The Lunatic Fringe Podcast

Full send. Even before that was a thing, that was Jamie Leibert. Not one to mince words, he'll be the first to tell you he's had more than his fair share of trouble and the first to take responsibility. Starting out young breaking bones on the back of a bike, it wasn't school or sports that drove him, it was trouble. Fighting, parties and drugs were his path, and it turned out to be a path that led him inevitably to prison; but it was the simple act of climbing a rock, and then skydiving that eventually showed Jamie that there were other ways to do it. In one of the most high energy episodes yet, not only does what he loves about skydiving come out, but what he hates. How his passions eventually turned from raging weekends of jumping and drugs at the DZ to traveling at first the country and then eventually  the world with his wife and partner in adventure. Now successfully managing life and a social media presence as Captain Manicorn, there's no doubt that Jamie Leibert is on the Lunatic Fringe route for life. 

Another kick ass mid-week reboot with Curt Bartholomew!

Embry-Riddle. Not exactly what you would naturally think of as the training grounds for a world class canopy pilot. Perhaps a world class airline jock, or in his case even an air traffic controller, but not the founding member of one of the sports longest lived and most accomplished canopy pilot teams in the sport of skydiving.  Curt Bartholomew began his career just like the rest of us; with that first jump. but then again, most of us didn't try (and almost manage to succeed) to complete their entire AFF course in one day! From balls out as a student to balls out with Alter Ego, Curt has pushed his own personal limits and those of the sport for quite some time now, and he's got all the stories (and scars) to go along with it.  Enjoy Lunatic Fringe Into the Void with Mr. Curt Bartholomew.

Not even on the map.Skydiving was so far outside what Marie Clark thought possible that when the opportunity finally did arrive, she was both incredibly excited at the prospect and scared to the point of drafting a will. As expected, landing from that first jump set Marie on a path, but it was one that was derailed almost as soon as it truly began with medical issues that saw her not just in the hospital, but with a long road to recovery ahead. Her driving ambition for getting better was of course the goal of getting back in the air. As a successful wingsuit coach who never intended to wingsuit, an AFF instructor, an organizer, and now someone with world records on the horizon, Marie works hard at finding balance between her incredibly demanding “real world” career, and her desire to push forward with her ever growing career deep within the Lunatic Fringe. 

Another kick ass mid-week reboot with Jyro's Julien Peelman!

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. 

Twenty six years and still going strong. When Matt Yount got his start in skydiving, tandems were just becoming a normal way to enter the game, and now… Now not only does Matt find himself a tandem examiner but he finds himself traveling the globe helping to share our sport with individuals and skydiving federations worldwide. With trips to incredible places like Nepal, Iceland, the Maldives, Egypt and many more, he is absolutely one of the authorities on what it takes to make it as an international tandem instructor. A lifelong member of the Lunatic Fringe, Matt may have a bunch of years behind him, but he'll still l be going strong for sometime to come. 

Another kick ass mid-week reboot with Highlight Pro Skydiving Team's one and only Kaz Sheekey!

Proper scared. Kaz Sheekey started out like I imagine a fair amount of us do in skydiving, but for her, just like most of us who decide to make a life out of it, that fear she felt on jump one became a positive driving force, not a deterrent. Immediately attracted to the lifestyle as well as her love of jumping, all it took was a "vacation" to the US to drive her into a 25 plus year love affair not just with skydiving, but with canopy piloting.  A kick ass competitor, Flight One instructor and demo team member to boot, as well as balancing life as a mom in these trying times, Kaz Sheekey takes a bit of her time to share with us her journey into the Lunatic Fringe.

Dani Roman. There's a lot of things that can be said, but by now that pretty much sums it up. It may have been from humble beginnings, but his career has been anything but ordinary and he has no intentions of going back. Through volcanos, check. Under bridges, check. In freefall below your landing altitude, check. Yes. You read that correctly, freefall below landing altitude! Dani Roman is a prime example of what "next level" really means, and as he prepares for new challenges both personally and professionally he helps to continually elevate the rest of the Lunatic Fringe. 

Another kick-ass re-boot with Espen Fadnes!

Born and raised in a part of Norway where sport wasn't just another choice, but a way of life, Espen Fadnes grew up roped up and climbing or skiing almost before he was walking. Being on the rock and in the mountains was beyond second nature, as were all the other terrestrial adventures Norway had to offer. Yet with Espen, from a young age, reaching the tops of the peaks he climbed and either hiking or skiing down soon didn't satisfy, and he found himself dreaming of flying where others walked. In an environment that back then was alien and overwhelming, his beginnings in skydiving were tempered with having to overcome something he hadn't really known before; fear. Now, arguably at the top of his game as a seasoned and highly respected BASE jumper, skydiver and instructor, Espen takes a little time to speak about some great and even no so great choices and adventures on his path with the Lunatic Fringe.

Running outside every time he heard his neighbors airplane flying low over his family farm, there was no doubt that aviation sparked something inside Dan Kluge, and the opportunity to watch a demonstration skydive was exactly the kick he needed to head out to the dropzone and start his own adventure. Running through his beginnings like most "working" skydivers do, Dan found himself chucking drogues for an extremely busy mid-sized dropzone, and a chance opportunity for a scenic right seat ride around the iconic Chicago skyline after dropping a demo lit yet another fire he was not planning for. Now, 16,000 jumps made around the world and flying opportunities that only skydiving can offer, Dan Kluge finds himself the chief pilot of Go Jump America based out of Southern California and Hawaii, and loving every second of his Lunatic Fringe life.

Another mid-week reboot with the amazing Hannah Betts!

If you're not the type to stay until the credits have all rolled, then you may just miss her name, but chances are, you know her work!  From an active duty police officer to a UK National and then World 4-way champion turned professional skydiving instructor, Hannah Betts is not a woman scared of change; so when the opportunity knocked, she decided to answer her call to the world of professional stunt work in a major way! From AFF to the "MeToo" movement, badass stunt people and both sincere and asshole actors, she's got enlightening stories to tell, and I for one am a real fan. Join us now and listen in on Lunatic Fringe Into the Void!