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
Cities love to celebrate the things you can see. New buildings. New roads. New development. But the strongest infrastructure in any community may be the part that's invisible.
The stories people tell. The risks they take. The collaborations that happen when creative people find one another and decide to build something together.
In this episode I sit down with filmmaker, producer, festival organizer, and community bui...
The Jetsons promised us flying cars, robot assistants, and futuristic technology that seemed impossible. What they really got right was something simpler.
One day, the things that sound ridiculous become normal.
Artificial intelligence has crossed that threshold, and for many people, the pace of change feels exciting, confusing, and occasionally overwhelming. That's why I sat down with global technologist, executive A...
What happens when a player puts up a once-in-a-generation stat line and still gets overlooked?
That question sparked this conversation with Donna Orender, one of the most influential voices in sports, business, and women's leadership. It also reveals something deeper about the way women's achievements have often been evaluated through a different lens.
In this episode, Donna shares her journey from New York athlete to...
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, kids trying to hide the same outfit, and seniors on fixed incomes forced to choose between food and medication.
I’m joined by returning guest Colleen Ro...
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 daily life: where investment lands, how development gets approved, why some communities thrive while others get ignored, and what it takes to build trust when residents hav...
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 of Language Exploration Enrichment, about what happens when we teach language to kids through stories, art, kindness, and cultural immersion instead of fear and memorization. ...
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 Navy commander, a wife and mom who’s now building her next chapter in the corporate world. We get honest about what “reinvention” actua...
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 was sitting around the table talking about college applications, networking, internships, or career strategy. That’s why this conversation hits so hard: talent...
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 of those giant water jugs from the water machine, not for water, but for coins. Pennies, nickels, dimes, and quarters collected one sacrifice at a time. That jar eventually bought their first ...
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!
We unpack what happens when business, leadership, and community collide in one room. We explore who gets invited in, who feels like they belong, and how cities create ecosystems where...
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 episode of Schmooze with Suze, I sit down with Kathryn McAvoy, founder and executive director of The Performers Academy, for a conversation about what happens when creativity becomes something much bi...
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, and the uncomfortable reality that too many young people age out of systems without the support, stability, and human connection they deserve.
Kate shares the heart behind The Opportu...
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 disconnection.
Not just doing too much, but being too far removed from your own truth.
We get into what high-functioning unraveling actually feels like, how emotional neg...
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 just process. But the weight of decisions that impact real people, real neighborhoods, and the long-term direction of Jacksonville.
This is a conversation about what happens behin...
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 “spiritual growth” like costumes, hidden miracles, and a plot twist.
This episode threads together something I can’t stop thinking about… the ...
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 Jax shares her personal journey of embracing her unique gifts amidst societal pressures. Together, we explore how spiritual energies like prana and chi are universally recogniz...
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 differences.
Inspired by the wisdom of the Psalms, we examine how historical narratives can guide us in expanding our concept of family and community. During this...
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 journey from engineering to education brings to life the power of systems, emphasizing kindness and inclusion as powerful spiritual expressions. Discover how Sel’s upbringin...
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, disruptions, and the need for ethical leadership in a polarized society. With insights into political strategy and pragmatic leadership, this episode is a compelling call to bu...
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 landscape with each printed page and digital pulse,
As the Journal celebrates milestones like its 40th anniversary, it champions the entrepreneurial journey, providing the resource...
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