Life Matters - Separate stories podcast
Episodes
Are modular homes the solution to Australia's housing crisis?
14 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Australia's housing crisis is getting worse.New homes aren't being built fast enough and supply is near its lowest in a decade. Earlier this year the...
Getting downsizing right - good for you and the country
14 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We all want the housing crisis to end, but are you willing to sacrifice your house if it could help others live the dream you had?The downsides to do...
Is your relationship built to withstand a home renovation?
14 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
If you've ever renovated a home you'll know it can be fraught with unexpected issues, costs and not to mention the strain it can put on your relation...
Ask Aunty: The messy houseguest
11 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
Can I learn to "adult" and do I need to?
11 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Ask Aristotle: Is the "pub test" the best moral judgement in 2025?
10 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 nea...
How to live to 100 like Dick Van Dyke
10 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Getting to know your new body
10 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
As we age, our bodies naturally change.But with cosmetic procedures and weight loss treatments more widely accessible, that change in your body can b...
Are you a bystander or an "upstander"?
09 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 yo...
My Two Cents: Nate Byrne
09 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We're asking your favourite Australians about their relationship with money in our series My Two Cents.Today... is it raining cash in ABC weather pre...
Can AI be funny?
09 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
"An AI and a robot walk into a bar—AI says, 'I'll have something strong.' Robot says, 'Same—my battery's at 3%."That's what happened when ChatGPT...
The eSafety Commissioner answers your questions on Australia's social media ban
08 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In under 24 hours, the internet will look very different. Nationwide, anyone under 16 will be locked out of social media.Facebook, Snapchat, TikTok,...
Will kids find their way around the social media ban?
08 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The December 10 social media ban for under-16s has been widely publicised and debated. And although a lot of parents have voiced support for the mov...
Head and heart: How to navigate holiday expectations
08 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Have you used AI to talk to God?
07 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 ther...
Navigating your first sober Christmas
07 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
Are we stretching modern libraries too far?
07 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
Ask Aunty: managing an in-law culture clash
04 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What do you do when it feels like you and your in-laws speak different languages when it comes to parenting? And the situation is heightened when you...
Dr Billy Garvey on making sense of your child's BIG feelings
04 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Developmental paediatrician Dr Billy Garvey says behavioural and emotional difficulties are the number one reason parents come to see him. But, Dr B...
A new plan to get more veggies on our plate
03 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Only around one in twenty Australians eat enough fruit and veggies. The rest of us are falling way short of where we need to be.Price is a common com...
Social Studies: Is cancelling plans the new cancel culture?
03 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
You've got dinner plans with a group of friends, and you've been looking forward to it for weeks.But in the days -or hours- leading to the catch-up.....
Why are so many Australian houses sitting empty?
03 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
No matter how tightly held your neighbourhood is... there's almost definitely at least one empty home on your street... or a long-time vacant lot nea...
Kevin McCloud and Tim Ross on good design and solving the housing crisis
02 Dec 2025
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...
Why Australia's shadow economy impacts everyone
02 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Have you ever asked a hairdresser or a tradie if they can do a better price for cash?Have you done work for someone and got paid 'cash in hand'.Or pe...
Are you prepared for your next hike?
01 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
As summer holidays approach, many of us will be planning time in the great outdoors. But if you're about to embark on an overnight hike or tackle a ...
Buyer Beware: Why do we care if an ad is AI-generated?
01 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Two major clothing retailers have been busted using AI-generated ads. Now Heineken, Polaroid, and Cadbury are pushing back- branding their campaigns...
How your environment shapes your dress code
01 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The Christmas party invite says smart casual.But what does that mean when it's 35 degrees and storms are on the way?And why are double pluggers accep...
Is AI music still slop if it slaps?
30 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
AI is already pretty good at making decent music with bare minimum human input, but now one of the biggest AI-music generating platforms has partnere...
What's the best way to protect beach-goers from shark attacks?
30 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Last Thursday morning, a woman died and her boyfriend was seriously injured in a shark attack at a remote NSW beach.The attack happened as the couple...
How to avoid 'ghost stores' and other scams this Christmas
30 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The consumer watchdog is urging shoppers to be wary of online "ghost stores" in the lead-up to Christmas. The ACCC has received more than 700 compla...
Making marriage work (the second time round)
27 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Although we’d all love to imagine you can have a second chance at love, the divorce rate for second marriages is double that of first. Psychothera...
Ask Aunty: Stuck between two best friends
27 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In high school, sorting out friendship drama can take up a lot of time, but it can cause even bigger headaches as adults. So what do you do when your...
The debate over downloading your teenager's social media history
26 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In your house there's probably a box squirrelled away in a cupboard somewhere, full of photos and memorabilia of your kids and grandkids.And even tho...
Are we ready to say RIP to the Aussie backyard?
26 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
A big backyard used to be part of the Australian dream. But a shift has happened over time.Block sizes for new houses across our cities have shrunk b...
Ask Aristotle: Do you "owe" your adult kids an inheritance?
26 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
When you die, what sort of assets will you leave and who's getting them?Or maybe you've handed over your inheritance early - helping your kids out wi...
Why crash testing may be letting down female passengers
25 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Even at low speeds... if you have a car crash... and you're a woman... you're more likely to be seriously injured than a man.But interestingly, car c...
How will we remember the 2020s?
25 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
When you think of the 1960s, what comes to mind? Hippies, Vietnam War protests, the music?What about the 1990s? VCRs, grunge music, minimalist fashio...
Fashion Critical on finding her style, and embracing anonymity
25 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
She has never revealed her name publicly, but her opinions about fashion have made a huge impact.Fashion Critical started making "silly posts" to ent...
Will underquoting reforms make buying a house fairer?
24 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
You've scraped together a hefty deposit... and you've found the home you love in a price range you can afford.But then on auction day - a flurry of b...
Is unaffordable and poor quality housing the new norm?
24 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
If you're over 50, new research shows that unaffordable and poor quality housing is getting in the way of living a dignified second act.And whether y...
Head and heart: Why am I angry my ex is getting married?
24 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week, listener Sarah is asking for help. She broke up with her partner Mike years ago, because he never wanted to get married. Now, Mike is eng...
Closing sport's gender play gap
23 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Women's teams are breaking records and hearts, with the Matildas selling out stadiums and record attendance for the women's Ashes earlier this year. ...
How many jobs do you need to pay your bills?
23 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
For the third year in a row, ABS figures show an increasing number of Australians are taking on two or more jobs as the cost of living rises.New rese...
Australia's changing Christmas workforce
23 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
For many of us who work, this time of year is a countdown until much-needed holidays over Christmas and the New Year.But a large number of people wil...
Ask Aunty: I was a childhood bully
20 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What happens when your unkind childhood behaviour still weighs on your conscience years after you've said farewell to school?Today's letter-writer is...
The people embracing "no kids" energy
20 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The clichéd Australian stereotype of a family used to be: a couple living in the suburbs with 2.4 children.But according to the last census, there w...
Older Australians feeling 'unseen, unheard, or undervalued' in healthcare
19 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
A new report from the Australian Human Rights Commission details the how older people too often feel unseen, unheard, or undervalued in the healthcar...
What you need to know about drugs and Schoolies events
19 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In Australia there's a growing chorus of medical professionals and advocates who say harm prevention is more realistic than abstinence when it comes ...
Forget swear words, there's a whole new set of taboo terms
19 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The swear words that used to shock us… don't anymore. They've lost their sting.Researchers have unpacked the words Aussies really cringe at in 2025...
The unexpected ways a mentor can shape your career
18 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The trailer for the The Devil Wears Prada sequel has dropped - and viewers immediately noticed a huge change in the dynamic between the two main char...
More than a year on - have right to disconnect laws made a difference?
18 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What's your average workday look like?Do you come in right at your designated time and leave exactly when the clock strikes knock off?Chances are, yo...
Is Schoolies travel still the rite of passage it used to be?
18 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This Friday, another generation of school leavers will walk out of the school gates for the last time.Schoolies travel has been a rite of passage for...
Buyer Beware: Why does all my food have "added vitamins" and protein?
17 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Protein is added to many products: protein coffee, protein lollies, protein ice cream.But it's not just protein anymore. There's a growing trend of a...
Australia is set to welcome its millionth refugee
17 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Australia is on the cusp of welcoming its one millionth refugee visa since the second world war.Behind that statistic are so many stories of upheaval...
Could a 50-year mortgage work in Australia?
17 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
If the great Australian dream is owning your own home... it should also come with a caveat: owning it outright and paying off that mortgage.In the Un...
Should we still have unpaid internships or university placements?
16 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
As the school year winds down, many teenagers are about to start the next chapter of their lives – and potential careers.Whether it's a bit of summ...
What impact does Black Friday have on our shopping habits?
16 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Do you have your eye on a new toaster, a TV, a lap-top, a vacuum... or an outfit for the office Christmas party?Maybe you've already clicked "add to ...
My Two Cents: Ione Skye
16 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In My Two Cents, we ask those questions you'd rather not answer about money.Today hear how actor, artist and author Ione Skye makes and spends her mo...
How intensive parenting 25-year-old "children" became the norm
16 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
If you've got adult kids in 2025, you'll know that reaching independence looks a lot different now than it did in your day.New research confirms what...
Can you rekindle your spark with work or is it time to break up?
13 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
It’s the time of year when you can't wait for time away from your job. But, as you reset for 2026, workplace researcher Dr Michelle McQuaid says t...
Ask Aunty: What happens when your marriage ends but your best friend's wife is close to your ex?
13 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
When two couples are close it can be a double marriage made in heaven. But what happens when one couple breaks up?Letter-writer Steve has split with ...
Should begging in the streets be illegal?
12 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
When you see someone begging at a train station, park, or outside your local supermarket... what goes through your head? Maybe you ask yourself - wh...
Are we losing our next generation of creatives?
12 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The federal government is pushing local content quotas, forcing big streaming platforms to invest in Australian-made shows. Yet fewer Year 12 studen...
Ask Aristotle: a philosophy crash-course
12 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Throughout 2025, ethicist Patrick Stokes has been unpacking the thorny topics for us. "Is it ok to lie in a memoir?", "Am I evil for not wanting to ...
BMX teens tackle community obstacles
11 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
New research shows lifestyle sports like BMX riding can be really beneficial for teenagers, providing positives they don't get from organised sport.N...
How to avoid the Christmas over-consumption trap
11 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Would you give up Christmas presents?Or are you like many of us and associate what you spend, with how much you care?There's been a backlash against ...
Is it too late to stop erosion destroying our life saving clubhouses?
11 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The classic image of the Australian coast is in trouble. Eroding dunes. Crumbling cliffs. Clubhouses teetering on the edge.Coastal erosion is quickly...
Head and heart: dispensing with small talk
10 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
When you're stuck in a lift ... or waiting for a meeting to start, what's your go-to "small talk" opener?"Wow, it's hot today""How was the traffic on...
What impact is the illicit tobacco trade having on smoking rates?
10 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Last week authorities shut down two illicit tobacco stores in Sydney... the first to be closed under new state laws targeting the illegal tobacco tra...
How much is too much? The trillionaire debate
10 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What could you buy with a trillion dollars? That's $1,000,000,000,000.It's hard enough to grasp just how much money that is, let alone how a single p...
The push for teenagers to get back into swimming lessons
09 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Many schools don't offer swimming lessons. During the COVID-19 pandemic, they were cancelled altogether - and lots of kids never went back.Now advoca...
How to share the housing wealth
09 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What would it take for home owners to let go of the idea of their house as a financial asset, and to re-think what owning a home means?One Australian...
Steering clear of subscription traps
09 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Keeping track of your subscriptions can feel like a full-time job.From streaming services to gym memberships, toilet paper deliveries and even cars t...
How to talk to your kids (and your family) about consent
06 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Talking to your kids about consent can be anxiety-inducing. What can be even harder is having that conversation with your parents, in-laws, uncles an...
Ask Aunty: Mum's given away my family heirloom
06 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Family heirlooms can be cherished, preserved, and lovingly passed on through generations.They can also be aggressively fought over. What happens whe...
How do you think about life after an organ transplant?
05 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
At any given time there are 1,850 people waiting for a life changing organ transplant in Australia.What's it like to navigate the donation process? A...
Are "nepo" babies just joining the family business?
05 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The Apple doesn't fall far from the tree, especially for Chris Martin's family.The Coldplay frontman's daughter recently sung at a gig in Nashville -...
The dilemma over what to do with our waste
05 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Australians are throwing away nearly 76 million tonnes of waste every year, much of which ends up in landfill.Around the country, it's getting more e...
What can you do about chemicals on toys?
04 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
A new report out of Europe has shown that a few big name companies are creating children's toys that have harmful levels of chemicals on them.It's ob...
Making the energy transition fair and equitable
04 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Where we get our power from is changing as more renewables feed into the energy grid.There's been a massive uptake of rooftop solar and the governmen...
What's the best money you can spend on your kids?
04 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We're told it's getting harder to raise kids, amid a cost of living crunch. But that isn't what the numbers show. New research shows having kids is ...
Your 'gluten intolerance' might not be what you think it is
03 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
If you've been diagnosed with coeliac disease, skipping gluten isn't a trend – it's a medical must. But for everyone else who swears they're "glut...
What needs to change for e-bikes to be safe for kids?
03 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
There are plenty of benefits to power-assisted pedal bikes, or "e-bikes", they're great for commuting or touring a new town. But not all e-bikes are...
The book that changed Kate Reid's life
03 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We're asking some notable readers to tell me about the book that changed their life. This week it's Formula 1 engineer and baking icon Kate Reid, and...
Are your prettiest holiday pics actually from your favourite holiday?
03 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Was your most picture-perfect holiday also your best holiday?Science says we tend to conflate the two. So, why do perfect holiday photos make us fee...
Why is lunch a growing challenge for Australian schools?
02 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In Australian primary schools, many tuckshops are struggling, teachers are paying for kids' lunches out of their own pockets, and some public primary...
What do new aged care reforms mean for those in care?
02 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We trust the aged care system to care for our loved ones as if they were family. That's why the stories of abuse and neglect uncovered during the Age...
Concerns about children's data on daycare apps
02 Nov 2025
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...
Ask Aunty: Can I ask my grandkids to ditch the tablets?
30 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
If the grandkids are over, it seems like you should be the ones setting the rules about screen-time, but what if the kids aren’t on board, and thei...
Russ Harris: How to stop worrying and "start living"
30 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Author of the international bestseller The Happiness Trap: Stop Struggling, Start Living, Dr Russ Harris says ruminating, over-thinking and worrying ...
Should Australia commercialise national parks?
29 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
For many people, a trip to a national park involves loading up the car, then setting up a tent, grabbing drinks out of cooler ... and hoping you've r...
Ask Aristotle: Is it ethical to create AI clones of the deceased?
29 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Suzanne Somers was one of the biggest TV stars of the 1980s and 1990s... starring on sitcoms like Three's Company and Step by Step.She also made a na...
Why are we so obsessed with the weather?
29 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The Bureau of Meteorology has revamped its website and to say that people have strong opinions is an understatement.Whether you like or loathe it, th...
Sleep wearables: Do you roll out of bed and check your data?
28 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
If your head hits the pillow and you're out like a light each night... good luck to you. For many people, sleep is a little more complex.And for more...
From grainy filters to AI bots: 15 years of Instagram
28 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
It might be hard to believe but one of the biggest social media platforms Instagram turned 15 years old this month.From the carefree days of grainy f...
Shane Jenek, aka Courtney Act, on dealing with "outrage culture"
28 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In 2003, Courtney Act made a splash as a contestant on the first season of Australian Idol.And since then Australia's most famous drag queen has a st...
The Seven Rules of Trust with Wikipedia co-founder Jimmy Wales
27 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Jimmy Wales might not have the name recognition of Mark Zuckerberg or Elon Musk, but his invention has been just as influential to the history of the...
Childcare in crisis: How can we keep our kids safe?
27 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
A chilling Four Corners investigation has revealed how paedophiles are exploiting Australia's broken childcare system.As summer approaches and some c...
How to know if you're eligible to make a claim in massive Facebook payout
27 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Did you have a Facebook account around 2013? If you did... you may be eligible for compensation from its parent company Meta as part of a landmark $...
What happens when a price tag is tailored just for you?
26 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We’re used to prices changing based on demand, from rideshare surges on a Friday night to airline bookings during peak holiday periods.But now ther...