In this episode, we dive Balls Deep into professional pickleball player Michael Loyd to dig into the experiences that shaped his career and his life beyond the court.

We talk about Michael’s relationship with his girlfriend, how life off the court intersects with life on tour, and the realities of balancing competition, travel, and personal relationships. From there, the conversation takes a sharp turn into Pokémon, unexpected nostalgia, and why competitive personalities are drawn to games far beyond pickleball.

The episode includes hot takes — some about pickleball, some about culture, some about absolutely nothing important — but all of it unfiltered. It’s a loose, candid conversation that shows a different side of a pro player you don’t usually hear in interviews.