Unfiltered Waters

In this episode of Unfiltered Waters, Katie Hoff and Elizabeth Beisel sit down with four of the biggest names in NCAA swimming: Anna Moesch (Virginia), Torri Huske (Stanford), Jillian Cox (Texas), and Camille Spink (Tennessee) for a special “Squad Energy” edition filmed just days before the NCAA Championships. From pre-meet traditions and team speeches to accountability, leadership, and what truly makes a championship culture, each athlete shares what drives their team behind the scenes. You’ll hear about Virginia’s push for history, Stanford’s resilience, Texas’s family-first mentality, and Tennessee’s unmatched energy on deck, all while getting a glim...

In this episode of Unfiltered Waters, Katie Hoff and Elizabeth Beisel break down the full Men’s NCAA Swimming & Diving Championship preview from poolside at Georgia Tech—covering team projections, key storylines, and the races that could decide the meet. With Texas projected to lead, the real battle heats up behind them as Florida, Arizona State, Indiana, and Cal fight for second in one of the deepest fields in recent memory. The duo dives into the impact of the B final format changes, relay strategy, and how momentum from the women’s meet could carry into the men’s competit...

In this special solo episode of Unfiltered Waters, Katie Hoff brings you a full NCAA Women’s Swimming Championship preview from the pool deck at Georgia Tech, breaking down team projections, top storylines, and the biggest changes heading into one of the fastest meets of the year. From UVA’s pursuit of a historic sixth title to the battle between Stanford, Texas, and Michigan, Katie dives into the athletes, races, and records that could define the meet. She also unpacks the controversial elimination of the B final, what it means for scoring and exposure, and why this year’s ESPN b...

In this special “Fish Outta Water” edition of Unfiltered Waters, Katie sits down with a group of elite swimmers to talk about something other than swimming. Recorded during the USA Swimming Pro Swim Series in Austin, this episode highlights the passions, hobbies, and talents that these athletes pursue outside the pool. From Carson Foster embracing life as a devoted dog dad, to Matt King designing and handcrafting luxury leather bags, Luke Hobson chasing trophy bass on the water, and Becca Mann building a career as a published author, the conversations reveal the creative, curious, and human sides of athletes we u...

In this episode of Unfiltered Waters, Katie Hoff sits down in Austin, Texas with legendary swim coach Bob Bowman — former U.S. Olympic Team Head Coach, head coach of Texas Men’s Swimming & Diving, and mentor to multiple Olympic champions and world record holders. Bob reflects on the past year of NCAA championships, coaching pros like Summer McIntosh and Leon Marchand, navigating NIL and roster limits in college swimming, and the evolving landscape of USA Swimming. He opens up about coaching philosophy, visualization techniques, leading under pressure, building championship culture, relay strategy, recruiting in the transfer portal era, and what...

In this episode of Unfiltered Waters, Katie sits down with USA Swimming CEO Kevin Ring at the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Training Center in Colorado Springs to mark his first 100 days in the role and break down the future of USA Swimming. Kevin shares the organization’s newly approved mission, vision, values, and four key pillars, dives into the 2026 budget deficit and why increased national team investment and bringing Pan Pacs to the U.S. are strategic moves ahead of LA 2028, and explains how USA Swimming plans to grow membership, strengthen partnerships, elevate athlete performance, and improve the fan ex...

In the next episode of Meet Team USA Figure Skating (Frozen Waters), a special mini-series from Unfiltered Waters, Katie sits down with Isabeau Levito, 2024 World silver medalist and 2023 U.S. National champion, for a candid conversation about expectations, confidence, and staying true to herself on the road to the Olympics. Isabeau reflects on the pressure of being “one of the expected spots,” the difference between skating because you get to versus because you have to, and how learning to sit with expectations has shaped her growth. She opens up about not giving up on hard days, building a strong ball...

In the next episode of Meet Team USA Figure Skating (Frozen Waters), a special mini-series from Unfiltered Waters, Katie sits down with Emily Chan and Spencer Howe, two-time Four Continents silver medalists and one of Team USA’s Olympic pairs teams. Emily and Spencer reflect on the emotional roller coaster of nationals, bouncing back from a rough short program to secure their Olympic spot, and the injuries and setbacks that nearly derailed their journey. They open up about the power of routine under pressure, the level of trust required to throw and catch at full speed, and how eight ye...

In the next episode of Meet Team USA Figure Skating (Frozen Waters), a special mini-series from Unfiltered Waters, Katie sits down with Amber Glenn, three-time U.S. national champion and newly named Olympian. Amber reflects on the pressure of performing under expectation, the milliseconds that separate success from mistake, and what it really takes to adjust in real time when things don’t go as planned. She opens up about embracing nerves instead of fighting them, staying grounded through rhythm and preparation, and why taking ownership of her artistry—from music to costumes to hair and makeup—has been centra...

In the next episode of Meet Team USA Figure Skating (Frozen Waters), a special mini-series from Unfiltered Waters, Katie sits down with Christina Carreira and Anthony Ponomarenko, ice dance partners who have navigated one of the most challenging and transformative seasons of their careers. Christina and Anthony reflect on the emotional toll of uncertainty, including Christina’s journey to U.S. citizenship, and what it took to stay grounded while chasing an Olympic dream that felt anything but guaranteed. They open up about mental health, stepping away from toxic noise, building trust through honest communication, and the rituals that he...

In the next episode of Meet Team USA Figure Skating (Frozen Waters), a special mini-series from Unfiltered Waters, Katie sits down with Andrew Torgashev, U.S. Championships silver medalist and newly named Team USA member, fresh off one of the most emotional weeks of his career. Andrew reflects on the adrenaline crash after making the team, the quiet moments no one sees, and how he learned to manage nerves that followed him even off the ice. He opens up about visualization, grounding techniques, and the mantra that carried him through pressure-filled programs—along with what it means to fall, ge...

In the next episode of Meet Team USA Figure Skating (Frozen Waters), a special mini-series from Unfiltered Waters, Katie sits down with Ilia Malinin, reigning world champion and widely known as the “Quad God.” Ilia reflects on the mental and emotional cost of constantly pushing the ceiling of what’s possible, navigating expectations that come with redefining the sport, and why embracing imperfections has been essential to his growth. He opens up about fear, failure, and what people don’t see behind the highlight reels—sharing how staying open-minded, trusting the process, and being unapologetically himself has shaped both his skatin...

In the next episode of Meet Team USA Figure Skating (Frozen Waters), a special mini-series from Unfiltered Waters, Katie sits down with Madison Chock and Evan Bates, world champions, Olympic medalists, and one of the longest-standing partnerships in the sport. Madison and Evan reflect on what it takes to stay great over multiple Olympic cycles, the willingness to evolve and reinvent themselves, and how navigating injury, doubt, and major career pivots ultimately reshaped their trajectory. They open up about competing as life partners, learning to respect individuality while working as one, and why grace, love, and trust have become...

In the next episode of Meet Team USA Figure Skating (Frozen Waters), a special mini-series from Unfiltered Waters, Katie sits down with Emilea Zingas and Vadym Kolesnik, ice dance partners and 2026 Four Continents champions, fresh off a whirlwind stretch that changed their lives. Emilea and Vadym reflect on qualifying for the Olympics, the moment it finally felt real, and what it means to exhale after chasing a lifelong goal. They open up about partnership, trust, and why committing to mental training with a sports psychologist transformed both their skating and their relationship on and off the ice. Honest, joyful...

In the next episode of Meet Team USA Figure Skating (Frozen Waters), a special mini-series from Unfiltered Waters, Katie sits down with Max Naumov, U.S. national medalist, for an honest conversation about emotion, resilience, and the mental side of competition. Max reflects on performing under pressure, learning to sit with nerves instead of fighting them, and how embracing uncertainty has changed the way he approaches skating. He opens up about confidence, vulnerability, and why allowing himself to feel everything—fear included—has helped him grow both on and off the ice. Thoughtful, grounded, and deeply self-aware, this conversation cont...

In the first episode of Meet Team USA Figure Skating (Frozen Waters), a special mini-series from Unfiltered Waters, Katie sits down with Alysa Liu, a Beijing 2022 Olympian, World Champion, and the first woman to land a quad Lutz. Alysa reflects on stepping away from the sport at a young age, trusting her intuition, and returning with a renewed sense of creativity, connection, and purpose. She opens up about self-expression through skating, fashion, and choreography, the importance of saying no to outside noise, and why “connection” is the word that grounds everything she does. Honest, thoughtful, and uniquely her, this conv...

In this episode of Unfiltered Waters, Katie sits down in Austin, Texas during the USA Swimming Pro Swim Series with Olympic champions Katie Ledecky, Bobby Finke, Simone Manuel, Kieran Smith, and Jack Alexy to break down how elite athletes actually fuel training, competition, and recovery. From pre-practice meals and post-race nutrition to cooking habits, travel fueling, and lessons learned the hard way, this conversation offers practical, real-world insight for athletes at any level. Whether you’re a swimmer, parent, or just trying to optimize performance, this episode shows why nutrition is one of the biggest competitive advantages in sport. 

In this episode of Unfiltered Waters, Katie sits down in Austin, Texas during the USA Swimming Pro Swim Series for a fast-paced, fun, and surprisingly insightful conversation with Gen Z athletes Regan Smith, Anna Peplowski, Claire Weinstein, Rylee Erisman, and Charlotte Crush. From slang like “sat,” “chopped,” and “aura farming” to trends, fashion, social media habits, and what actually defines Gen Z culture, this episode breaks down how the next generation of athletes think, talk, and show up—without trying too hard. Equal parts educational and hilarious, this is Gen Z explained by the people actually living it. 
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In this episode of Unfiltered Waters, Katie sits down with Chari Hawkins, a Paris 2024 Olympian and U.S. heptathlon champion, for a powerful conversation about perseverance, identity, and belief in elite sport. Chari opens up about the long road to the Olympics, rebuilding confidence after setbacks, navigating mental health and pressure, separating self-worth from performance, and why being underestimated became one of her greatest strengths. 
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We spent the day at the University of Virginia and sat down with Katie Grimes for a conversation that felt especially meaningful. In this episode, Katie opens up about her transition from training as a high school athlete at Sandpipers to life at UVA, how dramatically her routine and independence changed, and why the team culture has been the steady anchor through it all. She reflects honestly on a challenging NCAA season, learning to separate her identity from performance, and trusting the process when results didn’t immediately show up. We also talk about happiness, growth, gratitude, and the re...

Heads up: You’re listening to a highlight compilation featuring clips from several Unfiltered Waters episodes. Audio will switch between episodes without an audio cue.

To close out 2025, we pulled together the moments you loved most. This episode is a highlight reel of the conversations that resonated, surprised us, and stuck with this community. From coaching wisdom and Olympic perspective to honesty about pressure, growth, and life beyond sport. 

You’ll hear unforgettable moments from Bob Bowman, Ryan Lochte, Todd DeSorbo, Summer McIntosh, Brooke Wells, Gabby Thomas, Hubi Kós, Regan Smith, Kate Dougla...

Katie sits down with Jamie Anderson in New York City at the Team USA 100 Days Out Media Summit for a wide-ranging conversation ahead of the Winter Olympics. Jamie reflects on her journey as the most decorated snowboarder in Olympic history, what inspired her comeback after becoming a mom of two, and how watching the Paris Olympics and Simone Biles reignited something she thought might be done. She opens up about balancing motherhood and elite competition, traveling internationally with young kids, redefining identity after years at the top, and following what lights her heart on fire rather than chasing expectations...

We spent an entire day inside the University of Virginia’s program and sat down with head coach Todd DeSorbo to understand what makes UVA one of the most dominant teams in NCAA history. In this episode, Todd talks through the culture he inherited and how it transformed into the five-time national championship standard it is today. He opens up about leading athletes across two teams, keeping training fresh, balancing chaos with structure, managing big personalities, navigating major NCAA changes, and why he believes the program succeeds because everyone is pulling for each other. We also get into misconceptions ab...

For this Dynamic Duos episode, we sat down with sisters and Olympic medalists Gretchen and Alex Walsh to talk through the bond, the rivalry, and the daily life behind one of swimming’s most steady, consistent partnerships. We get into how their personalities balance each other, how they’ve learned to support one another on race day without adding pressure, and why their best moments in the sport have always come when they lean into who they are instead of trying to be anything else. They share their favorite stories from growing up racing each other, what people misunderstand abou...

Reaching 100 episodes feels surreal, so we wanted to slow down, look back, and celebrate what this show has become. In this episode, we revisit the moments that made the biggest splash, the conversations that took us deeper than we expected, and the guests who surprised us, challenged us, and left a mark. We talk about the episodes that changed us, the behind-the-scenes stories nobody heard, and the emotional highlights from the first interview with Caeleb Dressel all the way through the most recent conversations with athletes like Oksana Masters, Regan Smith, Gabby Thomas, Summer McIntosh, and so many more...

Katie sits down with Oksana Masters at Team USA’s 100 Days Out Summit in New York City for one of the most powerful conversations Unfiltered Waters has ever had. Oksana opens up about her journey from Ukrainian orphanages to becoming a seven-time Paralympian, the role rowing played in teaching her she could be an athlete, and how she’s balanced drive, identity, and belonging across four different sports.
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Katie Hoff and Missy Franklin put their friendship to the test in a “Who Knows Who Best?” challenge inspired by the Newlywed Game. From favorite coffee orders and post-meet meals to childhood idols, guilty pleasure snacks, and hidden talents—nothing is off-limits. The result? A hilarious, honest, and completely unfiltered look at two Olympic champions who know each other almost too well (but not quite). This one’s all laughs, callouts, and a few surprises.
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Four-time Olympian and Olympic champion Chad Le Clos sits down with Katie in Carmel ahead of World Cup Stop 1 to talk comeback from injury, the real story behind his rivalry era with Phelps, and how a brutal stretch around Tokyo pushed him to address mental health and rebuild purpose. He opens up about family, legacy, and a new project he’s launching beyond LA—plus some rapid-fire fun.
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Olympic medalist and world-record holder Noè Ponti sits down with Katie in Carmel, Indiana ahead of World Cup Stop 1 to talk Paris (4th/5th and what he learned), the mental reset that set up his short-course world record in the 100 fly, and the rare “Grand Slam” of medaling across Olympics, Euros, and Worlds. He opens up about trusting his gut during a brief U.S. college stint (why he went home after a month), how he handles near-misses (“he won the race, I didn’t lose it”), and the simple word that drives his day-to-day: discipline.
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Katie sits down in Carmel, Indiana with best friends and superstars Regan Smith & Kate Douglass to talk origin stories (rooming together at Junior Worlds in Indy), the chaos and comedy of last year’s World Cup travel, and why their friendship works even with their different personalities. They swap “trauma bonding” tales, hotel horror, heat, and a teammate’s mosquito nightmare—then jump to this year’s U.S. swing and what they’re excited to race. You’ll also hear how they actually support each other before and after races, the inside of Team USA’s medley relay, and the hilarious...

Katie Hoff and Missy Franklin break down the sweeping NCAA changes hitting this season: B-finals removed from the night session (places 9–16 now score off prelims), only an A-final at night, a reshuffled order of events with diving integrated in shorter segments to keep energy high, and a new qualification model that blends auto-bids with descending time lists. They explain who pushed the proposal (CSCAA → NCAA oversight), why timing landed awkwardly after the season started, and what it means for coaches, athletes, and fans—plus why clearer live scoring and better storytelling are essential if the goal is a more TV-fri...

Two-time Paralympic silver medalist and shark attack survivor Ali Truwit returns to Unfiltered Waters for an in-person sit-down in Nashville—fresh off premiering her Stronger Than You Think documentary. She opens up about competing in Paris while managing flashbacks from the underwater camera, the support system that carried her, and the nonprofit she’s built that’s already raised over $100K to fund prosthetics and water safety for girls. Ali also shares why she’s training to run the NYC Marathon with her mom to fuel even more grants—and what resilience, representation, and “finding triumph in trauma” look like day to da...

New USA Swimming CEO Kevin Ring joins Unfiltered Waters to share first impressions after Golden Goggles, why he sees this moment as a fresh start built on transparency and real vulnerability, and how he plans to support the full ecosystem—athletes, clubs, coaches—while “turning the page.” Priorities include removing barriers to water access and backing the whole athlete (performance, mental health, nutrition, medical) on the path to LA 2028. Ring also outlines a year-round storytelling push (social, podcasts, NBC/docu-series) and smarter commercialization to fund athletes and grassroots alike, while rebuilding trust with current and alumni athletes through open dialogue...

Olympic gold medalist, American record holder, and world champion Simone Manuel returns to Unfiltered Waters for an in-person sit-down in Austin. She traces the climb back from overtraining and the breakthrough of dipping under 53 again with a 52 for the first time since 2019. We dig into what really happened at Worlds—the team illness that rattled camp, the timing of outside commentary—and what support swimmers need from USA Swimming. Simone opens up about the resources and next steps with Bob, from prioritizing underwaters to a more deliberate, data-driven routine, and looks ahead to LA 2028.
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Australian icon Cate Campbell sits down with Katie for a candid conversation about clearing the Aussie–U.S. “banter” that went viral and why it was always about respect and rivalry pushing the sport forward. She lays out how a people-first culture beats results-at-all-costs—and how that shift transformed Australian swimming.
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Katie heads to Austin, Texas to sit down with Olympic sprinter Gabby Thomas. She opens up about putting her health first, navigating expectations between global championships, and the daily systems—training, recovery, and mindset—that keep her explosive on the line, plus the honest realities of performing when the world is watching.
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Katie and Missy sit down with CrossFit Games athlete and Team Adidas athlete Sydney Wells. She opens up about the transition from collegiate track at Mizzou to the CrossFit floor, the mindset switch she calls “GUTS,” building confidence under pressure, and the daily systems that keep her leveling up—plus the honest realities behind chasing the Games.
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Katie and Missy sit down with 18-year-old Olympian and World medalist Claire Weinstein. She shares the rollercoaster of Worlds, from illness and tough event decisions to “trauma bonding” with teammates, plus racing her idol Katie Ledecky, overcoming imposter syndrome, her lucky Spiderman socks, and the story behind her Olympic tattoo.
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In this episode, Katie and Missy tackle listener questions on everything from handling off days and finding balance, to the highs and lows of life after swimming. They share laughs while building their dream relay teams, reflect on what they truly miss (and don’t miss) about the sport, and open up about identity, confidence, and life beyond the pool.-----DONATE TO EMILY KLUEH: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.gofundme.com/f/4sdbz-support-emilys-battle-against-cancer⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠-----Subscribe and watch full video episodes on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and follow us on social media (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@unfilteredwaterspodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠) for clips, bonus content, and updates throughout the week.-----FOLLOW KATIE:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠-----FOLLOW MISSY:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠-----SUPPORT OUR SPONSORSIM8 - Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://im8health.com/discount/UNFILTERED⁠⁠⁠⁠ Use code UNFILTERED for 10% off!Dream Recovery - Visit ⁠⁠⁠https://dreamrecovery.io⁠⁠⁠ to have your best sleep ever. Use code UNFILTEREDTHIRTY for 30% your entire order and 50% off your first month of

In this episode, Katie sits down with 2x Olympic gold medalist Bobby Finke. They discuss everything from battling illness at Worlds to late-night data dives, Bobby shares the lessons, mindset shifts, and team pride that kept him pushing forward. He opens up about criticism, training quirks, and the drive to put USA men back on top—plus a few laughs about four-city debates and sprinting through 4,000 meters.-----DONATE TO EMILY KLUEH: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.gofundme.com/f/4sdbz-support-emilys-battle-against-cancer⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠-----Subscribe and watch full video episodes on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and follow us on social media (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@unfilteredwaterspodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠) for clips, bonus content, and updates throughout the week.-----FOLLOW KATIE:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠-----FOLLOW MISSY:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...