The Lunatic Fringe Podcast

Having taken up skydiving as a way to fill the void left by the challenges and disappointments that come with a racing career, Matt Jaskol found more than just a sport, he found the community and "Family" atmosphere that racing never gave him. From his first jumps 7 years ago during his on again, off again career as a professional race car driver to the once in a lifetime opportunity to be the very first ever NASCAR driver to skydive into his own race, it's been a hell of an amazing couple of years since we first had the opportunity to sit down, and with more time in the saddle and behind the wheel, Matt has more than a few stories and insights into his journey along the Lunatic Fringe.

Third generation skydivers, brothers Marcos and Franco were literally born for aviation. Through luck, both good and bad, their grandfather and father built the family airfield and operation literally from the ground up, and these two brothers took to it like ducks to water, although not as quickly as one might think. With Business and Medicine the original goals, it was conscious decision to change course and follow in their fathers foot steps, walking away from the "real" world to instead remain in the one handed down through the generations. Working hard every step of the way doing everything from manifest to packing, driving to jumping, it was not a straight line to the sky, but one that taught them almost every aspect of the sport, leading them towards the instructors, coaches and competitors that they are today, deep inside the Lunatic Fringe.

From skateboarding to rock climbing, Simon Whittle touched all the bases when it came to his beginnings in extreme sports, but the real hook came when his UK parents bought him his introduction into the world of skydiving in the form of a static line course. The UK being what it is, it took Simon a very long time to start racking up any real jump experience, but where the sky failed, the tunnel filled the gap. Working his way through the ranks as a tunnel instructor, by the time Simon found himself back under nylon, it had been close to 8 years, and he was ready for more. With a drastic change of profession and location he headed off to the Middle East, which turned out to be exactly the move he needed. Now Skydiving Instructor, BASE Jumper, and believe it or not, Skysurfer, Simon Whittle is well and truly locked into his path with the Lunatic Fringe.

Ray Kubiak, an OG tunnel Ninja, "retired" skydiver and all-around air sports badass sits down for a proper discussion about all things windy tubes, Las Vegas, bad places to stick your head and apparently good places to stick your junk. Join in on the Lunatic fun with Ray both here and on YouTube as we cover old times and new on Lunatic Fringe Into the Void with NZ Aerosports!

Music by Zach Kimsey

Self proclaimed "Bad Skydivers" Matt Porter and Courtney Skaar knew they wanted to get into skydiving, and like a lot of jumpers they were aimed toward it by friends that had already crossed over to the Fringe; but when Career Army Officer Matt and Clinical Psychologist Courtney came across Mr. Brian Casserly during their first boogie, both freshly "Stamped" A License newbies, they received the full and irreversible welcome to the "real" community of skydiving initiation, happily solidifying their route into the Lunatic Fringe.

He was the first of many guests on Lunatic Fringe, Sharing his amazing journey from his static line beginning to world champion swoop freestyle competitor, and now he is the first Lunatic to join us on YouTube.  Recapping some of his incredible stories, as well as touching on many we've never spoken of before, this is another entertaining and informative chat with Mr. David "Junior" Ludvik.

Pulling no punches has been Alix Raymond’s style, as anyone who knows her can tell you, and her time on the Lunatic Fringe with our returning host Mr. Zej Mski is absolutely no exception. Finishing our her term soon as the Southeast Regional Director for the USPA, she's got more than a few words to say on the sport of skydiving, the USPA as an organization with all its pitfalls and upswings, it's new leadership and more.  As a full-time "real worlder" as well as flying camera and instructing, the Director's seat not only helped to keep her more than a little busy, but gave her some insights into the Lunatic asylum that has left her with a whole lot to say!

Podcast music by Zach Kimsey

Vegas born and raised, Blane Moler was bound to go big in one way or another. With his brothers A.J. and Brian paving the way, he began his 30 plus year career in the sport of skydiving as a packer, bus driver and occasional target for big brother A.J's dirty biker style temper, not being allowed to really start to earn his chops as a working jumper until he'd been well past his D license; which back then, in that town was a whole lot. With the temptations of the Vegas lifestyle standing in the way of moving too far forward in the sport, Blane hit the road and headed to the other side of the country, racking up thousands of video jumps and earning his Tandem and AFF ratings. Now a full-time instructor and professional skydiving gypsy, he and his wife are busy enjoying all the Lunatic lifestyle has to offer, with no plans on slowing down and allowing the young bucks to pass.

Music by - Zach Kimsey

Both hard charging full fledged Red Bull Athletes, Dani Roman and Sebastian Alvarez have more than a few things in common. They both knew that skydiving was for them at a very young age, and they were both willing to take proper life-changing risks to follow their passion. From tossing it all and traveling across the planet to try and get a job in a country where he didn't speak the language, to walking away from a sure thing lifelong career as a military pilot, these two went all in on a gamble that has paid off in a big way; a big way in the form of being able to not only chase their dreams, but constantly reach for new ones. Join us on this, our 150th episode as we find out what type of lunatic mindset it takes not only to decide to do something as incredible as fly a wingsuit into an active volcano, but plan it out so well that you get Red Bull to back it. This one you're not gonna want to miss.

Dabble may be the word that Scott Callantine uses to describe his varied interests in the sport, but the truth of the matter is he's hit it from pretty much all angles. Huge into wingsuits, he was pulled that way as a pilot, but he's competed in 4way and 8way, flown CRW, hucked tandems, worked as an instructor... Now he sits down to welcome back our returning host Mr, Zej Mski to let people in on the new and exciting direction his journey is about to take, still deep on his own Lunatic path.

podcast music by Zach Kimsey