What happens when a tough-as-nails fighter and security professional discovers pickleball? Shawn Paul's story will draw you in. From throwing punches to serving aces, he reveals how this "simple" sport literally saved his life, connected him with strangers who became family, and turned him into a traveling pickleball evangelist. Shawn's story is a testament to resilience, personal growth, and the power of community in sports.

Highlights

• Life-changing transformation - How pickleball pulled him back from the brink and gave him purpose
• Stranger becomes family - The incredible Naples story that will restore your faith in humanity

• Cross-country pickleball adventures - Epic travels and the characters he's met along the way
• Social media magic - How he's building genuine connections in the digital age
• The unwritten rules - What "playing accordingly" really means and why it matters
• Random acts of kindness - The new shoes story that'll make you smile
• Court pet peeves revealed - The behaviors that drive even the nicest players crazy
• Why it's addictive - The real reason you can't stop playing once you start

Chapters

00:00 Intro

02:14 His life in private security and as a competitive fighter

12:11 Working at the YMCA as the pickleball coordinator

13:51 How pickleball saved his life

16:00 It's up to you to decide what kind of player you want to be

21:15 The amazing pepople he has met through pickleball

22:44 The gracious stranger in Naples who took him in

28:05 His adventures traveling the country playing

29:45 Shawn Paul hero patrol and his appreciation for law enforcement

32:17 His social media presence and personal connections

34:22 "Reading the room" and dropping F bombs

36:08 Pet peeves like jumping too fast and calling "You!"

39:34 The generosity of strangers - new pair of shoes

41:03 Practicing kindness and how you treat people

44:49 The addictiveness of the sport