Kitchen Talk: Pickleball Edition

Randall Bedwell is a passionate advocate for junior pickleball development. Randall shares his mission to grow the sport among youth through his organizations Pickleball Kids USA and the Tennessee Junior Pickleball Association. From integrating pickleball into after-school programs and PE curricula across Tennessee schools to championing a proposed state pickleball license plate, with profits dire...

The 2025 Minto US Open Pickleball Championships in Naples is bringing the heat like never before. With over 3,400 players from all 50 states and 40 countries, it’s the biggest pickleball party in the world. US Open Owner, Ben Weinberger, talks about the brand-new wellness center, a beachside Margaritaville hangout, an enhanced Zing Zang Championship court, and more sponsors and vendors than ever b...

Chong Kim, better known as CK, is on a mission to break the Guinness World Record for the longest pickleball marathon, aiming to play for an incredible 36 consecutive hours with three of his friends. The current record stands at 34 hours and 5 minutes, and CK is pushing past it not just for the thrill, but for a meaningful cause. The entire event will raise awareness and funds for Taylor’s Gift Fo...

Jose Moreno is the Chief Marketing Officer of USA Pickleball, which is the national governing body for the sport in the United States. Jose dives into the excitement of USA Pickleball’s golden ticket events, which give players a chance to qualify for the prestigious national championships. But beyond the competition, Jose shares the heart of their mission—giving back. Through USA Pickleball’s nonp...

Forrest Smith set out to build a mission-driven company that truly helps people—and that’s exactly what he did with Kineon. In this episode, we dive into how Kineon is making advanced light therapy accessible and affordable with the Move+ Pro , a compact yet powerful device delivering clinical-level therapy without the $50,000 price tag. Used by PGA golfers, NFL players, and everyday individuals,...

In just four months, 12-year-old Rocco Monteleon has skyrocketed from pickleball beginner to medaling in 4.0 tournaments and winning two bronze medals at his first national junior tournament. A former USTA tennis player, Rocco made the switch to pickleball and hasn’t looked back—so much so that his family is moving to Florida so he can train year-round and chase his dream of going pro. With a natu...

For the first time ever, an 11-year-old is joining the podcast! Ethan Lefkowitz is one of the youngest rising stars in pickleball, competing on the junior tour and already making a name for himself. Growing up in New York City, he learned the game by playing against adults, facing challenges and proving that age is just a number. Now a Selkirk-sponsored athlete, Ethan shares what it’s like to be t...

What does it take to thrive in the fastest-growing sport in America? Evan Specht, Co-Founder of Diadem Sports, knows firsthand. Starting in his garage, Evan built a tennis brand that quickly pivoted into pickleball, driven by his love for innovation and the challenge of a fast-paced industry. In this episode, he unveils Diadem’s latest breakthrough: BLUCORE Technology, the first solid-core paddle...

In this heartfelt episode, Stephen Jones shares his deeply personal journey with Stage 4 cancer and how the pickleball community has shown up for him in extraordinary ways. While he’s no longer able to play the sport he loves during his chemotherapy treatments, Stephen’s connection to the pickleball world has remained stronger than ever. He reveals how this community has inspired him, lifted him u...

Christine and Peter Burrows started PB-CB to provide corporate teams the opportunity to learn and play the fastest-growing sport while also enjoying some cohesion, communication, collaboration and fun! Whether you’re a small team or an enterprise organization that wants to build departments or cross-functional teams, PB-CB provides a unique and engaging experience. By integrating the camaraderie o...

Doug Snelson is the author of the award-winning book Pickleball Poetry: Fun and Whimsical Verses to Dink About. Collaborating with renowned referees and players, Doug crafted 32 playful and insightful poems that celebrate the techniques, emotions, and camaraderie of the pickleball community. His book, which has earned rave reviews and accolades like the Pinnacle Achievement Award, is designed to m...

Anthony Flores, a Charlotte native with a lifelong passion for sports, turned a post-injury spark into a thriving entrepreneurial venture. After discovering pickleball in 2021, Anthony combined his competitive spirit with his love for building community to create CLT Paddle Battle, a flexible pickleball league that’s now the largest in Charlotte with over 3,000 participants. What began as a grassr...

Step into pickleball history with Jesse Knutson, a trailblazer who grew up on one of the first backyard pickleball courts in Seattle, dating back to 1969. As the #1 junior player in the U.S., Jesse dominated the game before most even knew it existed. Now the Head of Publicity for the Academy of Country Music, Jesse takes us on a captivating journey through the sport’s infancy—sharing how tournamen...

This week, we welcome Michael Loyd back to the podcast to relive his remarkable journey at the Pickleball World Championships. Michael shocked the pickleball community with a Cinderella run, taking down legends like Ben Johns, JW Johnson, and Quang Duong to claim silver. Now, his name is on everyone’s radar, with fans and players alike recognizing him at tournaments and celebrating his meteoric ri...

Stephen Grich is the Founder and CEO of Apex Pickleball and he brings Middle Tennessee its very first outdoor, dedicated pickleball facility. With 11 courts, a championship court, and a deep commitment to growing the sport, Stephen shares the inspiring story behind transforming an empty property into a bustling pickleball hub in just a few months. From his start in pickleball a decade ago to becom...

Tracy Thomas and Cass Torian are co-founders of The Official Pickleball E-Referee™️, the first-ever AI-powered rules app built exclusively for pickleball. Designed to empower players with a deeper understanding of the game, this interactive tool provides real-time answers to rule-related questions. Whether players are uncertain about whose ball it is or who scores the next point, they can text or...

Ever get tired of hearing, "Whose paddle is this?" at open play? Sam Goodwin, co-founder of MyPadL, has the answer—custom bands that let you personalize your paddle with your name, number, favorite saying, or even emojis. But that’s not all: Sam and his team hand-paint and craft each band themselves, adding a personal touch to every product. What began as a friendship on the pickleball courts has...

Ryan is the co-founder and CEO of Bounce which is an innovative platform transforming the way racquet sport players and coaches connect. Whether you're on the court or learning remotely, Bounce serves as a one-stop shop for all your needs. Players can review coach profiles, receive personalized feedback, and track their progress. Meanwhile, coaches can streamline their schedules, monitor client pe...

Vanessa and Camilla are the visionary duo behind 365Dink. Much like the popular Epic or Ikon passes for skiing, 365Dink brings a game-changing concept to the pickleball world. These trailblazing women have created the first-ever membership program allowing pickleball enthusiasts to play at partnered facilities anytime, anywhere—whether you're traveling for work or exploring new places you’ll be tr...

Todd "Mojo" Muffley is the creative force behind 110 Hats and Mojo Picklebal l . Each hat design is a personal project for Todd, with only 110 hats made per design, inspired by his father’s advice to always give 110%. Todd doesn’t stop there—he also designs the hats himself and personally crafts the t-shirts for his brand. After selling a successful marketing agency, he made the leap to...

Dr. Tess Kilwein is a renowned clinical and sports psychologist who works with elite collegiate athletes at Vanderbilt University. Dr. Kilwein dives deep into the power of mental performance and the critical role of mental resets in pickleball, comparing these strategies to other sports and high-level athletes. She also sheds light on a pressing issue—athlete PTSD and trauma—discussing its prevale...

Blake Wilke is an entrepreneur who merged his love for hospitality and pickleball to create a unique short-term rental experience. Blake shares his journey from working in the hospitality industry to developing a stunning barndominium-style home on three acres in the Tennessee countryside, just outside of Nashville. The property features four state-of-the-art indoor pickleball courts equipped with...

Get ready to be inspired by the youngest guest on our podcast to date! In this episode, we chat with 15-year-old Volly Johnson, a rising star in the pickleball world. Coming from a three-generation pickleball family, Volly trains alongside her mom and is already making waves on the national circuit. As she pursues her dreams, Volly has transitioned to online school, allowing her to travel the coun...

Karen F. Geiger is an award-winning writer and speech-language pathologist and has brought her love for journaling and creativity to the pickleball court. Karen, a certified therapeutic writing instructor, created "Drives: The Pickleball Planner" and "Dink: The Pickleball Playbook" to help players enhance their performance, mindset, and creativity. With a deep understanding of...

Diadem founder, Evan Specht, unveils the remarkable evolution of Diadem from a tennis brand creating innovative racquet strings to a trailblazer in the pickleball world. Evan shares their inspiring mission to make pickleball accessible to all, highlighting the exciting development of Diadem Pickleball Complexes designed to foster community and support amateur players. Discover their cutting-edge i...