The 20 Minute Call - A Skydiving Podcast

George Tang - Skydive Thailand DZO and Flight-1 Instructor

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Helmut Cloth - Inventor of the CYPRES Automatic Activation Device

Text Me Your Thoughts On This EpisodeHelmut 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 years researching and developing what would become the world’s most trusted Automatic Activation Device (AAD). After testing twelve prototypes, he introduced the first CYPRES (Cybernetic Parachute Release System) in 1991—a revolutionary tool that automatically deploys the reserve parachute under life-threatening conditions.To bring this vision to life, Helmut founded Airtec GmbH & Co. KG Safety Systems in Bad Wünnenberg, Germany in 1990. His innovation set a new global standard in skydiving safety and has since been credited with saving thousands of lives. In recognition of his extraordinary impact, he was awarded the prestigious FAI Gold Medal in 1997.Today, CYPRES remains a cornerstone of safety in the sport, and Helmut Cloth’s legacy continues to guide the evolution of parachuting equipment and protocols worldwide.

Alethia Austin: Skydiving Organizer & Editor, Skydive Mag

Text Me Your Thoughts On This EpisodeAlethia 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 a life path that would span continents and careers—from the entertainment industry in Los Angeles to marketing roles across Europe. But skydiving was the throughline. After a tandem jump in 2002, she followed the pull of the sport, eventually shaping her professional journey around it.A respected leader in angle flying and a Regional Captain for Project 19, Alethia is equally at home talking about safety procedures as she is about the deeper, emotional currents of the sport. Her travels—including a pivotal journey through India in 2020—have informed her philosophy, one that bridges movement in the air with inner awareness on the ground.Plant-based for more than 20 years, a yoga teacher, and handpan musician, Alethia brings an intentionality to skydiving that has inspired countless students to not just fly better, but live more consciously.This episode is a reflection of Alethia herself—honest, grounded, and quietly powerful.

Jon Devore | Captain of the Red Bull Air Force (2024)

Text Me Your Thoughts On This EpisodeMy 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 serves as the event coordinator for the world-renowned Red Bull Air Force, one of the most exciting and recognized demonstration teams globally. In 2023, he was inducted into the International Skydiving Hall of Fame.Despite his incredible achievements, Jon remains as humble as he was when he first arrived at Skydive Arizona over 30 years ago, dreaming of completing 500 jumps to become a tandem instructor back in Alaska. Along the way, he encountered a few remarkable individuals who would forever change the course of his life.MEDIA VIDEO: Jon on the Ellen Degeneres ShowVIDEO: Jon landing in downtown Los AngelesVIDEO: Jon in the iconic wingsuit scene in Point BreakVIDEO: Wingsuit Formation: Flying the CrackPODCAST: Red Bull Bulletin with Jon DevoreJOIN OUR COMMUNITYLove the show? Help support it by becoming a member of the 20 Minute Call Community! Supporting the show gives access to a private group page where you can:- suggest who you'd like to hear on the podcast- learn what interviews will be upcoming- submit questions for future guests-receive show swagJoin our community and support the pod!Link: patreon.com/The20MinuteCallPodcastADVERTISEAre you interested in partnering with the 20 Minute Call as an advertiser? Let's work together! E-mail us at podcast@beyondmarketing.xyz

Ian Bobo - Co Founder of Flight-1 and PD Factory Team

Text Me Your Thoughts On This EpisodeWith 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 global leader in canopy piloting education for both civilians and military jumpers. His competitive achievements include multiple world records and national titles, including the 4-Way FS World Record (45 points), the 16-Way FS World Record (19 points), and participation in the Largest Canopy Formation World Record (47-way).An innovator at heart, Ian helped design and popularize key advancements in canopy flight, including the Removable Deployment System (RDS) and the Mutant supine harness. His high-performance canopy expeditions have taken him from the cliffs of the Grand Canyon to the breathtaking fjords of Norway.Beyond competition and innovation, Ian is a passionate educator and mentor who has spent over two decades coaching thousands of skydivers to become safer, more skilled canopy pilots. His legacy in the sport was cemented with his induction into the International Skydiving Hall of Fame in 2021.Ian continues to jump, coach, and inspire—driven by a deep love for flight and a commitment to pushing the sport forward.