Life Matters - Full program podcast

Three stories about life outside capital cities. City boy Roland Breckwoldt on his experience as an outback ringer, Sally Warriner on being referred to as the 'wife of the general manager' on an outback station and why she left, plus Sam Vincent heads back to the family farm.

Author Susan Cain explains why it’s important to feel sadness, melancholy and heartache in a world of ‘toxic positivity’. From the Life Matters archives, the late John Hinde, beloved film critic, chats to Geraldine Doogue in 2002. And pre school children who are learning to speak in more than one language.

Social media has transformed what it means to be a child star, we find out what is and isn't being done to protect children in this space. Plus for Life Matters 30th anniversary, former child actor RJ Mitte from Breaking Bad.

Is it necessary to be polite when it comes to fighting for gender equality? Wendy McCarthy weighs in. Plus international creativity expert Ken Robinson from our Life Matters 30th Anniversary series.

Public speaker and author Kemi Nekvapil explains how to take control of our lives. Plus Julie McCrossin's Life Matters 30th anniversary chat with actress Shirley MacLaine, and we visit a library of Australian culture.

From Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy, to the modern couples on Married at First Sight, can pop culture warp your perception of romantic relationships? Plus from our 30th anniversary series, Amanda Smith speaks with Stan Yarramunua.

How do you mark the end of a year? The Life Matters audience shares their highlights and lowlights for 2023, and their rituals for seeing out a year, whether it’s been one for the pool room or one for the bonfire. And in the Too Hard Basket, a tricky social situation involving three couples.

The way children are taught is about to become more evidence-based, as a national body set up to improve education outcomes releases its first report. Plus how 'listening' to your body can help prevent you from eating foods that make you feel bad afterwards.

The 2022 mood has been one of exhaustion and retreat and with a year of feeling battered by COVID dragging on, financial stress, war and floods, how do we recover from collective trauma? Plus we look at the digital future of death, and meet the Torres Strait Islanders fighting to conserve their home.

Controlling your kids behaviour can be especially tricky during the holiday season, but is it helpful to get Santa involved when it comes to rewards and consequences? Also, how might the colours you surround yourself with help you feel good? And, is it possible for an Aussie kid to become a soccer champion?