The Knife: A True Crime Podcast

Episode: "Hannah & Patia Were on My Favorite Murder!"

Podcast: The Knife: A True Crime Podcast – Exactly Right and iHeartPodcasts
Date: January 1, 2026

Overview

In this crossover episode, hosts Georgia Hardstark and Karen Kilgariff of "My Favorite Murder" welcome Hannah Smith and Patia Eaton, co-creators of the new podcast "The Knife," to discuss the show's origins, their storytelling philosophy, and their approach to empathetic true crime journalism. The conversation spans their creative partnership, what sets "The Knife" apart, behind-the-scenes techniques, and reflections on the deep impact of crime stories. This episode serves both as an introduction to "The Knife" and a meta-conversation about the ethics and emotions of true crime podcasting.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Genesis of "The Knife"

• Origins: Hannah and Patia describe transitioning from the podcast "The Opportunist" to create a show focusing on first-person narratives and the long-term effects of crime on individuals.
  • Quote: "We spent a lot of time focusing on these bigger stories...but...an interview with one victim of a crime would stick with us, and we would end up having to cut so much...this could be a story in and of itself.” – Patia Eaton [03:41]
• Philosophy: They wanted more freedom, intimacy, and depth.
  • Quote: "When someone was the victim of a crime, that crime was then [reverberating] throughout their life...Even 10, 20 years after, it was still so recent for them." – Hannah Smith [04:45]
• Pitching the Show: After feeling constrained by "The Opportunist"'s format, they presented "The Knife" to the Exactly Right network, who immediately embraced it.
  • Quote: "It was like a hard yes, immediately, of course." – Karen Kilgariff [03:22]

Hannah & Patia’s Creative Partnership

• How They Met: Met working on "The Opportunist." Hannah was originally rejected for the job but persisted—highlighting resilience.
  • “Persistence is everything.” – Hannah Smith [06:44]
• Complementary Skills: Their backgrounds in film, TV, and podcasts fused organically.
  • "It was just this instant sort of feeling of like, oh, yeah, we're gonna be making things together." – Patia Eaton [07:25]

Ethos of Empathetic True Crime Storytelling

• Victim-Centric Approach: Focus is on giving space for people affected by crime to narrate their experience, from trauma to aftermath.
  • "We tell them before the interview, ‘We want this to be your story. We’re going to help guide you...because we want it to be as authentic as possible.'" – Hannah Smith [13:27]
• Non-Predatory Interviews: The hosts stress the importance of never "springing" things on subjects, allowing them to feel safe and heard.
  • "We’re not trying to ‘get’ people...We really want people to feel comfortable and open up to us." – Patia Eaton [10:55]
• Example: Georgia praises their handling of an episode in which victim Doroon was allowed to narrate deeply before gentle prompting.
  • “You’re not directing it. You’re not interrupting. Clearly you are leading that conversation where you’re allowing people to open up to you.” – Georgia Hardstark [11:49]

Diverse Crime Stories & Season Preview

• Range of Stories: Includes survivor stories, domestic violence, scams, cults, wrongful convictions, and identity theft.
  • "We're gonna try to cover a lot of different types of crime. Really, the unifying theme is the approach that we take to storytelling." – Patia Eaton [15:26]
• Season Structure: Each episode is a standalone narrative with accompanying "Off Record" episodes for looser discussion and listener engagement.

The "Off Record" Episodes

• Behind-the-Scenes: These episodes are less polished, more interactive—addressing mailbag questions, discussing research methods, and grappling with ethical dilemmas.
  • "We're gonna have some of those conversations, like, on mic...so that, you know, listeners can be part of that." – Patia Eaton [17:10]
• Storyteller Perspective: Opportunity to tell cases where no direct interview was possible or delve into stories that didn’t fit the main show’s structure.

Journalistic Process and Impact

• Research Tactics: The hosts are known for deep, multi-hour research and creative sleuthing ("Google cult plus cat").
  • "I found that story by Googling, quote, cat cult." – Hannah Smith [23:52]
• Real-World Impact: Sharing stories fosters connection and attention to cases, sometimes even leading to breakthroughs or renewed investigations.
  • "Sometimes it just takes, like, not a professional, but, like, fresh eyes and energy into doing something." – Hannah Smith [28:57]

Ethical Considerations

• Editorial Integrity: The team often withholds certain content for privacy or ethical reasons.
  • “We have to level with them. We're not gonna touch that...If it comes up in an interview, we're not gonna…make the episode.” – Hannah Smith [22:19]
• Balancing Sensitivity and Storytelling: Grapple with the balance between public interest and the needs/consent of those directly affected by crime.

Community & Legacy

• The Importance of Storytelling: The role of true crime podcasts in helping victims feel seen and heard, even when cases remain unsolved.
  • "That idea that someone feels heard becomes really important in the work that we're doing and is, I think, something we don't want to lose in our storytelling." – Hannah Smith [40:24]
• Connection with Listeners: Listeners sometimes reach out with their own stories, fostering a community of support and awareness.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “I wonder if Karen and Georgia would hear this pitch.” – Hannah Smith [05:18]
• “If they have a podcast about popcorn, the answer is yes.” – Georgia Hardstark [05:38]
• “It’s just like instant sort of feeling of like, oh, yeah, we’re gonna be making things together.” – Patia Eaton [07:25]
• “You guys are so good at that. I’m so impressed...talking about cold calling people.” – Karen Kilgariff [10:36]
• “I could do a Survivor podcast. I love Survivor.” – Patia Eaton [16:21]
• “So much attention on it...keeps it fresh in people's minds and you just never know what that could lead to.” – Patia Eaton [33:19]
• “The heart of crime stories is just humanity. And I just agree with that so wholeheartedly." – Patia Eaton [36:22]
• “No one is like, well, I kind of expected that to happen to me.” – Patia Eaton [38:53]
• “You never think it's going to be you.” – Hannah Smith [38:57]
• “It's definitely like the most fun I've ever had. It's great.” – Hannah Smith [41:06]
• "Does it feel exactly right?” – Georgia Hardstark [41:45]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [02:35] – Formal introduction of Hannah Smith & Patia Eaton
• [03:41] – Why "The Knife": Focusing on first-person victim narratives
• [04:45] – The aftermath and reverberations of crime
• [06:13] – How Hannah & Patia met
• [08:42] – Hannah's persistence and creative drive
• [10:36] – Ethics and method of cold outreach
• [11:49] – Techniques for delicate interviewing
• [13:27] – Structure/approach to conducting interviews
• [14:40] – Preview of story types covered on "The Knife"
• [16:56] – Discussion on “Off Record” episodes and listener engagement
• [22:19] – Editorial discretion and ethical journalism
• [23:52] – Cat cult story discovery process
• [25:10] – Communicating with law enforcement
• [26:10] – Reporting stories in person and its impact
• [28:57] – Example of real-world impact and community reaction
• [36:22] – True crime as an exploration of humanity
• [40:24] – The healing power of storytelling for victims
• [41:20] – Affirmation about the show’s reception and impact

Final Thoughts

This episode is a compelling deep dive for new and returning listeners, clarifying how "The Knife" distinguishes itself in the true crime space—with an emphasis on narration, empathy, and responsible journalism. Hannah and Patia’s rapport with Georgia and Karen highlights the collaborative, community-driven ethos of Exactly Right.
Their shared stories, vulnerabilities, and inside-jokes ("popcorn podcast," "cat cult," "Survivor") add levity and authenticity. Ultimately, "The Knife" promises to be a thoughtful, impactful addition to the true crime genre, prioritizing the often-silenced voices of crime survivors.