James Valentine, lead guitarist of Maroon 5 and passionate pickleball player, joins the Pickleballers crew for an unmissable episode. James shares his journey from Nebraska to the global stage of music, the grind behind Maroon 5’s rise, and how his love for tennis led him to discover his newest addiction, pickleball.

(00:00) – Intro
(01:10) – From Nebraska to LA
(04:18) – How James joined Maroon 5
(06:40) – Playing bars and paying dues
(08:18) – Musical influences that shaped him
(10:19) – Meeting John Mayer
(12:43) – Touring with music legends
(14:19) – Maroon 5’s first album journey
(16:07) – Headlining shows and selling out arenas
(17:03) – Milestone moments: Saturday Night Live and Letterman
(18:26) – Life and bonds in the band today
(19:53) – Spotlight on Adam Levine: the frontman’s pressure
(21:02) – The evolution of Maroon 5’s songwriting
(23:40) – Sneak peek: new album and upcoming tour
(31:09) – Transitioning from tennis to pickleball
(33:41) – First pickleball match in Vegas
(35:13) – The flow state: where music meets sport
(37:08) – Pickleball on the road: finding community
(38:05) – Local courts and training with Mariano
(39:39) – Celebrity pickleball
(41:01) – The addictive flow of pickleball
(43:22) – Pickleball strategy
(43:43) – Watching and learning from the pros
(44:55) – Celebrity pro-am experiences
(46:14) – MLP: pro matches
(47:30) – Peeling back the layers of pickleball
(48:12) – Current skill level and tournament play
(50:23) – The competitive scene of pickleball
(51:16) – Musicians who’d crush on the pickleball court
(55:07) – Pickleball or guitar
(56:16) – Paddle picks
(57:06) – Final thoughts