Life Matters - Separate stories podcast

"You can be anything you want to be!"It's a message many of us heard growing up — perhaps you've said it to your own kids as well.But when we're told we can do whatever we set our minds to, does it inspire ambition, or leave us feeling pressure to achieve something extraordinary?How can we encourage big dreams without creating impossible expectations?

The number of Australians who smoke regularly has fallen to a historic low, with just 5.6 per cent of those over 14 identifying as daily smokers. The data, from the Australian Insitute of Health and Welfare, provides the best indication of smoking rates that we have.But with the increase in the black market trade for tobacco, do we still have a clear picture of what's going on?

In the vast history of the universe, a human lifespan is a mere blip. But long after our bodies are gone, signs of the lives we lived will remain. Postcards sent across the seas, photographs of treasured times spent with loved ones, and the seemingly ordinary objects we use in our day-to-day lives. A new exhibition at the State Library of Victoria is exploring the idea of memory, and how the mundane pieces of everyday life have stories to tell for future generations. 

If one more person compares Renee Vincent's life to the tradwife movement, she says she'll start throwing some sourdough.Renee is a rural mum, cattle farmer and homeschooler — and while she can see how her life might echo a "traditional wife" role, she says being a stay-at-home mum on a farm doesn't make her a tradwife.She says there's a big difference between taking on a traditional role, and fitting a traditional stereotype. The problem isn't just the label, it's everything people assume comes with it.

Grandparenting can come at a time of life where your old identities no longer fit.You're thinking about retirement, your grown kids have their own thing going on, and the things that used to fill your days are no longer occupying as much time as they once did.One thing you've been telling us about - especially the grandads out there - is how much this has been a time to reinvent yourself.Is this a chance to live your life differently, maybe be a different grandparent to the type of parent you were? It's a time of transformation, we unpack how to make the most of it.

True crime content has become a mainstay of popular culture, but the rise in fascination also comes with its risks.Last week an inquest in Queensland into a nearly 40-year-old murder case heard from a woman who confessed she tried to solve the crime herself. She acknowledged what she had done was reckless and said she'd been influenced by podcasts about the cold case.So how could this impact the justice system, and for the people who make these podcasts, what are their responsibilities?

The Aunties guide our listener through their entangled friendship group when one member of this chosen family isn't pulling their weight.Is it possible to get a friendship divorce?

If you've ever suddenly lost a job, had a surprise health diagnosis or a relationship end, you know what it feels like to grapple with uncertainty.Let's face it, uncertainty is all around us, but that doesn't make it any easier to deal with. It's an uncomfortable feeling.But what could you be missing out on when fear of the unknown drives decision making?

Does the idea of sweating with a group of people in a room sound appealing?Well all over the country more people are engaging in the Nordic pass-time of sauna.The popularity has risen due to a push by the health and fitness industry on how this practice can optimise your workouts. But what is behind our fascination with sauna and is it here to stay?

The decision to have, or not have, kids is a big one.New research from Adelaide University suggests more Australian men are making that decision earlier than previous generations.Vasectomies are on the rise — particularly amongst among younger men  — with researchers pointing to everything from cost-of-living pressures to changing ideas about family and parenthood.So are young Australians rethinking what a family looks like, or are financial pressures pushing people to make permanent decisions sooner than they otherwise would?

From commanding the halls of power to playing hide and seek in the halls of his house, former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has a lot more time on his hands now to devote to his favourite activity: playing silly games with his grandchildren.All throughout July we've been introducing you to a new side of prominent Australians as part of the Grandparent Trap series, like "grumpy Grandpa" Bruce Pascoe, or actor Lynne McGranger whose twin grand-daughters are only a few weeks old.Here's what grandparenting has taught Malcolm Turnbull.

For decades now, we've been losing our religion.Census data has consistently shown that with each generation, we're less interested in maintaining a relationship with whatever Gods we may have in the past.But new analysis shows that young Australian men are turning to religion at higher rates than their female counterparts.So how widespread and entrenched is this trend, and what's driving it?

Do you feel like your reward for being good at your job is getting more work? You may have incurred the competence tax.It's when you're so good at your job that you are held back because you're too valuable to lose. How do you recognise if you're being taxed and how can you break out of it?

There's a one in 700,000 chance of giving birth to quadruplets.And there's a one in 15 million chance that a quadruplet pregnancy will result in four identical babies.Yet that's exactly what happened to a Brisbane woman this month, in a case that has gained global attention. It's an incredible feat of the human body, but what is it like on the other side, raising that many children all at the same time?

Who was your first best friend? Maybe you met in your first year of school, lived on the same street, or spent your weekends playing sport together.For some people, those friendships fade as life moves on. But for others, that childhood friend is still in their life decades later.So what's special about a friend who's known you since childhood? And what makes those friendships last?

Australia has the highest uptake per capita of rooftop solar in the world. But the adoption isn't spread equally among us. For the 10% of the country who live in apartment buildings, there are calls for a better way to bring these residents into the energy transition.Overseas the solution has been balcony solar systems, but these aren't currently allowed in Australia. So what needs to change in how we support renewable energy in apartments?

Author, comedian and cabaret performer Libby Trainor Parker always assumed she would meet the love of her life, have a big family, and live in a house full of children's laughter.And in a way, she got that dream. But it's been a long road, with a lot of heartbreak, infertility, loss and grief.Libby has documented her story of pregnancy loss and building a life after infertility in a new book.

Have you ever been stuck at a red light, wondering why you're still waiting when there's nothing coming the other way?Australia's first trial of AI-powered traffic lights will test whether artificial intelligence can ease that frustration by responding to what's actually happening on our roads in real time.A faster journey sounds appealing. But if we let AI decide who gets the green light, how do we make sure those decisions are fair and safe for everyone using the road?

Christopher Nolan's star-studded interpretation of ancient Greek epic The Odyssey has just hit cinemas, and if it's got you dreaming of a Mediterranean holiday, you're not alone. Planning your travel itinerary around the places your favourite stories are set is known as literary tourism, and although it's nothing new the rise of BookTok seems to have supercharged the trend. So what's behind this urge to set foot on the scene where your fictional heroes once stood, and how does it match up when you get there?

When your kids become parents, it's like deja vu.You've weathered these same toddler tantrums, right through to the teenage rebellions. It's just your grandchildren testing boundaries this time not your kids.But it's probably testing you too — and despite your best intentions, eventually you're going to put your foot in it. You're only human.This episode explores how to navigate this new phase of parenting your children as they become parents themselves, without turning speed bumps into full-blown family rifts, featuring a mother-daughter duo getting it right and estrangement expert Dr. Josh Coleman on what to do when it goes wrong.

It's time to talk about the mental load — that invisible, unpaid form of labour that keeps a household running. When it comes to two-parent families, research shows women do 50 per cent more housework than men, and double the amount of caring duties. But the mental load is about more than juggling the significant burden of daily life admin. So what would it look like if that was equally shared? 

This week, the Aunties share their advice with a listener who wants a sleep divorce — the trick is convincing her partner it'll be better for their sex life.Plenty of couples sleep in separate beds and maintain their intimacy and connection, so how do you get past the stigma?

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.Raised in a strict doomsday church, Bek has written about her experience growing up, and how leaving her community led her to rebuild her entire life. 

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. In Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's words, it's about "shaping the future, rather than letting the future shape us". Broadly Australians are getting on board, with more than 13.6 million Australians regularly using AI tools. But there are pockets of resistance too. So what does this say about our trust in AI, and the global corporations developing these tools? And will the government's new regulations be enough to ensure those overseeing the AI transition are acting in Australians' best interests?

When children's author Jacqueline Harvey became "Nanny Jac" to her step-daughter's gorgeous son two years ago, it brought a totally new kind of love into her life. 

On Tuesday night in New York one of the most complete Tyrannosaurus rex skeletons sold for $71 million.The skeleton, nicknamed Gus, is from the Late Cretaceous period and is approximately 67 million years old.The buyer of Gus has not yet been disclosed, but it begs the question: should any one person own an item like this?

No matter how old you are, making friends is tricky business.But at least in your youth, you had the time to get to know someone slowly, at school or university, where a relationship can build naturally.With the daily demands of adult life, even if you have enough in common with people you see at pilates, school drop-off or work, it's hard to find the time to road-test that relationship.So without the luxury of time, how do you get out of the acquaintance zone, and into the friend zone?

If you go by the generational stereotypes of disgruntled and disaffected youth, it's easy to assume that young people don't care about anything, and simply aren't interested in politics or what's happening around them.But you'd be wrong.According to new research from the Australian Institute of Family Studies, it's not that young people are disengaged - they're actually just engaging in different ways than the generations before them.So where does this perception that young people don't care come from? And what are the issues that are driving the to action?

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?

News of Sam Neill's sudden death, at the age of 78, has been felt right around the world.He gave so many unforgettable performances, from Jurassic Park and The Piano to Peaky Blinders, but away from the cameras, he found his greatest peace on his beloved farm New Zealand.He's being remembered not just an extraordinary actor, but a beautiful person whose warmth, wit, and talent touched millions.

Is there one task on your to-do list that keeps you up at night? It takes up a lot of mental headspace and you could just do it, but for some reason you just… don't.One option for getting through this struggle is holding a "getting stuff done" party, where people get together with their reports, taxes, forms and tick off the collective tasks as a group.But why do we need these and how do they work?

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.The number of older women experiencing homelessness has more than doubled in the last eight years.It's a complex problem, and there's no silver bullet. But one potential solution aimed at the "missing middle" involves a co-housing model that puts community front and centre.

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.It's a family dynamic born out of a stark reality — when a parent can no longer look after their child, either a family member steps up or that child enters the formal out-of-home care system.And so the relationship shifts. In this episode of The Grandparent Trap, we're looking at raising children the second time around, what happens when grandparenting stops being optional.

Last week on the program, Life Matters discussed the rise of smart glasses and the ethical quandaries they present in terms of privacy. But for some users, these accessories offer more than convenience or street cred. For people with low or no vision, using smart glasses as an accessibility aid can be life-changing.

What's better — becoming a grandmother or winning a gold Logie? Star of the screen and stage Lynne McGranger has only been a nanna for six weeks, but it's a role she's been hoping to land her whole life.

When the love of your life is down on one knee, offering you a diamond ring, divorce is probably the last thing on your mind.But it's estimated that around 1 in 3 marriages in Australia will end that way, so what do you do with the ring after the person who gave it to you is no longer in the picture?Consider the divorce ring: take that piece of jewellery and turn it into something new. 

It's all fun and games until someone loses an eye … this week the Aunties share some advice for a listener in hot water after a dogsitting disaster.

Has the rise of AI got you worried about how secure your job is? Do you feel like you lack the skills to take a leap and chase work you really love?Pulling yourself out of a career slump is hard work, but it's worth looking at the bigger picture.Because chances are your knowledge, experience and human skills could be transferred to any number of meaningful jobs out there. So how do you figure out where you might fit?

When you're shaping the minds of the next generation, how do you bring truth-telling that encompasses 65,000 years of Indigenous people's history into the here and now?

Women over 55 are the fastest growing cohort experiencing homelessness in Australia.Women have been pushed to seek alternative living arrangements, something like a share house, but with systems in place to help iron out the challenges of living with strangers.The system is called a homeshare, and new research shows how this has worked for women in Queensland, with similar projects popping up in New South Wales and Victoria.But despite having a role to play in preventing homelessness — and addressing the housing crisis — it's a system that doesn't fit neatly into housing laws or homelessness supports.So what is it and could it prevent older women from becoming homeless?

Prolific children's author Morris Gleitzman is no stranger to spinning stories that capture a child's imagination. And to his delight, his love of stories has become a passion he now shares with his two grandsons. 

For some it is their dream holiday destination, but for others it's just home. So how does it feel to live in a place where the streets are always crowded with tourists snapping photos? Some UNESCO world heritage sites are so overwhelmed by visitors, they're asking to be removed from the list as they struggle with the feeling of living in a museum.So, if locals are asking you not to go, do you have a responsibility to change your travel plans?

If you were running a car for eight hours a day straight without stopping, eventually you would run out of petrol and the car would break down. The same can be said for our bodies and minds, so taking effective breaks at work should be a priority. The trick is knowing how to take restorative breaks and build them into your day.

If talking about money makes you squirm, you might want to think twice before you open an account with the bank of mum and dad.Despite the increasing number of people relying on cash assistance from their family to get into the property market, we haven't figured out how to talk to each other about the strings attached to the cash.New research from the University of Newcastle is highlighting the tricky emotional, and legal, consequences of lending cash to your loved ones.

Smart glasses — like dumb glasses with added computing power — have been around for well over a decade, without ever reaching broad commercial success in Australia. But this time the tech's had an AI injection, and can not only snap pictures of what's around you, but synthesise what you're looking at and explain it back to you.It's not only the technical capacity that's advancing, companies like Meta are renewing the look of the product and announcing a collaboration with Kylie Jenner.So is this the year we turn a corner, are these once-goofy glasses becoming cool, and what are the implications for your privacy? 

The federal government's long-awaited gambling ad reforms are on the way. While there's pushback from all sides already, the legislation broadly aims to minimise children's exposure to gambling advertising through sport. Sports betting is now the fastest-growing form of gambling in the country. Around 1 in 10 Australian men have placed a bet on a race or a game. Experts say that's no coincidence. So how did gambling get so tied up with our love of sport, and our ideas about masculinity? And is there any way to untangle it?

You might start to notice some specific letters next to seafood dishes when you're next at a restaurant or ordering fish and chips.From July 1 all venues and outlets that sell ready-to-eat seafood will be required to have country of origin labels.This move is aimed at promoting local industry and giving consumers more information about where their food comes from, but will it work?

Grandparents are more enmeshed in their grandchildren's lives than ever, but close to three in five say their grandparenting style doesn't always match what's expected of them. The reality is grandparenting in 2026 can be intense. And while the rewards are rich there are responsibilities you maybe never saw coming. So every week in July, Life Matters is exploring what it is to be a modern grandparent in our special series: The Grandparent Trap.

Financial pressure is the leading stressor affecting mental health for almost half of Australians, according to new data from Beyond Blue. It can affect every facet of our lives, and can be particularly hard on relationshipsSo if this you're someone who's struggling to stay on top of things, what can you do about it?

As part of Life Matters' special series The Grandparent Trap, we're sitting down with prominent Australians to get to know them through the eyes of their adoring grandchildren. Veteran broadcaster Ray Martin, or simply "Mondo" to his grandkids, shares the joy of being a hands-on grandad and the super powers that come with it.