Podcast Summary

Podcast: The Determined Society with Shawn French
Episode: Built on Grit: The Picklr Empire
Date: October 3, 2025
Host: Shawn French
Guest: Jorge Berrigan, Co-founder of The Picklr

Main Theme

"Built on Grit: The Picklr Empire" explores how grit, obsession, and purposeful risk-taking fueled the rise of The Picklr, an indoor pickleball franchise. Host Shawn French and guest Jorge Berrigan, the company’s co-founder, dig beneath entrepreneurial headlines to reveal the personal struggles, mindset shifts, sacrifices, and practical strategies that turned a scrappy startup into a booming nationwide franchise. This episode is a raw, motivational look at modern entrepreneurship—how faith in your vision and dogged determination can overcome resource gaps, industry skepticism, and the stresses that test even the most passionate founders.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Genesis of The Picklr & the Entrepreneurial Spark

• Jorge on Finding Pickleball Early:
  Explains discovering pickleball in 2015, then a sport largely dismissed as a retirement-center pastime.

  • "I was introduced to this game... back then if you told someone you played pickleball, you got made fun of. It’s a sport for old people." (02:33, Jorge)

• Noticing a Gap:
  Recounts winter lines for pickleball courts, the growing mania among millennials, and realizing the sport’s true athleticism and untapped market.
  Developed affordable paddles for the younger demographic ($50 vs. $99).

  • "I saw a future where this game was going to get younger, it was going to get faster... this sport is sticky." (04:46, Jorge)

• Effect of Pandemic:
  COVID accelerated pickleball’s popularity and court shortages. Jorge and his business partner Austin got ahead of the wave.

2. Partnership & Execution—Moving from Idea to Reality

• Forming a Team:
  Jorge describes the instant trust and action with co-founder Austin, removed from analysis-paralysis:

  • "Sometimes you need one of your homies to double down with you... there could have been a moment right then and there... and you’re not here right now." (06:03, Shawn)
  • "We didn’t care. We didn’t have a game plan... We will figure it out as we go." (08:47, Jorge)

• Seizing Opportunity:
  Early success hinged on willingness to commit where others hesitated—taking a lease without a detailed plan and convincing landlords unfamiliar with the sport.

3. The Role of Obsession, Resilience & Intuition

• Both host and guest discuss the obsessive nature that drives innovation:

  • "It was an absolute obsession... my wife at times would be like, can we talk about anything other than the business?" (00:00, Shawn, mirrored at 13:19)

• Work-Life “Balance”:
  Both reject the traditional concept, emphasizing prioritization instead:

  • "There’s no such thing as work-life balance. You just have to prioritize what’s most important at that time." (00:30, Jorge)

• Harnessing Sleepless Nights:
  They reframe restless, idea-filled nights as opportunities for creativity, not liabilities.

  • "A lot of people look at those sleepless nights like it’s a con... I say, this is a great opportunity." (16:31, Shawn)

4. Overcoming Resource Gaps

• Funding Struggles:
  Jorge reveals deep personal risks—losing jobs, draining 401Ks, maxing out credit cards, and near-missed mortgage payments to fund the dream.

  • "I maxed out every single credit card, every penny in my savings account. 401ks got drained to start this." (27:51, Jorge)
  • "I just paid off my last... when I first started this business. Four years, right?" (28:26, Jorge)

• Proof Brings Investment:
  Initial fundraising was painful ("over 100 phone calls"), but later investments came easily ("the next 2 million took me two phone calls").

  • "Now you got people that believe in what you do, right? It was pretty cool to see." (29:36, Jorge)

5. Milestones, Growth & Celebrity Partnerships

• Rapid Expansion:
  The Picklr hit its 50th location within three years—an industry rarity (only 11% of franchises ever reach 50).

  • "By the time the show comes out... your 50th location is dropping." (31:07, Shawn)

• Intentional Design:
  Every aspect of The Picklr, from court acoustics to wall color, is crafted for customer experience.

• Partnership with Drew Brees:
  NFL legend Drew Brees joined Picklr not just as a brand name, but as a savvy, engaged entrepreneur and mentor.

  • "I can call Drew Brees right now, and he picks up... He’s been a great mentor." (32:16, Jorge)

6. The Real Cost of Ambition & The Power of Resilience

• Sacrifice & Family:
  Eight months without a paycheck; balancing five kids; learning to prioritize health as growth accelerates.

  • "I took a chance on trying to figure this out and having my fifth kid." (35:34, Jorge)
  • "People need me. People need me right now more than ever: my employees, my family." (39:54, Jorge)

• The Emotional Journey:
  Both men stress that emotional and financial pains are crucibles that forge true entrepreneurs.

  • "Those are the moments that make you." (38:41, Shawn)

7. Healthy Habits as Foundational for Endurance

• Both share how personal health (diet, exercise, sleep) directly enables business performance, presence and leadership.
  • "Nothing happened until I got in great shape." (41:10, Shawn)
  • "I treat going to sleep like a job now. I clock in, clock out when I’m supposed to. I wake up to go to the gym." (44:57, Jorge)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Obsession as a Gift:
  "It’s not a curse. I think it’s a gift to be able to have that much go through your mind and still be present with your family... It was an obsession for me and it still is."
  — Shawn French, (13:19)

• On Defining Determination:
  "Determination comes from having the ability and the want to do the things that most normal people do not want to do... If you can go outside of what the expectations are, the determination gets created. That’s when you become special."
  — Jorge Berrigan, (46:58)

• On Resilience:
  "As human beings, we’re meant to be resilient... You start to figure out a lot about yourself and a lot about your employees and who wants to be with you during the down times."
  — Jorge Berrigan, (38:06)

• On Intuition & Courage:
  "[Steve Jobs quote:] 'Your time is limited. Don’t waste your time living someone else’s life... Don’t let the noise of other opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition...'"
  — Jorge Berrigan quoting Steve Jobs, (17:45)

• On Early Struggles:
  "I went eight months without receiving a paycheck... having my fifth kid at the time. But just the struggles, man, but the rewards that happen when you figure stuff out was amazing."
  — Jorge Berrigan, (35:34)

Key Segments & Timestamps

| Timestamp | Segment | |------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 00:00–02:30| Work-life "balance", obsession, introduction of Jorge | | 02:33–05:56| Pickleball origin story, noticing the opportunity, early product innovation | | 05:56–10:26| The power of quick execution, partnership with Austin, forging ahead blindly | | 11:23–14:37| Discernment vs. cool ideas, digging into obsessive drive | | 16:31–20:13| Harnessing sleepless nights, resilience, and listening to intuition | | 22:31–26:53| Leveraging past experience, applying lessons to Picklr | | 27:51–30:27| Financial struggles, fundraising evolution | | 31:07–33:55| Expansion milestones, Drew Brees partnership, franchise statistics | | 35:34–39:54| Hardship, persistence, no-retreat mentality | | 41:10–45:42| Health routines fueling leadership | | 46:58–49:48| Defining determination, discipline, what makes the "special" difference |

Tone & Style

The conversation is direct, candid, humorous, and motivational—with both humility and bravado. Both men celebrate wins but are transparent about pain and sacrifice, striking an encouraging and relatable note for budding entrepreneurs and high-achievers.

Takeaways for the Audience

• Obsession is powerful if harnessed for good.
• Resilience through hardship is non-negotiable.
• Success comes to those who do what others are unwilling to.
• Taking care of your physical and mental health is foundational.
• Trusting your intuition and acting fast can set you apart.
• True grit isn’t glamorous, but it can be deeply rewarding.

Closing Quotes

• "At the end of the day... it’s about keeping your word to yourself. And that’s how you build something special, man."
  — Shawn French, (45:45)
• "Thank you so much, Jorge. I had a blast. Maybe we’ll do this again at your 70th location!"
  — Shawn French, (49:53)

For more, try out a session at a Picklr near you and stay tuned for even more stories of grit, growth, and determination.