Season 2 opens with human rights and discrimination lawyer Prabha Nandagopal. In this straight-talking yarn, Prabha reflects on the moments that shaped her — from working with asylum seekers in detention and contributing to landmark workplace reform inquiries, to navigating cultural expectations, divorce and solo motherhood. We unpack accountability, workplace culture, systemic change and what real leadership looks like under pressure. New format. Same powerful yarns. Resources & Links Eleva...
Feb 19, 2026•26 min•Season 2Ep. 1
In this Best Of episode, I revisit some of the most powerful moments from my yarn with Nooky — a conversation that moves between music, culture, grief, and survival. We reflect on the making of his album with 3%, including the collaborations that shaped it and the intention behind centring cultural history and awareness. The iconic album artwork featuring Nicky Winmar stands as a defining moment in the discussion — a symbol of resistance, strength, and truth-telling in the face of racism. Nooky ...
Feb 10, 2026•29 min•Season 1Ep. 164
This episode is in partnership with the Australian Government. In this episode of the Black Magic Woman Podcast , I yarn with the deadly Amanda Sibosado , a proud Wardandi and Bard woman, PhD candidate, and long-time sexual health educator. Amanda joins me from Whadjuk Noongar Country to talk honestly about sexual health in our communities — from the gaps many of us experienced growing up, to why STIs like syphilis, chlamydia and gonorrhoea are on the rise. We break down what STI testing actuall...
Jan 27, 2026•25 min•Season 1Ep. 201
This episode is proudly brought to you by ANZ. A new series of conversations with different mob around the country to yarn about, meaningful career opportunities within ANZ, building the capacity of Indigenous businesses and organisations, and helping individuals in the broader community to achieve financial wellbeing and resilience. If you’d like to know more about how ANZ can help improve your financial wellbeing, or help you start, run or grow your business, visit anz.com or call 13 13 14. In...
Jan 14, 2026•24 min•Season 1Ep. 200
In this powerful Best Of episode, we revisit one of our most unforgettable yarns with proud Yuin and Thunghutti man, artist, creator, and community leader Nooky . Recorded live on the iHeart Podcast stage at SXSW Sydney, this conversation dives deep into his journey from growing up in Nowra to becoming a driving force in Australian music and culture. Nooky shares honest reflections on resilience, healing, identity, and the strength found in family and community, while also speaking about the pur...
Dec 30, 2025•25 min•Season 1Ep. 163
In this Best Of episode of Black Magic Woman , I sit down with Dem Mob , a rising Indigenous hip-hop group making waves in the Australian music scene. Formed in 2019 as a school project designed to re-engage Indigenous youth through music and culture, Dem Mob have since evolved into a powerhouse collective. Their music brings Aboriginal language and culture to the forefront, blending English and Pitjantjatjara to reach and connect with diverse audiences. In this yarn, Dem Mob reflect on their or...
Dec 16, 2025•22 min•Season 1Ep. 165
In this Best Of episode, we revisit one of our most loved conversations with Coby Edgar — a proud Aboriginal curator, creative, mentor and cultural powerhouse. Coby’s story is filled with honesty, humour, resilience and deep cultural insight, making this episode a standout moment from the Black Magic Woman archives. As we wrap up the year, we’re sharing a selection of Best Of episodes while the team prepares for an exciting new chapter. Regular weekly releases will resume in the New Year, with a...
Dec 02, 2025•37 min•Season 1Ep. 169
In this episode of Mental Fitness Conversations, host Mundanara Bayles chats with Aaliyah Bula - a proud Tongan, Wiradjuri and Kamilaroi woman, athlete and community leader - about what mental fitness means to her. Aaliyah’s journey is one of strength, connection and cultural pride. Aaliyah has always balanced her passion for culture with her drive in sport. She’s played Open Women’s footy with the Redfern All Blacks and continues her rugby league journey with the Canterbury Bulldogs U19s Tarsha...
Nov 18, 2025•25 min•Season 1Ep. 199
At just 25, Wendell French – also known by their stage name Felicia Foxx, the Aboriginal Enchantress – is a proud Kamilaroi and Dhunghutti “brotherboy, sistergirl, brista – brothersister”. They are a performer, advocate and entrepreneur using drag as a powerful tool for storytelling, self-expression and connection. In this honest and uplifting conversation with host Mundanara Bayles, Wendell talks openly about what mental fitness means to them: grounding yourself in who you are, finding strength...
Nov 04, 2025•31 min•Season 1Ep. 198
In this episode, I sit down with proud Meuram woman Lala Gutchen from Erub island in the Torres Strait — a language teacher, diver, and climate advocate whose life’s work is rooted in protecting Country. We met at the First Nations Clean Energy Summit on Kabi Kabi Country, where Lala shared her story about preserving language, culture, and Sea Country in the face of rising tides and corporate development. From teaching her people’s first language, Erub Mer , to giving evidence in court alongside...
Oct 28, 2025•21 min•Season 31Ep. 197
Wiradjuri Elder and Aboriginal activist Uncle Dave Bell has spent more than two decades guiding young people towards strength through culture, mentoring and connection. In this episode of Mental Fitness Conversations, he joins Mundanara Bayles from Black Magic Woman podcasts to share the story of Young Spirit Mentoring - a grassroots program changing lives across Campbelltown by reconnecting youth with Country, culture and community. Together, Mundanara and Uncle Dave explore the importance of c...
Oct 21, 2025•32 min•Season 1Ep. 196
In this episode, I sit down with the incredible Cissy Gore-Birch , a proud a Jaru/Kija woman with connections to Balanggarra, Nyikina and Bunuba Country in the Kimberley, and the powerhouse behind Lulujaru — a fashion label that weaves together culture, conservation, and self-determination. Cissy shares her story of growing up in Wyndham as the eldest of eight kids in a big, busy household full of laughter, hand-me-downs, and strong family values. From a long career in N ative Title, conservatio...
Oct 14, 2025•28 min•Season 1Ep. 195
In the newest Mental Fitness Conversations episode, produced in partnership with Black Magic Woman, host Mundanara Bayles yams with Dr Clinton Schultz, a proud Gamilaroi man, psychologist and Head of First Nations Strategy at Black Dog Institute. Clinton speaks openly about his life and the role of culture in shaping his path. He reflects on growing up disconnected from support, navigating systems that didn’t see him and the turning points that helped him realign with culture, lore and spirit. F...
Oct 07, 2025•25 min•Season 1Ep. 194
In this episode of the Black Magic Woman Podcast, I sit down with Ruby Heard, a proud descendant of the Jaru and Gija peoples and founder of Alinga Energy Consulting. Ruby shares her journey into electrical engineering and how a decision at sixteen to “save the world” set her on a path from Hanging Rock, Victoria, to global projects in Silicon Valley and refugee camps in Ethiopia. We yarn about her role on the First Nations Clean Energy Network steering committee, the push to ensure mob are in t...
Sep 30, 2025•23 min•Season 1Ep. 193
The fourth episode of the Mental Fitness Conversations podcast features a powerful yarn with Quaden Bayles, a 14-year-old First Nations actor, award-winning advocate and activist. In this episode, Quaden speaks openly about how his life changed overnight, from the pain of relentless bullying to the opportunities and challenges of acting in major Hollywood films. What shines through most is his honesty about the role that culture, family and community have played in grounding him, especially afte...
Sep 23, 2025•24 min•Season 1Ep. 192
In this episode of the Black Magic Woman Podcast, I sit down with Uncle John Anderson, at the First Nations Clean Energy Network Summit on Kabi Kabi Country. Uncle John shares his journey from his saltwater connections on Palm Island and Innisfail to his work across western Queensland and Brisbane, leading independent and regulatory bodies with integrity and cultural strength. Together, we yarn about the importance of cultural protocols, what it means to be an “honourable ancestor,” and how Firs...
Sep 16, 2025•22 min•Season 1Ep. 191
Award-winning comedian, actor and writer Steph Tisdell is one of Australia’s brightest creative forces. Known for her quick wit and powerful storytelling, she uses humour to break down barriers and spark conversations about identity, culture and mental health. In this episode, host Mundanara Bayles sits down with Steph for an open yarn about what it means to live authentically and use your platform for change. Steph reflects on her journey from aspiring lawyer to celebrated performer, the wisdom...
Sep 09, 2025•34 min•Season 1Ep. 190
In this week’s episode, I sit down with Tommy Hicks , Head of Cultural and Community at Indigenous Energy Australia, recorded at the First Nations Clean Energy Network Summit on the Sunshine Coast. Tommy shares his journey as a proud Badimia-Yamatji & Narungga man working at the intersection of culture, community, and infrastructure. He opens up about the importance of storytelling, relationship-building, and place-based knowledge in driving genuine progress across the clean energy and infra...
Sep 02, 2025•18 min•Season 1Ep. 189
Actor, presenter and podcaster Matty Mills is a proud First Nations and queer storyteller whose energy lights up every room. Known for his “sparkly” persona on screen and stage, Matty also brings honesty and depth to conversations about healing, culture and mental fitness. In this episode, host Mundanara Bayles sits down with Matty for an open conversation about identity, belonging and the courage it takes to reclaim your story. Matty reflects on reconnecting with family, navigating grief and th...
Aug 26, 2025•39 min•Season 1Ep. 188
Hi, i’m Mundanara Bayles , host of the award-winning Black Magic Woman Podcast , where I celebrate the voices of First Nations people, leaders, and changemakers who are shaping our communities today. With honesty, laughter, and deep connection, I invite you into yarns that help us all learn, unlearn, and walk together towards a more just future. 🎙️ Tune in now and hear the stories that inspire, challenge, and uplift — told through a Blak lens. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information...
Aug 18, 2025•24 sec
We kick off our new podcast series with a heartbeat – and a Warrior Heart. Host Mundanara Bayles speaks with Shantelle Thompson OAM – a proud Barkindji and Ngiyampaa woman, mother of five, three-time world Jiu-Jitsu champion and founder of the Warrior Heart Movement. Known as the Barkindji Warrior, Shantelle is a speaker, storyteller and fierce advocate for her people. Shantelle shares her journey from deep trauma to cultural reclamation – a path grounded in ancestral strength, truth-telling and...
Aug 12, 2025•33 min•Season 1Ep. 187
Hey you mob! In this episode, I sit down with the incredibly talented and inspiring Aunty Elverina Johnson—a proud Gungganji and Gimuy Walubara Yidinji woman from Yarrabah, in Far North Queensland. Aunt Elverina is a true force: a singer, artist, fashion designer, businesswoman, and cultural leader. We yarn about everything from her creative roots growing up in a tin shack by the beach, to turning her artwork into wearable storytelling through her powerful collaboration with Taking Shape —a part...
Jul 29, 2025•24 min•Season 1Ep. 186
In this powerful NAIDOC Week yarn, I sit down with Uncle Cheg—Gregory Egert—one of our most respected elders and lifelong advocates for community, culture, and education in Southeast Queensland. From growing up in Inala in the 1960s, to decades of service on community boards and as an inaugural Elder in Residence at QUT and now UQ, Uncle Cheg shares stories of resilience, responsibility, and staying grounded in culture. We talk about the early days of big community meetings (complete with the oc...
Jul 04, 2025•24 min•Season 1Ep. 185
In this episode I sit down with respected Wakka Wakka/Wulli Wulli Elder, author, academic, and leadership expert Dr Tjanara Goreng Goreng. Recorded in Naarm at the Indigenous Leadership Summit, this yarn dives deep into the meaning of sacred leadership, emotional intelligence, and the importance of First Nations ways of knowing, being, and doing within modern systems. Aunt shares her journey from growing up in Longreach to working in public service and academia, and how she has applied First Nat...
Jun 27, 2025•24 min•Season 1Ep. 184
In this episode of the Black Magic Woman Podcast, I sit down with trailblazing Woppaburra woman, Angela Barney-Leitch, live from the Human Rights Summit on Yagara Country. From growing up in Woodridge to becoming the first Aboriginal woman appointed Deputy Vice-Chancellor in Queensland, Angela reflects on her incredible journey and the importance of cultural leadership in institutions like QUT. Angela shares the transformative work happening through Carumba, the Indigenous Research Institute, an...
Jun 17, 2025•32 min•Season 1Ep. 183
I yarn with proud Widjabul Wia-bal woman Larissa Baldwin-Roberts — a lifelong community organiser, strategist, and changemaker. From growing up in Lismore surrounded by stories of resistance and survival, to leading major campaigns on climate, justice, and rights, Larissa shares how her family’s legacy shaped her political thinking and commitment to grassroots action. We explore the aftermath of the Voice referendum, the threats facing Treaty processes, and the urgent need to reframe how we orga...
Jun 05, 2025•33 min•Season 1Ep. 182
I sit down with Walters Nkemfack, a proud Cameroonian-Australian father, cultural educator, and social justice advocate living on Kabi Kabi Country. Walters shares his deeply personal journey from Cameroon to Germany and finally to the Sunshine Coast—where the racism his young son experienced in kindergarten sparked a lifelong commitment to community-building and anti-racism work. From his grassroots “leaf experiment” in a classroom to becoming an ambassador for the Shine a Light on Racism campa...
May 29, 2025•30 min•Season 1Ep. 181
Proudly supported by NRMA Insurance. In this episode of the Black Magic Woman Podcast , I had the absolute pleasure of sitting down on beautiful Gimuy (Cairns) Country with Juan Walker—founder of Walkabout Cultural Adventures and proud Kuku Yalanji man. Juan shared with me his journey from being a shy young fulla to running one of the most respected cultural tourism businesses in the country. His tours don’t just take you across land—they connect you deeply to story, culture, and the responsibil...
May 22, 2025•21 min•Season 1Ep. 180
In this powerful and heartfelt Best Of episode, we revisit our yarn with Narelda Jacobs – a proud Whadjuk Noongar woman, seasoned journalist, and trailblazer in Australian media. Narelda opens up about her childhood in a proud Black household in Perth, the strength she draws from her community, and the journey from local newsreader to national presence on Channel Ten and NITV’s The Point . Together, Narelda and Mundanara dive into what it means to carry lived experience into white-dominated spac...
May 21, 2025•35 min
Proudly supported by NRMA Insurance. In this powerful yarn, I sit down with proud Badtjala, Gunditjmara and Woppaburra man, Jesse Green—founder of Yilay —a 100% Indigenous-owned apparel, promotions, and signage business based in Brisbane. Jesse shares his journey from AFL community programs to building multiple businesses with deep roots in family, culture, and community. He speaks openly about the challenges of balancing entrepreneurship with fatherhood, the importance of cultural protocol, and...
May 15, 2025•27 min•Season 1Ep. 179
