This episode is proudly sponsored by Padel Sans Frontières – the premium lifestyle brand dedicated to après padel fashion.

As temperatures soar, we dive into life on and off the padel court during the summer heatwave, soak up the incredible atmosphere of the World Cup, and chat about why outdoor padel is at its absolute best this time of year.

We talk about our dear friend and listener Trev, the Padel Pensioner, as he shares stories from his latest padel road trip, taking in sessions at Velocity Padel, Volt Padel and Heart of Padel.

Nick also reflects on a fantastic family weekend with Harrison and Janette, taking in stadium tours at Brighton & Hove Albion and Chelsea and dropped into PadelStars Bracknell too for a quick coffee and debrief.

We also give a shout-out to Ollie Aspin, who has taken on the incredible challenge of running one kilometre for every goal scored during the FIFA World Cup, raising money for the Your Padel Foundation. Plus, we celebrate the official launch of Padeltots by Jo Patterson, where 85 children took part and absolutely loved getting involved in the game.

Jen also shares her thoughts on the current state of the padel market, discussing how the rapid boom has settled into a more sustainable phase. With demand no longer significantly outstripping supply, the market has become calmer and more balanced, creating new opportunities and challenges for clubs, operators and brands alike.

Grab a caña coffee or a vitamin well, sit back and enjoy!

Welcome to The Padel Stories with Nick Bianchi and Jen

Nick is a sports lover, and is absolutely passionate about Padel. He represents the global italian Padel brand Hirostar and has even managed to squeeze in padel coaching course such is his love for the sport.

Jen Dooley is a Fitness and wellbeing expert, a Padel fanatic and real ambassador for the sport. She is a regular at many of the clubs in the North-West and is a real advocate too of the Padel scene at her 2nd home in Tenerife!

We will be inviting onto the pod a wonderful mix of guests who talk of their love of Padel and what it means to them and the impact it has on their lives.

Nick and Jen will also be doing a cheeky magazine style show aptly named ‘the tiebreak’!!

You know how we do… let’s get into it!

NB and JD xx

Follow us on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/padelstoriespodcast?igsh=N2k1cTBjNXlycHVq

In this episode of Padel Stories 🎙️, our very own Nick Bianchi sits down with Paul Mcilwraith , Co-Founder and Director of PORTICO SPORT UK, one of the leading global padel court installation companies and a key player in the sport’s rapid growth.

Paul has been involved in padel since living in Spain in the mid-2000s, where he first discovered and fell in love with the sport while working as a commercial pilot.

Spotting its potential long before the UK padel boom, he later pivoted into the industry and helped deliver courts and facilities across the country. Through his work with Portico, Paul has played a key role in the growth of British padel, earning a reputation as one of the sport’s original pioneers.

We hope you enjoy..

Welcome to The Padel Stories with Nick Bianchi and Jen

Nick is a sports lover, and is absolutely passionate about Padel. He represents the global italian Padel brand Hirostar and has even managed to squeeze in padel coaching course such is his love for the sport.

Jen Dooley is a Fitness and wellbeing expert, a Padel fanatic and real ambassador for the sport. She is a regular at many of the clubs in the North-West and is a real advocate too of the Padel scene at her 2nd home in Tenerife!

We will be inviting onto the pod a wonderful mix of guests who talk of their love of Padel and what it means to them and the impact it has on their lives.

Nick and Jen will also be doing a cheeky magazine style show aptly named ‘the tiebreak’!!

You know how we do… let’s get into it!

NB and JD xx

Follow us on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/padelstoriespodcast?igsh=N2k1cTBjNXlycHVq

In this episode, Nick and Jen catch up after Jen’s trip to Mallorca, where she spent a few days celebrating at a beautiful wedding and soaking up some Mediterranean sunshine.

They also reflect on an exciting few weeks for the podcast and wider community, including an invitation to the launch of Ace Padel in Lytham and a growing list of upcoming events across London, Essex, Stockport and beyond. With invitations arriving thick and fast, they discuss how rewarding it feels to be building connections and being welcomed into so many different communities and businesses.

The conversation then turns to the world of launch event, what makes them work, why they matter, and some of the opportunities they can create.

Nick also shares the frustration and stress of discovering that his Instagram account has been impersonated, highlighting the challenges of dealing with social media scams and protecting your online identity.

Finally, they discuss an inspiring new clothing brand focused on women over 40. Having recently met the founders, Nick and Jen talk about the story behind the business and why they’re looking forward to welcoming them onto the podcast later this summer.

A relaxed and upbeat episode covering travel, events, entrepreneurship, social media headaches, and the exciting opportunities that seem to be appearing around every corner.

Welcome to The Padel Stories with Nick Bianchi and Jen

Nick is a sports lover, and is absolutely passionate about Padel. He represents the global italian Padel brand Hirostar and has even managed to squeeze in padel coaching course such is his love for the sport.

Jen Dooley is a Fitness and wellbeing expert, a Padel fanatic and real ambassador for the sport. She is a regular at many of the clubs in the North-West and is a real advocate too of the Padel scene at her 2nd home in Tenerife!

We will be inviting onto the pod a wonderful mix of guests who talk of their love of Padel and what it means to them and the impact it has on their lives.

Nick and Jen will also be doing a cheeky magazine style show aptly named ‘the tiebreak’!!

You know how we do… let’s get into it!

NB and JD xx

Follow us on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/padelstoriespodcast?igsh=N2k1cTBjNXlycHVq

In this episode, we look back on an incredible week in Barcelona at the Padel World Summit and reflect on just how far the sport has come.

The excitement really started at the British Padel Awards the week before, which proved to be the perfect warm-up for Barcelona. It was fantastic to celebrate the achievements of so many people within British padel and, as it turned out, many of those same faces would be boarding flights to Spain just a few days later.

The exhibition halls were packed with stands from every corner of the industry: court manufacturers, technology companies, coaching businesses, apparel brands, investors and operators, all demonstrating just how rapidly padel continues to grow across the globe.

I was there representing Hirostar, spending time on the stand, meeting new people and catching up with old friends. One of the highlights of the week was the Padel Directory event on Tuesday evening, which brought together a fantastic mix of people from across the industry. It was a brilliant atmosphere and another reminder of how collaborative and welcoming the padel world can be.

It was great catching up with people including Jonathan Löfberg, Folke, Kris Ball, Steve Brodie, Ben Goodeve, Matt from London Padel Coach, George Modler, Ben Harris, Charlie Thompson and Nay Young to name just a few. Whether it was on the exhibition floor, over coffee, at networking events or on court, there was a real sense that British padel has found its place on the international stage.

Barcelona once again showed why it sits at the heart of the padel world, but it also demonstrated that the sport’s future is increasingly global.
Welcome to Padel Stories. Let’s get into it. 🎙️🥎

Welcome to The Padel Stories with Nick Bianchi and Jen

Nick is a sports lover, and is absolutely passionate about Padel. He represents the global italian Padel brand Hirostar and has even managed to squeeze in padel coaching course such is his love for the sport.

Jen Dooley is a Fitness and wellbeing expert, a Padel fanatic and real ambassador for the sport. She is a regular at many of the clubs in the North-West and is a real advocate too of the Padel scene at her 2nd home in Tenerife!

We will be inviting onto the pod a wonderful mix of guests who talk of their love of Padel and what it means to them and the impact it has on their lives.

Nick and Jen will also be doing a cheeky magazine style show aptly named ‘the tiebreak’!!

You know how we do… let’s get into it!

NB and JD xx

Follow us on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/padelstoriespodcast?igsh=N2k1cTBjNXlycHVq

Nick caught up with Tommy and Harvey from Bakuro Marketing at the Barcelona Padel World Summit from the Hirostar stand to talk all things about social media and padel.

In this episode, Tommy and Harvey share their journey from university graduates to building a successful marketing business within one of the world’s fastest-growing sports. They discuss how landing The Padel Directory as their first client helped launch their careers in the industry, and how they’ve since expanded to work with a growing portfolio of brands, including the Smash Padel group .

The conversation explores the opportunities available for young people entering the sport, the secrets behind creating engaging padel content on social media, and the trends shaping the future of padel marketing. Tommy and Harvey also share practical tips for clubs, brands and players looking to grow their online presence.

To round things off, they reveal their dream padel partners and opponents, dead or aliva fun look at the players they’d most love to share a court with.

A great listen for anyone interested in padel, marketing, entrepreneurship, and the growing business opportunities surrounding the sport.

Welcome to The Padel Stories with Nick Bianchi and Jen

Nick is a sports lover, and is absolutely passionate about Padel. He represents the global italian Padel brand Hirostar and has even managed to squeeze in padel coaching course such is his love for the sport.

Jen Dooley is a Fitness and wellbeing expert, a Padel fanatic and real ambassador for the sport. She is a regular at many of the clubs in the North-West and is a real advocate too of the Padel scene at her 2nd home in Tenerife!

We will be inviting onto the pod a wonderful mix of guests who talk of their love of Padel and what it means to them and the impact it has on their lives.

Nick and Jen will also be doing a cheeky magazine style show aptly named ‘the tiebreak’!!

You know how we do… let’s get into it!

NB and JD xx

Follow us on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/padelstoriespodcast?igsh=N2k1cTBjNXlycHVq

🚨 New Episode 🚨

Ben Nichols:
“Shaping the New Padel World”

Great catching up with Ben Nichols on the latest episode of Padel Stories 🎙️.

Ben is one of the key figures in the industry helping shape the narrative of the New Padel World, and this conversation went far beyond just the sport itself. From his early days as a talented junior in both tennis and squash, to roles across Formula One, tennis and global sports organisations, his journey into padel has been anything but conventional.

We spoke about:

* The rapid growth and future of padel
* Why storytelling and positioning matter for the sport
* His role with Padel22 and Insider22
* The hugely successful Anglo-American Padel Cup, which heads to the Replay Club Country Club in Florida next year
* The opportunities and challenges facing the industry

Ben is insightful, driven, thoughtful, and also happens to be a Nottingham Forest fan, (listen at the end to his ultimate game on court!)..

A brilliant conversation with a genuinely good guy and someone having a real impact on the sport. No surprise many now refer to him as the “Padel PR”.

Thank you Katie McGarrigle for all your help and to our producer Alisdair Smith 🤝


#Padel #SportsBusiness #Podcast #Leadership #SofaStories #Padel22 #AngloAmericanPadelCup

Welcome to The Padel Stories with Nick Bianchi and Jen

Nick is a sports lover, and is absolutely passionate about Padel. He represents the global italian Padel brand Hirostar and has even managed to squeeze in padel coaching course such is his love for the sport.

Jen Dooley is a Fitness and wellbeing expert, a Padel fanatic and real ambassador for the sport. She is a regular at many of the clubs in the North-West and is a real advocate too of the Padel scene at her 2nd home in Tenerife!

We will be inviting onto the pod a wonderful mix of guests who talk of their love of Padel and what it means to them and the impact it has on their lives.

Nick and Jen will also be doing a cheeky magazine style show aptly named ‘the tiebreak’!!

You know how we do… let’s get into it!

NB and JD xx

Follow us on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/padelstoriespodcast?igsh=N2k1cTBjNXlycHVq

Sharing a great evening that was had by all at the British Padel Awards 🏆

We were lucky enough to be guests of Padel Ventures on Table 21 and spent the night surrounded by some fantastic people from across the padel community.

We went through all the winners and wanted to offer huge congratulations to everyone recognised on the night, especially Minter Dial from Joy of Padel for winning Best Padel Podcast 👏

We were absolutely delighted just to be shortlisted ourselves for Padel Stories. Being mentioned alongside such great names in the sport meant a lot… and hopefully next year might be our year..😊

Most of all, evenings like this show just how far padel has come and how strong the community around it is becoming. Well done Anthony, you smashed it 🚀

Enjoy

Love

Nick & Jen

Xx

Welcome to The Padel Stories with Nick Bianchi and Jen

Nick is a sports lover, and is absolutely passionate about Padel. He represents the global italian Padel brand Hirostar and has even managed to squeeze in padel coaching course such is his love for the sport.

Jen Dooley is a Fitness and wellbeing expert, a Padel fanatic and real ambassador for the sport. She is a regular at many of the clubs in the North-West and is a real advocate too of the Padel scene at her 2nd home in Tenerife!

We will be inviting onto the pod a wonderful mix of guests who talk of their love of Padel and what it means to them and the impact it has on their lives.

Nick and Jen will also be doing a cheeky magazine style show aptly named ‘the tiebreak’!!

You know how we do… let’s get into it!

NB and JD xx

Follow us on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/padelstoriespodcast?igsh=N2k1cTBjNXlycHVq

This episode is packed with excitement, anticipation, and pure padel passion as the countdown to the upcoming Padel Awards gathers serious momentum.
We dive into all the hype, fever, and buzz surrounding what promises to be a huge weekend for the sport and the growing padel community.

We also look back on the fantastic Jason Manford Padel Academy event at The Padel Club TraffordCity; a brilliant day filled with energy, inspiration, and community spirit. Huge credit goes to Charlotte Gilley MBE for her incredible dedication and hard work in helping bring the event together, alongside the Academy Futures stars and celebrity guests who made it such a memorable occasion.

The episode also takes a trip into the heart of the padel community with Soul Padel, where we meet Andy Hilton, Trev the “Padel Pensioner,” and the legendary Soul Timers crew, showcasing the inclusive and social side of the sport that continues to make padel so special.

We recap some brilliant recent leading interviews too, including insights from referee Scott Ledger and Sophie Walker, reflecting on the stories, personalities, and passion helping drive the sport forward.

Overall, it’s a feel-good episode full of positivity, community spirit, and excitement for what’s ahead. The energy is building, the stage is set… bring on the Padel Awards

Welcome to The Padel Stories with Nick Bianchi and Jen

Nick is a sports lover, and is absolutely passionate about Padel. He represents the global italian Padel brand Hirostar and has even managed to squeeze in padel coaching course such is his love for the sport.

Jen Dooley is a Fitness and wellbeing expert, a Padel fanatic and real ambassador for the sport. She is a regular at many of the clubs in the North-West and is a real advocate too of the Padel scene at her 2nd home in Tenerife!

We will be inviting onto the pod a wonderful mix of guests who talk of their love of Padel and what it means to them and the impact it has on their lives.

Nick and Jen will also be doing a cheeky magazine style show aptly named ‘the tiebreak’!!

You know how we do… let’s get into it!

NB and JD xx

Follow us on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/padelstoriespodcast?igsh=N2k1cTBjNXlycHVq