1 00:00:16,739 --> 00:00:19,320 Speaker 1: Hello and welcome to My Favorite Murder. 2 00:00:19,560 --> 00:00:20,840 Speaker 2: That's Georgia Hardstark. 3 00:00:20,880 --> 00:00:22,060 Speaker 1: That's Karen Kilgara. 4 00:00:22,500 --> 00:00:23,759 Speaker 2: And this is the mini-sode? 5 00:00:23,780 --> 00:00:26,080 Speaker 1: That's right. We don't have to say shit. We don't 6 00:00:26,120 --> 00:00:29,700 Speaker 1: have to make anything up. Just fucking read stories. 7 00:00:29,840 --> 00:00:33,180 Speaker 2: It isn't fake that we can't remember how to do 8 00:00:33,220 --> 00:00:36,600 Speaker 2: the correct intro for each individual. I was just like, 9 00:00:36,700 --> 00:00:38,400 Speaker 2: as I was saying your name, I'm like, no. It's 10 00:00:38,620 --> 00:00:40,640 Speaker 2: not a bit. It isn't a bit. 11 00:00:41,020 --> 00:00:44,040 Speaker 1: It's a bit. Like we have perimenopause. 12 00:00:44,600 --> 00:00:48,080 Speaker 2: It's the easiest thing to remember. The thing you've been 13 00:00:48,120 --> 00:00:49,280 Speaker 2: doing for 10 years. 14 00:00:49,440 --> 00:00:49,880 Speaker 1: And yet. 15 00:00:50,540 --> 00:00:51,160 Speaker 2: And yet, no. 16 00:00:51,600 --> 00:00:51,979 Speaker 1: You go first. 17 00:00:52,280 --> 00:00:54,400 Speaker 2: The brain says. No, no, no. No, no. 18 00:00:54,440 --> 00:00:57,840 Speaker 1: No, no, no. Okay. What's that meme? 19 00:00:57,950 --> 00:01:02,290 Speaker 2: No, no, no, no, no, no. 20 00:01:02,330 --> 00:01:02,470 Speaker 1: Yes. 21 00:01:02,490 --> 00:01:05,270 Speaker 2: No, no, no, no, no, no. Well, I'm going to 22 00:01:05,310 --> 00:01:07,950 Speaker 2: kick this off with a TJ Maxx horror story. 23 00:01:07,970 --> 00:01:09,230 Speaker 1: Great. Boom. 24 00:01:09,250 --> 00:01:15,050 Speaker 2: Yeah. Let's all talk about what we like. This email begins, Oh, hey. 25 00:01:15,569 --> 00:01:17,690 Speaker 2: In high school, I worked at TJ Maxx as a 26 00:01:17,730 --> 00:01:21,209 Speaker 2: sales associate and in the stockroom unloading new arrivals off 27 00:01:21,230 --> 00:01:24,950 Speaker 2: the trucks. One unforgettable shipment came in the form of 28 00:01:25,090 --> 00:01:28,730 Speaker 2: hundreds of boxes of olive oil. There had obviously been 29 00:01:28,750 --> 00:01:31,709 Speaker 2: a mix-up and our location was sent an ungodly amount 30 00:01:31,810 --> 00:01:34,690 Speaker 2: of the same extra large boxes of said olive oil. 31 00:01:35,170 --> 00:01:37,990 Speaker 2: I kid you not, the back room was overflowing with 32 00:01:38,010 --> 00:01:41,190 Speaker 2: the stuff. The backroom at TJ Maxx, where they have 33 00:01:41,350 --> 00:01:42,289 Speaker 2: literally everything. 34 00:01:42,390 --> 00:01:43,470 Speaker 1: It's enormous, I bet. 35 00:01:43,650 --> 00:01:47,990 Speaker 2: And now they're like majority olive oil. In order to 36 00:01:48,010 --> 00:01:50,720 Speaker 2: get rid of this stock as fast as possible, one 37 00:01:50,750 --> 00:01:53,540 Speaker 2: of the other employees was tasked with creating an olive 38 00:01:53,620 --> 00:01:58,640 Speaker 2: oil end cap. Fun. Highlighting the latest and greatest fashionista find, 39 00:01:59,180 --> 00:01:59,780 Speaker 2: olive oil. 40 00:02:00,780 --> 00:02:02,880 Speaker 1: Wait, is TJ Maxx mostly clothes? 41 00:02:02,900 --> 00:02:06,180 Speaker 2: Yes. TJ Maxx is everything. So you've got, yes, I 42 00:02:06,200 --> 00:02:10,560 Speaker 2: would say three quarters in the center, exactly. But then 43 00:02:10,620 --> 00:02:13,570 Speaker 2: on the outside, that's when you get into your beauty area, 44 00:02:13,690 --> 00:02:14,850 Speaker 2: lots of Korean skincare. 45 00:02:14,870 --> 00:02:16,830 Speaker 1: So home goods or no? Like home goods? Yes. Okay, 46 00:02:16,870 --> 00:02:17,070 Speaker 1: got it. 47 00:02:17,389 --> 00:02:22,130 Speaker 2: And sometimes wonderful, all-clad pan style home goods where you're like, 48 00:02:22,290 --> 00:02:22,870 Speaker 2: holy shit. 49 00:02:22,889 --> 00:02:25,329 Speaker 1: I've never lived near TJ Maxx in my life, so 50 00:02:25,350 --> 00:02:28,290 Speaker 1: I've never really gone to them, but I like the 51 00:02:28,310 --> 00:02:29,500 Speaker 1: style of store. Yes. 52 00:02:29,760 --> 00:02:34,299 Speaker 2: It's also a partnership with HomeGoods. These are not endorsements. 53 00:02:34,320 --> 00:02:35,680 Speaker 1: No, this is not an endorsement. 54 00:02:35,720 --> 00:02:37,780 Speaker 2: Well, my life is an endorsement of all these places, 55 00:02:37,870 --> 00:02:40,430 Speaker 2: but I actually realized I was picturing a Marshalls and 56 00:02:40,470 --> 00:02:43,609 Speaker 2: describing a TJ Maxx. So I don't know if we're 57 00:02:43,690 --> 00:02:45,109 Speaker 2: in family, out of family. 58 00:02:45,230 --> 00:02:46,770 Speaker 1: Well, they have olive oil. We know that. 59 00:02:47,470 --> 00:02:52,320 Speaker 2: Here's what's important. They're the largest exporter of olive oil, 60 00:02:52,419 --> 00:02:56,280 Speaker 2: second to Tuscany. So I was helping a customer check 61 00:02:56,360 --> 00:02:58,820 Speaker 2: out when chaos erupted from the back of the store 62 00:02:58,840 --> 00:03:02,030 Speaker 2: and After the loudest crash I have ever heard, you 63 00:03:02,050 --> 00:03:05,450 Speaker 2: could start to hear glass shattering left and right. Soon 64 00:03:05,470 --> 00:03:07,310 Speaker 2: the sound of glass was met with the sound of 65 00:03:07,430 --> 00:03:10,410 Speaker 2: frantic screaming. I raced to the back of the store 66 00:03:10,610 --> 00:03:13,170 Speaker 2: only to witness the greatest horror I have ever seen. 67 00:03:13,770 --> 00:03:16,869 Speaker 2: The employee making the end cap had filled the fragile 68 00:03:16,930 --> 00:03:21,470 Speaker 2: glass shelves with hundreds of extra large olive oil bottles. 69 00:03:22,270 --> 00:03:24,790 Speaker 2: Buckling under the sheer weight of this load, the top 70 00:03:24,850 --> 00:03:29,100 Speaker 2: glass shelf gave way. cascading down into the four other 71 00:03:29,190 --> 00:03:30,410 Speaker 2: glass shelves below. 72 00:03:30,450 --> 00:03:33,250 Speaker 1: It's like a champagne fountain, but with fucking glass and 73 00:03:33,330 --> 00:03:33,889 Speaker 1: olive oil. 74 00:03:33,910 --> 00:03:39,270 Speaker 2: Yes. If the champagne fountain exploded and then congealed. The 75 00:03:39,290 --> 00:03:42,700 Speaker 2: shelves below contained, you guessed it, even more olive oil. 76 00:03:43,340 --> 00:03:45,620 Speaker 2: What was left was an ocean of broken glass and 77 00:03:45,700 --> 00:03:49,220 Speaker 2: slow-creeping golden liquid oozing its way across the store. 78 00:03:49,240 --> 00:03:49,300 Speaker 1: Mm. 79 00:03:50,000 --> 00:03:52,400 Speaker 2: And lowering everyone's cholesterol level. 80 00:03:52,540 --> 00:03:53,080 Speaker 1: On the way. 81 00:03:53,840 --> 00:03:57,500 Speaker 2: Employees and customers were left frantically fleeing from the spreading 82 00:03:57,600 --> 00:04:01,160 Speaker 2: viscous goop after several minutes of panic and an urgent 83 00:04:01,220 --> 00:04:03,279 Speaker 2: closure of the store. Store's closed now. 84 00:04:03,300 --> 00:04:04,280 Speaker 1: Oh, yeah, absolutely. 85 00:04:04,300 --> 00:04:07,560 Speaker 2: Shut it down. And then here's me squatting in the 86 00:04:07,620 --> 00:04:10,860 Speaker 2: Korean skincare section. Like, I refuse to leave. I mean, 87 00:04:10,920 --> 00:04:14,760 Speaker 2: there's three things I haven't had here. After several minutes 88 00:04:14,800 --> 00:04:17,160 Speaker 2: of panic and an urgent closure of the store, we 89 00:04:17,200 --> 00:04:21,100 Speaker 2: were faced with a greater horror. cleaning up gallons of 90 00:04:21,180 --> 00:04:24,159 Speaker 2: olive oil off the floor, most of which had spread 91 00:04:24,360 --> 00:04:27,200 Speaker 2: quite a far away from the initial disaster point and 92 00:04:27,380 --> 00:04:31,900 Speaker 2: underneath several aisles of shelving. In total, the cleanup lasted 93 00:04:32,080 --> 00:04:35,520 Speaker 2: well over six hours with the help of 10 employees 94 00:04:35,800 --> 00:04:39,159 Speaker 2: and managers. To this day, the sound of this tragic 95 00:04:39,220 --> 00:04:42,920 Speaker 2: event still haunts my dreams. Stay sexy and be nice 96 00:04:42,940 --> 00:04:46,230 Speaker 2: to store associates. They don't make enough for this shit. 97 00:04:46,580 --> 00:04:48,570 Speaker 2: And that's from Bryant. Wow. 98 00:04:48,630 --> 00:04:51,060 Speaker 1: There's some things that like you just don't want to 99 00:04:51,120 --> 00:04:53,700 Speaker 1: spill because cleanup is going to be a nightmare. Yes. 100 00:04:53,720 --> 00:04:55,630 Speaker 1: And olive oil is on that list, the top of it. 101 00:04:56,380 --> 00:04:58,640 Speaker 2: Just the like and also like you have a paper towel, 102 00:04:58,660 --> 00:05:01,500 Speaker 2: but you're scraping glass as you get the goop up. 103 00:05:01,520 --> 00:05:05,600 Speaker 2: So it's like getting in your palm, getting in your nightmare. 104 00:05:06,360 --> 00:05:09,010 Speaker 2: If you have a retail nightmare story, please write it. 105 00:05:09,029 --> 00:05:13,789 Speaker 1: Retail nightmare stories are great. We want them. This is 106 00:05:13,870 --> 00:05:17,390 Speaker 1: actually on a on a wavelength near it, but not 107 00:05:17,410 --> 00:05:20,600 Speaker 1: at all. You know, I did the Lane Bryant murder 108 00:05:20,680 --> 00:05:24,280 Speaker 1: story recently. So that was episode 552. She was such 109 00:05:24,320 --> 00:05:26,880 Speaker 1: a cat. And here's a follow up that I actually 110 00:05:26,960 --> 00:05:29,270 Speaker 1: read when I was doing my research for it. It's 111 00:05:29,290 --> 00:05:35,289 Speaker 1: really interesting. OK. Hello, all. On February 1st, 2008, my sister-in-law, Erica, 112 00:05:35,370 --> 00:05:37,960 Speaker 1: was ending her shift at a Lane Bryant clothing store 113 00:05:38,100 --> 00:06:04,960 Speaker 1: in Tinley Park, Illinois. Oh. Oh. Oh. Shortly after opening 114 00:06:04,980 --> 00:06:07,440 Speaker 1: that Saturday morning, a male carrying himself as a delivery 115 00:06:07,490 --> 00:06:10,230 Speaker 1: man entered the store. He eventually pulled a gun, demanded 116 00:06:10,250 --> 00:06:12,010 Speaker 1: the money from the register, as well as the money 117 00:06:12,050 --> 00:06:14,910 Speaker 1: and jewelry from the employees and customers. He guided the 118 00:06:14,930 --> 00:06:18,289 Speaker 1: group to the back room, and around 10.45 a.m., four customers, 119 00:06:18,310 --> 00:06:22,180 Speaker 1: a part-time employee, and Rhoda were all shot. Rhoda was 120 00:06:22,240 --> 00:06:25,940 Speaker 1: the manager, and she was the brave one who called 911. She, like, 121 00:06:26,180 --> 00:06:29,729 Speaker 1: wanted her employee to have her birthday off. Yes. Five 122 00:06:29,790 --> 00:06:32,489 Speaker 1: of the six were killed. The sixth woman, a store employee, 123 00:06:32,510 --> 00:06:35,390 Speaker 1: had suffered a gunshot wound to the neck, though survived 124 00:06:35,440 --> 00:06:38,360 Speaker 1: and played dead, waiting for the gunman to leave. Despite 125 00:06:38,380 --> 00:06:40,659 Speaker 1: the murder happening in a busy shopping center, a detailed 126 00:06:40,720 --> 00:06:44,220 Speaker 1: sketch from a surviving employee, involvement of federal and international 127 00:06:44,279 --> 00:06:48,110 Speaker 1: law enforcement, and nearly 7,500 tips, the shooter remains unknown 128 00:06:48,120 --> 00:06:50,730 Speaker 1: to this day. Erica has dealt with a lot of guilt, 129 00:06:50,990 --> 00:06:53,670 Speaker 1: knowing she was originally on the schedule to work that morning. 130 00:06:54,220 --> 00:06:56,600 Speaker 1: She now works as a special education teacher, and I 131 00:06:56,640 --> 00:06:58,980 Speaker 1: can't think of a more patient and caring person to 132 00:06:59,000 --> 00:07:01,760 Speaker 1: do the job. We were all devastated by the loss 133 00:07:01,839 --> 00:07:04,320 Speaker 1: of five innocent people that morning, but I'm so thankful 134 00:07:04,339 --> 00:07:06,600 Speaker 1: that Erica was spared and is here to be an 135 00:07:06,720 --> 00:07:10,290 Speaker 1: auntie to our two kiddos, Allison. And then I looked 136 00:07:10,310 --> 00:07:12,770 Speaker 1: it up, and this was written in 2018, and the 137 00:07:14,130 --> 00:07:16,090 Speaker 1: person who wrote it, Allison, and her husband now have 138 00:07:16,130 --> 00:07:17,470 Speaker 1: a true crime podcast. 139 00:07:17,750 --> 00:07:18,830 Speaker 2: Oh, wow. We're going to talk about this. 140 00:07:18,890 --> 00:07:22,230 Speaker 1: It's called Crime and Coffee Couple, and it's hosted by Allison, 141 00:07:22,270 --> 00:07:23,190 Speaker 1: the writer, and Mike. 142 00:07:24,660 --> 00:07:25,060 Speaker 2: Nice. 143 00:07:25,400 --> 00:07:27,730 Speaker 1: I can't imagine how awful Erica must feel, but, like, 144 00:07:28,050 --> 00:07:31,010 Speaker 1: clearly there's no guilt there that she should be feeling. 145 00:07:31,690 --> 00:07:34,830 Speaker 2: Right? Isn't that the weirdest thing? That's so obvious to us, 146 00:07:35,130 --> 00:07:38,630 Speaker 2: and yet when you go through a thing like that, 147 00:07:38,680 --> 00:07:43,760 Speaker 2: that is what you are left to feel. It feels like, yeah, hopefully, 148 00:07:43,900 --> 00:07:46,040 Speaker 2: I mean, it's been a long time. I bet you 149 00:07:46,960 --> 00:07:50,350 Speaker 2: when they solve this case, that will alleviate some of that. 150 00:07:50,990 --> 00:07:52,830 Speaker 2: And hopefully that happens soon. Yeah. 151 00:07:52,910 --> 00:07:55,050 Speaker 1: For it staying unsolved that long and being in that 152 00:07:55,070 --> 00:08:00,230 Speaker 1: position has got to be rough. Yes. Yeah. Okay. 153 00:08:00,590 --> 00:08:04,890 Speaker 2: We'll take a 180 turn. Okay. And the subject line 154 00:08:04,920 --> 00:08:08,000 Speaker 2: of this email is childhood hijinks from the 90s. 155 00:08:08,120 --> 00:08:08,740 Speaker 1: Great. Right? 156 00:08:08,780 --> 00:08:11,940 Speaker 2: We'll just go somewhere else. And it says, friends, Romans, 157 00:08:12,060 --> 00:08:15,300 Speaker 2: and countrymen, lend me your ears. And then in parentheses 158 00:08:15,340 --> 00:08:18,980 Speaker 2: it says, eyes? I'm a child of the 90s and 159 00:08:19,020 --> 00:08:21,960 Speaker 2: have the quintessential tale to tell. I'm the youngest of 160 00:08:22,000 --> 00:08:27,000 Speaker 2: three children and was fiercely independent. And that in parentheses, 161 00:08:27,020 --> 00:08:30,800 Speaker 2: it says, in the words of my mother from early days. Yeah, 162 00:08:31,020 --> 00:08:33,750 Speaker 2: that's your mom being like, you're so fiercely independent, make 163 00:08:33,790 --> 00:08:36,950 Speaker 2: your own lunch. The combination of my sass and my 164 00:08:37,010 --> 00:08:40,230 Speaker 2: siblings being older meant that my parents didn't feel the 165 00:08:40,270 --> 00:08:43,330 Speaker 2: need to be so invested in my every move when 166 00:08:43,350 --> 00:08:46,819 Speaker 2: they probably still should have been. Yeah, that's right. But hey, 167 00:08:47,240 --> 00:08:49,790 Speaker 2: it was the 90s. They had busy lives. And since 168 00:08:49,830 --> 00:08:52,810 Speaker 2: we didn't have TiVo, there was an urgency around catching 169 00:08:52,830 --> 00:08:55,630 Speaker 2: your shows when they aired live. One fateful night, my 170 00:08:55,670 --> 00:08:59,220 Speaker 2: parents were juggling watching an unnamed television show and getting 171 00:08:59,250 --> 00:09:01,760 Speaker 2: ready for date night. Our babysitter had not yet arrived, 172 00:09:01,820 --> 00:09:03,740 Speaker 2: but my siblings and I were used to doing our 173 00:09:03,880 --> 00:09:06,760 Speaker 2: own thing. And my sister probably felt annoyed at the 174 00:09:06,820 --> 00:09:09,540 Speaker 2: idea that they were getting her a babysitter because she 175 00:09:09,590 --> 00:09:12,450 Speaker 2: was 11, which in her mind meant she was basically 176 00:09:12,470 --> 00:09:15,670 Speaker 2: an adult. My brother and sister both had televisions in 177 00:09:15,710 --> 00:09:19,650 Speaker 2: their rooms, Rich, but I did not. As such, I 178 00:09:19,710 --> 00:09:24,070 Speaker 2: usually found more creative ways to entertain myself. The babysitter 179 00:09:24,130 --> 00:09:26,730 Speaker 2: arrived and my parents were calling my siblings and I 180 00:09:26,830 --> 00:09:28,870 Speaker 2: to kiss them goodbye before they were off to dinner 181 00:09:28,910 --> 00:09:31,969 Speaker 2: and a show. After about 10 minutes, I did not 182 00:09:32,030 --> 00:09:35,390 Speaker 2: come to greet them and they started to worry. I 183 00:09:35,429 --> 00:09:37,729 Speaker 2: was not privy to what happened next, but I'm told 184 00:09:37,750 --> 00:09:40,650 Speaker 2: that my parents became more and more frantic. They had 185 00:09:40,710 --> 00:09:43,490 Speaker 2: left the front door unlocked for the babysitter. Had I 186 00:09:43,530 --> 00:09:46,360 Speaker 2: run outside? Had someone snuck in and nabbed me? Their 187 00:09:46,380 --> 00:09:49,900 Speaker 2: imaginations went wild and they tore the house apart. They 188 00:09:49,940 --> 00:09:53,340 Speaker 2: canceled dinner reservations. They worried that every worst parent's nightmare 189 00:09:53,360 --> 00:09:56,930 Speaker 2: was happening to them. After 30 minutes, my parents called 190 00:09:56,970 --> 00:09:58,829 Speaker 2: the police and reported me missing. 191 00:09:58,850 --> 00:09:59,980 Speaker 1: Do we know how old she was or not? 192 00:10:17,640 --> 00:10:21,300 Speaker 2: Imagine the surprise when I woke up dazed and confused 193 00:10:21,340 --> 00:10:24,380 Speaker 2: to a cop screaming, she's here, she's here, she's alive. 194 00:10:25,240 --> 00:10:29,290 Speaker 2: From my cozy, dark, perfectly six-year-old-sized nest in the back 195 00:10:29,390 --> 00:10:33,150 Speaker 2: of a neglected coat closet. That's right, no dramatic exit, 196 00:10:33,210 --> 00:10:36,780 Speaker 2: no nefarious criminal, no foul play. Just a youngest sibling 197 00:10:36,840 --> 00:10:39,540 Speaker 2: trying to escape all the hubbub of a noisy house 198 00:10:39,679 --> 00:10:42,699 Speaker 2: and get some quality shut-eye. I not only got into 199 00:10:42,740 --> 00:10:45,819 Speaker 2: the closet, but ducked back behind a few paintings, under 200 00:10:45,860 --> 00:10:48,140 Speaker 2: some coats, and in the very corner where my brain 201 00:10:48,400 --> 00:10:51,180 Speaker 2: decided it would be the darkest and the quietest. I 202 00:10:51,240 --> 00:10:53,920 Speaker 2: even brought a juice box so I could wind down 203 00:10:53,990 --> 00:10:57,510 Speaker 2: before falling into a deep slumber. To this day, I'm 204 00:10:57,550 --> 00:11:00,550 Speaker 2: still in search of a sleep that deep and restorative. 205 00:11:00,970 --> 00:11:01,890 Speaker 2: That sounds nice. 206 00:11:02,030 --> 00:11:03,310 Speaker 1: Honestly, like take me there. 207 00:11:03,450 --> 00:11:08,240 Speaker 2: It's all like kind of the everything is muffled and quiet. 208 00:11:08,250 --> 00:11:09,150 Speaker 1: You got your juice box. 209 00:11:09,220 --> 00:11:12,730 Speaker 2: Yeah. No one's touching you or screaming. Stay sexy and 210 00:11:12,750 --> 00:11:14,870 Speaker 2: tell someone if you're going to barricade yourself into a 211 00:11:14,910 --> 00:11:18,250 Speaker 2: soundproof cocoon for a couple of hours. M. She, her. 212 00:11:18,429 --> 00:11:20,609 Speaker 1: Oh, my God. Yeah. 213 00:11:20,770 --> 00:11:24,449 Speaker 2: But being woken up by a screaming cop is the craziest. 214 00:11:24,570 --> 00:11:25,870 Speaker 2: It has to be terrifying. 215 00:11:26,450 --> 00:11:26,690 Speaker 1: Dang. 216 00:11:26,730 --> 00:11:29,350 Speaker 2: What? And also, I'm sorry to say, that is the 217 00:11:29,370 --> 00:11:32,290 Speaker 2: difference of being a 90s kid and being a 70s kid. 218 00:11:32,340 --> 00:11:34,530 Speaker 1: Yeah. They wouldn't have looked for you at all, right? 219 00:11:34,590 --> 00:11:37,330 Speaker 2: They would have been long fucking gone. No one would 220 00:11:37,350 --> 00:11:39,390 Speaker 2: have looked for you. I would have woken up like 221 00:11:39,450 --> 00:11:41,900 Speaker 2: back there, forgotten that's what I went in there for 222 00:11:41,940 --> 00:11:42,820 Speaker 2: and then gotten scared. 223 00:11:42,840 --> 00:11:43,120 Speaker 1: Yeah. 224 00:11:43,500 --> 00:11:43,660 Speaker 2: Yeah. 225 00:11:44,260 --> 00:11:45,480 Speaker 1: Date night would not have been canceled. 226 00:11:45,500 --> 00:11:46,260 Speaker 2: All right. 227 00:11:46,700 --> 00:11:48,420 Speaker 1: I'm not going to tell you the subject. Hi, ladies. 228 00:11:48,730 --> 00:11:50,850 Speaker 1: In my senior year of high school, each student was 229 00:11:50,910 --> 00:11:54,460 Speaker 1: required to participate in a senior service project. Some students 230 00:11:54,480 --> 00:11:56,660 Speaker 1: would go help at the Humane Society or a local 231 00:11:56,700 --> 00:11:59,080 Speaker 1: soup kitchen. There was also an option to go on 232 00:11:59,120 --> 00:12:01,900 Speaker 1: a week-long service trip to Honduras, where you would be 233 00:12:01,960 --> 00:12:04,470 Speaker 1: able to help a community by building a library, picking 234 00:12:04,500 --> 00:12:07,670 Speaker 1: coffee beans, etc. My older sister went on this trip 235 00:12:07,710 --> 00:12:10,370 Speaker 1: her senior year and loved it so naturally, I followed 236 00:12:10,429 --> 00:12:13,250 Speaker 1: in her first steps. My mom was also able to 237 00:12:13,290 --> 00:12:15,550 Speaker 1: join us for the trip, along with four other chaperones 238 00:12:15,610 --> 00:12:18,410 Speaker 1: and five students. We had an incredible week of helping 239 00:12:18,530 --> 00:12:25,460 Speaker 1: out in the little mountain town of Monte Verde in Monteverde? Monteverde. Yeah. 240 00:12:26,260 --> 00:12:28,980 Speaker 1: Per tradition. That's got to be it. 241 00:12:29,400 --> 00:12:34,179 Speaker 2: Yeah. You're like, sure, I like that pronunciation. Please write 242 00:12:34,200 --> 00:12:35,340 Speaker 2: in about how wrong. 243 00:12:35,760 --> 00:12:39,580 Speaker 1: Because the translation that they wrote is not Monteverde as 244 00:12:39,600 --> 00:12:40,219 Speaker 1: you would think it is. 245 00:12:40,220 --> 00:12:43,170 Speaker 2: Also, I do not speak Spanish or any, I don't 246 00:12:43,210 --> 00:12:44,090 Speaker 2: speak Portuguese. 247 00:12:44,110 --> 00:12:46,850 Speaker 1: No language. The tradition says Monteverde. Monteverde? 248 00:12:46,870 --> 00:12:47,670 Speaker 2: Mm-hmm. 249 00:12:49,350 --> 00:12:51,850 Speaker 1: So that sounded right when you did it. 250 00:12:51,870 --> 00:12:53,500 Speaker 2: But we'll dub that over. 251 00:12:53,920 --> 00:12:56,480 Speaker 1: Per tradition, the last day of the trip was designated 252 00:12:56,760 --> 00:12:59,420 Speaker 1: fun day. The plan was to go hiking and swimming 253 00:12:59,500 --> 00:13:02,520 Speaker 1: as the scenery around us was incredibly beautiful. We had 254 00:13:02,559 --> 00:13:05,070 Speaker 1: a local woman guiding us who only spoke Spanish. We 255 00:13:05,110 --> 00:13:07,390 Speaker 1: did not. And the rest of us followed as she 256 00:13:07,450 --> 00:13:10,530 Speaker 1: led us through the lush green mountainside. After hiking for 257 00:13:10,590 --> 00:13:13,010 Speaker 1: a bit, we stopped at a clearing near a ravine. 258 00:13:13,630 --> 00:13:15,930 Speaker 1: There was rushing water to swim in and rocks to 259 00:13:15,990 --> 00:13:19,290 Speaker 1: climb on, and like teenagers do when instructed to have fun, 260 00:13:19,510 --> 00:13:22,720 Speaker 1: we were being loud, screaming, jumping in the water, laughing, 261 00:13:22,840 --> 00:13:26,020 Speaker 1: and splashing around. All of the sudden, faster than my 262 00:13:26,059 --> 00:13:31,220 Speaker 1: brain could even process, thousands of bees started swarming our groove. 263 00:13:31,240 --> 00:13:33,380 Speaker 1: Didn't think that was going to happen, did you? 264 00:13:34,690 --> 00:13:36,290 Speaker 2: I'm just like, what? What was it? 265 00:13:36,750 --> 00:13:38,910 Speaker 1: It's hard for me to remember specifics, but all I 266 00:13:38,950 --> 00:13:42,160 Speaker 1: could hear in that moment was screaming. and then someone 267 00:13:42,179 --> 00:13:44,610 Speaker 1: yelling at us to jump in the water. Luckily, I 268 00:13:44,640 --> 00:13:46,390 Speaker 1: was standing next to my mom, and we both were 269 00:13:46,429 --> 00:13:49,410 Speaker 1: able to jump in together. As the strong current pushed 270 00:13:49,450 --> 00:13:52,949 Speaker 1: us down the ravine, we were slamming against rocks, bobbing 271 00:13:53,090 --> 00:13:54,949 Speaker 1: in and out of the water to wash off the bees, 272 00:13:55,090 --> 00:13:58,439 Speaker 1: and also trying not to drown. When coming up for air, 273 00:13:58,700 --> 00:14:02,200 Speaker 1: all I could see was my other classmates covered in bees, 274 00:14:02,340 --> 00:14:05,000 Speaker 1: all caps. So much so that I couldn't even see 275 00:14:05,040 --> 00:14:08,480 Speaker 1: their skin below it. I'm like, what kind of, like 276 00:14:08,520 --> 00:14:11,420 Speaker 1: Honduras bees? What kind of bees are we talking? Tropical bees. 277 00:14:11,480 --> 00:14:14,560 Speaker 2: That's quite a swarm. And also that it just reminds 278 00:14:14,620 --> 00:14:16,020 Speaker 2: me of the man with the beard of bees. 279 00:14:16,080 --> 00:14:16,420 Speaker 1: Yes. 280 00:14:16,500 --> 00:14:18,320 Speaker 2: Where it's just like, Jesus Christ. 281 00:14:18,340 --> 00:14:21,760 Speaker 1: Yeah, right. It was truly straight out of a horror film. 282 00:14:21,920 --> 00:14:23,869 Speaker 1: I tried to go limp and cover my head on 283 00:14:23,910 --> 00:14:26,470 Speaker 1: the way down, hoping it wouldn't slam too hard against 284 00:14:26,510 --> 00:14:28,630 Speaker 1: a rock. I was also trying to keep track of 285 00:14:28,670 --> 00:14:31,010 Speaker 1: my mom who was in front of me. The current 286 00:14:31,050 --> 00:14:33,310 Speaker 1: pushed us to the end of the ravine where thousands 287 00:14:33,350 --> 00:14:35,710 Speaker 1: of bees floated in the water and all of us 288 00:14:35,950 --> 00:14:38,600 Speaker 1: were catching our breath. Some of my classmates who were 289 00:14:38,680 --> 00:14:40,800 Speaker 1: out of the water when the bees attacked were completely 290 00:14:40,840 --> 00:14:44,860 Speaker 1: covered in stingers and needed medical attention ASAP. One boy 291 00:14:44,900 --> 00:14:48,160 Speaker 1: was allergic to bees and another boy was falling in 292 00:14:48,180 --> 00:14:52,420 Speaker 1: and out of consciousness. My mom, a nurse, and another chaperone, 293 00:14:52,480 --> 00:14:54,380 Speaker 1: a doctor, and his daughter, who was in college at 294 00:14:54,400 --> 00:14:57,820 Speaker 1: the time, sprung into action carrying the badly stung kids 295 00:14:58,200 --> 00:15:00,520 Speaker 1: up a huge hillside to get to a nearby road. 296 00:15:00,970 --> 00:15:03,430 Speaker 1: A reminder that we were alone in the mountains of Honduras. 297 00:15:03,590 --> 00:15:05,930 Speaker 1: The local guide was gone, probably running from the bees 298 00:15:06,310 --> 00:15:07,130 Speaker 1: as well. That's right. 299 00:15:07,630 --> 00:15:10,050 Speaker 2: He's the one that knocked the whole bee hive off. 300 00:15:10,210 --> 00:15:13,740 Speaker 1: Bye. And our phones were, too. There was no service anyways. 301 00:15:14,240 --> 00:15:16,980 Speaker 1: We eventually waved a motorcyclist down and explained with hand 302 00:15:17,020 --> 00:15:19,260 Speaker 1: gestures that we needed help. We were able to get 303 00:15:19,300 --> 00:15:21,380 Speaker 1: a ride to a nearby birthing center, which was the 304 00:15:21,440 --> 00:15:24,460 Speaker 1: closest thing they had to a hospital. The birthing center 305 00:15:24,480 --> 00:15:28,270 Speaker 1: had no electricity, but they did have an epinephrine pen. Wow. 306 00:15:28,470 --> 00:15:31,340 Speaker 1: After calming everyone down, giving medication to those who needed it, 307 00:15:31,430 --> 00:15:34,510 Speaker 1: and picking out stingers from people's skin, we all ended 308 00:15:34,570 --> 00:15:38,320 Speaker 1: up okay. Traumatized, but okay. When we flew home the 309 00:15:38,360 --> 00:15:41,980 Speaker 1: next day, we looked insane. Our faces were so swollen 310 00:15:42,020 --> 00:15:44,850 Speaker 1: and misshapen from the bee sting welts and swelling. Let's 311 00:15:44,880 --> 00:15:48,830 Speaker 1: just say... We were the last class that went to Honduras. Oh. 312 00:15:48,970 --> 00:15:50,870 Speaker 1: It's not their fault. That's right. That's right. 313 00:15:50,890 --> 00:15:52,610 Speaker 2: They ruined it for everybody. 314 00:15:53,070 --> 00:15:55,590 Speaker 1: So I guess in the spirit of forgiveness, the message 315 00:15:55,630 --> 00:15:58,590 Speaker 1: is stay sexy and save the bees. JJ. 316 00:15:59,210 --> 00:16:02,670 Speaker 2: JJ, I relate to your trauma. I've also been covered 317 00:16:02,710 --> 00:16:02,970 Speaker 2: in bees. 318 00:16:03,010 --> 00:16:03,330 Speaker 1: Have you? 319 00:16:03,350 --> 00:16:05,410 Speaker 2: Oh, yeah. You've heard that story. 320 00:16:05,430 --> 00:16:06,330 Speaker 1: Probably. As a kid? 321 00:16:06,530 --> 00:16:07,880 Speaker 2: You just listen to this podcast. 322 00:16:08,000 --> 00:16:09,180 Speaker 1: I don't listen to this podcast. Okay. 323 00:16:11,780 --> 00:16:14,880 Speaker 2: Yeah, I was 12 and we took a big length 324 00:16:14,960 --> 00:16:19,170 Speaker 2: of PVC pipe and drove it into the ground. We 325 00:16:19,210 --> 00:16:21,810 Speaker 2: put a bucket over the top of a, I think 326 00:16:21,850 --> 00:16:23,530 Speaker 2: it's the hornet's nest that are in ground. 327 00:16:23,550 --> 00:16:24,430 Speaker 1: Oh, God. 328 00:16:24,490 --> 00:16:27,310 Speaker 2: And then the bucket turned black. So then we went 329 00:16:27,350 --> 00:16:30,040 Speaker 2: and got a big pipe to knock the PVC bucket 330 00:16:30,240 --> 00:16:33,500 Speaker 2: off of where it was. And we're like, one, two, three. 331 00:16:33,520 --> 00:16:35,740 Speaker 1: Thinking you were far enough away. No, you just pissed 332 00:16:35,760 --> 00:16:36,540 Speaker 1: them off and they were like. 333 00:16:37,850 --> 00:16:40,370 Speaker 2: We knocked the bucket off and then the pipe went 334 00:16:40,430 --> 00:16:43,580 Speaker 2: straight into the hole and then a swarm of bees 335 00:16:43,660 --> 00:16:45,880 Speaker 2: rose up out of the ground. I can't believe you 336 00:16:45,900 --> 00:16:49,040 Speaker 2: don't know this story. We watched it rise up out 337 00:16:49,060 --> 00:16:52,780 Speaker 2: of the ground, pause, and then come at us like that. 338 00:16:53,020 --> 00:16:56,690 Speaker 2: It was fucking nutso. And we ran and we were 339 00:16:56,750 --> 00:16:59,170 Speaker 2: covered in bees. Those weren't bees. 340 00:16:59,490 --> 00:17:02,150 Speaker 1: Hornets and bees, let's not call them the same thing. 341 00:17:02,230 --> 00:17:02,850 Speaker 2: Yeah, that's true. 342 00:17:03,450 --> 00:17:04,560 Speaker 1: Like, that is terrifying. 343 00:17:04,670 --> 00:17:07,919 Speaker 2: It was like a cartoon. I almost laughed as it 344 00:17:07,940 --> 00:17:09,560 Speaker 2: was happening because it was truly like. 345 00:17:09,580 --> 00:17:10,380 Speaker 1: Yeah, when they do the like. 346 00:17:10,500 --> 00:17:13,159 Speaker 2: Yeah, they're like, oh, you there, like the shape of 347 00:17:13,220 --> 00:17:16,360 Speaker 2: a hand pointing at you. And then I ran to 348 00:17:16,600 --> 00:17:18,480 Speaker 2: our back door. We lived five miles out of town. 349 00:17:18,640 --> 00:17:21,060 Speaker 2: The back door was locked, so I couldn't get inside. 350 00:17:21,080 --> 00:17:25,090 Speaker 2: It was nuts. And I also sat there. I can't 351 00:17:25,119 --> 00:17:29,840 Speaker 2: imagine traveling like that because I had like my... baking 352 00:17:29,890 --> 00:17:33,520 Speaker 2: soda poultice all like head to toe just covered in 353 00:17:33,560 --> 00:17:37,899 Speaker 2: bee stings my parents still went out to dinner they 354 00:17:37,920 --> 00:17:40,060 Speaker 2: went out to dinner they did they're like you're good 355 00:17:40,100 --> 00:17:43,220 Speaker 2: right yeah you're she's not moving she's not going anywhere. 356 00:17:43,660 --> 00:17:47,520 Speaker 1: Is she gonna have anaphylactic shock we don't know. 357 00:17:47,400 --> 00:17:50,800 Speaker 2: It look she's very dramatic she might call us if 358 00:17:50,820 --> 00:17:52,300 Speaker 2: you get anaphylactic shock. 359 00:17:52,060 --> 00:17:54,720 Speaker 1: I don't even know if that's what anaphylactic shock is. 360 00:17:54,720 --> 00:17:56,460 Speaker 2: I think it is okay great no you're you're dead 361 00:17:56,540 --> 00:17:59,750 Speaker 2: on I think my sister might have been slightly nice 362 00:17:59,790 --> 00:18:02,169 Speaker 2: to me that night. I think that's that was the 363 00:18:02,190 --> 00:18:02,669 Speaker 2: big difference. 364 00:18:02,730 --> 00:18:03,050 Speaker 1: OK. 365 00:18:05,609 --> 00:18:08,050 Speaker 2: Here's my last one. I am not going to read 366 00:18:08,070 --> 00:18:09,949 Speaker 2: you the subject line. It says, Dear Karen and Georgia, 367 00:18:10,630 --> 00:18:14,270 Speaker 2: my name is Joanne and I'm a longtime listener from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 368 00:18:14,770 --> 00:18:17,649 Speaker 2: I'm 73 years old. I wanted to thank you for 369 00:18:17,670 --> 00:18:20,770 Speaker 2: your 9-11 episode on the unsung heroes of the 88th 370 00:18:20,830 --> 00:18:24,790 Speaker 2: floor of the Twin Towers. That is my story. That's 371 00:18:25,109 --> 00:18:25,609 Speaker 2: my credit. 372 00:18:25,630 --> 00:18:26,250 Speaker 1: I remember that one. 373 00:18:26,350 --> 00:18:27,010 Speaker 2: That's my credit. 374 00:18:27,109 --> 00:18:27,850 Speaker 1: That I remember. 375 00:18:28,530 --> 00:18:29,070 Speaker 2: This you know. 376 00:18:29,109 --> 00:18:29,990 Speaker 1: Yeah. 377 00:18:30,170 --> 00:18:33,480 Speaker 2: The main hero, Frank Demartini, touched my heart so deeply. 378 00:18:34,080 --> 00:18:36,659 Speaker 2: I listened to the episode at least three times. The 379 00:18:36,680 --> 00:18:39,159 Speaker 2: story felt so significant and brave that I played the 380 00:18:39,180 --> 00:18:42,850 Speaker 2: first 15 minutes as a reflection for my prayer group 381 00:18:43,430 --> 00:18:43,750 Speaker 2: on 9-11. 382 00:18:44,050 --> 00:18:44,889 Speaker 1: Oh, my God. 383 00:18:45,570 --> 00:18:48,389 Speaker 2: The group was very receptive. Prayer group? 384 00:18:49,100 --> 00:18:53,050 Speaker 1: We shouldn't be anywhere near a prayer group. Like, we're 385 00:18:53,130 --> 00:18:57,520 Speaker 1: not permitted to be within five yards of a prayer group. 386 00:18:57,740 --> 00:19:02,370 Speaker 2: Joanne believes in us. And if we've convinced Joanne to 387 00:19:02,390 --> 00:19:04,390 Speaker 2: the point where she's bringing it to the prayer group. 388 00:19:04,430 --> 00:19:04,870 Speaker 1: Totally. 389 00:19:04,990 --> 00:19:05,890 Speaker 2: Well, listen to this. 390 00:19:06,210 --> 00:19:08,600 Speaker 1: I'm like sweating right now. For real. 391 00:19:08,780 --> 00:19:10,859 Speaker 2: I'm like, how many times did we say the F 392 00:19:10,880 --> 00:19:12,280 Speaker 2: word during that episode? 393 00:19:12,320 --> 00:19:15,639 Speaker 1: And me going, Jesus fucking Christ, over and over again. 394 00:19:15,780 --> 00:19:19,320 Speaker 2: I started an episode recently just kind of making Jesus 395 00:19:19,359 --> 00:19:20,179 Speaker 2: jokes in general. That's right. 396 00:19:20,200 --> 00:19:20,580 Speaker 1: We did that. 397 00:19:20,619 --> 00:19:24,920 Speaker 2: That's right. Although 12 years at Catholic school, it's earned. 398 00:19:25,119 --> 00:19:25,679 Speaker 1: Yeah. 399 00:19:25,700 --> 00:19:29,119 Speaker 2: Okay. Anyway, here's the good news. The group was very receptive, 400 00:19:29,160 --> 00:19:32,139 Speaker 2: and after listening, we continued to pray special intentions for 401 00:19:32,160 --> 00:19:36,390 Speaker 2: the victims, families, and survivors of this tragedy. It opened 402 00:19:36,430 --> 00:19:38,770 Speaker 2: the way for us to share our own experiences and 403 00:19:38,810 --> 00:19:41,689 Speaker 2: memories from that day as well. Something else happened that 404 00:19:41,770 --> 00:19:44,970 Speaker 2: felt meant to be. On 9-11, I came across the 405 00:19:45,060 --> 00:19:48,159 Speaker 2: live reading of the names of those who died. It 406 00:19:48,200 --> 00:19:50,859 Speaker 2: was happening live in real time. They were reading the 407 00:19:50,900 --> 00:19:54,040 Speaker 2: last names that started with D. I stopped and listened, 408 00:19:54,400 --> 00:19:57,880 Speaker 2: and I heard the name Francis Albert D. Martini read aloud. 409 00:19:58,619 --> 00:20:02,700 Speaker 2: I felt honored to hear his name. Wow. Joanne, you're 410 00:20:02,720 --> 00:20:05,220 Speaker 2: getting me. I felt I was supposed to hear it. 411 00:20:05,970 --> 00:20:08,250 Speaker 2: Thank you for telling Frank's story and honoring him and 412 00:20:08,290 --> 00:20:10,709 Speaker 2: the other heroes of the 88th floor. I wanted you 413 00:20:10,730 --> 00:20:12,740 Speaker 2: to know that you now have reached a point in 414 00:20:12,780 --> 00:20:15,440 Speaker 2: your podcast career where an episode was used as a 415 00:20:15,480 --> 00:20:17,840 Speaker 2: topic for a prayer group reflection. 416 00:20:18,060 --> 00:20:21,560 Speaker 1: The first time in history of this podcast, I hope. 417 00:20:23,090 --> 00:20:25,550 Speaker 2: I mean, I think we have had a nun write in. 418 00:20:25,710 --> 00:20:26,430 Speaker 1: That's right. 419 00:20:26,570 --> 00:20:29,250 Speaker 2: So we have, we've creeped up to the edge of 420 00:20:29,290 --> 00:20:30,189 Speaker 2: the spiritual community. 421 00:20:30,210 --> 00:20:32,270 Speaker 1: Yeah, maybe we need to make more stay saved and 422 00:20:32,290 --> 00:20:33,030 Speaker 1: do God's missions. 423 00:20:33,570 --> 00:20:33,889 Speaker 2: March. 424 00:20:34,030 --> 00:20:34,790 Speaker 1: Right? 425 00:20:34,869 --> 00:20:37,430 Speaker 2: I bet Joanne would love that story. Joanne, if you 426 00:20:37,470 --> 00:20:39,389 Speaker 2: would go and ask other murdering us to tell you 427 00:20:39,410 --> 00:20:41,820 Speaker 2: the stay saved and do God's missions story, I think 428 00:20:41,840 --> 00:20:44,880 Speaker 2: you'll really enjoy it. And perhaps the prayer group will too. 429 00:20:45,020 --> 00:20:46,859 Speaker 2: Now I'm acting all like, and perhaps. 430 00:20:48,220 --> 00:20:48,480 Speaker 1: Okay. 431 00:20:48,840 --> 00:20:52,639 Speaker 2: Your work brought reverence and comfort to us. Wow. 432 00:20:53,720 --> 00:20:54,480 Speaker 1: Do they know I'm Jewish? 433 00:20:54,700 --> 00:20:57,100 Speaker 2: I think they like that you're Jewish. 434 00:20:57,119 --> 00:20:57,580 Speaker 1: Oh, that's nice. 435 00:20:57,820 --> 00:21:03,220 Speaker 2: Okay. Then it says, with gratitude and appreciation, Joanne Yeager Stachewicz. 436 00:21:05,100 --> 00:21:05,639 Speaker 1: Amazing. 437 00:21:05,660 --> 00:21:06,360 Speaker 2: I know. 438 00:21:06,920 --> 00:21:10,930 Speaker 1: Well, tell your Bible study people we say hi and 439 00:21:12,070 --> 00:21:13,210 Speaker 1: tell Jesus we say what's up. 440 00:21:14,170 --> 00:21:16,209 Speaker 2: Joanne, if you could put in a good word and 441 00:21:16,310 --> 00:21:23,700 Speaker 2: just let everybody upstairs know we've been doing our best sometimes. 442 00:21:25,170 --> 00:21:27,770 Speaker 2: And then the other times we didn't do our best intentionally. 443 00:21:27,790 --> 00:21:28,129 Speaker 1: Yeah. 444 00:21:28,390 --> 00:21:29,610 Speaker 2: We've been trying to make up for that. 445 00:21:29,690 --> 00:21:31,670 Speaker 1: And we're aware that we weren't doing our best. We've 446 00:21:31,710 --> 00:21:35,330 Speaker 1: never thought, like, we've never been, like, cocky about our best. 447 00:21:35,730 --> 00:21:39,210 Speaker 2: No, we've been very invested in less than our best. 448 00:21:39,230 --> 00:21:39,470 Speaker 1: Yeah. 449 00:21:39,690 --> 00:21:40,699 Speaker 2: Thinking it was kind of a look. 450 00:21:40,720 --> 00:21:41,419 Speaker 1: But mindfully. 451 00:21:42,580 --> 00:21:43,859 Speaker 2: Mindfully and with humor. 452 00:21:43,920 --> 00:21:47,500 Speaker 1: That's right. And what more can Jesus fucking want from us? Okay. 453 00:21:47,780 --> 00:21:52,220 Speaker 1: Last one's polygraph test. Hey, MFM team, long-time listener, several 454 00:21:52,280 --> 00:21:54,260 Speaker 1: times emailer hoping this one does it. 455 00:21:54,720 --> 00:21:56,480 Speaker 2: We'll see. Oh, wait, it's happening. 456 00:21:56,619 --> 00:21:59,780 Speaker 1: It's happening. I work as a forensic scientist for a 457 00:21:59,920 --> 00:22:01,140 Speaker 1: state crime lab. 458 00:22:01,340 --> 00:22:01,720 Speaker 2: Cool. 459 00:22:01,900 --> 00:22:04,859 Speaker 1: The state department I work for has several various divisions, 460 00:22:04,940 --> 00:22:08,090 Speaker 1: including a training academy that outside agencies can send law 461 00:22:08,109 --> 00:22:12,310 Speaker 1: enforcement officials to. The training programs sometimes require the use 462 00:22:12,350 --> 00:22:15,449 Speaker 1: of non-law enforcement volunteers, and that's where the nerds at 463 00:22:15,470 --> 00:22:18,470 Speaker 1: the crime lab come in. Hey. They ask for volunteers 464 00:22:18,510 --> 00:22:21,250 Speaker 1: for field sobriety tests. They get us drunk and then 465 00:22:21,290 --> 00:22:24,570 Speaker 1: have us pretend we got stopped while driving. Really? That's 466 00:22:24,609 --> 00:22:25,010 Speaker 1: your job. 467 00:22:26,010 --> 00:22:26,710 Speaker 2: Where do they get drunk? 468 00:22:26,730 --> 00:22:29,290 Speaker 1: Karen's like, where do I sign up? I had to. 469 00:22:29,330 --> 00:22:30,730 Speaker 2: Do they get to go in the back office or 470 00:22:30,750 --> 00:22:32,030 Speaker 2: do they get to go to a bar and then 471 00:22:32,070 --> 00:22:32,760 Speaker 2: come back to work? 472 00:22:32,840 --> 00:22:34,389 Speaker 1: I can't imagine. They get to have fun first. 473 00:22:35,200 --> 00:22:38,600 Speaker 2: But wouldn't it be more realistic as a test if 474 00:22:38,640 --> 00:22:39,720 Speaker 2: they were really having fun? 475 00:22:39,780 --> 00:22:41,700 Speaker 1: We need to know this, too. You can't just write 476 00:22:41,720 --> 00:22:42,530 Speaker 1: this and then not tell us. 477 00:22:42,540 --> 00:22:42,899 Speaker 2: Yeah, come on. 478 00:22:43,510 --> 00:22:46,610 Speaker 1: Also, they do rapport-building interviews. Officers sit down and try 479 00:22:46,630 --> 00:22:52,390 Speaker 1: to build a relationship quickly to get you talking about feelings. So, Karen, 480 00:22:52,750 --> 00:22:55,020 Speaker 1: how's the, you know? Try to do it. 481 00:22:55,050 --> 00:22:57,490 Speaker 2: Try to get me to do it. Hey. Hey. 482 00:22:58,109 --> 00:22:59,630 Speaker 1: Your skin looks incredible. 483 00:22:59,869 --> 00:23:00,250 Speaker 2: Thank you. 484 00:23:00,290 --> 00:23:00,810 Speaker 1: Oh, my God. 485 00:23:00,850 --> 00:23:02,170 Speaker 2: That makes me feel so gorgeous. 486 00:23:02,190 --> 00:23:04,450 Speaker 1: There you go. I knew it immediately. I'd be so 487 00:23:04,490 --> 00:23:05,010 Speaker 1: good at this. 488 00:23:05,030 --> 00:23:08,310 Speaker 2: You just glass-skinned me. Just glass-skinned you. And here's what 489 00:23:08,350 --> 00:23:12,919 Speaker 2: I do to you. Hey, Katz. I love cats. 490 00:23:13,260 --> 00:23:15,550 Speaker 1: Oh, you did it. That was great. We did it. 491 00:23:16,990 --> 00:23:19,450 Speaker 1: And polygraph tests. That's the other training. 492 00:23:19,630 --> 00:23:19,890 Speaker 2: Okay. 493 00:23:20,050 --> 00:23:23,540 Speaker 1: Do I think the science behind polygraph testing is unreliable? Yes. 494 00:23:23,940 --> 00:23:26,760 Speaker 1: But if presented with a benign opportunity, do I want 495 00:23:26,780 --> 00:23:29,609 Speaker 1: to be hooked up to a polygraph machine? Also yes. 496 00:23:29,619 --> 00:23:29,830 Speaker 2: Yes. 497 00:23:30,190 --> 00:23:32,000 Speaker 1: And that's how I ended up in a random office 498 00:23:32,020 --> 00:23:35,080 Speaker 1: building on campus with myself and two other women wielding 499 00:23:35,140 --> 00:23:38,340 Speaker 1: Nerf guns so we could, quote, shoot a person I'd 500 00:23:38,420 --> 00:23:41,160 Speaker 1: never met before and then lie about it when hooked 501 00:23:41,220 --> 00:23:43,659 Speaker 1: up to the polygraph. Oh. Because they actually have to 502 00:23:43,700 --> 00:23:46,169 Speaker 1: do the action to really see if they're lying. 503 00:23:46,410 --> 00:23:47,730 Speaker 2: Because the brain. 504 00:23:47,810 --> 00:23:48,090 Speaker 1: Right. 505 00:23:48,350 --> 00:23:48,669 Speaker 2: Yes. 506 00:23:48,690 --> 00:23:49,129 Speaker 1: The brain. 507 00:23:49,330 --> 00:23:51,350 Speaker 2: It'll be like it is a factual truth that you 508 00:23:51,369 --> 00:23:51,910 Speaker 2: shot someone. 509 00:23:51,930 --> 00:23:54,990 Speaker 1: Totally. It's just not. Exactly. Exactly. The officer assigned to 510 00:23:55,030 --> 00:23:57,950 Speaker 1: me chatted with me for a while. We bonded over baseball, 511 00:23:58,050 --> 00:24:01,280 Speaker 1: talking about how frustrating it is that the Houston Astros 512 00:24:01,640 --> 00:24:06,680 Speaker 1: are considered the 2017 World Series champions, even though— Real quick, 513 00:24:06,880 --> 00:24:08,040 Speaker 1: I have nothing to do with this. 514 00:24:08,060 --> 00:24:11,449 Speaker 2: We're getting looped into a cheating scandal side to taking 515 00:24:11,510 --> 00:24:12,010 Speaker 2: a side. 516 00:24:12,030 --> 00:24:14,469 Speaker 1: I've never even heard of this. So if you have 517 00:24:14,510 --> 00:24:16,129 Speaker 1: a beef with this, it's not with us. 518 00:24:16,530 --> 00:24:18,670 Speaker 2: I'm going to bleep you while you say it. 519 00:24:18,880 --> 00:24:23,419 Speaker 1: Houston Astros are considered the 2017 world champions, even though 520 00:24:23,440 --> 00:24:25,740 Speaker 1: it's been proven that they lied and cheated and then 521 00:24:25,760 --> 00:24:28,090 Speaker 1: discussed the shooting, quote, shooting that took place on campus. 522 00:24:28,680 --> 00:24:29,970 Speaker 1: So nothing to do with me. 523 00:24:30,030 --> 00:24:33,690 Speaker 2: This entire email was only written for them to get 524 00:24:33,730 --> 00:24:34,449 Speaker 2: that word out. 525 00:24:34,490 --> 00:24:37,330 Speaker 1: It's written by whoever the other team was who are 526 00:24:37,369 --> 00:24:39,169 Speaker 1: mad that they lost. And I don't know who that is. 527 00:24:39,430 --> 00:24:41,630 Speaker 2: It's the Browns, the Cleveland Browns. 528 00:24:41,730 --> 00:24:42,800 Speaker 1: That's right. Is it? 529 00:24:43,330 --> 00:24:46,450 Speaker 2: No, that's a football team. I'm just being intentionally ignorant 530 00:24:46,470 --> 00:24:46,840 Speaker 2: about sports. 531 00:24:46,859 --> 00:24:49,439 Speaker 1: This is how much we don't know. Okay. After denying 532 00:24:49,580 --> 00:24:52,080 Speaker 1: any knowledge and involvement of the shooting, I was hooked 533 00:24:52,140 --> 00:24:54,560 Speaker 1: up to the polygraph machine and asked the control questions, 534 00:24:54,880 --> 00:24:58,070 Speaker 1: both known truths and known lies. and the case-specific questions 535 00:24:58,090 --> 00:25:01,530 Speaker 1: where I denied any involvement in the shootings. We went 536 00:25:01,550 --> 00:25:04,010 Speaker 1: through the questions three times, and at the end, the 537 00:25:04,109 --> 00:25:06,490 Speaker 1: officer looked at me and said, Now, Sarah, I can 538 00:25:06,570 --> 00:25:09,160 Speaker 1: tell you're a good person. Maybe you got in over 539 00:25:09,220 --> 00:25:11,900 Speaker 1: your head, but the polygraph is telling me that you're 540 00:25:12,000 --> 00:25:15,660 Speaker 1: not being honest. What really happened? Everyone remember that cops 541 00:25:15,700 --> 00:25:17,620 Speaker 1: can lie to you. Yeah. 542 00:25:17,859 --> 00:25:19,330 Speaker 2: They're absolutely allowed to lie to you. 543 00:25:19,340 --> 00:25:21,080 Speaker 1: They are allowed to lie to you. But I don't 544 00:25:21,100 --> 00:25:23,640 Speaker 1: think that's what's happening. I admitted maybe knowing a little 545 00:25:23,660 --> 00:25:25,820 Speaker 1: bit more, throwing one of the other women under the 546 00:25:25,859 --> 00:25:29,580 Speaker 1: bus completely. Sorry, Kathy. But sticking to the not being 547 00:25:29,700 --> 00:25:33,070 Speaker 1: anywhere near the shooting, the officer kept pushing. It went 548 00:25:33,109 --> 00:25:36,169 Speaker 1: back and forth for a while. And finally, he said, quote, 549 00:25:36,330 --> 00:25:40,480 Speaker 1: don't be like the 2017 Astros. Be honest here. And 550 00:25:40,540 --> 00:25:43,020 Speaker 1: that's what broke me. I admitted to the shooting because 551 00:25:43,140 --> 00:25:46,100 Speaker 1: I refused to have anything in common with those cheaters. 552 00:25:46,119 --> 00:25:49,500 Speaker 2: So here's this is a form of cheating. You've written 553 00:25:49,640 --> 00:25:52,790 Speaker 2: us an email that's supposed to be about something else. 554 00:25:53,250 --> 00:25:57,220 Speaker 2: But your agenda is shining through. Yeah. And now that's 555 00:25:57,260 --> 00:25:57,860 Speaker 2: all we can hear. 556 00:25:57,880 --> 00:26:00,360 Speaker 1: Write in at My Favorite Murder at GMO and tell 557 00:26:00,400 --> 00:26:01,120 Speaker 1: us what really happened. 558 00:26:01,160 --> 00:26:04,340 Speaker 2: Here comes a legal letter from Major League Baseball. You're 559 00:26:04,400 --> 00:26:05,899 Speaker 2: not allowed to talk about this. 560 00:26:07,520 --> 00:26:08,899 Speaker 1: I want to ask Vince about this when I get home. 561 00:26:08,940 --> 00:26:11,479 Speaker 1: I should ask him. After I got unhooked and we 562 00:26:11,540 --> 00:26:13,980 Speaker 1: broke from our roles, the evaluating officer showed me the 563 00:26:14,040 --> 00:26:16,700 Speaker 1: results and said, quote, we don't get measurements like this 564 00:26:16,770 --> 00:26:19,149 Speaker 1: in the real world, showing me all the numbers that 565 00:26:19,210 --> 00:26:22,290 Speaker 1: expose me as a terrible liar, which was honestly the 566 00:26:22,330 --> 00:26:24,929 Speaker 1: most on-brand part of this whole experience. I kind of 567 00:26:24,950 --> 00:26:26,399 Speaker 1: want to be I kind of want to try it. 568 00:26:26,650 --> 00:26:29,330 Speaker 2: Also, they're congratulating themselves for not being a liar. 569 00:26:29,570 --> 00:26:30,409 Speaker 1: That's right. 570 00:26:30,470 --> 00:26:31,970 Speaker 2: This whole thing has taken a turn. 571 00:26:32,190 --> 00:26:35,719 Speaker 1: Oh, you're right. Stay sexy and remember that the 2017 572 00:26:35,720 --> 00:26:40,660 Speaker 1: Houston Astros are cheaters. 573 00:26:40,760 --> 00:26:43,199 Speaker 2: Stop using our platform for your agenda. 574 00:26:43,440 --> 00:26:47,410 Speaker 1: Sarah from the Cleveland Browns. I mean, Sarah from Sarah. 575 00:26:47,430 --> 00:26:52,390 Speaker 2: The Cleveland Browns. That's hilarious. 576 00:26:53,090 --> 00:26:55,850 Speaker 1: Explain to us what happened. My Favorite Murderer Gmail. If 577 00:26:55,869 --> 00:26:59,190 Speaker 1: you have a good story of what happened, it's like succinct. 578 00:26:59,760 --> 00:27:00,040 Speaker 2: Yes. 579 00:27:00,390 --> 00:27:00,840 Speaker 1: Send it in. 580 00:27:01,340 --> 00:27:03,620 Speaker 2: Also, I can tell you, I'll write in an email 581 00:27:03,640 --> 00:27:05,920 Speaker 2: about what happened in that email. Someone's like, I'm going 582 00:27:05,940 --> 00:27:08,899 Speaker 2: to use my clout as a forensic evidence. 583 00:27:09,340 --> 00:27:11,939 Speaker 1: Because that's sizable in this room. 584 00:27:12,020 --> 00:27:12,600 Speaker 2: In this room? 585 00:27:12,640 --> 00:27:12,880 Speaker 1: Yeah. 586 00:27:13,080 --> 00:27:14,780 Speaker 2: We're like, come on in. We'd love for you to 587 00:27:14,820 --> 00:27:16,060 Speaker 2: have the floor for your story. 588 00:27:16,100 --> 00:27:17,520 Speaker 1: And then switch a room. 589 00:27:17,560 --> 00:27:19,959 Speaker 2: And then it's like, I'm here to get my baseball 590 00:27:20,020 --> 00:27:24,120 Speaker 2: agenda going. Take that shit over to fucking Barstool Sports. 591 00:27:24,780 --> 00:27:25,540 Speaker 2: We don't care. 592 00:27:25,560 --> 00:27:29,860 Speaker 1: This is not and never has been a Barstool Sports podcast. 593 00:27:33,020 --> 00:27:36,700 Speaker 2: Although we might do a spinoff, a sports spinoff. 594 00:27:37,720 --> 00:27:40,340 Speaker 1: Wow, this has been messy. Send us your emails at 595 00:27:40,400 --> 00:27:42,160 Speaker 1: MyFavoriteMurder at Gmail. 596 00:27:42,290 --> 00:27:44,710 Speaker 2: Please know that it truly can be about any topic 597 00:27:44,930 --> 00:27:48,470 Speaker 2: except for the 2017 Houston Astros cheating scandal. 598 00:27:48,490 --> 00:27:51,490 Speaker 1: From the side of pro-Houston, anti-Houston. 599 00:27:51,609 --> 00:27:51,889 Speaker 2: Yes. 600 00:27:52,710 --> 00:27:53,690 Speaker 1: Otherwise anything. 601 00:27:53,790 --> 00:27:57,730 Speaker 2: The anti-Houston side has been expressed. Yeah. If you want 602 00:27:57,750 --> 00:27:58,470 Speaker 2: to come with pro. 603 00:27:59,440 --> 00:27:59,899 Speaker 1: Come at us. 604 00:27:59,960 --> 00:28:02,060 Speaker 2: Although I did bleep you and yell over you the 605 00:28:02,100 --> 00:28:02,859 Speaker 2: entire time. 606 00:28:02,880 --> 00:28:05,420 Speaker 1: I mean, thanks for listening. 607 00:28:05,440 --> 00:28:06,680 Speaker 2: Stay sexy. 608 00:28:06,740 --> 00:28:11,830 Speaker 1: And don't get murdered. Goodbye. Very important for you to 609 00:28:11,880 --> 00:28:15,110 Speaker 1: know the other team in question is the Dodgers, our 610 00:28:15,190 --> 00:28:20,530 Speaker 1: home team. Oh, no. Keep this on. Keep this. Keep recording. 611 00:28:21,070 --> 00:28:23,030 Speaker 1: How dare you? 612 00:28:23,050 --> 00:28:26,230 Speaker 2: You? Somehow. Wait, no, no. How dare you, the cheaters? 613 00:28:26,300 --> 00:28:27,359 Speaker 2: Or how dare you? Accused. 614 00:28:28,859 --> 00:28:31,120 Speaker 1: Wait, no. Yeah, yeah, no. Okay, I get it. 615 00:28:31,160 --> 00:28:32,500 Speaker 2: We'd be on the email side. 616 00:28:32,520 --> 00:28:34,600 Speaker 1: So they won. 617 00:28:34,640 --> 00:28:35,700 Speaker 2: So we're going to take two. 618 00:28:35,720 --> 00:28:36,360 Speaker 1: Unfairly. 619 00:28:36,420 --> 00:28:41,110 Speaker 2: And I won't interrupt you at all. Actually, I will 620 00:28:41,190 --> 00:28:43,550 Speaker 2: keep my stance because I'm a Giants. I'm from the Giants. 621 00:28:43,570 --> 00:28:44,130 Speaker 1: Oh, that's right. 622 00:28:44,390 --> 00:28:44,610 Speaker 2: Yeah. 623 00:28:44,710 --> 00:28:47,229 Speaker 1: Okay. I still don't know what's happening. 624 00:28:47,310 --> 00:28:50,320 Speaker 2: This whole thing is a real area we don't need 625 00:28:50,380 --> 00:28:50,920 Speaker 2: to get into. 626 00:28:50,960 --> 00:28:51,920 Speaker 1: And I refuse to care. 627 00:28:52,480 --> 00:28:56,460 Speaker 2: Although, by principle, what if this is the engagement? This 628 00:28:56,540 --> 00:28:59,890 Speaker 2: is the content engagement churn that begins. 629 00:28:59,950 --> 00:29:02,250 Speaker 1: This is what we've been waiting for to get those 630 00:29:02,370 --> 00:29:03,050 Speaker 1: numbers up. 631 00:29:03,450 --> 00:29:07,090 Speaker 2: Baseball problems. Stay sexy. 632 00:29:07,150 --> 00:29:11,700 Speaker 1: And don't get murdered. Go Dodgers baseball. Bye. 633 00:29:12,140 --> 00:29:12,880 Speaker 2: Giants forever. 634 00:29:12,900 --> 00:29:14,580 Speaker 1: Elvis, do you want a cookie? 635 00:29:22,610 --> 00:29:24,430 Speaker 2: This has been an Exactly Right production. 636 00:29:24,630 --> 00:29:26,360 Speaker 1: Our managing producer is Molly Smith. 637 00:29:26,580 --> 00:29:28,520 Speaker 2: Our consulting producer is Kate Schellenbach. 638 00:29:28,620 --> 00:29:30,360 Speaker 1: Our creative lead is Allison Agosti. 639 00:29:30,660 --> 00:29:33,420 Speaker 2: Our associate producer is Tessa Hughes and our editor is 640 00:29:33,540 --> 00:29:34,710 Speaker 2: Aristotle Acevedo. 641 00:29:34,930 --> 00:29:37,030 Speaker 1: This episode was mixed by Liana Squalacci. 642 00:29:37,310 --> 00:29:30,330 Speaker 2: Email your hometowns to myfavoritemurder at gmail.com And hit the 643 00:29:30,350 --> 00:29:31,550 Speaker 2: double thumbs up button. Goodbye.