Stars and Stories: The Black Star Radio Podcast

In this episode, MJ is joined by pharmacist and master herbalist Gerald Quigley for an eye-opening conversation about dementia—now the leading cause of death in Australia. With nearly half a million Australians currently living with the condition (and that number expected to rise), Gerald highlights the urgent need for awareness, prevention, and early detection. While there’s currently no cure, Ge...

In anticipation of his upcoming performance at the Dream Aloud Festival in Cairns (18 October, 2025), Jayden Marott caught up with ARIA award-winning artist Budjerah.    Together they explore what inspires his songwriting, how success brings both opportunity and pressure, and the surprising stories behind his collaborations with artists like Ed Sheeran, Matt Corby, and Pnau. Budjerah also shares h...

In this powerful and deeply personal episode, Aunty Jill Gallagher joins MJ for a heartfelt conversation about bowel cancer—and why screening matters.   A proud survivor of bowel cancer herself, Aunty Jill opens up about her journey, the importance of early detection, and why we need to break the shame and stigma that still surrounds testing. She reminds us: The test is simple, free, and can be do...

In this episode of Stars and Stories on Black Star Radio, MJ is joined by pharmacist and Master Herbalist Gerald Quigley to talk about something millions of Australians deal with — headaches and migraines. Gerald shares important insights for Migraine and Headache Awareness Week, (which took place 22-26 September 2025), including: Why headaches aren’t normal and should never be ignored How dehydra...

In this episode of Stars and Stories on Black Star Radio, MJ is joined by Gerald Quigley — a practising Community Pharmacist and Accredited Herbalist — to discuss the real meaning behind R U OK? Day.   Together they explore the power of checking in, the science-backed benefits of being asked how you’re really doing, and how small moments of connection can lead to lasting change.   It’s not about w...

In this episode, Gerald Quigley joins Michael to talk about a topic many of us avoid — organ and tissue donation. But the reality is, 80 out of 100 Australians say they support donation… yet only 30 out of 100 are actually registered. So what’s stopping us? Gerald walks us through: Why registering your decision isn't enough — your family must know your wishes, or they can override them The current...

With summer just around the corner, drowning stats are rising — and Dr Jaz Lawes joins MJ to break it all down. There’s good news for toddlers: thanks to better fencing, education, and community action, drowning deaths in under-fives have dropped. But the bigger picture is confronting — especially for older adults, who now account for 33% of drowning deaths. With health conditions and slower refle...

Sleep isn’t just downtime — it’s actually one of the most powerful things you can do for your health. In this chat, pharmacist and Master Herbalist Gerald Quigley shares why sleep is a true superpower, especially when life gets busy or stressful. He explains how sleep gives our body and mind a chance to rest, repair, and rejuvenate — the three R’s — and why that matters at every age. You’ll learn:...

In this episode of Stars and Stories, pharmacist and master herbalist Gerald Quigley joins Michael to talk all things shingles — a condition that’s more common than you might think.   They cover: • How shingles is connected to chicken pox • What the nerve pain feels like (and how long it can last) • Who’s eligible for the free shingles vaccine in Australia • Why the new vaccine is a game-changer (...

Savannah in the Round: Why Everyone's Talking About It   Camping under the stars, dancing to the Zac Brown Band, and soaking up three days of country, rock, and everything in between — Savannah in the Round is more than a festival.    MJ chats with James Dein about what makes this event bucket-list worthy: ✅ A stacked lineup including Casey Chambers, Chocolate Starfish, Black Sorrows & more...

Unlocking the Past, Embracing the Future: Inside Kowanyama’s Digital Knowledge Centre   In this special encore episode of Stars and Stories, MJ chats with Mark Hogan fresh from his visit to Kowanyama for the historic launch of Australia’s first fully digital Indigenous Knowledge Centre.   Hear how this game-changing space is opening new doors for the community — preserving culture, language, and h...

How Healthy Are Your Kidneys? Gerald Quigley Breaks It Down   In this episode of Stars and Stories, MJ chats with pharmacist and master herbalist Gerald Quigley during Kidney Action Week to spotlight one of the body’s most vital — and often overlooked — organs.   Gerald reveals that you can lose up to 90% of your kidney function without any symptoms, which is why regular checks are so important. H...

Gardens, Galas, and Giving Back with Norma Maloney   In this episode of Stars and Stories, MJ catches up with Norma Maloney to chat about two big community events happening across the Mareeba Shire.   First up — the Black Cockatoo Foundation Gala is nearly sold out! Norma shares why this night of purpose and passion is worth locking in, with all funds raised going to mental health and wellbeing pr...

What do 35,000 military personnel from 19 countries have to do with Far North Queensland? A lot, actually. In this encore episode, MJ chats with Group Captain Stuart Dower about Talisman Sabre — a massive joint defence exercise spanning the NT, WA, Queensland, and even Papua New Guinea. It was a boost for tourism, a win for local towns like Cloncurry, and a rare look at global cooperation in actio...

Know the Signs. Save a Life.   Stroke can happen at any age — and when it strikes, every second counts. In this episode of Stars and Stories, MJ chats with pharmacist and Master Herbalist Gerald Quigley about the FAST signs to watch for: Face drooping Arm weakness Speech difficulty Time to call triple zero With 45,000 Australians experiencing a stroke each year — and that number expected to rise —...

Keep Moving, Keep Smiling — Dance with Ibina   At 78 years young, Ibina Cundell is proving that age is no barrier to movement, joy, and connection. In this episode of Stars and Stories, MJ catches up with the Tablelands-based dancer who’s bringing African-inspired dance classes to people all over the world — from her living room to yours.   Ibina shares her dream of reaching remote communities (in...

Body Image in a Digital World: Support for Teens and Families   Let’s talk about body image.   In this episode of Stars and Stories, Gerald Quigley and MJ discuss the impact of early smartphone use, social media, and body image concerns for our kids — and what we can do about it.   If you're a parent, carer, or grandparent, Gerald recommends checking out butterfly.org.au — a helpful resource for u...

Have the yarn that could save a life.   This week on Stars and Stories, MJ chats with Lauren Ginders from DonateLife to clear up the confusion around organ and tissue donation. From busted myths to sobering stats — including the 50+ Aussies who die each year waiting for a transplant — this conversation is a timely reminder that donating is about more than ticking a box.   Lauren shares how easy it...

The countdown is on to Dream Aloud! Black Star caught up with Flora Wong from Qld Music Trails to talk about what’s coming up for this year’s Dream Aloud Festival — and it’s big! Set for Saturday, October 18 at Munro Martin Parklands in Cairns, this all-First Nations lineup features Budjerah, Kaiit, South Summit and more. It’s family-friendly, and full of good vibes, great food, and incredible mus...

Opening the doors for Regional Women in Music. It highlights everyone. That’s how Elly Hanlon described the Australian Women in Music Awards (AWMA) — an event that’s not just about performers, but about recognising every corner of the industry. Whether you’re behind the scenes, from a remote town, gender diverse, multicultural, or First Nations — AWMA is for you. Elly knows firsthand. As a 2022 re...

Missed National Diabetes Week? Let’s catch up. Michael chats with Gerald Quigley — pharmacist, Master Herbalist, and Black Star regular — about the rising challenge of type 2 diabetes and the signs we shouldn’t ignore. From constant thirst to stubborn skin issues, elevated blood sugar often creeps up without warning. Gerald reminds us that prevention starts with awareness — and a free 5-minute onl...

Rethinking Home — Christine Doan on People Purpose Place What if housing wasn’t just about shelter, but about creating shared community? In this episode, MJ speaks with Christine Doan of People Purpose Place — a new way of living that brings five unrelated people together under one roof, featuring private en-suite rooms and shared spaces. It’s not about owning or renting in the traditional sense....

75 Years Strong — Living and Breathing the Rodeo with President Peter Brown   The 2025 Mareeba Rodeo was a huge success and President Peter Brown caught up with Black Star to reflect on the milestone event — from the incredible turnout to the growing list of highlights, like the debut of the Women’s Ranch Bronc Ride, sold-out camping, the free-style motocross, duck races and so much more!   With m...

Caring for Sea Country — with Brooke Owens from the TUMRA Program In this episode of Stars and Stories, MJ speaks with Brooke Owens, TUMRA Program Manager at the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, about the important work happening across Queensland to protect Sea Country. The Traditional Use of Marine Resources Agreements (TUMRA) Program supports community-led partnerships that honour cult...

Still a Queen — Rodeo Stories with Deputy Mayor of Mareeba, Lenore Wyatt In this episode of Stars and Stories, MJ catches up with Lenore Wyatt — former Rodeo Queen and now Deputy Mayor of Mareeba — for a chat about Rodeo royalty, growing confidence, and the joy of looking back. Lenore takes us back to 1991 — the year she unexpectedly wore the crown at the Mareeba Rodeo — and reflects on the pride...