Life Matters - Full program podcast

By ABC listen

What's Life Matters - Full program podcast about?

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.

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Life Matters - Full program podcast episodes:

04.17.2024
A sweet history of Australia and the right nutrients for kids
Helping you figure out all the big stuff in life: relationships, health, money, work and the world.
04.16.2024
Squatting as a response to the housing crisis and the power of exercise
Helping you figure out all the big stuff in life: relationships, health, money, work and the world.
04.15.2024
Psychedelic assisted therapy and how to inspire change
Helping you figure out all the big stuff in life: relationships, health, money, work and the world.
04.14.2024
Enjoying your own company and keeping your friendships
Whether you're an introvert or extrovert, everyone can find benefits in solitude, and aloneness doesn't have to equal loneliness. How can you enjoy your own company and build habits around quality solo time? And are we too quick to cull our friends...
04.11.2024
What does a good life mean? And my friends are breaking up with me.
What are the elements of a so-called 'good life' and what helps you live one? And is it possible to salvage a relationship with your friend when they decide to break up with you?
04.10.2024
The growing ethical investing movement and the healing power of strength
There is a growing movement in the world of finance and advocacy, arguing that making money and doing good don't have to be mutually exclusive. What makes an investment ethical? How do you ensure the companies you're investing in actually do...
04.09.2024
Learning to drive after 30 and how to knit a human
The percentage of drivers passing their probationary license test after 30 is increasing in Australia. But whether it’s finding an understanding teacher, starting on quieter roads, or seeking the help of a psychologist, people eventually find ways to get their...
04.08.2024
How do women experience pain and a program that's been turning lives around
Research into women's pain shows that it tends to be more common and sometimes more intense, but when women report it, they can often be dismissed, misdiagnosed, or receive different treatment to men experiencing pain. And Backtrack is an organisation that...
04.07.2024
Living like a toddler and finding community in an independent library
The best model for the good life might not be the CEO but the tiny person playing with blocks and screaming for another episode of Bluey. What can we learn from a toddler's unencumbered approach to life? And more tiny, independent...
04.04.2024
How to handle a secret crush and a difficult mother-daughter conversation
What are the consequences of one-sided love, and how can we move on from it? And in Ask Aunty, can you have a constructive conversation with your adult daughter about the clothes she's choosing to wear?
04.03.2024
Respecting our own grief and are conspiracy theories on the rise?
How can we use rituals, memorials, and other grief practices to give ourselves room to heal, when we lose a pet? And it can feel like the number of conspiracy theories and conspiracy theorists is rising astronomically, but new research suggests...
04.02.2024
Online sports betting and charting a new path in life
Has online gambling become too central to sports in Australia? Or is a bit of a flutter just a fun part of the game? And, when Qin Qin realised that the path she was on wasn't actually bringing her a lot...
04.01.2024
Navigating the child support system and a cadetship that's changing lives
The formula that helps calculate how much child support parents are paid is being reviewed, over concerns that it no longer reflects the true costs of raising a child. And a cadetship program that has been working with people who have...
03.31.2024
Living your best life, how to blend a family
It can feel sometimes like you're on a treadmill, getting through the routine of regular tasks. But what if you could bring more meaning into your daily life? Plus how to be a good step parent, and make a successful...
03.28.2024
The changing nature of the mother-daughter relationship
Mothers can be the centre of your world when you're a child, but that relationship has twists and turns over the life span. Author Susan Johnson talks about her mother and we hear your stories as well. Plus how to...
03.27.2024
How menopause is transforming your brain and how young is too young for the the gym
It's now clear that during menopause, women's brains undergo significant changes. But world-renowned neuroscientist Dr Lisa Mosconi says that with the right treatment and support, women can emerge from this period with renewed and enhanced brains rather than depleted ones. And is...
03.26.2024
Why is the ATO pursuing old debts? And what impact does the vagus nerve have on our stress?
Two federal ombudsmen have released a critical report on the manner in which the Australian Tax Office has pursued old debts that had previously been 'written off'. Why, in some cases, are these debts reappearing after more than a decade? And what does...
03.25.2024
Co-operative housing and an adventure leads to love
Co-operative housing makes up around 22 percent of housing in Sweden, but it constitutes less than one percent of housing in Australia. Could it become a bigger part of the housing solution here? And when Matty Hannon set out on a...
03.24.2024
The psychology of fads and the changing face of churches
Why do we keep falling for fads again and again, and what can we expect from the future of trends? And while church attendance has declined over the decades, parishioners are still gathering. So, how have churches themselves transformed?
03.21.2024
Dealing with shame and an upselling hairdresser
Exploring strategies to help you overcome shame or embarrassment. And how do you handle the pressure when you're at the salon and your hairdresser suggests extra products and treatments while you're in the chair?
03.20.2024
How much protein do you really need? And what can whales teach us about being human?
What does protein actually do and how do you know if you’re getting the right amount? And wildlife scientist Vanessa Pirotta shares her passion for whales and explores what it is about the adventures of these massive creatures that resonates with us so...
03.19.2024
The rise of electric vehicles and concerns over flight safety
Even before new policies to support electric vehicles are implemented, there has been a shift in consumer purchasing, with EV sales doubling in 2023. What factors have the most influence over consumers decisions around low-emissions vehicles? And is the recent run...
03.18.2024
Tackling depression in aged care and reducing early births
People in aged care face some of the highest risks of depression in our community. But new Australian research shows there may be simple solutions with enormous potential to help, if they're properly implemented. And Every Week Counts, has been working to reduce...
03.17.2024
How do we prevent sexual harassment and is there a future for cash?
New data from Our Watch reveals that more than two in five women, and just over a quarter of men, experienced sexual harassment at work in the past five years. Australian law says it's on workplaces to prevent sexual harassment, so how...
03.14.2024
Managing value clashes with parents of your children's friends
A big part of being a parent is supporting our children to make friends. So, what happens when our values are very different to those of the families of their new friends? How can you best manage those clashes? Also,...
03.13.2024
How to get strong and Peter Singer's tips for cutting down on meat
More and more research is showing that building muscle helps us live longer and better lives. So how can you start getting stronger at any age? Also, fifty years since Peter Singer published Animal Liberation, what does he think we...
03.12.2024
Peter Goldsworthy's lessons from cancer, and Ed Byrne finds the funny in grief
Finding out you have cancer can be terrifying, and going through treatment can be arduous. But the experience of cancer can also bring about illuminating discoveries on the nature of life and our place in it. That's what author and GP...
03.11.2024
Ageism in the travel industry, and the shadow private tutoring gap
If you've read the fineprint of your hotel terms and conditions or travel insurance, you might find that people over a certain age have very expensive premiums or are not welcome at all. We explore how common ageism in travel really...
03.10.2024
Navigating life with a 'dumb phone', plus being a fan
Meet someone who has made the switch away from a smart phone to a device with no internet. No maps, no email, no google and no facetime. Just how practical is it, and do the benefits outweigh the cons? Plus...
03.07.2024
When sex is dissapointing, and the weird job interview
Your stories about times when sex has been disappointing, and how you turned that around. We get tips for those who want a more satisfying sex life from expert sexologist Tanya Koens. And in Ask Aunty, the job interview full...
03.06.2024
Chosen vs nuclear families, plus Muster Dogs
Journalist Marina Kamenev learned how unsustainable the nuclear family model was, both practically and economically, and began looking for alternatives. Plus the joy of watching dogs muster sheep, and how to engage with wildlife in your area.
03.05.2024
Does everyone need higher education? And how benching kids can hurt their love of sport
The recent Australian Universities Accord report says if we don't increase higher education participation, it will "do lasting damage to Australia's prospects of national economic success" and lock out certain groups from higher-paid jobs. But is radically increasing the number of...
03.04.2024
Understanding the role algorithms play in our lives and navigating palliative care
Every day, we interact with dozens of algorithms as we go about our lives, but many of us don't understand how they work. How do we get the the best out of these tools while keeping the potential dangers in...
03.03.2024
How mindful housekeeping can boost wellbeing and are airline point schemes worth the effort?
We explore the cultural devaluation of ‘home’ work, and how rethinking our relationship with domestic can improve our lives. And getting something for nothing seems like a great deal, but earning points, particular when credit cards are involved, can expose us...
03.01.2024
DATED 01 | Hearts on the line
Two years after the breakdown of her 20-year marriage, Hilary Harper feels like she might be ready to date again. But the dating scene has changed a lot since she was last single in the early 2000s. Having never made contact...
03.01.2024
DATED 02 | How we date now
If you missed the rise of dating apps because you were in a long marriage or relationship, it’s very fair to find them a bit intimidating. The way we meet potential lovers has changed drastically over the past decade, moving...
03.01.2024
DATED 03 | Our complicated bonds
Hilary goes on her first first-date and finds the goods are not quite what was advertised. Plus, an oversharing bookseller and the flaky 'poetry guy' test her fragile heart. How do you deal with people who lie, overshare, or don't respect your...
03.01.2024
DATED 04 | Our naked selves
Hilary has found someone, and sparks are flying. She's starting to feel the flutter of sexual attraction, but she's worried about breaking her long dry spell. She takes a hard look in the mirror and considers her relationship with her body...
03.01.2024
DATED 05 | Happily ever after?
Things are going well with Gene. It's the happily ever after Hilary hadn't considered would come so soon, if at all. He ticks all the boxes and everything feels miraculously right. Is it too soon to use the 'R' word? Or...
02.29.2024
Your relationship with money and a feud on the netball court
Whether you're a saver or a spender, have you ever wondered what drives your behaviour around money? And what do you do when your best friend and her sister, who is also a friend, are feuding on the netball court and...
02.28.2024
Why are gluten issues being ignored? And finding a moral compass
Ten per cent of Australians have cut it out, but doctors say they may not need to do so. Meanwhile, 80 per cent of those with coeliac disease don’t know they have it. So, whether you have a gluten sensitivity or...
02.27.2024
How to create an equitable workplace and Dungeons & Dragons turns 50
Unions and other bodies are calling for specific types of leave for things like menstruation and menopause, but do we need additional solutions to create truly equitable workplaces? And as Dungeons & Dragons turns 50, how has the game changed over...
02.26.2024
Is there enough competition in Australian business? And making it easier to visit relatives in prison.
A recent report by the former ACCC chair Alan Fels claims that rising prices have been caused, not just by inflation, but also by companies with too much market power using that position to increase their profits. What's led to this...
02.25.2024
The importance of hanging out and the meaning of feijoas
While casual socialising, without a particular productive purpose, is supposedly on the decline, loneliness is on the rise. What are the causes of our diminishing 'social fitness' and how do we reclaim the lost art of the hang out. And why...
02.22.2024
Finding love on the apps
With the relatively recent rise of dating apps, the world of romance can feel quite foreign to anyone looking for love after the end of a long relationship. Hilary Harper answers questions about what she learnt while documenting and sharing...
02.21.2024
How Dassi Erlich found her strength and finding joy in sustainability
Dassi Erlich shares how she found the courage to speak out, even as her community did everything it could to silence her, and how she and her two sisters built a formidable community coalition to see justice served. And Dr Kate Luckins found...
02.20.2024
The right to disconnect and happily ever after?
The same tools that have given us the flexibility to work from anywhere at any time, also mean that we can feel like we're expected to work from anywhere at any time. What will the right to disconnect, recently introduced...
02.19.2024
Returning to sex and the health risks of asbestos-contaminated mulch
Asbestos-contaminated mulch has been discovered at dozens of sites across Sydney and NSW. How much of a risk is this contamination? And how could it have happened in the first place? And in part four of Dated, Hilary takes a hard look...
02.18.2024
The benefits of insomnia and surprises on a first date
When Annabel Abbs-Streets found herself in the midst of chronic insomnia, she began to explore the mystery of the 'night brain' and found a wondrous world of people she now calls her 'night spinners'. And in part 3 of Dated, Hilary...
02.15.2024
Getting out of a rut and the anger of bin night
Whether it's living an unhealthy lifestyle, an unsatisfying job, or some other aspect of your life, being in a rut can be a difficult experience. Dr Amantha Imber provides some helpful tips on getting yourself back on track. Plus on Ask...

What's Life Matters - Full program podcast about?

Download our free app to listen on your phone

Life Matters - Full program podcast episodes:

A sweet history of Australia and the right nutrients for kids

Squatting as a response to the housing crisis and the power of exercise

Psychedelic assisted therapy and how to inspire change

Enjoying your own company and keeping your friendships

What does a good life mean? And my friends are breaking up with me.

The growing ethical investing movement and the healing power of strength

Learning to drive after 30 and how to knit a human

How do women experience pain and a program that's been turning lives around

Living like a toddler and finding community in an independent library

How to handle a secret crush and a difficult mother-daughter conversation

Respecting our own grief and are conspiracy theories on the rise?

Online sports betting and charting a new path in life

Navigating the child support system and a cadetship that's changing lives

Living your best life, how to blend a family

The changing nature of the mother-daughter relationship

How menopause is transforming your brain and how young is too young for the the gym

Why is the ATO pursuing old debts? And what impact does the vagus nerve have on our stress?

Co-operative housing and an adventure leads to love

The psychology of fads and the changing face of churches

Dealing with shame and an upselling hairdresser

How much protein do you really need? And what can whales teach us about being human?

The rise of electric vehicles and concerns over flight safety

Tackling depression in aged care and reducing early births

How do we prevent sexual harassment and is there a future for cash?

Managing value clashes with parents of your children's friends

How to get strong and Peter Singer's tips for cutting down on meat

Peter Goldsworthy's lessons from cancer, and Ed Byrne finds the funny in grief

Ageism in the travel industry, and the shadow private tutoring gap

Navigating life with a 'dumb phone', plus being a fan

When sex is dissapointing, and the weird job interview

Chosen vs nuclear families, plus Muster Dogs

Does everyone need higher education? And how benching kids can hurt their love of sport

Understanding the role algorithms play in our lives and navigating palliative care

How mindful housekeeping can boost wellbeing and are airline point schemes worth the effort?

DATED 01 | Hearts on the line

DATED 02 | How we date now

DATED 03 | Our complicated bonds

DATED 04 | Our naked selves

DATED 05 | Happily ever after?

Your relationship with money and a feud on the netball court

Why are gluten issues being ignored? And finding a moral compass

How to create an equitable workplace and Dungeons & Dragons turns 50

Is there enough competition in Australian business? And making it easier to visit relatives in prison.

The importance of hanging out and the meaning of feijoas

Finding love on the apps

How Dassi Erlich found her strength and finding joy in sustainability

The right to disconnect and happily ever after?

Returning to sex and the health risks of asbestos-contaminated mulch

The benefits of insomnia and surprises on a first date

Getting out of a rut and the anger of bin night