Life Matters - Full program podcast

Electronic shelf labels — those little digital screens replacing paper tags — are becoming more widespread across supermarkets in Australia, where prices can be updated instantly at the push of a button. It's certainly saved hours of employee time printing and updating labels manually, and although it's not inherently problematic, some are concerned that the way it's being used overseas could have implications for Australian shoppers. ABC technology reporter James Purtill retail marketing and consumer behaviour professor Gary Mortimer from Queensland University of Technology unpack what this could look like on Australian shelves.
Australia Post has warned the day will soon come when it delivers its last letter, with the rising cost to provide the service outstripping demand. So what might a post-post world look like, and how will the record of history we leave behind change without letters?
As workplace culture makes headlines following the fallout between radio duo Kylie Sandilands and Jackie O, behavioural scientist Aaron McEwan look at how to recognise toxic behaviour in the workplace, and what you can do about it.

Crowded lecture theatres and late nights at the uni bar were once staples of university life. But with so much learning now delivered online, campuses aren't the hive of social activity they once were. Life Matters' resident sociologist Dan Woodman and psychologist Andrew Martin unpack what the students of today are missing and whether it matters.
Art is a powerful force that can change our thinking and move us to action — but could it save lives? Professor Daisy Fancourt shares what she found in researching her new book, Art Cure: The Science of How The Arts Saves Lives with Philip Samartzis, an artist capturing the sound of cutting-edge science in Antarctica.
The way we interact online has changed dramatically since the inception of the internet, and artificial intelligence presents a huge challenge. Digital literacy researcher Luci Pangrazio and AI educator Natasha Banks explore how we're preparing ourselves, and the next generation, to navigate these ever-changing spaces.

It wasn't long ago that zero-alcohol drinks were a niche product. Now they're everywhere, including on supermarket shelves, looking almost identical to the real thing. New research warns these drinks are blurring the line between drinking and healthy living. Professor Simone Pettigrew and advertising creative Dee Madigan unpick whether it's time to review the regulations.
While Australians are among the highest consumers of textiles in the world, some shoppers are opting out, embracing low- or no-buy experiments to reassess their wardrobes. Historian Lorinda Cramer and Buy Nothing New founder Tamara Dimattina explore how these trends stack up with those of the past, and just how effective they could be in curbing our clothing consumption. 
Advertisers have long understood the power of music. A catchy jingle can build brand recognition in seconds, and stay with us long after we've heard it. So could the soundtrack in your head be shaping more of your decisions than you realise?

It has never been harder to be a small live music venue in Australia, but what if there was another way? Churchill Fellow Sam Whiting, the Australian Live Music Business Council's Ant McKenna and not-for-profit venue owner Jim Flanagan explore the possibilities.
In the age of wellness, there's an endless stream of advice about how to live longer, stay healthy, and even reverse your biological clock. But have we become so obsessed with living longer that we're no longer living well? Dr Norman Swan and lifestyle and health editor Sarah Berry delve into the extremes of longevity.
New research has explored which voices we find more attractive and how our sexuality might shape the kinds of speech that turns us on. Researcher Cate Madill explains what shapes the way we talk, and how our voices reflect power, status and our place in the world.

Debt can bring up a lot of emotions — stress, shame, embarrassment — but it's a reality for most of us. Almost half of Australians with debt struggled to make some repayments in 2025. National debt helpline coordinator Vicki Staff and psychologist Luke Martin share how to shift some of the difficult feelings around our relationship with money.
Ask Aunty delves into the tricky territory of ending a friendship. When an age-gap friendship starts to feel a little tiring, is it time to break up? And how do you manage phasing someone out if you're worried about their health?