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Post Run High

Performance Psychologist: Why Your Brain Quits Before Your Body Does

Post Run High

iHeartPodcasts

Society & Culture

1.14.5K Ratings

🗓️ 5 January 2026

⏱️ 92 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Dr. Dana Lebo is a performance psychologist with over 30 years of clinical experience, a lifelong runner, and a clinical hypnosis expert (President-elect of the American Society of Clinical Hypnosis).

In this episode of Post Run High, Kate sits down with Dana for a deep conversation about performance, resilience, and what happens when both the mind and body hit the wall.

Dana shares her firsthand experience of falling and breaking her arm at mile 12 of the New York City Marathon—and the mindset that helped her recover, return to racing, and keep moving forward. From elite marathon strategy to everyday mental health, this conversation explores how movement unlocks clarity, emotional regulation, and psychological breakthroughs.

You’ll hear Dana break down her MVP Method—Mindfulness, Visualization, and Positive Self-Coaching—and how these tools are used by elite athletes, CEOs, and high performers to push through physical limits, manage anxiety, and reframe setbacks.

This episode covers:
• What really happens mentally when runners “hit the wall”
• Why movement can be as powerful as traditional therapy
• How visualization actually works (and what people get wrong about it)
• The role of clinical hypnosis in performance and recovery
• Why aging doesn’t have to mean slowing down
• How to build mental resilience without relying on medication
• Why running—and moving—creates deeper human connection

Whether you’re an athlete, a high performer, or someone navigating a hard season of life, this episode is a reminder that you don’t have to be perfect to keep going—you just have to keep moving.


Follow & Connect
Post Run High Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/postrunhigh/
Kate Mackz Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/katemackz/
Kate Mackz YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@KateMackz

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Transcript

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0:00.0

Performance psychology is about getting to the next level of whatever it is you want to improve in your life.

0:06.3

There's some study out there that shows that we're capable of pushing ourselves 40% more than we think.

0:12.3

I call it the MVP process, the M standing for mindfulness, the V stands for visualization, and the P stands for that positive coaching.

0:21.7

I love evolutionary psychology.

0:23.5

So much of what we do is rooted in the dawn of human civilization.

0:28.0

The way we bonded with each other was by walking together, by running together,

0:32.3

by traveling together, moving side by side together.

0:36.9

When you're running, it allows you to access a part of yourself below conscious awareness.

0:42.8

Hypnosis is extremely powerful tool that we have inside of us.

0:47.8

So what do people get wrong about hypnosis?

0:49.8

You are always in control.

0:53.7

This is an I-Heart podcast.

0:56.9

Guaranteed human.

0:58.8

Hi, guys.

0:59.9

It's your host, Kate Max, and welcome back to post-run high.

1:03.7

We have a really special guest today.

1:05.3

My mother-in-law, Dr. Dana Lebo, who has been a psychologist and performance coach for over 30 years.

1:12.9

Dana is also a marathon runner.

1:15.0

She started running marathons at 55 years old and has since run over 18 marathons.

1:22.0

Now, I just want to take a moment before we get into today's episode to say,

1:25.4

thank you guys so much for listening to our show.

1:28.9

It really means the world to us.

...

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