Overview of MFM Minisode 471
Hosts Georgia Hardstark and Karen Kilgariff return with a minisode made up entirely of listener emails. The episode strings together multiple short, true-life anecdotes—ranging from scary and heartwarming to embarrassing and hilarious—tied together by a recurring theme the hosts call “panic with purpose.” There’s a SimpliSafe ad spot, listener mail reads about car crashes, childhood fears (Night Stalker panic), Baltimore lore (the Poe Toaster), babysitting mishaps, family lies, and a legendary grandma getaway-driver tale. The episode closes with the usual sign-off (“Stay sexy and don’t get murdered”) and a request for more “panic with purpose” stories.
Key stories (listener emails)
New Orleans car crash
- Listener was driving at ~1 a.m. when a car made an illegal left and struck the driver’s side; her car spun, hit a concrete support, windows shattered, airbags deployed.
- Hit-and-run driver fled; the listener called police three times with no response.
- Six people from a nearby gas station came to help, one of whom was a nurse who checked her for concussions. The helpers pushed her car out of the intersection, acted as witnesses, and stayed with her.
- The next day the other car’s license plate was found embedded in her driver’s door. Listener expresses gratitude for community help: “the helpers found me.”
The Night Stalker panic — three girls vs. a falling light
- Summer 1985: three girls (16, 14, 10) staying at an aunt’s house during Night Stalker panic hear helicopters and a crash in the kitchen.
- They lock themselves in, arm themselves (bat, bug spray, hairspray) and search the house expecting an intruder.
- The “intruder” turned out to be a collapsed kitchen light fixture; everyone survived. Hosts loved the phrase “panic with purpose.”
Poe, Baltimore, and the Poe Toaster
- Listener from Baltimore recounts local tradition: an anonymous figure (the “Poe Toaster”) visited Edgar Allan Poe’s grave on Jan 19, left three red roses and a glass of cognac, sometimes a note.
- Tradition possibly started in the 1930s; press coverage began in the 1950s. The identity and motive were never definitively known.
- By 2010 the original figure didn’t appear annually; later, multiple “faux toasters” and civic celebrations emerged. Listener appreciates how the ritual evolved into civic lore (and notes Baltimore’s Ravens team connection to Poe).
Babysitting mishap: dilated-eye drops
- 17-year-old babysitter with years of experience mistook Rx dilating drops for contact solution.
- After using them repeatedly, her pupils were massively dilated; parents returned shortly and she nervously accepted payment and left without telling them.
- Eyes remained dilated for about two weeks; she suspects this ended her babysitting relationship with that family. Hosts and listeners react with embarrassment / comic sympathy.
Cat murders — the “bird flu” lie
- As a child, listener’s two parakeets died; parents told her of a fictional “bird flu” that killed the birds’ wings to avoid giving more pets.
- Years later, during family conversations in COVID lockdown, she learns the truth: the family cat, Angie, knocked the birds’ cage and the birds died. She was kept believing the lie into adulthood.
- Emotional aftermath: listener processed the family secrecy and reveals the photo of Angie (also shared for comic effect).
Grandma Jessie — the getaway driver
- Mid-1970s: Grandma Jessie refused to pay an unexpected extra charge at a body shop.
- She sent kids to wait in the car, then rammed the car through the locked gates and fled; drove 2.75 miles to the child’s gymnastics, didn’t stop for police, and eventually Grandpa settled with the shop.
- Grandma Jessie is portrayed as a badass, frugal, no-nonsense character. The story had no legal consequences for her; other family members appreciate the tale after her passing.
Themes and takeaways
- Panic with purpose: it’s okay to be scared if you channel it into purposeful action (e.g., asking for help, improvising a defense, making a quick decision).
- Community matters: strangers stepping in (New Orleans helpers) and friends/family rituals (Poe Toaster, Grandma Jessie) show how people respond in crisis or tradition.
- Childhood myths and family secrets can last decades (bird-flu story).
- Humor and humility: weird, embarrassing mistakes (dilating drops) make for memorable lessons and relatable content.
Notable lines / bits
- “The helpers found me.” (New Orleans crash)
- “Panic with purpose.” (recurring motif)
- Closing host sign-off: “Stay sexy and don’t get murdered.”
Sponsor & show housekeeping
- Sponsor: SimpliSafe (ad read about AI-powered cameras, live monitoring, 50% off at simplisafe.com/fave).
- Hosts encourage listeners to send “panic with purpose” stories to myfavoritemurder@gmail.com and to follow the show on social media and podcast platforms.
Action items / recommendations (from episode)
- If you’re in a dangerous situation, try to “panic with purpose” — take focused, practical steps.
- Check home fixtures and security (light fixtures, cameras), and consider home security measures.
- Don’t hit-and-run; offer help if you’re involved in an accident.
- If you babysit, double-check medications/solutions; don’t use anything labeled Rx-only without confirming.
How to submit / follow
- Email stories to: myfavoritemurder@gmail.com
- Instagram: @myfavoritemurder
- Listen/watch: iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, YouTube (search My Favorite Murder)
Stay sexy and don’t get murdered.