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Life Matters - Full program podcast

ABC Australia
Mental Health
Australia
Parenting
Relationships
Family Dynamics
Housing Crisis
Social Media
Gambling
ADHD
Education
Foster Care
Climate Change
Community Engagement
Psychology
Home
Burnout
Aging
Childcare
Work-Life Balance
Artificial Intelligence

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.

PublishesDailyEpisodes1461Founded21 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Society & CultureKids & FamilyRelationships

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Artwork for Life Matters

Latest Episodes

We all have our own habitual behaviours that help us get through tricky moments or avoid stressful situations. But sometimes, what feels easier or more comfortable in the moment can hurt us long-term. Clinical psychologist Rebecca Ray explains how id... more

Play School is celebrating a milestone birthday this year: it's Big Ted's diamond jubilee. For six decades, the show's beloved presenters have been singing, playing, telling stories and teaching generations of Australian children. Long-term hosts Ale... more

According to the latest statistics, men make up less than a third of Australian school teachers. In primary schools, the figures are even lower, and have been declining for decades. High school maths teacher Eddie Woo and sociologist Nicholas Hookway... more

The average wardrobe contains about 199 pieces of clothing, according to research published last year. Among them are usually a couple of items that rarely see the light of day. Fashion researcher Alicja Kuźmycz and podcaster Clare Press explore how ... more

Key Facts

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Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Roger Wilkins
Co-director of the Hilda Survey Project, Deputy Director of the Melbourne Institute
University of Melbourne / Hilda Survey Project
Episode: What makes a "good" salary in 2026 and reviving the local bowls clubs
Neil Dalrymple
CEO of World Bowls, former Bowls Australia CEO
World Bowls
Episode: What makes a "good" salary in 2026 and reviving the local bowls clubs
Louis Heath
Urban planner, UNSW researcher on Bowls Club demise
University of New South Wales
Episode: What makes a "good" salary in 2026 and reviving the local bowls clubs
Keith Miller
Chair of the board of Wellers Hill Bowls Club
Wellers Hill Bowls Club
Episode: What makes a "good" salary in 2026 and reviving the local bowls clubs
Dan Etheridge
Engagement Director, Living Labs Northern Rivers
Living Labs Northern Rivers (SCU/UTS/NSW Reconstruction Authority)
Episode: Giving building materials a second life and does the body really keep the score?
Berto Pandolfo
Associate Professor, Senior Lecturer in Product Design
University of Technology Sydney
Episode: Giving building materials a second life and does the body really keep the score?
Melanie Stoll
PhD candidate
University of Auckland
Episode: Giving building materials a second life and does the body really keep the score?
Jess Wilson
CEO
Good Things Australia
Episode: Giving building materials a second life and does the body really keep the score?
Celine Van Gold
Associate Professor in Forensic Psychology
University of Sydney
Episode: Giving building materials a second life and does the body really keep the score?

Hosts

Beverly Wang
Host of Life Matters with ABC Radio National affiliation; collaborates across episodes on health, policy, and social topics.
Tegan Taylor
Co-host with wide-ranging coverage across health, education, policy, and culture.

Reviews

4.1 out of 5 stars from 631 ratings
  • What’s the point?

    Not sure if the show improved but I started with the earliest episodes and they seem to just state the obvious. I didn’t gain anything from listening.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    Poshum
    United Kingdom2 years ago
  • Love!

    Hilary I just loved your Dated series! Thank you!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Sabrina2234
    Australia2 years ago
  • Celiacs disease

    Assoc Prof Jason Tye-Din is a professional and my Mum, Pat, is forever in his debt.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Amoloch007
    Australia2 years ago
  • Always well researched and presented

    I love this podcast. The range of subjects offered is fascinating and a great set of highly qualified authors and professionals lined up to discuss. Hilary Harper asks the most insightful questions and shows she’s done her homework. Beverley Wang has great style and warmth. I’ve learned so much and read loads of books I’d never have discovered otherwise. Thanks guys, well done.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    AnniFurtdoos
    United Kingdom3 years ago
  • Judgy and gaslighty

    Interesting topics but the way the presenters respond to callers and writers who express opinions that differ to their own is so rude.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    Mumbos
    Australia4 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Long-form, evidence-based formats with expert guests.
Listeners appreciate the host warmth and insightful questions, with some calling for more audience interaction.
Varied topics make it a strong general interest show for listeners who enjoy policy context.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

AI anxiety and fibbing about your religion for the greater good
Q: How should the future of work adapt to AI without displacing human workers, and where will AI likely augment rather than replace jobs?
AI will likely function as a tool to augment human capabilities, with emphasis on maintaining human-centric skills, creativity, and problem-solving that machines can't replicate yet.
AI anxiety and fibbing about your religion for the greater good
Q: What sorts of guard rails and consent mechanisms exist for AI, and how can we protect ourselves from misuse?
Experts suggest stronger regulation, transparency of AI agents, and clear disclosure about when AI is being used, especially in sensitive contexts like health and education.
Can we reset the ragebait machine and how to get better rest
Q: Is switching off from social media a viable solution, or is a more systemic approach required?
Switching off helps individual wellbeing but won't solve the broader information ecosystem; a combination of personal media literacy and platform-level changes is needed to reduce incentives for outrage.
Can we reset the ragebait machine and how to get better rest
Q: What can individuals do to protect their energy and wellbeing in a world of rage bait?
Use practical strategies like rest (real rest, not fake rest), boost techniques (quick uplift activities), and protect techniques (boundary-setting and the yes-but approach) to manage energy across physical, mental, and emotional accounts.
Can we reset the ragebait machine and how to get better rest
Q: What makes anger such a powerful force in online discourse?
Anger taps into our threat-detection system and is amplified by platform incentives that reward engagement, leading to a cycle where extreme viewpoints get more attention and validation.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Life Matters

What is Life Matters about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This program covers a wide range of life topics with a strong emphasis on practical, evidence-based discussion. Episodes frequently explore relationships, health care access, aging and retirement, education, and social policy, often weaving in expert analyses with personal stories from listeners. A hallmark is the mix of deep-dive interviews with clinicians, researchers, and policy advocates alongside lighter, lively audience interactions in the aunties-style segments. The show stands out for its ability to connect public-interest issues (like privacy in renting, library funding, and health economics) to real-world experiences, making complex topics approachable for a broad audience. Potential listeners will likely find it valuable if they ... more

Where can I find podcast stats for Life Matters?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Life Matters. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Life Matters and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Life Matters get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for Life Matters, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for Life Matters?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for Life Matters, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does Life Matters have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Life Matters has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Life Matters?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Life Matters:

1. All In The Mind
2. Health Report
3. Conversations
4. What's That Rash?
5. Big Ideas

How many episodes of Life Matters are there?

Life Matters launched 21 years ago and published 1461 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Life Matters?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Life Matters?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Life Matters from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Life Matters?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of Life Matters. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on Life Matters?

Recent guests on Life Matters include:

1. Roger Wilkins
2. Neil Dalrymple
3. Louis Heath
4. Keith Miller
5. Dan Etheridge
6. Berto Pandolfo
7. Melanie Stoll
8. Jess Wilson

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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