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The Imperfects

The Imperfects

By: Hugh van Cuylenburg Ryan Shelton & Josh van Cuylenburg
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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
  • Dave Hughes - Me, Myself & Ego
    Dec 14 2025

    Dave Hughes has a complicated relationship with his ego.

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

    Performing in prestigious venues around the world, Dave Hughes has solidified himself as on of Australia’s comedy icons, but the journey was (and still is) far from easy.

    Joining us in the studio today, Dave vulnerably shares how the burden of feeling unworthy affected his ability to give and receive love.

    Dave chats to Ryan about how much he has struggled with comparison, both with others, and the success of his past self, and the role that ego plays in never being able to turn down an opportunity.

    Hughesy, thank you so much for joining us.

    0:00 – Ryan got papped, Hugh got crumpets
    7:19 – The failures that lead to success
    17:12 – A feeling of general greatness
    21:06 – Reckoning with comparison
    30:18 – The joy is in the giving
    36:03 – Walking the family / work tightrope
    41:07 – Humour as a way in
    47:56 – You had me at IMAX helmet
    56:00 – Ego doesn’t let you enjoy the moment
    1:08:10 – Five strategies to let go of ego

    If you’d like to watch this full episode on YouTube, follow this link - https://youtu.be/ogE4j-UQIGY

    🫖Other Imperfects episodes mentioned in this episode:

    • Kate Langbroek - Love Story - https://bit.ly/44OH66q
    • Dr Emily - Other People Matter - https://bit.ly/3MqGNZj
    • Pat Cummins - Love, Loss & Life - https://bit.ly/3MtSgqX
    • Cate Campbell - Even Olympians Have Depression - https://bit.ly/44TRhXp

    🎄Other Xmas Imperfects episodes mentioned in this episode:

    • Santa Claus - A Special Vulnerabilitea House - https://bit.ly/48P0X6V
    • Mrs Claus - Santa’s Better Half - https://bit.ly/44g5M7J
    • Little Boy Christmas - The Forgotten Son of Mr & Mrs Claus - https://bit.ly/3KHqx5F

    📖 Things to read

    • A New Earth, by Eckhart Tolle - https://bit.ly/4rPfS9B

    💻Things to look up

    • Oprah’s series with Eckhart Tolle - https://bit.ly/48vfOo6

    🩷To host your own Vulnerabilitea House, (with the new cards!) purchase here - http://bit.ly/4lyuuWz

    🩵To purchase our journal (or your novel) My Imperfect Life, click here - http://bit.ly/4lyuuWz

    💌Join 3,000+ people getting our takeaways and favourite moments from this episode in our weekly newsletter - http://bit.ly/45NyQDy

    🩵To join our patreon community, A Little More Imperfects, follow this link - http://bit.ly/4mqunxu

    🩷 AND you can subscribe to A Little More Imperfects through Apple Podcasts too, here - http://bit.ly/4mq5BO5

    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 27 mins
  • Mary Fowler - Forgiving Yourself-Harm
    Dec 7 2025

    We’re nervous. We’re excited. We’re nervous and excited. Because it’s Mary freaking Fowler day.

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

    Joining us in the Vulnerabilitea House, all the way from Manchester, Mary answers the question ‘what do you worry about the most?’

    With wisdom far beyond her 22 years, Mary explains to Hugh, Ryan and Josh the impossible task of being the ‘perfect’ role model, especially when you are still growing up yourself.

    And then, in a conversation that will help many, and maybe even save the life of a few, Mary graciously shares her experiences with self-harm, and why she thinks it is so important to have the heavy conversations, even with the risk of saying the wrong thing.

    Mary talks about her journey with pressure and forgiveness that lead her to rediscover ‘Little Mary’, her wall of things that make her feel loved, and how she has been able to reframe her darkest times to find more empathy for others.

    Mary, it was an absolute dream come true to speak with you.

    0:00 – The 2023 Fairy tale
    6:52 – What do you worry about most?
    23:00 – Giving and taking power
    34:01 – Appreciating the little things
    41:01 – Saying the hard thing
    56:22 – Beauty after pain
    1:04:29 – Am I supposed to be here?
    1:09:16 – Looking after Little Mary

    if you would like to watch this full video on YouTube, follow this link: https://youtu.be/O_9Wf0WSfMM

    📖Things to read;

    • Bloom, by Mary Fowler - https://bit.ly/443cWw3

    🚨If you, or someone you know, is thinking about suicide or self-harm, Lifeline on 13 11 14 is a great place to start. In an emergency, please call 000.

    🩷To host your own Vulnerabilitea House, (with the new cards!) purchase here - http://bit.ly/4lyuuWz

    🩵To purchase our journal (or your novel) My Imperfect Life, click here - http://bit.ly/4lyuuWz

    💌Join 3,000+ people getting our takeaways and favourite moments from this episode in our weekly newsletter - http://bit.ly/45NyQDy

    🩵To join our patreon community, A Little More Imperfects, follow this link - http://bit.ly/4mqunxu

    🩷 AND you can subscribe to A Little More Imperfects through Apple Podcasts too, here - http://bit.ly/4mq5BO5

    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 22 mins
  • Dr Emily - You Had Me At Communication
    Nov 30 2025

    Is your communication style a red flag?

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

    It’s our favourite time of the month and Dr Emily Musgrove, our resident psychologist, is back in the studio to talk the talk (and walk the walk) about healthy communication.

    The impact of our learning history (colloquially known as “baggage”) gets a heavy feature in this episode, as Ryan, Josh and Bridge unpack their communication styles, and how this has impacted their intimate relationships.

    Dr Emily talks us through why the real challenge of communicating is not our use of language, but rather regulation of emotion, and gifts us a plethora of acronyms to practice at home the skills of effective communication.

    Dr Em, always a pleasure.

    Chapters:
    0:00 – Communication, conflict, and Hannah Ferguson
    10:19 – How do you (mostly?) communicate?
    14:57 – The impact of our learning history
    22:10 – Interpersonal Effectiveness
    27:41 – Practicing getting it wrong to get it right
    31:59 – Do opposites attract?
    34:44 – Respond rather than react
    47:51 – We all love an acronym
    1:01:45 – Dealing with unreasonable people
    1:15:49 – Breaking patterns

    If you want to watch this full episode on YouTube, follow this link -

    🫖Other Imperfects episodes mentioned in this episode

    • Hannah Ferguson - Outspoken But Not Broken - https://bit.ly/4ilr2i2
    • Dr Emily - Truth vs Harmony - https://bit.ly/481Xfri

    💻Things to do:

    • Complete the official Thomas-Kilmann Instrument communication styles quiz - https://bit.ly/4rowC7m
    • Complete the free Thomas-Kilmann Instrument inspired communication styles quiz - https://bit.ly/4iygpbR

    📺 Things to watch:

    • The Rehearsal - https://bit.ly/4ong1hL

    📖 Things to read:

    • Terry Real’s catalogue - https://bit.ly/4p25w4m
    • DBT Training Skills Manual, by Marsha M. Linehan - https://bit.ly/4ioNXcs
    • BIFF, by Bill Eddy - https://bit.ly/4ojowdG

    🩷To host your own Vulnerabilitea House, (with the new cards!) purchase here - http://bit.ly/4lyuuWz

    🩵To purchase our journal (or your novel) My Imperfect Life, click here - http://bit.ly/4lyuuWz

    💌Join 3,000+ people getting our takeaways and favourite moments from this episode in our weekly newsletter - http://bit.ly/45NyQDy

    🩵To join our patreon community, A Little More Imperfects, follow this link - http://bit.ly/4mqunxu

    🩷 AND you can subscribe to A Little More Imperfects through Apple Podcasts too, here - http://bit.ly/4mq5BO5

    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 26 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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