The Lunatic Fringe Podcast

Even for charity it was a hard no. She'd managed to do what a lot of English people did when they wanted to skydive back then, and raised money for a charity jump; but after a less than idea ride on a round followed by an "assertive" landing, Maxine Tate had gotten her fill. Right up until she got her first taste of freefall about a dozen years and a high powered career later. Now, World record holder, Proud member of the Highlight Skydiving Team, Long time coach for Flight 1 and all around badass, she's hung up her competition spurs (or so she says) but has just as much drive, determination and passion as ever, solidifying her lifelong top slot deep within the Lunatic Fringe.

Back in the can, this time on location in North Carolina living the boogie life, Pussfoot's Brian Casserly sits down with Mr. Todd Thompson, who's life in the sky started out as more of an "order" than a desire, care of the US Military.  Wanting more of the freefall taste than Uncle Sam was gonna provide, there was no way that Todd wasn't going to end up a proper jumper on his own.  Working now as an AFF instructor and Senior Rigger at Skydive Shenandoah and enjoying the hell out of it all, there's no doubt he's a lifelong member of the Lunatic Fringe.

With everything she does, it's all in.  From Hollywood, to writing, to skydiving, Alethia J Austin is not one to do things halfway. Her passion for growth and achievement in everything that she does is what continues to drive her. Having spent more than 10 years working with Skydive Mag in a desire to help share with a community that has given her so much, it's the next steps that just might be the most exciting in Alethia J. Austin's  Lunatic Fringe journey.

Back in the can once again to talk design, innovation, safety and prevention, it's Julien Peelman from the one and only JYRO.

He might not be the best known name in the sport, and you've not seen him standing atop a podium after a sick canopy competition, but he's been there none the less.  Julien Peelman wasn't just creative in how he began his time in skydiving or even in how he got his gig with NZ Aerosports, but it's that exact creativity and training that has forever solidified his name and legacy in our sport. Designing wings that not only saves lives, but smash world records, he's put his skills to work on everything from the Petra to the Kraken and everything in-between, and he's helping keep himself and so many more happy and active with the Lunatic Fringe. 

He knew he loved it from the very first jump, but that didn't keep it from taking quite a while to get into skydiving properly. Learning the lesson that if you're waiting for friends to go for a jump, you could wait a long time, Andy Sbarato had enough waiting, and just went for it. Like a lot of us, skydiving took over pretty damn quickly, but for Andy it also provided real opportunities. Covid for some was a time to really step outside their comfort zones, and with the pressures it provided came about the birth of Option Gravity. Born of skydiving in the Swiss and Italian Alps in 2018, his deep dive into our extreme sport also give him the idea for offering a better option for high quality custom skydiving apparel. Between travel, load organizing, and running his successful company, Andy worked hard to make opportunity out of adversity. It may have started deep in the pandemic and our Lunatic Fringe, but now Andy and Option Gravity pushing full force!

At first glance you might not see a whole lot in common between Brazilian Jujitsu and skydiving, but if you look twice you just might be amazed. Ricky Rout, a black belt and passionate coach in Brazilian Jujitsu spotted the similarities between the two immediately, and put to work the mental toughness he'd earned through years on the mat to work for him in the air. Born in India and raised on the island of Guam where wrestling became a passion, Jujitsu seemed like a great fit as a "pastime" on his way to university; but like many deep in the Lunatic Fringe, pastimes have a way of becoming lifestyles. Join us on this edition of Lunatic Fringe as we speak about Jujitsu and skydiving, the mental game of each, the drive and joy continuing to learn can bring, and how a chance meeting with one of skydiving's icons put Ricky on a new path.

It started with an accident onboard a commercial airliner over Austrailia, or at least the catalyst did.  In an event that will forever be a part of Simon Colmer, part of learning to get past it was a bucket list that happened to include skydiving; yet for someone scared of heights dealing with the after effects of a traumatic experience onboard an airplane, it was one that took a bit of time to get around to.  Now, splitting his life quite clearly between the "real" world of an IT job, and weekends as a freefly coach and up and coming canopy pilot, Simon takes time to tell us about his rough beginnings in the air, lessons learned through injury, experience and travel and a host of incredible characters and mentors, and how he keeps the passion going in a sport with changing trends and appearances as he balances between the regular world and the Lunatic Fringe.

Back in the can for another virtual bonfire, Pablito Perazzoli, Master Rigger, Tandem Examiner, world traveler and a curator of one of the most spectacular handlebar mustaches this side of the 1800's sits down to talk a little about rigging, jumping, travel, loss and life. Join us for a fun catch up and informative chat with another wonderful life-long member of the Lunatic Fringe.

Kēbē Round 2!

It wasn't just skydiving that drew Kēbē in to the sport, it was skysurfing. He knew from the moment he saw a board strapped to another's feet while cruising through the sky that he was all about it. Admittedly having gone about things at an accelerated (and proper sketchy) rate, his return to life with the board after years of competition, drive and determination have led him to come up with a training program designed to help those with his same passion go about it in a well thought out and clearly defined way. Add to that a little Lunatic Fringe style creative writing and you've got Kēbē! 

it's kind of an unbelievable list of accomplishments and stunts. X-Games Skysurfing World Champion. Super Bowl Halftime winning Pepsi Commercial  pulling stunts with a goose. First ever to skydive from an exploding aircraft. First ever parachute on fire in flight... The list goes on and on.  Yet if you had asked a young Troy Hartman what he thought he was going to be when he grew up, there was only one answer. Pilot. Unfortunately, as seems to be the case over and over in life, the plan didn't exactly go the way he thought, so on to plan B...  Becoming not only a world champion skysurfer, but the ambassador for skydiving at a time when not only the US but the whole world seemed to be screaming for something extreme. Join us on this edition of Lunatic Fringe as we talk with Troy about more out of your mind tricks, stunts and lucky breaks than anyone could ever imagine, all of which have him forever linked with the Lunatic Fringe.