Life Matters - Full program podcast

The federal government has unveiled its plan for gambling reforms, announcing a ban on gambling ads in sports stadiums and players' uniforms, and heavy restrictions around ads on TV, radio and online platforms. But does this go far enough to stop millions of dollars flowing out of people's wallets and into gambling company coffers? Researcher Samantha Thomas and advocate Anna Bardsley discuss how gambling companies are expanding to target new markets, and how the proposed reforms measure up.
After more than 10 years of putting survivors, alcoholics, nudists, cheaters, bogans and countless others in the hot seat, there aren't many uncomfortable questions Kirk Docker hasn't asked. The co-creator You Can't Ask That has been inviting misunderstood or marginalised groups to answer the most controversial and curly questions — on television — for seven seasons. And the show's coming back for another round. 
Smart devices are everywhere. They're designed to enhance our lives, but these devices also collect a huge amount of data, with very few safeguards to protect your privacy. So are we as humans smart enough for these devices?

Would you watch Married At First Sight with your teenagers? It might sound like a strange parenting strategy — the show is messy, engineered for drama, and showcases some pretty troubling behaviour. Media lecturer Jessica Ford and men's mental health expert Simon Rice discuss how creating a safe space for conversations about respectful relationships could be a good place to start.
There's a push to integrate financial literacy into Australian schools, with recent data showing 52 per cent of Australian women and 37 per cent of men don't understand basic financial literacy concepts. Katrina Samios, from the not-for-profit Financial Basics Foundation unpacks what practical financial lessons for young people could look like.
Author, columnist, and screenwriter Kathy Lette has written dozens of books, but she credits just one as the spark that set her on the path to becoming a writer.
When you reach a certain age, the world has a quiet way of suggesting this might be as good as it gets — you've peaked. But middle age doesn't have to be a slow fade. For Saskia Beudel, who took on Australia's most intense endurance cycling event in her 50s, it was a time to push the limits.

Most parents understand there is a huge amount they can do to set up (or stuff up) their kids' mental and emotional needs. Developmental paediatrician and parenting podcaster Billy Garvey shares how to prioritise what's most important. 
Aunties Denise Eriksen and James Colley help a listener figure out how to break the news that they're not a big fan of their friend's four-legged companion.

An estimated 1 in 3 Australian households do not have secure access to food — they're either not getting enough, not getting the right kind, or sacrificing other crucial things to afford their groceries. And with fuel prices skyrocketing and interest rises shrinking household budgets, people are turning to food banks to help put dinner on the table. So how do we address the complex issue of food security?
Grief can plunge your entire world into darkness. Most of us find our own way to survive it, to let the life grow around it. For author Emma Grey, the answer was to "turn up the light" by seeking out snippets of hope through creative pursuits — from floral arrangements to photography.
ABC analysis of Census data shows, for the first time ever, women are more likely to be married or partnered with a man who has a lower education than them. Sociologist Dan Woodman unpacks what's behind the shift.

The Reserve Bank of Australia has announced that come October, card surcharges will be banned. But will it actually save you money any money?
A significant amount of our learning takes place outside of the classroom and we know that homeschooling has risen significantly in the last few years. Mario Gabrieli, who's taking his son Leonardo on a journey from Sydney to Italy on the back of a Vespa, and home education researcher Rebecca English discuss the benefits of taking kids out of school. 
Deborah Lawrie knew from the age of 16 that she wanted to be a pilot, so when Ansett rejected her from their trainee program in 1978, she took the airline all the way to the high court — and won. The landmark legal battle allowed a trailblazing woman to finally pursue her dream career, and paved the way for equal opportunity in Australia.