Life Matters - Full program podcast

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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.

  1. 15 HR AGO

    The debate over universal basic income, and what are the ethics around speaking up?

    Wealth inequality is worsening and new figures show 1 in 7 Australians now live below the poverty line. So what impact would introducing a universal basic income really have? Jessica Chew, co-director of Basic Income Australia, and Simon Cowan, Research Director at the Centre for Independent Studies, debate this thorny issue. Extreme weather events are becoming more common, and that's making insurance harder to afford - or in some places, impossible to get. Even if you are covered, payouts and repairs can take months... or even years. But what if you didn't have to wait at all? Paula Jarzabkowski, Professor in Strategy, School of Business at the University of Queensland, discusses parametric insurance.  Voting has closed for ABC Radio National's Top 100 Books of the 21st Century. We've been asking some notable readers to share the book that changed their life. This week, Astrid Jorgensen, the founder and director of Pub Choir, discusses her special book.Recently in the United States, six former surgeons general -  their country's leading spokespeople on public health - joined forces to write an opinion piece for The Washington Post. They argued Robert F. Kennedy Jr. should not be in his current position as Secretary of Health and Human Services. Patrick Stokes, Associate Professor of philosophy at Deakin University, explores the ethics of speaking truth to power.

    55 min

  2. 1 DAY AGO

    Coming-of-age travel is evolving, and what's it like to broker a hostage release?

    Today’s young travellers are chasing something very different when they head overseas. Sunrise yoga, ‘run club’ tours, and meaningful cultural experiences are replacing the boozy bus tours of the past. Quentin Long, Managing Director, Australian Traveller Media and Dean Vowles, Contiki Brand Partnership & Product Manager, discuss how coming-of-age travel is evolving.  Israel and Hamas have both released captives, to long-awaited hugs, tears, and relief. But these moments don't come easy. Negotiations are fragile and hard-fought - when every message, every word, carries the weight of human life. So, what's it like to negotiate the release of hostages? Stephen Davis is an Australian hostage negotiator and shares his experiences. Ending a relationship shortly before you're set to say "I Do" can be complex. It's an emotionally charged time, family and friends are invested in the big day.... not to mention the financial fall-out and tricky logistics. Phoebe Rogers broke up with her fiancée two months before the big day. Psychologist and Policy Coordinator at the Australian Association of Psychologists, Carly Dober, explains the emotional factors at play when you have second-thoughts.

    55 min

  3. 2 DAYS AGO

    Under 16s are already using workarounds to stay on social media, and is your workday a night?

    In less than two months, being a teenager in Australia will change in a big way. Kids under 16 will be kicked off most social media platforms - under a new government ban... which is supposed to protect the mental health of young people, and limit their exposure to harmful content. But some are already finding ways to stay on the platforms. In some cases, their parents are supporting their mission. Crikey tech reporter Cam Wilson discusses how effective the ban will be. Four million Australians work between 6pm and 6am - from nurses and cleaners to delivery drivers and security staff. But the people who keep our cities running after dark are largely invisible in planning. Researchers from the University of Melbourne’s Night Shift project say it’s time to design cities that better support night-time workers. So what would that look like? Dr Anna Edwards is a Research Fellow in Urban Studies at the University of Melbourne's Centre for Cities and Andrew Copolov is the founder of the Gig Workers Hub. This year multiple stories of embryo mix-ups and surprise donor-conceived siblings have come to light, highlighting issues in the assisted reproductive technology sector. It's led to a rapid review of the IVF industry, and now that report is in. Although there are wins for strengthening oversight of the sector, some are saying it doesn't go far enough. Karin Hammarberg is an Adjunct Senior Research Fellow in the School of Public Health & Preventive Medicine at Monash University. When two people marry, they'll bring with them different hobbies, different expectations, and different ways of communicating. So, it's unlikely you'll mesh perfectly, 100 per cent of the time. But - those disconnects can leave you feeling... well, lonely. Psychologist Christine Bagley-Jones discusses whether some level of loneliness in a marriage is to be expected.

    55 min

  4. 3 DAYS AGO

    Rethinking our dependence on supplements, and why agrihoods are taking off in Australia

    Nowadays it seems like there's a dietary supplement for everything. To ward off potential illnesses. To support mental wellness. To help with weight loss. And to enhance your fitness regime. So what's fueling supplement culture? And is it really making us healthier? Dr Michael Bonning is a GP and Chair of Public Health for the Australian Medical Association and Emma Fernance suffered vitamin B6 toxicity after taking iron supplements. Agrihoods are booming in the US, and several projects are now in the early planning stages in Australia. Advocates say they bring farm-to-table living to suburban communities and reconnect people with where their food comes from. Steve Grist is an agrihood advocate and founder of Arkadian Developments and Dr Jason Hilder is an urban geographer and Chair of Co-Housing Australia. Financial Counselling Australia has just released a set of principles aimed at guiding organisations to better respond to financial hardship. So if you find yourself in financial stress, what should you do? And how should you expect a business to treat you? Dr Domenique Meyrick is CEO of Financial Counselling Australia, which runs the National Debt Helpline. Actor, artist and author of "Say Everything: A Memoir", Ione Skye reveals how she makes and spends her money in In My Two Cents.

    55 min

  5. 6 DAYS AGO

    Taking the first step to end family estrangement, and drama over splitting the bill

    In a conversation on Jay Shetty’s On Purpose podcast, Madonna opened up about making peace with her brother Christopher Ciccone before he died in 2024. The pair had been estranged for many years. So, how can you reconnect with estranged family? And how do you know if it's the right decision for you? Naomi Mourra reconciled with her family after years of estrangement. And Dr Zoe Krupka, psychotherapist and senior lecturer at the Cairnmillar Institute, explains how you can safely take the first step. It can be awkward to split the bill with friends. But when you’re at a new friend’s birthday dinner and you think it's their shout, then get handed a massive bill…What do you do? Aunties Jenny Valentish, journalist and author of The Introvert's Guide to Leaving the house, and Nate Byrne, weather presenter and meteorologist on ABC News Breakfast, share their insights.

    53 min

  6. 8 OCT

    Global push to eat less meat, and Turia Pitt on why being selfish can be a life-changer

    A new global diet plan focuses not only on what you put into your body ... but how to produce food to keep the planet healthy. The EAT-Lancet Commission says adopting its diet recommendations could prevent 40,000 early deaths per day across the world...  and cut emissions of methane, a potent greenhouse gas. The diet's key message: eat way less meat and more plants. Briar McKenzie is an accredited dietitian and Senior Research Fellow at The George Institute for Global Health and Professor Ben Lyons is Director at the USQ Centre for Rural Economies. In 2011, Turia Pitt was caught in a grassfire while competing in the 100km Kimberley ultra marathon in Western Australia. She suffered burns to 65% of her body. She lost seven fingers, had more than 200 medical procedures, and spent two years in recovery. In her new book, Selfish, she turns her focus to different challenges - those as a parent and partner. She explores sacrifice, guilt, and burnout. Recently, 600 couples from the South American nation of Paraguay were married simultaneously in a gym. Is this a genius way to get around the financial strain of throwing a wedding? Or is it somehow less special than a ceremony of your own? What makes weddings so special anyway? They're expensive. They're full of drama. And they rarely turn out exactly how you wanted. Dan Woodman, Professor of Sociology at the University of Melbourne, discusses why weddings still have a role in people's lives.

    55 min

  7. 7 OCT

    Relationship endings and new beginnings, and concerns about unchecked private tutoring

    Last week's big celebrity news that Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban had ended their marriage after 19 years came as a bit of a shock. And within a day... came the next update... Keith has reportedly moved on and is in a new relationship. While we're talking about two global superstars here... in a lot of ways, they're also going through a pretty relatable experience. About 30% of Australian marriages end in divorce....and many people go on to find new partners and remarry. Kate Halfpenny is a journalist and author who's written about endings and beginnings in her own relationships. Elisabeth Shaw is a clinical psychologist and CEO of Relationships Australia NSW. Its estimated one in six Australian students receive private tutoring to help them catch up or get ahead at school. However, the billion-dollar industry remains largely unregulated, with no national standards or enforced accreditation. A new University of Sydney study warns this 'shadow' education sector is putting student safety, learning quality and fairness at risk. Dr Ben Zunica has researched the private tutoring industry and identified some concerns. He's from Sydney School of Education & Social Work, University of Sydney. Chantelle Ford is a private tutor and owner of Attain Education. A really meaningful piece of jewellery can feel like it's part of you... but some people take that to the next level with pieces that are literally made with body parts. Elton John for instance -- he had a double kneecap replacement surgery last year, then hired a jeweller to fashion his old kneecaps into shiny gold jewellery... a pendant and a brooch. Our taste in jewellery is pretty personal... One person's dream engagement ring is another person's gaudy horror. So, how did jewellery become the status symbol it is today? And what's your relationship with your jewellery? Adrian Dickens is a personal jeweller and lecturer with ArtsNational.

    55 min

  8. 6 OCT

    How to stop the decline in young readers, and will AI "actresses" take over the screen?

    Children are reading less and less. And adults? Well, we're not much better. A new report shows that kids need the time, space and a little helping hand to fall in love with reading. So why don't we have more dedicated spaces for kids to explore books? Jane Cowell is President of the Australian Library and Information Association, Megan Daley is a teacher-librarian, and Anna Burkey is head of Australia Reads. What if the leading performer in the next movie you saw wasn't human, but an AI entity? Tilly Norwood is young, brunette, with brown eyes and what sounds like an English accent. She's an AI-generated creation made by an artificial intelligence talent studio. So, what do audiences think? And how do AI performers affect living, breathing, creatives? Katina Michael is a Professor of technology, strategy, and innovation and visiting research scientist at the University of Sydney, Robert Sparrow is a Professor of Philosophy at Monash University, and Karen Jacobsen is a singer, songwriter, and voice of Apple's virtual assistant, Siri. It can be easier to outsource errands on your phone. Especially if those chores involve a trip to the shops with your kids. But is avoiding the hassle of the shopping centre car park and in-store meltdowns worth what you miss when their face lights up as they find the shoes that fit just right? Or the incidental deep and meaningful chats in the car What falls by the wayside in our relentless pursuit for efficiency? Dr Paul Harrison is Chair of Consumer Behaviour at Deakin University's Business School.

    55 min
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About

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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  • Creator
    ABC listen
  • Years Active
    2005 - 2025
  • Episodes
    1.5K
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2025, Australian Broadcasting Corporation. All right reserved.
  • Show Website
    Life Matters - Full program podcast

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