Life Matters - Separate stories podcast

When students are struggling at school or trying to get into a selective-entry high school, some parents may decide to engage a private tutor. But the industry, dubbed the shadow education system, remains largely unregulated, so standards and outcomes vary greatly. With cost-of-living pressures biting, how can parents make the best decisions for their children? Meanwhile, concerns remain about inequity for those families who cannot afford to pay for extra schooling.

The Boomer generation pretty much kickstarted the whole backpacking movement in the 1960s and 1970s. Now some hotels won't accept bookings from people over sixty-five years old, and your travel insurance might skyrocket once you turn seventy.

Is the travel industry ageist? And what opportunities exist for players willing to embrace 'inclusive' tourism?

How do you feel about your favourite star and what would you do to show your devotion to them? Would you hand over a month's wages to see them in concert? Or get a tattoo? We look at the benefits of fandom, and how we can draw identity and community from our idols with psychologist, Chris Cheers, who shares his love for Dolly Parton.

Many of us have a problematic relationship with our smartphones, checking emails or doomscrolling into the late hours of the night.

It can feel hard to resist the pull of constantly pinging notifications, could downgrading to a phone without these capabilities restore your inner peace?

There's a small but growing group switching to 'dumb phones' to take control of their lives back. We look at what it's like, and how to get on top of your digital nutrition.

You've finally landed a great job after being out of the workforce for a while. But the final interview with your new boss was weird.

When you finished answering a question he would just look at you and smile, leaving you to fill the awkward pauses.

How are you going to manage working with this slightly odd and much younger boss?

Sometimes sex is disappointing, and that might lead to you giving up on it altogether.

Sex is good for your mental and physical health, and can provide benefits over and above procreation.

So how can you turn bad sex into something more satisfying?

The world is becoming increasingly automated, but when it comes to herding livestock on a farm, working dogs are more efficient than any machine. So what is it about the dog and sheep relationship and the dog and farmer relationship that is so special? And why, judging by the popularity of ABC TV’s Muster Dogs, is watching a muster dog at work something none of us can get enough of?

Depending where you live, nature can feel very far away. But ecologist Jessie Oliver says unique wildlife encounters are probably within reach if you know where to find them.

How can adults play a role in helping kids access some of the best-kept secrets in our cities? 

Rodney and his partner Jeff are the proud parents of seven kids. They co-parent with five other couples and believe living in extended, chosen families is the best way to make life happy for everyone involved. For anyone finding the nuclear family model unsustainable, both practically and financially, how could they follow Jeff and Rodney’s lead?   

Retired social worker Jane Miller's book, 'Social Betterment, social work education in Australia' tells, for the first time, the history of Australian social work education from 1900 to 1960. 

Guest:

Sport has benefits for everyone, from better physical health to improved social skills and resilience. Yet eight out of 10 Australian children fail to meet the WHO's guidelines of doing 60 minutes of physical activity a day. Team sports can be great, but some teens give up when the competition gets too intense, especially if coaches give them less playing time than others. So how can parents and coaches help cushion the blow of being benched?

If the Universities Accord report goes to plan,  eighty percent of workers will have some form of tertiary education by 2050. 

Is that a realistic goal? And how can we create better access?

Beds are Burning, Blue Sky Mine and Power and the Passion: these are just a few of the epic songs Jim Moginie would co-write for the band Midnight Oil. 

Jim is a founding member - songwriter, guitarist and keyboardist - but beyond the band life he held a mystery close to his heart...a big unanswered question. Where did he really come from?

His memoir is called The Silver River: a memoir of family lost and found.

Guest:

Jim Moginie, musician and author

Every day, we interact with dozens of algorithms as we go about our lives: they plan the best route between destinations; help us find new music; and curate our social media feeds. 

Meanwhile, AI tools are learning to generate content in a way that seemed like science fiction a decade ago.

But these same tools are raising major questions about the way they're created and used, and the power they might have over our lives.

Is it possible to take the good parts of this emerging technology without resigning ourselves to the negatives?

As Australia's population ages, our need for palliative care services is expected to double by 2050. But regardless of age, not everyone gets the same access to end-of-life care when living at home.

Meanwhile, a new resource aims to help the families of those moving into aged care, so they can be ready to anticipate their loved one's palliative care needs in future.

Whether it's a garden or a huge art project, working together as a community can be a chance to create something exciting and lasting.

But these kinds of big collaborative projects come with challenges: in the way they're run, and the kinds of relationships they involve between community members and practitioners.

Jade Lillie and Adolfo Aranjuez discuss what it takes to come together and build relationships that extend far beyond the deadlines?

Airline loyalty programs can seem great, it's always good to get something for nothing, right?

In a time where every dollar counts, you might want your dollar taking you as far as it can.

But the hamster wheel of earning points, particular when credit cards are involved, can expose us to financial traps.

We look at what airline points really get you.

Doing the dishes, folding laundry, getting in the garden, or cooking dinner might feel like ‘chores’: just more things on the big list of nuisances we don't have time for.

But changing our mindset around housekeeping can help our mental clarity and wellbeing.

We explore the cultural devaluation of ‘home’ work, and how rethinking our relationship with domestic can improve our lives.

You play on a mixed netball team with your best friend and her sister, who is also a friend. They often fight with each other.

During a recent match things got heated and your best friend stormed off afterwards. She's been cold with you ever since.

How can you navigate these sibling dynamics?

Whether you're a saver or a spender, have you ever wondered what drives your behaviour around money?

We examine where your beliefs come from and if they have held you back or made you more able to manage financially.

Get some tips on how to transform your relationship with money.