Black Boomer Besties from Brooklyn

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The Besties talk about joy A LOT! And want to make sure that people are getting its true meaning, and what it’s not, to stay clear of all the toxic positivity out there.

Toxic positivity occurs when people don't allow themselves or others to experience hard emotions, quickly trying to move them to a "positive" place.

Joy requires going through difficulty and sometimes involve...

What makes friendships last?  The Besties have not only been blessed with their long-standing relationship, but have many others that are intact since elementary school.

They change, yes, but there are some key components that make them last.  This week’s episode explores the boundaries, curations, and grace that are behind their friendship successes. 

Some topics covered:

• Zero tolerance for gossip and strict confidentiality are cor...

Besties Angella and Leslie bring you another episode in The Year of the Menopause series with the return of Dr Toni Otway, a Board Certified OB/GYN physician. She discusses that cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in women, yet the connection between menopause and heart health remains dangerously under-discussed. Dr. Otway explains how dropping estrogen levels during menopause dramatically increase women's hea...

The Besties share their most surprising discoveries from their recent first trip to Panama. They reveal unexpected aspects of Panamanian life that weren't evident from their research before visiting, some are:

• Panama's modern, clean subway 

• Spanish language proficiency is more essential than expected, especially outside tourist areas

• The extent of Panama City's skyline 

• The Albrook Mall is massive and bustling, u...

Inspired by Rachel Martin's "Wild Card" podcast, this week, The Besties tackle questions they've never publicly addressed before, creating moments of both profound insight and lighthearted humor.

The episode unfolds with vulnerability as they explore, out loud, deeply personal remembrances like when they first realized their parents weren't infallible beings, when they first felt deep pride in themselves, an...

Two longtime friends, Lenora Norman & Tiffany Knotts share how they built an unexpected sisterhood through motorcycle riding and the creation of Smok’n Jewl’z Motorcycle Club. Their journey reveals how finding your passion can lead to deep connections, freedom, and joy at any age.

The Besties encourage you to find your thing, find your people, and live your joy. Life's too short not to embrace adventures that speak to your ...

Angella and Leslie explore how negative influences from their past unexpectedly became catalysts for success and personal growth. They reflect on how criticism and doubt from authority figures and partners shaped their determination rather than diminishing their spirit.

References mentioned in this episode:

Someone’s Thunder Podcast

Angela Pierce and Stephanie Klapper

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/angella-fraser-leslie-osei-tut...

The Besties are still on their vacay so here’s another blast from the past.  Originally aired in October 2023, our guest

Dr. Maria Sophocles, a Board-Certified OB-GYN and Medical Director of Women's Healthcare of Princeton, unveils shocking truths about female sexual health and pleasure that have been systematically ignored by medical education for centuries. 

Angie was aghast by the fact that there is so much her generation was...

Did you know that the Besties have another Bestie?  It’s actor, comedian, author and coach Kim Coles. As the dear friend she is, she came onto Black Boomer Besties from Brooklyn podcast when we were wee podcasters. So in celebration of her new  podcast with her Living Single costar Erika Alexander, we thought we would replay our conversation with her when she closed out our first season.

Then enjoy Kim's new podacst:

Judging by ...

Licensed Clinical Psychologist Dr. Kimani Norrington-Sands returns with co-host Social Worker Marissa Price to discuss their annual Job Liberation Summit, a virtual event designed to help Black women escape toxic workplaces on their own timeline with support and resources.

• Toxic jobs trigger our brain's fear response, preventing access to the areas of the brain needed for planning

• Chronic workplace stress causes physiologic ...

Leslie and Angella take you through their emotional journey at the Brooklyn Technical High School 45th reunion. This isn't just any school gathering – it's a celebration of one of America's premier STEM education institutions and the diverse bonds that have endured nearly half a century.

The most remarkable aspect? Watching a room filled with people from different racial, cultural, and political backgrounds leave thei...

We're together in person for this impromptu episode during our busy "Gala Week." Despite exhaustion, we're sharing updates as we prepare for our upcoming 45th Reunion from Brooklyn Technical High School.

• Brooklyn Tech is the largest high school in the United States
• Brooklyn Tech has produced six Nobel laureates and numerous distinguished graduates
• Our high school friendships have endured for nearly five decades
• ...

Angella and Leslie explore how our relationship with money evolves over time and how true wealth extends beyond financial success to include joy, freedom, and meaningful connections.

• Money as just one form of currency in our lives

• How entrepreneurship offers freedom beyond financial gain

• The shift in perspective that comes when basic financial needs are met

• Cultural expectations around money, especially for Black women

• Redefin...

Leslie shares a recent experience of being the only Black person at two separate events—a Staten Island sports bar and a New Jersey fundraiser with over 300 attendees. This prompts a revealing conversation about racial segregation in America and the imbalance of cultural immersion between white and Black Americans.

• Black Americans constantly "swim in white waters" while white Americans rarely need to navigate Black s...

In this episode, The Besties share their strategies for managing political anxiety through intentional actions rather than constant news consumption, discussing how they've transformed feelings of helplessness into empowerment through deliberate consumer choices and lifestyle decisions.  They are:

• Stepping back from news consumption and financial monitoring to protect mental health

• Boycotting certain retailers, despite incon...

The Year of Menopause returns with Dr. Toni Otway as she joins the Besties to explore different cultural ideologies of menopause. 

• Western societies often frame menopause as women being "put out to pasture" after serving their reproductive purpose

• Many cultures including the Japanese, African, and Mayan societies celebrate menopause as a time for gaining wisdom and elevated social status

• Medical training historically p...

Being a physician is Leslie’s calling; a gifting.

In this episode, she recounts a whirlwind weekend trip where she visited a recovering friend, and was reminded of a time years ago when she saved a friend’s life through medical intervention and advocacy.

Angella and Leslie emphasize the importance of knowing your gifts and using them to help others.

The conversation highlights the critical need for medical self-advocacy, especially fo...

Leslie and Angella dismantle the myth that "you can't teach an old dog new tricks" by sharing powerful personal revelations about self-imposed limitations they've overcome in their decades-long friendship.

• Leslie shares how she loved convertible cars for years but never thought she could own one until a lightbulb moment changed everything

• The hosts discuss how we restrict ourselves from joy by assuming certain...

Besties Leslie and Angella share exciting news about their upcoming live event in Raleigh, North Carolina, where they'll host a community conversation after a performance of "The Old Settler," a play originally performed by Felicia Rashad and Debbie Allen.

• Angella is the wig designer for the production directed by actor and author Moses T Alexander Greene.

• The play explores themes of love, survival and family dynam...