Unfiltered Waters

n this episode of Unfiltered Waters, Olympic medalist Elizabeth Beisel steps in as guest host alongside Todd Anderson while Katie Hoff Anderson is a week out from giving birth. Together they sit down with Olympic champion and world record holder Gretchen Walsh for a wide-ranging conversation recorded just days before the 2026 Pan Pacific Championships. Fresh off a summer of international racing and her first season as a full-time professional, Gretchen opens up about what success actually looks like when you've already won almost everything, and about the one world record she can't stop thinking about.

Gretchen breaks down where her head is heading into Pan Pacs, why relays mean more to her than any individual event right now, and what it's been like to chase Sarah Sjöström's last standing world record while sitting just hundredths away. She also talks candidly about the back injury that reshaped her spring training, what pulling butterfly for weeks accidentally unlocked in her stroke, and why the weight room, power cleans and snatches and all, became the single biggest change in her career. Todd digs into the recovery side too: sleep, nasal strips, and the surgery she's putting off until she's done swimming.

Along the way, the conversation goes places most swim interviews don't: speaking Mandarin at a middle school assembly in China, Google Translating with Japanese swimmers in the back of an Uber in Paris, the city she'd move to tomorrow, and a first trip to the ESPYS that put her in the same room as Simone Biles, Ilona Maher, Mikaela Shiffrin, and Eileen Gu. She's honest about feeling out of place there, and about what it means that being famous in swimming is a different thing entirely.

Gretchen also reflects on life after the NCAA: missing the team aspect she built her identity around at UVA, why she now calls Team USA her team, and how she sees herself as a bridge between the veterans and the rookies on a roster building toward LA 2028. It's a conversation two former national teamers are uniquely positioned to have with her.

Whether you're a sprinter chasing your own breakthrough or you just want to know what one of the fastest women in history is actually like, this episode delivers. Watch the episode, then head to the comments and let us know: what's the one question you'd ask Gretchen if you had the mic?
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.

Note: This conversation was recorded in the days before Pan Pacs and is airing after the meet, so Gretchen's goals and predictions reflect where things stood going in. And an update since we recorded: Katie has had the baby! Mom and baby are both home and healthy.

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In this episode of Unfiltered Waters, Katie Hoff Anderson is joined by swim analyst Kevin Cargill to preview one of the biggest meets on the international calendar: the 2026 Pan Pacific Championships. Whether you've been following the sport all season or you're just tuning in before the first race, this episode gets you ready for everything to watch in the days ahead.

From the biggest storylines and can't-miss races to relay implications and breakout stars, Katie and Kevin break down the athletes, events, and moments that could define the meet. They also discuss what makes this year's Pan Pacs unique, including the fact that it no longer serves as a World Championship qualifier, and how that changes the mindset for athletes, coaches, and teams.

Along the way, they dive into the marquee head-to-head matchups, why relays may end up being the most exciting races of the week, which swimmers are poised to make a statement on the international stage, and a handful of bold predictions that could look brilliant... or terrible... by the end of the meet.

Whether you're cheering for Team USA or simply love world-class swimming, this episode is your complete guide before the first swimmer steps onto the blocks. By the end, you'll know exactly which races deserve a spot on your calendar and which storylines could shape the future of the sport.
Watch the episode, then head to the comments and let us know: What's the race you're most excited to watch at Pan Pacs, and what's your bold prediction for the meet?

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.

Note: We recorded this preview before Summer McIntosh, Kaylee McKeown, and Mollie O'Callaghan announced their withdrawals from Pan Pacs. A few race discussions and predictions are based on the original expected entries.

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#UnfilteredWaters #Swimming #PanPacs #PanPacificChampionships #TeamUSA

Greg Meehan returns to Unfiltered Waters for an in-depth conversation reflecting on his first year leading USA Swimming and the challenges that come with guiding one of the world's most successful national teams. Joined by Olympian Katie Hoff Anderson, Greg shares what it's been like settling into the role, navigating major life transitions, and finding clarity after a whirlwind first season.
The conversation explores the future of American swimming, from long-term Olympic planning to developing athletes for sustained success rather than short-term results. Greg explains why broad athletic development, racing a variety of events, and building a strong foundation at a young age remain essential to producing world-class swimmers. He also discusses how Team USA is preparing years in advance for future Olympic Games, why performance-driven decision making matters, and the importance of creating a culture where coaches and athletes continue to learn and evolve.
Katie dives into Greg's coaching philosophy, touching on everything from athlete development and balancing innovation with tradition to fostering collaboration across the country's top coaches. Greg offers an honest look at what it takes to build a championship culture, why patience often beats quick fixes, and how developing great people is just as important as developing great swimmers.
The episode also takes a personal turn as Greg reflects on the transition to a new city, becoming an empty nester, finding balance amid constant change, and the self-awareness required to lead under pressure. It's a candid discussion about growth, leadership, and learning to embrace the challenges that come with one of the most visible jobs in the sport.
Whether you're a swimmer chasing your next goal, a coach developing the next generation, or simply a fan of elite sports, this episode offers a behind-the-scenes look at the future of USA Swimming and the mindset required to build champions for years to come.
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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Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gregmeehan/
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In this episode of Unfiltered Waters, it's all about one thing: hot takes. Katie Hoff Anderson sits down with four of Team USA's biggest stars: Phoebe Bacon, Gretchen Walsh, Michael Andrew, and Katharine Berkoff to debate the opinions everyone has but rarely says out loud. From swimming controversies to travel etiquette, social media, music, reality TV, and everything in between, no topic is off limits.

Should the person in the middle seat always get the armrest? Is one pull into the wall during kick sets actually cheating? Has TikTok destroyed our attention spans? Is the 100 freestyle really the most painful race in swimming? And why do breaststrokers have such a reputation for being... different? The answers are surprisingly honest, wildly entertaining, and often completely opposite from one another.

Along the way, the athletes open up about their personalities outside the pool, sharing everything from favorite food trucks and reality TV guilty pleasures to music habits, travel quirks, warm-up routines, and the little things that make each of them unique. It's a reminder that behind the Olympic medals are people who argue about the same everyday debates as the rest of us.

Whether you agree or disagree with these hot takes, one thing is guaranteed: you'll have opinions of your own by the end. This is one of our most lighthearted episodes yet, giving you a chance to see some of the world's fastest swimmers in a way you probably never have before.

Watch the episode, then head to the comments and let us know which hot take you agree with most... and which one is completely wrong.
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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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FOLLOW KATIE ON:
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#UnfilteredWaters #Swimming #HotTakes

Coach Ray Looze has spent more than two decades building one of the premier programs in college swimming, but this conversation goes far beyond wins and championships. Joined by Olympians Lilly King and Katie Hoff Anderson, Ray opens up about the coaching philosophy that has produced generations of NCAA champions, Olympians, and world record holders while sharing the lessons that have shaped him as both a coach and a person.

From balancing the men's and women's teams at Indiana to creating individualized training plans for every athlete, Ray explains why great coaching is never one-size-fits-all. He dives into the evolution of sprint training, the importance of innovation, how elite athletes are developed over years rather than weeks, and why curiosity has been one of the greatest strengths of his coaching career.

The conversation also takes a lighter turn as Ray shares his legendary superstitions, life on the lake, his love of history, genealogy rabbit holes, and the routines that help him disconnect from the nonstop demands of coaching. Lilly and Katie pull back the curtain on the personality behind one of swimming's most respected coaches, revealing the humor, passion, and relentless drive that athletes have experienced for decades.

The episode closes with a heartfelt reflection on what coaching truly means. Ray discusses representing Team USA on the international stage, the responsibility of caring for athletes away from their home coaches, and the life lessons he hopes every swimmer carries long after they leave Indiana. It's an honest conversation about leadership, mentorship, innovation, and why the relationships built through sport often last far beyond the final race.

Whether you're a swimmer, coach, parent, or sports fan, this episode offers a rare look inside the mind of one of the most influential coaches in swimming and the philosophy that continues to shape champions on and off the pool deck.
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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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FOLLOW KATIE ON:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kthoff7/
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