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: 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.

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&rsquo;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:
<ul>
<li data-start="817" data-end="1257">What &ldquo;whimsy&rdquo; actually is and why it&rsquo;s trending again</li>
<li data-start="817" data-end="1257">How play helps regulate your nervous system</li>
<li data-start="817" data-end="1257">The neuroscience of stress, imagination and brain plasticity</li>
<li data-start="817" data-end="1257">The science of beauty and the brain (neuroaesthetics)</li>
<li data-start="817" data-end="1257">Why small acts of joy can be psychologically protective</li>
<li data-start="817" data-end="1257">15 whimsy activity ideas&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
Listen now!&nbsp;
<a href="http://netflix.com/thepsychologyofyour20s">Watch on Netflix</a>
&nbsp;
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.

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

Listen to this collection of top episodes from iHeartRadio and iHeartPodcasts. 

Listen to this collection of top episodes from iHeartRadio and iHeartPodcasts.&nbsp;

Podcasts from iHeartRadio

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;

392. Why is whimsy so powerful 

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/5acc0339-35b7-4d36-a198-b40300e6f88b/transcript

TW: this episode includes discussions of eating disorders. 

What happens when millions of people watch you grow up online? How do you navigate change, love and making mistakes in front of a massive audience? And how do you rediscover your creativity after creating content about your life, becomes your job? In today's episode we talk to one of the original YouTube 'it-girls', Arden Rose, about early fame, body image, art and her life lessons as she enters her 30s. We discuss: 
How making YouTube videos at 14 turned into a full-time job
The dark side of Hollywood and the entertainment industry 
The biggest opportunity she missed out on...and why 
Veganism, diet culture and self-esteem 
The path back to creativity
Her greatest pieces of advice for people in their 20s 
PLUS SO MUCH MORE 

Happy listening!

Watch on Netflix: HERE

Follow Arden here: @ardenrose 

Watch her YouTube HERE 

 

More links below (sorry)

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.

TW: this episode includes discussions of eating disorders.&nbsp;
What happens when millions of people watch you grow up online? How do you navigate change, love and making mistakes in front of a massive audience? And how do you rediscover your creativity after creating content about your life, becomes your job?&nbsp;In today's episode we talk to one of the original YouTube 'it-girls', Arden Rose, about early fame, body image, art and her life lessons as she enters her 30s. We discuss:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li>How making YouTube videos at 14 turned into a full-time job</li>
<li>The dark side of Hollywood and the entertainment industry&nbsp;</li>
<li>The biggest opportunity she missed out on...and why&nbsp;</li>
<li>Veganism, diet culture and self-esteem&nbsp;</li>
<li>The path back to creativity</li>
<li>Her greatest pieces of advice for people in their 20s&nbsp;</li>
<li>PLUS SO MUCH MORE&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
Happy listening!
Watch on Netflix: <a href="https://netflix.com/thepsychologyofyour20s">HERE</a>
Follow Arden here:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/ardenrose/">@ardenrose&nbsp;</a>
Watch her YouTube <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@ardenrose/videos">HERE&nbsp;</a>
&nbsp;
More links below (sorry)
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;
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.

411. Growing up online, early fame and rediscovering your creativity ft. Arden Rose

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/369da92f-23b7-4adf-a883-b439007f14de/transcript

Why does it suddenly feel like everyone has a diagnosis? From ADHD and autism to anxiety, trauma, burnout, and depression - mental health language is everywhere right now. But are rates actually rising? Or are more people finally being seen after years of being overlooked, misread, or excluded from the stereotype? In this episode, we unpack the psychology, politics, and culture of diagnosis: how diagnostic criteria have changed, why context matters, what social media has done to this conversation, and the tension between labels as affirming, or oversimplified.

We explore:
•        What the data actually says about rising diagnosis rates
•        Why historically missed groups are being recognised more now
•        The role of context in shaping our experiences
•        The risk of pathologising ordinary human struggle
•        When scepticism is useful - and why it should be aimed at systems, not individuals
•        Why a label can still be meaningful, helpful, and nobody else’s business

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/PMC7422602/
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4810039/
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11747871/
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10251666/
https://reference-global.com/article/10.58734/plc-2025-0009

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 does it suddenly feel like everyone has a diagnosis? From ADHD and autism to anxiety, trauma, burnout, and depression - mental health language is everywhere right now. But are rates actually rising? Or are more people finally being seen after years of being overlooked, misread, or excluded from the stereotype? In this episode, we unpack the psychology, politics, and culture of diagnosis: how diagnostic criteria have changed, why context matters, what social media has done to this conversation, and the tension between labels as affirming, or oversimplified.
We explore: &bull; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;What the data actually says about rising diagnosis rates &bull; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Why historically missed groups are being recognised more now &bull; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;The role of context in shaping our experiences &bull; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;The risk of pathologising ordinary human struggle &bull; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;When scepticism is useful - and why it should be aimed at systems, not individuals &bull; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Why a label can still be meaningful, helpful, and nobody else&rsquo;s business
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;
Our favourite sources:&nbsp; https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7422602/ https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4810039/ https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11747871/ https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10251666/ https://reference-global.com/article/10.58734/plc-2025-0009
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.

410. Why does everyone have a diagnosis these days?

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/d1949fd2-7c27-4f92-bf8f-b439007673ca/transcript

It can feel like the world - and our future - has never been more precarious or frightening. It’s a very normal response to feel anxious about it - and in many ways, being concerned is just a sign that you’re alive, switched on, and care about the what’s going on around you. But what happens when this anxiety becomes overwhelming, and we’re consumed by worry about the future? In this episode, we unpack:

• Why we’re prone to anticipatory anxiety in our 20s
• The evolutionary reasons for catastrophic thinking 
• Why long-term anxiety rewires our brain 
• When it’s healthy - and not healthy - to worry 
• How to rebrand anxiety as excitement

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 

 

Or favourite sources: 
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3086262/#:~:text=For%20some%20individuals%2C%20uncertainty%20about,%2C%20&%20Camerer%2C%202005

https://theconversation.com/how-chronic-stress-changes-the-brain-and-what-you-can-do-to-reverse-the-damage-133194

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24364682/

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.

It can feel like the world - and our future - has never been more precarious or frightening. It&rsquo;s a very normal response to feel anxious about it - and in many ways, being concerned is just a sign that you&rsquo;re alive, switched on, and care about the what&rsquo;s going on around you. But what happens when this anxiety becomes overwhelming, and we&rsquo;re consumed by worry about the future? In this episode, we unpack:
&bull; Why we&rsquo;re prone to anticipatory anxiety in our 20s &bull; The evolutionary reasons for catastrophic thinking&nbsp; &bull; Why long-term anxiety rewires our brain&nbsp; &bull; When it&rsquo;s healthy - and not healthy - to worry&nbsp; &bull; How to rebrand anxiety as excitement
Happy listening!
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;
Or favourite sources:&nbsp; <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3086262/#:~:text=For%20some%20individuals%2C%20uncertainty%20about,%2C%20&amp;%20Camerer%2C%202005">https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3086262/#:~:text=For%20some%20individuals%2C%20uncertainty%20about,%2C%20&amp;%20Camerer%2C%202005</a>
<a href="https://theconversation.com/how-chronic-stress-changes-the-brain-and-what-you-can-do-to-reverse-the-damage-133194">https://theconversation.com/how-chronic-stress-changes-the-brain-and-what-you-can-do-to-reverse-the-damage-133194</a>
<a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24364682/">https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24364682/</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 or a licensed psychologist.

409. How to manage your anxiety about the future

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/db245c5c-5ae8-4e44-95a4-b434008a9f8b/transcript

392. Why is whimsy so powerful

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