Talking Pools Podcast

Send us Fan Mail The conversation explores the complexities of insurance claims, particularly in unusual circumstances involving property damage due to weather events. The speaker shares a vivid account of a claim involving a fallen tree that caused significant damage to a pool area, illustrating the challenges faced by both homeowners and insurance adjusters in assessing and managing such inciden...

Send us Fan Mail In this conversation, Natalie discusses the essential tools and preparations needed for accurate pool measurements with Carl Cullers or the Grit Game. They emphasize the importance of having the right equipment, such as measuring forms, tapes, and documentation tools, to ensure a successful measurement process. Additionally, the speaker highlights the necessity of taking pictures...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode 'FROM THE VAULT', we revisit part two of our three-part deep dive with Rudy, Allen Schnaak, and Andrea The Pool Girl, and yeah—we’re talking about natural pools again. On paper, natural pools check every eco-friendly box Gen Z cares about: fewer synthetic chemicals, more biology, more “let nature do the work.” But the conversation makes one thing crystal...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Mondays Down Under, hosts Lee and Shane discuss the importance of self-audits in business management, particularly in the pool industry. They emphasize the need for proactive management, effective communication with staff, and the value of customer feedback. The conversation covers practical tips for conducting audits and improving business operations, highlight...

Send us Fan Mail Rudy dives headfirst into cyanuric acid — CYA, stabilizer, conditioner — the most misquoted, weaponized, and argued-about chemical in the pool industry. He breaks down what the science actually says about HOCl in stabilized water, why that old HOCl / OCl⁻ chart belongs in a museum, how CYA really impacts ORP, TA, and LSI, and why “chlorine lock” is less supernatural curse and more...

Send us Fan Mail In this week’s episode of Insurance Interludes , host Steve Sherwood teams up once again with Pat Grignon , Vice President of the California Pool Association (CPA), to tackle a real-world scenario hitting every service tech’s nightmare list: A failing shell. A leaking pool. Conflicting opinions. And YOU stuck in the middle. Steve brings the audience behind the scenes of his own ro...

Send us Fan Mail On this Wednesday episode of the Talking Pools Podcast , host Natalie Hood (Director of Education & Network Development for The Grit Game) sits down with lifeguard historian, trainer, and content creator Miss Madison Ray to pull back the curtain on what lifeguards actually do, why they’re leaving the industry, and how dangerous our “they’re just babysitters” mindset really is....

Send us Fan Mail This week, Andrea flies solo while Paulette takes a much-needed break—and the result is a fun, educational, slightly unhinged deep dive into cold water season , winter chemistry , dry skin survival , and why cold pools can actually make your job easier (yes, really). From frozen reagents to stain treatments to elderly Floridians complaining about “cold” 78-degree pools, this episo...

Send us Fan Mail This week on Mondays Down Under , Lee (Australia) and Shane (New Zealand) jump in—literally and figuratively—with a conversation that starts with cold weather swims and ends with one of the biggest training breakthroughs for the pool industry across Oceania. What was supposed to be a short topic grew into a full deep-dive on safety, qualifications, licensing, training pathways, in...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Rudy discusses the importance of borates in pool chemistry, particularly their role in stabilizing pH levels, reducing chemical usage, and enhancing water clarity. He explains the chemistry behind borates, their effects on algae, and practical applications for pool maintenance. Additionally, Rudy addresses safety concerns and common misconceptions about borates, e...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Steve Sherwood discusses the challenges of pool maintenance during rainy weather, emphasizing the importance of effective communication with clients regarding service times and expectations. He also delves into the significance of proper water testing and the differences between commercial and residential pool care. Additionally, insights into insurance considerat...

Send us Fan Mail Mondays Down Under – Understanding Pool & Spa Standards in Australia & New Zealand This week on Mondays Down Under , Lee and Shane dive into a topic that every pool and spa professional thinks they understand—until they don’t: standards, regulations, and the rules that actually govern your work on both sides of the Tasman. From fencing laws to suction entrapment prevention...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome to an in-depth exploration of leak detection in pools, a topic that often goes unnoticed yet is crucial for any pool owner. In this blog post, we’ll highlight key insights and practical tips from a recent podcast episode featuring industry experts Natalie Hood and Jared Medeiros. Let’s dive in and unravel the myths surrounding leak detection and maintenance. Section 1: Und...

Send us Fan Mail Featuring Don Douglas of Revd Up Apparel — Gold Sponsor of the Mentor of the Year Award Some episodes age like fine wine.  This one… aged like a perfectly balanced LSI reading. Andrea and Paulette crack open a legendary conversation from the Talking Pools archives — the day Don Douglas of Revd Up Apparel stopped by and changed the way the pool industry thinks about clothes, brandi...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Rudy delves into the intricacies of total alkalinity in pool chemistry, explaining its critical role in maintaining pH levels and overall water balance. He discusses the impact of carbon dioxide and borates on pool chemistry, emphasizing the importance of understanding these elements for effective pool maintenance. The conversation highlights the challenges faced...

Send us Fan Mail 🔑 Episode Highlights: Wayne’s Health Update & Podcast Direction Wayne shares a personal health update and how it’s shaping the future of the show. Celebrating Mentorship: Rich Gallo Named Mentor of the Year A heartfelt tribute to Rich Gallo’s impact on the pool service industry and his dedication to mentoring others. Business Wisdom from Rich Gallo Rich opens up about his ent...

Send us Fan Mail In this powerful conclusion to the two-part episode Clear Water Can Still Kill , Natalie Hood and Dewey Case pull back the curtain on the myths that continue to plague both residential and commercial pool operations. From chlorine “smell” misconceptions to Airbnb water safety, they challenge everything we think we know about clean, safe, and healthy pool water. Dewey explains why...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome back to the Talking Pools Podcast — We're opening up the vault and this one snuck out! The real-life challenges and strategies shaping the pool industry. I’m Rudy, here with the always insightful Andrea, and today we’re tackling a topic that every pool pro eventually has to face: how to handle price increases without losing your cool or your margins. This episode isn’...

Send us Fan Mail Lee’s back on home turf (and grand-dad duty) and Shane’s in the chair from New Zealand for a lively episode that starts with a wild Guy Fawkes blackout story and lands on a pressing industry issue: two major distributors have exited the NZ market , leaving pros scrambling for parts, warranties, and sensible logistics. In this episode Cold open: A powder-monkey grandad, one huge ba...

Send us Fan Mail What starts as a casual “round two” turns into one of the most important — and hilarious — conversations pool pros need to hear. Rudy and Andrea dive deep into DOT (Department of Transportation) requirements for pool service trucks , and what every tech should know before hitting the road loaded with chemicals in this #WaybackWeekend thing we've been doing. Spoiler: if you’re...

Send us Fan Mail Hey Pool Pros! We’re back with another Talking Pools Podcast episode from the vault, and this time it's featuring your favorite duo — Kelli and Dan — and trust us, this one’s got it all. Dan’s been burning the candle at both ends with office remodels, travel chaos , and prep for the Atlantic City Pool & Spa Show , while Kelli’s been making the most of the off-season — cat...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Talking Pools podcast, Rudy Stankowitz dives deep into the essential aspects of pool water chemistry, focusing primarily on pH. He emphasizes the importance of understanding pH as the core of water chemistry, explaining how it influences chlorine effectiveness, the role of alkalinity, and the buffering systems that stabilize pH levels. Rudy discusses the imp...

Send us Fan Mail Sometimes, to master the science of pool care, you’ve got to rewind all the way to the fundamentals — and that’s exactly what Wayne does in this nostalgic, knowledge-packed Throwback Thursday episode of the Talking Pools Podcast . This week, Wayne strips away the marketing fluff, the industry noise, and the high-tech gadgets to return to where it all began: Chlorine 101 . He break...

Send us Fan Mail 🎙️ Talking Pools Podcast – Part 1 Dewey Case of CMAHC to Aquatic Directors: Clear Water Can Still Kill Guest: Dewey Case — Technical Director, Council for the Model Aquatic Health Code (CMAHC) ; Assistant Aquatic Superintendent, Williamson County Parks & Rec, Tennessee Host: Natalie Hood ( The Grit Game ) Episode Length: Part 1 of 2 Episode Overview It’s Halloween on the Talki...

Send us Fan Mail Being the boss sounds great — until payday hits and you realize your new hire just cost you more in pool shock than they’ve made you in revenue. In this episode, we strip away the Instagram gloss and talk about what it really means to grow your team. Spoiler: it’s not all high-fives and financial freedom. Sometimes it’s long days, lost profits, and teaching someone not to vacuum w...