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How Much DE Should I Add? ⚖

Post author:Rudy
Post published:March 8, 2020
Post category:Apartment Pool Maintenance CPO Certification Class Equipment Hotel Pool Maintenance

Diatomaceous Earth Hey Guys. Hoping your March is off to a good start. I wanted to talk about this for a while, and going into spring seems to be the…

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.

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Natalie Hood welcomes Eric Knight back to the Talking Pools Podcast to discuss his move from Watershape University to Pool Brain—and what this new role could mean for pool service professionals.

Eric explains how a conversation that began in 2022 eventually developed into an opportunity to combine the work he does best: water chemistry, education, technology, and solving real-world problems for technicians in the field. He also clears up the speculation surrounding his departure from Watershape University. There was no drama, no burned bridge, and no scandal—just an honest recognition of his strengths and an opportunity that better fits how his brain works.

The conversation then turns toward the future of the pool industry. Eric explains why artificial intelligence is unlikely to replace pool technicians, but will increasingly help them make better decisions, optimize routes, train employees, standardize service, and operate more profitable businesses.

Eric also offers an early look at Pool Brain’s vision for automated chemical dosing, guided technician workflows, and “point-of-need education”—giving technicians the information they need while they are standing in front of the pool, instead of making them wait for the next class or trade show.

In This Episode

Why Eric Knight joined Pool Brain
How his relationship with Pool Brain began in 2022
The truth about his departure from Watershape University
Why recognizing your weaknesses is an important leadership skill
What Eric is most proud of accomplishing at Watershape
Why traditional industry education is becoming cost-prohibitive
How AI will assist pool professionals without replacing field technicians
Why more displaced white-collar workers are entering the trades
The story behind the Orenda Calculator and Chemiculator
How technology can eliminate dangerous chemical-dosing shortcuts
What automated water-chemistry dosing could mean for service companies
How guided workflows can improve training, safety, and accountability
Why technicians need education at the exact moment a problem occurs

This is Part One of Natalie Hood’s conversation with Eric Knight. Tune in next Wednesday for Part Two as they continue discussing his new role at Pool Brain and the technology being developed to support the next generation of pool professionals.

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Email us: talkingpools@gmail.com