Life Matters - Separate Stories Podcast

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.