Afleveringen
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In this episode, Danni-Elle sits down with Roscoe and Jared fresh off a run to the MLP finals in Austin. She breaks down what it's like competing on American soil for the first time, why she's unapologetic about staying rooted in Australia, and why she believes the sport's next wave of talent is coming from the Asia-Pacific region.
Danni-Elle opens up about her table tennis career — how her mom and dad met through the sport, how she rose to the Australian national team, and how it all ended with a cold email telling her "good luck with the rest of your life" after a contract technicality they used to push her out. She traces the unlikely path from that moment to playing pickleball on a wood floor on International Pickleball Day with "a bunch of old people" — and how a free-drinks tournament turned into a full-blown obsession.
Danni-Elle also gets into the confidence and swagger she brings to every court, the moment she told Roscoe she's the best women's right-side player in the world, and her completely unbothered declaration that Anna Leigh Waters already knows she's coming for her crown. She shares why being told she "wasn't the look" sponsors were seeking only made her more committed to playing her own way — and why she's betting on herself to crack the top five within a year.
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Timestamps:
1:10 — Welcome & Intro
1:38 — MLP Breakout and First Impressions
3:05 — Paving the Way for Australian Pickleball
4:01 — Joey Wild and the 1:20 AM Drive to Train
5:30 — Where Does She Rank Right Now?
6:28 — Why She's Staying in Australia
7:21 — Is Asia the Future of Pickleball?
12:22 — From Ping-Pong to Pickleball
13:08 — The Origin of the Name "Danielle"
14:06 — Growing Up in Australia with Three Brothers
14:55 — Table Tennis National Team — and Getting Kicked Out
16:27 — Discovering Pickleball on International Pickleball Day
17:33 — When Pickleball Gets Too Serious
19:40 — The Fun vs. Business Tipping Point
22:49 — Style Differences: Australia vs. the States
26:07 — What Gives Her That Energy on Court
27:09 — The Clown Incident with ALW
29:59 — Confidence, Competition, and the "Hell No" Mentality
33:14 — Theater, Brothers, and Where the Confidence Came From
34:47 — Jesse and the "I Don't Like People" Introduction
35:53 — Tennis vs. Ping-Pong as a Pickleball Prerequisite
39:27 — Most Underrated Player: Georgia Johnson
40:15 — Getting Told She "Wasn't the Look"
42:39 — Goals: Top Five in One Year, Best in Three
51:56 — Where Does Australia Rank Globally?
53:13 — Coming for ALW's Crown
55:03 — Dream Doubles Partner
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In this episode, Hannah sits down with Roscoe and Jared to pull back the curtain on the Johns family, the wild early days of the PPA, and what it really took to turn pickleball into a legitimate professional sport. It's part origin story, part behind-the-scenes tour, and entirely worth your time.
Hannah opens up about growing up as one of seven homeschooled kids on 12 acres, how Ben showed freakish hand-eye coordination before he could even talk much, and the moment the family realized pickleball might actually be something real — when the first major Franklin sponsorship came in and changed everything.
Hannah also gets into the grind of being PPA Employee #4 — arranging player housing, getting screamed at when a pro peed in a host's garden, and the relentless skepticism from networks and fans who said tickets would never sell. She shares what she's most proud of: helping prove every single naysayer wrong.
Delivered by @DoorDash! 🚪
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Timestamps:
1:14 — Welcome, Hannah Johns
2:09 — Why Hannah Stepped Away from Sideline Reporting
3:19 — Three Years, Zero Missed Tournaments
4:05 — Traveling the Tour with Ben and Colin
5:28 — How Ryan Sherry Got Hannah Into the PPA
6:00 — Living in the Czech Republic and the Rough Return Home
7:34 — Growing Up Johns: Homeschooled on 12 Acres
10:31 — The Siblings: A Family of Savants
12:24 — How the Johns Family Found Pickleball
16:13 — Who Had the X Factor Growing Up?
17:03 — Ben at Age 3: The Pool Cue Story
22:37 — When Pickleball Was Just Another Hobby for Ben
25:27 — Colin Signing with Electrum and the Early Sponsorship Era
26:04 — How the Johns Family Reacted to the Brothers' Rise
28:25 — Hannah's Goal: Not Being Known as Ben's Sister
30:04 — The Sideline Reporter Craft: Prep, Notes, and Questions
31:15 — Crying in Hotel Bathrooms Before Going on Air
32:12 — Crazy Stories from Tour: The Incident That Almost Sent Someone to Jail
34:20 — The Housing Program and the Garden Incident
36:35 — Misunderstandings About the Early Days of Pickleball
40:41 — The Real Milestones: Salaries, Ticket Sales, and Networks
44:15 — Hannah's Proudest Accomplishment
44:49 — Proving Every Naysayer Wrong
46:01 — The Moment Ben Started Getting Recognized in Public
49:12 — Could Hannah Go Pro? The Black Sheep of the Family
51:30 — The Best Sideline Interview Hannah Ever Did
52:24 — What Most People Misunderstand About Ben Johns
53:55 — Where Hannah Sees Pickleball in 5 Years
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Zijn er afleveringen die ontbreken?
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In this episode, Grayson sits down with Roscoe and Jared to share the full story of suffering two strokes at 30 years old — how it happened, what those six days in the hospital were like, and what his road back to the court has looked like. It's one of the most raw and honest conversations the show has ever had.
Grayson breaks down exactly how it unfolded: a chiropractic adjustment after a tournament left something feeling off, and nine days later he woke up unable to form sentences. He traces the moment on court when water started "pouring into his head," the frantic trip to the ER, and the doctor delivering the news that he'd had not one but two strokes — visible as two dark spots on his brain scan.
Grayson also opens up about his path to pickleball — from being ranked number one in the country in junior tennis at 12, to selling life insurance after college, to stumbling onto packed pickleball courts in Sarasota and deciding to go all-in. He shares what it felt like walking into Atlanta and watching Federico and Hayden on center court, the moment he knew this was it, and why he still believes he can be number one in the world.
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Timestamps:
1:03 — Welcome & Intro
2:28 — Two Strokes at 30: The Health Scare Begins
7:31 — Waking Up Unable to Speak
10:01 — Racing to the Hospital
14:49 — The ER, the Diagnosis, and Six Days of Tests
18:09 — What Actually Caused the Strokes
22:11 — Little Grayson: Born in Chicago, Raised on Tennis
25:06 — Ranked #1 in the Country at 12
30:07 — College Tennis, IMG, and Realizing It Wasn't Enough
34:11 — Life After Tennis: Insurance Sales and Real Estate
37:39 — Discovering Pickleball at the Country Club
46:14 — Flying to Atlanta, Going All-In
52:17 — The Infamous Mixed Doubles Point with Shelby Bates
1:04:49 — Power Tips and Branding Advice for Up-and-Comers
1:07:17 — What the Strokes Taught Him About Pickleball and Life
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JW and Jorja Johnson are the most decorated sibling team in professional pickleball, known for transforming the game with the JW Johnson flick and the Jorja Johnson fire — two of the most talked-about weapons on tour.
In this episode, JW and Jorja sit down with Roscoe and Jared to trace their unlikely path from Pittsburgh, Kansas to the top of the pro game. They get into the zero-pressure upbringing that made it all possible, the South Florida training culture they helped build, and what it actually takes to stay dominant in a sport evolving as fast as pickleball.
Jorja breaks down what it was like to be stolen from the Dallas Flash in the MLP draft, landing on the New Jersey Fives alongside Anna Leigh Waters — a move nobody saw coming. JW also reveals he's never had a real conversation with Ben Johns off the court, and addresses for the first time whether a JW-Ben partnership has ever been on the table.
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Timestamps:
1:07 — Welcome & Introducing JW and Jorja Johnson
2:33 — Growing Up in Pittsburgh, Kansas
5:20 — How COVID Sparked Their Pickleball Journey
8:52 — Early Days: Bad Reps, Johnny Goldberg & First Tournaments
10:21 — The $300 Hilton Head Moment That Changed Everything
13:06 — Building the South Florida Training Scene
19:51 — Julie Johnson's Academy and the Rise of a Squad
24:43 — When the Money Started Getting Real
26:26 — Power Balance Scam, Franklin Deal & Seeing Your Face in Dick's
29:04 — Signing Underwear and Knowing You've Made It
34:46 — MLP, the Dallas Flash, and Becoming Stars
40:33 — The Draft Shock: Jorja Stolen to the New Jersey Fives
45:06 — Playing with Anna Leigh & What That Partnership Looks Like
47:26 — How They Stay Dominant: Film, Evolution, and the Tui
49:08 — JW's Hands: The Secret Behind the Fastest Reactions on Tour
54:22 — Life Off the Court: Padel, Cinnamon Bread & Movies
56:44 — Biggest Rivals and the Mindset Behind Not Having One
59:19 — Has JW Ever Thought About Teaming with Ben Johns?
1:01:09 — Greatest Moments
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Tama Shimabukuro is a 15-year-old professional pickleball player who became an overnight sensation after reaching the singles final at the Atlanta Slam, finishing fourth in men's doubles, and earning the full-throated backing of an entire crowd that couldn't stop chanting his name.
In this episode, Tama calls in with Roscoe and Jared just days after his historic Atlanta run to break down what that week actually felt like from inside the storm. They cover the crowd moments, the mental game, and how a kid from Hawaii ends up on the sport's biggest stage.
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Timestamps:
1:00 — Tama on life after Atlanta
1:34 — Was it an out-of-body experience?
2:09 — The crowd, the chants, and the chaos
4:03 — The MJ shrug explained
6:25 — Messages flooding in after the run
6:56 — Breaking down the Fed match
8:48 — Is he actually that calm, or just built different?
10:14 — Was the breakout a surprise?
11:15 — Background: skateboarder to pickleball
12:36 — Self-taught: 10 hours of rec a day
14:16 — Life on the road with Mama Tama
17:08 — Sponsorship and partnership questions
18:19 — Pros he studies, dream doubles partners
20:41 — Fan Q&A
22:19 — Advice for young players
23:48 — Toughest opponent so far
24:26 — Message to new fans
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Anna Bright is the #2 ranked women's pickleball player in the world, an MLP champion, and one of the sport's most magnetic personalities — a Cal Berkeley graduate who went from Pacific Crest Trail solo hiker to professional athlete in under a year.
In this episode, Anna sits down with Roscoe and Jared to pull back the curtain on her journey from junior tennis to the top of pickleball, the business decisions that defined her career, and the personal dynamics that come with competing at the highest level. The conversation is candid, funny, and surprisingly raw — exactly what you'd expect from someone who's never been afraid to say what she thinks.
Anna breaks down the story behind "The Girlies" — her viral brand partnership with Rachel Rachel Rohrabacher — and what it was like to walk away from one of pickleball's most beloved duos. She opens up about the game-theory moment that led her to reach out to Anna Lee Waters, including the part nobody knew: she'd already said no once before.
Anna also gets into the tension between her fiery on-court persona and the content creator she's becoming off it, why yoga and breath work have quietly transformed the last six months of her life, and what she actually thinks about the yelling controversy that made this podcast feel like it might never happen.
Delivered by @DoorDash! 🚗
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Timestamps:
0:00 - Start
1:02 — Welcome Anna Bright
1:46 — Clearing the Air: The Kate Twitter Moment
4:01 — Growing Up in Fort Worth & Junior Tennis
8:42 — Fractured Back at 13 & High School Reset
12:50 — The College Recruiting Process & Choosing Cal Berkeley
17:42 — The Pacific Crest Trail: Solo, 2,500 Miles, 113 Days
24:19 — How Pickleball Found Her
30:49 — Meeting James Ignatowich
36:25 — Building a Brand: The Rise of The Girlies
46:19 — How Playing Full-Time Changes Your Relationship With the Sport
52:04 — The Game Theory Decision: Leaving Rachel for Anna Lee
1:01:27 — What It's Like Playing With the Greatest of All Time
1:07:02 — Biggest Threats on Tour
1:09:24 — Pickleball in Asia & the Sport's Global Future
1:13:53 — Most Entertaining Players to Watch
1:15:47 — What She Wants From the Sport Long-Term
1:22:57 — Fan Q&A: Box Breathing, Yoga & Staying Injury-Free
1:25:56 — The Power 50 Ranking Reaction
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Roscoe Bellamy is the co-host of The Pickleballers and a professional pickleball singles player currently ranked #6 in the world. A product of a tennis dynasty — his father founded Tennis Channel and his mother was a pro player — Roscoe rose to become the number one nationally ranked junior in the United States before a series of devastating injuries derailed his path to the pro tour.
In this episode, Roscoe sits down with Jared and longtime friend Wesley Burroughs for a rare look at the man behind the mic. The conversation covers Roscoe's full journey from tennis prodigy to pro pickleball player, the mental shift that unlocked his best pickleball, and what it actually takes to compete at the top of the sport while running one of the game's biggest media brands.
Roscoe opens up about the two years he lost to a stress fracture at fifteen — a period that stripped him of his identity as a top junior and sent him through a grueling rehab circuit alongside the likes of Anthony Davis and Mike Trout. Two hip surgeries in college effectively ended his pro dream, and it wasn't until a Hawaii trip with Hunter and Yates Johnson that pickleball entered the picture — leading to a sandbagged Pickleball Slam alongside Matt Manassie just two weeks into the sport.
Roscoe also gets into the mental transformation that fueled his breakout 2025 run — winning his first PPA gold in Lakeland, reaching finals in Vegas, and finally finding the "dog" in his game that singles pickleball demands. He shares details on his new paddle deal with Luzz, his plans to launch the Pickleball Collective instructional platform, and his goal of finishing 2026 in the top three in the world.
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Timestamps:
1:10 — Introducing Roscoe & Wes
2:20 — Growing Up in a Tennis Family
5:00 — Becoming #1 in the Nation at 12
9:12 — Competing Internationally & the Pro Dream
12:01 — The Back Injury That Changed Everything
14:24 — Scholarship to UCLA & Hip Surgeries
17:22 — Mom Discovers Pickleball
20:34 — Going All In on Pickleball
22:35 — Beating Agassi and Roddick for $10k
25:15 — First Pro Tournament in Cincinnati
27:46 — Signing During Tour Wars
29:50 — The Mental Shift That Unlocked His Best Pickleball
32:35 — Finding the Dog: Singles Is a War
35:19 — Goals for 2026
38:32 — Balancing Pro Play, Content & The Podcast
45:46 — Breaking Down the Competition
53:13 — New Paddle Deal with Luzz
54:53 — Life at Home, Family & Girlfriend
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James Ignatowich is a former top professional pickleball player turned paddle company founder, best known for creating RPM — one of the fastest-growing and most talked-about paddle brands in the sport.
In this episode, James joins Roscoe and Jared virtually from Shenzhen, China, where he's living full-time and running RPM's operations on the ground. They get into why James has zero regrets about leaving the tour, what it actually takes to build a paddle company from scratch, and why being in China is the biggest competitive advantage in the game right now.
James opens up about his PPA termination, calling it suspicious given RPM's early success, and shares a telling detail — he was already mentally checked out of pro play before it happened, more excited about the company than any upcoming tournament. He also reacts to Ben Johns calling him the most talented player he's ever faced, and why that compliment doesn't quite land the way you'd expect.
James also gets into the RPM playbook — how they sold 35,000 paddles without enough covers, why dropping the Q2 and V2 simultaneously was a calculated bet, and where he thinks paddle technology is headed.
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Alix Truong is the number one Vietnamese pickleball player in the world and currently ranked eighth on the PPA Tour. She's one of the sport's most compelling rising voices — a player who came up through every level of the game and is now helping grow pickleball across an entire continent.
In this episode, Alix sits down with Roscoe and Jared to talk about her journey from a hyper-competitive Vietnamese-American household in Northern Virginia to the PPA Tour. They get into what it's like being a trailblazer for Asian representation in pickleball, the realities of grinding for points without a consistent partner, and why she sees herself playing well into her senior pro years.
Alix breaks down what it was actually like going to Vietnam for the first time — working 13-hour days with no time to explore — and how returning on her own terms completely changed her relationship with her heritage. She describes being treated like a princess at tournaments, playing in front of a world-record crowd of 7,900 people in Đà Nẵng, and why she believes the Asian pickleball scene will eventually surpass the US in sheer scale.
Alix also opens up about the burnout she hit during MLP last season, getting traded down to Challenger right after one of her best runs with Eric Johnson, and the heartbreak of losing her committed partner Lane to hip surgery just as they'd committed to building something real together. She's candid about what it means to be the only top-10 player without a consistent doubles partner — and what it's going to take to break through.
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Timestamps:
1:04 — Introducing Alix Truong
2:46 — Growing Up Vietnamese-American in DC
5:36 — How She Found Pickleball Through Her Parents' Friend Group
10:18 — First Big Tournaments and the Simone Foundation
11:30 — Coming Up With Anna Leigh, Hayden, and Gabe
13:22 — When Pickleball Stopped Being a Hobby
16:23 — The Hard Conversation With Her Parents About Dropping Out
18:17 — Building Her Brand From Day One
20:09 — Going to Vietnam for the First Time
21:17 — Being a Star in Asia and the 7,900-Person World Record Crowd
23:46 — Sponsor Conversations and the Vietnamese Market Opportunity
27:15 — How Asian Conditions Compare to the US
30:19 — Playing With Her Brother LJ and the Sibling Dynamic
34:05 — Her Ceiling and Competing in Anna Leigh's Era
35:32 — Burnout, Getting Traded Down in MLP, and the Mental Toll
40:42 — Losing Partner Lane to Hip Surgery Mid-Season
43:00 — The Next Generation of Junior Players
46:31 — The Future of Asian Pickleball in 5 Years
51:44 — Learning Vietnamese and Falling in Love With the Culture
54:59 — What Makes Anna Leigh Waters So Hard to Beat
58:41 — 2026 Pickleball Predictions
1:01:05 — The Olympics, Vietnamese Citizenship, and What's Next
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Connor Hance and Drew Baird are the founders of Enhance Pickleball — the most-followed pickleball content creators, with more YouTube subscribers and Instagram followers than anyone else in the sport.
In this episode, Connor and Drew sit down with Roscoe and Jared to tell the full story of how Enhance Pickleball was built — from a bootstrapped Amazon side project to a paddle and content brand that's changed how the sport is marketed and taught.
Connor and Drew break down the business decisions that defined Enhance — what made the Dink Master their first real hit, why they resisted paddles for years before finally breaking through with the Duo, and how their content engine became the ultimate unfair advantage for selling products without outside funding or paid ads.
They also get into the hard stuff: a $65,000 shipping disaster that nearly ended the company early, the challenge of being taken seriously as a paddle brand, and what it actually takes to build something real in pickleball from scratch.
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Timestamps:
1:06 — Introducing Connor & Drew from Enhance Pickleball
1:28 — How the brand works: Connor on camera, Drew behind the scenes
2:02 — Drew was originally supposed to be the on-camera talent
3:22 — How Connor & Roscoe go way back (played each other at age 9)
5:45 — How Enhance started: Amazon side hustle in early 2022
7:21 — The Dink Master origin story
9:09 — Bootstrapped from scratch: no funding, just tennis lesson money
10:25 — When the content started to take off
13:30 — Connor's backstory: growing up at South Bay Tennis Center
14:40 — Getting homeschooled to chase tennis
15:23 — The moment Connor decided he'd never go pro — and pivoted to business
17:46 — Drew's backstory: North Carolina, IMG Academy, #12 in the world juniors
20:22 — How Drew's hip injury led to him joining the business
22:46 — How their Instagram virality actually works
27:01 — Transitioning from accessories to paddles — and why it was hard
31:37 — Should they have started with paddles from day one?
33:15 — Getting advice vs. going with your gut
34:02 — The $65,000 FedEx shipping disaster
36:08 — How tariffs hit the business
38:17 — Best content advice for pickleball creators
43:49 — Breaking down the new Enhance Turbo paddle
46:10 — The time Amazon delivered a Viking sword to a customer
47:27 — What's next for Enhance Pickleball
49:48 — The biggest pivotal moments building the company
50:50 — Best business advice for anyone starting a pickleball brand today
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Vivienne David is one of the most beloved players pickleball has ever had — a true fan favorite, a bright light on tour, and a former world No. 2 in mixed doubles who just announced she’s stepping away from pro pickleball.
In this episode, Vivienne sits down with Roscoe and Jared to tell the real story behind her retirement — what tour life actually feels like when you’ve been grinding for years, why she’s at peace with the decision, and why she’s still playing more pickleball than she expected now that she’s free from constant travel and pressure.
Vivienne opens up about her legendary partnership with Thomas Wilson — why it worked so well, why it felt effortless, and how losing that “partner in crime” changed everything for her mentally. She talks about Thomas’ health scare, how it shifted her perspective, and why it made her realize what mattered most beyond wins, rankings, and contracts.
Vivienne shares her full backstory — growing up 1 of 7, being homeschooled, burning out from tennis young, working in her family’s tennis/pickle shop in Florida, and accidentally getting hooked after getting “whooped” by older players on demo day. She also breaks down what she wants next: faith, community, family, potentially coaching or commentating… and yes, the one scenario where she’d consider coming back to play tournaments again.
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1:05 — How retirement feels: freedom, peace, still playing locally
3:07 — Vivienne & Thomas Wilson: the partnership everyone loved
5:01 — Why fans loved them
7:30 — Vivienne’s backstory
8:43 — Working at the family tennis/pickle shop
10:17 — Abby David + early pickle roots
11:58 — First time playing pickle
12:50 — 2019 breakthrough
14:08 — Turning pro: sponsors, early tour era, finding her lane in doubles
15:36 — Entering PPA era
16:24 — First MLP at Dreamland
22:30 — Wanting to beat Anna Leigh
24:12 — Partnership chemistry: why Vivienne + Thomas worked
24:47 — How Vivienne brings out a partner’s best
26:01 — Biggest tour moment
27:05 — Thomas’ health scare
29:01 — Why she retired: tour grind, body, family, missing life at home
30:55 — Would she come back if Thomas returned?
31:33 — New goals
33:31 — Best player she faced: why Anna Leigh under pressure is different
35:00 — Favorite shot + elite defense tips for amateurs
37:02 — What’s next in pickleball
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Hunter Johnson is the world #1 singles pickleball player — the top spot in the fastest-growing sport on the planet, and a title that comes with way more pressure than people realize.
In this episode, Hunter sits down with Roscoe and Jared to talk about what it actually feels like to be #1 in the world — the confidence it takes to get there, the doubts that creep in once you finally arrive, and the psychological weight of knowing every match is someone else’s Super Bowl. He breaks down the “now what?” moment after reaching the pinnacle, how he deals with the target on his back, and why he’s still more hungry than ever to keep the spot.
Hunter explains why singles is the future of the sport — and why he believes it’s the format that will make pickleball go mainstream. They talk the Lifetime ball, how singles strategy has changed, why baseline pressure is becoming more valuable, and how the separation between pros and everyone else is getting bigger fast. Plus: the biggest threats to the #1 ranking, how he thinks about the field (Fed, Haworth, Connor, Garnett, and more), and the small tactical adjustments that actually decide matches at the top.
Hunter opens up about the mental side of competing — negative self-talk, self-sabotage, pressure, perspective, faith, and what kind of champion he wants to be on and off the court. They also revisit the Lakeland match, momentum (real or not), what it taught him, and how he’s approaching 2026 with a better mindset and a clearer purpose.
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2:29 — The pressure of #1: psychology, emotions, staying hungry
2:59 — Hunter vs Yates (Palm Springs match)
5:28 — Pickleball time moves different (tour life perspective)
8:13 — Gratitude + why being a pro makes time feel “slow”
9:18 — Lakeland controversy + the post moment
11:00 — The real issue: self-talk, mindset, and being watched as #1
12:09 — “Now what?” after reaching the pinnacle + staying there
13:35 — Self-awareness, faith, perspective, and owning your behavior
16:35 — The platform of #1: being a role model for juniors
19:15 — Target on his back + using pressure as fuel
20:18 — Momentum: real vs mental construct
23:18 — Who threatens the #1 spot?
28:59 — Hot take: singles will make pickleball mainstream
30:24 — Why singles pops on TV
32:07 — Hot take: Ben & Anna Leigh should split and become rivals
35:49 — Ball talk: Lifetime vs Franklin
38:15 — Recovery: Hunter’s full routine
41:04 — 120-second backstory
43:40 — “Civil war draft”: 3 pros you’re taking to survive
45:57 — Hunter vs Anna Leigh practice story
47:46 — How far could Anna Leigh go in men’s singles?
48:44 — The future
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Andre Agassi is one of the most iconic athletes of all time — an 8-time Grand Slam champion, Olympic gold medalist, and a legend changed tennis forever.
In this episode, Andre sits down with Roscoe and Jared to explain why he’s gone all-in on pickleball — not as a gimmick, not as a cameo, but because the sport genuinely hooked him. He breaks down what tennis players don’t understand yet: pickleball isn’t just “easy” — it’s insanely nuanced, mentally exhausting, and filled with tiny variables that change everything in real time. He even explains why two hours of tennis leaves him energized… but two hours of pickleball leaves him so mentally cooked he can’t even make it to the shower.
Andre dives deep into his game and what he’s learning — what translates from tennis, what absolutely doesn’t, why the rhythm and “blood pressure” of pickleball is harder to manage, and why he’s become a right-side player focused on forehand dinks, two-handed counters, and deception. He also answers the big questions: tennis vs pickleball difficulty, what he would change about the sport (including a wild idea to widen the net posts), why pickleball struggles on TV with camera angles, how the Lifetime ball is changing singles, and why paddle “grab/spin” might matter more than pure power.
Andre tells the story of playing the US Open with Anna Leigh Waters — including the one thought he couldn’t shake: “Don’t be the first person to lose with Anna Leigh.” He shares how a back injury nearly derailed the run, how fierce Anna Leigh is as a competitor, and why pickleball has genuinely changed his life — physically, mentally, and socially — even in his mid-50s.
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1:25 — Tennis vs pickle “animosity” + Andre’s take
2:35 — The real reason he fell in love with pickleball
4:28 — Small margins + why pickle is tricky for TV
6:47 — Andre’s game: what translates from tennis + what he’s working on
9:39 — Pickleball Slam prep: when he actually got committed
11:30 — Roscoe’s Pickleball Slam story + why Andre matters to the sport
12:59 — Tennis/pickle/padel: do they grow together or cannibalize?
15:38 — Andre’s honesty: “Tennis is the Everest of racket sports”
17:07 — Crazy poker story
18:57 — US Open with Anna Leigh Waters
22:06 — How Agassi x Joola partnership happened
26:24 — Gambling in pickleball
29:39 — Andre’s dinner speech to Joola pros
31:23 — What pro would Andre play with?
33:36 — What would he change in pickleball?
40:08 — Singles evolution + the Lifetime ball changing
44:50 — What’s harder: tennis or pickleball?
47:01 — Carlos Alcaraz on a pickle court
52:53 — Pickleball Olympics path: college + scholarships
54:13 — Legacy + why he wants to help grow the game
55:38 — Has pickleball changed his life?
#pickleballers #andreagassi #pickleball #ppa #mlp
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Leigh Waters is the mom and coach of Anna Leigh Waters — the most dominant pickleball player of all time — and the person who’s been in the room for every major moment that turned Anna Leigh into the face of the sport.
In this episode, Leigh sits down with Roscoe and Jared to tell the full story behind pickleball’s biggest moves: Anna Leigh signing with Nike, switching from Paddletek to Franklin, and what those months were really like behind the scenes. She breaks down the stress of negotiations, the pressure of making a once-in-a-career decision at 19, and how she kept Anna Leigh grounded while the internet and the entire sport watched every step.
Then we go deeper.
Leigh explains what it’s actually like wearing every hat at once — mom, best friend, coach, and protector — while raising someone whose “normal” is winning everything. They talk perfectionism, motivation when you’re already the best, how Anna Leigh stays obsessed with getting better, and why Leigh constantly reminds her: this level of dominance isn’t normal, and losing doesn’t mean the sky is falling.
And it’s not just pickleball strategy.
We get into the reality of Anna Leigh’s growing celebrity — security at tournaments, massive autograph lines, online hate that shows up in Leigh’s DMs, and the full team that’s now been built around Anna Leigh (social, PR, equipment, travel) to protect her peace while she keeps pushing the sport forward. Plus: women’s doubles predictions for 2026, who could eventually threaten the throne, and what pickleball still needs to do to reach the Olympics.
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Pickleballers Hat:
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Instagram:
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2:36 – Nike + Franklin: the stressful months leading up to both deals
4:43 – “Mom, coach, best friend”: what Leigh’s role really looks like
6:23 – “This isn’t normal”: how Leigh keeps Anna Leigh grounded
7:38 – Why the Nike/Franklin moves actually energized Anna Leigh
8:20 – What Nike HQ was like (all-day meetings, gifts, massive photo wall)
10:46 – What Nike could unlock next (events, access, collabs, Caitlin Clark)
12:24 – Ryan Harwood’s impact + doing deals the right way (no bidding wars)
13:42 – Pickleball Power 50 + Leigh’s real influence in the sport
14:34 – “Did you give up your dreams?”
16:39 – Coaching other players vs coaching your daughter
18:51 – Leigh playing again
22:33 – How Anna Leigh stays motivated when she’s already the best
24:05 – The perfectionism and obsession that drives Anna Leigh
26:13 – Who could threaten Anna Leigh’s reign (Caitlin Christian + wildcards)
29:51 – Women’s doubles landscape + who can challenge Anna Leigh/AB
35:36 – Being the mom of the GOAT
36:59 – Missing “normal life” (prom, friends, growing up in the spotlight)
41:21 – Fame is real now: security, fan lines, and managing the hate
44:43 – “Psycho mom” comments + the truth about money and the team
45:47 – The full team: PT, RV driver, publicist, and more
49:15 – Pickleball in the Olympics
#LeighWaters #PPA #MLP #AnnaLeighWaters #Pickleball #Pickeballers
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Greg Dow is one of the funniest guys on the entire pickleball tour — a self-proclaimed “beer pong legend,” a legit pro who’s been battling top teams for years, and one of the best commentators in pickleball because he actually understands the game *and* knows how to make it entertaining.
In this episode, Greg sits down with Roscoe and Jared to tell the full story: growing up outside Charlotte, being a multi-sport kid (football, baseball, basketball), discovering tennis late, and finding pickleball during COVID back when “pro pickleball” barely existed and only a couple guys were making a real living.
Then the conversation turns into pure tour-life gold.
Greg breaks down how the iconic Dow & Scarpa partnership started, why they’ve stayed together for so long, and the real separator at the top level of men’s doubles — not the dink game, but the first 4–5 shots and getting quick points like the elite teams do. He also shares what it’s like living in the “round of 16 / quarterfinal door” tier of pro pickleball, how close they’ve been to massive breakthrough wins, and what he’s focused on to make real noise in 2026.
And of course… we get into the chaos: Scarpa’s legendary sweat problem (yes, matches have been paused to mop the kitchen), Greg’s brutal TV finals loss (11–0, 11–0), how he met Alex Walker (the most ridiculous “Canada” conversation ever), and how his commentating evolved from “how ludicrous can I be?” to being taken seriously — including the infamous moment that got the league to send an email telling commentators to stop calling players “cute.”
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1:13 Greg wrote his own PPA bio + “Dinking with Dow” pod era
3:10 Why Greg needs more spotlight in pickleball
6:00 Why everyone’s so serious on tour (and why Greg stands out)
8:05 Greg’s childhood: Charlotte suburbs, multi-sport kid, ping pong battles
10:27 Tennis late start + finding pickleball during COVID
12:16 Charleston pickleball scene + TC North shoutout
14:04 What transferred most: touch, hands, ping pong instincts
15:16 How “Dow & Scarpa” became a real team
18:20 The Scarpa sweat problem (and stopping matches to mop the kitchen)
21:57 The early pro path: grinding 5.0, learning to win, then moving up
23:09 Hot take: you shouldn’t play pro until you’ve won 5.0
25:27 “Round of 16” life: why breaking through in doubles is so hard
26:29 The separator: quick points in the first 4–5 shots (serve/return/3rd/5th)
30:35 Where to aim your third shot
31:46 2026 goals
33:19 Full Greg Dow potential
36:03 Level-up concept: make weaknesses “not weaknesses”
37:42 How Greg got into commentating
39:14 The infamous “calling players cute” commentary moment + league email
42:07 Story time: first finals run… and the 11–0, 11–0 beatdown on TV
46:28 Alex Walker love story
54:39 Austin to Arizona move
55:28 Dow Questions of the Week: pickleball boy band draft
1:00:18 Who’s the mayor of pickleball?
1:01:43 Build the perfect pickleball player
1:05:04 What to expect in 2026
#PPA #MLP #Pickleball #Greg Dow
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Anna Leigh Waters is the most dominant pickleball player of all time — the sport’s biggest star, the standard everyone is chasing, and now the first-ever Nike signed pickleball athlete.
In this episode, Anna Leigh sits down with Roscoe and Jared to tell the full story behind the two biggest moves in pickleball: signing with Nike, and leaving Paddletek after years to join Franklin. She breaks down what the public didn’t see — the pressure of rumors before anything was actually signed, how she handled the internet going crazy after the leaked practice photo, and why she ultimately chose brands based on what would grow the sport long-term.
Then we get nerdy.
Anna Leigh explains the paddle testing process, why she didn’t want a “bidding war,” how important it was to actually love the paddle, and what it felt like walking into the Masters with a brand-new setup — new paddle, new Nike kit, new expectations — and still winning. She also talks foam tech, Gen 1 vs newer paddles, why the “singles paddle vs doubles paddle” trend is coming, and what she wants to build next with Franklin (shapes, thickness, and future prototypes).
And with Nike, she shares what it was like visiting Nike HQ, sitting in all-day meetings, helping them think through true pickleball-specific gear, and why this partnership feels bigger than just her — it feels like a milestone for the entire sport.
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Pickleballers Hat:
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Instagram:
📲 @pickleballers
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📲 @roscoebellamy
📲 @jpaulthechef
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Genie Bouchard is one of the most recognizable athletes of her generation — a former world No. 5, Wimbledon finalist, and one of the biggest tennis stars to ever come out of Canada.
From growing up in Montreal, to moving to Florida at 12 to chase tennis full time, Genie’s story is all sacrifice, pressure, and competing on the biggest stages in the world. In this episode, she sits down with Roscoe and Jared to tell the full journey: the abnormal junior life, winning Junior Wimbledon at 18, cracking the Top 100 in a year, and what it actually feels like walking onto Centre Court at Wimbledon — including the mindset, nerves, and reality of playing a Wimbledon final.
Then the conversation turns to pickleball.
Genie breaks down why she signed with the PPA, what it was like starting 0–9 in her first tournaments, dealing with expectations and noise from the outside, and how she’s gone from “tennis star trying pickleball” to a legit threat making finals and beating top players. She also talks MLP pressure, doubles being a whole different world, paddle switches, and why this new chapter has brought her more happiness and stability than tennis ever allowed.
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Pickleballers Hat:
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Instagram:
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📲 @jpaulthechef
1:04 Welcome + Genie’s intro
3:36 Growing up in Montreal, moving to Florida at 12
4:18 Abnormal childhood: school + training grind
7:31 Leaving home young + Florida academy life
9:14 Going pro vs college
11:52 DoorDash giveaway mention
12:37 Winning Junior Wimbledon at 18 + why it mattered
15:15 Top 100 timeline + getting stuck in the minors
17:41 Branding, spotlight, and being “different” early on
18:09 Anna Kournikova, fame, and unfair criticism
21:00 Social media authenticity
23:33 Hatred, privacy, and staying genuine
29:38 Has it been hard being Genie Bouchard?
31:25 Wimbledon Centre Court: what it feels like
33:05 Wimbledon final pressure + physical nerves
36:51 Pivot to pickleball: why it happened
37:53 PPA signing process (2023) + what appealed to her
44:17 Pickleball “validation moments” + the sport arriving
45:06 First pro tournament pressure + internet expectations
50:34 0–9 start: first wins and breaking through
52:03 MLP pressure
53:05 Franklin paddle ad
53:23 Proton partnership
54:07 Vietnam trip + team bonding
55:40 Making finals, real results, and new motivation
57:31 Number one vs “knocking on the number two door”
58:15 Playing vocal opponents
1:00:07 Tennis vs pickleball: what’s more fun?
1:01:49 How fast could Coco Gauff be top 5 in pickleball?
1:04:15 How long will Genie play + what’s next?
1:05:45 Favorite people on tour + Ryan Sherry stories
1:09:33 Message to the pickleball audience
1:10:22 Tennis vs pickleball
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Terrell Owens is one of the greatest wide receivers of all time — an NFL Hall of Famer and one of the most dominant competitors the game has ever seen.
From growing up on welfare in rural Alabama, to walking on at Chattanooga with no expectations, to becoming a Hall of Fame NFL receiver, Terrell’s story was never about hype — it was about patience, work, and discipline. In this episode, he sits down with Roscoe and Jared to tell the full story: developing late, getting drafted by the 49ers, playing alongside Jerry Rice, competing in a Super Bowl on a broken leg, and navigating one of the most misunderstood legacies in sports.
Then the conversation turns to pickleball.
Terrell opens up about discovering the sport late, committing to daily training, drilling with pros, and why pickleball requires more strategy than football. From drives, drops, and dinks to chess vs checkers at the pro level, he explains why pickleball has completely hooked him — and why he’s chasing high-level competition at 51 with the same mindset that made him great in the NFL.
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Pickleballers Hat:
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Instagram:
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📲 @jpaulthechef
2:00 – Growing up on welfare in Alabama
5:30 – No big offers, walking on, and being a late bloomer
9:42 – Role models & life if not for football
13:40 – The first touchdown that changed everything
18:30 – The 3 Ds: desire, dedication, discipline
21:45 – From college afterthought to NFL prospect
32:30 – Entering the NFL completely clueless
38:40 – Playing with Jerry Rice & learning the game
44:30 – Leaving San Francisco & joining the Eagles
49:00 – Super Bowl on a broken leg
54:40 – Legacy, rings, and media narratives
59:50 – Who Terrell Owens really is off the field
1:03:30 – Discovering pickleball
1:07:00 – From worst player to legit competitor
1:12:30 – Why pickleball is chess, not checkers
1:18:15 – Pickleball vs football strategy
1:22:00 – The social power of pickleball
1:26:30 – Celebrity pickleball & growing the sport
1:31:30 – Training, coaches, and closing the gap
1:36:00 – Playing pro pickleball at 51
1:41:00 – What’s next for Terrell Owens
1:27:54 – Final thoughts
#TerrellOwens #Pickleballers #NFL #PPA #MLP #Pickleball
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Lucy Kovalova is one of the OG queens of pickleball — a former world number one, multiple-time triple crown winner, and one of the most feared right-side players of all time.
From a tiny village in Slovakia to Wichita State with no English, to “accidentally” becoming the best in the world, Lucy has lived every chapter of pickleball’s rise. In this episode, she sits down with Roscoe and Jared to share the full story: chasing pro tennis across Europe, landing in Kansas without knowing what D1 even was, discovering pickleball through a made-up paddle game… and then quietly becoming one of the best players on the planet.
She opens up about the first US Open in Naples, forming superteams with Irina Tereschenko and Simone Jardim, the golden era of grindy dinking, dominating women’s doubles with Simone, the rivalry years as new talent flooded in, what really separates the top women’s teams today, how the PPA Tour turned pickleball into a real career, and why her relationship with the sport has evolved from pure love of the game to business, purpose, and legacy.
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Instagram:
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📲 @thekitchenpickleball
📲 @roscoebellamy
📲 @jpaulthechef
0:00 Lucy Kovalova intro and “accidental” world number one
1:03 Welcome back to Pickleballers delivered by DoorDash
2:20 Growing up in Slovakia: small village, tennis and ballroom dancing
4:18 The brutal pro tennis grind and trying to “make it” in Europe
5:43 Burnout, quitting tennis and deciding to go to college in the US
6:51 Landing at Wichita State with no English and becoming freshman of the year
9:04 College life, international crew and first impressions of Americans
11:05 Staying in Wichita, coaching at the club and discovering pickleball
13:04 The made-up paddle game, first temp courts and saying yes to US Open Naples
15:02 First US Open: women’s doubles, slow dinking and singles ATP vs Simone
17:14 Early mixed results with Matt and when they started dating
20:21 Winning TOC and Nationals and realizing they were a top mixed team
24:48 Women’s partnerships: Irina, Simone, Callie and building superteams
26:58 Dominating with Simone and the rise of new rivals
29:34 Inside the rivalry era and five-game wars on the PPA Tour
35:31 Respecting Anna Leigh as a player and Lucy’s perspective on that era
41:35 When pickleball became a full-time career and the rise of the PPA
43:32 From love of the game to business: contracts, sponsors and pressure
44:39 Looking ahead: two more years, legacy and being the “cool aunt”
46:00 Could she just coach, commentate or watch without playing?
50:06 What separates the top women’s teams in modern pickleball
51:13 Missing the old dinking era and thoughts on the wooden paddle event
54:11 PPA superlatives: funniest, smartest, loudest, best trash talk and more
55:31 How Lucy wants to be remembered on tour and on court
56:03 Life after pro pickleball, teaching at the club and ballroom dreams
56:50 Craziest match she’s ever played and final thoughts
#Lucykovalova #Mattwright #PPA #MLP #Pickleball
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Matt Wright is one of the most polarizing, respected, and mysterious players in pickleball — and somehow, he had never done a real pickleball podcast… until now.
At 48 years old, Matt is still making PPA finals, still out-thinking kids half his age, and still one of the most entertaining players on tour. In this episode, Matt sits down with Roscoe and Jared to finally tell his full story: from obsessed tennis kid in Wichita, to #1 at Michigan with Tom Brady in his dorm, to discovering pickleball through a made-up “mini tennis” game with a wooden mallet.
He opens up about the first US Open, early days with Lucy Kovalova, his loyalty to Connor Pardoe and the PPA through the tour wars, the Riley Newman breakup, what it was really like playing with Ben Johns, the Julian Arnold rivalry, cheating vs trash talk, and why he thinks pickleball is at a crossroads: chess match or power game?
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Instagram:
📲 @pickleballers
📲 @thekitchenpickleball
📲 @roscoebellamy
📲 @jpaulthechef
01:12 – Why Matt Wright has never done a pickleball podcast
02:37– Growing up in Wichita as an only child
05:20 – Falling in love with tennis watching John McEnroe
07:05 – Junior grind, national tournaments & balancing real school
08:32 – Choosing Michigan over Stanford & TCU
11:35 – Playing #1 at Michigan, rivalry matches & old tennis footage
13:00 – Age vs Athleticism
16:22 – Fire, villains, and why sports need characters
20:57 – Don't piss Matt off
22:34 – Discovering “mini tennis,” meeting Lucy, and the backyard sport that led to pickleball
26:15 – 2016 US Open debut: pushing Morgan Evans & Marcin Rozpedski to the brink
29:35 – 2016 Matt Wright footage
36:52 – Early paddle deals, Engage days, and the pre-testing paddle era
37:41 – Connor Pardoe, PPA beginnings, and why Matt stayed loyal during the tour wars
42:06 – The Riley Newman breakup
45:05 – Playing with Ben Johns: gameplans, covering 65% of the court & the backhand counter era
49:19 – Blowing leads, mental edges & why everyone tightened up against Ben/Collin
51:15 – Partner carousel: Rafa, Jay, Dylan & the hypothetical JW/Matt super team
53:00 – Ranking today’s top 5 men’s doubles players
54:17 – The Julian Arnold rivalry, chirping, and separating on-court battles from real life
56:54 – Hitting Jesse, not apologizing
58:54 - Cheating in pickleball
59:57 – Who Matt really is off court, no social media, and being “mysterious” on tour
1:03:10 – No Senior Pro plans, Andre Agassi fantasy partner & where pickleball goes next
1:04:12 - The future of pickleball?
1:06:21 – Legacy: how Matt Wright wants to be remembered
#Pickleballers #Pickleball #PPA #MLP #ProPickleball #MattWright
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