E112: Melissa McCurley: The Calm Force Behind Competitive Pickleball

E112: Melissa McCurley: The Calm Force Behind Competitive Pickleball

What happens when a Navy veteran, crisis-response leader, and technology executive brings her gifts for service, calm, and innovation into the world of pickleball? In this episode, we talk with Melissa McCurley, one of the most influential behind-the-scenes leaders in the sport of pickleball. Melissa shares how pickleball found her unexpectedly, at a time when she had already built a successful career in information technology, including leadership roles with EDS and American Express. She explains how a deep inner calling led her to walk away from that path and step into something completely new, even before she had any clear vision of where pickleball would go. Melissa takes us through the incredible story of acquiring PickleballTournaments.com in 2014 and helping transform it into the operational backbone of tournament pickleball. She talks about the early days of the sport, the explosion of events and players, the growth of tournament technology and services, and the work it took to support everyone from grassroots players to major tours. Along the way, she reflects on launching new systems, becoming the first woman to broadcast pickleball on CBS Sports, joining the APP, and what it meant to be inducted into the Pickleball Hall of Fame in 2025. This is a powerful conversation about pickleball, leadership, service, innovation, tournament operations, resilience, women in sports, entrepreneurship, Melissa McCurley, PickleballTournaments.com, APP, and the life lessons that remind us to put ourselves in uncomfortable positions, keep moving forward through failure, and trust that sometimes the things we are called to do arrive before we fully understand them. https://www.facebook.com/share/1HJScKczdR/?mibextid=wwXIfr [https://www.facebook.com/share/1HJScKczdR/?mibextid=wwXIfr] https://www.instagram.com/paddleup_pickleball [https://www.instagram.com/paddleup_pickleball] 📘 Our book Life Lessons from Pickleball™ is now available on Amazon Order the book here: https://a.co/d/0bHPFYve [https://a.co/d/0bHPFYve] A collection of short, true stories from players around the world about community, resilience, and joy through the game of pickleball. A portion of proceeds supports Operation PaddleLift, through the Global Pickleball Federation, distributing paddles, balls and nets to underserved communities around the world. Contact us:  www.lifelessonsfrompickleball@gmail.com Follow and watch: https://www.lifelessonsfrompickleballpodcast.com [https://www.lifelessonsfrompickleballpodcast.com] https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61557275391316 [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61557275391316] https://www.instagram.com/lifelessonsfrompickleball/ [https://www.instagram.com/lifelessonsfrompickleball/] https://www.youtube.com/@LifeLessonsFromPickleballPod [https://www.youtube.com/@LifeLessonsFromPickleballPod] Music gifted to us by Ian Pedersen: @ianpedersen  Thanks for listening and you can also watch us on Youtube.

E111: Tony Schneider: Fun, Friendship, and Fitness Through U.S. Senior Pickleball

How can pickleball help seniors live longer, build stronger friendships, and discover that it is never too late to start something new? In this episode, we talk with Tony Schneider, president of U.S. Senior Pickleball, about the power of sport, community, and active aging. Tony shares how he first discovered pickleball on a family vacation in 2020, quickly fell in love with the game, and learned almost immediately that bringing out the best in your partner can matter just as much as your own athletic ability. That early experience opened the door to a bigger calling in the sport.  Tony explains what U.S. Senior Pickleball is all about: helping adults 50 and older get off the couch, get moving, and enjoy the fun, friendship, and fitness that pickleball brings. He talks about tournaments, grassroots programs, ambassadors, indoor play, and his broader vision of helping seniors live seven to ten more quality years through movement and connection. Along the way, he shares funny stories from tournament play, his thoughts on DUPR, and the importance of keeping pickleball accessible and welcoming for players of all ages and levels.  This is an uplifting conversation about pickleball, U.S. Senior Pickleball, active aging, senior athletes, fitness, friendship, tournaments, ambassadors, community, longevity, and the life lessons that remind us to stay positive, lift up the people around us, and never believe it is too late to begin.  https://usseniorpickleball.org/ [https://usseniorpickleball.org/] 📘 Our book Life Lessons from Pickleball™ is now available on Amazon Order the book here: https://a.co/d/0bHPFYve [https://a.co/d/0bHPFYve] A collection of short, true stories from players around the world about community, resilience, and joy through the game of pickleball. A portion of proceeds supports Operation PaddleLift, through the Global Pickleball Federation, distributing paddles, balls and nets to underserved communities around the world. Contact us:  www.lifelessonsfrompickleball@gmail.com Follow and watch: https://www.lifelessonsfrompickleballpodcast.com [https://www.lifelessonsfrompickleballpodcast.com] https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61557275391316 [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61557275391316] https://www.instagram.com/lifelessonsfrompickleball/ [https://www.instagram.com/lifelessonsfrompickleball/] https://www.youtube.com/@LifeLessonsFromPickleballPod [https://www.youtube.com/@LifeLessonsFromPickleballPod] Music gifted to us by Ian Pedersen: @ianpedersen  Thanks for listening and you can also watch us on Youtube.

E110: Mae Romero: Inventing a Better Way to Carry the Game

What happens when a lifelong inventor falls in love with pickleball and decides the sport deserves something better? In this episode, we talk with Mae Romero, an inventor, entrepreneur, lifelong problem solver, and founder of Okto Pickleball. Mae shares how growing up on a farm and learning to weld at just seven years old helped shape her confidence, creativity, and ability to figure things out for herself. She has spent her life building things, both literally and creatively, and over the years has taken multiple products from concept to national retail. When pickleball entered her life, it sparked a whole new chapter. For Mae, invention and pickleball have a lot in common — both require resilience, adaptability, and the willingness to keep solving problems in front of you. Mae talks about how her love for the game led her to create Okto, a brand focused on gear that is not only functional, but intentional and empowering for pickleball players. She shares what it looks like to move from seeing a need to designing a solution, and how her life as an inventor has shaped the way she approaches the game. Along the way, we explore creativity, entrepreneurship, confidence, and what it means to trust your own ideas enough to bring them into the world. This is an inspiring conversation about pickleball, invention, entrepreneurship, women in business, creativity, resilience, product design, Okto Pickleball, innovation, confidence, and the life lessons that remind us to trust ourselves, stay curious, and keep building what we wish existed. https://oktogear.com/ [https://oktogear.com/] 📘 Our book Life Lessons from Pickleball™ is now available on Amazon Order the book here: https://a.co/d/0bHPFYve [https://a.co/d/0bHPFYve] A collection of short, true stories from players around the world about community, resilience, and joy through the game of pickleball. A portion of proceeds supports Operation PaddleLift, through the Global Pickleball Federation, distributing paddles, balls and nets to underserved communities around the world. Contact us:  www.lifelessonsfrompickleball@gmail.com Follow and watch: https://www.lifelessonsfrompickleballpodcast.com [https://www.lifelessonsfrompickleballpodcast.com] https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61557275391316 [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61557275391316] https://www.instagram.com/lifelessonsfrompickleball/ [https://www.instagram.com/lifelessonsfrompickleball/] https://www.youtube.com/@LifeLessonsFromPickleballPod [https://www.youtube.com/@LifeLessonsFromPickleballPod] Music gifted to us by Ian Pedersen: @ianpedersen  Thanks for listening and you can also watch us on Youtube.

E109: Kyle Case: Don’t Stop — The Power of Active Aging Through Pickleball

What if aging was not about slowing down, but about discovering new strength, new community, and new reasons to keep playing? In this episode, we talk with Kyle Case, CEO of the Huntsman World Senior Games, the largest annual multi-sport event in the world for athletes age 50 and older. Kyle shares how he first fell in love with the idea of amateur sports and event management as a college student, and how that passion grew into a career devoted to active aging, meaningful competition, and creating opportunities for people to keep doing what they love well into later life. Under his leadership, the Huntsman World Senior Games now welcomes more than 12,000 athletes to St. George, Utah each year to compete in over 40 sports, including pickleball.  Kyle talks about why pickleball has been such a powerful part of that growth, from its low barrier to entry to its ability to welcome players across generations and skill levels. He reflects on the inspiring athletes he has watched over the years, including competitors in their 80s, 90s, and even over 100 years old, and shares why the Games are about so much more than medals. They are about purpose, connection, joy, and proving that it is never too late to begin something new. Along the way, he also shares his own experience competing in the senior games and the life lessons he has learned from decades of watching people redefine what aging can look like.  This is an inspiring conversation about pickleball, the Huntsman World Senior Games, active aging, senior athletes, longevity, community, resilience, fitness, purpose, lifelong sports, and the life lessons that remind us not to stop, not to count ourselves out, and never to believe it is too late to start.  https://seniorgames.net/ [https://seniorgames.net/] 📘 Our book Life Lessons from Pickleball™ is now available on Amazon Order the book here: https://a.co/d/0bHPFYve [https://a.co/d/0bHPFYve] A collection of short, true stories from players around the world about community, resilience, and joy through the game of pickleball. A portion of proceeds supports Operation PaddleLift, through the Global Pickleball Federation, distributing paddles, balls and nets to underserved communities around the world. Contact us:  www.lifelessonsfrompickleball@gmail.com Follow and watch: https://www.lifelessonsfrompickleballpodcast.com [https://www.lifelessonsfrompickleballpodcast.com] https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61557275391316 [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61557275391316] https://www.instagram.com/lifelessonsfrompickleball/ [https://www.instagram.com/lifelessonsfrompickleball/] https://www.youtube.com/@LifeLessonsFromPickleballPod [https://www.youtube.com/@LifeLessonsFromPickleballPod] Music gifted to us by Ian Pedersen: @ianpedersen  Thanks for listening and you can also watch us on Youtube.

E108: Dotti Berry: Training the Mental Edge in Pickleball and Life

What if the biggest thing holding pickleball players back is not their mechanics, but the way they think, react, and talk to themselves under pressure? In this episode, we talk with Dotti Berry, better known as Coach B, a mental and peak performance coach, the creator of Mental Edge: The X Factor, and the recipient of the 2026 PPR Humanitarian Award. Dotti shares how she first discovered pickleball after hearing about it again and again from friends and clients, and how that curiosity eventually led her to a sport that combined movement, community, challenge, and joy. From her early days walking nervously into a local gym to becoming a trusted voice in the mental game of pickleball, Dotti has built a powerful body of work around helping players retrain their brains so they can perform with more steadiness on and off the court.  Dotti explains why she believes the traditional idea of “mindset” is too static, and why what players really need are daily MindShift habits that help them regulate nerves, build emotional resilience, and stop spiraling after mistakes. She talks about the difference between insight and real change, the importance of daily mental training, and why players do not rise to the occasion under pressure, but instead fall to the level of their training. Along the way, she shares practical tools like breathing, touch anchors, noticing and naming emotions, and building routines that can help players recover faster and stay present.  This is a deeply insightful conversation about pickleball, the mental game, peak performance, emotional regulation, self-talk, confidence, pressure, habits, resilience, Coach B, Mental Edge: The X Factor, the PPR Humanitarian Award, and the life lessons that remind us our identity is bigger than our results, our joy matters just as much as our progress, and we can learn to train our minds in ways that change everything. https://flow.page/pickleballforumforwomen [https://flow.page/pickleballforumforwomen] 📘 Our book Life Lessons from Pickleball™ is now available on Amazon Order the book here: https://a.co/d/0bHPFYve [https://a.co/d/0bHPFYve] A collection of short, true stories from players around the world about community, resilience, and joy through the game of pickleball. A portion of proceeds supports Operation PaddleLift, through the Global Pickleball Federation, distributing paddles, balls and nets to underserved communities around the world. Contact us:  www.lifelessonsfrompickleball@gmail.com Follow and watch: https://www.lifelessonsfrompickleballpodcast.com [https://www.lifelessonsfrompickleballpodcast.com] https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61557275391316 [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61557275391316] https://www.instagram.com/lifelessonsfrompickleball/ [https://www.instagram.com/lifelessonsfrompickleball/] https://www.youtube.com/@LifeLessonsFromPickleballPod [https://www.youtube.com/@LifeLessonsFromPickleballPod] Music gifted to us by Ian Pedersen: @ianpedersen  Thanks for listening and you can also watch us on Youtube.