About this episode
<p>What would it feel like to have the very thing that mad you great - your body, strength and co-ordination - slowly and painfully taken away from you?</p> <p>As a swimmer, Michael Klim was on top of the world - he was literally ‘World Swimmer of the Year’. Trips to the Olympics, medals of every colour, 21 world records AND his face on the cover of a Foo Fighters Album, Michael really did have it all.</p> <p>However, in 2022 Michael was diagnosed with a life changing condition, wherein your body attacks it’s own tissue - chronic inflammatory demyelination polyneuropathy (CIDP).</p> <p>In this episode, Hugh, Ryan and Josh chat to Michael about his equally impressive life out of the pool, and how his CIDP diagnosis has taught him a lot about identity, grief and relationships.</p> <p>In 2023, Michael partnered with Australian Red Cross Lifeblood to help raise awareness for the vital role blood donation plays in not just his life, but the 1 in 3 Australians who will need blood products in their lifetime. To help recipients like Michael and countless others book a blood donation here. <a href="https://bit.ly/4c8Z6tN">https://bit.ly/4c8Z6tN</a></p> <p>To watch the full episode on YouTube, follow this link. <a href="https://bit.ly/3RHPUoi">https://bit.ly/3RHPUoi</a></p> <p> </p> <p>Links mentioned in the episode and extra resources:</p> <p> </p> <p>📺 Things to watch</p> <ul> <li>Homer Simpson’s journey through the Stages of Grief - <a href="https://bit.ly/4epRAMJ">https://bit.ly/4epRAMJ</a>.</li> <li>The Imperfects x Lifeblood video - <a href="https://bit.ly/3z0Suiv">https://bit.ly/3z0Suiv</a></li> </ul> <p> </p> <p>🎧 Previous Imperfects episodes mentioned in this episode:</p> <ul> <li>Tim Minchin - Lucky To Be Here - <a href="https://apple.co/492kgsN">https://apple.co/492kgsN</a> </li> <li>Gina Chick - Don’t Fight Life - <a href="https://apple.co/3UKpxQ8">https://apple.co/3UKpxQ8</a> </li> <li>Elizabeth Day - The Me-est Version of Me - <a href="https://apple.co/47PubRU">https://apple.co/47PubRU</a> </li> <li>Reece Conca - Tackling Male Infertility - <a href="https://apple.co/4fUmEEm">https://apple.co/4fUmEEm</a> </li> </ul> <p> </p> <p>📖 Things to read</p> <ul> <li>Kubler-Ross Grief Cycle is here <a href="https://bit.ly/45tThVu">https://bit.ly/45tThVu</a></li> </ul> <p> </p> <p>⛑️ To support</p> <ul> <li>Lifeblood - <a href="https://bit.ly/4c8Z6tN">https://bit.ly/4c8Z6tN</a></li> <li>The Klim Foundation - <a href="https://bit.ly/4ejtGTj">bit.ly/4ejtGTj</a></li> </ul> <p> </p> <p><strong>🎧 </strong>Things to listen to:</p> <ul> <li>Milkshakes for Marlee - <a href="https://bit.ly/4cwRDEW">https://bit.ly/4cwRDEW</a></li> </ul> <p> </p> <p>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.</p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>
Listen to this episode in English to learn English
Podcast episodes are one of the highest-density ways to absorb English at native pace. Michael Klim - The Race of His LIfe from The Imperfects gives you natural dialogue, unscripted speech, and vocabulary that actually appears in real conversations.
In the Clue app, every word in the transcript is tappable. Tap an unknown word, see the translation in your language instantly, and keep listening without breaking flow.
Episodes to Learn English
- Dr Emily - You're Full of Grit Jun 14, 2026
- Ellyse Perry - It Starts With Trying Jun 7, 2026
- We're Doing a One-Off Live Show! Jun 2, 2026
- Ryan Holiday - A Stoic Life & Death May 31, 2026
- Joel Pearson - I Think, Therefore AI May 24, 2026
- Dr Emily - What To Do With Envy May 17, 2026
- Reuben Williams - What Happened After My Sexual Assault May 10, 2026
- Jan Fran - Wars For Your Attention May 3, 2026
- Dr Edna Lekgabe - New Baby… New Brain… Matrescence. Apr 26, 2026
- Shane Jacobson - Permission To Laugh Apr 19, 2026
- Esther Perel - It’s Not Them, It’s You Apr 12, 2026
- Dr Emily - Overcome With Overwhelm? Apr 5, 2026
- Hamish Macdonald - After The Facts Mar 29, 2026
- Bri Lee - Babies+Climate=Anxiety Mar 22, 2026
- Ben Crowe - Play School Mar 15, 2026
- Matt Preston - Only 14 Summers Left Mar 8, 2026
- Dr Emily - Acceptance, That's Radical Mar 1, 2026
- Maggie Dent - ‘Good Enough’ Parenting is Good Enough Feb 22, 2026
- Bron Lewis - Is It Me or Postnatal Anxiety? Feb 15, 2026
- Dr Lucy Hone - A Life Worth Grieving Feb 8, 2026
- Claudia Karvan - Love, Her Way Feb 1, 2026
- Soul Searching Summer - Ryan’s TV Show Jan 25, 2026
- Spooky Summer - Hugh’s Haunted House Jan 18, 2026
- Psychology Summer - Your Inner Fan with Dr Emily Jan 11, 2026
- The Little Drummer Girl - A Christmas Scandal Dec 21, 2025
- Dave Hughes - Me, Myself & Ego Dec 14, 2025
- Mary Fowler - Forgiving Yourself-Harm Dec 7, 2025
- Dr Emily - You Had Me At Communication Nov 30, 2025
- Jamila Rizvi - Awoken by a Broken Brain Nov 23, 2025
- Troy Kinne - It’s What’s Inside That’s Backwards Nov 16, 2025