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/.