Life Matters - Full program podcast

ABC Australia

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Helping you figure out all the big stuff in life: relationships, health, money, work and the world. Let's talk! With trusted experts and your stories, Life Matters is all about what matters to you.

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How to spot a real narcissist and the case of the missing family jewels

A grandiose sense of self importance, an intense need for admiration, an inflated sense of entitlement and a lack of empathy — these are the hallmarks of narcissistic personality disorder. In an era of toxic reality TV and mercurial political leaders, it can feel like we're surrounded by narcissists. Psychiatrist Steve Ellen explains what narcissism really means and why the label has become therapy-speak shorthand for any kind of selfish or entitled behaviour. When someone dies, splitting up their assets and sharing possessions among the family can be tricky — even when things are divided equally. The Aunties give advice to a listener who feels cheated out of their inheritance, after a relative gave away some of the family jewels.

53 min
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Why we need to talk about booze and what it really takes to make it in Australia

Most Australians enjoy an adult beverage now and then, but around 6.6 million of us are drinking at risky levels. Alcohol is one of leading risk factors for disease, costing the public purse around $75 billion a year, so minimising the burden to the health system is a priority for the federal government. Alcohol Change Australia CEO Erin Lalor and Sober in the Country founder Shanna Whan explain why open conversations about our relationship with alcohol are an important place to start. Last week the Coalition's immigration policy pushed Australian values to the forefront, prioritising equality of opportunity and a fair go. But for refugees and asylum seekers, putting in a hard day's work is not always that simple. Jane Favero from the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre and new migrant Welde talk through what it really takes to make it in Australia when you're starting a career from scratch. It could be a butterfly on your windowsill, a cloud shaped like a star or a love heart in your coffee. Ghost signs are the little coincidences or symbols that remind us of a loved one who's passed. So why do we look for messages from beyond the grave, and can it help us grieve?

55 min
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The singles tax and psychosocial safety in the workplace

If you're living the single life, you're likely feeling the sting in your wallet. Analysis from financial comparison site Finder estimates the average single person in Australia has $19,260 less in savings than the average partnered person. So how much does it really cost to live as a single person? Singlehood Australia advocate Gen Ford and podcaster Jill Stark explore the realities of the singles tax. New research suggests Australian parents aren't confident in their knowledge around how to spot a concussion, and for some, it's meant keeping their kids back from playing sport. Neuropsychologist Vanessa Rausa explains how to find the right balance between safety and participation, to ensure every child has the change to play. When it comes to safety in the workplace, there are standard expectations around protecting employees' physical health. But the rules around emotional and mental wellbeing are less clear. This Working Life host Lisa Leong unpacks how employers are navigating the delicate terrain of psychosocial safety.

55 min
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What's going on with adult ADHD diagnosis and is optimism dead?

Adult diagnoses of ADHD have soared in recent years, but the system is still struggling to support everyone. A Four Corners investigation has revealed hotspots where prescriptions for ADHD medication are higher than expected, and pockets of missed diagnosis. So if you're seeking out assessment for ADHD, how do you know where to find it? Clinical psychologist Maddi Derrick and social worker Sarah Hayden share what to look out for. According to a poll from the Australian National University, most people think life was better 50 years ago. But does that mean optimism is dead? Tim Sharp from The Happiness Institute explains why hope isn't about ignoring reality and why optimism doesn't have to mean being naive. New research suggests the public are in favour of a permanent move to sports uniforms, to make it easier for children to keep active every day. And this shift could have other hidden benefits to students' overall wellbeing.

55 min
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What it costs to feed Australia and why we don't listen to new music

A new report has estimated how much Australia spends providing food for public institutions and programs — hospitals, aged care centres, correctional facilities — and the bill totals $2.1 billion. Project lead Leah Galvin and researcher Stephanie Godrich talk through the improvements to the system that could make our public food healthier, better protect the environment and support local growers. Research shows there's been a dramatic decline in sales of new music over the last 20 years, and it's creating a nostalgia-spiral that could mean even when you want to find new music it all sounds the same. Tim Kelly from the Australian Institute of Music and Double J's Dan Condon explore what we're missing out on by sticking to the same old playlists we've grown up with. The concept of a birth doula to help someone along their journey of childbirth has become pretty common place, but have you heard of a death doula? They can be involved at any stage of the dying process from helping you navigate your wishes, all the way to being engaged after you've passed to help your loved ones grieve.

53 min
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Making workplaces truly neuro-inclusive and the school fete dilemma

In recent years, the number of Australians being diagnosed with ADHD and autism has risen. With up to 20 per cent of employees now identifying as neurodivergent, conversations about how to support this growing population are moving into the workplace. Clinical psychologist Monique Mitchelson and autism inclusion advocate Alex Lazarus-Priestly discuss how truly neuro-inclusive workplaces can support everyone to function better. There's no such thing as a free lunch — or, as it turns out, a free installation to connect an outdoor shower to your hot water system. Aunties Annie Louey and Simon Kennedy-Jewell share advice for a listener who suspects they've been swindled by a fellow parent at the school fete.

53 min
15 D’ABR.

The neighbourhoods driving the DIY energy transition and why picky eating is a modern problem

At a time when Australians are grappling with the global fuel crisis, those who got in early on clean energy may be feeling a sense of relief. But it's going to take more than individual efforts to drive an energy transition that can support an entire country's needs. Sustainability researcher Peter Newman and strategist Kristen McDonald examine whether the system keeping up with consumers' efforts. These days, it's not uncommon for children to be a little fussy about what they eat. But food historian Helen Zoe Veit argues the phenomenon of childhood pickiness is a modern problem, driven by changes in eating habits, food production and parenting trends over the last two centuries. In years gone by, it was generally seen as polite to take off your hat indoors, and you'd never dream of resting your elbows on the dinner table. But behaviours that were once the norm just aren't as important anymore. So who gets to decide what's deemed polite, and does it really matter?

55 min
14 D’ABR.

The science of the perfect day and dogs in public spaces

New research from the University of Pennsylvania shows there are three key indicators of a better-than-average day. But there are also unavoidable tasks like housework that make your day worse — so how do you decide what the trade-offs are? Time use epidemiologist Dot Dumuid and journalist Emma Joyce explore the key ingredients for a perfect day. Almost half of Australian households have a dog, and since the pandemic, many pet owners who got used to spending plenty of time with their furry companions are looking for more ways to do that outside the home. But across the country there are ongoing tussles about where you should be allowed to bring a pet along with you, and where you shouldn't. So do dogs belong in the workplace, or at the pub? The traditional pathway for school-leavers to study and find a job might not be as realistic these days, as they enter a rapidly changing workforce. So how do you support the young people in your life to pursue a career when the world of work looks so different? This Working Life host Lisa Leong explains the art of giving career advice.

55 min

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Hilary Harper

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Michael Mackenzie

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Tegan Taylor

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Steve Ellen

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Vanessa Rausa

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Jill Stark

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Dr Tim Sharp

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Sarah Hayden

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Leah Galvin

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Stephanie Godrich

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Helping you figure out all the big stuff in life: relationships, health, money, work and the world. Let's talk! With trusted experts and your stories, Life Matters is all about what matters to you.