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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

The Psychology of your 20s

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 do it in the first place, and why it doesn’t automatically mean we’re self-centred and egotistical.
 
We explore:
• Why we interpret normal things as an attack
• The spotlight effect and personalisation
• The role of the id, ego and superego
• How to tell when the ego is being helpful or harmful
• 5 tips to stop taking things personally
 
Listen now!
 
Watch on Netflix
 
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 not a substitute for professional mental health help. If you are struggling, distressed or require personalised advice, please reach out to your doctor or a licensed psychologist.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

384. How to stop taking things so personally

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 episode, we’re unpacking the psychology of intrusive thoughts - why they happen, why they feel so emotional, and what actually helps when your mind won’t let something go.
 
We explore:
 
• How common intrusive thoughts really are
• What intrusive thoughts are - and what they aren’t 
• The most common intrusive thought themes
• The white bear effect and the ironic process theory
• Alternative tools to help manage the thoughts
 
If you’ve ever been frightened by your own mind and wondered what it says about you - this episode is for you.
 
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 not a substitute for professional mental health help. If you are struggling, distressed or require personalised advice, please reach out to your doctor or a licensed psychologist.
 
 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

383. The psychology of intrusive thoughts

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 has come at a cognitive cost.
 
We explore:
• Why a wider focus on productivity has increased our use of AI
• How the ease of this technology stops us using our brains
• When AI is wrong, misleading or incomplete
• The ELIZA effect 
• The dangers of using it to replace human interaction
• Where it can be useful, and how wonder keeps our brains alive
 
If you’re both amazed and slightly unsettled by AI, this episode is for you.
 
Watch on Netflix
 
 
 
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 not a substitute for professional mental health help. If you are struggling, distressed or require personalised advice, please reach out to your doctor or a licensed psychologist.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

382. How is AI actually impacting our brains?

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 optional? In this episode, we’re unpacking the psychology behind friendship and why the best ones sometimes make you work harder. 
 
We explore:
 
 • 

The viral idea that “inconvenience is the cost of community” 
 • 
 • 

The 4 psychological pillars of lasting friendships
 • 
 • 

How much time it actually takes to build a close friend
 • 
 • 

The rise of therapy-speak and how “boundaries” can sometimes become disguised avoidance
 • 
 • Why conflict isn’t the end of a friendship
 • 

6 practical ways to “be a villager” 
 • 
 • 

When to kick someone out of the village...
 • 
 
If you’ve ever wondered whether you’re asking for too much, giving too much, or slowly drifting from the people you care about, this episode is for you.
 
 
 
Watch on Netflix
 
 
 
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 not a substitute for professional mental health help. If you are struggling, distressed or require personalised advice, please reach out to your doctor or a licensed psychologist.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

381. Are friendships REALLY meant to be inconvenient?

Finally sharing all the details of the last few months ... and what a recent announcement means for the podcast going forward! Happy listening! 
 
 
 
Watch on Netflix 
 
 
 
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 not a substitute for professional mental health help. If you are struggling, distressed or require personalised advice, please reach out to your doctor or a licensed psychologist.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

380. A big life update...

Dating and sex can feel like they come with a hidden rulebook. You’re meant to be adventurous but not too adventurous, confident but not reckless, and always somehow immune to consequences. So the potential of catching an STI – whether it’s a scare, a diagnosis, or a message from a clinic – can feel not only a health impact, but also a judgement on our character.
 
In this episode, we’re unpacking the psychology of STIs in our 20s why they carry so much shame, how stigma shapes the stories we tell ourselves, and what it looks like to navigate disclosure with self-respect.
 
We explore:
• How common STIs really are
• The most common infections in our 20s
• The difference between treatable and manageable
• The role of sexual shame and purity culture
• How shame drives secrecy and avoidance
• When and how to tell a partner, and what to do if you face rejection
 
If you’ve ever felt panicked, embarrassed, or stuck in your head about sexual health, this episode is for you.
 
Watch on Netflix 
 
Follow Jemma on Instagram: @jemmasbeg
 
Follow the podcast on Instagram: @thatpsychologypodcast
 
For business: psychologyofyour20s@gmail.com 
 
 
 
The Psychology of your 20s is not a substitute for professional mental health help. If you are struggling, distressed or require personalised advice, please reach out to your doctor or a licensed psychologist.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

379. I got an STD in my 20s, now what?

One minute it’s exciting, the next it’s endless options, half-conversations, and the dismissive feeling of being judged (or ignored) by people who don’t actually know you. In this episode, we’re getting into seven tips for surviving dating apps in your 20s, while looking at what they’re designed to do, why they can leave you feeling burnt out, and how to use them in a way that protects your confidence rather than draining it.
 
We explore: 
• How dating apps are designed to be addictive
• The rules to stick by to keep your sense of self
• The importance of a clear and honest profile
• Why they’re not a replacement for meeting in real life
• Why you shouldn’t take anything personally
• How to take a step back to avoid burnout
 
If you’re in a cycle of deleting and redownloading Hinge every few weeks, this episode is for you.
 
ORDER MY BOOK
 
Follow Jemma on Instagram: @jemmasbeg
 
Follow the podcast on Instagram: @thatpsychologypodcast
 
For business: psychologyofyour20s@gmail.com 
 
 
 
The Psychology of your 20s is not a substitute for professional mental health help. If you are struggling, distressed or require personalised advice, please reach out to your doctor or a licensed psychologist.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

378. Your guide to surviving the dating apps in your 20s

When we move through our 20s, it can feel like everyone else is making big, brave moves - new cities, new jobs, new relationships - while we’re stuck in the same place, overthinking every possible outcome. Change sounds good in theory, but in practice? It’s terrifying. In today’s episode, we dig into why we resist change, and what it actually takes to move forward even when part of you wants to stay the same.
 
We explore:
• Why change feels so overwhelming in our 20s
• How loss aversion keeps us clinging to ‘fine but not right’ situations
• What we really lose by staying the same
• Why some of the best, most aligned decisions are also the scariest
• How to build a more compassionate, positive mindset around change
• Practical ways to take action with your fear, instead of waiting for it to disappear
 
If you’re stuck in the loop of wanting change, but being scared to action it, this episode is for you.
 
 
 
ORDER MY BOOK
 
Follow Jemma on Instagram: @jemmasbeg
 
Follow the podcast on Instagram: @thatpsychologypodcast
 
For business: psychologyofyour20s@gmail.com 
 
 
 
The Psychology of your 20s is not a substitute for professional mental health help. If you are struggling, distressed or require personalised advice, please reach out to your doctor or a licensed psychologist.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

377. Why do we resist change?

Moving to a new city is one of the most exciting (and emotionally challenging) things you can do in your twenties. Whether it’s for work, study, love, or a fresh start, leaving behind what’s familiar often brings a mix of freedom, fear, loneliness, and growth all at once. It’s a rite of passage, but that doesn’t mean it’s easy.
 
In this episode, I’m sharing my personal experience of moving cities multiple times in my 20s, including moving internationally for the first time, alongside the psychology that explains why this transition feels so destabilising—and what actually helps.
 
We explore:
• Why moving increases stress, emotional exhaustion, and homesickness
• Why it takes around 6 months to truly adjust to a new city
• The role of routine, repetition, and place attachment in feeling settled
• Why “going home too often” can slow down adjustment
• How novelty, social effort, and structure protect mental health during transitions
 
If you’ve just moved, or are thinking about it, this episode will help you feel less alone, more grounded, and more confident that what you’re feeling is normal, temporary, and part of the process.
 
ORDER MY BOOK
 
Follow Jemma on Instagram: @jemmasbeg
 
Follow the podcast on Instagram: @thatpsychologypodcast
 
For business: psychologyofyour20s@gmail.com 
 
 
 
The Psychology of your 20s is not a substitute for professional mental health help. If you are struggling, distressed or require personalised advice, please reach out to your doctor or a licensed psychologist.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

376. 7 tips for moving to a new country in your 20s

Navigating friendship in your 20s is already complicated – so what happens when we add a third person into the mix? The group chat might be buzzing, there’s always someone to talk to, and belonging to a group of three can feel like a safe space. But what happens when two start getting closer, plans are made without you, or you’re constantly wondering if you’re the extra one?
 
In today’s episode, we unpack the psychology of friendship trios - why they feel so special, when they can hurt, and how to tell the difference between a rough patch and a dynamic that’s genuinely not good for you.
 
We explore:
 
• The beauty of a friendship trio
• Friendship dyads vs triads
• The role of Simmelian ties
• When imbalances start to show (alliances, jealousy and feeling like the ‘third wheel’)
• What healthy trio dynamics actually look like (and how to achieve it)
• Hot to know when it’s time to step back
 
If you’re navigating this nuanced aspect of friendship, this episode is for you.
 
 
 
ORDER MY BOOK
 
Follow Jemma on Instagram: @jemmasbeg
 
Follow the podcast on Instagram: @thatpsychologypodcast
 
For business: psychologyofyour20s@gmail.com 
 
The Psychology of your 20s is not a substitute for professional mental health help. If you are struggling, distressed or require personalised advice, please reach out to your doctor or a licensed psychologist.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

384. How to stop taking things so personally

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