As far as podcasts go, “My Favorite Murder” is one for the books, or at least one for the podcast app on your iPhone. The weekly podcast is hosted by Georgia Hardstark and Karen Kilgariff who are both true crime fanatics. The show is up to 102 episodes and 51 minisodes each having a creative name such as the fourth episode, “Go Forth and Murder” and the 13th episode, “Thirteen Going On Murdy.”
Hardstark and Kilgariff met at a party and quickly found they share the same fascination for murder stories. The women released the inaugural episode in January 2016 and since then, they have gained about 200,000 fans on their Facebook page and became No. 10 on the iTunes podcast charts in October 2016. The success of the podcast shows the immense interest in true crime across the globe.
True crime can be a controversial topic since many people find the gory details abhorrent, but Hardstark and Kilgariff make it work. They use their undeniable humor to coat the gross reality of murder. Murder stories can be easily horrifying, but the two hosts have made the stories bearable, without being insensitive to the victims.
The first podcast covers the cold case of JonBenét Ramsey and the horrifying case of Sacramento’s East Area Rapist. The women of “My Favorite Murder” have choreographed the show into three different parts. In the first two parts, the women describe their murder story of choice and discuss any conspiracy theories surrounding the murder. In the third part, a fellow “murderino,” also known as a person interested in true crime, describes their hometown murder story. The show eventually finds its stride in entire minisodes devoted to fans of the podcast sending in their hometown murders.
The podcast is filled with not only well-known murders, but lesser known murders, such as the tragic Cheshire murder and the Sawney Bean legend. The women of the podcast know many of their fans are just as obsessed with murder as they are, so it is vital that they keep their stories fresh and new. They also have lighter episodes that focus on the survivors of murder stories, such as the survivor of the Chessboard Killer.
You don’t have to be interested in just murder stories to get into the podcast. The ladies discuss the problems with the U.S. justice system, along with racial discrimination. They talk about trials in the past where rapists would be let off early for “good behavior,” which is a problem that still persists. They also talk about serial killers who would solely kill people of color.
“My Favorite Murder” is for anyone who wants to dip their toe into murder mysteries. Kilgariff and use their playful commentary to make the podcast more relatable. They speak about how it is not insane for people to be into murder stories and true crime. If anything, learning more about murder stories and the mind behind the killers can help us avoid dangerous situations.
The women put out new podcasts every week and release minisodes biweekly. They are well versed in their murder stories yet come to the table with an open mind, willing to discuss controversial conspiracy theories. They use comedic relief to ease listeners into the gruesome content that goes along with serial killers which makes for the perfect blend of gore and laughter.
