Life Matters - Full program podcast

If you've always defined who you are by what you do, you may have found it difficult to nurture other parts of your identity. But journalist and author of The Good Enough Job, Simone Stolzoff, argues there are ways to downsize the role of work in your life.And aunties Nelly Thomas and Annie Louey weigh in on when it's helpful to step into your 12-year-old's social life and when it's not.

If your kids asked you what metadata is, or how an algorithm works, or why they still have to write an essay even though ChatGPT can do it for them, would you have a good answer? Dr Niraj Lal is the author of a new book that aims to give teenagers the tools they need to understand and demystify the internet. We all have that one family member who's told the same story a thousand times. But these stories matter — they help situate you in your own history and tell you something about who you are. Lorin Clarke shares her experience in documenting the stories of her late father and beloved satirist John Clarke, while Professor Kasia Bail explains all the benefits of reminiscing about the past. Should we bear witness to human suffering through our screens? What compels us to watch and share videos depicting violence and crisis — and does doing so help anyone beyond ourselves? Associate Professor in Philosophy Patrick Stokes unpacks the ethical dilemma of doomscrolling.

When she was five, Katherine Bennell-Pegg looked up at the stars and never looked back. While most childhood dreams drift back to Earth, hers didn't. The 2026 Australian of the Year reflects on the determination it takes to become an astronaut, and what compels someone to push beyond the limits and boldly go where we've never gone before.After another week of record-breaking heat, it's pretty clear a lot of our homes simply aren't designed for the climate we live in. So how can we design our homes so that they're a sanctuary once more, instead of an oven?Do we treat female voices differently to male voices? New research suggests when it comes to AI assistants, there's a clear divide. So what does that say about us, and does it really matter?

Conversations about masculinity are often heavy. It can sometimes feel like the message boys hear is not just that there is a problem, but that they are the problem. Professor James Smith, researcher Ged Moriarty and advocate Luke Bateman discuss how we might re-imagine the concept of boyhood.The aged care industry is struggling to find workers, but one facility on the NSW central coast is tapping fresh high school graduates to bring a youthful energy to the home. So could a younger workforce change the game?A Queensland high school banning the mullet and other "unacceptable" hairstyles has reignited debate over the right to self-expression. Researcher Kayla Mildren unpacks whether a rat's tail really creates a ratbag, or if rules like these are about something bigger.

From the desks we work at to the places we retreat to at the end of the day, the spaces around us quietly shape how we feel, how we live, and how we connect with each other. Good design isn't just about looks – it's about comfort, dignity, possibility, and the way a space can hold us, support us, even change us. Kevin McCloud, presenter of TV show Grand Designs and Tim Ross, comedian, broadcaster and self-described design nerd dig into how design can make our lives better.Once the holidays are over and life settles back into routine, issues you've been avoiding can have a way of resurfacing – especially in relationships. Clinical psychologist Elisabeth Shaw and psychotherapist Dr Zoë Krupka unpack why January is a peak month for separations, and how to decide when a rough patch is worth working through or if it's time to part ways.

There's a viral nostalgia trend at the moment with millions of people posting photos of themselves from a decade ago. So, what is it about today that's making us yearn for the past? And how much does it serve us to kick off 2026 with our heads in 2016? Psychologist Dr Carly Johnco and behavioural neuroscientist Dr Jee Hyun Kim on how to look back whilst also looking ahead.And, on Ask Aunty, columnist Kerri Sackville and broadcaster Paul Culliver weigh in on the politics of volunteering at your kid's canteen.

Up to one in five Australians are postponing retirement or re-entering the work force later in life. For many, there's just not enough in the nest egg to retire when and how they'd like. Financial adviser Olivia Maragna and Neysa King, who returned to work in her 70s, unpack some of the reasons behind the trend.A new study from Harvard University shows that mixing up the types of exercise you do can significantly reduce the risk of early death. Professor Emmanuel Stamatakis breaks down the science and Heather Cooper shares her own training regime for running a half marathon at the age of 81.Have you tried typing your name into an online search engine? It can be surprising what shows up. Rae Johnston explains how to clean up the digital footprint you leave online.

You've heard the saying "it takes a village". But when so much of our modern lives are geared towards convenience and individualism, where do we find one?  New York-based writer Amanda Litman decided to build her own by inviting friends and strangers to weekly dinners for a whole year. Weight loss drugs are here to stay — and changes coming to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme are set to make it easier for more people to access these medications. So how might that change the way we eat together and connect over food? And Professor Dan Woodman examines the conundrum of volunteer burnout: while volunteer numbers have been in steady decline, the amount of work we rely on those volunteers to do has stayed roughly the same.

We've all Googled our symptoms, but would you ask AI for medical advice? David Hansen from CSIRO's e-Health Research Centre, Dr Michael Bonning and consumer health expert Elizabeth Deveny weigh up the risks of relying on AI chatbots to navigate your health concerns.When comedian Craig Quartermaine applied for an arts grant, it was a flat-out no. Comedy wasn't on the list of "accepted" performing arts. So, if the purpose of "art" is to act as a mirror to reflect society, does stand-up deserve a ticket to the show?The face of multi-level marketing schemes seems to be changing, but the chances of success remain the same. Consumer behaviour expert Paul Harrison examines how MLMs hook us in, and what keeps us coming back for more.

The Bondi terrorist attack has left the Jewish community and the nation at large reeling. Journalist Nadine Cohen, artist Joel Adler and grief sociologist Margaret Gibson unpack how you can create space for mourning to heal and move through tragedy. Ben Collins had been contemplating a career change for years before hitting the books again in his late 40s to become a junior doctor at 51. So when is the right time to make a career pivot? You'll hear Ben's story and career counsellor Ellen Hooper's advice on making the move.When was the last time you pressed an actual button to get where you needed to go? Australia's car safety body warns touchscreens are taking over, and is pushing for a return to physical controls.