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In this episode of Digging Deeper, I’m joined by Katarina Cepinova for a brilliant conversation about her remarkable journey through volleyball.

Katarina reflects on her early playing days, including her time playing in London and in the National League, and shares how a referee course with her best friend first opened the door into officiating. What began as something new soon became a huge part of her life, with playing becoming more social as her refereeing journey gathered momentum.

We talk about her development through the referee pathway, including her first NVL match experience and how a difficult encounter with a coach helped shape her resilience, confidence and determination. Katarina also shares her experiences at London 2012 as a dual official, working as a line judge and scorer — a key moment that inspired her to aim high and ultimately become England’s first female international indoor referee.

This episode also explores the art of refereeing — moving from simply knowing the rules to learning how to manage the game, the people and the pressure that comes with it. We discuss referee development, the skills required to officiate well, and Katarina’s thoughts on how officials can be better supported.

Katarina also talks about HerCall, the Volleyball England initiative she launched to support and develop female officials, helping build confidence, connection and a stronger support network for women in refereeing.

More than anything, this is a conversation about someone who truly loves the game. Katarina speaks openly about the challenges she has faced, but also about the joy volleyball has brought to her life. She is a real ambassador for the sport, and her story is one of passion, perseverance and impact.

A really powerful episode — don’t miss it.

Here’s a slightly shorter version too, in case you want it tighter for podcast platforms:

In this episode of Digging Deeper, I’m joined by Katarina Cepinova to explore her incredible journey through volleyball — from her playing days in Slovakia, London and the National League, to becoming England’s first female international indoor referee.

Katarina shares how she first got into refereeing with her best friend, how her love for officiating grew, and how key moments — including a tough first NVL match and her experience as a dual official at London 2012 — helped shape her ambition and development.

We also discuss the art of refereeing, the move from knowing the rules to managing the game, and her views on referee development and support. Katarina also talks about HerCall, the Volleyball England initiative she launched to support female officials and help more women grow in confidence and capability within the game.

This is a story of resilience, growth and genuine love for volleyball. Katarina is a true ambassador for the sport, and this is an episode well worth listening to.

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In this latest edition of The Heritage Show, in partnership with Volleyball England, I’m joined by Ron Richards for a brilliant conversation that journeys through more than six decades of volleyball history.

Ron reflects on his early days of discovering the sport in the 1960s, what volleyball looked like in those formative years, and how the game began to evolve through the 1970s and 1980s as more sports halls became available across the country. We talk about his playing days, competing with Exeter University, and the early growth of the National Volleyball League.

The conversation then moves into Ron’s huge contribution to junior development. As a teacher, he created opportunities for young people to play, setting up school and club programmes and building successful junior tournaments that gave countless players their start in the sport. We also explore his incredible impact in the South West, where he has been a tireless advocate for volleyball — supporting clubs to grow, strengthening the regional game, and helping drive junior development, including the creation of the mini volleyball Grand Prix series in the 1990s, which helped produce some of the country’s best players.

Ron also shares his thoughts on the power of volunteers in volleyball, the importance of creating club environments that feel like family, and why that sense of community matters so much in sustaining the sport.

From there, we move onto his national contribution — including his time as Vice President of the English Volleyball Association and his experiences as Head of Delegation for national and club teams travelling abroad. He shares fascinating stories from those trips, including memorable experiences in the Soviet Union.

We also talk about Ron’s role in establishing the Whitefield Volleyball Tournament, which grew into one of the most successful and well-loved grass tournaments in the country, and why its legacy continues to this day.

This is a fantastic conversation with a truly special man — a gentleman with a huge heart for volleyball, whose dedication to the game is remarkable. Having served as Secretary of South West Volleyball for over 50 years, Ron’s contribution to the sport is nothing short of extraordinary.

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In this episode of Digging Deeper, I’m joined by Peter Bakare — a true mindset athlete with an incredible story of resilience, effort, and belief.

Peter shares his journey into volleyball, only picking up the sport at 18 years old, and his extraordinary four-year mission to go from beginner to representing Great Britain at the London 2012 Olympic Games. An ex-basketball player with relentless drive, Peter talks openly about the work he had to put in off the court — learning footwork, refining movement, and closing the gap through sheer effort.

He reflects honestly on the challenges of not coming from a high-income background, the mindset required to keep going, and the transformative power of one small word: YET.

Peter also shares his experience of playing professional volleyball in Holland, his determination to earn court time, and how learning from world-class players shaped both his performance and perspective. He then takes us inside the magic of London 2012 — competing just around the corner from where he grew up, and the unforgettable moment of his mum watching her first ever volleyball match… at the Olympic Games.

The conversation then goes deeper, as Peter opens up about the post-Olympic comedown, struggles with identity, and the impact on his mental health. He shares how the encouragement of his mum led him back to university and towards building a future beyond elite sport.

Today, Peter runs NutriTroops, an organisation dedicated to helping young people live active, healthy lifestyles — a mission rooted deeply in his own journey and values.

This is a truly inspiring conversation with a great human — big heart, huge drive, and a powerful reminder that who you become matters just as much as what you achieve.

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