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 go live Monday June 8.

🎟️ Buy here - https://bit.ly/4ecYtTw

BUT to enter the competition OR buy tickets, you need a codeword (lowercase). And the only way you will hear the codeword is to be a Little More Imperfects subscriber and listen to the latest episode!

So quick, subscribe here!

🩵Patreon - patreon.com/theimperfects

🩷Apple Podcast - http://apple.co/theimperfects

We can’t wait to see you there x

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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

💌Join 7,500+ people getting our takeaways and favourite moments from this episode in our weekly newsletter - http://bit.ly/45NyQDy

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 incredible chat, Hugh, Josh and Ryan (our Ryan), each present Ryan Holiday with something they have been struggling with in their own lives. Through the lens of Stoic philosophers Marcus Aurelius, Seneca and Epictetus, Ryan Holiday talks to how stoicism can really help us to live into our values, prioritise presence, and deal with existential dread.

We discuss with Ryan the importance of understanding what will actually make you happy (spoiler: it’s not a billion dollars), and how to reframe death as a reminder that we must appreciate every moment (or not waste anymore with shame and guilt).

This episode, and its practical take-aways (which you can find listed in our newsletter), has been a long time coming.

Ryan, what an absolute honour.

0:00 – What is Stoicism?
13:26 – For the Josh’s of the world
17:07 – Time and Energy of Worrying
27:01 – The illusion of freedom
33:50 – Am I a bad friend?
38:58 – Practicing what you preach ft. presence
45:42 – If today was your last day
50:22 – 5 quotes for a Stoic life

If you’d like to watch this full episode on YouTube, follow this link -

🫖 Imperfects episodes mentioned in this episode

• Pat Cummins - Love, Loss & Life - https://bit.ly/4dHKR2F
• Maria Ruberto - Sleep Your Way To Your Top - https://bit.ly/4dHKPYB

📖 Things to read

• Letter’s from a Stoic by Seneca - https://bit.ly/49WVNqB
• ALL of Ryan’s books - https://bit.ly/43uHsxZ

✍️Journals to journal

• The Daily Stoic - https://bit.ly/49qJ6Em
• My Imperfect Life - https://bit.ly/4tZ8qJ6

🎟️ Things to get tickets to

• Daily Stoic Live with Ryan Holiday - https://bit.ly/4uK72Lt

💻Things to check out

• Ryan’s website - https://bit.ly/4v3Vh24
• The Resilience Project - https://bit.ly/3Q4LOc4

🩷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.

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

💌Join 7,500+ people getting our takeaways and favourite moments from this episode in our weekly newsletter - http://bit.ly/45NyQDy

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 discusses how young people are forming attachments with AI companions and how we might see, perhaps the first generation in known history with a lower IQ than the one beforehand.

We talk about the tangible and interconnected mental health impacts that this major societal disruption will have, and Hugh and Josh ask how in the world can we broach this topic with our kids?

BUT, this episode isn’t all doom and gloom. Joel is a tech-optimist, after all.

We talk to Joel about how we can foster human connection, and continue to develop our critical thinking skills, whilst not turning away from AI altogether.

Joel, this has been invaluable.

If you want to watch this full video on YouTube, follow this link - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GPGa6heppjE

0:00 – The episode we’ve been putting off
10:10 – The only certainty is disruption
14:15 – Impact of AI on the brain
21:23 – Rewards and moral responsibility
27:11 – A scary mental health spiral
30:31 – Think of the children
35:10 – You may now kiss the AI
45:06 – Purposeful Utopia
58:42 – Seeing is no longer believing
1:02:21 – The Roadmap to AI
1:11:35 – Finding Motivation in Limbo
1:18:15 – Let’s Stack Some Habits

🫖Imperfects episodes mentioned in this episode

• Dr Emily - Acceptance, That’s Radical - (1:22:53) - https://bit.ly/4dW7Bfa
• Dr Emily - The Certainty of Uncertainty - (1:22:53) - https://bit.ly/3RTAjVl
• James Clear - Down The Habit Hole - (1:22:00) - https://bit.ly/4wIg5xV

📖 Things to read

• The Intuition Toolkit by Dr Joel Pearson - (3:18) - https://bit.ly/4v5NnFM
• Matt Shumer App Development Industry Blog - (27:11) - https://bit.ly/4uo65rY

💻Things to check out

• Joel’s website - https://bit.ly/4upBURa
• Tristan Harris’ Center for Human Technology - (1:25:40) - https://bit.ly/4wGrFJZ
• Figure Three Robotics - (42:51) - https://bit.ly/42J2Uiz
• Joel's work at the University of NSW as Deputy Director of Human Readiness UNSW AI Institute - https://bit.ly/4nPA89G

📺 Things to watch

• House of Dynamite - (26:21) - https://bit.ly/4uw5PYg

🩷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.

What is your envy telling you?

💌Join 7,000+ people getting our takeaways and favourite moments from this episode in our weekly newsletter - http://bit.ly/45NyQDy

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 been an adaptive function for a cave person to secure their basic needs, our brains are not equipped for the intense comparison fed to us via social media.

Dr Emily chats to Hugh, Ryan and Josh about the layered experience of envy, and how often, it stems from feeling not-enough or unworthy.

Of course, Dr Emily brings the strategies. We explore how to work with envy in our own lives, and how to acknowledge it in the lives of our friends and family to protect important relationships.

Dr Em, we’ll see you for the sequel on jealousy soon.

To watch the full episode: https://youtu.be/B7acUnoekSc

0:00 – Envy vs Jealousy 9:08 – Keeping up with the Jones’ 8:16 – A message around ‘enoughness’ 25:12 – The energy of being a hater 36:50 – A deep longing for a difference experience 42:13 – On the flip side 52:45 - Acknowledge the hard 59:18 – The social emotion 1:07:18 – Working with envy

🫖Imperfects episodes mentioned in this episode

• Dave Hughes - Me, Myself & Ego - https://bit.ly/4ua3mSP
• Hamish Blake - Let’s Talk About Self-Doubt - https://bit.ly/4fl7omR
• Dr Emily - Acceptance, That’s Radical - https://bit.ly/4ugEHwe

💻Things to check out

• Leon Festinger’s Social Comparison Theory - https://bit.ly/4npfIE5

📺Things to watch

• ‘Onesies’ Bluey episode - https://bit.ly/4eGTqLS

📖Things to read

• The Way We Are, by Hugh Mackay - https://bit.ly/4wsJuff
• Status Anxiety, by Alain de Botton - https://bit.ly/4tvbGeL

🩷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.

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.

💌Join 7,000+ people getting our takeaways and favourite moments from this episode in our weekly newsletter - http://bit.ly/45NyQDy

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 about the intricacies of healing, privilege, and having a world class difficult conversation with the ones you love.

And then, Josh asks Reuben how you can best show up for your friends who might be going through something similar.

Reuben, it was such a privilege having you in the studio.

If you want to watch this full episode on YouTube, follow this link - https://youtu.be/okQnOwV2MJE

0:00 – An Imperfect Meet-Cute
6:44 – The night of the assault
19:28 – Identity, privilege, and idealism
33:09 – Family Dynamics
41:16 - World Class Difficult Conversation
47:39 – The Waiting Game
59:15 – Reuben’s Letter
1:04:24 – A divine test
1:10:30 – Just help
1:18:46 – How can you be a better friend?

🫖Imperfects episodes mentioned on this episode

• Rana Hussain - Belonging For Connection - https://bit.ly/49voquJ

🎧Things to listen to

• SportsGrad Podcast - https://bit.ly/42V75HT

💻Things to check out

• SportsGrad - https://bit.ly/49p2hOD

🚨If you’d like to reach out to someone for support after listening to this episode, here are some great places to start

• 1800 RESPECT
• Centre Against Sexual Assault - 03 5441 0430 (Mon-Fri 9am-5pm) OR 1800 806 292 (Sexual Assault Crisis Line)

🩷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.

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.

💌Join 6,500+ people getting our takeaways and favourite moments from this episode in our weekly newsletter - http://bit.ly/45NyQDy

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 to answer every question in the deck (kidding), Jan and Josh discuss the guilt of turning away, and the consequences of leaning in.

And finally, Jan bonds with the Hugh, Ryan and Josh about the fundamental importance of deliberately creating community.

Jan, you are remarkable.

0:00 – Introducing Josh’s housemate
8:42 – The art of being vulnerable
17:19 – I wish I could stop going on social media.
27:13 – Being cracked open
35:32 – Deliberately building community
46:39 – Anticipating the Comments
53:34 – Optimist by will

If you’d like to watch this full video on YouTube (and see Josh’s Frant banner), follow this link - https://youtu.be/BRoyNdZEZD0

🫖Imperfects episodes mentioned in this episode

• Dr Edna Lekgabe - New Baby … New Brain … Matrescence - (33:21) - https://bit.ly/48vQZb5
• How (and Why) Ryan Dumped His iPhone - (20:50) - https://bit.ly/4tGRXKj

💻Things to check out

• The Frant - https://bit.ly/4cSeFaO
• Ette Media - https://bit.ly/4t1OzIw

🎧 Things to listen to

• We Used To Be Journos - https://bit.ly/4dcAGT9

📱Things to help you set social media boundaries

• One sec - https://bit.ly/4cEYMpF
• Brick - https://bit.ly/4vXSzfP

🩷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.

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

💌Join 6,500+ people getting our takeaways and favourite moments from this episode in our weekly newsletter - http://bit.ly/45NyQDy

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 pregnancy complication.

We’re talking hormonal changes, physiological changes, sociological changes that are SO significant, you can see them in brain scans. Matrescence is messy, a developmental earthquake, and it’s not talked about nearly enough.

This episode might just break the internet (and your heart) wide open.

0:00 – Introducing Hugh’s perinatal psychiatrist
7:30 – Matrescence? Huh?
21:14 – The biology of baby brain
34:10 – The difference between matrescence and depression
40:46 – Reasonable worry vs anxiety disorder
47:40 – The emergence of neurodivergence
54:04 – Post-natal depression
1:00:04 – Matrescence after loss
1:05:50 – Getting to know a brand new person
1:11:19 – Can women have it all?
1:18:32 – On a societal scale
1:26:12 – The paternal earthquake

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

🫖 Other Imperfect’s episodes mentioned in this episode

• Bron Lewis - Is It Me or Postnatal Anxiety? - https://bit.ly/4vHn1eh

📖 Things to read

• Being Female: Reproduction, Power and Change, by Dana Raphael - https://bit.ly/48jC5EO
• The Birth of a Mother, New York Times, by Alexandra Sacks - https://bit.ly/3OjB9tp
• Men at Work: Australia’s Parenthood Trap, Quarterly Essay, by Annabel Crabb - https://bit.ly/4mLE8Hx

🎧Things to listen to

• Perinatal OCD: When ‘the happiest time of your life’ turns dark - https://bit.ly/48lx8eK

📺 Things to watch

• Alexandra Sacks TEDTalk on Matrescence - https://bit.ly/4tsBcCt

💻Things to check out

• Yerkes-Dodson Law: Stress Level - https://bit.ly/4cOT2IO
• peanut x Tommee Tippee campaign on matrescence - https://bit.ly/4mQDicU

🩷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.

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

💌Join 6,500+ people getting our takeaways and favourite moments from this episode in our weekly newsletter - http://bit.ly/45NyQDy

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 talks about his realisation that he is in for the long mourn, and why he allows himself to feel joy during times of intense grief. Sharing a giggle at a funeral? Absolutely.

In a beautiful moment of connection with Hugh, Shane chats about parenting the ‘premium package’ (his neurodivergent child).

Shane, this was incredibly joyful.

If you’d like to watch this full video on YouTube, follow this link - https://youtu.be/VHaK2fSiasA

0:00 – A bird in her where?
3:19 – Butt of the joke
12:34 – The evolution of good manners
17:47 – Seeking validation
27:17 – Giggle at a funeral
42:00 – Autism, ADHD, Tourette’s: The Premium Package!
55:58 – Becoming softer
1:00:25 – Parenting your parents
1:08:03 – Don’t wait for the moment
1:18:04 – 5 things we can do to be warmer

🫖 Other episodes of The Imperfects mentioned in this episode

• Dr Emily - Truth v Harmony - https://bit.ly/4etnytQ

📺Things to watch

• Kenny - https://bit.ly/427rUzv
• Shane’s AFI win (go to 6:12) - https://bit.ly/48HyzEb

📋Check-in

• Questions to ask someone if they might be depressed - https://bit.ly/4dOYuNS

🩷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.