Life Matters - Separate stories podcast

The idea of finding your one true love and settling down as a couple is baked deep into society. But attitudes are changing.On dating apps, in surveys and podcasts, people are signalling an interest and greater acceptance of open relationships.So is monogamy still fit for purpose in 2026 or has it had its day?

Has anyone ever made you responsible for what happens after they die? It's a lot of pressure, but honouring a loved one's wishes can be even trickier when the family don't agree. This week, the aunties are giving advice to a listener whose dad asked them to scatter his ashes in a special spot. But it's been 10 years, and another family member is still clinging onto them.

The recent expedition from Artemis II has reignited an age-old question: is there extra-terrestrial life out there? And if there is, what should we do about it?NASA's administrator Jared Isaacman says that question is at the heart of much of the work in space exploration. It raises a whole lot of hypothetical scenarios, but what does it mean for our concept of humanity?

You've probably wandered through a heritage protected church or grand old colonial building. But have you ever been to a heritage-listed skate park?In the suburbs of Geelong in coastal Victoria, a 46-year-old skate park is up for cultural protection.Spaces where young people can experiment and burn off steam are important parts of a teenagers social fabric. So if we're protecting the old spaces, are we any good at building new ones in 2026?

The data shows we're reading less than ever. About one in three Australian school students isn't developing the reading skills they need, and the shift reflects a broader global trend. So does it matter if we've fallen out of love with books? And what can we do to reverse the trend?

The adoption of AI requires a vast amount of computing power, which is why data centres are popping up all over the country.With 270 of these facilities established across Australia already, the Australian Energy Market Operator predicts that by 2030, data centres will take up 6 per cent of the energy grid.But three local councils in are pushing back, with one calling on a NSW inquiry to stop all approvals until the resource impacts of these centres are fully quantified.

You never get married thinking it will end in divorce, and you never have kids thinking that one day they'll live across two separate houses.But life happens. Things don't always go to plan.There's no doubt parental separation is difficult emotional terrain for kids to navigate. But according to a new paper, as long as they feel a sense of safety and security, the bells and whistles of the house they live in are less important.

The Artemis II crew have set a new record for space exploration, travelling farther from Earth than any humans before them.It marks a significant milestone, and has delivered our first ever glimpse at the far side of the moon.So what do we hope to learn from Artemis II, and how might the success of this mission shape the future of space exploration? 

More than three years after a national report on gambling reforms, the federal government has unveiled its plan: gambling ads will be banned from sports stadiums or players' uniforms, and heavily restricted on TV, radio and online platforms.While the Prime Minister has described it as "the most significant reform on gambling ever implemented", advocates say it falls well short of what's needed to stop millions of dollars flowing out of people's wallets and into gambling company coffers.And recent research shows gambling companies are targeting new markets, including women, with promotions through social media. Experts are concerned partial ad bans won't stem the tide of problem gambling, and could actually make things worse. 

After more than 10 years of putting survivors, alcoholics, nudists, cheaters, bogans and countless others in the hot seat, there aren't many uncomfortable questions Kirk Docker hasn't asked.The co-creator You Can't Ask That has been inviting misunderstood or marginalised groups to answer the most controversial and curly questions — on television — for seven seasons. And the show's coming back for another round. So how far have audiences come in the past decade? Are we more comfortable asking strangers intrusive questions? And has it helped us understand each other any better?