Life In Jest

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 motives and misidentities to strange wardrobes, political maneuvering, and the messy realities behind th...

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 camp. From unlikely comedy pairings to wholesome musician friendships to “how did these two even meet?”...

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 seconds. Pascale confesses to teaching curse words on the elementary-school playground, while Selene reveals...

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 abstract world. JoEllen shares practical ways to use mentor texts and author’s notes as springboards...

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 unpack why the public demanded accountability — and why questions still remain about how Boston officer J...

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. From refugee nightmares and psychic teens to mysterious sightings in West Virginia, the truth is far...

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 life and honor the dead, blending history, humor, and humanity. The bestie cousins share personal...

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 inspirations behind Lynne’s spooky books. From the eerie halls of the Lizzie Borden house to the chilling l...

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 a cousin who made out through the whole movie). They relive the horror of Cabaret ’s dead dog, roast...

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 into the absurd realities we’re all living. But it’s not all laughs—Selene and Pascale also break down...

🎉 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 first drop or just stumbled on this comedy podcast last week, you’ve helped us grow more than we e...

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), then detour into pet antics, squirrel showdowns, and the questionable psychology of why we noti...

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 subject of her award-winning book Revolutionary Friends. Selene shares about life as an author...

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" concept, and he reveals how humor can illuminate the often twisted narratives o...

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 how literature can help us process trauma. Gae discusses her acclaimed YA novel The Memory of Things...

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 the tea—literally—at the Boston Tea Party, hate on the now infamous duck tour, and even get spooked/turne...

🪓 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 myth, media, and mania turned a bloody crime into a national obsession. From their eerie visit to Lizzie...

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 a few detours—think conversational twisters and surprise pit stops—making the journey even more fu...

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 American election integrity. Together, they explore the swirling data anomalies that have surfaced...

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 a deeper conversation about the heartbreaking case of Fabio Sementelli. They explore betrayal, the lo...

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 beloved TV shows, problematic characters, or the ultimate pop battle: Backstreet Boys vs. NSYNC . (Spoi...

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 shaky ground, they break it all down with their signature sass and smarts. 💥 Expect laughter, fire,...

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 innocuous tea bags are seeping the plastic they’re heat-sealed with into our systems. It’s not just pollutio...

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 reactions from key players, jaw-dropping truths about investigative blunders, and one burning question— who wi...

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 Reddit rabbit holes, all with their signature wit and warmth. From canceled plans turning into unexp...