In the Box with Dr. Jeff Brown
In this episode of In the Box, host David Millsap sits down with Dr. Jeff Brown, a nationally respected sports psychologist whose journey began right here in Lebanon, Missouri. Brown, a Harvard clinical psychologist and longtime psychologist for the Boston Marathon, has written or co-written five books, including The Competitive Edge and The Winner’s Brain. Despite an impressive career on the national stage, Brown carries the values he learned growing up in Lebanon into everything he does.
During the conversation, Brown reflects on the influence of his parents, long-time owners of Quality Cleaners, and the mentors who shaped him throughout his time in Lebanon’s schools, churches, and civic groups. He talks about how those early lessons in respect, hard work, and community connection prepared him for Harvard’s culture of diverse perspectives and high expectations.
Brown and Millsap dive deep into topics such as mental health, technology’s impact on resilience, the rise of constant comparison, and how young people today struggle with communication in a world dominated by screens. Brown emphasizes the urgent need for real relationships, honesty, and learning to bounce back from failure, skills he believes are disappearing in a culture obsessed with instant gratification and perfection.
He also shares a powerful story about coaching, recalling how a lesson from former LHS baseball coach Dave Plasma shaped his entire outlook on perseverance. The two discuss the importance of performance goals over outcome goals, the dangers of “everyone gets a trophy,” and how parents and coaches can better guide kids toward realistic growth.
Brown opens up about his work at the Boston Marathon medical tents and revisits the 2013 bombing, sharing what he witnessed, how he responded, and how trauma affects both athletes and bystanders long after the moment passes. He explains the emotional investment runners bring to Boston and why mental health support is so crucial, especially now.
Now spending more time back in Lebanon, Brown is giving back by sponsoring Mental Health Awareness Night at Jacket Stadium. His goal is simple but urgent: to remind people their lives have value, their struggles matter, and help is always available. His “Victory Cups,” given out at the game, include the 988 crisis number and a message of hope for anyone facing mental health challenges.
This episode is a thoughtful, honest, and inspiring look at success, failure, resilience, and the role community plays in shaping who we become. It is a reminder that even from the biggest stages, the lessons learned in a small town still matter.
In this episode of In the Box, host David Millsap sits down with Dr. Jeff Brown, a nationally respected sports psychologist whose journey began right here in Lebanon, Missouri. Brown, a Harvard clinical psychologist and longtime psychologist for the Boston Marathon, has written or co-written five books, including The Competitive Edge and The Winner’s Brain. Despite an impressive career on the national stage, Brown carries the values he learned growing up in Lebanon into everything he does.
During the conversation, Brown reflects on the influence of his parents, long-time owners of Quality Cleaners, and the mentors who shaped him throughout his time in Lebanon’s schools, churches, and civic groups. He talks about how those early lessons in respect, hard work, and community connection prepared him for Harvard’s culture of diverse perspectives and high expectations.
Brown and Millsap dive deep into topics such as mental health, technology’s impact on resilience, the rise of constant comparison, and how young people today struggle with communication in a world dominated by screens. Brown emphasizes the urgent need for real relationships, honesty, and learning to bounce back from failure, skills he believes are disappearing in a culture obsessed with instant gratification and perfection.
He also shares a powerful story about coaching, recalling how a lesson from former LHS baseball coach Dave Plasma shaped his entire outlook on perseverance. The two discuss the importance of performance goals over outcome goals, the dangers of “everyone gets a trophy,” and how parents and coaches can better guide kids toward realistic growth.
Brown opens up about his work at the Boston Marathon medical tents and revisits the 2013 bombing, sharing what he witnessed, how he responded, and how trauma affects both athletes and bystanders long after the moment passes. He explains the emotional investment runners bring to Boston and why mental health support is so crucial, especially now.
Now spending more time back in Lebanon, Brown is giving back by sponsoring Mental Health Awareness Night at Jacket Stadium. His goal is simple but urgent: to remind people their lives have value, their struggles matter, and help is always available. His “Victory Cups,” given out at the game, include the 988 crisis number and a message of hope for anyone facing mental health challenges.
This episode is a thoughtful, honest, and inspiring look at success, failure, resilience, and the role community plays in shaping who we become. It is a reminder that even from the biggest stages, the lessons learned in a small town still matter.