Life Matters - Full program podcast

The number of deaths on Australian roads has risen by 21.6 per cent since the national road safety strategy was introduced a few years ago. So if rules of the road have largely stayed the same, and the cars are smarter than ever, why aren't the numbers getting better? Researcher Teresa Senserrick and former driving school owner Ben Ward explain what's going on. 
Despite spending most of our time indoors, Australia has no national standard for indoor air quality. With experts calling for a national healthy air strategy, Air Club co-founder Bronwyn King and Burnet Institute's chief health officer Suman Majumdar explore why this invisible public health issue has been left unregulated for so long.
Recent data from the US suggests the casual drop-in is dying out. It revealed a huge decline in the number of people regularly hosting friends and family at home. So what's driving the decline, and what do we lose if spontaneous hospitality disappears for good?

Recent research from KPMG found the Australian economy could be boosted by $29 billion if businesses made it easier for older workers to stay in the workforce or come out of retirement. So if we're serious about harnessing the untapped potential of mature workers, what would it take? National Seniors CEO Chris Grice joins Carol Kulik from the Centre for Workplace Excellence and Kerry Forrest, who's still working well into her 60s, to investigate how we could better support older workers to stay.
In October alone, three new giant sculptures from Mildura to Windorah have been added to the map of Australia's big things. These oversized landmarks have become part of our cultural identity — a must-see stop on a road trip and an iconic emblem of regional country towns. Researcher Amy Clarke and artist Jobella Bennett explore why Australia is so big on big things. 
From time sheets to swipe cards, bosses have always found ways to keep tabs on staff. But these days it's AI counting your keystrokes. Legal experts are warning that AI-powered surveillance is outpacing the law, and calling for changes to the Fair Work Act. Lisa Leong weighs in on what this means for the workforce, and whether we should have more say on our own metrics.

Recent research from Monash University found up to one in five new paramedics are at high risk of shift work disorder, a mix of insomnia and daytime sleepiness linked to on-the-job errors. Researcher Laura Hirello and sleep psychologist Sara Winter explore what it would take to make shift work safer for both health care workers and the patients they care for.
Californian start-up Reflect Orbital wants to launch giant orbital mirrors that beam sunlight back to Earth on demand, powering solar farms after dark or lighting up search-and-rescue missions. Space archaeologist Alice Gorman explains what manufactured sunlight could do to people, wildlife, and space itself.
Real estate agents have always found creative ways to gloss over the unappealing features of a property, but AI has taken things to a new level. NSW has introduced laws forcing agents to disclose when images have been digitally altered, but does a disclaimer make it any easier for prospective clients to see what they're actually getting?

NSW is the first Australian state to legalise terramation, also known as human composting. Cultural anthropologist Hannah Gould and Aria Kapaniris, who runs a company providing the service, explore whether eco-burial is about to shake up a centuries-old industry.
From the mighty Swan in the west, to the Brown Snake in the east, rivers have long been the lifeblood of our communities. But after years of industrialisation, the idea of going for a dip in your city river is probably a distant memory. Melbourne's bringing it back, working on a plan to make the Yarra River swimmable by 2050. 
As Australia nears a year under its world-first social media ban, new research has found kids still aren’t equipped to question what they see online. Researcher Susan Grantham and Digital Readiness Lab founder Rinat Strahlhofer explain what it actually takes to raise sceptical, savvy young minds.

Australian men are more likely to be more socially disconnected than Australian women, and are less likely to form strong connections with people beyond their partners. So what's going on? Sociologist Roger Patulny and psychologist Chris Cheers break down the male friendship recession — and how you can turn it around. 
This week, Aunties Kat Feeney and Suren Jayemanne give listener Lenny some advice on how to deal with a fibbing friend. Marcus has been telling tall tales since they were kids, but now they're middle aged, is it time for Lenny to call out his friend's white lies?