You know pickleball is serious when…

Pickleball is the fastest growing sport in the U.S., and that’s been true for a few years. Figuring out why that’s the case isn’t very hard. It can be played by people of all ages, body shapes, skill level, talents, and… don’t bring this up with tennis players… but it can be played on any tennis court across the country. Earlier today I wondered how disc golfers must feel right about now. “Like, why haven’t people fallen in love with disc golf!!??” is what they’re probably asking. BECAUSE YOU’RE A NERD! We see your fanny pack full of 25 discs.

There are official statistics that show the uptick in people participating in pickleball, but do you know another way to tell it’s caught on big-time? Shoes.

It wasn’t too far in the past that the only brand with a pickleball shoe was Skechers. But if you were to look up a shoe now, as I did, you’ll find dozens of brands. In other words, brands see where there’s money to be made and put their products in the mix. Pickleball is a legitimate sport even if your DUPR is barely over 3.0 🥴.

I bought new running shoes early in 2025. I was (and still am) into sprint triathlons but various factors impacted my races that year. I only participated in two! That definitely wasn’t the plan. One got cancelled, another was full so I got on the waitlist. Then I hurt my knee. Circumstances kept me from more races but in that time, I picked up pickleball a lot more than I had previously. Even with the knee injury, I was able to move side to side and up and back on the pickleball court so playing just made sense. It’s all just for fun. Until yesterday.

For the first time ever, I looked up pickleball shoes… and of course all the ads I see now are targeted pickleball shoe ads. I’m currently using Brooks running shoes but I need something else. Now I’m serious. I need a pickleball specific shoe, especially since I have two tournaments coming up and I really want my DUPR to go up .00001.

-Out of the Wilderness

Everything Drops at Midnight

When I was growing up, there was the ball in New York City, and that was it. Maybe other cities around the country had some sort of smaller celebration but I don’t remember ever hearing about those. It was Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve or nothing. The one show that comes to mind right away is the one with The Bangles. They played their hit song “Walk Like An Egyptian” and do you remember someone’s earring falling off during the broadcast? Was it Heather Locklear who had the wardrobe malfunction? Tracy Scoggins? Am I misremembering this??

Many years later when I lived in Nashville, the Nashville New Year’s Eve show became a big event. There, they drop a music note.

Now there are a million other cities doing their own version of a gigantic drop of some sort so how will you be celebrating tonight? And if you say, I’ll be sleeping as the clock strikes midnight, you are my people. Sleep is so underrated on New Year’s Eve! Of course, there’s a little thing called college football playoffs tonight, too, which will draw a lot of viewers on TV. I’ll end this post up by saying Happy New Year to you, wherever you are. I hope this year ends on a high note and next year begins with success. Go to the gym!

-Out of the Wilderness

Domino’s Commercial – The Voice Behind the New “Mmm” Ads… and More!

“Mmm” is the universal phrase for good food and Domino’s has incorporated it into a brand refresh along with brighter colors, new boxes, and new fonts. For me, pizza is very mmm so I think it’s probably time to give them another taste test. Here’s one of their ads featuring a country music star… can you guess who’s lending his voice? The answer’s below…

The Voice. Sharing his deep, country voice is country music entertainer Shaboozey. Yep, you read that right. I didn’t believe it either but then I found the official press release. It’s not that it doesn’t sound like someone famous, it’s just such a short part of the ad, that’s why having anyone famous delivering the jingle surprised me.

From an advertising standpoint, adding the mmm to Domino’s seems like “Marketing 101″… and it’s evidence that creating something memorable and effective doesn’t need to be complicated. I think it’s safe to say this refresh from Domino’s just feels right, right? Especially when it’s easy to get these things wrong *ahem* Cracker Barrel. Although in Cracker Barrel’s case, I think they actually worked pretty hard to screw that up completely.

Domino’s didn’t reinvent themselves; just a little tweak here, a little adjustment there, and added a simple, catchy jingle that’s easy to remember. After all, it’s pizza, not rocket science. So their campaign made slight changes but kept the focus on the product. Smart.

-Out of the Wilderness

The One Stranger Things Mistake I Made

It’s 2025 and I should know better but the other day I was on Facebook and clicked on a Stranger Things post from some random person (not a FB friend, it was a suggested post, I guess?). Now most of my feed is populated by Stranger Things related content. And I’m not a super fan at all. I definitely shouldn’t have clicked that post, huh?

You might be wondering if I even watch the show since I admitted I’m not a super fan. Yes, yes I do watch the show. I’m up-to-date on the final season with only the series finale yet to air. My take-away is this: So. Much. Talking. I didn’t notice it as much in previous seasons but season 5 has had So. Much. Talking. I’ve probably skipped forward for half of each episode. There’s Eleven in her watery black backdrop scenes, or the Max/Holly Wheeler scenes, Will going on and on about being gay, and I skip forward because of the So. Much. Talking. Did I mention they talk a lot this season?

The best character in season 5 is Delightful Derek and I’m prepared to fight you about that. His retort back to Mr. Whatsit will go down as one of the most iconic lines of the entire show, if not TV streaming history altogether.

Like I said, I’m not a loyal fan of the show but I can still be positive. The graphics and animation work is mind-blowing. The story is entertaining. I just could’ve done without So. Much. Talking.

-Out of the Wilderness

The Apple Watch Chair Bed Commercial – The Song and More!

Apple has a new reminder that we should eat potatoes, not BE potatoes this holiday season. Couch potatoes, that is. The phrase “Run like you stole something” might be replaced with “Run like your bed is chasing you” because isn’t it so nice to have some turkey and gravy, a mound of mashed potatoes, cornbread dressing, then fall asleep watching football? No! No it’s not nice! Get off your rear-end and go for a run, says Apple. There’s one ad with a chair chasing a guy but for now, watch a bed chasing a runner then scroll down for more info…

The Song. Giving the woman a good BPM to run with is a song called “Give Thanks, Give Praise” by Young Franco, General Levy, and Tommy Villiers. Here’s the full track as released in 2025. Also check out Young Franco on Instagram @yngfrnco.

The message is the same across the campaign… “Don’t Give In.” Perfect timing for all of us who make fitness one of our new year resolutions. Take a few minutes to check out my brand new Etsy shop, there are some cool trucker caps up for sale and more on the way!

-Out of the Wilderness