Life Matters - Full program podcast

Everything's moving online! Where does that leave the less-tech-savvy among us? Especially... our seniors? And, caring for someone at the end of their life can be all-consuming and overwhelming. Now there's a tool to help people organise the support they need. Plus, a few years ago, we couldn't get enough of streaming... but the dial may now be swinging back towards physical media you actually own. Also, do we owe each other honesty, all the time?

In hospital, gauging parents' instincts is about to be part of standard care. From the end of next month, all NSW hospitals will require staff to ask this question: "Are you worried they are getting worse?" Plus, who's a member of the We Do Not Care Club? And, a deep dive into Australia's home-grown conspiracy theories.

Australia has a proud history of taking to the streets to protest a cause... but it's getting harder. Plus, it's National Missing Persons Week and the way we talk about missing people can make it even harder for those left behind. Also, are group chats a poor substitute for hanging out in person? And, with our national dictionary poised to close ... who's going to keep track of 'Strine?

Should everyone have the right to easily delete their social media footprint when they turn 18? And, forget the pulpit - are influencers the new missionaries? Plus, if you've ever muttered, "They don't make things like they used to," the tide may finally be turning. Also, what have you got hanging on your walls at home?

We're in a state of change and evolution when it comes to expectations around masculinity in 2025. So, what does it mean to be a man in a contemporary world? Plus, what's the best way to address oat milk theft from an office fridge?

Westpac wants a million Aussies to leave city life behind... and move to the regions. And, if you could redesign your work to suit the demands of your life, what would you change? Also, the towns that realised if they wanted something, they were going to have to build it themselves. Plus, younger people's habits may be sounding the death knell for nightclubs.

We're a day away from the end of Dry July. Has it got you thinking about going teetotal for good? And, there is another case of alleged abuse inside a childcare centre. Now some parents are petitioning to use their childcare subsidy for nannies, au pairs or even grandparents. Plus, they cause pollution that leads to hundreds of premature deaths a year... but is that enough to get us to give up wood burning heaters?

Is it worth giving up some of our privacy to keep kids safer online? And could an extra long weekend be good for our collective mental health? Plus, the impact of famous faces in advertising. Also, the benefits of being a board game family.

The power of the word "cancer". And, why mainstream school isn't working for many families. Plus, how ABC finance guru Alan Kohler manages his money. Also, what one woman gained by taking a break from looking at her own reflection.

Parents today have a greater awareness of the importance of supporting kids' mental health and emotional needs. But in an era of information overload, how do you navigate the best way forward? And, what's appropriate behaviour at a funeral?

Why are homeless rates in Australia getting worse and what can we do about it? And, the controversy surrounding fashion label Princess Polly being given B Corp Certification. Plus, an AI influencer is making waves around the world. Should we be worried?

A new report found almost one quarter of HR professionals now classify workers aged 51 to 55 as "older". Plus, so-called "appointment television" is dwindling around the world... so who controls the remote in your home? And, what are the ethics of visiting a tragic tourism site?

Why many Australians are optimistic about the uses of psychedelic drugs. And, a new Netflix show has used AI to cut costs, leaving fears about job replacement. Plus, why do some people develop a god complex? Also, the fallout from the "Coldplay concert affair."

A new study reveals young workers still face obstacles in the workplace. Plus, is there a healthy way to deal with a relationship ending? And, journalist Monique Ross transformed her life by becoming a basket weaving instructor. Also, why superheroes and dinosaurs keep entertaining us in movies.

Some people decide to make fitness part of their lives as they get older. So, how do you embrace physical activity if you've never been "sporty"? And, what happens when you and your partner have different sleep routines?

Sneaky card surcharges can be frustrating for consumers. But will the RBA's ban mean savings? And, new research about older people and anxiety. Also, how Outback Mike deals with the financial jungle. Plus, dealing with awkward silences.

Some educators say the popularity of mid-term holidays is proving a challenge in classrooms. Plus, the role the YIMBY movement is playing in solving Australia's housing crisis. And, why walking is making a comeback.

How housing prices are locking people out of the market... and locking them into relationships too. And what's behind the viral #GirlDad movement? Plus, are new laws the answer to keeping pets happy? Also, when a brand or identity is called out for bad behaviour and needs to apologise, why don't we usually believe they're remorseful?

Medical patients may lose their regular GP if they don't have frequent appointments. Also, what's behind Australia's obsession with big tourist attractions? Plus, a new study shows footy umpires are dealing with frightening and violent behaviour. And, have you suffered decision paralysis when it comes to your career?

Are there environments where you consciously or unconsciously hide parts of your identity in order to fit in? And what happens when the dynamics in a blended family of adult step-siblings get spicy?

What is explicit instruction and why are so many Australian schools embracing this? Plus, is it ethical to support a friend in any circumstance? And, should books come with age content guidance?

Many families adopt their own made-up words or odd phrases - it's known as a familect. Plus, there's less stigma around sex nowadays. So why are many young people opting for celibacy? And, if you've been dismissed when you're reaching out for help...all because of the size of your body, you already know the impact of weight stigma.

Is it OK for the teens in your family to crack open a zero-alcohol beer at your Sunday BBQ? Plus, why it's getting so hard to buy a ticket online for your favourite act. And, how does it feel to live somewhere blighted by profound sadness? Also, what happens if you never outgrow sibling rivalry?

You've seen the horrific stories about a man charged with child sexual offences at a daycare in Melbourne over the last week. For parents it's been a heart-wrenching time to drop your child off, and for male educators, it's been a week of tension and mistrust as victim-survivor groups call for a blanket ban on men in childcare. Today, we talk to those at the forefront of this complex and heated issue to help you understand it all.Plus why it's so hard to grieve a best friend, how to get strangers to cooperate on a jury and the science of being cool.

How did your high school years shape you... and what would you say to your teen self? And in Ask Aunty, should children be seen and not heard?

Why Aussies are paying thousands of dollars for whole body scans. Plus, how young people are learning to save and spend. Also, ABC meteorologist Nate Byrne's relationship with money. And are fitness trackers a win for wellbeing?

As the demands on parents have changed over the years, so have the expectations on grandma and grandpa. And, is it acceptable to use AI for personal messages? Plus, how people turn the worst day of their life into something that helps others..

Australia is running out of burial space. So what's the solution? Plus, a woman who tried 17 hobbies over the course of a year and what she learned along the way. Also, can you trust a corporation, or a brand, the same way you trust a person? And is it OK for students to call teachers by their first names?

Why are a generation of children on track to die before their parents? Plus, how to avoid being that annoying tourist and should we step up to help elite athletes living below the poverty line?

Parasocial relationships are a one-sided, emotional attachment with a celebrity or public figure. So, why do we feel a bond with people we've never met? And, Ask Aunty has a booty call quandary.

Are older Aussies being misrepresented in advertising? Plus, the AFL has just launched a tool for blind and low-vision fans that's transforming how they experience the game. Also, finance guru Alan Kohler shares his personal finance insights. And, who gets to decide what history says and what gets left out?

Almost half of us will be diagnosed with cancer in our lifetime. So why are we still so lost for words when it happens? Plus, modern medicine means birth typically happens in hospitals. So why are home births on the up? And, how are gardeners adapting to our changing climate?

The surprising emotions that come with a lottery windfall. Also, could playground design protect children from bullying? Plus, new research shows that if you use AI assistants like ChatGPT.... there is a cognitive cost. And, Gen Z is drinking less and spending more on fitness and wellbeing than any other generation. But does this health kick make them lonelier?

Global tension can impact us emotionally, mentally, even physically. So, how can we deal with this anxiety? Plus, how did you navigate the transition to school for your kids? Also, Australia's first lab-grown meat will be in restaurants within weeks. And when and where do you wear your earbuds?

When you think about home... where do you go? It it where you live or where you feel most like yourself? Plus in Ask Aunty, does loving your friends mean you also have to love their pets?

Creative Australia has released a new report that looks at how we find and engage with local music. Plus, dealing with the difficulties of family life when you work Fly In Fly Out. And, have human attention spans shrunk down to goldfish levels? Also, if you're struggling to buy a house....why don't you just ask your parents for money?

Aussie matchmakers share how they help singles find love. And after years of effort convincing the public of the urgency of climate change, are politicians now testing whether people still care? Plus, how early do you start Christmas shopping?

One couple's story of pandemic drinking and pulling their marriage back from breaking point. Plus, a major new study about Irritable bowel syndrome. And, how Dolly Parton and the city of Tamworth are turning little minds into big-time readers.

Councils around the country are calling for better regulation of e-scooters. Plus, how meal delivery apps have changed Australia. And, how is support for women's leagues in Australia holding up? Also, do public protests still have the same impact as in years past?

Was there a moment that made you realise you had to evolve your relationship style? And in Ask Aunty, how to navigate a family that isn't good at talking, listening, and validating.

Changes to alcohol delivery laws aim to prevent family violence. Meanwhile, the Buy Now Pay Later industry has undergone an overhaul, with new regulations coming into force this week. Plus, the Australian Government has updated its COVID vaccination guidelines website. And, should you parent someone else's child?

Have you ever pretended you're someone you're not, in order to impress a new love interest? And, shock after another embryo error at one of Australia's biggest fertility companies. Plus, does travel open our eyes or put fragile places at risk?

When it comes to reading, Aussie boys aren't keeping up with girls and the gap is getting wider. Why do families keep secrets... and what makes people finally reveal the truth? Plus, new research suggests that taking photos can be surprisingly powerful. And what happens when a business partnership fails?

Australia's medical regulator last week introduced new safeguards aimed at protecting young people from potentially dangerous side-effects of non-invasive cosmetic procedures. Plus, the University of Queensland's body donor program has stopped accepting bodies. Turns out, so many people want to donate ... they've run out of space. And, have mobile phones taken over our lives like parasites?

There is no manual or perfect guide to tell you how to raise a child, everyone just kind of figures it out as they go. So, how has being a parent changed you? And in Ask Aunty, if another child is being mean to your little one... should you get involved?

Should Australia offer more support to the gaming industry? Why is later-in-life divorce becoming more common? Plus, musician Sarah McLeod offers her thoughts about money. And, is a university degree worth it?

How have the Right to Disconnect laws impacted your work life? And, new data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics shows that 85% of Australians have at least three types of forever chemicals in their blood. Plus, what's the best way to protect vulnerable people from cyber scams?

A call to emergency services can save lives, but what should you do when you see someone in mental health crisis? What are the long-term effects on your finances when you dip into your super early? Also, Gen Zs have identified "recession indicators", but what's the reality? And, why do some people love the thrill of extreme sports?

Is an ADHD diagnosis set to become easier and more accessible? How can you lead a comfortable and fulfilled retirement without spending a fortune? Also, new family law changes aim to make splits fairer ... even for the family dog.

Our clothing is one of the most individual forms of self-expression. So, what do your clothes say about you? And in Ask Aunty, what should you do if you get a warning about a new romantic partner?