Life Matters - Separate stories podcast: Recent Episodes

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Life Matters is your guide to contemporary Australian life. Be part of rich conversations on relationships, family, parenting, education, work, health and consumer issues.

Since the days of the Roman Empire, when soldiers exercised before battle, stretching has been used to decrease chance of injury. But new research shows the greatest benefit of stretching could be in the way it works to calm the body’s stress response. Professor of Health Sciences Tony Blazevich talks us through the best way to make that happen for you.

Coaches can play a big role in your life, and push you to be your best. Colin Fraser has an athletics trophy he won thanks to a special mentor.

Before he was feted, or vilified, Peter Singer was just a young Australian grad student, sitting down to eat a spaghetti and meat sauce lunch with a fellow student. What happened at that lunch that led to the publication of the book that made him a household name, Animal Liberation? And, nearly 50 years on, as he publishes a new edition of that seminal text, why is he more optimistic about our environmental future than ever before?

As parents, many of us put a lot of emphasis in building our kids' independence, toughness and… insert cringe here... resilience. But what about their ability to be gentle, caring, communicative and kind? In the push to make all our kids strong, and to encourage girls to play trucks, do STEM and speak up, social worker Jess Sanders wonders if we have forgotten to also value and reward the expression of these softer traits in both boys and girls. She explores the power of sensitivity in her new book Your softness is your strength.

A recent survey from Roy Morgan has found that Australians' trust in corporations is at the lowest it's been since measuring began five years ago. "Greedy", "corrupt" and "a lack of professional integrity" were just some of the sentiments being expressed about our corporate sector. Why are so many of us feeling negative towards businesses? And what would it take to restore your trust? We find out with Professor Carl Rhodes, Dean of Business at UTS, and Swinburne Law School Industry Fellow Helen Bird.

Casual chats in the supermarket might not seem like much, but they can be a lifeline for someone experiencing loneliness. However, as technology continues to replace more and more workers, those casual encounters are becoming less frequent. Dr Louise Grimmer and Dr Michelle Lim explore whether having 'chatty checkouts' could help those experiencing loneliness.

When Andrea came to Australia for a working holiday from Italy more than a decade ago he found a job, got a working visa, met someone special, had a son, and made plans to stay.

But before his application for permanent residency could be finalised, Andrea and his partner broke up and he was made redundant.

So, when his son was eighteen months old, Andrea was told he had 28 days to leave the country.

Now, after years of short term visas and appeals, a decision by the Minister seems to be the only path left to remain with his son.

More of us are living in apartments, and that's good for housing affordability, and sustainability.

But when you buy an apartment, you may miss the part about just how connected your financial future is with that of the other owners, and the potential for conflict that can cause.

Guests:

Karen Stiles, Executive Director, Owners Corporation Network

Stephen Goddard, 30 year specialist in strata law at Goddard Solicitors

Doing something that isn't work can add a lot of joy and wellbeing benefits to our lives, but "unproductive" leisure activities are also the first on the chopping block when our other responsibilities pile up.In our work-centric world, serious leisure takes a back seat, but maybe that needs a re-think. We look at how to make space for hobbies, how to find one you'll stick with, and why you shouldn't skimp on this kind of 'you-time' with Act-Belong-Commit campaign founder Dr Rob Donovan and Charles Sturt University's Dr Yazdan Mansourian.

You work for a company in an industry that is obsessed with thinness, diet and fitness culture. You don't buy into it, but you can't avoid getting side-eye and snarky comments from your colleagues when you bring in certain foods for lunch. It's making you feel frustrated, but as the outlier, you're worried that saying something might hurt your job prospects. Do you speak up and try and change things from within, ignore the comments, or try and find a new job? We tease it out with comedians Kirsty Webeck and Rich Higgins from The Listies.Every Friday we challenge our guests with a dilemma from your 'too hard basket' - to discuss, unravel, and maybe even help solve for you. Send your dilemma via email to lifematters@abc.net.au. Keep it to 150 words and you can always use another name.

What sparks desire is different for everyone, and it can change over time. In new relationships it might not take much to get in the mood for sex, but spontaneous desire can slip away. Clinical sexologist Tanya Koens, shares her tips on ways we can stay connected with our bodies and in tune with what turns us on as we age.

If you thought humans were the only creatures with a handle on numbers, think again. Plenty of animals can count, or at least seem to be able to. Unlike baby pandas sneezing or cats riding robot vacuums, the way some animals count isn't just a quirky internet video trick. According to cognitive neuroscientist Dr Brian Butterworth, animal counting could shed light on how human minds manage maths, and break new ground in treating learning disorders.

Ruth Venables married into The Pinto family, who came to Australia from East Timor.Her precious object is a cup - a trophy bearing the name of the Pinto family matriarch, Donna Fernanda Pinto.

'Medical gaslighting' is when a patient's concerns are unfairly dismissed or incorrectly labelled as psychological by their doctor. A growing body of research shows this is more likely to happen to women and people of colour, resulting in delayed or incorrect diagnosis. If you think this is happening to you, there are things you can do.Guests:Maureen Williams, patient advocate who lives with Addisons Disease and consultant researcher specialising in diagnostic error and cognitive biasDr Mary Dahm, Senior Research fellow at the ANU Institute for Communication in Health CareDr Fatima Khan, medical doctor who runs her own menopause clinic and teaches medical students at the Epworth Hospital in Melbourne

Tom Taylor has written stories for the biggest names in comics, shaping new futures for figures like Superman and Wolverine.But it's a very different set of heroes that's had critics singing his praise.Taylor's Neverlanders, a reimagining of the story of Peter Pan and the lost ones, has become the first graphic novel to be awarded the CBCA's Book of the Year for Older Readers.So is the literary establishment opening its arms? And does it even matter what the awards say, if the work is loved by readers?

Last week Australia Post announced a $200 million dollar loss, its first since 2015. And the CEO, Paul Graham, has warned that the organisation will need significant government funding if major changes aren't made.But what is the role of the postal service in Australia today? And is it still possible to balance the finances of a business with the community service obligations of a public service?

Mandy Partridge's story goes back to her days at university, and her involvement in student theatre. The precious object is a poster for a play called 'Hijacker'.

Australia is known for its banter, and it certainly has its place. But sometimes we need to have those deeper conversations. This is sometimes where men can struggle. Often men feel unable to open up about their feelings, to show vulnerability, but this is something Dylan Buckley is hoping to change through his book Honest Chat.

Leaving high school can be a moment of great excitement and sometimes great stress.Suddenly you're meant to know what you want to do with your life and what the steps are to get there.At the same time, the structure and routine you're used to vanishes overnight.For people with an intellectual disability it's the same big transition, but is there enough support to help them reach the same milestones that many of us take for granted?

No matter how few or how small, dentists say tiny teeth need looking after in the early stages of life.With a senate committee examining access to dental health services for the community at large, we look at what more can be done to improve care for children.

Have you ever bought something thinking you knew what it was for, and then later discovered it was for something else entirely? Benita Cattalini's chair wasn't for barbering.

Doodling might seem like idle distraction, but aimlessly putting pen to paper can be great for your mental health.Research has shown doodling can improve focus, mood and memory. So how do you get over the fear of failure and get started?

What makes you pick up a book? Do you get seduced by the cover? Rely on recommendations from a friends? Or would you part with your money based on the author endorsement on the cover?Author endorsements have become an essential part of the publicity machine, but should we trust the puff? Author, Kate Mildenhall, shares her thoughts on the practice.

More than 2 million Australians saw a psychologist in the past year, but very few of us understand how much therapy is enough. We look at when it's time to go it alone and how to end that deep and peculiar relationship with your therapist.

You have a coworker in your team who is a huge pain in meetings. Every time he has the floor, he waffles for ages to show off everything he knows about the topic, and ends up wasting everyone's time. You want to run a brainstorming meeting, but you want to keep it to the point, and you're worried this colleague won't be able to. Do you exclude him? Or find a way to keep him in line? We hash it out with comedians Amy Hetherington and Ben Russell.

Is there a right or wrong way to spend our weekends?It's hard to know if we should use them to get on top of jobs, or treat them like a holiday, especially if your loved ones have very different ideas about how weekends should be spent. Psychotherapist Dr Zoe Krupka shares her tips on how we can get the most out of those precious days.

You’re in the meeting from hell and feeling like you’re going to explode.

Well guess what? Nearly 2000 years ago, Marcus Aurelius faced similar frustrations, and author Annie Lawson argues that what greatly helped him was Stoic philosophy.

She says that by mastering the art of stoicism you could be as successful at handling workplace annoyances as Aurelius was at ruling an empire.

Guest: Annie Lawson, author of Stoic at Work

Rhonda Garad's brother took his own life one night 40 years ago when he was only 18.

Her precious object is a mohair jumper he was wearing the last time she saw him.

We think of domestic violence as something that only affects adults, but new research shows it’s also common in teenage relationships. What can parents do if they suspect their child is being abused? And what do young people think should be done about this growing issue? We explore with ABC TOP 5 Humanities resident Dr Carmel Hobbs and Sex Education Australia's Justine Kiely-Scott.

The economic system around us can feel inevitable, as much a part of the fabric of the universe as gravity and about as changeable. But the choices we make about what we value, and how we value it — as individuals, as communities, and as countries — aren't actually set in stone. The system we have now has been the result of decades or centuries of decisions, slowly leading to this moment. In his new book, Hoodie Economics, Jack Manning Bancroft argues it's time to take a fresh look at what we value and how we value it.

It's been seven years since medicinal cannabis was first legalised in Australia and its use has become increasingly common, with almost three hundred thousand prescriptions made over the past two years.

But as more Australians are being prescribed the drug, are workplace regulations and other laws keeping pace?

Several states are in the process of reviewing their road laws, but recent reporting suggests that workers in some industries feel like they are having to choose between their medication and their job.

Honey might be an Aussie breakfast staple, but have you ever thought about what we can learn about our environment from the flavour of honey? Whether it comes from an urban backyard beekeeper or from a regional coastal area, honey often holds surprising clues about its home environment.

When we're somewhere beautiful it's natural to want to capture the moment. But some selfie hunters are ignoring signs and jumping barriers to capture the perfect shot. What impact does this have on the environment when many signs and barriers are in place to protect endangered flora and fauna? We speak with researcher, Sam Cornell, about his work looking into this issue.

Incentives and surcharges related to private health cover are under review, and some people who pay for private health insurance aren't even using it.

Is the current funding model fit for purpose, and do taxpayer funds and incentives directed to private health insurers help take pressure off the public system?

Street photography has the potential to capture the special and sometimes surprising moments of everyday life. But now that we all have a camera in our pocket, is it still possible to find our own perspective on the world? The celebrated photographer Vineet Vohra shares his tips for exploring a familiar street with a fresh eye.

When it comes to presentation and manner, Australians are pretty casual, and more of the world is following suit. Employees are pushing back against formal dress codes in workplaces, and formal dress is necessary in fewer social settings. So are we losing anything by dropping the formalities? How does our presentation change the way we relate to each other, and ourselves?

It's not just younger people who struggle with body image. Our relationship with our bodies can become fraught as we age, but it doesn't have to be that way. We look at how to feel good in your body as it matures, and find vitality at every age with The Embrace Collective's Dr Zali Yager and Associate Professor Eyal Gringart, an expert in older body image at Edith Cowan University.

You have just fallen pregnant and have been very excited to share the big news with your family, but you've decided to wait until after your sister's wedding. When the big day comes, people start guessing about it and your news becomes hard to hide. You tell a few family members in private, and now your sister is furious. She's no longer speaking to you, and you want to mend things before your new family member arrives. What do you do? Comedians Adam Rozenbachs and Mish Wittrup hash out this dilemma.

How do you feel about your favourite star and what would you do to show your devotion to them? Would you hand over a month's wages to see them in concert? Or get a tattoo? We look at the benefits of fandom, and how we can draw identity and community from our idols with psychologist, Chris Cheers, who shares his love for Dolly Parton.

For those that struggle with mental illness, and their loved ones, the journey to diagnosis can be a long and difficult one. Vicky Paras tells the story of a pink lacy bra she received from her daughter.

'Cult' is a label that's usually only applied from the outside. The groups themselves claim to offer a vision of community and a better way of life.

But if that sense of community gives way to hierarchy and control, what happens next?

What draws people to cults? What keeps them there? And how can they find their way back out?

Anke Richter has spent a decade looking into these questions and the result is a new book, Cult Trip

Do you have time to just sit and relax? Or are you always bouncing from one deadline to the next?

Many of us are taught to value ourselves by our productivity, so against that backdrop, what does it mean to rest?

Tricia Hersey, the founder of the Nap Ministry and author of Rest Is Resistance, wants us to reclaim the right to take a break: not because it will recharge us to do more work, but because rest should be a fundamental right.

Once upon a time in Australia, if you went into a pub you'd have two or three beers to choose from.

Now there's an enormous range: pilsners; lagers; stouts; IPAs, each with their own flavour notes.

But what makes any given beer taste and feel the way it does?

Dr Matthew Fielding has been working with brewers to find out what happens when you make a few small changes to a batch, all in the name of science.

One in six pregnant women will be diagnosed with gestational diabetes. And for those women, the diagnosis can dominate the pregnancy and birth. But some experts are worried that we're over-diagnosing the condition, and making medical interventions that may be doing more harm than good. We speak with Professor Paul Glasziou and mum Roxy Boubis.

Making a bet on a horse race or a sporting match might seem harmless at first. But for some it can be part of a pattern of behaviour that ruins lives. A new scheme called BetStop came into effect this week and it's aiming to help problem gamblers block themselves from betting on the phone and online.

Do you feel like you recognise your younger self? Or do you think you've changed? Turns out our personalities aren't as fixed as we'd previously thought. There's a growing body of evidence that our personalities shift as we reach our 60s, and again as we reach the end of our lives. Hear from personality experts Professor Brent Roberts and Associate Professor Tim Windsor about how you might change, and how you can tweak your personality to thrive in later life.

You have a friend who is a serial flake. You've spent years dealing with delayed text message replies and last minute cancellations, and it's starting to get exhausting.

Do you look back on your high school years with fondness or would you rather forget them? High school reunions can be a great opportunity to reconnect with teenage friends, but they can also fill us with trepidation. So how can we make the most of them and steer clear of any awkward moments?

The law of the land usually refers to rules laid down by lawmakers in Parliament House.

But for the Yolngu people, the phrase has a deeper meaning: a connection with Country that's shaped the law across generations.

A new documentary, Luku Ngarra, shares the story of Reverend Dr Djiniyini Gondarra, a civil rights activist, spiritual leader, and Yolngu lawman who, for decades, has fought for the recognition of Yolngu law.

Superheroes are big business these days, dominating our movie screens as the major players compete to create the next big spectacle.

So as the form of storytelling becomes more important, what does it mean to see yourself reflected in those heroes? Or in the creators working behind the scenes?

Cleverman garnered critical acclaim in recent years, but it was decades earlier when the first Australian Indigenous superhero took to the screen in ABC's Basically Black.

Blak Power, an exhibition at the Darwin Festival, showcases the work of more than a dozen artists from over the years.

When Frank Spry was a small child, he and his three siblings were placed in the Retta Dixon Home, a place that became notorious for the mistreatment of the children who lived there.

In a new work with his son David, they are sharing the story of his childhood in Kingadong, the trauma of being taken away, and the triumph of spirit that has seen Frank become a powerful advocate for human rights.

How does chef Adam Liaw divvy up the domestic load at his place? The gender wars of household chores is something that plagues families, and the invisible labour that comes with kids can tear couples apart. How does he do it with three kids?

Taxes might theoretically be avoidable for some, but not life's other great leveller. Hayley Campbell is a journalist and author who decided to explore death from the standpoint of people whose job it is to care for the dead and dying - what's it like to be part of that almost invisible world?

The Matildas have been powering through the Women's World Cup tournament, winning over new fans and inspiring kids all over to take up football. But what does it take to parent an elite athlete? There's a lot of pressure and sacrifice, and chances of 'making it' are slim. Is it worth it? And how do you keep your child happy through it all? With Steve Titmus, journalist and father of Olympic gold medallist Ariarne Titmus and Professor Richard Keegan, High Performance Sports Fellow, University of Canberra.

Music can evoke many emotions. It can bring a party to life, and it can soothe a broken heart. But can sound heal? Some people believe that sound baths can help reduce stress and even ease physical pain. But what exactly is a sound bath? And is there any science behind the practice?

Paris has undertaken a massive clean up effort to make the Seine river ready to host Olympic swimming events in 2024. But it's just one in a big wave of cities cleaning up their rivers. We look at how Australia is tracking, when we'll be able to take a dip in our own urban waterways and the benefits of swimming next to the skyline.

Food poisoning can be debilitating and in some cases, even fatal. So how can you help figure out what made you ill, and help a 'food detective' take that information and solve your case?

Tracey Edstein's rolltop desk belonged to her grandfather and was part of the family stonemasonry business for decades. She has kept the desk, as well as some of the mysterious objects from it's many drawers and compartments.

Most of the time, the listening we do is purely functional. But what happens when we make time to listen for pleasure, to listen with purpose and to listen deeply? What do more conscious listening experiences provide us? And how can we make more time for them in our lives?

Your someone who tries to stay positive when it comes to your outlook on life. Lately, you've noticed whenever you spend time with this mate of yours, you always come away feeling down in the dumps. He complains about everything! What do you do? Can you salvage this friendship?

When is it safe to let your child meet a friend without you there? How old should they be before going on social media? And what can we do if our partner disagrees on how much independence they should have? For many parents it's hard to know when to give a child more independence. But there are ways to know when they're ready for more responsibility.

Every day there are conversations that dominate the airwaves and social media. But are we missing some of the big ideas that really matter?

Untold at the Darwin Festival is bringing together a range of Indigenous creative and cultural leaders for some conversations that might not have been widely heard, but should be.

After decades fighting for its creation, a new aged care facility designed by Aboriginal elders has opened its doors in north-east Arnhem Land.

The Yutjuwala Djwarr centre allows elders to stay on country and in their community, and features include a traditional ceremony space, bush medicine plants, and even a rescue dog.

What can we learn from the success of this facility, and how can similar features be implemented in aged care centres around the country?

School can be tricky for many children, but can we be too quick to think changing schools will make things better? With good parent and teacher communication, can issues often be ironed out? What things should you consider before changing your child's school? And, without proper consideration, is there a risk the same problems will arise in the new school?

Nothing seems more Australian than eating fish and chips, but it's likely the fish being served to you isn't Australian at all and you wouldn't even know it. Right now, hospitality venues don’t have to label the fish they're serving. But, depending on the outcome of a federal consultation process which has just wrapped up, that may soon be changing.

How do we understand ourselves in relation to our family, our communities and our work?

Social worker Erin Riley interrogates how they have created and recreated their identity through their sexuality, their gender and their personal politic. They unpick the ways they have sought justice for themselves by rejecting narratives placed onto them.

Two Australian astronomers have had asteroids named after them in recognition of their work helping us better understand the universe. Professor, Jonti Horner, shares what it feels like to have his named immortalised in space and talks about how space exploration continues to transform life here on earth.

There's a new drug treatment on the horizon for those diagnosed with post-partum depression in the USA. Here's what we know about this illness, and the way we support those who are diagnosed with perinatal depression in Australia.

Everyday items can form part of strong memories, particularly if you've used them with beloved family members. Marysia Crisafio's cups were once used to share coffee with her relatives in Poland.

This year marks a decade since the national apology for Australia's forced adoption practices, but some of those affected believe that justice has never truly been served.

Right now, there's a parliamentary inquiry in WA investigating this history, a redress scheme in the pipeline in Victoria, and a push for changes to the rules about who can contact whom. What would it take to heal the wounds of forced adoption?

You have this footy friend who is a semi-professional athlete. He has a public profile so he has two social media accounts: one for the public, and one just for mates.

The other day, you saw that he'd used his private account to write some hurtful comments on a post from your local footy club's women's team. You're shocked because he's so supportive and encouraging about women's sport in person.

How do you confront him about it?

The line between our work life and our home life has become increasingly blurred. And rarely do our work worries disappear as soon as we arrive home. However, left unchecked, work stress can have a huge impact on our home life, our loved ones and our own mental and physical wellbeing. So are there ways to contain our worries and draw clear boundaries around our work and home life?

Ben Shewry is the head chef and owner of the internationally renowned Melbourne-based restaurant, Attica.

Ben is a man who strives for excellence in everything he does, and at the top of that list is being a dad. But how do you divorce with excellence, and impact your kids with as little negativity as possible?

As the world becomes increasingly digitised, writing by hand can seem totally archaic. But research shows that, putting pen to paper brings far more cognitive benefit than is often assumed. What might happen if handwriting becomes a lost art?

The founders of narrative medicine, which has recently arrived in Australia, argue that teaching doctors how to write would not just make them better listeners but would greatly improve the quality of the healthcare we receive.

There's a question often levelled at survivors of sexual assault: "why didn't you report it?" There are plenty of factors that keep survivors from speaking up and seeking justice, no matter what age they were or how long ago the abuse happened, from shame, to re-traumatisation, and the difficulty of getting a conviction. But when a win comes, it can be transformative. We look at the road to justice and how it is changing.

Libraries are havens for many of us: places where we can indulge our imagination, learn about the world around us and about ourselves.

For Daniel, it was a space that helped to save him as a teenager. When he was coming out about his sexuality and looking for answers, the librarians provided the books and the emotional support that he needed.

What do we consider a virtue today? It's worlds away from the moral model of even the recent past. What we consider indicators of good character in the 21st Century - authenticity, vulnerability, self-acceptance, might make us feel better, but according to author Lucinda Holdforth, they might also be failing our democracy.

The CFMEU says a tax on 'super profits' could help us build enough social and affordable homes to fix the housing crisis. Meanwhile, the federal government is trying to pass legislation that would see individual taxpayers contributing. Should corporate entities be doing more?

The exercise books Nick Hughes' father wrote during his time as an emergency dentist in World War II are now in a museum.

You work closely with this couple so you invited them to your wedding. You get on well but lately there have been a few disagreements at work and you find yourself slowly beginning to despise the way they both work. You really regret inviting them to your special day.

What do you do? Do you have to suck it up and have them as guests? Or is there a way out of it?

Friends are often the ones that see us through life’s ups and downs, celebrating or commiserating with us. But they can also teach us valuable lessons. From the friends who we grew up with, to those who help us negotiate adult life. What do friendships teach us?

Talking to our little ones in baby talk can feel like a silly indulgence, but, according to a new study, baby talk may play an essential role in brain development. The subject of the research? Dolphin parents and their bubs.

As a teacher at a Christian school, Steph Lentz had preached against homosexuality. Then, she began a passionate affair with a woman from church. After coming out to her school, not only was Steph fired, but she was forced to ask herself: could she be gay and still be a 'true Christian'?

While the Women’s World Cup takes the region by storm, we learn how the hard, unpaid, foundational work of sports administrators paved the way for women in sport.

Whether it's listening to birds sing or feeling your skin tingle as you dive into cold water, our five senses can bring great joy to our lives.

But, in all the hustle and bustle, it's easy to forget to stop and smell the roses and the sensations of the world begin to fade into the background as we go from task to task.

For Gretchen Rubin, it took a reminder that those senses aren't always permanent to help her stop and appreciate all that they brought her, and now she's sharing her tips on reconnecting with the world.

Is Australia’s domestic violence prevention broken? Five women have allegedly been killed by a current or former partner in the space of two weeks in Australia.

We know men’s violence against women is a national crisis, but how is it being prevented? And, why aren’t we seeing the rates of these murders decrease?

Can a country town survive without a pub? Pubs are more than just places to get a drink. In small towns, pubs act as community centres, event spaces, general stores and even post offices. So how did the pub become rural community hubs, and what happens to a town when the pub shuts up shop?

What happens to all your stuff when you're gone? If you haven't thought about it, it might be time to. While it might seem daunting de-cluttering for the end of life, for some, experts say it can be a freeing ritual that also helps loved ones out. We look at how to make death cleaning a part of your end of life ritual, and the role material things play in grief.

Childcare fees have been on the rise for a while, but have gone up again in the past few weeks. At the same time, the federal government's rebates for parents increased on July 10. So what's happening for parents who were hoping childcare fees would become more affordable?

Jen Coughran has lost two really important people in her life, but from that is a close connection and association with butterflies.

The Victorian Government cited a massive cost blowout when it withdrew from hosting the 2026 Commonwealth Games: they said the price tag had gone up from $2.6 billion to more than $7 billion.

And no other Australian state has put up their hand to take on the event.

Meanwhile, the Women's World Cup is drawing record crowds, and it received over 200 Million dollars in government support.

Are those investments worth it? What do these giant sporting events contribute to our economy, our culture, or our general good?

You have a friend who you've known for years, but he's the type of guy who never steps in to pay his fair share of the bill.

For relationships to work, people have to make sacrifices. And prioritising the needs of our partners or our families can also make us feel good. But the sacrifices we make have to be sustainable. So how can we make sure we get the balance right? And how can we meet the needs of others while also being mindful of our own needs?

A draft Israeli law proposes that parents who lose their sons in war should be able to access their son's sperm- using a medical procedure known as sperm retrieval- to create a 'future grandchild'. What are the ethical considerations at play? And could this happen here?

Like many people, Rachel Ward had felt frightened by the effects of climate change. And, like many people, she couldn't think what she could do that would be big enough to make a real difference.

Then, in the wake of the Black Summer bushfires, she heard about the idea of regenerative farming.

Ward and her family had owned a farm for decades, but it had always been managed by someone else. That was about to change.

Ward's new documentary, Rachel's Farm, tells the story of her work on the land, and the connections that came along the way.

Robogals founder Marita Cheng has long been on a mission to get more girls into engineering careers. Now she's telling her story with the help of generative AI.

What's driving our natural immune response into overdrive and making us ill? We look at how culture, lifestyle, inflammation and disease are linked, and what we can do to reclaim our health.

One Victorian council has eased regulations around tiny houses in a bid to address Australia’s housing crisis. They have removed permits for caravans, tiny houses and tents on properties that already have an existing dwelling and have placed no time limit on how long they can stay there. With overwhelming support from their local constituents, what can other councils learn from this? And, what role can tiny homes play in easing the current pressure on the housing market?

This week, parents across the country will be getting their children's latest NAPLAN results. In good news, due to a change in NAPLAN reporting, you'll see a more detailed breakdown of how their child is doing. In bad news, because of these changes, it’s likely your child has been assessed as doing worse than you thought. How should you navigate these results?

As the Hollywood strikes continue, some of your favourite TV and film franchises are set to be disrupted. But what does this all mean for the economics of the screen industry, and how we'll be watching and paying for content in the future?

You may listen to music at home through a sound bar or a blue tooth speaker. Laurie Dacy has a pair of hi-fi speakers.

Your best friend has recently divorced, and your mate has a new, much younger girlfriend. You don't want to spend time with her, so how do you manage to keep the friendship?

When was the last time you really connected with someone? Since the pandemic, the number of people experiencing loneliness has sky-rocketed. So why are so many of us feeling lonely and are there ways we can actively overcome feelings of isolation and disconnect?

Imagine a John Farnham-themed musical, in which three different John Farnhams travel back in time to teach you about their lives. Now imagine having a behind-the-scenes look at that show being produced by the students of a public school for neurodivergent kids in the outer suburbs of Melbourne. That is the spectacular storyline of a new film having its world premiere at MIFF.

How do you keep a whole life's memories in one place? Charlie Fearon tells this story about a box he found in his mum's bedside drawer, and what's inside it.

Mental health and mindfulness apps are one of the fastest growing sectors of the trillion dollar wellness market but how likely are they to do what they're promising? And could they actually make your symptoms worse?

When a bunch of blokes get together for a catch up, the topics of conversation might be sport, politics, the news.

It usually steers clear of anything that involves opening up and being vulnerable, but a group called The Mens Table is trying to change that, one table at a time.

It's assumed that younger people are more technologically proficient than their older colleagues, but research is shows this isn't always true. This assumption of mastery is leading to 'shame' among younger workers who struggle with older forms of technology at work. So how do we manage this knowledge gap, and who is responsible for overcoming it?

If you found out that someone you worked with was doing something seriously wrong, would you be prepared to go public about it?

Many people hope that the National Anti-Corruption Commission will expose misconduct in the highest places, but what happens to the people who expose that misconduct?

What protections should exist for those who blow the whistle?

There’s a revolution taking place in our suburbs and regions and it’s coming from the ground up. Grassroots community development is on the rise, and not just in Australia, Darwin recently played host to the World Community Development Conference which saw community builders from around the globe gather to share ideas. So, what is ‘community development’ and how do you do it?

The diamond ring has long been thought an essential part of getting engaged.

Traditional Indigenous names are becoming more widely used, and soon Cape Byron, and possibly the Blue Mountains, will carry dual-names.

So what are the benefits of dual-naming, or repatriating traditional place names, as part of healing and reconciliation?

Travel brings the opportunity of collecting things you love from another place and another time. For Catherine Campbell, her time in Africa included discovering a passion for sewing and sourcing fabrics.

"Robodebt was a crude and cruel mechanism, neither fair nor legal, and it made many people feel like criminals." That was the scathing assessment by Commissioner Catherine Holmes in her overview of the Royal Commission into the robodebt scheme.

In 2015 the Government introduced automated systems that averaged a person's yearly income and applied it against their fortnightly payments from Centrelink, generating many incorrect debt notices against those already struggling to make ends meet. The scheme continued until 2019 and led to a class action lawsuit, before the creation of the Royal Commission.

Now, after hundreds of hours of hearings, hundreds of thousands of documents, and the heartfelt testimony of the people affected, the findings of the Royal Commission have been released: including damning indictments of the scheme and 57 recommendations for the government and the public sector.

There's this guy on your futsal team who is really competitive. Last week it reached a breaking point where he got angry at my teammate for missing a goal. What do you do? Should you have a heart-to-heart with him letting him know how he makes us feel? Or do you ask your coach to speak to him?

Fear is a natural response to potential dangers, and can help keep us safe from harm. But some of life's biggest rewards come from taking risks.

So how can we know when to take note of our fear and when we should push through it? And how can we make sure fear doesn't prevent us from achieving our full potential?

When your relatives live far away and speak a different language to you, making a connection can be difficult.

Agnes Boskovitz found a way, through a set of books her Hungarian grandparents sent in the mail.

Throughout his childhood, Sam Drummond repeatedly had his legs broken and reset by surgeons to keep him walking.

He was also being raised by a single mum, and they were constantly struggling to pay the rent.

Now a disability advocate, Sam's written a book about that time in his life and everything his mum gave up just so he and his brother 'had a shot'.

Ultra processed foods (UPF’s) have been shown to be particularly bad for our bodies, but new research is showing that they could also be having a major impact on our minds. What is it about these delicious snacks that is so harmful? And is it possible to live without them?

To allow Indigenous men and women on the inside a chance to be heard, Melbourne based community radio station 3CR, have been broadcasting live from Victorian prisons during NAIDOC week each year since 2002.

As the cost of living continues to go up, donations to charity can go down. But is it more than just the recipients that lose out? Does charitable giving also enrich the lives of donors?

Do kids belong in public space? In some places, the answer is a resounding no. We explore the rights of children and families in public space, and how to strike balance with the right we all claim to 'the peace'.

Have you ever woken up at 3am, worried about something that you can't quite control? Or perhaps you've just been tense and irritable, lacking your usual reserves of kindness?

Anxiety is a common experience and, in its worst moments, can feel overwhelming, but it doesn't have to define who you are.

In her new book, Your Name Is Not Anxious, Stephanie Dowrick look at how we can care for ourselves in those moments when anxiety strikes.

Every adult Australian can vote in a referendum, but not all votes are counted equally. How much impact will the Northern Territory and Australian Capital Territory have when it comes to the vote count? And how did we get here?

As interest rates rise, owners of apartments and townhouses may be faced not only with increases in mortgage payments, but also an increase in strata levies. Is it possible to take control of these costs, and how might getting involved with your owners corporation or body corporate help?

The extension of the age pension access point to 67 years old on the 1st of July was the fourth and final rise in eligibility currently scheduled to occur.

But a report from Macquarie University suggests that it will need to be increased to 70 by 2050.

If you're healthy and enjoy your job, why wouldn't you keep going? But for those in a physically demanding or stressful career, working for more years is easier said than done.

Should age be the only thing that defines our access to the age pension, or do we need to think about other factors, like occupation and means testing?

Angela Smith treasures her aunt's jewellery box as a reminder of her adventurous spirit, as well as her story of love and loss.

You and your partner have a chores arrangement where he does the washing and you clean the cat litter. However, you were raised to follow laundry rules to the letter and he really doesn't care about that. Recently, he's ruined two pieces of your nice clothing. What should you do? Should you say something again? Or just give up and do it yourself?

We all need people in our lives who can love and support us. But, for some people, their families of origin might not be able to provide that. That's where 'chosen families' can come in. So how can we build stronger connections with people who share our values, understand our lived experience and make us feel at home?

More students are leaving school before graduating now than at any time in the last decade. What's causing this shift? And is our school system set up so all students have the best chance of making it all the way through?

Do you have someone in your life who doesn’t respect your boundaries, unsettles you and generally makes you feel terrible? This is what’s known as a 'difficult person'. But, there are ways to get them out of your life or to co-exist without them driving you insane.

If you've bought a life insurance policy, gone to your GP for a check-up, or signed up for a weight loss program, chances are you've had to calculate your BMI, and been categorised as underweight, healthy, overweight, or obese. Experts have long been speaking out about the flaws and harms of using the Body Mass Index to determine health. Now the tide looks to be turning.

Two of the world's richest men, tech giants Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg, have taken their rivalry beyond their profit margins and user numbers and challenged each other to a cage match. And as onlookers, we've been stunned and thrilled at the spectacle and absurdity. It seems so unnecessary, and yet the allure of a good old-fashioned fight is too powerful even for the world's most powerful. So why do men keep resorting to public violence to settle disputes, and why do people enjoy watching?

It’s been one year since the US Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v Wade. What effect has it had on reproductive justice here in Australia?

TikTok is the place you’d expect to see people galvanise to advocate for better death and dying laws, but increasingly the platform is proving popular for deeper content.

TikTok creator Ali Tate Cutler recently became a global sensation after sharing stories of terminally ill grandmother as they discuss her decision to end her life through euthanasia.

When Mary Louise Parkinson was a child, her family had a signed copy of Sir William Dobell's 'Storm Approaching Wangi' on the living room wall. She wonders where it is now.

What are your thoughts about psychedelic assisted therapy being available to treat some mental illnesses? If you were eligible, what would it take to make you feel safe?

Lately you've been using Chat GPT to help you do your work. It's streamlining your workflow so you're able to get through your work faster but you're left feeling guilty. Are you ethically obliged to tell your boss about your new work habits? Or can it be your little secret?

Every child is different. They each have different tolerance levels, different ways of communicating, different likes and dislikes. It's what makes them unique.

But it's also what makes parenting a challenge. So can we ever parent children exactly the same way? And if we find one child easier to parent, how can we avoid showing favouritism?

When Lisa Tannock lost her mother, she came across an envelope with her name on it, in her mother's handwriting. Should she open it?

Jaclyn Geller has been in a long-term relationship for many years. But she has no desire to prioritise her boyfriend above all the other significant relationships in her life. Jaclyn argues the institution of marriage is not fit for our modern lives, and it’s time we did away with it altogether.

Waiting lists for drug treatment programs have reached epic proportions. Advocates say this is because we're treating drug use as a crime rather than a health issue. And they are calling for a new national approach. What does that look like?

From starting high school to your first big party to the early steps of a career, our teenage years are about finding our place place in the world and beginning to make our mark. But what happens when the world as we know it shuts down?

As part of our COVID Kids series we've heard about the experience of infants and toddlers and, more recently, we explored how primary school students were affected.

Now, we're looking at the impact that the pandemic has had on teenagers, and how long that might last.

As photos of food have flooded the internet, the urge to share on social media has begun to shape how we experience our meals in real life.

Some restaurants have designed their dishes, their lighting, and their decor to let diners create the perfect shot. Others explicitly ask you to keep the phone in your pocket and stay in the moment.

How is this visual medium changing what we eat and the way we understand our relationship with food?

More people are claiming mental injury, such as depression, anxiety, and even PTSD because of toxic work cultures. How can we shift the conversation around workplace trauma, and take bad culture seriously?

As artificial intelligence, big data and algorithmic technologies develop, so too must online safety responses.

A growing number of people are opting to wash their clothes less to minimise their environmental impact and make their clothes last longer. We look at how to best care for our clothes, how we became obsessed with laundry, and how to wash less without sacrificing hygiene.

Max Healey was playing footy when he had a head clash with another player, but his symptoms didn't show up for two days. Recovery has been a longer than expected process.There are new guidelines for diagnosis and treatment of childhood concussion, and Max is on the road to recovery.

When Kirsten Tullis travelled to England and met her uncle for the first time, they discovered a beach stone in the shape of a fish. After he died, she held on to it.

When the bill to create the NDIS was first introduced, the Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, said that the scheme would "transform the lives of people with disability, their families and carers."

But with a major review currently under way, the Minister, Bill Shorten, has expressed concerns, stating that "the NDIS is not what it should be."

So how has the NDIS impacted people's lives ten years on?

While you've loved your first name your whole life, your second name - the one that belongs to your biological father - is causing you grief.

Exploring our own sexuality can take a back seat as we get older. The endless demands on our time can leave us with very little space or energy to explore what makes us feel good.

But can feeling sexy help boost our confidence and make us more outgoing? And could spending more time on ourselves, exploring our likes and dislikes, help make us feel more sexy?

COVID Kids is our four-part series exploring the impact of the global pandemic on children.

In part two we shine the spotlight on primary school children with Professor Frank Oberklaid, co-Chair of a working group tasked with developing the 2021 National Children's Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy.

He says research shows that COVID impacted the wellbeing of children but amplified already existing problems caused mainly by social media.

One in six older Australians has experienced elder abuse and for many, that abuse takes the form of financial exploitation. Older Australians are being robbed of millions every year at the hands of unscrupulous family members who abuse their power of attorney. We look at how planning ahead with people you trust can be key to protecting yourself later in life.

The consequences of climate change are playing out in real time, and we’re seeing the growing toll it’s taking on the mental health of Australians. Are we reaching a new peak of climate distress? What can we do about climate change apathy?

It may seem like living longer is the latest in a long set of goals you're being asked to achieve. But should having a meaningful and happier life, no matter the duration, be a more desirable goal? And what helps that happen?

In men's fashion in Australia over the 20th Century, one style rises above everything else.

But how did the suit become the standard for business dress and respectability for so many decades?

And will it continue to survive into the modern age?

Interest in testosterone replacement therapy has shot up for men of all ages, particularly those under 45, many of whom are seeking help with low libido, mood and fatigue. But is more testosterone really the solution? What happens when you take more than you need?

Jewellery can carry such a powerful connection for the person wearing it, especially when it comes from family. Nooria Ranjbar has a special necklace with her name on it.

Your opinion of Australia's health care system may come down to where, exactly, you live.

If you're in the city, you usually have access to specialists, hospitals, GPs, and allied health. It may not always be cheap, or immediate, or local, but it is available. When you head out to rural, regional, and remote Australia, that story changes.

What is that experience like - of receiving and providing healthcare in regional and remote Australia?

Online influencers like Andrew Tate, Jordan Peterson and Joe Rogan are getting into the heads of young men who are feeling alienated by the term 'toxic masculinity'.

How do we make sure our young boys and men, are doing alright, and taking on healthy ideas about what it is to be a man?

Recently you're finding your friend's online presence is becoming further and further away from the person you know and love. Can you say something?

We all have things we feel guilty about. Sometimes we feel guilt because we think we've let ourselves down, sometimes because we think we've let down others.

But how can we use guilt to make positive changes in our lives? And how can we make sure it doesn't overwhelm us?

We’ve all heard of post-high school gap years, but these days lots of people are taking adult gap years. For actor Rachael Coopes, that involved leaving behind her stable life and soul mate to study with French master clown Philippe Gaulier.

Goodness, like beauty, can be in the eye of the beholder and, also like beauty, the expectations are often gendered.

All of her life, Elise Loehnen had tried to live up to the ideal of the model women that she'd been taught: smart, but modest; hard working, but considerate.

Over time, those pressures became too much, and Elise set out to understand the price she was paying to be perceived as good.

The ATO has announced a major crackdown to make sure everyone is paying the tax they owe. How might the ATO's crackdown affect you? And what should you know when it comes to filling out your tax return?

Australians are leading the world in adopting solar energy, but that fast uptake is leading to an oversupply of power and teething problems in the grid. So how does our energy system need to change to make solar work fairly for everyone?

For over 2000 generations, First Nations people have lived by sophisticated laws shared with future generations through story, music, art and dance.

Australians aren't the most liberal when it comes to talking about sex, especially experiences outside the cisgender, heterosexual, monogamous norm. So what made Australia so prudish? And how do we take a more live and let live approach to other people's sex lives? Polyamorous author Paul Dalgarno has experienced that prudish judgement first-hand, and explores its harsh impacts in his new book Prudish Nation.

The PwC scandal has put the practice of using consultants into sharp focus. What role should they play in government, and in the business world?

Today, the babies born at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic are hitting the developmental milestones of toddlers: growing in vocabulary, progressing physically and gaining independence.We know that the first five years of a child’s life are critical for laying the foundations for healthy development, so what impact did the pandemic have on this, if any?

Your cousin's husband has passed away and you step in to help clear out his belongings. You were happy to help out but now you're left with a huge pile of their stuff in your home.

What expectations were put on you growing up? Was it assumed that you would do well in school? Or was academic achievement not a priority?

For broadcaster, DJ and author, Linda Marigliano, her parents set a high bar. As a result, she's gone on to have a hugely successful career. But is there a cost to always trying to live up to someone's expectations?

Greg Mahney still has his late wife Trenna's iPad, which she used to record the history of her life.

As an Aussie writer living in New York with the man she loved, Alexandra Collier had the dream life. Until, she wakes up with ‘baby fever’. And, her partner doesn’t feel the same. But, as the relationships ends, a new possibility opens up — becoming an SMBC (a solo mum, by choice).

Ten years ago Brad Guy was on top of the world, literally. Then a tandem skydive ended very, very badly. While it's been an extremely challenging road since then, Brad's story is ultimately one of hope.

Spending time in the garden can be a great way to step away from the daily grind and reconnect with nature. But for those without the space to build a garden outdoors, what's the best way to bring nature into the home?

Up to 470,000 people in Australia live with dementia, and around 70 per cent of them may go missing at least once, some multiple times. It can be a dangerous and confronting experience, and it's common. Yet, most of us would not know what to do if we found someone in a confused state, or lost track of a loved one, so we explore how to help them get home safe.

In 2019, Naarm-based musician and artist Jen Cloher toured Aotearoa for the first time. They had always known they were Māori on their mother’s side, but this trip had a profound impact on them.

Australians get rid of tonnes of hard waste every year, a large amount of which is repairable and reusable. Hard rubbish rescue communities have been springing up to trawl nature strips and rehome functional items, but relying on good folks on Facebook might not be the most sustainable way of creating a much-needed reuse economy. So who should be responsible for reducing hard waste?

The way you see yourself in relation to others online can affect your levels of body dissatisfaction and your mental health, especially if you're a young person.As the Federal Government invests $70 million to address the rise in childhood mental health conditions and eating disorders, we explore innovative interventions that can also help.

How do we choose what to pass down through the generations and what to let go? And how do we think beyond our own lives: to keep future generations in mind with the decisions we make?

What does it mean to keep culture and knowledge alive and to celebrate the wisdom we've learnt along the way?

You suffer from coeliac disease and you attend a dinner party where the host serves you gluten.

Many of us are living longer and healthier lives but as a society do we still pigeonhole older people? What are the things we gain and lose during the passage of time? How can we get the most out of ageing? And is it time that societal attitudes caught up?

Volunteering can seem like a one way street: a person giving up their time for the good of an organisation or a cause. But for some people, volunteering can be a chance to connect with their community or find a sense of purpose that might otherwise be missing.So is volunteering a positive step for our own mental health?

With the madness of daily life, who doesn’t want to find a few extra hours in the day? But artist and best-selling author Jenny Odell says, if we’re trying to be more productive, we may be chasing the wrong goal. Instead, she suggests looking for purpose outside the world of work, deadlines and to-do-lists and changing the way we think about time altogether.

Australia is home to around 3,700 people who have lived to the age of 100 and beyond. An intergenerational art project has been partnering teenagers with centenarians to paint their portrait for a travelling exhibition which culminates in Canberra.

What does it mean to have a good life? And, at the end, what does it mean to have a good death?A new documentary, Live the Life You Please, is taking a look at what that question means for different people, and how palliative care can open up options beyond the hospital bed.

In this month's Federal budget, the government announced it would fund a 15% wage increase for aged care workers. Now the childcare worker's union, feeling snubbed, are calling for a 25 per cent wage increase. Will this set a new precedent?

How does motherhood impact creativity? And, why are they so often purported as mutually exclusive pursuits? Two parents speak about how their creative practices have changed since having kids.

Whether it's a new jacket or investing in solar panels, lots of us are using Buy Now Pay later products. Consumer protections and regulation are just catching up with an industry that's transforming consumer credit.Assistant Federal Treasurer Stephen Jones has finally announced a plan for the sector. Do they have the right mix? And how will it affect you as a consumer?

Watching shows about the homes of the rich and famous, or browsing luxe listings outside our budgets has been a modern obsession for some time. So how does an obsession with housing excess reflect our circumstances, and is a backlash on the horizon?

Sue Wighton bought her guitar from another musician. It's even more precious to her, because of who played it, and where it's been played.

You can find pretty much anything on the Internet. That's been perhaps its greatest success, but also one of its biggest challenges.The Australian government is currently considering the introduction of an age verification system to restrict access to explicit material online.But how much power does any one government have over the internet, and is a healthy balance possible between an open internet and government regulation?

You're standing at a busy intersection waiting for the lights to change. In front of you is a dog owner whose dog does a big sloppy poo. She reaches down and picks up half of the dog's waste when the lights change. You nearly step in it. Should you say something to the owner? What do you do when you see a dog owner not picking up after their dog?

Many of us find it hard asking for what we want at work.Whether we're looking for a pay rise, feel a promotion is overdue, or would like to work part time, many of us put off raising the subject with our boss.So, what holds us back? And how can we negotiate better?

You might think you don't carry prejudices about people who are different to you, but they can leak through without you even realising. Here are some real world, evidence based ways to tackle them.

Growing up, Brenda Matthews had been told her story. But, within her, there were memories that did not fit the narrative she’d been given. Decades on, she decided to discover the truth…

Systemic sexual abuse and harassment is also part of the job description for many working in hospitality. What can be done to fix this?

Scientists can now measure the age of our organ systems, and have found they can age at significantly different rates. That means your heart or brain may be younger or older than your chronological age.

Last week, the global diet giant Jenny Craig entered into voluntary administration in Australia, after the American company filed for bankruptcy. Is that a sign that our relationship with food and our own bodies has changed, or is it just that the business model is different now?If the way we feel about our food can be linked to how we feel about ourselves, how do we improve our relationship with what's on our plates?

With the rise of social media and platforms that encourage copying trends and sharing material, plagiarising is more rife than ever. So what does it take for someone to do it blatantly? And could we all be doing it without realising?

According to a new study, one in five metropolitan Australians are considering a move to regional Australia. What are the drivers encouraging people to make the tree change? And, what are the implications for the people that have moved?

Actor Robert DeNiro just welcomed his seventh child at the age of 79, and more men are coming to new fatherhood in their 40s, 50s and even 60s. There are a lot of advantages to having kids in your mature years but also many challenges. So how can we best support this growing cohort?

In the budget funding was announced for a program called 'MyMedicare', which could soon be coming to a GP surgery near you. So what is it and how will it affect your health care experience?

In the back and forth of politics, welfare recipients can become a kind of category, or a symbol.But what is the daily experience of those living on JobSeeker? How far does $56.70 stretch, and what support is available for those who are struggling?

Your friend's wedding had a wishing well and you later found out she wasn't happy with how much she received. You also found out another friend gave more. Is there a magic number when it comes to wishing well weddings? What should you do next time this happens?

How do mother and daughter relationships change over time? And how do our roles within them evolve as we move through life?Author, Susan Johnson, got a lot of time to think about her own relationship with her mum when they lived together on a small Greek island for almost a year.

What can consumers do about reducing food waste and can the industry do more? A new study from the Fight Food Waste CRC has some insights.

A wedding band that was worn for many decades by her mother Pam, gives Lyn Groves an opportunity to remember her.

Everyone has an opinion about the best way to have a baby, and parents have more choice about managing their birth than ever before. From birth-plans to the model of care, what decisions were people glad they had made, when they were able to make a choice, and how did they manage their expectations,In late 2022 the ABC’s Birth Project asked for pregnancy, birth, and postpartum experiences from across Australia. Over 3500 submissions were made and today, Life Matters explores whether there’s a lesson in these stories.

Long before Paul Kelly ever picked up a guitar, he expressed himself in a different format: the poem. Now, he’s returning to his first love, and taking his fans with him on the journey.

Premiers, planning ministers and housing experts say—to solve the housing crisis—we need to 'densify'.Can they convince the owners of that golden real-estate that it’s time to change the landscape?

Tinnitus affects most people at some point in their lives, but experts are still learning about it, and what works for treating the condition. Still, hope is on the horizon as a trial using brain stimulation is set to expand.

How can art provide a chance to connect back to your identity? And what does it mean to have people listen to your story? For more than a decade, The Torch has been using art as a way to connect incarcerated First Nations people to culture and provide an entry point into the economy. The founder Kent Morris and artist Melissa Bell share how the program changed their lives and how The Torch has changed as its become bigger and more successful.

Death by a thousand cuts is the mood of the modern age, and if you're feeling burned out without a big problem to point to as the source, you might just be overwhelmed by microstress. So how do we identify it and remove it from our lives?

As the RBA hands down another rate decision, the latest inflation figures show that although overall inflation is starting to turn around, the price of essentials are still rising. The timing of easing costs could be crucial, but raising interest rates again will continue to hurt those who can least afford it. Is there a fairer approach to stabilising the economy?

Car traders are hearing a common message from across Australia from potential buyers: "I want my next car to be an EV." But price, infrastructure and resale value are all holding many buyers back.

Rebecca Gilmore learned a lot about her grandparents through reading their love letters to one another.

Delving into family history can be a joyous process. You might have ancestral lines to monarchs, famous politicians, or movie stars.

The number of single households are on the rise but have our attitudes towards single people caught up? For those who choose to be single, they are living life on their terms. But is stigma still a problem? We dive into the joys and the drawbacks of being single by choice.

Olympian, doctor, mother of six... Jana Pittman’s list of accomplishments is mind-blowing. But, from a young age, she would look in the mirror and see a failure. Now, decades since she was first in the public spotlight, Jana’s learnt to unleash her 'inner lioness' and she wants to show others how to do the same.

When Anne Winning was a girl she went to boarding school. Her precious object is a rail ticket from that time of her life.

When journalist Jane Hutcheon’s mother recently passed away, she realised the models of retirement most familiar to her didn’t fit the kind of productive and liberated life she had envisioned for herself in her older years. She set out to find a new one.

Seeing a therapist is increasingly common among Australians, but navigating this unique relationship can be tricky. Developing romantic feelings for your psychologist might feel wrong, but it's incredibly common. So how do you deal with it?

Many of us could do with more joy and less stress in our lives but could laughing more help us achieve it?

A shortage of organs available for donation has lead to a new inquiry looking at ways increase the number of registered organ and tissue donors. One extra person donating can mean up to seven people off the list.

The way we commemorate Anzac day has changed dramatically over the decades. Historian Dr Carolyn Holbrook explains its history.

Around 5% of people live with ADHD, but getting a diagnosis and support can be a difficult process. A parliamentary inquiry is taking submissions on the needs of people with ADHD, so we find out what people with ADHD need to thrive.

On the face of it, getting an apology email from an estranged relative seems like a good thing. But what it you don't want to revisit history? How should you respond, and do you even need to?

In the last few years Aussies have been renovating like never before. Now, as hundreds of builders go bust, including major players like Porter Davis, renovation and building dreams are turning into nightmares. During this “renocession” or “building crisis”, how can you still make your Grand Design fantasy a reality?

Spending time in nature may be good for both your mental and physical health.

Conflicting messages about salt, diet culture and supermarkets full of processed foods are just some of the reasons you might find it hard to savour your favourite meal.

The average Australian spends $105 per month on unused or forgotten subscriptions, and trying to cancel them can be a nightmare. The ACCC wants the government to crack down on the practice of 'subscription trapping', but how did we get stuck with so many of them in the first place?

Despite ambitious targets to halve the number of road deaths by 2030, fatal crashes are on the rise in Australia.In response, researchers have been looking at new strategies and technologies that could improve road safety. So could personalised feedback and financial incentives help reverse the trend?

The Liddell coal-fired power station in the Hunter Valley will close down in a couple of weeks. How well are we managing the transition away from coal, and the people impacted?

Sometimes there are upsides to being last in line. For Linda Foulsham, it meant she was given something special that she's held on to ever since.

If you are not a Liberal when you are young, you have no heart, and if you are not a Conservative when old, you have no brain.

You frequently invite your daughter's friend over to play at your house, but the parents always drop the younger brother off too.This often causes friction and you have to intervene.What should you do? Embrace the younger brother or ban him? Should you tell the parents it bothers you? Or should you just get on with it?

The idea of dating more than one person, or bringing additional people into an existing relationship can be a daunting one.But if it's something you'd like to explore, there are ways to address those concerns and build healthy, trusting non-monogamous relationships.

Mike Rucker spent years studying the science of happiness, until he realised his methods didn't work for his own life. Since then, he’s dedicated his life to studying fun including working out how to have Type 1 Fun', 'Type 2 Fun', 'Hard Fun' and 'Soft Fun'.

Carmel O'Sullivan's wedding ring was lost, then found, then remade after she divorced her husband. Kindness and the importance of relationships plays a key part in her story.

In Queensland and NSW, it's mandatory for principals at public schools to put aside up to an hour of class time a week for volunteers from religious institutions to deliver religious instruction classes.

Margaret Cole still has a perfume bottle her mother gave her over 40 years ago. Although it's almost empty, the scent remains.

Some of the country's fastest gamers are getting together for video-game marathon. They'll compete in a type of rule-breaking gaming called 'speedrunning' and their ultimate aim is to raise money for charity.

Gallery owner Tim Olsen reflects on his childhood and relationship with his famous father in his memoir, 'Son of the Brush'. This story is from November 2020.

Since the pandemic, there's been a boom of new telehealth services promising accessible prescriptions for desirable medications like weight loss drugs and medical cannabis. But how safe are these providers?

Diana Greentree is an actress who's appeared in many productions on stage and screen. For many years, she's treasured a doll she carried on stage during her performances in The King and I.

The Queensland government is proposing a cap to manage soaring rent rises. This may be a welcome relief for renters, but there are fears it will also scare investors away from property at a time when more investment is needed.

Jimmy Little was one of Australians most loved musicians. His daughter, Frances Peters-Little has just completed the first biography of the singer.

After 20 years as a Melbourne bartender, Shay Leighton had a wake-up moment: "I was a workaholic. I had no friends. I was miserable". To turn his life around, he decided to start a guys' book club at his local pub. It now has 85 chapters around the world, thousands of attendees and 15,000 online followers.

For Catherine Bell and her family, pickled walnuts are an important and delicious treat and a full jar of them, is a precious object indeed.

The launch of GPT-4 has created panic, both outside and inside the tech world, about AI's potential to one day act autonomously. Is this fear justified? And, if so, what can we as individuals do about it?

If you thought quitting sugar was hard, now try gas. Sarah Wilson made a name for herself by getting off the white stuff with her bestseller, 'I Quit Sugar'. But how feasible is the full electrification of our economy?

Miscarriages are very common, up to one in four pregnancies end in early loss. But there is still inadequate support, culture and education for those experiencing it.

Sasha Kutabah Sarago has been fascinated with beauty from childhood, but what she would come to learn is that society's definition of beauty is very different to that of her own culture.

There's a growing recognition from the field of music psychology that shows that music can help us feel a sense of self-compassion and belonging.

The federal government is pinning its environmental protection policies on market-based mechanisms, like the safeguard mechanism to curb carbon emissions, and the nature repair market to boost biodiversity. Will a 'green Wall Street' pay dividends for nature?

When Jenny was a young girl her family would sit around a yellow laminex kitchen table, which was used for drawing, on as well as in the usual ways.

Disruptive behaviour in Australian classrooms is on the rise and our classrooms are already some of the worst in the world.This has prompted a Senate enquiry into disruptive classroom behaviour. But do teachers have the training and options available to them to keep control and provide a safe learning environment for other students as well as themselves?

Your friend's boyfriend has 'super liked' you on Tinder. Do you tell your friend about it, or confront him? Or do nothing?

Whatever the reason, feelings of guilt can leave us feeling like we're not good parents. But does guilt actually help us become better at parenting?

Jimmy Rees may now be a YouTube sensation and a children's author, but his most challenging gig is parenting his three kids. So what advice does he have about how to make the parenting juggle work especially around school holidays?

For her 70th birthday, Kathy Williams received an album filled with photos and memories from her life.

Researchers at the forefront of the rapidly evolving field of longevity say that any day now we will have the science that allows us to live to 150. But physician turned podcast superstar Dr Peter Attia and ageing researcher Dr Lindsay Wu say there are many things we can do to lengthen our life-spans right now.

New legislation introduced in the ACT will be the first in Australia to ban unnecessary surgeries on people with intersex variations. The bill also introduces psychosocial supports, recognising that intersex peoples' needs go beyond acceptance of their bodies.

With traditional housing options becoming more expensive and unobtainable for many, is it time to think outside the box when it comes to housing?

Soon it will be mandatory for large organisations to publicly share gender pay gap data. The federal government hopes more transparency will help close the gender pay gap, but transparency might only go so far to bring about pay equality.

When a secondary school in Melbourne's inner south started to fail, its future looked bleak. But thanks to a tenacious community and a Principal with a vision the school is now thriving. So what does it take to turn a school around?

Gambling has become increasingly normalised in Australia with older adults noticing significant deregulation of the industry in their lifetimes. They now see poker machines where they go to eat with friends and they're also worried by online gambling, both for themselves and younger generations.

Why are some women helping each other find information about symptoms and treatment for menopause, rather than going to their GP?

Alison Muirhead tells the story of a pair of porcelain angels that belonged to her grandmother. They hold a special place in her family history.

Despite being banned 18 months ago, vaping is still rife and rising in the community. The TGA has handed down new recommendations to curb the recreational vaping 'black market', including tighter import rules, banning flavours, and lowering nicotine content. But will these measures work?

Your son has been caught doing 'knock and runs' at the neighbour's house. The neighbour has shown you CCTV footage of him doing it and you've noticed the camera is pointing into your front yard.

Is there a ever good way or good time to break up with someone? Can we do more harm by staying with someone we no longer love? Are there times when we should stick with a relationship a little longer? And is it ever okay to ghost someone?

For award-winning sex educator and bestselling author Cory Silverberg, sex ed is about assuring young people that there is no right or wrong way to have a body and that our bodies can be inhabited in ways that are empowering, shame-free and completely unique.

In Sydney’s once-infamous Kings Cross, there’s a fierce fight over what should happen to an art deco theatre. What exactly do we do with these once-spectacular, now-neglected spaces?

Two years on from the Royal Commission into Aged Care, advocates and consumer groups say there’s still a way to go when it comes to improving home care packages.

When writer Rachael Mogan McIntosh and husband Keith moved their family to the south of France for a year abroad, they were hoping for a bit of ambience and exposure to a new language. Instead, they found themselves in an 'opposite world' which caused them to question everything about their parenting style and the 'Australian way' we relate to our children.

Pineapples and bananas are just some of the many fruits and vegetables that come wrapped up in their own natural packaging.

NSW may soon be the next state to ban phone use in all schools, if Labor wins the upcoming election, following step with several other states. But experts are still divided on the best approach. We take a look at best practice with phone use and young people at school and at home.

Jasper Peach, parent of two children, identifies as trans and non binary. Their guide to bringing a baby into the family is called You'll be a Wonderful Parent.

Talking about your mental health online can help you connect and find healing, but before signing up do you read the fine print on the privacy policy? As more and more apps offering a range of mental health-related services become available, it's not always clear where the information they collect will end up.

How might this banking crisis impact your financial situation, and do you even need to think about it?

Her mother's jewellery box and its contents were fascinating to Alexandra Guhde when she was a child. But the most special item of all was a very unusual wedding band.

New legislation in Victoria is changing approaches to impairment and distractions on our roads, with tougher rules for phone use, and looser rules for medicinal cannabis users. So how might these changes make our roads safer, or less so?

Your sister is in a relationship with a man who holds quite racist views. Your children are mixed race and you sister has stopped seeing your family.

Is there someone at work who rubs you up the wrong way? Does it make you dread going to work? At the end of the day the work has to be done. Find out how we can learn to work effectively with people we don't get along with.

Leigh Rees went from teaching at a primary school in Brisbane to the Rajneeshee cult in Oregon, USA. She was searching for enlightenment and got more than she bargained for.

As we learn more about seaweed's potential uses, from micronutrients to bioplastics, will we also learn to take better care of the ecosystems it comes from, including Tasmania's endangered giant kelp forests?

We work much of our lives and then we stop, or at least that's traditionally how retirement has worked — but should we consider easing into retirement? By cutting back our working hours, instead of instantly stopping work, could it give us the opportunity to test out how our retirement might look and feel?

Melbourne's first medically supervised injecting room is here to stay after a four year trial period that prevented 63 deaths, but despite its success, the proposal for a second room in Melbourne's CBD is still being met with pushback. We look at how safe injecting rooms change the areas they operate in and the benefits for communities.

A handcrafted leather bag from India is a memorable gift from Carole Kirwood's father, that she still keeps in a drawer, along with two letters from him.

The Oscars have once again anointed the best film of the year in Everything Everywhere All At Once. It's a beloved picture, but many might disagree with its recognition. Art is inherently subjective, so can it ever be competitive? And what is the point of pitting films, literature, music or art works against each other?

Your housemate is having an affair with a married man and you are uncomfortable. Do you have any right to have a say on whether she can continue her this relationship in our house?

Life can be full of twists and turns. Then, there are moments when things take a complete U-turn. But, when we make a big change in our life, how do we know we've made the right decision? And, regardless of the outcome, is there always an opportunity for growth?

We think of our emotions as raw expressions of our most primal selves. But behavioural scientist Pragya Agarwal argues that, at all times, our emotions are actually being shaped by cultural and historical factors outside of our control. What would it look like if we all learnt to express what we truly felt?

Stephen Dixon-Jain treasures a birthday card sent to him by his grandma. He's kept it on display for years, here's why.

Moving out into a share-house was once a rite of passage for Australians in their early twenties, but new research shows it become a luxury many cannot afford. Does staying at home mean delaying adulthood? And what supports might help young people and their parents have the best possible experience if they do live under the same roof?

One day in June 2015 Sarah Martin received a message about her 21 year old daughter Alice, who was travelling solo in Europe at the time - she needed help.

Pollution, altered flows and climate change are now placing what once seemed like endless supplies of fresh water at risk, leading to growing recognition of the importance of Indigenous water science.

By the time women turn 70, they've already lived through many lifetimes' worth of new technologies, jobs and relationships. And for some women the challenges don't stop there as they continue to defy expectations.

What are your memories of your corner shop, milk bar or deli? What did you buy? And does the shop still even exist?

In NSW there's a program run through the RSPCA that’s helping to change the way cat owners think about their pet’s safety. The program is clear about the best way to do this – by keeping cats fully contained in the home environment.

Vapes and e-cigarettes have been marketed to a whole new generation, so how can the TGA and governments regulate to minimise harms?

When it comes to the news right now, it feels like it's all bad and too much. We look at how to stay informed with your sanity intact and hear your tips for maintaining mental wellbeing in the information age.

You are finding the over protection of your friends adult offspring depressing. You believe it is not good for the parents and not good for the 'kids' either. Should you say something?

How do the memories of past relationships shape who we are today?Is there a temptation to look back with rose-tinted glasses, or wonder what could have been? And do we have to make peace with our past relationships so that we can embrace the new ones?

In the summer of 1950, author Kristina Olsson’s mother lost her infant son when he was snatched from her arms as she boarded a train.

When something really catches your eye, it can be hard to forget. Susan Roxon describes her experience with one very beautiful object.

Clearing the air of car pollution could help you breathe easier and it may even help you think more clearly.From asthma to heart disease, car fumes are being linked to a growing range of health conditions, and experts are especially concerned about children.

As the 45th Mardi Gras draws to a close, its originators are entering their older years in a vastly different climate for LGBTIQ+ people. We look at how to age fabulously, and the social and aged care needs for the elder LGBTIQ+ community.

Despite women having longed played an important role in Australian science, very few are household names.This is because women have largely been excluded from the history books. So what role did women play in influencing Australian science?

While LGBTQ+ gathering spaces have been under threat in the physical world, queer people of all ages have been flocking to meet each other online, developing new language, identities and relationships. This is how queer people spearheaded the early internet, and how those communities have changed our understanding of queerness in the real world.

The federal government is planning to legislate an 'objective' for superannuation. How might that affect you, and why does the government think setting rules around super's objective is so important?

John Sheills was good at swimming and won a special trophy shaped like a sugar bowl for his efforts. When he moved out of home it was repurposed for something else entirely.

What are 'unreasonable working hours' and why are workers struggling with them? We look at the growth of overwork culture and how the tide is turning on impossible workloads.

Your year 11 daughter is having a problem with one of her teachers who is not teaching the syllabus. You want to get on top of this without sounding like a whingeing parent.

The prospect of talking about sexuality with kids can be daunting. We explore some of the ways parents and carers can support children to have a healthy relationship with their bodies, sex and sexuality.

If you've just installed solar only to find your bills are still way higher than expected, never fear. There are lots of ways to bring that power bill much closer to zero.

Saunas and bathhouses have been important gathering spaces for gay men since ancient times, for finding intimate pleasure as well as community. But many Australian saunas have closed due to demographic shifts and the rise of hook up apps. So are these spaces outdated or worth fighting for?

In Rachel Yoder’s bestselling novel Nightbitch, a mother in the throes of early parenting is shocked to notice coarse hair sprouting from her neck, pointy ends to her teeth and the beginnings of a tail. She’s become Nightbitch. How do the demands of motherhood change us and can we survive with your pre-parenting identities intact?

The way we as a society think about autism has changed a lot in the past fifteen years. Two parents of children with autism have produced an updated version of their book, which includes stories from those living with autism.

When you're looking for hearty recipes there's a growing number of superstars of cooking to turn to for inspiration.These days some famous foodies even offer cooking tips with a little more heart than celebrity chefs of the past who made their names in cut-throat restaurant kitchens.

Many people are now living in share houses at all kinds of life-stages: from raising kids to retirement. Sharing with others can help take the edge off rising rents and can often be precarious, but it can also help to make a house a home.

When Maria Thattil was growing up she felt she was 'nowhere to be found', except perhaps in Apu in The Simpsons. She is determined to change that.

Sapphic women have been lamenting a lack of lesbian bars for some time, as traditional establishments have been shutting their doors around the world. But it turns out queer women's venues never quite had the staying power of those for men and mixed LGBTQ clientele.

Many of us receive government payments of one kind or another, but a special kind of judgement is reserved for some of those who receive them while not 'working'.

World Pride has arrived in Sydney, and the theme is Gather. Dream. Amplify. Mardi Gras has been a central gathering for Australian LGBTQ+ people for 45 years, and in that time it's changed a great deal. We take a look at how LGBTQ+ spaces have changed over time and hear stories of gatherings past.

You've lent a friend many books and they are often not returned for years. Until you received one back as a Christmas gift.

Food is central to our lives and our relationships and every day we make multiple decisions about what to eat. But what happens when a loved one has very different ideas about food? How can we make those relationships work?

Birthday parties can be so much fun but they can also be horror shows! What do kid birthday parties mean to us that can make them feel so stressful? And what can we do to take the pressure off on the big day?

Finding 'the one' is a precious thing indeed. But you might have to contend with everyone else's opinions on the matter, as Layla Tan describes in her story for Life in 500 words.

In his new book, physician and addiction expert Dr Gabor Maté lays out what it is about today’s ‘toxic culture’ that he believes is leading to an extraordinary rise in mental health and chronic health conditions. And what can be done to heal.

Taking a long-distance train trip can be just as much about the journey as the destination and for people looking for alternatives to flying, trains may seem like an increasingly attractive alternative.

The trauma of surviving child sexual abuse can fundamentally change your personality. Addiction, aggression, anxiety and depression might plague survivors without them fully understanding the root cause. Sharing and acknowledging their experiences can be life-changing.

Ovarian cancer has the poorest survival rate of all female cancer in Australia, with around a thousand women dying from the disease every year.February is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month and advocates hope that through sharing stories and educating more people about the disease, we'll be able to improve outcomes for women with ovarian cancer.We hear from Kevin O'Connor, about his daughter's legacy that's helping to fund research, and from ovarian cancer advocate, Karen Livingstone AM, about the work being done to improve diagnosis and treatment.Guests: Karen Livingstone AM, ovarian cancer advocateKevin O'Connor, father of the late Dr Kath O'Connor, author of Inheritance

More than 19,000 refugees who have been living in limbo will soon be able to apply for the new 'Resolution of Status' visa.

You keep being called the wrong name by your work colleagues. It has been going on for months, despite you correcting them in the early days. How do you bring it up without sounding petty?

Times are tough for working parents but is it fair to expect grandparents to lighten the load, especially when it comes to caring for grandchildren? Whether you're a grandparent who is a regular on the school run, or one who is reluctant to take on regular caring duties, clinical psychologist, Tamara Cavenett, shares her advice on how to broach those tricky family conversations and how to set clear boundaries.Guest: Tamara Cavenett, Clinical Psychologist

On school holidays, most kids go to the beach or hang out at home with their folks.From the age of 4, Tyler Mahoney was going on gold prospecting trips in the middle of the West Australian desert. She grew up to be a world-class gold miner and a reality TV 'superstar'.

Ana Mairata's Spanish grandparents played a big role in her life, as did their daily ritual of cooking lunch and making coffee, with her precious object.

Receiving a dementia diagnosis, or finding out you may have one in your future, like Aussie actor Chris Hemsworth recently did, dramatically changes people's lives. This is partly because there are very few treatment options. So, as a new dementia drug gets FDA approval in the US, we investigate what the future holds for our understanding of this mysterious disease and whether we will ever find a cure?

Could playing games, having fun, and even rolling around in the dirt be good for your gut health?

When scientists Penny and Noel bought a property called 'Thiaki' in the Wet Tropics of Far North Queensland, they had no idea what they were in for. Twenty years later, Penny reveals what she's learned about the land and the people who have lived on it.

The Reserve Bank of Australia has raised interest rates for the ninth time in a row to curb soaring inflation, and it's likely you're feeling the pain.

Are you a shower singer? Perhaps you are in a choir? No matter how, or where, you do it, the act of singing can benefit you on many levels.

When you think of wind-power, you probably don't think of big cargo ships, but sailors have harnessed the power of the wind for thousands of years.

Australia is the first country in the world to approve some psychedelics as medicines. It's a first step from the Therapeutic Goods Administration towards what some have been advocating for a long time, but what will that mean for you?

Treasurer Jim Chalmers recently outlined his vision of 'values-based capitalism' for Australia's economic future. But what values should we holding up for our prosperity, and is capitalism the best way to uphold them?

Your ex sister-in-law sends a Christmas newsletter of what the family is doing and it upsets you. How do you tell her you'd prefer she ask about your family?

Lucky Girl Syndrome, a trend that's gone viral on TikTok, promotes the idea that affirmative mantras and a positive mind-set will determine what you will attract into your life. If we believe we can get what we want, will the universe deliver?

Worrying is a normal part of life, and most kids will have their first worry at a very young age. But there are tools we can give kids to help them navigate their way through the feelings those worries might bring up.

When Anna Fienberg's partner died, she sought comfort in his belongings, but missed his words. Then she remembered a book they had read together, and what he had written inside it.

When science journalist Paul Biegler hurt his knee, he was given painkillers and told he’d need surgery. Then he read about the science of ‘pain mistakes’; Then he read about the science of ‘pain mistakes’; the idea that your brain can think you have an injury when you no longer do. Drawing from the methods he researched which can help reset the brain, such as hypnosis, virtual reality and ‘paced-up exercise’, Paul set out to fix himself.

Are the old labels of extroverted versus introverted still enough to help you understand your social side?

Rent-to-own, or rent-to-buy schemes have a shady history, but a new wave of schemes are promising access and stability for people struggling to save for a home.

Do you often feel rushed? Like your brain and body are on auto-pilot? Euphemia Russell says one way to reconnect with yourself is by adding 'small doses' of pleasure into your day. More pleasure, believes Euphemia, can make us happier and healthier and can even contribute to creating a more just and inclusive world.

After recovering from cancer, Jordana Blackman, learnt to ride a bike for a charity race. Now she runs an all-female community called Chicks Who Ride Bikes that encourages women to get out cycling. The group have recently launched an app which Jordana hopes will encourage and support more women to get out riding and build their own bike communities.

His followers refer to him as 'the Top G', and he's said some terrible things about women, yet many young boys and men think he gives good advice. How much of a negative influence has he already had, and what can schools and parents do to combat that?

Martin Welsh's final trip with his father, taking his ashes, as promised, to Old Trafford stadium in Manchester, is told in his story about a precious object.

Generative AI products like ChatGPT and DALL-E represent a 'tipping point' in how we use AI in our work, educaiton and lives, according to experts. Sounds a bit unsettling, but what does it mean for our day-to-day? We find out what the future holds and how AI can make your life easier right now.

Your elderly neighbour loves to feed the local pigeons. Consequently, you have major issues with birds on your roof. You feel for the lady, as her husband is dying, and don't want to upset her. What do you do?

Whether you're someone who holds onto belongings for their sentimental value, or someone who throws things out if they serve no purpose. Knowing what to keep and what to discard isn't always an easy task.Professional Organiser, Robyn Amott, shares her tips on how to make decisions around what to keep and what to cast out.Guest: Robyn Amott, Founder of Bless this Mess

There are plenty of quality murder mysteries and whodunits on offer on our screens right now. What's behind this resurgence and does that mean we're turning away from true crime?

For some children, going back to school can be a daunting prospect, because they risk being picked on by fellow students.

Semaglutide has been approved as an obesity treatment in Australia, and experts are hailing it as a miracle drug. So how does it work? And how will it change the way we think about obesity in society?

The benefits of conscious breathing techniques can be life changing. From bringing down stress levels to making for better sleep, to harnessing energy and improving intimacy. Learn how it works and some tips for starting breathwork.

Harry Donnelly and Keith Blake had been footy friends for over four decades, but after Harry put a call out for someone to illustrate his poems he discovered a new side to his long-time friend. Now the pair work as a team, Harry writing poems and Keith illustrating them.

Federal Health Minister Mark Butler is considering including allied health and nursing services in a shake up of the way Medicare rebates are accessed. So how would that work in practice?

Julie Faulkner is a big fan of art, music and nature. These things come together in a tragic and beautiful way for her story about a framed drawing, and an enduring friendship.

Documentaries like Break Point, The Test and Drive To Survive are drawing legions of new fans to their respective sports.

We've all heard the endless list of what we should cut out of our diets to improve our health, but biochemist Jessie Inchauspe says that if, instead, we focus on how we consume this one important thing, we can feel better, boost our energy levels and be healthier. What is that one thing? Glucose.

You and your husband often socialise with two couples. One of the couples you consider true close friends but the other couple aren't really ones with whom you would otherwise choose to continue to engage. How do you extricate ourselves socially from one couple and not the other?

Listeners share their celebrations, commiserations, and end of year rituals, from an annual camping trip with family, to writing down all your grievances and throwing them into the fire.

It’s around the time of year that many of us try losing a couple of kilos before the holiday season kicks in. But, lots of evidence says it might be more effective and better for our mental health to try some other strategies like intuitive eating or a HAES- Healthy At Every Size- approach. What could that look like for you?

Kate Thomas tells this tale of a brooch shaped like an owl, and her friendship with Alice-Mary.

Is the size of your child's class the optimal size for learning? Are they being given the kind of homework evidence says is useful, if evidence says homework is useful at all?

Meet the Torres Strait Islanders who took the Australian government to the United Nations Human Rights Committee. The claimants, known as the #TorresStrait8 won, making history as the first climate vulnerable island communities to take legal action against a nation state.

Much of our lives are conducted online, and now some of our rituals around death are too. Companies are using smart technology to link online memorial sites to graves and urns. And one cemetery has launched an augmented reality app to encourage visitors to spend time there. But what are the best ways to use technology in service of grief and remembrance?

Some of 2022's 'Words of the Year' paint a picture of a community exhausted, stressed and battered by a series of national and global catastrophes - a state of permanent crisis. So how do we cope with collective trauma when it keeps coming thick and fast? And what steps can we take to healthily process big disasters outside of our control?

There is no denying the excitement and support for the Socceroos at the FIFA World cup this year. But what is the path that leads to becoming a Socceroo or a Matilda? And are prohibitive costs denying children the chance to play at, even, a local level?

Your husband's family, who were uninterested throughout your pregnancy, now feel entitled to your child. To them, your baby is an object for their social media gratification.

Christmas can be stressful, especially when time and money are tight. So, how can we get the most out of the holiday season without sending our blood pressure skyrocketing?Organisational psychologist and author of Time Wise, Dr Amantha Imber, shares her tips and tricks for a more relaxed Christmas.Guest: Dr Amantha Imber

What if there were magical people working to make high schools formals relaxed, non-judgemental and welcoming events for everyone?

A treasured set of silver cake forks is the one connection Vivienne Porszolt has with her maternal grandmother, whom she never met.

Workplaces today may look very different to how they did in the 80s, but when it comes to “occupational gender segregation”, actually not much has changed. A new report shows it's harming individuals and the broader economy. So what can be done to turn things around?

The Queensland Indigenous Women's Ranger Network has won the Revive Our Oceans category at the Earthshot awards.The prize is in recognition of the vital work they're doing to protect the Great Barrier Reef, combining First Nations knowledge with modern digital technologies. Guests: Larissa Hale, Managing Director of the Queensland Indigenous Women's Ranger NetworkAnna Marsden, Managing Director of the Great Barrier Reef Foundation.

For home owners on low interest fixed rate mortgages, that honeymoon is about to come to an end. Here are some practical tips so you can start preparing now.

According to the latest HILDA survey of Australian households, private secondary school enrolments have increased by 70% in the past decade.

Kitty Kruup's precious object comes all the way from Ireland. It's a brooch that was made by a relative, and she wears it only once a year, on St Patrick's Day.

Have you found yourself having to make a decision about how much to spend on your pets' health and wellbeing? According to Animal Medicines Australia, Australians spend more than $33-billion dollars each year to keep pets fed, healthy and well-accessorised.

For your birthday friends bought you a pack of driving lessons as a surprise. You have no desire to drive and feel really anxious about getting behind the wheel.

Modern dating is a minefield, but there are many extra considerations when it comes to dating when you have a disability. Many people with disabilities are 'latecomers' to the dating scene, and feel pressure to take any opportunity to partner up. Life Matters hears your stories of navigating the dating scene with a disability and what needs to change.

Drinking fermented drinks like kombucha, cider, mead and kvass is all the rage these days. But fermenting master Sharon Flynn says learning how to make these drinks yourself will not only bring more pleasure to your palette but will help you connect with feminist history, the wonders of physics and your hunter-gatherer instincts.

Lona Logan shares the story of an embroidered cloth created during her grandparents' internment in a POW camp during WWII.

As the housing crisis worsens, we’re seeing a range of businesses, corporations and even super funds investing money in new social housing projects. Is this just a case of businesses seeking positive PR, or is there a genuine role for the private sector to play in fixing the country’s lack of affordable housing?

A group of parents who are raising children with disabilities have teamed up to create the social networking app, Kindship, to build their own community and support structures.

The internet is built for advertising, but what if it could look different?

Australia has one of the lowest unemployment payment rates in the OECD, and experts and recipients have long been pushing for an increase.

In the 1920's, and the era of silent film, the McDonagh sisters transformed Australian cinema.

As the days are getting warmer and longer it's time to fire up the BBQ or pack the picnic blanket and enjoy the delights of al fresco eating.

Foodie, Alice Zaslavsky, shares her favourite foods to enjoy outdoors and helps us steer clear of any picnic disasters.

Guest:

Alice Zaslavsky, food writer, cook and educator

Imagine not responding to after hours work phone calls, emails or texts.

On a business trip to China, Rick Sarre lost his luggage and needed underwear. His purchase was an unusually costly, precious object.

If there's a genetic illness in your family would you take a test to find out the risk of either you passing it on or the risk of getting that condition from your parents?

During COVID lockdowns you and your husband did your best to share space while working from home. You've tried to suggest it might be good for him to go back into the office but he's not interested. Should you worry about him becoming a hermit?

The amount of time kids spend on screens is one of the top parenting concerns. But, chances are, digital devices are here to stay.

So, how can we make sure our kids get the most out of their tech time and that devices don't become a source of conflict?

Guest:

Jocelyn Brewer, Psychologist with expertise in digital wellbeing

Further Information

eSaftey - Parenting in the digital age eSafety kids - Being Safe Online Parental involvement in preventing and responding to cyberbullying - Australian Institute of Family Studies

At a time when our daily grocery costs are shooting through the roof, eating ethically may be the last thing on our minds. But food critic and chef turned farmer Matthew Evans says being more conscious about where our food comes from isn't just better for the planet. It will also make us feel good and make for a tastier meal.

Moving house can be a drag, especially if it means you have to get rid of things you treasure. Kate Groves tells the story of a pink box she just can't part with.

With the fourth COVID wave upon us, it’s hard to feel optimistic. But, some public health experts say that, with the right strategy and a bit of luck, the impact of COVID could eventually become similar to viruses we're familiar with like the flu or perhaps even milder infections. So what does that strategy look like?

Neuroscientist Steven Laureys was unconvinced about the benefits of meditation. A personal crisis and an encounter with a Buddhist monk prompted him to examine the science behind the practice and write a book. Erica Vowles looks at the practice of meditation and what to do when it isn't working.

The town of Molong in central west New South Wales were quick to offer refuge to Ukrainian families fleeing the war in their home country.

Hundreds of volunteers came together to convert an empty convent into a home for two young families.

Now those Ukrainian families have been rolling up their sleeves and giving back to the community after the town was hit by devastating floods.

Guests:

Matthew French, Principal at St Joseph's Primary School, Molong Anna Kovalenko, convent resident

La Niña is bringing floods to Australia's east coast, and with it, swarms of mosquitoes. Extreme weather events are likely to make mosquito seasons longer and more intense in the future, so how do we best protect ourselves and our animals from the risk of disease?

Making a little extra cash on the side by joining a multi-level marketing company may sound promising, especially in this economy. But how do you know how much you'll make and are there costs you need to consider?

Many Australians want to buy an electric vehicle, but they are concerned by the cost of purchase and the long waitlist to get hold of a car. Then there is range anxiety, the fear of running out of battery power before you get your car to a charging place. But when producer Jennifer Macey travelled to Norway, she found that the right combination of policies had largely solved those problems.

Two people who have been adopted describe what it has meant for them, and what support and care adoptees and families need.

Jane Korman's mother is 99 years old, and a holocaust survivor. The precious object she nominated is a wedding ring, that once belonged to Jane's grandmother.

The suspension of one of Australia's major soft plastic recycling schemes has once again focused attention on where our waste products end up. Is it time for a change in the way we value waste products?

You are organising a retirement gift for a much-loved work colleague who's been there for over 20 years using one an online group gift services where people write on a virtual card and chip in money. You can see that your boss has signed the card but hasn't put in any money. Do you raise it with her?

This Aus Music Month, we're celebrating the music that connects us. We explore how music strengthens our social bonds and hear stories about the songs that drive our relationships.

At this time of year, many of us are dreaming of a luxury beach escape, but who can afford one - especially once you add kids into the mix? Travel writer Catherine Best says the answer is simple - become a caravanning family. And, she has tips to help any family, on any budget, take the plunge.

At this time of year, many of us are dreaming of a luxury beach escape, but who can afford one - especially once you add kids into the mix? Travel writer Catherine Best says the answer is simple - become a caravanning family. And, she has tips to help any family, on any budget, take the plunge.

In our final episode, the ABC's Dr Norman Swan shares the magic of cooking and what to be aware of when it comes to salt.

In our final episode, the ABC's Dr Norman Swan shares the magic of cooking and what to be aware of when it comes to salt.

Every morning for eight years, ‘the fab five’, a group of friends aged between 68 and 91, have been meeting at their local pool for a swim. They say it ‘keeps them young’, and, according to the latest research in a new field called ‘subjective ageing’, they’re onto something.

Every morning for eight years, ‘the fab five’, a group of friends aged between 68 and 91, have been meeting at their local pool for a swim. They say it ‘keeps them young’, and, according to the latest research in a new field called ‘subjective ageing’, they’re onto something.

Listening to the golden oldies on the radio can help bring back happy memories, but could it also be more than that? A radio station broadcasting to aged care homes is using reminiscence therapy to help reduce social isolation and dementia.

Listening to the golden oldies on the radio can help bring back happy memories, but could it also be more than that? A radio station broadcasting to aged care homes is using reminiscence therapy to help reduce social isolation and dementia.

Nat first became known for his Nat's What I Reckon, no-nonsense cooking YouTube videos.

He outlawed jar sauces and encouraged made-from-scratch dishes but all were served with with a spoonful or two of mental health advocacy.

In his new book, Life: What Nat To Do, he uses his matter-of-fact style and humour to share his thoughts on mental health.

Guest:

Nat's What I Reckon, comedian, rock musician, mental health advocate and award-winning author

Nat first became known for his Nat's What I Reckon, no-nonsense cooking YouTube videos.

He outlawed jar sauces and encouraged made-from-scratch dishes but all were served with with a spoonful or two of mental health advocacy.

In his new book, Life: What Nat To Do, he uses his matter-of-fact style and humour to share his thoughts on mental health.

Guest:

Nat's What I Reckon, comedian, rock musician, mental health advocate and award-winning author

Pharmacists in NSW are now allowed to prescribe certain medicines under a year-long trial to ease demand caused by GP shortages. But is it appropriate? We look it how the role of pharmacists may change in line with the rest of the world and what that means for our healthcare system.

Pharmacists in NSW are now allowed to prescribe certain medicines under a year-long trial to ease demand caused by GP shortages. But is it appropriate? We look it how the role of pharmacists may change in line with the rest of the world and what that means for our healthcare system.

When writer Jessie Cole found herself falling for an older man who lived far away she came face to face with her fragility and fear of intimacy.

When writer Jessie Cole found herself falling for an older man who lived far away she came face to face with her fragility and fear of intimacy.

It's been three years since the Black Summer bushfires devastated Australia's East Coast.

It's been three years since the Black Summer bushfires devastated Australia's East Coast.

The world's population has reached eight billion, according to the United Nations.

The world's population has reached eight billion, according to the United Nations.

Beverley Fine has many fond memories of her Mum's orange lounge, which has very fitting new owners.

Beverley Fine has many fond memories of her Mum's orange lounge, which has very fitting new owners.

It's been estimated that alcohol is a factor in one in ten cases of breast cancer, yet women in some age groups are increasing, not decreasing, their alcohol consumption.

Alcohol is classified as a Group 1 human carcinogen, yet despite the potentially deadly risks, it can be difficult to talk about how and why alcohol is so bad for us.

Why do women in particular continue to drink in such large numbers? And what can, or should, be done, about the health risks?

It's been estimated that alcohol is a factor in one in ten cases of breast cancer, yet women in some age groups are increasing, not decreasing, their alcohol consumption.

Alcohol is classified as a Group 1 human carcinogen, yet despite the potentially deadly risks, it can be difficult to talk about how and why alcohol is so bad for us.

Why do women in particular continue to drink in such large numbers? And what can, or should, be done, about the health risks?

Your fiance is keen to go to a strip club for his buck's party and has asked you how you feel about it.

You don't want to be the fun police by insisting he not do it. How should you handle it?

Your fiance is keen to go to a strip club for his buck's party and has asked you how you feel about it.

You don't want to be the fun police by insisting he not do it. How should you handle it?

Housing has become increasingly unaffordable for many Australians so could multi-generational living provide a good solution?

Having multiple generations living under one roof can offer some appealing benefits but moving in with parents or grandparents doesn't come without its challenges.

We look at ways to help multi-generational households thrive.

Guest:

Dr Zoe Krupka, psychotherapist and Senior Lecturer in Counselling and Psychotherapy at The Cairnmillar Institute

Housing has become increasingly unaffordable for many Australians so could multi-generational living provide a good solution?

Having multiple generations living under one roof can offer some appealing benefits but moving in with parents or grandparents doesn't come without its challenges.

We look at ways to help multi-generational households thrive.

Guest:

Dr Zoe Krupka, psychotherapist and Senior Lecturer in Counselling and Psychotherapy at The Cairnmillar Institute

In his new book, 'Sons of War' , bestselling author Paul Byrnes chronicles the story of 40 under-age soldiers, who signed up for the deadliest war in history, the Second World War - many of whom never came back.

In his new book, 'Sons of War' , bestselling author Paul Byrnes chronicles the story of 40 under-age soldiers, who signed up for the deadliest war in history, the Second World War - many of whom never came back.

Dr Vyom Sharma explains why demonising certain foods is a total fallacy and how to assess your meals on more than just calories.

Dr Vyom Sharma explains why demonising certain foods is a total fallacy and how to assess your meals on more than just calories.

With a new federal curriculum coming into effect next year, the reading wars - between teaching explicit phonics or balanced literacy - has flared up again. So what does the evidence say?

With a new federal curriculum coming into effect next year, the reading wars - between teaching explicit phonics or balanced literacy - has flared up again. So what does the evidence say?

Conspiracies, hateful trolls, narcissists, social media addicts and freedom fighters are all flourishing on the internet. And with more of our lives online, it's harder than ever to switch off. So, how can we stop the more harmful aspects of big tech?

Conspiracies, hateful trolls, narcissists, social media addicts and freedom fighters are all flourishing on the internet. And with more of our lives online, it's harder than ever to switch off. So, how can we stop the more harmful aspects of big tech?

Do you have a HECS loan that seems to be hanging around years after you graduated? Inflation might not be helping. But does that mean you should hurry to pay it back, or is it ok to leave some debts for later?

Do you have a HECS loan that seems to be hanging around years after you graduated? Inflation might not be helping. But does that mean you should hurry to pay it back, or is it ok to leave some debts for later?

The federal government has ordered new taglines for betting advertising, ditching 'gamble responsibly' for messages with greater heft.

The federal government has ordered new taglines for betting advertising, ditching 'gamble responsibly' for messages with greater heft.

The 'Sunday scaries' sounds innocuous, but, for some, it can be a sign of underlying issues. Dr Hannah Korrel explains how to get to the bottom of your anxiety and the steps you can take to alleviate the symptoms.

The 'Sunday scaries' sounds innocuous, but, for some, it can be a sign of underlying issues. Dr Hannah Korrel explains how to get to the bottom of your anxiety and the steps you can take to alleviate the symptoms.

Kate Mooney believes wombats are the cleverest of all the marsupials. Kate was given her first orphaned wombat joey about 34 years ago. Since then, she has become a self-taught expert on their habits and characters, and has hand raised around 150 baby wombats at her farmhouse on Flinders Island.

Kate Mooney believes wombats are the cleverest of all the marsupials. Kate was given her first orphaned wombat joey about 34 years ago. Since then, she has become a self-taught expert on their habits and characters, and has hand raised around 150 baby wombats at her farmhouse on Flinders Island.

The latest government figures show Australians have lost more than 425 million dollars to scams from January to September this year. The biggest losses were from finance and romance scams. So how do you recognise and recover from an online scam?

The latest government figures show Australians have lost more than 425 million dollars to scams from January to September this year. The biggest losses were from finance and romance scams. So how do you recognise and recover from an online scam?

Pat Burke's precious object has been with her since she was 9 years old. It 's a book of poetry written by Robert Louis Stevenson, given to her by a teacher she once met.

Pat Burke's precious object has been with her since she was 9 years old. It 's a book of poetry written by Robert Louis Stevenson, given to her by a teacher she once met.

Which states have been better at managing rising energy prices and the transition to renewables, and has privatisation been an influencing factor?

Which states have been better at managing rising energy prices and the transition to renewables, and has privatisation been an influencing factor?

A woman who lives nearby was very friendly when she first moved in. You were both single and she wanted daily catch-ups. After having surgery you feel disappointed she didn't check in to see how you went. You're needing to reassess your mutual friendship and not sure if, or how you can approach her. How do you manage this friendship?

A woman who lives nearby was very friendly when she first moved in. You were both single and she wanted daily catch-ups. After having surgery you feel disappointed she didn't check in to see how you went. You're needing to reassess your mutual friendship and not sure if, or how you can approach her. How do you manage this friendship?

Why do the connections we form when we travel feel so different to the ones we make at home? It's got something to do with holiday mindset. We look at how to find those special flings and friendships and bring that travel energy back to normal life.

Why do the connections we form when we travel feel so different to the ones we make at home? It's got something to do with holiday mindset. We look at how to find those special flings and friendships and bring that travel energy back to normal life.

Owini moved from Sri Lanka to Australia with her parents when she was two years old. Now, at 17, Owini shares her experience. Navigating her life as a young immigrant Australian, she explores her competing feelings of gratitude and guilt. What can Owini’s journey tell us about the experience many immigrant Australians endure in pursuit of the 'Australian Dream'?

Owini moved from Sri Lanka to Australia with her parents when she was two years old. Now, at 17, Owini shares her experience. Navigating her life as a young immigrant Australian, she explores her competing feelings of gratitude and guilt. What can Owini’s journey tell us about the experience many immigrant Australians endure in pursuit of the 'Australian Dream'?

Broadcaster, award-winning author and Life Matters regular Alice Zaslavsky explores vital foodie factoids and debunks the myths around eating to deliver you bite-sized chunks of advice for better health at every age. This episode, Professor Clare Collins explains nutrition for teenagers and appealing to what your child values.

Broadcaster, award-winning author and Life Matters regular Alice Zaslavsky explores vital foodie factoids and debunks the myths around eating to deliver you bite-sized chunks of advice for better health at every age. This episode, Professor Clare Collins explains nutrition for teenagers and appealing to what your child values.

There's a 'refinancing boom' taking place at the moment. But, for some, refinancing will be impossible, thanks to rising interest rates. These borrowers are known as 'mortgage prisoners', and the number of 'mortgage prisoners' is on the rise. So what can you to to avoid ending up in this situation?

There's a 'refinancing boom' taking place at the moment. But, for some, refinancing will be impossible, thanks to rising interest rates. These borrowers are known as 'mortgage prisoners', and the number of 'mortgage prisoners' is on the rise. So what can you to to avoid ending up in this situation?

No one wants to be called a cheap date. But finding love can cost a lot – there are dating apps, pre-date outfits, grooming, and then the date itself. So how can we spend a lot less, impress a lot more and reinvent the concept of the "cheap date"?

No one wants to be called a cheap date. But finding love can cost a lot – there are dating apps, pre-date outfits, grooming, and then the date itself. So how can we spend a lot less, impress a lot more and reinvent the concept of the "cheap date"?

No one wants to be called a cheap date. But finding love can cost a lot – there are dating apps, pre-date outfits, grooming, and then the date itself. So how can we spend a lot less, impress a lot more and reinvent the concept of the "cheap date"?

Wedding rings are quite often regarded as precious objects, and you can understand why. But the story of Lin Nolan's ring is full of surprises, twists and turns!

Wedding rings are quite often regarded as precious objects, and you can understand why. But the story of Lin Nolan's ring is full of surprises, twists and turns!

Wedding rings are quite often regarded as precious objects, and you can understand why. But the story of Lin Nolan's ring is full of surprises, twists and turns!

Various state governments have been legislating against protest action that 'disrupts economic activity', like blocking roads, logging sites or coal ports. Environmental activists argue that they've been unfairly targeted, and have had their right to protest challenged. Can disruptive action really be stopped? And what is is the best way to affect change?

Various state governments have been legislating against protest action that 'disrupts economic activity', like blocking roads, logging sites or coal ports. Environmental activists argue that they've been unfairly targeted, and have had their right to protest challenged. Can disruptive action really be stopped? And what is is the best way to affect change?

Various state governments have been legislating against protest action that 'disrupts economic activity', like blocking roads, logging sites or coal ports. Environmental activists argue that they've been unfairly targeted, and have had their right to protest challenged. Can disruptive action really be stopped? And what is is the best way to affect change?

Blachan is a fishy and spicy condiment, popular around parts of Asia. In Darwin, many Aboriginal and First Nations families have been enjoying Blachan for generations. But it is not just a thing of cuisine, for some it has become a central part of local identity, tradition and family legacies.

Blachan is a fishy and spicy condiment, popular around parts of Asia. In Darwin, many Aboriginal and First Nations families have been enjoying Blachan for generations. But it is not just a thing of cuisine, for some it has become a central part of local identity, tradition and family legacies.

Blachan is a fishy and spicy condiment, popular around parts of Asia. In Darwin, many Aboriginal and First Nations families have been enjoying Blachan for generations. But it is not just a thing of cuisine, for some it has become a central part of local identity, tradition and family legacies.

When Amy was six-years-old, she made an important decision. As suggested by her nan, she would, "go to university", to bring herself and her family out of poverty.

When Amy was six-years-old, she made an important decision. As suggested by her nan, she would, "go to university", to bring herself and her family out of poverty.

When Amy was six-years-old, she made an important decision. As suggested by her nan, she would, "go to university", to bring herself and her family out of poverty.

Does the NDIS need to be pared back, improved or should other savings be found to cover the increasing cost?

Does the NDIS need to be pared back, improved or should other savings be found to cover the increasing cost?

Does the NDIS need to be pared back, improved or should other savings be found to cover the increasing cost?

You and your boyfriend have been dating on and off for about seven years. He is the same age, late 50's, and also divorced. You do not live together.

You and your boyfriend have been dating on and off for about seven years. He is the same age, late 50's, and also divorced. You do not live together.

You and your boyfriend have been dating on and off for about seven years. He is the same age, late 50's, and also divorced. You do not live together.

That first conversation about sex and making babies can be a little awkward if you don't feel comfortable with those tricky questions from a curious child.

That first conversation about sex and making babies can be a little awkward if you don't feel comfortable with those tricky questions from a curious child.

That first conversation about sex and making babies can be a little awkward if you don't feel comfortable with those tricky questions from a curious child.

Heather Rose’s childhood was positively idyllic. On the majestic Bruny Island, days were spent beachcombing and visiting neighbours in a community where no one locked their doors. Then, a shocking incident turns her world upside down.

Heather Rose’s childhood was positively idyllic. On the majestic Bruny Island, days were spent beachcombing and visiting neighbours in a community where no one locked their doors. Then, a shocking incident turns her world upside down.

Heather Rose’s childhood was positively idyllic. On the majestic Bruny Island, days were spent beachcombing and visiting neighbours in a community where no one locked their doors. Then, a shocking incident turns her world upside down.

For Tiny Tasters, part of the ABC's Your Move campaign, broadcaster, award-winning author and Life Matters regular Alice Zaslavsky explores vital foodie factoids and debunks the myths around eating to deliver you bite-sized chunks of advice for better health at every age. This episode, Dr Flavia Fayet-Moore advocates for neutral and positive language around food, and treating your child like a guest at a dinner party.

For Tiny Tasters, part of the ABC's Your Move campaign, broadcaster, award-winning author and Life Matters regular Alice Zaslavsky explores vital foodie factoids and debunks the myths around eating to deliver you bite-sized chunks of advice for better health at every age. This episode, Dr Flavia Fayet-Moore advocates for neutral and positive language around food, and treating your child like a guest at a dinner party.

For Tiny Tasters, part of the ABC's Your Move campaign, broadcaster, award-winning author and Life Matters regular Alice Zaslavsky explores vital foodie factoids and debunks the myths around eating to deliver you bite-sized chunks of advice for better health at every age. This episode, Dr Flavia Fayet-Moore advocates for neutral and positive language around food, and treating your child like a guest at a dinner party.

For his latest study, exercise and nutrition expert, John Hawley, wanted to examine a health regime that was “as easy as humanly possible” to maintain. To do this, he looked at the combined impact of time-restricted eating (TRE) and high intensity interval training (HIIT). The results, Hawley says, are “the most promising” of his 40 year career.

For his latest study, exercise and nutrition expert, John Hawley, wanted to examine a health regime that was “as easy as humanly possible” to maintain. To do this, he looked at the combined impact of time-restricted eating (TRE) and high intensity interval training (HIIT). The results, Hawley says, are “the most promising” of his 40 year career.

For his latest study, exercise and nutrition expert, John Hawley, wanted to examine a health regime that was “as easy as humanly possible” to maintain. To do this, he looked at the combined impact of time-restricted eating (TRE) and high intensity interval training (HIIT). The results, Hawley says, are “the most promising” of his 40 year career.

When we think about where our money goes, we often think of big-ticket purchases like furniture and holidays. Here's how to take charge and stop TV and music streaming services quietly siphoning your hard-earned money away.

When we think about where our money goes, we often think of big-ticket purchases like furniture and holidays. Here's how to take charge and stop TV and music streaming services quietly siphoning your hard-earned money away.

When we think about where our money goes, we often think of big-ticket purchases like furniture and holidays. Here's how to take charge and stop TV and music streaming services quietly siphoning your hard-earned money away.

Last night's budget was Labor's first since coming to power, and it sets up the direction and legacy of this government. What do you think of the announcements and what will it mean for your life?

Last night's budget was Labor's first since coming to power, and it sets up the direction and legacy of this government. What do you think of the announcements and what will it mean for your life?

Last night's budget was Labor's first since coming to power, and it sets up the direction and legacy of this government. What do you think of the announcements and what will it mean for your life?

Signing up for your first marathon can be intimidating – so where should you start?

Signing up for your first marathon can be intimidating – so where should you start?

Signing up for your first marathon can be intimidating – so where should you start?

While birds and bees are whooping it up in springtime, in many cities, native insects are under stress, as most cannot fly more than 100 metres between sources of pollen. These insects are vital for our ecosystem, but some communities are creating gardens to provide them with more sources of food. In the process, people are growing closer to their neighbours.

While birds and bees are whooping it up in springtime, in many cities, native insects are under stress, as most cannot fly more than 100 metres between sources of pollen. These insects are vital for our ecosystem, but some communities are creating gardens to provide them with more sources of food. In the process, people are growing closer to their neighbours.

While birds and bees are whooping it up in springtime, in many cities, native insects are under stress, as most cannot fly more than 100 metres between sources of pollen. These insects are vital for our ecosystem, but some communities are creating gardens to provide them with more sources of food. In the process, people are growing closer to their neighbours.

With our data stolen, we are vulnerable to potential scams and even identity theft. So how can we protect ourselves?

With our data stolen, we are vulnerable to potential scams and even identity theft. So how can we protect ourselves?

With our data stolen, we are vulnerable to potential scams and even identity theft. So how can we protect ourselves?

When Carol Johnson was 13 years old her mum gave her a dictionary. It helped the mother-daughter bond flourish.

When Carol Johnson was 13 years old her mum gave her a dictionary. It helped the mother-daughter bond flourish.

When Carol Johnson was 13 years old her mum gave her a dictionary. It helped the mother-daughter bond flourish.

Can sporting clubs take money from sponsors without taking on the values these companies espouse? Recent examples from netball, AFL and cricket show it is becoming harder to separate the money from the politics.

Can sporting clubs take money from sponsors without taking on the values these companies espouse? Recent examples from netball, AFL and cricket show it is becoming harder to separate the money from the politics.

Can sporting clubs take money from sponsors without taking on the values these companies espouse? Recent examples from netball, AFL and cricket show it is becoming harder to separate the money from the politics.

Your friend has a partner you simply don't like.

He's a whinger and a downer.

She has noticed they've been left off the party list, and has asked you whether people are not inviting them places because of him.

The answer is 'yes' but you told her her 'no'. It was an awkward question to answer.

You also don't want to invite them over, and always pretend you're busy.

What do you do?

Your friend has a partner you simply don't like.

He's a whinger and a downer.

She has noticed they've been left off the party list, and has asked you whether people are not inviting them places because of him.

The answer is 'yes' but you told her her 'no'. It was an awkward question to answer.

You also don't want to invite them over, and always pretend you're busy.

What do you do?

Your friend has a partner you simply don't like.

He's a whinger and a downer.

She has noticed they've been left off the party list, and has asked you whether people are not inviting them places because of him.

The answer is 'yes' but you told her her 'no'. It was an awkward question to answer.

You also don't want to invite them over, and always pretend you're busy.

What do you do?

Siblings can be best friends or bitter enemies - sometimes both. But a bond with a brother or sister can be the longest relationship you'll have over your lifetime, so it pays to get it right. Life Matters listeners share the secret to a good sibling relationship.

Siblings can be best friends or bitter enemies - sometimes both. But a bond with a brother or sister can be the longest relationship you'll have over your lifetime, so it pays to get it right. Life Matters listeners share the secret to a good sibling relationship.

Siblings can be best friends or bitter enemies - sometimes both. But a bond with a brother or sister can be the longest relationship you'll have over your lifetime, so it pays to get it right. Life Matters listeners share the secret to a good sibling relationship.

Since taking up cycling at seventy, Del and Cindy Henley have ridden the entire length of New Zealand and ridden from Perth to Cairns.They've just completed their second trip across the Nullarbor Plain

Since taking up cycling at seventy, Del and Cindy Henley have ridden the entire length of New Zealand and ridden from Perth to Cairns.They've just completed their second trip across the Nullarbor Plain

Since taking up cycling at seventy, Del and Cindy Henley have ridden the entire length of New Zealand and ridden from Perth to Cairns.They've just completed their second trip across the Nullarbor Plain

For Tiny Tasters, part of the ABC's Your Move campaign, broadcaster, award-winning author and Life Matters regular Alice Zaslavsky explores vital foodie factoids and debunks the myths around eating to deliver you bite-sized chunks of health advice for better health at every age. This episode, Dr Flavia Fayet-Moore tackles food exposure, baby-led weaning and how to find success at meal times through role-modelling.

For Tiny Tasters, part of the ABC's Your Move campaign, broadcaster, award-winning author and Life Matters regular Alice Zaslavsky explores vital foodie factoids and debunks the myths around eating to deliver you bite-sized chunks of health advice for better health at every age. This episode, Dr Flavia Fayet-Moore tackles food exposure, baby-led weaning and how to find success at meal times through role-modelling.

For Tiny Tasters, part of the ABC's Your Move campaign, broadcaster, award-winning author and Life Matters regular Alice Zaslavsky explores vital foodie factoids and debunks the myths around eating to deliver you bite-sized chunks of health advice for better health at every age. This episode, Dr Flavia Fayet-Moore tackles food exposure, baby-led weaning and how to find success at meal times through role-modelling.

As a teacher Gemma believed strongly in the mainstream school system. And she was thrilled to send her daughter to her local Catholic School. But then the pandemic hit.

Jemma is now one of the thousands of parents around the country who've taken up homeschooling since the pandemic hit.

As a teacher Gemma believed strongly in the mainstream school system. And she was thrilled to send her daughter to her local Catholic School. But then the pandemic hit.

Jemma is now one of the thousands of parents around the country who've taken up homeschooling since the pandemic hit.

As a teacher Gemma believed strongly in the mainstream school system. And she was thrilled to send her daughter to her local Catholic School. But then the pandemic hit.

Jemma is now one of the thousands of parents around the country who've taken up homeschooling since the pandemic hit.

From snail cream and collagen mascara to mugwort masks and peptide shampoo. Do we really need it all? And if we do, how do we get it for cheap?

From snail cream and collagen mascara to mugwort masks and peptide shampoo. Do we really need it all? And if we do, how do we get it for cheap?

From snail cream and collagen mascara to mugwort masks and peptide shampoo. Do we really need it all? And if we do, how do we get it for cheap?

Vic Goy and Walter James Stewart remember the sea as a deceptively serene environment to work in — peaceful one moment, dangerous the next.

Vic Goy and Walter James Stewart remember the sea as a deceptively serene environment to work in — peaceful one moment, dangerous the next.

Vic Goy and Walter James Stewart remember the sea as a deceptively serene environment to work in — peaceful one moment, dangerous the next.

Northern Victorian communities are the latest across Australia to have been inundated with floodwaters this year. It wasn't long ago that towns in Queensland and the Northern Rivers faced a similar threat. Researchers share the lessons from these earlier flood survivors.

Northern Victorian communities are the latest across Australia to have been inundated with floodwaters this year. It wasn't long ago that towns in Queensland and the Northern Rivers faced a similar threat. Researchers share the lessons from these earlier flood survivors.

Northern Victorian communities are the latest across Australia to have been inundated with floodwaters this year. It wasn't long ago that towns in Queensland and the Northern Rivers faced a similar threat. Researchers share the lessons from these earlier flood survivors.

When Designer Gregory Ladner was in maths class his books were not filled with the workings of long division. What filled the pages instead were doodles of high-heeled shoes. These illustrations were the just the beginnings of a what would become a flamboyant life in the land of haute couture.

His book, A Boy and his Bear, is full of recollections from life in suburban Melbourne of the 1950's to the world of high fashion.

When Designer Gregory Ladner was in maths class his books were not filled with the workings of long division. What filled the pages instead were doodles of high-heeled shoes. These illustrations were the just the beginnings of a what would become a flamboyant life in the land of haute couture.

His book, A Boy and his Bear, is full of recollections from life in suburban Melbourne of the 1950's to the world of high fashion.

When Designer Gregory Ladner was in maths class his books were not filled with the workings of long division. What filled the pages instead were doodles of high-heeled shoes. These illustrations were the just the beginnings of a what would become a flamboyant life in the land of haute couture.

His book, A Boy and his Bear, is full of recollections from life in suburban Melbourne of the 1950's to the world of high fashion.

When freshwater ecologist and slow food advocate Deb Bogenhuber witnessed Mildura's agricultural land being overwhelmed by relentless dust storms in 2019-2020, she wanted to leave. Instead, Deb and her community began to find solutions to the problem of food sovereignty and water scarcity, while giving landless farmers like Jocelyn Majambere a place to grow and belong.

When freshwater ecologist and slow food advocate Deb Bogenhuber witnessed Mildura's agricultural land being overwhelmed by relentless dust storms in 2019-2020, she wanted to leave. Instead, Deb and her community began to find solutions to the problem of food sovereignty and water scarcity, while giving landless farmers like Jocelyn Majambere a place to grow and belong.

When freshwater ecologist and slow food advocate Deb Bogenhuber witnessed Mildura's agricultural land being overwhelmed by relentless dust storms in 2019-2020, she wanted to leave. Instead, Deb and her community began to find solutions to the problem of food sovereignty and water scarcity, while giving landless farmers like Jocelyn Majambere a place to grow and belong.

It's almost impossible to exist without an internet connected device or a mobile phone. But there are still many Australians who are excluded from accessing services and opportunities that a good internet and mobile connection, and the ability to use it, provides.

It's almost impossible to exist without an internet connected device or a mobile phone. But there are still many Australians who are excluded from accessing services and opportunities that a good internet and mobile connection, and the ability to use it, provides.

It's almost impossible to exist without an internet connected device or a mobile phone. But there are still many Australians who are excluded from accessing services and opportunities that a good internet and mobile connection, and the ability to use it, provides.

Thinking about where an object has been and how it's been used can be a window into history. Lydia Fegan's father had a martini shaker that's seen a lot of action.

Thinking about where an object has been and how it's been used can be a window into history. Lydia Fegan's father had a martini shaker that's seen a lot of action.

Thinking about where an object has been and how it's been used can be a window into history. Lydia Fegan's father had a martini shaker that's seen a lot of action.

The pandemic has thrown a lot of things up in the air, not least how we work. Some changes are here to stay, but who benefits and how will we be working in 10 years?

The pandemic has thrown a lot of things up in the air, not least how we work. Some changes are here to stay, but who benefits and how will we be working in 10 years?

The pandemic has thrown a lot of things up in the air, not least how we work. Some changes are here to stay, but who benefits and how will we be working in 10 years?

Your sister visits every few months, and most times she drops a comment about your housekeeping. It's not her business how you keep your home, and you want her to desist from such comments. How do you handle it?

Your sister visits every few months, and most times she drops a comment about your housekeeping. It's not her business how you keep your home, and you want her to desist from such comments. How do you handle it?

Your sister visits every few months, and most times she drops a comment about your housekeeping. It's not her business how you keep your home, and you want her to desist from such comments. How do you handle it?

What's worked when it comes to dating the second or third time round? And can your experience help someone who hasn't dated in a while?

What's worked when it comes to dating the second or third time round? And can your experience help someone who hasn't dated in a while?

What's worked when it comes to dating the second or third time round? And can your experience help someone who hasn't dated in a while?

For Tiny Tasters, part of the ABC's Your Move campaign, broadcaster, award-winning author and Life Matters regular Alice Zaslavksy explores vital nutritional factoids and debunks the myths around eating to deliver you bite-sized chunks of health advice for better health at every age. This episode, the ABC's Dr Norman Swan delivers some sound advice around eating in pregnancy.

For Tiny Tasters, part of the ABC's Your Move campaign, broadcaster, award-winning author and Life Matters regular Alice Zaslavksy explores vital nutritional factoids and debunks the myths around eating to deliver you bite-sized chunks of health advice for better health at every age. This episode, the ABC's Dr Norman Swan delivers some sound advice around eating in pregnancy.

For Tiny Tasters, part of the ABC's Your Move campaign, broadcaster, award-winning author and Life Matters regular Alice Zaslavksy explores vital nutritional factoids and debunks the myths around eating to deliver you bite-sized chunks of health advice for better health at every age. This episode, the ABC's Dr Norman Swan delivers some sound advice around eating in pregnancy.

As a surfer, who’d been swimming past rubbish his whole life, Pete Ceglinski thought, If we have bins on land, why not in the ocean?' Six years later, Pete has 850 of his 'seabins' in 52 countries in the world. And, this month, in Sydney, he’s launching the world’s first 'Seabin Ocean Health Lab' to analyse the rubbish he’s scooped up.

As a surfer, who’d been swimming past rubbish his whole life, Pete Ceglinski thought, If we have bins on land, why not in the ocean?' Six years later, Pete has 850 of his 'seabins' in 52 countries in the world. And, this month, in Sydney, he’s launching the world’s first 'Seabin Ocean Health Lab' to analyse the rubbish he’s scooped up.

As a surfer, who’d been swimming past rubbish his whole life, Pete Ceglinski thought, If we have bins on land, why not in the ocean?' Six years later, Pete has 850 of his 'seabins' in 52 countries in the world. And, this month, in Sydney, he’s launching the world’s first 'Seabin Ocean Health Lab' to analyse the rubbish he’s scooped up.

Long before there was the ‘resilience movement’, there was the ‘coping movement’. It focuses on helping people enjoy life, no matter what stress comes their way. Dr Erica Frydenberg, a leader in the field, says there’s never been a more important time to build your ‘coping repertoire’ and she’d like to teach as many people as possible how to do it.

Long before there was the ‘resilience movement’, there was the ‘coping movement’. It focuses on helping people enjoy life, no matter what stress comes their way. Dr Erica Frydenberg, a leader in the field, says there’s never been a more important time to build your ‘coping repertoire’ and she’d like to teach as many people as possible how to do it.

Long before there was the ‘resilience movement’, there was the ‘coping movement’. It focuses on helping people enjoy life, no matter what stress comes their way. Dr Erica Frydenberg, a leader in the field, says there’s never been a more important time to build your ‘coping repertoire’ and she’d like to teach as many people as possible how to do it.

Everything about health insurance, if you actually need it, and how we can tailor it exactly to our needs… for cheap.

Everything about health insurance, if you actually need it, and how we can tailor it exactly to our needs… for cheap.

Everything about health insurance, if you actually need it, and how we can tailor it exactly to our needs… for cheap.

There's been a dramatic increase in the types of vehicles on our roads, bike paths and shared lanes. They're perfect for commuting short distances and could be reducing congestion and pollution but the laws are not keeping up with these alternative types of transport.

There's been a dramatic increase in the types of vehicles on our roads, bike paths and shared lanes. They're perfect for commuting short distances and could be reducing congestion and pollution but the laws are not keeping up with these alternative types of transport.

There's been a dramatic increase in the types of vehicles on our roads, bike paths and shared lanes. They're perfect for commuting short distances and could be reducing congestion and pollution but the laws are not keeping up with these alternative types of transport.

Randa Abdel-Fattah's 11 Words for Love takes children on a voyage through the richness of the Arabic language, but the inspiration behind her book came from an unexpected place – the work of Egyptian singer Umm Kulthum.

Randa Abdel-Fattah's 11 Words for Love takes children on a voyage through the richness of the Arabic language, but the inspiration behind her book came from an unexpected place – the work of Egyptian singer Umm Kulthum.

Randa Abdel-Fattah's 11 Words for Love takes children on a voyage through the richness of the Arabic language, but the inspiration behind her book came from an unexpected place – the work of Egyptian singer Umm Kulthum.

Maggie Cross and her sisters found a rare object in a box when they were clearing out their mum's farmhouse. It was a caul that had covered Maggie's face when she was born.

Maggie Cross and her sisters found a rare object in a box when they were clearing out their mum's farmhouse. It was a caul that had covered Maggie's face when she was born.

Maggie Cross and her sisters found a rare object in a box when they were clearing out their mum's farmhouse. It was a caul that had covered Maggie's face when she was born.

The latest figures show residential rental vacancies at their lowest levels ever. Fixing the rental crisis means releasing more land, building more homes and other measures that are longer term solutions. So what can be done in the meantime?

The latest figures show residential rental vacancies at their lowest levels ever. Fixing the rental crisis means releasing more land, building more homes and other measures that are longer term solutions. So what can be done in the meantime?

The latest figures show residential rental vacancies at their lowest levels ever. Fixing the rental crisis means releasing more land, building more homes and other measures that are longer term solutions. So what can be done in the meantime?

Singer and actor Rob 'Millsy' Mills has always considered himself a typical Australian bloke, even under the lights on the country's biggest stages. But when two of his friends died during COVID lockdown, he realised that mantle weighed heavily on him, causing him to bury his feelings and neglect his mental health. Realising most of his mates were going through the same thing, he embarked on a mission to explore Australian masculinity and how we can reimagine what it means to be a man.

Singer and actor Rob 'Millsy' Mills has always considered himself a typical Australian bloke, even under the lights on the country's biggest stages. But when two of his friends died during COVID lockdown, he realised that mantle weighed heavily on him, causing him to bury his feelings and neglect his mental health. Realising most of his mates were going through the same thing, he embarked on a mission to explore Australian masculinity and how we can reimagine what it means to be a man.

Singer and actor Rob 'Millsy' Mills has always considered himself a typical Australian bloke, even under the lights on the country's biggest stages. But when two of his friends died during COVID lockdown, he realised that mantle weighed heavily on him, causing him to bury his feelings and neglect his mental health. Realising most of his mates were going through the same thing, he embarked on a mission to explore Australian masculinity and how we can reimagine what it means to be a man.

Rachel Buchanan's precious object is a child's drawing she's hung on to for years, and it reveals life through the eyes of her then 4-year-old daughter.

Rachel Buchanan's precious object is a child's drawing she's hung on to for years, and it reveals life through the eyes of her then 4-year-old daughter.

Rachel Buchanan's precious object is a child's drawing she's hung on to for years, and it reveals life through the eyes of her then 4-year-old daughter.

The bombings in Bali were 20 years ago this week, but for some the effects linger. The chances of being caught up in a terrorist attack are extremely remote, especially in Australia, but when it does happen, what do victims and affected communities need to recover? Survivor Phil Britten says that one lesson he learnt was, "we're not guaranteed tomorrow."

The bombings in Bali were 20 years ago this week, but for some the effects linger. The chances of being caught up in a terrorist attack are extremely remote, especially in Australia, but when it does happen, what do victims and affected communities need to recover? Survivor Phil Britten says that one lesson he learnt was, "we're not guaranteed tomorrow."

The bombings in Bali were 20 years ago this week, but for some the effects linger. The chances of being caught up in a terrorist attack are extremely remote, especially in Australia, but when it does happen, what do victims and affected communities need to recover? Survivor Phil Britten says that one lesson he learnt was, "we're not guaranteed tomorrow."

You have received a photo from years ago from an old a classmate asking if you remember her. You have no desire to resume friendship or any relationship with this person. 'What is a nice thing to say if she continues to message?

You have received a photo from years ago from an old a classmate asking if you remember her. You have no desire to resume friendship or any relationship with this person. 'What is a nice thing to say if she continues to message?

You have received a photo from years ago from an old a classmate asking if you remember her. You have no desire to resume friendship or any relationship with this person. 'What is a nice thing to say if she continues to message?

We hear your stories and tips about learning to cook, and get advice and encouragement from a cooking expert.

We hear your stories and tips about learning to cook, and get advice and encouragement from a cooking expert.

We hear your stories and tips about learning to cook, and get advice and encouragement from a cooking expert.

For best-selling children’s author Sally Rippin, a love of books was central to her identity, so when her son struggled with the basics of reading, it really threw her for a loop. It was only after he became so disenchanted with school that he wanted to drop out that she realised she had to take action.

For best-selling children’s author Sally Rippin, a love of books was central to her identity, so when her son struggled with the basics of reading, it really threw her for a loop. It was only after he became so disenchanted with school that he wanted to drop out that she realised she had to take action.

For best-selling children’s author Sally Rippin, a love of books was central to her identity, so when her son struggled with the basics of reading, it really threw her for a loop. It was only after he became so disenchanted with school that he wanted to drop out that she realised she had to take action.

Making tea was an important ritual in Anne Hywood's house growing up, and she still has a precious object from that time.

Making tea was an important ritual in Anne Hywood's house growing up, and she still has a precious object from that time.

Making tea was an important ritual in Anne Hywood's house growing up, and she still has a precious object from that time.

Even though Dr Maddi Derrick is a psychologist herself, when she received her own diagnosis of ADHD, it took her years to shake her misconceptions and fully accept it. The newly released clinical guidelines for ADHD are aimed at supporting those like Maddi to have a better path through diagnosis and treatment.

Even though Dr Maddi Derrick is a psychologist herself, when she received her own diagnosis of ADHD, it took her years to shake her misconceptions and fully accept it. The newly released clinical guidelines for ADHD are aimed at supporting those like Maddi to have a better path through diagnosis and treatment.

Even though Dr Maddi Derrick is a psychologist herself, when she received her own diagnosis of ADHD, it took her years to shake her misconceptions and fully accept it. The newly released clinical guidelines for ADHD are aimed at supporting those like Maddi to have a better path through diagnosis and treatment.

From insulating your home to choosing the right appliances, here are all the small and radical ways to cut those dreaded energy bills, while being kinder to the environment at the same time.

From insulating your home to choosing the right appliances, here are all the small and radical ways to cut those dreaded energy bills, while being kinder to the environment at the same time.

From insulating your home to choosing the right appliances, here are all the small and radical ways to cut those dreaded energy bills, while being kinder to the environment at the same time.

When a child feel detached from school and refuse to attend, it can play havoc with their family and prospects. Tens of thousands of children aren't enrolled in school, and that number may be much higher. So how do we engage those falling out of the system?

When a child feel detached from school and refuse to attend, it can play havoc with their family and prospects. Tens of thousands of children aren't enrolled in school, and that number may be much higher. So how do we engage those falling out of the system?

When a child feel detached from school and refuse to attend, it can play havoc with their family and prospects. Tens of thousands of children aren't enrolled in school, and that number may be much higher. So how do we engage those falling out of the system?

Where do mental illness stories begin? This is a question Author Anna Spargo-Ryan asks. She can trace her own feelings of irrational fear back to her three year old self.

Where do mental illness stories begin? This is a question Author Anna Spargo-Ryan asks. She can trace her own feelings of irrational fear back to her three year old self.

Where do mental illness stories begin? This is a question Author Anna Spargo-Ryan asks. She can trace her own feelings of irrational fear back to her three year old self.

There are fears of a recession here in Australia, as a result of market forces in Europe and the United States. It's enough to make anyone with investments feel a bit wobbly! So what's the best strategy right now?

There are fears of a recession here in Australia, as a result of market forces in Europe and the United States. It's enough to make anyone with investments feel a bit wobbly! So what's the best strategy right now?

There are fears of a recession here in Australia, as a result of market forces in Europe and the United States. It's enough to make anyone with investments feel a bit wobbly! So what's the best strategy right now?

It might seem mad to get in an icebath but plenty of people sing the praises of cold water immersion for managing stress. But why does it work, and can anyone embrace the icy mental health benefits?

It might seem mad to get in an icebath but plenty of people sing the praises of cold water immersion for managing stress. But why does it work, and can anyone embrace the icy mental health benefits?

It might seem mad to get in an icebath but plenty of people sing the praises of cold water immersion for managing stress. But why does it work, and can anyone embrace the icy mental health benefits?

When you're a refugee, items from home are precious indeed, and you sometimes don't have any at all. Danijel Malbasa was a child when he came to Australia with his family, and his precious object is a photo from that time.

When you're a refugee, items from home are precious indeed, and you sometimes don't have any at all. Danijel Malbasa was a child when he came to Australia with his family, and his precious object is a photo from that time.

When you're a refugee, items from home are precious indeed, and you sometimes don't have any at all. Danijel Malbasa was a child when he came to Australia with his family, and his precious object is a photo from that time.

The decades of cheap flights we've enjoyed might be coming to an end. The airline industry had a massive shake-up during the pandemic and now fares are increasing as airlines try to recover, and prepare for whatever's next.

The decades of cheap flights we've enjoyed might be coming to an end. The airline industry had a massive shake-up during the pandemic and now fares are increasing as airlines try to recover, and prepare for whatever's next.

The decades of cheap flights we've enjoyed might be coming to an end. The airline industry had a massive shake-up during the pandemic and now fares are increasing as airlines try to recover, and prepare for whatever's next.

Your sister-in-law, after falling out with her family, asked you to let her know if one of her parents had a medical emergency. You did, and now she is using it against them for not informing her. Do you act as mediator, or keep out of it?

Your sister-in-law, after falling out with her family, asked you to let her know if one of her parents had a medical emergency. You did, and now she is using it against them for not informing her. Do you act as mediator, or keep out of it?

How have you developed your relationship with your in-laws? What's helped to make it strong and loving?

How have you developed your relationship with your in-laws? What's helped to make it strong and loving?

Professor Fiona Wood became a household name following the Bali bombings in 2002 and innovation in treating burns victims has seen her awarded across the country.

Professor Fiona Wood became a household name following the Bali bombings in 2002 and innovation in treating burns victims has seen her awarded across the country.

Pianos are not so common in the home these days, but before television, it was an object families would gather around in the evenings. Nola Bahnisch tells the story of a piano that's precious to her.

Pianos are not so common in the home these days, but before television, it was an object families would gather around in the evenings. Nola Bahnisch tells the story of a piano that's precious to her.

Early in her career, to make some extra cash , bestselling author Leslie Jamison worked as a medical actor. This involved pretending to have a range of medical conditions in front of medical students, so the students could practise treating patients. The experience taught her a lot about what authentic empathy looks like.

Early in her career, to make some extra cash , bestselling author Leslie Jamison worked as a medical actor. This involved pretending to have a range of medical conditions in front of medical students, so the students could practise treating patients. The experience taught her a lot about what authentic empathy looks like.

How much stuff do babies need? It's probably less than you think.

How much stuff do babies need? It's probably less than you think.

The 97-year-old survivor of the Holocaust explains that rejecting hate has helped him manage the trauma of his experience.

The 97-year-old survivor of the Holocaust explains that rejecting hate has helped him manage the trauma of his experience.

You need to fill out a form for just about everything, and most would agree that they're a huge pain. Many forms take time, energy, resources and literacy that some of our most vulnerable don't have, creating a barrier to accessing essential services. So how do we make forms more accessible?

You need to fill out a form for just about everything, and most would agree that they're a huge pain. Many forms take time, energy, resources and literacy that some of our most vulnerable don't have, creating a barrier to accessing essential services. So how do we make forms more accessible?

With a third year of La Niña confirmed, wetter weather is again expected for the Northern and Eastern parts of the country, resulting in more prolific pasture growth. What can hay fever sufferers expect?

With a third year of La Niña confirmed, wetter weather is again expected for the Northern and Eastern parts of the country, resulting in more prolific pasture growth. What can hay fever sufferers expect?

What are some everyday solutions to help young people deal with mental health challenges?

What are some everyday solutions to help young people deal with mental health challenges?

The Optus data breach has rocked consumers. If you're affected, what should you do now? And what more can be done by business and governments to protect you?

The Optus data breach has rocked consumers. If you're affected, what should you do now? And what more can be done by business and governments to protect you?

Around the country, teacher shortages have reached crisis levels. Teachers are leaving the profession citing exhaustion, disillusionment and burdensome bureaucratic box ticking that’s taking them away from their core work of teaching.

Around the country, teacher shortages have reached crisis levels. Teachers are leaving the profession citing exhaustion, disillusionment and burdensome bureaucratic box ticking that’s taking them away from their core work of teaching.

Women over 50 have long been a rarity on our screens, especially as sexually empowered and desirable characters, though that has begun to change. We look at how this culture holds back our sexual agency and how to get the pleasure you want as you age.

Women over 50 have long been a rarity on our screens, especially as sexually empowered and desirable characters, though that has begun to change. We look at how this culture holds back our sexual agency and how to get the pleasure you want as you age.

While most 30-year-olds are building their careers, saving for a house and planning for a secure future, Rich East was looking for an alternative.

While most 30-year-olds are building their careers, saving for a house and planning for a secure future, Rich East was looking for an alternative.

Writer, musician, and disability advocate Eliza Hull wanted to see more stories celebrating the lives of children and families who live with disability. Together with Sally Rippin, her picture book Come Over To My House, shows how these families live and play.

Writer, musician, and disability advocate Eliza Hull wanted to see more stories celebrating the lives of children and families who live with disability. Together with Sally Rippin, her picture book Come Over To My House, shows how these families live and play.

Dorothy Taylor was a young student nurse, living in London when King George VI died. She tells the tale of her visit to Westminster Hall.

Dorothy Taylor was a young student nurse, living in London when King George VI died. She tells the tale of her visit to Westminster Hall.

It'll save you time and money, even if you're the most amateur of cooks. Nazeem unearths all the best tips, advice and foodie suggestions all in one. And he won't charge an arm and a lettuce for it.

It'll save you time and money, even if you're the most amateur of cooks. Nazeem unearths all the best tips, advice and foodie suggestions all in one. And he won't charge an arm and a lettuce for it.

"James" was a heart transplant recipient a few decades ago and he and a fellow recipient kept crossing paths. They shared a heart-shaped necklace for a time.

"James" was a heart transplant recipient a few decades ago and he and a fellow recipient kept crossing paths. They shared a heart-shaped necklace for a time.

As students prepare for their final exams, they might not have realistic ideas about the world of work that awaits them after graduation. New research shows that students are being under served by careers education at school, so how can we make the transition healthier for all young adults?

As students prepare for their final exams, they might not have realistic ideas about the world of work that awaits them after graduation. New research shows that students are being under served by careers education at school, so how can we make the transition healthier for all young adults?

Bronwyn Rennex's father served in the Vietnam War, but he never talked about it. Her experience of trying to fill in the gaps of a father she never really knew, and to understand who he was during and after the war, forms the heart of her book, Life with Birds: a suburban lyric.

Bronwyn Rennex's father served in the Vietnam War, but he never talked about it. Her experience of trying to fill in the gaps of a father she never really knew, and to understand who he was during and after the war, forms the heart of her book, Life with Birds: a suburban lyric.

We're all looking for ways to escape our very modern problems, but the answer might lie in ancient wisdom from Greco-Roman times. Columnist and author Brigid Delaney shares her journey to practising stoicism, how it helps her through the trials of modern life, and how it can help you too.

We're all looking for ways to escape our very modern problems, but the answer might lie in ancient wisdom from Greco-Roman times. Columnist and author Brigid Delaney shares her journey to practising stoicism, how it helps her through the trials of modern life, and how it can help you too.

Climate change and other global phenomena are contributing to the higher cost of all insurance policies, not just the ones related to your home. So what can we do?

Climate change and other global phenomena are contributing to the higher cost of all insurance policies, not just the ones related to your home. So what can we do?

These days suitcases come with wheels and are pretty easy to get around. But when people travelled by boat, they would often put their belongings in a big, heavy and cumbersome trunk. Margaret Adamson still has the trunk that belonged to her father.

These days suitcases come with wheels and are pretty easy to get around. But when people travelled by boat, they would often put their belongings in a big, heavy and cumbersome trunk. Margaret Adamson still has the trunk that belonged to her father.

This year has seen the deaths of a number of high-profile people. These losses can often shake us up and provoke reactions, which can be surprising, even to ourselves.

This year has seen the deaths of a number of high-profile people. These losses can often shake us up and provoke reactions, which can be surprising, even to ourselves.

Your brother and family from overseas have booked to come and stay for a week in the school holidays. This is news to you. How do you handle it?

Your brother and family from overseas have booked to come and stay for a week in the school holidays. This is news to you. How do you handle it?

What can the five love languages - touch, quality time, gifts, acts of service and words - tell us about our needs in a relationship and how we understand love?

What can the five love languages - touch, quality time, gifts, acts of service and words - tell us about our needs in a relationship and how we understand love?

Spending days dreaming about 'killing the enemy', lifting weights until he couldn’t move his arms, and making himself look as 'scary as possible'. This is not the person Dr Dan Pronk was when he joined the special forces. But, after more than 100 missions in Afghanistan, he says it was who he became. Then he decided to rebuild himself.

Spending days dreaming about 'killing the enemy', lifting weights until he couldn’t move his arms, and making himself look as 'scary as possible'. This is not the person Dr Dan Pronk was when he joined the special forces. But, after more than 100 missions in Afghanistan, he says it was who he became. Then he decided to rebuild himself.

Tanya Steele's dad once worked on a mine site, and a piece of manganese from a visit to his work holds special memories for her.

Tanya Steele's dad once worked on a mine site, and a piece of manganese from a visit to his work holds special memories for her.

Of all the factors that help you live longer, being socially connected tops the list - reducing early death by 46 per cent. And new research shows that the act of sending a text to a friend can have a great impact on their happiness. So what’s the best way to check in with friends? And how can you make more of them?

Of all the factors that help you live longer, being socially connected tops the list - reducing early death by 46 per cent. And new research shows that the act of sending a text to a friend can have a great impact on their happiness. So what’s the best way to check in with friends? And how can you make more of them?

Buying other people's stuff is not only better for the planet, but it can save you huge amounts of cash. Here's how to play your cards at the marketplace and score big on every site like it.

Buying other people's stuff is not only better for the planet, but it can save you huge amounts of cash. Here's how to play your cards at the marketplace and score big on every site like it.

If you're lucky enough to have some savings stashed away, you might be wondering about the best place to put it. With mortgage rates on the rise, are interest rates on savings following?

If you're lucky enough to have some savings stashed away, you might be wondering about the best place to put it. With mortgage rates on the rise, are interest rates on savings following?

Juggling career and possibly a young family while caring for an ageing or disabled relative can be overwhelming. It's a job, even if many carers don't identify as such. So what more can be done to support carers' financial, mental and physical wellbeing?

Juggling career and possibly a young family while caring for an ageing or disabled relative can be overwhelming. It's a job, even if many carers don't identify as such. So what more can be done to support carers' financial, mental and physical wellbeing?

Whatever the format, crime has long been a burgeoning genre. So, why are we so obsessed with murder mysteries, serial killers and true crime?

Whatever the format, crime has long been a burgeoning genre. So, why are we so obsessed with murder mysteries, serial killers and true crime?

Are you a collector? When Vanessa Glenn and Steve Towson found their collection of Australian folk music exceeded any library they visited, they decided to start their own.

Are you a collector? When Vanessa Glenn and Steve Towson found their collection of Australian folk music exceeded any library they visited, they decided to start their own.

Even though they're so common, getting a proper diagnosis and treatment for migraine is difficult. So what can be done to change that?

Even though they're so common, getting a proper diagnosis and treatment for migraine is difficult. So what can be done to change that?

Ros Shute moved from England to Australia and, in the process, lost a very precious family object. But that wasn't the end of the story.

Ros Shute moved from England to Australia and, in the process, lost a very precious family object. But that wasn't the end of the story.

What incentives would it take for people to downsize and free up desperately needed housing stock.

What incentives would it take for people to downsize and free up desperately needed housing stock.

We hear your memories of Queen Elizabeth II. Perhaps you saw her on one of her sixteen visits to Australia? What will you remember most about her reign and her impact on this country?

We hear your memories of Queen Elizabeth II. Perhaps you saw her on one of her sixteen visits to Australia? What will you remember most about her reign and her impact on this country?

When broadcaster Jacinta Parsons first noticed she was ageing, she realised that, to move happily through to the next stage of life, she would need to free herself from the negative stereotypes about older women that she had internalised.

When broadcaster Jacinta Parsons first noticed she was ageing, she realised that, to move happily through to the next stage of life, she would need to free herself from the negative stereotypes about older women that she had internalised.

Margot Firth is the keeper of an OBE medal belonging to her great grandmother. Learning about its origins taught her about the lives and past achievements of her family.

Margot Firth is the keeper of an OBE medal belonging to her great grandmother. Learning about its origins taught her about the lives and past achievements of her family.

When it comes to managing the environments outside our cities, there’s been an increasing understanding about the importance of First Nations' practices. But what does it look like to make sure we’re caring for country when planning urban spaces, designing city buildings and constructing major infrastructure projects?

When it comes to managing the environments outside our cities, there’s been an increasing understanding about the importance of First Nations' practices. But what does it look like to make sure we’re caring for country when planning urban spaces, designing city buildings and constructing major infrastructure projects?

Lawns can be beautiful and there's nothing like the smell of freshly cut grass – but is the maintenance and environmental cost worth it?

Lawns can be beautiful and there's nothing like the smell of freshly cut grass – but is the maintenance and environmental cost worth it?

With millions of Australians affected by arthritis, it's little wonder many products – especially supplements – are marketed to help ease symptoms. But do they work?

With millions of Australians affected by arthritis, it's little wonder many products – especially supplements – are marketed to help ease symptoms. But do they work?

Australia is a world leader in mammal extinction, owing to climate change and habitat loss. It’s a tough topic for adults, so how should you explain it to kids without overwhelming them?

Australia is a world leader in mammal extinction, owing to climate change and habitat loss. It’s a tough topic for adults, so how should you explain it to kids without overwhelming them?

In her new memoir, Desi Girl, Sarah writes about the complexities and nuances of coming of age as a first generation Pakistani-Australian, in the shadow of 9/11 and all that came after. She explores what it was like to carve out a space for herself in a place that wasn't built for people like her.

In her new memoir, Desi Girl, Sarah writes about the complexities and nuances of coming of age as a first generation Pakistani-Australian, in the shadow of 9/11 and all that came after. She explores what it was like to carve out a space for herself in a place that wasn't built for people like her.

Author Susan Orlean's first foray into writing, aged six, was a story called Herbert the Near-Sighted Pigeon. In the decades since, she's continued to return to stories about animal-human relationships. Her latest book, On Animals, celebrates creatures large and small - from orcas to backyard hens.

Author Susan Orlean's first foray into writing, aged six, was a story called Herbert the Near-Sighted Pigeon. In the decades since, she's continued to return to stories about animal-human relationships. Her latest book, On Animals, celebrates creatures large and small - from orcas to backyard hens.

How much do you know about the physical changes going on in your body and how they can impact your mental health?

How much do you know about the physical changes going on in your body and how they can impact your mental health?

Amazing things can happen when you wish for something hard enough. That was the case for Chris Larke, who after many years, and in another country entirely, found a precious object her mother had always wanted.

Amazing things can happen when you wish for something hard enough. That was the case for Chris Larke, who after many years, and in another country entirely, found a precious object her mother had always wanted.

New economic conditions or a realisation of the dire state of the budget have all been used to break elections promises, but do the public see these as legitimate reasons?

New economic conditions or a realisation of the dire state of the budget have all been used to break elections promises, but do the public see these as legitimate reasons?

An affair you had early in your relationship has come back to haunt you. You are worried he is going to tell your partner, although he hasn't indicated he will. Should you discreetly speak to the man you had the affair with? Or leave well enough alone?

An affair you had early in your relationship has come back to haunt you. You are worried he is going to tell your partner, although he hasn't indicated he will. Should you discreetly speak to the man you had the affair with? Or leave well enough alone?

When Karra Eloff was diagnosed with a chronic condition, she and her partner thought their relationship and their sex life were dead. Ten years on, having made slight adjustments to how they connect, their relationship is happier and sexier than ever. How are they doing it?

When Karra Eloff was diagnosed with a chronic condition, she and her partner thought their relationship and their sex life were dead. Ten years on, having made slight adjustments to how they connect, their relationship is happier and sexier than ever. How are they doing it?

Inherited treasures can be wonderful things, but in some cases they can put a burden of responsibility on the keeper. Carolyn Hinds tells the story of her precious object.

Inherited treasures can be wonderful things, but in some cases they can put a burden of responsibility on the keeper. Carolyn Hinds tells the story of her precious object.

If you don’t have much super, a high income or your own home, you may feel left out of a lot of the retirement advice on offer. But, these specialists say that, with the right plan, even those with less, can have a happy retirement. Here’s how to get started.

If you don’t have much super, a high income or your own home, you may feel left out of a lot of the retirement advice on offer. But, these specialists say that, with the right plan, even those with less, can have a happy retirement. Here’s how to get started.

Indigenous languages are disappearing at an alarming rate in Australia.

Children's birthday parties are highly anticipated events, but between dietary restrictions, a showstopper cake and the pressure of catering for a crowd, a small afternoon can quickly feel like a mammoth undertaking.

After realising she had autism, Sandra Thom-Jones began to understand that she didn't experience the world like neurotypical people.

After realising she had autism, Sandra Thom-Jones began to understand that she didn't experience the world like neurotypical people.

This year, New York State's Office for the Aging began delivering ElliQ robot companions to 800 of the state's older residents. What are the pros and cons of using AI-powered devices, particularly as we age?

This year, New York State's Office for the Aging began delivering ElliQ robot companions to 800 of the state's older residents. What are the pros and cons of using AI-powered devices, particularly as we age?

Buybacks for affected home-owners is one of the options under consideration to keep people safe and their living situations secure.

Buybacks for affected home-owners is one of the options under consideration to keep people safe and their living situations secure.

Can we balance job security with the rise of the gig economy and still have long, fulfilling careers?

Can we balance job security with the rise of the gig economy and still have long, fulfilling careers?

You live in an apartment and hear loud moaning at night. You never hear any other party, which makes you think is she having night terrors and doesn't know? What do you do?

You live in an apartment and hear loud moaning at night. You never hear any other party, which makes you think is she having night terrors and doesn't know? What do you do?

Whether by choice or by circumstance, more people are living without children than ever before. While it's become more socially acceptable not to want kids as a twenty or thirty-something, the child-free can't escape the question - "but who will look after you when you're old?" We shed light on this invisible but growing cohort and learn how best to prepare as for life as a 'solo ager'.

Whether by choice or by circumstance, more people are living without children than ever before. While it's become more socially acceptable not to want kids as a twenty or thirty-something, the child-free can't escape the question - "but who will look after you when you're old?" We shed light on this invisible but growing cohort and learn how best to prepare as for life as a 'solo ager'.

After childbirth, many women get a rude shock when they’re confronted with pelvic floor issues ranging from slight incontinence to severe prolapse. The symptoms can lead to a loss of confidence and, even, an ‘unravelling of self’. But, with the right help, these issues can be made more manageable and, often, cured.

After childbirth, many women get a rude shock when they’re confronted with pelvic floor issues ranging from slight incontinence to severe prolapse. The symptoms can lead to a loss of confidence and, even, an ‘unravelling of self’. But, with the right help, these issues can be made more manageable and, often, cured.

There are a few creatures that transform themselves from one completely different thing to another. Michele Juratowich tells the story of one that truly became a precious object for her.

There are a few creatures that transform themselves from one completely different thing to another. Michele Juratowich tells the story of one that truly became a precious object for her.

As the aged care worker shortage worsens, one suggestion is to make it easier for pensioners to work more hours, in the hope that they’ll consider jobs in aged care. Would this help? What other solutions could fix this crisis?

As the aged care worker shortage worsens, one suggestion is to make it easier for pensioners to work more hours, in the hope that they’ll consider jobs in aged care. Would this help? What other solutions could fix this crisis?

For most people, work isn't just about clocking in and clocking out – professional networks matter in deciding who progresses. How has working from home changed the relationships we form at work?

For Margaret McDonald and Hugh Sykes, an affinity for electric vehicles sparked a whirlwind romance. The retired newlyweds are about to head off on a honeymoon.

Coaches are no longer confined to the sporting world, now there are coaches for almost every aspect of our lives - divorce, retirement, career, intimacy, leadership, weight loss, finance... you name it, someone says they can coach you through it. But what makes someone a coach exactly? How can you be sure their advice is legitimate? It's unregulated and murky.

Cat Yen's dream was to be a writer, but did she dare imagine it? As the daughter of Chinese immigrants who came here with their own dreams, she understood that no matter how hard you try dreams don't always come true.

We used to ask 'are you a morning or night person?'' but now, sleep apps and coaches say there are several different types including lions, wolves and dolphins. So how proven are chronotypes and should you buy into the menagerie for better sleep?

What's the situation for refugees, asylum seekers and migrants already in Australia when it comes to settling here permanently and getting meaningful and sustainable work?

Sometimes an item of clothing you've had for a long time can be hard to part with. For Michael Randall, it's his Greg Chappell cricket hat.

With climate change looming large, how different will our food be in 20 years?

A friend often suggests outings, however, she often cancels on the day of the outing saying a family member urgently needs her. You feel let down. How do you tell her how disappointed you feel without hurting her?

A friend often suggests outings, however, she often cancels on the day of the outing saying a family member urgently needs her. You feel let down. How do you tell her how disappointed you feel without hurting her?

Feeling comfortable expressing your sexuality can be challenging. But there are ways to feel more free, and sex positive, if that's what you want. How have you gone about becoming more sex positive, by yourself or in a relationship?

Feeling comfortable expressing your sexuality can be challenging. But there are ways to feel more free, and sex positive, if that's what you want. How have you gone about becoming more sex positive, by yourself or in a relationship?

Jane's partner Michael was an artist, and she found something special, with his handwriting on it, when she was packing up his studio after he died.

Jane's partner Michael was an artist, and she found something special, with his handwriting on it, when she was packing up his studio after he died.

Humility has been espoused since the days of the Greek gods. Now, social psychologist Dr Daryl Van Tongeren says, it turns out the gods were right – practising humility will make you happier — and he has the science to prove it .

Humility has been espoused since the days of the Greek gods. Now, social psychologist Dr Daryl Van Tongeren says, it turns out the gods were right – practising humility will make you happier — and he has the science to prove it .

Aussies love their mild winters, but studies show we have higher cold-related death rates than much colder nations like Sweden. This is partly due to our high levels of energy stress, which is on the rise. So how can we end it once and for all?

Aussies love their mild winters, but studies show we have higher cold-related death rates than much colder nations like Sweden. This is partly due to our high levels of energy stress, which is on the rise. So how can we end it once and for all?

When it comes to Australian animals, we can be a bit biased about our favourites. While we have a lot of love for fluffy marsupials and birds, invertebrates like bugs, spiders and snails are crucial for ecosystems and also need protection. We look at how to embrace those creepy crawlies.

When it comes to Australian animals, we can be a bit biased about our favourites. While we have a lot of love for fluffy marsupials and birds, invertebrates like bugs, spiders and snails are crucial for ecosystems and also need protection. We look at how to embrace those creepy crawlies.

These days, it's a heck of a lot cheaper and easier to just toss a piece of clothing that doesn't fit, and buy a new one.

These days, it's a heck of a lot cheaper and easier to just toss a piece of clothing that doesn't fit, and buy a new one.

"Not in My Backyard" or NIMBY for short, is a pejorative term for local residents who object to changes in their community.

By opposing new developments, social housing or environmental changes, NIMBYs often cop the blame for standing in the way of progress.

Where does the NIMBY mentality come from? And do they really deserve the ire?

"Not in My Backyard" or NIMBY for short, is a pejorative term for local residents who object to changes in their community.

By opposing new developments, social housing or environmental changes, NIMBYs often cop the blame for standing in the way of progress.

Where does the NIMBY mentality come from? And do they really deserve the ire?

You might not consider gardening, housework or playing with your kids to be exercise, but proponents of NEAT – Non-Exercise Activity Thermogenesis – say movement outside of structured physical activity has huge benefits for your health.

You might not consider gardening, housework or playing with your kids to be exercise, but proponents of NEAT – Non-Exercise Activity Thermogenesis – say movement outside of structured physical activity has huge benefits for your health.

Grief is a very personal experience, and everyone has their own way of processing the death of someone they love.

For three Tasmanian women, walking became a way to heal, as they each came to terms with the loss of their partners.

Grief is a very personal experience, and everyone has their own way of processing the death of someone they love.

For three Tasmanian women, walking became a way to heal, as they each came to terms with the loss of their partners.

If you're at work feeling stressed right now, you're not alone. Mindfulness and wellness courses have become big business and the coaching on offer is supposed to help us all cope.

If you're at work feeling stressed right now, you're not alone. Mindfulness and wellness courses have become big business and the coaching on offer is supposed to help us all cope.

Trees mean different things to different people.

The ABC is asking people to vote for their favourite Australian tree species as part of National Science Week.

Life Matters has branched out, asking listeners about their favourite tree stories.

Trees mean different things to different people.

The ABC is asking people to vote for their favourite Australian tree species as part of National Science Week.

Life Matters has branched out, asking listeners about their favourite tree stories.

You've had a complaint from your neighbours about your kids practising flute and piano. Is 7.30am too early to play musical instruments?

You've had a complaint from your neighbours about your kids practising flute and piano. Is 7.30am too early to play musical instruments?

We all get into disagreements with the people we love, but things can get heated if these spats are tied to deeply held values. Value clashes can teach us a lot about ourselves, but can be hard to navigate in relationships. We look at how to unearth our underlying values, find our dealbreakers and keep peace while staying true to ourselves.

We all get into disagreements with the people we love, but things can get heated if these spats are tied to deeply held values. Value clashes can teach us a lot about ourselves, but can be hard to navigate in relationships. We look at how to unearth our underlying values, find our dealbreakers and keep peace while staying true to ourselves.

Watching too much Netflix? Binge eating? Most of us have habits we wish we didn’t. But, what if you could retrain your brain so, instead of sabotaging your attempts to change, it helped you become the person you want to be?

Watching too much Netflix? Binge eating? Most of us have habits we wish we didn’t. But, what if you could retrain your brain so, instead of sabotaging your attempts to change, it helped you become the person you want to be?

When Ineke Blakeman was a young girl, there was a special piece of jewellery she admired, a charm bracelet.

When Ineke Blakeman was a young girl, there was a special piece of jewellery she admired, a charm bracelet.

Crowdfunded campaigns are everywhere but, as more of us give in this way, what does it mean for more traditional forms of charity? And, is this shift helping or harming those most in need? Godfather of effective altruism, Peter Singer, weighs in.

Crowdfunded campaigns are everywhere but, as more of us give in this way, what does it mean for more traditional forms of charity? And, is this shift helping or harming those most in need? Godfather of effective altruism, Peter Singer, weighs in.

As the number of idle, empty properties in Australia ticks past a million, and vacancy rates continue to dip, local councils around the country are taking matters into their own hands to ease the housing crisis.

As the number of idle, empty properties in Australia ticks past a million, and vacancy rates continue to dip, local councils around the country are taking matters into their own hands to ease the housing crisis.

Getting to know someone is stressful enough without worrying over a meal. From appropriate cuisines, aphrodisiacs, and what date to start cooking for a potential love interest, Alice Zaslavsky dishes on food to impress and romance.

Getting to know someone is stressful enough without worrying over a meal. From appropriate cuisines, aphrodisiacs, and what date to start cooking for a potential love interest, Alice Zaslavsky dishes on food to impress and romance.

New research showing links between the contraceptive pill and depression has many women questioning their use of hormonal family planning. But doctors are concerned that the uptick in methods like fertility awareness and withdrawal could raise the risk of unwanted pregnancy. We look at what impacts hormonal contraceptive methods have on mental health and how to make the best choice for your needs.

New research showing links between the contraceptive pill and depression has many women questioning their use of hormonal family planning. But doctors are concerned that the uptick in methods like fertility awareness and withdrawal could raise the risk of unwanted pregnancy. We look at what impacts hormonal contraceptive methods have on mental health and how to make the best choice for your needs.

Richard Crawley's dream was to make a film. He filmed everything, his family, the cows, and his own grief. His son James Crawley, now a filmmaker, has realised his father's dream in the making of Volcano Man.

Richard Crawley's dream was to make a film. He filmed everything, his family, the cows, and his own grief. His son James Crawley, now a filmmaker, has realised his father's dream in the making of Volcano Man.

As human populations expand into what was once the territory of wild animals, we've drastically altered their natural environment and living conditions. The dilemma of how we should consider and treat wild animals, has never been more difficult than it is right now. So how much should we intervene?

As human populations expand into what was once the territory of wild animals, we've drastically altered their natural environment and living conditions. The dilemma of how we should consider and treat wild animals, has never been more difficult than it is right now. So how much should we intervene?

In the past three decades, our trust of scientists has declined with more and more people doing their own research and cherry picking what science they accept. So, why don't we believe scientists like we used to?

In the past three decades, our trust of scientists has declined with more and more people doing their own research and cherry picking what science they accept. So, why don't we believe scientists like we used to?

Public art has the power to bring people together – and divide opinions like little else. Who is the intended audience? And how do you get it right for spectators now and in the future?

Your dad's new wife is demanding she be known as 'Grandma' to your children. You're not keen on the idea and have tried to suggest other names. It is beginning to cause a rift between you and your father. How do you deal with it?

"You can't tell me what to do anymore!" is a retort you might be familiar with as the parent of an adult child. So how do you renegotiate those parent-child boundaries, once they're over the legal age?

When we fight with our partners, we may think it’s about the dirty dishes or the kids, but couples' therapist Lissy Abrahams says it’s probably about our own issues and insecurities. She also says recognising this could save your relationship.

Gaby Purchase was so impressed with the positive attitude displayed by a character in the Disney movie 'A Bugs Life', that Flik became a precious object for her - one she's kept by her side for over two decades.

After hearing the latest on inflation this week, many of us who were all set to retire this year, may be having second thoughts. Leading financial adviser Marc Bineham says, with a solid investment strategy in place, there's no reason you can't stick to your plan.

Hair is a part of your identity, yet hair loss affects almost half of all men and women at some point in their lives. Dermatologist Rod Sinclair shares what products help, where you should look in your family tree and what sheep can teach us about hair regrowth.

Australians have only passed eight of the 44 referendums that have been held since Federation. In fact, referendums are believed to have such a low likelihood of passing, governments have put off putting questions of change to the public. How might we learn from the past when it comes to the vote on an Indigenous Voice to Parliament?

When Sam Vincent got the call his dad had stuck his hand in a woodchipper, he returned to the family farm to help out. His unofficial apprenticeship would send his life in an entirely new direction and forever change the relationship between father and son.

Hear Archie Roach and Jack Charles in this intimate discussion about the ways culture, community and creativity have played an integral role in their healing and empowerment.

Thousands of people have their wills done for free, or at a very low cost, with the Public Trustee in Queensland. An ABC investigation is revealing problems in the design and execution of these wills that mean loved ones can be charged high fees after you've gone.

Long COVID is causing confusion, with varied symptoms and unclear treatment options leaving sufferers stumped. More people are experiencing COVID symptoms more than 12 weeks from infection, regardless of how severe their initial infection was.

You are distressed by your 30-year-old daughter's messy, dirty house. It is now at the point that while you can visit her house, the dirt and cobwebs are just too distressing. You adore your grandchild and are afraid of repercussions if you push the matter of cleaning further. What can you do?

The most recent celebrity couple to do this are Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck, who recently married after 20 years apart. So what are the benefits and pitfalls of trying again with someone you've already been around the block with? And what improves your chances of making it work, the second, third or even fourth time round?

Roland Breckwoldt was working as a lab technician in Sydney when he heard about the chance to move to a remote cattle station in Queensland to become a stockman. He had no experience on a station and none of the skills needed for the job. But, everything inside him told him he, “just had to go”.

Have you ever dropped something precious into a place that makes it practically impossible to get back? Helena Sahm was on a holiday with her partner when something she loved was lost.

A new survey of 25,000 Australians found two thirds of us haven't been to a dentist for two years. Lockdowns were partly to blame, but cost was a factor too. This has driven some people to search for DIY dentistry tips on social media.

In just a few short months, the story of Wylah the Koorie Warrior has captured the imagination of young readers around Australia. Although her story is set in an alternate world with invading dragons and tame megafauna, the inspiration behind it is much closer to home.

Radio National's Dr Norman Swan is known by many Australians for his frank, engaging and accessible health advice. His latest book is a deep dive into the science behind what keeps you young, what ages you faster and what only serves to lighten your wallet.

State and territory governments have been making changes to residential tenancy laws that tip the balance in favour of renters and their right to secure and comfortable housing. The latest state to consider these is Western Australia. But, some investors are worried about how that will affect their rights and ability to earn income.

Dinesh Palipana was in the third year of medical school when his life changed in an instant, a car accident on a slippery road leaving him with a spinal chord injury. He has since become the first graduate doctor with quadriplegia to work in Queensland.

Food has always been a main character in Jess Ho's life. From the Cantonese food that brought her family together for rare moments of peace, to the intense hipster restaurant floors they worked in for a decade, Jess knows a thing or two about how food connects and divides. She discusses her heavy upbringing, the intensity of Melbourne's hospitality scene, cultural appropriation in food and how to be a good food lover in her new memoir Raised By Wolves.

Whether it's a common cold, or something more serious like RSV, influenza, or COVID-19, case numbers are high when it comes to infectious respiratory diseases this winter. So what are the differences in severity and infectiousness of these diseases, and what can we do to protect ourselves?

When you move from one country to another, you often have to leave a lot of material possessions behind. So the things you do choose to take are precious indeed. Els Houwen came to Australia from France and describes her precious object in a story she calls 'The Silver Spoon'.

The newly released State of the Environment report paints a grim picture of ecosystems on the brink and species in decline. How should we respond to this news and what should our governments prioritise?

Your-17-year-old son is having friends over. If they end up drinking you would rather your son do it at home than at the local park. You've told him you want to get in touch with the parents so it's up to them to decide if it's okay for their child to come, and to ask how would they feel about their children being exposed to alcohol at your house. Is this the right thing to do?

You might think you're careful in the way you give feedback to another person, whether it's a family member, a friend or someone at work. But it doesn't always go down so well! Here's how to improve that experience for everyone involved.

With the cost of living top of mind for many people, some are taking part in edible exchanges as a way to swap food with their neighbours. It's also somewhere you might exchange information and learn a thing or two about how to make your own garden or kitchen more productive.

Forget a mile! Try walking six years in the shoes of solo adventurer Angela Maxwell. Leaving her home in the US state of Oregon in 2014, Maxwell walked across four continents and visited some 14 countries.

With kids heading back to school for term three and another wave of COVID-19 upon us, attention is turning to ventilation and masks in schools to keep students and staff safe.

From the rough streets of Dundee, Scotland, Gary Todd grew up in the brutal, violent and poverty-stricken 'multis'. Gary was surrounded by violence growing up, whether that be in the flats, the streets, the pub or in his home.

Energy prices are still up, and so are your bills, with connection fees increasing as well. Short of building your own renewable power station, what can you do? Here are some tips for bringing that energy bill down.

As the cost-of-living continues to put pressure on Australians, more people are scrapping their scripts and ditching the doctor to buy groceries.

For some not covered by concessions, medicine is becoming too big a cost to bear, but what impacts will this have on their health and the system at large?

Many of us aspire to fairly traditional ideas of success, like buying a house or starting a family. But what happens when you don't meet those ideals of success? And how much control do you really have over what you aspire to?

Laurena Basutu came to Australia from Zimbabwe as a teenager in 2004. The free bus that she took to school each day opened her mind to a world where real opportunities can be enabled by a society's priorities.

According to recent research, the further you get from the city, the lower the education outcomes for children. Would more funding be enough to bridge the divide?

Darren Pope's precious object is a little piece of Australian history. It was made during a restorative period in the life of the well-known artist, John Perceval, who died in 2000.

The rise in internal migration to regional areas has been welcomed by many country towns, but are these new arrivals also an unwelcome source of displacement and gentrification?

You found a great pair of designer jeans in an op-shop and took them to your local alterations place to have the legs altered. Measurements were taken, you were given a quote, said you’d think about it, and left the jeans at the shop. Upon your return you found they had done the work without your consent but not in the way you had asked for. What do you do?

Having more than four kids was once the norm, but now it's uncommon to have a big family. So what challenges and advantages does a big family offer?

Can a woman truly belong in Christianity? Louise Omer was a preacher in a Pentecostal church in South Australia, until she had a crisis of faith. It led to her making a feminist theological pilgrimage half-way around the world.

Wearing an item that once belonged to a loved one, can be powerful. Cath Hains tells the story of her mother's decline and a ring that she holds dear.

Are the kids alright, when it comes to illicit drugs these days? Our interview with Michael Pollan about psychedelics and mental health prompted a concerned teacher to contact us about young people in schools taking illegal drugs they source on social media apps, including LSD. We ask the experts about teen drug use and how to minimise it.

They have millions of followers, earn thousands of dollars per post, and haven't even started high school – well-known child influencers are worth big money, but the path to fame isn't without risk. Experts say pint-sized content creators need more rights and protections, similar to child singers and actors.

Even before the latest grocery price hike, most Australians weren't eating enough fruit and vegetables. Would a return to eating seasonally see more of us pack our plates with greens?

What can you do when you have a bad interaction with a digital business? Regulators are working on protecting consumers dealing with digital platforms, but it's a battle, with major tech giants exploiting big loopholes in our laws with tricky design. So what recourse do you have and what still needs to be done?

Julie Peters thought she was a hoarder, but it turns out what she is holding on to was of great historical value. Growing up and trying to make sense of herself, Julie inadvertently amassed Australia's most comprehensive archive of transgender representation.

'Dopamine dressing' and 'dopamine travel' are two recent trends touting the power of colour to lift our spirits. But do colours really have the power to change our minds and emotions?

People in communities who've seen repeated flooding and bushfires in recent years are calling for new thinking on how to plan safer towns and suburbs, as the threat from climate change increases. So what might this look like and whose responsibility is it to make sure residents aren't at risk?

Australia has had more deaths from COVID-19 in the last six months than in the entire pandemic prior. Concern is now around two sub-variants, BA.4 and BA.5, which prompted ATAGI to give new advice about who should get a fourth booster and when.

After spending four years supporting your incarcerated best friend, and a year living together right after they were granted parole, you've found myself seriously mistreated and cut-off. Despite the hurt and heartbreak, you've decided you need to let go. How do you find closure in these circumstances?

Money can be a point of difference or even conflict when it comes to romantic relationships. So how do you and your partner deal with that? How do you negotiate joint responsibilities, savings and cash-splash vs frugal-finance styles when it comes to managing money? Tips from you and a relationship expert about how to create financial harmony in your relationship.

MDMA and psilocybin are just some of the psychoactive drugs that are being tested out here in Australia and overseas to see if they can be used to treat psychological disorders and improve mental health. Michael Pollan's new documentary explores the possibilities in a new television series, based on his best-selling book.

Remember when you were a kid, and you'd spend hours listening to the radio? Maybe you still do! Andrew West tells us about a listening device that became a very precious object for him in his childhood.

Voice, treaty, truth. The Uluru Statement from the Heart underlined these three steps to reconciliation with First Nations people. So what's the best form of truth-telling? And what is non Indigenous people's role in the process?

More Australians are becoming dog owners – and opting for apartment living. So, what's the winning formula for a harmonious life with a four-legged friend in a smaller space, both for your dog and your neighbours?

Children have endless curiosity, and more importantly, they don't have lifetime of baggage and learnt prejudices to overcome when trying to absorb a new story. This may explain why more and more Indigenous authors are turning to children's books.

Using ocean plastic to make jackets and shoes sounds like a win for the environment, and consumers are on the trend, but 'recycled' fabrics might not be very sustainable. We look at recycling and sustainability in fashion and how to minimise the impact of your wardrobe on the planet.

Many Australians are pressing pause on drinking for Dry July, but cutting back long-term can be tough. Shanna Whan shares the joys and consequences of cutting down your alcohol intake in later life when drinking is treated as the social nucleus of where you live.

In many cultures, being bilingual or multilingual is commonplace. In Australia, while some schools are implementing language lessons and bilingual programs, this is not as common in early childhood educational settings. But some childcare centres are bucking the trend and embedding additional languages into their everyday programming.

During the past two years, video and telephone consults were funded through Medicare telehealth services, in many cases for the first time ever, with many of you accessing your GP in this way. But now telephone consultations longer than 20 minutes are no longer funded, worrying some doctors and patients.

Anne Merkel's mother passed away recently and, in the rush to get to the funeral, she realised she'd forgotten to wear earrings. In stepped a couple of good friends to help her out.

Get Up! Stand up! Show up! That's the theme for this year's NAIDOC Week, calling for systemic change. How can non-Indigenous Australians be better allies? Plus, Life Matters takes your questions about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture and history.

ABC Chair Ita Buttrose and other special guests reflect on the ABC's role as Agony Aunt. Too Hard Basketeers tackle three dilemmas sent in by the audience. What to do about family members who are not willing to attend your mum's 80th birthday party; how to handle a partner who isn't willing to downsize and declutter from a large property; and when a neighbour you've known for a long time asks you to have a drink with them, how do you gently back out of it?

For larger people, shopping, in general, is difficult. Finding plus-size vintage clothing is even more so. Why does pre-loved clothing rarely come in bigger sizes?

In this story from Pat Walsh, he shares a passage from a book that was given to his father 70 years ago, and speculates about the wider meaning of a dog-eared page.

Health workers have had to take on a lot lately, and it's taken a toll. There are obviously big, structural changes needed to really show that we care about our carers, but in the meantime, some health workers are exploring more creative outlets.

These days, sexting a nude image to a potential hook up, partner or date is a pretty common way to flirt or connect. But, if those images are then used in a way they weren’t intended, it can be completely devastating. Unfortunately, cases of image based abuse are on the rise, but there are ways to respond and create cultural change.

Activism and large corporations may seem like unlikely bedfellows, but more companies have begun weighing into complex social issues – including supporting abortion rights in the United States – and making sure their customers know about it. Can corporate activism make a difference?

After growing his moving business from the ground up, Richard Kuipers found he still had some lessons to learn about family, succession planning and enterprise when he handed over the reins of the business to his daughter. He shares what it took to bring everyone to the table.

The overturning of Roe V Wade has raised questions about the ideological bias in the SCOTUS. Good thing that could never happen in Australia's High Court, right?

We look at how ideology influences High Court appointments, the impacts that has on cases brought to the court, and the flow on effects for our lives.

At just 22 years of age Natasha Sholl encountered the unimaginable. The sudden death of her partner Rob in the middle of the night. Some nine years later she also lost her brother. Her debut memoir is called Found, Wanting. Her story takes us through love, and grief, and explores the discomfort our society tends to have with consoling and nurturing those who have lost someone.

Jack of all trades, master of none, or so the adage goes, but the tide is turning. Future-looking employers are seeking generalists with skills in many disciplines, so how can you stay ahead of the curve?

Access to abortion and the stigma for those who go through it are still big problems in Australia. Finding an accessible and affordable abortion is still challenging, and a new study finds judgement from health professionals and others in the community only makes it harder.

Major retailers and councils are increasingly installing cameras with facial recognition technology. They claim it is for security and community safety reasons, but once your unique facial data is captured, there's concern about how this data is later used, who gets access to it and how it is stored.

Your brother and sister-in-law have a very laid back parenting style and although your niece and nephew are lovely they get away with murder. Your two children idolise their older cousins but you and your husband are left to supervise and control every interaction. How do you hand back the reins and tactfully tell the parents to step it up?

The saying goes that a true friend, is for life. But what happens when you have a disagreement or a falling out with a close friend? How far do you go to restore and maintain that relationship? We hear your stories of the ups and downs in your relationships with close friends.

Saving the Great Barrier Reef can seem like a herculean task and it's something that can only happen if we're able to solve the global climate crisis. But ecologists say that restoring coastal wetlands can do a lot to give the reef the best chance of surviving, and landowners in Queensland are taking it into their own hands to make that happen, including third generation cane-farmer Len Parisi.

Objects we hold close to our hearts take on their own meaning, regardless of what form or shape they are. Monique Kurdian's precious object is small enough to fit in the palm of her hand - she calls this story 'The Fire Horse'.

When menopause hit Alison Daddo, the severity of her symptoms caught her completely unawares. She became exhausted, depressed and her relationship hit rock bottom. But, with the right support, Alison says she got through it, and came out the other end "awakened". She is now healthier, happier, able to "not give a crap" about the small things and better able to care for herself. Life Matters discusses what could make menopause a positive and empowering experience for you.

During lockdowns, did your diet suffer at all? More takeaway? Sugary drinks, more junk food? This was a common story and the effects on our mental health are now starting to be understood.

As a young boy Ash Magic struggled to fit in and focus at school, whilst living with ADHD and anxiety. As an 11 year old Ash saw a street performer doing magic tricks in Pitt Street Mall and his interest in magic was sparked. Now he has more than nine million followers on Tik Tok and role-models positivity while teaching magic tricks to his followers.

Play based learning is considered a must for young children, and the Victorian and NSW governments have committed to universal access for pre-school aged kids. We look at why kids need play, the research that has made it the high watermark for education, and the changes needed to make more play happen.

Lifelong quizzer Brydon Coverdale – known by many for his TV quiz master persona, 'the shark' – has made trivia his career. His book, The Quiz Masters, charts Australia’s obsession with game shows and the incredible strategies of those who have won big.

Songbirds is a program of music, art and theatre taken into prisons across NSW. The director, Murray Cook, is a biologist and a musician who has played with Midnight Oil, Mixed Relations and Mental as Anything, Leah Purcell and the Warumpi band, among others. Murray uses his skills as a musician and his experiences in bands to build bridges between inmates, helping them find a way to express their feelings without hurting anyone. Now, Murray also delivers this program at the Ozanam Learning Centre in Woolloomooloo in Sydney.

Next month jobseekers will face a big change in the way they interact with the services that help them into work. Under the "Workforce Australia" scheme, jobseekers will have to 'earn' 100 points a month across various tasks in order to keep being eligible for unemployment benefits, while they search. There's been criticism of the new program already, which could impact up to 800,000 Australians, many of whom will be self managing, online.

The NSW Government has announced plans to scrap the much-maligned stamp duty on property sales and replace it with an annual land tax. There are hopes it will ease the housing crisis, but whether it will reduce house prices is less certain.

Beth wrote to say she had friends from overseas staying and they were vegan. One of the unwritten rules of hospitality is that as host, you do all you can to please your guest. Yet this situation, she feels, was completely one-sided, the vegan side, and that if the friend visited them overseas they would not be offering bacon and eggs for breakfast and steak for dinner. So how, in a situation such as this, should the host-guest relationship be handled?

hy do some LGBTQ+ people come out later in life? Whether you knew the whole time or are making a new discovery in middle age, coming to queerness as an older person can come with a unique set of joys and challenges. We hear your stories, and look at how to date, explore sex, talk about it with friends and family and embrace your authentic self.

Psychologists are reporting that more and more women in their 40s and 50s are experiencing a "mid life crisis", deciding to make drastic changes to their relationships and careers. Why are women experiencing this period differently to generations past and how can they be supported through this transition?

The objects that are precious in your life often have a connection with family history. For Jennifer Wright the little harp brings stories of ancestors, as well as parallels with events going on in the world right now.

When we talk about a gender gap, women are usually the ones at a disadvantage. But, when it comes to almost every non-sex-specific health problem, men die in greater numbers than women and Australian men die, on average, five years earlier than their female counterparts. New research explores what’s behind this mortality gap and what can be down to turn things around.

A town hall meeting. A group of activists. And a message about a dystopian future. That's the premise of Shadow, the debut feature film of acclaimed Australian neurodiverse theatre company Back to Back Theatre, set to premiere in Australia at Sydney Film Festival.

Pie has a long and storied history, from the honeyed pies of ancient Egypt to medieval pies with live frogs and birds. So, why has the humble pie stood the test of time? Food writer and author Alice Zaslavsky delves into the layers of this beloved dish.

While 1 in 6 Australian women have experienced some form of violence at the hands of a current or former partner, for migrant women, than number jumps to 1 in 3, and it's even higher among women on temporary visas. We look at how better understanding the nuances of culture can help combat domestic violence.

Vin Maskell's precious object is symbolic of his brother. It's been through many moves and life-stages, and holds a special space in his home, and his heart.

We've been told gas could lead the economic recovery following COVID lockdowns, that gas is a transition fuel to renewables and part of a cleaner future.

So why are an increasing number of people disconnecting from gas?

When it comes to your True Confessions, often it's those tiny moments in childhood that have got you writing and recording for us here at Life Matters. That certainly applies to this confession from Bec Kos, which she's titled The Tale of the Plasticine Rabbit.

Imagine a world of work that doesn't involve email. Instead of your work day being ruled by your inbox, the attention-grabbing, attend-to-me-now nature of emails may be a thing of the past. That's if computer science professor Cal Newport has anything to do with it.

In 1954, a young Queen Elizabeth embarked on her first tour of Australia, including townships in regional Australia that would never again experience the hype of a visit by a ruling Monarch. One of those towns was Shepparton in Victoria’s Goulburn Valley. At the time, the people of the Yorta Yorta nation had made their home on a stretch of a flood plain between Shepparton and Mooroopna. This place was known as the Flats.

When journalist Jenny Valentish took up kickboxing, the feeling of sparring was so euphoric it soon became her “singular pursuit in life”. It also gave her a window into the experience of others who push their bodies to dangerous extremes. Their stories, as well as Jenny's own, are the backbone of her latest book.

When you first started at your company you became friends with a guy who had also just started working there. Recently, he joined your team and now reports directly to you. How can you maintain the boundary and authority of being his boss without compromising the friendship?

When it comes to relationships between fathers and their children, advice and support can come from many different places. We explore the bond between father and child, and what works to build and keep it strong. Dads of all ages, what's the best advice you've received about fatherhood?

Cartoonist Alison Bechdel, best known for her graphic novel turned Broadway musical 'Fun Home', has garnered a cult following for her ability to bring to life what’s going on inside her head through illustration. But, her new book is about her lifelong quest to get out of her head and into her body through physical fitness. It’s called the 'Secret to Superhuman Strength'.

After leaving an evangelical church "exvangelicals", or ex-evangelicals, say what they miss most is the sense of belonging to a community.

Most discussions about electricity prices deal with the supply side of the equation and which energy source is more efficient. However, there is a lot that can be done on the demand side and it's easier, cheaper and quicker to implement.

Comfort dogs are being used to assist people dealing with traumatic situations such as in criminal court cases and funerals.

In the Sydney suburb of Ryde, a group of artists come together each week to craft, create and learn new skills. Members of the group, made up of locals who access mental health services, have formed a special connection through their love of art.

The new government has identified insecure work as a key issue in need of tackling, and long-term casuals, labour hire, and gig workers are set to benefit. About 55 per cent of Australians are in non-standard employment. We look at how it got to this point, and the potential impacts of reform for workers and employers.

Climate scientists have been working for decades to present the facts around climate change and the realities of a warmer world, but a growing genre of climate fiction is bringing those ideas to mass audiences. What can fiction tell us about the potential future of our planet?

Many of us have tools that we turn to when we feel stressed, like going for a walk, vigorous exercise or practising mindfulness. One stress reduction tool that has become an increasing focus of psychological research is Emotional Freedom Techniques, also known as tapping. While some see it as fringe, increasing numbers of trials point to its benefits.

Every state and territory in Australia has now banned thin, single-use plastic shopping bags and some retailers and states are going even further, phasing out thicker plastic bags and other kinds of single-use plastics that can't be recycled. But are these bans making a difference as oceans of plastic keep piling up?

Often precious objects are handed down through generations. Luda Korczynskyj lives in Western Australia, but her family originally comes from the Ukraine, and so does her precious object.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says he want a conclusion to the Julian Assange matter, but what can his government do? We hear from Julian Assange's brother and two Australians formerly imprisoned overseas, Peter Greste and Kylie Moore-Gilbert.

You've remained friends with a handful of people you went to school with, who you see on occasion. With one in particular though you feel you've outgrown the friendship. You have nothing in common anymore and you find her annoying and overbearing. The trouble is she is always calling or texting wanting to meet up. How do you tell a friend you've outgrown them?

Women over 50 have long been a rarity on our screens, especially as sexually empowered and desirable characters, though that has begun to change. We look at how this culture holds back our sexual agency and how to get the pleasure you want as you age.

Helmut Newton, who photographed the likes of Andy Warhol, Claudia Schiffer and Margaret Thatcher, has been described as one of the most influential and provocative fashion photographers of the 20th century. He got his start in a small Flinders Lane studio in Melbourne.

When Mez Lanigan's brother died, a precious object took on extra significance. Mez tells the story of the cameo necklace worn by her mother, and how it helped repair their relationship.

Have you been feeling more bloated, crampy, or gassy since the pandemic began? If so you may have a gut issue or food intolerance, and you’re not alone. Evidence shows there is a link between stress and gut issues and that they have become more prevalent since the pandemic began. But there are diet and lifestyle changes you can make that are proven to help.

Chivalry is a cornerstone of modern dating etiquette, but researchers say it can have a dark side, leading to hostile sexism and undermining a woman's confidence. How does benevolent sexism impact us? And can you show attentiveness on a date without it being seen as a red flag?

Most people see their retirement years as a time to turn to calmer activities. Marisol Torres saw them as an opportunity to have an adventure. After packing up her home in suburban Melbourne, she moved to a corrugated iron shed in Lightning Ridge to try her hand at opal mining hoping she would strike it rich.

The higher education sector is "in crisis", and the new Labor government is talking big about solutions. We look at what the proposed Australian Universities Accord could achieve, what needs reform, and the possible ripple effects for students, academics, researchers and the workforce.

The skincare industry markets to us a plethora of lotions and potions with a promise to keep it looking young, bright and taut, especially when it comes to our faces. But, how much truth is there to these claims? Pharmaceutical scientist and beauty writer Hannah English explores.

Australia has one of the highest COVID vaccination rates globally, but a staunch few are still refusing to get the jab. While the unvaccinated have drawn a lot of ire, researchers say we're better off confronting vaccine refusal with understanding and compassion. So what motivates anti-vaxxers? And what impact have they had on our understanding of truth and trust?

The OJ Simpson case was one of the most popular televised legal trials in history, and it influenced public opinion and culture. Now the defamation case brought by Johnny Depp against Amber Heard is having its own legal and cultural moment on social media feeds as entertainment. What effect is that having on us and what we believe?

Every state in Australia now has laws allowing voluntary assisted dying. This leaves the ACT and Northern Territory as the only places in Australia where people do not have legal access to euthanasia, despite the NT being the first parliament in the world to pass legislation in 1995.

Your teenage daughter went to a sleep-over at a friend's house. Each guest was given designer pyjamas, along with that she received a pair of expensive earrings for a birthday present. Shocked, you wanted to give the gifts back and worry about the expectation to return the gesture. You don't want your daughter to think this is the way friendships are made, that you have to give a gift of near or equal value. What do you do when your child gets a gift like that? Do you just let people do that kind of crazy gift giving?

Adults of all ages, who can afford it, are getting teeth straightened and whitened, having a whole new set of teeth implanted, or a set of veneers. And a lot of these procedures are being done for cosmetic rather than health reasons. What's behind this trend and what do you need to look out for?

Constantly saying yes to everything and everyone can lead to resentment and fatigue. So what does people pleasing stem from? And how can you start saying no with kindness?

More of us are living alone – but, far from sad spinsters, today's singletons are embracing the sweet solitude. Experts say they have a few things to teach us about building social connections.

Sorry Day marks the day in 1997 that the Bringing them Home Report was tabled in Federal Parliament. The landmark report made 54 recommendations to bring about a process of healing. But, 25 years on, Stolen Generations' survivors and Indigenous rights groups say a majority of those recommendations are yet to be implemented. Can Australia take new steps in the right direction?

Lockdowns are over and more than ever before people are loading up the 4WD, hitching a caravan and hitting the open road. With more than 820 000 caravans registered in Australia, expect to see more of them in the coming months.

Unemployment is now under 4 percent and there aren't enough people to fill jobs in some sectors. But wages are still not going up that much just yet - what can you do to get yourself an increase in pay and conditions?

Aged care reform was a centrepiece of Labor's election campaign, but can the new government live up to its promises?

And will it go far enough to deliver dignified care for an ageing population into the future?

No matter how much you plan, or how often you've moved, packing up your house is an exact science few have mastered. Each shift brings with it new pressures, stressors, and broken plates. Professional organiser Robyn Amott gives her advice for how to move house.

Death can be a difficult topic to broach. But, today, online spaces are providing more comfortable places for people to talk about death. Businesses like AddendoVault, and community groups such as Groundswell are providing choices about how we might mourn the loss of someone we held dear, as well as get our affairs in order before we die.

From all reports a lot of staff and students at schools across the country are sick right now, with states extending the deadline for NAPLAN testing because so many students have been absent. What can be done to prevent the spread of infectious diseases in schools and are the current measures in place to prevent spread going far enough?

You'd be forgiven for being nervous about the prospect of a hung parliament following this election. Both major parties have warned against a minority government, saying it is unstable, chaotic and even 'government by Twitter'. However, they're not uncommon and can be effective at passing legislation.

You lent a good quality hammer-drill to a good friend. Months later he still hadn't returned the drill and then advised you that he was moving house and could you pick it up. The drill he presented as yours was a much cheaper item of a different brand. In text exchanges you've asked what happened to your drill and received no response or explanation. You don't wish to spoil the friendship, what do you do?

Many people who have grown up in Australia with curly or afro hair have been told in schools and workplaces that their hair in its natural form is unacceptable. Some have even had their hair described as “wild”. School students, graduates, business owners and changemakers share their stories of coming to accept their natural hair in a society where beauty standards have a history of eurocentrism.

If you're dating today, you are most likely using some kind of dating app, whether you like it or not. But how has this shift in how we find each other changed what dating culture looks like? Which profiles get the most swipes and is it still possible to find the one - if anyone even wants to?

Exercising your democratic right is one thing, but seeing change as a result of your vote is another. Citizen juries and assemblies are a more grass roots way to effect change, and they're being used around the world, and here at home, to get consensus around some tricky issues.

Do you often feel rushed? Like your brain and body are on auto-pilot? Euphemia Russell says one way to reconnect with yourself is by adding 'small doses' of pleasure into your day. More pleasure, believes Euphemia, can make us happier and healthier and can even contribute to creating a more just and inclusive world.

Despite decades of advocacy, people with disability still report incidents of discrimination, lack of access and poor treatment in public, on transport and in the workplace. What needs to happen to create widespread attitudinal change around the lives and experiences of people with disability?

Australia relies heavily on volunteers for its disaster response. They're on the ground, often willing and know the environment, but with the severity and frequency of natural disasters on the rise, is it fair to continue to depend on volunteers as first responders?

There are plenty of moving parts when it comes to hosting a dinner party, so how can you juggle plating up and partaking in conversation? Life Matters culinary correspondent Alice Zaslavsky shares her dinner party rules.

From 'fortress Australia' to ditching masks and tracking, our national COVID response has done a big 180.

That's as our infection rates per capita are hitting global highs. Clearly, the pandemic isn't over, so how do we make sense of the shift, and why have the major parties been silent on COVID policy in this election campaign?

Bastian Fox Phelan awoke one morning to the arrival of, as they describe it, a 'dark stranger'. This 'stranger' adorned their upper lip and would throw open a deep questioning and investigation of gender and the idea that to be a woman you had to be hairless. Bastian's debut memoir is called How to be Between.

The death of a child is always difficult, but losing an adult child brings on a different sort of grief. Bereaved parents of adult children say they can be dismissed, misunderstood and garner less sympathy than parents who lose young children. We look at the experience of grieving an adult child, how to cope and best support those going through it.

Some state and local governments are regulating short-stay accommodation as a way to help increase the number of properties available for permanent rental. Limits are being set on who can let out their properties in this way, and for how many days of the year. Is regulation a good idea and how does it work in practice?

This story of a precious object comes from Maura Pierlot. It's a story of a disapproving mother, and a religious upbringing that Maura continues to be uneasy about, despite what happens.

As often happens at this stage in the election cycle, there's a renewed push by some youth advocates and community groups to lower the voting age to 16. It was 1973 when the franchise was last expanded by Prime Minister Whitlam by lowering the voting age from 21 to 18. Is it time to do so again?

At 60, and after many dates, you've recently met a man online who you've clicked with. After going out twice, he's come down with Covid and mentioned to you that he is really worried because he has a heart condition. It's still early days in the relationship but it's got you thinking about whether you'll end up being a carer sooner, rather than later. Do you allow this relationship to develop or end it?

There is a lot to be said for places that allow you to escape the everyday stresses of modern life. The question is how far do you need to go to completely unwind and get back in touch with nature? Producer Helene Thomas ventured deep into the south-west wilderness of Tasmania and there she found a stunning landscape, a sense of stillness and calm, as well as other folk, all there for different reasons, but each in touch with the same kind of serenity.

In her early thirties, Moya Sarner had a job, a partner, a mortgage - all the markers of adulthood. But, a middle-of-the-night epiphany made Moya realise

she actually didn't feel like an adult at all. That feeling sent her on a quest to find herself and rewrite the rules of adulthood.

From the inexperienced to the downright unpleasant – bosses can be bad for a myriad of reasons. What are the red flags to watch out for, and how can you ensure you're not stuck with one?

Trauma is most often associated with survivors of war or abuse, but psychiatrist Dr Paul Conti defines it as "anything that causes emotional or physical pain and leaves its mark on a person as life moves forward". How could looking at trauma in this way help us better understand it and find a path to recovery?

Australia is no stranger to extreme or unusual weather events, including a La Niña now in its second year. How do changing weather patterns increase volatility?

Change and uncertainty are part of our lives, and we can easily get stuck on the wrong solution, even when we know it hasn't worked in the past. This neuroscientist wants you to learn how to embrace change and find the best approach at the right time, depending on the situation and your current emotional state, using mental agility.

This year we asked you for stories of precious objects and Ruth Franklin was one of many who responded. Ruth's precious object only became so when she stumbled upon its true history.

It's been five years since the Uluru Statement from the Heart called for the creation of an Indigenous Voice to parliament, and the major parties are outlining their plans for recognition ahead of the election. We look at what recognition means, the best ways to achieve it, and how it will shape Australia, by looking to examples elsewhere in the world.

Australia's borders have been open for about six months now, so are you feeling less anxious about picking up travel plans?

We get some tips about going overseas right now and what the future of travel will look like in a post-COVID world.

If you could get hold of some leafy greens that were free and tasty, and super nutritious, would you eat them if you knew they were weeds? Meet a weed-gathering expert who helps to steer budding weed eaters away from deadly plants towards edible ones like dandelion and purslane.

This week 1.2 million children all across the country will start sitting their annual NAPLAN tests. And for the first time, they'll all be done online. So what are the pros and cons of doing the test on computers and what difference does it make to the usefulness of the results?

When Ross Lee thought about his precious object it was a shared one...and the making of it represents the history of two families.

Experts fear cost of living increases mean those at the start of their working lives could fall even further behind when it comes to financial security and reaching those big milestones like getting a job, buying a house, or starting a family. How have you seen things change for your children and yourselves when it comes to getting ahead?

You're in a group of eight friends who have a tradition of putting in $40 for each person's birthday. One member, who is a partner of a close friend, hasn't contributed despite having read all the messages. Do you put his name on the card? How do you broach the issue of money?

Every day Warren Kirk loads his one-eyed dog Ocky into a van, and goes looking for the people, buildings and stories of an Australia that's being renovated and erased out of existence. The departing Michael Mackenzie cites this as one of his favourite stories from the field.

Shouting on the sidelines, telling their 6-year-old they suck and putting down other players. We’ve all seen "those parents” at kids' sports games. But what does it look like to support your child in sport? How can you build a successful relationship with their coach? And what should you do when things go wrong?

Pigeon toes, bow legs, flat feet. These are things that many of us might think of as a problem in ourselves or our kids. And, in the past, they have been treated as problems by podiatrists. But, it turns out, there's a big difference between aesthetics and actual medical issues when it come to our feet.

As part of our 30th birthday celebrations on Radio National, Life Matters brings you an interview from 2003 with author Augusten Burroughs after the release of his controversial memoir, Running with Scissors.

The RBA's interest rate hike this week will mean change is afoot for anyone with a variable mortgage. But could the increase bring future relief to savers, who have seen interest rates falling for over a decade?

As part of our 30th birthday celebrations on Radio National, Life Matters brings you former presenter Natasha Mitchell reflecting on some of her highlights while hosting the program.

Friendship is a key part of a person's development, but when it comes to fostering deep platonic bonds in adulthood, friendships between men can fall by the wayside in the face of a romantic partnership. Why is that the case? And how can men form lasting bonds?

Friendship is a key part of a person's development, but when it comes to fostering deep platonic bonds in adulthood, friendships between men can fall by the wayside in the face of a romantic partnership. Why is that the case? And how can men form lasting bonds?

As part of our 30th Birthday celebrations on Radio National, Life Matters brings you Part 5 of 6 dynamic, inspirational discussions with Dr Stephanie Dowrick based on her book The Universal Heart.

This interview, on dealing with passive aggression, was aired in 2000.

As part of our 30th Birthday celebrations on Radio National, Life Matters brings you Part 5 of 6 dynamic, inspirational discussions with Dr Stephanie Dowrick based on her book The Universal Heart.

This interview, on dealing with passive aggression, was aired in 2000.

The way we hire is rapidly changing, with more businesses outsourcing and using AI and automation for everything from seeking candidates to conducting interviews. While there are certainly benefits for employers, jobseekers are finding it frustrating dealing with robots and faceless firms.

The way we hire is rapidly changing, with more businesses outsourcing and using AI and automation for everything from seeking candidates to conducting interviews. While there are certainly benefits for employers, jobseekers are finding it frustrating dealing with robots and faceless firms.

If you've ever been told to 'stand up straight' or 'don't slouch', you might believe that posture is important for your health. But a growing number of physiotherapists say our obsession with straight backs is more grounded in culture than science.

If you've ever been told to 'stand up straight' or 'don't slouch', you might believe that posture is important for your health. But a growing number of physiotherapists say our obsession with straight backs is more grounded in culture than science.

As part of our 30th birthday celebrations on Radio National, Life Matters brings you an interview from 2011 with Colombian politician Ingrid Betancourt who was held captive by the FARC in the Colombian jungle for 6 years.

As part of our 30th birthday celebrations on Radio National, Life Matters brings you an interview from 2011 with Colombian politician Ingrid Betancourt who was held captive by the FARC in the Colombian jungle for 6 years.

Denmark, Sweden and Norway all use some form of co-operative housing to make sure their populations are housed appropriately. We find out what could be adapted from those systems to help address the housing needs of Australians, without disrupting the current model of residential property investment as a way of building wealth.

Denmark, Sweden and Norway all use some form of co-operative housing to make sure their populations are housed appropriately. We find out what could be adapted from those systems to help address the housing needs of Australians, without disrupting the current model of residential property investment as a way of building wealth.

In the 30 years since Life Matters got its start, much has changed for Australian households. With ABC broadcaster Geraldine Doogue and economist Roger Wilkins, we delve into the social policies and societal trends that have shaped the lives of ordinary families since 1992.

In the 30 years since Life Matters got its start, much has changed for Australian households. With ABC broadcaster Geraldine Doogue and economist Roger Wilkins, we delve into the social policies and societal trends that have shaped the lives of ordinary families since 1992.

You recently complimented your neighbour on her new garden. You'd only ever waved to each other before but this time you had a nice chat. Since then she has been actively avoiding you and even hiding behind her screen door. Do you try to break the ice and if so, how? Or let it be?

You recently complimented your neighbour on her new garden. You'd only ever waved to each other before but this time you had a nice chat. Since then she has been actively avoiding you and even hiding behind her screen door. Do you try to break the ice and if so, how? Or let it be?

As part of our 30th birthday celebrations on Radio National, Life Matters brings you a conversation with Shirley MacLaine from 2004. Shirley speaks about life, intimacy, and how her dog Terry changed her life.

As part of our 30th birthday celebrations on Radio National, Life Matters brings you a conversation with Shirley MacLaine from 2004. Shirley speaks about life, intimacy, and how her dog Terry changed her life.

This month, a 72-year-old man in Bairnsdale, eastern Victoria, died in an emergency room bathroom after waiting more than three hours for treatment. Rural doctors say it's the latest example of a broken medical system, which, they argue, needs a radical restructure to meet the changing needs of the times.

This month, a 72-year-old man in Bairnsdale, eastern Victoria, died in an emergency room bathroom after waiting more than three hours for treatment. Rural doctors say it's the latest example of a broken medical system, which, they argue, needs a radical restructure to meet the changing needs of the times.

Daniel and Luke Mancuso share how a simple act of kindness, a Greek grandmother passing home-cooked meals over the fence to her neighbours, became a viral sensation. Their new cookbook celebrates the power of food and bringing people together through traditional recipes from Yiayia's kitchen.

As part of our 30th Birthday, we hear from the late poet Margaret Scott, who lived just a few minutes away from Port Arthur when the massacre occurred there on this day in 1996.

April 28 marks 26 years since 35 people were killed at the Port Arthur Historic Site. The event sparked sweeping reforms, restricted ownership of certain weapons and made it more difficult to get a gun licence. What has changed in the years since?

As part of our 30th birthday celebrations on Radio National, Life Matters brings you former presenter Julie McCrossin reflecting on some of her highlights while hosting the program.

You may be noticing already that the cost of living is on the rise, and interest rates will be going up sooner rather than later as well. So how can we manage these increases in our day to day spending without taking on more debt, and are there ways to better manage the debt we already have?

As part of our 30th birthday celebrations on Radio National, Life Matters brings you a conversation with Jess Thom from 2016. Jess has Tourette's Syndrome and says the word 'biscuit' up to 16,000 times a day, but has turned her problem into her power.

Elon Musk is about to buy Twitter, an online space for public discourse that has become fraught with ills like abuse, hate speech, fake news and filter bubbles, accused of damaging the democracy it had once facilitated. Musk called Twitter the digital town square, but are current social media sites the best public squares we can manage? What does the ideal space look like?

As part of our 30th birthday celebrations on Radio National, Life Matters brings you reflections from former presenters of the program. Here, Richard Aedy recalls some of his highlights and memories while in the chair as host of Life Matters.

If you're feeling a bit 'bleh' about the upcoming election, you're not alone.

Research shows trust in politicians is on the decline, so how do the big parties reconnect with the electorate?

It's not uncommon for devoted readers of one author to feel a bond through the writing, it's another when that bond turns into pen friends for 13 years. What makes this story even more curious, is that the reader in question used to skive off high school to be on Life Matters.

As part of our 30th birthday celebrations on Radio National, Life Matters brings you an interview former host Amanda Smith cited as her most memorable. Artist, musician, actor and philanthropist, Stan Yarramunua, talks about a chance moment of creativity that saved him from a life of alcoholism.

Fifty years ago, Australian armed forces were in the process of withdrawing from Vietnam, part of the very long drawn out end of that war. We speak to a veteran of the Vietnam conflict and hear how his views on post-traumatic stress disorder changed when he experienced it himself, three decades after he served.

Your partner has a 30 year old son who lives with his ex-wife. He only visits the son at her place, sometimes staying a few nights. Their family spends Christmas and birthdays together, but you're not invited. You feel like a mistress in the relationship. What do you do?

As part of our 30th birthday celebrations on Radio National, Life Matters brings you a conversation with beloved ABC journalist and film critic, John Hinde, from 2002. At the time, John had just been appointed a Member of the Order of Australia.

With her book Quiet, which has sold four million copies, Susan Cain made us feel ok about being introverts. Now, Susan is applying the same sensitivity to another topic: the importance of feeling sad in a world of ‘toxic positivity’.

It's clear that most parents would love to help their children become their most creative selves. What's less clear is the best way to help them do that. But esteemed Professor of Education John Hattie says there's a great deal of evidence about what schools can do to help students spread their creative wings.

As part of our 30th birthday celebrations on Radio National, Life Matters brings you a conversation with British creativity expert Sir Ken Robinson from 2009. He believed we are all born with creative capacities but we lose them the more time we spend in the world.

While politicians and actors alike have long sported a thick carpet of chest hair and a lush moustache, other men go to great lengths to maintain bare skin. How does societal pressure shape our ideas about masculinity and body hair?

Meal prep. Those two words can strike fear in even the most talented of home cooks. How can you ensure you eat what you make? Life Matters culinary correspondent Alice Zaslavsky shares her advice for getting the most out of your meal prep.

As part of our 30th birthday celebrations on Radio National, Life Matters brings you a conversation about open relationships from 2013. Whatever the reason, for some of us, being in a relationship with just one other person doesn't work. Have you ever been in, or considered being in, an open relationship?

Tiny parties might have quirky names and agendas, seem oddly specific, or be built around a cult of personality. And their likelihood of getting elected is slim. So what are the benefits of running as a micro-party? Is a vote for a small party really just 'throwing it away'? And are minor parties the future of Australian politics?

Today's story comes from a much loved former ABC staff member Phil Brennan, who tells the tale of why he wears this precious object - the watch that once belonged to his beloved Uncle Bern.

We're getting used to seeing high covid case numbers reported each day around the country, with no definitive end in sight to this coronavirus pandemic. Australians were told we needed to begin 'living with covid', in most parts of the country, towards the end of last year.So how are we doing, and what might lie ahead as winter approaches?

To have or not have a child is a very big decision, and younger generations in particular are grappling with it in the face of a changing climate.

As part of our 30th birthday celebrations on Radio National, Life Matters brings you former presenter Amanda Smith reflecting on some her highlights while hosting the program.

When broadcaster Indira Naidoo lost her younger sister to suicide in 2020, her entire world caved in. Consumed by grief in the middle of a pandemic, she looked everywhere for solace, and found it in trees, birds, clouds and the stars.

From the 30th birthday archives, actor, advocate, brother, son and a runway model for Vivienne Westwood’s show, R.J. Mitte talks candidly.

The old saying putting pen to paper still carries a lot of power when it's put into practice. A project called Aging Creatively: Creative Writing As A Tool for Healthy Aging began in 2015, and though the project stopped years ago, the participants have kept the writing flame alive, even through the pandemic.

As part of our 30th birthday celebrations on Radio National, Life Matters brings you a conversation with Angie Bowie from 1993. In this feisty interview Angie sets the record straight on her marriage to ex-husband David.

Thousands of homes were inundated by flood waters just seven weeks ago in Northern New South Wales and South East Queensland. Many of those whose homes were the worst affected are still living in insecure accommodation.

For decades, Sally Warriner worked on a huge cattle station in the Northern Territory. She was responsible for employing staff, overseeing the office-work, mediating disputes, running the boarding house, kitchen and medical clinic and, occasionally, mustering cattle. Her title for this role? 'Wife of the general manager'. She did it for 23 years and then something snapped.

Life Matters catches up with Nahid Joon and Nooria Wazefadost, seventeen years after their first public appearance as child refugees from Afghanistan who survived the Taliban, the treacherous boat journeys and detention in Australia.

As part of our 30th birthday celebrations on Radio National, Life Matters brings you a conversation from 2005 with former principal of Holroyd high school Dorothy Hoddinott AO and three young Afghan refugee students.

Turns out vaping isn't all that harmless. New research has found that vaping can cause acute lung injury, seizures and addiction. Teenagers are right in the thick of this vape cloud, so how do you talk to them about the harms of getting hooked?

You might not think of the humble public toilet as a rights battleground, but for many, finding safe, clean, accessible toilets is a challenge and can be a hindrance to a normal life.

We look at how public toilets can be improved for all, and a project seeking to create a nationwide online map of public loos.

As part of our 30th birthday celebrations on Radio National, Life Matters brings you a conversation from 2016 interrogating Governor Lachlan Macquarie's part in the 1816 massacre of 14 Aboriginal men, women and children at Appin, south of Sydney.

Although the official cash rate sits near zero, many mortgagors are already preparing for that to change, while federal government schemes for first home buyers have been extended. As some capital city markets begin to cool, what trends could become apparent when rates rise?

Precious objects often become so because they have survived through generations of family, and the various lives that have treasured them.

For Marleen Susman, the absence of one such object led her to asking questions, and then to share what that absence means with us.

As Australia gears up for a federal election, listeners share what key issues will decide their votes. Plus, how has political polling changed since 2019? And could international tensions shape the campaign to come?

Your son is a member of a male choral group. A female joined the group uninvited, and gradually revealed herself to be a domineering and controlling person. The men are reluctant to challenge her for fear of being regarded as sexist. Should your son find the courage to challenge her toxic behaviour before the group disintegrates?

As part of our 30th birthday celebrations on Radio National, Life Matters brings you a conversation with musician James Freud from 2007. Tragically, just three years later in 2010 he passed away.

As the election nears, the country's top medical bodies say Australia's primary health care system is in crisis leading to 'catastrophic consequences' for patients around the country. Peak medical groups have laid out plans for reform, but they say years of underfunding and a major shortage of general practitioners mean the system's future viability is in jeopardy .

Your favourite reality shows can provide a refreshing perspective on the issues you might recognise in your own world, but can dissecting relationships on TV turn into something toxic?

As part of our 30th birthday celebrations on Radio National, Life Matters brings you the 1997 interview with former PM Malcolm Fraser, as he talks to Norman Swan about leaving the land, tackling inequality, and ensuring First Nations Australians have a seat at the table.

Scare campaigns have been a steady election feature for decades, but do they change hearts and minds when it matters the most? And how do we make decisions come election time?

When UK scientists successfully cloned Dolly the sheep, the potential benefits around human health and eradicating genetic born disease seemed just over the horizon. However, in 2022, public acceptance and policy creation continue to trail behind, as the ethics and uses of this science polarise our global community.

As part of our 30th birthday celebrations on Radio National, Life Matters brings you a conversation with British embryologist Sir Ian Wilmut from 1998. He led the team at The Roslin Institute in Scotland where Dolly the sheep became the first mammal to be cloned from an adult cell.

Does grief have an end date? How we react to losing someone is an individual experience, but intense grief that lasts more than a year is now considered a mental health condition and has been added to the US psychologist's diagnostic manual. How could this shift our culture around bereavement?

Comedian Rose Callaghan became a new mum during the pandemic, but when it came to having a baby as someone with ADHD, she couldn't find a roadmap.

She shares how she mined her experience for her new comedy show, and why parents with ADHD need more support.

As part of our 30th birthday celebrations on Radio National, Life Matters brings you a conversation with Mary Robinson from 2012. Perhaps best known as Ireland's first female president, and former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, she was in Australia promoting her book, Everybody Matters: a memoir.

People here in Australia and around the world are experiencing the consequences of climate change in real time, including displacement from their homes. How are we dealing with climate change and it's impact on our lives, can the law help, and what else can we do to improve climate justice for those most affected?

For some of us, an object is precious because of where it comes from. For others, it's the object itself. For Fenella Batt it's both.

If you’ve ever hit the job market later in life, you’ll know it’s not an easy experience to have to go through. But with unemployment rates low, are there new opportunities for older jobseekers, and have businesses shifted their attitudes to hiring older workers?

One member at the customer service counter you share addresses every customer using the terms 'Love, 'Hon' or 'Darlin'. She also repeatedly calls you 'Love' and you cringe every time you hear it. Is it patronising? Or is it just a cultural cringe on your behalf?

As part of our 30th birthday celebrations on Radio National, Life Matters brings you a conversation with Pamela Stephenson from 2001. Pamela had just released the biography Billy, an exploration into the character and life of her husband, comedian Billy Connolly.

If you’re a parent of a teenager, you probably worry about a lot of things - drugs, drinking, sex... Well research suggests you might need to add one more thing to that list... sleep. Teens today are sleeping less than ever before, but psychotherapists and best-selling authors Heather Turgeon and Julie Wright say there are ways parents can turn things around.

If you don't fish, the idea of standing on a windy beach, possibly in the rain, for hours on end, can seem like downright torture. For master fisherman Bob Kearney, that sounds like heaven. Bob says that, for him, fishing has been a passion, an addiction and, hands down, the central driving force in his life.

New research indicates many of our larger towns and cities are failing to provide adequate public transport to those who need it most, our 30th birthday archive interview features former PM Paul Keating, and a long time angler and fish scientist discusses his history and our sustainable future.

In a bid to help stop petrol prices from rising further, the fuel excise has been halved until September. What impact will it have on public transport systems that are already not serving the people who need it most?

As part of our 30th Birthday celebrations on Radio National, Life Matters brings you a conversation with actor Jane Fonda from 2006.

The 2022 federal budget promises to ease the cost-of-living burdens that have been hitting us hard of late.

We answer your questions and look at what it will mean for the upcoming election.

The Australian Government, business, and some of us were incredibly anxious about the threat of the Y2K bug to our way of life. Futurist Mark Pesce was so worried he decided to take refuge with friends in Hawaii! He reveals the future threat of the 2038 bug.

As part of our 30th Birthday celebrations on Radio National, Life Matters brings you a conversation from 1999 on the global threat posed by the Y2K bug. At the time, world governments, businesses and individuals were preparing for computer networks around the world to collapse on the 1st of January 2000, because of the double zero at the end of that year's number.

Country Australia is often romanticized as some kind of idyllic paradise of rolling hills and wide open spaces. But where do the droughts, plagues and floods fit in? What about the tragedies, the class divide and migrant experiences?

When a loved one tells you they don't want a funeral when they die, but family members feel compelled to mark their passing with a service, it can be difficult to know what to do. Has COVID-19 changed the way we think about death rituals? And whose wishes should you follow?

You and two friends, who are a couple, share both a house and a cat. The couple have decided to go their own way despite the plan to all live together long-term. You've formed a close bond with the cat but they insist they are taking her, as they say, life with them will be more stable for a pet. Who gets the cat?

What is a leader? An Australian-first research project and art exhibition has asked hundreds of Melbourne children to draw and describe what a 'leader' looks like to them, revealing unconscious biases that could potentially be influenced in early childhood.

In the wake of a flood or record rainfall, the priority is to get the water that's come into your house back outside. But, once the water is gone, it can leave behind a nasty surprise. Mould. And, research shows that a worrying percentage of homes, which have not been through these events, are likely to have issues with mould as well. So how harmful is mould for your health and what can you do to eliminate mould at the root?

Normally when we hear the word resilience, it's usually associated with people and their strength of character. But Ken Slattery is calling on all levels of government to make our roads more resilient in the wake of the recent devastating floods in Queensland and New South Wales.

How people value animals has changed. We no longer consider them in purely utilitarian terms. Cats, dogs, horses, and other animals have become part of the family. But should we reconsider how much we invest in our furry friends at the expense of other causes?

It was the start of just another busy day in his corporate job before flying to the U.S. to present to a client. However, after weeks of preparation, Mark Berridge never made that flight. Like so many of us who confront a sudden cataclysm, Mark's life changed forever.

Nearly everyone has a particular food they just can't stand. But food baggage isn't only for children, people can be picky eaters well into adulthood. Life Matters culinary correspondent Alice Zaslavsky shares her tips for overcoming food baggage.

Old, clear, soft, brown, pimply, tanned, freckly.... For better or worse, the skin we're in affects how we move through the world. Phillipa McGuiness puts the spotlight on the body's largest organ in her new book Skin Deep, arguing that our obsession with skin is hardly surface level.

Consumers are shunning Russian goods like vodka in protest of the Ukraine invasion, but can individual purchasing power make a difference? We look at why we participate in boycotts and what it takes for them to have an impact.

The nursing profession has a problem with lateral violence which is defined as peer to peer bullying. Researchers say it was first written about in the early 1980s. But suggested solutions have failed to address the problem with various verbal and nonverbal incivilities evolving over time.

Mark Waller reflects on his most precious objects and the role they played in saving, then changing, his life.

Rising petrol prices have added to the living cost woes of many Australian households. Prices for unleaded petrol are upwards of $2 per litre in major cities, while the federal government has resisted calls to cut the fuel excise. So what are the ripple effects of bowser shock?

You drive at the speed limit, much to the frustration of others on the road. You are regularly tailgated by other drivers. Do you continue, given you're driving at the limit? Or do you get out of the way for those who see speed limits as advisory rather than absolute?

The fashion industry is renowned for underpaying and overworking its technicians, valuing cheap and fast production over ethical and sustainable manufacturing. But The Social Outfit in Sydney has worked out a way to solve these problems.

Professor Matthew Walker's TED talk on sleep has been viewed 15 million times. He says there are a few simple ways to wind down at the end of the day and 'gradually descend onto the firm bedrock of good sleep'.

The stories of fraudsters like Bernie Madoff and Elizabeth Holmes have fascinated us for years, but why do we find con artists so fascinating and what psychological tricks do they use to dupe us?

After putting herself through 'dating boot camp', editor at Elle magazine, Aimée Lutkin is ok with being single. But, she's not ok with how people respond to her as a single person. In her new book, The Lonely Hunter: How our search for love is broken, Aimée wants to help us become ok with long-term singleness.

After almost two years of mostly working remote, more businesses are putting pressure on their employees to get out of their homes and back to their cubicles. So, who benefits when workers are in the office? And what's the future of hybrid and flexible work?

This a curly question: If someone in your family has dementia, is it ok to lie to them? We examine the morality of lying to someone who has dementia, as part of much wider research into how our aged care system needs to be drastically reformed to meet the needs of people within it, both staff and residents.

Art historian and lawyer Amy Herman believes looking at art and using 'visual intelligence' can help with solving problems and critical thinking.

The former head of education for the Frick Museum Collection in New York has used this approach to help organisations including the FBI and Scotland Yard to examine perceptions and internal biases when it comes to investigations.

Long COVID will impact tens of thousands of Australians, so how do we manage it?

We could take a hint from the 250 thousand people living with chronic fatigue syndrome.

When Deborah Nixon's father returned from Indonesia, he brought back a precious object that only became more treasured when Deborah found herself working in the same place.

Climate change is making "1 in 1000 year events" more common, and more financial support will be needed as disasters become more frequent and severe.

Are private insurers up to the job? Or do we need alternative policies?

Merlin Sheldrake's personal obsession with fungi has taken him to the jungles of Panama. This world renowned fungus scholar has also experimented with LSD, and made cider using wild yeast and the apples from the same variety of tree that purportedly inspired Sir Isaac Newton's Law of Gravity. Merlin's first award winning book is called called Entangled Life, How Fungi Make Our Worlds, Change, Our Minds, and Shape Our Futures.

Bill Boyd has a true confession to share. It could have changed the pathway of his life forever. There is a new theme for Life In 500 Words in 2021, and you can send us your stories now. The theme is True Confessions, and what happened when the truth was revealed.

Helen Garner's third volume of diaries sees her holding onto her marriage while trying to find a room of her own. She shares the importance of writing, navigating power in a relationship, and what she's noticed during the pandemic.

The book club you've belonged to for almost 30 years has a member who sees herself as a 'font of all knowledge'. She deemed the most recent book 'too sad for all her friends' and sent it back to the library for 'a happier book'. This has you rankled.

How do you deal with this book club queen bee?

We've all heard the endless list of what we should cut out of our diets to improve our health, but biochemist Jessie Inchauspe says that if, instead, we focus on how we consume this one important thing, we can feel better, boost our energy levels and be healthier. What is that one thing? Glucose.

Artificial Intelligence is not just about robotics, we now use AI technology in much of our daily lives.

Former Google Vice President Hugh Williams is on a mission to ensure every teenage school student in Australia is conversant with the latest AI technology.

A few years after having her second child, writer Tabitha Carvan suddenly realised that her exciting pre-baby life had almost completely disappeared. But then she started a new relationship with… Benedict Cumberbatch. And everything started to change.

A little bit more here and there really adds up – especially when it comes to household necessities, like groceries. So why are we paying more at the checkout? And, coupled with rising inflation, can households afford to shoulder the costs?

This year marks the 30th birthday of Life Matters!

We'll be playing some of the landmark interviews from the last three decades but you're the reason we've made it to 30 so you've got a job as well.

Alex Mangano is a writer, singer and illustrator.

When she was 13 years old, Alex was diagnosed with three different auto-immune diseases.

So she decided to help other children feel more comfortable with what's going on in their bodies, through a character called Jack The Silly Yak.

What are the consequences when you decide to cut contact with a relative? Clinical psychologist Tamara Cavenett explains when to estrange, when to resolve and what to do if you've been cut off.

The Ukraine and Russia conflict has dominated the news cycle of late, but has the coverage been disproportionate?

We look at how the coverage compares to that of conflicts in other parts of the world, and what the interest in 'people like us' reveals about our own values.

The actor and singer-songwriter reflects on the constellation of remarkable women that have influenced her life and art in her memoir Lovers Dreamers Fighters.

Symptoms of period pain and menopause can be debilitating for some people, so what can you do when pain hits at work? As more workplaces adopt menstrual policies, we look at the benefits and potential drawbacks of menstrual leave and when it might become the norm in Australia.

Public speaker and author Kemi Nekvapil has reflected deeply on the idea of power. She argues that we have a lot more control over our own lives than we may have been led to believe.

We hear a lot about the "Aussie spirit" and nowhere was that more on show than during the devastating and unprecedented floods which rained down on Queensland and New South Wales over the last week. Listeners share their stories of how kindness and compassion came to the fore during a crisis.

You are waiting to pick up your child after school when a young student comes up and sits nearby playing with a toy car. Another child approaches and sounds like he is teasing. After a few words back and forth between the two children the other boy takes the car. Should you intervene in the dispute?

You are waiting to pick up your child after school when a young student comes up and sits nearby playing with a toy car. Another child approaches and sounds like he is teasing. After a few words back and forth between the two children the other boy takes the car. Should you intervene in the dispute?

This week's floods in Queensland and NSW have highlighted the huge impact the loss of local regional newspapers have had on the information available to smaller communities across the country. However the Kingscliff Happenings Facebook group has things that set it apart.

It's been ten years since the Gonski review was released, but many educational experts say it has never been properly implemented. They argue that topping up education funding for the most disadvantaged schools is now more important than ever before.

They were once secretive – at times scandalous – affairs, but the pandemic has given couples an excuse to ditch the big wedding in favour of elopements. So, what should you know if you're planning to elope? And how do you plan for a micro wedding?

They were once secretive – at times scandalous – affairs, but the pandemic has given couples an excuse to ditch the big wedding in favour of elopements. So, what should you know if you're planning to elope? And how do you plan for a micro wedding?

Matt Ottley has experienced the world in many guises from flamenco guitarist to jackaroo. But in his new project, The Tree of Ecstasy and Unbearable Sadness, Matt taps into a part of himself he hasn't revealed before - the intense joy and the agony of his bipolar disorder.

As the Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, this week called for his country to be admitted to the European Union amid continued Russian attacks, Ukrainian Australians watch anxiously, awaiting news from friends and family members. Relatives share their stories and how they are rallying support across the country.

Like so many young people Eleanor McCormack left her home town of 16,000 people in northern Tasmania seeking further education and employment in another part of the country.

She couldn't wait to get out of her hometown, move to a big city and never look back.

But Eleanor returned, determined to give young people like her better reasons to stay in the first place.

Like so many young people Eleanor McCormack left her home town of 16,000 people in northern Tasmania seeking further education and employment in another part of the country.

She couldn't wait to get out of her hometown, move to a big city and never look back.

But Eleanor returned, determined to give young people like her better reasons to stay in the first place.

Sticking 50 dollars in a card or a money box is so last century, as the usefulness of cash decreases. But you still might want to help the children in your life learn about saving and build a nest egg for their future. So what are the options?

'Quietly influential' feminist, teacher, speaker and director Wendy McCarthy AO has spent her 60 year career in the business of change, fighting for Australian women in all manner of places, from protests and doctor's offices to executive boards and Parliament House.

She discusses her memoir Don't Be Too Polite, Girls, and how approaches to the feminist fight have changed through her lifetime.

If you're a parent with a disability, then that can add a whole new layer to what is a pretty demanding job in the first place. We take your calls on what the experience taught you, and we also hear the stories of older children growing up with at least one parent having a disability.

If you're a parent with a disability, then that can add a whole new layer to what is a pretty demanding job in the first place. We take your calls on what the experience taught you, and we also hear the stories of older children growing up with at least one parent having a disability.

Has the so-called Great Resignation happened or is it more like the Great Reshuffle? Some might describe it as the Great Exhaustion!

In NSW and Queensland, thousands of homes are now under water, due to record rain and flooding on a scale never seen before, especially in Lismore.

In today's Life in 500 Words, Noela Dawes takes a slice of her rural life, warts and all, and reveals her most precious object.

In today's Life in 500 Words, Noela Dawes takes a slice of her rural life, warts and all, and reveals her most precious object.

LGBTQIA+ rights have come a long way since the first Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras in 1978. The decades since have seen homosexuality decriminalised and same sex marriage legalised. Advocates share the issues and events that have shaped the rights of LGBTQIA+ Australians today.

One of your work colleagues has been complaining to you about his lack of recognition at work. He sees others around him getting promoted while he is being ignored. The manager has spoken to you about his lack of effort and you don't know whether to mention to him what has been said. Do you say something or stay out of the situation?

One of your work colleagues has been complaining to you about his lack of recognition at work. He sees others around him getting promoted while he is being ignored. The manager has spoken to you about his lack of effort and you don't know whether to mention to him what has been said. Do you say something or stay out of the situation?

The Reserve Bank is forecasting Australia's national unemployment rate will fall below 4% in the next year. What you may not know is that's already occurred in our regional areas. Right now it stands at a pretty impressive 3.8%. So why isn't that cause for celebration?

Soon after graduating medical school, Dr Carl Erik Fisher found himself in a psychiatric ward having suffered a drug induced manic episode. It was in the same hospital where he'd previously interviewed to be a psychiatric resident. Now in recovery, Dr Fisher is an expert in addiction. His a new book is called The Urge.

Not everyone fits in at school. If you ever felt like an outsider, how was that for you, and how do you reflect on that time now? Fiona Scott Norman has explored what it was like for 22 famous Australians who share that history, and how they have overcome

Not everyone fits in at school. If you ever felt like an outsider, how was that for you, and how do you reflect on that time now? Fiona Scott Norman has explored what it was like for 22 famous Australians who share that history, and how they have overcome

As COVID-19 restrictions begin to ease across much of the country, vaccination has emerged as Australia's frontline defence against the virus. But what could that look like, amid concerns over plateauing vaccination rates for children under eleven?

If you're struggling to afford a full size home, have you considered the pros and cons of purchasing and living in a tiny house?

The tiny house movement began a few years ago, but regulations around definition, mobility and location, not to mention the minimalist lifestyle that goes with them, means they're not for everyone.

If you're struggling to afford a full size home, have you considered the pros and cons of purchasing and living in a tiny house?

The tiny house movement began a few years ago, but regulations around definition, mobility and location, not to mention the minimalist lifestyle that goes with them, means they're not for everyone.

Packing a lunchbox that your child will eat is no small feat, but can food policing go too far when it comes to healthy eating in the schoolyard? Life Matters culinary correspondent Alice Zaslavsky explains the pressure of creating the perfect lunch and how to escape it.

New research has found that one in three men who've murdered a partner or ex did not fit our stereotypical societal idea of an abuser. So how can we respond to the true complicated reality of domestic violence?

Teacher and author Daisy Turnbull believes that in asking questions, not just setting rules, you can open up a world of communication with your teenagers.

Teacher and author Daisy Turnbull believes that in asking questions, not just setting rules, you can open up a world of communication with your teenagers.

As the Beijing Winter Olympics draw to a close, many of the ostentatious venues are likely to fall out of use, becoming overgrown urban ruins and a playground for intrepid explorers. We investigate the allure of abandoned spaces in the modern age and what they say about our cities.

Some of Australia's most vulnerable people are in the midst of dealing with a widespread outbreak of COVID-19, as the virus spreads in the Northern Territory. Soon Western Australia, where there are 200 remote Aboriginal communities, will open its border. Two years since the start of the pandemic, how have Indigenous Australians been impacted, and how are communities coping with Omicron?

In our final True Confession, Rachel Buchanan tells her story of learning to drive just at the time her parents updated their car from a hearse to something much more powerful.

In our final True Confession, Rachel Buchanan tells her story of learning to drive just at the time her parents updated their car from a hearse to something much more powerful.

While walking back from the park with your young son and his mate in your care, the ball his friend is bouncing rolls onto a busy road. The child runs out after it and to your horror he almost gets hit by a speeding car. Should you tell his mother about the incident?

With many streaming services and apps only available to subscribers, owning has become a rarity. But are subscriptions doing you more harm than good? And why is it so difficult to cancel them?

You've been breathless, exhausted and your whole body ached. With more than 2 million Australians testing positive for COVID in the last two years, how you get your body, mind and spirit back to health and fitness is a really key question. We discuss techniques for your recovery.

They say "to err is human, to forgive is divine", but most of us aren't following that wisdom. We hear about your grudges and learn how to finally let go.

In today's Life in 500 Words, writer Gill Kenny combines last year's theme of 'true confessions' with this year's theme of a 'precious object', and the need to give that object up for a better life.

You often catch up with a friend for dinner and it seems every time he has a pungent body odour. So far you've tried to ignore it and just enjoyed seeing him, but it's intense. Although he's very fashion conscious maybe he's not washing his clothes very often. As a friend is it your place to say something? And if you do, how do you broach it without causing offence?

Data brokers and tech companies know even more about you now than they did before the pandemic. But what is happening to our information and what are the risks for us as individuals?

If you live in rural, regional or remote Australia what's the state of play with your local newspaper? These role of these often tiny newspapers in local life has changed forever with the rise of online media content. What's their role been in your local community?

While kids and teens are finally back at school, and some normality is returning, we may just be starting to see the long-term impacts of the past two years on children's development and mental health. So what's to come, will kids bounce back, and how can parents help children build resilience?

Paul Callaghan reached his mid-thirties with all the trappings of a great Australian success story. That was until his 35th birthday brought with it a breakdown. It was reconnecting with his traditional beliefs and culture that helped heal him.

Charity challenges like FebFast or Dry July ask you to give up a vice or train for a physical event for a good cause. They can also help kickstart some healthy habits, but how many participants keep it going after the month is over?

When you don't have a stable place to live, your health can be severely affected. Using a decade of data drawn from services who work with those living with homelessness, a new report has quantified just how their health is impacted, and what can be done about it.

Sometimes in life, bad things can happen, one after the other. Deborah wrote to us over a year ago now to tell us about the most difficult time of her life so far - losing her son. Since then she's faced another big life challenge.

Elective surgery has been paused in most states and territories owing to COVID-19, but with surgeries set to resume in some capacity in NSW and Victoria from February 7, what will it take to manage the waitlist?

A man you thought was the love of your life came to be a narcissist, pathological liar, freeloader and cheat. After numerous years he has appeared back in your life. He assures you he has changed, wants to marry you, will never leave again, and is working towards a future together. Do you give him another chance? Or do you run for the hills like your friends tell you to do?

A diagnosis of dementia is often greeted with fear and despair. But author Wendy Mitchell, who has younger onset dementia, says many forget that dementia has a beginning, a middle and an end stage, and in between, there’s plenty of life to be lived and joy to be shared.

When Destiny Kynuna was growing up, she didn’t know any Indigenous doctors. Very soon she’s about to become one. Part of how she got here has been thanks to the AMA Indigenous Medical Scholarship, but Australia needs about 3000 more Indigenous doctors to reach population parity. What more needs be done to help grow this vital workforce?

Productivity used to be the driving force of Madeleine Dore’s life. She tried every self-help, life hack available. She also spent half a decade interviewing successful people trying to work out how to 'copy-paste' their lives. Then, she realised it was time to let go.

As aged care workers call for a pay rise and international border closures continue to cause headaches for care providers, the sector faces a growing challenge: what would more encourage people to work – and stay in – aged care?

Although it's often associated with older adults, hoarding can start much earlier than we might think. So, what should you do if a friend or family member displays hoarding behaviour?

The cost of living is on the rise and there's talk of an interest rate hike in the future as well. So if you have a home loan, you might be thinking about fixing your rate - is there a good time to do that, if at all?

If you're a renter, it's hard to cool down your home in the hot summer months without major changes like installing air-conditioning, ceiling fans or insulation. But landlords are under no legal obligation to provide cooling to their tenants. We look at whether that should change and get tips on how to make the argument to your rental provider.

We all know that too much sitting can be bad for both our physical and mental health. However international research suggests the news is mixed for the generation who've grown up engaging with a screen.

So you want your investments to reflect your ethical values, but where do you begin? For journalist Nicole Haddow, the pandemic and 2019-20 bushfires made her reassess what her money contributed to, so she overhauled her finances to do her bit for the planet.

Millions of Australians, including teachers, parents and children around the country are using RATs this week and will be doing so for the foreseeable future. We take a look at how to use them and how to interpret the results to make them count.

When it comes to your True Confessions, often it's those tiny moments in childhood that have got you writing and recording for us here at Life Matters. That certainly applies to this confession from Bec Kos, which she's titled The Tale of the Plasticine Rabbit.

Are you keeping yourself locked down in the Omicron storm? Mobility data shows that people in major cities have been staying home, even though they're allowed to move around. So when will it be safe to go out again? And how do you cope when a lockdown is self-imposed?

Your neighbour, while visiting, often asks to borrow something. Recently she asked for a loan of a precious toy that belongs to your son. After agreeing she could have it for one day, now several days have now passed and she is yet to return it. How do you politely handle her asking to borrow things?

In a first for this country, a new building celebrates the sparks that fly when art meets science. Australia's first ever Science Gallery opened in Melbourne where it's debut exhibition is called Mental: Head Inside.

A new study has found students at private schools perform no better on NAPLAN than their public and catholic school counterparts once a student’s family background is considered. But, private schools last year recorded their strongest growth in more than 10 years. As parents make choices for their children's post-pandemic future, what factors should they consider?

Sweat: the History of Exercise charts writer Bill Haye's course through the gymnasia of Ancient Greece and Rome, to the rare books section of a New York library, and even had him running naked except for shoes!

The result is part memoir, part historical detective novel, part workout.

Your smartwatch, phone and other wearable technology can tell you a lot about how you live. But with many models now claiming to be able to measure your blood-oxygen levels and track how well you sleep, is this new knowledge empowering – or worrying – consumers?

Today on Life Matters we talk to players and community leaders who say they've seen the way sport can change culture from both the ground up and from the top down, if everyone involved in those sports, does their bit.

Cricket is one of the few professional Australian women's sports, with a team that has outperformed their male counterparts on the world stage. But it didn't get there without its champions. Former batsman, World Cup and Ashes captain Alex Blackwell shares how she pushed for change at every turn over her thirty year career, often clashing with the powers that be to make the game fairer for women and LGBTQI+ players.

Many learn-to-swim schools offer lessons for children as young as six months, and parents often feel under pressure to get kids started in swimming lessons as early as possible. Research is showing the older the child the more they will benefit from structured swimming lessons.

Amid lengthening workdays and work-life blur, can you set boundaries and stick to them at work? HR specialist Karen Gately shares the secret to owning your time and how enforcing boundaries can benefit your career.

Many Australians have experienced online abuse. But now there's another option to address it, the esafety commissioner's powers have been made stronger, via the new Online Safety Act. So if you've been abused and want to make a complaint, how will it work and what kinds of online behaviour will you be able to have addressed?

When Lindy Collins heard we were looking for true confessions she took us at our word - not once, not twice, but thrice!

Lindy recorded her true confession in Townsville on an evening when crickets were serenading.

It's not too long now before school goes back. It's a massive logistical task to get children back to school at the best of times, let alone when COVID-19 case numbers are higher than ever. Whether you're a parent, student or educator, returning to school in 2022 may feel challenging right now. How prepared do you feel and how are you going to handle living with COVID when schools are back?

Sometimes true confessions reveal themselves long after an event took place.

You can sit with it unspoken, and therefore unheard, for years.

Catherine Bell had to face her truth before she could share it with us.

Life goes on and people re-partner, but with a 60 percent divorce rate for second marriages, when is it time to get back on the horse with a new amour, and how can you best navigate this minefield?

For many of us, as we've had to move our work into our homes surrounded by noisy kids and neighbours, life has gotten a lot less quiet. If this is you, how have you incorporated silence into your days? And, if you’ve ever tried to practice silence for a set period of time, with a daily meditation or at a longer silent retreat, what’s that been like for you?

Is Nietzsche a good role model for younger folk today? One writer thinks so. She's authentically young, she's read his work, and she says there's a new form of nihilism around today that might be good for all of us.

Money is more than just notes and coins. For some, money represents security, it can be used as a weapon, and apart from the kids, is the thing many divorcing couples fight about most often. Agreeing on a fair and equitable split early on means you can start again with more dollars in your pocket. But how do both parties navigate this successfully?

When long-time foreign correspondent for the New York Times Damien Cave moved to Sydney to run the Times' new Australian bureau, he thought it would be a breeze. But moving Down Under ended up challenging him in ways he would never have imagined.

There's a land management and food production system using old ways that's back in practice in south west WA.

It stands in stark contrast to the surrounding wheatbelt.

Noongar Boodja country now takes in 200,000 square kilometres of southwest WA, incorporating 15 different languages and dialects within that nation.

We hear how to keep your sanity AND keep your divorce out of the courts. Because as we all know, the only thing that achieves is a new swimming pool for your lawyers.

Does this sound like a typical weeknight to you? You "finish" work, then run a few errands, field phone calls and texts from friends and family, make and eat a quick dinner, check work emails again, scroll through social media, and then when you finally get to bed you either have trouble falling asleep, or you wake up in the night thinking about work. Many people's lives are slowly drifting out of balance, here's how to recognise when that's happening to you, and what you can do about it.

Boori Monty Pryor is a former Australian Children's Laureate and award winning author. His new book is Story Doctors, a book that takes us on a poetic and illustrated journey of Australia's true history and a call to healing for country.

High conflict divorces can have devastating long-term effects on the children involved. But even crossed arms, sighs and eye rolls when talking about your former spouse can impact your kids. We get some tough love lessons on what we need to do to shield our kids and help them through what is probably going to be the most difficult time in their lives.

If you were made redundant last year or you’re after a career shift, how can you land yourself a job that's meaningful, secure and as future-proof as possible? In a Life Matters special, a team of experts share their tips.

Is the good divorce an urban myth or a realistic goal for mere mortals? Interview with Katherine Woodward Thomas, author of Conscious Uncoupling: 5 Steps to Living Happily Even After on how to achieve it, with important caveat by psychologist specialising in family therapy, Rachel Voysey.

If you don't look like someone who regularly exercises, a gym or a public park can feel like a space ripe for judgement. But this outdoor adventure group is bringing body positivity to the walking track.

It's just about impossible to carry on modern life without at least one smart phone and maybe a laptop or tablet thrown into the mix as well. So how can you manage your use of these devices so they don't control you?

The break up of an intimate relationship just bloody hurts, and who knows that more than anyone else?

Gay women. They lead the world in relationship 'uncoupling'.

That finding is contained within a book called The Breakup Monologues written by comedian, podcaster and author Rosie Wilby.

Jeanette had been mortally afraid of what was buried in the darkness.

However, she couldn't escape it's clutches any longer.

This is Jeanette's true confession.

Research from the Australian National University shows the volunteer sector was badly damaged over the last 12 months and, unlike the Australian economy, it has not snapped back. What role do volunteers play in the Australian economy and what can be done to get the sector booming again?