Tiebreak Ep 55: Countdown to The Padel Awards 🏆

Ben Nichols: Shaping the New Padel World 🎾

🚨 New Episode 🚨  Ben Nichols:  “Shaping the New Padel World” Great catching up with Ben Nichols on the latest episode of Padel Stories 🎙️. Ben is one of the key figures in the industry helping shape the narrative of the New Padel World, and this conversation went far beyond just the sport itself. From his early days as a talented junior in both tennis and squash, to roles across Formula One, tennis and global sports organisations, his journey into padel has been anything but conventional. We spoke about: * The rapid growth and future of padel * Why storytelling and positioning matter for the sport * His role with Padel22 and Insider22 * The hugely successful Anglo-American Padel Cup, which heads to the Replay Club Country Club in Florida next year * The opportunities and challenges facing the industry Ben is insightful, driven, thoughtful, and also happens to be a Nottingham Forest fan, (listen at the end to his ultimate game on court!).. A brilliant conversation with a genuinely good guy and someone having a real impact on the sport. No surprise many now refer to him as the “Padel PR”. Thank you Katie McGarrigle  for all your help and to our producer Alisdair Smith  🤝  #Padel #SportsBusiness #Podcast #Leadership #SofaStories #Padel22 #AngloAmericanPadelCup Welcome to The Padel Stories with Nick Bianchi and Jen  Nick is a sports lover, and is absolutely passionate about Padel. He represents the global italian Padel brand Hirostar and has even managed to squeeze in padel coaching course such is his love for the sport. Jen Dooley is a Fitness and wellbeing expert, a Padel fanatic and real ambassador for the sport. She is a regular at many of the clubs in the North-West and is a real  advocate too of the Padel scene at her 2nd home in Tenerife! We will be inviting onto the pod a wonderful mix of guests who talk of their love of Padel and what it means to them and the impact it has on their lives.  Nick and Jen will also be doing a cheeky magazine style show aptly named ‘the tiebreak’!! You know how we do… let’s get into it! NB and JD xx  Follow us on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/padelstoriespodcast?igsh=N2k1cTBjNXlycHVq [https://www.instagram.com/padelstoriespodcast?igsh=N2k1cTBjNXlycHVq]

The British Padel Awards 🏆 Debrief : Bonus episode

Sharing a great evening that was had by all at the British Padel Awards 🏆 We were lucky enough to be guests of Padel Ventures on Table 21 and spent the night surrounded by some fantastic people from across the padel community. We went through all the winners and wanted to offer huge congratulations to everyone recognised on the night, especially Minter Dial from Joy of Padel for winning Best Padel Podcast 👏 We were absolutely delighted just to be shortlisted ourselves for Padel Stories. Being mentioned alongside such great names in the sport meant a lot… and hopefully next year might be our year..😊 Most of all, evenings like this show just how far padel has come and how strong the community around it is becoming. Well done Anthony, you smashed it 🚀  Enjoy Love Nick & Jen  Xx Welcome to The Padel Stories with Nick Bianchi and Jen  Nick is a sports lover, and is absolutely passionate about Padel. He represents the global italian Padel brand Hirostar and has even managed to squeeze in padel coaching course such is his love for the sport. Jen Dooley is a Fitness and wellbeing expert, a Padel fanatic and real ambassador for the sport. She is a regular at many of the clubs in the North-West and is a real  advocate too of the Padel scene at her 2nd home in Tenerife! We will be inviting onto the pod a wonderful mix of guests who talk of their love of Padel and what it means to them and the impact it has on their lives.  Nick and Jen will also be doing a cheeky magazine style show aptly named ‘the tiebreak’!! You know how we do… let’s get into it! NB and JD xx  Follow us on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/padelstoriespodcast?igsh=N2k1cTBjNXlycHVq [https://www.instagram.com/padelstoriespodcast?igsh=N2k1cTBjNXlycHVq]

Tiebreak Ep 55: Countdown to The Padel Awards 🏆

This episode is packed with excitement, anticipation, and pure padel passion as the countdown to the upcoming Padel Awards gathers serious momentum.  We dive into all the hype, fever, and buzz surrounding what promises to be a huge weekend for the sport and the growing padel community. We also look back on the fantastic Jason Manford Padel Academy event at The Padel Club TraffordCity; a brilliant day filled with energy, inspiration, and community spirit. Huge credit goes to Charlotte Gilley MBE for her incredible dedication and hard work in helping bring the event together, alongside the Academy Futures stars and celebrity guests who made it such a memorable occasion. The episode also takes a trip into the heart of the padel community with Soul Padel, where we meet Andy Hilton, Trev the “Padel Pensioner,” and the legendary Soul Timers crew, showcasing the inclusive and social side of the sport that continues to make padel so special. We recap some brilliant recent leading interviews too, including insights from referee Scott Ledger and Sophie Walker, reflecting on the stories, personalities, and passion helping drive the sport forward. Overall, it’s a feel-good episode full of positivity, community spirit, and excitement for what’s ahead. The energy is building, the stage is set… bring on the Padel Awards Welcome to The Padel Stories with Nick Bianchi and Jen  Nick is a sports lover, and is absolutely passionate about Padel. He represents the global italian Padel brand Hirostar and has even managed to squeeze in padel coaching course such is his love for the sport. Jen Dooley is a Fitness and wellbeing expert, a Padel fanatic and real ambassador for the sport. She is a regular at many of the clubs in the North-West and is a real  advocate too of the Padel scene at her 2nd home in Tenerife! We will be inviting onto the pod a wonderful mix of guests who talk of their love of Padel and what it means to them and the impact it has on their lives.  Nick and Jen will also be doing a cheeky magazine style show aptly named ‘the tiebreak’!! You know how we do… let’s get into it! NB and JD xx  Follow us on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/padelstoriespodcast?igsh=N2k1cTBjNXlycHVq [https://www.instagram.com/padelstoriespodcast?igsh=N2k1cTBjNXlycHVq]

Scott Ledger: Premier League Referee by Day ⚽️, Padel Addict By Night 🎾

In this episode of Padel Stories, we sit down with Scott Ledger, one of the most experienced officials in English football, having overseen more than 537 league games across his career as both a referee and assistant referee in the Premier League. Scott shares his fascinating journey from leaving the army to carving out a career at the very top of elite sport, offering a rare behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to operate in such a high-pressure environment. His story is one of resilience, progression, and a deep passion for the game. Away from the pitch, Scott has found an unexpected outlet in padel: A sport that’s become more than just a hobby. What started as a personal escape has quickly grown into something bigger, with his enthusiasm spreading across the refereeing community, notably his big friend Paul Tierney. Now, padel sits at the heart of a referees’ WhatsApp group, helping to strengthen relationships, encourage team bonding, and create a positive shared outlet beyond football. This episode is packed with insight into elite performance, the human side of officiating, and how sport can bring people together in unexpected ways. We hope you enjoy Nick and Jen  Xx Welcome to The Padel Stories with Nick Bianchi and Jen  Nick is a sports lover, and is absolutely passionate about Padel. He represents the global italian Padel brand Hirostar and has even managed to squeeze in padel coaching course such is his love for the sport. Jen Dooley is a Fitness and wellbeing expert, a Padel fanatic and real ambassador for the sport. She is a regular at many of the clubs in the North-West and is a real  advocate too of the Padel scene at her 2nd home in Tenerife! We will be inviting onto the pod a wonderful mix of guests who talk of their love of Padel and what it means to them and the impact it has on their lives.  Nick and Jen will also be doing a cheeky magazine style show aptly named ‘the tiebreak’!! You know how we do… let’s get into it! NB and JD xx  Follow us on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/padelstoriespodcast?igsh=N2k1cTBjNXlycHVq [https://www.instagram.com/padelstoriespodcast?igsh=N2k1cTBjNXlycHVq]

Sophie Walker - Golf Tour, Sky Sports and Padel life

(🚨Please note: there are a few moments in this episode where aircraft noise can be heard overhead, which may affect the sound quality at times. We recorded live at Soul Padel. Thanks for your understanding 🚨)    In this episode, Sophie discusses her life on the Ladies European Tour before moving into broadcasting with Sky Sports. She shares how padel has become such an inclusive sport and something she sees as a real passion and hobby and is proud to be an official Ambassador of Soul Padel. As an early adopter of the game, Sophie explains how padel has grown in importance, especially when travelling on the road with camera crews, presenters, broadcasters, producers and riggers, who are now playing regularly together. She talks about how the sport has helped bring the team closer and created a stronger sense of connection. Sophie also reflects on why she loves padel’s accessibility and inclusiveness, while feeling golf still has some way to go in achieving full male-female equality. A really insightful and engaging conversation Welcome to The Padel Stories with Nick Bianchi and Jen  Nick is a sports lover, and is absolutely passionate about Padel. He represents the global italian Padel brand Hirostar and has even managed to squeeze in padel coaching course such is his love for the sport. Jen Dooley is a Fitness and wellbeing expert, a Padel fanatic and real ambassador for the sport. She is a regular at many of the clubs in the North-West and is a real  advocate too of the Padel scene at her 2nd home in Tenerife! We will be inviting onto the pod a wonderful mix of guests who talk of their love of Padel and what it means to them and the impact it has on their lives.  Nick and Jen will also be doing a cheeky magazine style show aptly named ‘the tiebreak’!! You know how we do… let’s get into it! NB and JD xx  Follow us on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/padelstoriespodcast?igsh=N2k1cTBjNXlycHVq [https://www.instagram.com/padelstoriespodcast?igsh=N2k1cTBjNXlycHVq]