Cracked Paddles Podcast (Pickleball Podcast)

In this episode of Cracked Paddles , hosts Alex Crum and Kevin Dong sit down with Jason Aspes , a leading voice in pickleball branding, product design, and international growth. From exploring where his passion for paddles began to breaking down the true cost of performance gear , Jason offers an insider’s look into what it really takes to bring a paddle from concept to court. The conversation div...

In this episode, Alex Crum and Kevin Dong sit down with tennis star-turned-pickleball-innovator Danielle Collins to dive deep into her unexpected journey from Grand Slam courts to the paddle game. Danielle shares the story behind designing her signature Tecnifibre “Danimal” paddle — from R&D and material choices to the challenges of launching a paddle in a crowded market. Along the way, she connec...

This week on Cracked Paddles , Alex and Kevin dive into all the latest buzz shaking up the pickleball world. Alex kicks things off with a full recap of his recent Challenger event before the duo breaks down the hot-button topic of the week: the brand-new paddle regulations from the UPA. Are these rules a game-changer, or just more drama for the players and manufacturers? Alex also shares what it w...

In this episode of Cracked Paddles , hosts Alex Crum and Kevin Dong catch listeners up on their latest tournament runs. Alex dives into his Vegas Open performance, including his second straight upset of #1 seed Federico Staksrud. Kevin breaks down his APP Chicago experience, highlighting key matches and takeaways from the event. To wrap things up, the duo answer a batch of viewer questions, mixing...

Alex Crum and Kevin Dong open this week’s episode of Cracked Paddles with some big personal and pickleball news—Kevin’s wedding weekend and their reactions to the Major League Pickleball Championship. They dive into the latest in paddle talk before sitting down with special guest Bryson Alexander from Midwest Sports. Bryson shares his journey with MWS, how they prioritize products and brands, what...

This week on Cracked Paddles , hosts Alex Crum and Kevin Dong are joined by Zane Navratil for a wide-ranging conversation that spans both the court and the content world. Zane reflects on his new role as president of the Pro Player Council, recaps the action and atmosphere from the Dallas MLP event, and shares insights into his approach to creating pickleball content. The group also looks ahead at...

Alex Crum and Kevin Dong break down the debut of the new Lifetime pickleballs being used on tour — how they feel, how they play, and what impact they might have on the pro game. Plus, Alex shares his own results from the Bristol PPA event, including key takeaways, memorable matches, and what’s next on his competitive calendar. Midwest Sports If you play pickleball, you’ve gotta check out Midwest P...

Alex Crum and Kevin Dong sit down with DUPR CEO Tito Machado to unpack the biggest change in pickleball ratings history. In this episode of Cracked Paddles , Tito breaks down DUPR's revamped algorithm—what’s changed, why it matters, and how it impacts players at every level. It’s no longer just about wins and losses. From rally scoring adjustments to performance-weighted matches, we dive deep into...

This week on Cracked Paddles , Alex Crum and Kevin Dong sit down with Chris Patrick—COO and General Counsel of the PPA Tour—for an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at professional pickleball’s biggest stage. Chris shares his unique journey from the legal world to the pickleball court, the evolution of the PPA’s new player compensation model, and what it’s really like managing the sport’s rising st...

Alex Crum and Kevin Dong are back for Episode 8 of Cracked Paddles, diving into a packed week in the world of pickleball. The guys open with thoughts on the PPA’s surprising decision to terminate Quang Duong’s contract and what it signals for the tour moving forward. They preview the upcoming St. Louis event at Chaifetz Arena, break down AC’s latest show in New York, and share the drill of the wee...

Alex Crum makes it official — he's joining the PPA professional pickleball tour. In this episode, Alex and Kevin break down their matches at the Rochester PPA Challenger, reflect on what went right (and wrong), and celebrate a major milestone: the first official sponsor of Cracked Paddles, Midwest Sports. Kevin also recaps his run at the APP Newport Beach Open, and the hosts preview what’s next on...

Alex Crum and Kevin Dong are joined by the breakout star of the Select Medical Orange County Cup, Rafael Lenhard, who shocked the pickleball world by defeating world No. 1 Ben Johns. They break down Rafael’s mindset during the upset, the adjustments he’s made for rally scoring, and how he’s approaching competition differently after the biggest win of his career. The conversation also covers his th...

In this episode of Cracked Paddles, Alex and Kevin sit down with Matt Manasse—coach, broadcaster, and on-air talent at Pickleball TV—for a wide-ranging conversation about the sport’s evolution, media growth, and off-court drama. Matt shares his thoughts on what makes pickleball such an attractive product for sponsors, how he prepares for a day on the job at Pickleball TV, and some of the tour's mo...

On this episode of Cracked Paddles, Alex Crum and Kevin Dong are joined by DUPR CEO Tito Machado for a wide-ranging conversation about the role of data in the present — and future — of pickleball. Tito breaks down the origins of DUPR and how it’s grown into the sport’s most trusted rating system, while also offering insight into how players can climb the ranks and what actually goes into the calcu...

This week on Cracked Paddles, Alex Crum and Kevin Dong sit down with one of pickleball’s fastest-rising personalities: Tanner Tomassi, better known to fans as Tanner Pickleball. After building a massive following as a competitive Fortnite streamer and traveling the globe as a professional paintball player, Tanner found a new obsession in 2022—pickleball. What started as a casual hobby quickly turn...

In this week’s episode of Cracked Paddles , Alex Crum and Kevin Dong break down one of the biggest shakeups on the professional pickleball scene—Alex’s stunning back-to-back upsets over two #1-ranked players: Federico Staksrud in Atlanta and Chris Haworth in New York. Alex gives us a firsthand look into the mindset, match moments, and what it means to take down the sport’s elite. He also opens up...

Host Alex Crum and Kevin Dong kick off the first ever Cracked Paddles episode by discussing their pickleball backgrounds, what they like and dislike about the sport, and so much more! The guys also break down a little bit of film, and answer some questions from social media. All episodes are available in video format on the Cracked Paddles YouTube channel . To watch this episode, click here . Host...