BLA.C.K. Medicine

In this final episode of BLA.C.K. Medicine, Dr Mikayla Couch shares an Indigenous perspective on plant-based medicine, as she chats with Bundjalung man and Gardening Australia presenter Uncle Clarence Slockee about the medicinal and health benefits of Indigenous plants.

In this epsiode of Bla.c.k Medicine we're turning the tables and learning about pregnancy care from a mother's perspective. Dr Mikayla Couch chats with First Nations woman Nartarsha Bamblett about her experiences becoming a mum and the importance of bringing cultural birthing practises to antenatal care.

Proud Darug man Dr Joshua Tobin chats with Dr Mikayla Couch about the journey from medical student to teacher, working in ICU, and the fundamental importance of teaching health practitioners about Indigenous culture early in their studies. He sees it as vital to improving health outcomes for First Nations patients.

Sex and sexuality are important factors in overall health but are often neglected in our health practises. Noongar woman, Dr Jessica Wade is on a mission to change that, working with clients to approach their sex lives the same way they might address their fitness. Join Dr Mikayla Couch and Dr Jessica Wade as they discuss sexuality from a holistic perspective. This episode contains references to s...

Medical school can be an intense experience. Hectic schedules, long hours of study, exams, practicals and stress! In this epsiode of BLA.C.K. Medicine, Dr Mikayla Couch talks with soon-to-be doctor and Melukerdee woman Amelia Tulip about the different pathways to becoming a doctor, and navigating the highs and lows of studying medicine.

Everyday racism is a familiar experience for many Indigenous people in Australia. Its impact on wellbeing has been understood anecdotally, but a long-term study has recently been able to demonstrate this with data. In this epsiode of BLA.C.K Medicine, Dr Mikayala Couch chats with Kirsty Nichols about Mayi Kuwayu, a ground-breaking research project tracking Indigenous health over time.

For time poor health practitioners, social and emotional wellbeing can often take a back seat to treating physical ailments. But a more holistic approach can produce much better outcomes for Indigenous patients. In this episode Dr Mikayla Couch chats with Uncle Dave and Angela from Wellmob, about the social and emotional wellbeing model of health care, and their mission to make the resources avail...

Remote nursing can be a challenging but rewarding pathway for those keen to work outside of the hospital system. For travel nurse Keeley Starling, it offered the opportunity to see more of Australia and taught her to adapt her nursing skills to new environments. In this episode of BLA.C.K. Medicine, Dr Mikayla Couch talks to Keeley about the highs and lows of nursing in far flung places, her inter...

Rates of smoking during pregnancy are around 12 per cent in the general population. However those numbers are much higher for Indigenous women. In this episode of BLA.C.K. Medicine, Dr Mikayala Couch speaks with Yuin woman and registered midwife Chelsea Winder about why high rates of smoking persist, and how targeted programs can help reduce the rates of smoking during pregnancy for Indigenous wom...

In this episode Mikayla sits down with proud Mbarbrum women Caroline Kell. Caroline is the Founder and Managing Director of Black Wattle Coaching, an Aborginal owned business that uses ancient Aboriginal wisdom, such as deep listening and reciprocity to build healthy and safe interpersonal relationships at work.

BLA.C.K. Medicine is a podcast about health issues that are important to First Nations people. In this new season of the podcast, Bundjalung woman and gynaecology and obstetrics registrar Dr Mikayla Couch chats with First Nations doctors and health care professionals about a broad range of health topics relevant to Indigenous Australians.

Worimi woman, obstetrician & gynaecologist Dr Marilyn Clarke chats with Mikayla about inspiring other Indigenous women to enter the world of medicine and obstetrics. They provide insights and clarity around some of the common issues that women frequently raise with General Practitioners on the use of intrauterine devices (IUDs).

Mikayla speaks with Professor Chelsea Watego - an academic, writer and proud Munanjahli and South Sea Islander woman. She is currently Professor of Indigenous Health at Queensland University of Technology's School of Public Health and Social Work.

Bianca Smith is a Naturopath, Nutritionist, Iridologist, proud Yuin woman and mother. She talks to Dr Mikayla Couch about her passion for empowering women and supporting our mob to heal their bodies & look after themselves.

Specialist Cardiothoracic surgeon Dr Ben Dunne chats with Dr Mikayla Couch about medicine and a topic that concerns us all, climate change.

Dr Mikayla Couch has been in Brisbane for the 2022 Royal Australian College of Surgeons Annual Scientific Congress and this episode is a quick update on some of the topics covered there. While in Brisbane, Mikayla met a number of interesting and important health professionals, several of whom will join the podcast as guests over the coming episodes.

Associate Professor Sue Woolfenden and Auntie Lola chat with Mikayla about Paediatrics, their stories, and what drives them in their work with Indigenous kids, families and communities.

Mikayla chats to her cousin Dr Gene Slockee about their shared journey into medicine from Tweed River High School. Dr Slockee shares his insights as an Anaesthetist; highlighting the central role of this speciality in improving patient outcomes.

Dr Mikayla Couch and Dr Jess Webb share their passion for obstetrics and gynaecology in the context of Indigenous health - discussing IUDs, simple practical tips that can assist health professionals to insert and remove these devices, and other insights into women’s health.

Dr Mikayla Couch chats to Uncle Dave Edwards from the University of Sydney about Indigenous fathers, and the online programs that he runs to help new dads transition into this role. They consider how health professionals can incorporate a more father-centric practice.

Mikayla talks to Dr Khyarne Biles, an Emergency Trainee from Dubbo. They discuss the ‘average day’ in Emergency, COVID-19 and social media, and a recent paper that was published by Dr Biles in Emergency Medicine Australasia to shine a light on the impacts of racism and bias in the emergency department.