Podcasts · Health & Fitness

The Psychology of your 20s

iHeartPodcasts

300 episodes

A podcast that explains how everything is psychology. Even your 20s. Hosted by Jemma Sbeg, each Tuesday and Friday we deep dive into the science and psychology behind a topic, concept or universal experience that defines our 20s - from dating, to mental health, career anxiety, friendship, finances and all the growing pains associated with this decade. Listen now.

More about the show

Watch on Netflix: HERE

Follow Jemma on Instagram: @jemmasbeg

Follow the podcast on Instagram: @thatpsychologypodcast

Subscribe on Substack: @thepsychologyofyour20s

For business: psychologyofyour20s@gmail.com

Episodes page 1 of 6

  1. 473. The psychology of clubbing

    · 43 min

    Why does dancing in a crowd feel so good? What is the emotional allure of the dance floor, the club scene, the music? Today, we’re exploring the psychology of clubbing, from the physiological rush of a beat drop to the…

  2. 472. What ACTUALLY makes people compatible?

    · 45 min

    Is a 'spark' all that it takes to be compatible in the long-term? What about sharing the same interests, personality or sense of humour? Or is it something more deep and intangible? In today’s episode, we explore what…

  3. 471. The psychology of weddings

    · 43 min

    Why is there so much pressure for your wedding to be the best day of your life? And what happens when that pressure gets in the way of actually enjoying it? Today, we’re unpacking the psychology of weddings: the…

  4. 470. Are the love languages a big myth?

    · 27 min

    Do you really have a love language? And does learning your partner’s actually make your relationship better? In this bonus episode of our debunking psychology series, we unpack the truth behind one of the most popular…

  5. 469. The psychology of embarrassment

    · 43 min

    We blush, we look away, we replay the moment for hours (or years) after it happened, becoming convinced that everyone noticed far more than they probably did. Embarrassment is an interesting and complex emotion, but it…

  6. 468. The psychology of brain fog

    · 36 min

    Brain fog is so much more than just feeling tired. It's that frustrating feeling of knowing what you want to say or do, but your brain simply won't cooperate. And whilst it's incredibly common, we're only just…

  7. 467. The psychology of the cab theory

    · 42 min

    Does the taxi cab theory actually explain why some people suddenly become ready to settle down, or is it just another dating myth? In this episode, we’re breaking down the psychology behind the infamous, Sex and The…

  8. 466. How your environment programs your behaviour (and how to deprogram yourself)

    · 43 min

    How much of your behaviour is really “you” - and how much has been shaped by the environments around you? In this episode, we explore how childhood, relationships, social expectations, habits and physical spaces can…

  9. 465. The psychology of the placebo effect

    · 33 min

    In this bonus episode, we’re looking at the placebo effect - what it is, how it became an important part of medical research, and why an inactive treatment can sometimes produce genuine changes how we feel, and what…

  10. 464. The psychology of cults

    · 56 min

    From abusive MLM’s and wellness programs to doomsday sects and UFO religions, we’re all fascinated by cults. Their mystery offers us a way to explore the darkest recesses of human behaviour, while remaining seemingly…

  11. 463. The 5 reasons you’re not as behind as you think

    · 48 min

    In our 20s, we’re all vulnerable to feeling that we’re falling behind. Whether it be chasing the perfect job, relationship, friends, living situation, trip abroad, or something else, we’re led to believe that there’s a…

  12. 462. The truth about the Stanford Prison Experiment

    · 29 min

    The Stanford Prison Experiment is one of the most famous studies in psychology, but also one of the most controversial. In this bonus episode, we look at what actually happened in the basement of Stanford University in…

  13. 461. 10 things I NEEDED 21 year old me to know

    · 38 min

    If I could sit down with my 21-year-old self, there are a few things I would definitely want to say. Today, I'm going to say them, like 'don't even THINK about moving in with that guy, use your savings account, care…

  14. 460. The psychology of 'good girl' syndrome

    · 44 min

    Many of us are conditioned to believe that being described as kind, nice, accommodating and generous are the key to overall happiness. But when these traits veer into Good Girl Syndrome, we can be left with a…

  15. 459. I'm so tired of being ambitious

    · 33 min

    Ambition feels like my entire personality and I'm trying to fix that. Who are we beyond our ambition? In a world that only cares about success, output and productivity, what do we feel like we'll lose when we slow…

  16. 458. Can embracing stress actually help us?

    · 37 min

    Stress has a reputation for burning us out, torching our relationships and even causing our lives to end prematurely. But not all stress is created equal. In this episode, we explore the difference between eustress -…

  17. 457. The psychology of 'false' memories

    · 30 min

    We treat our memories like a reliable recording of the past. We remember what happened, how we felt, where we were, and what was said. But what if our account is more like a subjective recollection of events? In this…

  18. 456. Why does feeling sad sometimes feel so good?

    · 32 min

    Why does feeling sad sometimes feel... so good? Whether it’s putting on the saddest song you know, rewatching a movie that always makes you cry, indulging in a little self-pity or finally letting yourself have a good…

  19. 455. Why does time start flying in our 20s?

    · 41 min

    It’s a known fact that time moves faster as we get older, but what does this really mean, and can we slow it down? In this episode, we’re going to try to make sense of why flies as we enter our 20s - from memory, to…

  20. 454. The oedipus complex

    · 31 min

    The Oedipus complex is one of Freud’s most renowned and shocking ideas. In this episode, we dive into the origins of the theory and whether anything really remains once its gendered assumptions and controversial sexual…

  21. 453. 7 facts you need to know about your brain

    · 50 min

    There are a surprising number of myths and misconceptions about the brain, particularly with regards to its development in our 20s. In this episode, we unpack a number of surprising facts and studies about the brain so…

  22. 452. How to get better at being alone

    · 47 min

    The fear of missing out or not seizing every moment are some of the biggest worries we experience in our 20s. However, spending time alone isn’t the same as being lonely or doing nothing - in fact, it’s quite the…

  23. 451. Why you need to stop psychoanalysing the people you date

    · 52 min

    Dating can bring out the psychologist in us. One delayed reply, one vague comment, and we try to decode someone’s attachment style, childhood wounds, and capacity for commitment. But while psychological language can…

  24. 450. The psychology of the quarter life reinvention

    · 31 min

    In this episode, we explore the psychology of the quarter life reinvention: the period that can come after the confusion, uncertainty and identity crisis of our early and mid-20s, when things finally begin to fall into…

  25. 449. The psychology of your shadow self

    · 33 min

    What is the shadow self? And how do we meet ours? In today's episode we explore what it means to get curious about the shadow parts of ourselves. We take a grounded look at shadow work - where the idea came from, the…

  26. 448. The psychology of reputation

    · 43 min

    We're talking about reputation. On a fundamental level, our reputations are a signal of our qualities that make us worth associating with, and we tend to spend a large amount of time ruminating and even obsessing over…

  27. 447. The psychology of PMOS/PCOS ft. Dr Hazel Wallace

    · 1 h 15 min

    I was recently diagnosed with PMOS, and with that came a lot of questions: why is my body like this, what caused it, will I be able to have kids, how can I fix it? There's a lot of information (and misinformation)…

  28. 446. The psychology of Stockholm Syndrome

    · 31 min

    The term “Stockholm Syndrome” is used to explain why someone might defend, protect, or feel attached to a person who has harmed them - but why does this happen? In this bonus episode, we explore where the term came…

  29. 445. Your guide to nervous system regulation

    · 53 min

    Tips for nervous system regulation are everywhere right now - from breathwork and cold plunges to conversations about burnout, anxiety, and trauma. But what does it actually mean to be regulated, and are we sometimes…

  30. 444. The psychology of angel numbers

    · 43 min

    Angel numbers have a way of showing up just when we need them. 111 symbolises new beginnings. 444 means divine protection. Why does our mind pay such close attention to these numbers, what is the history, and what is…

  31. 443. How to be more interesting

    · 52 min

    I think we all instinctively know if we find someone interesting… or not. But how can we cultivate the skills of being interesting to others? In this episode, we break down the science behind what makes people…

  32. 442. The psychology of insecurity

    · 50 min

    If anyone tells you that they’re not even a little bit insecure, they’re lying, in denial, or both. It’s a fact of life that we all feel insecure at times - about how we look, behave, our achievements, and whether we…

  33. The psychology of uncertainty

    · 36 min

    Uncertainty is the defining emotion of our 20s. Career paths, relationships, identity, purpose ... so much of this decade is marked by not knowing. Does that have to be as uncomfortable as we think it does? In today’s…

  34. The 20 biggest mistakes people make in their 20s

    · 43 min

    Over the past 6 months I've been asking people: what is the biggest mistake you made in your 20s? I've heard from over 5'000 people, some of them 21, some of them 80 and I have combined all their responses to make the…

  35. The psychology of highly sensitive people

    · 47 min

    The life of the highly sensitive person is often misunderstood. Highly sensitive aren't just people who cry too much or get overwhelmed, take things too personally: they actually take in so much of the world that it…

  36. The psychology of confidence

    · 47 min

    You know when someone seems to breeze through life, can approach any social situation and challenge with such self-assured confidence? It seems innate - something they were born with. But what if that's not true? What…

  37. 441. The Freud Episode

    · 47 min

    Sigmund Freud is one of the most famous and contested names in psychology. Often reduced to couches, cigars, dreams, sex, and blaming everything on your mother, Freud’s real story is much more complicated. In this…

  38. 440. 7 psychology tips to hack your productivity

    · 43 min

    Productivity advice often tells us to push harder, wake up earlier, and squeeze more out of every hour. But in this episode, we take a different approach. Instead of treating productivity like a test of willpower, we…

  39. 439. How to chase your dreams, and when to slow down ft. Grace Beverley

    · 1 h 01 min

    TW: Discussions of miscarriage/pregnancy Grace Beverley is a founder, an entrepreneur, and a seasoned professional when it comes to pursuing the ideas your have, but also knowing when to slow down, recover from…

  40. 438. The secrets of therapy FROM a therapist ft. Dr Sandra Espinoza

    · 48 min

    We all know that therapy is amazing, in fact it’s life-changing for many people. But what does therapy actually do? And what makes a good therapist? In today’s episode we’re joined by Dr Sandra Espinoza, Associate…

  41. 437. The psychology behind feeling 'too much'

    · 49 min

    At some point in most of our lives, most of us have felt that we are ‘too much’. We might feel that we are too loud, have too many opinions, are too extroverted, too needy, or generally take up too much emotional…

  42. 436. The psychology of sibling rivalry

    · 37 min

    In many ways, sibling rivalry is an integral part of growing up in a multiple-child household – the arguments, the jealousy, the competition. But as we explore in this episode, those sibling dynamics often don’t stop…

  43. 435. The pain of outgrowing your old life

    · 34 min

    There comes a point in all of our lives where we realise we've outgrown who we used to be. Sometimes it happens all at once, due to a breakup, a move, a loss, or a major life change. Other times (most of the time),…

  44. 434. "I lost my brother at 16 to suicide, it shouldn't have happened" ft. Ben West

    · 1 h 02 min

    TW: Discussions of suicide. This week, I'm joined by mental health campaigner Ben West for one of the most moving conversations we've ever had on the show. At 18, Ben lost his brother to suicide. He has taken that…

  45. 433. I'm ready to leave London

    · 33 min

    Giving you all an update on my life and my future in London. Watch on Netflix: HERE Follow Jemma on Instagram: @jemmasbeg Follow the podcast on Instagram: @thatpsychologypodcast Subscribe on Substack:…

  46. 432. How to rebuild your attention span

    · 53 min

    Many of us feel that our attention spans are nothing like they used to be. So many of us can recall a time when we would read books for hours with ease, concentrate for hours, focus on a movie without going on our…

  47. 431. Why a boring life is beautiful

    · 28 min

    What might be seen as a ‘boring’ life is often just a life that wouldn’t be as popular on Instagram. In a world that glamorises chaos, spontaneity and constant stimulation, we need to create lives that truly nourish…

  48. 430. The psychology of job interviews

    · 40 min

    When we go for a job interview, it can feel as if our entire existence is being judged. It can come down to the feeling of someone else getting to call the shots on whether we are intellectually competent at best, or…

  49. 429. The reality of chronic illness in your 20s ft. Nikki Lilly

    · 1 h 12 min

    Living with a chronic illness in your 20s can feel like carrying an invisible weight that nobody else can see. Beyond the hospital appointments, surgeries, medications and diagnoses, there is a hidden psychological…

  50. 428. The truth about Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs

    · 24 min

    Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs is one of the most famous theories in psychology. We've all seen the pyramid. We've all been told that before we can become our best selves, we need to climb through five levels of human…

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