INTRO
Welcome to Big Dink Energy — the pickleball podcast that’s half insight, half nonsense, and all entertainment.
If you love pickleball, don’t take yourself too seriously, and think a little trash talk makes the game better… welcome home.
This is where life and pickleball intersect. We celebrate the chaos, call out the nonsense, and put the fun back in dysfunction.
You’re either in or you’re out.
And if you’re still here… you’re in.
Let’s go.
SPONSOR READ
Quick shoutout to our friends at Poor Sport.
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Because sport — like pickleball — should be fun, expressive, and a little rebellious.
Check them out at poorsport.shop
Use code BIGDINKENERGY10 for 10% off.
KITCHEN TALK: HOLIDAY BURNOUT
We’re recording this before Easter, and it got us thinking…
When did holidays start feeling like work?
There was a time when Christmas, Easter — all of it — felt exciting. Now it feels like we’re just cycling from one obligation to the next.
Valentine’s → Easter → Christmas → repeat.
And somewhere along the way, we went from:
“Let’s make this special for the kids…”
To:
“Why are we peeling 27 potatoes again?”
We created the problem.
When the kids were young, we went all out — custom Easter baskets, scavenger hunts, over-the-top everything.
Now? We’re exhausted.
And the expectations never went away.
At some point, it shifts. The kids are older, the excitement fades a bit, and honestly… so does our energy.
We still love the family time. That part matters.
But now it’s like:
“Hey, it’s 9pm… let’s wrap this up.”
HOST VS GUEST DEBATE
Would you rather host or be a guest?
Hosting means you don’t have to drive home… but you clean everything.
Being a guest means no cleanup… but you’ve got the drive.
Conclusion: it’s lose-lose. We’re just tired.
EASTER TRADITIONS (AND HOW THEY GOT OUT OF HAND)
We used to go all out with Easter.
Handmade baskets. Scavenger hunts. The whole thing.
Now?
Kids fill their own eggs.
We’re not doing all that.
But somehow… traditions stick.
Even the older kids still compete in egg hunts because we created this whole “torch passing” system where winners sign their name every year.
Except… one kid wins every time because they’re faster.
So now we’re debating sabotaging them just to give someone else a chance.
THE GOOD PART OF HOLIDAYS
Despite all that — there are still things we love:
- Leftovers
- Family stories that get more exaggerated every year
- And let’s be honest… day drinking
At the end of the day, it’s about being together.
Even if everything else changes.
GUEST INTRO: ALEXANDER JEFFERY
Today’s guest went from playing hockey in Canada to documenting pickleball’s rise across America.
Alexander Jeffery is the filmmaker behind The Power of Pickleball, a documentary capturing how a backyard game turned into a cultural movement.
GUEST CONVERSATION (TIGHTENED)
The film focuses on the people behind the sport — not just pros, but the community that built it.
It’s not about controversy or drama.
It’s about connection.
Pickleball didn’t explode overnight. It was decades of grassroots growth, volunteers, and everyday players building something that finally hit a tipping point.
One of the biggest challenges?
The sport was evolving in real time.
So instead of chasing trends, the film focuses on what lasts:
- The history
- The community
- The life-changing impact
Because that’s what people will still care about years from now.
And at its core, pickleball gives people something we’ve lost:
Real, in-person connection.
Not social media. Not scrolling.
Actual human interaction.
PICK 6 SEGMENT
Today’s Pick 6:
Things you can say about a cruise… but NOT about your spouse.
- “The first day was great, but by day three I wanted off.”
- “There were too many people involved.”
- “I’m excited for disembarkment.”
- “That was way too rough.”
You get the idea.
PICKLEBALL DRAMA: PROTON PADDLES
Alright — a little pickleball drama.
Proton paddles were banned from pro play by the PPA.
But it’s not just performance issues.
There are reports of unpaid debts and bad standing with basically everyone:
PPA, UPA, Major League Pickleball — all of it.
So this isn’t just gear.
It’s business, money, and relationships going sideways.
BUT — before everyone panics…
This does NOT affect rec play.
Nobody is checking your paddle at the park.
Nobody cares what you’re using.
You’re not getting banned from your Tuesday night group chat league.
What WILL happen?
The mental side.
People will start questioning gear.
Thinking others have an advantage.
Using it as an excuse.
And the truth?
If your paddle is the reason you’re winning…
You’re probably not.
For 99% of players, it’s not the paddle.
It’s always been you.
OUTRO
Got thoughts? Disagree? Better takes?
Hit us at bdepodcast.com or on socials.
Follow the show, tell a friend, leave a review…
Or pretend this never happened.
Until next time:
Keep the dink soft
…and the energy big.
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