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 Budapest Hotel, and agree that you’re never too old to be traumatized — just ask The Dark Knight.

It’s part movie rant, part memory lane, and full-on therapy session for anyone who’s ever left a theater emotionally damaged yet weirdly entertained.

But the laughing ladies don't stop there! They let loose on the movies that should never have been made, in their signature snarky style. And of course, there's so much more hilarious & insightful discussion in their delightful diversions.

🎥 Laughter, nostalgia, and a touch of pop culture PTSD await in this episode of Life in Jest.

Thank you for listening & supporting us! We love you oh so much!! XOXOXO

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 off-the-rails pop culture, blending humor, sharp instincts, and brutally honest takes on everything from true-crime cases to weed, wellness, and the randomness of modern life.

Selene dives into the Nancy Guthrie kidnapping that’s been haunting her—questioning the evidence, the investigation, and what really happens when a case doesn’t add up. Expect unfiltered theories, emotional reactions, and true crime analysis that unfolds in real time—raw, conversational, and completely unscripted. Why hasn't the FBI been checking local residents' eyes for a match to the kidnapper's?

From there, things take a turn:

• Why true crime might be losing its appeal
• The surprising (and alarming) truth about cannabis and health risks
• The difference between relaxing… and spiraling
• Pop culture deep dives—from Rocky Horror to 80s music to random trivia that somehow becomes addictive, unexpected, and quite informative

Underneath the humor, there’s something sharper: a conversation about anxiety, control, nostalgia, and how we make sense of a world that doesn’t always add up.

This episode is messy, funny, a little chaotic—and exactly what Life in Jest does best.

If you like:

true crime discussions, unscripted podcasts, women-led conversations, Gen X nostalgia, pop culture debates, and real talk about life’s weird edges… this one’s for you.

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 litter, cheese doodles, and remote-start cars. Along the way, the conversation spirals (as it always does) into deeper territory: grief, independence, aging, dating later in life, and the strange ways our priorities change over time.

Selene reflects on the idea of being born in the rare Year of the Fire Horse, a Chinese zodiac combination said to produce bold, rebellious personalities—and wonders if that explains her fierce independence and refusal to play by the rules. Meanwhile Pascale confesses her unapologetic love for books and television, proving that great stories—whether on the page or screen—might actually be essential for survival.

Expect hilarious detours into:

• why food delivery drivers sometimes become accidental therapists
• the comfort of reading and storytelling
• the genius (and chaos) of Howard Stern and comedy
• the surprisingly passionate debate over the “world’s best cat litter”
• and why traveling the world—and laughing about the disasters—might be one of life’s true necessities

Part philosophical, part ridiculous, and entirely honest, this episode asks a deceptively simple question:

What do we truly need in order to live well?

Spoiler: the answers might involve books, humor, snacks, and a very good litter box.