What would you do if a teacher said you couldn’t achieve your dreams because your hair and skin colour weren’t acceptable?

When this became Pallavi Sharda’s reality she moved to India by herself and became the first Australian women to lead a Bollywood movie

In this episode we meet Pallavi Sharda, a powerhouse actress, who grew up in Taylors Lakes, a suburban area in Melbourne’s west, who went on to not only clock Bollywood, but see tremendous success on screens in Australia, the UK and the US.

Pallavi is a VERY impressive person, but she grew up believing that she needed to be exceptional in order to have value in Australia. From living with racism as a second generation immigrant, to navigating Bollywood as a foreigner, Pallavi has been on a search for belonging, carving out a place in the world for herself & all future generations of ‘multi-hyphenated’ Australians.

To listen to the Audible Original podcast, Sleep Sound with Pallavi Sharda**,** follow this link: *https://bit.ly/4bhkeNV*

To watch Pallavi in 'Wedding Season' on Netflix, follow this link: https://bit.ly/3UBUdDh

To watch Pallavi in the Australian series, 'The Twelve', follow this link: https://bit.ly/4dins5j

To watch Pallavi in 'The One' on Netflix, follow this link: https://bit.ly/3UE4GhL

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this week’s ImperFIX, we revisit an episode from season 2 with Australian BMX racer, world champion and Olympian, Sam Willoughby. In 2016, Sam experienced a life-changing neck injury which left him a tetraplegic.

In this snippet, we hear Sam describe the bike accident that lead to his injury and his incredible journey of recovery. Most importantly, he shares how meeting NASCAR crew chief, Booty Barker, inspired him to live life again.

You can hear the full chat with Sam Willoughby here https://link.chtbl.com/GzlSMclz.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Have you ever felt so elated, that in that very moment, you felt yourself and the world around you were in perfect harmony? That feeling is joy! 

But for many of us, ‘joy’ can seem elusive, almost impossible to experience, or an emotion that we feel we just don’t have time for. And for some of us, it may feel like we have lost the ability to experience joy altogether. 

In this episode, our resident psychologist Dr Em explores the experience of Joy. What is it and how we can tap into it. We learn how mobilising joy is and how infectious and connecting it can be. 

Because as Dr Em explains, we are often surrounded by joy in our everyday lives,  but don’t pause long enough to see it. 

This is an incredibly powerful, uplifting conversation, but it may be difficult to listen to if you're currently experiencing hardship or trauma. If you'd like to skip this one, we encourage you to come back when you're ready.

To watch this episode on youtube follow this link: https://youtu.be/JPJ5UXm-5LI

To listen to Gina Chick’s episode of The Imperfects, follow this link: https://link.chtbl.com/Ginachick.

To hear Sean Turnell’s episode of The Imperfects, follow this link: https://bit.ly/3UaXmJ3

To stream Inside Out on Disney+ follow this link https://bit.ly/49C7gc7

To read the Betoota Advocate follow this link https://bit.ly/3JkO3kC, or you can read The Onion here https://bit.ly/3U1SUfg.

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 this bonus episode of The Imperfects, Hugh, Ryan and Josh have an imperfect conversation about mens violence against women.

To say it's a massive problem in Australia is an understatement. Violence and aggression can take many forms that span from small micro-aggressions all the way through to rape and murder. It effects ALL women, with the most vulnerable and marginalised in our community, at the greatest risk. We don’t have the answers to solve it. But we don’t want to remain silent. Through this conversation and many more we'll have on the podcast, it’s our hope that more men start to have the conversation as well.

You can follow Penny Moodie’s advocacy on instagram here, https://bit.ly/3JIBf81.

To listen to our previous episode on consent with Chanel Contos follow this link: https://link.chtbl.com/mhDPOcpH

Or to purchase Chanel's book, Consent Laid Bare, follow this link: https://bit.ly/49BNDRC

To listen to our previous conversation about men’s violence with Tarang Chawla follow this link: https://link.chtbl.com/9ps_S1kW

To learn more about this problem or we recommend Our Watch https://bit.ly/3w0BQhV & White Ribbon https://bit.ly/3W6nMhs

If you are a man concerned about your behaviour please contact No To Violence: https://bit.ly/3UlyiA5

If you feel like you are in immediate danger please call 000. If you need someone to talk to we recommend the national 24-hour sexual assault, family and domestic violence counselling line 1800 RESPECT on 1800 732 732.

Or, you can call SafeSteps, Victoria's 24/7 family violence crisis service, on 1800 015 188, or visit this link: https://bit.ly/4b1SlsQ. They can provide financial and material aid, pet safety support and court advocacy, as well as support to people with a disability. 
Or, for further support, contact The Orange Door, who can link you with family violence and parental support services: https://bit.ly/3Q8efTb

If you need support now, use Ask Izzy: a free website and service that connects people in need with housing, a meal, money help, family violence support & counselling: https://bit.ly/3xAVnG4

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 this episode, Scottish comedian, Fern Brady joins us in the The Vulnerabilitea House.

In pulling the card “how would your ambitions change if you only had one year to live?”, Fern shares a very recent story, after receiving a terrifying phone call from her doctor.

Fern also discusses being diagnosed with Autism in her 30s, 20 years after telling a doctor she thought she was Autistic. 

Fern talks with with great insight and humour, not only about life since her diagnosis, but what it was like living for 30 years with Autism and not knowing - always feeling different to the average person…yet having no idea why.

She's an all round brilliant human and we know you are going to love this conversation as much as we did! 

To watch the full episode on YouTube click here: https://youtu.be/-DLkVQj8N34

To purchase Fern’s book, 'Strong Female Character', follow this link: https://bit.ly/4aSot20.

To see Fern’s Comedy special on Netlfix follow this link: https://bit.ly/49AkQNp.

And you can see Fern’s hilarious promo featuring her dad, here https://bit.ly/3vVRb3a

There are still tickets available Fern’s antipodean Live tour “I gave you milk to drink”. Tickets still available in Sydney https://bit.ly/49usjgM, & NZ https://bit.ly/3TYM0r9.

To learn more about the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Lanyard Fern talks about in this episode, follow this link: https://bit.ly/3Q466iC

You can purchase the book Aspergirls by Rudy Simone here https://bit.ly/3QmYKXZ, and you can stream Six Feet Under here https://bit.ly/3TTZRiD.

To try Sam Harris’s meditation app you can follow this link: https://bit.ly/4d7HrUz
Or to read his book Lying, follow this link: https://bit.ly/3vGDHIK

To see Susan Boyle’s Britain’s Got Talent Audition, follow this link: https://bit.ly/3VTeKUY

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.

Imposter syndrome and self doubt aren’t necessarily things you think when you think of Australian comedian Hamish Blake. However when Hamish visited us for a VulnerabilTea House in season 4, that’s exactly what came up.

In this episode of The IMPERFIX, we revisit  a vulnerable moment where Josh shared his very real self doubt about his role on the show. This evolves into a beautiful conversation about the self doubt we all feel in the work we do, and culminates in Hamish dropping one of the greatest analogies of all time.

To listen to the full episode with Hamish Blake, follow this link:  https://link.chtbl.com/IppXW33h

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Imagine being falsely imprisoned, in a foreign country, where you barely speak the language, during a military coup, with no guarantee of a trial (fair or otherwise) and no idea whether you’ll ever be allowed home? 

That's what Australian economist Sean Turnell lived through for 650 days, when in 2021 he was arrested during a military coup over-throwing the democratic government of Aang san Suu Kyi.

Sean is a remarkable person and a brilliant story teller who radiates positivity. In this episode, he describes in horrifying, and yet often beautiful, detail his ordeal in the Myanmar prison system.

Through Sean’s story we get a unique perspective…and a shining example of how resilient the human spirit can be.

To watch this full episode on YouTube, follow this link: https://bit.ly/3Jts7nD

To purchase Sean's book, An Unlikely Prisoner, follow this link: https://bit.ly/3TMyFlJ

To purchase Kylie Moore Gilberts book, The Uncaged Sky, mentioned in this episode, follow this link: https://bit.ly/3TMbNCV

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In 2018, writer, author & change advocate Jamila Rizvi was met with horrible news. She was diagnosed with a rare brain tumour and needed surgery.
In this episode of The Imperfix we revisit Jamila’s story; the tumour and its varied complications, the surgeries and how Jamila and her husband communicated the news to their son. 

Jamila is an all round wonderful human being and this is an incredibly moving episode.
You can hear the entire chat with Jamila here: https://link.chtbl.com/bDiv0AY-

This episode includes a discussion about disordered eating, if you or someone you love is experiencing disordered eating, we recommend the following organisations:

• The Butterfly Foundation https://bit.ly/48YCSZe
• Eating Disorders Families Australia https://bit.ly/3TLU7J5
• Uncovery https://bit.ly/3x4IOCO

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.

We’re not sure if podcasts can date. But if they could we would want to date Elizabeth Day’s podcast - ‘How to fail?’. (A proposition Hugh awkwardly put to Elizabeth in the final moments of the show).

This conversation covers a lot of ground. Elizabeth vulnerably discusses her journey through infertility, IVF and her eventual decision to stop fertility treatment; we explore the role exercise and strength training can have in reclaiming one's connection to their body; Ryan and Elizabeth bond over a love of reality TV; and there’s much much more.

It’s fair to say there was a lot of chat and a lot of love in the room for this one.

Elizabeth Day is a Journalist, podcaster and author. The podcast ‘How to fail’ is a brilliant (and wildly successful…ironically) pod that shares intimate conversations with guests about their experiences with failure. And we couldn't recommend it any more highly.

You can find links to Elizabeth’s podcast, her books and everything else she is doing here https://bit.ly/3VCnSNE.

To watch the full episode on YouTube, follow this link: https://youtu.be/b01GMVnoRuk 

We encourage you to visit your local bookstore to purchase any of the books mentioned in this episode, but you can also find them here.

• Friendaholic - Elizabeth Day https://bit.ly/4a7PzCk.
• Strength to strength - Arthur C Brooks https://bit.ly/3VCaZTD

And you can listen to our episode of The Imperfects with Pat Cummins here: https://link.chtbl.com/o_uN8l_H

This episode discusses fertility treatments, miscarriage, grief and acceptance. If these topics feel like too much for you to hear right now, please revisit this episode when you are ready.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of The Imperfix we revisit one of our most popular episodes ever and in it, a topic that is very close to Hugh, Ryan and Josh’s respective bones. The ongoing battle of Truth vs Harmony.

Do you choose to live truthfully? Or harmoniously? And what does that even mean? And how does living ‘truthfully’ or ‘harmoniously’ affect us and the people around us?

To listen to the full Truth Vs Harmony episode, follow this link: https://bit.ly/3IW3gbw

To listen to Hamish Blake's Imperfects episode, follow this link: https://link.chtbl.com/IppXW33h

And to hear the follow up bonus episode, follow this link: https://link.chtbl.com/MkZXfc8y

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.

Very few people have experienced Gary Barlow’s level of success and fame. He’s the lead singer of the nineties British pop band Take That, he’s won 6 Ivor Novello Awards for song writing & composing, sold more the 50 million albums and filled stadiums of screaming fans across the world! But despite all this, as we’ve come to learn, he’s one of the nicest, most genuine people going around.

In this episode, Gary shares his experience of rising to such fame, and what happens when he lost it.

He opens up about the devastating burden of jealousy between him and bandmate Robbie Williams, his journey with disordered eating, the loss of his daughter Poppy and the love of his life, the one constant through it all - his wife.

So sit back and pour yourself a cup of vulnerabilitea, this is a big one.

To buy tickets to Take That’s upcoming tour of Australia and New Zealand visit: https://bit.ly/3INExGA.

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

To hear Ryan’s episode on shame & jealousy, mentioned in this episode, follow this link: https://link.chtbl.com/D_21alUg

To hear Hamish Blake’s episode on his friendship with Ryan & Hugh, follow this link: https://link.chtbl.com/IppXW33h.

To listen to Gina Chick’s episode, follow this link https://link.chtbl.com/Ginachick.

The Robbie Williams documentary is available on Netflix: https://bit.ly/493WWta.

For film recommendation ‘Salt Burn’ follow this link: https://apple.co/3x3GvQp.

To purchase your own set of Vulnerabilitea House Cards, follow this link: https://bit.ly/3PBFlkR

If you or someone you love is experiencing disordered eating, we recommend the following organisations:

• The Butterfly Foundation https://bit.ly/48YCSZe
• Eating Disorders Families Australia https://bit.ly/3TLU7J5
• Uncovery https://bit.ly/3x4IOCO

This episode with Gary Barlow includes a discussion about disordered eating and a conversation about a child who was delivered still born. If this feels like too much for you right now, please come back to this episode when you're feeling ready.

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.