Life Matters

Ten years ago, Jo Nemeth quit her job and closed her bank account. Today, she's more committed than ever to her money-less life. Back in the 60s this kind of thing was par for the course, but is there a modern counter-culture movement that actively rejects and opposes mainstream cultural values and norms? 

Plus what happens to your genetic information when DNA testing companies go bankrupt, how communities can recover from back to back natural disasters and what to do when your friendship circle turns toxic. 

Sarah knew something was wrong after her daughter's first day at a new high school. After some gentle questions, her daughter revealed a boy in her class had made disturbing and violent sexual comments to her. What followed is a story of what schools, parents and broader society can and can't - or won't - do to take threats and sexual harassment against kids seriously.

Plus one midwife's story, why your gluten intolerance is real - even if it's just in your head - and why this woman is running the equivalent of two marathons a day for mental health. 

The "just let them" philosophy, popularised by motivational speaker Mel Robbins, has gone viral. So when might it help us let go of situations we can't control? And, is there ever the right time to share difficult health news with your partner? 

Earlier this week, the federal government reached a landmark funding arrangement on education. Will this make schools fairer? And how can you stay safe on holidays when you're busy having a good time? Also, when people protest with their dollars, does it make a difference?

Hear one couple's story about shared finances, Thomas Mayo reflects on how to raise good men in reaction to the hit show Adolescence, and why separated parents say the school system struggles to accommodate different family structures.

At 59 years old, Susan McDonald was one of the hundreds of people under 65 living in residential aged care just because of her disability. For two and a half years she was told this was her only option to receive the care she needed after a flare up of multiple sclerosis. This is the harsh reality for many people with disabilities, and despite a 2025 deadline set by the federal government to move everyone under 65 out of aged care in Australia, 1400 people remain in this situation. 

Plus how would Australian research fare if the US President's threats to cut funding come true, one community's unique solution for school refusal and why measles is making a return in Australia. 

Life Matters helping you figure out all the big stuff in life: relationships, health, money, work and the world on ABC Radio National. 

Have you ever found yourself on a rental blacklist? There are databases across the country that real estate agents and landlords can check before approving a new tenant, so how does it work and what do you do if you find yourself on one?

Sports have always brought people together, and for a growing number of Australians that connection is taking place in the world of fantasy sports. You'll hear about how fantasy leagues are taking off and how communities are springing up around them.

Plus what does it take to be a hand model for the latest in our Weirdest Day at Work series, and how to keep the laughs rolling no matter your age. 

Friends are there to help you when the going gets tough but what do you do when your friendship is the cause of your pain? And what happens when you and your spouse have different perspectives on your teenager's love life?

One woman's courageous actions that saved the life of a police officer. Why electricity bills are set to rise and how to opt out of the grid. And when it comes to public shaming, where is the line between a righteous quest for justice and an angry mob with pitchforks?

You're scrolling online and a video pops up of a room full of clutter and rubbish, then cuts to someone wearing a hazmat suit scrubbing grime off a wall. These videos can be hard to look away from, but hoarding disorder is a serious issue that's much deeper than a minute long piece of content.

If your life is controlled by migraine attacks you'll know just how misunderstood they are, you'll hear from the organiser of the world's largest migraine summit in an effort to help other people ease their migraine pain.

As part of our series on Your Weirdest Day at Work,you'll hear what it takes to train dogs to find dead bodies and detect cancer, plus how to bring sustainability into your household cleaning routines.