This week on Keeping It Real, Gina and Neil get into the sticky subject of cheating in pickleball, from rec play politics to tournament tension.

In this episode:
 ✔️ What to do when you're on the receiving end of a bad call
 ✔️ Why humor might be your best weapon in casual games
 ✔️ When to speak up, when to shrug it off
 ✔️ How cheating messes with your head, even when you're doing everything right

Sponsored by VKTRY
Use code EMPOWER20 for 20% off your first pair of performance insoles at https://rstr.co/vktrygear/empowerpickleball

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Let’s call it what it is: sandbagging hurts the game.

In this episode, Gina and Neil get into why playing up will always serve you better than playing down, and how tournament brackets don’t always reflect real skill levels. They share personal stories (including a 5.0 player sneaking into a 3.5 bracket at the US Open), talk about where DUPR ratings still fall short, and give advice for how to approach tournaments the right way.

👉 If you want to improve, play up. Period.

This episode is sponsored by Centerline.
Performance pickleball apparel that fits — on and off the court.
Our listeners get 20% off with code EMPOWER20 at checkout.
👉 Shop Centerline here: https://centerlineathletics.com/

🎧 Don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share with your pickleball crew.

#pickleball #pickleballpodcast #sandbagging #pickleballratings #dupr #pickleballtournaments #playup #pickleballstrategy #pickleballcommunity #pickleballgear #pickleballapparel #centerline #empowerpickleball

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It’s a full-court press this week.

Gina shares what went down at the National Pickleball League (NPL) event in LA: her undefeated run with the Denver Iconics, changes in the format, how team dynamics work, and why one encounter with Jennifer Dawson meant so much.

Neil recaps his time coaching at a Suncoast Pickleball Camp in the North Carolina mountains. Dorm living, catered meals, and a deep bond with fellow coaches? Yep, he’s in his happy place.

This episode is packed with strategy, storytelling, and reflections on what it means to be part of something bigger.

👇 Follow + subscribe:
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Instagram → @empowerpickleball
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In this episode, Gina and Neil dive into the playful (but very real) divide in recreational pickleball: Karens vs. Bangers.

Gina admits she used to be all power, all the time, until she had to teach herself how to slow things down. Neil naturally leans into a calmer, dink-focused game, but both agree: to truly grow as a player, you have to get uncomfortable and work on your weaknesses.

Some players avoid speed-ups at all costs. Others can’t resist crushing the ball every chance they get. But no matter where you land, developing both styles will make you stronger on court.

🛠️ Sponsored by VKTRY Insoles

Learn how VKs help players move faster, feel better, and stay protected on court: https://www.empowerpickleball.com/blogs/pickleball-performance-insoles

More from VKTRY: https://rstr.co/vktrygear/empowerpickleball

💬 Do you consider yourself a Karen or a Banger on the court? And what part of your game are you working on right now?

👇 Follow + subscribe:
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Gina and Neil are tackling a tough one this week: ball hogs, bullies, and those players who make the court feel anything but welcoming. From isolating better players to refusing to rotate out, they talk about the behaviors that divide rec play and how to respond (without losing your love for the game).

In this episode:
 🎾 Why some players refuse to hit to certain people
 🧍 Gina’s story about being iced out by a group of guys
 🗣️ The importance of communication and setting boundaries
 🚪 When it’s okay to walk away and find a better game

This one’s real. Raw. And overdue.

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Neil and Gina are back from the US Open in Naples, and they’ve got stories.

In this episode, Neil takes the mic (mostly) and walks us through one of the most meaningful tournaments of his life: from playing in the Florida heat, to watching his dad—a 70s pickleball hall of famer and USA Pickleball founder—win gold in his age bracket.

Along the way, he shares a full-circle moment of seeing Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf step out of a black SUV like royalty, reflects on his tennis-obsessed childhood, and admits to a little celebrity awe.

Gina jumps in with updates from Women’s Doubles, pro-level drama (yes, ALW + Hayden), and her take on what makes East Naples Community Park such a special, OG venue.

It's a love letter to the roots of the game, the people who shaped it, and the unexpected moments that make the US Open unforgettable.

👇 Follow + subscribe:
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What’s in your bag—and what’s not, but probably should be?

In this episode of Keeping It Real with Gina and Neil, they get real about their gear, their travel habits, and the sometimes strange (and gross) items that make it to the court. From emergency socks to pre-game music that goes hard, they’re talking through the essentials and the unexpected.

Highlights:

• Neil’s get-hyped playlist (Metallica, Rage, Tupac… yes, really)
• Why Gina travels like she’s going on an arctic expedition
• The sock story (you’ve been warned)
• What they should pack but always forget

🎧 New episodes drop every other Wednesday.
 💬 Follow Empower Pickleball for more.

👇 Follow + subscribe:
Website → https://www.empowerpickleball.com
Instagram → @empowerpickleball
TikTok → @empowerpickleball

This is Keeping it Real with Gina & Neil—a no-fluff pickleball podcast powered by Empower Pickleball.

In this short intro episode, your hosts Gina Cilento and Neil Friedenberg give a behind-the-scenes look at why they’re launching the show, what “keeping it real” actually means in the pickleball world, and what you can expect every Wednesday moving forward.

From gear breakdowns and product reviews to real talk about what’s working—and not working—in the sport, Gina and Neil are bringing conversations that the community actually wants to hear.

🎧 First official episode drops May 14
 🎥 Gear reviews start May 19
 📆 New episodes every Wednesday

👇 Follow + subscribe:
Website → https://www.empowerpickleball.com
Instagram → @empowerpickleball
TikTok → @empowerpickleball