What if the fastest growing sport in the world had a dirty secret… and one man decided to fix it?

In this episode of Kitchen Conversations, I sit down with Jeff Pepper, a serial entrepreneur who has already built and scaled companies most people only dream about… including one that went from a basement startup to a NASDAQ-listed business.

But that’s not the story.

This is about what he did after.

Because Jeff saw something most players ignore…

Millions of cracked pickleballs… being thrown straight into landfills.

So he built something different.

The PickleUp Project.

A grassroots movement turning waste into something useful… collecting thousands of balls every single month… and proving that pickleball can grow without leaving a trail behind it.

👉 This isn’t theory.

👉 This is happening right now.

🔥 In this episode, we dive into:

• The unbelievable journey from basement startup to NASDAQ

• Why pickleball addiction happens almost instantly

• The massive environmental problem nobody is talking about

• How the PickleUp Project is solving it… one ball at a time

• What it really takes to build something that actually scales

• Why most recycling systems are broken… and what needs to change

💡 If you care about pickleball… this conversation matters.

Because this isn’t just about the game.

It’s about what we leave behind.

🔗 Connect with Jeff Pepper & PickleUp Project:

🌐 PickleUp Project: https://pickleup.org

🔗 Learn more about the movement: https://pickleup.org/about

📍 Get involved / start a program: https://pickleup.org/contact

🎙️ About Kitchen Conversations

More than dinks, drops and drives…

This is about the people behind the paddle.

Real stories. Real journeys. Real impact.

👉 If this episode made you think, hit Subscribe and share it with someone who needs to hear it.

Because if this podcast does one thing…

…it’s getting one more person off the couch and onto the court.

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#sportsinnovation

#sustainability

#recycling

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#nasdaq

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#behindthepaddle

#pickleballstories

And that wraps up this episode of Kitchen Conversations.

If you enjoyed the conversation, be sure to follow the show, leave a review, and share it with someone who loves the game as much as you do.

And if you want the full experience, including the visuals, head over to YouTube and watch the episode at

https://www.youtube.com/@KitchenConversationspodcast

Or search Kitchen Conversations Pickleball Podcast

That’s where these stories really come to life.

You’ll also find links and show notes in the episode description.

Until next time…

more than dinks, drops and drives…

these are stories from behind the paddle.