The Imperfects

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1. How To Audit Your Mental Load with Prof. Leah Ruppanner

   25 oktober 2026 · 1 uur 8 min

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   It’s time we talked about the mental load. Again.
   💌 To join our journaling club, with 9,900+ others, subscribe to my imperfect email - https://www.theimperfects.com.au/sign-up-to-our-newsletter/
   Consider this a companion episode to our infamous, most shared episode of 2023, The Elephant in the Relationship where Hugh and Penny introduced us to their mental load, and how they were trying to make it more equal in their relationship.
   Today we’re sprinkling in some expertise and scientific data, as we’re joined by Professor Leah Ruppanner who explains to Hugh, Ryan and Josh that there’s actually 8 different types of mental load, and not all of them are draining.
   Bringing examples from their own lives, Hugh, Ryan and Josh discuss with Leah why the mental load can seem like an insurmountable amount of emotional thinking, and how partners can better communicate to reduce anxiety-like symptoms and burnout.
   We chat to Leah about the exacerbation of the mental load when chronic illness becomes part of the equation, and how to manage the mental load when there is no one to share it with.
   Chapters Lees meer

   00:00:00 – TRAILER
   00:02:02 – The Mental Load is life changing for relationships
   00:03:11 – Mental Load definition: emotional thinking work
   00:05:41 – 3 characteristics of the mental load
   00:08:00 – Mental Load vs Burnout: Treat Your Energy Like a Budget
   00:14:19 – The Elephant in Hugh & Penny’s Relationship
   00:16:50 – Type 1: Life Organisation
   00:17:20 – Type 2: Emotional Support
   00:18:00 – Type 3: Relationship Hygiene
   00:19:03 – Type 4: Dream Building
   00:20:26 – Type 5: Magic Making
   00:25:00 – Type 6: Individual Upkeep
   00:27:30 – Type 7: Safety
   00:28:00 – Type 8: Meta Care (Doom Scrolling and the Mental Load)
   00:29:56 – How to do a mental load audit with your partner
   00:34:09 – Align your energy with your goals
   00:36:25 – Delegating tasks vs sharing the mental load
   00:38:24 – Shift work vs running the business
   00:40:30 – Birthday presents and the perfect mother myth
   00:41:30 – Mes…

2. “MND Took Everything” Matt Nable on Grief, Depression & What Really Matters

   18 oktober 2026 · 1 uur 10 min

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   In the end, Matt Nable wished his brother would give in.
   Motor neurone disease had taken everything, except his brother’s will to live.
   💌 To join our journaling club, with 9,000+ others, subscribe to my imperfect email - https://www.theimperfects.com.au/sign-up-to-our-newsletter/
   Joining us in the studio today is writer, actor, boxer, and former rugby league player, Matt Nable.
   Recognisable for playing infamous tough guys on screen (Arrow, Underbelly, The Dry), Matt’s experience of loss and mental ill health has starkly redefined what he believes it is to ‘be a man’.
   Using the analogy of a ‘double edged sword’, Matt explains his experience with bipolar and hypomania, and how those periods have lead to the best, and worst, decisions of his life.
   Matt is incredibly generous in sharing his experience of biological melancholia depression, and explores with Josh just how quickly everything can seem to unravel.
   Matt speaks about the immense grief he carries for his brother who passed away MND, and how he was able to move through this grief to find purpose and compassion.
   *Content Warning: today's episode includes a discussion about psilocybin. In Australia, psilocybin is a controlled substance. Outside of authorised clinical settings, its use, possession and supply are illegal. This episode is not medical advice, and we're not encouraging or endorsing illegal drug use. Psilocybin can carry serious risks, particularly when taken without professional screening and supervision. Our guest's experience is their own and won't be typical of everyone's. This episode also mentions suicide. If you're struggling with grief or your mental health, please speak with your GP or a mental health professional.
   🚨If you, or someone you know, are experiencing suicidal thoughts call lifeline on 13 11 14. In an emergency, call 000.
   Chapters Lees meer

   00:00:00 – TRAILER
   00:02:48 – Childhood shapes who we are
   00:03:40 – What does it really mean to be tough?
   00:07:38 – Why Matt doesn’t think he is a tough…

3. Zoë Foster Blake - Perimenopause, ADHD & Everything That Helped with Dr Fatima Khan

   11 oktober 2026 · 1 uur 30 min

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   This is not your mother’s perimenopause.
   💌 To join our journaling club, subscribe to my imperfect email - https://www.theimperfects.com.au/sign-up-to-our-newsletter/
   Joined by guest host Zoë Foster Blake, and Dr Fatima Khan, we’re diving head first into perimenopause: the what, the why, and the how-the-f**k to deal with it.
   Typically beginning in your late 30’s, and in your brain of all places, perimenopause symptoms include heightened anxiety, irritability, sleep disturbances, brain fog … all things that make you feel further and further away from your best self.
   Beginning 5 -7 years BEFORE your last menstrual period, perimenopause can coincide with postpartum, the most important presentation of your career to date, and the uncovering of neurodivergence, which may have been painstakingly masked until this shift in hormones.
   With the expertise of Dr Fatima, and the lived experience of Zoë, we hope this episode makes you feel seen, less alone, and ready to have THAT conversation with your GP.
   Chapters Lees meer

   00:00:00 The Truth of Perimenopause [TRAILER]
   00:01:09 The Meet Cute of Zoe Foster Blake and Dr Fatima Khan
   00:06:55 Is this Perimenopause? Early Signs + Symptoms
   00:07:41 Zoe’s Perimenopause Journey: No Sleep, Anxiety, Rage, Repeat.
   00:09:56 Volcanic Rage, Explained
   00:14:59 What Doctor’s Miss: Misdiagnosis + Antidepressants
   00:15:57 Why Your Husband Is Breathing Too Loud
   00:20:18 Perimenopause Mental Health Screening
   00:21:25 Debunking the “You’re Too Young” Myth
   00:23:43 Is it Anxiety? Depression? Perimenopause?
   00:25:26 The Pill, The Mirena + The Modern Woman in Peri
   00:30:44 Loosing Yourself in Peri: Brain Fog + Dementia Fears
   00:32:10 The Importance of Testosterone
   00:36:00 HRT Myths: Re-educating a generation
   00:39:04 A Script for a Script: What to say to your GP
   00:41:12 Perimenopause Is a Multi-Organ Syndrome
   00:46:09 High Achieving Women + Peri = Shame
   00:46:47 When Perimenopause Unmasks Your ADHD
   00:54:26 Trauma Reactivation in Perimenopause
   00:57:17 Pills …

4. How OCD Hijacks Your Brain with Angie Greene

   4 oktober 2026 · 1 uur 11 min

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   Angie’s OCD obsessions are that she has committed her worst, most insidious, fears.
   💌 Join 9,500+ others in our newsletter community - https://www.theimperfects.com.au/sign-up-to-our-newsletter/
   Officially diagnosed with obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) when she was 19, some of Angie’s earliest memories are of obsessions, compulsions and seeking reassurance.
   Joining us in the studio, Angie talks to Hugh, Ryan and Josh about the reality of living with OCD, how she navigates particularly bad episodes with her partner, and why she wouldn’t wish it on her worst enemy
   Angie explains false memories, and the lengths she has gone to seek reassurance, and finally, why it is so important to her to create something that helps people feel less alone.
   In amongst all of the OCD chat, Hugh asks Angie about her anti-discrimination work and the beautiful story of where that passion came from.
   Chapters Lees meer

   00:00:00 – Trailer
   00:01:27 – Angie + Hugh don’t do small talk
   00:03:46 – Why Angie accepted an ARIA on behalf of Sia
   00:05:45 – Growing Up in Sporting Royalty
   00:07:45 – Why Angie’s Brother Came Out To Her
   00:10:41 – “I’m Crying Because I Could Have Helped”
   00:13:21 – Why Feeling Safe To Be Yourself Matters
   00:15:02 – Angie’s Moral Compass: Where Does It Come From?
   00:18:17 – OCD: Obsessions, Compulsions + Reassurance
   00:20:45 – OCD Stereotypes vs Reality
   00:22:52 – Feeling Like A Bad Kid
   00:24:52 – Why OCD Makes Your Excruciatingly Self-Aware
   00:28:02 – Examples of Intrusive Thoughts
   00:30:23 – Invisible Compulsions: Kissing, Hugging, Incest
   00:32:19 – Relationship OCD: Constant Fear of Cheating On Your Partner
   00:34:37 – OCD False Memories: How The Brain Builds ‘Evidence’
   00:36:10 – Why Reassurance Seeking Never Brings Relief
   00:39:13 – What It’s Like Loving Someone With OCD
   00:41:40 – What OCD Has Cost Angie: Peace, Presence + Precious Moments
   00:50:08 – Why Getting The Right Treatment Was Lifechanging
   00:54:52 – What Exposure Response Prevention (ERP) Actually Looks Like
   00:5…

5. Luke Bateman - Gambling With My Life

   27 september 2026 · 1 uur 16 min

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   Mid 20's and $250,000 in debt. Gripped by a gambling addiction. How do you recover?
   💌 Join 9,500+ others in our newsletter community - https://www.theimperfects.com.au/sign-up-to-our-newsletter/
   From the outside, it looked like Luke Bateman was living the dream: a professional NRL career with ludicrous pay checks and sponsorship deals.
   On the inside, Luke was battling a crippling gambling addiction, deepening depression and a widening chasm between the character he was playing, and his true authentic self.
   With immense courage, honesty and vulnerability, Luke takes Hugh, Ryan and Josh through the ups and downs of his recovery journey. Luke unpicks the difference between unconditional love and conditional help from his parents, and why his time in rehab was the best thing that ever happened to him.
   Luke speaks about how his journey with addiction impacted his relationship with his mum, and the gratitude he feels for her now, and how learning about internal family systems changed his life forever.
   Luke, you are such a beautiful person. Thank you for joining us today.
   This episode discusses gambling addiction and suicidal ideation. Please take care when listening.
   This episode is part of the BE HOPE Podcast Takeover, bringing podcasts around the world together to explore the themes of hope and how we can continue to make progress in a rapidly changing world - https://globalgoals.org/behope/
   🚨If you, or someone you know is struggling with a gambling addiction
   Call LifeLine - 13 11 14
   Register at BetStop - betstop.gov.au
   Gamblers Anonymous - https://bit.ly/3TJ1C6d
   Gambling Help Online - gamblinghelponline.org.au
   In an emergency, always call 000
   🩵To hear our chat with Luke about The Manosphere and to join our subscriber community, A Little More Imperfects, follow this link - patreon.com/theimperfects
   0:00 – Trailer: $250K of Gambling Debt
   1:26 – Be Hope Podcast Takeover Announcement
   4:15 – Luke Bateman doesn’t fit in a box
   6:06 – Growing up ‘soft’ in Rural Queensland
   10:… Lees meer

6. Dr Emily - The Phenomenon That Is Imposter Syndrome

   20 september 2026 · 1 uur 10 min

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   Do you live in fear of being found out as a fraud? That despite your years of competency, achievement and high performance someone will uncover the truth? Lees meer

   Well, you’re in the right place. Our resident psychologist Dr Emily Musgrove is here to tell you that your imposter syndrome is nothing to be afraid of. In fact, it’s not even a syndrome.

   💌 Get practical take-aways from this episode, and join 9,400+ others in our newsletter community - https://www.theimperfects.com.au/sign-up-to-our-newsletter/

   To get a little bit meta, Dr Emily explains that knowing that you don’t know everything, is a good thing. Especially if you’re starting a new role, or trying something for the first time.

   HOWEVER, the long-term consequences of the imposter cycle such as perfectionism, overcompensation, burnout, or even avoidance and procrastination, may impact your willingness to say yes to new opportunities, such as going for that promotion or asking for support.

   In this episode, Dr Emily asks Hugh, Ryan and Josh to think about the balance of their competence and confidence, and provides them (and you!) with four practical strategies for combatting this pesky phenomenon.

   And then, a weird amount of chat about Vlad the Impaler.

   0:00 – An Emisode!
   2:41 – Adam Grant is not an imposter
   5:11 – Origins of Imposter Syndrome
   6:45 – ‘Syndrome’ is the wrong word
   8:19 – It all comes back to belonging
   10:39 – How common is imposter syndrome?
   12:20 – Fear of being found out as a fraud
   15:16 – The evolutionary psychology of belonging and self-doubt
   16:35 – Is self-doubt actually healthy?
   17:42 – Is your confidence a mask?
   18:57 – The Dunning-Kruger Effect
   23:15 – The more you know ….
   25:12 – Competence vs confidence
   26:29 – The Imposter Cycle: anxiety, perfectionism, luck
   32:09 – Becoming your own favourite artist
   35:55 – Avoidance, procrastination + self-fulfilling prophecies
   38:29 – Long term consequences ft. Hugh’s anus
   45:26 – Authenticity as the antidote
   46:22 – Less growth, less promotions…

7. Andy Lee - DO NOT Listen To This Episode!

   13 september 2026 · 1 uur 9 min

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   When he was 15, Andy Lee’s mum forgot who he was. Lees meer

   💌 Join 9,400+ others in our newsletter community - https://www.theimperfects.com.au/sign-up-to-our-newsletter/

   Given only two weeks to live, Andy tells Hugh, Ryan and Josh how this news impacted his family, impacted his childhood, and continues to impact his sense of self.

   And then, we’re going all the way back to the early days of Radio Karate, and Hamish & Andy.

   In a long overdue conversation (recorded, of course), Ryan and Andy chat about their own friendship dynamic and why they both felt like the odd one out.

   Getting down to business, Andy and Ryan discuss how a bunch of 20 year old guys made tough financial decisions while trying to remain mates, how they learnt to give constructive criticism to each other, and with the blessing of hindsight, how they feel about that time now.

   Andy, we’ve been waiting for this episode longer than a baker with his oven off.

   0:00 – 2 years of secret vocal coaching
   4:35 – HOW long for one cartoon episode?
   5:48 – When Andy met Hamish (and Ryan)
   9:39 – The impact of getting cancelled after 5 episodes
   10:08 – The best advice Andy received
   14:07 – Jealousy, Jealousy
   20:25 – The Four Way Split of Hamish & Andy
   23:42 – Should we be recording this?
   25:10 – Social media has replaced the paparazzo
   26:11 – Andy’s nude photo scandal
   30:23 – Inspiration and renegotiation
   36:55 – The Vulnerabilitea House
   38:02 – When your mum is given two weeks to live
   40:30 – Rapid deterioration and rush to hospital
   43:28 – Taking on the parent role at 15
   46:04 – Furious at the new normal
   49:09 – Why “Don’t Worry, It’ll Be Fine” is the worst thing to say
   54:36 – Andy’s Dad’s incredible sacrifice
   58:20 – The Lee Gazette
   1:00:50 – Why we should talk about will’s

   🫖Imperfects episodes mentioned on this episode

   Ryan Shelton - Shame, Jealousy & Purpose - https://bit.ly/4A230B5

   📺 Things to watch

   Institute of Sayings from Real Stories - https://bit.ly/4xBJHgq

   Do Not Watch This Show! - https://bit.ly/4cAw…

8. Philippa Northeast - My Brilliant Career Took Years of Rejection

   6 september 2026 · 1 uur 16 min

   Afspelen
   Have you ever watched the person you love most get everything you ever wanted? Did you harden around envy, or shrink with comparison? Were you able to find happiness for their success? Lees meer

   Philippa Northeast, Logie nominated and lead of Netflix’s My Brilliant Career, is a star quickly rising. Her most significant role? The little sister of our producer, Bridge.

   💌Join 9,400+ others in our newsletter community - http://bit.ly/45NyQDy

   Joining us as a guest host, Producer Bridge, alongside Hugh, Josh and Ryan, discuss the years of failure and rejection behind the scenes of Pip’s overnight success.

   Constantly aware of the need to prove herself a success, Philippa is completely vulnerable about the obsession that came from certain rejections, and her anxiety which manifested itself as trichotillomania.

   Offering a unique and intimate perspective, both Bridge and Josh reflect on their respective siblings’ success, and how that has shaped their own identity.

   It’s sibling vs sibling, and only one will make it out alive (kidding, it has a happy ending).

   0:00 – Meet Producer Bridge’s Little Sister
   5:43 – Pip’s Brilliant Career: From Home & Away to Netflix Star
   11:39 – Middle Child Syndrome
   19:28 – Sibling Comparison: Cricket and Drama Solos
   20:55 – Finding Success Straight Out of High School
   22:56 – Self-belief vs Self-doubt: Why Pip Took The Leap and Bridget Didn’t
   25:30 – Feeling Over-shadowed, and Under Pressure
   28:00 – Becoming an Unemployed Clown
   29:17 – The Sensational Potter Backup Plan
   34:01 – Getting Undressed (Again)
   35:46 – The Hollywood Grind
   37:32 – Lockdown, Isolation and Growing Doubt
   46:15 – Obsession born from Rejection
   51:49 – What Loneliness in the Acting Industry Feels Like
   52:46 – The Body Keeps Score: Trichotillomania
   54:47 – Healing: Journalling, Yoga, Grounding
   57:04 – The Hallmark Offer That Changed Everything
   1:03:39 – The Downside of Growing Up Next To A Rising Star
   1:07:29 – Choosing Pride Over Jealousy
   1:09:49 – The Upside of Losing to Claudia K…

9. Matt D'Avella Tried No-Sleep-Parenting For 10 Months

   30 augustus 2026 · 1 uur 9 min

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   What impact does sleep deprivation really have on your wellbeing? What about your parenting? What about your identity? Lees meer

   Matt D’Avella has amassed over 4 millions subscribers on YouTube undertaking 30-day wellness challenges, and promoting his minimalist lifestyle.

   In life that was meticulously controlled, having kids changed everything.

   💌Join 9,400+ others in our newsletter community - http://bit.ly/45NyQDy

   Blessed with a baby who woke every 30 minutes for the first ten months of their life, Matt chats to Hugh, Ryan and Josh about how becoming a new parent impacted every facet of his life.

   Hugh and Josh share just how lonely they have felt at different times during their parenting journey, and Ryan saves the day by holding a baby for a full 40 minutes (save the applause! please!)

   Matt this was a dream come true.

   To watch the full episode on YouTube - https://youtu.be/foilZTRGXco

   00:00 - I Tried Being Vulnerable for 30 Days
   7:03 - Minimalism Maxxing
   18:00 - The Vulnerabilitea House
   20:25 - Becoming a father, losing sleep (and himself)
   24:14 - Depression Diagnosis Wake-Up Call
   32:56 - Hugh's Sleep Score
   40:38 - SOS: Hiring Help, Expanding your Village
   48:50 - Sleep Training: What Actually Works
   52:02 - The Real Cost of Sleep Deprivation
   58:29 - Being A Mum: The Additional Burden
   1:01:32 - 'Do You Regret Having Kids?'
   1:04:00 - The New and Improved Matt D'Ad-Avella

   🫖Other Imperfects episodes mentioned in this episode

   Dr Edna Lekgabe - New Baby… New Brain… Matrescence - https://bit.ly/4zVt9Si

   📺 Things to watch

   Minimalism Documentary - https://bit.ly/3SSZb0t

   Why I disappeared - Matt D’Avella - https://bit.ly/3SwYA4g

   Matt D’Avella YouTube - https://bit.ly/4wOzFXW

   💤 Things to sleep train

   Tresillian Sleep Organisation - https://bit.ly/4zAGTS5

   The Ferber Sleep method - https://bit.ly/4iCdqB4

   Masada Sleep School - https://bit.ly/4qNi7uc

   📚Things to read

   Regretful Parents subreddit - https://bit.ly/4gx9W0b

   🩷To host your own Vulnerabilitea House, purchase he…

10. How Childhood Cancer Motivated Josh Niland: One of the World’s Greatest Chefs

    23 augustus 2026 · 1 uur 6 min

    Afspelen
    How does having cancer as a child impact the way you live as an adult?
    Uber successful chef and restauranteur Josh Niland doesn’t do things in halves (no, literally, have you read his book The Whole Fish?).
    From opening a restaurant at 26, to becoming the first Australian to win the James Beard Book of the Year award when he was just 30, Josh’s creativity came from a place of desperation to explore every opportunity presented to him.
    💌Join 9,400+ people getting a Dr Emily values worksheet and takeaways from this week’s episode in our newsletter - http://bit.ly/45NyQDy
    Diagnosed with cancer 2 days after his 8th birthday, Josh’s childhood transformed in a matter of hours into hospital hallways, chemotherapy and facing his own mortality.
    In this episode, Josh joins us in the Vulnerabilitea House to talk us through an experience which profoundly changed him, which he is now grateful for.
    Hugh, Ryan and Josh (our Josh), also ask about where his drive and ambitious creativity comes from, and just how close to failure Josh’s culinary career came.
    We wish this chat could have gone on longer,
    If you want to watch this full episode on YouTube, follow this link -
    🫖Other Imperfect’s episodes mentioned on this episode
    Nathan Cavaleri - The Ups & The Blues - https://bit.ly/468HE7l
    📺 Things to watch
    Josh’s Australian Story - https://bit.ly/4giDtKR
    📚Things to read
    Saint Peter: Chapter & Verse, by Josh Niland - https://bit.ly/4bVM0SN
    The Whole Fish, by Josh Niland - https://bit.ly/4bVM0SN
    🍽️ Places to eat
    Saint Peter - https://bit.ly/4qrs4gv
    💻Things to check out
    Starlight Children’s Foundation - https://bit.ly/4hHDkmM
    Josh Niland’s Website - https://www.mrniland.com
    🩷To host your own Vulnerabilitea House, purchase here - theimperfects.com.au/shop
    🩵To purchase our journal (or your novel) My Imperfect Life, click here - theimperfects.com.au/shop
    🩵To join our subscriber community, A Little More Imperfects, follow this link - patreon.com/theimperfects
    🩷 AND you can subscribe to A Littl… Lees meer

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