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
A Robot Can’t Replace a Human Giving a F*ck
Use Left/Right to seek, Home/End to jump to start or end. Hold shift to jump forward or backward.
In this episode, Sarah Bero walks through the pros, cons, and must-know facts about the most common pool cleaning systems—suction cleaners, pressure cleaners, robotic cleaners, and in-floor cleaning systems. With a no-BS approach, Sarah breaks down what each system does, what they don’t do, and why no machine will ever fully replace the trained eye (and grit) of a human pool tech.
💡 Takeaways:
- Suction cleaners are effective for light debris but require caution to avoid safety hazards.
- Pressure cleaners can be powerful but come with added costs and maintenance.
- Robotic cleaners offer convenience but aren’t perfect for every pool.
- In-floor systems vary in success depending on design and upkeep.
- Human pool techs deliver a level of care and detail machines simply can’t.
- Regular upkeep is critical no matter what cleaning system is in place.
- Choosing the right cleaner depends on your pool’s size, layout, and debris load.
- Safety considerations should always be front and center.
- Investing in quality tools and systems saves headaches down the road.
🎧 Chapters:
00:00 – Understanding Suction Cleaners
06:24 – Exploring Pressure Cleaners
11:21 – The Rise of Robotic Cleaners
13:59 – In-Floor Cleaning Systems
19:38 – The Human Touch in Pool Cleaning
🔥 Sound Bites:
🗣️ “Robotic cleaners can pick up very fine debris.”
🗣️ “In-floor cleaning systems can be hit or miss.”
🗣️ “A robot can't replace a human giving a fuck.”
Thank you so much for listening! You can find us on social media:
Email us: talkingpools@gmail.com
