Big DINK Energy Pickleball & Life Podcast

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What do Gen Z slang, paddle throwing, and OnlyFans all have in common? Apparently, this episode.

We kick things off with a generational slang trivia battle—Boomers to Gen Alpha—where words like “mid,” “skibidi,” and “gag me with a spoon” cause complete chaos. ("Wait… yacht means big booty now?!")

Then we’re joined by Michelle, aka The Dink Shrink—a 5.0 pickleball player and licensed therapist—who breaks down w...

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Is “I usually play better” the most delusional line in rec play? In this week’s Dink or Destroy, we’re calling out excuse-energy and debating whether it’s ever okay to downplay a loss.

Then we sit down with Dawna Strouse, founder of Dink Date—a new AI-powered app making waves in the pickleball world by matching players on and off the court. From paddle-powered flirting to court chemistry, Dawna breaks down how her app ...

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 🎤 Zumba. Shimmies. Flirting mid-rally?! This week’s Kitchen Talk kicks off with a wild story from the court—when one player turned open play into open season for single men. Spoiler: he was married. And yes, we name names (sort of). 💅

Then we serve up an interview with Ellie Santra, the viral singer-songwriter behind the “Big Dink Energy” pickleball song that’s blowing up Spotify and TikTok. She shares how a ca...

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This week’s News You Can Use is unhinged—in the best way. We’re talking cryptic floorboard messages, sketchy skeleton pranks, expired lettuce, and why adult life is just a series of bizarre plot twists.

Plus, would you get a pickleball tattoo? We’re debating that and other ridiculous ideas.

Then we chat with Tommy Flaim, the mastermind behind Silly Pickles League—a rec play league blowing up across the U.S. He shares ho...

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One of us took a pickleball straight to the butt—don’t worry, it's still family friendly.

 We’re talking open play chaos, the weirdest desserts ever created, and the childhood games we think deserve a pro sports comeback.
 Wes Dogg joins us to talk pickleball content, comedy, and building a brand while still drilling for dinks.
 And in Dink or Destroy: paddle taps after every point—friendly vibe or fo...

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Overhead smashes, loud chewers, and cardboard hoarders—what do they all have in common? They drive us nuts. We’re breaking down unforced errors on and off the pickleball court, plus chatting with Tim from The PutAway in Maryland about building a killer community and facility.

And in Dink or Destroy, we’re talking prison pickleball. Rehab or red flag?

🎧 Listen in and keep the dink soft and the energy BIG.

Support the sho...

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Pickleball, parenting rants, and poop coffee — what could go wrong? 🤯

 We’re diving into pretentious parenting, shady pickleball open play players, and a toothpaste you definitely don’t want.

 Trisha Shelley from Pickle Hood joins us to talk community, confidence, and why pickleball magic matters.

 And in Dink or Destroy, we’re calling out players who won’t even tell you their names before a pickleball ma...

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What do porch naps, expired toilet paper, paddle stacking drama, and popcorn hacks have in common? Somehow…pickleball. In this episode, we dig into on-court etiquette, community quirks, accidental naps, and whether leaving voicemails is a generational curse.

Then we hit the courts with Jon “The Glove” Beasley from Chesapeake, Maryland, who shares how pickleball is exploding across YMCA locations and what it’s like to g...

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 We’ve all met one… the Pickle Richard at open play who forgets it’s a pickleball community, not a country club. We’re talking paddle-stacking chaos, net height secrets, and how bad behavior can kill the pickleball vibe.

Then we dive into a Pickle Pal interview with Roger Caneda, a sponsored singles player making waves in the competitive pickleball scene. From esports to elite tournaments—his story is all gas, no letup...

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This episode has it all:

 🧠 The lies our parents told us (and the ones we’re passing on)
 🍍 Defending pineapple on pizza like it’s a way of life
 💥 What the heck is a Nasty Nelson — and why are we into it?
 🏓 Plus, we chat with Christine from Buffalo Pickleball Club about building community, battling the snow, and the wild west of court colors.

💦 Sponsored by The Picklehood — yup, they’ve got drip ...

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Clapping when the plane lands? That’s a red flag.  Pickleball dodgeball? That’s a green light.
And we’re talking about both.

This week we dive into:

• 🛬 The people who clap when the plane lands (WHY?)
• 🤫 Silent pickleball: strategy or nonsense?
• 🏓 A twist on dodgeball you didn’t know you needed
• 🍩 A visit from Cody aka Dinkn’ Donuts
• 🏪 Malls turning into courts (yep, it’s happening)

🎧 Come for the chaos, stay f...

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We’re coming in hot with:
 🔥 A food fight (but make it virtual)
 👟 A swollen ankle caused by what?!
🏓 Court culture that might just save your sanity

Plus, meet the woman turning a Texas pickleball facility into a full-blown movement—with concerts, cocktails, and controversy.

And yes… someone actually played in those shoes.

🎧 Listen now before we get sued by recipe bloggers everywhere. #BigDinkEnergy

Suppo...

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Forks up or forks down? The kitchen heats up with a full-on dishwasher showdown before we head to Marblehead, MA to meet Lisa—USA Pickleball ambassador and community builder.

She’s growing courts, welcoming new players, and showing how local pickleball can thrive.

Plus: Headphones during play—Dink or Destroy?  And the wild new flirting trend called … you’ll have to listen. :)

🎧 Tune in now and keep the dink soft and the...

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👀 Country club chic or party store raid? Pickleball fashion has two extremes, and we’re calling them out. From crisp visors to full-blown Elvis jumpsuits, where do you stand?

💥 Plus, Smiley Riley joins us to talk:

• How to stand out in pickleball—on and off the court.
• A $500 Ernie bet—who’s got the guts to take it?
• The wildest pickleball travel hacks (including one that made the news).

🚨 And in Dink or Destroy, w...

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🚨 Smash Park is changing the game! Pickleball?  Axe throwing?  Giant Jenga, cornhole, and a SHOTSKI?! 

We sit down with Cody and Jerry from Smash Park, the pickleball and entertainment hotspot that's bringing serious fun to courts across the country.

 We’re talking:
🔥 The rise of Smash Park leagues and how they cater to every skill level
 🍹 Pickleball happy hours – genius or just an excuse to day drink?<...

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Tom Brady owns a pickleball team?! From tequila to sports franchises, celebs seem to have their hands in everything—but is this good for pickleball, or just another hype train?

We’re breaking it down and welcoming Shawn Paul, Pickleball Coordinator at the North Royalton Ohio YMCA, to talk about his journey from fighter to pickleball fanatic, how the sport changed his life, and why the pickleball community is like no ot...

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Million-dollar courts with no dividers?! We traveled for some top-tier pickleball only to spend half the time chasing rogue balls. What gives?!

We’re diving into court design fails, why some facilities just don’t get it, and whether baby gates might be the real MVP. Plus, we catch up with John Solema from Pickleball Space Arizona to talk indoor courts, pickleball culture, and dodging coyotes on the court.

And in Dink or...

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Pickleball noise complaints? HOA drama? Some people just wake up looking for things to be mad about. We’re diving into the so-called “pickleball noise wars” and why some folks think a plastic ball is ruining their peace (spoiler: it’s not).

Then, we sit down with James from Side Out Coffee, the first-ever pickleball coffee brand, to talk about the intersection of caffeine, competition, and community. From World of Warc...