Dr. Sunni Lampasso on Lifeguard Instincts, DJ Performance Psychology, and Leveling Up

Host Liz Sweigart met Dr. Sunni Lampasso during a pandemic-era phone call arranged by a mutual colleague at the Society of Consulting Psychology. Months later they finally connected in person — walking Minneapolis streets between APA Convention sessions and bonding over a shared love of live music.

In this episode of Past the Profile, Sunni traces a career arc that runs from hedge-fund consulting to coaching international DJs. Along the way she recounts the childhood moment she pulled her grandmother from deep water, the lifeguard mindset that still shapes her work, and the “Level Up” book tour she’s using to platform emerging artists.

Highlights:

• How a rescue at age 11 sparked a lifelong drive to show up for people in crisis.
• Why Lampasso treats imposter syndrome, performance anxiety, and rejection as data points — not diagnoses — for the artists she coaches.
• The mechanics of her new partnership model: record labels retaining a psychologist “on call” to keep talent healthy.
• Plans for a low-cost subscription community so up-and-coming DJs can access live trainings and Q&A sessions.
• Insights from Miami Music Week and why being “front-row support” can change an artist’s trajectory.
• A tour schedule that doubles as grassroots networking — showcasing local DJs in every city.