The Lunatic Fringe Podcast

Lunatic Fringe with Billy Sharman II

Growing up watching his mom huck herself out of airplanes in California, not only making over a thousand jumps on rounds, but earning herself a California State Championship, there was simply no way that Billy Sharman wasn't going to at least try one jump.  Of course, as seems to be the case, with a first wonderful experience at Skydance in Davis, CA and a little salesmanship from Ray Ferrell, Billy was well and truly hooked!  A few bumps in the road (or ditch) aside, he was well on his way to what would become a lifelong career in the sky, and the windy tubes.  Now, the proud owner and operator of Skydive Pretoria in South Africa, Billy has many years under his belt, and twice as many stories to tell about his travels with the Lunatic Fringe.

Lunatic Fringe with Alice Hicks

Simply Badass. there really isn't any other way to put it.  Starting her skydiving career as a twenty-something in 1968 Kansas, at the insistence of her friend, Alice Hicks and a few intrepid friends spent a day jumping off picnic benches to perfect their PLF techniques, and then just went and did it.  With a bit of a reputation as a "sidespinner", Alice didn't have the chance to jump with too many others during those early times, until on her last jump back in the day, her then boyfriend (now husband of 52 years) dove hand in hand with her to finish off her first life in the sport. Cut to 1996.  A life-long career as a school teacher and guidance counselor in the books, the same Alice Hicks decides after watching her daughters make tandem skydives onto their own property in Kansas that she should give this new version of jumping a whirl, and BAM! Back in the sport she was. She fought her fears and pushed through to find the "fun" that skydiving had to offer, already knowing it had an amazing community, of whom her husband was still an active member. Now retired, and traveling the country, spending months on end jumping pretty much every weekend in Eloy, Alice Hicks, and her Skydiving, Pilot badass husband are officially lifelong members of the Lunatic Fringe. This is one of the most pleasant and enjoyable chats ever had on the podcast, and one you won't want to miss.

Lunatic Fringe with Regan Tetlow II

Back in the can to talk all things air sports, travel, artwork and Barney?  Well, one thing you most certainly have say is that Mr. Regan Tetlow has made the rounds to say the least! From bar tender and pub owner, to the meet and greet face man at Skydive Emporia Brava. From randomly being asked to announcing a swoop event on the beach to becoming the voice behind some of the largest skydiving events in the world (and if you can believe it, balloon races...). DJ and MC turned pro skydiver and actor Mr. Regan Tetlow has stories and insight galore! Join us on the second round of conversation as Reagan dives deep into his reasons behind his lifelong journey with the Lunatic Fringe.

Lunatic Fringe with Grey Milner

20 years is a long time for any profession, but especially when its one as physically demanding as working with concrete. Having made his first tandem skydive years back, Grey Milner thought it was just about the most amazing thing he’d ever experienced and was ready to go all in, but as it has a way of doing, life got in the way. It wasn’t until recently that he found himself back in the air on tandem number two, and just like the first, his immediate desire was to go all in. This time, getting at it was exactly what he did, and a week-long trip from Oregon to Arizona and their accelerated program found Grey going from Tandem Passenger to “A” Licensed skydiver. Now comes the really scary part… Sell the house, buy an RV and hit the road to find his way in the big little world of skydiving on his own path toward the Lunatic Fringe. It’s an adventure that so many have dreamed of but never done; but it’s not one that Grey is going to let pass him by.

Lunatic Fringe with The Martins

Back in the can for another addition of Lunatic Fringe, Jarrett Martin and his father Brett take the opportunity to sit down and talk with me about what it's like handing skydiving down from generation to generation.  having dealt with injury and loss first hand, yet pushing through to continue to compete and excel in our sport, both Brett and Jarrett understand the drive and determination our sport can sometimes demand. Running a successful rigging and manufacturing loft with Summit Parachute Systems and still actively jumping, Brett and Jarrett are fantastic examples of the incredible community that is The Lunatic Fringe. 

Lunatic Fringe with Zack Rosser

At an age when most kids are still learning to tie their shoelaces unassisted, Zack Rosser was tossing on his kid sized climbing harness so his father could take him up on a tandem paraglide session; and before he was old enough to know he had choices available to him, he'd already made his. With paragliding not as accessible in his area in Australia, his father took him out to the local DZ when he was twenty, and set him up on a tandem skydive to see if that might be a good fit. In no time at all, Zack became the DZ's "anything you need" guy, pushing hard to find his angle into the sport. It didn't take him long at all to realize the canopy side of things was exactly his fit. Working now as a tandem instructor, video guy, and primarily a canopy coach, Zack's passion for nylon has led him to everything from competition Canopy Piloting to organizing flocking dives all over Down Under, with plans to branch out to New Zealand and beyond as soon as travel allows. Bringing a youth and exuberance to everything he does, you'll understand when you listen that Zack Rosser has only just begun his path along the Lunatic Fringe.

Lunatic Fringe with Dave Singer

From a very early age, Dave Singer knew exactly what he wanted, which was exactly what most other 8 year olds do. A sewing machine... wait, what? Okay, so Dave may not have taken the more traveled road, but it the path that he was absolutely sure he was suppose to be on. From military jumper and rigger, to civilian camera flyer and eventually on to the Mecca of the times for cutting edge skydiving in Perris Valley, Dave never had a doubt that skydiving was his life. Working his way through college to earn an engineering degree specifically to put that knowledge to work in the construction and manufacturing of skydiving equipment, Dave is one of that rare breed of person that knows he is exactly where he's suppose to be, deep in the Lunatic Fringe.

Lunatic Fringe with Matt Jaskol 2

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.

Lunatic Fringe with The Darman Brothers

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.

Lunatic Fringe with Simon Whittle

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.