The Psychology of your 20s
Episodes
363. Let people have the wrong impression of you ft. Eli Rallo
12 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
These days it's easy to feel observed and, therefore, judged by everyone for everything, whether that's online or in real life. Eli Rallo is an author...
362. How to start a SUCCESSFUL business in your 20s ft. Brittney Saunders
08 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Brittney Saunders is the founder of Fayt the Label, one of Australia's biggest clothing brands and empires. She launched the business from a shed in h...
361. The psychology of plastic surgery ft. Dr Rady Rahban
04 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Plastic surgery rates are on the rise, especially amongst people in their 20s, so what drives people to get plastic surgery? How does it intersect wit...
360. How to be ambitious (without burning out) ft. Amina AlTai
01 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In your 20s you're told to be as ambitious as you can be, go after your dreams, work hard, be delusional, pursue your passion at any cost. How can we ...
359. How to TRULY detach
29 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We can be so fixed on a job, a person, an outcome that we fuse our identity to it – and, crucially, forget that we’re okay without it.&nbs...
358. Why you should decentre romance in your 20s
28 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
There is a huge emphasis on treating romance as the main marker of a successful life – from questions from family, to seemingly perfect online c...
357. Why do we doomspend?
25 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We’ve all been there - telling ourselves that ‘life is short’ as we click add to cart. Whether it’s an expensive dinner, a hol...
356. How to survive a breakup in your 20s
21 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Going through a breakup is always going to be devastating. Heartbreak is one of the most gut-wrenching human experiences: it affects our brain, our bo...
355. Why don't I enjoy sex that much?
18 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Our 20s are sold to us as the decade of peak desire - full of passion, spontaneity, and effortless intimacy. But for so many of us, that isn’t t...
354. How to break a toxic habit
16 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We all have habits we wish we could change - patterns we repeat even when we know they’re hurting us. So why is it so hard to stop? In this epis...
353. The psychology of perfectionism
13 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We’ve all heard someone say, “I’m such a perfectionist”, like it’s a badge of honour. But what does perfectionism really...
352. How to deal with someone who is ALWAYS the victim
10 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Have you ever met someone who always seems to see themselves as the one who’s been wronged - or maybe noticed that pattern in yourself? The sens...
351. How gratitude changes your brain
06 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We’re always told that gratitude is the route to happiness – that we should be grateful for every experience we have. But when life feels ...
350. When should you move in with someone?
04 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
It sounds simple. Split the rent, share space, maybe finally stop packing an overnight bag. But living together is one of the biggest relationship tra...
349. Flow states
02 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
You know that feeling when time disappears, your focus sharpens, and everything just clicks? That’s what we often call ‘flow state’ ...
348. The psychology of 'skinnytok'
30 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Extreme thinness is back in trend (again) so today, we explore the psychology behind why and the impact its having? In this episode, we'll discuss the...
347. The psychology of revenge
28 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Have you ever felt that urge for payback? Revenge is one of the oldest, most universal human instincts. It seems like it promises justice, balance, or...
346. How to avoid settling in your 20s
24 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Everyone is secretly searching for the perfect relationship, but what if your relationship is just 'good enough'? What if you feel secure, or fine abo...
345. How to fall in love with failure
21 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We think of failure as a terrible thing or something to be avoided. But when you learn to fall in love with failure, a whole new level of growth occur...
344. Sociopathy
19 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We’ve all heard the term thrown around – in books, in TV dramas, in news articles – we’re taught to be scared of it. But rarel...
343. The psychology of saturn's return
17 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Have you ever felt like everything in your late twenties is suddenly up for grabs - your relationships, your career, even who you thought you were? It...
342. The psychology of dissociation
14 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Have you ever felt like the world around you isn’t quite real, or like you’re watching your life from the outside? Have you ever driven so...
341. The 5 types of toxic friendships
09 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Friendships should be a source of joy – people who just make life lighter. But not all friendships feel that way. Some leave us drained, insecur...
340. The 10 regrets I have about my 20s (so far)
07 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Today I'm reflecting on some of the lessons I've been taking from my early 20s. We all have regrets about things we wish we'd done differently or not ...
339. The psychology of rock bottom
02 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Hitting rock bottom is one of the most painful human experiences - when the future is blurry, the past feels heavy, and you barely recognize the perso...
I Am Not Here To Manage Other People's Emotions
01 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this bonus release, I am sharing an episode of my other podcast, MANTRA. This week's mantra is I Am Not Here to Manage Other People’s Emotion...
338. The psychology of borderline personality disorder (BPD)
30 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) is one of the most misunderstood mental health conditions, clouded by stigma and misinformation. In this episode...
337. Are personality tests legit?
28 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
From Myers-Briggs to the Big Five, almost all of us at some stage have done a personality test. Whether it labelled you an introvert or extrovert, a b...
336. Why do we crave external validation?
25 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In our twenties, the feedback sources that once defined our worth - grades, report cards, and parental praise - start to disappear. This leaves a void...
335. It's okay to change your mind
23 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We often think that once we've made a decision, or said we believe something, or stated something about ourselves, we must always stay the same and ca...
334. How to fully trust yourself
19 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We live in a world full of opinions, advice, and expectations - and somewhere in the noise, our own inner voice can get drowned out. Learning to trust...
333. The psychology of 'haters'
16 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Hate is one of those emotions we don’t like to admit we feel – it’s messy, intense, and often laced with guilt. But it’s also ...
332. The triangular theory of love
14 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We all want to know the secret to true, lasting love so that we can perhaps have a shot at finding it. So in today's episode, we're breaking down perh...
331. How pets change your life
11 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We often see pets as just a part of our daily lives - the ones who greet us at the door, curl up beside us, or demand breakfast at 6 a.m. sharp. But b...
330. The psychology of happiness
09 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Happiness often feels like a simple goal - something we’re told to chase or “find” if we’re lucky. But it’s not just abo...
329. The psychology of the male loneliness epidemic
04 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode we break down the growing conversation around the “male loneliness epidemic”: what’s true, what’s mislea...
328. How to travel well in your 20s ft. Dr. Henry Ting
03 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Travel is something many of us in our 20s aspire to do well and to do more of. Whether it’s the quintessential Europe summer, road trips to the ...
327. How trauma gets trapped in the body
02 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We often think of trauma as something extreme - a dramatic, life-altering event. But trauma isn’t just what happened to us. It’s also how ...
326. The psychology of nicotine
29 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Nicotine is everywhere - but not in the way we once knew it. It’s not just in cigarettes anymore. It’s in sleek vapes, tiny pouches, lozen...
325. 4 ways I deal with anxiety in my 20s
26 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We all get anxious at times, but what we forget in those moments is that anxiety is just there to protect us, it's trying to do its job, and the more ...
324. Why do we hold grudges?
21 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Why do some things sit heavy in our chest for weeks, months, even years - while others seem to slide right off? In today’s episode, we’re ...
323. The power of breathwork
19 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Breath work, as a therapeutic technique, is having it's day in the sun. You may be seeing videos about it cropping up everywhere, but the truth is tha...
322. How to feel like yourself again
15 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Let's be real...too many of us are struggling with a sense of disconnect between who we are in our daily lives and our true selves. We feel like we no...
321. The psychology of run clubs
12 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Running might seem like a solo sport - something we do to clear our heads, hit a goal, or just survive another cardio session. But recently, a new kin...
320. Should I break up with my phone?
08 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Me and my phone are in a toxic relationship, let me explain... ORDER MY BOOK: https://www.psychologyofyour20s.com/general-clean Follow Je...
319. How does food affect our psychology?
05 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We’ve all heard the phrase “you are what you eat,” but what if it’s more accurate to say “you feel what you eat”? ...
318. Dealing with uncertainty in your 20s
31 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Uncertainty is the defining emotion of our 20s. Career paths, relationships, identity, purpose ... so much of this decade is marked by not knowing. Do...
317. The psychology of OCD
29 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Have you ever heard someone say they are “so OCD” for simply having a tidy house? Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder is one of the most misunde...
317. The psychology of OCD
29 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Have you ever heard someone say they are “so OCD” for simply having a tidy house? Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder is one of the most misunde...
316. The 20 biggest mistakes people make in their 20s
25 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Over the past 6 months I've been asking people: what is the biggest mistake you made in your 20s? I've heard from over 5'000 people, some of them 21, ...
315. The psychology of trinket collecting
22 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Why are we so obsessed with the tiny, adorable objects cluttering our desks, bags, and social media feeds? From plushies and vinyl figures to keychain...
314. 5 signs they're the 'one'
18 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
"What makes someone “the one”? There is so much pressure tied into that question. Instead, it might be better to ask: how can we focus on ...
313. Confidence is a skill, not a trait
15 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
You know when someone seems to breeze through life, can approach any social situation and challenge with such self-assured confidence? It seems innate...
312. Can self improvement go too far?
11 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Does chasing your "best self" ever feel like an endless race? You're constantly striving, optimizing your routines, and learning new skills, yet somet...
311. How to stop ruminating
08 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Does your brain seem to hit replay on that embarrassing memory, or go over the way that situationship ended in hopes you’ll find some kind of cl...
310. 5 signs you’re on the wrong career path
03 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Is your job making you feel drained, disconnected, or just deeply unfulfilled? In today’s episode, we unpack the five major signs that your care...
309. The psychology of parasocial relationships
01 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Why do we form intense, one-sided bonds with people we've never met? From favourite podcasters and social media influencers to beloved fictional chara...
308. It might get worse before it get's better
26 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Sharing a little life update with you around my mental health, my physical health, where my minds at, what I've been struggling with and how I'm const...
307. The psychology of age-gap relationships
24 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We've all seen the headlines about celebrity couples with significant age differences. We’ve heard the stereotypes, from "trophy partners" and &...
306. Are we addicted to chaos?
20 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Do you feel as though you’re living in a constant whirlwind of deadlines, drama, and endless tasks, yet secretly feel a thrill from the chaos? T...
305. The psychology of music
17 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Ever found yourself hitting play on that song, and instantly, a wave of emotion hits you, or you’re transported back to a forgotten summer, a sp...
304. Why we grieve past versions of ourselves?
12 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Why does personal growth sometimes feel like a quiet loss? Ever look back at an old photo and feel a strange mix of nostalgia and sadness for the pers...
303. The psychology of chronic apologising
10 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
"Sorry, can I just say something?", "sorry to bother you!", "oh, sorry!" - sound familiar? If you find yourself saying "sorry" for taking up space, ha...
302. Why we glow up after a breakup
05 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Ever wondered why everyone seems to break up just before 28? Or why your friend who was just about to settle down with her boyfriend of 7 years is sud...
301. Why do we love true crime?
03 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Why are we so obsessed with the dark side of life? From true crime and horror movies to disaster documentaries and haunted house tours, morbid curiosi...
300. How to start a podcast
30 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
It is our 300th episode and 4 YEARS since The Psychology of your 20s first began. To celebrate, I'm releasing one of my most requested topics ever tha...
299. The psychology of emotionally immature parents
27 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What happens when the people who were supposed to guide and nurture us were never taught to emotionally grow up themselves? In today’s episode, ...
298. How to make your life more fun
23 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
If you're like me, there are always a million things on my 'To Do' or 'Should Do' list and they seem to take up all my time and attention. What ever h...
297. "Lifelong health begins in your 20s" ft. Dr Mark Hyman
20 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We often take our health for granted in our 20s, but this is one of the most crucial moments for investing in your long term wellbeing. Despite that, ...
296. 5 steps to becoming an assertive communicator
16 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Being an assertive communicator is so much more than just being demanding or confident, it comes down to our emotional ease, how we hold ourselves, ho...
295. Why we have vulnerability hangovers
13 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Have you ever opened up, shared something real, and then immediately regretted it? That post-overshare spiral—the “why did I say that?&rdq...
294. The psychology of the talking stage
09 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The dreaded talking stage. A whole new level of complexity that has been added to dating in our 20s. The talking stage is this strange should be about...
293. Why are we never happy with what we have?
06 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Why does satisfaction always feel just out of reach? You get the job, then you want the promotion. You buy the item of clothing, then the buzz wears o...
292. The power of humility
02 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Sometimes we just need to humble ourselves. We need to tell our ego to take a back seat and let ourselves fail, let ourselves be beginners, be bested,...
291. How I wrote a book
29 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
I wrote a book and it's out today! Person in Progress: The Roadmap to The Psychology of your 20s contains everything you need to know about your 20s: ...
5 ways to reinvent yourself in your 20s (rerun)
25 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
If nothing else, our 20s are a time for reinvention and transformation. We become clearer and clearer about the version of us we want to be, and hopef...
Overcoming your fear of being perceived (rerun)
22 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Our fear of being perceived is more than just social anxiety, its a real phobia around being scrutinised, observed and primarily judged by others. It'...
It's okay for your friendships to change (rerun)
18 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In our 20s there are four things we worry about more than anything else: love, money, the future, and our friendships. As we grow and change, the rela...
The psychology of self doubt (rerun)
15 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Our self doubts are what is keeping us in our own way. It is the foundation for our inner critic to tell us: you're not good enough, you're not talent...
How to get your spark back (rerun)
11 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We lose our spark and love for life for many reasons: burnout, mental ill health, people pleasing, a breakup. When we do it can feel like life gets ve...
290. The complicated psychology of PMS
08 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
PMS can be a bit of a black box - we know we don't feel right, we know the days and weeks before our period can be sluggish, but we don't really know ...
289. The psychology of high functioning depression
04 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We are used to seeing depression one way: tears, extreme sadness, never leaving the house, pure misery. But for many of us, we experience depression d...
288. "Your calling, won't stop calling" ft. Victoria Hutchins
01 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
So many of us worry about finding a purpose and progressing in our career from an early age, but sometimes our path through life looks different to ho...
287. Being a late bloomer in your 20s
27 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Some of us take our time when it comes to finding love and dating. For some, that feels like an asset, for others it feels like a burden that they are...
286. How to actually FEEL your feelings
25 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In a day and age when 7/10 of us are chronically stressed, living in survival mode, too busy intellectualising our feelings to actually feel them, uns...
285. Overcoming relationship OCD & anxiety
21 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Even in the most perfect of relationships we can have doubts; even when everything is happy and wonderful, questions can still linger in the back of o...
284. Did the pandemic rewrite our 20s?
19 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Today, let's talk about the pandemic skip and the lost years of our 20s that many of us are still trying to catch up on. Covid-19 was such a period of...
I Trust Myself to Make the Best Decision With What I Know Now
17 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
I am thrilled to present one of my favorite episodes from my new podcast Mantra! Each week, we unpack an empowering mantra—a simple, p...
283. The psychology of 'only child' syndrome
14 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We've all heard the stereotypes about only children - they're selfish, they're dominating, they're arrogant, they are spoiled. Well, it turns out that...
282. Can we change our personality?
11 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
It feels like the personality we have is the one we're stuck with, regardless of how much we wish we were different...but is that really the case? In ...
281. Reclaim your power in dating
07 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Dating right now can feel like a minefield - in today's episode we break down exactly how to reclaim your power in today's dating climate, including:&...
280. Is it anxiety or intuition?
03 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Intuition is this deep sense of knowing that guides and expands our lives. Anxiety on the other hand restricts us by keeping us beholden to fear....
279. The psychology of career jealousy
27 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
When you're struggling with your sense of purpose, job hunting or feelings of success, it can be very hard to see someone else who has everything you ...
278. The psychology of tattoos
25 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
It's said that around 1/3 of society has tattoos - that increases to nearly half for people in their 20s. What is it about this permanent form of art ...
277. Let's talk about birthday anxiety
21 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
I'm turning 25! Here are all my thoughts and feelings about ageing, dealing with expectations around birthdays, loneliness, the pressure to have fun a...
276. Introversion vs. extroversion
18 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What makes someone an introvert vs. an extrovert and why is it different to what you may have been told? In today's episode, we break down the psychol...
275. 5 signs of deep emotional compatibility
14 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
When we first meet someone, the thing we instantly look for is a 'spark' - do a connect, are we attracted to each other, do we feel passion and fire a...
274. The psychology of the youngest child
11 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Youngest children have a reputation for being rebellious, rule breakers, sociable, charming, a bit spoiled and maybe even attention seekers. Is all of...
273. The psychology of routines
07 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Morning, weekly, day-time and night routines are something that successful people swear by. Whether it's a 5am wakeup followed by 45 minutes of medita...
272. How I overcame my fear of flying
04 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Today's episode is a rather personal, less psychological one. I want to talk about my fear of flying but also how I have managed to bring that fear ba...