At 23, everything changed. In this yarn, I sit down with a proud Wakka Wakka and Mandandanji man, Ian Lacey, who opens up about losing his dream of playing professional rugby league and how that moment of failure became the turning point that shaped his life’s work. From sitting down with Wayne Bennett after a career-ending mistake, to navigating the pressure of leadership in community, Ian shares what it really takes to rebuild, stay grounded, and back yourself when things don’t go to plan.

We also dive into the deeper purpose behind his work — creating pathways through sport, supporting mob in community, and building something bigger than the game itself. This yarn is about resilience, accountability, and understanding that sometimes the biggest setbacks can open the right doors — if you’re willing to learn from them.

Key Themes
00:00 Losing a lifelong dream and the moment everything shifted
03:15 Learning from mistakes and building self-belief
08:40 Pressure, accountability, and leading in community
18:20 Life after sport — identity, purpose, and transition
24:10 Creating pathways through sport and giving back
32:30 Advice for young mob chasing high-performance sport

Resources
Arthur Beetson Foundation → https://arthurbeetsonfoundation.com/
13YARN (24/7 support) → https://www.13yarn.org.au
Lifeline Australia → https://www.lifeline.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.

At 23, everything changed. In this yarn, I sit down with a proud Wakka Wakka and Mandandanji man, Ian Lacey, who opens up about losing his dream of playing professional rugby league and how that moment of failure became the turning point that shaped his life&rsquo;s work. From sitting down with Wayne Bennett after a career-ending mistake, to navigating the pressure of leadership in community, Ian shares what it really takes to rebuild, stay grounded, and back yourself when things don&rsquo;t go to plan.
We also dive into the deeper purpose behind his work &mdash; creating pathways through sport, supporting mob in community, and building something bigger than the game itself. This yarn is about resilience, accountability, and understanding that sometimes the biggest setbacks can open the right doors &mdash; if you&rsquo;re willing to learn from them.
Key Themes
<ul data-start="1044" data-end="1437">
<li data-section-id="a0rz82" data-start="1044" data-end="1115">00:00 Losing a lifelong dream and the moment everything shifted</li>
<li data-section-id="bgkvph" data-start="1116" data-end="1177">03:15 Learning from mistakes and building self-belief</li>
<li data-section-id="1p3cwb" data-start="1178" data-end="1242">08:40 Pressure, accountability, and leading in community</li>
<li data-section-id="1hi9jjd" data-start="1243" data-end="1309">18:20 Life after sport &mdash; identity, purpose, and transition</li>
<li data-section-id="1fsfrho" data-start="1310" data-end="1371">24:10 Creating pathways through sport and giving back</li>
<li data-section-id="1342t11" data-start="1372" data-end="1437">32:30 Advice for young mob chasing high-performance sport</li>
</ul>
Resources
<ul data-start="1439" data-end="1665">
<li data-section-id="grqpbf" data-start="1490" data-end="1558">Arthur Beetson Foundation &rarr; <a href="https://arthurbeetsonfoundation.com/" data-start="1520" data-end="1556">https://arthurbeetsonfoundation.com/</a></li>
<li data-section-id="1vjkcmk" data-start="1559" data-end="1612">13YARN (24/7 support) &rarr; <a href="https://www.13yarn.org.au" data-start="1585" data-end="1610">https://www.13yarn.org.au</a></li>
<li data-section-id="qrkgew" data-start="1613" data-end="1665">Lifeline Australia &rarr; <a href="https://www.lifeline.org.au" data-start="1636" data-end="1663">https://www.lifeline.org.au</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
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, <a href="mailto:info@blackmagicwoman.com.au">info@blackmagicwoman.com.au</a>
Black Magic Woman is produced by BlakCast.

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

He Lost the Dream — Then Found His Purpose

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/fa326977-3de5-4283-9b8b-af3500c58607/clips/731138aa-f88f-4c3e-a838-b42b005f4dea/transcript