Life Matters

The Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute (AHURI) has been considering the ways housing affects children's health and development. They found that around 1 in 8 kids who grow up in rentals have moved at least 10 times by the time they reach the age of 14. Researcher Amy Clair and psychologist Rachel Samson explain how housing instability can affect kids in the long-term and what we can do to make these transitions easier. 

Increasingly, Australians are turning to AI tools to understand their rights, draft complaints, or even prepare a case for court. In some ways it's making our justice system more accessible, but it also means courts, tribunals and complaints bodies are dealing with more submissions — including some that shouldn't be there. 

Grocery tourism has been a named one of the biggest trends of the year, with one report estimating 77 per cent of travellers enjoy visiting grocery stores abroad. As far as tourist attractions go, it's an inexpensive way to spend an hour and get a sense of the daily life in that city. Consumer behaviour expert Paul Harrison unpacks what's behind the trend. 

Voluntary assisted dying is now legal in all states and territories of Australia, but many terminally ill Australians who are eligible for VAD still face challenges in accessing this choice. Anita Rumore, who cared for her father before he died by VAD last year, joins legal expert Ben White and advocate Linda Swan to talk through the barriers that remain.

When you're reading picture books to your little ones, what keeps you (and them) engaged? Is it the words that tell the stories, or the illustrations that bring them to life? Best-selling children's author Andy Griffiths and his collaborator, illustrator Bill Hope explain what it takes to combine those elements and craft a story that stays with its readers.

It's never been easier to take a photo. But how often do you actually revisit your happy snaps now that they're sitting in the cloud instead of a precious family album? Looking back over old photos can transport us to those special moments in our shared history, so how do we preserve these memories forever?

All Australian states and territories now have workplace health obligations in place that require employers to protect your psychosocial safety. That means preventing things like unachievable job demands and inadequate reward and recognition. We all experience some of these things to some extent in the workplace, but where is the line? Employment lawyer Mariah Loriente and psychotherapist Andrew Sloan explain what it means for you.

When you’re gifted a bag of clothes, what is the acceptable course of action for the items you don’t want to keep? Is it ever ok to resell a gift? Aunties Fiona Harris and Jennifer Wong weigh in on the rules of engagement when it comes to unwanted gifts.

We know spending time outdoors is good for our mental health. Now, there's even more research to prove it. A study out of Scotland found people who lived close to woodland areas were 10 per cent less likely to be prescribed antidepressants. Urban planning researcher Sebastian Pfausch and Gardening Australia's Hannah Moloney explain just how strong the healing power of nature can be.

More Australians are living alone than ever before, but so much of our society is designed for couples and families. Author of The Spinster Cookbook, Eli Davies, explores what it means to cook for yourself and by yourself, and how to find joy in the practice.

You don't have to venture too far to find yourself wading into conspiracy theories on the internet. But it can be hard to draw the line between harmless speculation and something more serious. Our resident philosopher Patrick Stokes weighs in on the ethics of conspiracy.

We celebrate mother's day, father's day, and even invite the grandparents along to kindy once a year to partake in special craft activities, but are we overlooking the role of our beloved aunties and uncles? Journalists Kate Leaver and Tiger Webb explain the special relationship they each have with their nieces and nephews, and how being an aunty and an uncle has changed them.

As the world reflects on the life of Dolly Parton, who died overnight aged 80, millions of children will remember her simply as "the book lady". Among her many accolades, one of her proudest achievements was establishing the Imagination Library. Lindsey McKee, CEO of United Way, which runs the free book program in Australia, shares how Dolly Parton's legacy made it all the way to Tamworth. 

This northern hemisphere summer has been punishingly hot, a real mood killer if you were planning a glamorous Euro trip. And the summer looming here could be just as bad. New research shows that a fifth of people surveyed had changed their most recent holiday because of the weather. So what does our changing climate mean for your travel plans and the tourism industry?

If there's a bird feeder hanging in your backyard, you're not alone. Around 50 per cent of Australian households say they feed wild birds. But it might be time to reconsider, because there's a risk it could be a hotspot for bird flu transmission. Urban ecologist Daryl Jones and Euan Ritchie explain how to safely interact with your feathered friends.

New research from the University of Melbourne has found that young people are now significantly more likely than older generations to hold hostile attitudes towards women. It can be easy to feel like there's no hope of things getting any better. But researcher Sara Meger and youth mentors Daniel Allars and Daniel Principe say it starts with finding opportunities to change young minds.

Roadies were the backbone of Australia's rock and roll scene, making the magic happen before and after the curtains dropped. But now it's taking a toll — physically, emotionally and socially. Adelaide University researcher Brad West, roadie Rod Louey-Gung and geropsychologist Nancy Pachana explore what other industries can learn from the original gig workers.

If someone was bad mouthing your best friend you'd go into bat for them, but what if the person they're talking down on is themselves? Psychologist Christine Bagley-Jones explains how to nip the negative self-talk in the bud.

According to a new report from Screen Australia, 78 per cent of Australians have played a video game in the past six months. Gaming is one of the fastest-growing industries of Australia's screen sector, yet unlike film and television, we don't often talk about its cultural value. Video game developer Luke Muscat and researcher Brendan Keogh explore what's missing from these conversations.

The National Film and Sound Archive (NFSA) is inducting 10 Australian YouTube content creators into the archive. It's a big step in recognising their cultural contribution, but with technology and media appetites changing so quickly, how do we keep up? Digital culture researcher Nicholas Carah and the NFSA's Patrick MacIntyre explain who gets to decide what's worth preserving in our digital world.

Romance fiction is often dismissed as a guilty pleasure, but this growing genre accounts for a hefty chunk of the publishing industry. So why do we look down our noses at these books? Author Kodi McAlister and sex historian Esme Louise James explore our changing relationship with romance novels.

We all die. But how much have you thought about what will happen before, during and after? Funeral celebrant and author Jackie Bailey explores why planning for a "good death" can bring a sense of peace and control, and make the grieving process a whole lot easier for the people you'll eventually leave behind. 

There's nothing like a secret crush. But should it stay that way? This week, Aunties Patrick Lenton and Michelle Law give some advice to a listener whose true feelings about a platonic friend are at risk of being exposed. Is it time to 'fess up? 

With home ownership still out of reach for a huge swathe of Australians, the Australian Council of Trade Unions is calling on the government to improve stability for long-term renters. Its wishlist includes increased investment in public housing and stronger tenant rights, including minimum two-year lease terms. Housing policy researcher Hal Pawson joins two lifelong renters to explore what actually contributes to a sense of stability for people renting long-term.

Waking during the night or struggling to fall asleep can become more common as you get older, and poor sleep has all sorts of flow-on effects. Researchers in Finland have found a connection between poor sleep and a shorter working life. Sleep expert Moira Junge and podcaster Sarah Macdonald explore what gets in the way of a good night's sleep as we get older.

We all love a good whinge. Complaining about the little everyday inconveniences can help us work through things, and sometimes, it can even lead to social change. So where's the line between a harmless whinge that facilitates social bonding and becoming the Eeyore of your friend group?

If the weekend is something you take for granted, it might be worth remembering it's a concept that only came about 100 years ago in the United States, and it’s even younger here in Australia. But over the last few decades the sanctity of the weekend has shifted. Historian Sean Scalmer explores whether the weekend is on its way to becoming a relic.

It's estimated around 1 in 7 Australian mothers will experience postnatal depression in the year after giving birth, and 1 in 5 will experience postnatal anxiety. On the other side of her own experience with postnatal anxiety, Australian senator Marielle Smith is calling for a national inquiry into postpartum health care. She joins clinical psychologist Nicole Highet and rural parenting advocate Stephanie Tretheway to explore how far we've come and what we could be doing better.

More than 60 per cent of Australian employers say they're using AI "significantly" or "extensively" in recruitment. It might be to write job ads, screen and shortlist applicants, or even to interview candidates. So, if you're job hunting, how do you beat the bot?