How many people can say they’ve played pickleball on Saddam Hussein’s helicopter pad?

Chuck Gaudette can.

In this unforgettable episode of Kitchen Conversations, Mike sits down with brothers Chuck and David Gaudette—two passionate players, certified coaches and longtime advocates who have built an extraordinary life around pickleball.

Chuck shares the remarkable story of taking pickleball equipment into Baghdad during a six-month NATO deployment. What began with a portable net, 10 paddles and 100 balls quickly became a multinational phenomenon—with soldiers lining up to play on Saddam Hussein’s former helicopter pad.

But that’s only part of the story.

Chuck and David also discuss:

🏓 Discovering pickleball aboard a cruise ship

🏓 Playing year-round in Cobourg and Arizona

🏓 Building a private indoor court known as “The Moose”

🏓 Coaching players of all ages and abilities

🏓 Their Pickleball Brothers YouTube channel for senior players

🏓 The explosive growth of indoor pickleball facilities

🏓 The rising cost of professional pickleball

🏓 Whether the sport risks growing too quickly

🏓 Why pickleball’s social connection may be its greatest strength

This is a conversation about brotherhood, military service, coaching, community and one man’s determination to make sure that even a deployment to Iraq wouldn’t keep him away from the game he loved.

It’s funny, candid and unlike any pickleball story you’ve heard before.

Connect with David and Chuck on their YouTube Channel:

www.youtube.com/@PickleballBrothers-no3cv

PB Canadagoes global part 1

youtu.be/YVB97IsqFuQ?list=PLqHB_-u66WdlzBVzgE9hgDAjBaN3tmiYJ

PB Canada goes global part 2

youtu.be/YVB97IsqFuQ

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#Pickleball #KitchenConversations #PickleballPodcast #PickleballBrothers #ChuckGaudette #DavidGaudette #PickleballCanada #CobourgPickleball #CanadianPickleball #MilitaryStories #NATO #Baghdad #Iraq #PickleballLife #PickleballCommunity #PickleballCoaching #SeniorPickleball #ArizonaPickleball #SelkirkSport #PickleballPlayers #PickleballJourney

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.