Talking Pools Podcast (downloadable copy below)

Real Talk for the Pool Industry

Weekly conversations for pool pros who want truth over fluff—business, chemistry, training, mentorship, and the chlorine‑soaked chaos in between. Hosted by a global panel of industry veterans across the U.S., Australia, and New Zealand.

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

The Talking Pools Network

More than a podcast—an entire network of shows reflecting the real-world diversity of pool & spa professionals.

About the Network

Talking Pools Podcast exists to level up the pool industry—chemistry, filtration, troubleshooting, construction, business ops, pricing, hiring, safety, and beyond. Episodes are evergreen (your sponsors’ spots remain), and every conversation is led by seasoned professionals who live this work daily.

Women’s Voices in the Pool Industry

From its very first episode, Talking Pools has broken ground as the only daily and weekly pool industry podcast network with women behind the microphone.
We didn’t wait for diversity to trend — we built it in from day one.

Today, our host roster proudly stands equal — as many women as men — reflecting the real-world strength, talent, and leadership of women shaping the future of the pool industry.

From the no-nonsense field stories of Andrea Nannini and Paulette Hester to the depth of knowledge Lee Salisbury brings to the table, to the energy and authenticity of Sarah Bero, women’s voices don’t just appear on our show — they define it.

Our Shows

Mondays Down Under

Lee and Shane bring an Aussie/Kiwi perspective to the pool industry—mixing sharp business insight, hands-on service experience, and straight-talking humor to help professionals master their craft from the bottom of the world up.

Tuesdays with Andrea and Paulette

Andrea and Paulette delivers sharp insight, relatable stories, and plenty of laughs as two seasoned pool pros break down the chemistry, challenges, and customer chaos of life in the pool service lane.

Wednesdays with Sarah

TikTok’s favorite Pool Girl brings relatable service wins, fails, and workflow hacks—with heart and humor.

Thursdays with Wayne & Steve

Wayne & Steve break down the science behind crystal-clear water and solid business practices, blending decades of field experience, chemistry expertise, and practical troubleshooting to help pool professionals level up their knowledge and confidence.

Flock It Friday

Rudy dives into the real stories of the pool industry—where business meets chemistry, humor meets hard truths, and every episode turns field experience, expert insight, and candid conversation into lessons for pool professionals who want to grow, learn, and laugh along the way.

Meet the Hosts

Rudy Stankowitz

President, Aquatic Facility Training & Consultants • Author • Global educator

Author of How to Get Rid of Swimming Pool Algae, Army veteran, and unapologetic myth-buster. Trained thousands of operators and health officials worldwide.

Andrea Nannini

Owner, Hibiscus Pool & Spa • Pleatco Perfect Pool Gal (2018)

Featured in PoolPro and AQUA Magazine, advocate for women in the trades, and co-pilot of our most unfiltered Friday conversations.

Lee Salisbury

NSW, Australia • 25 years retail/service/training • Biz/Leadership diplomas

Mentor at heart, bringing practical growth insight to Southern Hemisphere operators.

Shane Sneddon

Director, Pukka Pools Ltd (Auckland)

Hands-on operator with Swimming NZ ties, sharing Kiwi know-how and real-world tactics.

Wayne Ivusich

Former Director of Education, Taylor Water Technologies • Robert Lowry Lifetime Achievement Award (2022)

Legendary water testing educator bringing science, standards, and sanity to Thursdays.

Steve Sherwood

CEO, Sherwood Pool Consulting Group • CPO Instructor • Inspector

Expert witness and trainer known for clear, approachable guidance on complex issues.

Sarah Bero

“@the.pool.girl” (40k+ TikTok followers) • Route operator

Unfiltered field stories and practical tips that resonate with new-school and old-school techs alike.

Paulette Hester

Owner, Pools by the Sea Inc. • IPSSA Treasure Coast Chapter President

Community builder and mentor advancing professional development across Florida.

Listen & Subscribe

Find the Talking Pools Podcast on your favorite platform:

Apple Podcasts ·
Spotify ·
iHeartRadio ·
Amazon Music

Directory profiles:
Listen Notes ·
Feedspot

Sponsorships & Advertising

We keep it simple and effective. One sponsor per product category at any given time — no competitor overlap. Your ad remains in episodes permanently.

Pre‑roll (15s) in first 5 minutes
Mid‑roll (25s) near episode midpoint (±5 min)
Host‑read spots available at same rate
Logo on site & inclusion in newsletter
Annual contracts; payments to Aquatic Facility Training & Consultants

Rates (Annual)

Pre‑Roll (15 sec)$5,800

Mid‑Roll (25 sec)$9,600

Any 2 Shows$18,240

Any 3 Shows$26,400

Full Network (~260 eps)$41,000

Book Sponsorship

What Listeners & Directories Say

“A must-listen for anyone serious about the pool business — no fluff, just insight and laughter.”

— AQUA Magazine Contributor

“The most influential voices in our industry — not afraid to call it like it is.”

— PoolPro Reader Review

ListenNotes profile
•
Feedspot list

Contact

Media & sponsorship inquiries

rudy@cpoclass.com

Website

cpoclass.com

Social: @TalkingPools | @CPOClass

Download the Talking_Pools_Podcast_Media_Kit_2025_Final Download

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

Forget chasing chlorine headaches and battling algae wars alone. The Talking Pools Podcast is your weekly escape from pool purgatory, where 250+ years of combined pro wisdom explodes into actionable hacks, mind-blowing tips, and secrets so ancient they make Poseidon jealous.

Think of it as your weekly poolside braintrust, fueled by eight seasoned pros, each a rockstar in their own aquatic lane. Got a filtration fiasco? Chemical conundrum? Equipment enigma? No problem. We’ve got a host for that:

The Tech Titan: Unravels the mysteries of pumps, filters, and gizmos that make pools tick (without the electrical shocks).

The Chem Crusader: Your personal alchemist, whipping up potion-perfect water balance with a dash of science and a sprinkle of magic.

The Maintenance Maverick: From tile tricks to algae assassins, he’s got the lowdown on keeping your pool looking like a liquid emerald palace.

The Customer Calmer: Smooths ruffled feathers faster than a pool noodle bouquet, turning hangry homeowners into poolside pals.

But Talking Pools isn’t just about technical wizardry. It’s about camaraderie, the shared language of pool pros who’ve seen it all, from exploding filters to synchronized swimming squirrels (no, really, we had an episode!).

Every week, you’ll:

Steal game-changing secrets: Learn pro-grade hacks to make you the “Pool Whisperer” in your market

Laugh until you spit out your piña colada: These guys are as witty as they are wise, turning pool problems into poolside punchlines.

Get ahead of the curve: Stay on top of industry trends and tech before your competitors even smell the chlorine.

Feel the love (and the sunshine): Remember why you got into this business in the first place – the joy of creating backyard oases where memories are made.

So, ditch the Drano, grab your headphones, and dive into the Talking Pools Podcast. It’s your weekly dose of poolside wisdom, laughter, and community. We’ll see you on the flip side!

P.S. Subscribe now and you might just win a case of pool party essentials (floaties not included, sorry squirrels).

P.P.S. Tell your pool-loving friends – sharing knowledge is like sharing sunscreen, it protects everyone!

Pool Pros text questions here

On this Talking Pools episode, host Natalie Hood, Director of Education and Network Development for The Grit Game, sits down with Jodi O’Grady, Director of Commercial Sales for API Water and long-time industry chemist, to unpack one of the most misunderstood topics in pool care: specialty chemicals.

Chlorine gets all the attention, but oxidizers, enzymes, and flocculants quietly decide whether your water is comfortable, clear, and compliant—or a cloudy, smelly headache full of disinfection byproducts and complaints. Jodi draws on decades with Taylor Water Technologies and her work on PHTA’s Technical Advisory Council to bust myths, explain the science in plain language, and show how specialty products can support (not replace) chlorine to keep pools safer and easier to manage.

If you’ve ever wondered whether non-chlorine shock actually does anything, if enzymes are all “basically the same,” or what Flock It Friday is really about, this episode connects the dots.

In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

Chlorine’s job vs. specialty chemicals’ job

Why chlorine (or bromine/PHMB) is irreplaceable as a sanitizer and must be EPA-registered to be counted as such.
The difference between sanitizing (killing pathogens like Pseudomonas and brain-eating amoeba in properly chlorinated water) and oxidizing (burning off non-living contaminants).
Why “chlorine can be replaced by specialty chemicals” is a myth—and how crypto is a different beast entirely.

Non-chlorine oxidizers: the quiet workhorse

Real-world impact of high chlorine levels

Enzymes: not “all the same”

Myth-busting with real stories

Flock It Friday and how flocculants actually work

Clarity as a safety standard, not a luxury

The payoff for pros and operators

Guest Info – Jodi O’Grady, API Water

Director of Commercial Sales, API Water
Nearly 30 years in the pool industry, starting with Taylor Water Technologies (a Fluidra brand)
Chemistry degree and long-time volunteer with PHTA, currently Vice Chair of the Technical Advisory Council, with prior work on the Recreational Water and Air Quality Committee.

Jodi is available for follow-up questions and industry conversations via LinkedIn and direct contact (details provided in the episode outro).

Host Info – Natalie Hood

Director of Education and Network Development, The Grit Game, and regular host on the Talking Pools Podcast, focused on education, professional development, and giving pool pros real-world tools they can use on deck tomorrow.

Support the show

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

Email us: talkingpools@gmail.com