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Program: Life Matters

Source:ABC Radio National

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Hilary Harper portrait

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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

A sweet history of Australia and the right nutrients for kids

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

Published: 18h agoWed 17 Apr 2024 at 11:00pmwith Hilary Harper

Duration: 54 minutes 33 seconds

segment 1 of 3

What’s the best way to tell the history of Australia? It’s by eating cake

We hear a lot about wars and leaders and political or ideological trends, in history class, but wouldn't it be more fun to tell that story...

Published: 18h agoWed 17 Apr 2024 at 11:06pm

baby cake

Duration: 28 minutes 19 seconds

segment 2 of 3

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.

Published: 18h agoWed 17 Apr 2024 at 11:32pm

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

Duration: 5 minutes 21 seconds

segment 3 of 3

How to make sure your kids are getting the right nutrients for an active life

As parents, many of us worry that if our kids only like eating pasta, white bread and cheese, they may be missing out on some essential nutrients - particularly protein.

Published: 18h agoWed 17 Apr 2024 at 11:41pm

kids eating

Duration: 16 minutes 28 seconds

More from Life Matters

Squatting as a response to the housing crisis and the power of exercise

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

Duration: 54 minutes 35 seconds

Published: TueTue 16 Apr 2024 at 11:00pmwith Hilary Harper

Is squatting a legitimate response to the housing crisis?

Rental vacancies are at record lows, and rents are increasing, on average, far faster than our incomes, particularly in our biggest cities. That's leading to financial stress for many Australians and increasing the likelihood of housing insecurity.

An abandoned house with boarded up windows and long grass.

Duration: 37 minutes 46 seconds

Published: TueTue 16 Apr 2024 at 11:00pm

Jennifer Wong's hour of power

We all know exercise is good for us, but that doesn't mean it's always easy to get organised, into fitness gear, and out of the house.

High-key photo of a smiling woman wearing eyeglasses

Duration: 13 minutes 57 seconds

Published: TueTue 16 Apr 2024 at 11:00pm

Psychedelic assisted therapy and how to inspire change

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

Duration: 54 minutes 36 seconds

Published: MonMon 15 Apr 2024 at 11:00pmwith Hilary Harper

Here's What I Know

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: 15h agoThu 18 Apr 2024 at 2:21am

Here's What I Know: Tracey Spicer on the power of timing

Award-winning journalist, author, and advocate Tracey Spicer is a leading voice on feminist media and technology. She shares her tips for peeling a banana and how she learned that the key to a great life is timing.

Duration: 4 minutes 55 seconds

Published: 11 Apr 2024Thu 11 Apr 2024 at 2:32am

Here's What I Know: Lizzy Hoo finds joy in being late

Comedian Lizzy Hoo used to stress herself out trying to be on time, now she "gets the haircut", a bit of wisdom gained from her time in Mongolia. She also discusses the joy of spooning her perfectly sized greyhound.

Duration: 3 minutes 42 seconds

Published: 4 Apr 2024Thu 4 Apr 2024 at 3:49am

Here's What I Know: Benjamin Law's traffic light system for feedback

Writer and broadcaster Benjamin Law has been a strong voice in Australia's literary and media scenes for more than a decade.

Duration: 5 minutes 18 seconds

Published: 3 Apr 2024Wed 3 Apr 2024 at 3:04am

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

'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: FriFri 12 Apr 2024 at 4:28amby Anna Kelsey-Sugg and Michele Weekes

This exercise has a huge effect on our health and longevity, but many of us ignore it

Building muscle isn't just for powerlifters and body builders. These experts explain how some resistance training, even just at home, can impact how we experience ageing.

Ella Mason poses for a photo with a medicine ball on their shoulder, at Pony Club Gym in Melbourne.

Published: 8 Apr 2024Mon 8 Apr 2024 at 10:29pmby Anna Kelsey-Sugg and Bec Zajac

Half of all Australians in nursing homes experience depression. These experts say there's a simple solution to that

Experts argue the aged care system isn't adequately addressing elderly residents' mental health, but that government-funded sessions with a psychologist could help them feel happier and more at ease.

Older woman with green shirt and short white hair and glasses, sits in outdoor setting smiling with mouth closed.

Published: 27 Mar 2024Wed 27 Mar 2024 at 12:39amby Anna Kelsey-Sugg and Barbara Heggen

Fun and socialising at kids' sport classes might seem like a waste of time to parents. Here's why it's not

Children gain grit and resilience from sports, but disappointments can hit hard. A focus on the process, rather than winning or losing, can help.

Four widely smiling kids link arms. All wear blue sports uniforms.

Published: 22 Mar 2024Fri 22 Mar 2024 at 3:02amby Anna Kelsey-Sugg and Erica Vowles

Ask Aunty

Ask Aunty: Help! My friends are breaking up with me

You have three separate friends who you believe are 'breaking-up' their relationship with you. They say you talk about yourself too much.

Three women wearing sunglasses

Duration: 12 minutes 10 seconds

Published: FriFri 12 Apr 2024 at 4:33am

Ask Aunty: can you express your concerns about what your adult daughter wears?

On a recent trip to visit your adult daughter you noticed she was wearing a very short skirt and you could see her underwear. It didn't go well when you pointed that out.

A young woman smiles while holding sunglasses

Duration: 12 minutes 43 seconds

Published: 5 Apr 2024Fri 5 Apr 2024 at 3:49am

Ask Aunty: my child thinks I'm flirting with my male friend!

You have a great rapport with the father of one of your child's schoolfriends. You see each other often, have great platonic chemistry and hope to become better friends.

Couple in denim looking shocked and embarrassed at the camera

Duration: 11 minutes 31 seconds

Published: 28 Mar 2024Thu 28 Mar 2024 at 1:35am

Ask Aunty: the upselling hairdresser

You know when you go to the checkout to pay for your petrol and the cashier asks if you want to buy something from the counter as well? That "light" sales pressure can get much more intense when you're at the salon and your hairdresser suggests…

A head of hair with foils and clips in it

Duration: 12 minutes 34 seconds

Published: 22 Mar 2024Fri 22 Mar 2024 at 3:19am

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