The January 24 Edition
Welcome to our first edition of 2026. I have personally never been one for making new-year resolutions. I tell myself it’s because I don’t need the construct of a new calendar year to course-correct my bad habits and that it is better to take consistent action to better myself. But the truth is that I generally end up not doing anything particularly intentional at any point in the year on the self-improvement front. Amanda Hooton’s cover story makes it clear, though, that there is plenty of benefit to being more considered with our lifestyle choices, while Good Weekend deputy editor Konrad Marshall has put my new-year resolution philosophy to shame. He not only made and kept a vow to run every day for 365 days but also turned the experience into a book. We feature an extract in this issue. Also today, in our refreshed format, we debut a new column, Life Lessons, which aims to give sharp and smart solutions to some of our daily dilemmas, whether it’s how to survive a snake bite or how to better navigate our relationships. We step into the new year after a summer of turmoil. Let’s hope we can all find some community and calm in the year ahead. – Melissa Stevens, editor
You’re in your 40s and suddenly people you know are dying. What’s going on?
Welcome to your midlife (health) crisis.
- Amanda Hooton
My father first met Munjed Al Muderis in 2018. Here’s what happened next
Her father lost his leg below the knee as a young man. When a famous doctor promised him life-changing surgery, this journalist’s suspicions grew.
- Charlotte Grieve
I was 46 years old with sleep apnoea and deemed ‘obese’. I decided to run every day for a full year
When the goal is to hit the track every day for 12 months, it helps to have inspirational people to keep you motivated. So who better than resilience educator, podcaster and sprint evangelist Hugh van Cuylenburg?
- Konrad Marshall
- Two of Us
- Two of Us
‘Freaky’ 4am coincidence shows why these twins believe they have a psychic connection
Identical twins Vikki and Helena Moursellas, 37, were finalists on My Kitchen Rules in 2014, achieving fame with their clementine and clove semolina cake. They’ve since written three cookbooks together.
- Lenny Ann Low
- Dicey Topics
- Dicey Topics
‘Women can’t conduct, but she’s different’: The backhanded compliment still haunting Simone Young
The internationally lauded musical interpreter and teacher, 64, is the first woman in the history of the role to be chief conductor of the Sydney Symphony Orchestra.
- Benjamin Law
- How to
- Snakes
If you spot a snake in your yard, go inside and have a beer
Twenty of the 25 world’s most venomous snakes are native to Australia. Do you know what to do if you get bitten?
- Amanda Hooton
How I learned to stop worrying and love my signature shade
The trick, as always, is to know what suits you and then just wear it with confidence.
- Damien Woolnough
- Modern Guru
- Modern Guru
Is it OK to make use of my dead neighbour’s bins?
It must be really creepy for all the other neighbours, seeing a dead man’s bins mysteriously going in and out each week.
- Danny Katz
Sweet, smoky and spicy honey-glazed ribs
This two-step method ensures succulent, fall-off-the-bone barbecue ribs that are destined to become your go-to summer staple.
- 2 hrs +
- Danielle Alvarez
- Review
- Sydney
‘Beautiful technique’: This hyper-seasonal bistro earns two hats for Newtown’s south end
With key talent from Fred’s and Ester in the kitchen, South End is the kind of place you want to order a second bottle and all the desserts.
- Callan Boys
- Exclusive
- European
First look: Inside the sumptuous bistro that wants to shake up hotel dining
Designed by a big name, Coupette has an owner who’s “obsessed with hotels” and wants his venues to stop hotel guests walking out the door after they check in.
- Dani Valent
Test your general knowledge with the Good Weekend quiz
Trivia buffs: can you get a perfect score in the interactive superquiz?
Other editions
The March 21 edition
Stephanie Alexander and The Cook’s Companion at 30 | Free-diver Ant Williams | Debra Adelaide and Gabrielle Carey | How to deliver a baby on a plane
- 11 stories
The March 14 edition
The high-strung, low-key world champ who could become our most-capped swimmer | Ukraine’s world-leading robotics work | Filmmaking at -50C | Consoling a friend
- 13 stories