Padel Stories

Jen Dooley & Nick Bianchi

It’s time for a Padel debrief. Welcome to The Padel Stories with Nick Bianchi and Jen Dooley , a new exciting weekly podcast (part of the Sofa Stories podcast family) discussing all the juicy bits of the fastest growing sport in the world . Nick is a sports lover, and is absolutely passionate about Padel. He represents the global italian Padel brand Hirostar and has even managed to squeeze in padel coaching course such is his love for the sport .. Jen Dooley is a Fitness and wellbeing expert, a Padel fanatic and real ambassador for the sport. She is a regular at many of the clubs in the North-West and is a real  advocate too of the Padel scene at her 2nd home in Tenerife! We will be inviting onto the pod a wonderful mix of guests who talk of their love of Padel and what it means to them and the impact it has on their lives.  Nick and Jen will also be doing a cheeky magazine style show aptly named ‘the tiebreak’!! You know how we do, let’s get into it! Follow us on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/padelstoriespodcast?igsh=N2k1cTBjNXlycHVq

  1. 6d ago

    Sci-MX Padel Series (Manchester) Special

    This Episode is brought to you by Padel Sans Frontieres, leading après padel lifestyle and apparel brand. NB is joined again by great friend of the show and ‘Bake off, The Professionals’ very own Oli the Choc, who stepped in as guest presenter for this special edition of Padel Stories. Organised by friends Sandy Chadha, Ed Rowlinson and Javi Garrido, the SCI-MX Padel Series brought together an incredible lineup featuring World No. 1 Agustín Tapia, Tolito Aguirre, Federico Chingotto, Juan Lebrón, Leandro Augsburger, former World No. 1s, and around 20 of the world’s top players.  It was, without question, the most prestigious padel event ever staged in the UK. Nick and Oli pick the bones out of an incredible two days, breaking down all the action, the biggest moments and what the event could mean for the future of British padel. Welcome to The Padel Stories with Nick Bianchi and Jen  Nick is a sports lover, and is absolutely passionate about Padel. He represents the global italian Padel brand Hirostar and has even managed to squeeze in padel coaching course such is his love for the sport. Jen Dooley is a Fitness and wellbeing expert, a Padel fanatic and real ambassador for the sport. She is a regular at many of the clubs in the North-West and is a real  advocate too of the Padel scene at her 2nd home in Tenerife! We will be inviting onto the pod a wonderful mix of guests who talk of their love of Padel and what it means to them and the impact it has on their lives.  Nick and Jen will also be doing a cheeky magazine style show aptly named ‘the tiebreak’!! You know how we do… let’s get into it! NB and JD xx  Follow us on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/padelstoriespodcast?igsh=N2k1cTBjNXlycHVq

  2. Aug 8

    London Premier Padel P1 Special

    NB is joined by great friend of the show, Oli the Choc, who steps in as guest presenter for this special edition of Padel Stories. They chat about Nick’s visit to the Premier Padel P1 at Olympia, London, from the incredible atmosphere and world-class action on court to the overall experience of the biggest padel event to hit the UJ. Nick shares his stories, highlights and favourite moments from the tournament. Oli also talks about his appearance on Channel 4’s Bake Off: The Professionals and how the experience has opened the door to so many exciting new opportunities. But despite a busy schedule, padel remains front and centre of his fitness regime, alongside his other passion, running. A special episode bringing together world-class padel, chocolate, running and plenty of stories from London P1! We hope you enjoy  NB & Choc xx Welcome to The Padel Stories with Nick Bianchi and Jen  Nick is a sports lover, and is absolutely passionate about Padel. He represents the global italian Padel brand Hirostar and has even managed to squeeze in padel coaching course such is his love for the sport. Jen Dooley is a Fitness and wellbeing expert, a Padel fanatic and real ambassador for the sport. She is a regular at many of the clubs in the North-West and is a real  advocate too of the Padel scene at her 2nd home in Tenerife! We will be inviting onto the pod a wonderful mix of guests who talk of their love of Padel and what it means to them and the impact it has on their lives.  Nick and Jen will also be doing a cheeky magazine style show aptly named ‘the tiebreak’!! You know how we do… let’s get into it! NB and JD xx  Follow us on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/padelstoriespodcast?igsh=N2k1cTBjNXlycHVq

  3. Aug 5

    Global Spotlight Series: Padel in South Africa 🇿🇦

    In this episode of the Padel Global Spotlight Series, NB sits down with Jean-Luc Johnstone , a passionate and authentic voice in South Africa’s padel community and founder of Pointless Padel. Jean-Luc shares the remarkable growth of padel across South Africa since 2019, where the sport has expanded rapidly to hundreds of courts nationwide and continues to attract players of all ages and abilities. We explore the country’s thriving padel culture, the key hubs driving the sport including Cape Town, Johannesburg, Pretoria, Port Elizabeth) and what makes the South African community so unique. We also discuss the recent P1 tournament in Pretoria, the momentum it has created for the sport, and why South Africa is emerging as one of the most exciting padel markets in the world. We hope you enjoy  NB & Jen xx Welcome to The Padel Stories with Nick Bianchi and Jen  Nick is a sports lover, and is absolutely passionate about Padel. He represents the global italian Padel brand Hirostar and has even managed to squeeze in padel coaching course such is his love for the sport. Jen Dooley is a Fitness and wellbeing expert, a Padel fanatic and real ambassador for the sport. She is a regular at many of the clubs in the North-West and is a real  advocate too of the Padel scene at her 2nd home in Tenerife! We will be inviting onto the pod a wonderful mix of guests who talk of their love of Padel and what it means to them and the impact it has on their lives.  Nick and Jen will also be doing a cheeky magazine style show aptly named ‘the tiebreak’!! You know how we do… let’s get into it! NB and JD xx  Follow us on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/padelstoriespodcast?igsh=N2k1cTBjNXlycHVq

  4. Jul 20

    The Biggest Private Padel Showdown Ever!

    In this episode, Jen and Nick discuss what promises to be the biggest private padel event ever held in the UK. Organised by friends Sandy Chadha, Ed Rowlinson and Javi Garrido, the SCI-MX Padel Series comes to Manchester on 10th and 11th August 2026. The event will bring together an incredible lineup featuring World No. 1 Agustín Tapia, Tolito Aguirre, Federico Chingotto, Juan Lebrón, Leandro Augsburger, former World No. 1s, and around 20 of the world’s top players. It’s shaping up to be one of the most exciting and prestigious padel events ever staged in the UK. We’re also delighted to announce that Padel Stories will be there as the official podcast partner, bringing you all the action and behind-the-scenes stories from this landmark event. Jen also shares details of her upcoming Padel & Pilates event on 23rd September, hosted in collaboration with Jo Hoddes, the Women’s Health Club, and Ground by Studio Thirty Four Pilates. Enjoy! Jen & Nick xx Welcome to The Padel Stories with Nick Bianchi and Jen  Nick is a sports lover, and is absolutely passionate about Padel. He represents the global italian Padel brand Hirostar and has even managed to squeeze in padel coaching course such is his love for the sport. Jen Dooley is a Fitness and wellbeing expert, a Padel fanatic and real ambassador for the sport. She is a regular at many of the clubs in the North-West and is a real  advocate too of the Padel scene at her 2nd home in Tenerife! We will be inviting onto the pod a wonderful mix of guests who talk of their love of Padel and what it means to them and the impact it has on their lives.  Nick and Jen will also be doing a cheeky magazine style show aptly named ‘the tiebreak’!! You know how we do… let’s get into it! NB and JD xx  Follow us on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/padelstoriespodcast?igsh=N2k1cTBjNXlycHVq

  5. Jul 7

    Heatwave, World Cup Vibes & Outdoor Padel

    This episode is proudly sponsored by Padel Sans Frontières – the premium lifestyle brand dedicated to après padel fashion. As temperatures soar, we dive into life on and off the padel court during the summer heatwave, soak up the incredible atmosphere of the World Cup, and chat about why outdoor padel is at its absolute best this time of year.  We talk about our dear friend and listener Trev, the Padel Pensioner, as he shares stories from his latest padel road trip, taking in sessions at Velocity Padel, Volt Padel and Heart of Padel. Nick also reflects on a fantastic family weekend with Harrison and Janette, taking in stadium tours at Brighton & Hove Albion and Chelsea and dropped into PadelStars Bracknell too for a quick coffee and debrief.  We also give a shout-out to Ollie Aspin, who has taken on the incredible challenge of running one kilometre for every goal scored during the FIFA World Cup, raising money for the Your Padel Foundation. Plus, we celebrate the official launch of Padeltots by Jo Patterson, where 85 children took part and absolutely loved getting involved in the game. Jen also shares her thoughts on the current state of the padel market, discussing how the rapid boom has settled into a more sustainable phase. With demand no longer significantly outstripping supply, the market has become calmer and more balanced, creating new opportunities and challenges for clubs, operators and brands alike. Grab a caña coffee or a vitamin well, sit back and enjoy! Welcome to The Padel Stories with Nick Bianchi and Jen  Nick is a sports lover, and is absolutely passionate about Padel. He represents the global italian Padel brand Hirostar and has even managed to squeeze in padel coaching course such is his love for the sport. Jen Dooley is a Fitness and wellbeing expert, a Padel fanatic and real ambassador for the sport. She is a regular at many of the clubs in the North-West and is a real  advocate too of the Padel scene at her 2nd home in Tenerife! We will be inviting onto the pod a wonderful mix of guests who talk of their love of Padel and what it means to them and the impact it has on their lives.  Nick and Jen will also be doing a cheeky magazine style show aptly named ‘the tiebreak’!! You know how we do… let’s get into it! NB and JD xx  Follow us on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/padelstoriespodcast?igsh=N2k1cTBjNXlycHVq

  6. Jun 25

    Building the Game: Paul Mcilwraith, Co Founder Portico Sport UK

    In this episode of Padel Stories 🎙️, our very own Nick Bianchi  sits down with Paul Mcilwraith , Co-Founder and Director of  PORTICO SPORT UK, one of the leading global padel court installation companies and a key player in the sport’s rapid growth.  Paul has been involved in padel since living in Spain in the mid-2000s, where he first discovered and fell in love with the sport while working as a commercial pilot.  Spotting its potential long before the UK padel boom, he later pivoted into the industry and helped deliver courts and facilities across the country. Through his work with Portico, Paul has played a key role in the growth of British padel, earning a reputation as one of the sport’s original pioneers. We hope you enjoy.. Welcome to The Padel Stories with Nick Bianchi and Jen  Nick is a sports lover, and is absolutely passionate about Padel. He represents the global italian Padel brand Hirostar and has even managed to squeeze in padel coaching course such is his love for the sport. Jen Dooley is a Fitness and wellbeing expert, a Padel fanatic and real ambassador for the sport. She is a regular at many of the clubs in the North-West and is a real  advocate too of the Padel scene at her 2nd home in Tenerife! We will be inviting onto the pod a wonderful mix of guests who talk of their love of Padel and what it means to them and the impact it has on their lives.  Nick and Jen will also be doing a cheeky magazine style show aptly named ‘the tiebreak’!! You know how we do… let’s get into it! NB and JD xx  Follow us on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/padelstoriespodcast?igsh=N2k1cTBjNXlycHVq

  7. Jun 17

    Launch Parties, Majorca & having an Instagram Twin

    In this episode, Nick and Jen catch up after Jen’s trip to Mallorca, where she spent a few days celebrating at a beautiful wedding and soaking up some Mediterranean sunshine. They also reflect on an exciting few weeks for the podcast and wider community, including an invitation to the launch of Ace Padel in Lytham and a growing list of upcoming events across London, Essex, Stockport and beyond. With invitations arriving thick and fast, they discuss how rewarding it feels to be building connections and being welcomed into so many different communities and businesses. The conversation then turns to the world of launch event, what makes them work, why they matter, and some of the opportunities they can create. Nick also shares the frustration and stress of discovering that his Instagram account has been impersonated, highlighting the challenges of dealing with social media scams and protecting your online identity. Finally, they discuss an inspiring new clothing brand focused on women over 40. Having recently met the founders, Nick and Jen talk about the story behind the business and why they’re looking forward to welcoming them onto the podcast later this summer. A relaxed and upbeat episode covering travel, events, entrepreneurship, social media headaches, and the exciting opportunities that seem to be appearing around every corner. Welcome to The Padel Stories with Nick Bianchi and Jen  Nick is a sports lover, and is absolutely passionate about Padel. He represents the global italian Padel brand Hirostar and has even managed to squeeze in padel coaching course such is his love for the sport. Jen Dooley is a Fitness and wellbeing expert, a Padel fanatic and real ambassador for the sport. She is a regular at many of the clubs in the North-West and is a real  advocate too of the Padel scene at her 2nd home in Tenerife! We will be inviting onto the pod a wonderful mix of guests who talk of their love of Padel and what it means to them and the impact it has on their lives.  Nick and Jen will also be doing a cheeky magazine style show aptly named ‘the tiebreak’!! You know how we do… let’s get into it! NB and JD xx  Follow us on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/padelstoriespodcast?igsh=N2k1cTBjNXlycHVq

  8. Jun 9

    Reflections on The Padel World Summit, Barcelona 🇪🇸

    In this episode, we look back on an incredible week in Barcelona at the Padel World Summit and reflect on just how far the sport has come. The excitement really started at the British Padel Awards the week before, which proved to be the perfect warm-up for Barcelona. It was fantastic to celebrate the achievements of so many people within British padel and, as it turned out, many of those same faces would be boarding flights to Spain just a few days later. The exhibition halls were packed with stands from every corner of the industry: court manufacturers, technology companies, coaching businesses, apparel brands, investors and operators, all demonstrating just how rapidly padel continues to grow across the globe. I was there representing Hirostar, spending time on the stand, meeting new people and catching up with old friends. One of the highlights of the week was the Padel Directory event on Tuesday evening, which brought together a fantastic mix of people from across the industry. It was a brilliant atmosphere and another reminder of how collaborative and welcoming the padel world can be. It was great catching up with people including Jonathan Löfberg, Folke, Kris Ball, Steve Brodie, Ben Goodeve, Matt from London Padel Coach, George Modler, Ben Harris, Charlie Thompson and Nay Young to name just a few. Whether it was on the exhibition floor, over coffee, at networking events or on court, there was a real sense that British padel has found its place on the international stage. Barcelona once again showed why it sits at the heart of the padel world, but it also demonstrated that the sport’s future is increasingly global. Welcome to Padel Stories. Let’s get into it. 🎙️🥎 Welcome to The Padel Stories with Nick Bianchi and Jen  Nick is a sports lover, and is absolutely passionate about Padel. He represents the global italian Padel brand Hirostar and has even managed to squeeze in padel coaching course such is his love for the sport. Jen Dooley is a Fitness and wellbeing expert, a Padel fanatic and real ambassador for the sport. She is a regular at many of the clubs in the North-West and is a real  advocate too of the Padel scene at her 2nd home in Tenerife! We will be inviting onto the pod a wonderful mix of guests who talk of their love of Padel and what it means to them and the impact it has on their lives.  Nick and Jen will also be doing a cheeky magazine style show aptly named ‘the tiebreak’!! You know how we do… let’s get into it! NB and JD xx  Follow us on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/padelstoriespodcast?igsh=N2k1cTBjNXlycHVq

About

It’s time for a Padel debrief. Welcome to The Padel Stories with Nick Bianchi and Jen Dooley , a new exciting weekly podcast (part of the Sofa Stories podcast family) discussing all the juicy bits of the fastest growing sport in the world . Nick is a sports lover, and is absolutely passionate about Padel. He represents the global italian Padel brand Hirostar and has even managed to squeeze in padel coaching course such is his love for the sport .. Jen Dooley is a Fitness and wellbeing expert, a Padel fanatic and real ambassador for the sport. She is a regular at many of the clubs in the North-West and is a real  advocate too of the Padel scene at her 2nd home in Tenerife! We will be inviting onto the pod a wonderful mix of guests who talk of their love of Padel and what it means to them and the impact it has on their lives.  Nick and Jen will also be doing a cheeky magazine style show aptly named ‘the tiebreak’!! You know how we do, let’s get into it! Follow us on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/padelstoriespodcast?igsh=N2k1cTBjNXlycHVq