Contributor, Author at Aquatic Facility Training and Consultants

Swimming Pool Steve – Exposed!

Post author:Contributor
Post published:April 28, 2019
Post category:Pool News Swimming Pool Safety

What You Don't Know Can Hurt You ⚠️ For those of you that frequent Pool Operator Talk (Yes, that's the name of the site you are on ?) , I am sure you…

Lifeguard Recruiting & Retention

Post author:Contributor
Post published:April 21, 2019
Post category:Risk Management University Aquatics

the unsung heroes of the swimming pool industry by: Lisa Molloy As a higher education professional and aquatics operator at the University of Central Florida, I find myself in a…

Aquatic Facilities and Risk Management Practice

Post author:Contributor
Post published:March 24, 2019
Post category:Risk Management University Aquatics

Identification, Evaluation, and Prioritization - by Michelle December Aquatic facilities are often viewed as being synonymous with risk So how do aquatic professionals effectively manage the inherent risks associated with their…

Florida’s Largest Competition Pool

Post author:Contributor
Post published:February 24, 2019
Post category:University Aquatics

Diving into Nova Southeastern University! Nova Southeastern's Assistant Director of Aquatics, Austin Harris, talks on overcoming the challenges in managing one of the countries largest academic SCUBA Diving programs, first…

Kessing Pool

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Post author:Contributor
Post published:January 28, 2019
Post category:University Aquatics

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Aquatics and Community Programs If you recall, in December we spoke with University of Houston's Assistant Director of Aquatic Operations, Cara Green.This month, University of…

The Pool Service Entrepreneur

Post author:Contributor
Post published:January 1, 2019
Post category:Pool Service Tips

The Pool Service Entrepreneur Several years ago I attended a social event in town where a young woman approached and introduced herself. After exchanging names she asked the familiar question:…

University of Houston Aquatics

Post author:Contributor
Post published:December 23, 2018
Post category:University Aquatics

Managing a large aquatic facility at a university like the University of Houston Aquatics requires balancing the needs of multiple user groups while maintaining strict water quality, safety, and operational…

Florida Southern College Aquatics

Post author:Contributor
Post published:November 25, 2018
Post category:University Aquatics

We are fortunate at Florida Southern College Aquatics that the school sees the pool and swim team as a priority, and we are able to maintain our pump room and ensure we are up to code at all times.

Understanding Indoor Pool Smells

Post author:Contributor
Post published:November 5, 2018
Post category:Water Chemistry

Understanding Indoor Pool Smells Understanding Chloramines, Combined Chlorine, and Breakpoint Chlorination Have you ever walked into an indoor swimming pool facility and immediately noticed a sharp “chlorine smell” in the…

Florida State University Aquatics

Post author:Contributor
Post published:October 29, 2018
Post category:University Aquatics

Florida State University Aquatics There is a lot more to consider when maintaining these colossal giants of competition and wellness than one might think. Pool Operators face a myriad of challenges…

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.

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 University to Pool Brain—and the bigger problems he hopes to help solve.

The pool industry has more education available than ever, but is that actually part of the problem? New technicians are often buried under chemistry, equipment, software, procedures, and safety information before they have enough hands-on experience to understand how it all fits together.

Erik explains how guided workflows and point-of-need education could help technicians produce better results from the beginning while developing a deeper understanding over time. Instead of three days riding shotgun followed by “Here are the keys—try not to turn anything green,” technology can provide structure, consistency, and some desperately needed early wins.

Natalie and Erik discuss:

Why technician turnover is highest at the entry level
Whether the education gap is really an education-overload problem
The weaknesses of traditional pool-company onboarding
Why hands-on learning creates knowledge that actually sticks
Using software to reinforce education instead of replacing it
Pool Brain’s approach to guided workflows and chemistry recommendations
Using historical data to predict future pH and water behavior
Why experience—not intelligence—allows seasoned technicians to anticipate problems
Automation as a force multiplier for pool professionals
How technology can free technicians to develop higher-value skills
Why automation equipment can become a profitable service-company revenue stream
The value of competition among software companies and education providers
Erik’s continued relationship with Watershape University
What attracted him to Pool Brain’s long-term vision
Why professional software requires more than an AI-generated interface
Inflation, rising equipment costs, and the need for greater efficiency
Route optimization, properly stocked trucks, and eliminating costly supply runs

Erik also addresses the fear that technology will eventually replace the pool professional. Automation may handle repeatable tasks, but it cannot change filter sand, clean a DE grid, diagnose complicated equipment problems, or replace the judgment developed through real experience.

Better technology does not eliminate the need for education. It can remove some of the repetitive bullshit, help new technicians succeed sooner, and give experienced professionals more time to solve complicated problems, serve better customers, and operate more profitable routes.

Erik’s goal at Pool Brain is straightforward: simplify what makes the job unnecessarily difficult, help pool professionals deliver safer and more predictable water, and give company owners the tools to become more efficient, profitable, and—God forbid—occasionally get home before dark.

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Email us: talkingpools@gmail.com