Schmooze with Suze

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...

Send us Fan Mail 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 on a deeper lever, college campuses have often been at the heart of spiritual journeys. My first excursion away from my regularly scheduled progr...

Send us Fan Mail 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-acceptance. Our conversation weaves through the complex threads of the experienced cultural diaspora, societal perceptions, and historical na...

Send us Fan Mail 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 first episode. We tackle the topics we touched on then, that still trigger both of us today and reflect on the evolution of community support o...

Send us Fan Mail 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 have been screen-shotting ideas for months.  The thing is I've never gotten to have MY party- or a memorable celebration-...

Send us Fan Mail 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 role that informed choices and consultations play in achieving harmonious results. My transformative experience with Audrey, our guest exp...

Send us Fan Mail 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 sector. You'll discover how AI is accelerating cancer mutation detection, transforming the landscape of healthcare, and how...

Send us Fan Mail 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 resilience are a necessity for building, collaboration and reinvention.  Welcome to the vibrant world of Kady Yellow 💛 and Haley Wright Tinkle 💝 where innovation me...

Send us Fan Mail 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 serious that there were two different kinds of Stella D'oro treats and an Entenmann's coffee cake. We were also instru...

Send us Fan Mail 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 I was little, we knew what racists were. There were enough people of different colors and different languages, from different parts of the gl...

Send us Fan Mail 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 Homeland. I worried I would lean into the devastation, my very real and growing fear, and perhaps the fury that was simmering beneath the c...

Send us Fan Mail 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 husband if I kept this up. She complained that I should show a better version of myself online “like everyone else.” And I remember calling my siste...

Send us Fan Mail 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 school girls acted, I watched "The Facts of Life." When it was time for high school, thankfully, "Beverly Hills 90210&quot...

Send us Fan Mail 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 that had statistics meant there were people following and tracking those crimes and those criminals. Also, money was invested into researching ways to avo...

Send us Fan Mail 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 curiosity, along with my Catholic best friend Mary Beth- the more knowledgeable I felt. The interfaith world was an easy one. But my own...? The...

Send us Fan Mail 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 waiting that tzedaka box to get to me. Whether it’s passing the plate or the pushka , the value of giving is part of our foundation, so why does...

Send us Fan Mail 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 able to sponsor them, and shops too. Some stayed open and some didn't make it, but for every business that closed down, something quick...

Send us Fan Mail This episode I introduce new music in the INTRO and OUTRO. The piece, and the composer, are special- Dance With Me. It's the title- but also my invitation to this season. I've asked you to borrow my binoculars. We got interested... curious... We got funky. (Note the previous season's music. I choose with intention.) Now I am challenging you to trust me as we dance t...

Send us Fan Mail 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...

Send us Fan Mail The best way to explain parenting is, you don’t know what you don’t know.  I remember my parents saying, "this didn’t come with a manual." Then I remember there being a manual... In fact, so many manuals on how to raise the exact kind of kid you want to raise. The formulas... the exercises... People had spent so much time absorbed in the psychology of the child, that for...

Send us Fan Mail Have you ever wondered about the struggles faced by local families and how you can help?  The LJD Jewish Family and Community Services, contrary to popular belief, doesn't just cater to the Jewish population, but to anyone in need, with a staggering 85% of their clientele being non-Jewish. Our conversation underscores the agency's all-encompassing approach to servicing t...

Send us Fan Mail Two decades ago I was a city girl living the city life walking distance to everything.  And part of being a city girl living in a city is that its heartbeat and yours start to sync up. You start to care about its streets and sidewalks, the people and purpose that blend together to infiltrate every possibility for potential.  Because, as a bridge and tunnel girl from birth, always...