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  • How Do We Grow Jacksonville Without Leaving People Behind? My Guest: Jimmy Peluso, Jacksonville City Council

    How Do We Grow Jacksonville Without Leaving People Behind? My Guest: Jimmy Peluso, Jacksonville City Council
    2026/06/01

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    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 have heard big promises before.

    We talk leadership through the lens of service. Jimmy shares how the Navy taught him to learn fast in uncomfortable situations, earn respect, and then teach the next person, and how that approach carries into local politics through consistency, responsiveness, and showing up more than once. From community benefit agreements tied to the stadium deal to practical fixes that speed up drainage projects, he explains what wins look like when government is doing its job quietly and well.

    Housing affordability takes center stage, with a clear-eyed look at why “Jacksonville is affordable” can be true on paper and still feel false on the ground. We dig into tenant protections, the idea of a tenant ombudsman, a landlord registry that helps renters see code compliance history, and the need for better data on corporate ownership and rising prices. We also explore missing middle housing, TIF districts for home repair in legacy neighborhoods, homelessness services, and why light rail and smart infill planning can shape a healthier, more connected city over the next decade.

    If you care about city council, urban planning, tenant rights, affordable housing, homelessness, transportation, and what community-centered growth actually requires, this conversation is for you.

    To reach Jacksonville City Council Member Jimmy Peluso (District 7), use the official contact details below:

    Official City Hall Office

    • Phone Number: (904) 255-5207
    • Email Address: JPeluso@coj.net
    • Mailing Address: 117 W. Duval St., Suite 425, Jacksonville, FL 32202

    District 7 Staff

    • Executive Council Assistant: Brooks Dame
    • Assistant Phone Number: (904) 255-5135
    • Assistant Email: bdame@coj.net

    Online and Social Media

    • Campaign & Political Site: jimmyforjax.com
    • Official Facebook Page: Councilman Jimmy Peluso on Facebook

    To check further council updates or meetings, verify details directly through the Jacksonville City Council Members page.

    Do you have some feedback, thoughts or questions?

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

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    53 分
  • Are We Awake to the Needs Around Us? My Guest: Colleen Rodriguez, CEO of LJD Jewish Family & Community Services

    Are We Awake to the Needs Around Us? My Guest: Colleen Rodriguez, CEO of LJD Jewish Family & Community Services
    2026/06/01

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    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 Rodriguez, CEO of LJD Jewish Family and Community Services (JFCS) in Northeast Florida. Colleen walks us through what she’s seeing right now in Jacksonville and beyond: the “invisible middle” of ALICE families who are employed but one emergency away from free fall, the rapid growth of homelessness among parents with young children and seniors, and how food insecurity changes depending on whether someone has a kitchen, a microwave, or nothing at all. We even get practical about what actually helps at a food pantry and how to get involved at www.jfcsjax.org including volunteer opportunities and teen foster care birthday lunches.

    We also connect the dots between affordable housing, out-of-state landlords, and eviction diversion programs that can keep kids in the same school and families in the same home. Then we go deeper into the mental health impact of financial stress and the shame that keeps people from asking for help, plus small, discreet ways communities can support children through schools. Finally, Colleen explains how wraparound services work, and why unrestricted giving to one of the most respected agencies in our community can provide immediate assistance that leads to generational impact.

    If today's conversation inspires you, I encourage you to learn more about JFCS, volunteer, advocate, or make a donation. Every dollar helps provide food, counseling, emergency assistance, foster care support, senior services, and life-changing programs throughout Northeast Florida.

    Donate today at:

    The LJD Jewish Family & Community Services Donation Page

    Learn more about their work:

    JFCS Jacksonville Official Website

    The work of The LJD Jewish Family & Community Services isn't about solving a single problem. It's about strengthening the foundation that allows people to build stable, healthy, and hopeful lives.

    Since 1917, JFCS has quietly become one of Northeast Florida's most important safety nets, serving children, families, seniors, veterans, foster youth, Holocaust survivors, and individuals facing food insecurity, housing instability, mental health challenges, and financial hardship. Their mission is simple but profound: helping people help themselves. Whether it's keeping a family housed through eviction diversion, stocking pantry shelves for neighbors experiencing hunger, supporting foster children as they transition into adulthood, providing counseling during life's darkest moments, or educating future generations through Holocaust education and intolerance prevention programs, JFCS meets people where they are and helps them move forward with dignity.

    Do you have some feedback, thoughts or questions?

    Want to be a guest on my show or have an Honorable Mensch to nominate?

    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.
    Please LIKE, SUBSCRIBE and SHARE.
    Thank you for helping us grow!

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    45 分
  • What Happens When We Stop Teaching Language As Memorization and Start Teaching It As a Connection? My Guest: Donna Guzzo, Language Exploration Enrichment

    What Happens When We Stop Teaching Language As Memorization and Start Teaching It As a Connection? My Guest: Donna Guzzo, Language Exploration Enrichment
    2026/06/01

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    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. Donna has spent more than two decades building an after-school enrichment program that helps children speak with confidence while also learning the humanity behind the language.

    We get into how thematic units and storytelling make vocabulary feel useful, why early speaking matters more than perfect pronunciation, and how culture-first teaching builds real cultural literacy. Donna shares how kids learn that Spanish-speaking countries are not “all the same,” how small details like food and greetings can teach respect, and how children often bring that openness home, nudging parents toward new experiences and better conversations.

    Donna also connects language education to global citizenship through the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, showing how young students can grapple with big ideas like hunger, clean water, peace, and even gender equality when the discussion is grounded in age-appropriate examples and guided dialogue. We wrap with what she’s learned from kids about perseverance, why “first you love them, then you teach them” shapes strong classrooms, and how immersive camps blend language learning with cooking, crafts, games, and music.

    If you care about Spanish for kids, bilingual education, empathy, and raising globally aware students, this one’s for you. To find out more about LEE, visit:

    www.leestjohns.pbworks.com

    904-553-4274

    Do you have some feedback, thoughts or questions?

    Want to be a guest on my show or have an Honorable Mensch to nominate?

    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.
    Please LIKE, SUBSCRIBE and SHARE.
    Thank you for helping us grow!

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    38 分
  • When One Mission Ends, How Do You Find the Next One? My Guest: Alexa Jenkins, The Periwinkle Crayon

    When One Mission Ends, How Do You Find the Next One? My Guest: Alexa Jenkins, The Periwinkle Crayon
    2026/06/01

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    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 like when it’s not a social media makeover, but a real reset of purpose, confidence, and community.

    Check out the two previous episodes:

    https://www.buzzsprout.com/2041024/episodes/12176107-what-do-pirate-hunting-and-personal-connection-have-in-common-my-guest-alexa-jenkins-united-states-navy-commander.mp3?download=true

    https://www.buzzsprout.com/2041024/episodes/13372521-does-personal-leadership-style-impact-public-connection-my-guest-commander-alexa-jenkins-united-states-navy.mp3?download=true

    Alexa shares the surprising thing she prioritized most during her military to civilian transition: culture. Not prestige. Not the perfect job title. Culture. We talk about how to find the “ocean” where you thrive, why veterans- and plenty of civilians- get trapped in credentials they don’t even want, and how one person’s belief in you can unlock your next role. Along the way, she breaks down the debrief mindset the military trains so well and why that skill becomes a powerful tool for corporate leadership, teamwork, and continuous improvement.

    We also dig into the uncomfortable reality of veteran employment, including the stat that 63% of veterans are underemployed or unemployed, and what needs to change in awareness, hiring, and self-assessment. Alexa explains how SkillBridge can help, how to translate military experience into business value, and why she talked to 200+ people through cold outreach to learn industries from the inside. We close with reflections on service, “The Watch,” the whiplash of swapping deployments for PTO sign-ups.

    This episodes Honorable Mensch spotlight on Jonathan Richmond, Director of Mission United at United Way of Northeast Florida.
    https://unitedwaynefl.org/mission-united


    Do you have some feedback, thoughts or questions?

    Want to be a guest on my show or have an Honorable Mensch to nominate?

    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.
    Please LIKE, SUBSCRIBE and SHARE.
    Thank you for helping us grow!

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    37 分
  • What Happens When We Stop Asking Whether Students Have Potential and Start Asking Whether We've Built Pathways Worthy of Their Potential? My Guest: Hannah Oberholzer, Thrive Scholars Jacksonville

    What Happens When We Stop Asking Whether Students Have Potential and Start Asking Whether We've Built Pathways Worthy of Their Potential? My Guest: Hannah Oberholzer, Thrive Scholars Jacksonville
    2026/06/01

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    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 and ambition are everywhere, but roadmaps are not, and two students with the same grades can still be separated by generations of hidden knowledge.

    I’m joined by Hannah Oberholtzer, Executive Director of Thrive Scholars Jacksonville, to talk about what real college access and opportunity look like for high-achieving students from economically under-resourced communities. We dig into the biggest misconception about these students, why “they’ll be fine” is often wrong, and how Thrive defines success as more than graduating high school or even college. Hannah shares how Thrive’s intentional pathway includes a Summer Academy on a college campus, one-on-one college access coaching, financial aid navigation, mentorship, and professional development so students build the skills, confidence, and networks that lead to economic mobility and long-term career success.

    We also get practical about the ecosystem around students: internships that typically start too late, transportation barriers that quietly shape who can show up, and why partnerships across nonprofits, business leaders, and community matter if we want outcomes that last for generations. If you care about first-generation college success, educational equity, workforce development, and building diverse leadership that reflects our communities, this episode is for you.

    About Thrive Scholars Jacksonville

    Thrive Scholars is a national nonprofit dedicated to helping high-achieving students from low-income and under-resourced communities gain admission to top colleges, graduate successfully, and launch meaningful careers. Their comprehensive six-year program provides academic preparation, college advising, mentorship, career development, internships, and professional networking opportunities that help students achieve long-term economic mobility. connecting students with academic resources, mentors, internships, and professional networks throughout Northeast Florida.

    To find out more about Thrive Scholars, Jacksonville: https://www.thrivescholars.org/get-involved/jacksonville/

    In anticipation of their 25th year, read the 2025 Impact Report here:

    https://www.flipsnack.com/A5F8DCA8B7A/thrive-scholars-fy25-annual-impact-report


    Do you have some feedback, thoughts or questions?

    Want to be a guest on my show or have an Honorable Mensch to nominate?

    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.
    Please LIKE, SUBSCRIBE and SHARE.
    Thank you for helping us grow!

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    42 分
  • Can Generosity and Wealth Really Go Hand in Hand? My Guest: Kellie Smith, Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy® (CAP®), B&C Financial

    Can Generosity and Wealth Really Go Hand in Hand? My Guest: Kellie Smith, Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy® (CAP®), B&C Financial
    2026/05/31
    Send us Fan MailA 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 washing machine and first vacuum cleaner.Long before I understood budgets, investing, or compound interest, I understood something else: big things are often built in small ways.That story sets the stage for a heartfelt and practical conversation with Kellie Smith, wealth and philanthropic advisor at B&C Financial, about financial literacy, wealth building, philanthropy, and why so many women were taught how to give, care for others, and show up for their communities, but were never taught how money actually works.Kellie shares her own financial wake-up call after graduating college with student loan debt and realizing how easy it is to borrow money without understanding the long-term cost. Together, we explore the difference between making money and building wealth, why retirement planning is really about buying back your time, and how simple steps like creating an emergency fund, maximizing an employer match, reducing subscription creep, and utilizing high-yield savings accounts can create lasting financial stability.We also unpack the often-misunderstood world of philanthropy and legacy giving. From donor-advised funds and endowments to planned giving and charitable legacy strategies, Kellie helps demystify how ordinary people can create extraordinary impact for generations to come.Whether you're just beginning your financial journey or looking to align your resources with your values, this conversation offers practical advice, inspiration, and a reminder that wealth isn't just about what you leave behind.Because wealth isn't measured only by what we accumulate. It's measured by what we sustain, what we share, and what we make possible for others.In This Episode:• Financial literacy lessons women often miss• The difference between income and wealth• Building financial confidence at any age• Emergency funds and retirement basics• Employer matching and investment fundamentals• Philanthropy as a wealth-building mindset• Donor-advised funds, endowments, and planned giving• Creating a legacy that reflects your values• Why generosity and financial stewardship belong togetherBecause wealth isn't measured only by what we accumulate. It's measured by what we sustain, what we share, and what we make possible for others.Kellie Kelleher-Smith, CAP®Kellie serves as a Wealth Advisor with B&C Financial Advisors in Ponte Vedra Beach. She is a registered Investment Advisor Representative and holds the Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy® (CAP®) designation through The American College of Financial Services. The CAP® credential is a specialized designation focused on charitable planning, philanthropic strategy, wealth transfer, and helping individuals align their financial resources with their values and legacy goals. Her professional background uniquely combines: Wealth management and financial planning Philanthropic advising and charitable strategy Multi-generational wealth planning Retirement planning Legacy and estate-focused giving strategies Nonprofit leadership and fundraising experience Prior to joining B&C Financial Advisors, Kellie held leadership roles with the Jewish Federation & Foundation of Northeast Florida and the American Cancer Society, giving her a rare perspective that bridges both the nonprofit and financial planning worlds. B&C Financial Advisors Contact InformationB&C Financial Advisors 110 Professional Drive, Suite 101 Ponte Vedra Beach, FL 32082Phone: (904) 273-9850Website: B&C Financial Advisors WebsiteB&C is a fee-only registered investment advisory firm serving individuals, families, retirees, business owners, trusts, and charitable entities.#SchmoozeWithSuze #ViewsWithSuze #WomenAndWealth #FinancialLiteracy #WealthBuilding #FinancialFreedom #MoneyMindset #LegacyPlanning #Philanthropy #Tzedakah #GivingBack #WomenWhoGive #CommunityImpact #PurposeDriven #LegacyGiving #DonorAdvisedFund #PlannedGiving #GenerosityInAction #WomenSupportingWomen #WomenInLeadership #WomenEmpoweringWomen #WomenUnited #WomenMakingAnImpact #FemaleLeadership #InvestInWomen #FinancialConfidence #Jacksonville #NortheastFlorida #JaxCommunity #SmallThingsBecomeBigThingsDo you have some feedback, thoughts or questions?Want to be a guest on my show or have an Honorable Mensch to nominate?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. Please LIKE, SUBSCRIBE and ...
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    52 分
  • What Happens When Giving Young People a Voice Can Change the Trajectory of Their Lives? My Guest: Kathryn McAvoy, The Performance Academy

    What Happens When Giving Young People a Voice Can Change the Trajectory of Their Lives? My Guest: Kathryn McAvoy, The Performance Academy
    2026/05/19
    Send us Fan MailSome 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 bigger than performance.Because this isn't just about singing, acting, dancing, or stepping onto a stage. It's about identity, belonging and confidence.It's about building environments where young people can discover who they are before the world tells them who they aren't.Kathryn shares the vision behind The Opportunity Project and discusses the deeper mission behind after-school programs, mentorship, arts education, work-readiness experiences, and creating pathways for young people who may not always see opportunity reflected back at them.We tackle:• What "opportunity" really means for young people • The barriers students in Jacksonville are facing today • Why self-esteem and identity matter just as much as academics • The surprising things creative expression unlocks in children • Why consistent adult presence changes outcomes • The difference between helping communities and strengthening communities • Kathryn's own journey as an entrepreneur, leader, and advocateBecause when a child finds their voice... confidence becomes choice. Choice becomes behavior. Behavior becomes pattern. Pattern becomes life.And if we want different outcomes, we have to build different environments.Kathryn McAvoy is the Founder and Executive Director of The Performance Academy, a Jacksonville-based nonprofit dedicated to transforming the lives of young people through arts education, mentorship, and creative expression.For more than fifteen years, Kathryn has worked to create spaces where youth, particularly underserved and vulnerable populations, can discover confidence, identity, and purpose through the arts. Her journey spans entrepreneurship, community leadership, and advocacy, but at the center of her work is a simple belief: creativity can be a tool for healing.Kathryn founded The Performance Academy with the vision of giving young people more than performance skills. She wanted to create environments where they could feel seen, heard, and empowered. Today, she remains actively involved with students and programming, continuing to lead with a hands-on approach that keeps relationships and impact at the center of the work. The Performance Academy (TPA) is a registered nonprofit organization in Jacksonville, Florida that uses art, education, and mentorship to inspire and transform young people.TPA's mission is to inspire, cultivate, and transform youth through art, education, and mentorship. Its vision is to create safe spaces where young people can discover their unique gifts and develop confidence, courage, and conviction. Programs and initiatives include:• The Opportunity Project • Creative Genius programming • Summer camps and after-school experiences • Truth & Proof Arts Open Mic • Shakes/Sphere • Work-readiness and life-skills development • Youth mentorship and artistic training Students engage in disciplines including:• Acting • Film and storytelling • Dance and choreography • Visual arts • Music and lyricism • Technology and AI • Wellness and movement At its core, TPA is not simply teaching kids how to perform.It is helping them build identity, discipline, resilience, and direction so they do not just dream differently...They live differently.#SchmoozeWithSuze #KathrynMcAvoy #ThePerformersAcademy #ArtsEducation #HealingThroughTheArts #YouthEmpowerment #CreativeYouthDevelopment #CommunityImpact #ArtsMatter #FutureLeaders #WorkforceDevelopment #Storytelling #ConfidenceBuilding #YouthLeadership #CreativeExpression #CharacterDevelopment #Jacksonville #NortheastFlorida #InspiredAndInspiringDo you have some feedback, thoughts or questions?Want to be a guest on my show or have an Honorable Mensch to nominate?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. Please LIKE, SUBSCRIBE and SHARE.Thank you for helping us grow!
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    41 分
  • How Do We Create Ecosystems Where People Don’t Just Network, They Actually Belong? My Guest: Daniel Davis, Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce

    How Do We Create Ecosystems Where People Don’t Just Network, They Actually Belong? My Guest: Daniel Davis, Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce
    2026/05/19
    Send us Fan MailIn 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 people do not just show up, but become inspired, inspiring, and invested.Daniel shares insights on leadership under pressure, the responsibility of helping shape Jacksonville's future, and what it means to build a city that creates opportunity for both legacy institutions and unexpected voices.We also tackle the harder questions:• What role should the Chamber play in shaping Jacksonville's future? • How do we make room for entrepreneurs and outsiders? • What changes are happening in Jacksonville that people may not fully see yet? • How do leaders navigate criticism while staying grounded in purpose? • Can we build systems where people truly feel they belong?This is a conversation about growth... but not just economic growth.It's about human growth. Because cities are not built by buildings alone.They're built by people.About Daniel DavisDaniel Davis serves as President and CEO of the Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce, one of the region's leading organizations dedicated to economic growth, business advocacy, leadership development, and strengthening Northeast Florida's business ecosystem.https://www.jaxchamber.comThe Chamber works to:• Advocate for business-friendly policies • Support economic development and talent attraction • Connect entrepreneurs, business leaders, and community stakeholders • Develop future leaders through programs and partnerships • Create opportunities that strengthen the regional economyUnder Daniel's leadership, the organization sits at the intersection of business, public policy, workforce development, and community impact.#SchmoozeWithSuze #JaxChamber #Jacksonville #Leadership #CommunityLeadership #EconomicDevelopment #BusinessLeadership #JacksonvilleBusiness #CommunityImpact #WorkforceDevelopment #LeadershipMatters #Innovation #CivicLeadership #FutureOfWork #NortheastFlorida #EconomicGrowthDo you have some feedback, thoughts or questions?Want to be a guest on my show or have an Honorable Mensch to nominate?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. Please LIKE, SUBSCRIBE and SHARE.Thank you for helping us grow!
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    48 分