Life Matters - Separate stories podcast

There are so many things that shape the way we use our streets. A new study from RMIT has found bringing residential speed limits down from 50 to 30 kilometres an hour would protect cyclists.Other studies show a drop in residential speed limits even more benefits, especially for our kids.So what do we need to do to make our streets safe, healthy and places that encourage us to get outside and play?

Around the world there have been moves to curtail smartphone use. Recently, a small town in central Japan introduced a measure limiting it to just two hours a day. Town officials say it's an attempt to tackle online addiction and sleep deprivation.Here at home, one coastal town south of Sydney has seen a grassroots movement to keep kids and adults off their devices. Instead, they're running phone-free events with board games, art, and even knitting!So,  how do you find balance between your online and offline world? And have you tried to switch from scrolling to other activities? 

Whether you've been pregnant or not, you're probably familiar with the term "morning sickness."But have you heard of Hyperemesis gravidarum?It's an illness that can have dire consequences for mums-to-be, so why don't we take it more seriously?

What's in your wallet? License, credit cards, pics of the kids... but, is there any money in there?Will coins soon be ... just for collecting?The federal government has released draft legislation requiring supermarkets and service stations to accept cash for at least another three years. But there are plenty of exemptions.

The ABC has launched a new interactive tool that brings together thousands of years of oral histories that have been passed down for generations.The Deep Time website tells the ancient story of our continent and its people... and explores Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture over 65,000 years. The site covers everything from how people migrated across the land, how they survived an ice age.. and how they lived alongside megafauna.

Have you heard about the tiny bakery in Sydney that's supposedly selling cinnamon scrolls that are to die for? Every weekend, the lure of baked good from Sundays Bondi draws a line of people that stretches down the road.Are the cinnamon scrolls worth a one-hour wait? Who knows! Does the act of queuing for hours to buy something increase the thrill when you finally get it? Or are expectations sky-high and destined to result in disappointment?

One in five students in New South Wales has been suspended from school, and new research shows that being excluded from school not only influences academic performance but mental wellbeing as well.So when is suspension the right option? Is it ever the right option? And in our over-worked and under-resourced school system, what's the alternative?

COVID completely changed the way many of us saw a doctor. Gone were the days of sitting in the GP's waiting room, flicking through old magazines as you waited to be seen. Telehealth is a great convenience for many of us, and especially if you're living in a rural community with less access to healthcare. But does telehealth come at a cost? What are the benefits, and the risks, when we go online for our healthcare? 

Associate Professor Gilles Gignac, a psychologist at the University of Western Australia, reveals that mental agility peaks between 55 and 60, highlighting how life experience enhances decision-making. He discusses the surprising resilience older adults show against sunk cost bias, making them adept at cutting losses. Dr. Stephanie Ward, a geriatrician known for her commentary on aging, emphasizes that happiness tends to peak later in life and shares insights on leveraging cognitive strengths. Together, they challenge ageism and celebrate the invaluable contributions of older generations.

If you thought once the kids hit adulthood, then the family trip was done, you'd be wrong.Research shows multigenerational holidays and large group family trips are a popular trend.According to the Family Travel Association - over 50% of parents say they're planning to travel with both their children and kids' grandparents.And a new trend study by an international hotel chain... found that skip-generation travel is also popular....  That's when a grandparent and grandchild book a trip together... and leave the parents at home!