In Episode 6 of Out of Production, Nate Doss and Terry Miller sit down with John “FrizWhiz” Kirkland, one of the true pioneers of flying disc sports.
John takes us back to discovering the Frisbee in the 1950s and eventually becoming one of the world’s first professional Frisbee players. He shares stories from the explosive growth of the sport in the 1970s, competing and performing around the country, and crossing paths with legends like Steady Ed Headrick, Dan “Stork” Roddick, Victor Malafronte, and Fred Morrison.
John also reflects on his role in helping “connect the pods” bringing together pockets of Frisbee players who were independently discovering and developing the sport across the country. Along the way, he shares stories of performing for massive crowds, creating opportunities with organizations like the Harlem Globetrotters, and building an incredible collection of thousands of Frisbees that helped preserve decades of flying disc history.
It’s a conversation about the people, experiences, and unlikely moments that helped turn a simple flying piece of plastic into something much bigger.
Music by Wesley Finely of Rebelution