on my phone, on my app that tells me when there's someone, like, on my lawn, I'm such an old lady or like, you know, walking up my driveway because I live up off the street, and you shouldn't be there if you're not meant to be there. So, like, if I get the ping that someone's on my lawn and I'm like, I know something's up and I can check it before they even get to the door or break in, in the window, it's great.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Visit simplisafe.com fave to claim 50% off a new system with a professional monitoring plan and get your first month free.

[Georgia Hardstark]

That's simplisafe.com fav.

[Karen Kilgariff]

There's no safe like Simplisafe. Goodbye. Temperatures are starting to rise, which means you're setting your baseline level of sweaty right now. And it only gets worse from here.

[Georgia Hardstark]

That's exactly why you need clothes that breathe, look good, and we'll keep you together until September. That's Quince.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Quince has the clothes you'll want to wear all season long.

[Georgia Hardstark]

You can grab 100 European linen shorts and dresses starting at $30, plus luxe swimwear and Italian leather platform sandals.

[Karen Kilgariff]

The best part? Everything with Quince is half the cost of similar brands. By working directly with top artisans and cutting out the middlemen, Quince gives you luxury without the markup.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Quince only partners with factories that uphold safe, ethical manufacturing practices and use premium fabrics and finishes.

[Karen Kilgariff]

It's that time of year where the weather's changing and I realize how few short sleeve shirts I have, and I truly logged on to Quince this morning. They have all these beautiful linen shirts, all these beautiful cotton shirts, stuff where you're like, I don't want to be hot. And this is going to help me so much.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Beautiful linen in the summer. My favorite. Give your summer closet an upgrade with quint.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Go to quint.commfm for free shipping on your order and 365 day returns.

[Georgia Hardstark]

That's Q-U-I-N C E.commfm to get free shipping and 365 day returns.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Quint.commfm Goodbye.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Okay. Hi. We don't usually do hoorays at the end of minisodes, but this is a.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Special occasion, so this is Honking Hooray, presented by Hyundai.

[Georgia Hardstark]

All right, you want to go first?

[Karen Kilgariff]

Sure, I'll go first.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Tell me one.

[Karen Kilgariff]

We also never read these off cards.

[Georgia Hardstark]

We don't.

[Karen Kilgariff]

It's all so exciting. I've never read anything with this much lipstick on before. Are you ready? The subject line of this hooray is Hooray. Lighthouse in Maine edition.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Great.

[Karen Kilgariff]

After a devastating divorce in 2020, it starts off a little heavy.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Are you all right?

[Karen Kilgariff]

We're gonna be fine. Let's go. We're in the car. After a devastating divorce in 2020, and I started listening to MFM. In one of the podcasts, Karen stated that she wanted to, quote, live alone in a lighthouse in Maine. End quote. Remember that one?

[Georgia Hardstark]

Yeah. That's great.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Well, Karen, after four years of dreaming about what you said, I've moved to Maine from California and I live about 20 minutes walking, four minutes driving from the Portland Head Lighthouse. It's beautiful. Hooray for bravery, for finding inspiration anywhere or just doing what Karen says gratefully. Joe Sweet. I mean, hooray for that.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Hooray. I want to leave California, too. That sounds great. Right this second, this moment.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Can you read a hooray before you go?

[Georgia Hardstark]

Good thing I'm in a car.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Okay.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Okay. This is called no title. Okay. I have a Hooray. My dog, Ripken, finished radiation treatments after six weeks of treatment for sarcoma. He was a very brave boy. And we listened to your voices on the entire one and a half hour drive each way to treatments. And that was from KK Fenwick 3 KK. KK Prince. Okay. Yeah. Let's see.

[Karen Kilgariff]

So wait, that dog's okay, right?

[Georgia Hardstark]

Yeah.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Okay.

[Georgia Hardstark]

He finished radiation after six weeks, but so he's good now.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Full hooray Full hooray. Gigantic hooray.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Yeah.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Okay, this one is written by none other than a Shelby. Are you ready?

[Georgia Hardstark]

I love a Shelby.

[Karen Kilgariff]

So the subject line of this is hooray. Okay, it was an email. It says, this is Shelby here, but it is actually Dr. Shelby now. I've been an RN since the night. Since the 1900s, she said. I currently work as a nursing instructor teaching baby nurses how to not kill people. It's very important. Back in 2019, I was fired from an awesome job with shitty upper management. But nevertheless, this change forced me to look at my path. And with my husband's encouragement, I went back to school. I completed my BSN in the midst of the pandemic. How did you do anything in the pandemic? That's. Can you imagine homework in the pandemic?

[Georgia Hardstark]

Absolutely not.

[Karen Kilgariff]

And continue to get my master's as a nurse practitioner. Man. Fast forward to now. My 19 year old daughter is getting pinned graduating with an RN degree. And she pushed me to get my doctorate in nursing so we could graduate together. I come from a family that has never been to college and now I have my doctorate with a daughter that is now an rich.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Unbelievable.

[Karen Kilgariff]

So a huge hooray to my badass daughter Megan. Being an RN at 19 and taking her first job in an emergency room, Megan doesn't care. She's like, I'm here first in line to help people.

[Georgia Hardstark]

I'm jumping in.

[Karen Kilgariff]

You got a motorcycle? I'll be there. I'm Megan. I've listened since day one. And you ladies have helped me through studying and thesis. Can you believe that?

[Georgia Hardstark]

No, we didn't.

[Karen Kilgariff]

What does that even mean? Thanks for all your hours of entertainment. Hooray to you, badass bitch. Which is shelby.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Thanks, Shelby.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Dr. Shelby.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Dr. Shelby.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Dr. Shelby. You did it.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Amazing. Okay, this one is from YouTube. It says, My hooray is that I finally, for the first time ever, played DD this week.

[Karen Kilgariff]

See, there's big things, there's smaller things. It's all important.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Hooray means something different to everyone. That's right. I have been wanting the joy of magical role playing since realizing what DD is only a year ago. And my beautiful, beautiful co workers from the school I work at. Drama teachers, baby.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Yeah.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Join me and my son, 9. And we made my dream come true. It was like disassociating in the most wonderful way possible. And I can't wait to play again. So hooray for friends fantasy and pretending to be a delusional wingless dragon. The Jay Nester.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Wow, Jane Jane Jay.

[Georgia Hardstark]

The Jane. Ester. Jane. The Jane. Janester. The Jennifer. Janester.

[Karen Kilgariff]

The Janester. Yeah.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Jane Stir. Yeah. I love that.

[Karen Kilgariff]

I do too.

[Georgia Hardstark]

I always thought it'd be too late for me to play D and D, but I guess not.

[Karen Kilgariff]

I always thought it wouldn't be believable because of the pretending. Sure, I'd be like, I guess I'm a troll.

[Georgia Hardstark]

And yet you're in a car right now.

[Karen Kilgariff]

This is only acting. This is about as fake as it gets. Okay, ready? This is also an email that says hooray, but this has five exclamation points after and it says beautiful ladies. I've finally found a stable job since completing my B.S. small C. BSC. Mm.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Mm.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Anyone with a college education?

[Georgia Hardstark]

Bachelor of Science Communication.

[Karen Kilgariff]

But then it says in International Wildlife Biology. Dang it.

[Georgia Hardstark]

We didn't graduate college.

[Karen Kilgariff]

We don't know these classes. So they did all that two years ago. And working in the hospitality industry for the past 10 years, I've been craving some sense of stability. This new job isn't much, but it's providing me with routine, structure and an amazing work life balance which I so desperately needed. Does this mean I'm getting old? Maybe, but I'm here for it. I can't wait to go to bed early. Izzy from Wales. And then it says, ps, be nice to your waiters. They're dead inside.

[Georgia Hardstark]

That's true. Yeah. And your podcasters.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Yeah, that's pretty much everybody. Be nice.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Oh, yeah, be nice. This one is an email and it says hello. Exactly right, folks. Karen and Georgia. My name is Erin. I've been listening to MFM since high school along with my mom. Shout out. Margo.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Margo.

[Georgia Hardstark]

I'm graduating from law school as one of the top students in my class. Law school sucks, but it's in my past now. To think that you guys have kept me sane and entertained since I was in high school and now am almost a lawyer is insane.

[Karen Kilgariff]

It is insane.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Hope it doesn't make you feel too old.

[Karen Kilgariff]

It does.

[Georgia Hardstark]

And for a bonus, my cat, Yuzu, who has survived law school with me, is basically a cat lawyer.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Because the cat's just been there studying the whole time.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Basically, stay sexy and don't go to law school unless you really want to. Then go and be a badass. Aaron.

[Karen Kilgariff]

M. Aaron. Amazing job.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Yeah.

[Karen Kilgariff]

You're a lawyer.

[Georgia Hardstark]

You. You did it. Congratulations. We're glad we were in high school with you.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Yeah, we were popular in that high school, weren't we? We made it work.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Is that it?

[Karen Kilgariff]

Yes. I think that's it. Thank you Hyundai for sponsoring this wonderful segment.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Yeah, thanks guys. Bye. Goodbye Elvis. Do you want a cookie?

[Karen Kilgariff]

This has been an Exactly Right production.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Our senior producers are all 100 Keck and Molly Smith.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Our editor is Aristotle Laciveda.

[Georgia Hardstark]

This episode was mixed by Liana Squillace.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Email your hometowns to my favorite murdermail.com.

[Georgia Hardstark]

And follow the show on Instagram at my favorite murder.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Listen to my favorite murder on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Georgia Hardstark]

And now you can watch us on exactly right's YouTube page. And while you're there, please like and subscribe.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Goodbye.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Goodbye.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Get this Adults with financial literacy skills have 82% more wealth than those who don't. From swimming lessons to piano classes, us parents invest in so many things to.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Enrich our kids lives, but are we.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Investing in their future financial success? With Greenlight you can teach your kids financial literacy skills like earning, saving and investing. And this investment costs less than that. After school treat start prioritizing their financial education and future today with a risk free [e-mail] iheart greenlight.com ih I heart.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Taking care of yourself is hard enough without adding a blender and a bucket of spinach to the mix. Groons makes it simple to get your greens. No chopping, mixing or pretending you like kale required. Just eight daily delicious gummies packed with over 20 vitamins, minerals and 60 whole food ingredients. They're vegan, gluten free and taste like fruit snacks. Plus there's Groons kids. For the little ones. Whether you're already into wellness or still figuring it out, Groons fits right into your routine. You've got nutrition gaps and Groons fills them. Use code MFM for up to 45% off. That's code MFM for up to 45 percent off. Groons get your greens the easiest way possible. Goodbye.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Now you can watch the best of Hulu on Disney.

[Georgia Hardstark]

The hottest Hulu shows and movies right next to your Disney favorites.

[Karen Kilgariff]

With Hulu on Disney. Dive into new seasons of the Handmaid's.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Tale, nine Perfect Strangers, the Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, and welcome to Wrexham.

[Karen Kilgariff]

And don't miss Star Wars Andor Season 2 and Marvel's Daredevil Born Again on Disney Plus. All these and more now streaming with Hulu on Disney plus with a bundle subscription available with bundle plans starting at 1099amonth.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Terms apply.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Visit disneyplus.com hulu for details.