The Diving Pod

This episode of the Diving Pod features David Colturi, diving into his unique journey from traditional springboard and platform diving to becoming one of the faces of professional cliff diving. Colturi reflects on his time competing at Purdue University, where he developed the technical foundation and competitive mindset that would later set him apart. He shares how his college career as a national-level diver gave him the confidence to pursue opportunities beyond the pool.

The conversation shifts to how he found his way into the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series, describing the transition from 10-meter diving to launching off 27-meter platforms. Colturi talks about the mental challenge of embracing fear, the physical toll of hitting the water at extreme speeds, and the tight-knit community among the world’s best cliff divers.

He also opens up about carving out a career in a niche sport, balancing performance with building a personal brand, and how the growth of social media has elevated cliff diving’s visibility worldwide.

Finally, Colturi discusses his newest venture, the No Limits Tour—an athlete-driven professional series he co-founded. The tour aims to expand opportunities for divers, bring more events to fans, and push the sport forward

This episode of The Diving Pod features a conversation with diving legend Micki King, whose story goes far beyond the pool. King reflects on her journey from a young athlete navigating a male-dominated sport to becoming an Olympic gold medalist and one of the most influential figures in diving history. She shares the challenges she faced during a time when opportunities for women in sports were limited, and how perseverance, resilience, and belief in her abilities helped her break through.

The episode dives into her impact on the growth of women’s athletics in the United States, including her role in advancing equality and visibility for female athletes during a pivotal era. King offers perspective on how far the sport has come. It’s a powerful conversation that blends history, personal triumph, and a lasting legacy that continues to shape the future of diving.

This episode dives into a thoughtful, experience-driven conversation with Tim O’Brien, former University of Miami standout and 2000 Olympic coach, as he breaks down the evolution of USA Diving—from a system that consistently produced world-class results to the more fragmented model we see today.

In this episode, we recap both the Division III NCAA Championships and the Men’s Division I Championships, breaking down the key moments from each meet. We hit on standout performances, team impact, and how athletes handled pressure in two very different competitive environments. From the consistency and execution seen at DIII to the difficulty and intensity of Men’s DI, we give a clear look at what separated the top performers at both championships.

In this episode, we recap the DII NCAA Championships and women’s DI results, focusing on the biggest takeaways from both meets.

At DII, highlighting the NCAA Champions and amazing stories that came from the week!  The standout divers were the ones who stayed composed and delivered in the middle rounds.

On the women’s DI side, the level was extremely high. The top finishers showed control, handled pressure well, and didn’t let one mistake affect the rest of their list. Small details made a big difference in placement.

Overall, both meets showed the same thing—success in March comes from consistency, control, and trusting your training.

In this episode of The Diving Pod, we sit down with Mizzou diver Derek Colbert to talk about his journey through the sport and what it takes to compete at the Division I level. Derek shares how he first got involved in diving, the coaches and mentors who helped shape his development, and the challenges that come with balancing the demands of high-level athletics and college life.

He dives into his experience competing in the SEC, what training looks like behind the scenes at Missouri, and how he continues to push himself to develop new dives and refine the details that separate good performances from great ones. Derek also reflects on the lessons the sport has taught him—handling pressure, staying resilient through setbacks, and continuing to chase improvement every day.

In this episode, we sit down with former collegiate diver Skip Donald, who opens up about the winding path of his college career and the lessons that came with it.

Skip began his journey at the Auburn University, one of the premier programs in college diving. He talks about the expectations and intensity of competing in the SEC, what he learned early in his career, and how those experiences shaped him as an athlete. After his time at Auburn, Skip made the difficult decision to transfer to the University of Florida to finish out his career.

During the transition, Skip found himself battling injuries that forced him to confront the reality many athletes eventually face—how to keep pushing forward when the body doesn’t cooperate the way it used to. He shares what those setbacks were like mentally and physically, and how the adversity changed his perspective on the sport and on himself.

Recently, Skip took those experiences and turned them into something powerful, writing a book that dives into the real ups and downs of being a college athlete. In the conversation, he talks about why he felt compelled to tell that story, the moments that shaped the book, and what he hopes current athletes can take away from it.

In this episode, we sit down with Sofia Knight, standout diver for the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, who shares her incredible journey from Australia to competing in the ACC.

Growing up in Australia, Sofia talks about how she first found diving, what the training culture was like back home, and how her early experiences shaped her fearless style on the boards. She reflects on the differences between the Australian club system and the NCAA model, and what it took to make the leap—both athletically and culturally—to the United States.

Sofia opens up about adjusting to life at UNC: balancing academics and athletics, embracing the team environment, and competing in one of the toughest conferences in the country. She shares the challenges of being far from family, how she’s built a second home in Chapel Hill, and what representing UNC means to her.

In this episode, we sit down with Ray Preas, standout diver for University of Louisville, to unpack the progression of an athlete who has steadily built himself into a consistent NCAA contributor.

Ray walks through how he first connected with diving, the early technical adjustments that accelerated his development, and the moment he realized college diving could become a serious path. From a coaching lens, what stands out in his story is the patience in his progression

In this powerful episode, Augustana University All-American diver Avery Lommel shares a journey defined by resilience, courage, and an unwavering love for the sport. Avery opens up about how she first found diving, the joy and identity it quickly gave her, and the unimaginable challenge that followed when she lost vision in one eye.

Facing depth perception changes, spatial awareness challenges, and the mental hurdles that come with a life-altering injury, Avery made the decision to stay in the sport she loved. She walks through the rebuilding process — relearning skills, adjusting technique, and trusting herself again on the board — all while navigating the doubts of whether elite diving was still possible.

What followed was nothing short of remarkable. Avery not only returned to competition, she rose to the top — capturing a state championship and ultimately becoming an NCAA All-American at Augustana. Her story is a testament to adaptability, perseverance, and the power of belief from the athlete-coach support system around her.

This conversation dives into identity beyond adversity, redefining limits, and what it truly means to pursue excellence when the path changes. Avery’s journey will resonate with athletes, coaches, and anyone facing obstacles that seem impossible to overcome.