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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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We kick off 2026 with an incredible conversation with Paralympian Jodi Hill — a real sportsperson with a story of grit, courage and rediscovery. After a serious accident in 2001, Jodi spent years battling pain until she chose to have her leg amputated in 2010, a decision she describes as finally finding freedom. Just three months later she stepped into a GB sitting volleyball taster session in Roehampton, and only two years after that she found herself competing on the world stage at the London 2012 Paralympic Games.

Jodi talks openly about rebuilding her identity in sport, the power of community within sitting volleyball, and why inclusion and visibility matter — especially for women and disabled athletes. She shares stories from competing, playing for the Panthers, and how she is now championing disability sport in new ways (including taking up ice hockey). Jodi’s honesty, humour and resilience make this an inspiring listen for anyone facing adversity or wrestling with who they can be.

Of course, we finish the episode with a round of This or That, and Jodi shares her word for 2026 — the perfect note to start the year on.

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In this powerful Disability History Month special, we dig deeper with Justin Phillips — GB Women’s Sitting Volleyball Head Coach, former Paralympian, and an inspirational figure whose journey in sport began with a life-changing taster session in his late teens.

A double amputee who had tried multiple sports growing up, Justin describes the exact moment he hit the sitting volleyball court for the first time — and how he was instantly hooked. What followed was an incredible progression from complete beginner to representing Great Britain on the world stage at the London 2012 Paralympic Games.

Justin opens up about the highs of playing for his country, the stories from inside the Games Village, and the surprising reality of how his team missed the opening ceremony due to intense preparation. He then courageously shares the other side of the Paralympic experience — the emotional crash that came afterwards, the challenges to his mental health, and the difficult period of rediscovering identity and purpose.

From that place came growth. Justin takes us through his evolution from athlete to coach, the people who shaped him, and how he ultimately became Head Coach of the GB Women’s Sitting Volleyball Team. He speaks openly about the barriers facing disability sport, the progress still needed, and his big ambitions for the women’s programme.

This episode is honest, vulnerable, inspiring — and a celebration of the athletes and coaches who push disability sport forward. Justin Phillips is a true volleyball legend, a leader with heart, and someone whose story will stay with you long after the episode ends.

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Think of the athlete who never stops showing up. That’s Anne Jarvis—England captain, Hall of Famer, and the nation’s most capped volleyball player—whose story blends grit, curiosity, and a fierce love for the team game. We trace her path from a sport-filled childhood to the senior squad at 18, where pressure drills, tough camps, and diverse coaching styles forged a competitor who prized precision as much as power. Anne explains how being coachable, filtering feedback, and learning to play smart compensated for not being the tallest on court, and why an elite hitter is only as good as the pass and set that come before it.

Travel shaped her game and worldview: a week-long Spring Cup that mixed high-level matches with cultural immersion, a packed Turkish arena so loud she had to watch the ref’s hand to serve, and a lost-baggage saga that ended with borrowed knee pads and a win-at-all-costs mindset. She shares favorite matchups, the thrill of facing Japan, and the joy of helping Ashcombe turn close calls into championships while mentoring juniors to read, pass, and serve under pressure.

At the heart of our conversation is access. Volleyball is a beautiful sport with real costs: hall time, travel, international commitments. That’s why we announce the Anne Jarvis Hardship Fund, a collaboration with Volleyball England and the Volleyball England Foundation to keep talent pathways open to committed athletes who need financial support. Anne’s vision is direct and hopeful: more matches for national teams, stronger club competition, and deeper investment in coaching education to raise standards across the country.

Join us for a rich look at performance, culture, and community from someone who lived it at the highest level. If you believe talent shouldn’t depend on money—and that smarter coaching and more competitive fixtures can change everything—hit play, subscribe, and leave a review with your biggest takeaway.

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In this episode of Digging Deeper, I’m joined by Nick Heckford, a man whose passion for volleyball and refereeing has carried him on an incredible journey from local courts in Poole, Dorset, all the way to the biggest stages in the sport. At the time of recording, Nick was speaking to me from the Philippines at three o’clock in the morning, where he was working as a Challenge Referee at the Men’s World Championships — a true sign of his dedication to the game.

Nick’s story began when his wife encouraged him to give volleyball a try. What started as a bit of fun quickly turned into a fascination with the rule book, a whistle, and a new role in the sport. Within just seven years, Nick progressed from refereeing in local leagues to becoming an international referee, officiating at the Olympic Games, the World League, the VNL, and the World Championships. It’s a journey that reflects not just opportunity, but a mindset rooted in growth, learning, and an enduring love for the game.

In our conversation, Nick reflects on what it takes to referee at the very highest level and why he treats every single match as a chance to learn something new, regardless of whether it’s a local league game or the Olympic stage. We also explore his work as the lead of the Officials Working Group, where he is shaping the future of refereeing in the UK, and his deep commitment to raising standards across every level of the game.

Nick also gives us fascinating insights into the recent changes to the rules, sharing what they mean for the sport and offering his vision for “smooth refereeing” — a philosophy that prioritises letting the game flow, creating longer rallies, and making volleyball even more exciting for players and spectators alike.

As always, the episode is packed with reflections, stories, and insights, before we wrap things up with a fun game of This or That. This is a conversation that captures not only the journey of one of the UK’s most respected referees, but also the passion and vision that continue to shape the sport today.

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As part of Inclusion Week, this special episode of Digging Deeper hears from a true volleyball pioneer — someone championing parts of our sport that too often don’t get a voice.

Rajinder Singh shares reflections from his 40+ years in volleyball, beginning with his early days in Bedford, watching his parents and uncles play for their local community team, before going on to compete across the London leagues. A self-confessed volleyball addict, Rajinder threw himself into the game with passion and persistence.

In this episode, Rajinder opens up about deeply personal experiences of both direct and indirect discrimination — how he navigated those challenges, grew stronger, and turned them into fuel for his mission of championing inclusion within volleyball, particularly through his work with GNG Bedford.

He also offers practical advice for clubs: why they should reflect the demographics of their communities, how to celebrate diversity meaningfully, and the small but powerful changes that can make everyone feel welcome in our sport.

A true legend, an inspiration, and a story you won’t want to miss.

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