Talking Pools Podcast artwork

How To · Rudy Stankowitz

Talking Pools Podcast

by 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. 

Latest episodes

Showing 20 · updated from the feed

Pool Pros Need More Regulation - and Fewer Facebook Assholes

#23 trending · How To

Ask a question here A truck, a pole, and a Facebook opinion: is that enough to call yourself a pool professional? This Thursday on Talking Pools, Steve Sherwood and Way

Oct 1
57 min

A Floating Liner, a Family Business, and the Advice Chris Cavanaugh Wishes He Took Sooner

Ask a question here Talking Pools Podcast | Mythbusting Wednesday with Natalie Hood What do you do when heavy rain turns a vinyl liner into a waterbed? Chris Cavanaugh

Sep 30
51 min

“Chlorine-Free” With a Chlorinator? SPASA Takes on Pool Sanitizer Claims

Ask a question here What does freshwater mean when a pool system has a chlorinating cell? On Mondays Down Under, Lee Salisbury, Nick and Shane welcome Ben Makepeace, SPA

Sep 27
44 min

One-Star Tribunal: Pool Pros vs. People Who Shouldn’t Have Wi-Fi

Ask a question here A one-star review can damage a reputation built over decades. Rudy breaks down how pool pros can respond without turning a bad review into a public c

Sep 25
41 min

When Water Goes Where it Shouldn't

Ask a question here A storm strips sand from Steve’s Long Beach neighborhood, tears up the boardwalk, and forces nearby residents to evacuate. That leads Steve and Wayne

Sep 24
38 min

Ancient Pool Warrior: John Poma on Mentorship, Machinery and Alum

Ask a question here Natalie Hood continues her conversations with the 2026 Talking Pools Podcast Top Ten Mentors with John Poma—the “Ancient Pool Warrior” and a two-time

Sep 23
55 min

Workplace Safety: It’s Not a Problem Until It’s a Problem

Ask a question here Workplace health and safety is not optional—especially when your team handles hazardous pool chemicals, works outdoors in extreme heat and enters unf

Sep 20
44 min

Cancel Me: Gen X, Cancel Culture and Knowing When to Shut the F*** Up

Ask a question here This episode is intentionally and unapologetically Gen X, slightly abrasive and definitely not safe for the easily rattled. Beneath the profanity and

Sep 18
25 min

Jeff Hampe: Mentorship, Mosaic Mastery and Pool-Tile Myths

Ask a question here Natalie Hood continues her conversations with the 2026 Talking Pools Podcast Top Ten Mentors by sitting down with Jeff Hampe, a longtime pool profess

Sep 16
50 min

Can Your Pool Business Survive Without You?

Ask a question here What happens when a family emergency forces you to leave your business with almost no warning? This week on Mondays Down Under, Lee, Nick, and Shane

Sep 13
38 min

Reflecting Absence: The Engineering Behind the 9/11 Memorial Pools

Ask a question here Twenty-five years after the attacks of September 11, 2001, this special episode of the Talking Pools Podcast is presented without commercial interrup

Sep 11
22 min

Chemicals in the Skimmer, Insurance Gaps & the Pool Guy Who “Feels” the Water

Ask a question here This week on Thursdays with Wayne and Steve, Wayne climbs back onto his favorite soapbox: your skimmer is not a chemical-dispensing system. The guys

Sep 10
46 min

Mentorship, AI, and Common Sense with Peter Wiedermann

Ask a question here Natalie Hood welcomes 2026 Top Ten Pool Industry Mentor Peter Wiedermann for a conversation about his 31 years in the swimming pool industry, the peo

Sep 9
1 h 01 min

Training Today Builds a Stronger Pool Industry Tomorrow

Ask a question here Hiring new employees is only the beginning. If pool and spa businesses want knowledgeable technicians, loyal teams, confident customers, and fewer un

Sep 6
46 min

Pool Remodels: What Lies Beneath the Plaster

Ask a question here A pool remodel is rarely as simple as replacing the tile and plaster. Once the old surface comes off and the ground is opened, contractors can uncove

Sep 5
30 min

Ten Things Wrong with the Pool Industry

Ask a question here This episode is intentionally abrasive. The pool industry wants the respect, credibility, and compensation of a skilled trade. But are we willing to

Sep 4
31 min

Selling Your Pool Business? Protect Yourself Before You Sign

Ask a question here Private equity has entered the pool industry, and companies looking to acquire thousands of service accounts are knocking on the doors of independent

Sep 3
12 min

Calcium Nodules, Mentorship, and 50 Years of Pool Industry Wisdom with Jerry Wallace

Ask a question here What does nearly 50 years in the swimming pool industry teach you? According to Jerry Wallace, there are no shortcuts, you never stop learning, and s

Sep 2
1 h 00 min

The Biggest Pool Technology from Down Under

Ask a question here For this special Mondays Down Under episode, Lee, Shane, and Nick are finally together in the same room after two exhausting days walking the floor a

Aug 31
56 min

Rudy asks Education or Sales Pitch? Know Who’s Teaching You

Ask a question here WARNING: This episode is intentionally abrasive. It contains strong language, blunt opinions, and an alarming lack of patience for sales pitches disg

Aug 28
25 min

Chart trend

Position in the How To chart (US), last 90 days.

#41
all-time peak
7
days in the top 50 since Nov 2024

Chart positions

Where Talking Pools Podcast ranks today in each Apple Podcasts chart (US, Oct 2, 2026).

#87 ▲ 82 How To US

What listeners say

A curated, balanced selection of Apple Podcasts reviews.

Favorite podcast! Love listening to Natalie! Podcasts are informative. She and her guests actually make it fun to listen! Look forward to more episodes.

Lori-pierce77 · Dec 2025

Great variety of topics and guests. I especially enjoy Natalie on the Wednesday shows. The “Myth Busting” was fun to listen to them delve into the misperceptions out there!

PoolGuyTJW · Dec 2025

So much amazing information packed into a podcast. Love that it is for pool pros by pool pros.

Alan Pool Pro · Dec 2025

Every time I’ve listened to an episode of Talking Pools Podcast I’ve learned something, even when I wasn’t expecting to. But I’ve also found myself laughing out loud at the wit of different hosts (Rudy Reviews are always insightful and smile worthy) and the wildly ridiculous songs (ridiculous in ALL the right ways). Recently I’ve been hooked on the Myth Busting episodes with Natalie Hood (haven’t missed one yet) and am looking forward to when Rudy and Natalie pair up for an episode. 10/10 would recommend to any pool professional.

Laci Davis · Dec 2025

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