Explore every episode of the podcast Life Matters - Full program podcast

Picture your childhood home for a moment. What details can you still remember? The colour of the kitchen cupboards? The view from your bedroom window? Your secret hiding spot? Lifelong memories are shaped by the daggy laminate benches and cracked vinyl couches of our childhood homes. Christian Duell has studied the significance of our first homes, and he is joined by Grand Designs Australia and By Design host Anthony Burke to unpack why the home you grew up is lodged in your heart for life.

Just this week the Australian Health and Welfare Institute estimated two in three people with migraine don't even have a formal diagnosis. It's part of a wider picture of just how misunderstood this condition is. So how would better understanding and treatment for migraine change the lives of almost 4 million Australians?

And how could letting go of your fitness goals help you achieve them?

They say life's short, but it's actually getting longer. By 2066, life expectancy for Australian women will have jumped from 86 years to nearly 90. And from 82 to 86 years for men. So how do we make sure those extra years of life are lived well?

There's something about physically picking up a cookbook, with it's pasta sauce-splattered, dog-eared pages that makes the meal enjoyed at the end feel a bit special. It goes some way to explaining the rise of cookbook clubs, like a traditional book club but with better food. Joan Tran and Dominique Lonsdale, co-founders of Cookbook Club Naarm join Stephanie Alexander AO, chef, restaurateur and cookbook author to unpack why these books can are so dear to us.

Olympian and mum of five Libby Trickett shares her favourite Australian kids book, and in Head and Heart our resident psychologist Christine Bagley-Jones helps you to prepare for empty-nesting, and hopefully avoid some of the heartbreak that comes with sending your kids off into the world. 

Looksmaxxing, promposal, copium... who decides which words are important enough to be elevated to dictionary status?

Competitiveness is baked into most aspects of modern culture, from work, to your kid's sport, to performing your best life on social media. But does competitiveness feel like a trait you can't turn off or on within yourself? Psychologists Dr Inge Gnatt and Gavin Freeman bring their experience from the ballet and elite team sport spheres to unpack where your competitiveness comes from and ask where it's taken you in life.

When a minor infringement can tank an entire friendship, was it ever that serious? Is it a relationship worth patching up? We call in the aunties.

Whether it's climate change, nuclear war, or AI doomsday, conversations about the end of the world are becoming fairly commonplace. So how are we preparing for a seemingly endless list of existential threats? AI expert Toby Walsh and sociologist Jordan McKenzie discuss how we're collectively feeling about the end of days.

It's all fun and games at the younger levels of junior sport, but as players move through the age groups, the element of competition becomes more serious. Researcher Sam Elliott and Olympic medallist Libby Trickett explore how to strike the balance between encouraging healthy competition and making room for fun in kids' sport. 

The story of the Gallipoli campaign is a key part of our national identity. ANZAC history has been commemorated in myriad ways over the decades, but a new video game is raising eyebrows. Sociologist Dan Woodman weighs in on the role conflict plays in our national myths. 

Among readers, there are two main camps: the completionists, and those who DNF (do not finish). Giving up on a bad book is one thing, but it can be much harder to walk away from a goal that's taken years of effort. Endurance runner Jane Davies joins researcher Hugh Riddell to explore the power of shifting or simply walking away from a goal. 

Olfactory historian William Tullett has dedicated his career to understanding how an oft-overlooked sense has shaped not only our day-to-day lives, but human history. He argues we could learn a lot from stopping not just to smell the roses, but even the grislier scents too. 

Poetry has always been a pure, earnest and powerful way for humans to express themselves. A recent UK study revealed that 24 per cent of people aged eight to 18 read poetry at least once a month. In the digital age, what's behind this surge of young people turning to this timeless form of expression?

The NSW government will be implementing screen time caps in public school classrooms from 2028, in a bid to give students a much-needed "digital detox". Education researchers Therese Keane and Deborah Pino Pasternak join low-tech school principal Kenneth Crowther to discuss the balance of screens and old fashioned pen-and-paper learning. 

Research suggests women are more likely than men to experience roadblocks getting timely treatment for heart attacks. Peak heart health bodies from around the world have endorsed a new definition of heart attack that could help tackle this problem. The Heart Foundation's Natalie Raffoul and Mandy Hall join cardiologist Sarah Zaman to explore the potential solutions. 

Australian breakdancer Rachael Gunn, AKA Raygun, is attempting a public pivot after her widely panned performance at the Tokyo Olympics in 2024. Consumer behaviour expert Paul Harrison weighs in on what it takes to pull off the celebrity rebrand. 

Whether it's the mother's day cake stall, election day sausage sizzle or end-of-term trivia night, you've probably chipped in to a local school fundraiser at some stage. But many P&Cs are being forced to scale up their efforts to cover what many consider to be essential resources and infrastructure. So why are gaps in public education funding being filled by the community?

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 Animalia went on to sell more than 5 million copies, and is now celebrating its 40th anniversary. The beloved author-illustrator reflects on the books that built him.

What do you say when you answer the phone? The humble "hello" may be on its way out, with younger generations ditching the standard greeting. Linguist Daniel Midgley explores the history of hello and why language evolves over time.

If you've gone to see a counsellor or psychologist, you might be wrestling with tough questions about your relationships, career and life choices. But we don't often make space for existential questions about the meaning of life. Father-daughter psychologist duo Ross Menzies and Rachel Menzies argue that the big, unanswerable questions are worth talking about. 

When you’ve been training for a half marathon for months, but your best friend all of a sudden wants to run the race together, who wins when friendship complicates the competition? Aunties Alex Barwick and Annie Louey weigh in on this week's listener dilemma.

Many kids dream of becoming an explorer when they grow up, but Antarctic adventurer Tim Jarvis is one of the rare few that turned that into reality. He reflects on a life spent exploring the most remote corners of the world, and advocating for the protection of the environment.

Australians could soon be granted the right to ask large companies to destroy their personal information from online platforms. Niels Wouters has spent the last 18 months trying to get his son's information removed from a childcare app, with little success. He joins Digital Rights Watch chair Lizzie O'Shea to explore just how realistic the "right to be forgotten" could be in practice.

If you're looking for inspiration on what to vote for in Radio National's Top 100 Australian Books countdown, the kids' shelf is a good place to start. Bestselling author Liane Moriarty shares the story of a sickly dragon that has stayed with her since the first time she read it.

Ethics has been part of our national curriculum for over a decade, but researchers say a more structured approach could make a real difference to students in the long-term. Our philosopher-in-residence Patrick Stokes weighs in.

Everywhere you look, there are messages about how to optimise your life — whether it's your looks, your health, your morning routine, even your personality. But what happens when all that maxxing leaves you feeling maxxed out? Jack Waters shares what he learned from heading down a "relentless path of self-optimisation", while social scientist Jose Yong explains how it can lead to a life of monotony.

Europe has endured one of the worst fire seasons in modern history, burning through more than 600,000 hectares over summer. With a Super El Nino predicted to sweep across Australia, it could be a tough season here as well. Community resilience advocate Jean Renouf and professor of pyrogeography David Bowman explain how working together with the people in your neighbourhood can be the key to survival. 

A recent study from RMIT University found 72 per cent of women were wearing shoe sizes that didn't match the actual length of their feet. Researcher Carol Tan and shoemaker Darren Bischoff explain what makes it so hard to find the right fit.

There's been strong growth in the number of supermarket-owned products on our shelves. In the last financial year, Coles' private label sales grew by more than 6 per cent, while Woolworths increased by 5.5 per cent. Consumer behaviour expert Gary Mortimer and Gippsland Jersey cofounder Sallie Jones explain what it means for the prices you pay at the checkout.

In years gone by, psychedelics like MDMA and psylocibin were seen as experimental party drugs. But that narrative has shifted. Investigative journalist Rich Haridy has been watching this previously taboo field come out of the shadows and into mainstream culture in recent years. His new book explores the line between hype and hope. 

We're three quarters of the way through 2026, and you might need a spring clean for those new year’s resolutions languishing on your to-do list. The end of the year still seems so far away, and you can't really start taking the foot off the gas just yet. So when you hit the September slump, how do you get yourself out of it?

Vinted has landed in Australia — the latest in an explosion of online platforms dedicated to reselling pre-loved clothing. At the same time, the original op shopping experience is changing, with US giant Savers expanding in Australia. Avid secondhand shopper Hannah Klose joins sustainability advocate Ainsley Simpson and Red Cross retail boss Richard Wood to explore what this all means for the future of op shops.

Usually, if you're going out to watch a band, a comedy gig, or theatre production, the thing getting you out the door is be the act itself. But a recent study shows that the identity of a venue itself can be a strong driver. Researcher Lenny Vance and  DarkLab's Kimberley Galceran explore why those special venues can make all the difference.

Data from the UK shows the number of people who dabble in open water swimming has doubled since 2016, largely driven by women. Sue Thornton from the New Granny Grommets and researcher Rebecca Olive discuss the joys of swimming, surfing, and paddling in the great outdoors.

Australian author Alice Pung penned her seminal memoir Unpolished Gem two decades ago, which she started writing age 19. Even as a teenager Alice had lived a full life, and the story of how her parents, grandmother and aunt travelled by foot through three countries to seek resettlement as refugees in Melbourne, has become a modern Australian classic. Such is the power of memoir, and in this episode we unpack the memoirs that have helped people better understand themselves and the world around them through another person’s story. Vote now in the Radio National Top 100 Australian books countdown here. 

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 aunties Jane Caro and Diana Nguyen to help navigate this tricky terrain. 

Fresh off the release of her much-anticipated sequel Big Little Truths, beloved Australian author Liane Moriarty reflects on her career as a writer, the relationships and life experiences that have inspired her fictional worlds, and the secret to staying true to her own voice. As an author whose characters have been brought to life on screen by the likes of Meryl Streep, Nicole Kidman and Reese Witherspoon, it's no mean feat.

Have you been dazzled by the bright headlights of other vehicles while driving at night? A recent inquest into the death of veteran BBC broadcaster Jenni Murray heard that dazzling headlights were a factor in her fatal crash. It's an issue that's causing concern for drivers around the world. Road safety specialist David Beck and motoring journalist John Cadogan explore what can be done.

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. Parenting author and educator Maggie Dent shares the classic Australian children's book that deserves top spot in her list — despite the messy lamington kitchen adventures it inspired.

When news broke of Dolly Parton’s death last week, the outpouring of grief came from across the political spectrum, from all genres of music, and communities all over the world. She achieved fame in an era where celebrity was built through mass media, but that landscape doesn't exist in the same way anymore. So could our culture, in its hyper-fragmented form, ever produce another figure so universally loved?

Plenty of workplaces have mentoring programs where senior staff provide guidance and wisdom to younger team members. But have you heard of reverse mentoring? Reserve Bank Australia governor Michelle Bullock recently mentioned she has a reverse mentor helping her learn more about AI. Careers coach Leah Lambart and mentee James Arvanitakis explain how workplaces across Australia are encouraging reverse mentoring.  

Recent research found that reading about the impacts of climate change increases our negative emotions and decreases hope — but those same negative emotions can be a positive predictor of climate-friendly behaviours. Climate Council CEO Amanda McKenzie and facilitator Beth Hill from Psychology for a Safe Climate discuss how processing eco grief and climate anxiety can be an important step in taking meaningful action.

You don’t have to work in the emergency department to experience rolling crises at work. Computers crash, machinery stops working, the printer chews your document. In those moments of panic and indecision, it's easy to make the wrong choice. How can you better prepare yourself for these times?

The Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute (AHURI) has been considering the ways housing affects children's health and development. They found that around 1 in 8 kids who grow up in rentals have moved at least 10 times by the time they reach the age of 14. Researcher Amy Clair and psychologist Rachel Samson explain how housing instability can affect kids in the long-term and what we can do to make these transitions easier. 

Increasingly, Australians are turning to AI tools to understand their rights, draft complaints, or even prepare a case for court. In some ways it's making our justice system more accessible, but it also means courts, tribunals and complaints bodies are dealing with more submissions — including some that shouldn't be there. 

Grocery tourism has been a named one of the biggest trends of the year, with one report estimating 77 per cent of travellers enjoy visiting grocery stores abroad. As far as tourist attractions go, it's an inexpensive way to spend an hour and get a sense of the daily life in that city. Consumer behaviour expert Paul Harrison unpacks what's behind the trend. 

Voluntary assisted dying is now legal in all states and territories of Australia, but many terminally ill Australians who are eligible for VAD still face challenges in accessing this choice. Anita Rumore, who cared for her father before he died by VAD last year, joins legal expert Ben White and advocate Linda Swan to talk through the barriers that remain.

When you're reading picture books to your little ones, what keeps you (and them) engaged? Is it the words that tell the stories, or the illustrations that bring them to life? Best-selling children's author Andy Griffiths and his collaborator, illustrator Bill Hope explain what it takes to combine those elements and craft a story that stays with its readers.

It's never been easier to take a photo. But how often do you actually revisit your happy snaps now that they're sitting in the cloud instead of a precious family album? Looking back over old photos can transport us to those special moments in our shared history, so how do we preserve these memories forever?

All Australian states and territories now have workplace health obligations in place that require employers to protect your psychosocial safety. That means preventing things like unachievable job demands and inadequate reward and recognition. We all experience some of these things to some extent in the workplace, but where is the line? Employment lawyer Mariah Loriente and psychotherapist Andrew Sloan explain what it means for you.

When you’re gifted a bag of clothes, what is the acceptable course of action for the items you don’t want to keep? Is it ever ok to resell a gift? Aunties Fiona Harris and Jennifer Wong weigh in on the rules of engagement when it comes to unwanted gifts.

We know spending time outdoors is good for our mental health. Now, there's even more research to prove it. A study out of Scotland found people who lived close to woodland areas were 10 per cent less likely to be prescribed antidepressants. Urban planning researcher Sebastian Pfausch and Gardening Australia's Hannah Moloney explain just how strong the healing power of nature can be.

More Australians are living alone than ever before, but so much of our society is designed for couples and families. Author of The Spinster Cookbook, Eli Davies, explores what it means to cook for yourself and by yourself, and how to find joy in the practice.

You don't have to venture too far to find yourself wading into conspiracy theories on the internet. But it can be hard to draw the line between harmless speculation and something more serious. Our resident philosopher Patrick Stokes weighs in on the ethics of conspiracy.

We celebrate mother's day, father's day, and even invite the grandparents along to kindy once a year to partake in special craft activities, but are we overlooking the role of our beloved aunties and uncles? Journalists Kate Leaver and Tiger Webb explain the special relationship they each have with their nieces and nephews, and how being an aunty and an uncle has changed them.

As the world reflects on the life of Dolly Parton, who died overnight aged 80, millions of children will remember her simply as "the book lady". Among her many accolades, one of her proudest achievements was establishing the Imagination Library. Lindsey McKee, CEO of United Way, which runs the free book program in Australia, shares how Dolly Parton's legacy made it all the way to Tamworth. 

This northern hemisphere summer has been punishingly hot, a real mood killer if you were planning a glamorous Euro trip. And the summer looming here could be just as bad. New research shows that a fifth of people surveyed had changed their most recent holiday because of the weather. So what does our changing climate mean for your travel plans and the tourism industry?

If there's a bird feeder hanging in your backyard, you're not alone. Around 50 per cent of Australian households say they feed wild birds. But it might be time to reconsider, because there's a risk it could be a hotspot for bird flu transmission. Urban ecologist Daryl Jones and Euan Ritchie explain how to safely interact with your feathered friends.

New research from the University of Melbourne has found that young people are now significantly more likely than older generations to hold hostile attitudes towards women. It can be easy to feel like there's no hope of things getting any better. But researcher Sara Meger and youth mentors Daniel Allars and Daniel Principe say it starts with finding opportunities to change young minds.

Roadies were the backbone of Australia's rock and roll scene, making the magic happen before and after the curtains dropped. But now it's taking a toll — physically, emotionally and socially. Adelaide University researcher Brad West, roadie Rod Louey-Gung and geropsychologist Nancy Pachana explore what other industries can learn from the original gig workers.

If someone was bad mouthing your best friend you'd go into bat for them, but what if the person they're talking down on is themselves? Psychologist Christine Bagley-Jones explains how to nip the negative self-talk in the bud.

According to a new report from Screen Australia, 78 per cent of Australians have played a video game in the past six months. Gaming is one of the fastest-growing industries of Australia's screen sector, yet unlike film and television, we don't often talk about its cultural value. Video game developer Luke Muscat and researcher Brendan Keogh explore what's missing from these conversations.

The National Film and Sound Archive (NFSA) is inducting 10 Australian YouTube content creators into the archive. It's a big step in recognising their cultural contribution, but with technology and media appetites changing so quickly, how do we keep up? Digital culture researcher Nicholas Carah and the NFSA's Patrick MacIntyre explain who gets to decide what's worth preserving in our digital world.

Romance fiction is often dismissed as a guilty pleasure, but this growing genre accounts for a hefty chunk of the publishing industry. So why do we look down our noses at these books? Author Kodi McAlister and sex historian Esme Soan explore our changing relationship with romance novels.

We all die. But how much have you thought about what will happen before, during and after? Funeral celebrant and author Jackie Bailey explores why planning for a "good death" can bring a sense of peace and control, and make the grieving process a whole lot easier for the people you'll eventually leave behind. 

There's nothing like a secret crush. But should it stay that way? This week, Aunties Patrick Lenton and Michelle Law give some advice to a listener whose true feelings about a platonic friend are at risk of being exposed. Is it time to 'fess up? 

With home ownership still out of reach for a huge swathe of Australians, the Australian Council of Trade Unions is calling on the government to improve stability for long-term renters. Its wishlist includes increased investment in public housing and stronger tenant rights, including minimum two-year lease terms. Housing policy researcher Hal Pawson joins two lifelong renters to explore what actually contributes to a sense of stability for people renting long-term.

Waking during the night or struggling to fall asleep can become more common as you get older, and poor sleep has all sorts of flow-on effects. Researchers in Finland have found a connection between poor sleep and a shorter working life. Sleep expert Moira Junge and podcaster Sarah Macdonald explore what gets in the way of a good night's sleep as we get older.

We all love a good whinge. Complaining about the little everyday inconveniences can help us work through things, and sometimes, it can even lead to social change. So where's the line between a harmless whinge that facilitates social bonding and becoming the Eeyore of your friend group?

If the weekend is something you take for granted, it might be worth remembering it's a concept that only came about 100 years ago in the United States, and it’s even younger here in Australia. But over the last few decades the sanctity of the weekend has shifted. Historian Sean Scalmer explores whether the weekend is on its way to becoming a relic.

It's estimated around 1 in 7 Australian mothers will experience postnatal depression in the year after giving birth, and 1 in 5 will experience postnatal anxiety. On the other side of her own experience with postnatal anxiety, Australian senator Marielle Smith is calling for a national inquiry into postpartum health care. She joins clinical psychologist Nicole Highet and rural parenting advocate Stephanie Tretheway to explore how far we've come and what we could be doing better.

More than 60 per cent of Australian employers say they're using AI "significantly" or "extensively" in recruitment. It might be to write job ads, screen and shortlist applicants, or even to interview candidates. So, if you're job hunting, how do you beat the bot?

Susan Delcour had been eagerly counting down the days until her treatment for breast cancer was over. But after that final appointment, she realised she actually missed the routine of regular appointments and familiar faces checking in. Nearly 1.7 million people are living with, or beyond, cancer in Australia — and that number is expected to reach 2.6 million by 2050. So how do we better support people who are adjusting to life after cancer?

Better protections have just landed for workers in some sections of the gig economy, giving delivery drivers a set of minimum standards to ensure fairer pay. But the gig economy has expanded beyond food and ridesharing. Employment relations expert Alex Veen explores how workplace protections are keeping up with the changing face of employment.

The next generation of budding STEM workers are being encouraged to enter the sciences via pen pal friendships with working scientists.STEMpals founder Jennifer Payne and researcher Zoe Xirocostas share the joy in exchanging letters with aspiring scientists.

It wasn't that long ago that buying something required you to hand over some cash, or at least use a physical card. But by last year 40 per cent of payments were coming from digital wallets on a phone or smart watch. So how would you feel about using your biometric data to make a purchase? Researcher Lauren Perry and tech journalist Kirsten Drysdale talk through the ethical implications of using facial recognition technology in commerce.

A Queensland council that came under heavy criticism for demolishing makeshift campsites has announced it will turn a local park into a dedicated space for people experiencing homelessness. Advocates Gregory Smith and Leanne Mitchell explore the role that local councils can play in supporting their communities and providing services to fill the gap.

Ever since the Duolingo owl became a TikTok sensation, it seems like every organisation — from corporate brands to your state police department — wants to act like a cool, hip person on the internet. Does this actually generate sales? And did this phenomenon exist before the internet?

Around 1 in 5 of us will experience chronic pain. If you've lived through it, you know how terribly draining it can be. But understanding how pain works and what its purpose is can help. Neuroscientist Lorimer Moseley and chronic pain advocate Lauren Richards explain what's happening in our brains when we experience pain, and why that doesn't mean it's all in your head.

When it comes time to downsize, how do you sort the family keepsakes worth holding onto from the sentimental junk? This week Aunties Janty Blair and Lawrence Leung have some advice for listener Lorraine, whose grown-up kids have no interest in storing the boxes of stuff she's held onto for all these years. 

Canberra's beloved bus shelters have just been added to the ACT Heritage Registry — but these "concrete monstrosities" weren't always adored. Architecture advocate Izzie White and public art curator Beth Jackson explore how ordinary features can influence the way we interact with our cities.

August marks Family History Month, a chance to dig through the archives and find out how your ancestors lived. So would you know where to start looking? For comedian Luke McGregor, the search took him all the way to Scotland to reconnect with his clan and himself.

We all have a set of moral principles we try to live by, but sometimes other factors get in the way. Not for a Melbourne-based pilot who recently gave up a 40-year aviation career over concerns about climate change. Patrick Stokes explores what it means to live your life entirely according to your virtues.

Sleep has played a crucial role in human evolution, and evolutionary biologist David Samson argues our ability to function on little sleep is actually a superpower. If we look back to traditional hunter-gatherer societies, we can take some insights on how modern humans could stress less about sleep and feel better rested. 

When you're sitting in the chair at the salon or the barber shop, the care you're receiving often goes deeper than beauty therapy. But we don't train hairdressers to deal with trauma. Researchers Hannah McCann and Stacey Page explore the urgent need to better equip the people who become our de facto therapists with the tools to do this heavy emotional labour.

The average person spends around 90,000 hours at work in their lifetime. That's a lot of time to spend somewhere if you're not happy. This Working Life host Lisa Leong explains the classiest way to quit your job, and what to consider before you pull the trigger.

The Australian Census is upon us. Among the questions that statisticians will be keenly poring over is a fairly simple one: what is the person's religion? But answering it isn't always straightforward. For people who grew up religious, but no longer practice, there can still be some cultural attachment to their faith. Social trends researcher Rebecca Huntley and journalist and comedian Sami Shah explore what our religious statistics really say about us. 

Emily Novo had put off seeing the dentist because she was worried about the cost — then she ended up in a hospital emergency department. She's among more than two million Australians who've skipped dental care because they can't afford it. The Australian Dental Association says it's high time we fill the gap.

What happens when your approach to managing money doesn't sync up with your partner's? Psychologist Christine Bagley-Jones talks through how to have the sensitive chats about finances without starting a huge fight. 

Helping you figure out all the big stuff in life: relationships, health, money, work and the world.

Childhood friendships are special, and formative in our adolescence. But finding, making and maintaining strong healthy connections can be tricky. Ladies We Need To Talk host Yumi Stynes and clinical psychologist Jacinta Grimes explore how to support the young people in your life through the ups and downs of friendship. 

This week, aunties Nelly Thomas and James Colley help out a listener who's feeling weird about their son being taken to church while on a sleepover. Is it worth bringing up the discomfort with the other parents? And should they let their kid go for another sleepover?

When you think about your golden years, what do you picture? For most of us, the ideal scenario means growing old in the place we've set down roots. While the idea of "ageing in place" has obvious benefits, it's not always feasible. Joan White shares how her regional Queensland town wants to fill the gap by building a community-owned aged care facility. 

Every year 50,000 people go missing in Australia, leaving their loved ones in a state of ambiguous loss. Researcher Sarah Wayland joins Loren O'Keeffe, whose brother went missing in 2011, to discuss how to navigate this state of unknowing, and how our communities can better support people going through this.

Paid social clubs are bringing strangers together for shared dinners, drinks and social activities, offering connection at a time when we know one in six Australians experience severe loneliness. But can you really buy friendship?

If you’ve ever moved cities, you know the struggle of building your friendship group and daily routines from the ground up. From scoping out the best cafes to figuring out the local public transport network, how do you learn to fall in love with the city you’ve just moved to? Travel guide Chris Zeiher and author Nicole Webb share their tips.

New research shows screen time may not be as damaging for children's development as we thought. A 10-year study of almost 4,000 children found that, after accounting for family functioning, there were no significant links between screen use and psychosocial harms. Researcher Lelia Green and tech journalist Alice Clarke explore how parents can support children to safely explore the digital media landscape.

As part of Life Matters' special series The Grandparent Trap, veteran broadcaster Ray Martin offers a peek behind the curtain of his private life as a grandfather, and why transforming into "Mondo" gives him special superpowers.

Major players in the diamond industry are closing their mines or starting to downsize, largely due to the growing popularity of lab-grown diamonds. So does a diamond have to come out of the dirt for it to be "authentic"? And if retailers are closing up shop, does that mean your family heirloom ring is suddenly more or less valuable?

When it comes to intellectual ability, the vast majority of us fall somewhere around the middle of the bell curve. But it's estimated that 10 per cent of students could be considered academically gifted, capable of learning at a much faster pace than their peers. So do gifted and talented education programs make a difference for success in the long-term? 

Boys are less likely than girls to read for pleasure — especially as teenagers, according to international research. But researchers say addressing the gender reading gap is more complex than writing more "books for boys". Children's author Scott Stuart and education lecturer Sarah McDonald explore what really helps boys develop a lifelong love of reading.

As smart phones have become more integral to our day-to-day lives, there's been a subtle push back against the tech reliance. Companies promising to help break the addiction are offering all manner of products designed to make our phones less convenient. Consumer behaviour expert Paul Harrison breaks down why we're paying to reintroduce friction.

What are you willing to give up in order to make the world around you a better place? Renowned philosopher and ethicist Peter Singer has spent decades exploring this question. To mark his 80th birthday, he joins Life Matters to explore what it means to live a life shaped by our responsibilities to others.

Last week the Clean Energy Council proposed a federal scheme to allow the regional areas that host renewable projects to directly benefit from their efforts. Council spokesperson Chris O'Keefe and Western Downs mayor Andrew Smith explain how a scheme like this could work and what it means for the areas carrying the weight of the energy transition.

A recent study from the University of Texas has challenged the idea that cognitive decline is inevitable, showing that regular brain training can boost cognition well into old age. Neuroscientist Lila Landowski explains how to keep your brain fit in your later years.

All through July, Life Matters has been exploring what it means to be a grandparent in 2026, but now it's time to turn inwards. Author Tony Birch and historian Tanya Evans explore how life lessons are passed down through generations, and share their reflections on what their own grandparents taught them.

Early childhood friendships are usually pretty simple — struck up over shared interests in Lego, dress-ups or morning tea snacks. But the same can't always be said for adults. This week, Aunties Maeve Marsden and Joe Sullivan share some advice for a listener who's keen to bond with the cooler parents at kinder pick-up.

A recent survey of Australian school teachers found more than half had no formal training in sex and relationships education before becoming a teacher. Many of them feel poorly equipped for the job. Researcher Lily Moor and respectful relationships educator Evan Couper discuss how to better equip teachers to provide the sex ed teenagers need. 

The latest stats from the Australian Bureau of Statistics show divorces are on the rise. When you walk away from the person you thought you'd be with forever, it can be messy, no matter how mature both partners are about it. Karen McNenny, author of The Good Divorce, explains how to find a way through it with as little drama as possible. 

Every day we make hundreds of choices, big and small. Free will gives us a sense of direction and power over our own lives. But do we truly have free will? A recent study from the University of Melbourne suggests accepting free will doesn't exist might have its own benefits. 

If you've ever felt the sudden urge to throw your device into a body of water and live a simpler, offline life, you're not alone. A group of people in New York City recently organised an eight-day festival promoting human connection in the spirit of the Luddites. Gowanus, media spokespuppet for The Summer of Ludd and University of Melbourne sociologist Dan Woodman explore what this yearning for a time before smart phones says about us.

In the age of navigation apps, the days of balancing a street directory on your knees as you drive across an unfamiliar city are relatively rare. But if your phone dies, or the satellite technology fails, would you be lost without it? Orienteerer Ian Jessup and psychologist Oliver Baumann explain the benefits of using your own brain's navigation system.

The University of Melbourne's Archives and Special Collections now holds a rare copy of a 15th century manual on hunting, torturing and executing women accused of witchcraft. So what can the world's most infamous witch-hunting handbook tell us about the spread of misinformation and dangerous ideas today?

The latest data from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare shows smoking rates have fallen to historic lows, but at the same time, there's been a steady increase in the illicit tobacco trade. So do we really have a clear picture on who's smoking, and how much? Researchers Ed Jegasothy and James Martin weigh in on how the black market rise is affecting our public health strategy.

In the vast history of the universe, a human lifespan is a mere blip. But long after our bodies are gone, signs of the lives we lived will remain. So what will the everyday objects you leave behind say about you? Roxanne Missingham from the State Library of Victoria and family history writer Cassie Gilmartin discuss how pieces of everyday life have stories to tell for future generations. 

The message that "you can be anything you want to be" is meant to instil confidence in our kids, but does it set them up for disappointment? For Head and Heart, resident Life Matters psychologist Christine Bagley-Jones explores how to walk the line between encouraging ambition and setting realistic expectations.

Grandparenting can come at a time of life where your old identities no longer fit. So the opportunities for transformation can be profound — it's a chance to do things differently to when you were a parent and explore a new way of connecting with the next generation. In the latest instalment of The Grandparent Trap, grandads Julian Mather and Alistair Thomson join researcher Amanda Salmon to explore the possibilities of reinvention. 

True crime has become a mainstay of popular culture, but has our collective obsession gone too far? Last week a murder inquest in Queensland heard from an amateur detective who tried to solve the crime on her own, inspired by podcasts about the cold case. ABC's Stephen Stockwell and criminology lecturer Greg Stratton explain how our fascination with high-profile cases could impact the justice system.

By now we’re all familiar with the idealised version of tradwife life: living off the land and dutifully raising children in an isolated, beautiful, part of the world. But some women in rural Australia argue the trend is obscuring the harsh realities of what it means to live in country Australia. 

If you've ever suddenly lost a job, had a surprise health diagnosis or a relationship end, you know what it feels like to grapple with uncertainty. Let's face it, uncertainty is all around us, but that doesn't make it any easier to deal with. It's an uncomfortable feeling. Journalist Simone Stolzoff and psychologist Sahra O'Doherty unpack what you could be missing when fear of the unknown drives decision making.

In Ask Aunty, a listener asks for advice on how to navigate an entangled friendship group when one member of the chosen family isn't pulling their weight.

Daniel Finlay decided to get a vasectomy at 30 years old, the decision surprises his peers but he's not alone. New research from Adelaide University suggests more Australian men are making that decision earlier than previous generations. So what's driving this family planning decision for men?

All over the country more people are engaging in the Nordic pass-time of sauna.The popularity has risen due to a push by the health and fitness industry on how this practice can optimise your workouts. But what is behind our fascination with sauna and is it here to stay?

From commanding the halls of power to playing hide and seek in the halls of his house, former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has a lot more time on his hands now to devote to his favourite activity: playing silly games with his grandchildren.

In Social Studies, Professor Dan Woodman unpacks new analysis that shows young Australian men are turning to religion at higher rates than their female counterparts. So how widespread and entrenched is this trend, and what's driving it?

Is your first best friend still in your life? For many of us, those friendships fade as life moves on. But for others, like comedian Matt Okine, that childhood friend is still in their life decades later. So what's special about a friend who's known you since childhood and what makes those friendships last?

This month Brisbane woman Jenitar Na'amoana has given birth to identical quadruplets, in a case that has gained global attention. It's an incredible feat of the human body, with about a one in 15 million chance of occurring. But what is it like on the other side, raising that many children all at the same time?

Do you feel like your reward for being good at your job is getting more work? You may have incurred the competence tax. This Working Life host Lisa Leong can help you with that. 

Australia has the highest uptake per capita of rooftop solar in the world, but for the 10% of the country who live in apartments the solar energy transition is harder to achieve. Overseas the solution has been balcony solar systems, but these aren't currently allowed in Australia. So what needs to change in how we support renewable energy in apartments?

Author, comedian and cabaret performer Libby Trainor Parker always assumed she would meet the love of her life, have a big family, and live in a house full of children's laughter. And in a way, she got that dream. But it's been a long road, with a lot of heartbreak, infertility, loss and grief, which she has documented in a new book.

If you've ever been stuck at a red light, wondering why you're still waiting when there are no cars coming the other way — AI might make this a frustration of the past. An Australia-first trial of AI-powered traffic lights is slated for later this year, and although a faster journey sounds appealing but how do we make sure those decisions are fair and safe for everyone using the road?

Plus meet 'Papa Bruce', the grumpy grandpa persona of Yuin, Bunurong and Tasmanian man award-winning author Bruce Pascoe. 

When your kids become parents, it can feel like deja vu. You've weathered these same toddler tantrums and teenage rebellions — but this time it's your grandchildren testing the boundaries, and your own kids are now the ones in charge. For this instalment of The Grandparent Trap, it's time to explore some trickier territory. Author, podcaster and Mamamia editor Jessie Stephens and her mum Anne Stephens share how their relationship dynamic changed when the family added a new generation, and family psychologist Dr Josh Coleman weighs in on how to navigate conflict and estrangement if things aren't going so well.

Plus, Dark Emu author Bruce Pascoe (or "Papa Bruce" to his grandkids) explains his role as the "grumpy grandparent" insistent on table manners and raising his grandchildren to become conscientious citizens. 

And if Christopher Nolan's screen interpretation of The Odyssey has got you dreaming of a Mediterranean holiday, you're not alone. Tourism operator Sam Wood, author Larissa Behrendt and The Book Show's Claire Nichols explore what's behind the rising trend in literary travel. 

When it comes to two-parent families, research shows women do 50 per cent more housework than men, and double the amount of caring duties. But the mental load is about more than juggling the significant burden of daily life admin. So what would it look like if that was equally shared? Sociologist Leah Ruppanner and psychologist Simon Rice explain how to divide and conquer before you find yourself in total burnout. 

What do you do if sleeping next to your partner has become an absolute nightmare? This week, Aunties Tito Ambyo and Fiona Harris share their advice with a listener who's considering separate beds in the hopes of catching some Zs and improving their sex life.

The federal government's setting up an Office of AI to lay out some ground rules for companies that want to build centres in Australia. So what does this say about our trust in AI, and the global corporations developing these tools? Tech reporter Cam Wilson, AI expert Toby Walsh and researcher Nicole Gillespie, who's been keeping tabs on public perceptions around AI since 2020, weigh in.

Imagine being told, every day, that today could be the day the world ends. That was the message drilled into Bek Condello for as long as she could remember. She shares what it was like being raised in a strict doomsday church, and how leaving led her to rebuild her entire life. 

In the latest instalment of The Grandparent Trap, children's author Jacqueline Harvey shares how becoming "Nanny Jac" to her step-daughter's gorgeous son Alfie brought a totally new kind of love into her life. 

One of the most complete Tyrannosaurus rex skeletons in the world sold this week for $71 million. The buyer has not yet been disclosed, but it begs the question: should any one person own an item like this?