Life In Jest

🪓 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’s home to the sensational trial th...

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 fun. Expect personal confessions, behind-...

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 across the country in the wake of t...

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 long shadow of murder, and how fame can ...

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. (Spoiler: someone’s ready to die on the Ju...

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, and a rallying cry to stand up, speak ...

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 pollution—it’s accumulation. T...

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 will get justice for John O’Keefe?

Selen...

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 unexpected adventures, to food fumbles and fes...

In this hauntingly hilarious episode, Selene and Pascale crack open the cold cases of relationships gone wrong. From gorgeous but crazy to the mysteriously mediocre, they share stories of romantic run-ins that still make them shudder—or snort-laugh. Along the way, they reflect on what they’ve learned, what they wish they’d seen sooner, and why some “ex”-periences are better left in the rearview... but way too amusing not to revisit...

You never know what you're gonna get when you show up to a potluck—and this episode is no different! Selene and Pascale each bring surprise topics to the table, serving up unexpected stories, spicy opinions, and sweet moments of laughter. From half-baked ideas to fully loaded tangents, it’s a buffet of banter where anything goes and everything’s on the menu. Come hungry—for humor, for heart, and for a heaping helping of the une...

In this searing special episode of Life In Jest, Selene and Pascale take the prosecution to task in the high-stakes Karen Read trial—where one crucial fact remains glaringly unproven: that a collision ever happened at all.

With sharp insight and no-nonsense analysis, they break down the mountain of reasonable doubt meticulously revealed by defense attorney Alan Jackson, whose methodical takedown of the state’s shaky narrative has le...

Selene and Pascale take a heartfelt trip down memory lane, sharing the TV shows that shaped their childhoods—and maybe yours. With laughs, personal stories, and cultural insights, they explore how television reflected (and molded) family life, identity, and humor. From classic sitcoms to reality TV, plus a shoutout to books and libraries, it’s a cozy, thoughtful dive into the screen stories that stayed with us.

Takeaway...

When bad songs happen to good people.

In this episode of Life In Jest, Selene and Pascale dive into the deep end of the musical pool—and promptly start flailing. Each brings a list of songs that make their inner peace pack a bag and leave. From screechy ballads to overplayed anthems that haunt supermarket aisles, no genre is safe.

They also take a detour down memory lane, sharing hilarious musical moments with their kids—specifically...

Selene's sweet mama-in-law was visiting...a perfect opportunity to discuss the trial! SO MUCH TO UNPACK! What is up with hot potato Michael Proctor? And that belligerent cop who suffers from "false memory" syndrome! (eyeroll) Innocents don't squirm on the stand! Selene gives the tea to Mama Barbara, who is philosophical about the whole thing, while Selene's blood continues to boil. Thanks to Mama Barbara for joi...

Buckle up for a tail-wagging, gavel-banging good time! In this delightfully fluffy episode, Selene Castrovilla and Pascale Laforest dish on everything from courtroom chaos to cuddly creatures. They kick things up with adorable pet stories, unexpected animal encounters (yes, Costa Rican pups make an appearance!), and some seriously fuzzy feelings about our four-legged friends.

But don’t let the fluff fool you—these two also sink thei...

This week, Selene and Pascale throw open the crypt of current events—dragging out everything from the Karen Read and P. Diddy trials to the silicone-stuffed nightmares of the sex robot revolution. Along the way, they resurrect The Stepford Wives to ask: was Ira Levin writing horror, satire… or a prophetic how-to manual for the patriarchy?

In this eerie blend of courtroom drama, cultural autopsy, and dystopian dating forecast, they e...

In this episode of Life in Jest, hosts Selene and Pascale engage in humorous banter, discuss bizarre news stories, and offer advice on navigating friendships and relationships. They explore themes of nationalism, identity, and the absurdities of life, all while maintaining a light-hearted tone. The conversation flows naturally from light-hearted introductions to deeper cultural commentary, culminating in a segment dedicated to list...

We are so enthralled by Karen Read's second trial that we had to bring you another pop-up episode! Does Jen McCabe think pretending to be dumb will make this all disappear? Does Lt.Gallagher think doubling down on the quality of red Solo cups as evidence receptacles will make his choice okay? WTF is up with the dog?

This plus taillight, battery temperature, group chats, and blood alcohol level talk.

Ringling Brothers & Barnum...