Welcome to Episode 69 of The Future of Pickleball podcast! In this episode, Paul Olson welcomes Byron Freso, director of international referee training & officiating at the Association of Pickleball Players (APP). Paul and Byron discuss Byron's sports background, when and why he transitioned to pickleball, and his role in refereeing and organizational sides of pickleball. Byron also shares his thoughts on the global expansion of pickleball, the future of pickleball in Asia, and why the global unification of pickleball will help grow the sport so it can be included in the Olympics.

Welcome to Episode 68 of The Future of Pickleball Show! In this episode, Paul Olson welcomes Dotti Berry and Jody Belsher, authors of "EmPOWER: Pickleball Stories that Inspire: A collection of stories of women of all ages, levels, beliefs and backgrounds who play pickleball," about the transformative power of pickleball for women. Pickleball's community aspect helps players of all kinds be empowered and inspire personal growth. They also share how youth pickleball is going to change the future of the sport, how pickleball can help with addiction recovery, and how playing pickleball can have a positive impact on a player's mental and physical health.

Welcome to Episode 67 of The Future of Pickleball Show! In this episode, Paul Olson welcomes Peter and Christine Burrows, founders of Pickleball Corporate Team Building (PB-CB). They share their journey from tennis to pickleball, how they started their business, and how pickleball can create a great team building environment. They also discuss how pickleball is a great fit to improve corporate communication, how they have helped bring beginners into the sport of pickleball, and their plans for expansion of PBCB.

Welcome to Episode 66 of the Future of Pickleball Show! In this episode, Paul Olson welcomes Selkirk co-owner and director of research & development (R&D) Tom Barnes about the company's advancements in pickleball technology and product development. Tom discusses traditional testing methods and how the standard has changed to a more quantitative approach. Plus, the importance of balancing performance with accessibility in equipment design and the need for standards and governance in the industry. They also discuss the formation of the Pickleball Equipment Manufacturers Association — emphasizing the importance of dynamic testing and the need for manufacturers to have a united voice in the pickleball industry. Selkirk is pursuing the idea of "responsible growth" in pickleball to enhance community engagement and player experience.

Welcome to Episode 65 of The Future of Pickleball Show. In this episode, Paul Olson welcomes Frank Arico, co-founder of Pickleball England and one of the key figures developing pickleball across Europe. Frank made the transition from table tennis to pickleball before establishing Pickleball England, and he shares his journey and challenges in creating a unified European federation. Paul and Frank also discuss the importance of governance, funding, and the role of grassroots play in pickleball's growth. Plus, learn more about the upcoming European Team Championships and what it means for the sport across the continent.

Welcome to Episode 64 of the Future of Pickleball Show. In this episode, Paul Olson welcomes AJ Jain, the founder of Pickleball Minds, a community for pickleball business owners. They discuss the global expansion of pickleball, upcoming pickleball events, and the importance of collaboration within the pickleball community. AJ also shares the efforts Pickleball Minds is making to help pickleball become an Olympic sport.

Welcome to Episode 63 of the Future of Pickleball podcast! In this episode, Paul Olson talks with Dr. Kwabena Akufo, who has been working to grow pickleball in Africa. Dr. Akufo shares his journey: from discovering pickleball in the United States, to establishing the sport in Ghana during the COVID pandemic, and eventually forming the Confederation of African Pickleball. He talks about the successes and challenges of growing a sport across an entire continent, and how it was finally included as a demonstration sport in the African Games. Paul and Dr. Akufo talk about the grassroots approach to sports development, the importance of community engagement, and the vision for pickleball's future in Africa.

Welcome to Episode 62 of The Future of Pickleball show. In this episode, Paul Olson talks with Ashley Owens, co-founder of CourtReserve about her journey into pickleball, the evolution of CourtReserve, and the importance of technology in pickleball. Ashley also shares insights on future innovations in pickleball technology and the sport's growth and demographics.

Welcome to Episode 61 of the Future of Pickleball show! In this episode, Paul Olson talks about Patrick Sullivan, Jr., co-founder of Jigsaw Health, about the relation between health and pickleball. They discuss the impact of COVID-19 on pickleball, the creation of The Orchard as a dedicated pickleball venue, and the launch of the Arizona Pickleball League. Patrick also shares insights into the production of the documentary "Breaking Pickleball."

Welcome to Episode 60 of The Future of Pickleball show! In this episode, Paul Olson welcomes Amitabh Jain, founder and managing partner of Rally Sports Venture and Pickleball Minds, and Steve Kuhn, founder of Major League Pickleball and DUPR, to discuss the growth of pickleball in Asia, the launch of World Pickleball Ventures, and the potential for pickleball to unite communities globally. Plus, how investment and technology will be important worldwide for the growth of pickleball. Jain and Kuhn also share their insights on how pickleball can foster connections across cultures and demographics, making it a truly global phenomenon.