Nov 11, 2026 — Zane Navratil is leaving PicklePod. The touring pro broke the news on the Nov 10 episode, titled “Zane Navratil Is Leaving PicklePod” (1 hour, 23 minutes), and the episode’s YouTube description says his farewell show arrives the following week. The podcast has run since 2021 and bills itself as “Pickleball’s #1 Podcast”.
Here are the four things that matter.
01The Exit Is Announced, Not Finished
The Nov 10 episode is the announcement, not the sign-off. Its description lists a segment where Zane announces his last episode, and the farewell is slated for next week.
The lineup had already changed. The Dink, which publishes the show, relaunched it as PicklePod 2.0 with creator Nico the Lefty as a new host, and Dink founder Thomas Shields still appearing alongside them.
02The Landing Spot: Beyond The Bounce
On Oct 23, Atlanta-based Beyond The Bounce announced that Zane is joining to develop exclusive content, kicking off its move into original programming. The social platform is live, with mobile apps listed as coming soon, and Zane already has a channel on the platform.
“Thrilled to work with Beyond the Bounce”ZANE NAVRATIL · PR NEWSWIRE, OCT 23
APCM Executive Vice President Mookie McDevitt called him the kind of personality the company wants for original programming and described him as joining its growing team of owners and strategic advisors.
What the release does not say: the show’s name, format or launch date, or whether Zane holds equity. He is not among the five new owners and advisors it names. Treat “owner” as a reading of McDevitt’s wording, not a confirmed deal term.
03Who Else Is in the Room
The same release adds five owners and advisors, per RADL:
- Jason Aspes
President of UPA-A and co-founder of The Kitchen Pickleball - Adam Ryan
Former president of The Hustle, founder of Workweek, advisor to Matthew Berry’s Fantasy Life - Jorja Johnson
Pro, MLP MVP, PPA and MLP champion - JW Johnson
Pro, PPA and MLP champion, No. 1 DUPR-rated player - Dekel Bar
Pro, co-owner of Pickleball Getaways and Pickleball 360
Beyond The Bounce began as a digital magazine from Ace Pickleball Club Media (APCM). The Aug 21 launch release paired the first issue with a Regulation Crowdfunding offering, with a $500 minimum. APCM’s audience claims (more than 25,000 members, 200,000 email subscribers) come from the company’s own release; Ace’s own site cites 20,000 members. Treat all of it as unaudited.
04Why a Pro Moves From Host to Stakeholder
Zane has long framed pickleball as a business he plans to outlast the playing career. In an earlier PPA Tour Q&A, the former Deloitte auditor said “the business side of things really interests me.” In a 2025 profile he called pro pickleball “still a somewhat speculative investment.”
The cost side is documented. In an April 2026 Dink breakdown, Zane estimated annual travel spend by tier:
S-tier players add roughly $100,000 for coaches and physios. These figures exclude agent fees, professional fees and taxes, and the article does not say which tier Zane occupies.
→What He Keeps, and What to Watch
The playing career continues for now. Zane is on the Chicago Slice’s 2026 MLP roster, and in July told WTTW the team’s goal is to win a championship “in a couple years.” He also signed a UPA extension to play 10 international events a year for three years, and he still runs his own YouTube channel, newsletter, clinics and online academy.
He was elected president of the UPA Pro Player Committee in 2025. We did not find a reconfirmation of that role as of this month.
Three open questions:
- The show. No title, format or premiere date has been announced.
- PicklePod’s next chapter. The Dink has not said who joins Nico the Lefty, or whether the format changes.
- Disclosure. Zane has been outspoken on tour finances and governance. The Beyond The Bounce release lists the president of UPA-A among its owners and advisors, while Zane holds a UPA committee post. Neither announcement says how those roles interact, so watch for disclosure language when his commentary touches governance.