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. 
5150: Pool Industry Insanity with Andrea
Send us Fan Mail On this week's Tuesday edition of Talking Pools, Andrea delivers a rapid-fire collection of pool industry myths, misconceptions, pet peeves, and hard-earned observations from the field. What started as an episode about common pool myths quickly evolved into a full-blown list of industry hot takes, terminology frustrations, safety reminders, and the kinds of misconceptions that refuse to die. Before diving into the chaos, Andrea discusses the brutal summer heat, challeng...
Jun 2
35 min
The Ruthenium Problem: Why Salt Cells Are Getting More Expensive - Mondays
Send us Fan Mail This week on Mondays Down Under, Lee, Shane, and Nick sit down with Lee from AIS Water for a fascinating deep dive into the world of saltwater chlorination, chlorinator cells, and the rare-earth metal quietly impacting pool owners across the globe: ruthenium. AIS Water has spent more than three decades focused exclusively on saltwater chlorination, manufacturing everything from residential chlorinators to massive commercial systems used around the world. Lee shares insights f...
Jun 1
58 min
Floc-It Friday — Mentorship, Metal Chemistry & The Reality of Pool Safety
Send us Fan Mail This week on the Talking Pools Podcast, Rudy Stankowitz delivers one of the most brutally honest and emotionally grounded episodes yet — blending psychology, mentorship, advanced chemistry, industry culture, and drowning prevention into a single unapologetic ride through the modern swimming pool industry. Rudy opens the episode by tackling something most people in the industry rarely discuss openly: the mental chaos of becoming good at pool care. He breaks down how the ...
May 29
33 min
Steve's Master Pool Maintenance Tips
Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Steve Sherwood shares insights on pool maintenance, commercial vs residential pools, insurance tips, and new hobbies like sailing. Perfect for pool professionals looking to optimize their business and safety practices. keywords pool maintenance, commercial pools, residential pools, insurance, sailing, pool chemicals, pool equipment, client management, pool industry tips key topics Differences between residential and commercial poolsPricing strategies for ...
May 28
45 min
AI, Automation, and the Future of the Pool Industry with Special Guest Fred Ross
Send us Fan Mail AI, Automation, and the Future of the Pool Industry With Special Guest Fred Ross What happens when a pool industry veteran with roots in Silicon Valley, data centers, transportation logistics, and large-scale commercial pool operations sits down to talk about artificial intelligence? You get one of the most eye-opening conversations we’ve ever had on Myth Busting Wednesdays. This week, host Natalie Hood sits down with Fred Ross — former tech executive, entrepreneur, com...
May 27
56 min
Andrea Unfiltered – Green Pools, Heat Stroke & Poop Soup
Send us Fan Mail This week on 🎙️ Andrea Unfiltered, Andrea delivers exactly what listeners have come to expect: chaotic honesty, pool industry reality checks, accidental nightmare fuel, and a reminder that working around water can get weird fast. Andrea opens the episode discussing an adults-only waterpark in Texas featuring swim-up bars, lazy rivers, floating food delivery, DJs, and giant hot tubs — and explains in vivid detail why she absolutely wants no part of it. Between the though...
May 26
43 min
Wellness Water, Cold Plunges & The Future of Spa Care with John Harding - Mondays Down Under
Send us Fan Mail This week on the 🇦🇺🇳🇿 edition of the Talking Pools Podcast, Lee, Shane, and Nick welcome longtime industry veteran and chemistry expert John Harding of Lo-Chlor Chemicals for a fascinating deep dive into the rapidly expanding world of wellness products in the pool and spa industry. John shares his incredible journey from aircraft engineer in England to becoming Technical Director at Lo-Chlor, one of Australia’s longest-standing specialty pool chemical manufacturers. Lis...
May 25
32 min
EPA Fines and Why Your Algaecide Didn't Work - Rudy
Send us Fan Mail On this episode of the Talking Pools Podcast, Rudy dives headfirst into one of the most controversial chemistry and regulatory topics currently shaking the pool industry: sodium bromide, EPA labeling law, and the reality of enforcement under FIFRA regulations. This episode is not speculation, fearmongering, or internet rumor. It is a detailed breakdown of what the EPA label changes actually mean, how pesticide law works in the real world, the difference between civil and crim...
May 22
35 min
Here's What Every Pool Service Company is MISSING - Steve
Send us Fan Mail On this episode of the Talking Pools Podcast, Steve dives into the realities of commercial pool liability, leak detection, client communication, and the hidden responsibilities that separate true professionals from “just the pool guy.” The episode opens with Steve discussing the frustration surrounding the 2026 FIFA World Cup ticket prices before shifting into another edition of the Insurance Interlude with Pat Grignon of the California Pool Association. Together, they unpack...
May 21
47 min
Pool Inspections Exposed - Dennis Boyd with Natalie Hood
Send us Fan Mail Pool Inspections, Liability, Codes & the Dangerous Assumptions That Cost Thousands. Part 2 of this 2 part episode. With Host Natalie Hood of The Grit Game and Special Guest Dennis Boyd of Watershape University In the conclusion of this powerful two-part episode of Myth Busting Wednesdays, Natalie Hood sits down with Dennis Boyd for a brutally honest conversation about the realities of swimming pool inspections, code compliance, safety standards, liability, and the myths t...
May 20
28 min
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