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Schmooze with Suze
Hi, I’m Suze. Here with your dose of culture, values and global citizenship- and where we tackle those topics others may consider off-limits.
A little about me, I’m a busy GenX mom who, quite frankly, wanted to grow up like the Brady Bunch… But ended up being raised in the shadow of Schindler’s List. So this means I’ve spent a lifetime navigating these mixed messages we get hit with daily. You know those conversations- where we wonder if it’s safe to speak our minds? Can we share our experiences? Voice our fears and concerns, or should we just keep our mouths shut?
Well, too bad. I need to know! But I’m no expert. So, I’m going to schmooze the experts and get their thoughts. Why? So when we engage with our kids, colleagues, or the countless committees we interact with, we can do it with competence, kindness, confidence, and maybe a bit of humor.
If this sounds like your cup of coffee- welcome to Schmooze with Suze!
Episodes
72 episodes
How Do We Grow Jacksonville Without Leaving People Behind? My Guest: Jimmy Peluso, Jacksonville City Council
City Hall doesn’t feel dramatic until you realize a single vote can reshape a neighborhood for generations. We sit down with Jacksonville City Council Member Jimmy Peluso to get past the headlines and into the decisions that actually change dai...
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Are We Awake to the Needs Around Us? My Guest: Colleen Rodriguez, CEO of LJD Jewish Family & Community Services
A rent increase doesn’t sound like a siren, but it can be the first crack that breaks a family’s whole scaffolding. Today we sit with that uncomfortable truth and follow it where it leads: to grocery checkout lines, week-to-week hotel rooms, ki...
What Happens When We Stop Teaching Language As Memorization and Start Teaching It As a Connection? My Guest: Donna Guzzo, Language Exploration Enrichment
Language class shouldn’t feel like a worksheet factory where conjugation is the only goal, and instead the mission is to learn a language... share a culture... change the world.In this episode we learn from Donna Guzzo, President and CEO...
When One Mission Ends, How Do You Find the Next One? My Guest: Alexa Jenkins, The Periwinkle Crayon
Titles change fast. Identity changes slower. And when you’ve spent years living inside a mission, walking away can feel like you’re leaving part of yourself behind. I’m joined- for the third time- by Alexa Jenkins, former United States Na...
What Happens When We Stop Asking Whether Students Have Potential and Start Asking Whether We've Built Pathways Worthy of Their Potential? My Guest: Hannah Oberholzer, Thrive Scholars Jacksonville
Being “the first” sounds like a celebration until you realize how often it comes with no blueprint. I grew up in a family shaped by immigration and four Holocaust survivor grandparents, where education meant security, not prestige and nobody wa...
Can Generosity and Wealth Really Go Hand in Hand? My Guest: Kellie Smith, Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy® (CAP®), B&C Financial
A jar of loose change can be a financial plan, a love letter, and a blueprint for resilience all at once.This week on Schmooze with Suze, I begin with a childhood memory that has stayed with me for decades. My parents kept one o...
What Happens When Giving Young People a Voice Can Change the Trajectory of Their Lives? My Guest: Kathryn McAvoy, The Performance Academy
Some children walk into a room carrying more than backpacks.They carry noise.The noise of uncertainty. The noise of expectations. The noise of circumstances they did not choose. The noise inside their own heads.In this epis...
How Do We Create Ecosystems Where People Don’t Just Network, They Actually Belong? My Guest: Daniel Davis, Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce
In this episode I sit down with Daniel Davis, for a conversation that goes far beyond networking events and business cards.Because if you think a Chamber of Commerce is simply about ribbon cuttings and after-hours mixers... think again!<...
Are We Listening to Foster Youth… or Just Talking About Them? My Guest: Kate Temple-Brown, Founder of The Opportunity Project
There are some conversations that stay with you long after the microphones are turned off. This was one of them.In this episode of Schmooze with Suze, I sit down with Kate Temple-Brown to talk about foster youth, resilience, mentorship, ...
What If “Holding It All Together” Is the Problem? My Guest: Suri Robinson, MSW- Founder of After The Burn Co
What happens when you’re holding it all together… but quietly falling apart?In this episode, I sit down with Suri Robinson, founder of After The Burn Co, to talk about burnout in a way most people don’t.Not just exhaustion, but di...
Who Feels the Impact When a City Makes Big Moves? My Guest: Ron Salem, Jacksonville City Council
From public service to personal responsibility... From holding the line to making the call...This episode explores what leadership really looks like when the stakes are high and the outcomes shape a city’s future. Not just policy. Not ju...
What If Your Cracks Are The Map To Your Purpose... In A Time Such As This? My Guest: ME
Season 6. Year 3. We’re back.And of course we’re kicking off in my favorite month… March. Women’s History Month. The month of queens, courage, and just enough chaos to keep us humble. And yes… Purim. Because nothing says “spiritua...
Can Tapping Into Spiritual Energies Unlock Personal Transformation? My Guest: Jax Cassidy, Bestselling Author & Intuitive Healer
Unlock the mysteries of energy, spirituality, and healing with our special guest, Jax Cassidy, a bestselling author and sixth-generation intuitive and shamanic healer. Discover how these concepts transcend cultural and religious boundaries as J...
Can Conversations Across Faiths Foster Family Beyond Beliefs? My Guest: Hazzan Jesse Holzer
How do we bridge the gap between faith and politics, particularly when elections pull us in different directions? Join me, as I chat with Cantor Jesse Holzer from the Jacksonville Jewish Center about the art of loving our neighbors despite our ...
What Happens When Ancient Hospitality Meets Modern Education? My Guest: Sel Buyuksarac, Co-Founder River City Science Academy
What happens when the ancient values of hospitality and community-building meet modern-day education? Join me, as I explore this with Sel Buyuksarac, co-founder of the River City Science Academy in Jacksonville, Florida. Sel's jour...
From Conflict to Consensus- Can We Foster Fellowship With Feedback From The Opposition? My Guest: John Delaney, University President & Former Mayor
From the tumultuous political narratives surrounding the Israeli-Gaza conflict to free speech challenges in university settings, this episode ventures into today's most pressing issues post the recent election. Hear stories of protests, d...
Are Networking Events the Secret to Jacksonville's Thriving Business Scene? My Guest: Liz Grebe, Events Director- Jacksonville Business Journal
In the heart of Jacksonville, where the St. Johns River flows and the vibrant spirit of the community thrives, the Jacksonville Business Journal weaves together the stories of entrepreneurs, innovators, and visionaries who shape the city's land...
From Theater Kid to Outdoor Stage, How Can Creativity Revitalize a Park? My Guest: Liz McCoy, Executive Director of James Weldon Johnson Park
Nestled in the heart of downtown Jacksonville lies a park steeped in history and cultural significance. Originally established as a public square in the 19th century, the park has witnessed the evolution of the city and has served as a gatherin...
Can Curiosity About Community Connection Be Our Compass To Navigating New Environments? My Guest: Leah Palestrant, Director at Hillel International
Transitioning from the familiar to the unknown can be daunting, especially during our formative years. Whether faith and community were once at the center of our education, or it becomes a new space in which to find more ways to connect o...
Can We Transform Broken Pieces Into a Foundation of Strength and Beauty? My Guest: Elena Øhlander, Visual Artist and Cultural Storyteller
Imagine a world where shattered pieces become the foundation of strength and beauty. Visual artist and cultural storyteller Elena Øhlander shares her experience with Kintsugi, revealing the profound lessons it imparts about identity and self-ac...
How Can We Provide The Base of The Pyramid With Dignity? My Guest: Colleen Rodriguez, Executive Director of LJD- JFCS Jacksonville
After two years, and five seasons, I can finally say, let's follow up. I share an intimate conversation with Colleen Rodriguez, Executive Director of the LJD Jewish Family and Community Services of Jacksonville- my first guest from my f...
Have You Been Wondering, Where Are The Party People At? My Guest: Seri Kertzner, Founder of The Social Society & OG Party Girl
I'm not much of a party person. The reason I tell you this is because I will be turning 50 in two years and I'm starting to emotionally plan... to mentally prepare... to pull off the party I've always wanted, "Schmoozapalooza!" I h...
Can Embracing Our Unique Beauty Enhance Our Aging Journey? My Guest: Audrey Colman
What if the secret to aging gracefully lies not in drastic measures, but in understanding and embracing the nuances of your unique beauty? This episode opens a candid dialogue about my own experiences with aesthetic enhancements and the pivotal...
From Salmon Fishing to AI Pioneering, Can One Man's Journey Inspire Many? My Guest: Travis Wold
What if artificial intelligence could revolutionize cancer treatment and make life-saving therapies more accessible worldwide? Join us on "Schmooze with Suze" for an enlightening conversation with Travis Wold, a visionary in the medical biotech...
Can We Curate, Educate & Activate With Parties and Placemaking ? My Guests: Kady Yellow and Haley Wright Tinkle
Join me as I recount my biggest failure from the Suzie Sucks Scrapbook! Serendipity meant for me to keep this for 15 years until I met these two modern muses, who inspired me to realize that bravery, creativity and resilienc...
