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Hello fellow story-seekers and truth-tellers,

There’s something profoundly intimate about hearing authors narrate their own memoirs – it’s like being invited to a late-night kitchen table confession where the coffee never runs cold and the stories flow as freely as the wine. That’s exactly the experience Georgia Hardstark and Karen Kilgariff deliver in “Stay Sexy & Don’t Get Murdered: The Definitive How-To Guide”, an audiobook that feels more like an extended, deeply personal episode of their wildly popular “My Favorite Murder” podcast.

As someone who’s spent years collecting stories around the world – from Oaxacan grandmothers to Chilean truck drivers – I can tell you there’s magic in hearing voices carry their own truths. The moment Georgia and Karen’s familiar voices came through my headphones, I was transported back to those storytelling nights in Mexico, where vulnerability and humor danced together in perfect rhythm. Their narration captures that same raw, unfiltered quality that makes oral storytelling so powerful.

The audiobook format elevates this memoir beyond the printed page. You don’t just learn about Georgia’s struggles with addiction – you hear the catch in her voice when describing rock bottom. Karen’s reflections on depression aren’t just words on paper – they’re weighted with the quiet pauses of someone who’s lived through the darkness. And when Paul Giamatti makes his surprise appearances (particularly in the live-audience sections), it’s like having a wise uncle chime in with perfect comedic timing during an intense family discussion.

What struck me most was how the authors weave together three distinct narrative threads: personal memoir, true crime commentary, and life advice. It reminds me of the way indigenous storytellers in the Andes would blend history, myth, and practical wisdom – except here we get Karen’s biting wit and Georgia’s self-deprecating charm instead of Quechua parables. Their discussion of valuing personal safety over being ‘nice’ particularly resonated with me as a frequent solo traveler who’s had to unlearn generations of politeness conditioning.

The audiobook shines brightest in its unscripted moments – the ad-libs, the inside jokes, the moments where one narrator cracks up at the other’s story. There’s an authenticity here that reminds me of those perfect travel moments when you stumble upon locals sharing stories without filters. The live-audience sections add wonderful energy, making you feel like you’re part of their Murderino community rather than just a passive listener.

That said, listeners unfamiliar with the podcast might need an adjustment period for the hosts’ conversational style. The narrative jumps between topics with the freewheeling energy of best friends catching up after months apart. And while the production quality is generally excellent, some transitions between studio and live recordings are slightly jarring – though this somehow adds to the book’s charmingly imperfect authenticity.

Compared to other memoir audiobooks I’ve reviewed – from Cheryl Strayed’s “Wild” to Trevor Noah’s “Born a Crime” – this stands out for its unique blend of humor and hard-won wisdom. It’s like if Nora Ephron wrote a survival guide with Ann Rule. The advice ranges from practical (how to escape a trunk) to profound (how to escape self-destructive patterns), all delivered with the authors’ signature blend of irreverence and empathy.

For potential listeners: come for the true crime stories, stay for the unexpectedly moving reflections on mental health, female friendship, and finding your voice. This isn’t just an audiobook – it’s the audio equivalent of that life-changing conversation you have at 2am with someone who truly gets you. Just maybe don’t listen while hiking alone in remote areas (trust me, their serial killer stories will have you glancing over your shoulder).

As someone who’s documented human stories across six continents, I can say this: Georgia and Karen have tapped into something universal here. Their stories, while deeply personal, speak to anyone who’s ever felt afraid, flawed, or forgotten. By narrating their own journeys with such unflinching honesty and dark humor, they’ve created that rarest of things – an audiobook that doesn’t just tell a story, but makes you feel less alone in yours.

With stories to tell and miles to go, Marcus
Marcus Rivera