Hello, hello! Here's an OG favorite episode!

This is a description from Google's AI:

In the Life in Jest podcast episode "The Wizard of Oz Facts That Will Make You Wince," hosts Selene Castrovilla and Pascale Laforest explore the behind-the-scenes, often chaotic history of the classic 1939 film. The episode covers the intense production challenges, including hazardous conditions, costume mishaps, and intense pressure on the cast, contrasting with the movie's magical legacy.

Key details from the podcast episode and surrounding context include:

• Production Hazards: The episode covers the dangerous set conditions, such as the Scarecrow costume being a fire hazard and the Wicked Witch (Margaret Hamilton) actually being burned during a scene.
• Production Woes: It explores the high-pressure environment, including the "heavily medicated" state of Judy Garland and the use of dangerous materials like asbestos.
• Cultural Legacy: The discussion touches on the film's enduring impact and its special resonance within the LGBTQ community.
• Host Perspective: The hosts share how this story and its production shaped their own lives and writing.

The episode is part of the Life in Jest podcast on iHeartRadio, which focuses on humorous and surprising takes on pop culture and life stories.

This episode was recorded on New Year’s Eve… after some wine…in that strange liminal space when reflection, chaos, and questionable judgment all collide.Selene was convinced it sucked. So convinced, in fact, that she nearly didn’t release it at all.

But then she listened back.

And (after hours of editing,lol) it didn’t suck.

So here it is.

This episode covers a lot of territory—a dazzling array of topics, really. There’s something for everyone. Think of it as a conversational Golden Corral: you may not know what you’re coming for, but you’ll definitely leave full.

Selene and Pascale bounce effortlessly between laugh-out-loud moments and more contemplative turns, touching on their very different opinions about Pennywise the sewer clown, psychics who sucked (and one whose prediction Selene based her life on), New Jersey boobage, and the singular betrayal of discovering—after eating—that a restaurant is cash only.

Along the way, Selene finds Jesus in Five Below and flashes back (once again) to the childhood trauma inflicted by an old McCloud episode. The besties discuss cultural artifacts that somehow lodge themselves permanently in the brain, and wonder if texting may be quietly destroying civilization. There are riffs on social-media comment sections, human behavior, corrupted symbols, belief, grief, and why meaning is so slippery—especially at the end of a year.

Somehow, this episode also includes a callback to Ryan Seacrest and Selene's continued bewilderment and outrage of his over-the-top endorsements of Chumba. Funny, reflective, provocative, and unmistakably Life in Jest, this episode is a sampler platter of thoughts, stories, and tangents—served with humor, honesty, and just enough wine.

Press play. It doesn't suck.

“Laughter is the sun that drives winter from the human face.”

In this deeply moving and unexpectedly funny episode of Life in Jest, Selene and Pascale honor Casey on the anniversary of his passing—not with solemnity, but with laughter, love, and the unforgettable stories that keep him vividly alive.

This episode weaves together humor and grief in the way only real life does. Selene shares hilarious, tender, and profoundly human memories of Casey: his hammock-that-wasn’t, the paddleboat adventure that went a little too far, wild dancing to Blue’s Clues, singing High School Musical at full volume, a runaway dog on Sunset Boulevard, and a cross-country RV trip that could only be survived with laughter. These stories reveal who Casey truly was—funny, musical, quirky, fearless, and deeply connected to animals and people alike.

The episode also introduces Casey’s Creature Kindness Day, inviting listeners to honor his spirit through compassion for animals. Selene highlights the work of the Animal Legal Defense Fund, discusses animal protection laws across the U.S., and reminds us why advocacy matters for those who cannot speak for themselves.

What emerges is a rare kind of conversation—one that doesn’t shy away from grief, but refuses to let it erase joy. This is an episode about remembrance without bitterness, mourning without silence, and love that continues to move, laugh, sing, and show up in the world.

If you’ve ever loved deeply, lost someone too soon, or found that laughter was the only way through—this episode is for you.

Topics include:

– Grief, remembrance, and humor

– Honoring a loved one through storytelling

– Animals, advocacy, and compassion

– Family memories that still sparkle

– Why laughter can be more powerful than screams

Listen, laugh, remember—and maybe do one small kind thing today in Casey’s name.

Here's a video Casey shot of us traveling in the RV from New York to California:

https://youtu.be/Jxw-rZIT5xQ?si=4-LScUBuCufEXQpq

Here's a video of Casey driving around LA, musing:

https://youtu.be/4YqYfrmYCEQ?si=_dbV0dcz6ZtxCroC

Here's a link to the Animal Legal Defense Fund:

https://aldf.org/