Life Matters - Full program podcast

If you're feeling a bit stuck in your career, or pessimistic about how AI might affect your future prospects, it might be time for a pep talk. Career management coach Jane Jackson and Money Money Money host Glen James want to help pull you out of your slump and get unstuck. And it's all fun and games until someone loses an eye … this week Aunties Urvi Majumdar and James Colley share some advice fo...

Women over 55 are the fastest-growing cohort experiencing homelessness in Australia. Many have been pushed to seek alternative living arrangements, and new research suggests homesharing could be a viable option. Researcher Lyndall Bryant and Homeshare Australia New Zealand Alliance's Rosie Lawn explain how the model works and why there's such a significant demand. When you're shaping the minds of...

If talking about money makes you squirm, you might want to think twice before you open an account with the bank of mum and dad. University of Newcastle researchers Julia Cook and Mirella Atherton explain the tricky emotional — and legal — consequences of lending cash to your loved ones. One person's dream holiday destination is another's backyard. But some UNESCO heritage sites are now so overwhel...

Sports betting is the fastest-growing form of gambling in the country, and it's overwhelmingly popular with men. Experts say that's no coincidence. Researcher Rohann Irving and lived experience advocate Mark Kempster explore how gambling got so tied up with our love of sport and our ideas about masculinity, and whether there's any way to untangle it. Smart glasses have been around for years, but t...

Grandparents in 2026 are more enmeshed in their grandchildren's lives than ever. While most are providing some form of care for their grandchildren, close to three in five say their grandparenting style doesn't always match what's expected of them. In the first instalment of a new Life Matters series, parenting expert Maggie Dent and demographer Liz Allen unpack the complexities of modern grandpar...

Confidence can be the magic ingredient to help us through the curveballs life throws our way. It shows up in your career, your relationships, the way you parent, and unexpected everyday moments where you just need a boost. So is confidence something you can cultivate? Personal coach Kate James and psychotherapist Giac Giacomantonio share their tips on building confidence brick by brick and tapping...

Neil the seal is an internet sensation. His regular midwinter haul-outs have brought him onto land and in close contact with humans and our built environment. But as he grows bigger, so too do the risks. So how do we manage the situation so that Neil's pilgrimages don't put him — or others — in harm's way? Australia's snowfall has been in long-term decline for decades, and it's something the towns...

Family holidays are where we make some of our most cherished memories — and some of the most stressful, chaotic ones, too. So how do you make the most out of the time away? Parenting expert Justin Coulson and writer Rebel Wylie share how to plan for a successful getaway, and what makes it all worthwhile. Once upon a time, paying for TV meant skipping the ads. But these days, we're paying more and...

Two major Australian musicals, Beetlejuice and Waitress, have been forced to cancel the remaining legs of their tours and close early. So why are big productions struggling, and is the audience part of the problem? Tim Minchin and Live Performance Australia's Eric Lassen unpack what's going on in the Australian theatre scene. For Pam Brinsmead, life had always felt like a movie where everyone else...

The evidence around how much birth order affects personality traits or behaviour has been debated for decades, but one thing is fairly clear from the data: middle children are disappearing. We're flat out having second babies, let alone a third. So if middle children are no more, what do we stand to lose?  In 2025 alone Australians lost almost $18 million to scams delivered via text messages. Come...

We all have our own habitual behaviours that help us get through tricky moments or avoid stressful situations. But sometimes, what feels easier or more comfortable in the moment can hurt us long-term. Clinical psychologist Rebecca Ray explains how identifying self-sabotaging behaviours and understanding what's behind them is the best place to start breaking the cycle. This week, Aunties Nate Byrne...

Play School is celebrating a milestone birthday this year: it's Big Ted's diamond jubilee. For six decades, the show's beloved presenters have been singing, playing, telling stories and teaching generations of Australian children. Long-term hosts Alex Papps and Don Spencer join media researcher Jessica Balanzategui to discuss the secret to the show's success?  A regimented focus on what you're eat...

According to the latest statistics, men make up less than a third of Australian school teachers. In primary schools, the figures are even lower, and have been declining for decades. High school maths teacher Eddie Woo and sociologist Nicholas Hookway explore what's behind the trend and why it matters. The RSPCA estimates Australians keep about 2 million domestic chickens. While they may seem like...

The average wardrobe contains about 199 pieces of clothing, according to research published last year. Among them are usually a couple of items that rarely see the light of day. Fashion researcher Alicja Kuźmycz and podcaster Clare Press explore how increasing the wearability of what's already in your wardrobe can unlock the secret to sustainability. Researchers in Canada have scoured some of the...

Pushing for change takes a sustained effort — it requires people to keep showing up, keep organising, and keep working together. And building a movement often means finding common ground with people outside your usual circles. Amanda Tattersall and Kurt Iveson, co-authors of People Power in Cities, explore what it takes to create real change. Around 26 million people worldwide have taken an at-hom...

Australia is increasingly a nation of non believers — in the 50 years from to 2021, the number of people claiming "no religion" rose from about 7 per cent to nearly 40 per cent. Yet other research suggests those identifying as "spiritual" is on the rise. So how do we find spirituality outside of religion? Author Jackie Bailey and sociologist Anna Hallafoff explore the bounds of spirituality. When...

"It really bothers me when any kind of white supremacist people have tried to use my song, I've objected to that a few times now. True blue is just...your promise is your bond."  John Williamson has spent his five-decade long career bringing our wide brown land to life in song. He's never shied away from speaking his mind, especially when his words are used for causes he stands against — whether i...

It used to feel like learning a few key phrases in the local language before you headed overseas would help you get around. But with the rise of translation apps, is it even worth it anymore? Neuroscientist Olivia Maurice and linguist Peter Crosthwaite explore the benefits of learning another language.  Australia's paid parental leave scheme is about to be extended to six months, but as it stands,...

Results from the last HILDA survey shows the income Australians 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? After almost 150 years, Balmain Bowling Club in Sydney called last drinks over the weekend. And sadly, it's a familiar tale. Researchers from the University of New South...

A pilot project in the Northern Rivers of New South Wales is trying to demonstrate the value that remains in building materials of houses earmarked for demolition. How much could we save if we put the materials left behind to good use rather than contribute to growing landfill? We now live in a digital first world but if you aren't constantly using technology there's the real likelihood you are be...

According to a 2026 report from Stanford University, Australians are among the heaviest intentional users of AI in the world — and yet, many of us don't trust it. It's a complicated relationship. So how are you feeling about the way AI is showing up in your relationships, your work, your daily life? Download This Show host Rae Johnston and psychotherapist Andrew Sloan unpick what's behind AI anxie...

After hanging up the Olympic swimming goggles, growing and birthing five beautiful children, Libby Trickett was ready to make her 40s the decade of health and fitness. But last June she had what she would later find out was a spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) heart attack. She joins Dr Barbara Murphy to talk through dealing with the ongoing anxiety that often comes after a major health...

In the 1970s, the late physicist and Nobel laureate Richard Feynman came up with a mathematical formula to help his friend decide what to order at their favourite restaurant. The trouble is, no-one could decipher the handwriting — until now. Self-proclaimed maths geek Adam B Spencer and psychotherapist Zoë Krupka explore the answers to decision paralysis. When you think about the critical infrastr...

Australia uses 1.3 million tonnes of plastic packaging every year — and the majority of that packaging ends up in landfill. Exemptions that allow some companies to export certain types of plastic waste are being wound back. So does Australia have the capacity — and the market — to make recycling work? Dyslexia can make everyday tasks really difficult, and take a huge toll on self esteem and confid...

Childhood development expert Billy Garvey has worked with thousands of families over the last two decades, helping anxious, angry, withdrawn boys and parents who don't know where to begin. He joins Life Matters to talk about his new book, Ten Things I Wish You Knew About Raising Boys. Bringing a pet into your family is supposed to be a love-at-first-sight moment signalling a life ahead with your n...