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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 Goose ad, the top-rated commercial of Super Bowl 1998 — and major motion pictures including Charlie's Angels, xXx, San Andreas, and the 2015 reboot of Point Break. His career accolades include four World Championships, two Emmy Awards, and the USPA Gold Medal for Meritorious Service.

Media

• Space Cowboy Movie Trailer

• Joe Jennings Media Reel

• Rob Harris Sky Surfing

• Super Bowl Commercial | Top Ad

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

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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, commercial pilot licenses with 4,000+ flight hours, and hands-on experience in every aspect of drop zone operations. This is a story about passion, persistence, and the unrelenting commitment required to run a year-round skydiving operation.

Quotable Moments

"One jump changed my entire trajectory on this planet, and that's the passion I bring to this industry now."

"The vibe [on a dropzone] is the most important thing because if you don't have that, anyone can skydive. But if you don't have comraderie, safety, good culture and people enjoying being around each other, it's not gonna work."

"I used to trade my life for money. After my daughter was born, I decided that was no longer worth it."

"This isn't our drop zone, this is just our turn, man. It's been skydiving at this airport since the sixties."

"If you can dream it, we can do it."

"There's two reasons airplanes crash in our industry: bad maintenance and poorly trained pilots."

"The journey getting to DZO is much more fun than the arrival point."

"How do you make a million bucks in aviation? Start with two."

Connect With Kyle Salvato

📍 Skydive City - Zephyrhills, Florida
🌐 [Instagram | Facebook]

📲 STAY CONNECTED
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Presented by SSK Industries, CYPRES, Free Fall...

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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 Documentary - 25-min film by Anthony Armandiraz
🎙️ Episode 19 - Doug's origin story (December 2023)
💻 SKYCRU - Event management platform
📅 Next Event: September 2028 at Skydive Chicago

What You'll Learn

✈️ How to coordinate 11 aircraft and 260+ jumpers across multiple days
💰 The real financial costs of running large-scale skydiving events
🛠️ Innovative solutions: mobile fuel stations, aircraft choreography, and SKYCRU platform
🧠 Leadership strategies for managing setbacks and keeping teams motivated
📅 What it takes to plan 5+ years ahead for a world-class event

Timestamps

[0:00] Welcome & episode context
[7:00] The 2017 vision that started it all
[14:00] Aircraft logistics & the "corn sharks"
[28:00] Financial realities DZOs face
[42:00] SKYCRU: solving the admin nightmare
[52:00] Leadership through adversity
[57:00] Emotional debrief & looking ahead

Quotable Moments
"If you were to tell a non-skydiver we're taking 100 people in 5 aircraft to 18,000 feet and building a formation in 60 seconds - they'd say it's impossible."

"It's not goal failed, it's goal prolonged. We're going to do it again."

"Safety is always my top priority. No record is worth someone getting hurt."

Connect With Doug Barron

[Instagram | Facebook]

Support The Show

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📲 STAY CONNECTED
Website: The 20 Minute Call
Instagram: @20MinuteCall
Facebook: /20MinuteCall

💙 SUPPORT THE SHOW
Love the podcast? Join our Patreon community for early access, bonus content, and exclusive perks.
→ patreon.com/The20minutecallPodcast

⭐ LEAVE A REVIEW
Your 5-star review helps us reach more skydivers like you.
Apple Podcasts: [direct-link]
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🎧 NEVER MISS AN EPISODE
Subscribe on your favorite platform:
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Presented by SSK Industries, CYPRES, Free Fall...