Advertise on podcast: 99% Pickleball

If you play pickleball, there’s a good chance you’ve checked your DUPR after a match and either celebrated, questioned the algorithm, or wondered how the heck your rating just went down after a win. For the Season 1 finale of 99% Pickleball, Mari and Nikki sit down with DUPR CEO Tito Machado to talk about what your rating is actually supposed to tell you and why players may be putting way too much weight on the number. Tito explains why DUPR was built as a way to help players find better, more competitive games, not as a ladder everyone needs to climb. As he puts it, the goal is to represent how you play on an average day, not your best day. They get into the questions players are constantly debating: Why can you win and still go down? Can one rating really work across ages, genders, and countries? What happens when an entire region develops its own rating bubble? And how is DUPR trying to make ratings more accurate without making players even more obsessed with them? Tito also shares what’s coming with DUPR AI and DUPR Coach, how the company is addressing sandbagging and verification, and what happens when players create a second account to escape a rating they don’t like. Spoiler: DUPR knows about the burners. Plus, Tito shares how he went from college tennis and UTR to joining DUPR before he had ever played pickleball, and why the community surrounding the sport ultimately convinced him to stay. It’s a fitting end to Season 1 and a conversation for anyone who has ever cared just a little too much about the number next to their name.

What separates a good pickleball player from someone who sees the game completely differently? This week on 99% Pickleball, Mari Humberg and Nikki Maldonado are joined by Kyle Koszuta, professional pickleball player and the creator behind That Pickleball Guy and That Pickleball School. Kyle shares how four years of college basketball shaped the way he sees a pickleball court, from anticipating what's coming next to recognizing patterns and thinking in sequences instead of individual shots. But Kyle's career has grown far beyond playing. He takes Mari and Nikki through the journey of discovering pickleball in Phoenix, deciding to pursue the pro game, building an audience of hundreds of thousands of players, and turning his approach to learning the sport into That Pickleball School. They also get into the realities of balancing training, tournaments, content, business, and relationships; why looking great in drills doesn't always translate to winning matches; what playing in Asia taught him about pickleball's international growth; and the very unexpected story of how Friday became part of both his business and personal life. 🧠 Kyle also recently launched the Pickleball Personality Test, designed to help players better under their natural playing style and how they approach the game. You can take the test at PickleballPersonalityTest.com.

What does working full-time in pickleball really look like? This week on 99% Pickleball, Mari Humberg and Nikki Maldonado pull back the curtain on the very different careers they've built around the sport. Mari breaks down what life as a professional player requires beyond tournament weekends, from daily drilling and gym sessions to coaching, clinics, travel, sponsorships, content creation, and finding time for a life outside the sport. She also shares why she moved to Florida for pickleball and how she manages a career where training, competing, coaching, and traveling constantly overlap. Nikki shares the other side of the industry, including building a career through content, media, commentary, and community while navigating the pressure that comes with making social media part of your job. Together, they get candid about creating opportunities in a young sport, diversifying income, building personal brands, finding work-life balance, and what they hope their careers look like next. It's an inside look at what happens between the tournaments, posts, clinics, and podcast episodes, and the unconventional careers being built as pickleball continues to grow.

What does it take to help build one of pickleball's greatest careers while making sure the game stays fun? This week on 99% Pickleball, Mari Humberg and Nikki Maldonado sit down with Leigh Waters, former professional pickleball player, coach, and mother of Anna Leigh Waters, for a conversation about the remarkable journey that put their family at the center of professional pickleball. Leigh shares how she went from collegiate tennis and a 14-year career practicing law to competing professionally alongside her daughter, and eventually becoming the coach behind one of the most dominant players in the sport. She opens up about navigating the line between parent and coach, adapting her approach to different athletes, and why keeping joy in the game has always mattered more than outside expectations. But this conversation goes well beyond Anna Leigh's career. Leigh reflects on watching professional pickleball transform in real time, the surreal moments that have come with its growth, what she believes the sport needs next, and the legacy she hopes to leave for the players and young girls coming behind her. From parenting and coaching to competition, fame, family, and the future of the game, this is a rare look at pickleball through the eyes of someone who has helped shape its modern era.

What does it take for pickleball to become a truly mainstream sport? This week, Mari Humberg and Nikki Maldonado are joined by entertainment publicist, producer, and strategist Ngoc Nguyen, whose work spans Hollywood, philanthropy, and the Global Pickleball Federation. Together, they discuss how media, celebrity involvement, grassroots community, and international growth are shaping the future of the sport. Ngoc also shares a behind-the-scenes look at The Dink, the new pickleball comedy premiering on Apple TV on July 24, and why seeing the sport represented in mainstream entertainment could introduce it to audiences far beyond the existing pickleball community. From global expansion to celebrity fundraisers and community initiatives, Ngoc explains what it will take to turn pickleball's current momentum into lasting worldwide growth. 🍿 Watch The Dink on Apple TV beginning July 24: https://tinyurl.com/2rkhv948

What if pickleball could be more than just open play and tournaments? This week, Mari Humberg and Nikki Maldonado are joined by Sydney Steinaker, founder of Bassline Sports, to discuss how she's blending music, entertainment, and community to create an entirely new kind of pickleball experience. Sydney shares her journey from law to social media to event production, the story behind the first pickleball rave, and why she's focused on creating spaces where beginners, experienced players, and even non-pickleball players all feel welcome. The conversation explores event planning, social media, community building, and why thinking differently may be one of the biggest opportunities for growing the sport. Whether you're an event organizer, content creator, or simply someone who loves the social side of pickleball, this episode will challenge the way you think about what the sport can become.

What does it take to raise one of the top young players in professional pickleball? This week, Mari Humberg and Nikki Maldonado are joined by Darrin Klinger, coach, mentor, and father of professional pickleball player CJ Klinger, for one of the most thoughtful conversations we've had on 99% Pickleball. Darrin shares his philosophy on parenting, coaching, and building an environment where competition, character, and joy can all coexist. The conversation explores everything from CJ's journey through the sport to sportsmanship, community, mentorship, and the importance of raising great people before great athletes. Throughout the episode, Darrin shares personal stories about life on tour, lessons from coaching, and the values that have guided both his family and his approach to pickleball. Whether you're a parent, coach, player, or simply someone who believes sports should bring out the best in people, this episode is full of wisdom that extends well beyond the court.

There's never a dull moment in professional pickleball. This week, Mari Humberg and Nikki Maldonado break down one of the craziest weekends in professional pickleball from two very different perspectives. As a recently traded MLP player, Mari shares what it's like competing inside the league, while Nikki reflects on the same weekend through the eyes of a commentator, creator, and fan. Mari also shares what it was like navigating the trade process firsthand, while Nikki and Mari discuss the stories, personalities, and behind-the-scenes moments that fans don't always get to see. The episode wraps up with a rapid-fire conversation about pickleball pet peeves, facility frustrations, player superstitions, and plenty of laughs along the way. Whether you follow every MLP event or simply want an inside look at the professional game, this episode brings you up to speed on everything happening in pro pickleball.

What does it actually take to grow a sport? This week, Mari Humberg and Nikki Maldonado are joined by Adam Behnke, COO of the Brooklyn Pickleball Team, to discuss the work happening beyond the professional level to help grow pickleball in meaningful and lasting ways. The conversation covers everything from Major League Pickleball and fan engagement to junior development, minor league competition, school partnerships, and the programs helping introduce new players to the game. Adam also shares his journey into pickleball, the lessons he's learned from building sports communities, and why creating opportunities for players of all ages may be the key to the sport's continued growth. Whether you're a fan of Major League Pickleball, involved in your local pickleball community, or simply curious about where the sport is headed, this episode offers a behind-the-scenes look at the people working to grow the game from the ground up.

If you've spent any time on pickleball social media, you've probably come across Zane Navratil and Nico the Lefty. In one of the funniest conversations we've had so far on 99% Pickleball, Zane and Nico join Mari Humberg and Nikki Maldonado to discuss how content creation has evolved alongside the sport, what it takes to build genuine connections with players, and why authenticity matters more than ever in a rapidly growing community.  The conversation explores everything from gear reviews and affiliate marketing to storytelling, parasocial relationships, and the responsibility that comes with having an audience in a sport that's still finding its identity. Along the way, Zane and Nico share stories from their own journeys, discuss how they built their platforms, and explain why community, not content, may be the most important thing creators can build. Whether you're a dedicated pickleball fan, a casual player, or someone interested in the culture surrounding the sport, this episode offers a behind-the-scenes look at two of the most influential voices in pickleball today.

Sarah Ansboury has spent years helping shape pickleball both on and off the court. In this week's episode of 99% Pickleball, Sarah joins Mari Humberg and Nikki Maldonado to discuss the sport's rapid growth, her work building coaching education programs, and the opportunities and challenges that come with pickleball's expanding global reach. The conversation covers everything from international development and youth participation to sportsmanship, court culture, and the growing problem of toxicity in both recreational and competitive play. Sarah also shares stories from her travels around the world, explains why community matters more than ever as the sport grows, and discusses what pickleball must do to preserve the qualities that made people fall in love with it in the first place. Whether you're a player, coach, organizer, or simply someone who cares about where pickleball is headed, this episode offers a thoughtful look at the future of the sport from one of its most respected voices. About Sarah Ansboury Sarah Ansboury is a pickleball coach, educator, and ambassador who has helped grow the sport through coaching certification programs, international development efforts, and player education. Follow Sarah: Instagram: @sarahansboury Website: https://sarahansbourypickleballacademy.com/

Why does pickleball feel so different now than it did a few years ago? In the first episode of 99% Pickleball, hosts Mari Humberg and Nikki Maldonado break down how they found the sport, what pulled them into it, and why they felt the pickleball world needed a different kind of conversation. From Mari's journey from Brazil to professional pickleball to Nikki's perspective as a creator deeply connected to the everyday player experience, the two talk about the culture surrounding the sport, the divide between rec players and the pro scene, and what they hope this podcast becomes moving forward. This episode is part introduction, part honest conversation about where pickleball is right now, and where it may be headed next.