Cheer: The British Way

It's tryouts season, and in this episode of Cheer: The British Way , Tori and Ant dive into everything you need to know about the athlete selection process. Drawing on their own experience as coaches and gym owners, they discuss how they approach tryouts, what makes an athlete stand out, and the key qualities they look for beyond just skills and scores. From mindset and coachability to effort,...

Tori and Ant are back from Worlds 2026 and unpacking everything. The highs, the lows, and the moments no one saw coming 👀 From unforgettable performances and emotional wins to behind-the-scenes chaos, they dive into what made this year’s Worlds one to remember… including an unexpected injury (and no, it wasn’t an athlete 😳). And of course, it wouldn’t be a Worlds recap without a bit of drama. An...

In this episode, Tori and Ant sit down with Jay Kendrick from Miami Metal to unpack everything you need to know about the brand-new Pro Cheer League. Because it’s so new, and not widely available to watch here in the UK beyond clips on social media, Jay breaks it all down from the ground up. From explaining how the league is structured to walking through the different rounds, scoring, and what mak...

In this episode of Cheer: the British Way , hosts Tori and Ant sit down with Joanna Gamper Cuthbert and Paige Cronje and to talk all things SportCheer England. Together, they dive into why becoming a member is more important than ever for athletes, and coaches across the UK cheer community. Joanna and Paige break down the real value of membership, including what support you receive, how it helps s...

University cheer is a world of its own and it’s often misunderstood. In this episode of Cheer the British Way, we dive into the reality of uni cheer, breaking down how it differs from Allstar cheer, how it’s evolved over the years, and why it deserves recognition in its own right. We talk honestly with Chinwe Okeke about the challenges uni cheer programmes face, from limited funding and facilities...

In this throwback episode, Ant and Tori rewind to a time when The Uni Cheer Forum was the place everyone was talking about. From unforgettable highs to some very real lows, they reminisce about what it was like when forum threads could make or break your week. Beyond the nostalgia, this episode opens up an honest and important conversation about the power of online commentary and the impact it can...

The dream. The goal. In this episode of Cheer : The British Way , Tori and Ant sit down for an honest, unfiltered conversation about Worlds. This includes what it used to mean, what it feels like now , and whether the experience has changed more than we realise. From memories of Worlds in the past to the reality of Worlds today, they reflect on how the competition, culture, pressure, and expectati...

In this episode of Cheer: the British Way , Tori and Ant dive into the transatlantic world of cheerleading, comparing the UK and USA like never before. From training schedules and competition experiences to funding struggles and growth opportunities, they break down the unique challenges each country faces. But it’s not all differences. There are plenty of surprising similarities too. Whether you’...

In this episode of Cheer: The British Way , Tori and Ant are joined by Steph Clawson from CheerTravel to dive into the story behind one of the UK’s leading cheer travel providers. Steph shares how CheerTravel began, how it has grown, and what goes on behind the scenes when organising unforgettable competition trips. From international events to once-in-a-lifetime team experiences, she explains exa...

Competition season… the glitter, the nerves, the early mornings, the last-minute changes, the wins, the losses, and everything in between. In this episode of Cheer the British Way , Ant and Tori get real about the reality of competition season. From the emotional highs of hitting zero and standing on the mat with your team, to the pressure, stress, injuries, and setbacks that no one sees on social...

It’s a proper throwback this week as Tori and Ant head back in the day to talk all things cheer uniforms. From questionable fabric choices and bold design decisions to the looks we thought were elite at the time, nothing’s off limits as they reminisce about what we wore, why we wore it, and how cheer style has evolved over the years. 👀 For those tuning in on video, pay close attention to Tori’s o...

Running a cheer gym isn’t just about great routines and competition wins. It’s about building a business that can grow, evolve and thrive. In this episode of Cheer: The British Way , Tori and Ant sit down with Rachel Lynch , owner of The Cheerleading CEO , to dive deep into what it really takes to run a successful cheer gym. From leadership and mindset to systems, growth and knowing when to let go...

In this episode of Cheer: The British Way , Ant and Tori tackle one of the most debated questions in the cheerleading world: is allstar cheer actually a sport? Expect an honest, open discussion as we explore different definitions of sport, common arguments from inside and outside the cheer community, and why this topic continues to divide opinion. Expect strong viewpoints, thoughtful counterargume...

In this episode of Cheer: The British Way , we’re joined by Jibreel Rayam , President and Founder of the AIA , for an open and thought-provoking conversation about the future of allstar cheerleading. Jibreel breaks down what the AIA is , why he founded it , and the gaps he saw within the sport that needed challenging. Together, we explore how allstar cheer can evolve, what change could look like i...

In their very first Back in the Day episode, Tori and Ant rewind the clock and dive into the nostalgia that shaped their cheer journeys. From early competitions and old-school routines to the moments that defined an era, they reflect on how cheer has evolved through their own experiences. This short-form series is all about remembering where it started, laughing at the throwbacks, and celebrating...

In this episode of Cheer: The British Way , we dive deep into the incredible rise of Gymfinity , one of Wales’ fastest-growing cheer programmes. Founder Zoe shares the raw, unfiltered story of how she built a brand-new programme from the ground up and led it all the way to a bid to Worlds in just three years . We explore the challenges, breakthroughs, late nights, and big decisions that shaped Gym...

In this eye-opening episode of Cheer: The British Way , hosts Tori Rubin and Ant Ridgway sit down once again with the brilliantly knowledgeable Rachel Lynch , better known as The Cheerleading CEO . Listen as they unpack a question every parent and athlete has asked at some point: “Why is cheerleading so expensive?” From competition fees and uniforms to the lesser-known costs like training space, s...

In this episode, hosts Tori and Ant sit down with Aron Awofadeju, Unity Cheerleader, coach, and star of BBC’s I Kissed a Boy, to explore the themes of LGBTQ+ identity, inclusion, and belonging within the world of cheerleading. Together, they unpack the question: Is cheer really a safe space? From Aron's personal experience to the community as a whole, the conversation reveals how cheer stands...

In this exciting episode, we officially welcome Ant Ridgway as the new co-host of Cheer: the British Way! Together, Tori and Ant dive deep into the fascinating world of cheerleading careers, exploring how the sport has opened up brand-new career paths across the UK. From coaching and choreography to judging, gym ownership, media, and event production, they uncover the real opportunities that have...

In Part 2 of our journey through the roots of UK cheerleading, we continue exploring the history with Ant Ridgeway (EMCA), Angela Green (Ascension Eagles), and Rachel Lynch (North East Cheer & The Cheerleading CEO) . This continuation picks up where the nostalgia left off. Exploring the next chapters of their stories, the pivotal moments that pushed the sport forward, and the resilience it too...

In this episode, we take a trip down memory lane with three trailblazers of the UK cheerleading scene — Ant Ridgeway from EMCA, Angela Green from Ascension Eagles and Rachel Lynch from North East Cheer and The Cheerleading CEO. Together, we explore their founder stories, discuss the challenges, breakthroughs, and funny moments that shaped their journeys. From the good old days of simple beginnings...