Life Matters - Full program podcast

• When to stop being a bystander, and can AI make you laugh?

  Being an active bystander - that is, speaking up or intervening in the face of injustice - feels like the right thing to do when you see something you disagree with. But it doesn't always go to plan, and your best intentions can backfire. There's new analysis suggesting that, in schools at least, encouraging kids to intervene isn't always helpful. So how are you meant to know when it's the right time to stop being a bystander and step up? Dr Karyn Healy is an Honorary Principal Research Fellow at the Parenting and Family Support Centre at the University of Queensland and Dr Vicki Webster is an organisational psychologist with a focus on the workplace and executive team.Artificial intelligence may be a lot of things ... chatbot, digital assistant... but can it be funny? An Australian researcher is trying to work out whether AI robots can do stand-up comedy. Not necessarily write jokes... but deliver a comedy routine that leaves people in stitches.So, do you think AI could make you laugh? Dr Robert Walton is a Research Fellow, Faculty of Fine Arts and Music, University of Melbourne and Nicolette Minster is a comedian and writer.We're asking your favourite Australians about their relationship with money in our series My Two Cents. So, is it raining cash in ABC weather presenter Nate Byrne's world?

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• Life under Australia's social media ban, and how to enjoy smooth holiday travel

  In under 24 hours, the internet will look very different.  Nationwide, anyone under 16 will be locked out of social media. Facebook, Snapchat, TikTok, Instagram, X, Reddit, YouTube - all off-limits. If you're not yet 16, you'll be waiting until your birthday to log back in. Julie Inman Grant is Australian eSafety Commissioner.Many parents have voiced support for Australia's social media ban for under 16s - but that doesn't mean it will be an easy transition. In fact, experts say it will mean a pretty solid adjustment for families, and a lot to navigate.  Professor Alina Morawska is a Parenting and Family Support Centre at UQ's School of Psychology and Cam Wilson is Tech Reporter at Crikey.You've been gearing up for a holiday all year... and now the day is finally here. The tickets are booked, bags are packed, you've even picked out your outfit for the plane. Psychologist Christine Bagley-Jones discusses how to manage different expectations of your holiday.

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• The future of Aussie libraries, and using AI to get closer to God

  Whether it's the big flashy state library in your capital city, or the humble one in your suburb, the role of a library is stretching to meet demand for its free programs and resources. That evolution hasn't come without friction, so in modern Australia, who, and what, are our libraries really for? Cathie Warburton is CEO of The Australian Library and Information Association, and Dr Heather Robinson is Research Associate at Flinders University and author of Beyond the books: Culture, value, and why libraries matter.More and more people are turning to AI for spiritual support, by using bots for religious worship and guidance. They're known as "faith bots" and there's one for pretty much every belief. Christians can use Text Jesus. There's a virtual Islamic Scholar called Sheikh GPT. And Gita GPT allows you to exchange messages with the Hindu god Krishna. So, can AI help you become closer to God? Can it strengthen your faith? Dr Rosemary Hancock is a Senior lecturer and Convener of the Religion, Culture and Society Research Focus Area, at the University of Notre Dame and Venerable Dr JueWei, is Head of program of applied Buddhist studies and humanistic Buddhism at Nan Tien Institute.It's a time to eat, drink, and be merry. But for Australians struggling with - or recovering from - addiction, holiday gatherings can become a test of willpower. An addiction specialist shares his first Christmas off the booze.  Benn Veenker is Manager of Lived Experience at Turning Point.

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• Parenting with Dr Billy Garvey, and dealing with an in-law culture clash

  Developmental paediatrician Dr Billy Garvey says behavioural and emotional difficulties are the number one reason parents come to see him. But, Dr Billy says parents can learn to respond to challenging behaviour in a way that works for both them and their kids.What do you do when it feels like you and your in-laws speak different languages when it comes to parenting? And the situation is heightened when your mother-in-law moves in to offer emergency childcare? Aunties Bridie Jabour, author, journalist and associate editor at Guardian Australia and James Colley, head writer for ABC's Gruen, offer their insights.

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• The mystery behind our country's empty houses, and could price tag changes get us to eat more veggies?

  New research claims that the number of empty dwellings across Melbourne has risen dramatically... from more than 27,000 in 2023 to nearly 32,000 in 2024. And across the country ... experimental ABS data suggests that up to 140,000 dwellings are sitting vacant. So, why would houses, apartments, and blocks of land be left sitting empty? And is there a way to utilise these properties to address Australia's housing crisis? Rayna Fahey is Director of Advocacy, Prosper Australia and Dr Michael Fotheringham is CEO of the Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute.Only around one in twenty Australians eat enough fruit and veggies. The rest of us are falling way short of where we need to be. Price is a common complaint, but is fresh produce really that expensive? A Monash study has looked at the perception of prices of fresh produce - and found that displaying a cost-per-serving on the ticket induces shoppers buy more vegetables. Fiona Newton is an Associate Professor and consumer psychology expert at Monash Business School and Jane Martin is Executive Manager of the Food for Health Alliance.You've got dinner plans with a group of friends, and you've been looking forward to it for weeks. But in the days -or hours- leading to the catch-up... you get one... maybe several texts. Sorry, I can't make it. Sorry, work has been insane this week. Sorry. Sorry. Sorry. So, are we flakier than we used to be? Dan Woodman is a Professor of Sociology at University of Melbourne.

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