Schmuckboys

This week on Schmuckboys, Marla and Libby give some brief life updates and then are joined by British Jewish comedian and content creator Zach Margs! Zach shares a relationship update and tells us about his new live dating show, Truth or Date, where singles date blindfolded before facing a lie detector test. We get into dating as a public figure, sliding into DMs, and whether being an online comedian helps or hurts your dating life. Zach also shares why dating and eventually marrying Jewish is important to him, plus his thoughts on the Jewish dating scenes in Tel Aviv, New York, and London. Zach breaks down some of the easiest ways to make a good impression on a date — be on time, make the reservation, ask questions, put your phone away, and most importantly, be a mensch. We also debate drinks vs. dinner, who should plan the date, and some major dating red flags. We talk about long-distance relationships, the pressure to find "your person," and how Zach balances dating with a growing comedy career. He also shares how one viral Tel Aviv waiter video helped launch his full-time comedy career. Finally, we put Zach through the Schmuckboys hot seat and answer the most important question of all: what exactly makes someone a Schmuckboy? Follow Zach Margs: Instagram & TikTok @zachmargs | YouTube @zach_margs

Libby and Marla share some updates about their summer and then get right into it with their guest, Elizabeth Sutton, an entrepreneur, mom, and proud Jewish powerhouse.  Elizabeth kicks things off with a relationship update, opening up about getting back into the dating world after a difficult breakup, meeting someone new on Hinge, and why she's learned that connection, shared values, and emotional compatibility matter way more than looks, money, or status. She also gets real about dating as a divorced mom of two and why she now has very specific standards for who makes it into her dating pool. The conversation turns to Elizabeth's Jewish upbringing and her evolving relationship with faith. She shares what it was like growing up Modern Orthodox, how being pushed toward religion ultimately made her question it, and how she eventually developed her own personal relationship with God. She also talks about  how her faith has helped her navigate some of the hardest moments of her life. Elizabeth tells the unexpected story of how she became an artist after painting something for her son's nursery because she couldn't afford the art she originally wanted. What started as a way to make some money eventually became a full-blown career, and she explains how art has become both a business and a way to process trauma and bring the visions in her head to life. She also talks about opening her first Manhattan store and her goal of building a business that can eventually make money without requiring her to be everywhere at once. Back to dating: Elizabeth gets refreshingly honest about heartbreak, betrayal, dating after divorce, and why she believes people need time to actually heal before jumping into another relationship. She also opens up about becoming more intentional with intimacy, the importance of feeling emotionally safe, and why a man's ability to respect your boundaries can tell you everything you need to know. As someone with a large online following, Elizabeth also shares how she decides what parts of her personal life to put online—and what stays completely private. She explains why she's comfortable sharing lessons from her experiences without exposing the people involved, and why she believes your love life should be protected from everyone's opinions, intentions, and, of course, the evil eye. Plus: Elizabeth answers our rapid-fire questions and shares the best advice she's ever received. And, naturally, she gives us her definition of a Schmuckboy: an insecure man who projects his insecurities onto you—plus narcissists, liars, men with big egos, and anyone lacking basic manners. Open the door. Send the Uber. Pay the bill. Don't be a Schmuckboy.   You can find Elizabeth on Instagram @ elizabethsuttoncollection or on her website elizabethsuttonhome.com. 

This week on Schmuckboys, Marla and Libby catch up on life lately like Libby becoming a full-time dog mom after getting the world's cutest mini cavapoo, Bamba. Marla also opens up about her recent breakup and shares an honest conversation about ending relationships when nothing is necessarily "wrong," but something still doesn't feel fully right. The girls discuss trusting your gut, navigating doubts in long-term relationships, communicating openly with partners, and the pressure people feel in their late twenties to settle down. I Then, the girls are joined by creator and advocate Lauren Kagan, who shares the story of how a setup from mutual friends led to her current relationship and why she fully believes people need to stop being afraid of meeting through friends instead of dating apps. Lauren tells the hilarious story of attending her boyfriend's family Seder before they were even officially dating, how she ended up relocating from DC to New York City, and why she believes women should prioritize their own goals and careers while dating. The conversation shifts into Judaism, identity, and how October 7th reshaped Lauren's perspective on dating Jewish versus non-Jewish partners. Lauren reflects on growing up as a proud Soviet Jew in Boston, attending Jewish day school, experiencing antisemitism at University of Massachusetts Amherst, and how her family's Soviet roots continue to influence the way she approaches Jewish pride and advocacy today. The girls also discuss Jewish representation online, navigating misinformation and antisemitism on social media, and Lauren's work with Birthright Israel. Lauren shares how her content creation journey accidentally started during college after posting a "Jewish girl anthem" TikTok that unexpectedly went viral, plus the origin story behind her signature "Shalom everybody" intro. You can follow Lauren on Instagram @laurkagan and the podcast @schmuckboysofficial.

This week on Schmuckboys, Libby and Marla give you their post-Passover recaps they then welcome their guest, Brian Spivak, who founded Barzel Media, a company focused on helping Jewish content creators partner with businesses for brand deals.   We get into Brian's unexpectedly thriving Miami dating era, his Modern Orthodox New Jersey upbringing, and how his relationship to Judaism evolved from routine to real intention. He shares how October 7th completely shifted his career path, leading him from the tech world into building the Hostage Forum's influencer program from the ground up. Brian takes us behind the scenes of powerful campaigns like "Recipes for Return" and "Reels for Return," explaining how food, fitness, and everyday lifestyle content became surprisingly effective tools for hostage awareness. He opens up about the social media fatigue surrounding war content, why relatable storytelling matters, and how strategic creativity can break through the scroll. The conversation dives deep into the harsh reality many pro-Israel influencers faced after speaking out — including losing brand partnerships and financial stability — and why Brian founded Barzel Media to help create real economic infrastructure for creators who chose advocacy over silence. He also addresses the criticism around influencers getting paid to advocate, making the case for why sustainable activism requires actual support, especially for mid-level creators who are often overlooked. Marla and Libby also talk with Brian about the difference between nonprofit and for-profit partnerships, what brands are actually willing to support, and how influencer marketing can serve as both advocacy and business strategy. They unpack creator burnout, the exhausting pressure of the algorithm, and Brian's vision for building systems that give creators more support, resources, and maybe even the occasional mental health break. Of course, because this is Schmuckboys, they also cover dating while working in media and activism, public perception, social intimidation, and how being visible online doesn't always translate into romantic success. The episode closes with a surprisingly deep conversation about AI, technology, and the future of human connection, with Brian sharing why he believes Shabbat, digital detox, sports, and in-person community may become even more essential as society becomes increasingly online. And in true Schmuckboys fashion, Brian defines a Schmuckboy as: "A guy who gives advice on things he knows nothing about, always has a story for everything, and definitely knows a guy with a rooftop." Instagram: @brianspivak / @barzel.media Website: barzelmedia.com

This week on Schmuckboys, Libby and Marla catch you up on their personal lives before bringing on their amazing guest, Sarri Singer, founder and director of Strength to Strength. She shares her journey from growing up in Lakewood, New Jersey, to surviving a devastating bus bombing in Jerusalem and dedicating her life to supporting other victims of terrorism. She reflects on her early connection to Israel, narrowly missing multiple attacks before 2003, and the lasting impact of those experiences on her decision to move abroad and work with trauma survivors. After returning to the United States and finding little long-term support for survivors, she began connecting with others who had lived through similar attacks and ultimately founded Strength to Strength—a global, volunteer-run network that now partners with organizations in 16 countries. The conversation explores what survivors need most in the months and years following an attack, emphasizing the importance of peer support, the risks of forcing victims to share their stories too soon, and why her organization requires a one-year waiting period before new survivors attend retreats. Sarri also discusses how the October 7 attacks reignited trauma within the survivor community, increased demand for services, and strengthened bonds between members worldwide. She reflects on how terrorism trauma affects relationships, noting generational differences in how survivors and their partners navigate mental health and recovery. The episode closes with Sarri's perspective on how communities can better prepare for and respond to attacks—by building support systems in advance, involving survivors in planning, and ensuring help remains available long after public attention fades You can learn more at https://www.stosglobal.org/.