My Favorite Murder: Rewind with Karen & Georgia — 59: Live At The Wilbur

Podcast: My Favorite Murder with Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark
Network: Exactly Right & iHeartPodcasts
Date: August 27, 2025
Episode Focus: Episode rewind and commentary on the 2017 live show at Boston’s Wilbur Theatre—including backstage stories, fashion talk, loving ribbing of producer Steven, updates to infamous cases, audience anecdotes, and what it meant to perform in a storied (possibly haunted!) old theater.

Episode Overview

This "Rewind" re-visits My Favorite Murder’s electrifying live show at Boston’s Wilbur Theatre in March 2017. Karen and Georgia relisten, reminisce, laugh at their own foibles, and unpack the experience with fresh hindsight—including charm-filled back-and-forths about fashion disasters, local audience heckling, Steven-centered humor, major case updates, and the evolution of their live performances. Notable true crime stories covered: The Molly Bish case and Boston's notorious "Giggler" killer.

Highlights & Key Discussion Points

1. Stepping Back into Boston’s Wilbur: Nerves, Fashion, and Pre-Show Antics

[02:27–07:20]

• Theater awe: Karen and Georgia recount being overwhelmed by the Wilbur’s plush, European-style beauty: “It looks like you could spill wine there really easily.” (18:59, Karen)
• Fashion faux pas & tights drama:
  • Karen’s tights get a negative review from her sister after the Oakland show: “She texted and said, I thought the show was great, but you have to get rid of those tights you’re wearing.” (06:15, Karen, 06:36)
  • Georgia’s allergy tissue mishaps and deliberating over shoes: “I’m wearing a Jessica Simpson tonight. Thank you. You don’t have to be blonde to like bad fash.” (05:07, Karen)
  • Self-deprecating fashion humor abounds, setting a warm, loose tone.
• Appreciating the audience: Both are moved by the sold-out crowd—while also making fun of themselves: “Thank you for selling us out. Yeah, that's very nice.” (17:48, Karen)
• Boston audience energy:
  • Lively, not shy about shouting corrections (especially over mispronunciations), triggering in-jokes for both hosts.

2. Backstage Bonds & Producer Steven: The Ghost in the Machine

[07:46–09:02; ongoing]

• Steven-focused running jokes:
  • “He’s not here, but he’s not here. We don’t bring him with us sometimes.” (07:36, Karen)
  • Ongoing teasing (with affection!), confirmed with “He was like, no, I love it. Of course. He was like, no, it’s great.” (07:49, Georgia re: Steven)
• Classic producer shoutouts: “Stephen will inherit the house or whatever...” (14:35, Karen)

3. First Class Flights, Room Service, and ‘I Have to Finish My Murder’

[12:14–15:20]

• Travel tales:
  • Both discuss treating themselves to first class: “We upgraded to first class...I’m sorry, Mom. I know it’s wrong.” (12:14, Karen)
  • Karen jokingly says to Georgia upon getting coffee, “I have to finish my murder,” making them both laugh about how weird their job sounds to outsiders (15:04, Georgia).

4. Molly Bish Case Deep Dive & Live-Show Enhancement Through Visuals (Georgia’s Story)

[26:11–52:44]

• Case Recap:
  • Molly Bish was a 16-year-old lifeguard who disappeared from her post in Warren, MA in 2000.
  • Key details covered: Her mother’s memory of a creepy mustachioed man in a white sedan, the timeline of Molly’s disappearance, the later discovery of her remains, and the string of suspects with painfully ambiguous evidence—all played out in real time with audience reactions.
• Suspect gallery:
  • Photos shown; hosts and crowd scrutinize faces and mustaches, joke about resemblance to producer Steven for comic relief: “The loveliest person in the world, but facial hair wise, very suspicious.” (28:00, Karen)
• Local name mispronunciations:
  • Georgia’s attempts at “Agawam” and being corrected by the crowd become running bits: “Agawam. So you fucking know that one but you don’t know the other ones...” (35:42, Georgia)
• Notable quote:
  • “It's just that, like, you went to high school and look at her choker.” (48:07, Karen on Molly Bish’s photo)
• Audience engagement: Crowd cheers for local references, corrects pronunciation, and reacts to visual aids.
• Update & Reflection:
  • 2025 update: Molly’s case remains unsolved, with new DNA advances and advocacy efforts by her family. “We feel very optimistic that someday this case will be solved...so, so close...” (52:08, quoting Maggie Bish)
  • Karen reflects on citizen sleuths: “People really do care and are paying attention and just want that answer and want to try to help...” (52:44, Karen)
  • Georgia notes, “There’s no way to know, of course, for sure, but knowing that story has made women and girls be a little more cautious and I’m sure saved us lives.” (52:44)

5. Karen’s Story: The Boston ‘Giggler’ Serial Killer

[54:55–74:38]

• Dramatic retelling:
  • The “Giggler” called in a tip about a dead man, giggled, and hung up—spurring one of Boston’s most chilling multi-murder cases in the late 60s.
• Victims covered:
  • Joe Breen (shuffleboard-loving bar patron),
  • Kenneth Martin (a 9-year-old boy, strangled),
  • Lucy Palmarin (6-year-old girl thrown from a bridge),
  • Clover Parker (elderly woman similarly murdered)
  • The arson of the Paramount Hotel (killing 11; “hobo hotel”).
• Confession and psychology:
  • Harrison confesses upon arrest, saying he was ‘struck with the urge to kill’.
• Boston geography and audience:
  • The “combat zone” neighborhood sparks intense crowd response and confusion on stage (“Are we in it?!”).
• Notable quote:
  • “When the police arrived...they find a dead man who is submerged with his skull crushed in a water-filled ditch.” (58:57, Karen)
  • “He was sentenced to hard labor at Walpole State Prison. You guys summer there?” (72:35, Karen to the Boston crowd)
• Update:
  • The “I Did It For Jody” blog source no longer active, but archived for true crime fans (75:45, Karen).

6. Live Show Lessons and Evolution

[18:17–23:06; 76:18–79:12]

• Reflections on early days of live podcasting, learning technical elements (“We didn't know we could like turn in photos and have them...it’s like you could do that in a third grade classroom, but we didn’t realize...”) (22:15, Georgia).
• Growing skill: Now they look up local pronunciations and better prepare on the road—compare to chaos and learning curves from 2017.

7. Audience, Community, and True Crime’s Impact

• Friendliness of Boston: Georgia shares a touching anecdote about the city’s kindness (36:27).
• Emotional impact: Both hosts discuss how sharing these stories may have saved lives: “I bet her story being out there and their advocacy work has saved women and girls’ lives.” (52:44, Georgia)
• Podcasting lessons: “Nothing is ever actually deleted from the Internet. Don’t forget that when you write something stupid at three in the morning.” (75:45, Georgia)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On live shows/audience participation:
  • “It felt like we had to teach the audience how to be an audience correctly. Because truly some of these...women showed up and were like, ‘You know what? I'm going to run this show.’ Where it's like, no, you're fucking not.”
    — Karen (22:29)
• On being corrected live:
  • “Agawam. So you fucking know that one but you don't know the other ones...” — Georgia (35:42)
• On true crime advocacy:
  • “There’s no way to know, of course, for sure, but knowing that story has made women and girls be a little more cautious and I’m sure saved us lives.” — Georgia (52:44)
• On digital memories:
  • “Nothing is ever actually deleted from the Internet. Don’t forget that when you write something stupid at three in the morning.” — Georgia (75:45)
• Jewelry/fashion self-roast:
  • “My grandma used to always have four tissues up her sleeve. Like the worst magician of all time.” — Karen (04:24)
• On fandom and feeling seen:
  • “It was very new and very touching how, like, fun and friendly they were.” — Karen (77:49)
• When a murderino yells out:
  • "I just saw someone leave to go to the bathroom." “Or they couldn’t handle it.” — (03:22–03:25, Karen & Georgia)

Timestamps for Major Segments

| Segment | Key Topic | Start Time | |---------|-----------|-----------| | Show Opens / Intro | Wilbur anxiety, banter | 02:27 | | Fashion Blunders | Tights & shoes, audience corrections | 04:09 | | Steven the Producer Bits | Steven jokes and affection | 07:36 | | Ice Cream Gifts & Small Talk | “Elvis. Wanna cookie bacon, banana bacon...” | 09:02 | | Plane Rides & Podcast Fame | First class upgrades, “I have to finish my murder” | 12:14–15:04 | | Back to Boston, Setting the Scene | Wilbur memories, haunted theatres | 17:48–19:37 | | Case Story 1: Molly Bish | Georgia’s full storytelling | 26:11–52:44 | | Case Story 2: The Giggler | Karen’s full storytelling | 54:55–74:38 | | Reflections/Updates | Case updates, fandom, live podcasting evolution | 76:18–79:12 |

Episode Themes & Tone

The episode is full of classic MFM charm: a blend of macabre case detail, irreverent humor, and heartfelt appreciation—both for the complexities of true crime and the warmth of their audience (“Stay sexy. And don’t get murdered!”). They reminisce self-deprecatingly about learning the ropes, being corrected (lovingly) by Boston crowds, and realizing the impact of putting victims’ stories out into the world.

Overall, the episode is:

• Warm, funny, and vulnerable
• Candid about both podcast and personal missteps
• Compassionate about victims and survivor stories
• Playful, especially when bowing to a wild, opinionated Boston crowd

Summary for New Listeners

This “Rewind at The Wilbur” is a fantastic behind-the-scenes look at MFM’s unique cocktail of true crime and comedy. If you missed the original show, this episode not only recaps the big cases (Molly Bish, the Giggler), but also immerses you in rapid-fire on-stage energy, gentle roasting, and the odd logistics of touring as crime podcasters. You'll hear both about infamous New England mysteries and how fandom, podcasting, and a bit of chaos all come together in the world of My Favorite Murder.

Stay Sexy. And Don’t Get Murdered.