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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!
Schmooze with Suze
Can Embracing The Less Formal YOU, Ignite Your Professional Empowerment? My Guest: Yanira 'Yaya' Cardona, YaYa Productions
Back in the olden days, before taking the Myers-Briggs, Big Five and any Enneagram to assess personality, there was the Teacher's Comments section of a handwritten report card.
So if people are telling us who we present as from the time we are little, should we believe them?
And that's what we're going to tackle today.
This latest episode of Schmooze with Suze is a rummage through the attic of identity and culture, where I am joined by the wondrous Yanira 'Yaya' Cardona. A "navy brat" turned Jacksonville dynamo, she shares her kaleidoscopic journey and how embracing her nickname, 'Yaya,' became a passport to navigating professional realms with ease.
The story of this radio station worker's search for healing leads her to the shores of Puerto Rico, where stories of unyielding tenacity are as common as the ocean's waves. It's a testament to the power of ancestral strength and the solidarity that stitches the fabric of a vibrant culture together, even when nature unleashes its fury.
We cap off our exploration with a fiesta of empowerment, celebrating how cultural pride can galvanize a community. Tune in as we marvel at the embrace of triumph, regardless of scale, and the role of public events in kindling a collective sense of belonging within Jacksonville's diverse populace.
As founder of https://yayaproductions.com/ and the voice of https://www.instagram.com/cre8jax/ on https://news.wjct.org/show/first-coast-connect, if you aren't a fan yet... You will be. #VIVALAYAYA
https://www.instagram.com/yayalovejax/
Mensch is the Yiddish word for a person of honor and integrity who makes the world better by being in it.
This week's Honorable Mensch is Barbara 'Babs' Colaciello, founder of Babs Lab, storyslam and Untold Stories.
Babs is a multifaceted artist and educator who teaches the art of improvisation, guiding students to discover their voices, tell their stories, create collaboratively and grow as leaders. Barbara began her career working with Andy Warhol at the factory in New York City as the advertising director of Interview Magazine. During this time, barbara continued to pursue her passion for acting and studied with legends while navigating culturally impactful projects in New York City. In 1993, Babs, just like Yaya and me, was relocated to the first coast by someone else's gig and went to work making magic happen.
https://www.barbaracolaciello.com/
Where some find time to complain about what isn't, Babs literally pours her heart and soul into creating what was, what is and what will continue to be, and what we wish to see in our communities- stories that connect us through the art of empathy, crafting compassion, through the power of the collective and a captive audience, Babs shows us that we are not far apart- in fact, never more than 20 to 30 minutes away from any part of Jacksonville.
Do you have some feedback, thoughts or questions?
Want to be a guest on my show or have an Honorable Mensch to nominate?
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