Schmuckboys

Libby and Marla are back this week with their usual updates, what they've been up to the last couple weeks, Marla shares about her birthday and the two of them jokingly remind the audience that Marla isn't single anymore even though it's talked about in the episode since it was recorded before her and Josh got back together. They then welcome their guests, Parker and Sam from Elevation Nation. Parker shares about how him and his wife met and then shift to how him and Sam met and started working together. They share a funny story about how they didn't actually like each other at first. The duo then share about their Jewish identity growing up and how it's evolved post October 7th as well as navigating having public profiles that double as their professional ones. The group then talks a lot about modern dating, how girls should approach guys at a bar and the struggle men face of how to settle down when they don't feel financially stable. The group ends with a game where Parker and Libby take turns asking their respective co-host (Sam and Marla), why they think they are still single.    You can find Parker and Sam on instagram @_elevationnation.

After a brief summer hiatus Marla and Libby are back with some very exciting updates. Marla shares a huge turn of events in her relationship updates and how a canceled trip to Israel turned into spontaneous decision to explore France instead. Libby shares about a fun cruise and an unexpected meaningful conversation with strangers.  The girls introduce Gigi Robinson, a dynamic digital creator and personal branding expert. Gigi shares her humorous and unexpected love story that began during a last minute New Year's celebration , illustrating how love can find you when you're least prepared. She also explores the journey of building a personal brand through platforms like LinkedIn, sharing practical advice about creating authentic online presences. They also talk about antisemitism in social media and how they've dealt with it. Gigi shares tips on how to help empower individuals to become influential in their fields, emphasizing the impact of meaningful work over mere metrics.  You can find Gigi on social media @itsgigirobinson and Schmuckboys @schmuckboysofficial. 

This week on Schmuckboys, Marla and Libby start of sharing a bit about what they've been up to the last few weeks including a funny yet stressful situation when Libby's phone almost got eaten by a bus. The two then welcome their guest for this week Jonah Fialkow aka JewishJonah on Instagram.  Jonah shares about his journey being a diehard Cubs fan who transformed a summer job at Wrigley Field into a thriving content creation career. Starting as a vendor at 18, he shares his story of gaining unexpected fame with videos showcasing the behind-the-scenes world of sports and music events. Jonah talks about how he has reached fans worldwide, connecting them to Wrigley Field and the Cubs in surprising ways, inspiring Halloween costumes and public recognition. The group continues with an engaging discussions on cultural identity and the power of social media influence. Jonah, shares how his connection to Judaism has evolved over time. With a social media handle like "Jewish Jonah," he candidly talks about embracing his identity despite initial concerns from his family and how even though his content wasn't Jewish related, he felt compelled to speak up. They then explore the dynamics of dating across different cities, and end with a funny challenge where the girls make Jonah be a vendor for foods that you most likely wouldn't find at a baseball game.   Follow Jonah @jewishjonah and Schmuckboys @schmuckboysofficial on Instagram.

This week, your schmuckgirls are back with a very special and interesting guest but of course they start you off with their weekly updates. Marla and Libby share about their Passover holiday and what they broke the holiday with and discuss fun upcoming plans.  Post-Passover catch-up includes indulging in food, quality time with loved ones, and upcoming events like FIDF gala and anniversary cruise. They then welcome best-selling author and award-winning marketer, Aliza Licht! (0:09:23) She starts off sharing about how one blind date has turned into her 24+ year marriage and her unexpected shift from pre-med to fashion and PR. (0:18:26) - Aliza then shares about how she worked through multiple roles in fashion industry, taking risks to follow dreams and eventually ran a huge Instagram page known as DKNY PR Girl. (0:21:51) - She then discusses her move into starting her own podcast and crazy stories of how she unintentionally got her guests talking about topics they weren't supposed to. (0:31:49) - The trio then discuss about personal branding and how to stand out on social media.  (0:37:04) - Aliza then shares about how she's worked to balance her brand with her desire to speak up for her community and how she faced backlash for not staying silent after October 7th. (0:53:47) - In the fun world of dating, Aliza analyzes Marla's Hinge profile and gives tips on how to optimize your personal brand on dating apps.  You can follow Aliza on Instagram @alizalichtxo and Schmuckboys @schmuckboysofficial.

This week we're bringing you an exciting episode beginning with the launch of Libby's new creative consulting business. Libby celebrates one month of working independently and shares about her journey of embracing new opportunities and attending events like the ADL conference and TikTok gatherings. She details a bit about what her new creative consulting company offers like unique packages for creators and brands, including behind-the-scenes event filming and social media strategies. Switching gears, Marla gives a major relationship update and discusses the importance of open communication and maintaining a strong connection amidst a busy life.  They then welcome their guest, comedian Ami Kozak! (Note this episode was recorded a few months ago so some comments are slightly outdated). They continue with an exploration of Jewish identity, comedy, and music. Ami reflect on the challenges and joys of navigating a modern Orthodox Jewish upbringing, working in both music and comedy, and the power of social media. They dive into Ami's controversial debate with Candace Owens as well as the surprising antisemitism that broke out after October 7th. The conversation also touches on societal pressures in dating, the dynamics of "schmuck culture," and the importance of authenticity in relationships. 

Join us as we make our return to the podcast after a brief hiatus filled with personal life events and some time to recharge. We share updates on our recent activities, including Marla's memorable Valentine's Day getaway and a fun trip to the San Diego Zoo. With a commitment to bringing you more diverse and unique discussions within the Jewish community, we introduce our special guest, Miriam Ezagwi. Miriam, a prominent Jewish TikToker and labor and delivery nurse from Brooklyn. In this episode, Miriam shares her journey from focusing on baby-wearing content to addressing Holocaust misinformation and embracing her Jewish identity online. She discusses her passion for labor and delivery nursing and how her experiences as a mother have shaped her empathetic approach with patients. Listen in as we discuss the balance between personal life and professional passion, and how these aspects can coexist and enrich one another. As we continue, we navigate the growing presence of Orthodox content on social media, discussing both the benefits and challenges that come with it. Miriam shares her unexpected journey as a content creator, connecting with diverse audiences and the significance of positive representation and education about Judaism online. We wrap up the episode with a lively game of "Jew or False," where we address common myths about Judaism. Join us for an engaging episode filled with insights, stories, and a touch of humor that defines our podcast. (0:00:14) - Life Updates and Fun Family Outings (0:13:32) - Jewish identity, labor and delivery nursing, and motherhood coexist and enrich each other. (0:27:29) - Orthodox Jewish matchmaking, social media, viral content, and community reactions to online growth and representation. (0:32:44) - Jewish content creator's unexpected journey on TikTok and Instagram, connecting with diverse audiences and addressing myths about Judaism. Follow Schmuckboys @schmuckboysofficial on all platforms and Miriam @miriam.ezagui

Marla and Libby share their weekly updates, including a special announcement that they're running for the World Zionist Congress with Aish Ha’am, you can help vote for them at the link below! Marla gives major updates on her dating life and shares the craziness of first time staffing a birthright trip which included people getting kicked off. They welcome back one of their favorite repeat guests, Aleeza Ben Shalom, whose new book Matchmaker, Matchmaker is out January 21st!  Aleeza shares a fun relationship update about a double date with her husband that resulted in a fun run-in at the restaurant. They then discuss dating post Oct-7th, if Aleeza has noticed any shifts among the dating culture in the Jewish community. She then shares some of her favorite topics that she hits on in her new book, including the classic “date ‘em til you hate em”, and newer topics like how to find a high quality human, soulmate clarity, "you can only move as fast as the slowest person" and maybe her most controversial take - the 5 date challenge - avoiding physical touch for the first 5 dates. The group then discusses dating anxiety and Aleeza gives tips on how to deal with it. They end with a game of date em or hate em and discuss further into Aleeza's 5 date challenge. She then shares what to look out for, both good and bad, when searching for a partner.  Vote Here for Marla & Libby in the WZC: https://aish.com/vote/Marla&Libby You can find Aleeza on social media @aleezabenshalom on all platforms and her new book "Matchmaker, Matchmaker: Find Me a Love That Lasts" is out Tuesday, January 21st and available on Amazon, most major book stores and online at marriagemindedmentor.com You can find Libby & Marla on Instagram @schmuckboysofficial.

Back this week, Marla shares updates on the guy she's been seeing and her upcoming birthright staffing trip. Libby talks about she helped partake in a surprise proposal and her fun travels witha  Camp Nai Nai Nai cruise, and how she feels that recently with multiple friends, there's been something in the dating air. Their guest this week is Margarita Lyadova of 'People Jew Wanna Know' (so be sure to head over to her podcast after to listen to our episode). She starts off with her dating update of the week, and quickly gets into the details of growing up in Ukraine before it was fully developed. She talks about the things that really shocked her when her family immigrated to America, like free water everywhere and being able to drink tap water in many places. They then talk about her child stardom in Ukraine and what it was like growing up Jewish there. Margarita then shares the importance of how to treat immigrants and help them retain their dignity. Marla then inquires from Margarita to go deeper into what it really means to seek asylum in the U.S. and what the process looks like. They also talk about how Jewish organizations work to help Jews in need within their community even when they're total strangers. Margarita then gets into the creation of 'People Jew Wanna Know' and some of her favorite guests. The trio then gets into the most fun topic of the episode - dating! They then end witha game of 'Cute or Cringe.'   Check out @peoplejewwannaknow on Instagram! And don't forget to checkout their newest episode!

Marla and Libby are back with maybe their most exciting, fun and intriguing episode yet., (00:00:00 - 00:04:00)With the upcoming holidays, they share their suggestions for gifts for that special someone in your life, whether you’re just starting to date or you’ve been together for years. (00:04:00 - 00:04:55) Libby gives her relationship update of the week, sharing about spending the holidays with Jack as a married couple and an upcoming trip with Camp Nay Nay Nay. (00:04:55 - 00:31:40) In a twist of a events that hasn’t happened in a while, Marla shares a surprising Schmuckboy story she recently encountered that will leave your jaw dropped. She then shares a more positive relationship update of the week. (00:32:45: -00:36:04 ). - Marla and Libby welcome Zach Sage Fox to the podcast. Zach shares about his recent dating encounters and the pros and cons of people knowing who he is before even going out like Jewish grandmother’s being obsessed with him. (00:36:04 - 00:44:23) Zach shares about his Jewish identity growing up and how his family and upbringing has shaped who he is today. He shares a crazy story about his grandfather getting turned away from the US border, and how he had to push a fruit card for years in South America before immigrating to the U.S. He then talks about the bullying he dealt with and how switching to a Jewish school made things better for him. (00:44:23 - 00:59:19) They trio then talks life post-October 7th, how it changed Zach’s identity, his decision to take on this activist role and how his previous producing experience helped him to get to where he is now. He shares about his spirituality journey and also the disappointment he felt when a lot of his heroes let him down in the wake of October 7th. (00:59:19 - 01:06:55) The conversation pivots to Jewish dating, where the trio discusses the varying issues surrounding dating within the community. They also talk about all the Jewish events happening and the fatigue that can sometimes arise from the non-stop parties and fundraisers. He shares a funny story about people not recognizing him when he dressed as himself for a Halloween party.  (01:06:55 - 01:16:50) Getting back into Zach’s work, they discuss his street interviews and he shares about some surprisingly positive conversations he’s had during filming. (01:16:50 - 01:37:22) They then dive deep in Zach’s most dangerous video, Wild Wild West Bank. They find out how he was able to film there, what it was like, and how he was eventually able to recover footage that he was forced to delete when his life was being threatened. (01:37:22 - 01:46:45) Zach gives his two cents on how to be an activist and how to use your skills to help with the cause. They end with a game of Cute or Cringe. You can follow Schmuckboys on social media @schmuckboysofficial and keep up with Zach @zach.sage on Instagram and TikTok.  

The first guest episode of Season 4 is here! With a lot of new listeners, Marla and Libby give you a quick introduction of themselves before giving their relationship updates of the week. They then welcome Chloe Hechter! Chloe has recently blown up on TikTok and Instagram spreading laughs through classic Jewish summer camp and college life skits. She talks about how she's navigated growing her following while trying posting both Jewish and secular content. Libby and her share in the meaningfulness of having partners who are supportive of their content creation. She talks about growing her page, imposter syndrome, and how being a theater kid has helped her. Chloe also explains how she deals with hate on her videos. They then talk about common issues in Jewish dating and how to deal with them. She then shares some crazy dating stories and about her Jewish identity. They end with a camp version of Cute or Cringe.   You can follw Chloe @chloehechterr and the podcast @schmuckboysofficial

Welcome back to Season 4! In this first episode, we welcome a new co-host....well sort-of. Mazel Tov is in order as Libby Amber Walker is now Libby Amber Shayo! This episode Libby goes into all the details of her wedding day, from funny jokes, to the nerves, to the advice she was glad she followed. Tune in now!

This week Libby and Marla are bringing you a guest that might look familiar to you but before they get into that, they share some life updates! Libby reminisces on the anniversary of Jack's proposal while Marla delivers a surprising twist in her dating life. The two then discuss Passover, sharing stories and strong opinions on Passover foods.  They then welcome make up artist, Allison Chait aka Shabbos Brush Ups. The three then explore the beauty industry with a unique twist—Shabbos makeup. Allison discusses how religious guidelines intertwine with beauty routines, and how that shapes a Jewish woman's identity? She also talks about the transformative power of spiritual rituals like the mikvah, and how she's helped women feel more comfortable in participating.  Allison then shares about the positive experience she had at a makeup show where she received much more love than hate. The group ends with a fun game and of course asking Allison to describe a Schmuckboys.   You can follow Allison @shabbosbrushups on Instagram. 

On what might be the last episode of Season 3, the schmuckgirls are giving you all the updates! Libby recaps her fun bachelorette weekend in Atlantic City. Marla gives updates on getting back into the dating game. And for their last episode, they bring IDF reservist, activist and educator, Noy Leyb. Noy talks about the positive he's seen come out of a post-Otober 7th world and how the Jewish community has come togther. They also discuss the fatigue that many are feeling in many areas though. He shares about hiss Jewish upbringing and the different antisemitism he faced growing up in Canada. They then discuss how he came to be a name in the Jewish activist space and the pros and cons that have come from it. He talks about how he was able to share content while in Gaza by sending videos to a content team he created. The trio then talk about Jewish dating post-October 7th and Noy also shares about the difficulties of trying to date during war time. They also share about the focus that Jews put on celebrating and staying positive even through difficult times. Noy ends by sharing his definition of Schmuckboy.   You can follow Noy @noyleyb and follow Schmuckboys @schmuckboysofficial  

The Schmuckgirls are back with their first duo episode! Before getting into it with their guests, the girls give updates on their lives from wedding planning and dating. This week they bring on Michael Valdes aka Hot Jewish Energy and Danielle Brody aka Jews in Doodles, host of Mitzvah or Shanda and together the two of them co-wrote "Hot Jewish Hanukkah." In their updates, Danielle reveals a new serious relationship and their meet-cute and Michael explains the dynamic of paying on dates within the gay community. The duo explains how they connected through the internet and immediately hit it off in their comedy creator minds. They collaborated on "Hot Jewish Hanukkah" - a funny modern version of the Hanukkah story made for adults. Michael and Danielle both share about their Jewish journeys. Michael grew up in a more religious world, but never felt he fully fit being part Cuban and part Persian. Building his online presence though, he started to reconnect to his Jewish identity. And it's been his goal for everyone to feel welcome in the Jewish community no matter who they are. Danielle grew up less religious but got more connected to her Judaism after going on birthright. They then take turns sharing some of their wildest Jewish geography stories. Danielle and Michael go on to share about some of the issues within the Jewish dating world. Connecting to the current state of the world, they then discuss how they balance their fun/comedic content with also addressing antisemitism. Michael then shares about his hope and dreams of peace and how he just wants to help shed light. They also share things they wish non-Jews understood about Jews. They end with a game of Hot or Not.   You can find Michael on Instagram @hotjewishenergy. Danielle Brody @jewsindoodles and Schmuckboys @schmuckboysofficial

Marla and Libby have been beyond busy but they're back with another great episode of Schmukboys. Libby shares about how her wedding planning has been going so far, busy but exciting as they're planning a wedding in just 5 months. From engagement party to wedding dress shopping, there's been lots to do. Libby also shares about her fun experience celebrating her bithday and attending Camp Nai Nai Nai, a weekend of Jewish summer camp for adults. She also talks about the scary experience of visiting the Nova Festival memorial exhibit in NYC on the same day that there were people protesting violently outside. Marla and Libby talk about the importance of being proudly Jewish during this time and how it adds another layer of meaningfulness during this time.  Marla then shares about her updates on she's been focusing on work and putting dating a bit on the back burner. She then shares a crazy Jewish geography story about her and her friends meeting a a random Jewish guy in Vegas, going to his wedding at 4AM and then seeing him at Shavuot dinner weeks later. The girls then welcome their guest, Sean Hurwitz, a guitarist for Smash Mouth, Enrique Iglesias, and Nick Carter just to name a few. Sean talks about feeling a lot of support for the Jewish people while on tour with Nick Carter in South America and how he was pleasantly surprised. He then shares about growing up in Israel in a somewhat religious family and how religious or not, the culture in Israel is just being Jewish. They then discuss how he met his wife through OkCupid and about what's okay or not okay when it comes to complimenting other people when you're in a relationship. Sean talks about finding his love for music through his parents but also through the movie Back to the Future. He talks about how to be successful and how he built up his career through networking, helping, and connecting to others. Sean dives deeper into his experiences playing with different bands and shares some of his most memorable moments, like playing with Smash Mouth in New Zealand and with Enrique igleases in Israel. He also talks about playing for the troops in Iraq, and how that was a crazy experience for him because as a child in Israel, he would have to go into bomb shelters when Iraq was attacking Israel and then 20 years later seeing Saddam Hussein's palace. They talk about the silence from music industry after October 7th. The group ends with a game of cute or cringe and a short discussion on what is Schmuckboy.

The Schmuckgirls have BIG news this week. MAZEL MAZEL because Libby and Jack are engaged! A full debrief episode to come, but in the meantime Libby gives a little preview of how the engagement went down. Marla shares dating updates from the past month. The girls discuss dating app profiles and common mistakes that men make. Marla also shares her comparison between dating in NY vs. LA. This week they welcome Mikey Greenblatt, aka jewishvibes on Instagram. Mike starts by sharing the meet cute of meeting his girlfriend on a line not to be confused with online. He shares his strong options against gold Jewish star chains and suggested men wear kippers because that’s what made his girlfriend like him. He talks about his Jewish journey and how going to yeshiva in Israel guided him down a more religious path. He discusses about how he got to be involved with the popular jewishvibes instagram page and how him and his co-creator realized there was a market for modern-orthodox Jewish comedy. He talks about he doesn't love the typical bagel and lox comedy and thinks it's overdone. He talks about his stand up journey, starting, ending it, and ultimately choosing to get back into it. He talks about how Eli Lebowicz inspired him and showed him you can bring Orthodox Judaism into comedy and how the two of them and Ami Kozak started JSketch. He talks about how he enjoys performing Jewish comedy for non jews because he gets to educate them and humanize judaism. He talks about the importance of being funny about Judaism without bashing judaism. He shares about his connection to torah and how it also helps make him a better comedian. He shares that the likes content but that it also hurts society. When it comes to social media, he feels that people will find anything to get angry about and he usually ignores the comments. He talks about dating in the Jewish community, specifically on the UES and in the modern-orthodox world. They end with a game of mensch or schmuck.    You can follow Mikey and his comedic journey at @jewishvibes and @jsketch on instagram. 

After a brief break due to Marla's last minute trip to Israel, the girls are back and didn't want to make you wait until a Thursday release. Libby shares about Maxine's wedding, Purim festivities and fun restaurant experiences. Marla shares about her trip to Israel and updates in her dating life. This week the girls are thrilled to welcome Carly Weinstein! She talks about Jewish geography and her typical NYC dating life.  She shares about how she went from competing in gymnastics to starting her first blog in high school and kept it going through college even when other people looked down upon her for it. She also talks about the importance of being honest and vulnerable on social media especially with how difficult the internet can be. The Schmuckgirls dive into Carly's Jewish background and she shares about what her Jewish identity looked like as a kid versus now as well as the importance of her Jewish culture and how she made friends with Israelis through a penpal program. She also shares insight into how Jewish creators have fought back against antisemitism on TikTok. They end with a game of Cute or Cringe.   You can find Carly on Instagram @carly_weinstein and Schmuckboys @schmuckboysofficial.   

This week, the Schmuckgirls are happy to have on Philly influencer and content creator - Brandon Edelman aka Bran_flakezz. (Please note - this episode was recorded prior to Oct 7th.) With 605K followers on TikTok, we discussed how he got into content creation, getting over those  initial nerves of people you know seeing your videos, and making the jump from a full-time job to  full-time creation. He spoke about his experience filming on the Barstool reality TV show, Project Verified, where he ended up making it to the top 2. The trio discuss how reality TV has changed over the years as well as how to deal with burnout as a creator and how to set up certain boundaries when sharing about your personal life online. Brandon then shares about his funny meet-cute with his boyfriend, Josue. They also discuss recognizing when you might have to seek out new spaces and friends to meet the type of people you're interested in. Brandon shares about dating and finding support within the LGBTQ+ space. He also shares about how Birthright helped him to reconnect to his Judaism and remind him of the importance of the community it gives you. They end with a game of Cute or Cringe. You can find Schmuckboys on instagram @schmuckboysofficial or email them at schmuckboys@jewishjournal.com and you can find Brandon on Instagram and TikTok @bran_flakezz 

This week the Schmuckgirls bring you into the group chat with a no-guest episode. They give you a deeper look into their social and work lives as well as diving deep into dating updates. They chat about life after October 7th, issues dating in LA and NYC, how dating rules should be canceled and more!   To submit questions, stories, advice, you can email schmuckboys@jewishjournal.com or DM us on instagram @schmuckboysofficial. 

This week, we are thrilled to have on our friend, comedian, and rabbi Menachem Silverstein. He starts off with a beautiful story of how his neighbors came together after a Jewish home was broken into on his street. Menachem shares about what it was like growing up in a religious family and how he started his career in the entertainment industry. He shares the meet-cute story about meeting his wife on the subway and gives insight into issues that come about in dating in the religious world. The girls inquire about how Menachem has dealt being in the comedy world with the rise of antisemitism and how he handles comedians with opposing views. He also shares about what it's like to raise Jewish kids during a time when being visibly Jewish can feel scary. He also talks about his journey within screenwriting from avoiding writing Jewish stories to realizing that it's important to write what you know. The girls end with a game of 'Kosher or Treif."   You can follow Schmuckboys on Instagram @schmuckboysofficial - Menachem @menachemsilverstein and to send in suggestions, questions, dating stories you can email schmuckboys@jewishjournal.com