Life Matters - Full program podcast

Pushing for change takes a sustained effort — it requires people to keep showing up, keep organising, and keep working together. And building a movement often means finding common ground with people outside your usual circles. Amanda Tattersall and Kurt Iveson, co-authors of People Power in Cities, explore what it takes to create real change.
Around 26 million people worldwide have taken an at-home DNA test to discover their ancestry. For Simon Chate, it led him to a family he never knew existed. So what's behind this yearning to connect with our past? And what does it teach us about ourselves?
Trust in medical institutions is declining, and it's never been easier to find alternative information online. So how do you support someone you love who's started exploring questionable treatments?

Australia is increasingly a nation of non believers — in the 50 years from to 2021, the number of people claiming "no religion" rose from about 7 per cent to nearly 40 per cent. Yet other research suggests those identifying as "spiritual" is on the rise. So how do we find spirituality outside of religion? Author Jackie Bailey and sociologist Anna Hallafoff explore the bounds of spirituality.
When it comes to grief, everyone processes things in their own way. This week, Aunties Fiona Harris and Nelly Thomas share their advice with a listener who's having a hard time with a relative who's called dibs on their dying loved one's belongings.

"It really bothers me when any kind of white supremacist people have tried to use my song, I've objected to that a few times now. True blue is just...your promise is your bond." 
John Williamson has spent his five-decade long career bringing our wide brown land to life in song. He's never shied away from speaking his mind, especially when his words are used for causes he stands against — whether it's racism or environmental degradation. His storytelling expertise is now being put to use as a judge for the Wilderness Society's Environment Award for Children's Literature.
When a young woman was bitten by a shark in the middle of a sunny winter's day at Sydney's Coogee Beach, it gave many ocean lovers reason to pause before their morning swim. It's something Justine Barwick has lived through herself. So if the water's your happy place, how do you feel safe to get back in?
After a Canadian pilot was found to have forged his licence credentials for 17 years, we're compelled to Ask Aristotle when a white lie becomes unethical — or straight up fraud?

It used to feel like learning a few key phrases in the local language before you headed overseas would help you get around. But with the rise of translation apps, is it even worth it anymore? Neuroscientist Olivia Maurice and linguist Peter Crosthwaite explore the benefits of learning another language. 
Australia's paid parental leave scheme is about to be extended to six months, but as it stands, it's mostly mums taking time off. Research shows dads desperately want to spend more time with their kids, but simply can't afford it under the current system. So what would the gold standard system look like, and how realistic is it?
AI is increasingly becoming part of our working lives. But it takes time and effort to teach these tools how to fit in with workplace culture, policies and systems. Research shows there's a capability gap among Australian workers, with some burnt out on "botsitting", and those who aren't quite fluent in AI falling behind.

Results from the last HILDA survey shows the income Australians need to feel satisfied is climbing higher and higher. So is this just a case of lifestyle creep, or a genuine struggle to pay the bills even with a decent pay packet?
After almost 150 years, Balmain Bowling Club in Sydney called last drinks over the weekend. And sadly, it's a familiar tale. Researchers from the University of New South Wales crunched the numbers in 2022 and found that Sydney had lost nearly half of its bowls clubs since 1980. So what's the future for these community hubs?
On Head and Heart we ask our resident psychologist Christine Bagley-Jones how to navigate caring for your ageing parents if you feel like they never fully cared for you.