Life Matters - Full program podcast

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?

Ten years ago, Facebook updated its platform to introduce new ways to interact with posts you see in your feed. Alongside a range of smiley face emojis sat a one-click shortcut to the most powerful emotion of all: anger. In the years since, it seems our online appetite for anger has only grown, with algorithms amplifying 60-second rants and spicy hot takes. Ed Coper, author of Angertainment, and Cheek Media founder Hannah Ferguson unpack whether there is an alternative to the ragebait economy.
According to Beyond Blue, 1 in 2 Australians are facing burnout in the workplace. And we're so used to it we just accept this as a natural state of feeling awful all the time, feeling like there's never enough time to rest. Organisational psychologist Amantha Imber road tested strategies to fix her burnout without totally changing her life, with lessons for us all.
Plus this week we Ask Aristotle to unpack the ethics of whistleblowing.