The 20 Minute Call - A Skydiving Podcast

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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 Indiana and re...

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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 Chief Instructors. In 1986, alongside...

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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-down and h...

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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, Chris ser...

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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 recog...

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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 ...

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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 tak...

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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.

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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 Ta...

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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 C...

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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...

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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 slid...

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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 ...

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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 i...

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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 certif...

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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 ...

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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...

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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 c...

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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 fo...