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The Psychology of your 20s

The Psychology of your 20s

iHeartPodcasts 422 Episodes Sep 17, 2026

A podcast that explains how everything is psychology, especially during your 20s. Hosted by Jemma Sbeg, each episode dives into the science and psychology behind topics like dating, mental health, career anxiety, friendship, and finances. New episodes every Tuesday and Friday.

Episodes

459. I'm so tired of being ambitious
459. I'm so tired of being ambitious Sep 17, 2026 1994 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 v
456. Why does feeling sad sometimes feel so good?
456. Why does feeling sad sometimes feel so good? Sep 10, 2026 1910 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,
458. Can embracing stress actually help us?
458. Can embracing stress actually help us? Sep 14, 2026 2198 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, ene
457. The psychology of 'false' memories
457. The psychology of 'false' memories Sep 12, 2026 1828 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:•   &nb
454. The oedipus complex
454. The oedipus complex Sep 6, 2026 1874 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- T
455. Why does time start flying in our 20s?
455. Why does time start flying in our 20s? Sep 7, 2026 2463 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 slo
453. 7 facts you need to know about your brain
453. 7 facts you need to know about your brain Sep 3, 2026 2975 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 rewir
452. How to get better at being alone
452. How to get better at being alone Aug 31, 2026 2811 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 &
451. Why you need to stop psychoanalysing the people you date
451. Why you need to stop psychoanalysing the people you date Aug 27, 2026 3123 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 overanalys
449. The psychology of your shadow self
449. The psychology of your shadow self Aug 23, 2026 1990 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•   &
450. The psychology of the quarter life reinvention
450. The psychology of the quarter life reinvention Aug 24, 2026 1842 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 mo
448. The psychology of reputation
448. The psychology of reputation Aug 20, 2026 2597 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 w

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