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. Watch on Netflix: HERE Follow…
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 this tells us about the relationship between the brain, body and experience of receiving care. The FULL Debunking Psychology playlist: HERE We explore: • How placebos became an important part of scientific research • Some of the earliest placebo experiments • Why our expectations can change the way we experience symptoms • Whether the placebo effect…
466. How your environment programs your behaviour (and how to deprogram yourself)
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 influence the way we think, feel and behave. From nervous-system responses and beliefs about what is possible for us, to the people we pursue, the habits we repeat and the versions of ourselves that present in different places, we look at the psychology of how environments programme our behaviour. Watch on Netflix: HERE We explore: ● What our ‘environment’…
1 Oct 2026 · 56 min
464. The psychology of cults
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 out of their reach. But how do we actually define a cult? Watch on Netflix: HERE In this episode, we look at popular examples of cults, understand how they’re organised and recruit followers, and examine what makes some people so vulnerable to joining. We unpack: • How a cult is defined, featuring the BITE model of authoritarian control • What makes…
27 Sep 2026 · 29 min
462. The truth about the Stanford Prison Experiment
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 1971. We explore: The landscape of psychological research at the time of the study How participants were selected and assigned roles The theatrical procedure of the study The unexpected outcomes and why it was stopped early Ethical lessons around consent and researcher responsibility Why the study is so influential to our understanding of institutions, power and authority The…
28 Sep 2026 · 48 min
463. The 5 reasons you’re not as behind as you think
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 certain window of time that we should be achieving certain milestones within. In this episode, we unpack: • Why social media makes us compare ourselves with ‘the best’ • The figures behind what people in their 20s really have - and don’t • How milestone anxiety and the social clock make us panic • How we can reframe…
24 Sep 2026 · 38 min
461. 10 things I NEEDED 21 year old me to know
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 less about grades' and a few more. I also asked you guys, the listeners, about your biggest regrets from your early 20s so we can all learn from each other (how nice is that). Watch on Netflix: HERE We discuss: Why the right relationship should expand your life, not shrink it Why you shouldn’t rush into adulthood Financial avoidance and learning to actually save Why…
21 Sep 2026 · 44 min
460. The psychology of 'good girl' syndrome
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 pathological need to please others, be hypervigilant towards others’ emotions, and ultimately suppress how we really feel. In this episode, we explore the origins of Good Girl Syndrome, understand the mental and physical cost of emotional suppression, and learn how to challenge this early social conditioning. Watch on Netflix: HERE We unpack: Why women are particularly vulnerable…
17 Sep 2026 · 33 min
459. I'm so tired of being ambitious
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 down? Watch on Netflix: HERE In this episode I explore: The psychology of highly ambitious people The lies that ambition tells us How ambition steals your joy How to value yourself beyond your output What matters more than ambition The way to slow ambition and why it builds more If you can relate, this is the episode for you! Follow Jemma on Instagram: @ jemmasbeg Follow the…
10 Sep 2026 · 32 min
456. Why does feeling sad sometimes feel so good?
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 sob, there is something strangely satisfying about sadness. And psychology may be able to explain why. In this episode, we explore the surprising psychological value of sadness, including: Why sadness can sometimes feel pleasurable The psychology of sad songs and sad movies The tragedy paradox Why a good cry can feel so cathartic Emotional suppression and why it exhausts…
14 Sep 2026 · 37 min
458. Can embracing stress actually help us?
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 - good stress - and distress, understand why our experience of stress is rooted in our perception of it, and understand how we can harness stress as a powerful force for motivation, energy and well-being. Watch on Netflix: HERE We unpack: • The difference between eustress - good stress - and distress • Why avoiding stress can actually cause cognitive decline • The…
12 Sep 2026 · 30 min
457. The psychology of 'false' memories
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 episode, we explore the concept of false memories – how they form, why this matters in our everyday lives, and their more serious potential impacts. We explore: • The cognitive mechanisms behind false memories • The misinformation effect and the car crash study • Why our memories are open to imagination, repetition and social influence • Potential…
6 Sep 2026 · 31 min
454. The oedipus complex
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 claims are stripped away. We explore: - How the Greek tragedy of Oedipus inspired Freud’s theory - What Freud meant by unconscious childhood desire and parental rivalry - The importance of the phallic stage - How Freud believed it was resolved - and what fixation was thought to mean for adulthood - His problematic gendered ideas - The scientific and ethical…
7 Sep 2026 · 41 min
455. Why does time start flying in our 20s?
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 novelty, eye movements and the effects of COVID. Watch on Netflix: HERE We explore: Different types of time: measured vs. perceived What makes time feel fast and slow? The effect of the pandemic The relationship between time and age How social media is making time go faster The 4 ways we can feel like we have more time Happy listening! Follow Jemma on Instagram: @…
3 Sep 2026 · 50 min
453. 7 facts you need to know about your brain
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 that we can in turn better understand how to make the most of our 20s. Watch on Netflix: HERE We unpack: • The science of neuroplasticity and how our brain can rewire itself • Why, on a cognitive level, a broken heart may not be so different from a broken arm • How much of our brains we really use (hint - it’s more than 10%!) • The gut-brain axis and…
31 Aug 2026 · 47 min
452. How to get better at being alone
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 opposite. In this episode, we explore why we resist being alone - but why learning to do so is psychologically positive, and can even be a superpower. Watch on Netflix: HERE • Why we culturally and socially villainise solitude • How constantly being online interrupts our ability to be truly alone • The creative and emotional benefits of spending time alone…
27 Aug 2026 · 52 min
451. Why you need to stop psychoanalysing the people you date
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 help us make sense of relationships, it can also become a way to avoid the much harder truth - sometimes we simply don’t know yet. In this episode we look at why overanalysing feels so reassuring, especially when we have been hurt before, and how the search for hidden meaning can distract us from direct communication, being present, and the person actually in front of…
23 Aug 2026 · 33 min
449. The psychology of your shadow self
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 layers of our psyche, and how the repressed parts of ourselves show up. We explore: • What Jung meant by the shadow and the persona • How the dark or disowned parts of ourselves can develop • Why anger, neediness, ambition, or confidence can feel uncomfortable to acknowledge • The role of projection, triggers and repeated patterns • How to approach…
24 Aug 2026 · 31 min
450. The psychology of the quarter life reinvention
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 place. We look at how the quarter life crisis can transform us, the stages we move through, and why sometimes everything has to fall apart before we can rebuild a life that feels more like our own. We explore: • The difference between a quarter life crisis and a quarter life reinvention • The ‘locked in’ and ‘locked out’ forms of the quarter…
20 Aug 2026 · 43 min
448. The psychology of reputation
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 what others think of us. In this episode, we explore why we need reputations as social creatures, understand why we can misinterpret others’ reputations, and think about what we can do to repair a bad reputation. We unpack: • Where our reputations come from • Why two people can view the same person so differently • The halo effect and how appearance biases…
17 Aug 2026 · 1 hr 15 min
447. The psychology of PMOS/PCOS ft. Dr Hazel Wallace
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) online, so today I decided to sit down with an expert to ask all my burning questions on this condition. Watch on Netflix: HERE Dr Hazel Wallace is a medical doctor, registered associate nutritionist, women's health expert, author and founder of the platform, The Food Medic. In this episode, we discuss: The origins of PMOS/PCOS Why we had to change the PCOS name What causes PMOS…
13 Aug 2026 · 53 min
445. Your guide to nervous system regulation
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 turning healing into another thing to obsess over? In this episode, we take a grounded, research-informed look at what your nervous system is really trying to do, why fight-or-flight is not the enemy, and how stress, trauma, lifestyle, and hypersensitivity can shape the way we feel in our bodies. We explore: • What the window of tolerance can teach us about overwhelm and…
15 Aug 2026 · 31 min
446. The psychology of Stockholm Syndrome
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 from, some famous cases, and how the mind functions to keep us safe. We explore: • The 1973 bank robbery • Famous cases linked to Stockholm syndrome • The role of appeasement • How it relates to trauma bonding • Why dependence breeds attachment • How those experiencing Stockholm syndrome are supported Watch on Netflix: HERE Follow Jemma on…
10 Aug 2026 · 43 min
444. The psychology of angel numbers
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 their impact from a psychological standpoint? In today's episode, we break down: The ancient origins of angel numbers Why the founder of angel numbers now regrets them The meaning behind some of the most significant angel numbers Why our brain pays close attention to symbolism The emotional comfort of angel numbers Why people feel threatened by angel numbers When angel numbers…
6 Aug 2026 · 52 min
443. How to be more interesting
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 interesting, talk about some easy things we can all do to tap into what already makes us unique, and focus on one of life’s greatest conversational hacks - learning how to be truly interested in others. We explore: • Why we all love interesting people • How ‘digital saturation’ is making us more bored, and boring • The importance of asking…
3 Aug 2026 · 50 min
442. The psychology of insecurity
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 are liked by others. In this episode, we examine the psychology behind common insecurities, recognise how we can be our own worst enemies, and consider the ways we can come to accept that we are all flawed, and might not actually need ‘fixing’. We unpack: • The surprising evolutionary benefits that come with insecurity • How our levels of…
30 Jul 2026 · 36 min
The psychology of uncertainty
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 episode, we unpack the psychology of uncertainty: why our brains fear it, how it triggers anxiety and avoidance, and why trying to “figure it all out” might be doing more harm than good. We explore: The neuroscience behind our discomfort with the unknown Why perfectionism is often a mask for our fear of uncertainty The cultural myths that make us believe we…
27 Jul 2026 · 43 min
The 20 biggest mistakes people make in their 20s
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 ultimate list of the 20 biggest mistakes people make in their 20s, for the people, by the people. From love, to career, to finances, going to college, friendship, taking risks: today we talk through the most common responses we received and what we can learn from these moments and regrets. Listen now! Watch on Netflix: HERE Follow Jemma on Instagram: @ jemmasbeg Follow the…
23 Jul 2026 · 47 min
The psychology of highly sensitive people
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 can be too much. They feel everything, from joy to sadness, so immediately and profoundly. They are also so in tune with the emotions of all those around them that sometimes it can be too much. Today we break down the psychology of the highly sensitive person, including: What are the core assessment criteria for identifying if you're highly sensitive? What causes someone to be…
20 Jul 2026 · 47 min
The psychology of confidence
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 if, instead of a fixed personal trait, confidence is actually a set of learnable abilities, a dynamic skill that anyone can cultivate, sharpen, and ultimately master? Today, we’re challenging the notion that confidence is a trait, and instead something you build. Things we discuss: Why confidence is dynamic and adaptable Self-efficacy as a driver of confidence How "growth…
19 Jul 2026 · 47 min
441. The Freud Episode
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 bonus episode, we take a look at who Freud actually was - his medical background, the development of his method, and why his views are so context specific. We explore: • The development of free association • The role of dreams and transference • Defence mechanisms and the unconscious • The structural model of the human psyche • Challenges to his…
About 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. Watch on Netflix: HERE Follow Jemma on Instagram: @ jemmasbeg Follow the podcast on Instagram: @ thatpsychologypodcast Subscribe on Substack: @ thepsychologyofyour20s For business: psychologyofyour20s@gmail.com
The Psychology of your 20s is a English health podcast from iHeartPodcasts. Melo plays each episode straight from the publisher's own feed — no ads added, no account needed — and remembers where you stopped, in this browser only.
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