The Psychology of your 20s

The Psychology of your 20s

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. My book is out NOW: https://www.psychologyofyour20s.com/general-clean For business enquires please email psychologyofyour20s@gmail.com

Episodes

November 3, 2025 • 43 mins

It sounds simple. Split the rent, share space, maybe finally stop packing an overnight bag. But living together is one of the biggest relationship transitions of our twenties, and it brings with it some very real psychological, emotional, and even social shifts.
In this episode, we unpack the questions around living with your partner in your 20s - what it means, what it changes, and what it reveals. 

We explore:
• &...

Mark as Played

You know that feeling when time disappears, your focus sharpens, and everything just clicks? That’s what we often call ‘flow state’ - a powerful experience of total immersion where effort feels effortless. In today’s bonus episode, we uncover what flow really is, how it works, and why finding it might just change how you think about focus and fulfilment.

We explore:

•       What the flow ...

Mark as Played
October 30, 2025 • 48 mins

Extreme thinness is back in trend (again) so today, we explore the psychology behind why and the impact its having? In this episode, we'll discuss the rise of skinnytok and how this so-called ‘wellness’ version of thinness convinces us to be smaller, neater, cleaner, more controlled.

What to expect:

•        How to tell whether content is skinnytok aligned
•        Li...

Mark as Played
October 27, 2025 • 39 mins

Have you ever felt that urge for payback? Revenge is one of the oldest, most universal human instincts. It seems like it promises justice, balance, or even peace. But why does it so often leave us feeling worse, not better?

In this episode, we dive into the psychology of revenge - what drives it, what it costs us, and why our brains find it so hard to let go.

We explore:

•        Why revenge feels so intoxi...

Mark as Played
October 23, 2025 • 34 mins

Everyone is secretly searching for the perfect relationship, but what if your relationship is just 'good enough'? What if you feel secure, or fine about the person you're with but secretly want more? In today's episode we break down what it means to settle in your 20s, including: 

  • The pressure to be 'coupled up' during your 20s
  • How milestone anxiety creates unfulfilled relationships 
  • What settling looks and feels lik...
Mark as Played
October 20, 2025 • 38 mins

We think of failure as a terrible thing or something to be avoided. But when you learn to fall in love with failure, a whole new level of growth occurs that will have you seeing progress faster than ever. In our 20s, the so called failure-decade, we talk about how you can learn to fail, including: 

  • The reasons we fear failure 
  • Why our definition of success is inaccurate and socially conditioned 
  • The relationship...
Mark as Played
October 18, 2025 • 30 mins

We’ve all heard the term thrown around – in books, in TV dramas, in news articles – we’re taught to be scared of it. But rarely do we consider what it actually means. In today’s bonus episode, we take a look at sociopathy.

We explore:

  • Differentiating sociopathy and psychopathy
  • Common misconceptions
  • Early origins of the term
  • The role of self-awareness and masking in sociopathy
  • Whether all sociopath...
Mark as Played
October 16, 2025 • 38 mins

Have you ever felt like everything in your late twenties is suddenly up for grabs - your relationships, your career, even who you thought you were? It might be your Saturn return - a period of upheaval, self-reflection, and big life questions that’s as much psychological as it is astrological.

In this episode, we look at the psychology behind Saturn returns - why this age feels so turbulent, what’s happening in our mind...

Mark as Played
October 13, 2025 • 46 mins

Have you ever felt like the world around you isn’t quite real, or like you’re watching your life from the outside? Have you ever driven somewhere and suddenly wondered how you got there? It might be dissociation - a surprisingly common psychological experience that can be both protective and, at times, unsettling.

In this episode we look at the psychology behind dissociation – what is going on in our bodies and br...

Mark as Played
October 9, 2025 • 46 mins

Friendships should be a source of joy – people who just make life lighter. But not all friendships feel that way. Some leave us drained, insecure, or questioning our worth. And it can be hard to admit when a friendship has become toxic. Learning to recognise when a friendship is no longer healthy, and how to navigate that shift, is a crucial part of protecting your well-being and building a life that feels aligned.
In this...

Mark as Played

Today I'm reflecting on some of the lessons I've been taking from my early 20s. We all have regrets about things we wish we'd done differently or not done at all, and I'm hoping you can learn from mine. 

We talk about everything from bad financial decisions, ghosting friends, staying in relationships farrr too long, to impulse buying, ignoring gut feelings and fighting with family. Listen now to hear all ten! 

ORDER MY BO...

Mark as Played
October 2, 2025 • 40 mins

Hitting rock bottom is one of the most painful human experiences - when the future is blurry, the past feels heavy, and you barely recognize the person staring back in the mirror. Maybe it’s the end of a relationship, losing your job, battling addiction, or simply feeling like everything you built has crumbled. In this episode, we explore what those lowest points really feel like, why we sometimes end up there, and how, again...

Mark as Played

In this bonus release, I am sharing an episode of my other podcast, MANTRA. This week's mantra is I Am Not Here to Manage Other People’s Emotions. It's a common trap to feel responsible for the feelings of those around us, often at the expense of our own emotional well-being. But true empathy means holding space for others without taking on their emotional burden or feeling obligated to fix their feelings.

Mark as Played

Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) is one of the most misunderstood mental health conditions, clouded by stigma and misinformation. In this episode, we take a compassionate, research-based look at what BPD really is, where it comes from, and how people living with it can find healing and stability. From exploring the biological underpinnings and role of trauma, to the impact on relationships and the remarkable effectiveness of t...

Mark as Played
September 27, 2025 • 25 mins

From Myers-Briggs to the Big Five, almost all of us at some stage have done a personality test. Whether it labelled you an introvert or extrovert, a big thinker or a small details individual, it's easy to get swept up in the idea that these tests can tell us all we need to know about our personality and identity. But are they legit, and what is the science behind them? In today's episode, we break down: 

  • The scientific ba...
Mark as Played
September 25, 2025 • 42 mins

In our twenties, the feedback sources that once defined our worth - grades, report cards, and parental praise - start to disappear. This leaves a void, which many of us instinctively turn to external sources like social media, career achievements, and the opinions of others, to fill. And while this external validation isn’t inherently bad, we need to be mindful of refilling our own sense of self before becoming reliant on oth...

Mark as Played
September 23, 2025 • 43 mins

We often think that once we've made a decision, or said we believe something, or stated something about ourselves, we must always stay the same and can never change our minds. That is entirely incorrect - being able to say "I was wrong" or "this isn't me anymore" show incredible psychological strength. Being able to quit and start again is often the start of a truly fulfilled life. In today's episode we discuss how being okay with ...

Mark as Played
September 19, 2025 • 39 mins

We live in a world full of opinions, advice, and expectations - and somewhere in the noise, our own inner voice can get drowned out. Learning to trust yourself sounds simple, but in practice it’s a hard skills to build. Doubt, fear of mistakes, and the pressure to “get it right” often pull us away from what we already know deep down. 

In this episode, we explore the psychology of self-trust: how it develops, ...

Mark as Played
September 15, 2025 • 51 mins

Hate is one of those emotions we don’t like to admit we feel – it’s messy, intense, and often laced with guilt. But it’s also deeply human. It can flare up in obvious moments of conflict, or linger quietly as resentment, judgment, or mistrust. But it’s how we engage with it that makes the big difference. In this episode, we explore the reasons we love to hate - where it comes from, why it’s so po...

Mark as Played
September 13, 2025 • 21 mins

We all want to know the secret to true, lasting love so that we can perhaps have a shot at finding it. So in today's episode, we're breaking down perhaps the most famous theory on this very topic, Robert Sternbery's Triangular Theory of Love. In this episode, we talk about: 

  • The 3 core ingredients of love: intimacy, passion, commitment

Mark as Played

Popular Podcasts

    Ding dong! Join your culture consultants, Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang, on an unforgettable journey into the beating heart of CULTURE. Alongside sizzling special guests, they GET INTO the hottest pop-culture moments of the day and the formative cultural experiences that turned them into Culturistas. Produced by the Big Money Players Network and iHeartRadio.

    The Joe Rogan Experience

    The official podcast of comedian Joe Rogan.

    Stuff You Should Know

    If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.

    The Bobby Bones Show

    Listen to 'The Bobby Bones Show' by downloading the daily full replay.

    Dateline NBC

    Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com

Advertise With Us

Host

Jemma Sbeghen

Jemma Sbeghen

Music, radio and podcasts, all free. Listen online or download the iHeart App.

Connect

© 2025 iHeartMedia, Inc.