Pickleballers

Jared Paul (founder of The Kitchen) and Roscoe Bellamy (pro pickleball player)
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  • Sport
  • Updated weekly

The Pickleballers Podcast — hosted by Jared Paul and Dane Iliff, founders of The Kitchen (the largest media company in pickleball), alongside top-ranked pro Roscoe Bellamy — is your new go-to source for all things pickleball.From breaking news and spicy hot takes to hilarious banter and all-star guests, Pickleballers brings the energy. Tune in for celebrity drop-ins, pro insights, and a front-row seat to the fastest-growing sport in America.Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  1. Dave Fleming: The Voice of Pickleball on Haters, Catchphrases, and Growing the Game | S4 E7

    3 days ago

    Dave Fleming: The Voice of Pickleball on Haters, Catchphrases, and Growing the Game | S4 E7

    In this episode, Dave sits down with Roscoe and Jared to trace his winding path to the pickleball mic — from calling high school sports in Memphis to ball boying and interviewing tennis legends as a teenager, and finally becoming the defining voice of the sport's biggest broadcasts. Dave breaks down his origin story in detail: growing up in a sports-obsessed family, his early TV career, and the chance golf cart conversation with Hank Haney that connected Tom Dundon and Connor Pardoe — a meeting that helped shape the modern PPA. He also shares how he almost missed his own start in broadcasting after years working outside sports media entirely. Dave also opens up about the craft behind the mic: where catchphrases like "snowman," "crooked number," and "floor is lava" actually came from, how he handles online criticism by blocking and moving on, and his predictions for which discipline — mixed doubles or singles — will be the one to break pickleball into the mainstream. Pickleballers Hat: 🧢 https://shop.thekitchenpickle.com/products/pickleballer-snapback?variant=58191198781521 Add us on Instagram: https://instagram.com/pickleballers https://instagram.com/thekitchenpickleball https://instagram.com/roscoebellamy https://instagram.com/jpaulthechef Timestamps: 1:02 — Meet Dave Fleming, The Most Listened-To Man in Pickleball 1:57 — Getting Recognized at Tournaments (And at a Concert) 3:10 — The Chris Collinsworth Comparison 4:18 — His Parents Met at a Copier in Pittsburgh 5:35 — The High School TV Station That Started It All 6:42 — Ball Boying Jimmy Connors, Then Interviewing Him Minutes Later 8:15 — Why Pro Tennis Wasn't in the Cards 9:21 — Choosing Marketing Over Sports Broadcasting in College 10:14 — Writing Periodontal Brochures for Delta Dental 11:01 — Blocking Out Steelers Scores on Championship Sunday 14:26 — Discovering Pickleball at 49 Through a Tennis Friend 16:34 — Meeting Adam Stone and Winning Their First Tournament 18:51 — The Email From Steve Dawson That Changed Everything 21:03 — The Golf Cart Ride That Connected Tom Dundon and Connor Pardoe 22:57 — Building the PPA From a Backyard Pickleball Court 26:28 — Introducing Tom Dundon and Connor Pardoe 29:15 — Finding His Voice as the Voice of Pickleball 31:02 — The Broadcasters Who Shaped His Style 33:20 — How Dave Handles the Haters 35:11 — Navigating Negativity in The Community 43:03 — The Loudest Roar He's Ever Heard on the Mic 44:47 — The Match That Gave Him Chills: Kalamotos vs. Waters/Bright 48:36 — What's Needed to Break Pickleball Into the Mainstream 51:21 — Is There a "Dinking Problem" in Pickleball? 53:25 — Mixed Doubles vs. Singles: Which One Breaks Through? 55:14 — What He Wants His Broadcasting Legacy to Be 56:29 — Breaking Down His Catchphrases: Snowman, Crooked Number, and More 59:07 — The Story Behind "Scratch My Back With a Hacksaw" 1:01:26 — What Dave Wants His Legacy to Be

    1hr 3min
  2. Hannah Blatt: Pickleball's First Influencer, Marrying Her Doubles Partner, and Going Pro | S4 E6

    2 Jul

    Hannah Blatt: Pickleball's First Influencer, Marrying Her Doubles Partner, and Going Pro | S4 E6

    Hannah Blatt was one of the top squash players in the world before transitioning into professional pickleball, where she's now ranked 22nd in singles and become one of the most followed players in the sport on social media. In this episode, Hannah sits down with Roscoe and Jared to trace her path from elite junior and college squash to professional pickleball, and how she became one of the first players in the sport to build a following around her personal brand rather than just her results on the court. Hannah breaks down her rise through junior and college squash at Drexel, including a brutal sophomore season playing the number one spot where she lost nearly every match, and how that experience shaped her decision to eventually walk away from the sport and throw herself into pickleball instead. Hannah also opens up about becoming one of pickleball's first influencers before it was common, how a mixed doubles partnership with Grayson Goldin turned into an engagement, and her goals to crack the top 20 in all three divisions and eventually go pro at the highest level. Pickleballers Hat: 🧢 https://shop.thekitchenpickle.com/products/pickleballer-snapback?variant=58191198781521 Add us on Instagram: https://instagram.com/pickleballers https://instagram.com/thekitchenpickleball https://instagram.com/roscoebellamy https://instagram.com/jpaulthechef Timestamps: 1:13 — Meet Hannah Blatt 2:16 — Moving to Florida for squash 9:05 — What squash actually is 13:21 — Ivy League recruiting and Drexel 14:56 — Losing almost every match at #1 22:08 — Turning Pro in a Sport With No Money 26:23 — First time playing pickleball 27:37 — Building a following, going all in 33:38 — Becoming pickleball's first influencer 38:50 — The road to going pro in pickleball 44:03 — Cracking Top 22 in the World 46:16 — A Mixed Doubles Partner Becomes a Fiancé 51:02 — The Top 20 Goal and an Olympic Dream 52:26 — The Squash Backhand That Carries Over to Pickleball

    56 min
  3. Hannah Johns: The Johns Family Origin, Growing The PPA, and Pickleball's Wildest Early Days | S4 E3

    11 Jun

    Hannah Johns: The Johns Family Origin, Growing The PPA, and Pickleball's Wildest Early Days | S4 E3

    In this episode, Hannah sits down with Roscoe and Jared to pull back the curtain on the Johns family, the wild early days of the PPA, and what it really took to turn pickleball into a legitimate professional sport. It's part origin story, part behind-the-scenes tour, and entirely worth your time. Hannah opens up about growing up as one of seven homeschooled kids on 12 acres, how Ben showed freakish hand-eye coordination before he could even talk much, and the moment the family realized pickleball might actually be something real — when the first major Franklin sponsorship came in and changed everything. Hannah also gets into the grind of being PPA Employee #4 — arranging player housing, getting screamed at when a pro peed in a host's garden, and the relentless skepticism from networks and fans who said tickets would never sell. She shares what she's most proud of: helping prove every single naysayer wrong. Delivered by @DoorDash! 🚪 Pickleballers Hat: 🧢 https://shop.thekitchenpickle.com/products/pickleballer-snapback?variant=58191198781521 Add us on Instagram: https://instagram.com/pickleballers https://instagram.com/thekitchenpickleball https://instagram.com/roscoebellamy https://instagram.com/jpaulthechef Timestamps: 1:14 — Welcome, Hannah Johns 2:09 — Why Hannah Stepped Away from Sideline Reporting 3:19 — Three Years, Zero Missed Tournaments 4:05 — Traveling the Tour with Ben and Colin 5:28 — How Ryan Sherry Got Hannah Into the PPA 6:00 — Living in the Czech Republic and the Rough Return Home 7:34 — Growing Up Johns: Homeschooled on 12 Acres 10:31 — The Siblings: A Family of Savants 12:24 — How the Johns Family Found Pickleball 16:13 — Who Had the X Factor Growing Up? 17:03 — Ben at Age 3: The Pool Cue Story 22:37 — When Pickleball Was Just Another Hobby for Ben 25:27 — Colin Signing with Electrum and the Early Sponsorship Era 26:04 — How the Johns Family Reacted to the Brothers' Rise 28:25 — Hannah's Goal: Not Being Known as Ben's Sister 30:04 — The Sideline Reporter Craft: Prep, Notes, and Questions 31:15 — Crying in Hotel Bathrooms Before Going on Air 32:12 — Crazy Stories from Tour: The Incident That Almost Sent Someone to Jail 34:20 — The Housing Program and the Garden Incident 36:35 — Misunderstandings About the Early Days of Pickleball 40:41 — The Real Milestones: Salaries, Ticket Sales, and Networks 44:15 — Hannah's Proudest Accomplishment 44:49 — Proving Every Naysayer Wrong 46:01 — The Moment Ben Started Getting Recognized in Public 49:12 — Could Hannah Go Pro? The Black Sheep of the Family 51:30 — The Best Sideline Interview Hannah Ever Did 52:24 — What Most People Misunderstand About Ben Johns 53:55 — Where Hannah Sees Pickleball in 5 Years

    58 min
  4. Grayson Goldin: The Pickleball Pro Who Survived Two Strokes at 30 and is Coming Back | S4 E2

    4 Jun

    Grayson Goldin: The Pickleball Pro Who Survived Two Strokes at 30 and is Coming Back | S4 E2

    In this episode, Grayson sits down with Roscoe and Jared to share the full story of suffering two strokes at 30 years old — how it happened, what those six days in the hospital were like, and what his road back to the court has looked like. It's one of the most raw and honest conversations the show has ever had. Grayson breaks down exactly how it unfolded: a chiropractic adjustment after a tournament left something feeling off, and nine days later he woke up unable to form sentences. He traces the moment on court when water started "pouring into his head," the frantic trip to the ER, and the doctor delivering the news that he'd had not one but two strokes — visible as two dark spots on his brain scan. Grayson also opens up about his path to pickleball — from being ranked number one in the country in junior tennis at 12, to selling life insurance after college, to stumbling onto packed pickleball courts in Sarasota and deciding to go all-in. He shares what it felt like walking into Atlanta and watching Federico and Hayden on center court, the moment he knew this was it, and why he still believes he can be number one in the world. 🧢 Pickleballers Hat: https://shop.thekitchenpickle.com/products/pickleballer-snapback?variant=58191198781521 Add us on Instagram: https://instagram.com/pickleballers https://instagram.com/thekitchenpickleball https://instagram.com/roscoebellamy https://instagram.com/jpaulthechef Timestamps: 1:03 — Welcome & Intro 2:28 — Two Strokes at 30: The Health Scare Begins 7:31 — Waking Up Unable to Speak 10:01 — Racing to the Hospital 14:49 — The ER, the Diagnosis, and Six Days of Tests 18:09 — What Actually Caused the Strokes 22:11 — Little Grayson: Born in Chicago, Raised on Tennis 25:06 — Ranked #1 in the Country at 12 30:07 — College Tennis, IMG, and Realizing It Wasn't Enough 34:11 — Life After Tennis: Insurance Sales and Real Estate 37:39 — Discovering Pickleball at the Country Club 46:14 — Flying to Atlanta, Going All-In 52:17 — The Infamous Mixed Doubles Point with Shelby Bates 1:04:49 — Power Tips and Branding Advice for Up-and-Comers 1:07:17 — What the Strokes Taught Him About Pickleball and Life

    1hr 10min
  5. JW & Jorja Johnson: MLP Drama, Signing Underwear, and Pickleball's Sibling Reign | S4 E1

    28 May

    JW & Jorja Johnson: MLP Drama, Signing Underwear, and Pickleball's Sibling Reign | S4 E1

    JW and Jorja Johnson are the most decorated sibling team in professional pickleball, known for transforming the game with the JW Johnson flick and the Jorja Johnson fire — two of the most talked-about weapons on tour. In this episode, JW and Jorja sit down with Roscoe and Jared to trace their unlikely path from Pittsburgh, Kansas to the top of the pro game. They get into the zero-pressure upbringing that made it all possible, the South Florida training culture they helped build, and what it actually takes to stay dominant in a sport evolving as fast as pickleball. Jorja breaks down what it was like to be stolen from the Dallas Flash in the MLP draft, landing on the New Jersey Fives alongside Anna Leigh Waters — a move nobody saw coming. JW also reveals he's never had a real conversation with Ben Johns off the court, and addresses for the first time whether a JW-Ben partnership has ever been on the table. Pickleballers Hat: 🧢 https://shop.thekitchenpickle.com/products/pickleballer-snapback?variant=58191198781521 Add us on Instagram: https://instagram.com/pickleballers https://instagram.com/thekitchenpickleball https://instagram.com/roscoebellamy https://instagram.com/jpaulthechef Timestamps: 1:07 — Welcome & Introducing JW and Jorja Johnson 2:33 — Growing Up in Pittsburgh, Kansas 5:20 — How COVID Sparked Their Pickleball Journey 8:52 — Early Days: Bad Reps, Johnny Goldberg & First Tournaments 10:21 — The $300 Hilton Head Moment That Changed Everything 13:06 — Building the South Florida Training Scene 19:51 — Julie Johnson's Academy and the Rise of a Squad 24:43 — When the Money Started Getting Real 26:26 — Power Balance Scam, Franklin Deal & Seeing Your Face in Dick's 29:04 — Signing Underwear and Knowing You've Made It 34:46 — MLP, the Dallas Flash, and Becoming Stars 40:33 — The Draft Shock: Jorja Stolen to the New Jersey Fives 45:06 — Playing with Anna Leigh & What That Partnership Looks Like 47:26 — How They Stay Dominant: Film, Evolution, and the Tui 49:08 — JW's Hands: The Secret Behind the Fastest Reactions on Tour 54:22 — Life Off the Court: Padel, Cinnamon Bread & Movies 56:44 — Biggest Rivals and the Mindset Behind Not Having One 59:19 — Has JW Ever Thought About Teaming with Ben Johns? 1:01:09 — Greatest Moments

    1hr 5min
  6. Tama Shimabukuro: Pickleball's Newest Superstar on the Atlanta Run That Changed Everything

    7 May

    Tama Shimabukuro: Pickleball's Newest Superstar on the Atlanta Run That Changed Everything

    Tama Shimabukuro is a 15-year-old professional pickleball player who became an overnight sensation after reaching the singles final at the Atlanta Slam, finishing fourth in men's doubles, and earning the full-throated backing of an entire crowd that couldn't stop chanting his name. In this episode, Tama calls in with Roscoe and Jared just days after his historic Atlanta run to break down what that week actually felt like from inside the storm. They cover the crowd moments, the mental game, and how a kid from Hawaii ends up on the sport's biggest stage. 🧢 Pickleballers Hat: https://shop.thekitchenpickle.com/products/pickleballer-snapback?variant=58191198781521 Add us on Instagram: https://instagram.com/pickleballers https://instagram.com/thekitchenpickleball https://instagram.com/roscoebellamy https://instagram.com/jpaulthechef Timestamps: 1:00 — Tama on life after Atlanta 1:34 — Was it an out-of-body experience? 2:09 — The crowd, the chants, and the chaos 4:03 — The MJ shrug explained 6:25 — Messages flooding in after the run 6:56 — Breaking down the Fed match 8:48 — Is he actually that calm, or just built different? 10:14 — Was the breakout a surprise? 11:15 — Background: skateboarder to pickleball 12:36 — Self-taught: 10 hours of rec a day 14:16 — Life on the road with Mama Tama 17:08 — Sponsorship and partnership questions 18:19 — Pros he studies, dream doubles partners 20:41 — Fan Q&A 22:19 — Advice for young players 23:48 — Toughest opponent so far 24:26 — Message to new fans

    26 min
  7. Roscoe Bellamy: His Dream Was Gone. His Identity Was Lost. Then Pickleball Changed Everything | S3E9

    2 Apr

    Roscoe Bellamy: His Dream Was Gone. His Identity Was Lost. Then Pickleball Changed Everything | S3E9

    Roscoe Bellamy is the co-host of The Pickleballers and a professional pickleball singles player currently ranked #6 in the world. A product of a tennis dynasty — his father founded Tennis Channel and his mother was a pro player — Roscoe rose to become the number one nationally ranked junior in the United States before a series of devastating injuries derailed his path to the pro tour. In this episode, Roscoe sits down with Jared and longtime friend Wesley Burroughs for a rare look at the man behind the mic. The conversation covers Roscoe's full journey from tennis prodigy to pro pickleball player, the mental shift that unlocked his best pickleball, and what it actually takes to compete at the top of the sport while running one of the game's biggest media brands. Roscoe opens up about the two years he lost to a stress fracture at fifteen — a period that stripped him of his identity as a top junior and sent him through a grueling rehab circuit alongside the likes of Anthony Davis and Mike Trout. Two hip surgeries in college effectively ended his pro dream, and it wasn't until a Hawaii trip with Hunter and Yates Johnson that pickleball entered the picture — leading to a sandbagged Pickleball Slam alongside Matt Manassie just two weeks into the sport. Roscoe also gets into the mental transformation that fueled his breakout 2025 run — winning his first PPA gold in Lakeland, reaching finals in Vegas, and finally finding the "dog" in his game that singles pickleball demands. He shares details on his new paddle deal with Luzz, his plans to launch the Pickleball Collective instructional platform, and his goal of finishing 2026 in the top three in the world. Pickleballers Hat: 🧢 https://shop.thekitchenpickle.com/products/pickleballer-snapback?variant=58191198781521 Add us on Instagram: https://instagram.com/pickleballers https://instagram.com/thekitchenpickleball https://instagram.com/roscoebellamy https://instagram.com/jpaulthechef Timestamps: 1:10 — Introducing Roscoe & Wes 2:20 — Growing Up in a Tennis Family 5:00 — Becoming #1 in the Nation at 12 9:12 — Competing Internationally & the Pro Dream 12:01 — The Back Injury That Changed Everything 14:24 — Scholarship to UCLA & Hip Surgeries 17:22 — Mom Discovers Pickleball 20:34 — Going All In on Pickleball 22:35 — Beating Agassi and Roddick for $10k 25:15 — First Pro Tournament in Cincinnati 27:46 — Signing During Tour Wars 29:50 — The Mental Shift That Unlocked His Best Pickleball 32:35 — Finding the Dog: Singles Is a War 35:19 — Goals for 2026 38:32 — Balancing Pro Play, Content & The Podcast 45:46 — Breaking Down the Competition 53:13 — New Paddle Deal with Luzz 54:53 — Life at Home, Family & Girlfriend

    58 min
  8. James Ignatowich: The PPA Termination, Building RPM from China, and the Future of Paddle Tech

    31 Mar

    James Ignatowich: The PPA Termination, Building RPM from China, and the Future of Paddle Tech

    James Ignatowich is a former top professional pickleball player turned paddle company founder, best known for creating RPM — one of the fastest-growing and most talked-about paddle brands in the sport. In this episode, James joins Roscoe and Jared virtually from Shenzhen, China, where he's living full-time and running RPM's operations on the ground. They get into why James has zero regrets about leaving the tour, what it actually takes to build a paddle company from scratch, and why being in China is the biggest competitive advantage in the game right now. James opens up about his PPA termination, calling it suspicious given RPM's early success, and shares a telling detail — he was already mentally checked out of pro play before it happened, more excited about the company than any upcoming tournament. He also reacts to Ben Johns calling him the most talented player he's ever faced, and why that compliment doesn't quite land the way you'd expect. James also gets into the RPM playbook — how they sold 35,000 paddles without enough covers, why dropping the Q2 and V2 simultaneously was a calculated bet, and where he thinks paddle technology is headed. Pickleballers Hat: 🧢 https://shop.thekitchenpickle.com/products/pickleballer-snapback?variant=58191198781521 Add us on Instagram: https://instagram.com/pickleballers https://instagram.com/thekitchenpickleball https://instagram.com/roscoebellamy https://instagram.com/jpaulthechef

    47 min
See All (47)

About

The Pickleballers Podcast — hosted by Jared Paul and Dane Iliff, founders of The Kitchen (the largest media company in pickleball), alongside top-ranked pro Roscoe Bellamy — is your new go-to source for all things pickleball.From breaking news and spicy hot takes to hilarious banter and all-star guests, Pickleballers brings the energy. Tune in for celebrity drop-ins, pro insights, and a front-row seat to the fastest-growing sport in America.Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Information

  • Creator
    Jared Paul (founder of The Kitchen) and Roscoe Bellamy (pro pickleball player)
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    47
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Jared Paul (founder of The Kitchen) and Roscoe Bellamy (pro pickleball player)
  • Show Website
    Pickleballers

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