This week, we’re revisiting one of our most powerful and thought-provoking yarns—with the legendary Uncle Bruce Pascoe. A proud Bunurong, Tasmanian, and Yuin man, Uncle Bruce is a celebrated author, historian, and farmer, best known for his groundbreaking book Dark Emu. In this episode, we dive deep into the truth-telling of our past, and the future we can create through Indigenous knowledge, self-determination, and sustainable land practices.

Uncle Bruce shares stories of resilience, the revival of traditional Aboriginal agriculture, and the importance of defining ourselves—on our own terms. From revitalising native grains on his farm to pushing back against systemic racism and the myth of the ‘hunter-gatherer’, this conversation is as inspiring as it is urgent.

Whether this is your first listen or a return to a favourite, this yarn reminds us why truth-telling and cultural knowledge must be at the heart of Australia’s journey forward.

Recommendations throughout this episode: 

• Books by Bruce Pascoe:

  • Dark Emu – Black Seeds: Agriculture or Accident?
    https://www.magabala.com/products/dark-emu

  • Young Dark Emu – A Truer History
    https://www.magabala.com/products/young-dark-emu

  • Loving Country: A Guide to Sacred Australia (co-authored with Vicky Shukuroglou)
    https://www.hardiegrant.com/au/publishing/bookfinder/book/loving-country-by-bruce-pascoe/9781741176483

  Agricultural & Cultural Projects:

  • Black Duck Foods – Indigenous social enterprise reviving traditional food systems
    https://blackduckfoods.com.au

  Educational Resources:

  • First Australians – SBS Documentary Series
    https://www.sbs.com.au/ondemand/program/first-australians

  • Dark Emu Study Guide – Reading Australia
    https://readingaustralia.com.au/books/dark-emu/

  • AIATSIS Map of Indigenous Australia
    https://aiatsis.gov.au/explore/map-indigenous-australia

Website: www.blackmagicwoman.com.au

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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.

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