Life Lessons from Pickleball™

E19: Dean Matt: The Pickleball Pilot's 48-State Challenge

• Shelley Maurer and Sher Emerick • Episode 19

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0:00 | 31:12

How far would you go to share your love of pickleball, meet people across America, and prove that joy, community, and adventure can all fit into one unforgettable journey?

In this episode, Dean Matt Dean shares the remarkable story behind his 48-48-48 Challenge, an ambitious pickleball adventure that took him by plane to 48 states in less than a month to play pickleball with people from every walk of life. A longtime CFO, pilot, filmmaker, author, and proud owner of his own aircraft, Dean talks about how he first discovered pickleball after moving from the Chicago area to Florida, and how the game quickly became more than just a hobby. What started as curiosity soon turned into a big dream inspired by endurance athletes and his own desire to combine flying, travel, and pickleball into something totally unique. 

Dean explains how he planned the route, coordinated courts, transportation, housing, and local players in nearly every stop, and ultimately traveled more than 9,000 miles while playing pickleball with senior pros, local club players, public officials, Special Olympics athletes, and even a 97-year-old woman who became one of the most memorable people on the trip. Along the way, he shares stories from places like West Virginia, New Mexico, California, Wisconsin, Idaho, and beyond, revealing how each stop offered its own version of hospitality, joy, and human connection. 

This is a fun, uplifting, and inspiring conversation about pickleball, aviation, the 48-48-48 Challenge, Florida pickleball, senior pickleball, community, travel, friendship, resilience, adventure, and the life lessons that remind us there is nothing quite like pickleball for bringing people together, softening our edges, and showing us the best of what people can be. 

📘 The Expanded Edition of Life Lessons from Pickleball™   is now available on Amazon

Learn about the book and us at: https://www.lifelessonsfrompickleball.com

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An uplifting collection of short reflections and life lessons inspired by our podcast conversations with people from around the world. Through stories of community, empowerment, and joy, the book offers inspiration both on and off the court. about community, empowerment, and joy through the game of pickleball.

A portion of every purchase supports Operation PaddleLift™, a Global Pickleball Federation initiative providing paddles, balls, nets, and other essential pickleball equipment to underserved communities around the world.

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Music gifted to us by Ian Pedersen: @ianpedersen