In this episode of Pickleballers, Federico Staksrud sits down with co-hosts Roscoe Bellamy and Jared Paul for a casual, wide-ranging conversation about his journey from a software company desk job to the top of the sport.

They cover his blockbuster MLP trade to the New Jersey 5s, his reunion with Hayden Patriquin in men’s doubles on the PPA Tour, the global growth of the game and the mindset that keeps him reaching Sunday nearly every week.

Staksrud breaks down the process that built him into the player he is today, starting with Simone Jardim teaching him that pickleball required real practice. He also talks about the moment Johnny Goldberg told him he could be No. 1 in a global sport, and changing his lifestyle to live like an athlete 24/7.

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He opens up about the pressure that came with the $400K price tag in MLP, and why Anna Leigh Waters is the most competitive person he’s ever met.

We also ask him about the miscommunication that split him and Patriquin in 2025 and why the two reunited with one goal: Beating Ben Johns and Gabe Tardio.

He shares what it’s like to have 500 fans screaming at him in Vietnam and why he plays too many tournaments. He also makes a controversial case that MLP’s competitive problems fall on the players, not the league.

Plus, Jared and Roscoe make a $5,000 bet on Anna Leigh’s future.

Catch the full episode on YouTube, Spotify or Apple Podcasts.