PicklePod 2.0 is presented by Marek Health. Use our code THEDINK for 10% off your $299 Intake Assessment at https://MarekHealth.com/

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PicklePod 2.0 is presented by Marek Health. Use our code THEDINK for 10% off your $299 Intake Assessment at https://MarekHealth.com/

This week on the PicklePod, Nico and Zane break down the Proton controversy, rumors of unpaid players, and what the UPA crackdown could mean for the future of the sport.

Then things get even crazier as they build the Mount Rushmore of Pickleball Fraud & Shadiness—from questionable companies to wild tournament promises that never happened.

Plus:

- A $600K amateur tournament?! 🤯

- Nico’s “Lefty Reset” weight loss challenge (and questionable strategy)

- The best banned paddles of all time

- And way too much discussion about Ben & Jerry’s

Let us know in the comments:

👉 What’s the shadiest moment in pickleball history?

👉 Favorite banned paddle?

👉 Over/under: Nico loses 30 lbs?

Be the first to try Zane's new course here: https://tzpickleball.com/

#Pickleball #PPATour #PickleballPodcast

Leave your voicemail for the PicklePod at (512) 200 - 4299

------------------

Like the ep? Do us a favor: subscribe to our channel and leave a review on Apple or Spotify

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#pickleball #pickleballcourts

------------------

0:00 Intro

3:15 Proton battling fraud allegations

7:13 Will Proton paddles get more expensive?

12:04 The Mt. Rushmore of Pickleball Frauds

16:04 Nico’s weight loss challenge

34:24 Zane holding a grudge with St. George

38:51 Chris Haworth claims the No.1 spot

43:02 Join the pro pickleball conversation on Discord

46:37 Tempers flared at PPA Black Rock

51:25 They need a go-to “play”

1:01:57 Zane doubles down on ALW vs Serena

1:06:60 PPA Asia Preview

1:15:50 Guess my DUPR MiLP Nationals

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PicklePod 2.0 is presented by Marek Health. Use our code THEDINK for 10% off your $299 Intake Assessment at https://MarekHealth.com/

This week on the PicklePod, we’re joined by one of the most outspoken and unfiltered voices in pro pickleball — Lea Jansen.

From her viral Newport outburst to calling out the “Karen Rules Committee,” Lea pulls back the curtain on the chaos behind the scenes of pro pickleball. We dive deep into the controversial player council, fines, paddle tosses, and whether players should really be policing other players.

But it’s not all drama…

Lea also gets brutally honest about:

Why screaming “COME ON” in rec play is a dead giveaway you’re an amateur

- The mental battle of facing Anna Leigh Waters

- What it actually feels like to play against the most dominant player in the sport

- How pickleball politics are evolving (and where they’re falling short)

Plus, we get into trolls, social media clapbacks, and the unwritten rules of pickleball etiquette that might need to be enforced ASAP.

This episode is raw, hilarious, and packed with insight you won’t hear anywhere else.

👇 Drop a comment:

Should pro pickleball be played indoors or outdoors?.

Be the first to try Zane's new course here: https://tzpickleball.com/

#Pickleball #PPATour #PickleballPodcast

Leave your voicemail for the PicklePod at (512) 200 - 4299

------------------

Like the ep? Do us a favor: subscribe to our channel and leave a review on Apple or Spotify

-Subscribe to our 'all things pickleball' *free e-newsletter* at https://www.thedink.beehiiv.com

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-Follow Zane on IG @zanenavratilpickleball

#pickleball #pickleballcourts

------------------

0:00 Intro

0:49 Lea lights up Nico Mid-Match

5:39 Where did the committee come from?

11:58 Should active players be on the committee?

15:36 All players can provide input

18:59 Only the fining committee can actually fine players

22:49 Lea calls for an open forum for player input

29:17 Who has the time? + High school superlatives

33:36 Rec play pet peeves

37:11 Pickleball court - addressing the trolls

41:13 Questions from the audience

48:00 Who is the next player to best Anna Leigh Waters?

57:40 Zane's ref controversy

1:06:42 Guess my DUPR

1:09:07 Podcast beef

Shawn Wells

1:19:57 Introducing Shawn Wells

1:32:19 Why people started drinking Gatorade

1:35:32 The benefits of Taurine and creatine

1:40:08 Getting nutrients from your diet

1:43:00 Paraxanthine in Slammit Focus

1:49:19 Shawn's Slammit Story

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PicklePod 2.0 is presented by Marek Health. Use our code THEDINK for 10% off your $299 Intake Assessment at https://MarekHealth.com/

What happens when pickleball chaos meets global expansion? 🌎

This week on the PicklePod, we’re joined by Steve Kuhn for a deep dive into what might be the future of pickleball—and it’s happening in Asia.

We cover everything from:

- The INSANE wind conditions at the PPA Texas Open 🌪️

- The first-ever triple pickle in pro history (yes… 11-0, 0-11, 11-0 🤯)

- Whether pickleball should go fully indoor like basketball

- The explosive growth of pickleball in the Philippines, Vietnam, and beyond

Steve Kuhn’s new Pickleball Champions League (PCL) and why it could change everything

A wild new concept: predicting sports like a game (SportsPredict)

Plus, Nico announces his Lefty Reset Challenge—a 60-day transformation to prove pickleball players are athletes 💪

This episode is equal parts chaos, insight, and big-picture thinking for where the sport is headed next.

👇 Drop a comment:

Should pro pickleball be played indoors or outdoors?.

Be the first to try Zane's new course here: https://tzpickleball.com/

#Pickleball #PPATour #PickleballPodcast

Leave your voicemail for the PicklePod at (512) 200 - 4299

------------------

Like the ep? Do us a favor: subscribe to our channel and leave a review on Apple or Spotify

-Subscribe to our 'all things pickleball' *free e-newsletter* at https://www.thedink.beehiiv.com

https://www.instagram.com/thedinkpickleball/ -Follow us on IG

-Continue the convo in our private FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thedi...

-For everything else we do, visit https://linktr.ee/dinkfam

-Read more about Zane and subscribe to his newsletter at https://zanenavratilpickleball.com/

-Follow Zane on IG @zanenavratilpickleball

#pickleball #pickleballcourts

------------------

0:00 Intro

1:21 Extreme winds at the Texas Open

5:12 Should pickleball be an indoor sport?

12:00 The first ever singles triple pickle

18:33 Mean comments from Reddit + Nico’s weight loss challenge

Steve Kuhn

25:52 Steve Kuhn returns to the PicklePod

26:40 Steve’s new project - Pickleball Champions League

32:34 Growth statistics in Asian pickleball

37:26 PCL borrowing from Futbol roots

45:53 Introducing Sports Predict

50:45 I want to emulate Chess.com

57:29 Obsessed with making the best predictions

1:00:05 Sports Predict entering pro pickleball

1:03:11 Consulting for Ramsports

1:04:23 400 million players by 2032

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

PicklePod 2.0 is presented by Marek Health. Use our code THEDINK for 10% off your $299 Intake Assessment at https://MarekHealth.com/

Table tennis superstar and viral content creator Adam Bobrow joins the PicklePod to talk about his surprising dive into pickleball—and what the sport can learn from the global growth of ping pong.

Bobrow, one of the most recognizable personalities in table tennis, shares how he built an audience of millions, why he initially resisted pickleball, and what finally changed his mind once he stepped on the court.

But first… the guys recap one of the most chaotic tournament weekends in recent memory.

From Nico’s first PPA tournament in two years, to a match-ending Nasty Nelson attempt, to accusations of “no honor” on court 19, the Newport Beach event delivered peak unhinged pickleball. Meanwhile, pro drama was brewing with timeout tactics, loud grunting, and mental warfare between top singles stars like Hunter Johnson and Federico Staksrud.

Plus:

- The Mount Rushmore of unhinged pickleball players

- The psychology behind gamesmanship in pickleball

- Why millions of people play but don’t watch the pro game

-What pickleball can learn from the growth of table tennis

- Bobrow’s first experiences playing against pros like Anna Bright, Christian Alshon, and Ben Johns

If you love pickleball stories, inside pro tour drama, and the future of the sport—this episode is a must-watch.

Subscribe for weekly pickleball stories, interviews, and debates from the PicklePod.

Be the first to try Zane's new course here: https://tzpickleball.com/

#Pickleball #PPATour #PickleballPodcast

Leave your voicemail for the PicklePod at (512) 200 - 4299

------------------

Like the ep? Do us a favor: subscribe to our channel and leave a review on Apple or Spotify

-Subscribe to our 'all things pickleball' *free e-newsletter* at https://www.thedink.beehiiv.com

https://www.instagram.com/thedinkpickleball/ -Follow us on IG

-Continue the convo in our private FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thedi...

-For everything else we do, visit https://linktr.ee/dinkfam

-Read more about Zane and subscribe to his newsletter at https://zanenavratilpickleball.com/

-Follow Zane on IG @zanenavratilpickleball

#pickleball #pickleballcourts

------------------

0:00 Intro

2:06 Story time with Nico in Newport

10:15 The correct way to throw a paddle

12:58 Nico learns the Rob Cassidy timeout

18:05 Mt Rushmore of unhinged players

22:02 Headlines from the Newport Beach Open

Adam Bobrow

30:01 Adam Bobrow joins the pod

30:34 Paddle vs Bat | Ping Pong vs Table Tennis

35:51 Bridging the gap between rec players and the pro game

41:32 There are levels to this game

43:44 Adding personality into sports viewing experience

49:21 How has your audience responded to the pickleball content?

52:16 Adam is invited to girls' night with Mari Humberg

55:45 Who is still on the dream guest list?

58:33 Zane saw vs snake shot

1:06:03 Guess my DUPR - Double Tweener

1:10:55 Zane tests his table tennis broadcast abilities

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Emergency pod activated. 🚨

We just got off the phone with Duc — father, manager, and mastermind behind Quang Duong (QD) — to break down the shocking APP announcement and what it really means.

Is this another tour war?

Did QD actually “sign” with the Association of Pickleball Players (APP)?

Is the door closed with the Professional Pickleball Association (PPA)?

And what actually happened behind the scenes at the Masters?

Duc didn’t hold back.

He explains:

- Why QD’s APP deal is non-exclusive

- What really broke negotiations with the PPA

- Why Asia is the future of pickleball (and why tours are scrambling)

- The “disrespect” that changed everything

- Whether QD could still play PPA events this year

There’s talk of sponsors pulling out, Asia-based investors stepping in, government pressure, and a candid breakdown of how tours operate differently in the U.S. vs. Asia.

If you’ve been confused by the graphics, the “signed” language, and the sudden wave of APP announcements — this episode clears it all up.

Strap in. This one got real.

Be the first to try Zane's new course here: https://tzpickleball.com/

#Pickleball #PPATour #PickleballPodcast

Leave your voicemail for the PicklePod at (512) 200 - 4299

------------------

Like the ep? Do us a favor: subscribe to our channel and leave a review on Apple or Spotify

-Subscribe to our 'all things pickleball' *free e-newsletter* at https://www.thedink.beehiiv.com

-Follow us on IG https://www.instagram.com/thedinkpickleball/

-Continue the convo in our private FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thedi...

-For everything else we do, visit https://linktr.ee/dinkfam

-Read more about Zane and subscribe to his newsletter at https://zanenavratilpickleball.com/

-Follow Zane on IG @zanenavratilpickleball

#pickleball #pickleballcourts

------------------

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

PicklePod 2.0 is presented by Marek Health. Use our code THEDINK for 10% off your $299 Intake Assessment at https://MarekHealth.com/

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nico the Lefty reacts to the massive moves in the 2026 Major League Pickleball Draft. Anna Bright goes for $1.23 Million, Jorja Johnson says bye-bye to big bro and joins Gary Vee and Anna Leigh Waters in Clown Town.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

PicklePod 2.0 is presented by Marek Health. Use our code THEDINK for 10% off your $299 Intake Assessment at https://MarekHealth.com/

The funniest guy in pickleball has a story you probably didn’t see coming.

This week on the PicklePod, we sit down with Evan Slaughter (@fit2serve1) — creator, comedian, CrossFit athlete, and Purple Heart recipient — to unpack the journey behind the viral videos.

Before the stinky dinky… before the shirtless skits… before the millions of views… there was Afghanistan.

Evan opens up about:

- Serving as an infantryman in Afghanistan

- Surviving an IED explosion and receiving a Purple Heart

- Struggling with opioid addiction after returning home

- Learning pickleball in rehab

- How humor helped him heal

- Turning TikTok videos into a full-time career

- Creator vs pro influence in the paddle world

- The business side of brands like Volair Pickleball

- The future of pickleball in pop culture (including Apple TV+’s upcoming pickleball movie)

This episode goes way deeper than social media clips. It’s about resilience, recovery, and how pickleball can literally change a life.

If you’ve ever laughed at a Fit2Serve video, this is the story behind it.

There’s a completely new way to optimize your health. Give Blue Cannatine a try at https://troscriptions.com/DINK or enter BETTER at checkout for 10% off your first order.

Follow Evan at https://www.instagram.com/fit2serve1/

Be the first to try Zane's new course here: https://tzpickleball.com/

#Pickleball #PPATour #PickleballPodcast

Leave your voicemail for the PicklePod at (512) 200 - 4299

------------------

Like the ep? Do us a favor: subscribe to our channel and leave a review on Apple or Spotify

-Subscribe to our 'all things pickleball' *free e-newsletter* at https://www.thedink.beehiiv.com

https://www.instagram.com/thedinkpickleball/ -Follow us on IG

-Continue the convo in our private FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thedi...

-For everything else we do, visit https://linktr.ee/dinkfam

-Read more about Zane and subscribe to his newsletter at https://zanenavratilpickleball.com/

-Follow Zane on IG @zanenavratilpickleball

#pickleball #pickleballcourts

------------------

0:00 The only 8.0 player in the world

3:33 When will Anna Leigh steal Big H?

5:59 The greatest motivator in pro pickleball

10:23 Women’s doubles matchup we’ve been waiting for

15:10 Is Anna Leigh bad for the game?

19:36 Evan Slaughter joins the podcast

22:04 Purple Heart heroics

32:32 He discovered pickleball in rehab

38:37 Who moves more paddles, pros or creators?

46:10 Evan should be the lead in The Dink movie

56:17 Pickleball marathon and the 11 beer challenge

1:03:37 Evan’s new signature shot

1:09:03 Is celebrating after the dome shot bad etiquette?

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

PicklePod 2.0 is presented by Marek Health. Use our code THEDINK for 10% off your $299 Intake Assessment at https://MarekHealth.com/

The PicklePod is back on The Dink Pickleball YouTube channel with one of our most wide-ranging episodes yet.

This week we cover:

MLP Trade Deadline Fallout

Ana Bright. Georgia Johnson. Jack Sock. Major names dropped ahead of the deadline. We break down which teams won, which teams fumbled the bag, and whether Major League Pickleball just reshaped the power structure for 2026.

Pickleball and the Olympics

Are we overhyping the Olympic dream? Would 2032 in Australia change everything for the sport — or is the pro tour already the real prize? We debate what Olympic inclusion would actually mean for player development and global growth.

Does Pickleball Need an All-Star Weekend?

If the NBA can reinvent its format, why can’t we? From Ernie contests to reset challenges and paddle toss competitions, we design what a true pickleball skills showcase could look like.

Grayson Goldin Update

We react to the news of Grayson’s stroke, discuss player health coverage in pro pickleball, and send our support as he works toward a full recovery.

The Dink Awards Finale

We wrap up the 2025 Dink Awards with:

- Best Facilities across the country

- Best International Tournament

- Paddle Reviewer of the Year

- Paddle of the Year

And yes, things get a little spicy during the paddle reviewer segment.

We also sit down with APP Chief Marketing Officer Tom Webb for a direct conversation about the future of the APP, the evolving pro landscape, and where the sport is headed long term.

Drop your thoughts in the comments:

What would you include in a pickleball All-Star competition?

Subscribe, leave a review, and share this with the doubles partner who still doesn’t understand pro pickleball.

120/Life is a once-a-day functional drink made with ingredients that help support healthy blood pressure. Listeners get 20% off their entire order with code DINK at https://www.120life.com/

Be the first to try Zane's new course here: https://tzpickleball.com/

#Pickleball #PPATour #PickleballPodcast

Leave your voicemail for the PicklePod at (512) 200 - 4299

------------------

Like the ep? Do us a favor: subscribe to our channel and leave a review on Apple or Spotify

-Subscribe to our 'all things pickleball' *free e-newsletter* at https://www.thedink.beehiiv.com

https://www.instagram.com/thedinkpickleball/ -Follow us on IG

-Continue the convo in our private FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thedi...

-For everything else we do, visit https://linktr.ee/dinkfam

-Read more about Zane and subscribe to his newsletter at https://zanenavratilpickleball.com/

-Follow Zane on IG @zanenavratilpickleball

#pickleball #pickleballcourts

------------------

0:00 Intro

3:12 The Palm Beach Royals won the trade deadline

5:18 Anna Bright and Jorja Johnson dropped from MLP team

14:59 Do the Olympics matter?

19:41 Pickleball is like curling for the summer games

22:52 All-Star Game and skills competition for pickleball

29:03 Thoughts and prayers to Grayson Goldin

32:44 The 120Life Dink Awards conclusion

41:24 Paddle Reviewer and Paddle of the Year

48:59 Tom Webb joins the PicklePod

50:15 Sofia Sewing under the Will Howells contract

56:42 Do you need a big name to attract the audience?

1:00:44 What will the APP look like in 2030?

1:04:10 Who will be the winner in 10 years?

1:11:00 Rapid-fire questions from the listeners

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