Life Matters - Full program podcast

Home can be a refuge where you curl up, feel safe and read a good book. But your sense of 'home' doesn't have to be a physical place. Psychologist Chris Cheers explores how you can find that sense of comfort wherever you are. Also, the aunties, comedian Nazeem Hussain and broadcaster James Findlay, weigh in on what happens when you love your friends but find their kids (kind of) annoying.

From the Life Matters archives, it's all about parents today.You'll hear about how the way we're sharing our kids identity online is shifting. We also ask what's driving a rise in homebirths, and how fathering - not fatherhood - has changed in Australia over the last century.Plus how comedian Matt Okine has totally changed his priorities and how he thinks about money since becoming a dad in My Two Cents.

It's summer! Which means you're hearing the best of the best from Life Matters this year.Today we're giving you the wrap up on all things work life balance.You'll hear from someone who thinks it's just important to have a hobby as it is to have a fulfilling job. And by now we know AI is coming for our jobs, but what would it mean for our career trajectory if it takes our internships? Plus the town trying to add a public holiday to it's roster for their resident's mental health, and a healthy tourism boost. 

We're replaying some of your favourite stories from Life Matters this year for our summer specials.Today you'll hear our top stories to navigate the ethical minefield of shopping at Christmas time.If your kids are begging you for "dupes" of popular items - it's a double edged sword - on one hand you'll be saving money and on another you could be encouraging a trend that rips off smaller designers, so how can you manage it?And for the music lover in your life it's good news - CDs are back - and they're becoming an alternative for people turning away from unethical streaming companies.Plus if you're looking for a holiday with a bit of a twist - would you consider dark tourism? Hear why visiting a place with a dark past is on the up. 

It's summer on Life Matters so we're bringing you some of your favourite stories from the year gone by.Today we're talking housing, diving into how downsizing isn't always as straightforward as it seems. We'll also dig into the strain housing stress can put on relationships, namely the self-induced stress of a renovation with Grand Designs Australia host Anthony Burke, and investigate what role modular housing can play in addressing supply shortages. 

As kids, we imagine we'll hit a point when our 'adulting' instincts magically kick in, but many of us never quite feel as adult as we think we should. So  what do we even mean when we talk about 'adulting', can we learn to do it, or is it better to learn that we don't really need to? Moya Sarner is a psychotherapist and journalist and author of When I Grow Up: Conversations with Adults in Search of Adulthood and Dr Rebecca Ray is a psychologist and author.It can be a delicate balance when you try to support someone you love in a time of need. It's even more complicated when that person moves into your home. In today's Ask Aunty, letter writer Daphne is trying to keep the peace after her newly-separated brother moves in with her family. Aunties Denise Eriksen, Journalist and Executive Director of Screen Careers and comedian and writer Bec Shaw offer their insights.

As cosmetic procedures and weight loss treatments become more widely accessible, body changes can be rapid. So when the body you've known for years changes in a profound way, how do you navigate that mentally? And when – if ever – is it okay to comment on other people's bodies, or have a conversation about their appearance? Steve Molk lost more than 100kg over the course of three years and Professor Gemma Sharp is a clinical psychologist who leads a body image, eating and weight disorders research program.When so many of us look back on the movies which shaped our childhood, one element stands out - the magic of Dick Van Dyke. The veteran actor is about to turn 100 - and he's still cheeky, energetic, and larger than life. So, what's the real secret to ageing well? Is it mindset? Attitude? Something more? Nancy Pahana is a geropsychologist and Everald Compton, 94, never plans to retire.When we want to weigh the moral heft of a political decision in this country, we don't crack open a philosophy textbook. We pull up a stool at the nearest bar and ask, "does it pass the pub test?" But why is this our gold standard? Patrick Stokes is an Associate Professor philosophy at Deakin University.

Being an active bystander - that is, speaking up or intervening in the face of injustice - feels like the right thing to do when you see something you disagree with. But it doesn't always go to plan, and your best intentions can backfire. There's new analysis suggesting that, in schools at least, encouraging kids to intervene isn't always helpful. So how are you meant to know when it's the right time to stop being a bystander and step up? Dr Karyn Healy is an Honorary Principal Research Fellow at the Parenting and Family Support Centre at the University of Queensland and Dr Vicki Webster is an organisational psychologist with a focus on the workplace and executive team.Artificial intelligence may be a lot of things ... chatbot, digital assistant... but can it be funny? An Australian researcher is trying to work out whether AI robots can do stand-up comedy. Not necessarily write jokes... but deliver a comedy routine that leaves people in stitches.So, do you think AI could make you laugh? Dr Robert Walton is a Research Fellow, Faculty of Fine Arts and Music, University of Melbourne and Nicolette Minster is a comedian and writer.We're asking your favourite Australians about their relationship with money in our series My Two Cents. So, is it raining cash in ABC weather presenter Nate Byrne's world?

In under 24 hours, the internet will look very different.  Nationwide, anyone under 16 will be locked out of social media. Facebook, Snapchat, TikTok, Instagram, X, Reddit, YouTube - all off-limits. If you're not yet 16, you'll be waiting until your birthday to log back in. Julie Inman Grant is Australian eSafety Commissioner.Many parents have voiced support for Australia's social media ban for under 16s - but that doesn't mean it will be an easy transition. In fact, experts say it will mean a pretty solid adjustment for families, and a lot to navigate.  Professor Alina Morawska is a Parenting and Family Support Centre at UQ's School of Psychology and Cam Wilson is Tech Reporter at Crikey.You've been gearing up for a holiday all year... and now the day is finally here. The tickets are booked, bags are packed, you've even picked out your outfit for the plane. Psychologist Christine Bagley-Jones discusses how to manage different expectations of your holiday.

Whether it's the big flashy state library in your capital city, or the humble one in your suburb, the role of a library is stretching to meet demand for its free programs and resources. That evolution hasn't come without friction, so in modern Australia, who, and what, are our libraries really for? Cathie Warburton is CEO of The Australian Library and Information Association, and Dr Heather Robinson is Research Associate at Flinders University and author of Beyond the books: Culture, value, and why libraries matter.More and more people are turning to AI for spiritual support, by using bots for religious worship and guidance. They're known as "faith bots" and there's one for pretty much every belief. Christians can use Text Jesus. There's a virtual Islamic Scholar called Sheikh GPT. And Gita GPT allows you to exchange messages with the Hindu god Krishna. So, can AI help you become closer to God? Can it strengthen your faith? Dr Rosemary Hancock is a Senior lecturer and Convener of the Religion, Culture and Society Research Focus Area, at the University of Notre Dame and Venerable Dr JueWei, is Head of program of applied Buddhist studies and humanistic Buddhism at Nan Tien Institute.It's a time to eat, drink, and be merry. But for Australians struggling with - or recovering from - addiction, holiday gatherings can become a test of willpower. An addiction specialist shares his first Christmas off the booze.  Benn Veenker is Manager of Lived Experience at Turning Point.