The Imperfects

This is not your mother’s perimenopause.
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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

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 + Skills: Why HRT Alone Isn’t Enough
00:58:41 The Longevity of It All
01:00:30 Nutrition

📚Things to read
Group Chat, by Zoë Foster Blake - https://bit.ly/4efqR70
Hormone Health is Mental Health, by Dr Fatima Khan - https://bit.ly/4j6G2Ts
💻Things to check out
Australasian Menopause Society - menopause.org.au
Meno-D questionnaire - https://bit.ly/3Toj3sN
Zela Wellbeing - https://bit.ly/4ARGFXu
🎧Imperfects episodes for MORE on hormones
Zoë Foster Blake - Zero Lucks Given - https://bit.ly/4y8xwHx
Dr Louise Newson - Maybe it’s Menopause - https://bit.ly/4i7xM3F
Dr Louise Newson - It’s Hormones. Period. - https://bit.ly/47ya9w2
🩷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 Little More Imperfects through Apple Podcasts http://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.

Angie’s OCD obsessions are that she has committed her worst, most insidious, fears.
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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

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
00:57:02 – How To Support Someone With OCD
00:59:01 – How Angie and Her Husband Manage OCD Episodes
01:02:53 – Finding Your People Through OCD
01:05:15 – How To Respond When Someone Tells You They Have OCD
01:08:24 – Tips for Supporting Someone Who Has OCD

🧠If you, or someone you know, has been diagnosed with or thinks they may have OCD, these are some great resources. In an emergency, always call 000.
OCD BOUNCE - https://ocd.org.au
OCD WA - https://www.ocdwa.com.au
International OCD Foundation - https://iocdf.org
The Joy Thief, by Penny Moodie - https://bit.ly/3VJaKZ4
It’s Not What You Think podcast - https://bit.ly/4iZppcj
LifeLine - 13 11 14
🫖Imperfects episodes mentioned in this episode
Penny Moodie - Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) - https://bit.ly/4jxTPTd
Penny Moodie’s New Book - OCD & Finding Joy Again - https://bit.ly/4rGXkJa
Rick Davies - Living with OCD - https://bit.ly/4hxuLZY
Issac Humphries - Coming Out On Court - https://bit.ly/3VZDHQA
💻Things to check out
Andrea Wallace’s Website - https://wonderpsychology.com
Angie Greene’s Website - angiegreene.com.au
🩷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 Little More Imperfects through Apple Podcasts http://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.

Mid 20's and $250,000 in debt. Gripped by a gambling addiction. How do you recover?
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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
10:03 – Hiding Books from the Boys
17:11 – The Shame of Reading
19:22 – Chasing a Dream to Fill the Void
22:26 – Money, Drugs & Alcohol in Professional Sport
27:40 – Lies, Debt & Betting Company ‘VIP’ Treatment
30:26 – Should Gambling Sponsorship Be Banned?
31:11 – Rock Bottom
33:18 – The Phone Call That Saved His Life
39:45 – Rehab, Recovery + Relinquishing Control
43:40 – Inside Rehab “Get a Real Addiction”
47:21 – Recovery Is Not Linear
50:21 – Internal Family Systems: Healing the exiled child
56:05 – Generational Masculinity: Why Men Struggle to Connect
58:19 – Denial + Corporate Greed
1:03:13 – Luke’s Honesty Policy
1:06:08 – Unconditional Love vs Conditional Help
1:10:18 – Sharing Shame with Teammates
1:11:37 – Luke’s Message to Anyone Struggling Right Now
1:13:03 – Finding Your Way Back
🫖Imperfects episodes mentioned on this episode
Jack’s Gambling Addiction Story - https://bit.ly/4hFQmk1
📚Things to read
The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane, by Kate DiCamillo - https://bit.ly/46FkS7v
Keys to the Kingdom, by Garth Nix - https://bit.ly/4AnBxKB
The Midnight Library, by Matt Haig - https://bit.ly/4d2Ozmx
No Bad Parts, by Richard C Scharwtz - https://bit.ly/46FSGkU
You Are The One You’ve Been Waiting For, by Richard C Schwartz - https://bit.ly/3Tp0gx8
🎧Things to listen to
In The Good Books with Luke Bateman I Matt Haig: Writing What You Need to Hear - https://bit.ly/4jjvBvK
📱Things to check out
Luke’s Instagram (and his thoughts on male silence) - https://bit.ly/46AnIuy
🩷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
🩷 AND you can subscribe to A Little More Imperfects through Apple Podcasts http://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.

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?
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
48:52 – Strategy 1: write down your skills
49:53 – Strategy 2: name your shame
51:40 – Supporting a friend with imposter phenomenon
52:29 – Self-doubt in a new role is a good sign
57:12 – Strategy 3: mentor a near peer
1:00:38 – Strategy 4: celebrate your success
1:02:57 – Creating a good workplace culture
1:04:06 – Belonging is good for business
1:06:25 – Want more on belonging?
Dr Em, thanks for joining us.
🫖Imperfects episodes mentioned on this episode
Adam Grant - The Potential of Your Potential - https://bit.ly/4jc0DFM
Dr Emily - We’re Longing for Belonging - https://bit.ly/4yElLJp
Rana Hussain - Belonging for Connection - http://bit.ly/4odhGY8
Esther Perel - It’s Not Them, It’s You - https://bit.ly/4yxgljs
🎧Things to listen to
The Curiosity Shop with Brene Brown and Adam Grant - https://bit.ly/4gT05mW
📖Things to read
Hidden Potential, by Adam Grant - https://bit.ly/4AemQcv
Hardwiring Happiness, by Rick Hanson - https://bit.ly/3T6IhM0
📺 Things to watch
Mad Men - https://bit.ly/4cLB6zx
🩷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 Little More Imperfects through Apple Podcasts http://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.

When he was 15, Andy Lee’s mum forgot who he was.
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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/4cAwlIZ
New Zealand Spy - https://bit.ly/4hdjPBI
🎧Things to listen to
Andy Lee on Falling Upwards with Kate Langbroek - https://bit.ly/4yucp30
🩷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 Little More Imperfects through Apple Podcasts http://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.