Pickleballers

Jared Paul (founder of The Kitchen) and Roscoe Bellamy (pro pickleball player)

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. 8h ago

    Allyce Jones: The Truth About Being a Pro, Her Anna Leigh Theory, and Raising a Future Pro | S5 E6

    In this episode, Allyce sits down with Roscoe and Jared to tell how she went from teaching full-time to playing on the pro tour. They also cover the MLP season, why the juniors have been the surprise of the year, and what it takes to beat Anna Leigh Waters. Allyce opens up about how she found the game. COVID cost her volleyball club $40K, and her mom talked the family into trying pickleball in an empty high school gym. Then her husband booked her a lesson with Callie Jo Smith and told her, “I wanted you to see what I saw.” She trained at 4:30 a.m. before teaching, paid for her career out of her own salary, and made $800 from her first paycheck. After signing with the PPA Tour in 2022, she left teaching, and the goals on the vision board in her classroom came true. Allyce also explains why diving comes from 20 years of volleyball and isn’t for show. She separated her AC joint diving in Dallas, and she breaks down how reading a hitter’s shoulders helps her play defense. She shares why her daughter Leah turned down a tour contract at 12 so she could win a Challenger first, and the night Leah beat her for the first time. She also gives her theory on Anna Leigh’s dominance and her advice for parents who coach their kids. 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 — How the MLP Season Is Going 1:30 — Do Owners Bid on Their Schedule? 3:18 — Why Six-Player Rosters Add Pressure 3:47 — The Juniors Stealing the Show 5:24 — 5:30 a.m. Workouts With Dad 6:34 — A 5'2" D1 Setter at Utah Valley 7:16 — 10 Years, Four State Titles, and a 250-Athlete Club 8:04 — Why She’s the Best Cheerleader on the Bench 9:34 — Where “Mighty Mouse” Came From 10:47 — Why Utah Is Pickleball Country 12:28 — Dirty Sodas and Swig 13:15 — Walking Away After a State Title 13:52 — COVID, a $40K Loss, and Mom’s New Game 15:06 — From Ladder Leagues to 5.0 Tournaments 16:13 — The Callie Jo Smith Lesson That Changed Everything 17:23 — Going Pro at 32 18:13 — Finding a Partner to Chase It With 20:39 — 4:30 a.m. Training, Then Teach All Day 21:46 — The First $800 Paycheck 22:35 — Why She Signed With the PPA Tour 23:10 — From Joola to CRBN 23:54 — Jared’s Most Painful Moment on Court 24:56 — PickleRoll and Finally Turning a Profit 25:27 — Quitting Teaching for Good 25:44 — The Vision Board That Came True 27:48 — The Mindset Switch to Attacking 29:21 — “You Are Annoying to Play Against” 30:11 — Why She Dives: It’s Volleyball, Not a Show 31:14 — Separating Her AC Joint in Dallas 33:39 — What Volleyball Gives You in Pickleball 34:30 — Reading Shoulders Before the Shot 35:13 — Learning Groundstrokes Without a Tennis Background 36:18 — Coaching Her Daughter and Elsie Hendershot 38:16 — The Allyce Jones Scholarship 39:48 — Why Leah Turned Down the Tour at 12 41:43 — Challenger: The Missing Path to Pro 42:50 — The Day Leah Beat Her Mom 45:00 — Mother-Daughter Teams and Leigh & Anna Leigh 45:47 — Anna Leigh’s Bus vs. the Players Lounge 47:44 — Her Theory on Anna Leigh’s Dominance 50:06 — Chasing a Win Over Anna Leigh 51:04 — How Fahey and Bright Iced Out Anna Leigh 52:07 — Will Anna Leigh Switch Partners? 53:08 — Advice for Parents Coaching Their Kids 54:24 — How Pickleball Changed Her Life

    Allyce Jones: The Truth About Being a Pro, Her Anna Leigh Theory, and Raising a Future Pro | S5 E6

  2. Nov 5

    Connor Garnett: Leaving Banking for Pickleball, Yips That Got Him Traded, and Twoey Nation | S5 E5

    In this episode, Connor sits down with Roscoe and Jared to walk through one of the most unlikely paths on tour, from hitting with Novak Djokovic at the US Open to clocking 92-hour weeks in banking. The conversation covers why he bet on pickleball, how he built a brand around his two-handed backhand, and what still stands between him and #1. Connor opens up about the yips that took over his serve, cost him confidence on the sport’s biggest stages, and helped lead to his MLP trade out of Columbus. He breaks down how he won a bronze with Alix Truong in the middle of it, then rebuilt his mechanics from the ground up with help from an unlikely source: Bryson DeChambeau’s approach to the golf swing. Connor also gets into the business side of the sport, including why he only needed to break even to leave banking, how his first Twoey hats landed right as he won the LA Open, and why investing in pickleball has put him in the rooms he used to sit silently in as an analyst. He gets honest about a slow start to the year, recommitting to training, and turning down a bonus because he didn’t feel he’d earned the #2 ranking. 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: 1:05 — The Atlanta Run That Broke the #17 Curse 1:32 — Why the Work Finally Started Paying Off 2:24 — The Shy Kid From Bellevue 2:53 — 6 A.M. Practices and Brutal Tennis Punishments 3:36 — Pacing the Court With Novak at the US Open 4:11 — “You’re Late”: Novak’s First Words to Him 5:04 — How COVID Killed His Pro Tennis Plans 5:20 — The Forced Move That Led Him to Pickleball 5:48 — The US Open Connection Behind His First Game 7:19 — Silver in His First Pro Tournament 8:11 — Beating Hayden Patriquin and Wyatt Stoneman Right Out of the Gate 9:12 — Getting Humbled After Every Big Win 9:53 — Learning What Pro Pickleball Really Looks Like With Tyson McGuffin 11:16 — The Tyson Connection Nobody Knew About 12:11 — Just How Good Was He at Tennis? 13:35 — The Cutthroat World of Pro Warm-Up Partners 15:02 — Only Child Syndrome and the Coach Who Fixed It 16:17 — Winning on Sunday, Back at His Banking Job Monday 17:05 — The 92-Hour Work Week 18:11 — Why He Walked Away From Investment Banking 18:29 — The Childhood Racket-Stringing Hustle 19:23 — Why All He Needed Was to Break Even 20:02 — From Silent Analyst to Getting in on the Deals 20:28 — Why He Wrote for The Kitchen for Free 21:25 — When Men’s Singles Caught Fire 23:32 — The Atlanta Tournament That Changed Singles 24:44 — Why James Ignatowich Was So Electric 26:23 — The Worst Yips in Pro Pickleball History 26:51 — Winning Bronze With Alix Truong Through the Yips 27:32 — The Trade Out of Columbus 28:05 — Why Sports Expose Who You Really Are 29:04 — Rebuilding His Serve the Bryson DeChambeau Way 30:54 — The Clutch Second Serve That Made the Yips Worse 31:52 — Could the Yips Come Back? 33:26 — What Zverev’s Double Faults Can Teach You 34:10 — The Night Roscoe Forgot How to Hit a Backhand 36:15 — Saying Zero Words in a Three-Person Group Project 37:40 — Learning to Talk in a Room 38:58 — Taking on Your Weaknesses Head-On 39:12 — How the Shy Kid Became a Top Clinic Coach 41:13 — The Origin of the Twoey 42:13 — The Hat Drop That Hit at the Perfect Time 43:13 — The Free Hat Promise From Center Court 45:26 — Is Pickleball the New Golf? 45:39 — Katy Perry, Necker Island, and Where Pickleball Takes You 46:21 — What the Next Year Looks Like 47:41 — Locking Back In After a Business-Focused Year 48:05 — “You Either Got It or You Don’t” 49:19 — Warming Up the Mind Instead of the Body 50:22 — The Pro Pickleball Nickname Game 54:20 — Two Straight Hours of Dinking 55:14 — The Squat Stat Nobody Saw Coming 56:18 — Why He Passed on His #2 Bonus 56:55 — What’s Holding Him Back From #1 59:28 — Pickleball: Choose Your Own Adventure

    Connor Garnett: Leaving Banking for Pickleball, Yips That Got Him Traded, and Twoey Nation | S5 E5

  3. Oct 29

    Steve Aoki: Why the World’s Biggest DJ Is Obsessed With Pickleball | S5 E4

    In this episode, Steve Aoki sits down with Roscoe and Jared for his first-ever pickleball podcast. The conversation runs from how his wife got him into the game to the DIY mindset that built his entire career, with plenty of honest takes on business, creativity, and whether pickleball is actually cool. Steve breaks down how HeroQuest went from a COVID-era album into a full IP with an anime, a trading card game, and collabs with Burton, Malbon, and Cressi. He explains why every product he drops needs a “collectible soul,” and how the JOOLA Hero and Hyro paddles come with HeroQuest cards, including serialized 1-of-1 chase cards hidden in the boxes. Steve also opens up about the punk and hardcore scene that taught him business at 15, starting Dim Mak out of his college co-op, and turning down a PhD to chase the label. He gets into running up $100K in credit card debt across 10 cards, why his father never funded him, and how DJing small LA bars dug him out and launched the next chapter of his career. 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 — How His Wife Got Him Into Pickleball 2:09 — Losing 98% of Table Tennis Games to His Wife 5:37 — Trading the Skate Ramp for a Backyard Court 8:41 — The Phoenix Flames Deal That Fell Through 9:07 — How HeroQuest Was Born During COVID 11:56 — Why Every Product Needs a Collectible Soul 13:23 — Starting a Grading Company for Music 13:43 — The JOOLA x HeroQuest Paddle Drop 16:07 — How the JOOLA Collab Came Together 18:04 — The Mixtape That Changed His Life 22:13 — Straight Edge Hardcore and the DIY Code 27:30 — Flipping Thrift Shirts and Selling $3 Tapes 29:19 — Starting Dim Mak in a College Co-op 31:41 — Turning Down a PhD for The Kills 32:43 — $100K Deep Across 10 Credit Cards 32:59 — Why His Dad Never Funded Him 34:24 — DJing His Way Out of Debt 36:34 — Gaga, Skrillex, and the Dim Mak Scene 39:10 — Only Hiring People Locked Into the Lifestyle 41:03 — Finishing Hundreds of Remixes (and the Drake Flop) 42:28 — Nerves on Center Court at PPA Vegas 43:59 — The Aoki Foundation and Brain Health 44:40 — Bryan Johnson’s First Cold Plunge 46:17 — Why Racket Sports Are Good for the Brain 47:04 — Drafting a Celebrity MLP Team 49:43 — Harder: World-Class DJ or Pro Pickleballer? 52:02 — The $8K a Month Bar DJ Math 54:00 — Is Pickleball Cool? 56:47 — Main Stage Rush vs. Winning on the Court 57:17 — Why a Unicorn Exit Doesn’t Compare 58:16 — Fighting to Stay Relevant 1:00:16 — The Cake Finale

    Steve Aoki: Why the World’s Biggest DJ Is Obsessed With Pickleball | S5 E4

  4. Oct 22

    Lacy Schneemann: She Quit Rocket Science for Pro Pickleball. Was It Worth It? | S5 E3

    In this episode, Lacy sits down with Roscoe and Jared to talk about her path from a small town in West Texas to the pro tour. They cover her aggressive, men’s-doubles-inspired game, her years in engineering, and the decision to walk away from a stable career to play pickleball full-time. It’s a fun, honest conversation with one of the most versatile players on the women’s side. Lacy opens up about her week at Mesa, where she and Jack Sock beat Jorja Johnson and JW Johnson 6 and 6. A couple of days later she was double pickled 11-0, 11-0 in 14 minutes by Anna Leigh Waters and Anna Bright, then came back the next day to win bronze. She explains what it actually takes to beat the best team in the world and why she thinks her forehand, when it’s on, is top of the pro game. Lacy also gets into her internships at JPL and Apple and the year she spent writing pros and cons lists about quitting Boeing. She describes coming off the bench for an injured teammate at the Newport MLP and the Mesa MLP weekend whose prize money gave her the confidence to quit her job on June 7, 2023. She also talks about the pressure of losing a backup income, her goal of cracking the top 5, and whether she’ll ever go back to aerospace. 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 — The Backhand Flick Roscoe Tried to Copy 2:06 — The “Step Back King” and Living at the Kitchen Line 2:31 — Why She Plays Like a Men’s Doubles Player 3:29 — Beating Jorja & JW Johnson With Jack Sock at Mesa 3:56 — Double Pickled in 14 Minutes by Anna Leigh & Anna Bright 6:12 — Does the Score Line Matter? A Loss Is a Loss 7:51 — What It Actually Takes to Beat the Best Team in the World 9:23 — When the Forehand Is Cooking, Nobody Can Stop It 10:45 — Playing at 5'4" and the Wristy Game 13:19 — Growing Up in San Angelo, West Texas 14:38 — Mutton Busting Champion at Age Five 15:56 — Twin Sister, Every Sport, and Salutatorian 16:52 — The 8th Grade Quiz That Made Her an Aerospace Engineer 18:05 — Club Tennis and Engineering at USC 19:14 — Internships at JPL and Apple’s Classified Projects 20:45 — Graduating Into the Pandemic and Landing at Boeing 22:58 — Why Satellites Weren’t the Dream Job 23:59 — 11 Tattoos in One Day in Australia 26:13 — Learning Pickleball With Dad in 2015 27:02 — Finding the Memorial Park Crew in LA 28:08 — “You Should Try Going Pro” 29:03 — Off the Bench at the Newport MLP 31:36 — A Year of Pros and Cons Lists 32:56 — The Mesa MLP Weekend That Changed Everything 33:41 — Quitting Boeing on June 7, 2023 34:23 — Does an Engineering Brain Help on the Court? 36:06 — The Pressure of Losing the Backup Income 37:21 — The Most Respectful Young Players on Tour 38:51 — The Goal: Breaking Into the Top 5 39:42 — Why She Wants a Kawamoto Back 41:00 — Will She Go Back to Aerospace? 42:06 — Things People Don’t Know About Lacy 42:37 — Singles vs. Doubles: What’s Harder? 43:24 — Top Aerospace Engineer vs. Top Pro: Who Has It Harder? 44:29 — When Will Pickleball Be Played in Space? 45:53 — How Much Money to Never Play Again? 47:20 — Loud Partner or Quiet Partner? 49:38 — The One Shot She’d Steal From JW Johnson

    Lacy Schneemann: She Quit Rocket Science for Pro Pickleball. Was It Worth It? | S5 E3

  5. Oct 15

    Federico Staksrud: The $400K Fives Trade, Reuniting With Hayden, and Chasing Ben & Gabe | S5 E2

    In this episode, Federico sits down with Roscoe and Jared for a casual, wide-ranging conversation about his journey from a software company desk job to the top of the sport. They cover his blockbuster MLP trade, his reunion with Hayden Patriquin, the global growth of the game, and the mindset that keeps him reaching Sunday nearly every week. Federico breaks down the process that built him, starting with Simone Jardim teaching him that pickleball required real practice. He also talks about Johnny Goldberg telling him he could be #1 in a global sport, and about Beto pushing him to live like an athlete 24/7. He opens up about the late-deadline trade from the Orlando Squeeze to the New Jersey 5s, the pressure that came with the $400K price tag, and why Anna Leigh Waters is the most competitive person he’s ever met. Federico also gets into the miscommunication that split him and Hayden in 2025 and why the two reunited with one goal: beating Ben Johns and Gabe Tardio. He shares what it’s like to have 500 fans screaming at him in Vietnam and why he plays too many tournaments. He also makes a controversial case that MLP’s competitive problems fall on the players, not the league. Plus, Jared and Roscoe make a $5,000 bet on Anna Leigh’s future. 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 — The Run to #1 in Men’s Doubles 3:04 — From Buenos Aires to College Tennis 4:38 — Walmart Paddle, First Pickleball Beatdown 6:31 — Simone Jardim Teaches Him to Actually Practice 8:17 — Messi and the Never-Give-Up Mindset 10:18 — Johnny Goldberg: “You Can Be #1” 12:07 — 6 AM Pickle, 9-to-5 Job, Night Singles 13:56 — Beto and the 24/7 Athlete Lifestyle 15:15 — No Backup Plan 16:24 — The Trade to the New Jersey 5s 19:05 — The $400K Price Tag 19:53 — Why Pressure Is the Reward 23:00 — Sprinting With No Finish Line 24:05 — Anna Leigh: The Most Competitive Person Alive 26:32 — Anna Leigh’s Superstar Workload 28:04 — Why He’s Back With Hayden 29:22 — The Miscommunication That Split Them 30:53 — The Plan to Beat Ben & Gabe 32:12 — Chirping on Court, Friends Off It 34:17 — Working the Refs, Soccer-Style 35:49 — Can the Pickleball World Cup Go Global? 37:31 — Will China Compete in 10 Years? 38:19 — The $5,000 Anna Leigh Bet 39:47 — 500 Fans Screaming in Vietnam 42:05 — Bad Refs Overseas 44:57 — Rockstar Treatment in Asia 46:10 — Life of a Sunday Regular 47:35 — The Problem With Playing Too Much 49:10 — Prime Age and Playing Until 40 50:28 — Shots He Steals From Ben, Hayden, and Gabe 52:32 — JW Johnson Is Underrated 55:12 — Hype Guys vs. Stoic Pros 58:20 — Is MLP Better This Year? 1:03:05 — Most Likely To... on Tour 1:05:21 — The Street Fight Draft

    Federico Staksrud: The $400K Fives Trade, Reuniting With Hayden, and Chasing Ben & Gabe | S5 E2

  6. Oct 8

    Gabe Tardio: Playing With Ben Johns, Handling Pressure, and Becoming a Star | S5 E1

    Gabe Tardio is the No. 2 player in the world and half of the best men's doubles team in pickleball alongside Ben Johns. He grew up in Bolivia chasing a tennis career and went from thinking pickleball was "the dumbest game ever" to one of the most feared right-side players on the PPA Tour. In this episode, Gabe sits down with Roscoe and Jared to open the Season 5 premiere. They trace his path from a COVID-shuttered tennis academy to his grandfather's pickleball courts in Florida, then to the Johnson family practice group that brought him onto the pro tour. It's a candid, funny conversation about strategy, partnerships, and what it takes to break into the top tier. Gabe breaks down the decision that changed his career: seeing that everyone wanted to play the left, so he committed to mastering the right. He explains how film study, thousands of backhand counters against JW Johnson's flicks, and deliberately borrowing shots from Ben, Anna Leigh, Tyson McGuffin, and Kyle Yates built the aggressive right-side style he's known for. Gabe also tells the full story behind partnering with Ben. He was nearly 80% set on leaving the PPA over a contract offer before Ben's Christmas text arrived while he was in Bolivia. That text helped him re-sign for almost 3x the money. He's honest about freezing up in their first tournaments in Mesa and how Ben's quiet belief got him back to his game. He also covers going from rivals to best friends with Hayden, life on the St. Louis Shock, and why he'd still pick tennis. 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: 1:12 — The Quiet Kid With the Glasses 2:09 — Growing Up in Bolivia on the Tennis Court 3:03 — COVID Shuts Down His Tennis Academy 3:21 — Grandpa's Backyard Pickleball Court 6:38 — Giving Up the Pro Tennis Dream 7:54 — "The Dumbest Game Ever" 9:37 — Dad Saw the Future First 10:37 — Meeting Jorja at a Money Ball 12:14 — The Worst Player in the Johnson Practice Group 14:14 — Winning 5.0s and Turning Pro at 16 15:39 — $1,000 Money Balls at 15 16:27 — Watching Every Ben Johns Match 17:18 — Why JW Was His Idol 18:20 — No Pressure, No Problem 19:39 — The Split Personality 20:37 — The Right-Side Bet That Changed Everything 22:31 — How to Become an Elite Right-Side Player 25:04 — Reinventing the Right-Side Role 27:08 — Training His Brother Matias for the Pro Tour 29:25 — Every Shot Is Borrowed 32:34 — Hayden vs. Anna Leigh Trash Talk 34:28 — Anna Bright or Jorja Johnson? 35:33 — The Ben Johns Partner Sweepstakes 36:27 — Almost Leaving the PPA 37:54 — Ben's Text and a 3x PPA Raise 39:00 — Why Ben Picked Gabe 41:00 — The Christmas Text in Bolivia 42:07 — Freezing Up in Mesa 43:13 — Finding the Groove With Ben 44:17 — Collin Johns and the Biggest Threat 44:59 — What Ben Taught Him 46:13 — Inside Ben Johns' World 47:07 — From Rivals to Best Friends With Hayden 48:27 — Life on the St. Louis Shock Super Team 50:37 — Ranked No. 5? His Response 52:58 — Dealing With the Keyboard Warriors 54:39 — Tama and the Next Generation 57:15 — Most Underrated and Overrated 58:28 — The Pro Player Animal Round 59:52 — Pro Pickleball Matchmaking 1:02:38 — Stranded on an Island 1:03:23 — Why He'd Still Pick Tennis

    Gabe Tardio: Playing With Ben Johns, Handling Pressure, and Becoming a Star | S5 E1

  7. Jul 30

    Jay Devilliers: Figuring Out Ben Johns, Bringing Pickle to France, and The Body Bag Debate | S4 E10

    Jay Devilliers, "the Flying Frenchman," is one of pro pickleball's most accomplished veterans — a former Wichita State tennis standout who transitioned into the pro ranks in 2019 and has stayed near the top of the sport for over half a decade. In this season-closing episode, Jay sits down with Roscoe and Jared for a wide-ranging conversation tracing his path from a hyper-competitive French sporting family through Spanish tennis academies, Wichita State doubles, and into the earliest days of pro pickleball. They cover his partnership with Pat Smith, his rivalry with Ben Johns and Collin Johns, and how he's stayed relevant through injuries and the sport's rapid evolution. Jay breaks down his surreal run as a US Open hitting partner, including a 90-minute session with Rafael Nadal, strategically set up by Carlos Moya, that left his hands blistered and bleeding. He also details the six-month ultimatum his wife gave him in 2020 to prove himself in pickleball or go find a real job, a deadline COVID nearly wiped out before he committed to the sport full time in 2021. Jay also opens up about splitting from longtime partner Pat Smith after sponsor pressure pushed him toward a pairing with Tyson McGuffin, the epic finals battles with Ben Johns and Collin Johns that helped shape Riley Newman and Matt Wright's rise, and his philosophy on body bags, including firing one back at an opponent and the unforgettable moment Anna Leigh Waters caught him with one of her own. He closes out reflecting on raising four kids while grinding on tour and his goal to grow pickleball in Europe. 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: 1:44 — Welcome to the season finale 6:48 — Growing up the youngest of six in France 10:56 — Chasing tennis to Spain and Wichita State 13:07 — Becoming a dad as a senior in college 16:05 — Becoming a US Open hitting partner 17:39 — Practicing with Rafael Nadal 21:33 — Building a career after the US Open 24:01 — Finding pickleball at Chicken N Pickle 26:51 — The six-month ultimatum to go pro 27:53 — Wichita's early pickleball hotbed 33:31 — Cracking the code on Ben Johns 37:08 — Why he and Pat Smith split up 41:03 — Battling back from injury in 2024 45:03 — How the sport has changed since 2020 50:09 — Reinventing his game every year 51:48 — The body bag debate 53:56 — The Anna Leigh Waters body bag 55:31 — Tennis vs. pickleball: which is harder 58:22 — The "Two Anna Leighs" hypothetical 1:00:03 — The craziest moment: Zane's chainsaw serve 1:02:03 — Who talks the most trash on tour 1:03:24 — Legacy, longevity, and growing pickleball in Europe

    Jay Devilliers: Figuring Out Ben Johns, Bringing Pickle to France, and The Body Bag Debate | S4 E10

  8. Jul 23

    Will Howells: Leaving the APP, Teaming Up With Anna Leigh Waters, and His Cocky Mentality | S4 E9

    Will Howells is a former top-15 US junior tennis player and Notre Dame standout who switched to pickleball in 2023 and quickly climbed the ranks, now stepping onto the PPA and MLP tours as one of the newest faces on tour. In this episode, Will sits down with Roscoe and Jared to trace his path from junior tennis dreams and a Notre Dame ankle injury to grinding out results on the APP tour while still working full-time. They dig into his draft night, his rise as MLP's "team of misfits," and the mindset that carried him through every step. Will breaks down his draft day call from Ryan Harwood, becoming "the man" on the APP tour after Andre, Gabe, and the Johnson 5 left for MLP, and the tough multi-month decision to walk away from APP entirely for a full PPA and MLP schedule. Will also gives his own retelling of the infamous Anna Leigh Waters vs. Hayden "Big H" sideline altercation. Delivered by @whiteclaw! 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: 1:53 — Growing Up in Richmond, Virginia 3:19 — Two Half-Siblings and a Full One 4:44 — Cracking the Top 15 in Junior Tennis 7:33 — Committing to Notre Dame 10:58 — The Ankle Break That Ended His Season 11:34 — A Friend Drags Him to the Park 12:49 — JW Takes Him Under His Wing 14:59 — Losing to Daescu Six Times 17:22 — Public Enemy #1 on the AP Tour 20:09 — The McDonald's Call That Changed Everything 23:26 — Betting His Career on the PPA 27:25 — He Popped the Question 28:35 — Lining Up Noe, Rachel, Megan, and Tyra 31:00 — Snapping His Ankle on a Passing Shot 36:41 — Shrinking the Court: Singles Reinvented 39:23 — The Best Beard in Pickleball 40:37 — Racing Motorcycle Life 44:00 — The Secret to Closing Out Matches 49:29 — Breaking Down Anna Leigh vs. Big H 51:46 — Inside the DAPS Shoe Deal

    Will Howells: Leaving the APP, Teaming Up With Anna Leigh Waters, and His Cocky Mentality | S4 E9
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4.4
out of 5
33 Ratings

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
    56
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Jared Paul (founder of The Kitchen) and Roscoe Bellamy (pro pickleball player)
  • Show Website
    Pickleballers
  • Provider
    Pickle Ballers

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