Life Lessons from Pickleball™

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 ten...

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 th...

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...

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...

What does it take to turn a pandemic hobby into one of the fastest-growing indoor pickleball franchises in the country? In this episode, Denise and Will Richards share the story behind Dill Dinkers and how a simple pickleball set picked up during the pandemic led to a shared passion, a bold business idea, and the creation of a thriving indoor pickleball community. They talk about discovering the g...

What can pickleball teach us about resilience, healing, and purpose? In this episode, Dr. Martin Clark shares his remarkable journey from ER doctor to international pickleball champion. After a throat cancer diagnosis, Martin was forced to rethink life, health, competition, and what it means to keep moving forward. He talks about cancer recovery, mental toughness, athletic mindset, and how pickleb...

How do you help build a sport before most people even know it exists? In this episode, Pickleball Hall of Famer Fran Myer shares her remarkable journey from discovering pickleball after back surgery to becoming one of the sport’s true pioneers. She created the first online pickleball store, helped organize early major tournaments, served as a charter member of the USA Pickleball Association, and p...

How does pickleball inspire a bestselling author to write her steamiest romance yet? In this episode, bestselling author Kate Spencer shares how discovering pickleball during the pandemic brought her joy, connection, community, and a whole new creative spark. Kate talks about learning the game as an adult beginner, navigating perfectionism and vulnerability on the court, and how pickleball became...

How does someone become part of pickleball history from the very beginning and continue shaping the game for nearly five decades? In this episode, Pickleball Hall of Famer Steve Paranto shares his extraordinary journey through the history of pickleball, from competing in the very first Pickleball Championship in 1976 to becoming the longest-running tournament player in the sport. Steve talks about...

How can pickleball help us become more present, more joyful, and more connected to ourselves? In this episode, energy medicine healer, medium, teacher, and author Marie Manuchehri shares her remarkable life journey, from working as an oncology nurse to discovering her intuitive gifts and building a healing practice that has touched thousands of people around the world. Marie also talks about how p...

What does it take to stay at the top of professional pickleball for more than a decade while continuing to grow as a player, coach, and person? In this episode, Pickleball Hall of Famer Wes Gabrielsen shares his journey from first discovering pickleball in middle school in 1998 to becoming one of the most accomplished players in the sport. Wes talks about the early days of pickleball in the Pacifi...

JHow can pickleball help build community, create flow, and even shape the way we think about leadership and civic life? In this episode, Jim Lopez, Deputy City Manager for External Affairs for the City of Kirkland, Washington, shares how his work in public service, law, communications, and civic engagement connects with his growing love for pickleball. Jim talks about his role in city administrati...

What if pickleball could do more than build courts and actually help build community? In this episode, Bainbridge Island’s own “Mr. Pickleball,” Clay Roberts, shares how his work in youth development, prevention, and community building naturally shaped the way he approached the growth of pickleball in the place where the game began. Clay talks about helping create more courts on Bainbridge, preser...

How can pickleball help transform a life, rebuild health, and create community across every age, background, and skill level? In this episode, Pablo Granados shares his remarkable journey from growing up in Costa Rica dreaming of soccer, to surviving a life-threatening medical crisis, moving to the United States, struggling with major health challenges, and eventually finding a new path through pi...

What was it like growing up as the son of one of pickleball’s creators and discovering years later that your father had also lived a secret life as a CIA operative? In this fascinating episode, Joel Bell shares the origin story of pickleball through the eyes of his family and reflects on the surprising legacy of his father, Bill Bell. Joel talks about how the game was first created on Bainbridge I...

How can indoor pickleball help solve one of the sport’s biggest problems while also creating more community, connection, and joy? In this episode, siblings Mara and John Hylton share how their family partnership and professional experience led them into one of the most exciting developments in the Pacific Northwest pickleball scene: bringing Pickleball Kingdom to Washington. John, with a long back...

How can pickleball become a lifelong calling, a ministry of service, and a way to help kids, first responders, seniors, and entire communities feel stronger, healthier, and more connected? In this episode, Diane Baumgartner shares her extraordinary pickleball journey, from first being introduced to the game as a middle school PE teacher in Oregon in 1981 to becoming a USA Pickleball Ambassador in...

What does it take to become one of the brightest young stars in pickleball while overcoming major health challenges along the way? In this episode, junior pickleball standout Ella Cosma and her mom, Angie, share their remarkable story of resilience, family, and determination. Ella opens up about the serious medical issues she faced as a child, the long hospital stays that shaped her perspective, a...

What if the key to better pickleball is not just better shots, but a better understanding of the game? Senior pickleball pro Tony Roig joins us for a thoughtful and energizing conversation about strategy, mindset, and what it really takes to improve. As co-founder of Better Pickleball, host of Pickleball Therapy, and a full-time coach, Tony helps players understand the game from the inside out. In...

What happens when life falls apart and you have to rebuild from the ground up? In this heartfelt episode, Michele Heffron shares how a difficult divorce became the beginning of a powerful personal transformation. After years as a stay-at-home mom, Michele found herself having to reinvent her life, rebuild her confidence, and learn how to truly support herself. Today, she is a certified life, relat...

How do you rebuild your life after losing a limb and return to the court stronger than ever? In this episode, Brian De Herrera shares his remarkable journey from surviving a life-threatening bacterial infection to becoming a competitive pickleball player, coach, and inspiration to everyone who meets him. Brian opens up about the infection that led to his leg amputation, the recovery process, learn...

How can pickleball test a relationship, reveal our communication patterns, and actually help couples love each other better instead of wanting to pull out a kitchen knife? In this episode, Teri Citterman and Dr. Stormy Hill, co-authors of the Amazon bestselling book In a Pickle: How to Master Love and Pickleball and Not Kill Each Other , share how their personal pickleball journeys, professional e...

How can pickleball become more than a game and turn into a source of friendship, character, joy, and lifelong growth? In this episode, Glen Peterson shares his remarkable pickleball journey, from being introduced to doubles by his 85-year-old father at the North Shore Senior Center to becoming a decorated senior pickleball player with medals in singles and doubles at major championships. Glen refl...

How can pickleball become a new career, a creative brand, and a powerful community that truly changes lives? In this episode, Dean “Deano” Guyer shares his inspiring journey from playing tennis at age four and competing in collegiate tennis in Indiana to becoming a pro pickleball player, coach, and one of the passionate voices behind the pickleball lifestyle brand VIVUS Pickleball. Deano talks abo...

 How can pickleball be adapted so every person, regardless of physical, cognitive, or developmental ability, has the chance to succeed on the court? In this episode, Sandy Halkett, founder of Adaptive Pickleball, shares how she built a groundbreaking nonprofit that teaches pickleball to athletes with diverse abilities, including physical disabilities, cognitive challenges, and developmental differ...