The Carpool Guys

Jon Ackerman
  • 5.0 (19)
  • Judaism

The Carpool Guys Podcast is where three real Jewish dads- Asher Dworetsky, Jon Ackerman, and Dave "From Flatbush" Tannenbaum, buckle up for unfiltered conversations about fatherhood, marriage, midlife, and the beautiful chaos of raising a family in the Jewish community today. These guys have made mistakes, learned lessons the hard way, and have just enough life experience to give out their not so expert advice. From career crossroads to screen time battles, from Shabbos table debates to parenting fails, from Israel and what it means to us as Jews to the everyday moments that make you laugh, cry, and question every decision you've ever made... The Carpool Guys go there. Whether you're married or single, a parent or a kid who still needs one, navigating life or just trying to figure it all out... this is your podcast. Humor, heart, and meaning, every other week. No filter. No script. Just real talk from three guys who are very much still figuring it out too. Buckle up. New episodes every other week on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, Amazon, or wherever you get your podcasts!

  1. 10h ago

    Shabbos Meal Ground Rules: Our Most Controversial Topic Ever! Whose Side Are You On?

    Send us Fan Mail Shabbos Ground Rules: Whose Side Are You On? The whole team is back together, and Dave was not going to let his absence go unnoticed. He missed the guys so much he had major FOMO from his own podcast, and he is here to make sure everyone knows it. The guys kick off with a proper What Are We Thinking About segment, catching up on WhatsApp group energy, a wave of positive feedback from the Imposter Syndrome episode, and a very unfortunate JetBlue saga that left Jon's 15 year old daughter stranded in LA after a canceled flight. Shout out to NCSY Give West staff for stepping up when JetBlue fumbled completely. Asher recaps a beautiful Shabbos and a truly heroic attempt at watching the World Cup finals, which he did not enjoy even a little bit and has some thoughts about. Then the guys get into the real topic of the night, and arguably the most important unspoken debate in Jewish community life: Shabbos meal etiquette and ground rules. What is the appropriate end time for a Shabbos meal? Is there a statute of limitations on re-inviting someone who has said no twice? Is it acceptable to drop a potluck commitment for a better offer later in the week? Can you ask to bench early because you want to take a nap? The guys poll their WhatsApp group, argue passionately, call in a wife for a live ruling, and somehow still do not fully agree by the end. Also in this episode: the group chat name "Tannen GONE," sponsored voice notes as a business idea, indoor soccer nostalgia, a hockey stick fight in yeshiva that ended in an awkward equipment return, the potluck versus real invitation hierarchy, and a legitimately deep question from a camper about celebrity status that Asher refuses to answer. Question of the Week: What level of celebrity do you think we are? 🎙️ Rate and review The Carpool Guys on Apple Podcasts. Five stars please! 📩 carpoolguyspod@gmail.com 📱 @carpoolguyspod 🔗 linktr.ee/carpoolguyspod ⏱️ Chapters with Timestamps 1:05 — Dave's FOMO Over Missing an Episode 2:40 — The Voice Note Debate Continues — Dave Says He's Getting 20x More Now 3:35 — Shout Out to the WhatsApp Group and First Raffle Winner Naftali Pfeiffer 6:01 — Great Feedback on the Imposter Syndrome Episode 8:03 — Dave's Month at Camp Kaylie Training the Intern Program 11:28 — Jon's JetBlue Nightmare: Daughter Stranded in LA 14:46 — Asher's Honest World Cup Review: The Most Boring Sport in the World 21:50 — Main Topic: Shabbos Meal Ground Rules and Etiquette 26:12 — The Poll Results: What's the Acceptable End Time? 28:03 — Jon's Real Question: How Long Do You Wait to Re-Invite Someone Who Said No Twice? 31:17 — Dave's Confession: The Fear of Being Invited Back by People You Don't Want to See 32:42 — Asher's Devious Idea: Inviting Someone the Week of Their Simcha 35:19 — The Potluck Downgrade Rule: Can You Drop a Potluck for a Better Offer? 35:36 — Calling in the Wives for a Live Ruling 38:00 — The Yeshiva Hockey Fight Story and the Awkward Stick Return 40:47 — The Couch Sleeping Debate 42:51 — Can You Ask to Bench Early Because You Want a Nap? 44:10 — Question of the Week Setup: The Camper's Celebrity Question Please rate and review The Carpool Guys! You can email us at carpoolguyspod@gmail.com Follow us on Instagram @carpoolguyspod Send us a question, a comment, birthday wish, shoutout, or anything else fun and positive, and maybe we'll feature your addition on the next episode of The Carpool Guys Podcast!

  2. Jul 13

    The Drive By: Dave feels left out... and jumps into the voice note saga

    Send us Fan Mail Dave is back, and he has some thoughts on our last episode, WhatsApp Voice Notes, and more! It’s your 2 Minute Drive By! Please rate and review The Carpool Guys! You can email us at carpoolguyspod@gmail.com Follow us on Instagram @carpoolguyspod Send us a question, a comment, birthday wish, shoutout, or anything else fun and positive, and maybe we'll feature your addition on the next episode of The Carpool Guys Podcast!

  3. Jul 9

    Imposter Syndrome: The Struggle is real... but am I? & How long is too long for a What's App Voice Note?

    Send us Fan Mail Imposter Syndrome: The Struggle is real... but am I? Dave is off at Camp Kaylie helping with their intern program, which means Jon and Asher are flying solo tonight, and somehow still managing to fill nearly an hour with conversation, tangents, and a very important child in underwear watching fireworks from a car roof. But before all that, Jon and Asher kick things off with a proper What Are We Thinking About segment. Asher just visited Camp Kaylie himself and cannot say enough about the staff, the Rabbeim, and the magical island they have built there. Shout out to Mommy Rachel, the first husband of Camp Kaylie, and Izzy, who not only cleaned Asher's car before he left for the summer but refused money for it and waited to open his brand new phone until after camp started. Meanwhile Jon spoke to a group of OU AI interns today, felt like the smartest person in the room for about four minutes, and then realized he was the oldest person in the room by approximately one generation. Which brings us to the topic of the week: Imposter Syndrome. The guys dig into what it actually feels like to walk into a room and wonder whether you belong there, at work, at a Shabbos table, in a job interview, in your own career. Jon talks about the period in his professional life when he felt stuck at the bottom rung, and how learning to podcast, of all things, unlocked something in him that changed his trajectory. Asher opens up about taking on a new leadership role without his longtime mentor as a safety net, and what it felt like to suddenly be the person everyone else was looking to for answers. There is also a real conversation about the difference between imposter syndrome and humility, why saying "I don't know" is actually a sign of confidence, the Dunning-Kruger curve, setting professional boundaries during long weekends, and the difference between being a team player and being a doormat. Plus: the word "correct" as a conversational power grab, how long is too long for a WhatsApp voice note, the era of asking permission before calling someone, Camp Kaylie visiting day survival, the chain of yelling from How I Met Your Mother, root beer floats as a spiritual experience, the grand finale that nobody can identify, and one of Asher's children watching July 4th fireworks from the roof of a car in their underwear. Big announcement: The Carpool Guys WhatsApp listener community is launching. Email carpoolguyspod@gmail.com to get in. Also coming soon: Official Carpool Guys car magnets. Yes, really. Question of the Week from Jon: What is your favorite part of the Fourth of July, and what is your least favorite? 🎙️ Rate and review The Carpool Guys on Apple Podcasts.  📩 carpoolguyspod@gmail.com 📱 @carpoolguyspod 🔗 linktr.ee/carpoolguyspod ⏱️ Chapters with Timestamps 0:59 — What Are We Thinking About: Asher Visits Camp Kaylie 1:17 — Happy Birthday Izzy — Our Number One Listener 4:57 — The Word "Correct" as a Conversational Power Grab 8:26 — How Long Is Too Long for a WhatsApp Voice Note? 16:30 — Announcement: The Carpool Guys WhatsApp Listener Group Is Launching 18:39 — Jon Speaks to the OU AI Intern Program Today 22:19 — Topic of the Week: Imposter Syndrome, the Struggle Is Real 26:01 — Why Saying "I Don't Know" Is Actually a Sign of Confidence 28:43 — When Early Career Overconfidence Gets in the Way of Actually Learning 29:38 — Asher's Mentor Susan Heckler: It's the Conversation After the Conversation 31:00 — How Learning to Podcast Unlocked Something in Jon Professionally 38:00 — The Chain of Yelling From How I Met Your Mother and What It Has to Do With Work Culture 40:13 — You Never Know What's Going On in Someone's Life, Even as a Therapist 43:08 — Question of the Week Is Sponsored by Asher in Honor of Dave 50:30 — WhatsApp Group Launch: How to Join Please rate and review The Carpool Guys! You can email us at carpoolguyspod@gmail.com Follow us on Instagram @carpoolguyspod Send us a question, a comment, birthday wish, shoutout, or anything else fun and positive, and maybe we'll feature your addition on the next episode of The Carpool Guys Podcast!

  4. Jul 5

    The Drive By: Visiting Day 2026! Asher Makes The Trip to Camp Kaylie!

    Send us Fan Mail Asher and fam are on the way to visiting day at Camp Kaylie… and perhaps a rendezvous with Dave from Flatbush? What are your favorite visiting day customs? What about the mishaps? Send us an email with your visiting day stories and we may share them on the next episode of The Carpool Guys! Please rate and review The Carpool Guys! You can email us at carpoolguyspod@gmail.com Follow us on Instagram @carpoolguyspod Send us a question, a comment, birthday wish, shoutout, or anything else fun and positive, and maybe we'll feature your addition on the next episode of The Carpool Guys Podcast!

  5. Jun 24

    From Comedy to Courage: Eli Lebowicz Joins the Carpool!

    Send us Fan Mail From Comedy to Courage: Eli Lebowicz Joins the Carpool If you have ever wondered what it looks like when one of the funniest people in the Jewish world sits down with three dads who have absolutely no idea how to use Google Chrome, wonder no more. Comedian Eli Lebowicz joins Jon, Asher, and Dave for what is without question the funniest episode The Carpool Guys have ever recorded. Eli is the mind behind J Sketch, the Jewish comedy account that has produced some of the most shared and quoted content in the Orthodox world — Jewish Jeopardy, the Sium sketch, the supplies to Israel video, and dozens more. He is also one of the sharpest voices in Jewish comedy working today, using humor not just to get laughs but to make real points about Jewish identity, antisemitism, and what it means to be proud of who you are. But this episode is not just a comedy interview. Eli talks about how J Sketch got started, how he comes up with his Torah-based material, why he went to Israel to perform during the Iran war, and what it actually looks like to fight antisemitism with humor in 2025. There is a genuine conversation about Jewish identity and what it means to be proud of who you are — wrapped inside one of the most chaotic, hilarious, and completely unscripted hours this show has ever produced. Also in this episode: Dave catches a tiger shark and attends a Trevor Bauer game in the same week, the guys do a Shabbos lunch together for the first time and Jon melts the ices, missing giraffes in Virginia, Asher's mother prefers the recorded version of him, the origin of the Sota joke, a Paroh bathroom theory that may be too long but is definitely funny, Dave's colonoscopy note, the Twizzler straw debate, and the most important question of the episode — how many holes does a straw have? Oh, and Eli's Netflix special will be called "Remind Me After Shabbos." Mark your calendars. Question of the Week from Dave: What is your road trip go-to snack? ��️ Find Eli Lebowicz online:  🌐 elicomedy.com  📱 Instagram: @elicomedyagram  🐦 Twitter/X: @EliLebowicz 🎙️ Rate and review The Carpool Guys on Apple Podcasts. Five stars please! 📩 carpoolguyspod@gmail.com 📱 @carpoolguyspod 🔗 linktr.ee/carpoolguyspod ⏱️ Chapters with Timestamps 0:27 — Welcome + What Are We Thinking About This Week 6:51 — Eli Lebowicz Joins the Carpool! 13:37 — The Secret Origin of J Sketch 25:06 — The Evolution of Jewish Comedy: It's Not Just Stand-Up Anymore 36:47 — The Origin of the Sota Joke: Mortal Kombat Meets the Parsha 50:45 — Eli During the War: Comedy as a Frontline Tool 57:35 — Upcoming Shows: Chai Lifeline Alumni, Cheese Store Singles Event, Catskills Summer 57:53 — Five Rapid Fire Questions 1:04:24 — Question of the Week: What Is Your Road Trip Go-To Snack? 1:11:22 — Thank You Eli, Closing Shoutouts, and How to Find Eli Online Please rate and review The Carpool Guys! You can email us at carpoolguyspod@gmail.com Follow us on Instagram @carpoolguyspod Send us a question, a comment, birthday wish, shoutout, or anything else fun and positive, and maybe we'll feature your addition on the next episode of The Carpool Guys Podcast!

  6. Jun 15

    The New York Knicks Are the 2026 World Champions!

    Send us Fan Mail Emergency Episode: The New York Knicks Are World Champions We interrupt our regularly scheduled programming because the New York Knicks are the 2026 NBA World Champions, and the Carpool Guys could not let that go unmarked. Jon, Asher, and Dave jump on for an emergency episode the morning after, and the energy is exactly what you'd expect. Asher has been a die-hard Knicks fan his entire life and is fully in his feelings. Dave, a self-described "Knicks fan since last week," brings the perspective of a Nets-Knicks-Nets-Nets fan who got swept up in the run despite himself. And Jon, a lifelong Timberwolves fan with zero skin in the game, brings the outsider's view of a city losing its mind in the best possible way. The guys talk about the crossing guard who stopped them on the way to shul to share the news, the shul security guards who somehow always know the score before anyone else, the WhatsApp groups that have not stopped buzzing for a week, and the wild story of someone who rented a hotel in Seattle just in case Game 7 fell on Shabbos. There's a real conversation about the Jalen Brunson story, why an underdog who was written off by everyone resonates so deeply, and what it means to say "we" when your team wins. Plus: a debate about New York sports rivalries, Dave's complicated Knicks-Nets history, a tribute to the Dallas Mavericks for the Luka and Brunson draft disaster, and a very memorable story involving Rebbe Hecht, a basketball hoop, and a coach bus. Question of the Week from Asher: What are the top three sports moments you've ever watched live or experienced in real time? Mazel Tov to Knicks Nation. And to Asher, Steven Mermelstein, and Meir Simcha specifically. Enjoy this one. 🎙️ Rate and review The Carpool Guys on Apple Podcasts. Five stars please! 📩 carpoolguyspod@gmail.com 📱 @carpoolguyspod 🔗 linktr.ee/carpoolguyspod ⏱️ Chapters with Timestamps 0:25 — Welcome to an Emergency Episode: The Knicks Are Champions 1:22 — Asher Has Been a Knicks Fan "Since Last Week" 11:19 — Are the Knicks New York's Most Universal Team? 12:06 — The Brunson Underdog Story and Why It Resonates 13:43 — Izzy Calls It at Halftime: The Comeback Theory 15:45 — Why Years of Losing Make This Run Mean More 21:53 — Ranking New York Sports Rivalries 29:48 — Question of the Week: Top Three Sports Moments of Your Life 37:43 — "We Did It" vs. "They Did It": The Great Sports Fan Debate 38:36 — Closing: The Brunson Pose, a Logo Idea, and Mazel Tov to Knicks Nation Please give us a 5 Star Rating! Don't forget to like and subscribe! Please rate and review The Carpool Guys! You can email us at carpoolguyspod@gmail.com Follow us on Instagram @carpoolguyspod Send us a question, a comment, birthday wish, shoutout, or anything else fun and positive, and maybe we'll feature your addition on the next episode of The Carpool Guys Podcast!

  7. Jun 3

    She Was Adopted at Birth on the Other Side of the World. Her Birth Sister Somehow Lives Up the Street.

    Send us Fan Mail Some people spend their whole lives searching for where they came from. Sarit Saffer-Allal spent hers perfectly content not knowing — until one birthday changed everything. Born in South Africa and adopted at just two weeks old into a warm, observant Jewish family, Sarit always knew she was adopted. She had a loving upbringing, a strong Jewish identity, and no particular urgency to open the box. Then she turned 35, looked at her two kids, her only known blood relatives, and quietly asked herself: who am I really? What followed is one of the most extraordinary stories the Carpool Guys have ever heard. Sarit opened her adoption file, discovered her birth name was Gina Thompson, learned her birth mother had hidden the pregnancy entirely, and found out she had a brother she never knew about. Then, through a single Facebook message, she discovered something nobody saw coming. A half-sister. Adopted in South Africa. Also into a Jewish family. Also in Toronto. Living less than two kilometers away, or as the guys needed it translated, up the street. In this conversation, Sarit opens up about what it felt like to read someone else's biography that turned out to be her own. She talks about confronting a birth mother who denied her existence, flying to New Zealand to meet a birth father who welcomed her with open arms, and navigating the beautiful chaos of suddenly having an entirely new family, while making sure her adoptive family, who chose her and raised her, knew they were never being replaced. And underneath all of it runs a quietly profound thread: what does it mean to be Jewish when you were chosen to be? When your birth mother was not Jewish, your adoptive parents converted you, and your half-sister ended up on the same street living the same life? For Sarit, this journey answered that question once and for all. She did not stumble into Judaism. She was placed there. And she owns it completely. Also in this episode: Dave nearly gets arrested at the Israel on Fifth parade while photobombing a news crew, Jon's Israel parade video attracts 9,000 views and 91 comments of varying hostility, a mouse gives a peace sign, Asher shows up late, Jessica Tish is everyone's hero, Dave dreams of Saratoga, Jon loves a good garage sale, and Asher got stung by a thousand bees at the bay. Question of the Week from Dave Tannenbaum: If you could get lost for a day and go anywhere, 24 hours, travel time included, where would you go? 🎙️ Rate and review The Carpool Guys on Apple Podcasts. Five stars only, please. 📩 carpoolguyspod@gmail.com 📱 @carpoolguyspod 🔗 linktr.ee/carpoolguyspod ⏱️ Chapters with Timestamps 1:02 — Dave Nearly Gets Arrested at the Israel on Fifth Parade 8:15 — Jon's Israel Parade Video: 9,000 Views and 91 Comments of Chaos 17:30 — The Mayor Who Didn't Show Up and Jessica Tish Is Our Hero 20:15 — Shout Outs: Happy Anniversary Avi + In Memory of Daniel Chernikov 23:00 — Introducing Sarit Saffer-Allal: NCSY Colleague and an Incredible Story 25:10 — Sarit's Background: Born in South Africa, Raised in Israel, Living in Toronto 28:00 — The 35th Birthday That Changed Everything 30:15 — Opening the Adoption File: Reading Someone Else's Biography 40:15 — Did Sarit Ever Get the "Choose Your Judaism" Moment? + She Chooses Live on Air 44:45 — "We Found a Sister and She Lives in Canada" — The Message That Changed Everything 57:00 — The Birth Father in New Zealand: A Total Surprise Who Welcomed Her Completely 1:02:30 — What This Journey Did to Sarit's Jewish Identity 1:05:00 — October 7th and the Moment She Knew She Was Chosen to Be Jewish 1:07:00 — Expanding Your Heart: Adding Family Without Replacing Family 1:13:00 — Dave's Question of the Week: Get Lost for a Day — Where Do You Go? Please rate and review The Carpool Guys! You can email us at carpoolguyspod@gmail.com Follow us on Instagram @carpoolguyspod Send us a question, a comment, birthday wish, shoutout, or anything else fun and positive, and maybe we'll feature your addition on the next episode of The Carpool Guys Podcast!

  8. May 13

    Nap Time Anyone? We Can't Stop Laughing About How Tired We Are...All The Time!

    Send us Fan Mail Why Are We Always So Tired? The Exhausted Jewish Life Edition Somebody had to say it. We are exhausted. All the time. Every single day. And not in a "ran a marathon" kind of way... in a "stared at a dinner menu for four minutes and still couldn't decide" kind of way. Fresh off their most successful episode ever featuring Allison Blass, Jon, Asher, and Dave are back together- and Asher is fresh off a trip to Israel for nephew Meir Simcha's bar mitzvah. But jet lag quickly gives way to a much bigger conversation: why does it feel like everyone around us is running on empty? The guys dig into the real reasons modern exhaustion hits differently — the constant connectivity, the WhatsApp messages that start before 7am, the total disappearance of boredom, the dual curriculum school day, the shul commitments, the community obligations, and the creeping anxiety of a world that never really turns off. Plus Dave's infamous half-a-block bike ride that ended with him passed out in a Brooklyn garbage room. And the debut of a brand new segment: the guys go around the room and share what is on their minds this week, from aliens and AI to the Hanta virus and the eternal question of which is scarier: Independence Day or Terminator. Also: snoring during bar mitzvah speeches, AIM away messages, The Brick app (purchased, never used), Trump's Shabbos proclamation, Dave's "David Days," essential worker pride, and the most important question in Jewish history — which Parsha would you most want to live through? Question of the Week from Anonymous in Commack: If you could live through any Parsha, which would it be? We want to hear from you — are you exhausted? What is draining you most right now, and how do you combat it? Email us at carpoolguyspod@gmail.com or drop a comment on YouTube. 🎙️ Rate and review The Carpool Guys on Apple Podcasts — five stars only, please. Four and a half if you must. 📩 carpoolguyspod@gmail.com 📱 @carpoolguyspod 🔗 linktr.ee/carpoolguyspod ⏱️ Chapters with Timestamps 0:00 — Cold Open: Snoring at a Bar Mitzvah. Avi Was Not Happy. 0:27 — Welcome Back + Shoutout to Allison Blass 2:00 — Welcome to New Listeners + Now on Amazon Podcasts and Podbean 3:47 — New Segment Debut: Around the Room — Naming Rights Contest Announced 17:10 — Today's Topic: Why Are We Always So Tired? 20:26 — The Phone Problem: There Is No Off Button Anymore 23:48 — Is the Jewish Lifestyle More Exhausting Than Everyone Else's? 26:31 — The Anxiety Tax: Always Waiting for the Next Shoe to Drop 27:47 — No Escape From Work: WhatsApp Does Not Have an Away Message 31:22 — Dave Falls Asleep During Bar Mitzvah Speeches — Full Story 33:37 — Asher Falls Asleep on Someone's Couch — Also a Full Story 43:11 — Dave Days: Twice a Year, No Explanation Needed 43:41 — Question of the Week: Which Parsha Would You Want to Live Through? 51:38 — Closing: Comment on YouTube, Email Us Your Exhaustion Stories Please rate and review The Carpool Guys! You can email us at carpoolguyspod@gmail.com Follow us on Instagram @carpoolguyspod Send us a question, a comment, birthday wish, shoutout, or anything else fun and positive, and maybe we'll feature your addition on the next episode of The Carpool Guys Podcast!

See All (25)

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
19 Ratings

About

The Carpool Guys Podcast is where three real Jewish dads- Asher Dworetsky, Jon Ackerman, and Dave "From Flatbush" Tannenbaum, buckle up for unfiltered conversations about fatherhood, marriage, midlife, and the beautiful chaos of raising a family in the Jewish community today. These guys have made mistakes, learned lessons the hard way, and have just enough life experience to give out their not so expert advice. From career crossroads to screen time battles, from Shabbos table debates to parenting fails, from Israel and what it means to us as Jews to the everyday moments that make you laugh, cry, and question every decision you've ever made... The Carpool Guys go there. Whether you're married or single, a parent or a kid who still needs one, navigating life or just trying to figure it all out... this is your podcast. Humor, heart, and meaning, every other week. No filter. No script. Just real talk from three guys who are very much still figuring it out too. Buckle up. New episodes every other week on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, Amazon, or wherever you get your podcasts!

Information

  • Creator
    Jon Ackerman
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    25
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Carpool Guys
  • Show Website
    The Carpool Guys

You Might Also Like