Racquet Fuel

What if the key to attracting and retaining the next generation of racquet sports professionals is simply listening to them? In this episode of Racquet Fuel , hosts Kim Bastable and Simon Gale turn the microphone over to the next generation of racquet sports professionals. Joining them are Christian Cannon , University of Florida Director of Racquet Sports master's student, and Ethan Patrick , a R...

What happens when you combine pickleball, hospitality, entertainment, and community into one experience-driven business model? In this episode of Racquet Fuel , hosts Kim Bastable and Simon Gale sit down with Kelli Alldredge , President of Chicken N Pickle , to explore how one of the most recognizable names in pickleball entertainment grew from a bold idea in Kansas City into a nationally recogniz...

What can racquet sports leaders learn from one of the world’s most admired service organizations? In this episode of Racquet Fuel , hosts Kim Bastable and Simon Gale sit down with Holly Rivera , Chick-fil-A owner-operator in Orlando, to explore how one of the most recognizable brands in customer service develops leaders, builds intentional career pathways, and creates a culture where hospitality b...

What if the future of racquet sports leadership depends not just on understanding the game, but on knowing how to tell its story, build belief, and lead through change? In this episode of Racquet Fuel, hosts Kim Bastable and Simon Gale sit down with Ben Nichols , founder of Padel 22, to explore how communication, strategy, and storytelling are shaping the next chapter of racquet sports. With a bac...

What does it take to build a successful tennis academy that not only develops players, but also develops people? In this episode of Racquet Fuel, hosts Kim Bastable and Simon Gale speak with Tina Keown and Jack Glennane , directors of the Victorian Tennis Academy. Operating four venues and 24 courts just minutes from the Australian Open grounds, VTA has become one of Australia’s leading tennis org...

What if the future of racquet sports growth depends less on tradition and more on designing experiences for beginners, families, and urban communities? In this episode of Racquet Fuel, hosts Kim Bastable and Simon Gale sit down with Anthony Evrard, Co-founder and CEO of Court 16, to explore how innovation, listening, and purposeful design are reshaping the way families enter tennis. What began in...

What if the most successful racquet sports leaders aren’t the most credentialed—but the most adaptable, self-aware, and committed to culture fit? In this episode, hosts Kim Bastable and Simon Gale sit down with Andrew Minnelli ,  Director of Racquets at Bighorn Golf Club and Consultant with GSI Executive Search,  to explore what modern leadership, hiring, and career growth really look like in toda...

What if the future of racquet sports leadership depends less on titles and more on advocacy, early identification, and building a profession people are proud to choose? In this episode of Racquet Fuel , hosts Kim Bastable and Simon Gale sit down with Brian Dillman, CEO of the Racquet Sports Professionals Association (RSPA), to unpack one of the most significant leadership transformations in the in...

What happens when a Hall of Fame career ends and the real leadership work begins? In this episode of Racquet Fuel , hosts Kim Bastable and Simon Gale sit down with Gigi Fernandez, Hall of Fame tennis player, Olympic gold medalist, and founder of Tennis for Hope, to explore what leadership looks like after elite performance. Gigi shares her honest transition from individual excellence to collaborat...

What’s Really Going On with Gen Z in the Workplace? In this episode of Racquet Fuel , hosts Kim Bastable and Simon Gale sit down with leadership expert and author Tim Elmore to unpack the realities of Generation Z and how they’re reshaping the workforce. Tim breaks down insights from his new book, The Future Begins with Z , explaining what makes Gen Z tick — their mix of high agency, high anxiety,...

What’s Driving the Explosion of Pickleball and Padel? In this episode of Racquet Fuel , hosts Kim Bastable and Simon Gale talk with industry pioneer David Johnson about the massive growth of pickleball and the rising momentum of padel in the United States. David shares his early journey co-founding Pickleball Central in 2006, what he’s learned watching the sport scale, and why participation curves...

What standards are necessary to build a successful club? In this episode of Racquet Fuel, hosts Kim Bastable and Simon Gale talk with Consultants Doug Cash and Ajay Pant about the importance of standards in business, particularly in the context of tennis clubs. They explore how standards define a brand, the necessity of enforcing them, and the challenges of managing high performers who may resist...

What does it take to launch a nationwide coaching initiative from the ground up, and make it thrive? In this episode of Racquet Fuel , hosts Kim Bastable and Simon Gale talk with Megan Rose , Managing Director of USTA Coaching, about how she’s leading one of the most ambitious projects in U.S. tennis history. From crafting the strategy to grow coaching pathways to navigating the gray areas of lead...

What separates a good coach from a transformative leader? Mental performance expert Dr. Larry Lauer says it’s not talent or IQ—it’s reflection, self-awareness, and putting others first. In this episode of Racquet Fuel , hosts Kim Bastable and Simon Gale sit down with Dr. Larry Lauer, Director of Mental Performance at the USTA National Campus and co-host of the Compete Like a Champion podcast. Know...

If you “can’t find good pros,” this episode shows why that’s on us—and exactly how to build a repeatable Coach-in-Training (CIT) pipeline that grows talent and your business.  Hosts Kim Bastable and Simon Gale make the case for actively inspiring the next generation of coaches—and walk through Simon’s proven CIT framework you can adapt at any club. Kim shares survey data showing only 17% of junior...

Racquet Fuel hosts Kim Bastable and Simon Gale sit down with Per Nilsson, head men’s tennis coach at the University of Florida, for a leadership-first conversation about college tennis. Per shares the two cornerstones of his program—deeply individualized player development and a deliberately small, connected roster—and how those choices shape culture, performance, and recruiting. He also unpacks n...

What happens when a former top-100 player takes her competitive mindset and applies it to managing over 350 event days at the USTA National Campus? In this episode of Racquet Fuel , hosts Kim Bastable and Simon Gale sit down with Grace Min —a former WTA top-100 player who retired in 2024 and quickly transitioned into her role as Event Manager at the USTA National Campus. Grace shares how she’s ada...

From four clients in a garage to a 15,000-sq-ft hub with 500+ members, Jon Rowley shares the playbook racquet clubs can use to grow with standards, systems, and heart. In this Racquet Fuel episode, hosts Kim Bastable and Simon Gale sit down with Jon Rowley, founder and “Chief Exercise Officer” of a thriving Kansas City fitness community. Jon’s journey (from moonlighting trainer in Chicago to leadi...

What does it really take to turn a life on the court into a sustainable career in racquet sports? In this episode of Racquet Fuel, longtime tennis pro, club owner, and author Greg Moran joins hosts Kim Bastable and Simon Gale to unpack 40 years of experience in a single facility, and the powerful lessons that came with it. From starting as a ball boy to building one of Connecticut’s most successfu...

What if your greatest coaching lesson came off the court? In this episode of Racquet Fuel, Kim Bastable and Simon Gale sit down with Emma Doyle: tennis coach, keynote speaker, and expert in emotional intelligence, to explore what it really takes to coach with impact, whether you're leading athletes, employees, or entire teams. Emma shares her remarkable journey from teenage coach in Australia to g...

What happens when you bring together startup ambition, big-event expertise, and a deep commitment to human connection? You get RacquetX: an experience designed to connect every corner of the racquet sports industry. In this episode of Racquet Fuel, Kim Bastable and Simon Gale talk with Robyn Duda, the founder and creative mind behind RacquetX. With a background in designing global corporate events...

What does it actually take to build a thriving racquet sports facility in today’s fast-moving market? And what’s just hype? In this episode of Racquet Fuel , hosts Kim Bastable and Simon Gale are joined by Eric Loftus , an expert court builder and board member of the American Sports Builders Association. With more than 50 years in the tennis and racquet construction industry, Eric shares what he’s...

If we have a shortage of pros and an abundance of positions in the racquets industry, why must you make your resume stand out? The reason is because the employer is still seeking the best person for the position. In this episode of Racquet Fuel , Kim Bastable and Simon Gale give their opinion on how you can make the best first impression - one that will almost guarantee getting you to the top of t...

What happens when a key person on your team tells you they’re leaving—and you're the one who has to figure out what comes next? In this episode of the Racquet Fuel Podcast, Kim Bastable and Simon Gale explore the emotional and operational challenges that come with losing top talent. Simon shares his real-time experience managing the departure of a trusted team leader and walks through the decision...

What does it take to thrive as a young professional in the racquet sports industry, and how can today’s leaders support that journey? In this episode of Racquet Fuel , hosts Kim Bastable and Simon Gale sit down with Kyle Pipkin, a recent graduate of Hope College’s Racquet Sports Management program, to explore the early-career experiences shaping the future of tennis leadership. From internships an...