Exit Point

#37 - John McEvoy: Student progression, determination and a path to mastery

In this episode, Matt Blank sits down with John McEvoy. Blank and John take a deep dive into BASE jumping student progression and what it means to be on the path to mastery. John shares his incredible story of recovery, determination, and passion. He talks about how he got into BASE jumping, what he learned from his stroke, how he fixed his heart and faced his tumor, and how he continued to develop his business and teaching.
He also reveals some of the challenges and rewards of being a BASE jumper, such as dealing with fear, injuries, and navigating ethics. He shares some of his insights and tips on how to progress safely and responsibly in the sport.
John is not only an amazing athlete, but also an inspiring teacher who lives life to the fullest and encourages others to do the same..McEvoy's links:@johnny_craic@basegearBASEgear.netBaseguiding.com .Please support this independent project by visiting: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/exitpoint.https://www.exitpointpodcast.com

#36 Marine Descols: Hypnosis, intuition, grief and a very close call

In this episode, Laurent speaks with Marine Descols. Marine is a hypnotherapist, wingsuit coach, and camera flyer. She did her first skydive at the young age of 12 and developed a passion for action adventure sports when she met her partner Vincent. Marine and Vincent founded Sky Vibration, the world's first commercial tandem wingsuit operation.
Marine is fascinated with the mind-body connection and has pursued a career in physiotherapy and hypnotherapy, which led her to work with surgical patients—and later opened her own practice. I'm interested in sharing her experience and discovering how we can use hypnosis to improve performance in sports and life.
Please support this independent project by visiting: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/exitpointMark Stockwell is the man that makes this podcast sound the way it does.  Please show him some love:  https://www.instagram.com/mtstockwell/ https://www.exitpointpodcast.com
 

#35 - Fred Fugen

In this episode, Laurent speaks with Fred Fugen, a pioneer of modern parachuting and one of the most talented and innovative skydivers, wingsuit pilots, and BASE jumpers on the planet. Fred has won multiple world championships in freeflying, set several world records in BASE jumping and wingsuit flying, and has executed some of the most incredible aerial stunts ever performed. Laurent talks with Fred about how it all started, what motivates him to push the boundaries of human flight, and how he copes with the risks and losses that come with his passion.
Please support this independent project by visiting: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/exitpoint
We want to hear your thoughts about the podcast!    
lau@nextlevel.ws 
blank@nextlevel.ws
Mark Stockwell is the man that makes this podcast sound the way it does.  Please show him some love:  https://www.instagram.com/mtstockwell/ https://www.exitpointpodcast.com
 

#34 - Steph Davis

In this episode, Laurent speaks with Steph Davis. Steph is a world-class free solo climber and an avid BASE jumper. She has a unique background, including being a dedicated pianist and holding a master's degree in literature. While attending law school, she decided to drop out to pursue climbing full-time and has never looked back. Steph is an inspirational figure with her approach to risk management and how she dedicates herself to her passions.https://stephdavis.co/-
Please support this independent project by visiting: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/exitpoint
We want to hear your thoughts about the podcast!    
lau@nextlevel.ws 
blank@nextlevel.ws
Mark Stockwell is the man that makes this podcast sound the way it does.  Please show him some love:  https://www.instagram.com/mtstockwell/ https://www.exitpointpodcast.com

#33 - Katelyn Compton Escott

In this episode, Laurent Frat speaks with Katelyn Compton Escott - a performance wingsuit pilot, BASE jumper and speedflyer. She was recommended by a few mutual friends as a potential guest. However, before we could invite her, she suffered a serious spinal injury while speedflying in Kamloops. Since her accident, she underwent a successful 10 hour surgery and has been making positive progress.
Initially, we hesitated and considered waiting for her comeback story, but after seeing her social media feeds, we wanted to find out more about her resilience in the face of adversity.
 
 
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We want to hear your thoughts about the podcast!    
lau@nextlevel.ws 
blank@nextlevel.ws
 
Exit Point is completely self-funded and there are no ads. Please support this independent project by visiting: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/exitpoint
Thanks to everyone who has already supported us!Mark Stockwell is the man that makes this podcast sound the way it does.  Please show him some love:  https://www.instagram.com/mtstockwell/ https://www.exitpointpodcast.com
 
 

#32 - Matt and Will on tension knots

Tension knots might be the scariest and least understood malfunction in BASE. In 2019 and 2020, Squirrel conducted surveys in an attempt to get a better understanding of tension knots and their occurrence. In this episode, Blank and I sit down with Will and Matt from Squirrel to have them share what they learned, and some suggestions on how to train our emergency procedures.Read SQRL's paper on tension knots: link
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We want to hear your thoughts about the podcast!    
lau@nextlevel.ws 
blank@nextlevel.ws
 
Exit Point is completely self-funded and there are no ads. Please support this independent project by visiting: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/exitpoint
Thanks to everyone who has already supported us!Mark Stockwell is the man that makes this podcast sound the way it does.  Please show him some love:  https://www.instagram.com/mtstockwell/ https://www.exitpointpodcast.com
 

#31 - Lonnie Bissonnette

With us this week is Lonnie Bissonnette, a BASE jumping pioneer who after suffering a nearly fatal accident that left him paralyzed, became the first person to earn a BASE number as a paraplegic, jumping all four objects in the BASE acronym (Building, Antena, Span [bridge] and Earth).
He has since traveled the globe BASE jumping and became a para-bobsleigh world champion representing his home country of Canada. 
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If you have been listening to Exit Point and enjoy what you've heard, we want to hear from you!    
lau@nextlevel.ws 
blank@nextlevel.ws
 
Exit Point is completely self-funded and there are no ads. If you would like to support this independent project, you can visit: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/exitpoint
Thanks to everyone who has already supported us!Mark Stockwell is the man that makes this podcast sound the way it does.  Please show him some love.  https://www.exitpointpodcast.com
 

#30 - Espen Fadnes

In this episode, Laurent speaks with Espen Fadnes. Espen has somehow stayed at the top of the discipline, basically from the beginning of wingsuit BASE jumping, was part of the community that opened the world's eyes to what was possible and how base jumpers could fly.  He is an FAI world champion, regularly holds sell-out camps at the indoor wingsuit tunnel, and it completes hundreds of wingsuit BASE jumps a year. Espen has been part of many film projects and continues to inspire the masses with his creative approach to filming and sharing the air with his partner Amber.
https://espenfadnes.com/https://www.instagram.com/espenfadnes/
https://www.facebook.com/espen.fadnes
________________________________________
If you have been listening to Exit Point and enjoy what you've heard, we want to hear from you!    
lau@nextlevel.ws 
blank@nextlevel.ws
 
Exit Point is completely self-funded and there are no ads. If you would like to support this independent project, you can visit: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/exitpoint
Thanks to everyone who has already supported us!
 Mark Stockwell is the man that makes this podcast sound the way it does.  Please show him some love.  https://www.exitpointpodcast.com
 
 

#29 - Taylor Cole

In this episode, Matt Blank speaks with Taylor Cole.  Taylor is a member of the US parachute team, CTO of the Navy’s technology lab in Southern California, stuntman, and long-time BASE jumping community organizer. His open-minded and logical approach to BASE jumping may appear in contrast to his wild antics, but after listening to this conversation we hope you gain some valuable insights into his unique and innovative approach to risk analysis and performance. Among other things, Matt and Taylor discuss canopy flight, teamwork, and the training it takes to be a world-class competitor and BASE jumper. 

Exit Point #28 - Chris McNamara

In this episode, Laurent and Matt speak with Chris McNamara. Chris is an expert in big wall climbing and describes himself as a recovering wingsuit BASE jumper.  
Climbing Magazine once pointed out that three percent of Chris's life had been spent on the face of El Cap - of which he has climbed over 70 times, he holds 9 big wall speed climbing records, and is a winner of the American Alpine Club's prestigious Bates Award. 
Chirs has written 10 books, and is the founder of SuperTopo and now the Editor-in-Chief of outdoorgearlab.comAlong with other things we talk with Chris about his "too eventful BASE career" a climber's mindset, risk assessment, his intense BASE career, and when he finally felt like enough was enough.  https://chrismcnamara.com/
Chris on Ammon Mcneely: https://watch.reelrocktour.com/the-sharp-end/videos/ammon-mcneely
Chris essay from the Great Book of BASE: Why I Quit BASE jumping
Great Book of BASE: BASE Book
If you have been listening to Exit Point and enjoy what you've heard, we want to hear from you!    
lau@nextlevel.ws 
blank@nextlevel.ws
 
________________________________________
 
Exit Point is completely self-funded and there are no ads. Please consider donating to help cover our operational costs: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/exitpoint
Thanks to everyone who has already supported us!
 Mark Stockwell is the man that makes this podcast sound the way it does.  Please show him some love.