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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
63 episodes
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...
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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...
Can We Protect Our Children By Teaching Them About Insurance Coverage? My Guest: Daniel Miller, Brightway Insurance
Back in the 1900s, my dad would set up the dining room table "one night, once a year for David, the insurance guy." There were manila folders and legal pads, different pens- and one of the four-clicker-color-kinds. This insurance meeting was so...
Can You Please Ask Me Your Uncomfortable Questions? My Guest: Pastor John Allen Newman, The Sanctuary at Mt. Cavalry
I start this episode by calling him "Reverend." He corrects me, "Pastor."I am sincerely sorry. He is graciously forgiving. I made an honest mistake without malicious intent. We move on to a meaningful conversation.When...
Can We Deeply Listen Our Way To Coexistence? My Guest: Dr. Elliott Rosenbaum, Founder of Emunah Meditation
Following the events of October 7, 2023, I feared that all of the work I had done to become a cycle-breaker would become derailed. The propaganda filled images and messages seemed like they were unleashed concurrent with the atrocities upon my ...
Now That You Embraced Your Imperfections, Can You Add Captions and a Soundtrack? My Guest: Taylor Hayes, @ImperfectTaylor
I can remember the first person I blocked on social media.She unabashedly took to my comments to give unsolicited feedback, judgment and suggestions. She wrote that I was sharing too much personal information and I would never find a hus...
From The West Village to the Village of Jax, Who Said "I Don't Do 'Villes"? My Guest: Allishia Bauman, Ambassador of Ubuntu
Back in the 1900s, as a child of immigrants to the United States, I remember always having to learn it on my own. My parents weren't familiar with American cultural norms and my world was pretty narrow. If I wanted to understand how private sch...
Can You Strengthen Faith By Talking About More Than Interfaith? My Guest: Elizabeth Andersen, OneJax Inc.
Back in the 1900s there was a period of time that you could not safely stroll the streets of Manhattan for fear. I’m not talking about the high profile cases that made the news. Those weren’t the things that scared me. Violence tha...
Can a Cantor Help Conduct a Curated Concert of Culture, Connection and Community? My Guest: Hazzan Jesse Merlin Holzer
Growing up in New York City meant I was exposed to all kinds of ethnicities, cultures and religions. Except Baptist- I don't think I ever met a Baptist.And the more I knew about every other- because I studied them relentlessly with curi...
How Does a Foundation of Giving Grow to Greater Impact? My Guest: Isaiah Oliver, Community Foundation of Northeast Florida
For as far back as I can remember charity has been ingrained in me, like challah braided into my DNA. From my very first nursery school classroom, at my very first circle time, I recall proudly clutching my shiny copper penny and eagerly ...
Can Urban Planning Reshape Memories and Future Visions? My Guest: Sondra Fetner, Urbanist
Growing up in 1970s, New York City, I felt like I was always living under construction. Things that got built for people to live in, single or multi-family- were filled instantly with residents, as quickly as their various family members were a...