Hunter & Yates Johnson on Drama, Relationships, and the Road from Pro Tennis to Pickleball

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Pickleballers

Jared Paul (founder of The Kitchen) and Roscoe Bellamy (pro pickleball player)

25 episodes

23 hours ago

The Pickleballers Podcast — hosted by Jared Paul and Dane Iliff, founders of The Kitchen (the largest media company in pickleball), alongside top-ranked pro Roscoe Bellamy — is your new go-to source for all things pickleball.From breaking news and spicy hot takes to hilarious banter and all-star guests, Pickleballers brings the energy. Tune in for celebrity drop-ins, pro insights, and a front-row seat to the fastest-growing sport in America.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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All content for Pickleballers is the property of Jared Paul (founder of The Kitchen) and Roscoe Bellamy (pro pickleball player) and is served directly from their servers with no modification, redirects, or rehosting. The podcast is not affiliated with or endorsed by Podjoint in any way.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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Hunter & Yates Johnson on Drama, Relationships, and the Road from Pro Tennis to Pickleball

Pickleballers

1 hour

4 months ago

Hunter & Yates Johnson on Drama, Relationships, and the Road from Pro Tennis to Pickleball

Hunter and Yates Johnson, twin brothers making their mark in the world of pickleball, join the Pickleballers crew for a must-listen episode. They share their journey from professional tennis to pickleball, diving deep into the highs and lows of competition, life on tour, and overcoming injuries.

We also talk about Hunter’s incredible rise to becoming the number two singles player in the world and the dedication it took to get there. Hunter opens up about his public breakup with Parris Todd in one of the most candid moments of the show. Packed with real stories, honest conversations, and plenty of laughs, this episode offers an inside look at the sport’s most fascinating personalities.

(00:00:00) – Introduction with Hunter and Yates Johnson

(00:02:05) – Childhood sports and choosing tennis

(00:03:27) – College tennis at SMU and turning pro

(00:04:08) – Twins’ bond and on-court communication

(00:05:15) – Growing up active and family support

(00:06:50) – Early connection with Roscoe and friendships

(00:08:22) – Building relationships on the pickleball tour

(00:09:31) – Deciding to go pro and tennis tour grind

(00:11:49) – Yates’ wrist injury and its impact

(00:15:10) – First impressions of pickleball

(00:16:59) – Learning and improving in pickleball

(00:20:23) – Infamous match against Johnny Goldberg and Jeff Warnick

(00:22:6) – Crazy tennis stories: robbery in Dominican Republic

(00:26:46) – Betting scandals and match-fixing in tennis

(00:31:49) – Transition from tennis to pickleball

(00:33:35) – Early pickleball struggles and breakthroughs

(00:34:28) – Yates’ injury and Hunter’s rise in pickleball

(00:38:17) – Hunter’s mental shift and path to success

(00:41:18) – Breakup with Parris Todd

(00:43:37) – Joining the Mad Drops team

(00:46:11) – How Ben Johns joined the Mad Drops

(00:49:48) – Predictions for upcoming MLP events

(00:51:34) – Yates’ return from injury and future plans

(00:54:27) – Building the perfect “Johnson” pickleball player

(00:56:00) – Hypothetical bear encounter on tour

(00:57:44) – Who would win a PPA swim contest?

(00:58:45) – Ideal date night with Genie Bouchard