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Paddles Ready

Dougie and Hando
Dragon Boating
Dragon Boat
Dragon Boat Racing
World Paddle Games
Olympics
IDBF
Club Pride
Dragon Boat Festivals
Coaching
International Dragon Boat Federation
International Breast Cancer Paddlers Commission
Canada
Dragon Boat Canada
Entertainment In Sports
Singapore
Outriggering
ICF
Aussie Titles
Club Crew World Championships
Hong Kong

Paddles Ready is your go-to podcast for everything happening in the world of paddle racing. Hosted by Dougie and Hando, the show brings you inside the sport with race reviews, real-time commentary, and conversations with paddlers from across the globe. Whether it’s breaking down major competitions, sharing behind-the-scenes stories, or hearing directly from the athletes shaping the sport, this pod... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes13Founded4 months ago
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Sports

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Artwork for Paddles Ready

Latest Episodes

What happens when the sport you've dedicated your life to is suddenly taken away?

For New Zealand paddler Mitch Zanstra, rugby was everything until a series of serious injuries and concussions forced him to walk away from the game he loved. Looking ... more

Does dragon boating really need the Olympics to succeed?

It's a question that's sparked debate for years and in this episode of Paddles Ready, Dougie, Hando and Australian representative Ben Livingstone tackle it head-on.

Ben's journey into dragon ... more

Is Dragon Boating Too Obsessed With Tradition?

Dragon boating is built on thousands of years of history, culture, and tradition but is tradition helping the sport grow, or is it holding it back?

In this episode of Paddles Ready, Dougie and Hando di... more

What if one conversation could explain how dragon boating became the global sport we know today?

In this special episode of Paddles Ready, Dougie and Hando sit down with Mike Haslam, founding President of the International Dragon Boat Federation (ID... more

Could Australia Host the Biggest Paddle Event in the World?

What would happen if every major paddle sport came together for one massive international event?

In this episode of Paddles Ready, Dougie and Hando dive into one of the most exciting devel... more

What makes the perfect dragon boat start?

Is it power? Technique? Timing? Or is it something else entirely?

In this episode of Paddles Ready, Dougie sits down with Hando to unpack one of the most important and most debated aspects of dragon boat ra... more

Can the USA catch China in dragon boating?

That’s the question at the centre of this episode of Paddles Ready, as Dougie and Hando sit down with Tommy Leonardi for a deep dive into the rapid rise of USA dragon boating on the world stage.

With over ... more

How did Canada become one of the strongest dragon boat nations in the world?

In this episode of Paddles Ready, Dougie and Hando sit down with Julie Robitaille, President of Dragon Boat Canada, for a deep dive into the rise of Canadian dragon boating... more

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Recent Guests

Mitch Zanstra
Athlete with a background in rugby, outrigging, and dragon boating
New Zealand outrigging team / Dragon Boat community
Episode: EP13: Rugby Took It Away. Paddling Gave It Back. - Mitch Zanstra
Ben Livingstone
Dragon boat athlete from the Sunshine Coast, community advocate
Sunshine Coast Dragon Boat Club / Auroras
Episode: EP12: Does Dragon Boating Even Need the Olympics? | Ben Livingstone
Mike Haslam
Founder and former president of IDBF
IDBF
Episode: EP10: The Man Who Built Modern Dragon Boating with Mike Haslam
Tommy Leonardi
President of the US Dragon Boat Federation, coach and racer with 30-year involvement in the sport
US Dragon Boat Federation
Episode: EP07: The Race to Catch China: Inside USA Dragon Boating’s Rise with Tommy Leonardi
Julie Robitaille
El Presidente, Dragon Boat Canada
Dragon Boat Canada
Episode: EP06: How Canada Became a Dragon Boat Powerhouse with Julie Robitaille
Claudio Schermi
President of the International Dragon Boat Federation
International Dragon Boat Federation
Episode: EP04: “We Are a Sport” - The Fight to Define Dragon Boating’s Future with Claudio Schermi
Meri Gibson
President of the International Breast Cancer Paddlers Commission Global; international advocate and community builder
International Breast Cancer Paddlers Commission (IBCPC)
Episode: EP03: “This Could Be Their Last Adventure” - The Power of Dragon Boating with Meri Gibson
Big Papa
Papa DB from Cuma, Draggart
Cuma/Dragon Boat community
Episode: EP02: Why Isn’t Dragon Boating in the Olympics?
Mary Gibson
Breast Cancer Paddler advocate and coach
Breast Cancer Paddling
Episode: EP01: It's Here! Welcome to the Paddles Ready Podcast

Hosts

Dougie
Host of Paddles Ready; co-host on show; associated with Paddles Ready
Hando
Host of Paddles Ready; co-host on show; associated with Paddles Ready

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

EP10: The Man Who Built Modern Dragon Boating with Mike Haslam
Q: How did dragon boating transition from a local curiosity to an international sport?
It started with bold experimentation in the UK, media attention sparked by a Hong Kong invitation, and a push to standardize equipment. Fiberglass boats and organized federations (EDBF and then IDBF) enabled cross-border participation and broader promotion, ultimately creating a global governance structure.
EP07: The Race to Catch China: Inside USA Dragon Boating’s Rise with Tommy Leonardi
Q: Tommy, how did you get into dragon boating and what has fueled your 30-year journey?
Tommy shares that he was drawn in the mid-90s after friends from the University of Pennsylvania invited him, starting in freezing conditions but finding the experience exhilarating and addictive, which led to decades of involvement as competitor, coach, and federation leader.
EP07: The Race to Catch China: Inside USA Dragon Boating’s Rise with Tommy Leonardi
Q: Tommy, leaning into that, where does the USA stand in terms of improvement and which elements are driving that progress?
Tommy explains that improvement comes from broader spread of talent across the country, stronger youth development, and collaborative experimentation across clubs and national teams; he highlights that success is not limited to a single formula but a culture of trying new things and training hard.
EP03: “This Could Be Their Last Adventure” - The Power of Dragon Boating with Meri Gibson
Q: How did the breast cancer paddlers category come about and expand internationally?
She describes lobbying and organizational efforts that eventually secured recognition for a breast cancer paddlers category at world events, growth across nations, and the creation of a dedicated space within world championships that brought together participants from multiple countries.
EP03: “This Could Be Their Last Adventure” - The Power of Dragon Boating with Meri Gibson
Q: Where did your journey begin with dragon boating?
Meri explains her initial exposure to dragon boating during travels and how a personal connection to breast cancer—through mentoring a friend—drew her into the sport and community, leading to competitive participation and later advocacy.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About Paddles Ready

What is Paddles Ready about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Paddles Ready centers on dragon boat racing, governance, development, and the culture surrounding the sport. Episodes frequently feature federation leaders, coaches, and organizers discussing how countries build coaching pipelines, youth participation, club systems, and global growth, alongside debates about Olympic inclusion, sponsorship, and event formats. Listeners get insider perspectives on governance, branding, and strategic pathways for clubs and national federations, plus on-water commentary and stories from paddling communities worldwide. The show often blends practical insights for organizers with athlete and community perspectives, making it useful for potential sponsors, event organizers, and practitioners seeking a closer read ... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Paddles Ready?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Paddles Ready:

1. Stuff You Should Know
2. Under the Influence with Terry O'Reilly

How many episodes of Paddles Ready are there?

Paddles Ready launched 4 months ago and published 13 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Paddles Ready?

Recent guests on Paddles Ready include:

1. Mitch Zanstra
2. Ben Livingstone
3. Mike Haslam
4. Tommy Leonardi
5. Julie Robitaille
6. Claudio Schermi
7. Meri Gibson
8. Big Papa

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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