Pickleballers

Jared Paul (founder of The Kitchen) and Roscoe Bellamy (pro pickleball player)
  • 0.0 (0)
  • 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. Alix Truong: How a Teenage Prodigy Became the #1 Vietnamese Pickleball Player | S3 E8

    9 HR AGO

    Alix Truong: How a Teenage Prodigy Became the #1 Vietnamese Pickleball Player | S3 E8

    Alix Truong is the number one Vietnamese pickleball player in the world and currently ranked eighth on the PPA Tour. She's one of the sport's most compelling rising voices — a player who came up through every level of the game and is now helping grow pickleball across an entire continent. In this episode, Alix sits down with Roscoe and Jared to talk about her journey from a hyper-competitive Vietnamese-American household in Northern Virginia to the PPA Tour. They get into what it's like being a trailblazer for Asian representation in pickleball, the realities of grinding for points without a consistent partner, and why she sees herself playing well into her senior pro years. Alix breaks down what it was actually like going to Vietnam for the first time — working 13-hour days with no time to explore — and how returning on her own terms completely changed her relationship with her heritage. She describes being treated like a princess at tournaments, playing in front of a world-record crowd of 7,900 people in Đà Nẵng, and why she believes the Asian pickleball scene will eventually surpass the US in sheer scale. Alix also opens up about the burnout she hit during MLP last season, getting traded down to Challenger right after one of her best runs with Eric Johnson, and the heartbreak of losing her committed partner Lane to hip surgery just as they'd committed to building something real together. She's candid about what it means to be the only top-10 player without a consistent doubles partner — and what it's going to take to break through. 🧢 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: 1:04 — Introducing Alix Truong 2:46 — Growing Up Vietnamese-American in DC 5:36 — How She Found Pickleball Through Her Parents' Friend Group 10:18 — First Big Tournaments and the Simone Foundation 11:30 — Coming Up With Anna Leigh, Hayden, and Gabe 13:22 — When Pickleball Stopped Being a Hobby 16:23 — The Hard Conversation With Her Parents About Dropping Out 18:17 — Building Her Brand From Day One 20:09 — Going to Vietnam for the First Time 21:17 — Being a Star in Asia and the 7,900-Person World Record Crowd 23:46 — Sponsor Conversations and the Vietnamese Market Opportunity 27:15 — How Asian Conditions Compare to the US 30:19 — Playing With Her Brother LJ and the Sibling Dynamic 34:05 — Her Ceiling and Competing in Anna Leigh's Era 35:32 — Burnout, Getting Traded Down in MLP, and the Mental Toll 40:42 — Losing Partner Lane to Hip Surgery Mid-Season 43:00 — The Next Generation of Junior Players 46:31 — The Future of Asian Pickleball in 5 Years 51:44 — Learning Vietnamese and Falling in Love With the Culture 54:59 — What Makes Anna Leigh Waters So Hard to Beat 58:41 — 2026 Pickleball Predictions 1:01:05 — The Olympics, Vietnamese Citizenship, and What's Next

    1hr 3min
  2. Enhance Pickleball: Owning the Content Game, $65K Nightmare, and How They Built the Brand | S3 E7

    19 MAR

    Enhance Pickleball: Owning the Content Game, $65K Nightmare, and How They Built the Brand | S3 E7

    Connor Hance and Drew Baird are the founders of Enhance Pickleball — the most-followed pickleball content creators, with more YouTube subscribers and Instagram followers than anyone else in the sport. In this episode, Connor and Drew sit down with Roscoe and Jared to tell the full story of how Enhance Pickleball was built — from a bootstrapped Amazon side project to a paddle and content brand that's changed how the sport is marketed and taught. Connor and Drew break down the business decisions that defined Enhance — what made the Dink Master their first real hit, why they resisted paddles for years before finally breaking through with the Duo, and how their content engine became the ultimate unfair advantage for selling products without outside funding or paid ads. They also get into the hard stuff: a $65,000 shipping disaster that nearly ended the company early, the challenge of being taken seriously as a paddle brand, and what it actually takes to build something real in pickleball from scratch. 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: 1:06 — Introducing Connor & Drew from Enhance Pickleball 1:28 — How the brand works: Connor on camera, Drew behind the scenes 2:02 — Drew was originally supposed to be the on-camera talent 3:22 — How Connor & Roscoe go way back (played each other at age 9) 5:45 — How Enhance started: Amazon side hustle in early 2022 7:21 — The Dink Master origin story 9:09 — Bootstrapped from scratch: no funding, just tennis lesson money 10:25 — When the content started to take off 13:30 — Connor's backstory: growing up at South Bay Tennis Center 14:40 — Getting homeschooled to chase tennis 15:23 — The moment Connor decided he'd never go pro — and pivoted to business 17:46 — Drew's backstory: North Carolina, IMG Academy, #12 in the world juniors 20:22 — How Drew's hip injury led to him joining the business 22:46 — How their Instagram virality actually works 27:01 — Transitioning from accessories to paddles — and why it was hard 31:37 — Should they have started with paddles from day one? 33:15 — Getting advice vs. going with your gut 34:02 — The $65,000 FedEx shipping disaster 36:08 — How tariffs hit the business 38:17 — Best content advice for pickleball creators 43:49 — Breaking down the new Enhance Turbo paddle 46:10 — The time Amazon delivered a Viking sword to a customer 47:27 — What's next for Enhance Pickleball 49:48 — The biggest pivotal moments building the company 50:50 — Best business advice for anyone starting a pickleball brand today

    53 min
  3. Vivienne David: The Real Story Behind Her Retirement | S3 E6

    12 MAR

    Vivienne David: The Real Story Behind Her Retirement | S3 E6

    Vivienne David is one of the most beloved players pickleball has ever had — a true fan favorite, a bright light on tour, and a former world No. 2 in mixed doubles who just announced she’s stepping away from pro pickleball. In this episode, Vivienne sits down with Roscoe and Jared to tell the real story behind her retirement — what tour life actually feels like when you’ve been grinding for years, why she’s at peace with the decision, and why she’s still playing more pickleball than she expected now that she’s free from constant travel and pressure. Vivienne opens up about her legendary partnership with Thomas Wilson — why it worked so well, why it felt effortless, and how losing that “partner in crime” changed everything for her mentally. She talks about Thomas’ health scare, how it shifted her perspective, and why it made her realize what mattered most beyond wins, rankings, and contracts. Vivienne shares her full backstory — growing up 1 of 7, being homeschooled, burning out from tennis young, working in her family’s tennis/pickle shop in Florida, and accidentally getting hooked after getting “whooped” by older players on demo day. She also breaks down what she wants next: faith, community, family, potentially coaching or commentating… and yes, the one scenario where she’d consider coming back to play tournaments again. 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 1:05 — How retirement feels: freedom, peace, still playing locally 3:07 — Vivienne & Thomas Wilson: the partnership everyone loved 5:01 — Why fans loved them 7:30 — Vivienne’s backstory 8:43 — Working at the family tennis/pickle shop 10:17 — Abby David + early pickle roots 11:58 — First time playing pickle 12:50 — 2019 breakthrough 14:08 — Turning pro: sponsors, early tour era, finding her lane in doubles 15:36 — Entering PPA era 16:24 — First MLP at Dreamland 22:30 — Wanting to beat Anna Leigh 24:12 — Partnership chemistry: why Vivienne + Thomas worked 24:47 — How Vivienne brings out a partner’s best 26:01 — Biggest tour moment 27:05 — Thomas’ health scare 29:01 — Why she retired: tour grind, body, family, missing life at home 30:55 — Would she come back if Thomas returned? 31:33 — New goals 33:31 — Best player she faced: why Anna Leigh under pressure is different 35:00 — Favorite shot + elite defense tips for amateurs 37:02 — What’s next in pickleball

    39 min
  4. Hunter Johnson: The Truth About Being #1 in the World | S3 E5

    5 MAR

    Hunter Johnson: The Truth About Being #1 in the World | S3 E5

    Hunter Johnson is the world #1 singles pickleball player — the top spot in the fastest-growing sport on the planet, and a title that comes with way more pressure than people realize. In this episode, Hunter sits down with Roscoe and Jared to talk about what it actually feels like to be #1 in the world — the confidence it takes to get there, the doubts that creep in once you finally arrive, and the psychological weight of knowing every match is someone else’s Super Bowl. He breaks down the “now what?” moment after reaching the pinnacle, how he deals with the target on his back, and why he’s still more hungry than ever to keep the spot. Hunter explains why singles is the future of the sport — and why he believes it’s the format that will make pickleball go mainstream. They talk the Lifetime ball, how singles strategy has changed, why baseline pressure is becoming more valuable, and how the separation between pros and everyone else is getting bigger fast. Plus: the biggest threats to the #1 ranking, how he thinks about the field (Fed, Haworth, Connor, Garnett, and more), and the small tactical adjustments that actually decide matches at the top. Hunter opens up about the mental side of competing — negative self-talk, self-sabotage, pressure, perspective, faith, and what kind of champion he wants to be on and off the court. They also revisit the Lakeland match, momentum (real or not), what it taught him, and how he’s approaching 2026 with a better mindset and a clearer purpose. Delivered by @DoorDash ! 🚘 Pickleballers Hat: 🧢 https://shop.thekitchenpickle.com/products/pickleballer-snapback?variant=58191198781521 Instagram: 📲 @pickleballers 📲 @thekitchenpickleball 📲 @roscoebellamy 📲 @jpaulthechef 2:29 — The pressure of #1: psychology, emotions, staying hungry 2:59 — Hunter vs Yates (Palm Springs match) 5:28 — Pickleball time moves different (tour life perspective) 8:13 — Gratitude + why being a pro makes time feel “slow” 9:18 — Lakeland controversy + the post moment 11:00 — The real issue: self-talk, mindset, and being watched as #1 12:09 — “Now what?” after reaching the pinnacle + staying there 13:35 — Self-awareness, faith, perspective, and owning your behavior 16:35 — The platform of #1: being a role model for juniors 19:15 — Target on his back + using pressure as fuel 20:18 — Momentum: real vs mental construct 23:18 — Who threatens the #1 spot? 28:59 — Hot take: singles will make pickleball mainstream 30:24 — Why singles pops on TV 32:07 — Hot take: Ben & Anna Leigh should split and become rivals 35:49 — Ball talk: Lifetime vs Franklin 38:15 — Recovery: Hunter’s full routine 41:04 — 120-second backstory 43:40 — “Civil war draft”: 3 pros you’re taking to survive 45:57 — Hunter vs Anna Leigh practice story 47:46 — How far could Anna Leigh go in men’s singles? 48:44 — The future

    51 min
  5. Andre Agassi: How Pickleball Changed His Life | S3 E4

    26 FEB

    Andre Agassi: How Pickleball Changed His Life | S3 E4

    Andre Agassi is one of the most iconic athletes of all time — an 8-time Grand Slam champion, Olympic gold medalist, and a legend changed tennis forever. In this episode, Andre sits down with Roscoe and Jared to explain why he’s gone all-in on pickleball — not as a gimmick, not as a cameo, but because the sport genuinely hooked him. He breaks down what tennis players don’t understand yet: pickleball isn’t just “easy” — it’s insanely nuanced, mentally exhausting, and filled with tiny variables that change everything in real time. He even explains why two hours of tennis leaves him energized… but two hours of pickleball leaves him so mentally cooked he can’t even make it to the shower. Andre dives deep into his game and what he’s learning — what translates from tennis, what absolutely doesn’t, why the rhythm and “blood pressure” of pickleball is harder to manage, and why he’s become a right-side player focused on forehand dinks, two-handed counters, and deception. He also answers the big questions: tennis vs pickleball difficulty, what he would change about the sport (including a wild idea to widen the net posts), why pickleball struggles on TV with camera angles, how the Lifetime ball is changing singles, and why paddle “grab/spin” might matter more than pure power. Andre tells the story of playing the US Open with Anna Leigh Waters — including the one thought he couldn’t shake: “Don’t be the first person to lose with Anna Leigh.” He shares how a back injury nearly derailed the run, how fierce Anna Leigh is as a competitor, and why pickleball has genuinely changed his life — physically, mentally, and socially — even in his mid-50s. Delivered by @DoorDash ! 🚘 Pickleballers Hat: 🧢 https://shop.thekitchenpickle.com/products/pickleballer-snapback?variant=58191198781521 Instagram: 📲 @pickleballers 📲 @thekitchenpickleball 📲 @roscoebellamy 📲 @jpaulthechef 1:25 — Tennis vs pickle “animosity” + Andre’s take 2:35 — The real reason he fell in love with pickleball 4:28 — Small margins + why pickle is tricky for TV 6:47 — Andre’s game: what translates from tennis + what he’s working on 9:39 — Pickleball Slam prep: when he actually got committed 11:30 — Roscoe’s Pickleball Slam story + why Andre matters to the sport 12:59 — Tennis/pickle/padel: do they grow together or cannibalize? 15:38 — Andre’s honesty: “Tennis is the Everest of racket sports” 17:07 — Crazy poker story 18:57 — US Open with Anna Leigh Waters 22:06 — How Agassi x Joola partnership happened 26:24 — Gambling in pickleball 29:39 — Andre’s dinner speech to Joola pros 31:23 — What pro would Andre play with? 33:36 — What would he change in pickleball? 40:08 — Singles evolution + the Lifetime ball changing 44:50 — What’s harder: tennis or pickleball? 47:01 — Carlos Alcaraz on a pickle court 52:53 — Pickleball Olympics path: college + scholarships 54:13 — Legacy + why he wants to help grow the game 55:38 — Has pickleball changed his life? #pickleballers #andreagassi #pickleball #ppa #mlp

    58 min
  6. Leigh Waters: What It’s Really Like Raising Pickleball’s Greatest Player

    19 FEB

    Leigh Waters: What It’s Really Like Raising Pickleball’s Greatest Player

    Leigh Waters is the mom and coach of Anna Leigh Waters — the most dominant pickleball player of all time — and the person who’s been in the room for every major moment that turned Anna Leigh into the face of the sport. In this episode, Leigh sits down with Roscoe and Jared to tell the full story behind pickleball’s biggest moves: Anna Leigh signing with Nike, switching from Paddletek to Franklin, and what those months were really like behind the scenes. She breaks down the stress of negotiations, the pressure of making a once-in-a-career decision at 19, and how she kept Anna Leigh grounded while the internet and the entire sport watched every step. Then we go deeper. Leigh explains what it’s actually like wearing every hat at once — mom, best friend, coach, and protector — while raising someone whose “normal” is winning everything. They talk perfectionism, motivation when you’re already the best, how Anna Leigh stays obsessed with getting better, and why Leigh constantly reminds her: this level of dominance isn’t normal, and losing doesn’t mean the sky is falling. And it’s not just pickleball strategy. We get into the reality of Anna Leigh’s growing celebrity — security at tournaments, massive autograph lines, online hate that shows up in Leigh’s DMs, and the full team that’s now been built around Anna Leigh (social, PR, equipment, travel) to protect her peace while she keeps pushing the sport forward. Plus: women’s doubles predictions for 2026, who could eventually threaten the throne, and what pickleball still needs to do to reach the Olympics. Delivered by @DoorDash ! 🚘 Pickleballers Hat: 🧢 [https://shop.thekitchenpickle.com/products/pickleballer-snapback?variant=58191198781521](https://shop.thekitchenpickle.com/products/pickleballer-snapback?variant=58191198781521) Instagram: 📲 @pickleballers 📲 @thekitchenpickleball 📲 @roscoebellamy 📲 @jpaulthechef 2:36 – Nike + Franklin: the stressful months leading up to both deals 4:43 – “Mom, coach, best friend”: what Leigh’s role really looks like 6:23 – “This isn’t normal”: how Leigh keeps Anna Leigh grounded 7:38 – Why the Nike/Franklin moves actually energized Anna Leigh 8:20 – What Nike HQ was like (all-day meetings, gifts, massive photo wall) 10:46 – What Nike could unlock next (events, access, collabs, Caitlin Clark) 12:24 – Ryan Harwood’s impact + doing deals the right way (no bidding wars) 13:42 – Pickleball Power 50 + Leigh’s real influence in the sport 14:34 – “Did you give up your dreams?” 16:39 – Coaching other players vs coaching your daughter 18:51 – Leigh playing again 22:33 – How Anna Leigh stays motivated when she’s already the best 24:05 – The perfectionism and obsession that drives Anna Leigh 26:13 – Who could threaten Anna Leigh’s reign (Caitlin Christian + wildcards) 29:51 – Women’s doubles landscape + who can challenge Anna Leigh/AB 35:36 – Being the mom of the GOAT 36:59 – Missing “normal life” (prom, friends, growing up in the spotlight) 41:21 – Fame is real now: security, fan lines, and managing the hate 44:43 – “Psycho mom” comments + the truth about money and the team 45:47 – The full team: PT, RV driver, publicist, and more 49:15 – Pickleball in the Olympics #LeighWaters #PPA #MLP #AnnaLeighWaters #Pickleball #Pickeballers

    51 min
  7. Greg Dow: The Funniest Player on Tour (Unfiltered Stories, Hot Takes, and Chaos)

    12 FEB

    Greg Dow: The Funniest Player on Tour (Unfiltered Stories, Hot Takes, and Chaos)

    Greg Dow is one of the funniest guys on the entire pickleball tour — a self-proclaimed “beer pong legend,” a legit pro who’s been battling top teams for years, and one of the best commentators in pickleball because he actually understands the game *and* knows how to make it entertaining. In this episode, Greg sits down with Roscoe and Jared to tell the full story: growing up outside Charlotte, being a multi-sport kid (football, baseball, basketball), discovering tennis late, and finding pickleball during COVID back when “pro pickleball” barely existed and only a couple guys were making a real living. Then the conversation turns into pure tour-life gold. Greg breaks down how the iconic Dow & Scarpa partnership started, why they’ve stayed together for so long, and the real separator at the top level of men’s doubles — not the dink game, but the first 4–5 shots and getting quick points like the elite teams do. He also shares what it’s like living in the “round of 16 / quarterfinal door” tier of pro pickleball, how close they’ve been to massive breakthrough wins, and what he’s focused on to make real noise in 2026. And of course… we get into the chaos: Scarpa’s legendary sweat problem (yes, matches have been paused to mop the kitchen), Greg’s brutal TV finals loss (11–0, 11–0), how he met Alex Walker (the most ridiculous “Canada” conversation ever), and how his commentating evolved from “how ludicrous can I be?” to being taken seriously — including the infamous moment that got the league to send an email telling commentators to stop calling players “cute.” Delivered by @DoorDash ! 🚘 Pickleballers Hat: 🧢 [https://shop.thekitchenpickle.com/products/pickleballer-snapback?variant=58191198781521](https://shop.thekitchenpickle.com/products/pickleballer-snapback?variant=58191198781521) 1:13 Greg wrote his own PPA bio + “Dinking with Dow” pod era 3:10 Why Greg needs more spotlight in pickleball 6:00 Why everyone’s so serious on tour (and why Greg stands out) 8:05 Greg’s childhood: Charlotte suburbs, multi-sport kid, ping pong battles 10:27 Tennis late start + finding pickleball during COVID 12:16 Charleston pickleball scene + TC North shoutout 14:04 What transferred most: touch, hands, ping pong instincts 15:16 How “Dow & Scarpa” became a real team 18:20 The Scarpa sweat problem (and stopping matches to mop the kitchen) 21:57 The early pro path: grinding 5.0, learning to win, then moving up 23:09 Hot take: you shouldn’t play pro until you’ve won 5.0 25:27 “Round of 16” life: why breaking through in doubles is so hard 26:29 The separator: quick points in the first 4–5 shots (serve/return/3rd/5th) 30:35 Where to aim your third shot 31:46 2026 goals 33:19 Full Greg Dow potential 36:03 Level-up concept: make weaknesses “not weaknesses” 37:42 How Greg got into commentating 39:14 The infamous “calling players cute” commentary moment + league email 42:07 Story time: first finals run… and the 11–0, 11–0 beatdown on TV 46:28 Alex Walker love story 54:39 Austin to Arizona move 55:28 Dow Questions of the Week: pickleball boy band draft 1:00:18 Who’s the mayor of pickleball? 1:01:43 Build the perfect pickleball player 1:05:04 What to expect in 2026 #PPA #MLP #Pickleball #Greg Dow

    1hr 7min
  8. Anna Leigh Waters: The Nike Signing, The Franklin Switch, and Pickleball’s New Era

    5 FEB

    Anna Leigh Waters: The Nike Signing, The Franklin Switch, and Pickleball’s New Era

    Anna Leigh Waters is the most dominant pickleball player of all time — the sport’s biggest star, the standard everyone is chasing, and now the first-ever Nike signed pickleball athlete. In this episode, Anna Leigh sits down with Roscoe and Jared to tell the full story behind the two biggest moves in pickleball: signing with Nike, and leaving Paddletek after years to join Franklin. She breaks down what the public didn’t see — the pressure of rumors before anything was actually signed, how she handled the internet going crazy after the leaked practice photo, and why she ultimately chose brands based on what would grow the sport long-term. Then we get nerdy. Anna Leigh explains the paddle testing process, why she didn’t want a “bidding war,” how important it was to actually love the paddle, and what it felt like walking into the Masters with a brand-new setup — new paddle, new Nike kit, new expectations — and still winning. She also talks foam tech, Gen 1 vs newer paddles, why the “singles paddle vs doubles paddle” trend is coming, and what she wants to build next with Franklin (shapes, thickness, and future prototypes). And with Nike, she shares what it was like visiting Nike HQ, sitting in all-day meetings, helping them think through true pickleball-specific gear, and why this partnership feels bigger than just her — it feels like a milestone for the entire sport. Delivered by @DoorDash! 🚘 Pickleballers Hat: 🧢 https://shop.thekitchenpickle.com/products/pickleballer-snapback?variant=58191198781521 Instagram: 📲 @pickleballers 📲 @thekitchenpickleball 📲 @roscoebellamy 📲 @jpaulthechef

    1hr 3min
See All (36)

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
    36
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Jared Paul (founder of The Kitchen) and Roscoe Bellamy (pro pickleball player)
  • Show Website
    Pickleballers
  • Provider
    Pickle Ballers

You Might Also Like