PODCAST

Manic Joy

Dave and Reese Charest

A podcast about life, love, and uncertainty by Dave and Reese Charest.

society & culture personal journals

All Episodes

00:32:27

Ep. 133: Losing My Tribute Band Religion

Manic Joy ·

2025/09/21

Dave and Reese’s Connecticut getaway turns into an unforgettable mix of surprises: a black bear sighting, pizza pilgrimages, wedding dance floors, and a full-blown debate over tribute bands. (Spoiler: Dave would rather see a bad original band, Reese is all in on the cover songs.) Add in some Gen X dance moves, indigestion prep, and a cat-created crime scene back home, and you’ve got classic Manic Joy.

00:53:23

Ep. 132: Routines: Freedom or Trap?

Manic Joy ·

2025/09/15

What keeps you grounded—and what throws you completely off? In this episode of Manic Joy, Dave and Reese dive into the rituals and routines that shape their days, from the comfort of morning coffee to the chaos of lost glasses. Along the way, they revisit the 30 minutes of brilliant conversation they forgot to record, debate whether routines are freeing or limiting, share stories about kids wrecking the house, and laugh about blow-dried balls, candy corn confessions, and Gordon Ramsay’s early-2000s

00:45:44

Ep. 131: Is Your Phone Listening? No, It's Worse.

Manic Joy ·

2025/09/08

Are our phones secretly listening? Dave and Reese pull the curtain on why that ad “mysteriously” finds you: identity graphs, data brokers, co-location signals, and lookalike audiences—aka your shadow profile. They test Instagram’s “Why am I seeing this ad?” tool live, share a simple privacy checklist anyone can do in five minutes, and… detour into simulation theory and the interstellar visitor 3I/ATLAS. Light, witty, practical, a little spooky. You’ll leave a bit more private—and a lot less

00:39:07

Ep. 130: F*ck Brain

Manic Joy ·

2025/09/06

Back on the mics after a month. We cover the birth of “F*ck Brain,” a surprisingly great pear martini, Reese’s shift on ChatGPT for teaching, Dave’s notes-to-action workflow, family reunion game nights, a summer of spiders, and a final lake day that claimed another pair of sunglasses. Fun, messy, honest.

00:47:35

Ep. 129: Caught On The Kiss Cam

Manic Joy ·

2025/07/20

In this episode of Manic Joy, Dave and Reese return after a summer break to sip coffee (spiked with Kahlúa), unpack the viral Coldplay kiss cam drama, and spiral into everything from public meltdowns to AI-written student essays. Reese recounts her blood pressure saga, her obsession with internet sleuths, and the existential dread of watching your childhood idols implode. Plus: water aerobics with a beer in hand, the creeping rise of AI influencers, and a call for more humanity in a world too eager

00:53:50

Ep. 128: Charest Is History

Manic Joy ·

2025/06/19

In this episode of Manic Joy, Reese unwraps one of the most thoughtful gifts Dave has ever given her—a subscription to History By Mail. That kicks off a delightfully nostalgic conversation about Reese’s love of history, Jackie Robinson and Chock Full o’Nuts, Annie Oakley’s offer to lead 50 sharpshooters, and Johnny Cash’s presidential penmanship. Plus, a heartfelt detour into parenting, AI, and analog joy. There’s also sock drawer drama, meatball hats, and a cocktail that tastes like dessert—because

00:55:02

Ep. 127: Florida, man.

Manic Joy ·

2025/05/18

In this episode, Dave and Reese dive into a Florida-themed “Would You Rather?” game featuring everything from suspicious gators named Carl to crab shacks without AC.You'll hear about Reese's girls' trip to Florida including lizard sightings, lost flip-flops, and the power of a perfectly curated poolside routine. Plus, we debate the real MVP of Florida cuisine (Publix subs? Really?) and reflect on the proper use of ChatGPT in school and life.This one’s got laughs, a little ranting, and a

00:57:16

Ep. 126: Fries, Lies & Fast Food Ties

Manic Joy ·

2025/04/27

Ever get in a fight over curly fries? Have a passionate opinion about the perfect fast food burger? You’re in good company.In this episode, Dave and Reese take a no-holds-barred journey through their fast food favorites, their childhood comfort foods, and the questionable culinary choices that shaped them.Who wins in the battle of the fries? Which burger gets a hard “nope”? And why is the Wendy’s Frosty basically therapy?Grab a snack (we know you want to), tune in, and join the debate—just don’t

00:56:51

Ep. 125: Baby, You Can Drive My Car!

Manic Joy ·

2025/04/20

In this milestone episode, Dave and Reese celebrate their daughters getting their first cars and take a joyride down memory lane. From champagne-colored LeBarons to minivans with TVs, they share the highs, lows, and laugh-out-loud moments of car ownership—including a few dealer horror stories and the joy of finding a good one. Plus, a featured cocktail named after a classic ride: the El Camino.

00:51:06

Ep. 124: Hope Grows in a Dump: Our Garbage Pail Kids...

Manic Joy ·

2025/04/13

What started as a chocolate martini and a trip to the auto shop turns into a full-on nostalgia spiral. Reese unearths her original Garbage Pail Kids collection—gum long gone, value still intact—and Dave dives into the bizarre history of the cards that shocked 1980s parents everywhere. Plus: thrift store treasures, Cadbury egg hunting, and a very special TED Talk shoutout.

00:37:52

Ep. 123: Every Body Hurts

Manic Joy ·

2025/03/30

Reese turns a year older and declares: Every. Body. Hurts. From elbows to egos, nothing is safe in this birthday episode. She and Dave sip coffee, dissect Vesper martinis, recount sticker club lore, and dive deep into the magic (and cringe) of David Blaine and the Natalia Grace drama. It’s cozy, chaotic, and full of heart—as always.

00:45:05

Ep. 122: A Show About the Show

Manic Joy ·

2025/03/23

In this meta-episode of Manic Joy, Dave and Reese take a break from their usual theme to turn the lens on the podcast itself. Over a delicious El Diablo cocktail, they dive into how AI (aka “Cathy”) helped them reflect on the show’s structure, tone, and future possibilities—from adding recurring segments like Reese’s Fun Fact or Dave’s Deep Thought, to tightening intros and bringing in surprise guest experts.Along the way, you’ll hear heartfelt insights, spontaneous sidebars (tiny straws, dirty

01:04:47

Ep. 121: Stoopid Kids

Manic Joy ·

2025/03/16

Dave and Reese kick off a hilarious episode of Manic Joy by diving into the quirks and pains of modern life before heading into their most absurd childhood beliefs. Dave shares his traumatic prank call experience and magic vanishing quarter, while Reese recounts playing work as a kid and attempting to grow cotton from cotton balls in her grandmother’s garden.Don't miss out on the fun and surprises!

00:41:49

Ep. 120: Delving

Manic Joy ·

2025/03/09

Dave and Reese kick things off discussing their week, including a windy disaster that took down a tree in their yard. They sip on Bailey's chocolate martinis, debate the horrors of natural disasters, and their newfound obsession with Sunbasket meal kits (use the link for $90 off). Oh, and then they delve into some random questions.Buckle up for an episode full of laughs, rants, and unexpected tears.

00:57:01

Ep. 119: Chatty Cathy and her questions, amiright?

Manic Joy ·

2025/03/02

Brace yourself as Dave and Reese dive into another episode where they discuss recovering from hangovers, Reese’s infamous choke incidents, and Dave's unrelenting grudge against a Brooklyn theater. Oh, and if you’ve ever wanted to know how Reese ranks a Mai Tai, this is the episode for you!

00:42:54

Ep. 118: Joy or Annoy?

Manic Joy ·

2025/02/22

Dave and Reese kick off this episode with some hilarious banter about their weeks, filled with unexpected Friday vibes and food shopping frustrations. They dive into delightful anecdotes about neighborhood construction chaos, complete with friendly workers and unexpected parking woes. And don't miss the debut of the 'Joy or Annoy' game, where they hilariously debate life's little quirks from pumpkin spice overload to awkward camel toes!

00:56:13

Ep. 117: Happy Valentine's Day!

Manic Joy ·

2025/02/17

Dave and Reese kick off this lively episode with musings about dreams, bedtime routines, and their love-hate relationship with Valentine's Day. They also delve into why public declarations of love are a no-no, share a wild tale of an airport disaster involving Air Canada, and reflect on the worst gifts they've ever exchanged. Tune in for a mix of hilarity, relatable rants, and heartwarming moments!

00:57:29

Ep. 116: 20 Questions - Birthday Edition

Manic Joy ·

2025/02/07

Dave and Reese celebrate Dave's 51st birthday!ChatGPT chose the drink: Honeycrisp Bourbon Smash and Reese brings the theme.After some math, there's 20 questions.From the weirdest thing Reese has Googled to her dream of mastering tap dancing. And what Dave thinks the dinosaurs really sounded like to his heartwarming story about Scrabble with nana.Tune in for a mix of laughs, love, nostalgia, and some pretty bizarre questions!

00:49:50

Ep. 115: Ransom Notes

Manic Joy ·

2025/02/02

Dave and Reese are back diving into life's absurdities. This episode kicks off with Oscar contender movie reviews. Have they found their new favorite party game? They also explore hypothetical hitman contracts with unique torture techniques, whether or not they'd take a brain pill, and the ultimate desert island dilemma. Tune in for all the fun and madness!

00:50:37

Ep. 114: Showtime

Manic Joy ·

2025/01/28

Dave and Reese dive into life, love, and AI shenanigans. They chat about their playful confusion with AI, how it's transforming their work, and why Dave's going all in on the tech this year. Then, buckle up for their hilarious take on modern communication and nostalgia for pre-smartphone eras. Highlights also include Dave's epic company kickoff performance and Reese's charming stage reading escapades. Get ready for laughs, insights, and a touch of old-school flair!

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