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

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.

Do you have boundaries? Have you ever crossed someone else’s boundaries? How would you react if someone crossed yours? It is WAY easier to ignore it. Avoiding potential conflict and awkwardness is second nature to most of us. For those of us with people-pleasing tendencies, telling someone they have violated a boundary can be an acute version of living hell.
Luckily for us, our resident psychologist Dr. Emily is here to help us navigate what a healthy boundary looks, feels and sounds like. And why understanding, implementing and protecting heathy boundaries is good for all of us...even if it does feel a little awkward.
Links mentioned in the episode and extra resources:
🎧 Previous episode of The Imperfects
Grant Denyer - https://link.chtbl.com/grantdenyer Dr. Emily - Truth v Harmony - https://link.chtbl.com/R8gly4ci Dr. Emily - Social Anxiety, They’ve Got It Too - https://link.chtbl.com/socialanxiety Chrissie Swan - Honesty - https://link.chtbl.com/chrissieswan Lael Stone - Take Care of Yourself - https://link.chtbl.com/Laelstonetakecareofyourself 📱 Things to follow
Nedra Glover Tawwab’s instagram - bit.ly/4bWnvCK 📖 Things to read
Nedra Glover Tawwab’s ‘Set Boundaries, Find Peace’ -bit.ly/3xpFKBw. Cheryl Strayed’s ‘Wild’ - bit.ly/4emwAXa 📺 Things to watch
Curb Your Enthusiasm - https://bit.ly/3VCsXVH Poor Things - https://bit.ly/3VmQ3OJ 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.

Living with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is not a life sentence, as Rick Davies so eloquently tells Hugh and Josh in this episode of The Imperfix. Best known as Jimmy from the TV show 'Offspring', Rick is unbelievably vulnerable in sharing his story with OCD - from the awkward and painful compulsions, to the relief of a diagnosis at 18 years old.
Here Rick share's how he was inspired by the trailblazing work of Penny Moodie and talks through finding peace and happiness amidst the torment.
🎧 Things to listen to
Rick’s full Imperfects episode - https://link.chtbl.com/rickdaviesocd Penny’s Imperfects episode on OCD - https://link.chtbl.com/pennymoodieocd 📖 Things to read
Penny’s book, The Joy Thief: How OCD steals your happiness and how to get it back - bit.ly/3x3IG6T 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.

From being ‘canceled’, to alcoholism and post-natal depression, Yumi Stynes knows how to get vulnerable in the Vulnerabilitea House.
Starting as a magnetic, music presenter on Channel V, Yumi’s career spans more than 20 years on our screens, on the radio, or in the very successful books she’s written. However as she shares with Hugh, Ryan and Josh, there were times when the phone simply didn't ring and her career felt like it was at a stand-still. 
In this episode, Yumi shares stories from her childhood, from feelings of isolation; to being the victim of racism in 1980s Swan Hill; we discuss the loss of her father and how that experience shaped her perspective on life; to what it was actually like being 'cancelled' and the role friendship played in her lowest moments; above all, Yumi tells us of her struggles with alcohol, and how her decision to quit transformed her life.
So buckle up for a big one! We know you’ll love this chat as much as we did!
📖 Things to read
‘Welcome To…’ book series https://bit.ly/3yPqb6O The Food Fix (Garlic Honey Soy Chicken recipe) https://bit.ly/3RjbaQN 📺 Things to watch
The Circle ‘cancelling’ moment https://bit.ly/3RfcGUk ⛑️ For help & support with post natal depression
Call Panda on 1300 726 306 or visit https://bit.ly/45fCULX Call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or visit https://bit.ly/3yPDggh For further research and learning visit Mumspace - https://bit.ly/3Vzsjs4 ⛑️ For help & support with alcohol abuse
Call Alcoholics Anonymous on 1300 222 222 or visit https://bit.ly/4bT6Pfq Call the National Drug & Alcohol Hotline on 1800 250 015 or visit https://bit.ly/4aPgvGJ 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.

Unfortunately, we all know what bad leadership looks like, for many of us, it doesn’t take long to think of examples…but what does it actually take to be a ‘good leader’?
This week in the Academy of Imperfection, Hugh, Ryan and Josh are joined by a legend of the sport, former rugby league player and current coach of the Queensland Maroons, Billy Slater. Billy has been called the best fullback ever to have played the game. As a player, he’s won more awards than we could possibly list. As a coach and a leader, he is nothing short of inspiring.
In this episode, Billy talks about leadership, coaching and how he approaches it. He shares how playing to your strengths can actually be more beneficial than lingering on weaknesses; he discusses how sometimes, good leadership requires ‘letting go’; and he shares why he spends so much time creating feelings and moments for his players, reminding them that what they’re trying to achieve is something bigger than themselves.
You can watch the full episode with Billy on youtube here. https://bit.ly/4c45lih
Links mentioned in the episode and extra resources:
📖 Things to read
Link to Billy’s auto biography - https://bit.ly/3R62RIb Link to Phill Jackson 11 Rings book - https://bit.ly/3yGgQ0N 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.

How kind is your inner voice? What does it say to you when your with friends, having family dinner, at work, when you mistakes, or, when you look in the mirror?
We all have an inner critic and for lots of us, that voice can be loud and relentless - holding us back from thriving, from living the life we want to live and being the person we want to be.
In this episode of the IMPERFIX, we jump back into an episode with Dr Em and get up close and personal with ‘our inner critics’.
In this snippet we explore the role of the inner critic, what’s its purpose? How can we learn to live with, and maybe even befriend it.
To listen to this full episode with Dr. Em, follow this link: https://link.chtbl.com/Innercritic
Links mentioned in the episode:
📺 Things to watch
Shirzad Charmine’s Ted Talk, ‘Know Your Inner Saboteurs’, click here: https://bit.ly/2Ybu5Aa 📖 Things to read
Daniel Siegel https://bit.ly/3TnNVV5 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.