George Tang - Skydive Thailand DZO and Flight-1 Instructor
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Jun 02, 2025•54 min•Season 2Ep. 80
The 20 Minute Call - A Skydiving Podcast
The 20 Minute Call Podcast is a podcast about the dreamers, boundary pushers, rebels and champions of the skydiving industry. Each episode is a narrative journey highlighted by the highs, lows, and luck that the skydiving industry delivers told by the most influential people within the sport.
If you’ve ever dreamed of becoming a skydiver, opening a DZ or becoming the next world champion, check out The 20 Minute Call hosted by James La Barrie
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Episodes
Helmut Cloth - Inventor of the CYPRES Automatic Activation Device
Text Me Your Thoughts On This Episode Helmut Cloth is a German engineer and entrepreneur whose groundbreaking contributions have forever changed skydiving safety. After taking up the sport in 1972, Helmut became an active participant in European relative work (RW) record attempts. But a tragic accident in 1986—when a close friend died without deploying either canopy—sparked a mission that would shape the future of parachuting. Motivated to prevent similar losses, Helmut spent four and a half yea...
May 26, 2025•41 min•Season 2Ep. 79
Alethia Austin: Skydiving Organizer & Editor, Skydive Mag
Text Me Your Thoughts On This Episode Alethia Austin is a skydiving coach whose influence reaches far beyond the dropzone. Known for her calm presence, thoughtful leadership, and global impact, Alethia is the founder of LSD—Level, Slot, Dock—a sold-out series of skill camps hosted around the world. Her approach to coaching blends technical precision with mindfulness, energy management, and personal growth. Raised in a small town in southern Oregon, Alethia set out on her own at just 17, carving ...
May 19, 2025•1 hr 2 min•Season 2Ep. 78
Jon Devore | Captain of the Red Bull Air Force (2024)
Text Me Your Thoughts On This Episode My guest today has truly lived a life that transcends even the wildest dreams of a successful career in skydiving. With over 500 BASE jumps and 17,000 skydives, Jon Devore is a highly respected camera flyer, BASE jumper, wingsuiter, world champion free flyer, and stunt performer. His work has been featured in major films such as 2015’s Point Break , Iron Man 3 , Transformers: Dark of the Moon , Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning , and Ad Astra . Jon also ser...
May 12, 2025•1 hr 16 min
Ian Bobo - Co Founder of Flight-1 and PD Factory Team
Text Me Your Thoughts On This Episode With over 28,000 skydives to his name, Ian Bobo is one of the most accomplished and versatile skydivers in the history of the sport. A true multi-discipline athlete, Ian is one of the rare individuals to win world championships in both Formation Skydiving and Canopy Piloting—a testament to his precision, adaptability, and mastery of flight. Ian is the co-founder of two pioneering initiatives in the skydiving world: the PD Factory Team and Flight-1, the globa...
Apr 28, 2025•1 hr 10 min•Season 2Ep. 77
Pancho Campo - Skydiver and Entrepreneur
Text Me Your Thoughts On This Episode Pancho Campo’s life story is one of global reach and bold reinvention. Born in Santiago, Chile, Pancho began his career in professional tennis, serving as the captain and manager of the Chilean Olympic Tennis Team at the 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games. He also held leadership roles in the Qatar Tennis and Squash Federation and coached on the ATP Tour. After stepping away from tennis, Pancho transitioned into the world of international events. He founded Chrand...
Apr 21, 2025•1 hr 7 min•Season 2Ep. 76
Jay Stokes - World Record Holder for Most Jumps in 24 Hours
Text Me Your Thoughts On This Episode In this episode, we welcome Jay Stokes—a legendary figure in the skydiving world whose accomplishments have left a lasting mark on both military and civilian skydiving. Jay holds the Guinness World Record for the most parachute jumps in a 24-hour period, completing an incredible 640 jumps on September 8–9, 2006. This extraordinary feat took place at Greensburg Municipal Airport in Indiana and required precision, endurance, and a massive team effort, with Jay...
Apr 07, 2025•1 hr 4 min•Season 2Ep. 75
Greg "Miff" Smith - DZO South Australia Skydiving
Text Me Your Thoughts On This Episode In this episode, I’m joined by Greg “Miff” Smith—a true pioneer in Australian skydiving. With nearly five decades in the sport and more than 12,000 jumps to his name, Miff has been a driving force behind the growth and evolution of skydiving in South Australia and beyond. Since making his first jump in 1977, Greg has become one of the country’s most respected Chief Instructors. In 1986, alongside Gavin Northsworthy and Kevin Taylor, he helped introduce tande...
Mar 31, 2025•1 hr 11 min•Season 2Ep. 74
Chazi Rutz - Skydive Arizona LO and World Record Holder
Text Me Your Thoughts On This Episode In this episode, we sit down with Chazi Rutz—an accomplished skydiver, coach, and competitor whose career is as dynamic as it is inspiring. Based in Eloy, Arizona, Chazi has completed over 10,700 jumps and earned silver and bronze medals at the USPA Nationals in freestyle and freeflying. She has contributed to 13 Vertical World Records and numerous state and world records in both head-down and head-up formations. Beyond competition, Chazi is a respected load...
Mar 24, 2025•59 min•Season 2Ep. 73
Chris Wagner - Former US Army Golden Knight & Former Member of Army Special Forces
Text Me Your Thoughts On This Episode In this episode, we welcome Chris Wagner—an accomplished skydiver, competitor, and leader in the sport. A former member of the U.S. Army Parachute Team, the Golden Knights, Chris has helped shape the evolution of Formation Skydiving, earning multiple gold medals at the World Skydiving Championships and setting a world record in 8-way Formation Skydiving with 23 points. Beyond skydiving, Chris served 25 years with the Army Special Forces and continues to give...
Mar 17, 2025•1 hr 4 min•Season 2Ep. 72
Mike Gruwell: Owner, Chutingstar Skydiving Superstore
Text Me Your Thoughts On This Episode Mike Gruwell is a skydiving entrepreneur, master rigger, and industry leader whose journey in the sport began with a single jump in 1995. What started as a passion quickly turned into a career, leading him to become an FAA Master Rigger, AFF Instructor, Tandem Instructor, and 4-way competitor. In 1999, he founded ChutingStar , which began as a small rigging loft and grew into one of the most recognized skydiving gear suppliers in the world. Over the years, i...
Mar 10, 2025•1 hr 1 min•Season 2Ep. 71
Ashley Marquardt | Skydive Dubai Pilot, Wingsuiter and Freeflyer
Text Me Your Thoughts On This Episode Ashley Marquardt is a pilot, skydiver, and adventurer whose journey in aviation has been nothing short of remarkable. In just five years since earning her commercial pilot’s license, she went from flying a Cessna 172 at Skydive Cross Keys to piloting a Twin Otter at Skydive Dubai. Along the way, she served as the main pilot at Cross Keys and flew critical cargo across the Pacific from Saipan to Guam. Her passion for aviation runs deep—growing up on a militar...
Mar 03, 2025•56 min•Season 2Ep. 70
Stephen "Hatz" Hatzistefandis | DZO Pegasus Skydive Center
Text Me Your Thoughts On This Episode Stephen "Hatz" Hatzistefandis is a true adventurer and a standout personality in the world of skydiving. With over 3,500 jumps—including more than 2,000 tandems—Hatz has built a reputation for orchestrating skydives in some of the most breathtaking locations on the planet. From the Great Pyramids of Egypt to the Great Blue Hole in Belize, his expertise in planning and logistics has taken skydiving to new heights. Beyond his accomplishments in the sky, Hatz i...
Feb 24, 2025•1 hr 6 min•Season 2Ep. 69
Anthony "The Kid" Zerbonia | World Champion Wingsuit Pilot
Text Me Your Thoughts On This Episode Anthony “The Kid” Zerbonia is one of the most respected wingsuit pilots in the sport, with over 3,300 skydives—more than 2,300 of them dedicated to wingsuit flying. A two-time national champion in acrobatic wingsuit flying, Anthony has represented the U.S. on the world stage, earning podium finishes at national and international competitions, including the Acrobatic World Cup and USPA Nationals. Beyond competition, Anthony is a coach, tandem and AFF instruct...
Feb 17, 2025•56 min•Season 2Ep. 68
Pablito Perazzoli - Master Rigger & Skydiver
Text Me Your Thoughts On This Episode With over two decades in skydiving and parachute rigging, Pablito Perazzoli has built a reputation for precision and expertise. Originally from Argentina, his journey began with an unexpected introduction to sewing during a high school exchange in New Zealand—an invaluable skill that shaped his career. Pablito has completed more than 6,400 jumps and holds multiple instructor ratings, including Tandem Examiner and AFF Instructor. As a Master Parachute Rigger,...
Feb 10, 2025•1 hr 21 min•Season 2Ep. 67
Ossie Khan: Australian Skydiver and BASE Jumper
Text Me Your Thoughts On This Episode With over 10,000 jumps and more than three decades in the sport, Ossie Khan has made a lasting impact on skydiving and BASE jumping. As the owner of Melbourne Skydive Centre, he has trained countless skydivers and contributed as a safety management speaker and tourism consultant, shaping adventure tourism in Australia and beyond. His expertise extends internationally as a Tourism and AeroSports Consultant, working through the Indonesia-Australia Comprehensiv...
Feb 03, 2025•1 hr 15 min•Season 2Ep. 66
Craig Girard: 8 Time Formation Skydiving World Champion (2023)
Text Me Your Thoughts On This Episode Born in Tempe, Arizona, Craig Girard made his first jump on March 14, 1981, at Sky Hi-Pioneer DZ, Phoenix, AZ, and has since accumulated over 32,000 jumps. His illustrious career spans more than four decades, and he has won numerous awards and championships, including US National Champion 8-way for an impressive 18 times, and US National Champion 4-way six times. Craig's success in World Cups is equally outstanding, securing five 8-way championships and two ...
Jan 27, 2025•1 hr 20 min
Matt Blank: Skydiver, BASE Jumper and Co-Host of the Exit Point Podcast
Text Me Your Thoughts On This Episode Matt Blank is a true adventurer who has packed a lifetime of extraordinary experiences into his years. A well-known figure in multiple adventure sports communities, Matt has traveled the globe, embracing the highs and lows that come with a life of pushing boundaries. From leaping off iconic objects like great sequoia trees to sliding down a greased ramp of a Skyvan and landing on a slip and slide, Matt has truly redefined the limits of what's possible in the...
Jan 20, 2025•1 hr 32 min•Season 2Ep. 65
Amy Chmelecki - Red Bull Air Force Team & Member of the Skydiving Hall of Fame
Text Me Your Thoughts On This Episode Amy Chmelecki has spent nearly three decades pushing the boundaries of human flight, amassing over 20,000 skydives and 2,000 hours of wind tunnel time. A true trailblazer, Amy holds an astonishing 25 skydiving world records, 3 world titles, and 9 national titles across disciplines like freefly, freestyle, vertical formation skydiving, and dynamic 4-way. Amy began her skydiving journey in 1995 at The Ranch in New York and has since become one of the sport’s m...
Jan 13, 2025•1 hr 24 min•Season 2Ep. 64
Jason Moledzki - Multi-Time World Champion Skydiver, Artist and Podcast Host
Text Me Your Thoughts On This Episode My guest today is one of the most recognized skydivers and BASE jumpers on planet earth. Say the word “JayMo” in any skydiving community and they know you’re referring to Jason Moledzki. Since making his first static line jump from a Cessna 182 at Skydive Toronto in 1994, Jason has amassed an unparalleled resumé that includes seven world titles, eleven world records, and over sixty gold medals in canopy piloting. Jason is a foundational member of the PD Fact...
Jan 06, 2025•1 hr 7 min•Season 2Ep. 63
Don Kirlin - World Free Fall Convention Founder
Text Me Your Thoughts On This Episode Don Kirlin is a visionary leader whose remarkable contributions have left a profound impact on both the aviation and skydiving worlds. As the founder of Air USA, Don provided tactical aircraft services to U.S. defense agencies and contractors earning recognition as the owner of one of the "world’s most advanced private air forces." An ATP-rated pilot and flight instructor, he is certified in numerous aircraft, including the Boeing 737, Cessna Citation, and e...
Dec 30, 2024•1 hr 23 min•Season 2Ep. 62
Bruce Travis - Formation Skydiver Extraodinaire
Text Me Your Thoughts On This Episode Bruce Travis, born and raised in Montana, has spent decades as an engineer and skydiver, achieving incredible milestones in each. A graduate of Montana State University with a degree in aerospace and mechanical engineering, Bruce served in the U.S. Air Force as a Combat Controller during the Vietnam War, providing close air support while assigned to the 82nd Airborne. Bruce’s professional career is equally remarkable. He played a role in designing the engine...
Dec 23, 2024•1 hr 6 min•Season 2Ep. 61
Bruno Brokken - Skydiving Hall of Fame Photographer
Text Me Your Thoughts On This Episode Bruno Brokken, originally from Belgium, has dedicated more than four decades to the sport, amassing over 27,000 jumps and a reputation as one of the most skilled aerial photographers and videographers in the world. His work has captured the essence of skydiving, from world records to exotic boogies, and even high-profile commercial projects for brands like Coca-Cola, Armani, and Xbox. Bruno began his skydiving journey in 1980, at the age of 17, and quickly f...
Dec 16, 2024•58 min•Season 2Ep. 60
Olav Zipser - The Father of Free Fly Skydiving
Text Me Your Thoughts On This Episode Olav Zipser, born in Simmern, Germany, began his skydiving career in 1986 and quickly revolutionized the sport by introducing non-traditional forms of body flight - in other words departing the known world of flying on your belly to flying on multiple axes, namely on your head. His innovative approach led to the development of FreeFly, a discipline that has transformed skydiving techniques and competitions worldwide. Since his first jump nearly 40 years ago,...
Dec 09, 2024•1 hr 9 min•Season 2Ep. 59
Gustavo Cabana: Hall of Fame Skydiving Aerial Photographer
Text Me Your Thoughts On This Episode My guest today is one of the world’s most celebrated skydiving camera flyers, with a career that spans over 30 years and more than 28,000 jumps. Gustavo Cabana, originally from Buenos Aires, Argentina, turned a simple VHS camera and a passion for skydiving into a lifelong profession, capturing some of the most iconic moments in the sport’s history. Gustavo is the only camera flyer to document four of the largest world records in skydiving, including the 400-...
Dec 02, 2024•1 hr 13 min•Season 2Ep. 58
Norman Kent - Iconic Skydiving Cinematographer (Part II)
Text Me Your Thoughts On This Episode In part two of this two-part episode with Norman Kent, we resume our conversation, speaking more about Norman's professional career. If you've not yet listened to Part I, please listen to last week's episode first. Norman Kent is considered by many to be one of the greatest skydiving aerial photographers and cinematographers in the history of the sport. Norman Kent made his first jump at 19 years old. Now, at 68, he is still on the top of the mountain captur...
Nov 25, 2024•1 hr•Season 2Ep. 57
Norman Kent - Iconic Skydiving Cinematographer (Part I)
Text Me Your Thoughts On This Episode My guest today is considered by many to be one of the greatest skydiving aerial photographers and cinematographers in the history of the sport. Norman Kent made his first jump at 19 years old. Now, at 68, he is still on the top of the mountain capturing the sport's most extraordinary images. At the time of this recording, the October 2024 cover of Parachutist Magazine is one of Norman’s images. With over 30,000 skydives made with a camera, Norman has witness...
Nov 18, 2024•58 min•Season 2Ep. 56
Jen Davidson - Former US Army Golden Knight and Multi-Time World Champion
Text Me Your Thoughts On This Episode Jen Davidson, a distinguished former member of the elite U.S. Army Golden Knights, has showcased her skydiving expertise in some of the most high-profile jumps worldwide, including an awe-inspiring jump at the Statue of Liberty and multiple high-profile stadium jumps as part of the demonstration team. Throughout her remarkable career, Jen has claimed multiple national and world championship titles, solidifying her legacy in the sport. Since retiring from the...
Nov 11, 2024•1 hr 15 min•Season 2Ep. 55
Brian "BK" Krause - Multi-Time World Champion & Former Team Captain of the Golden Knights
Text Me Your Thoughts On This Episode Brian "BK" Krause is a legendary figure in the skydiving community, with an impressive career that spans both military and civilian achievements. With over 23,000 jumps to his name, BK is known for leading the resurgence of the U.S. Army's Golden Knights 8-Way formation skydiving team. Under his leadership as captain and player-coach, the Golden Knights claimed a silver medal at the 2010 World Championships, followed by gold at the 2011 World Cup and 2012 Wo...
Nov 04, 2024•1 hr 22 min•Season 2Ep. 54
Jeana Billings: World Champion in 4 & 8-Way Formation Skydiving
Text Me Your Thoughts On This Episode Jeana Billings has made an incredible impact on the skydiving world since her first jump in 2013. In just a few short years, she has become a dominant force in Formation Skydiving competitions. In 2018, Jeana and her team, Paraclete XP8, won the U.S. National Championships in the 8-Way event. By 2019, she added to her accomplishments by becoming the World Indoor Skydiving Champion and later that year, earned the title of U.S. National Champion, representing ...
Oct 28, 2024•1 hr 6 min•Season 2Ep. 53
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