The Fail First Project with Alec Martone

Most high-performers spend their lives chasing a "summit," only to reach the top and realize the view isn't what they expected. On this episode of Fail First, we conduct a mental health "threat assessment" to determine if our modern definition of success is actually fueling our fulfillment—or destroying our sense of meaning. Alec hosts a powerhouse roundtable featuring three experts dedicated to r...

Nick Fowler was $20,000 in debt when he realized the world was changing. While most people look at TikTok as an app for entertainment, Nick saw a lifeline. In this episode of Fail First , Nick reveals how he transitioned from a Military Rescue Swimmer to building a $22 million TikTok Shop empire. This conversation isn’t just about the TikTok Shop blueprint, it’s a masterclass in recognizing opport...

In this episode of the Fail First Podcast, we sit down with Travis, the Director of Pickleball at Pickleball X, a private equity group investing heavily in the future of the sport. Pickleball X owns and manages Pickleball Kingdom facilities, with plans for aggressive expansion across the US. Travis provides an incredible deep dive into the business of pickleball and what it takes for a facility to...

Limited capital, getting punched in the mouth, keep building anyway. Ron Shell and Australia’s National Pickleball League (NPL) launched just as MLP and PPA announced they were moving into the same market. Instead of folding, he doubled down—building venues as content engines, designing a true team format with singles at the core, and experimenting with Green Zone, a broadcast model that might fin...

Pro Pickleball Player, Susannah Barr admits her greatest failure was focusing only on playing — while ignoring the bigger picture of sponsorships, brand-building, and long-term career planning. That lesson shaped her journey: from grinding to pay her way into tournaments, to co-owning Boise’s premier indoor facility,  @the.flyingpickle  .In this episode of the Fail First Podcast, Susannah shares h...

Pickleball isn’t just a sport at the collegiate level — it’s a startup. At James Madison University, Ryan and Carter have built one of the fastest-growing pickleball clubs in America:📈 500+ social members🏆 32 competitive athletes💰 3 sponsorship deals✉️ 200+ cold emails, reach outs, and even fundraising roundsThis isn’t just about sport. It’s about leadership, failure, culture, and building some...

What if your brain, not your body, was the first thing to quit on you? Dr. Scott Frey — neuroscientist, performance coach, and founder of Cerebral Performance — joins us for a masterclass on mental fatigue, central fatigue, and the neuroscience of high performance. From dopamine addiction to stress overload, from breathwork to neuroplasticity, this conversation uncovers the hidden mechanisms that...

-🎯 What happens when someone who failed out of school and lost all sense of self beats the best pickleball player in the world? Alex Crum's journey from failing out of school and hitting rock bottom in his 20's to defeating #1-ranked pickleball players is a masterclass in resilience and reinvention. This conversation reveals how he lost his identity in his sophomore year, rebuilt himself through...

What happens when a world-class tennis coach has a near-death experience—and comes back to coach some of the greatest of all time! In this powerful interview, Dr. Joy Macci shares how a life-threatening accident, 15 minutes without a heartbeat, and a coma led her to transform not only her life—but the lives of elite athletes like Serena Williams, Venus Williams, and Andy Roddick. We go deep into:...

🎯 What happens when a 12-year-old with a shovel becomes the founder of pickleball's largest online community? Aaron Reznik's journey from door-to-door snow shoveling to building the Pickleball Clinic (500K+ followers) is a masterclass in community building and entrepreneurship. This conversation reveals how he dismissed the future GOAT's (Ben Johns) advice, the failures that shaped his success, a...

What happens when you call a sport "silly" one day and become a sponsored professional pickleball player the next year? Zack Taylor's journey from American Idol contestant to pro pickleball player is one of the most unexpected career pivots you'll ever hear. 🎧 TIMESTAMPS:(00:00) Opening: The best mistake that changed everything(03:15) Biggest failure: The relationship with his d...

The most controversial change in pickleball history happened overnight. The community exploded with criticism and conspiracy theories. Tito Machado, CEO of DUPR, breaks his silence with complete transparency about why they overhauled their entire rating system and what really happened behind the scenes. 🎧 TIMESTAMPS:(00:00) Intro(02:15) Company secret: The Anna Leigh Waters example (05:30) Why si...

What happens when you spend your entire twenties chasing the wrong dream? Kaitlin Miller gave up everything to become a TV news anchor. She moved to Nashville, sacrificing weekends, holidays, and relationships to climb the media ladder. Then, just as she was making it in a major market, she had an epiphany that changed everything. 🎧 TIMESTAMPS:(00:00) Opening: Why athlete stories matter beyond hi...

How do you go from cutting patterns with rulers and French curves to becoming the compression wear choice of NBA stars, NFL pros, and top Pickleball players? In this episode, Alec sits down with Jonathan Oe, founder of Leorêver, to unpack the decades-long story behind one of sports' most trusted performance brands—handcrafted from scratch with paper, scissors, and relentless intention. Jonatha...

What happens when a seasoned executive from the NHL steps into one of the fastest-growing sports in America? In this episode, Alec sits down with Mike Nealy , former Arizona Coyotes President and now the CEO of USA Pickleball , to unpack the strategy, struggles, and surprising psychology behind building a sport from scratch . Mike opens up about the unexpected similarities between hockey and pickl...

Welcome to another episode of the Fail First Podcast ! Today’s guest is the dynamic Connor Derrickson , widely known as “That Pickleball Trainer.” Connor brings a fascinating story—from his time as a strength and conditioning coach for the Minnesota Twins , to now training amateur and pro pickleball players . In this episode, we dive into: How he overcame five knee injuries and rebuilt himself Mer...

On this episode of the Fail First Podcast , host Alec Martone sits down with Dr. Brandon Bentzley for a fascinating conversation bridging the worlds of plasma physics, neuroscience, and mental health innovation . Dr. Bentzley shares his unique journey—from conducting NASA plasma physics research to pioneering cutting-edge psychiatric treatments at Stanford and through his company, Magnus Medical ....

In this episode of the Fail First Podcast, we sit down with Tom Webb, the chief marketing officer of the world's first pickleball tour. Tom shares his incredible journey from working with global giants like Formula One and Red Bull to diving into the exciting world of pickleball. You'll hear about the potential of pickleball as a rapidly growing sport and the innovative ways the Association of Pic...

In this episode of the Fail First Podcast, we sit down with Curtis Smith to delve into the meteoric rise and innovative journey of Paddletek in the pickleball industry. Curtis shares the inspiring origin story of how he was initially skeptical about the sport but ultimately convinced by his brother to embrace the potential of pickleball, leading to the rise of Paddletek. Listen as Curtis reveals t...

In this episode of the Fail First Podcast, join us as we dive into the world of Diadem Sports with co-founder Evan Specht , who shares the story behind their mission, "live to play." Evan provides an inside look at how Diadem is pushing boundaries in innovation both in the tennis and pickleball industries. Discover how they are redefining pickleball with their groundbreaking BluCore technology and...

In this episode, we dive into the inspiring journeys of our guests, Jack Munro and Jaikin Gomez, as they navigate the world of pro pickleball and beyond. From Jack's strategic approach to building a brand beyond playing, to Jaikin's reflections on transforming his basketball past into pickleball potential, this episode offers insightful lessons on perseverance and adapting to life's un...

In this episode, we sit down with Elly Smith, a passionate pickleball player who has turned her love for the sport into a vibrant career in content creation and social media. Elly shares her journey from managing a coffee shop in Illinois to embracing the challenges and unknowns of the growing pickleball industry. Through candid discussions about personal growth, career transformation, and the cou...

From Wall Street to Pickleball: Inside Gabe Tardio's $800K PPA Contract & Other Pickleball Industry SecretsDavid Hathaway (Co-Founder of Godfather Pickleball Agency) reveals the truth behind Gabe Tardio's viral contract, why leaked deals could be dangerous for players, and how the PPA's cash flow issues are reshaping pro pickleball 👀Learn: ✔️ Why paddle companies are pulling back from pro spo...

In today's episode, we are joined by two exceptional guests, Richard Livornese Jr. and Eric Oncins, as they share their personal journeys through the world of sports, particularly focusing on the challenges and triumphs they've experienced on and off the pickleball court. Richard, candidly discusses the pivotal moment in his life when the pressures of competing in a major tournament led to a profo...

In this episode of the Fail First Podcast, we are joined by Riley Bohnert, a rising pickleball star, and her father, Chris Bohnert, as they dive into Riley's inspiring journey to professional success on the pickleball courts. Riley shares the pivotal moments that led her to choose pickleball over college, including a transformative tournament experience in New York. With the unwavering support...