If you haven't watched renowned researcher and storyteller Brené Brown discuss the ongoing Pickleball vs. Tennis debate at SXSW 2025 in Austin, TX, you definitely should.

An avid pickleball player herself who hits the court five days per week, Brown didn't hold back during a candid conversation with tennis legend Andy Roddick for a live production of the Served with Andy Roddick podcast.

Brown eloquently shares her thoughts on "the attacks on pickleball" in recent years, primarily from tennis players who don't appreciate that America's fastest-growing sport continues to gain traction at a record pace - and tennis courts are often being replaced with pickleball courts because of it.

"This is what I think about the attack on pickleball. I think unfunny, unkind, and the fear of being uncool, so if you’re still making fun of pickleball, like that’s a sad 2021 joke," said Brown. "You need to get new material."

We couldn't agree more, of course, and fortunately she wasn't done there.

Brown then delivered a poignant story about a fictitious woman named Ethel to hammer her point home.

"Number two, Ethel, who’s 75 and who has a suction cup on her paddle so she doesn’t have to bend down, and has double knee braces, may kick your ass. She’s got a top-spin forehand that you’re going to return into the net every time," continued Brown. "But in a moment when you return it back, and then she bodybags you, you’re going to look at her and now she’s Ethel, and it’s the 70s and she’s the No. 1 seeded player playing tennis at UCLA, and she never thought in a moment that she would be able to be competitive again, fight to win again, be out on the court again, so if you don’t like that, f*ck you!"

Talk about a wicked argument.

That was perfect.

Click here to listen to more of Brown's conversation with Roddick at SXSW 2025.