Katie Weber: Reclaiming the Athlete Within
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.
We talk with Katie and Will about resilience, partnership, and what it means to navigate sport — and life — side by side.
Katie has partial facial paralysis which does affect her speech. We encourage you to follow along with the episode transcript available below.
GUESTS:
Katie Weber
IG: @katiekay25
cancerthoughtsandmore.wordpress.com
When Life Hands You Lemons: and other trite bullshit we tell ourselves to get through cancer
Affiliation: Seize the Oar
Will Bull
IG: @elt0r0
This episode was made possible in part by RowSource and our Patrons
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
Episode Mentions
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Steady State Podcast 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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