Life Matters - Full program podcast

The data shows we're reading less than ever. About one in three Australian school students isn't developing the reading skills they need, and the shift reflects a broader global trend. Across the board, there are signs the next generation is just not interested in picking up a book, and historian and podcaster Dominic Sandbrook is concerned we're headed for a "post-literate" society. So does it matter if we've fallen out of love with reading? And what can we do to reverse the trend?
Is there a place from your youth that feels like a sacred space? For Alistair Miller, it's the Corio Skate Bowls — built in 1980 as the first public skate park in Victoria, after he and his mates lobbied the local council to give them a space to burn off steam. Decades later, it's been earmarked for heritage protection. So what have we learned about creating public spaces for teenagers, and how do we protect them?
The return of humans into space has reignited an age old question: is there extra-terrestrial life out there? And if we find it, what happens next? Resident Life Matters philosopher Patrick Stokes mulls over ethical quandaries of space exploration and alien life.

Breaking up is hard to do, especially when there are children involved. And for many parents working through a separation, it comes with guilt and fear that kids living across two separate households will be worse off. But a new research paper from the Australian Institute of Family Studies shows as long as kids feel a sense of safety and security, the bells and whistles are less important. 
As AI adoption surges, so too does the demand for data centres. But these facilities require enormous amounts of energy and water to operate. A NSW inquiry is now examining the rapid expansion, with three local councils pushing back. Researchers Brownyn Cumbo and Ascelin Gordon explore how this technology fits into our infrastructure, and what it means for the communities hosting it.
The Artemis II crew have set a new record for space exploration, travelling farther from Earth than any humans before them. Head of the Australian Space Agency Enrico Palermo unpacks what we hope to learn from this mission, and how its success might shape the future of space exploration.

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.