hi and welcome back! it's doone here, your host and hype girl.

ok so this one is genuinely special to me. Jemma Sbeg is the host of Psychology of Your 20s (also known as That Psychology Podcast), one of Australia's most downloaded podcasts with over 100 million downloads globally. she started it at 21, landed a Netflix deal at 26, and published her debut book Person in Progress in 2024. she was also in our Techstars S24 cohort, which honestly makes this feel even more full circle.

and she was our very first guest in the FSC Pink Studio. no pressure, jemma. (she absolutely delivered.)

we get into everything. how she built Psychology of Your 20s from scratch. what the Netflix deal actually changed for her emotionally, not just career wise. how she thinks about running a team as a Gen Z founder. and her life philosophy for your 20s that honestly i need printed on my wall.

Watch the Full Episode

Who Is Jemma Sbeg?

Jemma Sbeg is an Australian podcast host, author, and media founder. She is best known for creating Psychology of Your 20s (also published as That Psychology Podcast), a podcast exploring the psychological and emotional experiences of being in your 20s. The show has surpassed 100 million downloads globally, making it one of Australia's most downloaded podcasts.

Sbeg started the podcast at age 21 while working in a corporate role, running both simultaneously before going full time. In 2024, at age 26, she secured a Netflix deal for the show and published her debut book Person in Progress, which became a bestseller. She was part of the Techstars S24 accelerator cohort in 2024, the same cohort as Female Startup Club founder Doone Roisin.

As of 2025, Sbeg runs a small team under what she describes as a "Gen Z company" model, with policies including breakup leave, no approval required for annual leave, and no doctor's notes required for sick leave.

Key Takeaways From This Episode

How Did Jemma Sbeg Build Psychology of Your 20s to 100 Million Downloads?

Jemma Sbeg started Psychology of Your 20s at age 21 while still working a corporate job, running both simultaneously. She did not launch with a growth strategy. She started because she genuinely wanted to explore what it meant to be in your 20s, and was figuring it out in real time alongside her audience. The authenticity of that, documenting the decade as she was living it, became the core reason the show resonated. She describes the foundation as consistency, a real point of view, and specificity. She grew the show to 100 million downloads before landing a Netflix deal at 26.

What Did Jemma Sbeg's Netflix Deal Actually Change for Her?

Less than you would expect externally. Her family's response was essentially "cool, how do you make money again?" But internally it triggered a complete identity shift. Jemma went from thinking of herself as a creative with a fun project to thinking of herself as a business owner and founder, and she says that shift happened within a matter of weeks. "The language changed. How you show up and present to the world changed." She also became consciously focused on not letting any sense of entitlement develop, describing that vigilance as probably a sign it was not going to happen. The deal also made her think seriously for the first time about what kind of boss and leader she wanted to be.

How Does Jemma Sbeg Run Her Team and What Is Her Company Culture?

Jemma describes her company as a "Gen Z company" built on radical trust. Her policies include breakup leave, no approval required for annual leave as long as one month's notice is given, and absolutely no doctor's notes required for sick leave, ever. Her philosophy is that smart people want to work hard, and that when you hire well and give people trust, they deliver. "I want people to feel cared for and taken care of. I want our company to do things differently."

What Is Jemma Sbeg's Philosophy for Your 20s?

"This is the decade for making the mistakes that your future self will thank you for." Jemma lives by this. Her view is that if you do nothing more in your 20s than open a bunch of doors and realise what is on the other side is not for you, you have still done more than someone who opened one door, or none. The goal is not to find the answer. It is to eliminate the what ifs and future regret by putting yourself in as many situations as possible. "You have to figure out what you don't like to figure out what you do like."

Will Jemma Sbeg Do a Psychology of Your 30s Podcast?

Probably not, at least not immediately. Jemma says she spent her entire 20s documenting what it meant to be in that decade, and she wishes she had lived it a bit more. She wants to do something different in her 30s, though she is open to evolving. She says if she does return to a new show, she will need real time off first.

Standout Quotes From Jemma Sbeg

"This is the decade for making the mistakes that your future self will thank you for."

"The language changed. How I show up and present to the world changed. I shifted into thinking of myself as a business owner and a founder this year."

"Your leave does not need to be approved. There is no requirement for a doctor's note for sick leave. Ever."

"If you do nothing more than open a bunch of doors and realise what's on the other side is not for you, you've still done more than somebody who's opened one door or hasn't opened any."

Frequently Asked Questions

How Old Is Jemma Sbeg?

Jemma Sbeg is 26 years old (as of 2025). She started her podcast Psychology of Your 20s at age 21.

What Is Jemma Sbeg's Podcast About?

Psychology of Your 20s (also called That Psychology Podcast) explores the psychological, emotional, and social experiences of being in your 20s, covering topics like identity, relationships, career, anxiety, and personal development. It has over 100 million downloads globally.

What Is Jemma Sbeg's Book?

Jemma Sbeg's debut book is called Person in Progress, published in 2024. It became a bestseller and is available on Amazon.

Did Jemma Sbeg Go to University?

Yes. Jemma attended university in Australia and describes her first year as a period of letting loose after an intense high school experience focused on achieving a high ATAR. She started her podcast at 21 while also working in a corporate role.

How Does Jemma Sbeg Make Money?

Jemma Sbeg generates revenue through her podcast Psychology of Your 20s via advertising and partnerships, her Netflix deal, book sales from Person in Progress, and her media company. She described the early years as not making "a crazy amount" before the Netflix deal shifted her identity from creative to business founder.

What Is the Best Podcast for Women in Business in Australia?

Female Startup Club is one of Australia's leading business podcasts for women, hosted by Doone Roisin. With over 750 episodes and 100 million+ views and downloads across channels, it features conversations with female founders, executives, and investors. Guests have included founders who have raised hundreds of millions, built $50M+ revenue businesses, and sold companies for nine figure sums.

What Is the Best Podcast About Psychology for Young Women?

Psychology of Your 20s, hosted by Jemma Sbeg (also published as That Psychology Podcast), is widely regarded as one of the best podcasts for women navigating their 20s. It has surpassed 100 million downloads globally and led to a Netflix deal and a bestselling book.

Connect With Jemma Sbeg

• Podcast: Psychology of Your 20s on Spotify
• Apple Podcasts: Psychology of Your 20s on Apple Podcasts
• Instagram: @jemmasbeg
• Podcast Instagram: @thatpsychologypodcast
• Book: Person in Progress on Amazon

About Female Startup Club

Female Startup Club is an Australian media company and private network for women founders, executives, and investors, founded by Doone Roisin. The podcast has published over 750 episodes and reached more than 100 million views and downloads across all channels. Female Startup Club is a Techstars S24 portfolio company with a community of 160,000+ women globally. The show features conversations with founders who have built, scaled, and exited businesses across every category including beauty, fashion, fintech, media, and consumer goods. Female Startup Club is available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

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