How A Retired FBI Agent Built A Life On Open Mics And National Parks | The Desert Vibe · Season 2 · Ep 7

She didn’t just retire, she reinvented everything. Sue Schnitzer joins us to talk about what happens when you sell the house, load up a Prius, and build a real music life around open mics, festivals, and the kind of community you can only find by showing up night after night. Visit Her Website: https://sueschnitzermusic.com/ We get into the details that matter for singers and songwriters: how Sue routes travel by finding an open mic in every stop, what she notices about the Arizona music scene compared with other states, and why Phoenix-area rooms often feel more like a true hang than a quick “play and leave” checklist. She also shares how a song changes when it’s performed live versus watched on social media, and why she treats every performance like a conversation instead of a broadcast. If you’re into songwriting craft, you’ll hear what she’s working on right now, from paying attention to verbs to cutting favorite lines that don’t belong, keeping songs under four minutes, and using prompts to break through writer’s block. We also talk about her path from children’s music to an adult-focused album, and how the skills of engaging kids translate directly into holding a room full of grown-up kids. Then we switch gears with “What’s Vibin’ in the Desert,” a statewide list of Arizona open mic nights, venues, and musician opportunities across multiple regions, plus how you can become a regional rep and help grow this grassroots network. If you enjoyed the show, subscribe, share it with a musician friend, and leave us a review so more people can find the Desert Vibe. Support the show **Connect with The Desert Vibe Podcast** 🌵 Website: https://www.thedesertvibepodcast.com 📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61581168623261 ▶️ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheDesertVibePodcast 🎵 ***Get Desert Vibe Podcast merch and support the show:*** https://www.thedesertvibepodcast.com/category/all-products **Hosts** • Walt Richardson: https://walterrichardson.com • Glen Gardner: https://glengardner.net **Marketing, PR & Website** • Emma & James Mattison: https://emmaandjames.music **Regional Contributors** Featuring rotating representatives from across Arizona through our "What's Vibin' in the Desert" segment. Interested in being interviewed or representing your region? https://www.thedesertvibepodcast.com #TheDesertVibe #WhatsVibinInTheDesert #ArizonaMusic #ArizonaMusicians #LiveMusicAZ #ArizonaLiveMusic #SupportLocalMusic #OpenMic #ArizonaBands