The Psychology of your 20s

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Latest Episodes:

427. What to do when a 9-5 doesn't fulfil you? Jun 11, 2026

Show notes

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 explore the psychology behind why the 9–5 can feel so unnatural for some people, why work often becomes the centre of our identity, and what to do when the life you've been told should make you happy simply doesn't.

This includes:

Why the 9–5 often feels so draining
The psychology of role engulfment and losing yourself to work
The personality traits that predict whether you'll enjoy traditional employment
The importance of hobbies, purpose, novelty, and community
When it's time to consider a different path
Practical advice for anyone dreaming of working for themselves

Happy listening!

Watch on Netflix: HERE

Follow Jemma on Instagram: @jemmasbeg

Follow the podcast on Instagram: @thatpsychologypodcast

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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.

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426. The psychology of superstition Jun 08, 2026

Show notes

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 of superstition - why the mind creates these beliefs, why they can feel so reassuring, and what they reveal about anxiety, ritual, hope, and the stories we inherit.

We explore:
• Historical origins of common superstitions
• The role of pattern recognition and gut feelings
• How rituals soothe anxiety and create a sense of certainty
• When superstitions become self-fulfilling and shape performance
• How magical thinking overlaps with OCD and anxiety
• Why it's important to create our own magic in our 20s

Watch on Netflix: HERE

Follow Jemma on Instagram: @jemmasbeg

Follow the podcast on Instagram: @thatpsychologypodcast

Subscribe on Substack: @thepsychologyofyour20s

For business: psychologyofyour20s@gmail.com

Our favourite sources:
https://www.bps.org.uk/psychologist/everyday-magic-superstition

https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0956797610372631

https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/behavioural-and-cognitive-psychotherapy/article/abs/magical-thinking-in-obsessivecompulsive-disorder-and-generalized-anxiety-disorder/AAA4404A26637024E2E5D01B3F133928

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425. Why we want people who don't want us back Jun 04, 2026

Show notes

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, limerence, longing, and the irresistible pull of unavailable people, including:

The neuroscience of craving, attraction, and obsession
How intermittent reinforcement keeps us emotionally hooked
Jacques Lacan's "object of desire" theory
Why high achievers often struggle with unrequited love
The role of limerence, fantasy, and idealisation
The Zeigarnik Effect and our need for closure
Practical strategies to finally move on and let go
Creating your own closure when none is given
Plus so so much more

If you've ever found yourself unable to stop thinking about someone who doesn't feel the same way, this episode is for you. Together, we'll explore why it happens, what it reveals about us, and how to break free from the cycle

Watch on Netflix: HERE

Follow Jemma on Instagram: @jemmasbeg

Follow the podcast on Instagram: @thatpsychologypodcast

Subscribe on Substack: @thepsychologyofyour20s

For business: psychologyofyour20s@gmail.com

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

424. How to ACTUALLY change your bad habits ft. Harvard Behavioural Scientist, Julia Dhar Jun 01, 2026

Show notes

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. Whether it's quitting smoking, exercising more, wanting to eat healthier, sleep better, stop gossiping, be a better partner; bad habits usually all have the same psychology.

In today's episode we invited on Harvard-trained behavioural scientist & BCG Managing Director, Julia Dhar, to give us the step by step guide to changing bad habits. We talk about:

Where bad habits come from?
Why bad habits stick?
What's happening in our brain when we can't quit a bad habit?
The 3 principles of behaviour change you need to know to change
How to help OTHERS change when they don't want to?
Why your approach to failing will determine if you're successful
Plus much more!

Happy listening!

Buy Julia's book here: How Change Really Works

Watch her TedTalk here: How to Disagree Productively

Watch on Netflix: HERE

Follow Jemma on Instagram: @jemmasbeg

Follow the podcast on Instagram: @thatpsychologypodcast

Subscribe on Substack: @thepsychologyofyour20s

For business: psychologyofyour20s@gmail.com

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

423. You need more hobbies...here's how you do it May 30, 2026

Show notes

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 that, and what is the consequence?In today's episode we break down the psychology of why our hobbies are so important, including:

The debate around what makes a hobby
How many hobbies do you actually need?
How much time should you spend doing your hobbies?
The Rule of Four for hobbies
The psychological benefits
The 3 major reasons we struggle to perform our hobbies
How to find time, inspiration and motivation for your hobbies, and more

Listen now if you want to make more of your leisure time!

Follow Jemma on Instagram: @jemmasbeg

Follow the podcast on Instagram: @thatpsychologypodcast

For business: psychologyofyour20s@gmail.com

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

422. The psychology of Peter Pan Syndrome May 28, 2026

Show notes

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 experiencing what’s referred to as Peter Pan Syndrome. In this episode, we break down the psychology of Peter Pan Syndrome, including why it happens, the frustration it causes those in its orbit, and how to learn to grow up - at last.

We unpack:
• The key characteristics of Peter Pan Syndrome
• Why being coddled or never disciplined as a child can lead to struggles with ‘adulting’
• How ‘Wendy Syndrome’ can act as an enabler for Peter Pan Syndrome
• What it feels like to date someone with Peter Pan Syndrome
• How to overcome Peter Pan Syndrome

Watch on Netflix: HERE

Follow Jemma on Instagram: @jemmasbeg

Follow the podcast on Instagram: @thatpsychologypodcast

Subscribe on Substack: @thepsychologyofyour20s

For business: psychologyofyour20s@gmail.com

Our favourite sources:
www.health.clevelandclinic.org/peter-pan-syndrome

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/how-do-life/201605/the-peter-pan-syndrome

https://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.1006.8462&rep=rep1&type=pdf

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421. Hating yourself will get you nowhere May 25, 2026

Show notes

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 begins, how it becomes a deeply ingrained, and what it actually steals from us over time.

We explore:

• How early experiences shape the inner critic
• Why self-hatred can feel protective
• The myth of cruelty as a motivator
• The neural pattern of self-hatred
• The role of self sabotaging
• 6 practical tips to build a better relationship with yourself

Watch on Netflix: HERE

Follow Jemma on Instagram: @jemmasbeg

Follow the podcast on Instagram: @thatpsychologypodcast

Subscribe on Substack: @thepsychologyofyour20s

For business: psychologyofyour20s@gmail.com

Our favourite sources:
https://bpspsychub.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.2044-8341.2011.02044.x

https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0146167211410246

https://psycnet.apa.org/doiLanding?doi=10.1037%2Fa0033904

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

420. The psychology of weed May 24, 2026

Show notes

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 something enjoyable into something we start leaning on for out emotional wellbeing.

We explore:
• What actually happens to our brains when we’re high
• What THC and CBD actually are, and how they differ
• Why weed can make some people anxious, hungry, or more creative
• When weed becomes less about fun and more about coping, avoidance, or escape
• How smoking can shape memory, motivation, and everyday connection
• The signs your relationship with weed might be changing

Watch on Netflix: HERE

Follow Jemma on Instagram: @jemmasbeg

Follow the podcast on Instagram: @thatpsychologypodcast

Subscribe on Substack: @thepsychologyofyour20s

For business: psychologyofyour20s@gmail.com

Our favourite sources:
https://hms.harvard.edu/news-events/publications-archive/brain/cannabis-brain

https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/nutrition-research-reviews/article/endocannabinoid-system-and-appetite-relevance-for-food-reward/30C65E719848770761B6BEA7D0C1E9CB

https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2829657

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/brb3.71102

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419. How to ACTUALLY process your emotions May 21, 2026

Show notes

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 life. In this episode, we’ll unpack why emotional blunting occurs, the ways we might be avoiding our true emotions, and look at some ways to actually start to process your emotions.

We explore:
• Why we’re bad at feeling what we’re feeling
• The hidden strategies we use to push our emotions away
• How maladaptive coping mechanisms can cause us long-term harm
• Why most emotions are actually driven by fear
• How we can more effectively process our emotions

Watch on Netflix: HERE

Follow Jemma on Instagram: @jemmasbeg

Follow the podcast on Instagram: @thatpsychologypodcast

Subscribe on Substack: @thepsychologyofyour20s

For business: psychologyofyour20s@gmail.com

Our favourite sources:

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12916575/
https://positivepsychology.com/maladaptive-coping/
https://www.psychologytoday.com/gb/basics/intellectualization

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

418. How to repair a friendship May 18, 2026

Show notes

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 repair and reconnect. In this episode, we explore why friendship break-ups can be more painful than romantic ones, how our ego gets in the way of reconnecting, and ways that we can rebuild a fractured friendship.

We explore:
• The different types of friendship fallouts
• Why avoiding conflict can actually be a form of control
• How to reach out after a conflict
• The importance of recognising when you do - and don’t - want to be friends again
• Why listening is often the best way to be heard

Watch on Netflix: HERE

Follow Jemma on Instagram: @jemmasbeg

Follow the podcast on Instagram: @thatpsychologypodcast

Subscribe on Substack: @thepsychologyofyour20s

For business: psychologyofyour20s@gmail.com

Our favourite sources:
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11894851/
https://www.psychologytoday.com/gb/blog/tech-happy-life/202101/why-is-it-so-hard-admit-when-we-are-wrong
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8573342/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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