Talking Pools Podcast

Rudy Stankowitz
  • 4.7 (115)
  • How To
  • Updated Daily

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. 

  1. 1d ago

    Jeff Hampe: Mentorship, Mosaic Mastery and Pool-Tile Myths

    Ask a question here Natalie Hood continues her conversations with the 2026 Talking Pools Podcast Top Ten Mentors by sitting down with Jeff Hampe, a longtime pool professional known for his all-tile pools, artistic glass mosaics and uncompromising attention to detail. Jeff shares how he progressed from repairing hot tubs in New Jersey to cleaning pools, repairing equipment, performing leak detection and eventually becoming a licensed pool contractor and sought-after mosaic specialist. He also discusses the craftsmen who mentored him, why he freely passes that knowledge forward and the satisfaction of watching someone build a better life through a skilled trade. The conversation then shifts into Mythbusting Wednesday territory. Jeff explains why a tile labeled “pool rated” may still be the wrong choice, what he prefers for submerged applications and why translucent glass tile can become an expensive failure. He and Natalie also tackle waterproofing, calcification, efflorescence, thermal expansion, delamination and the limitations of cementitious installation products. Jeff closes with his growing interest in fully tiled fiberglass pools, why field experience remains essential and what would come packaged with the official Jeff Hampe action figure. In This Episode  Jeff’s journey from hot-tub repair to high-end mosaic and all-tile pools  How Jimmy Reed and Danilo Bonazza influenced his craft  Why Jeff considers attention to detail a professional advantage  Turning a landscaper into a highly skilled, well-paid tile installer  How mentorship spreads when students begin teaching others  Why “pool rated” does not automatically mean suitable for every pool  Jeff’s preferred tile thickness and construction for submerged applications  The risks associated with translucent glass tile  How UV exposure and different expansion rates contribute to delamination  Why waterproofing alone does not eliminate calcification or efflorescence  The role of epoxy installation products in all-tile pools  What visible deposits along grout lines may reveal beneath the tile  Why hands-on jobsite experience cannot be replaced by classroom instruction  Learning from installation failures without lowering professional standards  The industry’s reliance on traditional distribution  Why Jeff believes fiberglass deserves greater consideration  Crumbled Italian sausage, jet skis and the Jeff Hampe action figure Featured Guest Jeff Hampe 2026 Talking Pools Podcast Top Ten Pool Industry Mentor Sponsored By REVDUP Apparel, H2Flow Controls and PoolBrain. The technical opinions expressed during this episode reflect the guest’s professional experience and installation practices. Product selection and installation requirements should always be verified for the specific application. Support the show Thank you so much for listening! You can find us on social media: FacebookInstagramTik TokEmail us: talkingpools@gmail.com

    Jeff Hampe: Mentorship, Mosaic Mastery and Pool-Tile Myths

  2. 4d ago

    Can Your Pool Business Survive Without You?

    Ask a question here What happens when a family emergency forces you to leave your business with almost no warning? This week on Mondays Down Under, Lee, Nick, and Shane reunite to discuss Shane’s unexpected six-week absence and how his pool service business continued operating while he was overseas. From trusting an employee with 65 regular clients to managing emergencies across a 12-hour time difference, the conversation offers an honest look at delegation, communication, and building a company that does not depend entirely on its owner. The team also recounts a late-night equipment-room flood caused by a failed braided water hose, including the electrical hazards and chemical-storage risks created when water enters a pump room, warehouse, or pool shop. Lee shares highlights from her tour of the Australian Innovative Systems factory, where chlorinators and cells are manufactured, coated, tested, tracked, and inspected. The crew discusses AIS quality control, the economics of commercial salt chlorination, and why seeing how a product is manufactured can make a pool professional far more confident recommending it. Also in this episode: How loyal customers respond when business owners communicate honestlyWhy capable employees may surprise you when given real responsibilityThe danger of storing pool chemicals directly on the floorWhat a 12-year chlorinator-cell lifespan says about manufacturing qualityWhy an expensive commercial salt cell may quickly pay for itselfHighlights from the SPLASH! masterclassesUpcoming discussions on sanitization marketing claims and Australian Standard 3633If your company cannot function when you step away, you may not own a business yet. You may own a demanding job. Building reliable systems and developing trustworthy employees protects your customers, your company, and your own well-being. This episode is brought to you in part by Pool Brain, giving pool professionals the tools to operate smarter, more efficiently, and more profitably. Visit PoolBrain.com. Questions, topic suggestions, or suppliers you would like featured? Email talkingpools@gmail.com. Support the show Thank you so much for listening! You can find us on social media: FacebookInstagramTik TokEmail us: talkingpools@gmail.com

    Can Your Pool Business Survive Without You?

  3. 6d ago

    Reflecting Absence: The Engineering Behind the 9/11 Memorial Pools

    Ask a question here Twenty-five years after the attacks of September 11, 2001, this special episode of the Talking Pools Podcast is presented without commercial interruption. Rudy Stankowitz remembers the 2,977 people murdered that day, the passengers and crews who fought back, the first responders who ran toward danger, and the survivors and recovery workers who carried the physical and emotional consequences home with them. The episode then examines Reflecting Absence, the two enormous memorial pools built within the footprints of the former World Trade Center towers. From nearly 1,400 feet of precision waterfall weir and more than a million gallons of water to thousands of granite panels, extensive automation, and demanding overnight maintenance, Rudy explores the extraordinary engineering required to make the machinery disappear so the meaning can remain. This episode doesn't reduce sacred ground to pumps, hydraulics, and water treatment. It is a pool professional’s appreciation of the architects, engineers, fabricators, operators, and maintenance crews whose work protects the dignity of one of America’s most important memorials. In This Episode: Remembering the victims, heroes, survivors, and recovery workers of September 11The meaning behind Michael Arad and Peter Walker’s Reflecting AbsenceHow the massive waterfall weirs were adjusted to within one-sixteenth of an inchWhy published pumping and circulation figures must be interpreted carefullyThe difference between water-effect flow and treatment flowMore than 1,000 monitored operating points working behind the scenesThe challenge of maintaining dark granite beneath 400 surrounding treesWhy mock-ups, tolerances, automation, and maintenance access matterHow engineering and maintenance preserve the memorial’s intended experienceTwo pools. Nearly two acres. More than a million gallons of water. Thousands of names. Today, we remember. #September11 #NeverForget #911Memorial #ReflectingAbsence #TalkingPoolsPodcast #PoolProfessionals #AquaticEngineering #WaterFeatureDesign Music: We the People, written and performed by Alesandra Rosette https://youtu.be/AOV70hNcajI?si=1j1f9k2IizozsCQc Here are the official archived transcripts for all three presidential speeches used in the episode: President George W. Bush — Remarks to the Nation from Ellis Island, September 11, 2002 Source of the “September 11, 2001 will always be a fixed point in the life of America” passage. President Barack Obama — National September 11 Memorial Museum Dedication, May 15, 2014 Source of the passage about standing “in the footprints of two mighty towers, graced by the rush of eternal waters.” President Donald Trump — Flight 93 National Memorial Address, September 11, 2020 Source of the passage honoring the 40 passengers and crew who “rose up, took charge, made their stand.” Support the show Thank you so much for listening! You can find us on social media: FacebookInstagramTik TokEmail us: talkingpools@gmail.com

    Reflecting Absence: The Engineering Behind the 9/11 Memorial Pools

  4. Sep 10

    Chemicals in the Skimmer, Insurance Gaps & the Pool Guy Who “Feels” the Water

    Ask a question here This week on Thursdays with Wayne and Steve, Wayne climbs back onto his favorite soapbox: your skimmer is not a chemical-dispensing system. The guys break down the risks of feeding acid, calcium chloride, chlorine tablets, and other products through the skimmer—and discuss the limited situations where manufacturer directions may call for it. Steve also speaks with Pat from the California Pool Association about liability coverage for residential, commercial, and high-end aquatic facilities. They examine diving boards, slides, expensive equipment, property-damage extensions, revenue audits, and why landing a massive commercial account may require another conversation with your insurance agent. Then, a pool inspection involving five plaster defects exposes a much larger problem: calcium hardness at 750 ppm, corrected alkalinity at 60 ppm, and a service professional who had not tested calcium in more than a year. It is a reminder that clear water, loyal customers, and weekly visits do not prove a pool is being properly managed. Wayne and Steve also discuss: Why chlorine tablets should never be placed in a skimmerSafer ways to introduce powdered chemicalsUsing skimmer socks for cyanuric acidLiability exclusions involving diving boards and slidesCoverage for property you are actively working onInsurance considerations when pursuing large commercial accountsWhy a complete water analysis matters during every inspectionThe importance of periodically testing calcium hardness, CYA, and TDSEducating clients before assumptions become expensive problemsDefining a clear scope of work for commercial facilitiesWhy great pool service also requires communication and hospitalityThe bottom line: follow proper chemical procedures, know exactly what your insurance covers, test before reaching conclusions, and never assume the person who has maintained a pool for years has maintained it correctly. Support the show Thank you so much for listening! You can find us on social media: FacebookInstagramTik TokEmail us: talkingpools@gmail.com

    Chemicals in the Skimmer, Insurance Gaps & the Pool Guy Who “Feels” the Water

  5. Sep 9

    Mentorship, AI, and Common Sense with Peter Wiedermann

    Ask a question here Natalie Hood welcomes 2026 Top Ten Pool Industry Mentor Peter Wiedermann for a conversation about his 31 years in the swimming pool industry, the people who shaped his career, and the technicians he helped develop along the way. Peter explains why a mentor should build independence rather than dependence, why trust is essential, and why challenging someone’s thinking is sometimes the greatest help a mentor can provide. He also shares how recognizing burnout led him away from daily pool work and toward business networking and teaching people to use artificial intelligence more effectively. The conversation then turns to AI myths: whether it will replace pool professionals, why ChatGPT should never be mistaken for an expert, the danger of entering sensitive information into unsecured systems, and why every AI-generated answer still requires a knowledgeable human in the loop. Peter also explains why using AI resembles servicing a swimming pool—both involve complex systems, disciplined methods, and potentially serious consequences when the fundamentals are ignored. Plus, Peter reveals his preferred pizza, the superpowers society desperately needs, and exactly how he plans to embarrass his children if he wins the Mentor of the Year championship belt. In This Episode: What effective mentorship looks likeThe difference between training and mentoringWhy arrogance prevents professional growthDeveloping technicians who can think for themselvesRecognizing burnout and changing directionHow AI can support pool businessesWhy AI cannot replace experience and judgmentProtecting customer and business informationKeeping the human in the loopWhy strong industry standards and education matter#TalkingPoolsPodcast #PeterWiedermann #PoolIndustryMentor #PoolProfessionals #ArtificialIntelligence #PoolService #IndustryEducation #Mentorship #BusinessGrowth Support the show Thank you so much for listening! You can find us on social media: FacebookInstagramTik TokEmail us: talkingpools@gmail.com

    Mentorship, AI, and Common Sense with Peter Wiedermann

  6. Sep 6

    Training Today Builds a Stronger Pool Industry Tomorrow

    Ask a question here Hiring new employees is only the beginning. If pool and spa businesses want knowledgeable technicians, loyal teams, confident customers, and fewer unqualified operators dragging down the trade, they must invest in professional development. On this episode of Mondays Down Under, Lee Salisbury, Nick Day, and Shane Sneddon welcome Rachel, General Manager of IR Learning—soon to return to the name SPASA Training—to discuss the education and qualifications available to pool and spa professionals across Australia and New Zealand. The group explores Recognition of Prior Learning, competency conversations, transferable skills, online education, industry-specific qualifications, and why experienced technicians may already possess much of the evidence needed to become formally qualified. They also discuss the responsibility carried by pool professionals. Today’s technicians must understand water chemistry, hydraulics, electrical and plumbing systems, safety, automation, customer service, and business operations—yet the trade continues fighting for the recognition and funding it deserves. Training your employees is not simply an investment in them. Better-trained people provide better service, inspire greater customer confidence, strengthen staff retention, and build a better business. Topics discussed include:  The transition from IR Learning back to SPASA Training  The Four Pillars of Pool Care training series  Recognition of Prior Learning for experienced technicians  Why competency conversations are not traditional exams  Turning everyday jobsite photos and videos into qualification evidence  How skills from sales, safety, and other industries may transfer  Building long-term career pathways within the pool and spa industry  Training opportunities for Australian and New Zealand professionals  Certificate III in Swimming Pool and Spa Service  Pool building, retail, business, leadership, safety-barrier, and aquatic-operator training  Why professional qualifications help separate legitimate businesses from industry cowboys  The continuing push for trade recognition, licensing, and training funding Learn more about available courses and qualifications at IRLearning.com This episode is brought to you in part by Pool Brain, giving pool professionals the tools to operate smarter, more efficiently, and more profitably. Support the show Thank you so much for listening! You can find us on social media: FacebookInstagramTik TokEmail us: talkingpools@gmail.com

    Training Today Builds a Stronger Pool Industry Tomorrow

  7. Sep 5

    Pool Remodels: What Lies Beneath the Plaster

    Ask a question here A pool remodel is rarely as simple as replacing the tile and plaster. Once the old surface comes off and the ground is opened, contractors can uncover structural cracks, deteriorated rebar, undersized plumbing, missing hydrostatic relief, unsafe electrical work, and decades of questionable shortcuts. In this bonus episode, Kelli speaks with Jose Gonzalez of Adams Pool Solutions in Pleasanton, California. Jose grew up working alongside his father in the pool industry and has spent nearly 12 years with Adams, advancing from plaster and pebble application into field management, project management, and sales. Kelli and Jose dig into what really happens during a remodel, including the hidden conditions that can add thousands of dollars to a project. They discuss structural crack repair, hydraulic upgrades, permits, waterproofing, material selection, customer education, and why thorough documentation protects both the contractor and the homeowner. Jose also shares one unforgettable discovery: full-size pool lights installed without proper niches or grounding, held in improvised cavities with plaster and silicone. The lesson is simple: a successful remodel is not about hiding old problems beneath a beautiful new finish. It is about correcting those problems and building something that will remain safe, functional, and durable for years. In This Episode  Jose’s journey from helping his father as a child to managing and selling remodel projects  The difference between resurfacing a pool and performing a complete remodel  Why structural cracks appear more frequently than many contractors expect  Three approaches to crack treatment and when each may be appropriate  How deteriorated rebar can turn a surface crack into a major structural repair  Why contractors should discuss possible change orders before demolition begins  Hidden copper lines, undersized plumbing, and other hydraulic surprises  Missing or covered hydrostatic relief systems  Why modern codes can require upgrades to older pools  The value of preconstruction equipment inspections and signed documentation  When waterproofing makes sense and when it may create bonding concerns  Why poor surface preparation can cause a new finish to delaminate  The long-term cost of cheap tile, coping, grout, and installation materials  When permits are essential and why some contractors refuse to proceed without them  Using renderings and physical samples to help homeowners visualize the finished project  Why licensed contractors, field experience, transparency, and realistic timelines matter  Jose’s advice for pool professionals entering the remodeling business Featured Guest Jose Gonzalez Adams Pool Solutions Pleasanton, California Key Takeaway A trustworthy remodel contractor does not simply deliver the cheapest version of what a homeowner requests. They expose the problems, explain the options, document the decisions, and build the pool as though it were going into their own backyard. #TalkingPoolsPodcast #PoolRemodel #PoolRenovation #SwimmingPools #PoolConstruction #PoolContractor #PoolProfessionals #PoolDesign #PoolSafety #AdamsPoolSolutions Support the show Thank you so much for listening! You can find us on social media: FacebookInstagramTik TokEmail us: talkingpools@gmail.com

  8. Sep 4

    Ten Things Wrong with the Pool Industry

    Ask a question here This episode is intentionally abrasive. The pool industry wants the respect, credibility, and compensation of a skilled trade. But are we willing to establish, demand, demonstrate, and charge for skilled-trade standards? Rudy asked pool professionals what they believe is wrong with the industry, and the responses came flooding in: inadequate training, nonexistent licensing, bargain-basement pricing, oversized egos, unqualified technicians, social-media experts, bad installations, fragmented education, private equity, manufacturers selling around the trade, and customers who expect luxury service at Dollar General prices. The individual complaints may differ, but they point to the same contradiction: We demand professional respect while too often accepting mediocrity as normal. This episode examines why certification should be the beginning of professional development, not a declaration that someone never needs to learn another damn thing. Rudy challenges companies that send barely trained technicians into the field, veterans who mistake repetition for expertise, businesses that confuse pool count with profitability, and professionals who perform additional work for free and then wonder why customers do not value them. The pool industry has tremendous people, knowledge, innovation, and opportunity. What it lacks is consistent standards, clear career pathways, and enough professionals willing to say the three words most terrifying to an oversized industry ego: “I was wrong.” If the pool industry wants respect, it is time to earn the f*****g thing. In This Episode Why pool service should be treated as a legitimate skilled tradeThe difference between inexperience and unsupervised incompetenceWhy certification is only the beginning of professional developmentHow fragmented education leaves new technicians without a clear career pathWhy decades of repetition do not necessarily equal decades of experienceHow confidence and social-media visibility get mistaken for competenceWhy pool service companies chronically undervalue their workThe difference between revenue, profitability, growth, and craftsmanshipWhy staying small does not mean failingThe true cost behind professional equipment installation and serviceHow manufacturers, big-box retailers, franchises, and private equity affect the tradeWhy customer boundaries and clearly defined service agreements matterThe responsibilities companies, employees, customers, and professionals owe one anotherWhat the pool industry must do if it genuinely wants professional respectMemorable Line “The pool industry does not have a shortage of opportunity. It has a shortage of consistent standards and an oversupply of confidence.”#TalkingPoolsPodcast #PoolIndustry #PoolService #SwimmingPools #PoolProfessionals #PoolEducation #SkilledTrades #WaterChemistry #PoolBusiness #ProfessionalStandards Support the show Thank you so much for listening! You can find us on social media: FacebookInstagramTik TokEmail us: talkingpools@gmail.com

    Ten Things Wrong with the Pool Industry
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4.7
out of 5
115 Ratings

About

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. 

Information

  • Creator
    Rudy Stankowitz
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    1.1K
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Talking Pools Podcast
  • Show Website
    Talking Pools Podcast

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