Talking Pools Podcast
Talking Pools Podcast
Rudy Stankowitz
If you’ve ever stared at a test kit like it personally insulted your family… welcome home.Talking Pools Podcast is the pool industry’s “pull up a chair” show—part shop talk, part field manual, part therapy session—built for people who actually live on pool decks: commercial operators, service techs, builders, facility managers, and anyone responsible for water that can’t afford to go sideways. The network was created to level up the pool industry with real-world conversations on water chemistry, filtration, troubleshooting, construction, safety, and the business side of keeping pools open and budgets intact. Here’s the hook: it’s not theory-first. It’s experience-first—a roster of seasoned pros (with 250+ years of combined “been there, fixed that” wisdom) turning complicated problems into practical moves you can use the same day.  And it’s not one voice, one vibe, one corner of the industry: it’s a network of shows designed to reflect how diverse this work really is—different regions, different specialties, different personalities. Also worth saying out loud: women aren’t “special guests” here—they’re on the mic as hosts, from the beginning, with an intentionally balanced roster.  That matters, because the best ideas in this industry don’t come from one lane—they come from the whole road.If you want a podcast that can make you laugh and make you better at what you do—without pretending the job is easier than it is—Talking Pools is the one you queue up before the first stop, and keep on when the day starts getting weird. 
Chemistry Myths That Cost Pool Pros Money (Part 1)  With Natalie Hood & Eric Wall
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 professionals back. Drawing on decades of experience in sales, service, construction, retail, and technical t...
Jul 8
38 min
Heat Pumps, Inverter Technology & Building a Smarter Equipment Pad with Madimack
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 efficiency, reduce operating costs, and make today's heat pumps quieter than ever before. The conversa...
Jul 6
43 min
Freedom Isn't Free... Neither Is Running a Pool Business
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 decades of industry experience, Dan breaks down the real numbers behind operating a service vehicle,...
Jul 4
44 min
LaMotte Company Sets the Record Straight - Rudy talking with Jonathan Banish
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 test kits into powerful business management tools. The conversation goes far beyond the Spin Touch photometer....
Jul 3
42 min
Your Biggest Liability Is Your Customer
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 the client refuses to act? From commercial hotels and apartment complexes to homeowner associations and r...
Jul 2
46 min
The Biggest Thing Polluting Your Pool Is You
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 commercial aquatic facilities to residential swimming pools—and explain why homeowners often create their ...
Jul 1
46 min
Stop Selling Yesterday's Pool Technology
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 of year—surviving end-of-financial-year stocktakes, inventory headaches, and the never-ending challeng...
Jun 29
29 min
Si el Filtro Falla, Todo Falla
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 diatomeas (DE), explicamos cómo funciona cada uno, cuándo utilizarlo, cómo dimensionarlo correctamente y qu...
Jun 27
28 min
The Problems No Pool Pro Wants to Admit Exist | Carrie Dibrell, Service Industry News
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 Reflecting Pool, including statements from both Rhino Linings and Atlantic Industrial Coatings...
Jun 26
53 min
When the Part Doesn't Exist: Supply Chains, Service, and Liability in the Pool Industry - Thursday
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 down an elusive electric heater control board to discussing how relationships with manufacturer represent...
Jun 25
49 min
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