Four hosts. Two Australian pros. Two passionate amateurs. One obsession: pickleball.
Join Australian pros Aaron Blitz and Josh Chia alongside passionate pickleballers Justin McLeod and Michael Murrell as they dive into everything happening in the world's fastest-growing sport. From tournaments, tactics and the latest news to stories from life on and off the court, every episode blends elite insight with the perspective of everyday players. Featuring guests from across the pickleball world, Around the Pod is the podcast for anyone who loves the game — whether you're just getting started or competing at the highest level.
Are Paddles Too Hot? + APC 2026 Takeover | Episode 7
The ATP crew is back in the studio! In this episode, Aaron, Josh, Michael, and Justin break down everything that went down over the past month. In this episode: Team Friday Signing: Josh breaks down his Asia trip, joining Team Friday, and transitioning to hot foam paddles.Tournament Recaps: Gippsland Championships bronze run, Eastern Indoor league finals, and PPA Gold Coast recap.The Hot Take: Are modern paddles getting too hot and fast for the game, or has the meta simply evolved?Paddle Tech...
17 Sept 2026
Mini Episode: 2026 MLP Australia Draft Reaction: Roster Analysis & Contenders
The MLP Australia 2026 Draft is in the books! 🇦🇺🏓 In this mini-episode of Around the Pod, the team sits down to analyse all 8 team rosters ahead of Event 1 in Melbourne. We break down draft strategy, debate left-vs-right court positioning, evaluate Dream Breaker capabilities, and share our bold predictions for the season ahead. Inside this episode: Brisbane Breakers: Harry Brown taken #1 overall - how will he pair with Joey Wild?Sydney Smash: Joey Farias joins Mitch Hargreaves in an ultra-exp...
14 Sept 2026
Sydney Pro Scene, Tennis Transitions, & The Aussie World Cup Draft with Brian Tran & Daiki Tanabe | Episode 6
Josh Chia and Michael Murrell host Sydney’s Brian Tran and Daiki Tanabe to talk tennis transitions, court shortages, and the growth of Australian pickleball. National Academy Memories: Brian on playing alongside Australia's top tennis guns and transitioning to chiro.Pickleball Mechanics: Adjusting stroke lengths, mastering quick hands, and why movement efficiency is key.Sydney Communities: Celebrating social hubs like Pickle Bears and navigating venue scarcity.Hot Takes & Drafts:Tournamen...
31 Aug 2026
Ben Johns' Ex-Partner, Nasty Nelsons & Rally Scoring Hot Takes (ft. Joey Farias & Mitch Hargraves) | Episode 5
On Episode 5 of Around the Pod, Aaron Blitz and Michael Murrell sit down at Pickle 4real with PPA pros Joey Farias and Mitch Hargreaves! Joey breaks down his history playing alongside Ben Johns, Simone Jardim, and Catherine Parenteau, and shares the hilarious true story of how the "Nasty Nelson" was used against its inventor using a 14-ounce leaded paddle. Meanwhile, Mitch breaks down his PPA Triple Crown, his run in Tokyo, and what it really takes to train in Australia and compete globally. ...
22 Aug 2026
Mini Episode: Pickleball World Cup Roster Breakdown + Ultimate Aussie Athlete Draft
The Pickleball World Cup in Da Nang is right around the corner, and Team Australia is locked and loaded! 🇦🇺 Join Aaron, Michael, Justin, and Josh as they run through the full list of players representing Australia across the Open, 50+, 60+, U18, and U14 categories. We break down the team dynamics, seedings, and what it’s going to take to bring home gold (and the $25k USD top prize). To close things out, the boys hold a snake draft to build the ultimate 4-player Pickleball World Cup squad usin...
13 Aug 2026
Pickleball Training Strategies, DUPR Ratings, and Tournament Tips | Episode 4
In Episode 4 of Around the Pod, Aaron Blitz, Josh Chia, Michael Murrell, and Justin McLeod dive into the highs and lows of recent tournament play, including their runs at the PPA, Gippsland Championships, and the Dink Series. The crew tackles some of the biggest debates in amateur and pro pickleball today: DUPR Ratings & Partner Drama: What happens when your partner's rating climbs faster than yours? Drilling vs. Social Play: How many times a week should you hit to actually ...
2 Aug 2026
Draft Betrayals, Right Side Respect, and Paddle Hot Takes with Crystal Mildwaters & Aaron Johnson | Episode 3
Welcome to Around the Pod, hosted at Pickle4real! Hosts Josh Chia and Michael Murrell are joined in the studio by Crystal Mildwaters and Aaron "AJ" Johnson for a hilarious and insightful breakdown of the Australian pickleball scene. In this episode: NPL Draft Drama: AJ reveals how he was dropped and traded from the Opals to the Outback, and how the NPL prize-money split system actually works. Origin Stories & Culture: AJ explains his Japanese middle name and transit...
24 Jul 2026
Gold Coast vs Perth Scene, Asia Tour Secrets & Aussie Pickleball "Love Island" Draft (ft. Nicholas Maleganeas & Nigel Lee) | Episode 2
Gold Coast pros Nick Maleganeas and Perth’s Nigel Lee join Josh Chia and Michael Murrell in the booth at Pickle4real ahead of the PPA Melbourne 250. In this episode, the boys break down: • Gold Coast vs Perth: Why Queensland produces Australia’s top players while Perth deals with DIY tennis court setups. • Touring Asia: What Australian players can learn from Asian pickleball culture, 5 AM street food runs, and getting outplayed by pipe-smoking locals. • Hot Takes: Nick calls out refs for shu...
15 Jul 2026
Mini-Episode: PPA 250 Melbourne Draw Breakdown & Pro Predictions
Tournament weekend is here! 🏓 In this special Around the Pod mini-episode, your resident pros Aaron Blitz and Josh Chia take the mic to preview the massive PPA 250 Melbourne tournament happening this weekend (July 16th - 19th). The boys leave no stone unturned as they analyse the official draws for: Men's & Women's Singles (Who has the toughest path to the podium?)Men's & Women's Doubles (The partnerships to watch and current form guides)Mixed Doubles (Our picks for the most wide-open...
14 Jul 2026
What Pickleball Pros Actually Think About Amateur Players | Episode 1
Episode Summary: Welcome to the premiere episode of Around the Pod—not Australia's first pickleball podcast, but definitely about to be its best! Hosted by pros Aaron Blitz and Josh Chia alongside self-proclaimed "average Joe" intermediates Justin McLeod and Michael Murrell, this show is here to bridge the gap between the pro court and the local rec session. In this episode, we dive headfirst into a controversial debate that's dividing the community: Should amateur and intermediate players be...
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