Mention Texas and you might picture the Wild West — flat, dusty highways, and tumbleweeds rolling by. But head to Austin, tucked into the Hill Country, and you’ll find something different.

Right in the heart of the city flows Lady Bird Lake, a stretch of the Colorado River that has become a daily gathering place for runners, paddlers, and rowers alike. On its banks sits a true Austin institution: Texas Rowing Center.

For owner Matt Knifton, this place isn’t just a business, it’s where his story unfolded. His ties to the lake reach back to the 1980s, and over the decades he’s become not just an owner, but a steward — someone who has quietly shaped the culture of rowing in Austin, protected access to the water, and ensured that this shoreline remains a starting line for generations to come.

In this conversation, we also explore how Matt is thinking about the future — and what thoughtful, sustainable growth looks like for a place so deeply rooted in community.

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QUICK LOOK

00:00 - Intro 02:12 - Welcome and Matt’s rowing week on a scale of 1-10: 6 (great weather!) 03:25 - The Huddle 04:35 - The Hot Seat 6:00 - Matt's rowing origin story started at the University of Texas 10:47 - How the University of Texas women’s program got its start in Austin in the 1980s 11:30 - Matt’s daughter Kate Knifton, an Olympic rower, only agreed to learn to row after seeing tall boys at Texas Rowing Center 14:38 - How Matt came to be the sole owner of Texas Rowing Center 17:01 - TRC member and rowing evangelist Napoleon Griffin 19:08 - The growth of rowing in Texas: Austin, Texas Hill Country, Lady Bird Lake, and the University of Texas 23:48 -  The synergy between competitive rowers and weekend SUPers at TRC 25:11 - Aha moments running TRC 27:25 - Daniel Velazquez: TRC’s famous greater 30:22 - The “boathouse welcome mat” concept and TRC’s commitment to inclusion and accessibility 36:20 - Rowing! Come try it! 39:06 - The vision: Make Austin a center of rowing in the United States. Mission accomplished. 40:47 - For Matt, rowing on Lady Bird Lake is rewarding 43:14 - Steady State Network news and notes

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To see photos of Matt, Katie, and Daniel,  and get links to the people, clubs, and events mentioned in this episode, check out the show notes on our website.

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This episode was made possible in part by RowSource and our Supporters.

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Steady State Podcast is a production of Steady State Network. It is hosted and edited by Rachel Freedman and Tara Morgan. Tara provides additional audio engineering, books show guests, and is our sponsor and donor coordinator. Rachel writes our scripts and e-newsletter, and manages the website and social media. Our theme music is Open Mind by Soundroll.

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Katie Weber was at home on the soccer field and basketball court. But after a brain cancer diagnosis and multiple surgeries left her balance impaired, the athletic identity she’d always known felt suddenly out of reach.

For years, she searched for a way back.

That path led her to Seattle-based organization Seize the Oar, and to a sport that rewards patience, persistence, and the willingness to keep learning. Rowing didn’t just give Katie a new challenge; it gave her a way to rebuild confidence and independence, and redefine what competition could look like.

Through it all, her husband – Will Bull – has been in her corner as a steady supporter, gym buddy, race-day cheerleader, and self-proclaimed number one fan.

Today, we talk with Katie and Will about resilience, partnership, and what it means to navigate sport — and life — side by side.

If rowing has helped you reconnect with a part of yourself that you'd been missing, this episode's for you.

Katie has partial facial paralysis which does affect her speech. We encourage you to follow along with the episode transcript available below.

QUICK LOOK

00:00 - Intro 02:23 - Katie’s rowing week on a scale of 1-10: amazing 04:51 - The Huddle 09:44 - The Hot Seat 11:54 - Finding Seize the Oar: seeking an athletic and competitive outlet after multiple brain surgeries impacted her balance and stability 13:53 - Medulloblastoma diagnosis, chemo, radiation, a bleak outlook, and living long into unchartered waters 17:07 - Katie refuses to be defined by her disease 19:11 - Getting hooked on rowing, after growing up playing soccer and basketball 22:32 - Feeling in control at NW Ergomania 25:30 - Rowing’s tremendous impact on Katie’s physical and mental health 28:42 - How rowing has changed Katie and Will’s relationship 30:08 - A message for others dealing with tough health issues who are seeking an outlet 32:11 - Looking forward to more time on the water with Seize the Oar at its new location, Greenlake Boathouse 33:25 - Tara reflects on founding Seize the Oar 40:53 - Steady State Network news and notes

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To see photos of Katie and Will,  and get links to their socials plus the people, clubs, and events mentioned in this episode, check out the show notes on our website.

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This episode was made possible in part by RowSource and our Supporters.

.

Steady State Podcast is a production of Steady State Network. It is hosted and edited by Rachel Freedman and Tara Morgan. Tara provides additional audio engineering, books show guests, and is our sponsor and donor coordinator. Rachel writes our scripts and e-newsletter, and manages the website and social media. Our theme music is Open Mind by Soundroll.

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SHOP SSN GEAR: www.steadystatenetwork.com/shop

SIGN UP FOR THE SSN NEWSLETTER: www.steadystatenetwork.com/newsletter

MAKE A DIFFERENCE: www.steadystatenetwork.com/support

CONNECT:

FB - /SteadyStateNetwork IG - @SteadyStateNetwork

FB - /AllieswithOars IG - @AllieswithOars

Connect on FB and IG with the hosts: Rachel Freedman - @RowSource Tara Morgan - @CmonBarber

Three-time Olympic gold medallist Marnie McBean is one of the most decorated Canadian rowers of all time, and a driving force in our sport’s history. She’s been a mentor and leader for generations of athletes and now she’s also serving her country as a Senator in the Canadian Parliament, bringing that same curiosity, leadership, and commitment to service to national issues.

Get ready to hear about her early experiences testing on the gjessing erg, what rowing taught her about growth and resilience, and how those lessons shape the work she’s doing now to support Canadian citizens on and off the water.

QUICK LOOK

00:00 - Intro 01:45 - Rowing Week scale of 1-10: amazing 04:55 - The Huddle 06:13 - Hot Seat Q&A 09:03 - Rowing origin story 13:00 - Advice for young athletes: don’t worry about fear and doubt 13:52 - Before rowing, Marnie was athletic but  didn't know there were avenues to be ambitious in sport 15:20 - Making the junior national team by “being fast but looking bad” 19:58 - Rowing with 2x partner Kathleen Heddle felt like an “arranged marriage” until they learned to pay attention to each other 26:04 - Rowing with legendary Olympic coxswain Leslie Thompson Willie was all about preparation, listening, and trust 30:10 - Life lessons from rowing: you can recover from a bad stroke; “Can I/Will I” moments 34:20 - Empowering young rowers to work hard and “quit last” 37:02 - Serving Canada as a Senator 42:32 - Speaking up and speaking out against policies that negatively affect participation in sport 45:09 - The perfect stroke 46:42 - Steady State Network news and notes

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To see photos of Marnie,  and get links to her socials plus the people, clubs, and events mentioned in this episode, check out the show notes on our website.

.

This episode was made possible in part by RowSource and our Supporters.

.

Steady State Podcast is a production of Steady State Network. It is hosted and edited by Rachel Freedman and Tara Morgan. Tara provides additional audio engineering, books show guests, and is our sponsor and donor coordinator. Rachel writes our scripts and e-newsletter, and manages the website and social media. Our theme music is Open Mind by Soundroll.

.

SHOP SSN GEAR: www.steadystatenetwork.com/shop

SIGN UP FOR THE SSN NEWSLETTER: www.steadystatenetwork.com/newsletter

MAKE A DIFFERENCE: www.steadystatenetwork.com/support

CONNECT:

FB - /SteadyStateNetwork IG - @SteadyStateNetwork

FB - /AllieswithOars IG - @AllieswithOars

Connect on FB and IG with the hosts: Rachel Freedman - @RowSource Tara Morgan - @CmonBarber