

The Imperfects
Hugh van Cuylenburg, Ryan Shelton & Josh van Cuylenburg
We’re all imperfect. On this podcast, founder of The Resilience Project Hugh van Cuylenburg, his good friend Ryan Shelton, and only one of their brothers, Josh van Cuylenburg, talks to a variety of interesting people who vulnerably share their own struggles and imperfections, or expertly pass on their wisdom on the subject of imperfection. Whether it’s in The Vulnerabilitea House, The Academy of Imperfection, or with our very own psychologist, Dr Emily, The Imperfects are here to find some valuable takeaways we can all apply to our own imperfect lives.
Episodes
Mentioned books

32 snips
Aug 27, 2023 • 1h 20min
Dr Emily - Friendship 4 Eva
Dr Emily, an expert on friendships, explains the different types of friends, why they matter, and what makes us like someone. They discuss the power and importance of friendship, the dynamics of friendships, the impact of alcohol on social interactions, making genuine connections, the importance of vulnerability, and future topics such as social anxiety and romantic relationships.

Aug 20, 2023 • 1h 9min
Myf Warhurst - The Anxiety of Uncertainty
Myf Warhurst is an icon. An Australian icon. Everyone, we have an icon on our podcast. From Spicks & Specks to Triple J, and Eurovision to Bluey… oh and doing a whole show about menopause… HER menopause… Australia has LOVED Myf Warhurst for a long, long time. You might even think it’s impossible to love her more, well just wait until you hear her honesty and vulnerability in this Vulnerabilitea House.Myf talks about the anxiety that comes with her line of work, how she’s dealt with the ups and downs that come with a career in the entertainment industry, and what she’s learned from the tragic loss of people close to her.To watch The Truth About Menopause with Myf Warhurst, follow this link: https://bit.ly/47C1nMo To listen to Myf's podcast, 'Bank On' with Zan Rowe, follow this link: https://bit.ly/3YFBIyc To purchase Myf's memoir, Time of My Life, follow this link: https://bit.ly/3OIOjMp To listen to Chrissie Swan's Imperfects episode that Myf talks about, follow this link: https://bit.ly/3qL7WeO This episode contains a discussion about suicide. If this feels like it's too much for you to listen to right now, you may want to skip this one and come back another time.If are worried about someone you know, need to talk to someone bereaved by suicide, or want to start a discussion about suicide prevention in your family or community, Conversations Matter is a practical online resource to support safe and effective discussions about suicide, to access, please follow this link: https://bit.ly/3Wx9tAO 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 healthcare professional, or call lifeline on 13 11 14. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

7 snips
Aug 13, 2023 • 1h 23min
Osher Günsberg- In & Out Of Control
For 20 years, Osher Günsberg has been one of Australia’s most famous and successful TV/radio/podcast personalities. Since hosting the wildly popular Australian Idol, to handing out roses on The Bachelor (and SO MUCH in between), there aren’t many showbiz stories that rival Osher’s sustained success. But if we’ve learned anything on this podcast, behind every perfect story is an imperfect reality. And as you’ll hear in this honest chat with Hugh, Ryan and Josh, Osher’s journey has been exactly that... imperfect. Osher talks about his struggle with alcohol addiction, his relationship with control, and living with ADHD. He also explains why he decided to change his name at the height of his fame.To listen to Osher's podcast, Better Than Yesterday, follow this link: https://bit.ly/3YuYEjN For book recommendation, Emotional Agility, by Susan David, follow this link: https://bit.ly/3KF6GAVThe Imperfects is not a licensed mental health service and is not a substitute for professional mental health advice, treatment or assessment.This episode discusses alcohol abuse. If you are struggling with your relationship with alcohol, or other drugs, you can access free, confidential, 24/7 support from Counselling Online. https://www.counsellingonline.org.au/Alternatively, seek support from friends and family, your local doctor, therapist, AA Group, or call lifeline on 13 11 14. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Aug 6, 2023 • 1h 9min
Dr Richard Harris - “That Thing In Thailand”
Dr Richard Harris, Australian deep-diving anaesthetist who played a significant role in saving thirteen boys inside a Thai cave, discusses his pivotal role in the rescue, the impact of media pressure, the fascination with risk taking, the effects of public speaking on personal growth, society's aversion to risk, and reflections on the emotional journey after the rescue.

Jul 30, 2023 • 49min
Dr Emily - When Are You Triggered?
The phrase, “That’s triggering” or “I’m triggered”, has become more and more common. And while people are triggered by an event, or a topic, or even a scene in a TV show, what does it truly mean to be ‘triggered’? And should we really be avoiding triggering topics, or should we be exposing ourselves to them?In this extremely helpful episode, Dr Emily goes deep on triggers. She explains to Hugh, Ryan and Josh what it means to actually be ‘triggered’, and how we often use the term incorrectly. She also talks about the use of Trigger Warnings in shows and podcasts, like the ones you often hear at the beginning of The Imperfects. There’s a HEAP more fascinating information in this one so get your notebooks out and listen up to the brilliant Dr Em!To watch Susan David's Ted Talk, follow this link: https://bit.ly/3YfosA1 To delve further into the research around trigger warnings, follow these links: https://bit.ly/3KCvObB, https://bit.ly/3Kh6uHH, https://bit.ly/3q9hBLW, https://bit.ly/3Qeuwaa, https://bit.ly/3rOVrz2, https://bit.ly/3rPrNcVThe 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 healthcare professional, or call lifeline on 13 11 14.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jul 23, 2023 • 1h 32min
Christie Whelan Browne - Unbreakable
Christie Whelan Browne is one of the funniest (and most talented) people in Australia. If you know, you know. She’s won multiple awards and done everything from stage and musical theatre, to TV drama and comedy… and most recently Dancing with the Stars. But it’s her journey, before the #MeToo movement (and continues today) that’s making the biggest impact. Christie has rarely spoken so openly about her very public and tumultuous experience through the courts, in the media and even within her own family, as she became the face of a high-profile criminal trial and subsequent defamation trial that turned her life upside down. Historically, making the world a better, safer and more equal place for women has never been easy. Far from it. And in this episode Christie tells Hugh, Ryan and Josh what it was like for her, as she landed in the firing line while trying to protect other women like her. To us, Christie is an inspiration and we couldn’t be more grateful to her for sharing her imperfect story with us.To watch the True Stories episode with Christie, please follow this link: https://bit.ly/3BV2x6Y To view The Blessed One on Instagram, follow this link: https://bit.ly/3NYEiu7This episode discusses allegations of indecent assault, if this brings up anything for you, you can contact 1800 RESPECT on 1800 737 732. 1800 RESPECT is a national 24/7 counselling line for anyone who has experienced, or is at risk of, family and domestic violence and/or sexual assault.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jul 16, 2023 • 49min
Laura Henshaw - What Do They Think Of Me?
Laura Henshaw has achieved a lot. Not only is she an author, law graduate and podcaster, but she is the CEO and co-founder of the wildly popular and successful health & fitness app, KIC - which she started and still runs with friend, and former Imperfects guest, Steph Claire-Smith. But behind her success, Laura still worries what people think of her. And in this Vulnerabilitea House, she vulnerably tells Hugh, Ryan and Josh where this comes from and how this anxiety continues to crop up for her in everyday life.We’ve got a feeling this’ll be a verrry relatable one.To listen to Ben Crowe's episode that Laura mentions in this episode, follow this link: https://bit.ly/3Ockd52 To listen to Steph Clare Smith's Imperfects episode, follow this link: https://bit.ly/46G3luN To learn more about KIC and to download the app, follow this link: https://kicapp.com/ To listen to Laura and Steph's podcast, KICPOD, follow this link: https://bit.ly/3NX7XUM To read and purchase Laura and Steph's new book, You Take Care, follow this link: https://bit.ly/43tzMJSSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

11 snips
Jul 9, 2023 • 1h 26min
James van Cuylenburg - Love Your Wonky Bricks
Other than being a Clinical Psychologist (with a child specialisation), Dr James van Cuylenburg is not only Hugh and Josh’s cousin, but in Hugh’s opinion, he’s the greatest piano player in the world - which provides zero context for this incredible episode.James covers so much in this 90 minutes that it’s almost impossible to sum up here. Everything from the development of our kids today, screentime issues, the cost of ambition, the importance of self-compassion and James’s own experiences with bullying and how it motivated him to study psychology. Among MANY other topics.This episode is not just about kids. It’s about the human experience and why we should all acknowledge and love our “wonky bricks” and make the most of our short time on this floating ball we call earth. PRESS PLAY ALREADY! To learn more about James's work, or book into see him or another psychologist at Engage One on One, follow this link: https://bit.ly/3MV947W To learn more about Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs, follow this link: https://bit.ly/3MVgNTCSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

13 snips
Jul 2, 2023 • 1h 5min
Dr Emily - How to Stress Less
What do you do when you’re stressed? Watch the telly? Scroll the innuhnet? Fix yourself a stiff VB on the rocks? We all feel stressed and burned out from time to time. It’s unfortunately a reality of life. But double-unfortunately, most of us don’t know how to correctly deal with it. And that’s why Dr Emily is here to help!In this extremely practical episode, Dr Emily explains the science behind WHY we get stressed. But more importantly, she tells us what we can do to alleviate the stress and WHY it will work. And why does she know all these things? Because she’s a… [to be sung] PSYCHOLOGIST!!!To listen to Kate Reid's Imperfects episode, follow these links: (pt1) https://bit.ly/45wqwqQ & (pt2) https://bit.ly/3BQFAlzFor book recommendation, 'Burnout, The secret to solving the stress cycle', by Emily & Amelia Nagoski, follow this link: https://bit.ly/3IGQZrY For book recommendation 'The Joy of Movement' by Kelly McGonigal, follow this link: https://bit.ly/3ODdzoU For app recommendation, 'One Sec', follow this link: https://one-sec.app/ For book recommendation, 'Mans Search for Meaning' by Victor E Frankl, follow this link: https://bit.ly/3BSddDq For further reading on The Polyvagal Theory, follow this link https://rb.gy/23wtb 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 healthcare professional, or call lifeline on 13 11 14. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jun 25, 2023 • 1h 8min
Hugh & Penny - The Elephant in the Relationship
You might remember Penny Moodie from her first appearance on The Imperfects when she talked about her own experience with OCD. Link below if you don’t! Well, Penny is back to talk about something else; her marriage with Hugh. Or, more specifically, and far less click-baity, the mental load in her marriage with Hugh. “The mental load” is the cognitive effort that’s required to juggle the often invisible labour of running a household. Something that Penny noticed was becoming too much for her to handle. In this unique episode, Hugh and Penny talk about how they dealt with this, and in doing so give us the rare opportunity to hear a real married couple talk about their real issues. All while Ryan and Josh pretend to not be on Team Penny. If you or your partner is struggling with the very real issue of mental overload, this episode is probably for you.To learn more about Fair Play, the book, the cards and Eve Rodsky's work, follow this link: https://bit.ly/45uLCFS To watch Bluey episode The Pool, mentioned in this episode, follow this link: https://bit.ly/3MSORzF To read more about how breast feeding equates to a full time work load, follow this link: https://bit.ly/45sLkPR See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.