The following article includes the topics of suicide and mental health.

A new podcast plans to be an example of First Nations people engaging in conversations on mental fitness for the better.

'Mental Fitness Conversations', hosted by award-winning Indigenous businesswoman and voice of award-winning podcast Black Magic Woman, Mundanara Bayles, launched the first of its 10-episode series featuring raw talks from 10 prominent Indigenous guests on Wednesday.

The series is delivered in partnership between Black Magic Woman and suicide prevention and wellbeing-focused non-for-profit foundation Gotcha4Life, produced by BlakCast.

"It's an opportunity for us to tell our stories on our own terms and to try and connect with the broader community through our shared experiences - whether they're uplifting, positive or even some of our darkest days," Ms Bayles told National Indigenous Times.

It also features their culturally grounded approaches to emotional health.

"It's for all people from all walks of lives, but we're using First Nations stories to try and get these messages out there to everyone," Ms Bayles said.

Confirmed guests include three-time jiu-jitsu world champion, author and youth-focused foundation Kiilalaana founder Shantelle Thompson, comedian and actor Steph Tisdell, Black Dog Institute First Nations Strategy and Partnerships director and psychologist Dr Clinton Schultz, presenter and queer Indigenous activist Matty Mills and actor and youth advocate Quaden Bayles.

"We're trying to lead by example. Here we are opening up our lives to the rest of the world, sharing some of our darkest, deepest, most personal stories that a lot of these guests have never spoken about publicly," Ms Bayles said.

"At the end of the day, we want people to take action," she added, "that's the main message."

For Ms Bayles, its families and communities which stand alongside the services and resources available, "who are going to be there for us".

She added it's time to change perspectives and narratives about being open and honest about people putting their hands up, particularly amongst men, and to make a positive shift for future generations.

That starts with young people, Ms Bayles said, who Gotcha4Life puts their time into.

Established by media personality Gus Worland in 2017, the foundation develops and delivers preventative campaigns, workshops, programs and resources across the country through schools, workplaces, sports clubs and communities.

Their mission is to inspire and enable people to take action to build their mental fitness with the vision of 'a suicide-free world, where no one worries alone'.

Suicide is a leading cause of death for Indigenous Australians, with suicide rates 2.9 times higher amongst First Nations males compared to non-Indigenous males, and 2.6 times higher amongst First Nations females compared to non-Indigenous females, according to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare.

Ms Balyes is a board member at Gotcha4Life.

She says the work they're doing with young people "building the mental fitness and the emotional muscles of young people to be able to give them the tools and the resources on how to deal with life from primary school age" is critically important work.

When Ms Bayles joined board she worked at broadening its reach in Indigenous communities.

"I think with a podcast, the power of storytelling, we're giving people from our community, that have different experiences, (opportunity) to come on the podcast and talk about some of their mental health challenges, some of the services that they utilised, or just some of the tools that they practiced," Ms Bayles said.

"We want our mob to tell their stories that are strength based. We don't want the negative deficit narrative that's out there all the time when it comes to blackfellas.

"It's a strength-based uplifting conversation with a diverse range of First Nations people that focuses on culture, connection, community and resilience."

Gotcha4Life chief executive Belinda Elworthy said: "Mental fitness is like physical fitness – it's something we can all build with small, everyday actions."

"This podcast is about giving people the tools to do that, in a way that's culturally safe and community led."

Ms Bayles made particular mention of BlakCast producer Clint Curtis for his work in getting the podcast off the ground.

Mental Fitness Conversations is available on all regular platforms, including the iHeart Podcast Network, from Wednesday, August 13.

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