Yours

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 2 of 6

  1. 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…

  2. 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…

  3. 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…

  4. 427. What to do when a 9-5 doesn't fulfil you?

    · 39 min

    Most of us will spend the majority of our adult lives working. So why does the traditional 9–5 leave so many people feeling exhausted, trapped, unfulfilled, or quietly wondering: is this really it? In this episode, we…

  5. 426. The psychology of superstition

    · 46 min

    Superstitions can seem irrational on the surface, but beneath them is something incredibly human - the need for meaning, comfort, and a sense of control in an uncertain world. In this episode, we explore the psychology…

  6. 425. Why we want people who don't want us back

    · 32 min

    Why do we become obsessed with people who don't want us back? Even when we know it will never work? Even when we know there's no convincing them? In this episode, we unpack the psychology behind unrequited love,…

  7. 424. How to ACTUALLY change your bad habits ft. Harvard Behavioural Scientist, Julia Dhar

    · 1 h 02 min

    We all have something about our behaviour or our lives we really want to change. But every time we go to try, we find we lose motivation very quickly and end up back where we started with the behaviour still in tact.…

  8. 423. You need more hobbies...here's how you do it

    · 37 min

    Your hobbies may be just as important as your friendships in your 20s. But whilst you may dedicate 10-15 hours a week to your friends, most of us can go a week or two without actually performing our hobbies. Why is…

  9. 422. The psychology of Peter Pan Syndrome

    · 36 min

    We’re all familiar with the story of the boy who wouldn’t grow up: Peter Pan. But when someone displays similar traits in real life - issues with commitment, responsibilities, and adulting in general - they might be…

  10. 421. Hating yourself will get you nowhere

    · 47 min

    Being your own harshest critic can feel productive, protective, even familiar, but over time, it becomes less of a motivator and more of a cage. In this episode, we explore the psychology of self-hatred - where it…

  11. 420. The psychology of weed

    · 45 min

    Weed can be relaxing, funny, creative, and social - until it isn’t. In this episode, we look at what weed is actually doing in the brain, why it can calm one person and overwhelm another, and how it can change from…

  12. 419. How to ACTUALLY process your emotions

    · 46 min

    When we’re detached from our emotions, things can feel a little… flat. But though our brain might be trying to protect us from harm, emotionally detaching stops us from being able to appreciate the true richness of…

  13. 418. How to repair a friendship

    · 49 min

    Endless studies show that the strength of our relationships is the biggest indicator for our happiness and wellbeing. So when we fall out with a friend, it can feel absolutely devastating, and leave us wondering how to…

  14. 417. The pressure to be extraordinary in our 20s

    · 43 min

    In our 20s, we can feel intense pressure to be extraordinary, to stand head and shoulders above the pack, to thrive across all aspects of our life. But when we put pressure on ourselves to be extraordinary, we can fall…

  15. 416. The surprising neuroscience behind your anxiety

    · 45 min

    Anxiety has a way of making ordinary moments feel life-or-death. A simple interaction can feel significant, a passing thought can spiral into catastrophe, and your body can react as if something is deeply wrong - even…

  16. 415. The psychology of dopamine

    · 25 min

    Most people would know the term: dopamine. It's the world's most famous neurotransmitter, known for it's role in happiness and pleasure. What if I told you, most of us have it all wrong. In today's episode we break…

  17. 414. How to get out of a funk

    · 36 min

    When we’re ‘in a funk’, we might feel that things just aren’t going right for us, we can’t catch a break, and that life generally feels pretty flat. What’s more, we can tend to look at the world through a negative lens…

  18. 413. You're not for everyone? GOOD!

    · 37 min

    It’s easy to believe that being liked by as many people as possible is a positive attribute. But when we chase this, we risk compromising our sense of identity, alienating ourselves from others, and being confused and…

  19. 412. Does your frontal lobe ACTUALLY develop at 25?

    · 21 min

    Where did this myth that our frontal lobe develops at 25 actually come from? What does the death penalty and Leonardo DiCaprio have in common? You've probably seen TikToks, videos, tweets, memes, but what is the truth…

  20. 411. Growing up online, early fame and rediscovering your creativity ft. Arden Rose

    · 1 h 04 min

    TW: this episode includes discussions of eating disorders. What happens when millions of people watch you grow up online? How do you navigate change, love and making mistakes in front of a massive audience? And how do…

  21. 410. Why does everyone have a diagnosis these days?

    · 56 min

    Why does it suddenly feel like everyone has a diagnosis? From ADHD and autism to anxiety, trauma, burnout, and depression - mental health language is everywhere right now. But are rates actually rising? Or are more…

  22. 409. How to manage your anxiety about the future

    · 41 min

    It can feel like the world - and our future - has never been more precarious or frightening. It’s a very normal response to feel anxious about it - and in many ways, being concerned is just a sign that you’re alive,…

  23. 408. Are our phones killing intimacy?

    · 36 min

    It’s not a hot take to say that most of us are incredibly addicted to our phones. But when our usage bleeds into full-blown ‘technoference’ - technology interference - there can be significant, harmful consequences. In…

  24. 407. Loving yourself, will make you more attractive

    · 37 min

    We are bombarded with ideas about how we should look, behave, and be. But instead of trying to constantly strive for the societal ideal, we can cut through the noise another way - and that’s by cultivating self-love.…

  25. 406. How to romanticise your 20s (even when they suck)

    · 38 min

    Your 20s are sold to you as the “best years of your life” - which is hilarious, considering how many of us spend them underpaid, overthinking, heartbroken, living in transitional housing, and finding a new identity…

  26. 405. The psychology of betrayal

    · 44 min

    Betrayal doesn’t just ‘hurt your feelings.’ It shatters your nervous system, hijacks your sense of reality, and rewires your brain for fear and hypervigilance. We can be betrayed - or betray someone else - in a myriad…

  27. 404. I want to do everything, so I do nothing

    · 30 min

    Why is it that we can have a million visions, dreams and goals for how we want our life to be, but we can't seem to execute any of them? Is it laziness? Lack of discipline? Or fear? In today's episode, we break down…

  28. 403. How to do hard things (using psychology)

    · 35 min

    The best things in life aren't always the easiest and it's often this exertion and extra effort that holds us back from diving in or fully committing. Whether it's a new routine, an ambitious study schedule or workout…

  29. 402. Why trauma bonding feels so much like love ...

    · 48 min

    We’ve all heard the phrase trauma bonding, often used in jest to talk about two people who became friends after meeting in difficult circumstances. But trauma bonding is actually a psychological phenomenon which…

  30. 401. The psychology of microtrends

    · 47 min

    We all want to feel that we fit into a social group. But how does this play out when it comes to trends? From ‘mob wife energy’ to ‘cottagecore’, rapidly-evolving microtrends put more aesthetic-driven content in front…

  31. 400. 15 things everyone should do in their 20s

    · 48 min

    It's our 400th episode! Today is a special episode. Feeling stuck, behind, or like you’re wasting your 20s is not a rare experience. But you might just be focusing on the wrong milestones... In this episode, we break…

  32. 399. The psychology of exercise

    · 48 min

    We all know exercise is ‘good for us’, but why is it that a walk can calm your brain, why a workout can feel like emotional release, or why movement can become either self-care or self-punishment. In this episode, we…

  33. 398. 5 ways to get unstuck in your 20s

    · 23 min

    Feeling stuck in your 20s is a rite of passage, but it's can also feel deeply hopeless when nothing in your life seems to be moving or changing in the way you want it to. In today's episode, we break down some of the…

  34. 397. The psychology of office politics

    · 37 min

    When we think about office politics, you might think gossip, favouritism, or power plays - the kind of behind-the-scenes drama that makes work feel draining. But office politics isn’t just about one-upmanship or…

  35. 396. Homesickness

    · 35 min

    Homesickness is more than just “missing home", it's a deep sense of nostalgia, grief, longing and also, as psychology will tell us, a unique kind of stress response. In this episode, we break down the psychology of…

  36. 395. Is depression just a chemical imbalance?

    · 33 min

    The idea that depression is caused by a “chemical imbalance” is one of the most widely accepted explanations in modern mental health ... but is it actually true? In this bonus episode, we unpack where the chemical…

  37. 394. What is the pursuer-distancer relationship dynamic?

    · 39 min

    When one person tries to get closer to someone else, and the other person pulls away in response, they might be experiencing a pursuer-distancer dynamic. This can create a very painful cycle, where communication breaks…

  38. 393. The psychology of stoicism

    · 37 min

    If you heard someone described as stoic, you would probably imagine they were unemotional and repressed, with a stiff upper lip. But stoicism has a PR problem. In fact, stoicism can teach us a lot about letting go of…

  39. 392. Why is whimsy so powerful

    · 39 min

    We often dismiss the small, playful things we do to keep life joyful: collecting trinkets, baking for no reason, blowing bubbles, looking for magic. They’re labelled childish, unnecessary, or unserious. But psychology…

  40. 391. The unconscious vs. conscious mind

    · 43 min

    We like to think we’re making conscious choices all day long - but a lot of what drives our reactions, habits, and gut feelings happens outside of awareness. The conscious vs. unconscious mind is a useful way to…

  41. 390. The psychology of serial monogamy & relationship hopping

    · 30 min

    Why do some people seem to move from relationship to relationship with barely any time in between, and why does being single feel almost impossible for them? In this bonus episode, we’re diving into the psychology…

  42. 389. How to experience healthy love after toxic love

    · 56 min

    After toxic love, healthy love can feel surprisingly hard to recognise because you’ve likely learned to expect chaos, inconsistency, and emotional whiplash. In this episode, we unpack what toxic love actually looks…

  43. 388. The psychology of fashion & personal style

    · 49 min

    Personal style might look like a surface-level thing, but it’s actually one of the most psychologically loaded choices we make every day. What we wear shapes how we’re perceived, how we feel, and sometimes even what…

  44. 387. The truth about narcissism ...

    · 35 min

    When did ‘narcissist’ become the go-to explanation for every difficult person - and what do we lose when one word starts covering everything from basic selfishness to genuine psychological harm? In this bonus episode,…

  45. 386. 26 lessons I've learnt in 26 years

    · 49 min

    It's my 26th birthday, and I'm in a reflective mood. As I pass the halfway point of my 20s (and this podcast), I'm looking back at some of the lessons I've learnt so far and what I hope I learn in the next four years.…

  46. 385. The best psychology hacks for studying

    · 34 min

    Want to study smarter, not longer? Today, we're finally breaking down my psychology-backed guide to becoming the academic weapon you always dreamed of being. I’m sharing the exact study hacks I used to become high…

  47. 384. How to stop taking things so personally

    · 34 min

    If you’ve ever felt like a delayed reply, a change of tone, or a bit of feedback ruined your whole day, you might have a tendency to take things personally. In this episode, we’re looking at why your brain is wired to…

  48. 383. The psychology of intrusive thoughts

    · 43 min

    Intrusive thoughts can feel shocking, confusing, and deeply personal - especially when they show up out of nowhere and go completely against who you are. But in reality, the majority of us have them. In today’s…

  49. 382. How is AI actually impacting our brains?

    · 53 min

    AI has transformed the way we work, the way we ask questions, and the way we function as a society. But what impact has it had on our minds? In today’s episode, we’re unpacking the ways that this new-found convenience…

  50. 381. Are friendships REALLY meant to be inconvenient?

    · 46 min

    Everyone wants a village? No one wants to be a villager? In a world obsessed with protecting our peace, optimising our time, and cutting off anything that feels draining ... have we accidentally made friendship…

Shows are listed from Apple Podcasts' charts and directory, and Podcast Index where it is used. Every show and episode belongs to its publisher and plays from the publisher's own feed; this site hosts none of them. Explicit shows are for adult profiles only, and children’s profiles hear only children’s shows. More about this list.