Schmooze with Suze

Send us Fan Mail As a Gen X mom born in 1976, I've had a front-row seat to one of the greatest transformations in human history: a technological revolution. I grew up in a world where advertising was something that happened to me. Companies bought television commercials, radio spots, billboards, and full-page newspaper ads, planning for us to know what was coming. Today, anyone can create a v...

Send us Fan Mail Freedom is easy to celebrate. It's surprisingly easy to outsource in our minds until you meet the people who actually stood watch for it. This episode on Schmooze with Suze , I'm joined by Jonathan Richmond , a retired Navy officer whose service didn't end when he hung up the uniform. Today, Jonathan leads Mission United at United Way of Northeast Florida, helping v...

Send us Fan Mail Some truths don't arrive wrapped in comfort. They arrive through heartbreak. Through discipline. Through music. Through the quiet decision to become someone better than your circumstances. Hate can be ancient, loud, and deeply personal. Yet every morning we still have to answer one question: Who are we going to be today? This episode on Schmooze with Suze , I sit down with Re...

Send us Fan Mail Jacksonville doesn't have a culture problem. It has a visibility problem. If you've ever said, "There's nothing to do in Jacksonville," this conversation may completely change the way you see our city. This week, I'm joined by Diana Donovan, Executive Director of the Cultural Council of Greater Jacksonville, for a fascinating conversation about why ar...

Send us Fan Mail 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, prod...

Send us Fan Mail 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...

Send us Fan Mail 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, D...

Send us Fan Mail 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...

Send us Fan Mail 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...

Send us Fan Mail 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” actually looks...

Send us Fan Mail 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 ins...

Send us Fan Mail 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 hi...

Send us Fan Mail 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. T...

Send us Fan Mail 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,...

Send us Fan Mail 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...

Send us Fan Mail 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. Ka...

Send us Fan Mail 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,...

Send us Fan Mail 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 conve...

Send us Fan Mail 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 Japanese art of kin...

Send us Fan Mail 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 pr...

Send us Fan Mail 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 an...

Send us Fan Mail 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. Disco...

Send us Fan Mail 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, thi...

Send us Fan Mail 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 entre...

Send us Fan Mail 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 gathering place for generations. Throughout its history, the park has been a focal point for community engagement, reflecting the spirit of the cit...