Life Matters - Separate stories podcast

Sick of buying products that don't last, or are hard to repair?The average Australian creates 20kg of e-waste each year - that's triple the global average.Now, there's a push for Australia to adopt a new kind of star rating: one that tells you how durable and repairable a product is.

What's the best course of action when a lactose-intolerant employee's oat milk is stolen from the work fridge? Worst still, the culprit is her boss. He's not even lactose intolerant. And the work fridge is stocked with other varieties of milk. 

What does it mean to be a man in 2025? It's no longer about being tough, silent, or having it all together. These days, more men are opening up, getting vulnerable, and breaking free from outdated stereotypes.With changing gender roles, social media, and growing mental health awareness, the game has shifted. But with progress comes pressure and plenty of mixed messages.

In news that might make you feel more ancient than ever - today's young folks' idea of a good time isn't what it used to be.Less dancing, less drinking, and it means some of our favourite hotspots are shutting for good ... after decades.

In a submission to the economic roundtable the federal government is hosting in August, Westpac says there's major productivity gains to be made if one million Australians moved out of the cities and into the regions.Would a mass influx of city slickers overwhelm regional towns? What planning and infrastructure would we need to enable this transition?

Would you help your town buy the local pub, post office or chemist if it was at risk of closing down?In the tiny border town of Mungindi, locals have just opened a community-owned childcare centre they fundraised, planned and built from scratch when their preschool closed.The Australian Centre for Rural Entrepreneurship says its been contacted by dozens of other rural communities who are trying to step in and save assets they can't afford to lose.

Does your work day feel like it's designed for someone else?Someone without school drop offs, sick kids, or the guilt of missing out on sports day... again?We explore what happens when working parents are given the power to reshape our workplaces - and how family-friendly flexibility can benefit non-parents too.

Wood heaters are the main source of heating in one in ten Australian homes.But wood heater smoke causes 729 premature deaths in Australia each year, according to the Centre for Safe Air at the University of Tasmania. That's more than road traffic, power plants or bushfires.Is it time we phased wood heaters out? Or could new tech help us keep cosy without harming public health?

Disturbing allegations of abuse in childcare centres have left parents asking why other forms of care aren't subsidised by government.A new petition is calling for the Child Care Subsidy to be expanded to make alternative options - like nannies, au pairs and grandparents - more affordable.

As Dry July wraps up, many Aussies have had a small "taste" of sober life.So, what's it like to be a non-drinker in a culture where alcohol is everywhere?