Life Matters - Full program podcast

After hanging up the Olympic swimming goggles, growing and birthing five beautiful children, Libby Trickett was ready to make her 40s the decade of health and fitness. But last June she had what she would later find out was a spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) heart attack. She joins Dr Barbara Murphy to talk through dealing with the ongoing anxiety that often comes after a major health scare.
International Day of Play recognises the right of every child to have access to the time and space to play. The latest survey shows a quarter of Australian kids feel they need better opportunities to play outdoors. Play Australia CEO Robyn Munro Miller explains how to build communities where kids have the space to get outside and play.
Recent ABS data reveals that people are less happy now than they were in 2020. So when did we start to consider our happiness and how has life satisfaction changed over time? Sociologist Dan Woodman explores what happiness means to us in 2026.

In the 1970s, the late physicist and Nobel laureate Richard Feynman came up with a mathematical formula to help his friend decide what to order at their favourite restaurant. The trouble is, no-one could decipher the handwriting — until now. Self-proclaimed maths geek Adam B Spencer and psychotherapist Zoë Krupka explore the answers to decision paralysis.
When you think about the critical infrastructure that makes up a city, what comes to mind? Roads, bridges, power lines, public hospitals — what about trees? The gentle giants that shelter our footpaths, filter our air and cool our cities provide a lot for the communities where they grow. So when one gets cut down, sometimes the people push back. But the question of who gets final say over whether a tree stays or goes is complicated.
In the past decade, nearly half of Australia's bookstores have closed. It's an obvious loss for the book lovers who feel most at home among the shelves. But even if you're not an avid reader, these places can carry cultural significance, giving people the opportunity to gather and be a part of their community. Bookshop owner Tim Jarvis weighs up the future of bricks-and-mortar stores and what it means for the industry.

Australia uses 1.3 million tonnes of plastic packaging every year — and the majority of that packaging ends up in landfill. Exemptions that allow some companies to export certain types of plastic waste are being wound back. So does Australia have the capacity — and the market — to make recycling work?
Dyslexia can make everyday tasks really difficult, and take a huge toll on self esteem and confidence over time. British actor Tom Holland recently revealed he's turned down big opportunities over his discomfort reading cue cards. Advocates Will Wheeler and Jodi Clements explain what it's like to live and work with dyslexia.
It's hard to make any purchase these days without being offered a special discount or deal if you sign up to a customer loyalty program. But are the perks worth it? Consumer behaviour expert Paul Harrison weighs up the pros and cons.

Helping you figure out all the big stuff in life: relationships, health, money, work and the world.

In an era where we have access to the technology, surgery and drugs to modify every aspect of our appearance, how can we build a relationship with our selves based on compassion and acceptance? Clinical psychologists Louise Adams and Zac Seidler explore the world of looksmaxxing and what's behind the human desire to feel attractive.
This week, Aunties Michelle Law and James Findlay share their advice for a listener with a doggy dilemma. How do you know when loyalty to a beloved pet is no longer enough? And what do you do when every option feels heartbreaking?