The XYZ Experiment

In this week's episode, Fiona and Darsh stir up a conversation about when they first learnt to cook. What they started with, who taught them, their favourite cook books, and how their relationship with cooking has changed over time.

Our Gen X, Fiona finds peace in the kitchen, loving the creativity of baking and crafting meals from scratch.

Meanwhile our Gen Y Darsh, admits it's more if a chore than a joy.

From childhood kitchen memor...

This week's episode gets personal. Fiona opens up about the heartbreak of almost losing her beloved dog, Suki - her soul dog and constant companion. She shares the fear, the tears, and the overwhelming love that surfaced as she and her family did everything they could to save her (spoiler alert: Suki made it through).

Darsh reflects on her own bond with her aging dog, Peduncle, and what it means to love and care for a pet who holds ...

This week, Gen Y Darsh reveals how her friendship catch-ups come with a plan - from planned agendas to voice memo updates in recurring chat groups.

Meanwhile, Gen X Fiona is amazed; her friendship catchups are random, spontaneous and unstructured.

Together they explore how different generations maintain connection, the rise of 'admin in friendship' and whether planning makes us closer as we navigate friendship maintenance in the age...

Dr Minto Felix is not a stranger to migration across borders. In this episode we hear his experience of the Gen Y rite of passage of working and studying in the UK. But Mintos story extends beyond the experience of work, to stories of self discovery and becoming.

Note: We apologise for the sound quality of this episode. Dr Minto was dialling in from the UK

Hosted by Darsh & Fiona

Produced by Fiona Kelly & Darsh Ayton

Show run...

This week, Fiona and Darsh sit down to explore what it really means to grow older.

From shifting priorities to letting go of things that once felt urgent, they ask: do we actually become more relaxed with age, or just more selective about what matters?

Join the conversation as our Gen X and Gen Y share their discoveries, wonderings, and the surprising ways perspective changes across generations.

Hosted by Darsh & Fiona

Produced b...

In this episode , Darsh and Luke delve into what lifelong learning means across the generations.

From school, to self education, career growth to personal passions, they explore how learning has shaped their lives and why it continues to matter.

They reflect on the role of curiosity, technology, and opportunity in keeping the mind open, and ask: is learning ever really finished?

Hosted by Darsh & Luke

Produced by Fiona Kelly &...

In this episode of The XYZ Experiment, Darsh and Luke dive into the foods that make them squirm.

From childhood experiences to cultural quirks, they share the stories behind why certain dishes give them the dreaded "ick".

Along the way, they explore whether eating is just about survival or if its something to savour - do we eat to live, or live to eat?

Join us for a fun, honest, and slightly gross conversation about food aversions, ta...

This week on The XYZ Experiment, we sit down with Dr Scarlett Howard (Head of the Integrative Cognition, Ecology and Bio-inspiration Research Group at the School of Biological Sciences) to explore the surprising intelligence of tiny insect brains.

Her current work focuses on bees and whether they can understand mathematical concepts like odd and even numbers - spoiler alert, they can!

How do miniature brains solve such complex probl...

This week, Luke (our resident Gen Z) is grappling with the harsh reality that his beloved 7year old iP{ad has hit its expiry date. No longer able to support the latest apps, it's sparked a bigger question: is it fair - or even ethical - that technology becomes obsolete so quickly?

From nostalgia for the vices we once loved to the environmental and financial cost of constant upgrades, we unpack what it means to live in a world where ...

Perfume is no longer just a luxury, it's a booming multibillion dollar industry, growing at record speeds.

In this episode, we explore the world of fragrance from a generational lens. We talk about perfumes and colognes we grew up with, the scents that defined our youth, and how a simple spray can transport us back in time.

Do we still wear perfume today? Why do some of us feel unfinished without a final spritz before we leave the ho...

In this episode of The XYZ Experiment, we sit down with Professor Greg Bamber from Monash University's Faculty of Business and Economics, to unpack the forces transforming our workplace.

From the different ways generations approach work (or if this Gen ideology is actually relevant), to the evolving role of unions, Professor Bamber offers insights grounded in decades of research and global experience.

We explore lessons from his boo...

In this episode of The XYZ Experiment, Darsh, Fiona & Luke, dive into the unsettling experience of learning the hidden truths behind beloved things—and how that knowledge can forever change your relationship with them. From the surprising origins of Monopoly as an anti-capitalist protest to the disillusionment of overanalysing sports and the heartbreak of discovering dark truths about admired artists, this conversation explores...

In this episode our guest Amelia and co-host Luke, dive into the Gen Z approach to travel and it's not about snapping selfies at landmarks (sorry Millennials!).

For Gen Z it is all about the experience. Whether it's slow travel, solo travel, or chasing the vibe in lesser known places, this generation is redefining what it means to explore the world.

Tune in to hear how they choose where to go, what they value most, and why 'authent...

In this episode, we hit the road and compare what it was like learning to drive, then versus now.

Our Gen X Fiona takes us back to the Wild West days of minimal supervision, dodgy cars and maximum freedom.

Meanwhile, our Gen Y Darsh shares what it's like navigating modern driving; think apps, anxious parents, log books and ages on learner's permits.

From manual gearboxes to automatic everything, we explore how getting your drivers ...

Why are we all so obsessed with true crime? In this episode Darch and Fiona dive into their love - or unease- with true crime podcasts and TV series.

From "Serial" to "Making a Murderer, we unpack what it is about crime stories that keep us up at night (and somehow help us fall asleep).

Do different generations consume true crime differently? Is it empowering, numbing, or just addictive content?

Tune in for a generational unpacking ...

Remember rushing home to catch your favourite show live? Gen X Fiona does.

In this episode we ask: Does anyone actually watch TV anymore? We explore how each generation consumes television - from appointment viewing and box sets to streaming, bingeing and endless YouTube rabbit holes.

Is sport the last thing keeping live TV alive? And are TikTok and Twitch becoming the new primetime?

Tune in as we scroll, click and stream our way thr...

Stress. Anxiety. Overwhelm.

In this candid conversation, our Gen X, Y and Z come together to share how they actually cope (or don't) with the pressure of modern life. From doom scrolling and deep breathing to counting backwards from 5 and using the alphabet, we explore what works - and what doesn't.

We unpack the strategies that help us deflect, distract and diffuse stress, and how our generational perspectives shape our responses t...

From the wilds of Tanzania to the western suburbs of Melbourne, Tara Crowe's life has been anything but ordinary.

In this episode , we follow Tara's journey through unexpected twists - geographical, emotional, and deeply personal. She's a woman who's rebuilt, rediscovered, and redefined herself more than once.

What drives a person to keep going, no matter what? And what happens when you finally find home - in yourself?

Tune in for ...

In this heartwarming episode, Darsh and Fiona explore the beautiful, complex, and often hilarious world of sisterhood.

As two women who grew up surrounded only by sisters, they reflect on what it means to be part of a sister tribe - through childhood squabbles, adult support systems, and lifelong friendship.

From WhatsApp light night chats to fierce loyalty and unshakeable bonds, this episode celebrates the joy of growing up with bu...