The Joy of Padel

In this episode of Joy of Padel, we catch up with architect and grand padel aficionado and player Martín de León, who offers a unique perspective from his journey spanning Uruguay, San Diego, and London. The conversation focuses on how Martín first discovered padel during the pandemic and quickly became immersed in its energetic community and layered dynamics, eventually leading him to train with...

In this episode of Joy of Padel, Minter Dial welcomes Hungarian #1 and current world number 136 padel professional Dóra Andrejszki, who shares her unique journey from collegiate tennis in the United States to training and competing on the international padel circuit. With candour and thoughtfulness, Dóra Andrejszki recounts the challenges and revelations she faced in transitioning to padel—initial...

In this episode of Joy of Padel, Minter Dial welcomes Dani Dios, a veteran of the sport with over 26 years of experience, whose journey has taken him from the ATP tennis circuit in Spain to the forefront of padel’s global expansion. With roots as a professional tennis player, Dani Dios shares how a humbling early defeat on the padel court ignited his passion for the game and led him to become an i...

For this episode of Joy of Padel, I reverted to Google's NotebookLM to create a conversation between two AI-generated voices (so-named Elle and Jim) about how to play against and with a left-handed player. Elle and Jim unpack the astonishing dynamics of left-handed dominance within the fast-evolving world of padel. Drawing on an arsenal of data from Minter Dial, elite tactical breakdowns from coac...

‼️ ALERT: I made a mistake in the upload first time. It's now fixed. Please refresh in order to get the right recording with Nick (apologies 🫣 !!) In this episode of JOY OF PADEL, number 8 of season 4, Minter Dial is joined by Nick Baker, a fellow padel enthusiast and leading figure in the UK’s burgeoning padel scene. With a background spanning lawn tennis, squash, and, notably, real tennis, Nick...

In this episode of JOY OF PADEL, I am joined by Alessandro Ossola, Paralympic athlete, founder of Bionic People and the Inclusive Padel Tour, and champion of positive change in sport. Connected through a shared love of padel, I sit down with Alessandro for an inspiring, wide-ranging conversation about resilience, redefining limits, and making the court accessible for all. Alessandro shares his rem...

In this episode of JOY OF PADEL, Minter Dial welcomes Diego Campos, a seasoned padel player, investor, and key figure in the explosive growth of padel in the United States. Based in Miami but originally from Mexico City—where padel finds its roots—Diego Campos brings both personal passion and deep strategic insight to the conversation. The exchange traces Diego Campos's journey from competitive te...

This interview was conducted in Spanish. If you would like to have the subtitles, please head over to the Joy of Padel channel on YouTube. Here are the toplines of what we discussed (in English). 1. Introduction and Beginnings in Padel Introduction of Ariana Sánchez as a professional padel player. Brief personal description and values. Initial moments of her professional career and reaching number...

In this episode, Minter sits down with Flight Lieutenant Ben Hanley, whose journey into padel began unexpectedly after a military posting to Madrid in 2022. With zero background in racket sports but a willingness to dive in, Ben Hanley quickly discovered how padel could not only transform his own life but also build community within the military and beyond. From his very first game to becoming a c...

In this episode, host Minter sits down with the inspiring Pep Stonor, a passionate padel player and founder of Empower Padel. Pep shares her journey from discovering padel on a holiday in Portugal to becoming an early adopter in the UK during the COVID lockdowns, and eventually representing Australia at the international level. Together, they explore the unique social spirit of padel, the transiti...

Welcome to a brand new season of JOY OF PADEL! We’re kicking off with a true rising star in the sport – Belgian padel ace Clément Geens, who rocketed into the world’s top 100 after picking up the game just five years ago. In this episode, Minter sits down with Clément Geens to explore his unique journey from a hockey-playing family to the upper echelons of international padel, his transition from...

Special Edition: Nominations and Voting in The British Padel Awards 2026 This episode of JOY OF PADEL celebrates the launch of the British Padel Awards 2026, as host Minter energizes listeners with exciting news for the UK padel community. Minter kicks off this fourth season by announcing that the BPA has 21 categories honoring the players, clubs, coaches, innovators, and legends who are shaping B...

This episode of JOY OF PADEL features Camille Huyghues Despointes, French entrepreneur and co-founder (with me) of Pango, to discuss her journey from theater studies and multiple startups to launching an innovative padel app. Camille shares how her experience in show jumping shaped her understanding of partnership and energy, and why she fell in love with padel's accessibility and social nature. T...

Emily Kilner, BBC New Voice Award winner and Premier Padel commentator, shares her journey from England Under-21 hockey international to becoming one of padel's most distinctive voices. Broadcasting and interviewing in both English and Spanish, Emily discusses the art of commentary, the strategic nuances that separate professional padel from amateur play, and why longer rallies in women's padel of...

Bill Ullman, co-Founder of the Anglo-American Cup and President of the United States Padel Association (USPA), shares his journey from squash to padel and his vision for the sport's growth in the US. He discusses the challenges of adapting to padel from other racket sports, the development of a padel culture, and the importance of sustainable growth. Bill offers insights into the USPA's role in ex...

This 19th episode of season 3 of the Joy of Padel podcast episode features Andi Neugarten, founder of Six Love Sports, the largest women's padel community in the USA. Andi discusses her journey into padel, the sport's growth in America, and her mission to empower women through padel. She shares insights on the social aspects of padel, the differences between US and European padel cultures, and her...

Aimee Gibson, GB's number one padel player and world-ranked 85, shares her journey from tennis to padel in this Joy of Padel podcast. She discusses her transition, training methods, and the mental aspects of the game. Aimee offers insights into professional padel, including partner selection, tournament strategies, and the challenges of competing at the top level. She emphasizes the importance of...

THIS INTERVIEW WAS CONDUCTED IN SPANISH 🇪🇸. IT'S AVAILABLE ON YOUTUBE WITH SUBTITLES IN ENGLISH 🇬🇧!! Juanjo Gutiérrez, former professional padel player and current coach of the Spanish national team, shares insights into his career and the evolution of padel. He discusses the transition from tennis to padel, his experiences as a player and coach, and the dynamics of selecting and managing a nation...

Mark Hewlett, founder of Soul Padel, reveals how a traumatic experience led him to discover the transformative power of padel. His journey from rugby player to padel pioneer is nothing short of inspiring. In this episode #16, Mark shares the genesis of Soul Padel and its mission to make padel accessible to all. We explore how this fast-growing sport is building communities and bridging social divi...

This podcast features Gonzalo Lorenzo, a padel coach and YouTube sensation, discussing his journey in the sport and coaching philosophy. Gonzalo shares insights on player improvement, communication strategies, and the culture of padel. He emphasizes the importance of playing percentage shots and reducing unforced errors. The conversation also explores the growing popularity of padel worldwide and...

Juan Martín Díaz, padel legend, shares his journey from his beginnings in tennis to becoming a padel professional. He emphasizes the importance of understanding the game and the evolution toward a more physical sport. Díaz describes himself as an offensive player with exceptional reflexes, emphasizing the importance of compatibility with his playing partner. He analyzes the differences between the...

Elena Martín, partner at PwC and co-author of the 2025 Global Padel Report, joins the Joy of Padel podcast to discuss the sport's explosive growth. She shares insights on padel's global expansion, including the projected 81,000 courts worldwide by 2027 and the USA's potential to become the largest market. Elena delves into the factors driving padel's popularity, such as its accessibility and socia...

The Rise of Padel in Saudi Arabia: Najwa Salhab's Journey (JOPS03E12) My latest Joy of Padel episode features Najwa Salhab, a rising star from Saudi Arabia's national padel team. Najwa's journey from casual player to national representative is truly inspiring. In this episode, we dive into: • The rapid growth of padel in Saudi Arabia • Najwa's transition from amateur to competitive player • The im...

From Wall Practice to World Stages: Marta Talaván's Padel Rise (JOPS03E11) I'm thrilled to share my latest Joy of Padel podcast episode featuring the incredible Marta Talaván, a top-ranked professional padel player and board member. Marta offers a fascinating glimpse into the world of pro padel, from her journey as a young player to her current role shaping the sport's future. We dive deep into th...

London's padel scene is exploding, and we've got the inside scoop. Did you know there are now 166 courts across 42 venues in the city? In our latest Joy of Padel episode, we dive deep into the data behind London's padel revolution. From premium clubs to pop-up courts, we explore the diverse landscape shaping this fast-growing sport. Here are 3 key insights from our analysis: - Rapid Growth: London...