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The Art of Creating Space: Padel Insights with Fredrik Ask (JOPS03E10)

The Art of Creating Space: Padel Insights with Fredrik Ask (JOPS03E10)

by | Jun 4, 2025 | , ,

This Joy of Padel podcast episode features Fredrik Ask, a professional padel player from Norway. Fredrik shares insights on transitioning from tennis to padel, his training experiences in Madrid, and the challenges of finding the right partner in professional padel. He discusses the importance of understanding ball trajectories and developing instinctive play. The conversation also touches on the growing popularity of padel in Saudi Arabia and the cultural aspects of the sport.

Key points:

1. The importance of adapting tennis skills to padel, including learning to use the walls effectively.

2. The need for patience in developing partnerships in professional padel, as frequent changes can hinder progress.

The Padel World Summit 2025: A Spectacle of Entrepreneurs, Glass Boxes, and the Relentless March of Progress (Or Something Like That)

The Padel World Summit 2025: A Spectacle of Entrepreneurs, Glass Boxes, and the Relentless March of Progress (Or Something Like That)

by | Jun 3, 2025 | , ,

The Padel World Summit 2025 in Barcelona showcased the sport’s explosive global growth, with over 6,000 professionals exploring leadership, innovation, and growth strategies. From AI-powered coaching and VR experiences to major brands like Adidas jumping in, padel is transforming from a niche pastime into a €6 billion industry. With 40% female players and rising inclusivity, the summit highlighted padel’s ambition to become an Olympic sport and a global business powerhouse.

Loïc Fery on Padel: Bridging Business Acumen and Sports Passion (JOPS03E09)

Loïc Fery on Padel: Bridging Business Acumen and Sports Passion (JOPS03E09)

by | May 28, 2025 | , ,

This Joy of Padel episode features Loïc Fery, a finance expert and sports enthusiast who owns FC Lorient and co-founded the 10 Padel team in the Hexagon Cup. Fery discusses his journey from tennis to padel, highlighting the sport’s accessibility and social aspects. He shares insights on managing both business and sports teams, emphasizing the importance of talent and emotions in sports. Fery also explores padel’s global growth potential and its possible inclusion in future Olympics.

Key points:

1. Padel’s lower barriers to entry compared to tennis, allowing players of different skill levels to enjoy the game together.

2. The similarities and differences between managing finance teams and sports teams, with emotions playing a crucial role in sports.

Exploring Digital Wellbeing and Digital Detox with Petra Velzeboer (MDE613)

Exploring Digital Wellbeing and Digital Detox with Petra Velzeboer (MDE613)

by | May 25, 2025 | , ,

This podcast features a conversation between host Minter Dial and guest Petra Velzeboer, a psychotherapist and mental health consultant. They discuss digital well-being, the importance of self-awareness, and the challenges of maintaining mental health in today’s hyperconnected world. Velzeboer shares insights from her personal journey, including her experiences with addiction and depression, and how these have shaped her approach to well-being. The discussion covers topics such as the effectiveness of digital detoxes, the role of intention in personal growth, and strategies for creating mentally healthy workplace cultures.

Key points:

1. The importance of aligning well-being strategies with business objectives for sustainable peak performance.

2. The value of self-reflection and community connection in maintaining mental health and overcoming addiction.

Loïc Fery: Bridging the Gap Between Business Acumen and Sports Passion (MDE612)

Loïc Fery: Bridging the Gap Between Business Acumen and Sports Passion (MDE612)

by | May 18, 2025 | , , , ,

This podcast features a conversation with Loïc Fery, a successful businessman and sports enthusiast. Fery discusses his journey from finance to owning a football club and investing in padel. He shares insights on managing talent in both business and sports, emphasising the importance of tough love and treating stars as team members. Fery also delves into his involvement with the Hexagon Cup, a major padel event, and his views on the sport’s future growth and potential Olympic inclusion.

Key points:
1. The similarities and differences between managing talent in finance and sports.
2. The rapid growth of padel and its potential for global expansion, particularly in the US market.

Moralized Antagonism with Dr Frances Lee: How Our Politics Failed Us in COVID’s Wake (MDE611)

Moralized Antagonism with Dr Frances Lee: How Our Politics Failed Us in COVID’s Wake (MDE611)

by | May 11, 2025 | , , , ,

Frances Lee is professor of politics and public affairs at Princeton University. She is the author of Insecure Majorities: Congress and the Perpetual Campaign; Beyond Ideology: Politics, Principles, and Partisanship in the U.S. Senate; and (with James M. Curry) The Limits of Party: Congress and Lawmaking in a Polarized Age.

Padel TV: Bringing Elite-Level Padel to Screens Worldwide with Johannes Thomhave

Padel TV: Bringing Elite-Level Padel to Screens Worldwide with Johannes Thomhave

by | May 7, 2025 | ,

This Joy of Padel episode features Johannes Thomhave, CEO of Padel TV, discussing the challenges and opportunities in broadcasting padel matches. As a padel aficionado, Johannes shares insights on filming techniques, the growth of padel in Sweden and the UK, and the importance of globalizing the sport. He emphasizes the need for high-quality production, including multiple cameras, instant replays, and advanced statistics to enhance viewer experience. The conversation also touches on Padel TV’s business model and future expansion plans.

Key points:

1. Padel TV aims to professionalize padel broadcasting by producing high-quality content with multiple cameras, instant replays, and advanced statistics.

2. The importance of globalizing padel by featuring players from various countries and conducting interviews in English to reach a wider audience

Ben Nichols: From Anti-Doping to Padel’s PR Powerhouse (MDE610)

Ben Nichols: From Anti-Doping to Padel’s PR Powerhouse (MDE610)

by | May 4, 2025 | , , , , ,

I had the pleasure of speaking with Ben Nichols, a communications expert with a diverse background in sports and anti-doping. We delved into his experiences at the World Anti-Doping Agency and how it shaped his approach to challenges. Ben shared insights on the complexities of managing communications in the digital age, particularly during crises. We discussed the evolution of PR strategies and the importance of authenticity in messaging. Ben also talked about his current focus on padel, a rapidly growing sport, and his various ventures in this space, including Padel22, a PR and marketing communications business. He highlighted the unique opportunity to shape the narrative of padel as a new sport in many markets. We explored the challenges and opportunities for paddle players in building their personal brands. Finally, Ben shared his passion for purpose-driven businesses and his vision for growing the padel industry. Overall, it was a fascinating conversation about communication strategies, sports marketing, and the exciting world of padel.

Hexagon Cup 2025: Revolutionising Padel with Spectacle and Innovation

Hexagon Cup 2025: Revolutionising Padel with Spectacle and Innovation

by | Apr 28, 2025 | ,

The Hexagon Cup 2025 in Madrid marked a new era for padel, blending spectacle and innovation. Created by the founders of Formula E, this unique team exhibition tournament brought together global teams owned by celebrities and financiers. Fans enjoyed diverse line-ups, thrilling Golden Point moments, and a slower court that encouraged longer rallies. The event showcased inclusivity with adapted padel for wheelchair players and highlighted the importance of teamwork and communication. Despite surprises from top-seeded players, the tournament delivered excitement and valuable lessons for enthusiasts, reinforcing padel’s growing appeal and international reach.

To Book Minter!

I’m Minter Dial and I serve my clients by elevating the debate and energy, telling powerful stories and connecting people and ideas. My mission to insert more meaningfulness into our lives and at work. I relish being an engaging professional speaker on leadership, transformation and branding. I’m known for being someone who walks the talk and delivers on or above expectations. I’m the author of four award-winning books, including the second edition of my award-winning book, Heartificial Empathy (April 2023, available in English and French), You Lead published by Kogan Page that won the Business Book Award 2022, and Futureproof (FT-Press/Pearson) that won the Business Book Award 2018. I’m also the producer of the award-winning WWII book and documentary film The Last Ring Home.

My new project is Dialogos, Fostering More Meaningful Conversations that is being published weekly via Substack, which will be converted into a book end of 2023.

Click here to inquire about booking Minter!

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