What does it take to lead the first American women’s Everest expedition, survive a near-fatal heart condition, and keep climbing into your 50s? For mountaineer, author, and speaker Alison Levine it all comes down to one thing: putting one foot in front of the other, even when you’re terrified.

Alison joins Danielle to talk about the summit attempt that made her the butt of a late-night punchline—and the second attempt that helped her rewrite what success really means. In this episode, she shares how a childhood marked by isolation, medical setbacks, and grit shaped her into one of the most inspiring leaders on and off the mountain. Alison shares:

How being born with a hole in her heart shaped her risk tolerance
The story behind the first American Women’s Everest Expedition—and why they had to turn around 270 feet from the top
What it felt like to fail so publicly—and what she learned when she finally reached the summit 8 years later
The mantra that replaced “go big or go home”
Why fear can be your best asset
Her surprising leadership advice (hint: ego isn't the enemy)
The unspoken voice every woman battles—and how to train it to speak differently
Why the strongest teams honor each other’s limits
What she learned dragging a 150-pound sled across Antarctica
Why she just left her successful speaking career to write a one-woman show—and what’s at stake
How being “the smallest one on the team” became her greatest asset
The quote from Pitbull that reframed how she views failure

Book rec: Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl

Follow Alison on Instagram here.

Ep 236 William Branham Pt. 3: The Story of Snake-Ape