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Program: Life Matters

Source:ABC Radio National

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Helping you figure out all the big stuff in life: relationships, health, money, work and the world. Let's talk! With trusted experts and your stories, Life Matters is all about what matters to you.

Airs Monday to Friday 9am and repeated at 7pm.

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Latest

full episode

Will the budget ease cost of living pressures? And why you should get lost in your own town

Helping you figure out all the big stuff in life: relationships, health, money, work and the world.

Published: 21h agoTue 14 May 2024 at 11:00pmwith Jacinta Parsons

Duration: 54 minutes 33 seconds

segment 1 of 2

Relief and reform: will this budget ease the cost-of-living pressures for your household?

The Treasurer, Jim Chalmers, has been at pains to call this a "responsible" budget. And it's clear that the Government is hoping to convince the Reserve Bank that an interest cut is warranted by the end of the year.

Published: 21h agoTue 14 May 2024 at 11:06pm

Jim Chalmers looks down and laughs at a press conference.

Duration: 38 minutes 34 seconds

segment 2 of 2

Getting lost in the streets of your town

Have you ever turned down the wrong street on your way home and found yourself surprised by your own town? Even the most exciting city can begin to feel familiar, even a little boring, but what happens if you embrace those wrong turns or even treat…

Published: 21h agoTue 14 May 2024 at 11:42pm

A mural painted on the side of a wall with a lemon tree overhanging

Duration: 12 minutes 44 seconds

More from Life Matters

Calls for increased childcare subsidies and libraries concerned about book bans

Helping you figure out all the big stuff in life: relationships, health, money, work and the world.

Duration: 54 minutes 35 seconds

Published: MonMon 13 May 2024 at 11:00pmwith Jacinta Parsons

Calls for increased childcare subsidies for First Nations families

Ahead of the Federal budget, SNAICC, the peak body for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, is calling for childcare and early education to be made more affordable for First Nations families, through subsidies that would provide up to 30…

A young boy smiles broadly at the camera, while siting outside on elevated wooden decking. Grass and sunshine are in the backg

Duration: 22 minutes 9 seconds

Published: MonMon 13 May 2024 at 11:00pm

Libraries seeing an increase in attempts to ban books

The recent move by Cumberland Council in Western Sydney to ban books about same sex parenting in its libraries is not a one off.

Two fathers sit and smile with a young son.

Duration: 16 minutes 13 seconds

Published: MonMon 13 May 2024 at 11:00pm

Paulie Stewart OAM, from punk rock to singing with nuns

Anybody hanging out in the Melbourne early 80's music scene will know Painters and Dockers, the veteran punk band fronted by Paulie Stewart. But these days you are far more likely to hear him singing with the Alma nuns in Timor Leste.

a man wearing a wide brimmed hat standing among a group of nuns wearing habits

Duration: 14 minutes 30 seconds

Published: MonMon 13 May 2024 at 11:00pm

Here's What I Know

Here's What I Know: why Marieke Hardy always takes a book to dinner

Playwright and author Marieke Hardy has long been cutting us up with her sharp and witty takes on life.

Duration: 4 minutes 48 seconds

Published: ThuThu 9 May 2024 at 2:21am

Here's What I Know: opera singer David Hobson takes life inspiration from his late mother

David Hobson is a stalwart of Australian opera, a composer and all around entertainer in his partnership with comedian Colin Lane.

Duration: 5 minutes 9 seconds

Published: 2 May 2024Thu 2 May 2024 at 12:34am

Here's What I Know: Geraldine Turner's confidence tip for the stage of life

Geraldine Turner is a legend of the Australian stage, and has earned a lot of wisdom through her long career. She shares her mantra for getting through stage fright, and what she's learned about figuring out a person's true character.

An image of Geraldine Turner on a pink background

Duration: 3 minutes 53 seconds

Published: 24 Apr 2024Wed 24 Apr 2024 at 5:41am

Here's What I Know: why Yumi Stynes is looking forward to old age

Yumi Stynes is a broadcaster, author and resident ABC taboo breaker with her beloved podcast Ladies, We Need To Talk.

A black and white image of Yumi Stynes on a pink background

Duration: 5 minutes 21 seconds

Published: 18 Apr 2024Thu 18 Apr 2024 at 2:21am

Dated: Love Online After 50

DATED 01 | Hearts on the line

Two years after the breakdown of her 20-year marriage, Hilary Harper feels like she might be ready to date again. But the dating scene has changed a lot since she was last single in the early 2000s.

An illustration of a hand sewing two halves of a heart together

Duration: 26 minutes

Published: 3 Mar 2024Sun 3 Mar 2024 at 10:10pm

DATED 02 | How we date now

If you missed the rise of dating apps because you were in a long marriage or relationship, it’s very fair to find them a bit intimidating.

Duration: 28 minutes

Published: 3 Mar 2024Sun 3 Mar 2024 at 10:10pm

DATED 03 | Our complicated bonds

Hilary goes on her first first-date and finds the goods are not quite what was advertised.

Duration: 27 minutes

Published: 3 Mar 2024Sun 3 Mar 2024 at 10:11pm

DATED 04 | Our naked selves

Hilary has found someone, and sparks are flying. She's starting to feel the flutter of sexual attraction, but she's worried about breaking her long dry spell.

Duration: 26 minutes

Published: 3 Mar 2024Sun 3 Mar 2024 at 10:12pm

More from us

Ask Aunty

Every Friday we challenge our guest "aunties" to solve your dilemmas, big or small, with kindness, care, and humour. Write to us asking your question about a problem from your own life and send it to lifematters@abc.net.au.

Published: 31 Jan 2024Wed 31 Jan 2024 at 4:53am

Life in 500 Words

Our theme for Life in 500 Words is My Happy Place. Tell us where you go in your mind when your brain needs a break. It could be a place you go physically, in your imagination or somewhere you're aspiring to get to one day.

Life in 500 words

Published: 13 Jul 2022Wed 13 Jul 2022 at 6:32am

Leap

Leap is a series about people who have made a huge life change.

leap pic

Published: 8 Nov 2023Wed 8 Nov 2023 at 11:07pm

Get your voice on RN

You can now record your thoughts are share them directly with your favourite RN programs.

Published: 20 Jun 2022Mon 20 Jun 2022 at 1:34am

Feature Articles

One in three Australians has pain. Building muscle can help — and you don't need to leave home to do it

Weights training isn't just about getting ripped. Building muscles can stave off diseases and improve your quality of life as you age. These experts share ways to do it.

Illustration of person in activewear sitting on an exercise ball and holding one hand high into the air, holding dumbbell.

Published: ThuThu 9 May 2024 at 1:45amby Anna Kelsey-Sugg and Bec Zajac

In the 60s, this cookbook author became a baking superstar and Australia's 'first influencer'

In Australia, long before colonisation, the tradition of cake baking involved foraged and wild-caught ingredients. Many new traditions have since followed.

Bird's eye view of bright yellow and red pineapple cake, dotted with red cherries, on a white plate.

Published: 7 May 2024Tue 7 May 2024 at 1:26amby Anna Kelsey-Sugg and Bec Zajac

Can you invest ethically and still make a stack of money? These experts say yes

These financial experts say you can invest in the planet and make money along the way. It's why a growing number of Australians are choosing to invest ethically.

A man sits at a wooden desk typing on a laptop in a room with one bare brick wall and a large light-filled window.

Published: 28 Apr 2024Sun 28 Apr 2024 at 11:38pmby Anna Kelsey-Sugg and Bec Zajac

'Now we're married': When Kate shared her secret crush, it had a happy ending. That's not always the case

Crushes can strike at work, on the bus or between life-long friends. The choice to share your feelings comes with a raft of risks and vulnerabilities.

A man and woman sit in dimly lit room with mugs in front of them, both smiling and looking down.

Published: 12 Apr 2024Fri 12 Apr 2024 at 4:28amby Anna Kelsey-Sugg and Michele Weekes

Ask Aunty

Ask Aunty: splitting the bill with a kombucha-spilling freeloader

You pick up a friend to go out for lunch, and are joined by their digital nomad millennial house guest. Things are going well until the bill comes and the guest wants to calculate it down to the cent.

view from above of back window of car with hat and drink bottle

Duration: 10 minutes 51 seconds

Published: FriFri 10 May 2024 at 6:01am

Ask Aunty: My poly boyfriend is playing me voicemails sent by his other date

You're seeing someone and you know it's not exclusive because he's into polyamory. But on your date he played you a voicemail from another person he's seeing.

woman holding a drink gestures with her hand while speaking to a man facing her

Duration: 13 minutes 14 seconds

Published: 3 May 2024Fri 3 May 2024 at 3:16am

Ask Aunty: my friends talk over each other and I can't stand it

You catch up with an old school friend and her husband for lunch. When you ask the husband questions the pair talk over the top of each other and your friend's voice gets louder and louder.

A woman eats dinner at the kitchen table alone

Duration: 13 minutes 8 seconds

Published: 26 Apr 2024Fri 26 Apr 2024 at 2:02am

Ask Aunty: I feel uncomfortable about my friend's social media feed

Your friend invests a lot of time in her social media posts and wants you to share some of them on your feed as well.

A woman in a blue t shirt is holding a tablet and giving the thumbs up

Duration: 12 minutes 29 seconds

Published: 19 Apr 2024Fri 19 Apr 2024 at 4:12am

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