The XYZ Experiment

The XYZ Experiment

by Fiona, Darsh & Luke

Society & Culture

Season 9

Ep161: Cake: A Love Story Across The Years

Chocolate, lemon, sponge or a traditional Sri Lankan fruit cake — when it comes to cake, we all have our favourites. But have our tastes changed as we've grown older? This week on The XYZ Experiment, Darsh and Fiona take a delicious trip down memory lane, reminiscing about childhood birthday cakes, homemade treats and the cakes that make special occasions even more special. Darsh shares how a traditional Sri Lankan fruit cake she wasn't particularly fond of as a child has become something she now loves, while Fiona remembers the birthday cakes of her childhood and how her tastes have evolved over the years. From rich chocolate cakes to lighter lemon and sponge creations, one thing is clear: our tastes might change with age, but our love of cake never really goes away! So grab yourself a slice, put the kettle on and join us for a sweet conversation about cake, childhood memories and the traditions we carry through life. And what's your all-time favourite cake? Is it the same one you loved as a child? Hosted by Darsh & Fiona Produced by Fiona Kelly & Darsh Ayton Show runner Darsh Ayton Original music created and performed by Luke Champion Social media content created by Darsh Ayton & Fiona Kelly

Ep160: Do We Still Need to Know How to Do Things?

Once upon a time, we memorised phone numbers, read maps, did sums in our heads and figured out how to fix things ourselves. We cooked from memory, wrote things down by hand and, if we got lost, there was no little blue dot to rescue us. But now we have Google, GPS, YouTube and AI at our fingertips. So… do we actually need to know how to do things anymore? In this episode of The XYZ Experiment, Darsh and Fiona look at the everyday skills and knowledge that may be disappearing across the generations. From changing a tyre and mental arithmetic to handwriting, cooking without a recipe and remembering a phone number, we ask: have we become too reliant on technology—or has technology simply changed what it means to be knowledgeable? And perhaps the bigger question: if Google and AI can give us the answer in seconds, what is actually worth knowing for ourselves? Hosted by Darsh & Fiona Produced by Fiona Kelly & Darsh Ayton Show runner Darsh Ayton Original music created and performed by Luke Champion Social media content created by Darsh Ayton & Fiona Kelly

Ep159: What 20 Years of Research Tells Us About Young People

What can 20 years of asking young Australians about sex, drugs, relationships and health tell us about how generations are changing? This week on The XYZ Experiment, we’re joined by Associate Professor Megan Lim from the Burnet Institute, whose research has spent two decades doing something incredibly important: actually listening to young people. It all began with the brilliantly named Sex, Drugs and Rock ’n’ Roll survey, with researchers heading to the Big Day Out to find out what young Australians were really doing, thinking and experiencing. Today, that research has moved online and continues to capture how young people’s lives, behaviours and attitudes are evolving. Megan takes us through what has changed across the generations—and what hasn’t. Are Gen Z really drinking less? Are they using more drugs? How have dating, relationships and ideas around gender changed? And what does the rise of vaping tell us about the health challenges facing young people today? We also explore the assumptions older generations make about young people, the trends that give Megan hope, the ones that concern her, and why giving young people a genuine voice in research and policy matters. This is a fascinating snapshot of young Australia—and what the data tells us when we stop assuming and start listening. Hosted by Darsh, Luke & Fiona Produced by Fiona Kelly & Darsh Ayton Show runner Darsh Ayton Original music created and performed by Luke Champion Social media content created by Darsh Ayton & Fiona Kelly

158: Please Don't Remake That! Are Some Stories Sacred?

Why does Hollywood keep bringing back the same movies, TV shows, characters and franchises? And more importantly, do we actually want them to? This week on The XYZ Experiment, we’re talking remakes, reboots, sequels and the stories that apparently refuse to stay finished. Are there some movies and TV shows that are so iconic they should simply be left alone? Or do new generations deserve the chance to discover these stories with new actors, new technology and a fresh perspective? Maybe the reason we keep returning to certain characters and worlds is because the original stories really were that good. Or perhaps nostalgia has become such a powerful force that we’d rather revisit something familiar than take a chance on something new. From the remakes that surprised us to the ones we wish had never happened, Gen X, Gen Y and Gen Z ask: when does reinventing a classic breathe new life into it—and when should we just leave well enough alone? Hosted by Darsh, Luke & Fiona Produced by Fiona Kelly & Darsh Ayton Show runner Darsh Ayton Original music created and performed by Luke Champion Social media content created by Darsh Ayton & Fiona Kelly

Ep157: Eat. Sleep. Move. What Does the Science Actually Say?

What does being “healthy” actually mean — and with so much advice coming at us from social media, are we making it more complicated than it needs to be? This week on The XYZ Experiment, we’re joined by Dr Fran Alves, an early-career dementia researcher at The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, and a passionate advocate for understanding the science behind the way we eat, sleep and move. Fran’s research journey began with muscle wasting before taking her into the world of neurodegeneration and Alzheimer’s disease. We talk about what happens to the way our brains and bodies use energy as we age, what her laboratory research could mean for the future diagnosis and treatment of dementia, and why our everyday lifestyle choices matter. But Fran doesn’t just study health — she loves living it. We get into exercise, the current obsession with high-protein diets, sleep, food, fitness and the overwhelming amount of health advice filling our social media feeds. And how do we separate good science from the latest wellness trend? And because this is The XYZ Experiment, there’s plenty of life beyond the laboratory too — including Fran’s love of her dogs and, of course, the all-important question: what’s the most Gen Y thing about her? It’s a conversation about ageing well, staying strong and understanding what the science really says about looking after our brains and bodies — without getting lost in all the noise. Hosted by Darsh, Luke & Fiona Produced by Fiona Kelly & Darsh Ayton Show runner Darsh Ayton Original music created and performed by Luke Champion Social media content created by Darsh Ayton & Fiona Kelly

Ep156: Your Childhood Bedroom: Is it Still Your Room?

This week on The XYZ Experiment, we’re opening the door to a very personal piece of our past — our childhood bedrooms. What did your room look like growing up? Were the walls covered in posters? Did you choose the paint, rearrange the furniture constantly, or have absolutely no say in how it looked? And what were the treasured possessions that made that little space feel completely yours? For many of us, our childhood bedroom was the first place we got to express who we were or who we thought we were becoming. It was where we listened to music, studied, daydreamed, fought with our siblings, talked to friends for hours and occasionally slammed the door on our parents. But what happens to that room when we grow up and leave? Does your childhood bedroom still exist? Do your parents still refer to it as “your room” decades later? Has it become a guest room, an office or somewhere to store all the things nobody knows what to do with? And when you walk back into it as an adult, does it still somehow feel like yours? Fiona, Darsh and Luke look back at the bedrooms they grew up in, what those spaces meant to them then, and how it feels to return to them now. Because you may have moved out years ago…but somehow, it can still be your room. Hosted by Darsh, Luke & Fiona Produced by Fiona Kelly & Darsh Ayton Show runner Darsh Ayton Original music created and performed by Luke Champion Social media content created by Darsh Ayton & Fiona Kelly

Ep155: Who Do You Turn to For Life Advice?

Who are the people you turn to when you need advice, perspective or a push in the right direction? This week on The XYZ Experiment, we're talking about mentors - who are they, where we find them and the impact they can have on our lives. We explore what being a mentor actually means. It doesn't have to be a formal relationship or someone who has all the answers. Sometimes it's simply someone who sees something in you that you haven't quite seen in yourself. Hosted by Darsh & Luke Produced by Fiona Kelly & Darsh Ayton Show runner Darsh Ayton Original music created and performed by Luke Champion Social media content created by Darsh Ayton & Fiona Kelly

154: The Future of Heart Health

Heart disease remains one of Australia's biggest health challenges — but how much of it could actually be prevented? This week on The XYZ Experiment, we welcome back Susie Cartledge, Senior Research Fellow at Monash University and Clinical Nurse Consultant at Alfred Health, to talk about heart health, prevention and the changing way we deliver cardiac care. Susie takes us through the risk factors for heart disease that we can actually do something about and explains why cardiac rehabilitation can make such a difference after a cardiac event — yet so many people who are referred never attend. We also explore whether telehealth and hybrid models could make cardiac care more accessible, challenge the assumption that older generations can't or won't engage with digital healthcare, and look at what needs to change to ensure technology doesn't leave people behind. Don't miss this riveting and important episode. Hosted by Darsh & Luke Produced by Fiona Kelly & Darsh Ayton Show runner Darsh Ayton Original music created and performed by Luke Champion Social media content created by Darsh Ayton & Fiona Kelly

Ep153: Necessity or Luxury: What's Worth Spending Money On?

What do you happily spend money on — and what do you refuse to splurge on? This week on The XYZ Experiment, Gen X, Gen Y and Gen Z talk about the choices we make with our money. What does each generation consider a necessity? What feels like a luxury? And where do those things fit when you’re trying to stick to a budget? We compare the things we’re willing to spend more on, the things we’ll happily go without, and the little rules that can help us decide before we buy — including the 24-hour rule and the 8-8-8 approach. Because budgeting isn’t just about numbers. It’s also about priorities. What feels essential to one person might seem like a complete luxury to someone else. So, what’s worth spending your money on? Three generations. Three different perspectives. Come and join the conversation. Hosted by Darsh, Luke & Fiona Produced by Fiona Kelly & Darsh Ayton Show runner Darsh Ayton Original music created and performed by Luke Champion Social media content created by Darsh Ayton & Fiona Kelly

Season 8

Ep152: Why Do We Keep Re-Reading the Same Books?

Whilst we're on holiday we are revisiting some of our favourite episodes. This week it's Luke's choice and he is taking us back to Episode 101. In this episode we explore the age-old question that every book lover has asked themselves: "Why do we keep rereading the same books?" Whether it's the comfort of familiar characters, the thrill of uncovering hidden layers, or simply a nostalgic escape, we are exploring what makes a story worth returning to time and time again. Join us as we chat about the nostalgia, the emotional connections, and the surprising revelations that come with a second (or third) look at the books that have shaped us. We will share personal stories, debate the pros and cons of returning to old favourites, and ask you, our listeners, to weigh in on your own rereading rituals. Grab your well-worn copies or charge up the kindle, settle in and let's uncover why some stories just never say goodbye. Hosted by Darsh, Luke & Fiona Produced by Fiona Kelly & Darsh Ayton Show runner Darsh Ayton Original music created and performed by Luke Champion Social media content created by Darsh Ayton & Fiona Kelly

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