Black Magic Woman with Mundanara Bayles

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 hon...

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 ab...

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 p...

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...

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...

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 inspi...

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...

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 t...

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, responsibilit...

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...

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. An...

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 af...

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 g...

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 c...

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 Poi...

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. H...

We’re revisiting one of our most powerful and inspiring episodes with the legendary Leah Purcell—award-winning actor, writer, director, and proud Goa-Gunggari-Wakka Wakka Murri woman. Leah shares the deeply personal story behind The Drover’s Wife: The Legend of Molly Johnson , and how her mother, grandmother, and community shaped her fire as a truth-teller and creative force. Fro...

In this special episode of the Black Magic Woman Podcast , proudly brought to you by  NRMA Insurance, Mundanara yarns with Rory Chapman—a proud Wiradjuri/Ngemba man, founder of Embrace Tech, and the trusted IT partner behind BlackCard’s digital transformation. Based on Kabi Kabi Country, Rory shares how his purpose-led tech company supports First Nations organisations across the c...

We’re throwing it back to our  most downloaded episode of all time —a powerful and eye-opening yarn with proud Kabi Kabi and South Sea Islander man, Isaac Harrison. Isaac shares his deeply personal story—his family’s roots in blackbirding and survival, his experience navigating identity across cultures, and his remarkable journey from the sugar cane fields of his ances...

This week, we’re revisiting one of our most powerful and thought-provoking yarns—with the legendary Uncle Bruce Pascoe. A proud Bunurong, Tasmanian, and Yuin man, Uncle Bruce is a celebrated author, historian, and farmer, best known for his groundbreaking book  Dark Emu . In this episode, we dive deep into the truth-telling of our past, and the future we can create through Indigen...

This special replay takes us back to one of the very first episodes of the Black Magic Woman Podcast , originally recorded in 2020. Uncle Mick Gooda—respected Gungalu and Yiman man, former Social Justice Commissioner, and long-time advocate for our mob—joins Mundanara for a powerful yarn about truth-telling, sovereignty, the history of missions like Taroom and Purga, and the legacy of...

In this episode, I sit down with the deadly Elijah McDonald – a proud a Noongar|Yamatji|Pitta-Pitta man from WA– who’s part of the team behind Blaktasia: Invasion of the Merk , Australia’s first-ever Aboriginal-led mobile game. I caught up with Elijah fresh from Yabun Festival on Gadigal Country, where he and his team were showcasing Blaktasia and spreading the word about t...

In this episode of the Black Magic Woman Podcast , I yarn with two deadly young changemakers , Brianne Yarran and Jeremy Last , who are part of the Culture Is Life Fullaship Program . Brianne, a proud Noongar woman from Ballardong, Whadjuk, and Wagyl Kaip Country, and Jeremy, a proud Wangkangurru, Yankunytjatjara, and APY Lands man currently living on Kaurna Country, share their journeys through t...

In this special episode of the Black Magic Woman Podcast , I sit down with two incredible young leaders, Koby Sellings and Joel Matysek, who are part of the Culture is Life Fullaship Program . Recorded at iHeart Studios on Yuggera and Turrbal Country, this yarn dives deep into the personal journeys of these two deadly fullas and how the Fullaship has shaped their growth, leadership, and connection...

This episode of the Black Magic Woman Podcast is a little different—we’ve switched things up! Instead of me hosting, I’m in the guest seat while my sister Kate Russell takes over the mic to interview me. We yarn about my journey—personally and professionally—from growing up in a family deeply connected to media and activism to creating the Black Magic Woman Podcast an...