Rephonic
Artwork for PicklePod
Pickleball
Major League Pickleball
Paddle Technology
Tennis
APP Tour
PPA
Anna Leigh Waters
USA Pickleball
Eye Protection
Referee Conduct
Singles Play
Drug Testing
Spectator Sports
Eyewear
MLP
PPA Tour
Tournaments
Line Calls
Paddles
St. Pete

On “PicklePod”, Thomas Shields and Zane Navratil deliver an entrée of updates from around the Pickleball World. Some would say it’s a “Picklers” dream podcast with the duo’s loud and unfiltered insights commentating on the good, the bad, and even the ugly sides of the sport as Pickleball undeniably rockets towards mainstream adoption. Weekly rotating topics, guests, tournament recaps, Pickleball p... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes169Founded4 years ago
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Sports

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Artwork for PicklePod

Latest Episodes

The PicklePod closes out the year with a wide-ranging look at the stories that will shape pro pickleball in 2026.

This episode breaks down what actually mattered at PPA Daytona, why the Jorja Johnson–Anna Lee Waters discourse has gone off the rails,... more

This episode of the Picklepod is absolute chaos—in the best way possible.

We break down the UPA contract terminations involving James Ignatowich, Vivian Glozman, Ryan Fu, and Paris Todd, and debate whether the league is enforcing rules fairly or sim... more

This week, Zane is joined by The Dink’s own Alex Weaver for a deep-dive into one of the wildest and fastest-growing problems in pickleball: counterfeit paddles flooding the market.

You’ve seen them on T-Mu, Facebook Marketplace, maybe even at your l... more

This week on the PicklePod, Zane and Tice dive into one of the wildest slates of global pickleball we’ve had in a while — even if half of it was nearly impossible to find online. We break down tournaments in Vietnam, Australia, and China, plus look a... more

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Recent Guests

Alex Weaver
Writer at The Dink
The Dink
Episode: The Hidden World of Counterfeit Pickleball Paddles
Kyle Yates
Professional pickleball player and coach, known for inventing the 'Kyle Shot'.
Episode: Inventing New Shots With Pickleball OG Kyle Yates
Dr. Scott Shear
COO and part of the founding team of Trescriptions, discusses nootropics and supplements for performance enhancement.
Trescriptions
Episode: Inventing New Shots With Pickleball OG Kyle Yates
Eric Oncins
Professional pickleball player and notable tournament participant
Episode: “The Most Insane Pickleball Experience of My Life” w/ Eric Oncins
James Ignatowich
Professional pickleball player and founder of RPM
RPM
Episode: The Biggest Indicator That a New Paddle is Good w/ James Ignatowich
Alex Geesbreght
Majority owner of the LA Mad Drops in Major League Pickleball
LA Mad Drops
Episode: Newest MLP Owner Shuts Down Rumors of Collusion
Eric Tice
Major League Pickleball analyst and commentator
Episode: From Title Defense to Total Disaster: Sliders Upset the Reigning Champs
Johnny Lucian Goins
17-year-old pickleball player and recent PPA champion
Major League Pickleball
Episode: Chess, Strategy & Singles Gold: Inside Johnny G’s Breakthrough
Nico the Lefty
A popular figure in the Pickleball community, known for his active Twitter presence.
Episode: MLP's Unofficial Season Awards w/ Nico the Lefty

Hosts

Thomas Shields
Co-host of the podcast and Founder of The Dink Pickleball Media Company, he provides insightful commentary on Pickleball, leveraging his media expertise and knowledge of the sport.
Zane Navratil
Co-host and top-ranked professional pickleball player, bringing expertise and a dynamic personality to discussions.

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 244 ratings
  • Getting better all the time

    Fantastic work Zane. Really enjoying what you’re doing with the podcast. Keep up the excellent work.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    SabasSurestep
    Canada7 months ago
  • Boring

    Boring, boring, boring. Can you possibly say something interesting.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    RaFa my dogs name
    United Statesa year ago
  • Bro!

    Bro? Bro! Broooo! Seven minutes in and still bro bro bro.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    annramey
    United States2 years ago
  • They let anyone have a podcast

    I was reading Zane’s mocking of Squeaky and the Normie, and the combined hysteria made me listen to this podcast. When I heard Zane’s voice, I thought - yep, anyone can have a podcast. The other guy, I think he’s Tommy - or Tomas, or something like that - has a good radio voice. I’m not sure if he could do PBP for the PPA or MLP - but his voice is soothing… and my favorite part is when they have a guest, and he doesn’t pay attention to Zane’s moaning, and pretends he isn’t there. He can’t do thi... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Eddie Panic
    United States3 years ago
  • I judged Zane too soon

    I didn’t care for Zane too much early on. I was jealous of his stupid spin serve and his voice is similar to a member of the lollipop guild. Then he went & nabbed Miss Wisconsin of all things! That proves Zane must have a really big….personality. Which is perfect for his podcast. Oh, and the other dude’s a jerk. I sat by him at PPA Rockwall & he was an aloof sad little whiner; probably because Tyson had left him.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    cyberbear
    United States3 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Listeners appreciate the informative and entertaining nature of the discussions, providing insights into the evolving world of pickleball.
Many highlight the engaging chemistry between the hosts, making it a fun and relatable listening experience.
Some critiques mention a desire for more structured content, but the humor and casual style are often well-received.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

"I GUARANTEE Those Four Are on MLP Teams Next Year"
Q: Who's more valuable to their team, you or Eric Lang and why is it Eric?
I don't know, but next question.
What It Takes to Go Pro in Pickleball w/ Chris Haworth
Q: What advice would you have to somebody who is maybe very talented but has never played their first pro pickleball tournament?
Play as many tournaments as possible, including PPA and APP events, while balancing work and training. Networking is key in pickleball.
Zane Reacts to Agonizing MLP Finals Loss
Q: What were your thoughts on the crowd at the finals?
The crowd in New York City was loud and packed, making it an electric atmosphere.
Zane Reacts to Agonizing MLP Finals Loss
Q: How does MLP build brand loyalty among fans?
I think longer windows with these players and home and away matches would be great to build loyalty.
Zane Reacts to Agonizing MLP Finals Loss
Q: What top players do you think will be dropped from their teams?
With the roster drops required this year, I think there will be a few more than usual due to teams needing to drop original roster players.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About PicklePod

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

A vibrant and engaging podcast focused on the world of Pickleball, featuring a mix of updates, humorous commentary, and insightful discussions on various aspects of the sport. Hosted by Thomas Shields, founder of a media company dedicated to Pickleball, and Zane Navratil, a champion player, the content resonates with both avid fans and newcomers alike. Episodes cover a wide range of topics including tournament recaps, player strategies, cultural commentary, and guest appearances from notable figures within the Pickleball community. The hosts maintain a lighthearted yet informative tone, making the podcast a go-to source for entertainment and knowledge about the fast-growing sport.

Where can I find podcast stats for PicklePod?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for PicklePod. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to PicklePod and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does PicklePod get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for PicklePod, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for PicklePod?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for PicklePod, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does PicklePod have?

To see how many followers or subscribers PicklePod has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to PicklePod?

These podcasts share a similar audience with PicklePod:

1. King of the Court
2. Bad Calls - Pickleball Podcast
3. Pickleball Tips - 4.0 To Pro, A Pocket-Sized Pickleball Podcast
4. Pickleball Studio Podcast
5. Pickleball Effect: The Podcast

How many episodes of PicklePod are there?

PicklePod launched 4 years ago and published 169 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact PicklePod?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for PicklePod?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for PicklePod from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for PicklePod?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of PicklePod. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on PicklePod?

Recent guests on PicklePod include:

1. Alex Weaver
2. Kyle Yates
3. Dr. Scott Shear
4. Eric Oncins
5. James Ignatowich
6. Alex Geesbreght
7. Eric Tice
8. Johnny Lucian Goins

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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