PODCAST · society
Life In Jest
by Selene Castrovilla + Pascale Laforest
This podcast is your safe haven from the ridiculous world we live in. Selene Castrovilla and Pascale Laforest are cousins and besties who laugh at life rather than move to the Bellevue Psych Ward because we doubt they'd serve decent wine. We'll explore, discuss, and ridicule topics each Tuesday and welcome your subject matter requests. Cheers!
Episodes
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America 250: The Untold Human Stories of the American Revolution
What if the most fascinating stories of the American Revolution aren't the ones you learned in school? As America approaches the 250th anniversary of its founding, Life in Jest explores the people behind the history with her special guest, award-winning historical author Beth Anderson. Most of us...
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What is Juneteenth and Why Does It Matter?
Why does Juneteenth matter—and why should every American understand its story? Pascale is away this week, but Life in Jest welcomes award-winning author Alice Faye Duncan for a powerful, heartfelt conversation about the meaning of Juneteenth, the long struggle for freedom, and the people who...
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What Happens After Death? A Medium Explains Spirit Guides, Angels & the Afterlife
What happens after we die—and is someone guiding us while we’re here? In this fascinating and deeply personal episode of Life in Jest, cousin besties Selene Castrovilla and Pascale Laforest welcome EMT, mother, and lifelong medium Samantha Difronzo for a conversation about mediumship, spirit...
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Three Book Lovers Walk Into a Genre Debate…
In this episode of Life in Jest, Selene Castrovilla and Pascale Laforest are joined by librarian and Drinks in the Library host Gigi Howard for a funny, sharp, and surprisingly deep conversation about books, storytelling, and the strange state of modern reading culture. The discussion spirals...
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WTF?: The Dark Origins of Fairy Tales
You'll never look at Sleeping Beauty the same Way after listening to this episode! In this week's solo Life in Jest, Selene Castrovilla dives into the deeply disturbing origins of classic fairy tales—and the original stories are far more horrifying than most people realize. Long before Disney...
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The Priest Who Said He Watched Jesus Die: Exploring Unhinged Time Travel
Cyndi Lauper said it best — time after time — and this week, Selene and Pascale are tumbling after the truth about time travel. But before they do, they've got a sneak peek at what's coming up next episode: a visit to a serial killer exhibition in Manhattan. The only problem? They can't even…
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Famous Songs Explained: The Real Stories Behind the Lyrics
What do your favorite songs actually mean? In this episode of Life in Jest, Selene Castrovilla and Pascale Laforest dive into the real stories behind iconic songs—and what they uncover is darker, stranger, and more revealing than expected. From grunge to metal to pop, they break down the hidden...
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A Rally for Democracy… But Is It Enough?
A rally for democracy should feel reassuring. So why didn’t it fully? In this episode of Life in Jest, Selene Castrovilla and Pascale Laforest reflect on attending a rally where crowds showed up in strong support of democracy—an energizing, even hopeful experience. But that’s where the real...
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Pop Culture PTSD: MoviesThat Traumatized Us or Just Plain Sucked
Some movies entertain us. Others haunt us forever. In this wildly honest episode of Life in Jest, bestie cousins Selene and Pascale open the film vault of their nightmares — from the Willy Wonka Oompa Loompas that terrorized Selene’s childhood to Pascale’s unforgettable Tron experience (featuring…
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Nancy Guthrie Kidnapping: Why Aren’t They Checking the Eyes?
What happens when cousin-besties Selene and Pascale sit down to record…after calling the police? The girls have had a rough night---and they're all fired up with conflicting opinions, and spontaneous singing! This episode of Life in Jest spirals (in the best way) from true-crime obsession to...
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What Do We Really Need in Life?
What could you absolutely not live without? In this funny, free-wheeling episode of Life in Jest podcast, cousins Selene Castrovilla and Pascale Laforest compare their wildly different lists of the everyday things they swear they can’t live without—from books, words, and storytelling to TV, cat...
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Are You a Hoarder...Even in Heaven?
In this OG Life in Jest Podcast eipisode, Selene and Pascale take a series of online psychology quizzes—purely for research, of course—until an “Are You a Hoarder?” test takes an unexpected turn. Selene’s late mother, a hoarder in life, seems less than pleased from the great beyond, effectively...
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Fun Trivia & Pop Culture Podcast | Your Escape from the News
When the world feels overwhelming, sometimes the most productive thing you can do is laugh. In this “purely in jest” episode of Life in Jest, Selene Castrovilla and Pascale take a deliberate break from heavy headlines and dive headfirst into absurd, fascinating, and delightfully random trivia.…
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Will our Votes Count in the Midterm Elections? How We Can Safeguard Democracy!
Here's an OG episode that concerns every American citizen! Things have only grown more dire since we first aired this episode. Our one chance to be heard is at the polls. But what happens if someone tampers with the results? The Election Truth Alliance are curators of accountability, working to...
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Love Through the Ages: Valentine’s Day, Romance, and Reality
Is love a sacred bond, a cultural construct, or a diagnosable condition? In this Valentine’s-adjacent episode of Life in Jest, Selene Castrovilla and Pascale take on love in all its messy, romantic, absurd, and occasionally unhinged forms. From the pagan roots of Valentine’s Day to its modern...
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The Wizard of Oz: Potholes on the Yellow Brick Road
Hello, hello! Here's an OG favorite episode! This is a description from Google's AI: In the Life in Jest podcast episode "The Wizard of Oz Facts That Will Make You Wince," hosts Selene Castrovilla and Pascale Laforest explore the behind-the-scenes, often chaotic history of the classic 1939 film....
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This New Year's Episode Almost Got Scrapped
This episode was recorded on New Year’s Eve… after some wine…in that strange liminal space when reflection, chaos, and questionable judgment all collide.Selene was convinced it sucked. So convinced, in fact, that she nearly didn’t release it at all. But then she listened back. And (after hours of...
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Laughter as Remembrance: Weaving Humor and Grief
“Laughter is the sun that drives winter from the human face.” In this deeply moving and unexpectedly funny episode of Life in Jest, Selene and Pascale honor Selene's son Casey on the 3rd anniversary of his passing—not with solemnity, but with laughter, love, and the unforgettable stories that…
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Grease & Rizzo: What We Missed When We Were Kids
A classic Life in Jest Podcast fan favorite! This is one of those episodes—the kind longtime listeners still quote, share, and come back to when they need a laugh that slowly turns into something deeper. We kick things off with hilarious OCD confessions—the kind of honest vulnerability that's a...
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Is Death Really the End? Grief, Meaning & What Comes After
Is death really “the end”? We say that phrase so casually—the end—as if it’s settled, obvious, beyond question. But what if it isn’t? In this deeply intimate and searching episode of Life in Jest, Selene Castrovilla and Pascale Laforest step into one of life’s hardest and most universal…
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Movie Quotes From Iconic Films We'll Never Watch
What do Titanic, Chinatown, Jerry Maguire, Deliverance, Field of Dreams, Rambo, and Brokeback Mountain have in common? Selene and Pascale have quoted them for years… without ever seeing them. In this laugh-out-loud episode of Life in Jest, the hosts dive into famous movie quotes from movies they...
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A Drunk Raccoon, Kind Humans, and the Strange Comfort of Animal Stories
What do a boozy raccoon, a soup-can rescue, a scene-stealing Godfather cat, and a baby seal who wandered into a bar all have in common? In this episode of Life in Jest, Selene Castrovilla and Pascale Laforest do what they do best: laugh, ramble, reflect, and accidentally land somewhere profound.…
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The Secret Life of Libraries: Selene Learns What Pascale Actually Does All Day
Think you know what happens behind the scenes at your local library? Spoiler: you absolutely do not. In this laugh-out-loud Life in Jest episode, Selene finally gets the inside scoop on Pascale’s actual job — and it turns out to be way more intense, surprising, and downright fascinating than she...
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Things We Hate about the Holidays
It’s beginning to look a lot like… chaos. In this episode, Pascale and Selene spill all their holiday hot takes: the decorations that go too far, the shopping madness that tests humanity, the Santa myth minefield, and the eternal “Merry Christmas vs. Happy Holidays” showdown. They roast holiday...
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The Laugh-Till-You-Scream Episode: Prank Calls, Politics & America’s Empathy Crisis
This is an OG Life in Jest gem — the kind of classic chaos only Selene and Pascale can deliver. Yes, we have two brand-new episodes “in the can,” as they say… but Selene has been run ragged, trampled by life like George Washington’s army after a long march, and hasn’t had a second to edit them....
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Thanksgiving Unstuffed: The Truths We Were Never Taught
Pour a glass and step into the Life in Jest time machine! In this OG episode from the early days of the show, Selene and Pascale dive into the real history of Thanksgiving—the surprising, the tragic, and the “wait, how did school leave this out?” truths that reshape how we see the holiday. From...
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Friendsgiving With Famous Friends: The Most Unexpected Celebrity BFFs
In this laugh-out-loud Life in Jest episode, bestie cousins Selene Castrovilla and Pascale Laforest dive headfirst into the fascinating world of unexpected celebrity friendships—the strange, delightful, “wait, THEY know each other?” duos that make Hollywood feel like the world’s weirdest summer...
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Friendship, Freedom & a Few F-Bombs
From the ABCs of cursing to the F-bombs of freedom, Selene Castrovilla and Pascale Laforest prove that laughter, love, and a little profanity can tackle anything. In this wildly funny Life in Jest episode, the bestie cousins dive deep into how language—and life—can go from sweet to salty in...
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Connecting Hearts and Minds Through Picture Books — with JoEllen McCarthy
In this special bonus episode of Life in Jest, Selene welcomes JoEllen McCarthy, literacy expert, speaker, and author of Layers of Learning. Together they explore how picture books inspire inquiry, build empathy, and connect content with compassion—helping students make sense of an increasingly...
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Karen Read Acquittal Fallout & Another Horrifying Canton Story
In this gripping episode of Life in Jest, Selene and Pascale dive into the Karen Read case and the police misconduct allegations that shook Massachusetts. From vulgar investigative texts and questionable evidence handling to the dramatic fallout around former State Trooper Michael Proctor, we...
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Real Horrors: True Stories Behind Scary Movies
Think your favorite scary movies are fiction? Think again. In this spine-tingling Life in Jest episode, Long Island cousins and besties Selene Castrovilla and Pascale Laforest uncover the real events that inspired horror classics like A Nightmare on Elm Street, Carrie, and The Mothman Prophecies....
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Between Life and Afterlife: Rituals, Remembrance & Real Talk
Join Life in Jest Podcast hosts Selene Castrovilla and Pascale Laforest for a fascinating, funny, and heartfelt deep dive into the holidays that surround Halloween: Samhain, Día de los Muertos, All Saints Day, All Souls Day & All Hallows Eve. This episode explores how different cultures celebrate...
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Ghosts, Ghouls & Great Friends: From Vlad the Impaler to Lizzie Borden
Get ready for a spirited ride! In this Halloween-themed episode of Life in Jest, Selene Castrovilla is joined by special guest co-host and longtime friend, author Lynne Marie. Together, they blend chills with chuckles as they talk about ghostly encounters, haunted travels, and the real-life...
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Childhood Trauma & Movie Rants: A Comedy Podcast for Film Survivors
Some movies entertain us. Others haunt us forever. In this wildly honest episode of Life in Jest, bestie cousins Selene and Pascale open the film vault of their nightmares — from the Willy Wonka Oompa Loompas that terrorized Selene’s childhood to Pascale’s unforgettable Tron experience (featuring…
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WTF Food Prices, TikTok Hustles & Karen Read News!
In this week’s Life in Jest Podcast, bestie cousins Selene Castrovilla and Pascale LaForest prove that life is equal parts comedy and chaos. From jaw-dropping food prices (yes, $72 Thai For One is a thing!) to bargain-hunting at Lidl and TikTok side hustles gone rogue, this comedy podcast dives...
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Life in Jest Turns One: Celebrating Our First Year of Laughter, Friendship & Truth
🎉 Life in Jest Podcast: One Year of Comedy, Friendship & Real Talk Life in Jest just turned ONE—and somehow, we missed it until now! It’s never too late to celebrate, and we couldn’t let this milestone pass without thanking all of our amazing listeners. Whether you’ve been with us since our very...
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Tomato Therapy, Squirrel Drama & Bestie Confessions
What do Shakespeare, black squirrels, and tomato therapy have in common? Only Selene & Pascale could connect those dots in this laugh-out-loud episode of Life in Jest! The bestie cousins kick things off with a quick & hilariously muddled Middle English Canterbury Tales recitation (yes, really),...
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Travel, Trials & Truths: Besties Tackle the Good, the Bad & the Unjust
From a cheesy museum to chilling trials, Selene and Pascale find meaning (and mischief) in every stop. This episode opens with Selene’s recent author trip to Lafayette, Indiana, where she presented a library talk on the remarkable Marquis de Lafayette--the city's namesake, America's hero, and the...
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Comedy Meets History: How Humor Makes Learning Fun with Stupid History Minute Podcast Creator Keb Pound
Join us on "Life in Jest" as we explore the fascinating intersection of comedy and history with Keb Pound, the creative mind behind "The Stupid History Minute" podcast and the author of The Stupid History Book. In this episode, Keb, a stand-up comedian, shares how he came up with such a "stupid"...
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9/11: The Twin Towers & America's Forever Grief
In this poignant Life in Jest episode, authors Selene Castrovilla and Gae Polisner share an intimate conversation about friendship, grief, and the healing power of writing in the aftermath of September 11th. Together, they reflect on the impact of 9/11, the importance of hope in storytelling, and...
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Boston Travel Fails & Friendship Wins
Buckle up (or at least hold onto your city transit ticket) as Selene and Pascale take you along on their whirlwind trip to Boston! From misadventures on public transportation to run-ins with Chinese restaurants and Apple maps, the duo finds comedy in every wrong turn. Along the way, they spill…
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Lizzie Borden: The Murders That Made True Crime a Household Obsession
🪓 Lizzie Borden didn’t actually give her stepmother forty whacks—but folklore doesn’t let facts get in the way of a good jump rope rhyme. Pascale shrugs, “it worked for the rhythm,” but Selene bristles—she can’t stand when history gets twisted. In this Life in Jest episode, the two unravel how...
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The Wizard of Oz Facts That Will Make You Wince
Follow the yellow brick road with Selene Castrovilla and Pascale Laforest as they skip straight into The Wizard of Oz! From ruby slippers to flying monkeys, they share how this timeless classic shaped their own life stories and writing. Of course, in true Life in Jest fashion, the trip to Oz hits…
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Safeguarding Democracy: Data Questions U.S. Election Integrity — Will Midterm Votes Count?
Strap on your life vest and prepare to plunge! On this week’s Life in Jest, hosts Selene Castrovilla and Pascale Laforest welcome special guest Lilli McGregor, co-founder and Executive Director of Communications & Operations at the Election Truth Alliance, for a deep dive into the murky waters of...
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Murder, Mayhem & a New Coffee Maker
What do a shiny new coffee maker, a decades-old Hollywood mystery, and a tragic betrayal have in common? Everything—when Life in Jest’s Pascale and Selene get talking. In this episode, emotions percolate as the hosts unpack the surprising grief of retiring a faithful coffee machine, then brew up…
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This Is Why We Don't Live Together: Friendships Need Distance!
In this lively and far-reaching episode of Life In Jest, Selene and Pascale take you on a rollercoaster ride through emotional animal partings, poetic inspiration, and the absurdity of politics and pop culture. But things really heat up when their wildly different tastes clash—whether it’s over...
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Did Trump Win? A Shocking Look at Election Statistical Evidence That Leaves Us Questioning Our Democratic Process
This week on Life In Jest, Selene and Pascale serve up a smorgasbord of juicy topics—starting with real-life chaos (technical difficulties, anyone?) and rolling right into some serious truths about our elections. From eyebrow-raising stats in Rockland County to the bigger picture of democracy on...
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Plastic is Poisoning Us!
Less tea, more wine—Selene and Pascale are spilling the polypropylene-laced tea in this delightfully unpredictable episode! First, they open the lid on a grim reality: every twist of a bottle cap or peel of plastic wrap is adding more microplastics to our food and drinks. Even our seemingly...
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Karen Read is Free! Who Killed John O'Keefe?
Karen Read Walks—Now What? The Fallout, the Fury, and the Fight for Justice In this incendiary bonus episode, Selene Castrovilla dives headfirst into the shockwaves rippling through the Karen Read verdict. With Karen Read found not guilty at last, the spotlight turns to what’s next: fiery…
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Food Fumbles, Unpacking Reddit & Yelp Takedowns!
When customer service fails, comedy prevails. 🎉 Season Two Premiere! 🎙️ Selene and Pascale are back—and they're serving up piping-hot laughs with a side of sass in the Season Two opener of Life in Jest! This episode dishes out tales from the customer service trenches, dining disasters, and…
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
This podcast is your safe haven from the ridiculous world we live in. Selene Castrovilla and Pascale Laforest are cousins and besties who laugh at life rather than move to the Bellevue Psych Ward because we doubt they'd serve decent wine. We'll explore, discuss, and ridicule topics each Tuesday and welcome your subject matter requests. Cheers!
HOSTED BY
Selene Castrovilla + Pascale Laforest
CATEGORIES
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Life In Jest have?
Life In Jest currently has 100 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Life In Jest about?
This podcast is your safe haven from the ridiculous world we live in. Selene Castrovilla and Pascale Laforest are cousins and besties who laugh at life rather than move to the Bellevue Psych Ward because we doubt they'd serve decent wine. We'll explore, discuss, and ridicule topics each Tuesday and...
How often does Life In Jest release new episodes?
Life In Jest has 100 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to Life In Jest?
You can listen to Life In Jest on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Life In Jest?
Life In Jest is created and hosted by Selene Castrovilla + Pascale Laforest.
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