Life Matters - Full program podcast

The science of the perfect day and dogs in public spaces

New research from the University of Pennsylvania shows there are three key indicators of a better-than-average day. But there are also unavoidable tasks like housework that make your day worse — so how do you decide what the trade-offs are? Time use epidemiologist Dot Dumuid and journalist Emma Joyce explore the key ingredients for a perfect day.Almost half of Australian households have a dog, and since the pandemic, many pet owners who got used to spending plenty of time with their furry companions are looking for more ways to do that outside the home. But across the country there are ongoing tussles about where you should be allowed to bring a pet along with you, and where you shouldn't. So do dogs belong in the workplace, or at the pub?The traditional pathway for school-leavers to study and find a job might not be as realistic these days, as they enter a rapidly changing workforce. So how do you support the young people in your life to pursue a career when the world of work looks so different? This Working Life host Lisa Leong explains the art of giving career advice.

Can kids claw back their digital privacy and fighting for the right to repair

Children now have a digital footprint by the time they graduate day care, and it only explodes when they get to school. A new draft Children's Online Privacy Code could change that, giving young people more control over their online world including the ability to delete data captured before they turned 18. Privacy commissioner Carly Kind and Digital Rights Watch chair Lizzie O'Shea explain how this code could work and what might be in it for adults, too.When a household appliance gives out after a couple of years, the path of least resistance is usually to replace it. For all sorts of reasons, everyday items are often impossible to repair. A growing chorus of voices is fighting for the right to repair, but tech giants in the US are pushing back against this movement, arguing that it presents privacy and security risks. We all know someone about to run a marathon, starting pickleball or doing CrossFit. And yes they're doing the exercise component, but it's also become their entire personality. What is it that drives us to join these sporting communities? 

The bees are dying again and the rise of 'slopaganda'

In an attempt to save the bees, thousands of people set up colonies of the European honeybee in their backyard. But for many, an outbreak of the parasitic varroa mite has brought this low-stakes eco-hobby to an emotionally devastating end. Backyard beekeeper Mike Allerton and Professor Sasha Mikheyev unpack the spread of varroa mite. We know the internet is full of slop, but what happens when the powers that be combine this deeply online phenomenon with their own propaganda? Mark Alfano is one of the people who coined the term 'slopaganda', so how do you spot it before you fall for it?A new report has found the creation of new businesses has been steadily declining, with the proportion of business owners as a share of the workforce at an all-time low. What's behind this downward trend? 

Understanding ethical non-monogamy and a family split over Dad's ashes

The idea of finding your one true love and settling down as a couple is baked deep into society. But attitudes are changing. On dating apps, in surveys and podcasts, people are signalling an interest and greater acceptance of open relationships. So is monogamy still fit for purpose in 2026 or has it had its day?Has anyone ever made you responsible for what happens after they die? It's a lot of pressure, but honouring a loved one's wishes can be even trickier when the family don't agree. This week, the aunties help a listener whose dad's ashes are being held hostage.

Rescuing the 'post-literate' generation and what ancient philosophers say about aliens

The data shows we're reading less than ever. About one in three Australian school students isn't developing the reading skills they need, and the shift reflects a broader global trend. Across the board, there are signs the next generation is just not interested in picking up a book, and historian and podcaster Dominic Sandbrook is concerned we're headed for a "post-literate" society. So does it matter if we've fallen out of love with reading? And what can we do to reverse the trend?Is there a place from your youth that feels like a sacred space? For Alistair Miller, it's the Corio Skate Bowls — built in 1980 as the first public skate park in Victoria, after he and his mates lobbied the local council to give them a space to burn off steam. Decades later, it's been earmarked for heritage protection. So what have we learned about creating public spaces for teenagers, and how do we protect them?The return of humans into space has reignited an age old question: is there extra-terrestrial life out there? And if we find it, what happens next? Resident Life Matters philosopher Patrick Stokes mulls over ethical quandaries of space exploration and alien life.