Racquet Fuel

From Click to Court: Making Tennis Easier to Join from a Parent's Perspective

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,

Taking a Look Back: Is Tennis Endangered by the Rise of Pickleball and Padel? - Featuring Mike Barrell

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 di

What Can Racquet Sports Leaders Learn from Gen Z? Bridging the Gap Between Today's Directors and Tomorrow's Leaders

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 B

Building Human Connection Through Pickleball, Hospitality, and Community - with Chicken N Pickle President Kelli Alldredge

What happens when you combine pickleball, hospitality, entertainment, and community into one experience-driven business model? In this episode of Racquet Fuel, hosts Kim

Leadership, Hospitality, and Career Pathways: What Racquet Sports Leaders Can Learn from Chick-fil-A’s People-First Success Model - with Holly Rivera

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

Storytelling, Strategy, and the Future of Racquet Sports - with Ben Nichols

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?

Building a Sustainable Tennis Business: Lessons from Australia’s Victorian Tennis Academy - Tina Keown & Jack Glennane

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

Designing Tennis for the Modern Family: Innovation, Adaptation & Urban Growth — with Anthony Evrard

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 o

Building the Right Fit: Hiring, Leadership & Balance in Modern Racquet Clubs — with Andrew Minnelli

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

Building the Next 100 Years of Racquet Sports Leadership - with Brian Dillman

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?

From Grand Slams to Giving Back: Gigi Fernandez on Leadership, Legacy, and Building Tennis for Hope

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 F

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

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 Elm

Pickleball & Padel Growth with Industry Pioneer David Johnson

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 t

Business Standards with Consultants Ajay Pant and Doug Cash

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

Coaching the Coaches: How USTA Is Powering Tennis Growth Nationwide

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 t

The Mindset of Leadership: How Reflection, Mentorship, and Emotional Intelligence Drive Growth with Dr. Larry Lauer

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 puttin

Building Your Coach Pipeline: How to Launch a Coach-in-Training Program

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 busin

Build Better Players, Build a Stronger Culture: UF Coach Per Nilsson’s Playbook for College Tennis Leadership

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

From Top 100 Pro to Event Leader: Grace Min on Transitioning into Tennis Management

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 Rac

Build a “Work Hard, Be Kind” Culture: How Fitness CEO Jon Rowley Scaled Community, Kept Talent, and Stayed on the Floor

From four clients in a garage to a 15,000-sq-ft hub with 500+ members, Jon Rowley shares the playbook racquet clubs can use to grow with standards, systems, and heart. I