Life Matters - Full program podcast

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?

In the aftermath of the BAFTA awards, one moment has eclipsed the stories behind any of the films that were recognised. A Tourette Syndrome advocate who'd been invited to celebrate a film about his life shouted a racial slur while two Black actors were presenting an award on stage. It was an involuntary tic that he had no control over, but the impact was shocking, sparking heated debate. Mandy Maysey and Seamus Evans from Tourette Syndrome Association of Australia discuss how we can make these spaces genuinely accessible and inclusive — for everyone.
Australia is having a reckoning moment for the 1.5 million children enrolled in child care. At the Senate inquiry into quality and safety of Australia's early childhood system, some groups are pushing for more flexible choice for subsidised care outside of the existing daycare system, while others want to re-imagine the system entirely. One of the options put forward is universal child care. Parenting advocate Georgie Dent breaks down what that could look like and just how achievable it would be.
In our regular segment My Two Cents, veteran rock and roller Mick Thomas of Weddings, Parties, Anything and The Roving Commission, shares how he makes his money decisions.
And for Ask Aristotle, resident philosopher Patrick Stokes delves into what it means to be human. If your head was placed on a new body, would you still be you? Where does our consciousness truly reside? And even if such a transplant was possible, should we do it?