In this episode, I sit down with the incredible Jennie Milton (also known as “Adrenajen”) an Australian extreme sports athlete, keynote speaker, bestselling author, and a woman who has literally survived avalanches, polar bear encounters, and brain surgery.

Jennie’s story is equal parts unbelievable and deeply grounding. Together, we talk about what fear really is, how our bodies respond to it, and why understanding those responses is the doorway to deeper empathy and stronger leadership.

From childhood “scaredy cat” moments to skiing massive mountains in Alaska, Jennie shares how courage is not a personality trait. It’s a skill you build. She breaks down the fight, flight, freeze, and fawn responses in a way every leader needs to hear, and she explains how adrenaline (yes, the same adrenaline that shows up when you're terrified) can become your greatest advantage.

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Connect with Jennie Milton:

Website: https://jenniemilton.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennieadrenajenmiltonspeaker/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adrenajen/

About Jennie:

Meet Jennie Milton — widely known as “AdrenaJen” is an Australian extreme sports athlete, bestselling author, and sought-after keynote speaker. Jennie has built a life and a mission around courage. She’s survived avalanches, stared down polar bears, and even navigated the long road of recovery after brain surgery. Through it all, she’s become a living testament to resilience in motion.

Drawing from her high-adrenaline world, Jennie teaches individuals and teams how to transform fear into fuel. Her signature approach shows people how to harness adrenaline as an advantage — not just in extreme environments, but in leadership, business, and everyday life.

With captivating storytelling and immediately actionable tools, Jennie helps leaders understand the psychology behind fear responses like fight, flight, freeze, and fawn. By decoding these instincts, she empowers others to cultivate empathy, deepen emotional intelligence, and build unshakable confidence.

► About Dr. Robinson-Winemiller:

What do empathy and a treadmill have in common? Both need action to deliver results.

Quiet quitting. Resenteeism. Post-pandemic stress. AI. Modern leaders face challenges unimaginable in the past, and the pace of change is relentless. The old command-and-control leadership style is obsolete. Leaders today must evolve or risk irrelevance. But leadership now goes beyond dashboards and spreadsheets—so, what’s the answer?

Melissa Robinson-Winemiller is the answer. With over 20 years of leadership experience, two doctorates (including one focused on empathy in leadership), an MBA, and multiple certifications in change management and DEI, she helps leaders achieve greater profits, retention, productivity, and innovation.

Her mission? To elevate leadership through the often-overlooked power of EQ and empathy. As a coach and consultant, Melissa draws on expertise, data-driven insights, and proven results to guide leaders through today’s complexities.

► Disclaimer:

This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide professional, medical, or clinical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of a qualified professional or licensed provider with any specific and personal questions you may have regarding personal or professional concerns.