Life Matters - Separate stories podcast

New data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics indicates that stalking rates in Australia have remained high, with one in five women and one in 15 men affected at some point in their lives.  Legal changes to redress this have been proposed in Victoria and explored in other jurisdictions, with concerns about lack of legal assistance, and just plain awareness, on the part of police and courts. But is cultural change needed as well? And what's the psychological drivers of this behaviour?

Did your parents turn to you for emotional support when you were still a child? Were you responsible for meditating family conflicts? And did your mum and dad frequently share their problems with you?  When a child takes on the role of mediator, friend or carer to their parents, the impact can be profound and traumatic. So, how can you heal from the role reversal of parentification? And how can parents avoid this troubling dynamic?

It used to be such a common practice in Australia but after many generations, the evidence that being "held back a year" helped students to catch up academically wasn't very strong. What do Life Matters listeners think about repeating a grade?

Some say we're a nation of swimmers. And while the iconic image of a bronzed lifesaver at Bondi Beach has endured as a symbol of national identity, Australia's contemporary relationship to swimming is far more complex and varied. While some of us devote our leisure time to water-based activities, and cold water swimming groups continue to attract huge interest, one in four adult Australians are either a weak swimmer or can't swim at all, according to Royal Life Saving Australia.    So what is our relationship to swimming? How has it changed over the years? And what benefits does swimming offer us that other leisure activities don't?

Dressing in drag has a rich history in Australia, from Dame Edna Everage to Priscilla Queen of the Desert. Counted among the pantheon is Art Simone, Melbourne's favourite drag queen of 2024, and RuPaul's Drag Race Down-Under alum.  Art's dedication to the craft of Australian drag is captured in her new book 'Drag Queens Down Under'. She spills the tea on some of our most fabulous drag artists in all their glitz and glory.

Australians have lost millions to bank scammers, but a recent decision by the Australian Financial Complaints Authority may help redress the imbalance between scammers and banking customers. AFCA recently ordered HSBC to compensate HSBC customer Mr T more than $47,000, after scammers infiltrated the bank's text message system and, posing as bank employees, tricked him into divulging his banking codes. The AFCA decision may pave the way for other affected customers to be reimbursed by the bank. While the Federal Government has released draft legislation for a new scams prevention framework, consumer groups say the move will not ensure victims are reimbursed by their banks.

You might be surprised how many people who surrender their pets to animal shelters have no desire to do so. A significant three-part study is looking at how human socio-economic factors affect companion animals -- and how we could be looking at pet relinquishment quite differently.

For many women, getting older can feel like a horror movie. That's the take of new film The Substance, in which Demi Moore plays an ageing actress tempted by the promises of a youth-making drug. The pressure for women to stay beautiful and thin as they age is a tale as old as time but the film has thrust the conversation into the spotlight in a new way.  Former Vogue editor-in-chief Kirstie Clements shares her experiences with cosmetic treatments, and looks at how the attitude towards beauty and ageing is shifting.

There's been a surge in the number of Australians who check their credit score every month, but is this necessary? Credit scores are increasingly preferred by lenders to make quick decisions about who to loan to, but have created inescapable social tiers in other countries. Could that happen here?  We look at credit score anxiety, and what you really need to know about your number.

You're interstate getting treatment for a long-term illness, so you ask an overcommitting friend to help look after your apartment and car. When she fails to return your keys immediately as you instructed, and you call her out on it, she insists she's trustworthy and accuses you of being too strict. How do you patch things up?

This week, the world fell for actor Andrew Garfield's show of vulnerability as he talked about his grief for his late mother on Sesame Street. Emotional vulnerability has been having a moment in our culture, and for good reason. Being real helps us connect with others and can free us to be ourselves.  But it's very hard to do for many people, and can be misunderstood or abused. What does it really mean to be vulnerable and how can you do it protectively?

In romantic relationships, sometimes one person may be in their happy zone while the other is overloaded and juggling multiple sources of stress Ideally, partners can help each other to calm down, but can too much regulation, or the wrong type, be a bad thing? Welcome to the world of self-regulation, co-regulation and partner regulation.

Food guru Stephanie Alexander's Cook's Companion is a staple in Australian homes, and her passion for food has extended to championing cooking education in schools. Good food often comes with good conversation, and Stephanie shares some wisdom learned about how to listen, even when you disagree.

Most people living in bushfire-prone areas know they should prepare their property before the bushfire season begins. But how many of us think about preparing our mind for such an event?  Experts say psychological preparedness is an important task for anyone living in high-risk areas. So what does it involve? And how can it work alongside physical preparations?

Synaesthesia has been described as having an extraordinary response to a very ordinary stimulus. You might see numbers as colours, but there are many other responses when the senses merge.  So why does it happen for some, and how can having it impact your life?

Sport is a huge part of Australian culture and identity, and physical education in schools is one of the key learning areas of the Australian curriculum. Now, a new study shows that many public schools in Australia are outsourcing health and physical education, with families are being charged extra for their kids to take part in PE. So, why is this happening, and what happens when some students can't access these classes?

Talking about your genetic condition to a wide audience through poetry turned out to be a slam dunk for Perth's Jo Giles. Jo recently won this year's National Poetry Slam with a deeply personal story of undergoing a lung transplant.  Jo talks about their process and the big slam alongside poetry slam pioneer Miles Merrill.

The Royal Flying Doctors Service has been proving life-saving care to Australians living in the bush for nearly 100 years. But as well as responding to emergencies, they're also trying to reduce the number of people in rural and remote areas dying from preventable diseases like heart disease and strokes. So how do you go about providing targeted healthcare to remote communities? And for those on the job, what does it entail?

The Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency, has uncovered cases of doctors and nurses prescribing large quantities of cannabis via very brief telehealth appointments. In one case, a doctor was prescribing the drug to 90 patients a day.  So, how do you know if you're receiving good quality telehealth care and what are the warning signs consumers should be looking out for?

For many people who find out they're expecting a baby, speculation quickly turns to whether it'll be a boy or a girl. But for some expectant parents, learning their baby's sex is a surprise... a shock... and a huge disappointment. Gender disappointment is one of the greatest parenting taboos with many people hesitant to discuss their emotions openly. So how can people deal with these complex feelings?

Drugs such as Ozempic have transformed weight loss as we know it, but have we fully grasped yet the impact these drugs are going to have on society?  New York Times best-selling author, Johann Hari shares what he's learnt about these drugs and the issues they raise about our dysfunctional relationship with food.

If you don't feel like marriage is for you, does it mean you can't have a wedding? More couples are sitting with that question, and considering alternative ways of celebrating their commitment. And it's not just weddings that are getting a rethink. As many of our beliefs about life and the world change, people are looking for ways to mark milestones and gather that align with their values - love parties, living wakes, orphans Christmasses, are just a few 'new rituals' entering the vernacular. So what does it take to make a ritual?

Making friends at work is inevitable but it can come with complications and conflicts. We hear your stories of workmate drama and look at how to resolve conflict when there's competition involved.

You give your bridesmaids free reign to pick their own dresses (with your approval of course), but when one's mother picks something you hate, should you take back control? Or just go along with it?

Nearly two million Year 12 students will sit final exams over the next month.  But what does the research say about the validity of exams as a tool for measuring learning?  And are the skills we hone over years of sitting exams in high school and university useful as we head into diverse career pathways?

Peter Evans leads Australia's most daring company dedicated to the Bard.  Peter shares how an anxiety diagnosis helped him understand himself, why it's important to own up to your mistakes, and how writing your own obituary can bring your life into relief.

Since he was young, Melbourne man Shaun Resnik had dreamed of becoming a dad, but said as a gay man he found it hard to meet a partner who also wanted to have children. So, as he neared 40, he decided to forgo meeting "Mr Right" and pursue parenthood on his own. He welcomed his son Eli in 2022 and made history as the first single man in Victoria to be given the go-ahead by officials to become a father under the state's surrogacy laws. More than two years later, there's a village helping him raise Eli, with both Eli's egg donor and surrogate remaining in the picture.  We look at Eli's unique family patchwork and how alternative families blossom.

Almost 95% of Australians are not eating the recommended five servings of vegetables a day. And while we know that not getting enough fresh fruit and vegetables is bad for our bodies, the lack of demand for vegetables is also hurting our farmers.   How can we start to change our relationship with the humble vegetable?

When you think of flatmates, your mind typically goes to a group of 20 or 30-somethings living in a share house. But there's a new generation of people who are embracing a different type of share house. People over the age of 50 are increasingly choosing to live with housemates, as a way of combating the tough rental market and the cost of living crisis. Social media platforms like the Facebook page 'Women Wide Network for Share Accommodation' have thousands of members and many of them are mature-aged people looking for someone to share a home.

Do you remember where you used to play as a child? What you got up to? For those children living in the high rise housing commission flats in Melbourne's Fitzroy in the 1970's an adventure playground would change their lives and make history Many of us know playgrounds to be highly designed where kids are almost told how to play. The Cubbies was not that playground but one created by the children themselves.  The woman behind it all was Joan Healey. Her book is called The Cubbies, the battle for Australia's first adventure playground.

Around 1 in 10 new and expecting dads experience mental health problems. So could having more support groups for dads help prevent things like loneliness and anxiety? One new charity is helping dads make new connections through games while also encouraging them to look after their physical health.

An experimental recovery program that uses a unique combination of boxing and creative writing to process childhood trauma is the subject of a new documentary, Left Write Hook. The film follows the harrowing stories of seven survivors of childhood sexual abuse as they move through the eight-week program.

A friend of a friend invites you on their podcast – but when you realise the whole thing sounds like a shambles is it ok to ask them to not hit publish?

We all know that common saying that nobody is perfect – but somehow it's easier to say than to practice. Some say that the desire to be perfect is reaching epidemic proportions and some researchers in the field say that social media is playing significant role in perpetuating unobtainable standards of perfection. In this edition of Life Matters Beverley Wang is joined by psychologist Anushka Phal to discuss how to recognise the signs of perfectionism and what strategies we can employ to tame our perfectionist tendencies.

Neuroimaging of teenage brains is increasingly making sense of why risk-taking behaviour is a feature of this stage of life.  We take a closer look at the science behind a teen's changing brain, and ask how can parents harness their knowledge to better support their teens?

From a young age writer Lucinda Price knew that she wanted to be hot. She gravitated towards the 'pretty' girls at school and sought nose surgery in her mid-teens. By her twenties she had been through multiple cosmetic surgeries and developed an eating disorder. Now in a place of total recovery she recounts her story in her new book "All I Ever wanted was to be Hot" detailing the contributing factors that lead to her seeking physical perfection. She Joined Jacinta Parsons to share her story and reflect on what improvements could be made to the medical system to better support people experiencing disordered eating..

"Eldest daughter syndrome" is used to describe the unique pressures and responsibilities placed on the oldest woman in the family. She's the caretaker, the people-pleaser, the "responsible" one. Meanwhile, some believe there are personality traits associated with other family roles - such as the youngest or "baby" of the family, the "forgotten" middle child, and the "spoiled and selfish" only child. So, does birth order really impact your personality?

To praise or not to praise is the question we are asking when it comes to young children. "What a good boy, what a good girl!' may well be considered terms of encouragement, but is too much praise a good, or a bad thing? Dr Amanda Niland, a senior lecturer in early childhood at Sydney University and program director of the Master of teaching early childhood believes it's the way we hand out praise that can make the difference to our child's wellbeing.

When you think about passing on your wealth, what things do you consider? Do you know who you'll pass your money and possessions on to and when? According to research by AMP most people under the age of 40 haven't spoken with their parents about wealth transferral. So should we all be thinking and talking more about how and when we pass on our wealth? And do we also need to think more broadly about how we define our wealth?

A report today from the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners has raised concerns about an ageing GP workforce and access issues for people living in regional and rural areas.  But there is a glimmer of hope with the college saying a workforce recovery has begun. It's being supported by an incentivised training program for junior doctors working in rural areas.

Canteens have long been at the heart of school life, providing healthy and affordable food to children and helping them to learn healthy eating habits.   However, rising costs and a lack of volunteers are forcing many to close or scale back. So what needs to be done to put school canteens back at the centre of school life?

She's a writer, adventurer and survivor who wears her vulnerability on her sleeve. Last year, Gina Chick captured Australia's attention on the first series of Alone Australia. Over 67 days, her passion for nature and her ability to confound our expectations transformed her into the show's breakout star -and ultimate winner. Now Gina has written a memoir titled We Are The Stars: A misfit's story of love, connection and the glorious power of letting go.

You work in a bookshop cafe but when one of the regulars takes liberties with the Sudoku you wonder if it might be time to have words.

We talk about decisions in terms of being the things we arrive at — but often it is the way we get there that tells us a lot about who we are. The decision-making process can be complex, but understanding your motivations and values can help you choose the right path. So, as we find ourselves in the final quarter of the year, when perhaps we are weighing up some big decisions clinical psychologist Dr Charlotte Keating shares her insights on the psychology of decision making.

When it comes to marriage breakdowns, Dani Zetzer has seen it all. The Melbourne-based family lawyer has spent more than a decade working with clients at the most emotionally vulnerable time in their lives.  She says she's committed to "doing divorce differently" with her clients. So how can people navigate the end of a marriage in a healthy and sustainable manner?

Comedian, actor and writer Felicity Ward shares how she's learnt to embrace her weirdness and how friendship is like a high interest savings account that enriches her life.

People over 65 are being prescribed antidepressants as pain treatment based on studies that either exclude older adults or include only a small number of them.  Researchers from the University of Sydney say guidelines should reflect the unique needs of older adults, including the known harms of antidepressant use for this cohort.  We look at other treatments for chronic pain, and ask what's the best way to navigate discussions with your doctor if you're concerned about the current approach?

From a young age Ben Shewry was obsessed with cooking, even boiling his dad's shoes in a pot.   But it's this obsession and passion that's driven him to become one of Australia's leading chefs and owner of Melbourne restaurant Attica.  His new memoir, Uses for Obsession, reveals Ben's motivation, his self doubt and determination.

William Hanson became a viral sensation when he began posting etiquette tips on social media a few years ago, but Britain's leading etiquette coach has been teaching people around the world, protocol and good manners for the last 17 years. Those people include Royal and VIP households, diplomats, and businesses. He also holds two Guinness World Records for etiquette, one relating to curtsying and the other involving the largest cream tea party.

Virginia Trioli is best known for being a host of TV and radio, but she's also a fierce foodie. And she loves nothing more than a well-executed side dish. In her new book, A Bit on the Side, she shares her obsession with a good béarnaise sauce and a delicate dim sim, but she also gets us to think about the joy found in life's small moments.

When Storm Menzies injured her dominant hand, and with weakness in her other hand, she was confronted with how difficult it was to apply make-up and beauty products and it got her thinking about a solution. Holly Sultana too loves wearing make-up but is challenged when using regular products on the market.  With the aim of making beauty inclusive Storm has designed a range of grip aides to fit all make-up designs.

While animal assisted therapy grows in popularly for treating mental health conditions some say we need more in depth clinical research to understand its effectiveness.  Clinical psychologist and Swinburne academic Dr Kelvin Wong is seeking to understand why it has been helpful and he joined Jacinta Parsons to talk through his study.

Uncertainty is a part of life. From starting a new school or job, to trying to create a family to being diagnosed with a life-changing illness.  These are the spaces in our lives when we hover in a no-man's land of anxiety, worry and frustration. We are told it’s important to sit in discomfort - to not reach for things like alcohol, shopping or risky behaviour to mask that feeling.  But how exactly do we do that? What are the practical things we can do when our tummy is churning or we can’t sleep at night?

If you were diagnosed with terminal cancer and knew you had limited time left, what would you do? Emily Lahey, 32, has a rare and aggressive cancer called NUT Carcinoma.  Facing a terminal diagnosis, she sold off 3-minute pieces of her remaining time to strangers in a daring public art project called 'Time To Live.'

We all strive to be good in life, and it can make us feel warm and joyous to be able to help those around us. But what happens when our sense of being good is challenged? And how do we sit with ourselves when we feel we have done wrong.

When a package goes missing from a communal table in an apartment block you suspect your neighbours of taking it. But was it an accident or intentional?

Up to 40 per cent of air travellers experience some anxiety about flying, and around one in six suffer from some degree of aviophobia. Amazingly, even some pilots report feelings of fear about flying.  We speak to two women pilots who have harnessed their fear of flying and forged incredible career paths. Their stories are documented in a new book called Take Flight: Incredible Stories of Australian Women Who Reach for the Sky.

Richard Scolyer AO is co-medical director of the Melanoma Institute Australia. In 2023 he was diagnosed with incurable Grade 4 brain cancer and this year he was named Australian of the Year along with his colleague Georgina Long AO.    For Here's What I Know, Richard shares the lessons he's learnt about sun safety, his love of family and the importance of living in the moment.

When we talk about age gaps in relationships there's a tired, old cliché: The older man with a much younger woman. But are we seeing a broader representation of age gap relationships? In popular culture, there are more and more depictions of older women with younger men... meanwhile, in the LGBTQ+ community, large age gaps have long been more common. So, does a significant age difference help or hurt a relationship?

Over in the United States, Rupert Murdoch is fighting for his eldest son to have full control of the Murdoch empire.  But the question of who will inherit the family business is also one that many Australians also face. And it's not an equal playing field. It's believed that only around 10% of daughters are getting the opportunity to take over family businesses. So why are daughters being overlooked and what sort of strain can that put on families?

We're getting older, faster. More than one in every six Australians are aged 65 and over, according to the latest ABS figures.  That ratio is likely to be 1 in 4 people by the year 2071. That's because we're living longer and also because of declining birth rates.  Our recent 5 part series Squished shone a light on the Sandwich Generation and the issues facing those caught between raising children and looking after aging parents That  discussion brought up another big question, what if you don't have children you can rely on, as you age?  Will it be the nieces and nephews or friends who will help? Are you comfortable asking for assistance,  and who will advocate for you and what's in your best interests, especially when it comes to medical issues?

How would you deal if your body started failing you but you didn't know why, and neither did the doctors? Ben Noble thought he was about to die, and while he was grappling with an 'imagined' expiry date it became clear he needed to talk about it. The result of discussing death and grief formed the foundation for his show The Dilly Dally of Death and Dying. It will be showing at the Melbourne Fringe.

Always stretch before you work out; Crunches will give you a six--pack stomach; And if you're not sweating, you're not working hard enough to make a difference! There are a lot of commonly-held beliefs when it comes to exercise and fitness, but there's also plenty of misinformation.  What's the science behind these beliefs?

Four months after changes to the Family Law Act came into effect, we ask the experts whether the amendments are making a substantive difference to the thousands of children engaged in the Family Court system each year.  The changes included removing the presumption of ‘equal shared parental responsibility’, and a new definition for ‘best interests of the child’.

From polyamory to open relationships or casual hook-ups, there are many ways to be in a romantic relationship. So why do people choose long-term, committed ones?  And how do they survive?  Raquel Peel, senior lecturer in Psychology at Notre Dame, looks at the up-sides of commitment, and how we can overcome the challenges that come with all human relationships.

A recent survey from the ABS and Cancer Council has revealed some uncomfortable truths about Australians' attitudes to sun exposure. One in ten Australians tried to get a suntan in the 12 months preceding the survey. And for young women, that figure was one in four.  So is the iconic 'Slip, Slop, Slap' campaign still working to educate Australians about the risks associated with sun exposure?

It's commonly known as medical tourism... but for many people who travel overseas for healthcare, it's anything but a holiday. Australians are travelling to other countries for care including dentistry, heart surgery, fertility treatments, surrogacy, gender affirming surgery, stem-cell therapy, cancer treatments, and cosmetic surgery. But what should you consider before travelling for a medical procedure?

When you see a neighbour pick another neighbour's prized rose that is hanging over their fence,  do you tell them who it was?

Getting love right is not always easy and some say that we need to learn to love better.  Psychologist and author Dr Chris Cheers describes love as the actions of connection, belonging and safety and emphasis in his book The New Rule Book and says we need to think of love as an action rather than just a feeling.  He joined Beverley Wang to discuss how we can get better at love.

Tim Minchin has achieved huge success as an internationally-acclaimed composer, comedian, actor, and writer. But despite being somewhat of an over-achiever he's an advocate for micro-ambition.   Talking about his new book You Don't Have to Have a Dream: Advice for the Incrementally Ambitious, Tim shares his thoughts and advice on life, art, and what it means to achieve success.

Roughly 2 out of every 5 family types will be couples without children in 2046, according to projections made by the Australian Bureau of Statistics. That's compared to earlier data from the ABS, which projected 1 in 4 couples would be child free in 2029.  Life Matters recently discussed the issue of parental regret, a huge taboo subject in our society. But another taboo subject is couples choosing to be child free.

If life gives you lemons — make lemonade. Zoologist Tim Husband wasn't given any lemons, he was given Lemurs, and you might say they saved his life.

Twenty-something Australians jetted off on nearly one million overseas holidays in the last financial year. They're part of a larger trend of Aussies returning to international travel after COVID, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics.  But what does the classic backpacking adventure mean to young people who spent their formative years in COVID lockdowns, learning remotely and unable to attend even a high school formal?

Art, music, and story-telling all enrich our lives, but are they fundamental to how we learn, remember, and explore new ideas? Scientists have discovered a 'supergene', unique to us humans, that they believe influences our creative capabilities. How can this discovery help us better understand how we absorb, retain and pass down information through the generations? And could it be these creative skills that give us the advantage over other species?

It's an admission that may be the ultimate parenting taboo: People who regret having children. Parents are sharing their deepest thoughts about parenthood on a range of public forums from Facebook to Reddit.  The sites have messages from mothers who became parents just to please their family, fathers who feel envy when they look at their childless friends, and parents who wish they could just go back in time and make another choice. One expert says we need to offer a "compassionate" ear to parents who are sharing feelings that are difficult to discuss.

If you’ve hit midlife with kids at home and ageing parents, welcome to The Sandwich Generation. Stuff’s about to get real and you are going to need help because it will be the trickiest time of your life, and nobody talks about it. But we see you and listen up ‘cause we’ve got some answers.    Featuring:   Dr Michelle O’Shea, Senior lecturer in the School of Business at Western Sydney University Dr Megan Godwin, PhD Australian Women’s Wellbeing expert  (QUT) Mark McCrindle, social researcher   Shevonne Hunt, member of the sandwich generation

So you’ve decided to care for your parent at home, we'll dive into the sorts of honest conversations you must have with your partner and kids to avoid it all imploding. Plus, how do you protect yourself, and your sanity, as you fall deeper into the world of the Sandwich Generation?       Featuring:    Dr Rebecca Ray, psychologist and author Setting Boundaries  Dr Kaylene Henderson, a medically trained child health specialist and parenting expert  Professor Ruth Phillips, Professor of Social Policy at the University of Sydney  Shevonne Hunt, member of the sandwich generation

Your siblings have gone AWOL so it’s all on you — all the appointments, decisions and physical care. And if you’re a woman, it seems everyone thinks this is a responsibility that’s yours and yours alone. How do you navigate the emotional strain when other family members aren’t stepping up to help?    Featuring:    Dr Jenny Brown, family systems therapist and mental health social worker    Rohini Balram, researcher at Western Sydney University and contributor to the research for Carers NSW    Shevonne Hunt, member of the sandwich generation

The physical, emotional and financial toll of caring for ageing parents while raising children is a double whammy that can leave you reeling. Even your own mental and physical health can suffer and nobody even notices. We’ll hear how best to survive in the Sandwich Generation.   Featuring:    Dr Megan Godwin, PhD Australian Women’s Wellbeing expert  (QUT) Christopher Hall, Psychologist and CEO of Grief Australia  Elena Katrakis, CEO Carers NSW   Shevonne Hunt, member of the Sandwich Generation

Our panel of experts share their ideas on the big and little things that need to change to ease the burden and make life better for the Sandwich Generation.   Featuring:    Elena Katrakis, CEO Carers NSW   Ruth Phillips, professor of Social Policy at the University of Sydney    Dr Megan Godwin, PhD  Australian Women’s Wellbeing expert  (QUT)

When your neighbour leaves their old car parked outside your house indefinitely do you call the council, tell them to move it, or just say nothing and become quietly resentful?

Forgiveness can be tricky terrain: while it can make us feel good to be forgiving, it isn't always easy to do, nor is it always appropriate.  Psychologist Christine Bagley-Jones joins Beverley Wang to step through the mental health benefits of forgiveness, strategies on how to do it, and what it means to be able to forgive ourselves.

Dopamine is one of those molecules in the body that gets bandied about for all kinds of reasons. It’s both the pleasure molecule and a source of addiction, both good and evil.   But what does the science tell us about this powerful and necessary neurotransmitter? And can building your understanding of dopamine and the way it drives pleasure help you to make better choices in life?

Author, cook, and broadcaster Alice Zaslavsky shares what she's learned about feedback, relationships, and finally finishing the 'great books'.

Most of us want to lead a longer and healthier life.  For some people, the effort to slow or reverse ageing has led them to embrace cutting-edge and experimental technologies and therapies.  But what does science say about these radical age-reversal techniques?

After getting married, the assumption is that you'll live with your new spouse, but some people choose a different path. Sydney couple Yvette Evans and Ed Streeter tied the knot two years ago. They're fully committed to a life together but they've decided to remain living separately for the time being. So, what are the implications for couples who choose not to live together and how does living apart change a relationship?

A new report suggests that over 8% of restaurants and bars will close over the next year as rising costs hit their bottom line and the rising cost of living changes the way we eat.  While some parts of the industry are doing quite well, many smaller businesses are struggling, even if they're not at risk of closing. Is it just consumer spending driving these challenges or are there deeper economic concerns for the hospitality market? And what will it mean for your next meal out?

There are so many negative ways used to describe the older woman, old girl, old bag and old cow to name just a few. Crones in Cabaret, Not Dead Yet is a show that reinvents the crone as a capable, kind, wise, warm , worldly, witty woman - who loves to have fun.  Presented by the Older Women's Network Theatre Group, it is showing at the Sydney Fringe Festival.

After three years, the final report of the Royal Commission into Defence and Veterans Suicide is in. It reveals that at least 1,677 defence force members died by suicide between 1997 and 2021.  On World Suicide Prevention Day, we look more broadly at the appalling number of deaths by suicide in this country, and what actions might bring that figure down.  John Brogden AM knows what it's like to come close to the brink. In his new book Profiles of Hope, John speaks to 15 Australians who survived suicide and found their way back to a better life.   If this story raises any concerns for you, please seek help at Lifeline on 13 11 14, the Suicide Call-back Service on 1300 659 467 or Open Arms 1800 011 046 which provides 24-hour free and confidential counselling and support for current and former ADF members and their families.

It’s estimated 1.1 million people have an eating disorder in Australia. And while eating disorders are not the most common mental health issue, they are among the most deadly.  Global research suggests less than half the people with an eating disorder who access treatment achieve long-term recovery.  We speak to leading experts about the challenges of introducing new therapies and what else might work.  If this story raises concerns for you, please contact the Butterfly Foundation on 1800 33 4673 or Lifeline on 13 11 14.

New research reveals that wearable activity trackers are effective at detecting early signals of disease. Many of us use wearable technology to monitor our health, like how many steps we’re walking, what we're eating, and even our how well we’re sleeping.   Could a smart watch become a cost-effective way of screening for potentially deadly diseases?

Is there anything wrong with having your kids sleep in your bed? Some parents love snuggling up with their little ones after a long day. For others their bed is a kid-free zone. We're digging into the benefits and drawbacks of having kids sleep in your bed and asking if there is a right or wrong way to approach family sleeping arrangements.

A popular financial trend is making a lot of noise. It's called Loud Budgeting.  The movement is centred around sharing your financial goals, being upfront about your spending boundaries and being honest about what you don't want to spend money on.