HTP Podcast

Leslie Banks started tennis at age 3 and never looked back. Now, as the founder of Serve the Future, she’s using her lifelong love for the game to empower underserved youth through tennis, opening doors many never thought possible.

From her early days growing up in a competitive tennis family to coaching at just 15, Leslie shares her journey of grit, resilience, and growth within the tennis world. She dives into the challenges of transitioning from coaching at clubs in Houston to stepping out on her own in Phoenix, where she followed her calling to create a nonprofit dedicated to making tennis accessible for all.

In this episode, Leslie pulls back the curtain on the real behind-the-scenes of building and sustaining a nonprofit, including the emotional and financial challenges that come with the mission. She shares stories of students whose lives have been transformed through tennis—like the student who is now attending MIT—and how focusing on these success stories fuels her through the toughest days.

Leslie reminds us that to create true impact, you need flexibility, passion, and a willingness to learn and adapt. Whether you’re a coach, player, or parent, you’ll walk away inspired to look beyond yourself and see how tennis can change lives—both on and off the court.

If you would like to donate to Serve The Future or learn more about this amazing nonprofit. Go check out their website, where STF is helping underprivileged kids learn tennis and leadership skills for success. https://www.servethefuture.org/

KEY POINTS:

✅ The grit it takes to build a nonprofit from the ground up

✅ How tennis teaches independence, resilience, and life skills

✅ Why creating community is key to growing the game

✅ The power of focusing on your “why” during hard days

✅ Actionable insights for anyone looking to serve the next generation

If you’ve ever wondered how you can give back through tennis—or need a reminder of why tennis is more than just a sport—this episode is for you.

🎧 Listen now on the HTP Podcast, and join us in changing the culture of tennis, one conversation at a time.

Ever wondered what it’s really like chasing the pro tennis dream? In this episode of the HTP Podcast, Gira sits down with Amanda Moore (Fink), former top 300 player, tennis scholarship to the University of Southern California, and passionate coach, to unpack her journey from age 8 with a racquet in hand to the professional circuit.

Amanda shares the raw realities of life on tour—from the independence and confidence tennis builds to the quiet loneliness between matches.

She dives into the importance of setting realistic goals, understanding your travel and support needs, and planning your path if you’re considering the pro tour. Whether you’re a junior dreaming of the next level or a parent wanting a clearer view of the tennis world, this episode brings real talk and encouragement for your journey.

Key Points:

✅ Amanda's tennis journey: starting from age 8, top 5-10 national junior, USC standout, top 300 in the world.

✅ Life lessons from tennis: independence, resilience, problem-solving, and maturity.

✅ The realities of pro tennis: travel challenges, financial strain, and isolation on tour.

✅ Advice for aspiring pros: setting realistic goals, understanding travel/support needs.

✅ The importance of planning, managing expectations, and defining success in tennis.

In this episode, Nicole Fintell shares her journey from a 7-year-old tennis camper to 2x Texas state champion, D1 college athlete, high-performance junior coach, college coach, and USTA Southwest’s junior player development manager.

We explore the ups and downs of junior tennis, the challenges of isolation, and why it’s essential to focus on long-term development.

Tennis is more than a sport—it’s a lifelong teacher.

Whether you're a player, coach, or parent, you’ll gain practical insights into navigating the challenges and joys of tennis.

Key Points:

1️⃣ Start Young, Grow Strong: Nicole began tennis at age 7, showing how early exposure can ignite a lifelong love for the sport.

2️⃣ Growth Over Instant Success: She emphasizes focusing on long-term improvement rather than chasing quick wins, teaching juniors the value of patience in progress.

3️⃣ Tennis Builds Life Skills: The sport instills resilience, adaptability, and independence, preparing players for challenges on and off the court.

4️⃣ Opportunities Through Tennis: Tennis opened doors for travel, education, and lifelong friendships, proving it’s more than just a game.

5️⃣ Navigating the Journey Matters: Now as a USTA Junior Player Development Manager, Nicole helps parents, players, and coaches navigate the tennis journey with support, perspective, and clarity.

In this episode, Kate Paulus shares her powerful tennis journey—from picking up a racquet in Kansas City to competing at the Division 1 level at TCU.

She opens up about the emotional toll of injuries, the mental pressure of elite tennis, and how gratitude and perspective helped her through the toughest moments.

Kate also gets candid about hot-button topics like fairness in women's sports and the value of creating safe spaces for all athletes.

This conversation is equal parts real, reflective, and inspiring.

Key topics:

• Moving from KC to South Florida to train
• Playing D1 tennis at TCU
• Injury, medical retirement, and recovery
• Mental health in junior tennis
• Pressure, comparison, and emotional burnout
• The value of life skills gained through tennis
• Advocating for fairness in women’s sports
• Her coach’s life-changing advice: “Zoom out.”

Can you teach yourself tennis and actually get good? Rogelio proves it’s possible!

In this episode, we talk about DIY tennis, engineering mindset, and using tennis as a way to meet people, grow confidence, and build community.

He shares how a little competition (with a teacher!) kept him pushing, how he stayed focused with limited support, and how tennis helped him make friends and stay grounded while studying engineering at Boston University.

Whether you’re new to tennis or a longtime player, Rogelio’s story proves that grit, curiosity, and a bit of creativity can take you far.

If you’ve ever doubted your path in sports or life, this episode is for you.

Outline of Key Points:

• Rogelio’s Start in Tennis Started playing in high school just for fun with friendsNo formal lessons, but deeply passionate about the game
• Self-Taught Journey Used YouTube videos and online researchFilmed himself to improve technique and track progressTrial and error became his coach
• High School Experience Supportive but busy coach Learned independence and accountability Motivation from friendly rivalry with a teacher
• College Life & Networking Currently studying mechanical engineering at Boston University Used tennis as a social tool to make friends and network Believes tennis helped his confidence and connection in a new environment
• Advice for Beginners & College Students Just introduce yourself—people are more open than you think Don’t wait for the perfect setup—just start

In this inspiring episode, Olivia Kim shares how she went from playing tennis just once a week in 9th grade to earning an academic scholarship to play collegiate tennis at Trinity.

After switching schools and homeschooling to pursue the sport full-time, she pushed through self-doubt, gossip, and early setbacks in a competitive tennis community.

Olivia opens up about overcoming the pressure, finding confidence, and thriving in a positive college tennis environment.

Now a psychology grad set to become a therapist for kids with autism, she reminds us that perseverance and passion can lead you exactly where you’re meant to be.

Key highlights:

• Starting tennis seriously in high school with limited experience
• Homeschooling to fully commit to tennis
• Battling discouragement and toxic tennis culture
• Landing an academic scholarship through hard work
• Thriving in a supportive college team and finding purpose beyond the sport

What happens when tennis opens doors beyond the court? 🎾✨

In this powerful episode of the HTP Podcast, Gira Schofield sits down with Trang, a junior in high school who shares her inspiring journey from Vietnam to the U.S.—and from picking up a racquet to earning a college scholarship. 🇻🇳➡️🇺🇸

Trang opens up about:

✅ How Serve the Future nonprofit changed her life

✅ Learning tennis later than most—and thriving anyway

✅ Earning a scholarship to Canyon College through hard work and mindset

✅ Her dream of becoming an experimental psychologist

✅ Advice for younger players: “Just do it—step out of your comfort zone!”

Whether you're a young athlete, a parent, or just love stories of grit and growth, this episode is packed with heart and purpose. Trang’s journey shows that with support, discipline, and passion, anything is possible.

🎧 Watch now to feel inspired and motivated on your own journey—on and off the court!

🔔 Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more real stories and mental strength tips.

Is positive self-talk enough? In this episode, part 3 of positive self-talk, I get real about the limits of positive self-talk in tennis—and why it won’t work in certain pressured situations unless you actually believe it.

I’ll break down the truth about mental toughness, subconscious patterns, and why meditation and journaling are the real training grounds for your mind. 🎾🧠

You’ll hear:

• Why “just be positive” is bad advice during pressure moments
• What Novak Djokovic can teach us about building true mental strength
• How to start rewiring your thoughts in just 2 minutes a day

If you want to stop the sabotage and become your own best coach—this one’s for you.

➡️ Listen now. 📝 Take notes. 💬 Share with your tennis crew.

Episode Disclosure : This episode is for educational purposes and isn’t a replacement for professional care. If you’re experiencing mental or physical health issues, please consult a qualified healthcare provider.

Ever feel like your biggest opponent is you?

In this episode, we’re taking you through a calming, powerful guided meditation to help you rewire your self-talk, shake off self-doubt, and step into your power — point by point, breath by breath.

Through deep breathing, full-body relaxation, and powerful visualization, you'll learn to:

✨ Quiet the mental noise during matches

✨ Reframe negative thoughts like “I’m not good enough.”

✨ Replace them with game-changing affirmations like “I have what it takes to compete.”

✨ Visualize yourself staying focused, strong, and confident — no matter what the scoreboard says.

Whether you’ve ever thrown your racket in frustration or just felt stuck in your head… this is your moment to reset and refocus.

Press play. Close your eyes. Let’s train your mind like a champion.

We all do it—even the pros. In Part 2 of our self-talk series, we’re diving into why negative self-talk creeps in (hello, pressure!) and how to flip it into something powerful and productive.

Learn how to catch your mental patterns, reframe them, and coach yourself mid-match like a pro.

🎧 Tune in and train your brain, or remain the same.