Around the Pod

Around the Pod
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Four hosts. Two Australian pros. Two passionate amateurs. One obsession: pickleball. Join Australian pros Aaron Blitz and Josh Chia alongside passionate pickleballers Justin McLeod and Michael Murrell as they dive into everything happening in the world's fastest-growing sport. From tournaments, tactics and the latest news to stories from life on and off the court, every episode blends elite insight with the perspective of everyday players. Featuring guests from across the pickleball world, Around the Pod is the podcast for anyone who loves the game — whether you're just getting started or competing at the highest level.

Episodes

  1. 1d ago

    Draft Betrayals, Right Side Respect, and Paddle Hot Takes with Crystal Mildwaters & Aaron Johnson

    Welcome to Around the Pod, hosted at Pickle4real!  Hosts Josh Chia and Michael Murrell are joined in the studio by Crystal Mildwaters and Aaron "AJ" Johnson for a hilarious and insightful breakdown of the Australian pickleball scene.  In this episode:  NPL Draft Drama: AJ reveals how he was dropped and traded from the Opals to the Outback, and how the NPL prize-money split system actually works. Origin Stories & Culture: AJ explains his Japanese middle name and transition from accounting to coaching, while Crystal shares her Filipino heritage and balancing teaching with pro play. Hot Take #1 (Wooden Paddles): AJ argues that top-tier paddles hide bad technique and that he'd beat most pros if everyone played with wooden paddles. Hot Take #2 (The Right-Side Architect): Crystal makes the case for why right-side players are the under-appreciated architects of every point. HOSTS: Josh Chia Michael Murrell GUESTS: Crystal Mildwaters Aaron "AJ" Johnson Send us your questions and comments! Follow us Youtube Instagram ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ A special thanks to our studio sponsor, Pickle4real — Melbourne’s premier indoor pickleball centre in Mentone. Pickle4Real features eight climate-controlled indoor courts for social play, coaching, DUPR games, tournaments and private events. Open seven days a week, it also hosts PPA and DUPR competitions and offers venue hire and event support. Play indoor pickleball in Melbourne at Pickle4real: ■ Website: https://pickle4real.com.au/ ■ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pickle4real/ ■ Facebook: Pickle4real Facebook ■ Join Pickle4real League ■ Location: 36–40 Shearson Crescent, Mentone VIC 3194

  2. Jul 24

    Gold Coast vs Perth Scene, Asia Tour Secrets & Aussie Pickleball "Love Island" Draft (ft. Nicholas Maleganeas & Nigel Lee)

    Gold Coast pros Nick Maleganeas and Perth’s Nigel Lee join Josh Chia and Michael Murrell in the booth at Pickle4real ahead of the PPA Melbourne 250. In this episode, the boys break down: • Gold Coast vs Perth: Why Queensland produces Australia’s top players while Perth deals with DIY tennis court setups. • Touring Asia: What Australian players can learn from Asian pickleball culture, 5 AM street food runs, and getting outplayed by pipe-smoking locals. • Hot Takes: Nick calls out refs for shutting down banter on court, while Nigel attempts a ChatGPT-inspired hot take on the third shot drop. • Aussie Pickleball "Love Island": The boys draft the ultimate pickleball cast, complete with dynamic duos and matching cheetah print outfits. Hosts: Josh Chia & Michael Murrell Guests: Nick Maleganeas & Nigel Lee Send us your questions and comments! Follow us Youtube Instagram ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ A special thanks to our studio sponsor, Pickle4real — Melbourne’s premier indoor pickleball centre in Mentone. Pickle4Real features eight climate-controlled indoor courts for social play, coaching, DUPR games, tournaments and private events. Open seven days a week, it also hosts PPA and DUPR competitions and offers venue hire and event support. Play indoor pickleball in Melbourne at Pickle4real: ■ Website: https://pickle4real.com.au/ ■ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pickle4real/ ■ Facebook: Pickle4real Facebook ■ Join Pickle4real League ■ Location: 36–40 Shearson Crescent, Mentone VIC 3194

  3. Jul 15 ·  Bonus

    Mini-Episode: PPA 250 Melbourne Draw Breakdown & Pro Predictions

    Tournament weekend is here! 🏓 In this special Around the Pod mini-episode, your resident pros Aaron Blitz and Josh Chia take the mic to preview the massive PPA 250 Melbourne tournament happening this weekend (July 16th - 19th). The boys leave no stone unturned as they analyse the official draws for: Men's & Women's Singles (Who has the toughest path to the podium?)Men's & Women's Doubles (The partnerships to watch and current form guides)Mixed Doubles (Our picks for the most wide-open division)Aaron and Josh share their unfiltered opinions on who is looking lethal in training, who got a favorable draw, and exactly who they think will be standing on top of the podium by Sunday night. Are you heading down to Melbourne or tuning in to the stream? Make sure you're subscribed to Around the Pod so you never miss an update on the Australian pickleball scene. Rate and review us on Spotify and Apple Podcasts—it helps the Aussie pickleball community grow! Send us your questions and comments! Follow us Youtube Instagram ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ A special thanks to our studio sponsor, Pickle4real — Melbourne’s premier indoor pickleball centre in Mentone. Pickle4Real features eight climate-controlled indoor courts for social play, coaching, DUPR games, tournaments and private events. Open seven days a week, it also hosts PPA and DUPR competitions and offers venue hire and event support. Play indoor pickleball in Melbourne at Pickle4real: ■ Website: https://pickle4real.com.au/ ■ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pickle4real/ ■ Facebook: Pickle4real Facebook ■ Join Pickle4real League ■ Location: 36–40 Shearson Crescent, Mentone VIC 3194

  4. Jul 14

    What Pickleball Pros Actually Think About Amateur Players (Ep. 1)

    Episode Summary: Welcome to the premiere episode of Around the Pod—not Australia's first pickleball podcast, but definitely about to be its best! Hosted by pros Aaron Blitz and Josh Chia alongside self-proclaimed "average Joe" intermediates Justin McLeod and Michael Murrell, this show is here to bridge the gap between the pro court and the local rec session. In this episode, we dive headfirst into a controversial debate that's dividing the community: Should amateur and intermediate players be paid prize money? Since tournament registration fees from the 3.0 to 4.0 divisions fund the pro-level payouts, we debate whether it's time for intermediates to get their own cash rewards—and why some players are secretly "tanking" their DUPR ratings to chase cash prizes in Asia. We also discuss: Our hilarious (and slightly embarrassing) pickleball origin stories.How Victoria went from 7 registered members in 2018 to a thriving community of over 5,000.What Australia can learn from the massive food, fashion, and social pickleball lifestyle in Malaysia.Quickfire Round: Our honest reviews on the RPM V2, Six Zero Coral, and Jola Agassi paddles, our dream partners (shoutout to Ben Johns and ALW), and the on-court pet peeves that absolutely grind our gears.Whether you're a seasoned pro, a 3.5 tournament regular, or a "Pickle Daddy" in training, grab your paddle and join the group chat! Connect with us on Instagram: Around the PodJosh ChiaAaron BlitzJustin McLeodMichael Murrell Send us your questions and comments! Follow us Youtube Instagram ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ A special thanks to our studio sponsor, Pickle4real — Melbourne’s premier indoor pickleball centre in Mentone. Pickle4Real features eight climate-controlled indoor courts for social play, coaching, DUPR games, tournaments and private events. Open seven days a week, it also hosts PPA and DUPR competitions and offers venue hire and event support. Play indoor pickleball in Melbourne at Pickle4real: ■ Website: https://pickle4real.com.au/ ■ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pickle4real/ ■ Facebook: Pickle4real Facebook ■ Join Pickle4real League ■ Location: 36–40 Shearson Crescent, Mentone VIC 3194

  • 4 Episodes

About

Four hosts. Two Australian pros. Two passionate amateurs. One obsession: pickleball. Join Australian pros Aaron Blitz and Josh Chia alongside passionate pickleballers Justin McLeod and Michael Murrell as they dive into everything happening in the world's fastest-growing sport. From tournaments, tactics and the latest news to stories from life on and off the court, every episode blends elite insight with the perspective of everyday players. Featuring guests from across the pickleball world, Around the Pod is the podcast for anyone who loves the game — whether you're just getting started or competing at the highest level.

Information

  • Creator
    Around the Pod
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    4
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Around the Pod
  • Show Website
    Around the Pod