Certified Pool Operator Prep Archives - Aquatic Facility Training and Consultants

CPO Certification Course ©

Post author:Rudy
Post published: November 28, 2020
Post category:CPO Certification Class Education

CPO Certification Made Easy At Aquatic Facility Training & Consultants, we believe the CPO certification class should include more than the class itself. We know that students may have questions after…

CPO Class Flashcards

Post author:Rudy
Post published: August 29, 2020
Post category:Pool News CPO Certification Class

Enrolled in a Certified Pool Operator Certification Class? Okay, maybe you haven't been in school for a long time. I get it. Studying for a test is something we had…

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

Can a Facebook group keep its edge without making every question a public execution?

Rudy Stankowitz rejoins 14 PSI’s Shawn Davis and Dan Chiles for the conclusion of their conversation about toxicity, accountability, and changing the culture of an online pool-professional community.

The goal sounds straightforward: build people up, share useful knowledge, and keep the ball-busting. Putting that into practice? That’s where the conversation gets interesting.

Rudy presses for specifics on consistent moderation, helping newcomers, addressing personal conflicts, and encouraging experienced members to become better teachers. Shawn and Dan discuss the group’s restructuring, acknowledge the need for change, and explain why they still want room for sarcasm, roasting, and personality.

Along the way, they explore why advice that works in one region can fail spectacularly in another. From sandy soil on the Outer Banks to Texas clay and Florida groundwater, troubleshooting requires context—and the professional standing beside the pool has information a Facebook comment cannot replace.

In This Episode

Advice needs context: Why location, soil, and site conditions change troubleshooting decisions.
Correction versus humiliation: Helping someone improve without telling them to leave the industry.
Accountability among friends: Calling each other out before an argument becomes something worse.
Changes at 14 PSI: The administrative restructuring described during the recording.
Education beyond good intentions: Possible discussions, expert Q&As, and mentoring opportunities remain under consideration.
Getting lurkers involved: What would help hesitant members start asking questions and sharing their work?
Keeping the edge: The difference between inviting a roast and asking for help.
Recognizing improvement: Giving public credit when someone develops their skills.

Chapters

00:00 — Acknowledging the negativity and introducing Part Two
01:16 — Why good advice doesn’t work everywhere
05:57 — The professional poolside makes the final call
07:55 — Consistent expectations and recognizing growth
09:22 — Turning experience into better mentoring
10:51 — Personal conflicts and moderator support
11:56 — Group restructuring and the proposed direction
14:49 — Holding longtime friends accountable
15:21 — Education plans and encouraging questions
16:57 — What meaningful progress would look like
18:27 — Trade-show memories and community connections
19:26 — Dan’s invitation to hesitant posters
19:56 — Why join 14 PSI?
20:47 — BlueRay XL shout-out and closing remarks