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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.2026 Hugh van Cuylenburg, Ryan Shelton & Josh van Cuylenburg Hygiene & Healthy Living Personal Development Personal Success Psychology Psychology & Mental Health
Episodes
  • Janelle Booker & Hamish Blake - The ADHD Playbook for Parents
    Jun 28 2026

    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.

    💌Join 8,300+ people getting our takeaways and favourite moments from this episode in our weekly newsletter - http://bit.ly/45NyQDy

    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 yourself have ADHD.

    And also, ADHD-curious Hamish Blake is here too.

    We look at the role of dopamine, energy vs stressors, and how to make your mornings less chaotic and more compassionate.

    Hamish and Janelle. What a duo.

    0:00 – A dynamic duo: Hamish and Janelle
    5:58 – The penny drop moment for Hugh
    11:35 – ADHD or Fast and Loose?
    19:56 – The beauty and beast of ADHD brains
    22:38 – The life of an ADHD kid
    27:16 – A crash course on dopamine
    37:26 – Structure, sleep and school
    44:38 – Identity and diagnosis
    55:13 – ADHD kids and friendships
    1:02:50 – Parenting WITH ADHD
    1:16:29 – Finding and supporting regulation
    1:23:13 – Slo-pamine
    1:28:54 – Let’s talk about the strengths
    1:34:35 – Get ‘em outside!

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

    🫖Imperfects episodes mentioned in this episode

    • Janelle Booker - Living With ADHD - https://bit.ly/4g0CUXK
    • Hugh’s ADHD…brief - https://bit.ly/4g567Rw
    • Maria Ruberto - Advancing Despite Adversity - https://bit.ly/4uYFbGS

    💻Things to check out

    • Janelle’s website - https://bit.ly/3QJdO5t
    • The MEHRIT Centre - https://self-reg.ca/
    • The ADHD Parent Circle Online Program - https://bit.ly/4g5Anvu
    • ADHD Women’s Support Group (Perinatal and Early Parenting) - https://bit.ly/3T0BJ0N
    • Online Q&A with Janelle about ADHD parenting - https://bit.ly/4g5wneu

    📖Things to read

    • ADHD: A Delightful Human Difference. Reframing ADHD for Good, by Janelle Booker and Matthew Johnson - https://bit.ly/4w7scU3

    🎧Things to listen to

    • Hamish & Andy podcast - https://bit.ly/43Z0RHJ
    • Controlling Your Dopamine For Motivation, Focus & Satisfaction, by Huberman Lab - https://bit.ly/4xPnMCZ

    🏆Competitions to enter

    • Imperfects LIVE at the Balwyn Cinema Gold Class Double Pass - https://bit.ly/3S0E0Zr

    🩷To host your own Vulnerabilitea House, purchase here - http://bit.ly/4lyuuWz

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

    🩵To join our subscriber 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://apple.co/theimperfects

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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    1 hr and 45 mins
  • Jimmy Wales (Wikipedia) - In Trust We Trust
    Jun 21 2026

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

    💌Join 8,100+ people getting our takeaways and favourite moments from this episode in our weekly newsletter - http://bit.ly/45NyQDy

    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 is here to step through Jimmy's 7 rules which will help you build, rebuild, and solidify what is in our innate human behaviour.

    Trust is important, and so is this conversation.

    0:00 – BIG deal on the internet
    8:41 – The heart behind it all
    14:57 – Trust is always personal
    20:22 – It’s human nature
    23:33 – Good guys of the internet
    30:35 – Don’t take sides
    38:23 – The circle of trust
    40:15 – Own up
    46:03 – Let’s call them a civil person

    If you want to watch this full episode on YouTube, follow this link - https://youtu.be/Z1SPClxSfYI

    📖 Things to read

    • The Seven Rules of Trust, by Jimmy Wales - https://bit.ly/4vi83uA

    🎧Things to listen to

    • How to Build (And Rebuild) Trust with Frances Frei - https://bit.ly/4vfMMSl

    🏆Competitions to enter

    • Imperfects LIVE at the Balwyn Cinema Gold Class Double Pass - https://bit.ly/3S0E0Zr

    🩷To host your own Vulnerabilitea House, purchase here - http://bit.ly/4lyuuWz

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

    🩵To join our subscriber 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://apple.co/theimperfects

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 3 mins
  • Dr Emily - You're Full of Grit
    Jun 14 2026

    Do you think you have grit?

    💌Join 8,000+ people getting our takeaways and favourite moments from this episode in our weekly newsletter - http://bit.ly/45NyQDy

    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 person!

    We also look inward, as Josh asks how to maintain grit when it feels like your inner critic is overwhelmingly loud.

    Dr Em, so great to have you back.

    0:00 – Down with the nonchalance!
    5:43 – Talent vs Excellence
    10:40 – Interested in finding your interests
    16:42 – For the non-naturals in the room
    24:22 – Effort is essential for excellence
    32:17 – Practicing, kindly
    35:01 – Hope is earned
    42:06 – The good and bad criticism
    53:45 – Encountering pain and discomfort
    59:54 – For the greater good
    1:06:09 – The dark side of perseverance

    If you want to watch this full episode on YouTube, click here - https://youtu.be/JmcLV7DGL4k

    🫖Imperfects episodes mentioned on this episode

    • Dyson Heppell - Whatever It Takes… To Forgive - https://bit.ly/4egeneO
    • Nedd Brockmann - The Man, The Myth, The Neddgend - https://bit.ly/4egfATo
    • Dr Emily - Hope - https://bit.ly/43YalTr
    • Bri Lee - Babies+Climate=Anxiety - https://bit.ly/4xlrYdl
    • How I Built ‘Dis’ - The Resilience Project Story - https://bit.ly/4aH0dSP

    📚Things to read

    • Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance by Angela Duckworth - https://bit.ly/4vzoe6o
    • Self-efficacy, by Albert Bandura - https://bit.ly/4fx4KdW
    • Master of Change, by Brad Stulberg - https://bit.ly/4xCbUEv
    • Peak: Secrets from the New Science of Expertise, by Anders Ericsson - https://bit.ly/3Q9cIje

    📺Things to watch

    • THE GAP, by Ira Glass - https://bit.ly/4xjkuHL

    ⭐️Things to donate to

    • JMB Foundation - https://jmbfoundation.org.au

    🏆Competitions to enter

    • Imperfects LIVE at the Balwyn Cinema Gold Class Double Pass - https://bit.ly/3S0E0Zr

    🎟️Things to buy tickets to

    • Imperfects LIVE at the Balwyn Cinema - https://bit.ly/4vq9JSr

    🩷To host your own Vulnerabilitea House, purchase here - http://bit.ly/4lyuuWz

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

    🩵To join our subscriber 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://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 17 mins
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