Life Matters - Full program podcast

The government has laid out the federal budget for the next year, and there's a theme: intergenerational fairness. We know the scales are not tipped in favour of young people, but can we re-balance the scales without pitting older people against younger people, and acknowledge that not all older people are rich? Patricial Sparrow from Council on the Ageing unpacks the budget for over 50s.  If you...

The school library is where so many kids first develop a love of reading and learn the skills they need to understand the world. But the very existence of those libraries is largely dependent on the discretion of the school, and some say they're under threat. The Australian Library and Information Association's Cathie Warburton, best-selling children's author Andy Griffiths and school librarian Ha...

There are three million carers in Australia looking after a loved one who's unable to care for themselves anymore. But what happens when carers need a break? There's meant to be a system of respite care to serve this need, but that system is under strain. Jayne Christian, who has been caring for her mum since 2022, joins sociologist Myra Hamilton and Sharon Gudu, CEO of Carers New South Wales, to...

The parent-child relationship is a two-way street. It takes both sides to figure out how to relate to each other as adults -- and that can be especially tough if you have different expectations. Psychotherapist Zoe Krupka unpacks how to manage the changing relationship dynamics from childhood to into adult life.  The Aunties help out a listener whose beloved teddy bear was destroyed by the neighbo...

Sir David Attenborough is turning 100 years old. Over decades spent exploring and documenting the wonders of nature across the planet, he has shaped our collective understanding of the world. On the cusp of his birthday, Emeritus Professor Justin Marshall and Sir Dave Day convenor Gemma Pepper celebrate the enduring legacy of an extraordinary man. Every day, thousands of Australians rely on blood...

After Chris Herrmann's wife died suddenly, he was left with the feeling that life is too short not to make the most of every moment. So he packed up and set off on a round-the-world trip. Retirement expert Bec Wilson shares how the "golden gap year" is giving people in their 50s, 60s and beyond a chance to see the world and take the trips they missed out on in their youth. Rates are rising again,...

In Australia, it's estimated that 1 in 4 women and 1 in 14 men have experienced violence from an intimate partner. While public awareness of this national crisis has improved, so often, the response is: why didn't they just leave? Abuse survivor Dr Ruth and domestic violence researcher and counsellor Elizabeth McLindon explain the complicated reality of escaping intimate partner violence, and why...

Parents have never had more options to give their child the best start in life. But when it comes to choosing the "best" school to provide your child a quality education, that decision can be costly. Author Jane Caro argues that the gap between public and private schools has grown, and turned what many would consider a basic right to education into a minefield of parental guilt. In an age where pe...

It's time to talk about the father wound. For many, these relationships can be complicated by absence, emotional distance and "dadmiration". Clinical psychologist Zac Seidler explores the challenges of navigating fatherhood when your relationship with your own dad was difficult, and where modern dads are looking for support, guidance and role models outside of Bluey. This week, Aunties James Findl...

Australia sends 26 million tonnes of rubbish to landfills each year, and we're running out of room. Sydney is on track to run out of space in the next five years. Among the potential solutions are waste-to-energy facilities that burn rubbish and turn it into electricity. A few are already up and running, but there's significant community pushback. So could these projects really have a role to play...

Recently, the Japanese Shinto ritual of misogi has been gaining traction online. It's a simple concept where each year you set yourself one main challenge that's so hard you might actually fail. The reward is in the attempt, rather than the success. Adventure photographer Daygin Prescott shares what he's learned from his own misogi, and researcher Hugh Riddell explains the benefits of striving tow...

The grief of losing a loved one is different for everyone. For some it's private, while for others, it can become a force for action that drives them to fight for change. This kind of advocacy work can make an incredible impact, but it also takes a considerable personal toll. Kate Everett, co-founder of Dolly's Dream, shares how she's navigated the balance between grief and advocacy after losing h...

Australia's Privacy Commissioner has put the rent tech sector on notice, ruling that a platform had been unfairly collecting excessive amounts of personal information from prospective tenants. Researcher Samantha Floreani and Antonia Mercorella from the Real Estate Institute of Queensland unpack how the industry is likely to respond and what it could mean for renters. After residents in south-west...

A grandiose sense of self importance, an intense need for admiration, an inflated sense of entitlement and a lack of empathy — these are the hallmarks of narcissistic personality disorder. In an era of toxic reality TV and mercurial political leaders, it can feel like we're surrounded by narcissists. Psychiatrist Steve Ellen explains what narcissism really means and why the label has become therap...

Most Australians enjoy an adult beverage now and then, but around 6.6 million of us are drinking at risky levels. Alcohol is one of leading risk factors for disease, costing the public purse around $75 billion a year, so minimising the burden to the health system is a priority for the federal government. Alcohol Change Australia CEO Erin Lalor and Sober in the Country founder Shanna Whan explain w...

If you're living the single life, you're likely feeling the sting in your wallet. Analysis from financial comparison site Finder estimates the average single person in Australia has $19,260 less in savings than the average partnered person. So how much does it really cost to live as a single person? Singlehood Australia advocate Gen Ford and podcaster Jill Stark explore the realities of the single...

Adult diagnoses of ADHD have soared in recent years, but the system is still struggling to support everyone. A Four Corners investigation has revealed hotspots where prescriptions for ADHD medication are higher than expected, and pockets of missed diagnosis. So if you're seeking out assessment for ADHD, how do you know where to find it? Clinical psychologist Maddi Derrick and social worker Sarah H...

A new report has estimated how much Australia spends providing food for public institutions and programs — hospitals, aged care centres, correctional facilities — and the bill totals $2.1 billion. Project lead Leah Galvin and researcher Stephanie Godrich talk through the improvements to the system that could make our public food healthier, better protect the environment and support local growers. ...

In recent years, the number of Australians being diagnosed with ADHD and autism has risen. With up to 20 per cent of employees now identifying as neurodivergent, conversations about how to support this growing population are moving into the workplace. Clinical psychologist Monique Mitchelson and autism inclusion advocate Alex Lazarus-Priestly discuss how truly neuro-inclusive workplaces can suppor...

At a time when Australians are grappling with the global fuel crisis, those who got in early on clean energy may be feeling a sense of relief. But it's going to take more than individual efforts to drive an energy transition that can support an entire country's needs. Sustainability researcher Peter Newman and strategist Kristen McDonald examine whether the system keeping up with consumers' effort...

New research from the University of Pennsylvania shows there are three key indicators of a better-than-average day. But there are also unavoidable tasks like housework that make your day worse — so how do you decide what the trade-offs are? Time use epidemiologist Dot Dumuid and journalist Emma Joyce explore the key ingredients for a perfect day. Almost half of Australian households have a dog, an...

Children now have a digital footprint by the time they graduate day care, and it only explodes when they get to school. A new draft Children's Online Privacy Code could change that, giving young people more control over their online world including the ability to delete data captured before they turned 18. Privacy commissioner Carly Kind and Digital Rights Watch chair Lizzie O'Shea explain how thi...

In an attempt to save the bees, thousands of people set up colonies of the European honeybee in their backyard. But for many, an outbreak of the parasitic varroa mite has brought this low-stakes eco-hobby to an emotionally devastating end. Backyard beekeeper Mike Allerton and Professor Sasha Mikheyev unpack the spread of varroa mite.  We know the internet is full of slop, but what happens when the...

The idea of finding your one true love and settling down as a couple is baked deep into society. But attitudes are changing. On dating apps, in surveys and podcasts, people are signalling an interest and greater acceptance of open relationships. So is monogamy still fit for purpose in 2026 or has it had its day? Has anyone ever made you responsible for what happens after they die? It's a lot of pr...

The data shows we're reading less than ever. About one in three Australian school students isn't developing the reading skills they need, and the shift reflects a broader global trend. Across the board, there are signs the next generation is just not interested in picking up a book, and historian and podcaster Dominic Sandbrook is concerned we're headed for a "post-literate" society. So does it ma...