The Psychology of your 20s

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Latest Episodes:

407. Loving yourself, will make you more attractive Apr 16, 2026

Show notes

We are bombarded with ideas about how we should look, behave, and be. But instead of trying to constantly strive for the societal ideal, we can cut through the noise another way - and that’s by cultivating self-love. The funny thing is, psychology actually shows us that the more confident and self-loving we are, the more attractive we become. It’s a win-win… if we can get there. Today, we're going to talk about how loving ourselves makes us more attractive.

We unpack:
• The power of the mind-body link and self-esteem
• Why plastic surgery might not make us happy
• The damaging physical effects of negative self-talk
• How simple behavioural changes affect how others see us
• Why cultivating self-love is the greatest gift we can give ourselves

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 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.

406. How to romanticise your 20s (even when they suck) Apr 13, 2026

Show notes

Your 20s are sold to you as the “best years of your life” - which is hilarious, considering how many of us spend them underpaid, overthinking, heartbroken, living in transitional housing, and finding a new identity every 6 months. So what does it actually mean to ‘romanticise your 20s’? In this episode, we break down romanticising as a real psychological skill - how your brain constructs meaning, why attention shapes what feels like reality, and why building a coherent life story matters most when your life feels messy.

We explore:
• Why your attention changes your experience
• The neuroscience and cognition of meaning-making
• The role of emergent adulthood
• Why narrative psychology is so important
• Five grounded ways to romanticise your life

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://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4324396/
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/00224545.2025.2563539
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3045747/

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405. The psychology of betrayal Apr 09, 2026

Show notes

Betrayal doesn’t just ‘hurt your feelings.’ It shatters your nervous system, hijacks your sense of reality, and rewires your brain for fear and hypervigilance. We can be betrayed - or betray someone else - in a myriad of ways, with life-shattering results. In this episode, we explore the psychological impact of betrayal, delve into the reasons people betray us, and explore ways we can heal.

We explore:

Why betrayal can appear in many forms
How the act of being betrayed affects our brain
Why someone might betray us
Betrayal blindness and institutional betrayal
Why the betrayal grief cycle is similar to losing a loved one
How we can heal, move on, and learn to trust ourselves again

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.

404. I want to do everything, so I do nothing Apr 06, 2026

Show notes

Why is it that we can have a million visions, dreams and goals for how we want our life to be, but we can't seem to execute any of them? Is it laziness? Lack of discipline? Or fear? In today's episode, we break down the analysis paralysis that comes with wanting to do everything, and instead doing nothing at all. Our discussion includes:

The three types of fear keeping us stuck
The most famous study on decision making!
The psychology of regret
How to choose what path to follow first
Dealing with the judgement of others

And so much more! Happy listening!

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.

403. How to do hard things (using psychology) Apr 04, 2026

Show notes

The best things in life aren't always the easiest and it's often this exertion and extra effort that holds us back from diving in or fully committing. Whether it's a new routine, an ambitious study schedule or workout plan, knowing how we can use psychology and neuroscience to make hard tasks easier is incredibly valuable. In today's episode we discuss:

• The 5 minute rule
• The power of a persona
• Using mental imagery and visualisation to do hard things
• The power of learned industriousness
• The 3 forms of motivation to know and implement

This episode will make all the hard things you've been putting off infinitely easier. 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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

402. Why trauma bonding feels so much like love ... Apr 02, 2026

Show notes

We’ve all heard the phrase trauma bonding, often used in jest to talk about two people who became friends after meeting in difficult circumstances. But trauma bonding is actually a psychological phenomenon which defines a relationship characterised by an abuser and their target, and a cycle that can be very hard to break out of. In this episode, we unpack the characteristics of a trauma bond, how you can identify if you might be experiencing one, and steps you can take to break away from one.

We explore:

What a trauma bond looks like
Why trauma bonds can happen
What a trauma bond ISN’T
Why trauma bonds can play out in a variety of relationships
How to identify if you are experiencing a trauma bond
Steps you can take to move away from a trauma bond

A few resources to help you if you are struggling with a trauma bond:

The Attachment Project: HERE

Choosing Therapy: HERE

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.

401. The psychology of microtrends Mar 30, 2026

Show notes

We all want to feel that we fit into a social group. But how does this play out when it comes to trends? From ‘mob wife energy’ to ‘cottagecore’, rapidly-evolving microtrends put more aesthetic-driven content in front of us than ever before, and it can feel hard to keep up. In this episode, we explore the ways that social media, fast fashion and ‘dopamine culture’ can pressure us to buy, how microtrend fatigue is giving way to a new type of self-expression, and how we can healthily navigate our own consumption of microtrends.

We explore:

The 5 stages of a trend, and how microtrends are different
How world events influence microtrends
Why social contagion, social conformity, and individual expression influence our behaviour
Why social media and fast fashion have led to an explosion in microtrends
The role of ‘dopamine culture’ on our brains
Microtrend fatigue, and how ‘vibes’ might be replacing them
When to buy, and when to wait

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.

400. 15 things everyone should do in their 20s Mar 26, 2026

Show notes

It's our 400th episode! Today is a special episode. Feeling stuck, behind, or like you’re wasting your 20s is not a rare experience. But you might just be focusing on the wrong milestones... In this episode, we break down 15 unconventional things I think everyone should do in their 20s and the psychology behind why.

Some of the bucket list items we discuss:

The best money lessons you learn through experience
The importance of yearly challenges and quitting the things you depend on
The plan you can make for your life, today
Why we all need to do a social audit
Solitude, relationships and the love you should find in your 20s

Happy listening!

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.

399. The psychology of exercise Mar 23, 2026

Show notes

We all know exercise is ‘good for us’, but why is it that a walk can calm your brain, why a workout can feel like emotional release, or why movement can become either self-care or self-punishment. In this episode, we unpack the psychology of exercise – what’s happening to our brains over time, where the ‘exercise as antidepressants’ claim came from, and what happens when it crosses into obsession.

We explore:
• The role of endorphins and endocannabinoids
• How movement can regulate our emotions
• Identity and motivation in exercise
• How exercise changes our brains
• The role of exercise in treating depression
• How to build a healthier relationship with exercise

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://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10813489/

https://bjsm.bmj.com/content/56/2/101.abstract

https://insight.jci.org/articles/view/126190

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

398. 5 ways to get unstuck in your 20s Mar 21, 2026

Show notes

Feeling stuck in your 20s is a rite of passage, but it's can also feel deeply hopeless when nothing in your life seems to be moving or changing in the way you want it to. In today's episode, we break down some of the reasons we feel stuck and the five things you can do in the next 6 months to change that, including: