About Pickled - Samson's Odyssey and the Strange World Beyond the Pickleball Court
What if everything you thought you knew about pickleball was wrong?
Samson Buchanan is a talented young pickleball player with dreams of reaching the highest levels of the sport. Alongside her loyal best friend Silo, she spends her days training, competing, and chasing the elusive Zone Trials.
But when a mysterious green light tears across the night sky, Samson's life begins to unravel in ways she could never have imagined.
Strange powers awaken.
Hidden rivalries emerge.
Long-buried secrets begin to surface.
And what starts as a journey through the competitive world of pickleball soon reveals a far greater mystery lurking beyond the court.
Join author and narrator Jarryd Linwood as he takes listeners on an epic serial adventure filled with friendship, humour, mystery, danger, unforgettable characters, and a version of pickleball unlike anything you've ever seen.
New chapters arrive every Tuesday and Thursday.
So grab your paddle, keep your eyes on the horizon, and prepare to get Pickled.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.
After a match she can't explain, Samson is left with a thousand questions and no answers.
Coach Berry abruptly pulls her from the tournament and orders her to return the next morning, hinting that he may know far more than he's letting on.
Feeling confused and more alone than ever, Samson does what she's always done when life gets too heavy — she turns to her best friend, Silo.
As Silo celebrates another victory in his own wonderfully chaotic way, Samson finds herself thinking back to the day they first met: an ant mound, half a peanut butter sandwich, and a friendship that would become one of the most important parts of her life.
Because sometimes, when the world starts feeling strange and frightening, all you really need is someone who makes you laugh and reminds you who you are.
And for Samson, that person has always been Silo.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.
22 Jun 2026
Chapter 5
After an unsettling warning from Sheila and a pep talk from Silo, Samson heads to Court 5 to face Marcus Del-O-Fudge — a player she beat easily just a year ago.
But something about Marcus isn't right.
He looks the same… and yet completely different.
Then, in the middle of their match, something impossible happens.
The noise of the stadium fades away, the world seems to stop, and Samson experiences something she can't explain.
By the time the match is over, she's left with more questions than answers and a feeling that her life has changed forever.
Because sometimes all it takes is one moment…
One person…
And one game of pickleball…
To wake something that's been sleeping inside you all along.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.
14 Jun 2026
Chapter 4
The first round of competition at Pickle Palace is finally here.
Confident and determined, Samson steps onto the court expecting a straightforward match against a nervous player from St. Lucia.
But as the game unfolds, she discovers that not every battle is won through power, speed, or skill.
Sometimes the greatest victories come from compassion.
As memories of her father resurface and the pressure of competition fades into the background, Samson is reminded why she fell in love with pickleball in the first place.
Meanwhile, one struggling opponent finds exactly what he needs when he least expects it.
In a stadium filled with future champions, Samson learns that character can shine brighter than any trophy.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.
14 Jun 2026
Chapter 3
For years, Samson has dreamed of setting foot inside Pickle Palace — the beating heart of the pickleball world.
Now, with Zone 2 Trials on the horizon, that dream has finally become reality.
Towering stadiums, legendary champions, cutting-edge equipment, and the best young players in the district all gather beneath one roof for a day that could shape the future of every athlete in attendance.
But excitement quickly gives way to uncertainty when a familiar face arrives.
Marcus Del-O-Fudge was once an ordinary competitor.
Now he's bigger, stronger, faster... and somehow different.
As tournament pairings draw near and nerves begin to rise, Samson finds herself facing a challenge she never expected.
The road to greatness starts here.
And not everyone who enters Pickle Palace leaves unchanged.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.
13 Jun 2026
Chapter 2 - Episode 2
Still shaken by the mysterious green light that appeared over Mesa Vista, Samson tries to focus on the biggest day of her pickleball season.
The Mesa Vista team is heading to the legendary Pickle Palace to test themselves against the best young players in the district, and with Zone 2 Trials just around the corner, every match matters.
But old rivalries are far from forgotten.
As tensions flare between Samson and her former friend Sheila Mornay, painful memories from last year's brutal Zone 1 Trials come rushing back.
With friendships tested, dreams on the line, and strange questions still lingering from the night before, Samson must keep her eyes on the horizon and her focus on the court.
Because sometimes the biggest challenges aren't waiting across the net...
They're waiting just beyond it.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.
13 Jun 2026
Pickled - Intro and episode 1 - Chapter 1
Samson Buchanan has one goal: earn her place in the Zone 2 Trials.
As the top young pickleball player at Mesa Vista High, she's used to hard training, fierce competition, and dragging her best friend Silo through workouts he'd much rather avoid.
But after a routine practice session, an unsettling walk home takes a turn neither of them could have imagined.
Something strange is moving beyond the courts.
Something that shouldn't exist.
And as the sun sets over Mesa Vista, Samson finds herself at the centre of a mystery that will change her life forever.
Welcome to the beginning of Pickled: Samson's Odyssey and the Strange World Beyond the Pickleball Court.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.
Contact Pickled - Samson's Odyssey and the Strange World Beyond the Pickleball Court
Guest appearances
Does not typically book guests
Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.
Host of Pickled - Samson's Odyssey and the Strange World Beyond the Pickleball Court?
Claim your podcast to manage its listing and keep your show details accurate.
Pod Engine is an independent podcast discovery and analytics service and is not affiliated with or endorsed by this podcast. Artwork and show content belong to their owners. Full legal notice.
Explore this show Podcast research with Pod Engine
