Life Matters - Full program podcast

If a 300-year-old tree falls, and no one is around to save it, does it break a heart? Many, as it turns out. The illegal felling of the Sycamore Gap tree in North England has highlighted the emotional connection we share with trees. We explore the power they have to ground us in an increasingly unstable world. 

Plus, in the second instalment of Leap, meet the man who ditched the 9-5 life to become an escort, and never looked back.

It's been more than 18 months since the RBA started raising interest rates to combat soaring inflation. Australians feeling the pinch might have hoped for some financial relief by now. So what's taking so long? Will the end ever be in sight? We take your questions.

If you've ever felt that hospitals are a cold, intimidating environment, know you're not alone. Meet the organisation using arts to transform health care culture, and make hospital environments more kind. 

It's now possible to register yourself with your local GP clinic, and potentially receive some benefits in return, under the new My Medicare program, which aims to improve care for patients and reduce visits to emergency departments. We explain whether its worth registering.

Our social media feeds have been inundated with graphic images of conflict, from Gaza to Ukraine. It can be very distressing, so how can we cope?

Plus, we investigate crowd rules in sport, in particular, why we need to stay silent at the tennis. 

Creative recovery is an emerging tool for healing the trauma of diaster-affected communities. We learn how art projects are helping people process their grief and illuminate their experiences for all Australians.

Menopause can be confronting and confusing, so cartoonist Kaz Cooke decided to shed some light on it. She joins us to talk about her new book It's The Menopause, and the thousands of women she heard from in the process of writing it.

And we look at the history of Australia's film classifcation system, censorship and the allure of banned films.

We all get jealous sometimes, what matters is how you deal with it. We look at ways to change your thinking, and other tips for managing your feelings when the green-eyed monster rears its head.

And Too Hard Basketeers James Colley and Urvi Majumdar tackle a very modern dilemma for adults - How often should we be visiting our parents? With family, work, social and other towering commitments, how can you make time for your ageing parents, especially when they live far away? 

Most of our cities aren't bike-friendly enough for cycling to be a safe, easy commuting option. We look at what needs to change to make Australian cities cycling havens.

Have you ever wished you could just make a big change and shake up your life? Over the next five weeks, you'll meet the Australians who took that big leap, and learn what it took to change their lives. In the first instalment, Jodi Wilson shares how and why she left her well-paying job and possessions behind, packed up her family of six into a caravan and never looked back.

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

As the Voice referendum vote draws near, we look at the impact of the debate on indigenous peoples' mental health. 

Plus, how to pick the perfect fruit and vegetables with fruiterer Thanh Truong, and some ideas about the sustainable future of fashion with Clare Press.

Mood tracking has become a popular way of understanding the sources of our feelings and regulating our emotions. There's a lot of evidence that this practice can benefit our wellbeing. But when we track using apps with AI capabilities, like Apple’s latest iOS update which promises mental health insights based on how we report our feelings, can we believe them?

Kink is undeniably human, but where does it stem from? Sex educator Esmé Louise James' new book Kinky History examines the origins of kink, its expression in surprisingly highbrow circles, and how what we consider alternative (read 'shameful') is constantly evolving. 

If someone nearby had a cardiac arrest, what would you do? A recent survey in Canada found many people felt unprepared to help using CPR, particularly if the person experiencing the cardiac arrest was a woman. We look at the situation in Australia and what needs to change.

Group texts and chats are increasingly prevalent in our digital lives. But the rules of engagement can vary just as much as social dynamics in real life. Which app do you use? What does that sticker mean? And why doesn't anyone respond to that person in the chat? We explore the complex social mores of the group chat.

Plus, comedians Matt Okine and Frankie McNair solve the issue of the misbehaving house-sitter.