The MicklePod

Pickle with Mickle Interview Series: The Inclusivity and Adaptability of Wheelchair Pickleball

Summary
Terry Smith, a para athlete and wheelchair pickleball player from Scotland, shares his journey of discovering and promoting wheelchair pickleball. He co-founded England's first wheelchair pickleball league and organized tournaments. Terry emphasizes the inclusivity and adaptability of wheelchair pickleball, making it accessible to people with different abilities. He discusses the hybrid format of playing alongside standing players and the potential for wheelchair pickleball to become a Paralympic sport. Terry also mentions the support from Pickleball Scotland and Pickleball England and the need for more promotion and participation in wheelchair pickleball.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Background06:21 The First Wheelchair League in Britain13:05 The Mental and Physical Benefits of Wheelchair Pickleball23:21 The Growth and Support of Wheelchair Pickleball28:13 Fun Questions and Closing Remarks

Season 6 Episode 14 : Repeat and The Inspirational Journey of Caitlin Clark

In this exciting episode, we delve deep into the extraordinary journey of Caitlin Clark, a basketball enthusiast who has inspired many boys and girls to reach their potential. With her captivating gameplay, Caitlin holds a beacon of hope for the brighter future of women in sports.
We present an overview of powerful women athletes, highlighting impressive figures including Nelly Korda (Golf) and Anna Leigh Waters (Pickleball). In spite of their remarkable success, we discuss the underrepresentation of women's sports, drawing attention to the transitory spotlight women athletes receive, most evidently during international sporting events like the Olympics.
With a closer look at the pay discrepancy in sports, we shed light upon the stark divergences in earnings between male and female athletes, spotlighting Nelly Korda and Akshay Bhatia as examples. Our discussion emphasizes the imperative need for better endorsement deals and amplified marketing efforts for women athletes.
We then transport you to the exciting ambiance of the women's Final Four, championing how this year the women's basketball playoff exceeded the men's tournament both in terms of quality and viewership. Covering the compelling final game between South Carolina and Iowa, we highlight South Carolina's significant victory and the instrumental role played by Dawn Staley, Kamilla Cardoso and Tina Pau-Pau.
Even though closing the gender pay gap remains a laborious process, we envision a future with financial equity, marketing recognition, and appreciation for women in sport. Through significant events like the upcoming WNBA draft and the Summer Olympics, we inspire our listeners to continue their support for women in sports.
Moving to other games, we analyze how UConn, despite their shaky performance, managed to surpass Bama in the regional finals, attributing their victory to their solid defensive strategies. We also touch upon Purdue's victory against NC State and draw attention to key players, Castle from UConn, and Edey from Purdue.
Finally, we discuss the emerging trends in pickleball, taking you through the recent victories in Mesa and the promising evolution of the sport. With an exclusive interview scheduled with Terry Smith, a wheelchair picker from Scotland, and the upcoming Masters tournament featuring Tiger Woods, we hint at an exciting sporting spectacle in the weeks to come.

Season 6 Episode 13 A Friday

"Welcome to The Mickle Pod and Pickle with Mickle, a thrilling podcast that takes you into the heartbeat of the sports world. Our latest episode covers everything awesome unfolding on the sports stage; from basketball drafts, golf tournaments, to an in-depth analysis of Bronny James' career moves and the potential implications for the NBA. In this episode, we also celebrate National Nebraska Day and delve into the thrills of pickleball, an emerging major sport that is winning the hearts of many sports fans. We discuss the recent MLP pickleball draft and offer some suggestions for improvement. Our show further acknowledges the recent feats in women's basketball, highlighting players like Kate Clark and Paige Buckets who have redefined the game, and predictions for the ongoing Final Fours. Finally, an overview of the men's college basketball scene awaits you, focusing on UConn and Purdue's journey in the tournament. We share unique insights, backed up by statistical analysis, about their performances and chances for title victory. Join us as we discuss fascinating stories, share exciting insights, and celebrate standout performances in the sports world. So, sit back, relax, and enjoy the ride.

Pickle with Mickle Interview Series : "Pickling Everything" with Frank Adler

Welcome to an exclusive episode of the interview series 'Pickle with Mickle', where we dive into an intriguing conversation with Frank Adler, co-founder of the emerging pickleball word game, 'Pickle Everything'. Hear about Frank's exhilarating 30+ year journey in the toy and game industry, his exceptional partnership with Jeff Breslow, and the exciting plans for future game releases. Uncover how Frank's love for pickleball took shape, not just in Pickle Everything but also in a philanthropic venture in Santa Barbara with Lauren Adler, his wife. Find out how Frank smoothly balances his roles and witness his relentless passion towards the fastest-growing sport - pickleball.The episode further takes a fascinating turn as Frank reminisces about his past experiences in product design and the development of a Star Wars themed product. Relive the nerve-wracking moment when things didn't go as planned during a live television demonstration and explore Frank's deep admiration for the Star Wars franchise, engrained not only in his life but also in his children's upbringing.We also discover exciting details about Frank's other entrepreneurial venture - ‘Santa Barbara Happy Apparel Company’. Learn about his daughter's achievements in beach soccer and finally, get ready as Frank enthusiastically discusses 'Pickle Everything', sharing where you can buy the game and teasing more innovative creations in the pipeline.Tune into this episode for an enthralling deep-dive into the world of games, pickleball, and the exciting life journey of Frank Adler. You don't want to miss this!

Season 6 Episode 12 : April Fools, Final Fours, and Fan Pranks

Feel the fervor of March Madness permeate into April in this episode of the Mickle Pod and Pickle with Mickle. Host Mickle reels you into the world of sports with a hilarious perspective on April Fool's pranks. Listen as Mickle along with his team journey through the world wide web, highlighting poplar pranks and discussing the possible return of office pranks. 
Want your prank to be featured in the show? Mickle welcomes listener contributions via email to share in the April Fool's fun (remember, keep it classy). As the foolery continues, we look ahead to the heart racing moments of the Final Four - from champion titles being claimed to the Cinderella stories emerging on the hardwood.
On this segment, the Mickle Pod and Pickle with Mickle goes beyond the traditional four with a fifth Frozen moment for ice-hockey fans. Discover the ladies still marching towards their titles, with highlights on South Carolina, NC State, Iowa, LSU, USC and UConn reaching the final stages.
And the madness doesn’t end there. Dive into the journeys of UConn, Alabama, Purdue, and NC State, exploring their strategies and the odds of each team in the tournaments. While Mickle, as always, injects his wry sense of humor amidst the madness, he also shares insights that might just influence your bracket predictions.
Download and dive into this madness intertwined with fun for a delightful show filled with sports updates and laugh-filled pranks for April Fool's day. Remember, all's fair in love, sports, and April Fool's pranks!

Season 6 Episode 11 Madness and Easter Brackets

Making brackets is fun, Sweet 16s are awesome. I have 2 Sweet 16 Brackets for you to enjoy. 
Candy and Movies, that is a Good Friday. 
Earbuds In ! Buckle Up ! 

Season 6 Episode 10 No Tens Left

Madness. No this is not Sparta. Another NCAA Tourney is front and center.  How does your Bracket look? 
I take a look at some Pickleball action.   

Pickle with Mickle Interview Series : Spring Breakin' with Wil Shaffer

Summary
In this conversation, Will Schaefer, a pickleball player and former gymnast, discusses his background in gymnastics and his transition to pickleball. He shares his favorite gymnastics events and talks about the importance of floor exercises and pommel horse. Will also discusses his performance in recent pickleball tournaments and his goals for the future, including playing in the Olympics and going pro. He highlights the growing youth pickleball scene and the importance of fitness and training in pickleball. The conversation also touches on Will's participation in the All-Around Champion show and his upcoming pickleball tournament. In this conversation, Will Shaffer discusses various topics including improving his diet, upcoming tournaments, movie remakes and acting, music and concerts, dream pickleball foursome, favorite car, fear of snakes and spiders, other fun activities, extreme sports and skydiving, and his hopes for the Detroit Lions in the Super Bowl. He also mentions his dream vacation.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Background01:38 Favorite Gymnastics Event05:06 Pickleball in the Olympics06:10 Transition from Gymnastics to Pickleball07:34 Pickleball Tournaments and Partnerships08:58 Performance in Recent Tournaments11:20 Paddle Selection and Preferences12:27 Importance of Staying Forward at the Kitchen14:03 Youth Pickleball and High School Club14:16 Goals for MLP and Pro Pickleball16:00 Participation in All-Around Champion Show22:11 Upcoming Pickleball Tournament23:04 Team Name for Tournament25:28 Fitness and Training Routine28:22 Improving Diet and Eating Habits30:09 Upcoming Tournaments31:45 Movie Remakes and Acting35:11 Music and Concerts36:27 Dream Pickleball Foursome38:53 Favorite Car and Personalized License Plate40:19 Fear of Snakes, Spiders, and Scorpions41:49 Other Fun Activities43:05 Extreme Sports and Skydiving44:48 Detroit Lions and Super Bowl Hopes47:25 Dream Vacation