The Imperfects

Dr Paul Callaghan - How To Follow The Dreaming Path

This Academy of Imperfection is a little different. As Hugh explains in the opener, this episode actually IS more like a lecture. But trust us, that’s a good thing. Dr Paul Callaghan has a lot of wisdom to share that he's accrued over a lifetime of wins, losses and even a near death experience that changed his life forever. As an Aboriginal man, much of Paul's wisdom has come from his experience on The Dreaming Path, which also happens to be the title of the book he’s co-written with his friend and Aboriginal elder, Uncle Paul Gordon. This book is one of the most impactful books we've ever read. Some might assume that aboriginal lore from tens of thousands of years ago would be irrelevant in today’s world. Faaaaar from it. Dr Paul Callaghan and Uncle Paul Gordon wrote this book for all of us, so after you finish this episode, pick up a copy at your local bookstore, and then, let’s all go bush with Paul!   To purchase The Dreaming Path, Indigenous Thinking To Change Your Life, by Dr Paul Callaghan and Uncle Paul Gordon, follow this link: https://bit.ly/3SLD0V4

We Need to Talk... Again - Hugh, Ryan & Josh have a chat

B-B-B-BONUS EP!!! A-A-A-AGAIN!!! Every now and then, Hugh, Ryan and Josh like to get together and chat about their own imperfections that they’ve been dealing with recently. This is one of those episodes. Hugh talks about “life seasons”, Ryan explains why European holidays aren’t always as perfect as they appear, and Josh talks about watching Morning Wars with Jennifer Anniston.    To read Hugh’s recommendation of Kimberly Gillan’s article in the Age, ‘Are You In Tune With Your Life Season’, follow this link: https://bit.ly/3Q6o4iC

Dr Emily - You Are Not Your Emotions

She’s back again! Our very own psychologist, Dr Emily! In this emisode, Dr Emily reflects on a very moving chat we had with comedian Steen Raskopoulos.  She talks with Hugh, Ryan and Josh about the concept of Emotional Awareness, and explains why it’s not only important to identify your unpleasant emotions, but why it's even more important to express them when they arise. Oh, Hugh and tells us about going to Bondi.   For book recommendation Atlas of The Heart by Brene Brown, follow this link: https://bit.ly/3zmHW9Y For Susan David’s Ted Talk, The Gift and Power of Emotional Courage, follow this link: https://bit.ly/3OQvFAm To learn more about Matthew Lieberman’s study on ‘affect labelling’, (putting emotions into words) and its impact on our negative emotional experience, follow this link: https://bit.ly/3PQrUMO To learn more about Dr Dan Siegel’s research into ‘mindsight’ and how we can ‘name and tame’ emotions, follow this link: https://bit.ly/3Q8PLqM To learn more about The Resilience Project’s Journals, follow this link: https://bit.ly/3cSVItf For app recommendation Day One, follow this link: https://dayoneapp.com/ The Imperfects is not a licensed mental health service and is not a substitute for professional mental health advice, treatment or assessment. The advice given in this episode is general in nature, but if you’re struggling, please see a health care professional, or call lifeline on 13 11 14.

Steen Raskopoulos (REPEAT - but with new intro!)

Okay, so we're dabbling with repeat episodes because we've taken a week off. But we have recorded a new intro bit so there ya go, at least there's SOME new stuff! This episode with comedian Steen Raskopoulos is not only one of our favourite episodes, but it's also the subject of next week's emisode with Dr Emily - which we can't wait for! So yeah, back to regular, imperfect programming next week!   To listen to Steen’s podcast, Congrats On The New, please follow this link: https://apple.co/3yUjhtc To listen to Ryan on Steen’s podcast, please follow link: https://apple.co/3cyEC3Y

Michelle Brasier - The Case For Optimism

Maybe you know Michelle Brasier from Aunty Donna. Or maybe from Shaun Micallef’s Mad as Hell. Or maybe she’s made you laugh (or cry) in any number of things she’s done on the stage and screen over the years.  Or maybe you don’t her……… YET! Michelle Brasier is a singer, actor, writer and comedian who - as you’ll hear in this Vulnerabilitea House - has overcome multiple adversities since a young age. But despite the challenges, she still firmly believes in the practice of optimism. And after selecting the card, “Are you more of an optimist or a pessimist?”, Michelle explains why optimism is such an important part of her life. Thanks Michelle - you are a breath of fresh air!   To see when and where Michelle is performing next, follow this link: https://www.michellebrasier.com/tour To listen to the soundtrack from the movie Once, follow this link: https://spoti.fi/3Rmckd0 Parting Glass by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Artist: http://audionautix.com/

Martin "Rac" Heppell - The other F word... FAILURE

We all fail. All of us. Why? Because we’re all imperfect. And no one talks about failure more passionately than The Resilience Project’s own Martin “Rac” Heppell. And he’s today’s guest lecturer in The Academy of Imperfection. Some of you may remember Rac’s first memorable appearance in The Vulnerabilitea House last season. If you haven’t heard it, we know you’ll want to listen (or re-listen) after this one - link below. Failure, the other F word, is something we don’t like to talk about. It’s embarrassing. And sometimes it’s shameful. But as Martin explains, it’s important that we DO talk about failure. Because failure isn’t just normal… it’s crucial for our growth. Feel like a rev up? This ep’s for you. Rac’s back, baby… RAC’S BACK. ALSO… here’s some extra info about Rac that’ll be helpful before listening to the ep: - When Rac was a kid, his family spent some time living with a head-hunting tribe (there’s more on this in Rac’s first episode from last season) - Between 1993 and 1995, Rac played 7 senior AFL games for St Kilda and Melbourne - Rac works with The Resilience Project as one of their main Speakers, spending the majority of his time at schools, helping kids around Australia. To listen to our previous episode with Rac, follow this link: https://apple.co/3xWoKPy

Libby Trickett - When is Enough, Enough?

Australia has had a LOT of success in the Olympic Swimming Pool. That’s an understatement. But one of our most successful and loved Olympians of recent times is golden girl, Libby Trickett. During her successful swimming career Libby was all smiles after winning gold medal after gold medal at three consecutive Olympic Games, but as she shares in this episode, on the inside she was struggling with a powerful feeling that she wasn’t enough. Libby tells us all about what that was like, as well as sharing her more recent struggles with motherhood, and how both have led to bouts of depression and anxiety. Libby displays extreme vulnerability in this episode - more of which is in her new book, Beneath the Surface. Thank you Libby.   To listen to Libby’s podcast, All The Glitters, buy her book “Beneath The Surface, or learn more about her business “Unlocking Her Potential”, please follow this link: https://linktr.ee/libby_trickett For book recommendation “A New Earth” by Eckhart Tolle, please follow this link: https://bit.ly/2ylEihJ To listen to the Oprah’s Super Soul Conversation podcast with Eckhart Tolle, please follow this link: https://apple.co/3ub2Nvl For book recommendation Atomic Habits by James Clear, please follow this link: https://bit.ly/2CbKTNL

Dr Emily - The (pesky) Hedonistic Treadmill

Dr Emily is back to help us all!   Reflecting on our episode with Olympic BMX rider, Sam Willoughby from Season 2, Dr Emily talks us through the dangers of the Hedonistic Treadmill, and its slightly lesser known cousin, Hedonistic Adaptation.   There’s a lot covered in this episode, including ‘Growth Mindset’, being mindful of what we want and why, and how quickly we actually adapt to finally getting those things we want.   For book recommendation Hardwiring Happiness by Rick Hanson, please follow this link: https://bit.ly/3tTaRjU For book recommendation The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin, follow this link: https://bit.ly/3tT6e9E To watch Carol Dwecks Ted Talk, please follow this link: https://bit.ly/3OydHTz Reference for Sonja Lyubomrisky’s stats for the determinants of happiness: https://bit.ly/3xPDSy6 The Imperfects is not a licensed mental health service and is not a substitute for professional mental health advice, treatment or assessment. The advice given in this episode is general in nature, but if you’re struggling, please see a health care professional, or call lifeline on 13 11 14.

Glenn Robbins - Listening to the Voice in Your Head

For over 30 years, Glenn Robbins has been one of the funniest and most loved performers in Australia. From The Comedy Company and Kath & Kim, to The Panel and of course Russell Coight, Glenn has guaranteed his spot in the comedy history books.   But Glenn hasn’t always seen it that way. From a young age he was told he was "average", and despite his many successes, has dealt with a lifetime of performance anxiety.   In this edition of The Vulnerabilitea House, Glenn opens up and tells us how he manages to ignore the 'bad voice' in his head that tells him he's not good enough, and instead listen to the ‘good voice’, so he can face his fears and make good work he's proud of.   We highly encourage you to listen to this episode - especially while power-walking through the suburbs with a set of hand weights.   To listen to Glenn’s podcast with Dave O’Neil, click this link: https://apple.co/3O41PZv To watch Shane Warne on The Panel, click this link: https://bit.ly/39DB1R0 Book recommendation Before & Laughter by Jimmy Carr can be found here: https://amzn.to/3y3Xss7 Book recommendation From Strength To Strength by Arthur C Brooks can be found here: https://amzn.to/3OqJQfS

Lael Stone - Creating Emotionally Intelligent Humans

In the words of her own child, Lael Stone “works for the kids”. But while Lael is technically a therapist who supports parents in understanding their children, everything Lael talks about in this edition of The Academy of Imperfection could easily be applied to all of us in understanding the people in our lives - no matter what age. Whether that be our friends, parents, colleagues or even ourselves. Through her work, Lael helps adults process their own childhood trauma, and creates education systems that value emotional awareness, demonstrating why it all comes back to connection and compassion. Oh, and listen out for the dramatic moment when Ryan swoops in and inadvertently steals Josh’s “Good Question” (patent pending).   To learn more about Lael’s work please visit her website at: https://laelstone.com.au/ To watch Lael’s Ted Talk please follow this link: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=6fL09e8Tm9c&feature=emb_imp_woyt To learn more about Lael’s school please follow this link: https://woodlineprimary.com.au/ To watch It’s Not About The Nail, please follow this link: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=-4EDhdAHrOg

Harry Garside - A Boxer Who Dares To Be Different

Harry Garside is an Australian boxer who won bronze at the Tokyo Olympics - the first Olympic medal in boxing for Australia in 33 years. But to simply describe Harry Garside as a champion boxer, would be to sell him waaaaaaay short. Because Harry is also a ballet dancer, a plumber and the guy who asked to wear a dress at the Olympic Opening Ceremony with the desire of defying gender stereotypes (request denied).   To listen to the podcast with Deeyah Khan that Harry recommends, please follow the link https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=-kunkEfHiLI

Dr Emily - Truth vs Harmony

In this Emisode, Dr Emily returns to talk about a topic that is VERRRRRY close to the bones of Ryan, Hugh and Josh. The ongoing battle of Truth vs Harmony. Does that ring any bells for you? Do you choose to live truthfully? Or harmoniously? And what does that even mean? What’s the difference? And how do living ‘truthfully’ or ‘harmoniously’ affect us and the people around us? Dr Emily goes into all of it.   In this episode, Dr Emily references conversations from Hamish Blake's episode and our last bonus episode. To listen to those, follow the links below: Hamish Blake's episode: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/hamish-blake-lets-talk-about-self-doubt/id1476501557?i=1000555382728 Bonus episode: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/we-need-to-talk-hugh-checks-in-with-ryan-josh-after-a-big-month/id1476501557?i=1000556568682 Dr Emily also references Rick Hanson, to follow his work visit: www.rickhanson.net   If you have experienced, or are at risk of domestic and family violence and/or sexual assault, you can call the 24 hour national counselling service 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732). In an emergency, or if you are not feeling safe, always call the police on 000. - https://www.1800respect.org.au/services The Imperfects is not a licensed mental health service and is not a substitute for professional mental health advice, treatment or assessment. The advice given in this episode is general in nature, but if you’re struggling, please see a health care professional, or call lifeline on 13 11 14.

Max Gawn - The Comment That Changed Everything

Big episode. HUGE episode in fact. Especially for Ryan. Ryan has been a long-suffering/recent-celebrating supporter of the Melbourne Demons his entire life. And today, Premiership captain of the Dees, Max Gawn is in The Vulnerabilitea House. Ryan. Breathe. Max tells Hugh, Ryan and Josh about a courageous comment made by one of the players in a team meeting that addressed the negative way players were speaking to each other. The comment cut deep - not only for Max who felt shame for his own behaviour, but one that lead to greater connection, trust and respect between the players, and ultimately to their lifelong dream of an AFL Premiership (the greatest, most joyous day for their fans). Once again… breathe, Ryan. For more information on Active-Constructive Communication, start here… [https://positivepsychology.com/active-constructive-communication/](https://positivepsychology.com/active-constructive-communication/)

Tarang Chawla - Men Talking About Men’s Violence

We seriously hope you listen to this one. I mean, obviously we hope you listen to all our episodes but THIS ONE... well, we reckon this one’s important. Tarang Chawla’s younger sister Niki was the kindest person he knew. But in 2015, Niki was murdered by her partner who she was trying to break up with, as a result of domestic violence. Since then, Tarang has become an activist against men’s violence, educating all Australians on the many forms of abuse and its role in the mental health crisis. But as Tarang explains, “abuse” is often not what we think. In this Academy of Imperfection, guest lecturer Tarang Chawla talks with Hugh, Ryan and Josh about the many forms of abuse, violence, coercive control, gender inequality, and how we can all play a part in a safer future and why that’s so important for all of us. If you have experienced or are at risk of domestic and family violence and/or sexual assault, you can call the 24 hour national counselling service 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732). In an emergency, or if you are not feeling safe, always call the police on 000 To listen to Tarang's podcast, "There's No Place Like Home" please follow the link below: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/theres-no-place-like-home-by-future-women/id1608086343

Narelda Jacobs - Being True To You

You might think that TV journalist and proud indigenous woman Narelda Jacobs has a perfect life. She’s the co-host of Studio 10, makes regular appearances on The Project, she’s a three-time host of the Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras, and she’s... done lots of other things that are also on her Wikipedia page. But like all of us, Narelda’s life has been far from perfect. I mean come on guys, we’re all imperfect, surely you’ve learnt that by now! In this episode, Narelda talks openly about the challenges of falling pregnant as an 18-year-old... and then having to tell her parents. This would be hard for anyone, but Narelda grew up in an extremely religious household and her father was a Reverend of the Uniting Church. But that turned out to be a mere warm up for what was to come three years later, when she came out to her parents as gay. We loved this chat with Narelda. And well, we love Narelda. We’re sure you will too.

Dr Emily - Managing a Panic Attack

Welcome back to Dr Emily, our very own... PSYCHOLOGIST! Reflecting on the recent episode with Luke McGregor, in this episode Dr Emily talks about panic attacks. What are they? Why do we get them? And what do we do when they show up and scare the hell out of us? Thanks Dr Em To find out more about by Russ Harris, The Happiness Trap and his work as an Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Trainer visit; https://www.actmindfully.com.au/ The Imperfects is not a licensed mental health service and is not a substitute for professional mental health advice, treatment or assessment. The advice given in this episode is general in nature, but if you’re struggling, please see a health care professional, or call lifeline on 13 11 14.

Oliver Twist - Where is Home?

Originally from Rwanda, stand-up comedian Oliver Twist spent 14 years in a Malawi refugee camp before finally arriving in Ipswich, Queensland with his family. In this Vulnerabilitea House, Oliver answers the question, “Where is home for you?” - a simple question for some, but a complicated one for Oliver. Oliver shares stories from his extraordinarily imperfect life in great detail. Everything from being displaced by the Rwandan Genocide, to living in the refugee camp, and eventually seeing Trevor Noah perform stand-up comedy on the internet. And, thanks to ANOTHER “good question” from Josh, Oliver reflects on what his Australian citizenship actually means to him. Oliver Twist’s incredible live shows, Jali and Griot, are still touring in select cities. You can find tickets on the link below: https://www.livenation.com.au/artist-oliver-twist-1340595

Kemi Nekvapil - How to Live a Life Without Apology

Okay, so get this...not only is Kemi Nekvapil an author, speaker and coach, but she was trained by Brené Brown. Yuh. THE Brené Brown. As an author, Kemi has written a new book that you must read. It’s called ‘POWER: A woman’s guide to living and leading without apology’. And in our imperfect opinion, as 3 NON-women, it’s exactly what we all need right now. In this edition of The Academy of Imperfection, Kemi shares her childhood experience living in foster care - being moved between 5 different families across England - and how it’s shaped her as the powerful woman she is today. Kemi then takes us through her interpretation of POWER - which happens to be a very convenient acronym... - Presence to understand what is and isn’t working in our lives. - Ownership of our personal narratives, especially our power stories. - Wisdom about our needs, boundaries and growth. - Equality as part of the diverse human family, all of us worthy. - Responsibility for our choices, healing and happiness. https://www.keminekvapil.com

Luke McGregor - Being Funny And Having Panic Attacks

Like all of us, Luke McGregor is imperfect. From his challenging childhood at home and school, to his crippling panic attacks on stage as a stand-up comedian, Luke generously shares some of the many stories from his imperfect life with us and of course with you. A lot gets covered here, including Luke’s ongoing battles with OCD and why he eventually turned to professional comedy after trying a handful of other careers first. But also, as you’d expect, Luke’s hilarious in this ep so please put your Giggle Hat on. Wait, you DO have a Giggle Hat don’t you?!?!

We Need to Talk - Hugh checks in with Ryan & Josh after a big month

B-B-B-BONUS EP!!! After what has been a very vulnerable month for The Imperfects, Hugh wanted to check in with Ryan and Josh to see how they’re feeling after some “big shares” in the first 4 episodes of the season. Firstly, Ryan reflects on how he’s feeling after revealing his worries around the supposed “love triangle” with Hugh and Hamish during Hamish’s Vulnerabilitea House episode. Then Josh talks about his self-doubt surrounding his role on the podcast, and of course where he’s at with his internet use since bravely sharing addiction with the group during the Johann Hari episode. We’ll be back to normal programming next episode with Luke McGregor, but until then, this episode’s all about us!

Introducing Dr Emily… PSYCHOLOGIST!!!

Please welcome the newest member of The Imperfects family... our resident psychologist, Dr Emily! Dr Emily recently joined The Imperfects behind the scenes, ensuring our episodes are released with care, compassion and professionalism. This season however, Hugh, Ryan and Josh begged Dr Emily to bring her knowledge directly to you with her very own regular episodes! Each month she will join Hugh, Ryan and Josh and bring in something from The Imperfects archives, to then give general advice and information based on the stories and themes from the episode. In this debut ‘Emisode’, Dr Emily discusses the final episode of 2021; “Georgia & Hugh”. If you haven’t heard that incredibly moving episode, you could listen to that first, but you’ll definitely be able to follow along if you haven’t heard it. Here’s a link to that ep just in case... https://apple.co/35xOmbs And here’s a link to the book by Oprah and Dr Bruce Perry mentioned by Dr Emily: https://bit.ly/3u1y1VV The Imperfects is not a licensed mental health service and is not a substitute for professional mental health advice, treatment or assessment. The advice given in this episode is general in nature, but if you’re struggling, please see a health care professional, or call lifeline on 13 11 14.

Hamish Blake - Let's Talk About Self-Doubt

Hamish Blake is a very funny man. No surprises there. But as it turns out, Hamish Blake is also a man who experiences self-doubt. Hmm, SOME surprises there! And as the latest guest in The Vulnerabilitea House, Hamish tells Hugh, Ryan and Josh about the self-doubt he’s experienced while performing on TV, even after doing it for almost 20 years. Whether it be during one of his many appearances on panel shows, or even while standing in front of the contestants on his first day as host of Lego Masters. Later in the ep, Hamish, Ryan and Hugh openly discuss their evolving “love triangle” that has been triggering feelings of self-doubt within Ryan. Then Josh talks candidly about his own self-doubt regarding his role on The Imperfects. Yep. This one’s a big ol’ share-fest. Let’s hug.

Johann Hari - Why You Can't Pay Attention

We can all feel it. And unfortunately, it’s getting worse. Paying attention and properly focussing these days is getting harder and harder. And in the first Academy of Imperfection for 2022, Johann Hari is here to explain to Hugh, Ryan and Josh exactly why that is. The good news is... it’s not our fault. But luckily there are things we can do about it. If you want to delve deeper into the topics and themes from this episode, please read (or listen to - like Hugh and Ryan did) Johann’s incredible new book, Stolen Focus: Why You Can’t Pay Attention. It might just be the thing that gets you off your phone for a bit. However, while Johann may be this week’s guest lecturer, Josh is certainly this week’s star pupil, delivering what may be one of the most powerful and moving acts of vulnerability we’ve ever seen on this podcast. Josh didn’t plan to say what he said, but in finding the courage to speak his truth, his hope is that others with similar struggles will feel more supported, or at least feel less alone. Thank you Johann for returning to The Imperfects, and thank you Josh for being imperfect. For more information about Johann Hari and where to his book visit: https://stolenfocusbook.com/ @theimperfectspodcast

Kate Langbroek - Love Story

Kate Langbroek, in our humble opinion, is a very special person and we absolutely love her. Kate has experienced decades of success on Australian TV and radio - whether it was every Wednesday night on The Panel, or with her mate Hughesy on the radio. Now she’s written her first book, “Ciao, Bella” - filled with stories from her amazing and colourful life. But even with all her success, like all of us, Kate’s life hasn’t been perfect. In this raw episode, Kate generously shares what it was like when her eldest son Lewis was diagnosed with Leukaemia, and how it impacted her life and her family - then and now. Afterwards, Hugh talks with Ryan and Josh and gives us some insight on the emotion of LOVE, and how positive emotions like love can drastically improve our mental health. @theimperfectspodcast

Season 4 Trailer

We’re back... for a warm up ep... and as you’ll soon hear... we’re properly professional now! Not because of the three of us, because of the new members of our Imperfects team... Bridget Northeast, BOTH British Andys (Hall and Poole), George Martin, Jamieson Moore and Dr Emily! This really is our highest level of excitement EVER. So, so, so good to see you, Hugh, Ryan & Josh

Georgia & Hugh

In this extremely special episode, Hugh reads the opening chapter from his second book, ‘Let Go’ to his younger sister (and Josh’s older sister) Georgia van Cuylenburg - a heartfelt letter from him to her.   What follows is an incredibly powerful conversation between the two of them that, for the first time, addresses unspoken feelings and issues that have existed for years.   We’ve been fortunate to have witnessed many beautiful examples of vulnerability on this podcast over the years… but guys… seriously… this is next level. (And I can say that because it’s me Ryan writing this)   Thank you Georgia for allowing us to share this. At times it doesn’t feel like we should be listening in, but gee whiz, I think I can pre-speak for everyone here and say we feel so lucky and privileged that we are.

Almost end of year wrap - (Part 2)

A Part 1 wouldn't be complete without a Part 2.  So here it is... wrapping up the wrap up! After Hugh kicked things off with a beautiful bang in Part 1, Part 2 sees Josh and Ryan follow suit and reflect on 2 moments from the podcast that meant a lot to them in 2021 - powerful moments from Martin Heppell and Ben Crowe. Once again, thank you for your ears. We love you. Now go tell someone special that you love them.

Almost end of year wrap - (Part 1)

We had to split our "End of Year Wrap" into 2 parts because of what came up in this ep. Without wanting to spoil it, it's yet another example of what can happen when we start the conversation and show a lil vulnerability to the ones we love. There will obviously be a Part 2, and then a few more very VERY special episodes to round out the year. Thank you for listening to us. We love you and appreciate you a LOT.

The Vulnerabilitea House - Peter Helliar

Whether it’s TV, film, stand-up comedy, radio, books, podcasts... or... Straughanie, Peter “Pete” Helliar has been making us laugh for over 20 years and has found a lot of success doing it. But like anyone, Pete’s life has at times been imperfect. In this episode of The Vulnerabilitea House, Pete speaks with Hugh, Ryan and Josh about one of the most difficult times in his life when one of his close friends and colleagues, Richard Marsland, took his own life. Hugh then shares some practical ways you can talk to people in your life who you think might be struggling.

Your Non-Free Gift! (Unannounced Surprise Podcast Episode)

Surprise! We have something special for you. Okay fine... it MAY be merchandise. Fine, you twisted our arm... it IS merchandise. But GOOD merchandise! PUN merchandise!!! Have a listen and go to thevulnerabiliteabag.com. BUT BE QUICK!