The Imperfects

Whether it was Family Feud or whether it was the weather, Grant Denyer has been a larger than life fixture on Australian TV for 25 years. But it hasn’t all been big smiles and Gold Logies.

In this raw and vulnerable chat with the most joyous man on the telly, Grant opens up about his past dependence on the pain medication (OxyContin) that he needed after suffering a serious injury that broke his back. He tells Hugh, Ryan and Josh how that dependence not only jeopardised his career, but his marriage and family.

While this is a side of Grant Denyer that you may not know, it is a story of hope and resilience about a successful (and loveable) man who nearly lost it all… but found enough strength and self-worth to fight for his life.

To watch Grant's Gold Logie acceptance speech, follow this link: https://bit.ly/3EmsIEL
To watch the trailer for Painkiller on Netflix, follow this link: https://bit.ly/3R5H308
To listen to Grant's podcast, It's All True, follow this link: https://bit.ly/4bN6ATO

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.

Monica. Chandler. Rachel. Ross. Phoebe. Joey. We all love Friends. But what about friendSHIPS? Why are our friendships so important to us? 

In this episode, Dr Emily explains everything - our different types of friends, why they matter SO much, and what it is about someone that makes us like them? (Spoiler alert: it’s got nothing to do with how impressive they are)

To listen to Will McMahon's Imperfects episode, follow this link: https://bit.ly/3E9qfxF

To listen to 360's Imperfects episode, follow this link: https://bit.ly/45p6qy7

To learn more and read some of Robin Dunbar's research, follow these links: https://bit.ly/45KyDiy & https://bit.ly/45KKjls

To learn more about William Rawlin's work around expectations in friendships, follow this link: https://bit.ly/3OOaZLj

To learn more about The Beautiful Mess Effect, follow this link: https://bit.ly/3qNcSA2

For book recommendation, 'Platonic, The Surprising New Science of Making and Keeping Friends As an Adult', by Marisa Franco, follow this link: https://bit.ly/45GZU5v

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.

Myf Warhurst is an icon. An Australian icon. Everyone, we have an icon on our podcast.

From Spicks & Specks to Triple J, and Eurovision to Bluey… oh and doing a whole show about menopause… HER menopause… Australia has LOVED Myf Warhurst for a long, long time.

You might even think it’s impossible to love her more, well just wait until you hear her honesty and vulnerability in this Vulnerabilitea House.

Myf talks about the anxiety that comes with her line of work, how she’s dealt with the ups and downs that come with a career in the entertainment industry, and what she’s learned from the tragic loss of people close to her.

To watch The Truth About Menopause with Myf Warhurst, follow this link: https://bit.ly/47C1nMo

To listen to Myf's podcast, 'Bank On' with Zan Rowe, follow this link: https://bit.ly/3YFBIyc

To purchase Myf's memoir, Time of My Life, follow this link: https://bit.ly/3OIOjMp

To listen to Chrissie Swan's Imperfects episode that Myf talks about, follow this link: https://bit.ly/3qL7WeO

This episode contains a discussion about suicide. If this feels like it's too much for you to listen to right now, you may want to skip this one and come back another time.

If are worried about someone you know, need to talk to someone bereaved by suicide, or want to start a discussion about suicide prevention in your family or community, Conversations Matter is a practical online resource to support safe and effective discussions about suicide, to access, please follow this link: https://bit.ly/3Wx9tAO

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.

For 20 years, Osher Günsberg has been one of Australia’s most famous and successful TV/radio/podcast personalities. Since hosting the wildly popular Australian Idol, to handing out roses on The Bachelor (and SO MUCH in between), there aren’t many showbiz stories that rival Osher’s sustained success.

But if we’ve learned anything on this podcast, behind every perfect story is an imperfect reality. And as you’ll hear in this honest chat with Hugh, Ryan and Josh, Osher’s journey has been exactly that... imperfect.

Osher talks about his struggle with alcohol addiction, his relationship with control, and living with ADHD. He also explains why he decided to change his name at the height of his fame.


To listen to Osher's podcast, Better Than Yesterday, follow this link: https://bit.ly/3YuYEjN

For book recommendation, Emotional Agility, by Susan David, follow this link: https://bit.ly/3KF6GAV

The Imperfects is not a licensed mental health service and is not a substitute for professional mental health advice, treatment or assessment.
This episode discusses alcohol abuse. If you are struggling with your relationship with alcohol, or other drugs, you can access free, confidential, 24/7 support from Counselling Online. https://www.counsellingonline.org.au/
Alternatively, seek support from friends and family, your local doctor, therapist, AA Group, or call lifeline on 13 11 14. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

While our guest might humbly refer to his heroics as “that thing in Thailand”, it was in fact far more significant…

In 2018, the world was gripped by the terrifying story of thirteen boys who were miraculously saved from inside a Thai cave. Maybe you’ve seen one of the billion docos made about it, or the Hollywood film directed by Ron Howard. As you probably already know, the most miraculous part was HOW these boys were saved, thanks in large part to today’s guest, Australian deep-diving anaesthetist, Dr Richard “Harry” Harris.

In this fascinating Academy of Imperfection, “Harry” answers some of the 5000 questions that Hugh, Ryan and Josh wanted to ask (but didn’t have time), and then ultimately shares some valuable insights on the art of risk.

To learn more or purchase 'The Art of Risk' by Dr Richard Harris, follow this link: https://bit.ly/44R70EP

To listen to Dr Harris's podcast, Real Risk, follow this link: https://bit.ly/3OJil3Q

To learn more about the National Geographic documentary, The Rescue, follow this link: https://bit.ly/3YpDeEp

Documentary, 'The Trapped 13' that Dr Harris mentions in the episode in available to watch in Australia on Netflix. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The phrase, “That’s triggering” or “I’m triggered”, has become more and more common. And while people are triggered by an event, or a topic, or even a scene in a TV show, what does it truly mean to be ‘triggered’? And should we really be avoiding triggering topics, or should we be exposing ourselves to them?

In this extremely helpful episode, Dr Emily goes deep on triggers. She explains to Hugh, Ryan and Josh what it means to actually be ‘triggered’, and how we often use the term incorrectly. She also talks about the use of Trigger Warnings in shows and podcasts, like the ones you often hear at the beginning of The Imperfects.

There’s a HEAP more fascinating information in this one so get your notebooks out and listen up to the brilliant Dr Em!

To watch Susan David's Ted Talk, follow this link: https://bit.ly/3YfosA1

To delve further into the research around trigger warnings, follow these links: https://bit.ly/3KCvObB, https://bit.ly/3Kh6uHH, https://bit.ly/3q9hBLW, https://bit.ly/3Qeuwaa, https://bit.ly/3rOVrz2, https://bit.ly/3rPrNcV

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.

Christie Whelan Browne is one of the funniest (and most talented) people in Australia. If you know, you know. She’s won multiple awards and done everything from stage and musical theatre, to TV drama and comedy… and most recently Dancing with the Stars.

But it’s her journey, before the #MeToo movement (and continues today) that’s making the biggest impact. Christie has rarely spoken so openly about her very public and tumultuous experience through the courts, in the media and even within her own family, as she became the face of a high-profile criminal trial and subsequent defamation trial that turned her life upside down.

Historically, making the world a better, safer and more equal place for women has never been easy. Far from it. And in this episode Christie tells Hugh, Ryan and Josh what it was like for her, as she landed in the firing line while trying to protect other women like her. To us, Christie is an inspiration and we couldn’t be more grateful to her for sharing her imperfect story with us.

To watch the True Stories episode with Christie, please follow this link: https://bit.ly/3BV2x6Y

To view The Blessed One on Instagram, follow this link: https://bit.ly/3NYEiu7

This episode discusses allegations of indecent assault, if this brings up anything for you, you can contact 1800 RESPECT on 1800 737 732. 1800 RESPECT is a national 24/7 counselling line for anyone who has experienced, or is at risk of, family and domestic violence and/or sexual assault.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Laura Henshaw has achieved a lot. Not only is she an author, law graduate and podcaster, but she is the CEO and co-founder of the wildly popular and successful health & fitness app, KIC - which she started and still runs with friend, and former Imperfects guest, Steph Claire-Smith.

But behind her success, Laura still worries what people think of her. And in this Vulnerabilitea House, she vulnerably tells Hugh, Ryan and Josh where this comes from and how this anxiety continues to crop up for her in everyday life.

We’ve got a feeling this’ll be a verrry relatable one.

To listen to Ben Crowe's episode that Laura mentions in this episode, follow this link: https://bit.ly/3Ockd52

To listen to Steph Clare Smith's Imperfects episode, follow this link: https://bit.ly/46G3luN

To learn more about KIC and to download the app, follow this link: https://kicapp.com/

To listen to Laura and Steph's podcast, KICPOD, follow this link: https://bit.ly/3NX7XUM

To read and purchase Laura and Steph's new book, You Take Care, follow this link: https://bit.ly/43tzMJS

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Other than being a Clinical Psychologist (with a child specialisation), Dr James van Cuylenburg is not only Hugh and Josh’s cousin, but in Hugh’s opinion, he’s the greatest piano player in the world - which provides zero context for this incredible episode.

James covers so much in this 90 minutes that it’s almost impossible to sum up here. Everything from the development of our kids today, screentime issues, the cost of ambition, the importance of self-compassion and James’s own experiences with bullying and how it motivated him to study psychology. Among MANY other topics.

This episode is not just about kids. It’s about the human experience and why we should all acknowledge and love our “wonky bricks” and make the most of our short time on this floating ball we call earth. PRESS PLAY ALREADY!

To learn more about James's work, or book into see him or another psychologist at Engage One on One, follow this link: https://bit.ly/3MV947W

To learn more about Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs, follow this link: https://bit.ly/3MVgNTC

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What do you do when you’re stressed? Watch the telly? Scroll the innuhnet? Fix yourself a stiff VB on the rocks?

We all feel stressed and burned out from time to time. It’s unfortunately a reality of life. But double-unfortunately, most of us don’t know how to correctly deal with it. And that’s why Dr Emily is here to help!

In this extremely practical episode, Dr Emily explains the science behind WHY we get stressed. But more importantly, she tells us what we can do to alleviate the stress and WHY it will work.

And why does she know all these things? Because she’s a… [to be sung] PSYCHOLOGIST!!!

To listen to Kate Reid's Imperfects episode, follow these links: (pt1) https://bit.ly/45wqwqQ & (pt2) https://bit.ly/3BQFAlz

For book recommendation, 'Burnout, The secret to solving the stress cycle', by Emily & Amelia Nagoski, follow this link: https://bit.ly/3IGQZrY

For book recommendation  'The Joy of Movement' by Kelly McGonigal, follow this link: https://bit.ly/3ODdzoU

For app recommendation, 'One Sec', follow this link: https://one-sec.app/

For book recommendation, 'Mans Search for Meaning' by Victor E Frankl, follow this link: https://bit.ly/3BSddDq

For further reading on The Polyvagal Theory, follow this link https://rb.gy/23wtb

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.