Life Matters - Full program podcast

A Grattan Institute report indicates that over one million Australians a year are delaying or skipping specialist health care because they can't afford it. Specialists do vital work, and they're highly trained. But uncapped fees means costs can keep growing and people can't keep up. What can be done to balance the scales and what is the reality for the specialists?
New research has outlined the urgent need to better equip the people who become our de facto therapists — the beauticians, hairdressers, nail techs —with the tools to do this heavy emotional labour.
If you're married, did you keep your own surname or take the name of your betrothed? It's a highly gendered and changing social norm, so what does our surname actually say about us?

The government has laid out the federal budget for the next year, and there's a theme: intergenerational fairness. We know the scales are not tipped in favour of young people, but can we re-balance the scales without pitting older people against younger people, and acknowledge that not all older people are rich? Patricial Sparrow from Council on the Ageing unpacks the budget for over 50s. 
If you could go back and give your younger self one piece of advice about dating, what would you tell them? When Dee Salmin sat down to write a book on everything she'd learned about love, it was her teenage self she had in mind. But it struck a chord with women who'd grown up in an era before "going boy sober" or "raising the bar" were trending topics. 
Would you be up for a sing-along session with your colleagues, in the name of collaboration? Research shows music can be a powerful tool in promoting connection and group identity. Melissa Forbes and Emma Dean share what happened when they brought together a group of carers to investigate the benefits of music in the workplace.

The school library is where so many kids first develop a love of reading and learn the skills they need to understand the world. But the very existence of those libraries is largely dependent on the discretion of the school, and some say they're under threat. The Australian Library and Information Association's Cathie Warburton, best-selling children's author Andy Griffiths and school librarian Hajnalka Molloy explain why school libraries are a vital learning resource for students.
After a player went through a serious mental health episode on the field, the AFL implemented a new rule: all clubs must have an in-house psychologist to keep an eye on players' mental fitness. So if the footy field was actually your office, could you spot the signs? Sport psychologist Courtney Walton and Mental Health First Aid Australia's Jackqui Barnfield run through how to support someone in crisis. 
What is it that motivates you to get to the gym? An investigation by the BBC has revealed a trend in companies using AI influencers to sell programs promising results that experts say are unrealistic. Consumer behaviour expert Paul Harrison explores how marketing is being used in the health industry and what role AI plays in convincing us to get fit.

There are three million carers in Australia looking after a loved one who's unable to care for themselves anymore. But what happens when carers need a break? There's meant to be a system of respite care to serve this need, but that system is under strain. Jayne Christian, who has been caring for her mum since 2022, joins sociologist Myra Hamilton and Sharon Gudu, CEO of Carers New South Wales, to explore the future for respite care.
With the price of groceries climbing, many are looking to grow fresh produce at home and bring down household bills. Horticulturalist Michael Casey, home gardener Emmy Petersson and psychologist Christine Bagley-Jones break down the costs and benefits of growing your own produce.
A new program from the Adelaide University is looking to get over-50s back into exercise, utilising outdoor gym equipment. Lead researcher Alyson Crozier explains how, beyond the health benefits, the program is hopinh to combat social isolation and increase a sense of belonging.

The parent-child relationship is a two-way street. It takes both sides to figure out how to relate to each other as adults -- and that can be especially tough if you have different expectations. Psychotherapist Zoe Krupka unpacks how to manage the changing relationship dynamics from childhood to into adult life. 
The Aunties help out a listener whose beloved teddy bear was destroyed by the neighbours' dog. When the eye-watering bill for repairs comes in, is it reasonable to expect the owners to pay up?