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.

  1. HÁ 5 H

    The great school debate and friction-maxxing

    Parents have never had more options to give their child the best start in life. But when it comes to choosing the "best" school to provide your child a quality education, that decision can be costly. Author Jane Caro explains how the gap between public and private schools has widened to a chasm, and turned what many would consider a basic right to education into a minefield of parental guilt. In an age where people are writing entire novels using ChatGPT, author Bri Lee chose to compose her latest work completely by hand. It's a small act of resistance pushing back against the relentless quest for convenience — just one example of a broader trend described by columnist Kathryn Jezer-Morton as 'friction-maxxing'. New research has explored which voices we find more attractive and how our sexuality might shape the kinds of speech that turns us on. Researcher Cate Madill explains what shapes the way we talk, and how our voices reflect power, status and our place in the world.

    55 min

  2. HÁ 3 DIAS

    Dads discovering the father wound and the unspoken politics of the group chat

    It's time to talk about the father wound. For many, these relationships can be complicated by absence, emotional distance and "dadmiration". Clinical psychologist Zac Seidler explores the challenges of navigating fatherhood when your relationship with your own dad was difficult, and where modern dads are looking for support, guidance and role models outside of Bluey. This week, Aunties James Findlay and Diana Nguyen advise a Life Matters listener on the politics of the group chat. When a friendship fades out, is it OK to remove the ring-in? Or is it better to create a new chat on the side? What happens if they find out they weren't invited?

    53 min

  3. HÁ 4 DIAS

    The unpopular solution to our growing waste problem and what to do with old pianos

    Australia sends 26 million tonnes of rubbish to landfills each year, and we're running out of room. Sydney is on track to run out of space in the next five years. Among the potential solutions are waste-to-energy facilities that burn rubbish and turn it into electricity. A few are already up and running, but there's significant community pushback. So could these projects really have a role to play in moving towards a circular economy? If there's an old piano in your life, you might be wondering what to do with it when the keys won't play anymore. It's estimated at least 3,000 pianos are thrown away each year, often because they're costly to maintain, difficult to move, and hard even to give away. Jen Petrie and Mike Hendry share how they're giving unwanted pianos a second chance.  The character of a place can be a significant drawcard, so we often feel protective over the vibe of our local community. But this week, a tribunal in Victoria ruled that there's no true authority on what's cool, reversing a local council decision to block McDonald's from moving into the trendy neighbourhood. Resident Life Matters sociologist Dan Woodman weighs in on who decides what's considered cool.

    55 min

  4. HÁ 5 DIAS

    How misogi celebrates one big win and the science of cosiness

    Recently, the Japanese Shinto ritual of misogi has been gaining traction online. It's a simple concept where each year you set yourself one main challenge that's so hard you might actually fail. The reward is in the attempt, rather than the success. Adventure photographer Daygin Prescott shares what he's learned from his own misogi, and researcher Hugh Riddell explains the benefits of striving towards one big goal at a time. This week the AFL — and elite athletes across the sporting spectrum — sent a clear message that homophobic comments on the field can no longer be excused simply because they were said in the heat of the contest. Pride Cup CEO Hayley Conway explores how this moment sends a message to players and fans across all levels of competition, and what the future looks like for inclusion in sport. The Danish call it hygge. The Dutch? Gezellig. In Sweden, it's known as mysig. Whatever you call it, celebrating and creating rituals around cosiness can be a salve in those cold winter months. Even in warmer parts of the world, many of us relish the opportunity to rug up as the seasons change. Journalist John Hanscombe and cultural researcher David Rowe settle in for a warm chat about the science of cosiness.

    55 min

  5. HÁ 6 DIAS

    The personal toll of advocacy and balancing out the mental load

    The grief of losing a loved one is different for everyone. For some it's private, while for others, it can become a force for action that drives them to fight for change. This kind of advocacy work can make an incredible impact, but it also takes a considerable personal toll. Kate Everett, co-founder of Dolly's Dream, shares how she's navigated the balance between grief and advocacy after losing her 14-year-old daughter to suicide.  Remember to get toothpaste. Change that dentist's appointment. Pick up a present before the birthday party on the weekend. Before you know it, you're spiralling under the weight of the mental load. It's a phrase most of us are pretty familiar with, but do we really understand where we're spending it, and what it's costing us? Sociologist Leah Ruppanner explains how a mental load audit could help claw back time, attention and energy for the things that bring you joy. Putting together your grocery list can be a delicate balance between what you want to put on your plate, your personal finances, and sometimes, your politics. And with the cost of staples on the rise, making ethical choices at the supermarket can come with a hefty price tag. Consumer behaviour expert Paul Harrison talks through the marketing tricks that play on our emotions and how to avoid consumer guilt at the check-out.

    55 min

  6. 26 DE ABR.

    A win for renters' privacy and the local councils trying to save uninsurable towns

    Australia's Privacy Commissioner has put the rent tech sector on notice, ruling that a platform had been unfairly collecting excessive amounts of personal information from prospective tenants. Researcher Samantha Floreani and Antonia Mercorella from the Real Estate Institute of Queensland unpack how the industry is likely to respond and what it could mean for renters. After residents in south-west Queensland were hit with increases of 500 per cent on insurance premiums, local councils have stepped in. The group of councils is investigating an option to offer their communities mutual protection. So could this be a model that more places adopt?  It's never been cooler to be a bird nerd. Birdwatching as a hobby is capturing everyone from retirees to footy players. BirdLife Australia's Christina Zdenek explains what's behind the twitcher trend and where to start if it sounds like the hobby for you.

    55 min

  7. 23 DE ABR.

    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

  8. 22 DE ABR.

    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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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.

Informações

  • Criado por
    ABC Australia
  • Anos de atividade
    2005 - 2026
  • Episódios
    1,5 mil
  • Classificação
    Explícito
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026, Australian Broadcasting Corporation. All right reserved.
  • Site do podcast
    Life Matters - Full program podcast

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