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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

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 Rise of Padel in Saudi Arabia: Najwa Salhab's Journey (JOPS03E12)

My latest Joy of Padel episode features Najwa Salhab, a rising star from Saudi Arabia's national padel team. Najwa's journey from casual player to national representative is truly inspiring.

In this episode, we dive into:

• The rapid growth of padel in Saudi Arabia

• Najwa's transition from amateur to competitive player

• The importance of strategy and communication in padel

• How padel skills translate to life and business

• Insights on watching professional padel matches

Najwa offers a unique perspective on padel's development in the Middle East and shares valuable tips for improving your game. Whether you're a beginner or seasoned player, there's something for everyone in this episode.

Don't miss this chance to hear from one of padel's emerging talents. Tune in now and let Najwa's passion for the sport inspire your own padel journey!

Catch you on the court,

Minter

P.S. Planning to attend the Paris Premier Padel event? Let me know – I'll be there and would love to connect!
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The Rise of Padel in Saudi Arabia: Najwa Salhab's Journey (JOPS03E12)

From Wall Practice to World Stages: Marta Talaván's Padel Rise (JOPS03E11)

I'm thrilled to share my latest Joy of Padel podcast episode featuring the incredible Marta Talaván, a top-ranked professional padel player and board member. Marta offers a fascinating glimpse into the world of pro padel, from her journey as a young player to her current role shaping the sport's future.

We dive deep into the nuances of playing right side in padel, discussing technique, strategy, and the mental game. Marta shares her approach to softening her shots and improving decision-making on court. For all you right-side players out there, this episode is packed with valuable insights!

But that's not all - Marta also gives us a behind-the-scenes look at life as a pro padel player. From nutrition and training routines to pre-match preparations, she paints a vivid picture of what it takes to compete at the highest level.

As a board member, Marta offers her perspective on the growth of women's padel and the challenges facing the sport. Her passion for equality and development in padel is truly inspiring.

Whether you're a padel enthusiast, aspiring pro, or just curious about the sport, this episode has something for everyone. Don't miss out on this in-depth conversation with one of padel's brightest stars!

Tune in now and let the Joy of Padel continue!

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Marta Talaván: Balancing Board Duties and Pro Padel Performance (JOPS03E11)

The Joy of Padel with Daniel Windahl
Daniel Windahl is the number 1 Swedish padel player, currently ranked 53rd in the world. A left-sided player, he partners with Jose Solano. We discuss his remarkable personal and professional journey to becoming the highest ranked Scandinavian padel player, and the second highest ranked player who isn't Spanish, Argentine or Brazilian. We talk about how he has faced off against the world's top players, such as Ale Galan and Juan Lebrón, his favourite shot and areas of improvement, as well as the life lessons that padel has brought him, in particular in dealing with mental health. 
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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The Remarkable Journey of Top Swedish Pro Padel Player, World Number 53, Daniel Windahl (S02E05)

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