Host Deirdre welcomes her daughter Shannen for an inside look at what it's like to be family to a pickleball enthusiast. From almost missing family portraits for tournaments to tracking mom's location through phone apps, Shannen shares candid and often hilarious stories about life with a pickleball-obsessed parent. While she's tried the sport herself, Shannen offers a refreshing perspective on pickleball culture through the eyes of a casual player who appreciates the community benefits yet hasn't caught the same intense passion. This episode highlights the relatable family dynamics, the powerful connections formed through recreational sports, and the special mother-daughter bond that thrives despite (and sometimes because of) pickleball's presence in their lives.

Highlights

• Shannen's hilarious impressions of her mom's animated on-court reactions
• Playing with strangers at open play can be nerve wracking
• Parallels between finding love through recreational hockey and making friends through pickleball
• The infamous "dinner reservation incident" that became family lore

• The family intervention that led to mandatory phone location tracking

• How a pickleball tournament almost derailed a long-planned family portrait session

• The competitive dynamics when playing doubles with her fiancé, sister, and brother-in-law
• How Shannen's fiancé's natural athletic ability led to some good-natured jealousy

• Why making friends as an adult is hard, and how recreational sports can help

Chapters

00:00 Introduction

01:30 Family Perspective on Mom's Playing Pickleball

05:07 Almost Missing Family Portraits for a Tournament

06:33 How Open Play Can Make Newbies Like Her Nervous

09:37 The Dinner Reservation Incident

14:17 The Kids Insist Tracking Phone Locations

17:24 Making Fun of Mom's Animated Reactions

20:04 Shannen Playing Pickleball With College Friends

23:07 Deciding to Step Back from Pickleball

24:47 Welcoming Culture of Pickleball

26:03 Meeting Her Fiance Through Rec (Hockey) Play

29:42 The Bonding Power of Recreational Sports

31:21 Making Friends as an Adult Can Be Hard

34:38 The Benefits of Pickleball for Mom

38:20 Origins of Calling Her Mom by Her First Name

40:24 Annoyed That Her Fiance is Naturally Good at Pickleball

41:18 Dynamics of Playing With Her Sister and Their Partners