Talking Pools Podcast

Send us Fan Mail Episode Highlights This lively episode dives into the challenges and strategies pool service professionals face during peak season, focusing on weather-related scheduling, managing customer demands, and maintaining a healthy work-life balance. With their signature humor and camaraderie, Peter, Lee, and Shane share personal anecdotes and practical advice, making for an engaging and...

Send us Fan Mail In this Friday episode of Talking Pools Podcast , Rudy Stankowitz takes listeners through two important aspects of pool care that may seem unrelated but are essential to running a high-quality pool service business: advanced oxidation processes (AOP) and brand building. Rudy begins with a deep dive into AOP, focusing on oxidative stress and radical scavenging as powerful sanitatio...

Send us Fan Mail In this Thursday episode of the Talking Pools Podcast , Wayne and Steve dive into the essential role trade shows play in the pool industry. They explore educational opportunities that these events provide, highlighting seminars like the instructor’s course and water balance seminar, which can sharpen skills and deepen knowledge. Wayne and Steve emphasize the networking aspect of t...

Send us Fan Mail In this wild ride of an episode, Andrea and Paulette dive into some of the strangest, funniest, and scariest stories in the pool world. First up, they talk about the Trevi Fountain in Rome, which has gone from world-famous attraction to what basically looks like a “concrete rectangle” as part of its construction facelift. Yep, tourists are still expected to toss coins into this gl...

Send us Fan Mail  In this episode of Talking Pools titled "Size Does Matter," Lee poses a crucial question to pool owners and service pros alike: "Is your pool too big for your equipment, or is your equipment too big for your pool?" The discussion dives into the importance of matching the right equipment size with pool dimensions, covering how improperly sized pumps, filters, o...

Send us Fan Mail In the world of pool service, where precision meets power, there’s one company that stands above the rest when it comes to heating things up — Raypak. But behind the sleek designs and high-tech innovations lies a story of relentless ambition, industry secrets, and unexpected revelations. On this episode, Rudy Stankowitz, veteran pool professional, dives deep into the minds behind...

Send us Fan Mail Here's an episode where Wayne & Steve discuss the following: Safety Emphasis : The speaker stresses the importance of safety, especially when dealing with potentially dangerous tools and situations. Future Education : There's a plan to revisit the topic of safety and provide more education on it in future episodes. Upcoming Events : The speaker will be at the Interna...

Send us Fan Mail Picture this: Andrea and Paulette, poolside pros turned accidental couch potatoes, trying to recover from their own version of "strongman competition" injuries. Andrea threw out her back, and not from wrestling a pool filter or wrangling algae—nope, she did it Ellie May Clampett style, chucking feed bags like a champ. Meanwhile, Paulette got sidelined after a heroic roun...

Send us Fan Mail  In this episode, Peter and Shane start with concern over Lee’s mysterious absence—she's always on time, so the guys are understandably puzzled and worried. As they wait for her return, Shane seizes the moment to ask Peter a pressing question: How do you add a new employee to the team and transfer a service route without customers freaking out over the new face? Peter, a seas...

Send us Fan Mail In this conversation, Rudy Stankowitz delves into the thermodynamics of calcium carbonate precipitation, a significant challenge in pool maintenance, and discusses strategies for diversifying revenue streams in the pool service industry. He explains the science behind calcium carbonate scale formation, emphasizing the importance of managing water chemistry to prevent issues. Addit...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Talking Pools Podcast , Steve is hosting solo and plans to discuss the practical tools and tips he has gathered over his two decades in the pool industry. He emphasizes the importance of having the right tools for the job, sharing his personal collection of "cool pool tools" that help him tackle various challenges in the field. Steve also highlight...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Talking Pools Podcast, Lee, Peter, and Shane dive into the highs and lows of managing pool businesses and discuss the importance of employee retention, company culture, and major industry updates. Here's a rundown: Weather, Kids, and Summer Vibes Lee kicks off by sharing Melbourne’s famously unpredictable weather, experiencing “four seasons in a week,”...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Rudy Stankowitz blends education and humor as he breaks down the kinetics of chlorine decomposition in outdoor pools. He explains how UV radiation and heat degrade chlorine and dives into sustainable alternatives for pool maintenance, offering practical tips for eco-friendly operations. Key Topics: Chlorine Decomposition (00:03): HOCl vs. OCl-: Rudy introduces the...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Thursdays with Wayne & Steve , the hosts tackle the tough but necessary topic of firing customers. Wayne and Steve dive into the signs that it’s time to cut ties with a problematic client, exploring how to assess when the drama outweighs the revenue. They break down the common red flags—late payments, unrealistic expectations, and constant complaints—and dis...

Send us Fan Mail Andrea and Paulette are back, and this time, they're schooling us on two things: Andrea's eager-but-clueless helper and, well, let’s just say some tadpoles didn’t make it out alive. Tragic but hilarious. Just when you think it's safe to get back in the water, BAM! You get hit with a Biolab update. You know, the place that had that massive fire. Trying to get things...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Mondays Down Under , Peter, Shane, and Lee are joined by Spiros Dassakis, the Chief Policy Officer of SPASA, to dive into important updates regarding pool safety regulations, specifically changes to AS1926.1, which governs pool barriers in Australia. Spiros provides valuable insights into how these changes impact both pool service professionals and homeowners, e...

Send us Fan Mail In this conversation, Rudy Stankowitz delves into the intricate world of pool chemistry, focusing on the critical role of cyanuric acid in maintaining chlorine levels. He emphasizes the importance of digital marketing strategies for pool service companies, including SEO and social media engagement. The discussion also covers the delicate balance between chlorine and cyanuric acid,...

Send us Fan Mail In this heartfelt and inspiring episode of the Talking Pools Podcast , Steve and Wayne take listeners on an emotional journey, imagining what the life of a pool guy would look like in a perfect world. From the first few words, you can feel the deep passion they have for the pool industry and the people who make it run. They paint a picture of an industry where pool service techs a...

Send us Fan Mail In this  Talking Pools Podcast episode, Andrea and Paulette dive into the aftermath of Hurricane Milton, where pools were left in chaos, strewn with debris, and demanding far more than a simple skim and brush. Yet, one of the most pressing questions they tackle is: Why are pool service professionals so hesitant to charge extra for the extra work that comes with storm cleanup? Andr...

Send us Fan Mail In this gripping episode of the Talking Pools Podcast , Peter shares a shocking story that will leave pool professionals both horrified and deeply aware of the dangers that lurk when chemicals are mishandled. He recounts an unforgettable moment when one of his customers mistakenly poured chlorine into an old sulfuric acid barrel. The hosts, Lee and Shane, are immediately taken aba...

Send us Fan Mail Summary: In this episode, Rudy covers two distinct but equally important topics. The show kicks off with an important news update on the Biolab fire that occurred on September 30, 2024, in Conyers, Georgia. Rudy discusses the impact of the fire, the ongoing investigation by the Chemical Safety Board (CSB), and the legal and environmental fallout from the event. He highlights the c...

Send us Fan Mail  In this episode of the Talking Pools Podcast , Wayne and Steve dive into the critical topic of water testing for swimming pools. Wayne breaks down which water tests are the most important for maintaining optimal pool health, emphasizing the essential ones like pH, chlorine, alkalinity, and calcium hardness. As Wayne discusses these vital tests, Steve’s passion for water care come...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Talking Pools Podcast , Andrea and Paulette dive into the critical topic of cleaning up a pool after a hurricane. They focus on the essential steps pool service professionals must take to ensure the pool is safe, clean, and operational following the aftermath of a major storm. Andrea leads the discussion with a detailed breakdown of the process, starting wit...

Send us Fan Mail  In this episode of the Talking Pools Podcast , Peter and Lee delve into the topic of new hire training. Peter shares his experience of hiring a young woman who has little to no experience in pool service. He expresses his preference for hiring individuals with minimal prior experience, as it allows him to train them from scratch without having to correct bad habits they may have...

Send us Fan Mail Episode Overview: In this episode, Rudy Stankowitz kicks off Friday's show by sharing his personal experience with Hurricane Helene, a Category 4 storm that recently hit Florida, causing widespread damage and flooding. Rudy recounts how the storm tore through his own backyard, damaging his screen enclosure and pool. He provides an update on the BioLab fire in Conyers, Georgia...