Behind the Paddle

In this powerful episode of Behind the Paddle, Rob Nunnery sits down with Karen Mitchell, co-founder and chair of Pickleball England, to explore how a local village game turned into a nationwide movement—and what’s next on the global stage. They cover: Karen’s unexpected journey into pickleball (tea, cake & a paddle!) The grassroots origins of Pickleball England How England is setting the tone...

Pickleball is catching fire in the Middle East—and Andreas and Thomas Neuert are at the center of it. In this episode, Rob Nunnery sits down with brothers Andreas and Thomas to talk about how they brought pickleball to Dubai, how they're building community, and why the sport is positioned to skyrocket across the GCC. From four courts to hundreds of players in months, Pickle Turf is just the beginn...

Welcome to Episode 13 of the Behind the Paddle pickleball podcast! In this episode, Rob Nunnery welcomes Jordan Wick and Michele Spahr, hosts of the "Mom, You're Embarrassing Me" podcast. Rob shares his experiences of being a pro pickleball player after being diagnosed with Crohn's disease and Michele shares her experiences after an MS diagnosis. They both share how important community support is...

Welcome to Episode 12 of the Behind the Paddle pickleball podcast. In this episode, Rob Nunnery welcomes Carl Schmits, chief technology officer at USA Pickleball. Carl shares his journey from a systems engineer to a pro pickleball player. He discusses his involvement in the development of pickleball equipment standards, the challenges faced in the pro pickleball scene, and the importance of viewer...

Welcome to Episode 10 of the Behind the Paddle pickleball podcast! In this episode, Rob Nunnery welcomes Kyle Yates, owner of The Picklr. Kyle shares his journey from professional pickleball player to business owner, with the goal of building indoor pickleball facilities in Colorado. He shares his experiences, challenges, and surprises of running a pickleball business and the importance of communi...

Welcome to Episode 9 of the Behind the Paddle pickleball podcast. In this episode, Rob Nunnery welcomes Matt Nola, founder of Lunar Pickleball. Matt shares his journey from discovering pickleball during the pandemic to establishing Lunar Pickleball, a pickleball paddle brand aimed at providing resources for players in Asia. He discusses the vibrant culture of Thailand, the need for better infrastr...

Welcome to Episode 8 of the Behind the Paddle pickleball podcast. In this episode, Rob Nunnery welcomes Erik Tice, a content writer for the Dink Pickleball. Erik shares his journey into the world of professional pickleball analysis, including his analytical approach to player performance and the importance of statistical data in understanding team dynamics. There is a need for better statistical t...

Welcome to Episode 7 of the Behind the Paddle pickleball podcast. In this episode, Rob Nunnery welcomes Ryler DeHeart as he shares his journey from tennis to becoming a professional pickleball player. They discuss the challenges (and joys) of transitioning from one sport to another, the importance of family in his pickleball journey, and the exciting growth of pickleball internationally. Ryler and...

Welcome to Episode 6 of the Behind the Paddle pickleball podcast. In this episode, Rob Nunnery welcomes pickleball pro Susannah Barr. Rob and Susannah discuss her journey into pickleball, her background as an adjunct professor and military linguist, and the challenges of being a pro athlete in a growing sport. Susannah also shares her experience of parenting a young athlete, how professional pickl...

Welcome to Episode 5 of the Behind the Paddle pickleball podcast. In this episode, Rob Nunnery welcomes pickleball pro Dylan Frazier to talk about his journey in pickleball, playing in college, and the future of pickleball. Pickleball is growing exponentially among college students — Dylan sees a lot of potential for it to become a varsity sport. He also talks about pro pickleball formats, player...

Welcome to Episode 4 of the Behind the Paddle pickleball podcast! In this episode, Rob Nunnery welcomes pickleball pro Federico Staksrud to talk about his journey from playing tennis in Argentina to discovering pickleball in the United States. Federico shares his upbringing, the support of his parents, and his pickleball goals, including helping singles pickleball become a main showcase for the sp...

Welcome to Episode 3 of the Behind the Paddle podcast! In this episode, Rob Nunnery welcomes pickleball pro John Cincola. Both players share their own personal journeys in pickleball, the evolution of the sport, and how pickleball has changed both their lives. They also talk about transitioning from tennis to pickleball, and how it can both be challenging and rewarding. John talks about building h...

Welcome to Episode 2 of the Behind the Paddle pickleball podcast! In this episode, Rob Nunnery welcomes pickleball pro James Ignatowich to talk about his pickleball journey from a junior tennis player to one of the best pickleball players in the world. James reflects on childhood tennis tournaments, getting kicked off his college tennis team, and how he avoided burnout. As a professional athlete,...

Welcome the Behind the Paddle pickleball podcast, a brand new show with Rob Nunnery! In this podcast, Rob will talk with pickleball players from all different backgrounds to discuss how they got into pickleball, their thoughts on the pro leagues, and their strategy to improve their skills. In Episode 1, Rob Nunnery welcomes tennis player Donald Young to discuss his transition from tennis to pickle...