My Favorite Murder Minisode 450 (August 25, 2025) – Summary

Overview

In this classic Minisode, Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark read and react to listener-submitted "hometown" stories, ranging from criminal encounters to bizarre childhood moments and celebrity run-ins. The tone remains lighthearted and humorous as the hosts riff on the emails, relate with personal anecdotes, and sprinkle in memorable banter about adolescence, rural drama, and the perils of trusting adults. True crime chills mix with cringe-inducing memories for another hilarious ride.

Key Discussion Points & Listener Stories

1. The Lithuanian Village Drug Run [02:17 – 06:14]

• Story: Laura from Lithuania tells of being a 6-year-old unwitting sidekick to the village “spiritual healer,” who was actually a drug dealer. After disappearing for hours, a frantic village search party (but not the police) assembles, grandma nearly has a heart attack, and Laura returns home to dessert, unfazed and ready for round two weeks later.
• Hosts’ Reaction: Both hosts delight in the vivid rural imagery, reflect on unsupervised childhoods, and the randomness of parental concern.
• Notable Quotes:
  • "She tells me she's heading to the far side of the village to do some business and asks if I want to come with her... and I said yes, hell yeah." – Laura [03:20]
  • "Turns out I had been gone long enough for my grandma to declare a full blown code red. But did anyone call the police? Of course not. That would have been too logical." – Laura [04:04]
  • "What a perfect picture of a time and place. Laura, you did. That was excellent." – Georgia [06:14]

2. My Trash Uncle, the Bank Robber [06:56 – 10:19]

• Story: Hailey shares the family trauma of her uncle using her as a human shield when security spotted him at Walmart (he was wanted for a bank robbery). A tense encounter with armed police ensues, leaving 5-year-old Hailey terrified she is the target.
• Hosts’ Reaction: Karen and Georgia joke about the futility of bank robberies and emphasize the absurdity of turning in a felon relative with a child in tow.
• Notable Quotes:
  • "My uncle used me as a shield when I was, all caps, 5." – Hailey [08:07]
  • "You're going to drop someone off at prison – maybe get a babysitter." – Karen [10:36]

3. The Lauder: A High School "Alcohol Delivery" Predator [12:41 – 15:39]

• Story: Lily recalls a shady adult known as “The Lauder” who sold alcohol, vapes, and fast food to Texas high schoolers via Snapchat, but is later arrested for sexual exploitation crimes.
• Hosts’ Reaction: Shock and horror dominate as the hosts lament their own risky teen behavior, reflect on stranger danger, and the dangers of ignoring “obvious” red flags.
• Notable Quotes:
  • "Sorry mom. That's stranger danger 101. I mean you couldn't get more on the nose." – Lily [15:20]
  • "Every time we hear those stories... my adolescence just flashes through my mind. And I just can't believe I'm here." – Georgia [15:50]

4. Dad’s Army Whistleblower Story & "Buried Bones" Connection [16:50 – 21:07]

• Story: Hava recounts her father's role in Army intelligence during the 1968 Democratic Convention in Chicago, his disillusionment with illegal wiretapping, escape to Canada, and his buried whistleblower interview discovered through "Buried Bones."
• Hosts’ Reaction: Karen and Georgia praise Hava’s dad’s backbone and marvel at the generational persistence of government secrecy.
• Notable Quotes:
  • "Your dad has like a backbone yeah, that's nice." – Georgia [21:04]
  • "Stay sexy and always try to do what's right, even if the story gets killed." – Hava [20:52]

5. Colin Farrell Sighting in Intercourse, Pennsylvania [22:41 – 26:07]

• Story: Listener Jackie recalls spotting Colin Farrell in an Amish country gift shop, with family hijinks and the pressing question: was he wearing jeans?
• Hosts’ Reaction: The hosts riff on celebrity encounters, regional town names, and the hilarity of random uncle questions.
• Notable Quotes:
  • "Was he wearing jeans? Why? I don't know. That was just my uncle being my uncle." – Jackie [25:31]

6. Prank Call Gone Wrong: "Megan is Dead" [26:42 – 30:32]

• Story: Megan, at age 12, tells her orthodontist office she’s dead, thinking it’s her friend prank calling. The mortified office, and her mother, must be reassured she’s alive.
• Hosts’ Reaction: Laughter and disbelief, as Karen analyzes the easier “fix” and both hosts remember phone etiquette and the drama of teen lies.
• Notable Quotes:
  • "Naturally, I assumed it was Brooke... so I leaned into it and said in my most serious tone, Megan is dead." – Megan [27:53]
  • "Megan, you’re a horrible person and we love you and we couldn’t be happier that you listened to our pod." – Karen [30:27]

Memorable Moments & Quotes

• On Parental Rules:
  • "This is what my anxiety is based on, is that I'm going to get in trouble for doing something I didn't know I wasn't supposed to do." – Georgia [06:49]
• On Sharing Trauma:
  • "Don't share your, like, uppercase T trauma until it's lowercase T trauma." – Georgia [10:15]
• On Dodgy Teen Decisions:
  • "The amount that I trusted men in, like, their late twenties with no questions is astounding." – Georgia [16:11]

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Segment | Timestamp | |------------------------------------------------|---------------| | Lithuanian Drug Run | [02:17–06:14] | | Trash Uncle & Bank Robbery | [06:56–10:19] | | The Lauder – Alcohol Predator | [12:41–15:39] | | Army Dad’s Whistleblower Revelation | [16:50–21:07] | | Colin Farrell in Amish Country | [22:41–26:07] | | Orthodontist Prank Call ("Megan is dead") | [26:42–30:32] |

Tone & Final Thoughts

Keeping with MFM tradition, Karen and Georgia blend listener drama with banter, incredulity, and empathy. Hometown stories become launch pads for digressions on anxiety, sibling rivalry, and 90s nostalgia. The comedic rapport ensures even the most jaw-dropping stories end with warmth and catharsis.

"Stay sexy and don't get murdered." – The signature sign-off

Quick Reference

• Hosts: Karen Kilgariff & Georgia Hardstark
• Theme: Listener-submitted “hometown” stories – crime, mischief, dark comedy
• Best Quote:
  "Stay sexy and don't take someone else's kid on your rural drug errands." – Karen [06:01]

For New Listeners

This Minisode is a perfect introduction to My Favorite Murder’s unique blend of true crime, catharsis, and wicked humor. You’ll find relatable moments, sincere empathy, and plenty of laughs amid the outrageous stories—always with the reminder to “stay sexy and don’t get murdered.”