What do you get when you mix a tennis background, a spontaneous trip to Naples, and ten years of grind? You get Joey Farias. On this episode, Coach Tommy sits down with Joey to talk pro pickleball beginnings, the youth scene (or lack thereof), and the challenges and opportunities ahead for growing the sport from the ground up.

🔔 Subscribe for more Smashing Plastic podcasts and stay updated on the latest in pickleball!

📍 Want to train with us? Funville Farm offers clinics, lessons, and weekend events in Summerville, SC. DM us for details!

Follow Joey:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joeyfariaspickleball/

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In this lively spring episode of the Smashing Plastic Podcast, Coach Tommy welcomes his longtime playing partner and friend, Eric Gonzalez—a retired Coast Guard veteran turned pickleball enthusiast. Eric shares how his wife “invited” him to cardio tennis, which led to discovering some local pickleball courts... and the rest is history.

The two dive into Charleston’s evolving pickleball scene, their recent trip to a Couple's Pickleball Getaway in Mexico with Ben Johns (yes, that Ben Johns), and the highs and hilarious lows of playing—and drilling—with your spouse. They also geek out on how paddle tech has transformed the game over the past few years and why staying competitive means keeping up with the rapid evolution.

Whether you're a die-hard dinker, a paddle tech junkie, or just here for the laughs—this episode brings sunshine, real talk, and a ton of smashing insight.

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Live from Funville Farm, home of Smashing Plastic Pickleball, we’re joined by Noah Winningham, one of Charleston’s top up-and-coming pickleball players! Noah shares his journey from a baseball background to being one of the top 5 players in Charleston, how he trains daily, and his ultimate goal of becoming a top 5 pro player.

We talk about:

- How two old ladies humbled him on the court

- The drills that transformed his game

- Why watching game footage is a game-changer

- The latest paddle tech & top brands in 2025

- His future in pro pickleball and what it takes to compete at the highest level

🔔 Subscribe for more Smashing Plastic podcasts and stay updated on the latest in pickleball!

📍 Want to train with us? Funville Farm offers clinics, lessons, and weekend events in Summerville, SC. DM us for details!

Follow Noah:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/noahwinningham24

Follow Smashing Plastic:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SmashingPlastic

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smashingthyplastic/