Life and Shares

We know that debt can be emotional. That sometimes it’s neutral. That debt is often necessary. And that debt has a long, long history. But what’s the future of debt? Will credit cards disappear from our lives? Will our concept of work itself change? In the context of a costly climate future, what are we going to have to let go of as a society? How do we need to adapt?

Hear from futurist and author Brett King and financial journalist Alan Kohler.

Life and Debt is a four-part series, hosted by The Ethics Centre’s Cris Parker. Hear from financial advisors, journalists, finfluencers, psychologists and historians about the psychology, the history, the marketing and the future of debt. Created by The Young Ambassadors in The Ethics Centre’s Banking and Finance Oath initiative. Our work is made possible by donations including the generous support of Ecstra Foundation - helping to build the financial wellbeing of Australians.

Let’s break down the jargon: starting with investor classifications.

Did you know that your level of wealth impacts how you can invest in the share market? In this episode, we hear from RMIT Associate Professor Chris Berg who thinks it’s “deeply unethical” that retail investors (‘mum and dad’ investors) don’t have access to the kind of products that rich people do and so are shut out of some of the most lucrative and risky investments... but accountants say there's a good reason for that.

We also learn about the murky areas of ‘ethical’ and ‘sustainable’ investing and how it differs from ‘responsible’ investing. If an Exchange Traded Fund (ETF) is labelled sustainable, is it irresponsible for it to have a large holding in a fossil fuel company? Is ESG reporting the best way to judge which companies are good to invest in?

Life and Shares is a four-part series that helps you understand the rules of the game so you can make informed decisions. This podcast is presented by The Ethics Centre, an independent not-for-profit that advocates for a more ethical society. Our work is made possible by donations including the generous support of Ecstra Foundation - helping to build the financial wellbeing of Australians.

A podcast series that takes a deep dive into debt, what role it has in our lives and how we can make better decisions about it.

Created by The Young Ambassadors in The Ethics Centre’s Banking and Finance Oath initiative. Our work is made possible by donations including the generous support of Ecstra Foundation - helping to build the financial wellbeing of Australians.

Debt as a concept can be unpalatable. It can mean mortgages, decades long contracts and a total loss of freedom. But for some people, debt isn’t synonymous with restriction and constraint; it’s an opportunity. But the way debt is sold to us influences the way we perceive it. And in the new world order of buy now pay later, how is the way debt is marketed to us shifting?

Hear from Finfluencer Natasha Etschmann, consumer psychologist Adam Ferrier, CEO of Financial Counselling Australia Fionia Guthrie and AFR reporter Jonathan Shapiro.

Life and Debt is a four-part series, hosted by The Ethics Centre’s Cris Parker. Hear from financial advisors, journalists, finfluencers, psychologists and historians about the psychology, the history, the marketing and the future of debt. Created by The Young Ambassadors in The Ethics Centre’s Banking and Finance Oath initiative. Our work is made possible by donations including the generous support of Ecstra Foundation - helping to build the financial wellbeing of Australians.

How we make decisions about debt is shaped by more than just numbers on a spreadsheet; our childhood experiences, values and beliefs play a huge role. What role does shame and guilt play in the decisions we make about debt?

Australians are obsessed with buying their own home - more so than anywhere else in the world. Why? And what does this mean for our level of debt?

Hear from financial services worker Jess Brady, CEO of Financial Counselling Australia Fiona Guthrie, social researcher Rebecca Huntley and behavioural scientist Nathalie Spencer.

Life and Debt is a four-part series, hosted by The Ethics Centre’s Cris Parker. Hear from financial advisors, journalists, finfluencers, psychologists and historians about the psychology, the history, the marketing and the future of debt. Created by The Young Ambassadors in The Ethics Centre’s Banking and Finance Oath initiative. Our work is made possible by donations including the generous support of Ecstra Foundation - helping to build the financial wellbeing of Australians.