Life Matters - Separate stories podcast

Video game therapy is an emerging service in the Australian mental health space.Practitioners are offering services from Fortnite therapy to counselling via Minecraft, explaining that an alternative approach can be more effective in building rapport with some clients, particularly young men and boys.So how does this work, and could it be the key to engaging groups who might not feel comfortable in traditional therapy spaces?

This week, Australia introduced age-verification rules designed to stop young people accessing online pornography. But proving you're an adult could mean handing over sensitive personal data, like photo ID or credit card information.What are the ethical trade-offs between protecting children and protecting privacy? And is there such a thing as ethical porn?

Office politics can be tricky. From petty disagreements with colleagues, to working with a power-tripping boss, workplace conflicts can bleed out of the work day and keep us up at night.According to world-renowned psychotherapist Esther Perel, most of these issues can be boiled down to one thing: power dynamics.So what can you do about it?

It was a moment in the shower that changed everything for comedian Denise Scott.She knew it was bad immediately, and a few appointments later it was confirmed: breast cancer.The diagnosis came at a pivotal moment in her career, just after landing her first lead role on screen for the ABC's reboot of Mother and Son.She'd worked hard to get here and she wasn't about to let it go easily.Denise has now come out the other side of cancer, whilst working through treatment, and has a new stand-up show, Tickety Boo.

Skate parks, playgrounds and BMX tracks are everywhere — but teenage girls are barely using them. An Australian survey found they make up just 6 per cent of outdoor space users.What would make our parks and playgrounds more inclusive of teenage girls? And could redesigning them benefit everyone?

Australia spends billions of dollars a year subsidising childcare centres. But what if that money flowed to parents, instead of providers?The debate is gaining attention as a Senate inquiry investigates the quality and safety of Australia's early childhood system.Supporters say it would give families more choice, while critics argue it's not what's best for children. So how might an expansion of the childcare subsidy work, and how much would it cost? 

As humans we're hard wired to make decisions based on first impressions, but sometimes we get it wrong.And when we're the ones being judged, it can feel like an injustice. But are there times when it's OK to judge others? And where do we draw the line?

If you could be in the crowd at your own funeral, listening to all the people who care about you talking about how much they loved you, would you go?This is the idea behind the living funeral: a chance to celebrate with your loved ones and say goodbye before you die.There appears to be a growing interest in living funerals in Australia, and for those who've taken part, it's offered a way to grieve with someone before they go. 

Learning to drive is a rite of passage for many Australians, but when it's your turn to be the teacher you might question whether you're actually qualified for the task. A recent survey from one of Australia's largest car insurers has found some parents feel pretty apprehensive about teaching their teenagers to drive.So do we have the skills to prepare our learners to hit the road? 

Meals on Wheels has been around for more than 70 years, providing much more than food to the older Australians who rely on the service. But in a growing number of communities across Australia, Meals on Wheels is facing challenges.From the end of the month, Meals on Wheels clients in the Alpine Shire in regional Victoria will instead receive a fortnightly delivery of frozen meals from a private company.In other places, Meals on Wheels services are being forced to turn people away or put them on waiting lists because of funding shortfalls.So what does the future like for this much-loved community service?