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...
Insights from recent episode analysis
On the show
- Zoey Weil2 eps
- Lea Jansen1 ep
- Steve Kuhn1 ep
Also: Adam Bobrow, Duc, James Ignatowich, Danni Elle Townsend, Samin Odhwani, Gabe Tardio, Hayden Patriquin, Doug Sapusek, Nathan, Zane, Danni Townsend, Jack Sock, Clem McAuley, Kate Fahey, Danni-Elle Townsend, Anna Leigh Waters, Grayson Goldin
Audience Interest
Podcast Focus
Publishing Consistency
Insights are generated by CastFox AI using publicly available data, episode content, and proprietary models.
Most discussed topics
Brands & references
Total monthly reach
Based on the show's feed history.
Built from
- Per-Episode Audience
Est. listeners per new episode within ~30 days
9.6K to 118K🎙 Daily cadence·210 episodes·Last published 6d ago - Monthly Reach
Unique listeners across all episodes (30 days)
32K to 392K🇺🇸100% - Active Followers
Loyal subscribers who consistently listen
18K to 216K
Market Insights
Platform Distribution
Reach across major podcast platforms, updated hourly
Total Followers
—
Total Plays
—
Total Reviews
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* Data sourced directly from platform APIs and aggregated hourly across all major podcast directories.
| Date | Episode | Topics | Guests | Brands | Places | Keywords | Sponsor | Length | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10/20/26 | Should Kate Fahey Get a Point Penalty for Screaming? | Pickleball is getting louder, messier, and more interesting—and this week’s conversation proves it. Zane Navratil and Nico break down the latest pro pickleball stories, from tournament scheduling chaos in Australia and Hong Kong to first-time gold medalists, the rise of Elliott Shupp, and the debate over what belongs on center court. Zane shares firsthand updates from competing overseas, including the challenge of overlapping tournaments and players having to choose between a semifinal and making it to their next event. Then the hosts discuss standout performances from Sophia Seving, Jaume Martinez Vich, and Elliott Shupp—and whether Shupp could already be one of the most dangerous lefties in pickleball. The conversation turns to one of the sport’s biggest debates: screaming, taunting, and whether pro pickleball needs new rules. The hosts explore the proposed changes, possible double standards, and whether the sport should rein in its players—or embrace the moments that grab attention. 🏓 Donate to the Solomon Boltes Memorial Pickleball Courts: https://www.gofundme.com/f/building-solomon-boltes-memorial-pickleball-courts 📩 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 4:06 PPA Australia vs Virginia Beach 11:24 Congrats Jaume + Elliot 21:21 MLP needs a commissioner 24:25 Jim Kloss’s proposed yelling rule 38:49 Crunching the numbers 49:24 Protesters at APP Louisville 51:29 Challenging AI line calls 58:59 Mean comments 1:15:37 Guess my DUPR Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices | 1h 21m 28s | ||||||
| 10/13/26 |  Anna Leigh Waters Won Her 200th Gold. She's 19. | The biggest indoor pickleball business story of the year collides with a wild Chicago recap, and the debate around Annalee Waters, Ben Johns, and the future of pro pickleball gets surprisingly deep fast. If you want the sharpest takes on the PPA Chicago chaos, the Pickler bankruptcy, and the next wave of stars, this is the episode. Zane and Nico break down everything that mattered from Chicago, starting with Annalee Waters hitting 200 PPA golds at 19 and the uncomfortable question nobody else wants to ask: what is left for her to chase? They also dig into Ben Johns’ latest doubles stumble, the pressure of playing with him, and why Jack Sock and Bruno/Anwar completely changed the feel of the men’s draw. 💊 Marek Health → https://www.marekdiagnostics.com | Code: THEDINK for 10% off 🏓 Donate to the Solomon Boltes Memorial Pickleball Courts: https://www.gofundme.com/f/building-solomon-boltes-memorial-pickleball-courts 📩 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 1:42 Zane’s Australian hotel 4:17 Ranking US cities that are better than Sacramento 7:40 Anna Leigh Waters wins 200th PPA Gold 18:53 Nico's semi-pro ball knowledge 25:50 Men’s doubles recap with Ben and Jack 33:12 Big H stirs the pot with Eric Oncins 36:16 Men’s singles race + the new Flying Frenchman 44:57 Women’s doubles results + top ten rankings 53:50 Quick mixed doubles recap 57:01 Picklr bankruptcy 1:06:21 1% of players are 5.0s 1:10:42 MEAN COMMENTS 1:24:56 Guess my DUPR Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices | 1h 29m 05s | ||||||
| 10/6/26 |  Anna Bright Joins PicklePod: Why She Challenged at 11-0, 10-0 | Anna Bright joins Zane and Nico after her gold-medal run in Las Vegas to explain the moment everyone was talking about: challenging a ball at 10-0 with a double pickle on the line. In this episode, Anna opens up about her competitive mindset, her partnership with Anna Lee, and why she won’t apologize for playing to win. She also talks about returning from a solo backpacking trip through Vietnam, how her game is evolving, and whether she sees herself as a stronger right-side or left-side player. Plus, Zane and Nico break down the biggest stories from Vegas: Anna and Hayden’s mixed doubles gold, Ben Johns’ singles run, Kiera Kikumoto’s breakout, Nico Acevedo’s rise, and the debate over pay equity in pickleball. They also revisit the Christian Alshon–DJ Young ball standoff, pick dream partnerships in a new matchmaker segment, and get into comments, paddle talk, and another round of Guess My DUPR. 👕 Check out the new performance apparel line from Six Zero: https://bit.ly/3T9NaDM 🏓 Donate to the Solomon Boltes Memorial Pickleball Courts: https://www.gofundme.com/f/building-solomon-boltes-memorial-pickleball-courts 📩 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 4:27 Ben Johns back on the singles podium 9:28 Ben is 14-1 against Christian Alshon 11:14 Anna Bright joins the pod 15:28 Locking in with Hayden for gold 18:50 Anna Bright went solo to Vietnam 22:47 Which pro would struggle on a solo trip to Vietnam? 26:31 The most ruthless challenge we’ve ever seen 33:51 Catherine and Tyra challenge the champs 37:28 Analyzing the mixed finals win 39:45 Can you be the best in the world from the right side? 43:29 Who do you like beating the most? 51:35 A new challenger for the women’s singles crown 57:17 Nico Acevedo proves he’s a top 10 player 59:20 Mean comments 1:11:46 Guess my DUPR 1:15:10 Matchmaker partnerships 1:20:09 Illegal paddles + the Ben Johns - Jack Sock partnership Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices | 1h 25m 53s | ||||||
| 9/30/26 |  Zane Navratil Won a PPA Gold in Barcelona. Nobody Saw It Coming. | Zane Navratil is a PPA gold medalist again—and Nico Acevedo nearly turned a grueling tournament run into a championship of his own. Zane shares what made PPA Barcelona feel like a throwback, while Nico joins the conversation to unpack his breakout performance alongside Yuta Funemizu. Nico talks about going from college tennis to the pro pickleball tour, the support that helped him take the leap, and how he and Yuta fought through a string of demanding matches. Their run included wins over Ben Johns and Federico Staksrud, close calls, match-point battles, and a marathon final. The conversation also gets into the details behind Nico’s dangerous backhand flick, the balance work that helps him reach and recover, and the communication and mindset that powered the team. Zane shares his take on the European circuit, the MLP Nations Cup, and why the next wave of international players could raise the level quickly. Plus: Guess My DUPR, listener comments, serve-rule debate, and plenty of PicklePod banter. 👕 Check out the new performance apparel line from Six Zero: https://bit.ly/3T9NaDM 🏓 Donate to the Solomon Boltes Memorial Pickleball Courts: https://www.gofundme.com/f/building-solomon-boltes-memorial-pickleball-courts 📩 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 3:17 Zane wins gold in Spain 9:28 Zane’s likes and dislikes in Spain 13:55 There is opportunity for players in Europe 22:45 Shout out to Judit Castillo 24:14 Nation’s Cup should borrow from Little League World Series 31:16 Guess my DUPR 35:57 Mean comments Nico Acevedo 42:31 Nico Acevedo joins the pod 43:41 Johnny Goldberg tribute 50:40 Nico played soccer... and tennis 53:01 Believing you can win against the world’s best 57:10 What are comms like with Yuta? 59:33 The secret to Nico’s backhand flick 1:04:34 Mistaking Nico for Nico 1:07:23 Reliving the finals run 1:13:03 Late matches and getting heated with Christian 1:17:13 Nico’s future partners 1:23:21 Best forehand dink in pickleball Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices | 1h 25m 57s | ||||||
| 9/22/26 |  The 15 Seed That Beat Ben Johns | One of the wildest pickleball Sundays in a long time just got even crazier. A 15 seed nearly hijacks men’s doubles, a bird literally crashes the singles final, and the new PPA format changes are already reshaping who gets rewarded, who gets punished, and who might be gaming the system. Nico and Zane break down the finals day in Mesa from top to bottom, starting with Chris Haworth vs Federico Staksrud and the absurd momentum swing that followed the most bizarre replay of the weekend. Then they unpack the run of the tournament: Yuta Funemizu and Nico Acevedo storming through the draw, saving match points, ripping off upset after upset, and coming within touching distance of a title that would have rewritten the sport’s rankings logic. 👕 Check out the new performance apparel line from Six Zero: https://bit.ly/3T9NaDM 💊 Marek Health → https://www.marekdiagnostics.com | Code: THEDINK for 10% off 🏓 Donate to the Solomon Boltes Memorial Pickleball Courts: https://www.gofundme.com/f/building-solomon-boltes-memorial-pickleball-courts 📩 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 6:09 Chris Haworth receives luck from above 9:09 An epic run in men's doubles 17:31 Is Yuta the most slept on? Nico’s next partner? 22:21 Best 2/3 finals format 25:53 Pickleball officially becomes a nighttime sport 32:48 MLP hunting for a new commissioner 39:17 WPR has a singles problem 49:47 Anna Leigh Waters vs Kate Fahey 54:07 Mean comments 1:01:53 Women's doubles results 1:04:22 Nico’s combine experience Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices | 1h 16m 04s | ||||||
| 9/15/26 |  We Texted Ben Johns for Episode 200 | 200 episodes in, the PicklePod is celebrating with one of its most revealing conversations yet about where pickleball is headed next. Zane and Nico break down everything that happened at the PPA event in Kuala Lumpur, including the results, the impact of international competition, ranking points, and whether the current system is rewarding the right players. They also discuss the MLP Asia draft, the biggest surprises from the player selections, and what the league could mean for the future of professional pickleball. Then Thomas Shields, founder of The Dink and the original Pickle Pod, joins the conversation to discuss the business side of pickleball. The group dives into recent facility closures, declining sale prices, market saturation, franchise models, and why the facility boom may be entering a healthier, more sustainable phase—not necessarily ending. The conversation also explores whether Padel is a real threat to pickleball, what the two sports can learn from each other, the importance of community-driven facilities, and the technology and platforms that could shape the next generation of racquet sports. Plus, the guys read hilarious listener comments, share favorite moments from 200 episodes, open pickleball trading card packs, revisit some of the show’s most memorable guests, and play another round of “Guess My DUPR.” 👕 Check out the new performance apparel line from Six Zero: https://bit.ly/3T9NaDM 🏓 Donate to the Solomon Boltes Memorial Pickleball Courts: https://www.gofundme.com/f/building-solomon-boltes-memorial-pickleball-courts 📩 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 2:08 Results from Kuala Lumpur 12:28 MLP Asia Draft results 15:31 Mining gold in the comments section 25:52 Dub pickleball trading cards 36:28 PicklePod origin story 40:25 Pickleball facilities at a discount 49:38 Where would you invest $100K? 52:58 Padel vs pickleball 1:03:20 The best moments from the PicklePod 1:14:35 Guess my DUPR Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices | 1h 22m 05s | ||||||
| 9/8/26 | pickleballranking system+4 | — | PPASolomon Boltes Memorial Pickleball Courts | — | pickleballranking system+5 | MarekTHEDINK | 1h 38m 41s | ||
| 9/2/26 | pickleballMLP championship+4 | Anna Leigh Waters | St. Louis ShockSolomon Boltes Memorial Pickleball Courts+1 | — | pickleballAnna Leigh Waters+4 | — | 23m 39s | ||
| 9/1/26 | pickleballMLP finals+4 | — | New Jersey FivesSt. Louis Shock | Central ParkBrooklyn | pickleballMLP+7 | — | 1h 16m 10s | ||
| 8/26/26 | MLP playoffspickleball matchups+3 | Grayson Goldin | New JerseyBrooklyn+5 | — | MLPpickleball+5 | Selkirk | 1h 59m 46s | ||
| 8/18/26 | pickleballMLP playoffs+3 | — | Dallas FlashLA Mad Drops+1 | — | Ben JohnsAnna Leigh Waters+5 | Six Zero | 1h 11m 04s | ||
| 8/11/26 | pickleballsports controversy+4 | Cameron Boltes | MLPMemes of Pickleball | Palm Beacheastern North Carolina | pickleballZane+7 | — | 1h 33m 42s | ||
| 8/4/26 | MLP Orlandopickleball+4 | Zoey Weil | California Black BearsChicago Slice+1 | — | pickleballMLP+7 | Six Zero | 1h 55m 30s | ||
| 7/28/26 | pickleballMLP Chicago+4 | Federico Staksrud | Dallas FlashOrlando Squeeze+3 | St. LouisTexas+1 | pickleballFederico Staksrud+4 | Six Zero | 1h 33m 04s | ||
| 7/21/26 | Ben Johns performanceMLP San Diego+4 | — | Dallas FlashPickleball Twitter+3 | — | Ben JohnsMLP+6 | — | 1h 07m 12s | ||
| 7/14/26 | pickleballsports news+4 | NathanZane | PaddletekPIKKL | — | pickleballPaddletek+7 | — | 1h 33m 53s | ||
| 7/9/26 | pickleballMLP trades+4 | Danni TownsendJack Sock | PPAAPP Tour+5 | TokyoGrand Rapids | pickleballMLP+6 | MarekTHEDINK | 1h 24m 53s | ||
| 7/8/26 | pickleballsoccer+4 | Clem McAuley | US Women's National TeamNWSL+2 | — | Anna Leigh Waterssoccer career+7 | — | 48m 26s | ||
| 7/1/26 | PickleballMLP events+3 | — | Blue CannatineNew Jersey Fives+3 | TokyoCalifornia | PickleballMLP+5 | TroscriptionsCODE | 1h 06m 30s | ||
| 6/23/26 | MLP St. Petersburgmixed doubles+5 | Kate Fahey | Palm Beach RoyalsColumbus Sliders+5 | — | pickleballMLP St. Petersburg+5 | Marek HealthTHEDINK | 1h 15m 35s | ||
| 6/16/26 | MLP newspickleball trades+3 | Danni-Elle TownsendZoey Weil | New Jersey 5sFlorida Smash+4 | — | pickleballMLP+7 | — | 1h 17m 48s | ||
| 6/9/26 | pickleball performanceMLP power rankings+3 | — | Pro Pickleball Talk | — | pickleballBen Johns+5 | Midwest Racket Sports | 1h 09m 08s | ||
| 6/2/26 | pickleballMLP+4 | — | Match Point PickleballNew Jersey Fives+9 | — | ZaneAnna Leigh Waters+7 | — | 58m 48s | ||
| 5/27/26 | MLPpickleball+3 | — | Zane's new courseMLP+1 | Philippines | pickleballBen Johns+5 | — | 1h 07m 48s | ||
| 5/22/26 | Major League Pickleballtournament format+3 | Samin Odhwani | Zane's new courseMajor League Pickleball+3 | Asia | pickleballMLP+6 | — | 31m 44s | ||
| 5/20/26 | pickleball strategyteam culture+4 | Gabe TardioHayden Patriquin | Blue CannatineSt. Louis Shock+1 | — | pickleballSt. Louis Shock+6 | TroscriptionsCODE | 1h 38m 12s | ||
| 5/14/26 | pickleball acquisitionBread & Butter+4 | Doug Sapusek | Bread & ButterSelkirk+1 | FloridaMalaysia | pickleballacquisition+7 | — | 36m 25s | ||
| 5/13/26 | pickleball documentaryChampionship Sunday+4 | — | tzpickleballPro Pickleball Talk+1 | — | pickleballdocumentary+5 | 120lifeDINK | 1h 09m 47s | ||
| 5/5/26 | pickleball controversiespro tournaments+3 | — | APP SacramentoPicklePod+1 | — | pickleballJack Sock+6 | — | 1h 07m 29s | ||
| 4/29/26 | pickleballprofessional sports+3 | Danni Elle Townsend | Columbus SlidersAtlanta National Pickleball Club+5 | AustraliaU.S. | pickleballDanni Elle Townsend+3 | — | 1h 16m 13s | ||
| 4/21/26 | controversial line callspaddle-toss disqualification+4 | — | Discord | — | PickleballUS Open+8 | Marek HealthTHEDINK | 1h 35m 46s | ||
| 4/14/26 | pickleballlawsuit+4 | — | JOOLAPPA+2 | Sacramento | pickleballlawsuit+5 | Marek HealthTHEDINK | 1h 24m 20s | ||
| 4/7/26 | pickleball controversyviral line call+5 | — | PPADiscord+4 | HanoiAsia+1 | pickleballline call+5 | Marek HealthTHEDINK | 1h 19m 51s | ||
| 3/31/26 | pickleball controversyunpaid players+4 | — | ProtonUPA+2 | — | pickleballProton+5 | Marek HealthTHEDINK | 1h 22m 29s | ||
| 3/24/26 | pro pickleballplayer council+3 | Lea Jansen | PicklePodPPATour+1 | — | pickleballLea Jansen+3 | Marek HealthTHEDINK | 1h 58m 04s | ||
| 3/17/26 | pickleball growthAsia expansion+5 | Steve Kuhn | Lefty Reset ChallengeSportsPredict+2 | AsiaPhilippines+1 | pickleballSteve Kuhn+6 | Marek HealthTHEDINK | 1h 11m 33s | ||
| 3/10/26 | pickleballtable tennis+4 | Adam Bobrow | PicklePod | — | pickleballAdam Bobrow+6 | Marek HealthTHEDINK | 1h 16m 18s | ||
| 3/4/26 | pickleballAPP announcement+4 | Duc | Association of Pickleball PlayersProfessional Pickleball Association | Asia | pickleballQuang Duong+7 | Zane's new course | 19m 13s | ||
| 3/3/26 | pickleballMLP draft+5 | James Ignatowich | paddlesMLP+2 | China | James Ignatowichpickleball+6 | Marek HealthTHEDINK | 1h 20m 49s | ||
| 2/28/26 | Major League Pickleball Draftexpensive draft picks+3 | — | Major League PickleballTZ Pickleball+1 | — | pickleballdraft picks+5 | Blue CannatineBETTER | 11m 59s | ||
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Chart history for PicklePod
Peaked at #11 in PH, currently #11 in PH.
| Market | Genre | Peak | Current | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PH | — | #11 | #11 | — |
Chart Positions
1 placement across 1 market.
Chart Positions
1 placement across 1 market.