Building with Intention, Warehouse Hunting, and the Padel Lifestyle Shift with Andres, Thanh, and Evan of Padel Society

In Episode 3, Bryant sits down with Andres, Thanh, and Evan, the founding team behind Padel Society, for an inside look at what it takes to build a premier indoor padel club with true intention, taste, and a deep sense of community.

They share the unbelievable story of how a minor car collision led them to discover a hidden warehouse with 40-foot ceilings, the operational nightmares of city permitting, what current operators get wrong about beginner onboarding, and how design-forward wellness spaces are rapidly replacing traditional nightlife culture in Austin.

Main Topics Covered
• The competitor-to-co-founder pipeline and how the team formed
• The clear height dilemma and the real estate hurdles of warehouse hunting
• The incredible car wreck story that led to finding their 40-foot ceiling facility
• Redefining racket hospitality by focusing on the first 30 seconds
• Global padel pilgrimages and bringing international club insights to Texas
• Evan’s hilarious 12-month grip mistake and the impact of proper coaching
• Building a premium "third space" for remote workers and professionals

Key Takeaways
• Premium branding goes beyond court turf, it requires curating a non-transactional atmosphere
• A strong founding team relies on highly complementary skill sets
• Standardized beginner onboarding and structured clinics are vital for player retention
• Racket sports are anchoring a massive cultural shift toward an active wellness lifestyle
• Long-term business growth relies entirely on investing heavily in your local community hub

Connect with the Guests
• Instagram: @padelsociety

Connect with the Host
• Instagram: @padelbryant

• YouTube: @SalcedoBryant

• Spotify: Padel with Bryant

Call to Action
What conversations in padel do you want to hear next? Leave a comment or send a message with the guests, questions, or topics you would love to see on the show.

And until next time, protect your inner peace like your life depends on it, because it does.

In Episode 2, Bryant sits down with entrepreneur, operator, and pickleball industry builder Alex Nerney for a thoughtful conversation about where padel is headed in the U.S. and what it will take for the sport to grow the right way.

They talk about the realities of scaling padel in America, why infrastructure remains the biggest bottleneck, what current operators still misunderstand about onboarding and community, and why simply copying luxury club models from abroad may not work in many U.S. markets. The conversation also explores the deeper side of sport, identity, humility, and the role of padel as a real place for connection and community.

Main Topics Covered
• Why padel feels poised for growth in the U.S.
• The biggest infrastructure challenges holding the sport back
• Why padel cannot scale like pickleball did
• What operators still misunderstand about beginner onboarding
• Why community and connection matter so much
• Why some luxury focused club models may struggle in the American market
• What padel offers former athletes that other sports may not
• The deeper lessons sport can teach through risk, humility, and growth

Key Takeaways
• Infrastructure is the biggest bottleneck to padel’s growth in the U.S.
• Long term success will depend on clubs creating real community, not just premium facilities
• Operators need a better beginner experience if they want retention
• The American market may reward more flexible, socially driven club models
• Padel has the potential to become a meaningful outlet for competitive adults seeking movement, challenge, and connection

Connect with the Guest
• Instagram: @alexnerney

Connect with the Host
• Instagram: @padelbryant
• YouTube: @SalcedoBryant
• Spotify: Padel with Bryant

Call to Action
What conversations in padel do you want to hear next? Leave a comment or send a message with the guests, questions, or topics you would love to see on the show.

And until next time, protect your inner peace like your life depends on it, because it does.

Why are people falling in love with padel almost instantly, and what does the game reveal about us when the pressure is on? In this inaugural solo episode, host Bryant Salcedo introduces a premium, grounded conversation that cuts through the standard hype, highlights, and internet noise of the racquet sports world. Drawing from his background as a former Vanderbilt collegiate and professional tennis player, Bryant shares how a profound personal tragedy five years ago reframed his entire perspective on life, legacy, and intentionality. This episode is a must-listen for players, club builders, and creators who want to look beneath the surface of the sport's explosive growth and explore what it truly means to play, and live, with inner peace.

Main Topics Covered
• The Manifesto of Padel with Bryant: Launching a premium, grounded alternative to the "hot-take" media landscape to foster deep, thoughtful dialogue around the sport.
• The Two Races of a Exploding Sport: Analyzing the simultaneous races occurring in the padel world today—one to physically build the infrastructure and one to define what the sport's culture means.
• The Vantage Point of a Lifelong Competitor: Bryant reflects on his journey from starting tennis at age five to playing at the D1 collegiate and professional levels, and how it shapes his perspective on an entirely new sport.
• Order Out of Chaos: Sharing a raw, personal look into how losing his mother to cancer and becoming a single father five years ago flipped his life upside down and deepened his faith.
• The Eulogy Exercise: Unpacking Bryant’s quarterly habit of rewriting his own eulogy as a practical tool for keeping his daily actions aligned with his long-term impact.
• What to Expect Moving Forward: Laying out the roadmap for future episodes, including intimate "living room style" conversations with the players, coaches, founders, and builders shaping global padel culture.

Key Takeaways
• Padel is a Mirror for Character: Beyond the court lines, padel inherently reveals a player's capacity for handling pressure, maintaining patience, and honoring a partnership.
• True Breakthroughs Begin in Quiet Spaces: The physical breakthroughs players and builders want to see on the outside almost always stem from a quieter, internal mindset shift.
• We Can Shape Our Own Stories: Having "breath in our lungs" is a daily privilege that grants us the active agency to change our habits and intentionally design how we will be remembered.
• The Sport Craves Better Conversation, Not More Hype: As the fastest-growing sport in the world, padel does not need more manufactured outrage or loud content; it needs meaningful, reflective narratives that stay with the audience long after the scroll ends.

Connect with the Host
• Instagram: @padelbryant
• YouTube: @SalcedoBryant
• Spotify: Padel With Bryant

We are building this show with depth from the very beginning, and we want to build it with you. Drop a comment or message us to share the one conversation in padel you’ve been waiting to hear—not the obvious one, but the real one. Tell us who belongs on the other side of the microphone! If this introductory episode resonated with you, please follow, like, and share it with someone in your circle. Until next week, maintain your inner peace like your life depends on it, because it does.