Riley Newman makes a special appearance on the PicklePod and shares his best stories from six years of pro pickleball. Newman covers his break up with Matt Wright and how he is building partnerships in 2024.

The guys give an update on the PPA - MLP merger and Riley explains his surprising decision to sign with MLP last year. Finally, Riley responds to the haters who don't like his style of play or paddle tap philosophy.

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0:00 A heartfelt voicemail from Altaf Merchant

3:57 Merger talks are back on track, for now

7:26 First MLP event is on its deathbed, merger or nothing

10:44 Johnson 5 caught in contract limbo?

16:33 DUPR is growing users and capital

20:32 Riley Newman still has basketball fever

24:16 Building a partnership with Thomas Wilson

28:30 Second isn't good enough

31:00 Where the pancake grip got started

36:02 What difference does a paddle make?

38:18 Still no paddle taps and battling the haters

43:45 We are never getting back together

51:40 The Riley Newman origin story

55:01 MLP Draft drama and signing with the league

1:00:34 What content do you consume?

1:02:14 The next wave of talent

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