Send us Fan Mail

Accents taught me something I didn’t understand until much later: people don’t just “sound” different, they carry different histories. That lens is why I’m obsessed with the storytellers behind the stories, the directors and producers making choices that shape what our community remembers and what gets left out of the frame.

Filmmaker and City of Jacksonville Film Production Coordinator Adam Madrid joins me to talk about the long cut of becoming a creative professional: the early DIY films, not getting into film school, the persistence it takes to keep going anyway, and the moment local work turns into real recognition. We dig into Jacksonville’s film community growth, why building within matters, and how projects like the 48 Hour Film Project create pressure-cooker opportunities where talent gets seen, sharpened, and supported.

We also get practical and timely about AI in filmmaking and creative technology. Adam breaks down what tools can speed up and what they can’t touch: heart, soul, empathy, and a director’s vision. From short films as proof of concept to the magic of a packed theater reacting together, this conversation is a love letter to independent filmmaking, creative mentorship, and the idea that cities become what they choose to celebrate.

Get Set to Make a Movie!

Register Your Team: https://www.48hourfilm.com/jacksonville

Regular: $178/team ends Tue, Sep 8, 2026

Late: $198/team ends Fri, Sep 18, 2026

When? 18 - 20 Sep 2026
Goal? Make a FILM in 48 hours and attend its PREMIERE SCREENING!!

From Film Weekend Kickoff… to Screening… to Awards… Gather Teammates – Friends/Colleagues/Family! Write, shoot and edit a short film based on the genre you draw at The Kickoff and the required character, prop, and line assigned for your city.

Premiere YOUR film! Celebrate with Awards, including Audience Award. The winner of Best Film goes to Filmapalooza in March 2027, and is eligible for a spot in our screening at the Cannes Film Festival Short Film Corner!

Try something new, level up your filmmaking, and join our community.

If you care about Jacksonville, storytelling, film festivals, short films, or the creative economy, hit subscribe, share this with a friend, and leave a review so more people can find the show.

#SchmoozeWithSuze #JacksonvilleFilm #JacksonvilleFilmmakers #48HourFilmProject #IndependentFilm #Filmmaking #CreativeEconomy #JacksonvilleCreatives #ShortFilm #FilmFestival #AIandFilm #CreativeTechnology #JaxFilm #904Creatives #CurateEducateActivate

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a friend. Your support helps more people discover these conversations and the remarkable people helping shape our communities and our future.
Connect on Instagram @SchmoozewithSuze

Subscribe to the Schmooze with Suze Podcast for your dose of #Culture, #Values and #GlobalCitizenship... with a side of #chutzpah...

Don’t forget to leave a review if you enjoyed this episode!

Send us Fan Mail

You can fly to Europe for a history fix, or you can turn down a Jacksonville road you’ve driven a thousand times and realize the best stories have been sitting behind a garden gate all along. This episode we talk with Brittany Cohill, executive director of the Mandarin Museum, about why local history matters, how a small “boutique museum” can feel bigger than its square footage, and what it means to welcome people so they actually feel like they belong in the story. If you’ve ever said “I’m not a museum person,” Brittany has a gentle challenge for you.

We dig into what’s new and nationally significant at the museum, including the Maple Leaf Civil War shipwreck exhibit and how artifacts only become meaningful when you attach the human story. Brittany shares how volunteers and community partners help bring history off the wall and into real conversation, including opportunities to meet the divers connected to the shipwreck and learn why the St. Johns River is more than scenery, it’s a main character in Mandarin’s past and present.

Then we get practical for families looking for free things to do in Jacksonville, Florida. Mandarin Museum and Walter Jones Historical Park offer scavenger hunts, adventure backpacks for nature exploration and plein air painting, Reading Dragons with the Jacksonville Public Library, and space to picnic under the tree canopy, with manatees sometimes showing up as a bonus exhibit. We also talk about the Untold Story of Black Mandarin and why preserving Black history and community identity must be permanent, visible, and built with the people whose stories are being told.

If you care about Jacksonville history, Florida culture, museums, volunteering, or affordable family activities, hit play.

Mandarin Museum & Historical Society

Nestled along the banks of the St. Johns River in Jacksonville's historic Mandarin community, the Mandarin Museum & Historical Society is dedicated to preserving, sharing, and celebrating the rich history, culture, and natural heritage of one of Northeast Florida's most unique neighborhoods.

11964 Mandarin Road, Jacksonville, FL 32223
Phone: (904) 268-0784
Website: www.mandarinmuseum.org
Email: info@mandarinmuseum.org

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a friend. Your support helps more people discover these conversations and the remarkable people helping shape our communities and our future.
Connect on Instagram @SchmoozewithSuze

Subscribe to the Schmooze with Suze Podcast for your dose of #Culture, #Values and #GlobalCitizenship... with a side of #chutzpah...

Don’t forget to leave a review if you enjoyed this episode!

Send us Fan Mail

The fastest way to lose a city is to stop listening to it.

That's the topic at the heart of this conversation with Mike Hightower, Mike Miller, and Mike Tolbert- the hosts of Three Mikes on Mic Podcast. We examine what podcasts can do that much of today's media cannot: restore context, reward curiosity, and create space for thoughtful civic conversation about Jacksonville, Florida.

In this episode, we explore:

• Why long-form conversations create nuance in a short-form world.
• How Three Mikes on Mic was built around a shared love for Jacksonville.
• What has changed in journalism, and why audiences increasingly expect information in smaller, faster bites.
• Why civility, trust, and respectful disagreement still matter in politics and public policy.
• The difference between giving people what they want to hear and what they need to hear.
• Why transparency. Accountability. And "turning on the light" remain the best disinfectants.
• The JEA scandal, and the public servants whose integrity often went unnoticed.
• What gives these three community leaders hope for Jacksonville's future, from mentoring the next generation to emerging civic talent.
• How the St. Johns River and Jacksonville's expanding riverfront parks are reshaping the city's identity and quality of life.
• A thoughtful discussion on the proposed homestead exemption amendment and its potential impact on local services, infrastructure, and the future of Florida communities.

If you care about Jacksonville's future, local politics, public policy, civic leadership, and the power of informed conversation, this episode is for you.

Mike Hightower is a longtime civic leader whose career has focused on education, public policy, and strengthening Northeast Florida through collaboration, research, and community engagement.

An award-winning broadcaster, veteran journalist, and longtime political observer, Mike Miller has spent decades covering Jacksonville's government, elections, and civic life. He is the founder and co-host of Three Mikes on Mic, bringing historical perspective and journalistic insight to every conversation.

Mike Tolbert is a respected political strategist, communications professional, and veteran of Jacksonville government who has advised leaders across administrations. Known for his deep understanding of local politics and public policy, he brings practical experience and thoughtful analysis.

Learn more about Three Mikes on Mic: MikesOnMic.com

You can also listen on:

• 🎧 Apple Podcasts: Mikes on Mic on Apple Podcasts
• 🎵 Spotify: Mikes on Mic on Spotify
• ▶️ YouTube: Mikes on Mic YouTube Channel
• 📘 Facebook: Mikes on Mic Facebook Page

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a friend. Your support helps more people discover these conversations and the remarkable people helping shape our communities and our future.
Connect on Instagram @SchmoozewithSuze

Subscribe to the Schmooze with Suze Podcast for your dose of #Culture, #Values and #GlobalCitizenship... with a side of #chutzpah...

Don’t forget to leave a review if you enjoyed this episode!