You ride your bike to work, and so does your senior colleague. When you enter the shower, you always find that your senior colleague is leaving their hair around the drain. It might be time for a difficult conversation. Can you ask them to clean the shower before leaving, or would that make things unbearably awkward?…

If you look up the word 'risk' in the dictionary you may well find that it refers to the possibility of something bad happening, but it can also be an opportunity to evolve. Clinical psychologist Dr Charlotte Keating joins Beverley Wang to talk risk and personal growth. Charlotte discusses how our upbringing can determine our appetite for risk taki…

Have you ever gone to the perfect holiday spot and thought: I wish I could just live here forever? What is it like for the people who actually do? From the busy days of peak season to the slow days when the crowds go home, how does that change life for the people who live there all year round? And can that understanding help us to become better tou…

Dr Yves Rees is a historian, author and podcaster and prominent voice on issues and experiences of gender diversity. They share how taking up ocean swimming with the Salty Slags club boosted their wellbeing, and why they make an effort to sit with the hard feelings.By Australian Broadcasting Corporation

When teacher Molly Roden Winter’s husband is home late, leaving her to put the kids to bed (again), she storms out of the house, finding herself at a bar exchanging numbers with a cute guy. Molly never expects to pursue it, until she gets back home to learn her husband knows about the encounter. What follows is a complete transformation of Molly’s …

When you walk through the city or just pop down to the shops, it can feel like everyone has a set of headphones glued to their ears While work-related hearing loss has gone down in Australia over the last few decades, the World Health Organisation suggested that more than 1 Billion young people are at risk of hearing problems - in part because of t…

A Senate report says banking services and access to cash should be considered an essential service in Australia, and has called for a new banking code, which would prohibit banks from closing local branches in regional areas without consultation. The report, which also calls for investigation into the feasibility of a publicly owned bank, has been …

Jane Cafarella was separated from her sister when her parents divorced, each taking one child with them. But well before that while living under the same roof her parents had already claimed a child each. For Jane it was her mother, and for her sister, Julie, her father. How this, and living with lymphodoema, played out across Jane's life is captur…

We have all been conditioned to think that being frail and prone to falls is an inevitable product of ageing. But research suggests that frailty, and its precursor pre-frailty, are partially a product of our lifestyle. A new study suggests that simple exercises with resistance bands can help turn things around, and this may enable people to age wel…

1 in 5 women and 1 in 16 men have reported experiencing sexual violence in Australia. And recent surveys suggest that many Australians feel confused around issues of consent. The Federal Government has begun rolling out a $40 million dollar campaign called Consent Can't Wait, which looks at some of the big questions . How much of a difference can a…

It may seem like living longer is the latest in a long set of goals you're being asked to achieve. But should having a meaningful and happier life, no matter the duration, be a more desirable goal? And what helps that happen?By Australian Broadcasting Corporation

'Ghost jobs' are ads for positions that employers have no intention are filling, and they are on the rise. Recruiters have all sorts of reasons for doing this - from building their general candidate pool, to giving an impression of growth, but they're making the job market look healthier than it is and eroding jobseeker trust. How is this allowed, …

Whole body donation is critical for teaching medical students anatomy and supporting forensic research. But those in universities are reporting students are getting less time with and access to real cadavers. Are people not donating or is something else going on? We look at why body donation is crucial to medicine and how the process works.…

You reach a breaking point after the parent of your child's bestie behaves disrespectfully. They ask for favours and show little gratitude when you go out of your way for them. You stop giving their child lifts to school. Do you need mend relations for the sake of your daughter?By Australian Broadcasting Corporation

Making a good first impression can be hard. You want to act natural, but the harder you try the less natural you can seem. So how do we get out of the way of ourselves and connect with those around us? A hostage negotiator and a psychologist share their insights on how to win at making a good first impression.…

Head far enough back in history, and really not all that far, and the idea of consistent free time was one enjoyed by a relatively small elite. Indeed, the 5 day work week that many of us take for granted now, didn't come about until the early twentieth Century. But what happened to the idea that some economists were touting after the industrial re…

ABC News Breakfast co-host Lisa Millar has had a storied career bringing you the big stories from abroad and at home, and championing a few muster dogs too. She reflects on some of her big achievements, opens up about a few regrets, and shares her golden tip for dealing with critical emails.By Australian Broadcasting Corporation

These days, it’s hard to talk food and lifestyle without someone singing the praises of the Mediterranean diet, but Greek food was originally so unfamiliar to the Anglo-Australian palate that savvy cafe owners had to sneak it in behind a very different cuisine- American food. Yes, milkshakes, hamburgers, and ice cream sundaes were the first foods i…

Some of us might have a bottom drawer with a random collection of items we've collected over time or an appliance that we always tell ourselves we'll repair. Trauma manifests in various ways, and hoarding tendencies might just be one of them. So, how does it affect immigrant communities that may have experienced displacement, unpredictability, or e…

Many of us like to think of Australia as fairly egalitarian, where anyone can rise above their beginnings and find success. For some of us, that's true. But class can still play a huge role in the opportunities we encounter, and help to shape how we look at the world and at ourselves. Rose Butler and Eve Vincent, the authors of Love Across Class, e…

How do you feel about the notion of a bucket list? Have you made one? And if you have, what's on it? Dr. Leah Williams Veazey has co-authored a study looking into meaning, mobility and mortality after a cancer diagnosis. It reveals the significance of the bucket list in the life of cancer patients. And travel that comes in on the top.…

There are significant areas of concern in paediatric care for chronic illnesses within regional and rural Australia, including delayed diagnosis, lack of mental health support, and inadequate attention tailored to the needs of young people. How can we do better to support our kids in managing a life-altering chronic disease outside of capital citie…

The Federal Government has announced it will provide 24,000 additional home care packages in 2024-25, with the aim of supporting more people to age at home, rather than move into an aged care facility. While this increase has been welcomed, industry experts, those relying on home care packages and carers say not only is more funding is needed to su…

Australia is home to dozens of species of native bees, including 11 kinds of stingless bees. Native beekeeping is a growing hobby, and a growing industry, but if you don't have a hive yourself, how can you start? Sarah Hamilton shares how looking after bees can make you more connected to the world around you.…

It's a big milestone when your kids leave the nest, but it can leave you feeling a bit... empty. And while there's plenty of literature about that empty nest syndrome when it comes to mothers, fathers also struggle with their kids' transition to adulthood. We look at where dads can go to open up about their grief and how they can reframe their role…

When times are tough, like they are for many of us at the moment, the thing we keep coming back to is resilience. You gotta push through, bounce back, find a way to be ok. But what if we're wrong about what resilience really looks like? Dr Helen Street is a social psychologist and her new book The Impossible Question of Living Well looks at why liv…

Your brother in law has just published his first work of fiction, a novel. But he's used your name to identify one of the worst characters in the book. The author, his mother and your husband don't think this is a big deal. You've tried to express how hurt you are but no one wants to address it. What can you do with these feelings?…

Being honest can be equal parts scary and liberating. It can take a while to work up to being honest with someone, and it can feel confronting when someone is honest with you. The term 'radical honesty' has been bandied about the internet lately. Proponents claim it can reduce stress and help us feel more connected to those around us. But the art o…

Students have gathered on campuses across Australia to protest their universities' involvement with weapons manufacturers and with the state of Israel. Deakin University and the ANU have called time on the protests, but the Group of 8 released a statement of principals which includes support for "the right to peaceful, non-violent demonstrations on…

Marcia Hines is Australia's queen of disco and a long-time fixture on our TV screens judging and mentoring aspiring stars. She shares the best advice she received from her mother and how she plans to spend her kids' inheritance.By Australian Broadcasting Corporation

As the youngest and only female executive general manager at one of Australia’s Top 200 listed financial service companies, Jo Wagstaff appeared to have it all: a corner office overlooking Sydney harbour, a new BMW bought outright with her latest bonus, a beautiful home, husband and son. But underneath, she was ‘barely keeping it together’. And one…

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 your city like a tourist? Professor Stephen Dobson shares his thoughts on why we should take a fresh …

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. But, with many Australian's still feeling the pressure of the increased cost of living, does the budget do enough to balance the chall…

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. Paulie's activist work is shaped by a personal tragedy and you might even say his music was too.…

The recent move by Cumberland Council in Western Sydney to ban books about same sex parenting in its libraries is not a one off. The Australian Library and Information Association says there has been an increase in so-called book challenges in Australia, where community members try to have certain books removed from library shelves. The move echoes…

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 hours of free access to childcare. SNAICC and parts of the Aboriginal community-controlled early lear…

Watching your parents grow old can be challenging at times, but there can be some comfort in being the arm they use to steady themselves on as they age. But what happens when you don't live in the same city, or even the same country? How are first-generation immigrants tackling long-distance caregiving?…

We might be spending less on luxuries now, but perfume is the exception. Sales are surging in 2024 for big brands and independent makers alike. So, when times are tough, why are we still forking out for something sweet-smelling? And what do perfumes really do for our well-being and confidence?By Australian Broadcasting Corporation

The Germans have a word for anticipatory happiness: vorfreude. It's the recognition that anticipating something good can be great for us. We know it has several benefits for our mental and physical health, so how can we build it into our lives, in both a big and small way daily?By Australian Broadcasting Corporation

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. As you're driving them back, the guest opens a big bottle of kombucha and spills it all over the back seat of your new car. You didn't ask for money …

When someone helps you out, it can really mean a lot. A load has been taken off you, both physically and mentally. We like to help each other out, and yet when it's our turn to ask for help it's not necessarily a comfortable experience. Here's some tips on how to do it well.By Australian Broadcasting Corporation

From the outside, the intense, hyper-commercial culture inside financial firms seems both fascinating and appalling, leading to works like The Wolf of Wall Street. What's it like from the inside, especially if you'd already tried to step away from it, to try to find a new kind of balance? In her new memoir, Private Equity, Carrie Sun details how sh…

Playwright and author Marieke Hardy has long been cutting us up with her sharp and witty takes on life. She brings her best nuggets of wisdom to Life Matters, explaining why she always makes time for dinner with a book, and how embracing a beginner's mindset changed her life.By Australian Broadcasting Corporation

Renowned chef Joseph Abboud grew up steeped in the comforting, Lebanese food traditions of his parents. But his travels along the Silk Road led him to realise there was a much richer Middle-Eastern food tradition that he could bring to Australian shores. How did that epiphany lead Joseph to join other chefs ushering in a new ‘Lebanese-Australian fo…

Finding a job or career that matches your values, and even your passions, is the dream for many. But how do you begin to figure out what that means in practice? And, if you find it, how do you stop from dedicating all of your energy into your work, to the point that you risk burning out?By Australian Broadcasting Corporation

A Melbourne private school has expelled two of its male students, following their involvement in spreadsheet that rated female students on their attractiveness and used sexually violent terms. As Australian society contemplates its ongoing problem with gendered violence, what are the best strategies for families, schools, and wider society to use w…

Pharmacists have been offering a wide variety of basic medical services for decades, including medication reviews, wound care, and sleep apnoea support. it can also be possible for pharmacists to diagnose and refer you to a GP when required. But how has the role of the pharmacist evolved with time, and what’s on offer for no additional fee?…

In September 2020, when parts of the country were dealing with the threat of illness and death due to covid, writer Nova Weetman found herself caring for her partner of 25 years, playwright Aidan Fennessy, at home as he was dying from cancer. After Aidan's death, Nova found herself contemplating not only how we grieve when life and personal respons…

Over the weekend, the Government has proposed two important changes for tertiary students and graduates. The HECS-HELP scheme would be indexed to the lower option of the Consumer Price Index or the Wage Price Index, and that change will be backdated a year, which will save students and graduates hundreds or thousands of dollars. Additionally, stude…

Award winning Chef, author and TV personality Manu Feildel was told as a child he was descended from the Vikings. What young boy wouldn't want that to be true? Will Manu find out he has Viking heritage? And will his love of the culinary arts be reflected in his bloodline? His story is revealed in the SBS series Who Do You Think You Are.…