Kitchen Conversations Podcast

He Terrified Me… Then Changed My Game Forever | Kitchen Conversations with Brian Cann What happens when the player who intimidates you the most… becomes the one who helps you the most? In this episode of Kitchen Conversations, I sit down with Brian Cann—a player, coach, mentor, and one of the most influential people in my own pickleball journey. From our very first match on court #2, I knew Brian...

🏓 At just 16 years old, Mackonner Dy is already turning heads across the pickleball world. In this episode of Kitchen Conversations – A Pickleball Podcast , I sit down with one of Canada’s brightest young pickleball talents for an honest and inspiring conversation about competition, discipline, faith, family, and what it really takes to chase a dream. Despite his incredible accomplishments—includ...

In this episode of Kitchen Conversations, I sit down with Jessie and Dominic, the husband-and-wife team behind BOOMA, a proudly Canadian family-owned pickleball and ping pong equipment company. What started as a family discovery of pickleball in Florida has grown into a serious Canadian brand producing USAPA-approved paddles, pickleball gear, protective eyewear, bags, nets, balls, accessories, and...

What if the future of pickleball… was already being built? In this episode of Kitchen Conversations, I sit down with Adam Siegel, CEO of Tennis Clubs of Canada… one of the most forward-thinking operators in Canadian sport. From air-supported domes… to public-private partnerships… to building community-first facilities across the country… This isn’t just about tennis. And it’s not just about pickle...

What happens when two guys sit down and just start talking about pickleball? In this episode of Kitchen Conversations, Mike sits down with David for a raw, wide-ranging conversation that goes far beyond the court. What starts as a simple chat quickly turns into something much deeper. From growing up in Montreal to navigating a winding career path, David’s story is anything but linear. Then one day...

What happens when one of the most respected coaching minds in pickleball sits down for an honest conversation about coaching, competition, leadership, and the real impact this game has on people's lives? In this episode, Mike welcomes Daniel J. Howard , Lead Coach Developer for Selkirk Academy, Senior Pro player, coach educator, and General Manager of the Detroit Disruptors. Daniel shares his...

What happens when you take an old warehouse… and turn it into one of the most electric pickleball communities in Canada? In this episode of Kitchen Conversations, I sit down with Jody Allen and Jeff Allen, the visionaries behind Smash Courts in Peterborough — and what they’ve built is far more than a facility. It’s a community. It’s a culture. It’s a place where people don’t just play pickleball…...

He Brought Padel to Canada 🇨🇦 | The Untold Story of Bill Stamile What happens when one man stumbles onto a sport… and decides to change a country with it? In this episode of Kitchen Conversations, I sit down with Canada’s padel pioneer, Bill Stamile — the man who brought padel from Argentina to Canada in 1992 and spent over three decades building it from nothing. This is not just a story about a s...

What happens when a lifelong tennis pro gives pickleball just 10 minutes… and it completely changes his life? In this episode of Kitchen Conversations – Stories Behind the Paddle, I sit down with Kevin Beeson—elite coach, national champion, and one of the most recognizable voices in pickleball education today. From grinding through the tennis world to becoming a global pickleball coach, Kevin brea...

What if the person who could extend your pickleball life…doesn’t even play the game? In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Colin Campbell, a chiropractor from the Nepean Active Health Clinic who sees the game from the outside looking in — and what he shares might completely change how you approach the court. From walking onto a varsity football team at Queen's University football team with ze...

What does it take to build one of the most organized and respected pickleball communities in North America? In this episode of Kitchen Conversations – Stories Behind the Paddle , I sit down with Diana Dowthwaite , President of the Ottawa Pickleball Association, to unpack the incredible growth of the game—and how the OPA has quietly become a blueprint for how to do it right. From humble beginnings—...

What exactly is DUPR… and why is the entire pickleball world talking about it? In this episode of Kitchen Conversations: Stories Behind the Paddle , Mike sits down with Kingston pickleball leader and founding Kingston Pickleball Club member Rick Bigelow for a deep dive into the evolution of pickleball ratings, the rise of DUPR, tournament play, sandbagging, reliability scores, and the growing pain...

What happens when a guy living in a yurt becomes one of the most influential voices in pickleball? In this episode of Kitchen Conversations, I sit down with Mike “Sleeves” Sliwa… one of the most recognizable, unfiltered, and thought-provoking personalities in the game today. He’s not just talking about pickleball. He’s challenging it. From hosting the Senior Pickleball Report to narrating a major...

What if the biggest risk in pickleball… isn’t your opponent? In this episode of Kitchen Conversations, I sit down with Brad Robbins — the mind behind Kitchen Blockers — a product that’s not just entering the game… …it’s trying to change it. After taking a ball to the eye, Brad saw something most players ignore: 👉 The fastest-growing sport in the world 👉 Millions of players 👉 Almost no one prote...

Before the millions of players… Before the pro tours… Before pickleball became what it is today… There was 1976. In this episode, we sit down to uncover the story of Johannes F. Lisiecki — the man behind the South Center Athletic Club, where the first organized pickleball tournament in the world was played. The Bicentennial Tournament. A moment that quietly changed everything. Held in Tukwila, Was...

He didn’t just play the game… he helped shape it. In this episode of Kitchen Conversations, I sit down with Pickleball Hall of Famer Steve Paranto… a man whose fingerprints are all over the modern game. From the earliest days of pickleball… to helping revolutionize paddle technology… to building one of the most unique spaces in the sport… This is a story of legacy, innovation, and the people who m...

In this episode, hear how a heart attack on a mountain during a mud race changed Kelli’s sports trajectory. Plus- what if the most important thing about pickleball… has nothing to do with pickleball? In this episode, we sit down with Kelli McRobert — and what unfolds is far bigger than the game. Yes, she’s a coach. Yes, she’s worked with elite programs. Yes, she’s connected to some of the most res...

The Huffin Puffin Muffin Girls is one of the most charming and meaningful stories to come out of Kingston pickleball. In this episode of Kitchen Conversations, Mike sits down with Pam Bidinost, one of the founding forces behind the Kingston Pickleball Club, to talk about how a women’s exercise group with a hilarious nickname turned into a full blown pickleball obsession. What began with laughs, co...

Pickleball with Purpose | Pickle Power Ottawa Fundraiser What happens when pickleball meets purpose? On April 18th, the courts at The Forge Pickleball Club come alive for something far bigger than competition. Pickle Power Ottawa is more than a tournament. It is a movement driven by community, resilience, and the fight against cancer. Founded by breast cancer survivor Andrea Douglas, this event br...

What happens when an entire family falls in love with pickleball… and never looks back? In this episode of Kitchen Conversations, Mike sits down with the Kawamotos — a family that has become synonymous with excellence, humility, and heart in the game. From their first swings on the court to competing at the highest levels, this is a story about how pickleball didn’t just enter their lives… it took...

What if pickleball could change lives… inside prison walls? In this episode of Kitchen Conversations, I sit down with Roger BelAIr, the founder of PICL, a movement doing something almost impossible. He is bringing pickleball into prisons. And what’s happening inside those walls is nothing short of remarkable. From maximum security facilities to some of the toughest institutions in North America, R...

What if one of the fastest-growing sports in the world also had a hidden waste problem… and no one was doing anything about it? In this episode of Kitchen Conversations, I sit down with Dillion Rosenthal, the founder of Bounceback Pickle — the first company on the planet turning cracked pickleballs back into brand new ones. Let that sink in. “He’s the only person we can find on the planet doing ex...

What happens when a “semi-retired” fundraiser from England accidentally builds one of the largest pickleball communities in the world? In this episode of Kitchen Conversations, I sit down with Paddy Hunter-Murphy, the driving force behind Senior Pickleball Tips — a global community that has grown to well over 135000 engaged members across 60+ countries. What started as a simple Facebook group that...