Talking Pools Podcast

Send us Fan Mail This week on Talking Pools Podcast, Rudy Stankowitz rips into one of the most misunderstood topics in pool chemistry—cyanuric acid. Starting with a hard truth most pros overlook, the EPA-required label on chlorine products caps free chlorine at 4 ppm… and that’s not a suggestion, it’s law. From there, the episode dismantles the industry’s oversimplified “stabilizer” narrative and...

Send us Fan Mail Thursdays with Steve & Wayne “The Price of Doing Business” 🧠 Overview This week on Talking Pools Podcast, Steve and Wayne break down the reality of running a pool service company—where one service call can derail your entire day and expose bigger industry problems. 👨‍🔧 From the Field A commercial emergency turns into a full-blown headache involving:  Faulty flow meters   Le...

Send us Fan Mail In an industry where misinformation spreads faster than wildfire, this episode pulls no punches. Natalie Hood sits down with Matt Doll, CEO of American Fire Products, to dismantle some of the most persistent—and dangerous—myths surrounding fire features in outdoor environments. From DIY disasters to misunderstood gas systems, this conversation is a wake-up call for builders, servi...

Send us Fan Mail 🎙️ Making Social Media Work for You (Without Letting It Take Over Your Route) In this episode of Talking Pools Podcast , Andrea breaks down a question she’s been hearing more and more from pool pros in the field: 👉 “How are you posting so much… and still getting your pools done?” What follows is a real-world, no-BS look at how to use social media as a tool—not a second job. This...

Send us Fan Mail In this continuation of their conversation, Lee, Shane, and Nick are joined again by industry expert Spiros from Next Gen Experts to break down a topic that’s generating serious noise across the pool industry right now: proposed workplace exposure changes and what they actually mean. This isn’t a surface-level chlorine conversation. It’s a deep dive into how regulations, standards...

Send us Fan Mail In this powerhouse roundtable, returning host Kelli Clancy leads a deep dive into one of the most misunderstood—and most critical—topics in the pool industry: insurance and risk management . Joined by members connected to the Pool & Hot Tub Alliance (PHTA) Service Committee and industry insurance professionals, this episode breaks down what pool pros think they’re covered for…...

Send us Fan Mail This episode explores the complexities of pool chemistry, legal considerations, industry trends, and the importance of understanding over following instructions blindly. Rudy Stankowitz shares insights on how industry control, product formulation disputes, and safety regulations impact pool professionals and consumers. Keywords pool chemistry, pool industry, pool safety, chemical...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Steve Sherwood interviews Pat Grignone from California Pool Association to explore how pool service professionals can optimize their business operations, partnerships, and insurance strategies to grow profitably and sustainably. Keywords pool service, business growth, partnerships, insurance, pool renovation, subcontracting, liability, pool industry Key Topics Bus...

Send us Fan Mail This episode busts common water chemistry myths, explores the science behind pool maintenance, and discusses the future of industry education. Featuring Eric Knight from Watershape University, it offers practical insights for professionals seeking to improve their water management skills. Keywords water chemistry, pool maintenance, water shaping, pool industry education, pool myth...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, industry expert Spiros De Sarkis shares insights on professionalizing the swimming pool and spa industry, emphasizing safety, legislation, and business growth strategies. Discover how to elevate industry standards, manage risks, and build a credible, compliant business. keywords Swimming Pool Industry, Business Safety, Legislation, Professional Development, Indust...

Send us Fan Mail Andrea discusses the intricacies of pool circulation systems, focusing on total dynamic head, valves, piping, and the importance of proper maintenance to ensure safe and efficient pool operation. keywords pool circulation, total dynamic head, pool valves, water flow, pool maintenance, water hammer, filtration, pool system design key topics Total dynamic head calculation and import...

Send us Fan Mail This Friday episode blends industry culture, community engagement, and high-level water chemistry into one unapologetically direct conversation. Rudy challenges a foundational assumption in pool care—that water can be “captured” and tested as-is—and dismantles it by exposing the dominant role of temperature in every chemical interaction . Along the way, he introduces new listener...

Send us Fan Mail This week on Talking Pools , Steve and Wayne deliver a brutally honest, real-world breakdown of what happens when subcontractors, miscommunication, and poor oversight collide on a job site. From a leak detection company altering valve positions and walking away, to costly chemical miscalculations by technicians, this episode dives into the operational chaos that pool professionals...

Send us Fan Mail In this week’s Myth Busting Wednesday , Natalie Hood sits down with Don Douglas, President and Owner of Rev'd Up Apparel, to dismantle one of the most overlooked—and misunderstood—topics in the pool industry: 👉 What your team wears… and why it matters more than you think. From first impressions and customer trust to team morale, durability, and built-in marketing , this epis...

Send us Fan Mail Andrea shows up soaked, slightly unhinged, and absolutely done with your circulation system’s bullsh*t.  We’re talking pools so flooded they look like they’re trying to return to the ocean , equipment gasping for air, and homeowners acting like water movement is optional. 🫀 The Heart of the Pool (And Yours Is Probably Failing) You’ve got:  filtration (kidneys)   chemicals (liver)...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome to the episode where three seasoned pool pros from opposite sides of the planet casually admit… 👉 nobody does floccing the same way  👉 everyone thinks they’re right  👉 and somehow… they all still get paid Yes, this is the “we’ve been doing this for 60+ years combined and still argue like it’s day one” episode.  🌏 What You’re Walking Into: Lee is holding it down in New...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Rudy Stankowitz breaks down two industry staples— breakpoint chlorination and enzymes —and explains why what’s commonly taught doesn’t fully match the chemistry happening in your water. This isn’t about being wrong.  It’s about going one level deeper. ⚗️ Breakpoint Chlorination – The Reality  The 10x rule is not how breakpoint is defined in chemistry   True breakp...

Send us Fan Mail What looks like algae… isn’t always algae.  And what looks like “clear but weird” water? That’s where things get expensive. In this episode of Talking Pools Thursdays , Steve and Wayne break down one of the most misunderstood issues in pool service: metals in the water —how to identify them, where they come from, and what actually works when you’re dealing with them in the field....

Send us Fan Mail This Myth-busting episode reveals how pool pros can maximize their relationships with manufacturer reps to grow their business, increase margins, and avoid costly mistakes. Laci Davis (Grit Game) shares practical tips on finding, evaluating, and leveraging reps effectively. Keywords pool industry, manufacturer reps, business growth, sales strategies, industry relationships Key Top...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Talking Pools Podcast , Andrea wraps up her multi-part deep dive into pool chemistry with a no-BS breakdown of what actually matters when it comes to testing, dosing, and not screwing it all up . And yes… she’s cooking chicken while recording. 🔍 What This Episode Covers This isn’t textbook chemistry.  This is real-world, boots-on-the-ground pool service knowled...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Talking Pools Podcast , the Mondays Down Under crew takes on a topic that doesn’t get nearly enough honest discussion: building a swimming pool from the perspective of the people who actually have to service it later . Because here’s the truth… 👉 Builders don’t always think like service techs  👉 And homeowners don’t always know what to ask That’s where things...

Send us Fan Mail 🔥 Episode Breakdown This episode cuts through one of the biggest misconceptions in pool chemistry—and then zooms out to what’s really happening across the industry right now. 🧪 180 ppm CYA – What Actually Happened No—nobody said to run pools at 180 ppm. That number came from ratio-based chemistry , not a recommendation.  CYA doesn’t sanitize  HOCl does  Higher CYA can work if ch...

Send us Fan Mail What starts as a routine pool inspection can turn into a liability nightmare—fast. In this episode, Steve breaks down a real job where fire-damaged fencing, questionable decking, and one simple question—  👉 “Will insurance cover this?” —pushed the inspection way outside its lane. ⚖️ The Core Issue Where does your responsibility actually end?  You’re there to inspect the pool  Not...

Send us Fan Mail The myths just keep coming… and in this one, they don’t stand a chance. In Part 2 of Natalie Hood’s Myth Busting series, industry veterans George Williams and Ken Rogner step in and do what most people in this industry won’t—tell the truth. Not the sales version.  Not the “it depends” version.  The real version. From the idea that pools don’t add value… to the belief that social m...

Send us Fan Mail   This isn’t a calm episode.  This isn’t a polite episode. This is Andrea… slightly unhinged… walking straight into the chaos of how people are actually taking care of pools—and calling it out. From test strips that don’t tell you what you think they do… to calcium myths that refuse to die… to phosphate treatments that turn into unnecessary full-blown disasters—this episode is a r...