Life Matters - Full Program Podcast

A new centre for treating eating disorders is trialling a different approach to a rising incidence, we meet Clarke Gayford, angler, chef and partner to NZ Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, and how our own confinement might be driving our obsession with the reality tv houses of the absurdly rich.

With most children and teenagers unable to get vaccinated, we discuss other ways that schools might be able to reopen while minimising the risk of coronavirus spreading in those settings. Improved ventilation, masks, social distancing and rapid testing are some of the measures that could help. Plus how people are getting their 'nature dose' in different parts of the country.

Would knowing what our bosses make create a more equitable workplace and society? How physically and psychologically safe is the latest anti-ageing treatment, cosmetic injectables? And, what would it be like to be in a relationship with someone but be unable to recognise their face?

As Australia continues to see hundreds of cases of coronavirus a day, not everyone is following the lockdown rules. Listeners and experts share their thoughts about how to deal with pandemic fatigue and what is driving the urge to sidestep the rules.

There is no silver bullet for Australia's cat problem, but a parliamentary inquiry recently recommended a 'national cat curfew' to protect native wildlife. With cat bans and night-time 'cat curfews' in place in some municipalities, could one work in your area? And should you ever pay your sibling for their help?

What's gone wrong with rolling the vaccine out to Indigenous communities, and what can be learned from the success stories? What’s driving Alison Bechdel’s lifelong obsession with exercise? And what drives a person to create a false online identity?

Daily press conferences by state and federal governments provide vital information, but also news that is upsetting for the general public. How can we manage our consumption of news about the pandemic in a way that protects our mental health? Plus the role of class in romantic relationships and food businesses donating to lockdown affected communities.

Are more young people entering the stock market these days and is it becoming more accessible? What have Nick Bracks' own struggles taught him about navigating mental health challenges? And, how could new, innovative technologies help people with disabilities in daily life?

From individual choices about what we buy and eat, to the agriculture that produces our food, how are we contributing to climate change, and how might our food systems have to adapt? A farmer and an expert in food systems explain what can be done at an individual and group level to prevent global warming.

The world is grappling with the dual crises of coronavirus and climate change, so why have we heeded the advice so keenly on one issue and not the other? Plus, the role of playgroups in communities. And what should you do when your friend’s husband becomes a conspiracy theorist?

Is the NSW government making the best decisions to find its way out of the current COVID spread? Bill Edgar explains how he fell into role as the self titled 'coffin confessor' and writer and broadcaster John Connell started running a few years back...and hasn't really stopped since.

What impact might a guaranteed basic income have on people's lives and choices around work? Plus your experiences at the dog park with your pet and the relationships you may have formed as a result.

Why are men lagging behind in the vaccine race and how can we cheer them on? Is there a way to be a sunny nihilist? And, a story of enduring love from the Burma Railway.

Every five years, our country embarks on the Census, a large information gathering exercise, which asks every household the same questions on one night of the year. The aim is to gather a snapshot of who we are, where we live and what our beliefs and priorities are, to build a picture of our country now, so we can plan for the future. This time around, households can fill in the information ahead of Census Night. Listeners and guests share whether the questions being asked are the right ones for getting to the core of who we are as people and as a nation.

If you have a bit more time for podcast listening at the moment, Life Matters has a show for you — the ABC's 'Days Like These'. In this episode Edwina Storie asks, "What would you do for a sibling? How far do you go out of your way to help them? And what if you're not that close, but you feel that pull of family obligation anyway?". A warning, there is strong language coming up and themes not suitable for young ears.

Many of us will experience a panic attack at some point, so what are some ways to manage your anxiety? Plus, Daniel James on when Queen Elizabeth arrived in Shepparton in regional Victoria and two very different worlds briefly passed each other by. And should you stop swearing at work?

The federal government is developing the framework for a digital vaccine passport. What should it contain? One Indigenous student tackles the laden term 'Where you from?' and a new documentary reveals the challenges and benefits of First Nations young people being given scholarships to prestigious boarding schools far from home and family.

For those in residential aged care and their families, the pandemic has been an expecially difficult time. With lives lost and continuing fears about the health and welfare of loved ones, vaccination has been an important tool to keep everyone safe. We hear from experts in the field of aged care and stories from those affected. Plus how watching the Olympics can help us get moving.

From next Monday, children aged 12 to 15 with underlying health conditions, and Indigenous children, will be eligible for the Pfizer vaccine. Is this the way forward, if we're trying to achieve herd immunity, and avoid more lockdowns?

The property market has soared to new heights during the pandemic, which is having a negative impact on some young people who are seeking to buy their first home. Others are going down a different path. Listeners and experts share their thoughts on how the over-heated housing market is affecting the investment aspirations of young people.