A lot of us try to convince ourselves we can be friends with our ex in the immediate aftermath of a breakup, but is that necesserily the best idea? In 2022 I did an episode with my ex-boyfriend talking about how a friendship was totally possible, well since then it is obvious to say that I have changed my mind, and in this episode I give my reasons, including: 
Why we (mistakedly) try to stay friends with our exes 
The types of relationships where this feels possible 
The consequences 
How it impacts our new relationships, self esteem, and ability to find closure
How to be friends with an ex if you MUST BE 
Essential boundaries for a friendship with your ex

This episode is the only time I have redone/revised an episode so we hope you enjoy. 



PREORDER MY BOOK: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/755841/person-in-progress-by-jemma-sbeg/

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. 

A lot of us try to convince ourselves we can be friends with our ex in the immediate aftermath of a breakup, but is that necesserily the best idea? In 2022 I did an episode with my ex-boyfriend talking about how a friendship was totally possible, well since then it is obvious to say that I have changed my mind, and in this episode I give my reasons, including: 
<ul>
<li>Why we (mistakedly) try to stay friends with our exes </li>
<li>The types of relationships where this feels possible </li>
<li>The consequences </li>
<li>How it impacts our new relationships, self esteem, and ability to find closure</li>
<li>How to be friends with an ex if you MUST BE </li>
<li>Essential boundaries for a friendship with your ex</li>
</ul>
This episode is the only time I have redone/revised an episode so we hope you enjoy. 
 
PREORDER MY BOOK: <a href="https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/755841/person-in-progress-by-jemma-sbeg/">https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/755841/person-in-progress-by-jemma-sbeg/</a> 
Follow Jemma on Instagram: @<a href="https://www.instagram.com/jemmasbeg/?hl=en#">jemmasbeg</a>
Follow the podcast on Instagram: @<a href="https://www.instagram.com/thatpsychologypodcast/?hl=en#">thatpsychologypodcast</a>
For business: <a href="mailto:psychologyofyour20s@gmail.com">psychologyofyour20s@gmail.com</a> 
 
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.

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

 

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.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
My book is out NOW: <a href="https://www.psychologyofyour20s.com/general-clean">https://www.psychologyofyour20s.com/general-clean</a>&nbsp;
For business enquires please email <a href="mailto:thepsychologyofyour20steam@unitedtalent.com">psychologyofyour20s@gmail.com</a>
&nbsp;

The Psychology of your 20s

A podcast that explains how everything is psychology. Even your 20s. 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. 

 

Buy my book, Person in Progress: https://www.amazon.com.au/Person-Progress-Roadmap-Psychology-Your/dp/1399823655 

For business enquires please email psychologyofyour20s@gmail.com

 

A podcast that explains how everything is psychology. Even your 20s. 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.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Buy my book, Person in Progress: <a href="https://www.amazon.com.au/Person-Progress-Roadmap-Psychology-Your/dp/1399823655">https://www.amazon.com.au/Person-Progress-Roadmap-Psychology-Your/dp/1399823655</a>&nbsp;
For business enquires please email <a href="mailto:thepsychologyofyour20steam@unitedtalent.com">psychologyofyour20s@gmail.com</a>
&nbsp;

247. Can we be friends with our ex?

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/394eaeda-a823-4905-9434-b226000a4db7/transcript

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/

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.

Your 20s are sold to you as the &ldquo;best years of your life&rdquo; - 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 &lsquo;romanticise your 20s&rsquo;? 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: &bull; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Why your attention changes your experience &bull; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;The neuroscience and cognition of meaning-making &bull; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;The role of emergent adulthood &bull; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Why narrative psychology is so important &bull; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Five grounded ways to romanticise your life
Watch on Netflix:&nbsp;<a href="https://netflix.com/thepsychologyofyour20s">HERE</a>
Follow Jemma on Instagram: @<a href="https://www.instagram.com/jemmasbeg/?hl=en#">jemmasbeg</a>
Follow the podcast on Instagram: @<a href="https://www.instagram.com/thatpsychologypodcast/?hl=en#">thatpsychologypodcast</a>
Subscribe on Substack: @<a href="https://substack.com/@thepsychologyofyour20s">thepsychologyofyour20s</a>
For business: <a href="mailto:psychologyofyour20s@gmail.com">psychologyofyour20s@gmail.com</a>&nbsp;
Our favourite sources:&nbsp; 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/
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.

406. How to romanticise your 20s (even when they suck)

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/6e14ab50-5100-41be-b1cb-b42800e7550e/transcript

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 

 

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.

Betrayal doesn&rsquo;t just &lsquo;hurt your feelings.&rsquo; 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:
<ul>
<li>Why betrayal can appear in many forms</li>
<li>How the act of being betrayed affects our brain</li>
<li>Why someone might betray us</li>
<li>Betrayal blindness and institutional betrayal</li>
<li>Why the betrayal grief cycle is similar to losing a loved one</li>
<li>How we can heal, move on, and learn to trust ourselves again</li>
</ul>
Watch on Netflix: <a href="https://netflix.com/thepsychologyofyour20s">HERE</a>
Follow Jemma on Instagram: @<a href="https://www.instagram.com/jemmasbeg/?hl=en#">jemmasbeg</a>
Follow the podcast on Instagram: @<a href="https://www.instagram.com/thatpsychologypodcast/?hl=en#">thatpsychologypodcast</a>
Subscribe on Substack: @<a href="https://substack.com/@thepsychologyofyour20s">thepsychologyofyour20s</a>
For business: <a href="mailto:psychologyofyour20s@gmail.com">psychologyofyour20s@gmail.com</a>&nbsp;
&nbsp;
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.

405. The psychology of betrayal 

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/22e97aa7-17dc-4d32-ae01-b4270088b4e5/transcript

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 

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.

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:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li>The three types of fear keeping us stuck</li>
<li>The most famous study on decision making!&nbsp;</li>
<li>The psychology of regret</li>
<li>How to choose what path to follow first</li>
<li>Dealing with the judgement of others</li>
</ul>
And so much more! Happy listening!&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Watch on Netflix: <a href="https://netflix.com/thepsychologyofyour20s">HERE</a>
Follow Jemma on Instagram: @<a href="https://www.instagram.com/jemmasbeg/?hl=en#">jemmasbeg</a>
Follow the podcast on Instagram: @<a href="https://www.instagram.com/thatpsychologypodcast/?hl=en#">thatpsychologypodcast</a>
Subscribe on Substack: @<a href="https://substack.com/@thepsychologyofyour20s">thepsychologyofyour20s</a>
For business: <a href="mailto:psychologyofyour20s@gmail.com">psychologyofyour20s@gmail.com</a>&nbsp;
For business: <a href="mailto:psychologyofyour20s@gmail.com">psychologyofyour20s@gmail.com</a>&nbsp;
&nbsp;
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.

404. I want to do everything, so I do nothing

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/ff3c3a1e-5230-4a1e-9ebb-b42001081c94/transcript

247. Can we be friends with our ex?

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