Life Matters - Separate stories podcast

Our resident sociologist has crunched the numbers of how different generations are experiencing the cost of living crisis.The data suggest that it's younger Australian's that are feeling the pinch the most.We'll explore how different generations are dealing with the rising cost of existing.

We're asking your favourite Australians about their relationship with money in our new series 'My Two Cents'. He's got all the answers to your science questions, but what does he know about managing money? Hear Dr Karl's my two cents.

The cost of living is hitting everyone hard. According to new research from The Salvation Army 85% of households they surveyed are experiencing food insecurity.Grocery bills have gone up for everyone - so how can you fill up the shopping cart and keep costs low?New research shows food co-ops might be the solution.

According to the AFP, children as young as 12 are being radicalised by extremist groups online, and petrified families say there's nowhere to turn.So, what does early intervention look like, and where - if anywhere - can we find help?

The Coalition as we know it? Over. Nationals leader David Littleproud says it's time for a new direction — but is this really just politics, or something deeper?Is the real split not between parties but between city and country Australia?Are regional communities feeling increasingly left out of national conversations — on energy, infrastructure — the climate?And If the coalition can't sit around a table and work out their differences what does that say about the rest of us?

Monday night's Australian story featuring actor Samuel Johnson gave us something to ponder.He became the local postie in his rural town as a way to manage his relationship with alcohol. The work kept him busy and off the booze.He recognised some bad habits and decided that doing something was better than nothing.We explore sober curiosity, and the small changes that can have a big impact on your relationship with alcohol. 

Nearly one in five young adults think it’s normal for a partner to track their location. For many, it feels harmless, families use it for peace of mind, parents to check kids got home safe. Couples might even see it as a sign of trust or closeness, until it starts to feel more like surveillance. But when location tracking becomes about control, not care, it crosses into tech-based coercive control.

Camping in NSW national parks could soon cost more under a major proposal to standardise fees across the state. Supporters say it will improve facilities and reduce no-shows, but others fear it will make nature less accessible. For the first time, many basic and remote sites could carry a price tag. The changes raise bigger questions about how we value public land and who gets to enjoy it. The future of camping is now open for public feedback.

Billionaires are financing a race against time, with a $101 million prize for creating an elixir of youth. The podcast dives into the complexities of anti-aging, exploring the balance between wanting to look young and the societal discomfort with aging. It also highlights a tech mogul's extreme measures to defy death and discusses the unsettling fear of mortality. Listeners share their views on aging, as the conversation shifts from mere longevity to finding peace and well-being in the journey of life.

Why do some of our best ideas suddenly come to us when we're not even reaching for them? And why is it so often in the shower?