Life Matters - Separate stories podcast

Do you love taking photos? Well, it's doing more for you than you might think. Whether it’s snapping your dog, the sky at sunset, or your grandkids pulling faces, photography helps us slow down and really see the moment. It gets us out of the house, sparks conversations, and reminds us that our lives are full of small, beautiful things. So think about the last photo you took that made you smile.

The University of Queensland is a major medical teaching institution. It's reliant on generous donors who give their bodies to science, to allow budding doctors to learn. So, why has the uni had had to say "NO" to new donors? And why do people choose to donate their body to science?

In this discussion, Rachel Brown, Director at the Centre of Philosophy of the Sciences, examines the intriguing notion that smartphones might be modern-day parasites. She highlights how our bonds with these devices can impact cognition and attention. The conversation delves into the exploitative nature of smartphone design, which ensnares users in a cycle of addiction akin to gambling. Brown advocates for collective action and regulation to help foster healthier relationships with technology.

Overfilled lips, sculpted cheeks and a wrinkle free brow used to be a look you'd see on Hollywood stars or a Kardashian.Now, you're just as likely to see this face on your friends, family, and your social media circle.Australia's medical regulator last week introduced new safeguards aimed at protecting young people from potentially dangerous side-effects of non-invasive cosmetic procedures like fillers, chemical peels, and anti-wrinkle injections. So, what do people need to know before they head to the clinic?

When your child's best buddy is being mean, you might want to say "Hey Kid! That's my baby! Back off!" But is it really helpful to get involved? 

Parenting doesn't come with a rule book. It's raw, real, and totally unpredictable. No one hands you a step-by-step guide the day your child is born, you just dive in. And somewhere in the chaos, you realise you're not just raising a child, you're also becoming someone new.Every parent is winging it, one messy, beautiful moment at a time. So, how has being a parent changed you?

Musician Sarah McLeod, who fronts The Superjesus, reveals her rock n roll approach to finances. After hitting rock bottom financially almost 20 years ago, she's worked her way back up to a place where she can make impulse purchases without breaking the bank.

Forget the cliche image of gamers as nerds in a basement... competitive gaming is now a multi-billion dollar global industry and professional gamers are superstars who earn millions.Now, there's a push for Australia to invest more in this growing industry... particularly as we approach the 2032 Brisbane Olympics.

Many experts fear the university sector is the grip of an identity crisis.Once proud institutions of knowledge and debate… now accused of becoming sausage factories... with declining funding, academic burnout, bureaucratic bloat, and staff cutbacks. There are growing doubts about whether a degree is even worth it anymore.

More older Australians are finding themselves suddenly single, facing housing stress, and heading back to work, all thanks to a growing trend of late-in-life divorce. Nearly one in three divorces now involves someone aged 50 or older. Why are so many splitting up after long marriages?