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The Imperfects

The Imperfects

Written 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.2026 Hugh van Cuylenburg, Ryan Shelton & Josh van Cuylenburg Hygiene & Healthy Living Psychology Psychology & Mental Health Self-Help Success
Episodes
  • Spooky Summer - Hugh’s Haunted House
    Jan 18 2026

    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 Hugh’s ghost busting appointment, and whether Hugh has had any paranormal activity since.

    And finally, whether this whole ordeal has convinced Josh that ghosts are real.

    Long live summer!

    0:00 – A phoenus? Draw it
    4:17 – Team Josh v Team Ryan
    10:28 – Meeting the shamanic healer
    16:25 – The not-so-light-hearted update
    30:01 – Cursed artwork: to burn or not to burn
    35:46 – Has the ghost been busted?

    If you want to watch this full episode on YouTube, follow this link - https://youtu.be/u4XNRTLXtrQ

    🩵Sign up for A Little More Imperfects here

    • Patreon - patreon.com/theimperfects
    • Apple Podcasts - https://bit.ly/4aSIeKd

    🫖Other Imperfects episodes mentioned in this episode

    • Maria Ruberto - Advancing Despite Adversity - https://bit.ly/49TSktd
    • Maria Ruberto - Sleep Your Way To Your Top - https://bit.ly/49jJJ2S

    👻Ghost busters

    • Garant

    🩷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

    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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    40 mins
  • Psychology Summer - Your Inner Fan with Dr Emily
    Jan 11 2026

    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, about how life changing it can be to receive an ADHD diagnosis, as well as the not so joyful emotions, such as grief and anger, which can accompany this.

    Josh talks about his own inner critic, which leads into a broader discussion about self-compassion, top down vs bottom up therapy, and the therapeutic benefits to showing up for your younger self as the adult you are today.

    Don’t say we don’t spoil you.

    If you want to watch this full episode on YouTube, follow this link - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AzBxIFUOJL0

    🩷To join our A Little More Imperfects Community

    • Patreon - https://bit.ly/3KQvB7R
    • Apple Podcasts - https://bit.ly/499aZRs

    🩵Where to send in your reflections

    • https://bit.ly/4rYjfuS

    🫖Other Imperfects episodes mentioned in this episode

    • Janelle Booker - Living with ADHD - https://bit.ly/4rXQIG0
    • Hugh’s ADHD … brief - https://bit.ly/3MJBzb4
    • Ben Crowe (Pt 1) - Meet Your Inner Fan - https://bit.ly/3KHwJdX
    • Ben Crowe (Pt 2) - Now BE Your Inner Fan - https://bit.ly/49bVxnB
    • James van Cuylenburg - Love Your Wonky Bricks - https://bit.ly/3MzZKZz
    • What’s Your ATAR? - https://bit.ly/4pwNZBG

    📺Things to watch

    • The Rehearsal - https://bit.ly/48V6IA0
    • Good Will Hunting - https://bit.ly/4iW7hhn
    • Rick Hanson - Velcro for the Bad, Teflon for the Good - https://bit.ly/4rVpe3R

    💻 Things to do

    • Rick Hanson - Positive Neuroplasticity Training - https://bit.ly/48COcgN

    🩷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

    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 8 mins
  • The Little Drummer Girl - A Christmas Scandal
    Dec 21 2025

    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.

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

    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 revenue from this episode will be donated to Becky’s chosen charity of HeartKids, who do an incredible job providing lifelong support, resources, and advocacy to the 250,000 people impacted by childhood-onset heart disease.

    0:00 – Introducing the Little Drummer Girl
    5:50 – The ultimate gift guide
    9:51 – An original song, an original crime
    15:22 – Sharing enriching information from 20 AD
    25:28 – Know what you’re good at
    30:20 - Hello Becky, Hello HeartKids

    If you want to watch this full episode on YouTube (you really do), follow this link - https://youtu.be/oXBEij8q5Tc

    🫖Other Imperfects episodes mentioned in this episode

    • Santa Claus - A Special Vulnerabilitea House - https://bit.ly/4pDw6B8
    • Mrs Claus - Santa’s Better Half - https://bit.ly/4559jpJ
    • Little Boy Christmas - The Forgotten Son of Mr & Mrs Claus - https://bit.ly/4iVxGMi
    • Becky Lucas - The power of laughter - https://bit.ly/3KN76Zg

    💻Things to do

    • Check out Becky Lucas on instagram - https://bit.ly/3N1ELil
    • Check out the incredible HeartKids organisation - https://www.heartkids.org.au

    🩷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
    39 mins
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