SuzanneSays... Courageous Conversations About Life and Living Suzanne Bird-Harris

Ellen Lettrich came into my world billed as "flaky, but you'll love her!"  The second part is true, but Ellen...flaky? Absolutely not. Too many irons in the fire? Maybe...but busy people get things done, and Ellen. Gets. S**t. Done. She's the type of woman who has to take action when she sees a problem she can solve. Even if it means a career change. Even if it means going back to college for a different degree. Even if it means a post-graduate degree. Even if it means selling her company to start a nonprofit. Even if...

And she's a #SteelerNation girl! In fact, back in our childhoods, our lives were happening less than 100 miles from each other. But we had to grow up, move away (her to NYC and me to Tulsa), and go through a few career changes to finally meet through a mutual friend. SO glad we did, and I'm so glad to introduce this dynamo to you!

You can learn more about Ellen and TFCA at https://TheFundForCollegeAuditions.org


This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit suzannesays.substack.com

Irene Kabot has done a lot in her life and now, at 69 and retired, she's still asking, "What's next?" She was a physical education teacher in New York City Public Schools. She helped to build four water wells in Kenya through fundraising, which is how I met her. She contacted me to build a website for the wells project called Wells of Love and Hope.

Listen as Irene shares her perspective on the pandemic, our culture, the US as a world power now and in the future, making a difference and so much more.


This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit suzannesays.substack.com

In the second half of my late, late-night conversation with my friend, Gail Oliveira, we get a little...candid?...about our conundrum of being single at this stage of our lives. We talk about how we go about figuring out what we want in a partner and discuss examples we've seen in other relationships.

I tell the story of my grandma Maysel's second marriage (lots to learn from her!) and from there we go all over the place and back about family and how it shapes who we are. Enjoy!

You can learn more about Gail at https://GailOliveira.com


This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit suzannesays.substack.com

It's always a trick to connect with my friend, Gail Oliveira because there's a helluva time difference between Oklahoma and Okinawa, but boy howdy...when we do? We go all over the place in the conversation! We were finally able to connect on a late Saturday night (for me) and a lazy Sunday afternoon (for her) and the result is another 2-episode conversation.

Listen in as we share our perspectives on this crazy world we live in, the impact (planned or unplanned?) of social media on our lives, how two "mature", single, Baby Boomer women are finding their way through current events.

You can learn more about Gail at https://GailOliveira.com


This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit suzannesays.substack.com

My friend, Charline Touchard, lives and runs her business traveling around the country in an RV. When I asked her my opening question (who are you?) - wow, did I learn a lot! Not least of which is how much we have in common despite the fact that she's married (I'm not), she doesn't have kids (I do), and she takes everything (including her kitchen sink!) with her wherever she goes.

Listen in as we talk about our challenges when it comes to cooking, the similarities of raising kids and dogs, and being who we are in this world.

You can learn more about Charline at https://siteflowhero.com


This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit suzannesays.substack.com

My friend Brook Packard is a creative dynamo. She's an introvert, a thinker, a musician, a writer, an activist... the list goes on and on. This is why I found her answer to my first question (Who are you?) so interesting. And from there we talked about our shared perspective as introverts, saying YES more often to and in life, and the many and varied ways and means we use to regulate ourselves.

Brook provides parents and caregivers a plan for a nurturing bedtime routine that helps you release the day, connect with your children, and reclaim your evening. Learn how to stop the struggle and start the snuggle at https://SleepytimeClub.com.


This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit suzannesays.substack.com