The Imperfects

Latest Episodes:

Dr Emily - How to Be Leaned On Apr 06, 2025

Show notes

Chances are, you’ve supported someone going through a tough time. And while the meaning sustains the sacrifice, today we want to support you ….. supporting them. A bit of support inception, if you will.

To guide us through this incredibly complex and meaningful topic is our resident psychologist, Dr Emily Musgrove.

Navigating relationships requires awareness. Showing up as a partner, friend, parent, or sibling while holding space for pain – without being overwhelmed – is a skill that takes practice.

Reminding us that no one hates their struggle more than the person suffering, Dr Em delves into some practical strategies of support, such as walking the line between respect and care, as well as always understanding the difference between effort and capacity.

To all of the supporters and carers listening, we see you. We love you. And we hope you felt held, too.

To watch this full episode on YouTube, follow this link - https://bit.ly/3XILzEe

To pre-order Dr. Em’s book Unstuck, click here - https://bit.ly/4bhmCp2

🎧 Other Imperfects episodes mentioned in this episode

Dr Emily - Resent Less, Live More - https://apple.co/4hZiVWx
Esther Perel - Let’s Be Better Lovers - https://bit.ly/42phpsh

💻Things to check out:

Carer Gateway - https://bit.ly/41UEJhA

🩷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.

Danielle Laidley PART 2 - Her Public Outing Mar 30, 2025

Show notes

This is PART TWO of our chat with footballer, coach and uniter of people, Danielle Laidley. We HIGHLY recommend you go back and listen to part one if you haven’t heard it (linked below).

In this episode, Danielle recounts how it felt to be publicly outed, her own voice removed as the media crafted their own narrative about her identity.

A story of courage, resilience and love, Danielle vulnerably shares with Hugh, Ryan and Josh how she united her two worlds, and found the strength to live authentically for herself, and become a role model for others.

To watch the entire interview with Danielle on YouTube, click here - https://bit.ly/3FJ8Lw2

📖 Things to read

Don’t Look Away - Danielle Laidley - https://bit.ly/3XrTkyo

📺 Things to watch

Revealed - Danielle Laidley: Two Tribes - https://bit.ly/3R8X6ct

☎ If you need support after listening to this episode, these are a few great places to start:

QLife - 1800 184 527
Rainbow Door - 1800 729 367

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Danielle Laidley PART 1 - Her Private Struggle Mar 30, 2025

Show notes

Danielle May Laidley was known by a different name for the first 53 years of her life. We are so proud that this episode is a contributing factor to her reclaiming her narrative as a transgender woman.

An extremely talented AFL footballer, Danielle would go on to become a highly respected coach, always keeping within arm’s reach the version of herself which felt most authentic.

Danielle’s story, in its entirety, is so incredibly important that we had to split it over two big and special episodes.

In this first part, we are introduced to phase 1 of her life: the footballer, the husband and the coach and with an addictive personality that caused her to become tough, fierce and obsessed with footy.

Danielle discusses with Hugh, Ryan, and Josh the strict compartmentalisation of the different parts of her life during her AFL career, and the terrifying risks she took to satisfy the cravings to be her authentic self.

You can watch the entire interview (Part One and Part Two) on YouTube, here – https://bit.ly/3FJ8Lw2

🫖 Other Imperfects episodes mentioned in this episode

Mick Fanning - Riding The Waves of Loss - https://apple.co/4hNT0RN

📖 Things to read

Don’t Look Away - Danielle Laidley - https://bit.ly/3XrTkyo

📺 Things to watch

Revealed - Danielle Laidley: Two Tribes - https://bit.ly/3R8X6ct

🖼️ If you want to join out patreon A Little More Imperfects, go to www.patreon.com/theimperfects

☎ If you need support after listening to this episode, these are a few great places to start:

QLife - 1800 184 527
Rainbow Door - 1800 729 367

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Let’s Talk About Hugh’s Open Letter Mar 27, 2025

Show notes

It’s been a big few weeks since Hugh released his Open Letter to Parents of Neurodivergent People (episode linked below). If you haven't heard it, it’s best to listen to that before you listen to this episode.

Today we wanted to catch up and reflect on whats happened since.

Hugh shares some beautiful messages, and Josh asks, practically, how we can show less judgement and more empathy to neurodivergent people and the people who care for them. Then, Ryan does some quick maths to fact check Hugh’s claim to reply to every single message he’s received since the Open Letter went live.

We are so profoundly grateful for every message of love and support.

Love,

The Imperfects xxx

🎧 If you want to listen to Hugh’s Open Letter to Parents of Neurodivergent People, click here - https://apple.co/4l4kw0m

💻 If you want to watch this full chat on YouTube, click here - https://youtu.be/wFrlUkqR8y4

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Stephen Curry - I Dug a Hole… and Found Myself Mar 23, 2025

Show notes

Get excited, it’s finally Steve Curry* day.

Actor, comedian, and expert hole digger (you bet we snuck this in here), Steve joins us to share his personal and professional epiphany: a ‘collaboration realisation’ his lightbulb moment about teamwork, success, and the power of vulnerability.

In our Vulnerabilitea House, Steve answers the questions ‘When was a time you genuinely needed help? Were you able to ask for it?’, and discusses the joy of working in a team where success is a joint effort.

This is such a joyful episode, Steve, we are definitely friends for life (can you hook us up with Helen too?)

*not the basket baller

If you’d like to watch this full episode on YouTube, follow this link: https://bit.ly/4iv72IO

🦁 Things to check out

Helen Carmichael - https://bit.ly/4hv90YU

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dr Julie Smith - Building Confidence, Brick by Brick Mar 16, 2025

Show notes

Clinical psychologist Dr Julie Smith has a gift for explaining complex ideas in under a minute (which is GREAT for new-age attention spans).

With over 4.8 million TikTok followers, two best-selling books and a glowing endorsement from our own Dr Em, having Dr Julie join our Academy of Imperfection is nothing short of a dream.

In this episode, Dr Julie reframes the feeling of overwhelm, helping us to see it as valuable information about how we might not be meeting our needs, rather than something to fear.

Then, it’s all about confidence, baby. Getting into the nitty-gritty, Ryan and Dr Julie redefine failure, showing how confidence isn’t just built from successes, but from every experience – good, bad and (luckily for Hugh) the awkward.

Oh, and did we mention she’s Dr Em approved?

Smithy, we’d gladly talk to you forever.

If you want to watch this full episode on YouTube, follow this link: https://bit.ly/4iwtFwz

🫖 Imperfects episode mentioned in this episode

Missy Higgins - Quitting Music, Depression & Connection - https://bit.ly/4fVM8Bo

📖 Things to read:

Open When by Dr Julie Smith - https://bit.ly/4hq7y9T
Why Has Nobody Told Me This Before by Dr Julie Smith https://bit.ly/3FkC2wH

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hugh's Open Letter to Parents of Neurodivergent People Mar 13, 2025

Show notes

This is an open letter to parents of autistic and neurodivergent people.

It may be confronting.

Please take care when listening.

Love,

Hugh

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hannah Diviney - Disabled in an Able-Bodied World Mar 09, 2025

Show notes

Hannah Diviney is one of the most powerful people in pop culture.

At just 25 years old, the author, advocate, and actor hasn’t just called out Lizzo for using an ableist slur—she also took on Queen B herself. And she succeeded on both fronts.

Which, once you get to know her, isn’t surprising at all.

In our Vulnerabilitea House, Hannah reflects on the questions: “How do you see yourself? Is it the same way your loved ones see you?”

Answering with incredible vulnerability, Hannah shares how her relationship with her disability has evolved over time and what it was like growing up in a world where the Paralympics seemed like the only visible marker of success.

We talk to Hannah about being a part of intimate television history, and Ryan, the love doctor, Shelton manifests a Brad (or Stewie, or Chris, or Michael-Angelo) in her future.

Hannah, we are so desperate to be your friend.

To watch this full episode on YouTube, click here: https://bit.ly/41vzALg

🫖 Imperfects episode’s mentioned in this episode

Grant Denyer - Self Worth Was Worth Fighting For - https://apple.co/4fyvmsj

🎟️ Things to go see

Audrey at the Melbourne Women in Film Festival - https://bit.ly/4bvMHkq

📺 Things to watch

Latecomers - https://bit.ly/4kBLFaG
Hannah’s speech at the National Press Club - https://bit.ly/3QJPzQZ

📖 Things to read

I’ll Let Myself In by Hannah Diviney - https://bit.ly/3DjeffZ

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dr Emily - Hope Mar 02, 2025

Show notes

Today, Dr Emily talks about hope.

And in a world where things can feel a little bit hopeless, this really couldn’t have come at a better time.

In contrast to all of our understanding up until this point, hope is not an emotion.

Expertly defined by Dr Emily, hope is a belief. And most significantly, it can be learned, and it can be cultivated.

Psychological mic-drop.

This episode delves into strategies for creating both a sense of collective and individual hope, and in a discovery which happens to be VERY on-brand for this podcast, Dr Emily talks to the significance of vulnerability and connection in living a hopeful life.

We hope you enjoy this one as much as we did.

If you would like to watch this full episode on YouTube, follow this link - https://bit.ly/41j0pT1

📚To pre-order Dr Emily’s book Unstuck, click here - https://bit.ly/4bhmCp2

🫖 Other Imperfects episodes mentioned in this episode

Dr Julia Baird - An Awe-full Conversation - https://www.theimperfects.com.au/episode/dr-julia-baird-an-awe-full-conversation/

📖 Things to read

Martin Seligman - Theory of Learned Hopelessness - https://bit.ly/3EY1oR2
Rick Snyder - Hope Theory: Rainbows in the Mind - https://bit.ly/4bAbu6Z
Jamil Zacki - Hope for Cynics - https://www.jamil-zaki.com
Robyn Walser - Heart of ACT - https://amzn.to/4izIv5x
Barbara Frederikson - Reflections on Positive Emotions and Upward Spirals - https://bit.ly/3EY2yfl
Nick Cave’s letter - https://bit.ly/3ETlr2O
Victor Frankl - Man’s Search For Meaning - https://bit.ly/4iizuNM

💻Things to check out

Dacher Keltner’s work - https://bit.ly/3XfJpfe
Obama’s ‘Hope’ poster - https://bit.ly/4kgkvG4

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Matthew Murphy - A Sober Wombat Feb 23, 2025

Show notes

Matthew Murphy, front-man of the iconic UK band The Wombats, joins us in our first VulnerabiliTea House of 2025.

In this episode, Murph answers one of life’s most terrifying questions, “In what ways do you fear you could negatively impact your children?”

He also shares his experience with panic attacks, anxiety and depression and is extremely honest detailing how alcohol became a crutch.

Becoming sober, which Murph describes as the best decision of his life, was not easy. Murph goes into detail about what the withdrawal process was like and how he began to find joy in activities again.

Murph, thank you for soundtracking our youths (and current lives), and thank you for this incredibly helpful conversation.

If you would like to watch this full episode on YouTube, follow this link: https://bit.ly/4i6hRRi

💿 Things to listen to:

Love Fame Tragedy (Murph’s solo project) - https://apple.co/432zLQP
The Wombats new album Oh! The Ocean - https://apple.co/4gNrgvV

Enjoyed this episode but want a little more? Good news, we have a brand new show called A Little More Imperfects over on Patreon! Visit: www.patreon.com/theimperfects
If you would like to receive a weekly Vulnerabilitea-mail newsletter, where you can answer this question yourself, click subscribe on our website www.theimperfects.com.au

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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