Episode 18: The Recovery Lie Nobody's Talking About, And the Plant-Based Science Changing the Game

Episode 20: The Big One: State of the Sport June 2026, Anna Leigh Waters, and the PPR 20 Protocol

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2607671/fan_mail/new] Episode 20 is here and we are going full send.  This week: a live pickleball news desk covering everything happening in June 2026, MLP New York, the $225 million investment into Pickleball Inc., and the Pickle Money Ball circuit putting real prize money in front of amateur players.  Then we profile the most dominant athlete in pickleball history, Anna Leigh Waters, 19 years old, 181 gold medals, 94.3% career win rate, and break down three things every recreational player can steal from her game right now. Plus: the PPR 20 Protocol, a four-week performance and recovery challenge for every listener. This is the milestone episode. Don't miss it. Topics: pickleball 2026, Anna Leigh Waters, Major League Pickleball 2026, MLP New York 2026, PPA Tour 2026, pickleball news June 2026, Pickle Money Ball, pickleball recovery, pickleball performance tips, amateur pickleball tournament, best pickleball podcast, pro pickleball player tips, Paddle Pro Balm, pickleball injury prevention, pickleball training. 🟡 Shop Paddle Pro Balm: https://paddleprobalm.com/ 🏓 Mint Sport Paddles: https://mintsport.com/ 📖 Pickleball + ADHD Book on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0H1C2TRKY About Paddle Pro Balm Paddle Pro Balm is a pickleball-focused recovery and performance brand designed to help players reduce soreness, recover faster, and stay on the court longer. Built specifically for pickleball athletes of all levels. Learn more: https://paddleprobalm.com [https://paddleprobalm.com] Follow Paddle Pro Balm Website: https://paddleprobalm.com [https://paddleprobalm.com] Instagram: https://instagram.com/paddleprobalm [https://instagram.com/paddleprobalm] Email: contact@paddleprobalm.com [support@paddleprobalm.com] Disclaimer This podcast is for informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Always consult a healthcare professional before starting any recovery or treatment program. pickleball recovery, pickleball injuries, tennis elbow pickleball, pickleball performance, pickleball pain relief, pickleball tips, pickleball training, paddle pro balm

Episode 19: From Gridiron to the Kitchen Line: The Drew Brees Pickleball Story

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2607671/fan_mail/new] He won a Super Bowl.  He threw for more yards than anyone in NFL history at the time of his retirement. He's a first-ballot Pro Football Hall of Famer. And now Drew Brees is all-in on pickleball, owning a Major League Pickleball team, developing 30 Picklr franchise locations, hosting his own annual pickleball festival, and even creating an entirely new sport. In Episode 19 we tell the full story, from his near career-ending shoulder injury in 2005, to his legendary NFL comeback, to what the Drew Brees pickleball story means for every player in this community. Topics: Drew Brees pickleball, NFL players pickleball, Drew Brees The Picklr, celebrity pickleball, Major League Pickleball, LA Mad Drops, NFL shoulder injury recovery, pickleball recovery, athlete recovery lessons, pickleball performance, pickleball growing sport, Drew Brees Super Bowl, pickleball franchise, Paddle Pro Balm. 🟡 Shop Paddle Pro Balm: https://paddleprobalm.com/ 🏓 Mint Sport Paddles: https://mintsport.com/ 📖 Pickleball + ADHD Book on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0H1C2TRKY About Paddle Pro Balm Paddle Pro Balm is a pickleball-focused recovery and performance brand designed to help players reduce soreness, recover faster, and stay on the court longer. Built specifically for pickleball athletes of all levels. Learn more: https://paddleprobalm.com [https://paddleprobalm.com] Follow Paddle Pro Balm Website: https://paddleprobalm.com [https://paddleprobalm.com] Instagram: https://instagram.com/paddleprobalm [https://instagram.com/paddleprobalm] Email: contact@paddleprobalm.com [support@paddleprobalm.com] Disclaimer This podcast is for informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Always consult a healthcare professional before starting any recovery or treatment program. pickleball recovery, pickleball injuries, tennis elbow pickleball, pickleball performance, pickleball pain relief, pickleball tips, pickleball training, paddle pro balm

Episode 18: The Recovery Lie Nobody's Talking About, And the Plant-Based Science Changing the Game

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2607671/fan_mail/new] Most sports recovery products are built on a neurological distraction — they mask pain at the nerve ending without ever addressing the inflammation underneath. In this episode we expose the problem, break down the science of transdermal delivery and the Endocannabinoid System, and explain why plant-based botanical recovery is the new standard for pickleball players at every level. Topics: pickleball recovery, pickleball elbow pain, pickleball knee pain, pickleball shoulder injury, best recovery balm pickleball, organic sports recovery, transdermal pain relief, plant-based sports recovery, endocannabinoid system athletes, pickleball injury treatment, natural pain relief athletes, anti-inflammatory recovery, sports gel vs balm, Paddle Pro Balm, pickleball muscle soreness, pickleball performance. 🟡 Shop Paddle Pro Balm: https://paddleprobalm.com/ 🏓 Mint Sport Paddles: https://mintsport.com/ 📖 Pickleball + ADHD Book on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0H1C2TRKY About Paddle Pro Balm Paddle Pro Balm is a pickleball-focused recovery and performance brand designed to help players reduce soreness, recover faster, and stay on the court longer. Built specifically for pickleball athletes of all levels. Learn more: https://paddleprobalm.com [https://paddleprobalm.com] Follow Paddle Pro Balm Website: https://paddleprobalm.com [https://paddleprobalm.com] Instagram: https://instagram.com/paddleprobalm [https://instagram.com/paddleprobalm] Email: contact@paddleprobalm.com [support@paddleprobalm.com] Disclaimer This podcast is for informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Always consult a healthcare professional before starting any recovery or treatment program. pickleball recovery, pickleball injuries, tennis elbow pickleball, pickleball performance, pickleball pain relief, pickleball tips, pickleball training, paddle pro balm

Episode 17: The 5-Minute Warm-Up That Changes Everything — A Science-Backed Pickleball Pre-Game Routine

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2607671/fan_mail/new] Most pickleball injuries are not freak accidents, they're accumulated debt from playing cold, session after session. In Episode 17, we break down exactly why static stretching is the wrong tool before pickleball, what dynamic warm-up actually does to your joints and muscles, and the five-move routine you can do in five minutes at the court fence before every session. Topics: pickleball warm up routine, dynamic warm up pickleball, how to warm up for pickleball, pickleball injury prevention, rotator cuff pickleball, thoracic spine mobility, pickleball shoulder injury, pickleball knee pain, pickleball hip flexor, static vs dynamic stretching, pickleball longevity, pickleball performance tips, Paddle Pro Balm, pickleball recovery. Shop Paddle Pro Balm: https://paddleprobalm.com/ Mint Sport Paddles (recommended): https://mintsport.com/ Pickleball + ADHD Book on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0H1C2TRKY About Paddle Pro Balm Paddle Pro Balm is a pickleball-focused recovery and performance brand designed to help players reduce soreness, recover faster, and stay on the court longer. Built specifically for pickleball athletes of all levels. Learn more: https://paddleprobalm.com [https://paddleprobalm.com] Follow Paddle Pro Balm Website: https://paddleprobalm.com [https://paddleprobalm.com] Instagram: https://instagram.com/paddleprobalm [https://instagram.com/paddleprobalm] Email: contact@paddleprobalm.com [support@paddleprobalm.com] Disclaimer This podcast is for informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Always consult a healthcare professional before starting any recovery or treatment program. pickleball recovery, pickleball injuries, tennis elbow pickleball, pickleball performance, pickleball pain relief, pickleball tips, pickleball training, paddle pro balm

🎙️ Episode 16 | The New Player Survival Guide| Everything You Need to Know Before Your First Pickleball Game

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2607671/fan_mail/new] You found the sport. You bought the paddle. Now what? This episode is the complete pickleball beginner's guide — the stuff nobody actually tells you before your first day on a public court. The unwritten rules. The social system. The four rules you genuinely need to know. And the body prep truth that most new players find out the hard way. Whether you're a brand new player who just discovered the fastest-growing sport in America, or a seasoned regular who wants to finally send something useful to that friend on the fence — Episode 16 of the Pickleball Recovery and Performance Podcast is exactly what you've been looking for. 🏓 WHAT YOU'LL LEARN IN THIS EPISODE: ✅ How pickleball open play actually works — the paddle queue, the rotation system, and how to blend in on day one ✅ Why telling people you're a beginner is your single biggest advantage (not a weakness) ✅ The net meetup — the one ritual every player must know ✅ The kitchen rule (non-volley zone) explained in plain English ✅ The two-bounce rule — why it exists and how to execute it correctly ✅ Pickleball scoring explained — what "3-2-1" actually means ✅ Why control always beats power for new players ✅ The 4-step physical prep checklist that prevents beginner injuries ✅ Why your running shoes are a liability on the pickleball court ✅ Forearm soreness in week one — what's normal and what's a warning sign ✅ How Paddle Pro Balm fits into your first-week recovery plan ⏱️ TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 – Welcome & what's different about this episode 01:30 – The parking lot moment every new player knows 03:00 – How open play works: queue, transparency, and the net tap 05:30 – Paddle Pro Balm sponsor break 06:30 – The 4 rules you actually need to know before you play 09:30 – The body prep section nobody warns beginners about 12:00 – Rapid-fire full recap 13:15 – Outro: pull the sticker off your paddle 🔗 LINKS & RESOURCES: 🟡 Paddle Pro Balm — Recovery balm built for paddle sport athletes → https://paddleprobalm.com/ 🏓 Mint Sport — Our recommended pickleball paddle partner → https://mintsport.com/ 📖 Pickleball & ADHD — Cole's book on Amazon → https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0H1C2TRKY 🔑 TOPIC KEYWORDS: pickleball for beginners, how to start playing pickleball, pickleball open play, pickleball court etiquette, pickleball rules explained, the kitchen rule pickleball, two bounce rule pickleball, pickleball scoring for beginners, pickleball gear for beginners, best pickleball paddle for beginners, pickleball warmup routine, pickleball injury prevention, forearm pain pickleball, pickleball recovery, fastest growing sport 2025, Paddle Pro Balm, pickleball podcast, pickleball tips, learn pickleball fast, pickleball beginner mistakes ⭐ ENJOYING THE SHOW? → Leave a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts — it takes 2 minutes and directly grows this show → Share this episode with the one person in your life who keeps saying they want to try pickleball → Subscribe so you never miss a weekly episode The Pickleball Recovery and Performance Podcast publishes every week — covering beginner guides, recovery science, performance training, injury prevention, nutrition, and the mental game for paddle sport players at every level. 🎙️ Hosted by Cole Stegman | Presented by Paddle Pro Balm 🌐 https://paddleprobalm.com/ About Paddle Pro Balm Paddle Pro Balm is a pickleball-focused recovery and performance brand designed to help players reduce soreness, recover faster, and stay on the court longer. Built specifically for pickleball athletes of all levels. Learn more: https://paddleprobalm.com [https://paddleprobalm.com] Follow Paddle Pro Balm Website: https://paddleprobalm.com [https://paddleprobalm.com] Instagram: https://instagram.com/paddleprobalm [https://instagram.com/paddleprobalm] Email: contact@paddleprobalm.com [support@paddleprobalm.com] Disclaimer This podcast is for informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Always consult a healthcare professional before starting any recovery or treatment program. pickleball recovery, pickleball injuries, tennis elbow pickleball, pickleball performance, pickleball pain relief, pickleball tips, pickleball training, paddle pro balm