My Favorite Murder: Rewind with Karen & Georgia – Episode 74: Jews Vs. Catholics (12/10/2025)

Main Theme & Purpose

In this “Rewind” installment, Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark of the true crime comedy podcast revisit their 2017 episode “Jews Vs. Catholics.” They reflect on the episode's original content, share new insights, address listener corrections, highlight comedic and personal moments, and provide updates where possible. The episode focuses on two central stories: the eerie Carbon Copy Murders and the Annecy shootings, while weaving in the hosts’ signature humor, reflections on religion, and engagement with Murderino culture.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Revisiting "Jews Vs. Catholics" (Starts ~01:30)

• Recap of the 2017 Episode: Karen and Georgia react to their earlier banter about Jewish and Catholic guilt, poking fun at their respective upbringings and personal quirks.
• Playful Religious Rivalry:
  • Karen jokes about new Catholic guilt (“Now I’m Catholic… Hard. Yeah, right? It sucks.” - 03:08)
  • Georgia claims lack of guilt in Judaism (“That’s the glory of Judaism” - 04:53)
• Confessional Humor: Both swap stories about childhood guilt, confessionals, and stealing as kids.

2. Diversity, Satanism & Listener Engagement (~05:15)

• Listener Email on Modern Satanism:
  • Explains Satanism as an atheistic religion focusing on autonomy and separation of church and state.
  • Highlights feminist beliefs and playful activism (e.g., Baphomet statues, potlucks).
  • Hosts praise the group’s humanism and PR savvy.
  • Quote: “Our version of Satanism is what you might call an atheistic religion. Most of us do not believe in God, nor by extension, the devil.” (Listener Simone, 07:18)
• Relational Reflection: Karen notes the contrast between perceptions of Satanism and the actual politics behind movements like the Church of Satan.

3. Corrections, Inside Jokes & Community Shoutouts (~10:10)

• Corrections Corner:
  • Wine memory (“Boone’s Farm was the wine you were trying to think of…” - 10:27)
  • Clarifies place names and pop culture references (“Moraga is the city... Adrienne actually just texted me…” - 11:38)
• Origins of Podcast Catchphrases:
  • “Hi” and “hey/bay” stories (“I’ve always mentioned that is something like a coined phrase.” - 15:13)
  • “Coochie twinge” – their own invented expression.
• Trademark Banter: Assert “Stay Sexy, Don’t Get Murdered” as their own (“Don’t fucking steal it. Yeah, we made that up.” - 16:21)

4. On Building the Podcast & Team (16:38)

• Acknowledgment of Producer Steven Ray Morris: After months, they give him an overdue paycheck on-air, celebrating their DIY roots (“You’re on schedule to be employed like a normal person.” - 18:49).

5. Current Events, News Overload & Positivity (~19:38)

• Managing Overwhelm: Karen and Georgia discuss news overload, social media negativity, and efforts to focus on positivity and community (“People are making an effort to... make sure you know they’re a friend.” - 20:28).
• Finding Balance: Turn to shows and comfort activities for sanity.

6. Podcast Rituals & Listener Contributions (~25:06)

• Homemade Theme Song Remix: Shout-out to a fan who remixed their theme (“It’s Georgia’s early Rave Days meets Karen’s song meets Forensic Files meets My Song.” - 25:13)
• Fan Gifts: Share joy at the oddball and heartfelt listener gifts, fostering a close “Murderino” community.

7. Jewish & Catholic Roots – A Comedic Exchange (~29:41)

• Open, affectionate swap about their religious upbringings and family dynamics.
• “I think Catholics and Jews... there’s a lot of similarities in the families there.” – Georgia (30:02)

Featured True Crime Stories

A. The Carbon Copy Murders

Host: Karen (~46:44)

Summary/Timestamps

• Background (47:54): In 1817, Mary Ashford is found raped and murdered in Erdington, England, after a holiday dance.
• Investigation: Abraham Thornton is arrested but acquitted. A medieval law allows Mary’s brother to challenge him to trial by battle (57:03), but the brother declines, so Thornton goes free.
• 157 Years Later (60:13): In 1975, Barbara Forrest is murdered on the same date, same age, near the same spot, in identical circumstances—and the main suspect's surname is also Thornton.
• Supernatural Parallels: Both victims shared birthdays, changed into new dresses at a friend’s house before a dance, were found within 300 yards of each other, and had premonitions about their fate.
• Reaction: “Isn’t that insanity?... If this is true... it’s so insane if not, I still fucking love it.” – Karen (62:28)

Notable Quotes

• Georgia: “Coochie twinge... but you’re saying that with your leg up in the air.” (63:44)
• Karen: “Carbon copy murders, ladies and gentlemen.” (63:40)

Update (Post-story, ~64:36):

• New research and books have revisited the old case, and Mysteries Abound remains a rich resource for more details.

B. The Annecy Shootings

Host: Georgia (67:52)

Summary/Timestamps

• Incident (68:11): 2012, France—A British-Iraqi family (Al-Hilis) and a cyclist are gunned down in a remote lay-by. Two daughters, aged 4 and 7, survive amidst horror.
• Investigation (72:01): Mysterious, skillful, professional-style killings. Multiple conspiracy theories: government hits, inheritance feuds, CIA or SAS involvement, road rage, random violence.
• Suspects: Includes a dismissed local cop with a motorcycle and rare gun, and various personal and international angles.
• Unsolved Complexity: Host speculation on motive, media sensationalism, and bias, with the cyclist’s death possibly the real focus.
• Host Banter: Play out speculation—“You ready for a hardcore murder mystery?” – Georgia (83:16), “Who the fuck... can beat a seven year old with a gun.” – Karen (94:38)

Post-story Updates (107:22):

• 2025 French investigators suspect a Swiss-trained soldier with possible links to similar past murders, further profiling of the killer points to an ex-soldier type.
• Benedict Cumberbatch is producing a series, “The Annecy Murders,” to potentially drum up renewed interest and solutions.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Georgia (on Satanism): “Maybe you’ll fucking learn something. Maybe you’ll stop being of the devil.” (06:09)
• Karen (on news overload): “They only stay around to either have their fears confirmed or learn a new fear. That’s just what the news is.” (20:43)
• Karen (on familial help): “Some people are just... we’re all good at something different. Well, exactly. And she goes, I said, thank you for momming me through this. And she was like, it’s my favorite thing to do.” (115:21)
• On Jewish & Catholic Traditions: “We dig ourselves. We love hearing ourselves talk. We’re great.” – Georgia (26:28)
• On cold cases: “This is exactly why. I just don’t think it’s the complicated answers.” – Georgia (98:29)
• On systemic injustice: “Let’s stop murdering each other. Ironically enough. Let’s stop murdering each other.” – Karen (107:01)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 02:15 – Show begins (skip ads/intro)
• 05:46 – Explaining Satanism, listener email
• 10:27 – Corrections Corner
• 16:38 – Team/building the show, producer shout-out
• 25:05 – New theme/jokes about remixes
• 29:41 – Jewish vs Catholic banter
• 46:44 – The Carbon Copy Murders
• 64:36 – Carbon Copy Murders update and additional source notes
• 67:52 – The Annecy Shootings
• 107:22 – Annecy case updates (2025) and new theories
• 109:34 – Uplifting wrap-up, book discussion, and self-care
• 116:02 – Reflections on asking for help, family ties
• 118:14 – Episode wrap and possible titles

Tone & Style

• Conversational, irreverent, and candid
• Comedic interludes balance heavy content
• Authentic reflections, tangents, and affection for each other and listeners
• Blunt on social issues: e.g., racism, media bias, gun violence

For New Listeners

This episode offers:

• A blend of historical true crime, cold case mysteries, humor, and cultural commentary
• Heartfelt confessions and laughter about family, work, and anxiety
• Fierce support for inclusivity, learning, and staying informed—while using dark humor and mutual support as a tool for coping
• Signature sign-off: “Stay sexy and don’t get murdered”

Further Resources

• Mysteries Abound Podcast (Paul Rex)
• “The Murder of Mary Ashford” by Naomi Clifford
• Benedict Cumberbatch’s upcoming Annecy Murders series
• Startup by Doree Shafrir
• Black Mad Wheel by Josh Malerman

“Stay sexy and don’t get murdered.” – Karen & Georgia (118:58)