Dinks On Tap: The Happy Hour Pickleball Podcast

Casie & Lauren

Ever wondered what the big deal is about Pickleball? Welcome to Dinks on Tap, where the pickleball paddle meets the margarita. We’re Casie and Lauren, your pickleball partners in crime, here to spill the beans on why pickleball is more than just a game. It’s that “more” part we’re so drawn to. That “more” part which we highly suspect is about rediscovering PLAY in our lives and bringing FUN into focus. Let’s be clear, we’re not pros. We’re just a couple of recreational players who notice, marvel, and revel in the nuances that make up the juice to this fruit’s fine squeeze. In each episode we’ll look at the life breathing behind, within, underneath and alongside the game... That momentum shift on the court, (“Why am I so ‘off’ today?”), the Fourth Man Struggle (“Seriously, who else can we get to play?”), the camaraderie that turns strangers into friends (“Do you want to exchange numbers?”) and various other dynamics that go beyond the dink to make up the humor, heart, and hard-won wisdom we find between the lines. So join us! Pour a glass, squeeze a lime, and let’s get under the hood of just how good it feels to rediscover PLAY in our lives.

  1. APR 22

    Why Pickleball Starts as a Game and Turns Into Something So Much Harder to Walk Away From, with Clare Frank

    It’s one thing to pick up a paddle sport on a whim. It’s another thing entirely to realize (somewhere between a rec game and an invite-only underground games scene) that this “casual hobby” has started organizing your calendar, your social life, and, subtly, your sense of self. This week, Casie and Lauren sit down with Clare Frank, former Chief of Fire Protection for the state of California, longtime leader in wildfire response, and now author of Just One More Game. What begins as a conversation about a pickleball obsession quickly turns into something more revealing: what happens when a life built on urgency, mission, and high stakes suddenly slows down… and a game steps in to fill the space. Clare didn’t set out to join the pickleball community. She showed up in flip-flops to watch. What followed was a familiar but rarely examined progression: rec game, better players, underground games, pickleball camp, tournament play, all orbiting a single, slightly uncomfortable question: why does this pickleball game get such a hold on people? The answer, it turns out, has very little to do with the game itself. We talk about: The exact moment Clare realized her pickleball obsession had crossed a line—and why that thought felt more revealing than concerning The subtle escalation from casual rec game to underground games (and what those hidden hierarchies say about status and belonging) Why adults replace “play” with productivity, and how pickleball disrupts that pattern The psychology of partnership, and why finding the right doubles partner feels suspiciously close to dating How a career in high-stakes firefighting reshapes perspective on competition, pressure, and what actually matters in tournament play The role of a pickleball mentor, and why improvement isn’t always about skill as much as identity What tournament play reveals about people that rec game culture politely hides Somewhere in this conversation is a realization most players recognize but rarely articulate: the game is just the entry point. What keeps people coming back is harder to name, and much harder to walk away from. Pour a spicy marg and press play. This one’s for anyone who’s ever wondered why this game gets such a hold on people. Cheers, Casie and Lauren Dinks on Tap   You can purchase Just One More Game by Clare Frank here. Other ways to connect with Clare Frank: Website Instagram Tiktok Youtube Let’s keep the conversation going! Connect with us: Instagram: @dinksontap Facebook: @DinksonTap Website: dinksontap.com   For those wanting to fortify their mental game on the court, check out Lauren’s Mental Caddie offerings on her website or book a Chemistry Call.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    47 min
  2. APR 8

    Find Your Ride-or-Die Partner: Because You’re Gonna Be Playing Pickleball at 80, with Jeanne Koepke and Pam McCurry

    What happens when two big personalities collide on the pickleball court?  You get a duo that turns the game into chemistry, rhythm, and unapologetic energy! Today, Casie and Lauren sit down with Jeanne Koepke and Pam McCurry, a duo who found more than just a partner. They built a rhythm, a routine, and a friendship that reshaped this stage of life. What starts with pickleball tournaments and mixed doubles opens into something deeper. Jeanne and Pam bring equal parts of competitive fire and self-awareness. They share how they improved, built a strong partnership, and found their place within a growing pickleball community, especially in pickleball for seniors. In this episode, we talk about: The moment when they realized power alone would not carry them through higher-level play What it means to compete in their 60s, and how expectations shift The psychology of partnership, including how they manage energy and mistakes together Why the social side of pickleball matters more than people expect The unspoken rules of match etiquette, from line calls to tone How friendship and humor can matter just as much as skill for any pickleball player For those who play for fun and those who take it more seriously, there is something familiar in how this kind of connection shapes your days.  So, pour something cold, settle in, and spend time with two people who remind you that the best part of pickleball might not be the game at all. Cheers, Casie and Lauren Dinks on Tap Let’s keep the conversation going! Connect with us: Instagram: @dinksontap Facebook: @DinksonTap Website: dinksontap.com For those wanting to fortify their mental game on the court, check out Lauren’s Mental Caddie offerings on her website or book a Chemistry Call. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    1 hr
  3. MAR 25

    What Rec Players Are Missing by Not Watching Pickleball on TV, with Sports Broadcaster Will Daughton

    Pickleball players will build an entire life around playing. Watching the pros? That’s where things get interesting. In this episode, Casie and Lauren sit down with broadcaster, commentator, and certified pickleball numbers guy, Will Daughton, to ask a deceptively simple question: if rec players are so obsessed with pickleball…why aren’t more of them watching the pickleball pros? What follows is a conversation about PickleballTV, Major League Pickleball, momentum swings, partnership dynamics, and the parts of pickleball strategy most rec players miss in plain sight. Not because the rec world needs a lesson, but because watching high-level pickleball reveals a different layer of the game entirely. They we about: We talk about: Why so many pickleball players love playing more than watching The subtle patterns pickleball pros notice immediately Why momentum in pro pickleball is more real than people think The tactical choices great players abandon the second they stop working What strong partnerships reveal on and off the scoreboard Why the human stories around Major League Pickleball may be the thing that makes more people care What PickleballTV and the broadcast side of the sport are doing to make the game more watchable This one is part pickleball strategy, part sports psychology, part broadcast-booth confessional. So whether you’re a loyal PickleballTV viewer or someone who still claims you’d “rather just go play,” this episode offers a strong argument for paying closer attention. Grab your drink, hit play, and meet the man making the pro game a lot more interesting to watch. Cheers, Casie and Lauren Dinks on Tap Let’s keep the conversation going! Connect with us: Instagram: @dinksontap Facebook: @DinksonTap Website: dinksontap.com   For those wanting to fortify their mental game on the court, check out Lauren’s Mental Caddie offerings on her website or book a Chemistry Call.    If you love being comfy as much as we do, go to cozyearth.com, use code DINKS for up to 20% off, and get ready to live your coziest life! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    54 min
  4. MAR 11

    BONUS - The Parents Behind the Pod: Meet the Original Support Team of Dinks on Tap

    Ever wonder what your parents would say if they were handed a microphone and asked to review your sports career? Would they praise your hustle… or finally reveal that one time you blamed the wind for a missed shot? In this special bonus episode, an extension of Episode 38, we invite the ultimate behind-the-scenes MVPs onto the mic: our parents. This isn’t your typical lineup of sports interviews. Instead of talking with pros or coaches, we bring on the original supporters who shaped our journey through youth sports, competitive sports, and into podcasting. Through funny and heartfelt family stories, we reflect on how sports parenting, teamwork, and a strong sports mindset shaped who we are today, on and off the pickleball court. You’ll hear: The hilarious and heartfelt family stories our parents share about raising kids in youth sports and surviving the chaos of early competitive sports What sports parenting really looked like from their perspective—from car rides and tournaments to the occasional ref-yelling moment How team culture and early lessons in athlete development shaped our confidence, leadership, and love for sports The role supportive parents and strong sports families play in building resilience and a lifelong sports mindset Why the friendships formed through the pickleball community can last just as long as the sports memories themselves How storytelling, laughter, and a little nostalgia make for unforgettable podcast storytelling Whether you grew up in youth sports, are raising future athletes, or simply love the stories that shape the people behind the paddles, this episode is full of laughs, perspective, and a whole lot of gratitude. So grab your paddle, pour something refreshing, and join us for a heartfelt episode of our favorite pickleball podcast. And hey… after listening, you might just want to call your parents and thank them for all those early morning rides to practice. Cheers! 🥂🏓   Cheers, Casie & Lauren Dinks on Tap   Let’s keep the conversation going! Connect with us: Instagram: @dinksontap Facebook: @DinksonTap Website: dinksontap.com   For those wanting to fortify their mental game on the court, check out Lauren’s Mental Caddie offerings on her website or book a Chemistry Call.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    30 min
  5. MAR 11

    The Parent Perspective of Competitive Pickleball and Why the Car Ride Home Might Matter Most

    Ever wonder what it takes to raise a kid in competitive pickleball without turning every car ride home into a post-match press conference? A junior pickleball match only lasts so long, but parenting the player behind it is the part that follows you home. This episode gets into the family side of the game, where the travel is real, the pressure is sneaky, and keeping the joy alive can matter just as much as the result. This week, we head into the wonderfully unhinged world of junior pickleball. where the snacks are packed, the hotel check-ins are tactical, and the group text about partners somehow carries more tension than the actual match. This week, we talk with the parents behind some seriously talented young players and pull back the curtain on what sports parenting looks like when your kid is chasing the tournament circuit, eyeing the pro circuit, and learning how to compete in a sport that can hand you a highlight reel and a minor emotional spiral in the same afternoon. Glenda Calvo is a longtime volleyball coach with strong takes on the mental game, mental training, and why positive talk is not fluff, it’s fuel. Jared Messenger is a dad deep in the logistics of junior pro tournaments, managing travel, school, and the strange reality of watching a 14-year-old hold his own against grown men in competitive pickleball. And Angela Todd, the mother of Parris Todd, a recognizable face in professional pickleball, brings a hard-earned perspective on athlete development, communication, and the kind of boundary setting that keeps ambition from swallowing the whole family. We talk about: • How mental training tools like affirmations and visualization can shape confidence before a match. • Why boundary setting matters when a sport starts taking over the family calendar, budget, and nervous system. • What life on the pro circuit and tournament circuit actually looks like for families raising serious players. • How parental support can help young athletes recover from losses without turning the car ride home into a lecture series. • Why athlete development in youth athletics is as much about communication and trust as it is about reps and results. • And the sneaky truth about competitive pickleball, which is that the real drama is not always on the court. This one is funny, unexpectedly tender, and full of the kind of insight that makes you rethink what support really looks like in sport.      Jared also recommends the National Junior Pickleball League as a great alternative for families looking beyond the PPA or MLP path. With divisions for beginner, intermediate, advanced, and elite players, it offers more guaranteed play through pool play followed by bracket play, making it a strong option for kids who want a competitive experience without the quick two-loss-and-you’re-done format. So grab your marg and come hang with us for a conversation about the parents behind the players, the pressure behind the paddles, and the heart behind the hustle. Cheers, Casie & Lauren Dinks on Tap   Let’s keep the conversation going! Connect with us: Instagram: @dinksontap Facebook: @DinksonTap Website: dinksontap.com   For those wanting to fortify their mental game on the court, check out Lauren’s Mental Caddie offerings on her website or book a Chemistry Call.    If you love being comfy as much as we do, go to cozyearth.com, use code DINKS for up to 20% off, and get ready to live your coziest life! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    1h 9m
  6. FEB 25

    Pickleball Is Changing Us: What the Game Reveals About Who We’re Becoming

    What if the most “irresponsible” thing you ever did… (joining a sport with a wiffle ball and a weird name) was actually the smartest move you’ve made for your physical health, your sanity, and your social life? In Episode 37, Casie & Lauren are doing what they do best: pickleball + truth + tequila. We’re talking Mardi Gras (yes, balls, yes, beads, yes, strangers screaming at you like they’ve known you forever)… and why pickleball is basically the same experience but with less glitter and more knee braces. We also tackle one of life’s greatest mysteries: why the rally ends and your brain immediately goes “nope” on the score. Lauren dives into the neuroscience of play and explains why “pickleball brain” is your brain prioritizing survival over bookkeeping. And then Casie gets real about the emotional plot twist no one warns you about: how a career change can crack open an identity crisis, and how the court can become the thing that pulls you into a new chapter you didn’t see coming, complete with an identity shift, better habits, and the kind of community that makes you feel tethered again. Because yes, this pickleball lifestyle might start as “cardio with friends” but it ends up being a full-blown life transformation. In this episode, we’re pouring out: Why long rallies hijack your brain into performance memory mode (and why your internal bookkeeper fully quits). The real reason everyone asks “what’s the score?” and why transactive memory turns doubles into a group project. A simple habit to boost mental clarity in-game so you stop getting accidentally robbed of points. How chasing floats, chasing lobs, and chasing “one more game” can spark a huge glow-up in physical health, sleep quality, and stress reduction. Why pickleball brings back childlike joy… and why that joy hits deeper than you think. The spicy truth about friendship shifts: your energy isn’t free, your circle evolves, and meaningful connections start replacing convenience hangs. How “finding your people” turns into an actual social community that can carry you through the messy middle of reinvention. So grab your shot of Point Blank Reposado, squeeze a lime, and join us as we connect Mardi Gras madness to midlife magic, from the boardroom to the baseline, from burnout to belonging… and from “what’s the score?” to “who even cares, that rally was ART.” Let’s get you back to the kitchen. Just try to remember the score this time. Cheers, Casie & Lauren Dinks on Tap Let’s keep the conversation going! Connect with us: Instagram: @dinksontap Facebook: @DinksonTap Website: dinksontap.com Learn more about the Mental Caddie or LPV Coaching, check out Lauren’s website or book a Chemistry Call.  If you love being comfy as much as we do, go to cozyearth.com, use code DINKS for up to 20% off, and get ready to live your coziest life! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    47 min
  7. FEB 11

    The Pickleball Tournament Survival Guide with PIG’s Mike Hoxie: How to Skip the 4-Hour Wait, Spot the Good Ones, and Make It to Happy Hour on Time

    You’re standing on the court, paddle in hand, staring at an empty net while the Tournament Director is nowhere to be found and your "10:00 AM start time" has officially become a suggestion.  We’ve all been there… trapped in a bracket that feels more like a gridlocked parking lot than an elite player experience. In this episode, joining us in the hot seat is Mike Hoxie, the "Tournament Titan" and founder of Pickleball Is Great (P.I.G.). Mike has spent years modernizing pickleball tournaments from paper and pencil to seamless, text-messaged operations. He’s the expert on keeping the game moving, from coordinating the senior games at the Huntsman to managing high-stakes matches with prize money. We're gonna dive into the organized chaos of the pickleball community with a man who has seen more court time than a Franklin pickleball. We talk about the massive pickleball growth of the last decade and the transition from the retail sports management grind to the "island style" pace of running over 150 pickleball events a year. Here’s what we’re pouring out in this episode: Why elite sports management means ditching the "zero occupancy" money grab to prioritize early finishes and cold drinks over keeping courts 100% jammed all day. How referee certification diffuses 50% of on-court "hooking" and arguments just by letting players know the teacher is watching. How the pickleball community is leading the charge by turning pickleball events into massive fundraising engines for non-profits. Why your pickleball training should include playing against fresh bloods to see if your pickleball strategy actually holds up outside your local bubble. We’ll also discuss why recreational pickleball players often get burned out by bad experiences and why the best pickleball strategy starts with reading the fine print before you hit that tournament registration button. So, grab a Kahlua and cream, put down the rulebook, and find out how to spend more time dinking and less time checking your watch. Let’s get you out of the parking lot and back into the kitchen! Cheers, Casie & Lauren Dinks on Tap   Let’s keep the conversation going! Connect with us: Instagram: @dinksontap Facebook: @DinksonTap Website: dinksontap.com Learn more about the Mental Caddie or LPV Coaching, check out Lauren’s website or book a Chemistry Call.    Ways to connect with Mike Hoxie and Pickleball is Great (PIG):   Pickleball Is Great - 10 Years! https://pickleballisgreat.com/   www.facebook.com/PICKLEBALLISGR8/ twitter.com/pickleballisgr8 https://www.youtube.com/@PickleballisGR8/   **We are celebrating 10 years in the Tournament Management Business.  Coast to Coast and now international with tournaments in Japan, Mexico, and soon Tahiti     Upcoming Tournaments   2026 Pickle Money Ball - Mar 19, 2026 - Mar 22, 2026 https://pickleballtournaments.com/tournaments/2026-pickle-money-ball   **New tournament with $600,000 in prize money - paid down to the 16th position.  DUPR Skill based.  Last minute registration ends 3/4/26   USA Pickleball Golden Ticket - Washington 7/9/26 to 7/12/26 (seattle) https://pickleballtournaments.com/tournaments/usa-pickleball-golden-ticket-washington   **Our first USA Pickleball Golden ticket tournament! Registration starts in April!  Challenger membership of $12 a year required for every player   Kimo Dejon's 1st Annual Tahiti Senior Pickleball Tournament Jun 02, 2026 - Jun 03, 2026 https://pickleballtournaments.com/tournaments/kimo-dejons-1st-annual-tahiti-senior-pickleball-tournament-by-pig   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    52 min
  8. JAN 28

    3 Sports Psychology Tips That Will Stop You From Obsessing Over Your DUPR Score and Build Unshakeable Mental Toughness, with Executive Coach Lauren Vosbein

    Let’s be real, how many times have you missed an easy dink and immediately blamed your paddle, the wind (even indoors), or your partner’s breathing?  We’ve all been there: the dreaded mental spiral where one bad shot turns into three, and suddenly you’ve forgotten how to hold a paddle.  In this inaugural episode of 2026, we’re stacking the court differently as Casie takes the host seat to interview her ride-or-die doubles partner (and co-host!), Lauren Vosbein. We aren’t just talking about drops and drives, we’re diving into the "fifth player" on the court: your mindset.  We share the hilarious and effective story of how Lauren stopped Casie’s mid-match meltdown by forcing her to mentally travel to Turks and Caicos during a timeout, proving that sometimes the best pickleball strategy has nothing to do with footwork.  Lauren isn’t just your favorite drinking buddy on this pod; she’s the founder of The Mental Caddy, an executive leadership coach for Fortune 100 companies, and an "accidental sports psychologist" who helps everyone from corporate VPs to PPA pros like Ivan Jakovljevic master their minds before they melt down.  Here’s what we’re pouring out in this episode: Why mental toughness isn’t just woo-woo magic but an actual neuroscience involving your sage brain and positive intelligence. The "Going Blank" technique: A 10-second sensory trick using brain training to stop performance anxiety and reset your nervous system. How to create an on-court alter ego (meet "LaRhonda") to summon mental fortitude and aggression when you’re feeling too polite. Why you need to stop treating your DUPR score like a mirror and start treating it like a metric. Simple focus techniques you can do between points to start playing free and trusting your training.  So pour yourself a fresh one, find your inner "LaRhonda," and get ready to train your brain to stop getting in your own way. Cheers, Casie & Lauren Dinks on Tap   Let’s keep the conversation going! Connect with us: Instagram: @dinksontap Facebook: @DinksonTap Website: dinksontap.com   To learn more about the Mental Caddie or LPV Coaching, check out Lauren’s website or book a Chemistry Call. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    1h 3m
5
out of 5
108 Ratings

About

Ever wondered what the big deal is about Pickleball? Welcome to Dinks on Tap, where the pickleball paddle meets the margarita. We’re Casie and Lauren, your pickleball partners in crime, here to spill the beans on why pickleball is more than just a game. It’s that “more” part we’re so drawn to. That “more” part which we highly suspect is about rediscovering PLAY in our lives and bringing FUN into focus. Let’s be clear, we’re not pros. We’re just a couple of recreational players who notice, marvel, and revel in the nuances that make up the juice to this fruit’s fine squeeze. In each episode we’ll look at the life breathing behind, within, underneath and alongside the game... That momentum shift on the court, (“Why am I so ‘off’ today?”), the Fourth Man Struggle (“Seriously, who else can we get to play?”), the camaraderie that turns strangers into friends (“Do you want to exchange numbers?”) and various other dynamics that go beyond the dink to make up the humor, heart, and hard-won wisdom we find between the lines. So join us! Pour a glass, squeeze a lime, and let’s get under the hood of just how good it feels to rediscover PLAY in our lives.

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