Life Matters - Separate stories podcast

Seeing the world, whether it's your own backyard or the far-flung ends of the earth, and look at the practicalities of travelling in retirement.

We’ve long been told that the robots are coming for our jobs. This week – they got a step closer. 

Protein is everywhere in our chocolate bars, chips, and even breakfast cereals but do we really need it? The protein craze is spiralling, from gym junkies to school lunchboxes, pushing the idea that more is always better. In reality, most Australians already get enough protein, and the ‘high-protein’ label is often just clever marketing dressed as nutrition.  We're paying more for something we don’t necessarily need and ignoring the bigger picture of a balanced diet. It’s time to bust the myth and ask: is the protein push helping us, or just feeding a fad?

From homeschooling to homesteading, groups of women are eschewing moden life to take up the "traditional" roles of 1950s-era wives and mothers.And while many of us yearn for simplicity, an expert warns against the dark side of the tradwife subculture. Guests:

Simon Rice, a men's health researcher and clinical psychologist, dives into the evolving concept of masculinity in 2025. He discusses the importance of emotional vulnerability and breaking free from outdated stereotypes. The conversation highlights the impact of social media on young men's identities and the growing awareness around mental health. Rice also emphasizes the necessity of supportive systems for men to express their emotions and seek help, while advocating for positive male role models and flexible definitions of manhood.

You may really want to be welcoming to your new neighbour in your very eco-conscious street. But, what happens when said neighbour starts (non-consensually) co-opting your bin space to dispose of her un-composted garbage?

Does AI belong in courtrooms? The case of an American man killed in a road rage incident who was able to make his own victim impact statement in the trial of his accused killer through an AI -generated video has raised an ethical dilemma of whether your AI-self is a reliable narrator of real-life you. 

BookTok has become a huge cultural phenomenon, with young people online going nuts for new fiction.But if you've seen this trend, you've probably noticed that it's dominated by women. So, where have the male readers gone? And what are the ramifications of men letting their book shelves get dusty?Some critics say that this decline could be filled by more harmful male narratives online that can radicalise young men.

If you've ever found yourself laying in a hospital bed - you'd know how much a visit from a loved one can lift your spirits.But a visit can do a lot more than lift your mood - it could also help you get out of hospital quicker.A health economist makes the case for a rethink on high hospital parking fees to help patients get better sooner.

There are around 20,000 babies born in Australia and New Zealand each year, conceived through assisted reproductive technology.But not everyone has equal access to IVF.  One West Australian woman says she was forced to become a "reproductive refugee" and cross the country to access the medical care she needed to become a mum.