The most played episodes among Podcast App listeners.

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   Number 1: Trouble sleeping? It could mean less time in the workforce

   Waking during the night, struggling to fall asleep, or finding yourself wide awake at 3am can become more common in midlife. You might accept it as part of getting older, but sleep problems in midlife are worth paying attention to. A Finnish study has found that people over 50 with severely disrupted sleep had a shorter working life expectancy. So, what gets in the way of a good night's sleep as we age? And what can we do about it?

   August 19, 2026·16min
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   Number 2: Liane Moriarty on the children's book about a sickly dragon that had her in floods of tears

   Children's books are often among the most worn out and beloved volumes on our shelves — they're stories we could recite with our eyes closed, that conjure special memories from years gone by. As part of Radio National's Top 100 Australian Books countdown, Life Matters has invited a few special guests to share their favourite Australian children's book. For author Liane Moriarty, the secret to a great kids' book isn't that different to writing a book for any other audience. It's all about telling a story that will keep the reader turning the pages.

   September 09, 2026·4min
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   Number 3: What does the future of op shops look like?

   Second-hand stores specialising in high-end products are popping up all over Australia, along with an explosion in the populariuty of online re-selling platforms like Depop and Vinted. At the same time, the standard op-shopping experience is becoming supersized too, with the US giant Savers expanding its footprint in Australia. So where does this leave the small charity shops that rely on donations to raise funds?

   September 06, 2026·22min
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   Number 4: Ask Aunty: meddling in mum’s health matters

   If your mum raised you in the thick of diet culture, you’ve probably had some body image lessons to unpick from that era. And when you have to play more of an active role in helping mum manage her health as she ages, you know you can always ask aunty to help navigate this tricky terrain.

   September 03, 2026·11min
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   Number 5: Maggie Dent on the wisdom of Grandma Poss and why Possum Magic is her all-time favourite

   As you're whittling down your shortlist for Radio National's Top 100 Australian Books countdown, you might be digging deep into the memory box for inspiration. Children's books often stick with us for years after we first discover them. They often have special memories attached, whether from our own childhood, or from years spent reading to our own little ones. For parenting educator Maggie Dent, there's one Australian classic that stands out from the rest: Possum Magic, written by Mem Fox and illustrated by Julie Vivas.

   September 02, 2026·5min
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