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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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