The 12 Best My Favorite Murders Episodes
Started in 2016 by Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark, My Favorite Murder has become a constant in the world of true crime, and has spun off a successful podcasting empire for the now-famous hosts in the form of the Exactly Right network. With episodes on notorious serial killers like Ted Bundy and Ed Gein, their live reactions to the identification of the Golden State Killer, and of course their debate over the infamous Staircase case, the My Favorite Murder hosts have covered it all. And don’t forget about their epic live show tours (with Georgia’s husband Vince Averill by their side) and fantastic hometown murder episodes featuring other podcasters and celebrities like Nicole Byer and Phoebe Bridgers! Through it all, Karen and Georgia offer light-hearted and hilarious commentary, making MFM the epitome of true crime comedy podcasts. Just remember, Stay Sexy and Don’t Get Murdered (SSDGM)!
Last Updated: Jan 14th, 2023
1) 129 - Coincidence Island
If you’re looking for the best MFM recommendations, you can’t go wrong with Coincidence Island — it’s definitely one of the funniest My Favorite Murder episodes of all time! Karen’s coverage of the little-known cold case of the Honolulu strangler, a Hawaiian serial killer, is a really interesting story, but it’s Georgia’s tale of the mind-boggling Galapagos affair that will have you laughing like crazy. It’s a story of murder, of course, but also of strange people, mysterious circumstances, and weird medical history. There’s a reason this episode is a fan and creator favorite. This is the perfect light-hearted MFM episode where both hosts are at the top of their storytelling game!
2) 133 - Made of Crystals
This episode is pure MFM greatness: It hits that perfect combination of fascinating storytelling and classic Karen and Georgia banter. Georgia covers the terrifying serial killer case of the Gainesville Ripper, whose brutal killing spree inspired the movie Scream. In late August, 1990, Danny Rolling killed five students in the picturesque university town of Gainesville, Florida just before school was about to start. This is definitely one of the scariest serial killer stories Karen and Georgia have covered. Then, Karen tells the story of the Lady of the Dunes, a still-unidentified body found by a young girl with a dog on a remote beach in Massachusetts in 1974. This case is known as a holy grail of cold cases that has captivated the public and law enforcement, and is sure to fascinate you too.
3) 122 - Surprise! It’s Paul Holes
The terrifying Golden State Killer/East Area Rapist case has fascinated crime junkies for ages. A serial killer who haunted California for decades, the case of the Golden State Killer has now finally been solved using forensic genealogy. In this special episode, Karen and Georgia are joined by crime writer Billy Jensen and legendary investigator Paul Holes to discuss the exciting new developments in the case in real time, and to kick off a friendship that will go down in true crime history. Make sure to also listen to episode 118, where Karen and Georgia first discuss the arrest of the Golden State Killer, and, of course, the very first episode of MFM, where Karen and Georgia cover the EAR as one of their “firstest” murders.
4) 31 - Namaste Sexy
The best My Favorite Murder episodes make you feel like you’re sitting with Karen and Georgia on the sofa, chatting about TV recommendations and poking fun at Steven. This fun early episode has tons of charming conversation, and two interesting cases. First, Karen tells the story of the grisly Yoga Store Murder and the strange, cultish culture at Lululemon. Then Georgia gets into the case of the Tent Girl, a Jane Doe found in 1968, who was later identified as Barbara Ann "Bobbie" Hackmann Taylor. Barbara had an eight-month-old baby at the time of her murder, and was married to a carnival worker who was the prime suspect in her murder.
5) The Live TNT’s I Am The Night Special
Karen and Georgia are known for their epic live shows, with many world tours under their belts. The chemistry between the two hosts and the audience makes the live shows an extra special experience. This live special sees the two cover the case of the Black Dahlia, one of the most intriguing unsolved cases ever. It’s always interesting when Karen and Georgia dive in on a case together — the 100th episode special on the Staircase story was a particular standout — and this episode also doesn’t disappoint! If you’re looking for the best live show episodes, make sure to check this one out.
6) 105 - Proclensity
As much as murderinos love hearing recent and interesting cases, sometimes it’s murderous stories from history that become fan favorites. In this episode, Georgia covers the story of Typhoid Mary — a pandemic nightmare — and Karen does a hilarious impression of Mary that has become something of murderino lore. If that’s not enough of a true crime treat, Karen also covers ther murder of Christa Worthington, a successful fashion writer and single mother who was assaulted and stabbed on her kitchen floor, rocking a small town that hadn’t seen a murder in 30 years.
7) 185 - 400 Peeled Potatoes
I honestly have never laughed harder at a podcast episode than I have at this one. Do yourself a favour and listen to the tale of Malachi Love-Robinson, a teenager who somehow successfully pretended to be a doctor, and all the incredible chaos that ensued. It’s sure to go down in MFM history as one of the wildest, funniest cases to bless our ears. They also cover the murder of Angie Dodge, one of the first cases to use familial DNA to find the killer, something true crime fans know has become the breakthrough tool for solving cold cases.
8) 18 - Investigateighteen Discovery
Murderinos know how much Karen loves telling stories from the TV show I Survived, and the story of Mary Vincent, who had both her arms cut off by her attacker, is one of the most intense and heroic survival cases ever covered on the show. This early episode is definitely a must-listen for anyone who enjoys survival stories as much as Karen does. Both of the men covered in this episode are truly awful, monstrous killers, and I would say it’s one of the scariest My Favorite Murder episodes that I’ve ever heard.
9) 183 - Here We Back Are
Karen and Georgia don’t cover the paranormal very often, but if you’ve been listening to more recent MFM episodes, you might have heard references to the elusive Mothman. Wondering where that inside joke started? You’ve got to go back and listen to this episode to get in on it! You also don’t want to miss Georgia’s coverage of the heartbreaking case of Jacob Wetterling, a young boy who was kidnapped and murdered in the 1980s, and whose case remained unsolved for nearly 27 years. This episode strikes that perfect MFM balance of tragedy and comedy that really characterizes the best episodes of My Favorite Murder.
10) 33 - What About Mimi?
Many die-hard murderinos have listened to MFM all the way through countless times, but this is still the episode that haunts them the most. In it, Karen tells the harrowing story of Jennifer Morey from the show I Survived, who was assaulted in her own apartment in the most terrifying of ways. With a horrible twist we won’t spoil here, this episode will go down in history as one of the scariest episodes of My Favorite Murder that’s sure to make you question everything you thought was safe.
11) 20 - 20/20
One of the great things about My Favorite Murder is the way that they cover a lot of lesser-known cases, but when they do pull out the big guns and go for it with a serial killer episode, they really go for it. In this episode, Karen tells the story of Richard Ramirez, AKA the Night Stalker, a truly terrifying case of a monster on a killing and raping spree with no discernable pattern, targeting people of all different ages, races, and genders. As awful as it is, this story ends on an inspiring note, that Karen calls her favorite ending to a case like this. Along the way, Karen and Georgia discuss what makes a serial killer the way that they are. If you’re looking for the best serial killer episodes of My Favorite Murder, start here!
12) Celebrity Hometowns with Nicole Byer
Sharing hometown stories has been a staple of MFM since the very start, and really helped create a sense of community between murderinos all over the world. With the podcast’s huge success and Karen and Georgia becoming household names in their own rights, celebrities want to get in on the action too! In this celebrity hometown episode, comedian, actress, and tv and podcast host Nicole Byer joins the MFM ladies to share laughs, talk about her work, and of course to recount her own hometowns of some pretty hilarious ghost stories that she’s experienced. Hearing three amazing, seasoned podcast hosts banter is a real treat, and it’s fun to hear Karen and Georgia dive into the supernatural.
13) 174 - Rough Winds & High Waters
Did you know there are over 200 frozen bodies scattered on Mount Everest? In this best episode of My Favorite Murder, Georgia digs into some of the stories behind the many people who lie dead on the famed mountaintop, which holds the title of the world’s largest open-air graveyard. You’ll hear about the climbers — overcome by “summit fever” — who abandoned their sense of safety in their efforts to reach the top. Even more morbid are the stories of climbers who saw others dying and kept going, trading their own morality for the esteem of reaching the summit. Then, Karen follows up this story with a famous serial killer case: the Weepy-Voiced Killer. If you’re a Murderino you’ll know that Karen hates listening to 911 calls, so you’ll almost never hear them on the show, but for the first time ever Karen has Stephen bring in a 911 call from this very creepy killer to demonstrate just how strange his voice was. He seemingly sounded remorseful for his crimes — but was he faking it? Listen and judge for yourself!
14) 125 - Bedside Astrologer!
Karen’s story in this episode is a must-listen, and really should be enshrined in the survivor story hall of fame. In this shocking tale from the show I Survived, friends Scott Johnson and Sean Farmer are out fishing at Dismal Creek, a remote campsite in Virginia, when they are approached by a gaunt old man and his dog. Showing their southern hospitality, Scott and Sean share their freshly caught trout dinner with the man, and he repays them by shooting them both in the head. What follows is a story straight out of a movie, complete with a harrowing car chase. Georgia follows this one up with an in-depth dive into Harvey Glatman, AKA the Glamor Girl Slayer, active during the late 1950s. Glatman would pose as a photographer, hiring his victims as models and taking their photos before brutally murdering them. They’re both fascinating and intense stories, making this one of the best MFM episodes of all time.
15) 167 - Bomb Grade
In this best episode, Georgia tells the story of Karen Silkwood, the inspiring whistleblower who raised concerns about a nuclear power plant in Oklahoma in the 1970s, where she and other workers were exposed to dangerous levels of plutonium and unsafe working conditions. If you’ve seen the Silkwood movie, starring Meryl Streep and Cher, then you know what happened to her after she blew the whistle: she was killed in a mysterious car crash on her way to testify, and all of her damning documents mysteriously vanished. This is a fascinating and important story that goes all the way to the top. And you’re also in for some hilarious banter between Karen and Georgia about films (and corndogs). Karen’s story for this episode is the terrifying serial killer Samuel Little, who, in 2018, confessed to killing 93 women across the United States. Many of the victims’ deaths had initially been ruled as accidental or overdoses, and there are still many victims’ whose bodies have not been found.