Nick Fowler was $20,000 in debt when he realized the world was changing. While most people look at TikTok as an app for entertainment, Nick saw a lifeline.

In this episode of Fail First, Nick reveals how he transitioned from a Military Rescue Swimmer to building a $22 million TikTok Shop empire.

This conversation isn’t just about the TikTok Shop blueprint, it’s a masterclass in recognizing opportunity before it passes you by. It is a raw look at what happens when you give yourself permission to try something different, even when the world expects you to stay where you are.

He explains:
• The emotional weight of being $20k in debt and the moment that forced a change
• Why your "fear of failing" is actually a fear of what other people think
• The exact framework Nick used to help his family start from scratch
• The "Three Pillars" of viral content that most creators overlook
• Why 2026 is the last great window for the "TikTok Shop Gold Rush"

00:00 Intro: The $20,000 Debt Realization
05:20 From Navy Rescue Swimmer to Digital Entrepreneur
12:45 The Family Blueprint: Helping Mom and Sister Start from Scratch
22:10 Why This Isn’t Really About TikTok Shop
31:05 The Science of Opportunity: How to See What Others Miss
45:30 Navigating the "Ban Hammer" and Protecting Your Business
58:15 The Psychology of the "Scroll": Capturing Attention in 3 Seconds
01:12:40 Giving Yourself Permission to Fail First
01:25:15 Scaling to $22 Million: When to Hire and When to Automate
01:38:50 Dealing with "Haters" and Negative Comments
01:52:10 The Future of Social Commerce: 2026 and Beyond
02:04:30 Final Lessons

Connect with Nick Fowler:
YouTube: @thenickfowler

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In this episode of the Fail First Podcast, we sit down with Travis, the Director of Pickleball at Pickleball X, a private equity group investing heavily in the future of the sport. Pickleball X owns and manages Pickleball Kingdom facilities, with plans for aggressive expansion across the US.

Travis provides an incredible deep dive into the business of pickleball and what it takes for a facility to thrive, not just survive.

🎙️ In This Episode, We Discuss:The Business of Pickleball: Why private equity groups like Pickleball X see pickleball facilities as a massive investment opportunity, and how they plan to have seven clubs by the first quarter of 2026 [03:09].

The "Soul of a Facility": Travis warns against the "Kevin Costner effect" (if you build it, they will come) and stresses that the true key to success is building culture, community, and consistent programming, not just beautiful courts [08:40].

A Roadmap for Growth: The importance of a 10+ court minimum for profitability and the strategic focus on the "top line" (community development) over the "bottom line" [09:46].

Bridging the Gap with "NextStep": Learn about Pickleball Kingdom's structured program designed to take new players from 101 classes to confident open play participants, utilizing coaching, fundamentals, and kitchen classes [15:13].

The Future of the Game: Analyzing the generational shift in pickleball, the vital role of Gen Z and Millennials in the sport's long-term growth, and the potential for a Junior MLP team format [17:21].

New Investment Hotbeds: Why seasonal areas and cold-weather markets like Connecticut are booming for indoor pickleball due to high demand and the need for wind-controlled environments [26:04].

Reality TV & Exposure: Discussing the marketing play behind the newly announced "Pickleball Paddle Battle" reality TV concept [28:10].

The Fear of Failure: Travis shares his greatest fear in the industry: failing the community and the expectations set for long-term growth [31:54].

Limited capital, getting punched in the mouth, keep building anyway.

Ron Shell and Australia’s National Pickleball League (NPL) launched just as MLP and PPA announced they were moving into the same market. Instead of folding, he doubled down—building venues as content engines, designing a true team format with singles at the core, and experimenting with Green Zone, a broadcast model that might finally bridge the gap between rec players and real viewership.

In this conversation, Ron and I go deep into what it takes to build a league from scratch, how branding choices like color psychology matter, and why betting, broadcast innovation, and brand-first thinking will decide who survives in the next era of pickleball.

⏱️ Timestamps

0:00 Intro

0:45 Starting at PointsBet → Fanatics

3:15 Living in New York vs. Denver vs. Boston

6:05 The “this might not work” moment for NPL

8:55 PPA/MLP expansion into Australia

11:15 What the NPL actually is (3 pillars)

14:35 Why marketing + content is their core advantage

19:05 Picking a target audience (and why they chose 25–40 yr olds)

22:50 Why green + white branding? (color psychology)

25:25 Building venues as content engines

29:00 How NPL recruits players against PPA/MLP

33:10 Singles as the secret to broadcast appeal

36:15 The NPL format explained

41:10 Closing the broadcast gap (Green Zone concept)

46:00 Where betting fits in pickleball’s future

50:15 Growth of pickleball in Australia vs. Asia

54:00 Ron’s biggest failure building NPL

57:25 His greatest fear moving forward

1:01:00 What Ron wants the final chapter to say

🔑 Takeaways

Why singles might be the key to making pickleball actually watchable on broadcast

How NPL built a true team format that forces balance—no one player can carry

The reason they chose green + white branding (color psychology + country club feel)

Why venues are content engines (not just places to play)

What the “Green Zone” broadcast experiment could mean for the sport

How sports betting + data could become the billion-dollar unlock

The biggest failure Ron admits to when raising money for NPL

His biggest fear moving forward as a founder

🔗 Follow Ron & the NPL

Instagram: @nplpickleball

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ron-shell-3177bb27/

Website: https://www.nplpickleball.com.au/

🎙️ Listen to the Fail First Podcast

Youtube: @FailFirstPodcast

Instagram: @failfirstpodcast

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Pro Pickleball Player, Susannah Barr admits her greatest failure was focusing only on playing — while ignoring the bigger picture of sponsorships, brand-building, and long-term career planning. That lesson shaped her journey: from grinding to pay her way into tournaments, to co-owning Boise’s premier indoor facility,  @the.flyingpickle  .In this episode of the Fail First Podcast, Susannah shares her unfiltered story of why winning isn't enough, so many missed opportunities, mentorship, mental resilience, and the future of pickleball as both a sport and a business.⏰ TIMESTAMPS00:00 – Podcast intro01:07 – Susanna Barr’s greatest failure06:30 – Missing opportunities & lack of mentorship14:20 – Learning the business side of pickleball20:15 – Advice for up-and-coming pros27:50 – Building a career vs. paying for tournaments36:05 – Mental game: distractions, resets, and mantras44:10 – Playing with family & navigating pressure dynamics53:25 – Opening The Flying Pickle indoor facility1:02:40 – Building community & surprising lessons in entrepreneurship1:11:10 – Footwork: the overlooked foundation of pickleball1:18:00 – Fears of aging, losing, and life after competition1:26:00 – Legacy: Susanna Barr’s final chapter1:28:20 – Closing remarks✨ Key TakeawaysWinning isn’t enough — athletes must build brands.Mentorship can save years of struggle.Community is the real secret behind successful clubs.The toughest opponent is often time and change.Legacy is about impact, not just medals.📌 Connect with Susanna BarrInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/susannahbarr.pbSubstack Blog: https://susannahbarrpickleball.substack.com/The Flying Pickle Academy YouTube:  @theflyingpickleacademy  #failfirstpodcast #pickleballpodcast #pickleball #pickleballtips #mindset #entrepreneurship #susannahbarr #theflyingpickleacademy

Pickleball isn’t just a sport at the collegiate level — it’s a startup.At James Madison University, Ryan and Carter have built one of the fastest-growing pickleball clubs in America:📈 500+ social members🏆 32 competitive athletes💰 3 sponsorship deals✉️ 200+ cold emails, reach outs, and even fundraising roundsThis isn’t just about sport. It’s about leadership, failure, culture, and building something from the ground up.From breaking racquets at 12 years old (Ryan's greatest failure), to pitching companies like Engage for sponsorships, to running trial processes with 200+ students… JMU Pickleball is proving that collegiate sports can operate like real businesses.This is The New Startup.⏰ TIMESTAMPS00:00 - intro01:18 - The New Startup begins (Greatest Failures10:15 - Learning leadership as the youngest player17:50 - Cold emails & landing sponsors26:20 - Running JMU Pickleball like a business34:55 - Nationals, tryouts, and building competitive teams45:40 - Pro players in collegiate pickleball?54:15 - The social side of JMU Pickleball1:02:05 - Biggest mistakes & lessons learned1:12:40 - The future of collegiate pickleball1:20:00 - Legacy: JMU’s role in building the sport✨ Key TakeawaysFailure on court can shape your leadership off it.Cold outreach works — 200+ emails led to multiple sponsors.Collegiate pickleball is exploding, from 32 teams to 64+ in just two years.Running a club is running a startup.JMU’s legacy is simple: they did it right, and they did it fun.📌 Connect with JMU PickleballInstagram: @jmupickleball ( https://www.instagram.com/jmupickleball/?hl=en )Email Reach Out (BIG email guys) : [email protected]#FailFirstPodcast #Pickleball #pickleballpodcast #collegesports #CollegiatePickleball #StartupLife #TheNewStartup

What if your brain, not your body, was the first thing to quit on you?Dr. Scott Frey — neuroscientist, performance coach, and founder of Cerebral Performance — joins us for a masterclass on mental fatigue, central fatigue, and the neuroscience of high performance.From dopamine addiction to stress overload, from breathwork to neuroplasticity, this conversation uncovers the hidden mechanisms that dictate whether you break down… or break through.If you’re an athlete, entrepreneur, or anyone who performs under pressure — this might be the most important conversation you listen to this year.⏰ TIMESTAMPS00:00 - Intro: Mental vs. Central Fatigue05:45 - Why your brain gets tired before your body12:20 - Dopamine, serotonin, and performance highs/lows21:40 - Adrenaline: friend or enemy?32:10 - Why stress narrows your focus (and how to fix it)45:25 - Breathing as a performance tool56:50 - How identity tied to performance makes you fragile1:12:30 - Training the brain like a muscle (neuroplasticity)1:28:45 - Real world examples: athletes under pressure1:47:10 - Mental tapering: recovery for the mind2:05:30 - Mindfulness and default mode network explained2:20:15 - The future of neuroscience in sport✨ Key TakeawaysMental fatigue reduces performance across endurance, strength, and focus.Stress narrows attention, hurting decision-making and awareness.Breathing techniques can immediately shift you into a calmer state.Neuroplasticity proves you can train your brain like any other muscle.True resilience means detaching your identity from your results.📌 Guest InfoLearn more about Dr. Scott Frey and Cerebral Performance:🌐 cerebralperformance.com📧 [email protected]#failfirstpodcast #scottfrey #drscottfrey #pickleballpodcast #pickleball #highperformance #overthinking #braintraining #athletemindset #mentalfatigue #diaryofaceo #modernwisdom

-🎯 What happens when someone who failed out of school and lost all sense of self beats the best pickleball player in the world?Alex Crum's journey from failing out of school and hitting rock bottom in his 20's to defeating #1-ranked pickleball players is a masterclass in resilience and reinvention. This conversation reveals how he lost his identity in his sophomore year, rebuilt himself through travel and love, and discovered a hidden talent (pickleball) that shocked the sports world. Plus, he's dropping what might become pickleball's biggest anthem.⏰ TIMESTAMPS:00:00 - Intro02:30 - The greatest failure: losing himself at 2006:45 - Failed out of school, stopped going to class11:20 - Meeting a German police woman in Punta Cana15:40 - Living in Germany and finding himself again19:15 - Why he keeps his ex in his life platonically23:50 - The wrist injury that ended his tennis career28:30 - "After a month, I'm going to be #1 in the world"32:15 - Beating top players while eating pizza every night36:45 - The phone call that almost ended everything41:20 - Playing championship match while mom was in hospital45:30 - Tennis vs pickleball: mental differences49:15 - Why gambling is holding pickleball back53:40 - The hunter mentality vs being hunted57:25 - His other half (AC Baby) & secret songwriting process61:30 - The pickleball anthem about Anna Bright65:15 - Dreams of #1 and buying parents a house68:45 - Greatest fear: losing loved ones71:20 - What he wants his final chapter to say🔥 KEY TAKEAWAYS:-Rock bottom can become your foundation if you rebuild right-Confidence comes from knowing you're the best version of yourself-Sometimes switching lanes unlocks talents you never knew existed-Family support during dark times is everything-Stay present in competition - the past and future don't matter-Lead with kindness and authenticity in everything you do-Your failures can become the story that inspires othersThis isn't just about sports - it's about what's possible when you refuse to stay down.Connect with Alex:Instagram: @acbabybabyPodcast:  @CrackedPaddles  Connect with the show:  @FailFirstPodcast  #alexcrum #pickleball #pickleballpodcast #benjohns #apptour #ppatour #resilience #sports #mentalhealth #masterclass #failure #successstories #mindset #music #rap #acbaby #champion #failfirstpodcast

What happens when a world-class tennis coach has a near-death experience—and comes back to coach some of the greatest of all time! In this powerful interview, Dr. Joy Macci shares how a life-threatening accident, 15 minutes without a heartbeat, and a coma led her to transform not only her life—but the lives of elite athletes like Serena Williams, Venus Williams, and Andy Roddick.We go deep into:🧠 The neuroscience of high performance🏆 Why 98% of athletes train wrong🎾 Coaching secrets from tennis legends & pro pickleball stars🌍 Her vision for Quantum Sports and the future of mental performanceWhether you're an athlete, coach, or someone rebuilding after failure—this episode reveals how to rewire your brain for success and live with purpose, joy, and resilience.⏱️ TIMESTAMPS00:00 – Intro02:15 – The freak accident that changed everything05:45 – 15 minutes in heaven: “Joy, you were given your name for a reason”09:30 – Overcoming a speech impediment to coach champions13:20 – Why most athletes train the body first—and why that’s wrong17:45 – How Ben Johns masters the mental game22:10 – The “mini balls” drill that instantly improves focus26:35 – 3 proven ways to handle pressure and stress31:20 – Why running backward in sports kills 98% of outcomes35:50 – Cross-eye dominance: the hidden blind spot39:15 – From the tennis court to the pickleball revolution43:40 – Pickleball on a camel in Dubai?!47:25 – What is Quantum Sports?51:30 – The mindset difference between elite and average55:20 – Her mission: Bringing joy to the world through sport💡 TOP TAKEAWAYS-Your brain fires before your body moves — train it first-Great athletes master contact, not just mechanics-Simplicity beats complexity: less is more-Resilience is bouncing forward, not back-You are wired for greatness — your brain just needs the right input-Neuroplasticity can transform performance at any ageTrue success comes from helping others win!📲 Connect with Dr. Joy MacciEmail: [email protected]: Dr. Joy Macci🔥 Want more conversations like this?Subscribe, comment below with your favorite takeaway, and share this with someone who needs to hear it.🎧 Watch more episodes → https://open.spotify.com/show/17ChiVIVNyZzBnjKoTWAyA?si=177b49a663b049b2#drjoymacci #pickleballpodcast #pickleballclinic #mindset #failfirstpodcast #mentalperformance #mentalperformancecoach #sportspodcast #sportpsychology #athlete #pickleball #pickleballstrategy

🎯 What happens when a 12-year-old with a shovel becomes the founder of pickleball's largest online community?Aaron Reznik's journey from door-to-door snow shoveling to building the Pickleball Clinic (500K+ followers) is a masterclass in community building and entrepreneurship. This conversation reveals how he dismissed the future GOAT's (Ben Johns) advice, the failures that shaped his success, and why he sacrifices his health with zero regrets to help hundreds of thousands of people fall in love with the sport.⏰ TIMESTAMPS:00:00 - Intro02:00 - From charity campaigns to pickleball empire05:30 - The $30 snow shoveling business that started it all09:15 - Why emotional connection drives everything he builds12:45 - How he rejected Ben Johns' advice (and lived to regret it)16:20 - Building Montclair Pickleball from zero to hero20:30 - Scaling quality while maintaining community feel24:40 - The Pickleball Clinic: Focusing on the 95% not the pros28:15 - Biggest failures and lessons learned32:20 - AI and automation strategies for creators35:45 - What most pickleball creators get wrong on social media39:10 - Court Connections: Using pickleball for business networking48:25 - The loneliest moments of building an empire58:50 - Health sacrifices and no regrets1:05:30 - What he wants to be remembered for in pickleball🔥 KEY TAKEAWAYS:- Build community by focusing on emotional connection over transactions- Scale by hiring amazing people who share your values- Target the 95% of casual players, not just the 1% of pros- Use authenticity + value as your content formula- Success requires sacrifice, but know when to prioritize health- Find the intersection of passion, skill, and market demandThis isn't just about pickleball - it's about building something that genuinely impacts people's lives.---Connect with Aaron (Lessons, newsletter, personally):Montclair Pickleball: https://www.montclairpickleballbc.comThe Pickleball Clinic Newsletter: https://www.thepbclinic.comThe Pickleball Clinic FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thepickleballclinic/The Pickleball Clinic Youtube:  @thepickleballclinic  Email: [email protected] radically transparent interview:  @FailFirstPodcast  #aaronreznik #pickleball #pickleballpodcast #pickleballclinic #community #entrepreneur #montclairpickleball #socialmedia #startup #benjohns #networking

What happens when you call a sport "silly" one day and become a sponsored professional pickleball player the next year?

Zack Taylor's journey from American Idol contestant to pro pickleball player is one of the most unexpected career pivots you'll ever hear.

🎧 TIMESTAMPS:(00:00) Opening: The best mistake that changed everything(03:15) Biggest failure: The relationship with his dad(06:30) COVID forces move back home from LA acting career(09:45) First pickleball experience: "Silly sport for old people"(13:20) Day one coaching story: Fake it till you make it(16:40) Tournament success and going professional(20:15) Balancing authenticity with personal branding(24:30) American Idol: How it helped him find himself(28:45) Confidence struggles on and off the court(32:10) The six-month training dilemma(35:50) "Will you regret not trying?" - The question that changes everything(39:20) Mental resilience through professional athlete ups and downs(42:30) PickleCon Kansas City and building community(45:15) Greatest fear: The unknown that always leads somewhere better

In this vulnerable conversation, Zack opens up about:- Why taking risks has always led to better outcomes- How American Idol validation changed his confidence forever- The challenge of being yourself while building a brand- Why he's considering giving up six figures to chase his athletic dreams- What mental resilience actually means as a professional athlete- His advice for anyone facing a scary career decisionThis isn't just about pickleball - it's about the courage to reinvent yourself completely and trust that the net will appear when you leap.

#ZackTaylor #pickleball #pickleballpodcast #americanidol #careerpivot #athlete #joola #picklecon #mentalresilience #authenticity