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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 Reese the Poet. Marine Corps veteran, composer, storyteller, spoken word artist, mentor, and living proof that our deepest wounds can become our greatest purpose.

If you've ever wondered what authenticity actually means in a world that rewards performance, this conversation goes straight to the nerve.

We begin with music. Reese shares his earliest memory of sitting at a grand piano, learning entirely by ear, and the unforgettable Marine Corps Band audition that humbled him in ways success never could.

From there, we explore how speeches, church, hip hop, and Def Jam Poetry shaped his voice. Why slowing down helped people actually hear his message. And why performing before hundreds of strangers can sometimes feel easier than being vulnerable with one person who truly knows you.

Then the conversation shifts toward survival.

Reese opens up about joining the Marine Corps during one of the hardest seasons of his life, learning that "time waits for no man," and confronting one of the most difficult lessons of adulthood.

You cannot do everything alone.

We also discuss youth mentorship, mental health, loneliness hiding beneath "bad behavior," the healing power of nature and music, and one unforgettable perspective.

What if we treated every person like a piece of art we're trying to understand instead of a problem we're trying to solve?

It's one of the most moving conversations we've had this season.

Whether you're an artist, veteran, educator, parent, mentor, or simply someone trying to make sense of the world, this conversation reminds us that healing rarely happens by accident.

It happens one honest conversation at a time.

About Our Recording Partner

This episode was recorded at The Performance Academy (TPA), a Jacksonville nonprofit dedicated to helping young people discover purpose, confidence, and opportunity through the performing arts. TPA offers programs in music, theater, podcasting, film, visual arts, dance, fashion, creative writing, and leadership, creating safe spaces where creativity becomes a pathway to healing and transformation. Learn more about their mission, youth programs, and ways to get involved at jaxtpa.org.

Follow The Performance Academy

Website: The Performance Academy

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ThePerformersAcademy

#SchmoozeWithSuze #ReeseThePoet #Poetry #SpokenWord #Authenticity #MentalHealth #HealingThroughArt #MarineCorps #Veterans #Leadership #YouthMentorship #Hope #Resilience #Jacksonville #CreativeCommunity #ArtsMatter #ThePerformanceAcademy #CommunityLeadership #Culture #Purpose #ChooseHope #ViewsWithSuze

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