The Lunatic Fringe Podcast

Growing up in Australia in a very supportive environment, Emma Thomson had always been encouraged to explore her interests, and after the gift of a tandem skydive on her 18th birthday jumping had most certainly become one of them; yet it wasn't until she found herself at a destination skydiving center with her boyfriend wingsuit carving around her and her tandem instructor that she realized there may be more to skydiving than drogues and uncomfortable harnesses. With her career in education well underway, it didn't take long for her to put her skills as a teacher to work in the sport, completely changing the course of her professional life in a way that she never expected. Now, working around the world as a more and more sought after coach, she enjoys the benefits of an out of the box lifestyle while navigating social media, staying true to herself and continuing to push her own personal boundaries well within the Lunatic Fringe.

Aviation entered the life of Chris Kleinhenz at a very early age. having been aimed toward flight to focus his drive an attention, it was a series of fortuitous meetings, flight opportunities and the generosity of aircraft owners that helped him along the way. Add to that working hard to become a member of the US Air Force Academy skydiving team, and there was no doubt that airborne is where he preferred to be. Aviation and flying were his main focus for quite some time until he was in a position with flying to also put real energy into the jumping lifestyle by going full force at the Desert Campus of Skydive Dubai. From tandems to wing suits, he's got the chops to hang with the crew, but he's also taking on competition aerobatic flying while his real life gig is up front in the largest bird working, the 747. With his sights set skyward for the foreseeable future, there's no doubt that Chris will be with the Lunatic Fringe for some time to come.

Once again, a skydiving career wasn't born from the first exit, but the first freefall.  Argentina's static line course wasn't one that grabbed Juan Mayer, it was one that scared the hell out of him. Even after 52 jumps in a "kind of" AFF course and after freefall had shown him more of what our world may have to offer, it wasn't until a trip to Deland that he really saw the full picture.  Having now traveled the world, working in and helping to create incredible projects that have included everything from a world record balloon jump, flying over the pyramids, carving wing suits over The Palm Island in Dubai and publishing his own book of amazing images, Juan Mayer still has an incredible passion for skydiving and its community, and is another proud card carrying member of the Lunatic Fringe.

It is with sincere sadness that we say goodbye to another legend in our sport. Jarno Cordia was above all else a generous soul and an incredibly talented individual and we were lucky enough to spend a little time talking with him about what he truly loved, We at the Lunatic Fringe would like to honor him and his legacy with a re-release of Jarno sharing his journey in his own words at the beginning of 2021.

BSBD Jarno.

From a young age he was drawn to air sports, and skydiving in particular, but having an uncle who'd broken his back landing a round years before, it would have been easy for Jarno Cordia to watch his dreams of flying stay nothing more than childhood fantasy; but his desire to get in the air was much stronger than any fears he or his family may have had. After finishing school at 17 and a top notch career for the taking, he was able to use his early start in the professional world to put aside time to pursue his passion for flight both in skydiving and BASE, most specifically with wingsuiting. As has been for many a jumper, the drive to fly found a way to push career aside, and almost without thinking, he found that his passion and profession were now one in the same. With his partner and teammate Jenna Gygi at his side, @teamflylikebrick continues to lead him to almost every side of the Lunatic Fringe.

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.

It's a huge Lunatic theme. Skydiving was not the plan. For Nicole Scappatura it wasn't even an idea. She just answered an add for a job that neglected to say it was for a dropzone. For Omar Mohammad, it went against pretty much everything he was busy training for, which was to be the guy up at the front of the aircraft, not the meat missile jumping out the back. With both of them honing their skills with some of the worlds best jumping with Skydive Dubai, they've been on the fast track for some time now. Both professional coaches in the sky and Omar in the tunnel as well, they're a Middle East Dynamic Duo and certified members of the Lunatic Fringe.

Absolutely horrible. Having passed on the idea of a tandem and gone straight to AFF, Jamie Webster's instructors told him upon landing from his first jump that perhaps skydiving just might not be for him. Luckily, Jamie isn't exactly the type to take no for an answer, and from jump number two on things started looking up. Thousands up jumps later, and years of experience as instructor behind him he's solidly proved those first impressions wrong. Not that he hasn't had his close calls… In one of the most intense experiences shared on the podcast to date, Jamie fills us in on what it's like to spend time staring at the bottom of a 182, snagged, suspended and terribly threatened by gear designed to save lives, not take them. Jamie will be the first to tell you it is all about learning from your mistakes and close calls, proving why sticking with the Lunatic Fringe is his preferred path.

All in from the get go. Something undefinable was telling her it was time for a change, and it was just a "random tandem" that shot her off in on a new trajectory that would change everything. Booking her second jump just after landing from her first, Jocelyn Villavicencio knew right then and there that skydiving was her future. Jumping became her singular focus and goal, and it's been her drive and determination, her experience and the ratings she's earned that have taken her exactly where she's wanted to go. Working now as a full-time skydiver/instructor with dreams of competition, there is no doubt that Jocelyn is a full-fledged member of the Lunatic Fringe.

In truly rare air above the famed Namche Bazar, we sit down and get the inside scoop on exactly what it takes to run the highest drop zone on planet earth. From logistics to landings, find out what it's like to operate at a drop zone where a hop-n-pop is at 22,000 feet! This remote broadcast is about as remote as they get, and exactly what the Lunatic Fringe lifestyle is all about. 

In one of the more offensive episodes of lunatic fringe, back in the can for episode 200 is a true brother not only to myself, but the entire sport of skydiving. A lifelong ambassador for skydiving as a proud tandem instructor, Derick Massey through years of experience, and incredible injuries and recoveries has maintained his passion for his well earned slot deep within the lunatic fringe.