The 20 Minute Call - A Skydiving Podcast

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Jens Gronemeyer is the President & CEO of Alti-2 Technologies. A computer engineer, entrepreneur, active skydiver, experienced jump pilot, and former drop zone operator, Jens made his first skydive in Höxter, Germany in 1997 and has since logged more than 8,900 jumps. Before acquiring Alti Two in 2021, he built and sold successful technology companies in Europe. He competes in 4-way, 8-wa...

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Wendy Kiwi Smith is one of skydiving's most decorated figures - an aerial cinematographer, athlete, coach, and safety leader with over 23,000 jumps, 10 world records, three Guinness World Records, and an Emmy Award. In 2025, she was inducted into the International Skydiving Hall of Fame.

Topics covered:

• Growing up on a farm in rural New Zealand and what shaped her fearlessness
• How she stumbl...

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This is a must-listen episode. Jim Cowan's passion for skydiving is infectious, and his storytelling will have you hanging on every word. A second-generation skydiver from St. Louis who started packing parachutes at age 10, Jim recounts jumping into a Cardinals game at 18 and being interviewed by Jack Buck - then taking Jack on a tandem jump 20 years later. He also talks about forming Quantum...

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Pete Allum (36,000+ jumps, 19+ British national titles, four Italian national championships, 2022 Hall of Fame inductee) sits down for a candid look at four decades in skydiving. 

He reflects on finding his identity on the drop zone as a teenager, how he transformed crippling competition anxiety into a refined mental performance system, and his ongoing work continuing Vince Reffet's UPT M...

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Jackie Smith is one of the most decorated and pioneering figures in the history of competitive skydiving. She was the first woman to earn the Red Beret of the British Army's Red Devils parachute display team, the first female member of any full-time military parachute team in the world, joining the ranks in February 1972. 

A multi-time British National Champion in both style and accuracy ...

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Guest: Joe Jennings

Joe Jennings is one of the most accomplished aerial cinematographers in the history of skydiving. Alongside sky surfer Rob Harris, Joe won gold at the 1995 Extreme Games and captured two World Championship titles in sky surfing. He later became a sought-after stunt coordinator and aerial DP, working on more than 40 television commercials — including Pepsi's famous Goo...

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About This Episode

Kyle Salvato shares the remarkable journey from maritime engineer to co-owner of Skydive City in Zephyrhills, Florida. This episode explores what it takes to revitalize one of skydiving's most iconic drop zones while honoring its deep legacy connected to names like Jerry Bird. Kyle brings a unique perspective with over 9,000 jumps, A&P mechanic credentials, comme...

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About This Episode
Doug Barron returns to share the incredible story behind organizing the 2025 All American Big Way - a 250-way skydiving record attempt at Skydive Chicago that ran simultaneously with a 200-way vertical record. This is a masterclass in event logistics, leadership under pressure, and pushing the boundaries of what's possible in skydiving.

Resources Mentioned

📺 250-way Docum...

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Presented by SSK Industries, CYPRES, Free Fall Films, SKYCRU and Burble.

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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 par...

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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 ...

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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 ...

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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 initiat...

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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, Panch...

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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...

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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 Chie...

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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-d...

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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, ...

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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 re...