Sit Down With Suzanne

I am back and excited about Season 4, so get ready for a brand-new season of new topics, new insights, new guests and a whole lot of positivity, love and affirmations!Support the show

We make decisions everyday about what we want, but when I made the decision to quit my job and become an entrepreneur, I knew it was the right move for me! I have zero regrets about choosing myself, I learned many valuable lessons along the way, and I am still using them!So, if you see me driving down the highway, singing along to Beyonce "You won't break my soul" which I secretly think was influenced by me although she has no idea who I am, just sing along with me.I will choose me every single time because when you bet on yourself, you will win!If you enjoy the Sit Down with Suzanne podcast, please consider supporting the show by buying me a coffee at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/PositivelySuzie.  I love to hear from you for please consider writing a review on whatever platform you listened on or send me an email at suzanne@positivelysuzanne.com. Follow me on Instagram @positivelysuzanne to keep up with the latest news and upcoming events for the Positively Suzanne brand and the Sit Down With Suzanne podcast. Support the show

I was intentional about not speaking about The Slap but here we are months later, and the slap is still "traumatizing people" while the overturning of Roe V Wade has not even blipped their radar!It's not a secret that we are a culture that is celebrity obsessed but when many people are loud about a slap between two grown men and silent about the taking away of the fundamental rights of women to choose what happens to their body, then Houston we have a problem!Two issues that seems unrelated, but to me is a blatant look at the priorities of our culture, the things the news cycle deems important and the bombard us with so that we can be distracted from what is happening and what we should not only be outraged about but marching for!If you enjoy the Sit Down with Suzanne podcast, please consider supporting the show by buying me a coffee at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/PositivelySuzie.  I love to hear from you for please consider writing a review on whatever platform you listened on or send me an email at suzanne@positivelysuzanne.com. Follow me on Instagram @positivelysuzanne to keep up with the latest news and upcoming events for the Positively Suzanne brand and the Sit Down With Suzanne podcast. Support the show

I met state senate candidate Robyn Kennedy at an event, and we immediately hit it off, we knew were go going to be connecting in some way, but didn't know how at the time, then lightbulb moment, the podcast was the perfect way to get her in front of the audience, in this interview no topic was off limit, and we chatted about multiple of topics that is important to not only her but to the people she is hoping to represent.Who is Robyn Kennedy?Born and raised in Worcester, MA, Robyn has dedicated her life to the community. She worked for Lt. Governor Tim Murray as a Deputy Director of Appointments, then as the Lt. Governor's Office Director of Policy and Interagency Initiatives, then Deputy Chief of Staff, and a Deputy Assistant Secretary for Children, Youth and Families. Through these experiences she learned more and more every day about the hard work that goes into delivering services for the residents of our Commonwealth.In 2016 she joined the YWCA as the Chief Operating Officer.  In that position, she made sure the YWCA not only survived the pandemic but thrived and grew throughout it. If you enjoy the Sit Down with Suzanne podcast, please consider supporting the show by buying me a coffee at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/PositivelySuzie.  I love to hear from you for please consider writing a review on whatever platform you listened on or send me an email at suzanne@positivelysuzanne.com. Follow me on Instagram @positivelysuzanne to keep up with the latest news and upcoming events for the Positively Suzanne brand and the Sit Down With Suzanne podcast. Support the show

We know that talking about money makes people uncomfortable, but the sad fact is, it's deeper than that, most people don't know how to handle their money! From credit cards to affordable travel to planning a budget, we are often in the dark about the right choices for us, that is why I am so excited about my guest! Danielle Desir Corbett is a former grants administrator turned creative entrepreneur. She is a multi-passionate blogger, 4x grant-funded podcaster, and host of The Thought Card, an affordable luxury travel and personal finance podcast empowering financially savvy travelers to travel more and build wealth. Danielle paid off over $60,000 of student loan debt in 4 years, purchased a home at 27, and has traveled to 27 countries. As the founder and CEO of WOC Podcasters (Women of Color), Danielle is passionate about supporting and amplifying the voices of Women of Color podcasters and audio creators. WOC Podcasters includes an inclusive podcasting community, blog, job board, and directories.   You can follow Danielle on Instagram under @thedanielledesir. You can listen to her podcast The Thought Card where she gives financially savvy advice in all the major podcasting directory.If you enjoy the Sit Down With Suzanne podcast, please consider supporting the show by buying me a coffee at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/PositivlySuzie.Also, I love to hear from my listeners so please consider writing a review at whatever platform you listened on or email me at Suzanne@positivelysuzanne.com.Follow me on Instagram @positivlysuzanne to keep up with the latest news and upcoming events for the Positively Suzanne brand and the Sit Down With Suzanne podcast. Support the show

Walmart's Juneteenth ice cream was one of those things that made you go, really so no one thought this was not okay, thankfully the internet used its powers for good and the public outcry was loud enough for Walmart to pull this ice cream This highlighted a very important issue, and that is the importance of ownership, we have to ensure that we take ownership of our stories otherwise someone else will use it for profit.  Support the show

When people hear the term entrepreneur, they think different things like they get to set their own schedules and they don't have to answer to anyone else. Talita the founder and CEO of plan4mamy knows exactly what it means to be an entrepreneur, it is hard work, it is making every decision, it is long days and nights, it is skipping vacation, and missing sleep. But that is only half of it, because she also knows the joy of creating a schedule around your life, so you don't miss the important things like picking up your son from school, it is the joy of seeing the impact you make in someone's life, it is seeing the results of all your hard work materialize into something extra ordinary. Listen in as she talks about her journey, from working for big corporations to working for herself! This is an episode; you do not want to miss. Support the show

What an honor it was to interview the youngest CEO I know. Aniyah Joy is 11 years old and is the founder and CEO of Aniyah's Custom Creations. She started her business almost one year ago and since then has seen success as a young entrepreneur. She is not only talented but wise beyond her years and understands the foundations of what it means to be successful.You can follow Aniyah Joy and her beautiful creations on Instagram under iamaniyahjoy.  Support the show

As we are celebrating female entrepreneurs for the month of May, I was so excited to sit down with Miguelina Peralta who is the executive director of EforAll for the greater Worcester area. Miguelina shares her wealth of knowledge about being a business leader, and she also shared valuable resources for entrepreneurs and how they can get involved with the free resource that is EforALL. She also put out a call for action to leaders in their industry. EforAll is seeking mentors who are willing to share their knowledge and expertise with new entrepreneurs! It is an amazing opportunity for everyone involved. To learn more about how you can either utilize their resources or become a mentor, please visit their website at eforall.org. You can also contact Miguelina at miguelina.peralta@eforall.org Support the show

In this episode of our series, I sit down with Mish Memnon aka Spiritually Fabulous, owner and CEO of Spiritually Fabulous LLC. She talks about her professional background and what it took for her to take a faith walk and turn her side hustle into her full-time hustle.If you want to find out more about Mish and all her endeavors, please visit her website at www.spirituallyfabulous.com, follow her on Instagram under spirituallyfabulous Support the show

In this episode of our entrepreneurial series, I sit down with Cardethia Moore Jenkins, aka Miss Deedee. We talk about her background as a social worker and the emotional toll it took, until one day she had to decide to choose herself. We look at the start of her entrepreneurial journey and how it went from something on the side to a fully established business, from Waist beads by Cardethia to her now new jewelry line Redeemed.To connect with DeeDee, please follow her on Instagram under DeeDee.  Support the show

For the month of May, we are celebrating and highlighting female entrepreneurs. We are talking to these phenomenal women who have stepped away from their 9 to 5 and have embraced their entrepreneurial journey. They are sharing their wins, and their losses, the reason they decided to step out on faith and be their own boss! Tune in because you don't want to miss this!Meet Lorna Ellis, owner of 4U bridal and prom located at 269 Lincoln Street in Worcester MA, she shares her journey from a little girl in Jamaica with a dream to a business owner who is making the dreams of others come through. Support the show

For the month of May we are celebrating female entrepreneurs who have stepped out on faith and walked away from their 9 to 5 and have stepped fully into the entrepreneurial journey. Meet Parlee Jones, who worked for over 17 years at one organization where she did meaningful work advocating for women and children. She recently stepped out on faith and dived fully into her journey of Director of Our Story Edutainment which is a cultural learning institute that teaches black history and culture.  Support the show

For the month of May I am highlighting some fabulous female entrepreneurs, ladies who have left corporate America and is out their bringing their visions to live. It's an exciting line up, you won't want to miss it. Guests include:Parlee JonesLorna EllisMish MemnonTalita O NevesDanielle DesirSupport the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/PositivelySuzie)

May is mental health awareness month, and we are talking about ways we can take care of ourselves and others who suffer from mental illness. We are sharing resources so make sure you check it.  And remember, there is no shame in taking care of you and your mental health.Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/PositivelySuzie)

Too often we stay in environment that are not good for us mentally, spiritually, emotionally, and even physically. We stay in environments we need to leave because we are afraid of making changes, afraid of trying new things or simply afraid that we won't meet our financial obligations if we leave. Black women have struggled for years on leaving toxic environments because they are afraid of leaving a good job. Join me as I unpack this all this in this episode!Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/PositivelySuzie)

We are constantly told that if we only work hard then not only would we be compensated monetarily, but we would advance, but I am here to tell you that this is not often the case and while hard work is a must, it must also be accompanied by working smarter!Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/PositivelySuzie)

Everyone deserves a dream, but with every dream comes a dream killer. What is your dream, how do you ensure that your dream will become a reality and how do you handle dream killers? Do you even know what a dream killer is? You don't want to miss this episode!Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/PositivelySuzie)

The power of your no! Many people struggle with saying no, they end up saying yes to things that does not serve them, things that if they were completely honest, they would not want to be caught dead doing. So why do they say yes?Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/PositivelySuzie)

We often struggle with placing value on our skill sets, especially if we are used to giving it away for free! It is high time we put some value on it and set some boundaries! Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/PositivelySuzie)

On this episode I talk about how we have to redefine the way we think of the word strong, being labeled as a Strong Black Women can sometimes stop us from taking care of ourselves. We have to redefine the way we think of strong and realize that taking care of our physical, emotional, and mental health is not a sign of weakness.I am posting this episode knowing that I said Sandra Fulton instead of Sybrina Fulton, I was thinking of another black woman Sandra Bland and said Sandra instead of Sybrina, I didn't realize my mistake until after I ended recording but upon listening, I liked the episode, so I did not want to rerecord it. Sandra Bland is a black woman who we lost, and Sybrina Fulton is a mother who lost her son, both victims of racism.Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/PositivelySuzie)

We live in a culture that is obsesses with likes on social media, a culture where people spend hours on social media cultivating an image of who they think people will like. People alter their appearances, their personalities and their lifestyles to be liked. But have you asked yourself the question of what if they don't like me?  And are you okay with it if they don't?Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/PositivelySuzie)

Have you ever had something happen to you that is a sign to get your whole life together! This is what happened on the day my closet broke!Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/PositivelySuzie)

Season three promises to be a season of growth, exploration and fabulous fun, you don't want to miss an episode. Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/PositivelySuzie)

From breast cancer awareness, to mental health, to self care, we covered a plethora of topics in season 2, but my number 1 episode for two years in a row was my episode from season 1 about Beyoncé and her love song to brown skin girls. So once again, thank you Queen Bey for being you!Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/PositivelySuzie)

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To answer the question, no we are not there yet, we are not at herd immunity, we are not at racial equity, we are not on the same page and in order to get there, it will take those in power to stop thinking of their own agendas and focus on the good for allSupport the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/PositivelySuzie)

Dear black Queens, you do not have to apologize for being strong, confident and accomplished. It is time to step into your power and own it and realize that you have a right to be where you are like everyone else.Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/PositivelySuzie)

Mental health awareness has been making the news lately, most notably with the decisions of Naomi Osaka and Simone Biles but mental health is not new and is a topic that should have been at the fore front of conversation for a long time. There is still a stigma attached to mental health and the more we talk about it, the more we will encourage those suffering with mental health challenges to speak up and seek help.Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/PositivelySuzie)

My friends have often asked me about what makes my relationship work with my husband, and while I don't have the secret to why marriages work, I do know what makes us work!Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/PositivelySuzie)

I talk a lot about self care because it is important. I am talking about my current self care journey and how it has helped me cope with all the current things that life has thrown at us. If you don't have a self care routine, you need to get one now!Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/PositivelySuzie)

We often find it easier to forgive others than forgiving ourselves.  What is holding us back from forgiving ourselves?  We need to show ourselves the same grace that God shows us and we show others. We need to forgive ourselves and stop allowing it to stop us from achieving our full potential!Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/PositivelySuzie)

Since last year and most recently this month multiple companies have released statement and posted on social media in support of black lives matter and pride, but what have they done beyond those two things. Sadly nothing has changed in these companies and they are capitalizing on the fight of so many and using it for financial gain.Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/PositivelySuzie)

I can happily say that I am glad to see the rates of Covid-19 deaths and infection falling. There is a big debate about taking the vaccine or not and while everyone has the right to choose what works for them, I believe it is important that we get educated to help us in our decisions. This is my opinion based on my experience.Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/PositivelySuzie)

Based on your feedback I have done a follow up to my episode about toxic leadership. The sad truth is that if you have worked for a employer you have experienced toxic leadership. But today's workers are saying it is not okay to treat up like that and are stepping up and calling out toxic leadership! Are you that toxic leader?Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/PositivelySuzie)

We often struggle with defining who we are, and there is no shortage of people who are ready to tell you us who we are, but I am here to encourage that you are not defined by a single action or moment, and you are always evolving!Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/PositivelySuzie)

Sometimes we fail at something and we are afraid to start over because we are afraid we will fail again. I am here to tell you that it is okay to fail, in fact it is okay to fail more than once, the trick is to never give up! So what are you waiting for to start!Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/PositivelySuzie)

We often hear people say that once they have achieved a certain something then they will be happy, I am here to tell you that you should choose to be joy today, don't wait until someday to be find your joy, you should choose joy now!Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/PositivelySuzie)

With everything employees have to deal with, a global pandemic, racial violence, random violence, increased work load, do they really need to deal with a toxic leader? Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/PositivelySuzie)

In this episode I discuss the myths about self care! We often find many excuses why we can't practice self care, but these are myths that we can and must dispel in order for us to reach our full potential!Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/PositivelySuzie)

There is a lot going on in the world and we have to recognize that we cannot be all things for everyone and still be something to ourselves. So in order to thrive, in order to live our best lives, we have to set boundaries, we have to recognize that boundaries is going to help us maintain both our mental and physical health! So go ahead and set those boundaries.Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/PositivelySuzie)

Girlfriends are fun but there are true benefits to having girlfriends, like improved health and longevity. It is important to have healthy girlfriend relationships, ones that lift you up and encourage you. If you had to do a girlfriend check and purge the unhealthy ones, how many friendships would you have left?Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/PositivelySuzie)

Why can't we stop talking about race? That is a question that I see repeatedly on the face of some and a statement that is issued by several media who refuse the see the effort of all the hateful and racism narrative! So how do we handle it? The truth is we cannot stop and until we are all treated equally then we will continue to talk of itSupport the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/PositivelySuzie)

Let me tell you, that this episode was meant to happen, my entire technology system crashed on the night of the recording and nothing would work but thankfully I was able to use an alternate system which unfortunately the audio on my end had an echo, please forgive the audio and enjoy the episode, it is well worth it.In this episode I sit down with Minister Nicholas Fearon aka Nfearon professional gospel artist to talk about his life growing up in Jamaica and his influences in music, and of course his faith. We will also learn how we can help him win an award from the Gospel Music Award as music minister of the year. You can vote as many times as you like, looking forward to celebrating with him!

In this episode I dig into how the pandemic has affected moms especially women of color and how mom shaming has continued and more and more moms are feeling stressed out and overwhelmed

Black History month is over but the black experience never ends. How do you ensure you are using what you learned during the month of February to be a better ally!

In a continuation of our phenomenal woman series, I sat down with a phenomenal young woman Medina and talked about what it was like growing up black in America, traveling to other countries and educating herself on black history. We also talked about why she felt compelled last year to organize protests in support of black lives matter and against systemic racism and police brutality. Listen to her story

I sit at the feet of an elder soaking up all the knowledge, and I can't help help but acknowledge it with a deep non verbal uh huh, such was my talk with Phenomenal Woman Sha-Asia. In our back by popular demand Phenomenal Woman series we welcome Parlee Jones "Sha-Asia" There are so many reasons why this woman is phenomenal, she is the universal Auntie, the advocate, the activist, the educator and all around unapologetic strong black Queen who knows her history and her worth. I thoroughly enjoyed sitting down with her and listening to her share her story. I promise you, it is worth the listen so pull up a chair and dive in

There is a racial reckoning happening and while many are shocked by it, it has been in the making for a very long time. This reckoning has sparked many uncomfortable conversations between family, friends, employers, employees, peers and everyone in between. But these conversations are difficult to have and while many shy away from it, many are willing to step outside their comfort zone and do the work needed so that we can start moving towards a solution

When do you let go of something that no longer serves you, be it a job, a relationship or a dream. How do know when it is time to let it go?

2020 was a year for the record books! With a plethora of polarizing conversations that changed minds, lives and shifted culture, it was the year we will always want to forget but have to talk about. From the death of Kobe Bryant in January to a global pandemic that is raging on, 2020 stood out for many. This is my top ten for 2020!This episode was recorded in 2020 but unfortunately could not be posted until 2021