Aunty Beryl has been family to us since the days on the Block, when she and my mum and dad all looked out for one another. I was so happy to sit down with her at the Australian Native Food Festival on Gadigal Country. At 84 she’s just released her first cookbook, and she’s still in the kitchen every day.

We yarned about growing up in Walgett, learning to cook long before most kids would, and building something out of her own pocket when the funding stopped. She also told me why lemon myrtle belongs in every kitchen, and about the dream she’s working on right now for Elders in Redfern.

Aunty Beryl’s Cookbook: Heartwarming recipes and stories of First Nations food (Murdoch Books) is out now through Dymocks, Big W and Amazon.

Episode Resources

Aunty Beryl’s Cookbook: Heartwarming recipes and stories of First Nations food (Murdoch Books)
Available at Dymocks, Big W and Amazon, or support your local independent bookshop:
https://loveyourbookshop.org.au/bestsellers/aunty-beryls-cookbook

Aunty Beryl’s portrait by Dennis Golding at the National Portrait Gallery
https://portrait.gov.au/portraits/2026.15.1-17/aunty-beryl

Read more about Aunty Beryl and her native food knowledge
https://www.newcastleherald.com.au/story/9286710/aunty-beryl-van-oploo-gamilaroi-elder-shares-native-food-wisdom/

After a life of cooking, Aunty Beryl’s portrait now hangs in the national gallery (SBS NITV)
https://www.sbs.com.au/nitv/article/after-a-life-of-cooking-aunty-beryls-portrait-now-hangs-in-the-national-gallery/wlrxenttj

Australian Native Food Festival, presented by Indigiearth
https://www.destinationnsw.com.au/newsroom/australian-native-food-festival-returns-for-2026



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.

Aunty Beryl has been family to us since the days on the Block, when she and my mum and dad all looked out for one another. I was so happy to sit down with her at the Australian Native Food Festival on Gadigal Country. At 84 she&rsquo;s just released her first cookbook, and she&rsquo;s still in the kitchen every day.
We yarned about growing up in Walgett, learning to cook long before most kids would, and building something out of her own pocket when the funding stopped. She also told me why lemon myrtle belongs in every kitchen, and about the dream she&rsquo;s working on right now for Elders in Redfern.
Aunty Beryl&rsquo;s Cookbook: Heartwarming recipes and stories of First Nations food (Murdoch Books) is out now through Dymocks, Big W and Amazon. Episode Resources
Aunty Beryl&rsquo;s Cookbook: Heartwarming recipes and stories of First Nations food (Murdoch Books) Available at Dymocks, Big W and Amazon, or support your local independent bookshop: <a href="https://loveyourbookshop.org.au/bestsellers/aunty-beryls-cookbook">https://loveyourbookshop.org.au/bestsellers/aunty-beryls-cookbook</a>
Aunty Beryl&rsquo;s portrait by Dennis Golding at the National Portrait Gallery <a href="https://portrait.gov.au/portraits/2026.15.1-17/aunty-beryl">https://portrait.gov.au/portraits/2026.15.1-17/aunty-beryl</a>
Read more about Aunty Beryl and her native food knowledge <a href="https://www.newcastleherald.com.au/story/9286710/aunty-beryl-van-oploo-gamilaroi-elder-shares-native-food-wisdom/">https://www.newcastleherald.com.au/story/9286710/aunty-beryl-van-oploo-gamilaroi-elder-shares-native-food-wisdom/</a>
After a life of cooking, Aunty Beryl&rsquo;s portrait now hangs in the national gallery (SBS NITV) <a href="https://www.sbs.com.au/nitv/article/after-a-life-of-cooking-aunty-beryls-portrait-now-hangs-in-the-national-gallery/wlrxenttj">https://www.sbs.com.au/nitv/article/after-a-life-of-cooking-aunty-beryls-portrait-now-hangs-in-the-national-gallery/wlrxenttj</a>
Australian Native Food Festival, presented by Indigiearth <a href="https://www.destinationnsw.com.au/newsroom/australian-native-food-festival-returns-for-2026">https://www.destinationnsw.com.au/newsroom/australian-native-food-festival-returns-for-2026</a> 
Website: <a href="https://www.blackmagicwoman.com.au">www.blackmagicwoman.com.au</a> 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, <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

My Doors Are Always Open

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/fa326977-3de5-4283-9b8b-af3500c58607/clips/647d75da-a4bb-4e0f-a8be-b4ef0014fdff/transcript

I’m coming to you from the Australian Native Food Festival at Carriageworks on Gadigal Country, and I finally sat down with my brother Zach Green. He’s a proud Gunditjmara and Palawa man you might know as the Storyteller Chef.

Zach has built his career on sharing the culture behind our foods, from Elijah’s Kitchen in Darwin to Iluka’s Kitchen in Port Hedland. Now living on Larrakia Country, he’s backing young mob coming up through the kitchen and asking hard questions about who really benefits from the native food industry.

But when I asked him who he is without the titles, his answer had nothing to do with food. We yarn about family, the strong women who shaped him, the dish that keeps his sons’ spirit close, and the legacy he wants to leave.

Pull up a chair, this one’s a good feed.

Resources and links

Zach Green
This chef is telling our stories through food (SBS NITV): https://www.sbs.com.au/nitv/article/this-chef-is-telling-our-stories-through-food/mgd1hmmhj
Cooking and storytelling: crocodile is our culture (SBS Food, Zach on cooking crocodile): https://www.sbs.com.au/food/the-cook-up-with-adam-liaw/article/cooking-with-crocodile/g2riaadx6

Australian Native Food Festival
Carriageworks event page: https://carriageworks.com.au/events/australian-native-food-festival/

IndigiEarth
Aboriginal-owned native food business founded by Weilwan woman Sharon Winsor, who leads the festival.
https://indigiearth.com.au

Gather Foods
Majority Aboriginal-owned and led food business in Perth, where Zach helped a young chef land an apprenticeship.
https://www.gatherfoods.com.au

Who owns the native food industry
Master chef urges Indigenous native food businesses to get slice of $80m pie (NIT): https://nit.com.au/10-11-2023/8571/master-chef-urges-indigenous-native-food-businesses-to-get-slice-of-80m-pie

Support
Zach speaks about losing his children. If anything in this episode brings up something for you, support is there: 13YARN on 13 92 76 (First Nations crisis support, 24/7) or Lifeline on 13 11 14.

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.

I&rsquo;m coming to you from the Australian Native Food Festival at Carriageworks on Gadigal Country, and I finally sat down with my brother Zach Green. He&rsquo;s a proud Gunditjmara and Palawa man you might know as the Storyteller Chef.
Zach has built his career on sharing the culture behind our foods, from Elijah&rsquo;s Kitchen in Darwin to Iluka&rsquo;s Kitchen in Port Hedland. Now living on Larrakia Country, he&rsquo;s backing young mob coming up through the kitchen and asking hard questions about who really benefits from the native food industry.
But when I asked him who he is without the titles, his answer had nothing to do with food. We yarn about family, the strong women who shaped him, the dish that keeps his sons&rsquo; spirit close, and the legacy he wants to leave.
Pull up a chair, this one&rsquo;s a good feed.
Resources and links
Zach Green
<ul dir="ltr">
<li>This chef is telling our stories through food (SBS NITV): <a href="https://www.sbs.com.au/nitv/article/this-chef-is-telling-our-stories-through-food/mgd1hmmhj">https://www.sbs.com.au/nitv/article/this-chef-is-telling-our-stories-through-food/mgd1hmmhj</a></li>
<li>Cooking and storytelling: crocodile is our culture (SBS Food, Zach on cooking crocodile): <a href="https://www.sbs.com.au/food/the-cook-up-with-adam-liaw/article/cooking-with-crocodile/g2riaadx6">https://www.sbs.com.au/food/the-cook-up-with-adam-liaw/article/cooking-with-crocodile/g2riaadx6</a></li>
</ul>
Australian Native Food Festival
<ul dir="ltr">
<li>Carriageworks event page: <a href="https://carriageworks.com.au/events/australian-native-food-festival/">https://carriageworks.com.au/events/australian-native-food-festival/</a></li>
</ul>
IndigiEarth Aboriginal-owned native food business founded by Weilwan woman Sharon Winsor, who leads the festival.
<ul dir="ltr">
<li><a href="https://indigiearth.com.au">https://indigiearth.com.au</a></li>
</ul>
Gather Foods Majority Aboriginal-owned and led food business in Perth, where Zach helped a young chef land an apprenticeship.
<ul dir="ltr">
<li><a href="https://www.gatherfoods.com.au">https://www.gatherfoods.com.au</a></li>
</ul>
Who owns the native food industry
<ul dir="ltr">
<li>Master chef urges Indigenous native food businesses to get slice of $80m pie (NIT): <a href="https://nit.com.au/10-11-2023/8571/master-chef-urges-indigenous-native-food-businesses-to-get-slice-of-80m-pie">https://nit.com.au/10-11-2023/8571/master-chef-urges-indigenous-native-food-businesses-to-get-slice-of-80m-pie</a></li>
</ul>
Support Zach speaks about losing his children. If anything in this episode brings up something for you, support is there: 13YARN on 13 92 76 (First Nations crisis support, 24/7) or Lifeline on 13 11 14.
Website: <a href="https://www.blackmagicwoman.com.au">www.blackmagicwoman.com.au</a> 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, <a href="mailto:info@blackmagicwoman.com.au">info@blackmagicwoman.com.au</a>
Black Magic Woman is produced by BlakCast.

Every Ingredient Has a Story

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/fa326977-3de5-4283-9b8b-af3500c58607/clips/7d74e230-2b0c-451e-93a0-b4e100587387/transcript

I spent the weekend at the second annual Australian Native Food Festival at Carriageworks on Gadigal Country in Redfern, presented by Sharon Winsor and IndigiEarth, and I brought you with me.

I moved stall to stall, yarning with the mob who grow, make and lead this native food and botanical industry. Tara Croker from Yaala Sparkling, Aunty Pat Torres, relaunching the First Nations Bushfood and Botanical Alliance and doing beautiful things on Country in Broome. The crews at Kakadu Organics, The Unexpected Guest, Wild Foods, Jala Jala Treats and Native Botanical Brewery. Bush food growers Kate and Pete on their new book. And my deadly sister Mindy Woods.

One truth ran through every yarn. Our mob make up less than 2% of a native food industry worth more than a billion dollars. Not because we don't want to lead it, but because of the barriers put in our way. Every business you hear today is one of ours. Meet them, learn who they are, and get behind them long after the festival packs down.

Every business is linked in the show notes. Support Blak. Buy from mob!

Businesses in this episode:
IndigiEarth (Sharon Winsor): https://indigiearth.com.au
Yaala Sparkling (Tara Croker): https://yaalasparkling.com
Mayi Harvests (Aunty Pat Torres): https://www.mayiharvests.com.au
First Nations Bushfood & Botanical Alliance Australia: https://www.fnbbaa.org.au
The Unexpected Guest: https://theunexpectedguest.com
Kakadu Organics: https://www.instagram.com/kakaduorgnics
Jala Jala Treats: https://www.jalajala.com.au
Native Botanical Brewery: https://nativebotanicalbrewery.org
Karkalla / Mindy Woods: https://www.karkalla.com.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.

 

I spent the weekend at the second annual Australian Native Food Festival at Carriageworks on Gadigal Country in Redfern, presented by Sharon Winsor and IndigiEarth, and I brought you with me.
I moved stall to stall, yarning with the mob who grow, make and lead this native food and botanical industry. Tara Croker from Yaala Sparkling, Aunty Pat Torres, relaunching the First Nations Bushfood and Botanical Alliance and doing beautiful things on Country in Broome. The crews at Kakadu Organics, The Unexpected Guest, Wild Foods, Jala Jala Treats and Native Botanical Brewery. Bush food growers Kate and Pete on their new book. And my deadly sister Mindy Woods.
One truth ran through every yarn. Our mob make up less than 2% of a native food industry worth more than a billion dollars. Not because we don't want to lead it, but because of the barriers put in our way. Every business you hear today is one of ours. Meet them, learn who they are, and get behind them long after the festival packs down.
Every business is linked in the show notes. Support Blak. Buy from mob!
Businesses in this episode:
<ul dir="ltr">
<li>IndigiEarth (Sharon Winsor): <a href="https://indigiearth.com.au">https://indigiearth.com.au</a></li>
<li>Yaala Sparkling (Tara Croker): <a href="https://yaalasparkling.com">https://yaalasparkling.com</a></li>
<li>Mayi Harvests (Aunty Pat Torres): <a href="https://www.mayiharvests.com.au">https://www.mayiharvests.com.au</a></li>
<li>First Nations Bushfood &amp; Botanical Alliance Australia: <a href="https://www.fnbbaa.org.au">https://www.fnbbaa.org.au</a></li>
<li>The Unexpected Guest: <a href="https://theunexpectedguest.com">https://theunexpectedguest.com</a></li>
<li>Kakadu Organics: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/kakaduorgnics">https://www.instagram.com/kakaduorgnics</a></li>
<li>Jala Jala Treats: <a href="https://www.jalajala.com.au">https://www.jalajala.com.au</a></li>
<li>Native Botanical Brewery: <a href="https://nativebotanicalbrewery.org">https://nativebotanicalbrewery.org</a></li>
<li>Karkalla / Mindy Woods: <a href="https://www.karkalla.com.au">https://www.karkalla.com.au</a></li>
</ul>
Website: <a href="https://www.blackmagicwoman.com.au">www.blackmagicwoman.com.au</a> 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, <a href="mailto:info@blackmagicwoman.com.au">info@blackmagicwoman.com.au</a>
Black Magic Woman is produced by BlakCast.
&nbsp;

Yarns from the Australian Native Food Festival

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/fa326977-3de5-4283-9b8b-af3500c58607/clips/dba25a26-6358-44f8-99e8-b4d4006826da/transcript

My husband Peace has been telling me for ages, you have to get this bala on your podcast. So when I got to Sydney, I sat down with Leon Filewood on Cammeraygal Country and we had the yarn I had been waiting for.

Leon grew up on Waiben, Thursday Island. He went from the courtroom to the comedy club, and there is a story behind why he made that jump that I did not see coming.

We yarn about imposter syndrome, about the shame that holds our mob back from their full potential, and about why every joke he tells has a message sitting underneath the laugh.

He is a Deadly Funny winner and a Moosehead Award recipient, and he has taken his shows Which Way and Holding Space around the country.

Have a listen.

Links and Resources

Instagram: @laf_comedy

Deadly Funny
The Melbourne International Comedy Festival's development program for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander performers. Free workshops and community shows around the country, no experience needed. Leon won the national final and now delivers the workshops himself.
https://www.deadlyfunny.com.au/

Support
13YARN, 13 92 76, 24 hours, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander crisis support line
Lifeline, 13 11 14

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.

My husband Peace has been telling me for ages, you have to get this bala on your podcast. So when I got to Sydney, I sat down with Leon Filewood on Cammeraygal Country and we had the yarn I had been waiting for.
Leon grew up on Waiben, Thursday Island. He went from the courtroom to the comedy club, and there is a story behind why he made that jump that I did not see coming.
We yarn about imposter syndrome, about the shame that holds our mob back from their full potential, and about why every joke he tells has a message sitting underneath the laugh.
He is a Deadly Funny winner and a Moosehead Award recipient, and he has taken his shows Which Way and Holding Space around the country.
Have a listen.
Links and Resources
Instagram: @laf_comedy
Deadly Funny The Melbourne International Comedy Festival's development program for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander performers. Free workshops and community shows around the country, no experience needed. Leon won the national final and now delivers the workshops himself. <a href="https://www.deadlyfunny.com.au/">https://www.deadlyfunny.com.au/</a>
Support 13YARN, 13 92 76, 24 hours, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander crisis support line Lifeline, 13 11 14
Website: <a href="https://www.blackmagicwoman.com.au">www.blackmagicwoman.com.au</a> 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, <a href="mailto:info@blackmagicwoman.com.au">info@blackmagicwoman.com.au</a>
Black Magic Woman is produced by BlakCast.

The Joke Lands First. The Truth Lands Second.

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/fa326977-3de5-4283-9b8b-af3500c58607/clips/f991c030-0ab5-4552-9fb5-b4c70001514f/transcript

My Doors Are Always Open

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