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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
The Episode That Made Pool Pros Love with Their Shirts
Use Left/Right to seek, Home/End to jump to start or end. Hold shift to jump forward or backward.
Featuring Don Douglas of Revd Up Apparel — Gold Sponsor of the Mentor of the Year Award
Some episodes age like fine wine.
This one… aged like a perfectly balanced LSI reading.
Andrea and Paulette crack open a legendary conversation from the Talking Pools archives — the day Don Douglas of Revd Up Apparel stopped by and changed the way the pool industry thinks about clothes, branding, and what “professional” really looks like in the field.
This isn’t just an interview.
It’s an origin story.
It’s a cautionary tale.
It’s a fashion show, a chemistry class, and a public service announcement wrapped in laughs and storytelling the way only Andrea and Paulette can deliver.
And yes — Revd Up Apparel is also a proud Gold Sponsor of the Talking Pools Mentor of the Year Award. The company that built chemical-resistant gear for pool pros is also helping build the next generation of leaders. That connection hits different now.
🌊 Episode Overview
Don takes us back to the beginnings of Revd Up Apparel — before the fulfillment center, before the fan-favorite custom jerseys, before they were outfitting half the industry — to the moment he realized pool techs deserved gear that could survive chlorine splashes, muriatic acid droplets, and the occasional “customer who swears their dog doesn’t bite.”
Andrea and Paulette take the conversation into beautifully chaotic territory, weaving together topics every pool pro deals with:
💧 Chemical safety myths that need to die already
💧 The hair-care advice every parent wishes they learned sooner
💧 Why pre-wetting your hair is the unsung hero of avoiding green-tips
💧 Branding as a small pool business: looking legit vs. looking lost
💧 Why your shirt shouldn’t bleach faster than your chlorine does
There’s education, heart, and a little “pool-pro trauma bonding,” the kind that makes our industry one big family.
🔥 Listener Takeaways (Emotion First, Info Always)
- Your uniform matters more to your brand than your truck wrap. Don explains why custom, chemical-resistant apparel can make even a one-person route look like a franchise.
- Revd Up Apparel isn’t just selling shirts — they’re solving problems pool pros have lived with for decades.
- Never, ever mix unknown chemicals. The stories shared in this episode might tighten your stomach. They’re meant to.
- Pool safety is everyone’s job — Andrea and Paulette speak from experience, urging listeners to watch the water, trust their gut, and speak up.
- Hair care isn’t vanity — it’s chemistry. Pre-wetting hair reduces metal absorption and chlorine-related discoloration.
- Parents: listen closely. Your awareness around the pool is the most important piece of safety equipment your child has.
- You can order a single shirt. Revd Up’s fulfillment model is built for both big teams and solo operators.
- Your appearance sets the tone. Pool pros don’t just maintain water — they maintain trust.
🎨 Design Contest Alert!
This episode originally launched the now-legendary Revd Up listener design contest. If you weren’t around then, you’ll understand why it became a fan favorite. Think
Thank you so much for listening! You can find us on social media:
Email us: talkingpools@gmail.com
