Top Chef Winner Richard Blais Didn't Need Another Obsession…Pickleball Found Him Anyway
Descripción del Episodio
It turns out the distance between a Michelin-starred restaurant and a pickleball court is shorter than anyone expected, especially when the person crossing it is already wired for pressure, creativity, competition, and just a little bit of chaos.
This week, Casie and Lauren sit down with Chef Richard Blais, a chef, entrepreneur, author, television personality, and newly declared aspiring pickleball influencer. What starts as a conversation about how he found the game quickly becomes something bigger: why pickleball has a way of sneaking into your schedule, your friendships, your competitive wiring, and, if you are Richard, possibly your next business pitch.
Richard brings the same curiosity to the court that made him such a recognizable force in food. He talks about learning the game from his wife, Jazmin, and discovering that pickleball, beyond the cardio, gave him a new social life, a new outlet, and apparently, a new reason to talk to himself in the car about dinking patterns.
We talk about:
-
Why Jazmin is the real origin story behind Richard’s pickleball obsession
-
What tournament nerves have in common with cooking under pressure, and how that shapes his pickleball mindset
-
How he talks himself through competitive pickleball moments without losing the fun
-
Why great chefs and great doubles partners both need practice, trust, and a plan
-
The line-call philosophy every player should probably adopt
-
Why pickleball friends can feel surprisingly important when the rest of life is built around work
-
What Richard thinks clubs are still figuring out when it comes to food, hospitality, and the post-game hang
-
Why he has strong feelings about players who only drive the ball, and what that says about pickleball strategy
-
The fine line between helpful feedback and becoming the person no one wants coaching them mid-match
-
How rec pickleball, court confidence, and pickleball culture all collide once people start taking the game just seriously enough
-
And the celebrity foursome that somehow turns into a full pickleball fan fiction scene
Somewhere in this conversation is the thing pickleball people know but rarely say out loud:
It is not just the game that gets you.
It is the group texts, the partner dynamics, the small rituals, the style points, the competitive spirals, the questionable line calls, the post-game food, and the strange joy of finding yourself fully invested in something you once thought was just a casual hobby.
Settle in and press play. This one’s for anyone who has ever picked up a paddle and accidentally found a whole new world.
Cheers,
Casie and LaurenDinks on Tap
Let’s keep the conversation going!
Connect with us:
Instagram: @dinksontap
Facebook: @DinksonTap
Website: dinksontap.com
For those wanting to fortify their mental game on the court, check out Lauren’s Mental Caddie offerings on her website or book a Chemistry Call.
Our listeners can buy one prescription pair and get 20% off any additional pairs at WarbyParker.com/ONTAP — and using our link helps support the show.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Episodios Recientes
Más podcasts de Sociedad y Cultura
Ver toda la categoría →
the bossbabe podcast
By shows
Bossbabe is one of the world's largest communities of ambitious women, with over 4.2 million followers and the top online membership for women entrepreneurs. We're passionate about helping you build a Freedom-Based Business™ to make more money + live a lifestyle you love. Every week, the bossbabe podcast brings you the real behind-the-scenes of building a wildly successful, profitable + reliable business, plus tools and strategies to make sales on repeat, grow an audience on social media, + create the life you truly want.
Still Counting
By shows
<div>Each week, Nate Silver, Clare Malone and Galen Druke dig into the latest in politics and the numbers behind it. They break down what's happening, why, and what might happen next. They'll be covering everything from elections to betting markets to AI. Expect rigorous analysis and a few hot takes, but no spin and no false sense of certainty. New episodes drop every Wednesday wherever you get your podcasts, or subscribe at <a href="http://youtube.com/@stillcountingpodcast">youtube.com/@stillcountingpodcast</a> </div>
Dolly Parton's America
By shows
In this intensely divided moment, one of the few things everyone still seems to agree on is Dolly Parton—but why? That simple question leads to a deeply personal, historical, and musical rethinking of one of America’s great icons. Join us for a 9-episode journey into the Dollyverse. Hosted by Jad Abumrad. Produced and reported by Shima Oliaee. Dolly Parton’s America is a production from OSM Audio and WNYC Studios.
L'After Foot
By shows
L’After Foot, c'est l'émission qui dit tout haut ce que le monde du foot pense tout bas ! Pour démarrer la soirée, Nicolas Jamain est aux commandes de "Génération After", de 20h00 à 22h00. Une émission composée de chroniqueurs qui ont grandi avec l'After : Walid Acherchour, Kevin Diaz, Jimmy Braun, Jennifer Mendelewitsch et Elton Mokolo. Débats passionnés, décryptages et invités. Les soirs de match, l' "After Live" s'installe de 20h00 à 23h00 incarné à tour de rôle par Carine Galli, Nicolas Jamain et Jean-Louis Tourre. Emmanuel Petit, Samuel Umtiti et Lionel Charbonnier viennent renforcer le dispositif les soirs de Coupes d'Europe. En deuxième partie de soirée, de 22h00 (ou dès le coup de sifflet final du match) à minuit, place à la version originelle et historique de l'After autour de Gilbert Brisbois, Daniel Riolo, Florent Gautreau et Jean-Louis Tourre du dimanche au jeudi. Cette saison, Jérome Sillon prend les commandes de l'émission le vendredi et le samedi.
Tony Mantor: Why Not Me ?
By shows
<p>Autism, Mental Health, Advocacy & Human Stories.</p><p>Embracing Autism/Mental Health Worldwide.</p><p>Autism is a complex neurodevelopmental condition affecting millions worldwide, characterized by challenges in social interaction, communication, and repetitive behaviors. Despite increasing recognition, there remains a lack of understanding and awareness about the condition. </p><p>Mental health encompasses a range of conditions impacting emotional, psychological, and social well-being, affecting millions globally. It includes disorders like anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and psychosis. Schizophrenia is marked by symptoms such as hallucinations, delusions, and disorganized thinking, while psychosis involves a loss of contact with reality, often presenting with similar symptoms. </p><p>Despite growing awareness, stigma and misconceptions about mental health, particularly schizophrenia and psychosis, persist, underscoring the need for greater understanding and support. </p><p>From celebrating neurodiversity to breaking down stigma, we create a safe space for listeners to learn, grow, and feel seen. </p><p>Whether you're on the spectrum, a caregiver, or an advocate, join our global community for inspiring conversations and empowering resources that uplift and unite. </p><p>Tune in to embrace understanding, healing, and hope worldwide! </p><p>Together, we can create a more informed and compassionate society for individuals with Autism and Mental Illness.</p>
On The Line with Jim Pyne
By shows
<p><b>On the Line with Jim Pyne</b> brings you authentic conversations with the leaders shaping sports, business, and entertainment.</p><p>Hosted by former NFL player, coach, executive, entrepreneur, and Founder & CEO of PLS Aviation, Jim Pyne draws on decades of relationships to explore leadership, winning cultures, entrepreneurship, resilience, and the experiences that define extraordinary careers.</p><p>From championship coaches and elite athletes to CEOs and innovators, each episode delivers candid insights and practical lessons from people who have performed at the highest levels.</p><p><b>Leadership. Relationships. Success.</b></p>
Historias de nuestra historia
By shows
La historia de nuestra historia, en tiempo presente, pensada desde ahora e interpelando las verdades de manual. Conduce Felipe Pigna.
Arpa Talks
By shows
¿Cómo funciona el mundo realmente? Cada semana Álvaro Palau Arvizu, fundador de <a href="https://arpaeditores.com">Arpa Editores</a>, habla con un invitado de referencia sobre filosofía, ciencia, política, negocios, psicología, etc.