Life Matters - Full program podcast

Play School is celebrating a milestone birthday this year: it's Big Ted's diamond jubilee. For six decades, the show's beloved presenters have been singing, playing, telling stories and teaching generations of Australian children. Long-term hosts Alex Papps and Don Spencer join media researcher Jessica Balanzategui to discuss the secret to the show's success? 
A regimented focus on what you're eating. Big, rapid changes to your body. Constant monitoring of your weight. All these are signs of a potential eating disorder — but they're also things that happen during pregnancy. Research estimates 1 in 20 women experience an eating disorder during pregnancy. So if it's so hard to spot how do you do it, and how do you have a conversation about it if you're concerned? 
And in Social Studies with Professor Dan Woodman, we investigate an apparent decline in public displays of affection among Gen Z.

According to the latest statistics, men make up less than a third of Australian school teachers. In primary schools, the figures are even lower, and have been declining for decades. High school maths teacher Eddie Woo and sociologist Nicholas Hookway explore what's behind the trend and why it matters.
The RSPCA estimates Australians keep about 2 million domestic chickens. While they may seem like low maintenance pets, the recent arrival of a new strain of bird flu has some backyard chook keepers in a flap. So if you've got a flock of your own, how do you keep them safe?
There are more than 250 Indigenous languages across Australia, including 800 dialects. They carry culture, history and knowledge through generations, and communities are doing everything they can to keep them alive. Researcher Rachel Nordlinger shares how the 50 Words Project has been collecting and preserving audio recordings from some of Australia's oldest languages.

The average wardrobe contains about 199 pieces of clothing, according to research published last year. Among them are usually a couple of items that rarely see the light of day. Fashion researcher Alicja Kuźmycz and podcaster Clare Press explore how increasing the wearability of what's already in your wardrobe can unlock the secret to sustainability.
Researchers in Canada have scoured some of the most popular skincare content and found TikToks that discourage sunscreen use attract higher engagement. While Australia has strict rules on what brands and influencers can say about these products, social media is borderless and hard to regulate. So how does the average consumer know what to put in their cart?
Online shopping has become so addictive that people are simulating the process through "dopamine sites" where users can browse, buy and track virtual orders. Consumer behaviour expert Paul Harrison explains why adding to cart gives us a little rush — even when there's no money or actual product involved.

Pushing for change takes a sustained effort — it requires people to keep showing up, keep organising, and keep working together. And building a movement often means finding common ground with people outside your usual circles. Amanda Tattersall and Kurt Iveson, co-authors of People Power in Cities, explore what it takes to create real change.
Around 26 million people worldwide have taken an at-home DNA test to discover their ancestry. For Simon Chate, it led him to a family he never knew existed. So what's behind this yearning to connect with our past? And what does it teach us about ourselves?
Trust in medical institutions is declining, and it's never been easier to find alternative information online. So how do you support someone you love who's started exploring questionable treatments?

Australia is increasingly a nation of non believers — in the 50 years from to 2021, the number of people claiming "no religion" rose from about 7 per cent to nearly 40 per cent. Yet other research suggests those identifying as "spiritual" is on the rise. So how do we find spirituality outside of religion? Author Jackie Bailey and sociologist Anna Hallafoff explore the bounds of spirituality.
When it comes to grief, everyone processes things in their own way. This week, Aunties Fiona Harris and Nelly Thomas share their advice with a listener who's having a hard time with a relative who's called dibs on their dying loved one's belongings.