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The Imperfects

The Imperfects

By: Hugh van Cuylenburg Ryan Shelton & Josh van Cuylenburg
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About this listen

 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.2025 Hugh van Cuylenburg, Ryan Shelton & Josh van Cuylenburg Hygiene & Healthy Living Personal Development Personal Success Psychology Psychology & Mental Health
Episodes
  • Joe Williams - Concussion, Bipolar & Being a Dad

    Joe Williams - Concussion, Bipolar & Being a Dad
    Jul 27 2025

    Approached by 5 NRL clubs by the time he was 13, Joe was a sporting prodigy.

    💌 subscribe to our newsletter, my imperfect email, here - http://bit.ly/4lMOdTj

    Thrust into the spotlight Joe was introduced to a world of concussions, accolades and copious amounts of drugs and alcohol.

    Now 18 years sober, Joe is honest about how he found his power through truth and the experiences and learnings through which he navigates racism and understands human behaviour.

    Joe chats to Josh about the difference between being a dad and a father, and how he has found compassion for his younger self.

    This conversation also touches on Joe’s bipolar diagnosis, his relationship with the natural environment and the incredible difference that he is making in the mental health space now.

    Joe, we can’t believe you found the time to join us. Thank you for sharing your wisdom.

    If you’d like to watch this full video on YouTube, click here:

    📖 Things to read:

    • Defying The Enemy Within by Joe Williams - https://bit.ly/4eY3cr0
    • What Happened To You by Bruce D. Perry and Oprah Winfrey - https://bit.ly/4lYzl4F
    • The Dreaming Path by Paul Callaghan with Uncle Paul Gordon - https://bit.ly/3ICXbEd

    📺Things to watch:

    • Seen The Film - https://seenthefilm.com

    💻Things to check out:

    • Our Way Academy - https://bit.ly/4lGt4uf

    🚨If you, or someone you know, is struggling with suicidal ideation, thinking about suicide, or has issues with addiction, please call 000 in an emergency. Lifeline on 13 11 14 is also great resource, as well as the National Alcohol and Other Drug Hotline on 1800 250 015.

    🩷To host your own Vulnerabilitea House, purchase the Vulnerabilitea House Cards here - https://bit.ly/3Cx4tGP

    🩵To purchase our journal (or your novel) My Imperfect Life, click here - https://bit.ly/3Cx4tGP

    🩵To join our patreon community, A Little More Imperfects, follow this link - patreon.com/theimperfects

    🩷 AND you can subscribe to A Little More Imperfects through Apple Podcasts too, here apple.co/theimperfects

    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.
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    1 hr and 26 mins
  • Jess Hill - A 'love' of Control

    Jess Hill - A 'love' of Control
    Jul 20 2025
    Domestic violence is an epidemic in Australia, and Jess Hill has dedicated a good chunk of time trying to understand why. 💌 Subscribe to our newsletter, the Vulnerabilitea-mail - www.theimperfects.com.au Joining us in the Academy of Imperfection, Jess explains to Hugh, Ryan and Josh the unrelenting system of entrapment that many women find themselves in, including a detailed look at the history of coercive control, and the term ‘perspecticide’. Describing the importance of early intervention for young boys, and answering the question ‘Why don’t they just leave?’, Jess discusses with Josh the difference between guilt and shame, and the fundamental impact of these emotions. This episode is compulsory listening for everyone (obviously, it’s Jess Hill talking about one of the most significant issues in our country), but especially those who, in their quietest, most vulnerable moment, recognise themselves as a perpetrator and want to take the next steps to changing the cycle of trauma. Jess, we cannot thank you enough. If you’d like to watch this full episode on YouTube, follow this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qPAi24DyWRc 🫖Other Imperfects episodes mentioned in this episode Tarang Chawla - Men Talking About Men’s Violence - https://bit.ly/45p2aBNChanel Contos - Consensual Healing - https://bit.ly/3SSvrNDAn Imperfect Chat About Men - https://bit.ly/4n4ce9oAnother Imperfect Chat About Men - https://bit.ly/4jUHQf7 🎧Things to listen to The Trap - Why Do They Do It? - https://bit.ly/3G0H9D1 📺 Things to watch See What You Made Me Do - https://bit.ly/3STaUbWMatt Brown TedTalk - https://bit.ly/4jP1RUc 📖 Things to read See What You Made Me Do by Jess Hill - https://bit.ly/3HG8gnoThe Reckoning by Jess Hill - https://bit.ly/3FQyZNyLosing It by Jess Hill - https://bit.ly/4ni3YD8She Is Not Your Rehab by Matt Brown with Sarah Brown - https://bit.ly/45In6UzRape in Marriage by Diana E.H Russell - https://bit.ly/4n3q0JrHome Truths by Jess Hill - https://bit.ly/402SfOCThe Brain That Changes Itself by Norman Doidge - https://bit.ly/4eejITpShame and Pride by Donald Nathanson - https://bit.ly/4lsrc7VThree Planet Model by Marianne Hester - https://bit.ly/4e4sG5t 💻Things to check out Yiliyapinya - https://yiliyapinya.org.au/about/Inner Boy - She Is Not Your Rehab - Free 30 Day Program - https://bit.ly/4jPOdQA 🚨If you, or someone you know, is exhibiting behaviour that may be concerning or problematic, call MensLine on 1300 78 99 78, or No To Violence on 1300 766 491. 🚨If you feel like you are in immediate danger please call 000. If you need someone to talk to we recommend the nation24-hour national sexual assault, family and domestic violence counselling line 1800 RESPECT on 1800 732 732. 🩷To host your own Vulnerabilitea House, purchase the Vulnerabilitea House Cards here - https://bit.ly/3Cx4tGP 🩵To purchase our journal (or your novel) My Imperfect Life, click here - https://bit.ly/3Cx4tGP 🩵To join our patreon community, A Little More Imperfects, follow this link - patreon.com/theimperfects 🩷 AND you can subscribe to A Little More Imperfects through Apple Podcasts too, here apple.co/theimperfects 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.
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    1 hr and 36 mins
  • Vincent Fantauzzo - A Brush With Pain

    Vincent Fantauzzo - A Brush With Pain
    Jul 13 2025

    Art saved Vincent Fantauzzo’s life.

    💌 Subscribe to our newsletter, the Vulnerabilitea-mail - www.theimperfects.com.au

    In this episode, Vincent paints the picture of his childhood in Broadmeadows, a childhood marked with violence and abuse, and how undiagnosed dyslexia deeply affected Vincent’s ability to read and write, as well as his memory. Now known worldwide for his award winning portraits of Asher Keddie (his now wife), Julia Gillard and Heath Ledger, Vincent chats to Hugh, Ryan and Josh about the incredible father figures, role models and friends that he has connected with throughout his life, and the impact they have had on his sense of self. Vincent, this was a dream come true.

    To watch this video on YouTube (a picture paints a thousand words after all), follow this link - 🫖 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gwH3A-jSd3U

    Other Imperfects episodes mentioned in this episode

    Billy Slater - Leading from the (Full)Back - https://bit.ly/45ZZfQ6

    🎨Things to check out

    Vincent’s Gallery - https://bit.ly/4n4CyAr

    ‘Heath’ Portrait - https://bit.ly/3Tp8amG

    ‘Love Face’ Portrait - https://bit.ly/4lcE4yQ

    ‘All that’s good in me’ (self-portrait as son Luca) - https://bit.ly/4kJF8u1

    📖Things to read

    Unveiled by Vincent Fantauzzo - https://bit.ly/4e3PsKO

    🚨If you, or someone you know, is struggling with thoughts surrounding suicide, suicidal ideation or self-harm, please call 000 or Life Life on 13 11 14. 🩷To host your own Vulnerabilitea House, purchase the Vulnerabilitea House Cards here - https://bit.ly/3Cx4tGP🩵To purchase our journal (or your novel) My Imperfect Life, click here - https://bit.ly/3Cx4tGP🩵To join our patreon community, A Little More Imperfects, follow this link - patreon.com/theimperfects 🩷 AND you can subscribe to A Little More Imperfects through Apple Podcasts too, here apple.co/theimperfects 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.
    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 40 mins
All stars
Most relevant  
absolutely loved this episode.
thank you thank you thank you
such a great view and backed by science.
one more embrace

amazing perspective we all need to take on

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I got so much out of this 2-part podcast. All the usual good humoured banter and honest vulnerability from Hugh, Josh and Ryan and very useful insights and tools from Ben - so good I had to take notes 🤚Thank you

Ben Crowe is great value 🤚

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super helpful for understanding myself and the people I'm surrounded by in everyday life situations 🤩 seriously INCREDIBLE!!!

Love it so so much!!!

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Not often you find something so honest and relatable that can have you crying, crying with laughter and pondering your thoughts all in the same minute. I tell everyone about The Imperfects and EVERYONE I’ve told have fallen in love too.

My favourite podcast

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amazing stuff boys very well done and also very compelling love your work lads

yeeewwww

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I always look forward to Mondays when the next podcast drops. Content is always relatable and delivered in such a way how can people not be more comfortable in talking about their vulnerabilities 🤩

I always look forward to Mondays

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Brilliant stories. So helpful. I love the vulnerabilitea house and hearing Dr Em revisiting past episodes. I am so glad I found this podcast.

My favourite podcast

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so so so good, worth a listen, amazing story, grant has been thru so much

amazing, well worth a listen

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