Unfiltered Waters

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-m...

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’r...

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 timi...

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...

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 t...

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 Swimm...

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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