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. 

Chart trend

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

#41
all-time peak
6
days in the top 50 since Nov 2024

Latest episodes

Showing 20 · updated from the feed

Mentorship, AI, and Common Sense with Peter Wiedermann

#29 trending · How To

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

1099 or W-2? The Expensive Difference Pool Companies Cannot Ignore

Ask a question here Calling someone an independent contractor does not automatically make them one. In this Insurance Interlude, Steve Sherwood and Pat Grignon of the C

Aug 27
17 min

Is There Too Much Pool Industry Education?

Ask a question here In the conclusion of this two-part Mythbusting Wednesday conversation, Natalie Hood sits down with Erik Knight to discuss his move from Watershape Un

Aug 26
35 min

Is Your Pool Business Balanced—or Are You Just Putting Out Fires?

Ask a question here This week on Mondays Down Under, Lee Salisbury—the Pool Shop Coach—and Nick tackle a question every pool business owner should ask: Are you actually

Aug 24
54 min

If You’re the Local Expert, Stop Charging Like the Local Idiot

Ask a question here WARNING: Intentionally Abrasive Language - Every service business wants to be the company everyone recommends—the local expert called after three oth

Aug 21
30 min

Stop Guessing, Start Charging—and Learn When to Say No

Ask a question here Steve Sherwood and Wayne Ivusich discuss one of the hardest lessons for pool service professionals: you cannot solve every problem, satisfy every pro

Aug 20
41 min

Cold Plunge Myths: Short Exposure Does Not Mean Low Risk — Part 2

Ask a question here Natalie Hood continues her conversation with Dewey Case of the Council for the Model Aquatic Health Code, separating cold-plunge science from wellnes

Aug 19
30 min

SPLASH

Ask a question here SPLASH 2026: Why Pool Professionals—and Their Teams—Need to Be There SPLASH isn’t just another excuse to escape the office, collect two years’ worth

Aug 17
29 min

Your Pool Guy Isn’t the Problem—You Are

Ask a question here 🚨 Warning: This episode contains intentionally abrasive commentary and strong language. Most Talking Pools questions come from pool service professio

Aug 14
30 min

When Corporate Buyouts Kill Technical Support

Ask a question here What happens when the people who actually know the product disappear—and customer service becomes a phone tree, a 90-minute hold, or an ordering depa

Aug 13
40 min

Eric Knight Joins Pool Brain

Ask a question here Natalie Hood welcomes Eric Knight back to the Talking Pools Podcast to discuss his move from Watershape University to Pool Brain—and what this new ro

Aug 12
36 min

Salt

Ask a question here In the conclusion of our conversation with Lee Moore and Blake, Technical Director at AIS Water, we examine what it takes to make saltwater chlorinat

Aug 10
20 min

Confidence Isn’t Competence: Pool Industry Edition

Ask a question here Profanity does not make someone unprofessional. Confidently spreading bad information does. In this intentionally abrasive episode of the Talking Po

Aug 7
37 min

Chart positions

Where Talking Pools Podcast ranks today in each Apple Podcasts chart (US, Sep 10, 2026).

#111 ▲ 32 How To US

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