Contributor, Author at Aquatic Facility Training and Consultants

Essential Services COVID-19

Post author:Contributor
Post published:April 5, 2020
Post category:COVID-19

Are Pool Companies an Essential Service in Your Area? CISA Guidance on the Essential Critical Infrastructure Workforce: Ensuring Community and National Resilience in COVID-19 Response Version 1.0, Page 9. Public…

Hand Sanitizer Recipe – Coronavirus Surface

Post author:Contributor
Post published:March 29, 2020
Post category:COVID-19

Everyone is sold out of hand sanitizer. No worries, as long as we have water, we can make our own. What if our supply is contaminated or the stores are…

How and When to Install Wellpoints

Post author:Contributor
Post published:March 14, 2020
Post category:Builders Drain & Fill

Swimming Pools with High Water Tables? When you think of building pools, you think of dirt. When you think of building pools in the South, you think of clay soil.…

Pool Pro Found Liable

Post author:Contributor
Post published:February 9, 2020
Post category:Pool News

⚖ A Court Ordered Settlement Pool Pro Found Liable Welcome back for the conclusion of our version of Law and Order: The Swimming Pool Industry. Bay-Not Watching Not only do…

Pool Guy Saves Lives with Sewing Machine

Post author:Contributor
Post published:January 20, 2020
Post category:Pool News Swimming Pool Safety

? Stitching for Swimming By Jules Johnson Pool Guy Saves Lives with Sewing Machine ? Every day we get up and check our phones, let the dog out, grab…

LIFEGUARD FAILS

Post author:Contributor
Post published:December 15, 2019
Post category:Employees Pool Safety

by Annette Cohen Pallowick Lifeguard Responsibilities What are the responsibilities of a lifeguard? How do we know if the lifeguard is living up to those responsibilities? Can you identify each…

Teaching Children with Disabilities to Swim

Post author:Contributor
Post published:November 10, 2019
Post category:Pool Safety

The Challenges of Teaching Children with Disabilities to Swim and How to Overcome Them by Nikos Vasilellis Teaching Children with Disabilities to Swim Swimming is one of the most exciting…

Why Test my Pool for Calcium Hardness ❔

Post author:Contributor
Post published:November 3, 2019
Post category:Water Chemistry

By Eric Knight The Benefits of Calcium Hardness in Cold Water ? Calcium is often treated like a four-letter-word by pool service professionals. This negative opinion of calcium comes from…

UF Acquires Talent From UAB & Within

Post author:Contributor
Post published:September 8, 2019
Post category:University Aquatics Pool News Risk Management

PRESS RELEASE ? Making a Splash at The Swamp? UF Acquires Talent From UAB & Within The University of Florida Department of Recreational Sports has welcomed two new faces…

Hiring Gen Z – What to Expect

Post author:Contributor
Post published:August 25, 2019
Post category:Apartment Pool Maintenance Employees Hotel Pool Maintenance Pool Service Tips University Aquatics

. Supervising and Managing Post-Millennials or “Generation Z" …

Talking Pools Podcast

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.

Send us Fan Mail

In this episode of Mondays Down Under, hosts Lee Salisbury, Shane Melrose, and Nick take listeners behind the scenes of awards season, conference travel, industry recognition, and the importance of networking within the swimming pool industry. From award ceremonies across Australia to upcoming conferences and trade shows, the conversation explores how professional development, industry engagement, and relationship building continue to shape successful pool businesses.

Episode Highlights

Awards Season Across Australia and New Zealand

Lee shares her experience attending both the ACT and New South Wales industry awards ceremonies, celebrating outstanding achievements from pool builders, technicians, retailers, and service professionals. The hosts discuss the significance of industry recognition and the challenges many professionals face when considering self-nomination for awards.

The Challenge of Self-Nomination

The discussion explores why many highly qualified professionals hesitate to put themselves forward for awards, despite being deserving candidates. The hosts examine potential alternatives, including peer nominations, and discuss ways industry organizations might encourage greater participation from technicians, retailers, and service professionals.

What Really Happens Behind the Judging Process

Lee offers insight into the award judging process, explaining how applications are reviewed, scored, and evaluated by multiple judges. The conversation highlights the extensive effort that goes into ensuring fairness and recognizing excellence across a wide range of industry categories.

Recognizing Excellence in the Pool Industry

Several award winners and finalists are recognized throughout the episode, including discussions about the qualities that separate outstanding businesses and professionals from the rest of the field. The hosts emphasize the importance of technical expertise, customer service, mentorship, and industry leadership.

The Value of Industry Conferences

The conversation shifts to conference season, with discussions about supplier conferences, trade events, educational opportunities, and networking experiences. The hosts share stories from conferences held in destinations including New Zealand, Fiji, Vietnam, Thailand, Israel, and beyond.

Why Networking Matters

Beyond product training and education, the hosts explain how conferences create opportunities to build relationships, exchange ideas, learn from peers, and develop lifelong friendships within the industry. These connections often prove just as valuable as the formal educational sessions themselves.

Looking Ahead to Splash

With the upcoming Splash Trade Show approaching, the hosts preview educational sessions, industry forums, awards presentations, networking events, and opportunities for listeners to connect with the Talking Pools team in person.

Winter Recharge Before Summer Returns

As the southern hemisphere enters winter, the discussion concludes with a reminder about the importance of rest, recovery, and preparing for the next busy season. The hosts encourage business owners and staff alike to use the quieter months to recharge and invest in professional development.

Key Takeaways

Industry awards recognize far more than popularity—they reward professionalism, technical expertise, and dedication.
Many deserving professionals never enter awards due to reluctance around self-promotion.
Conferences provide education, networking, and valuable business-building opportunities.
Strong industry relationships often lead to better business outcomes and lifelong professional connections.
The quieter winter months offer an important opportunity to recharge before the demands of the next season arrive.

Connect With Talking Pools

Have a topic suggestion or question for the Talking Pools Podcast Network? Reach out at talkingpools@gmail.com and the team will direct your question to the most appropriate host.

#TalkingPools #MondaysDownUnder #PoolIndustry #SwimmingPoolProfessionals #PoolTechnician #PoolBuilder #PoolRetail #Splash2026 #SPASA #PoolIndustryAwards #PoolBusiness #SwimmingPools #PoolPodcast #IndustryNetworking #ProfessionalDevelopment

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Email us: talkingpools@gmail.com

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