The Lunatic Fringe Podcast

Lunatic Fringe with Taihuka Smith

Back in the can for round two, this time with a lot less alcohol, Tai Smith shares how it's felt going  from a low time Otter pilot to a few thousand hours, low time jumps to hitting it with a wingsuit, and how hardcore COVID rules have put an real exclamation point on incredible experiences like our spectacular trip across the Mediterranean.  Join us on this edition of Lunatic Fringe for a few proper laughs and a couple of songs with a proper Kiwi jump pilot.

The Lunatic Fringe with Nick James Batsch

From the top of his game with multiple US National and World championship titles under his belt, to wondering if walking would ever again be an option, the journey Nick Batsch has been on over the last three years is a tough one to imagine. Years of training and top level athletic reflexes turned a landing that could have just as easily taken his life into the challenge of a lifetime, pushing Nick to work not only toward the physical demands a rebab of his type takes, but the often un thought of mental hurtles he had to overcome, not simply to live a normal life and perhaps even skydive again, but to once again stand on the top of the podium at the US Nationals. Join in on this edition with the current US National CP Champion Nick Batsch and hear in surprising detail all about his continuing journey with the Lunatic Fringe.

Lunatic Fringe with Dario Baslie

Only in the sport for 4 years, Dario Basile's time in both skydiving and BASE has made quite an impact in his life, and those that he meets. From A license to D, this base jumping, bull running, world traveling Tandem Instructor from Sussex NJ is absolutely going to let you, the guy sitting next to you and pretty much everyone else in earshot know that he is a skydiving, chili pepper eating high energy member of the Lunatic Fringe. Join in with Brian Casserly on this amped up chat.

Lunatic Fringe with Mr. Tom Noonan II (re-release)

In our second of two episodes, we pass on a little more knowledge, passion and joy from the one and only Mr. Tom Noonan.

"It's never goodbye, its only see you next time" - T.N

 

It's the return of Mr. Tom Noonan to talk a whole lot about safety!  At a time when more skydivers are less current than they've ever been, Tom has great information, tips and advice on everything from canopy choices and getting back into the nylon groove, to AAD's and his personal take on Covid.  Join us for a super informative and safety based talk on this edition of Lunatic Fringe.

lunatic Fringe with Tom Noonan I (re-release)

The sport of skydiving lost one of its most generous this week. He was one of the sports most avid cheerleaders, motivators, teachers and first and foremost, passionate jumpers. Please, take a step back in time to relive with us here at Lunatic Fringe a little of the positivity and joy for our sport brought to us each and every day by Mr. Tom Noonan.

"It's never goodbye. It's only until next time." -T.N

The desire to skydive seems to grab each of us in a different way it seems, and Mr. Tom Noonan is no different. His passion? From the very start it was of all things, tandems! Where most of us are dragged kicking and screaming at first, he was drawn to instantly, and went about making it his lifelong passion to not only share our world with people as a tandem instructor, but to go much deeper and help train those of us who chose to throw drogues; and along with the true tandem pioneers in the sport, also to go about making it as safe as humanly possible. And on top of all this... he decided to hit the actual top of the world with Everest Skydive! Join in for an extremely informative and entertaining path along the Lunatic Fringe.

Lunatic Fringe with the Traveling Boogie

 

From the moment Per and Kim first met each other, it seems SkyGod had a plan in mind. From love at first sight and a shared passion for all things adventure and, well…pigs,  these two were a match made in the clear blue.  For 2021,  this amazing couple decided to "Downsize" and take their passion on the road, and that’s exactly where they’ve been found.  There’s almost no doubt that more than one episode will be needed to unpack all the Lunatic stories coming from “The Traveling Boogie”. This one happily hosted by the one and only Brian Casserly & Pussfoot!

 

Lunatic Fringe with Mike Mcgowan

He's left an indelible mark on skydiving beyond any shadow of a doubt, with more than 50+ Parachutist magazine covers, countless centerfolds, world record attempts and cutting edge development projects; add to that the fact that he was the pioneer for what is now a world wide multi-million tandem jump a year video legacy, Mr. Mike Mcgowan most likely either had a hand in why you became a skydiver, or the way you remember that first jump.  Starting out as a military rigger, it didn't take Mike very long to discover he had a true passion for freefall photography, which has been the driving force of his career for decades now. From how he came up with the perfect tandem video formula, to how the trees surrounding Cross Keys saved his life, this is one episode you won't want to miss, since the one and only Mr. Mike McGowan has been there pretty much since the beginning of the Lunatic Fringe.

Lunatic Fringe with Cornelia and Olga III

Back in the can once again, Cornelia Mihai and Olga Naumova join me to talk about a successful 2021 competition season, or at least mostly successful... With travel difficulties and Covid restrictions, half of the challenge was just getting to the events, but both of these competition swooopers managed to put forth great showings in each of the events they made it to, and talk about not just the drive for competing, but the amazing community that makes these endeavors so much more special.

Lunatic Fringe with the Matt and Nick Show

Back in the can for another round, Matt Munting and Nicholas Scalabrino Bring us up to speed on the ever evolving adventures on the Matt and Nick show. From Alpine adventures including ice axes and crampons, to jumping the tallest building in the world and a night flair jump with an extra added pucker factor, these two are going strong, learning lessons, making friends and continuing full steam ahead on their journey deep in the Lunatic Fringe.

Lunatic Fringe with Hayden Galvin

As a "trad" rock climber, Hayden Galvin had started down his own lunatic path long before skydiving hit his radar. By the time BASE first made its appearance in his life he'd already had enough close calls on the rocks to know he had the chops for it, and learning to jump at what he described as a pretty sketch DZ back then in Coffs Harbor Austrailia only reenforced it. Drawn primarily to BASE, but pulled back to the sport of skydiving by the incredible accomplishments that team work could provide, Hayden went on to travel and jump not only all around Austrailia, but the world. From epic boogies like Funny Farm, to chasing the 200 way in Chicago, and now taking on the new challenge of fatherhood and running NZ Aerosports sponsorship management, Hayden is pushing his own boundaries and learning just how much there still is to learn with the Lunatic Fringe.