Life Matters - Full program podcast

The federal government's setting up an Office of AI to lay out some ground rules for companies that want to build centres in Australia. So what does this say about our trust in AI, and the global corporations developing these tools? Tech reporter Cam Wilson, AI expert Toby Walsh and researcher Nicole Gillespie, who's been keeping tabs on public perceptions around AI since 2020, weigh in.
Imagine being told, every day, that today could be the day the world ends. That was the message drilled into Bek Condello for as long as she could remember. She shares what it was like being raised in a strict doomsday church, and how leaving led her to rebuild her entire life. 
In the latest instalment of The Grandparent Trap, children's author Jacqueline Harvey shares how becoming "Nanny Jac" to her step-daughter's gorgeous son Alfie brought a totally new kind of love into her life. 
One of the most complete Tyrannosaurus rex skeletons in the world sold this week for $71 million. The buyer has not yet been disclosed, but it begs the question: should any one person own an item like this?

Gayle is looking for love again in her 40s. She spent some time scouring the dating apps, but now she's ditched them in an effort to find someone offline. Well, kind of offline. She's also documenting her journey on social media. So what is the best way to find a new relationship in mid-life? Are people having more success offline than on — or are we just evolving past dating apps?
According to new research from the Australian Institute of Family Studies, young people aren't disengaged from politics and civic life — they're actually just engaging in different ways than the generations before them. Lead author of the research Dr Ebony Biden and Cheek Media Co founder Hannah Ferguson unpack the results. 
In Head and Heart you get some tips on moving out of the acquaintance zone and into the friend zone.

There's a critical lack of affordable housing options across the board, and data suggests older women — who typically retire with less in savings and superannuation than men — are particularly vulnerable. There's no silver bullet, but one potential solution involves a co-housing model that puts community front and centre. Sharing With Friends CEO Susan Davies and author Sally Piper explain how the idea sparked a friendship and inspired a novel.
Everyone has those menial tasks that feel impossible — not because they're difficult, but just because they're so incredibly tedious. So how do you get through the dreaded to-do list? Time management coach Christie Flora explains the power of "get stuff done" parties bringing people together to collectively crush the boring life admin jobs.
With the news of Sam Neill's death reverberating around the world, friend and fellow actor David Wenham shares how he'll be remembered: not just as an extraordinary actor, but a beautiful person whose warmth, wit, and talent touched millions.

There are more than 100,000 children currently in some form of kinship care in Australia, and it's estimated more than half of those providing that care are grandparents. As part of Life Matters' special series The Grandparent Trap, Kinship Alliance Australia founder Meredith Kiraly and researcher Jocelyn Jones explore the complicated dynamics involved in raising children the second time around. 
Plus, Australian soap royalty Lynne McGranger shares why becoming a nanna was even more special than winning the Gold Logie. 
When a marriage ends in divorce, what do you do with the wedding ring? One option apparently gaining steam is taking that piece of jewellery and turning it into something new: the divorce ring. Jeweller Nicole Winkler and divorce lawyer Antonella Sanderson weigh in on what this trend says about our feelings around divorce.
After Life Matters dove into the ethical quandaries of the smart glasses revolution last week, former disability discrimination commissioner Graeme Innes got in touch to share how this technology has been a game-changer for accessibility.

If you're feeling a bit stuck in your career, or pessimistic about how AI might affect your future prospects, it might be time for a pep talk. Career management coach Jane Jackson and Money Money Money host Glen James want to help pull you out of your slump and get unstuck.
And it's all fun and games until someone loses an eye … this week Aunties Urvi Majumdar and James Colley share some advice for a listener in hot water after a dogsitting disaster.