Talking Pools Podcast

Send us Fan Mail This week on the Talking Pools Podcast , Rudy breaks down two major stories making waves across the pool industry. First, a new case before the Minnesota Supreme Court could redefine what happens when homeowners rent out their backyard swimming pools through apps like Swimpley. If a residential pool becomes a commercial business, should it be regulated like a public pool? Rudy exp...

Send us Fan Mail How should you dispose of pool water after you've tested it? It sounds like a simple question...until it isn't. Wayne Ivusich and Steve Sherwood kick off this week's episode with a discussion sparked by a question from Que Hales regarding whether test samples should ever be poured back into the pool. The conversation quickly expands into proper testing technique, cu...

Send us Fan Mail Chemistry Myths That Cost Pool Pros Money (Part 1) With Natalie Hood & Eric Wall Running a profitable pool service business isn't just about adding chlorine and hoping for the best. In Part One of this two-part conversation, Natalie Hood sits down with Eric Wall, Director of Training for The Grit Game, to tackle some of the biggest myths that continue to hold pool profess...

Send us Fan Mail This week on Mondays Down Under , Lee Salisbury, Shane Sneddon, and Nick welcome Wesley Collins from Madimack for a deep dive into one of the fastest-evolving areas of the pool industry—heat pump technology. Wesley explains the real difference between traditional on/off heat pumps and modern inverter-driven systems, how variable-speed compressors and fans dramatically improve effi...

Send us Fan Mail In this special Fourth of July bonus episode, Kelly and Dan celebrate Independence Day by tackling a topic every pool professional feels at the pump—and on the balance sheet. As fuel prices rise and suppliers introduce surcharges, many service companies immediately wonder whether they should pass those costs on to their customers. But is that really the answer? Drawing on four dec...

Send us Fan Mail Everything You Think You Know About Water Testing Is Changing - Wait until you hear about the drones... Water testing isn't just about getting numbers. It's about making better decisions. This week on Floc-It Friday , Rudy Stankowitz sits down with Jonathan Banish , Director of Software at LaMotte, for an inside look at how modern water analysis has evolved from simple t...

Send us Fan Mail The Liability That Could Cost You Everything Servicing a pool is one thing. Being held responsible for someone else's decisions is another. This week on Thursdays with Stephen & Wayne , the conversation dives into one of the most uncomfortable realities facing pool professionals today: what happens when you identify a safety issue, document it, recommend the fix... and th...

Send us Fan Mail You rinse your dishes before putting them in the dishwasher. You wash your hands before dinner. But somehow, millions of people still jump into their swimming pools covered in sweat, sunscreen, cosmetics, body oils, grass, dirt... and sometimes their dogs do too. In Part Two of this Myth Busting series, Natalie and special guest Jared Medeiros shift the conversation from commercia...

Send us Fan Mail New Products, Big Ideas, and Splash 2026 Preview The countdown to Splash 2026 is on, and this week on Mondays Down Under , Lee, Shane, and Nick take a look at some of the new products and innovations expected to debut at the industry's biggest trade show. But before diving into the latest technology, the conversation starts where many pool businesses find themselves this time...

Send us Fan Mail Filtros para Piscinas: Cómo Funcionan, Cómo Elegirlos y Cómo Evitar Errores Costosos No importa qué tan perfecta sea la química del agua: si la filtración falla, la piscina también falla. En este episodio de Talking Pools , analizamos a fondo uno de los componentes más importantes de cualquier sistema acuático: el filtro . Desde filtros de arena hasta cartucho y tierra de diatomea...

Send us Fan Mail This week on Talking Pools , Rudy sits down with Carrie Dibrell , publisher of Service Industry News , for an in-depth conversation about the state of the swimming pool service industry, why education matters more than ever, and the responsibility pool professionals carry every single day.  The discussion begins with an update on the ongoing issues surrounding the Lincoln Memorial...

Send us Fan Mail What happens when a customer's heater fails... and the replacement part simply doesn't exist anywhere in the country? This week, Steve and Wayne dive into the realities of modern pool service, where solving problems often has less to do with technical skill and more to do with navigating manufacturers, distributors, supply chains, and customer expectations. From chasing...

Send us Fan Mail Should You Shower Before Getting in the Pool? Absolutely. In this episode, Natalie Hood sits down with Jared Madero of The Grit Game to tackle one of the most ignored signs at aquatic facilities: "Please Shower Before Entering the Pool." Together, they explore why a simple 30-second rinse can significantly impact water quality, swimmer health, air quality, and operationa...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Mondays Down Under , hosts Lee Salisbury , Shane Melrose , and Nick take listeners behind the scenes of awards season, conference travel, industry recognition, and the importance of networking within the swimming pool industry. From award ceremonies across Australia to upcoming conferences and trade shows, the conversation explores how professional development,...

Send us Fan Mail ¿Burbujas de Aire en la Piscina? Cómo Encontrar una Fuga en el Lado de Succión En este episodio, Rudy explica paso a paso cómo diagnosticar uno de los problemas más comunes en los sistemas de circulación de piscinas: las burbujas de aire que regresan constantemente a través de las boquillas de retorno. A través de ejemplos prácticos y técnicas sencillas de inspección, aprenderás a...

Send us Fan Mail This week on Floc-It Friday , Rudy Stankowitz takes aim at one of the most misunderstood concepts in pool chemistry: pH drift . If you've ever been told that pH "just goes up," Rudy has news for you. Water doesn't drift. Chemistry doesn't shrug. And carbon dioxide may be controlling your pool far more than you've been taught.  Before diving into chemi...

Send us Fan Mail In this Thursday edition of Talking Pools, hosts Steve Sherwood and Wayne Ivusich dive into the realities of running a successful pool service company. From referral programs and pricing challenges to difficult customer interactions and the importance of building relationships with manufacturer representatives, this episode offers practical business advice for pool professionals....

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Talking Pools Podcast, host Natalie Hood sits down with Mike Collins, President of Tenjam, to uncover the often-overlooked realities of in-pool furniture. While most homeowners shop based on appearance and price, Mike explains why comfort, engineering, maintenance requirements, water depth compatibility, and long-term performance matter far more once the fur...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Talking Pools Podcast, hosts Lee Salisbury, Shane Sneddon, and Nick discuss one of the most challenging and often frustrating aspects of pool service: leak detection. From simple dye tests and bucket tests to advanced acoustic listening devices, pressure testing, and underground leak locating equipment, the team shares real-world experiences, troubleshooting...

Send us Fan Mail En este episodio, Rudy responde una pregunta que recibe con frecuencia en el campo: ¿cuánta tierra de diatomeas (DE) debe agregarse realmente a un filtro después de una limpieza completa? A través de un enfoque práctico y fácil de entender, explica cómo determinar la cantidad correcta basándose en el área de superficie del filtro y no simplemente en estimaciones o costumbres hered...

Send us Fan Mail In this thought-provoking Floc It Friday episode, Rudy Stankowitz takes a step away from chemistry myths, manufacturer sound-offs, and social media debates to explore a topic that has generated considerable discussion in both the pool industry and online communities: natural swimming pools. Drawing from four peer-reviewed scientific studies provided by Professor Charles Gerba, Rud...

Send us Fan Mail This week on the Talking Pools Podcast, Wayne Ivusich and Steve Sherwood take listeners on a journey through some of the strangest, funniest, and most unforgettable experiences pool professionals encounter in the field. What begins as a discussion about a pool overrun with frogs quickly evolves into a collection of stories that highlight the reality of working around water every d...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Talking Pools Podcast, host Natalie Hood sits down with Michael Thill , Regional Sales Manager with The Grit Game, to tackle some of the biggest misconceptions surrounding sales, distribution, retail operations, dealer support, and business growth in the swimming pool industry. Michael shares lessons learned from more than 15 years in retail, distribution, s...

Send us Fan Mail This week, Andrea takes listeners on a rapid-fire tour through some of the most misunderstood topics in pool service, water chemistry, equipment operation, and aquatic safety. From saltwater chlorine generation and pH rise to phosphates, storm cleanup pricing, cavitation, combined chlorine, and why nobody should ever trust the phrase "pee is sterile," this episode blends...

Send us Fan Mail This week on Mondays Down Under , Lee Salisbury, Shane Melrose, and Nick discuss one of the more unusual sides of the pool industry: pools built for animals. What starts as a conversation about winter swimming temperatures quickly turns into a fascinating look at dog splash parks, crocodile enclosures, equestrian facilities, koi ponds, and the unique water quality challenges that...