Black Magic Woman with Mundanara Bayles cover art

Black Magic Woman with Mundanara Bayles

Black Magic Woman with Mundanara Bayles

By: Mundanara Bayles
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About this listen

Hosted by Mundanara Bayles who was born and raised in Redfern (Sydney) Australia and currently lives in Queensland. The Black Magic Woman Podcast is an uplifting conversational style program featuring mainly First Nations people from Australia and around the world sharing their stories about their journey to highlight the diversity amongst First Nations peoples and the resilience of her people. She hopes these stories inspire her listeners and also create a better understanding of what First Nations Peoples culture and history.

Mundanara is guided by Aboriginal Terms of Reference and focusses more on who people are rather than on what they do. Mundanara makes people feel relaxed and comfortable as if they were sitting around the kitchen table just having a yarn. It’s the way First Nations people have been building relationships and getting to know each other for tens of thousands of years. She draws from a long family history in the media industry and has grown up in culturally strong, politically active family who have been at the forefront of the Aboriginal Rights movement since the 1960’s.

Mundanara sees this platform as an opportunity to share her cultural knowledge and insights to her audience in a non confrontational way that brings people along with her to create change for a better Australia. To connect more with Mundanara check out the work she does with her elders at www.theblackcard.com.au

If you'd like to support the show by making a financial contribution, visit www.theblackcard.com.au Any help is appreciated and goes a long way. I encourage to get behind any First Nations media, contribute, share and be apart of positive change that Australia needs.

2026 Mundanara Bayles Economics Social Sciences World
Episodes
  • What We Carry Forward

    What We Carry Forward
    Mar 17 2026

    This episode is in partnership with the Australian Government.

    In this yarn, I sit down with mother and daughter Karla and Lowanna Grant to talk about what legacy really means in our communities — not just in terms of money, but in culture, stories, opportunity and security. We reflect on the journeys that shaped them, from growing up in Housing Commission and witnessing sacrifice, to working hard to create stability and independence for the next generation. It’s a powerful reminder that generational wealth for First Nations people is deeply connected to identity, resilience and the responsibility to carry knowledge forward.

    We also unpack the realities of home ownership, the pressures of cost of living, and the dreams many of our mob hold about creating a safe space to call their own. Karla shares what it meant to buy her first home and the security that brought her young family, while Lowanna reflects on forging her own path — following in her mother’s footsteps while building something uniquely hers. This episode is about perseverance, listening to our Elders, and creating pathways so the next generation can step forward with strength and pride.

    Key Themes

    06:00 Listening and learning from Elders Karla speaks about being taught to observe and listen as a young girl
    15:00 Walking in your parents’ footsteps while making your own mark Lowanna reflects on finding her voice in media
    22:30 What generational wealth means for First Nations families culture, language and stories as legacy
    29:30 Creating security through home ownership and hard work Karla shares buying her first home
    36:00 Cost of living pressures and dreaming of owning a home Lowanna on independence and responsibility
    44:00 Advice for the next generation resilience, saving and setting goals

    Resources

    Living Black (SBS) → https://www.sbs.com.au/ondemand/news-series/living-black
    Access Granted podcast → https://open.spotify.com/show/37bKl1269TIB5AkDzkF9Fj?si=4eeb46e663d74285

    Website: www.blackmagicwoman.com.au

    Follow us on Instagram - @blackmagicwomanpodcast

    If you enjoyed this episode, please ‘Subscribe’ on Apple Podcasts or ‘Follow’ on your Spotify app and tell your friends and family about us! If you’d like to contact us, please email, info@blackmagicwoman.com.au

    Black Magic Woman is produced by BlakCast.

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
    Show More Show Less
    27 mins
  • Bros, Cons & Second Chances

    Bros, Cons & Second Chances
    Mar 4 2026

    In this episode, Mundanara sits down with the three hosts of the Bros and Cons podcast — former gang members who once made headlines for crime and are now mentoring young people, building businesses, and reshaping what strength and leadership look like.

    Jayleks, Malik and Ronnie speak candidly about prison, rap culture, identity and the turning point that led them back to family, heritage and purpose. They unpack media stigma, masculinity, broken families and the responsibility that comes with influence — choosing growth over ego and legacy over reputation.

    A raw and honest yarn about transformation, accountability and standing proud for your people.

    Resources & Links

    🎙️ Listen to Bros and Cons

    Spotify:
    https://open.spotify.com/search/bros%20and%20cons

    YouTube:
    https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=bros+and+cons+podcast

    Justice System Reintegration

    Community Restorative Centre (NSW)
    Support for people leaving prison and rebuilding their lives.
    https://www.crcnsw.org.au

    SHINE for Kids
    Supports children and families impacted by incarceration.
    https://shineforkids.org.au

    Young Men, Mentoring & Identity

    PCYC Australia
    Youth programs, sport, leadership and community support.
    https://www.pcyc.org.au

    Street University
    Creative programs for young people navigating disadvantage.
    https://www.streetuni.org

    Men’s Mental Health & Support

    MensLine Australia
    Support for men navigating relationships, identity and life challenges.
    https://mensline.org.au

    13YARN (for Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander peoples)
    24/7 culturally safe crisis support.
    https://www.13yarn.org.au

    Website: www.blackmagicwoman.com.au

    Follow us on Instagram - @blackmagicwomanpodcast

    If you enjoyed this episode, please ‘Subscribe’ on Apple Podcasts or ‘Follow’ on your Spotify app and tell your friends and family about us! If you’d like to contact us, please email, info@blackmagicwoman.com.au

    Black Magic Woman is produced by BlakCast.

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
    Show More Show Less
    28 mins
  • The Hidden Cost of Staying Silent

    The Hidden Cost of Staying Silent
    Feb 19 2026

    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

    • Elevate Consulting Partners – https://www.elevateconsultingpartners.com.au/

    • Respect@Work: Sexual Harassment National Inquiry Report (2020) – https://www.humanrights.gov.au/sites/default/files/document/publication/ahrc_wsh_report_2020.pdf

    • Independent Review into Commonwealth Parliamentary Workplaces (‘Set the Standard’ Report) – https://humanrights.gov.au/CPWReview

    Website: www.blackmagicwoman.com.au

    Follow us on Instagram - @blackmagicwomanpodcast

    If you enjoyed this episode, please ‘Subscribe’ on Apple Podcasts or ‘Follow’ on your Spotify app and tell your friends and family about us! If you’d like to contact us, please email, info@blackmagicwoman.com.au

    Black Magic Woman is produced by BlakCast.

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
    Show More Show Less
    26 mins
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In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.