He didn’t just play the game… he helped shape it.

In this episode of Kitchen Conversations, I sit down with Pickleball Hall of Famer Steve Paranto… a man whose fingerprints are all over the modern game.

From the earliest days of pickleball…
to helping revolutionize paddle technology…
to building one of the most unique spaces in the sport…

This is a story of legacy, innovation, and the people who made it all possible.

Because behind Steve’s success…
is a father who changed the game forever.

And a son who carried it forward.

As Steve reflects, everything comes back to three things…
“my parents… being a teacher… and this crazy thing called pickleball.”

🎯 In this episode, we dive into:

• The origin story of modern pickleball paddle technology
• The role his father played in shaping the game
• The legendary 1976 Bicentennial Tournament
• What it meant to grow up inside pickleball history
• Why pickleball might not exist today without innovation
• His life as a teacher and mentor for 30 years
• The emotional story behind his father’s ashes on the court
• Why pickleball is one of the most powerful tools for longevity
• The rise of senior pickleball and why it matters

🏓 The Pickleball Fountain of Youth Podcast

👉 Watch / Follow:
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=pickleball+fountain+of+youth

👉 Apple Podcasts:
https://podcasts.apple.com

👉 Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com

A podcast dedicated to the fastest growing segment in the sport…
senior players… and how pickleball keeps them moving, connected, and thriving.

🎥 “The Power of Pickleball” Documentary

👉 Watch on Documentary+:
https://www.documentaryplus.com

👉 Coming to Apple TV / Prime Video
https://tv.apple.com

https://www.primevideo.com

A powerful look at the history, growth, and human impact of the game… featuring Steve and other pioneers who helped build it.

🏆 Steve Paranto Legacy

• Pickleball Hall of Fame Inductee (2019)
• Son of Arlen Paranto (Hall of Fame 2017)
• Pioneer in composite paddle development
• Educator, innovator, and storyteller of the game

❤️ Why This Episode Matters

This isn’t just about pickleball.

It’s about:

Legacy
Family
Innovation
And the small moments that change everything

Because one idea… one paddle… one decision…
can shape an entire sport.

🎙️ About Kitchen Conversations:

This is not an interview.
This is a court-side conversation.

More than dinks, drops and drives.
Stories from behind the paddle.

🔥 If this episode hits:

Subscribe
Share it
Send it to someone who loves the game

Because the future of pickleball is being built…
on stories like this.

🔖 Hashtags:

#SteveParanto
#Pickleball
#PickleballHistory
#PickleballPodcast
#KitchenConversations
#FountainOfYouth
#PickleballLife
#PickleballCommunity
#DinkDropDrive
#StoriesBehindThePaddle
#Longevity
#ActiveAging
#HallOfFame

And that wraps up this episode of Kitchen Conversations.

If you enjoyed the conversation, be sure to follow the show, leave a review, and share it with someone who loves the game as much as you do.

And if you want the full experience, including the visuals, head over to YouTube and watch the episode at

https://www.youtube.com/@KitchenConversationspodcast

Or search Kitchen Conversations Pickleball Podcast

That’s where these stories really come to life.

You’ll also find links and show notes in the episode description.

Until next time…

more than dinks, drops and drives…

these are stories from behind the paddle.

Before the millions of players…
Before the pro tours…
Before pickleball became what it is today…

There was 1976.

In this episode, we sit down to uncover the story of Johannes F. Lisiecki — the man behind the South Center Athletic Club, where the first organized pickleball tournament in the world was played.

The Bicentennial Tournament.

A moment that quietly changed everything.

Held in Tukwila, Washington, this event is widely recognized as the first formal pickleball tournament ever staged — bringing together early pioneers of the game, including founder Barney McCallum and Hall of Famer Steve Paranto.

What Johannes built wasn’t just a tournament.
He helped turn a backyard pastime… into a sport.

🔥 WHY THIS EPISODE MATTERS:

• The untold story behind the first-ever pickleball tournament (1976)
• How one facility helped push pickleball into the spotlight
• First-hand insight into the pioneers who shaped the game
• The bridge between pickleball’s origins… and its explosive growth today

📖 EXPLORE JOHANNES’ BOOK:

👉 Amazon Canada: https://www.amazon.ca/s?k=Pickleball+Bicentennial+Tournament+1976

👉 Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/Pickleball-Bicentennial-Tournament-Johannes-Lisiecki/dp/B0DZCVGX4S

If you care about the roots of the game, this is essential reading.

⚡ THE TRUTH:

Pickleball didn’t explode overnight.
It was built — quietly — by people like Johannes.

And if you don’t understand where it started…
you don’t fully understand where it’s going.

🎯 ABOUT THE SHOW:

“More than Dinks, Drops and Drives – Stories from Behind The Paddle.”

This is where the real stories live.

💬 QUESTION FOR YOU:

Do you know the moment you became addicted to pickleball?

🔔 SUBSCRIBE:

New episodes every Thursday at 1pm.

🏷️ HASHTAGS:

#Pickleball #PickleballHistory #KitchenConversations #JohannesLisiecki #BarneyMcCallum #SteveParanto #PickleballOrigins #BehindThePaddle #PickleballCanada #PickleballUSA #SportsHistory #PickleballLife #DinkDropDrive #PickleballCommunity #FirstTournament

And that wraps up this episode of Kitchen Conversations.

If you enjoyed the conversation, be sure to follow the show, leave a review, and share it with someone who loves the game as much as you do.

And if you want the full experience, including the visuals, head over to YouTube and watch the episode at

https://www.youtube.com/@KitchenConversationspodcast

Or search Kitchen Conversations Pickleball Podcast

That’s where these stories really come to life.

You’ll also find links and show notes in the episode description.

Until next time…

more than dinks, drops and drives…

these are stories from behind the paddle.

In this episode, hear how a heart attack on a mountain during a mud race changed Kelli’s sports trajectory.

Plus- what if the most important thing about pickleball…
has nothing to do with pickleball?

In this episode, we sit down with Kelli McRobert — and what unfolds is far bigger than the game.

Yes, she’s a coach.
Yes, she’s worked with elite programs.
Yes, she’s connected to some of the most respected names in the sport.

But that’s not the story.

The story is this:

She’s been quietly cleaning up the planet… for decades.

🌍 THIS IS THE PART YOU DON’T SEE:

While most people scroll…
Kelli stops the car.

While most people walk past…
Kelli picks it up.

Bottles. Cans. Garbage. Waste.

Not because it’s convenient.
Not because someone’s watching.

Because it’s the right thing to do.

🔥 WHAT YOU’LL HEAR IN THIS EPISODE:

• The childhood story that started it all
• Turning garbage into purpose (and even funding travel as a kid)
• Why she physically can’t ignore litter anymore
• The emotional side of seeing what people leave behind
• How one person can actually make a difference
• Why “someone else will do it” is the biggest lie we tell ourselves

⚡ THE TRUTH:

Most people talk about making the world better.
Kelli does it… one piece at a time.

And once you hear this conversation —
you won’t unsee it either.

🏓 YES… THERE’S PICKLEBALL TOO:

Kelli is also one of the most respected grassroots coaches in the game — building players, communities, and pathways across Ontario.

“The minute I can show someone one small thing… it makes my heart sing.”

That same mindset shows up everywhere in her life.

🔗 CONNECT WITH KELLI & HER COACHING WORLD:


👉 Teach Me Pickleball Coaching with Kelli McRobert
https://teachme.to/listings/pickleball/pickleball-with-kelli-mcrobert

👉 Better Pickleball
https://betterpickleball.com

👉 Learn from CJ Johnson
https://betterpickleball.com/about

Watch the BounceBack Pickle Kitchen Conversations episode at this link:
👉 https://youtu.be/FEgVWMs-m_U?si=MJm64Nqq663RJkYU
 
🎯 ABOUT THE SHOW:

“More than Dinks, Drops and Drives – Stories from Behind The Paddle.”

This isn’t about how to hit a better third shot drop.
This is about the people… and the stories that actually matter.

💬 QUESTION FOR YOU:

Be honest…
When was the last time you picked something up that wasn’t yours?

🔔 SUBSCRIBE:

New episodes every Thursday at 1pm.

🏷️ HASHTAGS:

#Pickleball #KitchenConversations #KelliMcRobert #BetterPickleball #CJJohnson #CleanUpTheEarth #Sustainability #EnvironmentalImpact #MakeADifference #PickleballLife #PickleballCanada #CommunityMatters #BehindThePaddle #DoTheRightThing #LeaveItBetter

And that wraps up this episode of Kitchen Conversations.

If you enjoyed the conversation, be sure to follow the show, leave a review, and share it with someone who loves the game as much as you do.

And if you want the full experience, including the visuals, head over to YouTube and watch the episode at

https://www.youtube.com/@KitchenConversationspodcast

Or search Kitchen Conversations Pickleball Podcast

That’s where these stories really come to life.

You’ll also find links and show notes in the episode description.

Until next time…

more than dinks, drops and drives…

these are stories from behind the paddle.

The Huffin Puffin Muffin Girls is one of the most charming and meaningful stories to come out of Kingston pickleball.

In this episode of Kitchen Conversations, Mike sits down with Pam Bidinost, one of the founding forces behind the Kingston Pickleball Club, to talk about how a women’s exercise group with a hilarious nickname turned into a full blown pickleball obsession. What began with laughs, coffee, muffins, and a few wildly off target shots at RMC eventually became something much bigger: a deep love for the game, tournament success, and a key role in helping bring one of Ontario’s early dedicated indoor pickleball facilities to life.

Pam shares the early days of discovering the sport, the addictive pull of competition, and the behind the scenes story of how the Kingston Pickleball Club came together through vision, volunteerism, belief, and a whole lot of hard work. This episode is about more than pickleball. It is about community, connection, purpose, and the kind of people who help build something that lasts.

Whether you’re already part of the pickleball world or still wondering what all the fuss is about, this conversation captures exactly why the game means so much to so many.

Learn more about Kingston Pickleball Club:

Kingston Pickleball Club Website

Kingston Pickleball Club on Instagram

Kingston Pickleball Club on Facebook

Phone: (343) 477-0246

Pam Bidinost on social media:

Pam Bidinost on Facebook

And that wraps up this episode of Kitchen Conversations.

If you enjoyed the conversation, be sure to follow the show, leave a review, and share it with someone who loves the game as much as you do.

And if you want the full experience, including the visuals, head over to YouTube and watch the episode at

https://www.youtube.com/@KitchenConversationspodcast

Or search Kitchen Conversations Pickleball Podcast

That’s where these stories really come to life.

You’ll also find links and show notes in the episode description.

Until next time…

more than dinks, drops and drives…

these are stories from behind the paddle.

And that wraps up this episode of Kitchen Conversations.

If you enjoyed the conversation, be sure to follow the show, leave a review, and share it with someone who loves the game as much as you do.

And if you want the full experience, including the visuals, head over to YouTube and watch the episode at

https://www.youtube.com/@KitchenConversationspodcast

Or search Kitchen Conversations Pickleball Podcast

That’s where these stories really come to life.

You’ll also find links and show notes in the episode description.

Until next time…

more than dinks, drops and drives…

these are stories from behind the paddle.

Pickleball with Purpose | Pickle Power Ottawa Fundraiser

What happens when pickleball meets purpose?

On April 18th, the courts at The Forge Pickleball Club come alive for something far bigger than competition. Pickle Power Ottawa is more than a tournament. It is a movement driven by community, resilience, and the fight against cancer.

Founded by breast cancer survivor Andrea Douglas, this event brings players together to raise critical funds for the Ottawa Cancer Foundation, supporting free programs and services for those navigating a cancer journey.

Every rally played is a step toward impact.

This episode dives into the story behind the event, the people driving it, and why this tournament matters far beyond the baseline.

⸻

🔗 Learn More & Get Involved

👉 Ottawa Cancer Foundation

https://ottawacancer.ca/

👉 Pickle Power Ottawa Donate

https://support.ottawacancer.ca/site/TR?fr_id=1130&pg=entry

👉 The Forge Pickleball Club (Event Location)

https://www.theforgepickleball.ca/

⸻

🎯 Event Details

📍 Location: The Forge Pickleball Club, Ottawa
📅 Date: April 18, 2026
⏰ Time: 1pm start

⸻

This is what pickleball looks like at its best.
Community. Connection. Cause.

⸻

🔥 Hashtags

#PicklePower #PickleballForACause #OttawaEvents #OttawaPickleball #CancerAwareness #PlayForACause #PickleballCommunity #KitchenConversations #StoriesBehindThePaddle #OttawaCancerFoundation #TheForgePickleball #FundraiserEvent #PickleballLife #GrowTheGame

And that wraps up this episode of Kitchen Conversations.

If you enjoyed the conversation, be sure to follow the show, leave a review, and share it with someone who loves the game as much as you do.

And if you want the full experience, including the visuals, head over to YouTube and watch the episode at

https://www.youtube.com/@KitchenConversationspodcast

Or search Kitchen Conversations Pickleball Podcast

That’s where these stories really come to life.

You’ll also find links and show notes in the episode description.

Until next time…

more than dinks, drops and drives…

these are stories from behind the paddle.

What happens when an entire family falls in love with pickleball… and never looks back?

In this episode of Kitchen Conversations, Mike sits down with the Kawamotos — a family that has become synonymous with excellence, humility, and heart in the game.

From their first swings on the court to competing at the highest levels, this is a story about how pickleball didn’t just enter their lives… it took over.

You’ll hear how it all started, how quickly they got hooked, and how that journey led them into elite competition, sponsorships, and the Canadian National Pickleball League.

But what stands out most?

It’s not just the wins.

It’s who they are.

Widely known as one of the nicest families in pickleball, the Kawamotos represent everything good about the sport — community, competition, and connection.

🔥 In this episode:
• How the Kawamoto family found pickleball and never looked back
• The moment they knew they were hooked
• Inside the Canadian National Pickleball League and what it’s really like
• The reality of playing at a high level in Canada
• The family dynamic behind competing together
• What the future of pickleball looks like from the inside

🔥 Follow and connect with everything mentioned:

👉 Kawamoto Family (CNPL / Socials)
https://www.instagram.com

👉 Canadian National Pickleball League
https://cnplpickleball.ca

👉 Ottawa Pickleball Association
https://ottawapickleballassociat...

👉 Engage Pickleball
https://engagepickleball.com

👉 Klyng Clothing
https://klyng.com

👉 Tyrol Pickleball Shoes
https://tyrolpickleball.com

📌 If you love stories from behind the paddle, hit subscribe and follow along as we uncover the people shaping this game.

#Pickleball #KitchenConversations #Kawamoto #CNPL #CanadianPickleball #PickleballFamily #BehindThePaddle #PickleballPodcast #EngagePickleball #TyrolShoes #Klyng #OttawaPickleball #PickleballLife #PickleballCommunity #ProPickleball #PickleballCanada #FamilyFirst #PickleballStories #NextLevelPickleball 

And that wraps up this episode of Kitchen Conversations.

If you enjoyed the conversation, be sure to follow the show, leave a review, and share it with someone who loves the game as much as you do.

And if you want the full experience, including the visuals, head over to YouTube and watch the episode at

https://www.youtube.com/@KitchenConversationspodcast

Or search Kitchen Conversations Pickleball Podcast

That’s where these stories really come to life.

You’ll also find links and show notes in the episode description.

Until next time…

more than dinks, drops and drives…

these are stories from behind the paddle.

What if one of the fastest-growing sports in the world also had a hidden waste problem… and no one was doing anything about it?

In this episode of Kitchen Conversations, I sit down with Dillion Rosenthal, the founder of Bounceback Pickle — the first company on the planet turning cracked pickleballs back into brand new ones.

Let that sink in.

“He’s the only person we can find on the planet doing exactly that.”

Dillion didn’t just spot a problem — he built a solution from scratch. From collecting broken balls in local parks… to creating the first-ever recycled pickleball, this is raw entrepreneurship in motion.

And the scale of the problem?

• Hundreds of millions of pickleballs produced every year- in fact over 500 million
• Most broken pickleballs end up in landfills
• A sport exploding in growth — and waste

“There’s got to be a problem here.”

We get into:
• The exact moment Dillion realized pickleball had a waste crisis
• His early hustle (including getting banned from selling at school)
• Building recycling infrastructure from nothing
• Shipping ground pickleballs across the world to create prototypes
• What it felt like to hold the first recycled ball ever made
• Why most recycling… frankly… isn’t real

This is innovation, timing, and grit colliding with one of the biggest blind spots in the sport.

🔗 Live Links

👉 Bounceback Pickle (Official)

https://www.bouncebackpickle.com

👉 Bounceback Pickle Instagram


  / bouncebackpickle  

👉 Follow Dillion Rosenthal

  / dillion-rosenthal  

👉 Learn More About Pickleball Growth

  / usapickleballassociation  

🎯 Hashtags

#BouncebackPickle
#DillionRosenthal
#PickleballInnovation
#RecycledPickleballs
#SustainableSports
#PickleballPodcast
#KitchenConversations
#Entrepreneurship
#StartupStory
#SportsInnovation
#PickleballLife
#EcoFriendly
#FutureOfSports
#PickleballCommunity
#Recyclepickleballs
#Recyclepickle
#Recycleballs

And that wraps up this episode of Kitchen Conversations.

If you enjoyed the conversation, be sure to follow the show, leave a review, and share it with someone who loves the game as much as you do.

And if you want the full experience, including the visuals, head over to YouTube and watch the episode at

https://www.youtube.com/@KitchenConversationspodcast

Or search Kitchen Conversations Pickleball Podcast

That’s where these stories really come to life.

You’ll also find links and show notes in the episode description.

Until next time…

more than dinks, drops and drives…

these are stories from behind the paddle.

What if pickleball could change lives… inside prison walls?

In this episode of Kitchen Conversations, I sit down with Roger BelAIr, the founder of PICL, a movement doing something almost impossible.

He is bringing pickleball into prisons.

And what’s happening inside those walls is nothing short of remarkable.

From maximum security facilities to some of the toughest institutions in North America, Roger BelAIr is using the game we love to reduce violence, build connection, and give people something many haven’t felt in years…

Hope.

What started as a simple idea after watching a 60 Minutes episode has grown into a movement now active in 25 states, 81 facilities, and supported by over 150 volunteers teaching the game behind bars.

And the results?

Inmates who wouldn’t even speak to each other are now playing together.

Disciplinary issues are dropping.

Lives are changing.

At one point, gang members who wouldn’t even talk were suddenly competing side by side on the same court.

This is bigger than pickleball.

🔥 In this episode, we dive into:

• How pickleball is transforming prison culture
• The unbelievable origin story of PICL
• Why this game works where other programs fail
• The 4 simple rules that changed everything
• The role of community in reducing reoffending
• Real stories from inside prison walls

🌎 Learn more about PICL (Pickleball for the Incarcerated Community League):

👉 https://www.picleague.org/

👉   / picl-pickleball  

🎬 Documentary mentioned in this episode:

👉 Pickleball and Prisons https://www.pickleballinprison.c...


🎙️ About Kitchen Conversations:

This is not an interview.
This is a courtside conversation.

Real stories. Real people.
More than dinks, drops, and drives.
Stories from behind the paddle.

🏓 If this episode hits you:

Subscribe
Share it
Send it to someone who needs to hear this

Because this is what the game is really about.

🔖 Hashtags:

#Pickleball
#PICL
#RogerBelAIr
#PickleballInPrison
#SecondChances
#SportsForChange
#KitchenConversations
#PickleballCommunity
#HumanStories
#PrisonReform
#Inspiration
#GrowthMindset

And that wraps up this episode of Kitchen Conversations.

If you enjoyed the conversation, be sure to follow the show, leave a review, and share it with someone who loves the game as much as you do.

And if you want the full experience, including the visuals, head over to YouTube and watch the episode at

https://www.youtube.com/@KitchenConversationspodcast

Or search Kitchen Conversations Pickleball Podcast

That’s where these stories really come to life.

You’ll also find links and show notes in the episode description.

Until next time…

more than dinks, drops and drives…

these are stories from behind the paddle.

What happens when a “semi-retired” fundraiser from England accidentally builds one of the largest pickleball communities in the world?

In this episode of Kitchen Conversations, I sit down with Paddy Hunter-Murphy, the driving force behind Senior Pickleball Tips — a global community that has grown to well over 135000 engaged members across 60+ countries.

What started as a simple Facebook group that his daughter helped start  quickly evolved into something much bigger — a worldwide hub where players connect, share, learn, and support one another both on and off the court. Members come from over 60 countires with one shared passio; Pickleball!

As Paddy puts it, this isn’t just about pickleball — it’s about people.

“We want seniors to get out there to play… it changes lives.”

We dive into:
• The accidental creation of a global pickleball movement
• Why pickleball is uniquely powerful for seniors
• The social connection that keeps people coming back
• How strict community standards built trust at scale
• The future vision behind Senior Pickleball Academy

“It wasn’t really about the pickleball… it was about the people.”

This is more than a game. It’s connection, purpose, and community — one paddle at a time.

🔗 Live Links

👉 Senior Pickleball Tips (Facebook Group)

https://m.facebook.com/groups/31...

PLEASE NOTE- Link may not conect if using Google Chrome- please use Safari to connect

👉 Senior Pickleball Tips Website

https://seniorpickleballtips.com

👉 Senior Pickleball Tips Apple Podcast

https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/po...

👉 Senior Pickleball Academy

https://www.skool.com/senior-pickleball-academy-9457/about

🎯 Hashtags

#SeniorPickleballTips
#PaddyHunterMurphy
#PickleballCommunity
#PickleballLife
#PickleballSeniors
#KitchenConversations
#PickleballPodcast
#ActiveAging
#PickleballJourney
#PickleballFamily
#PickleballWorldwide
#StayActive
#HealthyAging
#PickleballStories

And that wraps up this episode of Kitchen Conversations.

If you enjoyed the conversation, be sure to follow the show, leave a review, and share it with someone who loves the game as much as you do.

And if you want the full experience, including the visuals, head over to YouTube and watch the episode at

https://www.youtube.com/@KitchenConversationspodcast

Or search Kitchen Conversations Pickleball Podcast

That’s where these stories really come to life.

You’ll also find links and show notes in the episode description.

Until next time…

more than dinks, drops and drives…

these are stories from behind the paddle.