PicklePod

By The Dink Pickleball

Pickleball's #1 Podcast with Top Pro Zane Navratil and Pickleball Creator, Nico The Lefty. Some would say it’s a “Picklers” dream podcast with the duo’s loud and unfiltered insights commentating on th... more

· Sports

4.6

129129 ratings

FAQs about PicklePod:

How many episodes does PicklePod have?

The podcast currently has 216 episodes available.

Best of PicklePod

The most played episodes among Podcast App listeners.

Number 1: The Most Unfair Team in MLP History
The most chaotic, electric MLP finals yet gave us the league’s defining rivalry, a controversial game-ending fault, and Federico Staksrud celebrating like he’d just survived a war. If you care about the future of pickleball - or just love a good sports meltdown - this is the episode to hear. Nico and Zane break down the New Jersey Fives’ championship run in Central Park, where the crowd, the clowns, and the pressure all felt bigger than the court itself. They unpack why the venue was both iconic and flawed, how the rollout courts got worse as the weekend went on, and why those conditions may have changed key points in the semifinals and finals. You’ll hear the full breakdown of the St. Louis Shock vs. New Jersey Fives title match, including the matchpoint controversy that ended the Brooklyn semifinal, the tactical swings in men’s and mixed, and the insane fact that every player went 1-1 across the two-day series. They also dig into the chaos around crowd energy, the ethics of heckling, and whether the Fives’ fan culture is a competitive advantage or a line-crossing spectacle. Nico and Zane also get into the biggest question coming out of the weekend - does Anna Leigh Waters need an MLP title for her legacy, or has she already entered untouchable territory? They compare her dominance to Messi, debate her value in a team draft, and explain why her championship moment felt inevitable even before the trophy was handed out. 🏓 Donate to the Solomon Boltes Memorial Pickleball Courts: https://www.gofundme.com/f/building-solomon-boltes-memorial-pickleball-courts 📩 Subscribe to our free newsletter for everything that matters in pickleball: https://subscribe.thedinkpickleball.com #Pickleball #PickleballPodcast #mlp #ppa ------------------ Like the ep? Do us a favor: subscribe to our channel and leave a review on Apple or Spotify -Follow us on IG : https://www.instagram.com/thedinkpickleball/ -Join the Pro Pickleball Talk Discord → https://discord.gg/ZCqXrxhgsv -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 ------------------ 00:00 Intro and MLP Finals atmosphere 5:16 Nico’s favorite part of the Finals 9:08 Roll out courts cost match points 12:25 Has MLP outgrown Central Park? 17:29 Nico becomes a Dallas Flash Ambassador 19:56 Brooklyn vs The Fives 26:06 New Jersey’s clowns pushing the limits 37:29 Was this the best finals? 44:53 Zane shares news about his future 49:27 Did ALW need an MLP title on her resume? 57:56 Nico can’t Erne 1:02:31 Drafting the best rivalries in pickleball 1:09:17 All MLP Awards for 2026 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
September 01, 20261h 17min
Number 2: Anna Leigh Waters: 'Sometimes I Question Myself' | Full Interview
Anna Leigh Waters joins the Picklepod to break down the Fives’ MLP championship win, the pressure of the DreamBreaker, and the team decisions that helped them get over the hump. She shares how Federico Staksrud changed the team, why beating the St. Louis Shock made the victory even more special, and how she handles criticism, social media noise, and the pressure of being considered the face of pickleball. Anna Leigh also talks about the players she loves competing against, the parts of her game she’s still working to improve, and the mystery behind her question-mark Franklin paddle. Go to https://GIVEAWAY.THEDINKPICKLEBALL.COM and enter to win the Anna Leigh Waters C45 'The Fives" Paddle - Ends September 16, 2026 🏓 Donate to the Solomon Boltes Memorial Pickleball Courts: https://www.gofundme.com/f/building-solomon-boltes-memorial-pickleball-courts 📩 Subscribe to our free newsletter for everything that matters in pickleball: https://subscribe.thedinkpickleball.com #Pickleball #PickleballPodcast #mlp #ppa ------------------ Like the ep? Do us a favor: subscribe to our channel and leave a review on Apple or Spotify -Follow us on IG : https://www.instagram.com/thedinkpickleball/ -Join the Pro Pickleball Talk Discord → https://discord.gg/ZCqXrxhgsv -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 ------------------ 0:00 What was the difference this year? 2:29 The addition of Fed 4:39 Leading a team with roster decisions 6:16 Does it feel better beating the Shock? 8:26 Who is the most satisfying to beat? 10:04 Blocking out the opinions online 13:53 The greatest competitor Zane has ever seen 17:53 What are you working on now? 19:31 ALW’s only weakness 21:28 The New Anna Leigh Waters signature paddle? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
September 02, 202624min
Number 3: Christian Alshon Blamed Singles. Ben Johns Got Pickled. Anna Leigh Lost.
Pickleball’s biggest assumptions just got blown up. From 100-degree chaos in Cary to the sport’s new ranking system, this episode breaks down the rule changes, schedule quirks, and surprising matchups that could reshape how pro pickleball looks all season. Nico and Zane react to a brutal North Carolina swing where heat, humidity, and weird timing all hit at once, then get into the real debate: is pickleball actually an indoor sport now? They compare how wind, cold, and extreme heat change the ball, why nighttime pickleball might be better for viewers, and why the sport keeps scheduling marquee matches at times that make no sense for television. They also unpack the PPA’s new WPR structure and what it means for seeding, byes, and singles specialists. Zane explains how the ranking formula weights men’s doubles, mixed doubles, and singles, while Nico pushes on the bigger question: does this help elite all-around players, or quietly punish specialists like Chris Haworth and others on the bubble? 🩺 With Marek, taking care of your health doesn't have to be a huge commitment. Head to https://MarekDiagnostics.com and use code THEDINK for 10% off 🎟️ Win a Limited-Edition ALW C45 'The Fives' Paddle at https://giveaway.thedinkpickleball.com 👕 Check out the new performance apparel line from Six Zero: https://bit.ly/3T9NaDM 🏓 Donate to the Solomon Boltes Memorial Pickleball Courts: https://www.gofundme.com/f/building-solomon-boltes-memorial-pickleball-courts 📩 Subscribe to our free newsletter for everything that matters in pickleball: https://subscribe.thedinkpickleball.com #Pickleball #PickleballPodcast #mlp #ppa ------------------ Like the ep? Do us a favor: subscribe to our channel and leave a review on Apple or Spotify -Follow us on IG : https://www.instagram.com/thedinkpickleball/ -Join the Pro Pickleball Talk Discord → https://discord.gg/ZCqXrxhgsv -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 ------------------ 0:00 Intro 5:07 Is pickleball better indoors or outdoors? 9:51 Why pro pickleball needs more nighttime matches 19:37 MLP’s 773,000 average viewers 24:36 How the new WPR rankings affect seeding 29:00 Why slams are switching to best-of-three finals 34:24 Why players switch sides at six points 39:28 The brutal schedule after MLP Finals 44:25 Christian’s awkward post-match comment 49:22 Is pickleball becoming three separate disciplines? 54:27 JW Johnson 2.0 takes down Ben and Anna Leigh Waters 59:00 Nico loses his JW Johnson excuse 1:04:04 The Anna Leigh Waters MVP debate 1:08:46 How long will Anna Leigh Waters’ singles streak last? 1:13:34 Where Sophia Sewing ranks in women’s pickleball 1:18:12 Can anyone challenge Ben Johns and Gabe Tardio? 1:22:32 Is Anna Bright close to Anna Leigh Waters? 1:27:22 Ranking the most dominant No. 1 seeds 1:31:24 Guess My DUPR Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
September 08, 20261h 39min
Number 4: Anna Leigh Waters vs Anna Bright for the MLP Title? One Might Not Make It.
Brooklyn is the team nobody wants to draw, New Jersey may have made the wrong pick, and St. Louis looks like a machine built to steamroll the bracket. If you care about the MLP playoff picture, this is the episode that makes the whole weekend feel bigger. Nico and Zane break down the biggest decisions heading into New York, including the shocking New Jersey vs. Brooklyn matchup choice, whether lineup changes are coming, and why the Shock, Fives, and Flash all have very different paths to the title. They also rank every possible finals matchup and explain which championship pairing would be electric, which would be a letdown, and why this postseason could finally deliver the rivalry pickleball has been waiting for. Then Grayson Goldin joins the show for one of the most powerful comeback stories in pro pickleball. Six months after suffering two strokes and losing his ability to speak, Grayson returns to the court and wins gold in Shenzhen, describing the fear, the recovery, the rehab, and the mental battle behind getting his game and his voice back. 🏆 Enter to win the new Tesla Aurum paddle from Selkirk https://giveaway.thedinkpickleball.com/ 💊 Marek Health → https://www.marekdiagnostics.com | Code: THEDINK for 10% off 🏓 Donate to the Solomon Boltes Memorial Pickleball Courts: https://www.gofundme.com/f/building-solomon-boltes-memorial-pickleball-courts 📩 Subscribe to our free newsletter for everything that matters in pickleball: https://subscribe.thedinkpickleball.com #Pickleball #PickleballPodcast #mlp #ppa ------------------ Like the ep? Do us a favor: subscribe to our channel and leave a review on Apple or Spotify -Follow us on IG : https://www.instagram.com/thedinkpickleball/ -Join the Pro Pickleball Talk Discord → https://discord.gg/ZCqXrxhgsv -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 ------------------ 00:00 Intro 3:49 The Super Bowl of Pickleball 6:41 New Jersey chooses Brooklyn over Dallas 15:27 Will NJ change lineups? 19:28 St Louis Shock vs Dallas Flash 25:30 Breaking down the matchups 33:37 Championship odds by team 44:09 Guess my DUPR 49:14 Grayson shares the story of his two strokes 1:03:52 Spending a week in the hospital 1:09:35 Living life to the fullest 1:15:52 The recovery process 1:21:58 Competing in Asia 1:30:18 Nobody can hang when I’m playing my best 1:42:48 The world's fastest serve 1:50:47 The best feelings in pickleball draft Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
August 26, 20261h 60min
Number 5: Ben Johns Is Out. Anna Leigh Waters Is Wobbling. Now What?
The singles specialist era may have died this weekend. Dreambreakers, lineup decisions, and one jaw-dropping run of 17 straight points exposed what actually wins in MLP playoffs right now: rhythm, confidence, and clutch under pressure. Zane and Nico break down the wildest playoff weekend yet, including the LA Mad Drops' Dreambreaker collapse, Ben Johns' stunning 0-2 day and 17-point skid, and why Sam Parker's spot in the lineup became the center of a bigger debate about whether pure singles skill still matters in team pickleball. They also dig into Dallas Flash's surge, the trade that sent Tyra Black for Danni Townsend, and whether Dallas just proved they won the deal in real time. 👕 Check out the new performance apparel line from Six Zero: https://bit.ly/3T9NaDM 💊 Marek Health → https://www.marekdiagnostics.com | Code: THEDINK for 10% off 🏓 Donate to the Solomon Boltes Memorial Pickleball Courts: https://www.gofundme.com/f/building-solomon-boltes-memorial-pickleball-courts 📩 Subscribe to our free newsletter for everything that matters in pickleball: https://subscribe.thedinkpickleball.com #Pickleball #PickleballPodcast #mlp #ppa ------------------ Like the ep? Do us a favor: subscribe to our channel and leave a review on Apple or Spotify -Follow us on IG : https://www.instagram.com/thedinkpickleball/ -Join the Pro Pickleball Talk Discord → https://discord.gg/ZCqXrxhgsv -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 ------------------ 00:00 Intro 4:20 The death of the singles specialist 9:23 Ben Johns goes 0-2 12:14 Was Dallas the right pick? 17:38 The 5s survive 26:53 Zane defends Will Howells 31:34 Danni Townsend exceeding all expectations 42:56 Shock deliver the beat down 44:55 Mt Rushmore of pickleball beefs 55:57 Brooklyn vs Columbus Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
August 18, 20261h 12min