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Ep. 136: Petty Hills We’ll Gladly Die On

This week, Dave and Reese go all-in on the tiny, ridiculous, wildly specific hills they’re fully prepared to die on. From toilet-paper crimes to pineapple-pizza justice to the eternal Star Wars debate, nothing is too petty to...

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Nov. 24, 2025

Ep. 136: Petty Hills We’ll Gladly Die On

This week, Dave and Reese go all-in on the tiny, ridiculous, wildly specific hills they’re fully prepared to die on. From toilet-paper crimes to pineapple-pizza justice to the eternal Star Wars debate, nothing is too petty to...

Listen to the Episode
Nov. 16, 2025

Ep. 135: When Did We Start Tipping for Everything?

Dave just got back from the UK, where no one asks you for 25 percent on a cup of coffee. That turned into a full-blown debate between him and Reese about where tipping came from, why the U.S. can’t seem to stop, and all the r...

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Nov. 8, 2025

Ep. 134: “Wait… You can just shut down the government?”

Turns out, you really can turn off the U.S. government. Wild, right? Dave and Reese dive into how a shutdown actually happens, what it means for normal people (like, can it mess with your flight?), and why arguing over “fine ...

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Sept. 21, 2025

Ep. 133: Losing My Tribute Band Religion

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 ...

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Sept. 15, 2025

Ep. 132: Routines: Freedom or Trap?

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 glass...

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Sept. 7, 2025

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

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 Instag...

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Recent Blog Posts

Sept. 6, 2025

Featured Cocktail: Pear Martini

Pear Martini Sometimes your brain’s a mess. Sometimes it’s brilliant. Either way, a Pear Martini helps. This was the drink of choice for Manic Joy episode 130 — light, crisp, and just fancy enough to make us feel like we had our l…

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June 19, 2025

Featured Cocktail: Black Forest Martini

🍒 The Black Forest Martini A cocktail as dramatic and delicious as a letter from Annie Oakley Inspired by a chocolate cherry cordial—and made even better with a little creative improvisation—this cocktail tastes like dessert in a glass…

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May 18, 2025

Featured Cocktail: The Vesper Martini

  🍸 The Vesper Martini: A Boozy Beauty with Bond-Level Cool We’re not saying the Vesper Martini is responsible for everything that happened in this episode… but we’re also not not saying that. Remember, this is our go-to co…

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About the Hosts

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Reese Charest

Host / Wife / Mom / Friend

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Dave Charest

Host / Husband / Dad / Friend

Director, Small Business Success @constantcontact. Keynote Speaker. Host of Be a Marketer with Dave Charest, Makeshift Brilliance with Dave Charest, and Manic Joy: A podcast about life, love, and uncertainty.

Dave & Reese