Pickleballers

Hannah Johns: The Johns Family Origin, Growing The PPA, and Pickleball's Wildest Early Days | S4 E3

In this episode, Hannah sits down with Roscoe and Jared to pull back the curtain on the Johns family, the wild early days of the PPA, and what it really took to turn pickleball into a legitimate professional sport. It's part origin story, part behind-the-scenes tour, and entirely worth your time. Hannah opens up about growing up as one of seven homeschooled kids on 12 acres, how Ben showed freakish hand-eye coordination before he could even talk much, and the moment the family realized pickleball might actually be something real — when the first major Franklin sponsorship came in and changed everything. Hannah also gets into the grind of being PPA Employee #4 — arranging player housing, getting screamed at when a pro peed in a host's garden, and the relentless skepticism from networks and fans who said tickets would never sell. She shares what she's most proud of: helping prove every single naysayer wrong. Delivered by @DoorDash! 🚪 Pickleballers Hat: 🧢 https://shop.thekitchenpickle.com/products/pickleballer-snapback?variant=58191198781521 Add us on Instagram: https://instagram.com/pickleballers https://instagram.com/thekitchenpickleball https://instagram.com/roscoebellamy https://instagram.com/jpaulthechef Timestamps: 1:14 — Welcome, Hannah Johns 2:09 — Why Hannah Stepped Away from Sideline Reporting 3:19 — Three Years, Zero Missed Tournaments 4:05 — Traveling the Tour with Ben and Colin 5:28 — How Ryan Sherry Got Hannah Into the PPA 6:00 — Living in the Czech Republic and the Rough Return Home 7:34 — Growing Up Johns: Homeschooled on 12 Acres 10:31 — The Siblings: A Family of Savants 12:24 — How the Johns Family Found Pickleball 16:13 — Who Had the X Factor Growing Up? 17:03 — Ben at Age 3: The Pool Cue Story 22:37 — When Pickleball Was Just Another Hobby for Ben 25:27 — Colin Signing with Electrum and the Early Sponsorship Era 26:04 — How the Johns Family Reacted to the Brothers' Rise 28:25 — Hannah's Goal: Not Being Known as Ben's Sister 30:04 — The Sideline Reporter Craft: Prep, Notes, and Questions 31:15 — Crying in Hotel Bathrooms Before Going on Air 32:12 — Crazy Stories from Tour: The Incident That Almost Sent Someone to Jail 34:20 — The Housing Program and the Garden Incident 36:35 — Misunderstandings About the Early Days of Pickleball 40:41 — The Real Milestones: Salaries, Ticket Sales, and Networks 44:15 — Hannah's Proudest Accomplishment 44:49 — Proving Every Naysayer Wrong 46:01 — The Moment Ben Started Getting Recognized in Public 49:12 — Could Hannah Go Pro? The Black Sheep of the Family 51:30 — The Best Sideline Interview Hannah Ever Did 52:24 — What Most People Misunderstand About Ben Johns 53:55 — Where Hannah Sees Pickleball in 5 Years

Grayson Goldin: The Pickleball Pro Who Survived Two Strokes at 30 and is Coming Back | S4 E2

In this episode, Grayson sits down with Roscoe and Jared to share the full story of suffering two strokes at 30 years old — how it happened, what those six days in the hospital were like, and what his road back to the court has looked like. It's one of the most raw and honest conversations the show has ever had. Grayson breaks down exactly how it unfolded: a chiropractic adjustment after a tournament left something feeling off, and nine days later he woke up unable to form sentences. He traces the moment on court when water started "pouring into his head," the frantic trip to the ER, and the doctor delivering the news that he'd had not one but two strokes — visible as two dark spots on his brain scan. Grayson also opens up about his path to pickleball — from being ranked number one in the country in junior tennis at 12, to selling life insurance after college, to stumbling onto packed pickleball courts in Sarasota and deciding to go all-in. He shares what it felt like walking into Atlanta and watching Federico and Hayden on center court, the moment he knew this was it, and why he still believes he can be number one in the world. 🧢 Pickleballers Hat: https://shop.thekitchenpickle.com/products/pickleballer-snapback?variant=58191198781521 Add us on Instagram: https://instagram.com/pickleballers https://instagram.com/thekitchenpickleball https://instagram.com/roscoebellamy https://instagram.com/jpaulthechef Timestamps: 1:03 — Welcome & Intro 2:28 — Two Strokes at 30: The Health Scare Begins 7:31 — Waking Up Unable to Speak 10:01 — Racing to the Hospital 14:49 — The ER, the Diagnosis, and Six Days of Tests 18:09 — What Actually Caused the Strokes 22:11 — Little Grayson: Born in Chicago, Raised on Tennis 25:06 — Ranked #1 in the Country at 12 30:07 — College Tennis, IMG, and Realizing It Wasn't Enough 34:11 — Life After Tennis: Insurance Sales and Real Estate 37:39 — Discovering Pickleball at the Country Club 46:14 — Flying to Atlanta, Going All-In 52:17 — The Infamous Mixed Doubles Point with Shelby Bates 1:04:49 — Power Tips and Branding Advice for Up-and-Comers 1:07:17 — What the Strokes Taught Him About Pickleball and Life

JW & Jorja Johnson: MLP Drama, Signing Underwear, and Pickleball's Sibling Reign | S4 E1

JW and Jorja Johnson are the most decorated sibling team in professional pickleball, known for transforming the game with the JW Johnson flick and the Jorja Johnson fire — two of the most talked-about weapons on tour. In this episode, JW and Jorja sit down with Roscoe and Jared to trace their unlikely path from Pittsburgh, Kansas to the top of the pro game. They get into the zero-pressure upbringing that made it all possible, the South Florida training culture they helped build, and what it actually takes to stay dominant in a sport evolving as fast as pickleball. Jorja breaks down what it was like to be stolen from the Dallas Flash in the MLP draft, landing on the New Jersey Fives alongside Anna Leigh Waters — a move nobody saw coming. JW also reveals he's never had a real conversation with Ben Johns off the court, and addresses for the first time whether a JW-Ben partnership has ever been on the table. Pickleballers Hat: 🧢 https://shop.thekitchenpickle.com/products/pickleballer-snapback?variant=58191198781521 Add us on Instagram: https://instagram.com/pickleballers https://instagram.com/thekitchenpickleball https://instagram.com/roscoebellamy https://instagram.com/jpaulthechef Timestamps: 1:07 — Welcome & Introducing JW and Jorja Johnson 2:33 — Growing Up in Pittsburgh, Kansas 5:20 — How COVID Sparked Their Pickleball Journey 8:52 — Early Days: Bad Reps, Johnny Goldberg & First Tournaments 10:21 — The $300 Hilton Head Moment That Changed Everything 13:06 — Building the South Florida Training Scene 19:51 — Julie Johnson's Academy and the Rise of a Squad 24:43 — When the Money Started Getting Real 26:26 — Power Balance Scam, Franklin Deal & Seeing Your Face in Dick's 29:04 — Signing Underwear and Knowing You've Made It 34:46 — MLP, the Dallas Flash, and Becoming Stars 40:33 — The Draft Shock: Jorja Stolen to the New Jersey Fives 45:06 — Playing with Anna Leigh & What That Partnership Looks Like 47:26 — How They Stay Dominant: Film, Evolution, and the Tui 49:08 — JW's Hands: The Secret Behind the Fastest Reactions on Tour 54:22 — Life Off the Court: Padel, Cinnamon Bread & Movies 56:44 — Biggest Rivals and the Mindset Behind Not Having One 59:19 — Has JW Ever Thought About Teaming with Ben Johns? 1:01:09 — Greatest Moments

Tama Shimabukuro: Pickleball's Newest Superstar on the Atlanta Run That Changed Everything

Tama Shimabukuro is a 15-year-old professional pickleball player who became an overnight sensation after reaching the singles final at the Atlanta Slam, finishing fourth in men's doubles, and earning the full-throated backing of an entire crowd that couldn't stop chanting his name. In this episode, Tama calls in with Roscoe and Jared just days after his historic Atlanta run to break down what that week actually felt like from inside the storm. They cover the crowd moments, the mental game, and how a kid from Hawaii ends up on the sport's biggest stage. 🧢 Pickleballers Hat: https://shop.thekitchenpickle.com/products/pickleballer-snapback?variant=58191198781521 Add us on Instagram: https://instagram.com/pickleballers https://instagram.com/thekitchenpickleball https://instagram.com/roscoebellamy https://instagram.com/jpaulthechef Timestamps: 1:00 — Tama on life after Atlanta 1:34 — Was it an out-of-body experience? 2:09 — The crowd, the chants, and the chaos 4:03 — The MJ shrug explained 6:25 — Messages flooding in after the run 6:56 — Breaking down the Fed match 8:48 — Is he actually that calm, or just built different? 10:14 — Was the breakout a surprise? 11:15 — Background: skateboarder to pickleball 12:36 — Self-taught: 10 hours of rec a day 14:16 — Life on the road with Mama Tama 17:08 — Sponsorship and partnership questions 18:19 — Pros he studies, dream doubles partners 20:41 — Fan Q&A 22:19 — Advice for young players 23:48 — Toughest opponent so far 24:26 — Message to new fans

Anna Bright: Saying No to Anna Leigh, Girlies Breakup, and Pickleball's Biggest Personality | S3 E10

Anna Bright is the #2 ranked women's pickleball player in the world, an MLP champion, and one of the sport's most magnetic personalities — a Cal Berkeley graduate who went from Pacific Crest Trail solo hiker to professional athlete in under a year. In this episode, Anna sits down with Roscoe and Jared to pull back the curtain on her journey from junior tennis to the top of pickleball, the business decisions that defined her career, and the personal dynamics that come with competing at the highest level. The conversation is candid, funny, and surprisingly raw — exactly what you'd expect from someone who's never been afraid to say what she thinks. Anna breaks down the story behind "The Girlies" — her viral brand partnership with Rachel Rachel Rohrabacher — and what it was like to walk away from one of pickleball's most beloved duos. She opens up about the game-theory moment that led her to reach out to Anna Lee Waters, including the part nobody knew: she'd already said no once before. Anna also gets into the tension between her fiery on-court persona and the content creator she's becoming off it, why yoga and breath work have quietly transformed the last six months of her life, and what she actually thinks about the yelling controversy that made this podcast feel like it might never happen. Delivered by @DoorDash! 🚗 Pickleballers Hat: 🧢 https://shop.thekitchenpickle.com/products/pickleballer-snapback?variant=58191198781521 Add us on Instagram: https://instagram.com/pickleballers https://instagram.com/thekitchenpickleball https://instagram.com/roscoebellamy https://instagram.com/jpaulthechef Timestamps: 0:00 - Start 1:02 — Welcome Anna Bright 1:46 — Clearing the Air: The Kate Twitter Moment 4:01 — Growing Up in Fort Worth & Junior Tennis 8:42 — Fractured Back at 13 & High School Reset 12:50 — The College Recruiting Process & Choosing Cal Berkeley 17:42 — The Pacific Crest Trail: Solo, 2,500 Miles, 113 Days 24:19 — How Pickleball Found Her 30:49 — Meeting James Ignatowich 36:25 — Building a Brand: The Rise of The Girlies 46:19 — How Playing Full-Time Changes Your Relationship With the Sport 52:04 — The Game Theory Decision: Leaving Rachel for Anna Lee 1:01:27 — What It's Like Playing With the Greatest of All Time 1:07:02 — Biggest Threats on Tour 1:09:24 — Pickleball in Asia & the Sport's Global Future 1:13:53 — Most Entertaining Players to Watch 1:15:47 — What She Wants From the Sport Long-Term 1:22:57 — Fan Q&A: Box Breathing, Yoga & Staying Injury-Free 1:25:56 — The Power 50 Ranking Reaction