Life Lessons from Pickleball™
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™.
Episodes
115 episodes
E89: Mike “Sleeves” Sliwa: Pickleball Off the Grid
What happens when someone living off the grid in a yurt becomes one of the most connected voices in senior pickleball?In this episode, Mike "Sleeves" Sliwa shares his fascinating journey from leaving the traditional teaching path to buil...
E88: Scott Manthorne: The Pickleball Effect
Why does pickleball create such powerful connection so quickly, and what happens when one author sets out to capture that magic in a book?In this episode, Scott Manthorn shares the story behind The Pickleball Effect, his bestsel...
E87: Sandy Smith: Healing, Resilience, and Community Through Pickleball
How can pickleball help someone rebuild strength after cancer, find a new community, and become a coach, referee, and leader in the sport?In this episode, Sandy Smith shares her inspiring pickleball journey, from being diagnosed with ute...
E86: Aaron Trost: Pickleball Without Borders
How can pickleball become a tool for healing, community, faith, and hope in countries all around the world?In this episode, Aaron Trost, founder of Pickleball Planter, shares how a sport he once resisted became a life-changing calling. A...
E85: Sean McCoy: Pickleball, Healing, and Life Is a Team Sport
How can pickleball create connection across ages, backgrounds, beliefs, and life experiences, and even become part of mental health healing?In this episode, Sean McCoy shares his thoughtful and deeply human pickleball journey, from disco...
E84: Mike Branon: Pickleball and the Power of Positive Dinking
How can pickleball teach us not only how to play better, but how to age well, find joy, and live more intentionally?In this episode, bestselling author Mike Brannon shares his remarkable journey from business executive to nonprofit leade...
E83: Melinda Alcosser: Pickleball With Purpose
How can pickleball and travel come together to create deeper connection, purpose, joy, and meaningful impact around the world?In this episode, Melinda Alcosser shares her unique journey from educator and co-founder of the Connecticut Exp...
E82: Rick Cipes: The Zen of Pickleball
How can pickleball become a doorway to mindfulness, creativity, and deeper connection with others?In this episode, writer, storyteller, and pickleball creative Rick Cipes shares how he found pickleball during the upheaval of 2020 and dis...
E81: Dr. Jerry “Dr. J” Brinegar: Leveling the Playing Field in Pickleball
How can pickleball open the door to joy, healing, and purpose at every age and ability level?In this episode, Dr. Jerry Brenniger shares his remarkable pickleball journey, from discovering the sport as a racquetball player with a vision ...
E80: Ezekiel and Matthias Wagner: The Next Generation of Pickleball
How can two brothers use pickleball to strengthen family, grow their faith community, and inspire the next generation of players?In this episode, brothers Ezekiel and Matthias Wagner share how a simple vacation discovery at a park in Sou...
E79: Ron Ponder: Spreading Pickleball Across the Globe
How does a casual invitation to try pickleball turn into a life of international travel, officiating, and helping grow the sport around the world?In this episode, Ron Ponder shares how he first discovered pickleball in 2017 after a bikin...
E78: Anna Glotova: Hope, Healing, And Pickleball in Ukraine
How can a simple paddle and wiffle ball become a source of healing, resilience, and hope in the middle of war?In this deeply moving episode, Anna Glotova shares how pickleball entered her life while she was displaced from Ukraine and liv...
E77: Riley “Smiley Riley” Palmer: The Floating Court That Went Viral
How can pickleball help heal heartbreak, spark new love, and even inspire a floating court in the middle of the water?In this episode, Riley Palmer, better known as Smiley Riley, shares her incredible pickleball journey from rebuilding h...
E76: Bob Gress: Parkinson's and Pickleball
How do you keep moving forward when Parkinson’s tries to rewrite your life?In this episode, Bob Gress shares his powerful journey from a lifetime of physical work and sports to facing the life-changing challenges of Parkinson’s disease. ...
E75: Dr. Lynn Ianni: The Pickleball Mindset That Changes Everything
How can pickleball become a pathway to emotional healing, deeper connection, and greater peace of mind?In this episode, Dr. Lynn Yanni, a seasoned psychotherapist with more than 35 years of clinical experience, shares how pickleball open...
E74: Joesph R. Gannascoli: From The Sopranos to the Pickleball Court
What happens when a Sopranos star discovers pickleball and starts a whole new wellness journey?In this episode, Joseph R. Gannascoli, best known for playing Vito Spatafore on HBO’s The Sopranos, shares his fascinating path from ...
E73: John Gallucci Jr: Dr. JAG’s Guide to Injury Free Pickleball
How can pickleball help us stay active, prevent injuries, and keep doing what we love for years to come?In this episode, Dr. John Gallucci Jr., president and CEO of JAG Physical Therapy, shares how his lifelong passion for helping people...
E72: Lee Baucom: Pickleball as a Path to Thriving
How can pickleball help us move from simply surviving to truly thriving?In this episode, Dr. Lee Baucom, self-described “Thrivologist,” shares what it means to thrive in life and how many of those same lessons show up on the pickleball c...
E71: Encore! Megan Fudge: Fast, Fierce & Family-Fueled
In this encore episode, professional pickleball player Megan Fudge shares the remarkable journey that took her from working in insurance during COVID to becoming one of the top-ranked women in professional pickleball. Megan talks about how she ...
E70: Mani Barajas-Alexander: Pickleball Paradise: Finding Joy in Costa Rica
How can pickleball and Costa Rica come together to create the ultimate wellness vacation for body, mind, and soul?In this episode, Mani Barajas Alexander of Pura Vida House in Costa Rica shares how he went from Division I tennis player a...
E69: Cheryl Rempis—Aka Samara Rayne: Timeline Shifts and Pickleball Transformations
How can healing old patterns, shifting your energy, and becoming more aware of your thoughts help you step into your highest timeline on and off the pickleball court?In this episode, Cheryl Rempis, also known as Samara Rayne, shares her ...
E68: CJ Johnson: Crushing Pickleball at Any Age
How can pickleball help adults over 50 play better, stay injury-free, and build more confidence both on and off the court?In this episode, CJ Johnson of Better Pickleball shares how a simple invitation from a friend in 2013 led her into ...
E67: Sherry “Eseosa Rain”: Pickleball with Purpose—From PTSD to Global Impact
How can pickleball help heal trauma, bridge racial and economic divides, and bring hope to communities with almost no resources?In this episode, Sherry, also known as Eseosa Rain, shares one of the most powerful stories we’ve heard on Li...
E66: Annemarie & Terry: Love, Resilience, and the Healing Power of Pickleball
How can pickleball strengthen a relationship, carry you through cancer, and remind you that love, patience, and community matter more than winning?In this episode, Annemarie Riese and Terry Kisner share their heartfelt story of partnersh...
E65: Jemuel “Jem” Morris: Gratitude, Growth & the Heart of Pickleball
How can pickleball become more than a sport and turn into a path for confidence, connection, gratitude, and personal transformation?In this episode, Jemuel “Jem” Morris shares the remarkable story of how a dead car battery in a parking l...