Kitchen Conversations Podcast
Kitchen Conversations is a story driven podcast that explores the lives behind the paddle, uncovering the personal journeys, careers, and defining moments of the people who make up the pickleball community. Through thoughtful, unhurried conversations, host Mike Spies goes beyond dinks and drives to reveal the character, resilience, and human connection that truly define the game.
Episodes
37 episodes
Once Ranked #9 in the WORLD!
What does it take to become one of the best racquetball players in the world — and then reinvent yourself in an entirely different sport?On this episode of Kitchen Conversations, I sit down with Corey Osborne, a form...
She’s a two time Olympian that LOVES Pickleball
🏀 From Olympic Glory to Pickleball Excellence | Andrea Blackwell | Kitchen ConversationsWhat happens when one of Canada's most accomplished athletes trades the Olympic stage for the fastest-growing sport in North America?In this e...
50 Years as a Pro Athlete- Her Story is amazing
She almost became an Olympic skier. She became a PGA Professional. Today, she's one of the most respected voices in pickleball.In this episode of Kitchen Conversations, I sit down with CJ Johnson, co-founder of Better Pickleball, for one...
Treat Your Own Pickleball Injuries- Learn How
What happens when a 73 year old physical therapist is still playing pickleball 5 days a week, winning gold medals, cold plunging after matches, and helping players stay on the court longer?In this episode of Kitchen Conversations: Storie...
PM Carney loves Padel- Hear the story
What do Mexico, tennis, Prime Minister Mark Carney, Daniel Alfredsson, and the fastest-growing racquet sport in the world have in common?The answer is PADEL.In this episode of Kitchen Conversations, I sit down with Jorge Villa, Di...
A conversation with Rotary Kingston’s Peter Burrell about the upcoming Pickleball fundraising tournament,
Hear from Kingston Rotary member, Peter Burrell about the 5th Annual Pickleball Tournament, happening Sunday, November 8th at the Kingston Pickleball Club.Registration is now open at https://kingstonrotary.ca/events/5th-annual-rotary-p...
Nuclear Engineer, Pickleball and Permaculture in One Podcast
PICKLEBALL, PERMACULTURE & THE POWER OF COMMUNITY 🥒🏓🌱What happens when a nuclear engineer, permaculture enthusiast, father, athlete, and pickleball club owner sit down for a conversation about the future of our communities?You...
From 2 Million Cookbooks to a Pickleball Dating App
What do two million cookbooks, a life-changing wellness mission, and a pickleball dating app have in common? One remarkable woman: Jill Steinbeck.In this episode of Kitchen Conversations, Jill shares how a painful moment during college b...
Ryan Hanes- Pickleball is just part of his story
From wooden paddles at the YMCA to helping lead Canadian pickleball toward the world stage—Ryan Hanes has experienced the sport’s extraordinary evolution from almost every possible angle.Ryan is a Canadian national champion, e...
Joola Canada’s Michael Cannon
How do you actually pronounce JOOLA—and does spending $400 on a paddle really make you a better pickleball player?In this special edition of Kitchen Conversations, Mike welcomes the podcast’s first-ever co-host, Jody Allen, co-owner of S...
Playing Pickleball on Saddam Hussein’s Helicopter Pad
How many people can say they’ve played pickleball on Saddam Hussein’s helicopter pad?Chuck Gaudette can.In this unforgettable episode of Kitchen Conversations, Mike sits down with brothers Chuck and David Gaudette—two passionate p...
Pirates, Pickleball and Podcasting
🔥 From Somali Pirates to Pickleball: Kyle Trenga's Incredible Journey | Between the Rallies & Kitchen ConversationsWhat do Somali pirates, the U.S. Navy, offshore oil rigs, professional pickleball, and podcasting have i...
Hit and Giggle! Pickleball’s Ken Pecarski
🏓 What happens when one of the nicest people in pickleball becomes one of its most respected coaches?In this episode of Kitchen Conversations, I sit down with my good friend Ken Pecarski—coach with Taylored Pickleball Academy and Picklep...
One of Canada’s Top Pickleball Coaches- Cameron Taylor
What does it take to build one of Canada's most respected pickleball coaching organizations?In this episode of Kitchen Conversations, I sit down with Cameron Taylor, co-founder of Taylored Pickleball Academy (TPA), to explore the remarka...
He Terrified Me!
He Terrified Me… Then Changed My Game Forever | Kitchen Conversations with Brian CannWhat happens when the player who intimidates you the most… becomes the one who helps you the most?In this episode of Kitchen Conversations, I s...
He’s only 16!
🏓 At just 16 years old, Mackonner Dy is already turning heads across the pickleball world.In this episode of Kitchen Conversations – A Pickleball Podcast, I sit down with one of Canada’s brightest young pickleball talents f...
Canadian Owned- Booma is Booming!
In this episode of Kitchen Conversations, I sit down with Jessie and Dominic, the husband-and-wife team behind BOOMA, a proudly Canadian family-owned pickleball and ping pong equipment company.What started as a family discovery of pickl...
Fired In Montreal- Betting on Made In Canada!
What happens when two guys sit down and just start talking about pickleball? In this episode of Kitchen Conversations, Mike sits down with David for a raw, wide-ranging conversation that goes far beyond the court. What starts as a simpl...
Passionate Pickleball- A Core building block behind the success of Tennis Clubs of Canada
What if the future of pickleball… was already being built?In this episode of Kitchen Conversations, I sit down with Adam Siegel, CEO of Tennis Clubs of Canada… one of the most forward-thinking operators in Canadian sport.From ai...
Coach For Success with Selkirk’s Daniel J Howard
What happens when one of the most respected coaching minds in pickleball sits down for an honest conversation about coaching, competition, leadership, and the real impact this game has on people's lives?In this episode, Mike welcomes ...
SMASHING Success!
What happens when you take an old warehouse… and turn it into one of the most electric pickleball communities in Canada?In this episode of Kitchen Conversations, I sit down with Jody Allen and Jeff Allen, the visionaries behind Smash Co...
Canada’s Padel Pioneer
He Brought Padel to Canada 🇨🇦 | The Untold Story of Bill StamileWhat happens when one man stumbles onto a sport… and decides to change a country with it?In this episode of Kitchen Conversations, I sit down with Canada’s padel pi...
All it took was 10 minutes to get hooked!
What happens when a lifelong tennis pro gives pickleball just 10 minutes… and it completely changes his life?In this episode of Kitchen Conversations – Stories Behind the Paddle, I sit down with Kevin Beeson—elite coach, national champi...
Ottawa Pickleball Association- President Diana Dowthwaite
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 ...
Dr. Colin Campbell- Pickleball Injury Prevention
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 ...
