Black Boomer Besties from Brooklyn
This is what the world needs now: two free-thinking “seasoned” Black women speaking their truth and inspiring others to do the same. Shaped by 45 years of friendship that began at the prestigious Brooklyn Technical High School through the Ivy League, medical school, marriages, divorces, triumphs, parenting queer children, life-threatening illness and many many amazing adventures. Each week, besties Leslie Osei-Tutu and Angella Fraser will push against boundaries in love, culture, careers, faith, politics and out-dated assumptions about women of a certain age. Remember, you’re never too old to change your mind…or your hair! (but more on that later :-)All views are our own and do not reflect the views of our institution/company. Information provided is not intended to serve as medical advice.
Black Boomer Besties from Brooklyn
Our 45th High School Reunion Countdown
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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
- We’re grateful for listener support that keeps us motivated to show up weekly
Stay tuned for next week's episode where we'll bring you the joy and memories from our Class of 1980 reunion celebrations!
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Visit Black Boomer Besties from Brooklyn website for behind-the-scenes extras.
Besties Together IRL
Speaker 1Hey Ange , hey Leslie , I can touch her , we're together .
Speaker 2Listen , why is only one of us wearing headphones ?
Speaker 1Oh , I didn't think I needed one . I think you do . You told me I didn't need one . I'm going to blame you . I think you do .
Speaker 2Oh , okay , just this one . You know , I was really happy that she's sitting next to me . Look at this In real IRL the besties together . We can put our heads together Look .
Speaker 1So I flew up to North Carolina . No , I didn't . This is what I've had tonight . Okay , I won't tell you what was in it . It was full with lemonade , that cool refreshing drink . Morning really tired , didn't sleep very much and Leslie had a great idea , but now I'm really beat . That's why I look this way . I'm tired
Medical Association Gala Reflections
Speaker 1. We just went to a whole gala , not our big gala , but a gala for New Jersey Medical Association Right their annual scholarship gala .
Speaker 2So we congratulated and gave scholarships out to new physicians , medical students , fellows , people entering , graduating from medical school and their fellowships . So it was a wonderful evening .
Speaker 1The next generation physicians it was really beautiful to see Leslie there shaking hands , and I'll share some video because a few folks came over to her folks who either just finished anesthesiology and going into practice or entering residency in anesthesiology .
Speaker 2What she ?
Speaker 1said , but it wasn't a planned event for me , so I planned to come here and sleep .
Speaker 2And I roused her up and said look , Ange , wouldn't it be great if we went ? Actually , the Black Boomer Besties from Brooklyn , we're sponsors of this event . We were sponsors , so we should . How about if ?
Speaker 1you come . Yes , so I went , but I'm tired . I'm really tired . So is Leslie , because she worked today . She worked today , and so we are doing just this . I don't know what the term is . Leslie couldn't help me , but we're just bringing in an unpolished episode to you tonight , because we obviously did not want to miss a week , because we obviously did not want to miss a week , but I was just like listen , let's get something out , so they know what we're up to , that we're thinking about them , but I'm too tired to just do a lot of deep thinking right now .
Speaker 2So I'd like to say welcome to another episode of Black Boomer Besties from Brooklyn . I'm Leslie , that's Angela , that's my bestie of nearly 50 years . And back to what we were saying .
Countdown to 45th Reunion
Speaker 2So this is like Gala Week for us . Yeah , this is Gala . I say Gala , you say Gala . This is Gala Week for us . Tomatoes and tomato . You all are already aware that we are embarking three more days to our 45th high school reunion Brooklyn Technical High School , yep , class of 80 . Class of 80 . And we are part of the planning committee and we have been since we graduated in 1980 . And the energy is high . People are buying tickets and asking if there's more available . We're down to over 120 tickets . We have about six slots left .
Speaker 1Well , we have four . Leslie isn't aware , but we got a few purchases in . The money comes in to me , so I'm always . I know we have four tickets left for sale , and so it's really exciting , and there are people coming from all over to get together . You know tomorrow's not promised . I know we all know that . To get together , you know tomorrow's not promised . I know we all know that . But each time we plan these reunions , and we plan these big ones every five years , there's so many names that we have to add to the list of classmates who have died , and so it's just really exciting for us , and so it's just really exciting for us and it's a labor of love , as we said before . And I can't believe it's here already . I'm just really tired . It's been like six months in the making . I'm just really tired and I don't want to be tired on the night . So I am going to get a good night's sleep tonight , right .
Speaker 2I don't know . I have plans for you Actually . No , you are going to get a good night's sleep tonight , so we have to hit the ground running in the morning , because there are things that we need to do . What I do want to say , though and again , we are going to be brief this week , so
Brooklyn Tech's Special Legacy
Speaker 2forgive us in that regard . So forgive us in that regard , but I do want to just mention a little bit about why over 100 people have laid out a decent amount of money to join us in this celebration of a school that we graduated from nearly five decades ago , and we've spoken over the years about how special Brooklyn Technical High School is and how special it was to us , and what it has done for our entire lives , informing who we are as people going forward . The school itself is pretty famous . There are six Nobel laureates who graduated from Brooklyn Tech . There are other famous , from celebrities to politicians , to entertainers , so the school has To engineers , to architects , to Physicians attacks to physicians .
Speaker 1Yeah , it is a very special place and when Leslie and I attended in the 70s it was you know we went through the school knowing that it was a really special place . Right , it was this weird combination of geekness and and what we used to call brainiacs .
Speaker 2Remember .
Speaker 1Brainiacs and just and friendships . I mean we have many classmates who got married , still married . We have many classmates who remain close , close friends since then , like Leslie and I Many of our closest friends .
Speaker 2We've maintained those relationships and we met at Brooklyn Tech . Yeah , ange and I met when we were in the 10th grade . Where were you when we were in the 9th grade Hanging out ? Who were you hanging out ? Kim Coles , oh , okay .
Speaker 1She was my first best friend and she's still a dear friend , yeah . But , she went on to be class president , like every year , and , becoming a comedian , she honed her skills .
Speaker 2She went from clown to class president . She continued to be class clown National celebrity . You know she's a class clown still .
Speaker 1But Kim and I lived really close to each other because I moved into the Flatbush area from Bed-Stuy and so , yeah , that was freshman year and then I met this one and because she could sew , did you guys hear our episode . But can she sew ? We got to put a link to it the Bestie Beginnings the Bestie Beginnings . So we'll make sure to put a link to it . It was prior to being on YouTube , so it will be an audio only if we can do that , but we'll make sure we give you a link to it . But anyway .
Speaker 2Wow , that was like our first or second recording . It was that time when we used to have to record like 10 takes
Growth as Podcasters
Speaker 2in order to get one feed . That was the time when we would forget to press the record button . That was a time . Listen , we've come a long way . Remember the time when I said welcome to another episode of Black Boomer Besties from Brooklyn ? I'm Angela .
Speaker 1She says it like she only did that one time . Oh my gosh , early days , fun days , but it's always . You guys are just so encouraging . I was on a in a . I'm a part of several kind of closed membership groups and the other day one of the women in one of those groups reached out to me and said hey , I just saw that you're a part of this group and I'm a fan of Black Boomer Besties from Brooklyn and you guys , I mean that stuff just and you know , just so encouraging . Keep doing what you're doing . You guys have it really does . It really warms me doing what you're doing .
Speaker 1It really does . It really warms me . She's moving to Mexico and she's like , if you guys are ever in Mexico , come and I'll host you guys because of all you've done for me and so just really encouraging . That's why we're here , even though I'm super tired and Leslie got a second wind , because she was tired early , because she worked today it's after midnight and why it's important nonetheless for us to come and make sure that you hear from us at least once a week and we hope to share some of the fun that's coming up over the next few days . Because there's that With pictures , yeah , because there's something going on Friday night with all of the classes from Tech , and then Saturday we're
Goodnight and Next Week Preview
Speaker 1going to be at the school and then Saturday evening we'll be having our Oogie , oogie , oogie .
Speaker 1We're going to be having our dances and all the fun at our gala .
Speaker 2You say gala , I say gala Anyway . So no , I don't even know what I say At midnight . I say goodnight .
Speaker 1Goodnight everybody . Yeah , so anyway , anything else you want to share , because I'm done ? No , I think that's it . That's it . Are you done ? Really , I'm done , I'm done .
Speaker 2Okay , thank you guys .
Speaker 1Yeah , we'll be back with a regular show next week and we'll try to share some of the joy that we're going to be having over the next few days with you shortly , okay .
Speaker 2Alright , and this has been another brief episode of Black Boom . Besties from Brooklyn , brooklyn .