Around the Pod | Pickleball Podcast | Podcast Guru

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Four hosts. Two Australian pros. Two passionate amateurs. One obsession: pickleball. Join Australian pros Aaron Blitz and Josh Chia alongside passionate pickleballers Justin McLeod and Michael Murrell as they dive into everything happening in the world's fastest-growing sport. From tournaments, tactics and the latest news to stories from life on and off the court, every episode blends elite insight with the perspective of everyday players. Featuring guests from across the pickleball world, Around the Pod is the podcast for anyone who loves the game — whether you're just getting started or competing at the highest level.

Recent Episodes

Are Paddles Too Hot? + APC 2026 Takeover | Episode 7

The ATP crew is back in the studio! In this episode, Aaron, Josh, Michael, and Justin break down everything that went down over the past month. In this episode: Team Friday Signing: Josh breaks down his Asia trip, joining Team Friday, and transitioning to hot foam paddles.Tournament Recaps: Gippsland Championships bronze run, Eastern Indoor league finals, and PPA Gold Coast recap.The Hot Take: Are modern paddles getting too hot and fast for the game, or has the meta simply evolved?Paddle Tech...

58 MIN

Mini Episode: 2026 MLP Australia Draft Reaction: Roster Analysis & Contenders

The MLP Australia 2026 Draft is in the books! 🇦🇺🏓 In this mini-episode of Around the Pod, the team sits down to analyse all 8 team rosters ahead of Event 1 in Melbourne. We break down draft strategy, debate left-vs-right court positioning, evaluate Dream Breaker capabilities, and share our bold predictions for the season ahead. Inside this episode: Brisbane Breakers: Harry Brown taken #1 overall - how will he pair with Joey Wild?Sydney Smash: Joey Farias joins Mitch Hargreaves in an ultra-exp...

33 MIN

Sydney Pro Scene, Tennis Transitions, & The Aussie World Cup Draft with Brian Tran & Daiki Tanabe | Episode 6

Josh Chia and Michael Murrell host Sydney’s Brian Tran and Daiki Tanabe to talk tennis transitions, court shortages, and the growth of Australian pickleball. National Academy Memories: Brian on playing alongside Australia's top tennis guns and transitioning to chiro.Pickleball Mechanics: Adjusting stroke lengths, mastering quick hands, and why movement efficiency is key.Sydney Communities: Celebrating social hubs like Pickle Bears and navigating venue scarcity.Hot Takes & Drafts:Tournamen...

30 MIN

Ben Johns' Ex-Partner, Nasty Nelsons & Rally Scoring Hot Takes with Joey Farias & Mitch Hargreaves | Episode 5

On Episode 5 of Around the Pod, Aaron Blitz and Michael Murrell sit down at Pickle 4real with PPA pros Joey Farias and Mitch Hargreaves! Joey breaks down his history playing alongside Ben Johns, Simone Jardim, and Catherine Parenteau, and shares the hilarious true story of how the "Nasty Nelson" was used against its inventor using a 14-ounce leaded paddle. Meanwhile, Mitch breaks down his PPA Triple Crown, his run in Tokyo, and what it really takes to train in Australia and compete globally. ...

31 MIN

Mini Episode: Pickleball World Cup Roster Breakdown + Ultimate Aussie Athlete Draft

The Pickleball World Cup in Da Nang is right around the corner, and Team Australia is locked and loaded! 🇦🇺 Join Aaron, Michael, Justin, and Josh as they run through the full list of players representing Australia across the Open, 50+, 60+, U18, and U14 categories. We break down the team dynamics, seedings, and what it’s going to take to bring home gold (and the $25k USD top prize). To close things out, the boys hold a snake draft to build the ultimate 4-player Pickleball World Cup squad usin...

24 MIN