Life Lessons from Pickleball™

Shelley Maurer and Sher Emerick
  • 4.9 (11)
  • FITNESS
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Meet Shelley and Sher, the dynamic duo, who found more than just a sport on the Pickleball court - they discovered how Pickleball was weaving its magic, creating connections, boosting confidence, and sprinkling their lives with amazing joy. Inspired by their own personal transformation and the contagious enthusiasm of their fellow players, they knew this was more than a game. Join them on their weekly podcast as they serve up engaging conversations with people from all walks of life, and all around the world reaching across the net to uncover the valuable Life Lessons from Pickleball™.

  1. 2D AGO

    E102: Zacharie: Building Pickleball in Rwanda

    What if pickleball could change an entire community and even a country? In this inspiring episode, we welcome Zacharie, a pioneer of pickleball in Rwanda who is transforming lives through the power of sport. What began as a chance discovery during COVID quickly became a mission that led Zacharie to build one of the first pickleball courts in Rwanda and grow the game from just a handful of players to a thriving movement. Zacharie shares how pickleball is helping reduce alcohol consumption, empower women, support mental health, and bring communities together across Rwanda and East Africa. His vision is bold. He wants to see 500 courts across the country, and his impact is already being felt in schools, families, and everyday life. This episode is a powerful reminder that pickleball is more than a game. It is a tool for connection, healing, and transformation. https://pickleballrwanda.com/ 📘 Our book Life Lessons from Pickleball™ is now available on Amazon Order the book here: https://a.co/d/0bHPFYve A collection of short, true stories from players around the world about community, resilience, and joy through the game of pickleball. A portion of proceeds supports Operation PaddleLift, through the Global Pickleball Federation, distributing paddles, balls and nets to underserved communities around the world. Contact us:  www.lifelessonsfrompickleball@gmail.com Follow and watch: https://www.lifelessonsfrompickleballpodcast.com https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61557275391316 https://www.instagram.com/lifelessonsfrompickleball/ https://www.youtube.com/@LifeLessonsFromPickleballPod Music gifted to us by Ian Pedersen: @ianpedersen  Thanks for listening and you can also watch us on Youtube.

    20 min

  2. MAR 31

    E101: Alice Tym: Stop Complaining, Start Playing Pickleball

    What if the only reason you played sports was because it was fun? Alice Tym’s story is a masterclass in courage, action, and joy. From starting a women’s tennis team at the University of Florida when none existed, to competing on the international tennis circuit and reaching a world ranking of 13, Alice has spent a lifetime creating opportunities where there were none. A Hall of Fame collegiate coach and founding member of U.S. Senior Pickleball, Alice continues to compete and win at the highest levels of senior pickleball today. Her philosophy is simple and powerful. Stop complaining and do something. Whether she is building programs, fighting for opportunities for women and seniors in sport, or traveling the world through competition, Alice proves that age is not a limit. It is an opportunity. This episode is about taking action, staying curious, and finding joy in every stage of life. 📘 Our book Life Lessons from Pickleball™ is now available on Amazon Order the book here: https://a.co/d/0bHPFYve A collection of short, true stories from players around the world about community, resilience, and joy through the game of pickleball. A portion of proceeds supports Operation PaddleLift, through the Global Pickleball Federation, distributing paddles, balls and nets to underserved communities around the world. Contact us:  www.lifelessonsfrompickleball@gmail.com Follow and watch: https://www.lifelessonsfrompickleballpodcast.com https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61557275391316 https://www.instagram.com/lifelessonsfrompickleball/ https://www.youtube.com/@LifeLessonsFromPickleballPod Music gifted to us by Ian Pedersen: @ianpedersen  Thanks for listening and you can also watch us on Youtube.

    30 min

  3. MAR 24

    E100: Mark Palm: Saving Lives and Finding Strength Through Pickleball

    What if pickleball became the one thing that carried you through cancer and then helped you change lives around the world? Mark Palm, founder of Samaritan Aviation, shares his incredible journey from mission pilot to USA Pickleball National Champion. After a cancer diagnosis, pickleball became his lifeline physically, mentally, and emotionally. Today, Mark is not only saving lives in remote villages in Papua New Guinea through life-saving flights, but also introducing pickleball to kids playing on a helicopter pad. His son, pro pickleball player, Drake Palmer, is also making his mark on the game. This episode is about resilience, purpose, faith, and the powerful ways pickleball connects us all. https://samaritanaviation.org/ 📘 Our book Life Lessons from Pickleball™ is now available on Amazon Order the book here: https://a.co/d/0bHPFYve A collection of short, true stories from players around the world about community, resilience, and joy through the game of pickleball. A portion of proceeds supports Operation PaddleLift, through the Global Pickleball Federation, distributing paddles, balls and nets to underserved communities around the world. Contact us:  www.lifelessonsfrompickleball@gmail.com Follow and watch: https://www.lifelessonsfrompickleballpodcast.com https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61557275391316 https://www.instagram.com/lifelessonsfrompickleball/ https://www.youtube.com/@LifeLessonsFromPickleballPod Music gifted to us by Ian Pedersen: @ianpedersen  Thanks for listening and you can also watch us on Youtube.

    38 min

  4. MAR 17

    E99: Randy Fuller: Building a Pickleball Community at Rally Pickleball Club

    Pickleball continues to bring people together in powerful ways. Randy Fuller is a founding partner of Rally Pickleball Club in Auburn, Washington, a new indoor facility created to give players a place to play, connect, and grow the game in the Pacific Northwest. Randy shares how a love of racquet sports and a simple invitation to play pickleball led to launching a 14-court indoor club built around community, accessibility, and fun for players of all ages and skill levels. In this conversation, Randy talks about building Rally Pickleball Club, creating a welcoming place for new players, and how pickleball has become a sport the whole family can enjoy. From entrepreneurship to family pickleball nights with six boys, this episode highlights how the game continues to create connections on and off the court. https://rallypickleballclub.net/ 📘 Our book Life Lessons from Pickleball™ is now available on Amazon Order the book here: https://a.co/d/0bHPFYve A collection of short, true stories from players around the world about community, resilience, and joy through the game of pickleball. A portion of proceeds supports Operation PaddleLift, through the Global Pickleball Federation, distributing paddles, balls and nets to underserved communities around the world. Contact us:  www.lifelessonsfrompickleball@gmail.com Follow and watch: https://www.lifelessonsfrompickleballpodcast.com https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61557275391316 https://www.instagram.com/lifelessonsfrompickleball/ https://www.youtube.com/@LifeLessonsFromPickleballPod Music gifted to us by Ian Pedersen: @ianpedersen  Thanks for listening and you can also watch us on Youtube.

    28 min

  5. MAR 10

    E98: Susan Swern: Pickleball for Good and Operation PaddleLift

    Susan “Dinkerbell” Swern joins us for a powerful conversation about pickleball, purpose, and global impact. As founder of the Pickleball for Good Fund, Susan shares the mission to accelerate access to recreational pickleball in under-resourced communities through grantmaking, partnerships, and a global volunteer network. In this episode, she talks about Operation PaddleLift and her recent journey through East Africa, where she personally delivered paddles, balls, and portable nets to help spark new pickleball communities. She also shares a touching story about her 100-year-old father and why, for her, pickleball has become so much more than a game. It is a calling. https://pickleballforgood.org/ 📘 Our book Life Lessons from Pickleball™ is now available on Amazon Order the book here: https://a.co/d/0bHPFYve A collection of short, true stories from players around the world about community, resilience, and joy through the game of pickleball. A portion of proceeds supports Operation PaddleLift, through the Global Pickleball Federation, distributing paddles, balls and nets to underserved communities around the world. Contact us:  www.lifelessonsfrompickleball@gmail.com Follow and watch: https://www.lifelessonsfrompickleballpodcast.com https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61557275391316 https://www.instagram.com/lifelessonsfrompickleball/ https://www.youtube.com/@LifeLessonsFromPickleballPod Music gifted to us by Ian Pedersen: @ianpedersen  Thanks for listening and you can also watch us on Youtube.

    39 min

  6. MAR 3

    E97: Coach Andy: Growing Pickleball for Girls in Uganda

    What if a simple paddle and ball could change the future of an entire community? In this powerful episode, we welcome Coach Andy from Uganda, founder of Pickleball Kids Uganda and Growing the Game for Girls Uganda. Using pickleball as a bridge, Andy is helping disadvantaged girls find safety, belonging, and new purpose through sport and vocational training. From early pregnancy and poverty to welding, tailoring, and renewed hope, these girls are learning that they are all winners. This conversation is a beautiful reminder that pickleball is more than a game. It is a tool for transformation. https://www.instagram.com/coachandypickleball?igsh=MTMwZmdicmw5c2xtZw== 📘 Our book Life Lessons from Pickleball™ is now available on Amazon Order the book here: https://a.co/d/0bHPFYve A collection of short, true stories from players around the world about community, resilience, and joy through the game of pickleball. A portion of proceeds supports Operation PaddleLift, through the Global Pickleball Federation, distributing paddles, balls and nets to underserved communities around the world. Contact us:  www.lifelessonsfrompickleball@gmail.com Follow and watch: https://www.lifelessonsfrompickleballpodcast.com https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61557275391316 https://www.instagram.com/lifelessonsfrompickleball/ https://www.youtube.com/@LifeLessonsFromPickleballPod Music gifted to us by Ian Pedersen: @ianpedersen  Thanks for listening and you can also watch us on Youtube.

    27 min

  7. FEB 24

    E96: Kelsea Thompson: Building Pickleball Community at PickleCon

    Kelsea Thompson, Director of PickleCon, joins us to share how one of the largest pickleball festivals in the country is bringing players of all ages and levels together under one roof. From 40+ courts and glow-in-the-dark tournaments to adaptive play and national networking, PickleCon is more than an event, it is a celebration of community.  Kelsea also opens up about her personal recovery after a serious accident and how pickleball helped her rebuild strength and perspective. This conversation is about resilience, leadership, and creating spaces where everyone belongs.  🎧 Listen now and we will see you in Kansas City. 📘 Our book Life Lessons from Pickleball™ is now available on Amazon Order the book here: https://a.co/d/0bHPFYve A collection of short, true stories from players around the world about community, resilience, and joy through the game of pickleball. A portion of proceeds supports Operation PaddleLift, through the Global Pickleball Federation, distributing paddles, balls and nets to underserved communities around the world. Contact us:  www.lifelessonsfrompickleball@gmail.com Follow and watch: https://www.lifelessonsfrompickleballpodcast.com https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61557275391316 https://www.instagram.com/lifelessonsfrompickleball/ https://www.youtube.com/@LifeLessonsFromPickleballPod Music gifted to us by Ian Pedersen: @ianpedersen  Thanks for listening and you can also watch us on Youtube.

    28 min

  8. FEB 17

    E95: Thomas Yelloweyes: From Rock Bottom to Night Train Pickleball

    Thomas Yelloweyes, founder of Night Train Pickleball, shares one of the most powerful transformation stories we’ve heard. After growing up in foster care and later living out of his car during a season of searching, Thomas found something unexpected on a pickleball court: community, purpose, and a renewed sense of identity. Today, as an IPTPA and PPR certified coach who has led more than 250 clinics nationwide, he helps players build games that don’t break by focusing on confidence, resilience, and strong foundations both on and off the court. In this moving conversation, Thomas reminds us of a simple but life-changing truth:  Life is not done with you. Night Train Drilling Guide ebook: https://api.leadconnectorhq.com/widget/form/PcKAinvIZQjW8YRUQsHl 📘 Our book Life Lessons from Pickleball™ is now available on Amazon Order the book here: https://a.co/d/0bHPFYve A collection of short, true stories from players around the world about community, resilience, and joy through the game of pickleball. A portion of proceeds supports Operation PaddleLift, through the Global Pickleball Federation, distributing paddles, balls and nets to underserved communities around the world. Contact us:  www.lifelessonsfrompickleball@gmail.com Follow and watch: https://www.lifelessonsfrompickleballpodcast.com https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61557275391316 https://www.instagram.com/lifelessonsfrompickleball/ https://www.youtube.com/@LifeLessonsFromPickleballPod Music gifted to us by Ian Pedersen: @ianpedersen  Thanks for listening and you can also watch us on Youtube.

    30 min
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Trailer

Ratings & Reviews

4.9
out of 5
11 Ratings

About

Meet Shelley and Sher, the dynamic duo, who found more than just a sport on the Pickleball court - they discovered how Pickleball was weaving its magic, creating connections, boosting confidence, and sprinkling their lives with amazing joy. Inspired by their own personal transformation and the contagious enthusiasm of their fellow players, they knew this was more than a game. Join them on their weekly podcast as they serve up engaging conversations with people from all walks of life, and all around the world reaching across the net to uncover the valuable Life Lessons from Pickleball™.

Information

  • Creator
    Shelley Maurer and Sher Emerick
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    103
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Life Lessons from Pickleball™
  • Show Website
    Life Lessons from Pickleball™

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