Life Matters
- Episodes
- 246
- Released
- daily
- Latest episode
- Nov 12, 2026
About the podcast
Helping you figure out all the big stuff in life: relationships, health, money, work and the world. Let's talk! With trusted experts and your stories, Life Matters is all about what matters to you.
Episodes 246
Finding hope through post-traumatic growth and rescuing a home reno nightmare
When you've just experienced the worst thing that's ever happened, the last thing you want to hear is how much you'll grow from it. Learning to live again after trauma can be incredibly difficult, but finding …
Show notes
When you've just experienced the worst thing that's ever happened, the last thing you want to hear is how much you'll grow from it. Learning to live again after trauma can be incredibly difficult, but finding hope through recovery is possible. Dinesh Palipana, an advocate for doctors with disability, and Nicole Sadler, from the Centre for Post Traumatic Studies, share how to find a new perspective in the aftermath.
This week, Aunties Kate Halfpenny and Lindsay Webb weigh in on a home renovation nightmare. Listener Orla has been living in a construction zone for the last 12 months, and her patience is wearing thin with the builder mate who's been running the project. Now the final bill has arrived, Orla's reached her limit. Can they save the friendship, or is it time to cut her losses?
What's working to prevent male suicide and how judo is helping seniors stay on their feet
In Australia, men are around three times more likely to die by suicide than women. But the latest statistics show that efforts to reduce those deaths are paying off, with the male suicide rate dropping to its …
Show notes
In Australia, men are around three times more likely to die by suicide than women. But the latest statistics show that efforts to reduce those deaths are paying off, with the male suicide rate dropping to its lowest level in a decade. Clinical psychologist Zac Seidler and Lee Whitely from rural mental health organisation RAW explain what it's taken to reach this point, and where to go from here.
Researchers at Adelaide University have been using judo to teach safe falling techniques to seniors and allied health professionals in aged care. The idea is to give people the skills to hit the ground safely, minimise injuries and — hopefully — get back up again. So is judo the answer to staying physical well into your 70s, 80s and beyond?
The Eagle's Nest, a retreat built by the Nazis during World War II and frequented by Adolf Hitler, has been gutted by fire in a suspected arson attack. As the local community assesses the damage, the question of what to do with it has sparked fierce debate. Should we let these historical sites decay? Or is there a value in preserving them as a reminder of the past?
Why you need to get lost and listen to more Australian music
Before smartphones told us exactly where to go, travel meant physical maps, friendly strangers, and the thrill of just hoping for the best. But for all that we've gained in convenience, have we lost some of the …
Show notes
Before smartphones told us exactly where to go, travel meant physical maps, friendly strangers, and the thrill of just hoping for the best. But for all that we've gained in convenience, have we lost some of the magic? Author John Ahern has built a career out of deliberately getting lost. He joins Cat Machaughtan, who co-created a game inspired by unplanned adventures, to share what we can learn from getting truly lost.
Midnight Oil, the Easybeats and Yothu Yindi are among the artists who've just been inducted into the National Songbook. But with local music making up just 8.5 per cent of what we listen to on streaming services, are we doing enough to support Australian artists? Pub Choir founder Astrid Jorgensen and music sociologist Ben Green explore what it would take to celebrate our own sound.
Our finely tuned fight-or-flight responses were once integral to the everyday work of hunting and gathering. But for modern tasks like reading and responding to emails, these deeply embedded survival instincts are less useful. This Working Life host Lisa Leong explains what the modern office has done to the human brain.
The death of the street party and why we love swearing
Block parties. Street libraries. Kerbside lemonade stands. These are the signs of a neighbourhood that's really alive. But often times, the tangle of red tape required to bring your street to life can get in …
Show notes
Block parties. Street libraries. Kerbside lemonade stands. These are the signs of a neighbourhood that's really alive. But often times, the tangle of red tape required to bring your street to life can get in the way. David Howie, whose decades-long Christmas block party is under threat due to new council rules, joins sociologist Peter Walters to discuss the real price of living in the village.
Australians have long had a particularly creative penchant for swearing. We seem to take a strange sort of pride in our colourful language — we've even used it in tourism ads and public safety campaigns. Linguistics professor Kate Burridge and author Amanda Laugesen explore what's behind this cultural attachment to swear words.
It's that time of year again — the Black Friday sales are upon us. Last year Australians spent nearly $24 billion in that fortnight alone. But are we really saving anything? Consumer behaviour expert Paul Harrison explains how to tell whether a "sale" really is a bargain, or just clever marketing.
Better care for new mums at home and choosing the right moment to say something
Decades ago, new mums often spent a week or more in hospital after birth, but these days most are home within days or even hours. The data shows there's been a steady decline in the length of postnatal hospital …
Show notes
Decades ago, new mums often spent a week or more in hospital after birth, but these days most are home within days or even hours. The data shows there's been a steady decline in the length of postnatal hospital stays. And while that's not necessarily a problem, midwifery professor Hannah Dahlen and Maternity Consumer Network founder Alecia Staines say we need to ensure the care and support at home is up to scratch.You know the feeling — replaying the day’s conversations in the shower, replaying an ill-timed joke, or wishing you'd said more when it counted. Social psychologist Vanessa Bohns has written the book on how to know when to speak up, and when to just let it go.
Most of us have an old box of floppy disks, CDs or hard drives gathering dust somewhere, holding memories we can no longer actually access without significant effort. As the tech to read them becomes obsolete faster than we can keep up, digital media professor Melanie Swalwell explains how can you rescue your digital history before it’s lost for good.
The secret life of secrets and convincing Dad it's time to hand over the car keys
Everyone has secrets — from small omissions to things we’ve never told a soul, carrying them with us can feel heavier than actually sharing them. Michael Slepian, author of The Secret Life of Secrets, explains …
Show notes
Everyone has secrets — from small omissions to things we’ve never told a soul, carrying them with us can feel heavier than actually sharing them. Michael Slepian, author of The Secret Life of Secrets, explains why secrets gnaw at us even when they’re not technically wrong, and what the research actually says about the risk of revealing them.
When Dad can no longer remember the route home, how do you convince him it's time to hand over the car keys? Aunties Kerri Sackille and Nelly Thomas give listener Ari some advice on supporting ageing parents clinging onto their independence.
Jelena Dokic on building a life of her own and the future of the shopping mall
For decades, the headlines told one story: a teenage tennis prodigy who fled war to play Wimbledon. The real story, hidden behind it, was years of fear and violence at the hands of her father. Now a …
Show notes
For decades, the headlines told one story: a teenage tennis prodigy who fled war to play Wimbledon. The real story, hidden behind it, was years of fear and violence at the hands of her father. Now a Logie-winning commentator, Jelena Dokic has written a new book offering others the map she had to build for herself, from survival to a life fully her own.
Department store juggernaut David Jones is reportedly facing store closures, and even the risk of receivership, as online retail eats into profits. Yet new data shows foot traffic at shopping centres is actually up. So are malls a dying relic, or just evolving? Retail historian Matthew Bailey explains what's going on.
England and Wales’s outgoing most senior judge has called for AI to play a bigger role in resolving civil disputes faster and cheaper. Resident Life Matters philosopher Patrick Stokes explores whether something as fundamentally human as justice can ever really be left to an algorithm.
Writing the most important letters of your life and digging into soil health
In a world of texts, emails and voice notes, there's something almost romantic about an actual letter: the handwriting, the doodles in the margins, the thought poured into the paper. Self-described letter …
Show notes
In a world of texts, emails and voice notes, there's something almost romantic about an actual letter: the handwriting, the doodles in the margins, the thought poured into the paper. Self-described letter midwife Frish Brandt has spent years helping people write the letters that matter most. She shares the five essential letters of your life.
Nothing beats the smug satisfaction of garden-fresh produce, but research suggests about a fifth of Australian veggie gardens could be growing food in soil with unsafe lead levels. As spring planting kicks off, environmental scientist Cynthia Barlow and gourmet farmer Matthew Evans explain how you can check what’s lurking below the surface and work with it.
EV sales have more than doubled this year, outselling petrol and diesel cars outright in September, but a quarter of Australian drivers have nowhere to plug in at home. With a new EV hitting the road roughly every 100 seconds, ABC technology reporter James Purtill explores whether the government’s plan for more public chargers can keep pace.
Making space for grief in the workplace and breaking free from money dysmorphia
After someone you love dies, the world doesn't stop — bills still need paying, kids still need picking up, and most of us go back to work after just two days of compassionate leave. Grief Australia CEO …
Show notes
After someone you love dies, the world doesn't stop — bills still need paying, kids still need picking up, and most of us go back to work after just two days of compassionate leave. Grief Australia CEO Christopher Hall and advocate Carla Lennox discuss what it takes to support someone grieving while they’re still showing up to work.
Dysmorphia is usually associated with our physical appearance — when what you see in the mirror doesn't reflect reality. So what happens when that feeling shows up in your wallet? Money dysmorphia is the idea that your bank balance doesn't match your financial mindset. Behavioural economist Phil Slade joins Tori Smith, who started her own family economy to model financial literacy for her children, to explore how we can start to see our finances more clearly.
The mid-life slump — you wake up one day and realise the life you've created is totally different to the one you'd imagined for yourself. You start dreaming about a career pivot, or picking up sticks to start fresh somewhere new. So what does it take to actually pull off a big mid-life change? Psychologist Christine Bagley-Jones weighs in for Head and Heart.
The new era of doomsday prep and why you need to tell your mates you love them
Men’s affection for each other has traditionally come wrapped in nods, handshakes and ribbing rather than words, but Movember wants to change that this month. The organisation's global director of research Zac …
Show notes
Men’s affection for each other has traditionally come wrapped in nods, handshakes and ribbing rather than words, but Movember wants to change that this month. The organisation's global director of research Zac Seidler joins author Zachary Perez to explore what the culture of emotional reserve has cost men's health, and whether a hug could help.
Once seen as a fringe pursuit, prepping for worst-case scenarios is going mainstream. But increasingly, the scenarios we're preparing for are a little less foreseeable — huge spikes in petrol prices due to war, or an AI-induced doomsday. So given the state of the world should we all be doomsday preppers?
What do you say when you answer the phone? The humble "hello" may be on its way out, with younger generations ditching the standard greeting. Linguist Daniel Midgley explores the history of hello and why language evolves over time.
How to use your anger for good and catering for vegan grandkids
Anger can be a powerful emotion that drives us towards change, but it’s also the emotion we're most afraid of. It can tear us down as fast as it moves us to action. Men's behaviour change program founder David …
Show notes
Anger can be a powerful emotion that drives us towards change, but it’s also the emotion we're most afraid of. It can tear us down as fast as it moves us to action. Men's behaviour change program founder David Nugent and psychology lecturer Liz Summerell explore what you can do when anger takes hold.
Aunties James Colley and Urvi Majumdar share their advice for listener Laila, who loves looking after her grandkids but is navigating some tension in the kitchen.
Turning the road toll around and the death of the drop-in
The number of deaths on Australian roads has risen by 21.6 per cent since the national road safety strategy was introduced a few years ago. So if rules of the road have largely stayed the same, and the cars are …
Show notes
The number of deaths on Australian roads has risen by 21.6 per cent since the national road safety strategy was introduced a few years ago. So if rules of the road have largely stayed the same, and the cars are smarter than ever, why aren't the numbers getting better? Researcher Teresa Senserrick and former driving school owner Ben Ward explain what's going on.
Despite spending most of our time indoors, Australia has no national standard for indoor air quality. With experts calling for a national healthy air strategy, Air Club co-founder Bronwyn King and Burnet Institute's chief health officer Suman Majumdar explore why this invisible public health issue has been left unregulated for so long.
Recent data from the US suggests the casual drop-in is dying out. It revealed a huge decline in the number of people regularly hosting friends and family at home. So what's driving the decline, and what do we lose if spontaneous hospitality disappears for good?
Redesigning the workplace for over-60s and our obsession with big things
Recent research from KPMG found the Australian economy could be boosted by $29 billion if businesses made it easier for older workers to stay in the workforce or come out of retirement. So if we're serious …
Show notes
Recent research from KPMG found the Australian economy could be boosted by $29 billion if businesses made it easier for older workers to stay in the workforce or come out of retirement. So if we're serious about harnessing the untapped potential of mature workers, what would it take? National Seniors CEO Chris Grice joins Carol Kulik from the Centre for Workplace Excellence and Kerry Forrest, who's still working well into her 60s, to investigate how we could better support older workers to stay.
In October alone, three new giant sculptures from Mildura to Windorah have been added to the map of Australia's big things. These oversized landmarks have become part of our cultural identity — a must-see stop on a road trip and an iconic emblem of regional country towns. Researcher Amy Clarke and artist Jobella Bennett explore why Australia is so big on big things.
From time sheets to swipe cards, bosses have always found ways to keep tabs on staff. But these days it's AI counting your keystrokes. Legal experts are warning that AI-powered surveillance is outpacing the law, and calling for changes to the Fair Work Act. Lisa Leong weighs in on what this means for the workforce, and whether we should have more say on our own metrics.
Keeping first responders safe on shift and why we're putting mirrors in space
Recent research from Monash University found up to one in five new paramedics are at high risk of shift work disorder, a mix of insomnia and daytime sleepiness linked to on-the-job errors. Researcher Laura …
Show notes
Recent research from Monash University found up to one in five new paramedics are at high risk of shift work disorder, a mix of insomnia and daytime sleepiness linked to on-the-job errors. Researcher Laura Hirello and sleep psychologist Sara Winter explore what it would take to make shift work safer for both health care workers and the patients they care for.
Californian start-up Reflect Orbital wants to launch giant orbital mirrors that beam sunlight back to Earth on demand, powering solar farms after dark or lighting up search-and-rescue missions. Space archaeologist Alice Gorman explains what manufactured sunlight could do to people, wildlife, and space itself.
Real estate agents have always found creative ways to gloss over the unappealing features of a property, but AI has taken things to a new level. NSW has introduced laws forcing agents to disclose when images have been digitally altered, but does a disclaimer make it any easier for prospective clients to see what they're actually getting?
Terramation taking eco burial to the next step and reclaiming our city rivers
NSW is the first Australian state to legalise terramation, also known as human composting. Cultural anthropologist Hannah Gould and Aria Kapaniris, who runs a company providing the service, explore whether …
Show notes
NSW is the first Australian state to legalise terramation, also known as human composting. Cultural anthropologist Hannah Gould and Aria Kapaniris, who runs a company providing the service, explore whether eco-burial is about to shake up a centuries-old industry.
From the mighty Swan in the west, to the Brown Snake in the east, rivers have long been the lifeblood of our communities. But after years of industrialisation, the idea of going for a dip in your city river is probably a distant memory. Melbourne's bringing it back, working on a plan to make the Yarra River swimmable by 2050.
As Australia nears a year under its world-first social media ban, new research has found kids still aren’t equipped to question what they see online. Researcher Susan Grantham and Digital Readiness Lab founder Rinat Strahlhofer explain what it actually takes to raise sceptical, savvy young minds.
Why men struggle to hold onto their friends and calling out a white lie
Australian men are more likely to be more socially disconnected than Australian women, and are less likely to form strong connections with people beyond their partners. So what's going on? Sociologist Roger …
Show notes
Australian men are more likely to be more socially disconnected than Australian women, and are less likely to form strong connections with people beyond their partners. So what's going on? Sociologist Roger Patulny and psychologist Chris Cheers break down the male friendship recession — and how you can turn it around.
This week, Aunties Kat Feeney and Suren Jayemanne give listener Lenny some advice on how to deal with a fibbing friend. Marcus has been telling tall tales since they were kids, but now they're middle aged, is it time for Lenny to call out his friend's white lies?
The rental affordability squeeze and the end of visitor information centres
A new Everybody’s Home survey of more than 1,100 Australians has found most households could not absorb a $20-per-week rise in rent or mortgage repayments without cutting back, and one in four fear becoming …
Show notes
A new Everybody’s Home survey of more than 1,100 Australians has found most households could not absorb a $20-per-week rise in rent or mortgage repayments without cutting back, and one in four fear becoming homeless within the year. Everybody's Home spokesperson Maiy Azize joins researcher Shaun Bond to discuss the changes that could go some way to helping those on the brink.
With more than 400 accredited visitor information centres around the country seeing fewer visitors through the door, councils from Sunbury to the Adelaide Hills are closing them in favour of going digital. Albury City service leader Ambrose Glass, accreditation program manager Wayne Clift and volunteer Wendy Cutting explore what’s lost when the local information booth disappears.
After the attack on MP Helen Haines reignited calls to turn down the heat of political debate, resident Life Matters ethicist Patrick Stokes explores what centuries-old philosophy can teach us about disagreeing well, without the comment-section shouting match.
The nostalgia of hitchhiking and better support for siblings of kids with disability
Hitchhiking used to be an Australian rite of passage, until cases like the Milat backpacker murders made it feel unthinkable. But some people still swear by the spontaneous connection and adventure it brings …
Show notes
Hitchhiking used to be an Australian rite of passage, until cases like the Milat backpacker murders made it feel unthinkable. But some people still swear by the spontaneous connection and adventure it brings. Aston Brown shares what he learned hitchhiking from Sydney to Perth.
It's estimated more than 5 million Australians have grown up as the sibling of someone with a disability or chronic illness, quietly becoming the "easy kid" who doesn’t need extra attention. Churchill Fellow Sam Hellams has just returned from researching how we can better support these so-called "glass children".
From Eastern Rosella ear-jams to NRL players revealing their inner twitcher, birds have quietly taken over the zeitgeist. Conservation biologist Chritina Zdenek and Aussie Bird Count ambassador Cesar Peuchmarin explore why our love for birds runs so deep, and what 20 minutes of counting can actually do.
How everyone — including politicans — can turn down the political temperature and Beau Miles' everyday adventures
Last night, independent MP Helen Haines was the victim of an attack that has left her hospitalised in a critical condition, and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese described the incident as "a deliberate act" …
Show notes
Last night, independent MP Helen Haines was the victim of an attack that has left her hospitalised in a critical condition, and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese described the incident as "a deliberate act". Although we don't yet know the motivation of the attack, the Prime Minister has called for every Australian to turn down the heat of our political discourse. Today, politicians from across the aisle have echoed the same sentiment. Hannah Ferguson and Ed Coper unpack whether it's possible to put this genie back in the bottle.
Everyday adventurer Beau Miles wants to challenge the way we view adventure — not as a huge, risky undertaking months in the making, but something you can squeeze into regular life. What advice does he have for bringing a little more adventure to your everyday life?
In Head and Heart, psychologist Christine Bagley-Jones asks when your teenagers HSC stress feels contagious, how can you guard the household from catching it?
The hidden carers of the sandwich generation and why the kids aren't taking drama anymore
An estimated 2.43 million Australians between the ages of 35 and 70 are caring for a parent at least once a week, while juggling the day-to-day demands of life. While the sandwich generation is a sizeable …
Show notes
An estimated 2.43 million Australians between the ages of 35 and 70 are caring for a parent at least once a week, while juggling the day-to-day demands of life. While the sandwich generation is a sizeable group, almost half of them don't identify as a carer themselves. Advocate Melissa Reader and researcher Michelle O'Shea explain why the way we define caring is so important in providing the right kind of support.
As year 12 students across the country prepare for their HSC exams, the number sitting to complete senior level drama is dwindling. Since 2015, senior drama enrolments have fallen by 43 per cent. Drama Australia president Jo Raphael and researcher John Nicholas Saunders explore why it matters — and not just for the creative industry.
From today, the first genetically modified whole food to be grown and sold in Australia will start hitting shelves in Victoria. The industry regulator's latest consumer survey suggests about half of us are open to the idea of genetically modified foods. So will the purple tomato shift the mood?
Why animal relationships can be as important as humans and ditching the neighbour's kid
From your beloved family dog to a bollard-bashing elephant seal, all creatures IRL and online can be man's best friend. But for all the beauty that relationship can bring it's not without its downsides or risk …
Show notes
From your beloved family dog to a bollard-bashing elephant seal, all creatures IRL and online can be man's best friend. But for all the beauty that relationship can bring it's not without its downsides or risk. So how can you invite animals into your life in a way that is beneficial for you, and them?
This week, the Aunties scale dilemma mountain with listener Anton, who's unsure about sharing his favourite hobby with the kid next door.
Richard Glover's advice on ruining your children and why beautiful design matters
Since Dr Spock in the 1940s, parenting "experts" have had us convinced we're all one wrong move away from ruining our kids. Richard Glover's latest book digs into generations of parenting advice to ask what we …
Show notes
Since Dr Spock in the 1940s, parenting "experts" have had us convinced we're all one wrong move away from ruining our kids. Richard Glover's latest book digs into generations of parenting advice to ask what we actually need to worry about, and what we can finally let go of. He joins Maggie Dent to share the wisdom worth paying attention to.
A hot-pink shower chair has just scooped a Good Design Award for ditching the usual beige, boring look of mobility aids. So why have walking frames, wheelchairs and other accessibility products traditionally been so joyless? And could we find a way to design these items with function, aesthetics and affordability in mind?
In step with France's deep history of protest, students across the nation have been marching in the street for weeks, demanding better quality education. Closer to home, strikes and walkouts seem to be popping up more than ever. So how does that sense of identity form, and where does Australia actually sit on protest culture?
Getting women behind the wheel and why Australia's chasing a Michelin star
From the milk in your coffee to the phone in your pocket, so many things we use every day come off the back of a truck. But Australia is short around 28,000 truck drivers, and that number is forecast to grow. A …
Show notes
From the milk in your coffee to the phone in your pocket, so many things we use every day come off the back of a truck. But Australia is short around 28,000 truck drivers, and that number is forecast to grow. A new report from UNSW suggests women are an untapped talent pool. Researcher Catherine Deen and truck driver Kathy Graham discuss how to get more women behind the wheel.
South Australian restaurants are about to find out if they've cracked the coveted Michelin Guide for the first time. But with New Zealand reportedly paying $6.3 million for the honour, is chasing those is actually worth it? Food and travel writer Ben Groundwater joins Adelaide-based chef Duncan Welgemoed to chew the fat.
We spend around 2,000 hours a year hunched at a screen, and it's leaving plenty of us with what's now been dubbed "tech neck". This Working Life host Lisa Leong explains what you can do to protect yourself at the desk.
Judith Lucy on the comedic timing of cancer and why screens aren't the enemy of books
Just weeks after launching a new memoir about her quest for wellness, comedian Judith Lucy received a sobering diagnosis: breast cancer. Now days away from a double mastectomy, she reflects on the wild …
Show notes
Just weeks after launching a new memoir about her quest for wellness, comedian Judith Lucy received a sobering diagnosis: breast cancer. Now days away from a double mastectomy, she reflects on the wild treatments she's tried to fix her burnout — from ayahuasca to faecal transplants — and how she's grappling with the unexpected.
In a house where YouTube, audiobooks, e-readers and Netflix are all competing for attention, it's easy to panic that screens will bring about the demise of children's literacy. But the research suggests it's not as simple as "books good, screens bad". University of Melbourne's Sybil Nolan and Australia Reads CEO Anna Burkey explore how to raise a reader in a house full of screens.
After a year of soaring fuel prices and consecutive rate rises, it's hardly surprising to learn consumer confidence is at its lowest level since the 1990s. But what does that mean in a practical sense? Does measuring consumer confidence tell us anything real, or is it just a number we've all agreed to be anxious about? Consumer behaviour expert Paul Harrison weighs in.
The elective egg freezing boom and designing cities with native animals in mind
New research shows that around one in four women who freeze their eggs for non-medical reasons end up coming back to use them. Researchers Oisin Fitzgerald, Molly Johnston and Sherine Sandhu discuss what you …
Show notes
New research shows that around one in four women who freeze their eggs for non-medical reasons end up coming back to use them. Researchers Oisin Fitzgerald, Molly Johnston and Sherine Sandhu discuss what you really need to know before investing the time, money and emotional energy in this procedure.
Forget ensuites and lap pools — does your home have a frog sauna or a butterfly puddle? Our cities are largely built for humans, but they can be a haven for wildlife too, including threatened and endangered species. Urban ecologist Sarah Bekessy and architect Bethany Kiss explore how we design our common spaces with all critters in mind.
Sixteen years after breaking up, Powderfinger have confirmed they’re reforming for a national tour from September next year. As fans rush for tickets to relive their youth, music journalist Johnno Keetles asks the bigger question: are reunion tours ever as good as the memory, or are we just chasing the ghost of who we used to be?
Why we should never give up on boys with Billy Garvey, and when relationship pettiness goes too far
If you've been paying attention to the news, to your social media feeds or to really any and all pop culture lately, you've likely heard that boys are not alright. But if you're only looking at the bad parts …
Show notes
If you've been paying attention to the news, to your social media feeds or to really any and all pop culture lately, you've likely heard that boys are not alright. But if you're only looking at the bad parts, the beauty and complexity of raising boys can be hard to see. Developmental paediatrician and author Billy Garvey says it's never too late to try a new approach, in fact it's never been more important to try.
When your relationship is on the rocks, what's your conflict style? The Life Matters aunties comedian Sashi Perera and ABC journalist Luke Siddham Dundon are here to help navigate a seemingly petty dilemma that could signal bigger issues.
Li Cunxin on life after Mao's Last Dancer and how to appreciate the night sky
Even if you've never been to the ballet, you're probably familiar with Mao's Last Dancer. It tells the story of how a young boy in rural China was plucked out of poverty to train at the Beijing Dance Academy …
Show notes
Even if you've never been to the ballet, you're probably familiar with Mao's Last Dancer. It tells the story of how a young boy in rural China was plucked out of poverty to train at the Beijing Dance Academy and went on to perform on stages around the world. More than 20 years later, Li Cunxin is releasing his second memoir, The Lucky Son, which picks up where Mao's Last Dancer left off and explores the lessons on love, leadership and legacy he has collected along the way.
Observational data has found that, every year, the night sky is becoming 10 per cent brighter because of light pollution from our growing towns and cities. It's not just stargazing that's being affected — light pollution can harm wildlife and even human health. Australasian Dark Sky Alliance founder Marnie Ogg and academic Julian O'Shea explain how we can protect our dark sky.
Celebrity endorsements have been around since marketing began. But how would you feel if you saw an ad featuring someone you were almost certain was dead? Last week a Swedish manufacturing company released an ad for ball-bearings featuring the AI likeness of Greta Garbo, the legend of Hollywood's golden age who died more than 30 years ago. Resident Life Matters philosopher Patrick Stokes explores the ethical quagmire known as "ghostploitation".
Understanding your pain and why you shouldn't put off death admin
Around the world, the leading cause of disability isn't infection, road injury or stroke — it's pain. A landmark study of 6 million participants has found people experience heightened pain around age 55 …
Show notes
Around the world, the leading cause of disability isn't infection, road injury or stroke — it's pain. A landmark study of 6 million participants has found people experience heightened pain around age 55, peaking at about 75. And while the pain you feel in your body isn't all in your head, the way you think about pain can make a huge difference to how you feel it. Pain specialists Fiona Blyth and Michael Nicholas explain how reframing pain can help.
According to the latest study of death literacy and readiness, Australians aren't that well prepared for the inevitable. Just over half of us have a signed and sealed will. So what's preventing us from preparing for the end of life? The Law Report's Damien Carrick joins Kerrie Noonan from La Trobe's Death Literacy Institute to explore our complicated feelings around death.
You've heard of the Tough Guy Book Club, what about a book club dedicated to bro-mantasy? Men who enjoy romance fiction seem to face a certain stigma about the kind of books they choose. Bookish podcasters Luke Bateman and Kate Cuthbert discuss what it might take to shift the narrative.
Do offset accounts really save you money and the secret politics of time
More than half of Australian households with a mortgage have an offset account attached. It's meant to make your extra savings work for you by reducing the interest you pay on your home loan. But not everyone …
Show notes
More than half of Australian households with a mortgage have an offset account attached. It's meant to make your extra savings work for you by reducing the interest you pay on your home loan. But not everyone appears to be reaping the benefits. Following an ASIC investigation earlier this year, a Senate inquiry will look into how banks are managing offset accounts, and what happens when things go wrong. So what can you do to protect your money?
As daylight saving kicks off and the usual debate reignites, human geographer Thomas Sigler reveals just how political the "fixed" hours on our clocks really are, and what would happen if the world abolished timezones entirely.
As the Radio National readers start tallying up the votes for the Top 100 Australian Books countdown, Andrew Daddo shares why The Magic Pudding is the ultimate classic kids' adventure worthy of a spot in the hall of fame.
Whether it's buying a house amid rising interest rates, proposing to the one you love, or changing jobs, the anxiety that comes before a major life decision can become overwhelming. In some cases, analysis paralysis can stop you in your tracks. Psychologist Christine Bagley-Jones explores how to navigate change in a healthier way.
Life after losing a limb and what is a good salary in 2026?
There are over 160,000 amputees living in Australia and each one has their own story of loss and having to rebuild their life. James O'Brien's life changed rapidly after going on an idyllic beach holiday. He's …
Show notes
There are over 160,000 amputees living in Australia and each one has their own story of loss and having to rebuild their life. James O'Brien's life changed rapidly after going on an idyllic beach holiday. He's documented his experience in a new podcast called The Limb Shift, where he interviews people about the resilience of life after losing a limb.
Recent data from Australia's HILDA survey shows the average income we need to feel satisfied is climbing higher and higher. So is this just a case of lifestyle creep, or a genuine struggle to pay the bills even with a decent pay packet?
The University of Melbourne's Archives and Special Collections now holds a rare copy of a 15th century manual on hunting, torturing and executing women accused of witchcraft. So what can the world's most infamous witch-hunting handbook tell us about the spread of misinformation and dangerous ideas today?
These are the latest 40 of 246 episodes. You’ll find older episodes in the podcast’s feed.
Similar podcasts
More Society & Culture podcasts
Is this your podcast?
Confirm it with an entry in your feed: you get a code here, add it as podcast:txt to the channel of your feed, and we check it. Your podcast is then shown as “verified” on SoundNode.