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PicklePod: Daily Summaries Delivered
by Thomas Shields, Zane Navratil
Pickleball's #1 Podcast with Top Pro Zane Navratil and Pickleball Creator, Nico The Lefty. 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.
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- 2 days ago1h 33m
Federico Staksrud Has One Job: Take Down the St. Louis Shock
MLP Chicago is in the books and the playoff picture is getting brutal. Zane and Nico break down whether the Dallas Flash are actually contenders or just riding a soft schedule, argue about whether Dream Breaker power is overrated after JW Johnson's demolition of Chris Haworth, and recap Zane's week with the Chicago Slice — including Christian Alshon's first pitch at Wrigley Field and the blue card moment that swung a Dream Breaker. Then Federico Staksrud joins the pod fresh off his blockbuster trade from the Orlando Squeeze to the New Jersey 5s, breaking down how the deal actually went down, whether pickleball needs real free agency, and his (very confident) opinion on bucket hats. Plus: Nico's hybrid pickleball debut at PickleCon, the Texas vs. Kansas City BBQ debate, a brutally honest review of the Dink movie, and a full draft of the greatest sports movies of all time. 👕 Check out the new performance apparel line from Six Zero: https://bit.ly/3T9NaDM 💊 Marek Health → https://www.marekhealth.com | Code: THEDINK for 10% off 📩 Subscribe to our free newsletter for everything that matters in pickleball: https://subscribe.thedinkpickleball.com #Pickleball #PickleballPodcast #mlp #ppa ------------------ Like the ep? Do us a favor: subscribe to our channel and leave a review on Apple or Spotify -Follow us on IG : https://www.instagram.com/thedinkpickleball/ -Join the Pro Pickleball Talk Discord → https://discord.gg/ZCqXrxhgsv -For everything else we do, visit https://linktr.ee/dinkfam -Read more about Zane and subscribe to his newsletter at https://zanenavratilpickleball.com/ -Follow Zane on IG @zanenavratilpickleball ------------------ 0:00 Intro 4:30 Dallas Flash: overhyped, GM of the Year, and is Brooklyn in trouble? 15:34 Zane's MLP Chicago recap: Wrigley Field, Alshon's first pitch, and the paddle-brand fantasy draft 25:04 Chicago Slice's playoff push and the blue card moment 38:07 Nico's hybrid pickleball debut at PickleCon 46:02 Reviewing The Dink movie — Zane and Nico do not agree Federico Staksrud 55:53 Fed joins the pod 1:05:06 Should we just have a 7-game series? 1:15:35 Heroes of villains game Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
- 1 weeks ago1h 7m
Ben Johns Just Had the Worst Week of His MLP Career
Ben Johns scored FOUR points all weekend and Nico thinks he's already quit on the Mad Drops. Plus: Anna Leigh Waters' ESPYs purse gets roasted, the Dallas Flash prove everyone wrong, and a bucket hat starts a war. Zane & Nico break down the wildest weekend in MLP San Diego, trades that actually worked, rookies stealing Rookie of the Year, a mystery rec player who turns out to have two pros on his court, and the debate everyone in pickleball is having: how many hours is too many? 📩 Subscribe to our free newsletter for everything that matters in pickleball: https://subscribe.thedinkpickleball.com #Pickleball #PickleballPodcast #mlp #ppa ------------------ Like the ep? Do us a favor: subscribe to our channel and leave a review on Apple or Spotify -Follow us on IG : https://www.instagram.com/thedinkpickleball/ -Join the Pro Pickleball Talk Discord → https://discord.gg/ZCqXrxhgsv -For everything else we do, visit https://linktr.ee/dinkfam -Read more about Zane and subscribe to his newsletter at https://zanenavratilpickleball.com/ -Follow Zane on IG @zanenavratilpickleball ------------------ 0:00 Intro 1:55 Dallas Flash Are Back: The Trade Everyone Hated Just Worked 10:20 Has Ben Johns Quit on the Mad Drops? (The Honeymoon Theory) 18:59 How Much Pickleball Is Too Much? (The 3-Hour Wall) 25:00 I Got Unblocked by Pickleball Twitter's Most Notorious Poster 35:13 The Anna Leigh Waters ESPYs Purse Roast 38:43 Ban the Bucket Hat? (Free the Bucket) 42:26 Rookie of the Year Is Closer Than You Think (Danni vs. Sofia) 50:11 Drafting the Best MLP Team of 2029 (Under 20 Only) 57:18 Could Anna Leigh Waters Go Pro in Tennis? (Hell No) 1:02:20 Guess My DUPR Backfires: We Rated a Pro Player Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
- 2 weeks ago1h 33m
Is the Pickleball Boom Actually Over? The Owners Respond
$20K, one point, zero room for error — Nathan joins the pod fresh off winning the first-ever Paddletek One Point Challenge with Zane as his partner. We break down how they actually pulled it off, plus the chainsaw serve that almost got them DQ'd in the final. Also this week: the Shock swept the 5s at Beer City Open, Zane's prop bet died in front of everyone, and there's a new S-tier. Federico Staksrud's about to be the most valuable trade chip in the league — we rank who should go get him. Kate Fahey vs. Jorja Johnson gets heated. And Zane's got a real answer for how to stop teams from hunting Anna Leigh Waters all game. Then the actual news: Paddletek just bought PIKKL and signed the whole Johnson family — JW, Jorja, and Julie — plus Hurricane Tyra Black. Ron and Joe Saslow explain why that deal happened, why paddle brands keep eating each other, and whether Padel is about to eat pickleball's lunch. Oh, and there's a cereal draft. 🗳️ Vote on our Cereal Draft in the Pro Pickleball Talk Discord → https://www.discord.gg/JxEcUZ54z 📩 Subscribe to our free newsletter for everything that matters in pickleball: https://subscribe.thedinkpickleball.com 📚 Be the first to try Zane's new course here: https://www.tzpickleball.com/ #Pickleball #PPATour #PickleballPodcast Leave your voicemail for the PicklePod at (512) 200 - 4299 ------------------ Like the ep? Do us a favor: subscribe to our channel and leave a review on Apple or Spotify -Follow us on IG : https://www.instagram.com/thedinkpickleball/ -Continue the convo in our private FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thedi... -For everything else we do, visit https://linktr.ee/dinkfam -Read more about Zane and subscribe to his newsletter at https://zanenavratilpickleball.com/ -Follow Zane on IG @zanenavratilpickleball #pickleball #pickleballcourts ------------------ 0:00 Intro 1:39 MLP Mid Season recap 6:48 Takeaways from the weekend 8:34 Three S-tier teams 10:52 Everyone needs Federico Staksrud 14:59 Salary cap and salary floor 20:29 Icing out Anna Leigh Waters Nathan Furness 26:34 The Paddletek 1-Point Challenge 35:50 Going toe-to-toe with Zane 43:10 Somebody hire Nathan 45:55 Cereal draft 54:10 Guess my DUPR Ron and Joe Saslow 59:25 Ron and Joe join the show 1:02:09 How do the Johnsons fit in? 1:04:42 The age of consolidation 1:12:15 Addressing the “doubters” 1:21:30 Bullish on pickleball 1:25:59 What’s more valuable: reviewers or pros? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
- 3 weeks ago1h 24m
Jack Sock + Danni Townsend NEEDS to Happen | Every MLP Trade We Want Before the MLP Deadline
Zane is fresh off a trip to PPA Tokyo and lands straight in Grand Rapids for the Beer City Open / MLP Mid-Season Tournament — so he and Nico have a lot to cover. They break down the mysterious dueling "Team USA" pickleball announcements, preview Match Day prop bets for the Beer City Open, draft the most Silent Assassins in an MLP-style event, and dig into Jay Devilliers' surprise move to the APP Tour ahead of a wave of expiring PPA contracts. Plus: Zane's Tokyo recap (sumo wrestling included), MLP trade deadline predictions, and a new Guess My Duper. 🩺 With Marek, taking care of your health doesn't have to be a huge commitment. Head to https://MarekDiagnostics.com and use code THEDINK for 10% off 🎟️ Enter for a chance to win the new Ultre Power 2 from 11SIX 24 http://giveaway.thedinkpickleball.com 🗳️ Vote on our Silent Assassin Draft in the Pro Pickleball Talk Discord → https://www.discord.gg/JxEcUZ54z 📚 Be the first to try Zane's new course here: https://www.tzpickleball.com/ #Pickleball #PPATour #PickleballPodcast Leave your voicemail for the PicklePod at (512) 200 - 4299 ------------------ Like the ep? Do us a favor: subscribe to our channel and leave a review on Apple or Spotify -Subscribe to our 'all things pickleball' *free e-newsletter* at https://www.thedink.beehiiv.com https://www.instagram.com/thedinkpickleball/ -Follow us on IG -Continue the convo in our private FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thedi... -For everything else we do, visit https://linktr.ee/dinkfam -Read more about Zane and subscribe to his newsletter at https://zanenavratilpickleball.com/ -Follow Zane on IG @zanenavratilpickleball #pickleball #pickleballcourts ------------------ 0:00 Intro 1:47 Zane loves the World Cup 5:07 What's the deal with the new "Team USA" 10:57 Can an amateur team win at the Mid-Season Championship? 16:43 Prop bets from Match Day 27:56 Nico sets the odds for Mid-Season Championship 30:33 Zane uses the honor system in Tokyo 45:48 Jay Devilliers moving to the APP 53:25 Silent assassin MLP Draft 1:02:14 Possible big trade coming before the deadline 1:19:46 Guess my DUPR Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
- 3 weeks ago48 min
How Good Was Anna Leigh Waters at Soccer, Really?
Is the best pickleball player in the world sitting on a pro soccer career she never cashed in? Zane Navratil and Nico the Lefty sit down with Clem McAuley, Anna Leigh Waters' former club soccer coach, to find out just how real this "she could've gone pro" storyline actually is. Clem recalls his first training session with a 12-year-old Anna Leigh – a kid who, in his words, practiced like it was a World Cup final. He breaks down her jaw-dropping U15 stat line (46 goals, 31 assists in 38 games) and what it was like building a roster and schedule around one player. Then there's his claim that with six months of real training she'd have top women's soccer teams calling – and inside two years, a shot at the US Women's National Team (USWNT). Zane and Nico debate it themselves before Clem joins: is Anna Leigh Waters a Wilt Chamberlain-style talent dominating a shallower pool, or could her competitiveness and movement translate to any sport she picked up? We went even deeper on thedinkpickleball.com – more from Clem, and insight from AC Delray's Director of Coaching, Anna Leigh's mom Leigh, and former Duke soccer All-American Kaitlyn Kerr. The full story covers her call-up to the Danone Cup, a FIFA-endorsed international football event for youth, along with real interest from the NWSL's Orlando Pride, a recruiting push from UNC, and how soccer almost pulled her away from pickleball for good – plus a soccer stat breakdown and highlight clips. Find the full article here: https://www.thedinkpickleball.com/anna-leigh-waters-the-soccer-prodigy-who-pickleball-stole/ 📚 Be the first to try Zane's new course here: https://www.tzpickleball.com/ #Pickleball #PPATour #PickleballPodcast Leave your voicemail for the PicklePod at (512) 200 - 4299 ------------------ Like the ep? Do us a favor: subscribe to our channel and leave a review on Apple or Spotify -Subscribe to our 'all things pickleball' *free e-newsletter* at https://www.thedink.beehiiv.com https://www.instagram.com/thedinkpickleball/ -Follow us on IG -Continue the convo in our private FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thedi... -For everything else we do, visit https://linktr.ee/dinkfam -Read more about Zane and subscribe to his newsletter at https://zanenavratilpickleball.com/ -Follow Zane on IG @zanenavratilpickleball #pickleball #pickleballcourts ------------------ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
- Jul 1, 20261h 6m
Did the Shock Just Guarantee a Title AND Blow Their Future?
Zane's calling in from a hostel kitchen in Tokyo and Nico's posted up at Gino the Righty's place in California, but somehow they still pulled off the wildest PicklePod yet. This week: the New Jersey Fives win their third straight MLP event and take over first place in the standings, the league's first-ever four-team trade reshuffles the Chicago Slice and St. Louis Shock, and the guys break down the Casey Diamond/Grayson Goldin injured reserve controversy that's got every GM in the league fired up. Oh, and we finally talk about the scoreboard that collapsed on Brooklyn's Rachel Rohrabacher mid-match — and why MLP's statement on it might have made things worse. 🟦 Blue Cannatine from Troscriptions is designed to support the mental and physical flow state that pickleball players chase: focused, responsive, smooth, and adaptable — without jitters, crashes, or chaos. Try it today at https://troscriptions.com/dink 🗳️ Vote on our Continental Draft in the Pro Pickleball Talk Discord → https://www.discord.gg/JxEcUZ54z 📚 Be the first to try Zane's new course here: https://www.tzpickleball.com/ #Pickleball #PPATour #PickleballPodcast Leave your voicemail for the PicklePod at (512) 200 - 4299 ------------------ Like the ep? Do us a favor: subscribe to our channel and leave a review on Apple or Spotify -Subscribe to our 'all things pickleball' *free e-newsletter* at https://www.thedink.beehiiv.com https://www.instagram.com/thedinkpickleball/ -Follow us on IG -Continue the convo in our private FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thedi... -For everything else we do, visit https://linktr.ee/dinkfam -Read more about Zane and subscribe to his newsletter at https://zanenavratilpickleball.com/ -Follow Zane on IG @zanenavratilpickleball #pickleball #pickleballcourts ------------------ 0:00 Intro 5:30 MLP NYC recap 9:33 Which team falls to the 5-seed? 11:46 Ranchers stating their case 18:14 The Mid-Season Tourney = Soccer’s FA Cup 20:51 The Hogs surprise upset 24:10 The first 4 team trade in MLP history 30:10 Nico the Insider gets almost gets it right 37:23 Should teenagers be allowed to be pros? 42:35 The Royals IR scheme + hated teams 45:41 Power ranking MLP most hated teams50:19 MLP Scoreboard falls on Rachel Rohrabacher57:22 Continental draft 1:03:17 Guess my DUPR Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
- Jun 23, 20261h 15m
What Tiger & MJ Have in Common With Pickleball's Best
Zane Navratil and Nico the Lefty break down MLP St. Petersburg — the stunning blown foot-fault call that saved Nico and Mari Humberg's mixed doubles match, the eleventh-hour Casey Diamond signing drama between the Palm Beach Royals and Columbus Sliders, and why "super teams" like the St. Louis Shock, LA Mad Drops, and Columbus Sliders keep struggling out of the gate. Then St. Louis Shock star Kate Fahey joins to talk her MVP weekend (top Player Impact Rating in the field), the art of playing "squishy" on defense, her breakdown of Sofia Sewing and Tina Pisnik's breakout run, and an honest conversation about on-court anxiety, working with a sports psychologist, and the line between competitive fire and burnout. Plus: Zane and Nico draft an all-time Blue Card team, and the crew tries to guess a duper's rating. 💊 Marek Health → www.marekhealth.com | Code: THEDINK for 10% off 🗳️ Vote on our Blue Card Draft in the Pro Pickleball Talk Discord → https://www.discord.gg/JxEcUZ54z 📚 Be the first to try Zane's new course here: https://www.tzpickleball.com/ #Pickleball #PPATour #PickleballPodcast Leave your voicemail for the PicklePod at (512) 200 - 4299 ------------------ Like the ep? Do us a favor: subscribe to our channel and leave a review on Apple or Spotify -Subscribe to our 'all things pickleball' *free e-newsletter* at https://www.thedink.beehiiv.com https://www.instagram.com/thedinkpickleball/ -Follow us on IG -Continue the convo in our private FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thedi... -For everything else we do, visit https://linktr.ee/dinkfam -Read more about Zane and subscribe to his newsletter at https://zanenavratilpickleball.com/ -Follow Zane on IG @zanenavratilpickleball #pickleball #pickleballcourts ------------------ 0:00 Intro 2:34 Glazing St Pete Athletics 7:24 The Chicago Slice are outperforming expectations 15:38 Blocking out the haters 19:20 Sports Predict is giving away $1 million Kate Fahey 24:33 Kate joins the show 24:56 Kate goes the extra mile for dogs 27:22 MVP of the weekend and weaponizing unpredictability 33:57 The definition of Squishy Pickleball 39:16 Palm Beach Royals bending the rules 49:11 Super Teams feeling the pressure 56:10 Embracing competitive spirit 1:04:02 The Blue Card Draft 1:11:56 Guess my DUPR Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
- Jun 16, 20261h 17m
Did Jay Cross the Line? The Body Bag That Blew Up MLP
This might be the biggest news week in MLP history. Zane and Nico break down the Hurricane Tyra Black ↔ Danni-Elle Townsend trade, debate whether the New Jersey 5s need to make a move of their own, and dig into salary floor/cap rumors that could reshape the league. Then Danni-Elle Townsend joins fresh off the trade to tell her side of the story, followed by Florida Smash's Zoey Weil for a no-holds-barred conversation on the Jay Devilliers/Lea Jansen blowup, the "body bag" debate, and her ongoing beef with Jim Closs. 🗳️ Vote on our Hunger Games Draft in the Pro Pickleball Talk Discord → https://www.discord.gg/JxEcUZ54z Be the first to try Zane's new course here: https://www.tzpickleball.com/ #Pickleball #PPATour #PickleballPodcast Leave your voicemail for the PicklePod at (512) 200 - 4299 ------------------ Like the ep? Do us a favor: subscribe to our channel and leave a review on Apple or Spotify -Subscribe to our 'all things pickleball' *free e-newsletter* at https://www.thedink.beehiiv.com https://www.instagram.com/thedinkpickleball/ -Follow us on IG -Continue the convo in our private FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thedi... -For everything else we do, visit https://linktr.ee/dinkfam -Read more about Zane and subscribe to his newsletter at https://zanenavratilpickleball.com/ -Follow Zane on IG @zanenavratilpickleball #pickleball #pickleballcourts ------------------ 0:00 Intro 2:31 Will the 5s make a move before the trade deadline? 9:33 New post-trade power rankings Danni-Elle Townsend 16:15 Danni-Elle Townsend joins the show 19:23 The not-so-secret trade 23:49 Is there beef between Danni and Parris? 26:20 What was the trade process like? 31:12 Building the team around Danni Zoey Weil 34:17 Defending the Florida Smash 36:36 Zoey dishing it out on X 41:25 Reaction to the Danni Townsend trade 44:42 Jay vs Lea | Pablo vs Everybody 49:22 Body bag vs full bag 53:20 Full bags are going to increase 59:30 Zoey judges the draft results 1:02:11 The Hunger Games Draft Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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About PicklePod
Pickleball's #1 Podcast with Top Pro Zane Navratil and Pickleball Creator, Nico The Lefty. 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.
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Frequently Asked Questions
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