Welcome to the Behind the Paddle pickleball podcast with Rob Nunnery. On this show, Rob will cover backgrounds & experiences of pickleball players from local players to top pros from the PPA, APP, MLP and beyond. Hear stories from on & off the pickleball court, learn how different players found pickleball, and what pro players do when they're not playing. Rob will interview up-and-coming players and seasoned pros to learn more about what life is like as a professional pickleball player.
Behind the Paddle #15 - How Pickleball England Grew a Global Movement (and Why the Olympics Are Next)
In this powerful episode of Behind the Paddle, Rob Nunnery sits down with Karen Mitchell, co-founder and chair of Pickleball England, to explore how a local village game turned into a nationwide movement—and what’s next on the global stage. They cover:
Karen’s unexpected journey into pickleball (tea, cake & a paddle!)
The grassroots origins of Pickleball England
How England is setting the tone for international growth
Behind-the-scenes politics of international pickleball governance
The unification efforts to get pickleball into the Olympics
Why sovereignty matters for the sport’s future
If you care about the future of pickleball, this is one you don’t want to miss.
4 Jul 2025
Behind the Paddle #14 - Pickleball in Dubai Is About to Explode
Rob Nunnery interviews Andreas Neuert and Thomas Neuert about introducing pickleball to Dubai, building community around the sport, and anticipating its explosive growth across the Gulf Cooperation Council.
25 Jun 2025
Behind the Paddle #13 - Navigating Life (and Pickleball) with Chronic Illness
Pro pickleball player Rob Nunnery and podcast hosts Jordan Wick and Michele Spahr discuss navigating life and pickleball with chronic illnesses, emphasizing community support and mental health, in this interview episode.
19 Jun 2025
Behind the Paddle #12 - From Engineer to Pro Pickleball Player: USA Pickleball's Carl Schmits
Carl Schmits, USA Pickleball's chief technology officer, details his transition from systems engineer to professional pickleball player and discusses maintaining the sport's integrity in this interview with Rob Nunnery.
10 Jun 2025
Behind the Paddle #10 - From Pro Pickleball PHENOM to Business Owner of The Picklr
Rob Nunnery interviews Kyle Yates, owner of The Picklr, who discusses his transition from pro pickleball to business owner, highlighting community engagement and the global growth of amateur pickleball.
29 May 2025
Behind the Paddle #9 - Building a Pickleball Community in Asia
Matt Nola, founder of Lunar Pickleball, discusses establishing a pickleball brand in Asia, addressing infrastructure needs, and fostering community growth in an interview with Rob Nunnery.
21 May 2025
Behind the Paddle #8 - Pickleball Statistical Analysis With The Dink
Welcome to Episode 8 of the Behind the Paddle pickleball podcast. In this episode, Rob Nunnery welcomes Erik Tice, a content writer for the Dink Pickleball. Erik shares his journey into the world of professional pickleball analysis, including his analytical approach to player performance and the importance of statistical data in understanding team dynamics. There is a need for better statistical tracking and analysis to enhance the understanding of pickleball player performance and team strategies within all professional pickleball leagues. Rob and Erik also discuss the evolving landscape of professional pickleball, team formats, the future of Major League Pickleball (MLP), and the impact of player contracts on motivation and competitiveness. As pickleball expands, there are new talents emerging from all over the world, especially from countries like India and China.
15 May 2025
Behind the Paddle #7 - Making the Transition: From Tennis to Pickleball
Welcome to Episode 7 of the Behind the Paddle pickleball podcast. In this episode, Rob Nunnery welcomes Ryler DeHeart as he shares his journey from tennis to becoming a professional pickleball player. They discuss the challenges (and joys) of transitioning from one sport to another, the importance of family in his pickleball journey, and the exciting growth of pickleball internationally. Ryler and his family have adopted an "RV lifestyle" with the goal of balancing pickleball competition with family life. He is also passionate about coaching and inspiring youth in pickleball.
8 May 2025
Behind the Paddle #6 - Behind the Pickleball Paddle with Susannah Barr
Welcome to Episode 6 of the Behind the Paddle pickleball podcast. In this episode, Rob Nunnery welcomes pickleball pro Susannah Barr. Rob and Susannah discuss her journey into pickleball, her background as an adjunct professor and military linguist, and the challenges of being a pro athlete in a growing sport. Susannah also shares her experience of parenting a young athlete, how professional pickleball has evolved over the years, her experiences as a co-owner of a pickleball club in Boise, Idaho, and her plans to continue coaching and be involved with her community.
16 Jan 2025
Behind the Paddle #5 - Dylan Frazier's Pickleball Future + The Growth of College Pickleball
Pickleball pro Dylan Frazier shares his journey, predicts college pickleball's explosive growth, and reveals plans for a more exciting spectator experience in the sport.
7 Nov 2024
Behind the Paddle #4 - Pickleball Pro Federico Staksrud: Pickleball Goals With a Tennis Background
Welcome to Episode 4 of the Behind the Paddle pickleball podcast! In this episode, Rob Nunnery welcomes pickleball pro Federico Staksrud to talk about his journey from playing tennis in Argentina to discovering pickleball in the United States. Federico shares his upbringing, the support of his parents, and his pickleball goals, including helping singles pickleball become a main showcase for the sport in the future.
18 Oct 2024
Behind the Paddle #3 - Rob Nunnery & John Cincola: Each Personal Pickleball Journey Is Unique
Welcome to Episode 3 of the Behind the Paddle podcast! In this episode, Rob Nunnery welcomes pickleball pro John Cincola. Both players share their own personal journeys in pickleball, the evolution of the sport, and how pickleball has changed both their lives. They also talk about transitioning from tennis to pickleball, and how it can both be challenging and rewarding. John talks about building his own YouTube brand and building his own pickleball brand, including new courses he is working on.
27 Sept 2024
Behind the Paddle #2 - James Ignatowich's Transition from a Lifetime of Tennis to Pro Pickleball
Welcome to Episode 2 of the Behind the Paddle pickleball podcast! In this episode, Rob Nunnery welcomes pickleball pro James Ignatowich to talk about his pickleball journey from a junior tennis player to one of the best pickleball players in the world. James reflects on childhood tennis tournaments, getting kicked off his college tennis team, and how he avoided burnout. As a professional athlete, he also overcame mental health struggles and learned to deal with social media attention. James shares his goals for the future, both in pickleball and his personal life.
9 Sept 2024
Behind the Paddle #1 - Tennis Player Donald Young & the Transition to Pickleball
Welcome the Behind the Paddle pickleball podcast, a brand new show with Rob Nunnery! In this podcast, Rob will talk with pickleball players from all different backgrounds to discuss how they got into pickleball, their thoughts on the pro leagues, and their strategy to improve their skills. In Episode 1, Rob Nunnery welcomes tennis player Donald Young to discuss his transition from tennis to pickleball and the differences between the 2 sports. Donald dives into discussion about the financial challenges of pickleball players, especially those who are outside the top rankings, how excited he is to be playing in Major League Pickleball (MLP), finding practice partners transitioning into pickleball, and the importance of playing with high level pickleball players to improve your skills.
Who has been a guest on Behind the Paddle
Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.
Andreas Neuert
Thomas Neuert
Carl Schmits
Kyle Yates
Matt Nola
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
YouTube views
6,069
Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
2 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 28 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
16
Social presence
0
YouTube
68
Engagement
32
Contact Behind the Paddle
Guest appearances
Books guests
Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.
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