Life In Jest

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.

We start with a viral true story out of Virginia, where a raccoon broke into a liquor store, sampled the scotch, passed out by the t...

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 ever imagined.

From measuring books with real rulers to deciding how readers will actually find the titles they're searching for, Pasca...

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 excesses, share ridiculous family traditions, and still manage to pull out a message about compassion—because someone has to keep the spiri...

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. Don’t worry — they’re coming! (Probably dragging their tired bodies up the hill as we speak.)

In the meantime, enjoy this laugh-and-vent cla...

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 the myths, the cousins unpack the orig...

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?” stories, Selene and Pascale unravel ...

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 that even George Washington tried (...

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 for curiosity and conversation, and she...

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 John O’Keefe really died.

Then, the ho...

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 stranger—and scarier—than Hollywood e...

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 stories, travel tales, and even a fe...

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 legends of Vlad Tepes (the real Dracu...

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 the emotional void of The Grand Budap...

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 the latest updates in the Karen Read ...

🎉 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 ever imagined. 💜

To cele...

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 notice the weirdest details in life.

But b...

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 and why connecting with people who...

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 of history. We discuss the challenge...

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, which follows a teenager navigating ...