The Imperfects
The Imperfects
Hugh van Cuylenburg, Ryan Shelton & Josh van Cuylenburg
Dr Emily - Tough Love vs Shame
1 hour 20 minutes Posted Aug 16, 2026 at 7:00 pm.
– Ever heard of a shame stripper?
– Bow down to Brene Brown
– The other self-conscious emotions (they’re shy)
– Humour and humiliation
– Shame is a full body experience
– Beware of who you share (with)
– Manosphere + behaviour change
– Tough love + kids sport
– Working with shame
– Bring on the compassion!
– Introducing the Healthy Adult
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Show notes
Is tough love to blame for our shame?
💌Join 9,200+ people getting a Dr Emily values worksheet and takeaways from this week’s episode in our newsletter - http://bit.ly/45NyQDy
We all know that parent or coach on the sideline who takes under 10’s basketball a liiitttllleee too seriously. And occasionally, tough love might seem to work in the moment, long term, the shame train isn’t going anywhere good.
Dr Emily, our resident psychologist, is here to name the shame to tame it, and teach us how we can be shame strippers too (get your head out of the gutter. Shame on you).
We go into the difference between shame, humiliation, guilt and embarrassment, bow down to the queen Brene Brown, and introduce ourselves to our own Healthy Adult.
Shamelessly, this is one of our best episodes to date.
If you’d like to watch the full episode on YouTube, follow this link -
🫖 Imperfects episodes mentioned on this episode
Ryan Shelton - Shame, Jealousy & Purpose - https://bit.ly/4qgEqrO
Dr Emily - Compassion of The Self - https://bit.ly/4hqWa1k
How do you know you’re in a thinking trap? - Maria Ruberto - https://bit.ly/4ze4eJh
🎧 Things to listen to
Between Two Beers with Steven Adams - https://bit.ly/4g3wipS
📚Things to read
Daring Greatly, by Brene Brown - https://bit.ly/45VT2Dx
The Compassionate Mind, by Paul Gilbert - https://bit.ly/3UewPOq
Movember study of the Manosphere - https://bit.ly/4wZxtOs
Proneness to shame vs proneness to guilt research by Tangney et al. - https://bit.ly/4g4lQyl
📖Things to do
The Mindful Self-Compassion Workbook, by Kristin Neff and Christopher Germer - https://bit.ly/4zg353K
Othership (breath work app) - https://bit.ly/4g7Q03E
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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.
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