Loading...

PODCAST

Racquet Fuel

Racquet Fuel provides insights into the best practices and innovations of racquets industry business leaders. Co-hosts Kim Bastable, Director of Professional Tennis Management at the University of Florida, and Simon Gale, Senior Director Racquet Sports Development at the USTA National Campus, help racquets leaders in your ability to grow the game and to improve the experiences you offer to both your staff and players by talking to industry leaders, including USTA executives, authors and innovators

sports tennis

All Episodes

32:46

From Coach to Director: Preparing for Leadership in...

Racquet Fuel ·

2026/09/21

What does it take to move from being a successful coach to becoming an effective racquet sports director?In this episode of Racquet Fuel, hosts Kim Bastable and Simon Gale speak with Diego Leal Reyes, a member of the inaugural USTA Racquet Sports Management Apprenticeship class. Diego shares how his journey took him from collegiate tennis and an intended career in finance to coaching, club operations, and preparation for a leadership role in the racquet sports industry. His experience

en

36:36

From Click to Court: Making Tennis Easier to Join...

Racquet Fuel ·

2026/08/27

What if the biggest barrier to growing tennis isn’t getting families interested, but making it easy enough for them to actually sign up?In this episode of Racquet Fuel, hosts Kim Bastable and Simon Gale examine the tennis registration process through the eyes of a busy parent who wanted to introduce her children to the sport. Despite her interest, confusing program descriptions, unclear skill levels, membership requirements, and a difficult registration process ultimately caused her to walk

en

35:42

Taking a Look Back: Is Tennis Endangered by the Rise...

Racquet Fuel ·

2026/07/23

Taking a look back at one of our favorite conversations from the Racquet Fuel Podcast, we’re republishing this episode featuring Kim Bastable and Simon Gale’s engaging discussion with Mike Barrell on the evolving landscape of racquet sports.Drawing on more than 20 years of experience in the tennis industry, Mike explores the impact of pickleball and padel on traditional tennis, the economic considerations reshaping racquet facilities, and the importance of social engagement in building

en

34:57

What Can Racquet Sports Leaders Learn from Gen Z?...

Racquet Fuel ·

2026/06/25

What if the key to attracting and retaining the next generation of racquet sports professionals is simply listening to them?In this episode of Racquet Fuel, hosts Kim Bastable and Simon Gale turn the microphone over to the next generation of racquet sports professionals. Joining them are Christian Cannon, University of Florida Director of Racquet Sports master's student, and Ethan Patrick, a Racquet Sports Management student at Hope College. Instead of talking about Gen Z, this conversation

en

35:48

Building Human Connection Through Pickleball,...

Racquet Fuel ·

2026/05/28

What happens when you combine pickleball, hospitality, entertainment, and community into one experience-driven business model?In this episode of Racquet Fuel, hosts Kim Bastable and Simon Gale sit down with Kelli Alldredge, President of Chicken N Pickle, to explore how one of the most recognizable names in pickleball entertainment grew from a bold idea in Kansas City into a nationally recognized hospitality brand with 13 locations across the country. Long before pickleball exploded during

en

33:20

Leadership, Hospitality, and Career Pathways: What...

Racquet Fuel ·

2026/04/30

What can racquet sports leaders learn from one of the world’s most admired service organizations?In this episode of Racquet Fuel, hosts Kim Bastable and Simon Gale sit down with Holly Rivera, Chick-fil-A owner-operator in Orlando, to explore how one of the most recognizable brands in customer service develops leaders, builds intentional career pathways, and creates a culture where hospitality becomes a competitive advantage. From hiring for humility and soft skills to designing structured

en

35:47

Storytelling, Strategy, and the Future of Racquet...

Racquet Fuel ·

2026/04/09

What if the future of racquet sports leadership depends not just on understanding the game, but on knowing how to tell its story, build belief, and lead through change?In this episode of Racquet Fuel, hosts Kim Bastable and Simon Gale sit down with Ben Nichols, founder of Padel 22, to explore how communication, strategy, and storytelling are shaping the next chapter of racquet sports. With a background spanning Wimbledon, the Australian Open, Formula One, and global sport communications,

en

32:58

Building a Sustainable Tennis Business: Lessons from...

Racquet Fuel ·

2026/03/19

What does it take to build a successful tennis academy that not only develops players, but also develops people?In this episode of Racquet Fuel, hosts Kim Bastable and Simon Gale speak with Tina Keown and Jack Glennane, directors of the Victorian Tennis Academy. Operating four venues and 24 courts just minutes from the Australian Open grounds, VTA has become one of Australia’s leading tennis organizations, earning multiple Tennis Australia awards along the way. Tina and Jack share how

en

35:00

Designing Tennis for the Modern Family: Innovation,...

Racquet Fuel ·

2026/02/26

What if the future of racquet sports growth depends less on tradition and more on designing experiences for beginners, families, and urban communities?In this episode of Racquet Fuel, hosts Kim Bastable and Simon Gale sit down with Anthony Evrard, Co-founder and CEO of Court 16, to explore how innovation, listening, and purposeful design are reshaping the way families enter tennis. What began in a Brooklyn industrial building with red ball courts has evolved into a multi-location,

en

31:37

Building the Right Fit: Hiring, Leadership & Balance...

Racquet Fuel ·

2026/02/05

What if the most successful racquet sports leaders aren’t the most credentialed—but the most adaptable, self-aware, and committed to culture fit?In this episode, hosts Kim Bastable and Simon Gale sit down with Andrew Minnelli, Director of Racquets at Bighorn Golf Club and Consultant with GSI Executive Search, to explore what modern leadership, hiring, and career growth really look like in today’s racquet sports industry. Drawing from his unique dual role, Andrew shares insights from both

en

34:51

Building the Next 100 Years of Racquet Sports...

Racquet Fuel ·

2026/01/15

What if the future of racquet sports leadership depends less on titles and more on advocacy, early identification, and building a profession people are proud to choose?In this episode of Racquet Fuel, hosts Kim Bastable and Simon Gale sit down with Brian Dillman, CEO of the Racquet Sports Professionals Association (RSPA), to unpack one of the most significant leadership transformations in the industry. Brian shares the thinking behind the transition from United States Professional Tennis

en

37:18

From Grand Slams to Giving Back: Gigi Fernandez on...

Racquet Fuel ·

2025/12/18

What happens when a Hall of Fame career ends and the real leadership work begins?In this episode of Racquet Fuel, hosts Kim Bastable and Simon Gale sit down with Gigi Fernandez, Hall of Fame tennis player, Olympic gold medalist, and founder of Tennis for Hope, to explore what leadership looks like after elite performance. Gigi shares her honest transition from individual excellence to collaborative leadership, including lessons learned running major programs like Chelsea Piers and launching

en

46:30

Leading Gen Z: Shaping the Future of Work with Tim...

Racquet Fuel ·

2025/12/04

What’s Really Going On with Gen Z in the Workplace?In this episode of Racquet Fuel, hosts Kim Bastable and Simon Gale sit down with leadership expert and author Tim Elmore to unpack the realities of Generation Z and how they’re reshaping the workforce. Tim breaks down insights from his new book, The Future Begins with Z, explaining what makes Gen Z tick — their mix of high agency, high anxiety, and a craving for authenticity. The conversation hits work-life balance, purpose-driven

en

37:19

Pickleball & Padel Growth with Industry Pioneer David...

Racquet Fuel ·

2025/11/20

What’s Driving the Explosion of Pickleball and Padel?In this episode of Racquet Fuel, hosts Kim Bastable and Simon Gale talk with industry pioneer David Johnson about the massive growth of pickleball and the rising momentum of padel in the United States. David shares his early journey co-founding Pickleball Central in 2006, what he’s learned watching the sport scale, and why participation curves are now shifting as the market matures.The conversation breaks down the real data behind growth

en

36:24

Business Standards with Consultants Ajay Pant and...

Racquet Fuel ·

2025/11/06

What standards are necessary to build a successful club?In this episode of Racquet Fuel, hosts Kim Bastable and Simon Gale talk with Consultants Doug Cash and Ajay Pant about the importance of standards in business, particularly in the context of tennis clubs. They explore how standards define a brand, the necessity of enforcing them, and the challenges of managing high performers who may resist compliance. The conversation also delves into the consequences of lacking standards, the process

en

32:34

Coaching the Coaches: How USTA Is Powering Tennis...

Racquet Fuel ·

2025/10/23

What does it take to launch a nationwide coaching initiative from the ground up, and make it thrive?In this episode of Racquet Fuel, hosts Kim Bastable and Simon Gale talk with Megan Rose, Managing Director of USTA Coaching, about how she’s leading one of the most ambitious projects in U.S. tennis history. From crafting the strategy to grow coaching pathways to navigating the gray areas of leadership, Megan shares lessons on adaptability, inclusion, and redefining success when there’s no

en

33:51

The Mindset of Leadership: How Reflection,...

Racquet Fuel ·

2025/10/09

What separates a good coach from a transformative leader? Mental performance expert Dr. Larry Lauer says it’s not talent or IQ—it’s reflection, self-awareness, and putting others first.In this episode of Racquet Fuel, hosts Kim Bastable and Simon Gale sit down with Dr. Larry Lauer, Director of Mental Performance at the USTA National Campus and co-host of the Compete Like a Champion podcast. Known for shaping the mental toughness and mindset of America’s top junior and pro athletes, Larry

en

26:41

Building Your Coach Pipeline: How to Launch a...

Racquet Fuel ·

2025/09/25

If you “can’t find good pros,” this episode shows why that’s on us—and exactly how to build a repeatable Coach-in-Training (CIT) pipeline that grows talent and your business. Hosts Kim Bastable and Simon Gale make the case for actively inspiring the next generation of coaches—and walk through Simon’s proven CIT framework you can adapt at any club. Kim shares survey data showing only 17% of juniors had considered a racquets career and 60% hadn’t even heard of PTM programs, reinforcing why

en

34:33

Build Better Players, Build a Stronger Culture: UF...

Racquet Fuel ·

2025/09/11

Racquet Fuel hosts Kim Bastable and Simon Gale sit down with Per Nilsson, head men’s tennis coach at the University of Florida, for a leadership-first conversation about college tennis. Per shares the two cornerstones of his program—deeply individualized player development and a deliberately small, connected roster—and how those choices shape culture, performance, and recruiting. He also unpacks navigating a mid-season transition at UF, why self-care makes you a better leader, and how

en

31:49

From Top 100 Pro to Event Leader: Grace Min on...

Racquet Fuel ·

2025/08/28

What happens when a former top-100 player takes her competitive mindset and applies it to managing over 350 event days at the USTA National Campus? In this episode of Racquet Fuel, hosts Kim Bastable and Simon Gale sit down with Grace Min—a former WTA top-100 player who retired in 2024 and quickly transitioned into her role as Event Manager at the USTA National Campus. Grace shares how she’s adapted her player mindset into leadership, the surprising similarities between competing on tour

en

76 results

Similar Podcasts

Daily Fantasy Sports by Ship It Nation

Ship It Nation

Breakfast with Benz: A TribLIVE sports podcast

FFSN

Fox Sports Radio

Fox Sports Radio and iHeartPodcasts

PlayerProfiler Fantasy Football Podcast Network

Fantasy Football Advice for High Stakes...

Fantasy MLB Today

SportsEthos.com, Bleav