Stop Saving Fun for When the To-Do List Is Done: How Pickleball Makes You a Better Leader and Better at Everything Else with Colleen Riddle

Making friends as an adult can be surprisingly hard, but the pickleball community has a way of bringing people together fast.

In this episode, we sit down with pickleball coach and author Colleen Riddle, whose book Came for the Game, Stayed for the People explores the pickleball friendships, fresh starts, and unexpected connections that can grow from simply stepping onto the court.

We talk about why learning something new together makes connection easier, how to keep pickleball fun as you improve, and why finding community as an adult sometimes starts with simply showing up.

You'll learn:

Why pickleball open play naturally creates opportunities to meet and connect with new people.

What pickleball can teach us about making friends as an adult, even when putting yourself out there feels uncomfortable.

Why women's pickleball can become a powerful space for friendship, support, and shared experiences.

Some of the less obvious benefits of pickleball that have very little to do with winning games or improving your rating.

What helps turn a group of players into a genuine community where people feel seen and included.

Why Colleen decided to turn real stories of connection into one of the more personal pickleball books about the game.

What learning pickleball as a beginner can teach you about confidence, vulnerability, and trying something new.

This conversation goes far beyond pickleball. It is about belonging, courage, friendship, and paying attention to the small opportunities that might be pointing you toward something you need.