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.
Talking Pools Podcast
Andrea Talks Salt Drama & Poop Scams
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In this lively and unpredictable episode of the Talking Pools Podcast, Andrea and Paulette dive into a mix of wild stories, strange occurrences, and practical pool issues.
The episode kicks off with Andrea venting about her ongoing battle with a difficult property manager. He constantly complains about a low salt light that, according to Andrea, has never actually been on. Despite adding a bag of salt, the pool’s salt levels still sit at a low 2600 ppm, leading Andrea to suspect there might be a leak. As Andrea tackles this mystery, her dog entertains itself by barking at its own reflection in the mirror—something Paulette can relate to, as her cat plays the same game.
The episode takes a detour into bizarre territory when Paulette tells the story of a pool operator who was fired after a failed scam, pocketing $101 in a "poop in the pool" situation. Andrea responds with an even darker tale of a man who drowned his wife in a pool for a hefty £400,000 insurance payout. The hosts quickly shift gears, with Paulette lamenting her broken pool heater and admitting she doesn’t clean her own pool. She then shares the health benefits of swimming, a welcome contrast to the rest of the chaos.
The conversation flows to a warning from UK authorities, with Andrea sharing how bathers are being cautioned about the risk of infections from swimming pools in other countries. Amid this chaos, Andrea admits she’s “fucked her own shit up” and expresses her desire to escape to the Florida Keys. Meanwhile, Paulette envisions 10,000 people packed into a single swimming pool, and Andrea reveals her discovery of a massive inflatable water park called Fury Adventures, floating in the middle of the ocean in Key West.
As the episode nears its close, Senator Galavan from New York makes an appearance—via Andrea’s retelling of his announcement calling for more swimming pool enclosures to enhance safety.
This wild ride of an episode has it all: pool problems, unusual stories, and plenty of humor.
CMAHCThe Council for the Model Aquatic Health Code promotes health & safety at public swimming pools
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Andrea:
"So, you know that property manager I’ve been telling you about? The one that’s a total thorn in my ass cheek?"
Paulette:
"Yeah, the one who's always up your case. What’s he done now?"
Andrea:
"Well, this time he’s complaining about the low salt light being on, but it never is! I swear, the man just wants something to complain about. Like, I added a whole bag of salt, and the salt level is still only at 2600 ppm. I’m starting to think there’s a damn leak."
Paulette:
"Ugh, that sounds awful. Meanwhile, my cat is just playing with itself in the mirror. You know, keeps it entertained, I guess."
Andrea:
"Ha! My dog does the same thing—barks at its own reflection, like, ‘who the hell are you, buddy?!’ Anyway, back to the pool drama. I mean, with that salt level not budging, I’m seriously thinking there’s a leak somewhere."
Paulette:
"Probably is. By the way, did I ever tell you about this guy I heard of who got fired from his job as a pool operator? Tried to pull off a $101 'poop in the pool' scam."
Andrea:
"No way! What even is that?"
Paulette:
"Yeah, apparently he faked a poop incident to get extra pay for cleaning it up. Ridiculous."
Andrea:
"Oh my god, that’s nothing compared to this guy I read about who drowned his wife in the pool for a £400,000 insurance policy. Like, what the hell is wrong with people?"
Paulette:
"Whoa! That’s some true crime horror right there. Meanwhile, I need to fix my pool heater, but, eh, I don’t even clean my own pool. What can I say, I outsource."
Andrea:
"Right, outsourcing is life! Speaking of life, there are so many health benefits of swimming, you know? I mean, it’s like the perfect exercise. We should be swimming more!"
Paulette:
"Totally. But have you seen the news from the UK? They’re warning people to be careful of swimming pools in other countries because you could get some nasty infection. Watch out for that!"
Andrea:
"Ugh, that’s the last thing I need. Anyway, I messed up my own stuff the other day. No surprise there. I just want to go to the Keys and chill, you know?"
Paulette:
"Yeah, dream life! Imagine being surrounded by, like, 10,000 people in a single pool though. I couldn’t deal."
Andrea:
"Wait, that’s nothing compared to what I found in Key West—a giant inflatable water park! It's called Fury Adventures. It’s this huge thing, floating right in the middle of the ocean. Can you imagine?"
Paulette:
"An inflatable water park in the ocean? I need to see that. It sounds like one of those things where you just know someone’s going to fall off and float away."
Andrea:
"Right? And speaking of floating away, poop in the ocean just floats away! That’s why I’m not too worried about that happening."
Paulette:
"Good point! Oh, did you hear about Senator Galavan from New York? He’s pushing for swimming pool enclosures. Says it’s all about making pools safer."
Andrea:
"Yeah, well, more rules, more headaches. But whatever keeps people from drowning, I guess. Alright, enough serious stuff—back to my plans for the Keys. Who’s coming with me?"
This back-and-forth between Andrea and Paulette shows the mix of light-hearted banter, strange stories, and real pool talk that makes this episode one for the books!
