Christian “Tweener King” Alshon grew up in a high-achieving Florida tennis family, went 18–0 at the University of Chicago, and won a D3 national title before realizing the finance path wasn’t for him. Then he found pickleball — and everything flipped.

He built a brand off trick shots, battled through two years before winning his first singles title, and transformed into one of the most aggressive, emotional players in the sport. But now he’s dropped the Tweener King nickname, leaned heavily into faith, and reordered his life: God, family, pickleball.

In this episode, Christian sits down with Roscoe and Jared to talk about the rise, the maturity, why he shows so much emotion on court, how Lee Waters shaped his game, and what he actually wants in the next 2–5 years. Honest, real, and way deeper than people think.

Delivered by @DoorDash 🚘

Pickleballers Hat:

🧢 https://shop.thekitchenpickle.com/products/pickleballer-snapback?variant=58191198781521

Instagram:

📲 @pickleballers

📲 @thekitchenpickleball

📲 @roscoebellamy

📲 @jpaulthechef

2:13 Why he killed the Tweener King brand and fan reaction

4:12 Beating Ben Johns in Atlanta and learning to work the crowd

7:07 Growing up in Florida, siblings, and how tennis started

11:22 Wanting a traditional future with wife and kids

13:00 Committing to UVA, relaxing after the offer, and college distractions

16:05 Balancing academics, social life, and tennis at Virginia

17:19 Transferring to University of Chicago and losing the pro dream for a bit

22:49 Going 18–0, winning a D3 national title, and that all-time celebration photo

25:22 The moment he told his coach, “I think I want to go pro in pickleball”

26:03 First pickleball sessions with James Ignatowich and realizing his level

27:39 The fake WWE beef text and real competitive tension

28:44 Building a brand: wall drills, thirst traps, and online hate

32:29 Junior tennis emotions, negative self-talk, and training hard

35:01 How he structures his weeks – discipline, calendar, and Jordan Peterson

37:21 Why losing used to feel like a knife to the heart

41:39 Reordering his life: God, family, pickleball

45:03 Playing for something bigger than winning and letting go of “I must be #1”

46:20 Touring 25+ weeks a year and trying to enjoy the grind

47:49 Is pickleball an individual sport or team sport? PPA vs MLP

48:44 Why MLP can feel “first or last” compared to PPA

51:01 Playing for the Ranchers and MLP

55:04 How serious some MLP teams are and why the Ranchers are good for the sport

58:02 Crafting his hyper-aggressive doubles style with Lee Waters

1:00:47 Who he loves to battle in singles and the parity at the top

1:02:00 Goals for the next 2–5 years: faith, family, financial security

1:03:17 His philosophy on money, big purchases, and wanting a Rolex

1:03:54 Faith first, pickleball second – and what he actually wants out of the sport

1:06:07 His Paddletech signature paddle, TKO name story, and why so many top singles guys use it

#ChristianAlshon #Pickleballers #Pickleball #PPA #MLP #ProPickleball

Tyra “Hurricane” Black grew up in the pressure cooker of junior tennis — sitting courtside in a stroller while her dad coached pros, traveling the world alone at 13, and being turned pro without even knowing it. The burnout, stress, and antidepressants that followed nearly pushed her out of sports for good.

Then an earthquake in Turkey became her wake-up call. Tyra came home, tried pickleball, and everything changed. Within two years she went from complete beginner to top-5 in the world, got signed to an MLP team before ever playing a tournament, and even beat Anna Leigh Waters — all while rediscovering joy for the first time in years.

In this episode, Tyra joins Roscoe and Jared to talk about leaving tennis, how pickleball helped her get off antidepressants, battling an autoimmune scare, MLP drama, protecting her Dallas Flash teammates, quitting singles after a PPA title, and what she wants the sport to become. Raw, honest, and insanely inspiring.

Delivered by ⁨‪@DoorDash‬! 🚘

Order the limited Pickleballers hat here: https://shop.thekitchenpickle.com/pro...

Add us on Instagram:

📲 @pickleballers

📲 @thekitchenpickleball

📲 @roscoebellamy

📲 @jpaulthechef

1:32 Growing up in Boca with a tennis family

4:56 Quitting tennis as a kid and rescuing animals

6:54 Sister Tornado’s insane junior career and brutal injury

7:50 Traveling alone at 13 and burning out on tennis

10:47 DoorDash Ad

11:05 Turned pro at 13, and feeling miserable on tour

13:52 Earthquake in Turkey and the “what am I doing?” moment

15:07 Falling in love with pickleball and giving it a real shot

17:44 Depression, antidepressants, and how pickleball changed everything

20:25 Getting signed to MLP before ever playing a pickleball tournament

20:55 Pickleballers Hat Ad

21:11 Autoimmune diagnosis, hair loss, and playing through fear

24:30 MLP Culture

26:13 Can players call each other out and still show empathy

29:23 Living for others, guarding her team, and wanting everyone happy

30:43 The match where Tyra beat Anna Leigh Waters in singles

32:24 Massive respect for Anna Leigh and her dominance

34:43 Why Tyra quit singles after winning a PPA title

37:00 The mental load of singles vs doubles and needing a “partner”

39:35 Tyra’s mindset against Annaleigh and why she plays free

42:14 Not letting pickleball become toxic like junior tennis

43:42 Crazy sports parents and how to protect kids in the sport

45:23 Gambling, pressure, and keeping humanity in pro pickleball

46:40 Inside the Dallas Flash: culture, chemistry, and family vibes

49:05 Roster cuts and tricky MLP realities

51:19 Tornado and Nicole

54:31 Julie Johnson’s coaching and support on and off the court

56:57 How Tyra wants pickleball to evolve: paddles and international growth

59:11 PPA high school superlatives

1:01:57 2025 plans: partners, Christian for mixed, Jorja for women’s

1:03:42 Turning down a paid partner offer and choosing chemistry over money

1:08:45 How Tyra wants to be remembered and what truly matters

#Tyrablack #Pickleballers #Pickleball #PPA #MLP #ProPickleball

Andrei

Andrei Daescu was born to compete. From his early days in Romania as a tennis player to his relentless rise up the pickleball ranks, the 37-year-old giant has been called "the best pickleball player not named Ben Johns".

Coming fresh off a Major League Pickleball championship, Andrei joins Roscoe and Jared to discuss his MLP run, what life was like growing up in Romania, his love for inspirational tweets, and more.

From PPA battles to his approach to training and mindset, this one’s a clinic in grit, strategy, and focus. Behind the quiet focus is a competitor who never stops studying, never stops evolving, and—depending on who you ask—might just be the best in the world.

Delivered by ⁨ @DoorDash ! 🚘

Add us on Instagram:

https://instagram.com/pickleballers

https://instagram.com/thekitchenpickleball

https://instagram.com/roscoebellamy

https://instagram.com/jpaulthechef

Catherine Parenteau and her coach (and wife) Athena Trouillot join Pickleballers for a wide-open conversation about love, pressure, and what it takes to sustain greatness. Catherine walks us through her journey from Montreal tennis prodigy to pickleball star: the early days with Simone Jardim, the US Open win that changed her trajectory, going full-time on tour, and the realities of splitting with Anna Leigh Waters after a dominant run.

Athena shares the story from her side—how their relationship began, why coaching your spouse is both tricky and rewarding, and how they’ve built a small team and brand around Catherine’s career. We also get into mindset, handling recency bias, future family plans, and what life might look like after pro pickleball.

If you enjoy behind-the-scenes stories from the top of the sport, competing mindsets, and practical takeaways on building a career in pickleball, this one’s a must-watch.

Delivered by  @DoorDash ! 🚘

Add us on Instagram:

https://instagram.com/pickleballers

https://instagram.com/thekitchenpickleball

https://instagram.com/roscoebellamy

https://instagram.com/jpaulthechef

Order the limited Pickleballers hat here: https://shop.thekitchenpickle.com/products/pickleballer-snapback?variant=58191198781521

1:21 Intro

1:54 Growing up in Montreal and falling in love with sports

2:58 College tennis journey: Arkansas to Michigan State

4:56 The first time Catherine tried pickleball

6:54 Inside Michigan’s early pickleball scene

8:26 Tough college days

10:05 Athena’s story and background

11:21 Forced doubles partners turned best friends

14:12 Shoulder injuries that led Catherine to pickleball

15:21 How their relationship really began

19:13 Eleven years strong as partners on and off court

22:08 Catherine’s unstoppable drive to compete

25:03 Living to train, staying balanced, and planning for a family

27:02 From small local events to big prize money

28:13 The PPA letter that changed everything

30:05 Balancing coaching, sponsorships, and full-time play

31:17 Going all-in as a professional pickleball player

32:14 Building a brand and growing a following

34:16 The US Open breakthrough win

37:23 Dominating singles and claiming her first PPA title

38:23 Tennis roots in pickleball

40:01 The Nationals controversy and public backlash

47:02 Parting ways with Anna Leigh Waters

49:32 The electric MLP Dallas dreambreaker moment

53:04 How marriage and coaching mix on tour

56:01 Handling pressure, perspective, and recency bias

57:30 Life beyond pickleball – animals, purpose, and what’s next

Brazilian pickleball pro Eric Oncins joins Pickleballers to share his journey from growing up in São Paulo to becoming one of the sport’s fastest-rising stars.

Eric opens up about his father’s tennis legacy, discovering pickleball in 2017, training under Simone Jardim, and the heated match with Johnny Goldberg that changed everything. After back-to-back pro titles in Asia, he’s now a global fan favorite bringing fire, flair, and emotion to the court.

From being drafted by MLP Miami to signing with the PPA Tour, Eric’s story is proof that passion and perseverance can take you anywhere — and that the next great pickleball star might come from anywhere in the world. 🌎🔥

Add us on Instagram:

⁠⁠https://instagram.com/pickleballers⁠⁠

⁠⁠https://instagram.com/thekitchenpickleball⁠⁠

⁠⁠https://instagram.com/roscoebellamy⁠⁠

⁠⁠https://instagram.com/jpaulthechef

(1:20) – Early tournaments and first impressions

(2:19) – How Eric started playing pro pickleball

(3:00) – Growing up in Brazil

(5:58) – Moving to the U.S. for tennis

(8:08) – Discovering pickleball in 2017

(9:19) – Playing early tournaments with his dad

(12:16) – Mentorship from Simone Jardim

(14:10) – Leaving pickleball to pursue college tennis

(17:10) – The infamous match against Johnny Goldberg

(21:32) – Getting drafted to MLP Miami

(27:23) – Bringing energy and personality to pickleball

(28:40) – Why emotion matters in sports

(30:43) – Eric’s legendary father Jaime Oncins

(35:38) – Moving to Nashville and mentorship from Simone Jardim

(39:20) – Signing with the PPA and turning full-time

(40:04) – The Asia trip that changed everything

(47:23) – How pickleball is growing in Asia

(49:09) – Comparing Asian and U.S. talent

(50:57) – Florida training culture

(53:56) – Discipline — what separates pros from amateurs

(54:54) – Tyson’s viral “backhand flick” comment

(56:22) – Life outside pickleball and future goals

(1:01:10) – Handling trash talk and mental warfare

(1:02:40) – The mindset behind confidence and preparation

Season 2 of Pickleballers kicks off with a bang as we’re joined by the greatness of the GOAT himself — Ben Johns. Widely considered the Michael Jordan of pickleball, Ben has racked up 150+ gold medals and once ripped off a 108-match winning streak in singles. Mind-bending dominance.

In this episode, Ben opens up about what it’s really like to be the greatest pickleball player alive. He takes us back to his childhood, the moment he fell in love with the game, and how Kyle Yates took him under his wing as he climbed to World No. 1.

Ben also shares never-before-heard stories about his on-court dynamic with his brother Collin Johns, the criticism that he can sometimes look too relaxed, and whether he believes the “next Ben Johns” even exists.

The GOAT. The era. The legacy. Episode 1 starts now.

Add us on Instagram:

⁠https://instagram.com/pickleballers⁠

⁠https://instagram.com/thekitchenpickleball⁠

⁠https://instagram.com/roscoebellamy⁠

⁠https://instagram.com/jpaulthechef

(00:00) - Intro

(02:05) - Austin vs. Boca lifestyle

(03:41) - Childhood in Maryland and homeschooling

(05:00) - Table tennis and siblings

(07:15) - Collin’s tennis career

(10:16) - How Ben discovered pickleball

(12:14) - First tournament at the 2016 US Open

(13:38) - Kyle Yates’ mentorship in 2017

(18:55) - When Ben realized pickleball was his future

(20:45) - Ben’s college years

(24:17) - Engineering pickleball paddles

(26:11) - Lifetime deal with JOOLA

(28:07) - Why JOOLA’s leap into pickleball was genius

(29:03) - When Kyle Yates “created a monster”

(30:25) - The 2018–2019 domination run

(32:11) - Building chemistry with Simone and facing Tyson

(33:15) - Mindset, pressure, and staying humble

(35:28) - Why learning faster keeps Ben ahead

(38:11) - Drilling with Collin and mastering patterns

(39:13) - Developing the two-handed backhand counter

(40:41) - The Matt Wright partnership years

(41:04) - Handling pressure, fans, and criticism

(43:01) - When losing becomes data, not defeat

(44:19) - Battling focus, boredom, and longevity

(46:02) - PPA control vs. MLP chaos

(48:04) - Why playing with Ben isn’t easy

(50:26) - The Collin chapter and the difficult split

(53:46) - How paddle tech changed the sport

(56:50) - Power vs. spin and what fans really want

(59:37) - 2019 vs. 2025 pickleball

(01:01:29) - What Ben wishes he had—and what really wins matches

(01:03:03) - The art of decision-making and playing percentages

(01:06:59) - The moments that humbled Ben Johns

(01:10:06) - Legacy, perspective, and doing things right

(01:11:33) - The search for the next Ben Johns

(01:12:36) - What Ben learned from Asia

(01:14:23) - Could Ben and Anna Leigh win men’s doubles?

(01:15:59) - Who’s more dominant—Ben or Anna Leigh?

(01:16:15) - How two Anna Leighs would fare in men’s doubles

Today on Pickleballers, we sit down with the most powerful man in pickleball, Connor Pardoe. He is the CEO of the UPA (the combined PPA Tour + MLP). Connor shares his origin story, how he fell in love with the game, and the napkin-math that became the PPA. He walks us through exclusivity with players, the pivotal partnership with Tom Dundon, the wild Kansas City “Tour Wars” weekend, and why unifying pro pickleball under UPA changed everything.

We dig into the new three-year extensions, the shift toward prize-money-driven earnings, how MLP and PPA now run in distinct seasons, and the bigger vision: turning millions of doers into viewers with bigger moments, bigger purses, and a more premium product for fans and players alike.

Add us on Instagram:

https://instagram.com/pickleballers

https://instagram.com/thekitchenpickleball

https://instagram.com/roscoebellamy

https://instagram.com/jpaulthechef

(0:00) – Intro – Connor Pardoe, CEO of PPA & MLP
(2:00) – Early Life
(6:40) – Marriage young, Mormon culture, and family values
(9:57) – First time playing pickleball with his dad
(12:28) – Family life with two sets of twins
(14:39) – Early career in real estate development
(15:55) – First tournaments and falling in love with pickleball
(18:39) – Atlanta event and first exposure to pro pickleball
(20:22) – Founding the PPA Tour: napkin math and early vision
(23:39) – Launching Mesa with $50,000 prize money
(27:35) – Leaving real estate to go all-in on pickleball
(31:12) – Signing Ben Johns and legitimizing the PPA
(35:18) – Partnering with Tom Dundon – equity, not cash
(41:20) – Scaling up operations and rapid growth
(46:21) – Meeting Tom Dundon at 26 and early PPA expansion
(47:19) – Enter Steve Kuhn and the birth of MLP
(50:05) – Early meetings, team pickleball tension, and exclusivity battles
(52:13) – VIBE league launch and celebrity owners lined up
(55:57) – Kansas City chaos – player contracts and the tour wars explode
(1:01:22) – Locking in Anna Leigh Waters and Ben Johns saves the PPA
(1:07:56) – Why unification ultimately helped the sport
(1:12:56) – New contracts – guarantees plus prize money
(1:17:39) – Turning doers into viewers – growing the fan base
(1:20:00) – The future of pro pickleball and closing thoughts

In this episode of the Pickleballers podcast, we sit down with Dekel Bar, one of the best pickleball players in the world, with over 30 PPA medals to his name. Dekel shares his journey growing up in Israel, battling through the brutal grind of professional tennis, and eventually finding pickleball through his close ties with the Johns family. We dive into his struggles with injuries, his rise on the pickleball tour, what it’s like to have one of the most feared serves in the game, and his thoughts on paddle technology, PPA vs MLP, and the future of pro pickleball. Along the way, Dekel ranks his top five players in the world, shares war-ready teammate picks from the PPA tour, and clears up some hilarious internet rumors about his “girlfriends.”

(0:00) Intro and Dekel’s background
(2:24) Growing up in Israel and choosing tennis
(5:02) The grind of professional tennis
(8:27) Injuries and mental toll of tennis
(10:20) Finding pickleball through the Johns family
(14:46) First tournaments and early results
(16:30) Breakthrough with Adam Stone
(19:00) Balancing school and pickleball
(20:50) Developing one of the biggest serves on tour
(24:00) Paddle technology and evolution of the game
(26:48) How much power is too much?
(28:31) Ranking the top five male players
(30:35) Ranking the top women players
(31:09) Inside the Johns family circle
(33:00) Record vs the Johns brothers
(34:10) Long-term goals and resurgence
(36:23) PPA vs MLP and the future of pro pickleball
(38:14) MLP formats and home crowd concept
(40:47) What a 4.0 needs to reach 4.5
(42:24) Serving in the Israeli army — who makes the best soldiers?
(44:40) Funniest pickleball story and girlfriend rumors
(46:41) Closing thoughts and outro

Today on Pickleballers, we sit down with two legends of the senior pro game: Beth Bellamy, a top-ranked 50+ women’s pro with 99 medals, multiple US Open and National titles, former WTA tennis star, and co-founder of the National Pickleball League, alongside Scott Moore, a 21-time USA Pickleball National Champion, 12-time US Open winner, Hall of Famer, and founder of Pickleball Trips. We dive into their incredible journeys from tennis to pickleball, the rise of the senior pro game, the creation of the NPL, Scott’s famous “dance timeout,” Beth’s transition to pickleball dominance, and how they stay competitive and injury-free at the highest level beyond 50. Packed with history, stories, strategy, and lessons, this episode is a must-listen for anyone passionate about the game.

(0:00:00) – Intro: Beth Bellamy & Scott Moore
(0:01:01) – Roscoe introduces his mom & Scott
(0:02:28) – Beth’s early tennis journey
(0:05:00) – Junior Grand Slams & turning pro
(0:09:06) – Facing Billie Jean King at Wimbledon
(0:11:30) – Beating Martina Navratilova
(0:12:00) – DoorDash giveaway
(0:12:42) – Scott’s path through racket sports
(0:15:05) – Discovering pickleball in 2011
(0:17:03) – First Nationals & finding his calling
(0:19:08) – Becoming the #1 senior player
(0:20:00) – Beth discovers pickleball during COVID
(0:22:29) – First tournaments & new goals
(0:23:40) – Parenting, empty nest & pickleball
(0:25:37) – Life in Japan & raising a family
(0:27:36) – Why no trash cans in Japan
(0:28:31) – Daniel Moore becomes a pickleball star
(0:29:21) – Starting Pickleball Trips
(0:32:02) – Founding the NPL (National Pickleball League)
(0:36:31) – NPL’s unique team format
(0:38:04) – Scott’s famous US Open dance timeout
(0:41:16) – Strategy talk: skills + brain swap
(0:42:25) – Nick Kyrgios in pickleball?
(0:43:09) – Training Japan’s #1 soft tennis player
(0:45:03) – The rise of Asian pickleball
(0:46:04) – Paddle technology changes everything
(0:49:26) – Who was the best before Ben Johns?
(0:52:13) – Three generations win gold in one day
(0:55:04) – Pickleball as a lifetime sport
(0:55:39) – Message to future players
(0:57:02) – Staying fit & injury-free over 50
(1:00:45) – Closing thoughts: relationships matter most

#Pickleball #Pickleballers #Podcast #senior #NPL #MLP #PPA #PickleballLife #Pickleballers #PickleballersPodcast #BethBellamy #ScottMoore #USOpen #Sports #Highlights #TheKitchen