The most played episodes among Podcast App listeners.

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   Number 1: The case for DNF — an ultramarathon runner on what she learned by not finishing a race

   Among readers, there are two main camps: the completionists, who'll battle through every boring chapter even if they're absolutely hating it, and those who DNF (do not finish). The DNFers argue life is just too short to waste time on a book that doesn't spark joy. But it can be much harder to walk away from a goal that's taken years of effort, or feels intrinsically tied to your identity. Endurance runner Jane Davies recently wrote about her DNF experience, pulling out of a 100km race more than halfway through. When you've embarked on a huge challenge that requires immense preparation and hard work, how do you make the decision that it's time to quit?

   September 15, 2026·23min
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   Number 2: Why the humble 'hello' is dying out as a greeting

   When the phone is buzzing in your pocket and you answer it, what do you say? There are reports that the humble "hello" is dying, with a UK study showing that 40 per cent of 18-24 year olds agree answering the phone without any greeting is acceptable. How does language change over time and what could be the future of greetings be?

   September 13, 2026·11min
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   Number 3: What Misery Guts taught Hugh Van Cuylenburg about true happiness

   Can you ever truly make someone else happy? You could spend years searching for the answer to this existential question, but perhaps all it takes is some perspective from a fictional 12-year-old. As part of Radio National's Top 100 Australian Books countdown, Life Matters has invited prominent Australians to share their favourite Australian children's book. For Hugh Van Cuylenburg, the first book he can remember reading on his own has stuck with him forever, and the parallels to his own life have been profound. Like Morris Gleitzman's Keith Shipley, he had to learn the hard way that true happiness comes from within.

   September 13, 2026·6min
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   Number 4: From laptops to loos, why are schools fundraising to cover essentials?

   When Cate Gilpin discovered her school's Parents & Citizens Association (P&C) was fundraising thousands of dollars for classroom literacy resources, she couldn't understand why it wasn't coming out of government funds. Research shows her school is not an isolated case. P&Cs are being forced to scale up their revenue-raising activities to cover what many consider to be essentials — like laptops, classroom resources, and toilet repairs. Education experts say that relying on communities to fill the public education funding gap is creating greater inequity in an already broken system.

   September 13, 2026·18min
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   Number 5: Graeme Base on the accidental success of Animalia, 40 years later

   When Graeme Base set out to create his second children's picture book, an English language illustrated alphabet didn't sound like a winning idea. But the three-year labour of love went on to sell more than 5 million copies worldwide, and set him up for a successful career as an illustrator and author that has spanned decades. As Animalia celebrates its 40th anniversary, Graeme Base reflects on the books that built him, and the secret to telling a compelling story that truly stands the test of time.

   September 13, 2026·14min
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