Life Matters - Full program podcast

How can climate risk data about the place in which you want to live be made more easily accessible, so you're fully informed before you move there? Plus we ask experts to fact check the popular belief that exposing yourself to bright colours can lift your mood, and Julie Peters on her role as an 'accidental archivist' of transgender culture.

Australians aged 30 and older are now eligible for a fourth dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, amid concerns around new COVID-19 sub-variants and a rise in Omicron infections. Life Matters takes your questions on reinfection rates, boosters and what you want to know about COVID-19 now.

You might love your partner, and still not love the way they think about and handle money. So how can you figure that out? Plus how to move on when your best friend is not giving you what you need.

When it comes to reconciliation with First Nations people, what's the best form of truth-telling? Plus journalist and author Michael Pollan on his new TV series 'How to Change Your Mind' about psychedelic drugs and their potential as treatments for some psychological disorders. And for Life in 500 Words, Andrew describes a family breakup, and a Christmas gift he was given by his dad.

Clothing made from recycled materials sounds great for the environment, but experts say the trend isn't as green as it sounds. We look at how to make the most sustainable choice for your wardrobe. Plus, we meet First Nations authors teaching about culture through children's books. And, is it cruel to keep a dog in an apartment? We look at pooch options for flat-dwellers.

For two years, many people accessed medical appointments through video and telephone consults, but longer telephone consultations will no longer be funded, concerning patients. Plus, visit childcare centres implementing bilingual programs. And Sober in the Country's Shanna Whan shares the joys and trials of lowering your alcohol intake.

This year's NAIDOC Week theme of Get Up! Stand up! Show up! calls for change and support for First Nations peoples and communities. So, what does enduring, meaningful allyship look like?

To mark the ABC's 90th birthday, Life Matters takes the Too Hard Basket to a live audience in Melbourne. The popular Friday segment is part of the ABC's long and proud history of tackling tricky interpersonal situations that many of us grapple with in our daily lives.

An increase in image-based abuse during the pandemic is one of the reasons behind the creation of a resource for young people called 'Scroll'. Plus how a nurse with burnout learned to help herself and other health workers with art therapy, and Pat finds a book owned by his dad, which raises questions. And how second hand shopping is more difficult when you're plus-size.

s there a risk that Australia's High Court appointments could be ideologically appointed like in the US? And what impact would that really have on our lives? We investigate why we seem to know more about SCOTUS than our own apex court. Plus, do you have a preference for brands that have a "stance" on social issues? We take a look at brand activism and whether you should trust it.

In the shadow of this week’s overturning of the Roe vs Wade ruling, new Australian research finds that access, stigma and affordability are still the biggest barriers women face when it comes to seeking an abortion. Also, is it better to be a generalist or a specialist in the current job market, and why many of us are awkward around other people’s grief. 

Several large retailers, including Kmart and Bunnings, already use facial recognition technology in their stores – collecting biometric data that is as unique as a fingerprint – but are customers aware of how their facial data is being captured and used?

Conflict with close friends can be a significant event in adult life. We take your calls on how you’ve navigated the ups and downs of these relationships. And in the Too Hard Basket, your brother and sister-in-law tell you that their kids don’t respond well to discipline, so do you step in when your young niece and nephew behave badly, or do you tell their parents to step it up?

Former Dolly Magazine cover girl Alison Daddo reveals what she learned about menopause, and how it changed her life. Plus a farmer from Queensland who is helping to protect the Great Barrier Reef, and Monique's story for Life in 500 Words about her father and a fire horse doll.

Victoria and NSW are bringing in big changes to support a year of pre-school for all children, double what's offered now. We look at how play based learning became the hot topic in education and what play can do for kids' development. Plus, if you binged on processed comfort food in lockdowns, we learn how those eating habits might still be affecting your mental health.

Next month the "Job active" program is being replaced by the "Workforce Australia" scheme. How will this change the way jobseekers interact with the services that help them into work? Also, how does musician Murray Cook use music in prison to help build confidence and connectedness? And, we hear from TV quiz master Braydon Coverdale on the role of quizzing in his life and in contemporary Australia.

The NSW government has announced it wants to scrap stamp duty in favour of an annual land tax. While it's been supported by economists, it is uncertain what impact the move could have on the housing crisis. So, what will it mean for you?

We hear your stories of coming out later in life, and how to date, explore sex, talk about it with friends and family and embrace your authentic self. And in the Too Hard Basket, how far should you go when it comes to catering to the dieting needs of your house guests? If your visitors are vegan, should the household only eat vegan food while they’re staying?

For medical issues that affect both sexes, more men than women will die, that's a fact. So what can be done to address the gender gap in life expectancy for men? Plus we explore the phenomenon of the midlife crisis in women, and in our Life in 500 Words segment, Jennifer tells us about a little embroidered harp which is precious to her.

Domestic violence is a pressing issue in Australia's growing South Asian migrant community. We look at how traditions of dowry, patriarchy and caste play a role and how we can intervene in culturally sensitive ways. Plus, Alice Zaslavsky has an ode to the humble pie. And we meet the team behind Shadow, the dystopian debut feature of acclaimed Australian neurodiverse theatre company Back to Back Theatre.