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Ranked among top pool podcasts (Feedspot) and in the top 1.5% of all podcasts globally (ListenNotes).

Listen to the Talking Pools Podcast

Welcome to the Talking Pools Podcast Network — the place where pool pros, service techs, builders, retailers, manufacturers, and industry troublemakers come to hear real conversations about the swimming pool industry.

Choose your favorite way to listen below, or browse our latest episodes right here.

Take The Quiz

The Talking Pools Pool IQ Challenge

Think You Know Pools?

Whether you're a homeowner, a new pool service technician, or a seasoned industry professional, it's time to find out how much you really know.

1 / 23

The water is green. What is the best first step?

Backwash the filter and wait 24 hours.

Test the water before deciding on a treatment.

Add algaecide immediately.

2 / 23

Your pool has a strong "chlorine smell" and the water is burning your eyes. Test results show:

Free Chlorine: 2.0 ppm
Combined Chlorine: 1.0 ppm
pH: 7.5

What is the best recommendation?

Put a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser into the skimmer basket

Add chlorine to reach breakpoint chlorination

Put a piece of Copper Pipe into the skimmer basket

3 / 23

What is the main purpose of pool circulation?

To reduce calcium hardness.

To increase chlorine production.

To distribute chemicals and move water through the filtration system.

4 / 23

Why is maintaining the proper water level important?

It allows the skimmer to operate correctly.

It prevents calcium hardness from increasing.

It keeps cyanuric acid from evaporating.

5 / 23

What is one common sign that a pool pump has lost prime?

The filter pressure is higher than normal.

The pool water becomes warmer.

The pump basket is full of air instead of water.

6 / 23

Before adding chemicals to a pool, you should always:

Turn off the circulation system.

Test the water first.

Backwash the filter

7 / 23

Why should leaves and debris be removed from a pool promptly?

They increase total alkalinity.

They lower the calcium hardness.

They increase chlorine demand and can stain the pool.

8 / 23

Which test should typically be performed most frequently during routine pool maintenance?

. Free chlorine.

Calcium hardness.

Cyanuric acid.

9 / 23

What is the primary purpose of a pool skimmer?

To remove floating debris before it sinks

To mix chemicals evenly throughout the pool

To increase water pressure to the filter

10 / 23

Why is it important to brush the walls of a swimming pool?

To remove algae and biofilm before they become established.

To lower the pool's calcium hardness.

To increase chlorine production.

11 / 23

Organic phosphates, such as those contained in sequestering agents, are oxidized over time into what?

Calcium phosphate - produces scale that requires grinding to remove

Orthophosphate - a vital nutrient for algae

Lanthanum - a phosphate remover

12 / 23

Cyanobacteria are

photosynthetic

multicellular organisms

controlled by a nucleus

13 / 23

Which of the following is most critical in successful algae prevention?

Brushing routine

Use of an Algastat as a preventative

Maintaining a sufficient chlorine level

14 / 23

Using an algastat on a routine basis is

like preventative medicine

absolutely necessary

Snake oil

15 / 23

Which of the following is credited as being the initial source of oxygen on the planet?

Green algae (Chlorophyceae)

Mustad algae (Diatoms)

Black algae (Cyanobacteria)

16 / 23

Which of the following can cause dead spots in circulation?

Pool pump motor voltage

Improperly directed hydrostream inlet eyeballs

Water at midpoint of skimmer opening

17 / 23

What is turnover rate?

The amount of time it takes to filter all of the water in the pool

The amount of time it takes before the filter requires backwashing

The amount of time it takes to filter an amount of water equal to what is in the pool

18 / 23

How much sodium bicarbonate is needed to increase the Total Alkalinity of 12,000 gallons of water from 60 ppm to 90 ppm?

50 lbs

5 lbs

1 DE Scoop

19 / 23

Can a swimming pool turn green overnight?

Yes

Only in non-saltwater applications

20 / 23

A gallon of 12% Sodium hypochlorite will increase the chlorine level in 10,000 gallons of water by how much?

8 ppm

12 ppm

15 ppm

21 / 23

What is hypochlorous acid?

HCl

The killing form of chlorine

The compound formed when chlorine bonds with NH₃

22 / 23

The effectiveness of chlorine is?

Dependent upon chlorine type

Enhanced by the addition of hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂)

pH dependent

23 / 23

Keeping pool water in balance with the Langelier Saturation Index (LSI) can help to prevent algae by helping to prevent which of the following?

Dead spots in circulation due to plaster deterioration

Damage to the pump impeller due to cavitation

Dead spots in circulation due to scale formation

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About the Talking Pools Podcast Network

Talking Pools is a multi-show podcast network built for the swimming pool industry. Each week, our hosts bring different voices, opinions, experiences, and specialties to the microphone.

From water chemistry and service routes to business ownership, commercial pools, industry news, safety, equipment, and the occasional feather-ruffling opinion, Talking Pools gives pool professionals a place to learn, laugh, argue, and stay connected.

Weekly Shows

Mondays Down Under

Industry conversations from Australia and New Zealand with Lee, Shane, Nick, and guests from across the pool world.

Wednesdays

Myth-Busting Wednesdays debunks pool-industry folklore with Natalie and guests.

Thursdays with Wayne & Steve

Technical discussions, commercial pool topics, insurance, liability, regulations, and field experience.

Floc-It Friday

Rudy Stankowitz dives into pool chemistry, algae, filtration, water testing, industry controversies, and whatever else needs to be said.

Las Piscinas Hablan

Sábados: Todo lo que el técnico de servicio de piscinas necesita saber, desde química del agua y equipos hasta diagnóstico, mantenimiento, reparación y las mejores prácticas de la industria.

Why Subscribe?

If you work in the pool industry, this podcast was built for you. Subscribe so you never miss new episodes, expert interviews, technical breakdowns, industry news, and conversations that actually sound like pool people talking to pool people.

Clean pools. Make money. Learn something. Ruffle feathers.

Contact the Show

Have a question, topic idea, guest suggestion, or industry issue you want covered?

Email us at talkingpools@gmail.com

Media-Kit.pdf

the Talking Pools Podcast for Swimming Pools

Find all of the Talking Pools Podcast episodes on Apple Podcasts here: 🎧 Or, on Spotify at 🎧

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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

New Products, Big Ideas, and Splash 2026 Preview

The countdown to Splash 2026 is on, and this week on Mondays Down Under, Lee, Shane, and Nick take a look at some of the new products and innovations expected to debut at the industry's biggest trade show. But before diving into the latest technology, the conversation starts where many pool businesses find themselves this time of year—surviving end-of-financial-year stocktakes, inventory headaches, and the never-ending challenge of keeping track of service vehicle inventory.

From there, the discussion shifts to why attending industry trade shows is about much more than collecting brochures. It's about gaining new perspectives, networking with peers, discovering better ways to run your business, and seeing firsthand where the industry is headed.

The team highlights several exciting products they're looking forward to seeing at Splash, including autonomous robotic cleaners, advanced oxidation systems paired with low-salt chlorination, next-generation heat pumps with impressive efficiency ratings, and new training opportunities designed to improve water testing and chemistry knowledge.

They also discuss the importance of proper system installation, flow rates for UV and AOP systems, inventory accountability, and why staying current with new technology can give pool professionals a competitive advantage.

Whether you're planning to attend Splash or simply want to know what's coming next in the pool industry, this episode offers an excellent preview of the products, conversations, and innovations everyone will be talking about.

In this episode:

End-of-financial-year stocktake challenges
Managing inventory in retail and service businesses
Service vehicle inventory accountability
Why tracking serial numbers matters
Why every pool professional should attend Splash
Networking versus collecting business cards
Preview of the 2026 Splash Trade Show
LaMotte Pacific's new Training Academy
Autonomous robotic pool cleaners
Advanced Oxidation Process (AOP) systems
Low-salt chlorination technology
UV system installation considerations
New high-efficiency heat pumps
Industry education and upcoming expert interviews
How innovation continues to shape the pool industry

Coming Soon on Talking Pools

The team also previews several upcoming guest interviews featuring leading industry experts covering:

Water testing and chemistry
Spa repair and maintenance
Grounding and electrical safety
Heating technology
Equipment innovations from Splash 2026

If you're passionate about improving your business, staying current with new technology, and learning from some of the industry's best, you won't want to miss the upcoming episodes.

📧 Have a topic you'd like covered? Email the team at talkingpools@gmail.com.

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Thank you so much for listening! You can find us on social media:

Email us: talkingpools@gmail.com