179 episodes

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.

The Imperfects Hugh van Cuylenburg, Ryan Shelton & Josh van Cuylenburg

    • Health & Fitness
    • 4.8 • 52 Ratings

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.

    Dr Emily - What Are Your Values?

    Dr Emily - What Are Your Values?

    Your values are perfect - according to our resident psychologist Dr. Emily Musgrove.
    Although this sounds counter intuitive to what we usually say…it’s actually a beautiful place to start.
    Figuring out what your values are, and where they come from can be a pretty intense experience. Lucky we have Dr Em to help, breaking down why they are important and how they can add purpose to your life. As she explains, our values work like a compass, and when used responsibly, can point us in the direction of the person we want to be.
    Links mentioned in the episode:
     
    🎧 Previous episodes of The ImperfectsPat Cummins - Love, Loss & Life - https://link.chtbl.com/patcummins
    The Academy of Imperfection - Ben Crowe - https://link.chtbl.com/bencrowepurpose
    James Clear - Down The Habit Hole - https://link.chtbl.com/jamesclear
    Chrissie Swan - Honesty - https://link.chtbl.com/chrissieswan
    📺 Things to watch
    Life of Brian “Individual” - https://bit.ly/4bLR74U
     
    📖Steven Hayes books to read 
    A Liberated Mind -  https://amzn.to/4bRIHJz 
    Acceptance and Commitment Therapy - https://amzn.to/3Wp95ou 
    🛠️ Tools to use
    The Resilience Project 6 month journal -  https://bit.ly/3RUBke7
    Steve Hayes’ research into values - https://bit.ly/4fhrsnU
    📺 To watch the full episode on YouTube, click here: https://bit.ly/46795xC
     
    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.

    • 1 hr 29 min
    Zan Rowe - If I Had A Year To Live

    Zan Rowe - If I Had A Year To Live

    In the ultimate power move, we interview Zan Rowe, ‘one of Australia’s best interviewers’. Talk about pressure. 
    Champion of the airwaves, TV presenter, music journalist and podcaster, Zan has soundtracked the lives of many Australians. In this episode of the Vulnerabilitea House,  Zan draws the card; ‘how would your ambitions change if you only had one year to live?’ 
    In between getting ‘death ready’ and facing burnout just when her professional dreams were all coming true, Zan and Hugh fan-girl hard for Johann Sebastian Bach.
    You can watch the full episode here: https://youtu.be/g-ABdHgMKyE 
    Links mentioned in this episode:
    🎧 Previous episodes of the imperfects
    Linda Marigliano - https://link.chtbl.com/lindamarigliano 📺 Things to watch
    To watch Take 5’s episode with Guy Pearce - https://ab.co/3xRKYGA 🎧 Things to listen to
    Zan's podcast 'Bang On', with Myf Warhurst - https://ab.co/3SbvDHN  Night of the Swallow by Kate Bush - https://bit.ly/4cw18o4  
    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    • 1 hr 7 min
    Poh Ling Yeow - When The Relationship Ends

    Poh Ling Yeow - When The Relationship Ends

    Have you ever made a really bad decision? Made a call that you couldn’t undo? It's a fear for many, and for others, living with the reality of a ‘roll of the dice’ gone wrong, is cause for great sadness, and discomfort. But, there is wisdom in mistakes. And for Poh Ling Yeow, learning to own her bad decisions, meant she could move forward with empathy and acceptance. A skill she's honed through a life of ‘magooing’ to her way onto our screens through Master Chef, into our kitchens through cookbooks, and very much into our hearts. (Ref. Mr. Magoo). 
    In fact, the level of maturity Poh is able to bring to so much of her life, is unlike anyone we’ve ever met before.
    Links mentioned in this episode.
    📺 Things to watch
    Masterchef on Tenplay - https://bit.ly/4cwzbg8 South Park - Morman fellowshipping of Kyle - https://bit.ly/4cniH9x 🍽️ Things to cook
    Poh’s latest cookbook - https://bit.ly/4cA1dXo 🎨 Art to see
    Poh’s paintings - The Girl - https://bit.ly/45u0rZI 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.

    • 1 hr 29 min
    Professor Felice Jacka - Food For Thought

    Professor Felice Jacka - Food For Thought

    How does food affect our mood? Does diet actually impact our mental health? What is a gut micro-biome, and can we still eat a few chips without ruining it?In this Academy of Imperfection episode, we are joined one of the worlds leading experts on the relationship between what we eat, and how it effects our mental health, Professor Felice Jacka.
    And if can we trust anyone to get to the bottom of the vagus nerve ‘highway’; our hippocampus shrinking; our mitochondrial reaction to ultra-processed foods (don’t worry we didn’t know these words before either) - it’s her. 
    There was a lot to 'digest' in this chat (so to speak), but thankfully, there is so much we can do, by making informed choices about what we put in our bodies, to improve our mental health. 
     
    See below for links & research mentioned in this episode, information on Felice and her work and extra resources:
    📖 Things to read
    The Food and Mood centre - https://bit.ly/3xdmkjw. Felice’s published research - https://deakin.au/3VWggpb, Felice’s shorter articles - https://bit.ly/3RvfeO2. Felice’s recent research in Molecular Psychiatry Review -https://go.nature.com/3xozlqq. SMILEs trial - https://bit.ly/3KLjGEL. Kevin Hall’s study on Ultra-Processed food - https://bit.ly/3z7akjY. Brain Changer, Felice Jacka, https://bit.ly/3xpYGjJ, There’s a Zoo in my Poo, Felice Jack & Rob Craw https://bit.ly/3RrHxNd.  
    🎧 previous Imperfects Episodes mentioned in this episode:
    Tim Spector - https://link.chtbl.com/timspector.  
    This episode with Professor Felice Jacka includes a discussion about disordered eating. If this feels like too much for you right now, please come back to this episode when you're feeling ready.
    If you or someone you love is experiencing disordered eating, we recommend the following organisations:
    The Butterfly Foundation https://bit.ly/48YCSZe Eating Disorders Families Australia https://bit.ly/3TLU7J5 Uncovery https://bit.ly/3x4IOCO 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.
    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    • 1 hr 24 min
    IMPERFIX: What is Rape Culture? with Chanel Contos

    IMPERFIX: What is Rape Culture? with Chanel Contos

    Last season we met Chanel Contos from Teach Us Consent and we were completely blown away by her courage and the work she's taking on. So much so, that within minutes of Hugh opening and reading Chanel’s book, “Consent Laid Bare”, he had nominated her for Australian of The Year. 
    In this snippet from the full episode, Hugh, Ryan, Josh and Chanel discuss the normalised and systemic nature of sexual violence against women and the pervasive issue of rape culture; including what it is and how we can all take steps to dismantle it. To learn more about Chanel, her work and the Teach Us Consent campaign, follow this link: https://bit.ly/3QVhlK0
    🎧 Things to listen to
    Chanel Contos - https://link.chtbl.com/mhDPOcpH 📖 Things to read
    Consent Laid Bare - https://bit.ly/40Z0Xgh
    To view a version of the 'rape culture pyramid' - https://bit.ly/49XPFgh
    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.

    • 23 min
    Michael Klim - The Race of His LIfe

    Michael Klim - The Race of His LIfe

    What would it feel like to have the very thing that mad you great - your body, strength and co-ordination - slowly and painfully taken away from you?
    As a swimmer, Michael Klim was on top of the world - he was literally ‘World Swimmer of the Year’. Trips to the Olympics, medals of every colour, 21 world records AND his face on the cover of a Foo Fighters Album, Michael really did have it all.
    However, in 2022 Michael was diagnosed with a life changing condition, wherein your body attacks it’s own tissue - chronic inflammatory demyelination polyneuropathy (CIDP).
    In this episode, Hugh, Ryan and Josh chat to Michael about his equally impressive life out of the pool, and how his CIDP diagnosis has taught him a lot about identity, grief and relationships.
    In 2023, Michael partnered with Australian Red Cross Lifeblood to help raise awareness for the vital role blood donation plays in not just his life, but the 1 in 3 Australians who will need blood products in their lifetime. To help recipients like Michael and countless others book a blood donation here. https://bit.ly/4c8Z6tN
    To watch the full episode on YouTube, follow this link. https://bit.ly/3RHPUoi
     
    Links mentioned in the episode and extra resources:
     
    📺 Things to watch
    Homer Simpson’s journey through the Stages of Grief - https://bit.ly/4epRAMJ. The Imperfects x Lifeblood video - https://bit.ly/3z0Suiv  
    🎧 Previous Imperfects episodes mentioned in this episode:
    Tim Minchin - Lucky To Be Here https://link.chtbl.com/6kCw7ZR0 Gina Chick - Don’t Fight Life https://link.chtbl.com/Ginachick Elizabeth Day - The Me-est Version of Me https://link.chtbl.com/elizabethday Reece Conca - Tackling Male Infertility https://link.chtbl.com/reececonca  
    📖 Things to read
    Kubler-Ross Grief Cycle is here https://bit.ly/45tThVu  
    ⛑️ To support
    Lifeblood - https://bit.ly/4c8Z6tN The Klim Foundation - bit.ly/4ejtGTj  
    🎧  Things to listen to:
    Milkshakes for Marlee - https://bit.ly/4cwRDEW  
    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.
     
    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    • 1 hr 21 min

Customer Reviews

4.8 out of 5
52 Ratings

52 Ratings

janebjohnson ,

Refreshing and valuable

Thank you for sharing your personal experiences, vulnerabilities, and having such meaningful heartfelt and funny conversations.

rebecca taylor BECKY ,

Grateful

To Josh, Hugh & Ryan. Thank you for all the laughs and brilliant guests and episodes. I’ve taken away so much but the most is how listening to you makes me feel. Which is uplifted with a massive side of laughter.

Having lived interstate and now abroad from Melb for my whole adult life people often don’t understand my humour. I find this podcast so uplifting and I’m often caught in the car laughing along with you. I might play it to peeps here in the UK maybe then they’ll get our Aussie (Melb) humour. Recommended to me by Aussie Expats Facebook page here in UK, thanks to the legends who mentioned it.

Wha109264 ,

Love it

I can’t believe I’ve only just discovered this show. I’ve listened to two episodes and so much has resonated. Brilliant work fellas, keep it up!

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