US tennis icon and former sexiest man alive, James Blake, defends pickleball on the PicklePod. Blake is an owner in Major League Pickleball and an advocate for the sport. The Twitter trolls have been blowing us Blake’s DMs and he has a message for the haters. Pickleball is here to stay.

What will it take to beat the most dominant men’s team in the game? Zane Navratil thinks he has the answer. The guys go over the stand-out performances from San Clemente including the rise of Hurricane Tyra Black. Equity and royalties are now being structured into paddle deals. How big should the pros slice be in the pickleball pie. Send in your listener questions to support Stop Alzheimer’s Now.

MLP creator Steve Kuhn joins PicklePod this week. Steve is addicted to growing the sport of pickleball domestically and internationally. On the pod he unveils new initiatives that will get pickleball into schools, create more playing opportunities and end sandbagging once and for all. Don’t miss an all-new episode with pickleball visionary Steve Kuhn.

Zane and Thomas address the mud that is being slung around the pickleball world. New podcasts and Twitter have provided a platform to players to defend themselves and point fingers and Zane says he’s “Here for it.” On the heels of an epic comeback from William Sobek, the guys debate the best comebacks of all time. Listener questions are answered in support Stop Alzheimer’s Now.

Break out your calculator and loafers because we’re talking pickleball finance. Companies are trying to break into the ball game, players are upping their media output and pickleball is taking over malls. We’re back from a two week hiatus to cover everything happening in the world of pickleball.

Major League Commissioner Brooks Wiley stops by PicklePod on his podcast tour. Brooks and the Professional Pickleball Labs have been busy creating new standards for pickleball testing and he is here to update the fans. Brooks shares plans for future MLP updates including an MLP ball and VAR system.

The first on-site DQ for paddle delamination, pickleball pro flips the bird to courtside heckler and a new rebel will sell you a juiced up paddle. We thought we could get away with taking a week off but there is too much happening in the world of pickleball. We cover the Newport Beach Shootout, US Open and results from the infamous Red Rock Open paddle challenge.

Owner of the SoCal Hard Eights, Tim Parks, joins the PicklePod. Tim’s insights into MLP financials, sports betting and building a sports league are shaping the way the game is played. Tim is willing to debate anyone on the merits of rally scoring and brings a unique take to the conventional wisdom of MLP draft strategy. Quite possibly the best episode yet.

Time to check in with pickleball GOAT Ben Johns. Ben took to Twitter to address the paddle delamination issue. He goes deeper into how to test for delamination and why power is a problem. We touch on all the controversies facing the pro game including white paddles, match schedules, and rule changes. After the physics lesson, Ben explains some of the history surrounding pickleball’s OG’s. You can’t miss this episode with pickleball’s top dog.

It’s been said before. It will be said again. Pickleball is the wild west right now. Between PEDs and paddle delamination, there seems to be ‘cheating’ happening every weekend. Lea Jansen joins the pod to share her unabashed thoughts on the matter. This one hits different.

Zane and Thomas burn through pickleball’s hottest stories of the week. First up, they respond to Lea Jansen’s take on singles. Then a juicy letter from a host in Daytona is making its way through the picklesphere. Can we chalk it up to growing pains? Then Zane shares his takes on the inaugural Pickleball Slam. There’s still a chance for you to get on the pod, jump in the comments and make your case.

Pickleball’s most polarizing player Julian Arnold is here to talk all things MLP. His unabashed excitement for the game leaves some fans pining for more and others muting their TVs. Learn more about how Julian co-founded his paddle company Volair and coined his own catchphrase. MLP Mesa’s Most Valuable Player also shares his insights on how pro pickleball can continue to improve. Andiamo!

PPA Tour Commissioner Connor Pardoe joins the PicklePod to clarify the current paddle testing situation. He shares his vision for the future of the tour and addresses current pain points. One big change coming this spring is gambling on pickleball which is expected to debut in May. Tune in for an inside look at one of pickleball’s most influential personalities.

The bad boy of pickleball DJ Young joins the PicklePod to discuss his run-in with the law. Young is the first player to be fined on the PPA Tour. DJ breaks news about not being able to use his paddle at PPA Austin. The guys discuss USA Pickleball revamping paddle testing, Nationals’ new home, and Dude Perfect joining the list of MLP owners. Plus, the winner of the merch giveaway is announced.

There is huge breakup news in the world of pro-mixed doubles. The superteam of Riley Newman and Anna Bright has called it quits. Also in this episode, Zane rates the moves of the MLP Shuffle Draft and crushes on his AI alter ego. The commenters steer the conversation into the court of public opinion. It’s the last chance to be a guest on the PicklePod. Jump in the YouTube comments and let us know who is the Shooter McGavin of pickleball.

On a new episode of PicklePod, Zane and Thomas cover the PPA Indoor National Championships. James Ignatowich stole the show on the court and on the mic. Zane explains how players can build a personal brand. The guys discuss possible options to replace the coveted MLP Dreambreaker. There’s still time for you to be a guest on the show – jump in the comments and leave a review. One fan will be selected to guest star on an upcoming episode.

The hottest new pickleball debate is pushing paddle testing to its legal limits. Zane and Thomas go in on the most creative ways to skirt pickleball rules. Pro serves seem to be rising higher and higher, is the drop serve the only feasible solution? We want you to get involved. Show some love in the comments and one listener will make a guest appearance on the pod.

Ladies and gentlemen, PicklePod is back! Zane Navratil and Thomas Shields have teamed up to bring you all of the pickleball talk that you can handle. In the debut episode they cover MLP Mesa, a new pickleball reality show and the madness in trying to govern paddle technology. Buckle up for a brand new PicklePod.