22: From Coast Guard to Court: Eric Gonzalez’s Pickleball Journey

In this lively spring episode of the Smashing Plastic Podcast, Coach Tommy welcomes his longtime playing partner and friend, Eric Gonzalez—a retired Coast Guard veteran turned pickleball enthusiast. Eric shares how his wife “invited” him to cardio tennis, which led to discovering some local pickleball courts... and the rest is history.

The two dive into Charleston’s evolving pickleball scene, their recent trip to a Couple's Pickleball Getaway in Mexico with Ben Johns (yes, that Ben Johns), and the highs and hilarious lows of playing—and drilling—with your spouse. They also geek out on how paddle tech has transformed the game over the past few years and why staying competitive means keeping up with the rapid evolution.

Whether you're a die-hard dinker, a paddle tech junkie, or just here for the laughs—this episode brings sunshine, real talk, and a ton of smashing insight.

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