Life Matters - Full program podcast
Life Matters - Full program podcast
ABC Australia
Helping you figure out all the big stuff in life: relationships, health, money, work and the world. Let's talk! With trusted experts and your stories, Life Matters is all about what matters to you.
Grandparenting through conflict and estrangement and Odyssey-inspired literary travel
When your kids become parents, it can feel like deja vu. You've weathered these same toddler tantrums and teenage rebellions — but this time it's your grandchildren testing the boundaries, and your own kids are now the ones in charge. For this instalment of The Grandparent Trap, it's time to explore some trickier territory. Author, podcaster and Mamamia editor Jessie Stephens and her mum Anne Stephens share how their relationship dynamic changed when the family added a new generation, and family psychologist Dr Josh Coleman weighs in on how to navigate conflict and estrangement if things aren't going so well. Plus, Dark Emu author Bruce Pascoe (or "Papa Bruce" to his grandkids) explains his role as the "grumpy grandparent" insistent on table manners and raising his grandchildren to become conscientious citizens.  And if Christopher Nolan's screen interpretation of The Odyssey has got you dreaming of a Mediterranean holiday, you're not alone. Tourism operator Sam Wood, author Larissa Behrendt and The Book Show's Claire Nichols explore what's behind the rising trend in literary travel.
Jul 19
54 min
The secret to sharing the mental load and splitting up for better sleep
When it comes to two-parent families, research shows women do 50 per cent more housework than men, and double the amount of caring duties. But the mental load is about more than juggling the significant burden of daily life admin. So what would it look like if that was equally shared? Sociologist Leah Ruppanner and psychologist Simon Rice explain how to divide and conquer before you find yourself in total burnout.  What do you do if sleeping next to your partner has become an absolute nightmare? This week, Aunties Tito Ambyo and Fiona Harris share their advice with a listener who's considering separate beds in the hopes of catching some Zs and improving their sex life.
Jul 16
53 min
Checking in on public trust in AI, leaving a doomsday church and Jacqueline Harvey's grandparenting joy
The federal government's setting up an Office of AI to lay out some ground rules for companies that want to build centres in Australia. So what does this say about our trust in AI, and the global corporations developing these tools? Tech reporter Cam Wilson, AI expert Toby Walsh and researcher Nicole Gillespie, who's been keeping tabs on public perceptions around AI since 2020, weigh in. Imagine being told, every day, that today could be the day the world ends. That was the message drilled into Bek Condello for as long as she could remember. She shares what it was like being raised in a strict doomsday church, and how leaving led her to rebuild her entire life.  In the latest instalment of The Grandparent Trap, children's author Jacqueline Harvey shares how becoming "Nanny Jac" to her step-daughter's gorgeous son Alfie brought a totally new kind of love into her life.  One of the most complete Tyrannosaurus rex skeletons in the world sold this week for $71 million. The buyer has not yet been disclosed, but it begs the question: should any one person own an item like this?
Jul 15
55 min
Finding love offline and Hannah Ferguson on what's driving young people politically
Gayle is looking for love again in her 40s. She spent some time scouring the dating apps, but now she's ditched them in an effort to find someone offline. Well, kind of offline. She's also documenting her journey on social media. So what is the best way to find a new relationship in mid-life? Are people having more success offline than on — or are we just evolving past dating apps? According to new research from the Australian Institute of Family Studies, young people aren't disengaged from politics and civic life — they're actually just engaging in different ways than the generations before them. Lead author of the research Dr Ebony Biden and Cheek Media Co founder Hannah Ferguson unpack the results.  In Head and Heart you get some tips on moving out of the acquaintance zone and into the friend zone.
Jul 14
55 min
How David Wenham will remember his friend Sam Neill and the co-housing solution for older women
There's a critical lack of affordable housing options across the board, and data suggests older women — who typically retire with less in savings and superannuation than men — are particularly vulnerable. There's no silver bullet, but one potential solution involves a co-housing model that puts community front and centre. Sharing With Friends CEO Susan Davies and author Sally Piper explain how the idea sparked a friendship and inspired a novel. Everyone has those menial tasks that feel impossible — not because they're difficult, but just because they're so incredibly tedious. So how do you get through the dreaded to-do list? Time management coach Christie Flora explains the power of "get stuff done" parties bringing people together to collectively crush the boring life admin jobs. With the news of Sam Neill's death reverberating around the world, friend and fellow actor David Wenham shares how he'll be remembered: not just as an extraordinary actor, but a beautiful person whose warmth, wit, and talent touched millions.
Jul 13
54 min
Grandparenting as a full-time carer and reclaiming your ring after divorce
There are more than 100,000 children currently in some form of kinship care in Australia, and it's estimated more than half of those providing that care are grandparents. As part of Life Matters' special series The Grandparent Trap, Kinship Alliance Australia founder Meredith Kiraly and researcher Jocelyn Jones explore the complicated dynamics involved in raising children the second time around.  Plus, Australian soap royalty Lynne McGranger shares why becoming a nanna was even more special than winning the Gold Logie.  When a marriage ends in divorce, what do you do with the wedding ring? One option apparently gaining steam is taking that piece of jewellery and turning it into something new: the divorce ring. Jeweller Nicole Winkler and divorce lawyer Antonella Sanderson weigh in on what this trend says about our feelings around divorce. After Life Matters dove into the ethical quandaries of the smart glasses revolution last week, former disability discrimination commissioner Graeme Innes got in touch to share how this technology has been a game-changer for accessibility.
Jul 12
55 min
The pep talk to pull you out of a career slump and solving a dogsitting disaster
If you're feeling a bit stuck in your career, or pessimistic about how AI might affect your future prospects, it might be time for a pep talk. Career management coach Jane Jackson and Money Money Money host Glen James want to help pull you out of your slump and get unstuck. And it's all fun and games until someone loses an eye … this week Aunties Urvi Majumdar and James Colley share some advice for a listener in hot water after a dogsitting disaster.
Jul 9
53 min
Homesharing solutions, Morris Gleitzman's grandparenting joy and the renaissance of medieval festivals
Women over 55 are the fastest-growing cohort experiencing homelessness in Australia. Many have been pushed to seek alternative living arrangements, and new research suggests homesharing could be a viable option. Researcher Lyndall Bryant and Homeshare Australia New Zealand Alliance's Rosie Lawn explain how the model works and why there's such a significant demand. When you're shaping the minds of the next generation, how do you bring 65,000 years of Indigenous peoples' stories into the here and now? University of Melbourne researchers Justin Wilkey and Jess Gannaway share how they're gathering knowledge from Indigenous educators across the world to help Australian teachers bring truth-telling into the classroom. As part of Life Matters' new series The Grandparenting Trap, children's author Morris Gleitzman explains how sharing his love of stories and wild imagination with his two grandsons has brought him immense joy.  There are dozens of medieval fairs across the country each year, with multi-day festivals selling out faster than you can say "hear ye, hear ye". So what's behind the nostalgia for a time none of us has ever experienced? Sociologist Dan Woodman and sword fighter Kiara Bruggeman break it down.
Jul 8
55 min
Beware the bank of mum and dad and where not to go on your next holiday
If talking about money makes you squirm, you might want to think twice before you open an account with the bank of mum and dad. University of Newcastle researchers Julia Cook and Mirella Atherton explain the tricky emotional — and legal — consequences of lending cash to your loved ones. One person's dream holiday destination is another's backyard. But some UNESCO heritage sites are now so overwhelmed by tourists, they're asking to be removed from the list. So, if locals are asking you not to go, do you have a responsibility to change your travel plans?  If you were running a car for eight hours a day without stopping, eventually you would run out of petrol and the car would break down. The same can be said for our bodies and minds, so taking effective breaks at work should be a priority. This Working Life host Lisa Leong shares how to build in restorative breaks throughout your day.
Jul 7
55 min
Untangling gambling from sports culture and are smart glasses cool now?
Sports betting is the fastest-growing form of gambling in the country, and it's overwhelmingly popular with men. Experts say that's no coincidence. Researcher Rohann Irving and lived experience advocate Mark Kempster explore how gambling got so tied up with our love of sport and our ideas about masculinity, and whether there's any way to untangle it. Smart glasses have been around for years, but this time the tech's had an AI injection. Companies like Meta are looking for new ways to market their products to the masses, collaborating with the likes of Kylie Jenner. Tech journalist Alice Clarke and digital sociologist Ben Lyall discuss whether these goofy glasses are finally becoming cool, and what it means for your privacy.  Australia's introducing new labelling rules that will require restaurants to clearly state whether seafood is locally sourced, imported, or a mix of the two. So how might this affect what you choose from the menu?
Jul 6
55 min
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