What does it take to build one of the most organized and respected pickleball communities in North America?

In this episode of Kitchen Conversations – Stories Behind the Paddle, I sit down with Diana Dowthwaite, President of the Ottawa Pickleball Association, to unpack the incredible growth of the game—and how the OPA has quietly become a blueprint for how to do it right.

From humble beginnings—chalk lines on cracked tennis courts—to a 700+ member powerhouse with a waitlist of 1000 players, this is the story of leadership, vision, and community.

We get into:

• Why pickleball is solving something deeper than just sport
• How OPA built a skills-first development model (not just rec play)
• The truth about ratings systems—and why OPA ignores them
• The secret behind creating instant community and lifelong friendships
• The biggest threat to the game right now (and it’s not what you think)
• How structured play at level is transforming player experience

If you want to understand where pickleball is going—and what great leadership in this space actually looks like—this conversation is required listening.

🔗 Ottawa Pickleball Association (OPA)

👉 Official Website: https://ottawapickleballassociation.com
👉 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OttawaPickleballAssociation
👉 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ottawapickleballassociation

🎧 Watch More Episodes

👉 Full Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@KitchenConversationspodcast

💬 Join the Conversation

Have you experienced the “pickleball effect”?
Drop a comment below 👇
What has this game brought into your life beyond the court?

🏓 Hashtags

#OttawaPickleball #PickleballCanada #KitchenConversationsPodcast #PickleballCommunity #PickleballLife #PickleballGrowth #PickleballClub #PlayPickleball #PickleballAddict #DinkLife #PickleballNation #SportsCommunity #ActiveLifestyle #PickleballTraining #PickleballSkills #PickleballLeagues #PickleballCulture #CanadianPickleball #PickleballPodcast #GameOfALifetime

And that wraps up this episode of Kitchen Conversations.

If you enjoyed the conversation, be sure to follow the show, leave a review, and share it with someone who loves the game as much as you do.

And if you want the full experience, including the visuals, head over to YouTube and watch the episode at

https://www.youtube.com/@KitchenConversationspodcast

Or search Kitchen Conversations Pickleball Podcast

That’s where these stories really come to life.

You’ll also find links and show notes in the episode description.

Until next time…

more than dinks, drops and drives…

these are stories from behind the paddle.

What if the person who could extend your pickleball life…doesn’t even play the game?

In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Colin Campbell, a chiropractor from the Nepean Active Health Clinic who sees the game from the outside looking in — and what he shares might completely change how you approach the court.

From walking onto a varsity football team at Queen's University football team with zero experience…
to treating athletes for over 20 years…to breaking down the real reason pickleball injuries are exploding…

This conversation is different.
It’s not about how to play better.
It’s about how to keep playing at all.

🧠 WHAT YOU’LL LEARN:

• Why pickleball injuries are rising fast (and what nobody tells you)
• The biggest mistake players make before stepping on the court
• The truth about aging vs performance
• Why your brain thinks you’re 35… but your body disagrees
• The most common injuries: knees, Achilles, back, elbow
• Simple changes that can add YEARS to your game

⚠️ REAL TALK:

Most players don’t get injured because of one bad movement.
They get injured because of thousands of small ones done wrong.

This episode breaks that down in a way every player needs to hear.

🔗 CONNECT WITH NEPEAN ACTIVE HEALTH CLINIC

👉 https://nepeanactivehealth.com

👉 https://www.facebook.com/nepeanactivehealth

If you’re in the Ottawa area and serious about staying in the game, this is where you start.

🎯 ABOUT THE SHOW

“More than Dinks, Drops and Drives – Stories from Behind The Paddle.”

This is not a coaching channel.
This is where the real stories live.

💬 QUESTION FOR YOU:

Have you ever played through an injury you knew you shouldn’t have?

🔔 DON’T FORGET:

Subscribe for weekly episodes. Every Thursday. 1pm.

🏷️ HASHTAGS:

#Pickleball #PickleballInjuries #KitchenConversations #SportsHealth #InjuryPrevention #ActiveLiving #PickleballLife #Longevity #HealthAndWellness #ChiropracticCare #OttawaHealth #StayInTheGame #PickleballCanada #AthleteMindset #MovementMatters

And that wraps up this episode of Kitchen Conversations.

If you enjoyed the conversation, be sure to follow the show, leave a review, and share it with someone who loves the game as much as you do.

And if you want the full experience, including the visuals, head over to YouTube and watch the episode at

https://www.youtube.com/@KitchenConversationspodcast

Or search Kitchen Conversations Pickleball Podcast

That’s where these stories really come to life.

You’ll also find links and show notes in the episode description.

Until next time…

more than dinks, drops and drives…

these are stories from behind the paddle.

What exactly is DUPR… and why is the entire pickleball world talking about it?

In this episode of Kitchen Conversations: Stories Behind the Paddle, Mike sits down with Kingston pickleball leader and founding Kingston Pickleball Club member Rick Bigelow for a deep dive into the evolution of pickleball ratings, the rise of DUPR, tournament play, sandbagging, reliability scores, and the growing pains of a sport exploding across the globe.

From the early YMCA days in Kingston… to today’s data driven world of ratings, ladders, and tournament algorithms… this conversation breaks down one of the most misunderstood topics in pickleball in a way every club player can understand.

Whether you are:
🏓 brand new to the game
🏓 curious about tournament play
🏓 frustrated by your DUPR rating
🏓 or simply fascinated by where pickleball is heading globally

…this episode delivers real insight without the noise.

Special thanks to Kingston Pickleball Club for continuing to help grow one of the strongest pickleball communities in Canada.

📍 Kingston Pickleball Club
1050 Gardiners Road
Kingston, Ontario

🔥 WATCH / FOLLOW / LEARN MORE:

Kingston Pickleball Website

🏓 https://kingstonpickleballclub.com/

Kingston Pickleball Club Facebook Group

📘 Kingston Pickleball Club Facebook

▶️ Kitchen Conversations YouTube Channel

#Pickleball
#DUPR
#KingstonPickleballClub
#KitchenConversations
#StoriesBehindThePaddle
#PickleballPodcast
#PickleballCanada
#OntarioPickleball
#KingstonOntario
#PickleballCommunity
#TournamentPickleball
#PickleballRatings
#DoublesPickleball
#PickleballLife
#KitchenConversationsPodcast
#RickBigelow
#PickleballPlayers
#PickleballTalk
#RoadToTheOlympics
#PickleballGrowth

And that wraps up this episode of Kitchen Conversations.

If you enjoyed the conversation, be sure to follow the show, leave a review, and share it with someone who loves the game as much as you do.

And if you want the full experience, including the visuals, head over to YouTube and watch the episode at

https://www.youtube.com/@KitchenConversationspodcast

Or search Kitchen Conversations Pickleball Podcast

That’s where these stories really come to life.

You’ll also find links and show notes in the episode description.

Until next time…

more than dinks, drops and drives…

these are stories from behind the paddle.

What happens when a guy living in a yurt becomes one of the most influential voices in pickleball?

In this episode of Kitchen Conversations, I sit down with Mike “Sleeves” Sliwa… one of the most recognizable, unfiltered, and thought-provoking personalities in the game today.

He’s not just talking about pickleball.
He’s challenging it.

From hosting the Senior Pickleball Report to narrating a major pickleball documentary… to working behind the scenes on initiatives like the Pickleball Manufacturers Association (PMA) and emerging rating systems…

Sleeves is right in the middle of where the game is going next.

And he’s not afraid to push back on where it’s going wrong.

As he puts it, he’s constantly “pushing against the status quo” in a sport that’s rapidly being shaped by money, technology, and competing agendas.

This is a conversation about pickleball…
but more importantly, it’s about who controls the future of the game.

🔥 In this episode, we dive into:

• The real story behind the Senior Pickleball Report
• How Sleeves went from content creator to documentary narrator
• The power struggle behind pro pickleball
• Why he’s challenging the current rating systems
• The vision behind the Pickleball Manufacturers Association (PMA)
• The explosion of paddle companies and who really wins
• How AI could reshape the way the game is played and analyzed
• Why the current direction of the sport may not serve everyday players

🌎 Follow Mike “Sleeves” Sliwa:

👉 Senior Pickleball Report (YouTube):
https://www.youtube.com/@SeniorPickleballReport

👉 Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/seniorpickleballreport

👉 Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/SeniorPickleballReport

🏓 Pickleball Manufacturers Association (PMA):

👉 Learn more / Get involved:
https://www.pickleballma.com

A growing collaborative space for paddle brands, creators, and innovators looking to challenge the traditional power structure of the sport.

📊 Emerging Rating System (VER / VAR TV):

👉 Learn more:
https://www.vertvpickleball.com

A new approach to rating players using real performance, decision-making, and AI… not just scores.

🎬 Documentary Mentioned:

👉 Dream Breaker (Pickleball documentary narrated by Sleeves)
https://therokuchannel.roku.com

🎙️ About Kitchen Conversations:

This is not an interview.
This is a court-side conversation.

Real stories. Real people.
More than dinks, drops, and drives.
Stories from behind the paddle.

🏓 If this episode makes you think:

Subscribe
Share it
Send it to someone who loves the game

Because the future of pickleball is being shaped right now.

🔖 Hashtags:

#Pickleball
#SeniorPickleballReport
#MikeSliwa
#Sleeves
#PMA
#PickleballManufacturersAssociation
#PickleballPodcast
#KitchenConversations
#PickleballCommunity
#PickleballGrowth
#AIInSports
#PaddleReviews
#PickleballIndustry
#SportsInnovation

And that wraps up this episode of Kitchen Conversations.

If you enjoyed the conversation, be sure to follow the show, leave a review, and share it with someone who loves the game as much as you do.

And if you want the full experience, including the visuals, head over to YouTube and watch the episode at

https://www.youtube.com/@KitchenConversationspodcast

Or search Kitchen Conversations Pickleball Podcast

That’s where these stories really come to life.

You’ll also find links and show notes in the episode description.

Until next time…

more than dinks, drops and drives…

these are stories from behind the paddle.

What if the biggest risk in pickleball… isn’t your opponent?

In this episode of Kitchen Conversations, I sit down with Brad Robbins — the mind behind Kitchen Blockers — a product that’s not just entering the game…

…it’s trying to change it.

After taking a ball to the eye, Brad saw something most players ignore:

👉 The fastest-growing sport in the world
👉 Millions of players
👉 Almost no one protecting their vision

And that’s where Kitchen Blockers was born.

This isn’t just about eyewear.
It’s about awareness.
It’s about safety.
And it’s about protecting the game we all love.

Brad doesn’t hold back in this conversation — from why eye injuries are inevitable… to why governing bodies are behind the curve… to why the culture of pickleball itself needs to evolve.

Love it or not… this is a conversation the sport needs.

🎯 In this episode, we dive into:

• The real risk of eye injuries in pickleball
• The story behind Kitchen Blockers
• Why most players are ignoring safety
• The “kitchen line danger zone” explained
• Why eye protection may eventually be mandatory
• The explosive growth of Kitchen Blockers globally
• What the future of pickleball safety looks like

👁️ Learn more about Kitchen Blockers:

👉 Official Website
https://kitchenblockers.com

👉 Follow Kitchen Blockers on Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/kitchenblockers

👉 Learn more about Brad Robbins
https://www.linkedin.com/in/bradrobbins

🎥 Watch more episodes:

👉 Kitchen Conversations YouTube Channel
https://www.youtube.com/@KitchenConversationspodcast

🎙️ About the Show:

Kitchen Conversations is more than dinks, drops and drives —
it’s stories from behind the paddle.

🔥 Hashtags:

#KitchenBlockers #BradRobbins #PickleballSafety #EyeProtection
#PickleballInjuries #PickleballCanada #KitchenConversations
#ProtectYourEyes #PickleballGear #PickleballLife
#PickleballGrowth #SportsInnovation #EntrepreneurStory
#PickleballCommunity #PlaySafe #PickleballPodcast
#DinkResponsibly #GameChanger #PickleballAwareness

And that wraps up this episode of Kitchen Conversations.

If you enjoyed the conversation, be sure to follow the show, leave a review, and share it with someone who loves the game as much as you do.

And if you want the full experience, including the visuals, head over to YouTube and watch the episode at

https://www.youtube.com/@KitchenConversationspodcast

Or search Kitchen Conversations Pickleball Podcast

That’s where these stories really come to life.

You’ll also find links and show notes in the episode description.

Until next time…

more than dinks, drops and drives…

these are stories from behind the paddle.

He didn’t just play the game… he helped shape it.

In this episode of Kitchen Conversations, I sit down with Pickleball Hall of Famer Steve Paranto… a man whose fingerprints are all over the modern game.

From the earliest days of pickleball…
to helping revolutionize paddle technology…
to building one of the most unique spaces in the sport…

This is a story of legacy, innovation, and the people who made it all possible.

Because behind Steve’s success…
is a father who changed the game forever.

And a son who carried it forward.

As Steve reflects, everything comes back to three things…
“my parents… being a teacher… and this crazy thing called pickleball.”

🎯 In this episode, we dive into:

• The origin story of modern pickleball paddle technology
• The role his father played in shaping the game
• The legendary 1976 Bicentennial Tournament
• What it meant to grow up inside pickleball history
• Why pickleball might not exist today without innovation
• His life as a teacher and mentor for 30 years
• The emotional story behind his father’s ashes on the court
• Why pickleball is one of the most powerful tools for longevity
• The rise of senior pickleball and why it matters

🏓 The Pickleball Fountain of Youth Podcast

👉 Watch / Follow:
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=pickleball+fountain+of+youth

👉 Apple Podcasts:
https://podcasts.apple.com

👉 Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com

A podcast dedicated to the fastest growing segment in the sport…
senior players… and how pickleball keeps them moving, connected, and thriving.

🎥 “The Power of Pickleball” Documentary

👉 Watch on Documentary+:
https://www.documentaryplus.com

👉 Coming to Apple TV / Prime Video
https://tv.apple.com

https://www.primevideo.com

A powerful look at the history, growth, and human impact of the game… featuring Steve and other pioneers who helped build it.

🏆 Steve Paranto Legacy

• Pickleball Hall of Fame Inductee (2019)
• Son of Arlen Paranto (Hall of Fame 2017)
• Pioneer in composite paddle development
• Educator, innovator, and storyteller of the game

❤️ Why This Episode Matters

This isn’t just about pickleball.

It’s about:

Legacy
Family
Innovation
And the small moments that change everything

Because one idea… one paddle… one decision…
can shape an entire sport.

🎙️ About Kitchen Conversations:

This is not an interview.
This is a court-side conversation.

More than dinks, drops and drives.
Stories from behind the paddle.

🔥 If this episode hits:

Subscribe
Share it
Send it to someone who loves the game

Because the future of pickleball is being built…
on stories like this.

🔖 Hashtags:

#SteveParanto
#Pickleball
#PickleballHistory
#PickleballPodcast
#KitchenConversations
#FountainOfYouth
#PickleballLife
#PickleballCommunity
#DinkDropDrive
#StoriesBehindThePaddle
#Longevity
#ActiveAging
#HallOfFame

And that wraps up this episode of Kitchen Conversations.

If you enjoyed the conversation, be sure to follow the show, leave a review, and share it with someone who loves the game as much as you do.

And if you want the full experience, including the visuals, head over to YouTube and watch the episode at

https://www.youtube.com/@KitchenConversationspodcast

Or search Kitchen Conversations Pickleball Podcast

That’s where these stories really come to life.

You’ll also find links and show notes in the episode description.

Until next time…

more than dinks, drops and drives…

these are stories from behind the paddle.

Before the millions of players…
Before the pro tours…
Before pickleball became what it is today…

There was 1976.

In this episode, we sit down to uncover the story of Johannes F. Lisiecki — the man behind the South Center Athletic Club, where the first organized pickleball tournament in the world was played.

The Bicentennial Tournament.

A moment that quietly changed everything.

Held in Tukwila, Washington, this event is widely recognized as the first formal pickleball tournament ever staged — bringing together early pioneers of the game, including founder Barney McCallum and Hall of Famer Steve Paranto.

What Johannes built wasn’t just a tournament.
He helped turn a backyard pastime… into a sport.

🔥 WHY THIS EPISODE MATTERS:

• The untold story behind the first-ever pickleball tournament (1976)
• How one facility helped push pickleball into the spotlight
• First-hand insight into the pioneers who shaped the game
• The bridge between pickleball’s origins… and its explosive growth today

📖 EXPLORE JOHANNES’ BOOK:

👉 Amazon Canada: https://www.amazon.ca/s?k=Pickleball+Bicentennial+Tournament+1976

👉 Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/Pickleball-Bicentennial-Tournament-Johannes-Lisiecki/dp/B0DZCVGX4S

If you care about the roots of the game, this is essential reading.

⚡ THE TRUTH:

Pickleball didn’t explode overnight.
It was built — quietly — by people like Johannes.

And if you don’t understand where it started…
you don’t fully understand where it’s going.

🎯 ABOUT THE SHOW:

“More than Dinks, Drops and Drives – Stories from Behind The Paddle.”

This is where the real stories live.

💬 QUESTION FOR YOU:

Do you know the moment you became addicted to pickleball?

🔔 SUBSCRIBE:

New episodes every Thursday at 1pm.

🏷️ HASHTAGS:

#Pickleball #PickleballHistory #KitchenConversations #JohannesLisiecki #BarneyMcCallum #SteveParanto #PickleballOrigins #BehindThePaddle #PickleballCanada #PickleballUSA #SportsHistory #PickleballLife #DinkDropDrive #PickleballCommunity #FirstTournament

And that wraps up this episode of Kitchen Conversations.

If you enjoyed the conversation, be sure to follow the show, leave a review, and share it with someone who loves the game as much as you do.

And if you want the full experience, including the visuals, head over to YouTube and watch the episode at

https://www.youtube.com/@KitchenConversationspodcast

Or search Kitchen Conversations Pickleball Podcast

That’s where these stories really come to life.

You’ll also find links and show notes in the episode description.

Until next time…

more than dinks, drops and drives…

these are stories from behind the paddle.

In this episode, hear how a heart attack on a mountain during a mud race changed Kelli’s sports trajectory.

Plus- what if the most important thing about pickleball…
has nothing to do with pickleball?

In this episode, we sit down with Kelli McRobert — and what unfolds is far bigger than the game.

Yes, she’s a coach.
Yes, she’s worked with elite programs.
Yes, she’s connected to some of the most respected names in the sport.

But that’s not the story.

The story is this:

She’s been quietly cleaning up the planet… for decades.

🌍 THIS IS THE PART YOU DON’T SEE:

While most people scroll…
Kelli stops the car.

While most people walk past…
Kelli picks it up.

Bottles. Cans. Garbage. Waste.

Not because it’s convenient.
Not because someone’s watching.

Because it’s the right thing to do.

🔥 WHAT YOU’LL HEAR IN THIS EPISODE:

• The childhood story that started it all
• Turning garbage into purpose (and even funding travel as a kid)
• Why she physically can’t ignore litter anymore
• The emotional side of seeing what people leave behind
• How one person can actually make a difference
• Why “someone else will do it” is the biggest lie we tell ourselves

⚡ THE TRUTH:

Most people talk about making the world better.
Kelli does it… one piece at a time.

And once you hear this conversation —
you won’t unsee it either.

🏓 YES… THERE’S PICKLEBALL TOO:

Kelli is also one of the most respected grassroots coaches in the game — building players, communities, and pathways across Ontario.

“The minute I can show someone one small thing… it makes my heart sing.”

That same mindset shows up everywhere in her life.

🔗 CONNECT WITH KELLI & HER COACHING WORLD:


👉 Teach Me Pickleball Coaching with Kelli McRobert
https://teachme.to/listings/pickleball/pickleball-with-kelli-mcrobert

👉 Better Pickleball
https://betterpickleball.com

👉 Learn from CJ Johnson
https://betterpickleball.com/about

Watch the BounceBack Pickle Kitchen Conversations episode at this link:
👉 https://youtu.be/FEgVWMs-m_U?si=MJm64Nqq663RJkYU

🎯 ABOUT THE SHOW:

“More than Dinks, Drops and Drives – Stories from Behind The Paddle.”

This isn’t about how to hit a better third shot drop.
This is about the people… and the stories that actually matter.

💬 QUESTION FOR YOU:

Be honest…
When was the last time you picked something up that wasn’t yours?

🔔 SUBSCRIBE:

New episodes every Thursday at 1pm.

🏷️ HASHTAGS:

#Pickleball #KitchenConversations #KelliMcRobert #BetterPickleball #CJJohnson #CleanUpTheEarth #Sustainability #EnvironmentalImpact #MakeADifference #PickleballLife #PickleballCanada #CommunityMatters #BehindThePaddle #DoTheRightThing #LeaveItBetter

And that wraps up this episode of Kitchen Conversations.

If you enjoyed the conversation, be sure to follow the show, leave a review, and share it with someone who loves the game as much as you do.

And if you want the full experience, including the visuals, head over to YouTube and watch the episode at

https://www.youtube.com/@KitchenConversationspodcast

Or search Kitchen Conversations Pickleball Podcast

That’s where these stories really come to life.

You’ll also find links and show notes in the episode description.

Until next time…

more than dinks, drops and drives…

these are stories from behind the paddle.