Life Matters - Full program podcast

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 pressure, but honouring a loved one's wishes can be even trickier when the family don't agree. This week, the aunties help a listener whose dad's ashes are being held hostage.

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 matter if we've fallen out of love with reading? And what can we do to reverse the trend?Is there a place from your youth that feels like a sacred space? For Alistair Miller, it's the Corio Skate Bowls — built in 1980 as the first public skate park in Victoria, after he and his mates lobbied the local council to give them a space to burn off steam. Decades later, it's been earmarked for heritage protection. So what have we learned about creating public spaces for teenagers, and how do we protect them?The return of humans into space has reignited an age old question: is there extra-terrestrial life out there? And if we find it, what happens next? Resident Life Matters philosopher Patrick Stokes mulls over ethical quandaries of space exploration and alien life.

Breaking up is hard to do, especially when there are children involved. And for many parents working through a separation, it comes with guilt and fear that kids living across two separate households will be worse off. But a new research paper from the Australian Institute of Family Studies shows as long as kids feel a sense of safety and security, the bells and whistles are less important. As AI adoption surges, so too does the demand for data centres. But these facilities require enormous amounts of energy and water to operate. A NSW inquiry is now examining the rapid expansion, with three local councils pushing back. Researchers Brownyn Cumbo and Ascelin Gordon explore how this technology fits into our infrastructure, and what it means for the communities hosting it.The Artemis II crew have set a new record for space exploration, travelling farther from Earth than any humans before them. Head of the Australian Space Agency Enrico Palermo unpacks what we hope to learn from this mission, and how its success might shape the future of space exploration.

The federal government has unveiled its plan for gambling reforms, announcing a ban on gambling ads in sports stadiums and players' uniforms, and heavy restrictions around ads on TV, radio and online platforms. But does this go far enough to stop millions of dollars flowing out of people's wallets and into gambling company coffers? Researcher Samantha Thomas and advocate Anna Bardsley discuss how gambling companies are expanding to target new markets, and how the proposed reforms measure up.After more than 10 years of putting survivors, alcoholics, nudists, cheaters, bogans and countless others in the hot seat, there aren't many uncomfortable questions Kirk Docker hasn't asked. The co-creator You Can't Ask That has been inviting misunderstood or marginalised groups to answer the most controversial and curly questions — on television — for seven seasons. And the show's coming back for another round. Smart devices are everywhere. They're designed to enhance our lives, but these devices also collect a huge amount of data, with very few safeguards to protect your privacy. So are we as humans smart enough for these devices?

Would you watch Married At First Sight with your teenagers? It might sound like a strange parenting strategy — the show is messy, engineered for drama, and showcases some pretty troubling behaviour. Media lecturer Jessica Ford and men's mental health expert Simon Rice discuss how creating a safe space for conversations about respectful relationships could be a good place to start.There's a push to integrate financial literacy into Australian schools, with recent data showing 52 per cent of Australian women and 37 per cent of men don't understand basic financial literacy concepts. Katrina Samios, from the not-for-profit Financial Basics Foundation unpacks what practical financial lessons for young people could look like.Author, columnist, and screenwriter Kathy Lette has written dozens of books, but she credits just one as the spark that set her on the path to becoming a writer.When you reach a certain age, the world has a quiet way of suggesting this might be as good as it gets — you've peaked. But middle age doesn't have to be a slow fade. For Saskia Beudel, who took on Australia's most intense endurance cycling event in her 50s, it was a time to push the limits.

Most parents understand there is a huge amount they can do to set up (or stuff up) their kids' mental and emotional needs. Developmental paediatrician and parenting podcaster Billy Garvey shares how to prioritise what's most important. Aunties Denise Eriksen and James Colley help a listener figure out how to break the news that they're not a big fan of their friend's four-legged companion.

An estimated 1 in 3 Australian households do not have secure access to food — they're either not getting enough, not getting the right kind, or sacrificing other crucial things to afford their groceries. And with fuel prices skyrocketing and interest rises shrinking household budgets, people are turning to food banks to help put dinner on the table. So how do we address the complex issue of food security?Grief can plunge your entire world into darkness. Most of us find our own way to survive it, to let the life grow around it. For author Emma Grey, the answer was to "turn up the light" by seeking out snippets of hope through creative pursuits — from floral arrangements to photography.ABC analysis of Census data shows, for the first time ever, women are more likely to be married or partnered with a man who has a lower education than them. Sociologist Dan Woodman unpacks what's behind the shift.

The Reserve Bank of Australia has announced that come October, card surcharges will be banned. But will it actually save you money any money?A significant amount of our learning takes place outside of the classroom and we know that homeschooling has risen significantly in the last few years. Mario Gabrieli, who's taking his son Leonardo on a journey from Sydney to Italy on the back of a Vespa, and home education researcher Rebecca English discuss the benefits of taking kids out of school. Deborah Lawrie knew from the age of 16 that she wanted to be a pilot, so when Ansett rejected her from their trainee program in 1978, she took the airline all the way to the high court — and won. The landmark legal battle allowed a trailblazing woman to finally pursue her dream career, and paved the way for equal opportunity in Australia.

Last week a woman in the US successfully sued Meta and Google, arguing their platforms were addictive. She said she was spending up to 16 hours a day online, starting from just six years old. It raises some big questions around the concept of social media addiction. Psychology researchers Deon Tullett-Prado and Sharon Horwood explain what the research says about how social media is changing our brains.Even if you're not technically addicted, ignoring the notifications on your phone and paying attention to your top priority tasks can feel impossible. So what can you do about it? Neuroscientist Lila Landowski shares why she decided to put pen to paper and write the dummies' guide to focus.When it comes to life admin, the more boxes to tick or steps to click through, the less likely you are to complete that boring task. And in some cases companies are embedding "digital friction" or "sludge" to keep us from cancelling that membership or ending the free trial. Consumer behaviour expert Paul Harrison digs into why this has become such a profitable and common model.

As petrol prices continue to soar, the only way to reduce your bowser bill is to go electric or get rid of your car altogether. But could you realistically do that where you live? Researcher Dorina Pojani from the University of Queensland shares what she learned from an experiment in Brisbane asking 10 people to totally ditch their cars for three weeks.Getting to gigs and immersing yourself in the atmosphere of live music is a rite of passage for many young Australians, but there are significant barriers holding some people back. Kate Duncan and Jamison Kelh from youth music charity The Push have just launched the National Plan for Young Australians and Music, to provide equal access for all young Australians — no matter where they live, what their budget is, or what kind of music they're into.Anyone who lived through the toilet paper saga of the COVID pandemic era can attest that Australians have a tendency towards panic buying. With fuel prices rising, consumers are being warned not to start stockpiling, with concerns that mass hysteria at the petrol pump could soon lead to shortages. So what are the ethics of panic buying? Do we have a moral responsibility not to buy what we don't really need?

There's an longstanding rule that it's not polite to talk about politics at the dinner table. But in times of global turmoil, where freedom of expression is under threat, it can be harder to keep the peace. Psychotherapist Andrew Sloan talks through how to navigate relationships when we vehemently disagree, and what we stand to lose as a community if we can no longer hold space for different opinions.After a friend goes through a break-up, often the real feelings their besties had about their ex come out into the open. But what do you do if they decide to reunite with the person you just declared as public enemy number one?

Helping you figure out all the big stuff in life: relationships, health, money, work and the world.

The looming fuel crisis is starting to bite, with service stations running out of petrol and prices soaring past $2.50 per litre. If you're in the middle of planning a trip, whether it's up the coast for Easter or hitting Greek Islands for European summer, the new reality is throwing travel plans into disarray.In Australia, the average kitchen lifespan is about 15 to 20 years. Interior designer Caroline Cumberbatch and author Kate Legge contend that we risk losing the heart of the home in the modern bid to replace and renovate these spaces that hold our family history.If you could delegate all the boring work-related tasks to an AI version of yourself, would you do it? This is the idea behind Identic AI, an assistant trained to mimic your tone and correspond on your behalf. This Working Life host Lisa Leong shares what she learned from chatting with researcher Don Tapscott and his AI agent, Digital Don.

A recent Senate inquiry report has found capital gains tax discounts and negative gearing have historically benefited investors over owner-occupiers — so is it time to tweak the system? Independent MP Allegra Spender and the Australian Urban and Housing Research Institute's Michael Fotheringham discuss how these changes might work and whether it would be enough to address housing affordability for the next generation.From mood swing tea to moisture-wicking pyjamas, marketing to menopausal women has become so lucrative it's been dubbed the hot flush gold rush. But experts argue it could be preventing women from getting the health advice they actually need.Everyone needs a break from the daily grind from time to time. The idea of a sabbatical might sound appealing — what if it wasn't your job, but your marriage, that you needed some reprieve from?

As our cities grow, there's a push to build up, not out — including in our suburbs. For more families, that means home will be an apartment rather than a house. Kate Longley, who lives in an apartment with her two children, joins architect Natalia Krysiak to discuss how to make higher density living more family-friendly.University is a big leap for any young person. But for country students who have to move away to study, it comes with the added expense of relocating and living away from home. Wendy Mason from the Country Education Foundation says the rising cost of living is making it even harder. Author, columnist, and screenwriter Kathy Lette has written dozens of books — but she credits just one as the spark that set her on the path to becoming a writer."Leisure sickness" refers to the idea that people are more likely to get sick on the holidays than during the working week. There's little science to back it up, but there are some theories as to why it might happen — and what you can do about it.

Mother-daughter bonds are strong, but many come with heavy cultural baggage: expectation, guilt, and comparison. Psychotherapist Zoe Krupka unpacks why so many women are talking about "the mother wound". If you knew a secret about a new co-worker, would you share it with your colleagues? Where do you draw the line between harmless gossip and unprofessional chatter?

A new report has found Aussie couples are moving away from pooling their money, and are choosing to be more financially independent in their relationships instead. But a separate bank account doesn't automatically mean the money is protected if the relationship ends. Researcher Kira Duggan, solicitor Antonella Sanderson and journalist Shelly Horton discuss the ins and outs of shared finances.More than 446,000 Australians are living with dementia. For many, it's a diagnosis that can turn your world upside down. But it doesn't mean life stops. For both Jim Rogers, who was diagnosed with early onset dementia in his 50s, and Debra Graves, who cared for her husband Don after his diagnosis, an important part of their new reality was prioritising travel. Analogue hobbies are having a moment again — crochet clubs, scrapbooking and journalling are all over social media. These once old-fashioned pastimes are finding a whole new wave of fans, with some data suggesting it's younger generations leading the charge. So what's behind the resurgence?

Small talk might feel trivial, but professor in the psychology of kindness Gillian Sandstrom says these tiny exchanges can help us live a kinder, more connected life. Gillian unpacks it all in her new book Once Upon A Stranger.Leeson Timms knows the world of the 'manosphere' all too well. He was drawn in by the allure of confident blokes and an assured place in the world, only to realise the damage it was causing to others around him. British documentary maker Louis Theroux's latest project Inside the Manosphere has put this misogynistic world back in the spotlight. But does it go far enough? And what can Australia learn about curbing homelessness from looking to Finland's Housing First policy?

Helping you figure out all the big stuff in life: relationships, health, money, work and the world.

A new program has launched in Queensland to teach teenagers how to safely ride e-bikes and e-scooters on the roads. It comes as trauma experts warn the number of serious injuries and fatalities associated with these devices is rising, so when the stakes are so high, is education enough? Are you a glass half-empty or half-full kind of person? A long-term study out of Yale University suggests it actually pays to be an optimist, with people who have a positive attitude around getting older showing improvement in areas like memory, cognition and physical mobility. Geriatrician Kate Gregorevic unpacks the science behind ageing well.Why is it that you can hold onto the lyrics to a song from 25 years ago, or the entire script of a classic movie, yet can't remember where you parked your car or why you walked into a room? Researcher Michelle Spear talks through the mysteries of our memory.

Breaking up can be brutal, especially if you have children together. Navigating feelings of anger, sadness, betrayal and shock without bringing the kids into it can be complicated. Family mediation specialist Danielle Lundberg shares the secret to staying sane while bringing up kids with your ex.Life Matters listener Katherine asks the Aunties for advice on clearing her cat's name after a neighbour wrongly accused them of a stinky crime.

Helping you figure out all the big stuff in life: relationships, health, money, work and the world.

At a pivotal moment in her career, one moment changed everything for comedian Denise Scott. She knew it was bad immediately, and a few appointments later it was confirmed: breast cancer. Now, on the other side of treatment, Denise is touring a new stand-up show, Tickety Boo.Skate parks, playgrounds and BMX tracks are everywhere — but a recent survey shows teenage girls are barely using them. What would make our parks and playgrounds more inclusive of teenage girls? And could redesigning them benefit everyone?This Working Life host Lisa Leong dissects the juiciest tips from her interview with world-renowned psychotherapist Esther Perel on how to navigate conflict in the workplace.

There are growing calls for the childcare subsidy to apply to a broader number of care options. Whether it's grandparents, nannies, au pairs, or whatever the case may be, how might that work? And if your choice is a childcare centre, what does that mean for you?When Jan Warnock was diagnosed with a terminal illness, she decided she wanted to say goodbye on her own terms. So the family held a living wake. Jan's husband Julian Warnock and anthropologist Cindy Stocken share how celebrating life before you go, with the people you love, can make space for grief and healing. For Head and Heart, resident psychologist Christine Bagley-Jones explains why it's human nature to judge people, but we have a choice to make about what to do with that judgement.

Meals on Wheels has been around for more than 70 years, but in a growing number of communities the service is facing challenges. Meals on Wheels chair Paul Sadler, volunteer Carol Gillman and geropsychologist Nancy Pachana discuss changes rolling out across the country and the future of Meals on Wheels.Learning to drive is a rite of passage for many Australians, and often it's the people who raised us sitting in the passenger seat. But do we have the skills to prepare our teenagers to hit to road?The Australian Council of Trade Unions has put forward a proposal to increase annual leave from four weeks to five. At the same time, the average worker is doing around the same amount of unpaid work each year. Fiona Macdonald and Rae Frances talk through how we could tackle big changes to the way we work.

If you had to rank your sex life between 1 to 10, where would you land? According to a recent survey, nearly half of Australians are unhappy with their sex lives, putting us well below the global average. So what's going on? Sexologists Tanya Koens and Cam Fraser unpack the orgasm gap, barriers around intimacy and how to speak your mind in the bedroom.For Ask Aunty, a grieving widow shares how reading his late partner's diary revealed a hidden betrayal. How do you navigate grief while wrestling with regret, and should you keep people's secrets after they're gone?

Electronic shelf labels — those little digital screens replacing paper tags — are becoming more widespread across supermarkets in Australia, where prices can be updated instantly at the push of a button. It's certainly saved hours of employee time printing and updating labels manually, and although it's not inherently problematic, some are concerned that the way it's being used overseas could have implications for Australian shoppers. ABC technology reporter James Purtill retail marketing and consumer behaviour professor Gary Mortimer from Queensland University of Technology unpack what this could look like on Australian shelves.Australia Post has warned the day will soon come when it delivers its last letter, with the rising cost to provide the service outstripping demand. So what might a post-post world look like, and how will the record of history we leave behind change without letters?As workplace culture makes headlines following the fallout between radio duo Kylie Sandilands and Jackie O, behavioural scientist Aaron McEwan look at how to recognise toxic behaviour in the workplace, and what you can do about it.

Crowded lecture theatres and late nights at the uni bar were once staples of university life. But with so much learning now delivered online, campuses aren't the hive of social activity they once were. Life Matters' resident sociologist Dan Woodman and psychologist Andrew Martin unpack what the students of today are missing and whether it matters.Art is a powerful force that can change our thinking and move us to action — but could it save lives? Professor Daisy Fancourt shares what she found in researching her new book, Art Cure: The Science of How The Arts Saves Lives with Philip Samartzis, an artist capturing the sound of cutting-edge science in Antarctica.The way we interact online has changed dramatically since the inception of the internet, and artificial intelligence presents a huge challenge. Digital literacy researcher Luci Pangrazio and AI educator Natasha Banks explore how we're preparing ourselves, and the next generation, to navigate these ever-changing spaces.

It wasn't long ago that zero-alcohol drinks were a niche product. Now they're everywhere, including on supermarket shelves, looking almost identical to the real thing. New research warns these drinks are blurring the line between drinking and healthy living. Professor Simone Pettigrew and advertising creative Dee Madigan unpick whether it's time to review the regulations.While Australians are among the highest consumers of textiles in the world, some shoppers are opting out, embracing low- or no-buy experiments to reassess their wardrobes. Historian Lorinda Cramer and Buy Nothing New founder Tamara Dimattina explore how these trends stack up with those of the past, and just how effective they could be in curbing our clothing consumption. Advertisers have long understood the power of music. A catchy jingle can build brand recognition in seconds, and stay with us long after we've heard it. So could the soundtrack in your head be shaping more of your decisions than you realise?

It has never been harder to be a small live music venue in Australia, but what if there was another way? Churchill Fellow Sam Whiting, the Australian Live Music Business Council's Ant McKenna and not-for-profit venue owner Jim Flanagan explore the possibilities.In the age of wellness, there's an endless stream of advice about how to live longer, stay healthy, and even reverse your biological clock. But have we become so obsessed with living longer that we're no longer living well? Dr Norman Swan and lifestyle and health editor Sarah Berry delve into the extremes of longevity.New research has explored which voices we find more attractive and how our sexuality might shape the kinds of speech that turns us on. Researcher Cate Madill explains what shapes the way we talk, and how our voices reflect power, status and our place in the world.

Debt can bring up a lot of emotions — stress, shame, embarrassment — but it's a reality for most of us. Almost half of Australians with debt struggled to make some repayments in 2025. National debt helpline coordinator Vicki Staff and psychologist Luke Martin share how to shift some of the difficult feelings around our relationship with money.Ask Aunty delves into the tricky territory of ending a friendship. When an age-gap friendship starts to feel a little tiring, is it time to break up? And how do you manage phasing someone out if you're worried about their health?

In the aftermath of the BAFTA awards, one moment has eclipsed the stories behind any of the films that were recognised. A Tourette Syndrome advocate who'd been invited to celebrate a film about his life shouted a racial slur while two Black actors were presenting an award on stage. It was an involuntary tic that he had no control over, but the impact was shocking, sparking heated debate. Mandy Maysey and Seamus Evans from Tourette Syndrome Association of Australia discuss how we can make these spaces genuinely accessible and inclusive — for everyone.Australia is having a reckoning moment for the 1.5 million children enrolled in child care. At the Senate inquiry into quality and safety of Australia's early childhood system, some groups are pushing for more flexible choice for subsidised care outside of the existing daycare system, while others want to re-imagine the system entirely. One of the options put forward is universal child care. Parenting advocate Georgie Dent breaks down what that could look like and just how achievable it would be.In our regular segment My Two Cents, veteran rock and roller Mick Thomas of Weddings, Parties, Anything and The Roving Commission, shares how he makes his money decisions.And for Ask Aristotle, resident philosopher Patrick Stokes delves into what it means to be human. If your head was placed on a new body, would you still be you? Where does our consciousness truly reside? And even if such a transplant was possible, should we do it?

Australia's love of sport runs deep. We idolise the scoreboard, pack out stadiums, and beam with pride when our athletes bring home gold. But for some, the sideline isn't such a welcoming space. So how do we shift our relationship with sport to hold onto the good, and call out the bad? Olympic medallist Libby Trickett and Sportish podcast co-host Georgie Trickett share why they want to shift the way we talk about sport. The language you speak is so much more than the words that come out of your mouth, and for many holding onto those words is a symbol of a fight hard won. So how is the revival of languages, once on the brink of extinction, changing the next generation of speakers? Clark Webb, founder of the first Aboriginal bilingual school in NSW, and Irish language coach Eamon Corcoran explain how helping people rediscover language connects them with culture and community. Less than a month after the Launceston City Council announced it was considering a four-day work week, the proposal has been shelved. So what went wrong? This Working Life host Lisa Leong explores the questions this raises about our attitudes to work, and whether Australia will ever be ready to embrace the four-day week.

Endometriosis affects around one in seven girls and women in Australia, and getting a diagnosis can take, on average, six to eight years. QENDO chief executive Jessica Taylor and endometriosis patient Helene Hill discuss how the Four Corners investigation into a prominent Melbourne gynaecologist has affected trust in the medical system for those who have fought to have their voices heard.A new report into multiculturalism shows that for migrants, a sense of belonging in the postcode where you live is key. But rising rents and gentrification are reshaping communities, sometimes pushing out the very cultural identities that made them vibrant in the first place. Researcher Trish Prentice, Maribyrnong mayor Mohamed Semra and Pakistan Australian Cultural Association president Syed Naqvi shed light on the path forward for new migrants.Resident psychologist Christine Bagley-Jones joins Life Matters for Head and Heart, to chat through just how far you should go to pressure test a new romantic relationship.

The main street is the heart of a country town, and it can often give you a quick picture of how the place is faring. With new data showing more than 5.3 million metropolitan Australians would consider a move to the regions, that first impression can be make or break. Sheep farmer turned property investor Max Jones, regional Queensland mayor Shaun 'Zoro' Radnedge and Professor Andrew Beer discuss what it takes to breathe new life into these communities.We've all had at least one run-in with a neighbour before. But if you knew they could leave you a review, would you think twice about chucking your overflowing rubbish in their bin? Rowan Thambar explains why he created a website called Rate Thy Neighbour, and the unspoken social rules it's revealed.The concept is simple: a rotary phone, disconnected from any network, offering a quiet place to sit and chat with someone who's died. The wind phone began as one man's way to say goodbye, but the idea has now spread around the world, opening up space for conversations about death, loss and grief.And author, academic and activist Bri Lee shares the book that awakened her feminist rage, and ultimately, changed her life.

Many of us feel overwhelmed by the demands of everyday life — hustling to make ends meet, managing never-ending life admin, staying fit and healthy, caring for the people around us, and worrying about the state of the world. So if you're feeling stuck, how do you regain a sense of hopefulness? Writers Jodi Wilson and Andrew Sloan share the practical changes you can make to your daily life to bring things back into balance. And for Ask Aunty, Fiona Harris and Joe Sullivan help navigate a neighbourly dispute over street trees on the nature strip.

After the 1956 Melbourne Olympic Games, Australia built thousands of public pools, which are now reaching the end of their lives. Royal Surf Life Saving Australia estimates about 40 per cent of public pools will be obsolete by 2030. So what do we lose if our pools start closing, and why are they so important that locals are lobbying to save them?In an age where people are writing entire novels using ChatGPT, author Bri Lee chose to write her latest work completely by hand. It's a small act of resistance pushing back against the relentless quest for convenience, but Bri's not alone. Columnist for New York magazine The Cut, Kathryn Jezer-Morton, coined the term 'friction-maxxing' while investigating this trend, pushing back against the mindless optimisation of all facets of modern life. Do you ever catch up with your grandkids for a good old-fashioned yap, only to find you're barely speaking the same language? Don't worry, that won't last. The American Dialect Society has named its words of the year for 2025 and it appears that old-school gems like 'yap', 'skedaddle', even 'diabolical' are making a comeback.

One of the oldest libraries in Australia, the State Library of New South Wales, is marking its 200th anniversary this year, and as part of the celebrations it's collated a collection of stories about how libraries have changed us. Editor Phillipa McGuinness and teacher-librarian Megan Daley discuss their favourite stories from the library.Research shows our average focus time on one task has dropped from about 2.5 minutes in the early 2000s to around 40 seconds today. So what would happen if you took away all the distractions? No screens. No notifications. No artificial light. No outside world. Scientist Kiana Aran reflects on spending five days in a cave-like sensory deprivation chamber, hooked up to sensors to measure what total isolation does to the body and mind.Wuthering Heights has inspired dozens of screen adaptations, but it feels like no-one can agree on whether this latest version starring Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi is the best or the worst ever. We love to argue over authenticity and the limits of creative licence, so why do we get caught up when characters from a book jump off the page and onto the screen?

Coles is in federal court this week, accused by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) of misleading shoppers with fake discounts — a claim Coles has denied. With trust in Australia's supermarket giants once again under the microscope, how easy is it to shop elsewhere?Hobbies are good for us, but it turns out that investing serious time and effort into our leisure activities can bring long-term benefits. Researcher Emily Messina and amateur sword fighter Kiara Bruggeman discuss the connection, community and serious skills that can come from going deeper.If you're out in a busy public place and take a moment to look around, chances are you'll spot a CCTV camera. But would you feel differently if those cameras were actively scanning and identifying you? Digital wellbeing expert Joanne Orlando explains how to identify the risks of digital surveillance.

Food ministers from across Australia and New Zealand have green-lit the process to make the health stars you see in the supermarket mandatory for all food products. It's a step in the right direction, but what else do we need to do to create a healthy environment for everyone? Ben Crowe is one of the most in-demand professional mentors and leadership coaches in the world, and after years working with the likes of Ash Barty and Daniel Ricciardo, he's distilled his wisdom into a book. So what can we learn from sporting legends that could actually help us in our everyday lives?And in this instalment of The Book That Changed My Life, #BookTok creator Luke Bateman opens up about the first novel in a 30-plus-volume fantasy series that helped him rebuild his life after a stint in rehabilitation.

Nearly 50 years after the first Mardi Gras march lit up the streets of Sydney, demanding an end to discrimination, so much has changed. But for many LGBTQIA+ Australians, conversations about their identity are still filled with anxiety and uncertainty. Headspace's Vicki Ryall and Lay Laupama discuss what coming out means in 2026, and how we can make it easier.And Ask Aunty tackles how to navigate delicate family dynamics after divorce — Jane Caro and ethicist Simon Kennedy-Jewell weigh in on whether you can ever be truly honest with your grandkids about what you really think of their parents.

We talk about good hair days — and bad ones — as if they're small things. But for people who are losing their hair, it can feel like losing a part of yourself. Michelle Law and Julian Morgans share their own experiences with hair loss, while researcher Hannah McCann helps untangle why hair is so deeply linked with our sense of identity. Two Winter Olympic events ended in a tie this week, with competitors stepping up to stand on the podium side by side. So what can we learn from athletes about the satisfaction that comes from sharing our successes? Australian pole vaulter Nina Kennedy revisits her own dual medal win and Hugh Van Cuylenburg shares how teamwork can make success even sweeter than a solo pursuit.William Golding's seminal novel Lord of the Flies is being adapted for the screen, more than 70 years after its debut. So what do these stories reveal about us, and why do we keep returning to them?

Running rarely feels easy, even for people who love it. Your legs ache, lungs burn, and then there's the nagging voice in your head telling you to walk the rest of the way. And yet, despite that discomfort, run clubs are booming and marathons are selling out. Author Konrad Marshall and Parkrun Australia founder Tim Oberg discuss our love-hate relationship with running and why we keep coming back to it. Tiny homes are booming, and some in the sector argue they could be part of the solution to our housing shortfalls. Travel writer and tiny house advocate Louise Southerden explains what it's like to live in a tiny home for the long haul, while Paul Burton, an emeritus professor of planning, explores whether they could really help to address Australia's housing crisis. Scientists are turning to optical atomic clocks to measure time with unprecedented precision. Though, that still won’t explain what “be there in a sec” really means. Hinze Hogendoorn, a professor of visual time perception, unpacks how our sense of time is deeply personal, why it shifts as we age and whether there’s any way to slow it down.

From its beginnings as a protest march in Sydney's inner city, Mardi Gras has become an internationally renowned celebration of LGBTQIA+ life. But this year festival organisers have announced the huge post-parade party has been cancelled. Historian Scott McKinnon and queer club owner Tim Brown ponder the question: how important is the party?Family businesses are often treated like heirlooms — they carry a legacy and an expectation that they'll be passed down through generations. But when it's time for the founders to step back, things get complicated. Ombudsman Bruce Billson and Gina Dang, who runs a strawberry empire alongside her six siblings, chat through all the challenges that come with succession planning.Psychologist Christine Bagley-Jones explains how to say now without hurting people's feelings or damaging relationships, and what we can learn from letting someone down gently.

As the national skills shortage bites, the trades are attracting more people looking for a new career. Australia's jobs and skills commissioner Barney Glover AO and Melbourne carpenter Tristan Santoro discuss what it takes to make a long-term career in the trades. Whether it's lofi beats, hard rock or classical, research suggests that listening to music while we work can improve productivity. Professor of music Emery Schubert and AFLW footballer Darcy Vescio chat through their optimal performance-enhancing playlists.More and more Australians are choosing cycling for their daily commute, skipping the traffic congestion and squeezing in some exercise. But the way our cities are designed shapes how we get around, and research shows there's a gender imbalance when it comes to cycling accessibility.