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 question begins.

Because if everyone there already agrees…

is that enough to protect it?

What starts as a firsthand account of the rally opens into a sharper, unscripted conversation about:

• Whether democracy is stronger than it feels—or more fragile than we want to admit
• The limits of “preaching to the choir”
• How big the “choir” actually is—and whether it’s growing
• The tension between hope and uncertainty in real time
• And how all of this coexists with everyday life—IHOP, malls, routines, and the strange normalcy of it all

And in true Life in Jest fashion, the conversation pivots into other discussions:

• A brunch at a boozy IHOP
• A brutally honest (and very funny) takedown of malls
• The absurdity of moving between big, urgent questions about democracy… and the strangely disappointing state of everyday life

Nothing is scripted. The conversation unfolds honestly, with humor, doubt, and the kind of questions people are asking but not always saying out loud.

Thank you for listening! We love you oh so much! XOXOXO

Please reach out to us: lifeinjestpodcast@gmail.com.