Pickleball continues to bring people together in powerful ways.

Randy Fuller is a founding partner of Rally Pickleball Club in Auburn, Washington, a new indoor facility created to give players a place to play, connect, and grow the game in the Pacific Northwest.

Randy shares how a love of racquet sports and a simple invitation to play pickleball led to launching a 14-court indoor club built around community, accessibility, and fun for players of all ages and skill levels.

In this conversation, Randy talks about building Rally Pickleball Club, creating a welcoming place for new players, and how pickleball has become a sport the whole family can enjoy.

From entrepreneurship to family pickleball nights with six boys, this episode highlights how the game continues to create connections on and off the court.

https://rallypickleballclub.net/

📘 Our book Life Lessons from Pickleball™ is now available on Amazon

Order the book here: https://a.co/d/0bHPFYve

A collection of short, true stories from players around the world about community, resilience, and joy through the game of pickleball.

A portion of proceeds supports Operation PaddleLift, through the Global Pickleball Federation, distributing paddles, balls and nets to underserved communities around the world.

Contact us: [email protected]

Follow and watch:
https://www.lifelessonsfrompickleballpodcast.com
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https://www.instagram.com/lifelessonsfrompickleball/
https://www.youtube.com/@LifeLessonsFromPickleballPod

Music gifted to us by Ian Pedersen: @ianpedersen

Thanks for listening and you can also watch us on Youtube.

Susan “Dinkerbell” Swern joins us for a powerful conversation about pickleball, purpose, and global impact. As founder of the Pickleball for Good Fund, Susan shares the mission to accelerate access to recreational pickleball in under-resourced communities through grantmaking, partnerships, and a global volunteer network.

In this episode, she talks about Operation PaddleLift and her recent journey through East Africa, where she personally delivered paddles, balls, and portable nets to help spark new pickleball communities. She also shares a touching story about her 100-year-old father and why, for her, pickleball has become so much more than a game. It is a calling.

https://pickleballforgood.org/

📘 Our book Life Lessons from Pickleball™ is now available on Amazon

Order the book here: https://a.co/d/0bHPFYve

A collection of short, true stories from players around the world about community, resilience, and joy through the game of pickleball.

A portion of proceeds supports Operation PaddleLift, through the Global Pickleball Federation, distributing paddles, balls and nets to underserved communities around the world.

Contact us: [email protected]

Follow and watch:
https://www.lifelessonsfrompickleballpodcast.com
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61557275391316
https://www.instagram.com/lifelessonsfrompickleball/
https://www.youtube.com/@LifeLessonsFromPickleballPod

Music gifted to us by Ian Pedersen: @ianpedersen

Thanks for listening and you can also watch us on Youtube.

What if a simple paddle and ball could change the future of an entire community?

In this powerful episode, we welcome Coach Andy from Uganda, founder of Pickleball Kids Uganda and Growing the Game for Girls Uganda. Using pickleball as a bridge, Andy is helping disadvantaged girls find safety, belonging, and new purpose through sport and vocational training. From early pregnancy and poverty to welding, tailoring, and renewed hope, these girls are learning that they are all winners.

This conversation is a beautiful reminder that pickleball is more than a game. It is a tool for transformation.

https://www.instagram.com/coachandypickleball?igsh=MTMwZmdicmw5c2xtZw==

📘 Our book Life Lessons from Pickleball™ is now available on Amazon

Order the book here: https://a.co/d/0bHPFYve

A collection of short, true stories from players around the world about community, resilience, and joy through the game of pickleball.

A portion of proceeds supports Operation PaddleLift, through the Global Pickleball Federation, distributing paddles, balls and nets to underserved communities around the world.

Contact us: [email protected]

Follow and watch:
https://www.lifelessonsfrompickleballpodcast.com
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61557275391316
https://www.instagram.com/lifelessonsfrompickleball/
https://www.youtube.com/@LifeLessonsFromPickleballPod

Music gifted to us by Ian Pedersen: @ianpedersen

Thanks for listening and you can also watch us on Youtube.

Kelsea Thompson, Director of PickleCon, joins us to share how one of the largest pickleball festivals in the country is bringing players of all ages and levels together under one roof. From 40+ courts and glow-in-the-dark tournaments to adaptive play and national networking, PickleCon is more than an event, it is a celebration of community. 

Kelsea also opens up about her personal recovery after a serious accident and how pickleball helped her rebuild strength and perspective. This conversation is about resilience, leadership, and creating spaces where everyone belongs. 

🎧 Listen now and we will see you in Kansas City.

📘 Our book Life Lessons from Pickleball™ is now available on Amazon

Order the book here: https://a.co/d/0bHPFYve

A collection of short, true stories from players around the world about community, resilience, and joy through the game of pickleball.

A portion of proceeds supports Operation PaddleLift, through the Global Pickleball Federation, distributing paddles, balls and nets to underserved communities around the world.

Contact us: [email protected]

Follow and watch:
https://www.lifelessonsfrompickleballpodcast.com
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61557275391316
https://www.instagram.com/lifelessonsfrompickleball/
https://www.youtube.com/@LifeLessonsFromPickleballPod

Music gifted to us by Ian Pedersen: @ianpedersen

Thanks for listening and you can also watch us on Youtube.

Thomas Yelloweyes, founder of Night Train Pickleball, shares one of the most powerful transformation stories we’ve heard.

After growing up in foster care and later living out of his car during a season of searching, Thomas found something unexpected on a pickleball court: community, purpose, and a renewed sense of identity.

Today, as an IPTPA and PPR certified coach who has led more than 250 clinics nationwide, he helps players build games that don’t break by focusing on confidence, resilience, and strong foundations both on and off the court.

In this moving conversation, Thomas reminds us of a simple but life-changing truth:  Life is not done with you.

Night Train Drilling Guide ebook: https://api.leadconnectorhq.com/widget/form/PcKAinvIZQjW8YRUQsHl

📘 Our book Life Lessons from Pickleball™ is now available on Amazon

Order the book here: https://a.co/d/0bHPFYve

A collection of short, true stories from players around the world about community, resilience, and joy through the game of pickleball.

A portion of proceeds supports Operation PaddleLift, through the Global Pickleball Federation, distributing paddles, balls and nets to underserved communities around the world.

Contact us: [email protected]

Follow and watch:
https://www.lifelessonsfrompickleballpodcast.com
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61557275391316
https://www.instagram.com/lifelessonsfrompickleball/
https://www.youtube.com/@LifeLessonsFromPickleballPod

Music gifted to us by Ian Pedersen: @ianpedersen

Thanks for listening and you can also watch us on Youtube.

Will Parton shares how a major life move and starting over in a new country led him to discover the true power of the pickleball community. As a lifelong racquet sport athlete, Will found connection through pickleball and turned that experience into innovation by creating Hitch, an app designed to help players find partners, games, and meaningful community.

In this episode, we talk about belonging, entrepreneurship, technology that enhances human connection, and how pickleball makes it easier to build friendships at any stage of life.

If you have ever moved to a new place, walked up to open play not knowing anyone, or wished finding your pickleball people was easier, this conversation is for you.

📘 Our book Life Lessons from Pickleball™ is now available on Amazon

Order the book here: https://a.co/d/0bHPFYve

A collection of short, true stories from players around the world about community, resilience, and joy through the game of pickleball.

A portion of proceeds supports Operation PaddleLift, through the Global Pickleball Federation, distributing paddles, balls and nets to underserved communities around the world.

Contact us: [email protected]

Follow and watch:
https://www.lifelessonsfrompickleballpodcast.com
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61557275391316
https://www.instagram.com/lifelessonsfrompickleball/
https://www.youtube.com/@LifeLessonsFromPickleballPod

Music gifted to us by Ian Pedersen: @ianpedersen

Thanks for listening and you can also watch us on Youtube.

We are honored to share that Mani Barajas-Alexander is featured in our new book, Life Lessons from Pickleball™ and as this episode airs, Sher and Shelley are experiencing Pura Vida at Mani’s place in Costa Rica.

In this special encore conversation, Mani shares how Pura Vida House became far more than a luxury villa. It is a thoughtfully designed pickleball experience that blends movement, connection, nature, and the Pura Vida lifestyle.

From morning pickleball sessions and world-class instruction, to chef-prepared meals, beach sunsets, wildlife, and unforgettable adventures, Pura Vida House offers a week that nourishes both body and soul.

This is not just a pickleball vacation. It is an experience rooted in relationships, community, and living life fully.

If pickleball in paradise has ever crossed your mind, this episode is for you. 🌴🏓

https://www.thepuravidahouse.com/

📘 Our book Life Lessons from Pickleball™ is now available on Amazon

Order the book here: https://a.co/d/0bHPFYve

A collection of short, true stories from players around the world about community, resilience, and joy through the game of pickleball.

A portion of proceeds supports Operation PaddleLift, through the Global Pickleball Federation, distributing paddles, balls and nets to underserved communities around the world.

Contact us: [email protected]

Follow and watch:
https://www.lifelessonsfrompickleballpodcast.com
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61557275391316
https://www.instagram.com/lifelessonsfrompickleball/
https://www.youtube.com/@LifeLessonsFromPickleballPod

Music gifted to us by Ian Pedersen: @ianpedersen

Thanks for listening and you can also watch us on Youtube.

Brian Montgomery shares one of the most powerful transformation stories in the pickleball community. After reaching nearly 390 pounds and avoiding the doctor out of fear, Brian began with one simple goal: 5,000 steps a day. Step by step, he built momentum, changed his relationship with food, and ultimately lost more than 190 pounds, while also reversing Type 2 diabetes.

In this episode, Brian opens up about the emotional moments that made the change real, including seeing how his kids experienced his transformation. He also shares how pickleball became the “sneaky exercise” that brought joy, accountability, and a whole new community into his life.

If you’re feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or waiting for “next Monday,” Brian’s story will inspire you to start today, one small decision at a time.

ProDrive Pickleball (affiliate): https://prodrivepickleball.com/?ref=BRIANMONTGOMERY

 PickleStrong: https://picklestrong.com/

https://www.instagram.com/briantmontgomery?igsh=ZXJib2w2MXA0ZmY5

TikTok: @brianmontgomery01

📘 Our book Life Lessons from Pickleball™ is now available on Amazon

Order the book here: https://a.co/d/0bHPFYve

A collection of short, true stories from players around the world about community, resilience, and joy through the game of pickleball.

A portion of proceeds supports Operation PaddleLift, through the Global Pickleball Federation, distributing paddles, balls and nets to underserved communities around the world.

Contact us: [email protected]

Follow and watch:
https://www.lifelessonsfrompickleballpodcast.com
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61557275391316
https://www.instagram.com/lifelessonsfrompickleball/
https://www.youtube.com/@LifeLessonsFromPickleballPod

Music gifted to us by Ian Pedersen: @ianpedersen

Thanks for listening and you can also watch us on Youtube.

In this uplifting episode, Audrey Phillips, a psychotherapist of more than five decades, shares how she has built joyful community through pickleball, travel, and connection. Audrey reflects on how she fell in love with the game, why pickleball creates a rare sense of equality on the court, and what she has learned about staying vibrant and positive as we age. You’ll also hear the heart behind her legendary all-inclusive pickleball adventures that bring players of all ages and skill levels together in meaningful ways. If you love pickleball and the people it brings into your life, this one will make you smile.

📘 Our book Life Lessons from Pickleball™ is now available on Amazon

Order the book here: https://a.co/d/0bHPFYve

A collection of short, true stories from players around the world about community, resilience, and joy through the game of pickleball.

A portion of proceeds supports Operation PaddleLift, through the Global Pickleball Federation, distributing paddles, balls and nets to underserved communities around the world.

Contact us: [email protected]

Follow and watch:
https://www.lifelessonsfrompickleballpodcast.com
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61557275391316
https://www.instagram.com/lifelessonsfrompickleball/
https://www.youtube.com/@LifeLessonsFromPickleballPod

Music gifted to us by Ian Pedersen: @ianpedersen

Thanks for listening and you can also watch us on Youtube.

In this joyful and inspiring episode, Rachael Kroog shares how a simple invitation from her dad led to a life transformed by pickleball. A national champion, creative performer, and beloved teacher, Rachael reveals how the game blends competition with connection, music, and meaning. From mind, body, and spirit on the court to generosity and joy off it, this conversation is a beautiful reminder that pickleball is more than a sport. It is a way of living fully.

📘 Our book Life Lessons from Pickleball™ is now available on Amazon

Order the book here: https://a.co/d/0bHPFYve

A collection of short, true stories from players around the world about community, resilience, and joy through the game of pickleball.

A portion of proceeds supports Operation PaddleLift, through the Global Pickleball Federation, distributing paddles, balls and nets to underserved communities around the world.

Contact us: [email protected]

Follow and watch:
https://www.lifelessonsfrompickleballpodcast.com
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61557275391316
https://www.instagram.com/lifelessonsfrompickleball/
https://www.youtube.com/@LifeLessonsFromPickleballPod

Music gifted to us by Ian Pedersen: @ianpedersen

Thanks for listening and you can also watch us on Youtube.