Life Matters - Full Program Podcast

Doctors say more people have been presenting with gut problems in the past twelve months. We find out why that is and what can be done to address any related food intolerances. Plus celebrity photographer Helmut Newton's connection with Melbourne is explored in an exhibition at the city's Jewish Museum, and Mez Lanigan's Life in 500 words story about a cameo necklace that's precious to her.

Higher education is in crisis, and the Albanese government wants to reform it with a Universities Accord. We look at what needs to change at Australian universities. Plus, meet the retirees taking up opal mining in Lightning Ridge, and we look at whether chivalry in dating is actually a kind of sexism.

As updates of the Johnny Depp v Amber Heard defamation trial hit our news feeds daily, what effects are they having on us and what we believe? Also, two years into the pandemic, six per cent of Australians remain un-vaxxed, so what's behind their decisions? And, is there such thing as the science of skin care?

All Australian states have voluntary assisted dying legislation, leaving the ACT and Northern Territory as the only places without access. So how is it working in practice?

What’s driving the growth in cosmetic dentistry in Australia? Where do you draw the line between dentistry for cosmetic purposes and health purposes? And in the Too Hard Basket, what do you do when your child is given a birthday gift that’s completely over the top, costing way more than the average present?

How far have we progressed towards healing for Indigenous families impacted by forcible removal? Plus what we can learn from singletons about how to live alone well, and how to stop being a people-pleaser.

Labor campaigned strongly on aged care reform in the lead up to the election. We take the magnifying glass to the new government's policies and whether they go far enough to futureproof a struggling sector. Plus, Emily Stewart explains how to negotiate your wages. And as grey nomads return to the roads, we look at how to stay safe driving RVs.

Covid and other infectious diseases are running rife in schools right now. Are the measures in place to prevent spread going far enough and what are the risks for students and teachers? Also, with more of our lives being lived online, some innovators are thinking about how technology can also aid preparation for death. And, are there ways to approach moving house that take into account the emotional strain as well as the logistics?

Election night saw a victory for teal independents, who campaigned on greater climate change action and a federal integrity commission, and minor parties. What will their presence mean for passing legislation in the lower house? And how effective is a hung parliament?

Dating apps and online dating sites have totally transformed the way we search for love and relationships. Author Jennifer Pinkerton spent six years researching how this shift had changed Australia’s dating culture, for better or worse. And in the Too Hard Basket, what do you do when you lend your expensive drill to a good friend, only to have a different, and inferior quality, one returned to you?

Why do people with disability still experience discrimination in their every day lives when there are already policies and programs in place to prevent it? Plus how to slow down and take care of yourself to improve your mental and physical health. And students at Western Sydney University get involved in a citizen jury process to have their voices heard.

COVID isn't over, and the 'let it rip' approach has left us with some the highest daily case numbers in the world. How did we get from fortress Australia to throwing in the towel, and do we need to go back to restrictions? Plus, Alice Zaslavsky dishes on the ultimate dinner party etiquette. And this National Volunteer Week, we spotlight volunteers working in natural disaster zones.

The rental crisis is at a peak in Australia right now, and it's being argued that regulation of short term accommodation could help. What would have to happen to make this work? Also, as musician Nick Cave grieves his 31-year-old son, we ponder the particular pain of losing a child. And, Bastian Fox Phelan talks about finding their body to be an 'unwelcome place'.

With less than a week to go until the federal election, Life Matters asks how lowering the voting age could alter Australia's political landscape and the future of civic engagement.

Psychotherapist and journalist Moya Sarner explores why do so many of us struggle with feeling like a grown up, despite hitting many ‘adult’ milestones. The Too Hard Basket considers later life dating and whether it’s ok to not to continue seeing someone who has a health condition. And we head deep into remote Southwest Tasmania.

Is the weather we've been experiencing in Australia in the past year or two really unusual? We ask experts if the heavy rain is going to stop soon and what's behind the current weather pattern. Plus get tips on how to manage trauma from Lady Gaga's therapist, and learn how to manage a 'bad boss'.

Many Australians are in support of an Indigenous Voice to Parliament, but it's still a long way off. How has First Nations recognition been implemented in other parts of the world and what can we learn from those experiences? Plus neuroscientist and performance coach Elaine Fox on how to build a flexible mindset, for better mental health.

NAPLAN starts this week around the country and, for the first time, all tests will be conducted online. What are the pros and cons and what can we expect? Also, how can we reduce our anxiety as we travel in the COVID age? And, have you ever thought of adding some weeds to your diet?

When it comes to the big milestones like building a career, having children or buying a home, will young people today follow the same linear route in life as their parents?

After 33 years at the ABC, Michael Mackenzie is retiring. He shares one of his favourite stories from his time at Life Matters. We look at the important role that sports coaches play in children’s lives, and how parents can build a successful relationship with their kids’ coaches, for everyone’s benefit. And in the Too Hard Basket, what to do about a group gift when not everyone contributes.