The Imperfects

💌 Subscribe to our newsletter, the Vulnerabilitea-mail - www.theimperfects.com.au

There is currently only one gay man actively playing in a professional, top-tier basketball league anywhere in the world. And today, we had the enormous privilege of welcoming him into the studio.

Demonstrating Olympic-level vulnerability, Isaac Humphries made global headlines in 2022 when he came out as gay to his basketball teammates.

However, as Hugh, Ryan and Josh learn in this chat, this moment was the result of a lifetime of chaos, confusion, darkness, and ultimately, courage.

In this episode, Isaac talks through his horrific experience of childhood bullying, and how basketball became both a sanctuary and a space of secrecy. For Isaac, he never imagined a world where he could keep his career and live authentically as his whole self.

An incredible journey, which includes a Beyonce-esque move of dropping his last name for a time, Isaac describes to Hugh, Ryan and Josh what it felt like to come out to his mum, live as an openly gay man for the first time, and finally, come out to the world.

Finding light in the darkest of times, Josh and Isaac discuss the importance of purpose, which prompts Hugh to reflect on how this episode is the epitome of The Imperfects: how vulnerability leads to authentic connection.

Isaac, we love you.

If you’d like to watch this full episode on YouTube (and see Hugh’s model shot), click here - https://bit.ly/43YQXpc 

🫖 Other Imperfects episodes mentioned in this episode

• Janelle Booker - Living With ADHD - https://bit.ly/42GsmEJ
• Hugh’s Open Letter to Parents of Neurodivergent People - https://apple.co/4l4kw0m

📺 Things to watch

• Isaac’s Coming Out video - https://bit.ly/3HxvR9O

🎧 Things to listen to

• Isaac’s music, including the song Be Alright - https://spoti.fi/4mTSGol

📖 Things to read

• The Velvet Rage, by Alan Downs - https://bit.ly/43XZ3hH

🏳️‍🌈For some great educational resources, head to Pride in Sport - www.prideinsport.com.au/resources

🚨If you, or someone you know, is struggling, these are a few great resources

• QLife - provides anonymous and free LGBTI peer support and referral for people over 18 wanting to talk about sexuality, identity, gender, bodies, feelings or relationships. 1800 184 527, www.qlife.org.au
• Minus 18 - Through a preventative model of mental health support, Minus 18 tackle social isolation by creating fun-filled spaces where LGBTQIA+ people under 18 feel they belong and are celebrated www.minus18.org.au
• Lifeline - 13 11 14, www.lifeline.org.au

🩷To host your own Vulnerabilitea House, purchase the Vulnerabilitea House Cards here - https://bit.ly/3Cx4tGP

🩵To purchase our journal (or your novel) My Imperfect Life, click here - https://bit.ly/3Cx4tGP

🩵To join our patreon community, A Little More Imperfects, follow this link - patreon.com/theimperfects

🩷 AND you can subscribe to A Little More Imperfects through Apple Podcasts too, here 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.

This is where the fun begins.

💌 Subscribe to our newsletter, the Vulnerabilitea-mail - www.theimperfects.com.au

Today we welcome the Return of the Dr Emily, our resident psychologist, to talk about the Force in all its (clinical) glory.

Amongst the immense excitement of Hugh, Ryan and Josh, Dr Emily talks through the lightness and darkness inside us all, and how the presence of a good mentor makes a world of difference.

Bringing psychology back to the forefront of this ep, Dr Emily likens Yoda’s general vibe to the principles of Acceptance Commitment Therapy, whilst also pointing out the incredible power of mindfulness (just ask Luke Skywalker).

Hugh, Ryan and Josh chat with Dr Emily about The Hero’s Journey, main character syndrome and how to let go of our ego to embrace your authentic self.

May the Force be with you.

If you’d like to watch this full episode on YouTube, click here - https://bit.ly/3FGlYG6

🫖Other Imperfects episodes mentioned in this episode

• Dr Emily - Resent Less, Live More - https://bit.ly/4mGNOCP
• Dr Emily - Hope - https://apple.co/4l9des9
• Dr Emily - The Certainty of Uncertainty - https://bit.ly/3SyoWj0
• Dr Emily - Grief Lightening - https://bit.ly/4kki9W6
• Maria Ruberto - Advancing Despite Adversity - https://apple.co/4e2Io05
• Hugh’s Open Letter to Parents of Neurodivergent People - https://apple.co/4l4kw0m
• Hugh’s ADHD…brief (Bonus From Patreon) - https://bit.ly/4jefaNP

💻Things / people to check out

• Tara Brach - https://bit.ly/43Fk8gR
• Scott Barry Kaufman - https://bit.ly/4dSmwFK
• Dr Robyn D Walser - https://bit.ly/4kEI5M0
• Joseph Campbell’s The Hero’s Journey - https://bit.ly/3HlH516
• The Star Wars Catalogue - https://bit.ly/3HzXi2x

📖 Things to read

• Unstuck by Dr Emily Musgrove - https://bit.ly/4bhmCp2

🩷To host your own Vulnerabilitea House, purchase the Vulnerabilitea House Cards here - https://bit.ly/3Cx4tGP

🩵To purchase our journal (or your novel) My Imperfect Life, click here - https://bit.ly/3Cx4tGP

🩵To join our patreon community, A Little More Imperfects, follow this link - patreon.com/theimperfects

🩷 AND you can subscribe to A Little More Imperfects through Apple Podcasts too, here 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.

As the title suggests, Nas Campanella is really cool (and accomplished and driven and resilient).

Subscribe to our newsletter, the Vulnerabilitea-mail - www.theimperfects.com.au

You might recognise her voice from the Triple J cinematic universe or know her work as the Disability Affairs Reporter for the ABC. But what you might not know is that Nas is vision impaired, or that a neurological condition means that she can’t read braille either.

In this episode of The Vulnerabilitea House, Nas answers the questions “what childhood challenges best prepared you for adulthood?”

Chatting to Hugh, Ryan and Josh, Nas talks about her relationship with her disability, and how it shapes her identity.

Nas also dives into a powerful conversation with the guys about the role agency and accessibility in the experience of discrimination, and shares why, if a magical operation could restore her sight, she wouldn’t change a thing.

Nas, it has been an absolute joy.

🩷To host your own Vulnerabilitea House, purchase the Vulnerabilitea House Cards here - https://bit.ly/3Cx4tGP

🩵To purchase our journal (or your novel) My Imperfect Life, click here - https://bit.ly/3Cx4tGP

🩵To join our patreon community, A Little More Imperfects, follow this link - patreon.com/theimperfects

🩷 AND you can subscribe to A Little More Imperfects through Apple Podcasts too, here 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.

It’s that time of the month (sorry), and we’re welcoming back Dr Louise Newson to talk all things hormones.

In case you missed it, last time we had Dr Louise on the pod, she shared her expertise on perimenopause and menopause. This, to no surprise, was Apple Australia's most shared podcast episode in 2024.

Today, Dr Louise talks to the guys about hormones; what they are, how they impact our lives, and what the difference is between the natural and synthetic forms we can be prescribed.

Discussing the naturally occurring cycles of hormones, as well as the dramatic hormone drop offs that can happen throughout a lifetime, Dr Louise shares the impact of hormones for PMS, PMDD and post-natal depression.

Dr Louise, this has been life changing.

If you would like to watch this full video on YouTube, follow this link: https://youtu.be/l4naB7-GKto

🫖Other Imperfects episodes mentioned in this episode:

• Dr Louise Newson - Maybe It’s Menopause - https://bit.ly/43qYwon

🎧Things to listen to:

• The Dr Louise Newson Podcast - Talking to my daughter: understanding hormones, contraception, PMS & the gaps in sex ed - https://bit.ly/43vnliX
• The Dr Louise Newson Podcast - Testosterone and the hormone triangle, with Dr Mohit Khera - https://apple.co/4duWhow

💻 Things to check out:

• Balance website - https://bit.ly/4mlLFwp
• Balance App - https://bit.ly/436uozz

💊To find more information about contraception

• Sexual Health Victoria - https://bit.ly/4jgfJ9M
• Children by Choice - https://bit.ly/4je80Ju
• Dr Louise Hormone Health Hub - https://bit.ly/44HQARP

🩷To host your own Vulnerabilitea House, purchase the Vulnerabilitea House Cards here - https://bit.ly/3Cx4tGP

🩵To purchase our journal (or your novel) My Imperfect Life, click here - https://bit.ly/3Cx4tGP

🩷To subscribe to the Vulnerabilitea-mail weekly newsletter, join through our website - www.theimperfects.com.au

🩵To join our patreon community, A Little More Imperfects, follow this link - patreon.com/theimperfects

🩷 AND you can subscribe to A Little More Imperfects through Apple Podcasts too, here 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.

Quick! Is anyone here an author? Yes! And her book is finally here!

Our favourite psychologist, Dr Emily Musgrove, has published the most anticipated book of the year, Unstuck: A guide to finding your way forward to the life you want to live.

Feeling stuck, and the yearning for something to change, is a human experience. And in Unstuck, Dr Emily doesn’t just acknowledge this feeling, she walks with you through it.

We’re talking values, we’re talking an introduction to acceptance commitment therapy, and we’re talking self-compassion (among many, many other things).

At its core, this book is a model for how we might approach change.

It’s compulsory reading.

Unstuck is available now in all good bookstores, or you can order it online here - https://bit.ly/4bhmCp2.

If you want to watch this full video on YouTube, follow this link - https://bit.ly/4mvgSgE

🫖Other Imperfects episodes mentioned in this episode

• Dr Emily - What Are Your Values? - https://apple.co/4dckMpy

📖 Things to read:

• Summer Day by Mary Oliver - https://bit.ly/3Hh1gNo

🩷To host your own Vulnerabilitea House, purchase the Vulnerabilitea House Cards here - https://bit.ly/3Cx4tGP

🩵To purchase our journal (or your novel) My Imperfect Life, click here - https://bit.ly/3Cx4tGP

🩷To subscribe to the Vulnerabilitea-mail weekly newsletter, join through our website - www.theimperfects.com.au

🩵To join our patreon community, A Little More Imperfects, follow this link - patreon.com/theimperfects

🩷 AND you can subscribe to A Little More Imperfects through Apple Podcasts too, here 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.

It’s a Monty type of day - and thank god, because this week we welcome the brilliant Monty Dimond into the studio.

In this episode, Monty opens up about the heartbreak of losing her mum—her person, her sense of home and safety. She speaks candidly about the tunnel vision of ambition, living with imposter syndrome, and how a debilitating chronic illness left her bed-bound for 90% of last year.

Hugh and Monty share an incredibly vulnerable chat about parenting neurodivergent children; sharing the intense challenges, boundless love and ways they can show compassion to themselves and others.

If you're not familiar with Monty yet, she's the founder and co-host of the Show and Tell platform, which includes the newly released podcast iChronic, Monty is a pillar of Australian media (including a co-hosting a national drive show with our very own Sheltzy).

Monty, we are in awe of you.

To watch this full video of YouTube, follow this link: https://bit.ly/3GVUYmf

🫖 Other Imperfects episodes mentioned in this episode:

• Janelle Booker - Living with ADHD - https://bit.ly/42GsmEJ
• Hugh’s Open Letter to Parents of Neurodivergent People - https://apple.co/4l4kw0m
• Michael (Wippa) Wipfli - Light at the End of the Tunnel - https://bit.ly/3F6wy9d

🎧 Things to listen to:

• iChonric - https://bit.ly/4j1d3gb
• Show and Tell - https://bit.ly/3ZfWiGR

💻 Things to check out:

• Kristy Forbes’ Workshops - https://bit.ly/43eFxNK

🩷To host your own Vulnerabilitea House, purchase the Vulnerabilitea House Cards here - https://bit.ly/3Cx4tGP

🩵To purchase our journal (or your novel) My Imperfect Life, click here - https://bit.ly/3Cx4tGP

🩷To subscribe to the Vulnerabilitea-mail weekly newsletter, join through our website - www.theimperfects.com.au

🩵To join our patreon community, A Little More Imperfects, follow this link - patreon.com/theimperfects

🩷 AND you can subscribe to A Little More Imperfects through Apple Podcasts too, here 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 would it look like if we were more open to grief?

This week, as promised, we are joined by our resident psychologist Dr Emily Musgrove to talk through grief from a clinical perspective.

Grief is proof of life, and proof of love. And while it is an incredibly unique experience for each person, there is a universality to it as well.

Dr Em walks us through how grief impacts the brain on a neurological level, and unpacks its unpredictable, non-linear path. 
Explaining the difference between grief and grieving, Em reminds us about the importance of turning towards the pain and how to learn to ride the waves of grief, rather than expecting them to disappear.

And on a practical level, Ryan asks about what you can actually do for someone in grief to show them love and support.

If you’d like to watch this full episode on YouTube, follow this link: https://bit.ly/4jKdlco 

If you would like to pre-order Em’s book Unstuck, click here: https://bit.ly/4bhmCp2

🫖 Other Imperfects episode’s mentioned in this episode

• Lauren Zonfrillo - Grief: The Shittest Greatest Gift - https://bit.ly/3GGXCMA
• Jamila Rizvi - Living with the effects of a brain tumour - https://bit.ly/4jK7CmV
• Gina Chick - Don’t Fight Life - https://apple.co/3UKpxQ8
• Clare Bowditch - Music, Panic Attacks & Body Image - https://apple.co/43iqzau

📖 Things to read

• The Grieving Brain - Mary-Frances O’Connor - https://bit.ly/4m55Mi3
• Self Compassion - Kristin Neff - https://bit.ly/4iQC25O
• Wherever You Go, There You Are - Jon Kabat-Zinn - https://bit.ly/3Z5LeMo
• Till Death Do Us Part - Lauren Zonfrillo - https://bit.ly/4m7Dy6z

💻 Things to check out

• Stroebe and Schut Dual-Process Model of Grief - https://bit.ly/4kbIeqc
• Elisabeth Kubler-Ross Stages of Grief - https://bit.ly/45tThVu
• Meghan Riordan Jarvis’ work - https://bit.ly/3RTyy7v

☎️ If you, or someone you know, is struggling with grief, Griefline 1300 845 745 is a great place to start

🩷To host your own Vulnerabilitea House, purchase the Vulnerabilitea House Cards here - https://bit.ly/3Cx4tGP

🩵To purchase our journal (or your novel) My Imperfect Life, click here - https://bit.ly/3Cx4tGP

🩷To subscribe to the Vulnerabilitea-mail weekly newsletter, join through our website - www.theimperfects.com.au

🩵To join our patreon community, A Little More Imperfect, follow this link - patreon.com/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.

Lauren Zonfrillo knows grief - intimately, devastatingly, and meaningfully.

Almost two years since the sudden death of her husband Jock, Lauren describes grief as the ‘shittest, greatest gift’, and how she navigated unimaginable loss while continuing to parent two young children.

In this episode, Lauren shares what she learnt about herself in the days, weeks, and months since Jock’s passing. Discussing with Hugh, Ryan and Josh about her evolving relationship with spirituality, Lauren vulnerably shares how she is beginning to reconcile her identity as a mother, widow, and person in her own right.

Lauren, thank you for such a special episode.

If you would like to watch this full episode on YouTube, follow this link: https://bit.ly/4mi4mkD 

📖 Things to read:

• Till Death Do Us Part - Lauren Zonfrillo - https://bit.ly/4m7Dy6z
• Last Shot - Jock Zonfrillo - https://bit.ly/4iCyfJi
• Finding Meaning - David Kessler - https://amzn.to/44QgNNU

☎️ If you, or someone you know, is struggling with grief, these are some great resources to start with

• National Centre for Childhood Grief - https://bit.ly/4iEMvkP
• Griefline - 1300 845 745

🩷To host your own Vulnerabilitea House, purchase the Vulnerabilitea House Cards here - https://bit.ly/3Cx4tGP

🩵To purchase our journal (or your novel) My Imperfect Life, click here - https://bit.ly/3Cx4tGP

🩷To subscribe to the Vulnerabilitea-mail weekly newsletter, join through our website - www.theimperfects.com.au

🩵To join our patreon community, A Little More Imperfect, follow this link - patreon.com/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.

It’s the episode we’ve all been waiting for – a peek inside Hugh’s brain.

After our episode with psychologist and ADHD expert Janelle Booker - and a reboot of his algorithm that Hugh related to on a spiritual level - Hugh began to wonder whether his time-blindness, reject sensitivity and inability to focus on things he wasn’t interested in, could be explained by ADHD.

Turns out, yeah. Hugh pretty much definitely has ADHD.

Exploring Hugh’s lived experience, Ryan and Josh chat through how Hugh has reconciled his incredible frustrations into acknowledgment and celebration for his strengths.

This episode is a snippet from an A Little More Imperfects Patreon episode: a place where we publish fortnightly bonus episode, early access to tickets and talk to our community about upcoming guests, bonus content and what they want to see more of.

If you would like to become a member of our Patreon community, follow this link: www.patreon.com/theimperfects

To watch this full episode on YouTube, click here: https://bit.ly/4cGOPpO

🫖 Other Imperfects episodes mentioned in this episode

• Janelle Booker - Living with ADHD - https://bit.ly/42GsmEJ

💻 Things to check out

• Alex Patridge - 12 Lie People with ADHD tell themselves - ttps://bit.ly/41cHcnd
• Alex Patridge - How to understand ADHD Overwhelm in 35 seconds - https://bit.ly/4jWRq22

📺 Things to watch

• Celeste Barber’s Australian Story - Unfiltered - https://ab.co/42l6VsD

🩷To host your own Vulnerabilitea House, purchase the Vulnerabilitea House Cards here - https://bit.ly/3Cx4tGP

🩵To purchase our journal (or your novel) My Imperfect Life, click here - https://bit.ly/3Cx4tGP

🩷To subscribe to the Vulnerabilitea-mail weekly newsletter, join through our website - www.theimperfects.com.au

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.

Chasing the ‘perfect’ diet is a trap; which is really great news for our brand.

Simon Hill, nutritionist, physiotherapist, and host of The Proof podcast, joins us in the Academy of Imperfection to break down whether the latest dietary trends on social media actually match up with nutrition science.

In this episode, Simon unpacks the role of both genetics and lifestyle choices in shaping our health, and specifically our risk of disease.

Acknowledging the pressure, and sometimes shame, that comes with chasing the ‘perfect’ diet, Hugh, Ryan, and Josh discuss how to encourage kids to build positive relationships with food, and the incredible significance of ‘joy’ and ‘human connection’, that occurs when we get together to eat.

And then, of course, we play Simon Says and bust some food-myths about supplements, plant protein, and whether breakfast is the most important meal of the day.

Simon, thank you for all that you says.

To watch this full episode on YouTube, follow this link: https://bit.ly/4jyH2NL 

🫖 Other Imperfects episodes mentioned in this episode:

• Felice Jacka - Food For Thought - https://apple.co/4ciWgn5
• Professor Tim Spector - Food Fight - https://apple.co/3OjRlXR
• Maria Ruberto - Sleep Your Way to Your Top - https://bit.ly/3E3flgi

📖 Things to read:

• The Proof is in the Plants - Simon Hill - https://bit.ly/4lbj7VC
• The Skeptics’ Guide To The Universe - Steven Novella - https://bit.ly/3QUPYjI

🎧Things to listen to:

• The Proof with Simon Hill - https://bit.ly/3XCCDjS
• The Proof - Menopause masterclass (Part 1) - https://bit.ly/42aAoXC
• The Proof - Your menopause questions answered (Part 2) - https://apple.co/4cx0MhW

💻Things to research:

• Approx. 50% of cardiac deaths are sudden cardiac deaths 50% - https://bit.ly/4juCffP
• 30 different plants a week study - https://bit.ly/3XIXORj
• To know more about ApoB, and it’s link to cholesterol - https://bit.ly/42mRL6b & https://bit.ly/426dVLe
• The Mind Diet - https://bit.ly/42p3zFd
• Mediterranean Diet - https://bit.ly/4cPqBKp
• To know more about the Carnivore diet - https://bit.ly/3RcMZmR & https://bit.ly/426xvqT
• Creatine and cognition - https://bit.ly/4j8sd4e
• Impact of creatine on depression and CBT - https://bit.ly/3G401AL
• Impact of creatine on bone health for menopausal women - https://bit.ly/4cuahym & https://bit.ly/424KxoD
• Impact of creatine on sleep deprivation - https://go.nature.com/4cvR0wC
• Simon’s Prebiotics - 38TERA - https://bit.ly/4caa96Q

🦋If this conversation has raised some uncomfortable feelings for you around eating and food, these are some great resources to find support:

• Eating Disorders Families Australia - https://bit.ly/3TLU7J5
• The Butterfly Foundation - https://bit.ly/48YCSZe

🩷If you want A Little More Imperfects, join our Patreon to get just that - www.patreon.com/theimperfects

🩵To purchase our journal (or your novel) My Imperfect Life, click here - https://bit.ly/3Cx4tGP

🩷To subscribe to the Vulnerabilitea-mail weekly newsletter, join through our website - www.theimperfects.com.au

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.