Life Matters

Sports betting is the fastest-growing form of gambling in the country, and it's overwhelmingly popular with men. Experts say that's no coincidence. Researcher Rohann Irving and lived experience advocate Mark Kempster explore how gambling got so tied up with our love of sport and our ideas about masculinity, and whether there's any way to untangle it.

Smart glasses have been around for years, but this time the tech's had an AI injection. Companies like Meta are looking for new ways to market their products to the masses, collaborating with the likes of Kylie Jenner. Tech journalist Alice Clarke and digital sociologist Ben Lyall discuss whether these goofy glasses are finally becoming cool, and what it means for your privacy. 

Australia's introducing new labelling rules that will require restaurants to clearly state whether seafood is locally sourced, imported, or a mix of the two. So how might this affect what you choose from the menu?

Grandparents in 2026 are more enmeshed in their grandchildren's lives than ever. While most are providing some form of care for their grandchildren, close to three in five say their grandparenting style doesn't always match what's expected of them. In the first instalment of a new Life Matters series, parenting expert Maggie Dent and demographer Liz Allen unpack the complexities of modern grandparenting.

Financial stress is a growing problem for Australian households, affecting around 13 per cent of the population. It can affect every facet of our lives, and can be particularly hard on relationships. Beyond Blue's Georgie Harman and tax clinic supervisor Annette Tasker explain how to work through periods of financial anxiety and where to find support.

Confidence can be the magic ingredient to help us through the curveballs life throws our way. It shows up in your career, your relationships, the way you parent, and unexpected everyday moments where you just need a boost. So is confidence something you can cultivate? Personal coach Kate James and psychotherapist Giac Giacomantonio share their tips on building confidence brick by brick and tapping into it through life's challenges.

This week for Ask Aunty, author Patrick Lenton and comedian Kat Davidson weigh in on how soon is too soon to start dating again after losing the love of your life. 

Neil the seal is an internet sensation. His regular midwinter haul-outs have brought him onto land and in close contact with humans and our built environment. But as he grows bigger, so too do the risks. So how do we manage the situation so that Neil's pilgrimages don't put him — or others — in harm's way?

Australia's snowfall has been in long-term decline for decades, and it's something the towns on the frontline of our winter economy have been grappling with. Snow Resorts Australia CEO Josh Elliott, Jindabyne Chamber of Commerce president Oliver Kapetanakos and climate scientist Ailie Gallant explore the future of the Australian ski season.

International events like the World Cup can turn the most fairweather fan into a sports obsessive. People who never watch football suddenly know exactly when the Socceroos are playing. So what does it say about us if our loyalty waxes and wanes with the seasons?

Family holidays are where we make some of our most cherished memories — and some of the most stressful, chaotic ones, too. So how do you make the most out of the time away? Parenting expert Justin Coulson and writer Rebel Wylie share how to plan for a successful getaway, and what makes it all worthwhile.

Once upon a time, paying for TV meant skipping the ads. But these days, we're paying more and more for an ad-free experience. It's landed Amazon in court, with the ACCC alleging the company relied on unfair contract terms to introduce ads to Prime Video. So what might this case mean for viewers?

Whether it's a long time away, or sooner than you think, death is a fact of life. Embracing that fact could change the way you live. Ben Pronk, author of We're All Going To Die, offers his tips for practical happiness in the time you have left.

Two major Australian musicals, Beetlejuice and Waitress, have been forced to cancel the remaining legs of their tours and close early. So why are big productions struggling, and is the audience part of the problem? Tim Minchin and Live Performance Australia's Eric Lassen unpack what's going on in the Australian theatre scene.

For Pam Brinsmead, life had always felt like a movie where everyone else knew the script. That was until she received an autism diagnosis in her 50s that changed everything. She joins psychologist Jac den Houting to explore how autism presents in girls and women, and the freedom in discovering your true self later in life.

This week marks 30 years since Dolly the sheep became the first mammal ever cloned from an adult cell. It was a landmark moment in the world of science, so how have our perceptions on the ethics of cloning shifted in the years since?

The evidence around how much birth order affects personality traits or behaviour has been debated for decades, but one thing is fairly clear from the data: middle children are disappearing. We're flat out having second babies, let alone a third. So if middle children are no more, what do we stand to lose? 

In 2025 alone Australians lost almost $18 million to scams delivered via text messages. Come July 1, scammers face an extra hurdle to reaching your mobile — but that doesn't mean it's time to let your guard down.

Erchana Murrary-Bartlett set herself a huge goal in 2022: run 150 marathons from the very tip of Australia's east coast to the bottom. She broke a world record in the process, and now she's releasing a documentary about her epic trip called 150.

We all have our own habitual behaviours that help us get through tricky moments or avoid stressful situations. But sometimes, what feels easier or more comfortable in the moment can hurt us long-term. Clinical psychologist Rebecca Ray explains how identifying self-sabotaging behaviours and understanding what's behind them is the best place to start breaking the cycle.

This week, Aunties Nate Byrne and Janty Blair weigh in on a family dilemma over a relative who's gone MIA. Is juggling life with a new baby a good enough excuse to skip the odd family function? If everyone else is putting in the effort, is it fair to feel a little miffed at the cousin who can't make it?

Play School is celebrating a milestone birthday this year: it's Big Ted's diamond jubilee. For six decades, the show's beloved presenters have been singing, playing, telling stories and teaching generations of Australian children. Long-term hosts Alex Papps and Don Spencer join media researcher Jessica Balanzategui to discuss the secret to the show's success? 

A regimented focus on what you're eating. Big, rapid changes to your body. Constant monitoring of your weight. All these are signs of a potential eating disorder — but they're also things that happen during pregnancy. Research estimates 1 in 20 women experience an eating disorder during pregnancy. So if it's so hard to spot how do you do it, and how do you have a conversation about it if you're concerned? 

And in Social Studies with Professor Dan Woodman, we investigate an apparent decline in public displays of affection among Gen Z. 

According to the latest statistics, men make up less than a third of Australian school teachers. In primary schools, the figures are even lower, and have been declining for decades. High school maths teacher Eddie Woo and sociologist Nicholas Hookway explore what's behind the trend and why it matters.

The RSPCA estimates Australians keep about 2 million domestic chickens. While they may seem like low maintenance pets, the recent arrival of a new strain of bird flu has some backyard chook keepers in a flap. So if you've got a flock of your own, how do you keep them safe?

There are more than 250 Indigenous languages across Australia, including 800 dialects. They carry culture, history and knowledge through generations, and communities are doing everything they can to keep them alive. Researcher Rachel Nordlinger shares how the 50 Words Project has been collecting and preserving audio recordings from some of Australia's oldest languages.