Life Matters - Full program podcast

If you've been paying attention to the news, to your social media feeds or to really any and all pop culture lately, you've likely heard that boys are not alright. But if you're only looking at the bad parts, the beauty and complexity of raising boys can be hard to see. Developmental paediatrician and author Billy Garvey says it's never too late to try a new approach, in fact it's never been more important to try.

When your relationship is on the rocks, what's your conflict style? The Life Matters aunties comedian Sashi Perera and ABC journalist Luke Siddham Dundon are here to help navigate a seemingly petty dilemma that could signal bigger issues.

Even if you've never been to the ballet, you're probably familiar with Mao's Last Dancer. It tells the story of how a young boy in rural China was plucked out of poverty to train at the Beijing Dance Academy and went on to perform on stages around the world. More than 20 years later, Li Cunxin is releasing his second memoir, The Lucky Son, which picks up where Mao's Last Dancer left off and explores the lessons on love, leadership and legacy he has collected along the way.

Observational data has found that, every year, the night sky is becoming 10 per cent brighter because of light pollution from our growing towns and cities. It's not just stargazing that's being affected — light pollution can harm wildlife and even human health. Australasian Dark Sky Alliance founder Marnie Ogg and academic Julian O'Shea explain how we can protect our dark sky.

Celebrity endorsements have been around since marketing began. But how would you feel if you saw an ad featuring someone you were almost certain was dead? Last week a Swedish manufacturing company released an ad for ball-bearings featuring the AI likeness of Greta Garbo, the legend of Hollywood's golden age who died more than 30 years ago. Resident Life Matters philosopher Patrick Stokes explores the ethical quagmire known as "ghostploitation". 

Around the world, the leading cause of disability isn't infection, road injury or stroke — it's pain. A landmark study of 6 million participants has found people experience heightened pain around age 55, peaking at about 75. And while the pain you feel in your body isn't all in your head, the way you think about pain can make a huge difference to how you feel it. Pain specialists Fiona Blyth and Michael Nicholas explain how reframing pain can help.

According to the latest study of death literacy and readiness, Australians aren't that well prepared for the inevitable. Just over half of us have a signed and sealed will. So what's preventing us from preparing for the end of life? The Law Report's Damien Carrick joins Kerrie Noonan from La Trobe's Death Literacy Institute to explore our complicated feelings around death.

You've heard of the Tough Guy Book Club, what about a book club dedicated to bro-mantasy? Men who enjoy romance fiction seem to face a certain stigma about the kind of books they choose. Bookish podcasters Luke Bateman and Kate Cuthbert discuss what it might take to shift the narrative.

More than half of Australian households with a mortgage have an offset account attached. It's meant to make your extra savings work for you by reducing the interest you pay on your home loan. But not everyone appears to be reaping the benefits. Following an ASIC investigation earlier this year, a Senate inquiry will look into how banks are managing offset accounts, and what happens when things go wrong. So what can you do to protect your money?

As daylight saving kicks off and the usual debate reignites, human geographer Thomas Sigler reveals just how political the "fixed" hours on our clocks really are, and what would happen if the world abolished timezones entirely.

As the Radio National readers start tallying up the votes for the Top 100 Australian Books countdown, Andrew Daddo shares why The Magic Pudding is the ultimate classic kids' adventure worthy of a spot in the hall of fame.

Whether it's buying a house amid rising interest rates, proposing to the one you love, or changing jobs, the anxiety that comes before a major life decision can become overwhelming. In some cases, analysis paralysis can stop you in your tracks. Psychologist Christine Bagley-Jones explores how to navigate change in a healthier way.

There are over 160,000 amputees living in Australia and each one has their own story of loss and having to rebuild their life. James O'Brien's life changed rapidly after going on an idyllic beach holiday. He's documented his experience in a new podcast called The Limb Shift, where he interviews people about the resilience of life after losing a limb. 

Recent data from Australia's HILDA survey shows the average income we 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?

The University of Melbourne's Archives and Special Collections now holds a rare copy of a 15th century manual on hunting, torturing and executing women accused of witchcraft. So what can the world's most infamous witch-hunting handbook tell us about the spread of misinformation and dangerous ideas today?

Sex positivity has never been more talked about, but that doesn't mean the bedroom has caught up. And the stresses of everyday life can make a big impact, from resentment over the mental load to the daily grind of parenting. So what happens to a relationship when sexual satisfaction is lopsided? Sex and relationships therapist Georgia Grace and sexologist Cam Fraser explore.

This week, Aunties Denise Eriksen and Mike McLeish share their advice with a listener who reconnected with an old flame at their high school reunion. But how can they tell whether it was just a nostalgic fling, or if there really is something more waiting to be discovered?

The federal government's new Thriving Kids program officially starts today, designed to shift children with mild-to-moderate autism off the NDIS. Researcher Adam Guastella and Autism Awareness Australia CEO Nicole Rogerson explain what that means for the families caught up in this transition. 

On International Day of Older Persons, it's time to flip the script on our youth-obsessed culture, and consider the benefits of ageing. Neuroscientist Olivia Maurice joins dementia researcher Ruth Peters and author Maggie Kirkman to explore the bright side.

The RBA's ban on card surcharges is kicking in, so what does that mean for the price of your coffee? Financial services expert Steve Worthington and Mount Gambier bakery owner Dylan McQueen discuss what to expect. 

The RBA has raised interest rates to a 15-year high, and with wages still trailing inflation, cost-of-living pressures are mounting. So if you are struggling, what are the practical things you can do to feel some sense of stability? Financial counsellor Deb Shroot and financial planner Amie Baker discuss how to protect your from financial dread.

As AFLW marks 10 years of competition, internationally acclaimed playwright Suzie Miller is premiering a new show about the grit and determination it took to turn that dream into a reality. 

An estimated 82 per cent of workers are at risk of burnout, costing the global economy $8.9 trillion a year. This Working Life host Lisa Leong explores how we can get better at recognising and treating the symptoms before it's too late.

Last week's OpenAI hack of a Medicare website sent shockwaves through the community. While authorities have confirmed no personal information was compromised, it raises questions about the role of AI in dealing with sensitive medical information. What really happens to all those private details being recorded at your appointments? Researcher Andrew Cullen and AMA president-elect Michael Bonning discuss the role of AI assistants in the doctor's office and what can be done to protect patient privacy.

New research shows social isolation has nearly doubled in two decades, hitting young people hardest. So why does the most digitally connected generation in history feel so lonely? Michelle Lim, CEO of Australia's peak body tackling loneliness, explores how we got here and what we can do to shift the needle.

For years, messages warning about the consequences of illegally downloading and sharing movies, music and TV were everywhere. But has the dominance of streaming services stamped out piracy? Consumer behaviour expert Paul Harrison explains how easy access to every piece of media imaginable has changed the game.

According to the latest HILDA survey, most Australians are pretty satisfied with their relationships. The data suggests couples without kids are among the happiest. Psychologist Stephen Andrew and sociologist Leah Ruppanner discuss the ingredients for a strong relationship.

Over the last couple of decades, the average number of words we say out loud each day has dropped. Between 2005 and 2019, researchers in the US found a 28 per cent decline in the number of spoken words. Linguistics professor Nick Enfield explains what's happening to our lost speech. 

Tutors are often the people who step up when your kids are struggling in their education. But some of these businesses are shutting up shop, with the rise of AI shaking up the industry. The Australian Tutoring Association's Mohan Dhall and researcher Ben Zunica explore whether a chatbot can really replace a human tutor.