Life Lessons from Pickleball™

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.

E107: A Note to Our Listeners: Our Summer Schedule Update

Hi friends, we wanted to share a quick update with our Life Lessons from Pickleball™ community. We’ll still have a brand new episode for you on May 19, and after that we’ll be moving to an every-other-week summer schedule, with our next new episode on June 2. We’re looking forward to a lighter summer rhythm, and we hope you are too. And with more than 100 episodes already in our library, this is a wonderful time to catch up on any conversations you may have missed and revisit some of your favorites. And if you’d like another way to enjoy these stories, our paperback book and eBook, Life Lessons from Pickleball™, are available now on Amazon, and a portion of every sale is donated to Operation PaddleLift, helping bring paddles, nets, and resources to underserved communities around the world. Thank you for listening, sharing, and being part of this beautiful pickleball community. We’re so grateful you’re here. 📘 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.

E106: Lydia Hirt: Building Community, Style, and Opportunity Through Pickleball

How can pickleball open the door to new friendships, a whole new career path, and a fresh way to bring style, community, and opportunity into everyday life? In this episode, we talk with Lydia Hirt, a New York-based pickleball community builder, marketer, and creative voice who has helped grow the sport in exciting and meaningful ways. Lydia shares how she first discovered pickleball during the pandemic in Florida, playing with her family as their small pod, and how that one experience sparked an obsession she carried back to New York City. At the time, pickleball in New York was still underground, with no official courts and very little infrastructure, but Lydia saw not just a fun new sport, but a real opportunity to help build community and grow the game.  Lydia talks about how her background in publishing and marketing eventually led her into major roles with CityPickle and Life Time Pickleball, and how pickleball completely changed the direction of her life and career. She also shares why she is so passionate about women in pickleball, supporting female founders, creators, and players, and helping make sure women are seen, celebrated, and valued in every corner of the sport. Along the way, she reflects on urban pickleball, grassroots community building, pickleball fashion, safety on the court, and the unique way pickleball creates connection between people of all ages and backgrounds.  This is a fun, thoughtful, and inspiring conversation about pickleball, New York City pickleball, Lydia Hirt, women in pickleball, pickleball fashion, urban pickleball, community building, Life Time Pickleball, CityPickle, safety, friendship, marketing, and the life lessons that remind us not to judge a player by appearances, to stay open to new chapters, and to let pickleball surprise us in the very best ways. https://loveatfirstdink.substack.com/ [https://loveatfirstdink.substack.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.

E105: Suryaveer Singh Bhullar: Growing Pickleball Across India

How does a filmmaker from Bollywood become one of the key leaders helping grow pickleball across India, and what happens when a sport built on joy, inclusivity, and community begins changing lives across an entire country? In this episode, we talk with Suryaveer Singh Bhullar, president of the Indian Pickleball Association, about his remarkable journey from player to national leader in one of the fastest-growing pickleball movements in the world. Suryaveer first discovered pickleball during COVID in 2021, when a friend invited him to the courts and he immediately fell in love with the game. What started as personal passion quickly grew into something much bigger. Today, he helps lead pickleball across 26 states in India, with more than 10,000 serious registered players and a vision to make pickleball one of the biggest sports in the country. Suryaveer shares how his background as a director, producer, and filmmaker in Bollywood has shaped the way he promotes the sport, builds excitement, and thinks about making pickleball more engaging for viewers as well as players. He also talks about the Indian Pickleball Association’s work to bring pickleball into school curriculum, launch national interschool championships, build high performance centers, certify coaches, and create real career opportunities through pickleball for players, coaches, and officials. Along the way, he reflects on the role of the Global Pickleball Federation, the dream of seeing pickleball in the Commonwealth Games and eventually the Olympics, and the powerful stories of young players whose lives are already being transformed by the game. This is an energizing and inspiring conversation about pickleball, India pickleball, Indian Pickleball Association, Suryaveer Singh Bhullar, Bollywood, youth sports, school pickleball, international pickleball, Global Pickleball Federation, inclusivity, community, leadership, and the life lessons that remind us it is never too late to start, that sport can open doors for anyone, and that pickleball has the power to bring people together across every age, background, and stage of life.  https://www.ipaofficial.com/ [https://www.ipaofficial.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.

E104: Shari Murphree & Nikki Baker: A Pickleball Friendship That Saved a Life

How can pickleball create the kind of community where someone steps forward to save a life, even when that person was once nearly a stranger? In this deeply moving episode, Nikki Baker and Shari Murphree share an extraordinary story of compassion, courage, and the life-changing power of the pickleball community. Nikki, a retired FedEx leader, certified level two IPTPA instructor, coach, and passionate ambassador for the game, first found pickleball during COVID and quickly fell in love with its competition, camaraderie, and joy. Shari, a retired healthcare executive, was just beginning to enjoy pickleball herself when serious liver disease forced her off the court and into the fight of her life.  As Shari’s condition worsened and the need for a liver transplant became urgent, mutual pickleball friends helped spread the word. Though Nikki and Shari were not close friends at the time, Nikki felt called to step in, get tested, and eventually become Shari’s living liver donor. Together, they share the emotional journey of waiting, testing, surgery, recovery, and the deep bond that formed through this unimaginable act of generosity. Their story is a beautiful reminder that pickleball is about far more than dinks, drives, and competition. It is about community, friendship, kindness, and showing up when someone needs you most.  This is an unforgettable conversation about pickleball, living liver donation, friendship, community, coaching, resilience, recovery, compassion, healthcare, retirement, purpose, and the life lessons that remind us we never know how powerfully our lives may intersect when we choose to care for one another.  📘 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.