Dinks On Tap: The Happy Hour Pickleball Podcast

Let’s be real, how many times have you missed an easy dink and immediately blamed your paddle, the wind (even indoors), or your partner’s breathing? 

We’ve all been there: the dreaded mental spiral where one bad shot turns into three, and suddenly you’ve forgotten how to hold a paddle. 

In this inaugural episode of 2026, we’re stacking the court differently as Casie takes the host seat to interview her ride-or-die doubles partner (and co-host!), Lauren Vosbein. We aren’t just talking about drops and drives, we’re diving into the "fifth player" on the court: your mindset. 

We share the hilarious and effective story of how Lauren stopped Casie’s mid-match meltdown by forcing her to mentally travel to Turks and Caicos during a timeout, proving that sometimes the best pickleball strategy has nothing to do with footwork. 

Lauren isn’t just your favorite drinking buddy on this pod; she’s the founder of The Mental Caddy, an executive leadership coach for Fortune 100 companies, and an "accidental sports psychologist" who helps everyone from corporate VPs to PPA pros like Ivan Jakovljevic master their minds before they melt down. 

Here’s what we’re pouring out in this episode:

Why mental toughness isn’t just woo-woo magic but an actual neuroscience involving your sage brain and positive intelligence.

The "Going Blank" technique: A 10-second sensory trick using brain training to stop performance anxiety and reset your nervous system.

How to create an on-court alter ego (meet "LaRhonda") to summon mental fortitude and aggression when you’re feeling too polite.

Why you need to stop treating your DUPR score like a mirror and start treating it like a metric.

Simple focus techniques you can do between points to start playing free and trusting your training. 

So pour yourself a fresh one, find your inner "LaRhonda," and get ready to train your brain to stop getting in your own way.

Cheers,

Casie & Lauren
Dinks on Tap

 

Let’s keep the conversation going! Connect with us:

Instagram: @dinksontap
Facebook: @DinksonTap
Website: dinksontap.com

 

To learn more about the Mental Caddie or LPV Coaching, check out Lauren’s website or book a Chemistry Call.

EP 34 - Ever wondered why your DUPR score nosedives after a win, and you're wondering if your app is gaslighting you? What is happening in the pickleball matrix?

In this episode, we sit down with Tito Machado, the most loved and rage-texted man in pro pickleball. He’s the CEO of DUPR, the rating system that somehow manages to both unite and divide the pickleball community like it’s the pineapple on pizza of the pickleball world. Tito opens up about the chaos, the criticism, and the sheer volume of "fix my rating" DMs that hit his inbox daily.

We also confess our own crimes, yes, we may or may not have created a fake verified account to see just how easy it is to game the system (don’t worry, we turned ourselves in to the DUPR police). What follows is a wild mix of real talk, good laughs, and some serious behind-the-scenes transparency into how pickleball ratings actually work.

Here’s what you’ll dink away with:

Why a win won’t always raise your DUPR score and how your reliability score factors in

What the DUPR forecast really tells you (beyond the red arrow of doom)

How pickleball data reveals player performance and flags sandbagging
Why some avoid pickleball tournaments and how that trend is shifting

What’s coming in 2026 for competitive pickleball: sub-ratings, verified accounts, and cleaner match records

Tito’s spicy takes on rec pickleball, DUPR jail, and his dream court showdown with Kobe and Ronaldo

This episode delivers smart insights and just enough chaos to keep your next paddle tap interesting. Rating junkies, proud 3.0s, and anyone still pretending not to care about their DUPR will want in on this one.

Cheers,

Casie & Lauren
Dinks on Tap

P.S. This episode is served with a side of ✨actual magic ✨from our sponsor, Unearth Experience, for people who want their adventures like their pickleball games: unforgettable, a little unhinged, and way above average.

Let’s keep the conversation going! Connect with us:

Instagram: @dinksontap
Facebook: @DinksonTap
Website: dinksontap.com

This was one of the most-loved episodes of 2025 and we’re bringing it back for a reason. 

As we head into 2026, there’s no better time to revisit what this conversation unlocked: how real team chemistry and trust can change the way we play and how we connect. Growing as a player, a partner, or a teammate? This episode holds the good stuff that doesn’t just help you win more... it helps you play better with the people you actually want to keep around.

First, we catch up with Stephen Moore of Pickleball Trips, the boutique travel company blending adventure travel with pro-level play. From Japan to Costa Rica to courtside ceviche in Spain, Stephen takes us behind the scenes of how his family turned their love of sport and travel into world-class pickleball tours. Yes, there’s travel with purpose, but there’s also stretchy pants, five-star meals, and a whole lot of dinking with locals.

Then, we sit down with Molly Bonner, the team mom, hug dealer, and unofficial snack coordinator of the Dinking Buddies, to talk about what really happens behind the paddles. This isn’t just about dinks and drops. We’re talking team dynamics, emotion in sports, and what it takes to stay connected when you’re trying to win without losing your cool (or your bestie).

In this episode, you’ll hear:

Why picking a pickleball partner can feel weirdly similar to dating (yes, really)

How a shared competitive mindset can totally bond you or quietly blow things up

The underrated magic of trust and why it’s way more clutch than your drop shot

What actually makes team chemistry click (and how to know when it’s off)

The messy middle: conflict, growth, and navigating partnership like a grown-up

And all the stuff no one teaches you in pickleball clinics, but probably should!

So if travel and play is your love language, consider this your official invite. From coaching sessions in Patagonia to building real connection with your doubles partner, this episode has the vibes and the insight. Paddle up, press play, and let’s go.

 

Cheers,

Casie & Lauren
Dinks on Tap

P.S. This episode is served with a side of ✨actual magic ✨from our sponsor, Unearth Experience, for people who want their adventures like their pickleball games: unforgettable, a little unhinged, and way above average.

Let’s keep the conversation going! Connect with us:

Instagram: @dinksontap

Facebook: @DinksonTap
Website: dinksontap.com

At some point this year, we all looked around and thought, “How did the pickleball community get this big?” and somehow, pickleball became everyone’s personality.

Welcome to our year-end rundown of the best and worst things that happened in pickleball this 2025, and we’re saying it all!

In this episode, we kick things off by celebrating some big wins, from growing audiences and packed events to the undeniable rise of pickleball tournaments and ever-expanding pickleball clubs. We also dig into the stats that prove what we all feel on the courts: this sport is exploding across adult sports leagues, community sports, and the broader world of sports industry growth.

Then things get spicy… we welcome back our favorite pickleball provocateur, Andrew Kole, who brings strong opinions on everything from questionable sports fashion trends to the overwhelming surge in pickleball equipment and ever-evolving paddle technology. His takes spark laughs, tension, and a few “did he really just say that?” moments, which is exactly why we love having him on.

We take a step back and look at what really defined pickleball in 2025. It was a year that proved this sport isn’t just growing, it’s evolving, and we’re breaking it all down with honesty, humor, and a little side-eye.

Here’s a peek at what 2025 looked like for pickleball:

The biggest pickleball trends that shaped the year, both exciting and uncomfortable

Why pickleball tournaments and competitive play surged in a big way

The real impact of pickleball noise complaints and shrinking public court access

Ongoing rating system debates and what they mean for everyday pickleball players

Why the pickleball community continues to be the heart of the sport, no matter how big it gets

So grab your margarita or martini, pull up a court-side chair, and join us as we toast the highs, side-eye the lows, and wrap up a wild year in pickleball. 🍹🏓

Cheers,

Casie & Lauren
Dinks on Tap

P.S. This episode is served with a side of ✨actual magic ✨from our sponsor, Unearth Experience, for people who want their adventures like their pickleball games: unforgettable, a little unhinged, and way above average.

AND

Our friends at Dailey Travels are hosting a Royal Caribbean Pickleball Cruise with NBA Legend Rick Barry this April. It’s a 5-night luxury cruise adventure to Cabo San Lucas that combines world-class instruction with five-star amenities! Check it out at www.dailey-travels.com!

Let’s keep the conversation going! Connect with us:

Instagram: @dinksontap

Facebook: @DinksonTap
Website: dinksontap.com

You’ve shown up to every match with your gear perfectly packed, but when it comes to holiday gifting, you’re the person scribbling a card in the parking lot with a pen you borrowed. Don’t worry, we’ve been there. And we’re here to make you look like a pro.

We’re back with our second annual holiday gift guide, and this one’s loaded with actual good ideas (you’re welcome). Whether you’re shopping for your doubles partner, your paddle-happy spouse, or your own fabulous self, we’ve rounded up the kind of pickleball gifts that’ll make you the MVP of the season.

And listen, this is not your basic paddle-and-water-bottle roundup. We’ve got pickleball pajamas you’ll feel like you want to live in, a pickleball apron that screams “stay out of the kitchen,” and yes, the Dammit Doll that might just save your friendships. You're welcome again.

We also mentioned Labubus (don’t ask, just listen), filming your game without looking like a try-hard, and the one gift that had us both genuinely speechless. Spoiler: it’s not the ice cube mold... but that one’s in there too.

Top Ten Gift Ideas:

Pickleball Dammit Doll 

Netcord Phone Holder for Video

American Girl - Pickleball Doll

Fence Bag Holder 

Pickleball ice maker 

Pickleball PJs

Pickleball apron 

Pickleball Cocktail Coasters

Paddle Grip 

Pickleball Twist Card Game 

Bonus Gift: An INCREDIBLE bespoke trip to Africa with Unearth Experience that will have you telling stories at dinner parties for years to come! 

 

So grab your drink, snuggle up (preferably in festive jammies), and hit play because nobody wants to be the one who shows up with a last-minute Amazon gift card. Again.

Cheers,

Casie & Lauren
Dinks on Tap

P.S. This episode is served with a side of ✨actual magic ✨from our sponsor, Unearth Experience, for people who want their adventures like their pickleball games: unforgettable, a little unhinged, and way above average.

Let’s keep the conversation going! Connect with us:

Instagram: @dinksontap

Facebook: @DinksonTap
Website: dinksontap.com