Talk Pickle To Me

When it comes to defying the odds and leaving crowds speechless, no one does it quite like this week’s guest: Len Yang. Len isn’t just another name in the pickleball scene—he’s the player who beat legends like Andre Agassi and Anna Leigh Waters. In this episode, we dive deep into his pickleball journey, his mindset and he takes us through the day when he made headlines in the pickleball space.From the training grind to that unforgettable moment he took down Agassi and Waters, Len’s story is nothing short of inspiring.

This episode is packed with insight, humility, and the kind of determination we can all learn from. I can’t wait for you to hear his story! Talk Pickle To Me 👅

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With the 2025 MLP season opener last weekend, I thought what better time to dissect my hosting experience and the pickleball landscape, than now. This is my third year being associated with MLP, and what a whirlwind this experience has been. From dreaming of hosting like Ally Love, to getting the opportunity to, I have truly loved every second of creating the fun and lively environment that MLP encompasses. Not only have I been able to execute this with my words, but it has been a blast curating my wardrobe to fit the part as well. Manifesting a stylist in my future🤞

Now you might be thinking: MLP, APP, PPA, UPA?? this is SO confusing! Don’t worry, this week I break it all down for you. From contracts, sponsorships, leagues, and overseas play, I briefly touch on it all (more in depth conversations to come). With all that being said, there is only one thing you need to know - pickleball is EXPLODING! There is no denying the overwhelming growth and expansion of this sport. Talk Pickle To Me 👅

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Major League Pickleball is hands down the most exciting pro pickleball experience for fans! With the 2025 season just one day away, we had no other than Samin Odhwani on the podcast to give us all of the ins and out of the business. Samin has recently traded his position as GM of the Brooklyn Aces to become the Chief Strategy Officer of UPA and newest Commissioner of MLP. UPA, consisting of PPA and MLP, is aiming to turn doers into viewers to continue the growth of the sport. The three focus areas of UPA are: paving a pathway to go pro, turning players into fans/wanting to watch, and juniors. As a young company in a young sport, Samin breaks down what to expect this MLP season, as they continue to grow and legitimize the league. Expect to see changes in scoring and roster size, as well an improved fan experience. Everyone loves competition and supporting their hometown teams, and that’s what MLP is all about! Only one trophy rewarded at the end of the season makes this the hardest trophy to win in all of pickleball. Who do you think will take home the Championshop this year? Talk Pickle To Me 👅

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Tennis pro turned pickleball star, you will never see this guy giving less than 110% on the court. This week’s episode is with no other than, Andrei Daescu. Growing up in Romania with a father who played professional basketball, Andrei was introduced to sports at a very young age. Surprisingly, Andrei fell in love at first swing and quickly traded in his basketball for a tennis racket. By age 12 Andrei was competing in tournaments internationally, as well as spending his summers training in Germany. After high school, Andrei was recruited to play college tennis in the United States at the University of Oklahoma, where he honed his skills. Post college, Andrei competed professionally, where he had a career high ranking of 120, participated in the US Open, and represented Romania at the Davis Cup. Two years post tennis, Andrei was introduced to pickleball, where he experienced the feeling of competing again and fell in love. This second chance at being an athlete is what drives Andrei to give 110% on and off the court, and fuels his competitiveness. This episode we gain insight into Andrei’s training and recovery regimen, goals for the rest of the season, and his “secret sauce”. Talk Pickle To Me 👅

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When it comes to bringing people together and sharing happiness, there is one person who stands out amongst the rest. That person is this week’s guest and founder of Necker Island Pickleball Forum, Casey Brown. Not only is Casey amazing at coordinating events, but she is one of the sweetest and hardworking women in pickleball. Growing up in a small town in Pensilvania, Casey has always loved bringing people together and her amazing family graciously opened the doors of their home for her to do so. Surrounded by Triathlon and Marathon events that her father competed in, Casey began volunteering in events and fell in love with it. Volunteering turned into internships, internships turned into full-time jobs, and eventually Casey found herself on Necker Island where she saw a special opportunity. Passionate about music, pickleball, and bringing people together, Necker Island Pickleball Forum was formed. There truly is no other way to describe the experience than magical. The hospitality, food, nature, events, and attendees are all above and beyond. Sharing the island with likeminded people, benefiting from each other, and spreading the love of pickleball is the essence of the event. I hope that one day everyone gets to experience the magic that Casey Brown has created on Necker Island. Talk Pickle To Me 👅

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This episode of Talk Pickle To Me is truly a special one. This week I was able to sit down with my best friend and Duke teammate, Callie Simpkins. Callie is a true leader, businesswoman, and rule follower- the yin to my yang. Not only was Callie an amazing soccer player and Captain at Duke University, but her career in finance is even more impressive. After nearly 8 years at Goldman Sachs, Callie is now a Managing Director (the highest title in banking) and building up her own practice at RBC. She is the most disciplined, hard working woman I know, treating every day as if it is game day. Not only did we learn about Callie, but this week I was also put in the hot seat, sharing everything from my family dynamic, to career ending injuries, and even my Hawaiian ex boyfriend??  Callie and I discuss the expectations and realities of attending Duke University, service leadership, working on Wall Street, and eventually my role in pickleball. If there is one thing you will learn from this episode, it’s that the best is yet to come and never forget to live on the edge! Talk Pickle To Me 👅

Please make sure to SUBSCRIBE on YouTube so you never miss an episode! More FUN interviews to learn about all things pickleball!

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Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/12vm (https://open.spotify.com/episode/12vm)...

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In our 10 Most Influential Women in Pickleball series, our tenth guest is mother and coach, Leigh Waters! If you know anything about pickleball, you have probably heard of Leigh Waters and her daughter, Anna Leigh Waters, who stands undeniably as the #1 professional pickleball player in the world. Growing up as an only child, Leigh learned from a young age the importance of parental influence on the success of an athlete. Supported, but never pressured by her parents, Leigh excelled as an athlete, competing at the University of South Carolina in tennis, and continuing her athletic career in professional pickleball, alongside her daughter. After suffering an ACL injury in 2022, Leigh put playing aside and took on the role as full time coach, where she now coaches Anna Leigh, Christian Alshon, and Major League Pickleball team The New Jersey 5’s. Leigh instilled the same theologies into Anna Leigh’s childhood as were given to her, focusing on keeping sports fun and forming the athlete before specializing in any one sport. Leigh attributes this as one of the key factors to Anna Leigh’s success. ALW is now a powerhouse of the sport both physically and mentally, with the perfect balance of humility and hunger.  I had the privilege of not only diving into all things ALW, but also understanding the dynamic between Leigh and male phenom, Christian Alshon.  Leigh reflects on the evolving role of coaching in the sport, the challenges of investment opportunities, and the importance of authenticity in sponsorships. She emphasizes the significance of playing for love rather than money and the challenges faced by players in maintaining their performance. Additionally, she shares insights on training techniques, drills, and her personal connection to fashion as a form of self-expression.

We saved the best for last, you don’t want to miss it! Talk Pickle To Me 👅

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In our 10 Most Influential Women in Pickleball series, our ninth guest is APP star, Megan Fudge. Megan is not only an incredible pickleball player with top rankings in all three events on the APP Tour, but she is also a wife to professional pickleball player Ryler DeHeart, and a mother to their two children, Lily and JR. Megan grew up in Germany, where she began her tennis career. At age 15 she left Germany to attend Millfield School, a sports boarding school in England, where her competitiveness and discipline grew. From here she was recruited to play college tennis at University of Illinois, where she met her husband Ryler. Looking for a way to relive their love for tennis, Megan and Ryler first started playing pickleball as a fun activity for them to do together, but quickly learned they could compete professionally. They are famously known for traveling across the country in their RV with their two children, where they also balance homeschooling. Megan has been one of the most influential players in the expansion of pickleball internationally, traveling to over 5 countries for tournaments just last year. She is one of the most inspirational players in pickleball, striving to get 1% better each day. We loved chatting everything pickleball this episode. Be sure to keep up with everything Megan Fudge is doing on her blog! Talk Pickle To Me 👅

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In our 10 Most Influential Women in Pickleball series, our eighth guest is sports businesswoman, Anne Worcester. Anne was the first and youngest female CEO of any major sports organization, the tournament director of the Connecticut Open for 20 years, President of Universal Tennis, and is now the strategic advisor for UPA (MLP & PPA). Anne attributes much of her success to her parents, who instilled mid-western values of culture and gratitude into their family at a young age. Although tennis was a key component of Anne’s childhood, with eyes set on Duke University, she decided to leave the court behind and attend her dream university and major in economics. While at Duke, Anne worked vigorously with the student union to host a variety of events, which lead to her connection at IMG. From here, Anne worked her way up the corporate ladder, landing the position of CEO at WTA. Anne is such a wonderful inspiration to women in sports, and with her mentorship, I believe she will continue to elevate women in sports. Thank you Anne for being a cup of sunshine and teaching us to not sweat the little stuff. Get ready for an inspirational and heartfelt episode of Talk Pickle To Me 👅

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In our 10 Most Influential Women in Pickleball series, our seventh guest is one of the best pro pickleball players in the world and an absolute fan favorite, Anna Bright. Anna was the #2 tennis recruit in the nation for tennis out of high school, valedictorian of her class, and completed high school a year early. Anna took her talents to Cal Berkeley where she played D1 tennis and double majored in Business Admin and Data Science. Post-grad, Anna decided to embark on an ambitious journey, hiking the Pacific Crest Trail solo, which totals over 2,600 miles and is the inspiration behind her infamous leg tattoo. Fast forward a year later and Anna became pickleball obsessed, taking the pro-world by storm. She is now ranked third overall in both mixed and women’s doubles, alongside Girlie #2 Miss Rachel Rohrabacher. She is a fierce competitor, a chronic overachiever and has a heart of gold. Did we mention she is hilarious? Kaitlyn asks Anna her goals for her future, who she will partner up with in mixed, if she would leave Rachel for ALW, and will she apply to be the next Bachelorette?! You are going to love this episode!! Talk Pickle To Me 👅

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