Stars and Stories: The Black Star Radio Podcast

Black Star Radio and QRAM (Queensland Remote Aboriginal Media)

Broadcasting straight from the heart of Remote Communities, Black Star Radio brings a fresh twist to local radio with stories, music, and connections that matter. Powered by Queensland Remote Aboriginal Media (QRAM), we’re here to amplify voices, celebrate culture, and bring you the latest from Far North Queensland.

  1. 4 DAYS AGO

    Could Your Medication Be Affecting Your Energy?

    This week on Stars and Stories, Gerald Quigley explains why vitamin B12 is essential — and how some common medications may lower your levels. Vitamin B12 plays a role in: • Brain function and concentration • Energy levels • Nerve health Certain medications, including those used for diabetes and reflux, can reduce B12 over time. For some people, symptoms like low energy or poor focus may be linked — but go unnoticed. Gerald’s advice is simple: if you’re on these medications, it’s worth checking your levels with your GP. Listen now where you get your podcasts or head to our website to learn more. ----more---- Stars and Stories Broadcasting straight from the heart of Remote Communities, Black Star Radio brings a fresh twist to local radio with stories, music, and connections that matter. Powered by Queensland Remote Aboriginal Media (QRAM), we’re here to amplify voices, celebrate culture, and bring you the latest from Far North Queensland. Learn more: https://blackstarradio.com.au Meet Gerald Gerald Quigley is a practising Community Pharmacist, as well as an Accredited Herbalist. Gerald is a Pharmacist and Master Herbalist based in Melbourne. He is a media health commentator heard each week on many radio stations.    He is co-hosts the House of Wellness radio program heard each Sunday on the Nine Radio Network live across Australia.  Gerald is a Fellow of the Naturopaths and Herbalists Association of Australia and Fellow of the Australian Traditional Medicine Society.  Gerald’s passion is to empower each person to make sensible health decisions, and to continually maintain and improve their quality of life, especially as they age.  Contact: https://www.geraldquigley.com/contact

    3 min
  2. 22 APR

    Creating Space for the Next Generation of First Nations Designers featuring Dr. Grace Lillian Lee

    In this episode, Lauren Grace speaks with Dr. Grace Lillian Lee, founder of First Nations Fashion and Design, about the journey behind her work and the purpose driving it forward. Grace shares how FNFD began, not as a brand, but as a collective of First Nations designers creating together and exploring identity through fashion, art, and culture. From early showcases on Country in Yarrabah to the first all-Indigenous runway at Australian Fashion Week, this conversation reflects on what it means to walk in two worlds, holding cultural responsibility while navigating the fashion industry. Grace also reflects on her time in Paris, from working with Jean Paul Gaultier to completing a residency and launching her own couture collection,  and how that experience sparked a stronger focus on showing up globally, knowing those opportunities won’t always come to Cairns. At the centre of Grace’s journey is a clear focus, creating space, building pathways, and supporting the next generation of First Nations designers to step into the industry with confidence. Listen now to the full interview. ----more---- Stars and Stories Broadcasting straight from the heart of Remote Communities, Black Star Radio brings a fresh twist to local radio with stories, music, and connections that matter. Powered by Queensland Remote Aboriginal Media (QRAM), we’re here to amplify voices, celebrate culture, and bring you the latest from Far North Queensland. Learn more: https://blackstarradio.com.au   Meet Grace Dr. Grace Lillian Lee is a multicultural Australian artist and leader, known for her unique blend of traditional and contemporary art forms. She graduated with Honors in Fashion Design from RMIT in 2010 and received an honorary doctorate from the University of Technology, Sydney in 2025. Lee's artistic journey began with "grasshopper weaving," taught by her mentor, Dr. Uncle Ken Thaiday, leading to her large-scale and wearable body sculptures that reflect family stories and cultural heritage. In 2017, she founded First Nations Fashion Design, promoting Indigenous cultural expression in fashion and art. Her work is showcased in notable institutions like the National Gallery of Australia and the Kluge-Ruhe Collection. Lee has collaborated with renowned artists and was named Indigenous Designer of the Year at the Australian Fashion Laureate Award in 2024. She made history in 2025 as the first Indigenous Australian to present at Paris Couture Fashion Week, earning recognition on the Business of Fashion 500 list. FNFD Web: https://firstnationsfashiondesign.com/pages/about-us FNFD Insta: https://www.instagram.com/first.nations.fashion.design/ FNFD FB: https://www.facebook.com/firstnationsfashiondesign

    14 min
  3. 9 APR

    Low Vitamin C: More Common Than You Think

    This week on Stars and Stories, Gerald Quigley unpacks surprising findings from a large hospital study on vitamin C levels. Out of 12,000 tests, around one-third of people had low levels, something many wouldn’t expect. There aren’t always obvious symptoms, but signs can include: • Fatigue • Slow wound healing The solution is often simple, fresh fruit, vegetables, and consistent intake. Listen now where you get your podcasts or head to our website to learn more. ----more---- Stars and Stories Broadcasting straight from the heart of Remote Communities, Black Star Radio brings a fresh twist to local radio with stories, music, and connections that matter. Powered by Queensland Remote Aboriginal Media (QRAM), we’re here to amplify voices, celebrate culture, and bring you the latest from Far North Queensland. Learn more: https://blackstarradio.com.au Meet Gerald Gerald Quigley is a practising Community Pharmacist, as well as an Accredited Herbalist. Gerald is a Pharmacist and Master Herbalist based in Melbourne. He is a media health commentator heard each week on many radio stations.    He is co-hosts the House of Wellness radio program heard each Sunday on the Nine Radio Network live across Australia.  Gerald is a Fellow of the Naturopaths and Herbalists Association of Australia and Fellow of the Australian Traditional Medicine Society.  Gerald’s passion is to empower each person to make sensible health decisions, and to continually maintain and improve their quality of life, especially as they age.  Contact: https://www.geraldquigley.com/contact

    3 min
  4. 7 APR

    Scams Are Getting Smarter, Here’s What to Watch For

    In this episode, Lauren Grace speaks with Alex Price-Busch, a First Nations financial counsellor from ICAN, about the scams currently affecting communities across Far North Queensland and the Cape. Alex explains how scams are evolving and why they can be hard to spot,  especially when they come from people pretending to be someone you know, government agencies, or even online relationships. He shares some of the common scams being seen right now, including: • Fake social media accounts  • Romance scams • Online gambling-style scams • Calls pretending to be from Government agencies Alex also offers practical advice on how to protect yourself, from checking who you’re speaking to, to avoiding links and payment requests that don’t feel right. The key message? If something feels off, trust your gut. Listen now to the full interview. ----more---- Stars and Stories Broadcasting straight from the heart of Remote Communities, Black Star Radio brings a fresh twist to local radio with stories, music, and connections that matter. Powered by Queensland Remote Aboriginal Media (QRAM), we’re here to amplify voices, celebrate culture, and bring you the latest from Far North Queensland. Learn more: https://blackstarradio.com.au Meet Alex Alex Price-Busch is a First Nations Financial Counsellor and systemic advocate who works at the Indigenous Consumer Assistance Network (ICAN). Alex provides financial counselling to services to mob across Far North Queensland and throughout the Cape. In nearly 6 years of working at ICAN, he has assisted many people to work through their financial issues and participated in advocacy campaigns such as Save Sorry Business, which resulted in the government establishing a remediation program for First Nations people who were left with nothing after the funeral insurance company, Youpla, collapsed. Contact ICAN here for more information: https://ican.org.au/

    26 min

About

Broadcasting straight from the heart of Remote Communities, Black Star Radio brings a fresh twist to local radio with stories, music, and connections that matter. Powered by Queensland Remote Aboriginal Media (QRAM), we’re here to amplify voices, celebrate culture, and bring you the latest from Far North Queensland.