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Evergreen Podcasts

The Joy of Padel podcast, hosted by Minter Dial, a Padel player since 1974, is an exhilarating show that delves into the captivating stories of notable Padel personalities worldwide. You'll be treated to exclusive anecdotes, valuable tips, and humorous moments shared by esteemed professional players, industry insiders, and passionate padel enthusiasts. Now in its third season that aligns with the pro tour, you can anticipate two engaging episodes per month. You will find the episode show notes on Joy Of Padel.

The Joy of Padel

This episode of JOY OF PADEL features Camille Huyghues Despointes, French entrepreneur and co-founder (with me) of Pango, to discuss her journey from theater studies and multiple startups to launching an innovative padel app. Camille shares how her experience in show jumping shaped her understanding of partnership and energy, and why she fell in love with padel's accessibility and social nature. The discussion explores Pango’s mission to redefine player ratings and foster a global padel community.

Key points:

 
Pango addresses real padel player problems, offering a unique, community-driven rating system.

 
Padel’s joyful, strategic gameplay makes it addictive and ideal for social and personal growth.

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Transforming Padel Experiences for All: Camille Huyghues Despointes and Pango (JOPS03E22)

Emily Kilner, BBC New Voice Award winner and Premier Padel commentator, shares her journey from England Under-21 hockey international to becoming one of padel's most distinctive voices. Broadcasting and interviewing in both English and Spanish, Emily discusses the art of commentary, the strategic nuances that separate professional padel from amateur play, and why longer rallies in women's padel offer invaluable lessons for recreational players. Key points include the importance of understanding padel as a strategic, team-oriented sport rather than a power game, and how building context around player relationships creates compelling narratives that distinguish padel from other sports.
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Inside Padel Commentary: Emily Kilner on Strategies, Growth, and Global Appeal (JOPS03E21)

Bill Ullman, co-Founder of the Anglo-American Cup and President of the United States Padel Association (USPA), shares his journey from squash to padel and his vision for the sport's growth in the US. He discusses the challenges of adapting to padel from other racket sports, the development of a padel culture, and the importance of sustainable growth. Bill offers insights into the USPA's role in expanding padel across the country, the potential impact of celebrity involvement, and the creation of the Anglo-American Cup. 
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Building Padel's American Dream: Insights from USPA President Bill Ullman (JOPS03E20)

This 19th episode of season 3 of the Joy of Padel podcast episode features Andi Neugarten, founder of Six Love Sports, the largest women's padel community in the USA. Andi discusses her journey into padel, the sport's growth in America, and her mission to empower women through padel. She shares insights on the social aspects of padel, the differences between US and European padel cultures, and her business model for building a thriving women's padel community. The conversation also touches on the importance of communication in padel and Andi's plans for international expansion.

Key points:

1. Padel's unique ability to foster communication and trust between players, especially among women.

2. The growth of padel in the US and the development of a distinct American padel culture.
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Elevating Women's Padel: Andi Neugarten's Mission and Vision (JOPS03E19)

Aimee Gibson, GB's number one padel player and world-ranked 85, shares her journey from tennis to padel in this Joy of Padel podcast. She discusses her transition, training methods, and the mental aspects of the game. Aimee offers insights into professional padel, including partner selection, tournament strategies, and the challenges of competing at the top level. She emphasizes the importance of mental strength in padel and shares her admiration for top pairs like Ari Sanchez and Paula Josemaria as well as the new reining number ones of Gemma Triay and Delfi Brea. Aimee also reveals her favorite shot, the chiquita, and her current focus on improving her smash. The conversation provides a fascinating glimpse into the world of professional padel and Aimee's aspirations for the future.
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The Mental Game in Padel: Insights from GB's Number One Aimee Gibson (JOPS03E18)

THIS INTERVIEW WAS CONDUCTED IN SPANISH 🇪🇸. IT'S AVAILABLE ON YOUTUBE WITH SUBTITLES IN ENGLISH 🇬🇧!!

Juanjo Gutiérrez, former professional padel player and current coach of the Spanish national team, shares insights into his career and the evolution of padel. He discusses the transition from tennis to padel, his experiences as a player and coach, and the dynamics of selecting and managing a national team. Juanjo offers a unique perspective on the emotional and tactical aspects of coaching, particularly during high-stakes moments like the 2024 World Championships in Doha. He also explores the future of padel, emphasizing the sport's increasing physicality and the importance of data analytics in understanding player performance. Throughout the conversation, Juanjo's passion for padel and his deep understanding of the sport's nuances shine through.
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Juanjo Gutiérrez: Navigating the Rise of Professional Padel Tennis (JOPS03E17)

Mark Hewlett, founder of Soul Padel, reveals how a traumatic experience led him to discover the transformative power of padel. His journey from rugby player to padel pioneer is nothing short of inspiring.

In this episode #16, Mark shares the genesis of Soul Padel and its mission to make padel accessible to all. We explore how this fast-growing sport is building communities and bridging social divides across the UK.

Here are 3 key takeaways from our chat with Mark:

- Community-Centric Approach: Soul Padel's focus on creating welcoming spaces where everyone can meet, play, and connect is revolutionizing the UK padel scene.

- Innovative Growth Strategy: By partnering with Decathlon and universities, Soul Padel is introducing padel to new audiences and fostering the next generation of players.

- Preserving the Soul: As they expand to 40-50 locations, Soul Padel's commitment to maintaining their core values through people and digital engagement is admirable.

Mark's insights into the future of padel in the UK and globally are invaluable for anyone interested in the sport's development. His vision of padel as a unifying force in communities is both refreshing and inspiring.

Listen to the full episode for more on Soul Padel's journey, their unique approach to coaching, and Mark's perspective on what makes padel so special.
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Padel for All: Mark Hewlett and Soul Padel's Inclusive Approach to Growth (JOPS03E16)

This podcast features Gonzalo Lorenzo, a padel coach and YouTube sensation, discussing his journey in the sport and coaching philosophy. Gonzalo shares insights on player improvement, communication strategies, and the culture of padel. He emphasizes the importance of playing percentage shots and reducing unforced errors. The conversation also explores the growing popularity of padel worldwide and the potential impact of AI on the sport's analytics. Gonzalo's YouTube channel, Padel Drive, has gained significant traction, attracting viewers from unexpected places like Indonesia.

Key points:

1. Gonzalo stresses the importance of playing safe, challenging shots with at least 80% accuracy.

2. The Joy of Padel is described as organizing games with friends, being competitive, and socializing afterward.
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Decoding Padel Success: Lessons from Gonzalo Lorenzo (JOPS03E15)

Juan Martín Díaz, padel legend, shares his journey from his beginnings in tennis to becoming a padel professional. He emphasizes the importance of understanding the game and the evolution toward a more physical sport. Díaz describes himself as an offensive player with exceptional reflexes, emphasizing the importance of compatibility with his playing partner.

He analyzes the differences between the Argentine and Spanish schools of padel and comments on the recent World Championship in Doha. He offers his perspective on the current professional circuit, suggesting improvements in organization and player participation in decision-making.

Díaz reflects on changes to the rules and playing surface, expressing his preference for maintaining the essence of the sport. He shares personal anecdotes, including the birth of his son during a tournament, and emphasizes the importance of humility in padel. Finally, he offers his optimistic outlook on the future of the sport and its possible inclusion in the Olympic Games.
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Juan Martín Díaz: Secrets of a 30-Year Career in Elite Padel (JOPS03E14)

Elena Martín, partner at PwC and co-author of the 2025 Global Padel Report, joins the Joy of Padel podcast to discuss the sport's explosive growth. She shares insights on padel's global expansion, including the projected 81,000 courts worldwide by 2027 and the USA's potential to become the largest market. Elena delves into the factors driving padel's popularity, such as its accessibility and social nature, and explores emerging markets in Asia and the Middle East. The conversation also touches on the sport's Olympic aspirations and the challenges it faces in achieving that goal. This episode offers padel aficionados a comprehensive look at the sport's current state and future prospects.
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Padel's Global Surge: Insights from PwC's Elena Martín (JOPS03E13)

The Joy of Padel with Luis Estrada
Luis Estrada, the current number one male padel player in the US. Coming from tennis, Luis fell head over heels with Padel. He recounts how quickly it happened and his journey to becoming number one, with partner Nico Agri. We talk about his transition from tennis to padel, his experience of playing with the best in Europe, playing for the Los Angeles Beat of the PPL, and the exciting prospects for the future of padel in the US. A joyful exchange. 
If you've got comments or questions you'd like to see answered, send your email or, better yet, an audio file to nminterdial@gmail.com. You can always comment on the post with the full show notes (and transcript) on minterdial.com. And if you liked the podcast, please take a moment to go over to Apple Podcast, Spotify, or your favourite podcast channel, to rate/review the show. Otherwise, you can follow the Joy of Padel on social: @joyofpadel on X/Twitter and Instagram. There's also a YouTube page.
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Tearing up the US Padel Circuit with Number 1, Luis Estrada (JOPS02E03)

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