Everything But The Kitchen Dink Pickleball Podcast

Rob and Andy are finally back together and the party’s over—it’s time to get serious on court. This episode dives into how tactics can actually work, how to change your reaction to bad sessions, plus honest stories from cruise pickleball, league play and the reality of taking rec play too seriously. We also share exciting news about a major new dedicated pickleball facility being built, run through the paddles we’ve been testing all with the usual mix of banter, real talk and practical takeaways for pickleballers of every level.

The boys are reunited! Tournaments, Florida sun and back down to Earth with a bump—this episode covers it all.
Show-court nerves, comeback medals, sandbagging talk and new paddle paddles.
Tune in for honest stories, laughs and real talk that every pickleball player will relate to.

This episode is a must‑listen if you want to seriously improve your pickleball mental game. We are joined by Professor Graham Jones and Dr Tara Jones, world‑class sport psychologists who have helped athletes at every level, including Olympic and World Champions, and now work with everyday pickleball players. Drawing on their book Gold Medal Pickleball Psychology: Master Your Mind, Raise Your Pickleball Game, they share practical tools for thriving under pressure, harnessing motivation, sharpening focus, and building real confidence on court—simple mindset shifts, breathing resets, and routines you can plug straight into your next match to play calmer, smarter, and with a lot more belief in yourself.

The boys are apart this week as Robert reviews the English Open—the world’s largest pickleball tournament outside the USA — while Andy shares his USA court experiences on his travels to Delray Beach. Expect honest opinions, tournament stories and plenty of laughs in this packed episode.

This week, we take you behind the scenes of our latest English Open warm-up tournament, from hotel dramas and perfect hash browns to the highs, frustrations and unexpected twists that unfolded on court. It’s a fun, honest and sometimes emotional episode, packed with laughs, banter and serious discussion about competition, limited court time, tournament organisation and the mental side of pickleball. We also share helpful advice on preparing your tournament bag, warming up, playing with a new partner and handling the challenges of major tournaments.

What happens when a touring rock star swaps arena stages for the pickleball court—and then decides to reinvent the sport from the inside out? In this episode, Gordon G.G. Gebert, former keyboardist with rock legends like Ace Frehley, turns up the volume on his second act as the inventor of the Slam Master Pro training paddle, founder and commissioner of the Official NPL National Pickleball League, and President of the Pickleball Television Network. He takes us from wild rock‑and‑roll war stories to the moment he got hooked on pickleball, then breaks down how Slam Master Pro became a must‑have weapon for fast hands, control, and solo training anywhere, anytime. Along the way, Gordon pulls back the curtain on the business of pickleball, why “Make Your Rec Games Count” is more than a slogan, and how media, leagues, and training tools are reshaping the future of the game for everyday players and die‑hard competitors alike.

Back from the Rota trip and straight into a scorching UK heatwave, the guys catch up on all the latest from the pickleball world, including the unreal experience of playing against the UK’s no. 1 male and female pairing. They also dive into team trials, Robert’s inclusion in the UK Premier Pickleball League — the top tier of pickleball in Britain — and first impressions of a stack of new paddles that have brought paddle confusion back into the mix. As always, expect plenty of laughs, banter, and useful tips, making this a must-listen for players of all levels.

Join us as we review the 2026 Reballution Cup in Rota, Spain, one of the biggest pickleball tournaments outside the USA and our second year covering this fantastic event. We talk through the standout matches, the atmosphere, the people who made the tournament memorable, and the result of the first-ever tournament meeting between the co-hosts in mixed doubles. We also dive into how the conditions affected play, with the heat and especially the wind playing a major role throughout the week, plus plenty of laughs, useful tips, and stories from the courts along the way.

In this episode, we sit down with one of pickleball’s true pioneers, Melissa McCurley, the Hall of Famer, trailblazer, and behind-the-scenes force who helped shape the modern game. From her early life and military service to building the systems that powered tournament pickleball, breaking barriers in broadcast media, and helping grow the sport at every level, Melissa shares the story of how pickleball became not just a game, but a movement. This conversation is packed with insight, inspiration, and practical lessons for players, coaches, organisers, and anyone who loves the sport, plus a few memorable stories from a career that has helped define where pickleball has been — and where it’s going next.

This week's episode features a deep dive into DUPR killer VAIR with founder Mike Barker, who discusses the frustrations that led him to create a new approach to ratings. We unpack what VAIR is, how it works, and why it was built to tackle some of the biggest issues in the sport, from sandbagging and bad matchups to the growing distrust around rating systems. There’s also plenty of debate about how VAIR compares with DUPR and whether VAIR could genuinely become a serious challenger in the short and medium term. A must listen for all pickleballers!