Leslie woke up one morning, went in to work and said to her boss, “I need a break, I’m going to take several months off”.  As a full time anesthesiologist she put aside concerns of what her absence would do to the busy OR schedule or the pinch her colleagues would experience being on call.  What she knew (for sure) was that she was fatigued, her mind was distracted, her body was rebelling and she had never taken an extended break from work in her over twenty year career.

In this episode of Black Boomer Besties from Brooklyn Leslie describes to her Bestie Angella what it felt like to direct her caring spirit inward- to wake up late without her usual to-do list, spend time with friends and loved ones, travel and contemplate what retirement might actually feel like.On her first day back to the operating room Leslie immediately felt back at home and recalled why medicine is truly  her calling.  Her time away from the demands of doctoring showed her that she really missed being away and that balancing a busy career with personal well-being is not only possible but essential.  She could certainly see herself moving toward retirement- just no time soon.

This episode and all previous episodes are available on YouTube. Please join our Besties Quad Squad as a Patreon subscriber at the $5 or $10 monthly level. You'll receive exclusive behind-the-scenes content.Get Angie’s eBook: We’re Too Old for This Shit! The Inquisitive Older Woman’s Guide to Joy

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Angella dishes about her recent  “date”, her house-sitting adventure in Los Angeles.  She and her adventurous sister swapped plans for a trip to Mexico for a local escapade instead, finding joy in the simple pleasures of life in a beautiful home and area of LA with a sweet dog (it was all love!) 

She  described the transformative potential of house-sitting as a way to experience life in new places, both locally and abroad.  The TrustedHousesitters app provides a gateway to affordable travel, new experiences and an unconventional way to embark on global adventures.

This episode and all previous episodes are available on YouTube. Please join our Besties Quad Squad as a Patreon subscriber at the $5 or $10 monthly level. You'll receive exclusive behind-the-scenes content.

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Get ready for a Master Class that is perfectly timed to position you for financial success in the new year.  This week Besties Angella and Leslie introduce you to two guests who bring a dynamic thought-provoking discussion about their upcoming webinar. Drs. Kimani Norrington-Sands and Rosche Brown are psychologists who lead the charge for Black women against toxic work environments by unlocking the secrets to financial and emotional freedom.  Their upcoming Masterclass promises to arm you with tools, information and strategies to tackle the fear of leaving toxic jobs, craft personalized financial exit plans, and stride confidently toward independence.

The conversation is sprinkled with the usual Besties humor as the guests peel back the layers of identity intertwined with careers, exploring how societal pressures keep many Black women tethered to jobs that drain rather than sustain and empower.

The Masterclass is a two day (Jan 8 & 9) online webinar that will leave you ready and prepared to face the challenges of managing your money while you contemplate a career change.

This week’s episode is a treasure trove for anyone ready to reclaim their narrative, prioritize well-being, and embrace the power of financial liberation.

This episode and all previous episodes are available on YouTube. Please join our Besties Quad Squad as a Patreon subscriber at the $5 or $10 monthly level. You'll receive exclusive behind-the-scenes content.

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Imagine navigating almost five decades of friendship without needing to explicitly say  "I'm sorry". Besties Angella and  Leslie give you a view of their  unique connection where grace and understanding have forged a path through conflicts without the need for conventional exchange of apologies. Inspired by Malcolm Gladwell's TED Talk, "The Tipping Point I Got Wrong," they reflect on the art of apologizing and how it intertwines with accepting responsibility for being wrong. 

Gladwell’s talk centers on his previous endorsement of the former NYC Police Department policy referred to as Stop and Frisk where between 2003 and 2013, over 100,000 stops were made per year. It became the subject of a racial-profiling lawsuit because 90% of those stopped were Black & Latino.  In his talk, Gladwell admits that his prior comments about the policy were wrong and offers an “apology”.

Besties Angella and Leslie dissect the components of an apology and critique the common tendency to prioritize self-justification over genuine remorse. They examine their own relationship and appreciate the supportive environment they’ve cultivated over 46 years.

The Tipping Point I Got Wrong | Malcolm Gladwell | TED

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Get out your travel docs because the Besties are taking you on a trip.   Angella is beginning  to realize her travel dreams of circling the world and ‘dating a city” by accepting a house-sitting opportunity on the West coast.  Inspired by the Exodus Summit community and the chance to “bop around the world” (as Stephanie Perry puts it), she explains her excitement around using house and pet sitting as a chance to explore remote locations and scope out her future life living abroad.  

In this episode Angella and Leslie discuss the logistics of such a move and some of the benefits that come with it- cultural immersion, living like a local and saving on the cost of luxury accommodations.

As usual, the Besties discussion turns comedic as Leslie recalls some of her international ‘adventures’- a terrifying horseback ride up a volcano in Guatemala and a recent trip to a rainforest in Costa Rica where she described thumb sized beetles flying around her head.

With plenty of humor, curiosity, and a touch of wanderlust, this episode is a vibrant invitation to consider the enriching world of house-sitting and the friendships it may forge along the way.

TrustedHousitters

Exodus Summit

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In her enlightening book The Afrominimalist’s Guide to Living With Less, Christine Platt invites us to imagine a world in which we curate a life of intention free of clutter and chaos (but not the monochromatic, rigid guidelines often linked to the Euro-centric minimalism)

 This week, Besties Angella and Leslie consider the question of whether embracing Afrominimalism could transform not just their living spaces, but their entire perspectives on their lives.  They wonder if, as Platt suggests, downsizing may provide a path to deeper understanding and cultural empowerment and that by moving to smaller spaces that path may be made clearer.

Angella also gives us an update on an exciting house sitting opportunity that she is about to begin.  She sees this trip as an opportunity to ‘date’ a new city in her quest to travel around and possibly relocate abroad.

The Afrominimalist's Guide to Living With Less by Christine Platt

TrustedHousesitters

ExodUS Summit

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Besties Angella and Leslie wonder why they hold on to things they don’t actually need.  All the ‘stuff’ that fills their homes, their closets and too often their expensive storage units.  Angella describes her painful experience with downsizing and ultimately losing items that once anchored her and her family. Leslie, on the other hand, is at the beginning of that very journey - trying to navigate moving about in multiple locations while also saying goodbye to a larger more accommodating home. They speak of the emotional toil created by the over abundance of physical possessions  and how it often gives rise to a  mental heaviness and unease.

As usual, the Besties weave a poignant conversation with a humorous one as they consider a “Marie Kondo” style purge to tackle the clutter they’ve accumulated over the years. They describe resisting thrift store temptations and the reality check of necessary financial restraint. They resolve to clear the physical and mental clutter that bogs them down and look forward in the next episode to a deeper examination of the psychology of consumerism, accumulation and collecting and why they find it so difficult to live a more minimalist existence.

They really did Angi very wrong! Bolton Estate Cleanout & Sales
The Afrominimalist's Guide to Living With Less by Christine Platt
ExodUS Summit 2025 - The Path Abroad for Black Women
Glamazini: How I plan my year

This episode and all previous episodes are available on YouTube. Please join our Besties Quad Squad as a Patreon subscriber at the $5 or $10 monthly level. You'll receive exclusive behind-the-scenes content.

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How do you reconcile feelings of belonging and alienation in a country that seems to shift beneath your feet?  This week, Besties Angella and Leslie are joined by guest Elizabeth Jenkins - the most recent honorary Bestie - as she opens up about the emotional turmoil of recent political events and  the deep impact this climate has had on her mental health.

The ladies mull over the complexities of identity and the quest for peace in a society that often feels oppressive and unrelenting. They wrestle with the emotional strain of constantly being on guard, weighing the internal conflict between staying in the US to fight for change and seeking refuge in simpler, less pressured environments abroad. 

https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2024/06/40-acres-and-a-lie/

Their reflections touch on the symbolism of displaying the American flag, exploring the tension between having a sense of patriarchal ownership and the exhaustion of resistance. This episode and all previous episodes are available on YouTube.
 
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Leslie has been feeling quite tired lately. Actually, she would say she was exhausted. It was so bad that for only the first time in more than 20 years she overslept for work.  For Leslie, an anesthesiologist, oversleeping means that there is a surgeon, staff of nurses and a patient being delayed and waiting for her.  She came up with what she saw as a simple solution- she would buy an alarm clock.  When her bestie Angella heard of this plan, she at first listened incredulously then burst out laughing.  While Leslie at first didn’t know what was so funny, the conversation that ensued turned quite serious and thought provoking. 

What if an alarm clock isn’t the answer to a chaotic schedule but instead requires a closer look at how you're managing a stressful time in your life?  The Besties’ banter, representing a nearly 50 year friendship, is more than just fun and games; it reveals the layers of support, grace and humor that keeps their friendship strong and resilient.  Their candid conversation highlights the importance of recognizing one's limits and the power of self-care, reminding us that rest and rejuvenation are not just luxuries, but necessities.

This episode and all previous episodes are available on YouTube. Please join our Besties Quad Squad as a Patreon subscriber at the $5 or $10 monthly level. You'll receive exclusive behind-the-scenes content.

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What happens when your country’s political decision leaves you feeling anxious and uncertain? In this episode of Black Boomer Besties from Brooklyn Angella and Leslie recount personal feelings of navigating the emotional aftermath of the 2024 US presidential  election. Angella describes how she found solace in the power of community, connecting with like-minded women through a chat group, highlighting the importance of vulnerability and honesty in maintaining supportive networks. 

Leslie shared that her voting strategy integrated consideration of the welfare of vulnerable populations, revealing how personal needs and preferences do not have to be divorced from what she believed to be her civic responsibility. During this particular time of stress The Besties discuss the transformative healing power of stepping out of comfort zones-to discover how small moments of joy and connection can be a lifeline amidst times and feelings of chaos.

Angella’s son Isaiah's insights on basketball serve as a metaphor for this being an opportunity for readiness and resilience, reminding us of the delicate balance between action and reflection. This episode and all previous episodes are available on YouTube. Please join our Besties Quad Squad as a Patreon subscriber at the $5 or $10 monthly level. You'll receive exclusive behind-the-scenes content.

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