Stars and Stories: The Black Star Radio Podcast

In this episode, MJ speaks with Elder Alwyn Lyall about a situation unfolding in Lakefield National Park and concerns he has raised about the removal of crocodiles from the area.

Alwyn describes two crocodiles being taken from the park. He says one appeared to be in poor condition and that he has been told it was euthanised. He says the status of the other, known locally as Old Faithful, remains unclear.

In this conversation, Alwyn...

This week on Stars and Stories, Gerald Quigley explores something simple many of us grew up with, having a cup of tea to wind down.

But there’s more to it than just habit.

Tea contains an amino acid called L-theanine, which helps calm a busy mind. When combined with magnesium (known for supporting muscle relaxation), it may help improve sleep quality over time.

This combinatio...

This week on Stars and Stories, Gerald Quigley shares a powerful reminder about heart health , and why feeling “fine” doesn’t always mean you are.

He recounts stories of two men, both symptom-free, who went for routine checks:

• One needed a double bypass within days

• The other underwent a quadruple bypass shortly after testing

Neither expected it.

How the Wet Weather Is Affecting the Tablelands

This week on Stars and Stories, MJ speaks with Rod Marti, Mayor of the Tablelands Regional Council about the impact of ongoing wet weather across the region.

While the cyclone itself didn’t directly hit, current weather has left the ground saturated, dams overflowing, and paddocks waterlogged.

For farmers, it means delays — not b...

After a Cyclone: Clean-Up Comes With Hidden Health Risks

This week on Stars and Stories, MJ speaks with Torres and Cape Hospital and Health Service Public Health Medical Officer Dr Helen Pedgrift about what happens after a cyclone, and why the clean-up can carry serious health risks.

Floodwater isn’t just messy — it can carry bacteria that lead to skin infections and gastro. Even small cuts...

This week on Stars and Stories, MJ is joined by Gerald Quigley to talk about something many people don’t realise is increasing — young onset dementia.

Around 29,000 Australians under 65 are currently living with it. It’s not a different type of dementia — it’s defined by the age at diagnosis. And while we often associate dementia with much older people, that assumption doesn’t always hold true.

On Stars and Stories, MJ sits down with Gerald Quigley to unpack migraines — and why they’re very different from a standard headache.

Gerald explains that migraines can involve intense one-sided pain, nausea, vomiting, digestive upset, visual disturbances — and sometimes even no headache at all. (Yes, “silent migraines” are real.)

Triggers vary from person to person. Stress is common, but h...

On Stars and Stories, MJ is joined by Gerald Quigley for a timely conversation about heart health — and the very real impact stress is having on Australians.

With cost-of-living pressures weighing heavily on so many people, Gerald explains how ongoing stress can quietly increase the risk of heart disease. Financial stress, work pressure, relationship changes, even retirement — it all adds up, and for som...

On Stars & Stories, MJ is joined by Gerald Quigley for an important conversation about sleep — and why poor sleep can be more dangerous than many people realise.

Gerald explains how conditions like sleep apnoea can cause the body to stop breathing during the night, often without the person even knowing it’s happening. Warning signs can include loud snoring followed by long pauses, waking with a dry m...

MJ and Gerald Quigley dive into an important and often overlooked topic — social frailty — and what it means for health, wellbeing, and long-term cognitive health.

Gerald explains social frailty as a lack of meaningful social connection, limited support networks, and reduced access to resources — something recent Australian research has linked to a higher risk of dementia. While many assume this isn’t a ...

In a lighter and more playful episode, MJ and Gerald Quigley chat about food preferences, comfort meals, and what our go-to foods might say about us — without judgement.

From chicken wings and fish and chips to lamb cutlets with mash, peas, thick gravy and mint jelly, the conversation moves beyond rules and restrictions and back to enjoyment. Gerald reminds listeners that food isn’t just fuel — it’s info...

In this episode, MJ is joined by Gerald Quigley — practising Community Pharmacist and Accredited Master Herbalist — for a practical chat about travelling with medications, especially during the holiday season.

Gerald shares simple but important planning tips for anyone travelling interstate or overseas, including how to store medications in hot climates, why it’s smart to split essential medicines betwee...

When to Seek Fertility Help: A Conversation with Gerald Quigley

1 in 6 couples in Australia experience fertility challenges — and it’s a topic that needs more open discussion. In this segment, Gerald Quigley, pharmacist and master herbalist, breaks down what to know and when to take action:

• If you’re under 35 and haven’t conceived after 12 months — it’s time to see your G...

A Common-Sense Guide to Healthy Eating

Forget the trends — true healthy eating is simpler than you think. In this episode, Gerald Quigley breaks down the basics:

• Carbs, Protein & Fats

• The Truth around Fat

• Protein with Purpose 

• Rethink “Clean Eating” 

Gerald also highlights the value of enjoying food again — like your morning coffee — without g...

In this episode, MJV speaks with Penny Larsen, National Manager of Education at Royal Life Saving Australia, about the heartbreaking reality of child drownings in Australia.

Over the past 10 years, 183 children aged 0–4 have lost their lives to drowning — the majority in backyard swimming pools.

With summer approaching fast (and already here in Far North Queensland), Penny shares four essen...

This week, MJ sat down with Pharmacist and Master Herbalist Gerald Quigley for an honest chat about International Men’s Day — and the power of simply opening up. Gerald dove into why International Men’s Day is the perfect reminder that we don’t have to carry everything on our own. He talks about the shift away from “bottling things up,” the power of sharing what’s going on, and why opening up isn’t a sign of weakness. It’s often t...

In this important episode, MJ sits down with Gerald Quigley to uncover surprising — and potentially life-saving — truths about heart health in women.

Gerald shares sobering statistics: heart disease kills more than twice as many Australian women as breast cancer, and 40% of heart attacks in women are fatal. Even more concerning? Many of these attacks occur without the classic warning signs we’ve been tau...