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
You’re Not Fighting Mustard Algae—You’re Feeding It
Use Left/Right to seek, Home/End to jump to start or end. Hold shift to jump forward or backward.
It’s Floc It Friday, and Rudy’s bringing the fire—along with borates, polyquats, and the brutal truth about mustard algae. In what might be our most packed episode to date, Rudy Stankowitz dives headfirst into the evolving mustard algae crisis in 2025—why your go-to treatment (sodium bromide) is now banned, how diatoms are getting smarter, and what you need to do to fight back.
🧪 MUSTARD ALGAE: THE TRUTH REVEALED
Rudy breaks down the biology of mustard algae (a.k.a. diatoms), the real reasons it's thriving, and the environmental shifts that are turning backyard pools into biofilm playgrounds. From Saharan dust storms to phosphate-packed municipal water, nothing is off-limits.
💥 THE SCIENCE-BASED ERADICATION PROTOCOL
No more half-measures. Rudy shares a complete, step-by-step plan for nuking mustard algae—30 ppm chlorine, pH control, borates, polyquats, filter deep-cleans, and follow-up that matters. This isn’t theory. It’s field-proven strategy with real-world results.
⚗️ BORATES & POLYQUATS: THE NEW DYNAMIC DUO
Learn how 50 ppm borates change the game by starving algae, stabilizing pH, and supercharging chlorine—while polyquats lock down surfaces and prevent reattachment. Together, they create a hostile environment algae can’t survive.
🔬 HEAVY METALS & SMART DOSING
Rudy explains how copper, silver, and zinc work together to stop algae at the cellular level—IF you use them right. Chelated vs. non-chelated? Dosing limits? Timing with shock? He covers it all.
📉 EPA Bans & Industry Shifts
With sodium bromide off the table, Rudy urges pros to stop relying on magic fixes and start understanding their water. This is about long-term control, not short-term cover-ups.
🏆 MENTOR OF THE YEAR ANNOUNCEMENT COMING
Rudy teases the top 10 finalists for the 2025 Talking Pools Podcast Mentor of the Year Award. With 67 incredible nominations, it’s clear the future of the industry is in good hands. Finalists will be announced the week of August 1st—with the winner revealed l
The Global Leader in Safety, Dependability, & Innovation in Pool Technology.
POOL MAGAZINE
Pool Magazine is leading up to the minute news source for Swimming Pool News and Pool Features. Ou
BLUERAY XL
The real mineral purifier! Reduce your pool maintenance costs & efforts by 50%
Jack's Magic
If you know Jack's you'd have no stains!
LaMotte Company
LaMotte Company is a leading manufacturer of water quality testing products & pool test kits
CPO Certification Classes
Attend your CPO class with Rudy Stankowitz!
the 'How to Get Rid of Algae' handbook
The most comprehensive guide on algae prevention and remediation you will ever own.
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.
Thank you so much for listening! You can find us on social media:
Email us: talkingpools@gmail.com
