Podcast Summary: My Favorite Murder – Rewind with Karen & Georgia - 83: The MFM + Unqualified with Anna Faris Crossover Pt 2

Release Date: February 11, 2026
Hosts: Karen Kilgariff & Georgia Hardstark
Special Guests: Anna Faris, Sim

Episode Overview

This episode of My Favorite Murder: Rewind is a dynamic crossover revisiting a classic two-part collaboration between My Favorite Murder and Anna Faris’ podcast Unqualified. Karen and Georgia reflect on their 2017 meeting with Anna Faris, sharing commentary, updates, and behind-the-scenes anecdotes. The episode delves into two compelling true crime cases—Rebecca Schaeffer and Charlie Brandt—and wraps up with the signature Unqualified advice call segment, blending MFM’s dark humor and empathy with Anna’s candid insights.

Major Discussion Points & Insights

1. Recap of the Unqualified Crossover & Meeting Anna Faris

[01:51–03:30]

• Karen and Georgia reminisce about collaborating with Anna and adjusting to the energy of another podcast team.
• Discuss the surreal experience of being in the home of “an A-list celebrity” who was already a fan of their show.
  • “Oh, hey, you’re a fucking A-list celebrity and we’re in your house right now and we just found out that you somehow know who we are.” — Georgia [03:50]
  • Anna is praised as “incredibly wonderful—now and forever.”

2. Ana Faris Presents the Story of Rebecca Schaeffer

[06:23–23:35]

• Context: Rebecca Schaeffer, a promising young actress in LA, was stalked and murdered by Robert John Bardo in 1989.
• Karen provides detailed background, emphasizing Rebecca’s “warmth” and relatable public persona.
  • “She had the Sandra Bullock feel to her where you’re like, oh, I’m friends with her already.” — Anna [09:17]
• The stalker’s trajectory is described—his troubled upbringing, previous obsessions, unsuccessful attempts to reach Rebecca, and escalation to violence.
• The case’s grim turning point: Bardo hires a detective to locate Rebecca via DMV records, culminating in her murder at age 21.
• Impact on law & society:
  • Enactment of the Driver’s Privacy Protection Act (1994)
  • First anti-stalking teams and laws in the U.S.
  • “It was a catalyst in getting California’s first anti stalking laws passed.” — Karen, reading a listener hometown email [25:12]
• Memorable moment: Anna and the hosts dissect the dangers of parasocial relationships and fame.

3. Listener Hometown Story: Rebecca Schaeffer Connection

[24:00–26:38]

• A listener shares their mother’s experience babysitting a young Rebecca Schaeffer, highlighting the randomness of true crime impacts.
  • “I can’t imagine how horrifying and surreal that moment of realization must have been for my mother.” — Karen [25:12]
• Emphasis on how victims’ families and communities cope and, sometimes, work toward change.

4. Georgia’s Case: Serial Killer Charlie Brandt

[28:28–45:36]

• Case overview: Charlie Brandt, a seemingly mild-mannered husband, secretly harbored a history of violence, culminating in a 2004 murder-suicide that revealed his connection to multiple cold cases.
• Georgia details Brandt’s early trauma and violence (killing his pregnant mother at 13), an adulthood full of secrets, and grotesque murders displaying anatomical precision.
  • “He gets up from his homework, grabs a 9mm from his father’s nightstand, goes into the bathroom and shoots his father in the back. Then he walks to his mother, she says ‘No, Charlie, no,” but he fires at her until there’s no more bullets left.” — Georgia [33:07]
• Investigation into his background uncovers his methodical approach, obsession with human anatomy, and disturbing collections.
• Police and media link him to at least six other murders, with a possible total of 26.
  • “If somebody just gets up as a 13-year-old and shoots a bunch of people in their family, you can pretty much assume that’s not going to end there.” — Anna [44:32]
• Georgia and Anna note the chilling normalcy Brandt projected and failures of mental health and criminal justice systems.

5. Listener Hometown Story: Close Ties to Charlie Brandt

[46:35–48:50]

• A listener recounts that their uncle was Charlie Brandt’s roommate, noting Brandt’s “charming” exterior and only one off comment about “cutting out and eating someone’s heart.”
• "My uncle said he didn't sleep for a month when he heard the details." — Georgia [48:49]

6. Unqualified Advice Segment: Should I Hook Up with My Friend’s Cheating Ex?

[49:23–58:39]

• Caller Leah asks if it’s okay to hook up with her former friend’s ex-husband, given the friend cheated on him repeatedly.
• The hosts unanimously validate Leah’s choices, emphasizing self-compassion and rejecting toxic friendships.
  • “A dude would never be asking these questions. No fucking way. And women, we beat ourselves up so fucking much.” — Karen [53:20]
  • “Enjoy yourself. I don’t know. Life is short. ... Get your nut.” — Karen [57:45–58:20]
  • "The fact that you even question if you’re a bad person or not based on this, I think proves to us that you’re not.” — Georgia [57:37]
• Anna reframes the friendship as one-sided and encourages Leah to focus on happiness.

7. Episode Reflections & Possible Retitling

[59:08–59:44]

• Karen and Georgia discuss what the episode might be titled today:
  • “My Favorite Unqualified”
  • “Tim Timesheet” (an in-joke from Anna misreading a script)
  • “Scary Movie 1, 2, 3, 4 Actress” (a joking riff on Anna’s filmography)
• Anna is thanked fondly for her warmth and humor.

8. Humorous Sign-Offs & Banter

[59:44–60:34]

• Hosts and guests joke about personality types, serial killer zodiac signs, and the classic “Stay Sexy, Don’t Get Murdered” MFM sign-off, alongside Anna’s new twist: “Fuck you, Sim.”

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On Parasocial Fame:
  “It was interesting to meet a person that we already knew. And have them know us. ... It’s like, oh, hey, you’re a fucking A-list celebrity.” — Georgia [03:39–03:50]
• On Rebecca Schaeffer’s Impact:
  “It was a catalyst in getting California’s first anti stalking laws passed.” — Karen, reading listener email [25:12]
• On Charlie Brandt’s Dual Life:
  "He seemed totally normal. Save for the one instance he told my uncle that the best way to get revenge on someone was to cut out and eat their heart. ... You had to think it was a joke, right?" — Listener’s hometown, read by Georgia [48:04]
• On True Crime & Personal Boundaries: "You’re not a bad person. Just like, you know, we’ve been telling you, but we have been talking about bad people, but you are not one of them." — Karen [57:28]
• On Women & Guilt:
  “A dude would never be asking these questions. No fucking way. And women, we beat ourselves up so fucking much.” — Karen [53:20]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [01:51] Show kicks off: Welcome, episode concept, Anna Faris crossover reminiscence
• [06:23] Ana presents Rebecca Schaeffer story
• [24:00] Listener hometown story about Rebecca Schaeffer
• [28:28] Georgia tells the story of Charlie Brandt
• [46:35] Listener hometown: family connection to Charlie Brandt
• [49:23] Unqualified advice segment with caller Leah
• [59:08] Reflection on episode titling and Anna Faris jokes
• [60:21] Classic MFM sign-off with Anna Faris twist

Tone and Style

True to My Favorite Murder tradition, the discussion is a blend of darkly comic banter, empathy for victims, self-awareness about the fascination with dark stories, and a supportive attitude toward listeners. Anna Faris’ warmth and ease bring a little extra brightness and playfulness, balancing hard subject matter with humor and heart.

For New Listeners

This episode features a rich blend of chilling true crime storytelling, personal anecdotes, and practical advice on life’s weird situations. Highlights include a haunting celebrity tragedy (Rebecca Schaeffer), a lesser-known but deeply unsettling serial killer case (Charlie Brandt), and an empathetic, no-nonsense advice segment. If you enjoy irreverent humor and honest discussion about justice, women’s experiences, and life’s moral quagmires, this crossover delivers.

Stay Sexy. Don’t Get Murdered. And, in Anna Faris’ words: “Fuck you, Sim.”