Life Lessons from Pickleball™

Hi friends, we wanted to share a quick update with our Life Lessons from Pickleball™ community.We’ll still have a brand new episode for you on May 19, and after that we’ll be moving to an every-other-week summer schedule, with our next new episode on June 2.We’re looking forward to a lighter summer rhythm, and we hope you are too. And with more than 100 episodes already in our library, this is a wonderful time to catch up on any conversations you may have missed and revisit some of your favorites.And if you’d like another way to enjoy these stories, our paperback book and eBook, Life Lessons from Pickleball™, are available now on Amazon, and a portion of every sale is donated to Operation PaddleLift, helping bring paddles, nets, and resources to underserved communities around the world.Thank you for listening, sharing, and being part of this beautiful pickleball community. We’re so grateful you’re here.📘 Our book Life Lessons from Pickleball™ is now available on AmazonOrder the book here: https://a.co/d/0bHPFYveA collection of short, true stories from players around the world about community, resilience, and joy through the game of pickleball.A portion of proceeds supports Operation PaddleLift, through the Global Pickleball Federation, distributing paddles, balls and nets to underserved communities around the world.Contact us:  [email protected] and watch:https://www.lifelessonsfrompickleballpodcast.comhttps://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61557275391316https://www.instagram.com/lifelessonsfrompickleball/https://www.youtube.com/@LifeLessonsFromPickleballPodMusic gifted to us by Ian Pedersen: @ianpedersen Thanks for listening and you can also watch us on Youtube.

How can pickleball open the door to new friendships, a whole new career path, and a fresh way to bring style, community, and opportunity into everyday life?In this episode, we talk with Lydia Hirt, a New York-based pickleball community builder, marketer, and creative voice who has helped grow the sport in exciting and meaningful ways. Lydia shares how she first discovered pickleball during the pandemic in Florida, playing with her family as their small pod, and how that one experience sparked an obsession she carried back to New York City. At the time, pickleball in New York was still underground, with no official courts and very little infrastructure, but Lydia saw not just a fun new sport, but a real opportunity to help build community and grow the game. Lydia talks about how her background in publishing and marketing eventually led her into major roles with CityPickle and Life Time Pickleball, and how pickleball completely changed the direction of her life and career. She also shares why she is so passionate about women in pickleball, supporting female founders, creators, and players, and helping make sure women are seen, celebrated, and valued in every corner of the sport. Along the way, she reflects on urban pickleball, grassroots community building, pickleball fashion, safety on the court, and the unique way pickleball creates connection between people of all ages and backgrounds. This is a fun, thoughtful, and inspiring conversation about pickleball, New York City pickleball, Lydia Hirt, women in pickleball, pickleball fashion, urban pickleball, community building, Life Time Pickleball, CityPickle, safety, friendship, marketing, and the life lessons that remind us not to judge a player by appearances, to stay open to new chapters, and to let pickleball surprise us in the very best ways.https://loveatfirstdink.substack.com/📘 Our book Life Lessons from Pickleball™ is now available on AmazonOrder the book here: https://a.co/d/0bHPFYveA collection of short, true stories from players around the world about community, resilience, and joy through the game of pickleball.A portion of proceeds supports Operation PaddleLift, through the Global Pickleball Federation, distributing paddles, balls and nets to underserved communities around the world.Contact us:  [email protected] and watch:https://www.lifelessonsfrompickleballpodcast.comhttps://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61557275391316https://www.instagram.com/lifelessonsfrompickleball/https://www.youtube.com/@LifeLessonsFromPickleballPodMusic gifted to us by Ian Pedersen: @ianpedersen Thanks for listening and you can also watch us on Youtube.

How does a filmmaker from Bollywood become one of the key leaders helping grow pickleball across India, and what happens when a sport built on joy, inclusivity, and community begins changing lives across an entire country?In this episode, we talk with Suryaveer Singh Bhullar, president of the Indian Pickleball Association, about his remarkable journey from player to national leader in one of the fastest-growing pickleball movements in the world. Suryaveer first discovered pickleball during COVID in 2021, when a friend invited him to the courts and he immediately fell in love with the game. What started as personal passion quickly grew into something much bigger. Today, he helps lead pickleball across 26 states in India, with more than 10,000 serious registered players and a vision to make pickleball one of the biggest sports in the country.Suryaveer shares how his background as a director, producer, and filmmaker in Bollywood has shaped the way he promotes the sport, builds excitement, and thinks about making pickleball more engaging for viewers as well as players. He also talks about the Indian Pickleball Association’s work to bring pickleball into school curriculum, launch national interschool championships, build high performance centers, certify coaches, and create real career opportunities through pickleball for players, coaches, and officials. Along the way, he reflects on the role of the Global Pickleball Federation, the dream of seeing pickleball in the Commonwealth Games and eventually the Olympics, and the powerful stories of young players whose lives are already being transformed by the game.This is an energizing and inspiring conversation about pickleball, India pickleball, Indian Pickleball Association, Suryaveer Singh Bhullar, Bollywood, youth sports, school pickleball, international pickleball, Global Pickleball Federation, inclusivity, community, leadership, and the life lessons that remind us it is never too late to start, that sport can open doors for anyone, and that pickleball has the power to bring people together across every age, background, and stage of life. https://www.ipaofficial.com/📘 Our book Life Lessons from Pickleball™ is now available on AmazonOrder the book here: https://a.co/d/0bHPFYveA collection of short, true stories from players around the world about community, resilience, and joy through the game of pickleball.A portion of proceeds supports Operation PaddleLift, through the Global Pickleball Federation, distributing paddles, balls and nets to underserved communities around the world.Contact us:  [email protected] and watch:https://www.lifelessonsfrompickleballpodcast.comhttps://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61557275391316https://www.instagram.com/lifelessonsfrompickleball/https://www.youtube.com/@LifeLessonsFromPickleballPodMusic gifted to us by Ian Pedersen: @ianpedersen Thanks for listening and you can also watch us on Youtube.

How can pickleball create the kind of community where someone steps forward to save a life, even when that person was once nearly a stranger?In this deeply moving episode, Nikki Baker and Shari Murphree share an extraordinary story of compassion, courage, and the life-changing power of the pickleball community. Nikki, a retired FedEx leader, certified level two IPTPA instructor, coach, and passionate ambassador for the game, first found pickleball during COVID and quickly fell in love with its competition, camaraderie, and joy. Shari, a retired healthcare executive, was just beginning to enjoy pickleball herself when serious liver disease forced her off the court and into the fight of her life. As Shari’s condition worsened and the need for a liver transplant became urgent, mutual pickleball friends helped spread the word. Though Nikki and Shari were not close friends at the time, Nikki felt called to step in, get tested, and eventually become Shari’s living liver donor. Together, they share the emotional journey of waiting, testing, surgery, recovery, and the deep bond that formed through this unimaginable act of generosity. Their story is a beautiful reminder that pickleball is about far more than dinks, drives, and competition. It is about community, friendship, kindness, and showing up when someone needs you most. This is an unforgettable conversation about pickleball, living liver donation, friendship, community, coaching, resilience, recovery, compassion, healthcare, retirement, purpose, and the life lessons that remind us we never know how powerfully our lives may intersect when we choose to care for one another. 📘 Our book Life Lessons from Pickleball™ is now available on AmazonOrder the book here: https://a.co/d/0bHPFYveA collection of short, true stories from players around the world about community, resilience, and joy through the game of pickleball.A portion of proceeds supports Operation PaddleLift, through the Global Pickleball Federation, distributing paddles, balls and nets to underserved communities around the world.Contact us:  [email protected] and watch:https://www.lifelessonsfrompickleballpodcast.comhttps://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61557275391316https://www.instagram.com/lifelessonsfrompickleball/https://www.youtube.com/@LifeLessonsFromPickleballPodMusic gifted to us by Ian Pedersen: @ianpedersen Thanks for listening and you can also watch us on Youtube.

What happens when pickleball enters a maximum-security prison?In this powerful episode, John Coray shares how a simple invitation led him to bring pickleball into a Maine State Prison and how the sport has become a tool for connection, dignity, joy, and personal growth. What began as a lesson for a small group of residents has grown into an ongoing program where incarcerated men learn strategy, discipline, sportsmanship, and community through the game.John also talks about his work teaching adaptive pickleball, his passion for creating fair tournament play for older athletes, and the life lessons he has learned through service, leadership, and competition. This is an inspiring conversation about pickleball, prison reform, second chances, adaptive sports, senior athletes, community, and the power of sport to change lives on both sides of the net.Midcoast Maine Pickleball: Home📘 Our book Life Lessons from Pickleball™ is now available on AmazonOrder the book here: https://a.co/d/0bHPFYveA collection of short, true stories from players around the world about community, resilience, and joy through the game of pickleball.A portion of proceeds supports Operation PaddleLift, through the Global Pickleball Federation, distributing paddles, balls and nets to underserved communities around the world.Contact us:  [email protected] and watch:https://www.lifelessonsfrompickleballpodcast.comhttps://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61557275391316https://www.instagram.com/lifelessonsfrompickleball/https://www.youtube.com/@LifeLessonsFromPickleballPodMusic gifted to us by Ian Pedersen: @ianpedersen Thanks for listening and you can also watch us on Youtube.

What if pickleball could change an entire community and even a country?In this inspiring episode, we welcome Zacharie, a pioneer of pickleball in Rwanda who is transforming lives through the power of sport. What began as a chance discovery during COVID quickly became a mission that led Zacharie to build one of the first pickleball courts in Rwanda and grow the game from just a handful of players to a thriving movement.Zacharie shares how pickleball is helping reduce alcohol consumption, empower women, support mental health, and bring communities together across Rwanda and East Africa. His vision is bold. He wants to see 500 courts across the country, and his impact is already being felt in schools, families, and everyday life.This episode is a powerful reminder that pickleball is more than a game. It is a tool for connection, healing, and transformation.https://pickleballrwanda.com/📘 Our book Life Lessons from Pickleball™ is now available on AmazonOrder the book here: https://a.co/d/0bHPFYveA collection of short, true stories from players around the world about community, resilience, and joy through the game of pickleball.A portion of proceeds supports Operation PaddleLift, through the Global Pickleball Federation, distributing paddles, balls and nets to underserved communities around the world.Contact us:  [email protected] and watch:https://www.lifelessonsfrompickleballpodcast.comhttps://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61557275391316https://www.instagram.com/lifelessonsfrompickleball/https://www.youtube.com/@LifeLessonsFromPickleballPodMusic gifted to us by Ian Pedersen: @ianpedersen Thanks for listening and you can also watch us on Youtube.

What if the only reason you played sports was because it was fun?Alice Tym’s story is a masterclass in courage, action, and joy. From starting a women’s tennis team at the University of Florida when none existed, to competing on the international tennis circuit and reaching a world ranking of 13, Alice has spent a lifetime creating opportunities where there were none.A Hall of Fame collegiate coach and founding member of U.S. Senior Pickleball, Alice continues to compete and win at the highest levels of senior pickleball today.Her philosophy is simple and powerful. Stop complaining and do something. Whether she is building programs, fighting for opportunities for women and seniors in sport, or traveling the world through competition, Alice proves that age is not a limit. It is an opportunity.This episode is about taking action, staying curious, and finding joy in every stage of life.📘 Our book Life Lessons from Pickleball™ is now available on AmazonOrder the book here: https://a.co/d/0bHPFYveA collection of short, true stories from players around the world about community, resilience, and joy through the game of pickleball.A portion of proceeds supports Operation PaddleLift, through the Global Pickleball Federation, distributing paddles, balls and nets to underserved communities around the world.Contact us:  [email protected] and watch:https://www.lifelessonsfrompickleballpodcast.comhttps://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61557275391316https://www.instagram.com/lifelessonsfrompickleball/https://www.youtube.com/@LifeLessonsFromPickleballPodMusic gifted to us by Ian Pedersen: @ianpedersen Thanks for listening and you can also watch us on Youtube.

What if pickleball became the one thing that carried you through cancer and then helped you change lives around the world?Mark Palm, founder of Samaritan Aviation, shares his incredible journey from mission pilot to USA Pickleball National Champion. After a cancer diagnosis, pickleball became his lifeline physically, mentally, and emotionally.Today, Mark is not only saving lives in remote villages in Papua New Guinea through life-saving flights, but also introducing pickleball to kids playing on a helicopter pad. His son, pro pickleball player, Drake Palmer, is also making his mark on the game.This episode is about resilience, purpose, faith, and the powerful ways pickleball connects us all.https://samaritanaviation.org/📘 Our book Life Lessons from Pickleball™ is now available on AmazonOrder the book here: https://a.co/d/0bHPFYveA collection of short, true stories from players around the world about community, resilience, and joy through the game of pickleball.A portion of proceeds supports Operation PaddleLift, through the Global Pickleball Federation, distributing paddles, balls and nets to underserved communities around the world.Contact us:  [email protected] and watch:https://www.lifelessonsfrompickleballpodcast.comhttps://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61557275391316https://www.instagram.com/lifelessonsfrompickleball/https://www.youtube.com/@LifeLessonsFromPickleballPodMusic gifted to us by Ian Pedersen: @ianpedersen Thanks for listening and you can also watch us on Youtube.

How does a lifelong racquet sports player turn a local need into one of the Pacific Northwest’s most exciting new indoor pickleball communities?In this episode, Randy Fuller, founding partner of Rally Pickleball Club in Auburn, Washington, shares how pickleball first came into his life, why the sport hooked him so quickly, and how four local entrepreneurs came together to create a vibrant indoor space for players of all ages and skill levels. Randy talks about his background in tennis, teaching, business ownership, and what inspired the vision for Rally Pickleball Club as a true community-based pickleball destination. He also gives a behind-the-scenes look at building the facility, from transforming a historic industrial building into 14 indoor cushioned courts to adding amenities like cabanas, a pro shop, physical therapy services, tournaments, intro classes, and flexible event space. Along the way, Randy reflects on family, entrepreneurship, community, and why pickleball continues to be such a welcoming, lifelong sport for everyone. This is a fun and inspiring conversation about indoor pickleball, Rally Pickleball Club, Auburn Washington, pickleball community, entrepreneurship, family, racquet sports, active living, and the life lessons that come from building a place where people can connect, compete, and belong. https://rallypickleballclub.net/📘 Our book Life Lessons from Pickleball™ is now available on AmazonOrder the book here: https://a.co/d/0bHPFYveA collection of short, true stories from players around the world about community, resilience, and joy through the game of pickleball.A portion of proceeds supports Operation PaddleLift, through the Global Pickleball Federation, distributing paddles, balls and nets to underserved communities around the world.Contact us:  [email protected] and watch:https://www.lifelessonsfrompickleballpodcast.comhttps://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61557275391316https://www.instagram.com/lifelessonsfrompickleball/https://www.youtube.com/@LifeLessonsFromPickleballPodMusic gifted to us by Ian Pedersen: @ianpedersen Thanks for listening and you can also watch us on Youtube.

How can pickleball become a force for global good, community connection, and life-changing opportunity?In this episode, Susan “Dinker Bell” Swern shares her remarkable pickleball journey, from first discovering the game after years of tennis to founding the Pickleball for Good Fund, a nonprofit built on the belief that pickleball can create social impact far beyond the court. Susan talks about how the sport became more than a passion and turned into a calling, leading her to launch initiatives that support underserved communities, expand access to equipment, and help grow the game around the world. She also shares the heart behind Operation PaddleLift, her effort to bring paddles, balls, and nets to emerging pickleball communities in East Africa, including Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda, and beyond. Susan reflects on the joy she witnessed, the barriers these communities face, and why pickleball has the power to change lives through connection, inclusion, active aging, youth development, and community building. Along the way, Susan opens up about the influence of her parents, the love story she has with pickleball, the meaning behind her nickname Dinker Bell, and the life lessons she has learned about purpose, legacy, sustainability, and choosing a life that matters. This is an inspiring conversation about pickleball, nonprofit leadership, Operation Paddle Lift, global pickleball growth, active aging, community impact, youth sports, and using sport to make the world better.https://pickleballforgood.org/📘 Our book Life Lessons from Pickleball™ is now available on AmazonOrder the book here: https://a.co/d/0bHPFYveA collection of short, true stories from players around the world about community, resilience, and joy through the game of pickleball.A portion of proceeds supports Operation PaddleLift, through the Global Pickleball Federation, distributing paddles, balls and nets to underserved communities around the world.Contact us:  [email protected] and watch:https://www.lifelessonsfrompickleballpodcast.comhttps://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61557275391316https://www.instagram.com/lifelessonsfrompickleball/https://www.youtube.com/@LifeLessonsFromPickleballPodMusic gifted to us by Ian Pedersen: @ianpedersen Thanks for listening and you can also watch us on Youtube.

How can pickleball become a bridge to hope, healing, education, and opportunity for girls who have been left behind?In this episode, Coach Andy from Uganda shares the powerful story behind Pickleball Kids Uganda and Growing the Game for Girls Uganda. Andy explains how pickleball first entered his life through tennis, and how he quickly realized that this simple, accessible sport could become much more than a game. In communities facing poverty, early pregnancy, abuse, and limited access to education, he saw pickleball as a tool to create belonging, confidence, safety, and a new future for disadvantaged girls. Coach Andy also shares how his programs combine pickleball with vocational education, mentoring, and life skills training. Through sport, girls are being connected to opportunities in tailoring, hairdressing, electrical installation, plumbing, welding, teaching, and other practical skills that can help them support themselves, their children, and their families. He tells inspiring stories of girls whose lives have been transformed through pickleball, education, and community support, and explains why his deeper mission is not only to grow the game, but to develop leaders, mentors, and hope in every community he reaches. This is a deeply moving conversation about pickleball, Uganda, girls’ empowerment, youth development, education, vocational training, social impact, community transformation, global pickleball, and the life lessons that remind us we are all winners. https://www.instagram.com/coachandypickleball?igsh=MTMwZmdicmw5c2xtZw==📘 Our book Life Lessons from Pickleball™ is now available on AmazonOrder the book here: https://a.co/d/0bHPFYveA collection of short, true stories from players around the world about community, resilience, and joy through the game of pickleball.A portion of proceeds supports Operation PaddleLift, through the Global Pickleball Federation, distributing paddles, balls and nets to underserved communities around the world.Contact us:  [email protected] and watch:https://www.lifelessonsfrompickleballpodcast.comhttps://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61557275391316https://www.instagram.com/lifelessonsfrompickleball/https://www.youtube.com/@LifeLessonsFromPickleballPodMusic gifted to us by Ian Pedersen: @ianpedersen Thanks for listening and you can also watch us on Youtube.

What happens when one of the biggest pickleball festivals in the country brings competition, connection, vendors, clinics, networking, and community all under one roof?In this episode, Kelsea Thompson, director of PickleCon, shares how she first discovered pickleball while running an indoor sports complex and how that journey led her to help build one of the largest indoor pickleball festivals in the United States. She talks about the vision behind PickleCon, what makes the event so unique, and how it has grown into a one-of-a-kind experience for amateur players, juniors, seniors, adaptive athletes, vendors, brands, and pickleball fans of every level. Kelsea also opens up about recovering from a serious accident, how pickleball helped her reconnect with movement during rehab, and why she believes the sport truly is for everyone. She shares thoughtful insights on consistency, community, leadership, and what it takes to create an event where people can compete, learn, network, and feel like they belong. This is an inspiring conversation about PickleCon, pickleball festivals, amateur pickleball, adaptive pickleball, pickleball community, sports events, recovery, leadership, and the life lessons that come from showing up, staying consistent, and building something bigger than yourself.📘 Our book Life Lessons from Pickleball™ is now available on AmazonOrder the book here: https://a.co/d/0bHPFYveA collection of short, true stories from players around the world about community, resilience, and joy through the game of pickleball.A portion of proceeds supports Operation PaddleLift, through the Global Pickleball Federation, distributing paddles, balls and nets to underserved communities around the world.Contact us:  [email protected] and watch:https://www.lifelessonsfrompickleballpodcast.comhttps://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61557275391316https://www.instagram.com/lifelessonsfrompickleball/https://www.youtube.com/@LifeLessonsFromPickleballPodMusic gifted to us by Ian Pedersen: @ianpedersen Thanks for listening and you can also watch us on Youtube.

How can pickleball help someone rebuild their life, rediscover purpose, and become the kind of coach who changes other people’s lives too?In this episode, Thomas Yelloweyes shares his extraordinary story of trauma, foster care, loss, survival, and reinvention. Thomas opens up about growing up in the foster care system, facing deep instability and heartbreak from an early age, and later finding himself at another rock-bottom moment as an adult, living out of his car, searching for direction, and trying to figure out what came next. Then pickleball entered the picture, and everything began to change. Thomas talks about the first time he wandered onto a pickleball court, the older women who welcomed and cared for him, and how the sport gave him not only community but also a path forward. He shares how his background in corrective exercise, coaching, and movement analysis led him to create Night Train Pickleball and the Night Train Method, a five-tier system designed to help recreational players build confidence, strengthen fundamentals, and become resilient, tournament-ready competitors. This is a deeply moving and inspiring conversation about pickleball, trauma recovery, foster care, resilience, coaching, confidence, mental toughness, pickleball instruction, Night Train Pickleball, and the life lessons that remind us life is not done with us yet. Night Train Drilling Guide ebook: https://api.leadconnectorhq.com/widget/form/PcKAinvIZQjW8YRUQsHl📘 Our book Life Lessons from Pickleball™ is now available on AmazonOrder the book here: https://a.co/d/0bHPFYveA collection of short, true stories from players around the world about community, resilience, and joy through the game of pickleball.A portion of proceeds supports Operation PaddleLift, through the Global Pickleball Federation, distributing paddles, balls and nets to underserved communities around the world.Contact us:  [email protected] and watch:https://www.lifelessonsfrompickleballpodcast.comhttps://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61557275391316https://www.instagram.com/lifelessonsfrompickleball/https://www.youtube.com/@LifeLessonsFromPickleballPodMusic gifted to us by Ian Pedersen: @ianpedersen Thanks for listening and you can also watch us on Youtube.

Will Parton shares how a major life move and starting over in a new country led him to discover the true power of the pickleball community. As a lifelong racquet sport athlete, Will found connection through pickleball and turned that experience into innovation by creating Hitch, an app designed to help players find partners, games, and meaningful community.In this episode, we talk about belonging, entrepreneurship, technology that enhances human connection, and how pickleball makes it easier to build friendships at any stage of life.If you have ever moved to a new place, walked up to open play not knowing anyone, or wished finding your pickleball people was easier, this conversation is for you.📘 Our book Life Lessons from Pickleball™ is now available on AmazonOrder the book here: https://a.co/d/0bHPFYveA collection of short, true stories from players around the world about community, resilience, and joy through the game of pickleball.A portion of proceeds supports Operation PaddleLift, through the Global Pickleball Federation, distributing paddles, balls and nets to underserved communities around the world.Contact us:  [email protected] and watch:https://www.lifelessonsfrompickleballpodcast.comhttps://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61557275391316https://www.instagram.com/lifelessonsfrompickleball/https://www.youtube.com/@LifeLessonsFromPickleballPodMusic gifted to us by Ian Pedersen: @ianpedersen Thanks for listening and you can also watch us on Youtube.

We are honored to share that Mani Barajas-Alexander is featured in our new book, Life Lessons from Pickleball™ and as this episode airs, Sher and Shelley are experiencing Pura Vida at Mani’s place in Costa Rica.In this special encore conversation, Mani shares how Pura Vida House became far more than a luxury villa. It is a thoughtfully designed pickleball experience that blends movement, connection, nature, and the Pura Vida lifestyle.From morning pickleball sessions and world-class instruction, to chef-prepared meals, beach sunsets, wildlife, and unforgettable adventures, Pura Vida House offers a week that nourishes both body and soul.This is not just a pickleball vacation. It is an experience rooted in relationships, community, and living life fully.If pickleball in paradise has ever crossed your mind, this episode is for you. 🌴🏓https://www.thepuravidahouse.com/📘 Our book Life Lessons from Pickleball™ is now available on AmazonOrder the book here: https://a.co/d/0bHPFYveA collection of short, true stories from players around the world about community, resilience, and joy through the game of pickleball.A portion of proceeds supports Operation PaddleLift, through the Global Pickleball Federation, distributing paddles, balls and nets to underserved communities around the world.Contact us:  [email protected] and watch:https://www.lifelessonsfrompickleballpodcast.comhttps://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61557275391316https://www.instagram.com/lifelessonsfrompickleball/https://www.youtube.com/@LifeLessonsFromPickleballPodMusic gifted to us by Ian Pedersen: @ianpedersen Thanks for listening and you can also watch us on Youtube.

How do you rewrite your life one step at a time when you feel stuck in a body and mindset that no longer feel like your own?In this episode, Brian Montgomery shares one of the most inspiring transformation stories we’ve heard on Life Lessons from Pickleball. After years of putting himself last, Brian found himself close to 390 pounds, struggling physically, and facing serious health concerns. But instead of waiting for the perfect moment, he started walking, setting small goals, building consistency, and choosing himself one decision at a time.That journey led to more than 190 pounds of weight loss, a reversal of type 2 diabetes, and a whole new life on and off the pickleball court. Brian talks about discipline, identity, community, and how pickleball gave him joy, confidence, friendship, and a new sense of purpose. He also shares the importance of starting small, staying consistent, and not waiting for “someday” to begin.This is a powerful and uplifting conversation about weight loss, health, mindset, pickleball, accountability, community, and the life lessons that come from finally choosing yourself.ProDrive Pickleball (affiliate): https://prodrivepickleball.com/?ref=BRIANMONTGOMERY PickleStrong: https://picklestrong.com/https://www.instagram.com/briantmontgomery?igsh=ZXJib2w2MXA0ZmY5TikTok: @brianmontgomery01📘 Our book Life Lessons from Pickleball™ is now available on AmazonOrder the book here: https://a.co/d/0bHPFYveA collection of short, true stories from players around the world about community, resilience, and joy through the game of pickleball.A portion of proceeds supports Operation PaddleLift, through the Global Pickleball Federation, distributing paddles, balls and nets to underserved communities around the world.Contact us:  [email protected] and watch:https://www.lifelessonsfrompickleballpodcast.comhttps://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61557275391316https://www.instagram.com/lifelessonsfrompickleball/https://www.youtube.com/@LifeLessonsFromPickleballPodMusic gifted to us by Ian Pedersen: @ianpedersen Thanks for listening and you can also watch us on Youtube.

How can pickleball, psychology, and travel come together to create joy, connection, and a more vibrant way of aging?In this episode, Audrey Phillips shares her remarkable journey as a psychotherapist, educator, tournament player, pickleball ambassador, and creator of unforgettable group adventures that have brought people together for decades. Audrey talks about how her early calling to psychology, her love of people, and her lifelong passion for sports all came together in pickleball, a game she fell in love with nearly 20 years ago and has continued to champion ever since. She also shares the story behind her pickleball travel experiences, how those trips grew from one joyful idea into a beloved tradition, and why she believes pickleball is unlike any other sport when it comes to building community across ages, backgrounds, and skill levels. Along the way, Audrey reflects on competing into her late 70s, staying mentally and physically engaged, and the life lessons she has learned about positivity, openness, humor, fear, and choosing love over limitation. This is a warm and inspiring conversation about pickleball, psychology, active aging, pickleball travel, senior pickleball, community, friendship, emotional wellness, and the life lessons that come from staying curious, staying connected, and continuing to play. 📘 Our book Life Lessons from Pickleball™ is now available on AmazonOrder the book here: https://a.co/d/0bHPFYveA collection of short, true stories from players around the world about community, resilience, and joy through the game of pickleball.A portion of proceeds supports Operation PaddleLift, through the Global Pickleball Federation, distributing paddles, balls and nets to underserved communities around the world.Contact us:  [email protected] and watch:https://www.lifelessonsfrompickleballpodcast.comhttps://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61557275391316https://www.instagram.com/lifelessonsfrompickleball/https://www.youtube.com/@LifeLessonsFromPickleballPodMusic gifted to us by Ian Pedersen: @ianpedersen Thanks for listening and you can also watch us on Youtube.

How can pickleball become both a high-level competitive sport and a joyful creative expression of mind, body, and spirit?In this episode, senior pro Rachael Kroog shares her extraordinary pickleball journey, from the moment her 79-year-old father introduced her to the game to winning national titles, competing around the world, and continuing to play at a 5.0 level. Rachel talks about how her background as a college tennis player and multi-sport athlete helped her fall in love with pickleball’s quickness, strategy, and joy, and how the sport became a lifelong calling. Rachael also opens up about the deeper philosophy she brings to the game through her mind, body, spirit approach to teaching and competing. She shares her belief in patience, placement, and power, the importance of breath and relaxation, and why pickleball can be one of the most powerful tools for connection, creativity, and community. And yes, she tells the story of inventing a musical instrument made from a pickleball paddle, and how she now combines performance, music, comedy, travel, and pickleball to spread joy around the world. This is a delightful and inspiring conversation about pickleball, competition, creativity, family, legacy, kindness, and the life lessons that emerge when we play with heart📘 Our book Life Lessons from Pickleball™ is now available on AmazonOrder the book here: https://a.co/d/0bHPFYveA collection of short, true stories from players around the world about community, resilience, and joy through the game of pickleball.A portion of proceeds supports Operation PaddleLift, through the Global Pickleball Federation, distributing paddles, balls and nets to underserved communities around the world.Contact us:  [email protected] and watch:https://www.lifelessonsfrompickleballpodcast.comhttps://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61557275391316https://www.instagram.com/lifelessonsfrompickleball/https://www.youtube.com/@LifeLessonsFromPickleballPodMusic gifted to us by Ian Pedersen: @ianpedersen Thanks for listening and you can also watch us on Youtube.

What happens when someone living off the grid in a yurt becomes one of the most connected voices in senior pickleball?In this episode, Mike "Sleeves" Sliwa shares his fascinating journey from leaving the traditional teaching path to building a life rooted in simplicity, intentional community, and freedom in rural New Mexico. Living in a hand-painted Mongolian yurt with his wife, Mike has chosen a life far from the usual hustle, yet he has become deeply involved in the growing world of pickleball through media, product reviews, interviews, travel, and advocacy for the 50-plus player. Mike talks about creating the Senior Pickleball Report, helping connect players and brands through the Pickleball Manufacturers Association, and why the senior pickleball community remains the foundation of the sport. He also reflects on the importance of warming up, staying active as we age, and the surprising ways pickleball creates belonging, purpose, and community. This is a thoughtful and inspiring conversation about senior pickleball, off-grid living, simplicity, community, aging well, purposeful work, and the life lessons that come from building a life that is both unplugged and deeply connected. VAiR: https://www.vairified.com/NPCA: https://ncpaofficial.com/Sleeves website: https://sleeves-spr.comPMA: https://pmaapproved.com/Daily Travel: https://dailey-travels.com/📘 Our book Life Lessons from Pickleball™ is now available on AmazonOrder the book here: https://a.co/d/0bHPFYveA collection of short, true stories from players around the world about community, resilience, and joy through the game of pickleball.A portion of proceeds supports Operation PaddleLift, through the Global Pickleball Federation, distributing paddles, balls and nets to underserved communities around the world.Contact us:  [email protected] and watch:https://www.lifelessonsfrompickleballpodcast.comhttps://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61557275391316https://www.instagram.com/lifelessonsfrompickleball/https://www.youtube.com/@LifeLessonsFromPickleballPodMusic gifted to us by Ian Pedersen: @ianpedersen Thanks for listening and you can also watch us on Youtube.

Why does pickleball create such powerful connection so quickly, and what happens when one author sets out to capture that magic in a book?In this episode, Scott Manthorn shares the story behind The Pickleball Effect, his bestselling book featuring 50 voices from across the pickleball world. Scott talks about his own journey from a longtime tennis player who once dismissed pickleball to someone who discovered the sport’s extraordinary power to build community, create belonging, and connect people across generations, backgrounds, and life experiences. He also shares how his broader “Effect” book series was born, why storytelling matters so much, and what he learned from the remarkable people featured in the book, from pro players and coaches to adaptive athletes, global travelers, and everyday players whose lives have been changed by this game. Along the way, Scott reflects on why pickleball is so uniquely social, why it makes people feel relevant and seen, and how this silly game with a silly name may be helping the world heal. This is a thoughtful and inspiring conversation about pickleball, storytelling, community, connection, The Pickleball Effect, tennis, belonging, and the life lessons that come from listening more, laughing often, and sharing the game with others. https://www.theeffectseries.com/📘 Our book Life Lessons from Pickleball™ is now available on AmazonOrder the book here: https://a.co/d/0bHPFYveA collection of short, true stories from players around the world about community, resilience, and joy through the game of pickleball.A portion of proceeds supports Operation PaddleLift, through the Global Pickleball Federation, distributing paddles, balls and nets to underserved communities around the world.Contact us:  [email protected] and watch:https://www.lifelessonsfrompickleballpodcast.comhttps://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61557275391316https://www.instagram.com/lifelessonsfrompickleball/https://www.youtube.com/@LifeLessonsFromPickleballPodMusic gifted to us by Ian Pedersen: @ianpedersen Thanks for listening and you can also watch us on Youtube.

How can pickleball help someone rebuild strength after cancer, find a new community, and become a coach, referee, and leader in the sport?In this episode, Sandy Smith shares her inspiring pickleball journey, from being diagnosed with uterine cancer and undergoing surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation, to finding her way back to sport through pickleball. Sandy talks about returning to play while still living with a port, discovering that pickleball was both physically possible and emotionally healing, and how the game gave her a new path forward after she had stepped away from running, tennis, bowling, and other sports she once loved. Sandy also shares how pickleball led her into coaching, refereeing, and community leadership. She explains what it takes to become a certified USA Pickleball referee, what players misunderstand about referees, and how she helped grow the Macon Area Pickleball Club from just 16 members to more than 100. Along the way, she offers practical advice for new players, including key fundamentals like “return and run” and the importance of building confidence, community, and consistency on the court. This is a heartfelt and helpful conversation about pickleball, uterine cancer, cancer recovery, Lynch syndrome, pickleball coaching, pickleball refereeing, USA Pickleball, beginner pickleball tips, pickleball community, and the life lessons that remind us we have more in common than we do differences.              [email protected]               https://www.facebook.com/share/1CeJux8WyU/?mibextid=wwXIfr📘 Our book Life Lessons from Pickleball™ is now available on AmazonOrder the book here: https://a.co/d/0bHPFYveA collection of short, true stories from players around the world about community, resilience, and joy through the game of pickleball.A portion of proceeds supports Operation PaddleLift, through the Global Pickleball Federation, distributing paddles, balls and nets to underserved communities around the world.Contact us:  [email protected] and watch:https://www.lifelessonsfrompickleballpodcast.comhttps://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61557275391316https://www.instagram.com/lifelessonsfrompickleball/https://www.youtube.com/@LifeLessonsFromPickleballPodMusic gifted to us by Ian Pedersen: @ianpedersen Thanks for listening and you can also watch us on Youtube.

How can pickleball become a tool for healing, community, faith, and hope in countries all around the world?In this episode, Aaron Trost, founder of Pickleball Planter, shares how a sport he once resisted became a life-changing calling. Aaron talks about first getting pulled onto the court by a friend, how pickleball helped him lose weight and find joy, and why he eventually stepped away from chasing his own competitive results to focus on using the game for something bigger. From Honduras and Hungary to Ukraine, Malaysia, Indonesia, and beyond, Aaron has taken pickleball across the globe as a way to build connection, teach life skills, and support communities through sport. Aaron also opens up about his background as a 5.0 player, teaching pro, and seminary graduate, and how those experiences came together in Pickleball Planter. He shares what it looks like to introduce pickleball in churches, youth camps, children’s homes, and urban communities, and why the game works so well across cultures, languages, generations, and faith backgrounds. Along the way, he reflects on meaningful work in Ukraine, the explosive growth of pickleball in Southeast Asia, and the friendships he has built in 14 countries through this silly game with a plastic ball. This is a heartfelt and inspiring conversation about pickleball, global pickleball growth, Pickleball Planter, faith, missions, Ukraine, Southeast Asia, youth sports, community building, and the life lessons that come from using pickleball for someone else’s good. https://pickleballplanter.com/📘 Our book Life Lessons from Pickleball™ is now available on AmazonOrder the book here: https://a.co/d/0bHPFYveA collection of short, true stories from players around the world about community, resilience, and joy through the game of pickleball.A portion of proceeds supports Operation PaddleLift, through the Global Pickleball Federation, distributing paddles, balls and nets to underserved communities around the world.Contact us:  [email protected] and watch:https://www.lifelessonsfrompickleballpodcast.comhttps://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61557275391316https://www.instagram.com/lifelessonsfrompickleball/https://www.youtube.com/@LifeLessonsFromPickleballPodMusic gifted to us by Ian Pedersen: @ianpedersen Thanks for listening and you can also watch us on Youtube.

How can pickleball create connection across ages, backgrounds, beliefs, and life experiences, and even become part of mental health healing?In this episode, Sean McCoy shares his thoughtful and deeply human pickleball journey, from discovering the sport by accident in Houston to becoming passionate about the way pickleball brings people together like almost nothing else. Sean talks about his background in the military, oil and gas, technology, entrepreneurship, and community service, and explains why this silly game with a plastic ball feels so uniquely social, intimate, and egalitarian. Sean also opens up about why pickleball stands apart from other sports, how it allows nine-year-olds and ninety-year-olds to compete side by side, and why its low barrier to entry makes it such a powerful tool for belonging, communication, and well-being. He reflects on Houston’s rich diversity, the friendships he has found through the sport, and the life lesson that “life is a team sport.” Along the way, Sean shares how his path toward a master’s in clinical mental health counseling was shaped by his own experiences, and why he believes pickleball can play a meaningful role in therapy, relationships, connection, and emotional growth. This is a thoughtful and inspiring conversation about pickleball, mental health, counseling, community, belonging, diversity, connection, relationships, and the life lessons that remind us we are enough and that life is meant to be lived as a team sport. https://www.linkedin.com/in/4seanmccoy/📘 Our book Life Lessons from Pickleball™ is now available on AmazonOrder the book here: https://a.co/d/0bHPFYveA collection of short, true stories from players around the world about community, resilience, and joy through the game of pickleball.A portion of proceeds supports Operation PaddleLift, through the Global Pickleball Federation, distributing paddles, balls and nets to underserved communities around the world.Contact us:  [email protected] and watch:https://www.lifelessonsfrompickleballpodcast.comhttps://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61557275391316https://www.instagram.com/lifelessonsfrompickleball/https://www.youtube.com/@LifeLessonsFromPickleballPodMusic gifted to us by Ian Pedersen: @ianpedersen Thanks for listening and you can also watch us on Youtube.

How can pickleball teach us not only how to play better, but how to age well, find joy, and live more intentionally?In this episode, bestselling author Mike Brannon shares his remarkable journey from business executive to nonprofit leader, teacher, massage therapist, and finally pickleball writer and coach. Mike talks about how a chance stop during an oil change led him to discover pickleball, and how that late-life love affair with the game eventually inspired his books Pickleball and the Art of Living and The Joy of Pickleball. Mike also reflects on why pickleball is such a powerful mirror for life. He explores the deeper lessons hidden in the game, including gratitude, resilience, flexibility, healthy aging, mindset, habit, and the importance of staying open to learning. He shares why pickleball is especially meaningful for senior players, how habits matter more than willpower, and why playing happier is just as important as playing better. This is a thoughtful and uplifting conversation about pickleball, senior pickleball, healthy aging, pickleball strategy, mindset, joy, gratitude, resilience, habit, community, and the life lessons that help us play better, feel better, and live with more meaning. https://www.mikebranon.com/📘 Our book Life Lessons from Pickleball™ is now available on AmazonOrder the book here: https://a.co/d/0bHPFYveA collection of short, true stories from players around the world about community, resilience, and joy through the game of pickleball.A portion of proceeds supports Operation PaddleLift, through the Global Pickleball Federation, distributing paddles, balls and nets to underserved communities around the world.Contact us:  [email protected] and watch:https://www.lifelessonsfrompickleballpodcast.comhttps://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61557275391316https://www.instagram.com/lifelessonsfrompickleball/https://www.youtube.com/@LifeLessonsFromPickleballPodMusic gifted to us by Ian Pedersen: @ianpedersen Thanks for listening and you can also watch us on Youtube.

How can pickleball and travel come together to create deeper connection, purpose, joy, and meaningful impact around the world?In this episode, Melinda Alcosser shares her unique journey from educator and co-founder of the Connecticut Experiential Learning Center to certified IPTPA coach, USA Pickleball ambassador, and travel expert creating intentional pickleball experiences through Carpe Dinkum Pickleball and With Heart Travel. Melinda talks about first discovering pickleball on Frye Island in Maine, the surprising family connection her husband had to the game’s early roots near Whidbey Island, and how the sport gradually became more than recreation and turned into a vehicle for connection, service, and transformation. Melinda also shares how she began leading pickleball trips that combine coaching, community, and cultural exchange, including her work in Punta Cana where travelers connect with local students through pickleball and support schools with equipment and encouragement. She explains why travel can be far more than tourism, how “transformational travel” and “regenerative travel” can open hearts and minds, and why she believes pickleball can help people connect across generations, cultures, and experiences in deeply meaningful ways. Along the way, Melinda opens up about her fundraising work connected to Uganda, her vision for the Carpe Dinkum Giving Club, and the life lessons pickleball continues to teach her about joy, patience, presence, curiosity, and slowing down enough to truly experience life. This is an uplifting conversation about pickleball, pickleball travel, transformational travel, regenerative travel, Punta Cana, Uganda, community impact, joy, mindfulness, and the life lessons that remind us to be present, stay curious, and seize the dink. https://www.facebook.com/share/1CnymmY1u9/?mibextid=wwXIfrhttps://www.withhearttravel.com/https://travelandpickleball.com/📘 Our book Life Lessons from Pickleball™ is now available on AmazonOrder the book here: https://a.co/d/0bHPFYveA collection of short, true stories from players around the world about community, resilience, and joy through the game of pickleball.A portion of proceeds supports Operation PaddleLift, through the Global Pickleball Federation, distributing paddles, balls and nets to underserved communities around the world.Contact us:  [email protected] and watch:https://www.lifelessonsfrompickleballpodcast.comhttps://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61557275391316https://www.instagram.com/lifelessonsfrompickleball/https://www.youtube.com/@LifeLessonsFromPickleballPodMusic gifted to us by Ian Pedersen: @ianpedersen Thanks for listening and you can also watch us on Youtube.

How can pickleball become a doorway to mindfulness, creativity, and deeper connection with others?In this episode, writer, storyteller, and pickleball creative Rick Cipes shares how he found pickleball during the upheaval of 2020 and discovered that the game offered far more than competition. What began as a substitute for basketball quickly became a path toward self-awareness, community, and personal growth.Rick talks about writing for Pickleball Magazine, creating Bite-Sized Pickleball, publishing his books How to Play Better Pickleball and Pickleball Riffs, and using the sport as a way to explore mindfulness, flow, self-talk, and emotional resilience. He also reflects on the lessons pickleball teaches about patience, respect, breathing, and learning how to move through life with more grace.This is a thoughtful, funny, and inspiring conversation about pickleball, mindfulness, creativity, sports psychology, community, storytelling, and the life lessons that emerge when we slow down, stay present, and keep flowing.https://www.facebook.com/share/g/19vfyphtTn/?mibextid=wwXIfrBite Size Pickleball Clothing & Gift Shop - Best Pickleball Swaghttps://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/bite-size-pickleball-podcast/id1694241191📘 Our book Life Lessons from Pickleball™ is now available on AmazonOrder the book here: https://a.co/d/0bHPFYveA collection of short, true stories from players around the world about community, resilience, and joy through the game of pickleball.A portion of proceeds supports Operation PaddleLift, through the Global Pickleball Federation, distributing paddles, balls and nets to underserved communities around the world.Contact us:  [email protected] and watch:https://www.lifelessonsfrompickleballpodcast.comhttps://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61557275391316https://www.instagram.com/lifelessonsfrompickleball/https://www.youtube.com/@LifeLessonsFromPickleballPodMusic gifted to us by Ian Pedersen: @ianpedersen Thanks for listening and you can also watch us on Youtube.

How can pickleball open the door to joy, healing, and purpose at every age and ability level?In this episode, Dr. Jerry Brenniger shares his remarkable pickleball journey, from discovering the sport as a racquetball player with a vision challenge to becoming a USA Pickleball ambassador, senior competitor, and passionate advocate for adaptive athletes and older players. Dr. Jay talks about how one invitation from his cousin changed everything and led him into a sport that became not only a competitive outlet but also a meaningful way to serve others. He shares powerful stories from his work teaching adaptive pickleball to veterans with spinal cord injuries, including the lessons he learned about sports wheelchairs, accessibility, and the life-changing joy the game can bring. He also speaks candidly about the need for more fair age-plus-skill tournament brackets, especially for players in their 70s and 80s, and why leveling the playing field matters so much for keeping competition meaningful and fun. This is an inspiring conversation about adaptive pickleball, senior competition, inclusion, aging well, friendship, resilience, and the life lessons that come from staying active, staying connected, and never being too old to have fun. https://www.drjbrinegar.com📘 Our book Life Lessons from Pickleball™ is now available on AmazonOrder the book here: https://a.co/d/0bHPFYveA collection of short, true stories from players around the world about community, resilience, and joy through the game of pickleball.A portion of proceeds supports Operation PaddleLift, through the Global Pickleball Federation, distributing paddles, balls and nets to underserved communities around the world.Contact us:  [email protected] and watch:https://www.lifelessonsfrompickleballpodcast.comhttps://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61557275391316https://www.instagram.com/lifelessonsfrompickleball/https://www.youtube.com/@LifeLessonsFromPickleballPodMusic gifted to us by Ian Pedersen: @ianpedersen Thanks for listening and you can also watch us on Youtube.

How can two brothers use pickleball to strengthen family, grow their faith community, and inspire the next generation of players?In this episode, brothers Ezekiel and Matthias Wagner share how a simple vacation discovery at a park in Southern California turned into a full family passion for pickleball. What started with borrowed paddles and casual games became something much bigger, leading to tournament play, a backyard court built by hand, and a growing commitment to bringing pickleball into their church, school, and community.As Selkirk Junior Advocates, Ezekiel and Matthias talk about helping others discover the sport, introducing pickleball to new spaces like churches and first responder communities, and learning important life lessons about humility, teamwork, encouragement, and playing for something bigger than yourself.This is a joyful and inspiring conversation about youth pickleball, family, faith, community, Selkirk Junior Advocates, personal growth, and the life lessons that come from competition, connection, and sharing the game with others.https://www.instagram.com/just_bert_and_erne_?igsh=MXZ1dTloMnN0ejh3ZA==https://m.youtube.com/@Just_bert_and_erne📘 Our book Life Lessons from Pickleball™ is now available on AmazonOrder the book here: https://a.co/d/0bHPFYveA collection of short, true stories from players around the world about community, resilience, and joy through the game of pickleball.A portion of proceeds supports Operation PaddleLift, through the Global Pickleball Federation, distributing paddles, balls and nets to underserved communities around the world.Contact us:  [email protected] and watch:https://www.lifelessonsfrompickleballpodcast.comhttps://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61557275391316https://www.instagram.com/lifelessonsfrompickleball/https://www.youtube.com/@LifeLessonsFromPickleballPodMusic gifted to us by Ian Pedersen: @ianpedersen Thanks for listening and you can also watch us on Youtube.

How does a casual invitation to try pickleball turn into a life of international travel, officiating, and helping grow the sport around the world?In this episode, Ron Ponder shares how he first discovered pickleball in 2017 after a biking friend invited him to play, and how that simple introduction quickly led to a new calling. Ron talks about becoming a referee, serving as a USA Pickleball ambassador, working on the USA Pickleball Rules Committee, and now traveling globally as the Global Pickleball Federation’s Director of Officiating. He also shares unforgettable stories from places like Madagascar and Ghana, where pickleball is creating connection, joy, and opportunity in remarkable ways. Along the way, Ron reflects on the deeper life lessons the sport teaches about honesty, teamwork, community, and why pickleball may be one of the only games in the world that can truly bring every generation together. This is a fascinating and uplifting conversation about pickleball refereeing, global pickleball growth, international travel, sportsmanship, community, and the life lessons that come from saying yes to unexpected adventures. [email protected]://www.facebook.com/share/1AnvomWrKs/?mibextid=wwXIfr📘 Our book Life Lessons from Pickleball™ is now available on AmazonOrder the book here: https://a.co/d/0bHPFYveA collection of short, true stories from players around the world about community, resilience, and joy through the game of pickleball.A portion of proceeds supports Operation PaddleLift, through the Global Pickleball Federation, distributing paddles, balls and nets to underserved communities around the world.Contact us:  [email protected] and watch:https://www.lifelessonsfrompickleballpodcast.comhttps://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61557275391316https://www.instagram.com/lifelessonsfrompickleball/https://www.youtube.com/@LifeLessonsFromPickleballPodMusic gifted to us by Ian Pedersen: @ianpedersen Thanks for listening and you can also watch us on Youtube.

How can a simple paddle and wiffle ball become a source of healing, resilience, and hope in the middle of war?In this deeply moving episode, Anna Glotova shares how pickleball entered her life while she was displaced from Ukraine and living in Poland, and how the game became a powerful source of community, support, and emotional recovery during one of the darkest periods of her life. Anna now divides her time between New Zealand and Ukraine and serves as co-founder and director of strategic partnerships for the Ukrainian Pickleball Federation.She talks about what daily life in Ukraine feels like during war, why pickleball has become much more than a sport, and how the Ukrainian Pickleball Federation is using the game to bring people together, support veterans and civilians with injuries, and create new pathways for adaptive athletes, including wheelchair and prosthetic players.Anna also shares the incredible story of how Ukraine helped introduce a new prosthetic player category at the English Open and how Ukrainian players will now represent their country at the Pickleball World Cup. This is a powerful conversation about war, resilience, adaptive pickleball, healing, community, and the life lessons that come from choosing hope in the hardest of circumstances.https://www.instagram.com/ukrainianpickleballfederation?igsh=dGxqNzl0bW1ua2Ey📘 Our book Life Lessons from Pickleball™ is now available on AmazonOrder the book here: https://a.co/d/0bHPFYveA collection of short, true stories from players around the world about community, resilience, and joy through the game of pickleball.A portion of proceeds supports Operation PaddleLift, through the Global Pickleball Federation, distributing paddles, balls and nets to underserved communities around the world.Contact us:  [email protected] and watch:https://www.lifelessonsfrompickleballpodcast.comhttps://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61557275391316https://www.instagram.com/lifelessonsfrompickleball/https://www.youtube.com/@LifeLessonsFromPickleballPodMusic gifted to us by Ian Pedersen: @ianpedersen Thanks for listening and you can also watch us on Youtube.

How can pickleball help heal heartbreak, spark new love, and even inspire a floating court in the middle of the water?In this episode, Riley Palmer, better known as Smiley Riley, shares her incredible pickleball journey from rebuilding her life after divorce to becoming a coach, mentor, USA Pickleball ambassador, and entrepreneur with a passion for growing the game. Riley opens up about how pickleball helped her heal, refocus, and rediscover herself, and how the court became a place of joy, community, and new beginnings. She also shares the story of reconnecting with an old classmate who eventually became her partner after finally agreeing to take a pickleball lesson, proving that sometimes love and pickleball really do go hand in hand. And then Riley tells the fascinating story behind her floating pickleball courts, from the original idea in Croatia to designing and launching courts that can now be played on both water and land. This is a fun, heartfelt, and inspiring conversation about pickleball, healing after divorce, entrepreneurship, second chances, coaching, creativity, travel, and the life lessons that come from saying yes to joy and trying something new. https://smileyrileypickleball.comhttps://www.instagram.com/smileyrileypickleball?igsh=MW1lMDU1M3lqd3V6OA==📘 Our book Life Lessons from Pickleball™ is now available on AmazonOrder the book here: https://a.co/d/0bHPFYveA collection of short, true stories from players around the world about community, resilience, and joy through the game of pickleball.A portion of proceeds supports Operation PaddleLift, through the Global Pickleball Federation, distributing paddles, balls and nets to underserved communities around the world.Contact us:  [email protected] and watch:https://www.lifelessonsfrompickleballpodcast.comhttps://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61557275391316https://www.instagram.com/lifelessonsfrompickleball/https://www.youtube.com/@LifeLessonsFromPickleballPodMusic gifted to us by Ian Pedersen: @ianpedersen Thanks for listening and you can also watch us on Youtube.

How do you keep moving forward when Parkinson’s tries to rewrite your life?In this episode, Bob Gress shares his powerful journey from a lifetime of physical work and sports to facing the life-changing challenges of Parkinson’s disease. Bob opens up about the long road to diagnosis, the emotional toll of losing strength and mobility, and the turning point that came when his wife encouraged him to get out of the recliner and start moving again.That decision led him to pickleball, and the game became a lifeline. Bob talks about how pickleball helped restore his strength, confidence, joy, and sense of purpose, while also giving him community, connection, and hope. He also shares what it means to adapt, keep working, accept support, and continue showing up with courage.This is a deeply moving and inspiring conversation about Parkinson’s disease, resilience, caregiving, marriage, healing, faith, pickleball, and the life lessons that come from refusing to give up.📘 Our book Life Lessons from Pickleball™ is now available on AmazonOrder the book here: https://a.co/d/0bHPFYveA collection of short, true stories from players around the world about community, resilience, and joy through the game of pickleball.A portion of proceeds supports Operation PaddleLift, through the Global Pickleball Federation, distributing paddles, balls and nets to underserved communities around the world.Contact us:  [email protected] and watch:https://www.lifelessonsfrompickleballpodcast.comhttps://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61557275391316https://www.instagram.com/lifelessonsfrompickleball/https://www.youtube.com/@LifeLessonsFromPickleballPodMusic gifted to us by Ian Pedersen: @ianpedersen Thanks for listening and you can also watch us on Youtube.

How can pickleball become a pathway to emotional healing, deeper connection, and greater peace of mind?In this episode, Dr. Lynn Yanni, a seasoned psychotherapist with more than 35 years of clinical experience, shares how pickleball opened the door to a whole new level of joy, connection, and personal growth after her knee replacements. What began as a new activity in her neighborhood quickly became a powerful reminder of how sport, community, and emotional awareness can come together in life-changing ways.Lynn brings her background in trauma-informed therapy and sports psychology to this conversation, offering practical wisdom about being present, resetting after mistakes, quieting self-criticism, and learning to compete without losing kindness toward yourself or others. She also explores why pickleball is so uniquely addictive, how it creates meaningful social connection, and why the game can become a profound tool for healing, resilience, and well-being.This is a thoughtful and uplifting conversation about pickleball, sports psychology, relationships, trauma healing, self-compassion, community, and the life lessons that come from staying present and playing with heart.https://www.drlynnianni.com📘 Our book Life Lessons from Pickleball™ is now available on AmazonOrder the book here: https://a.co/d/0bHPFYveA collection of short, true stories from players around the world about community, resilience, and joy through the game of pickleball.A portion of proceeds supports Operation PaddleLift, through the Global Pickleball Federation, distributing paddles, balls and nets to underserved communities around the world.Contact us:  [email protected] and watch:https://www.lifelessonsfrompickleballpodcast.comhttps://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61557275391316https://www.instagram.com/lifelessonsfrompickleball/https://www.youtube.com/@LifeLessonsFromPickleballPodMusic gifted to us by Ian Pedersen: @ianpedersen Thanks for listening and you can also watch us on Youtube.

What happens when a Sopranos star discovers pickleball and starts a whole new wellness journey?In this episode, Joseph R. Gannascoli, best known for playing Vito Spatafore on HBO’s The Sopranos, shares his fascinating path from New York kitchens to television fame, and from celebrity life to food, health, and pickleball. Joe talks about working as a chef, landing his role on The Sopranos, creating unforgettable storylines for his character, and how pickleball became part of his life after losing 80 pounds and focusing on wellness.He also opens up about acting, resilience, reinvention, family, and the life lessons he has learned through food, sports, and life in the spotlight.This is a fun and engaging conversation about The Sopranos, Joseph Gannascoli, celebrity pickleball, weight loss, wellness, acting, food, and finding joy on and off the court.📘 Our book Life Lessons from Pickleball™ is now available on AmazonOrder the book here: https://a.co/d/0bHPFYveA collection of short, true stories from players around the world about community, resilience, and joy through the game of pickleball.A portion of proceeds supports Operation PaddleLift, through the Global Pickleball Federation, distributing paddles, balls and nets to underserved communities around the world.Contact us:  [email protected] and watch:https://www.lifelessonsfrompickleballpodcast.comhttps://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61557275391316https://www.instagram.com/lifelessonsfrompickleball/https://www.youtube.com/@LifeLessonsFromPickleballPodMusic gifted to us by Ian Pedersen: @ianpedersen Thanks for listening and you can also watch us on Youtube.

How can pickleball help us stay active, prevent injuries, and keep doing what we love for years to come?In this episode, Dr. John Gallucci Jr., president and CEO of JAG Physical Therapy, shares how his lifelong passion for helping people heal and move better led him to bring his expertise to the pickleball world. With more than 30 years of experience as a physical therapist and athletic trainer, John explains why pickleball has become such an important lifetime sport and why injury prevention is the key to staying on the court.He breaks down the most common pickleball injuries, including Achilles, knee, elbow, and tendon issues, and offers practical advice on warmups, hydration, recovery, footwear, and knowing the difference between soreness and a warning sign. He also shares why movement is essential for long-term health and how pickleball can help people of all ages improve fitness, community, and overall well-being.This is an informative and inspiring conversation about pickleball, physical therapy, injury prevention, movement, hydration, healthy aging, and the life lessons that come from taking care of your body so you can keep playing the game you love.https://www.jagpt.comhttps://www.instagram.com/DrJAGPT/https://www.facebook.com/share/15fs9jeDQw/?mibextid=wwXIfrhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/john-a-gallucci-jr-ms-atc-pt-dpt-38b194a?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app📘 Our book Life Lessons from Pickleball™ is now available on AmazonOrder the book here: https://a.co/d/0bHPFYveA collection of short, true stories from players around the world about community, resilience, and joy through the game of pickleball.A portion of proceeds supports Operation PaddleLift, through the Global Pickleball Federation, distributing paddles, balls and nets to underserved communities around the world.Contact us:  [email protected] and watch:https://www.lifelessonsfrompickleballpodcast.comhttps://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61557275391316https://www.instagram.com/lifelessonsfrompickleball/https://www.youtube.com/@LifeLessonsFromPickleballPodMusic gifted to us by Ian Pedersen: @ianpedersen Thanks for listening and you can also watch us on Youtube.

How can pickleball help us move from simply surviving to truly thriving?In this episode, Dr. Lee Baucom, self-described “Thrivologist,” shares what it means to thrive in life and how many of those same lessons show up on the pickleball court. With a background in therapy, coaching, relationships, and personal development, Lee explains why thriving is rooted in meaning, purpose, strong relationships, and learning how to respond well to life’s challenges. Lee also talks about how he discovered pickleball after moving to a new town, why the game became such a natural place for building community, and how the court offers powerful lessons in mindset, resilience, teamwork, communication, and grace. He shares practical wisdom about beginner’s mindset, resetting after mistakes, learning one point at a time, and why the best partner is not always the best player, but the one who brings out the best in others. This is a thoughtful and encouraging conversation about pickleball, thriving, relationships, resilience, beginner mindset, emotional health, communication, coaching, teamwork, and the life lessons that help us grow stronger on and off the court. https://thriveology.comthriveologypodcast.com@thriveology📘 Our book Life Lessons from Pickleball™ is now available on AmazonOrder the book here: https://a.co/d/0bHPFYveA collection of short, true stories from players around the world about community, resilience, and joy through the game of pickleball.A portion of proceeds supports Operation PaddleLift, through the Global Pickleball Federation, distributing paddles, balls and nets to underserved communities around the world.Contact us:  [email protected] and watch:https://www.lifelessonsfrompickleballpodcast.comhttps://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61557275391316https://www.instagram.com/lifelessonsfrompickleball/https://www.youtube.com/@LifeLessonsFromPickleballPodMusic gifted to us by Ian Pedersen: @ianpedersen Thanks for listening and you can also watch us on Youtube.

In this encore episode, professional pickleball player Megan Fudge shares the remarkable journey that took her from working in insurance during COVID to becoming one of the top-ranked women in professional pickleball. Megan talks about how she and her husband Ryler DeHeart first discovered pickleball, instantly fell in love with the sport, and built an entirely new life around competition, coaching, travel, and family. Megan also opens up about her international background, growing up between Germany and England with parents from New Zealand and London, and how that global perspective now connects with her life in pickleball. She shares what it has been like helping grow the sport in India and China, where pickleball is expanding rapidly, and why she feels so passionate about opening doors for women, girls, and future players around the world. Along the way, Megan reflects on balancing motherhood, professional pickleball, RV travel, coaching, and the pursuit of excellence. She talks about discipline, hard work, equal opportunity in pickleball, and why this sport has given her the chance to become the best version of herself while showing her children what it looks like to chase a dream with courage and commitment. This is an inspiring conversation about professional pickleball, women in sports, APP Tour, international pickleball, India pickleball, China pickleball, coaching, family travel, motherhood, discipline, and the life lessons that come from pursuing excellence and believing that it is never too late to go after something big. https://www.meganfudgepb.comhttps://www.instagram.com/officialmeganfudge/?igsh=Ynptb3J6aTc0Y3luhttps://www.instagram.com/franklinpickleball/?igsh=dndqMDduY2x5YmZk📘 Our book Life Lessons from Pickleball™ is now available on AmazonOrder the book here: https://a.co/d/0bHPFYveA collection of short, true stories from players around the world about community, resilience, and joy through the game of pickleball.A portion of proceeds supports Operation PaddleLift, through the Global Pickleball Federation, distributing paddles, balls and nets to underserved communities around the world.Contact us:  [email protected] and watch:https://www.lifelessonsfrompickleballpodcast.comhttps://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61557275391316https://www.instagram.com/lifelessonsfrompickleball/https://www.youtube.com/@LifeLessonsFromPickleballPodMusic gifted to us by Ian Pedersen: @ianpedersen Thanks for listening and you can also watch us on Youtube.

How can pickleball and Costa Rica come together to create the ultimate wellness vacation for body, mind, and soul?In this episode, Mani Barajas Alexander of Pura Vida House in Costa Rica shares how he went from Division I tennis player and tennis entrepreneur to building one of the most unique pickleball vacation experiences in the world. Mani talks about buying the original Pura Vida House property just before COVID, facing enormous uncertainty when travel suddenly stopped, and then slowly rebuilding the dream into a growing brand with multiple luxury villa properties and world-class pickleball retreats. He also shares what makes a Pura Vida House pickleball vacation so special, from private chef meals and daily pickleball instruction to beach club access, wildlife, golf carts, adventure excursions, and the deeper Costa Rican philosophy of “Pura Vida,” living with gratitude, joy, and presence. Mani explains how the retreats are designed to balance pickleball, relaxation, connection, and cultural experiences so guests leave feeling restored, energized, and inspired. Along the way, Mani reflects on entrepreneurship, emotional resilience, partnership, communication, and the life lessons pickleball has taught him about mistakes, momentum shifts, relationships, and staying open to people from all walks of life. This is a fun and inspiring conversation about pickleball vacations, Costa Rica travel, Pura Vida House, wellness travel, luxury villas, pickleball retreats, entrepreneurship, connection, and the life lessons that remind us to slow down, enjoy life, and make relationships matter. https://www.thepuravidahouse.com/📘 Our book Life Lessons from Pickleball™ is now available on AmazonOrder the book here: https://a.co/d/0bHPFYveA collection of short, true stories from players around the world about community, resilience, and joy through the game of pickleball.A portion of proceeds supports Operation PaddleLift, through the Global Pickleball Federation, distributing paddles, balls and nets to underserved communities around the world.Contact us:  [email protected] and watch:https://www.lifelessonsfrompickleballpodcast.comhttps://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61557275391316https://www.instagram.com/lifelessonsfrompickleball/https://www.youtube.com/@LifeLessonsFromPickleballPodMusic gifted to us by Ian Pedersen: @ianpedersen Thanks for listening and you can also watch us on Youtube.

How can healing old patterns, shifting your energy, and becoming more aware of your thoughts help you step into your highest timeline on and off the pickleball court?In this episode, Cheryl Rempis, also known as Samara Rayne, shares her remarkable journey from mother-baby nursing into transformational mentoring, energy healing, and the creation of Timeline Catalyst. With more than 20 years of experience as a registered nurse and healer, Cheryl talks about what first called her into a life of service, how her own awakening began through deep personal healing, and why she now helps others release limiting beliefs, process life transitions, and align with their highest potential. She also explains the idea of the “highest timeline,” how our thoughts, emotions, and choices shape the energy we live in, and why awareness, presence, and intention can change the trajectory of our lives. Cheryl opens up about dark nights of the soul, grief, relationship loss, and emotional healing, and offers a compassionate perspective on what it means to move through pain instead of avoiding it. Along the way, Cheryl reflects on the healing power of the pickleball community, the loving environment created through the Pickleball Experience, and the profound ways connection, trust, and open-heartedness can spark transformation. This is a thoughtful and expansive conversation about pickleball, energy healing, spiritual awakening, emotional healing, transformation, highest timeline, intuition, mindset, and the life lessons that remind us we can choose a more aligned path one moment at a time. https://www.timelinecatalyst.com@timelinecatalysthttps://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61571219746291📘 Our book Life Lessons from Pickleball™ is now available on AmazonOrder the book here: https://a.co/d/0bHPFYveA collection of short, true stories from players around the world about community, resilience, and joy through the game of pickleball.A portion of proceeds supports Operation PaddleLift, through the Global Pickleball Federation, distributing paddles, balls and nets to underserved communities around the world.Contact us:  [email protected] and watch:https://www.lifelessonsfrompickleballpodcast.comhttps://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61557275391316https://www.instagram.com/lifelessonsfrompickleball/https://www.youtube.com/@LifeLessonsFromPickleballPodMusic gifted to us by Ian Pedersen: @ianpedersen Thanks for listening and you can also watch us on Youtube.

How can pickleball help adults over 50 play better, stay injury-free, and build more confidence both on and off the court?In this episode, CJ Johnson of Better Pickleball shares how a simple invitation from a friend in 2013 led her into a sport that would become both a passion and a mission. With nearly 40 years of coaching experience across skiing, golf, personal training, and multiple sports, CJ quickly saw two big problems in pickleball: too many players were getting injured, and too many adults were getting confusing or incomplete advice that was holding back their progress. That realization led her to create Better Pickleball, a training platform designed to help players, especially those 50 and better, learn the game in a smarter, healthier, and more confidence-building way. CJ also talks about what makes adult pickleball players unique, why older athletes need a different approach to movement, recovery, and learning, and how simple concepts like “return and run, serve and stay,” the block volley, warming up, cooling down, and understanding strategy can completely change a player’s game. She explains why pickleball is absolutely a sport, why players should start seeing themselves as athletes, and why the right mindset matters just as much as mechanics. Along the way, CJ reflects on confidence, women in sports, injury prevention, beginner mindset, and the importance of making learning feel possible and fun. This is a practical and inspiring conversation about pickleball, Better Pickleball, pickleball strategy, pickleball instruction, injury prevention, block volley, beginner mindset, confidence, women athletes, and the life lessons that come from learning, adapting, and believing it is never too late to get better. @betterpickleballcomhttps://facebook.com/betterpickleball.comhttps://betterpickleball.com📘 Our book Life Lessons from Pickleball™ is now available on AmazonOrder the book here: https://a.co/d/0bHPFYveA collection of short, true stories from players around the world about community, resilience, and joy through the game of pickleball.A portion of proceeds supports Operation PaddleLift, through the Global Pickleball Federation, distributing paddles, balls and nets to underserved communities around the world.Contact us:  [email protected] and watch:https://www.lifelessonsfrompickleballpodcast.comhttps://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61557275391316https://www.instagram.com/lifelessonsfrompickleball/https://www.youtube.com/@LifeLessonsFromPickleballPodMusic gifted to us by Ian Pedersen: @ianpedersen Thanks for listening and you can also watch us on Youtube.

How can pickleball help heal trauma, bridge racial and economic divides, and bring hope to communities with almost no resources?In this episode, Sherry, also known as Eseosa Rain, shares one of the most powerful stories we’ve heard on Life Lessons from Pickleball. A military veteran, missionary, artist, and community builder, Sherry opens up about her service in the Air Force, the trauma and PTSD she carried for years, and how pickleball unexpectedly became part of her own healing during the isolation of COVID. What began as one friend inviting her to the YMCA became a life-changing path toward joy, connection, and purpose. Sherry also shares how that healing journey led her to take pickleball to South Africa, where she now works in townships, schools, churches, and senior communities with very limited equipment but extraordinary passion. She talks about training youth and pensioners, building the Tembisa Gold team, mentoring new coaches, providing basic necessities like food and hygiene supplies, and watching pickleball create confidence, belonging, and unity across racial, tribal, economic, and generational lines. Along the way, she reflects on missions work in Kenya, Zambia, Thailand, and beyond, the emotional toll of rescuing vulnerable children, the humility and laughter pickleball requires, and why this game is far bigger than sport. This is a deeply moving conversation about pickleball, PTSD, veterans, South Africa, township youth, missions, racial healing, community transformation, servant leadership, and the life lessons that remind us to stay humble, open-hearted, and willing to serve. @pickleballmissionary@pickleballmissionary📘 Our book Life Lessons from Pickleball™ is now available on AmazonOrder the book here: https://a.co/d/0bHPFYveA collection of short, true stories from players around the world about community, resilience, and joy through the game of pickleball.A portion of proceeds supports Operation PaddleLift, through the Global Pickleball Federation, distributing paddles, balls and nets to underserved communities around the world.Contact us:  [email protected] and watch:https://www.lifelessonsfrompickleballpodcast.comhttps://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61557275391316https://www.instagram.com/lifelessonsfrompickleball/https://www.youtube.com/@LifeLessonsFromPickleballPodMusic gifted to us by Ian Pedersen: @ianpedersen Thanks for listening and you can also watch us on Youtube.

How can pickleball strengthen a relationship, carry you through cancer, and remind you that love, patience, and community matter more than winning?In this episode, Annemarie Riese and Terry Kisner share their heartfelt story of partnership on and off the pickleball court. Introduced to the game during COVID by Terry’s family in Hays, Kansas, they quickly fell in love with pickleball as a way to stay active, connect with others, and spend meaningful time together. They talk about what it is like to play mixed doubles as life partners, how they handle mistakes, competition, communication, and frustration, and why fun and friendship always matter more than the final score. Annemarie also opens up about her recent breast cancer diagnosis, surgery, radiation, and recovery, and the extraordinary support she received from the pickleball community through it all. She shares how the court became a place of encouragement, normalcy, laughter, and healing, while Terry reflects on what it was like to walk beside the person he loves through such a difficult journey. Together, they offer a moving picture of resilience, vulnerability, caregiving, and the power of letting others help. Along the way, Annemarie and Terry talk about patience, humility, communication, mixed doubles, tournaments, breast cancer awareness, and why pickleball continues to bring people of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities together. This is a warm and inspiring conversation about pickleball, mixed doubles, relationships, breast cancer recovery, caregiving, patience, partnership, community, resilience, and the life lessons that remind us the relationship is always more important than the result. 📘 Our book Life Lessons from Pickleball™ is now available on AmazonOrder the book here: https://a.co/d/0bHPFYveA collection of short, true stories from players around the world about community, resilience, and joy through the game of pickleball.A portion of proceeds supports Operation PaddleLift, through the Global Pickleball Federation, distributing paddles, balls and nets to underserved communities around the world.Contact us:  [email protected] and watch:https://www.lifelessonsfrompickleballpodcast.comhttps://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61557275391316https://www.instagram.com/lifelessonsfrompickleball/https://www.youtube.com/@LifeLessonsFromPickleballPodMusic gifted to us by Ian Pedersen: @ianpedersen Thanks for listening and you can also watch us on Youtube.

How can pickleball become more than a sport and turn into a path for confidence, connection, gratitude, and personal transformation?In this episode, Jemuel “Jem” Morris shares the remarkable story of how a dead car battery in a parking lot led to a life-changing introduction to pickleball. What began as a simple request for a jump turned into an invitation to play with four of the best players on Orcas Island, and that one moment completely changed the direction of his life. Jem talks about moving from Los Angeles to Orcas Island, discovering pickleball in 2017, and quickly becoming immersed in the game, the coaching world, and the community that now defines his work. Jem also opens up about the creation of the Pickleball Experience with Brian Ashworth and Peter Hudak, and how their coaching model grew out of a desire to offer more than standard instruction. He explains why their customizable four-to-one coaching approach focuses on the whole player, not just technique, and why connection, confidence, the mental game, and belonging are just as important as drills and strategy. Along the way, he shares stories from destination camps, small-town clinics, and the many players who have taught him as much as he has taught them. This is a thoughtful and inspiring conversation about pickleball, Pickleball Experience, Jemuel Morris, Brian Ashworth, Peter Hudak, mental game, confidence, gratitude, community, coaching, Orcas Island, and the life lessons that remind us to stay present, focus on the positive, and use every point as an opportunity to grow. https://thepickleballexperience.com@thepickleballexperiencehttps://tashiratorphanage.org📘 Our book Life Lessons from Pickleball™ is now available on AmazonOrder the book here: https://a.co/d/0bHPFYveA collection of short, true stories from players around the world about community, resilience, and joy through the game of pickleball.A portion of proceeds supports Operation PaddleLift, through the Global Pickleball Federation, distributing paddles, balls and nets to underserved communities around the world.Contact us:  [email protected] and watch:https://www.lifelessonsfrompickleballpodcast.comhttps://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61557275391316https://www.instagram.com/lifelessonsfrompickleball/https://www.youtube.com/@LifeLessonsFromPickleballPodMusic gifted to us by Ian Pedersen: @ianpedersen Thanks for listening and you can also watch us on Youtube.

How did a comedian, actress, and author with “no eye-hand coordination” end up writing two pickleball romantic comedies and falling in love with the game?In this episode, Ilana Long shares her funny, fearless, and deeply relatable journey into comedy, storytelling, and pickleball. From writing humor pieces as a student to performing improv at Second City, doing stand-up, sketch comedy, and acting, Ilana has always found her voice through laughter. She talks about the challenges of being a woman in comedy, learning to create her own opportunities, and how persistence eventually led to publishing her pickleball romantic comedy Pickleballers and her upcoming novel Pickle Perfect. Ilana also shares how she first discovered pickleball through a friend who described it as “ping pong but standing on the table,” and why the sport immediately hooked her despite not seeing herself as an athlete. She reflects on the joy of the pickleball community, the quirky characters who inspired her fiction, and how the game opened her life to new friendships, new confidence, and a whole new creative path. Along the way, Ilana talks about writing later in life, trying new things after 50, finding humor in heartbreak, and the life lessons pickleball continues to teach her about openness, perseverance, bad habits, second chances, and letting yourself begin again. This is a warm, witty, and inspiring conversation about pickleball, comedy, romantic comedy, Pickleballers, Pickle Perfect, creativity, women in comedy, friendship, reinvention, and the life lessons that remind us it is never too late to start something new. Website: IlanaLong.comInsta: @IlanaLongWrites📘 Our book Life Lessons from Pickleball™ is now available on AmazonOrder the book here: https://a.co/d/0bHPFYveA collection of short, true stories from players around the world about community, resilience, and joy through the game of pickleball.A portion of proceeds supports Operation PaddleLift, through the Global Pickleball Federation, distributing paddles, balls and nets to underserved communities around the world.Contact us:  [email protected] and watch:https://www.lifelessonsfrompickleballpodcast.comhttps://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61557275391316https://www.instagram.com/lifelessonsfrompickleball/https://www.youtube.com/@LifeLessonsFromPickleballPodMusic gifted to us by Ian Pedersen: @ianpedersen Thanks for listening and you can also watch us on Youtube.

How can competitive tennis, mental toughness, and pickleball come together to teach you about courage, confidence, and defining success on your own terms?In this episode, Raj Chikkalingaiah shares his journey from picking up a racket as a young child in Corvallis, Oregon, to competing in tennis at a national level, playing collegiate tennis at Whitman College, and eventually finding his way into the fast-growing world of pickleball. Raj talks about how he first resisted pickleball after seeing the crowded courts at Green Lake, but quickly got hooked once someone handed him a paddle. He reflects on how his years in competitive tennis shaped his athletic mindset, his love of the mental side of sports, and his growing passion for coaching and competition in local open tournaments and professional qualifying events. Raj also opens up about the emotional and psychological side of competing, including nerves, fear, pressure, momentum, body language, partner chemistry, and the importance of staying present on the court. He shares one of his most valuable mindset shifts: learning to define success not just by winning, but by how you perform, how you respond under pressure, and whether you stay true to the game plan you set for yourself. Along the way, he offers practical insights on communication in doubles, strategy with new partners, managing tightness in competition, and the power of positive self-talk and gratitude. This is a thoughtful and energizing conversation about pickleball, tennis, competitive mindset, pickleball coaching, partner chemistry, mental toughness, local tournaments, professional qualifying events, growth, gratitude, and the life lessons that remind us to follow our joy, trust our instincts, and define success in a way that helps us play free.  @rajulchikkalingaiahhttps://calendly.com/rajulgrant📘 Our book Life Lessons from Pickleball™ is now available on AmazonOrder the book here: https://a.co/d/0bHPFYveA collection of short, true stories from players around the world about community, resilience, and joy through the game of pickleball.A portion of proceeds supports Operation PaddleLift, through the Global Pickleball Federation, distributing paddles, balls and nets to underserved communities around the world.Contact us:  [email protected] and watch:https://www.lifelessonsfrompickleballpodcast.comhttps://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61557275391316https://www.instagram.com/lifelessonsfrompickleball/https://www.youtube.com/@LifeLessonsFromPickleballPodMusic gifted to us by Ian Pedersen: @ianpedersen Thanks for listening and you can also watch us on Youtube.

How can strength training, sports psychology, and pickleball help women in midlife and beyond build more confidence, mobility, and independence?In this episode, Linda Goos shares her remarkable journey from elite gymnast and Pac-10 all-decade honoree at Oregon State University to coach at the University of Washington, sports psychology professional, Microsoft marketing leader, and now founder of Studio Bloom in Kirkland, Washington. Linda talks about her lifelong connection to athletics, what competitive gymnastics taught her about discipline and commitment, and how her background in sports psychology, physical rehab, and personal training shaped the way she now helps women reconnect with their bodies and their strength. Linda also opens up about why she returned to fitness and wellness after 20 years at Microsoft, and how Studio Bloom was created to serve women in midlife and beyond who want to improve strength, mobility, bone health, balance, agility, and confidence. She explains why strength training is essential for healthy aging, osteoporosis and osteopenia prevention, pickleball performance, and long-term independence, and why women are never too old to start building strength. Along the way, Linda shares how pickleball became part of her own wellness journey, why the sport adds community, quickness, and joy to her life, and the life lesson she keeps coming back to: enjoy the moment you are in. This is an inspiring and practical conversation about pickleball, women’s fitness, healthy aging, strength training, mobility, bone density, osteoporosis, sports psychology, Studio Bloom, Kirkland, and the life lessons that remind us to stay strong, stay present, and keep moving forward. https://www.studiobloomfitness.com📘 Our book Life Lessons from Pickleball™ is now available on AmazonOrder the book here: https://a.co/d/0bHPFYveA collection of short, true stories from players around the world about community, resilience, and joy through the game of pickleball.A portion of proceeds supports Operation PaddleLift, through the Global Pickleball Federation, distributing paddles, balls and nets to underserved communities around the world.Contact us:  [email protected] and watch:https://www.lifelessonsfrompickleballpodcast.comhttps://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61557275391316https://www.instagram.com/lifelessonsfrompickleball/https://www.youtube.com/@LifeLessonsFromPickleballPodMusic gifted to us by Ian Pedersen: @ianpedersen Thanks for listening and you can also watch us on Youtube.

How does a young tennis coach from Australia become a pro pickleball player, international coach, and one of the sport’s rising leaders around the world?In this episode, Coco Lococo shares her incredible journey from growing up in Australia with very little, to playing and coaching tennis from a young age, to rebuilding her athletic path after a devastating ankle injury ended her professional tennis dreams. She opens up about how pickleball entered her life in 2022, why the game immediately hooked her, and how she quickly rose from beginner to pro in Australia’s fast-growing pickleball scene.Coco also talks about coaching pro teams in Major League Pickleball Australia and India’s World Pickleball League, what it means to be the first female pro coach in those spaces, and the lessons she has learned about pressure, forgiveness, focus, and staying mentally steady both on and off the court.This is an inspiring conversation about professional pickleball, coaching, women in sports, Australian pickleball, tennis, resilience, mental toughness, and the life lessons that come from adapting, growing, and staying in the game.📘 Our book Life Lessons from Pickleball™ is now available on AmazonOrder the book here: https://a.co/d/0bHPFYveA collection of short, true stories from players around the world about community, resilience, and joy through the game of pickleball.A portion of proceeds supports Operation PaddleLift, through the Global Pickleball Federation, distributing paddles, balls and nets to underserved communities around the world.Contact us:  [email protected] and watch:https://www.lifelessonsfrompickleballpodcast.comhttps://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61557275391316https://www.instagram.com/lifelessonsfrompickleball/https://www.youtube.com/@LifeLessonsFromPickleballPodMusic gifted to us by Ian Pedersen: @ianpedersen Thanks for listening and you can also watch us on Youtube.

How does someone go from getting kicked off a basketball court for pickleball to becoming a 5.0 pro, international instructor, and one of the most respected coaches in the game?In this episode, Brian Ashworth shares his incredible pickleball journey, from first discovering the sport at the YMCA in Billings, Montana, to winning major titles, teaching around the world, and helping shape the game through coaching, clinics, and the Pickleball Experience. Brian talks about how coming to pickleball without a racquet sports background helped him think differently, play differently, and develop a unique style that set him apart on the court. He also reflects on playing with top-level partners, working at Pickleball Central during the sport’s explosive growth, building the Pickleball Experience with Peter Hudak and Jemuel Morris, and what he has learned from years of teaching players at every level. Along the way, Brian shares thoughtful insights about patience, confidence, creativity, family priorities, and why no player should ever be the reason someone quits the game. This is a fun and inspiring conversation about professional pickleball, pickleball coaching, Pickleball Central, the Pickleball Experience, international clinics, patience, partnership, and the life lessons that come from growing with the sport while helping others love it too. 📘 Our book Life Lessons from Pickleball™ is now available on AmazonOrder the book here: https://a.co/d/0bHPFYveA collection of short, true stories from players around the world about community, resilience, and joy through the game of pickleball.A portion of proceeds supports Operation PaddleLift, through the Global Pickleball Federation, distributing paddles, balls and nets to underserved communities around the world.Contact us:  [email protected] and watch:https://www.lifelessonsfrompickleballpodcast.comhttps://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61557275391316https://www.instagram.com/lifelessonsfrompickleball/https://www.youtube.com/@LifeLessonsFromPickleballPodMusic gifted to us by Ian Pedersen: @ianpedersen Thanks for listening and you can also watch us on Youtube.

How can pickleball become part of healing after trauma, brain injury, and years of feeling disconnected from yourself?In this episode, Joelle Kantor shares her powerful story of resilience, recovery, and rediscovery. A lifelong caregiver, preschool teacher, nanny, mom, and former franchise owner of the Playball sports and movement program, Joelle has always been drawn to children, connection, and helping others thrive. But everything changed after her fourth traumatic brain injury, which led to years of vertigo, insomnia, sensory overload, anxiety, and an almost unimaginable healing journey. Through her book My Wake Up Fall, Joelle opens up about living through profound pain, learning to surrender, and slowly finding her way back to herself. Joelle also talks about the many healing modalities she explored, the support of her family, and the deep life lessons that emerged along the way about gratitude, courage, presence, and self-discovery. She reflects on how writing her book became part of her recovery, why community matters so much when someone is suffering, and how even the most difficult chapters of life can become a doorway to growth and meaning. Along the way, Joelle shares how pickleball found its way back into her life, becoming a joyful source of connection, freedom, and friendship. She explains why the pickleball community has meant so much to her, how the sport reminds her to leave the court with gratitude no matter how she plays, and why healing, strength, and joy often return in unexpected ways. This is a moving and inspiring conversation about pickleball, traumatic brain injury, healing, vertigo, recovery, self-discovery, motherhood, resilience, gratitude, and the life lessons that remind us how strong we really are. 📘 Our book Life Lessons from Pickleball™ is now available on AmazonOrder the book here: https://a.co/d/0bHPFYveA collection of short, true stories from players around the world about community, resilience, and joy through the game of pickleball.A portion of proceeds supports Operation PaddleLift, through the Global Pickleball Federation, distributing paddles, balls and nets to underserved communities around the world.Contact us:  [email protected] and watch:https://www.lifelessonsfrompickleballpodcast.comhttps://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61557275391316https://www.instagram.com/lifelessonsfrompickleball/https://www.youtube.com/@LifeLessonsFromPickleballPodMusic gifted to us by Ian Pedersen: @ianpedersen Thanks for listening and you can also watch us on Youtube.

How can a lifetime in sports, from college basketball to professional broadcasting, shape the way someone shows up on the pickleball court and in life?In this episode, Elise Woodward shares her remarkable journey from being an all-state athlete in soccer, basketball, and fast-pitch softball at North Eugene High School to captaining the University of Washington women’s basketball team to the NCAA Sweet 16, and then building an impressive broadcasting career covering Husky football, the Seattle Storm, and major college sports for Fox, FS1, and the Big Ten Network. Elise talks about growing up in Eugene in a sports-loving family, why she chose the University of Washington, and how her love of competition and storytelling led her into sports broadcasting. Elise also reflects on the lessons sport has taught her about teamwork, resilience, leadership, failure, and getting back up after hard moments. She shares what it has been like to witness the growth of women’s sports over the decades, why sports remain one of the few places where people from every background can come together around a common passion, and how broadcasting has given her a front-row seat to both the heartbreak and the beauty of competition. Along the way, Elise talks about discovering pickleball later in life, why the game’s mix of fun, fitness, strategy, and social connection immediately clicked for her, and how pickleball has become a new way to compete, stay active, and build community. This is an inspiring conversation about pickleball, women’s sports, sports broadcasting, University of Washington basketball, Seattle Storm, teamwork, competition, healthy aging, resilience, and the life lessons that remind us to keep playing, keep learning, and keep showing up for the people around us. @elisewoodwardsports (instagram)@EliseMWoodward (X)📘 Our book Life Lessons from Pickleball™ is now available on AmazonOrder the book here: https://a.co/d/0bHPFYveA collection of short, true stories from players around the world about community, resilience, and joy through the game of pickleball.A portion of proceeds supports Operation PaddleLift, through the Global Pickleball Federation, distributing paddles, balls and nets to underserved communities around the world.Contact us:  [email protected] and watch:https://www.lifelessonsfrompickleballpodcast.comhttps://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61557275391316https://www.instagram.com/lifelessonsfrompickleball/https://www.youtube.com/@LifeLessonsFromPickleballPodMusic gifted to us by Ian Pedersen: @ianpedersen Thanks for listening and you can also watch us on Youtube.