The Imperfects - podcast cover

The Imperfects

Hugh van Cuylenburg, Ryan Shelton & Josh van Cuylenburgtheresilienceproject.com.au
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

Johann Hari (Pt 1) - How Can We Change?

Imperfects regular, Johann Hari joins us IN STUDIO for the first time to answer your questions! In this very special edition of The Academy of Imperfection (which we’ve split into 2 MASSIVE EPISODES OVER 2 MASSIVE... um... EPISODES!), Johann Hari talks with Hugh, Ryan and Josh about our ability to change our habits in the face of addiction. And why we can learn from the approach of Overeater’s Anonymous to help our addiction to our phones and the internet. Johann will be back later t...

Sep 11, 202251 minSeason 4Ep. 29

Mark Wilson from JET - Dealing with Loss

In 2003, JET’s Are You Gonna Be My Girl was one of the biggest songs on the planet. It was so big, Apple even used it for their first iPod ad. Remember? The one with the dancing silhouettes on the colourful backgrounds? Yeah, that was JET. As the bass player for JET, Mark Wilson has lived the dream of any musician. He’s toured the world and played to packed stadiums, and even stood with Beyonce and Jay Z at the MTV Video Music Awards before playing on stage in front of them. But Mark...

Sep 04, 20222 hr 35 minSeason 4Ep. 28

How to Write a Gratitude Letter

To celebrate Father's Day, Hugh plays some intimate audio of him reading a chapter of his book, 'Let Go', to his Dad (and Josh's Dad incidentally). But not just any old chapter, the final chapter ABOUT his Dad. Afterwards, Hugh explains to Ryan and Josh, how writing a gratitude letter to your Dad (even if he isn't around anymore) can have a hugely positive impact. But of course, Gratitude Letters aren't just for Dads, they're for your Mum or any carer in your life as well. Happy Fathers Day. Hav...

Sep 01, 202234 minSeason 4Ep. 27

Dr Emily - Who Is Your Inner Critic & Why Is It There?

In this Emisode, Dr Emily explains some reasons why the inner critic is there in the first place, and where it’s coming from.   To watch Shirzad Chamine's Ted Talk, 'Know Your Inner Saboteurs', follow this link: https://bit.ly/2Ybu5Aa To learn more about Daniel Siegel research and to purchase Mindsight, follow this link: https://bit.ly/3TnNVV5 To read the research article 'Positive Self-Statements, Power For Some, Peril For Others', follow this link, https://bit.ly/2L4k0k3 or, https:/...

Aug 28, 20221 hr 5 minSeason 4Ep. 26

Darcy Vescio - They/Them Matters & Here’s Why

Carlton footballer Darcy Vescio is one of the biggest names in the AFLW, having won multiple awards including the Carlton Best & Fairest, 2-time All Australian selection and the Mark of the Year. As a marquee player, Darcy is at the top of their game. But that’s just part of Darcy’s story. Less than a year ago, Darcy publicly came out as non-binary, announcing to the football community that they would now go by the they/them gender pronouns. In this Vulnerabilitea House, Darcy te...

Aug 21, 202246 minSeason 4Ep. 25

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...

Aug 14, 202258 minSeason 4Ep. 24

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...

Aug 07, 202249 minSeason 4Ep. 23

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...

Jul 31, 202248 minSeason 4Ep. 22

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://app...

Jul 24, 20221 hr 19 minSeason 4Ep. 21

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 firm...

Jul 17, 202250 minSeason 4Ep. 20

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 ...

Jul 10, 20221 hr 24 minSeason 4Ep. 19

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, ...

Jul 03, 20222 hr 33 minSeason 4Ep. 18

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 Happ...

Jun 26, 202251 minSeason 4Ep. 17

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 a...

Jun 19, 20221 hr 10 minSeason 4Ep. 16

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 e...

Jun 12, 20221 hr 7 minSeason 4Ep. 15

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 follo...

Jun 05, 20222 hr 31 minSeason 4Ep. 14

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 fro...

May 29, 202253 minSeason 4Ep. 13

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 behav...

May 22, 20221 hr 7 minSeason 4Ep. 12

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 menta...

May 15, 20221 hr 16 minSeason 4Ep. 11

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 epi...

May 08, 20221 hr 21 minSeason 4Ep. 10

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 ...

May 01, 202242 minSeason 4Ep. 9

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...

Apr 24, 20221 hrSeason 4Ep. 8

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 fo...

Apr 17, 20221 hr 12 minSeason 4Ep. 7

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 e...

Apr 10, 20221 hr 15 minSeason 4Ep. 6

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 podc...

Apr 07, 202244 minSeason 4Ep. 5

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 inf...

Apr 03, 202241 minSeason 4Ep. 4

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...

Mar 27, 202252 minSeason 4Ep. 3

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&...

Mar 20, 20221 hr 12 minSeason 4Ep. 2

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 genero...

Mar 13, 20221 hr 26 minSeason 4Ep. 1

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   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....

Mar 06, 202227 min