Life Matters - Full program podcast
Life Matters helps you figure out all the big stuff in life: relationships, health, money, work and the world. With trusted experts and your stories, it's all about what matters to you.
Episodes
The elective egg freezing boom and designing cities with native animals in mind
New research shows that around one in four women who freeze their eggs for non-medical reasons end up coming back to use them. Researchers Oisin Fitzgerald, Molly Johnston and Sherine Sandhu discuss what you really need to know before investing the time, money and emotional energy in this procedure. Forget ensuites and lap pools — does your home have a frog sauna or a butterfly p
Why we should never give up on boys with Billy Garvey, and when relationship pettiness goes too far
If you've been paying attention to the news, to your social media feeds or to really any and all pop culture lately, you've likely heard that boys are not alright. But if you're only looking at the bad parts, the beauty and complexity of raising boys can be hard to see. Developmental paediatrician and author Billy Garvey says it's never too late to try a new approach, in fact it'
Li Cunxin on life after Mao's Last Dancer and how to appreciate the night sky
Even if you've never been to the ballet, you're probably familiar with Mao's Last Dancer. It tells the story of how a young boy in rural China was plucked out of poverty to train at the Beijing Dance Academy and went on to perform on stages around the world. More than 20 years later, Li Cunxin is releasing his second memoir, The Lucky Son, which picks up where Mao's Last Dancer l
Understanding your pain and why you shouldn't put off death admin
Around the world, the leading cause of disability isn't infection, road injury or stroke — it's pain. A landmark study of 6 million participants has found people experience heightened pain around age 55, peaking at about 75. And while the pain you feel in your body isn't all in your head, the way you think about pain can make a huge difference to how you feel it. Pain specialists
Do offset accounts really save you money and the secret politics of time
More than half of Australian households with a mortgage have an offset account attached. It's meant to make your extra savings work for you by reducing the interest you pay on your home loan. But not everyone appears to be reaping the benefits. Following an ASIC investigation earlier this year, a Senate inquiry will look into how banks are managing offset accounts, and what happe
Life after losing a limb and what is a good salary in 2026?
There are over 160,000 amputees living in Australia and each one has their own story of loss and having to rebuild their life. James O'Brien's life changed rapidly after going on an idyllic beach holiday. He's documented his experience in a new podcast called The Limb Shift, where he interviews people about the resilience of life after losing a limb. Recent data from Australia's
How to navigate a mismatch in sexual satisfaction and reconnecting with a high school flame
Sex positivity has never been more talked about, but that doesn't mean the bedroom has caught up. And the stresses of everyday life can make a big impact, from resentment over the mental load to the daily grind of parenting. So what happens to a relationship when sexual satisfaction is lopsided? Sex and relationships therapist Georgia Grace and sexologist Cam Fraser explore.This
How families are gearing up for Thriving Kids and the bright side of getting older
The federal government's new Thriving Kids program officially starts today, designed to shift children with mild-to-moderate autism off the NDIS. Researcher Adam Guastella and Autism Awareness Australia CEO Nicole Rogerson explain what that means for the families caught up in this transition. On International Day of Older Persons, it's time to flip the script on our youth-obsesse
Protecting yourself from financial dread how to spot burnout
The RBA has raised interest rates to a 15-year high, and with wages still trailing inflation, cost-of-living pressures are mounting. So if you are struggling, what are the practical things you can do to feel some sense of stability? Financial counsellor Deb Shroot and financial planner Amie Baker discuss how to protect your from financial dread.As AFLW marks 10 years of competiti
How safe are AI scribes at the doctor's office and why our kids are lonelier than ever
Last week's OpenAI hack of a Medicare website sent shockwaves through the community. While authorities have confirmed no personal information was compromised, it raises questions about the role of AI in dealing with sensitive medical information. What really happens to all those private details being recorded at your appointments? Researcher Andrew Cullen and AMA president-elect
Why DINKs are in the happiest relationships and how technology is stealing our everyday speech
According to the latest HILDA survey, most Australians are pretty satisfied with their relationships. The data suggests couples without kids are among the happiest. Psychologist Stephen Andrew and sociologist Leah Ruppanner discuss the ingredients for a strong relationship.Over the last couple of decades, the average number of words we say out loud each day has dropped. Between 2
Why you love your unhinged best friend and persecuting a precious pooch
We all want friends who are funny, smart, loyal and kind, but we also want them to have our back no matter what. Jaimie Krems and Keelah Williams are friendship scientists — they're also BFFs — who have researched the science behind why you love your vicious, maybe a little unhinged best friend. Their research won an Ignobel prize, so what other qualities do we want in a bestie?W
The case for a more exciting suburbia and how to holiday with pets
Our suburbs are home to an incredibly diverse population. But when you look at Australia's urban sprawl, it can feel like the people in charge simply hit copy and paste. The upcoming Future Suburb Symposium, hosted by the University of Melbourne, wants to transform our suburbs from 'stubbornly generic, repetitive, and under-serviced', to places that are inclusive, exciting, and b
The magic of your childhood home and why don't we take migraines more seriously?
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 Design
Living well for longer and should you join a cookbook club?
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 a
Inventing words and what to say to a loved one with dementia
Looksmaxxing, promposal, copium... who decides which words are important enough to be elevated to dictionary status?
The competition complex and can you save a one-sided friendship?
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
Prepping for AI doomsday and when does sport stop feeling fun?
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 spor
The power of giving up on a goal and why you should sniff your surroundings more
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
Finding the screen time sweet spot in schools and spotting more heart attacks in women
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 th
Why school fundraising committees are so stretched and Graeme Base on 40 years of Animalia
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?Whe
How to deal with existential angst and running your own race without losing a friend
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 tr
Antarctic explorer Tim Jarvis's wildest expedition and fighting for your right to be forgotten
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
The downside of optimising and how communities are coming together before bushfire season
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
The homebrand takeover and Australia's psychedelic renaissance
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, psy
The future of op shops and why special venues make for a great night out
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
The transformative power of memoir and when do you intervene in mum's health?
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,
Liane Moriarty on revisiting a bestselling novel and will we ever produce another Dolly Parton?
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 K
Reverse mentoring and turning eco anxiety into climate action
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 ar
How moving house affects kids long-term and lawyering up with the help of AI
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
The remaining barriers to voluntary assisted dying and how an author and illustrator collaborate to make magic
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 pictu
What psychosocial safety looks like at work and when is it OK to resell a gift?
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 psycho
More proof we need to touch grass and why cooking for one doesn't have to suck
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
An ode to aunties and uncles and how Dolly Parton will be remembered by little readers
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
Being the positive influence your teenage boy needs and roadies in retirement
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 m
The art of video games, archiving the internet and respecting romance novels
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 conve
Making time to talk about death and telling your crush your true feelings
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
Imagining a renters' utopia and why poor sleep might be limiting your career
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 e
An ode to the weekend and how to better support parents through postpartum
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 Aus
The anxiety of surviving cancer and keeping up with the gig economy
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 w
Using your face to make a purchase and local councils rethinking how to address homelessness
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 impli
Retraining your brain to live with chronic pain and the dilemmas of downsizing
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 co
What makes ordinary city infrastructure iconic and how Luke McGregor discovered his Scottish ancestry
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 y
Why you should stress less about sleep and hairdressers reveal the emotional toll of beauty therapy
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 barbe
What the Census really says about our religion and why millions of Aussies are delaying dental care
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 co
How coastal erosion is changing the Australian dream and what makes a toilet truly accessible
Helping you figure out all the big stuff in life: relationships, health, money, work and the world.
How to navigate tween friendships and a sleepover that includes Sunday Mass
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
Growing old in the community you love and dealing with ambiguous loss
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 g
How to feel at home in a new city and rethinking kids' screen time
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
What happens to gifted kids when they grow up and how to get boys reading more books
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
Peter Singer's advice for a good life and how brain training can keep you sharper for longer
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 re
The lessons you learned from your grandparents and intervening in your kids' friendships
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
Making sex ed less awkward and the secret to a good divorce
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
Celebrating the summer of the Luddite and the original guide to witchhunting
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 th
Are we really smoking less and what do the objects we leave behind say about us?
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 s
Reinventing yourself as a grandparent and what's behind our true crime obsession
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 Aman
What you can gain from embracing uncertainty and divorcing your 'chosen family'
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 th
Why young men are getting 'the snip' and Malcolm Turnbull on playing pirates with his grandkids
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 popul
Why some friendships last a lifetime and the reality of multiple births
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 q
Solar energy for apartment-dwellers and building a family through infertility
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 cabare
Grandparenting through conflict and estrangement and Odyssey-inspired literary travel
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
The secret to sharing the mental load and splitting up for better sleep
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
Checking in on public trust in AI, leaving a doomsday church and Jacqueline Harvey's grandparenting joy
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, w
Finding love offline and Hannah Ferguson on what's driving young people politically
Gayle is looking for love again in her 40s. She spent some time scouring the dating apps, but now she's ditched them in an effort to find someone offline. Well, kind of offline. She's also documenting her journey on social media. So what is the best way to find a new relationship in mid-life? Are people having more success offline than on — or are we just evolving past dating app
How David Wenham will remember his friend Sam Neill and the co-housing solution for older women
There's a critical lack of affordable housing options across the board, and data suggests older women — who typically retire with less in savings and superannuation than men — are particularly vulnerable. There's no silver bullet, but one potential solution involves a co-housing model that puts community front and centre. Sharing With Friends CEO Susan Davies and author Sally Pip
Grandparenting as a full-time carer and reclaiming your ring after divorce
There are more than 100,000 children currently in some form of kinship care in Australia, and it's estimated more than half of those providing that care are grandparents. As part of Life Matters' special series The Grandparent Trap, Kinship Alliance Australia founder Meredith Kiraly and researcher Jocelyn Jones explore the complicated dynamics involved in raising children the sec
The pep talk to pull you out of a career slump and solving a dogsitting disaster
If you're feeling a bit stuck in your career, or pessimistic about how AI might affect your future prospects, it might be time for a pep talk. Career management coach Jane Jackson and Money Money Money host Glen James want to help pull you out of your slump and get unstuck.And it's all fun and games until someone loses an eye … this week Aunties Urvi Majumdar and James Colley sha
Homesharing solutions, Morris Gleitzman's grandparenting joy and the renaissance of medieval festivals
Women over 55 are the fastest-growing cohort experiencing homelessness in Australia. Many have been pushed to seek alternative living arrangements, and new research suggests homesharing could be a viable option. Researcher Lyndall Bryant and Homeshare Australia New Zealand Alliance's Rosie Lawn explain how the model works and why there's such a significant demand.When you're shap
Beware the bank of mum and dad and where not to go on your next holiday
If talking about money makes you squirm, you might want to think twice before you open an account with the bank of mum and dad. University of Newcastle researchers Julia Cook and Mirella Atherton explain the tricky emotional — and legal — consequences of lending cash to your loved ones.One person's dream holiday destination is another's backyard. But some UNESCO heritage sites ar
Untangling gambling from sports culture and are smart glasses cool now?
Sports betting is the fastest-growing form of gambling in the country, and it's overwhelmingly popular with men. Experts say that's no coincidence. Researcher Rohann Irving and lived experience advocate Mark Kempster explore how gambling got so tied up with our love of sport and our ideas about masculinity, and whether there's any way to untangle it.Smart glasses have been around
Introducing the Grandparent Trap and unpacking tax time anxiety
Grandparents in 2026 are more enmeshed in their grandchildren's lives than ever. While most are providing some form of care for their grandchildren, close to three in five say their grandparenting style doesn't always match what's expected of them. In the first instalment of a new Life Matters series, parenting expert Maggie Dent and demographer Liz Allen unpack the complexities
Cultivating confidence and dating after death
Confidence can be the magic ingredient to help us through the curveballs life throws our way. It shows up in your career, your relationships, the way you parent, and unexpected everyday moments where you just need a boost. So is confidence something you can cultivate? Personal coach Kate James and psychotherapist Giac Giacomantonio share their tips on building confidence brick by
How do we deal with Neil the seal and the ethics of football fandom
Neil the seal is an internet sensation. His regular midwinter haul-outs have brought him onto land and in close contact with humans and our built environment. But as he grows bigger, so too do the risks. So how do we manage the situation so that Neil's pilgrimages don't put him — or others — in harm's way?Australia's snowfall has been in long-term decline for decades, and it's so
Family holidays without the fighting and embracing death for a happy life
Family holidays are where we make some of our most cherished memories — and some of the most stressful, chaotic ones, too. So how do you make the most out of the time away? Parenting expert Justin Coulson and writer Rebel Wylie share how to plan for a successful getaway, and what makes it all worthwhile.Once upon a time, paying for TV meant skipping the ads. But these days, we're
Tim Minchin on the future of Australian theatre and discovering autism in your 50s
Two major Australian musicals, Beetlejuice and Waitress, have been forced to cancel the remaining legs of their tours and close early. So why are big productions struggling, and is the audience part of the problem? Tim Minchin and Live Performance Australia's Eric Lassen unpack what's going on in the Australian theatre scene.For Pam Brinsmead, life had always felt like a movie wh
Middle children are disappearing and what this runner learned completing 150 marathons
The evidence around how much birth order affects personality traits or behaviour has been debated for decades, but one thing is fairly clear from the data: middle children are disappearing. We're flat out having second babies, let alone a third. So if middle children are no more, what do we stand to lose? In 2025 alone Australians lost almost $18 million to scams delivered via te
Stepping out of the self-sabotage spiral and family function fatigue
We all have our own habitual behaviours that help us get through tricky moments or avoid stressful situations. But sometimes, what feels easier or more comfortable in the moment can hurt us long-term. Clinical psychologist Rebecca Ray explains how identifying self-sabotaging behaviours and understanding what's behind them is the best place to start breaking the cycle.This week, A
Don Spencer and Alex Papps celebrate Play School's 60th birthday and public displays of affection
Play School is celebrating a milestone birthday this year: it's Big Ted's diamond jubilee. For six decades, the show's beloved presenters have been singing, playing, telling stories and teaching generations of Australian children. Long-term hosts Alex Papps and Don Spencer join media researcher Jessica Balanzategui to discuss the secret to the show's success? A regimented focus o
The decline of male teachers and how to protect your backyard chooks from bird flu
According to the latest statistics, men make up less than a third of Australian school teachers. In primary schools, the figures are even lower, and have been declining for decades. High school maths teacher Eddie Woo and sociologist Nicholas Hookway explore what's behind the trend and why it matters.The RSPCA estimates Australians keep about 2 million domestic chickens. While th
The secret to a sustainable wardrobe and why shopping simulators exist
The average wardrobe contains about 199 pieces of clothing, according to research published last year. Among them are usually a couple of items that rarely see the light of day. Fashion researcher Alicja Kuźmycz and podcaster Clare Press explore how increasing the wearability of what's already in your wardrobe can unlock the secret to sustainability.Researchers in Canada have sco
