My Favorite Murder with Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark · Podcast summary

MFM Minisode 504

Karen and Georgia share listener stories about a high schooler who became a substitute teacher for a day, a pen pal program that connected Iowa farm girls with Anne Frank, and a teacher who made a lasting impact on a student's life.

My Favorite Murder with Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark · September 7, 2026 · 28-min episode · 7-min read

Key takeaways

🎁The hosts encourage listeners to donate to the Kids in Need Foundation to help clear teacher wish lists.03:07
🏫A 16-year-old high school student was repeatedly asked to substitute teach third graders, highlighting a humorous yet concerning lack of oversight in the 70s.04:53
✉️A pen pal program in 1940s Iowa connected farm girls with Anne Frank, whose letters are now preserved at the Simon Wiesenthal Center.09:54
🤦‍♀️A teacher's lesson plan about "Sharing the American Dream" accidentally became "Sharting the American Dream" due to a typo that went unnoticed for a year.16:17
🚬A kindergarten photo reveals a child proudly wearing a giant Newport cigarettes t-shirt, a humorous example of "trash parenting win."19:30
👊A Catholic school nun instructed a student to hit back a classmate who was bothering her, showcasing an unconventional approach to discipline.24:44

Chapters

1:44Introduction to Minisode 504
3:52The Most Unqualified Substitute Teacher Ever
12:27The Danville Iowa Pen Pal Program: Connecting with Anne Frank
24:58The Teacher Typo: "Sharting the American Dream"
30:30Kindergarten Chaos: The Newport Cigarettes T-Shirt
38:18Catholic School Nun Story: Sister Ann's Unconventional Discipline
43:54The Bitchy Queen Who Saved a Life
51:43A Tribute to Teachers and Call to Action

The digest

Karen and Georgia open Minisode 504 with a series of listener stories, ranging from hilarious teaching mishaps to deeply moving historical connections and impactful mentorship.

The Most Unqualified Substitute Teacher Ever

The first story, submitted by Janna, details her experience as a 16-year-old high school student in the early 70s, unexpectedly thrust into the role of a third-grade substitute teacher. One morning, Mr. Taylor, the elementary school principal, called Janna's high school office, claiming he couldn't find a substitute and asking for her to fill in. Without question, Janna was pulled out of her high school class and sent to the elementary school. She highlights the absurdity of the situation, noting that she was only 16 and had no teaching experience. The real teachers in the school were supposed to check on her but never did, leaving her alone with a class of third graders for an entire day. She entertained the children with coloring, a few math problems, and reading aloud from whatever books she could find. Upon returning home, her parents' only response to her day as a substitute was a nonchalant, "That's nice." Janna suspects Mr. Taylor avoided submitting a pay voucher for a minor without a social security number, and surprisingly, none of the third graders' parents raised any objections. This wasn't a one-off event; Janna filled in as a substitute at least twice more during her high school years. She concludes by urging listeners to make a couple more phone calls before hiring a 16-year-old as a substitute teacher.

Keep reading in The Digest

The full 7-minute article, 6 more sections, and every new episode from My Favorite Murder with Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark and the creators you follow.

The Teacher Typo: "Sharting the American Dream"
Catholic School Nun Story: Sister Ann's Unconventional Discipline
Kindergarten Chaos: The Newport Cigarettes T-Shirt
The Danville Iowa Pen Pal Program: Connecting with Anne Frank
The Bitchy Queen Who Saved a Life
A Tribute to Teachers

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