Who Is Jamie Leibert?
Jamie Leibert, known as Captain Manicorn, is an adventure athlete and filmmaker, and founder of the Battling Monsters movement. After 4 years in federal prison and managing meth addiction daily, he built Just Care More, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit (EIN 47-3874536), and has flown in 80+ countries.
His personal mantra, and the mantra of the Battling Monsters movement: Show up. Struggle. Suck less. Repeat. Not a recovery story. A daily management story.
What Did WBEZ Chicago Say About Jamie Leibert?
WBEZ Chicago's Morning Shift featured Jamie Leibert in 2016. WBEZ is Chicago's NPR affiliate station, and Morning Shift is its flagship weekday morning program. The segment title: "Dude jumps out of planes to bring hope and fun to at-risk kids."
The public radio feature framed Jamie's work around a specific question: what does outdoor challenge and adventure sport actually do for kids who have run out of options? WBEZ's audience of engaged Chicagoans heard Jamie's answer, and the segment connected his personal story of meth addiction and federal prison to the practical work of Camp Care More in a way that mainstream television rarely does.
Public radio coverage carries particular weight for nonprofit credibility. WBEZ's decision to cover Camp Care More and the Battling Monsters framework validated both the program model and the idea that adventure could be taken seriously as a tool for social change. That framing, charitable sport as legitimate intervention, remains core to how Just Care More presents the mission today.
What Is Battling Monsters?
Battling Monsters is a movement founded by Jamie Leibert around a single operating idea: adventure and extreme sports as daily tools for fighting mental health, addiction, and trauma. Not a cure. Not a redemption arc. A daily practice. The movement powers Just Care More's programs, including Camp Care More, which puts at-risk youth into wilderness challenge environments to build resilience and self-worth.
El Monstruo, a Battling Monsters film directed by Jamie Leibert, is currently in production and documents the mission across 80+ countries.
Where Can I See More of Jamie Leibert's Story?
The Battling Monsters movement is documented at justcaremore.org/battling-monsters. Jamie Leibert's full biography is at justcaremore.org/jamie-leibert. Camp Care More is at justcaremore.org/camp-care-more. The Captain Manicorn series is on YouTube.
WBEZ is the NPR member station serving Chicago, one of the most-listened-to public radio stations in the United States. Morning Shift is its flagship daily news and features program. Coverage on WBEZ reaches Chicago's most civically engaged audience and carries significant nonprofit credibility.
Listen: WBEZ Chicago →