Unfiltered Waters

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 experience. From transparency around financial decisions to athlete support, governance, and long-term strategy beyond LA28, this is an in-depth look at where USA Swimming stands now and where it’s headed next.
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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 ballet foundation, and why being a “fighter” matters more than perfection. Playful, self-aware, and unapologetically authentic—yes, her word is “diva”—this conversation closes out Frozen Waters as a deeper look at the journeys, identities, and inner lives of Team USA figure skaters on the road to the Games.
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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 years of partnership have shaped their grit, compassion, and faith. From “faith over fear” to skating with joy, this conversation continues the heart of Frozen Waters—a closer look at the journeys, identities, and inner lives of Team USA figure skaters on the road to the Games.
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Subscribe to the show on your favorite podcast platform, and follow us on social media (https://linktr.ee/unfilteredwaters) for clips, bonus content, and updates throughout the week.
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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 central to her growth. Honest, self-assured, and fiercely resilient, this conversation continues the heart of Frozen Waters—a closer look at the journeys, identities, and inner lives of Team USA figure skaters on the road to the Games.
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Subscribe to the show on your favorite podcast platform, and follow us on social media (https://linktr.ee/unfilteredwaters) for clips, bonus content, and updates throughout the week.
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#UnfilteredWaters #WinterOlympics #FigureSkating

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 help them center themselves before competition. Warm, candid, and full of humor, this conversation continues the heart of Frozen Waters—a closer look at the journeys, identities, and inner lives of Team USA figure skaters on the road to the Games.
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Subscribe to the show on your favorite podcast platform, and follow us on social media (https://linktr.ee/unfilteredwaters) for clips, bonus content, and updates throughout the week.
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#UnfilteredWaters #WinterOlympics #FigureSkating

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, get back up, and make critical decisions in seconds. Thoughtful, vulnerable, and intensely competitive, this conversation continues the heart of Frozen Waters—a closer look at the journeys, identities, and inner lives of Team USA figure skaters on the road to the Games.
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Subscribe to the show on your favorite podcast platform, and follow us on social media (https://linktr.ee/unfilteredwaters) for clips, bonus content, and updates throughout the week.
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#UnfilteredWaters #WinterOlympics #FigureSkating

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 skating and his identity. Thoughtful, grounded, and refreshingly self-aware, this conversation continues the heart of Frozen Waters—a closer look at the journeys, identities, and inner lives of Team USA figure skaters on the road to the Games.
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Subscribe to the show on your favorite podcast platform, and follow us on social media (https://linktr.ee/unfilteredwaters) for clips, bonus content, and updates throughout the week.
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#UnfilteredWaters #WinterOlympics #FigureSkating

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 the foundation of both their skating and their relationship. Thoughtful, grounded, and deeply connected, this conversation continues the spirit of Frozen Waters—a closer look at the journeys, identities, and inner lives of Team USA figure skaters on the road to the Games.
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Subscribe to the show on your favorite podcast platform, and follow us on social media (https://linktr.ee/unfilteredwaters) for clips, bonus content, and updates throughout the week.
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#UnfilteredWaters #WinterOlympics #FigureSkating #IceDance

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, and deeply connected, this conversation continues the heart of Frozen Waters—a closer look at the journeys, identities, and inner lives of Team USA figure skaters on the road to the Games.
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Subscribe to the show on your favorite podcast platform, and follow us on social media (https://linktr.ee/unfilteredwaters) for clips, bonus content, and updates throughout the week.
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#UnfilteredWaters #WinterOlympics #FigureSkating

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 continues the spirit of Frozen Waters—a closer look at the journeys, identities, and inner lives of Team USA figure skaters on the road to the Games.
-----
Subscribe to the show on your favorite podcast platform, and follow us on social media (https://linktr.ee/unfilteredwaters) for clips, bonus content, and updates throughout the week.
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#UnfilteredWaters #WinterOlympics #FigureSkating