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In this episode of Digging Deeper, I’m joined by Alex Porter, one of the most influential figures in English volleyball.

Alex’s journey through the sport is hard to sum up in just one role. He has captained Team GB, played overseas in Sweden and Austria, coached, led clubs, launched programmes, organised camps, supported athletes into university opportunities, and now plays a key role in shaping the future of indoor volleyball as Volleyball England’s Indoor Performance Director.

But what really stands out about Alex is that he has always been a builder.

He has built teams, clubs, cultures, programmes, pathways and opportunities. From helping grow Tendring Volleyball Club from one team to nine, to launching Essex Rebels and contributing to major success across NVL, Super League, BUCS and student volleyball, Alex has consistently shown what is possible when ambition, people and long-term thinking come together.

In this conversation, we dig deeper into Alex’s early journey in volleyball, his experiences as a player and leader, his move into coaching, the development of Essex Rebels, the lessons he has learned from building successful environments, and his new role with Volleyball England.

We also explore what he sees as the biggest opportunities for indoor volleyball in England, why player and coach pathways matter, and what needs to happen next if the sport is going to continue to grow.

Alex brings so many stories, insights and reflections from a life in the game. His commitment to volleyball, his understanding of people, and his willingness to do things differently really come through in this episode.

A brilliant conversation with someone who has given so much to the sport, and is still helping build what comes next.

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In this episode of The Heritage Show, we sit down with Janet Inman to explore a remarkable life in volleyball — one shaped by leadership, service, vision and a deep commitment to people.

Janet shares how her journey first began at an all-girls school, where volleyball gave her the opportunity to compete against a local boys’ school — a connection that would later lead to meeting her now husband. From there, her love for the sport grew through college, club volleyball and into coaching, where she was influenced by some of the people who helped shape her own style, standards and approach.

We explore Janet’s evolution from player and coach into local, regional and national leadership roles, including her long-standing contribution as Chair of Lincolnshire Volleyball Association. Throughout the conversation, it becomes clear that Janet has a natural ability to bring people with her, build trust and step forward when the sport needs leadership.

Janet reflects on her time with Volleyball England, including her work on the Whole Sport Plan and the safeguarding standards that helped position volleyball as a model of good practice for other sports — all while working full-time in education.

She also shares what it was like to become CEO of Volleyball England at a challenging time, when trust in the sport’s leadership needed to be rebuilt. Janet talks openly about making tough decisions, working incredibly hard, and helping to steady the organisation so it could move forward.

We also discuss her role in helping secure Beach Volleyball’s place at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games, as well as her ongoing work with the Volleyball England Foundation, supporting grassroots volleyball, inclusion, sitting volleyball, club development and access to the sport.

This is a conversation about leadership, volunteering, legacy and using your talents in service of something bigger.

Janet is no-nonsense, direct, passionate and deeply committed to the sport. Her belief is simple: if you have a talent, you should use it — and this episode shows just how powerfully she has lived by that.

A true volleyball legacy, and a conversation you don’t want to miss.

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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.

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