PicklePod

PicklePod

On “PicklePod”, Thomas Shields and Zane Navratil deliver an entrée of updates from around the Pickleball World. Some would say it’s a “Picklers” dream podcast with the duo’s loud and unfiltered insights commentating on the good, the bad, and even the ugly sides of the sport as Pickleball undeniably rockets towards mainstream adoption. Weekly rotating topics, guests, tournament recaps, Pickleball pop-culture, player strategies, and more. No comment or topic can breach the PicklePod Non-Valley Zone, everything is in play. It’s on the PicklePod or it didn’t happen. Thomas Shields is the Founder Of “The Dink Pickleball” Media company and Zane Navratil is atop ranked pickleball pro who has won championships on the PPA Tour, APP Tour, and Major League Pickleball. RSSVERIFY

Episodes

Newest MLP Owner Shuts Down Rumors of Collusion

September 3, 2025 • 72 mins
Alex Geesbreght is part of the investment group that purchased the majority stake in MLP's LA Mad Drops. Alex opens up about how pickleball became a family passion, what inspired him to buy into MLP, and how his ownership group plans to grow the game. We dive into: 🏓 The story behind Alex’s investment in pickleball and the Mad Drops 💰 Team valuations, ownership responsibilities, and the future of MLP 🔥 Addressing the collu...
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Zane Reacts to Agonizing MLP Finals Loss

August 29, 2025 • 35 mins
Fresh off the MLP Finals in New York City, this special Picklepod episode comes straight from a Starbucks parking lot. We break down everything you missed—from the chaos at Wrigley Field to the messy pickleball showcase with Carlos Alcaraz, and of course, the Cinderella run of the Columbus Sliders. Hear behind-the-scenes stories, player smack talk, and a candid look at how the Finals unfolded, including the heartbreak, the big win...
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From Title Defense to Total Disaster: Sliders Upset the Reigning Champs

August 19, 2025 • 47 mins
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Chess, Strategy & Singles Gold: Inside Johnny G’s Breakthrough

August 13, 2025 • 77 mins
17-year-old phenom John Lucian “Johnny G” Goins just shocked the pickleball world, winning his first PPA Tour singles title in Bristol. We dive deep into his rapid rise — from upsetting Ben Johns earlier this year to joining the elite list of teenagers to win on tour. Johnny shares: - How online school fuels his training schedule - The chess strategies that make him deadly on court - Why he plays doubles differently than si...
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MLP's Unofficial Season Awards w/ Nico the Lefty

August 6, 2025 • 75 mins
This week on the PicklePod: Zane Navratil and T-Dog (Erik Tice) break down the final MLP regular season event in Salt Lake City, where the Utah Black Diamonds shocked the league, Christian Alshon was mysteriously benched, and the Orlando Squeeze might’ve been playing 4D chess. Grayson Golden delivered the ultimate one-match flex, and the Lifetime Ball is officially the new PPA standard — whether you like it or not. Then, Nico “Na...
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The LOUDEST Crowd in MLP History + $250K Singles Tourney Announced

July 30, 2025 • 68 mins
The PicklePod is back with one of our most jam-packed episodes ever. 🏆 MLP Dallas shattered attendance records and delivered wall-to-wall chaos. The LA Mad Drops made their controversial debut… and immediately got swept. The Shock are rolling, Dreambreakers were electric, and Kate Fahey might be the most polarizing player in pro pickleball right now. 💰 Then, we talk to Lydia Hirt, VP of Marketing at Lifetime, about the $250...
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SHOCKED: Ben Johns Trade Reactions and MLP's New #1 Team w/ Ross Chaifetz

July 23, 2025 • 55 mins
In this episode, we dive into the dynamic world of Major League Pickleball with Ross Chaifetz, owner of the St. Louis Shock. We explore the intricacies of hosting a major event at the iconic Chaifetz Arena, the strategic moves in the pickleball ecosystem, and the recent trade buzz surrounding Ben Johns. Join us as we discuss the challenges and triumphs of building a diversified pickleball portfolio, the future of the sport, and...
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Training a New Breed of Pickleball Players w/ Connor Garnett

July 16, 2025 • 95 mins
The MLP Mid-Season Championship was not short on storylines. The Dallas Flash exerted their dominance on the league, we got another middle finger sighting on a pickleball court, and of course, player absences led to the first UPA contract termination.Connor Garnett joins the pod to share how he is teaching the world to twoey and Brian Levine weighs in on the DUPR algorithm update. If you’ve been on your feet a lot lately, especial...
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What Pickleball is MISSING w/ Sir Nick Faldo

July 16, 2025 • 83 mins
This week we're joined by a legend from the world of golf, Sir Nick Faldo. Faldo is a recent pickleball convert and is building a court at his Montana home. Faldo made news last year for using pickleball to roast LIV Golf's viewership numbers. We draw comparisons between golf and pickleball's different iterations of Tour Wars. Plus Erik Forsythe was the biggest story coming out of MLP New York. We hear about his experience stepp...
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AUTOMATED LINE CALLS Are Coming to Pro Pickleball

July 11, 2025 • 103 mins
This week on PicklePod, we break the news that fully automated line calling is coming to pro pickleball. No more arguments, no more missed calls — just cold, hard tech making the decisions. Finally! Andrea Koop joins the pod to talk about ESPN bringing SportsCenter to the Beer City Open. How did Grand Rapids land the spotlight, and what does this mean for pickleball’s mainstream future? We also dig into the biggest on-court d...
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It Will Always be an EYE FOR AN EYE in Pickleball

June 25, 2025 • 107 mins
It's a full house on this week's PicklePod. We're joined by the breakout stars from the Orange County Cup, Rafa Lenhard, Yufei Long, and Jamie Wei. We cover their journey to the pro ranks and the controversial call that is testing Lenhard's resolve. Plus, there is big news in international pickleball as World Pickleball Federation Founder, Seymour Rifkind, breaks down a recent merger between the WPF and IFP to help move pickleba...
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Don't Hate the Player, Hate the Game

June 12, 2025 • 76 mins
MLP Dayonta is being called the Event of the Year, at least according to Zane. We saw the first upset of a top-eight team and Ben Johns might be ready for the MLP stage. Erik Tice lays out his playoff predictions and indicates how MLP teams are skirting the rules to acquire new players. Plus, Nico the Lefty has made the leap from X all the way to the PicklePod. He debates Zane on dominance in sports and provides his winners and l...
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Pickleball Heist Leaves Police Searching for $60,000 Machine

June 5, 2025 • 88 mins
Zane sits down with one of the most innovative founders in the sport of pickleball, The Picklr CEO Jorge Barragan. They cover The Picklr's expansion to Japan and why Picklr members 6X the national average of 5.0+ players. Jorge expands on the acquisition of legacy brand Vulcan and divulges why the Vulcan ball made the deal a perfect fit. Also, Erik Tice and Zane weigh in on the Quang Duong suspension, call for a bounty on pickle...
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Sideline Chirps, Ball Conspiracies, and a 27-25 Gold Medal Win w/ Armaan Bhatia

May 29, 2025 • 76 mins
Matty Pickles was completely in his element hosting Major League Pickleball's Austin event. From data visualizations all the way to the broadcast booth, Matty had the event on lock. We get the inside scoop on how the Texas Ranchers transformed the Pickle Ranch into a pickleball paradise. Armaan Bhatia picked up his first APP gold on the grand stage of the Billie Jean King Tennis Center. He joins the pod to recap an epic singles ...
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'No Name' Upsets the #1 Player on Both Pro Tours w/ Alex Crum

May 22, 2025 • 74 mins
Alex Crum is having the type of week most pickleballers can only dream of. He just upset the #1 player on both pro tours. We caught up with him on-site at the Billie Jean King Tennis Center just before the APP NYC Open. Our guy Erik Tice stops by to recap the heated matches from the Atlanta Slam and discuss the dominance of ALW and AB vs the unparalleled parity at the top of the men's doubles game. Performance, comfort, and s...
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USA Pickleball Strikes Back Against JOOLA Lawsuit

May 15, 2025 • 76 mins
Despite ranking in the top 25 in men's singles, Grayson Goldin finds himself without a paddle contract and no guaranteed salary. For him, it's all about the results. After throwing down the gauntlet, Goldin won his second APP title and is on a mission to reach No.1. Follow Grayson's journey here: https://www.youtube.com/ ⁨@GraysonGoldin⁩ Pickleball veteran Anderson Scarpa is fresh off a triple crown victory at the PPA Challeng...
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Quang Duong Lands Massive Paddle Contract

May 9, 2025 • 116 mins
Quang Duong is helping to accelerate pickleball’s international growth. With guidance from his Dad/Coach, Duong is embracing his Vietnamese roots to launch a new signature paddle and apparel line. Fresh off a double gold victory at the US Open, Jack Munro stops by to show Zane his new hardware. One of those medals came in mixed doubles, where Zane's prediction for Andre Agassi and Anna Leigh Waters severely missed the mark. ...
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The heated exchange between Anna Leigh Waters & Hayden Patriquin

May 2, 2025 • 94 mins
The MLP season is officially underway and we've got a lot to cover after an exciting opening weekend. Orlando Squeeze owner Ryan DeVos provides a behind-the-scenes look at the new standard for MLP events. Christian Alshon was the center of attention again as new serve rules were challenged throughout the weekend. Alshon weighs in on the switch from rally to traditional scoring and hopes that we don't see any more orange courts i...
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Zane Uncovers Never Before Seen Serve Rules w/ Samin Odhwani

April 24, 2025 • 73 mins
Major League Pickleball Commissioner Samin Odhwani is the special guest on a new PicklePod. Commish previews the opening of the 2025 season, explains the updates behind expanded distribution and owner-hosted events. Next, Brooklyn Pickleball Team GM, Josh Gartman, breaks down the name swap between the Brooklyn and the DC team. Gartman recaps his offseason moves and the reunion of some of his championship players. Finally, Zane di...
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UPSETS AND SCANDALS: Legacy Park FRAUD, the Alleged Origins of Pickleball, and NC Open Recap

April 11, 2025 • 61 mins
Zane Navratil and Thomas Shields talk about the fraud allegations leveled against Legacy Park in Mesa, AZ, by the SEC and DOJ. Legacy Park was supposed to be a utopia for the sport-obsessed. It had hosted multiple APP Tour, PPA Tour and Major League Pickleball events. Thomas then shares information he found in a book that claims that the Pritchard family were not the inventors of Pickleball. Instead, they took and modified the id...
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