Life Matters - Full program podcast

How parenting dynamics change in adulthood and the price of doggy destruction

07 May 2026

Contributed by Lukas

The parent-child relationship is a two-way street. It takes both sides to figure out how to relate to each other as adults -- and that can be especia...

Celebrating 100 years of David Attenborough and cancelling the Met Gala

06 May 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Sir David Attenborough is turning 100 years old. Over decades spent exploring and documenting the wonders of nature across the planet, he has shaped ...

The golden gap year and where to start tightening your budget

05 May 2026

Contributed by Lukas

After Chris Herrmann's wife died suddenly, he was left with the feeling that life is too short not to make the most of every moment. So he packed up ...

The reality of leaving an abusive relationship and are influencers making us sick?

04 May 2026

Contributed by Lukas

In Australia, it's estimated that 1 in 4 women and 1 in 14 men have experienced violence from an intimate partner. While public awareness of this nat...

The great school debate and friction-maxxing

03 May 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Parents have never had more options to give their child the best start in life. But when it comes to choosing the "best" school to provide your child...

Dads discovering the father wound and the unspoken politics of the group chat

30 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

It's time to talk about the father wound. For many, these relationships can be complicated by absence, emotional distance and "dadmiration". Clinical...

The unpopular solution to our growing waste problem and what to do with old pianos

29 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Australia sends 26 million tonnes of rubbish to landfills each year, and we're running out of room. Sydney is on track to run out of space in the nex...

How misogi celebrates one big win and the science of cosiness

28 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Recently, the Japanese Shinto ritual of misogi has been gaining traction online. It's a simple concept where each year you set yourself one main chal...

The personal toll of advocacy and balancing out the mental load

27 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

The grief of losing a loved one is different for everyone. For some it's private, while for others, it can become a force for action that drives them...

A win for renters' privacy and the local councils trying to save uninsurable towns

26 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Australia's Privacy Commissioner has put the rent tech sector on notice, ruling that a platform had been unfairly collecting excessive amounts of per...

How to spot a real narcissist and the case of the missing family jewels

23 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

A grandiose sense of self importance, an intense need for admiration, an inflated sense of entitlement and a lack of empathy — these are the hallma...

Why we need to talk about booze and what it really takes to make it in Australia

22 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Most Australians enjoy an adult beverage now and then, but around 6.6 million of us are drinking at risky levels. Alcohol is one of leading risk fact...

The singles tax and psychosocial safety in the workplace

21 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

If you're living the single life, you're likely feeling the sting in your wallet. Analysis from financial comparison site Finder estimates the averag...

What's going on with adult ADHD diagnosis and is optimism dead?

20 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Adult diagnoses of ADHD have soared in recent years, but the system is still struggling to support everyone. A Four Corners investigation has reveale...

What it costs to feed Australia and why we don't listen to new music

19 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

A new report has estimated how much Australia spends providing food for public institutions and programs — hospitals, aged care centres, correction...

Making workplaces truly neuro-inclusive and the school fete dilemma

16 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

In recent years, the number of Australians being diagnosed with ADHD and autism has risen. With up to 20 per cent of employees now identifying as neu...

The neighbourhoods driving the DIY energy transition and why picky eating is a modern problem

15 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

At a time when Australians are grappling with the global fuel crisis, those who got in early on clean energy may be feeling a sense of relief. But it...

The science of the perfect day and dogs in public spaces

14 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

New research from the University of Pennsylvania shows there are three key indicators of a better-than-average day. But there are also unavoidable ta...

Can kids claw back their digital privacy and fighting for the right to repair

13 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Children now have a digital footprint by the time they graduate day care, and it only explodes when they get to school. A new draft Children's Online...

The bees are dying again and the rise of 'slopaganda'

12 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

In an attempt to save the bees, thousands of people set up colonies of the European honeybee in their backyard. But for many, an outbreak of the para...

Understanding ethical non-monogamy and a family split over Dad's ashes

09 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

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 surve...

Rescuing the 'post-literate' generation and what ancient philosophers say about aliens

08 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

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 shi...

What kids of divorce really need and the future of space exploration

07 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Breaking up is hard to do, especially when there are children involved. And for many parents working through a separation, it comes with guilt and fe...

How to tackle Australia's gambling problem and why You Can't Ask That is back

06 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

The federal government has unveiled its plan for gambling reforms, announcing a ban on gambling ads in sports stadiums and players' uniforms, and hea...

Watching Married At First Sight with your teenager and rethinking financial education

05 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Would you watch Married At First Sight with your teenagers? It might sound like a strange parenting strategy — the show is messy, engineered for dr...

Parenting advice from Dr Billy Garvey and how to uninvite a friend's four-legged plus-one

02 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Most parents understand there is a huge amount they can do to set up (or stuff up) their kids' mental and emotional needs. Developmental paediatricia...

How to solve food insecurity and why Australian men are 'marrying up'

01 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

An estimated 1 in 3 Australian households do not have secure access to food — they're either not getting enough, not getting the right kind, or sac...

Learning on the road and the woman who fought Ansett to fly

31 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

The Reserve Bank of Australia has announced that come October, card surcharges will be banned. But will it actually save you money any money?A signif...

Is social media addiction real and focus for dummies

30 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Last week a woman in the US successfully sued Meta and Google, arguing their platforms were addictive. She said she was spending up to 16 hours a day...

Putting the car-free experiment to the test and the ethics of panic buying

29 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

As petrol prices continue to soar, the only way to reduce your bowser bill is to go electric or get rid of your car altogether. But could you realist...

How to stay friends when you hate their politics and advice about a toxic ex

26 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

There's an longstanding rule that it's not polite to talk about politics at the dinner table. But in times of global turmoil, where freedom of expres...

Reimagining boyhood and launching childhood dreams with astronaut Katherine Bennell-Pegg

25 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Helping you figure out all the big stuff in life: relationships, health, money, work and the world.

Petrol prices throwing travel plans out the window and AI agents doing your admin

24 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

The looming fuel crisis is starting to bite, with service stations running out of petrol and prices soaring past $2.50 per litre. If you're in the mi...

Giving up your capital gains tax discount and the hot flush gold rush

23 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

A recent Senate inquiry report has found capital gains tax discounts and negative gearing have historically benefited investors over owner-occupiers ...

Making apartments more family-friendly and is 'leisure sickness' a real thing?

22 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

As our cities grow, there's a push to build up, not out — including in our suburbs. For more families, that means home will be an apartment rather ...

Understanding 'the mother wound' and drawing the line on workplace gossip

19 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Mother-daughter bonds are strong, but many come with heavy cultural baggage: expectation, guilt, and comparison. Psychotherapist Zoe Krupka unpacks w...

How to protect your f*** off fund and travelling with dementia

18 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

A new report has found Aussie couples are moving away from pooling their money, and are choosing to be more financially independent in their relation...

The big benefits of small talk and leaving the 'manosphere'

17 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Small talk might feel trivial, but professor in the psychology of kindness Gillian Sandstrom says these tiny exchanges can help us live a kinder, mor...

A national hotline for witnesses to war and talking teens through spirituality

16 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Helping you figure out all the big stuff in life: relationships, health, money, work and the world.

Teaching e-scooter safety and why optimism is good for your health

15 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

A new program has launched in Queensland to teach teenagers how to safely ride e-bikes and e-scooters on the roads. It comes as trauma experts warn t...

Co-parenting after separation and clearing an innocent cat's name

12 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Breaking up can be brutal, especially if you have children together. Navigating feelings of anger, sadness, betrayal and shock without bringing the k...

Why teens are trying therapy via Fortnite and should you get a sleep divorce?

11 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Helping you figure out all the big stuff in life: relationships, health, money, work and the world.

Denise Scott on making comedy through cancer and workplace conflict tips from Esther Perel

10 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

At a pivotal moment in her career, one moment changed everything for comedian Denise Scott. She knew it was bad immediately, and a few appointments l...

Giving parents more choice in child care and saying goodbye at a living funeral

09 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

There are growing calls for the childcare subsidy to apply to a broader number of care options. Whether it's grandparents, nannies, au pairs, or what...

The future of Meals on Wheels and teaching teens to drive

08 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Meals on Wheels has been around for more than 70 years, but in a growing number of communities the service is facing challenges. Meals on Wheels chai...

Getting what you want in the bedroom and discovering infidelity after death

05 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

If you had to rank your sex life between 1 to 10, where would you land? According to a recent survey, nearly half of Australians are unhappy with the...

Is dynamic pricing coming to Australian supermarkets and the end of letters

04 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Electronic shelf labels — those little digital screens replacing paper tags — are becoming more widespread across supermarkets in Australia, wher...

What happened to O Week and could art save your life?

03 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Crowded lecture theatres and late nights at the uni bar were once staples of university life. But with so much learning now delivered online, campuse...

What's the harm in zero-alcohol drinks and should you try a no-buy year?

02 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

It wasn't long ago that zero-alcohol drinks were a niche product. Now they're everywhere, including on supermarket shelves, looking almost identical ...

The obsession with longevity and how not-for-profit venues could revive live music

01 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

It has never been harder to be a small live music venue in Australia, but what if there was another way? Churchill Fellow Sam Whiting, the Australian...

Dropping the shame around debt and phasing out a stale friendship

26 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Debt can bring up a lot of emotions — stress, shame, embarrassment — but it's a reality for most of us. Almost half of Australians with debt stru...

Talking about Tourette's and what universal child care could look like

25 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

In the aftermath of the BAFTA awards, one moment has eclipsed the stories behind any of the films that were recognised. A Tourette Syndrome advocate ...

The Tricketts on taking sport beyond the scoreboard and reviving native languages

24 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Australia's love of sport runs deep. We idolise the scoreboard, pack out stadiums, and beam with pride when our athletes bring home gold. But for som...

Rebuilding trust in the medical system and the key to feeling like you belong

23 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Endometriosis affects around one in seven girls and women in Australia, and getting a diagnosis can take, on average, six to eight years. QENDO chief...

Breathing new life into the main drag and the website that lets you rate your neighbours

22 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

The main street is the heart of a country town, and it can often give you a quick picture of how the place is faring. With new data showing more than...

Hitting the reset button on everyday overwhelm and navigating neighbourly disputes

19 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Many of us feel overwhelmed by the demands of everyday life — hustling to make ends meet, managing never-ending life admin, staying fit and healthy...

Saving your local pool and how to embrace friction in your life

18 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

After the 1956 Melbourne Olympic Games, Australia built thousands of public pools, which are now reaching the end of their lives. Royal Surf Life Sav...

The libraries that shaped us and withering takes on Wuthering Heights

17 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

One of the oldest libraries in Australia, the State Library of New South Wales, is marking its 200th anniversary this year, and as part of the celebr...

Escaping the supermarket duopoly and turning your hobby into a serious leisure pursuit

16 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Coles is in federal court this week, accused by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) of misleading shoppers with fake discounts ...

Beyond the health star rating and Ben Crowe's nine lessons to live by

15 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Food ministers from across Australia and New Zealand have green-lit the process to make the health stars you see in the supermarket mandatory for all...

What it's like coming out in 2026 and advice for a struggling grandparent

12 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Nearly 50 years after the first Mardi Gras march lit up the streets of Sydney, demanding an end to discrimination, so much has changed. But for many ...

Why hair is such a big deal and advice from an Olympian on sharing your wins

11 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

We talk about good hair days — and bad ones — as if they're small things. But for people who are losing their hair, it can feel like losing a par...

Our love-hate relationship with running and the reality of tiny home living

10 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Running rarely feels easy, even for people who love it. Your legs ache, lungs burn, and then there's the nagging voice in your head telling you to wa...

Why the Mardi Gras party matters and the art of saying no

09 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

From its beginnings as a protest march in Sydney's inner city, Mardi Gras has become an internationally renowned celebration of LGBTQIA+ life. But th...

Turning a trade into a long-term career and optimising your work playlist

08 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

As the national skills shortage bites, the trades are attracting more people looking for a new career. Australia's jobs and skills commissioner Barne...

Finding a place to feel at home and bringing a pet as a plus-one

05 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

When you think of your home, what springs to mind? For some, home is their happy place, a sanctuary of comfort and calm. But for others, it's complic...

Scott Pape's vision for kids' cash and reimagining the verge garden

04 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

School is back and across the ditch there's a new subject in the New Zealand curriculum: financial education will be taught in classrooms from year 1...

Rethinking cancer survival and dressing for expression in your third age

03 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Australia is a world leader in cancer survival, with more than 1.6 million people now living with and beyond cancer. But survival alone doesn't tell ...

A reality check on women's sport and convincing your boss to let you work from home

02 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

While women's sport is booming in Australia, beneath the surface there are signs of a culture that's lagging behind. Accusations of disrespect, mistr...

Falling in love at the dog park and healing through companionship

01 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

The dog park is a magical place for our four-legged friends. But it's also a unique space for humans to connect with each other, form friendships, bu...

Life Matters

29 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Helping you figure out all the big stuff in life: relationships, health, money, work and the world.

Simone Stolzoff on how to nurture your non-work self

29 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

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 aut...

The magic of family stories and why you're drawn to doomscrolling

28 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

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, ...

What it takes to become an astronaut and how to build heat-proof housing

27 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

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....

Reimagining boyhood and sending teenagers to work in aged care homes

26 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

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 ...

Grand designs and why we breakup in January

25 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

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 ...

How does nostalgia for our past help us in our present?

22 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

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 tha...

We're retiring later, but a fresh exercise routine could help us live longer

21 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

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 eg...

What it takes to build community and why we're burnt out on volunteering

20 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

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...

Is Doctor Google dead and is comedy an art form?

19 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

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 c...

How do we create space for grief after Bondi and are buttons making a comeback?

18 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

The Bondi terrorist attack has left the Jewish community and the nation at large reeling. Journalist Nadine Cohen, artist Joel Adler and grief sociol...

Debriefing your holiday break and getting ghosted by your hook-up

15 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

If you spent the holidays with your immediate or extended family, it may have been joyful. But is may also have been stressful and draining. Psychol...

Data privacy and daycare apps, plus will aged care changes result in a system we can trust?

14 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

The rise of apps linked to childcare centres gives crucial reassurance to worried parents that children are safe and happy at daycare. Throughout the...

The crisis in foster care, and why weather obsession takes hold

13 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

In Victoria, some foster carers are reporting sudden reductions in their allowances for looking after children with high-level needs. It highlights t...

AI and cheating accusations, and what if your workday is actually a work night?

12 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

ChatGPT... Grammarly... Google Gemini...  AI tools have changed student life in the space of just a couple of years. Cheating seems easier than ever...

Relationship endings and new beginnings, and treating chatbots as friends

11 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

The news that Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban had ended their marriage after 19 years came as a shock. As did stories that Keith has reportedly moved o...

Dr Billy Garvey, host of the Pop Culture Parenting podcast, on kid's mental health

08 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Unlike previous generations, most parents today know there is a huge amount they can do to set up (or stuff up) their kids' mental and emotional need...

What's behind the rise in silver separation and women going it alone

07 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Our best stories of 2025 helping you figure out all the big stuff in life: relationships, health, money, work and the world. Let's talk! With trusted...

How to stop children committing crimes, and talking to your kids about their own safety

06 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Over Summer, we've been revisiting some of your favourite stories from 2025.Today, we'll be discussing how to help our kids - or grandkids - navigate...

What book changed your mind and could you fall in love with a character?

05 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Our best stories of 2025 helping you figure out all the big stuff in life: relationships, health, money, work and the world. Let's talk! With trusted...

Why young workers are still being exploited, and tackling the class ceiling

04 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Today, we're taking a look back at some of your favourite stories from 2025 and revisiting those all-important "firsts" at work.A study shows more th...

What message do your clothes send to the world?

01 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

When you get dressed in the morning, what role does your identity play in the clothes you choose to wear? And how do your feelings that day influence...

Coming off antidepressants and getting an ADHD diagnosis

31 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

We're bringing you some of our favourite stories from Life Matters in 2025 over summer, to help you figure out all the big stuff in life: relationshi...

Is camping about to get pricier and our obsession with big things

30 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

We're bringing you the best stories from Life Matters in 2025 that helps you figure out all the big stuff in life: relationships, health, money, work...

Science says we peak at 60, plus why so many women are joining the "we do not care" club

29 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Over Summer, we've been revisiting some of your favourite stories from 2025.Science says we reach our mental peak at 60. So, why are we always being ...

The race to find the elixir of youth, and what's considered "old" in the workforce?

28 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Over Summer, we've been revisiting some of your favourite stories from 2025.Today, we'll be discussing the hint to find the elixir of youth - and the...

What it looks like to follow Mel Robbins and 'just let them'

25 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Have you heard of the "Let Them theory", the viral self-help trend popularised by American motivational speaker Mel Robbins?The mantra, according to ...

Life Matters: Live Show from the World Science Festival

24 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Are there actually physical symptoms when you get your heart broken? Why do heart emojis look nothing like the thing beating in our chests? What can ...

The rise in women using steroids and how blind marathoners learn to race

23 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Helping you figure out all the big stuff in life: relationships, health, money, work and the world.

Conspiracy theories, extremism, and the tradwife subculture

22 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

It's summer on ABC Radio National so we're bringing you some of your favourite stories from the year gone by.Today, we're giving you a peek behind th...