The Carpool Guys

Jon Ackerman

The Carpool Guys Podcast is where real-life dads — Asher Dworetsky, Jon Ackerman, and Dave “From Flatbush” Tannenbaum — share unfiltered conversations about family, fatherhood, work, and the wild ride of midlife. They’ve made mistakes, learned lessons (mostly the hard way), and have just enough life experience to be dangerous with advice. From career crossroads to raising kids in a digital world, from marriage moments to dad fails, The Carpool Guys dive into it all with honesty, humor, and heart. Whether you’re commuting, carpooling, or just catching your breath between responsibilities, this is your front-seat pass to authentic midlife banter, questionable wisdom, and a few laughs along the way.

  1. MAR 11

    Sirens, Safe Rooms, and Staying Strong: Real Stories from Our Friends and Family in Israel

    Send a text Life in Israel Right Now: Real Stories from Friends on the Ground In this powerful and personal episode of The Carpool Guys Podcast, we take a step out of the carpool line and into the real lives of people we know and care about. We’re joined by Nava Mermelstein (yes… Asher’s sister) and her son Meir Simcha, along with recent Olim Sarah and Yehoshua Auman, who many of you may remember from our hometown of West Hempstead. Since making Aliyah, their lives have taken on a new reality as they raise families in Israel during the recent war with Iran. They share what daily life actually looks like right now, from the sudden blare of sirens to the routine of heading to the mamad (safe room), and the strange balance of navigating real danger while still doing all the normal parenting things: getting kids to school, making dinner, and arguing about bedtime. But this conversation isn’t just about fear or headlines. It’s about resilience, community, faith, humor, and the incredible ability of families to keep moving forward even in uncertain times. We hear what it feels like the first time a siren goes off, how children process moments adults struggle to understand, and the surprising ways life still finds moments of normalcy — and even laughter. It’s a conversation about Aliyah, parenting, perspective, and what it means to build a life in Israel even when the world feels upside down. This episode offers a rare and deeply human window into what life looks like on the ground right now... told not by commentators or analysts, but by friends. And yes… there are a few classic Carpool Guys moments along the way. If you’ve ever wondered what daily life in Israel feels like during times like these, this episode will stay with you. Chapters & Timestamps: 00:00 – Welcome to the Carpool Guys Podcast00:43 – Introduction: The Reality of Life in Israel Today01:04 – Firsthand Accounts: Interview with Nava Mermelstein and her son Meir Simcha07:34 – The Sound of Sirens: Emotional Responses to Air-Raid Alerts09:14 – Adapting the Routine: Daily Life Under Pressure13:56 – The Move to Israel: Reflections on Making Aliyah14:34 – Finding Light: Faith, Hope, and Miracles18:03 – Strength in Numbers: Community Solidarity and Respect for Soldiers22:12 – The Great Snack Debate: Favorite and Overrated Israeli Treats30:21 – Introducing Sarah and Yehoshua Auman: Perspectives on Security and Home43:24 – Looking Up: Witnessing Missile Interceptions45:46 – Kids in Crisis: Humor and Resilience in the Younger Generation52:05 – Deep Dive: Food Quirks and Cultural Guilty Pleasures58:14 – Living with Constant Alerts: A Summary of the "New Normal" 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!

    1h 3m
  2. FEB 18

    Why Won't Our Kids Just Put Down Their Phones and Screens!!!!!! (Let's Look In The Mirror 😬😳)

    Send a text 📱 Phone Modeling Matters: Before We Blame Our KidsThis episode starts in serious territory and ends somewhere uncomfortably close to home. Asher, Dave, and Jon open with a raw conversation about the Nancy Guthrie kidnapping story and the unsettling feeling of violence “not supposed to happen here.” The guys unpack media reactions, double standards, the NBA controversy surrounding Deni Avdija, and the uncomfortable cultural conversations that follow global events. But then the episode pivots. High school acceptance week hits close to home. The stress. The comparisons. The tension. The rejection. The identity questions. The transfer portal jokes. And that leads to the real conversation of the night: Kids. Phones. Parenting. And the uncomfortable truth that before we tell our kids what to do… we might need to look at ourselves first. When do you give a child a smartphone?  Are we raising anxious kids or modeling anxious behavior?  Are we frustrated with their screen time… while scrolling ourselves? This episode becomes less about controlling kids — and more about owning the behavior we model. It’s funny. It’s honest. It’s a little uncomfortable. Which means it’s probably important. If you’re navigating parenting in the age of smartphones, social pressure, high school decisions, and digital overload — this one’s for you. 👉 Follow @carpoolguyspod  👉 Leave a 5-star rating  👉 Share this with a parent who needs it ⏱️ Chapters & Timestamps 00:58 – The Nancy Guthrie Story  A serious warm-up conversation about kidnapping, media attention, and why stories like this shake us. 05:36 – NBA Controversy & Deni Avdija Spike Lee, social media reactions, and the absurdity of singling out an Israeli athlete. 09:47 – High School Acceptance Week Jon introduces the emotional rollercoaster of acceptance day. 10:34 – The Stress Our Kids Feel Comparisons, curiosity, rejection, and how kids process it differently. 12:57 – Starting Fresh vs. Needing Anchors Dave’s experience going somewhere alone — and why every child is wired differently. 16:19 – The Pivot: Kids & Cell Phones When do you give a child a phone? And why is this so complicated? 17:00+ – The Bigger Question: What Are We Modeling?  Before we lecture our kids about screen time… what are we doing? 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!

    57 min
  3. JAN 28

    Is ChatGPT Making Life Easier… or Ruining Everything? 😭🤖

    Send a text Snow days, Zoom school, airport chaos, parenting fails, awkward Publix conversations, and AI anxiety—this episode of The Carpool Guys Podcast has it all. Jon Ackerman, Asher Dworetsky, and Dave From Flatbush kick things off debating the most controversial modern parenting question: Is a Zoom snow day even a real snow day? From kids celebrating surprise days off to parents questioning what learning actually happens on Zoom, the guys break down why snow days should stay sacred. From there, the conversation takes a turn into classic Carpool Guys territory:  ✈️ Airport pickup mishaps  🚗 Becoming an Uber… to become an Uber  🍪 The unspoken rules of taking snacks from someone else’s house  ⭐ Giving (and receiving) five-star ratings—both earthly and divine Along the way, they share winter vacation highlights, parenting moments that test your patience (and your dignity), celebrity misidentifications, and one unforgettable Publix checkout encounter involving Bible verses, Israel, and a heartfelt “Shalom.” The episode wraps by teeing up a bigger Shabbos-table conversation: how AI is changing our lives, our kids, and the way we think about learning, work, and the future—and whether we should be excited, terrified, or both. If you love podcasts about parenting, Jewish life, family humor, modern fatherhood, relatable conversations, and real-life chaos, this episode is for you. 👉 Follow @carpoolguyspod, leave a 5-star rating, and tell us what topic you want to hear next. ⏱️ Chapters & Timestamps 00:00 – Cookie Etiquette & House Rules Is it okay to take snacks when you’re doing someone a favor? Where do we draw the line? 00:56 – Surprise Snow Day Energy Kids celebrating, parents coping, and the joy of one more day off. 02:05 – The Zoom Snow Day Debate Should snow days still be sacred—or has Zoom changed everything? 03:27 – What Are Kids Actually Learning on Zoom? Honest takes from parents who lived through it. 04:15 – Multi-Day Snowstorms: What’s the Right Balance? Snow day vs. Zoom day—how should schools handle it? 05:31 – Fire Drills, Payback, and Vacation Chaos When real life mirrors your job a little too closely. 06:06 – Like, Subscribe, and Join the Community Why the Carpool Guys care so much about listener engagement. 07:41 – Being Recognized IRL From Shabbos taps on the shoulder to pizza shop shout-outs. 08:31 – Podcast Topic Requests Gone Wrong Why “global warming” might not be a Shabbos-table hit. 09:27 – Airport Pickup Gone Sideways No keys, slow Uber drivers, and a lot of stress. 12:22 – The Snack Question Returns Black-and-white cookies, pantry boundaries, and moral dilemmas. 13:39 – Five-Star Ratings (Earthly & Heavenly) Uber reviews meet Jewish philosophy. 14:27 – Happy Birthday & Mazel Tov Corner Celebrations for friends of the show. 15:52 – Winter Vacation Stories & Parenting Moments Fire alarms, celebrity mix-ups, and unforgettable meltdowns. 21:05 – Parenting Through Public Temper Tantrums Judgment, discipline, and standing your ground. 23:18 – Publix, Bible Verses, and Jewish Anxiety An interaction Jon will never forget. 26:48 – Introducing the Big Topic: AI & The Future Are 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!

    1 hr
  4. JAN 14

    Can You Survive Winter Vacation Without Losing Your Mind?!? ⚠️ Warning ⚠️ we may have already 🤯🤯🤯

    Send a text Winter break sounds relaxing — until it actually begins. In this episode of The Carpool Guys, Asher, Dave, and Jon dive into the realities of winter break and family vacations, exploring the excitement, stress, anxiety, and unexpected joy that come with extended time off and traveling together. Through relatable stories and plenty of humor, they unpack why winter break often feels like anything but a break. The conversation touches on the pressure to create the “perfect” family vacation, the stress of travel and logistics, and the temptation to compare your holiday experience to everyone else’s highlight reel. Asher, Dave, and Jon make the case for prioritizing authentic experiences over perfect photos, embracing the chaos when things go wrong, and recognizing that the most meaningful holiday memories are often unplanned. They also share practical, real-life advice on planning family vacations that actually fit your family’s needs, avoiding empty parenting threats while traveling, making intentional time for your spouse during school breaks, and using humor as a powerful tool to navigate family challenges. Whether you’re packing bags, already on the road, or just trying to survive winter break at home, this episode offers laughter, perspective, and reassurance that you’re not doing it wrong — you’re just living real life. 00:00:00 Introduction to Winter Break00:03:00 Family Vacation Anxieties00:06:00 The Importance of Authentic Experiences00:09:00 Navigating Family Dynamics00:12:00 Creating Lasting Memories 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!

    32 min
  5. JAN 7

    Not All Heroes Wear Capes—Some Donate Kidneys (An Interview With Recent Donor Eli Rosenberg)

    Send a text What day is it? Honestly… does it even matter anymore? The guys kick things off by trying to figure out the day of the week, debating “real feel” time, and reacting to feedback from the last episode (yes, we read the comments... keep them coming). From there, the conversation turns more real as Asher, Dave, and Jon dive back into Aliyah anxiety — that very familiar emotional tug-of-war between loving life in the U.S. while feeling deeply connected to Israel. Listener messages spark honest reflections, meaningful laughs, and a reminder that this tension is something a lot of people quietly carry. Then the episode takes a powerful and inspiring turn with a very special guest: Eli Rosenberg. Eli shares his incredible story of donating a kidney through Renewal, walking us through the process, the support of the community, and what it’s really like to make a life-changing decision that impacts another human being forever. It’s moving, eye-opening, and deeply humbling, and somehow still fits perfectly into a Carpool Guys conversation. This episode has it all: laughs, big questions, real emotions, and a reminder of how much good one person — and one community — can do. Buckle up. Chapters - 00:00:00 Introduction and Banter 00:02:00 Aliyah Anxiety and Listener Feedback 00:27:16 Eli Rosenberg's Kidney Donation Story 00:47:55 Community Support and Impact 01:12:02  Question of the Week 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!

    54 min
  6. 12/24/2025

    Aliyah Anxiety: Let’s Talk About Why This Freaks Us Out (And Laugh About It)

    Send a text What starts with a painfully awkward synagogue moment (you know the one, that late guy who somehow blocks everyone’s view) quickly turns into a much bigger conversation. This week, Asher, Dave, and Jon dive into the very real and increasingly common phenomenon of Aliyah Anxiety, the emotional tension between loving Israel, feeling spiritually connected to Jewish life in Israel, and also being genuinely happy, rooted, and fulfilled living in the United States. The guys unpack the emotional, mental, and practical challenges of making Aliyah, including identity, family considerations, community pressure, Jewish values, and the fear of making the “wrong” life decision. Along the way, they mix thoughtful reflection with humor, stories, and classic Carpool Guys travel mishaps. This episode touches on Jewish identity, Jewish community, modern Orthodox life, moving to Israel, work-life balance, parenting, and the emotional complexity of big life choices - all while keeping things honest, relatable, and funny. If you’ve ever felt pulled in two directions - Israel and America, idealism and reality, dreams and day-to-day life - this one’s for you. 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!

    51 min

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
9 Ratings

About

The Carpool Guys Podcast is where real-life dads — Asher Dworetsky, Jon Ackerman, and Dave “From Flatbush” Tannenbaum — share unfiltered conversations about family, fatherhood, work, and the wild ride of midlife. They’ve made mistakes, learned lessons (mostly the hard way), and have just enough life experience to be dangerous with advice. From career crossroads to raising kids in a digital world, from marriage moments to dad fails, The Carpool Guys dive into it all with honesty, humor, and heart. Whether you’re commuting, carpooling, or just catching your breath between responsibilities, this is your front-seat pass to authentic midlife banter, questionable wisdom, and a few laughs along the way.

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