Life Matters - Full program podcast

If you've always defined who you are by what you do, you may have found it difficult to nurture other parts of your identity.  But journalist and author of The Good Enough Job, Simone Stolzoff, argues there are ways to downsize the role of work in your life. And aunties Nelly Thomas and Annie Louey weigh in on when it's helpful to step into your 12-year-old's social life and when it's not.

If your kids asked you what metadata is, or how an algorithm works, or why they still have to write an essay even though ChatGPT can do it for them, would you have a good answer? Dr Niraj Lal is the author of a new book that aims to give teenagers the tools they need to understand and demystify the internet.  We all have that one family member who's told the same story a thousand times. But these...

When she was five, Katherine Bennell-Pegg looked up at the stars and never looked back. While most childhood dreams drift back to Earth, hers didn't. The 2026 Australian of the Year reflects on the determination it takes to become an astronaut, and what compels someone to push beyond the limits and boldly go where we've never gone before. After another week of record-breaking heat, it's pretty cle...

Conversations about masculinity are often heavy. It can sometimes feel like the message boys hear is not just that there is a problem, but that they are the problem. Professor James Smith, researcher Ged Moriarty and advocate Luke Bateman discuss how we might re-imagine the concept of boyhood. The aged care industry is struggling to find workers, but one facility on the NSW central coast is tappin...

From the desks we work at to the places we retreat to at the end of the day, the spaces around us quietly shape how we feel, how we live, and how we connect with each other. Good design isn't just about looks – it's about comfort, dignity, possibility, and the way a space can hold us, support us, even change us. Kevin McCloud, presenter of TV show Grand Designs and Tim Ross, comedian, broadcaster...

There's a viral nostalgia trend at the moment with millions of people posting photos of themselves from a decade ago.  So, what is it about today that's making us yearn for the past? And how much does it serve us to kick off 2026 with our heads in 2016?  Psychologist Dr Carly Johnco and behavioural neuroscientist Dr Jee Hyun Kim on how to look back whilst also looking ahead. And, on Ask Aunty, col...

Up to one in five Australians are postponing retirement or re-entering the work force later in life. For many, there's just not enough in the nest egg to retire when and how they'd like. Financial adviser Olivia Maragna and Neysa King, who returned to work in her 70s, unpack some of the reasons behind the trend. A new study from Harvard University shows that mixing up the types of exercise you do...

You've heard the saying "it takes a village". But when so much of our modern lives are geared towards convenience and individualism, where do we find one?  New York-based writer Amanda Litman decided to build her own by inviting friends and strangers to weekly dinners for a whole year.  Weight loss drugs are here to stay — and changes coming to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme are set to make it...

We've all Googled our symptoms, but would you ask AI for medical advice? David Hansen from CSIRO's e-Health Research Centre, Dr Michael Bonning and consumer health expert Elizabeth Deveny weigh up the risks of relying on AI chatbots to navigate your health concerns. When comedian Craig Quartermaine applied for an arts grant, it was a flat-out no. Comedy wasn't on the list of "accepted" performing...

The Bondi terrorist attack has left the Jewish community and the nation at large reeling. Journalist Nadine Cohen, artist Joel Adler and grief sociologist Margaret Gibson unpack how you can create space for mourning to heal and move through tragedy.  Ben Collins had been contemplating a career change for years before hitting the books again in his late 40s to become a junior doctor at 51. So when...

If you spent the holidays with your immediate or extended family, it may have been joyful. But is may also have been stressful and draining.  Psychologist Anushka Phal helps you work through any emotions that came up during what may have been some intense family time.  And, aunties, comedian Geraldine Hickey and ABC meteorologist Nate Byrne, advise on what to do when you want your new hook-up to b...

The rise of apps linked to childcare centres gives crucial reassurance to worried parents that children are safe and happy at daycare. Throughout the day, educators snap pictures of activities and upload them to the app. But what happens to the pictures and sensitive documents accumulated over the years on these apps? Some parents, like Niels Wouters, are finding out that when your child graduates...

In Victoria, some foster carers are reporting sudden reductions in their allowances for looking after children with high-level needs. It highlights the ongoing challenges around the country when it comes to finding foster carers for children who need safe and stable homes. So, what needs to change? Emma is a foster carer, Samantha Hauge is Chief executive of the Foster Care Association of Victoria...

ChatGPT... Grammarly... Google Gemini...  AI tools have changed student life in the space of just a couple of years. Cheating seems easier than ever before. So, how do teachers monitor AI use, while accurately assessing students' work? Mark McLauchlin is a nursing student who is fighting AI cheating accusations. Dr Jasmine Thomas, Associate Director of I.C.T. Governance and Partnerships at the Uni...

The news that Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban had ended their marriage after 19 years came as a shock. As did stories that Keith has reportedly moved on and is in a new relationship. While we're talking about two global superstars here... in a lot of ways, they're also going through a pretty relatable experience. About 30% of Australian marriages end in divorce....and many people go on to find new p...

Unlike previous generations, most parents today know there is a huge amount they can do to set up (or stuff up) their kids' mental and emotional needs. In an era of information overload, Developmental Paediatrician, host of the Pop Culture Parenting podcast and author Dr Billy Garvey aims to help parents understand and prioritise what's most important.  Also, aunties, journalist Denise Eriksen and...

Our best stories of 2025 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. Today you'll hear about finding joy in going solo. 

Over Summer, we've been revisiting some of your favourite stories from 2025. Today, we'll be discussing how to help our kids - or grandkids - navigate the world safety. How do you actually talk to your children about their own personal safety - without scaring them, but still giving them the confidence to make good decisions when you're not around? We also look at a different kind of safety - fina...

Our best stories of 2025 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. Today you'll hear about how overcoming challenges early in life. 

Today, we're taking a look back at some of your favourite stories from 2025 and revisiting those all-important "firsts" at work. A study shows more than one in three young people have been ripped off by their employers, and they're also unlikely to challenge their bosses about it. We look at why young workers are still so widely exploited - despite multiple legal reforms. Also, does where you grow...

When you get dressed in the morning, what role does your identity play in the clothes you choose to wear? And how do your feelings that day influence what you pick from your wardrobe? Fashion photographer Liz Sunshine and fashion lecturer Dr Harriette Richards look at the messages your clothes send to the world about who you are. Also, aunties columnist Robert Skinner and comedian Urvi Majumder, s...

We're bringing you some of our favourite stories from Life Matters in 2025 over summer, to help you figure out all the big stuff in life: relationships, health, money, work and the world. Today it's your stories about mental health and neurodivergence in yourself and your family.

We're bringing you the best stories from Life Matters in 2025 that helps you figure out all the big stuff in life: relationships, health, money, work and the world. You're about to hear about the potential changes to New South Wales national parks that could see camping fees increase, why we're so obsessed with the big stuff - whether it's prawns, bananas or avocados - and one marine ecologist's l...

Over Summer, we've been revisiting some of your favourite stories from 2025. Science says we reach our mental peak at 60. So, why are we always being told our best years are in our teens or twenties? Plus, the women joining the "We do not Care" club in droves. We also discuss the practicalities of long-haul travel in retirement. 

Over Summer, we've been revisiting some of your favourite stories from 2025. Today, we'll be discussing the hint to find the elixir of youth - and the huge cash prize up for grabs. Plus, what do we consider "old" in the workforce? The answer might surprise you. We also look into how photography can help us age well, as Dr Karl shares his money secrets.