The Lunatic Fringe Podcast

Lunatic Fringe with Mike Brewer

The son of a previously unrevealed badass, sports like surfing had attracted Mike Brewer from a young age, but as he found himself running track for a military academy he couldn't help but feel that something was missing. As usually happens, random chance and circumstance found him taking the leap on his first static line jump. Then his second that same day. That was pretty much all it took. Realizing that his previous love for photography could aim him toward the top of the pyramid as a... tandem videographer. His almost singular goal moving forward became all things skydiving. Improving his flying skills, the pursuit of film making within the sport and a drive to compete were just a few of facets that drew him in.  From living in a tent behind the Paraclete wind tunnel to working as a military contractor and skydiving competitor, to speed skydiving, to taking on the role of a documentarian for the lofty Project 19, Mike Brewer is in it for the long run, tempering his Lunatic Fringe tendencies with a high work ethic and desire to move his vision for the sport into the future. 

Lunatic Fringe with Carlo Manuel

Born in the Dominican Republic and raised in Canada, Carlo Manuel did all the same things the other kids did. From skate boards to music, he did his best to fit in with the crowd; but when the thought of life in the military appeared on his radar, he knew it was the role of paratrooper that had real appeal. So much so that Carlo went out and made his first jump at a civilian dropzone, just to make sure he and a grip on what was to come. That's all it took. Although it would be many years before Carlo was actively jumping, his time in the military while deployed in Afghanistan would lead to skydiving opportunities one might not expect from someone in his line of work. Skydiving would not only become a passion for Carlo, it was an escape. a way to quiet the voices that constantly reminded him of difficult times. Now, having learned from personal experience that you can only avoid those inner demons for so long, Carlo goes out of his way to put in the work, seek connection, and offer up his take on mental health and well being, all while living the vagabond Lunatic Fringe lifestyle to its fullest.

Lunatic Fringe with Candice Wooten

"Cause who the hell am l" is what most people say when they've got an opinion they either aren't ready or don't think they're qualified to share, and although you'll hear Candice say those exact words, they aren't ones that keep her from sharing. A self proclaimed 'empty Nester' who found herself asking what might come next, it turned out skydiving was. Back in the day there was no way she could have ever imagined doing even one jump let alone going on to get licensed, but now, having raised children under the shadows of canopies flying over her Florida neighborhood she's decided to do something one hundred percent for herself. Learning to overcome fear in dramatic fashion, with a smile from an icon in the sport being what kept her from walking away, Candice Wooten may be a newer member of the Lunatic Fringe, but she's damn sure going to stay!

Lunatic Fringe with Paul Dorward and Oliver Neuberger

Friends for decades, Paul Dorward and Ollie Neuberger had a lot in common from the very beginning. A love for skydiving, and a career in law enforcement. As each discovered along the way their love not only for teaching within the sport, but welcoming new people to play, they found themselves regularly traveling abroad with plane loads of fellow police Britts to exotic places like Lake Elsinore, California. Paul was blasting full steam ahead on the canopy side of the sport, while Ollie set his sights early on earning the title of AFF instructor. Now, with Paul a Flight-1 instructor and Ollie having completely embraced the AFF life while juggling law enforcement and a family, the two take time out of their busy schedules to talk all things nylon, travel, and community, sharing shades of a great (and enjoyably insulting) friendship deep within the Lunatic Fringe. 

Lunatic Fringe with Ray "Ninja"Kubiak

Back in the can to fire off a few questions of his own, A legend in the airsports world who has not only carved out his own unique path, but helped countless others find their own, Ray Kubiak shows not only why he's an incredibly valued member of The Lunatic Fringe, but one who's taken up an entirely new challenge which he'll be making good on in less than three months!

Lunatic Fringe with Andy VanHandel

Like a lot of us, Andy "Bad Andy" VanHandel went out to make his first jump with his then girlfriend. How did that first jump go? Truth is, he couldn't tell you. It was complete overload... Yet something in that first experience drew him back. By jump number 3, he knew he'd found his sport. Working toward his coach rating, then static-line instructor, and eventually to a very busy weekend warrior TI, Andy had found not just a passion, but a community to share it with. Still deep in the tandem game, Andy has gone out of his way to support one of the most deserving causes out there. Veterans. Working closely with the veterans group HOOAH on their incredible project Freedom Freefall, it's an event designed specifically to help vets suffering from PTSD find a new direction and passion in life. With this years event falling on July 13th, which just happens to be World Skydiving Day, and July 20th registration will end May 15th. Head to hooahwi.org/freedom-freefall and help Andy and the Lunatic Fringe give something back to an incredibly deserving group!

Lunatic Fringe with Bodyflight Spotlight

Although Dawson and Olivier started their journey in skydiving at the same time, it was the tunnel that first sunk its hooks deep in both of them. Growing up in Canada, all the usual sports were on tap for each of them, from snowboarding to rock climbing, but it was the tunnel that showed them something exciting and new. As with most, finding both the time and money to maintain turned out to be the biggest challenge, and although Covid threw a proper wrench into the machine for everyone, both Olivier and Dawson survived the two year long tunnel shut down, pushed forward with the skydiving side of their journey and into the world of competition in the tunnel. Now have their sights set on helping smooth the way for newer generations of both skydivers and tunnel flyers with a YouTube video series designed specifically with them in mind, helping to pass on the Lunatic Fringe way of life.

Lunatic Fringe with "Rhino" Jon

Anyone in skydiving for any length of time hears amazing stories, both in the air and on the ground. For those outside the sport, some of them are truly hard to wrap your head around... and Rhino Jon? Well, he has more of those stories than almost anyone. From wealthy beginnings Jon decided to go a different way. His path led him toward the military, then special forces, then covert style operations, drug smuggling, art theft, and of course skydiving. With a 12,000 acre "garden" in Kenya to tend to, he keeps himself busy not just skydiving out of his personal aircraft, but tending to his 270 wild rhinos, elephants, lions and more, as well as ensuring that any poachers are... removed. The author of 5 books including one entitled For the Love of Art, Rhino Jon pretty much wrote the book on the Lunatic Fringe.

Lunatic Fringe with Lee Crudgington

The first time Lee Crudgington thought about jumping out of an airplane he was just in search of a plan for the future. He wasn't prepared for the military recruiter telling him paratrooper training was the way to go. Being fit and young, his training went well, all except for being deployed first to his paratrooper regiment in Iraq without having gone through jump school; yet once he did finally earn his wings, it was the fast track for Lee. Becoming a member of the heralded Red Devils from the very start, it was only the beginning. Through years of demonstration jumps and competition, Lee went on to become an incredibly important member of the team, happily pushing the limits. Yet it would be a vacation and a plan to go speed flying that would change everything, and challenge him like nothing before. Now, coming back from years of surgery and the most demanding physical challenges of his life, Lee once again has his sights set on beating the odds, proving that paratroopers never give up, and showing everyone he's a dedicated member of the Lunatic Fringe. 

Lunatic Fringe reboot with Marat Leiras

Another kick ass reboot with Marat Leiras! Originally aired Aug 2020

At 17 he knew. Well, he knew after he talked his mother into signing the release anyway. Marat Leiras showed his dedication to the sport of skydiving almost right away with a 400 kilometer drive one way to the dropzone just to get through AFF. With some serious skill, some wonderful luck and a whole lot of great timing, Marat managed to travel the world, train and jump with some of the best the sport had to offer and even marry the Iowa girl of his dreams; all without ever overstaying his visa!  join us as we talk about everything from wind tunnels and BASE jumps to what a crowd of 70,000 looks like from above.  All on this edition of Lunatic Fringe Into the Void.