Black Magic Woman with Mundanara Bayles

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 new and improved Black Magic Woman Podcast coming your way.

Thank you for your continued support — we can’t wait to bring you a fresh season of powerful storytelling, leadership, and Blak excellence in 2026.

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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 Gale squad. In 2025, she joined the Wests Tigers NRLW as a development player.

Aaliyah’s insights remind us that mental fitness is about surrounding yourself with people who lift you up, staying proud of where you come from and trusting your own path.

Whether you’re an athlete, a student or just navigating life’s ups and downs, this episode is a reminder that small actions - like leaning on your mates, practising gratitude and staying connected - can make a big difference to your mental wellbeing.

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 in vulnerability and surrounding yourself with people who lift you up.

Wendell also shares the importance of representation, and how seeing yourself reflected in culture and community can strengthen confidence and self-belief.

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 her parents to defend her homeland, Lala reminds us that caring for Country isn’t just environmental work — it’s cultural survival.

Together, we yarn about the Torres Strait 8, youth leadership, the importance of elders’ guidance, and how connection to Country keeps language alive. Lala’s words are powerful and grounding — a reminder that protecting the planet begins with listening to those who live closest to it.

🎧 Tune in to hear a deeply moving conversation about family, resistance, and hope — and why, as Lala says, “Country breathes the language to us.”

Resources & Links

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 cultural identity, safe spaces for open conversation and how meaningful connection can break cycles of disconnection and pain.