Life Matters - Separate stories podcast

Therapy is generally associated with relationships in dire straits. But, psychotherapist Marryam Chehelnabi, from SBS' Couples Therapy Australia, says there are ways to strengthen your connection in calmer periods to, potentially, avoid ever getting to that crisis point. What does "relationship maintenance" look like for you?

What happens if you're part of a tight-knit friendship group but you realise that those same friends have been laughing about you behind your back on the group chat ... for ages.After the initial horror -- would you call it out? and how?

What would happen if every person in the country - from the bottom to the top - got $500 income every week, no further information required?Wealth inequality is worsening and new figures show 1 in 7 Australians now live below the poverty line, so what impact would introducing a universal basic income really have?

Recently in the United States, six former surgeons general -  their country's leading spokespeople on public health - joined forces to write an opinion piece for The Washington Post.They argued Robert F. Kennedy Jr. should not be in his current position as Secretary of Health and Human Services.They accused him of endangering the health of the nation and amplifying the rapid spread of health misinformation.Of course, Mr Kennedy's agency immediately responded... and threw accusations back at them.So what are the ethics of speaking up versus maintaining silence? Especially when it's unclear whether speaking out will make a difference?

Extreme weather events are becoming more common, and that's making insurance harder to afford - or in some places, impossible to get.Even if you are covered, payouts and repairs can take months... or even years.But what if you didn't have to wait at all? What if your insurer paid you automatically as soon as the cyclone reached a certain wind speed, or the floodwaters reached a certain height?That sort of cover does exist - it's called parametric insurance. It's not common here in Australia but experts say it could help households and communities recover faster from catastrophic events.

Voting has closed for ABC Radio National's Top 100 Books of the 21st Century.You spent weeks collating your list and casting your votes.We've been asking some notable readers to share the book that changed their life.  This week, Astrid Jorgensen, the founder and director of Pub Choir, discusses her special book.

If you've watched the news this week, you've seen the powerful reunions.Hostages, some taken years ago, finally back with their families. Israel and Hamas have both released captives, to long-awaited hugs, tears, and relief.But these moments don't come easy. Negotiations are fragile and hard-fought - when every message, every word, carries the weight of human life.World leaders have fronted the cameras, but who actually makes these deals happen? 

The venue is booked. The invites have gone out. And the wedding gown is purchased. But something doesn't feel right.Ending a relationship shortly before you're set to say "I Do" can be complex.It's an emotionally charged time, family and friends are invested in the big day.... not to mention the financial fall-out and tricky logistics.

For generations, young Australians marked adulthood with a backpack, a bus pass, and a blur of hostels and happy hours. But today’s young travellers are chasing something very different. Sunrise yoga, ‘run club’ tours, and meaningful cultural experiences are replacing the boozy bus tours of the past.We explore the coming-of-age travel adventure, and how it's evolving.

What if your work day is actually a work night? Four million Australians work between 6pm and 6am - from nurses and cleaners to delivery drivers and security staff. But the people who keep our cities running after dark are largely invisible in planning.Researchers from the University of Melbourne’s Night Shift project say it’s time to design cities that better support night-time workers. So what would that look like?