The Conversation Hour

It can be a case of damned if you do and damned if you don't when it comes to women returning to work after childbirth. Seven's AFL commentator Abbey Holmes was recently trolled after announcing she would be returning to work seven weeks after having a baby. So why does society judge, and what can the potential impact of that judgement be?Also in this edition, more Victorians died of drug overdoses last year compared to any other year in the past decade, according to findings from the Coroners Court of Victoria. We explore what role Naloxalone, a drug that can temporarily reverse the effects of an opioid overdose, could play in reducing these deaths.Plus, we also talk why cuts to US Scientific agencies could put Australia's long range weather forecasting at risk and a curious death notice that appeared in the paper today.

For some the local pool becomes a vital source of staying fit over winter but keeping the pool heated comes at an environmental cost, in this edition of The Conversation Hour we look at the future of keeping aquatic centres running over the chillier months.Also in this edition, chat bots are increasingly be used by people with eating disorders, so when are they helpful and when are they harmful? We look at a new national training program that helps long day care services manage food allergies plus how concerned should we be about vitamin B6 in our energy drinks?

It's all eyes on retail this morning with the opening of the Mecca superstore but was does good retail customer service actually look like? In this edition of The Conversation Hour explore what role those working behind the counter play in retail success.Also in this edition the legacy of Carrie Bradshaw, a behind the scenes look at one of Melbourne's most curios museums, plus we take you to the Australian Alpaca National Show.

Dieticians at Western Health are introducing a multicultural hospital meals program, in this edition of The Conversation Hour we explore the significance of food and how it connects to a sense of heritage and community.Also in this edition, what love letters can tell us about history, plus a disconcerting side effect associated with playing Tetris.

The politics of school drop off and pick up has long been discussed, but a new study looks at one particular element — the environmental impact of so-called 'idling'. In this edition of the Conversation Hour we learn about the 'Idle off' campaign which saw students urge parents to turn off the ignition when they parked close to school in an effort to reduce pollution and give young people agency in the face of climate change.Also in this edition, we pay tribute to singer songwriter Col Joyce and look at how streaming has changed song structures.

A new study from Jean Hailes Women Health has found that one in three Australian women are living with migraines, in this edition of The Conversation Hour we discuss just how debilitating the neurological condition can be and why there needs to be greater awareness of the impact it can have on women's lives.Also in this edition, why some parents are considering banning sleep overs, police recruitment study plus why academics are turning to pop icons to understand the culture.

AsAustralia's health ministers have agreed to undertake a review of the nation's fertility sector, in this edition of The Conversation Hour we look at whether there will be greater regulation around so called IVF ‘add ons.’ Also in this edition, it was a big weekend for Super Netball, so do we need to treat it more like football, with the big stadiums and TV coverage? Plus we debrief on the Logies.   

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Australian publication of the iconic sex education book Where Did I Come From, in this edition of the Conversation Hour we explore what made the book so popular and the various controversies that emerged.Also in this edition, why folk are invested in the Pamela Anderson and Liam Neeson coupling, what a Logies win means plus what is the Stop Killing Games movement all about.

It is not uncommon to hear stories about the the trauma emergency service workers experience, but the toll it takes on their family members often gets overlooked. In this edition of The Conversation Hour we look at a new resource called Supportable, created by the Emergency Services Foundation, it offers mental health support those close to frontline workers.Also in this edition, what does the closure of Victoria's last wool cleaning mill in Geelong mean for the wool industry, plus how women's sports bars are bolstering visibility of women's sport.

The government has confirmed YouTube will be included in Australia's social media ban for kids under 16, in this edition of The Conversation Hour we discuss just how damaging social media addiction can be to families and what role social media plays in perpetuating anxiety and depression in young people.Also in this edition, should schools separate classes, such as maths, around academic ability, the importance of LGBTQIA+ stories in film and TV and why scientists are arming birds with backpacks.