The Psychology of your 20s

If you heard someone described as stoic, you would probably imagine they were unemotional and repressed, with a stiff upper lip. But stoicism has a PR problem. In fact, stoicism can teach us a lot about letting go of outcomes, being more tolerant of others, and how to live a more fulfilled life. In this episode, we unpack the core pillars of this ancient philosophy, recognise how it has influenced world leaders to chronic pain patients, and explore how we can apply it in our day-to-day lives.
We explore:
• The ancient origins of stoicism
• Why people are turning to stoicism today
• The four cardinal virtues of stoicism - wisdom, justice, courage and temperance
• Why stoic mindsets scientifically impact the treatment of pain, palliative care, and more
• How stoicism can be one of the most empowering mindsets to adopt in our 20s
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Follow Jemma on Instagram: @jemmasbeg
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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.

We often dismiss the small, playful things we do to keep life joyful: collecting trinkets, baking for no reason, blowing bubbles, looking for magic. They’re labelled childish, unnecessary, or unserious. But psychology and neuroscience tell a very different story.
Today, we're breaking down the psychology of whimsy, including:
What “whimsy” actually is and why it’s trending again
How play helps regulate your nervous system
The neuroscience of stress, imagination and brain plasticity
The science of beauty and the brain (neuroaesthetics)
Why small acts of joy can be psychologically protective
15 whimsy activity ideas
Listen now!
Watch on Netflix

Follow Jemma on Instagram: @jemmasbeg
Follow the podcast on Instagram: @thatpsychologypodcast
Subscribe on Substack: @thepsychologyofyour20s
For business: [email protected]

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.

We like to think we’re making conscious choices all day long - but a lot of what drives our reactions, habits, and gut feelings happens outside of awareness. The conscious vs. unconscious mind is a useful way to understand why you can know what you want, and still do the opposite. In this episode, we break down what the conscious and unconscious mind actually mean in psychology, where the idea came from, why it can feel unsettling to face, and how to build more influence over your impulses and automatic patterns.
We explore:
• The difference between deliberate thinking and automatic processing
• Freud’s topographical model
• The importance of the unconscious mind
• The responsibilities of the conscious and unconscious
• How to spot unhealthy unconscious patterns

Watch on Netflix
Follow Jemma on Instagram: @jemmasbeg
Follow the podcast on Instagram: @thatpsychologypodcast
Subscribe on Substack: @thepsychologyofyour20s
For business: [email protected]

Our favourite sources:
https://www.nature.com/articles/nn.2112
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/chapter/bookseries/abs/pii/S0065260106380021?via%3Dihub
https://acmelab.yale.edu/sites/default/files/1999_the_unbearable_automaticity_of_being.pdf

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.

Why do some people seem to move from relationship to relationship with barely any time in between, and why does being single feel almost impossible for them? In this bonus episode, we’re diving into the psychology behind relationship hopping (aka serial monogamy) and what’s really happening when someone craves commitment quickly, struggles with time alone, or keeps repeating the same cycle with different partners.
We explore:
• The role of attachment in serial monogamy
• Why artificial closeness is so appealing
• The pull of the infatuation cycle
• The brain chemistry of love, reward and attachment
• What this pattern can teach us about self-growth

Listen now!

Watch on Netflix

Follow Jemma on Instagram: @jemmasbeg
Follow the podcast on Instagram: @thatpsychologypodcast
Subscribe on Substack: @thepsychologyofyour20s
For business: [email protected]

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.

After toxic love, healthy love can feel surprisingly hard to recognise because you’ve likely learned to expect chaos, inconsistency, and emotional whiplash. In this episode, we unpack what toxic love actually looks like, how it shapes your beliefs about love in your 20s, and why calm, consistent connection can feel suspicious or even ‘boring’ when you’re used to intensity.
We explore:
• What toxic love is and how it intersects with abusive
• How this reshapes trust, pessimism, and your expectations of people
• The role of neurochemistry, addiction, and intermittent reinforcement in toxic bonds
• Self-sabotage and self-esteem
• The role of attachment patterns over time
• What healthy love and conflict actually feel like
• Practical ways to lean into safe love
If you’re conflicted between craving consistency or chaos, 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: [email protected]

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.