The Imperfects

Mid 20's and $250,000 in debt. Gripped by a gambling addiction. How do you recover?

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From the outside, it looked like Luke Bateman was living the dream: a professional NRL career with ludicrous pay checks and sponsorship deals.

On the inside, Luke was battling a crippling gambling addiction, deepening depression and a widening chasm between the character he was playing, and his true authentic self.

With immense courage, honesty and vulnerability, Luke takes Hugh, Ryan and Josh through the ups a...

Do you live in fear of being found out as a fraud? That despite your years of competency, achievement and high performance someone will uncover the truth?

Well, you’re in the right place. Our resident psychologist Dr Emily Musgrove is here to tell you that your imposter syndrome is nothing to be afraid of. In fact, it’s not even a syndrome.

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To get a little bit meta, Dr Emily explains that knowing t...

When he was 15, Andy Lee’s mum forgot who he was.

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Given only two weeks to live, Andy tells Hugh, Ryan and Josh how this news impacted his family, impacted his childhood, and continues to impact his sense of self.

And then, we’re going all the way back to the early days of Radio Karate, and Hamish & Andy.

In a long overdue conversation (recorded, of course), Ryan and Andy chat about their own friendship dynamic and why they both...

Have you ever watched the person you love most get everything you ever wanted? Did you harden around envy, or shrink with comparison? Were you able to find happiness for their success?

Philippa Northeast, Logie nominated and lead of Netflix’s My Brilliant Career, is a star quickly rising. Her most significant role? The little sister of our producer, Bridge.

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Joining us as a guest host, Producer Bridge, alongside Hugh, Josh and Ryan, discuss the years of failure and rejection behind the scenes...

What impact does sleep deprivation really have on your wellbeing? What about your parenting? What about your identity?

Matt D’Avella has amassed over 4 millions subscribers on YouTube undertaking 30-day wellness challenges, and promoting his minimalist lifestyle.

In life that was meticulously controlled, having kids changed everything.

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Blessed with a baby who woke every 30 minutes for the first ten months of their life, Matt chats to Hugh, Ryan and Josh about how becoming a new parent impacted every facet of his li...

How does having cancer as a child impact the way you live as an adult?

Uber successful chef and restauranteur Josh Niland doesn’t do things in halves (no, literally, have you read his book The Whole Fish?).

From opening a restaurant at 26, to becoming the first Australian to win the James Beard Book of the Year award when he was just 30, Josh’s creativity came from a place of desperation to explore every opportunity presented to him.

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Is tough love to blame for our shame?

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We all know that parent or coach on the sideline who takes under 10’s basketball a liiitttllleee too seriously. And occasionally, tough love might seem to work in the moment, long term, the shame train isn’t going anywhere good.

Dr Emily, our resident psychologist, is here to name the shame to tame it, and teach us how we can be shame strippers...

Can nature help us to feel less alone?

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Psychologist on the incredible, Alone Australia series (remember our seminal episode with Gina Chick?), Mark Mathieson is in the Academy of Imperfection to help us understand how nature regulates our body, and how we can reconnect to it in this digital age.

Mark talks about how to uncover the person behind the persona, the science behind gardening, and why Hugh had the best slee...

What is racism, really?

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Adam Briggs, rapper, writer, actor, senator and Yorta-Yorta man, joins Hugh, Josh and guest host Nazeem Hussain, to have an honest conversation about racism in Australia.

We explore the impact of The Voice Referendum vote, how culture and community impacts identity, and why Briggs has never, ever felt the need to people please (yep, that’s the sound of us frantically scribbling down notes).

Briggs also c...

Sex is sometimes a taboo topic. Not today! Intimacy expert Ita O’Brien tells us all about the new normal in the bedroom, and how she’s introduced it to Hollywood.

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In 2017, Ita O’Brien changed how Hollywood approached sex scenes when she pioneered intimacy co-ordination on the hit Netflix show, Sex Education, by introducing the framework, “Intimacy On Set Guidelines”. She went on to on productions for Netflix, BBC, HBO, Hulu, Amazon, including Sex Education and...

Could you live without your phone for a month?

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This week it's just the three of us. And like Odysseus before us, we embark on a life changing epic.

Where he fought the trojans, monsters, cannibals, sirens, the oceans, a cyclops and ACTUAL GODS!!

We will do something even ‘EPIC…ER’.

We’re tackling our phones.

Each of us take on a month-long ch...

To be jealous is to be human. It is what you do with that feeling that counts.

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Our resident psychologist Dr Emily Musgrove is in the studio to talk about THAT podcast moment: the one where Ryan admitted he was jealous of Hugh and Hamish Blake’s relationship. The one that lives in Imperfects history.

According to Dr Em, we develop the emotion of jealousy at just 9 months old, and it shows up everyw...

Want can you learn from playing with a child?

In today's Academy of Imperfection, Bluey creator Joe Brumm joins us (for real life), with Hamish Blake stepping in as guest host.

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In this episode we dig into the world of play - ”the voluntary overcoming of unnecessary obstacles”, we find out what makes a ‘good’ player and why kids' imaginative play tends to fade around age 12.

Josh and Hugh take the chance to wa...

How do you raise a child whose brain works differently?

This episode is for parents of kids with ADHD. And parents who have ADHD. And people who don’t have a diagnosis, but would consider themselves ‘fast and loose’. And for everyone who knows someone who fits the above criteria.

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Janelle Booker, a psychologist who specialises in ADHD, is BACK, this time, to talk to parents of ADHD kids, and how to parent when you you...

How do you choose who to trust? And how do you show others that you are trustworthy?

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In this Academy of Imperfection, we are joined by Jimmy Wales, co-founder of Wikipedia. No biggie (BIG biggie).

And if there’s one thing Jimmy knows, it's how to garner and imbue the trust of millions.

You’re right in feeling like the general level of trust globally is low right now, but this episode...

Do you think you have grit?

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Research has shown that the most common characteristic of elite performers and high achievers is grit.

Understood as the passion and perseverance for very long term goals, Grit is not about natural ability or talent, but rather how we choose to grow.

Your favourite resident psychologist, Dr Emily Musgrove, is back in the studio this week to talk about how you can become a grittier pers...

At just 16, Ellyse Perry was the youngest person to ever debut for the Australian International Cricket team. 13 days later, Ellyse debuted for the Matildas.

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Arguably one of the greatest athletes of our time, Hugh, Ryan and Josh chat to Ellyse about how she stays so grounded amidst her incredible success, and whether she is able to separate who she is from what she does.

Ellyse chats to the guys about her relationship with her...

We have a BIG announcement.

August 19. Balwyn Cinema. Our first ever live podcast recording. With Hugh, Ryan, Josh, Dr Emily, and you?

ARE YOU AS EXCITED AS WE ARE?!

And you could win your way there! THE ULTIMATE GOLD CLASS DOUBLE PASS includes: 2 x tickets, flights or a limo if you're already in Melbourne, accomodation for the night, popcorn, choc top, sparkling wine and a personal escort to your seats by former Balwyn Cinema employee Hugh van Cuylenburg!

🏆 Enter here NOW - https://www.theimperfects.com.au/balwyn-entry/

Tickets will...

We can’t control what happens to us, but we can control how we respond. At least, that’s what the Stoic’s say.

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Today we are joined (deep breath Hugh) by Stoic philosopher Ryan Holiday.

Using the wisdom of the past to appreciate the present, Ryan’s work is dedicated to communicating how the practicalities of stoic philosophy can help us lead more present, mindful and resilient lives today.

In this incredi...

In the age of AI, do you feel that your future is more uncertain?

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In today’s Academy of Imperfection, we’re joined by Dr Joel Pearson; a neurofuturist, whose work centres around predicting how AI will impact every aspect of our lives from now on.

While many of us (us included) first and foremost imagine the impacts of AI in a tech-revolution-y, robot butler-y, terminator-adjacent way, this episode goes deeper.

Joel dis...

What is your envy telling you?

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Dr Emily Musgrove, our resident psychologist, is back in the studio to talk about the green-eyed monster, and more importantly, how we can work with it to incorporate more gratitude, appreciation and awareness into our lives (hallelujah).

Founded in the evolutionary practice of assessing our status in comparison with others, envy comes from the feeling of lacking something that someone else has.

In what may have...

Can you think of a moment that turned your life into ‘before’ and ‘after’?

For Reuben Williams, that moment was not his sexual assault, rather, the decision he made in the aftermath to pursue justice.

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Incredibly vulnerable, Reuben talks Hugh, Ryan and Josh through what it felt like in the 24 hours after the assault, how he knew, undeniably, what happened to him was wrong, and why he chose to report it.

We talk abou...

In a world so divided by hate, how can we choose to show love?

This week we are joined by journalist Jan Fran, who unpacks the horror of witnessing horror.

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Talking through her unravelling relationship with social media and the utter helplessness she feels watching atrocities cut into 30 second clips, Jan explores how becoming a mother cracked her open in ways she didn’t know possible.

Joining us in the Vulnerabilitea House...

According to perinatal and reproductive psychiatrist Dr Edna Lekgabe, matrescence is the motherhood equivalent of adolescence. Puberty 2.0, if you will.

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Joining us in the academy of imperfection, Dr Edna explores the cataclysmic identity shift women undergo during motherhood, and how partners can best support them.

Exploring the impacts of mastrescence with Hugh, Ryan and Josh, Dr Edna breaks down the difference between matrescence, anxiety and depression, and why mental illness is the number one...

How do you make sure your kids are proud of who they are?

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Propelled to international stardom after the release of Kenny, Shane Jacobson’s overnight success was years in the making.

Joining us in the studio, Shane is incredibly generous in sharing the cataclysmic impact that humour and laughter has had on his life from a young age.

Now at the age where he has attended more funerals than 21st’s, Shane...

Are you stuck, focusing on what's wrong in your relationship?

Deeply embedded in the work of intimacy, desire and relationships, psychotherapist and best-selling author Esther Perel, ask us to take a look at ourselves first, rather than listing the short comings of our partner.

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In this Academy of Imperfection, Hugh (who sadly was violently ill last time we talked to Esther) comes armed with questions about the mental load (with love, from Penny), and...

Looking for strategies to help deal with the overwhelm of, well, everything? Same.

Dr Emily, our resident psychologist, is back in the studio to talk through overwhelm; how to greet it, how to get through it, and how to build your resilience towards it.

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In this episode, Dr Emily introduces how to understand your ‘window of tolerance,’ the cost of being overwhelmed for too long, and what happens when we slip into avoidance.

OF...

Is it true that we live in a world without facts?

With AI becoming increasingly intertwined with our lives, and fake news infiltrating our screens, where do you go for truthful information and how do you know what to trust?

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This Academy of Imperfection is not all doom and world collapse, we promise. One, because we are joined by the brilliant Hamish Macdonald. And two, because Ryan’s Gut says it’s all going to...

Is climate anxiety affecting your decision to have kids?

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Joining us in the Vulnerabilitea House is Bri Lee; prolific author, advocate and change maker.

Answering the question, “what moment from your life are you grateful for that profoundly changed you?”, Bri talks about the research that lead her to the South Pole, and how she learnt to prioritise love above all else.

Bri asks the question to Hugh, Josh and Ryan, “what does...

When Ben Crowe, world-renowned professional mentor and leadership coach, tells us his favourite mantra, we listen.

“I am enough no matter what, but I’m not done yet”.

📺 If you’d like to watch this full episode on YouTube, follow this link - https://youtu.be/-0WWUuxvcyQ 

Back in The Academy of Imperfection FOR THE THIRD TIME, Ben is here to talk to Hugh, Ryan and Josh about purpose, play and love.

As Ben explains, ‘play’ and ‘love’ mean something different to everyone, however, they are both ridiculously important and explicitly linked. I...

According to Matt Preston, he only has 14 more summers. And he’s determined to make the most of them.

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Known predominantly for his role on the inaugural (and incredibly successful) seasons of MasterChef Australia, alongside his excellent choice of cravats, Matt Preston is a recognisable face in most Australian households.

Joining Hugh, Ryan and Josh in the studio (in yet another incredible outfit), Matt delicately talks through the importance of having a conversation with y...

Pain is inevitable, but suffering does not have to be.

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Dr Emily Musgrove, our resident psychologist and general provider of wisdom, is here to talk about radical acceptance.

Drawing inspiration from our holy grail episode with Gina Chick, Dr Em deep dives radical acceptance; what is it, how do we cultivate it, and why is it important to us as human beings?

According to Dr Em, radical acceptance is not about liki...

 You just have to be a good parent 30-40% of the time. According to the research, and parenting expert Maggie Dent.

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In our Academy of Imperfection, Maggie schools parents Hugh and Josh, and trusted non-parental figure Ryan, about the ‘no matter what’ rule, the importance of micro connections and the beauty of a well-timed fart.

An advocate for imperfect parenting (which is REALLY great for brand alignment), Maggie insists on the significance of unconditi...

What do you do when your 3 day-old-baby just doesn’t wake up?

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Motherhood is really hard. And Bron Lewis isn’t afraid to talk about it (anymore).

Joining us in the Vulnerabilitea House, Bron answers the question ‘when was a time you genuinely needed help and were you able to ask for it?’, and recounts the worst week of her life.

Deals with the devil, post-natal anxiety, and post-natal depression, Bron is incredibl...

Two cataclysmic events have shaped Dr Lucy Hone’s relationship with grief, and resilience.

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Today in the Academy of Imperfection, we welcome Dr Lucy Hone. Dr Lucy’s work focuses on making sense of the senseless, and helping others to do the same.

As a legitimate expert in grief, resilience and wellbeing, Dr Lucy is able to blend the science with her own lived experience.

This episode explores living losses (divorce, estrang...

Stop. Everything. Now. It’s Claudia Karvan day.

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An icon of the screen, and of the heart, Claudia is Australian entertainment royalty.

Claudia’s life itself feels like a movie (no one else grew up in a nightclub, did they?) and it was an absolute privilege to listen to all the lessons that she has learnt along the way.

With incredible grace, Claudia talks to Hugh, Ryan and Josh about playing the lon...

Ryan’s got news.

Well, past-Ryan had news, and now future-Ryan is going to reflect on how present-day-Ryan is currently feeling about said news. Get it? It’s reflecting on a reflection about a rejection.

Today we’re giving you two for the price of none, and bringing you two of the most memorable moments from our subscriber based show A Little More Imperfects.

With both segments focusing on wildest dreams, Hugh, Ryan and Josh explore how to navigate regret when you’re not at your best, and how to show yourself compassion and love wh...

 Do you believe in ghosts? Josh doesn’t, Ryan does, and Hugh is actually being haunted.

🎟️ Our live show Together Again is on sale! One show left! Tickets here - https://bit.ly/4mEK9Ep

It’s the second episode of our super sexy summer series (the alliteration is wild in this episode), and we’re revisiting the time that Hugh got haunted.

Blending together a few episodes of A Little More Imperfects, our subscriber platform that you can sign up for below, we’ll introduce you to Geraint the shamanic healer, what happened during...

Today, we come to you with a gift: bonus Dr Emily. Thank you in advance for the standing ovation.

🎟️ Our live show Together Again is on sale! One show left! Tickets here - https://bit.ly/4mEK9Ep

Welcoming you into the world of A Little More Imperfects, our subscriber-based platform available on Patreon and Apple Podcasts, our resident psychologist Dr Emily reaches into the reflection pond, to discuss and decode a reflection from one of our community members.

Responding to this reflection, Dr Emily chats to Ryan, Josh, and special guest Producer Bridge...

Little heads up, this episode contains some language that is exclusively found on the naughty list, and therefore, isn’t suitable for kids.

Now, it’s time to spill some Vulnerabili-TEA.

It’s our annual holiday episode, and this year, with many thanks to comedian Becky Lucas, we welcome into the studio Little Drummer Girl. Who has some, um, grievances to air.

Little Drummer Girl is taking us back in the space-time-continuum to re-write history, and let us in on the scandal which surrounds the infamous lyrics ‘pa rum pum pum pum’.

All ad r...