A Safe Pool Podcast

A Safe Pool Podcast
  • 5.0 (2)
  • Kids & Family
  • Updated Monthly

Welcome to the A Safe Pool Podcast — where conversations can save lives. Each episode dives into water safety, drowning prevention, pool barriers, swim lessons, mental health, and the real stories behind the mission. In partnership with the Michael Phelps Foundation, we speak with parents, experts, and franchise owners working in the field to make a difference. Whether you're a parent, pool owner, or passionate advocate, this show gives you tools to help protect what matters most.

Episodes

  1. Aug 5

    Ages & Stages of Water Safety

    Water safety isn't a one-time lesson - it's a conversation that evolves as our children grow. In this episode, Nicole and Michael Phelps join Tonja and Jason Howard of A Safe Pool and Alissa Magrum from the National Drowning Prevention Alliance for an important discussion about how water safety changes through every stage of childhood. From infants experiencing the water for the first time to toddlers, school-age children, teens heading to pool parties, and kids exploring new environments like lakes, beaches, and vacations, each stage brings new milestones, new challenges, and new opportunities to teach life-saving skills. Together, we explore questions every parent asks: When should water safety conversations begin?How do we teach children who all learn differently?What assumptions do parents make about supervision at pool parties and other gatherings?How do we prepare kids to make safe decisions when we're not with them?We also take a step back to ask the bigger question: What is the greatest barrier to preventing drowning? Is it a lack of education? Access to resources? Awareness? Or simply the belief that it won't happen to our family? As more communities and countries begin recognizing water competency and water safety education as essential life skills, we discuss where we are today, where we still have work to do, and how every parent, caregiver, educator, and community member can help create a safer future for children. No matter your child's age, this episode will leave you with practical insights, meaningful conversations to have at home, and a reminder that water safety grows right alongside your child.

  2. May 15

    From Opportunity to Impact: Launching an A Safe Pool Franchise in Austin, Texas

    In this episode, Travis Allen shares what it’s like to open and grow an A Safe Pool franchise in Austin, Texas. Joined by Jason Howard and Tonja Howard, the conversation explores both the business opportunity, what it is like working with the A Safe Pool Headquarters Team and the mission behind it - reducing drownings and creating safer spaces for families.

  3. Feb 4

    Breaking the Silence on Water Safety: A Conversation With Michael Phelps, Tonja Howard & Alissa Magrum

    Every year, thousands of families experience the unimaginable loss of a child due to accidental drowning - a tragedy that is fast, silent, and preventable. While many more are impacted by non-fatal drownings and water related tragedies. Yet, despite being the single leading cause of death for children ages 1-4 and remains a leading cause of death for all ages, water safety still isn’t talked about, taught, or prioritized. In this episode, three leaders in the water safety industry come together to change that narrative once and for all: Michael Phelps (Swimming Legend & Founder of the Michael Phelps Foundation) Tonja Howard (Owner of A Safe Pool) Alissa Magrum (Executive Director of the National Drowning Prevention Alliance & longtime advocate working with families impacted by drowning). Together, they share their lived experiences-from Phelps learning to swim for safety at a very young age, to the families Alissa has worked with from  Families United to Prevent Drowning, to the fence and barrier systems Tonja has installed to make backyards safer. Their message is unified and urgent: “Every parent we meet says the same thing: ‘I didn’t know.’ We have to make sure they do.” Water safety isn’t just for people who own pools. It’s knowledge every child and caregiver deserves from an early age and includes all kinds of water. It should sit in the same category as look both ways before you cross the street, don’t touch a hot stove, wear your seatbelt or bike helmet, and stranger danger - core safety skills that are universally taught and expected to be known. There are multiple “layers of protection” that make aquatic environments safer - from supervision, to swim lessons, to education, to emergency preparedness, to physical barriers like pool fences - and no single layer is enough on its own. When all layers are in place, drowning becomes significantly more preventable.

  4. Jan 7

    Because of Brayden: A Brother’s Mission to Prevent Drownings

    In this powerful episode, Nathaniel - brother of Brayden from Because of Brayden and now the owner of A Safe Pool Charleston - sits down with Jason Howard and Nicole Phelps (Michael Phelps Foundation). He opens up about losing his brother to drowning, what it was like navigating that pain as a young boy, and how it shaped the man he is today. Now, he’s turning heartbreak into purpose by helping families build safer environments around water. Together, they talk through close-call stories, layers of protection, and the mission that keeps him going. This is an episode every parent/sibling needs to hear.

  5. 12/01/2025

    Close Calls & Lifesaving Layers: Michael Phelps Talks Pool Safety with A Safe Pool

    Too often, we hear stories of moments that almost ended in tragedy - close calls that could have changed everything. In this episode, swimming legend Michael Phelps sits down with Jassen, a franchise owner of A Safe Pool, to discuss how he started the business and why helping families protect their kids is so fulfilling. They dive into real-life “close call” stories, the growing awareness around drowning prevention, educating kids, and how parents today are more open to taking water safety seriously than ever before. From installing pool fences to teaching kids why boundaries matter, Michael and Jassen explore how small steps make a big difference.“Don’t wait for a wake-up call. Add the layer before it’s too late,” Michael reminds us. This conversation is a must-listen for every parent, caregiver, and anyone who wants to keep kids safe around water.

  6. 11/04/2025

    Layers of Protection: Keeping Kids Safe in and Around Water

    In this episode, Jason and Nicole dive into the importance of multiple layers of protection for water safety. Nicole shares her family’s approach, starting with a double-door lock, an A Safe Pool fence, and open conversations with her kids. Jason highlights how water safety isn’t just about toddlers - older kids can be just as vulnerable, and even pets and visiting friends can create unexpected risks. They discuss the frustrating reality that drowning numbers remain high, sharing some heartbreaking stories of children lost due to drowning. Through these stories, they underscore the value of layered safety measures and the reality that no single precaution is foolproof. Jason expresses gratitude for MPF and their mission to make kids safer around water, emphasizing that while we can’t make children completely safe, we can significantly reduce risk. Learn about their efforts to expand water safety programs - $5,000 helps bring a program to a Boys & Girls Club, and they’ve already set up 232 clubs nationwide in partnership with swim safety programs. Support their mission and donate at asafepool.com/donate.

  7. 10/05/2025

    Because of Brayden: A Mother’s Story of Losing her Child to Drowning

    In this powerful episode, Nicole Phelps sits down with Michelle Zieg, who courageously shares the heartbreaking story of losing her son, Brayden, to drowning. With strength and vulnerability, Michelle reflects on her unimaginable loss and her mission to ensure no other family has to experience the same pain. Together, Nicole and Michelle shed light on the reality that drowning is silent, fast, and preventable. Through awareness, education, and action, we honor Brayden’s memory and continue the fight to protect children everywhere and raise awareness on water safety.

  8. 08/29/2025

    Beyond the Pool: Water Safety and Mental Health with Michael Phelps & Tonja Howard

    From building confidence in the water to creating a culture of safety, swimming legend Michael Phelps and pool safety advocate Tonja Howard dive deep into what it means to feel both safe and strong around water. In this episode, Michael shares how swimming gave him everything - and why water safety is now his mission. Tonja opens up about A Safe Pool’s efforts to protect children and families from preventable tragedies. Together, they explore why teaching kids to respect the water is just as important as teaching them to swim. But the conversation doesn’t stop there. Michael and Tonja also discuss the critical role of mental health — both in and out of the pool. They share how their own parenting journeys are focused on breaking generational cycles, teaching kids it’s okay to not be okay, and creating safer futures physically and emotionally. Whether you’re a parent, coach, or water safety advocate, this episode is a powerful reminder: supervision alone isn’t enough. True protection begins with education, heightened awareness, and multiple layers of safety working together. And just as we teach physical safety, we must also guide our children in understanding and caring for their mental health -building emotional resilience that protects them in and out of the water.

  • 8 Episodes

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

Welcome to the A Safe Pool Podcast — where conversations can save lives. Each episode dives into water safety, drowning prevention, pool barriers, swim lessons, mental health, and the real stories behind the mission. In partnership with the Michael Phelps Foundation, we speak with parents, experts, and franchise owners working in the field to make a difference. Whether you're a parent, pool owner, or passionate advocate, this show gives you tools to help protect what matters most.

Information

  • Creator
    A Safe Pool Podcast
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    8
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © A Safe Pool Podcast
  • Show Website
    A Safe Pool Podcast