By Jennifer Kent
INSPIRED and encouraged by those around him, and by the influence recordings of previous generations had on his own understanding of self, Jinibara man Bj Murphy this month began recording and telling his own personal story through his podcast, ‘Which Way Now?’, which he hopes will resonate, help guide and have a positive impact on all listeners.
Throughout his series, Bj unpacks his own experiences as an Indigenous man, from a young boy struggling to identify in an overwhelmingly western system, to challenges as an adult coming to find himself and the importance of his culture, through to becoming a parent, and everything in between.
He describes it as raw, truthful, open and honest – his story, told by him: “This podcast is my story, a reflection on my journey, my song line.”
Bj reflects that within his own story there are many challenges to coming to be where he is today, and he plans to delve into many different aspects along with guest speakers, such as Spencer Shaw, Lyndon Davies and his Mum, to name few. The hope is to take listeners along that journey and build conversations in which, he admits, will bring up some heavy truths opening old wounds, in order to have a better understanding of his self.
“I had to be careful how I navigated it, to make it my story and not speak on behalf of others,” he said. “I was careful not point the finger, but I wanted it to be raw and truthful. I’m a very open and honest person… this is my story, about me and the raw truth behind it all.”
“People can see what it’s like to unpack, and see what it was and is like for an Indigenous man in today’s society.”
The importance to be there to educate and lead by example is not lost on Bj, who plays an important part in the representation of Indigenous Australians, particularly throughout the Blackall Range. Reflecting on recordings of First Nations Australians, written and otherwise, Bj shared that he was taken back to how beautiful the land was and wanted it to be like that now. That, it seems, forms a large part of what inspires him in the work he does.
“It would have been easy to give up and sell myself out with appropriation, but that’s not me.”
Bj shared that in the early days of the podcast’s conception, whilst yarning with Lyndon Davies he noted the importance of documenting Indigenous life and culture in a modern way. “As an adult I found Willy Mackenzie’s recordings really influential in my own understanding of my culture and life, and I hope that in creating this podcast, I’m adding to that, and helping mobs of the future,” he said. “Who knows, I may change the life of someone who comes across my story in 50 years time.”
The response to BJ’s podcast, he says, has been really positive and he was surprised that after the release of episode 1 people were nudging him for episode 2. And Bj has big plans for the podcast series, hoping to take it on the road down the track, for raw conversation to happen on country. You can listen to Bj’s podcast, by searching ‘Which Way Now?’ on Spotify, under podcasts.
Bj Murphy, Peyton Murphy, Malachi Murphy and Lola Harward