Kitchen Conversations Podcast

What do Canadian rock, pickleball, and Kingston City Council have in common? Jeff Pearce—and a conversation worth listening to. In this episode of Kitchen Conversations, Mike Spies sits down with the Moist bassist, journeyman electrician, and candidate for Kingston’s Loyalist-Cataraqui district for a candid conversation about music, community, and what it means to show up for people. Jeff shares t...

In this episode of Kitchen Conversations, I sit down with Scott Mikalachki—one of Canada's most accomplished pickleball coaches—to explore what separates good players from great ones. Scott's journey has taken him from elite junior tennis and competitive squash to a 32-year career with 3M before finding a new passion helping players unlock their potential on the pickleball court. Today h...

What does it take to become one of the best racquetball players in the world — and then reinvent yourself in an entirely different sport? On this episode of Kitchen Conversations , I sit down with Corey Osborne , a former #9-ranked racquetball player in the world , Pan Am Games bronze medalist, Midland Sports Hall of Fame inductee, CNPL player, coach, and one of the most genuinely respected people...

🏀 From Olympic Glory to Pickleball Excellence | Andrea Blackwell | Kitchen Conversations What happens when one of Canada's most accomplished athletes trades the Olympic stage for the fastest-growing sport in North America? In this episode of Kitchen Conversations, I sit down with Andrea Blackwell—a two-time Olympian, Canadian Basketball Hall of Fame inductee, championship golfer, award-winni...

She almost became an Olympic skier. She became a PGA Professional. Today, she's one of the most respected voices in pickleball. In this episode of Kitchen Conversations, I sit down with CJ Johnson, co-founder of Better Pickleball, for one of the most thoughtful conversations we've had on the podcast. This isn't just another discussion about dinks, drops, and drills. It's a conv...

What happens when a 73 year old physical therapist is still playing pickleball 5 days a week, winning gold medals, cold plunging after matches, and helping players stay on the court longer? In this episode of Kitchen Conversations: Stories Behind the Paddle, we sit down with Bill Reif, MSPT, author of Treat Your Own Pickleball Injuries, for one of the most practical and eye opening conversations w...

What do Mexico, tennis, Prime Minister Mark Carney, Daniel Alfredsson, and the fastest-growing racquet sport in the world have in common? The answer is PADEL. In this episode of Kitchen Conversations, I sit down with Jorge Villa, Director of Padel at Padel & Friends Ottawa and a Director with the Padel Association of Canada, for an inspiring conversation about one of the world's fastest-g...

Hear from ​Kingston Rotary member, Peter Burrell about the 5th Annual Pickleball Tournament, happening Sunday, November 8th at the Kingston Pickleball Club. Registration is now open at https://kingstonrotary.ca/events/5th-annual-rotary-pickleball-tournament/ Enter either as a recreational player, or a competitive player, but the day is designed as a fun fundraising event with a silent auction, cor...

PICKLEBALL, PERMACULTURE & THE POWER OF COMMUNITY 🥒🏓🌱 What happens when a nuclear engineer, permaculture enthusiast, father, athlete, and pickleball club owner sit down for a conversation about the future of our communities? You get one of the most fascinating conversations yet on Kitchen Conversations. In this episode, Mike sits down with Keith St. Jean, co-owner of The Dink Den in Cobourg...

What do two million cookbooks, a life-changing wellness mission, and a pickleball dating app have in common? One remarkable woman: Jill Steinbeck. In this episode of Kitchen Conversations, Jill shares how a painful moment during college became the catalyst for an extraordinary career helping others live healthier lives. We explore her success as a bestselling cookbook author, her work with Shape U...

From wooden paddles at the YMCA to helping lead Canadian pickleball toward the world stage—Ryan Hanes has experienced the sport’s extraordinary evolution from almost every possible angle. Ryan is a Canadian national champion, elite coach, certified referee, tournament director and the Director of Competition for Pickleball Canada. In this episode of Kitchen Conversations, he shares how one seeming...

How do you actually pronounce JOOLA—and does spending $400 on a paddle really make you a better pickleball player? In this special edition of Kitchen Conversations, Mike welcomes the podcast’s first-ever co-host, Jody Allen, co-owner of SMASH Courts in Peterborough, for a candid and wide-ranging conversation with JOOLA Canada’s Michael Cannon. Michael brings decades of experience from inside the C...

How many people can say they’ve played pickleball on Saddam Hussein’s helicopter pad? Chuck Gaudette can. In this unforgettable episode of Kitchen Conversations, Mike sits down with brothers Chuck and David Gaudette—two passionate players, certified coaches and longtime advocates who have built an extraordinary life around pickleball. Chuck shares the remarkable story of taking pickleball equipmen...

🔥 From Somali Pirates to Pickleball: Kyle Trenga's Incredible Journey | Between the Rallies & Kitchen Conversations What do Somali pirates, the U.S. Navy, offshore oil rigs, professional pickleball, and podcasting have in common? Kyle Trenga. In one of the most remarkable conversations we've had on Kitchen Conversations , Kyle shares a story that goes far beyond pickleball. Raised i...

What does it take to build one of Canada's most respected pickleball coaching organizations? In this episode of Kitchen Conversations, I sit down with Cameron Taylor, co-founder of Taylored Pickleball Academy (TPA), to explore the remarkable journey from restaurant management and volunteer firefighting to becoming one of Canada's leading pickleball coaches and educators. Cam shares how a...

🏓 What happens when one of the nicest people in pickleball becomes one of its most respected coaches? In this episode of Kitchen Conversations, I sit down with my good friend Ken Pecarski—coach with Taylored Pickleball Academy and Pickleplex Barrie, passionate ambassador for the sport, and someone who truly lives by one simple philosophy: "Hit and Giggle." Ken's journey into pickle...

He Terrified Me… Then Changed My Game Forever | Kitchen Conversations with Brian Cann What happens when the player who intimidates you the most… becomes the one who helps you the most? In this episode of Kitchen Conversations, I sit down with Brian Cann—a player, coach, mentor, and one of the most influential people in my own pickleball journey. From our very first match on court #2, I knew Brian...

🏓 At just 16 years old, Mackonner Dy is already turning heads across the pickleball world. In this episode of Kitchen Conversations – A Pickleball Podcast , I sit down with one of Canada’s brightest young pickleball talents for an honest and inspiring conversation about competition, discipline, faith, family, and what it really takes to chase a dream. Despite his incredible accomplishments—includ...

In this episode of Kitchen Conversations, I sit down with Jessie and Dominic, the husband-and-wife team behind BOOMA, a proudly Canadian family-owned pickleball and ping pong equipment company. What started as a family discovery of pickleball in Florida has grown into a serious Canadian brand producing USAPA-approved paddles, pickleball gear, protective eyewear, bags, nets, balls, accessories, and...

What if the future of pickleball… was already being built? In this episode of Kitchen Conversations, I sit down with Adam Siegel, CEO of Tennis Clubs of Canada… one of the most forward-thinking operators in Canadian sport. From air-supported domes… to public-private partnerships… to building community-first facilities across the country… This isn’t just about tennis. And it’s not just about pickle...

What happens when two guys sit down and just start talking about pickleball? In this episode of Kitchen Conversations, Mike sits down with David for a raw, wide-ranging conversation that goes far beyond the court. What starts as a simple chat quickly turns into something much deeper. From growing up in Montreal to navigating a winding career path, David’s story is anything but linear. Then one day...

What happens when one of the most respected coaching minds in pickleball sits down for an honest conversation about coaching, competition, leadership, and the real impact this game has on people's lives? In this episode, Mike welcomes Daniel J. Howard , Lead Coach Developer for Selkirk Academy, Senior Pro player, coach educator, and General Manager of the Detroit Disruptors. Daniel shares his...

What happens when you take an old warehouse… and turn it into one of the most electric pickleball communities in Canada? In this episode of Kitchen Conversations, I sit down with Jody Allen and Jeff Allen, the visionaries behind Smash Courts in Peterborough — and what they’ve built is far more than a facility. It’s a community. It’s a culture. It’s a place where people don’t just play pickleball…...

He Brought Padel to Canada 🇨🇦 | The Untold Story of Bill Stamile What happens when one man stumbles onto a sport… and decides to change a country with it? In this episode of Kitchen Conversations, I sit down with Canada’s padel pioneer, Bill Stamile — the man who brought padel from Argentina to Canada in 1992 and spent over three decades building it from nothing. This is not just a story about a s...

What happens when a lifelong tennis pro gives pickleball just 10 minutes… and it completely changes his life? In this episode of Kitchen Conversations – Stories Behind the Paddle, I sit down with Kevin Beeson—elite coach, national champion, and one of the most recognizable voices in pickleball education today. From grinding through the tennis world to becoming a global pickleball coach, Kevin brea...