Small Town Teacher Finds His Calling with Senior Pickleball
How a former high school teacher created a popular pickleball YouTube channel from rural New Mexico
As pickleball’s popularity has exploded in recent years, the nascent sport has spawned a mini media universe of podcasts, websites, social media influencers and YouTube channels. One of the more unlikely success stories is Mike “Sleeves” Sleva, a former high school history teacher whose Senior Pickleball Report channel found an audience by focusing on an underserved niche.
In a wide-ranging interview on The Pickleball Show podcast, Sleva sat down with host Curtis Reese to discuss his journey from running away to join a homesteading community to becoming an accidental pickleball media star. While Sleva’s unlikely backstory and offbeat personality shine through, what emerges is a portrait of passion and perseverance against the odds.
From Classroom to Commune
Sleva grew up in southeastern Wisconsin before attending the University of Wisconsin and becoming a high school teacher. After 12 years teaching U.S. history and literature, however, Sleva yearned for a change. “I loved doing it but I was I didn't want to have to show up to a building for the next 15 years before I could retire,” he told Reese.
So in 2011, Sleva and his wife left their teaching jobs in Phoenix to travel the American Southwest and Europe, volunteering on homesteads to learn hands-on skills. “We actually left our jobs in 2011 to go work on different homesteads throughout the southwest and Europe to basically learn how to Homestead,” he explained.
After four years of roaming, the Slevas settled in a yurt in rural New Mexico as part of an off-grid community of homesteaders. Trading the classroom for communal living was a shock, but Sleva seems to have found his calling. “I got a wood burning stove I got no water outside inside but running outside I take a dump in a bucket with a straw and uh that's my life man,” he said with a laugh.
Winter in the Wiffle Ball League
Two winters ago, Sleva’s niece introduced him to pickleball as a way to pass time during the pandemic. He was quickly hooked, despite the rustic setup. “My courts are these dilapidated tennis courts from the 1970s that are just full of cracks and tar,” he said. “I come to an actual court and the ball bounces true so I don't have any excuses when I come to an actual Court.”
A friend soon convinced Sleva to start a pickleball YouTube channel, sensing an opportunity in the sport’s booming popularity. With his shaggy beard and mellow voice, Sleva was a natural fit for the over-50 demographic. “I don't see anybody doing that yet and we can drive some viewership to the channel,” he reasoned.
The Senior Pickleball Report was born. Two years later, Sleva has over 1,500 YouTube subscribers and a growing social media presence. He cranks out reviews of lesser-known paddle brands and interviews with pickleball seniors and personalities. “It’s become a bit of a little monster because now we have like to do stuff and create stuff,” he admitted.
Far from resenting the extra work, however, Sleva is relishing the ride. “I’m looking for pros to talk to and Pros to come on and give some instruction,” he told Reese. “That’s kind of a cool thing I think, senior Pros to give some instruction specifically towards senior players.”
Big Fish in a Small Pond
Unlike other popular pickleball channels from major cities, what makes the Senior Pickleball Report unique is Sleva’s quirky personality and rural small-town backdrop. Footage of his dilapidated community tennis courts – complete with chain link fences and cracks filled with tar – has become a trademark.
“I did a video called the world's worst pickleball courts on it on my Channel about a year ago and it was cool because people started sending me the pictures of their courts all over the world,” he said.
The downloads pour in even when Sleva travels to proper indoor facilities. “For me that’s the ideal place to play and the Highlight so far it's just playing inside on a real court with control conditions,” he noted.
No matter the location, Sleva’s genuineness and passion for covering pickleball – and spotlighting fellow senior players – shines through. He is not in it for fame or fortune. “I’m trying to get to that big 1000 Mark so I can get monetized someday,” he admitted.
Small-Town Teacher Finds His Calling in Pickleball
How rural living and a "monster" YouTube channel changed Mike Sleva's life
PECOS, New Mexico - In the isolated valleys of northern New Mexico, a former high school teacher has become an unlikely star in the exploding sport of pickleball. Mike "Sleeves" Sleva, 49, traded the classroom for communal living in a yurt, and found a new passion sharing his senior pickleball journey with hundreds of YouTube subscribers.
Sleva spent 12 years teaching U.S. history, literature and PE in Phoenix alongside his wife before the call of rural life pulled them away. “We actually left our jobs in 2011 to go work on different homesteads throughout the southwest and Europe to basically learn how to Homestead," he explained on The Pickleball Show podcast.
After four years of wandering, the Slevas settled into an off-grid, communal living yurt in rural Pecos. “I’ve got a wood burning stove, no water outside inside but running outside," he said. "I take a dump in a bucket with a straw and uh that’s my life man.”
Two winters ago, Sleva’s niece introduced him to pickleball. He was quickly hooked, playing on cracked local tennis courts retrofitted with temporary pickleball lines. A friend convinced Sleva to start a YouTube channel. “I don’t see anybody doing that yet and we can drive some viewership to the channel," he reasoned.
The Senior Pickleball Report was born. Two years later, Sleva has over 1,500 subscribers. “It’s become a bit of a little monster because now we have like to do stuff and create stuff," he said. Sleva reviews gear, interviews personalities and spotlights fellow senior players. No fame or fortune, just passion for the game.
"I'm looking for pros to talk to and give some instruction,” Sleva told host Curtis Reese. “Senior pros giving instruction specifically towards senior players might be a cool thing."
Sleva's glimpses of rural living lend authenticity. His dilapidated community tennis-turned-pickleball courts are trademarks. "I did a video called the world's worst pickleball courts. People sent pictures of their courts from all over,” he said.
No matter the location, Sleva’s genuineness and small-town vibe shines through. Far from the noise of big cities, this unlikely star has found purpose through pickleball.
1. Sleeves' Unconventional Journey
Mike “Sleeves” Sleva took an unusual path from high school teacher to becoming a popular pickleball YouTuber. After 12 years teaching history, literature and PE, Sleva left Phoenix in 2011 to travel and volunteer on homesteads. “We actually left our jobs in 2011 to go work on different homesteads throughout the southwest and Europe to basically learn how to Homestead," he told host Curtis Reese.
After 4 years of wandering, Sleva settled in rural New Mexico in a yurt as part of an off-grid communal living community. He runs on solar, hauls water and uses a bucket toilet. “I’ve got a wood burning stove, no water outside inside but running outside. I take a dump in a bucket with a straw and uh that’s my life man,” he said with a laugh.
Two winters ago, Sleva’s niece introduced him to pickleball as a hobby. He was quickly hooked, playing on cracked local 1970s tennis courts painted with pickleball lines. A friend convinced Sleva to start a YouTube channel, realizing the sport's exploding popularity. The Senior Pickleball Report was born.
2. Accidental YouTube Star
Sleva's Senior Pickleball Report YouTube channel now has over 1,500 subscribers after just 2 years. "It’s become a bit of a little monster because now we have like to do stuff and create stuff," he told Reese. Sleva churns out paddle reviews, interviews personalities and spotlights fellow senior players who are often overlooked.
"I'm looking for pros to talk to and give some instruction,” he said. “Senior pros giving instruction specifically towards senior players might be a cool thing."
Sleva is not in it for fame or to get rich. "I’m trying to get to that big 1000 Mark so I can get monetized someday," he admitted. For Sleva, it's a passion project focused on an underserved demographic. His glimpses of off-grid rural living also lend the channel an authentic small-town vibe.
3. Worst Courts in the World
One of Sleva's trademarks is videos showcasing his local 1970s tennis courts retrofitted with temporary pickleball lines. With cracked surfaces, chain link fences and ants, they are far from ideal. "I did a video called the world's worst pickleball courts. People sent pictures of their courts from all over," he told Reese.
Yet the rustic surroundings have only bolstered Sleva's following and street cred. "When I come to an actual court the ball bounces true so I don't have any excuses when I come to an actual Court," he said. For now, the "world's worst" courts are home.
4. Ball Machine Practice
Living remotely, Sleva often lacks pickleball partners. So he supplements play with solo practice using a ball machine. "I have to because I mean you know I'm in the middle of nowhere and I don't always have access to people," he told Reese.
Sleva focuses on drills like simulated games and rapid volleys at the no-volley line. "It just feels like the ball is slowed down a little bit," he said. The practice pays off when people visit. "When they come to the courts and they're like holy cow they're actually worse than they look online!"
5. Escape from the Midwest
Sleva grew up in the Milwaukee area but had no shortage of reasons to leave the Midwest behind. "I got tired of the Midwest weather, it wasn't consistent, generally overcast, a lot of mosquitoes," he told Reese. After college at Wisconsin, Sleva headed south to Phoenix.
Despite his unconventional lifestyle today, Sleva came from a mainstream background. He and his wife spent 12 years teaching high school in Phoenix. "I taught U.S. history and American literature and my wife taught PE and health," he said.
The call of adventure ultimately proved too strong, sending Sleva on his zigzag journey to rural New Mexico. But his small-town Midwestern roots shine through in his friendly on-camera presence.
6. Pickleball Passion Project
Unlike other major pickleball YouTubers, Sleva did not set out seeking stardom. His channel focuses on senior players and offbeat gear from smaller companies. "I kind of like the smaller ones because like me, the Little Engine That Could, they need some attention," he said.
With over 950 subscribers gained organically, the Senior Pickleball Report has succeeded on its own quirky terms. "I'm just kind of I get probably a few paddles a month and that's plenty," Sleva said, contrasting himself with bigger channels glutted with sponsorships.
In the noise of crowded social media, Sleva's podcast interview was a reminder that passion projects can still flourish online. If he one day reaches the 4.0 skill level, too, even better.
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