In this powerful episode of Behind the Paddle, Rob Nunnery sits down with Karen Mitchell, co-founder and chair of Pickleball England, to explore how a local village game turned into a nationwide movement—and what’s next on the global stage. They cover:

• Karen’s unexpected journey into pickleball (tea, cake & a paddle!)
• The grassroots origins of Pickleball England
• How England is setting the tone for international growth
• Behind-the-scenes politics of international pickleball governance
• The unification efforts to get pickleball into the Olympics
• Why sovereignty matters for the sport’s future

If you care about the future of pickleball, this is one you don’t want to miss.