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.

From her early days in Murgon to her rise on stage and screen, this yarn touches on family, cultural survival, domestic violence, self-determination, and the power of Blak women’s voices. Leah’s journey is one of perseverance, purpose, and deadly storytelling—and a reminder that when we back ourselves, we bring our whole mob with us.

Whether it’s your first listen or a return to a favourite, this episode is a masterclass in resilience, creativity, and community power.

🔗 Resources from this episode:
ABC News Feature: Leah Purcell weaves her Indigenous Songlines into new film Leah discusses how her personal history influenced her adaptation of The Drover's Wife. Watch here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ka14nZDyv0s


Eye For Film Interview: Leah Purcell about The Drover’s Wife
A conversation about the challenges and inspirations behind her film adaptation.
Read more: https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/feature/2021-03-18-interview-with-leah-purcell-about-the-drovers-wife-the-legend-of-molly-johnson-feature-story-by-jennie-kermode


ACMI: Leah Purcell on reclaiming The Drover’s Wife
An exploration of Leah's Blak feminist retelling of Lawson’s classic.
Read here: https://www.acmi.net.au/stories-and-ideas/leah-purcell-on-reclaiming-the-drovers-wife-with-the-legend-of-molly-johnson/Overland literary journal+3acmi.net.au+3The New Daily+3


Flicks Interview: Leah Purcell on the long journey of The Drover’s Wife
Insights into the political power of the western genre and Leah's creative process.
Read here: https://www.flicks.co.uk/features/leah-purcell-on-the-long-journey-of-the-drovers-wife-and-the-political-power-of-the-western/

Website: www.blackmagicwoman.com.au

Follow us on Instagram - @blackmagicwomanpodcast

The Black Magic Woman Podcast is hosted by Mundanara Bayles and is an uplifting conversational style program featuring mainly Aboriginal guests and explores issues of importance to Aboriginal people and communities.  Mundanara is guided by Aboriginal Terms of Reference and focusses more on who people are rather than on what they do.

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

We&rsquo;re revisiting one of our most powerful and inspiring episodes with the legendary Leah Purcell&mdash;award-winning actor, writer, director, and proud Goa-Gunggari-Wakka Wakka Murri woman. Leah shares the deeply personal story behind The Drover&rsquo;s Wife: The Legend of Molly Johnson, and how her mother, grandmother, and community shaped her fire as a truth-teller and creative force.
From her early days in Murgon to her rise on stage and screen, this yarn touches on family, cultural survival, domestic violence, self-determination, and the power of Blak women&rsquo;s voices. Leah&rsquo;s journey is one of perseverance, purpose, and deadly storytelling&mdash;and a reminder that when we back ourselves, we bring our whole mob with us.
Whether it&rsquo;s your first listen or a return to a favourite, this episode is a masterclass in resilience, creativity, and community power.
🔗 Resources from this episode:
<ul>
<li data-start="831" data-end="1101">ABC News Feature: Leah Purcell weaves her Indigenous Songlines into new film Leah discusses how her personal history influenced her adaptation of The Drover's Wife.&nbsp;Watch here: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ka14nZDyv0s" data-start="972" data-end="1062">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ka14nZDyv0s</a></li>
<li data-start="1103" data-end="1588">
Eye For Film Interview: Leah Purcell about The Drover&rsquo;s Wife A conversation about the challenges and inspirations behind her film adaptation. Read more: <a data-start="1229" data-end="1549">https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/feature/2021-03-18-interview-with-leah-purcell-about-the-drovers-wife-the-legend-of-molly-johnson-feature-story-by-jennie-kermode</a>
</li>
<li data-start="1627" data-end="2024">
ACMI: Leah Purcell on reclaiming The Drover&rsquo;s Wife An exploration of Leah's Blak feminist retelling of Lawson&rsquo;s classic. Read here: <a data-start="1743" data-end="1985">https://www.acmi.net.au/stories-and-ideas/leah-purcell-on-reclaiming-the-drovers-wife-with-the-legend-of-molly-johnson/</a><a href="https://www.acmi.net.au/stories-and-ideas/leah-purcell-on-reclaiming-the-drovers-wife-with-the-legend-of-molly-johnson/?utm_source=chatgpt.com">Overland literary journal+3acmi.net.au+3The New Daily+3</a>
</li>
<li data-start="2026" data-end="2458">
Flicks Interview: Leah Purcell on the long journey of The Drover&rsquo;s Wife Insights into the political power of the western genre and Leah's creative process. Read here: <a data-start="2163" data-end="2419">https://www.flicks.co.uk/features/leah-purcell-on-the-long-journey-of-the-drovers-wife-and-the-political-power-of-the-western/</a>
</li>
</ul>
Website:&nbsp;<a href="https://open.acast.com/www.blackmagicwoman.com.au">www.blackmagicwoman.com.au</a>
Follow us on Instagram - @blackmagicwomanpodcast
The Black Magic Woman Podcast is hosted by Mundanara Bayles and is an uplifting conversational style program featuring mainly Aboriginal guests and explores issues of importance to Aboriginal people and communities.&nbsp;&nbsp;Mundanara is guided by Aboriginal Terms of Reference and focusses more on who people are rather than on what they do.
If you enjoyed this episode, please &lsquo;Subscribe&rsquo; on Apple Podcasts or &lsquo;Follow&rsquo; on your Spotify app and tell your friends and family about us! If you&rsquo;d like to contact us, please email, info@blackmagicwoman.com.au

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.

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.
&nbsp;
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&rsquo;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&rsquo;s.
&nbsp;
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 <a href="https://www.theblackcard.com.au">www.theblackcard.com.au</a>
&nbsp;
If you'd like to support the show by making a financial contribution, visit <a href="https://www.theblackcard.com.au">www.theblackcard.com.au</a> 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.

Black Magic Woman with Mundanara Bayles

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 https://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.

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 https://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.

Black Magic Woman

Best Of: Leah Purcell – Blak Women, Blak Stories, Blak Strength

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/fa326977-3de5-4283-9b8b-af3500c58607/clips/e2cad16d-6c58-4cdd-8ab1-b2dc002b5529/transcript