Best Suzie Becker Podcasts (2024)

1
Can We Protect Our Children By Teaching Them About Insurance Coverage? My Guest: Daniel Miller, Brightway Insurance 34:32

5d ago34:32

34:32

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 wer…

1
Can You Please Ask Me Your Uncomfortable Questions? My Guest: Pastor John Allen Newman, The Sanctuary at Mt. Cavalry 56:43

21d ago56:43

56:43

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 par…

1
Can We Deeply Listen Our Way To Coexistence? My Guest: Dr. Elliott Rosenbaum, Founder of Emunah Meditation 1:02:58

2M ago1:02:58

1:02:58

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…

1
Now That You Embraced Your Imperfections, Can You Add Captions and a Soundtrack? My Guest: Taylor Hayes, @ImperfectTaylor 45:10

2M ago45:10

45:10

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.…

1
From The West Village to the Village of Jax, Who Said "I Don't Do 'Villes"? My Guest: Allishia Bauman, Ambassador of Ubuntu 41:00

2M ago41:00

41:00

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 Hil…

1
Can You Strengthen Faith By Talking About More Than Interfaith? My Guest: Elizabeth Andersen, OneJax Inc. 35:30

3M ago35:30

35:30

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 inves…

1
Can a Cantor Help Conduct a Curated Concert of Culture, Connection and Community? My Guest: Hazzan Jesse Merlin Holzer 47:29

3M ago47:29

47:29

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 e…

1
How Does a Foundation of Giving Grow to Greater Impact? My Guest: Isaiah Oliver, Community Foundation of Northeast Florida 47:41

3M ago47:41

47:41

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…

1
Can Urban Planning Reshape Memories and Future Visions? My Guest: Sondra Fetner, Urbanist 43:47

3M ago43:47

43:47

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 …

1
How Do You Know If You Should Spend, Save or Invest? My Guest: ME 27:35

4M ago27:35

27:35

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 trus…

1
Can Embracing The Less Formal YOU, Ignite Your Professional Empowerment? My Guest: Yanira 'Yaya' Cardona, YaYa Productions 33:40

4M ago33:40

33:40

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 Schmoo…

1
How Can We Unpack the "Birth Bag" To Better Understand Mom? My Guests: Megan Mangiarcino & Natalie McBride of Baby Boldly 51:11

7M ago51:11

51:11

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 …

1
Can You Make A Holiday Impact In 10 Minutes? My Guest: Donna O'Steen, LJD-JFCS 29:22

7M ago29:22

29:22

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 a…

1
Can We Overcome Our Fear To Give The Relationship A Second Chance? My Guest: Laura Phillips Edgecombe, Build Up Downtown 40:46

8M ago40:46

40:46

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 …

1
AN EPISODE WORTH REPEATING- Maybe You're Reading Too Much Into Things? (FYI- I wasn't!) My Guest: Stacey Goldring, Traces: Voices of the Second Generation 28:54

9M ago28:54

28:54

Prepare to immerse yourself in a profoundly moving conversation with my distinguished guest, Stacey Goldring. As a seasoned journalist and the founder of a nonprofit organization championing storytelling, we embark on an emotional expedition, unearthing stories of survival, resilience, and hope- and the roles they play in shaping our human experien…

1
Can Reclaiming Your Roots Help to Propel Purpose? My Guest: Alejandra Amegin 37:39

9M ago37:39

37:39

I’m always talking about my start as an immigrant's kid. Despite my lack of accent, or so I think, my birthplace in New York City and my American audacity to claim what’s mine- my heart beats in a different language sometimes. And nuance matters. And so does me being the first in my family, to do some things, along with the importance of reaching b…

1
Can Purpose Go From Personal Story to Public Impact? My Guest: Lakesha Burton 32:14

10M ago32:14

32:14

Purpose is a feeling on the inside that throbs. Someone can pick, plan, program, participate, protest, protect, patronize, philosophize, philanthropy any Purpose. The throb can be Activated. But When you’re born INTO Purpose YOU grow around IT Like scar tissue. The throb comes before you can even pick yourself apart from the Purpose. And Plenty of …

1
How Does Dialogue and Diversity Elevate Our Purpose? My Guest: David Miller 42:38

10M ago42:38

42:38

Do you ever ponder the power of your voice and how it can impact your community? Join us for an enlightening conversation with community stakeholder, David Miller, the SwS Director of Optimism. Together, we’ll navigate through the complex terrains of culture, values, and global citizenship. We shed light on the pivotal role that your voice plays in…

1
Why Should We Keep Looking For Pages To Turn? My Guest: Tenikka Smith Hughes 44:55

10M ago44:55

44:55

Back in the 1900s, I was no different than any immigrant kid lucky enough to have parents with jobs. Both of my parents worked long hours and my sister and I were what is known as “latchkey kids.” When we got off the school bus, we let ourselves in. But the difference between the latchkey kids in our neighborhood was that we had the Ditmas Avenue b…

1
How Do We Harness the Power of Community To Amplify Purpose? My Guests: Adam Chaskin and Eric Mann - Together Against Hate: Unity in Our Community 31:43

10M ago31:43

31:43

Culturally, I used to be tzemisht- which is one way in Yiddish to say confused. Born in this country, but English wasn’t my first, or even my second, language. My family was confident that I would learn to speak it the old-fashioned way, by watching Sesame Street and General Hospital… And by going to “programs in the Y.” In my childhood neighborhoo…

1
Does Personal Leadership Style Impact Public Connection? My Guest: Commander Alexa Jenkins, United States Navy 22:52

11M ago22:52

22:52

I always had a lot of words. Probably the byproduct of being raised surrounded by non-English speakers. There was a language barrier. It separated them- so it separated me. But not just the words- the nuance, the inflection. Also the frustration, resentment, despair, shame— all of my discomfort stifled by the sounds that made up their sentence frag…

1
Buckle Up! Let's Look At the Intent 7:26

11M ago7:26

7:26

Why does the ‘why’ behind historical events matter in shaping our present and future? How are we, as parents and citizens, responding to the responsibilities of raising the next generation with strong values and cultural identity, especially amidst the explosion of the information age? I want to delve into the significance of context in portraying …

1
Do You Want To Work Out With Me? My Guest: Relationship and Spiritual Coach, Ruchi Koval 43:28

11M ago43:28

43:28

Are you ready to meet my coach? In this episode I share why I am inspired by my spiritual trainer, international speaker, educator and author Ruchi Koval- who cultivated a program designed to make me the judgmentally-leanest, non-meanest, finding-a-better-way-than-to-fight-machinist I have ever been! In her book Soul Construction: Shape Your Charac…

1
I Thought We Were Here To Learn New Things With New People? My Guest: Matt Hartley- Director of University of North Florida's Interfaith Center 34:17

12M ago34:17

34:17

Back in the 1900s, when I was away at college, the first high holidays rolled around. It was such a schlep home, that I opted to stay on campus. Considering this was my first time not sitting beside my mommy at my parents' place of worship where I had grown up, I remember being excited to shop around. I had only *heard* of other denominations. And …

1
What Character Will You Be In Your Story? My Guest: David Miller, Director of Optimism 29:30

12M ago29:30

29:30

(This episode was taped on May 16, 2023. ELECTION DAY in Jacksonville, FL and the results were unknown.) I have a friend who has been seeing a therapist for about 15 years and one day she says, “I feel like this is all still here.” And the therapist responds, “it always will be.” My friend becomes upset and she shouts, “how could you say that? I th…

1
Why Does Walking The Talk (Literally) Make Him Great At Using His Mouth (Figuratively)? My Guest: Jacksonville Times-Union Journalist, Mark Woods 37:43

12M ago37:43

37:43

Back in the 1900s when I was a student, we learned something that was not history or social studies. It was called “Current Events.” At the start of the 7th grade, I brought home a mimeographed permission slip that asked for cash or a check so that a copy of the New York Times would be delivered to my homeroom desk, Monday through Friday. I learned…

1
Time, Talent Or Treasure- What Can I Offer? My Guest: Jacqueline Overby, Executive Director of V for Victory 32:19

1y ago32:19

32:19

In my very first episode I spoke about societal needs. The ones we know about… and the ones we are still learning to understand. Sometimes just thinking about all that NEED is unbearable. And so I remember to think like Mr. Rogers and look for the helpers. And then I remind myself that I’m not a bystander- I’m an upstander! So it is MY responsibili…

1
How Much History Is In Your Backyard? My Guest: Dr. Michael Butler, Flagler College 44:46

1y ago44:46

44:46

Back in the 1900s, after you took your SATs, colleges and universities would flood your parents ACTUAL, LITERAL mailbox with brochures and catalogs. While this sounds like a “barrage of garbage”… it was, in fact, very wanted and welcome because back then, the only other way to know about colleges was in your guidance counsellors office, the local p…

1
How Can I Do Better And Have More Enjoyment? My Guest: St. Johns Riverkeeper 26:32

1y ago26:32

26:32

In the early 2000s I worked near South Street Seaport in NYC. Each day I would take my lunch overlooking the East River- the Brooklyn, Manhattan and Williamsburg bridges visible from my office. A decade later, based on the upper west side, every day instead of lunch, I would lace up my sneakers, and run along the Hudson River. The water propelled m…

1
Should We Look Harder Or Stop Looking? My Guest: Emily Moody, Director of Community Engagement for Future of Cities 26:42

1y ago26:42

26:42

Back in the 1990s, my daily commute to downtown Manhattan had me shlepping past the Fulton fish market to my fancy office building with windows overlooking South Street Seaport. The Meatpacking District, Hell’s Kitchen, Harlem… Undesirable and not on a real estate listing anyone would touch. Until someone had the vision to see the possibility and m…

1
Can We Count On Icons To Keep Us Accountable? My Guest: Melissa Ross 30:25

1y ago30:25

30:25

This season on Schmooze With Suze we are embarking on a tour of icons here in Northeast Florida. What makes here the place and now the time? Well, let’s start with what is an icon? An icon is a person or a thing widely admired especially for having great influence or significance in a particular sphere. Do we need icons? And that is what we are goi…

1
Can You Believe In The Good With Me? My Guest: Deirdre Conner, Senior Director of Strategic Initiatives and Evaluation of the Nonprofit Center of Northeast Florida 27:36

1y ago27:36

27:36

Rise and shine! It’s a beautiful day for a beautiful day. Be happy. Be kind. Always do your best. Think good and it will be good. I sprinkle positive messages to my kids and myself throughout the day. Why? Because studies show that we grow, flourish and thrive when that is our environment. Alternatively, the effects of negativity- in environment, l…

1
Conversation Or Conversion? Jerusalem Or Jacksonville? My Guest: Reverend Rebekah McLeod Hutto, Executive Director of the Interfaith Center of Northeast Florida 31:06

1y ago31:06

31:06

In April, I attended an Interfaith Panel Discussion followed by a Kosher for Passover- Iftar break the fast. The discussion was about what comes after death… But I was totally taken by the life in the room. The connection to God, and commitment to curiosity, was palpable. There seemed to be no wrong answers. The program began with the Jewish evenin…

1
A Lesson In Leadership... Can We Go Back To The Future? My Guest: John Delaney, President of Flagler College 28:25

1y ago28:25

28:25

Welcome back to Season 2! In Season 1, I asked you to borrow my binoculars and have a look at this city of Jacksonville- our strengths and opportunities. As we stand poised on the precipice of a new mayor, I wanted to gain perspective from what many call the BEST in the business here. I want to know- does authenticity, transparency and empathy have…

1
Does One Person Really Make a Difference In The Long Run? My Guest: Nat Glover, Retired Jacksonville Sheriff 35:58

1y ago35:58

35:58

Once upon a time, when I was a young and idealistic student, I used to look at the world and see all the solutions that seemed SO obvious. And so I tried to change the world. But I was just one person. And mostly inexperienced… And that didn’t work... So I went back to my city and saw all the ills facing society and set to telling them how to fix i…

1
Can You Lower Your Own Thermostat When You Feel Yourself Losing Your Cool? My Guest: Dr. Patricia Baxter, CEO and Founder of Smarter Emotions- Balancing Head and Heart 29:59

1+ y ago29:59

29:59

Upon entering the main sanctuary of every synagogue that I have ever been in, I recall seeing the following verse embroidered, inscribed or emblazoned above the arc, ‏דע לפני מי אתה עומד- Know before whom you stand. In comedy circles we say, know your audience. When I am out with my husband in a group, I sometimes see that look in his eyes and nudg…

1
When Did Mom The Noun Become An Action Verb Synonymous With Parenting? My Guests: Megan Mangiarcino and Natalie McBride, Co-FoundersCo-Founders of Baby Boldly 33:33

1+ y ago33:33

33:33

Have you ever heard the term “safe word?” While YOU may be thinking 50 shades of grey, I’M talking 50 shades of red. As the primary caregiver to my children, their evolving emotional, physical and mental needs are becoming more and more… consuming to me. Their booboos are no longer cuts and scrapes, rather a myriad of moments that are shaping their…

1
When Did You First Notice You Were Different From Other People? OR Did You Notice Other People Were Different First? My Guest: Dr. Kimberly Allen, CEO of 904ward 33:38

1+ y ago33:38

33:38

Boro Park, Brooklyn, New York circa the late 70s where I grew up was a mix of multiculturalism- if you count Irish, Italian and Jewish as diversity. When my dark, Sephardic looking Israeli mom went apartment shopping with her very blonde and blue-eyed, soon to be mother-in-law, she was asked to wait outside. Repeatedly. The “cleaner” was not welcom…

1
Can We Do Things Differently To Solve The Same Problems? My Guest: Dr. Colleen Bell, Medical Director of Sulzbacher Center 27:53

1+ y ago27:53

27:53

You may wonder when it is that I honed in on my smartass skills as a superpower for good- and not evil…? Back in the 1990s, my hometown of New York City was a real life landscape of the bleak and the boom. The dawn of the decade followed twenty years of continuous decay and 1990 brought an all-time record high in violent crime. Concurrently, the Wa…

1
How Do We Speak One Message In Many Languages- Is Interfaith About More Than Religion? My Guest: Kyle Reese, Executive Director of OneJax Institute 23:51

1+ y ago23:51

23:51

Can I tell you a secret…? It wasn't until I was in middle school that I was aware of “mixed marriages” which, by the way, in MY community meant someone marrying not another Jewish person. Growing up in my shtetl of first-generation immigrants, we married amongst our mother tongue- which was pretty much the same as our religion. Capisce? Lamurit? En…

1
How Do I Even Talk About This? My Guest: Erin O'Malley, Leadership Coach 36:44

1+ y ago36:44

36:44

Do you dread get togethers, holidays or social events because of a particular person or people? Perhaps you put off conversations at work because it's easier than confronting a coworker? Or maybe you talk about difficult issues, instead of addressing them head on? How can we navigate the personal, professional, and social conversations that we stru…

1
What Happens When The Build Up Ends Up To Be Anti-Climactic? My Guest: Cheryl Choate Bowen, Intimacy Coach 23:38

1+ y ago23:38

23:38

For nearly 45 years, my Dad would mark a Valentine's Day, which also happens to be my mom’s birthday, with chocolate and flowers. A large dozen roses or giant box of chocolates for my mom and single rose or smaller chocolates for my 3 sisters and me. But when my own husband gifted me with chocolates and flowers on our first married Valentine’s Day,…

1
Who Are The People In OUR Neighborhood? My Guest: David Miller, The Together Strong Community Fund 28:25

1+ y ago28:25

28:25

Remember, the show, Mr. Rogers Neighborhood, he told kids when they saw something scary to “look for the helpers.” We have scary things going on in our backyard - but we also have those helpers Mr. Rogers told us to look for. Most recently, when he saw the need to be that helper, he and his family “walked the talk” by establishing the Together Stro…

1
Sharing My Shame... BUCKLE UP! 16:21

1+ y ago16:21

16:21

Engaging in thoughtful conversation with people who are dynamic affords me the opportunity to learn from others. As global citizens, we want to be open to varying viewpoints and respectfully relate to one another in all areas. But when it’s just the Board of me, myself and I- you know those conversation you have in your head… That you don’t want to…

1
What Do Pirate Hunting and Personal Connection Have In Common? My Guest: Alexa Jenkins, United States Navy Commander 29:47

1+ y ago29:47

29:47

When I found out that I was going to "produce forth an heir," I very quickly realized that while all I legally needed to exit the hospital with my tiny human was a car seat, I was now in command of all of the rules, responsibilities, schedules and appointments for said tiny human- and now his sister also- until they are teenagers. By contrast, my g…

1
Maybe You're Reading Too Much Into Things? My Guest: Stacey Goldring, Traces: Voices of the Second Generation 28:54

1+ y ago28:54

28:54

I always have a valid passport, cash on hand, and a heightened fight or flight instinct braided like challah into my D-N-A. Why? Because my parents’ parents were hunted for extinction during the Holocaust. Generational trauma is something that millions of people deal with every day. So what is it? What does it mean to the people experiencing it? Wh…

1
You Might Be "Woke", But Are You Awake? My Guest: Colleen Rodriguez, Executive Director of the LJD Jewish Family & Community Services 25:29

1+ y ago25:29

25:29

Are you ever faced with people who seemingly have all the facts and stats regarding the social ills facing society at large– But they can’t tell you where their community's nearest food pantry is located or where to volunteer, even if they don’t? That is the difference between woke and awake... and that is what we're going to tackle today... The LJ…

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Suzie Becker Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Quick Reference Guide